Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
LIVIANNA/LILY
Then
Satin Misdeeds & Candy-Coated Warnings
Some sweetness is poison and I’m already swallowing every drop.
I’m in the kitchen with my mom, making cookies. The door alarm beeps, signaling someone has entered the house.
“Hey, mates. It’s me, Cash.”
“We’re in here,” my mom hollers.
After Callum’s sexual confessions, I secretly vowed to make him want me and only me. He’s here so we can spend time together. My parents want to see that he’s treating me well before they’ll allow him to take me out.
But I have an additional plan. I have just the way to get him to pay attention to me. If he can have fun, so can I.
I smile and get ready for my scheme to fall into place. I adjust my baggy gray sweatshirt that has the neck cut out farther down. I have a black lace bra on and it pushes my boobs together. My cleavage is on point.
With it, I paired leather pants with silver studs running along the side of my legs, finishing it off with black Doc Martens.
I met up with my makeup artist at the studio today so she could fix me up. I paid her extra since it’s Sunday and her day off.
All I can say is she made me a smash hit. She applied my eyeshadow dark and smoky and topped off the look with deep plum lipstick.
After that, I had her dye my hair jet-black and shave one side of my head from right above my ear all the way near the back. The rest I had her flip to one side and do it in a sexy wolf cut style.
I look the part of a rockstar’s girlfriend. Exactly how I want to be seen. He’s going to lose his mind.
My mom was a little bothered by my new style, but I explained I like to express my artistic side and she eased off just as I knew she would.
I laugh inside. I can’t wait to watch this play out.
“Hi, Mrs. Hemings.” Callum strolls into the kitchen, seeing my mom first. His gaze comes to me and his eyes almost pop out of his head. “What the…? Holy fucking hell.”
“Excuse me?” My mom gawks at Callum as she places the cookie dough she’s rolling in her palms down.
His face flashes red and he shifts his stunned expression to my mom. “I apologize for cursing. I…just. Shit. No, no. That’s not what I meant to say. I’m sorry.”
Gotcha!
I turn away, holding in a smile. My heart soars. This is going to work.
“It’s fine, Cash. I accept your apology.” My mom steps to the sink and washes her hands. She gives me a side-eye warning glance as she does.
I suspect she knows what I’m up to. I raise my eyebrows and subtly shake my head, feigning innocence.
My mom dries her hands and turns back to him. “Here. Take off your jacket and I’ll go hang it up.”
I turn as Callum works his arms out of his leather jacket. His eyes are glued to me. They crawl over me from head to toe. I would say I hit the mark.
“Hi, Callum.” I gesture to his black button-down, rocker-style denim shirt. “Roll up your sleeves. We’re making cookies today. My mom was just helping me until you got here.”
“Cool.” He nods. “Sounds exciting.”
I know the kind of fun you like. It won’t be like that…yet. But it’ll get you thinking in the right direction.
My mom takes his jacket. “Behave, you two. I’m going to be in the library and can still hear you.”
“Mom, we know.” I wave her off. “How much trouble can we get into baking?”
She leaves the room, shaking her head. He stands by the end of the center island, speechless and staring.
“Is something wrong?” I place my hand on the counter and pop my hip out.
“No. I’m just trying to keep my heart in my chest.”
“Why?” I bat my eyes. “Are you having issues with your health?”
“Not yet, but if you pull something like this again, I just might.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” I gently bite down on the corner of my mouth in a seductive way.
He smirks. “Likely story.”
“Seriously. What are you talking about?”
He advances and gets in front of me. “You’re trying to kill me and you know it.”
“How so?”
“This whole thing.” He motions up and down my body. “You can’t deny what you’re doing to me.”
I step closer to him, take my thumb to the corner of his lip, and pretend to wipe something away. “You’re drooling, Callum.”
“And whose fault is that?” His eyes penetrate mine.
He leans down as if he’s going to kiss me and my breathing kicks up.
Yes!
It worked. I tip my chin up to give him better access.
He cups his hand around the back of my neck and glances at my mouth. His face is so close to mine, but he pulls back and steps away. My chest caves in.
“Lily, we can’t. Not until your parents say it’s okay.”
“They don’t have to know.”
“But they will.”
“How?”
He points down the hall. “All it takes is your ma to come out and see us. If that happens, they’ll never leave us alone or allow us to go out without their supervision.”
My shoulders roll forward. “Fine, but you know you want to.”
“You have no idea.” He laughs under his breath.
