Burning Up (21 page)

Walking back into the Garrett house, I sighed deeply. Jared’s car was outside. Slowly, I made my way to the lounge. Sitting on the couch with the top button of his shirt undone and his tailored trousers on, Jared was engrossed in an article he was reading in the paper. I knocked gently on the open door. Glancing up, he raised an eyebrow and gently placed his newspaper on the table beside him. His face was serious, and I squirmed a little as his deep blue eyes stared at me from across the room.

“Come here, Layla. We need to talk.”

I didn’t hesitate. I wasn’t eager, but I was intrigued. If he was expecting an apology, he was going to be very disappointed. Sitting on the coffee table opposite him, I waited for him to make the first move. He chuckled slightly.

“I’m not going to bite you. Well, not unless you ask very nicely.”

I snorted. “Not likely.”

Rolling his eyes, he slumped back on the couch and groaned. “You are infuriating. Do you know that? I drove to that damn office and couldn’t get a single thing done! I couldn’t stop thinking about you and everything we’d said. I’m hurt that you don’t feel like we’re friends. I always thought we had a deep connection.”

“We do. Sort of. It’s complicated, Jared. ‘Friends’ means more than just spending a little time together. We’ve been going around in circles for a year now!”

“And you think that warrants the need for a shrink?”

I shook my head at him. “No, Jared. Your stalking, obsessiveness, and damn overprotectiveness are what drive me to insanity. You can’t honestly say you think it’s normal to be this way? It’s exhausting.”

Sighing deeply, he rubbed his temple with his finger and thumb. “I don’t know how else to be, Layla. I’m a man who’s used to getting what he wants, when he wants it, and I’ve never had to fight so damn hard for anything in my life.”

“You don’t have to fight for me, you just have to stop pushing me away.”

His eyes widened. “I’m pushing you away?”

I nodded ruefully.

Getting to his feet, Jared paced around staring at the floor. I sat, silently waiting.

Halting, he turned, gripped his hands on the back of the couch and exhaled loudly.

“Ok. I’ll do it, for you and for us. I’ll talk to someone. But please, can it wait until we get back from London?”

I nodded. Rounding the couch, he scooped me into his arms and held me tightly. “I’m sorry, Layla. Truly, I am.”

I hugged him back, nuzzling my face into his neck. Chuckling lightly, he released me and smiled down at me.

“Let’s go out for dinner. I imagine Lucy and Daniel would like the house to themselves again. I think I disturbed them when I came home early.”

I stared at him.

“What? You think I didn’t know that the two of them are completely in love? Layla, I have Daniel to watch you and Lucy. Who do you think watches Daniel?”

He winked and grabbing his jacket from the arm of the couch where it hung loosely, he took my hand and led me out to the car.

“You’re not mad?” I asked cautiously.

He shrugged. “She could do a lot worse than Daniel. Besides, I trust him implicitly. He’ll keep her safe, grounded, and happy. What more could a big brother ask for?”

I smiled. He was right. As far as dependable, sweet, and caring men went, Lucy had hit the jackpot.

As we pulled up to the sidewalk, I grinned as I looked up at the familiar sight in front of me.

“The Hyatt Regency?”

I gave Jared a puzzled look. Smiling back at me, he nodded. “I thought you might enjoy some fine dining while we’re here.”

Leaving the driver’s side, he hurried around and tossed the keys to an attendant wearing a white uniform before assisting me out of the car.

The ballroom was just as I remembered it and with a smirk, Jared nodded at a table at the far end of the room.
That
table.

“I thought we were just going to have dinner. Isn’t this a function?” I whispered, leaning into Jared’s shoulder.

Shrugging, he raised an eyebrow. “It’s a benefit for a local homeless charity. It’s thrown by Arthur Kent’s company every year. I thought after our spat earlier that you might not be feeling too social.”

