Raging blue, p.15
Raging Blue, page 15
The modest quarters appeared stale in comparison to her formerly swanky townhouse. Blue appreciated the diffidence of the cozy room. After he led her to the couch to sit, Gavin moved about calling up room service, finding a place for their bags, and making phone calls. Blue couldn’t even make out his words as he conversed with several different people. Not even the waiter’s presence was able to shift Blue’s directionless focus. She remained deep in thought until Gavin placed himself before her with a steaming cup of tea.
Blue returned from the depths of her thoughts as she sipped her tea. She sniffed long and hard and wiped the tears with the backs of her hands. She was tired of crying. This will be the last of my tears, she told herself. The moment she owned that conviction, she felt an emotional shift, and some of her energy returned to her.
She picked up the phone and called Victor Malloy, the family attorney. It was time to play the game on Jay’s level.
After pouring out every finite detail of what she’d gone through over the past few weeks, Blue felt lighter. Other than Gavin, she hadn’t shared the details of her recent life with anyone. The next call she made was to her mother. Despite their stressed relationship, Jean Holiday would never approve of anyone messing with her family’s money. After speaking with Jean, Blue would call her brother Richard. She was gathering her mercenaries in the battle against Jay.
“WHAT?” Jean yelled into the phone.
She said it so loud that Blue held the mouthpiece and looked around for Gavin.
“Yes, Ma. He took all the money from our accounts, sold the furniture from the Atlanta house, and he’s trying to sell the house from under me and run off with the money.”
“My God! What about your trust fund? Did he get his greasy hands on that?”
“No, Ma.”
“Thank goodness. I gave him way too much credit. I’m extremely disappointed in him. But, he has crossed the line. How dare he?” Jean added as an afterthought. “We need to get Victor on the line.”
“I’ve already done that, Ma. He’s checking things out to make sure he’s not trying to pull any other underhanded tricks. He’s got a plan in action to protect my other assets, and he’s handling my divorce.”
“Great. That covers him legally. Now what do you plan to do?” Jean asked.
Blue knew exactly where Jean was going with that comment and had already asked herself the same question. Blue was more like Jean than she was willing to admit. How am I going to get back at Jay?
The rest of their conversation flowed with ease. Scandal was the band-aid that temporarily soothed Blue’s broken relationship with her mother. Bitterness, reprisal, and scandal had always been Jean’s strong suit.
Blue made a few more calls before Gavin returned to the room. She ended her last call as he walked through the door.
“I picked up some fresh fruit,” he said, placing the food down on the table. “How are you doing?”
“Better,” Blue responded with a smirk. “I’m going to jump in the shower now.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll hang out here,” Gavin said, referring to the small kitchenette and sitting area leading to the bedroom.
Blue showered quickly but thoroughly before anointing herself with the sweet scents she'd packed for her trip. Tonight they would serve a completely different purpose. Blue slipped her silk robe over her moist shimmering skin, leaving it hanging open, fluffed her hair, and sauntered out to the sitting area.
At first, Gavin didn’t seem to notice her as he busied himself flipping channels. Once his attention caught sight of her, he rose, appearing to be moved to his feet by a force. He stared at her. She could tell he was pleasantly stunned. She stepped up, pressed her naked body against his, and kissed him, pushing his mouth open with her lips. Gavin found the small of her back and pulled her in. His touch generated warmth that spiraled to the center of her loins.
Blue wrapped one leg around Gavin’s back. As he held her lifted leg, they waltzed toward the bed. He laid Blue on her back and took his time getting to know her body from head to toe. Her temperature rose under the heat of his exploration.
Gavin entered her carefully, allowing Blue to get to know every inch personally until her center tugged at him, pulling him in deeper. Once he filled her to capacity, she tensed and then relaxed, both surprised and delighted by his fullness. Gavin entered but retreated with a questioning look until Blue planted her hand on his behind and pulled him back in. Then she rose to greet his next stride. That license appeared to give him the confidence he needed to give Blue his all. Each new stroke intensified her longing for Gavin and her need to feel loved. She rocked with him until they both glistened with sweat.
