Chapter Two #2
When the two men look at me over their coffee cups, I frown and go on. “We started this club and built it into a respectable business. I want more. We’re capable of being more. In honor of Levi, this place should be more.”
Their eyes narrow at the mention of our friend, Landon’s brother, who’d died too young. In a stupid way, because we were all too afraid to walk away from a situation we’d committed to and didn’t know how to get out of. We all blame ourselves, yet none of us blame each other.
Am I challenging them to step up? Hell, yes. “We don’t want to get complacent,” I say.
“I’m in,” Landon immediately says, the mention of his twin clearly getting his juices flowing.
I wonder if I can convince my talented friend to play the guitar on stage. Not something I’ll bring up now. It’s too early in the process, and Landon has avoided his instruments for years because he used to play with his twin.
Right now, I just need them on board for the change of direction in the club.
Glancing at Tanner, I wait.
“Yeah. You got my vote,” Tanner finally says. “We need to build and find our own niche. Get away from the other basic clubs, and the best way is to outclass and outsmart them.”
“Not play dirty the way some of them do,” I say, glancing at Tanner, whose temper is legendary, trying to remind him, by sheer force of will, he needs to continue his good behavior and stay out of trouble.
Tanner gets the message, lifting his hands in a gesture of peace. “No worries here.”
We all hope Tanner is finished using his fists to make his point. Ever since going into business, he’s thrown his energy into the club and channels his anger into positive pursuits.
“So we need a plan,” I say. “Money to bring in the acts. Landon, booking is your specialty, but I’d like to talk to my brother-in-law. See if Grey Kingston will perform for us or talk us up to other musicians.” I don’t mention Charlotte yet.
Bringing her into the mix is risky because she wanted more than I was willing to give. If I ask her to come to New York now, she might take it as a sign I’ve changed my mind about a relationship. I haven’t.
Not with her.
Not with anyone but… I still can’t get a certain curvy blonde out of my mind.
I glance at my friends. “It’s that easy? You’re both in agreement that this is the direction we should go?”
Landon shrugs. “I like the concept. What did Gabe say?”
“To talk to the two of you, then bring him a viable plan.”
Landon walks over to the window and stares out at the empty club. “I’ll bring in an expert on live-act PA systems. Get an estimate on upgrading not just the equipment but the acoustics. I’ll also make a list of possible acts.”
Tanner nods. “And I’ll put together an estimate to make sure our security systems are upgraded to the best ones available. If we’re having top talent, we need to take security seriously.”
With their support, the worry inside me eases. I should have known better than to think my brothers wouldn’t agree with my ideas for making the club even better.
My cell rings, and I pull it from my pocket. “Gabe?” I ask as I take the call.
“No. It’s Izzy on Gabe’s phone. Where did you get that basket of candy you left? Oh my God, Jason, it’s delicious!”
I wish I hadn’t brought them the candy and had kept it for myself. Hell, any reminder of Faith would make me happy, but I’m glad Izzy enjoyed it. “I met a woman who owns a shop called Sweet Treats. Her name is Faith Lancaster.”
“I want them as part of the giveaways at Noah’s birthday party. Can you get me in touch with the owner?”
An excuse to see Faith again? The ability to help her grow her business? I hold back the fist pump, but my heart begins a rapid beat inside my chest. Clearly, I can’t get this woman out of my system by trying to forget about her, so I’m going to have to find another way to cure my craving.
Seeing her again will be a start. “I’ll talk to her and have her give you a call,” I say to Gabe’s wife.
“I’d appreciate it. This woman has talent,” Izzy says. “My friends are going to be so jealous I found her first.” She laughs at the thought.
I shake my head and grin. I always liked Gabe’s woman. “I’ll get in touch with her for you.”
“Thanks, Jase. You’re the best.” She disconnects the call, and I hang up, sliding my phone back into my jeans pocket.
“What’s with the shit-eating grin on your face?” Tanner asks.
“And who’s the she who put it there?” Landon asks as a follow-up.
I groan. I’ve never been able to keep anything from these guys.
As far back as college, from the time we met, the four of us, Levi included, have been tight.
And if Levi hadn’t insisted on us joining a damned fraternity…
I shake my head, pushing those thoughts from my mind.
