Dynasties: The Elliotts, Books 1-6

by Various Authors

  “Ohio? Is that where you’re from?”

  “Yes. I even went to college there. Ohio State.”

  Tag leaned back in his chair. “What brought you to New York?”

  Renee sighed deeply. She didn’t want to think about Dionne Moore, the man who had broken her heart. After graduating from college she had taken a job at a hospital in Atlanta where she had met Dionne, a cardiologist. She’d thought their relationship was special, solid, until she’d found out that Dionne was having an affair with a nurse behind her back.

  What was sad was that while she hadn’t known about the other woman, several of the other doctors—friends of Dionne—had known and had been taking bets as to when she would find out. Once she did, it had caused quite a scandal that had had everyone talking for days.

  Embarrassed, she had promised to never allow herself to be the hot topic over anyone’s breakfast, lunch or dinner table. To repair her heart and put distance between her and Dionne, she had jumped at the chance to relocate to New York when Debbie Massey, her best friend from college, had told her about an opening at Manhattan University Hospital. That had been almost two years ago, and since then she had pretty much kept to herself and had refrained from dating altogether.

  “It was a job offer I couldn’t refuse and don’t regret taking,” she finally said. “I love New York.”

  “So do I.”

  At that moment they were interrupted when the waiter returned with a tall bottle of beer for Tag. Tag tipped the bottle to his lips, then setting it down on the table looked over at Renee. “So, Ms. Williams, how do you—”

  “It would make me feel better if you called me Renee.”

  “Okay,” he said slowly. “And I’d like it if you called me Tag, which is what everyone calls me.”

  “All right, then, Tag it is.”

  He glanced at her glass. It was almost empty. “Would you like another drink?”

  “No, thank you. The fruit punch here is delicious, but too rich. I’m going to have to do a lot of walking to burn off the calories.”

  “I’m sorry your date didn’t show up.”

  Renee laughed. “Don’t be. It’s not the first time Debbie has gotten called away at the last minute. When duty calls, you have to go. She’s a friend of mine who works at Time magazine.”

  “Ouch, they’re Pulse’s strongest competitor.”

  Renee chuckled. “Yes, that’s what I hear.”

  “But we’re definitely better.”

  Renee reared her head back and laughed. “And of course, I would expect you to make that claim.”

  Tag took another long pull of his beer. The sound of Renee’s laughter was breathy and intimate and he immediately felt a jolt of desire in the pit of his stomach.

  He couldn’t remember the last time he had allowed himself to unwind, certainly not since his grandfather had challenged the family, sparking everyone’s competitive nature. But for once his mind was on something else besides work. It was on a woman. This particular woman. If she could have this sort of effect on him just by being in his presence, he didn’t want to think what would happen if he were to touch her. Kiss her. Or better yet, make love to her.

  The image slammed into him, sizzling his brain cells and making slow heat flow through every part of his body.

  “I guess it’s time for me to get up and start browsing the shops.”

  He glanced over at her, not ready to part ways. “Would you mind if I browse with you? There are a couple of places that are giving private showings today that you might be interested in.”

  Renee met his gaze. What he hadn’t said was that the only way she could attend those showings was with him. The Elliott name carried a lot of weight. She sighed and chewed the inside of her cheek. She had heard about those private art showings and knew that now was her chance to go to one. So why was she hesitating? Browsing the shops and attending a private show or two with Tag wouldn’t be so bad as long as she kept things in perspective. She was his mother’s social worker and he was being kind. End of story.

  She drained the last of her drink before saying, “Are you sure you don’t mind me attending those showings with you?”

  He placed his beer bottle down. “Yes, I’m sure. I’d like to spend some time with you, anyway.”

  She licked her lips. “Why?”

  He tried not concentrating on her mouth. Instead, he gazed directly into her eyes. “Because I’ve been working a lot of hours lately and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to grab time for myself. And because I really enjoy your company.”

  Her smile was slow but he knew it was also sincere. “Thanks, I’m enjoying your company as well, Tag.”

  “Then,” he said calmly, “that pretty much settles it.”

  There was a moment of silence, and Renee quickly wondered if anything between them was settled, or just about to get pretty stirred up.

  “Oh my goodness, this is simply beautiful.”

  Tag glanced at the painting Renee was referring to and had to agree. The piece, titled Colors, depicted an African-American child standing beneath a rainbow. The artist had been able to vibrantly capture all the colors, including the child’s skin tone, as well as the blue-green ocean that served as a backdrop. The happiness that shone on the toddler’s face was priceless, and the way the painting was encased in a black wooden frame made all the vivacious colors stand out. “Yes, it is, isn’t it.”

  He picked up the tag attached to the painting and glanced at it. “It’s a Malone and the price isn’t bad, considering he’s making a name for himself now. I was able to purchase several of his paintings at a private art show when he first got started.”

  Renee could envision the paintings adorning the walls of Tag’s condo. Alton Malone, who was of mixed Caucasian and African-American heritage, had a wide range, but she personally liked his contemporary ethnic paintings the best.

  It was obvious Tag liked fine art. But then, so did she. The only difference was that money to buy it came more easily to him than to her.

