CHAPTER TEN
Grant
I didn’t remember laughing this much since I was a child. Or talking this much either.
It wasn’t just Jasmine and her funny sense of humor. Journey was equally funny, just more quiet about it. I thought the part of her that allowed her to let loose was dampened down by some deep sadness that surrounded her.
No. It wasn’t sadness. Not exactly. Or not only that singular emotion.
Even though I knew from her lease agreement that she wasn’t quite twenty-four years old, she carried an air about her that made her seem much older. More experienced with the ways of the world. More leery of what it contained.
Yet, she appeared to still be in college. Which wasn’t odd, but it did make me curious.
“I noticed a number of text books,” I said, opening the conversation. “Are you in school?”
A bright smile appeared upon her face. “I am. Well, I will be.” The smile faded just a bit. “I graduated earlier this month with my bachelor’s and am hoping to begin the Doctor of Physical Therapy program this fall.”
“Hoping?”
Journey’s eyes flicked toward her sister, who was happily munching on a fry. “Yes. And even if I don’t start then, I’ll reapply for the following year.”
The obstacle was money. I didn’t even have to ask, I could tell. I also could tell this wasn’t a subject I needed to bring up at the moment. “Have you always been interested in physical therapy?”
She met my eyes, those pale blue irises almost seeming to glow with her inner spirit. Even though they were incredibly beautiful, their lightness could be startling at times.
“Yes. I’ve always been interested in how the body works, and when therapists worked with Jazzy or Mee-maw, I always asked them a million questions. Then, between therapy sessions, I would replicate the exercises.”
I quirked a brow. “Mee-maw?”
She laughed. “Yes. Apparently, I got Melinda and Mamaw mashed up in my mouth, and that’s the name I called my grandmother.”
“Mee-maw died,” Jazzy said matter-of-factly. “She took care of us because our mother is…” She stuck out her tongue and shuddered, visualizing her disdain.
I met Journey’s eyes. Her cheeks were turning pinker, but she didn’t look away. “It’s true.”
“She didn’t even give Journey a name,” Jasmine added, dipping another French fry into a large glob of ketchup.
Journey turned pinker and looked down at her hands.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about the past,” I told her, running my finger over my scar.
“We don’t even know Journey’s birthday or even how old she is,” Jasmine added.
Journey touched her sister’s arm. “Jaz. Please. This isn’t a topic for over dinner.” She looked excruciatingly embarrassed as she looked at me. “I’m sorry.”
I retraced my scar. “Don’t be. Is it too painful for me to ask about why you don’t know your birthday?”
Journey set down her fork and picked up a glass of water. Her gaze fell to the knot of my tie, lingering there.
“I know my birthday,” Jasmine said, saving her sister from having to answer the question. “Well, we think it’s close to my birthday since I was still a tiny baby when Journey saved us. It’s March seventeenth. St. Patrick’s Day. Mee-maw said my eyes should have been green but they’re blue like Journey’s.”
Even though every cell in my body wanted to know the backstory of these two women, I hesitated to ask questions that would make Journey even more uncomfortable. So instead of delving into the story, I smiled at Jasmine. “You both have beautiful eyes.” I looked back at Journey, who still looked mortified by the turn of our conversation. “Very beautiful.”
“Journey’s birthday is Valentine’s Day because it’s the day of hearts and Mee-maw said that all cracked hearts could be fixed back together on the day of love.” She picked up her burger and licked a drop of ketchup from the side. The girl spoke of these intense subjects as if they were the most natural topics in the world.
To her… in her innocence, maybe they were.
To her… challenges were just a fact of life that needed to be dealt with and overcome. And once overcome, there was no shame, only celebration that we’d survived another day.
“Valentine’s Day is a perfect choice for a birthday,” I said to the older sister, grateful when she looked at me again and smiled. I waded deeper into the emotional waters. “How did you choose your name?”
Jasmine had stopped eating but was still holding her burger in front of her, watching her sister. Journey looked over at the tapestry hanging on the wall and exhaled. “There was no record of either mine or Jasmine’s birth.”
“Journey named me from Aladdin because that’s the first movie we watched together when I was first born.”
This was so confusing. The bits of pieces of what apparently was a horrendous story floated around me, refusing to fit together.
