“True.”
After he parked alongside my car, he reached for my hand and kissed my knuckles. “You all right, Lucy Q?”
I shrugged. “Surprised . . . maybe a tiny bit confused.”
“Confused because I proved that we’re not mismatched?”
“Yes.”
That earned me his wolfish grin.
“But I’m still curious.”
“About?”
“Why I’m willing to agree to another date with you even when we’re still playing the no-last-name game.”
“Have dinner with me tonight—right now—and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“I can’t.” Such a lie. I could, but he had me so twisted up I needed to regroup.
“When can I see you again?” he demanded softly.
“Monday night is open for me.”
He nodded. “That’ll work. But I can’t be out late since it’s—”
“A school night?” I supplied. “So that makes you a teacher, Mr. Jaxson?”
“Funny girl, but no.”
I studied him closely.
“What?”
“Are you a philanthropist?”
“No, but I’ve been accused of being a philistine.”
“I can scratch comedian off the list of possible career options for you,” I said slyly.
“So for this date on Monday night,” he continued, “it’s your turn to choose what we do. Since you challenged me to prove we aren’t mismatched . . . I’m giving you a challenge.”
Please challenge me to rub my naked body all over yours to determine if we’re sexually compatible.
He leaned in. “What went through your mind just now that put the hungry look in your pretty eyes?”
“It’s a secret. What’s the challenge?”
“The date has to involve an activity you’ve never done before.”
“Okay.” That left my options wide open. “Anything else?”
Jax granted me that cocky grin. “We exchange phone numbers in a gesture of good faith between us. No chance of you disappearing on me, Lucy Q.”
* * *
• • •
Mommy?”
Thoughts of the past faded and I focused on my daughter. I smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “Hey, sweetheart. You were really tired.”
“Uh-huh. I’m hungry too.”
“Good thing we’re on our way home.” I took the next exit and headed toward our apartment. “So tell me about all the things you and your dad did this weekend.”
Four
JAX
I tried to avoid my brother on Monday morning by showing up at Borderlands first thing. I knew from talking to Simone, my business partner in this bar, that Nolan normally checked in after lunch.
No such luck for me.
I’d made it about twenty steps when I heard, “Stop me if you’ve heard this one. An alcoholic walks into a bar he owns . . .”
Simone snapped him with the bar towel and he yelped.
I plopped next to Nolan at the long, wooden hand-carved bar. “Don’t you have a corporate schedule to keep? An admin who rides your ass when you screw up her hard work of trying to keep you on track?”
“Britt is home with a sick kid today,” Nolan retorted. “Besides, I’m not the only one who’s supposed to be at Lund Industries right now.”
As if anyone would notice that I wasn’t there. “I’m on my way. But I wanted to see the sales receipts from the weekend.”
Nolan spun in his barstool to face me. “Why?”
I gave Simone a nod of thanks when she slid a glass of sparkling water in front of me. I knocked back a swallow and focused on my little brother.
Little. Right. I had the distinction of being the oldest—as well as physically the biggest. Nolan’s physique leaned toward that of a runner. He accentuated his long and lean form with expensive, trendy clothes, giving him the sophisticated, debonair look women went crazy for. The employees at Lund Industries called him “the Prince,” which might’ve fit him if he hadn’t been closer to James Bond—the Daniel Craig years. Power and grace on the surface; explosive temper with highly physical abilities under his snappy suits. And like Bond, I wondered if Nolan would ever settle down with just one woman.
He probably wonders the same thing about you.
Lucy’s beautiful, smiling face flashed in my mind’s eye.
“Jax?” Nolan prompted.
I shook my head to clear it. “I want to see the receipts because I own the bar, bro.”
Nolan and Simone exchanged a look.
“What’s the silent communication between you two about?”
“You turned the bar over to me and Ash, remember? So none of us—and yeah, Simone, I’m including you in this—understand why you show up as if you care what’s going on here.”
And . . . I’d had enough. I pushed to my feet.
Since the place wasn’t officially open for the day yet, I didn’t bother locking the front door. I said, “Get Ash on the phone now,” and crossed the space to the swinging door that led to the back of the bar and the storerooms. I called out, “Dallas? Darlin’, are you in here?”
My youngest Lund cousin popped her head out and grinned at me. “If it isn’t the big, bad boss man. Good to see you, cuz.”
“You too. Meeting out front.”
“Now?”
“Right now.”
Her big blue eyes went even wider. “Guess you are in big, bad boss man mode.”
“Yep.”
Another grin lit up her face. “About damn time.”
Back out front, Nolan’s cell sat on the bar. I pointed to it. “Is Ash on speaker?”
“Yes, I am,” my cousin Ash, the COO of Lund Industries, said in his booming baritone. “What’s going on?”
“Meeting of the minds. Plus, it’s past time to get a few things straight.” I inhaled a deep breath. “Look. When I turned over control of this bar to the two of you to run with my partner, I was under the impression that I shouldn’t set foot in a bar—any bar—because it would be too much temptation. But the longer I live a life of sobriety, the more I understand that booze does not have the same power over me that it once did.”
