Claimed, page 12
I swallowed a wince as I stabbed some fruit, not wanting to see they busted me. “I already got the gown, and yes, it’s a red carpet event. I know he wanted one of us on his arm because it would raise eyebrows, not that we’re hotter than actresses or whatever, but we’re not in the business and it will get noticed. We wanted that too, and if I have to put on a gown and go to a red carpet event on the arm of one of the top ten sexiest men alive, I will live.”
“Yeah, no, please, put on a gown for another guy,” Nate bitched, and I got pissed.
I finished my food without a word, washed my dish, and put it in the dishwasher before leaving the kitchen. I went to my room to throw on clothes before heading down to the workroom and handling hats I needed to with the machine, loading up on what I wanted to put together, and bringing it all to the living room, ignoring both of them when they followed.
Then I thought better of it, their looming like I’d done something wrong and they were waiting for me to explain not something I could relax around. I picked up everything and went up to my room, setting up on the couch there and turning the TV so I could see it. I loaded a movie I had wanted to watch but barely paid any attention to it. About an hour in I had four sweaters sewn together and hadn’t really seen the movie at all.
I shut it off and put on music instead, hoping it would relax me, but it didn’t.
There was a knock at the door.
“Jamie, can I come in?” Stacy asked.
“Are you here to apologize?”
“No.”
“Then no,” I muttered, knowing he would hear me.
The door opened anyways and they both came in. I shook my head, getting even more upset that they would do that and just barge into my bedroom no less. Great, I get both of them and they gang up on me. Awesome. This was going to work out just awesome.
Stacy came and knelt in front of me, not touching me but trying to catch my gaze, which I wasn’t giving. He let out a sigh. “Should I pretend I’m fine with you going to some event with a known womanizer when you said you were mine? Would you really be fine with it if the situation was reversed?”
“Yes, I absolutely would,” I snapped, tossing down what I was working on and getting to my feet, heading to the door. “You might have to do just that for work, as this is work. That is the job or my end of getting business. I was very clear I would go in a professional capacity and not open to anything else. I’m very capable of saying no to any actor or anyone I don’t want advances from.
“Hell, I’m even capable of saying I don’t want to talk and kicking you out of my room after you barge in. And you’re pissed I’m wearing an appropriate gown for the event? Oh, I’m pretty sure I’ve dressed up for you both now, and hey, have either of you invited me anywhere to wear a gown? So don’t get all pissy like I’ve dodged you but would go with him. Now get out of my room before I completely blow.”
“Jamie, come on—” Nate tried.
“Get out. Seriously, get out before I kick you both out of my house. You not only crossed a line with me on this but then coming in here like you came to talk to a child and throwing a fit in her room instead of coming into my bedroom when I said no.”
Stacy gave me an angry look and went in the closet and grabbed his bag before the bathroom to get his toiletries. He paused in front of me, fisting his hands. “I fly out in the morning. I’ll go stay with Kate tonight and let you know when I’m back.”
I swallowed down the pain his words caused me, what the turn of events made me feel. “Guess you weren’t any different than everyone else, huh? Sorry I thought otherwise.”
He flinched, meeting my gaze. “I’m not wrong on this, and I’m not tossing you aside or taking advantage of you. I think I’ve shown how far I’m willing to go to give you what you need, accepting another man in your bed, but I’m not a doormat to keep adding to and now actors.”
“Get out,” I rasped, turning like he’d hit me. “Get out and don’t come back.”
He let out a huff and stormed out, shaking his head like I was the problem.
“Jesus, Jamie,” Nate whispered, looking at me with wide eyes. “You just kick him to the curb like that?”
“This is not me,” I argued, shaking my head. “Get out of my room.”
“Am I allowed to stay in the house, or I’m gone too?” He sighed when I didn’t answer, leaving my room. I slammed the door behind him, wondering what the fuck had happened from this morning to then and how it had seriously gotten so messed up.
