But this one, the new Event woman, she ‘just happened’ to have been around when I was, both before and after my treatment. Playing it cool like she didn’t know who I was. That was her first mistake. So many did that. The whole ‘I’m going to pretend I don’t know who he is to get his attention’. Fuck that. Also her whole body was on display when I came out. She either wanted to seduce me, or there was more to it. Given her speech on the massage perv, obviously directed at me, maybe that was her game. To evict me from the spa?
But my gut told me there was more to it.
I'd seen the calculations in her gaze. I recognized the look because it felt like home.
Everything I did had to be a calculated move if I didn’t want to end up in the press again. Woman had become my drug of choice, to replace the liquor that could no longer burn through my veins. I'd been a careless drunk. A bad move for a human, a dangerous one if you were a vampire. What had gone down that night… never was to happen again.
So if the worst thing I did was screw every masseuse who worked in Malibu? Well, I had access to my own private plane. There was an endless supply of willing women with magic hands.
So I needed to do some digging on Serena Ripley, and keep a very close eye on her, which wasn’t difficult given she was hot as sin.
Chapter Nine
Serena
“Are you ready to meet the gang?” Carter asked me, giving me a tilt of that gorgeously defined chin.
“Yeah, do I look okay?” I asked him.
“Better than okay.” He seemed to drink me in, casting his eyes over my tight black dress that came to just above my knee. I’d curled my hair, and it hung in loose waves.
“Come in then and I’ll get you a drink.” He said.
Carter’s home was only about three houses away from the Dream. It was literally a few minutes walk. With the view over the ocean there was no wonder he loved the surf. He stared at the ocean every day. All four of them lived on here just houses apart. What a place to grow up. It was a shame the busy Pacific Coast Highway ran at the rear although it was a reminder that I hadn’t died and gone to heaven.
Carter’s home was all white concrete facade and tall glass windows. There was a front patio with fire pits where people were milling around with drinks. Right next to his house was his own tennis court. The hotel was basically an extension of his home; I could see that, could see the community of Billionaire’s Beach now I’d made my way inside one of the properties.
“Feel free to have a look around.” He said. “As I have lots of guests needs to satisfy. Are you okay if I catch up with you later?”
“Sure, go be a host. I’ll see what I can steal.” I winked.
“Well, I have security, so only do that if you want to be caught, cuffed, and at my mercy.” He winked back and walked toward some other guests.
I took a drink from a passing waiter with a tray and began to look around. The lounge area was vast with bookshelves and plenty of seating. Adjacent was a huge dining area where chefs were busy preparing food for guests. Trays of canapes were being brought out as well as champagne. There was an open plan staircase, and I followed it up to the second floor, taken aback by the sheer size of the rooms. The bedrooms were vast, making the beds seem like a workout to reach. There was a huge office to the rear of the building and I wondered how it was so quiet given the highway.
“Can I help you?” A terse voice asked, and I startled, pivoting and finding myself confronted by Jayden Bryant.
“Hey. Carter said I could come nosy. I’m Serena from the Malibu Dream.” I held out a hand to him.
“Oh, okay." His stance relaxed a little. "Well, I know this place like the back of my hand, so fancy a tour?”
“Sure? And you are?” I asked.
“Yeah, okay, you know Carter then you know who I am, but for the sake of your bad memory it’s Jayden.”
I laughed. I found his candor refreshing and could see there would be no bullshitting this one.
“So by the look of the decor I’m guessing parents floor?”
“Yes, Carter’s rooms are on the floor above. Shall we?” He gestured back toward the stairs. I followed him, making sure I trailed behind. I’d rather I had the perfect view of his peachy ass, than he mine at this point. He led me into a room that took my breath away. From higher up, the view of the ocean just got better, and I followed Jayden out onto a patio area with a glass screen. We watched as the waves buffeted against rocks, the sound soothing to my ears. How could you ever take this view for granted?
“Wow.” I turned back around at Carter’s bedroom. “I guess he has this view for his living space too?”
Jayden nodded, “and his dining room, kitchen and bathroom.”
“He has all those things on this floor, even though there’s a kitchen downstairs?”
Jayden shrugs. “It’s self-contained for when his parents are here. He has everything.”