Page 51 of The Devil's Detail
“Can you FaceTime? Is anyone with you?”
My heart stops racing, and I think I stop breathin’. This is it. The brush off. He knows I’m nearly done here and will be on my way home. He needs to head me off at the canyon. Needs to stop me rushin’ over or letting my deluded fingers start to dial as soon as I land.
“Sure. Are you diallin’ me, baby?” How I sound so cool, I will never know.
I catch sight of my face in the mirror. I’m pale, and my eyes have lost their sparkle. I scrub my hand through my hair, going for the bad-boy look. The ‘I’ve been out on the town so much Ilook shocking' look. Or the ‘I’m so fuckin’ cool, I don’t need to brush my hair’ devil-may-care appearance.
Okay, great. So my hair looks fab, but the rest of this just will not do.
I hang up and slap my palms on my cheeks to get some colour in them. And wait. And wait. Is he calling me back? Didn’t he say he was FaceTiming me? I should have taken charge. Then I wouldn’t be waiting, and wondering.Fuck, I’ve definitely lost it. It’s literally milliseconds since I hung up.
The FaceTime tone starts and I actually jump. Get it together, Maywood. For fuck’s sake.
I hit join, and his eyes are the first thing that hits me. The crinkles on the sides, smile lines. The man smiles a lot, obviously, but not necessarily at me. At least not before.
“Hey, all okay? I can see it is.” He smiles into the camera, and I can’t get any words out. “Look, Carter, I won’t beat around the bush. Are you alone?”
Oh God no. I nod. Why is he smiling like that? He’s trying to let me down gently. Keeping it friendly.Shit, I’m being batted into the friend zone. Or maybe the family zone because of Evie. He still wants to be friends.
I’m licking my lips, as my lips and throat are as dry as the Sahara. I watch his eyes follow the movement of my tongue. What the hell was that? What is going on? “I’m alone,” I manage to croak out.
He smiles, again, and his dimples pop. That’s it, speech gone.
“Okay, well look, I just wanted to talk about what we talked about before I left for Ireland.”
I take an extra beat before I blurt out, “You mean, ran out of my house without saying goodbye, then jumped on a plane to Ireland and ignored all my calls? You mean that leaving, sugar? Or did I forget something?” Of fucking course I’ve managed to croak out that spray of verbal vomit. Why couldn’t I just keepmy damn mouth shut? He’ll be annoyed that I’ve pointed out his shitty behaviour.
But he looks down, and my heart leaps. He’s upset with himself about leaving.
He sighs in resignation. “Yeah, I did all that. But can we talk about it? Or are you so pissed off that you’re no longer bothered?” He’s staring intently at my face now. Jesus, he’s so focused.
I clear my throat. “I’m still bothered,” is all I can rasp out.
He smiles again, and it’s a slow burn smile, one that blinds me. Jesus, I’m gonna come in my jeans if he keeps smiling at me like that.
“Great. In that case, I’d like to date you. If that’s still the phrase. Or we go out. Dinners. Stay-in dinners. But you and me…”
He tails off, watching my face. Trying to read me. And I am an open book at this point. My whole body lights up like Fourth of July fireworks.
“I’d love that, Jackson. You won’t regret it. I’ll look after you, sugar. I don’t want us hassled. I’ve thought about it myself, and if you don’t want to go out to events with me, then that’s fine. Or if you do, but be in the background as my security, I can live with that. But I want to spend as much time as I can with you. I think we can figure it out as long as we talk and be open and honest with each other. That is the most important thing. No secrets, just good, open communication.”
He nods. “I can do that. As long as you’re happy for me to tell you if it’s getting too much. But I don’t want you flirting with every man we meet if I’m with you. When you’re on your own, fine. But if I’m around, then I won’t like it, even if it is your job. I don’t want to be involved in brawls over you being too touchy-feely. Or punching out your next director or producer, as you’vegot too handsy.” He smirks a little, and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
“I won’t, baby, I promise. I’ll rein it in. Or tell you if I have a strategy for something, and I need to do something. You’ll always know. Where you’re concerned, I’ll be an open book.” I’m babbling like a brook now. To be honest, I’d say and agree to anything at this point.
“Like now, what are you doing in London? Can you say?”
I shake my head. “No, I'm NDA’d for a few more days. Absolutely no one knows other than Freddie. You will be the first person I tell, though, once everything is concrete.” I hold my breath and see if this is an issue. But he would know about this stuff. It’s his bread and butter.
He nods his head at me, and I see the professional logic at play. But then his eyes go molten, his voice low and growly. His focus sharpens, and it’s not security that's driving it. “I wish I was there. To talk in person.” He stops, and all I can hear is my panting. Then he starts talking again, and I try to rein it in so I can hear every delicious syllable he utters. “But I wanted to tell you, I didn’t want to wait. I know I’ve been a bit of a dick, with keeping you at arm’s length. I just needed to be sure I was saying yes for the right reasons.”
“Does your family know?” I hold my breath. If he’s told his family, then I know he’s all in. They discuss things. I know this from listening to Evie.
“Yes, I’ve spoken to my sister and brothers. As well as my brothers-in-law. I hope you don’t mind. We do tend to tell each other stuff. But not everything.”
He smirks, bigger now, broader, and fuck me, but my balls tingle. My cock starts to fuckin’ throb. I can tell he knows, as his smirk gets dirtier and dirtier.
“Fuck, sugar, you sure are one hell of a man. I’ll be getting on the next plane home.” I can hardly believe my luck. He’stold his crew. I suppose I’d better get ready for some banter, then. “I think James already knows. He sussed me out after the restaurant extraction. Told me off for taking advantage of your instincts to protect people.” We both laugh at that.
