Lady Lie

Nah. He wouldn’t say he lived a charmed fucking life. He got close to it at times though.

Disaster could’ve come calling for him tonight. The beefy hand of one of those knuckle dragging security guards who’d bracketed the door like bouncers outside a Walkabout Inn on a Saturday night clapping down on his shoulder. JJ imagined he’d bounce down them fancy stairs well enough, popping up at the bottom all scuffed up but still as complimentary about their inbred ancestry as they told him to politely go fuck himself. But …

He saw her look at him, a quick dart of those green eyes that had him grinning all the harder. Now, this one wouldn’t have the strength to knock him on his arse even – despite the fact that he weren’t exactly Herculean himself – but there was some backbone there. A little line sprung up between her eyebrows. Confusion? Calculation? Consideration of how she was gonna call bullshit right back at him? A little from all three … oop, no. Well now.

JJ folded his fingers around hers, squeezed lightly as he brought it up to his lips with a wink. A loving little touch that women of a particular sort woulda melted at. Now, she wasn’t that sort, swooning at a little attention, but she weren’t batting him away either. If they weren’t being watched he’d have whistled as she fell right into the role he’d needed her to without a word. A woman after his own heart. JJ chuckled lightly, shooting the woman behind the table a sideways look that had just a little wince to it. ”What are we like, eh? Both of us would lose our heads if they weren’t screwed on.” That sort of couple, utterly believable apparently, when they were both talking out of their arses.

The town might still have been holding on to its secrets but he’d found enough of them out already to know that she was not Catia McKenna. Catia had been the blonde bulldog at the front door of the Grey Haven who’d stopped him from meeting his nibs. JJ let his gaze rake surreptitiously over his company as the dragon here tried to shut them down. Whoever she was she had just as little access to the place as he did.

A sigh rolled out up from JJ’s chest, an apology written all over his face as Catia lobbed ice chips in the woman’s direction. Your screwup, not theirs, something to be figured out in those harsh whispers that’d undoubtedly fly around two minutes after they got inside. ”Do they ever get these things right?” he bit out wearily. He shook his head, a twitch of his mouth shooting that apology back over his shoulder again.

His own stream of excuses would’ve carried on thickening if she’d really been a guest, unprepared to do a bloke a solid and get him in. In the end he might’ve fallen on his sword, leaning in to whisper in that spray tanned ear, tolerating the cloying cloud of Poison that rolled up off of her and tossing out the offer of a night out of there after. It would’ve meant taking more than one for the team but he’d have scrambled out before she turned full octopus on him.

Not-Catia strolled alone beside him, heading for the double doors that led through into the museum proper. Ladies and gents in their black tie best glided in and out of view beyond them, not a single one turning in their direction as JJ chuckled down at that smirk she tipped up at him. ”I’d say we both were … you ain’t Catia McKenna.” And he hadn’t slipped a ring on the fourth finger of her left hand either. JJ shrugged his shoulders as he tugged her in with their joined hands. Dipping his head, he hummed lightly. ”You saying gate-crashin’ a shindig like this ain’t any fun?” he asked lifting his brows. Most of the time it wasn’t. Dusty artifacts on display, equally dusty old codgers paying up big bucks for more dusty shit to go on display. A never ending circle of dust transfer.

As they stepped into the open space of the museum’s grand foyer, JJ reached out with his free hand and neatly snared two glasses of champagne off of a tray. He smiled like a naughty schoolboy trying to convince his mum he hadn’t snuck out of class to have his first cigarette behind the bike sheds – all saccharine innocence and wide blue eyes. ”I’m here for a story, you know, for the local papers. What’s your excuse for bullshittin’ your way past Elvira out there?” Was this gonna be the real story here? One that’d shine the light on every woman in this town who was looking to stick a shiv in the back of the boss’ bloke.

Tagged: LUCKY CHRISTMAS * Word Count: 812

Bullshitted connections was how most people got themselves some upward mobility in the army. You pulled on those tenuous links to move up, or sideways if you had to slide out from under some super shady shit. JJ had watched his old man do it a half dozen times, General Hart’s abilities tended towards the particularly greasy. He could’ve said he’d learned from the master but he’d surpassed him years ago. The General wouldn’t have thought to slip into something like this uninvited – the bastard would’ve had an invite in the first place, but that was neither here or there – he might’ve charmed her though.

