Chapter 4
Chapter
4
"You invited her to stay." Zach
polished the glass and eyed his sister as she wiped the counter.
"I told her you would not mind."
"Are you sure it's a good idea?"
She glanced at him sharply. Jazmine had
gone back to the hotel she was staying at to pack her things and
check out and would be coming by shortly. Zuri wanted to make sure
that her brother was on board before her friend arrived.
"Why not?"
He shrugged broad shoulders. Putting away
the sparkling glass, he reached for another. The lunch crowd had come
and gone and there was a trickling of avid patrons just desultorily
knocking balls around on the pool table.
"It might be too tight."
"We have an extra room," she
pointed out. Putting away the cloth, she turned fully to look at him.
"What's this really about?"
"You have not seen this woman in what?
Five years. She has been through a traumatic divorce—"
"That asshole abused her."
His expression went from one of concern to
fury in less than a second. She watched the transformation in
fascination. His jaw tightened and his shoulders flexed. "And
he's still alive? He hit her?"
"Emotional abuse." She touched a
hand to the bunched-up muscles of his arm lightly. "Which I
think is far worse. She will be staying for a week or two. We're
going to go and look at houses. She's planning on buying something
and putting down roots. I want her to stay here so she can have
someone to talk to. She's a wreck."
"Of course she is." His
expression was grim. "That flaming asshole. If he comes sniffing
around—"
"He's still in Italy. But, if he's
foolish enough to come here, we'll both kick some sense into him."
His face lightened as he grinned at her.
"That's a promise."
"Thanks." Moving forward, she
stood on her toes and kissed him on the lips. "You're the best.
I am going up to straighten the room and then I have some bills to
pay." She turned back when she reached the swinging doors. "The
shipment of vodka finally came in."
"Good. I had to light some fire under
some people to get that moving. Need any help?"
"No. Just point her upstairs."
"Will do. You're a good friend."
"Just doing what I can." With a
wave, she left.
He watched as she stopped by the pool table
and engaged the two players. A grin split his handsome face when she
took the stick and leaning over, sent balls flying. His grin faded
when he noticed the heavy-set man checking her out from behind. But
he should have known she had it covered. Before Mike could put the
move on her, she jammed the stick into his midsection without
blinking an eye and had the man stumbling back and clutching his
midsection.
"That's my girl," he murmured
with a chuckle. Whistling softly to the music playing on the
old-fashioned juke box, he poured himself a finger of whiskey.
He was coldly putting a drunken patron in
his place and threatening to ban him from the club, an hour later
when he saw her walk in.
The jolt to his nervous system had him
going still, the heated words dying on his lips, the drunk forgotten.
His heart did a slow dive and picked up speed as he stared at the
woman carrying the suitcase in both hands, her eyes darting around
the room.
A hesitant smile was on her lips and the
fragility of her beauty made him want to scale the counter and pick
her up, cradling her against him. He had been in a relationship for
the past year which had ended badly and for the past three months had
stayed away from anything resembling one. But seeing her, seeing his
sister's friend standing there, he resigned himself to tumbling
headlong into love.
The glass bobbled in his hands, and he had
to put it away. Fixing a fierce eye on a guy wearing cowboy boots
sauntering towards her, he dropped the rag. Pushing the swing door,
he made his way towards her and had to steel himself to resist the
urge to scoop her up and vow to shield her from everything bad.
"You must be Jazmine." His smile
was deliberately careless, and he prayed that he was able to hold his
composure long enough for her to climb the stairs.
"And you're Zachary." Her smile
was like the sun shining through the clouds. "We met once when
you came to visit your sister." She started to extend a hand—a
delicate one, with the thumb sporting a silver ring. Shaking the hand
briskly, he took the case from her.
"Is this all?"
"The rest is in the trunk of the
rental." She laughed breathlessly. "I did not want to seem
as if I am moving in permanently."
"It's not a problem. Zoo is tidying
up."
"Oh! I did not want to put her to any
trouble."
"No trouble at all." They both
turned to see the topic of their conversation descending the stairs.
"I see you've met my brother." She glanced at him before
going to her friend. "Come on up."
"I'll get the rest of your things,"
Zach assured her.
