"Elizabeth?" Audrey ducked the dress that had been flung carelessly behind her granddaughter's head. "What is going on?"
Turning towards the open door, Elizabeth's face looked pained. That was the question she kept asking herself since she left the pool party with Courtney and Robin. What was going on?
She blamed the drinks. The damn strawberry margaritas had been delicious but they had to have been ninety percent alcohol. It was the only explanation for this insanity. That or Lucky Spencer's chest. It was one of those two factors, she had decided. Or a combination. She couldn't really have lost her mind so completely. There had to be a reason.
Lucky had joined them shortly after they found Courtney and had insisted on buying their drinks. Seeing the dirty look Patrick had shot them when he was leaving, Robin had insisted Lucky stay with them, claiming she hadn't talked with him in forever. So he stayed.
After overhearing his friend use Lucky's "getting some" as a reason to stop Robin and Patrick's fight, she had wanted nothing to do with him. She would have left except she came with Robin in Courtney's Mustang convertible. There was no way to leave unless she wanted to look 12 and call her grandmother to come get her. And she wasn't about to strike up a random conversation with some of these too good looking to be true types. Those guys always scared her.
She had stood silently to the side, sipping her drink, ignoring his every opportunity for her to join in the conversation. And when ignoring didn't work, she opted for the shortest answer possible. But then her drink had become drinks and he became too damn charming. Or was it the other way around? She couldn't fully remember at this point. At some point she did remember spotting his tattoo that covered his upper back. Maybe that was the reason. She always was a sucker for a man with a tattoo.
The one thing she did remember clearly was the conversation had turned to karaoke.
Courtney threw her head back and laughed. "Oh come on Lucky, don't be a snob! There are some great singers who do karaoke."
Lucky had rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. "Courtney I know you are exceptional, but you have to admit that fifteen drunk frat boys holding the mic hostage for an Eminem impersonation contest is not high up there on a list of fun things to do."
Robin had smacked his arm. "Snob! It's not that bad and it's actually fun!"
He looked over to Robin and Elizabeth, standing side by side and lifted his eyebrow. "Have you done it Robin?"
Nodding Robin matched his eyebrow lift with a head cock. "Have you?"
The pause gave him away. He had never done it. Elizabeth sense an opportunity and something made her pounce. "So if you've never done it, then how can you write it off?"
Their eyes locked and she swore she saw mischief in his. "Why Miss Elizabeth" he drawled. "I never thought you would be a fan of karaoke."
She smelled a challenge coming. She smelled a trap. She was the youngest of three. She knew when she was getting set up. Later she would blame the alcohol in her system, but Elizabeth plowed ahead. "Maybe I am, but if you never come to a party, how will you ever know?"
Lucky grinned at her. "If you insist on teaching me Miss Elizabeth, just let me know the location of your next bash and I'll be there in the front row cheering."
It was Courtney who damned her. "Tomorrow night at Jake's. The fun starts at nine."
She was trapped. Not only could she not sing, she had terrible stage fright. There was no way she was getting on that stage. But if she didn't she would have to make nice with Lucky all night. She was the one who invited him after all.
What the hell had possessed her to basically invite him along? He may be charming but all wolves in sheep clothing were in her experience. So he bought her some drinks, looked damn fine in a bathing suit and had one mighty fine tattoo, it was not a reason to hang out with him all night in a crowded bar. Not when she didn't even like him.
And it was for sure not a reason to destroy her closet in search of the perfect outfit to wear for tonight.
"I'm sorry Grams. I'm just a little frazzled." Elizabeth gestured to growing mess. "I guess I'm not that used to have to dress for people my own age anymore. Its much easier to find something that stains will wash out of."
Audrey laughed and entered in the room to hug her granddaughter. "You will prevail my dear. I have no doubt. I'm just glad you are getting out there and having fun." Audrey turned to leave. "I'll leave you to make up your own mind."
"Thanks for the confidence Grams." Elizabeth turned to survey the mess. Running her hand through her hair, she sighed. She was hopeless. Completely hopeless. There was only one thing to do in times like this. Call for back up.
