I couldn’t understand my lack of attraction to Kaci. Maybe the age difference? Age didn’t seem to stop my twin brother, Grayson. He married the love of his life, Alexandra, ten years younger, and they were very happy with their life and had twins on the way. In the past, I’d always preferred someone closer to my own age, someone who’d experienced more of their own life. Someone like Monica.
I needed to focus my mind on the events of the evening, not on the loss of my relationship with Monica, but I couldn’t shake the hold her memory had on me.
I returned to the table and poured more wine for us. My other guests finally arrived.
“Kaci, I’d like you to meet Zeik and Pamela Cassavan. Pamela and I used to practice law together, and Zeik is managing partner of Cassavan and Dial, an outstanding architectural firm here in Chicago, which I’m sure you’ve heard of.”
Kaci extended her hand and Zeik, the charming Italian that he was, kissed the back of it. “Zeik Cassavan, pleased to meet you, my fair lady. I have to correct my friend here, my firm is the only outstanding firm in Chicago.” He gave her arm a squeeze before everyone took their seats.
“It’s an honor to meet you both. I’m very familiar with your firm. I studied your work during several of my courses at Northwestern.”
I watched as Zeik and Kaci enjoyed conversation back and forth for a while before the room became noisy again with music.
Pamela whispered to me, “Do you think she has any idea of what you’re up to?”
“No, but this is the best option. Hope she agrees.”
I heard one of my requested songs start to play. “Hey, that’s my song. Dance with me?” I dragged Kaci out to dance and found myself out of her league. She could tear up the dance floor. It lightened my heavy heart to see her having fun for a change.
When the song ended, we returned to the table to sing along with the crowd.
Our table reached capacity when Shae joined us and introduced her fiancé, Graham Stevens. What a surprise to find out the ‘Graham’ she’d spoken of happened to be Tate’s nephew. I had known him since his teens!
The evening couldn’t have played out better. Zeik had Kaci eating out his hands and because Graham and I knew each other, I thought Kaci might be easier to convince that my plan could be the right one for her.
We danced, we sung along with the crowd, and we even had our own little competition, trying to be the first to guess the song title and artist. During the next break, the room quieted enough for a delicate conversation.
“Our firm has an opening for an intern.” Zeik didn’t waste any time. “I would like to schedule you for a full interview. Bring your portfolio and reference letters from your professors. Would you be available Monday afternoon?” If she had talent, he obviously wanted to score her first. If he wasn’t impressed, he wouldn’t hire her, regardless of her connection to me.
“I’m completely honored. Normally, I would be jumping at the opportunity, but a family commitment has me wrapped up indefinitely.” She stood and excused herself to the ladies room.
I saw her facial expression change as she turned away, trying to hide her obvious disappointment at the timing. I started to stand and go after her, but Pamela put her hand on my arm and stopped me.
“Let her go. She has to work this out for herself.”
“But I did this. I need to explain.” Her reaction worried me. Charlie had been there for me many years ago when both of my parents passed away. He’d stopped me from drinking myself into oblivion and back. I owed it to him to help her. It was my way of repaying a debt, as well as paying it forward. One day, she’d be able to help someone else if she had a chance.
“She has to figure this out for herself. You’ve done your part. She has to want it bad enough.” Frankly, I didn’t want to accept that Pam could be right.
With Kaci away from the table, I made assurances to Zeik that she would be at the interview, if I had to drive her there myself. Shae watched with slight amazement, but didn’t say anything. I’m sure she had concerns about the timing; although, she had no idea of my full plan. I banked on her not supporting Kaci’s decision to stay at the bar and meet her family commitment. I needed her to fall into my plan. Logan’s presented an opportunity for me to start over, do something different in my life. My selfish form reared its ugly head.
“You know her better than I do, Shae. Do you think Kaci would be willing to sell me the bar if I promised she could buy it back at any time and I would never sell it to anyone else? I’ve known Charlie since my teens. I would always keep Logan’s interest my primary concern.”
“She’ll never sell that bar, no matter what you throw in front of her,” Shae professed before quickly leaving the table to check on her friend.
When Kaci returned to the table, her face didn’t show any sign of being upset by having to refuse Zeik’s offer, but I knew deep inside, she longed for the position. Neither of them brought it up again.
We made it to last call, draining every minute of fun from the evening.
Tate drove us back to the bar and waited to make sure Kaci got inside securely.
“Do you want to come up?” she asked shyly.
It had come to that awkward moment of the evening when I had to decide if I wanted to spend a wonderful night making love to a beautiful woman and satisfying her every desire, or preserve her integrity and say goodnight delicately.
“I’ve had a wonderful evening with you, but I’ve got business papers waiting for me to sign. I have some things I want to discuss with you. Perhaps I could come by tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
I rubbed my thumb across her cheek and gave her a wink before ushering her inside.
