He stepped toward me, and I stepped away. My back hit the side of the van.
“You have a real presence,” he said softly. “More than looks, presence is what’s important.”
“Mr. Trudeau, I—”
“I can make things happen for you. A girl like you . . .” Another step, and I could see where his lips were ever so slightly chapped. “. . . you have something.”
“I don’t need anything.” I put my hands on his chest, pony between them. “I’m fine.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but a titter of giggles and shushes came from the other side of the gate. Josh didn’t move. Jesus Christ, what did he think he was going to do? Force himself on me? I was perfectly willing to bite a chunk out of anything that got close enough to my mouth, I didn’t care how gorgeous it was. I looked right into his eyes, leveled my intention on him.
“Back. Up.”
He smirked.
Behind him, the code beeped. The smirk faded, but he didn’t move until the gate scraped open with a cheer from a couple of female voices and a “hey-ho!” from a male voice I recognized, but couldn’t see because this asshole was in my way.
I gave Josh another shove. He took a step back, and there was Brad, an arm around each girl he’d been with at the bar.
“Uncle Josh?” said the one with the bun.
“Jennifer,” Josh said, rubbing his lips as if I’d gotten my lip gloss on him. What an unbelievable fucker.
“Dude,” Brad said, glancing to me. He was clear-eyed and sober. He pointed to Josh. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Hey, bro.” Josh flashed his most winning smile and held his hand out to Brad. “You know how it is.” He jerked his head to me. I could only stand with Nicole’s pony in my hand, mouth open in shock. He was accusing me of something I’d taken great pains to avoid. Motherfucker. And no way I’d be believed. Not with friendship and careers in the mix.
It looked like Brad was going to shake his friend’s hand, and the asshole relaxed for a split second. Which is all it took for Brad to punch him in the mouth.
The cracking sound was immediately followed by an oomph and a thup as Josh’s head hit the side of the van. Brad stood over him, getting his body between Josh and me.
“Oh. My. God,” one of the girls said.
“Do not try and bring that shit in my house,” Brad said, pointing at Josh as if he was ready to drive a hole into him.
“Are you serious?” Josh seemed totally incredulous. “This is my house.”
“Totally fucking serious. She takes care of my daughter. She is off fucking limits.”
Josh got his feet under him. “You have no idea what being a father means, you twat. You’ve been at it a week.”
Brad turned to me. “Come on.” He took my arm and led me through the gate. He smelled like expensive vodka, but he seemed as sober as I’d ever seen him.
“You have to know I didn’t initiate that.”
“We have to get Nicole together.” He didn’t even look at me, just talked through his teeth. “I don’t want you walking around here alone right now.”
“I was just going to get her pony and he insisted on coming. I’m not trying to seduce Josh Trudeau.”
“I’ll call for the car.”
“Did you hear me? It’s important.”
He stopped at the back door to the house, holding his hands up.
“I heard you. I believe you. He’s known for this shit. Women who take care of kids turn him on. It’s his thing.”
“And Blakely got all the blame.”
“Well, knock me over with a tea bag.” He was dripping sarcasm and rage. I didn’t think it was even possible for this laid-back dude’s dude to get this intentional about anything.
I took a deep breath.
“Nicole was on the lawn last I saw.”
“Let’s go.” He walked around the house, through the brick garden path so fast I had to quicken my steps to keep up. “I gotta get out of here before I hit him again.”
“He didn’t actually touch me.”
Brad didn’t answer, but stalked onto the grass where Nicole sat alone with cards splayed in front of her. The French braid was crooked, half out of the knot, creating a halo of loose hairs.
“Thank you, but don’t ruin your friendship over me.” I was minimizing it, and of course I shouldn’t, but the stakes were pretty high for him. He had to keep company with these people. “It doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
He spun on me as if I’d said he was stupid and his mother wore army boots. I’d seen that face before, in movies. It was even more gorgeous when he was acting angry or pained. But those were movies. This was real life. Yes, his face was still beautiful, but with the addition of something fearsome it became unearthly.
He pressed his lips between his teeth, as if biting back his words I knew for sure I didn’t want to hear.
CHAPTER 15
BRAD
You know. I’m not that guy. I’m not the guy who gets all weird and intense about anyone or anything. Maybe about work. I’m intense when I’m on set. But when it comes to people I’m not related to, easy come, easy go. Win some, lose some. All cool.
I shouldn’t have hit Josh. Probably, that was the most intense response outside killing him, which occurred to me. Once I did it, I had to split. Get Cara and Nicole out of there, back home, away from that whole weird scene. But I just kept on burning. Like the coals deep in the campfire. The ones ten guys can piss on and they still stay hot.
Too hot for words, until she made a little comment about what Josh didn’t do and how I didn’t have to be mad. Man, the white hot got turned up to white hotter, and I had words. Two words. I shouldn’t ever say these words and thank the good Lord above I bit them back.
You’re mine.
Now, like I said I’m not that guy. But when she said he didn’t touch her and I should let it go like some hippy-dippy-one-love-bullshit, I nearly lost it. I nearly went back, found Josh, and cracked his head against the corner of a cabinet for good measure.
She was mine and Nicole was mine and he’d stepped on that. He’d stepped into my house and tried to take something that belonged to me.
I was being unreasonable. Not only was she temporary help, she was the help. She had her own life and I was taking it too far. I was making it personal. It wasn’t personal.
Right?
“Hey, Brad!” a woman’s voice called from behind me. A young woman. I turned.
Jenn and Jennifer, running across the lawn toward me. Jenn in front. Jennifer grabbed her shirt and yanked her backward. She fell.
“Crap,” I said.
“I’ll get Nicole,” Cara said as Jenn swung her arm out and tripped Jennifer, who took two giant steps and righted herself. Cara couldn’t leave me alone with these two. I didn’t know why, but I needed her.
“Stay.”
Jenn bounced up and the two of them headed right for us. They were five steps away when I realized why I needed Cara there.