CHAPTER FOUR
“Are you sure you don’t want to consider a permanent job as a leasing agent?”
“No, thank you,” Sean said, knowing he’d never trade in his bartending gig for boring, monotonous nine-to-five employment where he had to wear a suit on a daily basis.
As he unlocked the glass door to what would soon be Zoe Russo’s boutique, he glanced at the woman who’d accompanied him to his Friday afternoon appointment. Janet Hayes, a sharp, business-savvy woman in her mid-fifties, was the leasing manager for the shops at the Onyx, and with Zoe turning in her contract today, along with deposits, it was Janet’s signature that was needed on the agreement in order to seal the deal and make it legitimate.
Sean might have negotiated the deal for Janet, but his John Hancock on the final paperwork would be equivalent to fraud, since he didn’t really work for the leasing company, and he was no longer in the business of scamming people.
Janet followed him into the empty shop and switched on the lights. “Well, I don’t know what kind of magic you have up your sleeve, but this is one of the quickest, easiest negotiations we’ve ever seen.”
Shrugging off her compliment, he pushed his hands into the front pockets of his pants and closed his fingers around the set of keys that would soon belong to Zoe. “It was just a matter of the right client at the right time. Zoe Russo needed a place, you offered her a great price and lease terms, and this boutique is exactly what she’s looking for.”
“Don’t be so modest.” Janet gave him a cougarish once-over that made him feel like a piece of raw meat she was looking to sink her teeth into. “I’m sure your good looks and charm helped to sway her. I know I’d be hard-pressed to say no to anything you offered.”
Oh, hell. She started walking toward him, and he cast a quick glance outside the shop, grateful to see Zoe heading their way. The last thing he wanted to do was fend off Janet’s advances. Again. The woman had made it more than clear that she was interested in him, but he certainly didn’t reciprocate the feeling. Not even close.
“Here she comes,” he announced.
Janet stopped and followed the direction of his gaze. “Which one is she? The blonde or the redhead?”
“Zoe is the blonde.” The gorgeous, vibrant blonde who looked damn hot in a curve-hugging pair of black jeans, a fitted red button-front blouse that revealed just a hint of cleavage, and the kind of spiked high heels that conjured the erotic image of her naked, wearing nothing but those sexy shoes. “The redhead is her best friend, Jessica Morgan.”
Janet’s expression flickered with interest. “Ah-h, that explains the trail of people following her.”
He laughed, watching as Jessica’s bodyguard tried to keep the spectators at bay. “Yes, she does seem to draw a crowd wherever she goes.” He glanced back at Zoe, and as soon as she saw him in the store waiting for her, her smile widened with pure pleasure.
He hadn’t seen her since Wednesday night, but he knew from his recent meeting with Caleb, less than an hour ago, that The Reliance Group still had her under surveillance. According to their phone log of her incoming and outgoing calls, there still had been no contact with her father, though it appeared she’d dialed his cell phone and left him messages. She’d also called her father’s office a few times and spoken with her mother again, but Grant Russo still remained elusive.
When Zoe and Jessica reached the storefront, Jessica told her to go inside and she’d sign some autographs to diffuse the crowd around them and give Zoe the privacy she needed to complete the deal for the boutique.
As soon as Zoe walked into the shop, Janet welcomed her with a professional smile and a handshake and explained that since she was the manager, her being present when a lease agreement with a client was finalized was a routine business practice. Less than twenty minutes later, with the last of the paperwork completed, Zoe had herself a new boutique for her designs.
“Welcome to the Onyx family,” Janet said, looking pleased that they’d managed to entice Zoe to sign with them, instead of their rival Caesars Palace. “We’re so happy to have you as part of the chain of fine shops here in the hotel.”
“Thank you. I’m very excited.” Smiling happily, Zoe shook Janet’s hand again, this time in a congratulatory manner.
Janet gathered up all the signed paperwork and tucked it into a file folder, along with her deposit payments. “My job here is done, so I’ll let Sean finish up the last of the appointment. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“You, too,” Zoe replied.
