Let Me Love You (5 page)

“Do you want to me run out and grab you something to eat?” Scarlett nods with a huge greedy grin on her face. I go back up to my room and throw a pair of jeans, a hoodie
, and my converse and head back downstairs. I ignore my drunken sister in the kitchen. Whatever mess she has made, she can clean it up tomorrow. I jump into my Jeep and reverse out of the drive. I head down to Scarlett’s favorite burger. Rossi’s  is a high end burger place; only the upper class eat there. It’s full of rich kids and packed with people who are ending their night of partying. Everyone is dressed to the nines and I’m in jeans and a hoodie.
Oh well
.

I head to the
counter, place Scarlett’s order, take a seat, and wait to be called, while playing on my phone. I’m sitting at a small, round metallic table, watching everyone come and go. Some people are eating in. I watch a couple in the corner who are all mouth and hands; I think he wants to eat her, not the burger on the table in front of him. I stare at this couple, feeling like a voyeur, when they suddenly stop kissing and the guy looks up at me. I blush a whole new color of red. He winks at me with a very hot smile on his face and I can’t help but smile back at him. He goes back to kissing the girl. “Order for Tally Slone.” Oh, a welcome distraction from the couple making out in the corner. I collect my order and turn back towards the door when a girl steps out in front of me and gives me the once over with her eyes.

“Oh excuse me, can I pass
please?” She doesn’t move, she just gives a like-I-give-a-fuck look. I have no idea who she is by the way.

“So you’re Tally Slone?” I look at her with a puzzled look on my face
.

“Yes.
Do I know you?” I have no freaking idea who this chick is. She doesn’t reply instantly, she looks me up and down again.

“I’m Carly, Dean
’s new girlfriend.” She informs me looking rather pleased with herself. I’m utterly shocked by her. What I ever done to her?

“Ok
well good for you. Now move please, my food is getting cold.” I try to step around her, but she steps with me. “Right, what is your problem exactly?” Again she doesn’t reply straight away. It’s like she has to think of a comeback.

“I don’t like bitches like you going around spreading nasty ass rumours about my boyfriend. You don’t have any proof to back your shady story up.” I look at her wide eyed.
Oh so this is where this is going.

“Really? You don’t know jack shit about Dean and my situation ok
ay? Now please move.” I notice out of the corner of my eye that everyone has stopped eating and talking and are watching us, maybe to see who throws the first punch maybe? Well it most certainly isn’t going to be me.

“Dean has told me everything about you two, how he loved you will all his heart and you ruined him by making that story up”. I can’t believe that Dean would tell her everything and lied about what happened between us. Dean never loved me, he wanted a toy that he could do whatever he pleased
with. It wasn’t even about the money because Dean came from money, his dad was a big time finance guy and his mom was a trophy wife. The whole burger joint is still silent. Carly and I are just looking at each other when the bell above the door rings to signal that someone has entered the restaurant. I take a look at a group of girls sitting on the table to my left; they are smiling and giggling at whoever just entered through the door. I go back to looking Carly, who still hasn’t taken her evil eyes off me. If looks could kill, I would be dead and buried by now.

I’m locked in her gaze, kind of in fear for my safety. In that moment I feel an arm snake around my waist and a kiss on my temple. “There you are baby, I was
wondering what was keeping you. So, who is your friend?” I’m shocked to see Wilde standing next to me with his hand on my hip. Carly just stands there staring at Wilde. To be honest, I’m both relived and confused as to why his arm is around my waist, holding me tight to his body. Not that I’m complaining, this man smells amazing. He looks down at me and hugs me tighter, so I place my arm around his waist, slip my hand under his jacket, and grip a handful of his t-shirt.

“She isn’t a friend, just someone who thought she knew me! Let’s go.”  James pulls
me towards the door and we exit Rossi’s, everyone still stunned that he has been in the same room as them. I’m really surprised that he wasn’t mobbed by anyone. James leads me to his car; I stop as he opens the car door.

