“It’s a rush. I guess I should have told her I paid for it. It’s not—”
“You’re a fucking idiot, and both of you deserve each other. Raven is a fucking innocent. If she is traumatized, the fuck?”
I look ahead to see small crowds watching something, as well as a police car.
“Fucking button your shirt,” Jett says.
“Why are the cops here? I thought Iain had this handled,” I snap. Jett swerves next to a car and puts his hazards on. “You say nothing, and let me handle this.” He slams the door shut.
I see Iain talking to the cops, my eyes searching…
And there she stands, in her cute short dress, legs to die for, wearing a pair of pink-heeled sandals. Her eyes are downcast, and Raven stands next to her crying.
That’s my girl. I almost grin when she lifts her head, and our eyes lock.
“Hello, officers, I’m Jett Powers, and there has been a mistake.” Jett approaches the two cops. The woman cop is talking to what looks to be a frazzled saleswoman.
“I’m her lawyer.” He points at Raven, who runs and throws herself into Jett’s arms.
We both look down at her feet—she’s wearing a boot on one and a heel on the other.
“Sir, step away. We’re still trying to take statements,” the cop says as I maneuver around a couple of women to get to Alex.
“You okay?” I take in her flushed cheeks, but her eyes are dry. She sucks on her lower lip and shakes her head as I pull her into my arms, ignoring the cop telling me to step away. I tune out my brother, who’s saying that Raven was just following her sick friend to the car, and that she was coming back to pay… Tune out all of it, because none of it matters as long as Alex is safe.
I kiss her forehead and step back. “Those are some shoes,” I say, grinning at her pale face.
She takes a breath, her hand clutched to mine.
“Look, who’s in charge? How much do I need to pay to make this go away?” I pull out my wallet as the woman who’s talking to the cop looks at me, then Jett, who looks like he wants to punch me.
“What my brother is trying to say is we would love to take this off the street and inside the shop. As you can see, my driver was here, no one left, it was a misunderstanding. Now my wife is upset, and I’d hate to have to sue because she experienced post-traumatic stress from a misunderstanding.” Jett’s in full damage control. There’s a reason he’s made millions defending people.
The cops look at the woman. “He says he’s going to pay. Do you want to press charges?” She hesitates as she looks back at the other salesclerk, who shakes his head vehemently no.
“No, that’s fine. Sorry for the confusion, officers. Now, who is paying?” She looks around as Jett walks in and goes to the counter with Raven who is still crying.
“I want all the shoes my wife was trying on,” he demands as she hides her head in his shoulder.
“What about the ones the… the other lady has on?” the man in the glasses says as they all turn to look at Alex.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, put them on my card.” I hand them my American Express only to have Alex wail no, and my brother to hand over his Black card.
“Put everything on this one.” His blue eyes are like ice as he glares at both of us. “You two can walk.” He kisses Raven, turning to focus on the saleswoman.
I gaze down at Alex, who almost looks as if she’s in shock, and grin.
“I guess we’re walking.”
“I’m so sorry, Brett. Raven, I’m so—” I drag her out of the shop because the less we say, the better. People are still staring, but most are back to walking and sightseeing.
Iain looks at me. “You need a ride to pick up her car?”
“Nah, we’re fine.” I take her cold hand, and we start walking.
“I’ll drop it off later on.” He nods, arms crossed as he waits.
Alex shakes her head, leaning in close to me. “I’m mortified. I literally don’t know what came over me. I think I—”
“Alex, that time I told you to steal the bikini, I paid for it. It was all for the rush. I would never put you in danger.”
She stops and pulls her hand away. “What?” Her eyes are huge now as if the pieces are all falling into place.
“Yes.” I let out a laugh. “But fuck, baby, you even got my heart pumping today.”
And her eyes, which one second ago looked guilty, now flash like emerald-green lasers.
“Are you kidding me?” She takes her bag and slaps me with it as Jett drives by slowly, honks, and flips us off while Raven sadly waves.
“Oh my God, perfect, they hate me.” She points at the Ferrari, but I grab her, pulling her into my arms so I can bury my nose in her neck and inhale her coconut scent.
“Forget them. Let’s go get some lunch. We can watch your brother. Isn’t he playing today?” I smile into her neck, trying to lighten this whole situation. Lifting my head, I rub my nose back and forth on hers.
“You want to eat after what just happened?”
“Yeah, I’m starving.” I grin as people walk around us.
“Let’s go eat some bar food, drink, and cheer on Ohio State, then you can sit on my face.” I move forward, taking her hand.
“Brett.” She slaps at me, laughing, and my heart aches.
Christ, what the hell? I feel like a fucking teenager. Just one laugh, a smile from her ruby lips, and the world feels right. The sun does shine brighter, and it has everything to do with her.
ALEXANDREA
“You know how to play pool?” Brett looks back at me as we enter a swanky billiards room. It’s completely in red: the walls, carpet, tables, even the ceiling.
“Yeah, I had one in the basement growing up,” I say, distracted by all the TVs that seem to be everywhere, playing sporting events from around the world.
“Really?” He arches a dark brow at me, and I give up, just accepting the way my heart leaps and my stomach flutters when I look at him.
Even in his dress slacks and wrinkled, untucked dress shirt, with his hair standing up, he’s hot. God, he might actually look better like this.
“Pick a table that has the Ohio State game on.” He motions to the row of TVs. “I’m gonna order us some food.” My gaze follows him as he weaves his way to the bar, where there are no seats available. It’s all one line of people on barstools, drinking and watching a game.
I take a breath and slowly head toward the back, which is actually full. A bunch of guys are at one table, an older man has another, and a couple of women sit over on the other side, not playing pool but drinking as their kids play on their iPads.
Taking a seat at an empty high-top table, I wait for Brett. I look down at my shoes. The fabric almost sparkles when the light catches it the right way.
“God.” I’m cringing. I mean, what happened? It was like a gremlin took over my brain. Poor Raven will probably never be able to go back to Jimmy Choo, and with the way Jett looked at me, I’m assuming I’ll never see her again. I rub my forehead. It’s like I’m spiraling. I should have stayed home and finished my English paper. Clearly, I can’t be trusted to go outside. The only person who accepts me and thinks it’s funny is apparently Brett, but he’s the reason I’m in this situation. I never in a million years thought to shoplift for fun before. Jesus, what if they had arrested us? Jett looked mad enough earlier; he might have lost it completely.