Intensity (10 page)

Chapter 16

“You have got to be kidding me…” Celine’s voice trailed off as she eyed the heaping pile of French toast in front of her. A scoop of butter slid across the fluffy top, dripping globs of yellow goodness onto the ceramic plate.

“You want any syrup, Hun?” a kind older woman asked. Celine nodded and was answered with a huge pitcher of warm syrup. “If you want anything more, holler at me.”

“Thanks, Frieda,” Brian called out. As she turned to leave, he grabbed a silver fork from the table. He proceeded to puncture a stack of pancakes, taking a huge piece in his mouth. “This is great,” he said with his mouth full.

Celine grimaced and wiped some pancake crumbs off her face. “Seriously, you and Ruthie need to learn some manners. What adults talk with their mouths full?” Brian grinned, then opened his mouth wide. “Ew!” she replied, giggling.

Grabbing his napkin, Brian wiped his mouth clean. He eyed the heaping stack of French toast in front of Celine and looked back up at her. “Are you going to eat that?”

“This is way too much!” she replied. “I can’t finish this.”

“Always the picky eater,” Brian sighed.

“Hey! I’m not picky! I just know my limits, and sir, this is way too much for me. It’s almost one in the morning!”

“Meaning it’s the perfect time to eat.” He laughed. He bit his lip and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the black and white specked table. “How about a little wager?”

“A wager, huh?” Celine leaned forward as well. “I’m listening.”

“If you can eat that stack of French toast, and I mean all of it, no crumbs left behind or anything, I’ll let you listen to Intensity all the way home.”

“Dumb bet.” Celine laughed. “We’ve already listened to eight of their songs. Hate to admit it, but I’m getting kinda sick of it.”

“Thank the Lord!” Brian exclaimed loudly, earning a few annoyed looks from the diner patrons. In a louder voice he called out, “Finally! A woman who is sick of Intensity!”

Celine slid back into her seat and hunched her shoulders over. “Shhh, you’re embarrassing me!”

Brian merely laughed and began drumming his fingertips on the table. “Okay, fine. That was a bad wager.”

“Got anything better?”

Brian narrowed his eyes in thought. “Wanna bring this back old school?”

Celine lifted her eyebrows. “What are you thinking?”

“Remember our old high school game, Secret for a Dare?”

Celine warmed. She couldn’t believe that Brian remembered their old game. They both used to play it every day between classes. She nodded her head enthusiastically. “Of course. How could I forget?”

“What do you say we play it now?”

She smiled wickedly. “Fine. What are the terms?”

“I don’t think you can finish that whole plate. If you happen to leave one crumb on that plate, you’re telling me a secret.”

“Fine. But if I finish everything, you lose and I get to know one of yours.”

He nodded his head once and smiled. “You’re on!”

Celine took a deep breath and dug into her plate. She knew she’d regret eating so much. She’d already lost five pounds from her pre-wedding diet and was about to go dress shopping in just a few weeks! However, she couldn’t pass up this chance to rub Brian’s face in the mud. He deserved it for all the ups and downs he unknowingly put her through during high school. Besides, it felt like old times again and she couldn’t deny how much fun she was having.

A few minutes later, Celine sat in her chair holding onto her stomach. “Ugh,” she whimpered. “I feel horrible.”

“You only ate two!” Brian admonished.

“I have a small stomach!” she whined. “I’m in pain! And I’m thirsty!”

“Drink some water,” he replied, pushing her glass towards her.

“No!” she shook her head profusely. “It’ll make me full. I have to finish this!”

Brian began to chuckle. “I doubt you will be able to. Let’s just call it a draw.”

“A draw? A draw? Celine never calls a draw!” She raised a finger in the air in melodramatic fashion, causing Brian to burst into a fit of laughter.

“Come on! We still have an hour to go before we reach your place. I don’t want you puking or diarrhea-ing in the car!”

“Lovely,” Celine replied with pursed lips. “Let’s not forget that you were the one who thought this up to begin with!”

“And I’m the one ending it.” He pulled her plate away and shook his head. “Nope, we’re stopping this right now.”

“Fine,” Celine groaned, though truth be told she was relieved. “What do you consider a draw, then?”

“A secret for a secret. You tell me one of yours and I’ll tell you one of mine.”

Celine bit her lip. She had stupidly thought she’d win the bet. As if riding alone with her old high school crush wasn’t weird enough, now she’d have to tell him a secret.
It’s okay, we’re friends
.

Celine tapped her chin with her finger. “Okay, let’s see. What’s a good secret to tell you. Oh! You remember Chad, right?”

Brian’s face turned grim. “Yeah, I remember. He’s the dick who ignored you after Homecoming.”