“This isn’t me,” I whispered to myself, ready to break down crying that Stacy had left me over something so stupid. Everything was fine if we were in this bubble, the house only apparently. It had been a weird dynamic from the beginning, but maybe that had crossed lines and boundaries too fast? I kept replaying what I’d said to them, trying to figure out where things had blown up so bad.
I mean, he was acting like I’d said I was going to fuck some actor and he’d paid for me. That was so, so not the conversation we’d had.
I took a nap, unable to clear my head and needing the time out. It was after one when I got back up and headed to the kitchen for lunch.
Instead I got another slap to the face. A note from Nate saying he was going to Kate’s to talk work and he’d taken the spare key Stacy had left. Oh, and he’d eat dinner there and see me later.
I crumpled up the note, shaking my head as I tossed it out, completely ignoring food and not wanting any. I went to my office instead and did the work I was going to leave for tomorrow so we could have our fun day off.
“Jamie? Jamie, you there?” an agent I’d called, David, asked me, and I flinched that I’d tuned out.
“Yeah, I’m here,” I assured him, wiping my eyes when I realized I’d been crying. “Sorry, I dropped the phone when I banged my knee. I’m surprised you didn’t hear my swearing up a storm.”
“No, I thought I heard you sniffling, but yeah, that would bring tears to my eyes too,” he said with a chuckle. “I was asking if I got a hand knit sweater like I’m hearing some other agents have gotten from you. Am I not loved too?”
“I actually just finished yours,” I admitted, laughing when he snorted. “I did. And they’re brats for having said anything because I said they were holiday presents. Early, fine, I’m always on the ball, but they should at least wait until the holidays to brag they got one like they were the only ones.”
“Yeah, he is a brat,” he agreed, and I knew who he was even talking about, the two of them being rivals on several of their clients.
The doorbell rang, and I finished up before heading to it, my next slap in the face coming in the form of a Sunday delivery… Of the gown to the fundraiser. Awesome.
I was just about to close the door when I saw Kate’s truck pulling in, guessing she’d grilled them and headed over. Hopefully after she kicked the crap out of them.
Except she was giving me a hesitant look when she got out.
“Seriously? You too?” I bitched, heading inside, shaking my head.
“I only got their side,” she defended. “And it didn’t sound like you, so I’m a bit lost.”
“You know…” I trailed off, still shaking my head as I tossed down the box and went for the wine in the fridge. “You know, a normal woman would have gotten miffed that Stacy asked Nate how long he was staying and glad Nate was here while he was gone like I need a fucking babysitter. But I didn’t jump on that, getting there’s still some hard feelings in the area after Sean and Kyle and I’m an easy target here alone.
“So I said nothing. Checking he’d be safe while on his trip because I understood—I gave him the benefit of the doubt that was what he worried about for me. Not that I needed a sitter or couldn’t be trusted. So very mature, right?”
“Of course,” she agreed, nodding when I wiggled a wine glass asking if she wanted any. “So they didn’t tell me that.”
“Of course not because they’re men and why would that register?” I grumbled, pouring us both big glasses and killing the bottle. I told her what had happened after, and she just blinked at me. “This isn’t me!”
“No, I was waiting for the rest.”
“That’s it. That’s all that happened, and that was how they reacted.”
“Fucking morons,” she sighed, tossing back half of the wine. “They both said you felt guilty.”
I frowned. “I didn’t feel guilty. I felt bad like it was obviously going to be a thing and we just settled something big and I really didn’t want anything to disturb the peace, but no, I have nothing to feel guilty for.”
“I agree,” she promised. “Stacy said your heart skipped a beat and you smelled of guilt, and that’s what set him off.”