  At the moment, the difference in their incomes wasn’t the only thing on her mind. So was the difference in their skin colors. Although New York was one of the most diverse cities on earth, some people’s opinions about interracial dating just didn’t change. More than once, as they strolled along the sidewalk together, darting in and out of various shops, Renee had felt people’s curious eyes on her. Whether accepting or disapproving, she wasn’t sure. But the stares had been obvious, as were a few frowns. There was no way Tag hadn’t noticed. However, he didn’t seem bothered that people were erroneously assuming they were a couple.

  “It’s four o’clock already,” he said. “What about grabbing something to eat before I take you home?”

  Renee glanced over at Tag. Earlier, he had asked how she had gotten to Greenwich Village and she had told him that she had ridden the subway. He had offered to drive her home, saying his car wasn’t parked too far away. She had graciously declined the offer. Hanging out with him on a lazy Saturday was one thing, but she didn’t intend for him to go out of his way to take her home.

  “Tag, thanks for the offer, but I’m used to taking the subway wherever I need to go.”

  “I’m sure you are, but I don’t have anything else to do. Besides, it will be late evening by the time we finish eating.”

  Renee shook her head as a smile touched her lips. “I wonder when it will dawn on you that I didn’t agree to eat with you.”

  He grinned. “Sure you did. That was our deal, remember?”

  Renee lifted a brow as they continued to stroll along the sidewalk. “What deal?”

  “Don’t you remember?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “No, I do not.”

  “Then you must be having a senior moment.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Renee said, enjoying this camaraderie with him. “I’m twenty-eight and way too young to have senior moments.”

  “Not so,” he said, teasing Renee. “I’m twenty-nine
, but I used to have—”

  “Hey, Tag! Wait up!”

  Tag and Renee stopped walking when the person called out to him. They turned to see a man—who appeared to be about Tag’s age, dressed in a jogging suit and running shoes—trot over to them.

  “Hey, man, where have you been keeping yourself?” the man asked Tag when he finally reached them and the two men shook hands. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you at the club.”

  “Work has been keeping me busy,” Tag said. He then glanced at Renee. “Renee, I want you to meet a friend of mine from college, Thomas Bonner. Thomas, this is Renee Williams.”

  Renee accepted the man’s hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Thomas.” She could immediately feel the unfriendliness in the handshake and watched as he plastered a phony smile on his face.

  “Uh, yes, nice meeting you, too.” Then, as if she was of little importance, he dismissed her and glanced up at Tag through disapproving eyes. “Evidently, you’re not too busy to carve out some colorful playtime.”

  Renee immediately picked up the censorship in his expression. Evidently, Thomas Bonner thought that she wasn’t the type or the color of woman that Tag should be seen with. But his insinuation that she was nothing more than an object of Tag’s amusement really got next to her. Breathing deep, she held back her anger, deciding this man wasn’t worth it. However, Tag evidently disagreed. He placed his hand on the small of her back and eased her closer to him.

  She could hear the iciness in his voice when he said, “You should know I’m too serious a guy to ever indulge in playtime. Besides, when a man meets someone this beautiful he doesn’t waste his time by acting a fool. If he’s smart, he uses it wisely to impress her. And what I’m doing, Thomas, is trying to impress. Wish me luck.”

  Renee could tell Tag’s comments left the man at a loss for words. “Uh, well, I’d better continue my run. Give my best to your family,” Thomas finally stumbled out before jogging off without looking back. Renee could just imagine the rumors that would be flying around in Tag’s social circle tomorrow. Maybe he could handle a scandal, but she could not. She had been there, done that. And she didn’t want to ever live through it again.

  She glanced up at Tag. “Why did you give him the impression that we’re romantically involved?”

  The corners of his lips turned up and she hated admitting how much she liked the way his smile seemed to touch his eyes. “Does it bother you that I did?”

  She shrugged. “I could handle his comment. He’s not the first prejudiced person I’ve met in my lifetime and he won’t be the last. Over the years, I’ve experienced my fair share of bigotry,” she said softly.

  “Well, that’s one thing I won’t tolerate.”

  She believed him.

  They began walking, and neither said anything for a few moments, then Renee decided to break the silence. She glanced over at him. “You never did say why you did it.”

  Tag sighed. There was no way he was going to tell her that for a moment he hadn’t been able to help himself. He had refused to let Thomas think that his intentions toward her—if there had been any—were anything less than honorable. To insinuate that she wasn’t someone he could possibly take seriously had hit his last nerve because it was so far from the truth. And that, he quickly concluded, was the crux of his problem. Renee was someone he could take seriously if he was free to engage in a serious relationship. But he wasn’t. The situation with his mother was bad enough. Add to that what was happening at Elliott Publication Holdings and it was enough to make a nondrinker order a bottle of gin and guzzle the entire thing.

  Knowing that she was waiting for an answer, he decided to give her one. “Thomas was going to think whatever he wanted without any help from me. You’re a beautiful woman and I don’t consider myself a bad-looking guy, so quite naturally people will assume we’re a couple.”

  “And that doesn’t bother you?”

