Dirty: The Complete Series (Secret Baby Romance Love Story) (192 page)

“What did he do?”

“Besides all of this, you mean?”

She giggled. “Yeah, besides all of this.”

“He rented a hotel room for me to finish
getting dressed and ready in when I’m done here at the Indigo in San Diego.”

“Wow! Nice!”

“It’s too much, Phoebe.”

“Honey, did you ask him for any of this?”

“No, of course not.”

“Does he expect anything in return?”

“I don’t think so. He’s not like that.”

“Then it’s not too much. It’s what he
wants to do for you. He obviously believes that you deserve it. At least for
today, Summer, let yourself believe it, too.”

*******

I held onto Phoebe’s words throughout the
rest of the afternoon as my make-up was done to perfection and a car that cost
more money than I might ever see in my lifetime took me to the Indigo hotel.
Drake hadn’t rented me a room – it was a suite. I stood aghast in the center of
it, afraid to touch anything. For a moment, I forgot how clean I actually was.
When I remembered how I’d been washed and scrubbed today from head to toe, I
allowed myself a feel of the soft, plush cushions on the sofa and recliner in
the sitting room. I walked into the bedroom and slid my hand across the down
comforter on the bed. It was softer than butter in my hands. I almost expected
it to melt between my fingers. I sat down and, forgetting about my perfect
hair, I laid back on it and spread my arms open like I was making a snow angel.
I was so overwhelmed by it all that I could hardly breathe.

When it was almost time for Drake to pick
me up, I reluctantly pulled myself up off of the luxurious bed and put on my
pretty dress and shoes. I turned on the bright light and examined myself. The
colorful tattoo sleeves were slightly visible through the sheer lace, but they
definitely looked classier than they did uncovered. I used my fingers to smooth
the soft, silky hair I still didn’t recognize down my back. I had butterflies
in my belly the size of full-grown dragons and more than once as I stood
staring at the unrecognizably pretty girl in the mirror, I asked myself what I
was doing. Fairytales don’t exist…do they?

A sudden knock at the door pushed the
panic button deep inside of me and I actually considered locking myself in the bathroom
and refusing to come out. It took every shred of courage in my body to walk
like a baby deer in those four inch heels over to the door and open it. As soon
as I saw Drake, there was no question in my mind any longer. Fairytales do
exist…and Prince Charming was standing at my door.

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

DRAKE

Every particle of oxygen in my entire body
was sucked out when Summer opened that door. I have seen women across the
world. I’ve intimately known women who spend nearly every waking hour primping
and preening and doing something simply to make themselves more beautiful. I
know women who have literally paid tens of thousands of dollars re-make what
God gave them. What I have never known or seen and might possibly ever see
again, is any woman who was one tenth as beautiful as Summer is tonight.

“I don’t even have words.”

She blushed, which was a miracle in and of
itself, I think. “You look really, really nice, too.” I looked down at my suit
and suddenly remembered the flowers I had in my hand. I wanted to tell her how
dull they looked next to her, but I knew that was just too cliché. Instead, I
held them out to her and for a second ,I thought that she wasn’t going to take
them. When she did, her eyes were filled with tears. She dipped her head down to
inhale them, but I also think it was to gather herself before she looked back
up at my face. A strand of that gorgeous hair had fallen across her forehead
and everything inside of me was screaming, itching, and aching to touch it. But
tonight, I was going to be her gentleman. Tonight was the night Summer
deserved, her opportunity to see that she’s every bit as good as everyone else
there, and better than most. I want her to know I think of her as more than a
sex toy. I have enjoyed every minute of getting to know her. She’s smart and
funny and tough and she has a great heart. She’s so different from the spoiled,
petulant women I’m used to.

“Are you ready?”

“I have no idea,” she said with a nervous
look, but she took my hand and went with me. The drive to the hotel where
Mother was holding the gala was a short one and we were both silent. Summer
because she was nervous, I think…and me because I was literally intimidated by
how beautiful she is. When we got there and I helped her out of the car, she
clutched my arm and I could feel her shaking. I almost wanted to turn her
around and take her home. This frightened girl wasn’t the little spitfire I
knew. The last thing I wanted any of this to do was change her. Her personality
is as sexy as she is – if not sexier.

“I think I’m going to throw up,” she
whispered as we walked through the double doors and towards the welcome line
where my mother stood. I looked down at Summer and I must have looked worried
because she laughed and said, “Now you look like you’re going to throw up. I
feel better.”

I shook my head at her, but I had to
smile. She is the most amazing little creature I’ve ever met.

“There’s my handsome son.” The sound of my
mother’s voice made me cringe involuntarily. I pasted a smile on my face that
she would easily know was fake. The beauty of my family is that no one cares.
As long as you act the part in public, no one cares how artificial you are.

