My Bad Boy's Secret: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (6 page)

She nodded her head and smiled politely and then played with some papers on her table. It was awkward. So I made small talk before I prepared to leave.

“I like this apartment. It's minimal,” I said looking around.

“It is not mine it's a sublet. I have to leave it in a month when the owner comes back. Now that our project is moving forward, I'll have to find some other place to rent. So if you know of anything let me know. I would like to stay in the area, close to the studio,” she said

“Yeah, it's a good area. I’ll keep a lookout and let you know. I guess I'll be going now.”

“Ok Jackson, thank you for the talk and clearing the air. I know this project is going to be epic. This is all for the best,” she said as she walked me to the door.

I gave her one last glance, and a smile. I guess this really was all for the best, but a part of me knew this wasn't over. I could feel it. I would just have to have patience and wait. I left her apartment and did what I always did when I needed to think about things. I hopped on my motorcycle and went west, heading to the Pacific Coast Highway. I drove recklessly down Sunset Boulevard as it curved and snaked along the beach. It was a hell of a lot of fun. I knew that I looked bad ass on my motorcycle, but that's not why I did it. I did it for the freedom… It felt like I was floating. It was an adrenaline rush, and I was addicted to it. I had always rode a motorcycle since I was a teenager and I had never stopped. I drove until sunset along the Pacific Coast Highway and turned right, heading towards Malibu. The vast ocean laid out in front of me was beautiful and calming. It was just what I needed in order to get over the sudden strange feelings that had come into my life. I was in a notorious bachelor and I liked fucking who I wanted, when I wanted with no rules. Now there was suddenly a brilliant writer on my mind who made me feel things that I never had before. I must conquer these feelings, our work depended on it. I drove until the sun had set over the water, turning the sky orange and yellow. That was when I decided that it was time to head back home. I felt cleansed… But Rosalyn was still on my mind. Damn it!

ROSALYN

I had done it! I managed to have Jackson Lane in my home, and not jump on him. It was something I thought I would never be able to do, and I congratulated myself with a bottle of wine. I needed to get drunk, and hide my phone so that I didn't send any stupid text messages to him.

I was relieved when the meeting turned out to be a legit meeting only about the project and that that evil bitch had not fucked it up for me. I was relieved that Jackson did not call the meeting in order to change things because of what had happened. He was keeping it between us… And I liked and admired that. It meant I could trust him. Underneath all that motorcycle leather and bad boy reputation, he was a good guy who treated humans like humans. It was all that I ever wanted in a man. “Ok Rosalyn, stop thinking this way. Think about your career. It is the most important factor right now, and you've worked so hard for so many years… No more romantic thoughts about this man.” I said to myself out loud, as though saying it out loud would cement it in my mind. One could only hope.

Over the next three weeks, I made it a point to not be alone with Jackson. The project was in the development stages of finding a director and sorting out the finances for the budget, so the meetings were very limited. I only saw him one more time during the three weeks and it was only in passing. I was with my producer Dan, and Jackson was with his producer at the studio. Both of us were there for different reasons, and besides Heather in the hallway, we all greeted each other with the polite professional hello and then we were on our way.

It pierced my heart to see him. As soon as I saw him I nearly fell over, he was that beautiful. However once it was over I felt good that I was able to get through it. Everything was going great except for one part of my life, my sublet. I had found another place to stay online that was close to where I was living now. However four days before I was supposed to move in, they canceled on me due to an emergency; something to do with exploding pipes under the sink and water damage. I was extremely stressed out. I was looking like I was going to have to move into a hotel, and it couldn't be worse timing because I had a very busy schedule, meeting with agents and talking about new projects that were on the horizon. I would be doing a lot of writing, pitching, and networking. I would have to go to many charity events, mixers, and dinners… my schedule was full.

I finally decided to treat myself, and walked down to Sunset at the bottom of the hill to sit at a coffee shop and have a gourmet drink, hot and creamy. I pulled out my laptop and began looking through rental listings. At this short notice there seemed to be nothing available. I sighed a deep sigh, feeling completely helpless.

“Still can't find a place?” a voice said from behind me. Shivers went up my spine soon as I heard the voice. It was after all and iconic voice that anyone could recognize… It was Jackson. I turned in my seat to see him towering over me at his 6 foot, 1 inch height. He always took my breath away, even before I knew him in person.

“Well, actually I did and it just fell through today. So now I'm all packed up and have to be out of my place in two days with nowhere to go. Looks like I may have to move into a hotel,” I said, looking back at my laptop for something to distract me.

He pulled the empty chair out from under the table, turned it backwards and straddled it sitting next to me, ready to engage and help. I felt my body get warmers he sat next to me, his mere presence did that to me.

“Well, you know I have a really big house. I have three bedrooms that are not being used. I leave on location for a project tomorrow for two weeks, so you're welcome to stay at my house. I won't even be there, and when I am the house is so big we won't even see each other,” he said as he grabbed my coffee off my table and took a drink from it. “Mmm... Delicious,” he said with a moan in his voice. I instantly became aroused. I let his words sink in and looked at him with a look that said, “Are you sure about this?” I knew that he knew what I meant because he answered me right away.

“I told you I took the keys from her. No drama, I promise. But it’s up to you, I'm just trying to help a friend out. After all, your screenplay could get me back on track with my career. So I want to do something for you,” he said in a sincere way.

