Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1)(51)

She sits back on her heels. “Jack …”

“I don’t want to hear it. I came here to let you know I’m on to you. Now I’ve done that, so put your coat back on and get the f*ck out of my sight. I never want to see you again.”

She grabs her coat from the floor and cinches the belt. “You’re going to regret what you’ve done to me.”

“I already do.”

–––––

After I leave the hotel and I’m closed up in my car with her scent, the only thing I can smell is that damn sweet, floral fragrance. It’s on my skin and clothes and I despise it. I can’t believe I ever thought it was pleasant, let alone appealing. It’s nauseating and I want it gone. Now.

As soon as I’m back at the vineyard, I forgo calling Laurelyn and head straight to the shower. I have to wash away the last bit of physical contact I hope to ever have with that crazy bitch.

I hear Laurelyn’s ringtone, “Crash Into Me”, as I stand in the shower scrubbing my skin, but she’ll have to wait until I erase the last evidence of Audrey’s touch from my body.

I listen to Laurelyn’s voicemail as soon as I’m out, not even waiting until I’m dressed. “Hey, caveman. I just wanted to tell you something before I went to bed. Call me back when you get a chance.”

I walk toward the bedroom wearing only a towel and call her immediately. I don’t want to wait another minute to hear her voice. “Hello.”

“Hey, baby.”

The tone in her voice elevates. “Hey, you. I’m glad you called. Normally, I’m not all that excited about this and needing to share it with anyone, but you wanted to know, so I’m calling to tell you I got my period.”

Hmm. I’d forgotten about it, so I guess I wasn’t as worried as I thought. “That’s good to know.”

“I thought you’d like that. Have you been very busy today?”

What’s kept me busy while I’ve been here disgusts me. “I’ve been busier than I wanted to be, but I’ve still thought of you.”

“That’s a sweet thing to say. Everything okay at the vineyard?”

I fully expect it to be now that I’ve told Audrey I’m onto her little game. “There are some definite issues at Marguerite, but I think I’ll have them under control soon.”

“So, they just needed the big man to come along and take care of things. Show them how it’s done, right?”

Yes, the big man is on campus. She has no idea how big the big man really is. “You’ve got it, babe.”

“Will you still be staying until New Year’s Day?”

I don’t want to, but it’s necessary. I wish I could be back to celebrate with Laurelyn. “I’m afraid I have to. Will you be making plans with Addison for New Year’s Eve?”

“She’s going to The Blues Club with Zac and they’ve invited me to go. It’s open mic night again.”

I’m certain that means Ben Donavon is going too and will probably consider Laurelyn his date, but I don’t ask because I don’t want the confirmation.

“You’ll have a great time. I wish I could be there to hear you sing.”

“I’ll dedicate one to you.”

“Well, that’s hardly fair. I won’t be there to hear it.”

“Yes, that’s very unfortunate.”

I miss her. “What are you wearing?”

“Do you want the truth, or shall I describe some terribly sexy lingerie so you can fantasize?”

I can’t help it. I want to know what she’s wearing while Ben Donavon is sleeping only a few feet from her. I need to know what he’ll see if they run into each other on the way to the bathroom. “The truth.”

“I’m wearing an incredibly unsexy T-shirt and boxer shorts.”

I’ve seen her definition of unsexy and I couldn’t agree less. One of her sexiest moments was when she was wearing jogging pants and had her hair piled in a messy bun on top of her head. “Baby, you couldn’t be unsexy if you tried.”

“Lachlan. You’re wrong, but I thank you anyway.”

“You’ve felt all right today? No more headaches or vomiting?”

“I’ve felt really good today.”

She scared the shit out of me. “I was worried yesterday.”

“I’m sorry I worried you, but really … I’m fine.”

Is she really okay? “You’d tell me if you weren’t?”

“Yes.”

“It’s late and I should probably let you get to sleep. It’s not a bad idea for me to catch up on my slumber since someone has been keeping me up late at night.”

“Well, you might find it easier to get a little sleep if you weren’t instigating late-night activities.”

“You don’t like my instigating?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“So, you like it?”

“Very much, Mr. Henry. I like your late-night instigations. And your morning ones. And your midday ones. Hell, I like all of your instigating.”

“I’ll remember that next time I see you.”

“Yes, be sure you do. Now, get some sleep, Mr. Henry. You have a lot of instigating to do when you return.”