He watched them walk up the stairs and had
to wait a few seconds to settle his heart. This was ridiculous, he
mused angrily. The woman was just coming out of a painful marriage,
and he was just recovering from a nasty deal with a woman who had
tried to place impossible demands on his time and resources. She had
also been jealous of his relationship with his sister. That had
clinched it for him. Without hesitation, he had told her to take a
damn hike.
So, it's settled, he did not need any
complications and neither did that sweetly beautiful woman who would
be staying with them. He would keep his distance. That decided, he
went outside to get the cases.
*****
"I want to help."
"Help with what?" Zuri turned
from hanging up a lovely silk blouse that she intended to borrow. She
had a brown velvet skirt that would go very well with it.
"In the bar." Jazmine bounced on
the bed, her eyes sparkling. "Put me to work."
Zuri eyed her curiously, a small smile
touching her lips. "You don't know anything about tending a bar.
It's hard work, hauling trays. Mixologist is Zach's and Gary's forte
and I've been known to draw a pint or two, but I am not an expert. I
deal with the accounting side of things."
"Before you came here, you were
working in corporate," she pointed out.
"And you have been modeling,"
Zuri pointed right back.
"I can learn. I will handle the tray
or do clean up or even help with the accounts. Anything. It will take
my mind off my worries." She looked so earnest that Zuri did not
have the heart to say no. She wondered what her brother would have to
say to it.
"Okay, honey. If you're certain."
"I am. It's a lovely place, Zoo."
Her expression turned wistful. "I just want to forget for a
minute that my life is a mess."
Before she could respond, there was a
discreet knock on the open door.
"I have your cases."
"Oh, thank you," Jazmine told him
warmly.
"You're most welcome. Well—"
Zach cleared his throat and was about to turn away when his sister
called out to him.
"Jaz wants to help out in the bar. I
told her she could."
"I don't have any experience, but I am
a quick study," Jazmine added, expression pleading. "I will
wash dishes or glasses or sweep and mop the floor, anything. I won't
be any trouble and it's a way to show my appreciation."
His resolve to stay away from her took a
crashing blow and he felt himself weakening. Agreeing to something he
never would have in different circumstances, he found himself
nodding. "Of course."
Zuri stared at the closed door, puzzled. "I
expected arguments and a flat refusal." She shrugged and reached
over to hug her friend. "We're going to have so much fun. Now
honey, rest a little and grab something from the kitchen. Treat the
place like home."
Jazmine gripped her hand, eyes blurring.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
*****
He thought about it. Very hard and long. He
was still grounded, but his dad was away for a couple days. Something
about the shopping mall in Manhattan that had some glitches. And his
grandmother had a spring thing she was obligated to attend as she was
the host or something or organizer. He would be left on his own with
a house full of servants. And since his father never usually checked
up when he was away, he would not be missed.
He would sneak out and get to the bar to
see Zuri. She had been on his mind since that night, and he wanted to
see her.
And he was sick to death of the house—of
his rooms. He could not get in touch with his damn friends, and they
were away for spring break anyway. His heart was racing and his palms
sweating. For a few minutes, he thought his grandmother could see
through his bland expression and his statement that he was going to
watch something in the theater room and have his meal there.
"I might take a swim before going to
bed. I'll probably be asleep when you get home. What time would that
be?" he asked casually.
She glanced at him in the mirror as she
secured the diamond earrings in her lobes.
"Possibly around midnight." She
stared at her image and nodded in satisfaction. "It's a benefit
for disabled veterans and usually takes a while. I'm sorry to leave
you on your own, darling."
He laughed ruefully. "We have a
zillion servants. I am not exactly alone."
"That's not what I meant."
Reaching for her cashmere wrap, she joined him on the love seat and
wrapped her arms around him, bathing him in her subtly expensive
scent.
Her son had not called to even say he had
reached his destination, but she was used to that. It hurt and she
was angry on her grandson's behalf but had resigned herself to his
behavior.
"I'll be fine, grams." He leaned
into her and closed his eyes. He knew she was trying, but he yearned
to have a relationship with his dad and that was not going away.
"Enjoy yourself and have fun."
