Taking Something (14 page)

“Yes.”

“Now get your cute little ass in there and let's record some music,” I said, smacking her on the rear and pushing her toward the door.

“Okay,” she said with a giggle. “We better hurry,” she noted. “Don't we have dinner with Landry tonight?”

I had almost forgotten about it. After what Gia had told me about Sadie and Landry's past, I wasn't surprised that she hadn't. It was going to be an interesting night. Especially seeing as how I knew for a fact now that
my girlfriend
had a thing for him.

“Y
OU LOOK
amazing tonight,” I whispered into Sadie's ear as we walked from the car to the restaurant. I was going to play the doting boyfriend part tonight if it killed me. And it was beginning to feel like it might. I tried to get between her and the paparazzi trying to snap our picture—tried to offer her a shield—but in true Sadie fashion, she declined.

“I know,” she grinned, stepping out in front of me. With one hand locked in mine and the other popped up on her hip, she struck a pose for the cameras. “It's Prada,” she added, noting the designer of belted black dress she was wearing. “And Jimmy Choo.” She kicked up her foot to show off her black ankle boot.

I was little bit offended that no one wanted to know the shirt I was wearing was Ralph Lauren. I'd gotten my first check from Westwood and picked up a couple new things when Sadie was out of town. Guess it didn't matter. At least I was in the picture with Sadie this time instead of Gia. I should have known that since being photographed at the party with Sadie a couple weeks ago at least one photog would be trolling around behind me. He probably thought he’d broken some big cheating scandal. Probably sold it with the headline:
New Beau Steps Out on Sinclair.

He obviously didn't know me too well. I wasn't that stupid. Plus, I had Lila's warning constantly on my brain. If I screwed over Sadie, my career was as good as gone. As far as I could tell, I had a good thing going. I could do this. I could hang on Sadie's coattails long enough to get myself noticed. Then, once people knew me for me and not for just for who I was sleeping with, I could come up with a plan to convince Sadie to end our relationship amicably.

I held the door open for Sadie and then followed her into the upscale restaurant. It was one of those places that always had a full reservation list. Unless of course you were famous—then they had a table waiting for you. Low lighting and secluded tables. The kind of place where big business deals were made. Just like the one I planned on making with Landry.

“We're here to meet Landry Westwood,” she told the maître d’.

“Right this way, Miss Sinclair.” He immediately nodded and instructed for us to follow him. Landry was situated at a table in the back of the restaurant with a leggy blonde whose face was unfamiliar.

“Sadie. Nick.” He stood to greet us. “Glad you could make it.” He tried to give Sadie a quick hug, but she kept her arm around his waist and dug her fingers into his back as if she were scared someone was going to take him from her. She eyed the blonde with a suspicion. The desperation I'd seen in Sadie's eyes the last time we were in the presence of Landry was back. Full force. It appeared that this time, instead of trying to make him jealous by talking me up, she was taking a more hands-on approach. Landry reached out to shake my hand and tried to pull free of Sadie.

“I'm so excited about the single, Landry,” she told him when she finally let him out of her grasp and took a seat in the chair I’d pulled out for her.

“I see Nick filled you in,” he chuckled, sitting back down. I shrugged, sitting down across from him.

“He did,” Sadie beamed. “We don't have any secrets, but it seems you do.” She grinned. “I didn't know you'd be bringing a date. Who's your friend?”

“Ahh, yes... This is Bridgette,” he said, introducing his guest. “She just started working at Westwood Records as a fashion consultant.” She was cute. Little frame, nice rack, pretty face. Maybe just a little to innocent-looking for the lifestyle Landry Westwood lived. He was a playboy that had the world at his fingertips. I kind of felt bad for her. She looked easily corruptible, and I'd hate to see such a sweet girl get crushed in the madness.

You're getting soft, Nick.

Great. I was starting to lose my edge. I shook off the notion and took Bridgette's hand in mine.

“Nice to meet you,” I greeted her. The blush in her cheeks told me that she was a shy one. Probably one of the reasons Landry liked her. I'd already concluded that he didn't like the ones who threw themselves at him.

“Westwood has a fashion consultant?” Sadie scoffed. “Since when and for what?”

“We don't all have you killer fashion sense, Sadie,” Landry defended. “Some of us need a little help.” He smiled at Bridgette, whose anxious eyes darted from me to Sadie and back to Landry. Poor girl had had no idea that she'd be stepping into the lion's den with Sadie Sinclair.

Bridgette cleared her throat and tried to connect with Sadie. “I was hired to help out with album cover shoots and concert wardrobes,” she told her. “Your dress is beautiful, by the way.” She smiled at Sadie.

“Thanks,” Sadie said smugly. “And no offense, but I make all of my wardrobe decisions. Covers, tours, all of it.”

Bridgette nodded and let her head fall down. Probably a wise move. Sadie had a glare that could turn people to stone.

“So what's good to eat here?” I asked Landry, trying to cut the tension.

“I'm a fan of the New York Strip,” he replied as he placed his arm around Bridgette's shoulders, clearly trying to shield her from the daggers Sadie was shooting her way.

“That's sounds perfect.” I turned my attention to Sadie. “How about you, babe? What are you going to have?” She hadn't even looked at the menu in front of her. Her eyes were trained on Landry's hand as he smoothed small circles over Bridgette's bare shoulder.

“Huh?” Sadie finally said as she turned toward me. “What did you say?”

“I asked what you were going to have for dinner.”

