Chapter 7
Chapter
7
She sneaked out without telling anyone
where she was going. It was early morning, the crack of dawn. The sky
was streaked with blush rose, a streak of colors over the horizon.
She had barely slept last night. The scene with Jack Hadley had her
up and restless. She had gone past her place, allowing her temper to
get the better of her like that. She had charged him like a lion
defending her cub and she had felt fearless, and had not thought of
the consequences. The man had the power to crush her like a bug.
Them, she corrected grimly. It was not only her. It was her brother
as well and Zach had worked too damn hard to have his business go up
in flames.
So, she had sneaked out and was now at the
cemetery. They were buried side by side. Her father, bless his
generous and loving heart, had bought a spot so that he could be next
to his wife when he died. He was thinking of the ever after. The
until death and beyond. Oh, he had grieved. She had seen instances
when he would go into his own small space and mourn. He had loved
her, loved his Catherine. But to his benefit, he had never resented
the fact that she had given her life to birth his children.
At least, not so that she had ever seen or
even felt. He had loved them, spoken to them of her, made sure that
her part in their coming into the world was not forgotten. Her
sacrifice. She brushed a hand over the headstone – first one
and then the other.
Her touch lingered over the glossy marble,
coated with dust over the name of the woman she had never known.
Growing up without a mother had taught her to be self-sufficient. A
smile ghosted her lips as the memories came crashing – fast and
furious. Instances where her brother had helped her with her hair –
the thick unruly mass of it. When he had threatened to take a
scissors to it. She had learned to braid and plait and sometimes in
her frustration, drag the whole mess of it on top of her head and
just leave it like that.
Had he been a perfect dad? Not by a long
shot. There were times when he imbibed a little too freely. But even
then, even when he had had to sleep it off in the office at the bar,
he had never been abusive. Even when he had neglected to buy
groceries or cook a meal, forcing them to try and fend for
themselves, he would make it up by ordering pizza from Luigi's the
next day.
He would glance at their homework, with a
puzzled frown and would be grateful when told that they could manage
on their own. And they had. She and Zach had been there for each
other. Feeling the damn tears burning the back of her eyes, she
blinked them away. It was quiet, still as if even the air realized
that she was having a moment and was willing to give her some space.
Sitting on her father's grave, she wrapped
her hands around her knees and rocked back and forth. She blamed it
on the situation with Jason Hadley and his jerk of a daddy. She felt
a tug of something for the kid. And acknowledged that her maternal
urges were getting keener.
She wanted children. Wanted them with a man
who wanted them as well, who wanted her. She was tired of dating men
who just saw the outside of her and not the inner. Who just wanted a
tumble and nothing behind it. And she was tired of being wrong. She
wanted something substantial, a firing of the spirit, soul and body.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the
scent of dew and earth, grounding her as she sat on the cold marble.
She reflected on the legacy of strength and resilience her father had
instilled in them, qualities that were now being tested in the face
of impending adversity. Gazing at the gravestones, she felt the
weight of her responsibilities pressing down, yet a spark of hope
ignited within her.
Determined to honor her father's memory and
the sacrifices her mother had made, she resolved to confront the
challenges ahead with unwavering determination. She knew that she
needed to protect her brother's hard-earned success and safeguard
their future. Rising from the grave, she brushed the last remnants of
dust from her clothes and took a deep breath, feeling the morning sun
warm her face.
Hugging the jacket around her, she took one
last look around before making her way out.
*****
His fingers brushed gently over her rosy
skin. She had spent the night with him. And he still was unable to
recover from the passion and intensity of what they had shared. Three
times. He chuckled softly, careful not to disturb her. He had been
greedy for her and apologized more
than once. He had squelched the guilt as he wondered if he was taking
advantage of her vulnerability. But that had been ruthlessly buried
under layers of emotions, passion so hot and dark that it had
practically swallowed him whole.
