by Kris Jayne
The room looked more like an apartment—with a desk and credenza on one end by floor to ceiling windows and two couches and a gas log fireplace on the other. Behind one of the couches, another long credenza stood against the wall. That was his dad’s fully stocked bar—one of the many ways in which his father was a throwback to another era.
Jonah sat down in the high-backed, tufted chair across from the desk. “I sent you an updated report. It should be in your email. I can go over the highlights.”
“I’ll take a look at it. I need to ask you something else. Your mother just called me. The Magnolia Society’s charity ball is coming up, and she and I are buying our usual table. We need to know if you are bringing a plus one.”
Jonah crunched his brow. He hadn’t expected a personal topic of conversation.
“I imagine so.”
“Who?”
“I hadn’t thought about it. That’s still weeks away.”
“What about Emily?”
“We broke up months ago.”
“Your mother and I liked her. Emily was a sweet girl, from a good family. You know she’d make a dedicated wife.”
“Having the wrong woman dedicated to you is a terrible situation, Dad. Don’t worry, I will find an appropriate date. Put me down for two.”
“With your sister’s change in lifestyle, your mother and I would at least like to see you on the right road.” Tom idly shuffled a stack of papers.
“I know you and mom aren’t happy that Vivienne is gay, but honestly, what’s so wrong with her life? She’s never been happier.”
His father exhaled in a huff. “Sinning is usually fun. Isn’t it? Not everything that feels good is going to make you happy in the long run.”
The hypocrisy of his father’s indignation infuriated him. No one in the family ever spoke the truth about his parents’ marriage.
Jonah first knew his father had affairs when he was twelve. He’d stayed overnight at a friend’s house one weekend. Vivienne and their mother had retreated to a spa.
Unfortunately, Jonah got sick. Unable to reach his father, his friend’s mom had driven Jonah home with the promise to stay with him until his father arrived. But then, they’d pulled around the long driveway and seen his father’s car.
Jonah went in alone—a stroke of luck since his friend’s mom nearly insisted on coming in with him. There, in the kitchen, was a nude woman grabbing a chilled bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator. She saw him, screamed, and dropped the bottle. The cork flew across the room and shattered a vase.
All the noise drew his father to the room. It was the first time Jonah could remember seeing his father naked. The cinematic perfection of the scene would have been funny, but it wasn’t. Jonah felt a seismic shift in his world. What had his father said to him?
“You may feel compelled to tell your mother, but you need to understand something. A woman might know an unpleasant truth, but it doesn’t become real to her until she knows someone else knows it too. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
Jonah nodded, even if he didn’t understand anything at the time except that his father expected him to keep his mouth shut. The secret churned in Jonah’s stomach for almost two years until he saw his mother flirting with a golf pro at their country club. Something about the way she laughed with her hand on the man’s knee told him that his mother had her own secrets.
Jonah looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “Dad, if you’re worried that I’m gay too, don’t. It’s not contagious. Yes, I’m bringing a date. Don’t worry about who. I’m an adult.”
“Of course, you’re not gay. That’s not my point,” his father blustered, looking as if he might continue.
Jonah cut off the conversation. “I get your point. Was there something else you needed to discuss?”
“Yes. Your mother and I are trying to identify a worthy cause for a tax-deductible donation before year-end. We thought perhaps your development project for the underprivileged might suit.”
“That’s not a non-profit, Dad. It’s a business. We’d be happy to discuss your investment.” Jonah rolled his eyes, peeved that his father still didn’t understand what he did.
“No, no. That’s not what we need.”
“Anything else, Dad?”
“Not right now. I’ll go over your report tonight. Watch your phone. I may call you with questions.”
“Great.”
Chapter Five
Jonah yanked open the door to the Scarlet Maple and surveyed the dining room. He hoped to give Shannon an update and let her know the police had assured him they were diligently looking for her ex. When he didn’t see her, he flagged down the hostess.
“Excuse me. Is Shannon working tonight?”
The woman tilted her head to the side. Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “She’s not on the floor. I can seat you in another section.”
Jonah couldn’t hide his disappointment. “That’s alright. I’ll get something to go. If you see her, can you tell her that Jonah Moran has some news for her? She has my number.”
“Sure. We take to-go orders at the bar.”
The woman extended an arm to direct him. Her long sleeves mostly did their job of hiding an arm’s length of tattoos. Too bad. She was cute in a dark, Goth kind of way. His father would definitely find those tats unacceptable for the Magnolia Society Ball.
Goth girl took off to the back, and Jonah meandered over to the bar and snagged a menu. He usually got the same thing, but tonight, he figured he might mix it up. Instead of his usual sandwich, he ordered the steak frites and a glass of wine to enjoy while he waited.
“Jonah?”
He whipped around to see Shannon standing there in her uniform of a black shirt and black pants with a small apron tied around her waist. Her curly hair was twisted back into an uncomfortable-looking ponytail. Too bad she couldn’t wear her hair down at work. Long, loose curls would suit her. In admiring her, Jonah nearly forgot what he’d gone there to say.
“The hostess said you weren’t working tonight.”