“Yup, that’s him!” Celine said cheerfully, completely oblivious to Brian’s shift in mood. “We actually tried dating again in college.” She began laughing at his perplexed look. “It only lasted about a week. Even Ruthie doesn’t know about it. She’d kill me if she knew. So this secret, sir, is going straight to your grave!”

“Wow…” Brian’s voice trailed off. “I’m surprised you gave him another chance.”

“Well, everyone changes after high school. Besides, everything went the way it was supposed to. I’m now engaged to a really great guy and couldn’t be happier,” she said, clasping her hands together. She gazed at Brian and for a moment thought she saw a vague look of disappointment on his face. She cleared her throat and said, “Okay, your turn.”

“Well, first of all let me say not everyone changes after high school. You’re still as awesome as I remember.” He winked.

She laughed as she placed her hand over her chest. “You flatter me!”

Instead of responding, Brian began to rub his hands over his thighs nervously.

Celine frowned. “If you don’t want to tell me a secret you don’t have to. I was the loser, after all.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I came up with this game, so I must continue.” He paused and took a swig of water.

“I have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy confession.” She found herself leaning back into her seat, making herself as comfortable as possible.

Brian nodded. “You were wondering why I hated Cash so much, right?”

Celine nodded silently.

“Let’s just say that Crystal and I did last way into college and way into my career with Intensity.”

“But you said—”

“Yeah, I know, and I’m sorry for lying. I guess I was embarrassed about what happened.” Rubbing his hands over his face, he continued, “About two years ago I found her in bed with Cash. I knew things were becoming strained in our relationship, but I didn’t think…Well, either way things obviously ended with us that night.”

Celine’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe it! Never would she have imagined Cash to be that much of a scumbag. Sure, she had a weird gut feeling about him, but she chalked it up to worrying about Ruthie’s inexperience with men.

“Wow,” she breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

Brian shrugged and stabbed the remainder of his pancakes with a butter knife. “No worries. It happened a few years ago and I’m about as over it as you can get.”

Celine shook her head in pity. “How can you stand it? I don’t think I could work for someone who did that to me.”

“Well, that’s just the way Cash is. Like I said, he grew up thinking women were disposable. I’m really madder at Crystal. We were together for four years! To think she would throw that all away for one night with Cash.”

“Maybe she thought it would become more than one night,” Celine offered. As soon as the words slipped her mouth she instantly regretted it. Stupidly she had thought it might make him feel better. The expression on his face said otherwise. She quickly tried to redeem herself and added, “Either way, I think Cash is a douche for doing that. He obviously knew she was with someone.”

“That’s why I think you’re awesome,” Brian said quietly.

Totally not what she expected him to say. “What do you mean?” she asked in confusion.

“You were basically Cash’s biggest fan! To see you brush him off like that is very impressive. Ruthie, on the other hand…”

“Ruthie needs to learn to take care of herself,” she finished. Her voice came out cold and it was a tone she hardly recognized. She shook her head and tried to change the subject. “You are one strong person, Brian. I couldn’t stand anyone even hitting on Noah. I can’t imagine having to see and work with Cash every day of my life!”

“It’s easier than you think. I get paid pretty well!” he joked. Shaking his head, he added, “Noah would have to be stupid to let anyone come in between you two. You’re too much of a catch.”

Celine looked up and felt a blush on her cheeks. “Thanks, I guess.”

Brian lifted the knife from his pancakes. He played around with it for a while before speaking again. “I guess that brings me to my secret.”

“What?” Celine asked in confusion. “I thought that was your secret.”

Brian’s lips turned up into a crooked smile. “My secret is also one of my biggest regrets.”

“What’s that?” Celine whispered.

“Picking Crystal over you.”

Chapter 17

“This place is pretty great!” Ruthie yelled over the blaring music. Cash thrust a rather beautiful looking drink into her hand. Even in the dim club light, the drink seemed illuminated. It looked so unique that she didn’t even want to drink it. She could just stare at it all night. Then again, she did have something more attractive to put her attention to.

“I love coming here!” Cash yelled back, taking a swig of his whiskey. “It’s one of my favorite places to party when I’m in town. Great music, good crowd, and a perfect private area over there.” He lifted his finger and pointed to two velvet curtains, which cascaded over a high balcony. “It’s the VIP area. A great place to run off to when you become tired of the crowd.”

At that moment three women sauntered over to Cash. Decked out in skin tight clothes and accessorized beyond belief, the women eyed Ruthie’s outfit with obvious disdain. The three women looked as if they had stepped off a catwalk in Milan and Ruthie looked like she had sauntered out of a Forever 21. A tall blonde stepped forward. “Cash,” she purred, reaching out to touch his arm. “We’ve missed you! It’s been so long since you visited town.”

“Or visited us,” one of her friends said from behind. The woman pushed back her long black hair and placed her hand on her hip.

Cash smiled, licking his lips. “Ladies! Nice to see you again. Have you met Ruthie? She’s my date.” He motioned at Ruthie, who smiled politely.