“I didn’t feel guilty,” I repeated, taking a huge gulp of wine. “That heartbeat skip was probably when they pushed me as to who it was. I realized they weren’t happy and that was before I told them who. Then I knew it was going to be a thing. It shouldn’t be! It’s not a date. And I’m certainly not adding actors like I’m a fucking whore. What was with that shot? I’m not staying at his hotel. I got my own room. You were supposed to go.”
“I think Jared and Dean are laying into them on that and the fact they’re acting like you’re mated and you should have checked with them then. Like I did, but I didn’t ask their permission. I just mentioned it before I agreed.”
“Of course you did, but you’re basically married. This happened like days after I even arrived here, and Nate just happened last night. If things weren’t so crazy, I might have mentioned it to Stacy in passing, but things have been.”
She bobbed her head. “I got the feeling he blew it up in his mind and sensed too much off you, Nate sort of echoing, adding fuel to the fire that he was right. He painted it like you were going on some date with an actor while he was going to be out of town and he only found out because Nate knew and you were acting guilty and—”
“Am I so untrustworthy?” I rasped, blinking at her. “We’re only good if we stay in this bubble here, but if I leave to—”
“No, Jamie, he’s just got issues too. We all do. He fell in love with you, and Nate showed up, and in his idiot male mind, he accepts he has to share you and immediately you’re trying to add to that because of course he’s going to get hurt because he fell in love.”
“Idiot. He’s such an idiot. They both are. That wasn’t what this was, and then Nate’s on his side, asking if he’s getting tossed out and runs to you. How did he think that would make me feel two seconds after we get together?”
Her face went pale. “I promise you he didn’t realize that.”
“Yeah, well, he should have,” I rasped, wiping more tears. “Whatever, right? It obviously wasn’t going to work, and they weren’t the ones, right?”
“You’re done with Nate too?”
I snorted as I went over to the pantry and started pulling stuff out to at least be productive. “What was there to be done with? One night? He spun around when he realized I wasn’t what he thought, but yeah, one night and morning. Then he’s back to treating me like a doormat or someone he can push around. He’s a fraud like the others—”
“Jamie, I wouldn’t let him talk about you like that in front of me,” she cut in.
I slammed the slow cooker on the counter and gave her a hard look. “Thanks for stopping by, Kate. I appreciate you coming to check on me and get my side, but I’ve got a lot to do and some work I want to handle before I leave Tuesday. I hope it’s okay if Nate stays with you for the rest of his trip, as I didn’t know he was staying that long or while I’d be gone.”
“Yeah, okay, sure, sorry, Jamie.”
I shrugged, going back for the huge cans of diced tomatoes. “Nothing to be sorry for. You’re in the middle and I get that. I’m sorry we put you there. It will blow over, and we’ll be fine.”
She nodded, giving me puppy dog eyes that made me want to hug her, but for the moment I didn’t have it in me to take care of anyone else. That was all I did, and most days it was exhausting.
“Yeah, just take care of yourself today,” I grumbled as I started opening cans… For the pasta sauce I said I’d make for the guys so they had something better than store bought stuff for their pasta nights. At this rate, I really would have to buy a few more slow cookers if I kept making bulk stuff, which really wasn’t a big deal since most of the time double or triple batches weren’t any harder.
Unless it was like apple butter where you had to peel, core, and dice three times as many friggin’ apples then which was horrible. When it was mixed, I threw a few pounds of ground beef and Italian sausage into the last slow cooker and diced up the onions that would need. I put that on low and headed to my office where I got nothing accomplished.
I went up to my room and stripped the bedding, wanting their smell, their everything out of my house as if that would help. After I had that going, I went to the kitchen to check on everything and decided to leave Nate a note to help himself to anything in the fridge, but I was going to bed so just leave the key there. Then I brought a bottle of wine up to my room, opening it while the tub filled for a nice bath.
I tossed in a cup of my mix for sinuses, knowing I was going to be stuffed up and hurting after the flood gates opened because I felt it coming. Sure enough, about ten minutes into my soak the sob I’d been pushing down came out as I wrapped my arms around my legs and folded into myself. It took a while for me to let it all out, but there was nothing left in me when I was done.