“I came in my car. I’m fine now, t
hank you. I can drive myself home. Thanks again, James.” I start walking away from him, not looking back. I can’t encourage this. James is at my side within seconds.

“I will walk you to your ca
r. It’s past two in the morning. I don’t like you walking the streets on your own. It isn’t safe, Tally.”  We approach my jeep and James’s face falls. I don’t think he likes my jeep.

I drive a Jeep Wrangler in white and she is all mine
. I love her. “You drive that? Is this a joke babe?” I shake my head. What does he have against my Wrangler? Hang on, did Wilde just call me babe?

“Just because I have money
, doesn’t mean I should flash it, James. She is perfect for me, gets me from A to B safely.” James looks at me amused.

“She?”

“Yes she, you got a problem with that as well?” I snap back as I place our food onto the passenger seat. James holds his hands up and walks around my Wrangler. Again James is standing in front of me and he smells delicious, as he has the other times he has been within touching distance.

“Does she have a name too?”  I look up at him and shake my head
. He has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. James touches a strand of my hair and rubs it between his fingers. “You have beautiful hair, Natalia.” He runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. “And such soft skin.” I blush, as no man has ever spoken to me like this before. He runs his thumb along my bottom lip. My body comes alive; a prickly wave runs through me. He stares right into my eyes and lifts my chin. “Can I kiss you, Tally?” 

Before I can answer
, James Wilde’s soft lips are on mine. He licks my bottom lip, so I open my mouth and his tongue plays with mine in my mouth. Oh my God. Wilde tastes of beer and rich chocolate. Something he’s had at the party maybe? His hand is at the nape of my neck, holding me close to him. James’s kisses are turning me on. I want to touch him. I place my hand on his forearms. I’m enjoying the moment. I lose myself in the kiss, which I haven’t been done for so long, but I get snapped back to reality. I hear Carly the Freak’s voice. An image of Dean flashes through my head and I pull back from James. Shocked and shaken, I look at James, who looks confused. “I’m sorry James, but I can’t do this. I’m sorry.” I jump into my Wrangler and pull away, leaving Wilde standing on the sidewalk. I drive back to my place with tears streaming down my face. Dean has ruined any chance of me having a normal relationship with anyone. I hate him for what he did to me.

      
The next morning I clean up after Scarlett, as she is no fit state to be doing anything. She is crashed on the sofa, barking orders at me. The cleaning is all done and I sit on the opposite end of the sofa with Scarlett’s feet resting on my legs. We curl up and watch re-runs of Supernatural, our all-time favourite TV show. C’mon, who doesn’t love a bit of Jesnen Ackles and Jared Padalecki? I think they are the only reason I watch TV. Yum. In the afternoon, Cassidy pops around for a visit and we sit in my room having a girly chat about anything and everything. I love chatting to Cassidy. She never saw me as the girl with the millionaire family. She saw me for me. We shared everything except boys, now anyway. Cassidy has been my rock through my hard times with Dean.  We sit on my bed talking about my job interview. “So did you meet any hot guys at the interview?” She shoots me a wicked smile.

“Well
, Carlos is hot very hot, but gay. Tanner is cute though.” Tanner is kind of cute. He’s a few years older than me I think. I stare down at my knotted hands. “I bumped into James Wilde again. He was there having a meeting about an upcoming shoot.” Cassidy’s eyes shoot open in surprise and she becomes speechless. This is very unlike Miss Cassidy Blake.

She finally speaks after a few moments.
“And? Did he see you? Did he speak to you? Come on Tally, I want to know everything.” I tell Cassidy about the run in and then of course I have to tell her about the kiss.

“That’s not the only time I have seen him
, Cass.” I explain about him phoning me, me falling out of the bath, and the run in with The Freak. “He walked me to my car. He told me I had nice hair and soft skin.” Cassidy was at a loss for words, yet again. Even though Cassidy and me have done a lot of things together, I still blush telling her all this. “Say something Cass, please?” She shakes her head.

“Oh my G
od! Tally, James Wilde likes you. I mean, girl, he really likes you! Did he kiss you?”

