“Or,” PJ responded, sounding like a light went on. “They could have someone here to push the process along. Anyone else know about this?”
“There’s only me, Ronnie, Terry and you,” I replied. With a laugh, I added. “Are you the inside man?”
“No, of course not. You came after me remember, not the other way round. Besides, I don’t know of this group and believe me, I get approached by a lot of groups wanting to invest my money.” After a rather long pause, PJ continued thoughtfully. “Terry maybe? How well do you know him?”
I couldn’t let that go. “Terry is okay. You’re just suspicious because he was in my apartment.”
Ronnie ignored our discussion. His voice had that confident tone to it. “You know, to be honest, we don’t really know anything about this group. They just popped up from nowhere. And another thing. Why are they really interested in a single location, local restaurant? Wouldn’t it be smarter for them to go after a multiple location business that had proven its concept? I tell you, I think there is something else they’re after.”
“Finish your drinks. Let’s talk about it on the way back to work.”
We left the bank and were on the way back to Jimmy’s. I took PJs hand, and a smile crept across my face. Before I could say anything, Ronnie suddenly piped up.
“Coach, I didn’t get a chance to talk with you. Why are you back in town so quickly?”
He looked at me, squeezed my hand and turned to Ronnie. “Charley and I have some unfinished business to attend to.”
And I shivered in anticipation …
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dinner at the Palm restaurant was exquisite. We were talking and generally enjoying each other. PJ was in the middle of answering my question. “… she said I was stupid, that I handled things wrong, and I should be on the next plane to Nashville. And I was …”
I interjected. “I’m so glad you had a good friend to talk to. Mary Lou sounds like a great person. I’ll have to thank her someday.”
“How about tomorrow?”
The smile I loved crept over his face. He was serious.
“What do you mean?”
“This investor group meeting is over. You can leave the proposal with Ronnie to study. He and Wilma can run the Bar. I want you to come to Middletown with me and see the world I inhabit. You can go to Church with me, and I want you to meet my friends. You’ll love them and they will love you to bits. You wanted us to see more of each other, didn’t you?”
I could see he was running out of reasons for me to go with him, so I let him dangle a little bit. I had already decided to go when he first asked, but he just didn’t slow down enough for me to tell him. But I couldn’t go until Monday. “Okay, I would love to come see you. But I can’t leave until Monday morning because of some business commitments that I made several weeks ago. You go on back Friday, and I’ll come up on Monday. Okay?”
“Fantastic.”
He reached across the dinner table and hugged me. I laughed at him. He was grinning from ear to ear like a little kid who just found a pony under the Christmas tree.
I was feeling a freedom and peace that I hadn’t felt in years. An aura of wellbeing covered me. Everything was right with my world, I was feeling good about everything, the business had the prospects of growing and I had a good man with me. I reached around the glasses and bread plate to grasp his hand and whispered. “What about that unfinished business? Want to talk about it at my condo?”
When he said ‘no’, my heart skipped a beat. Was there another problem? I guess my face showed my surprise, and disappointment.
Instead, PJ laughed and said. “Sweetheart, I’ve rented the Executive Suite at Opryland Hotel for us. The roof top suite has a small garden and a pool. I thought we could see each other in some place where your memories wouldn’t get between us.”
“That costs a fortune, my condo is free.”
“Charley, don’t you get it yet? You’re worth every cent I might spend. I didn’t come back just to have dinner with you. I came to see you, and to get on with this relationship and see where it’s going to take us. I told you I’m a plodder, but once I make up my mind, I’m more like a bulldog.”
I couldn’t think of something to say except. “Oh hush up, you talk too much. Get the check and let’s go.”
*****
“PJ, this is magnificent.” I had no idea such a suite was available at the Opryland Hotel. The living room was spacious, the bedroom was exciting, but the best part was the garden and pool outside the sliding doors. I stood in the middle of the room and whirled around drinking in the luxury wet bar, big screen TV, soft music playing, fresh flowers and a sweet aroma wafting through the room. It was perfect.
And there in the corner stood PJ, grinning from ear to ear with his arms out to me. “Like it? Did I do okay?”
“It’s perfect, and you are perfect and we are perfect.”
I just couldn’t think of any better words to describe how I felt. I crossed the room and threw my arms around his neck and planted a big kiss on his lips. My adrenaline was pumping, I couldn’t stand still. I bounced away from him, grabbed his hand and pulled him through the sliding doors.
Outside was a golden tiled patio surrounded by large earthenware pots, overflowing with blooming flowers. The red roses were featured as they stood out against the yellows and greens and blues in the background. Small lights illuminated each vessel. The landscaping was perfection. Tall glowing tiki lamps gave the patio a soft soothing glow. Just beyond the patio was a swimming pool, bathed in dancing blue lights. Above, the entire cloudless Southern sky was brilliant, with a full moon and thousands of tiny pinpoint lights.
We stood there holding each other for a few minutes while our senses absorbed the romantic ambiance. I wanted so badly to tell PJ that I loved him, but I didn’t speak. He’d already told me he was a plodder, and I didn’t want to rush him or force him to say something he didn’t mean. He would have to decide for himself how he felt. For now, I was simply comfortable, standing there with his arm around me and his head leaning down on mine.
