Romance: Gibson's Legacy ( New Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance) (Last Score Book 1) (29 page)

Dropping my jaw I was stunned at the smug smirk which turned into a grin because Ruby thought she’d achieved something clever. Snatching the phone away from her I put it to my ear. “Oh, Fuck. You’re our killing me. What I would do to swap places with you right now.”

“It’s me Gibson, Ruby was being ridiculous.” My face flushed immediately when he said that and my heart was racing. I could hardly hold the phone, secretly pleased about the swapping places comment, but even more pleased by the lust and want in how he said it.

Ruby’s advice may not be welcome but she was right on two counts. I couldn’t keep blaming other people for Kace’s behavior and I did only have one whole day left in Gibson’s company. We were due to fly home Sunday evening.

The weirdest feeling came over me because I had heard his voice on the phone for the first time since our phone sex session and he really did sound different. He was Paul on the phone and not Gibson. Telling him how different he sounded, Gibson continued to flirt with me.

“Hmm and what exactly was it that you liked about Paul so much?”

No idea why but I just blurted out, “Well there were a couple of attributes Paul had that I haven’t seen of Gibson.” Cringing as soon as I said it, of everything I could have said, I had said THAT! Ruby’s jaw dropped, and then she smirked and sat on the toilet.

My heart was thumping so wildly in my chest I could feel the vibrations in my mouth and I had a naughty smirk on my face that registered with me when I saw myself in the mirror. Gibson chuckled.

“Damn Chloe keep talking like that and I might just have you check if I measure up.”

By this time I was feeling so horny from his comment I was almost fanning myself. “Gibson, I thought we were all meeting with the band today, we’ll be surrounded by people, if you do that and you might just find yourself having your picture taken down at the local cop precinct.”

Gibson laughed loudly and I found myself laughing as well. Ruby was communicating silently by mouthing to me. “What is he saying?” I was gesticulating for her to go away but there was no abating her. Waving frantically at me she was telling me to keep it going by moving her hand in a continuous winding motion.

“You did bring a bathing suit right? We’re going surfing water-tubing and water skiing with Toby, his band as well as mine, and then we’re having a sand bar party.” I knew what a sand bar party was.

Growing up in Florida we used to have them all the time when I was in high school. Taking a boat out to an expanse of land surrounded by water was awesome. The water was shallow enough to paddle in and we could make as much noise as we liked at the sandbar.

Still feeling nervous about being around Gibson, I knew it wasn’t going to be simple to move us forward but something that Johnny said made me feel that I should at least reserve judgment on Gibson’s intentions and throw myself into the day as wholeheartedly as I could.

A blacked-out SUV came to collect us from the hotel and drove us for about forty five minutes, as signs for Malibu Beach, giving us a hint where we were headed. Gavin grinned at Ruby, “Are we seriously doing this? Going frigging surfing with Toby Francis and Gibson Barclay?”

Eddie shook his head. “I know I’m gonna piss you all off but my cell has been on charge all night and I’m gonna be taking tons of pictures. Not one, but two of my top music idols in swimmers on a beach in Malibu and me partying with them, what the fuck is that about?”

Delight and disbelief in Eddie turned him into a teen-fan and he sat quoting fact after fact about his two music idols, which both informed me and gave me a sense of exactly what Gibson had managed to achieve in the years since I’d last seen him.

“It’s a shame really, that no one ever discusses the humanitarian work he does every year. Did you know that twenty five percent of his royalties goes to different projects he sponsors every year? The guy has provided schools, hospital equipment, health program funding, plus food and water projects for thousands of people.”

Pushing myself upright in my seat, I thought I had been hearing things. “What did you say Eddie? Who were you talking about?” Eddie took off his sun glasses and placed them carefully over his brown wavy hair then concentrated his gaze back on me.

“Gibson. Beats me why they try to hide that stuff. He’s so fucking cool anyway and I think people would like him even more but his management exploit the bad- boy image that he had when he was younger… that and his man- whoring ways.”

Feeling myself scowl, I gave Eddie an angry look. “Eddie what Gibson did when he was a teenager and what he does now are completely different. I knew him back then, or at least I witnessed a lot of what was going on, and after spending last night in his company, I didn’t see any of that teenager in him when he was with me.”

