by Tara Rose
“Wow. One date and you had her hooked.”
“I don’t know about that. She likes you, you know. A lot. I see it every time she looks at you, and I definitely saw it tonight.”
“I like her a lot, too. I have for a long time. So have you.”
They stared each other down as the wind whipped and it grew cooler. “So what do we do now?”
“I wish I knew.”
* * * *
Jade was freezing by the time she unlocked the door to her apartment. The temperature had really dropped. She flipped on the TV and whistled at the radar image of a well-defined tropical storm, heading straight for the island. It would be here by the next night if it kept up this speed. She called Santos and asked him whether she needed to come to the station the next day, even though it was Saturday. There were dispatchers who only worked weekends and holidays, but during an emergency, they would need extra help.
“No. They’re not forecasting that this will reach hurricane strength.”
“Are you working tomorrow?”
“No, I’m off. Why?”
“We need to talk.”
“We’re talking now.”
“What I need to say to you isn’t appropriate for a phone conversation.”
“What’s going on?” His voice was filled with suspicion, and Jade was suddenly so damn weary. Fuck it. On the phone or in person, she would have her say.
“All right. Why did you threaten Liam Raleigh two years ago and tell him no Durante or Raleigh was good enough to date me? You’re not my keeper. I want you to stop this. I will date whoever I want.”
“Jade, I can’t have this conversation with you right now.”
“Why not?”
He hesitated for a few seconds. “I have company. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Oh for the love of…No. You know what? We won’t talk tomorrow because that is all I have to say about it and there’s nothing else to discuss. Stop threatening the men I date. Stop telling them they’re not good enough to date me. Stop trying to run my damn life. You don’t own me and you have no right to dictate who I will or won’t go out with. Good night, Santos.”
She disconnected the call and turned off her phone. How dare he try to run her dating life, and threaten the men who went out with her, and then refuse to discuss it because he had a woman waiting in his bed? Damn, fucking arrogant man.
She got bored watching TV, and flipped channels trying to find something, but finally gave up and left it on a reality show. Her mind played over the conversations she’d had tonight with both men, looking for hidden clues and double meanings. What would have happened if Liam hadn’t interrupted the kiss with Estevan? Would she be in his bed right now?
But if that had happened, she wouldn’t know that Liam had been wishing for two solid years that he’d gone out with her a second time, and she wouldn’t know what Santos had said to him. Those were important things to know. And they did nothing to minimize her all-consuming horniness or desire for both men.
“Right. As if they’ll talk to you again after tonight.”
She tossed a sofa pillow at the TV, where some silly woman was yelling at her friend about trying to steal her man, but it landed on the floor. She was tired. She was so tired. Might as well get some sleep. It’s not like she had anything else to do tonight, thanks to Liam’s revelation.
Images of demons in the shape of clouds chased her in dreams, followed by Santos screaming at her that if she became involved with a Durante and a Raleigh, she’d suffer the same curse as the one placed on their families. When she finally gave up trying to sleep and got out of bed, it was so dark outside she thought it was still early, but it was after eight in the morning.
An unsettling wind greeted her as she stepped out onto the balcony, and she hugged herself as she watched the clouds approaching from the south. After making eggs, toast, and coffee, she turned on the TV. The storm was expected to be over the island before midnight, and it was nearing hurricane strength now. “Fuck.”
She turned on her phone, expecting to find a call or text message from Santos, but instead found several missed calls from both Estevan and Liam, and a text message from each. Jade’s fingers trembled as she read them.
I am so sorry about last night. I never should have come over when I sensed it was a bad time for Estevan. I apologize you had to watch us snipe at each other like that. I can’t imagine what you must think of me. I was hoping we could talk about this in person sometime. The storm is getting stronger. Stay safe, Jade. I’m here if you need anything.
Please forgive me for last night. I shouldn’t have let the conversation get out of hand like that. Liam and I are really good friends and I’m embarrassed for both of us. I hope we can see each other again, and this time I won’t allow anyone else to intrude on our evening. I’ll be at Phoebe’s Playthings this morning, painting, but will get home early to beat the coming storm.
She was supposed to go out that night with two of her friends, but she texted both and told them she was staying indoors. They texted back and agreed it was best for everyone to stay home. The island was in storm mode, and Jade understood why. They sat in the middle of the gulf, one hundred miles off the Louisiana coastline, so they were vulnerable to any storms coming into the gulf from the south or east.
This was nothing new to Jade or to anyone who had lived on the island for any length of time, but that didn’t mean the residents ignored tropical storms or hurricanes. Quite the opposite. Jade called Santos again, intending to make sure she didn’t need to come into work, but his cell went to voice mail. She called Nick Fuentes, the deputy superintendent in charge of the police force, and confirmed that at this time, she did not need to report to work today.
“If anything changes I’ll send out a text. But if the cell towers go down, you won’t receive it, so if you see the storm has intensified to anything above a Cat 1, go ahead and come in, but only if you can. If you can’t get through because of flooding, stay home and don’t worry about it. There are extra people here already. We’re equipped to stay until the storm has passed.”
