CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CLARISSA
“You can’t go back to Malibu to get your charger, Clary. I’ll let you borrow my phone if you need to make a call,” said Tabitha, zipping up her new red pants. She was still dressed in her bra, the silk blouse I’d gifted her earlier that day dangling from her hand.
“But what if Aidan’s trying to contact me?” I said, staring glum-faced at my dead phone.
“God, Clarissa. He’s texted you twice a day, which in my book adds up to one very keen man. It won’t do any harm to leave him hanging for one day.” She raised a well-plucked eyebrow.
Tabitha buttoned up her blouse and turned to inspect her butt in the mirror. “What do you reckon?” Tabitha was shining. Her new boyfriend had brought a glow to her cheeks. Her green eyes were clear, and her long blond hair was full of bounce.
“You look amazing, Tabs,” I said, tucking a hanging ribbon back into her new blouse.
After she stepped away from the mirror, I popped myself in front to check out my new cotton, floral, vintage-inspired dress. “I’m not sure about this dress, Tabs. It’s shorter than I’m used to wearing,” I said, tilting my head to one side and studying myself.
“Nonsense, you have the best legs.”
We’d arranged to meet Josh, Tabitha’s new boyfriend, in the arts district. As we entered the quirky venue, I checked out some murals of women’s faces. Distressed and unfinished, the walls made the converted warehouse seem more like someone’s studio than a bar. Subdued lighting, from recycled lamps acting as pendant lights, created a relaxed ambience.
Having turned up fashionably late, Josh, who was there with a friend, waved over to us, and we joined them at the table.
Josh held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, at last.” He had an engaging bright smile. I took his hand. Despite doing my utmost not to study him too closely, I got a good first impression.
Tabitha slid next to him, and they hugged. It was so natural between them. They were clearly into each other, and Josh was just as Tabi had described: tall, dark, and handsome. His sincere, besotted gaze directed at Tabitha told me he was a legitimate potential partner. I liked that, considering the jerks and losers that Tabitha had a tendency to attract.
“This is Cameron,” said Josh, pointing to his blond pal.
I greeted him with a faint smile. Cameron’s face lit up, not hiding his immediate interest. I cringed. I hoped that he didn’t assume I was up for a little action. Like some good-looking men I’d met, he seemed confident. No shyness, no self-doubt, he looked me straight in the face as if to say, “I’m all yours, and you’re a babe.”
The only seats available were double-seater sofas, which suited the besotted lovers, who were almost on top of each other. I settled on the other with reluctance. With his undressing eyes on my cleavage, Cameron appeared to have claimed me.
Eek. I’d warned Tabitha earlier that I didn’t want this to be a double-date. But with little other choice, I sat next to Cameron, endeavoring to maintain a cool distance. His attention, meanwhile, was so unwavering that I cast Tabitha a “what the hell?” look, hoping that Josh didn’t think me a snob. Not that I had anything to worry about, since his eyes hadn’t left Tabitha.
Dressed in a tight blue T-shirt that set off his blue eyes, and with Celtic tattoos entwining his curvy biceps, Cameron was hot. Maybe, if Aidan hadn’t stolen my heart, I might have even gone there. But Cameron couldn’t compare with Aidan. How could anyone?
In fact, Aidan never left my thoughts. Aided by his heart-pumping texts, I kept reliving him, body and soul. So extreme were the sensations whenever I recalled how he felt inside of me that I even had to replace Toy Boy’s batteries twice!
As I indulged in yet another of my Aidan moments, I caught Cameron’s attention pitched at my breasts. They were pouring out of my new dress, which I adored because of its empire bodice and flattering, tulip-shaped line. White with red roses, it was so feminine and adorable. Still, I regretted wearing it. I’d had Aidan in mind when I bought it. But in this instance, with a seriously turned-on guy next to me, it sent out all the wrong messages.
Cameron kept inching closer. With every attempt I made to move, he responded by creeping back, bordering on comical. This was one very determined guy. I imagined he didn’t take no for an answer.
I appreciated the break from his advances when he rose and rubbed his hands together. “What can I get you ladies?” Cameron’s eyes started on my face and ran down to my cleavage again. And from where he hovered he had an excellent view.
“I’ll have a coke, thanks,” I replied.
He frowned. “Nothing stronger?”
“No, I’m good. Just coke, thanks.”
Cameron did not hide his disappointment. I figured he wanted me drunk so that I’d spread my legs.
When he directed his attention to the lovers, Tabitha replied, “I’ll have bourbon and coke, thanks.”
“Another beer,” said Josh, who hadn’t spoken much. He appeared a quiet man, well suited to loquacious Tabitha, whose chattiness made it hard to get a word in.