Eddie snickered and said, “Well maybe you weren’t his type although I can’t really see it. Chloe, you’re a total babe but from what I know of Gibson Barclay, any woman still moving and with a pulse seems to be his type.”

Ruby elbowed Eddie and threw him a look that said shut up, but without actually saying anything. Eddie shrugged and glanced at Gavin and his eyes widened warning Eddie not to push it. I remember thinking a day in Gibson’s company wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought after that.

The atmosphere in the SUV was one of anticipation because there were two famous bands to hang out with, not one. Gametes and M3rCy were possibly two of the top ten bands in the world and that brought expectations of what these wild men of rock did on their down time.

CHAPTER 28 - PARTYING HARD

Chloe

Just visible on the far side of the beach was a group of what looked like normal Californian beach boys. Sun kissed hair and golden tans, surf boards and wetsuits that were on but stripped to the waist, the sleeves hanging down.

The closer we got the more Gibson seemed to stand out. I wasn’t sure whether that was because he was the one I most wanted to see or the one that was the most difficult not to think about.

Standing side on with just his profile showing he gave me the chance to observe his amazing form. His long and lean but muscular frame captivated me. Strong thighs, arms and from what I could see, a back a rippled with hard muscle groups.

As if sensing I was there, Gibson’s torso twisted in my direction and his eyes connected with mine. Instantly, his face was glowing and he smiled widely. Striding across the sand towards me his hand came up in a wave.

“Hey. You made it. How are you feeling?” Smiling warmly at me, Gibson could have been any regular guy greeting a friend. The way he was attentive and open made me feel more relaxed than I had before I saw him. “Come sit, we’re just checking we’ve got everything before we head out. Did they set you up with a wetsuit yet?”

Nodding, I looked in the direction of the two guys that had brought us to the beach. They were carrying them over their arms along with two body boards. Gavin and Eddie were already in theirs. Eddie was standing staring at Toby Francis like he was some kind of apparition.

I hadn’t spoken at all since I arrived but Gibson hadn’t seemed to notice and was nervous, which was something I hadn’t really experienced with him before. “I’m really glad you’re here, Chloe.

Today is about having fun, darlin’. Toby and I have been friends since we were kids and we haven’t seen each other for fourteen months. I was going to blow him out because you were here, but I figured that we do better in a group and we’ve only got one day. Are you okay with this?”

Again, Gibson had somehow outdone any thoughts that I may have had about him trying to get me alone. He had obviously considered my feelings and was trying to arrange something that didn’t put our relationship thus far under any more pressure. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about that because part of me was kind of at the point where I was ready to test the water and try it Ruby’s way.

Splitting into two boats, Gibson, Toby Francis, Jill, Ruby, Mick, Gavin and Eddie were on one boat with me and the other had Lennox and Simon from M3rCy and Hugh and Denis, from Gametes, with what I assumed was their girlfriends.

Like everything else Gibson did, he water skied with an expertise that made me wonder if he had ever gone to school in his life. I mean, he must have spent all his time on the beach to have learned the tricks he could do.

My heart was in my mouth as the boat sped along at 45 knots and he was cutting across the wake we were leaving and zigzagging left and right, doing somersaults and leaping through the air as if he were born to do it.

Tubing was a lot of fun even though I was always scared to try it. The speed of the boat made the tube feel out of control at times and I was scared of the beasts in the sea. Manatees were freaky looking creatures, like big dollops of moving blubber, and sharks…well they had teeth and they snuck up on you. That was the only information I needed to know to feel frightened about the ocean.

After some coaxing, I was persuaded to tube on my own. Butterflies in my tummy danced like there were too many of them and they were all jostling for position. Accelerating away from me the boat got smaller, then suddenly the rope was taut and I was being dragged at speed behind the boat.

Gibson was smiling, standing at the back with his arms on his hips; enjoying watching me being bounced around by the white foamy wake the boat was leaving as it cut through the water.

