I Saw You (4 page)

“What’s going on, Chester? Cris?” Rick snapped, worried someone had messed with me. And in truth, she had.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Filthy lies. “Just a simple misunderstanding between me and my chick.”

Every head within hearing distance snapped toward me, and they gaped. Not that I blamed them.
My girl?
The fuck.

At my words, his brow rose almost to his hairline. “Are you sure?” Rick pushed, not quite sure how to react.

“Yeah,” I assured him, my eyes set on hers. “Everything’s cool. Isn’t that right,
Boss
lady?”

“It would be.” Mirth danced behind those green eyes. “If you’d quit trying to convince me that stealing private property is the way to a girl’s heart.”

“Okay?”
He posed it as a question. Not sure just how to answer, he did what Rick did best and pretended the exchange didn’t happen. He turned his attention back to the two women standing next to Tex. Scantily clad and clinging to his every word, they giggled and touched any part of him they could reach.

How did I ever find that sexy?

“Um, we’re ready to head back. You know, continue the party with these two and a few of their friends. You in?” At his question, I shook my head. Was he blind or stupid? How could he not see just how full my own hands were at the moment?

“Perfect,” boss lady interjected. “Now you can get out of my face and club.”

“Never mind.” Tex extracted himself from the blonde to his right and walked over. My woman’s sultry tone pulled him in; his eyes traversed her. With a sly smile stretched across his face, Tex ate up every inch of the angry-looking Latina standing next to Gabriel. “Who’s this, and where do I get one?”

“Watch it,” I snarled, lip curled over my teeth.

“Cool it, Tex, Cheetos is…” Cris chuckled, and I looked over at him with annoyance “…possessive of this one.”

No need to state the obvious.

“Lead singer complex. He gets them all,” Tex hissed out, only to smirk at me a second later. The man was giving me whiplash. Weirdo.

Just as I opened my mouth to tell them to fuck off, the sweetest giggles met my ears. Even that was sexy.

“Seriously?” Hands on knees, she bent at the waist and laughed, uncontrollable peals that left her breathless. “Cheetos...as in the mascot for the snack chips?”

I nodded and rubbed the back of my heated neck. “Long story, boss lady. And by the way, don’t call me that.” There was a bite to my tone, yet no true anger behind it. At least, I wasn’t angry with her.

How the sound of her amusement calmed me, I had no clue, but it had. Freaky, and not at all something I was ready to deal with.

“Why not,
Cheetos
?” Another giggle escaped, and she had to wipe the corner of her eye. A single tear had fallen. “I kind of like it. Has a certain ring to it.”

“Shut it.”

“Cheesy and fits your ego to a T.”

“Laugh it up, Slim.” She stopped mid laugh and glared.

“Who the hell you calling Slim?”

“Arianna, what’s going on here?” Gabriel hedged while looking between his boss and me. “You were about to deck an important client, niña?”

With an annoyed huff, she turned her attention toward her employee. “Bastard took my phone and gave me the whole ‘do you know who I am’ spiel.”

“I am famous. Not a lie,
Arianna.
” Didn’t miss the way she shivered just a bit at the way her name rolled off my tongue. But again, avoidance was her defense. Cute.

“See…” Arianna threw her hands up in the air “…what I have to deal with. Fucking celebrity jerk.”

My feet carried me over to where she stood, and I tried my best to look contrite. “I’m sorry,” I started, much to the amusement of my band. “Please understand that after being accosted all night, I figured you were just another fan. For that, I apologize.”

“Thank—”

“Even if you do fit the bill of a groupie.”

Slim angrily jabbed her finger into my chest. “How dare you!”

“How long has the foreplay been going on?” I heard Tex ask.

“For about thirty minutes now. It’s a battle of wills, insults, and lust. To be honest, watching them go at it is turning me on,” Cris mumbled the latter under his breath.

Gabriel, who had been watching the two of us like one would a Spanish soap, spoke up then. “Arianna isn’t like this. He had to have done something to piss her off.”

Cris took a sip from the drink in his hand before turning to Gabriel with a smile. “He confiscated her phone.”

“Ahhh…makes sense. In Ari-land, that is a big no-no.”

“Will you stop talking about us as if we aren’t here?” Slim pulled away from me, just a tiny bit of space, yet her eyes stayed trained on mine. “Gabriel?”