Tabitha extricated herself from her boy’s hold and stood up. “Back in a minute. Off to the powder room.” She flicked her head, beckoning me to join her.
“What’s your problem?” Tabitha asked, half whispering as we headed for the unisex restrooms.
“Nothing. I just don’t want to give Cameron the wrong impression. He’s trying to hit on me, and I’m not interested,” I said.
“Yeah, okay, but stop being a snob.”
There were no gender-specific restrooms, which was off-putting. Call me conservative, but I liked my restrooms segregated. I let Tabitha enter first. “Does it stink of male urine?” I asked, standing at the door.
“It smells of lavender, and it’s really clean. You’re so nineteenth century. Get with the times, girl.” Tabitha leaned into the mirror and reapplied her lipstick. “What do you think of Josh?”
I studied my plaits in the mirror, wondering if I looked too girly. “He seems lovely. And he’s really crazy about you, Tabs.”
Her pretty face brightened. “Do you reckon?”
I touched her cheek with sisterly affection and nodded. “I feel good about this one. But I’m not sleeping with Cameron.” I pointed my finger at her.
“I’ve got it. Aidan Thornhill is one hot tamale, but just in case…”
“Just in case, Aidan drops me?” My throat tensed.
“Let’s not do this, Clary. Anyway, Cameron’s a hottie. And you never know. If Mr. -Sex-God-Tycoon doesn’t work, then…” Tabitha stopped talking and put her arm around me, adding, “I’m just looking after my best friend, who has now become a woman.” She played affectionately with my plaits then noticing my long face, added, “Why don’t you call Aidan on my phone? Here.” She handed me her phone.
“I haven’t got his number.”
“Well, then, relax. And let’s have a fun night. Aidan has been sending you flowers and gifts every day. He won’t lose interest just because you don’t answer one text. Anyhow, you look so sexy in your little dress. You’re driving Cameron crazy.” Tabitha giggled, pulling a wicked expression.
I poked my tongue out at her.
Cameron’s stare burned into me as we walked back to our places. As soon as Tabitha sat down, she wriggled into Josh’s arms, and they kissed passionately.
“Hey, you two, get a room,” said Cameron, laughing as he jumped up for more drinks. He eyed my glass. “Can I get you a shot of something?” When I shook my head, he fixed his stare at Josh, who nodded with enthusiasm. They were obviously out for a big night.
Cameron walked away with an unabashed swagger, his stride easy and confident.
When he returned, he nearly sat on top of me. Sliding away, I rolled my eyes at Tabitha. She returned a ‘behave’ with a puckering of the brow.
“So, what do you do, Cameron?” I asked.
“During the day, I’m a builder. At night, I’m a DJ,” he said, all smiles and looking pleased with himself.
“It sounds like a busy life,” I replied, searching for banter.
“I hear you work for the mega-rich Aidan Thornhill,” Cameron said, raising an eyebrow.
I could not help wondering why he’d given me that look.
“I do,” I answered curtly.
“He’s a ladies’ man, I hear, and a weirdo.” Cameron lounged back with his arm around the back of the sofa, above my shoulder.
I stiffened. “What do you mean by that?”
“Word gets around.” He met my questioning gape with a smug expression. “A friend of my mom’s worked in the kitchen at his Malibu estate. He’s well-known for fucking his staff and breaking their hearts.”
A hot flush raided my face. “Did this friend of your mother’s see this happening?”
“Not so much. But word got around. You know how folks are.” His eyes had a sleazy tinge when he smiled.
“They could’ve been making it up,” I said.
“My, aren’t you his little champion for Thornhill,” he said, grinning.
“He’s kind and generous,” I said, defensively. “What do you mean by him being a weirdo?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “For one, his gala nights—he gives all of it away to charity. But rumor has it, he’s only doing that to dodge paying his taxes. And he accepts large wads of cash from the many women scouting for super-rich husbands, only to snub them.”
That insight didn’t faze me at all. In fact, it made me want Aidan more, if that were possible. However, the rumor about seducing female staff sent ice dripping through my veins. “That’s not that weird.”
Meanwhile, unable to resist her bit, Tabitha said, “Aidan Thornhill is at the top of Clarissa’s people list at present. Nothing short of devil-worship would turn her against him.”
Cameron grinned. “There’s a whisper that he arrived at his wealth in questionable ways.”
“How do you know so much?” I said, not hiding my exasperation. Cameron seemed determined to paint Aidan as a rogue. He’s jealous, I reflected. How could he not be? Aidan was not only the sexiest man alive, but he was also wealthy.
“You’re the only one that doesn’t know much about him, Clary” chimed in Tabitha.
“Fuck, yeah,” said Cameron, nodding. “He’s the talk of LA.”