Journey’s eyes met mine. “Please don’t feel sorry for us. We had a bad start, but we were both exceedingly lucky. I prefer to focus on the luck part rather than the bad part.”
I traced my scar again. “Life would be better for us all if we each could view life like that.”
Her gaze dropped to my finger. “I learned that from our grandmother. I learned everything from my grandmother. Mee-maw told me that I could allow my birth circumstances to hold me back or I could let it propel me toward my own journey.”
“Journey.”
She smiled. “Yes. For some reason, that was the word that stuck with me. It’s the word I claimed as my name. I was at least kindergarten or first grade age when I came to live with Mee-maw, but I’d never been taught how to read or write, I didn’t know my ABC’s or other, normal, developmental milestones. Instead of thinking of myself as stupid or different than the other kids, I decided that my journey was just different than theirs. When I got frustrated because I couldn’t read or write like other kids my age, I’d remind myself that I was on my own journey and would read or write soon enough.”
“And you did.”
The smile broadened. “Yes. It took a little longer, but then I became a voracious reader, and read everything.”
Jasmine laughed. “She used to even read cereal boxes to me.”
The adoration between the sisters was so very, very clear. “Yes. Then you started reading them to me too.”
As frank as ever, Jasmine looked directly at me. “I only read on a third-grade level because my brain wants to forget stuff.”
I picked up my napkin and wiped at my mouth as emotion clogged my throat for a moment. I cleared it then took a sip of water. “I guess your brain just wants plenty of room for all your funny jokes.”
Jasmine laughed and tapped her forehead. “Yeah. My brain just knows what’s important.”
What a smart girl.
My attention traveled back to Journey, as it always seemed to do, and I felt a fierce level of protectiveness travel up and through me. I wanted to make these women’s lives better.
As if she felt the intensity of my thoughts, Journey swallowed. I could hear the click of the sound in addition to the movement of her throat, and I had the sudden longing to lick up the long column of it, feel her pulse pound under my lips. What I wouldn’t give to peel that peasant blouse off her and make her forget her past. Make her forget anything but me.
My cock pulsed as I imagined looking into those eyes while she was wrapped around me, our bodies connected as I thrust into her over and over. I imagined how they’d darken as she came, her body exploding around my cock. I imagined the sound of her voice as she cried out my name. Imagined the softness of her lips as I kissed her down from her high.
I placed my napkin on the table and stood. I needed to leave before my cock came fully to life and exploded from some need I couldn’t explain and understand. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like these… emotions. I didn’t like how out of control they made me feel.
Journey stood too, but Jasmine reached for one of the other carryout bags, paying me no attention. “Are you going?” Journey asked.
Did she look disappointed or relieved?
“I should. I hadn’t anticipated staying this long, although I’m glad I did.”
Her fingers twisted together. “I’m glad too.”
I smiled down at Jasmine, who was opening a box of chocolate cake now. “Have a wonderful time at art camp.”
She looked up at me, as if she’d just noticed I’d stood. “Are you leaving?” She looked forlorn when I nodded. “Well, thank you for my new bed, and my new couch, and my new table, and my new plates, and my new—”
Journey laughed. “Yes, thank you for everything.”
Jasmine laughed too, licking chocolate from her thumb as she jumped up from the table. “Yes, for everything.” She leaped at me, and I caught her in a hug. I was starting to get used to the affection… and I was going to miss it, I realized.
Hugging her as hard and for as long as I dared, I let her go, and she went straight back to her cake, digging in, stuffing in a huge mouthful.
Journey’s eyes widened, and I thought she was going to chastise her sister, but she took a step toward me instead. “Your jacket,” she said in a low voice, and I looked down. A chocolate smudge.
“It’s okay. It will clean. I’ll—”
But Journey grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the kitchen sink. She wet a paper towel and began dabbing at the smear. Even though I wanted to tell her again that it was okay and she need not worry about it, I found myself enjoying her being so close.
After nearly a full minute went by, she raised up, still frowning. “It’s better, but—”
“It’s okay.”
She didn’t look convinced and reached for another towel. Before I thought it out fully, I placed my hands on her shoulders. She stopped. Froze. As did I.
She was so close.
Time stilled, slowing… stretching…
Shifting my hand, I curled it around her throat, using my thumb until she looked up at me.
She swallowed, and I felt the movement under my fingers. “I want to see you again,” I said before I could force the words back down my throat. “Go out with me tomorrow.”