  “No, but it evidently bothers you. I learned early in life, Renee, not to care what other people think.”

  Renee ceased walking and placed a hand firmly on Tag’s arm. “And that’s probably just one of the many differences in our upbringings. I was raised to care what others think.”

  Tag nodded. “In this case, with us, now, today, why should it matter?”

  She raised her eyes heavenward. Did she have to spell it out for him? It wouldn’t matter if it were today or tomorrow. The circumstances would still be the same. “Because I’m black and you’re white, Tag.”

  He smiled, and his eyes sparkled as if he’d just been told something scandalous, simply incredulous. “You’re joking,” he said in mock surprise. He took her hand, held it up to his, denoting the obvious contrast of their skin coloring. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

  She couldn’t help but chuckle. And she couldn’t help but decide at that moment that she liked him. “Get real.”

  “I am. And what’s real is that I like you and I enjoy your company. This is the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time, especially since finding out about my mother’s cancer and taking on added responsibilities at work. And I’m not about to let a bunch of prejudiced fools decide whom I should or should not date. As for my caring what others think, I’ve had to deal with people’s misconceptions all my life. They think just because my name is Elliott that I’ve had it easy.”

  She hated admitting that she’d assumed the same thing. “And you haven’t?”

  “Far from it. There’s no such word as easy with a grandfather like Patrick Elliott.”

  Renee glanced over at Tag. “Tell me about him.”

  They had reached the café where Tag had mentioned earlier would be a good place to eat. They sat down right away, the crowd from earlier that day having thinned out.

  “Patrick Elliott is one tough old man. He was raised by Irish immigrants who instilled in him a strong work ethic. He worked to put himself through school and because of his keen mind and street smarts, he went to work at a magazine company and eventually founded his own empire.”

  He paused when the waitress delivered their waters and gave them menus. Renee, who’d evidently been thirsty, took a deep gulp and licked the excess from around her lips. At that moment, a surge of desire hit Tag. It was so overwhelming, he had to briefly look away.

  “And?”

  He blinked at her single word. “And what?”

  She smiled. “You were telling me about your grandfather, but I don’t think you were finished.”

  He chuckled, thinking of how he’d gotten sidetracked. “Oh, yes, where was I?” he said, leaning back in his chair after taking a sip of his own water. “While in Ireland visiting family, he met and fell in love with a young seamstress named Maeve O’Grady. They eventually married and raised many children together. My grandparents have a very loving relationship. However, it’s my belief that my grandfather’s fear of poverty is what has made him devoted to his business.”

  Tag paused for a moment, reflecting on what his next words would be. “Although my grandfather dotes a lot on my grandmother, he hasn’t always spent a lot of time with his children and grandchildren and isn’t very demonstrative, although we all know he loves us. Over the years we’ve accepted that his true love is his empire, Elliott Publication Holdings, or EPH for short. All of his children are working for the company and he runs a strict ship. He also insists that all family members, including his grandchildren, must earn their way to the top by working their butts off within various levels of the business. No exceptions.”

  Renee took another sip of water before asking, “How old were you when you began working at the company?”

  He smiled, remembering those days. “I was sixteen and started out in the mail room without any special treatment because my last name was Elliott. I later got a degree in journalism from Columbia University.”

  At that moment, the waitress returned to take their order. They ordered hamburgers, milkshakes and fries. After the woman left, Tag turned to Renee and said, “I don’t r
emember the last time I ate junk food. I’m usually too busy.”

  Renee looked surprised. “You’re kidding. Most people eat junk food because they don’t have time for the real thing. So what do you eat?”

  “Too much nourishing food. The guy who lives next door to me is a chef and he keeps my refrigerator loaded.”

  “Jeez, life must be good,” Renee said as a smile touched her lips. “Especially since you could call me the microwave queen. I don’t have time to cook. I’m so busy, I barely have time to change my clothes after work before tackling some project or another. It’s easier for me to just pop a meal in the microwave.”

  Tag swallowed. Heaven help him, but he could picture her rushing through her house after a long, taxing day at work and taking her clothes off. He wondered how many or how few underthings she wore. He then wanted to kick himself for even letting that speculation rule his thoughts. It wasn’t like he was ever going to get involved with her, and needed to know.

  “I meant what I said earlier, Tag. You don’t have to take me home.”

  Tag glanced over at her. So they were back to that again, but he was determined to dig in his heels. There was no way he would put her on a subway when it wouldn’t be any trouble giving her a ride. “You did say you’ve met my mother, right?” he asked, looking deep into Renee’s eyes.

  The blue gaze almost held her spellbound. “Yes. Why?”

  “There is one trait she has that you may not have picked up on yet, and of all her children I’m the one who inherited it the most.”

  Interested, Renee couldn’t help but ask, “And what trait is that?”

  “Stubbornness.”

  “Ah,” she said, nodding. “And what if I told you that I can probably be just as stubborn as you?”

  He studied her a moment before a smile touched his lips. “The only thing I can say is that a standoff between the two of us ought to be very interesting.”

  Three

  “Okay, I concede, Teagan Elliott. You won this round.”