He hated the way Eve kept rebuffing him. While he hadn’t dated a lot, no woman ever crushed his ego this way. But what he hated most was that her argument was somewhat sound. Getting into a relationship with him could really complicate things at the company.
Having only been in his position for a short time, he had yet to finish reading the thick binder containing the company bylaws. Maybe there was a rule in there about fraternization between FTI employees. In all her protesting, she’d never specifically mentioned one, so he really didn’t know for sure. But he supposed she had a right to be worried about how a relationship between them might affect the company in the long run.
Honestly, he had concerns about it himself. Mr. Franklin put an enormous amount of faith in him by asking him to run the company. How could he betray that trust by doing something that could ruin FTI? He sighed.
If only she wasn’t so damn gorgeous.
As crazy as it seemed, he couldn’t help being attracted to her. On the day he’d met her, she’d been cold and dismissive. She’d come across like a real ice queen, and not someone he would want to spend a great deal of time around.
But that night at Cherry Blossom—he’d seen a different side of her. She was so matter-of-fact when she talked about traveling the world for business, but she looked so vulnerable when he brought up the subject of her father. A softness existed within her that he hadn’t expected, and part of him wanted to seek it out right then.
Rising from the sofa, he made his way to his desk and booted up the computer. For now, work would be the distraction to keep him from going back down the hall to her office, demanding she talk to him.
He’d leave her alone, let her cool off—but he didn’t know how long he could last.
* * *
Wading through an endless sea of email, Eve groaned. Her inbox overflowed with memos, requests and the occasional spam message. Answering the important ones and deleting the others would take a couple of hours. Still, she needed something to take her mind off Darius, so she plowed ahead.
Around eleven, she finished going through her email. Deciding that she might leave the task of screening emails to Mimi from now on, she rose from the chair and went into the section of her office she’d designated as a reading nook. There, on a short counter along the wall, sat a coffeemaker, a sink, tea bags, mugs and everything she could possibly need to make a snack. She reached into the small refrigerator underneath the counter for bottled water and a small container of fruit salad. Food in hand, she took a seat on the comfortable vanilla-colored sofa she’d brought in. She retrieved the book club selection she wanted to finish reading, Beverly Jenkins’s latest, from the small table next to her and opened it to the place she’d last stopped.
Wrapped up in the suspenseful novel, she didn’t notice Mimi until she called her name. She laid the book in her lap. “Yes, Mimi?”
“Do you want me to get you something for lunch, Ms. Franklin?”
Eve glanced at her watch. It’s already twelve thirty. She’d lost all track of time when she’d picked up the book. “Sure. I’ll write down my order for you.”
After jotting on a legal pad, she tore the sheet off, and handed it to Mimi. As Mimi reached to open the doors, they suddenly swung open. Lina walked in, sidestepping to avoid a collision with her secretary.
“Hey, Mimi.” Lina then approached Eve’s desk. “Lunch in the office again? That just won’t do.”
Shaking her head, she turned to Mimi. “Cancel my lunch order. I’ll go grab something with Lina.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Mimi pulled the doors closed as she exited.
“What are you doing here? And why didn’t you call me to let me know you were coming?” Eve cut a false frown at her friend.
Lina rolled her eyes. “It was a spur of the moment thing. Come on, you know you need a break, anyway.” She adjusted the pink-and-yellow floral-print headband that held back her Afro. Silver and gold bangles rattled on her wrist. “Let’s go!”
“Where are we going, Lina?” Eve removed her purse from her desk drawer, smoothed her gray pencil skirt, and stood.
“Let’s go to Smokey Bones.”
She looked down at her crisp white blouse. “Girl, I’m not about to come back here with sauce stains all over my clothes.”
Lina grabbed her by the arm, pulling her toward the door. “Lighten up, Eve. You wanna stop on the way and pick up a bib?”
She burst out laughing. “You are a complete nut.”
“And you are a stick-in-the-mud. Now come on. The bones are smokin’!”
Giggling and talking, she followed after Lina, leaving her office.
Chapter 10
Darius sat at the bar when Eve stepped into the Blue on Wednesday night, with Lina close behind her. As she paused to give her name to the door attendant, he let his eyes sweep over her lush beauty. She wore a dark blue cocktail dress, her full breasts accentuated by the low-cut neck, shimmering with silver sequins. The diamonds in her ears and around her delicate wrist sparkled beneath the overhead lights.
She caught his gaze, and waved to him. As she approached, he inhaled the intoxicating scent she wore. He extended his hand, and she took it.
“Eve. You look lovely this evening.”
She gifted him with a small, but dazzling smile. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.”
The black pinstripe suit with white shirt, red tie and matching fedora acted as standard stage wear of the band. “Thanks.”
Lina, standing nearby, cleared her throat. “I believe you promised us a front-row seat?”
“This way, ladies.” He escorted Eve by locked arms, and Lina followed them, to a table in the center of the main room, in front of the stage.
Once they were in their seats, he said, “I’ve got to go backstage. We always warm up a little before a set.” He brought her sweet-scented hand to his lips and kissed it, reveling in the blush that filled her cheeks. “Until the show, my sweet.” He then turned away from his beautiful guest and went to meet with the rest of the Gents.