Sean waited until Janet left the store and he was alone with Zoe. He noticed that Jessica was no longer outside of the boutique; in fact, he couldn’t see her or her bodyguard anywhere in sight. Which was fine with Sean, since he wanted a few extra minutes with Zoe to execute his next plan of action to spend time with her.
“Well, there’s only one thing left to do,” he said, reaching into his front pocket to present her with the best gift of the afternoon.
She tipped her head curiously. “What’s that?”
He withdrew a silver key ring and dangled it in front of her. “Give you the keys to the store.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement as he dropped the keys into the palm of her hand. “Oh, wow,” she breathed, her voice awed. “This is a dream I’ve had for such a long time, and I can’t believe it’s really come true.”
“It has, and now it’s your reality,” he said, enjoying the fact that he was there to share this special, life-changing moment with her. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Her expression infused with pride, she looked around, taking in all the open space and empty shelves yet to be filled. “Now the work really begins. I have about a month to get this place organized with display units, stocked with merchandise, and opened for business.” Hands on her hips, she looked back at him, delight dancing in her gaze. “I’m going to be very busy.”
“Yes, you are.” She didn’t look at all overwhelmed by the enormity of what awaited her but, rather, determined to tackle the job ahead. “Now that our business has been wrapped up and we are no longer broker and client, I’d like to take you out tonight, as a friend, to celebrate the opening of your very first boutique.”
She twirled her finger around the long crystal necklace around her neck, a sweet but mocking smile on her lips. “As a friend?”
It was hard to miss the playful note to her voice. Yeah, he knew it sounded ridiculous, considering the kisses they’d shared Wednesday night at her place had gone way beyond platonic friendship, but he didn’t want to give her any reason to turn him down.
He grinned. “It’s your decision if you want it to be more.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a glimpse of her black lace bra peeking from the low, buttoned V in her blouse. “Okay, as a friend, or maybe more,” she added with a cheeky smile, “I’d like to invite you to join me, Jessica, and a few other friends tonight. The three of us already made plans to spend the evening at Taboo,” she said, indicating the Oynx’s nightclub located just across the way. “The more the merrier, I say.”
He jumped on the opportunity. “Count me in. In fact, I know the club’s manager. If Jessica doesn’t already have a room booked, I’ll pull a few strings and make sure you all receive the VIP treatment, including a private balcony so everyone can just relax and have a good time without people bothering you.”
“Thank you. I know Jessica will appreciate the offer.” Zoe tilted her head to the side, regarding him with amusement. “You’re very good at pulling strings, aren’t you?”
“That’s not the only thing I’m good at.” He winked at her.
She blushed, obviously recalling how good their kisses had been. How good his hands had felt on her body. “Braggart,” she teased.
He chuckled. “I’ll send a limo to your place to pick everyone up at eight.”
*
After signing over a dozen autographs, Jessica mustered another smile and posed for one last picture with a fan before giving her bodyguard the look—the one that told him she was feeling overwhelmed and desperately needed some breathing space. Simon, having been in her employment for the past four years, was exceptionally good at his job and knew exactly what to do to appease the last of the crowd while giving Jessica enough time to slip away unnoticed.
Confident Simon was watching where she went and would catch up to her as soon as she put some distance between herself and the avid fans, she crossed the promenade of shops and strolled casually past the Onyx’s nightclub, Taboo.
The double doors were open a few inches, and she could hear one of her songs from her recent album playing inside. The lyrics to “Don’t Turn Me Away” drifted out to where she was standing. Intrigued that someone was listening to one of her songs in the middle of the afternoon and before the club even officially opened for business, and seeing this as the perfect escape for a few minutes, she glanced back at Simon to let him know where she was disappearing to, then stepped into the nightclub.
She’d expected a darkened interior, but the main lights in the lounge area were on. The place was virtually empty, except for a few people doing what looked like cleanup and preparations for Friday night’s crowd. A couple of the workers cast her a curious look, but to her surprise, none approached her.
