Enticing Interlude (Tempest #2) (29 page)

Duffles on my shoulders, my hand in the small of her delicate back, I guided Bridget and Carter to their door at the Sutton. It was three hours earlier than Florida, dinnertime by the clock, but we’d all been up basically for twenty-four hours straight. We were a feet dragging, bodies sagging, jet lagging mess.

“How was your flight?” Lace opened the door before I could even get the key card in the slot.

“Fine,” Bridget replied. “A little turbulence over the mountains before we landed, and the line at customs took forever.”

“Yeah, you came in at a really busy time of day.” She took Bridget’s hand and drew her forward. That’s when I noticed all the noise, the tv blaring, and the voices. I smelled the pizza before we made it to the living room. The whole band was there.

“Congratulations.” Bryan came over and kissed Bridget’s cheek.

I got tense, even though I knew the guy was totally into Lace. I didn’t like his lips being so close to Bridget’s mouth.

“Nothings’ completely for sure, yet,” Bridget cautioned.

“Your lawyer thinks it is. You told me yourself when you called,” Lace said.

“I hope you don’t mind the impromptu party,” Bryan exchanged a glance with his woman. “Lace thought it would be a good idea, but you guys look pretty tired.”

“Oh, stop.” Lace rolled her eyes. “There’ll be plenty of time for resting later. Take Carter to the kitchen and get him a non-caffeinated soda,” she told Bryan. “You,” she pointed at Bridget, “and you,” she pointed at me. “Come sit down and fill us in. I still can’t believe it,” she muttered after shooing Sager and King off the couch. Double L had no fear. The guys in Tempest, even the hulking Latino drummer deferred to her. She really would’ve been a more logical choice to lead the group after Warren left, if she had wanted the job.

I tried to sit beside Bridget, but Lace wedged herself between us. “Oh, no. You’ve had her for the past twenty-four hours, it’s my turn JJ.” She turned to Bridget. “So just how fucking rich are you?” she asked brazenly.

“Lace,” Dizzy cautioned, palm to his head. “A little tact, maybe.”

“We’re best friends.” She waved off his concern. “Even before she became an heiress. Right, Rehab Sister?” She held out a fist to Bridget.

“Relax, Diz.” I was happy to see her dimpled smile appear as she tapped her knuckles to Lace’s. Bridget seemed more settled after our conversation at the pool, but she’d still been quieter than usual. And as Carter sagely pointed out, the only time she clammed up was when she was worried about something.

We had a lot to work out, I knew that. But I was confident we would. I only wished that there was something I could say, or something I could do that would convince her.

“So how much?” Lace persisted.

“I don’t know really.” Bridget laughed. “A lot, I guess. Enough.”

“Enough that you could buy your own record label?” King asked, dark eyes sparkling with humor.

“Probably.” She laughed again. “But why? Aren’t you happy with Black Cat?”

“He’s just mad ‘cause the queen busted his balls today,” Sager explained.

“Really?” Lace’s brow rose.

The big Latino shrugged noncommittally.

“She noticed he was hung over.” Sager completely threw King under the bus, ignoring his best friend’s scowl. “Stuck it to him good. Told him he was wasting an opportunity to be a positive role model in the Latino community. Stuff like that.”

“People need to sort out their own shit,” King grumbled before taking a long swig of his Tecate.

“So why are you still planning to keep your job at the coffeehouse” Lace asked deftly changing the subject.

“Just to be safe. No money has changed hands yet.” Bridget took the slice of pizza Bryan offered her, but she didn’t eat it.

Lace studied her for a long moment and then squeezed her hands. She turned to me. “How you liking that Triumph, biker boy?”

“Huh?” I was watching Bridget worry her bottom lip.

“Your new motorcycle.” Lace was trying to communicate something with a pointed glare and an eyebrow wiggle, but I had no idea what.

“You have a Triumph?” Bryan asked with keen interest, more interest than he’d ever shown in anything I’d ever said previously.

“Yeah, a Rocket III. You want to see it? It’s down in the garage.”

“Sweet,” Sager interjected, dark brows up over his dark eyes.

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Lace encouraged with exaggerated loudness. So that was it. She was trying to get rid of everybody. She wanted to talk to Bridget alone.

I glanced at Bridget. “You ok for a little bit?”

“She’ll be fine, lover boy. Man, you got it bad, JJ. I’m sure she’ll survive for a few minutes without you.”

The apartment was eerily quiet after the door clicked closed behind them all.

“Spill,” Lace demanded. “And don’t bullshit me. You look like you’re about two seconds away from coming apart at the seams.”

I closed my eyes, my tense shoulder drooping under the weight of my concerns crashing down on them all at once. A shaky breath leaked from my lips right before the waterworks started.