Hitting a wave wrongly, my tire bounced high in the air and as much as I tried to hang on, my wet fingers slipped free and I was coasting in mid- air with a feeling of fear gripping me that my stunt had somehow gone badly wrong.

Sharp pain stung my belly as I hit the water in a belly flop, then I seemed to be tumbling downwards through the dark freezing salty water. Holding my breath, I was trying not to panic but I knew I wasn’t a strong swimmer and the undercurrent was quite strong. After what seemed like a few seconds I could feel my lungs begin to burn and I knew I was in trouble.

Panic began to take hold just as a pair of strong arms encircled my waist and began to pull me to the surface. Sharp gasps of air re-inflated my lungs with fresh oxygen as I sputtered and spat, my arms fighting the hold on me.

“Stop!” The voice from behind me was Gibson. “I got you, Chloe. Don’t fight me, lean back into my shoulder.” Gibson was under me and I was lying with my upper back on his chest, his hand under my chin, keeping me afloat.

“Don’t panic, honey, you’re okay, I got you.” Gibson swam confidently towards the boat and passed me by my underarms to Gavin and Eddie who pulled me aboard. Gibson pulled himself up on the back board then up into the boat. “Okay, she’s alright, everyone back off and leave her to me. I got her.”

Without any hesitation he pulled me on his lap and hugged me tight. “Fuck, Chloe, tell me you’re okay. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed you into doing that.” I’d had a fright, no doubt about that, but Gibson had got to me before any damage was done and he was taking the blame for me being in the water.

Both of our chests were still rising and falling from the effort of getting back to the boat safely, but it was his eyes I was focusing on. They were full of concern and hurt that I had been in a tumble.

Smiling softly, I wanted to reassure Gibson it was an accident and I didn’t blame anyone. I commented, “I’m fine, I was figuring out the tubing thing, it was fun, it’s the falling off I think I need practice with.”

Gibson’s face immediately relaxed and he kissed my forehead. “Damn, Chloe. You are banned from tubing. That was agony for me to watch. You have no idea the feelings that ran through me when I watched you being tossed up in the air like that. You must have been thrown about fifteen feet before hitting the water… and coming down flat on your front like that…” Shaking his head, his voice trailed off like he was traumatized by the event and didn’t want to recount it.

Seeing the way Gibson was affected by what had happened to me warmed my heart. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had shown that level of personal concern for me. Taking his cold cheek in my hand, I lifted my face to his and placed a soft, slow kiss on his lips. “Thank you for saving me. So I need to add ‘hero’ to the titles you hold now, huh?”

Gibson smirked. “Nah, it was a no brainer going to get you. There isn’t another fish in the sea like you.” As soon as he said that, I started giggling and he pretended to look injured. “What? What did I say?”

“Jeez Gibson you need to get better lines. I thought you wrote lyrics? And that was the best you could come up with?” Glancing over at Ruby, I smiled reassuringly at her worried face and saw it relax. She turned and began to speak to the others and I heard her tell them I was fine.

Chuckling heartily Gibson squeezed me to his chest. His laughter vibrated against my body. “Corny, cheesy… call it what you want, it’s true. I’m smitten with you, what can I say? Still chuckling he was stroking his thumb up and down my arm, and his smiling eyes turned more hooded and intense.

“I’m not messing with you, Chloe. You give me feelings I’ve never had before. I don’t know what the fuck to do with them. All I know is when you are near me it’s like…like someone has stuffed a helium-filled balloon inside me. Like a floating feeling but inside my chest.”

His explanation had me giggling and he started chuckling again. “Just don’t ask me to write a song about you because it will be shit if this is the kind of lines you bring out in me. I don’t think I’ll ever have a hit with the stuff that’s going on in my head about you.”

Becoming conscious that there was a group of people around us, I looked away from Gibson to see Toby Francis staring at me, shaking his head and smiling. I don’t know why but it gave me the feeling that he was reading how Gibson was flirting with me, and with that thought, that he was somehow playing me.

Pushing myself away from him, I rose off his lap and stood up. As soon as I did I could see the confusion on his face. He hadn’t done anything wrong, and I wanted to believe that what had happened between us was a genuine exchange, but when I had seen Toby’s reaction I wasn’t sure anymore.