*****
She was just descending the steps from
trouncing a couple of cocky truckers at dart throwing and enjoying
the endearing way Jazmine was listening intently to Zach teaching her
to draw a pint, when her quick eyes saw him slip from the family he
had walked in with and into a booth away from the door. He was clever
and had chosen somewhere he was partially hidden by a potted plant.
Sending a quick glance to make sure her
brother was still occupied, she sashayed over to the booth and slid
in.
His smile was impish and endearing and had
the ability to tug at her heart. Forcing a stern expression on her
face, she eyed him.
"You're not supposed to be here again.
And it looks like I am going to have to fire a very good man who has
a wife and a newborn baby. Will that make you happy?"
"It's not his fault," he said
quickly. "There was a crowd coming in and I waited for the right
moment to sneak in."
"Why are you here again?"
"Would you believe if I said it was
for the ambience?" he asked with a winsome smile. His beautiful
gray eyes glowed, giving them a luminous quality. His thick brown
hair was endearingly tousled, with a heavy lock hanging over his
forehead. He was dressed like a typical teenager, with the faded
jeans and black hoodie, but his had quality stamped all over them.
"Kid, my brother is going to tan your
hide and boot you out."
"Please, can I stay?" His voice
wobbled a little and for a moment, he looked younger than his age.
"No."
"Just for a minute? I could use a
coke." His charming smile came again, and she felt the tug at
her heart.
"One coke and then you go. Is that
understood?"
He nodded. "Will you have a drink with
me?"
She sighed softly. "Okay, one drink."
Sliding out of the booth, she went to get the drinks herself,
skirting the area where her brother was drawing a pint and issuing
instructions to the servers. Jazmine was busy laughing with a
customer and handing him his drink.
"Here." She slid back in and
handed him the ice-cold drink. Popping her cork, she studied him for
a few seconds. "Aren't you afraid of being kidnapped?"
His thick brows lifted as he stared at her.
"Kidnapped?"
"Kid, I know who you are. Jason
Hadley, your dad is Jack Hadley of Hadley Industries. Shopping malls
and real estate." She took a sip of the icy coke and eyed him
over the can. "Where's your grandmother?"
"At a function." His mood had
turned mutinous. "Why?"
"Because I am getting ready to call
her."
He reached out to grab her hand. "Please
don't."
"Give me one good reason why not."
"She's going to be steamed."
"I said good."
He still had her hand in a tight grip. "I
am grounded." He told her woodenly. "My dad is—"
he swallowed his drink. "He's a jerk—" he shook his
head. "It's not his fault that he's not there for me," he
blinked, but not before Zuri saw the hint of tears and the unhappy
look on his face. "He's busy. He's an important man and does not
have time—" he shrugged. "He's busy."
Zuri never made the mistake of thinking
that people with money were happier than people without. She had
learned over the years that everyone had their own cross to bear.
"Where's your mom?" She asked him
gently.
Lifting his hand from hers, he clasped it
around his can. "She did not want me." He looked defiant as
he raised his head to stare at her. "She preferred the money.
It's no big deal."
"Of course it is." Her voice
softened as she reached out to touch his hand briefly. "But you
have your grandmother who from what I saw when she came here, she
loves you."
He nodded. "I guess."
"What will they say to know that you
have disobeyed them again?" She asked curiously.
For a minute, she saw fear flash in his
eyes, before it was ruthlessly shut down. She had a feeling that the
kid knew how to hide his hurt and pain.
"He's threatening to send me to
boarding school. I don't care."
"You do." She sighed as she
looked at him and knew she was being drawn into something she had no
business getting involved in. "Ten minutes."
Zach figured that if he hadn't been charmed
by Jazmine and enjoying the simple yet meticulous task of teaching
her how to draw a pint and thrilled himself by watching her flit
between tables to deposit a tray with careful ease, he would have
noticed that his sister was missing. Usually, she would be around the
counter at the busiest time in the bar, either ragging on a patron or
handing out drinks and counting off money—or she would pop
around the back to see what was going on with the meals.
Tonight, being Saturday, they were serving
chicken fingers, fries and bowls of vegetable soup. Tearing his gaze
from the lovely picture Jazmine made in her painted-on jeans and
black silk blouse, he scanned the second level and not seeing her
there, he turned his eyes to the lower level and went as still as
stone.