“Oh.” She turned to me. “Not sure. I'm not really hungry.” Her eyes went back across the table. I moved my hand down and placed it on her thigh, giving her a little squeeze, trying to keep her from looking like a complete lunatic in front of Landry.

“You've got to eat. You skipped lunch today at the studio. Don't think I don't notice these things,” I told her.

“I will,” she said, letting out a deep breath and pulling herself from the trance Landry and Bridgette had her under.

“Good.” I grinned, leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek. “You might want to wipe the hate off your face,” I whispered in her ear, careful not to let Landry or his date hear us. “You want Landry to think you’re here because of the music, not to be a jealous psycho.” I kept the smile painted on my face as I sat back and saw the wide-eyed look of panic on hers. I winked and squeezed her thigh again.

“You shouldn't say things like that, Nick.” She laughed it off, making it seem as if I'd whispered some naughty idea in her ear instead of my suggestion. “We're in public. You should save that for when we are alone.” She leaned in and kissed me on the lips, lingering for perhaps a moment too long. When she was finished, she smiled across the table. “We just can't get enough of each other,” she laughed. “Still in the honeymoon phase of it all.”

“That's sweet,” Bridgette complimented.

“Isn't it?” she sneered with a catty grin. Obviously fake, but Landry and Bridgette didn't seem to pick up on it.

After her initial fit of jealousy, Sadie managed to control herself and keep it together for the rest of dinner. Even took a few bites of the salmon she ordered.

“I'm really excited about the song, Landry,” she told him as we were leaving. “I can't wait to get into the studio with you.”

I was sure that wasn't the only place she wanted to get into with him. After seeing the way she acted toward poor Bridgette and hearing what Gia had to say about she and Landry's past, I was pretty sure that Sadie was still carrying a torch for him.

“I can stop by on Tuesday, if that works for you, Nick,” Landry said right before we parted ways outside of the restaurant.

“That sounds good. We'll be there,” I confirmed, taking Sadie's hand in mine. “It was nice to meet you, Bridgette.” I grinned. The pretty blonde smiled and tucked her arm through Landry's. She seemed relieved that the dinner was over. Sadie and I watched them climb into Landry's blacked-out SUV and pull away. “That was fun,” I said sarcastically as Sadie's driver pulled our town car up to the curb. “Bridgette sure is a pretty girl. Good for Landry,” I instigated, knowing full well that I was bringing up a sore subject with Sadie Sinclair.

“Yeah, if you're into homely girls,” she said, getting into the car. As she slid across the leather seat and I followed her, she added, “I've told you how I feel about you calling other girls pretty.”

“That's rich. You get to act like a crazy ex-girlfriend in front of Landry and I get reprimanded for stating an obvious fact.” I knew I shouldn't have cared what or who Sadie was looking at, but I really thought I could spin this in my favor. Make her feel bad for acting out at dinner and then turn it into her doing me a favor of some kind. Her feeling like she owed me something had to be useful at some point.

“I was never his girlfriend, Nick.” She gritted her teeth and closed the partition that separated the front and back seats. The driver had been eying us in the rearview since we'd gotten in the car. He was obviously interested in our conversation, but Sadie put an end to that.

“I know you two have a history, Sadie. If you can't handle yourself around Landry, then maybe we should decline the offer. Landry's all but said I'm going to get to produce this thing and I don't want my name attached to a disaster.”

She let out a maniacal cackle and tossed her head back. “We have a history? Your new best friend, Gia, tell you that?!”

I didn't answer. I just glared into her eyes.

“Did Gia also tell you that she was involved in the history?” She paused. “Let me guess... She left that part out.”

This was interesting. Gia had never mentioned a relationship of any kind with Landry. She usually looked as if she might vomit at the mention of his name.

“What does that mean?”

“Wouldn't you like to know?” Sadie mocked. “You think I don't see—or hear—your desperate attempts to find out information about my dear assistant. I'm not stupid, Nick.”

“That's insane,” I defended. “I'm with you. I have no interest in Gia.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” she practically snarled. “I saw the pictures. Never once have you smiled like that when you were out with me.”

“Maybe that's because two out of the three times we've been out in public you were too wrapped up in impressing Landry Westwood,” I fired back. I was in deep now. I'd have to make it seem like I really gave a shit. “I've made my whole life about you, in case you haven't noticed.”

“And I suggest you keep it up,” she warned. “I need to be your only concern, and if I so much as hear a whisper in the wind that I am not, I will ruin you. You can forget making a name for yourself in this world, Nick Kline. You need to remember who is in charge—”

I stopped her from finishing that sentence by crushing my lips to hers and kissing her with all the frustration I'd accumulated since coming to this place. First Gia's secrets eating me alive, now Sadie threatening to take away the one thing I wanted more than anything. I'd gone and tangled myself up in a pretty twisted web. I had to make things right. So I kissed her until she couldn’t think straight. Until I couldn't hear the nagging voices in my head telling me that I was in over my head.

Just when I thought I'd silenced her, I pulled back to look into her eyes to tell her that she was the one I wanted and I wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize what we had. Then she started to speak again.

“Don't think you can just kiss it all better,” she mumbled.

“I don't.” I pulled her onto my lap and let my fingers trace up the inside of her thighs. “I'm pretty sure I can fuck it all better though.”

“T
HAT SOUNDED
great, Landry,” I said through the mic in the sound booth. “Let's take five and I'll get Sadie to come in for the chorus.” He nodded and pulled out his phone to occupy himself while I found Sadie. I walked out of the studio and down the hall to the small breakroom. I could hear Sadie talking to someone, so I peeked through the crack of the door to see who it was.