He smiled but it didn't quite meet his eyes. Tom was attractive in an over groomed way. The sort of guy girls called a metrosexual. His eyes were dark and piercing, his suit well cut, his teeth bright white. It was obvious that he worked out.
He had to, to achieve that over grown muscle head look. But he just didn't do it for me. I wished he did, since I knew he could basically make or break my career in the Nashville scene. His club was the launching pad for many huge music careers.
Didn't matter though. Even if he could get me a spot on the charts overnight. I wasn't cheap and I wasn't for sale.
Hopefully he would understand that I wasn't going to sleep with him just to get ahead.
With the assessing way he was looking at me, it wasn't likely.
I smiled but there was a cold feeling in the pit of my belly.
My mother taught me to always listen to my gut. Right now it was practically screaming at me.
Look out.
Chapter Four
Jake
I climbed onto my bike, eager to get as far from home as possible. I was avoiding my brothers. Every damn day either Daniel or Jackson had cornered me, trying to talk me into staying on. Being part of the horse breeding business again.
Permanently.
I wanted to be here for the old man. But every instinct I had was telling me to run. Don't get boxed in. Don't settle. Don't be tamed.
The estate was a cage to me, and I was like a wild animal clawing to get out.
It's not like there wasn't room for all three of us in the house. The mansion was almost a hundred and fifty years old and enormous. It was built to impress and intimidate and it did. There were fifteen bedrooms, sitting rooms, ten baths, a kitchen, galley, bar room, study, library, billiard room, conservatory, dining room, living room and drawing room.
That didn't even cover the stables, which encompassed two large buildings, including a training facility where riders came for lessons and to stable their horses. Then there was the garage with servants' quarters above it, a greenhouse and numerous storage sheds. The largest shed was bigger than most people's houses.
We sure as shit weren't going to get into each other's hair.
In some ways, it might be time to take a break from running. Try something different for a change. And I missed working with the animals.
But I couldn't think with them breathing down my neck all the damn time. I'd dutifully gone to see my father each day before drinking myself into oblivion. Today was my first sober day in a week.
I needed to clear my head. A good ride would do that. Or a good fuck.
Or both.
Immediately that hot little waitress from the club sprang to mind. I felt my groin tighten at the thought of her. All week I'd been ready to pop, just thinking about her.
I started the bike and pulled out into the road, not intending to ride anywhere in particular. I roamed the back roads, the wind at my back. The sky was starting to get dark when I recognized the stretch of road I was on. I smiled grimly as I pulled into the back entrance of the Country Club.
I almost laughed out loud. I'd been riding aimlessly for hours. Somehow I'd ended up here.
I knew why.
I was looking for her of course. Even though she hadn't given me the slightest bit of encouragement. She'd practically hissed at me when I tried to joke with her last time.
I just couldn't seem to stay away.
I parked my bike and waited outside the service entrance far from the overhead lights. I knew I would catch her out here eventually. If she was working, sooner or later she'd sneak out for a smoke.
Twenty minutes later my prayers were answered.
I watched from the shadows as she looked around nervously, then headed for a copse of trees on the far side of the lot. Right near where I was parked.
I smirked as she walked gracefully across the parking lot. Having no clue what she was walking towards. Like a deer walking right towards the hunter.
Let the games begin.
Elle
"You really are a bad girl aren't you?"
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of the husky voice coming from the shadows behind me. It was Jake Delancey naturally. I turned and saw him. He was leaning against a motorcycle at the ass end of the parking lot.
Sneaky bastard.
Sneaky gorgeous bastard.
"What are you doing here then? Trying to scare people to death?"
"Waiting for you."
I stopped short, having no idea what to say to that. I had suspected as much. But I hadn't really thought he'd come out and say it. My stomach did a flip flop as butterflies seem to dive around inside me.
I glanced around to make sure no one was watching and lit my smoke. That's what I'd come out here to do anyway, wasn't it? I walked behind the bushes, doing my best to ignore him.
He trailed behind me, leaning against a tree trunk. The man was always leaning, looking utterly relaxed. And yet like he could jump into action at a moment's notice. I tossed my head, glaring at him. He grinned at me insolently. He was incorrigible! He was a bad boy through and through.
But dear God, did he have to look like James Dean?
It really wasn't fair. He was far too tempting. He was making puppy dog eyes at me so I sighed and held out a smoke.
"I don't smoke."