Just One Taste (Kimani Romance)

by Norfleet, Celeste O.

  Working with Chase was one thing, but now, working with Daniel everything had to be flawlessly exceptional. This was his big chance. To date, Daniel was his biggest client and by far the most lucrative the office had ever had. Keeping him happy was imperative. If he landed Titan Energy Corporation and the Buchanan family, he could write his own ticket in the city.

  He worked steadfast the next two hours. When his staff tried to interrupt, he abruptly told them he was busy and could not be disturbed. At exactly nine o’clock he called the Keys Gateway Hotel and was connected to Daniel Buchanan’s suite. Daniel’s assistant answered. Oren was told Daniel was busy and would return his call shortly.

  Three hours later the phone call he was expecting finally came. He excitedly grabbed the phone seeing the caller ID announcing Daniel Buchanan.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Buchanan, may I say, it is a true pleasure to be working with you. I have every confidence that we will come to a very amicable and profitable accord.”

  “Mr. Buchanan will meet with you at the Keys Gateway Hotel,” a woman’s voice responded. “Your appointment has been confirmed for one o’clock sharp. Please do not be late. Mr. Buchanan’s time is extremely valuable.”

  Oren frowned. He had hoped to speak directly with Daniel. Being put off by an assistant was degrading. “I’d like to speak to Daniel now.”

  “I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

  “Do you know who I am?” Oren warned threateningly.

  “I’ll be happy to cancel your one o’clock appointment.”

  “No, no, of course not. One o’clock this afternoon is perfect, and please tell Mr. Buchanan that I am truly—”

  “Thank you,” the woman said, cutting him off.

  A second later the call was disconnected. Oren bristled at the nerve of some people. He had more to say and she very obviously cut him off on purpose. He made a mental note to speak with Daniel about this assistant’s manners. But for right now he was doing the happy dance.

  * * *

  Ever since dawn Nikita had been walking five miles above cloud nine. Being with Chase last night and this morning had done that to her. And then having him confess his love made her deliriously, unbelievably happy. She was about to get everything she ever wanted and the unbelievable truth in that changed everything.

  It wasn’t about the money he had or the job he had or the family he came from, it was about the man. She’d been fooling herself all this time thinking that she didn’t need love and didn’t want a family of her own. In truth, she wanted the happily ever after and everything that came with it.

  She spent the early-morning hours in her café kitchen dancing, humming, singing and generally driving her staff nuts. Then just before the morning crowd began, she got two phone calls that had changed her day completely and she was even happier.

  The studio shoot had to be rescheduled because of a breaking story and the event at the aquarium had been postponed. It was perfect. Now she planned to take the whole afternoon off, catch up with Chase and spend the rest of the day just being a woman in love.

  Shortly before noon, Darcy came into the kitchen. She wasn’t smiling.

  “Hey, I was just about to get out of here. What’s up? Are you okay?” Nikita asked.

  She shook her head. “I think you need to see this.”

  “See what?” Nikita said as an icy chill shot down her back. She instinctively knew this had something to do with Chase. She washed her hands and followed Darcy out the back door. “Okay, what’s going on?”

  “Just wait here a moment,” Darcy said.

  They waited. “Okay, what am I looking at?” Nikita asked.

  “Just wait.”

  Nikita looked around, centering her attention mostly on the building next door. Then she saw something not quite right. She saw Kelvin Simmons, Chase’s assistant, come out of the building next door talking on his cell phone.

  “Now, isn’t that…” Darcy began.

  “Yeah, it is. Kelvin. I wonder what he’s doing here.”

  They stepped back slightly and watched as he hurried to his car, got in and waited. Darcy shook her head. “Seriously, I have no idea what all that was, but it’s strange.” She turned and headed back into the café.

  Nikita nodded slowly. Suddenly, she remembered Chase’s last words to her. No matter what happens.

  At first when he’d said them she was too overjoyed by his love to get it. Now she feared the stark truth was coming out.

  “Yes, it is strange,” Nikita replied. She stayed a few seconds longer, then just as she was about to follow Darcy back inside she stopped. Her breath escaped in a slow laborious flow as if it had been sucked out of her. She watched as Chase came out of the building, got into Kelvin’s car then they drove away. Nikita didn’t move for a while. She just stood there, watching the car.

  A few minutes later, Darcy came back out to her side. “Hey, you okay? Look, I’m sure this doesn’t have anything to do with Chase. He was probably just checking the place out.”

  Nikita unbuttoned her jacket. “Yeah, right, of course.”

  “You had a call on the office phone. It was Wendy. She wanted to know if you listened to the message she left last night.”

  “What message?” Nikita muttered. She went to her office, grabbed her backpack and pulled out her cell phone. She replayed the message.

  “Hi, Nikita, it’s Wendy. Listen, I still don’t know what the new owners want to do with the building next to yours and for once my idiot boss isn’t talking. It’s weird. Oren usually can’t shut up when he lands a huge commission. Seriously, he gloats for cardio exercise. But now all of a sudden everything is all hushed. But he did say that he was purchasing some land for his new client out on Stock Island.

