Alluring Seduction (Bayou Stix) (21 page)

Clove is very striking. She’s classically beautiful with high cheekbones and a long neck. Her hair is a little longer than mine, and is just as dark. Her eyes are a rich dark brown. They almost look black. She’s willow slim, but you can tell she’s toned. She has the body of a ballerina. But she’s very standoffish and is not really making any attempt to talk to anyone. I tried to speak to her when I first arrived, but she gave me one word answers, so I stopped. This is so damn awkward.

Bradi and I are cleaning brussel sprouts and chopping peppers and onions while Lexi finishes the desserts. Clove appears to be making some sort of casserole with carrots and cream. It smells really good. They both turn with utensils in their hands and head for the sink. Bradi and I look at each other and wait with baited breath.

Bradi filled me in on the details of Clove and Lexi, earlier this week. Clove is Dade’s little sister, and previously lived in Jude’s L.A. house while she attended culinary school and was trying to be an actress. She dated Jude’s property manager until he was caught having sex with an underage Bayou Stix fan in Jude’s bed… by her. Lexi went to surprise Jude while on the recent tour stop in L.A. and found Clove at home instead. Clove answered the door and hinted that she and Jude were an item. Lexi assumed they were together and raced away, thinking Jude had betrayed her. It was a huge mess, but luckily, they were able to work through it and their wedding is in a few weeks. Clove is staying with Dade now, but since she’s the reason for the breakup, things are tense.

They reach the sink at the same time. Bradi whispers to me, “Oh, shit. This is not going to be good.”

Cloves eyes flash to Lexi’s. She stumbles back and murmurs, “I’m sorry. Here. Your house, your sink.”

Lexi sees the panic in her eyes and being the nurturing person she is, she grabs Clove’s arm. “Stop. It’s ok. Clove, it’s ok.”

Clove looks at Bradi and I and then at Lexi and her eyes fill with tears.

What the fuck?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know who you were. I thought you were a fan.” She’s sniffling and tears are rolling down her face and splashing onto the floor. “They used to show up sometimes. You didn’t tell me who you were. I wouldn’t have insinuated… I’m sorry. I didn’t know – I didn’t know who you were…”

Lexi rubs her hands up and down Clove’s arms. “Clove, it’s ok. Really. It’s my fault too. I just-I just assumed… I should have asked to see Jude. I should have introduced myself. Instead I assumed the worst. I’m sorry. It’s not your fault.”

Clove looks into Lexi’s face and sniffles. “Really? You don’t hate me?”

Lexi smiles the Lexi smile and shakes her head. “No. Of course not. I’m very sorry if you thought that. It was my fault. I don’t blame you and I didn’t tell you who I was. Please stop feeling guilty and can we try to be friends?”

Clove smiles. What a beautiful girl she is. “I’d like that. I don’t have many friends, and now… well, I could really use a friend.”

I smile too. And I look over to see Bradi smiling. I break in, “How about three friends?”

Clove smiles at all of us and it’s like the wall she had up crumbles. “I’d like that. Now, what next?”

Lexi laughs and says, “Well everything is pretty much done and as I expected, the guys have not even checked on us once, so, I say we sit down and have a drink.”

Bradi exclaims, “Hell yes! All these girl emotions have me needing a drink! Who wants mimosas?”

Lexi laughs again and says, “Bartender Bradi, I’ll have one of those. Champagne is in the fridge and I just squeezed the orange juice this morning! I’m putting my feet up. I’ve been up since five this morning!”

Bradi calls out, “Lazy ass, ‘hooka! You want one, Blue? What about you, Clove?”

I answer, “Yes indeed. Make mine a double!”

Clove says, “I’ll just have the juice if that’s ok. I’m not really a drinker.”

“Ok then, three loaded and a virgin coming right up!”

We all laugh. The easy camaraderie is so nice.

We sit back and the four of us talk and laugh and enjoy the day while the food cooks and the guys avoid the kitchen.

We talk about the wedding, Bradi and Micah, and the conversation turns to Jessie and me. Somehow, I end up telling them about Brock and losing my job. They are all furious and Clove says she’s heard stories of Brock. I’m not at all surprised. I shudder… and to think I was engaged to that man.

