Chapter Two | JESSE
Chapter Two
JESSE
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WHEN DID LIL’ Lyla McCoy become the sexy, curvy goddess molding against my body just perfectly?
Fuck me.
I wish I had a better excuse to plant my lips on her.
Fake dating. What a stupid idea. But damn, I’ll take any excuse to wrangle Lyla’s tongue.
Cinnamon, sugar, and sweet feminine flavors tantalize my taste buds.
And I like it. I like it a lot. I just wish the potent smell of my ex’s designer perfume wasn’t interrupting.
I resist my desire further to explore the dips and grooves of Lyla’s mouth and break the kiss.
I hear her sigh.
I hear my grumble.
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. I’ve just confirmed I’m dating Lil Lyla. When we’re not. And she ain’t the little girl I remember. Hell no. But shit, I ain’t dating her.
“Delphine, I don’t think you ever met Lyla.” My sister ushers the conversation while I’m unsure what to say.
I’ve implied plenty enough without allowing Lyla to have her say.
I couldn’t help myself. The way Delphine hinted at the ridiculousness of me dating lil’ Lyla burned my britches.
I’ve known Lyla my entire life, and she’s one of the good ones.
Unlike the selfish, back-stabbing wench, I almost married.
“No, I don’t believe we’ve met.” Delphine glares at Lyla the way she’s glared at all my female fans in the past. Jealousy doesn’t become her, yet she always finds something to be jealous about. It’s ironic, considering she cheated on me–with my best friend.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Lyla offers her hand, but Delphine leaves it hanging alone.
I claim my fake girlfriend’s hand and bring her knuckles to my mouth. I feel her tense as my lips run over her soft skin. If we were alone, I could erase her tenseness.
Shit.
No.
Damn, I’m a selfish asshole. First, throwing her into this mess my sister created, then wanting to ravish her. What’s wrong with me? Maybe all work and no play this past year is catching up to me.
“We’ve all been friends since we were youngins.” There goes my sister, adding more fuel to the fire. “Lyla lived at the ranch with her mama. She celebrated all occasions with us and spent more time at the main house than in her own. I do declare she was around until she left for college.”
“Wait, I remember hearing about you.” Delphine snaps her fingers. “You’re the nanny’s daughter.”
Emilia’s smile falters. “She’s family.”
Delphine’s nose turns up at me. “So it’s sort of like you’re dating your sister?” She crosses her arms under her bosom, purposely boosting her breasts in the deep cleavage blouse. She leans in. “Are y’all sure Layla—”
“Lyla,” Lyla and I correct at the same time.
Delphine pauses with a slight eyebrow raise. “Are y’all sure you’re not related? Maybe have the same daddy?”
The accusation rubs me the wrong way. I would’ve punched her square in the face if she’d been a man. It’s rich, too, coming from the woman who cheated on me. How fucking dare she?
“My father would never bed his employee’s wife. He wouldn’t cheat, period. If you disrespect Lyla or my family again, I may be ready to make a formal statement to the press regarding your actions. Wouldn’t that be fun? To bring the video back to the spotlight?”
The color drains from Delphine’s face. This is the first time we’ve seen each other or talked since our blowout after her sex tape aired online. I think it’s too soon.
“Lyla and my brother were destined to be together.” My sister is playing matchmaker at her best. But I’m not exactly sure why. And I’m so fucking angry, I don’t give a shit.
“Your decisions, not your conditions, determine your destiny.” Delphine always has a way of insulting a person indirectly. “If you’ll excuse me, people are waiting for me.” Her cunning gaze lands on me. “It’s a big lodge, but I hope to see you around. We could grab a drink and catch up.”
There it is. She didn’t accidentally run into me. She wants something. She’s barking up the wrong tree. I’d never tell her, but she’s why I hate Christmas. She destroyed me last year.
The ice queen turns and sashays away. Even her exits garner attention from onlookers.
“She’s stuck up higher than a light pole,” my sister says.
Lyla takes a step away from me. “What the fuck was that?”
“The wicked witch of the west.” My sister snarls in Delphine’s direction.
Lyla plants her hands on her curvy waist. My body misses hers already. “I’m talking about the flat-out lie you told the wicked witch of the West.”
“Keep your voice down.” Emilia loops her arm in Lyla’s and pulls her close. For years, these two were inseparable, especially after Lyla’s dad died when she was only ten. “You never know who’s listening.”
“Lyla’s right. Why the hell did you tell her we’re together?”
“Why do you sound so angry? You went along with it.” Lyla perches her dark eyebrows at me.