JJ’s lips curled into an automatic smile, shoulders rolling under the tuxedo jacket he wore at the question she avoided his statement with. His fingers squeezed hers lightly, his nose wrinkling as he leaned in far enough that he could avoid raising his voice and letting everybody into the place in on their secret business. ”Not in the Biblical sense of course,” he admitted, po faced, as she pressed in closer, her hand slipping from his to press to his back, the other there against his stomach in a way that had him sucking in a breath. ”Let’s say I prefer avoiding frostbite when I can, ‘specially in delicate places.” The ice maiden Maddox had employed had certainly been an effective gate keeper, not an ounce of warmth in her for him to go to work on. Unlike this one.

The hum that rolled out of him was low, considering, until it broke off with a chuckle. This one was spicy, like a vindaloo at the Rajdoot, hot enough to take the roof off your mouth if you weren’t careful. JJ studied her profile as she looked out at the room. ”Well, when you’re half dust already you’ve gotta go for what reflects on the inside, hey? Dusty, out of date, decrepit, and just rich enough to pay for the good stuff.” It was how his family had gotten the blue blood in their veins to start with and it was the ones who’d had too much fun who’d put a dent in the finances. It explained by the General was tight enough to make a duck’s arse look the size of the Bermuda triangle.

Money had never bothered him half as much. The trust fund was there, a good bloody thing when your employment opportunities came and went like the sodding tides. He’d been to enough of these things thanks to that fancy upbringing to know to get his hands on the champagne pretty fast, he wasn’t gonna be tossed out the door completely bloody sober. ”Make the most of it, love, they push out the boat for these things. It’s easier to get the big bucks out of the walking dead if you loosen ‘em up first.” JJ whistled low, tilting his head as it looked like not-Cat was trying to do the same. He grimaced faintly, setting the empty glass back on a passing tray, snagging himself another while his untouched glass was offered up to her.

JJ sipped now, brows hitching above the rim as he looked at her rather than the zombies trundling around in here. That china doll profile was deceptive, the cupid’s bow lips capable of cutting as surely as her tongue. ”Oi, less of that love. There’s the tedium of writing the obits for this lot, and then there’s the sort of news you get your teeth into … and I do like nibbling at things.” The last was said in a drawl that trailed off into a bright smile. He dipped his head then, eyes focused on the delicate shell of an ear as he spoke into it. ”I’ll let you into a little secret. His nibs who’s throwing this ain’t exactly my biggest fan…” And neither was her sister. Fuck.

Had the shit hit the proverbial? Nope. JJ cackled at her description of her sister. ”A truer word’s never been spoken,” he agreed with a hoot. ”Guess that explains where you pulled the name up from.” Swallowing the last of his champagne, JJ let it roll around on his tongue for a moment as almost-Catia snagged a couple of them devilled egg things off of one of the passing trays, stacking them like she had practice in how to strip a buffet dry.

Lifting his hand, JJ waved that bloke off but he did help himself to the next wave behind, tiny toast points with caviar neatly piled atop. Maddox wasn’t pulling his punches here. ”With your sister as his guard dog, you might not get within sniffing distance of the dipshit. He’s the one I’m here take a gander at. You know anything about him? Oi, mate!” Spotting the waiter with the tray of drinks JJ wiggled two fingers towards him. ”How about we take those out on the dance floor and while we’re getting … better acquainted …we have a little talk about Maddox?” The offer dripped with honey sweet as the champagne, the smile he aimed at her pure innocence. Not that there’d ever been an ounce of it in him.

It disappeared when he saw the crowd part and that same smug mug beamed across the room to someone just on the other side of them. Busted, fuck. Smooth as you like, JJ snagged two glasses of champagne from the now reachable tray and held both glasses at the small of her back as he turned into his company and bent his head to kiss her and pull his disguise back up all at the same time.

Tagged: LUCKY CHRISTMAS * Word Count: 936

Being dragged around the army’s stuffiest dog and pony shows had been a misery, but they’d been a training ground for things like this. The misery of immediately being tagged as General Hart’s boy, patted on the head like a well behaved puppy when he kept his manners, his dad’s fingers biting in his shoulder as a reminder to watch his tongue when he wasn’t. That same question over and over and over – are you going to be just like your father when you grow up? God no, although JJ knew none of them had wanted to hear that. That sort always wanted their sons to enlist just like they had, stuffing themselves into uniforms, dancing straight towards Sandhurst, ‘cause who wanted their kid in the trenches. Their daughters now, JJ cast a glance aside as his ‘wife’ took a gulp from the glass he’d handed her, they were meant to be married off to blokes just like their sons. Keeping it in the family, instead of bolting outside of it first chance they’d got.