* * *
Eve’s face filled with heat as Darius walked away from the table. The gentle kiss he’d laid on her hand left her tingling in places very unrelated.
“Oooh,” Lina cooed, giving her a gentle jab with her elbow. “Somebody’s blushing.”
She couldn’t hide her smile. “He looks good enough to eat in that suit.” And he did. She’d thought so from the first moment she’d seen him tonight. He was chipping away at her determination to keep her distance from him, and the experience was both frustrating and thrilling.
Lina agreed. “Who you tellin’? Girl, I can’t wait to see Rashad in that getup.” She snapped her fingers. “Mmm. Make you wanna slap your mama.”
Drowning out Lina’s silliness, she took a moment to absorb the atmosphere of the Blue Lounge. In front of the stage, couples and groups filled the low-lit room, sitting around the many white-clothed circular tables. The din of a hundred conversations, competing with the melodic sounds of saxophone music flowing from hidden speakers, filled her ears.
She inhaled the rich aroma of Mediterranean food being cooked in the kitchen. She could only see the swinging doors leading into the room, but she could identify the scents easily. The tartness of garlic mixed with the sweetness of basil and the savory scent of roasting meat. Everything added up to a classy, relaxed atmosphere. A girl could get used to this.
A burst of applause made her turn her attention to the stage. A distinguished-looking white man stood there, in front of an old antique radio-style microphone. He wore a dark suit and metallic tie that caught the spotlight.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome once again to the Queen City Gents’ Wednesday Night Jazz Flight, here at the Blue.”
A smattering of female cheers rose from the audience
.
Lina’s voice was a mixture of sarcasm and awe as she remarked, “They seem pretty popular.”
The man on stage continued his introduction. “Tonight, for your listening pleasure, the Gents present a romantic set to get all you lovers in the mood. So please, welcome to the stage, Charlotte’s finest jazz musicians, the Queen City Gents!”
The heavy blue velvet curtain slid open, revealing four well-dressed men in perfect formation. Their hats tipped to the front, pulled down over their brows.
A single spotlight hit the bass. Standing next to it, Darius raised his hat, stepping into the light. With sure fingers, he began to pluck a midtempo bass line.
Another single spot illuminated the drum set. Seated behind it, an Asian man lifted his hat above his brow. Raising his sticks, he began to tap out a rhythm on the kick tom and the high-hat symbol.
Next the light hit the saxophonist. As the Hispanic man, with his shiny dark hair touching his shoulders, raised his hat, the smooth sound of his sax joined the tune. I know this song...
The last spot landed on Rashad, behind the keyboard. He tossed his hat in one quick motion. It landed on the table in front of Lina. Smiling, he started to play the melody of the song.
Lina, eyes wide, started to say, “Are they playing—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Rashad’s voice filled the room as he sang, “Turn off the lights...”
On cue, the house lights dimmed, and as the band continued to play, Eve’s eyes locked with Darius’s. He stared at her from his post behind the bass. If I’m affecting his concentration, I can’t tell.
His fingers never missed a note. But his heated gaze threatened to straighten the curl out of her hair. Part of her wanted to flee, to run from his questing eyes like a frightened rabbit.
My God, he’s sexy.
Try as she might, she couldn’t tear her eyes away. He seemed to be having the same problem. The suggestive lyrics of Teddy P sung by Rashad didn’t help matters. If Darius kept looking at her like a hungry lion eyeing a gazelle, she knew it would be a very long, eventful night.
The first song came to an end, and the band eased into a rendition of Luther Vandross’s “There’s Nothing Better Than Love,” sans vocals. She looked down at the table, trying to avoid his gaze, but when she looked up, he still watched her. His eye drew her, coaxing her to let go of her fears and explore all that a relationship with him could be.
* * *
From the stage, Darius couldn’t see much of the audience. But he could see the one person he cared to look at: Eve. He held her eyes in the dim light, and as he plucked away on the bass, he wondered if she could read his mind.
He knew he’d promised himself he’d stop pursuing her, but at this moment, with her in that low-cut dress, he didn’t know how he’d keep his vow. Everything about her, from her glossy lips to the shyness he saw in her eyes, pushed him toward the limit of his self-control. He was compelled by an invisible but palpable force to make her his. Whatever he had to do, he would do it, until he finally broke through her stubborn resistance. Once she let him show her just how good it could be, he knew she wouldn’t regret it.
She’s a whole lot of woman.
When the set ended to thunderous applause, Darius took his bows with the band and then darted off the stage. Seated at the end of the bar, he ordered a shot of scotch from the barkeep. He drank it down in one long sip, and set the glass back on the counter.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eve walking in his direction.
She hesitated, looked away from his face. Then she locked eyes with him.
He returned her gaze as she entered his personal space. The brown orbs glowed with what looked like desire, her cheeks rosy.
If he wasn’t mistaken, she was embarrassed. The way her gaze fled from his, retreating to her shoes, almost amused him.
He stood, tilted her chin upward, and let his eyes tell her there was no need to be ashamed of what passed between them.