I sat there thinking about everything that could possibly happen with us living under the same roof. It was true that the house was big enough to where I could have my own wing, but I knew being that close to him would be tempting.

“I'm sure I can find a place, but thank you anyway,” I said trying not to sound nervous. He stood up from his chair in a casual way, in that boyish charm that he had.

“Suit yourself, the offer still stands,” he said as he grabbed his helmet and walked away.

That night I could not sleep at all. It was a sleepless night of tossing and turning. There was so much on my mind. I had not found a place, and it was looking more and more like I would have to get a very expensive rental that was normally used for people on vacation. This meant $1000 a week… And although I had received payment for my screenplay, I was still on a budget until the movie was actually made and released or I received payment for a new project, so I had to be careful with my budget. Then, there was seeing Jackson again. There was the offer that he made me, it replayed in my head over and over. Then I sat straight up in bed, “what the fuck are you thinking Rosalyn?” I said out loud. “Fuck it!”

This is a dream come true… And you are going to pass it up because of a little drama? What is life without drama, things will never be perfect. What if this is the way things are supposed to happen? The universe is bringing you everything you ever asked for and you're turning it down because it's not happening in the exact way you expected? That is absurd. It is a big risk to move into his house, but it is also exciting, adventurous, and now it was my dream.

Sure, he wasn't asking me to move in as his romantic partner, or wife… but so what. Why did I have to overanalyze everything? Why couldn't I just do things that I wanted? It was completely normal for friends to stay at friends’ houses, especially when they were out of town shooting a movie, this was totally normal. There, I have talked myself into it. I looked at the clock it was 3 o'clock in the morning, I shouldn't text him. However, I knew if I slept on it I would talk myself out of it. I grabbed my phone, went to the bar in the kitchen and poured myself a shot of tequila, slammed it down with a lime chaser and then typed out on my phone, “I will take you up on your offer. Thank you… When can I move in?” I took a very deep breath and then read it over and over a few times, finally hitting send and then I went back to bed, getting cozy under the covers. There, it was done. I could not take it back. This was happening. It was all happening. It would be torture to wait until the next day to receive his reply, so I closed my eyes and tried to let the tequila take affect and put me into a deep sleep. Beep!

The light from my phone lit up the dark bedroom. I inhaled deeply. Was it him? I grabbed it, I received a text message from Jackson Lane that said, “Excellent, you can move in as soon as tomorrow if you'd like. I'll be home all day… Thanks for taking care of my house while I'm out of town… X”

I smiled the biggest smile of my life, this was really happening. I wrote back “great, I'll be over in the evening. Thank you, much appreciated.” Then I hit send. Then I closed my eyes, and fell asleep… a nice happy sleep.

The next day I slept in, not wanting to look tired when I went to his house. I had very few things so I had already packed most of it. I had three large suitcases and two boxes of miscellaneous stuff. Everything that was in the apartment belonged to the person I was subletting it from. I only had my clothes and a few essentials. I packed these items in my car, double checked myself in the mirror, and then I was on my way. My heart was racing the entire time.

When I pulled up to his house, the garage door was open, and he was inside working on his motorcycle. He was dirty and in a tight gray t-shirt, black jeans, and motorcycle boots… In other words he looked rugged and hot. He smiled a bright white charming smile and waved a friendly hello. He went to the wall and pressed a button and the second garage door opened. It was a completely separate walled off garage. I pulled my car in, suddenly realizing that this was my new home. I tried to keep my smile under wraps because I felt so giddy. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. He walked over to the door and opened it for me, “welcome home Rosalyn,” he said with a smile and a sparkle in his eyes.

I suddenly felt very happy, that he chose those words on purpose. Maybe he was doing more than just trying to seduce me sexually… Was he trying to seduce me into a relationship or I was possibly just a little delusional? “Thank you,” was all I could say as I got out of the car.

“Is this all you have? Let me get it for you,” he said as he went to work with my bags and boxes. A few minutes later he was showing me to the three spare bedrooms, “Pick whichever one you want…” he said as he walked me around. I finally settled on one that had an entire wall of glass looking out into an atrium filled with plants, there was lots of light and it was peaceful. It had an attached master bathroom to it with a large tub. There was a massive walk-in closet, and entertainment center, a writing desk, and a sitting area. It was almost like a studio apartment. “I like this one… If that's ok?” I said is I looked around the room with a smile on my face.

“I thought you would, so I had the maid stack towels and blankets in here for you,” he said as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest, proud of himself for identifying what I would want.

“What made you think I would want this room?” I said putting my hands on my hips.

"This,” he said is he put his hand on the glass wall that looked out towards nature. “It is like you, organic and natural. Nothing fake about you…” he said.

I had nothing to say to that. We just stood there staring at each other, his words washing over me. I couldn't even get out a thank you for the compliment. It struck me deeply.

“Well I'll let you get settled in. My flight leaves tomorrow at noon. I am going to finish up my bike and pack. Let me know if you need anything,” he said as he walked out of the room.

I plopped myself on the bed, exhaling and processing that I was actually here, when Jackson popped his head back in the doorway and said, “Rosalyn… I'm glad you're here.” Then he smiled and walked away. I thought my heart was going to explode. I wanted to burst into tears of joy. I didn't know where this was going to lead but I was also glad to be here. I couldn't pass up the opportunity of living with Jackson Lane no matter what the consequences were. I would not forgive myself looking back on my life knowing that I had passed up the opportunity to do this. So in that respect, this felt right.