Текст книги "Gold"

Автор книги: K. A. Linde

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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 26 страниц)

“Just water. It’s hot on the dance floor.”

“I think I can manage a water.”

She smiled. “But can you afford it? It’s pretty expensive.”

“Most valuable thing in the world,” he replied.

“Hmm…and I always thought that was diamonds.”

He laughed and nodded at her necklace. “Seems you have that covered.”

She shrugged and glanced away, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

“I’m Rick,” he said, offering her his hand and drawing her attention back to him.

“Bryna.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Maya returned then and looked triumphant as she saw Bryna talking to Rick. “Dirty martini?” she asked.

“Just water.”

Maya arched an eyebrow but complied.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything else?” he pushed.

“Really, I’m fine.”

She purposely glanced down at his left hand. No ring. Not even an indentation. Maybe he wasn’t a bad guy.

But that didn’t even matter, did it? It wasn’t that she should be looking out for the bad guys. They should be looking out for her.

Maya left her water on the counter and refilled Rick’s scotch glass before disappearing with a smug expression on her face.

“Do you want to dance or maybe go somewhere more private to talk?” he suggested.

She sighed. “I know where you think this is going, but it’s not. I’m not the kind of girl you want to talk to privately. I’m dangerous.”

He raised an eyebrow. She had only managed to intrigue him.

“I like dangerous.”

“I’m a gold digger,” she said flatly. “The jewels you’re admiring me for are from someone else. If you stick around, I’ll manage to get some out of you, too.”

He stepped back in surprise at her frankness.

She pulled the Harry Winston B necklace off and held it in her hand. She couldn’t believe she was still wearing it after all this time. It was her signature look, yet what it symbolized wasn’t even her anymore.

She left him alone and confused. She didn’t have an explanation. It turned out she did idiotic things completely sober, too.

“What happened?” Trihn asked as Bryna approached her.

“Here.” She handed Trihn the B necklace, which she took in confusion.

“What?”

“That’s not me anymore,” she said. “I can’t even look at it.”

She was getting rid of her last piece of Jude. It felt like shedding her skin and starting fresh. Now, she needed to find someone who could see her as she was now, not as she had always allowed people to see her. No director father. No gold-digger status. No slutty reputation.

Just someone with no expectations.

She didn’t know what that meant for her, but it wasn’t an older guy in a suit, thinking he could buy her body with a few drinks.

THE NEXT DAY, Bryna put her house on the market. She called a moving company next to take only the things that were truly hers to the new apartment. Everything else she was planning on leaving.

She didn’t know how long it was going to take. She had never sold a house before. But after only two weeks, she had an offer on the table and was set to close on the place. It was terrifying but a relief that everything had happened so quickly. She would be signing the papers this afternoon in between class and cheer. It was supposed to be quick and painless.

She walked into her history of film class on edge. Her mind was caught up in the paperwork and what her intentions were after that.

Cam dropped into the seat next to her with a smile just as class started. He still sat next to her every day, and they flirted. It was nice since after the fiasco at Posse, she had been avoiding most other guys. She was spending more time focusing on her studies. She had done fine freshman year, but cheer and guys and money and booze had made her lose focus. She figured if she was only really concerned with cheer that would leave her with a lot more time to bring her GPA up.

Her professor left them with a mound of homework to do at the end of class. But she couldn’t think about that right now because she had to leave to go sign the closing papers.

She stuffed her work back in her bag and was on her way out when Cam caught up with her.

“Hey, I know you’re busy with cheer or whatever after school, but what about this weekend?”

She stopped in her tracks. “It’s the first home game.”

“Oh. Okay,” he said, clearly disappointed. “Never mind then.”

Is he asking me out? “Wait,” she said before he could walk away. “That’s just Saturday though.”

His smile widened at her words. “Yeah? Good. You’re always super busy. I thought I’d never get a free moment with you outside of class.”

“Well, I haven’t exactly agreed to that moment yet,” she teased.

Cam laughed. “That’s true. Do you want to go out with me Friday?”

“I’ll see if I’m free,” she joked. She pulled out her phone and pretended to scroll through her calendar.

“Now, I’ll never get on the schedule.”

She playfully bumped his arm. “I’m just kidding. I’m free. What do you have in mind?”

“Dinner and a movie?”

This wasn’t a normal thing for her. She didn’t do these typical dates, but there was a first time for everything. This was what she wanted anyway—a fresh start with someone interested in her for her.

“That sounds great.”

She left campus with a feeling of accomplishment. Here was a totally normal college guy asking her out. She could do this without all the extra baggage from her past.

