Chapter 3
Chapter
3
He eyed her quizzically as he transferred
to the next foot. "What?"
"Stay the hell out of it."
"I don't know what you mean." But
she did and was slightly perturbed that he could read her so well.
"You know exactly what I mean,"
he said grimly. "Jack Hadley, CEO of Hadley's Industries,
builders of complicated and enormous shopping malls and owner of real
estates around the entire country. If that kid comes back to the bar,
we will send him packing. Hadley is not a man to be messed with. And
what the hell was he doing here in the first place?"
"Acting out."
She grinned at the pained look on his face.
"You were fifteen or fourteen once."
"The only acting out I did was get
smashed one afternoon with Darius and that idiot Brandon. Nothing
else. This kid was way out of his comfort zone. He's the heir to a
fortune and could have been kidnapped and held for ransom." His
expression darkened. "I mean it, Zoo—if he comes back, and
I hope to God his grandmother knocked some sense into his head. If he
comes back, send him packing."
"I doubt she managed to do that."
She stirred restlessly and put her beer on the table next to her. "He
looked sad."
"Zoo—"
"No." She shook her head with a
slight laugh. "I am just making an observation."
"You're trying to find a way to get
into this kid's life. I know you."
"I am most certainly not."
"You want a family. A kid. You don't
think I have noticed the longing in your eyes? Whenever a family
comes in with kids, you zero in at that table and spend your time
playing with them."
"So what?"
He knew her well, and whenever she was
backed into a corner, she became defensive and belligerent.
"Nothing is wrong with wanting
something." He watched as she lunged to her feet and started
pacing. "I am just warning you against getting involved—"
"You're jumping the gun. He knows
better than to come back."
"You mean except for the fact that
he's crushing on you?"
The term was so unexpected coming from him
that she stared at him in surprise before bursting into laughter.
"What the hell is so funny?"
"Crushing?" She grinned at his
baleful expression. "Honey, I don't think that term is used
anymore, and besides, we're not twelve."
"Mooning then," he muttered. "The
kid was giving you calf eyes."
"Nonsense." She could not help
but feel pleased at the idea. "And if that's the case, I am
flattered that a teenager finds me attractive."
"A dead man would find you
attractive," he muttered as he rose. "Please be sensible.
If he comes back, send him far away. We don't need that
complication."
"Noted. Now shoo, I need my beauty
sleep, and I am exhausted. Did you see the argument between Harry and
Clyde?"
"Over a goddamned missed shot."
He shook his head. "I wanted to knock their heads together."
"Instead you sent them packing,"
she remembered with a grin.
"They needed to cool off." He
eyed her for a minute. "You waded in without a second thought."
His eyes twinkled in amusement. "And all the while wearing that
skyscraper. I was afraid you were going to fall flat on your ass."
"Practice." She gave him a smug
smile. "Years of it. Now go away."
"I love you."
Her vision blurred, and she had to swallow
the lump in her throat. "I love you too, as annoying as you
are."
Flashing her his devastating smile, he
sauntered out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Turning the lights out, she went into her
bedroom and closed the door. A glance at the clock showed that it was
already half past three in the morning.
Her brother had pegged her well. Dragging
off her clothes, she rummaged for an old t-shirt and slid it over her
head. The bar had been very busy tonight as it was on Fridays. The
end of winter and the promise of spring had brought people out in
droves, especially the spring breakers who had stumbled in with their
raucous laughter, drunk on freedom and the restrictions placed on
them during the school term. She had fended off several eager young
hands reaching for her and asking for a dance or a kiss.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she let out
a sigh of relief. Her feet were throbbing from the hours spent on
them and the unfortunate height of her heels. Collapsing onto the
bed, she stared at the ceiling, images of the night's chaos flashing
before her eyes.
The bar, a second home to her, had its own
rhythm. Tonight had been particularly lively, with a mix of old
regulars and new faces. Yet, amidst the noise, there had been Jason
Hadley, the unexpected element. She couldn't shake the image of his
forlorn expression as he sat in the corner, nursing his drink.
