Fearing The Biker Page 28

  Both, I thought, staring at her. As far as I was concerned, she made me feel inebriated. “I’m sober,” I said. “Remember, I’m a lawyer. I know when to stop drinking before I get behind the wheel.”

  She laughed. “Right. So, I’m supposed to trust a lawyer?”

  I put my hand on her back and guided her towards the door. “You watch too much television,” I said, opening it, “which gives us all bad raps.”

  “Television, huh?” she said, as we walked out to the parking lot.

  I raised the key fob and pointed it towards my car. “Of course,” I said. “Not all of us are crooked. In fact, a lot of my cases are pro bono.”

  “Is this yours?” she asked, staring at the silver Mercedes SLS. “Pro bono seems to agree with you,” she said.

  I grinned. “This is just a rental.”

  She shook her head and got inside.

  I slid into the driver’s seat next to her and closed the door when the scent of Sinclair’s perfume engulfed me. A light fruity fragrance, reminding me of the kiss we’d shared earlier. I tried to push the memory away, but her close proximity was making it difficult.

  “Not quite a family car,” she said, snapping on her seatbelt. “You and Sela are going to have to invest in a minivan.”

  “Nonsense,” I smiled. “I’ll have a special luggage rack installed. The kids will love the view from up there.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. It was a beautiful sound – feminine and purely genuine.

  “Oh, my God, you’re a hoot,” she said.

  I raised my eyebrows. “I’m a hoot?”

  “Okay, you’re kind of nuts – is that better?”

  “Actually, you’re the one who got into a car with me. Now, tell me who’s nuts?” I said, giving her my most sinister grin.

  “Touché.”

  “What kind of music do you like?” I asked, turning on the XM radio.

  “Whatever you’d like,” she said. “I’m easy.”

  “You’re easy?”

  She rolled her eyes. “God, you’re a smartass, just like your brother. You know exactly what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t. Please reiterate what it is you exactly mean, Sin.”

  She pointed at the road. “I’m about as easy as you are hard-to-get.”

  “Are you saying I’m easy?” I asked, feigning a look of shock.

  She pulled her hair behind her ears and smiled. “Never met a guy who wasn’t.”

  “I’m sure you haven’t.”

  Her cheeks turned pink and I had an incredible urge to place them in my palms and feel their warmth. Instead, I found a song by Adele and settled with a few stolen glances of her profile as she stared off towards the ocean.

  “Beautiful,” I sighed.

  Sinclair nodded. “Yes. It’s incredible. Man, it must have been wonderful growing up in this area.”

  “I can’t complain. My brother and I were very fortunate in many ways.”

  “So, what made you decide to move to New York?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “My career. I was offered a partnership by an old friend three years ago and jumped on it. I guess I wanted a change at the time, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

  She nodded. “I guess I can understand that. New York sounds fascinating.”

  “It is. You should come out and visit sometime, with Jesse.”

  “Maybe.”

  I turned up the music and we drove the rest of the way in silence while I cheated and took a much longer scenic route. When we finally reached the house, I was tempted to keep driving, just so I could enjoy her presence a little bit longer. She was definitely getting under my skin.

  “So,” I asked, as we pulled up to the house. “What do you usually do for fun when you’re not working?”

  She smiled. “For fun? Oh, I don’t know – read, go for walks, hang out with friends.”

  “Jesse works that much, huh?” I asked, smiling.

  She shrugged. “We go out when we can, but I usually have to be at the shop by six-thirty most mornings, so it’s difficult.”

  “I hear that. When I’m not at the office, I’m at home, working.”

  “Wow, looks like they’re already setting up for tonight,” she said, motioning towards the party supply and catering trucks.

  I looked at my watch, it was just after two-thirty. “I’m surprised my mother didn’t have them here at sunrise. She lives for parties.”

  “I keep hearing that both of your parents are so boring and straight-laced. I guess I’m surprised to hear that their parties are wild and crazy. At least that’s what Jesse says.”

  I nodded. “Jack’s in showbiz. Having outrageous parties is kind of mandatory when you’re part of Hollywood, no matter what age you are. Like I said, it’s all one big fucking show, and that’s why I don’t visit as much as I probably should.”

  “I guess I can appreciate that,” she said.

  I unlocked the doors. “You just wait until tonight. You’ll never be back.”

  She stared at me curiously for a few seconds and then smiled.

  “We’d better go inside,” I said.

  She laughed. “I guess we should.”

  As we slid out of the car, a dark sedan pulled up behind us.

  “Good afternoon,” smiled a thin, middle-aged man with light blonde hair, a thick moustache, and dark glasses. “I’m Pastor Richie.”

  I shook his hand. “I’m Reed Eddington and this is Sinclair –”

  “Jeffries,” she added, smiling at the pastor.

  He shook her hand, too. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m here to speak with Mimi or Jack Eddington.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Is everything okay?”

  He smiled. “I believe so. I’m helping them renew their vows this evening.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

  “Yes. I spoke to Mimi this morning about it.”

  “Well, follow us,” I said, walking towards the house. “I’m sure she’s inside somewhere, directing the pre-party chaos.”

