“You look angelic,” he said, getting to his feet. “All silhouetted by the sun like that.”
“Um, flattery is always welcome, but it won’t help your case. I could really use some time to think about this.”
“Take your time,” he said. “The tour doesn’t start ’til Sunday.” He sipped his coffee. “This really is great coffee.”
“Sunday? Like…thisSunday?” I sputtered. “The day after tomorrow?”
He grinned. “Yep.”
“Um… you couldn’t give me a little more notice?”
“Just got back into town a few days ago. I’ve been down in L.A.. And, well…” He shrugged. “Things move fast in my world. Speaking of which. We’re having a VIP party in town, tomorrow night, just a small private show to kick off the tour. Come as my date. Give it a chance. If you decide I’m a creep or you can’t hack the three-ring circus, I’ll understand.”
Devi elbowed me slightly, since I just stood there like an idiot.
“Um, okay?” I managed.
“She’ll need a plus one,” Devi put in.
“You can meet us there,” Jesse told her, then nodded at me. “I’ll pick you up. Eight o’clock.” Then he sipped his coffee, did a little finger-to-eyebrow salute thing, turned and walked out of my sister’s yard.
I looked at Devi, my jaw dangling open.
Seriously. What the fuck just happened?
I had a date with Jesse Mayes?
Anda job offer?
My best friend beamed at me and did a sexy little celebratory dance in her incredibly high heels. I couldn’t help grinning at her. Becauseshit. “You’re fucking insane.”
She beamed. “Which is why you love me.”
“Two hundred grand?”
“Will buy a hell of a lot of paint brushes, babe.”
CHAPTER 7
KATIE
At eight o’clock the next evening, I found an illegally-parked black Ferrari in front of my apartment building.
Jesse Mayes leaned against a tree wearing sinfully fitted jeans, a loose, scoop neck T-shirt, a blazer and shades, presumably watching me try to navigate the front steps in my high heels and not slip on my own drool. His mouth quirked in a sexy smile as I drew near. My heart did a strange little lurch when he said, “Hi.”
“Um… hi. Where’s your driver guy?” Were we going to this thing alone?
“Sometimes I like to drive myself, sweetheart.” He slid his shades onto his head and nailed me with those dark eyes, his expression unreadable as he looked me over. He reached to open the car door for me. “Why? You got a thing for Jude?”
“Um… the big dude with the tree tattoo? No.” Feeling the need to explain, I added, “Not really my type.”
“What, dark and dangerous?”
Of course, dark and dangerous could just as easily describe Jesse, though he was a different kind of dangerous; the kind that fucked you silly and broke your heart in the process. His hired muscle, on the other hand, looked straight out of a scene from Sons of Anarchy.
“Nice dress,” he added, before I could formulate a response. “Leather and lace,” he mused, then stood back and held the door for me.
“Thank you.” I turned and got my ass in the car, settling into the low seat as gracefully as I could. I tried not to give him an eyeful of my panties as that smoldering gaze flirted with the hem of my short red lace dress and drifted down my bare legs. Then he shut the door and I exhaled.
