Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes) (30 page)

“Didn’t know
what?
” she barked.

Suddenly his hand came out and pushed the stop button.
 
The elevator ground to a halt.

“
What the hell are you doing
?” Kit yelled at him.

He faced her with a determined stare.
 
“I didn’t know that … ,
whoa
…” Jeff slid down the wall.
 
“I don’t feel so good”

“Oh for crying out loud” Kit said, helping him to the floor and pushing his head between his legs.
 
Sitting beside him, she rubbed his back in a circular motion.
 
“Of all the stupid …”

Breathing deeply he tried to answer, “I didn’t know that you and … Barnaby were not …”

“Not what?” she asked softly.

He raised his head and looked at her.
 
“I thought you were a couple”

Kit looked dumbfounded, “Well, we’re not”

“I know.
 
I found that out tonight” he tried for a smile and ended up looking pained.
 
“A little bird told me.”

“Wouldn’t have been a little
pink
bird that’s growing out a mohawk, would it?” Kit asked pushing her hair out of her face in frustration.

“As a matter of fact; yeah.
 
She told me you were crazy about me” he said searching her eyes for the truth.

“Well that little bird just may be
extinct
by night’s end” she replied pursing her lips, and sitting back against the wall of the elevator.
 
“How are you feeling?” she added in concern.

Leaning back next to her, J.J. gazed at her with a smile.
 
“I’ve been better”

Kit chuckled.
 
“Why on earth did you push that button?”

“I was afraid if we tried to have another conversation, Barnaby would turn up again.
 
This was one place he can’t bother us.
 
But then again…” he added looking around worriedly as if Barnaby would magically appear.

Punching him in the arm, Kit teased him, “Stupid Mr. Jones, very stupid”

“I was also afraid you’d walk out and I’d never have a chance to …,” he began seriously.

“Chance to what?” she cut in.

“Kit” he said swallowing hard.
 
“Play twenty questions with me?”

She raised her brows at him. “You know I’m not fond of that game anymore J.J.”

“Please?
 
It helps my claustrophobia to keep talking”

She gave him a dubious look.
 
“Okay, go ahead” she reluctantly answered.
 
“But I’ll get it in ten” she smirked knowingly at him.

“Okay” he replied.
 
Taking a deep breath, he started, “Are you
over
Jeremy?”

“You
know
I am.
 
I told you”

“Just
answer
the question Kit Kat”

“Yes” she said dully.

“Are you
over
Barnaby?”

“Well I was technically never
under
Barnaby” she joked, but on seeing his stern face added an annoyed, “Yes”

“Are you seeing anyone else?” he asked anxiously.

She threw him a dirty look, “Are you?”

“I’m the one asking the questions here” he responded.

“And I’m the one who
may or may not
answer them” she replied huffily.

“I’m not seeing anyone Kit” he said in all seriousness.

“But your Uncle –“

“My Uncle has quite the imagination.
 
I’m not the player everyone thinks I am, not even close …, never was”

Before Kit could ponder his response, he spoke again, “You didn’t answer my question”

She waved the question away, “Oh.
 
No.
 
I’m not seeing anyone”

Jeff sat up a little, his confidence starting to rise, and his phobia receding.
 
“So, was Jasmine telling the truth?”

Kit looked at him with a frown.
 
“Jasmine
always
tells the truth; it’s what I like most about her.
 
So I guess the answer’s yes” she added grudgingly.

“Crazy, huh?” he asked slowly, with a broad smile.

“Yes.
 
You definitely do make me
crazy
” she replied distantly.

“That’s not what I meant”

“Isn’t it?
 
You’ll have to be a little clearer with your wording Mr. Jones.
  
Being in the publishing business, I would have thought you’d know that”

He grinned, tongue in cheek, “Oh. You
misunderstood
my question?”

“Yes, I did” she replied snootily.
 
“And that counts as a question”

“Oh that counts as a question huh?”

“Yes.
 
And that’s
another
one” she said pointing at him with a laugh.

Jeff rolled his eyes. “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”

“Yes I do.
 