“And we’re all so damn proud of you for that,” Nolan interjected.
“Thanks. But with that realization comes the hard truth for both of you—Ash and Nolan. You dropped the fucking ball with this place. I didn’t give you the go-ahead to become involved so you had a personal place to kick back with a cold one on the weekends when you weren’t fulfilling your duties at LI. I was serious in telling you I wanted new concepts for this space that would make it successful. A year and a half later, every time I look at the monthly P&L, I see that we’re limping along, business as usual. Making enough to pay Simone and the waitstaff and that’s it. Again, that isn’t a change of any sort. I released funds to foot the bill for a full remodel, but I’ve yet to hear a new idea about what this place could become, let alone see a single blueprint.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Nolan said. “You shot down our initial idea of this place becoming a sports bar, with memorabilia from your hockey career, and Jensen’s football career, and Uncle Monte’s basketball career. Sports figures are a huge draw in this town, Jax.”
“This town doesn’t need another damn sports bar just like the two hundred other sports bars on every damn corner.”
I looked at Simone and she stared back at me. She wasn’t surprised that it had come to this. In fact, she’d warned me when I’d brought Ash and Nolan in to manage my half of the partnership that it wouldn’t work. For them, running a bar was a hobby. For her, it was the business she’d gotten stuck with by trusting me.
“Okay, Jax, I’m relieved you’re airing your grievances,” Ash said. “But—”
/> “But I’m not done. And you will listen to me until I am done, and not a word of this conversation leaves this room until I’m damn good and ready for it. Understood?”
Around me Nolan, Simone and Dallas nodded, and Ash said, “Understood.”
I did two rounds of my deep-breathing exercises before I spoke. “The truth I’ve had to face in retirement is that I do not want to work at Lund Industries. In any capacity. I’ve been going with the flow, faking interest while inside I’m a confused mess. That’s the type of feeling that’ll drive me back to the bottle. Not that I’ve been tempted,” I clarified at Nolan’s look of concern, “but it’s far more likely to happen if I’m unhappy in my day-to-day work life, in a job I hate, than here in this bar where I have ready access to every kind of booze imaginable.”
Silence.
Then Ash’s whistle echoed from the speaker phone. “That’s some serious stuff to throw at us out of the blue, Jax. You honestly hate spending time at LI?”
“Yes.”
“If you’ve felt that way for six months, why wait so long to tell us?” Nolan asked.
“Because I thought I was doing the right thing joining the family business. Problem is, I don’t understand the family business. At all. And I realized I don’t want to understand it. You guys have been part of LI since our dads first put you to work there. I’m not the best qualified to take over as CEO when my dad retires just because I’m the eldest Lund. It should not be my birthright.” I looked at my brother. “That job is ideal for you, Nolan. You’ve got the charisma and the knowledge. You’ve spent your life learning the ropes. It’s a total dick move on dad and the uncles’ parts to even consider putting me in a position I don’t deserve.”
“And don’t want,” Dallas said quietly.
“Exactly.” The fierce support in her eyes . . . there was something going on with her too. She hadn’t taken a permanent position at LI after she received her business degree, despite having worked there as an intern throughout her college years. Having a heart-to-heart with her after I made it through this conversation was my top priority.
“Nolan?” Ash prompted. “Don’t you have something to add?”
“Yes. Eventually. Right now I just need a moment to gather my thoughts. This has caught me totally off guard.”
“Understandable. But focus on the bar issues, not your future at LI. So far we haven’t heard a peep out of Simone. I’m sure she has opinions,” Ash said dryly.
Simone snorted. Then she folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the countertop. “I agree with Jax. I always have. This business was supposed to be an investment for me so I could shake off the shackles of corporate America and live my life. But this business became my life. Due to the fact my business partner had a hockey career that kept him out of running the day-to-day business, I had no choice but to become a bartender and bar manager. That isn’t how I hoped this opportunity would play out for me. Every penny of my partnership money is in the physical aspect of this building. Jax has the capital to remodel, remake the image, change the concept. I don’t. So I’ve been in a holding pattern until someone decides what this place could be.”
“Simone, if Jax could buy out your half, would you take the cash and move on with your life?” Ash asked her.
Good question. I glanced over at Simone.
She shrugged. “There’s no added value to the property since we purchased it, so he’d only have to reimburse me for what I initially paid. Which means the time equity I’ve invested doesn’t equal squat. I’d be a fool to bail out now when there’s potential to see our initial vision realized as well as return on my investment.”
I could tell Nolan was impressed with her answer.
“Plus,” Simone said, looking at me, “no matter what this space becomes, I don’t see Jax as a hands-on owner. He won’t fill in pulling taps when a bartender gets sick. If we end up installing food service, he won’t hop in as a line cook if we’re short staffed. He’ll be in the background as the silent partner. Checking the P&L, looking to maximize profit, and that’s the type of partner I always expected he’d be. I’m good with that . . . with some stipulations, of course.”
“Jax. Is that true?” Ash asked.
“Absolutely. No matter what direction we opt to go, this place will still be a bar, geared toward building an evening clientele. I didn’t move back here to raise my daughter only to be gone every night.”
