Chapter 37
CHAPTER 37
BATTLE ROYALE
Omar
“So is this place like Rivers Wilde?” Jules asks as we turn down Rivers Oaks Blvd from San Felipe.
“Not even close. This isn’t an everybody’s welcome kind of community.”
“The houses are so big.” She gawks at the mansions on both sides of the street. “How can one family live in such a big house?”
“Very easily.”
“Can’t imagine.” She yawns and stretches.
“Are you tired?”
“A little. I think it’s that huge breakfast because I slept so well.”
“Me, too.” I forgot how comfortable my bed in this house is. “Okay, this is theirs.” I nod at a driveway right after the stop sign. We turn into a long, circular driveway.
“Shit, who is that?” Jules mutters and points at a baldheaded, bearded man in all black standing at the front. I instinctively pump my brakes and slow down.
The plan was that we’d ring the bell, and while whoever answered it went to inform Mr. Royale I was here, Jules would sneak up the stairs to Mrs. Royale’s private suite of rooms.
As we get closer, I realize who the man standing at the front door of the enormous house looking like a fucking assassin in his all-black garb, black Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a completely bald head, and full beard is.
“That’s Noah.”
“Wow, he’s…really big.” Jules’ voice is full of awe.
I scowl at her. “Put your tongue back in your mouth. He’s married.”
“I remember, and I was just saying…”
“Yeah, I know what you were saying.”
“You know that clean shaven jaw of yours is my catnip.” She runs her hand along it.
“And now I also know you get thirsty when you see a big man with a beard.”
She glares at me. “I am not thirsty . And why are you teasing me when you should be panicking?”
“Panicking about what?”
She looks at me like I just told her I’m an alien. “What?”
“Omar! He wasn’t supposed to be outside. How am I going to get into the house with him standing there?” Her voice pitches higher on that last sentence.
I put a hand on her leg. “Don’t worry. Whatever is happening right now, we’re not leaving here without what we came for. He and I are scheduled to go see this structure and meet with his dad. If he tries to change things up, I’ll insist that I won’t do anything until we drive over. We’ll leave. You just wait for your chance. There’s also a back entrance. We’ll make it happen.”
She draws in a big breath and lets it out. “Okay. Trust the plan. Got it.”
We roll to a stop right in front of the man we’re discussing, and he bends down to peer into the window and wave. I hold up my hand to let him know we need a minute.
I take Jules’ hand and squeeze it.
She squeezes mine back. “Let’s go.” The brave smile on her face makes me fall in love with her all over again.
I lean over and kiss her quickly. “It’s show time.”
When I open the door, Noah walks around the car to my side.
I don’t blame Jules. Noah Royale cuts an impressive figure. He’s tall, a few inches taller than my six foot two, and built like a tank. His bald head glints in the sun, but there’s not a drop of sweat on him, like even it knows better than to annoy him.
I stick out my hand in greeting. “Nice of you to roll out the red carpet and meet us yourself.”
He rolls his eyes and pulls me into a bear hug that takes me by surprise but that I return. “It’s really fucking nice to see you. It’s been too long,” he says and pats my back before he lets me go.
“This is my girlfriend, Jules. She’s dropping me off before she heads into town to shop.” I don’t know why I’m giving him the details, but it doesn’t matter because he’s not looking at me anyway.
“Nice to meet you,” she says and then adds, “I’m a hugger, too.” He laughs but wraps her in his arms and lifts her off her feet. When he sets her down, I nudge her. She grins at me, and I scowl. Noah takes off his sunglasses and leans forward, peering at her. “Do I know you?” He runs his eyes over her from head to toe. Not in a lascivious way but like he’s trying to recall where he’s seen her before.
She stiffens slightly and shakes her head. “Not unless you’ve spent a lot of time in southwest London.”
Noah’s eyebrows pop over his sunglasses, and his brow furrows. Then, the huge, sly grin I remember splits his beard. “Holy shit. You’re English?”
“I am.”
Noah slaps me on the arm. “I’m glad your time there was so fruitful.” He glances back at the house. “It’s a shame my mother’s locked up in her bedroom. She was a real anglophile. She would have loved meeting you.”
That sets off my radar—him calling her an anglophile firms up a real connection to the UK.
“Has she been before?” Jules asks in a matter-of-fact way.
“A lifetime ago,” he says and then slips his sunglasses back on. “Down to business. There’s been a slight change in plan. My dad’s held up by a call so he’s still in his office. I’ll drive us over, and he’ll meet us there.”
I nod. “That works.”
“I swear I know you,” he says to Jules.
“I have one of those faces,” she says with a smile but turns so she’s standing in front of me with her back to him. She gives me a wide-eyed “What the fuck?” look but says, “Have a good lunch, my love. I’ll see you later.” She lifts up on her toes, kissing my cheek.
“Later. Drive safely.”
She climbs back in the Dodge Charger we rented, and I’m distracted by how fucking hot she looks behind the wheel of that car. I watch her drive away.
“I bet you could listen to her talk all day, huh?”
“I could,” I agree. “So which way to your car?”
I turn to face him. His eyes are on the retreating tail lights of Jules’ car, and only when she turns out of the driveway does he turn to look at me. “The car is being brought around now. It’ll be just a minute.”
“No problem, no rush.” I’m sure Jules is idling around waiting for us to leave before she comes back.
“So you got money to burn or you just a sucker for my projects?”
“Neither. I like the sound of it, want to hear more and hope we’ll find a common ground.”
A black Corvette swings from around the back of the house and stops right in front of us. A young man dressed in all white hops out. “Mr. Royale, she’s got a full tank and fresh detail.” I feel bad misleading him, but Jules needs answers.
“Thanks, Bola.” He gives the man an impatient but civil smile and climbs in.
I fold myself into the cramped interior of the car. “Hit that button, the seat will push back.”
I do and am relieved when my legs have room to extend. “Nice wheels.”
“I agree. My wife hated it.”
“Hated? Like past tense?”
“Yep. She left me three months ago.”
“Oh man. I hadn’t heard that. I’m sorry.”
“Well, I didn’t advertise it, and she seems to have gone to ground. I don’t even know where the fuck she is,” he grumbles in his deep gravelly voice.
“Is that why you’re moving?”
“Yeah. I can’t stand being in this city without her. Everything reminds me of her, and it’s making me crazy.”
“I’m sorry. And shocked. You guys were attached at the hip.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. It shocked the shit out of me when she served me with divorce papers out of the fucking blue.”
“Wow. You were blindsided?”
“Yes. And she was resolute. I got on my knees and begged her. She left anyway. Once I get this project off the ground, I will too.”
“Are you sure you’re going to be able to manage it from afar?”
“I’ll try. But I promise if it’s not working, I’ll man up and come back. This project is personal, this was my stomping ground in high school. I can’t believe it’s sitting abandoned. This part of Southwest Houston needs a new, upscale, and versatile retail center. Sharpstown is an ideal location, and the structure’s bones are sound.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”