Nothing to Lose

TWO

TWO

“We’d understand if you needed rest,” Jane said. “You’ve been out every night for months.”

“Not every night,” Roxie said, descending their building’s internal stairs, holding both of her girls’ hands.

“She wouldn’t know what to do with herself if she wasn’t out partying,” Toria said. “It’s only right that we get to paint the town crimson too. You see what I did there?”

Roxie smiled at her friend. “Clever.”

The security guy in front of them opened the communal door to check outside and gestured it was safe. Good job, guy. She didn’t miss a step and wouldn’t have waited regardless, but he didn’t know that.

Two other agents closed in behind them as the trio of women exited. On the top stair, she stopped, forcing her girls to do the same.

Why was…?

The reporter from earlier was on the sidewalk with a few more of his kind. Hmm. There was a gaggle of women there as well, groupies, crowded together, wearing Casanova-4-Lola tee-shirts. She smiled. They reminded her of the Experience winners.

The people hadn’t taken her momentum. No. The Mercedes at the curb had done that. The driver got out and went around to open the back door.

Why was it still there? She didn’t need a staff. Why was no one getting this message?

The reporters shouted. “Roxie! Rox!”

The groupies were quick to follow suit and called out to her too.

When she started down the stairs, they all rushed in. Security was quick to hold them back. Reporters, fine, block their way, but the groupies were a different matter. She smiled and gestured them around the end of the goon.

“Hey,” she said. “It’s freezing out tonight. You’ll catch cold.”

“We love you, Rox.”

“Yeah, you completely rock!”

“Zairn too.”

“Thank you,” she said. “We both appreciate it.”

“Will you sign our shirts?”

“Oh, uh…” One woman thrust a Sharpie into Roxie’s hand. Jane took her purse, deciding for her. Guess autographs were on. “Sure.” After removing the lid with her teeth, she started signing shoulders. “Want me to sign Z’s name too?” she asked, the lid still in her teeth. “I can totally forge it.”

The women laughed. “You’re amazing together.”

“We’re not together,” Roxie said, wiping off the lid before putting it back on the pen.

A reporter jumped closer. “Is that an official quote, Miss Kyst?”

“You can kiss my a*s,” she snapped at the reporter trying to dodge security. “That’s your quote.”

“Oh-kay, and we’re done with the meet and greet,” Toria said, opening her arms to herd Roxie into the car. As the vehicle pulled away, her friends’ attention zeroed in on her. “Snappy day?”

Roxie exhaled. “I know, I’m sorry,” she said, sinking back, catching her hair between her fingers. “They can just… they ride him so hard and…”

“I would too if given the chance,” Toria said, nudging her. Trust her glorious friend to joke at exactly the right moment. She’d missed her girls so much. “How long do we get to keep the car?”

“No idea,” Roxie said. “I didn’t know about it.”

“It’s amazing,” Jane said, stroking the door. “You lived like this for three months?”

Toria laughed. “The private jets and five-star living were probably better than the cars. Bet this kinda thing is no big deal.”

“It’s a big deal,” Roxie said. Being honest, she took the vehicles for granted. The jets, the suites, they were flashy. The cars conveyed them from one place to another. All of them were brand new and often full of gadgets. Still, it became second nature to expect a waiting ride. “I’ll call Astrid about it later.”

“No!” Toria objected. “We like it. We want a piece of the lifestyle too.”

“It’s incredible. Living like this…” Jane said in wonder. “What was your favorite part?”

Both women leaned in. “My favorite part…” of the trip? The s*x. No, that came second to the spark of excitement when he teased her. But that wasn’t what they meant. “I liked the view.”

“Mmm hmm,” Toria said in agreement, reminding her of Zairn. “I’d stare at him all day long.”

“Oh,” Jane said, grabbing her hand. “Do you have pictures?”

“Excellent question,” Toria said, shifting to get a better look at her. “Anything shirtless… or, you know… pantless?”

Restraining her laugh wasn’t easy. “He rarely went wandering around the suite n***d… There were too many damn people in there all the time.”

Not all the time. In the day, yes, people popped in and out. The evening could be busy too, depending on business and documentary needs. But after hours… after the club… after the drive home in the dark, when their hands and mouths wandered…

Getting away with what they had was crazy. Sure, it was only eleven days, but, wow, screwing in the back of his car…? The privacy screen was always up. Ha-ha, like that mattered. It wasn’t soundproof. Keeping it quiet hadn’t been at the forefront of her mind during certain climactic moments.

Their favorite bar was just a couple of blocks from their apartment. The Mercedes pulled up outside it.

“I love that they know everything about you,” Toria said.

