A sultry guitar solo played from the jukebox. I knew the song vaguely, but wasn’t paying enough attention to it to figure it out. Jared’s mouth turned up into a half-smile, and he pulled on both of my hands.
“Come here,” he said.
He walked backwards and led me to the small wooden dance floor. Pulling me close to his chest, his eyes never left mine. Everyone in the room must have been staring at us through the smoky haze, but I couldn’t disengage my gaze from his, even for a moment. He wrapped his arms around my middle, and I slid my hands up his arms, stopping at his shoulders.
I wasn’t sure if we were even dancing, with all of my focus on the fact that our bodies were so close. He broke his stare and leaned down to press his lips to my hair. I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes.
He tightened his grip, and every inch of me that was in contact with him burned in a wonderful way. I looked up, and my eyes stalled on his lips, the bottom a bit fuller than the top. I bit my lip in anticipation, the alcohol dissolving all of my inhibitions.
His body stiffened, and I turned to follow his glare to the bar. One of the older men still loitering in the pub had approached Claire.
The man reached for Claire, and Jared’s grip on me tightened, stepping just slightly in front of me in a protective stance.
The man leaned over and patted Claire on the back. He roared with laughter and attempted to whisper into her ear. Claire was staring ahead, her body rigid; seeing just half of her expression, it was obvious that she was about to lose her temper. The man lost his balance and used Claire to right himself.
“Claire—” Jared warned, but it was too late.
In the same second, she knocked the man’s legs out from under him with incredible speed and then stood up on the rung of her bar stool, slamming his head, cheek down, to the bar. The wood made a cracking noise with the force of her blow, and the man wailed in pain. He flailed his arms, reaching above him for Claire’s face, but she quickly reached around with her other hand and grabbed his fingers, wrenching them back. The bones in his fingers snapped and I recoiled, even though I still hadn’t quite processed what was going on. The man’s bloodcurdling scream sent the bartender running over to try to separate them.
Claire leaned down and yelled over the music into his ear. “Was that good for you, baby?” and then slowly licked his cheek. Claire released her grip, and he slithered down to the floor. The entire room seemed frozen in time.
Jared heaved an exasperated sigh. He looked at me with a tired ache in his eyes and then let me go. He walked over to Claire, grabbed her arm, and then ushered her out.
“She broke my damn fingers!” the man howled, cradling his arm to his chest.
Several of the older patrons rushed to his side and helped him up while he moaned in pain. Beth grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the pub. The cab waited for us outside in a cloud of exhaust.
I looked around, but Jared had disappeared.
Beth tugged at my coat frantically. “Get in, Nina, before the cops get here!”
I ducked into the cab, and my ears were filled with shrieking and chattering in high tones. I wasn’t listening to any of it; I was too confused about what I had seen. Jared wasn’t surprised at all that his teenaged sister had broken the hand of a full-grown man as if he were made of glass.
I went over it in my head; the memory seemed more like a Kung Fu movie than something that had unfolded in front of my eyes. Tiny, delicate Claire seemed to have superhuman strength and speed, and Jared’s reaction didn’t make sense. He didn’t act to protect her, and yet he seemed to know that carnage was on the horizon; he even shielded me from it.
“Nina! Are you listening to me? Wasn’t that incredible? The way she just . . .” Beth set in motion with a series of karate chops and then jerked her hand forward in the same motion Claire used to slam the man’s head into the bar, grunting with each move. Beth giggled with delight while I shuddered at the recollection.
“I’d hate to meet her on a dark playground, I’ll tell you that,” Kim joked.
Ryan shook his head. “She’s all of ninety-five pounds, and when she grabbed my hand, I couldn’t break free. What is she? Sixteen? Seventeen? She isn’t normal.”
“She has to be in high school still,” Beth said.
“She’s old enough to drive, though. Did you see her car?” Kim added.
I perked up then. “You saw them leave?”
Beth nodded. “She took off down the street in some kind of sports car; Jared was with her. They looked like they were arguing.”
