More Than Famous (Famous #2) (32 page)

"Thank you for the gift.  I love it.  I can't wait to wear it for you later," she whispered as she leaned up on tip toe.  "Hey guys.  I'm glad to see all of you.  Ethan," Brook turned to him to give him a hug, "Thank you for helping us with this; all of you. I am so thankful you’re my friends."

I pulled out her chair next to me and she took her seat at the same moment Wendy walked in.  She was dressed more casually in jeans and a white T-shirt.  She threw off her jacket as she approached and took the seat across from me.

"Hey, am I late?"

"Not at all, Wendy.  Glad you're here."  I was amazed at how calm Brook seemed in light of what was about to go down.  She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs.

"Brook, you're looking more dressed up than usual.  What's the occasion?"  Wendy raised her eyebrows at my girl.

"Oh, I just feel like celebrating tonight.  Finally, the gang is back together."  Her lips twitched in the start of a smile as she spoke.

Wendy gazed warily in my direction, and then her eyes went back to Brook as she tried to determine if we were going to confront her.  It was obvious she was taking note of the way we were leaning toward one another and talking softly to each other.  Her eyes hardened as she watched us.

That's right, bitch.  She's with me. And we know what you did.  Could she possibly think we'd let this slide?

Dinner progressed with casual set conversation.  We talked about the premieres that we'd been to, and the scenes that were coming up for each of us.  Finally the waiter cleared the plates, and brought a last round of drinks.  I glanced at Brook and reached under the table to take her hand in mine.  She squeezed my fingers.

"Um…” I hesitated, but only briefly; meeting Brook’s eyes with mine. “Brook, are you ready to order dessert?"  My mouth lifted into a smile as I watched her.   Her eyebrows went up and she sat up a little straighter in her chair. 

"Um, yeah."  She smiled brightly at me and took my hand.

Ethan glanced at me and leaned back in his chair, he knew what was coming and he was fucking enjoying every second of it.  Jennifer was leaning into Dawson and they were looking expectantly toward our end of the table but no one said anything.  Wendy looked from one of us to the other, noting how everyone was watching her and no one was speaking.  She had to feel fucking cornered.

"Wendy, we had another reason for inviting you to dinner tonight."  Brook's voice was calm, methodical.  "I wanted to clear the air about something."

Wendy shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she sat down her glass of vodka, and her eyes were hard as she stared at Brook and then glanced toward me.  I'm sure she knew what Brook was getting at.

"The little stunt you pulled in January caused a lot of grief between Cade and I, and I'm not going to let that happen again. Someone I love deeply was hurt, and that fucking pisses me off."

"I don't know what you mean, Brook," she said with an air of aloofness.

Brook sighed and shook her head.  "Cut the bullshit, Wendy.  You're only embarrassing yourself even more.  The fact is, I don't give a damn about you, what you think, or what you tell people.  However, Cade wanted this conversation, so here we are."

"Cade and I are—well, let's just say he is not available for your little shenanigans and he really never was.  Since you won't listen to him when he tells you he's in love with me, then I'm forced to step in.  I'll admit, you hurt me in January when you answered his door to his apartment, but I know better than to believe anything you say or do ever again. We love each other, and you will never come between us.  Never."

"But… I
was
with him that night, Brook.  What? Did he tell you otherwise?" Wendy laughed softly as she tried to weasel her way out of the situation with more lies.

Brook's face hardened.  "Are you really going there?
Really? 
With Ethan sitting right here?  Are you that stupid, Wendy?" she shook her head with a disgusted look on her face. "Now that I'm thinking clearly, I realize that if it did happen, you would’ve had pictures plastered on the front page of ten of the rag mags and all over the Internet. I can't believe I didn't think of that before, but I guess, indescribable fucking pain clouded my judgment."

Ethan leaned forward on the table, and made a gesture with his hand.  "Wendy, just stop.  You and I both know there is no truth to what you say.  You'd be better off to just apologize, and move on."

Wendy's face flushed a bright red.