This little shindig was skulking back just as far as he had to, no closer, although his old man would see it as some sort of proof that he hadn’t run as far as he’d liked to think he had. Head dipped close to his ‘wife’s’ ear JJ had pushed that distance at her opinion of him, as malformed as hers had been. Close enough to start giving him bloody hives if he stayed too long.

He scowled at her now, the delicate line of her cheekbone, the twitch under that pearl like curve of pale skin as her teeth clenched down on whatever popped into her pretty little head at the idea of biting. JJ gave a light grunt, his lips pursing til that smile took on an edge of something sharper. ”For now,” he said, a faint hint of grumble to his voice. The closest thing he was going to get to a proper mouthful in this town at the moment was the big balls himself – Grey Maddox. Blue eyes narrowed faintly at her, his head dipping a hair closer. ”Just what sort of career do you think’s really got teeth?” His own gritted then, his lips a twitching frame around them. He doubted there was much room for whatever it was in a town like this.

JJ sighed at the thought, cursing his brother lightly. He had followed in the old man’s footsteps and that still weren’t enough for the General’s liking. Now he was washed up here somewhere, keeping shtum … and out of trouble, unlike his younger half brother who was looking to stick his finger into every hornet’s nest he could find in this ugly little fish bowl.

At least he had company in it, sympathetic company who pressed warm against his side. His thumb trailed over the curve of her hip as he snorted at her mutter. Maddox did reek, although he probably had that scent of bullshit covered up with something expensive. He had to have some sort of charm to have his boss curled up around him, tight enough that his little tell all was probably gonna have Destiny slapping a termination of employment notice on his desk, after she smacked him round the chops. ”Enough that you’d wanna share?” he crooned. He hummed lightly in question, sweeping the crowd for some sign of the bloke … or Destiny, as the waiter came crawling through the crowd towards them.

The shudder that ran through her had him running his hand further up her ribs – a husband warming his wife up in the chill of this mausoleum. If she really was his wife he’d have taken that grin as far more promising, maybe even tugging her off out of sight, some broom closet in here somewhere to celebrate his luck in just who’d agreed to put up with his bullshit. As it was, not-Catia was suddenly his shield. Hands newly full, the cool glass pressed to the small of her back as he dipped his hand. Not to her ear this time either. JJ felt the brush of her fingertips through his hair, the tingle it brought running down his neck and waking parts of him up he hadn’t expected to have to employ tonight. She tasted like the champagne, sweet, maybe a little fizzy before she drew back and caught a glimpse over his shoulder of Maddox.

JJ had the good grace to wince faintly. He brought his free hand up to cup her cheek, his thumb gently tracing the line of her cheekbone – wise enough not to go smearing her make up, he was better trained that that. ”I wouldn’t call that ill-mannered. It’s a compliment if I can’t.” She hadn’t said no, hadn’t kneed him in his delicates or threatened to rip anything off. Swaying faintly, JJ pouted before he snorted. ”Dipped mine into his woman? I don’t think I’d still be strolling around town if I did. People who piss Maddox off have a tendency to do a midnight flit, if you get my meaning.” And never be seen again. He hadn’t taken those sorts of liberties with Destiny, maybe he respected her too much to do that.

There she went again. JJ frowned faintly as she tipped straight into giving him a hint of what Leah had. Little images of Maddox overlaid on top of one another, filling in just enough to have him pissed off that he couldn’t see more yet. ”You know what he’s been up to,” he said matter of factly. ”And that the baby’s got his Mrs tied in to whatever he’s doing.” Destiny hadn’t been involved in whatever had happened to Maddox back home, in fact their paths didn’t seem to have crossed until Mystic Falls. ”How about we forget the dancing and find a quiet corner to talk things through. Those evil things are exactly why I’m looking at him. She, as you called her, doesn’t seem to have a fucking clue what he’s up to … and she needs to. I get it on the front page of the paper and at the very least he’s running out of town with his tail between his legs.” Leaving Destiny broken hearted, but safe at least. A kid like that was better off growing up without a dick of a dad in the picture.

Tagged: LUCKY CHRISTMAS * Word Count: 1067

He hadn’t needed to play any games to get Leah to talk – not that he was above some negotiation so to speak – but with his wife, it had been one from the start. His old man would’ve called playing it silly buggers, but could you really call it that when it was a perfectly reasonable way to get the story you’d started to piece together? Men and women had been experts at it since Eve had first talked Adam into taking a nibble on the apple. You twisted each other around and as long as there was mutual understanding with it there weren’t a problem. Leah had got it, had seemed to enjoy that bit of the night just as much as she’d enjoyed throwing Maddox under the bus. Now, JJ, figured, he’d have had to be an idiot not to take advantage of it.

