Alluring Seduction (Bayou Stix) (19 page)

“What? Jesus, Cruz. We’re seeing each other. Having fun… I’m not messing with anyone else. But, I’m not in love with her!”

Jude steps back and clears his throat. “Ok, then. Are we ready to get started?”

Dade cuts him off as his cell rings. He walks out of the room to take it and Jude gets a concerned look on his face. We start talking about what songs we’d like to possibly do while he’s gone, putting them into a pile to make the final decision once we’re all here and ready to work.

Half an hour later, we’re arguing over a song that has a long guitar solo, when Dade walks back in and punches the wall.

We stop and look at him. “What’s up, dude?” I ask.

“My sister. Clove is coming here. She’s going to be here tonight and she’s going to be staying with me for a while. Some things are going on and since she’s done with culinary school, she’s coming home.” He looks ready to kill someone.

Liam speaks up. “She’s going to be staying
here
? Like with us?”

Dade looks at him sharply. “Yes, Liam. She’s going to be staying here. In
my
house. That you live in. Is that a problem?”

Liam grits his teeth, but mutters, “Nope.” Then under his breath says, “First Jessie kicks me out, now your sister is moving in. I need my own place!”

“Aw, is Clove going to ruin your game, Pretty Boy?” I antagonize him. His hands flex. Then I look to Dade, “Everything ok with her, man?”

“No chick messes with my game, dude!” Liam grits out before throwing himself against the couch.

Dade rolls his neck and pops his knuckles, before sighing and sitting down. “She’s fine. Just dealing with some things and the best place for her right now is home. But she’s ok. Thanks, Jessie.”

This reminds me, I need to tell the guys about Blue.

Clearing my throat I start. “While we’re talking… uh, something happened in L.A.”

They all look at me. Jude says, “What do you mean? What happened?”

My hands find my hair. “Well… Blue got fired.” I just blurt it out.

Jude jumps up. “What the fuck do you mean ‘Blue got fired?’ Why?”

I move to the bar. Away from Jude… and Liam. “Because of me. She got fired because she’s involved with me.”

Jude’s face turns purple and I can see the veins in his forehead. Liam punches the table. At the same time they explode.

“What? Because she’s involved with you?” Jude starts pacing. “So what? Why did they fire her because of that?”

“Fuck! This is that fucking weasel Brock’s doing. I’m going to beat his ass!” Liam punches the table again.

My head whips around. “You know about Brock? You never told me there was a Brock!”

He pins me with a fury filled gaze. “Of course I know about Brock. Blue and I are
friends
, Jessie. We talk. And why the fuck would I tell you about Brock?! Until a week ago, you couldn’t stand the sight of her! Or you sure-as-shit convinced yourself you couldn’t!”

Jude stops him with a raised hand. “Wait? So who fired her, Jessie? Brock or Anthony? What is she going to do?”

“Am I the only person who didn’t know about Brock?!” I sigh and walk back to the sofa. Dropping onto it, I rest my head in my hands. “Anthony. There was a picture from the elevator in Vegas. And then more from L.A. He showed up at her house with photographs, after Brock left when Blue refused to take him back. She lost her job because we’re fucking.”

Liam says through clenched teeth, “Is that what you’re doing, Jessie? Fucking her?”

I pierce him with a glare. And stand up, pointing at him. “No, asshole. Yes, we’re fucking, but it’s not just that. I could fuck anyone I wanted to. I don’t let people I’m
fucking
stay in my house. I don’t follow people I
fuck
across state lines!” I crack my knuckles and get ready in case he swings at me again.

Cruz stops my tirade with a hand on my arm. My head whips around and I raise my fist, before registering he’s not attacking me. “Calm down, Jessie. I don’t think he was accusing you.” I lower my hands and wiggle my fingers to loosen some of the tension. “In fact, I think he was making a point.” He looks to Liam and then to me. I see Liam nod his head.

Jude says, “Ok, well, I don’t think there’s anything we can do about that. Blue is a big girl and she’ll land on her feet. She could get a job anywhere. But Jessie, you’re not the reason she lost her job. I promise you that. And I’m glad that you realize she’s more to you than someone you fuck.” He winks. “Now the next person to raise their fist towards another member of the band is paying for the Bachelor/Bachelorette getaway. The whole thing. So, calm your asses down.”

Looking around at the band, I sigh. They’re right. She’s more to me than a fuck buddy, but how much more… I have no idea.

Blue

We’re at the dress shop and I’ve just seen Lexi’s dress. It’s gorgeous. Strapless white and silver with a heart shaped neckline that fits and flares at her hips. It’s covered with thousands of beads that catch the light every time she moves. She’s breathtaking. It also fits her like a dream. She’s forgone a veil and is going to simply wear her hair up with a matching beaded headband.

Bradi shows me the style of dress she’s picked out too. It’s a ruched strapless dress that is very fitted, but knee length and a deep persimmon. I decide I want the same dress. As luck would have it, they have the dress in stock, in my size. Trying it on, we find that it’s a perfect fit!

We look in the wall of mirrors as we’re all in our wedding finery and I have to admit, we are quite a picture. Lexi’s red hair against the white of her dress, Bradi’s curves and blond and black hair against the bright orange and my short funky dark hair and hourglass figure with the same dress… we are beautiful.

Lexi tears up and Bradi and I try desperately to hold in our tears. Lexi hugs us both before we take the dresses off and get back into our regular clothes. We link arms and head out to meet Erik, Lexi’s business partner, former housemate, and best friend, at Java and Sweeties for lunch.