  ***

  Sinclair

  I excused myself as soon as we entered the house, to go search for Jesse. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in his bedroom or anywhere else in the house. Then, when I tried texting him, he didn’t respond and I really became nervous.

  “Have you seen Jesse?” I asked George, who was carrying a box of booze into the house.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve been unloading some supplies for tonight. Have you checked the pool?”

  “No. I’ll go and see if he’s out there,” I said. “Thanks, George.”

  I found my way to the courtyard, where the large Olympic-sized swimming pool sat. Unfortunately, it was empty. As I was about to go back inside, I noticed a small building on the other side of the pool. It looked like a sauna or cabana and I wondered if he’d decided to unwind in it. I walked around the pool, and as I placed my hand on the door handle, I could hear moaning. Worried that Jesse was inside crying, I pushed the door open to console him, only to freeze dead in my tracks.

  “Yes…” moaned Sela, who was on her hands and knees, the top of her swimsuit pushed away from her breasts, the bottoms lying on the ground next to her. Kneeling behind her was Jack, his white ass pumping furiously as he held onto her tan hips.

  Stunned and horrified, I quietly shut the door and hurried back to the house.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sinclair

  I went straight to my bedroom and sat down on the bed, wondering what the hell I should do. Obviously, it wasn’t any of my business. I was just a guest in Jack’s home.

  What about Reed and Mimi? Shouldn’t they know?

  Reed wasn’t exactly innocent, however. Not after the way we’d attacked each other in my bedroom.

  I still felt sick to my stomach as I thought about Sela and Jack together. He was obviously a sick bastard – to not only be cheating on his wife, but to be doing it right in his house and with his son’s fiancée.

  J
ust like Jesse mentioned, he was an asshole.

  And Sela…

  Well, it just substantiated my already negative feelings about her.

  Sighing, I got out of bed and tried calling Jesse again, wondering where in the hell he was.

  ***

  Reed

  After leading Pastor Richie to my mother, who was in the kitchen making plans with the caterer, I went upstairs to check on Sela. Unfortunately, she wasn’t around. I called her cell phone.

  “Hello,” she answered, sounding slightly winded.

  “I’m back. You still by the pool?”

  “Yes, I’ll be right up.”

  “Okay, I’m in your room.” I hung up, collapsed onto her bed, and turned on the television. A few minutes later, she breezed into the bedroom, engulfing me with the smell of coconuts and mango.

  “Hi,” she said, leaning over to kiss my lips.

  “Hi. How’d it go?” I asked.

  Her eyes widened. “How did what go?”

  I yawned. “Relaxing, swimming, working on your tan… how did it go?”

  She walked over to her suitcase and started rifling through it. “Okay. I’m full of chlorine and tanning oil. I’m going to take a shower.”

  I started flipping through the channels. “Good idea.”

  “Reed, I’m starving,” she said, grabbing her shampoo. “Let’s go someplace and eat.”

  I glanced at her. “I’m sorry, I just went to lunch. I’m sure Gretchen can fix you something. We’ll go check with her when you’re finished with the shower.”

  She put her hands on her hips and gave me a venomous look.

  Oh shit.

  “You went to lunch without me? I thought you were just doing a couple of errands,” she snapped.

  I shrugged. “I met up with Jesse and Sinclair. It wasn’t something I’d planned to do without you, it just happened. Besides,” I smiled. “What’s one less salad in your life?”

  “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  I turned off the television and stood up. “You hardly eat anything, Sela. Even if you would have joined us, you probably would have nibbled on vegetables and crackers.”

  She raised her chin in the air. “At least I wouldn’t have been stuck here.”

  I stared at her incredulously. “I asked you if you wanted to join me today, but you declined.”

  Her lips thinned. “Well, you should have asked harder.”

  Jesus Christ.

  Her phone started vibrating and she grabbed it. After reading a text message, she looked at me. “Fine, if you’re not going to take me anywhere, then could you find me something to eat while I’m in the shower?”

  I nodded. “Sure, how about a sandwich?”

  “I’d prefer a salad, tossed in vinaigrette dressing.”

  Sighing, I walked towards the door. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  ***

  Sinclair

  I finally got ahold of Jesse, who had driven all the way back to Alex’s. Apparently, Alex had given him an ultimatum – either tell his parents about the two of them, or move on.

  “He wants to marry me, Sin,” he said. “But, the truth is, I’m not really ready for marriage. I mean, I care about him, a lot. But…”

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, yet. He’s actually giving me a week to decide.”

  “What about your job? Are you going to have to leave the company?”

  “He said I could stay, but our relationship would have to be totally platonic.”

  “But that would be…”

  “Awkward,” he said.

  “Obviously. Well, at least he’s not being a total asshole about it.”

  Jesse sighed. “He’s a good guy but he just doesn’t understand, I’m only twenty-four and he’s thirty-six. I’m not ready for that kind of commitment yet.”

  “Then you’d better not do it,” I said. “If you do it just to make him happy, it will never work. You’ll both be miserable in the long run and you’ll end up hating each other.”

