Hollywood Harlot

Chapter 3

Icy wind blasted Bella’s face the moment she stepped out of the plane, literally taking her breath away. She looked down at the Capri leggings and t-shirt she’d been wearing at the motel, her usual attire for cleaning rooms, and shivered. Her outfit was never going to work in blustery Vermont.

Holding her hand, Jake led her toward yet another black town car .

“I know,” he said, without her having to say a word, “We’ll get you warmer clothes soon. But first, we have to go to the hospital, if you don’t mind waiting just a while longer.”

Bella nodded. Of course, they had to check on his twin immediately, before anything else. That was the entire reason she was there instead of his actual escort, after all.

“I’ve heard some twins can feel each other’s pain when they get hurt. Did that ever happen with you and your sister?”

Jake shook his head as they ducked into the car. Without saying a word, the driver took off immediately. Jake must have given him instructions when he’d booked the car.

“Nah,” he said, his face creased with worry. “I’m not sure if that happens with fraternal twins, but it never happened with us.”

Bella settled back into the seat and they didn’t say another word as the car navigated through the small town streets toward a hospital on the edge of the quaint little city.

When they arrived, Bella silently followed Jake out of the car and through the hospital doors. He walked straight to the security desk at the entrance and said, “Beth.”

A beautiful girl with blonde hair and brown eyes looked up from her computer screen and instantly smiled. “I wondered how soon we’d see you, Jake McGreen. She’s okay, I promise.”

Jake let out a deep sigh of relief. “Thanks, Beth. What room?”

“214. Just up the stairs and down the hall.” She handed him a neon green “visitor” sticker and glanced at Bella for the first time.

“She’s with me,” Jake said quickly, reaching for a second sticker. He handed it to Bella and began dragging her down the hall to the stairs.

She kept pace with him and he raced up the stairs and down another corridor. When they arrived at the room marked 214, he didn’t knock, but instead grabbed the knob and pushed it open. He clearly was used to going wherever he wanted. Still holding her hand, Jake walked to the hospital bed in the back of the room.

The woman’s eyes were closed and her face was covered in mottled bruises, but even still, it was obvious how beautiful she was. Her long brown hair had been brushed perfectly straight, and she looked a little like a sleeping angel. Her arm was in a sling and there was an IV attached to the back of her hand, but other than that, she looked mostly okay. Bella felt Jake’s entire body relax just a little more. She inched herself closer to him and squeezed his hand.

“She’s okay,” she said reassuringly.

Jake collapsed into a chair sitting next to the bed, letting go of Bella’s hand for the first time since they’d been in Vermont. Immediately, her hand felt cold and empty.

He put his head in his hands and started to cry. Bella was startled. She didn’t know him well, but she hadn’t expected this.

She got down on the floor and kneeled in front of him, placing her hands on his knees.

“Hey, hey,” she soothed him. “Your sister’s okay, Jess is okay. She’s just sleeping. She’s just fine, I promise.”

She looked up at his rugged, handsome face, and he sat up straighter, but looked down to meet her gaze. Hastily, he wiped his face with the palms of his hands.

“I’m sorry,” he said gruffly.

She smiled and squeezed his knee. “You never have to apologize to me for tears. Crying is good for the soul, it releases negative energy. Clearly, I don’t mind crying myself.”

Matching his earlier gesture, she gently wiped his cheek with her hand. Her fingers tingled where they touched his solid cheekbone and soft skin. God, he was handsome.

Jake smiled and Bella thought back to her panic attack on the plane. “We make quite the pair, I guess,” he said.

She matched his smile but simply squeezed his knee again as she stood up.

“Hello,” came a soft sound behind them.

Bella turned quickly around. Jess had opened her eyes and had clearly been watching them for awhile.

“Who are you?” She asked bluntly, narrowing her eyes at Bella.

Bella blinked and glanced at Jake, who had stood to go by his sister’s bed.

“Bella,” she answered simply.

Jess looked her up and down quickly, much like Jake had, before asking, “And are you another one of my brother’s escorts, or are you actually with him voluntarily?”

Jake cleared his throat. “Okay, okay, that’s enough of that. Tell me. What the hell happened?!”

