Page 10 of Bourbon Deceit
“Now, run the fuck along or I’ll tell Jett that I caught you sneaking into my room and watching me shower with your mouth wide open and drool hanging out of it.”
“You’re an asshole! I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Well fucking don’t. I don’t need you, Lo. I was fine before you came here, so just leave me the fuck alone.”
I wanted to make a snarky comment back to him about maybe thinking about finding a woman to take care of his mood, but I was done with him. There was only so much a girl could take and I was at my limit. Kace could suck it.
Not giving him a chance to say anything else, I turned on my heel and walked out of his room. I was going to leave his door open just to be an ass but thought better of it; I didn’t want to make my workout even harder than it was probably already going to be tomorrow, so I turned around and grabbed the doorknob to shut it and that’s when I saw it. That was when I saw Kace, sitting on the floor, with his head in his hands, crying.
He was . . . crying. Oh God.
Wavering between what to do and what not to do, I went against all my instincts and shut the door. Clearly the man was going through some heavy shit and I was the last person in the world he wanted near him. It hurt to know that after all of the advice and comfort he had lent me in the past, he wouldn’t allow himself to rely on me in return.
I walked back up to my room, feeling sorry for the man and upset that he wouldn’t confide in me. I wanted to be his friend and I knew we had the potential to get there, but he just wouldn’t break down that wall to let it happen, and I didn’t know if it was because of the feelings he harbored for me, or because he was just that closed off. Whatever it was, it hurt like hell.
When I walked into my room, there was a fresh bouquet of flowers waiting for me on my nightstand. There had to be a little leprechaun in the house that kept replacing them because the moment they started to wilt, they were instantly replaced.
I sauntered over to my nightstand and saw a card sitting in the arrangement. I sighed as I pulled it out and smiled to myself. Kace might be irritating and hard to understand, but at least I had Jett, the all-encompassing Jett Colby.
I pulled out the letter and read.
Lo,
Thank you for last night. After three long days of business meetings, I was pleased to see you, here, in my home, with open arms. I look forward to many more greetings like that.
Jett
The man had his grip wrapped around my lady balls. A simple note could take me out to dream land. I was a goner.
Chapter Four
“Better Days”
JETT
“In the next two weeks your schedule is really going to pick up, sir,” Jeremy, my assistant, said as he started touching his iPad, flipping through whatever the hell he had on there. “You have some meetings and late-night events that require your presence.”
Staring at my computer while answering emails, I asked, “What kind of events?”
“The socials you asked me to book so you can hobnob with some of the city planners and officials who have a say in Lot 17.”
Hobnob . . . only Jeremy would say that.
“How many?” I asked, instantly annoyed at the mention of Lot 17.
The property was still up for grabs, but my dad was one step further than me in claiming the whole damn thing so he could build his hotel—a hotel that would be very out-of-place, an eyesore even, in the classic, historic city of New Orleans. Plus, the lot belonged to the kids. It should be a park, no question about it, but my dad was such an evil fuck that all he could think about was himself. It’s a wonder I was able to grow up with such a man.
Jeremy clucked his tongue as he counted on his iPad. “You have about five different events in the next couple of weeks that you have already accepted invitations for.”
I peeked over my computer and looked at Jeremy. “Five?”
“Yes and they all have a plus one with them.”
Sitting back in my chair, I ran my hand through my hair as I thought about the events that I so desperately did not want to attend. I hated socializing, even though I knew it came with the territory. Everyone was so fake, always wanting something. I would rather stay home . . . with Goldie.
“Do I have to bring someone?” I asked as I went through a mental rolodex of the women I could invite.
“It would be best if you did. Many of the men you will be talking to have wives and the wives need to be charmed as well.” Jeremy nervously looked up at me and said, “You know, Lo might be a very good partner to bring with you—”