“Hello, Mother.” She was elegant as
always, dressed in a cream-colored ball gown with her pretty hair done up in
some kind of braided twist. Her figure was as perfect as it had been in her
twenties and her skin as smooth and clear as a newborn’s. It was all bought and
paid for, of course, but the result was pure beauty. She leaned in and I kissed
her cheek as her crystal blue eyes landed on Summer. Summer’s back was straight
and her head was high. I could only hope she would leave here with the same
posture and me having to disown any members of my family.

“Who is this gorgeous creature?”

“Mother, this is Summer French. Summer,
this is my mother, Ellen Spencer.”

Summer smiled and as usual, parts of me
surged with blood – not all of these parts were ones that you wanted surging in
the presence of your mother. She held out her little hand and my mother took
it. “It’s lovely to meet you, dear.” I saw my mother’s eyes take her in from
head to toe, pausing almost imperceptibly as she ran them down her arms.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs.
Spencer.”

“French…that name doesn’t sound familiar.
Are you from San Diego or La Jolla?”

“Neither, ma’am, I grew up back
east…mostly.”

“Oh, how nice. So how long have you been
in California?”

“Mother, you have other guests waiting.
Maybe you can interrogate my date later.” My mother gave me a tight smile
before turning back to Summer.

“We will talk later, dear. I suppose my
son is right and I should greet my guests.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I saw Summer take a heavy
breath as my mother walked away. It was a sigh of relief, no doubt. She grabbed
hold of my arm again as we walked deeper into the ballroom. I could see my
sister standing next to the dessert table sipping from a glass of Dom Pérignon.
I knew what it was without tasting it or seeing the bottle. It’s the only
champagne she’ll drink and my mother caters to her every whim. I wanted to do
my best to steer Summer in the opposite direction. For the most part, my sister
Chrissy is not a bad person, but she can be a snob and, when she drinks, a
bitch.

I glanced at Summer as we walked across
the room. Her green eyes were taking in the giant crystal chandeliers overhead
and I tried to imagine what she was thinking. I guessed if I came from where
she did and I walked into this place, I’d wonder what the collective cost was
and think about how many people on the street that money could feed. I saw her
looking at the table laden with food. The gala was a buffet-style benefit
supposedly, but the caterers were there, fussing over their wealthy guests.

“Are you hungry?” She shook her head, but
never took her eyes off of the food. “Are you sure? Did you eat today?”

She put her free hand across her stomach.
“I couldn’t eat anything. I really would throw up. I just want to look at it.”
I noticed that she wasn’t just looking at the food. Her pretty green eyes were
taking in the glossy ballroom floor and the people milling around in their
expensive party attire. A waiter walked by and I grabbed two flutes of
champagne off of his tray and tried to hand her one. “I don’t drink.”

“Oh…okay, good.”

“I’m eighteen.”

“I know that.”

“You’re trying to provide alcohol to a
minor.”

I laughed. “You’re not a minor.”

“True, but I’m not of legal drinking age,
either.” I rolled my eyes and downed both glasses of champagne before sitting
the delicate flutes down on one of the tables.

“There, better?” She raised an eyebrow at
me, but she didn’t say anything. “Let’s find a table and sit down.”

“Sit at my table, little brother.” I hoped
my flinch at the sound of my sister’s voice wasn’t apparent.

“Hi, Chrissy.”

“Hi.” My pretty sister smiled at me and
then looked at Summer. “Hello, I don’t know you.”

“Summer French, this is my sister Chrissy
Spencer.”

“Hello,” Summer said with a nervous smile.
“It’s nice to meet you.”

“And you,” my sister said. She slung her
arm through Summer’s free one and said, “I love that dress! Did you get it at
Felton’s Boutique?”

“Yes.”

Chrissy started walking. Summer had no
choice but to go with her, and I followed. “I love that store. When I don’t
have time for an original, I go there every time. From across the room I thought
this one was multi-colored, but I see the sleeves are your own.” Summer
grimaced slightly before Chrissy said, “Where did you and my brother meet,
Summer?”

Summer glanced up at me and I tried to
hide my smile as I heard her say, “We were in the surf shop in La Jolla at the
same time one day…and the rest is history.”

“Isn’t that sweet? So, you’re a surfer? I
guess that explains the ink.”

We both ignored the ink comment as I said,
“I’m helping her get ready for a competition.”

“Oh, well, you’ve always wanted to teach,
so that worked out good.” My sister led us to her table. I was horrified to see
who was already sitting there. Her friends Paris and Searcy were sitting there
with a few others I didn’t know. Paris and Searcy are two of the biggest stuck-up
bitches I’ve ever known.

“Chrissy, I think we’re going to sit up
closer to the bandstand.” Chrissy kept her grip on Summer’s arm.