Then he flipped her over, stretched her out on her stomach, pulled her legs together, and entered her from behind. He filled his palms with her soft breasts and drove long, steady strokes, causing Blue to grasp at the cotton sheets before biting into a clump, attempting to stifle her screams.
Feeling her body spasm, she screamed into the fluffy pile and tightened around Gavin’s firmness. Blue felt the tension ease from her body along with her juices. She could tell by his ragged panting that he tried to resist the inevitable, but ecstasy had stolen his resolve. His grunt extended into a series of guttural moans just before he collapsed on top of her back. The two lay drenched in sweat and other erotic fluids.
A sated smile spread across Blue’s face. This particular act of revenge felt amazing. She couldn’t wait to tell Jay about how much she'd enjoyed screwing his friend. Suddenly, a quick shroud of guilt covered her, but she shook it off. She had to admit she had feelings for Gavin. He was definitely a skillful lover, but this moment was all about revenge. This news was sure to make Jay extremely irate, while delivering a dreadful blow to his ego.
Chapter 35
Gavin
Gavin hummed around the hotel room as he brewed a complimentary pot of coffee. He had the TV and radio playing as he sang to himself just low enough to avoid disturbing Blue’s sleep. A cool shower had refreshed him, and the strong coffee revived his senses. He two-stepped to the beat while ironing his crisp dress shirt, almost losing the towel he had wrapped around his waist.
The door to the bedroom creaked as Gavin slowly pushed it open to peek in on Blue. She hadn’t budged, and he didn’t want to wake her. A satisfied one-sided smile curled into his right cheek as he thought about the night before. Until then, he had only imagined what it would be like to make love to her. It was an experience he would always remember while looking forward to the next time.
Gavin looked at the large-numbered alarm clock and eased the door shut. Then he tiptoed to the couch where his clothes were laid out. He needed to be downtown within twenty minutes to have breakfast with one of his clients. What sense did it make to come to Atlanta and not handle any of his own business?
Gavin sang while getting dressed, as he waited for the valet to bring him the rental, and during the entire ride to the restaurant downtown.
After spotting his client, star baseball player Darren Lewis, Gavin eased next to the curb, threw the car in park, and jumped out to greet the tall, lanky athlete. Darren had the build of a basketball player, but being a kid from the Bronx, baseball was in his heart. His stature made him infamous for all the RBIs he claimed due to his endless, lightning-fast legs. Fans had nicknamed him Jumping Jack Flash.
“Top of the morning to you, my brother!” Gavin said in a mock British accent with a bright smile wrapped across his face. He extended his hand to Darren.
“Top of the morning to you, too, Gavin. You’re rather happy this morning,” Darren joked along with him.
“Really!” Gavin stopped and thought a moment, then chuckled.
“Must have had a good night.”
“A real man never tells,” Gavin said and chortled. “Shall we?” He gestured for Darren to step into the restaurant before him.
Darren reared his head back and looked at Gavin with his brows raised, then shook his head and smiled before walking into the bustling eatery. Minnie’s Café offered some of the best breakfast in downtown Atlanta, with large servings and cheap prices. It was no wonder why they’d been around for more than twenty-five years, and there was hardly ever an empty table in the place.
The men found their seats, and Gavin followed Darren’s eyes, which were plastered on a curvy, big-boned waitress with smooth brown skin. The loud clanging of utensils, dishes, and lively conversation caused them to raise their voices so the pretty waitress could hear their orders. She confirmed their requests in her Southern-born lilt before sauntering away through the thick crowd of patrons and other workers. Watching Darren absorb every sway of her well-rounded hips, Gavin laughed.
When Darren finally pulled his gaze away from the waitress’s outstanding bottom, he licked his lips and said, “I just love country women. That woman reminds me of rich, thick, pure cane syrup.”
Gavin burst out laughing.
“Hey,” Darren said. “Am I lying?”