“She was being protective. Everyone’s a little on edge since the other night. She told me you were looking for me. I’m about to get off work.”
Jonah noticed she had her purse on her shoulder and her keys in her hand.
“Oh, then maybe you’d want to get something to eat? Have a drink?” he suggested. Shannon twisted her mouth to the side and darted her eyes to the bartender and then to the door, adjusting her shoulder bag. “It’s up to you. You’re probably ready to get home.”
“No. I can grab a quick bite. Where do you want to go?”
“I ordered here.”
“Oh. We can eat here.”
“I guess when you work here night and day, it’s the last place you want to spend your downtime,” Jonah observed.
“Pretty much. But that’s okay. You’ve already ordered. I’ll get a sandwich too. The food is good here.”
“I didn’t get the sandwich this time. I got the steak.”
“Branching out, are you?” she laughed. He couldn’t tell if it was with him or at him. “I’ll get the roast chicken. Stefan does a great job with that dish. We can eat at the bar.”
Shannon draped her bag on the back of a bar chair and hopped up into the seat. The bartender came by and greeted her, glancing back and forth between her and Jonah. She ordered her dinner and a glass of water.
“No cocktail?”
“Not right now.”
“Okay. I came by to let you know that I spoke to the police today.”
“They called you?”
“I went down to the station and spoke to the detective. He took my statement, and I let him know that I expected they would investigate more aggressively than they have been. I think you should see a little more movement,” he assured her.
“Thanks. I guess I figured they were looking into it already as much as they could. The police have their slow way of doing everything. At least, it seems slow. Until they’re comi
ng after you,” she joked and then blushed.
Shannon must have had some run-ins with the police in her day. Jonah wondered what for. Had she actually been arrested?
If he were his father, he would call a private investigator and run a detailed background check on her. Jonah straightened in his chair with his jaw set. He wouldn’t do that. He would ask her, but judging from her embarrassment, she didn’t like discussing her past legal troubles.
“I got arrested for a minor in possession in college. I don’t know how fast or slow it all happened. I was blasted,” Jonah explained.
“A criminal record, huh?” A dubious look sparked humor in her eyes.
Jonah paused. He’d been arrested, but he had no criminal record. He doubted there was even any record of his arrest. His father had taken care of that. Something told him not to mention as much to Shannon, so he dodged the question.
“Yes. I’m a real menace to society.”
“I can tell.” She smirked.
Was she laughing at him again? Jonah realized he knew nothing about her except that her ex-husband was a dangerous, violent asshole. Maybe that’s what she liked. He wasn’t a choir boy, but he’d never been in any serious trouble. For once in his life, he could play the saint instead of the bad boy. Jonah snickered to himself.
“I’ve had my moments. Just ask my dad.”
“Your dad is a straight arrow, huh?”
Jonah laughed. “In his own way.”
“There’s something to be said for that.”
“Do you like straight arrows?”
“Honestly, I don’t like much of any guy these days. No offense. My track record is pretty shitty. But you know that, don’t you?”
Shannon pressed her lips into a tight line, challenging him with her wide, baby blue eyes. Color rose in her cheeks. Her mortified flush mixed with her show of will sent a charge through him.
After a beat of silence, her expression softened. She exhaled slowly and took a sip of water. Her lips parted over the edge of her glass. She set her drink down and licked her wet lips. Jonah shifted his leg and turned his bar seat away from her as much as the tight space under the bar would allow.
Her suspicion of him—and every man—already turned her off. Watching him spring a tent in his pants would probably kill his chances with her.
That’s all he needed. A chance. While her track record with the opposite sex was shitty, Jonah’s was stellar. He smiled at her.
“Everyone has dated a loser or two.” Shannon opened her mouth to argue, but he held up his hand to stop her. “Everyone. That just makes the winners all the more fun.”
Jonah kept his gray eyes focused on her. He could imagine that halo of blonde curls spread out on his pillow. Her plump lips parted in desire. The feel of her soft body writhing underneath him.
He held her gaze until her blush deepened to near scarlet. She twisted away from him on her stool. Jonah took a swallow of wine. He’d have her. And he’d show her the time of her life.
* * *
Sweat trickled down Shannon’s back. Heat radiated through her. What the hell?
He flirted with her all the time. Men still did. But it had been a long time since a man gave her a look like he could devour her in one bite just for pleasure—not power, not revenge, not in an intoxicated stupor. Jonah would take her because he wanted her.
Typical, she thought. Rich and handsome, he probably got whatever woman he wanted, whenever he wanted. Now, he wanted her.
Good luck with all that. Sure, when he looked at her, her legs turned to jelly. His eyes shone like chrome. His tall, lean body moved like a wildcat. Even now, in his perfect navy blue suit, Shannon felt his predatory allure. She wasn’t fooled by the monogrammed shirt and cufflinks. Something uncivilized lived inside Jonah Moran.
The flattery of his attention sent a twinge of excitement through her. Drugs and struggle had worn away some of her beauty. Shannon took pride in not deluding herself about her appeal. A man like Jonah would use her and leave her to find someone better. Only the ones who couldn’t do better sniffed around her for any length of time.
