Jade
MY MORNING JOLT was not caused by the buzz of my alarm clock, nor the wail of the fishing boats on the water. No, the sound that interrupted my rest was the obnoxious purr of my best friend in the next room.
Both Blaze and I left Reece to sleep; at least someone was sleeping… and we drove back to LBI by 4:30 am. The clock on my nightstand now said 8:00 am.
“Okay. I might as well get up,” I said, whining loudly, hoping I’d wake her.
Not a chance of that happening; Blaze just continued to snore blissfully. I looked out in the direction of the guest room with slight disdain, not that she cared. First off, she was comatose, and secondly, she and Reece each got what they wanted.
I walked downstairs, shaking my head and smiling. It was good to be home, finally.
Reaching the kitchen, I grabbed a cup of coffee and the mail Viv collected for me while I was away, before sinking into one of the chairs on the deck off the living room. My staff members agreed to cover the morning shift for me. Viv had said she would check in with them to see if they needed additional help.
I had called her last night, even though it was late, so I could explain what had happened with Blaze and Reece. I left out the part about knowing the house was rented and that she helped my father do it right under my nose. I figured I’d save that conversation for this afternoon when my head was a bit clearer and my body was sated with caffeine.
She wasn't at all moved by the Blaze and Reece connection. She had the uncanny ability to read people fairly well. There weren’t many situations that got to her, scared her, or surprised her. Maybe it was because she had been married to a former Marine turned detective? Viv had to deal with so much being a cop’s wife. It shaped her into who she was. Yet, as tough as she appeared, she was also warm and loving. Perhaps it was because she knew how precious life was and how easily it could change, as if in an instant. She saw it with her husband, Robert, who died in the line of duty during a huge undercover investigation some years back, and she saw it with my brother, Jimmy, whose death was sadly self-inflicted, but no less devastating for any of us, especially me and Viv.
I avoided the thought of Jimmy’s tragic accident, and let the morning rays soak into my skin. My eyes closed automatically as I sat back, allowing the sounds of the powerful waves on the beach to soothe my stress levels. The seawater’s slow rhythmic motion lulled me into the day ahead, but for a brief moment I drifted off. That was…before my morning peace was violently taken away by the startling hum of a power tool in the next yard.
What the hell?
I jumped up and leaned over the banister to see what all of the noise was about. I looked to the left, nothing. I looked to the right, although I knew it wouldn’t have come from my bro…my parents’ old house. Kim mentioned that Viv had rented it to some hot guy, but he didn’t own the place, so he couldn't possibly be stupid enough to change anything in or on the property. Perhaps, it was our landscaper? Although he wasn’t due to come until sometime next week for the springtime clean-up, I hadn’t even confirmed with him yet.
My eyes grew wide and wild with anger. The landscape company must have misunderstood me and sent out one of his crew members to clean up today. He was just about to cut down the rose vine my brother gave me years ago.
“No! What the hell do you think you're doing?” I screamed as I ran down the side stairs of my deck to reach the landscaper before he could do any more damage than he had already done.
The noise stopped immediately and he looked around for the person screaming loud enough to wake the dead.
In fact, I did.
Out of the corner of my eye, I got a glimpse of Blaze standing on the second-floor deck watching from the doorway of the guest room. Her make-up was smeared and her long red hair looked like a matted bird’s nest. She was wrapped in a robe, which was more than I could say for me. With all of the commotion, I had forgotten that I wasn’t dressed. I came to realize I was barefoot and wearing the T-shirt I slept in and a pair of black bikini underwear. My attire wouldn’t have been an issue if I had stayed put on my deck and screamed from there, but as I stood in front of this perfect stranger, I felt almost naked.
He finally faced my direction with his electric hedge cutter in hand to greet the crazy lady whose shrills abruptly stopped his morning activity. Temporarily blinded by the morning light, I moved to the right to get a better look at his face before I addressed him properly.
“Hi, I’m Ja—” I stopped mid-introduction. It was him. The guy from the dance floor, the guy from The Palm…last night…my mystery man.
His smile was a bit devilish when he saw it was me and noticed I was barely wearing anything.
“Hi…I didn’t think I would see you so soon after our date last night.”
I hated to admit it, but he looked even better in the sunshine. I hadn’t noticed in the darkness of the club, but I’d had a feeling his body would be amazing, and it was. He was built with an incredible display of artwork inked into his tanned skin. If his tattoos were any evidence of his interests, then I would have to say that he was a surfer. I imagined how he must look in a pair of board shorts, all wet and…
“Oh, is that what they’re calling what we did last night these days, a date?” I sounded haughty.
He froze, taken back by how I responded to him.
“I’m sorry for my rudeness. I haven’t had much sleep in the last two days. Let’s start over. Hi, I’m Jade. Good to meet you.” I smiled and held out my hand.
He reached for my hand, but then paused before he took it.
“Hi Jade, I’m Tommy. Wait… Jade? You mean Jade Stanton?” He was hesitant. I wondered why.
“Yes, I’m Jade Stanton.” Leave it to Viv to already talk to the new tenant about me, and …speak of the devil.
“Good morning, I see you two met without any help from me.”
No help? Give me a break. She had to be joking, right?
Viv’s interruption was positively perfect. Her exuberant self was in rare form as she floated toward us wearing a yellow and white sundress and oversized straw hat.
“How can anyone be that happy and that well-dressed in the morning?”
Tommy chuckled at my observation.