“Oh, baby.” Lace held out her arms. I dropped my heavy head onto her shoulder. Her arms went around me. She didn’t say anything while I let it all out. I cried because I was tired and stressed. I cried because my life had just taken an unexpected turn and I was feeling completely overwhelmed. But most of all I cried because I was afraid of losing Justin.

When the crying jag had settled to intermittent hiccups and periodic tears, I started to share. My explanation was all over the place, out of order and disjointed, but somehow Lace pieced it together and understood the way only a really good friend could.

She grabbed a tissue, handed it to me, and shifted to look at me. “So that’s your genius plan then. Squeeze all the happiness you can from him before he leaves or you do?”

I nodded. Though I realized it sounded kind of stupid when spoken aloud.

“That’s one of the dumbest things I ever heard.” She snorted.

I stiffened defensively.

“I’m no expert on love or anything. I’m still working out the consequences of a lot of bad choices on my own part. Choices that hurt a lot of people. But I do know one thing. Love is worth the chance. He says he loves you. I believe him. Hell, anyone who sees him with you can see that. So he’s not perfect. None of us are. But I really don’t think he’s the issue. You are.” She studied me, eyes much softer than her words had been. “Bridget, no one’s gonna argue. You’ve been though some really shitty stuff. So has he. Most of us have. The trick is to leave the past in the past. If you don’t you’ll never be free to move forward. If you keep trying to drag that heavy stuff around, you’re gonna find out that your hands are too full of bad to carry anything else. Something good like what I see between you and Justin needs to be scooped up and held onto with both hands. I agree with JJ. Don’t let anything come between you. Commit to it. Commit to a future for all three of you. Otherwise, I think your fear’s gonna cost you a really good thing.”

On the way back upstairs, Bryan jogged up to me. King, Sager, Dizzy, and Carter were a good distance behind.

“Sweet ride,” Bryan said.

I nodded my agreement. “Would’ve been smarter to save more of the signing bonus from Black Cat.” I shrugged. “But life’s too short, and I’ve always wanted a motorcycle.”

“I just got my mom and sisters into a house otherwise I would’ve bought myself one by now. After the European tour, there’s a Nighthawk with my name on it.”

“Cool. Maybe we can find somewhere to race.”

His head bobbed. “Absofuckinglutely.”

“Hey, in the meantime, you ever wanna take a spin on the Triumph, it’s no big deal. All you need to do is ask. I know you’ll take good care of it.”

“Thanks. I just might do that. Lace would love it.”

Before we reentered the apartment, he held me up. “Listen, I’m sorry I’ve been such a hard ass with you. Warren and I were friends a real long time. It’s been a hard adjustment for me. I’ve probably been taking it out on you.”

“It’s ok.” I started to wave it off, though I appreciated the apology, and took it as a favorable sign that things might have turned a corner between us.

“No seriously. You’re doing a great job, and if I can do anything to make things better, just let me know.”

“Thanks.” I clapped him on the back. “I appreciate it.”

My eyes went straight to Bridget as soon as we turned the corner into the living room. She was still on the couch with Lace, her eyes red rimmed.
Shit.
I knew she’d been holding out on me.

“Hey.” She gave me a tentative smile, but there was something more than that in her gaze. Something that hadn’t been there before. Something that told me she’d let go of the worry that’d been dragging her down since Florida.

Bryan took a seat on the armrest next to Lace. Arriving with the others, King lifted Carter off his shoulders and set him down. The crew wandered into the kitchen. I heard the refrigerator door open and the hiss of bottle caps coming off.

Carter shuffled over to the couch and squeezed between Bridget and Lace. “I’m tired, Mommy.”

“Me, too.” She kissed his head. “Why don’t you go ahead and get a bath and get in your jammies. Lace wants to tuck you in tonight. Would that be ok?”

“Yeah.” His eyes sparkled and he had a bit more spring in his step as he started to move away. “But where will you be?”

“I need to spend a little time with Justin.” Her eyes met mine. “I’m going over to his place, if that’s ok with him?”

Hell, yeah.
I nodded.

She rose and I reached out to grab her hand, interlacing my fingers with hers. “You sure you don’t mind taking care of Carter?” she asked Lace.

“Not at all.”

I hugged Carter goodnight and Bridget released my hand to kneel down and whisper in Carter’s ear. “I love you. Be good. I’ll see you in the morning.” Her eyes remained on him as he walked to the back.

Lace and I exchanged a glance. “Go on, guys. Go.” Her voice lowered. “Sleep in for once, Bridget. I’ve got breakfast already planned. Bryan bought a big industrial sized bag of powdered doughnuts from the IGA. If he doesn’t share it with someone, he’ll be hyper all day.”