Neither of them uttered a sound.
He groaned low in his throat, wrapped his arms around her bare shoulders, savoring their softness.
She looked up at him, eyes filled with wonder.
He drew her face up again and brushed his lips against hers. She didn’t dodge him, or protest. Instead, she melted into him.
Feeling her relax in his embrace spurred him to deepen this first taste of passion. As her arms wrapped around his neck, he opened her lush lips with the tip of his tongue, and drank deep.
She tensed.
What’s wrong with her?
He broke the seal of their lips.
She darted away, quickly disappearing into the still dense crowd.
He scanned the room for her. Shoulders slumped, he dropped onto the bar stool.
She’s gone.
Chapter 11
Swigging from his frosty mug of beer, Darius watched the Carolina/Wisconsin game on the big screen behind the bar. Around him, Ken, Marco and Rashad sat on the worn leather swivel stools at the Brash Bull, hollering at the television. All the other seats in front of the old gray marble bar were occupied as well, typical of Sundays during football season.
“Defense, man, defense!” Rashad shouted as Wisconsin stole the ball yet again.
“Ugh,” Marco groaned. “I don’t even want to see the rest of this game. Let’s just get a table.” He hopped down from his stool, beer in hand.
“It is pretty painful to watch,” Darius admitted. He grabbed his beer and followed the others to their usual booth, near the pool tables in the rear of the restaurant.
“Can you believe that game? Carolina aren’t even trying today.” Rashad shook his head, settling into the booth.
“You know I don’t care.” Ken’s words elicited groans from the others around the table.
“Yeah, we know, Mr. Zen,” Marco said mockingly. “You just haven’t realized the entertaining merits of professional football.”
“Hey, guys.” The waitress’s voice cut into their conversation.
Her pert nipples stood like sentinels beneath the tight Brash Bull T-shirt she wore. All eyes fell on her as she set down a plate of hot wings, accompanied by celery and carrots that would probably go uneaten. “Thought I’d refresh your wing supply.”
“Thanks, Tiffany.” Marco gave her a smile.
With a wink, she disappeared.
“They’re not as hard-core as they like to think.” Ken finished off his root beer. “Now, kendo, that’s a sport that requires strength of mind, as well as body.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Darius waved him off. He had no desire to listen to Ken go on and on about Japanese martial arts. There were more pressing things on his mind. “Man, I’m going nuts.”
“About what?” Rashad asked around a mouthful of a buffalo wing.
“About Eve.”
“Her again? What’s wrong now?” Marco wiped his fingers on a cloth napkin.
“We went out. Rashad was there.”
“Yeah,” Rashad added. “She brought along her friend Lina. She’s a fiery little thing.”
“Anyway,” Darius continued, “she’s ducking me. I know she’s into me, but...”
Ken quipped, “She doesn’t want to get involved because you work together, right?”
“Yes.” He ran a hand over his close-cut hair. “I know she’s right, but I can’t shake it off. I want her. Why won’t she give me a chance?”
“Who knows,” Rashad said. “That’s just how women are. One minute everything’s good, the next they’re screaming at you.”
Ken agreed. “He’s right. The man who figures out the fairer sex will be a rich man indeed.”
Marco smiled. “I don’t have any complaints about them. Soft music, sweet words, and I win them over just like that.
” He snapped his fingers.
“It’s the accent, lover boy.” Darius punched him on the shoulder. “At least half the booty you get is because women think you sound like Antonio Banderas.”
“Correction. Antonio Banderas sounds like me.”
Rashad laughed. “Man, I don’t know why your head hasn’t exploded by now. It’s so damn swollen.”
“Will somebody tell me something? I can’t think straight. She’s under my skin.” Darius was loath to reveal his agony to his friends, but maybe one of them could offer some insight.
“I can’t help you, man. I’m not getting anywhere with Lina, either.” Rashad polished off the last wing.
“What? After y’all got a separate table at the Cherry Blossom, I thought you’d hit it off.”
“We did. But she’s got some serious trust issues.” Rashad rubbed his forehead, as if the thought of her gave him an immediate headache. “There is something big—I mean really big, going down at County, and I’m right in the thick of it. I can’t tell her what it is, so she thinks I’m lying when I say I’ve got to take care of it.”
Ken’s eyebrow went up. “What’s happening at County?”
“Fool, didn’t you hear what I just said? It’s big! I can’t tell anybody until I get things straightened out.” He threw his hands up. “The point is she automatically assumes I’m seeing somebody else.”
“I expect you to let us know if you’re in real trouble, man,” Marco said.
“I know. And if it comes to that, I will. But right now, I gotta play it close to the vest.”
Darius groaned. “Okay, so we’ve established that women are irrational, crazy and don’t trust us. Now what? We pick up fake accents so we can woo them?”
Marco appeared insulted. Ken chuckled.
“Look, your guess is as good as mine,” Rashad said. “But I’m in it to win it with Lina. Besides, I never back down from a challenge.”
Ken spoke. “If she’s already under your skin, you don’t really have a choice but to try with her. After all, you lack my self-control.”
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