Highest rank on the hot list over the last two weeks - #314 in Chick Lit

There will be a sneak peek at chapter 20 up on the site later today or early tomorrow!

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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 19 ] Do Be On Your Best Behavior

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I had looked myself over in the mirror at least twenty times since slipping into the dress, and yet, somehow, the result was always the same. Hayden had managed to pick a dress that accented my body perfectly.

"Scarlett," my mother started as she waltzed into my room. The woman closed the door behind herself, making her way into the room before she noticed what I was wearing. "I don't remember that dress."

"You shouldn't," I agreed. "Hayden picked it out for me."

Her eyes lit up with the mention of Hayden.

"How thoughtful of him," she cooed. She reached up, resting her chin in her hand as she looked me over absentmindedly.

One of her favorite pastimes had always been fixing my appearance in some way, shape or form; so watching as she merely sat back thinking, was puzzling to say the least.

"Is there something wrong with it?" I tried, smoothing out the dress near the hemline.

My mother quickly shook her head, "of course not. You look stunning in the dress. It's just..."

Angel Blaine had never, not once, left a sentence unfinished. She had an opinion about anything and everything, and she always said what was on her mind.

"What's wrong?" Her face scrunched up in concern.

"Elias had a talk with Hayden about his time away with their mother. It didn't seem to go well, and I remember our conversation on the phone ended very abruptly. I was just wondering what exactly happened while you were in the Hampton's."

I gave her a gentle smile, leaning back against the chest of drawers as I did.

"Nothing happened, mom," I reassured. "Hayden's just uncomfortable around Zane and his friends. I'm sure that was what he was upset about."

"Well what had made you upset?" She pried further, looking to get to the bottom of what happened.

"I was surprised Wren and Jay were there," I sighed halfheartedly. "The way Hayden was talking, I had expected it to only be his mother and the two of us."

"And you would have been okay with that?" She asked, the disgust evident in the tone of her voice. "Trust me, Scarlett, I have all the love in the world for Hayden, but a whole weekend with both he, and his mother? I would have run away, myself."

"Hayden wasn't the problem, mom," I spoke all too quickly. She narrowed her eyes in on me, watching my every move. "He and his mother were lovely the whole-"

"Just tell me the truth Scarlett," she practically hissed. "What did Hayden do?"

"Like I said before," I stood up straighter, looking to take a stand for both myself and Hayden. "Nothing, happened."

She rose a single eyebrow in discontent with my answer, but reluctantly, she let it go.

"Okay," she forced a smile in my direction. "Elias and I will be taking his car to the restaurant. You can drive yourself, or catch a ride with Hayden or Jay. Wren will also be joining us."

She strode to the door in small steps, taking her time before prying open the door. She paused, turning back and saying the words that only riled me up further. "Do make sure you and Hayden are on your best behaviors. I'd hate to have to make up an excuse about your absence, once again."

I closed my eyes in an attempt to calm myself, knowing only by the fading sounds of her stilettos hitting the floor that she was long gone.

-

As embarrassing as it was to say, I had forgotten my keys in my New York hotel room; and though the text from Axel had been very apologetic, I was still up in arms over my chauffeur for the night.

"After you, milady," Hayden whispered against my ear. He nodded towards the waitress, keeping his left hand over the small of my back.

"Whatever," I mumbled under my breathe.

My mother had been clear before we had left the house in saying that we would have to be on our best behaviors, and that included ignoring Hayden's many advances. The only thing I could do was press the pause button on our little game for the night.

"You look utterly bewitching in that dress, Scarlett Blaine." Hayden announced on our way over to the table.

"I hate to ask, but where in the world did you learn that phrase?" I glanced back at Hayden.

"My father had many mistresses, you know. I picked up the few phrases that sounded-"

"The most revolting?"

"I've got other options, Blaine." Hayden winked at me. "And with how great you look in that dress, I think you deserve as many synonyms of the word sexy as I've got memorized."

"Can I get either of you something to drink."

I rolled my eyes at Hayden before pulling out the chair across from my mother.

"I'll take a red wine, and so will the lovely lady." Hayden answered, pushing in my chair for me after I sat down.

"What took you two so long?" My mother interjected, leaning into the table a bit. She rose a single eyebrow in suspicion as she looked over both Hayden and I.

"Wren needed my help with her dress." I spoke honestly, knowing my mother would never buy it.

"Then where are Jay and Wren?" Elias pondered before taking a sip of his white wine.

Hayden merely shook his head, "I don't know. We left before them."

My mother looked more than unamused with us as she leaned back in her chair. Though, out of pure spite I'm sure, she turned her full attention back to me.

"There's something wrong with your hair, darling," she started. "Did it fall out?"

I frowned, "I never had it up, mom."

"Oh," she pursed her lips together. "Maybe you should take a minute to freshen up, then."

"Fine," I huffed, standing from my seat.

"You too, Hayden," Elias added. "The way your-"

"Would you like me to shave while I'm in there?" Hayden gave his father a smug smile. "I'm sure they've got a barber on hand."

"Don't be smart," Elias hissed.

"I never am."

Hayden took my hand, the man leading me towards the back hallway as quickly as possible. I could hear the tempered manner of his breathing as we walked, and I knew he was just as upset with his father as I was with my mother.

"They're on the warpath tonight, huh?" I laughed in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I'm sorry, Hayden-"

"Don't be," he shook his head. "If they're going to accuse us of anything, then we'll give them some ammunition."

Hayden glanced behind us, making sure no one was watching before he pulled me into the women's bathroom, locking the door behind us.

He pushed me up against the wall, placing a hand on either side of my waist and letting his lips ghost just above my own. I barely had any idea what to do with my hands.

"Hayden," I whispered.

"Don't talk," he closed his eyes. "I've been dying to do this since that night."

He began placing kisses along my jawline, his fingers gripping roughly into my hips when he did. I threw my head back against the wall, losing whatever restraint I had as I placed my hands on either side of his chest.

"I bet Zane doesn't kiss you like this," he whispered huskily in my left ear.

With that, I came crashing back into reality.

"God, Hayden," I groaned as I shoved him off of me. As pained as he looked, I couldn't take his feelings into consideration at a time like this. I was in a relationship, and Hayden would be my step brother in a matter of weeks.

I could slowly feel the guilt flooding over me once more.

Reaching behind me, I unlocked the door and stepped aside.

"Leave." I whispered, crossing my arms over my chest. "This never happened."

"You sure about that?" Hayden scoffed. "Because I can tell-"

"You can tell nothing," I shook my head at him. "By the time we get back to that table, all anyone will think is that we both left for a few minutes, and that we came back separately. Nothing ever happened, and nothing ever will."

Hayden let a smirk play out on his face as he made his way to the door, stopping as he placed his hand on the handle.

"That's what you said last time, Blaine."

He strode out of the room without another word, leaving me leaning back against the wall, still trying to get a handle on my pounding heartbeat.

I almost jumped when the door opened again, only this time, Wren walked into the bathroom.

"Is there something we need to talk about?" She practically yelled. "This is the second time I've caught the two of you alone together, and you sure as hell look guilty."

I held my head high before turning to look myself over in the mirror.

"There's nothing anyone needs to talk about, Wren." I mused as I pulled my hair into a bun. "It's never what it looks like."

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What a saucy chapter! How does everyone feel about Hayden and Scarlett's little moment??

The next update should be on June 1st!

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