And she had given as much as she received,
opening for him when he entered her. His body quickened as he
recalled how she had gripped him, hugged him until he felt as if he
would die from the pleasure of her. He could not go back. He had just
stopped himself from blurting out his love for her. He would wait –
as hard as that would be, he would wait for her to be ready. Lifting
a hand, he brushed back tendrils of hair from her rosy cheeks. She
was wrapped around him. Even in sleep, she wanted the contact.
The light streaming through the curtains
allowed him to examine her face. What a face, he thought, love
swelling inside him. All delicate bones and angles. Her skin was so
fair, and he realized that he had probably bruised her in his
eagerness and hunger for her.
He had been like a boy with his first taste
of a very fine banquet after being hungry for weeks. He should have
taken his time. Funny, he had always dated women of color. He never
had anything against white women, but he wanted to be loyal to his
own kind. Shaking his head at the irony, he brushed his lips on her
forehead and hoped fervently that she would not wake with regrets.
That he could not handle.
*****
Regret was not what she was about when she
opened her eyes and recalled the night's events. It had been too
meaningful, astonishingly so for her to wallow in regrets. For the
first time in her life, she felt cherished, and it was something she
was going to have to examine at length, when she was alone.
She stirred and turned over to find him
sitting on the edge of the bed with a cup of steaming coffee.
"What time is it?" She felt shy
and just resisted tugging the quilt over her.
"Half past six." Lifting his free
hand, he brushed back the hair that was like silk to the touch, from
her cheek. "I am usually up by five when I get my workout and
check the stocks." His touch lingered and he wanted so much to
get back in bed with her. Just slide in and make love to her until
they were mindless. "You don't have to get up."
A blush stained her cheeks, and her eyes
slid away from him.
"Jazmine?" Tucking his fingers
under her chin, he forced her to look at him. "Do you want me to
apologize?"
"No." She bit her lip.
"I know you're vulnerable and I should
have stayed the hell away from you-"
"I did not want you to."
He blew out a breath and felt the tension
slowly uncoiling. That had been his worry, that she would wake up and
wonder what the hell she had done.
"Then what?"
"Your sister?"
He jolted in surprise. "What about
her?"
"She's my best friend and you're her
brother."
"And?"
"She's not going to be pleased."
"We don't know that."
"Could we just keep it between us?"
He opened his mouth to disagree but was not
proof against the plea in her marvelous eyes. Eyes he felt as if he
was drowning in.
"All right." He sighed. Bending
his head, he rubbed his lips against hers, feeling the heat when she
responded immediately. Her arms came around his neck and with a
tortured groan, he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her into
him.
When she whispered his name, he weakened
and almost gave in to the urge to slide into her.
"I have to go and since you want to
keep us a secret-" There was a hint of disapproval in his tone
that had her touching his cheek.
"For now."
He sighed and shook his head. "When
you look at me like that, I can agree to anything." He handed
her the coffee.
"Thanks."
"Will you come to me tonight?"
She nodded, her eyes shimmering.
"Good. I have no idea how the hell I
am going to keep my hands and eyes off you. It was a tough job before
and now that I have a taste of you, it's going to be impossible."
He kissed her again and savored that taste deep inside his throat.
"All right, I'm going."
He left the room but could not resist
turning to look at her. She was in his bed, all rumpled from sex and
sleep, and he felt his body responding alarmingly. Stepping out, he
closed the door with a firm snap and was on his way down the stairs
when he saw his sister coming up. Taking a quick look up the stairs,
he started to say something to her, when he saw the evidence of tears
on her cheeks.
"Zoo, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." She started to pass
him, when he placed a firm hand on her arm.
"That's not going to fly. I was just
about to grab some coffee and go for my run. Join me." Without
waiting for a response, he dragged her down the steps and into the
kitchen.
"I don't appreciate being manhandled,"
she huffed.
"Since when?" he asked mildly as
he poured coffee into two cups and handed her one. "Spill."
She shrugged and wrapped her hands around
the cup, allowing the warmth to seep in.
"I was at their graves."
"Oh honey." He felt the instant
guilt and circled the counter to wrap his arm around her.
"Why didn't you ask me to go with
you?" Would he have gone? He wondered. And if she had knocked on
his door, she would have known he was with Jazmine.