On a whim, I turned in his arms, smiled and asked. “How about a swim?”
“Charley, I didn’t bring a swim suit, sorry.”
“Listen, you’re in the South now, we don’t need swim suits as long as we have our birthday suits. Come on you big woose, I’ll race you to the pool.”
And I started toward the pool, unbuttoning and pulling off things as I walked. I looked behind and he stood there. “Come on silly, I’ll let you win at Marco Polo!”
By now I was slipping off my thong and unhooking my bra and he hadn’t made a move. I don’t know whether he was shocked, embarrassed or just plain amused. Didn't matter, I was going swimming. Totally naked I ran back to him and grabbed his hand. I stood on my tip toes and whispered. “If you don’t go swimming, our unfinished business will stay unfinished.”
I ran back to the pool and did a major cannonball, splashing water almost to his feet. When I came up, he was running straight at me, and he did an even better cannonball in the deep end of the pool. He came up laughing and splashing water and bouncing his six foot four inch frame off the bottom of the five foot pool. I splashed water back in his face and backed away, flipping water at him. Playing helped ease the sexual tension that had been building up. When we had been inside, it was like he didn’t know where to start, or what to do next. The pool party took care of that, he knew to just have fun.
Watching him shake his wet hair and brush it back with those huge hands, and seeing his tight butt as he swam furiously to catch me, sent a nervous tingle through my whole body. After a few minutes, I knew it was time to get down to business.
I let him catch me, and with boyish enthusiasm he bounced on top of my head and pushed it under the water. I pushed off the bottom and shot up in front of him. Gravity took over, and I landed in his arms with my breasts nuzzling his face. Even PJ knew the time had come. As my body slipped down his, he pulled me to h
im and kissed me. We stood there as the water settled down, and we were slowly whirling around as our bodies melted in one.
My arms wrapped around his neck and my soft breasts flattened against his chest, to eagerly draw passion from each other.
At that moment, I knew, I just knew that I loved him! I knew because I didn’t care whether we made love in the pool or in the bedroom. In fact, I didn’t care whether we made love at all. I was just happy to hold him and have him hold me. At that time I knew that we were slipping from lust to love; at least I was!
Chapter Twenty-Six
I hated to see him leave. At least this time it was a different good bye. We lingered in the short-term parking garage, and kissed like teenagers. I walked him to the check-in and over to the security check point. I stood on the non-flyers side of the barrier, and watched him as long as I could.
The walk back to the car was slow as was the drive in on I-40. My mind was racing. I was already planning our next meeting, when my thoughts were interrupted. The familiar voice on the cell belonged to Shelby Loomis.
“Morning, Shelby.” I was too happy to stay angry with him.
“Charley, has your friend left yet?”
Strange question?
“I just put him on a flight back to Cincinnati. Why? What’s up?”
I was starting to get a little worried.
“Ronnie and I had breakfast this morning and he told me about your meeting yesterday. He’s in my office now, and we were hoping you could meet with us. I asked Terry Weldon to join us if that’s okay.”
“What’s this all about, Shelby?”
“We’ll talk when you get here.”
“Be there in fifteen.”
Mrs. Watson escorted me to the Bank President’s office. Ronnie, Shelby and Terry stood up as I came in, and Mrs. Watson brought me a coke and a tablet and pen. I guess this was going to be a serious meeting. “Gentlemen. Good to see you this morning. Now, what is going on Shelby?”
“Charley, Ronnie has been filling me in on the meeting yesterday with the investor group interested in Jimmy’s. He told me Terry was in the meeting as well … so I called him to see if he had anything to add. He said he would tell us what he had found out when we were all together.”
“Wait a minute,” I replied, quick as lightning. “Before we go into anything, I want to know something. Why did you feel it was any of your business what I did with Jimmy’s? You read my proposal request and didn’t have any questions then. Why now?”
Shelby was my friend, but that didn’t give him any right to meddle in my affairs. I wasn’t being emotional, but my mind went into alert mood. I started to ask another question, but held my thoughts. I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Charley …”
I could tell he was being careful with his words.
“Ronnie and I … well, we have an emotional interest in Jimmy’s place that extends back to the beginning. You know Jimmy, Ronnie and I were in Vietnam together, and we were pretty tight. While I was in Vanderbilt, we conceived the concept of the Bar. Jimmy was the idea man for the Bar, I loaned him the money, and Ronnie came over to show him how to make it profitable. We all have an emotional stake in the Bar. After the meeting, Ronnie thought I would want to know what was happening, so he called me. So that is why I’m interested in your business, as it relates to Jimmy’s Bar and Grill.”
If you’ve have ever sat in on negotiations of any sort, you quickly learn when the other side is serious, and not likely to change their position. Shelby Loomis looked like that now. He sat back in his big leather chair and crossed his arms, and looked directly at me with that non-committal expression that I’d seen before. “Shelby, I wasn’t challenging you. I just wanted to know what interest you had in Jimmy’s. I really do understand your attachment to Jimmy’s and Ronnie.”
