Beautiful Strangers (10 page)

  
I let things go too far and end
up having splendid sex with Evan in the lake. There is no one around for miles
to see us or care. I feel so free in this moment. And then he has to ruin it by
speaking.

 
“Look angel about the other
night, I came to warn you.”

 
“Warn me!
About
what exactly?”

 
“That guy, Jaxson. Grace he’s bad
news. And when I say bad babe, I mean really bad.” I had never seen Evan look
so serious about anything. I suddenly felt very cold. Was he telling the truth
or was he trying to get rid of the competition?

  
“I am a big girl Evan I can take
care of myself and what would you know about him anyhow?”

 
“For starters I have seen him
around in bars, he likes to hit’em and quit’em. You’re not the first video
model he has dated either. I am just saying be careful. I worry about you.”

  
I don’t like where this
conversation is headed. I don’t need this shit on top of everything else I am
dealing with. I start making my way back towards the shore line.

  
“Don’t leave; I am so tired of watching
you walk away from me.” He hooks his big muscular arms around my waist and
pulls me back into the water with him.

  
“Evan, I can’t do this with you.
Not right now.”

  
“Why, because of your superstar
boyfriend? He can’t give you what you need Gracie. You’re a fool if you think
you are anything other than another notch on his post. Let me love you. I have
changed for you. I stopped using four months ago.”

  
“That’s great for you really,
but I don’t want or need anything from you. I think we are past that. Besides
you should want to be a better man for yourself. Being here with you is a
mistake.” This time he lets me go.

  
I get into my car dripping wet
but I don’t care, he always manages to get under my skin. It’s as if he knows
pissing me off only makes me want him more.

  
I decided some retail therapy
would do me a world of good. I found myself some new sexy push up bras and
coordinating panties for work and to wear for Jaxson.
 
I finally bought a really cute pair of
leopard Jimmy Choos I have been eyeing for a while. Jocelyn meets me for an
early dinner at the Rain Forest Café; it felt really good to be spending some
much needed girl time with my bestie. I couldn’t hold everything in any longer
and confessed that I had spent the morning with Evan.

  
Jocelyn did seem a little too
interested in how much time I have been spending seeing Evan. Funny she rarely
asks about him most days, but I brush it off. I know she worries about me. We
gush over Jaxson, and talk about the video.

  
“Gracie I am so happy things are
going well for you. Are sure you have decided to let Evan alone for good? You
have been through a lot together.” She states twirling her red hair around her
fingers.

  
Something is off with Jojo
today, but I just can’t place what it is. We say our goodbyes; she says that
Robert has a surprise planned for her.

   
When I get home I take a series
of mischievous pictures in my new heels and lingerie and send them to Jaxson.
Instant phone call, my inner kitten is beaming.

   
“Damn, Gracie you tease. You
have me so hard! I just finished the final touches on the video and then you
send me these pics. Are you trying to blue ball me to death?”

  
“What would be the fun in that,
Jax? I’d much rather torture you in the flesh.”

  
“Of course you would lover. I
may give you the chance later tonight if you’re lucky.”

  
“Now who’s the tease?”

   
With time to kill, I turn on
the TV. You would think I‘d learn not to watch The Nashville Gawker but it’s
like seeing a car crash and you can’t turn away:

 
Jaxson Hayes has denied any
reports of an engagement but sources say the country star was spotted leaving a
jewelry store earlier today. Sadie Blake has refused to comment.
 

  
I don’t know how to feel it,
could just be another of Sadie’s ploys to make them appear to be the golden
couple. There wasn’t any footage of said jewelry store visit but if this is why
Sadie wants to have dinner with me, I will rip that bitch’s head off.

  
Try to be calm Gracie. Jaxson
surely would have mentioned something so important, but it’s hard not to wonder
how far he will go to keep princess happy.

  
Guess I will find out soon
enough when I meet up with him after my shift tonight. Silence from Evan, maybe
he really is ready to give me some much needed space. If I am lucky maybe he
will leave me and Nashville alone
all together since I’m the main reason for his moving here.

  
That would simplify things on
some level and I wouldn’t be so tempted to let my demon call him. I caught
myself almost dialing his number out of curiosity. No I tell myself just
because you’re pissy over rumors it doesn’t give you an excuse to be an idiot.
Don’t give that sorry asshole any hope.

What Once Was?

     
But that doesn’t stop the
memories Evan and I was so good together. When we were good, we were perfect
and when we were bad, it was hell on Earth. I remember our first date like it
was yesterday…..

       
Glancing at the clock I
find myself feeling nervous, almost time to meet the cute guy. I don’t know why
I am anxious he is just a guy changing your flat tire. Grace, pull it together.
I put on my favorite denim shorts and my favorite yellow cami. I pull my long
dark brown hair into a loose bun, and slip on my favorite yellow Jimmy’s. I
have an obsession with Jimmy Choos that my father thankfully funded or I would
never have been able to afford them.

 
I walk down the street to where I
left my car. Shit! Did I forget to hang my parking permit on my rearview
mirror? There is a tow truck pulled along side of my car.
 
My anxiety subsides when I see Evan stepping
out of the driver’s side. I can tell he is staring at my legs. I have taken
dance classes as long as I can remember, so I know they look good.

  
“You’re late I have been sitting
in my truck for fifteen minutes. Did you have trouble walking here in those
heels?” he teased.
 

