Strings Attached, page 28
***
Weary from the endless ride and a meeting with the show’s producers, Nikki exited the elevator Thursday night and walked down the corridor to her hotel room. Shit. The leggy blonde in the long fur coat standing at the end of the hall looked familiar. She stopped short. No. Please no.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
“You wasted your time. Go away, Amy.”
“Oh, Nikki,” Amy purred. “I’m touched. You remembered my name this time.” She opened the coat to reveal a scarlet teddy underneath.
“I’m not interested.” She turned away and swiped her key card.
Amy wedged herself between the door and jam, blocking Nikki’s entry. She draped her arm over Nikki’s shoulder, pried open the coat farther, and rubbed her thigh alongside Nikki’s leg. “I find that hard to believe, considering what we shared the last time you were in town.”
Nikki pulled the door shut and moved Amy’s arm as she stepped away from her. “I said I’m not interested. Now move out of the way, or I’ll call security.” She took out her phone.
“Oh, come on, now. You don’t want another taste of this? A night of no-strings fucking? Remember how good it was last time? I’m wet right now just thinking about it.” She grabbed Nikki’s hand and tried forcing it between her legs. “Wanna see?”
Nikki yanked her arm back and headed back toward the elevator. “Get lost.” She pressed the button. She’d have her forcibly removed if she had to.
Amy’s stare turned cold. “You’ll be sorry. You wait, Nikki. You’ll be sorry.”
The elevator doors parted. “Good-bye, Amy.” She stepped inside and immediately hit the lobby button. “Christ, woman. Take a goddamn hint already!” She blew out a breath. Maybe it was a good thing Drew hadn’t come along after all.
She walked swiftly to the piano bar, where she found a hidden booth and nursed a drink for an hour. She hoped she’d waited long enough. It was closing in on ten, and they needed to be at the gig by seven the next morning. After bidding Drew good night with a text, she headed back to her room.
She sighed with relief when she rounded the corner and saw no one. Still, she approached her room with caution. Who knows where that loony could be hiding? She stole a peek in the vending room as she crept by. Empty. Taking one last look around, she slipped into her room and flipped the extra locks in place for good measure. She took a quick, hot shower and crawled into bed, glad she’d brought pajamas. It was going to be a long, cold night without Drew by her side.
She couldn’t believe how much she missed her. They’d only parted that morning—she looked at the clock—sixteen hours ago. How was she going to survive month-long tours? What was she thinking? This falling in love shit was fucking harder than she’d imagined. If she thought being around Jaymi all the time was tough before, being away from Drew was going to kick her ass into the next decade.
If she called this late, would she wake her up? Would Drew mind if she did?
Fuck it. She swiped her phone and tapped Drew’s picture.
“Hey, baby.” Drew sounded half asleep.
“Hi. Did I wake you?”
“Yes, but it’s okay. I’m glad you called.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Everything all right? Why are you up so late? Don’t those morning shows start wicked early?”
“They do. I don’t care.” No way was she going to tell Drew why she’d stayed up later than planned. “I missed you. I couldn’t sleep without hearing your voice.” It wasn’t a lie.
“I miss you, too.” Drew’s voice was muffled, as though her face was half buried in her pillow.
She heard one of the cats purring. The image of Drew curled up with her three furry friends was cuteness overload.
“I miss the kids, too.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to charm your way into my bed again.”
Nikki burrowed into the covers and grinned. “Is it working?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Shall I bring dessert?”
“Nikki Razer, you do not play fair.”
“Is that a yes?”
Someone knocked on her door. Shit. If that bitch is back…
She missed hearing Drew’s reply as she slid out of bed as silently as she could. She looked through the peephole. “Jaymi,” she murmured.
“What?” said Drew.
She swung open the door.
Jaymi was wearing a shit-eating grin. “Are you alone?” She playfully punched Nikki in the arm. “Ah, just kidding! I know those days are over.” She gestured to the phone Nikki was now holding away from her ear. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t realize you were on the phone. I can come back.”
“No. It’s okay,” she said to Jaymi. “Hey, Drew? I gotta go.”
“Everything all right?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I should let you get back to sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.” They bid each other good night, and she turned her attention back to Jaymi. “You want to come in?”
“Thanks, but I actually came by to see if you wanted to join the rest of us. We’re going for a nightcap at a blues club down the street.”
“At this hour?”
Jaymi stepped back, looked Nikki up and down, and broke into an even bigger smile. “You’re already in your jammies?” She ducked her head into the room and looked around. “Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”
She folded her arms. “I could ask you the same thing. Since when do you head out this late when we have an early-morning commitment?”
“I’m too keyed up to sleep.” She tugged on Nikki’s sleeve. “Come on, how often do we have the chance to hang out in New York and have some fun?”
Jaymi had a point, but she didn’t trust that Amy wouldn’t resurface and cause more trouble. It’d be best to lay low for the rest of their stay. “Maybe next time, Jaymz. I’m not really up for it tonight.”
“Wow. I’ve gotta hand it to Drew. I never thought I’d see the day we’d reverse roles as the responsible adult.”
