Page 60 of Jaked

"You?" she said. "Judgeme?"

"Jeez," I said. "I already said I'mnotjudging you. Okay?"

Her voice was practically a hiss. "I'm his event-planner, you twit."

I stared at her. "What?"

"That's right," she said. "I organize his calendar. I plan his events." Her gaze narrowed. "And sometimes, I take his little 'friends' shopping for things they don't understand."

I glanced down at my dress. And suddenly, I understood way more than I ever wanted to. I glared across the seat. "Well, I guess you did a nice job onme," I said.

Bianca put on her innocent-face. "I have no idea what you mean." She whirled toward Jake. "And aren'tyougoing to defend me from this attack?"

Before he could answer, I jumped in to ask, "And what was all that crap about him 'destroying' you?"

Bianca gave a little sniff. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You told me," I continued, "that he makes you do 'things'." My voice rose. "Unpleasant things."

She gave me a smirk. "Like cartingyouaround?"

Between us, Jake said nothing. I whirled toward him. "And why areyouso quiet all of a sudden?"

"Because," he said, "I figure if she pisses you off good enough, you'll see things my way." He turned to Bianca. "Go ahead," he told her. "Keep talking. Looks like you're almost there."

"You know what?" she said. "I didn't sign on for this."

"Yeah?" Jake said. "So quit."

She drew back. "What?"

"Or lose the dress," he said. "Your choice."

I gazed at Jake with narrowed eyes. "So youdidpay her to shop with me? What's the problem? You think I can't buy a simple dress on my own? What is it? You're worried I'll embarrass you?"

"No," he said. "I thought you looked stressed out. IthoughtI was doing you a favor."

"Some favor," I said. "And just for the record, I don't want her dress."

"See?" Bianca said. "She doesn't want it." She gave a little laugh. "Like it would fit her anyway."

"What'sthatsupposed to mean?" I said.

She let her gaze travel from my head to my toes. "Well, you're not exactly the willowy type, are you?"

Okay, so I wasn't "willowy", whatever that meant. But I wasn't a freak of nature. I was a normal girl. What was the big deal?

"And," she said, "the dress you already have is fine. I don't know why you're complaining. It's perfectly lovely. Just becauseyoucan't pull it off…"

"Oh, and I supposeyoucould," I said.

"It's not like it'shard," she said. "That style? It's all the rage in New York. Trust me. You'll be thanking me later."

"Yeah, right," I said.

Between us, Jake rapped on the glass that separated us from the driver. "Stop the car," he called.

Henry eased the car off to the side of the road, and we came to a rolling stop. Jake turned to Bianca. "Get out," he said.