I blush all kinds of red and Cassidy jumps off
of my bed and squeals like a teenage girl. “I knew it. I could tell by the way he looked at you that night in JAG. Are you seeing him again? Natalia Grace Slone, you have to see him again!” I looked back down at my hands and Cassidy knew.  Cassidy looked more gutted than me, but I wasn’t ready for a new relationship yet. We chatted most of the evening, talking about how things were with her boyfriend, Josh, and what I had to wear when I went to work. Around nine o’clock, we decided to call it a night. We both had work the next morning.

Scarlett’s Avenue was quiet this Monday morning
, so I checked the stock. Scarlett was on the phone, leaning on the counter, arranging everything for her party, which was fast approaching. She was very adamant about how she wants things to look. Scarlett has booked a big Dj and an artist to perform at the party, but I know she isn’t going to let on who it is. I’m sitting on the stool behind the counter next to my sister, when my phone starts to ring. I dig it out of the back pocket of my shorts. I look at the caller Id and my heart goes into over drive. I give Scarlett a quick glance and she frowns as she looks at me. Scarlett ends her call and pushes for me to answer my phone. “Hello?” A familiar voice came through the speaker.

“Good morning Tally
, its Mrs. Silver from Exposure. How are you this fine Monday morning?”  I look at Scarlett, who is leaning right into me, trying to hear who was on the other end of the call.

“Good Morning Mrs
. Silver. I’m very well, thank you. How are you?” Scarlett’s eyes widen and a huge smile spreads across her flawless face.

“
I’m good, thank you for asking. Well Tally, I was calling you this morning to offer you the job. I was really hoping that you accept and come down to the studio sometime today or tomorrow so we can go over all the details for you to start.” With wide eyes, I look at Scarlett. A big smile creeps across my face and my big sister knows exactly what has just happed. She starts jumping around the store. I try to stifle my laugh by biting down on my bottom lip, but it doesn’t work very well.

“Oh my G
od, Mrs. Silver, are you sure? I mean umm yes of course yes. I would love to come and work for you, oh my. Wow. Thank you so much. Um, would tomorrow be ok, as I am working today?” Mrs Silver gives me the time to pop around to Exposure and go through all my work details. I’m in shock. Scarlett and I are dancing around the store like a pair of kindergarten children. I have to phone my parents and Cassidy. I know that Cassidy will inform all my friends.

Scarlett stops dancing and says
, “We have to go out and celebrate.”

My alarm w
akes me at six am. It’s my first day as an Exposure and I want to be up and ready. It’s been just four days since I was offered the job and I haven’t been sleeping that much since. I have been nervous about this very day. Scarlett is in the kitchen. I come down stairs all dressed and ready to go. I am wearing pale blue skinny jeans, a black Exposure t-shirt, and my black flats. The t-shirt is a little too tight for my liking, but it’s uniform. I don’t wear a lot of make-up, but today Scarlett told me to wear just a little. I walk into the reception area and the receptionist greets me. “Good morning, Natalia.” I smile politely and return the greeting.

“Good morning, please call me Tally. I don’t know your name
.” She cocks her heard to one side.

“You’re new
, so it will take some time for you to learn everyone’s names. Hi, I’m Isabella, but my friends call me Bella.” I smile at her and know that we are going to be good friends. She has that down to earth vibe about her.

“Well I’m hoping that
I will get to call you Bella. I’ll catch you later.” I smile and walk around the desk and up the stairs. Sam meets me the top and kisses me on both cheeks.

“Morning Miss Tally, I hope you
’re ready to get started. We have a fun family week, lots of screaming children and bitchy mothers who want the perfect family picture.” I can’t help but giggle at his comment. We walk down the corridor past a few of the studios that Carlos showed me on the day of my interview. We stop at Studio Five. Sam looks at me with a big grin on his face. “You ready?” I nod and he pushes the door open and hushes me into the room.  “This is all yours, Tally.”

The studio is fantastic
, all white walls with three windows; it has all the equipment that an everyday photographer needs. “Is this really all mine?” I turn to look at Sam; he nods with a big smile on his face.