“Yes, Arianna.” Subdued, his tone was now one of an employee.

“I know for a fact you’re supposed to be running inventory tonight.” Brow arched, she waited for the confirmation that never came. “I’ll take that as a yes, then. So tell me, why are you out on the floor tonight? Tamara is supposed to be down here filling in.”

“Ms. Garcia, I had a meeting with the band and—”

“You finished. No?”

“Yes, but you—”

“Can handle myself,” she finished for him, hand on hip. Her posture was one of power. The boss. And it was motherfucking sexy. “Get back to what’s needed and leave the gossip on the floor. Don’t make me regret giving you the position you hold.”

He nodded, his face looking down toward the floor. “Yes, Ms. Garcia.”

“Good.” The hint of smile in her tone had him look up, his stance seeming more relaxed. “Go on, and please, leave the signed contract for use of venue on my desk tonight. Along with all special requests. Understood?”

“Already on your desk, Mistress.” He chuckled and from the look on her face, I was guessing this was an inside joke.

“Smart-ass.” Arianna rolled her eyes and waved him on. “Good job, and get back to work.”

“That was hot.” Tex was unabashed with the groan he released, and I’d never wanted to knock him out as much as I did then. The other two followed, and I had to take a deep breath in.

I had to remember how this was not their fault. A woman in charge was a beautiful thing to witness.

Gabriel left, and it was just the five of us. My band and us. Funny how I made her a part of me.

Her eyes surveyed each of the three men standing beside me. From head to toe she studied them, and my jealousy flared.

“It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen.” Sarcasm suited her. “And believe me; if I hadn’t wasted the last half hour fighting with Cheesy over here…” the bastards beside me laughed while I glowered in her direction “…we could have enjoyed a drink together.”

“We still can, beautiful,” Cris begged. There was an animalistic rumble that grew from deep within my chest, and the others took a step back. I pulled her closer to me, needed to—my hand laying claim on her waist.

Arianna gasped as my fingers curled around her midsection and dug in. She felt so fucking good, and by the contented sigh she released, she felt the connection too.

Bizarre.

Rare.

Confusing as all fuck was the only way to explain how this all felt. Part of me wanted to turn around and leave, yet the other was happy with this presented challenge. For so long I’d let being a celebrity define me. This could be different. My different.

“Leave.” Not a request.

“Fuck,” Slim whispered low and tried to escape my grasp. Digging my fingers in deeper, I pulled her closer. “Maybe you should…” she trailed off at the look I gave her; the skin of her stomach pebbled as I splayed my hand over the soft flesh.

“Chester, maybe we should leave.” Cris tried to come closer, but having her body pressed against mine made me feral. A low growl escaped my chest and for just the slightest of seconds, I felt like the beast my ancestors were. Modern caveman protecting what he saw as his.

“Or maybe not.” Tex chuckled, and out of the corner of my eye I saw him pull Cris back by the shirt.

They walked backwards then, giving me amused grins. We were alone; I had her, until another interruption came toward us
. Motherfuck.

“There you are. Fuck, Ari; I’ve been looking all over for you,” a tall woman with bright blue hair exclaimed while pushing her way through the crowd, her eyes growing wide at what she encountered. How we were embraced. Better yet, the possessive hold I had on her friend. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Yuli, I…shit.” Arianna’s eloquent reply made me chuckle. Tonight had shaped up to be quite different from what I had envisioned.

“Shit is right. I’ve been calling—texting you for the past thirty minutes. Thought something happened to you.”

“Nope, just detained as you can see.”

“By the way…” Yuli eyed me then. From head to toe her eyes traversed my six-foot-three frame with amused eyes. “Who’s tall, dark, and yummy holding you?” That time it wasn’t me who growled out a warning. “Never mind. No time for introductions. The guys just arrived and the celebrating must commence.”

“What guys?” My tone came out accusatory and harsh. What the ever-loving fuck was wrong with me?

Arianna went from compliant in my arms to stiff as a board, her arm pushing me away. “Listen here, cheese man. I don’t know you. Owe you nothing. Let. Me. Go.”

“No.”

Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “You are such a dick.”