Her face lit up, then she frowned, her eyes falling to my tie. “I can’t tomorrow. I… I…” She inhaled and met my gaze again. “I have a date tomorrow night.”
My reaction was mixed, the differing emotions hitting me simultaneously. The first was abject disappointment. The second was relief.
“Oh.”
I dropped my hand away from her throat, but she took it between hers on its way back down to my side. “But I’m free Sunday,” she said, her eyes filled with hope.
I searched her face, and there was nothing but the guileless innocence I’d first witnessed. “So, this man isn’t someone you’re seeing seriously?”
She blushed. “Actually, I just met him this week. It’ll be our first time going out.”
I studied her. I didn’t need this complication in my life, and I knew without a doubt that Journey Walker would be a complication. With her going out with other men, I’d be able to see her without the worry of anything getting serious between us.
I wasn’t a jealous man, even though something that smelled of jealousy began to weave itself around me when it came to her. I stomped my mental foot firmly on that emotion.
Thinking of my calendar, I remembered that I had a meeting in Philadelphia Sunday afternoon. I had plans on flying down and flying straight back, but maybe…
“I could do Sunday,” came out of my mouth.
She looked happy, the smile brightening her face again.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I unlocked it before tapping on the contacts. Handing it over, I watched Journey’s thumbs fly over the screen as she added her name and number. When she was finished, she tapped “save,” then hit the green button to call. A ringtone sounded in the apartment, and she grinned. “Now we both have each other’s numbers.”
I dropped the phone back in my pocket. “I’ll text details of our trip.”
Her brow shot up. “Trip?”
“Yes. Is that okay?”
Her mouth opened and closed before she settled on, “Yes. Okay. Sounds fun. I have to be at work by eight Monday morning.”
My balls tightened. Was that an invitation to keep her out all night? Or was she simply letting me know she needed to be home by a decent hour? As open as Journey was to read, I couldn’t tell.
At the table, silverware clicked on a plate, and I saw Jasmine begin digging through another bag. Journey saw her too and smiled. “I better stop her. She eats like she’s a prisoner when it comes to anything sweet.”
“See you Sunday.”
“Yes.”
She walked me to the door. “Lock up behind me.” Journey studied the new set of locks on the door, which reminded me. I dug into my pocket. “I had the locks changed. I didn’t want to risk either of the Gains men having made illegal duplicates.”
Journey accepted the keys with a grateful smile. “That makes me feel much better, thank you.”
Shit. I couldn’t think of another reason to linger, but linger I did, fighting the need to lean down and press my lips to hers.
She shifted from one foot to the other, and I realized I was making her uncomfortable again. “Goodnight, Journey.”
She licked her lips. “Goodnight, Grant. And again, thank you for everything.”
My cock pulsed, and I turned away before it made itself evident to her. “Bye, Jaz,” I called out to the girl still at the table.
The “Bye, Grant,” sounded muffled, and Journey’s eyes widened as she looked toward her sister.
“I really need to stop her. She won’t sleep a wink tonight.”
“What time does she leave tomorrow morning?”
Journey sighed. “Nine. But we need to be at her school by eight forty-five.”
Her expressive eyes had grown sad again, and I wanted so badly to touch her. So I stuffed my hands into my pockets. “Then I’m sure you have things to do. I’ll leave you to it.”
“See you Sunday?”
“Yes. Sunday. I’ll text details.”
I found myself smiling as I jogged down the steps, but the smile faded when I got to the bottom. Charlie Jr. was standing there. Had he even moved after all this time?
“Don’t go near her,” I said.
He shrugged, his face mean. “I’m just standing here. There isn’t a law against standing, is there?”
I didn’t like how unafraid he was of me. It wasn’t that I wanted people to cower in my presence, but his lack of respect for my authority didn’t bode well.
“Don’t go near her or her sister. Don’t approach them. Talk to them. Look at them. Understand?”
A petulant look crept over his face. “Or you’ll do what?”
“I’ll have you and your father removed from this property immediately, and I will happily pay the fine for your early eviction.”
His mouth opened. Closed. “You can’t do that.”
“Watch me. One word from Journey or Jasmine, and you’re both gone.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed toward the door. I heard him mutter, “Rich bastard,” but didn’t take the bait. I worked my ass off to get where I was so that I didn’t have to take bullshit from people like him.