On my way home, I thought about how long it had been since I’d been involved in community service. For several years, I’d participated in the Big Brother Organization, spending time with the young males trying to make it in the world. Some were troubled teens, which I met in the system in my early days in law practice, some were boys at the gym I met while shooting hoops. Getting them involved in safe, family type activities of the BB Club helped them. I’d even anonymously paid for college for several of them. Being a girl and not part of a club didn’t change things; Kaci deserved a break and a chance at a better life.
I sent a few emails, and before the night faded to dawn, I had a contract emailed to me. I fully intended on giving Kaci Logan her life back.
CHAPTER THREE
The sunrise showed up majestic across the lake from my penthouse. I sat on the balcony drinking coffee and reviewing the contract for Logan’s. I figured it would take more to convince Kaci than it would to convince Charlie.
On the ride over to Logan’s, I prepared my best sales pitch. Tate dropped me off by the parking garage, where I had left my car from the night before.
I tossed my gym bag in the front seat for my workout later…and walked down to the street to Logan’s. When I rounded the corner to the front of the bar, an unfamiliar feeling instantly came over, like a bristle in the wind.
The front door bore a new sign, “Closed. Will reopen after the funeral for our beloved Charlie Logan.”
Shit. Charlie had passed away sometime during our evening out or during the night. I knocked repeatedly on the door and couldn’t get Kaci to respond. Even worse, I hadn’t thought to get her cell phone number. Logan’s main line had an automated message from a tearful Kaci saying the bar would reopen after the services.
I enlisted the help of Tate to locate Shae and get a number for Tate. Not known for my patience, I know it was only a matter of a few minutes, but it felt like hours.
I only knew at that moment I had to find her. If I had stayed the night with her, she wouldn’t have been alone when she received the news of Charlie’s passing.
She wouldn’t be alone trying to make arrangements.
I sent Kaci a text that I would be coming to help her. She never responded. When I entered the funeral home, a young man escorted me b
ack to a room where the arrangements were being made. I entered slowly, and Kaci practically jumped into my arms.
“Thank you for coming to help me. I don’t know how I can do this. I can’t believe he’s gone. I’ve got no one left.” She sobbed hysterically into my chest, so petite, and suddenly seeming so frail, resembling nothing like the confident person I’d been out with the night before.
“I got this. Tell me what, if any, plans were made in case this were to happen because he never told me what he wanted, and we didn’t put anything into the will about a service.”
She handed me a worn leather journal. It smelled like the leather booth from Logan’s, old leather and cherry pipe tobacco. I could picture him sitting at the corner table, writing in the journal and smoking his pipe.
“He wrote everything down in this book. Everything about the bar. You’re number, in case I ever needed an attorney, but he never said what to do if he died. He wouldn’t talk about it. I think he believed he would live forever.” She had trouble speaking and trembled uncontrollably.
“Well, since he didn’t tell you any preferences, then let’s do it your way. What would you like to do or see happen?”
She quietly shook her head and cried more. After a while and many questions, we were able to put a plan together for the service.
I walked her outside to her car, only to find out she had a fifteen-year-old junker, barely drivable.
“This is what you’ve been driving?” I asked with astonishment. “It’s not safe. It’s going to leave you stranded.”
“I had a nicer car, but couldn’t keep up the payments, with trying to take care of the bar and all the medical bills for Grandpa. This meets my budget.”
“I have something in mind. Get all of your things out of your car and put it in the back of mine. I’ll leave the keys inside at the desk.”
“But—” she started to object.
“No buts, Kaci. Look, you can’t drive that car around. Come with me.”
When she unlocked the front door of Logan’s, she froze, unable to cross the threshold. Fear, pain, sorrow, all showed on her face, paralyzing her.
Moments passed, but she only put her head in her hands and cried harder.
I reached down, picked up her petite frame and carried her inside the bar, putting her on a stool. I walked around to the other side of the large ornate counter and proceeded to pour both of us a drink. This time, the roles reversed, and it was her who spun the glass of amber liquid.
I placed the folder containing my proposal to purchase Logan’s in front of her. She didn’t move or attempt to make eye contact with me. The shot glass had her mesmerized.
“Look, I’m not certain if this is the right time to bring this up, but I want to make you an offer I hope you can’t refuse. I think it’s in your best interest to go out and establish your career. See the world. Start your life. It’s what Charlie would’ve wanted.”
“What do you know about what he wanted,” she uttered hastily.
“I suppose I knew about as much as his willingness to share with anyone, Kaci. He wanted it to be your choice, apparently.”
She took a small sip of the bourbon in the glass. Then, suddenly she threw her head back and swallowed the shot, slamming the glass on the counter. “It would’ve been a hell of a lot easier if he had made his own damn decisions, instead of leaving me behind in the dark.”
“Everything had been taken away from you. He didn’t want to do that; he wanted you to have a choice. It doesn’t have to be hard.”
“Really?” she said, her tone bitter.
“Really.” I pointed to the papers in front of her. “Here’s a contract for me to buy Logan’s from you at a very fair price. In return, I would agree to never sell the property. In the event of my death, it would revert back to you. Also, there is a provision, which allows for you to purchase it back at any time for the selling price. It’s your chance to put this place in protective hands and start your life, Kaci. It’s a one-time offer. When it comes to business, I never beg.”