“Nice comeback,” I quipped, but then made a mistake. In my laughter I loosened my hold, and she capitalized. With one good twist, Slim was out of my arms and snatching her phone from the opposite hand. Made what kept her beside me accessible and she took it back.

Eyes bright and grin cheeky, Ari turned to face me. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Greene, of international superstardom with the band Deep, but I have other business to attend to. Please enjoy the rest of your evening as I will be
enjoying
mine.”

“Be careful, sweetheart. Don’t push this beast,” I snarled, the thought of her being here—spending time with someone else—burning me. “You won’t like his bite.” Then, just to fuck with me, Arianna pressed her body firmly against my own. Wrapped her arms around my neck; I groaned. “Quit pushing.”

“Maybe I want you to bite,” she whispered, stood on her toes, and planted a chaste kiss on my lips. “Or maybe it is you who should be careful,
rock star.
I assure you my bite is more dangerous than yours.” The vixen was out of my arms and pushing herself through the crowd before I could react and pull her back.

Fuck me.

“You’re so screwed.” Tex laughed, and the others joined in. When had they returned? “Utterly fucked, my friend.”

Sadly, I was thinking the exact same thing.

“Son of a bitch,”
I groaned while my hand pumped my cock inside the all-glass shower stall. Still at the same hotel, I’d holed myself inside this room for the last twenty-four hours. Angry with myself for letting her get under my skin. Ashamed for becoming the one thing I’d evaded all my life:

A pussy.

I avoided everyone and they, in turn, left me alone, taking Ashley with them to explore while I stayed behind and tried to define just what the fuck I was feeling.

The next two days after my encounter with Arianna at her club, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. No matter what I did, she was there. Especially at night when I yearned for the feel of a woman pinned beneath me—with her tight walls surrounding me.

Fuck
. Another harsh tug, and my balls grew heavy. Rivulets of water ran down my skin, feeling like a warm caress. My fist tightened around my hardened length, encasing, forming a small passageway for me to take out my frustrations on.

This is what I had come to be: a sexually frustrated man.

Sliding my thumb over the engorged tip, I collected the bead of liquid and twisted my wrist on the downward stroke. My knees shook and my mind wandered. I remembered every single inch of her:

The smell.

The heat of her body against my own.

The fire in her emerald green eyes while we argued.

Arianna Garcia wouldn’t bow down to me; no, instead she fought. Pushed and tempted. Taunted me with what I would eventually own.

Her. Fuck, I wanted her.

That mouth on mine.

Those perfect breasts in the palm of my hand.

The walls of her pussy fluttering around my cock.

“I’m going to fucking break you. Pray for mercy.” Just that thought, that simple fucking vow, had my eyes squeezed shut and back bowing. “Beg. Because the moment I…
motherfuck
.” Every muscle tightened—strained—against the harsh movements of my hand while I abused myself. An action meant to calm the raging beast that had taken control over my mind.

Spurt after spurt left my body and slid down the glass panel, leaving me momentarily satiated, yet the hunger was still ever-present. Breathless and with her beautiful face still lingering in my thoughts, I pressed my forehead against the tiled wall. The cool contrast felt good against my overheated flesh.

Breathing in deep, I tried to center myself and finish what I came in to do. I couldn’t continue to hide inside these four walls. No matter what, I was a professional and would do my job, even if the thought of finding her played at the edges of my subconscious mind.

“Work first, play later,” I repeated for what seemed like the tenth time that morning. Stepping out of the shower after rinsing off, I grabbed a soft, white towel and wrapped it around my waist. With another, I dried off my hair and then face, the overgrowth there reminding me that I needed to clean up a bit. Walking over to the sink, I looked into the mirror and let out a few curses.

At me.

At her.

At the goddamned universe.

“Fucked. Utterly and without a chance of surviving this shit. I am fucked.”

I Saw You
…

Restless and fighting every single instinct that begged me to seek her out, I dressed and left the confines of my room. Ignored the need burning within me to go and satiate the thirst that was driving me up a wall.

“You sound like a deranged vampire,” I mumbled low while setting up with my laptop on the couch in the adjacent living room. The silence in the room was comforting; I wasn’t ready to deal with Ashley and her million and one questions just yet. Fuck and no thank you.

My best friend and fake girlfriend, deserved to know about Slim. Because like it or not, she changed everything.