I glanced down at my outfit and frowned. A pair of jeans and a floral tunic didn’t exactly scream sophisticated. Seeing my expression, Jared took off his jacket and handed it to a passing waiter.

“I won’t be needing this this evening.”

I gave him a puzzled look and he simply winked at me and led me through the crowd of people to a table where several older gentlemen were sitting. One I recognized immediately and seeing me approach, he stood abruptly and beamed.

“Layla! How lovely to see you!”

I grinned back at him. “It’s always wonderful to see you too, Arthur.”

“You’re too kind to this old man.”

Turning his attention to Jared, Arthur scanned him up and down. “Interesting choice of attire you’ve chosen this evening, Garrett,” he chuckled.

Sliding a hand into his pocket, Jared nodded. “Layla felt it was in poor taste to wear expensive suits and dresses to a benefit for those less fortunate. I have to say, I totally agree.”

Raising his eyebrows in what I assumed was surprise, Arthur grinned.

“Spectacular idea! Poor taste indeed. I think I shall join you in your statement.”

Pulling off his tie and sliding off his dinner jacket, Arthur loosened his top button and held his arms out, taking a step back as he did so.

“Well, what do you think?”

I smiled broadly. “Very dashing, Mr. Kent.”

Grinning with pride, he held out his hand for mine and quickly pressed a kiss to my knuckles.

“Garrett, you are a very lucky fellow. Now, would you be terribly jealous if I stole this young lady away for a dance?”

Releasing my hand, Jared nodded. “Incredibly jealous, but I think if there were another man in this room I could trust to take care of my girl, it would be you Arthur.”

Arthur lead me onto the dance floor.

“I see he’s still as possessive as ever. The way he was clutching your hand, I thought he might shatter your fingers.”

He pulled me into an embrace and began moving us around the floor. Arthur was a little clumsy on his feet compared to Jared, but I didn’t mind. I was glad of his company.

“He’s going to see a shrink. Can you believe it? I actually got through to him.”

Arthur sighed deeply. “I hope for your sake that things will improve. You’re a very sweet girl and the world that Jared and I live in, it can be very damaging. I would hate to see you hurt. Jared has many problems. And here’s one of them, now.”

Nodding over my shoulder, Arthur stared across the ballroom at the bar.

Wearing a little black dress, a pair of ridiculously high heels, and more make-up than a tribal warrior, stood Alicia Felix. She and Jared were clearly in the middle of a heated conversation, and as she placed her hand on his arm, I almost lost my cool. Letting go of Arthur, I turned to move toward them but he caught my elbow, halting me.

“It’s best not to, my dear. He won’t thank you for it. He has a lot of business associates in this room, and a brawl between you and Mrs. Felix would not go down well. People are acutely aware of his history with her and her low life husband.”

I glared at Alicia as she began stroking her hand up and down Jared’s arm. Pulling it from her grasp immediately, he looked in my direction and shook his head in warning.
Really
? I was meant to just let it go? Alicia caught his line of sight, and catching me staring, she moved closer to Jared and clasped his shirt in her hands, forcing him to press against her. This bitch was about to get a close-up view of the floor if she didn’t get her hands off of him!

Pushing her away, Jared glared at her with
rage. He was clearly infuriated by whatever it was she was saying. Grabbing her purse, she pulled out a Kleenex and began dabbing at her eyes. Rubbing his forehead with his finger and thumb, Jared looked frustrated. Shooting me another quick look, he turned his attention back to Alicia and pointed his finger in her face, clearly in some sort of warning. She didn’t take it kindly. Glaring at me from across the room, she stormed away and out of the main doors. My eyes remained fixated on Jared and his on me.

Tugging on my arm, Arthur encouraged me to continue dancing. I returned to our previous stance, but I was so riled up that I was sure my blood was boiling in my veins.

“I know that must have been very difficult for you, Layla. But you did the right thing. These personal matters should always be dealt with
in
private. I’m sure there’s a very valid reason for what we just witnessed.”

