Chapter 12

Richie flicked a lock of her hair between his fingers. "C'mon we should go catch up. She shouldn't be walking alone around here." Elena kept Kate in sight, reaching out for his hand and grinned. "If you walk too fast Gorgeous, you'll have to give me a lift." Richie turned around and lowered himself. "Hop on short-stuff." She hopped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. "Giddy up Pony!" Richie hooked his arms under her thighs and held on tight. "That ride's for later," he laughed. She tucked her chin into his shoulder and her silky hair slid over his neck and curled into his jacket distracting him from the rather platonic piggyback ride he was supposed to be giving her. He could feel the anger coming off Jon in waves next to him and decided he enjoyed it. It was time to give the prankster a taste of his own medicine. If that meant spending the evening in an overrun Stone Pony then so be it. Elena laid her head against his back, his soft hair tickling her nose. God, it smelled so damn good and felt like black velvet against her face. It should be illegal to be as gorgeous as he was. Her eyes wandered over to Katydid with her clipped doctor walk. Her friend was too serious, always so wrapped up in school and her internship. She was always rushing to the next thing, never taking the time to enjoy the moment. The here and the now. She’d plotted this trip to lighten her up and things were swerving off plan, but then again her plans always did. She hoped the rest of the night would help Kate see there was fun to be had out there, if you just looked for it. “So tell me, Pony, do you know how to have fun?” “Just you wait darlin’.” ~ Kate heard them laughing and talking behind her. At least the jerk was quiet. He'd been a little too eager to own up to the bet. Kissing random women was probably a regular day at the office for someone with the ego he sported. She couldn’t believe she'd fallen right into the stupid trap he'd set. As always, whenever she tried to do something spontaneous it ended up with her in the shitter. She leaned back on the car and waited for them to catch up. Imagining her eyes were the new laser used in the OR she focused on the stupid boots he was wearing. That swagger wouldn’t look nearly as effective if the cowboy heels were melting into the pavement. Jon figured he'd make the best of his situation. He could have it looking like a damn publicity stunt before it was over. He was Jon Bon Jovi, head of the fastest rising group, for a reason. He’d cultivated a facade to play behind, and he played it fucking well. He got closer to a sweet ride with an even sweeter length of redhead. Swallowing a laugh, he caught her dark look and did a fake stagger back, throwing his hand to his heart. "OH you got me." "You're such a child," she muttered and got in the car when Elena unlocked it. Jon leaned on the car, peeking into the window and waved at her. When her response was a middle finger he laughed and turned away. Man, she had fire. "Okay, the Stone Pony's really close. You can follow us." Elena slowly slid from Richie's back, her mouth turning down into a pout. She liked being there on his back. "OK, Pony, I’ll try to not pass ya." She unlocked the car and slipped into the Mustang's driver seat and revved the engine. Richie pointed to a low slung sports car. "We're right over there." Elena looked over at their car. "Goddamn, look at that car." Richie grinned. "What's a man without his car?" She laughed, "A man that walks that’s what." "I did my time walking and tinkering with POS cars. I worked hard for my baby," he said proudly. Elena tilted her head to look up at him, "You’ll have to tell me what you do to make that kinda money, and I sure hope to hell it’s legal.” Richie shook his head. "Somehow I don't think I'll have to explain much, but it is a crime how much money I have." Jon rolled his eyes, done with the doe eyes that Richie and Teensy were making at each other. “I’ll see you at the car, stud.” "Can we just go and get this over with," Kate groused. Elena glanced at Kate a moment then back to Richie, "Money's just paper honey, it don’t impress me one bit. Now scoot before your friend and mine disowns us." She smiled up at him. She was really looking forward to the bar and she’d get the chance to get back into Richie’s arms. "Good to know, little one." He leaned down and brushed a kiss at the corner of her mouth and headed to his car. She watched for a moment, enjoying his loose, long legged stride. She looked over at Kate, suddenly frowning. "God, what if he’s a dealer or something?" Kate shifted lower in her seat, "That would just make this a perfect evening." Elena grinned, ignoring the little niggling doubt about Richie’s job. "I won’t make you kiss ten dogs girl, you should know that, but I had to find a way to get the Wannabe’s goat.” She put the car into drive. “I think I did it too. You will have to kiss him, but shit you can handle that, right?" She winked at her friend. "You shoulda trusted me more sister." She slid a glance to her best friend and still let herself sulk. "I don't care if they're all Chippendale Finalists, I have to prowl a bar for at least ten guys and then subject myself to Jon the Jerk for at least two seconds, mouth to mouth. Unless of course the kisses have a time limit too," she growled. "They don’t," She peeled out of the parking lot, shifting gears smoothly as she kept pace with the little sports car ahead of her. "HOW the hell did he fold that long, tall piece of yummy goodness into that car?" "How the hell are you going to get all the yummy goodness into your little twin bed at the apartment?" Elena grinned, "That’s what a hotel is for. I doubt he’s gonna drive 3 hours just to find my tiny little bed." "Duh, I keep forgetting that you dragged me to the end of the earth.” “I did not, just New Jersey.” “Same thing,” Kate sighed. “Too bad he’s so far away. I'm sure you'd travel at least that for someone like him, anyway. He seems really sweet, unlike his friend." Elena heard the little lyric that had been driving her crazy, reached over and flipped the volume up, "Listen that’s the song I was talking bout tonight." She hummed along as the song played. Kate listened, the hook was catchy. The song was undeniably fun, the lyrics were tongue and cheek while the guitars screamed. It made her wonder just who the girl was, that gave love a bad name. "I can see why. It’s catchy.” She bobbed her head as they followed the tail lights ahead. “Richie does seem sweet; sad thing about this lil friend, too cute but biiig chip on shoulder." "You think it's a chip? I only see ego and smug ego." Elena snorted, "And you practicing to be a doctor. Usually those who act like that have a biiig chip on their shoulder. Still, I feel for his friend." "I'm not a psychologist, Sugar. If I ripped his rib out of his belly I could put it back in noooo problem though." She smiled a little evilly at the thought and hummed along to the catchy song. Elena hung a swift right as the sports car pulled into a lot in front of a big building. "Looks like we're here." Kate flipped down the visor and checked her makeup. Her curls were a lost cause, but men seemed to be fascinated by her hair enough that she didn't much care how big it got in the steamy body filled bar. "Alright, let's get this done." Elena pulled into a parking slot and shut off the car. Brushing her fingers through her hair she swiped under each eye with her thumb to brush away some of the amusement park’s grime. Climbing from the car, her eyes scanned the lot for one tall, dark guy. "This should be interesting you gotta admit. Pretty boy and the dogs," she grinned hoping to lighten the moment. "Well let's hope Richie is especially cruel tonight." Kate turned back to her friend. "And please be kind. I'm celebrating, not looking to gag my way through the evening." "Ah sis, you know I will be." Elena grinned. "My definition of dog is definitely skewed for the evening." "Well at least pick a few that look like they know what they're doing," she said and spotted Richie and waved. His smaller jackass compadre couldn't be seen in the sea of faces. "Pretty busy in here," Kate said offhand as they entered the club. Elena looked around, "Busy? Damn place is jam packed." Her eyes followed Kate's wave, her heart beginning to thunder in her ears. "No way to get to them through this mob though. Maybe you won’t have to worry bout the bet." She turned to the bartender and called for a couple of beers, her feet tapping to the music booming from the speakers.