"I wanted to be by myself." She
leaned into him. "It's coming up the anniversary of his death."
"Yes." Zach felt the loss keenly.
The man had tried his best to be a good father under extremely
difficult circumstances. His mind drifted to the woman he had left in
his bed, and he realized that he wanted something with her. He wanted
everything with her. But he also wanted his sister's approval. She
was his family and the second most important person in his life.
Without her approval and blessings, it would make things very
uncomfortable. And he wanted to tell her. They had always told each
other everything and it did not sit well with him that he was hiding
things from her.
"Want us to go together later? Take
some flowers?" He asked softly.
She shook her head and indulged in just
clinging to his solid frame for a moment. "Maybe this weekend."
Lifting her head, she kissed his cheek. "Thanks."
"Of course." He held her for a
little while before letting go.
*****
"You have visitors."
She gave a distracted glance at her friend
as she stood just inside the doorway. She hated paperwork and thought
it a necessary evil. "I don't have time for visitors." She
eyed the girl curiously. "You look different."
Jazmine felt the leap of fear. "Different
how?"
Zuri shook her head. "Happier. Damn
and blast! I just figured it out and now it's all messed up. Who are
they?"
"What?"
"You said I have visitors?"
"Jason Hadley and his grandmother."
"Really?"
Jazmine nodded.
"Oh. Where is Zach? Has he seen them?"
"He was the one who sent me to get
you."
"Does he look mad?"
Jazmine grinned at her anxious expression.
"He looks resigned."
"Resigned is good." Blowing out a
breath, she pushed away from the desk and stretched to work the kinks
out. "Any excuse to get away from this." She made a
sweeping gesture at the pile of invoices on her desk. Linking her
hand through her friend's arm, she felt the residual sadness leaving.
"Heard anything from the realtor?"
"As a matter of fact. I am supposed to
go and look at a place this afternoon."
"Just let me know what time."
"Okay." She tugged her hand away
and went to finish polishing the tables while Zuri went to greet her
visitors.
"Hi. This is a surprise." Her
eyes gleamed with pleasure as she looked first at the boy and then
the woman.
"I hope we're not keeping you from
anything." Millicent, looking out of place with her chic cream
pantsuit and discreet diamond earrings, murmured anxiously.
"Not at all. Hi Jason."
"Hi." He grinned at her and took
her hand in his. "I persuaded grandma to stop by and ask you to
lunch."
"Ah-"
"We're going shopping for the new
school term."
"And I am sure you would not want to
be saddled with me."
"Please." His eyes were earnest,
and he was still holding her hand. "I don't know what you said
to my dad, but he is not sending me off to boarding school."
"I am sure it's not anything I said.
He decided that on his own."
"No." He shook his head. "We
want to buy you lunch."
She looked up at the woman who smiled
tentatively. "He begged and pleaded with me to stop here. Said
he had to see you."
"And your dad specifically said he did
not want you coming here." Zuri reminded him. Tugging her hand
away, she waved them towards a booth and waited for them to be
seated. "I don't want to cause trouble."
"This doesn't count. It's daylight and
I am with grams. Please come to lunch." He reached for her hand
again and she felt the familiar tug at her heartstrings.
"As long as your grandmother agrees."
"I would love to have you."
"All right. Let me get some things
settled and I will be right back. Would you like something to drink?"
They both declined.
"I'll just let my brother know that I
will be gone for a while."
"Thanks."
She stopped and looked at him, her
expression softening. "Who passes up a free lunch?" She
asked lightly as she walked away.
*****
He worried a little over his sister's
unwise involvement with the kid and his family but easily dismissed
it when his eyes touched on the woman carting the heavy tray across
the room. Putting down the glass he had been polishing, he had to
pace himself not to rush over and wrestle the tray from her.
"We will not have you killing
yourself." Forcing his tone to be light, he easily lifted the
tray from her.
"It's not heavy."
Merely giving her a glance, he brought it
over to the crowded table and efficiently served the patrons.
"Would you come with me?" He
asked quietly as soon as he had finished serving the last drink.