Throwing on my comfiest flannel jammies, I headed to fold the laundry before hitting the kitchen.
“I heard you crying,” Nate said quietly from over by the fridge, scaring the shit out of me. “Sorry. I went to see if we could talk, but I heard you crying.”
“Sorry you heard that,” I muttered, unsure of what else to say, not even able to look at him. “Do you need to run and tell Kate that too?”
He let out a heavy sigh, which actually made me feel better about being so petty and saying that. I ignored him and checked on the meat, glad it was done, splitting it between the three other cookers that were ready to go with all the spices and everything in it that I’d already done. Then I set the three of them to low, gave one last good stir, and left it to cook overnight.
“So that’s it?” he growled when I went to leave since the slow cooker had to cool before I could wash it.
I shrugged. “I didn’t hear you try to apologize, so I have nothing to say. Have a safe flight back, Nate.”
And that was the last time I saw him. He was gone when I got up the next morning, leaving me a note thanking me for letting him stay there and a great Thanksgiving.
So that really was it. The new plan was just to act like nothing ever happened? Okay, I could handle that. I could absolutely… Not fucking handle that. I was lying to myself if I said otherwise.
10
The flight to Denver was fine, a bit of choppy air, but no big deal. I caught the next one and made it to Atlanta no problem but really wanted to flip off the whole city for something that wasn’t its fault. Atlanta wasn’t to blame for the fight and ending with them.
They were.
Unfortunately, the flights were limited at Missoula’s airport, so I had to fly out Tuesday afternoon to make it for Wednesday’s event. Then again, it was nice because it forced me to relax a bit. And given it was Atlanta and warm—even if a bit unseasonably—I wanted to use the pool. I checked in, found my room, and put on my black and white two piece.
I was almost there when my phone rang, answering it as I looked for the best place to put my stuff down. “Hello?”
“Jamie, are you here?” David greeted, the agent we worked with from time to time. “You were coming in the night before and staying at the hotel, right?”
“Stalker,” I chuckled as I set my stuff down at the mostly empty pool. “Yeah, I’m here and about to hop in the pool because it’s over seventy here in November.”
“You in a swimsuit? I’ll be right there.”
I blinked at the phone when the call disconnected. “Who said you were invited?” I shrugged it off and slid my phone in my bag before diving into the pool and swimming several laps. I paused when I realized I wasn’t alone, swallowing down my annoyance at being interrupted and putting on the professional smile when it was David and a bunch of people. “Stalker.”
“Now that’s just mean,” he chuckled as he pulled out his phone.
“You represent her too?” one of the guys asked as I moved to the stairs of the pool and got out.
“No, Jamie is the co-owner of the company we’ve used to keep clients safe when they have problems,” he answered, smiling when he held up his phone to take a few pictures of me. “But I could easily get her work if she’d let me.”
“Why are you taking pictures?” I drawled, rolling my eyes when he shrugged. “David, do you want me to get annoyed?”
“I’m just sending one to Kate saying you’re working hard,” he chuckled, putting the phone away.
“So you’re like the beauty behind the company and your friend the brains?” the guy pushed, and I realized he was an actor I’d seen in some drama I didn’t keep up with.
I chuckled as I leaned over to pick up my towel. “Are you saying you’re dumb because you’re hot?” I kept going when he frowned. “We’re both attractive and are both smart. She has the military experience and training while I have the business degrees, so that’s the combo we make.”
“And they’re good at it,” David praised. “I know several people they’ve helped out, and never a word comes from their camp either on what happened or anything else that they learned being in a star’s house.”
“Fine, I’m not angry you took a picture with a glowing review like that,” I teased, leaning in and kissing his cheek. “Was your flight good?”
“Yeah, I came in over the weekend to talk a few new jobs for clients.”
