Chapter 12
Bella
“Before I agree to this, you need to tell me everything that happened last night.” Jonas was insistent and I wasn’t certain I was ready to tell anyone what had occurred inside the elevator. “Whether or not my father was exaggerating, the man is one scary dude.”
We were sitting at a small table directly in front of the small café’s picture window. It was the perfect place to observe people enjoying their day shopping or heading to and from work.
It was also the perfect place to be seen, which is what I was hoping would happen.
The various odd incidents would unnerve me for some time to come, especially the one with Creed. No matter how much I’d secretly enjoyed the attention and the explosion of passion, I was sick to my stomach for what I’d allowed to occur. I’d never had a one-night stand in my life. Okay, Creed had been forceful, but the reality was that I’d enjoyed both the attention and the passion. However, whether or not he was following me helped me to realize that his infatuation or his determination to own me wasn’t acceptable.
You couldn’t just lay claim to a person and that made it so. I didn’t care how much money he had or how good looking he was, I refused to allow the man to slide into my life ever again.
“He continued to ask me out, telling me he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. When I told him I had a boyfriend, he laughed as if it was the most ridiculous thing on the planet. He told me that we would be together and we’d be incredible.”
“Possessive much?” Jonas laughed as he sipped his soft drink. “But it’s nice to have that kind of attention.”
I couldn’t concentrate, constantly looking out the window, unsure if I was hoping to see the man or praying I didn’t. Either way, I wanted to give Creed the full understanding I wasn’t going to see him again. Period. He could prod and coerce me all he wanted but I refused to be used by anyone.
No matter how sexy.
Jonas followed my line of sight and sighed. “You honestly think he’s following you?”
“I’m certain of it. Or maybe it’s Gregor.”
“What?”
“Did you see Gregor when you came in?”
“No. Why?”
“I don’t know. He was at the ballet company having another argument with Marcia.”
He snorted. “Well, the man is a hothead. Did you ask her about it?”
“She wasn’t going to say anything. What it is with the two men, their dangerous backgrounds?”
“You think Gregor and Creed know each other.”
“Both rumored to be mafia? Maybe?”
He reached over, grabbing my hand. “You know I adore you but don’t assume anything other than it’s best you stay away from both of them. So how far with the boyfriend/girlfriend thing do you want to go?” He was grinning, back to not being but so concerned.
“We can just hold hands walking back to my place, maybe kissing on the doorstep. If he is watching, he’ll get the idea.” At least I could hope.
“Well, I guess I owe you that for being such a fabulous dance partner. I hate that it might be the last time we get to dance together.”
“Don’t do that, partner and bestie of mine. Talk to your mother. Have a heart to heart with your father.”
“I’d like to,” he said. “But it’s funny how weird he is, how strange he was acting last night. Something was bothering him, his arrogance off. You’d have to spend time with him to understand. We’ve never been close, the man as emotional as a stick, but I’d been right about his hidden agenda. He even was incensed I was so excited about dancing with you.”
“What?”
He laughed. “Please. Don’t take it to mean anything. My father obviously had something on his mind. Whatever emails he was getting were making him angry. By the time his chauffeur finally dropped me off at the hotel, he and Mother were arguing.”
“What did he say about me?” I’d only met the man once, but it hadn’t been the most pleasant experience. That much I did remember.
“Just that you were a bad seed.” Before I had a chance to snap, he threw out his hand. “Don’t go there. I told you. My father is an asshole. Come on. Why don’t we learn to become lovers.” He winked, trying to make me laugh, but why did his father say that out of the blue? I remained unnerved as we tossed our trash and walked out.
When he took my hand into his, it felt strange, driving me back to the events from the night before. As we walked hand in hand, he jabbered on about something that I wasn’t paying any attention to. It was difficult not to glance around me, but I did my best to smile and pretend. His grip was firm and I knew he’d made a wonderful beau to some handsome guy one day. I truly hoped he wouldn’t succumb to his father’s wishes, but I had a feeling he would.
As we turned down the street toward my secured brownstone, I acted as if I needed to tie my shoe, crouching down on the sidewalk and glancing around me.
“Is he there?”
“Not that I can see but he could be hiding anywhere.”
“Maybe you were wrong before. Are you sure nothing happened between the two of you last night?”
“What if I told you a hot kiss?”
He stared down at me, his mouth gaping open. “Well, honey. I would say I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Cringing as I stood, I realized how much I adored being around him. Jonas had a way of making me feel as if nothing bad would ever happen. Or if it did that laughter could fix it. He threw out his hand, waiting to help me stand. As soon as he did, he jerked me into his arms, grinning like the big kid he was.
“You are one bad girl. I told you to stay away from that man.”
“You don’t want me with any men. Face it, lover boy.” It was fun to tease him. It was good to feel a little more lighthearted. Things would work out for both of us.
“Well, darling,” he said as he started to egg on our little charade, “you’re right in that you are all mine.” As he pulled me closer to the front stoop of my secured building, I had a flashback from the night before, Creed telling me I belonged to him. I was suddenly tense, the stranger stalker type series of sensations coursing through me all over again.