Jess closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them. “Oh, it’s so embarrassing. I just slid on the ice coming home from the store, crashed into a light pole on Main Street. So humiliating.”

She raised her free arm to put her hand on her face. “I didn’t even get a cute paramedic to rescue me.” She laughed quietly.

Jake looked around the room. “Do you need anything? Water? I know the food is crap here, want me to run to Eliason’s to grab you something?”

Jess shook her head. “No, I’ll be getting discharged as soon as Matt comes through to do rounds. But thank you.”

A very faint blush crept up on Jess’s face, and Bella wondered if Jake had noticed.

“Matt, huh?” was all he asked.

“Be quiet, you have no right to talk,” Jess answered.

Jake chuckled. “So what’s the damage?”

Jess sighed. “Broken wrist, but it’s a clean break and won’t take long to heal. Contusions on my face, obviously, which will look fabulous as Maid of Honor. But mostly, just a bruised ego.”

Bella smiled sympathetically at the beautiful woman. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed, it was an accident, right? Accidents can happen to anyone.”

Jake grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. She glanced sideways at him and smiled back when she saw his beautiful lopsided smile directed at her.

“That’s sweet. But I’ve been driving in ice and snow, on these same streets in fact, my whole life. As soon as he’s convinced I’m not going to die, Jake will start rubbing it in.”

Jake shrugged, guilty as charged, and looked around the chipper hospital room. “It seems like you’re all set, then. Give me a call when you’re discharged and I’ll pick you up. I have to get this one some warmer clothes.” Jake motioned with his thumb at Bella.

Jess raised her eyes. “You came wearing nothing but that? I think I’m starting to understand.”

“No, no,” Bella began to protest, but Jake started pulling her toward the door.

“It doesn’t matter what you say, Bella. She’ll think whatever she wants.”

He glanced back in at Jess and smiled, “I’m glad you’re okay, Sis. I’ll see you soon.”

******

Thirty minutes later, the car pulled up in a front of an absolutely gorgeous mountain lodge. The covered entryway was made of giant pine logs, huge granite boulders, and rustic metal. As they had driven up the driveway, they had passed several smaller cabins that were miniature replicas of the main building. But the main lodge itself was breathtaking. Jake opened the large, wooden double door for her and she stepped into a somehow even more impressive main lobby. Giant logs stretched four stories tall, and a fire in the massive stone fireplace in the back corner crackled quietly, casting romantic dancing light throughout the entire room. Large, cozy chairs scattered across the lobby added to the welcoming feeling that the entire display immediately cast off.

Jake placed his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her through the lobby.

“There’s a resort shop down here,” he said. “We’ll get you what you need for a day or two and can order anything else you want to come in. Spring Creek doesn’t have a mall or any big stores, but this will work for now.”

He led her into a beautifully decorated store in the back corner of the lobby. Racks of brightly colored winter jackets, hats, gloves, and boots lined the front of the store, and in the back Bella could see a wide variety of day clothes.

“Oooh,” Bella breathed. “This could take awhile!”

Jake laughed and started going through a rack of coats. “I don’t have anywhere to be. What’s your favorite color?”

Bella was taken a little aback. David had always refused to go shopping with her, and now Jake was not only willing to stick around, but even help? She shook her head in disbelief, but smiled at him shyly.

“Green,” she said.

Jake nodded thoughtfully. “Good choice. I bet you look really hot in green. Matches your eyes.”

Bella was shocked again. Who was this man?

He lifted a green coat from the rack and held it up to her. She reached out and touched it. It was soft but warm at the same time. It had shiny silver buttons and a matching zipper, and very faint glittery thread sewn into the fabric.

“It’s lovely,” she breathed, automatically reaching for the price tag to check it.

He swatted her hand playfully away. “Nope,” he said, “Don’t even look. I told you’d I’d get you anything you needed while you are working for me, and I meant it. If you like this coat, you get this coat. No questions asked.”

He carefully removed it from the wooden hanger and held it up so she could slide into it. It felt smooth as silk and fit like a glove. Bella carefully zipped it up and turned around to face him.