Because it was just that simple. No escape for either of us.

Maybe all this shit was a fluke?
Find her.

For fuck’s sake, it wouldn’t be that hard to.

She owned the very club we’d contracted for the party tonight. The industry’s biggest awards show was set to be held later today, and we were up for song and album of the year. Second time around for the band, and this time, it was an almost guaranteed win.

Our last album,
Take Me
, had smashed its way through every chart. I should have been excited and anxious for the night to begin, but instead, I just wanted it over with so that I could see her.

The only prize my hands itched to hold was the sassy Latina whose body I wanted molded to mine. Wreck her to the point that she thought of and saw no one other than me.

“Excited, babe?” Ashley voice suddenly broke me out of my thoughts. When the fuck did she get in? And how? “Everyone—every media outlet is talking about your definite win tonight.” Walking around the couch I was on, she took a seat at the end with a huge smile on her face. Fresh faced and with her blonde hair still wet from her shower, she waited for a reply.

“Not really.” Gruff, my tone came out annoyed and she recoiled back a bit. This, her presence in nothing but a pair of black sleep shorts and a simple red tank sans bra, was the norm. In an hour, she’d be called to her room for hair and makeup while we practiced for our performance one last time. Today, normal felt off.

Unsettled me.

“What’s wrong with you?” Reaching a hand out, she tried to entwine our fingers, but I was saved by a knock on the door.

“Don’t worry about it,” I grunted and stood up to answer. On the other side I was met with a male hotel employee holding what looked to be a takeout bag. The name of the restaurant was not familiar to me, much less somewhere I had ordered from. “Did you order something, Ash?”

“No, but damn, it smells good.”

And it did, the sound of my stomach rumbling agreeing. “We didn’t order this. Must be a mistake?”

“No, sir.” Steve, as his name tag read, pushed the bag into my hand. “This was delivered with a note. It’s inside the bag, and we were given specific instructions that you know it came from a Miss Garcia.”

“Was it hand delivered by her?” I’d run down every motherfucking flight of stairs to reach her and show my appreciation for the thought.

“No. Just an employee from the restaurant.” Not what I wanted to hear.

“Thank you. Let me grab my wall—”

“Not needed. Already been taken care of. Have a good day, sir, and good luck tonight.” With that he turned and walked away, leaving me both amused and frustrated. Arianna should’ve come up to give me this.

“Who’s Miss Garcia and why the fuck is she sending you food?” And then, just as quickly, I was happy that she didn’t.

“Watch the attitude, Ashley.” Ignoring her petulant stance, I walked over to the small dining area in the room and sat down. The smell coming from within the containers had my mouth watering.

“Answer me.” Hand on hip, she stared me down while I dug inside the bag for the note. “Who is she, Chester?”

“Give me a goddamned second.” A small white business card was all I found nestled at the bottom of the last container. A name. Qu Va Cuban Restaurant and Grille appeared on the front with the name of the owners, address, and the phone number attached. It was the name that drew my attention, though.

Arianna and Maria Garcia. My Slim owned the place.

Turning the card over, I noticed a message:

A taste of what I have to offer.

Cheeky little thing. I saw the double entendre and loved it.

“Are you kidding me right now?” Her hand came down next to the takeout container I’d opened. “You’ve been in a funk for the last two days. The boys won’t say a thing, and you’ve been short with me…what gives?”

“Ash, drop it. Or at the very least…let me eat.”

“But—”

“You need to learn to back off.” This time it was my hand that came down hard against the wooden table, the sound loud inside the quiet room. “I’m not your child and sure as hell don’t answer to you.”
Has she always been this pushy?

“Whoa.” Her hands came up, and she took a step back. “I’m your best friend and I have a right to be worried…” and now I felt guilty “…don’t push me away.”

Pushing the open container away, I stood up and pulled her into a hug. “I met someone,” I said in a low whisper against the top of her head.

After a second, she tilted her face up toward mine and watched me with teary eyes. “How? When?”

“It’s new.” Disentangling herself from my embrace, Ashley walked across the room and stood before its windows. Didn’t say a word. “Talk to me.”

A sniff. “Explain.”

Running a hand down my face, I took in a deep breath before answering. “Two nights ago at Lujuria.”

