Beautiful Entourage (19 page)

Harper spun in a circle and indicated to the room. “Is your dad here? Because I don’t see him. Are you paying him for tonight’s performance?”

“No…”

“And why were you at his apartment?”

“He invited me over for dinner.”

“And your father wasn’t there?” she asked.

“No…”

“Did you pay him for that?” she asked.

“No…”

She clapped her hands and jumped on her heels. “He’s soooo into you!”

The idea of Rhett wanting to be with me, to be more than friends, was exactly what I wanted. Just entertaining the idea was thrilling. I’d fantasized about kissing him too many times to count. “You think…?”

“Trust me, he is!” She gave me that wide-eyed look that made her look like a freak.

“But…that’s against the rules.”

“Men will break the rules for the right woman,” she said. “And Rhett is breaking his. You should go for it.”

“Go for it how?”

“Kiss him.”

“I don’t know…”

She gave me an irritated look. “When have you ever been scared to kiss a guy?”

“When I risk losing him altogether. In the contract I signed, it said if I tell him I have romantic feelings for him, he’ll never speak to me again. So, if I’m wrong, I could lose Rhett from my life and as my escort. Dad would hate me even more and I’d have to start all over. I can’t risk it unless I’m absolutely right.”

“Girl, I’m pretty sure…”

“But you don’t know what he’s thinking,” I said. “Maybe he’s tipsy right now. Maybe he’s just a playboy.” I didn’t think that last part was true. Rhett might sleep around but he wouldn’t treat me like that.

“I have a strong feeling about this, Aspen.”

“An hour ago, you were telling me I couldn’t trust him.”

“But then I saw you guys together,” she argued. “And there’s something there.”

“I don’t want to get my hopes up.” It would crush me if he rejected me.

She clapped her hands like a light bulb went off in her head. “Wait for him to kiss you. Be sexy so he can’t resist.”

I gave her a look that clearly said, “You’re kidding me, right?”

“You can be sexy!” Harper said. “You’re a natural at it.”

“Am not! I don’t walk a runway half naked then look over my shoulder.”

“There are other ways to be sexy,” she said.

“Like how?” I demanded.

She scratched her head. “Just…it’s hard to explain.”

“Well, that really helped,” I said sarcastically.

Harper glanced over to the guys. “They’re coming.”

“Okay.” I tried to be cool. “You like Troy?”

“He’s an escort, isn’t he?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

She shook her head. “Then no.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s just weird.”

The guys arrived and halted our conversation.

“Sorry about that,” Rhett said as he came to my side. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s okay.” Butterflies the size of skyscrapers were in my stomach.

His arm moved around my waist, immediately making my heart swell in size. “Let’s get back to our beer, shall we?”

“Sure.”

***

The four of us sat together in a booth, Rhett and I on one side while the other two faced us. His arm was around my shoulders and he sat close to me, our bodies touching.

I was in heaven, entertaining the idea that Rhett wanted something more with me. I knew I did. I never connected with someone the way I did with him. It was like we were two sides of the same coin. He was the earth to my moon. He was the shore to my sea.

Troy was sitting close to Harper but looked at me. “Battleship, how did you get so good at the game?”

I shrugged. “Practice?”

“She cheats.” Rhett winked at me. “This girl can read my mind.”

“Just yours?” Troy asked fearfully. “Or everyone’s?”

I gave him a serious look. “Everyone.”

His face paled. “Well, I’m sorry about…you know…what I was thinking earlier…”

I tried not to laugh.

“We’re joking, you idiot,” Rhett said.

“Oh.” Troy loosened up. “Yeah, me too.” He added a fake laugh at the end.

Harper eyed him with a raised eyebrow. “Good thing you’re pretty.”

He grinned from ear-to-ear. “Yeah?” He put his arm around her shoulders.

“I guess,” she said with a shrug.

“Whatever,” he said. “You’ve been making eyes at me all night. It’s time you give me that number.”

“You haven’t earned it,” Harper said.

“How many drinks do I have to buy?” Troy asked.

“Not enough drinks in the world,” Rhett teased.

“Shut the hell up, lover boy,” Troy teased back.

Rhett moved his lips toward my ear. “He’s sensitive.”

His lips brushed my skin and my entire body broke out in goose bumps. The touch sent shivers up my spine. I hoped he didn’t notice.

“Battleship,” Troy said. “I heard your dad is a dick.”

“You heard correctly,” I said, regaining my voice.

“Sorry to hear that,” he said seriously. “Rhett talks about you all the time. Actually, he never stops talking about you.”

I tried not to smile. “I hope he says good things.”

“Oh yeah,” Troy said. “He told me—”

Rhett kicked him under the table. “That you’re an amazing golfer.”

Troy groaned then rubbed his knee under the table.

I wondered what he was going to say. “Did he tell you I’m obsessed with sundaes?”

“He said he’s shocked you have such a sexy bod after inhaling so much ice cream,” Troy said seriously.

Rhett tensed beside me but didn’t say anything.

Did Rhett really say that? He thinks I have a sexy bod?

“He’s joking…” Rhett’s voice didn’t sound normal at all.

“Hey, if you’re going to give this girl your phone number and share your address with her, you may as well be honest,” Troy said. He turned to me. “And he said you were a perfect ten.”

Rhett kicked him under the table again.

“The kneecap…” Troy groaned again.

Rhett opened his wallet and threw a few twenties on the table. “I’m going to walk Aspen home.”

I wanted to stay but he clearly wanted to get out of there. “Good night.” I shot Harper a meaningful look.