If Jonas noticed, he didn’t say a word, instead playing his part a little too well, planting a big, juicy kiss on my lips then parting them with his tongue. For a man who preferred men, he was a damn good kisser of women, even going so far as to lift me off my feet. I had to admit, if anyone was looking, they’d believe the two of us were together.
He allowed it to carry on much longer than I thought he would and when he finally pulled away, the grin on his face returned.
“How was that?”
“Perfect. You need a boyfriend,” I told him.
“Tell me something I don’t know. Although…”
“What are you hiding?” I shoved my hand into my purse to find my keys.
“Well,” he started, giving me another saucy look he was so famous for. “I decided you might be right about the dating service so I signed up a couple weeks ago.”
“You didn’t!” I’d been bugging him for a few weeks about it. As happy-go-lucky as he was while around the other dancers, he was as shy as a turtle when it came to dating. Maybe that was because his asshole father had made fun of him so often.
“Yep. And I have a blind date tonight. The guy seems perfect. He contacted me last night. We chatted online for like two hours.”
“Oh, wow. You are going all out.” I shoved the key into the lock, taking a few seconds to glance over my shoulder once again.
“You only live once, right? Isn’t that what you told me, oh bad girl who kissed a stranger, a dangerous one at that.”
“Are you going to keep bugging me about that for the rest of my life?”
“Why, yes, I am. You deserve it.”
I opened the outer door to the lobby as we both laughed. “You don’t need to walk me up, darling.” I used my sultry voice, the one he loved teasing me about relentlessly.
“Oh, no, girlfriend. This is a full-service date. Maybe we should fool around a little. You know, get naked.”
“Very funny and you know Grace and Tonya are probably home and would freak.”
“Oh, what a pity. You’re missing out on something very special.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” He trailed up the stairs after me to the third floor. The door was unlocked and as soon as I walked inside, the scent hit me. Someone had brought the flowers from the theater.
Only as I walked into the kitchen, thinking I was right, I immediately noticed the bouquet in another stunning crystal vase was entirely different. The flowers weren’t sterling silver, they were red. As in the color of blood.
The thought was ridiculous but one I couldn’t get off my mind. Maybe they weren’t for me. Tonya had a kind of boyfriend.
“Nice flowers,” Jonas said. “From him?”
I stared at them for longer than he thought I should. I could tell by the push he gave me toward them.
“It would seem you’re two-timing me,” he teased.
“Very funny.” I was still hesitant but walked closer, noticing a small card in the little plastic holder. I was nervous and there was no reason why. They were just flowers, not a ticking timebomb.
“Oh, for the love of God. I don’t like the guy and think you need to stay away from him, but anyone who sends my partner flowers gets a little nod of respect in my book. Let’s see what the card says. Maybe a promise of deliriously naughty things to come.” Before I had a chance to stop him, he jerked the card from the holder, backing away as I lunged for it.
“Give that back or I’ll two-time you some more.”
“Ha. You wouldn’t dare. I am a jealous beast.” He pulled out the card, winking as he did. “Let’s see here. What does it say?”
When he didn’t say anything for at least twenty seconds, I nudged him with my foot. “Alright, drama boy. What does it say?’
“It says ‘I’m proud. I knew you deserved the roles.’” He was obviously as confused as I was, lifting his head with a questioning look on his face.
“What? Was it signed by anyone? That sounds a bit off, as in maybe you were right about Gregor.”
“D. Just an initial. That’s not Creed. Right? It’s not Gregor either.” Then who the hell had sent me flowers? I felt creepy all over again, another shiver skating down my back.
I snatched the note from his hand, staring down at the single letter then back to the flowers.
“Do you know anyone with that initial?” he asked.
I thought about my list of few friends, the teachers at school. Everyone. Even if I did know someone like David or Daniel, why would they say they were proud of me? “No. It’s very odd. But everyone thinks I was handed those roles for another reason.”
“Yeah, but at least you know it’s not from your sexy stalker and stop it. You’re the best female dancer the company has ever seen.”
While he was teasing me all over again, I still heard the concern in his voice. “Ha. Ha. Thank you for that.”
“I meant it. Do you want me to stay, rustle up some heat in your bedroom?”
Cocking my head, I glared at him. “And mess with the hours you need getting ready for your hot date? I don’t think so.”
“I don’t take hours. Maybe one or two. But I am going to buy a sexy new shirt.”
“You go, boy toy, but I want all the juicy details.”
“You got it, girlfriend. I’ll see myself out so you can handle all your admirers, but I’ll be your fake boyfriend anytime.” He kissed me on the cheek again, rubbing the scratch my mother had given me. “Clean your face so you don’t look like a swollen beast at practice tomorrow.”
“You are so mean. So mean indeed.”
“Yes, I am and don’t you forget it.” He twirled before walking out, popping his head back into the kitchen, blowing me a kiss.
After I heard the door close, I turned my attention to the flowers, running a single finger from one petal to another, sliding it down the stem as I leaned over and took a deep whiff.
“Ouch.”
The hard pinch was unexpected. I jerked my finger away, noticing a drop of blood on the end. As I pulled it to my lips, sucking it off, another shiver ran down my spine.
Another ominous feeling.
As if this was a premonition of things to come.