Nobody's Fool (14 page)

“What if it was a woman you couldn’t say no to?”

Jolie pushed her chair back, the metal scraping across the interlocking brick. “I think I’ll go shower and change. If you’ll excuse me.”

Val grinned. “See you in a bit, darling.” He returned his attention to Court.

“She’s something, isn’t she? I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Court swallowed some wine, silently agreeing with Val.

“What do you mean you invited him?” Jolie exploded at Val an hour later from the privacy of her bedroom. “Are you insane?”

“I didn’t think he would say yes, but it seemed petty not to ask him. He surprised me as well. Besides, Krystian will be there. I don’t want you to feel like a third wheel.”

Jolie punched Val in the arm. “Ow! What’d you do that for?”

“Because you’re supposed to
distract
me from Court, not force me to spend more time with him.”

“There’s definitely going to be a bruise here,” Val informed her, examining his upper arm in the mirror.

“Keep it up and you might end up with a concussion. It was one thing when you decided to include Krystian.” She held up a hand when Val started to object. “He’s hot and you’re interested. That’s not a problem. I was prepared to bow out after an appropriate length of time, like after you finished paying for dinner, and leave you two lovebirds alone. But you had to go and open your big mouth and set up this, this—” She waved her arms in the air when words failed her.

Val grinned. “Double date?”

She glowered back. “You better wipe that smirk off your face if you know what’s good for you.” She rummaged through her jewelry drawer.

“Oh, come on, sweetheart.” Val sidled up behind her and hugged her. “I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m happy. I want everybody to be as happy as I am. I want to spend the evening with you, but I also want to spend time with Krystian. Fine, I admit inviting Court to join us was a slight faux pas.”

“Slight?”

“Major,” he corrected. “Can you suck it up for a couple of hours? For me? Please?”

She stared at their reflections. “Will there be wine?”

“Bottles of it.” He squeezed her waist.

“And dessert?”

“Something chocolate. Decadent. Sinful. You’ll hate yourself for a week.”

Jolie sighed. “All right. I’ll go. For you.”

“You’ll behave yourself?”

She stared at him wide-eyed. “When have I ever not behaved myself?”

Val came up with a story about his love of staying out late, especially since it was his last night in town, and suggested taking separate cars because both Jolie and Court would need to be up early tomorrow.

Somehow he’d maneuvered Jolie into riding with Court to the restaurant.

“Why Gregor’s?” Court asked once they were on their way. “Did you suggest it?”

“No. Is there a problem?”

“Have you been there?”

“No.”

“Neither have I.”

“Does it have a bad reputation?”

“No. The food’s supposed to be pretty good from what I’ve heard.”

“But?”

“It’s gay.”

“Gay? The restaurant is gay?” Jolie pretended to be clueless on the matter.

“The clientele.”

“Is gay?”

“Mostly. From what I’ve heard. There’s a bar, nightclub sort of thing attached to it. Music and dancing.”

“From what you’ve heard.”

“From what I’ve heard.”

“Are you worried?”

Court took his gaze from the traffic for a second and glanced at Jolie. “Worried about what?”

“That some guy will hit on you? Ask you to dance or something?”

“No. I’m not worried.”

“Why? Don’t think you’re attractive enough?” Jolie began to think she might enjoy the evening after all. At least she wouldn’t be bored.

“What do you think?”

“I think you’ll be crushed if no one asks you to dance.”

Court’s lips twitched. “I’m sure I’ll get over it. What about Val?”

“What about him?”

“What if he gets hit on or asked to dance?”

“Oh, gay guys hit on Val all the time.”

“It doesn’t bother him?”

Jolie shrugged. “Doesn’t seem to.”

“What does he do?”

“It depends. Sometimes he simply explains he’s not interested.”

“And other times?”

“He dances with them.”

Court’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? He dances with gay guys?”

“Sometimes.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“Why should it?” Oh yes. She was definitely going to enjoy herself this evening. For a bright guy he sure was being a dim bulb right now.

“Because, because…” Words failed Court. “He shouldn’t dance with someone else if you’re there.”

“He usually asks my opinion first.” It was true. She and Val had developed their own games for those times she allowed him to drag her to a gay club. Sometimes she was the indulgent wife, complete with a costume jewelry wedding ring, allowing her husband to have his fun. Sometimes they made bets on who would approach Val first. They made top ten pickup line lists and had a points system to determine who won.

“He asks you?” Court appeared flabbergasted. “And you’re okay with it?”

“I don’t see the harm. He’s a very attractive man.”

“Well, yeah, but…”

“Do you find him attractive?”

“I think we should talk about something else.”

“Val and I have a very special relationship,” Jolie said. Truthful yet misleading— what a wonderful combination.

“Obviously,” Court muttered under his breath.