Viv kissed both of us on the cheek before continuing her salutations.
Her smile was too wide and filled with guilt. “I didn't want to get into this with you last night or while you were away at your conference, but I rented your brother’s old house to Tommy, with your parents’ approval, of course. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Meeting her elated explanation with a flat expression, I methodically turned on my heels and waited for Tommy to speak.
“I assumed Viv had told you by now.”
“No, she didn't tell me, and she knew that I wanted to be part of the process.” I didn't recognize my own irritated tone. I withheld the fact I had known the house was rented thanks to Kim, but what I hadn’t counted on was Tommy being one-in-the-same person…the renter and the guy from the dance floor last night.
“Listen. I’m sorry, but I needed a place and the conditions were worth it.”
“Conditions? What conditions?” I asked. I was unaware of any conditions that my parents had decided to impose on the would-be renters or buyers for that matter.
“I told Tommy that the house was in need of repair, so one of the stipulations in renting with an option to buy was that he had to help with the updates to the home. If your parents decided not to sell, then he would be reimbursed for the labor and materials that he put into it. Yet, if everyone agreed Tommy could buy it at the end of his lease, including you, then your parents wouldn’t raise the price because Tommy did all the work. I thought that it was a more than fair offer, and he agreed and moved in the other day.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was in the city for less than a week and in that time Viv worked out a deal with Tommy and my parents. Yet no one had the decency to call me to let me know.
“I see. Can I ask you how long you’re leasing it for?”
“Sure, I signed for one year. That should give me plenty of time to get the house in shape, should your parents agree to let me buy it, and if not, it gives me time to see what other properties are available here on the island at the end of my lease.”
“Can I ask a favor of you?” I said.
“Jade!” Viv snapped as she was sure I would say something to stop this rental.
“It’s okay, Viv,” Tommy said. “Sure…What do you need?”
“Could I ask you to not cut the rose vines down? Well, at least until you know for sure that you’ll be the new owner? Those plants hold a huge sentimental value for me.” I explained, without revealing the true reason behind the plants.
“Of course, but to tell you the truth I have a very close friend that has roses similar to these. When we were growing up, the one thing her mom always did in the spring was cut them back, so that they would have huge blooms in the fall. That’s exactly what I was trying to do. I guess I got carried away,” he chuckled.
His smile was contagious. I giggled at him. “Well, maybe you would be better off with some manual sheers instead.”
“They’re in the storage closet in the garage. I’ll get them for you.” Viv added.
We laughed and agreed we’d talk later. I had to get to the shoppe and then while there, I decided to have a little talk with my aunt in private.
“Thank you again, Tommy.” Walking away, I sneaked a look back to see him one more time. Viv stayed behind.
“Viv, are you coming?”
“I have to talk to Tommy about something, but you go on ahead, and I’ll meet you there.”
He stood next toViv with a smile on his face, his hand raised to say goodbye. My aunt mimicked his gesture.
“Bye, sweetie”
Bye sweetie, my ass; she was up to something.
I returned to my house and walked directly up the stairs into my best friend’s care-free and inquisitive smile.
“Wipe that smile off your face,” I said, walking past her without a glance back, as I headed to my room. Of course, Blaze was not far behind.
“What was that all about?” She asked with humorous amazement.
“None of your business,” I replied, flatly.
“C’mon, Jade, who was that guy with you and Viv? And why do I get the feeling that this was not the first time you two met?” She teased.
“I don’t have time for your inquisition right now. I have to get to the shoppe.”
“Okay, don’t tell me, but I’ll be here all day. Right next door to Mr. Tattooed and Sexy. I’ll just have to bring him a big, tall glass of cold lemonade and ask him how you both know one another.”
“You wouldn’t dare?” I pivoted back around, to stare her down.
“Sweetie, you know I would. Save yourself the trouble of having to explain all of this to me later, and spill it now.” She grinned. She knew she had me right where she wanted me.
Bitch.
“Let’s have it.” Blaze was never one to beat around the bush and she expected others to be just like her.
We sat on the edge of my bed, while I explained my evening with Tommy.
“Please don’t be like Viv,” I looked her straight in the eyes to make sure she heard me.
She looked straight back at me. “I’m not. I just don’t get why you’re no longer open to the possibility of love.”
I closed my eyes to collect my thoughts and address her statement.
“You know I believe in love and happily ever after, but both of those things aren’t for me, not anymore, not now anyway.”
“It’s been almost three years. Don’t you think it’s about time you get back out there again? You have so much to offer, sweetie.” She pressed me further for a reason without actually asking the need-to-know questions.
I grinned. “I’m out there. I just told you I danced with a perfect stranger last night before I even knew his name.”
“Big deal! I don’t consider jumping around on a dance floor an intimate moment.” She was annoyed.
“It is a big deal when your bodies are rubbing against each other and your lips are so close they touch a person in areas they never felt before or at the very least haven’t felt in a long time.”
“You did that…with him?” Blaze’s eyes widened, as her mouth hung open from my vivid description of my brief dance with Tommy.
I stood up to get dressed. I needed to leave. Blaze didn’t try to stop me this time.
“Yes, I did that with him.” Finally, I was off the hook.
“Wow,” was all she could say when I walked back to Blaze to go in for the kill.
“Yeah, and for your information, if it wasn’t for your untimely phone call, our lips would have been doing a lot more than teasing each other.” I gave her some food for thought.
Hmm…that should keep her quiet for a while.