Signing was as easy as they’d explained it would be. She had to sign and initial about a million pieces of paper and hand over her house to total strangers, but by the end, it was a done deal. No going back now.

A check was issued directly to her, and the sum made her head spin. Hugh had paid a small fortune for the place. Not that he had cared at the time. Money didn’t matter to him. That she had come to figure out the hard way.

She didn’t have much time before she needed to be back on campus, but she had to take care of this. She drove out to the WC Resort. The receptionist called for the hotel director when Bryna explained that she had something for Mr. Westercamp.

The hotel director was short and impeccably dressed. “How may I help you?” she asked.

Bryna held the envelope out to the woman. “This is for Mr. Westercamp. It’s secure and he’s expecting it, but it cannot be mailed. I trust that you will deliver it to him.”

The woman warily eyed her. “You’re Miss Turner, right?”

Bryna stilled. “Yes?”

“I thought so.” She took the envelope from Bryna. “I can’t assure that he will open it, but I will deliver it.”

“Thank you.” She turned to leave. That was all she had come for.

She didn’t need a guarantee that he would open it, but she didn’t want the house on her conscience anymore. Hugh should have his…investment back.

Bryna hurried out of the hotel, not liking the weight of it around her. She carried a lot of guilt for what had happened between them, and she didn’t need the reminder.

She got in her car and drove to the sports complex for practice. She arrived only minutes before she was supposed to be there. She rushed into her uniform and threw her hair up into a messy ponytail.

Stacia appeared at her side as they walked out of the locker room. “Where have you been?”

“I had to take care of some business with the house.”

“Is it gone?”

Bryna nodded stoically.

Stacia touched her arm. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything.”

“I know. But I’m still sorry.”

Bryna sent her a half smile. “Thanks.”

“Also…Eric stopped me earlier.”

Bryna slowed her pace. She still hadn’t told the girls what had happened between her and Eric. She didn’t know what they would think, and she kind of wanted to keep that moment to herself. “What did he want?”

“He said he needed to talk to you.”

“I can’t,” she said automatically.

“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Stacia asked.

“No,” Bryna said honestly. “But I have a date on Friday with a guy in my film class.”

Stacia wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Oh God, an artsy guy? Please don’t tell me that you are turning into one of those! I can only handle Trihn like this.”

“He’s not an artsy guy,” Bryna said defensively. “I’m a film major. Would you call me artsy?”

“No. Fashionable.”

“Exactly. He’s cute and nice, and he wants to take me to a movie. It’s different, and it sounds easy. I need some of that in my life right now. Not Eric Wilkins.”

“Okay. I guess that’s good then. But what do I tell Eric if he asks me about you? I can’t lie to him, Bri!” She actually looked conflicted about the whole thing.

“Don’t lie. Tell him just what I told you.”

Because maybe if he heard that she was dating…he would stop pursuing her. That was what she wanted after all…

Right?

Friday rolled around faster than she’d thought possible, and she had nothing to wear.

She stared at her closet stuffed full of clothes and couldn’t decide on a single item. When she had asked Cam where they were going, he had just smiled and said she could dress casually.

The only thing she had ever done casually was sex.

After about a hundred outfits, she had on a short black skirt, a flouncy tank top with some cleavage for good measure, and a pair of cute sandals. She felt dressed down for a date, but this was what he had said after all.

She wasn’t sure she even felt comfortable in her skin, purposely dressing like this on a first date, but this was Cam. She was sure it would be fun.

The knock on the door made her dart out of her room. She shooed Trihn and Stacia away and then opened the door.

“Hey,” she said brightly.

“You look great,” he said, surveying her.

“Thanks. You, too.”

He had on jeans and a green polo with the flip-flops he always wore to class.

“Are you ready?”

“Yep.” She shut the door behind her and followed him out to his car. “Wow. Is this yours?”

It was a classic black Mustang from the sixties. She wasn’t as familiar with older cars because her father preferred new supercharged sports cars. She knew enough to know this thing was beautiful and in mint condition.

“Yep. All mine.”

“I love her. I’m usually more of a Ferrari-Porsche kind of girl, but this is beautiful.”

“Thanks. All original parts. My dad owned her first.”

“Incredible,” she mused. “I’d love to drive her!”

“You drive a stick?” he asked, surprised.

“Since before I could walk.”

He smiled and opened the passenger door for her. “Then, maybe I’ll let you give it a spin, if you’re lucky.”

“I’m always lucky,” she said.