Enjoying the moment of anonymity, she stood off to the side in the shadows, humming along to her own lyrics. No matter how many times she heard one of her songs on the radio or anywhere else, it was always an amazing, surreal experience, and this was no different. She never took her success for granted and knew she was so lucky to make a living writing and singing what was in her heart and soul. More than a career, it was therapy for her, a way to deal with the pain of the past and the heartbreak she still lived with on a daily basis.
Every lyric she penned, every verse she sang, told a story. She’d written “Don’t Turn Me Away” a few years ago, but even now the message behind the words still rang true and had the ability to form a huge, emotional lump in her throat.
Let me inside where it’s warm and safe,
In your arms, your loving embrace.
I know I was wrong, but the feelings are still so strong.
Don’t tell me no. Don’t turn me away.
“Excuse me, miss, but the club isn’t open right now.”
Startled by the deep, male voice coming from behind her, she spun around to apologize for intruding. “I’m so sorry. I heard the music playing and I just wanted…”
Her words trailed off and her heart slammed hard in her chest as she stared into a familiar pair of chocolate brown eyes. Dark, sensual eyes that invaded her dreams late at night and left her aching for his touch. Tender, trusting eyes she’d betrayed. The sweetest, most caring eyes she never, ever, believed she’d see again in person.
Noah Young. Her high school sweetheart. The only man she’d ever given her heart to, whom she had never forgotten. Never would. He was the one who got away or, rather, the one she’d run far and fast from rather than face the humiliation and shame of telling him the truth of what had happened to her.
Oh, God. The last time she’d seen him he’d been a tall, lanky, gorgeous eighteen-year-old who’d made her feel special and loved when her own mother had never missed an opportunity to tell Jessica how much she despised her daughter. Nine years later and he’d grown into a devastatingly sexy man who seemed larger than life, definitely more mature, and far more dangerous to her feminine senses, if the searing heat of awareness washing over her was any indication.
He looked good. Better than good. His facial features were more refined, his brown hair a little longer than he’d worn it as the captain of the high school basketball team. His shoulders were wider now, his chest broader beneath the collared shirt he wore, and his dark jeans outlined strong thighs and long, lean legs.
She forced her gaze back up to his, feeling as though someone were sitting on her chest. “Noah…” Her voice cracked. Nothing had prepared her for seeing him again. She wasn’t usually at a loss for words, but she had no idea what to say or do.
He stared at her with a combination of shock and disbelief, seemingly unable to comprehend the fact that she was standing in front of him after all these years.
“Jessie?” he asked, as if he needed her to confirm that it was, indeed, her.
She shook her head in denial, her mane of spiral curls swaying with the movement. “I…I’m sorry,” she managed to say. For more than just being in the nightclub when it clearly wasn’t open for business. The apology encompassed the wealth of guilt she’d lived with for the past nine years.
The urge to bolt, to run, overwhelmed her, and she backed away from him. “I’ve got to go.” She whirled around and started for the entrance.
“Wait.” He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop.
She gasped, not because he’d hurt her in any way but because the heat of his touch threatened to unravel her. These days, she never lost control. Never let anyone or anything rattle her composure. Yet with just one touch Noah had stripped away all her defenses and left her reeling.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice gruff as his hard gaze searched hers.
The animosity she detected in his tone was like a well-placed knife to her heart. “It was a mistake.”
He finally released her arm and jammed his hands on his hips, his narrowed gaze brimming with resentment. “Seeing me again is a mistake?”
“Yes…No….” She was so nervous and unable to think straight, the words tumbled from her lips before she could censure them. She inhaled a deep breath and tried again, this time going for civil and polite. “How have you been?”
He laughed, the sound lacking any semblance of humor. “I haven’t seen or heard from you in nine years and that’s all you have to say? ‘How have you been?’ Do you really even care how I am?”
Sarcasm spilled from him, but it was the hurt she saw in the depth of his eyes that cut her to the core. She’d done this to him. Made him bitter and angry toward her. He was a man who now hated her, with good reason.
“Of course I care.” More than he’d ever know.
“Then you have a shitty way of showing it, Jessie.”