I wanted to hear more about my mysterious boss turned lover, but I refrained from asking. I stared grimly at my feet while Cameron downed another shot. He pointed at the remaining shot. “Are you sure you don’t want one?” His eyes were a little glassy. Having downed three shots, along with a few beers, he had to be slightly drunk.
“I don’t normally drink heavy liquor,” I said.
“What then, champagne? Wine? You can’t sit on soda all night. That’s not much fun.” Cameron cast a wide white toothy grin.
Tabitha’s face lit up with excitement at the mention of champagne, her beloved word. “Let’s get bubbly, Clarissa. We’re not driving, and you don’t have to work tomorrow.”
Finding it difficult to resist Tabitha, I agreed. That girl could get me to do almost anything. Only I was not going to have sex with Cameron. Aidan would be a hard act to follow. And he wasn’t going anywhere if all the roses and regular text messages were anything to go by.
As it turned out, having a few champagnes worked a treat. I stopped thinking about my dead mobile phone and even laughed at some of Cameron’s crude gags, even if he did fail to get the message by continuing to come on to me. His desire to bed me had become so blatant that he didn’t even try to hide it.
Tabitha whispered, “Cameron’s got it bad for you, Clarissa. You’re giving that just-been-fucked vibe, babes.”
I rolled my eyes and scowled.
“Here you are, a top-up.” She held up the bottle of bubbly and filled my glass. “Later, we can go dancing. We’ll go to that cool, jazzy club you like, the one where everybody looks like they’re out of a 1960’s film set.”
Tabitha was, of course, referring to my preferred nightspot, Purple Haze. I loved it for the sixties and seventies music if not the interesting, eccentric characters.
My lips curled. “Let’s. I’d love to dance.” We nodded and clinked glasses.
The next half hour was spent playing a game of cat and mouse with Cameron. He would move up close—even after I told him I was seeing someone—and I’d move away.
Then things got interesting.
When Tabitha’s eyes burst out of their sockets, I naturally assumed she was, as usual, being over-dramatic about something she’d seen, like someone dressed in the same outfit as one of us, or a guy she might have had casual sex with. But before my next breath, she knocked Cameron out of the way and was in my face. “Hey, don’t look now, but I think Aidan’s heading towards us.”
I turned regardless. It was Aidan!
My jaw dropped. What was worse, I’d turned so abruptly that Cameron’s arm slipped from the rim of the sofa and was now positioned around my shoulder.
It all happened within a matter of seconds. Before I had time to adjust my seating position, Aidan stood before me.
His eyes shifted from me to Cameron and back again. I sprang up from my seat and stumbled. “Mr. Thornhill,” I stammered. “What brings you here? I thought you were in New York.”
Aidan’s eyes drew me in like magnets as he ran his hand through his hair. Living up to his most eligible sexy bachelor moniker, he looked impossibly handsome—casual in jeans and a white, loose linen shirt. An aura of power radiated off him.
“I had to come back for business.” Aidan’s eyes rested on Cameron again.
I kept shifting my weight from one leg to the other, while pointing to the seats occupied by my cohort. “Um… this is my friend Tabitha, her boyfriend, Josh, and Cameron,” I said, wishing that Cameron would crumble to dust.
If looks could kill, then Cameron would have died. Aidan returned such a chilly stare to his imagined competitor, it made my veins freeze. He obviously thought I was romantically linked to Cameron. Hell.
Meanwhile, having been ignored all evening, suddenly our corner had become the focus of interest. The busy bar was almost at a standstill. Aidan’s presence had cast a spotlight on us.
Aidan regarded my acquaintances with a quick sweep before returning his burning gaze to me. I must have resembled a startled creature in headlights. Speechless, I dug my nails hard into my palms.
“Have a good night,” Aidan said.
After he extricated his attention away from me, Aidan cast one final cursory glance at the group, nodded, and walked off.
From jelly to concrete, my legs barely supported me as I watched him move away with ease and elegance.
Tabitha sprang up and whispered into my ear, “Go after him, for God’s sake. He came here for you. Hurry!”
Although she managed to revive me a little, my body was heavy, almost drugged from the Thornhill spell. All wide-eyed and imploring, Tabitha pushed me out, and off I went to look for him. To add to an already sticky predicament, the patrons were all still riveted, watching our little corner as if it were a soap opera. Conscious of all that attention, I took relaxed steps. All the while, my heart thumped away because I wanted to run. But I managed to remain cool until I got to the door, after which I bolted to the parking lot.
Aidan was nowhere to be found. I pivoted on the spot, trying to locate him. It was incomprehensible how Aidan managed to disappear with such haste. As I remained glued there, the champagne churned away in my stomach, making me nauseous.
With frustrated resignation, I’d turned to go back when a husky voice penetrated through the back of my head.
I turned, and there stood Aidan, swinging keys in his hand.