"Where the
fuck
do you get off, Brook?" Her voice elevated in volume and pitch.  "For months you've been denying any relationship with Cade, other than that he is your best friend.  You tortured and abused him with your little hard-to-get routine, throwing David in his face, constantly.  Fuck! You hurt them
both
. And now you sit here and think you can just say you love him and it erases all of that? You're a liar, and you have the nerve to accuse me?"

I watched Brook' face.  She smirked; her voice remained calm as her fingers entwined with mine on top of the table this time.  "I don't trust you, Wendy, and deep down I never did.  Of course, I wasn't going to tell you the fucking truth! Cade absolutely knows everything.  He's the important variable here, not you.  He's known for quite some time how much I love him, and
for how long
." 

Wendy's eyes widened and her chin snapped up as she glanced at me.  I nodded to confirm Brook's words. 

"Hmmmpht."  Brook let her breath out in a snort   "And, where do I
get off
?"

She looked over at me and I let go of her hand, leaned over and pulled her chair close to mine, then my hand went to her leg to grasp around her bare thigh.  She brought her hand up to my hair, stroked down the back of my head and kept stroking the hair at the back of my neck. Her touch sent goose bumps down through my whole body.

"Um,
this
... " Her hold on me tightened, "
this is where I get off
. With whom," Her eyes bore into mine and I felt my dick twitch at the look in her eyes.  She tore her gaze away to look at Wendy.  "
And how
." 

Fuck me.  She did NOT just bloody say that!
  My heart swelled in my chest at the same time as I wanted to laugh out loud.  I was so fucking proud of her.

 
I couldn't help the huge grin that split across my face, but Brook's face was deadly serious. My eyes glanced around the table at the others, and they all were doing their best not to laugh.  Ethan's shoulders were visibly shaking as he burst out laughing, and fuck if I could help running my hand through my hair again.

Brook leaned her head against my shoulder, and the scent of her perfume assaulted my senses, my hand continued to rub her thigh. 

"You were right about one thing. He
is
all you imagined, and so much
more
. Beyond your wildest... fucking... fantasy.  But he's
my
reality.  I'm sorry I couldn't share that with you before but we wanted to keep our private life, private. Everyone else sitting here knew, but we knew we couldn't trust you."

Wendy just stared at her with her mouth hanging open.  Brook's focus was on me, even though she was talking to Wendy and I could see the desire flood her features when she looked at me.  This was something she was doing for me, for us; and she was going to hammer home her point.

"Here is my problem; Cade won't make love to me until we had this little chat with you. He wanted to make sure I knew he'd never fucking touched you before he'd agree to give me what I want."

The others were staring at Brook and my eyebrows were raised and I was smiling, almost laughing aloud at Wendy's stunned expression, but still in shock at Brook's words.  My free hand ran through my hair several times. I was surprised Wendy didn't get up and run out. Brook was brutal, and she was stunned into silence.

Bloody hell, this was fucking hilarious. 

I turned toward Brook and brought her hand to my mouth to place a kiss on the inside of her wrist.  I could feel her pulse under my lips as I raised my eyes to hers. 

"It's what I want, too, baby," I said softly against her skin, but loud enough for Wendy to hear me.

"Then I think we're about finished here, hmmm?" She looked at me, and I nodded and brushed the back of my knuckles against her cheekbone.  Her eyes never left mine as she spoke to Wendy. We were sending an indelible message.

"Mmmmm... Cade promised me this morning that he was going to make me come all over him tonight, and I am so beyond ready for him to keep that promise.  And he's so good at keeping his promises, Wendy.  Incredibly good."

Ethan let out a long whistle with a huge ass grin on his face, and Jennifer gasped out a laugh. I almost choked on my beer as I felt my body throb at her words. 

She was so bloody beautiful, and she was all mine. I was so turned on a stiff breeze would make me come.

Determination, combined with the desire on Brook's features as the candle light from around the room, flickered in her eyes.

 Dawson and Wendy were stunned, neither one of them moved.

"Are you
beyond ready
, too, Cade?"  She smiled at me sweetly but her voice was full of sex. 

She was such a sexy little devil. 
Jesus Christ!

I swallowed hard.  "Jesus, Brook. You have no idea love," was all I could say.