I tried to control my harsh and rapid breathing. “There had better be a damn good explanation.”

A hand on my shoulder pulled my attention away from Arthur.

“May I cut in?”

Jared stared at Arthur who leaned into my ear and whispered as he kissed me on the cheek.

“Let him explain.”

I nodded and watched as he left the dance floor to resume his place at the table.

Taking my hand, Jared spun me around to face him and pulled me close.

“I know what you must be feeling, and I’m sorry you had to see that. I swear I had no idea she would be here.”

“Then what the hell was she doing here? Did she come here just to see you?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

I rolled my eyes. “What did she want?”

Spinning me around, he shook his head before pulling me close again.

“Nothing important. She’s clearly losing control of her life, and I guess I was her last hope at holding on to everything. Felix is broke and that leaves her equally as penniless. You can’t get blood from a stone, and his sorry ass can’t write alimony checks anymore.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “Why did she think
you
might help her?”

He shrugged again. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. Alicia is not my responsibility.”

The music stopped, and taking a deep breath, I raked my fingers through my hair.

“I need a drink.”

Jared raised an eyebrow at me. “Do you really think you should?”

I gave him a disgruntled look. “I’m almost twenty-one.”

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re my boyfriend, not my father. It’s just like I told you that morning in Spain. You don’t have the right to tell me where to go, what to do, or what I put into my body. It’s
my
temple.”

Letting go of my hand, he gave me a confused look. “What are you talking about?”

I rolled my eyes. “I knew you weren’t listening. In the bathroom after breakfast when we had that fight you came in all ‘strong silent type’ waiting for an apology.”

Staring at me, Jared shook his head slowly. “Layla, when you stormed into that bathroom, I left. I figured you needed some breathing space, so I went to work.”

I stared back at him as a bolt of fear suddenly shot through me. “Well, if it wasn’t you standing there, who was it?”

Jared’s eyes frantically scanned the room. Pulling his cell from his pants pocket with one hand and dragging me hurriedly through the crowd with the other, he dialed.

“Daniel! We have a problem. Call Peter and then meet me at the house. I want every last movement that asshole made in detail!”

Panting, I tried to keep up as we approached the exit. “What’s going on? Who’s Peter?”

Halting, Jared embraced me tightly and protectively as he continued to scan every face that passed us.

“Peter is a private detective.”

I gave him a puzzled look.

Running his fingers through his hair, Jared was visibly shaken and anxious.

“He’s been tracking Felix.”

I held my hand to my mouth and gasped. “You don’t think it was him? Do you?”

Jared shook his head. “I don’t know. And until I do, you’re not safe. We’re going to London first thing tomorrow morning.”

My body was shaking with adrenaline and fear. Would Felix really have followed us to Spain? I knew he and Jared were at each other’s throats, but surely he wouldn’t cross an ocean to find him. Besides, how would he have gotten in the room and why? It was Jared he wanted, not me. My head was spinning with unanswered questions. First Alicia and now her husband, was that damn family out to destroy my life or what? Either way, Layla Jennings wouldn’t be beaten so easily. If Felix wanted a fight, he’d get one.

* * * *

It’s strange the image and assumptions Americans make about England. London was nothing like I imagined. I guess I had a romanticized view of it after watching far too many British romantic comedies at the movies. Don’t get me wrong; it was amazing. The old and historical feel of the whole city was almost magical. There were long rows of buildings that were dated all the way back to the medieval days, and endless stories like Jack the Ripper, the great fire of London, and even the homes of the greatest novelists to have ever lived. William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle had all inhabited this magical city. Best of all, it was thousands of miles from Felix. Jared had instructed Peter to track his every move, credit card charge, passport entry … everything. Felix wouldn’t be able to breathe without Jared knowing it. We still had no idea if he had followed us to Spain, but with the security and privacy that Jared had paid handsomely for when we left for London, I was fairly confident that he hadn’t followed us
there.