“All right. Thanks, Nick.”
She lived less than five minutes from the station and had made it there safely before with flooded streets. She wasn’t worried about getting through. She just didn’t want them to need her and not know about it.
After Jade showered and dressed, she called Estevan, but his phone went to voice mail after a few rings. If he was already painting, he probably didn’t hear the phone. She doubted he would ignore her call after that text message. She read them both again, touched that each men had apologized and wanted to talk to her again.
But while she was thrilled with that, it didn’t solve her dilemma. And because she really hadn’t resolved anything with Santos, she couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t try to intervene again even if she did pursue a relationship with one or both men.
She tried her brother again, but his phone was off. He might even be at the station by now. She should have asked Nick if he was there. She could call one of the other officers, but finally decided not to. She’d had her say last night. If Santos thought she was trying to reach him again this morning, he might assume she was trying to apologize, and she didn’t want him left with that impression. She had nothing to apologize for, but he certainly did. Let him make the next move.
Jade had to gather her thoughts before she called Liam, since she was less sure of what she wanted to say to him. He answered on the second ring, and his voice definitely conveyed relief at hearing hers.
“I was worried about you last night when I couldn’t reach you.”
“I’m sorry. I turned off my phone after trying to talk to Santos because I was so pissed off at him.”
“I didn’t mean to cause trouble between you and your brother.”
“You didn’t. This has been going on since I was in high school.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She took a deep breath. “Yes, there is. What a
re you doing today, besides waiting for this storm to hit like everyone else?”
He laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess we’re all in prep mode, aren’t we? I’m going to Phoebe’s Playthings. I have a lot to learn for my new position, and I thought I’d take some food to Estevan, since he’ll be stuck inside all day.”
“That’s really nice of you. Does that mean everything is all right with you two?”
“Oh yeah. We’re cool. Thanks for asking.”
“I don’t want to come between friends any more than you want to come between me and Santos. Since you’re going over there, would you like some company?”
“Really?”
The surprise in his voice was genuine, and she smiled. “Yes, really. I’d like to see you both again, and it will give us time to talk without anyone else around.”
“All right. Sure. Great idea. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.”
Jade debated what to wear, finally deciding not to change her clothes. Capri pants and a summer top were fine to watch someone paint, weren’t they? She had on sandals, and at the last second put in different earrings. Then she laughed at herself. It wasn’t a date. Was it? Oh man…she needed to get a grip and fast.
But when the knock sounded on her door, her pulse raced and she grinned from ear to ear as she went outside to greet Liam. Let the damn storm come. She was going to spend the day with two sexy, charming men. And the hell with what Santos or anyone else said about it.
Chapter Seven
During the fifteen minute ride to Phoebe’s Playthings, Jade and Liam made small talk about the storms they remembered. She had been in the same grade as both he and Estevan, but they hadn’t had too many mutual friends. Still, on an island with less than eleven thousand residents, she’d seen them in school all the time.
But since graduating, Liam had gone to work for his family, and Estevan had started painting, as well as making and selling his sand art. Jade had gone straight to work at the police station. Several times she’d started and stopped various online degree programs, but nothing held her interest for very long. She wondered if Liam had a college degree, and asked him now, as they approached the sprawling complex.
“We all do. Asa and Tim insist on it. Most of us have MBAs. You can get one of those online now.” He glanced toward her. “What about you?”
“I don’t have a degree. I can’t seem to decide what I want one in.”
“Why don’t you go to the state police training academy in Baton Rouge?”
She laughed. “Me? A cop? No way. It’s not who I am.”
“All right. If you could do or be anything at all, what would you choose?”
They drove past the palm trees lining the main drive, and Jade frowned as she watched the fronds bend sideways with each gust of wind. This was going to be a strong storm. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“Of course not. Never.”
“I would love to study different religious and cultural beliefs, especially the ones native to this island. Like voodoo and Santería. I know we already have a shop and don’t need a second one, but I’d love to learn more about them just for my own curiosity. I want to study the history of how they came to be, and delve deeper into the practices.”
“So why don’t you? Sounds like a degree in anthropology or cultural studies would be right up your alley.”
She shrugged. “I should.”
“Maybe we can look for programs while we watch Estevan paint?”
She laughed again. “That sounds like a blast for you.”
“Still better than watching him.”
“I’m glad you two are okay.”
“Thank you. So am I.”
“But I thought you said you had things to learn for your new job today?”
He looked slightly embarrassed. “Yeah, well, that can wait. I’d rather help you look for online degree programs. Here we are.” He pulled into a reserved space, then sprinted around the other side of his car and opened her door. Once they were inside, he made sure she got a visitor’s badge from security then led her through the maze of corridors.
“This place is huge and confusing. I’d get lost every day.”
“I guess I’m just used to it. I’ve been coming here regularly since I was twelve.”