“Nonsense, it’s much too noisy up there.
You won’t be able to hear yourselves think.” She introduced Summer to her
friends. The whole time, Summer hadn’t looked at me. I suddenly realized what a
mistake this was. She looked better than all of them put together, but they
were all still looking at her like she was an outsider and for some reason, my
sister’s claws were already out. “Sit down, Summer, and tell us about yourself.
Where does your family come from?”

Summer did look at me then. I wanted to
pick her up and carry her out of there. I saw her pull on the hem of her dress
as she sat. Of course, Chrissy never misses a thing. I saw her rake her eyes
across the tattoos on Summer’s legs. I took a chair across from them as Summer
was saying, “I grew up mostly on Long Island, but we traveled a lot.”

“Of course,” Chrissy said. She thought
Summer was talking about the kind of ceaseless traveling we did as kids, one
vacation after the other.

“My grandfather was a professional
surfer.”

“Oh my! But what about your parents?”

“I never really knew them,” she said.

“That’s a shame,” Chrissy said. Paris
rolled her eyes and said,

“Oh I don’t know. Some days I wish I’d
never known mine.” They all laughed. Summer didn’t.

“Summer, why don’t we go get something to
eat?”

“You go get her a plate, Drake,” my sister
told me. I wanted to strangle her. “Be a gentleman.”

“I’m really not hungry,” Summer said.

“Go get her some appetizers, she can pick
at them.”

“Really, it’s okay…” Summer’s green eyes
had panic in them. She didn’t want me to leave her and I wasn’t about to.

“We’ll eat later. Do you want to dance?”
Her eyes got wider. I hadn’t thought to ask if she could dance. I’m an idiot.

“Sure.” Maybe she could dance. I got up
and went around and took her hand.

“We just started talking!” Chrissy pouted.
“You’ll come back, right?”

“Sure.” Summer scooted back her chair and
stood up. All three of the women were looking at her legs now. Summer looked
down and pulled on her skirt to cover the tats peeking out. As she did that,
she teetered on her heels and had to reach forward and grab onto the table. I
hoped she missed the subtle looks of amusement on my sister and her friend’s
faces, but I doubted it. I started to lead her towards the dance floor, but she
leaned in and whispered, “Maybe some air instead.”

“Good idea, I’ll take you out and show you
the garden out back.” I led her towards the French doors in the back of the
ballroom. I opened them for her, and she stepped out into the fresh air and
sucked in a breath.

“Thank you,” she said. “I suddenly felt
like I couldn’t breathe in there.”

“I’m sorry.”

She smiled at me. “It’s not your fault.
Everyone’s being really nice. I just never talk so much about myself. It’s a
little bit uncomfortable being the center of attention.” I wondered if she
didn’t notice the looks as we left the table or if she was choosing to ignore
them. I wasn’t going to bring it up, just in case.

“Let’s take a walk,” I said instead.

 
She
nodded, but stopped and gripped my hand tightly as she bent down and pulled off
those dangerous heels she was wearing. She slung them over her fingers and
said, “Okay, now I’m ready.”

I walked her through the beautiful gardens
that the hotel was actually famous for. There is a labyrinth of paths that wind
through the center of dark green plants and flowers blooming in a multitude of
vibrant colors.

“It smells so good,” she said. She stopped
to dip her face down into a rosebush.

“Yeah, it does. I like it here. Sometimes
when I’m home, I just come here to think where it’s so quiet and relaxing.” We
walked in silence from there, just breathing in the night until we came to a
decorative wrought iron bench surrounded by tall shrubs. “You want to sit for a
minute?”

She answered me by sitting down and
looking up at the sky. Earlier tonight when the sun went down, I’d noticed how
pretty it looked streaked with bright orange and purple. Now it was a vast
expanse of black, dotted with only a few small stars. The moon hung in one
corner like a crescent and the only other light came from the windows of the
grand hotel. It was a romantic setting and I was surprised at myself for noticing
that. My former idea of romance was Netflix and beer.

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

SUMMER

I wasn’t exactly lying when I said Drake’s
family had been nice to me, but I also haven’t missed the looks they gave me
and each other as they perused my tattoos and asked questions I hesitated to
answer. Society girls don’t normally tat themselves up and it was the one thing
about me that we couldn’t “class up.” Most of these girls love talking about
where their money comes from, too. I told myself I wasn’t going to stress over
it, though. I loved being here with Drake and that was all that mattered.

“So, are you doing okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m a little nervous, but
I’m okay. I just felt like I couldn’t breathe there for a second. They have a
lot of questions about where I came from and what I do…those are the worst.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. We can go if you
want.”

“No! No, I’m okay. I’ll get some fresh air
and we’ll go back in and eat. I don’t know how to dance. I should have told
you.”