  He sighed. “My thoughts exactly. I just needed to hear it from someone else.”

  “You’re um… driving back to your parents’, right?”

  “I’ll be back before the party. I want to try and talk to him a little more. Try to somehow reason with him.”

  “Okay. Don’t forget, you still have my dress and shoes for tonight’s party in your trunk, though.”

  He swore under his breath. “Okay, I’ll be home by six at the latest.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “Hey, there’s something else,” I said.

  He paused. “What?”

  I thought about everything he had on his plate at the moment, and decided to wait. “I’ll tell you later, it’s not important.”

  He snorted. “My dad didn’t hit on you, did he?”

  “I… ah… no,” I said.

  “Good. If he does, you have my permission to slug him.”

  “Okay,” I said.

  “And stay away from Mimi until the party starts. She’s going to be going nuts, getting everything ready.”

  “Maybe I should try and help her out?”

  “God forbid, don’t even offer. This is her show and she won’t even appreciate your offer. Just relax, go for a walk, or stay in the room until I get back.”

  I sighed. “Okay.”

  “Sin, I’m sorry about taking off like this,” he said.

  “No, it’s okay,” I said. “I get it. Really I do.”

  “Thanks, sweetie, I’ll see you in a few.”

  After hanging up, I couldn’t help but agonize over the horrible scene in the sauna. When it was all said and done, I decided to talk to Reed, since it was his right to know about Sela. If it was me, I would certainly want to know.

  I left the bedroom and walked down the hallway towards his bedroom. As I raised my hand to knock, I heard someone clear their throat and turned my head.

  “Miss me already?” asked Reed, coming towards me, holding a tray of food.

  I blushed. “Um, no I just needed to talk to you.”

  “Okay. I have to take this salad back to Sela’s room first.”

  Before I could answer, Sela walked out of her bedroom. “Oh, there you are…”

  He handed her the tray of food. “I’ll be right back, Sinclair needs to talk.”

  Sela turned and glared at me. “You need to talk? Where’s Jesse?”

  “He had to check in at work,” I said. “But he should be back soon.”

  “Well, I’m sure you two can talk in front of me,” she said, her lips thinned. “Reed and I have no secrets.”

  Right.

  He stared at me and must have noticed something in my expression. He turned back to Sela. “I’m sure it’s about Jesse. Why don’t you finish your lunch and I’ll be back as soon as I can?”

  She frowned. “Make it quick. We’ve had hardly any time to ourselves.”

  “It won’t take long,” I said.

  She glared at me one last time, then turned and slammed the bedroom door.

  Reed winced. “Sorry about that. She’s a little sensitive.”

  “That’s a nice way to put it.”

  He walked over to me and smiled. “So, your bedroom or mine?”

  “How about by the pool?” I said.

  “The pool?”

  I nodded.

  Yes, near the scene of the crime.

  ***

  Reed

  I followed Sinclair out to the pool, staring in awe at the way her ass moved in her shorts. It seemed to taunt me with every step.

  “So,” she said, sitting down at one of the poolside tables. “I don’t even know how to tell you this…”

  I sat down across from her. “Don’t worry, I hear it all the time.”

  She looked at me, shocked. “What?”

  “You can’t stop thinking about me,” I said, grinning broadly. “I know, it’s tough.”

  She sat back in the
chair and sighed. “Somehow I think you’re going to get through this just fine.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Get through what?”

  “Reed!” hollered Jack, waving from patio. “Mimi needs you!”

  “Can it wait?” I yelled.

  He shook his head. “No, she needs you right now.”

  “Shit,” I said, standing up. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  I walked back towards the house. “What does she need?”

  “Go and find out,” he said, taking a sip of brandy or whatever the fuck he was drinking now. “She’s in the dining room.”

  “Fine.”

  Jack rubbed the side of his moustache and motioned towards Sinclair. “Where’s Jesse?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Huh. Well, I’ll keep Sinclair busy until you get back,” he said, stepping off of the deck.

  I glanced back towards Sinclair, who looked less than pleased to see Jack walking towards her.

  ***

  Sinclair

  Crap, what in the hell does he want? I thought, watching as Jack approached.

  “Mind if I join you?” he asked.

  “Go ahead,” I said, wishing he’d just go away.

  Instead, he sat down right next to me.

  He raised his glass. “Would you care for a drink?”

  “No thanks,” I said, looking towards the house.

  He drank the rest of his and set it down on the table. “So…”

  I looked back at him and tried to hide my revulsion. He repelled me; made my skin crawl.

  Jack glanced back towards the house and then his eyes shifted back to me. He licked his lips. “So, Sinnn… did you enjoy the show in the sauna?”

  My eyes widened in shock.

  “You could have joined us, you know,” he said with a wolfish grin.

  I stood up, totally appalled. “That’s sick.”

  “Sit down,” he demanded sharply.

  Stunned by the acid in his tone, I obeyed, like a small child.

  “Now,” he said, his eyes pinning me to the chair. “You’re going to keep your mouth shut. If you say one word to anyone, you’ll regret it. I have connections everywhere and trust me – you don’t want to fuck with me. You got that, sweetheart?”