Get To Me (8th Sin #1) (8 page)

I can hear talking coming from the other room, so I get up.

I open my door and head down the hallway trying to figure out what Sophie is so amused by.

“And, she is awake,” Jackson says.

I immediately look down at my underwear and tank top. He isn’t who I imagined would be there.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I mess with my hair.

“I brought you breakfast.”

Sophie grins. “He brought you breakfast.” She wags her eyebrows from behind Jackson.

Jackson smiles, and I’m immediately reminded how handsome he is; how chiseled and perfect his face is. And how we had eagerly kissed each other like hungry animals the other day. And here I stand in my pajamas looking like crap.

I rake a hand through my hair and sigh. “Thank you.”

Jackson walks over to the island in Sophie’s kitchen. He lifts a coffee. “And coffee. I brought you some of that, too.”

Sophie nods. “I am totally impressed right now.”

“You would be.” I accept the coffee and the kiss he puts on my cheek. “I see you two met each other.”

“Yes, we did.” Sophie collects her things. “And I wish I could stay and watch this game play out but I have to be to work.”

Jackson watches Sophie quickly shove all her things into her purse.

“Goodbye, Sophie.”

When the door shuts, I look at him. “Did you tell her what’s going on?”

“She has a way of getting anything she wants out of people.” He sits down.

“She does.” I look in the bag. “You brought doughnuts.”

“The best ones in town,” he informs me.

I take one from the box and bite into it, chewing thoughtfully. I feel conflicted; one part of me thinks it’s sweet that Jackson went through the trouble of bringing me breakfast. The other part of me thinks it’s just a game he’s playing in an effort to win the challenge.

“What?”

I shrug, licking frosting and sprinkles from my finger. “I don’t want to be a game.”

“You’re not a game.”

“I just want to be Savy. Not something you’re trying to prove,” I tell him.

He takes a doughnut. “That’s all you are. You’re just Savy.”

I raise an eyebrow, confident I got my point across.

“I came here to ask you something.”

“What?”

“I want you to be my plus one to an event.” He leans forward. “What do you think?”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re a hell of a lot of fun. And I’m tired of the boring girls I have to put up with.” He smirks.

“What’s the event?”

“A celebration.” He nods. “My brother is getting married.”

“A wedding?”

“An engagement party. We Luckmans like to do everything big.” He stands, and I watch him walk over to the couch. He lifts a garment bag from behind the couch. “And I want you to wear this.”

I scratch my head. “You didn’t have to buy me a dress. I have dresses.”

“I thought it was beautiful. And with all you are putting up with working for me, I thought you deserved it.” He unzips the bag.

“Wow, Jackson. You’re right.” I cross the room to look at the beautiful white dress with a gold belt. “This is amazing.”

“It’s yours. And the party is tonight. I can pick you up at seven.” He tugs at his collar. “I have to get going; I have some work to get done.”

I lay the dress over the arm of the sofa and turn around. “You don’t need me to come?”

“I was hoping you could stop by the shelter and check inventory. See if there is anything we need.”

I nod. “Sure. I can do that. And I’ll see you tonight.”

***

I normally don’t get nervous. But I am.

The girl I see in the mirror before me is anything but what I am used to. She’s stunning.

I keep my hands in my lap to protect my freshly polished nails.

Jackson is a sight to behold in his black tuxedo. He’s lookin’ good and smells amazing.

I let him help me out of his car and he leads me across the dimly-lit parking light to sidewalks lined with lights.

“Wow.” I look around. “This looks beautiful.”

“Not too bad.” He takes my arm, and we follow the guests to the entrance of the fancy hall all decked out for his brother’s big event. There are even people at the door checking the guest list as well as others waiting to collect coats and purses.

“Jackson,” someone says behind us.

Jackson turns me around. “John Stevens. Long time no see.”

John smiles, a beautiful redhead on his arm. I notice she’s wearing a dress almost as stunning as mine. She gives me a smile, and I smile back.

“I was hoping to run into my old partner in crime.” He smirks, giving me a look. “And who is this?”

Jackson introduces me. “This is Savy Arnold.”

John politely takes my hand. “I wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.”

I bite down on my bottom lip.

“We’re just friends.” He looks at me and winks. “For now.”

I smile as John introduces us to his fianceé Enid. She’s very nice and looking forward to the festivities. So, before we can spend too much time together, they excuse themselves and head inside.

We slip through the door. I look around at all the fancy tables and decorations, the sparkling lights, and the marble floors. It’s all a bit over the top, but beautiful.

