by Mynx, Sienna
“I’m paying my respects.” Aiden flicked the blunt between his fingers away and stepped to Pete. “And you will show me some.”
Pete’s nostrils flared. His fingers stretched then closed into a tight fist. He itched to hit Keane. However, he figured this time the man before him wouldn’t just take it. Still, he ached for a good fight. Aiden made no move to step back or forward. He just waited with a sly smile to his lips. Pete got it. He was taunting him, baiting him, trying to bring him down to his level. He saw it, yet still he wanted to swing anyway.
“Pete!”
He heard Nina and froze. But the anger swelled in his chest, and he burned with the urge to strike. "You're the reason she stayed away. It's like you're hunting her."
Aiden chuckled. He dropped his hands in his coat pockets, looking beyond Pete toward Nina. Pete's head turned in time to see his girlfriend hurrying toward them.
“Well, Pete. She’s no Daisy but nice.”
His head whipped around. “I swear to God, man, you need to back off.”
Nina arrived at his side. “Pete, everything okay?”
He saw Aiden eyeing her and felt chilled. “Leave, Nina,” he said evenly.
“Pete?”
“Go!” he shouted at her.
Nina flinched.
“Hello, I’m Aiden Keane. You must be Nina? Pete’s little-lady?”
She backed away, then turned and left.
Aiden rubbed his jaw, smiling. “Must be losing my touch.”
Pete stepped in closer. “Daisy doesn’t want you, never did. You’re the reason she stayed away today, and you know what? I’m glad she did. You will never have her.”
Aiden nodded. “And neither will you. I can live with that.” Aiden watched as Nina slipped away, never looking back. “Question is, Pete. Can Nina?”
He turned and went to his car. Dismissed Pete. The driver opened the door for him to step inside. He looked back once more. “Good to see you moving on, Pete. Wise decision. Marry that one, quick. She’s got that look in her eye.”
Pete shook his head and bit back his anger as the limo backed out the lane.
****
"Do you have a business card?" Donovan asked.
Her name was Clara, and she was quite lovely. Donovan’s days of chasing skirts were over. He was too old and too ornery. But still he could appreciate a nice pair of legs. Clara’s stretched up to her neck. He found her every movement, and even the sound of her voice, graceful.
"In fact I do." She sashayed away, her perfect shaped ass rolling under her skirt. She stopped and leaned forward over the receptionist desk, her skirt lifting an inch to reveal the backs of her thighs. The brief glimpse stirred something primal in him and he felt his chest tighten. Clara turned and smiled, handing over a card. "I have to ask, Mr. Donovan. Your daughter said you work in the resort business and that you know Aiden Keane, the owner of the Shamrock?"
"True."
Clara’s smile brightened as he accepted the card. "I've heard and read some wonderful things about the healing spas he has in Vegas and Phoenix."
"Daddy, you ready?" Andria grabbed his hand.
Donovan couldn't tear his eyes from Clara's in that instant. He nodded a reply and slipped her card in his pocket. "Maybe you can visit soon, my guest."
"I'd like that." She looked over to his daughter. "Andria, it was a pleasure. You were, by far, our best client today."
"Oh, it was wonderful. Thank you."
His daughter floated at his side as they turned to leave. Her hair was in loose locks around her shoulders and her skin radiant. She wore salon monogrammed sandals they gave her to replace her sneakers. “Oh, Daddy! It was heaven. It was heaven I tell you. Look at me!” she said, spinning out ahead of him.
“I’m glad, sweetheart. Let’s go,” he said, checking his watch. The late hour had approached, and he was going to miss his flight.
“Bye, thanks again.” Andria waved back behind her before they breeched the salon doors.
Clara nodded and walked off. Donovan had the urge to stop and watch her, but he followed his daughter with the aid of his cane. He listened as she went on and on about her day. They approached the limo just as a Mercedes drove up. He barely noticed the person behind the wheel.
“So, can we go shopping? I already ate, but I need some things.”
“No, sweetheart. I have business to attend to. I’ll leave you some money.”
“Thanks, Daddy!” Andria said, kissing his cheek and entering the limo through the opened door. Donovan’s eyes were drawn once again to Jahi. The man in him wouldn't quite let go of the lovely creature, Clara. He smirked. He was acting like a boy with a crush. It was ridiculous. Just as he turned to climb inside his car, he saw the door to another open. A brown shapely leg appeared in a pink stiletto pump. He almost turned away until the woman emerged.
Her hair, a dark shade of brown, cascaded to her shoulders as, she turned to close the door. It was then he got a good look at her. He couldn't help but notice how fresh and beautiful she was. She wore a pale pink sundress that was strapless with a skirt that swirled around her knees. Donovan would know her anywhere.
She cast him a look, but it was brief, considering him no more than a client from the distance.
It was Daisy Johnson.
He’d know her anywhere.
Daisy?
****
“Where to, Mr. Keane?”