She winked at me. “I hope you score,” she mouthed.

“It was nice meeting you, Troy,” I said.

His face was resting on the table and he was rubbing his knee. “You too…”

Rhett put his arm around my waist and walked me outside. Once we were out of the building, he relaxed slightly. His warm arm kept me close, and together, we walked. “Troy is a bit irritating sometimes. I apologize.”

“I like him.”

“You do?” he asked in surprise.

“He’s funny.”

“Yeah, hilarious,” he said sarcastically. “He seemed to like Harper.”

“Well, everyone likes Harper. I’m surprised you didn’t.”

“Why would I?” he asked. “The most beautiful woman in there was you by a landslide.”

Did he just say that?

Rhett seemed to realize his mistake. “You know…yeah.” He couldn’t figure out something to cover his tracks.

I looked away, grinning like a teenager.

We walked to my apartment then reached my door. Rhett wore a blue t-shirt with dark jeans. His chest was highlighted in the fabric, and he looked scrumptious. More fantasies came to my mind, of us doing things that I never did with John.

Rhett put his hands in his pockets and stared at me.

I couldn’t tell if he wanted to come in or drop me off like he said. I looked into his eyes, wondering what he was thinking. I’d give anything to know how he felt. I’d give anything to feel him kiss me. “Rhett?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you really say those things?” I had no idea where my bravery came from. Perhaps Harper rubbed off on me tonight.

He shifted his weight then rubbed the back of his neck, his signature move. “Would you be offended if I said yes?”

“No.”

“Then yes, I said it.”

I forced myself not to smile, not to dance around in joy. He thought I was hot? He thought I was a perfect ten? “I think you’re a perfect ten too.”

His eyes narrowed on my face and he dropped his hand to his side. The look was different than any other he’d given me. I didn’t know what to make of it. He stepped closer to me, his face dangerously close to mine.

Please. Kiss. Me
.

His eyes were still glued to mine. “I also think you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, and I don’t just mean physically. Your past doesn’t darken your skies, and you shine on. You inspire me, make me want to be a better person. You’re the coolest chick I’ve ever met, and I’ve never had a relationship with a girl like this, one that was based on friendship and not sex. And....it’s given me more pleasure than I’ve ever known.”

Kiss me.

He continued to look at me, his face close to mine. “I…just want you to know that.”

“I think your physical attributes pale in comparison to the goodness in your heart.”

His eyes softened and the emotion shined through. “And you’re the best Battleship player I’ve ever met.”

His words were meant to make me chuckle but they didn’t. I stared at him, waiting for the kiss I desperately wanted. I wanted him to change the relationship, to make it clear it was okay for me to confess my deepest and darkest feelings.

Kiss me.

He stayed where he was, his thoughts unknown.

I wanted to close the distance myself. Courage had formed in my bones and now it was pushing me forward. I decided to go for it, not afraid to see what might happen. Just as I decided to lean in, he pulled back.

“I…I should go.” He stepped back and looked away, like something just gripped him by the throat and squeezed. I hadn’t leaned in so I knew my intent hadn’t pushed him away. It was something else, something I couldn’t figure out. “Good night, Aspen.” Without waiting for me to enter my apartment, he walked away.

And I missed him.

***

Jane spoke over the intercom on my desk phone. Her voice was low. “Ms. Lane, Isabella is in the building. I just thought I should warn you.”

Just hearing that witch’s name made me angry. “Thank you, Jane.” I decided to stay in my office so there was no possibility of running into her. She was my mother’s sister’s daughter so I wasn’t sure why she was here. My father wasn’t particularly close with anyone, especially her.

I tried not to think about it, and instead thought of the man who consumed my thoughts on an hourly basis. Rhett and I had journeyed into dangerous territory the other night. I was beginning to believe there was something between us, that we could have everything I wanted.

But something held him back. I didn’t know what it was and I doubt he would tell me. I hadn’t called or sought him out since then. If he needed space to figure it out, I would give it to him. Perhaps his hesitance came from his work situation. Being romantically involved with me was breaking one of his own rules, and I’m sure he made those rules for a reason. And I couldn’t fire him as my escort because losing Rhett would sabotage my plan for the company.

“You can’t go in there!” Jane’s voice shattered my thoughts. “Ma’am?”

“Do I look old to you?” a woman hissed outside my door. It sounded just like Isabella.

Did she come all the way down here just to taunt me? That’s how pathetic she was.

“I’ll call security,” Jane threatened.

“Go ahead,” Isabella said. “See what happens to your job when you do.” She opened the door then stepped inside with the stiffness of a queen. An evil sneer was on her lips, and whatever she wanted to say would obviously bring her immense satisfaction.

I stared at her blankly like her presence didn’t affect me whatsoever.

“Hey, Aspen.” She put her hand on her hip then flipped her hair over one shoulder. “I just got my hair done. You like?”

“Is troll the new look?”

She gave me a disgusted sneer. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here…”

“No, but I am wondering when you’ll be leaving.”

“Ha,” she said sarcastically. “So funny. Aspen was always the smart one…”

“What do you want?” I asked with a bored voice.

“Oh, I don’t want anything,” she said. “I just came by to share a bit of news.”

“That face transplant has been approved?” I asked. “Good. You won’t be hideous forever.”

“How hideous can I be when John wants to fuck me instead of you?”

That was low and she knew it. But I acted like the words meant nothing to me, like they didn’t hurt me and rip me to pieces. I was over John, but I would never be over what happened.