The moment I stepped from the front door of the building, Wayne was climbing out of the car, seeming to anticipate my every movement. How he did that, I’d never know. Maybe it was part of the instincts that had kept him alive during the Gulf War or on the New York streets afterward while he battled post-traumatic stress.
Six years ago, I found him offering what little food he had to a woman and her two children. I’d given him a job on the spot. I’d given the mother a job too, and both of them were two of the best employees I had. Well, them and Anne and Frank.
I learned at an early age that people didn’t need a handout. They needed a hand up. Just a fucking chance to make things better for themselves. Anytime anyone had used sympathy on me back when I was a teen, it only made me mad. But if they gave me a task, gave me something to do, things wouldn’t be so bad.
“They’re nice girls.”
I met Wayne’s eyes in the mirror. “Yeah, they are.”
“The older sister is very pretty.”
I frowned at him. “Yes, she is.”
The frown didn’t stop him from needling. “Not your usual type.”
I looked out the window. “I’m just helping her, them, out.”
I could feel his eyes still on me. “I understand. Should I ask Mitchel to prepare a new contract for you?”
My balls tightened. It was the very question I’d been asking myself. The thing was, I couldn’t imagine having that conversation with Journey. Having the I’d like to see you again, but I’ve been burned before and want to be certain that there are no misunderstandings of what our arrangement will be conversation. Sign here, please, so I can fuck you without worrying about you trying to take me to court.
She wasn’t like that.
I didn’t think.
No… she wasn’t.
But still, I’d sworn not to open myself up to that kind of hurt again. Having a detailed contract was better. Knowing what to expect of each other was better. Wasn’t it?
Surely it was.
“Yeah,” I finally answered. “Have Mitchel draw up the papers. Leave the date blank. Also, tell Jeffery that I’ll be staying in Philadelphia longer than expected on Sunday, and I’ll have company.”
The eyebrows rose in the mirror. “Will you need me to go as well?”
“No. I’ll rent a car. It’s been a while since I’ve been behind the wheel.”
“Want me to make those arrangements?”
“Yes. Rent something fun. I get the feeling that Journey hasn’t experienced much of that in her life.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Yes, sir.”
The rest of the trip was made in peace, and I bid Wayne a goodnight when he let me out in front of my building. I nodded toward the doormen and front desk security. The elevator opened as I arrived, and I stepped in, pressing the button for the penthouse floor.
Nash was there, sprawled out on a chair flipping through his phone. He gave me one of his big shit eating grins.
I grinned back. “Honey, I’m home.”
Tossing my briefcase on the side table, I loosened my tie for the first time that day and headed straight for the bar. Pouring a couple fingers of Glenlivet 59 into a tumbler, I added a couple drops of water before raising the glass, silently asking Nash if he’d like one as well.
He lifted a bottle of beer, took a long sip, then finished it off. Smirking at my friend, I grabbed another bottle and headed his way.
“I’m bored.”
God. It was like we were back in college and the last ten plus years had fallen away. Nash had always been like that, needing something fun and exciting to do. I guessed when you’d been handed everything you wanted all your life, it became more and more difficult to find something new to amuse yourself with.
I handed him the beer. “I’m so sorry for you. However will you manage this horrible life you were born into?”
He grinned. Same old Nash, never taking anything seriously. I didn’t envy his wealth, I’d created plenty of that on my own, but I did envy his affable ways. He was like a duck, and everything just slid off his back.
If I’d been more like Nash, I would have flirted with Journey, I would have asked her out. I would have chosen something fun for her to do, then wined and dined her until we fell into bed. Not a worry in the world.
Instead, I, the social moron that I was, invited her on a fucking business trip.
My therapists were right. I was socially challenged.
Tossing back half the whisky, I closed my eyes and the liquor slid down my throat, landing in my belly with a smooth burn.
“Why are you here on a Friday night anyway?” I asked him, taking another sip.
Nash grinned. “Savin’ myself up for tomorrow night.”
I lifted a brow. “Big night I take it?”
He popped the lid off the beer bottle, tossing the top on the table, grinning even bigger when I frowned. Yep… he was the same as ever. “Yeah. Takin’ this girl I met this week to the theater.”
I scoffed. “You? At the theater?”