“Airport,” he said in a weary voice. His phone buzzed inside the pocket of his coat. Aiden removed it and pressed it to his ear. “Forget flying in. I'm heading back.”
“She didn’t come to the funeral, did she?” Donovan asked.
“No. You were right.”
“You still insist on finding her, even after this?”
Aiden’s jaw locked. He wavered on the answer. He was tired. Five years tired. He wiped his hand down his face and shook his head. Maybe they were all right. Karma was a bitch, and karma hated his ass.
“Aiden?”
“Truth is, I’m not sure I know how to stop searching at this point.”
Donovan sighed, “Well I have news, friend. Daisy Johnson is alive and well.”
“No shit.”
“You sitting down?”
Aiden’s brow creased. “What is it?”
“I just saw her. She lives in Mango Grove and has a thing for a spa called Jahi.”
Chapter Five
“Hi, you flew in here so quick I wasn’t sure it was you,” Clara said. Daisy thumbed through her mail, noting the bills to yet be paid, especially two offers from competing companies that wanted to meet with her. Clara was right. It would soon be impossible to keep Jahi, the little unknown secret of Mango Grove, from mainstream media. They took her mandate of exclusivity to the extreme, and now even dignitaries wanted inside.
“Danielle?”
“Huh?” Daisy mumbled.
Clara tossed her hair and approached. “I’m not going to ask if you're okay. You’ve been weird for weeks now. But I will ask you again. Is there something I can do?”
Daisy smiled. She dropped the mail on the polished surface of her office desk. Slowly, she exhaled and lifted her hands. She began to hum with her thumbs pressed to her middle fingers.
Clara giggled. Daisy relaxed, letting the peace flow through her in cooling waves as she instructed the elite that visited her spa. Opening one eye, she peeked at Clara. “How am I doing?”
“You working it. I see you’ve gotten into the yoga classes I’ve started.”
She nodded. “I have.” Lowering her voice, she imitated their Asian yoga instructor, Christine's soft voice. “Power the body—power the soul.”
“I hear that,” Clara nodded.
Daisy shrugged. "Now I feel better. Actually, I’m glad you came in.”
“Uh, oh.” Clara pointed to the bills on the desk. “I can explain.”
Daisy laughed. “Yes, you will explain the twenty thousand dollar bill for salon chairs we just replaced six months ago
. But first, we have other matters.” Daisy walked around her friend and business partner through her scarcely furnished office. Not even a picture of Amy was on her desk. She truly did live as if she could run any minute. Things would have to change. Starting with her, it was time for her to join the living. Turning, she clasped her hands in front of her. “You’ve been doing quite a good job keeping this place going and me flaking out on you. I say no more of that. I’m on board.” She smiled at Clara’s bug-eyed expression. “It’s time for us to get to business.”
“You mean?”
“Yes, go ahead and set up the meeting with the landowner in Arizona. Serenity is a good idea. It’ll be your baby from start to finish. Hope you like the heat.”
Clara put her hands on her hips and stumped her feet, running in place, shaking her head wildly. Daisy laughed out loud. “Calm down, girl.”
Clara stretched her arms to the ceiling. “Hallelujah! She has seen the light!”
She rushed Daisy, hugging her so close she thought she might choke. Daisy pried her arms off her. It felt good making someone happy. “Why are you standing there? Get to it.”
“Danielle, you won’t be sorry,” she gushed, running for the door.
“I know. I believe in you, Clara. I always have. Why else did I make us partners?”
Clara grinned, then left. Daisy laughed again, shaking her head. Of course Jahi would be her refuge and her grassroots establishment where she could live out her dream and raise Amy in peace. But Serenity would be her mark on the industry. If she played it right, Clara would thrive in the celebrity and stand under the spotlight alone. She returned to her desk and for a brief moment considered calling home. Maybe this time, trying one of her sisters. Janette was the most reasonable. But she delayed it. They needed time to heal, and she’d give it to them. Maybe one day she’d tell them everything. Maybe one day she’d bring Amy into their lives. Maybe.
****
Dropping his keys and removing his jacket, he went after Nina. She didn’t lock their bedroom door though it was evident she wanted to be alone. That was his Nina. She didn’t play games. He paused under the threshold. There she was, undressing. Pete really liked to watch her undress. Her skin was flawless and felt heavenly each time he touched it, but it was her body that drove him wild. He was a man that liked hips, ass and plenty of breasts. Nina had them all in perfect order.
The zipper eased down and the fabric pealed away from the rest of her. With a slight move of her hips, it dropped down her curves to her feet. Beautiful. How is it he never really ‘saw’ Nina Stevens, the four-eyed nerd in grade school? Was he just blind, or dumb and blind?
Nina turned and cast him a disappointed look, not bothering to cover herself. In a black lace bra and panty set, she hung up her dress in the closet. “Take your shirt and pants off and get changed, and I’ll take them to the cleaners in the morning,” she said softly, referring to his clothes.