“What do you think?”

He studied her carefully, and something shifted in his eyes. For a moment, Bella wondered if it was desire.

“I think I was right,” he said gruffly, taking a step closer to her and putting his hand gently on her face. “It makes your eyes pop and look so damn sexy.”

A slow burn beginning deep inside her belly continued to grow as she held his gaze, staring intently into his deep blue eyes. She inched herself just a little bit closer and tilted her face up toward his. He leaned down to her, and the slow burn in her belly erupted into a blazing fire. His face was less than an inch away, and she couldn’t wait for those luscious lips to claim her own. Her heart beat faster, and she closed her eyes in anticipation of what was to come.

“Jakey!” a high pitched squeal came from the doorway, and Jake immediately pulled back. He gave Bella a rueful smile and shrugged a little before turning to where his name was being called.

“Jordyn,” he said, stretching his arms out wide and flashing her a giant grin. “You’re getting married!”

“I’m getting married!” she screamed, running into his arms. He enveloped her in a big bear hug and she continued to squeal the entire time. She was much shorter than Jake and Jess, and had shoulder length, bouncy, curly brown hair. Her curls were so perfect they formed tight little ringlets. Her brown eyes were shining, and when Jake released her, she reached over to wrap her arm around the man standing next to her. Happiness radiated from her as she beamed at him, and Bella wistfully wondered what it must feel like to be that adored, and to adore someone equally.

“Gage, good to see you again,” Jake said, reaching out to shake his hand. He put his other hand around Bella’s waist and pulled her to him. “And this is Bella.”

“Bella!” Jordyn squealed yet again. “You have to come with me!”

She began pulling Bella from the store, and Bella looked back at Jake, wide-eyed and shocked.

He shrugged sympathetically. “She’s the bride, she gets what she wants,” he laughed. But then he pointed a finger at Jordyn. “But take it easy on her! She’s had a long day!”

Jordyn gripped Bella’s hand tightly as she almost began running from the resort boutique. “This way,” she cried almost hysterically, and Bella could hear Jake laughing from behind them as the pair of ladies disappeared out into the main lodge, leaving both men behind.

A few minutes later, Bella found herself on the fourth floor of the lodge sitting in front of yet another massive stone fire place. The fire was roaring, and the two girls sat next to a movie theater screen-sized glass window overlooking the ski slopes and forest behind the lodge. A blanket of white snow covered the entire picturesque scene, and it was so pretty it looked like something from a fairytale.

“It’s gorgeous,” Bella breathed.

“It really is. It never gets old,” Jordyn said, handing Bella a beautiful clear glass mug topped with a healthy dollop of whipped cream.

“Hot chocolate?” she asked, holding the warm cup in her hands.

“With a kick,” Jordyn replied, eyes twinkling. “It’s my personal recipe for staying warm on chilly days.”

Bella took a long sip, allowing the creamy chocolate and vodka to slip down her throat, warming her instantly.

“That’s quite the kick.”

Jordyn giggled, tucking her legs up underneath her. “Let’s get to business. I am so glad you are here. Half the girls Jake brings are real bimbos, but I can already tell you’re not like that. And since Jess isn’t going to be in top-notch condition, I’m going to need your help.”

Bella nodded, taking another generous sip of the savory warm liquid. She had a feeling she was going to need it.

“First of all, what’s up with you and my brother?”

Bella nearly choked on her drink. “Don’t you know?”

Jordyn rolled her eyes. “I know he usually brings an escort to these kinds of things to keep my mom off his back, but I’ve never seen him look at one of those girls like he was looking at you back in that shop.”

Bella blushed. “We only met today.”

She wondered, Could that possibly be right? It felt like a month at least, but just that morning she’d been cleaning rooms at the Highway 78.

Jordyn nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll take your word for it now. But we will see where this goes.”

“I’m just helping him out,” Bella protested weakly. But deep down inside, she already knew it was more than that. She had to watch herself, or she’d wind up in the same kind of heartbreak she’d been in with David. And she had promised herself, after the entire David fiasco that cost her literally everything, that she would never do that to herself. Ever again.