“Are you going to force me to dance?” I ask, watching all the couples dancing to a live band.

“You know it,” Jackson tells me. “But first, I want to introduce you to my mother.”

I let him lead me over to a group of woman. One in particular stops what she’s doing when she sees us coming.

“Jackson.” She smiles, taking his hand and pulling him in for a hug. “You look handsome.”

“And you look beautiful,” he says kissing her on the cheek. He looks at me. “This is Savy. The one I told you about the other day.”

Interesting…he’s mentioned me to his mother. I sigh, and rake a hand through my hair before stepping forward to show myself. “Right. The one you hired to assist you.” She hides her amused smile. “Savy, so nice to meet you. Jackson has nothing but amazing things to say about you.”

I look at Jackson. “I can imagine. Not that I have anything bad to say about him. Your son is an amazing guy.”

Jackson makes a face at me, teasing me for my compliment.

“See, mom. I told you she was sickeningly sweet.”

I purse my lips. His mom touches my arm. “You’ll have to get used to his sense of humor. He gets it from me.”

Jackson slips an arm around my waist. “Oh, she gets it.”

I nod. “One of the reasons I can stand him.”

His mother reaches up to fix her barrette and then looks at me. “Well, I see she’s everything you said she was. I wish you the best of luck working with this one. I hope we get to talk again soon, darling.” She kisses me on the cheek and goes back to her conversation.

“I love this song,” I tell him when we are facing the dance floor.

“Does that mean I am supposed to ask you to dance?” He grins.

I look at him, admiring how handsome he looks and how well he seems to fit in, no matter where he is. “If you wanted to ask me, I wouldn’t hate you.”

He leads me to the dance floor, his hands on my waist. I put my arms around his neck and smile. “This is different than what I am used to.”

“What are you used to?”

“Nothing this sophisticated. When my brother got married, nobody threw an engagement party. And not a single guest had a tuxedo on.” He married in Hawaii by the waters. It was the most authentic and casual kind of ceremony I ever saw. There were flowers in all the women’s hair, tropical shirts on all the guys, and we all had sand between our toes.

He moves me around the dance floor like an expert. I’m not surprised that he’s so light on his feet.

“I can tell your mom loves you.” I smile at him. “Can’t say I expected anything less.”

“I told you about complimenting me,” he says. “It only makes me like you more.”

“I can’t help it,” I inform him.

“It also makes me do things like this.” He dips me, and I scream. He brings me back up and wraps his arms around me, laughing. “Everyone is watching us.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I don’t care. Do you?”

He shakes his head. “Not at all.” He looks at me with those blue eyes of his, gives me a devilish grin, and I can’t help but smile.

“Have I told you how much easier you make all these parts of my life?” He kisses my cheek.

“No.” I touch his face. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t like this stuff. I never have.” He shrugs. “Did I ever tell you the first time I met Lee?”

He’s changing the subject, but I just listen. “No, you haven’t.”

“Lee once had a lot of money. But he was so hung up on losing his daughter that he lost everything.” I see his mother celebrating with her rich friends, not a care in the world. “My father sent me to buy out his business.”

“That’s sad.” I frown.

“I’ve never seen someone so lost without another person. That’s all he is. He’s a shell of what he once was because he lost his daughter.” Jackson looks at me. “And when he sees you, just like when I see you, everything seems a little better. I don’t think that’s a coincidence, do you?”

I turn my head away from his piercing stare.

It’s hard to deny that Jackson is getting to me.

I clap my hands when I see Ryker’s face in the airport.

He saunters over, his eyes showing signs of jet lag but when he gets to me, he pushes all that away and lifts me up. “God, you smell good.”

I kiss him over and over on the cheek before he sets me back down. I don’t care who’s looking. I’m pretty sure they are jealous.

“You don’t know how amazing it is to see a girl after that last tour.” He studies the luggage going by and finally grabs a big black suitcase.

“Oh.” I link my fingers with his. “So it doesn’t matter what girl. Just the fact that you see one is good enough for you?” I smirk.

“You’ll do just fine.” He follows me through the airport tugging down his hat so nobody notices him. We both know the moment someone sees him we are never going to get back to Sophie's.

“Monty didn’t come with you this time?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Monty met someone back in Orlando.”

I frown, and he shakes his head. “Don’t do that. Sophie knew what she was getting herself into.”

“Fine. But still seems kind of sleazy.”

Ryker raises my hand, studying my nails. “Nice nails.”

“Thank you.”

Someone behind us yells his name and the crowd starts calling out for his autograph.