She paused for quite some time. She walked around the room and touched things softly, wiping her tears and occasionally blowing her nose. Finally, she approached the bar and poured another drink. With the drink in hand, she grabbed the contract and ran upstairs without saying a word.
I made some coffee, subconsciously preparing for a long night. I made a lists of things I wanted to improve upon for the bar. I wanted to add a piano in the corner and would only have to take out a couple of tables to accomplish it, but could add stools around the piano, so seating count wouldn’t change.
With my laptop open, I searched for mixology schools and signed up for one. Sure, I knew a great deal about wine and how to pour a perfect head on a beer, but I needed a license to sell alcohol, and I felt determined to learn how to make one of those fancy, fiery concoctions, which impressed the hell of out of all the ladies.
After a couple of hours, I found Kaci standing before me. I’d been so consumed with researching my plans and making lists, I hadn’t heard her come downstairs.
She handed me the contract, where she’d left it open to the signature page, and the keys to Logan’s.
She’d signed it.
I laid the contract on the counter and slowly met her gaze. Her once bright blue eyes were replaced with dark grey globes, like clouds were covering her sunshine.
“I want to add one condition.” She paused.
I gave her a simple nod.
“Every Thursday night, please dim the lights at nine o’clock and toast to Grandpa. He loved ladies night more than any other. He said a woman’s laughter was such a pretty sound it put a spark in his heart.”
“Done.”
“Now, what did you do with my car? I need to get it. I have to have a car.” Her tears muffled her words. She trembled and took deep breaths into her worn tissue.
“I’m giving you my car. I have several and won’t miss it. I’m also going to make you an offer about a place to live. If you get the internship with Zeik’s firm, my penthouse is two blocks away. I want you to stay there. It’s helluva lot safer and got lots of cool things to do in the area. You can stay there as long as you like. I will stay here, upstairs. Deal.” I extended my hand to shake upon our agreement.
Kaci sat for a moment. “No,” she said softly. “It’s too much.”
Instead of rebutting her, I walked to the office and sat at the desk, looking for answers. I knew moving on was what Charlie would’ve wanted for her. He wouldn’t have wanted her wasting her life playing barmaid and fighting off a drunk’s repeated advances. I needed ammunition to help my cause.
Desperate, I picked up the journal and flipped through the pages. There were several poems, tidbits of information, various phone numbers of lady friends, but closer to the middle, he had written a note.
Most nights, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. The music, sound of laughter surrounded by the smell of my favorite pipe tobacco with a hint of cherry. Tonight was one of those different nights. One that caused me to hate this place. Drunks who don’t tip worth a damn, get too loud and hit it way to hard with the pretty girls. Then, they go puke and miss the toilet. I’m glad you’re not here tonight, my little Trouble. You’d have to hear me yell, call the cops and kick the assholes out. It’s not a place for a little lady, although I’m certain you could kick most of their asses. It’s nights like these I wished I didn’t have the bar. I’m glad you’re in school and doing your own thing, but I sure do miss you.
I approached her quietly with the journal open to the page with the note. “Charlie and I thought a lot alike.” I walked away, leaving her alone to read his entries.
I sauntered alone in the nighttime air. I took in the sights, but unlike other nights, this time I saw the area for the first time through Charlie’s eyes.
Not out long, but enough time for her to read the note in the journal and other scribbling, I found her demeanor had changed. Her strong confidence had returned. She fin
ally met the moment in time where she could start over.
“All right fine. I’ll do it. I’m not ready to leave tonight. Could you stay with me? I don’t want to be all alone in this world, not tonight.”
“You don’t have to ask.”
With my gym bag in hand, I watched Kaci lock up the bar. Then I followed her upstairs to the loft.
I’d expected old and worn, but the loft sparkled from the perfect renovation. Old world lodge-meets-metro loft with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. With distressed walnut floors, animal hide rugs and leather furniture, it bore no resemblance to what I had viewed years ago.
“Did you design this remodel?” I asked as I slid my hand down the granite countertops and admired the fossil pendant lamps. Every detail impeccable.
“I designed it and did a lot of the work myself. I wanted him to have a nice place to come home to. One of the bedrooms still needs finishing. I’ve been using it for storage of building supplies and bar stuff. But other than that, it’s all done.”
“You sold your car, so you could do this for him, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I saved money by doing the work myself. It’s all I could give back to him, a nice place to call home,” she said over her shoulder while going to change.
“I’ll take the couch, it looks comfy.” Sleeping with her would only complicate things more. I found her soft voice enticing, her small, curvy body sexy as hell, and yet, I couldn’t imagine being so close to her and not enjoying every inch of her flesh, or could I?
“Share my bed?” she asked, while walking toward the bedroom.
CHAPTER FOUR
“I can’t sleep with you.”
“Why not. What’s wrong with me?” Her eyes were sad, her face pale and drawn.
My gaze trailed the contours of her face, and I noticed her rosy lips trembled. I took her in my arms and held her tight. Her body trembled as she fought to hold off emotions.
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