Two Can Play (6 page)

“The will? It didn't make you a rich man, then?”

“
Mind if I join you?”

“
Not at all, please do.”

He quickly edges through the small gap between the tables and sits opposite me crossing his arms. The dark glossy hair hangs silkily around his face and sweeps across one eye. He looks kind of rock-star-ish...but much cleaner cut, the “no drink and drugs” version, and so damn fit in another sexed-up black-rap T and those hot ripped jeans. I can't help but notice he's plastered in sex appeal at least an inch thick.

“The will...yeah well...let's just say I didn't get what I expected. My mother and my sisters got the house and his other stuff between them.”

“
Oh, no. Well that plain old sucks, Aaron. Are you going to contest it, then?”

“
Nope. I'm content with what I've got. There's more to life than chasing money, isn't there?” he adds, rubbing his chin distractedly as he stares at my bare legs. I can't help but laugh as his eyes run up and down them openly.

But despite the leg lusting, I'm quite impressed by his who-gives-a-fuck-about-money attitude. Very cool.

“Yeah, money, eh? Who needs it? It'll only bring you grief.” I agree with a secret smile to myself.

I'm staring back at him, as a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, and then his teeth appear fully. Little white gems that I want to lick. And I've just noticed he's got a cute little dimple in his cheek. I'm salivating heavily, and my stomach is suddenly sucking itself in.

God am I in lust today, it's almost painful...I think I might be recovering a bit too fast.

I take a deep breath.

“Would you like a drink?” I ask, gesturing at my half empty glass, and hoping he'll say he will.

“
I'd really love to, but I'm busy this afternoon. I'm looking for a new place to stay. I've been given the boot. Made homeless by my own mother, would you believe?” he says as his eyes wander back to my legs again.

“
Really?”

“
Yeah...I'm still in shock. She locked me out of the house yesterday. I'm staying at the Palazzo at the moment.”

I won't ask him why he's staying at the most luxurious and expensive hotel in Venice if he's been disinherited and is now penniless...maybe he has a well-paid job and can afford it.

“You don't get on with her, I take it?”

“
Not since the day I was born.”

“
That's a real shame.”

“
Yeah, tell me about it.”

“
Look, I've got a spare room, and you're welcome to use that until you find the right place.”

I really don't know what came over me at that precise moment. Did those words come out of my mouth? It's obviously the wine speaking, not me.

“Hey no, I don't want to put you out. It's real sweet of you, Kate, but I'm fine at the Palazzo. Don't worry about it,” he says genuinely.

I could have backed out of my offer at this point, but do I? Of course not...the alcohol's got a hold of my tongue.

“Aaron, no, that hotel's ridiculously expensive. I stayed there myself once. Look, I don't mind at all. And I'm sure it'll be fun, us two, hanging out together. I insist.”

A deep and long look settles between us. A serious expression falls on his face.

I can see he's considering and I'm leaning toward a yes being the outcome.

“
I only need a week, max, then I'll be out of your hair, I promise,” he agrees.

“
Sure, that's fine by me.” I'm really pleased by this turn of events. More than I should be.

“
When shall I come over?”

“
Well, I've got a date later.”

“
Yes, so you said.”

“
I'm seeing a friend this evening when he gets off work at six. In fact, that's him over there,” I say, gesturing at Marco who is presently giving us both dark and highly questioning looks. “I won't be out that long though. Come over at, let's say, eight. Apartment B, number 10, Calle Chiesa. You obviously know where it is...and here's my number.” I open my purse and give him my card.

“
Katrina Eloise Denton,” he says my name, out loud, and it sounds like a declaration of love. “Cute name,
Kate,
” he adds, tucking my card in his jeans back pocket.

“
So is yours. Very cute,” I reply flirtatiously. My eyelashes batting away nicely as his smile flashes widely at me.

“
I'll be off then. I need to get some viewing appointments set up and buy myself some new gear. I'm short on clothing at the moment.”

“
Okay, well I'll see you later. Maybe we could have a late dinner or something?”

“
Yeah, we'll do that. Looking forward to it, Kate.”

He stands and eases around the table to my side. Then he leans down and kisses my cheek for a little too long. And I like it a little too much.

“See ya, and thanks once again.”

“
No problem at all. ’Bye, Aaron.”

And then he leaves.

Oh God no...I'm so attracted to him...this could all so easily become really complicated.

My eyes flick back briefly to Marco, who is all smiles again, now that I'm alone.

I watch my tall, dark, mysterious new
friend
disappearing from view across the plaza.

I suddenly wonder what he was doing here. How he bumped into me just like that?

He could be watching me, stalking me even...I realize I don't know a thing about him.

And I've invited him to live in my apartment?
Shit...!

Am I mad? This is not a wise thing to do after....

A shiver runs up and down my spine.