“It was a Lotus,” Kim said.
“It was a phantom black Lotus Exige S two-sixty. Sweet, sweet, car,” Ryan mused. “It costs over twelve-grand just for the paint.”
“Doesn’t Josh’s dad have one?” Kim asked, elbowing Ryan.
Ryan shook his head with raised eyebrows.
Kim looked at me. “It’s a good thing she wasn’t his date, Nigh. That would have been one short cat fight.”
“Hey,” Beth prodded. Her giggling had tapered off. “What’s wrong? You’ll see him again; I’m sure of it. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you were dancing together.”
I couldn’t help but notice Ryan frown at Beth’s words.
My attention was drawn to the passing lights outside my window. Seeing him again was exactly what I wanted, but my sense of self-preservation cried foul. The entire situation was one big red flag, but did I believe Jared was dangerous?
Something about Jared’s eyes assured me in the short time I’d known him thathe was safe. Every piece of me that had been guided by my father to be reasonable and wary was screamingrun, but I knew I would intentionally try to cross paths with him at the earliest moment fate allowed. The moment of sadness in his eyes before he left me played out over and over in my head. I had to see him again.
~*~
The next study group session, Ryan collapsed in the chair beside me. His pencil teetered between his fingers while I went over my notes.
“Nina?” Ryan whispered.
“Yes?”
“Who was that guy the other night?”
I feigned a confused expression. “What guy?”
He smirked at me. “You know who I’m talking about. That Jared guy. Are you dating him?”
I shrugged. “No, not really.”
“What does that mean?”
I kept my eyes on my paper. “I’ve gone to lunch with him once, he’s given me a ride home a few times, and I’ve see him around town.” I was purposefully vague. I didn’t know where the conversation was headed.
“So what was that at the pub? Why did he show up with his sister to tell you he wasn’t there with her?”
“I haven’t talked to him to get that figured out, yet.”
“But you’re going to talk to him?” His voice was growing impatient with my answers.
“I don’t know, Ryan. Why?” I said, unable to conceal my irritation with his line of questioning.
Ryan squirmed in his seat and then turned to face me. “I wanted to ask you, if, you know, if you wanted to grab dinner sometime.”
“Oh.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
Ryan nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “I just thought I’d ask. I didn’t know if you and that guy were . . .”
“It’s not about Jared,” I lied.
“Do you think he came there to check up on you?”
I contemplated that for a moment. “I don’t know, maybe. I’ve been running into him a lot lately.”
“That’s creepy.”
“I like to think of it as fate stepping in,” I mused.
Ryan’s face twisted to petulance. “Sounds like stalking to me.”
“You should talk, trying to fight over a girl you barely know.”
“He had his hands on you,” he grumbled.
“Thank you.” I smiled, nudging him.
“You’re welcome. You know that guy’s got to
be bad news, right?”
“I don’t believe that.” Ryan scowled at my words, but I shrugged off his skepticism. “I can’t explain it. There’s something in his eyes.”
Ryan shook his head in disapproval. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. His little sister is insane.”
“I’m with you on that one.”
We both laughed and then Ryan shrugged. “Maybe, once you get things all sorted out with your stalker, you’ll reconsider.”
“He’s not a stalker.”
“Mmm hmm,” he said, trying to appear interested in his algebra book.
Beth began gathering her plethora of organizational aids, and Kim stood up and stretched. The rest of the group disbanded as Kim, Beth, Ryan, and I walked out of the library together.
“I’m starving,” Kim said.
“I could eat,” Beth chimed in.
Ryan turned to me. “Is an after-study snack out of the question?”
They all eyed me expectantly. “Let’s eat.” I shrugged.
Ryan and Kim went over possible plans for the weekend over pancakes and hash browns while Beth and I discussed our intentions to attend the basketball game. Even with the ever-growing puzzle that was Jared, life was a shade of ordinary again. I felt the unease I’d been feeling for weeks slowly dissipate into the greasy air.