He pushed a button on the stereo system and turned up the volume, shelving further conversation until they reached Gregor’s.

They were perusing the wine list when Val caught up, looking uncharacteristically flustered. Jolie raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. The server came and while the three of them discussed the wine list Krystian slid into the seat next to Val.

The server went off to see to their order. “Court, you’ve met Krystian.”

“Of course.” Court reached across the table and shook hands with the younger man. “I didn’t realize he’d be joining us.”

“He and Val met earlier today, isn’t that right, Val?”

“Why yes. Krys was kind enough to show me around the city today so it was the least I could do to buy him dinner as a thank you. Luckily, he wasn’t otherwise engaged.” Val and Krys grinned at each other.

They were really quite cute together, Jolie decided. The server appeared with their wine. He uncorked it and poured some for them to taste and approve. Once their glasses were full he promised to return after they’d perused the menus.

Jolie took a moment to check out the other patrons. It was quite possible she and Court were the only two heterosexuals in the dining room. In spite of the fact she was sharing space with Court she decided to enjoy the evening, drink wine and relax while she watched her best friend fall in love.

After dinner they moved to the nightclub where the DJ played techno, rock and dance mixes. The dance floor wasn’t overly crowded, but even on a weeknight the place did a good business.

Val leaned close to Krys’s ear and seconds later they excused themselves to dance.

Court gave Jolie a sly look, as if acknowledging he’d been bested. “You could have told me, you know.”

Her gaze followed his to where Val and Krys were showing each other their dance moves. “The penny drops at last. I knew you’d figure it out eventually.”

“About two seconds after Krys sat down. But before that, when I saw you with Val and I assumed…”

“Assumed what?”

“That you were together.”

“He’s my best friend and I love him dearly. Val’s one of the few people I can trust to be straight with me.”

“He’s never said or done anything to make you angry?”

“On the contrary. He exasperates me on a regular basis.”

“But you forgive him.”

“Always.”

“He’s never hurt you?”

“Not intentionally.”

“Let’s dance.”

Jolie turned away from the dance floor and looked at Court. “No.”

“Why? Are you afraid?”

She laughed but she knew it sounded forced and hollow. “No.”

“Afraid to be that close to me? Because you’re attracted to me and you won’t be able to hide it?”

“I’m not afraid.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not a liar.”

“Prove it.” He waited expectantly for a moment, then relaxed back in his seat. “I knew you wouldn’t.”

Jolie shot out of her chair, frustrated by his high-handed attitude and determined to prove him wrong.

She grabbed his wrist and pulled him to his feet. They found a few feet of space on the dance floor and Jolie molded herself to him, moving her body in time to the music, even though the music wasn’t slow enough for them to be this close.

Court grasped her right hand in his and pressed his other hand low on her back, holding her while she moved against him. That chemistry that had always been there between them couldn’t be denied.

“You drive me crazy,” Court said in her ear.

Jolie’s bravado faltered. His warm breath made her dizzy.

“I think about you all the time.”

His words made her long for something she wouldn’t let herself have.

“How can I make it up to you?”

Jolie froze. He’d asked a question she didn’t have an answer for. Until they found one, nothing was going to change.

The song ended. The DJ took a break and the noise level dropped several decibels. She stared into Court’s eyes and wondered what he saw in hers. Confusion? Desire? The hurt he’d caused that wouldn’t go away?

“I have to go, um, powder my nose.” She disentangled her hand from his and whirled away from him.

When she eventually returned to their table, Val and Krys were there holding hands. They’d refreshed their drinks as well as hers and Court’s.

“Where’s Court?” Jolie asked.

“At the bar. There’s some sort of sporting event on. He wanted to get the score,” Val said. “Isn’t this place fun? I’m so glad Krys thought of it.” He squeezed Krys’s hand. “Want to dance some more?”

Jolie was ready to call it a night. She’d had too much to drink and she hadn’t really relaxed. Not with Court so close. She had a full day of work tomorrow and she needed some sleep.

A hand clamped around her wrist and pulled her to her feet. “Dance with me. Quick.”

Court didn’t give her a chance to say no. He half dragged her back to the dance floor. The song was slower so they managed to move together without looking like fools, but Court had a haunted look in his eyes.

He swiveled his head around as if he was looking for someone.

“What’s wrong?” Jolie asked. “You’re awfully distracted.”

“I just want to make sure he gets the point.”

“He who?” Jolie looked around as well, expecting to see some shadowy figure lurking in a corner.

“The guy at the bar.”

“What guy at the bar?” Jolie felt a laugh building in her throat.

“He hit on me,” Court told her.

“He did?” She couldn’t hide her smile.

“It wasn’t funny.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t.”

“Stop laughing at me.”

“I’m not.” She laughed.