She hadn’t realized that. No wonder he was so dedicated. What else did he know how to do except be part of this company? “Have you always wanted to run a department here?”
“Let’s just say I never gave anything else much thought. I was raised to work here, like most of us were.”
“So what happened to Estevan?”
Liam grinned as he ushered her into an elevator and pushed the button for the top floor. “Estevan has always been his own person, even when he was young. When we were seven, a group of us went to Asa’s house that summer to celebrate his second marriage. She was from the mainland, so everyone was curious about her.”
“Oh? I didn’t realize you all were allowed to do that. Marry outsiders, I mean.”
“Gina was born in Tennessee.”
“Yeah, but Estevan can do what he wants, right? Aren’t the rest of you supposed to marry someone from the other royal family so the two stay connected?”
He gave her a wicked grin that sent jolts of desire straight to her clit. “You’re getting a bit mouthy. Watch it. I might have to put you over my knee.”
She giggled. “I’d like to see you try it.”
Liam cleared his throat, and she practically came at the look of pure lust that passed over his face. Interesting. She’d have to figure out a way to bring up that subject, and soon.
“Anyway…Tim organized some sort of game for the group of us who were too young to sit still for long, but Estevan wanted no part of it. He spent the entire time sitting at the edge of the lake on Asa’s property, drawing scenes.”
“That’s not so unusual for him, though, is it?”
“No, but you have to understand that already by that young age we knew better than to defy Asa or Tim. It’s practically in our DNA to listen to them and obey without question. But not Estevan. He didn’t like the game, and he said the weather that day was perfect for sketching. When he joined us again, he had no less than ten gorgeous colored-pencil drawings. His grandfather, Alejandro, was the only one who bothered to look at them.”
They exited the elevator, and Jade breathed in the scents of leather and old money. This place looked and smelled exactly as she’d imagined it would. “That’s sad that no one else cared about his drawings.”
Liam nodded. “That’s my family, Jade. They care about this. They care about the bottom line. Let anyone be a bit different, or show an interest in something like art or music, and they’re practically an outcast.”
“Is that why Kade and Elliot quit?”
He gave her a guarded look. “Not exactly.”
“I thought they wanted to open a club? They’re both musicians, right?”
“They are, and they do plan to open a club. They probably wouldn’t have had time to work and run a club anyway, but that’s not why they quit.” They stopped walking and Liam glanced around, but no one was in the hallways. She didn’t know for certain, but guessed they were in one of the executive wings, and none of them would be here on a weekend. “They quit because Tim tried to discredit Giselle for something that happened between him and her mother a long time ago.”
A shiver ran down her spine at his words. “What happened with Tim and Laila?” Now Liam looked really uncomfortable, but he shouldn’t have brought it up if he wasn’t going to tell her.
“Tim tried to force himself on Laila when they went out once, a long time ago. He didn’t want Kade and Elliot with Giselle because he thought she knew and would eventually tell them.”
Laila was Giselle’s mother. She and her husband Justin ran Lady of The Night, a popular bar and restaurant in the center of town. Jade knew from local gossip that Asa and Tim hung out at the bar a lot, and it was rumored they gave Laila and Justin money. But J
ade had never guessed there was a reason like this one behind the rumors. “What a fucking scumbag. So how did Kade and Elliot find out? Did Giselle tell them?”
“No. She didn’t know. Laila finally told her the truth. Asa and Tim have always appeared to be such great friends with Justin and Laila, and the couple have money for repairs or new equipment when needed. That’s because they were paying Laila off all these years to keep quiet.”
“Oh wow…”
“But you have to know as well that both Laila and Asa didn’t want Giselle seeing Kade and Elliot, either. For the same reason that Santos is trying to keep you from dating one of us. That invisible division between us and the rest of this island.”
“Laila feels that way, too?”
“Of course she does. Asa and Tim remind her of it every day of her life. She grew up having it shoved down her throat, the same way we each do. Tim called her island scum, or something like that, when he tried to force her to have sex with him. She was nothing to him. Just a local he could use and then discard. And ever since then, she’s taken money from them in exchange for not calling him out on his behavior.”
“That makes her just as culpable, then.”
“I agree. So you can imagine the conflict inside her.”
“I feel more sorry for Giselle.”
“I agree. And that’s why Kade and Elliot quit. Asa forced them to choose between Giselle and their jobs, so they did.”
“Oh man. Good for them. But that division you spoke of is such bullshit. For heaven’s sake. Your families don’t run everything. If it weren’t for people like Justin and Laila, there would be no bars or restaurants here. Or plumbers, electricians, or anyone else.”
He held up his hands. “I agree with you. Believe me.” His voice was full of conviction. “I wouldn’t be here with you right now if I believed in all that crap.”
“Really?” Her heart hammered in her ears. She had to ask. “And what would you do if Asa forced you to make a choice? Would you choose love, or would you give it up to keep your new department head position?”