The women pursed their lips and nodded their heads in Ruthie’s direction. She nodded back in acknowledgement, all the while reveling in the fact that Cash had called her his date.

“If you can excuse us, ladies, we’re about to go to a quieter place.” Cash’s voice was as smooth as silk and the women visibly melted into puddles of lust.

“What? We’re not invited this time?” the tall blonde pouted.

“Maybe next time.” Cash laughed. “Now if you’ll excuse us…”

He grabbed Ruthie’s arm and gently guided her towards the balcony. She followed aimlessly, feeling as if her knees were spaghetti. She couldn’t believe that Cash had flat out rejected the Amazonians for her! If that wasn’t a confidence booster, she didn’t know what was. Before Cash shut the French styled doors, she stole a quick glance at the Amazonians and caught them staring at her shamelessly. Catching eyes, Ruthie watched as the women raised their hands and wiggled their thin fingers at her. With tiny smirks, the women wore identical masks of envy and something else Ruthie couldn’t place. It was almost as if they knew the punchline to a joke she wasn’t privy too.

Ruthie quickly turned away and attempted to shrug away her unease. All the while, she couldn’t help but wonder if somehow she was the punchline.

***

Cash ushered Ruthie inside the empty room, nodding at his body guard to keep watch outside. As Ruthie walked towards the black leather couch, Cash calmly pulled the velvet curtains tightly in place. He turned around and gave Ruthie a once over.

“What do you think?” he asked, stretching his arms out. “Pretty sweet, huh?”

Ruthie folded her hands together and placed it on her lap. She began to nervously bounce her legs. Ruthie wasn’t stupid. She knew why Cash had brought her into VIP and it wasn’t just to talk and play board games. What scared Ruthie the most was that she didn’t mind. In fact, she was looking forward to anything he may have planned.

Cash sauntered over beside her and placed his drink down on the glass table beside the couch. He eyed her slowly and licked his lips. “So, tell me about yourself.”

Ruthie gulped. She watched as Cash made himself more comfortable on the couch. At this point, Ruthie’s insides were squirming and blood began pooling in unspeakable places. Having never been reckless before, she found herself thirsting for something she knew she might regret.

“Um…” She took a deep breath, also licking her lips. “Nothing much to say about me. I work in publishing. Client relations, actually.”

“Relations, huh?” Cash said smoothly. He reached out and ran a single fingertip down Ruthie’s exposed arm. A trail of goose bumps followed his path, and as if Ruthie’s body wasn’t already warm enough, she felt herself heat up a few degrees.

Ruthie nodded dumbly. “Yeah, I’ve been working there for a few years. Just waiting on my big break.”

Cash leaned forward. “Big break? Like what?”

Ruthie shivered as she felt his breath tickle her skin. Trying hard to remain composed, she whispered, “I’m working hard to be promoted. I really want to travel and schmooze, you know?”

His eyes brightened and his sensual tone gave way to his normal one. “You like to travel? Have you been to New York?”

Ruthie was taken aback by the sudden change in subject. “I’m sorry?”

“We’re heading back to New York next week. You should go!” he suggested.

Ruthie refrained from telling him that leisurely travel wasn’t exactly what she meant, but she couldn’t reject another chance to hang out with Cash. Unfortunately, her wallet might prevent any chance of it. “I’m sorry, but with Celine’s wedding and everything, I really can’t afford it.”

“Who said you’d be paying?” he asked. His face scrunched up, and if Ruthie didn’t know any better, she’d say he looked offended.

With an apologetic smile (though she didn’t know what she’d apologize for) Ruthie replied, “No, it’s not that. I mean, you’ve already done so much for me…er, us.”

“I haven’t done much…yet.” Cash’s voice deepened once again. He leaned over, cupping Ruthie’s chin. He pulled her in closer in a move so smooth it wasn’t hard to see he’d done it numerous times before. His breath mingled with hers for a brief second before he allowed his lips to gently brush against hers.

After years of imagining what his kiss would feel like—would taste like…After spending her teenage years kissing the poster above her bed…All that combined couldn’t compare to what it felt like to have Cash’s lips pressed against hers. Hungrily, he caressed her lips, forcing her mouth open. She happily obliged and relished the feeling of his tongue against hers. She lost herself, only allowing a tiny gasp to escape when she felt his fingers glide down the bare skin of her back.

To her dismay, he pulled his head away from hers. “I’m happy to have met you, Ruthie,” he whispered, trailing his lips down her neck.

She gulped and ran her hands down his back. “Mmm, yeah,” she ground out, not even making any sense.

His fingertips trailed the waist of her skirt. The light touch caused her to tremble from head to toe. She knew there was no hope for her. Whatever Cash wanted to do, she’d agree to. No questions asked.