“She provoked me.”
“No, she provoked me.” Lyla breaks free from my sister. “And I can handle myself. I was handling it.”
“We wouldn’t have been handling anything if Emilia hadn’t blabbed out a lie.” We both turn on my sister.
She shrugs innocently. “It slipped out.”
I don’t believe her.
“It slipped out?” Lyla doesn’t believe her either. She runs her fingers through the front of her bun, only causing more flyaway strands. “You know what, it’s been a long drive here. I’d like to chill in our room, unpack, and shower before supper. Can I have our keycard?”
“Sure can.” My sister holds out a keycard. “That’s the suite you and Jesse are staying in—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What?” Lyla’s hands pause beside the keycard. “What are you talking about? I’m not staying alone in a suite with your brother.”
“Don’t sound so mortified,” I tease, enjoying the flames of red licking her neck and climbing to her cheeks.
“You’re not funny,” she tells me.
“I think I’m funny.”
“You also seem to think you’re my boyfriend, so I’m not sure your opinion is spot on.” She turns to Emilia. “Why are you trying to stick me with him? He’s like a big kid but grumpy. Have you noticed how grumpy he is?”
“You’re quite the peach, yourself.” I wrap my arm around her hip and tug her snugly against me. “Delphine is watching.” I try not to move my lips, and I smile to cover my words.
“This is insane. We can’t do this all week. Smile and hug and—” Her lips curl downward. “Kiss.”
I’m pretty damn sure my kisses don’t merit disgust. “I’d say the kissing has been the best part.”
Lyla sighs loudly. “I find that hard to believe.”
Emilia snaps her fingers. “Hey, listen to me. Jesse, you’ve been riding and hiding for a year.” With good reason, people suck. “Lyla, you’ve stopped working to build your library.”
“I like my library.”
“The library isn’t the problem. Your lack of socializing is.”
“Socializing is overrated.” Now, who sounds grumpy? Not that I disagree with Lyla.
Emilia presses her lips together. “You two need to get your shit together. I’ve been bouncing back and forth between these two pity parties for a year, and I’m worn out.”
“I never invited you to my pity party.” Lyla stuffs her hands in her pockets, elbowing my side in the process. She glances at me unapologetically.
“It’s Christmas, and damn it, you two are going to fucking enjoy it!
” A family with three young children passes by, giving my sister dirty looks.
“I’m so sorry.” Her glare lands on us like a scolding teacher.
“The fourth person is my boyfriend,” she grits out. “And I’ll be sharing a suite with him.”
“Boyfriend?” Lyla and I say at the same time. We share a look with her. We seem to be on the same wavelength today.
“Didn’t you know that I have a boyfriend?” There’s my sister playing Miss Innocent once more.
“No.” Lyla and I say simultaneously.
“I guess your pity parties left you no room to listen to others.” Emilia waves at a short, not-so-cowboy-looking man strutting our way.
Sure, the guy is wearing plaid, but also a knitted cardigan and thick-brimmed black glasses. He screams Geek. What the hell’s my sister doing dating a geek?
“We’ll tell Ross you two are dating,” Emilia whispers.
“Ross?” I snort. “What kind of name is that?“
“You want to lie to your new boyfriend?” Lyla says it; I was thinking the same thing.
“It’s going to be more confusing trying to explain why y’all are pretending to date.”
“We’re pretending to date because of you,” I point out.
Lyla elbows me. “That’s right, you tell her. Let Grumpy Claus out.”
I slant her a scowl. “You’re not too far from being Mrs. Grumpy Claus.”
“Neither of you is going to be grumpy,” my sister hisses.
“This is my Christmas holiday too, and you two grumpy Grinch’s are not ruining it.
” She rushes out her words as her supposed boyfriend nears.
She replaces her scowl with a smile. “Ross, this is my brother Jesse and his girlfriend Lyla, who also happens to be my best friend.”
“Nice to meet you.” My sister’s lying has rubbed off on me. I shake the man’s hand. Weak and flimsy. How is this man supposed to protect and take care of my sister?
“It’s nice to meet you finally. Emilia has told me so much about both of you.” His voice is solid and confident. I’ll give him that.
Meanwhile, Lyla looks ready to strangle my sister. I may have to protect my sister from my fake girlfriend.
I wrap my arm around Lyla’s shoulder. “It’s been a long drive. Why don’t we settle into our rooms and meet for drinks before supper?” As we turn to collect our luggage, I whisper to Lyla, “Ready for some alone time?”