  “Anyway, here’s the interesting thing, the company didn’t just buy the building next to you. They were interested in buying your building, too. I still can’t tell you who signed the papers, but I can tell you it’s a company out of France. It’s that crazy? France of all places. Anyway, I hope that helps. I’ll call you when I have something new. Later.”

  Nikita didn’t move. The words refused to sink in. They just bounced around in her head, ricocheting like a pinball machine. A million things started going through her mind. After a while she smiled, shook her head and chuckled.

  It was confirmed—Chase took her building now he was trying to take her business. She laughed, shaking her head. It was all a joke on her.

  Darcy came to the doorway with a package in her hand. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Darcy asked, seeing Nikita’s shell-shocked expression.

  “I just found out who bought the building next door.”

  “Who?”

  “Chase. Titan.”

  “Oh, well, that’s good, isn’t it? He can sell it to you.”

  “I don’t think that’s his plan.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s also trying to purchase this building.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean he wants everything.”

  “Nikita, no,” Darcy began, her eyes wide with concern as she closed the door. “Look, I know all this looks strange, but I have to believe there’s more that you just don’t know.”

  “No, there isn’t. I was a fool again.”

  Darcy sat down. “Why don’t you take a few days off? We can handle everything here. Drive down the coast, to the mainland or better yet head over to Cutter Island and hang out a few days.”

  Nikita looked up. “No, I’ll be fine. I just have to get to the bank.” She motioned to the package Darcy held. “What’s that?”

  “It just came for you a few minutes ago,” Darcy said handing it over. Nikita placed the package on her desk. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, I’ll be fine,” she said
.

  “Um, there one piece of business we have to clean up.”

  “What is it?”

  “The Chase Buchanan contract,” Darcy said.

  “What about it?”

  “It’s still open. He has two days left and if you decide to cancel him, he could void the contract, not pay or even take us to court for breach of contract. I know this is the last thing you want to hear, but…”

  “No, you’re right. I have to fulfill the contract.”

  “But what about—”

  “Darcy, I’m a big girl. I’ve been left at the altar and now I’ve been conned by the best. Surely cooking a meal won’t kill me.”

  Darcy nodded. “The meal information is in the email I forwarded to you. Apparently, he’s having guests over tonight.”

  Nikita nodded. “I’ll handle it.”

  Darcy got up and left without another word. Nikita listened to Wendy’s message twice more then she listened to messages from Natalia, Tatiana and Mia. Afterward she grabbed the package off her desk, opened it and read through the paper. It was an official notification that her cottage on Stock Island was being considered for eminent domain. She shook her head slowly. It was official. She had lost everything, her café, her dream and her home. A slow, steady tear fell down her face. She wiped it away and left.

  * * *

  Oren gathered everything he needed for his meeting with Daniel. His briefcase was nearly bursting at the seams. There were high-end properties all over Key West that he’d put before Daniel. A man like him would want nothing but the best.

  Just as he was about to leave his phone rang. He checked caller ID, smiling. “Yes, Daniel, I’m on my way.”

  “Thank you for your interest,” said the rude female assistant from their earlier conversation, “but Mr. Buchanan is no longer in need of your services. Your appointment has been canceled.”

  “What?”

  “The situation has been resolved.”

  “By whom?” Oren demanded.

  “I’m not at liberty to say. Goodbye.”

  “Wait. Wait. I want to speak with Daniel right now. Put him on the phone.” His answer was simple and unmistakably clear. It was a dial tone.

  Oren grabbed his briefcase and hurried out. He had all intentions of going to the hotel when he saw Nikita walking to her car. “Nikita. Nikita, wait up.”

  She stopped. “Oren, I don’t have time right now.”

  “Look, I just wanted to apologize. I knew you were interested in paying off your mortgage and buying the building next to the café. But when Chase Buchanan made an offer to the bank, I had to take it. Then when he asked to buy your building, too, I just had to make the deal.”

  “What? What do you mean my building, too?”

  “Hadn’t you heard? He purchased your mortgage, too. He owns both properties.”

  “Why?”

  “I believe he said it would be leverage.”

  “I have to go.” It took every ounce of strength in her body not to pass out. She walked to her car, got in and just sat there. Her hands shook and her legs trembled. She was a fool. She trusted a man again and he betrayed her. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

  She drove to her cottage. As soon as she pulled up, she saw the one person she never wanted to see again.

  Chase walked toward her, smiling, without a care in the world. He was a new man. For the first time in his life, everything was perfect. “Hey, there you are. How was the taping?”

  “It was canceled. I worked at the café all day.”

  “At the café,” he repeated. “I tried calling you. Your phone’s turned off.”

  Nikita finally looked up at him and he saw she’d been crying. “What is it? What happened? Is it your sisters?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “You can drop the act. I know everything. You got what you wanted.”

  Chase went still. She knew. “Nikita, it’s not what you think.”

  “Funny thing, I just happened to step out back and I saw you and Kelvin leaving the building next to the café. You bought it.”