He smiled and put his hand on my thigh.
Goosebumps shot up my body and down my spine. This guy touching me is the
equivalent of touching a live wire while standing in a puddle wearing
steel-toed boots. “I should have asked you. But slow dancing is a lot like
making love and you have that down pat. Maybe just one slow dance?”

I started to agree when I saw the woman
step through the thick layer of greenery that surrounded us. She was wearing a
burgundy gown and her long blonde hair touched her waist. She was probably six
inches taller than me and her tits were big, high, and perky – just the kind of
girl that intimidates the hell out of me. Drake saw me look up at her and he
looked over, too. I could only see half of his face, but I swear he cringed.

“Hello, Drake.”

“Sabrina. Hi.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you two, I was just
walking by and heard your voice. I was hoping you’d be here tonight.” I
couldn’t help but wonder if she was hoping he’d be here alone. She was looking
at him like he was a piece of chocolate. I swear her mouth was watering.

“Um…it’s okay. We were just getting some
air. This is Summer. Summer, this is Sabrina.”

“Hello, Summer, I’ve heard a lot about
you.”

I looked at Drake who looked as confused
as me and slightly paranoid. “You have?”

She smiled a brilliant white, perfectly
straight-toothed smile. “Yes. Lance and I had lunch today.”

“Sabrina…” Drake’s voice had dropped. The
tone was low and warning.

“Oh, stop it, Drake. I’m not going to tell
anyone about your little friend’s…situation. Lance didn’t even want to tell me.
But, I could see that he was upset about something and I got it out of him.
He’s worried about you.”

I suddenly felt like I was caught in that
nightmare where they all pointed and laughed. I was frozen to my spot, though.
I didn’t want to hear any more of this, but I didn’t want to get up and walk
past this bitch who so badly wanted to see me upset. “He has no reason to be,
and who I choose to spend time with isn’t his or your business.”

She made a “Tsk-tsk” noise and shook her
head. She made eye contact with me then and I saw that she had
milk-chocolate-colored eyes with the strangest patches of blue. I wondered if
they were contacts, I’d never seen anything like it.

“You know why it is my business, Drake.
I’m supposed to be selling you to a Fortune 500 company. I have a meeting with
the CEO of Catalyst the day before Laguna. I can’t go in to something like that
blind. I need to know everything. I need to know if your picture is going to
pop up on some tabloid with your new friend and details about her background.”
I stood up. I’d heard enough. Drake reached out and grabbed my wrist and stood
up next to me.

“There’s nothing in her background that
would worry me,” he said. Although that was nice of him to say, he really had
no idea. I’d never been charged with anything, but there were a few times I
came close. Who knew what story anyone might be willing to tell for the right
price?

I cleared my throat. “If we’re going to
talk about me, then maybe I can have a chance to speak in my own defense.”

“You don’t have to defend yourself to
anyone, Summer.” Drake was glaring at the blonde. She was looking at me with
and excited look. She wanted to hear about my life, I’m guessing because she
knew that it would make her feel superior.

“You’re right,” I said to Drake, “But I’d
like to say this, anyways.” Turning back to the woman, I said, “I don’t know
who you are, but I don’t have anything to hide. My name is Summer French. I’m
eighteen years old. I grew up on Long Island in New York with my grandfather,
who was a professional surfer. My mother was a prostitute who used a lot of
heroin. She had no idea which John knocked her up and the only reason she
didn’t abort me was because she stayed so wasted that she caught the pregnancy
too late. My grandfather ended up with a drug-addicted infant, and he raised me
as well as he could until he died. I was fourteen then and they tried to put me
in a foster home. I ran away, and for the past five years, I’ve been living on
the streets. I’m homeless, but on a positive note, I haven’t killed anyone and
I’ve never been in jail, so you can rest easy that there aren’t any public
records that might pop up. I don’t know who this “Catalyst” is, but if it’s
important to Drake, you can be sure I’m not going to get in his way.”

Sabrina was still holding onto the shocked
look that crossed her face when I admitted my mother was a prostitute. It’s not
something I’m proud of, but it’s also nothing for me to be ashamed of. I’m not,
nor have I ever been a prostitute or a heroin addict. I had no control over her
issues. Drake slid his hand down and linked his fingers through mine. His
muscles were tense and when he began to talk, it was in a low, controlled
voice. “Listen to me, Sabrina, and listen well. I pay you to do a job, but that
job does not extend to my personal life. You deal with Catalyst and I’ll do
what I need to do for me. Lately, that’s been spending time with Summer. I
don’t have any plans to change that, either, so if it’s an issue for you,
that’s too fucking bad. We both know you don’t need this job, anyways. It was
just your way of keeping tabs on me.”

Her look went from shocked to haughty in
an instant. “Keep tabs on you? Are you kidding? You are still so full of
yourself-”

“I get the feeling I really don’t want to
be around for this part of the conversation,” I said. I pulled my hand away
from Drake’s.