Page 47 of The Devil's Detail
I sit down and wait for the administrator to come and tell me what I already know. Mr Stone has said no in the most emphatic terms. Our extraordinary one night will stay just that. One night.
30
Jackson
“I’m on my way.”
I call Jonno from the airport. I don’t even have my passport. I’ve had to call the office to bring it to me. I’m not even going home.
“Did you meet him?” he rasps out at me.
“I bailed,” I acknowledge curtly.
“Fuck, what a prince charming you turned out to be. He’ll be fuming.” I can hear the laugh in his voice. He’s a dark man at times.
“I don’t care. I need to get away. I need to think.Fuck. Carter, again.” My phone is blowing up. Carter, Ash, but mainly Carter. I press decline. “Carter’s calling non-stop.”
“Men, huh.” He laughs at his joke. “Jude’s coming, so meet him in Dublin. In fact, Aoife and Evie will be there as well. So you can meet them and come here. And, Jackson,” he pauses, “I think you made the right decision. Bonney was a dream. A sex utopia. But you can’t live and love that.”
I sigh. “I know. Not sure I want to live anything at the minute. See you in a bit.” I hang up and sit in the airport lounge. My phone buzzes again. Carter. I switch it off. I need to get a few things into perspective.
I know I wanted wild sex, I fucking love it. But do I want a relationship as well? I know where Carter stands. Maybe I could have both with him? Whilst initially I was freaked out, after thinking all night, it’s not unreasonable what he’s asking for. And I’m not tied into it. It’s not a life of servitude I’m signing up for. I can leave the relationship if I want to.
My eyes are drawn to the TV in the seating area. ‘Carter Maywood—’ his name is on the screen. Full breaking news. They flash a picture of him and the dickhead duo in the park having that fucking picnic. Every facet of his life is under scrutiny—every look, word, touch is presented to the ravenous public, for full display and dissection. That is what being with Carter means. Gossip, intrigue, PR campaigns. None of it is real. And it’s all too much.
And then there’s Jameson Bonney. Well, the fact I bailed is a good indicator of where I am with him. If I would have wanted just wild sex, anonymous hands—and cock—he was the man. For months I’d felt as if he was unfinished business. But when it came down to it, he was finished. To want round two, but not show your face? To want me again, but all on his terms? It didn’t sit right. Regardless of how mind-blowing the sex was. I’d be in the dark—literally and figuratively—forever where he was concerned. It felt contrived, not spontaneous. Some things shouldn’t be replicated. Things should and have to evolve.
Ireland isa little oasis for Greystone heaven with Evie, the kids, Jonno, Jude, and Marshall. Jonno’s issue with his baby momma, and yet to be caught thief, dominate my mind. My full attentionis on them. But I get calls from CAshO—the administrator asking me to rebook an appointment. I decline. And Carter? He calls regularly, some I answer, some I don’t. The conversations are stilted, and very un-Carter-like. I’m back to being security Jackson—business, and nothing more. I need time.
31
Carter
I knowthey’re due back today. Ash has been keeping updated on the itinerary. Kasey is here, and he’s full of the joys of spring. Evie and the children are accompanying Jackson back to LA to see her husbands.
“Kasey, she’ll be in LA for a few weeks, at least. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to go see her.” I point to the sofas for him to sit. He’s anxious to go see them all and use his son Cole as the cover story.
“Cole can’t wait to see them. He loves the twins, and Evie said I can take him over.”
You’d think she was his wife the way he talks about her. No wonder everyone is confused about him, them. But I know from Evie’s side it’s just friendship. Nothing more.
“You need to chill out. Get too pushy and Marcus and Xander will stop you at the door. Plus, you need to give them time to see their damn kids.”
He huffs a laugh. “They won’t care. They do as she says. We all do.” He eyes me speculatively. “Anyway, enough of me. Haveyou spoken to Jackson?” He fixes me with his navy-blue-eyed stare.
I’ve sort of spoken to Kasey about my feelings for Jackson, but not confessed the whole turkey shoot. Or the debacle of me spilling my guts and him running out on me. How fuckin’ embarrassin’.
“I’ll wait. I’ve called him a few times while he was in Ireland, but they were busy trying to figure out the thief business, and then Jonno went and got married. Did you hear?” I watch him, trying to gauge what he actually knows. Most of the time he works on hearsay or things he makes up.
“Fucking crazy, if you ask me. Why would he want to do that? He could have just let her have the baby and given her some cash.” He’s so cold. So blasé about serious issues. “From what I’ve been told, the woman didn’t really want a husband. But to be honest, I don’t actually think Jonno Greystone is sane. Everyone treats him like he’s some sort of bomb about to go off.” He throws his hands up in an exploding motion, and I giggle, because that’s not far from the truth.
That brother is a bit scary. I remember his tone of voice on the phone in the park.
“Even Marcus and Xander are afraid of him. I think the only people who aren’t are the Greystones themselves,” Kasey finishes with a flourish.
“I’m not convinced of any of their sanity. James and Bucky’s antics at the restaurant when we went for dinner shows how few fucks they give. They go anywhere to do anything.” I smile at that though. I’ll be forever grateful to Jackson and the boys for that. In fact, I’d like to show my appreciation somehow, but that ain’t gonna happen either.
“Are you going to chase Jackson down? Beg him to go on a date?”