  “Yes. I bought it, but I have—”

  “Then I ran into Oren and he told me the rest. Congratulations. You have everything you came for.” She turned to leave.

  “Nikita, please. I did this for you, for us.”

  “Don’t, please. I’ve had enough.”

  “Nikita.”

  She walked away and he watched her go without stopping her. He knew she needed to calm down. But he assured himself that he’d make it right.

  Chapter 19

  Across town Daniel Buchanan stood on the balcony, looking out at the expanding city below. Key West was breathtakingly beautiful, but he didn’t see any of it. All he saw was trouble. As far as he was concerned it was just another town. Like every other place, it wasn’t Alaska. His only concern now was getting Chase back into the Titan fold.

  Of course, he’d never admit pushing too far to get the property. It was a necessary endeavor at the time. But at this point he wasn’t sure if he could stop the process from going forward. He turned and went back into the penthouse suite. His assistant waved and handed him the phone.

  Before he could say a word, Jacob barked, “Daniel, I’m coming in now. I’ll be there shortly.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’ll take care of this. Chase isn’t going anywhere.”

  “It didn’t sound like that to me. This should never have gotten this far, Daniel. Chase leaving Titan is unacceptable.”

  “I agree,” Daniel said.

  “Good, at least we’re on the same page there. My plane is landing now. I want to see Chase and get this cleared up when I get there. Also, I want to meet Nikita Coles.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I do, too. I’ll see you shortly.” Daniel ended the call and looked at his assistant. “Find Chase now. I want to see him in one hour.”

  “I’ve already called Kelvin twenty times,” his assistant replied. “According to him Chase hasn’t checked in and he has no idea where to locate him.”

  “Damn. This is unacceptable. He can’t just go off the radar like this. He’s here someplace. Find Nikita Coles. It’s certain that wherever she is, he is.” Daniel dismissed her, then went back to the balcony.

  A few minutes later she returned. “Daniel, Chase is here.”

  Chase stepped outside onto the balcony just as Daniel turned toward him.

  Daniel glared at him. “Well,” he said.

  “Well, what?” Chase said solemnly, looking out but seeing only the stunning panoramic view around him.

  Daniel sighed heavily. “Acting like an impertinent child not getting his way won’t work with me, Chase. I think we both know you didn’t mean that resignation remark. And even if you did, there’s no way Titan is accepting it. You know it and I know it. You’re a Buchanan and that means family honor above all. Your first and only loyalty is to Titan. I guess you forgot that.”

  Chase glared at him then smiled. “I just came from the mayor’s office. I deposed eminent domain. The land isn’t needed for the Titan facility.”

  “You did what?” Daniel stormed.

  “It’s done.”

  “Excuse me, Daniel,” his assistant interrupted.

  Daniel turned and glared. “Yes?”

  “Andre’s here. Jacob’s with him.”

  Chase was stunned. Jacob Buchanan seldom left Alaska anymore. So for him to come to Key West was major. “Granddad’s here?”

  “Yes,” Jacob said, stepping out onto the balcony. Andre followed, smiling at Chase.

  Chase shook hands with them and hugged them both.

  “Well?” Jacob began, “What’s going on?” No one spoke up. Daniel huffed. Chase turned away and Andre shook his head. “So
mebody tell me what the hell’s going on.”

  Chase looked at Daniel. “Let it go,” he warned.

  “Fine, forget the land,” Daniel barked. “Family is above Titan.”

  “She gave me the deed this morning,” Chase said.

  Daniel smiled. “How much did it cost us?”

  “Nothing,” Chase said.

  “Nothing?” Daniel questioned. “That’s impossible.”

  “No, it’s not,” Andre said, shooting Chase a smile.

  “She loves you?” Jacob questioned. Chase nodded. “And what about you? Have you figured out what you needed to figure out?” Chase nodded again. “You love her.”

  Chase smiled. “Yes, I love her.”

  “Good,” Jacob said.

  “No, not good,” Chase said, looking down. “She found out about me buying her building. She thinks I conned her.”

  “Tell her you didn’t,” Daniel said.

  “She doesn’t trust easily. She’s been hurt and betrayed before, and it appears that I betrayed her again.”

  “Oh, this is absurd. Where is she?” Daniel said gruffly. “I’ll tell her.”

  “No, there’s nothing you can do.”

  “Like hell,” Daniel said with his usual stern bravado. “Buchanan men do not get turned down.”

  “Actually, they do,” Andre said, and Chase knew he was speaking about his first few encounters with his now wife. “Repeatedly.” He chuckled.

  Jacob chuckled also. “Yes. Now I remember my dear Olivia took some convincing, as well.” He laughed out loud this time. “Actually, quite a bit of convincing. And if I’m not mistaken, Chase’s mother wasn’t exactly enthralled by you, either, Daniel. Neither was Andre’s mother.”

  “They came around,” he said.

  “Perhaps it’s the women who resist us the most that are the ones we love the hardest. Compliance is easy. It takes a real woman to say no to a Buchanan man,” Jacob said. “Go get your woman.”