Erik has finger sandwiches, gumbo, which is a spicy stew of sorts with sausage and chicken, and tiny cakes on the table when we get there. He picks Lexi up and swings her around before hugging Bradi and then me. He leans back and takes me in. “Hello, Blue. You look very well.” He winks. “I guess a certain bad boy rocker is being good!”

I laugh and slap his arm. “Yeah, something like that.”

Bradi exclaims, “They can’t keep their hands off of each other!” Then leaning in close to me she says, “Tell us, Blue… just how
good
is Jessie?”

I feel my face burn and look to Lexi for help, but she’s all ears too. “Good Lord. Seriously? Don’t you all have your own sex lives to contend with?”

Erik laughs, “Oh, I certainly do.” He smiles over my shoulder. “In fact, there’s my love now.”

Lexi laughs, “These two will never leave you alone. You should just answer them.”

Bradi says, “Damn straight. My man knows how to play my body like an accordion, but he’s not a rock star. So, I want to know! And it’s Jessie! He’s so hot. I just know he’s hung. Talk to me, baby.” She winks and licks her lips. “I don’t want him, but I am
dying
to know about what he’s working with!”

My face is on fire, but I can’t stop the laughter. “Oh my God, Bradi. You ‘just know he’s hung’… How would you know that?”

She looks at me like I’m an alien. “Because I’m not blind, chick. He sure fills out a pair of jeans.” She points at Erik. “He said so too! Tell us girl. Inquiring minds want to know!”

I look at Erik, who’s looking sheepishly at his boyfriend Alec. Alec has his brow raised. Erik shrugs. “Sorry. But he
does
fill out a pair of jeans.” Alec laughs and says, “I can admit it, he does.”

I choke on my tea. “
Oh my God.
You aren’t going to stop, are you? Are you all ogling his crotch?!”

Bradi smirks at me and sits back with her arms crossed. “Nope. We’re all friends here. And it’s so obvious! Spill!”

Lexi laughs and takes a sip of her drink. “I’m just glad she’s done interrogating
me
.” But, she’s looking at me with mirth in her eyes.

“Fine. He’s big, ok!” I sputter out in embarrassment. My hands cover my face and I peek through my fingers at them.

“Duh, bitch! How big? I need a reference. Like banana big? Or like salami big?” Bradi uses her hands to demonstrate the size and is smirking with glee.

“Jeez, Bradi!” My face is probably purple by now with embarrassment. I am
not
telling them how big Jessie is.

“Damn…” Bradi starts laughing and humming. “Mmmm. I knew that delicious man was hung.”

Erik, Lexi, and Alec all laugh at the expression on my face while both Erik and Alec say, “Salami!”

Choking on my drink, I get out, “You are some dirty people!”

Bradi winks. “Yup, but you’re the one getting the salami from Jessie, so, I bet you’re a dirty whore too.” She picks up her drink and toasts us. “To dirty whores who rock in the bedroom. Cheers!” Then she turns to Erik, “Sooo, Erik…”

We all laugh and clink glasses. The rest of the afternoon is spent talking wedding before we decide to head back to Dade’s. Lexi needs to get Jude and I can ride home with Jessie.

It was a good afternoon. So this is what having girlfriends is like. It’s nice.

Jessie

B
lue just texted me to say the girls were on their way here. We’ve been busy and I think we’ve settled on the tracks for the new album. Now we’re just kicked back relaxing before Dade leaves to go get Clove from the airport.

The doorbell chimes and Jude jumps up and races to the front of the house. I shake my head at him, but my ears are perked up too.

Liam says, “He’s so fucking whipped.”

I chuckle. “Say that to his face. I dare you. But yeah, he is.”

Dade snorts, “Why are you talking, Jessie? Didn’t you just sit up straight and look at the door, too? You’re just as excited to see your woman as he is to see his.”

I glare at him. “Shut the fuck up. I’m not whipped.”

As the girls and Jude walk in, I smile. I hear Dade mutter, “Keep telling yourself that!”

Blue walks over to me and stops. She smiles down at me. “Hi.”

Pulling her into my lap, I kiss her. Once I break the kiss and she’s looking at me with glazed over eyes, I say, “Hi.”

Liam mutters, “Whipped!”

Dade and Cruz both laugh. I flip them all off.

Lexi unwraps her arms from around Jude’s neck and looks at the room, “Ok, well y’all know that Thanksgiving is in a few days. Last minute, I know, but you just got home, so, Thanksgiving at our place. Everyone is coming, got it?!”

I look at Blue and she says to Lexi, “Ok. Are you cooking? I can help. I actually do know how to cook.”

Bradi says, “Yup, we’ll be there. Micah and I already planned to help cook.”

Everyone else murmurs their agreement.

It’s settled. Thanksgiving at Jude and Lexi’s in four days. I hope she already bought a big turkey!

I spend the next two days with Blue, showing her around Baton Rouge. We walk through LSU. I take her to the Zoo. I take her to the observation deck at the top of the State Capitol. She squeals in excitement at the height and the dazzling views of the city and the Mississippi River from up there. We also picnic on the grounds and she’s mesmerized by the trees and flowers. I’m proud to be able to share my home with her and her joy in seeing everything gives me a strange feeling.

The day before Thanksgiving, I borrow Jude’s bike and we head to the Old State Capitol. She falls in love with it. “It looks like a castle. It’s so beautiful.” She graces me with a smile that makes my heart drop into my stomach. “Seriously, Jessie, Louisiana is so beautiful. This looks like something a king would live in. You’re immersed in culture and I love that you display your pride on your body.” She leans in to kiss me as she runs her hands up my arms. It’s Louisiana, so even in November, most of the time we can get away with wearing light sleeves. Today is a little warm, so my sleeves are pushed up and my tattoos are peeking out. The hair on my arm rises with electricity everywhere she touches. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”