And that makes seven my friend”

“Crap” he swore, running his hand through his hair.
 
“Okay” he added, calming down.
 
“Answer me this.
 
Are we still friends?”

Thinking about it, Kit replied surely, “Yeah.
 
I think we can be”

“Can we be
more
?”

Kit licked her lips as J.J. moved in closer.
 
“Define
more
?” she said carefully.
 
It was starting to get way too hot in this elevator.

“Okay.
 
I’ll re-ask the question as long as I’m not penalised”

“Go ahead” she waited expectantly.
 
His face was getting closer and closer.

“Is it possible to go back to the day when I left you in Brandon Bay?
 
After the night of fireworks?
 
Can we get back there Kit Kat?” he said urgently.

“Is that supposed to be one question?” she asked, her breathing rapidly speeding up.

“Who cares, answer the
damn
question” he murmured, his lips almost touching hers.

Kit drew back a little.
 
“No. We can’t go back J.J.”

He exhaled sharply and leaned away from her, the hurt clearly showing in his eyes, “No?”

Kit smiled sadly at him. “I’ve learnt that you can’t ever go back.
 
It doesn’t work.
 
The past is done and can’t be recaptured no matter how we try.”
 
At J.J.’s bleak face, Kit added, “But we can definitely start over”

“Starting over sounds good” he said exhaling and moving in again.
 

“You have one more question Mr. Jones, better make it good”

“I’ll try” he said, his mouth so close she could feel his breath on her lips.
 
“Will you kiss me Kit Kat?”

“Do you have to ask?” she replied, her lips parting in anticipation and her arms making their way around his neck.

He stopped short and pulled back.
 
“Wait a second, was that a
yes
?”

“Yes J.J.,
oh yes
” she sighed.
 
Yes indeed.

PREVIEW - Read the first two chapters

When Jasmine Peabody meets Barnaby Calder she’s unaware of who he is.
 
All she knows is that he’s a completely obnoxious jerk.
 
The fact that he’s the guy who’s been in love with her best friend for eons, is something that triggers warning bells in her head.
 
An emotionally unavailable Mr. Wrong was not what she was looking for in a mate.
 
But when it comes to love, falling ‘heed over heels’ may not be something Jasmine wants; but sometimes you don’t always get what you want!

Jasmine pulled out her compact and took another look at her reflection.
 
She’d gotten herself ready in half the time it usually took her.
 
She was determined to have a great time tonight at the Rydekker house warming party, and not even a rushed makeup job or her Mustang’s battery dying would spoil her evening.
 
She’d had to take a cab; yet another delay to add to her lateness.
 
She hoped her best friend Kit wouldn’t be too angry with her; she’d told her that the she had to wait for her shop’s closing time and get ready before she could make her way there.
 
A quick glance at the cab’s dashboard clock told her she was an hour later than the eight o’clock arrival she’d planned.

As she walked up the driveway, she could hear the music playing through the open door and she sighed;
Frank Sinatra
!
 
Her choice of dress couldn’t have been more perfect.
 
It was almost an exact replica of Marilyn’s
Seven Year Itch
white halter number; but in the palest pink.
 
She had decided to go a little more conventional in the hair department for the party, and opted to sport a short blonde pageboy wig; it hid the fact that she’d been growing out her Mohawk perfectly.
 
It went with the Marilyn vibe like white on rice, and she noted with the house as well.
 
Charles Rydekkers’ new abode was a fifties Alexander model; just the type she imagined the Ratpack would congregate at.

As she entered the party, it was in full swing.
 
As she predicted, she was a showstopper.
 
Usually it was due to the Mohawk and not quite so complimentary, but this time when all eyes turned on her; it was with complete admiration.
 
Her parents, Joseph and Marlene Peabody would be proud; not that she could care less what they would think.
 
But growing up with a silver spoon certainly came in handy when needed; she could pull off a soiree like this with her eyes closed.

“Jasmine, or should I say
Marilyn
; so nice to see you” Charles Rydekker commented, taking in her attire with more than a little hesitation on her ample chest.