While walking out to the car, I noticed a short squat man walking parallel to us. Ryan veered to the outside of our group, positioning himself between us and the stranger. The man arrived at Kim’s Sentra the same moment that we did.
“Are you Nina Grey?” The man asked me in a hoarse voice. I felt my body tense.
“What do you need?” Ryan asked, stepping forward.
The man noted Ryan’s presence but spoke only to me. “I was an associate of your father’s. My name is Charles Dawson. It’s important that I speak with you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. The mention of my father created a stabbing sensation in my stomach.
“I would like to speak with you alone, if you don’t mind,” he said, his squinty eyes shifting from each of my friends and then back to me.
“Nina, do you know this guy?” Ryan asked, jerking his thumb at Mr. Dawson.
I studied his face for a moment. He wore an expensive suit like the hundreds of other men I’d seen in my father’s company through the years, but his face wasn’t familiar.
I tried to be polite. “I-I don’t think I do, sir. I’m not sure I could help you.”
Mr. Dawson took a step toward me, and Ryan did the same.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with your father for some time now. It’s come to my attention that he passed away.”
I worked to separate my lips long enough to form the words. “That’s correct.”
“Your father had agreed to sign over some property to me, and I was wondering if you were at all familiar with our transaction?”
Kim spoke up. “Nina, this is probably not the appropriate time to—”
“I think you’d rather speak to my father’s attorney, Thomas Rosen,” I interrupted. “He is with Rosen and Barnes in Kennedy Plaza. I’m sure he’ll be able to assist you.” I turned to get into the car, but the man took several quick steps to thwart my efforts. He held my door, and his face turned grave.
“It’s of the utmost importance, Nina. I’ve exhausted all of my options, and I’m asking for your help.” His eyes darted to Ryan and then back to me. Mr. Dawson kept his voice low. “Jack has a safe. Maybe you’ve seen it? My papers are there in that safe, and I need to obtain them right away.”
The already uncomfortable feeling that I was experiencing grew as the man inched closer to me. I heard Kim make wide strides to intercede, but Ryan beat her to it, stepping between me and the stranger. I slid into my seat and shut the door while Kim wheeled around, hurrying to start the car. Ryan paused for a moment, eyeing the man, and then joined Beth in the back seat. I saw Ryan’s arm slide between my shoulder and the door, reaching to press down the lock.
Mr. Dawson leaned down to peer at me through the glass. “I need those papers, Nina. It would be wise of you to help me.” He pulled out a card and held it against the window with his palm. I scanned it and attempted to smile.
No one spoke until we were almost back to the school parking lot.
“Does anyone else think that was completely creepy?” Beth shrieked.
“Beth! You scared the crap outta me!” Kim said.
“What are you going to do?” Ryan asked.
“I’m going to call Mr. Rosen tomorrow, and then I’m going to call my mother,” I said, fidgeting.
Beth nodded with wide eyes. “Your mom is gonna freak.”
“I know,” I grumbled.
Kim waved and set off to Andrews while Beth and I said our good-byes to Ryan.
Beth patted Ryan’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were there, Ryan. That guy was . . . I don’t think he would have let Nina in the car had you not been there.”
“Yes, thank you,” I said, hugging him.
Ryan pulled back to look at me, still keeping me enveloped in his arms. “I’d do anything for you,” he said, brushing my bangs away from my eyes.
I took a step back and glanced at Beth, whose eyes were bouncing back and forth between Ryan and me. He scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, well, guess I better head back to the dorm. I’ll see you ladies at our next study group.”
“See ya!” Beth chirped.
I smiled and waved to him as he turned to walk away.
Beth grabbed my arm and pulled me along with her as she walked. “Neeenah! What are you going to do about him? He’s in love with you!”
“He is not,” I said, glowering at her. “He just hasn’t accepted our strictly platonic relationship, yet.”
“And you think he will?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding once.
“Or you hope he will?”