She sank into the seat and let him close the door for her. A perfect gentleman. Cam got into the driver’s side and then drove them away from the apartment.

It wasn’t far before he was pulling over onto a side street for the restaurant—if the thing he parked in front of could be considered a restaurant. It was a food truck that was basically a trailer with a window and menu on the side. There was a patio outside with picnic tables and some benches, all of which were already full. Plus, there was a line around the block. So, at least that was a good sign. Though she was skeptical.

“Hope this is okay. A friend of mine discovered this place. I swear, it’s the best food in town.”

She had been to the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, so she highly doubted that.

“Yeah. Should be interesting,” she said. She hoped she’d sounded convincing.

They got in line, and after a good half-hour wait, they made it up to order. Cam got them two burritos, which seemed to be the signature item, chips and queso, and two beers. She stared down at her aluminum can but made no comment. This was fine. She drank beer at house parties. This wasn’t any different.

Another couple vacated their spots, and they found a space to sit on a bench. Cam set the burritos down in front of them, and she took a long swig of the beer. It was cold and refreshing in the Vegas heat. She wasn’t sure what to make of the burrito wrapped in aluminum foil. Did people actually eat like this?

Cam was already removing the foil and digging into the burrito. He looked like a mask of pure joy.

“This is so amazing, Bryna. I can’t wait for you to tell me what you think.”

She swallowed. He was so happy. It had to be good. She hated being skeptical. She needed to relax and live in the moment.

Taking a deep breath, she peeled back the foil and took a small bite of the burrito. It was everything—full of spices and tender chicken. There were a million things inside, and she could hardly distinguish the mush, but it was amazing. Flat-out best burrito she had ever had in her life.

“Oh my God,” she murmured.

He smiled triumphantly. “I told you so.”

“I would have never guessed this heaven was on a beat-up truck in the middle of nowhere.”

“I know. I’m glad you like it.”

“Learn something new every day.”

“You’ve never eaten from a food truck before?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Not in L.A.”

“They have them in L.A.”

She shrugged. “Not where I live.”

“Well, you should get out more!”

“I am.”

She meaningfully looked at him, and he smiled bigger.

They finished their food and piled back into his Mustang. She was still in shock about the food truck. She was used to good food but usually fancy food. She’d had a chef growing up, and burritos hadn’t exactly been on the menu.

She was so lost in thought about the burrito experience that she almost didn’t notice when they pulled up to the movie. Her eyes widened.

“A drive-in?”

“Yeah. They show all the best movies. I thought it would be better than some blockbuster.”

“I haven’t been to one since I was a kid. My dad used to take me before he—” She cut herself off. She didn’t really want Cam to know who her dad was yet. “He just worked a lot.”

“Sounds like my dad.”

“What are we seeing?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Casablanca.”

“Good choice.”

Cam paid for their tickets and bought them popcorn that she had no intention of eating, and then they found a spot near the center of the place. People were staring at his car, and she didn’t blame them. It was a classic.

They snuggled in close together as the movie started, and Cam rested his arm across her shoulders. She had always loved Casablanca. It was a film her mother used to play on repeat when she was younger. Bryna knew every line, but it didn’t stop her from admiring the beautiful work.

Cam’s tentatively laced their fingers together. She tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder, whispering the lines under her breath.

“So, you’ve seen this one before, huh?”

She nodded. “It’s one of my mother’s favorites.”

“Good.”

As the closing lines rolled through, Bryna felt a tear come to her eye, just like Ingrid Bergman’s as Humphrey Bogart delivered his famous line, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

As Ingrid turned to walk onto the plane, Cam tilted Bryna’s chin up to look at him. He brushed his nose against hers. His lips were so invitingly close, yet her thoughts strayed to the closing of the movie where Ingrid left the man she loved, at his request, to be with another man. It felt just like love…heartbreaking.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” Cam whispered, breaking her from her thoughts.

“I’m surprised you haven’t already.”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”

She smiled. No one had ever checked to make sure before. “I’m very okay.”

His lips met hers, soft and tender. It was a question wrapped in the uncertainty of how she would respond. She pressed her lips harder against him, wanting to forget, to not think about anything in that moment. She wanted to get swept away and lost in his lips. She wanted a kiss that would make her mind go blank and the world tip.

And it was a good kiss.

Cam pulled away, and she hoped the guilt wasn’t on her face for thinking of another kiss in his stead.

He kissed her on the cheek once and then pulled out of the drive-in with a satisfied smile on his face.

Her mind was still lost on that kiss. It had been good. He was nice and sweet. They got along. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction. It wasn’t what she had expected out of the date, but that was for the better. She couldn’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. Like with Hugh. Or Eric.