  
“No, I like to keep men
waiting.” I tease back.

  
“I already changed your tire,
hop in my truck and we can go get that pizza you owe me.”
 

  
I stand there chewing the inside
of my bottom lip; I am not so sure about just climbing into some strangers tow
truck. I go against my gut feeling and decide to take a chance. It is just
pizza after all.

   
“Let me give you a boost, with
those heels you might hurt something trying to get in.”
 
I think he really just wants a closer view of
my ass, but I am not complaining.

  
“So this is your truck? I mean
you said you work in a repair shop, so I take it you’re not a student?”

   
“No I was helping a friend move
in, you were just lucky I was at the right place at the right time.” He
answered giving me a shit eating grin, like he knew something that I didn’t. He
flashes his too damn sexy dimples at me. I think I just fell to pieces. He is
so fucking charming when he smiles.

    
“Sure you were. I bet you
scout the campus looking for girls in need of your services on the daily.” I
tell him mockingly.

  
“You’ve caught me. It is a great
way to get business and dates.”

  
“Oh right, what do I owe you for
the tire?”
 

  
“I told you, just pizza and a
little of your time.”

  
“Are you sure? I don’t mind
paying you.”

He nods his head and we continue to talk about what I am pursuing in
school.
   

  
I notice we are getting on the
freeway heading towards the Nashville
International Airport
and I get a huge lump in my throat.

  
“So where’s this pizza place?” I
ask nervously.
 

  
“It’s not far. I promise I am
not taking you out to the woods to torture you. There’s an Italian place right
off Stewarts Ferry-Pike called Sal’s. They make great pies.”

  
“Oh.” Was all I could say, I
felt kind of embarrassed.
 
He leads me
inside and we take a table in the back corner. We spend the evening learning
more about each other over some delicious pizza and yes, it was my treat.

    
The way he feels about
motorcycles is a lot like the way I feel about writing. There is something
inspiring about the way he describes his bike. He talks about it as if it were
a beautiful woman waiting to be caressed. I can not help but stare at his lips
as he speaks and wonder what it would be like to lean over and taste them just
once.

 
I was beginning to think he was
reading my thoughts when he suddenly leaned in and brushed my bottom lip with
his thumb.

  
“You had a little bit of crust
on your mouth.”
 
His thumb lingers for an
extra second and I know he is feeling the connection between us. I rarely find
an instant spark with anyone, which would explain why Jojo cat is my one and
only friend.

    
“I was going to meet a friend
of mine for a game of pool, would you like to go?” He asks casually.

   
“Sure but I have to warn you I
am a klutz and am very dangerous with a stick.”
 

High Demand….

   
When I get to work Ritchie
calls me into his office.

  
Well hell! What have I done now?
I wonder.

    
“Gracie I just wanted to pull
you to the side and let you know that you have been doing a great job lately.
Reggie met with me earlier and showed me what you two decided for the girls’
costumes and I love the ideas you have.”

  
“Thank you.”

  
“We also discussed your
suggestion to let the girls be without masks for Halloween. As long as it’s
only for make up and hair purposes, I am okay with it this one time.”
 

  
Wow, that went over better than
I expected.

  
“Oh and congratulations on the
video, I hear it turned out great. We have been asked to host a release party
Monday night before business hours and you are expected to be here. I can’t
wait to see it.”

  
“Thanks, me either.”

  
My shift was crazy! There were
so many people asking for the girl from the billboard, I was overwhelmed.
Ritchie ended up having to send me home; some guys got a little out of hand
when they weren’t able to get a dance from me. Who would have thought so much
attention would come from a few billboards? Not me.

   
I called Jax to let him know I
was sent home, and when I told him why I could swear he was jealous, making my
kitten purr with excitement.

  
“You’re in high demand love but
I have first and only dibs.” He stated as a matter of fact.

  
I drove to his place and was
very surprised by what was waiting for me. Jaxson was in his bedroom and the
whole room was lit with candles and he was sitting in a chair near his French
doors shirtless in a pair of dark jeans holding his guitar.
 

Hurry! Hurry!

  
“You inspired me to write a new
song, I would like to play it for you.”

   
I had to pinch myself he was so
sweet and sexy, if this is a dream I never want to wake up. I took the chair
opposite of him, I was afraid my legs would give any second. Jaxson was looking
me directly in the eyes as he began to serenade me in a sultry, bluesy tone.

  
“I call this Hurry Lover.”

Hurry Lover

Hurry lover come
quick

Times not ours
to waste

Hurry lover run
to me

Feed my soul

I give you my
love freely

What are you
waiting for?

Give your heart
to me

So come on love
run, run, run

You belong to me
and
I
you

I’m ready to
stop fucking around

Go ahead and
jump

Hurry lover come
quick

Time he waits
for no one
 

Not even you

Almost Heaven….

     
Jax put his guitar to the
side our eyes never leaving one another’s, and a single tear escaped my eye. He
captured it on his thumb and then he tasted it.

  
“Jax that was beautiful, thank
you.”

  
To say my entire soul just
melted would be the understatement of a lifetime. And how he could have done
anything else to make me want to love him more was beyond me. But then he
pulled out a jewelry box and sat it in my lap.

  
“I bought this for you today
Gracie, you inspire me.”

   
I opened the box and inside was
a beautiful silver chain with a guitar pendant.