“He will.”
“Because you’re in love with Jared?” She grinned.
“I barely know Jared!” I said, irritated. “Beth, you have to hear how ridiculous you sound right now. Ryan loves me. I love Jared. I’ve known them both for about two seconds.”
“You are in denial.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m going to see my mother tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?”
“No, I have a meeting.”
I raised one eyebrow. “What kind of meeting?”
“I’m not talking about it; you’ll laugh at me.”
“Tell me, Beth. I won’t laugh,” I said, hooking my arm around hers.
She pressed her lips together and then sighed in resignation. “We’re starting a group for students from Oklahoma.”
“How many are there?” My words were involuntarily tinged with disbelief.
“A few!” she said defensively.
I fought a grin. “Are you going to have square dances and fight with the Native American Club?”
“You’re not funny.”
I chuckled and looked away. “That was pretty funny.”
“You know the parking meter was invented in Oklahoma? And the shopping cart? Invented in Oklahoma, too! The yield sign, the autopilot, voicemail! All because of Oklahomans. Bill Gates was inspired by an article penned by Ed Roberts, an Oklahoman. We have affordable housing, natural gas, Will Rogers, and the Sooners!
“The Oklahoma jokes are getting really old. We’re not a bunch of hillbillies.” She ran her hands through her hair. “You’re friends with me, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Beth! Yes, we’re friends! You’re right. I’m sorry. I won’t say anything else about Oklahoma.” I could feel my eyes widen in bewilderment. Beth was upset with me.
“And that goes for Kim, too,” she grumbled.
“I can’t speak for Kim, but don’t hold your breath.”
Beth tried not to smile, but giggled anyway. I smiled apologetically, and we hugged just outside of our dorm room.
“You’re crazy, but I love you anyway.” I giggled.
>
“I love you, too. I wouldn’t rather be shacked up with any other Yankee,” she said in a horrible southern drawl.
The next morning Beth decided to rise early and head out with me for coffee. I felt closer to her after our understanding the night before, and she seemed to be in an uncharacteristically good mood for being up so early.
Classes went by without delay. Before I knew it, I was sitting in my room alone, thinking about Jared and his unexplained appearances in my life. My mind abruptly switched to Mr. Dawson. I picked up my cell phone and dialed Thomas’ office. His secretary answered and informed me that he was out for the day. I hung up, frustrated.
I couldn’t recall a secret safe or any important real estate deal my father was involved in, which wasn’t exactly surprising. I was clueless about my father’s business dealings and had gratefully remained that way. That was before strange men started following me around, though. At least one person thought I had access to that file. I had to know why it was so important.
~*~
I burst through the door of my parents’ home and called for Agatha.
“Yes, Nina love! What’s the racket about?” she answered, scurrying around the corner.
“Is Mother home?”
“She’s at Crestwood, planning something or other. You know how busy she keeps these days.”
Of course she would be out. Immediately after Jack’s funeral, my mother immersed herself into every group, every organization, and every charity she could find. She had several meetings a day, and although it was at times frustrating being unable to reach her, I was appreciative of her time well-spent away from my dorm room.
After an hour of thumbing through my mother’s mail and snooping in every closet downstairs, I headed to Jack’s office. It was the most obvious place to look, so I assumed I wouldn’t find anything that would be of help. I took my hand off the knob and had almost convinced myself to look elsewhere, but I wheeled around and shoved myself through the door.
It hadn’t changed.
His mahogany desk and swivel chair commanded the center of the room. Hundreds of books including tax law, encyclopedias, poetry, the classics, and Dr. Seuss lined the back wall.
I crossed his plush imported rug and planted myself in the desk chair. The last papers he had looked over before his accident lay strewn on one side and unopened envelopes on the other. I started with those. Opening one after another, I sifted through statements, invitations, requests, and letters. Seeing nothing of interest, I pitched them into the wastebasket under the desk.
The Providence Trilogy Bundle: Providence; Requiem; Eden Page 5