28. June
Ithink about Jake’s kiss during the entire ride to the upscale restaurant in Melrose, where the party is taking place. I feel kind of naughty for kissing him the day after I slept with Lachlan. It almost felt like cheating, even though I don’t regret any of it. This is all new territory to me, and I’m way out of my depth.
But once we arrive and I see the photographers outside the venue, snapping pictures of the guests arriving, my love-life complications take a backseat in my mind. My hands become clammy, and my stomach ties into knots.
Jake enters the line for the valet and turns to me. “You good?”
“There are so many photographers.”
He chuckles. “This is LA, and there are probably quite a few celebrities on the guest list.”
Grimacing, I glance at my Nordstrom Rack dress, which is probably from three seasons ago. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that there would be celebrities here. Hell, Jake is one. He’s a pro athlete, after all.
“Do I look okay?”
He glances at my dress cursorily before looking into my eyes. “More than okay. You’re a knockout, sweetheart. I’ll have trouble keeping my hands to myself.”
His green eyes are pure fire, and it sets me ablaze. I lean across the space separating us and kiss him. What is it about these men that gives me so much confidence? It can’t be all the praise. It’s the way they treat me, as if I’m a queen in their world.
Jake’s hand is in my hair, and his tongue brushes mine, making me unravel. Every nerve ending in my body is alive.
The car behind us honks, shattering the spell. Jake pulls back but doesn’t break eye contact right away. The car honks again.
“You’d better go,” I say.
“Right.” He drives a couple feet forward before shifting into Park. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
The valet opens my door and helps me out. I wait for Jake to circle the car, hoping my nerves don’t get the better of me. I’m on pins and needles, and more nervous than when I attended the Titans party a few days ago. I don’t make eye contact with anyone in front of me, but they aren’t looking in my direction anyway. I’m not famous. I’m invisible to the photographers until Jake puts his hand on my lower back. Then the flashes go off.
“Here goes nothing,” I mutter.
Jake keeps his expression shut off and ignores the questions thrown at him. They ask about the fight, then about me. God. Will our pictures end up in the tabloids tomorrow? I hope not. I’m sure my mother will be calling to ask what I’m doing dating another man two days after my fiasco of a proposal. And this isn’t a date. I’m just Jake’s plus one.
Only when we’re inside the restaurant and insulated from the paparazzi do I release the breath I was holding. “Wow. That was intense.”
“More so than usual.”
“Oh no. Because of me?”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s get a drink.” He takes my hand and steers me deeper into the restaurant. This place is bigger than the venue from two nights ago, and much darker too. I try to find Lachlan and Ryan, but I don’t see them anywhere.
Even though the lights are dim, I can sense multiple stares in my direction. Why didn’t it occur to me that being Jake’s date would draw attention to me?
“Everyone is staring,” I say.
“They’re wondering who the gorgeous woman next to me is.”
I feel the blush spread across my cheeks, but mercifully, no one can see.
The crowd parts ahead to let us through, revealing a group of three tall men.
“T-man is in the house!” one of them says, raising his palm.
Smirking, Jake high-fives him. “Looking good, Banksy. Nice to see you in a grown-up suit.”
“Melissa made him do it.” The ginger guy with a full beard laughs.
“Ballbuster, that one,” Banksy grumbles.
“Man, that fucker got you good,” Ginger man pipes up.
Jake shrugs. “Lucky hit.”
“You mean sneaky hit,” I butt in, getting as angry as I did when it happened.
My outburst draws their attention to me, making me wish I hadn’t spoken.
“Are you going to introduce your beautiful friend to us, T-man?” the shortest of the trio asks, staring at me intensely.
“I was getting to it. June, meet Simon Banks, Robert Anderson, and Ian Hurst.”
I wave at them. “Nice to meet you. Why do you call Jake T-man?”
“Because he’s the Terminator.” Simon grins, then squints. “Hey, you’re Jumbotron girl.”
Damn. Someone had to mention it. To be fair, it’s been only a couple days, even though it feels like much longer. Jake moves closer to me, and his hand returns to the small of my back. I love the protectiveness of that gesture, but I don’t want him to bite his teammate’s head off.
“Dude! Think before you speak.” Ian bumps his elbow against his teammate’s arm.
“It’s fine,” I reply quickly. “Yes, I’m Jumbotron girl. I’m also the one who kicked Jake’s and Ryan’s butts playing pool a couple days ago.”
“I saw that. It was awesome!” Robert grins from ear to ear. “Too bad there isn’t a pool table here. I’d love to witness their decimation again.”
“Speaking of Ryan, have you seen him or Lachy?” Jake asks.
“Melissa cornered Lachy a while back. Poor guy.” Simon laughs.
“And Ryan went off somewhere with a hot chick,” Robert adds.
My spine goes taut in an instant. It’s an involuntary reaction. Ryan is free to do whatever he wants. I’m unsure why I’m reacting as if he’s betraying me.
“Are you okay?” Jake asks, frowning.
Crap on toast. He noticed my reaction. “Yeah. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He stares at me in his intense way without saying a word. Is he jealous? Annoyed? Shit. There I go again, fucking things up.
“No reason,” he finally replies.
“Oh, here comes Melissa with Mr. Hollywood,” Ian pipes up.
Now I’m really tense. Mr. Hollywood must be Melissa’s fiancé. I turn and confirm my suspicion. I can’t believe I’m about to meet Elijah Foreman without an ounce of liquid courage coursing through my veins. I’m shaking already.
Jake leans closer and whispers in my ear, “He’s just a man, June. Relax.”
“That’s easy for you to say. Elijah Foreman is a god in Hollywood.”
“No one is a god.”
Melissa is smiling brightly when she reaches us. “Hi June, you look stunning as always.”
“Thank you, Melissa. So do you.”
She looks at Jake and shakes her head. “Jake... no comment.”
“Good,” he grumbles.
“June, I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Elijah Foreman. I told him all about you.”
Face. Burn. “Oh my. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.”
Elijah extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, June. I look forward to reading one of your screenplays one day.”
I open my mouth to reply, but he fishes out his phone from his jacket pocket and says, “Excuse me. I need to get this.”
He walks away with his phone glued to his ear before anyone else can say a word. Melissa glares at his retreating back, then turns to me. “I’m sorry about that. Elijah doesn’t have an off button. It’s always work, work, work.”
I’m a little disappointed that I barely had a chance to talk to him, but I try to hide it. “Don’t worry about it. He’s a busy man. I understand.”
“Jake, you were looking for Ryan and Lachy. There they are,” Simon points with his head.
I turn and spot them, plus a young and attractive woman. I can’t see her face well, but her shoulders are hunched forward, and she’s hugging her middle. She looks dejected. Lachlan and Ryan seem to be arguing. What the hell is going on?
“Are they fighting over some random girl?” Simon asks.
“I’d better go find out what that’s about.” Jake steps forward, but Melissa reaches for his arm and stops him.
“Let them be. I need you somewhere else.”
Jake frowns at Melissa, and while he’s paying attention to her, he misses the girl who was with Lachlan and Ryan walking away. Lachlan says something to Ryan, but he shakes his head and then walks away too.
“Where do you want me to be?” Jake asks Melissa.
“It’s time to play nice with your father.”
I whip my face toward Jake. I didn’t know his father would be here. Jake’s expression has turned as hard as a stone. This can’t be good.