Handing Milt his rum and tonic, he took
several deep breaths and waited until the flurry of anger had abated
to a manageable level. Turning to Gary, he handed the task over to
him and taking one last longing look in Jazmine's direction, he made
his way purposefully towards the secluded booth where his
soon-to-be-dead sister was huddled cozily with the teenager. The
wealthy teenager who should be home tucked in bed at—He glanced
at his watch. At Christ! Almost midnight. He was going to kill her.
He savored the how of it as he advanced on them.
The kid noticed him first and must have
seen the murderous expression on his face, because he half rose,
causing Zuri to turn around.
He saw the guilt flash over her face to be
replaced by an airy expression.
"Kid, stay put. I need to have a word
with my sister." His voice was calm and controlled, considering
that his thoughts were in turmoil.
She rose gracefully, sending a reassuring
look towards the kid.
"I know what you're going to say,"
she began as he steered her towards the second level and into a
corner of the room that was unoccupied.
"I bet you don't. What the hell is he
doing here again and why for Christ's sake are you having a drink
with him instead of sending him home?"
She paced away to straighten a table.
"He snuck in."
"Again. I am going to have a serious
talk with Boris."
"He came in with a family."
"That's not a damn excuse."
Heaving out a breath, he strove for calm. "What are you doing,
Zoo?"
"He's lonely," she muttered.
His eyes narrowed as he took in the guilty
expression on her face.
"He's not your responsibility."
"I know that," she snapped. "His
father is too busy to pay him any mind and his mother sold him."
A frown touched his brow. "You're
going to have to explain that to me."
She did, telling him what Jason had told
her.
"I feel it for the kid, but the point
is—he does not belong in a bar. He needs to go the hell home.
Call him an Uber."
"He just wants to hang—"
She held up a hand as he opened his mouth to blast her.
"Okay, fine. I will take him home."
"Take him? Zuri—"
"I don't need your blasted permission.
I am going to take him home."
He grabbed her arm as she turned to leave.
"You're getting involved."
"So what?"
His eyes glittered at her tone. "You
know better."
She shrugged his hand away. "I'll be
back shortly."
He watched her leave in frustrated silence
and stayed there to get his emotions under control. He knew his
sister well and knew when she was on a crusade. And that nothing was
going to stop her from looking out for that damn kid.
Passing his hand over his hair, he went
back down and went behind the bar, just in time to see Jazmine
carefully building a pint.
Lifting her head, she flashed a smile at
him that had his insides melting as if someone had set a match.
"I see you're getting the hang of it."
She had on some sort of peach lipstick that
was dying to be kissed.
"I think so. Gary says I am a
natural." She finished mixing the drink and slid it forward.
"I think he's right. Aren't you
tired?"
"Not in the least." She laughed
breathlessly, reaching behind her to take out two cans of coke and a
ginger ale. "I love it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity."
"Anytime." His insides ached as
she tossed back her single braid and put the things on a tray.
"I'll be back." She grinned at
him and sauntered through the swinging doors.
For a few minutes he had forgotten his
worries with his sister. His gaze followed her as she made the
rounds. She had a way about her. She stood there at the table with
the family of five, three kids and their parents and engaged them.
With a resigned sigh, he turned his
attention to the men around the bar and went back to work.
As the evening wore on, he couldn't help
but steal glances at her. She was a breath of fresh air, a whirlwind
of enthusiasm and charm that lightened the mood of everyone she
encountered. Her laughter, soft and musical, drifted across the bar
like a soothing balm, easing his worries bit by bit.
He was wiping down the counter when he saw
her returning, her face flushed from the warmth of the room and the
joy of the interaction. She placed the empty tray down and stretched,
a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
"It's really busy tonight," she
said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "But I love it."
He nodded, unable to keep his eyes off her.
"You're doing great, Jazmine. The customers seem to really like
you."
She chuckled, her gaze meeting his. "I'm
just being myself. Besides, it's fun talking to everyone."
Tamping down the yearning, he turned to get
the drinks and handed them to her. Best to keep his mind on the task
and off her.