Chapter Fourteen
Zoe
“Hello?” My heart thunders in my chest. Jace saw me naked. Stared at me naked. Spent five minutes standing in my room while I was naked. I clutch my robe tighter and shudder.
“What took you so long?” My dad’s voice booms in my ear. I jerk my hand back, so he doesn’t break my eardrum.
“I wasn’t doing anything.” Shit. That sounded guilty. “I was coming out of the shower. Sorry I didn’t reach the phone in time.”
Heat rushes over my cheeks again. But lord, I should feel guilty. The things I’d like to do to Jace would make my father blush.
I fall onto the bed. The soft cushions bounced me upward. But once again–nothing happened. I cringe. Not that I did it on purpose. I had no idea he was in the room when I stepped out of the bathroom. I want him to ravish me of his own free will. Not because I was naked, and any man would gladly jump into bed with a woman strutting around with her tits and ass showing.
But he did nothing. Is it because of his issues? Maybe Zayden was wrong. Maybe he does have an issue getting it up.
My head slings back down again and hits the pillow. I’m going to die a shriveled-up hag with a horde of guinea pigs. Or whatever a bunch of guinea pigs is called.
“Alone?”
“Alone, what?”
“Were you in the shower alone?” His voice is a low growl.
“Of course, I was alone.” I grind my teeth together and snap upright in the middle of the bed. “Not that it’s any of your business who or what I’m doing. I’ll be 23 in a couple of months.”
“I’m well aware of that but….” He pauses for a moment and then continues. “Ethan James was asking about you.”
“So?” I’d much rather be doing anything else rather than listening to my father rattle on about nothing.
“So, I think he’s interested in dating you, and you’d make a fine match together. The owner of James Entertainment marries the daughter of Anderson Records.”
Obviously, I know who Ethan James is. He’s the owner of the largest recording label in the United States, having inherited it from his father upon his death 11 years ago. Although he’s near my father’s age, he’s an attractive man–brown hair, dark eyes, and a trim build. But I’m not interested in dating some random man I don’t know.
“Jesus,” I groan, jump off the bed, and pace from one side of the room to the other. “Did you ever think I might want to decide who I date and marry? I can’t believe you have the audacity to–”
“That’s enough, Zoe. There’s no reason to insult me.”
“Other than you’re telling me what to do and whom to do it with when I’m an adult.”
“Zoe Arabella Anderson, that’s enough. It would be the perfect merger. When we get back from the Caribbean, I’ll set up a date between the three of us so we can discuss the future and you and Ethan can get to know each other better.”
“That’s ridiculous. We’re not sitting down and discussing a future between Mr. James and myself. I’m not a contract you’re negotiating. And I don’t care what he thinks of me. I’m not interested.”
“Young lady–”
“Enough. I’m not dating this man, and that’s the end of the conversation.” Anger rolls through me. I’ve been good and listened to my father on most things, but this is where I draw the line. I’m not dating someone because he said I had to; nor am I not dating someone because he said I can’t. Who does he think he is?
“Fine.” He clears his throat. “I hope you aren’t spending time with Fletcher’s brother. He’s no good.”
My jaw flexes as that wave of anger that ebbed moments ago crashes back to the surface. “Jace is a great guy. There’s no reason to say anything insulting about him. Mom adores him. He’s great with Zorya.”
“He’s a strung-out loser. And he’d use you to get ahead without batting an eye. Don’t be naive. You work with my company’s talent acquisition department. There’s only one reason he’d be interested in you.”
My eyes gloss over until everything in the room is tinged in red. “Like you were trying to do one minute ago? You wanted me to date Ethan James so you could convince him to marry me and somehow use it to increase your stranglehold on the music industry.”
“That’s enough, young lady. I expect you to change your tone when speaking to me.”
“Sure.” I lower my voice and add a layer of sugary sarcasm as I yank open my closet door. “I need to go. I have an appointment tonight.” It would serve him right if I fucked Jace and shoved it in his face.
The red angel on my shoulder smirks, ‘Walk into the living room naked and climb on his lap.’ I could seduce him. It wouldn’t be that hard.
While the white angel stomps the tip of her black patent leather shoe on my skin. ‘That’s enough. You aren’t seducing anyone to get back at your father. That would make you as sick and controlling as he is.’
Why do I let him get to me like this?
I brace the phone between my shoulder and ear. “Dad, nothing is going on between Jace and me, but he’s nothing like you think he is. He’s sober. He’s not using drugs. And I don’t know what your hang-up is with him anyway.” I shove on a pair of comfortable shorts and maneuver the phone from hand to hand as I slip on the matching pajama top. “You manage bands who use drugs all the time, and you don’t blink an eye.”
“He’s manipulative and conniving. I don’t trust him. Besides, he’s not good….” He trails off and coughs. “He’s not a good singer. Or not good enough. If he was a lights-out talent, I could ignore his proclivities. But he’s not.”
He’s wrong, but there’s no use arguing with him on the phone. “Dad, I love you. I’ll see you when you get here.”
My brain throbs behind my eyes as I snap off my phone and toss it onto the bed.
When I stomp out of the room, the lights are dim and there’s a silver dome covered tray positioned on the center of the coffee table.
“Hey.” Jace smiles as he uses a towel to dry his hair. “I took the liberty of calling room service for us. I figured your headache wouldn’t be better after talking to your dad.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Yeah, he was in fine form today.” I shake my head and lick my lips. “I love him, but that doesn’t mean I agree with him. He’s the most frustrating man on the planet.”
“More frustrating than me?” He arches his eyebrows as I attempt to ignore the fact that he smells like soap and looks like heaven. He’s showered, but rather than putting on a T-shirt and jeans, he remains shirtless showing off his tattoos and nipple rings and only wears a pair of thin athletic shorts that cradle his thighs like a second skin.
“Yes, more than you.” I walk over to the coffee table and remove the cover. Salad, fruit, sandwiches, chicken, and beans. My mouth waters. “It’s too much, but it looks and smells delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His cheeks tinge with pink as if my compliment pleases him.
“So….” I snatch a plum off the platter and pop it into my mouth. “Oh, my God, that’s amazing.”
His eyes darken as he stiffens by the door. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.” I swipe my hands over my shorts. “So, what’s our homework, and do I care that we aren’t doing it?”
He swallows hard over his Adam’s apple. Doing it? Shit. Visions of sex flood my mind. Don’t. Stop being a child.
“It’s a getting-to-know-you questionnaire, and the couple that knows each other the best during the quiz tomorrow gets a prize.” He paces in front of the door to his bedroom. “Not that we’re a couple, but….” He shrugs. “You know what I mean.”
“What’s the prize?” I snatch up another plum and bite into the delicious piece of fruit. Lord, I’m back in the mood for sex. This stuff is decadent.
“It’s a snorkeling trip to a private beach and a picnic.”
I whip my head around. “And we win if we know each other the best?”
“Yes, but that’s not going to happen.”
“If you were an animal, what would you be. I’d be a penguin. I love their black and white bodies and how they walk. Adorable.”
“I’d be a large cat of some kind. Maybe a leopard. But that’s not what the questions are.”
“Okay.” I fall onto the sofa and pat the seat next to me. “I’ve always wanted to go snorkeling and I love a good competition.”
He chuckles and drops down beside me. “I remember.”
“You remember what?” I cross my arms over my chest and sink into the cushions that cuddle around me like a strong pair of arms.
“The family games weekend we had when you turned eighteen. When we went up against your mom and Landon and beat them at everything we played.”