• Ten •
“I will make sure you don’t see Storm again.”
Briar
I’d expected the parking lot to be more packed than this. Driving around to the back, I pulled in on the other side of Bash’s Mustang, but far enough away that nothing could touch my ridiculously expensive vehicle, which was also so damn pretty that I kind of wanted to pet it.
I shoved the guilt away, reminding myself that I couldn’t let Storm decide everything. He had agreed to let me make this decision. He handed me over the key and freedom with my new luxury vehicle. I didn’t leave to come here until I was alone again though. I hadn’t trusted that he wouldn’t pull some stunt to stop me if he knew I was actually coming to Highwater. I think he believed I’d change my mind once he said he didn’t want me to but he wouldn’t stop me.
Opening the door, I stepped down and headed for the back entrance. I didn’t want to walk in front and have to deal with people recognizing me. I was here to talk to Bash and nothing more. At least not tonight. I was at least going to tell Storm before I started working again. He had to give in on something. I was going to use that as my hook too. I’d moved into his house, taken the G-Wagon. Now, he had to let me have a job.
I checked Bash’s office first, but it was empty. Looked like I was going to have to go into the front of the bar after all. I headed that way, and the door to the bar opened. Bash stilled when his eyes met mine. Panic flashed in them as he came into the hall, closing out the noise behind him.
“Briar,” he said and gave me a tight smile.
What was wrong with him? I’d thought he’d be happy to see me. Hug me. Ask me how I had been. This was not what I had expected at all.
“Is everything okay?” I asked him.
He ran a hand through his hair, and his eyes darted around nervously. “Uh, yeah,” he finally said.
That was a lie. I didn’t have to be Storm to read that lie loud and clear.
“I don’t believe you.”
He let out a laugh that held no humor in it at all. “Sorry. You just caught me by surprise.” He pointed to the bar. “It’s real busy in there.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I saw the parking lot when I drove up.”
His fake smile fell, and he sucked in a deep breath, then blew out his cheeks as he let it out in a sigh. “Yeah. Guess you did.”
“Right. Now, tell me, what is wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I just got a lot on my mind. Personal stuff.”
Okay, fine. He didn’t have to tell me his problems if he didn’t want to. Maybe I should come back another time. But getting here again might be harder once Storm knew I was determined to do this. I needed a job before I faced him again.
“Can you talk for a minute?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”
This was clearly not a good time, but I had to do this now. “I owe you the money you gave me, and I need a job. I was wondering if I could come back. Work back the money I owe you?”
He pulled at his collar and seemed jittery. What the heck was wrong with him? Was it because Storm had come in here before I left? Had that made him nervous about me being here?
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t think that’ll work out. I got a full lineup right now. I don’t have any openings.”
Oh. I didn’t hear live music in there now.
“None of them you want to replace?” I asked hopefully.
He shook his head. “No, they’re all real popular.”
Ouch. Okay. This hadn’t been in my plan.
“All right, well, I’ll, uh …” This had turned awkward. So much for me being the best singer he’d ever had perform here. Things changed fast. “I’ll get you the money. I’ve got to find a job, but as soon as I have it, I’ll bring it by. And I’m glad things are going so well.” Although the parking lot was half of what it used to be on a Thursday night.
“The money’s been paid, Briar.” He said the words slowly, as if he wasn’t sure he should.
I frowned. “What?”
He said nothing. He just stood there, looking at me like he would rather be anywhere else.
I studied him. He was nervous, uncomfortable, tense. Slowly, I began to work it out in my head. Putting the dots together.
“Storm came by here.”
Again, Bash said nothing.
That controlling asshole!
“When did he pay you, Bash?” I asked tightly.
“This morning,” he replied. “And he paid me more than double what I had given you.” He sighed. “Listen, I do not need trouble with the fucking Mafia, Briar. He didn’t threaten me, but he made it real fucking clear. I can’t hire you. No matter how bad I’d like to, I can’t. If you’ve gotten mixed up with them, I can’t even help you with that. No one can.”