“I told him I wasn’t interested.”

“But he wouldn’t take no for an answer?” she asked innocently.

Court smiled at her. “Probably thought I was playing hard to get.”

“You do give off mixed signals at times.”

“Probably. Just like you.”

“Just like me what?” she asked.

“Your lips say no, no, no. But your eyes say yes, yes, yes!”

“Is that so? What is it they’re saying yes to?”

“This.”

Court kissed her. Maybe she was expecting it, maybe she wasn’t. Maybe he was still trying to prove a point. Jolie didn’t care why. She let him. She kissed him back. The song concluded and another overtook it. Heat washed over her along with a thousand memories of the Court who’d always been there for her.

The kiss ended and the lyrics of a new song pounded around them. Something about a wrecking ball. The singer wailed about how it all ever did was wreck her.

Jolie stared at Court. She’d let him wreck her, and she didn’t know if she could put the pieces of herself back together. She didn’t know if he could, either.

But she wanted to try.

Chapter Seventeen

Normally Jolie wouldn’t set foot outside her bedroom without her hair done, make-up on and otherwise appropriately attired, but she couldn’t bring herself to care at the moment. No matter what she did, she wasn’t going to look or feel any better. Whatever bug she’d caught at the club, it had invited all its friends. Only now were they starting to call for cabs home. All she wanted was a cup of tea laced with honey and to go back to sleep, even though she was sick of staying in bed.

She shuffled down the hall, tying the belt of her robe around her waist. A collective roar went up from the living room. She paused before she realized she didn’t have to worry. Neither Court nor his friends were going to notice or hear her. They were too engrossed in the baseball game.

She rummaged through Court’s pantry until she came up with a box of tea bags. She filled a mug and popped it in the microwave, then found some honey in the cabinet reserved for breakfast foods.

She sneezed, her nose started to run and her eyes began to water. She’d forgotten to bring a tissue with her so she tore a paper towel from the roll, propped her elbows on the counter and pressed it to her leaky eyes.

“You okay?” Court asked.

She hastily wiped her nose before straightening and shoving the damp paper towel into her robe pocket. “Just making some tea.” The microwave beeped. She kept her back to him while she fiddled with the tea bag and the hot mug.

Go away.
Silently she cursed Melina and Melina’s demanding family for putting her in Court’s house, and for the fact she was sick and stuck here with him. For him being nice to her when she was feeling so low.

She dribbled honey into the mug, aware of Court watching her. He slid a drawer open and a spoon appeared in front of her.

“Thank you.” She stirred her tea. She didn’t want him to see her like this, although, really, what did it matter? The last thing she wanted was to go back to his guest bedroom. She was bored out of her mind, tired of sleeping and sneezing and blowing her nose. She wanted to climb the walls.

“Want to watch the game for a while?” Court asked, displaying his psychic abilities once again.

She chanced a look his way. “I don’t want to disturb you guys.”

“It’s the bottom of the eighth. Atlanta’s going to win.”

She gestured at herself. “I’m sick and I’m really not dressed.”

“In that case, try not to sneeze on us.” He took in her fluffy pink robe, the cotton pajamas and furry striped socks peeking out from the bottom. “You’re covered. And not likely to start a riot.”

Translation:
None of those guys will be attracted to you. Including me.

She withdrew the crumpled paper towel and dabbed at her running nose again. “If you say so.” She picked up her mug and followed him to the living room.

Her entrance got barely a glance from the half-dozen men in the room. “Guys, this is Jolie. Jolie, the guys.”

Murmured acknowledgments came her way, but their eyes remained glued to the giant plasma screen. There were runners on second and third with two outs. The Braves were up four-one.

Court gestured for her to sit at one end of the leather sofa so she could set her mug on the end table next to it. Apparently this was the seat he’d vacated earlier because it was the only empty spot in the room. He squeezed in next to her, causing the other two occupants to squish in farther.

“You can put the footrest up, you’ll probably be more comfortable.”

Jolie flipped the lever on the side of the sofa. She leaned back into the cushiony leather, took a sip of tea and looked around. Scattered about the room were empty beer and soda bottles along with chip bags and paper plates. A tray held the picked-over remains of sandwiches. The assembled men were all thirty-ish and athletic, dressed in polo shirts and various khaki shorts.

Jolie tried to concentrate on the game, but her brain was a cotton-filled haze right now. She sipped her tea and pretended not to notice Court’s thigh pressed against hers.

When she woke it was to find her head on Court’s shoulder, her arm across his chest and her mouth wide open. Horrified, she tried to sit up, only to discover his arm was around her back and they were half lying on the sofa with their feet on the footrest.

Court must have been napping as well because he moved his arm and stretched, then turned and smiled at her. The room was empty except for the two of them. A sports talk show was on the TV at low volume. “How long have I been asleep?”

