Rendezvous with the Rival Chapter 3
Holy fucking shit, Shell Maverick. What are the odds?
She grew up well. Too well. From her tiny waist, round hips gave her a lethal hourglass shape I couldn’t stop looking back at. The woman wasn’t just a distraction, she was all my eyes could see. It had been so many years, and my impulse control checked out.
Wild blonde curls cascaded down past her shoulders in vibrant tendrils I wanted to wrap in my fists and yank, so nothing changed there. Everything about her from her sweet smile to those long legs and the baby blue eyes drew me in. She claimed she was a designer these days, but if she said she was a lingerie model, I wouldn”t have doubted her.
I spent a lot of my time growing up memorizing everything about her, but that was all for strategy. I couldn’t help but compete; she was so damn cute when she got mad. Her cheeks would tinge pink, and she’d slam her hands onto her hips or throw an accusing finger into my face. I itched to make her pick up old habits. Glimpses of them already showed.
What were the chances of running into her here?
I stowed my camera and mic in my shoulder bag and headed for the refreshments, satisfied with the photos I’d taken. I managed a couple soundbites for my article too, though no answers to any of the questions on my list. And Shell had had an entire conversation with Mr. Teresse, so I knew an inside source. If I could just get her to tell me about it, I’d get two birds.
While I waited for a good opportunity to attack, I got a refill on champagne and crammed a couple showy appetizers in my mouth, chewing and plotting. Of course Shell was familiar with the man of the hour. I always knew she was destined for the top, but seeing it play out brought up an odd mix of joy and envy. Sure, I wanted the best for the girl, but old habits were a bitch. The only thing better than seeing her shine was besting her at her own game.
I hadn”t exactly eavesdropped on her discussion with Mr. Teresse, though; I wasn’t quick enough. I tried to nudge closer, but I only caught the tail end. ”…mission to make you miserable.”
Had she threatened him? Just that line had my curiosity more than a little piqued. Shell already blew me off, but if I cornered her, I could get her to spill. All it would take was a little of my trusty Lawrence charm. A little catch up with big smiles and strong cocktails never failed.
That was if I saw her again.
She’d comply, we were old friends. Sort of.
I picked up the last app on a tray when a guy with a broad smile and a bro vibe sauntered up with replacements.
“The food’s fantastic. Who catered?” I asked conversationally. Never knew what info would come in handy for articles, and I wouldn’t leave a stone, or a blackened salmon tart, unturned.
“You’re looking at him. Did it on a personal favor. Kendall Freeman, head chef at Experience.”
Bingo.“Evan Lawrence. Good to meet you. So you’re a friend of Raph’s?”
Using the guy’s first name lent me an air of familiarity, and this chef dude didn”t seem shy or suspicious of the press. It was my lucky day.
“Oh, yeah, Raph and I go way back,” Kendall said with a chuckle.
“You knew him before he inherited Experience, then?”
“Yup. I knew him when he was just a guy from nowhere. He came a long way, huh? Hey, how did you say you know him?”
”I didn’t, I”m a friend of a friend. Do you know Shell Maverick?” I picked up another app and popped it in my mouth.
He narrowed his eyes, cocking his head. ”We crossed paths, I think. Blonde? Long legs? Hot as fuck?”
My stomach knotted and my shoulders tensed, but I couldn’t break character or I’d lose the opening. Still, I didn’t want anyone describing her that way. It was true, sure, but hearing another guy say it, especially one who didn’t share history with her, had my jaw clenching tight. ”Yeah, that”s the one.”
I might have stretched the truth on the friend thing. Shell would never describe us like that, but Kendall seemed trusting enough to keep talking. Before anything else, I had to keep the conversation flowing. For the article, and to buy a little more time for crowds to die down.
“Hot blondes like that your type? There’s not a lot of that down here in Dirty Jersey. You should hit up my place in New York. Fine ladies for days.”
I chuckled along, but reminded myself he wasn’t reducing Shell to a ‘hot blonde’.
“You said you’re the chef at Experience. That’s the flagship club Raph took over.”