I let out a hard laugh. “Oh, it’s a little more than being mixed up, and trust me, I am aware you can’t.”
I shook my head, knowing it had been too damn easy to get here tonight. That sneaky shit had expected this. He’d prepared for it. Dammit, he was good.
“Are you … is he holding you against your will?” he asked as he paled.
“No, Bash, he’s not. I’m in love with the man.”
The horror in his expression made me almost laugh.
“Jesus,” he whispered.
“He is nothing close to it, I assure you,” I replied.
“I don’t want to rush you or be rude, but could you leave? I mean, before he finds out you’re here? I don’t want to … well … die.”
I laughed then and nodded. “He won’t kill you. He set me up. I just didn’t realize it until now.”
“Don’t tell him what I said. I mean, I don’t think I was supposed to tell you he was here or that he paid me.”
I was sure he wasn’t supposed to tell me. Just send me away. As much as I wanted to throw a fit and point out how controlling this was, I also didn’t want to make Bash a target. He’d been nothing but good to me. When I hadn’t a friend in the world, he had helped me out.
“I won’t say a word. I’ll tell him you refused me flat.”
Bash shook his head. “Fuck no, don’t do that. If he thinks I upset you …”
“Relax. I will make sure you don’t see Storm again.”
He looked relieved. “Or any of the other ones. If the whole family could stay away—”
“You’re safe,” I assured him. “Thanks, Bash. For everything.”
He looked sad as he gave me a nod. I turned and headed for the back door again. Staying here was pointless. I also needed to decide what my next move was going to be because I was not letting Storm win this. He might have won the round, but I’d be damned if he won the game. I loved him, but he had to understand that his claim that he owned me was only true in the bedroom. That, I happened to enjoy. A whole lot.
Driving back to Storm’s house, I managed to calm down and try and understand this man. It was difficult, and it wasn’t like he even deserved it. Considering he wasn’t trying to come my way any.
Dovie was with Nailyah again tonight at a pool party being held at a side of the family I didn’t know. The Jones had two sons. One who was Storm’s age and one who was Nailyah’s. Dovie had said it was Nailyah’s birthday party. I hadn’t realized it was her birthday and wished I’d known so that we could have bought her something. But then I had no money, so it was another reason I needed a freaking job.
There was a four-car garage to the left of the house, and I’d been given the spot closest to the house. He had his Jeep in the next one, an Escalade in the third one, and the last one had his truck. Why the man needed so many vehicles I didn’t know. I could have borrowed one of his if he’d thought my car was unsafe. He hadn’t needed to buy me one. I was sure the Escalade was just as safe as this G-Wagon.
“Open door one,” I said to the car like he’d shown me, and the door began to open up.
The fact that this was even something that people had amazed me. What had happened to just pressing buttons? I was in a sour mood, and everything was going to annoy me tonight. All Storm’s vehicles were in their spots, which meant he was inside and knew I’d gone to see Bash.
Turning off the engine, I grabbed my purse. “Close door one,” I said aloud before climbing down out of the vehicle.
I had no idea what kind of mood he’d be in, but I was already pissed so if he was mad that I’d left without telling him where I was going, then he could just get over it. I was madder. Straightening my spine, I headed inside, ready to face the battle waiting for me. Not being able to point out that he had sabotaged my plan was going to be hard, but I’d work around it.
When I entered the house, I paused. It smelled like an Italian restaurant. I set my purse down on a decorative table on my way through the foyer, then down the hallway to the kitchen. The closer I got, the better it smelled. Had he gotten a cook? I’d told him I’d cook.
Stepping into the kitchen, I found Storm’s back to me as he stirred something on the stove. He was barefoot with a pair of jeans and navy-blue T-shirt on. Cooking. Jesus have mercy, this man was too much. I leaned against the doorway and watched him. He wasn’t here, waiting on me, scowling and ready to yell about my not telling him I was leaving.
“How does it drive?” he asked me, glancing back over his shoulder.
“Like a dream, but you know that.”