Her head snapped in my direction and her eyes narrowed. “When I wasn’t in town.” Not a question, but a statement that came across as if she were a jilted lover.

“Yes.” Wouldn’t deny what we already knew. “She’s the owner and a very beautiful woman.”

“Are you sure she didn’t just see dollar signs in you?” Ashley hissed from between clenched teeth, her fists closed tight to the point her knuckles had turned white.

Completely taken aback by her response, I snapped back. “What the hell is your problem?”

“How can you be so stupid?” Eyes narrowing into slits, she took three steps my way until we were nose to nose. “Think with the head sitting atop your shoulders and not with your dick.”

“You’re out of line, Ash,” I warned her, my tone matching her angry one. “And while I appreciate all you do—traveling with us, pretending to be my girl, and keeping my schedule running smoothly—I’m a grown goddamned man. You don’t dictate who I should or shouldn’t be interested in.”

“Don’t I?” Ashley challenged, her small finger poking me in the chest. “Who the fuck has been there for you since you began? Hmmm…?” Instead of answering, I grasped her hand and pushed it away. The control I had on my ire was running red hot. Seeing her attitude of entitlement over my life pissed me off. Not getting the reaction she wanted from me, she sneered, lip curled at the corner. “Who’s been there for you since you began, Chester? I have. Day in and day out. Me.”

“You agreed!” At my angry snarl, she gasped and took a few steps away from me. Enough with the martyr act. Ashley wasn’t an innocent woman. “All this was your idea,
babe
. Yours, not mine. If I remember correctly, you proposed the farce we portray to the media.”

“To help you.” Meek, now she was unsure of herself. This was a strategy I’d seen her pull before when not getting her way. With everyone…but me.

“And I appreciate it, Ash, but don’t give me shit for something of your own making. Yes, you helped me more than once before, especially when those two strippers managed to get inside my hotel room two years ago while I slept.” Grasping a bottle of water off the small dining room table, I twisted the cap and took a deep pull. “You’re my best friend, but not my keeper. Don’t force me to draw the line.”

“I don’t want to fight.” Defeated, she came back toward me and placed a hand on my arm. “Please, let’s not do this. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Cheetos. That’s all.”

Immediately, my anger deflated and I pulled her in for a hug. “I’ll be careful. Promise.” She was one of my oldest friends and deep down, I knew she meant well. “Hurting you is the last thing I’d ever want to do, but don’t begrudge me this. We both knew at some point that one of us would meet someone and get out of the agreement.”

“Why not keep it in place?” she hedged. “I’ll keep on pretending and that way, we can get to know her. If it turns serious, we’ll break up.”

“I don’t know if she’d go for that.”

“Why not?” She looked up at me from beneath her lashes. “It’d give me peace of mind, and you can get to know her without a camera being shoved in her face. Win
win
.”

“No one wants to date a man who’s taken. Fake relationship or not.”

“She won’t be labeled a homewrecker or worse.” Fuck, I had not thought of that.

“By the look on your face, I’ll venture to say that the thought never crossed your mind. Huh?” Shaking her head, Ashley gave me an exasperated look. “Chester, we’ve been ‘together,’ for all intents and purposes, for two years. The media will be relentless; she’ll be hounded and served on a platter.”

Roughly, I gripped my hair in my hand and pulled. “Shit, I’ll talk to her. Still need to convince her to give me a chance.”

“What?” An incredulous look, and then a laugh escaped her. Didn’t miss her letting out a sigh of relief either. “You mean to tell me she isn’t interested? Oh my God, you dork! Why the hell are we fighting?”

“Oh, she’ll be mine.  Of that there is no doubt.” Taking a seat on the chair closest to me, I waved her on to do the same. “What might be an issue, though, is us. Fake or not, it’s still an uncomfortable situation for anyone coming in.”

A laugh, and then a slap to the back of the hand. “It’s cold. Let me heat that up.”

“Woman, I am fucking starving,” I grumbled while rubbing the sting out of her hit.

Ignoring me, she walked over to the small microwave and popped my food inside. “If this woman is half as special as you claim, with having known her for all of what…two hours?” I nodded and raised a brow. “Then she won’t say no to you. I know I can’t.” The latter she whispered, yet I heard her loud and clear.