9781618857958KissMeLikeYouMeanItLeveyNC (9 page)

Carlie
grinned. He hated the word fine. She made a mental note to use that word
whenever it suited her.

“Don’t
think every time you get into a snit I’ll give you your way.”

His
words doused her hopes of getting him to see everything her way. “Did I say
anything?”

“You
women don’t need to.”

The
sales woman turned and began loading her arms up with items to try on from each
section of clothing she requested. Even better, the woman was spot-on with
nailing the correct size. “Young love is cute, you can argue while you dress.”

“But
we’re not—”

“Thank
you, ma’am, for all your help. I’ll take my girlfriend over to the fitting
room.”

Jackson
flashed his award winning smile and the stiff woman melted. “Unbelievable,”
Carlie grumbled as he led her away.

“C’mon,
princess, let’s go play dress up.”

“That
sounds strangely erotic coming from your lips.” She pushed the mountain of
clothes in his hands, and then took a few choices back before entering the
dressing room with a red face. Images of him doing naughty things to her in the
dressing room elicited a moan from her lips.

“Problems?”

The
smug bastard. “The fabric is decadent.”

“Sure,
princess, whatever you need to tell yourself.”

“Quit
flirting with me and be the assistant I need.” She tugged up the zipper on the
jeans, taking in the way they fit her to perfection. She slipped on the
backless halter top and was in love.

“Ready?”
She stepped out and modeled for him, sticking out her hip with a wink.

“Cute.
Are you going to put me through seeing every single outfit?”

“You
did offer to take me shopping, this is what couples do when they’re out. Except
you’re not getting anything.”

“I
don’t need anything”

“Aw,
Jacksy
, you didn’t know what you were getting
yourself in for. That’s almost cute.”

“
Jacksy
?” he sputtered. “I feel emasculated. Please don’t
say that again.”

“But
Jacksy
is so adorable. Fits you.” Carlie grinned and
dashed back into the fitting room before he could grab her. She wasn’t prepared
for him as he laid siege to the small room and cornered her in the small
confines. With hands bracketing her sides, his wolfish grin stole her breath.

“I’m
nothing close to adorable. Dangerous, bad for you even, but not adorable. Take it
back.”

Carlie
stood on her tiptoes. “No.” The second she uttered the words, his lips crashed
over hers, harsh, demanding entry. She placed her palms on his chest, returning
the lip lock with fervor. He tasted of all things, dark, alluring and so bad. Lord,
the man could kiss. He was all male. She forgot herself for a moment, lost
herself in his arms and wondered what being his would feel like, besides the
impending heartbreak since he wasn’t a forever
kinda
guy. With a sigh, she broke the kiss, ending the close connection and dipped
out from under his arms.

“See
what else happens next time you call me by that horrible nickname.” He quirked
a brow and sauntered from the tiny space.

Swagger,
the man had some swagger that put the rest of the band to shame. Carlie fanned
her face and stripped out of the current outfit, satisfied that she liked it.
Next in line was a pink
babydoll
nightie. “
Oh
yeah.” She slipped the satiny article
on and stepped out of the dressing room to the bank of mirrors to check out her
image.

“Get
back in that dressing room now.” Jackson hurried to her side and yanked her back
into the dressing area away from public view.

“It’s
just a nightgown. Relax. I wanted to see what I looked like in the bigger bank
of mirrors.”

“Jailbait.
Sexy jailbait. Even though you’re not. Now take it off and put some clothes
over those.” He pointed to her breasts. “And cover your legs up too. Matter of
fact, I think we’re done in this store.”

Carlie
laughed. “You’re worked up over a nightie? Never thought I’d live to see the
day Jackson lost his cool over women’s unmentionables. We can’t be done. I have
other things to put on.”

“Okay.
Try on the rest of your things but stay in the dressing room. God, woman. I’m
going to run an errand and when I’m back hopefully you’ll be ready to leave.”

“I
still need shoes.”

“Then
get them while I’m gone, you have twenty minutes.”

She
opened her mouth to speak but found that he’d left in a hurry. “Men.” Carlie
slipped off the nightgown and rummaged to find her phone, thinking she’d heard
a missed call. After finding her purse under the pile of what to keeps, she hit
redial.

“Hey,
Jordan. Checking in?”

“Jordan’s
ass is grass.” Her twin’s voice hissed in her ear. Carlie sat down on the
bench.

“Um,
hey, Carrie.”

“Where
on Earth have you been?” her sister screeched.

“Away.
After what happened and Dad’s freaked out voicemails, I wanted a few days to
gather myself together before coming home. How did you figure out Jordan knew
where I was?”

“I
didn’t. He left his phone on the dining room table with his call history up.
The rest was a cakewalk. Where is that traitor Jackson hiding his
slimeball
ass at? I should tell Garrick he’s been hiding
the family fugitive.”

“Do
you love me, sister?”

“No,
of course not. I mean, I’m only over here having visions of you being kidnapped
or drugged or being sold into human trafficking since you haven’t called. I’m
your twin sister.”

Carlie
laughed. “I’m okay, just processing what I’m going to do. I don’t have answers
yet but when I do I’ll come home. I promise.”

“So
have you bagged the womanizer yet?”

“No.
I mean I basically took the man’s home hostage without permission, moved into
his bedroom and well, he went for a walk to cool down.”

“Oh
you dirty girl, what did you do?”

“Well,
he brought me shopping. I put on this
little
nightgown and walked out to the bank of mirrors to check it out, and his ass
lit out like it was on fire.”

“This
is perfect. You have the perfect chance to have your dirty fantasies of him
come to life.”

“So
you’re not mad?”