Pete began to undress too, never taking his eyes off her. She disappeared into the bathroom to wash her face. He heard the tap running in the sink and knew that she was brushing her teeth. He realized he was happy. Despite the past, he had found someone that truly made him happy. With her recent cold indifference, he had to wonder about the risks of losing Nina. It was too hard to imagine waking with her gone, never being able to love on her again. He contemplated it all. Dropping his shirt and tie on the bed, his hand stopped at his belt. His eyes were drawn to the closet, then to the open bathroom door. What if he found Daisy? What then? Could he really find the happiness and peace he has with Nina? Did he want to do battle for Daisy’s heart and spend the rest of his life trying to make them both happy? With Nina it was so easy, effortless. He didn’t have to ‘work’ at it. He didn’t feel so inadequate.
“If you’re hungry, there are cold cuts in the fridge. Not cooking tonight… got to go to work, third shift,” she mumbled, walking out of the bathroom, tying down her robe. Pete reached for her hand. It felt so small in his. He squeezed it until she looked up into his eyes.
“Can you call out?”
“No, Pete. I already missed a day.”
“One more day. Nina, you have plenty of vacation time. Use tonight and let me take you to dinner. There… there’s something I want to ask you, please.”
Nina stared at him, still very hurt, very tired. He read it all in her weepy eyes. The depths of it shocked him. “Hey, no, don’t cry,” he said, wiping his thumb under her puffy lids. “Don’t cry, not because of me. I’m sorry, Nina.” He pulled her close. She threw her arms around him, her face buried in his neck as she let go.
“I’m so scared, Pete. I can’t do this. Wondering, waiting for her to show up and you to leave. If you want to find her, then just go.”
“Nina.” He pulled her gently free. "Look at me. I’m not here by default. I’m here because I’m the luckiest man in the Hollow. The one you gave your heart to.”
She looked down as if she didn’t believe him. He knew why. “Please look at me.”
When she did, he couldn’t describe the protective warmth he felt. It was such a relief to his battle wounded heart. He nodded that he understood. “I never told you what you needed to hear, because I was afraid.”
“Afraid?”
Pete struggled. He struggled hard with his words. "Growing up, my brothers and father didn't love with words but more with actions. It was different with Daisy. I went all in, and it took me a long time to recover. I guess I fear it because I got that feeling again, the one that makes me weak. Does that make sense?"
She nodded.
He pressed his lips to hers until he felt her soften and come up against him for more. Her sweet plush lips parted and her warm tongue came out in greeting. Pete drew it into his mouth, still holding her. Wanting to just express his love, he decided tonight he would. She was beautiful, his Nina, inside and out. What they had was different from his first love. He understood that now.
His mouth parted from hers and he looked in her eyes when he spoke. “Tonight is all yours. Call out. Put that dress back on. We’re going to Louisville.”
“But you have to work in the morning too.”
“Hey. Soon I’ll be my own boss, right? Besides, when was the last time we did anything for us?”
She smiled. “You sure?”
“Yeah, Nina. I’m really sure.”
She hugged him tight and hurried over to the nightstand to call Bea. Pete wiped the tingle from his lips where her kiss remained. How good she felt. He eyed the closet where the ring was hidden. Tonight would be Nina’s night, in ways she couldn’t imagine.
Walking out, a nagging persistent part of his consciousness tossed Daisy up again. But he forced himself to admit another truth. Daisy was gone. Her choice. If she didn’t come home for her father’s funeral, she’d never return. It was apparent that Aiden Keane couldn’t find her either. Aiden said he was happy that Pete didn’t have her. Well make that the same for Pete. He could take some solace in knowing the dirty bastard couldn’t reach her.
***
“Telephone, Mr. Keane,” the leggy blonde said. She flashed him a smile and a little cleavage, reaching to hand him the phone. He nodded and she lingered a moment longer, hoping for a mile-high invite. Aiden dismissed her with a look.
“What do you have, Donovan?”
“Not much yet. Our people are working on it. I have a man at the spa, but I got word you've called in Mathew Sterling? Who is he?"
Aiden trusted Donovan. However, after a few years into his search for Daisy, he got the feeling that his friend only tolerated his obsession. Mathew Sterling was on his private payroll.
"Aiden? Who is he?"
“Doesn't matter. The spa is called Jahi? Hmm. Pull back your people and let Sterling handle it.”
“Why? My man can tail her.”
“She’s too smart for that. I won’t have you fucking this up! Pull him back now.”
“I found her for you, Aiden," Donovan sighed. "You think Sterling can ge
t what you need?”
Aiden smiled. “This Salon she's visiting, you say it’s a girl’s dream? That Andria liked it?”
“Yes.”
“Full body treatment, toes, nails the works?”
“Yes.”
Aiden chuckled. “It’s hers. She's not a customer. She’s the owner.”
“Of Jahi? I doubt it. The place is renowned.”
“Trust me. I always knew it’s where I’d find her. Pull your men back and start digging into Jahi. Everything you can find out about it.”