A smile grows across my face. “That’s nice to hear. And so you know, the feeling is mutual.”
“I know it is.” He takes one more lingering gaze down my body. “I’m so fucking screwed.”
“No, you’re not. My parents will give in soon enough. Trust me. It never takes me that long to break them down.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I give them no more than two weeks.”
“How do you figure?”
“We asked them before you went on tour. You’ve been back for a month, but we didn’t bring it up again until the other day. It never takes me longer than a few weeks to get my way.”
He raises an eyebrow. “So you’re a master at the game?”
“Yep.” I hold up two fingers, indicating the time we have to wait. “It will happen.”
He rounds the counter and sits on a stool.
I narrow my eyes. “Why did you go over there? You’re going to help me. Aren’t you?”
“I moved so I don’t do something stupid. You look like a twenty-five-year-old rock goddess. I’m dying over here and need the space. And yes, I’m gonna help.”
My chest grows warm. “Am I really getting to you that much?”
He huffs. “Ah, yeah. Just look at yourself.”
“I had some help, but I’ll admit, she did well. I love the new style.”
“How are the studio executives gonna handle you shaving half your head?”
“It won’t matter.”
“Why?”
“Most of the time, I wear a wig so they don’t ruin my hair.” I move a bowl full of cookie dough and slide it to him. “They’re getting ready to have my character grow up anyway, so it works with my script.”
He takes a moment, then gestures to the baking items. “Why are we doing this? You could’ve picked anything to do here at the house, but you decided we should make cookies?”
“I wasn’t going to play video games with you. I wanted to spend time doing something where I could tease you. Besides, you’re helping me out with work.”
“How so?”
I grab the baking sheet and move it between us. “They’re introducing a new character on my show. I’m taking these to our run-through tomorrow to break the ice.”
“That’s nice of you.” Callum pulls the bowl closer to him. “Everyone loves treats.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I’m just nervous.” My stomach twists.
“Why would you be nervous? If anything, the girl joining the show should be.” He organizes the area so we can begin placing the dough on the sheets. “She won’t be able to compete with you. That would make anyone anxious.”
“It’s not a girl. It’s a guy. He’s going to be my new love interest.” I shake my head and sigh. “I never dreamed my first kiss would be with someone I just met.”
Callum freezes and stares at me across the island. “What did you just say?”
I jerk my head back. “That I never thought my first kiss would be with someone I just met. Why?”
“You’re fucking joking.” His cheeks turn fire-red. “This is a joke, right?”
“No. I’m serious.”
His jaw tightens and his chest flexes. He growls, gets to his feet, and glares at me.
My dad opens the mudroom door. He must have just gotten home and come in through the garage.
Callum turns and storms past my dad. The garage door slams and the decorations on the wall shake. Crashing and banging from the other side of the wall filter in.
My dad looks back at the door, then turns to me. “What’s that about?”
“I just told Callum I have a new love interest on my show and I have to kiss him.”
“For Christ’s sake, Livianna. Are you trying to destroy the poor guy?” My dad places his briefcase down on a bench in the mudroom as he runs a disturbed scowl over me. “And you did it dressed like that.”
“Daddy, this isn’t my fault.”
“But it is.” He releases a heavy groan. “This is all I need after the day I had. Dealing with a hormonal teenage boy who my daughter just tormented.”
My jaw drops. “You’re taking his side?”
“Yes. I know what he’s going through. I was his age once, too.”
“But I’m just kissing another guy. Callum’s the one who had sex with a stadium of other girls.” I regret it the second it comes out of my mouth.
“So you did this to get revenge on him.” My dad points at me. “Stay in here. I’m going to calm him down before he does something he’ll regret, like smash the windows out of my car.”
My dad stomps out of the house. I stare at the door, dumbfounded. How did that all get turned on me?
I take a minute to wrap my head around my dad’s reaction. I can’t believe he’s on Callum’s side.
Muffled voices carry through the wall. I want to know what my dad is saying to Callum.
An idea comes to mind.
My dad only said I couldn’t go out there. He didn’t say I couldn’t eavesdrop. I tiptoe to the garage door and open it just enough I can hear their conversation. Gasoline fumes seep into my nose.
Callum’s speaking. “Her first kiss shouldn’t be with some douchebag she doesn’t even know. She deserves more.”
“Meaning you?” my dad asks.
“Yes. But I know you don’t approve.”
“Are you saying you two have actually followed our rules?”