“Nah,
I mean I’m excited I’m not the only fuckup now. I say that with much love
because your perfect pampered ass never did anything really bad growing up. You
kinda
put in twenty years of bad behavior all in one
pop. Way to go. Dad has calmed down a lot. Garrick provided the buffer we
needed.”

“So
it’s safe to make my way home soon?”

“Yeah,
no. I didn’t say that. I think you should just lay down the law with Dad. I
mean you are an adult. Garrick and the guys have done some pretty nasty shit and
they barely got reamed.”

“We
are his daughters. I’m pretty sure there’s some heavy double standard going on
with what we’re not allowed to do mistake wise.”

“Yeah
well, it’s not like you have a sex tape out there. Plus it’s weird, but a few
days after the magazine came out and the web exclusive page went live,
everything disappeared. You have a guardian angel somewhere and it wasn’t our
dear ole brother.”

“Oh.
I didn’t really pay any attention to that. I was too concerned with what
happened at school.

“I
bet.” Her sister sighed. “I’m so glad you’re alive and not on some ship heading
to god knows where as some rulers new sex slave.”

“You
watch too many documentaries on television. I’m sorry I didn’t call you. We
haven’t exactly been close since I joined the stupid sorority. I feel like shit
for dipping out on you and giving them all of my attention. I know I apologized
when I came home last. But I’m really sorry. How is the publishing business
going?”

“Good.
I guess my children books are going to be a hit. Here I thought I was
exorcising my demons with stories, not relating to how twins or multiple births
around the world feel.”

“So
Shea is all forgiven?”

“
Umhm
. Let me tell you the man sure knows how to grovel. I
mean I was so over it, but he didn’t need to know. Things told in confidence
should remain in confidence.”

“So
you won’t give up my location?”

“Girl.
You know Garrick is no dummy. I was calling to warn you Garrick and Dad
activated your GPS tracking on your phone. Your location is no longer secret.”

“By
all that’s holy. I forgot about the GPS system. You don’t think they’ll come
here do you?”

“Dad
has too much work to do, but I can’t promise Garrick won’t. If he does we’ll
make it a group trip and I’ll let you know. Maybe we can do
Nev’s
reveal party in New York.”

“Carlie.”
Jackson entered the private dressing area.

“Sounds
good. I
gotta
go. Jackson’s back.”

“Condoms,
girl. Buy a big box of them. I’ve been on the road and the man is an animal. No
glove no love, not that he’s not clean but safe sex is the only way to go
unless you want a baby.”

“God.
Carrie, really? I know all about the B and B topic. What are we in fifth grade
again? Besides I’ve been on the pill forever.”

In
response, her sister started to hum
Reproduction
from
Grease 2
as she hung up.

“You’re
not ready?’ Jackson folded his arms under his chest and glared at her. “You are
messing up my time frame.”

“Sorry
Carrie called, they know I’m with you so be on the watch for a call from
Garrick.”

“Already
had one, where I had to promise my left nut I wouldn’t defile you. So please
don’t buy that pink nightie, it’ll be the death of me.”

“Maybe
I want you to defile me,
Jacksy
.”

“Princess.”

“Just
keeping you on your toes. What was so important that you have me on a schedule
now?”

“Reservations.
We have to get to dinner, bowling and karaoke unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“Hell
no. I live for a chance to make you humiliate yourself for fun.” Carlie winked.

“Good
then here is your dress and shoes. I’ll have all of this paid for while you’re
getting ready.”

For
the first time, she noticed he’d changed into a pair of slacks and dress shirt,
buttoned up proper, with the sleeves rolled up just enough to see the tattoos
on his forearms. “You clean up well.”

“Thanks.
Now get ready.” He gathered up all of her clothing in his arms and handed them
off to a sales person. “Please ring these up and have someone deliver them
outside to my car. Raul is waiting.”

“Yes,
sir.”

“Look
at you instructing people to do your bidding. So my sister said the magazine
disappeared from stores and the web-link is no longer active.”

“Yeah,
well, that’s good right?”

“What
did you do,
Jacksy
? My sister said she didn’t know
how all of that disappeared, meaning my family didn’t make the situation go
away, that only leaves you.” Thankfully every woman came prepared. She pulled
out wipes and deodorant to freshen up before dressing.

“Took
care of an uncomfortable situation.”

“When
did you have time to do that?” She let her hair down and ran a brush through it.
Then she fished in her purse for some wooden hair sticks before wrapping her
hair into a sleek twist and securing the mass.

“In
Afghanistan. When I had internet. I sent instructions to my family’s team of
lawyers. I had them go to the photographer with a contract, bought the SD
memory card and rights to those images. Everyone who has seen them will be the
only ones. I couldn’t contain it all but did what I could to stop it from
continuing to plague you.”

“That
was sweet. Thank you. I’m feeling almost speechless.”

“It’s
no big deal. Stop thanking me before you annoy me and I turn back into the
asshole you hate.”

Carlie
stepped out of the dressing room and tossed the wipes into the trashcan. She
draped her casual clothes over her arm and regarded him. Seemed like he didn’t
know how to take a compliment or praise for doing good deeds. “You are my hero,
Jackson
Laurant
.”

He
chuckled. “You’re cute. Let’s go. I’m dying for a thick juicy steak. Which is
my favorite food by the way.”

“Please
tell me there is a vegetarian menu?” Her stomach still hated her for the sheer
hell she put her digestive system through.

“Of
course, what restaurant wouldn’t cater to all consumers?”

Carlie
linked her arm through his and left the store with him. She watched in utter
fascination as he hailed a cab in literally seconds with a sheer whistle.