She rolled onto her side, contemplating her
brother's words. The warning lingered, but so did the memory of
Jason's sad eyes. She wasn't looking for complications; she had
enough of those managing the bar and navigating her own emotions. But
there was something about that kid...
Shaking her head, she switched the lamp off
and laid there staring out the window. It was a full moon, she
thought whimsically, pulling the sheets over her. A lovely perfect
circle in a velvety sky studded with stars. A frown touched her brow
as she recalled the unpleasant encounter with Sean. He had been
slightly drunk and with it, had been clingy and insisting on talking
to her.
She had tolerated him for a few minutes,
listening to him moaning the same story of his unhappy marriage. The
bastard had the nerve to tell her that he was filing for a divorce.
"I thought you said your wife was
Catholic and would never give you one?"
He had lapsed into silence as if trying to
figure out an appropriate comeback. She had left him standing there
to go and attend to her patrons. Jerk, she thought angrily. Plumping
up her pillows, she turned them over and drifted into sleep.
*****
The water in the pool was still slightly
chilly, but he did not mind it one bit. The minute the winter weather
was over, the pool maintenance people had been summoned to do the
cleaning. He probably should have waited for the weather to warm up
some, but he relished the bite of the cold air, and the water was
heated from the natural rocks that had clear water running from its
jagged opening and straight into the pool.
Besides that, he was bored. His phone was
taken away from him, so he had no communications with the outside
world. His friends were all off to some grand adventure with their
families, and here he was stuck at home with a house full of servants
getting in the way. His grandmother had lectured him this morning at
breakfast and had him promise to never put her in that position
again.
"I had to lie to your father and that
was not something I am comfortable with."
So, he had promised. And he was going to
try and keep the promise. It was not like he had sworn on a stack of
Bibles or anything like that or taken a blood oath.
He snickered and turned on his back to
float lazily. It was a Saturday morning, and he had decided to get
out of bed and stop moping. So, his old man was a royal jerk, but he,
Jason, did not have to spend his time mooning over it. Last night had
been a lark. His eyes glimmered as he recalled how he snuck
in—pretending he was with the couple and their two bratty and
whiny kids. They had not even noticed him. Shaking his head, he
trailed his fingers through clear blue waters.
The man had been busy lecturing his stupid
wife about some lame business deal gone bad and the kids had been
sniping at each other. It had been super easy to just enter the club
and take a seat. If it had not been for that woman. Zuri—he
smiled dreamily as he thought of her. She was hot. A flush found its
way up his throat and over his face and to his utter mortification,
he felt himself responding physically to the memory of her face and
breasts.
Muttering to himself, he sank down and
tried to get rid of the image of her. He had watched her strutting
around, smiling at the men, flirting and laughing—she had such
a big laugh, one that lit up her entire face.
With a low moan, he started swimming
energetically for a few minutes, until his muscles begged him to
stop. Hauling himself over the edge, he pulled the towel he had
carried with him and wrapped himself with it to ward off the chill.
The sounds of birds singing mingled with the buzz of the machine the
gardeners were using to trim the hedges.
Hunching his shoulder, he stared broodingly
at a pair of robins flitting around the rose bush, before darting
away.
He drew in a deep breath, relishing the
fresh scent of the garden and the crispness of the morning air.
Memories of the previous night lingered, but he tried to push them
away. He wondered what Zuri was doing now, perhaps preparing for a
busy day at the club. He shook his head, annoyed with himself for
dwelling on her.
With a sigh, he stood up and stretched,
feeling the warmth of the sun starting to seep into his skin. The
allure of the pool had faded, replaced by a sense of restlessness. He
decided to go for a walk around the estate, hoping it would clear his
mind and give him a new perspective.
As he strolled through the garden, he
noticed how meticulously tended it was, a testament to the dedication
of the staff. He admired the vibrant colors of the flowers, the
neatly trimmed hedges, and the orderly rows of vegetables in the
kitchen garden. It was all so perfect, yet it felt like a gilded cage
to him.
Jason's thoughts wandered to his
grandmother's stern face that morning, her piercing eyes that saw
through his every lie. He respected her deeply, yet he resented the
constraints placed on him. What he wouldn't give for a bit of
freedom, a chance to live without constant scrutiny.