He throws an arm around me. “Not today. Sorry guys.”

I can’t believe the glares coming my way. “Just sign them.”

“Are you sure?” He grabs a pen from the group of people.

“Yes, I’m sure.” I watch one person after another push hats, arms, shirts and just about anything else his way. Camera flash after camera flash assaults my eyesight. After about twenty minutes, he refuses to touch anything else and pulls me through the crowd.

“Insane.”

“Oh, that was nothing,” he informs me. “Where did you park?”

I point. “Way down there.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” He raises an eyebrow, cracking a smile. “Run.”

At first I think he is kidding, but he isn’t. I take off after him, praying I am not taken out by a car backing up.

“This isn’t funny,” I say breathless. “I have bad ankles. They could give out any second.”

“I’ll make sure to roll you out of the way, so you’re not run over by a car.” He keeps going.

“Are you saying I am fat?” A slight cramp starts up my thigh, but I push through, determined not to give up.

“No, I’m saying I want to get out of here before they swarm us again.”

We finally make it to my car. My chest burns, and I try and catch my breath. Ryker drops his suitcase at the back of my car, and I pop the trunk. He tosses it in and comes around to my side. “I’ll drive.”

“Fine. After that run I think I need a nap,” I say.

He slaps me on the ass and climbs in, and I walk around to the other side of the car wishing I had an inhaler.

***

Ryker has an event at a club.

And being a part of his entourage gets Sophie and me free drinks and special privileges. It’s kind of nice.

“To Ryker,” Sophie announces, lifting her champagne. “For being so wickedly popular.”

Ryker smirks and throws back another shot. He’s wasted, and I’m tipsy. Sophie can handle her liquor, so she’s just even more colorful than normal.

Ryker plops down next to us. “You’re welcome, Soph. I’m glad you’re enjoying all the love.”

Sophie lets him kiss her hand. “I don’t know how you do it. Always in the spotlight. Someone always wants a piece of you.”

“It becomes a way of life after a while.”

I nod, looking around at everyone. Nobody seems to be enjoying themselves; they’re just sipping drinks and waiting to see if Ryker will come and strike up a conversation with them or take a photograph.

“I think it’s adorable you and Savy found one another again,” Sophie tells him probably for the fifth time tonight.

Ryker squeezes my leg. “Like old times.”

I plaster on a smile. “Right.”

He makes a face. “What does that mean?”

“It means right.” I pull away a bit confused. “Why?”

“Are you having a good time? Or is this growing old already?”

I sigh, but it doesn’t end, he continues to put me on the spot. “I’m fine. I think you're overly sensitive.”

“I’m being myself. You’re the one that looks like you’re not having a good time.” He scoffs and shakes his head.

Sophie touches his arm. “Now, now you two. We’re not in high school anymore. I feel like I’ve gone back in time.”

“Some things don’t change.” Ryker tugs down his hat. I yank it off him and throw it.

“Stop treating me like that.” I stand up. He stands up, too, and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You know I love you, Sav.”

I push him away. “You’re being annoying right now. I thought you came to have fun, not berate me for trying to adjust to this lifestyle.”

“I thought by now you would have learned how to work out your feelings instead of ignoring them and lashing out.” He waves at a group of people.

“I am not lashing out.” I refuse to look at him. “I’m leaving if you say one more thing.”

“I want to fuck you in the bathroom.” He teases, grabbing my hand. “Or the car.”

I close my eyes refusing to budge.

“One day you are going to understand the way that I feel about you.” He is obviously drunk.

“Stop. I don’t like emotional drunks. You cannot talk about feelings when you have had more than one shot. It’s not okay.” I pull away and cross my arms.

“I fucking love you, Sav.” He touches my arm. “More than you realize.”

“Ryker stop.” I grab his arm when he starts through the crowd. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Why would you care? You don’t do feelings.” He goes down the stairs of the VIP section.

“Come on,” I tell him, leading him through the club and down the hallway.

“What are you doing?” He leans against the wall. “I’m drunk.”

“I know.”

He pins me to the wall, his hips holding me in place. “You know just what to do to piss me off.”

My heart skips a beat when I look into his eyes. “Cameras.” I remind him.

He grabs me by the chin. “I don’t care about cameras.”

I pull him to me. “Neither do I.” His hands are in my hair. I accept his tongue, tasting the beer and shots he just downed. He guides my mouth against his, sucking on my lower lip. I don’t care who is watching him feel me up right there in the hallway. I can’t believe I was upset with him just a few minutes ago.