Dallas and Nolan both nodded.
“My concern now is how and when this news of you not working for LI will be revealed,” Nolan said. “Obviously we’ll bring it up as a private family matter first, and then once that’s settled, we’ll have to take it to the board.” He cocked his head and locked his gaze to mine. “You are planning on staying on the LI board of directors?”
“Yes. I care about the company. I care that it’s being run right, which is why I’m happy to concede that my little brother is better qualified—is the better man—to do that.”
Ash said, “I agree. The balance of power will remain as is with the three familial descendants of Jackson Lund—with me as COO and Brady as CFO and Nolan eventually CEO.”
“Is that truly balanced?” Dallas asked. “Annika heads up the PR department. So Ward’s family has two department heads, while your dad”—she pointed between Nolan and me—“and our dad each have one kid running a department.”
“Without being cocky, the positions of COO and CEO are larger entities than the Finance division that Brady controls, and the PR arm that Annika runs.” Ash paused. “You have a position at LI if you want it, sis. But we are covered too, if you’re still figuring things out.”
Dallas smiled at the phone. “Thanks, big brother.”
“That still doesn’t give me a timeline for when we’re telling the family, Jax. It’ll be obvious something is up if you stop coming into LI this week. Sooner is preferable to later for sharing this,” Ash pointed out.
“Aren’t the Vikings playing at home on Sunday?” I asked. “We could do it then, as long as corporate clients haven’t been invited into the Lund family skybox.”
“Great idea. I’ll get the details sorted out and request family only at this game and keep you all in the loop,” Nolan said.
“Excellent. Now, Nolan, get your ass to the office. Acquisitions has called my admin twice this morning,” Ash said.
Nolan pushed to his feet. “On my way.” He picked up his phone and ended the call. Then he moved to stand in front of me. He kept his voice low. “You and me. Tomorrow morning at Brady’s gym. Six A.M. Bring your sparring gear because I’m gonna kick your ass for keeping all of this shit from me.”
“I’ll bring it, bro. And a little tiny towel for you to wipe away your tears when I beat you.”
He gave me his most evil grin. “Can’t wait.” He waved to Simone and scooted out the door.
I turned around to see Dallas and Simone both staring at me. “What?”
“How, during that revealing conversation, could you have forgotten to mention that in addition to owning this building, you now own the entire block?” Simone asked.
Damn. “Not kidding when I say it slipped my mind.”
“Dallas, doll, keep an eye on the front while I make some calls from the office,” Simone said as she sauntered over to stand in front of me.” She poked me in the chest. “You and I will talk later.”
“I look forward to it,” I lied. Simone would press me on specific plans, and I hadn’t made any. I hadn’t shown up today intending to share any of what’d been churning in my mind, but the timing had seemed right, so I went with my gut and I wasn’t sorry.
Then Simone leaned closer and murmured, “Talk to Dallas first. She has been working on a totally new, fresh concept for this building, and it’s pretty damn impressive.”
“I will. Thanks.” I’d taken a rash of crap from my brothe
r and my cousins for impulsively going into business with Simone, a woman I’d slept with a few times during my stopovers in Minneapolis. They believed she was just another puck bunny, but they couldn’t have been further from the truth. While a sexual relationship between us had fizzled pretty fast, we’d become good friends. When the opportunity arose to buy this building, she was the first person I’d contacted about forming a partnership. I could claim altruism, helping her escape a shitty career situation—which was true—but she’d also been the first woman since Lucy who didn’t pull any punches with me. She was smart and driven, yet she needed to reconfigure her life, and running a run-down bar gave her a few years to sort herself out. Simone also recognized my issues with booze early on, and she’d been the first person to push me into getting help. Ours was an odd relationship, but I trusted her without question.
“She’s gonna bust your balls about this,” Dallas said.
“I know.” I focused on my baby cousin. She’d grown into a real beauty. Her gamine, almost elfin facial features belied the strength in her athletic body. If our golden-haired cousin Annika was considered the “Iron Princess” due to her cool demeanor, then Dallas was the “Fair Maiden”—we all felt protective of her and her delicate sensibilities. Dallas had a few quirks that might throw her into the oddball category if not for the Lund name (and money) that allowed her to be seen as an eccentric rich girl.
From the time she was a small child, she’d read people’s auras, seeing spirits and harnessing positive energy through various techniques that have always made her a joy to be around. Plus, she has a sixth sense that is a little spooky. Our family lovingly accepted the “woo-woo” aspect of her, even if not everyone believed it.
Last year, after Ash let the Lund Collective—aka all branches of the entire Lund family—know that he and Nolan were dealing with my stake in Borderlands, Dallas begged Ash to give her a job. She’d worked in Personnel at Lund Industries during her last two years of college as an intern—a job guaranteed to turn into a full-time management position after she received her bachelor’s degree. But something had happened to her in her senior year of college that sent her into near seclusion. We chalked it up to a bad breakup with her Russian hockey-playing boyfriend, who’d gone to Russia for a funeral and hadn’t returned to the United States. In fact, he hadn’t been heard from again.
I Want You Back Page 6