“You had to go and ruin everything, didn’t you?” Kate’s staccato sliced through the coldsilence.
“Stay out of my life,” Taylorreplied.
“Not when you’re screwing my bestclient.”
Taylor stopped and pivoted. With slow, deliberate steps, she walked toward Kate. In the past, Kate’s death stare and intimidating nature had sent Taylor running scared. But not this time. “Back off,Kathy.”
“You’re destroying Jagger’s image—the imageIrestored. I do not want a repeat of last year. Jagger almost losteverythingbecause he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. He was such a high-maintenance client I had to let everyone else go. It’s taken me months to rebuild my client list. Jagger is one drink, one irrelevant fuck, one snort away from another catastrophicnosedive.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. Nothing had changed. The earth still revolved around Kathy Jones. “Clearly, you don’t knowhim.”
“Jagger’s going to break your heart,” Kate continued. “I want to help ensure that doesn’t happen. This time it’s personal. We’refriends.”
“No,” Taylor said, hitching her hands on her hips. “Notfriends.”
“You don’t know this, dear, but wealthy playboys do whatever they want, whenever they want.” Kate’s syrupy voice grated on Taylor. “I’m going to be brutally honest. You’re innocent and naïve. I’m worried that Jagger is using you,honey.”
“You? Honest? When have youeverbeenhonest?”
Kate’s upper lip curled into asnarl.
“In tenth grade, I confided in you that I had a huge crush on Pete Strawbridge,” Taylor began. “You told me you wanted to—and I quote—‘help me get him’. A week later, you two were inseparable.” She arched a brow. “Where I come from, that’snothelp.”
Smirking, Kate shook her head. “C’mon, high school was a crazytime.”
“We had round two in college,” Taylor said. “This time, you helped yourself to Joe Greenway. Remember him? One minute he’s my boyfriend, the next minute I found you with his dick in your mouth. But that’s nothing compared to all the cheating you did every time we took a classtogether.”
Kate’s cheeks pinkened. “Me? Cheat? That’sinsane.”
“You got called into the dean’s office and somehow managed to talk your way out of that, too,” Taylor said. “A few years ago, at a college reunion, I heard you paid a bunch of sorority sisters to ensureyougot nominated for homecoming queen after you learned the sorority wantedmeto represent them. That’s classic Kathy. The day I cut ties with you was a goodone.”
Kate jabbed her index finger at Taylor. “When he starts screwing the masses, boozes it up…or worse, don’t come crying tome.”
“That’syourbaggage with Jagger, not mine.” Taylor had had enough. She swiped her keycard, entered her bedroom, and kicked the doorclosed.
Shaking, Taylor crawled onto the bed and curled in a ball. Kathy Jones had succeeded in resurrecting old wounds and decade’s worth of insecurities. Taylor shoved her face into the pillow andsobbed.
* * *
Opening day,and Jagger was on top of the world. Loving Malibu was sold out.She did it.Surprised Taylor hadn’t joined him for breakfast in the restaurant, he shot her a quick text. “Today will be mayhem. Thank you foreverything.”
But no dots appeared on the screen as he made his way toward hisoffice.
Robby whirled in. “Congratulations, boss. This is a great day and I, for one, plan to enjoy every second of it. I hope you do, too. You deserve thissuccess.”
“I couldn’t have gotten through the last two years without you. Thank you, Robby, foreverything.”
Robby cupped his hands over his heart. “You’re going to make mecry.”
“Cryafterwe get through today. Once guests start arriving and those champagne bottles are uncorked, things are going to getcrazy.”
THE DAY HAD BEENa whirlwind of greeting guests, posing for photos, and talking with the press. And while the champagne flowed freely, Jagger didn’t miss the bubbly. What he did miss was Taylor. He hadn’t seen her allday.
Before the evening events got underway, he retreated to his suite. Several floral arrangements, and baskets filled with alcohol, adorned the living area.I’ll give the liquor to the staff tomorrow.He dressed in his black tuxedo and simple black mask, the one he’d given Taylor to use. Missing the hell out of her, he calledher.
“Hi,” sheanswered.
Relieved to hear her voice, he smiled. “There you are. Can you stop by mysuite?”