“He’s your agent?” I asked the actor, smiling when he nodded. “David’s the best. He’s dedicated and really cares, which is rare in the industry where people see looks and dollars first. He jumped on a problem most would have ignored. I like working with people who respect the partnership.”
“Yeah, no, please, put on a gown for another guy,” Nate bitched, and I got pissed.
I finished my food without a word, washed my dish, and put it in the dishwasher before leaving the kitchen. I went to my room to throw on clothes before heading down to the workroom and handling hats I needed to with the machine, loading up on what I wanted to put together, and bringing it all to the living room, ignoring both of them when they followed.
Then I thought better of it, their looming like I’d done something wrong and they were waiting for me to explain not something I could relax around. I picked up everything and went up to my room, setting up on the couch there and turning the TV so I could see it. I loaded a movie I had wanted to watch but barely paid any attention to it. About an hour in I had four sweaters sewn together and hadn’t really seen the movie at all.
I shut it off and put on music instead, hoping it would relax me, but it didn’t.
There was a knock at the door.
“Jamie, can I come in?” Stacy asked.
“Are you here to apologize?”
“No.”
“Then no,” I muttered, knowing he would hear me.
The door opened anyways and they both came in. I shook my head, getting even more upset that they would do that and just barge into my bedroom no less. Great, I get both of them and they gang up on me. Awesome. This was going to work out just awesome.
Stacy came and knelt in front of me, not touching me but trying to catch my gaze, which I wasn’t giving. He let out a sigh. “Should I pretend I’m fine with you going to some event with a known womanizer when you said you were mine? Would you really be fine with it if the situation was reversed?”
“Yes, I absolutely would,” I snapped, tossing down what I was working on and getting to my feet, heading to the door. “You might have to do just that for work, as this is work. That is the job or my end of getting business. I was very clear I would go in a professional capacity and not open to anything else. I’m very capable of saying no to any actor or anyone I don’t want advances from.
“Hell, I’m even capable of saying I don’t want to talk and kicking you out of my room after you barge in. And you’re pissed I’m wearing an appropriate gown for the event? Oh, I’m pretty sure I’ve dressed up for you both now, and hey, have either of you invited me anywhere to wear a gown? So don’t get all pissy like I’ve dodged you but would go with him. Now get out of my room before I completely blow.”
“Jamie, come on—” Nate tried.
“Get out. Seriously, get out before I kick you both out of my house. You not only crossed a line with me on this but then coming in here like you came to talk to a child and throwing a fit in her room instead of coming into my bedroom when I said no.”
Stacy gave me an angry look and went in the closet and grabbed his bag before the bathroom to get his toiletries. He paused in front of me, fisting his hands. “I fly out in the morning. I’ll go stay with Kate tonight and let you know when I’m back.”
I swallowed down the pain his words caused me, what the turn of events made me feel. “Guess you weren’t any different than everyone else, huh? Sorry I thought otherwise.”
He flinched, meeting my gaze. “I’m not wrong on this, and I’m not tossing you aside or taking advantage of you. I think I’ve shown how far I’m willing to go to give you what you need, accepting another man in your bed, but I’m not a doormat to keep adding to and now actors.”
“Get out,” I rasped, turning like he’d hit me. “Get out and don’t come back.”
He let out a huff and stormed out, shaking his head like I was the problem.
“Jesus, Jamie,” Nate whispered, looking at me with wide eyes. “You just kick him to the curb like that?”
“This is not me,” I argued, shaking my head. “Get out of my room.”
“Am I allowed to stay in the house, or I’m gone too?” He sighed when I didn’t answer, leaving my room. I slammed the door behind him, wondering what the fuck had happened from this morning to then and how it had seriously gotten so messed up.
“This isn’t me,” I whispered to myself, ready to break down crying that Stacy had left me over something so stupid. Everything was fine if we were in this bubble, the house only apparently. It had been a weird dynamic from the beginning, but maybe that had crossed lines and boundaries too fast? I kept replaying what I’d said to them, trying to figure out where things had blown up so bad.
