Blame It on the Shame (Blame It on the Shame: Lou-Lou and Ricardo's Story #1) (17 page)

Jackson gestures between us. “You mean
this
is a
date
? Darn, I'm sorry, guys.”

I think he's going to get up and leave but to my surprise, he drapes his arm over the booth. “Well since I came
all
this way I might as well stay.”

“Our apartment is a
block
away,” Tyrone grits through his teeth.

Jackson looks at me. “You don't mind if I stay do you, Lou-Lou?”

I'm about to respond but he cuts me off. “Especially since you seemed to really want to spend time with me yesterday in the locker room.”

Shit.

Tyrone gives me a strange look. “Locker room? What's he talking about?”

“I—um.”

“Go on,” Jackson insists.

Most guys would be happy about being propositioned for a blowjob but Jackson's acting like it's a capital crime.

“Okay fine,” I admit. “Tyrone, you should know that I've hit on Jackson...a few times now.”

Tyrone sits up in his seat. “Oh,” is all he says.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say that my first and only date is officially the
worst
one in the history of first dates.

“Look, I'm not looking for anything serious. I didn't think you were either.”

I swallow my lies with a big gulp of water.

Tyrone shrugs. “I'm not,” he says.

“Good, so we're on the same page.”

Jackson gives Tyrone a look but Tyrone ignores him and focuses on me. “Glad we got that cleared up. So anyway, tell me a little bit about yourself.” He pauses. “Actually, I've been meaning to ask you—is Lou-Lou short for something or is that your real name?”

Damn, I don't want to lie to him. “My name is Lucianna. But please, don't call me that.”

“No problem.” He smacks the table with his hand. “Man, it's too bad your name isn't Lucy
and
you aren't a redhead...
that
would have been
epic
.”

Jackson breaks out into a big smile. “Shit, you're
right
. I didn't even think about that.”

They both start laughing and I wish I could join them but I have no idea what's so funny.

Tyrone’s laughing so hard he has tears in his eyes.

Then before I know what's happening they're both screaming, “Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do!” Loud enough the entire bar and restaurant turn to look at us.

I have to admit, it
is
pretty funny.

Even though it makes me think about Ricardo again.

“I think I understand why Ricardo's so into redheads now,” Tyrone says. “Can't believe I never put two and two together before.”

I don't know why that statement does something to me but it does.

And the feeling only intensifies when I scan the bar and Ricardo's eyes find mine.

For a moment, it feels like the entire world stops. All I can see is him...all I can
feel
is him and he isn't even touching me.

Is this what it feels like to be so
inexplicably
attracted to someone?

I push those thoughts from my mind before they have a chance to fester and take root.

He's the
last
person that should be causing feelings I've
never
experienced before to ignite in me.

A game of seduction is one thing...feelings are a whole different ball game.

Feelings could get me killed.

Because make no mistake about it, I wouldn't put a thing past Bruno DeLuca.

For a second, I think he's feeling this intense moment between us just as strongly as I am.

But then his gaze shifts to the tall and gorgeous redhead beside him.

This woman makes me look like a hideous flea in comparison.

I steel myself when they walk over to our table.

Jackson waves and Tyrone says, “Hey, Scarlet.”

They obviously
know her...which can only mean one thing—Ricardo must hang around her a lot.

Ricardo eyes my glass of wine and makes a face.

However, that glass of wine is looking awfully good right now...especially when he introduces her to
me
as the new ring girl and puts his arm around her.

Jealousy and anger burn through me and before I can process my next thought, I'm reaching for my purse and running out the door.

Chapter 7 (Ricardo)

Scarlet purses her lips. “What's
her
problem?”

I knew it would piss Lou-Lou off when she found out I hired another ring girl.

It was supposed to.

It was my way of sticking it to both her and my father.

I don't know what kind of game they're running or
why
but I'm not going to lie down and take it.

Plus, Scarlet jumped at the offer to be a ring girl. I made it clear that it was just business and she said she understood.

Tyrone throws his hands in the air. “Well,
this
date is going down in the record books as one of the worst.”

Scarlet studies her nails. “Who cares, she seemed like a bitch anyway.”

“You don't even
know
her,” I growl.

Three pairs of eyes stare at me but I ignore them because I'm running out the door after Lou-Lou.

It occurs to me that
I
don't even know her...and even though she's a bitch...she may just have her reasons for being that way.

For all I know, she could be trapped in DeLuca's fucked up playground just like I am.

And if that's the case...maybe we can work together to keep him at bay.

But first, she's going to need to tell me everything and open up to me.

Since she had a head start she's almost to the apartment already.

I call out her name but she doesn't answer and that only pisses me off more.

Fuck this
.

I chase after her, pick her up, and throw her over my shoulder. “What are you doing?” she screams.

I run up the stairs. “What does it look like?”

I open the door to my apartment and put her down.

“Where's
Scarlet
?” she taunts.

“Not here.”

She cocks an eyebrow. “Why?”