“Shut up.”
“It’s not an insult, you knucklehead.” Jaymi sighed. “I still say you’re missing out, but okay.” She bounced on the balls of her feet and shot both arms in the air as if she’d just launched a game-winning home run over the left field wall. “We’re going to the Grammys!” She engulfed Nikki in a bear hug and kissed her several times on the cheek.
She grinned at Jaymi, and her heart swelled with their shared joy. “Get out of here, and go have some fun, you goofball.”
“Takes one to know one!” She hugged her again. “But I love you anyway.”
“I love you too, Jaymi.” It felt good to exchange those words aloud.
They looked at each other for a long moment, and Nikki’s heart pounded as the full force of their bond enveloped her soul. She’d never felt more at peace with their relationship. She knew she’d never again feel pain associated with her love for Jaymi. I’m in love with Drew.
“Tell the gang I said hi, and I’ll see you all in the morning.”
“I will. Later, tater!” Jaymi bounded down the hall to the elevator in her barely contained excitement.
She sighed contentedly. Damn, it was good to have friends.
Chapter Forty
Drew awoke in plenty of time to watch Nikki and the band on the early morning show. Nikki was charming, but she looked tired, as did the rest of the band, but their excitement was evident.
She tried hard not to feel jealous and insecure, but she knew Jaymi was in Nikki’s room last night. Late last night. She’d very clearly heard Jaymi ask if she was alone, and she was unable to make out what was said after that. That felt wrong for two reasons. Either Jaymi expected Nikki to have company, or she was hoping to be alone with Nikki for her own reasons.
She shook her head and finished dressing for work. She was being ridiculous. Jaymi would never cheat on Shawn. She’d never seen two people more in love. And Nikki wouldn’t cheat on me, would she? They’d just started referring to each other as “girlfriend.” That was pretty darned close to meaning they wanted to be exclusive, even though they hadn’t actually used the word. Was Nikki so weak that she couldn’t last one weekend away without satisfying her carnal desires?
Was she going to feel this insecure every time Nikki had to go away? She rolled her eyes. If she couldn’t trust Nikki with her best friend, she really was pathetic.
Her phone rang just as she headed outside. She answered immediately, both relieved and nervous. “Good morning, baby.” At least she didn’t sound pathetic.
“Good morning, beautiful. God, it’s good to hear your voice. I miss you so much.”
“You do?” Drew turned the key to her dead bolt and descended the stairs to the driveway.
“More than you could possibly imagine.”
“I miss you, too.” She climbed into her truck and turned the key, cranking the heat dial all the way up. “I saw the show. You did great.”
“Yeah? I felt like shit, though.”
“You looked tired.” She wedged the phone between her ear and shoulder. She rubbed her hands together. It took too long for this old beater to warm up.
“Yeah. We all are. Look, I’m sorry about last night. Jaymi came by to invite me for a nightcap with the group. I didn’t mean to cut you off so abruptly.”
“Oh. Hey, it’s all right. You have every right to celebrate with your friends.”
“It doesn’t mean you’re not important to me, too. I hope you know that.”
See? You were being stupid. Her heartbeat slowed noticeably. “Well, I’m glad the show went well.”
“We were a little out of our element, but I thought we did all right. Live TV is much different than doing a concert, let me tell you. I’d rather stick to singing.”
She shoved aside a familiar association with her mother’s TV exposure and reminded herself this was a different situation. “So…you’re staying down there for the weekend, right?”
“Yeah. I’m going to get some shopping done while I’m here.”
She heard a smile in Nikki’s voice, which made her smile, too.
“For me?”
“What do you think?”
“Don’t go too crazy. You know I can’t afford much for you.” She frowned. She hadn’t even begun her Christmas shopping.
“If I find you beneath my tree wearing nothing but a big red ribbon, that would be fine with me.”
She burst out laughing. “That can be arranged.”
Nikki let out a long, sexy sigh. “Now who’s being cruel?”
“You started it.”
“I did, didn’t I?”
“I hate to cut this short, but I need to get to work.” The truck was finally warm.
“Oh, all right. Have a good day, babe.”
“You too.”
Her commute was so much better than she’d anticipated. Now if she could just get through the next two days, she’d be golden. Maybe she’d get some of her own shopping done. She grinned as she mentally added a large red ribbon to her shopping list.
***
Her mood considerably brighter after talking with Drew, Nikki finished her brunch and hit the stores. Thanks to a tip from one of the morning show’s producers, she finally found what she was looking for. She smiled as she imagined the look on Drew’s face when she opened it. She couldn’t slow her pace back to her room if she’d wanted to.
The holidays this year were going to be beyond amazing. She could feel it. Cuddling with Drew, sipping hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. Making breakfast together the next morning in their new pajamas and fuzzy slippers after a beautiful night of lovemaking. Maybe she’d bring her here, to New York, to enjoy the festivities at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. They’d dance and blow noisemakers and shout the countdown together with the crowd as they watched the ball drop. And then, they’d kiss at the stroke of midnight.
