A FILTHY Marriage (Filthy Line Book 4) Read online

  See? I could pick out all the features…

  Most of all, she wasn’t the people inside the club.

  And she yelled at the security guard.

  My interest was captured and there was no giving it back.

  “What is this?” she asked. “Do I look like some desperate woman in distress and you’re going to save me? I know who you are. You’re here for a night or two, right? Then you’re going to get on your fancy private jet and fly somewhere else. There you’ll probably say the same words and try the same moves on some other woman.”

  “True,” I said. “But tonight is all about you.”

  She laughed. “Nice try.”

  She took a few steps and I let her go. “You’re in a dress.”

  “You’re observant,” she called out.

  “You were doing something tonight, sweetheart,” I said. “And now you’re walking alone in that kind of dress. You were at a dinner, or party, or a wedding… is that it?”

  She stopped and looked back at me. “What do you want?”

  “To have one drink with you,” I said.

  She looked at the door.

  She looked at me.

  Then she backtracked and walked to me.

  She pointed to the door.

  I opened it.

  “You know I’m Jay, right?” I asked.

  “I already said I knew who you are,” she said.

  “And yourself?” I asked.

  “I’m Wren. You get one drink. No cheap moves. I’m only doing this so I can text my friends later and prove to them I had a good night.”

  She walked into the club with me.

  I smiled.

  It was never going to be just one drink.

  Wren finished her second drink as I leaned against the high-top table and admired the way she just threw it back so casually.

  This woman was a giant mystery.

  She looked like a small-town kind of person who worked a good job and had a simple life. Someone who worried about getting all the recycling out on trash night. Someone who did the speed limit in school zones.

  But she drank like a LINE WHORE.

  “Another one?” I offered.

  “They’re all free?”

  I laughed. “Anything with me is free, sweetheart.”

  She pointed at me. “That’s cheap.”

  “It was worth a shot. I didn’t touch you. I just spoke it.”

  “Okay, I have to ask you something,” she said.

  “Go for it.”

  “You’re a rock star. You’re this sexy, bad ass rock star… and you’re at this event with so many beautiful women… and you’re talking to me.”

  “So you think you’re beautiful?” I asked.

  “Compared to…” Wren pointed to a woman. “Her.”

  I looked at the woman. In a shimmering gold cocktail dress. Legs for miles. Curves for days.

  I whistled and she looked right at me.

  I waved her over.

  “What are you doing?” Wren asked.

  “You’ll see,” I said.

  I put my right hand out and the woman gave me her hand.

  I pulled her to the table.

  When she stutter stepped, her tits tried to dance out of the top of her dress.

  “Let me ask you something,” I said to the woman. “Do you think Wren is pretty?”

  “Oh, yeah,” the woman said. “I mean, she’s not in any makeup or anything, but she’s got a natural glow to her.”

  “See?” I said.

  Wren shook her head. “This is crazy. You’re a fucking supermodel.”

  She was talking to the woman.

  “Thanks,” the woman said.

  “Okay, now we need to see a breast,” I said with a wicked grin.

  “What?” Wren asked.

  “Go ahead, sweetheart,” I said to the woman. “Show Wren that when fake is done right, it looks great.”

  For the record, I knew who the woman was. I didn’t know her name, but I knew the strip club she came from, and she was there as a Line Whore.

  She grabbed the left side of her dress and pulled it down, exposing her left breast.

  Wren gasped and covered her mouth.

  The woman laughed and covered herself right back up.

  “Thanks, sweetheart,” I said to her.

  “Wait,” the woman said. “What about Wren? I want to see her…”

  Wren shook her head. “This is fucking crazy.”

  Before I could say another word, Wren took off running.

  I caught up with her out back and managed to grab her wrist before she was too far out of reach.

  “What’s the problem?” I asked.

  She spun around. “I don’t belong here. I am not flashing my breasts for the hell of it.”

  “So you need a good reason to do it?”

  “What? No. I don’t do that. I’m not doing that. This was a mistake. I have to go.”

  “Where?”

  “Back to my hotel. My friends are waiting.”

  “No, they’re not,” I said. “Everyone is having a good time but you. What’s your deal?”

  “I have no deal,” she said.

  “I’m just trying to show you a good time.”

  “That’s not a good time to me,” she said. “Making some woman expose herself…”

  “First off, I didn’t make anyone do anything,” I said. “She gets paid for that. She’s there for that reason. So don’t go passing judgment when you don’t know what’s going on. Second, you wanted a drink. Then you had another.”

  “And I’m calling it a night,” she said.

  “Fine. I just wanted to say goodbye. It was fun. For the record, I think you’re prettier than anyone in there.”

  “Ohgod… just stop…”

  “Be real, Wren,” I said. “I can fuck anyone in there. Without even trying. But here I am, chasing you around. Because I know you have some story dying to come out. So keep drinking and throw the story at me. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  “Oh, I can think of plenty of things,” she said.

