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CHAPTER 21
Fifteen minutes after the first round with lady Vamp, Genie was standing in the bathroom, biting her bottom lip as she grimaced at her reflection in the mirror. She had been staring at herself in horror for some time. The black bikini was more outrageous than ever. She seemed to be spilling out everywhere. Everything was so out of place!
Sighing, Genie opened the bathroom door and backed up a bit, standing on tiptoe to get a longer view of her hips and legs in the mirror. Gritting her teeth, she half turned and glanced over her shoulders at her behind. It was appalling.
“I could never wear this in public,” she muttered dispiritedly.
For a second, she thought she could beat Whitney by prancing around the pool in front of Phoenix in this.
“I agree.”
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GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 22
Genie poured herself another glass of wine, took a sip, then turned to walk over and peek through the drawn curtains at the setting sun.“Pull the curtain back, please. I want to see you better and that light doesn’t do you justice.” She did as Phoenix asked before glancing over her shoulder at him. He was lying on the rumpled bed, a sheet dragged across his lower half, his head and shoulders propped up against a mountain of pillows. He was sipping scotch on the rocks and was also staring at her, his intense green eyes glittering with a decidedly primitive desire. Everything was so… wonderfully surprising. Genie couldn’t believe how quickly Phoenix had stripped her of all inhibition. She'd never been this comfortable before, walking around naked. Now she not only did so without shyness, but she a
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 23
Even so, Genie's natural curiosity still had her glancing around the ballroom. She didn't have to look around for long. Mrs. Webster had just made an entrance, dressed in the most outrageous red satin gown Genie had ever seen. Halter-necked, it had a V-neckline in front plunging to her waist, which was cinched with a wide jeweled belt. There was no back to speak of, and the skirt was extremely tight. Once again, Dr. Simon Webster was nowhere in sight, and his cheating wife was immediately claimed for a dance by a male admirer. She went into his arms as if she belonged there, a seductive smile on her full red lips.“At least she's wearing the right color for a cheater,” Genie said tartly.“True.” Phoenix's agreement sparked some hope in Genie that his ex-flame had shown
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 24
“I swear I didn’t do it,” Genie cried. “It wasn’t me… Nix, my love, you have to believe me… Oh, God, why don't you believe me? Why are you looking at me like that?”“Genie…”“It wasn’t me, Nix… I’m innocent!”“Genie… Sweetheart… Wake up…” Phoenix shook her by the shoulder.“Please, wake up. You're having a nightmare.” She sat bolt-upright in the bed, staring around her for a few confused seconds before she realized where she was, and that the real nightmare she'd once lived through wasn’t actually happening all over again. It was just a dream that came whenever she was upset. In it, she would be ba
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 25
“Thank you… It’s very important for me that you just listen for now, without interrupting me… One sound from you and my courage would be all gone.” Phoenix nodded again and Genie continued her story about a very naïve version of herself in love with the most handsome and dangerous man. “When Jared first asked me for small loans, I simply gave him the money, telling him not to worry about repaying it. Just to save face, Jared always said he would but he never did, and soon he was spending more of my allowance, not to mention driving my car… Stupid little girl…” Genie shook her head and felt the rage, the embarrassment, the frustration coming back again, tormenting her like it happened all those endless days and nights in prison.“Every time he was using my car, he would say stuff like ‘babe, I have to go to Las Vegas for a business oppor
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 26
The golf course of the country club near the hotel was magnificent… green and lush, with each fairway bordered by rows of those same pines that encircled the tennis courts. Clearly, the unforgiven hot sun of LA hadn't affected it too much. “Who's going to partner whom?” Henry asked.“Oh, that’s an easy answer,” Phoenix said and smiled at Genie. “My woman is going to play with me…” ‘His woman’, ‘His love’… Those words were pure music from Heaven. She smiled back, her heart fairly bursting with happiness. It had been a marvelous day so far. It had been like this since the first moment she woke that morning and remembered what had happened the night before. It was as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders in telling Phoenix the truth, even better than when she'd told Miss Rowland. It
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 27
She rolled over, an exasperated glare in place, only to find him grinning down at her, dancing teasing lights in his beautiful emerald eyes.“Why, you wicked, wicked man!' she squealed and began pummeling him in the chest and stomach. He laughed and grasped her wrists, whipping her over onto her back and holding her arms up on the pillows above her head. When he secured both in one iron hold and began touching her again, she groaned her total exasperation.“No, don't. I couldn't bear it again. I simply couldn't…” Genie twisted beneath him, trying to get away from that merciless grip, that harassing hand, and that prowling mouth. But his hold on her remained invincible, his ruthless attentions gradually achieving their aim.“Nix, you must stop now,” she cried in fury and frustration when
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 28
Ann dropped Genie off at the front of the hotel shortly after eleven. They hadn't spent nearly as long in the city as they'd intended, but that was alright by Genie. She still hadn't packed and was anxious not to do anything to delay their departure after lunch.“Thanks for the little brunch, Ann,” she said through the passenger window. “See you at lunch.” Ann drove off to park the car in the basement parking, while Genie was hurrying up the steps and into the hotel foyer. She moved quickly across the tiled floor and down the central hallway and was approaching the door which led out to the back when it opened abruptly and an incoming person collided with her.“Sorry,” she automatically apologized. Whitney seemed to take a moment to realize who she'd run into, while Genie could only stare at the woman. There was
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 29
“Forgive you? I'm the one who should beg for your forgiveness. I should never have let the bitch into this room, or given her the slightest opportunity to hurt you like that. I knew what she was like. What a selfish bitch she could be. But I wanted the chance to tell her what I really thought of her.”“What happened, Nix?” Genie asked. His shudder showed true revulsion.“I still can't believe what she did. She’s just sick…” He shook his head in disbelief.“How did she get into the room with you? How did she know I wouldn't be here?”“She must’ve overheard you and Ann at breakfast this morning, discussing and planned to go out. When we came out for a break from the conference, I got a message from her. It said she needed to see me urgently and that she was waitin
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