Finally, everything is ready and everyone comes into the dining room to help spread out the food, buffet style. Drinks and food abound and we have a wonderful time. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a day more. After we eat and everyone is stuffed, we all head to the media room. The guys want to watch the football game and the girls sit around with them.

It’s truly a wonderful day.

The best Thanksgiving I can remember.

Jessie

T
he past few days have flown by. I’ve found a nice rhythm with Blue. I’ve heard her on the phone a lot, talking to people who want to hire her, but so far, she’s held off. She says she’s thinking things through. It’s strange how comfortably she’s settled into my life and every day I find myself falling for her a bit more. Neither of us have spoken of feelings though. We’re just flowing and letting things go. Blue is off with Bradi someplace, since the Bachelor/Bachelorette party is this weekend and I’m waiting on Alec at Java and Sweeties.

I’m staring out of the window, thinking, when I feel a cup being placed by my hand. “Hey, Jessie. Waiting for Blue?”

I look at Lexi. Jude’s lady is beautiful. Long red hair and golden eyes. She’s petite to his tall, but they fit. Today her hair is haphazardly thrown on top of her head with pieces falling down around her face. “Hey, Lex. Nah, I’m actually waiting for Alec. He has some places to show me.”

Her face registers her surprise. “Places? What places? You’re moving?”

Shaking my head, I reply. “No. I’m not moving. Why does everyone say that?” I laugh. “I want a second place in NOLA.”

“Oh, ok. Like a weekend home?” She pulls out a chair and sits down.

“Yes, exactly. Some place I can head to when I want to. But I’ll still live here, in Baton Rouge.”

“Gotcha. I didn’t know you were looking.” She stares at me. It makes me nervous, so I grab the black coffee she brought me and take a sip and sigh in contentment. “So, you and Blue? That’s going well, right?”

I set the cup down and look at her. Her eyes are wide open and I see she’s genuinely curious. “You’re friends. Why are you asking me?”

She smiles at me and her eyes crinkle. “Because,
we’re
friends too, Jessie… and I’ve never seen you like this. You seem happy.”

“I was unhappy before?” I look around her to the door, hoping to see Alec. I don’t want to have this conversation.

She chuckles. “No, you weren’t exactly unhappy, but you weren’t happy either. You were just… Jessie. The manwhore with a heart of gold.” She grabs my hand and pats it. “You and Blue… that’s real, Jessie. You two have something. You remind me of Jude and me.”

“What do you mean? And ‘manwhore’, really?” I ask, confused. Frowning at her, I ask, “Why does everyone call me a manwhore?”

She smirks at me and winks. “You know what I mean. Just don’t be a mule head and not tell her. You reformed ‘manwhore’!”

She leans over and kisses my cheek as she gets up. Was I really that bad?!

Muttering under my breath, I say. “Tell her what exactly?”

I feel a hand on my shoulder and hear a voice in my ear. “I know you aren’t putting the moves on my woman, Jessie.”

Looking up at a smirking Jude, I say, “What if I am? Just reminding her she can have the hottest member of the band if she wants him.”

He laughs, “She already does, asshole.” He punches me in the arm as he sweeps her off of her feet and plants a kiss on her mouth as he bends her backwards over his arm. She twines her arms around his neck as they make a scene.

The coffee house erupts into applause. I laugh. “Show off!”

“Damn straight.” He pops her ass as she walks back to the kitchen calling over her shoulder with pink cheeks, “You boys have fun. I have an order to fill.” She winks at me and disappears into the kitchen.

Jude watches her until the door closes. “You’re so whipped,” I tease him.

He laughs. “I am. Isn’t it awesome?! Besides, look who’s talking!”

Pulling my lip ring into my mouth, I answer him. “I’m happy for you man. Real happy. You and Lexi are great.”

He doesn’t answer, just looks at me for a long uncomfortable time. Finally he shakes his head. “You and Blue are pretty great too, Jessie. Now that you both admit it, you’re good together. It certainly took you long enough.”

Pressing my hands against the table in frustration, I grit out, “How was I supposed to know? I thought she hated me.”