  “Meaning you can’t control yourself when you’re drunk?” I asked.

  “I’m not going to sleep with you, Jay.”

  “I’m not used to women saying that.”

  “So then why bother with me?”

  “Because you’re different,” I said.

  “I have to go.”

  “Okay. Just take a quick pic with me then, sweetheart. So you have proof for your friends. I know how much you care about their opinion.”

  Wren took out her phone and I grabbed it from her.

  I held her phone out and put my head on hers and winked.

  I saw her blushing in the phone screen and I took the picture.

  “I don’t care about people’s opinions,” Wren said.

  I sent a text to my phone using her phone.

  “You sure as fuck act like it,” I said. I handed her phone back to her. “I put my number in there. Text me if you want to have some fun.”

  “Really? You’re a rock star. You’re rich and famous.”

  “I’m also a person,” I said.

  “Hey. I don’t care about opinions.”

  “You just said that, Wren,” I said. “But so far all you’ve done is talk and worry about your friends. And you’re in that dress… something happened tonight. If you’re leaving, then go. Hope the selfie with me gets you a little credit with your friends. Text me anytime. You never know what could happen.”

  I leaned down and brushed my lips to her cheek.

  Then I walked back into the club.

  Before I could open the door, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

  I looked and saw it was Wren texting me.

  I smiled.

  That was how I knew she was fun.

  Now, as far as being wild… I just read her text ten times.

  I’ll have just one more drink and that’s it.

  8

  WREN />
  What are you doing here, Wren?

  That question went through my mind every ten seconds.

  I had gone inside the club, left, and was now back inside again.

  Jay and I stood at a different table.

  Jay. FITLHY LINE. Jay.

  It was a lot to process.

  On top of that, the rest of the band came over to the table.

  “And who do we have here?” Sab asked.

  The drummer of FILTHY LINE… staring at me with drunk eyes… smiling…

  “This is Wren,” Jay said. “Hands off, Sab.”

  “Let her make her own choices in life,” Sab said. “Right?”

  Sab winked at me.

  “Right,” I said.

  “Toby is trying to pick up a woman,” Nash said. “It’s the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  They all looked somewhere and they all started to laugh.

  “Can’t we just pay her?” Reed asked. “Keep it easy for everyone involved?”

  “This is too good though,” Dex said.

  “Hey,” Sab said. “I’ll swoop in and steal her. That’ll get him going.”

  “That’s fucked up,” Jay said. “But I like it.”

  I didn’t know much about the band. I was more of a casual fan than one of the people standing outside, wearing head to toe FILTHY LINE merchandise, hoping for a glimpse at the band.

  But… being in their presence was kind of cool.

  They were all big, good looking, and they had this aura of being bad and untouchable. They screamed unpredictability.

  They were the complete opposite of me in every sense of the word.

  “Hey, I’m going to enjoy my night here,” Jay said.

  The entire band looked at me.

  “Have at it,” Sab said. He leaned toward me. “When this guy passes out drunk and you haven’t come yet, let me know.”

  I blushed and the band walked away.

  “Don’t mind them,” Jay said. “They’re horrible people.”

  “And what are you?” I asked.

  “I’m just me,” I said. “Want another drink?”

  I bit my bottom lip and sighed.

  “Sure… just one more.”

  We were back outside, catching a breather.

  Jay ended up just grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the bar.

  I was pacing myself but was definitely drunk.

  That was okay.

  I needed it.

  It was why I came to Vegas, right?

  “My friend got married tonight,” I said.

  “Oh yeah?” Jay asked. “That’s why you’re in the dress?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “That’s why I’m here too. I usually don’t take trips or anything.”

  “Why not?”

  “I like to work and be home,” I said. “I told you, I’m boring.”

  “You don’t want to see the world and live life?” Jay asked.

  “See, that’s what pisses me off. People think living is doing stuff. What about asking what the person wants? What if I don’t want to travel?”

  “Okay… but here’s the deal, sweetheart.” Jay leaned down close to me. I smelled whiskey on his breath. And I could smell rock star on him. It was a tough smell to describe… leather, booze, a musky cologne, and generally everything bad. “You don’t look happy.”

  “Oh, here we go again,” I said. “You’re going to try and convince me I’m not happy.”

  “I’m just saying what I see.”

  “Then see something else.”

  Jay laughed. “Whatever, sweetheart. I’m not afraid to be honest.”

  “You want me to be honest?” I asked. “Fine. I’ll be honest. I’m insanely jealous that my friend got married.”

  “Whoa,” Jay said. “That’s heavy. Why are you jealous? Do you have a thing for the groom?”

  “No,” I said. “Not even close. It’s just…” I sighed. “I can’t believe I’m saying this to you.”

  “Don’t think about it,” he said. “Just say it.”