"Where?"
"You'll see." He beckoned to
Linda and Gary to take over.
Careful not to touch her, he led the way
into the small office and closed the door.
"What-" The rest was cut off when
he hauled her into his arms and crushed her lips. It had been on his
mind since this morning. The need to be with her. And he needed this.
His hands roamed restlessly up and down her back as he drank from her
like a thirsty man. Ending the kiss, he cradled her head against his
chest and fought for control.
"I'm sorry I was rough." He eased
her away from him and searched her face anxiously. "Did I hurt
you?"
"No." She laughed breathlessly,
one hand lifting to touch her bruised lips. "Zach-"
"I don't want you doing any heavy
lifting. We have people for that."
"And I don't mind." She loved the
way he looked at her and his instinct to protect her. It was all new
to her. "You're going to make people start wondering about us.
Zuri asked if there was something different about me."
His eyes brightened at that. "What did
you say?"
"I evaded."
"I want to tell her. I am not used to
hiding things from her."
"Not yet," she told him firmly.
He opened his mouth to argue and then
closed it. "All right." He caressed the back of her neck,
fingers sliding through the silk of her hair. "I wanted to leap
over the counter and smash my fist into that guy's face."
"What guy?"
"The one who was pawing your butt."
She laughed giddily, loving the way he
sounded. "I dealt with the situation."
His hands cupped her face. "Part of
the reason why he's still wearing a smile." His expression
turned brooding. "I want to make love to you."
Her heartbeat quickened. "I want that
too."
"I am hungry for you." Tilting
her head back, he ravished her throat and had her humming.
*****
They had lunch at the Tea Room. The quiet
elegance of the place appealed to her and had her wondering if she
should have changed into something more than the faded denims and
dark blue cashmere sweater, she had donned for work this morning.
They were shown to a private booth at the
back of the room, by an obsequious ma?tre d'.
"We will have the soup du jour,"
Millicent glanced at Zuri and her grandson before nodding to the man.
A basket of freshly baked bread was set
before them, the steam rising and making her mouth water.
"I hope you don't mind-" Her
fingers hovered over the basket and had Millicent smiling.
"Go right ahead." She waved a
hand and reached for her glass of lemon water. "You were not
afraid to stand up to my son."
She glanced up from buttering her bread and
saw the woman staring at her steadily.
"Dad has a way of making people afraid
of him," Jason chimed in as he too reached for a roll.
"I suppose he has a reason for being
that way," she murmured, tamping back the words she really
wanted to say.
"He does." Millicent took another
sip of water, a pensive expression on her lovely face. "But we
will not get into it." She smiled at Jason. "You have quite
a fan in my grandson."
Zuri glanced at the boy and winked, sending
his heart fluttering. "I am flattered." She touched his
hand lightly. "Looking forward to going back to school?"
He grimaced and was about to shovel the
bread into his mouth, when he caught his grandmother's eyes. Changing
tactic, he decorously tore off a piece and nibbled. Zuri did her best
to hide her amusement.
"I suppose."
"Don't let his nonchalance fool you.
He loves school. And is brilliant at everything." There was
unmistakable pride in the statement that had Zuri smiling.
"An overachiever, huh?"
"Just like his father." The
statement had them lapsing into silence that was not broken, even
when their soup was served.
"I wanted to thank you for what you
did for Jason," Millicent went on quietly. Putting her spoon
down, she picked up the snowy white napkin and dabbed the sides of
her mouth delicately. There was a haunting quality about her that
gave her an ethereal look. An air of sadness that clung to her, even
when she smiled.
Zuri could not help but wonder what her
story was. She knew the woman's husband was no longer alive and
reasoned that there was a painful story there.
"My pleasure." She glanced at
Jason and saw the boy watching her. "How are things with your
dad now?"
He shrugged one shoulder and glanced at his
grandmother as if seeking her permission to talk about him. The woman
simply nodded.
"He's been to my room several times to
talk a little. That's something, I guess."
"Small steps," she smiled at him
and reached over to touch his hand lightly. "Keep trying."