She leaned over and pulled on my neck to bring my face closer to hers.  "Give me a taste, Cade.  I miss you so much." She licked my top lip with her luscious little tongue and her hand came up to my face her thumb dragging across my lower lip as she leaned in and spoke. 

I didn't need a second invitation, the private room making it okay to do as I wanted.  My mouth swooped in to cover hers and she instantly opened to me and we kissed deeply, our mouths moving together until she finally pulled away, and our lips clung together as we separated.  She tasted so delicious; I forgot we had an audience.  I wanted more.

"MMMM... yummy.  I'll be keeping a few promises of my own, baby."  She brought her hand up and wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand, as she turned to look at Wendy. Her eyes were intent on Wendy's face, her message loud and clear. No one spoke, everyone stunned into silence.

She leaned in to whisper something in my ear, but then stopped and turned back to Wendy.  She leaned into the table toward her.  "Oh, I forgot you don't like it when Cade and I have private jokes or little secrets, so I'll let you in on this one."  Her hand came over to grab my leg and she leaned into me.

"Baby... ?"  She brought her eyes to mine and licked her lips.

"Yes, my love?"  I played along with her, a smile tugging at my lips as I looked into those emerald eyes.

"I’m not wearing any panties."  I gasped and she kissed my lips softly, and brushed my jaw with her other hand.  "Just give me just a few minutes, honey?  Just a
few
..."

I smiled as something secret passed between us, and she smiled back.  I nodded and leaned in to kiss her once more.

Holy fuck!  I doubt I'll be in any condition to walk out of here for several minutes.

Jennifer gasped again and the guys both chuckled.

 "Ethan, Jennifer, Dawson, thank you so much for being here with us tonight.  You're all such good friends. I love you all. Wendy, you'll find it harder to play your little games since we all know what you're capable of now. I feel sad that you've reduced yourself to this."

She got up and bent to place a soft, wet kiss on my mouth and she pulled on my lower lip with her teeth as she drew back.

"See you in a bit," she said the words against my mouth and then turned to leave.  I stared after her intently and imagined her commando under her short dress, and what I was going to be doing with her in less than 30 minutes time. 

I knew my eyes were smoldering after her as my hand came up to my mouth.  I'm sure that was part of the effect she wanted to give Wendy.  A fucking exclamation point on just how intimate our relationship was. 

Ethan dropped his head into his hands and burst out laughing.   "Holy shit! That girl has balls. I wouldn't have missed this for the
fucking world
!"

Jennifer brought a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh and Dawson shook his head with a grin.  "You're one lucky bastard, Cade."  I laughed and nodded.

"Hey!" Jennifer nudged him.

"Don't worry, sweetie.  I'm an even luckier bastard."  Dawson smiled at her and she leaned in to kiss him.

Wendy gathered her things and rose to leave. Clearly humiliated, her face flushed bright red.  She turned back to me; her eyes glassy.

"You all think this is so fucking funny, don't you?  Cade, are you that pathetic, to be led around by your dick?  I cared about you when she didn't give a fuck about you..." she began.

I put up my hand to stop her. 

"Wendy, first of all, if I'm being led around, it's by my heart, not my dick. I've been telling you for months that I'm in love with Brook.  She felt you needed to see it to get the point, and we both know you don't give a whit about me.  You only care about publicity, and what you can get off of each and every one of us.  You hurt the one person I love most in this world with your bloody lies."

My voice was hard as I continued. "We are all aware of your paparazzi tipping ways and if any of this gets out, Brook and I will deny it, and all of these wonderful people around me will deny it as well.  You'll be made to look like a scorned woman with an ax to grind, with absolutely nothing to back it up.  The world will see you only as some pathetic woman that I didn't want anything to do with.  It won't help your image or your career.  It's certainly not the type of publicity you want, so I'd seriously consider your next move carefully.  And um... on the off chance you haven't gotten the point already, Brook and I, are a united front.  Pinnacle won't bloody fuck with us because they need us on these films now. If you try to damage us again, we
will fuck with you
.  I’ll make sure you never get another acting job again. Is that clear?"

She just turned and stalked out.