“The one and only. He’s a great boss; knows how to put up with my shit,” Kendall said, stretching his arms overhead. “The show’s over here, though. I’m gonna head to the local watering hole to finish out my night. No one’s here to make me go the extra mile, so I might as well split.” He looked over his shoulder, as if to confirm his own story. “You’re free to come along for the ride. If Raph’s not back by now, he’s not gonna be. He had it bad for this girl; I bet he chased her down.”
I fought back the urge to pull out a notebook and write stuff down. Kendall couldn’t know with certainty I was a journalist or he’d stop talking, and he’d never asked. “Do you know her name?”
Kendall laughed. “I like you, Ev. I’m not gonna air their business, though. Gotta give them time to work it out amongst themselves.”
He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a business card with his name along with Experience’s details.
“If you’re ever in the area.”
I pocketed the card. As the head chef at Experience, Kendall was another close and valid source I could use for my article. He was also someone I wouldn”t mind keeping in touch with in case I had more New York-based journalism opportunities in the future, which, honestly, was more than likely.
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it,” I said with a smile as warm as I could manage in my distraction. Now that the crowd had thinned, my chances of seeing Shell again were slimming. I had to keep priorities in order.
“Okay, then, Ev. See ya around!”
Kendall offered his fist, and I bumped it before he waded back into the sea of people. The opening wasn’t a total loss. I got a couple more pieces of information I could use, and the night was still young. With eyes open, opportunities were endless, hiding behind every pair of closed lips. But there was only one pair of lips I still cared about tonight.
Her laughter stopped me just as I was about to do another lap around the room. The sweet sound hit my ears even with the loud music and animated conversation, like I was programmed to pick up its frequency. Maybe I was.
I whipped around just in time to see Shell at the top of the steps leading to the main entrance, talking with the girl at the coat-check. Both of them wore genuine smiles, and my heart stuttered as I tried to get my legs to move. Shell could stop more than traffic.
Shit. She can’t leave.
Somehow, I made it across the room in seconds. Taking the stairs two at a time, I reached out and caught the sleeve of her coat right as the heavy door was about to close behind her.
She whirled in place, a gasp rounding her mouth into an ‘o’. “What are you doing? Evan!”
Her pillowy lips twisted and her brows pinched as she tried to shake me off. I looked down at where my hand gripped her elbow, then met her crystal-blue eyes up close. They were narrowed, and her nostrils flared. So cute.
“Where are you going so early? The night’s young and brimming with possibility.”
She arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. ”Not that it’s even slightly your business, but I’m going home. You got a problem with that?”
I cleared my throat, helpless and dumbstruck. ”Yeah, I… you can”t go home yet.”
She pulled her arm from my grasp and took another step away from the door. I came outside with her, and the icy wind ripping through my thin dress shirt and raising goosebumps I couldn’t afford to react to. I was a man on a mission, and a little chill wouldn’t slow me down.
”And why is that?” She planted her hands on her hips. Just like old times.
”We haven”t had a chance to catch up. It”s been a forever and a day.”
Shell rolled her eyes. “Hasn’t been long enough as far as I’m concerned.”
She spun on her heel, but I reached out again, this time gripping her shoulder. ”What”s that supposed to mean?” I asked innocently.
Shell sighed loudly and turned back toward me. Giving me what I wanted, taking my bait. ”What do you think it means?! I don”t wanna talk to you! I don”t think I”ve ever once in my life wanted to talk to you! Do you have any self-awareness? Come on, Evan! We were both there the whole time.”
”But things were different, weren”t they?”
Something passed over her face, a shadow of sadness before the anger reseated. I wanted to cling to that little honest moment.
When she shook her head, tendrils of her blonde hair fell over her shoulder. “No. They weren”t different at all.”
But she was lying. And we both knew it.
”Let me take you out for dessert. A coffee. Just a catch up. Please, Shell.”
Shell tilted her face skyward and let out a long, frustrated breath. But in that moment, I knew I had her. For just a little bit longer. I’d take it. I’d take whatever she gave me.
”I”m going to regret this, aren’t I? I’m already regretting this.”