I feel another blast of my hurricane gathering on the horizon.

HIM

It didn't take me long to find her. I tried her apartment and she wasn't in, so I left for the plaza. I guessed, as it was lunchtime, she might be hanging around there, if anywhere.

And there she is. I spotted her straight away.

Her dark blonde hair hung loosely around her shoulders.

The sunlight is making her glow all over, illuminating her pale skin and hair like she's an angel.

She looks miles away as I approach and circle around her back.

Her perfume hit my senses in a blast. Whatever she's wearing, I want a bucketful of it to savor. It smells goddamn expensive.

I sit down and we begin to talk. About my father's will of all things. I fob her off with a quick half-truth.

She laughs at something I say and I'm captivated by her smile. She's too perfect to be real. Naturally beautiful. A mixture of cool as ice, sweet as sugar, and so flaming hot I'm about to melt in her presence.

The tight, low-cut black top and non-existent shorts she's wearing are adding fuel to the fire.

The top half of her is pretty amazing, but fuck, those legs of hers are something else...I'm imagining their pale silky smoothness rubbing against mine. The way they'd curl tightly around my back, pulling me in.

I'm almost in a trance at the sight of them, crossed to the side of the table. One leg's swinging slowly and sexily...it's kinda hypnotizing. Her flip-flop's dangling off her cute toes...

Those hot pink toenails...mmm, so suckable, like sweet little candy drops.

I rub my chin as I stare at the long length of ass-squeezing perfection, trying hard to think straight as we converse.

What the hell's going on with me?

I'm becoming besotted and more than a little obsessed with Kate. Which is fucking ridiculous, as I have only spent, in total, about thirty minutes in her company.

But things are developing fast, it seems. I'm officially her houseguest from eight this evening, which potentially equates to lots more Kate-time for me. I accepted with the right amount of cool deliberation and minor objection. At least I think I did. My mind was stuck in between her perfect legs. It was kinda hard to think at all.

In any case, it all seemed to work out just fine.

Traces of her wickedly hot perfume are still lingering in my nose, and I am smiling like an idiot as I leave the square.

I get a cab back to the hotel and lie on my bed.

I've been reconsidering on the way back. I've got to be honest and admit I have no reason to visit Venice anymore. Apart from seeing my sister, Paula, who I get on with to a degree. I'm going to ask Karen to find me a short-term place, until my father’s business is legally mine, and the papers are all signed, and then I'm gonna bail.

Adios Venezia. New York here I come. Permanently.

In the meantime, I'll see what happens with Kate. For the short time I have left here she suits me just fine. More than fine.

I pick up my cell phone and stand at the window while I chat with my PA, Karen, telling her what I want. A furnished four-star vacation apartment somewhere near the Grand Canal.

She's about to have a quick meeting so we have a very short conversation.

“Have you heard from Selena? Found out her plans?” I'm concerned our top star might go elsewhere. Her contract's about to expire, and fuck, is she in demand. Need to get that in the bag and quick.

“
Yeah, she called just after you left. She's good, Aaron; really loves what we've done for her. Her image, style, the promotional stuff. She thinks we're so polished and she's talking about signing for another two years, at least,” Karen replies happily.

I breathe a sigh of relief. It's not like we don't have other hot singers, but she's stellar material. We're basking in her success. The money's rolling in like nothing on this earth, and she's kinda neat and different. As well as being goddamn beautiful. Shame she's seeing that movie star boyfriend or I'd be hot on her tail, client or not.

“Send her flowers, champagne, the whole whatever you like...and tell her we love the pants off her. Keep her real happy and get that contract finalized for when I get back, okay?”

“
I know, I know...done all that already, honey,” she says quickly. Karen knows the score. She's shit hot on the ball, efficient with a capital E.

I ask how our recent sixteen-year-old signing shaped up in the studio yesterday.

Shannon. The new, even hotter Britney Spears. Well, in my opinion, anyway. We've never had such a potential, steaming, teenage success in our hands before, and I'm kinda pumped. 

My eyes nearly exploded when I first laid eyes on her. At a talent show I was invited to and almost couldn't be bothered to attend.

Thank God I did.

There she was. All steam and teenage boy wet dream. I scooped her up and carried her and her mom off in my pocket on the spot. I signed her the next day.

I'd never have believed she was just sixteen if I hadn't been told. No way.

I guessed twenty-two or three initially. I still have trouble believing she's so young. I remind myself constantly that she's still a minor, meaning we can't go hot with her image. Not for a good few years yet.

That's all going to plan according to Karen. Britney mark II is ready to fly as soon as we get her in serious recording mode. I think she's going to hit the headlines pretty fast after that. She's got one of those amazing voices that really does things to me; a massive range that both kicks me hard in the gut and makes all the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The whole little “her” is gonna knock the world out.