He reached the edge of the property, where
a small wooden gate led to a path through the woods. He paused for a
moment, considering whether to venture beyond the boundaries of the
estate. The temptation was strong, but the promise he'd made weighed
heavy on his conscience. With a resigned shrug, he turned back,
making his way towards the large manor house that loomed in the
distance.
The sounds of the estate surrounded
him—birdsong, the hum of garden machinery, and the occasional
bark of a dog. It was a symphony of a serene life, yet it failed to
soothe his restless spirit.
Jason felt a pang of longing for something
more, something beyond the confines of his privileged existence. He
knew he had responsibilities and expectations to meet, but he
couldn't help but dream of a life less ordinary. As he walked back to
the house, he resolved to find a way to honor his promise while
seeking out the adventures his heart yearned for.
He had seen from his room window when his
father left. Probably going to another one of his endless business
appointments. The man never stops. Never said to him that they should
go take in a game or two. Dragging restless fingers through his hair,
he headed back. He had missed breakfast and was feeling the hunger
gnawing at his stomach.
*****
"We could have stayed at the bar."
Zuri watched as her friend's hands moved
restlessly from her coffee cup to the bowl of fruits in front of her.
Jazmine had taken just tiny sips of her latte and nibbled on grapes.
"No, we couldn't." Placing a hand
over the restless one flitting around the table, she forced her
friend to look at her. "Honey, you obviously wanted privacy."
Her smile was spoiled by the shimmering
tears in her eyes. "It's been so long since we've seen each
other."
"And yet it feels like just
yesterday." Zuri squeezed her hand lightly. "We kept in
touch and that's what matters."
Jazmine nodded and took in a deep breath.
The little café was quiet with the morning crowd already gone
and too early for lunch. They had selected a corner booth with the
view of the streets. It was so different from what she was accustomed
to. Heavy traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular. People bustling to
and from their various destinations. Splash of lights and colors.
Buildings spearing towards the sky. "It's a quaint little
place."
"You're an urbanite."
Jazmine turned her head to smile at her
friend. "I am, yes. So were you."
Shrugging, Zuri picked up her cup and took
a sip of her espresso. She should have chosen something less likely
to put her into a dizzy spin. She had paperwork to get back to and
other things to deal with. But after the phone call, a quietly
desperate one from a friend she had not seen in more than five years,
she had left without hesitation. The paperwork will still be there,
and her brother could handle whatever it was that needed handling. "I
have somehow become accustomed to being home." She glanced out
at the opposite building. An exclusive clothing store that she had
stepped into quite a few times.
The price was ridiculous, but the quality
was wonderful. And nothing was wrong with a girl spending a few
hundred on an outfit designed to entice and flatter.
"You were right."
Zuri had waited her out, was waiting her
out. From the few calls she had received leading up to this meeting,
she suspected that something was wrong. And when her friend had
called a month ago to say the divorce was final, she had heard the
strain and the break in the voice.
"About what?"
"You said Ronaldo was all flash and no
substance."
"Honey, I never meant—"
Zuri blew out a breath, her innate honesty making it difficult for
her to lie. "I did."
"And you were right." Jazmine
drew in a careful breath while tears shimmered in her light blue
eyes. Her face was waxy pale and the severity of the elegant chignon
at the nape of her neck only highlighted the sharp bones of her face.
Zuri's gaze lingered on Jazmine, her
friend's fragile state tugging at her heartstrings. She wished she
could erase the pain etched into Jazmine's features, but she knew
that healing took time.
As Jazmine took another tentative sip from
her latte, Zuri decided to change the subject to lighten the mood.
"Tell me, have you been to any good art exhibitions lately? You
always had an eye for beauty."
Jazmine's eyes brightened slightly at the
mention of art. "Oh, there was one at the downtown gallery last
week. They had some incredible pieces by emerging artists. It was
refreshing to see such raw talent."
Zuri smiled, glad to see a spark of
enthusiasm in her friend. "That sounds wonderful. Maybe we could
go together sometime. I'd love to see what's new in the art world."