To her horror, hot tears burned the backs of her eyes. What in the world could she say to that? How could she explain to him that what she’d done had been a matter of self-preservation? That leaving him had been her only option, because it would have happened eventually, when he discovered that she was no longer the girl he’d once known. That one terrible, awful incident had changed the course of her life and her future with Noah. By ending their relationship and cutting off all contact she’d managed to salvage a bit of her pride, even if it had been at the expense of breaking his heart and shattering the strong, intimate bond they’d once shared.
God, there were so many questions glimmering in his gaze. And the answers were just too painful for her to reveal—even if he did deserve an explanation.
“Jessica? Everything okay?”
Simon’s concerned voice cut into her thoughts from somewhere behind her, and she watched as Noah shifted his gaze and scrutinized her burly bodyguard with something akin to contempt. She knew Noah was wondering who the guy was, and Jessica didn’t bother to clarify Simon’s presence.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, loud enough for Simon to hear. Then, taking the coward’s way out, she said to Noah, “I really do have to go. It was nice seeing you again.”
She walked away, and this time he didn’t stop her.
*
“Are you sure you still want to spend the evening at Taboo?” Zoe stepped out onto her apartment balcony, joining Jessica by the railing where her friend was drinking one of the leftover wine coolers from the other night and staring off into the distance—much too quiet and contemplative for Zoe’s liking. “I completely understand if you’d rather not, and there’s still time for me to call Sean and cancel the limousine he’s sending for us.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Jessica waved her hand in the air, causing the gold and crystal bracelets stacked on her wrist to make a soft tinkling sound. “I’m fine. Really.”
Zoe’s best friend was such a bad liar. Jessica wasn’t fine. Outwardly she might look confident and spectacular in her sparkly, champagne-colored dress and Jimmy Choo heels, but internally she was an emotional wreck. Zoe could see the pain in Jessica’s eyes, along with the guilt of what had transpired between her and Noah all those years ago.
When Jessica had returned from wherever she’d disappeared to when Zoe was signing her lease agreement, Zoe had known immediately that something was wrong. Jessica had looked shaken and pale, and as soon as they were sitting alone in the back of the Town Car, Zoe had insisted on knowing what had happened. That’s when Jessica had spilled about running into Noah at Taboo. Come to find out he was the general manager of the nightclub.
“But I am worried.” Leaning her arms on the railing, Zoe glanced at her friend’s profile, hating that Jessica was hurting at all. “I don’t want you feeling uncomfortable in any way. We don’t have to go to Taboo.”
“Yes, we do,” Jessica said, turning a smile Zoe’s way. “Because your hot man went through the trouble of making sure our group will be well taken care of and it would be rude to back out now. Tonight is all about you, and I’m not ruining your evening just because I ran into an old flame.”
Not just any old flame, but the love of Jessica’s life.
“I’m a big girl and I can handle this,” Jessica went on, then finished the last of her strawberry daiquiri for a bit of liquid fortitude. “Besides, I doubt there’s anything left to say between Noah and me. He wasn’t thrilled to see me, so I’m pretty sure he’ll ignore my presence tonight.”
“Do you really want him to?”
“No…but yes.” Jessica sighed, the sound tinged with anguish as she ran a hand through her curls and pulled them away from her face. “God, he looked so good. And he was so angry and bitter. After all these years, I hadn’t expected that.”
“You honestly thought he’d be happy to see you?”
She didn’t even flinch at the brutally honest question Zoe asked. “Well, no, not exactly. But I didn’t think he’d hate me so much.”
Zoe had never agreed with how Jessica had handled things with Noah all those years ago, but she’d always been supportive of her best friend. And Zoe would continue to be so, no matter how Jessica decided to handle this situation.
“I doubt he hates you,” Zoe said, trying to be reasonable.
Jessica’s smile was sad. “You didn’t see the way he looked at me. It was as if I’d devastated him.”
Zoe wasn’t sure what to say to that and considered the safest response. “It was a long time ago, Jess.”
“You’re right.” Jessica pulled in a deep breath and visibly shook off her melancholy mood. “Isn’t it about time for us to go? We’ve got some major celebrating to do tonight.”
Jessica headed back into the living room to grab her purse, giving Zoe her cue to follow…and to leave their too-emotional conversation behind.