She shut her mind down. She was not going to think about Eric anymore.

Cam drove up to the gate of her apartment complex and punched in the code to get in. “I had a great time,” he told her as he rounded the corner.

“Me, too,” she said with a smile. “Do you want to…” She trailed off when she saw the car in front of their building.

A big, shiny Jeep.

Eric’s Jeep.

“DO I WANT TO…” Cam prompted.

She had been about to invite him up, but there was no way that was happening now. If Eric were up there, they would be walking into a land mine. “Do you want to walk me to my door?”

“Of course.”

She couldn’t tell if he was disappointed. She didn’t know him well enough to judge his mood in that way. Maybe he still thought she would invite him inside once they got up to the door.

He parked, and she walked around to his side. They walked hand in hand into the building. The elevator ride was charged. She could tell he wanted to say something more but was waiting for her move. Yet she couldn’t make the move. She couldn’t produce the invitation with Eric one step inside her apartment.

Well, she could, of course. She could walk right inside with Cam and pull him into her bedroom with a smirk. The old Bri would have done that in a heartbeat. Less than a heartbeat. But she didn’t want to hurt Eric. She cared about Eric. They were friends…of sorts before she had found out that the basis for that friendship was based on unsubstantiated lies.

So, no flaunting the new guy yet. It was one date. She would give it some time.

“I’d love for you to come in,” she said hesitantly. “But I’m not sure I’m…ready for this yet.”

“Oh,” he said. He seemed surprised. “That’s okay. We can take things slow.”

“I’d like that.” Even though she had never gone slow a day in her life.

“I want to do this again,” he said. “Maybe next week?”

“Ambitious. Asking for another date at the end of the night.”

“I like being around you. You’re beautiful and sweet and make me smile.”

Sweet? Shit! Had anyone ever said that to me before?

“Well, you’re in luck. I like you, too. But…I can’t do next week. It’s an away game.”

He laughed softly. “I’ll always be competing with football. How about this? You name the time, and we’ll go whenever you’re free.”

“That sounds good.”

He placed his hand on her cheek and slowly kissed her. “Good night,” he whispered against her lips.

“Night.”

She waited until he disappeared around the corner and into the elevator before breathing regularly again. She turned around and braced herself for what was about to happen. Her thick skin would be needed for this encounter. She couldn’t be soft and pliable. It was hard enough, adjusting to that with Cam, someone who didn’t know her at all. Eric would eat her alive with that attitude.

She pushed open the door and walked inside with her head held high. Eric was seated on the couch, watching some horrendous Kardashian show with Trihn and Stacia. It was almost comical.

With concerned wide eyes, both girls looked over at her at the same time. Eric’s expression was entirely different. He looked ravenous, and it was so painful that she almost looked away.

“Hey,” he said, standing before anyone else could say anything.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, closing herself off. “Aren’t football players holed up out of town?”

“I’m not a football player anymore, Bri. Remember?”

“Right. Career-ending injury and all. Still doesn’t explain why you’re in my apartment.”

“Um,” Trihn murmured, “we’ll go to our rooms or something. Come on, Stacia.”

“No need. Eric was just leaving.”

“No, I wasn’t. I’m not leaving. So, let’s go to your room where we can talk,” he said.

Trihn and Stacia shifted uncomfortably. She knew they were wondering what she was thinking, but she couldn’t pull her eyes from Eric. He looked run-down with circles under his eyes and a five o’clock shadow. He still had on his LV State coach’s polo and khakis. His hair was a little rumpled, but it was sexy. Not that she was thinking of him like that at all. She needed to look away.

“You’re so damn stubborn,” she said.

“Me?” He took a step toward her in a fury. He was breathing heavily, and then he stopped himself and took a breath. “Sorry,” he mumbled to Trihn and Stacia. “Let’s go, Bri. We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Second door on the left,” Trihn told him pointedly.

Bryna glared at her. “Thanks.”

Trihn shrugged and gave her a mischievous look. Eric walked down the hallway, and against her will, she followed behind him into her room. This wasn’t a good idea. In fact, this was the opposite of a good idea.

He slammed the door shut behind her and then pushed her back against it. She was taken off guard as her body collided with the door. He grabbed her face in his hands, and then his mouth was on her. Possessively. Achingly desperate and demanding. Tension, sweet tension, rippled between them. It was like it had a life of its own. Suddenly, her hands were wrapped up in his shirt, drawing him closer. His hands dug into her hair, crushing them together. His tongue flicked against hers, and she groaned into his mouth.