I mean, he was acting like I’d said I was going to fuck some actor and he’d paid for me. That was so, so not the conversation we’d had.
I took a nap, unable to clear my head and needing the time out. It was after one when I got back up and headed to the kitchen for lunch.
Instead I got another slap to the face. A note from Nate saying he was going to Kate’s to talk work and he’d taken the spare key Stacy had left. Oh, and he’d eat dinner there and see me later.
I crumpled up the note, shaking my head as I tossed it out, completely ignoring food and not wanting any. I went to my office instead and did the work I was going to leave for tomorrow so we could have our fun day off.
“Jamie? Jamie, you there?” an agent I’d called, David, asked me, and I flinched that I’d tuned out.
“Yeah, I’m here,” I assured him, wiping my eyes when I realized I’d been crying. “Sorry, I dropped the phone when I banged my knee. I’m surprised you didn’t hear my swearing up a storm.”
“No, I thought I heard you sniffling, but yeah, that would bring tears to my eyes too,” he said with a chuckle. “I was asking if I got a hand knit sweater like I’m hearing some other agents have gotten from you. Am I not loved too?”
“I actually just finished yours,” I admitted, laughing when he snorted. “I did. And they’re brats for having said anything because I said they were holiday presents. Early, fine, I’m always on the ball, but they should at least wait until the holidays to brag they got one like they were the only ones.”
“Yeah, he is a brat,” he agreed, and I knew who he was even talking about, the two of them being rivals on several of their clients.
The doorbell rang, and I finished up before heading to it, my next slap in the face coming in the form of a Sunday delivery… Of the gown to the fundraiser. Awesome.
I was just about to close the door when I saw Kate’s truck pulling in, guessing she’d grilled them and headed over. Hopefully after she kicked the crap out of them.
Except she was giving me a hesitant look when she got out.
“Seriously? You too?” I bitched, heading inside, shaking my head.
“I only got their side,” she defended. “And it didn’t sound like you, so I’m a bit lost.”
“You know…” I trailed off, still shaking my head as I tossed down the box and went for the wine in the fridge. “You know, a normal woman would have gotten miffed that Stacy asked Nate how long he was staying and glad Nate was here while he was gone like I need a fucking babysitter. But I didn’t jump on that, getting there’s still some hard feelings in the area after Sean and Kyle and I’m an easy target here alone.
“So I said nothing. Checking he’d be safe while on his trip because I understood—I gave him the benefit of the doubt that was what he worried about for me. Not that I needed a sitter or couldn’t be trusted. So very mature, right?”
“Of course,” she agreed, nodding when I wiggled a wine glass asking if she wanted any. “So they didn’t tell me that.”
“Of course not because they’re men and why would that register?” I grumbled, pouring us both big glasses and killing the bottle. I told her what had happened after, and she just blinked at me. “This isn’t me!”
“No, I was waiting for the rest.”
“That’s it. That’s all that happened, and that was how they reacted.”
“Fucking morons,” she sighed, tossing back half of the wine. “They both said you felt guilty.”
I frowned. “I didn’t feel guilty. I felt bad like it was obviously going to be a thing and we just settled something big and I really didn’t want anything to disturb the peace, but no, I have nothing to feel guilty for.”
“I agree,” she promised. “Stacy said your heart skipped a beat and you smelled of guilt, and that’s what set him off.”
“I didn’t feel guilty,” I repeated, taking a huge gulp of wine. “That heartbeat skip was probably when they pushed me as to who it was. I realized they weren’t happy and that was before I told them who. Then I knew it was going to be a thing. It shouldn’t be! It’s not a date. And I’m certainly not adding actors like I’m a fucking whore. What was with that shot? I’m not staying at his hotel. I got my own room. You were supposed to go.”