She reached for her cell phone, determined to call Robin and ask her opinion. Finding the number in her cell phone, she was about to press "send" when she remembered Robin telling her about the big meeting she was having today about some important client. Robin was out. Elizabeth scrolled up her list to find Courtney's number. Surely Courtney would be able to help her figure this one out.
Dialing, she waited to hear Courtney answer the phone. She knew the blonde didn't have a shoot today and was planning on hanging out with Morgan all day. And according to Robin, Courtney couldn't not answer her phone.
So why was all she getting a busy signal?
Robin chose her timing perfectly and the best part was, she hadn't even meant to. Patrick had just brought the single silver blade level with his throat, his face smothered in shaving cream, when she kicked his door with all the force she possessed. Granted, if a man had done it, or really any woman stronger than she, it might have flown off of the hinges with a wood-splintering crack. As it stood, she had only succeeded in startling her host enough to make him lose his grip on the blade and nick his right cheek. He shouted loud enough for her and any curious neighbors to hear and she heard him stomp toward the door. Squaring back her shoulders, she prepared herself for the brunt of it. Let him do his worst!
Patrick answered the door with the blade dangling in his left hand wrapped in a low-slung green towel. She had expected him to be snarling at her, but, apparently, her reaction was just enough to make him grin. If she held onto her anger--there was plenty--then she might make it through this unscathed. He had insulted her, she reminded herself adamantly. He had disrespected Bobbie. Patrick will always blame you for Logan, a little voice chimed in. Remember what he said. Remember. Robin could feel her blood start to boil. Good girl. Now, lift your chin and tell him exactly what you came here for. Look him in the eye. It's all about how you approach this.
"What are you doing here, Scorpio?" Patrick had provided her with a golden opportunity. He was watching her curiously. He must have found all of this very amusing! Bastard.
"We have a few things to discuss." Robin explained, proud of herself for managing to stay vague. A look of surprise--or was it fear--spread across his features and he dropped the blade. It made an awful clattering sound when it struck the wood. Robin gulped and Patrick put his hands on his hips.
"I said all I had to say at Bobbie's." Patrick argued, waving away her discontentment with a flick of his wrist.
"I'm glad you brought that up." And she was. As long as he kept reminding her why she was so mad, maybe then she could succeed in getting through this. She was at a slight disadvantage. The nights when she had gotten sick of her own excuses, she had fantasized just a bit about this man in front of her. She would never admit it, but he had looked so incredibly breathtaking at the pool party. If he hadn't been so quick to dismiss her at his aunt's--but he had! He had made her feel lower than dirt! Even now, he was making her life difficult.
"Come to yell at me for my bad behavior?" Patrick dared, wagging an eyebrow at him.
Robin was fuming. "What is your problem with me?"
"Have I not been clear enough for you, Scorpio?" Patrick mocked, leaning against the doorframe.
"It's not just about Logan. There's something else. I want to know what it is." Robin insisted, placing her left hand on the door throwing herself forward but not so much that she fell into him. With him distracted, she ducked under his arm and let herself into the studio.
"I hate you pure and simple." Patrick assured her, closing the door behind him when she showed no signs of leaving.
"Is that right?" Robin challenged, not sounding all that convinced.
"Yeah, that's right. Listen, if this is your reason for stopping by, can you make it quick? I have plans." Patrick told her.
"She'll just have to wait." Robin argued, automatically assuming he was referring to his newest bed bunny.
"Awfully hostile aren't you?" Patrick teased, picking a piece of gray blanket fuzz from her bangs. "If I didn't know any better…"
"I can't believe I actually thought you capable of an adult conversation!" Robin ranted.
"Is that what this is? A conversation?" Patrick asked skeptically.
"I get that you've been in the dark for the last six months about my constant involvement with the Spencer's, and I'm sorry--um I figured someone would clue you in. I guess they just expected more out of you. It's lucky for me that I've never suspected so much as a kind word from you." Robin forced a smile.