She safely tucked her package under her arm and opened the door to her room. The sound of crinkling paper sounded beneath her foot. She gently placed the bag on the table, picked up the manila envelope she’d stepped on, and looked it over. It was blank, and sealed only with a metal clasp. Weird.
She shrugged out of her coat and opened it. Photos. She slid the contents out onto the table. Photos of Jaymi in her arms. Jaymi kissing her cheek.
Me, naked, in bed with Jaymi. Obviously, this one was doctored. Her memory flashed to Amy taking her picture in the hotel a few months ago, covered only to the waist. She must’ve taken the others last night from around the corner in the hallway.
“What the fuck are you playing at, you bitch?”
She flipped over the bedroom picture and got her answer.
Unless you want these plastered all over the tabloids and social media, you will pay me $500,000 cash. I gave Jaymi her own set of pictures. You can tell her yourself why you call out her name while you fuck other women.
Below the message were instructions on how she was to package the money, a place and time she was to deliver it, along with a threat that she would make things much worse for her if she went to the authorities.
Ice ran through her veins. Her legs turned to rubber. She was tempted to sit and collect herself, but she had to get to Jaymi. With any luck, she hadn’t been back to her room to find the package. It’s one thing to fuck with me, but to mess with Jaymi…
She shot out of the room and bypassed the elevator, electing to run up the four flights of stairs. She needed to burn off her fury. She reached the landing of Jaymi’s floor. Leaning against the wall, she gasped for breath and willed her pulse to decelerate. She pulled in a lungful of air and hissed it out as slowly as she could manage. Steady now. You need a clear head.
She knocked on Jaymi’s door.
Her stomach lurched when the door swung open. Shawn’s red, hardened face told her all she needed to know.
“I trusted you,” Shawn said through gritted teeth.
“I know about the package.”
“And?”
“Shawn, there’s nothing going on between me and Jaymi. You know that.”
“Do I?” Shawn thrust the photos in front of her face.
“What’s going on?” Jaymi approached from the other end of the corridor.
“Why don’t you tell me?” Shawn shoved the pictures into Jaymi’s hand and turned her back on them both. She raked her hands through her hair as she walked back into the room.
Nikki and Jaymi stepped inside and closed the door.
Jaymi’s eyes bugged as she looked at the photos. “What the hell?”
“Extortion, Jaymi. I know who it is. She came to my room last night, and I told her to get lost. Now she’s demanding money from me, or she’ll release the photos.”
“Oh, who gives a shit about your damn money, Nikki.” Shawn then turned to Jaymi. “How could you do this to me?”
“Shawn.” Nikki softened her tone, knowing Shawn had every right to be angry and confused based on the evidence. “Jaymi came to see me last night to invite me to join you guys, and she hugged me because she was excited about all the good things happening for the band right now, but that other picture is a fake. Look at it. Jaymi’s Photoshopped into it. She would never cheat on you.”
“She’s right, baby.” Jaymi put a hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “Hey, come on. Look at me. I love you, Shawn. I wouldn’t trade what we have for anything.”
Shawn let out a long breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She shot Nikki a furtive glance and then looked at Jaymi. “I’m overreacting again, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are.” Jaymi hugged her. “You have nothing to worry about, baby. I promise.”
“I’m sorry, guys,” Shawn said, her voice muffled in Jaymi’s shirt.
Nikki rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. She cleared her throat. “I hate to break up your little moment here, but we need to figure out how we’re going to deal with this situation.”
“We?” Shawn pulled away from Jaymi. “You created this mess, not us. Pay her off and make it go away.”
“It’s not that simple, babe,” said Jaymi. “Even if Nikki pays her the money, the woman still has the photos. There’s no guarantee she won’t still sell them or post them.”
“She’s right,” Nikki added. “Not to mention this could have a negative impact on the whole band and Jaymi’s reputation.”
Jaymi turned to Nikki. “What about Drew, Nikki? How’s she going to feel when she hears about this?”
A knife twisted in her heart. Drew was going to flip. This was exactly the type of thing that had made her hesitant to get involved with her in the first place. This wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t famous. What about the pictures of her and Jaymi? Would Drew be jealous? She laughed inwardly. Drew had no reason to be jealous, but could she convince Drew of that?
“Nikki?” Jaymi’s voice brought her back. “Hey. Talk to me.”
“I don’t think she’s going to take this well. What am I going to do?”
Jaymi said, “We need to call Lance. Let’s start there, okay? He’ll call the band’s attorney. They’ll know what to do.”
“Yeah. Right.” She collapsed into a chair. “I do know one thing. I’m not sticking around till Sunday and risking running into her again. I’m coming home with you guys tomorrow.”
“And then you’re going to talk to Drew. You don’t want her finding out about this from someone else.”
A dull ache traveled up her neck to the base of her skull. What if they couldn’t resolve this before they went home tomorrow? Should she call Drew and warn her? Then again, if they could pull the plug before it hit the fan, maybe she could spare her from the whole thing. She didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone. What a mess.