“I think Jared and Dean are laying into them on that and the fact they’re acting like you’re mated and you should have checked with them then. Like I did, but I didn’t ask their permission. I just mentioned it before I agreed.”
“Of course you did, but you’re basically married. This happened like days after I even arrived here, and Nate just happened last night. If things weren’t so crazy, I might have mentioned it to Stacy in passing, but things have been.”
She bobbed her head. “I got the feeling he blew it up in his mind and sensed too much off you, Nate sort of echoing, adding fuel to the fire that he was right. He painted it like you were going on some date with an actor while he was going to be out of town and he only found out because Nate knew and you were acting guilty and—”
“Am I so untrustworthy?” I rasped, blinking at her. “We’re only good if we stay in this bubble here, but if I leave to—”
“No, Jamie, he’s just got issues too. We all do. He fell in love with you, and Nate showed up, and in his idiot male mind, he accepts he has to share you and immediately you’re trying to add to that because of course he’s going to get hurt because he fell in love.”
“Idiot. He’s such an idiot. They both are. That wasn’t what this was, and then Nate’s on his side, asking if he’s getting tossed out and runs to you. How did he think that would make me feel two seconds after we get together?”
Her face went pale. “I promise you he didn’t realize that.”
“Yeah, well, he should have,” I rasped, wiping more tears. “Whatever, right? It obviously wasn’t going to work, and they weren’t the ones, right?”
“You’re done with Nate too?”
I snorted as I went over to the pantry and started pulling stuff out to at least be productive. “What was there to be done with? One night? He spun around when he realized I wasn’t what he thought, but yeah, one night and morning. Then he’s back to treating me like a doormat or someone he can push around. He’s a fraud like the others—”
“Jamie, I wouldn’t let him talk about you like that in front of me,” she cut in.
I slammed the slow cooker on the counter and gave her a hard look. “Thanks for stopping by, Kate. I appreciate you coming to check on me and get my side, but I’ve got a lot to do and some work I want to handle before I leave Tuesday. I hope it’s okay if Nate stays with you for the rest of his trip, as I didn’t know he was staying that long or while I’d be gone.”
“Yeah, okay, sure, sorry, Jamie.”
I shrugged, going back for the huge cans of diced tomatoes. “Nothing to be sorry for. You’re in the middle and I get that. I’m sorry we put you there. It will blow over, and we’ll be fine.”
She nodded, giving me puppy dog eyes that made me want to hug her, but for the moment I didn’t have it in me to take care of anyone else. That was all I did, and most days it was exhausting.
“Yeah, just take care of yourself today,” I grumbled as I started opening cans… For the pasta sauce I said I’d make for the guys so they had something better than store bought stuff for their pasta nights. At this rate, I really would have to buy a few more slow cookers if I kept making bulk stuff, which really wasn’t a big deal since most of the time double or triple batches weren’t any harder.
Unless it was like apple butter where you had to peel, core, and dice three times as many friggin’ apples then which was horrible. When it was mixed, I threw a few pounds of ground beef and Italian sausage into the last slow cooker and diced up the onions that would need. I put that on low and headed to my office where I got nothing accomplished.
I went up to my room and stripped the bedding, wanting their smell, their everything out of my house as if that would help. After I had that going, I went to the kitchen to check on everything and decided to leave Nate a note to help himself to anything in the fridge, but I was going to bed so just leave the key there. Then I brought a bottle of wine up to my room, opening it while the tub filled for a nice bath.
I tossed in a cup of my mix for sinuses, knowing I was going to be stuffed up and hurting after the flood gates opened because I felt it coming. Sure enough, about ten minutes into my soak the sob I’d been pushing down came out as I wrapped my arms around my legs and folded into myself. It took a while for me to let it all out, but there was nothing left in me when I was done.
Throwing on my comfiest flannel jammies, I headed to fold the laundry before hitting the kitchen.