  “My three closest friends are all married now,” I said. “And I’m not. I was the good one growing up. I was responsible. I planned things out. I went to law school, Jay. I’m a lawyer. I have a good career. I thought all of that was needed to be in place and then I’d find a guy and get married. They all just went by the seats of their pants… I mean, Nia… my friend who got married tonight… she met the guy a month ago. And now, boom, she’s marrying him in Vegas.”

  “Do you think that’s wrong?” Jay asked.

  “No. If she’s happy, then be happy. I’m just…”

  “Jealous.”

  “Totally jealous,” I said. I grabbed the whiskey bottle. I took a drink. “I hate myself for it too. This is not who I am. Just so you know. It’s just…”

  I looked at Jay.

  His rock star eyes had a moment when they were a little kind.

  They were light brown. Inviting. Dangerous.

  “What is it?” Jay asked.

  “My grandmother is sick and dying.”

  “Oh, fuck, sweetheart,” he said. He grabbed my hand. “Let me guess… you take care of her?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. We live together. We got her a one story house. She’s mostly kept to her bed now though. It’s one of those things… any day now…”

  “And you feel guilty for being here,” he said. “I get it now, Wren. Your friend gets into this whirlwind romance and decides to marry the guy a month later. She says she’s going to Vegas and wants you there. You’re torn because your grandmother is losing her life. So you’re seeing all the shit at once. The happiness, sadness, celebration, depression… all of it.”

  I sucked in a breath and felt like I could cry.

  Jay just said everything I had been thinking and feeling for a long time.

  “Will you kiss me right now?” I blurted out.

  Jay didn’t respond.

  He just took action.

  He moved down and put his lips to mine.

  I exhaled a breath through my nose and felt like I was melting into the ground.

  It was a short kiss.

  He kept his hands to himself.

  I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

  He broke the kiss but kept himself really close to me.

  I took a breath.

  “That was wild,” I whispered.

  “That was nothing, sweetheart,” he said.

  “Well, for me, that was wild.”

  “Jealous, huh?”

  “Shut up. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I’m glad you did. I get it.”

  “You don’t get it. You’re just trying to be nice.”

  Jay leaned back against the building and took the whiskey bottle for another drink.

  “So, what is it really then, Wren?” he asked. “Is it that you want to get married that bad yourself? Or do you feel like you’re being left out of life?”

  “I’m not sure,” I confessed. “That’s the thing. I’m really not sure. I don’t want to feel the way I do, but I do.”

  Jay looked at me. “So then rush off and get married. See what the feeling is like then.”

  I laughed. “Yeah. It’s so easy to do. I’ll just buy a sign that says PLEASE MARRY ME.”

  “In this town?” Jay asked. “You’ll find someone easily.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” I said. “Plus, who would want me, Jay? With all this going on with Grams… I mean, my grandmother…”

  “Grams, huh?” he asked.

  “Okay, I need to stop talking,” I said. “I’m letting you in way too much. You’re a rock star. You’re used to no talking. You’re used to beautiful woman just getting naked and doing stuff to you. You’re going to stay up all night and then just leave. You’re going to go live your life…”

  “You’re being jealous again, sweetheart,” he said.

  “Maybe I am.”

  “Do you want to be a rock star?” Ja
y asked. “I can teach you how to play guitar.”

  “No, Jay, I don’t want to be a rock star.”

  “Then what do you want?”

  I thought about the question for a few seconds.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. Everyone wanted me to come here tonight to have fun. To relax. To forget. And what am I doing? I’m rambling like a fool with you.”

  “So, do you want to go have some fun?”

  “Where? Inside there?”

  I pointed behind me to the club.

  “No,” Jay said. “Fuck that place.” He touched my chin and smiled. “I have to ask you something. I need you to answer truthfully.”

  “Go for it,” I said.

  “Just how much fun do you want to have tonight?”

  I heard my phone ringing.

  When it stopped, I sighed with relief.

  Then it went off again.

  I waited until the third time it went off to finally open my eyes.

  The first thing that surprised me… it was daylight.

  “Shit,” I said.

  I hurried to sit up.

  When I did, my head spun - or the room spun - and my stomach gave a clear warning that it was going to empty itself.

  I pulled the covers up over my head and sat there in the bed, taking a few deep breaths.

  I was a mess.

  Of course I was a mess.

  I spent the night drinking.

  I was getting what I deserved.

  My phone started to ring again.

  I squinted my eyes and pulled the covers down to keep the sunlight from hitting me too hard.

  There came my next surprise.

  I wasn’t in the right hotel room.

  I wasn’t in the suite that Nia had book for us.

  “Fuck,” was the response to that revelation.

  I was still in my dress.

  Fully clothed, which was a good thing.

  I turned my head and saw my phone on the nightstand.

  I grabbed it and answered the call.

  “Hello?” I asked.

  “Wren!” Lola yelled. “Where the hell are you?”

  “I’m, uh…. I’m… what?”

  “Are you drunk? Did you sleep with him?”

  “Who?”

  “Jay,” Lola said.