“Whatever!” Gavin laughed again at the silly metaphor. “Let’s get down to business!”
Their food arrived quickly. While they ate, Darren continued to steal glances at the waitress. As Gavin poured a generous sum of cane syrup over his pancakes, he immediately understood Darren’s earlier point. The rich dark hue of the syrup reminded him of Blue’s supple, glistening skin. Rich sweetness detonated his taste buds, reminding him of Blue’s syrupy nectar. Suddenly, he wanted to hurry up and finish with Darren so he could get back to the hotel.
“Oh, yeah! I knew I had something to ask you,” Darren blurted, bursting through Gavin’s thoughts.
All the sensual images of Blue fell from Gavin’s mind.
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“What’s the deal with your boy Jay?”
Gavin raised his head and eased his fork down. “Why do you ask?”
“Some of the guys were talking about how crazy he’s been acting since he got cut from the team.”
“Really? How would they know?”
“He’s been doing a lot of hanging out, and you know most of us hang in the same places,” he said, referring to athletes. “I’ve been hearing about him acting wild up in New York, but I got to see it for myself last night over at the spot.”
“And?” Gavin’s interest was peaked.
“Yeah. He was buzzed out of his mind, being rough with the dancers. The club owner gave him a few warnings until Jay eventually lost it. They screamed at each other for a few minutes, but then suddenly, Jay grabbed the dude by his neck and tried to choke the sound out of him.” Darren mimicked the act with his hands. “Two huge bouncers, looking like Refrigerator Perry, came barreling over, pried Jay’s hands from around the man’s neck, and tossed him out of the club.” Darren shook his head as he continued.
“A few of us ran outside to make sure he was okay. He cursed at all of us, jumped into a white drop-top Infinity, and peeled off like a madman. I don’t think they’ll ever get those tire marks off of that pavement,” he said, reflecting. “So then, we jumped in our cars and followed him to make sure he got home safely. He was speeding and swerving all over the road.”
“And this was late last night?” Gavin asked with his brows planted high on his forehead.
“Yeah. It had to be around two in the morning. That dude is reckless.” Darren shoved a forkful of thick cheesy grits in his mouth. “Whatever happened to his wife?” he asked, pausing long enough to wipe a string of cheese from his chin. “Did she leave him when she found out he got cut from the team? You know how these women are, and some of them can really make a man crazy.”
“Who? Blue? No. She’s not that kind of woman. She…she has her own money. A trust fund baby.” Gavin paused and pushed the rest of his pancakes around the plate. He was no longer hungry. “She didn’t marry Jay for his money or because he was an athlete.” Gavin decided to stop there. “So how’s the coach treating you? Do you still think there’s a possibility of a trade next season?”
Gavin changed the subject before quickly bringing the discussion to a sharp close. He called the waitress over, paid the bill, shook hands with Darren, and promised to call him when he returned to New York. After learning about Jay’s unruly behavior and the fact that he was here in Atlanta, Gavin needed to hurry back to the hotel to warn Blue. He only hoped she would still be in the room when he returned.
Chapter 36
Mia
“Mia? Babe? Are you here?”
Mia heard Princeton but didn’t answer. She had managed to get fully dressed without waking him. He called after her again, but Mia quickly slipped through the kitchen to the garage, fired up the Jaguar, and backed out swiftly. Jay still had her car from the night before. A quick tap to the remote opener hopefully shut the garage door. She never looked back to confirm.
She snaked around the curvy road and pulled to the right near the stop sign at the end of the street. Her destination was still undecided. Getting out of the house was her primary focus, and she had successfully managed that.
Mia placed her hand on her stomach. It seemed like overnight she went from having an inconspicuous pouch that she could easily hide to having a small rounded belly that required creative styling to keep under wraps.
Her mind flipped from Jay to Princeton as if some impatient viewer were frantically switching channels with a remote. A horn blared behind her, snapping her from the vivid succession of male images. Mia cursed the driver and tossed him the middle finger before shouting, “Go around, stupid!”