He shrugged, bobbing his damn eyebrows. “Got to give a pretty lady whatever her little heart desires.”
Yeah. I got it. I thought about Journey, and how I wanted to give her whatever she desired. Wanted to watch her eyes gleam in pleasure, in the honest gratitude she expressed so easily.
I opened my mouth, ready to tell Nash about my own date on Sunday. It was a date, right? Should I give her the contract before the wheels of the plane left the ground? Or maybe wait until I knew I’d want to go out with her again?
Totally. Socially. Inept.
Hell. I didn’t even want to discuss any of this tonight. I needed to shower and sleep, in that order. I had the Philadelphia meeting to prepare for. I was looking to break into new markets and had hired a marketing company to break down the pros and cons.
Damn. I should have thought all this out.
What would I do with Journey while I was in the meeting? I couldn’t leave her sitting alone on the plane. Shit. This was a totally bad idea.
“Why do you look like you’re about the kill the world?”
I forced my face to unfrown. “Just thinking a few things through.”
“Like what?”
What the hell. I might as well tell him, see what ideas he might have.
“If you had a meeting in Philly for a couple hours on Sunday and was taking a woman along, what would you do with her while you were in the meeting?”
He sat up straighter. “You’re takin’ a woman with you? Who is she? Do I know her?”
I shook my head. “No. Not anyone you’d know. I just met her this week.”
Nash laughed. “Seems like everybody is meetin’ somebody this week.”
I thought back to Journey also meeting someone just this week. I frowned. “Yeah. Mars must be aligned with Venus or some shit.”
Nash chuckled. “So you need to keep her busy while you’re in your meetin’. You could give her your credit card and send her shoppin.”
I drummed my fingers on the arm of the chair. “No. I don’t think she’d buy anything for herself.”
Nash snorted. “You’re sure she’s a woman then? Checked her tits and all? This day and age, you can’t really tell.”
I lifted my glass. “I did the Adam’s apple check, so I’m pretty sure.”
Nash laughed. “Well, you can’t play it too safe. Remember that chick who nearly gave me a blowjob back in college until she ground on my thigh a little too hard and the contraption holding her dick in place broke?”
I howled. God, why hadn’t I thought of that in so long? It had been funny as hell. The look on Nash’s face had been priceless.
“I mean, hell,” he went on. “I don’t care if you’re a girl or a squirrel, just damn tell me up front.” Nash wiped the tears from his eyes. “Thought she had a damn pistol at first and was gonna rob me point blank.”
My stomach hurt I was laughing so hard. After my evening with Journey and Jasmine, my face was hurting too. Damn, it was good to just laugh.
“I think I had me a little PTSDD after that. Post. Traumatic. Sure that’s a Dick? Disorder.” He was laughing so hard that all his vowels were slurring together. It took a while for us to quiet down. Nash took a long swig of his beer and nodded at me. “But seriously, back to your original question… what to do with your honey while you gab.” He scratched at the stubble on his face. Had he even taken a damn shower today? “I know. Book her some kind of beauty spa thing. Facial. Nails. Massage. The works. Girls love that shit.”
He was on to something.
“That could actually work.” Tossing back the rest of my Glenlivet, I pushed myself to my feet. “Thanks for the advice and the laugh. I’m calling it done for the night.”
Nash raised his bottle in a silent salute. “Of course, you could always invite me to Philly with you. I’ll be happy to entertain your little lady while you’re talkin’ business.”
I knew he was joking. At least I thought he was.
We hadn’t shared a woman in years.
But I had to admit, the idea wasn’t all that unpleasant. Those days had been fun, the situations intense. The pleasure we were able to give the women euphoric.
But with Journey? Sweet, down to earth Journey?
I couldn’t see it happening.
“Why don’t you focus on your little lady tomorrow night?”
He grinned. “Don’t you worry, I plan on it, then I’ll be heading to Nashville Sunday for a few days, maybe even a week.” He paused, examining me closely. “You really like this one, don’t you?”
I saw her face. The freckles. The little mole on her lip. “Yeah. I do.”
He seemed happy for me. “That’s good. Looks like we both might have found a winner.”
I chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
I left him there, shit eating grin still plastered in place.
As my bedroom door closed behind me, I wondered if maybe he was right. Maybe my best friend and I had both found the woman of our dreams.