No. Wait. No. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

She shoved him with all her strength and took a step away from the door. Her heart was ricocheting throughout her chest, and she didn’t know if there was enough oxygen in the room to keep up with the gasping breaths she was taking.

“What are you doing?” she cried breathlessly.

“Kissing you, goddamn it!”

“You can’t just kiss me!”

“I just did. And you wanted me to kiss you. I can’t fucking pretend with you. Why are you pushing me away?”

He took a step closer, and her back pressed into the door once more. Part of her waited for his lips to be on hers again, and she told herself there was no reason to be disappointed when it hadn’t come.

“I was on a date tonight!” she spat.

“Stacia mentioned that.”

Bryna narrowed her eyes. “That couldn’t have anything to do with you being here?”

“Of course it does. What the fuck, Bri? You’re dating now? Who is this guy?”

“Yes, I’m dating! And it’s none of your fucking business who I date.”

“We slept together!”

“And I told you, we couldn’t be together!” she yelled back. “So, it still means you have no opinion on the matter.”

“How can you say that after that kiss? You’re afraid of being hurt. I know you. I know what happened with Jude.”

She cringed at the name.

“I was there for you that day. I saw what you were like. I know this Hugh guy did a number on you, too. I know your family fucked you up. Let me be the one to put it all back together.”

“Don’t you see? You won’t put it back together. Whatever you think this is, is a lie. I was only around you because I thought this could never happen. I don’t want this at all.”

“What do you want then?” he demanded. “Stacia said you’re not digging that douche anymore, and now, you’re dating some film student? This isn’t you.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be me anymore!” she cried. She threw her hands out and shook her head. Why is all of this so hard for him to grasp? “All I do is cause people a lot of problems. I get called a bitch and a slut, and I’ve never cared before, but I’m not a slut. For once, it’s nice to be with a guy who doesn’t treat me like one.”

Eric looked sad at the accusation. “I never did.”

“You fucked me in the locker room!”

“That’s not because you’re a slut, Bryna,” he said softly. He took a step toward her as if he could make her understand. “It’s because I’m crazy about you. When you’re not trying so hard to be someone else, this works.” He gestured between them.

Bryna rubbed her forehead in frustration. “I can’t do this tonight. I don’t want to fight. I came back from a date, and you’re ruining it.” She sighed and looked back up at him. “You should go. I want us to be friends again, but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen. So…just go.”

“You’re right,” he said finally. “We’re not just friends. I want so much more than that.”

He leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips. His hands cupped her face, and she unconsciously leaned into him.

“I want this.”

“Eric,” she whimpered.

His hand went to her heart.

“And this.”

He kissed her again as his hands moved to grab her hips. He pulled her flush against him. “And this.”

Then, his hands climbed up her short skirt as he pushed her back against the door. “And this.”

“St-stop,” she whispered feebly.

“Tell me you don’t want this. I know you do. I can feel it.” His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her inner thigh.

“I do…but…”

He drew circles up her thigh, closer and closer and closer. She closed her legs against him. She couldn’t…

“Why must you fight me?”

“Please,” she whispered as he spread her legs farther apart again.

As his finger trailed along the line of her thong, she wasn’t sure if she was even fighting him anymore.

“Please…” She didn’t know if she was asking him to stop or begging him to keep going.

“I want you, Bri.” His mouth was hot against her throat.

His finger dipped under her thong and pressed against her wet core. She groaned at the feel of him and how riled up she already was.

“I know,” she murmured incoherently.

His touch made her whole body quiver.

“Your body, mind, and soul. Do you want me to take your body?”

She shook her head, but the word that tumbled out of her mouth came as a shock to her, “Yes.”

He sighed with relief, kissed her shoulder, and then took a reluctant step backward.

“Eric?” Her vision seemed to clear all at once. She realized the spell he had cast on her and what she had been about to do. Suddenly she felt cold and empty all over again, trapped in this vortex of lust and sin that she couldn’t escape.

“Then, let me in. Your heart isn’t frozen or black, like you seem to think. You opened it to me before, and I want it again.”

“I can’t,” she said softly, woodenly stuck to the door.

“We’re hanging on the edge. Jump.”

She shook her head. “The problem with jumping is that you’re as likely to end up broken as you are to being saved.”

“Fine,” he said, shaking his head in dismay. “I’d rather take a chance on being broken. I guess you have to make up your mind on what you want.”

He grabbed the door handle, and she moved out of the way. He opened it and left, and she watched his retreating back as he headed down the hallway.

“I already have.”