Same here.

A little bit of spice to the game, a move to sell the whole thing as the big bollocks himself had finally made his appearance in the crowd. At least he’d seen him coming, the bunch of stuffy old buggers seeming to part like the waves for Moses himself. The shoulders of the black tuxedo he wore a shield against Maddox’s shifty eyes. JJ ran his tongue over his lower lip, chasing that taste of champagne and woman as the charmer slipped back into place. All husbandly tenderness while the real topic here was a little spicier. For her part his wife was squeezing his forearms lightly, like they were still in that precious honeymoon period. ”Makes a man a little … gun shy,” he re-emphasised. Maybe it had her drawing some lines too. Lines sprung up between his brows for a moment. Maddox was like the cleaver that thumped down in warning seconds before it swung for your neck.

Maybe it was dangerous telling her what he knew but it was like catching flies, you got more with honey than you did vinegar. JJ was pretty sure the kiss hadn’t buttered her up any, there were other ways though. He grunted low in his throat at her snort, blue eyes narrowing faintly. ”What would you call it then?” he asked hoarsely. Maddox had been sniffing around Destiny long before the bump had appeared, it didn’t mean the baby hadn’t been an extra click on the cuff around her wrist though. Bringing a baby into things always complicated them, it pushed you to do things you’d been on the fence about – the General’s first wife was proof of that.

He could’ve pulled her back as she reached for his hand, making it clear just where he thought Destiny’s position lay in this but it would be idiocy to cut his wife off, if he was about to get lucky here in more ways than one. JJ wormed the tip of his tongue into the pocket of his cheek as she took the glass and downed most of it again. This was about the point a loving husband might’ve suggested she cool it, but fuck that. They’d apparently just get fruity instead … while she whispered every sordid word in his ear.

JJ beamed a smile at an old biddy who looked prudishly over her shoulder at the two of them as bustled off of the makeshift dance floor and towards the bathrooms. She didn’t look back, but he did as they reached the door, curling his hand around the edge of it for a moment to look up and down the hallway behind them. ”I weren’t gonna leave it open,” JJ snorted as he locked it. He wasn’t the sort to get his kicks that way, no matter how much an adrenalin junky he was at times. While his wife checked the stalls, he checked himself in the mirror, unbuttoning his jacket and smoothing a hand down the front of his shirt.

Shuffling back a step as Lucky slipped in, JJ snorted again at the idea Destiny knew and wasn’t letting on. He sniffed faintly, tipping his head to one side. ”When she’s paying the cheque that keeps me here, there’s a bit more give and take. I’ve watched her at work, she don’t seem the sort to be aiding and abetting.” That wasn’t even bringing the baby into it. He was protecting the unborn child as much as he was Destiny, and if he did have a soft spot for his boss, so fucking what.

Ooof.

Reaching for her hand, JJ lifted it, like he was studying her knuckles for some sign of his teeth marks on them. That one had been a smack in the mouth … or lower if his ego was attached to his balls. ”That’s your husband you’re maligning, love.” Fake husband, who was happily using that connection to get himself another source for the story. He’d be able to triangulate it, compare stories enough to discount anything that sour grapes had tossed in.

JJ pursed his lips, puffing out his belly a bit with the deep breath. He settled a hand on it for a heartbeat before he crowded back into he. Hands skimmed down to her hips, boosting her up into the edge of the marble vanity. The corners of his lips tipped up. ”I guess you’re not afraid of the target either. I’m more of a journalist than you’re giving me credit for. I protect my sources. No names, nothing goes in that can’t be verified by at least a handful of people, so there’s no chance of Maddox going after any sort of reprisal.” Of course he could come straight to the man who knew exactly who’d said what, but didn’t mean he’d dob any of them in. ”I can pay,” he said roughly – with the trust fund of course. Fingertips that were more calloused than most of the old codgers working the story desks at the Daily dropped to skim over the warm bare skin of her thigh. ”Or, I can do my husbandly duty and we can use the second oldest currency in the world.” The same as he’d paid Leah with, although he’d gotten the impression that getting revenge alone would’ve been enough for her.

Tagged: LUCKY CHRISTMAS * Word Count: 1034