They had a lot in common and that had been
the core of their friendship. She had met Jazmine while attending NYU
and an instant bond had been struck between them. Both of them had
modeled to finance their education. Zuri had said no to the modeling
world and a lucrative contract, not wanting to be bogged down by the
wear and tear of the industry, but her friend had grabbed it with
both hands.
Zuri could not blame her. Jazmine's family
life had been less than stellar. Her father had been an abusive drunk
and her mother had not even bothered to put up a fight. As soon as
she finished college, she left for Europe where she had been dazzled
by a smooth-talking Italian and rushed into marriage.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head. "But I need to."
She swiped at the tears on her cheeks. "He was abusive."
Zuri's eyes flashed, and she felt her anger
rising. "He hit you?"
"No." She shook her head again
with a broken laugh. "I told myself that it would have been
better if he did. Then I could have retaliated. Given as good as I
received." Her watery smile came. "Remember that jerk on
campus?"
"Larry something or another. Tried to
harass us when we decided we wanted nothing to do with his drugs."
Zuri smiled at the memory. "Thought he was dealing with a bunch
of naive and scared girls."
"We showed him."
"Crippled him from the waist down."
She laughed softly. "I will never forget the look on his damn
face." Her smile faded. "Honey, it's okay if you don't want
to talk."
"I need to and you're my best friend.
I should not have married him, Zoo. I saw the signs. He was a
megalomaniac. And I saw glimpses of it. He wanted more of everything.
And if I received a contract over him, he would go into a sulk. He
isolated me, telling me that he just wanted us to be alone together."
She smiled bitterly. "I had several miscarriages."
"Oh honey."
"But it's for the best. He never
wanted children. He told me that after we were married, made it like
it would come between our careers." She paused and stared into
her cooling brew. "Said he wanted me all to himself. With no
distractions. When I discovered the first time that I was pregnant, I
thought he would come around. I was wrong. He called me names and we
had a horrible argument. When I had the miscarriage, he brought me
flowers in the hospital and said he was going to be better. He never
was."
Zuri reached across the table and grasped
Jazmine's hand, offering silent comfort. "I'm so sorry you had
to go through that," she said softly.
Jazmine squeezed her hand in return. "Thank
you, Zoo. Talking to you helps more than you know."
"Anytime," Zuri replied. "You're
not alone in this. We'll get through it together."
Jazmine nodded, appreciating the support.
"I just need to find a way to move on, to rebuild my life."
"You will," Zuri assured her.
"You're strong, and you have so much to offer the world. Take it
one step at a time." An idea emerged. "Why don't you come
and stay with us for a while? There's an extra bedroom and I am sure
Zach would have no objections to you staying."
"Oh, I couldn't possibly!"
"Of course you could." The more
the idea took root, the more she realized it was exactly what her
friend needed. "You are now back in the states, and you said
you've retired from modeling. Have you any idea what you're going to
do?"
"Buy a house, put my art degree to
some use." She laughed shakily. "I have some money put
aside—enough so that I can afford to rusticate for a bit."
"While you're contemplating that and
looking for the perfect place, you're staying with us," she told
her firmly. "I refuse to take no for an answer, and you know
what kind of pain in the ass I can be when I am determined to get my
own way."
"Don't remind me. Are you sure your
brother won't mind? I don't want to impose."
"He won't. Zach's cool like that."
The profound sadness settled over her. "I
never had that."
Zuri squeezed her hand. "I know. Have
you seen her?"
Jazmine shook her head. "I called
while I was in Italy and told her about the divorce. Do you know what
she said? That it serves me right for traipsing abroad to hook up
with a foreigner. And that I had better not think I could come by and
stay with her. I bought her that house."
Her lips trembled and Zuri felt the
frustrated anger and pain at her friend's suffering.
"As if you would stay with her. I know
she's your mother, but I have never seen a more bitter and dried up
woman."
"I used to make excuses for her. He
was abusive and she was afraid to leave. Fear crippled her, but I do
believe she enjoyed being a victim. I swore I would never become
her."
"And you haven't," Zuri reminded
her swiftly.
"I keep telling myself that." She
smiled tremulously. "Every day."