“I heard you crying,” Nate said quietly from over by the fridge, scaring the shit out of me. “Sorry. I went to see if we could talk, but I heard you crying.”
“Sorry you heard that,” I muttered, unsure of what else to say, not even able to look at him. “Do you need to run and tell Kate that too?”
He let out a heavy sigh, which actually made me feel better about being so petty and saying that. I ignored him and checked on the meat, glad it was done, splitting it between the three other cookers that were ready to go with all the spices and everything in it that I’d already done. Then I set the three of them to low, gave one last good stir, and left it to cook overnight.
“So that’s it?” he growled when I went to leave since the slow cooker had to cool before I could wash it.
I shrugged. “I didn’t hear you try to apologize, so I have nothing to say. Have a safe flight back, Nate.”
And that was the last time I saw him. He was gone when I got up the next morning, leaving me a note thanking me for letting him stay there and a great Thanksgiving.
So that really was it. The new plan was just to act like nothing ever happened? Okay, I could handle that. I could absolutely… Not fucking handle that. I was lying to myself if I said otherwise.
10
The flight to Denver was fine, a bit of choppy air, but no big deal. I caught the next one and made it to Atlanta no problem but really wanted to flip off the whole city for something that wasn’t its fault. Atlanta wasn’t to blame for the fight and ending with them.
They were.
Unfortunately, the flights were limited at Missoula’s airport, so I had to fly out Tuesday afternoon to make it for Wednesday’s event. Then again, it was nice because it forced me to relax a bit. And given it was Atlanta and warm—even if a bit unseasonably—I wanted to use the pool. I checked in, found my room, and put on my black and white two piece.
I was almost there when my phone rang, answering it as I looked for the best place to put my stuff down. “Hello?”
“Jamie, are you here?” David greeted, the agent we worked with from time to time. “You were coming in the night before and staying at the hotel, right?”
“Stalker,” I chuckled as I set my stuff down at the mostly empty pool. “Yeah, I’m here and about to hop in the pool because it’s over seventy here in November.”
“You in a swimsuit? I’ll be right there.”
I blinked at the phone when the call disconnected. “Who said you were invited?” I shrugged it off and slid my phone in my bag before diving into the pool and swimming several laps. I paused when I realized I wasn’t alone, swallowing down my annoyance at being interrupted and putting on the professional smile when it was David and a bunch of people. “Stalker.”
“Now that’s just mean,” he chuckled as he pulled out his phone.
“You represent her too?” one of the guys asked as I moved to the stairs of the pool and got out.
“No, Jamie is the co-owner of the company we’ve used to keep clients safe when they have problems,” he answered, smiling when he held up his phone to take a few pictures of me. “But I could easily get her work if she’d let me.”
“Why are you taking pictures?” I drawled, rolling my eyes when he shrugged. “David, do you want me to get annoyed?”
“I’m just sending one to Kate saying you’re working hard,” he chuckled, putting the phone away.
“So you’re like the beauty behind the company and your friend the brains?” the guy pushed, and I realized he was an actor I’d seen in some drama I didn’t keep up with.
I chuckled as I leaned over to pick up my towel. “Are you saying you’re dumb because you’re hot?” I kept going when he frowned. “We’re both attractive and are both smart. She has the military experience and training while I have the business degrees, so that’s the combo we make.”
“And they’re good at it,” David praised. “I know several people they’ve helped out, and never a word comes from their camp either on what happened or anything else that they learned being in a star’s house.”
“Fine, I’m not angry you took a picture with a glowing review like that,” I teased, leaning in and kissing his cheek. “Was your flight good?”
“Yeah, I came in over the weekend to talk a few new jobs for clients.”
“He’s your agent?” I asked the actor, smiling when he nodded. “David’s the best. He’s dedicated and really cares, which is rare in the industry where people see looks and dollars first. He jumped on a problem most would have ignored. I like working with people who respect the partnership.”