Court glanced at his watch. “An hour maybe? Hour and a half? You nodded off during the post-game recap.”

“Everybody left? I didn’t even hear them.”

“They were quiet. Very unlike them.”

Jolie’s stomach growled. She also needed to pee. She disentangled herself from Court and the all-too-comfy sofa.

“Can I make you some soup or something? Toast?” Court asked.

Jolie stood and retightened her belt. “You don’t have to take care of me.”

Court gave her a look. “It’s just a bowl of soup, Jo. Not a commitment.”

What had happened to them, Jolie wondered. Why couldn’t they get past this animosity that had sprung up between them? She should be able to get over it, put it behind her. But she couldn’t.

She was in love with Court and he didn’t give a damn about her. Not in that way. He wanted to hurt her. Well, maybe not anymore, but he had once and he’d succeeded. Bottom line, she couldn’t trust him. She always had to look for his ulterior motives. Like when he’d kissed her on the dance floor. Had he just been playing with her? She didn’t know but she wouldn’t allow herself to be fooled again.

It was, however, just soup. “I’d love a bowl, thanks. I’m going to take a shower and then I’ll be back.”

The shower revived her and she couldn’t believe how much better she felt afterward. Maybe she was almost over this awful cold or flu bug. Once dry she donned a pair of faded jeans and a cotton pullover thick enough so she didn’t have to bother with a bra. She moisturized around her nose, which was still a bit red.

In the kitchen, Court stirred soup simmering in a pan on the stove. He turned the burner off when he saw her. He seemed to be taking in every detail of her. Jolie thought there was a glimpse of appreciation in his eyes but given her condition that was wishful thinking.

“Ready?” he asked.

He’d put out bread and cheese and some grapes on the table along with a box of crackers, then ladled the soup into two bowls.

She poured herself a soft drink and took a seat. “Thanks.”

They ate in silence. Jolie couldn’t think of anything to say to Court that wouldn’t take them places she didn’t want to go. Everything seemed to have a double meaning these days. She had no wish to open the wounds they were trying to let heal. Hers were too fresh and his ran too deep.

“I’ll clean up,” she said when she’d finished. She scooted her chair back and carried her dishes to the sink. He didn’t argue, but began clearing the table and putting away the uneaten food and bringing his dishes to her. She loaded the dishwasher, rinsed the sink and wiped the counter nearby.

She set the sponge down and had finished drying her hands when she sensed Court right behind her. He slid his arms around her and rested his head against hers. Surely he wasn’t going to try to seduce her. Not when she was still getting over this bug.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he said softly.

“Do what?”

“Tense up every time you’re near me.”

What did he expect, that she’d throw her arms around him?

“I’m sorry, Jolie. I can say it a thousand times but you’ll never believe it, will you? I had to prove something to myself and it got out of hand. I never once thought about you getting hurt. I’m sorry. I ruined everything.”

Her thoughts whirled in confusion. Court sounded sincere. Maybe he meant what he said. But she didn’t see how she could take that chance. If he threw it all back in her face a second time, she didn’t know what she would do.

“What—what did you have to prove?” She hated that her voice sounded so shaky.

“That I was over you. But I’m not. I never will be.”

He lifted her hair away from her neck and touched his lips to her skin. Warmth edged with excitement rippled through her. He kept his lips on her skin, touching all those sensitive places, behind and below her ear, along her throat. “I wish,” he murmured. “I want—”

His hands floated up under her sweater along her midriff, lighting a fire everywhere they touched. Jolie made a sound in her throat, thinking she’d voice her objection, tell him to get his hands off her. Who did he think he was? But no words came out and Court seemed to take that as encouragement.

His hands moved higher, discovering she wore no bra. He made a small sound of surprise and pressed her closer. Jolie was frozen in place because everything Court did made her want him to do more. She couldn’t seem to find the words or the will to push him away, even though she should.

He turned her around and kissed her for real, making no effort to hide how much he wanted her. She wanted him too, but the memory of his behavior at the lake, the way he’d shut her out wouldn’t go away.

He was right. He could apologize a thousand times but she’d never be able to trust him. For such a long time he’d been the only person she could trust. He’d ruined that trust, but she’d ruined it first. What had seemed so simple had become so complicated. Sadness welled up inside her at what they could have had together.

She pushed at his chest and wrested her mouth away from his. “Stop. Stop it.”

He eased his embrace and looked at her. She didn’t care if he saw the tears in her eyes. She didn’t wipe them away. “I can’t do this.”

“Jolie—”

She straightened herself and raised her chin, putting force behind her words. “I don’t want to do this.”

She turned and left him there. A tiny part of her hoped he would follow. A bigger part was disappointed when he didn’t.