Huh… How did they know? Her friends thought the Crimson people knew. Obviously, they did. But how? Had she mentioned it…? To anyone other than Zairn.

Trevor and his buddies appeared in the side window before the driver. Half a step behind, security flanked him as he opened the door. Nuts. Crazy. Wasn’t this supposed to be her past, not her present?

The three women got out. Security stayed close as they entered the bar. Busy. But not crazy. The corner between the bar and the front window was their favorite spot. The tall stools around the circular tables allowed them to monitor the bar’s comings and goings.

They were settling at the table when a server tried to approach. Trevor got in her way.

“Geez, man,” Roxie called over the background music. “Let the woman do her job.” For a second, he hesitated. i***t. If the server couldn’t bring drinks, she’d have to go to the bar where there were many more people. “I don’t think she was hanging here just waiting to kill me.”

The overwhelming logic apparently convinced him because he stepped aside.

“What can I get you?” the blonde asked.

Drawing in a breath, Toria began their regular order. “Lime-drop—”

“Gin and Cin with a twist, or Gin and It, whatever you call it. They’re both the same,” Roxie said, wincing at her friend’s blinking surprise. “Stupid habit I picked up in Italy.”

Her bemused friend quickly switched into a laugh. “Look at you all exotic.” They finished their order, and the server left. “Okay, so tell us…” Toria supported her chin with the heel of her hand. “We want the juice now, all the dirt.”

“What do you mean?”

Like she didn’t know.

“Did you f**k him?”

“No!” Jane exclaimed before Roxie could even inhale. “No! We don’t want her to answer that.”

“Why not?” Toria asked, laughing. “Because if he’s been inside any part of her, he’s off-limits for us? Good point, kills the fantasy.”

“No,” Jane droned at their witty friend. “It’s not romantic. She can’t kiss and tell.”

“It’s in the past,” Roxie said, wishing the alcohol would hurry. “Done and forgotten.”

“I want to know! I want details. We always share details.”

“Roxie?” That question attracted their attention around. A short woman stood just at her back. “Are you Roxie? Lomond’s Delight?”

Another passing woman paused to look at her twice. “Oh my God! Yeah, you’re that woman from the news… Roger, get over here.”

“We’re just trying to have—”

“Hey!” Trevor said, stomping up to put himself between her and the women. “Back off.”

“Trevor,” Roxie said, laying a hand on his arm.

As she did, it became clear the two women weren’t the only ones to have noticed her. A guy, she guessed Roger, was on his way over with a half dozen others. Around the bar, people glanced their way. Whispering. Gawping.

“s**t,” she murmured.

In her time with Crimson, Zairn made the rules. Sometimes she complained, but he’d kept her in the VIP zones. Protected. Another thing she’d taken for granted.

People moved on from glancing and got to moving. Some pulled out cellphones and aimed them her way, others left their seats.

“Miss Kyst,” Trevor said over his shoulder, still facing the bar.

“I see it,” she said, hopping off the stool. “I’m going to get out of here.”

“What?” Jane asked. “We just got here.”

She had an eye for it. Now she did. Zairn had a sixth sense with women, apparently, and was practiced enough to anticipate situations like these. She hadn’t given him enough credit on that score, in jest more than reality. Zairn was incredibly smart.

Watching the crowd move closer, hearing her name on so many lips… Her own limited experience was enough to recognize the calamity careening toward them.

“Miss Kyst,” Trevor said again with more warning.

“I’ll send the car back for you,” she said, taking her purse from the table and kissing both of her friends. “Have fun. I won’t wait up.”

When Trevor and his guys surrounded her, some confidence returned. For bitching about what Zairn insisted on, in that moment, she was supremely grateful. Strangers with alcohol in them, spirits running high, anything could happen.

It would die down. The interest. Eventually. Soon. Society would forget about the gossip of her association with Zairn Lomond, long before she forgot her time with him.

Being bundled out of the bar and into the car, all she could think about was him. It wasn’t the same without him. Without Crimson.

Exhaling, she closed her eyes and let her head drop against the backrest. If there were pictures, he’d see them… if he cared to look. She smiled. He’d have his validation. They both knew it. Yes, he’d been right: security was a good call. Thank goodness he wasn’t close by to torment her about that.

Although… naughty thoughts dialed her smile to saucy… It wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be teased by him… again. That part of her life might be over, but she could still fantasize. Nothing wrong with that. Harmless.

Like she’d once told Astrid, people all over the world dreamed of Zairn Lomond. Having some real-life memories to call on put her in prime position to wake her senses. Him above her… inside her. With mental images like those, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to have the apartment to herself for a while.