“Yes, sir. I gave you my word.”
There’s a moment of silence. I try to breathe as softly as possible to avoid drawing attention to myself. Footsteps fill the air like someone is pacing.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hemings, but your daughter could pass as a twenty-five-year-old woman. And I say that with respect. Okay?”
“I understand how you meant it, Cash. Livianna has never looked or acted her age. She developed early and has been acting so long, I don’t know if she knows how to be a young girl. That’s why we haven’t let her date.”
The footsteps stop. “She’s not a girl anymore, sir.”
“I know. We just wanted her to enjoy being a teenager without all the stress of dating for a little while.”
“I understand, and I’ll always respect your house rules. It’s just hard to be around her and not wanna kiss her.”
There’s a clapping sound as if someone is patting someone on the back.
“Cash, I’ve been exactly where you are before.”
“What did you do about it?”
My dad laughs. “Broke the rules and did it anyway.”
Callum chuckles. “So you get how I’m feeling.”
“Yeah, I guess I do.” My dad sighs. “You can take Livianna out.”
“Really?” Callum’s voice fills with hope. “I have your permission?”
My heart swells. I think my dad’s going to say yes.
After a moment, my dad answers. “I have to speak with Lorna, but yes. You have my permission.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hemings. I swear I’ll treat her well.”
“You’d better, son. If you don’t, you won’t be allowed around her anymore.”
“That won’t be an issue. I really like and respect her. She’s different from the others.”
“I know what life on the road is like for guys in a band.” My dad clears his throat. “I don’t want to know the specifics, but you will not be doing anything like that with my daughter. Understood?”
“Of course. I don’t see her like that anyway. I mean, I do, but not… Lily’s not like that. She’s a good girl.”
Oh, am I?
I might be inexperienced, but I have a vivid imagination and it has only heightened after I overheard how Callum is in bed. If he thinks I’m going to be some timid little angel, he’s got another thing coming.
My dad’s voice cuts into my thoughts. “Be careful with her, Cash. She can take things to the extreme when she wants something. She doesn’t let up.”
“I’ve heard that about her.”
“Yeah, it’s not a big secret. The entire industry knows that about her.” There’s another pause, then my dad continues. “Take it slow with her, Cash. No matter how old she thinks she is, she’s still young.”
“Okay, sir. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now let’s get inside and you can share the news. While you’re doing that, I’ll let her mother know what’s going on.”
“Sounds good.”
“And the next time you’re that upset, go downstairs and hit the punching bag in the exercise room.”
“Yes, sir.” He pauses. “I’ll clean up the mess in here.”
“No need. The groundskeeper will be here in about an hour. I’ll get him to do it.”
Their footsteps grow louder like they’re walking this way.
Crap.
I scurry to my feet, carefully close the door, and run into the kitchen. I grab the bowl and a handful of dough as they stroll into the house, laughing.
I can’t believe how well this day turned out. When I planned this, I was only hoping it would end with Callum jealous enough to demand to speak to my parents.
I’m in shock it worked out so I’m able to date him. My stomach does cartwheels as soon as Callum and I make eye contact.
My dad steps around him. “Livianna, I think you owe Cash an apology.”
“For what?” I ask.
“No, it’s okay, Mr Hemings. I asked her to tell me about her work. She was just being honest with me. That’s all I can ask of her.” Callum joins me at my side and slides his arm around my waist.
My insides tingle everywhere. I peek at my dad to gauge his reaction. He smiles and leaves us alone.
I turn to Callum. He’s staring at me like he’s about to eat me. His blue eyes grow dark.
He cups his hand around the back of my neck. “Get ready to be swept off your feet, Lily.”
He brings his mouth to mine and fireworks ignite. He parts my lips with his tongue, showing me what to do. Surprisingly, I’m not nervous or uncomfortable. Something about his kiss makes me feel supported.
He kisses like a lesson—slow, exact, and the kind you don’t forget even if you try. His tongue twists with mine like a romantic dance. I get weak in the knees, so I place my hands on his chest.
His heart is pounding, probably as hard as mine is. Too soon, he pulls away. I open my eyes and gaze into his.
They say people can fall in love at first sight. I’ve never heard of it happening after a first kiss, but I know it just happened to me. It’s at this moment, I hand my heart over to Callum Mayze.
If only I could see into the future and know that this would be the biggest mistake of my life, I’d run away. But sometimes little girls need to learn that heartbreaking lesson on their own.