He picked up a hand towel and wiped his hands off, then turned around to face me. “I’m hoping you eat spaghetti. It’s the only thing I know how to cook, and Maeme made the meatballs for me.”
He wasn’t asking about Bash or my going to the bar. He knew though. The smug gleam in his eye gave him away. He was well aware that I’d gone there. But why wasn’t he pitching a fit?
“It smells delicious,” I told him.
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on the counter behind him. “You gonna tell me how it went?”
I wanted to snap back, Like you don’t know! But I couldn’t.
I shrugged. “He doesn’t have any openings. He must have better entertainment now.”
Storm’s brows drew together. “Did he say that?” The threat in his tone was clear.
He didn’t like that. Sure, he could make sure Bash didn’t hire me, but he didn’t want my feelings hurt. Blasted man.
“No,” I said, walking over to the pot on the stove to peek inside. “He said he wished he could hire me, but he was just packed. I was just saying if I was really that good, he’d have found a spot for me. That’s all.”
I cut my eyes back at him. “You aren’t mad that I went.”
He studied me. I had to make sure I didn’t give Bash away.
I raised my eyebrows at him. “I expected to get yelled at, not cooked for, when I got back.”
“I don’t yell at you,” he replied.
“Yes, you do. When you are mad, you raise your voice.”
He dropped his arms to his sides and walked over to me. “That’s not yelling. It’s arguing.”
“Same thing,” I replied sweetly.
His eyes drifted over my face, as if he was memorizing every spot. “You don’t want to be controlled,” he finally said as his gaze came back to mine.
“No, I don’t,” I agreed.
“This is me not controlling you.”
Like hell. He had manipulated that entire situation and was lying about it. I couldn’t get angry. He’d know.
Tamping down my temper, I smiled. “Thank you.”
It was the smallest of flickers. Tiny really, but I had still seen it. The guilt had flashed briefly, but it had been there. Good. At least he was struggling with his lie.
I stepped closer to him and ran my hand up his chest as it flexed under my touch.
“There will be a bar somewhere that will hire me,” I said.
“No.”
I sighed. “Control,” I reminded him.
He shook his head. “You’re better than a fucking bar.”
“Then, where should I sing? Hmm? You got any ideas?”
I gave me a smirk, then ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m working on that.”
“What does that mean?” I asked him, not leaning into his touch like I wanted to.
“I am looking into it. Why don’t you grab the plates? I need to get the garlic bread out of the oven,” he said, dropping his hand and walking over to it.
I wanted to push the topic, but I decided I’d bring it back up later. Going to the cabinets, I pulled down two plates.
Where would he be looking? A club? If he didn’t want men looking at me, then that was definitely not somewhere he’d want me singing. Plus, my voice wasn’t really for anything that wasn’t country. I wasn’t a wedding singer either.
I turned to watch him get a salad out of the fridge and place it on the counter by the bread he’d gotten out of the oven.
“I need my own money. For example, tonight, Dovie went to Nailyah’s birthday party, and I didn’t have money to go buy her something or even give her. Thanks for the heads-up that it was your sister’s birthday, by the way.”
He looked over at me. “Dovie didn’t go empty-handed. She took Nailyah a bracelet she’d had her eye on and the earrings that matched.”
That was not the same thing.
“Your sister will know that whatever extravagant gift you sent, it was paid for by you.”
“The bracelet was from me. The earrings were from Dovie and you,” he said, walking over to me. “They were reasonable, and they were from you and Dovie.”
I wouldn’t lie. I was relieved, knowing she hadn’t gone without a gift. It was thoughtful of him to think about it and handle it. Like he seemed to do with everything. But if I had my own money and he’d told me, that was something Dovie and I could have done.
His hands slid around my waist, and he looked down at me. “I’ve got this. You. Even Dovie. Just trust me.”
I wanted to pretend that everything was okay. That this was perfect. He had cooked for me, he wanted me, we had amazing sex, and I loved being with him. But there were lies. He was manipulating me. I realized, as much as I wanted that, I couldn’t trust him.