Seriously, how the hell was I supposed to know? Things are so good with us. I like her. I want her. She makes me smile and we have the best time together no matter what we’re doing. I can’t get enough of her and the sex is off the charts. How long can this continue? When is she leaving? I don’t want her to leave. I want her here… with me… I don’t know what exactly this is with us, but I know I don’t want it to end. Who would have thought… Blue and me…

Jude has been watching me. He cocks his head to the side and studies me. “What’s going on in your head, Jes?”

Looking out the window, I take in the colors of the leaves. Most are gone from the trees, but the ones that are still there are bright orange and reddish brown. Eventually, I answer Jude. “I don’t know. I like Blue. I like Blue and me. I like her being here. I never expected this. I guess I’m just wondering when it’s going to go away…”

“Why would it go away, man?” He sounds genuinely perplexed at the question.

Looking at him with emotion filled eyes, I mutter, “Because this is not me. This doesn’t happen for me.” I shrug and grip the table top. “Blue is amazing. She’s beautiful and smart. She can go anywhere and get a job. She could pack up and leave tomorrow. Why wouldn’t she?”

He stops me with a hand on my arm. “She won’t as long as you’re honest, with her and with yourself. Yeah, she can go anywhere, but she chooses to be here.” Squeezing my arm, he says, “You deserve this. You deserve Blue. Ok?”

Shaking my head to clear it, I look at Jude and cross my arms over my chest. “You’re such a girl!” I laugh. “I don’t even know what love is…”

Jude chuckles. “Yeah, you do. Love is what you feel for Blue, Jessie. How long have we been friends?” He punches me in the arm. “I know you man. Even if you can’t admit it to yourself, that woman owns you. Like Lexi owns me, and there is nothing wrong with that!” He kicks back in the chair and crosses his legs and arms, while looking at me. “And I’m not a girl. I’m just in touch with my emotions. Chicks dig that shit, you know!” He winks.

“Right.” I kick him and he loses his balance and almost falls over in the chair, but catches the table at the last second. Laughing, I ask, “Does Lexi know she wears the pants?”

A chuckle comes from over my shoulder. “Lexi looks good in pants. And nice save, Jude.”

I turn and greet Alec. “Hey, man. Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

He shakes Jude’s hand and pulls out a chair. “I snuck in. Said ‘Hi’ to Erik before I walked over. You two looked like you were having a serious discussion anyway. I didn’t want to intrude.”

Jude laughs. “No, I was just schooling Jessie.”

“Schooling me, my ass!” I kick him under the table again, then turn to Alec, who’s setting up his laptop. “What do you have for me? Anything promising? You sticking around, Jude?”

Alec says, “Give me a minute to boot up and I have a few to show you. One I think you’re going to love.”

Jude pulls his chair over to see the laptop too. “Yeah, nothing else going on this afternoon. That cool?”

I shrug. “Sure. Ok, let’s see what we’re looking at.”

We look through the listings Alec has marked and I see three potentials. One immediately jumps out at me. “I want to see this one. When can I look at it?”

Alec smirks at me. “Thought you’d say that. I already set it up. You still planning on heading down to NOLA tomorrow?”

Slapping his back, I grin. “Yes. I’m taking Blue down to see a friend of mine play tomorrow night. We’ll be there until y’all get there on Friday.”

“I have the viewing set up for two tomorrow afternoon.” He brushes fake lint off of his shoulders and winks. “Do I know you or what?” Alec says smugly.

“You do, man.” I nod. “You do. This place looks great.”

Jude pipes in with, “Blue should love it.” Then, he high fives Alec behind my back.

I look at him and frown. Both Jude and Alec are staring at me with shit-eating grins. “It’s
my
house, dude. I’m buying it. But yes, she should like it.”

Alec and Jude exchange a glance and both look at me humorously. “What?”

“Told you he was in love with her.” Jude says.

“Dammit. Ok, I owe you a hundred bucks.” Alec says through his smile.

“Y’all were fucking placing bets? And I never said I was in love with her!” I grit out.

Alec looks at me seriously with his chin resting on his hand. “Do you want to be with her all the time? Do you want to kill anyone who looks at her? Does your body warm when she’s near? Does seeing her head on the pillow next to yours bring you a sense of peace? Did you picture her in this house when you saw the listing?”