The Bad Boy Wants Me(3)

Cash’s gorgeous eyes widen. He nods slowly as she tells him about her disastrous appointment with Dr. Strong.

‘Well, Sparkles. I think cat’s eyes are a great idea.’

Jesus. Madness must run in the family.

‘You do?’ Britney asks brightly, her whole face shining with hope.

‘Absolutely. It’s a great look. It’ll make you look like one of those beauties from the fifties and sixties.’

‘What?’ She frowns.

‘Yeah, you know like Zsa Zsa Gabor.’

‘Zsa Zsa Gabor. Who’s that?’

‘She’s from dad’s time,’ he supplies with a wise nod. ‘Oh, and like … er … what was the name of that comedienne who died recently?’ He snaps his fingers and looks at me.

‘Joan Rivers?’ I suggest helpfully.

He stops snapping and points at me. ‘That’s the one.’ With a smile he turns towards his sister who’s looking at him with dismay. ‘Definitely a great look,’ he says approvingly.

‘But they’re both so … old.’

‘So what. They had style. Style never dies. Come on, let’s go and see Dr. Strong together. I’ll help you to convince him.’ He takes her arm.

Britney holds back. ‘Hang on a minute. I think Dr. Strong might have been right, after all. It’s a big step and I should think about this a bit more.’

‘Oh,’ he says innocently. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes,’ she replies lamely.

‘In that case,’ he turns to me, ‘how about introducing me to this lovely creature?’

Britney turns to me. ‘Oh, this is Tori Diamond. Dad hired her to be my PA.’

He extends a hand out. ‘Hello, Tori Diamond. Cash Hunter, Britney’s pop star brother. How nice to meet you.’

I step forward and put my hand into his ridiculously strong hands. Damn, these are some hands. Must be all that guitar strumming. My imagination runs away with me. One finger inserted deep inside me, and curling to stroke me. Oh hell! Phew! Is it hot in this corridor or what? Heat creeps up my neck. I wipe my brow as surreptitiously as I can.

He smirks. The smarmy bastard.

I clear my throat. ‘Charmed, I’m sure,’ I say in the poshest voice I can muster.





Chapter Two


Tori

‘We really should be getting back,’ I announce awkwardly, looking at Britney.

Britney turns to her brother, her voice wheedling. ‘Can I go back in your car, Cash?’

‘Sure, I’ll take you home, but I can’t stay for long.’

‘Oh! Why?’ she moans.

‘I’m bushed, Brit. I’ve been up all night. I just want to get back to my apartment and crash. I’ll come around tomorrow.’

‘Well, you can sleep back at ours. We won’t disturb you. Dad’s not in, Cora never comes out of the kitchen. I’ll be real quiet, and Tori here is more silent than a bloody tomb.’

He glances at me interestedly. ‘A silent one, huh?’

‘Say you’ll stay,’ she begs hopefully.

He looks down at her, his expression undecided.

‘Cora’s making your favorite smoked chicken pie tonight,’ she says cunningly.

I know for a fact Cora is doing no such thing. It should have been a silent observation, but I hear words I never intended to say go flying out of my mouth.

‘Actually she’s not.’

Cash trains his starry eyes at me and I feel myself go hot. A wicked smile plays about his lips as he makes his decision. ‘You know what, Britney? I think I might have to take you up on your tempting offer after all.’

Me and my big mouth.

‘Yay,’ Britney yells happily as she bounces up and down and jumps around like she’s a frog in a rainforest celebrating a coming storm.

In a kind of hypnotic daze, I watch Cash pull a beanie from his jacket and jam it on his head. Then he takes out a pair of sunglasses and hooks them onto the bridge of his nose. I hate to be repetitive, but he is one sexy dish. Give me a man in shades any day.

Britney threads her hand through her brother’s and beams at me. ‘I’ll see you at home?’

’Yes, yes, obviously. Of course you will,’ I babble foolishly before I turn around and slam straight into a really fat man. Mortified, I make my apologies. Of course, with my luck, he would have to have a weird sense of humor. He laughs and tells me not to apologize since it’s the best sex he’s had all year. My face burns with embarrassment. I dart a glance back at Cash and the irritating bastard is shaking with silent laughter.

Whatever. With my head held up high I sail towards the door.

Outside the sun is shining brightly on a gleaming black on black Lamborghini parked in front of the surgery. Its macho perfection is spoiled by some heartless parking attendant sticking a yellow and black parking ticket on its windscreen. I am secretly pleased. Laugh at me, will you?