A fling with him would be fun, as he’d put it, for a while, but the heartbreak wasn’t worth it. She’d had fun. She’d felt a hard wall behind her back with her legs wrapped around some muscled-up cowboy more than once. It felt good. She could get swallowed up by the heat, scent, and hard, rippled feel of a man. But fucking didn’t last forever, and the sweet talk faded as soon as they zipped up their jeans.
“I don’t need any more fun.”
“I think you might.” Jonah’s voice rumbled, low and gentle. Shannon cut him with her gaze.
“I know what I need. You’ve been nice to me. I appreciate that. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t scared off Kid. And I’m real grateful, but that’s it.”
“Is that his name? Kid? I thought it was Wayne?”
“What?” Shannon shook her head.
“Your ex. I thought his name was Wayne Nelson.”
“Everyone called him Kid. Always did.”
“He did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“I’m not going to talk about him.”
“I’ve made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry. Truly.”
Jonah craned his neck around to try to look her in the eye. Shannon glanced at him quickly, but avoided staring into his eyes for too long. The lion look he had for her vanished. Instead, his brow scrunched with concern, whiplashing Shannon’s emotions.
“Hey, Randy, can you wrap mine up to go?”
Shannon hoped the bartender had heard her at the end of the bar.
Jonah reached out and touched her hand. “I’m horribly sorry to have upset you.”
Shannon finally turned to face him. “You didn’t. I’ve had a long day. I’m not the best company.”
She doubted he believed her, but didn’t care. She needed an off ramp for this conversation. Shannon grabbed her purse and dug through it, pulling out her wallet.
“No. Let me get the check.”
“That’s all right. I can pay for my own dinner.”
“And I can at least do something to apologize.”
“You don’t owe me an apology. It’s fine.”
“Well, at least let me buy your drink.”
His wry smile drew a soft chuckle and a sigh from her.
“You can pay for my glass of Dallas’ finest tap water. Thank you.”
Their agreement left them sitting at the bar while they waited for their order to come up. Jonah chatted with her about nonsense. Shannon let him, but blew a massive sigh of relief when Randy came out with two large to-go bags.
He set them on the bar in front of them. “I put some extra bread in each one. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“We’re good. Thanks, Randy,” Jonah replied. The bartender raised an eyebrow and went back to work.
Shannon checked the bag to see which one had the chicken and then slid off her chair.
“I’ll see you around, Jonah.”
Then, she bounded out of the restaurant with Jonah’s goodbye chasing her.
Chapter Six
The sight of herself well-dressed and well-coiffed compelled one more quick gander in the mirror. Shannon leaned in to check her teeth, then smoothed her lightweight cotton dress. Its alternating melon and strawberry stripes added to the summery feel of her outfit. That’s why she’d snapped it up at the discount department store.
A thumping on the bathroom door hurried her along. She turned on the water for a few seconds as if she needed to wash her hands, then promptly turned it off and opened the door.
“Mommy! Let’s go out by the pool. We have popsicles,” Olivia yelled.
Out of delays, Shannon took her daughter’s hand and walked out of the bathroom through Jeff and Taryn’s mudroom to the patio. Some of the guests at her ex-husband’s Labor Day barbecue sported neatly pressed shorts, but most of the women wore breezy summer dresses.
Labor Day might mark t
he end of summer, but in Texas, the temperatures soared throughout September. Shannon looked down again at her dress and espadrille wedges. Nothing in her appearance suggested she didn’t belong.
Jeff’s invitation surprised her. They didn’t see each other except for custody exchanges and the occasional school event.
“Olivia would love it if you came,” he implored with uncharacteristic brightness.
“Then, I’ll be there.”
Now, Shannon didn’t know what to do with herself. She wandered poolside with Olivia and found the cooler stacked with popsicles of every variety.
Then, Olivia introduced her to a couple of the neighbor kids jumping in and out of the water. Their joyous howls mixed with splashes and the patter of wet feet. Her daughter joined them, leaving Shannon to knock around on the fringes of several conversations.
Of the forty or so people at the party, Shannon knew her ex and his wife, and she spotted Taryn’s best friend Micky, whose boyfriend did legal work for Jeff. They’d met, but she didn’t know them well.
Shannon would be damned if she clung to Jeff or Taryn the entire afternoon. Finally, she ventured to the banquet table set up in a portico that ran the length of the pool.
Choices of ribs, brisket, sausage, and chicken spread out beside potato salad, coleslaw, and assorted dips with chips and vegetables.
“Try the brisket,” a warm, low-toned voice suggested behind her. Shannon whipped her head around.
Jonah stood in a wide, relaxed stance. The stretched bow of his lips tilted into a slanting grin, leaving Shannon to imagine how his dove gray eyes must twinkle behind his mirrored aviator sunglasses.
That smile always came with an eye twinkle. It appeared whenever he teased her or winked at her while asking for the check at the café. The sight of Jonah’s perfect white teeth sent a shock down her spine. Shannon’s hand hovered over the buffet table with a spoonful of potato salad.
“Or potato salad sounds good, too.” His suggestion prompted her out of her stupor. She let the creamy mix drop onto her red plastic plate.