That is the only way I can live with the pain. Shove it away hard.
“I met a woman the other night when I left the club to see Gabe. She had a flat tire on an old beat-up delivery van she was using, and I stopped to help.”
“You changed a tire? In your Ferragamo shoes and Canali suit?”
“Damned right I did and don’t look so surprised. I can get my hands dirty once in a while.” Especially for a gorgeous woman like Faith.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I turn to my friends. “So everyone has their assignments? I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“We’re on it. Go get laid,” Tanner says with a chuckle.
I wish. “It’s not like that with this woman.”
“Oh, fuck. So it’s like that?” Landon shakes his head. “If you aren’t interested in fucking her—”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t. Just that I’m staying away.” Because she doesn’t think us dating is a good idea, and I agreed. I start for the door, done with this conversation.
But apparently my friends aren’t. “Not taking her home and fucking her means you’re worried you could get serious about her,” Tanner says, sounding almost gleeful. If he can get under someone’s skin, it makes Tanner happy.
“Shows what you know.” I throw the words over my shoulder as I walk out, but I’m very much afraid they are right.
Faith Lancaster is in my head, and I’m beginning to think the only way to get her out is to see what, if anything, could be between us. And now, luckily for me, I have an excuse to see her again.
* * *
Faith
I wake up and perform my usual routine, settling in for my cup of morning coffee and a look at my website, orders, and sales numbers.
Right now, it appears that my online orders have picked up, and in-store sales are strong.
My goal with the baskets was to increase both of those as well as my foot traffic, and a click will tell me if I’ve seen initial gains.
I click and … “Success!” There has been an exponential jump in the three short days since I left my baskets in stores downtown. It feels good to accomplish my goal, better to know my ideas have merit and are working for me.
I wonder if whatever notion I gave Jason Dare the other night helped him the way he hoped it would.
I picked up his business card a few times over the last couple of days, wishing my life were simple and that I could call him.
At the very least to just be his friend.
But it seems like lying low is working for me.
Things have been quiet since the tire slashing, leading me to believe it was a freak incident.
Maybe one of the neighborhood kids really thought vandalism made for a fun night out.
I can’t afford to bring anyone into my life who might bring attention to me or become a target my brother could use against me.
If I’m lonely, well, at least I’m safe. It’s a trade-off I’m willing to make.
After getting dressed, I head out for the day, still on a high from the results of my experiment for my business.
But when I pull up to the front of the shop, my world falls apart.
Graffiti covers the glass, ruining the beautiful painting I had done of my logo, and the glass on the door has been shattered.
I park and walk to the entrance, my stomach twisted in painful knots, and tears spring to my eyes. I wasn’t able to afford a burglar alarm, and because I’m surrounded by so many other stores, I naively thought I could get by without one.
The shops surrounding me are clothing stores whose salespeople don’t arrive for work until ten a.m. I come in early to prep and cook. Obviously, no one reported this yet, or the police would be here.
With my heart in my throat, I dial 911 and stand outside before entering, only willing to do so with a police officer by my side.
While I wait, I’ve never felt so alone or experienced the solitude of my life more acutely.
I left behind a life with friends, whom I haven’t contacted for fear Colton will pressure them for my whereabouts.
And though I have Kelsey here, Kelsey is an intern, not a real friend.
At twenty-five, I’m four years older than the other girl, who has her own group of friends from school.
New York City isn’t conducive to meeting people if you don’t make an effort, go to the gym or classes, and put yourself out there.
And I have done everything but. I’ve kept my head down, run my business, and go home alone at night.
My thoughts go to Jason, a man I just met. I feel silly, but I put his business card in my jacket pocket, and I finger the cool paper now, hoping it will make me feel better, but I have no intention of calling him.
He doesn’t need my problems, and he isn’t my friend. He was just a helpful stranger.
I force myself to think about the incident and who could have done it.
If my brother was the culprit, and how could it be anyone but him, how did he find me?
I put all the paperwork in the business entity name, not my own, haven’t put my picture on any of my social media, including the company website, and I took a new last name to ensure I’ll be protected.
But if these two back-to-back episodes tell me anything, there is no such thing as safe.