I hoped that would ease the tension, I really didn’t care why he was interested. In fact, I was glad to have him on my side. I turned to Terry. “Okay, attorney Mr. Weldon. I wasn't aware that you were going to do any investigating. What did you find out that is so important?"
“As your attorney, I thought I should look into this Player’s Investor Group. They are actually a management firm for a group of investors, made up primarily of former and current basketball players. In fact several of whom were players for the Memphis Grizzles. I didn't get a list of the investors, but didn't Coach McCoy play for the Grizzles?”
“Yes he did, several years ago.”
“Well, Charley, I suspect he is one of the investors in this group.”
“What are you saying Terry? Why do you think that is important?”
Shelby interrupted and said. “I think he’s saying that Coach McCoy showing up just now might not be an accident.”
Ronnie chipped in. “He might be the inside man they hope will encourage you to accept their offer.” Ronnie filled in the obvious implications although he didn't seem particularly convinced.
I was stunned by their suggestion. PJ couldn't possibly be involved in something so underhanded. “I don't believe you. He can't be involved. There are too many things that he didn't control. He was here for the Coach's Convention. I got him directed to Jimmy's. He didn't even recognize me on Friday night.”
Ronnie responded firmly. “Charley, you’ll have to admit, things between the two of you have been moving pretty fast.”
“But that's because of me. I've been pushing it.”
I hated to admit it, but I wasn't as convinced as I had been at first. Maybe he was playing me. “Damn,” I sighed. “I need some time to think.”
Terry's calm and monotone lawyer voice broke the silence. “Charley, I’m sorry, but it seems fairly obvious that your friend is involved in some way.” He turned to Shelby. “I wish I could stay, I know you have a lot to talk about, but I have to go. I’ve delayed an appointment to come over on such short notice. Let me know what I can do to help.”
I just sat there stunned. My stomach was churning. My mind was processing a hundred thoughts a second. What possible reason could PJ have for deceiving me? It’s a straight business deal, isn't it? He didn't even know anything about it before I told him. Or, at least, he acted like he knew nothing. This is crazy. I love the man, or I could easily fall in love with him. He acts like he loves me? No, he can't be involved. But …?
And so my mind jumped from 'yes' to 'no’ and back again. My face and body language must have conveyed my inner turmoil.
I heard Ronnie's calm voice. “Charley, Charley, are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh … sure, I’m okay. I just have a lot going through my mind now. I really can't believe that PJ is involved in anything underhanded. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I know he wouldn’t.”
Funny isn’t it, how you can convince yourself of almost anything. And I was convinced PJ wasn’t involved; but I needed some confirmation. “Ronnie, what do you think?”
For once, Ronnie was silent. He just shrugged his shoulders and said. “I don't know Charley.”
As I was starting to get up, Shelby spoke up. “Charley, tell me about this man, this Coach.”
There was something about the way he asked the question that just didn’t sit right with me. It was as if he was trying to interfere in my personal life. Business life, I would understand, and business relating to Jimmy's I certainly understood. But dammit, my personal life was my own. All the people in my life who had a right to butt in were dead or out of my life: my mom, my deadbeat dad, Randle, even Jimmy and Sarah. Internally, I was in no mood for Shelby, or anyone else probing into my personal business. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep that feeling inside.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Shelby, you’ve been my friend for a long time. I appreciate all you’ve done for me over the years, but you have no right to get involved in my personal life. At least when mom died, Ronnie took us under his wing and became my substitute father. You didn't do anything. To have been such a good friend of mom, I never saw you express any interest i
n me or her, or care what we did or what happened to us. I really don't need for you to start now.”
By this time, my breathing was catching up with my temperature. I still don't know where all that frustration started from, but it was real. It just erupted out of my soul, and I was surprised with the intensity of my words. I looked at Shelby, expecting him to bristle up like a big grizzly bear, but instead he slumped into his chair, dropped his head to his chest and shut his eyes.
While I was watching this unexpected transformation of the powerful Shelby Loomis into the status of ordinary human, Ronnie eased forward in his chair, put his arms on the massive desk, and spoke to Shelby in a low voice. “You have to tell her. Charley is old enough now, and deserves to know.”
Ignoring my presence, the two old men conversed in low tones as if no one was in the room. I wanted to interrupt and remind them I was there, or get up to leave them alone. But I did neither. I sat quietly and waited.
“I can't tell her. I’m afraid of how she’ll react. She’ll find out soon enough when the trust is terminated. I could lose her.”
“Helen and Teresa already know. You must do it. Kate would want you to.”
When I heard my mother’s name, I couldn't contain myself any longer. “What are you two talking about? What would my mom want you to do, Shelby?”
There was a long pause, during which both of them looked at me and back at each other. Shelby finally fixed his eyes on me, but his head was down, and his shoulders sunk as he leaned forward and put his hands on the desk. His raised his hand and slipped his chin into the palm, his fingers curled under and resting on his cheek. He blinked several times, as if he were trying to hold back a small tear. Ronnie leaned forward in the chair, and rested one hand on the chair arm and the other on the desk. His expression was blank. His eyes were focused on Shelby, waiting for the man to speak.
Charley Page 14