The Consequence of Seduction

“So.” I clapped my hands. “Looks like I have to start taming my shrew.” I held out my arm to Jordan. “Shall we?”

“No,” she yelled, then stomped her foot. “I hate you! I won’t go anywhere with you, you horrible man!” She let out a drunk giggle.

“Oh, oh, shucks.” I snapped my fingers. “Guess this is going to take longer than I originally thought.”

Max glared. “I’ll get you for this.”

“Do say hi to your fiancée for me.” I saluted him with my middle finger and walked Jordan out of his office.

CHAPTER NINE

JORDAN

I was tipsy.

The Britney-glammed elevator dipped, and I gripped the railing on the side and tilted my head as “. . . Baby One More Time” started playing. I could have sworn the Britney poster was moving. All I needed was a schoolgirl outfit and I’d be all set to star in my own music video. Then again, I’d probably end up getting arrested, because that was JUST the type of day I was having. I could see it now—Reid Emory’s newest publicist arrested for pretending to be a teenage woman and hitting on a minor after chasing him down the street over a stolen doughnut.

Whoa. I swayed on my feet. How did I get from schoolgirl outfit to doughnut? Or taking advantage of minors?

“Hey.” Reid elbowed me as the elevator finally rumbled to a stop. “You did good in there.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice to be slur-free as I continued digging my fingers into the metal rail.

The doors opened.

I didn’t move.

Afraid that if I did I’d puke.

Just how much did I drink up there?

“It happens.” Reid gripped my arm and led me gently out the doors. “He has that effect on people.”

“I have . . .” I cleared my throat and widened my eyes, thinking, Surely if I go all owl-eye on Reid, I won’t look intoxicated. Right, because not blinking really sells someone on your sobriety, said no person ever. “No idea.” I licked my dry lips. “What you’re referring to.”

Reid released my arm and very gently pushed my body with his pointer finger. I nearly toppled over—would have, had he not grabbed me again and sighed. “That’s what I’m talking about. Don’t blame yourself. It’s the Max effect.”

“But we won.” I nodded. “Or actually, you won, with your quick thinking. Now we can just pretend we hate each other.” I frowned. “No, wait, that won’t work. We still have to date and convince the media that you’re taming me.” My head started to pound. “I’m starving. Are you starving?”

Reid said nothing and just held me closer to his body.

“You smell like—” I inhaled his shirt, my nose plastered against it like a hound ready to chase a coon across the country. “Sexy sex cologne.”

“Oh?” Reid nodded. “Good, because that’s what I was doing the whole time you were tossing back whiskey upstairs, having sex so that my natural musk would attract perfect strangers.”

“You were?”

“Jeez, where do you live? I need to get you home.”

It started to rain. “I live in a pond.” I spread my arms wide, then toppled forward, my purse falling down around my wrist. I swung it around in the air like an ax. “Under the sea . . .” I giggled, then started wiggling my hips. “Under the sea, down where it’s wetter, down where it’s better, take it from me!” Somehow I’d taken on a very convincing accent. I was seriously hilarious. Why wasn’t Reid dying of laughter?

Reid grinned. Then pulled out his cell and snapped a few photos.

“That good, huh?” I winked, then nearly fell backward down the concrete stairs leading to the street.

“Yeah, Sebastian, words can’t describe. So I took a picture. Might post it to Facebook later, tag you in it, add a few choice hashtags, like #sebastianlives, #savecrabseatshrimp, and #Girlsgonewildtheshrewedition.”

I saw two Reids. My stomach plummeted, sinking to my feet. “Ugh, I don’t feel so good.”

“Well, you look awesome.” Reid grabbed my hand.

I curled my lips up at him in disgust.

“Especially that face—that one’s my favorite. If I squint and tilt my head you resemble a pissed-off poodle. Tell me, does your hair have a name? Considering it’s like a separate organism living off your body? Let’s call it Parasite Bob.”

“You’re a parasite!” I yelled.

“Shh, Sebastian. We’ll get you back to the ocean, just calm down.”

“I’m not a crab!” I wailed, suddenly craving crab like none other.

“Of course you don’t have crabs!” Reid countered. “Poor thing.” He motioned his head toward curious onlookers. “It’s a good thing our city cares for the homeless.”

I dug my feet into the ground. “I’m not homeless, you bastard!”

“Then show me where you live so I can make you a pot of coffee and hatch out a plan that leaves Max out of our lives and keeps us from going to prison.”

“Prison? Why would we go to prison?”

“Max. I may kill him. I’ve threatened him for years, but this may just be the one time I follow through.” His face was serious; not a hint of humor marred his perfect features. Okay, so maybe it was safer for all parties if we got farther away from the building.

I nodded, suddenly realizing it was a very real possibility that Reid would turn around, jump on Britney, ride to the top, and kick his brother in the family jewels. “Fine, my house is . . .” I looked down the road, then up the road, then blinked up at the sun.