“Where the hell am I going?” Mia questioned with her hands in the air. She banged her hands against the steering wheel, grunted, and then dialed Jay’s number. After several attempts, she still didn’t get him, so she headed toward the townhouse in Buckhead, hoping he’d be there anyway.
Mia smiled as she drove up to the house. At least the sale was going smoothly. Getting the house sold and impersonating Blue was easier than she had anticipated.
Pulling up, she noticed her car stretched recklessly across the lawn. Mia ran to the car, inspecting it for damage. She found a long black scratch etched into the passenger side door.
“Jay!” she screamed. “Damn you!” She charged to the front door.
Mia banged and shouted for a solid five minutes. Neighbors peeked through conspicuous cracks in their blinds. The man next door boldly came out to his front porch. Mia scowled at him. A woman jogging with her toy Maltese looked Mia’s way, and Mia glared at her, too. The woman picked up her pace.
“Jay! Open this damn door now!” she hollered, then dialed his cell number again.
Finally, Jay opened the door and walked away, leaving Mia at the threshold. Jay wore sleep like a cloak. She stepped in behind him. He shuffled to the stairs and plopped down. The wood creaked under his weight, and he released a wide-mouthed exaggerated yawn. Stale liquor mixed in with the rank air. Mia felt bile rise and tightened her throat.
“What the hell happened to you? What did you do to my car?” Mia shouted from the door, while holding her forefinger under her nose. She held her other hand to her stomach and swallowed hard. “Give me my damn car keys,” she yelled, looking around the empty house. “Where are my keys, Jay?” she asked, stomping into the kitchen. She checked the cabinets and drawers, all while holding her breath.
Jay croaked out his reply. “Upstairs.”
“How did my car get scratched like that?”
Jay shielded his eyes from the sunlight meandering through the front window.
“What scratch?”
“You smell awful. Please don’t tell me you were driving my car drunk.” Mia huffed and kicked at the clothes that littered the floor. She looked around in disgust. “I gave you my keys so you could come here, not to gallivant around the city.” She stomped back towards the stairs where Jay sat. “You’re going to fix it.”
“Could you please keep it down?” Jay scrunched his face and squinted in Mia’s direction.
“Give me my keys!” She shoved past Jay, who rested his head against the wall.
“Oh my goodness! It reeks up here!” Mia pinched her nose between her thumb and forefinger.
The click of her heels bellowed through the empty house as she tried to locate the source of the stench. Her stomach lurched again, and she felt the bile rising fast. Again, Mia tightened her jaw, forcing back the gags. She finally found the keys sitting near a chunky pile of vomit near the door of the master bath. Mia gagged and turned her head. She tipped towards the keys, but as she bent over to retrieve them, the putrid stench of the vomit ascended into her nostrils. Mia gagged again and stood stark straight. Her stomach churned, and she covered her mouth with one hand while the other squeezed her stomach. She tightened her throat to control her insides. She gagged a number of times before turning on her heels and running downstairs. The keys would have to wait.
Jay hadn’t moved from his perch on the steps. Mia passed him, ran to the front door, yanked it open, stuck her face outside, and sucked in air. Once she caught her breath, she turned to him and turned her lip up. He looked pitiful slumped all along the wall. Mia sighed and admonished herself for feeling pity instead of anger. As pathetic as he was, she still wanted him.
“Jay! Jay!” she yelled.
“What?” he grunted, half asleep.
“You need to clean yourself up.” When he didn’t move, she called his name louder. “Jay!” she called again, but he didn’t move. “Ugh!”
Mia groaned and slammed the door shut behind her. She jumped in the Jag and started the ignition. When she looked in her rear view mirror, she could have sworn she saw Blue pull up in a taxi. Mia threw the car in gear and floored the gas pedal.
Chapter 37
Blue
Blue paid the taxi driver, thanked him, and gave him a generous tip. The slanted car in her driveway made her house seem unbefitting against the neat, structured appearances of the other homes. She took a deep breath and charged towards the door in search of Mia.