I deflect her question with a few of my own because I don't know how to answer that. “Why does my father want you to seduce Tyrone and Jackson? What is he planning on doing? And what is he threatening you with in order to get you to do it? ”

She narrows her eyes. “My lips are sealed, asshole.”

I don't even realize I'm grabbing her shoulders until she's staring at me wide-eyed. “Stop being such a bitch to me when I'm only trying to
help
you!” I shout.

“Well don't!” she screams back at me. “I never once asked for your help.”

Her nostrils flare. “And
please
, Ricardo. It's not like you're mister fucking sunshine.”

Her statement throws me for a loop. “What are you talking about? I've been nothing but nice to you.”

“You threatened to rat me out to him!” she shouts.

Shit...she has me there. But she was beyond aggravated with me before that happened.

We stay silent for what feels like hours before she speaks again. “Why did you hire another ring girl?”

I give her a smirk. “Because variety is the spice of life.”

She props a hand on her hip and glares at me. “You know what? I don't care, it doesn't matter anyway. Sorry I even asked.”

She turns to leave but I reach for her arm in a last ditch effort. “I'm sorry, Lou-Lou. With the exception of threatening to rat you out...I don't know what I did to upset you so much but I'm not the asshole you think I am. Now with that said—
yes
—I hired her to get back at you...and my father.”

I exhale sharply. “I don't know what his deal is but he's obviously up to something.”

She looks like she wants to say something but stops herself.

“Look, I don't ask much from anyone...ever,” I say. “But I'm asking you to be honest with me. I know you don't want to go back to him for whatever reason, so maybe there's a way we can work together...but that's going to require effort and trust on both our parts.”

She shakes her head. “Sorry, but I work alone. Always have, always will.”

“What can I do to change your mind? What can I do to get you to trust me?”

“Trust you?” she scoffs. “Why in the world would I
ever
trust someone who's lying to the two people closest to him? I hate to point out the obvious but your track record sucks.”

“I'm lying in order to help them...I know it seems like a shitty excuse but you have no idea what it's like to be in DeLuca's fight club. If they find out that I'm his son now...they'll never trust me again. And if that happens they'll never make it out alive. I need them to make it out alive, Lou-Lou. I care about them and they need me in their corner in order to do that. Things have been relatively easy for them over the past three years but DeLuca can throw a wrench in this whole operation and go back on his word to me at any time. You have no idea what he's really capable of.”

She draws in a shaky breath and looks at me. “I know exactly what he's capable of, Ricardo. Trust me.”

I take a step closer to her but she turns away. “Tell me what he has on you. I know you don't want to be with him. You can deny it all you want but I
feel
it.”

Her entire body starts trembling and I feel bad I'm pushing her but I need to know. “You're wrong, I love him,” she whispers and I feel my chest tighten. “He saved me.”

“From what?”

She shakes her head. “I'm not going to tell you. So just drop it.”

“No.”

“Go fuck yourself,” she screams.

I let the anger roll off my back because I think I've finally figured out that for whatever reason—being a bitch is her go-to.

It's the way she protects herself.

And for reasons beyond me, she thinks DeLuca saved her...but I know better than anyone that DeLuca's version of saving someone
isn't
actually saving someone at all.

It's detaining and condemning them. I have to get her to see that but there's only one way for that to happen.

“Please,” I whisper. “Lock the rest of the world out—never let them in...I don't care.” I tilt her chin up to look at me. “But don't do it to me. Let
me
be the one person you let in.”

I gesture around the apartment. “Let
this
be your safe place.”

“I can't. I'm sorry.”

“Why?”

Her eyes penetrate me and I have to suck in a breath because whatever her secrets are....something tells me they're the
worst
kind. “Because if I do...I'm afraid I'll break.”

I cup her face in my hands. “You won't if I hold you together.”

She looks down. “You're not that strong.”

I give her a small smile. “Wanna bet?”

When she stays silent I continue, “We'll start slow so I can earn your trust. I want to prove to you that you
can
trust me. Will you let me do that?”

“How?”

“Tell me one thing about yourself. One truth that you've never told anyone else and I'll do the same.”

She rolls her eyes. “Seriously?”

“Just try it,” I insist. “It can be anything. I won't judge. Just give me one truth.”

She closes her eyes. “I like bathtubs.”

“I
hate
bathtubs.”

Her eyes pop open. “You just said you wouldn't judge.”

I brush my thumb over her cheek. “Not judging, babe—that's
my
truth. I really don't like bathtubs.”

She gives me an odd look. “Why?”

“Why do you
like
them?”

“I—you said I only had to tell you one.”

“You're right,” I tell her. “In exchange for one of mine. I'll tell you why but only in exchange for another one of your truth's.”

She curls her arms around herself. “I—I don't want to tell you any more truth's right now.”

“Look at me, Lou-Lou.” When she does I say, “I won't push you for any more tonight.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

She walks toward the front door but pauses. “I wouldn't want that.”

“Wouldn't want what?”