"There. See? Now was that so hard to figure out?" Patrick wanted to know.
"What fuels your anger toward me?" Robin countered, folding her arms.
"There's just so much to choose from, Scorpio." Patrick replied, turning his back to her.
"Oh yeah. Name one." Robin encouraged him to continue. It was time they called a truce. She didn't have to like him, but no way was she leaving here without an apology.
"You ruin everything good in my life." Patrick responded.
"Said like a true five-year-old. Other than your precious, can-do-no-wrong brother, can you give me another example?" Robin wondered.
"I already told you, damn it!" Patrick snapped.
"A little anger. Good!" Robin clapped her hands in praise. "If you keep this up, I might give you a gold star for effort."
"Why do you care?" Patrick inquired.
"Why are you deflecting my questions?" Robin asked instead. She took a deep breath. "Okay, let's try something else. Tell me what exactly ticked you off about me being at Bobbie's house."
"You had no right to be there."
"No? I was invited."
"That was a mistake." He ground out.
"How so?"
"My family has blinders where you're concerned. It helps that Logan doesn't live here, because they don't to own up to their betrayal." Patrick explained.
"And you see me for what I am, right?"
"That's right."
"What do you see when you look at me?"
"A leech."
"A leech?"
"You suck the life out of people." Patrick clarified.
Her laugh was melodic and filled his ears clearly, even with his cell phone's crappy reception in the park. "You are one naughty boy Cruz. I should punish you for playing with fire like that."
He felt the mental shiver that shook him with that image. Damn this woman was going to be the death of him. The sweet, blissful death of him. "Since when is it a crime to want to talk with you any way I can?"
"With Patrick so close by? You are very lucky he was so distracted he didn't notice what you were actually doing. And then earlier with Lucky so close by?"
It was true he had played it way too close for comfort but with no risk came no rewards. "Half the fun of sneaking around is the almost getting caught." He paused and cleared his throat. "You really did look beautiful last night."
"I bet you said that to all the ladies by the pool."
"No they only looked good. You were the only beautiful one I saw."
He could imagine the way her smile was lighting up her face. Cruz was well aware it sounded like a cheesy pick up line Patrick would have tried in high school, but it was the truth. She had been the most beautiful thing he had seen last night.
"You're still in on thin ice." Her voice was soft, laughing. "Just you wait till I get my hands on you."
"It's a date." And one he couldn't wait for.
"I 'suck the life out of people'? What the hell kind of explanation is that?" Robin's voice was so high Patrick spun around to catch her expression.
"The only one you're getting." Patrick replied.
"You know what I think?" Robin's voice lowered and she chewed softly on her bottom lip. Patrick's eyes followed the movement as she had expected him to do.
"What's that, Scorpio?" The way he said her name was disarming, but she couldn't give in.
"I think you like me and it's killing you." Robin answered.
"Like you?" Well he didn't have to sound so disgusted at the idea!
"Yes! Why else would you call me names and get this insane look in your eyes when I'm around?" Robin asked.
"You infuriate me to no end!" Patrick tried to explain.
"Ever stop to ask yourself why that is?" Robin knew the answer before he said a word.
"Clearly that nosedive into the pool last night knocked out some of your common sense." Patrick declared.
"So, you're telling me that you don't feel anything for me at all?"
"That's what I'm telling you." Patrick agreed.
"You're a liar." Robin countered, closing the space between them. "You see, what I think is, you just can't stand the fact that I entice you."
"You don't--"
"But I do." Robin interjected, her fingers grasping the towel. One tug and it would be history as would his resistance.
Robin shot up out of her desk chair, knocking it backwards in her haste. She ran upstairs, threw open the bathroom door, and caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked like one of the creatures from The Black Lagoon books she was reading to Morgan. Her hair was a thick, fluffy mess. Each strand was interlaced with the other so that she resembled a ball of yarn. She stumbled over to the shower and turned the cold to high, flipping on the shower. A moment later, cold water smacked against her open palms. She was in so much trouble.