Brown Eyed Girl

by Lori Leger

  “So...Scott McAllister...where do you fit in?”

  “I’m just a friend of hers.”

  “But you’d like to be more,” Drake said, sounding blunt and to the point.

  Red raised his eyebrows, impressed with the man’s astute grasp of the situation. “Yes I would,” he answered.

  “And just maybe you’re a little in love with her already?”

  Red decided it wouldn’t do to hedge with this man. “Yes I am, actually.”

  “What does my sister think about that?”

  “Tiffany doesn’t know.”

  “You plan on telling her tonight?”

  “No, she’s not ready. She said she needs to be alone for awhile and it would probably do her some good.”

  “Do you happen to know if she kept her rent house?”

  “She sure did. I’m going to help her move her things back tomorrow.”

  “Good girl, she took my advice.”

  “Good advice.”

  “Never bet against a stacked deck. Okay, McAllister, I know Tanner spends his days doctoring and his nights sleeping around on my sister, but what do you do for a living?”

  “I own a club in Lafayette, and will be opening up a second one in Lake Coburn next month.”

  “What’s the name of the club?”

  “Red’s—that’s what my friends call me.”

  “I’ve heard of it .It’s nice, I hear.”

  “I believe so.”

  “I have friends and business associates over there who’ve been several times. So, when I ask them about Scott “Red” McAllister, and you can be sure I will, am I going to hear anything that will make me urge my sister to slap a restraining order against you?”

  Red rubbed his chin. “I guess it depends on who your friends are. I’ve owned businesses in and around the Lafayette area for fifteen years and I’ve made a couple of enemies. As a matter of fact, I think one of them called me just a minute before you did. I’m still trying to figure that one out.”

  “What kind of enemies?” Drake asked, sounding understandably concerned.

  “I had one guy in particular who tried to hold back my liquor license unless he got a significant kickback. It seems dishonesty is a lucrative business here in Louisiana.”

  “Though lacking in exclusivity. We also get our fair share in the great state of Texas, unfortunately.”

  “When I get shoved, I normally shove back.

  “As you should.”

  “I think so, too, Mr. LeBlanc, but by all means, ask around. You’ll find my friends are top shelf.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Is this interrogation over now, counselor?” Red asked.

  Drake chuckled. “She told you I was a lawyer?”

  Red hesitated. “She told me your parents paid to send you to Harvard. I only assumed you passed the bar.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence on the other end of the phone. Finally Drake spoke in a tight voice. “I didn’t want to go to Harvard. I wanted to be with Tiff, but she talked me into going. Our parent’s treatment of her is unforgiveable.”

  “It turned out she didn’t need anything from them. The only thing she wants, they can’t seem to give her—and that’s love. I guess that’s why she called you. She said you were close once.”

  “We are close. We just don’t get to see each other enough.”

  “You should make time for family in my opinion.”

  “You sound like a family man, McAllister. Ever been married?” Drake asked, sounding more protective than curious.

  “No, I’ve never been interested, before now. I come from a large family and we’re all very close. So, how about you? Are you married?”

  “Hell, no! The women I tote around aren’t the marrying kind. I’m a hopeless bachelor.”

  “Yeah, well, all that can change in a heartbeat, take it from me,” Red groaned as he heard Drake’s deep chuckle.

  “I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. Tell Tiff I’ll be here for the rest of the night—I’ll be waiting for her call.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  <><><>

  Drake ended the call and stared at his cell, hoping Red McAllister proved to be as decent a guy as his gut told him he was. He contemplated less than a minute before calling his commissioned private investigator. “Sorry for the wake-up call, buddy,” he said, after Dan answered in a sleepy voice. He gave him the information he’d gleaned from the conversation with Red.

  “When do you need the scoop on this guy?”

  “As soon as possible,” Drake said, knowing full well he paid Dan enough to expect immediate results.

  “I’ll get right on it, and uh, Happy Thanksgiving, Boss.”

  Drake hesitated, taken back by the comment. “You too, Dan,” he said before disconnecting and consulting his calendar. He sat back, shaking his head in wonder. Damned if it wasn’t Thanksgiving. With no family around, or anyone close, for that matter, he’d worked in his downtown Houston apartment all day long. He’d gone out once to grab some Chinese takeout from the place around the corner. He thought it had been quiet, even for a Thursday night. “How pathetic is that?” he mumbled.

  <><><>

  Red had just removed the reheated leftovers from the oven when he heard the door of the guest room open. “Hey, Doc, I didn’t know if you had a preference for white or dark meat so I heated up some of both for you.” He set her plate on the counter beside the platter of food. “Your brother called, and he wants you to call him back at that number.” He turned toward her. “He said he’ll be there all night and will be...waiting for your... call,” he said, his voice faltering. “What did you do to your hair?”

  Tiffany raised her chin. “My hair is naturally curly. I had to spend an hour on it every morning to straighten it because that’s how Tanner liked it.”

  Unable to resist, he reached out to touch the silky tendrils with one hand, watching in awe as they looped and twisted, curling around his fingers. Fighting the nearly irresistible urge to burrow his fingers in the glorious mass, he shook his head. “I’m amazed, Doc. How could he not like it like this?”

  “I have brown hair.”

  “What?” he asked, still distracted by the sight before him.

  “My natural hair color is brown, and as soon as I can get to that, I will. I’m tired of seeing a stranger in the mirror.”

  Red nodded, as full understanding dawned on him. “I guess you are,” he whispered, unable to tear his gaze from her. A low rumbling from her stomach finally did the trick.

  He turned away as she laughed nervously, pressing her hand to her stomach. Red filled a plate with her favorites and placed it on the island. “What do you want to drink?”

  She climbed onto the barstool and grinned. “I’ll have another beer. I’m celebrating.”

  He chuckled lowly and pushed the phone to her. “Before you celebrate too much, call your brother. He sounded concerned.”

  “Thanks,” she said, hitting the redial button.

  Red knew the second her brother answered from the smile that lit up her face. They are close. He left the room so she could talk in private.

  <><><>

  Drake recognized the Louisiana area code and settled down for the long overdue heart to heart between siblings. “Hey Sis. Word is you’re having a rough night.”

  “Hey, little brother. Yep, mother’s not pleased, of course.”

  “You called her?” Her snort brought a smile to his face.

  “Surely you know me better than that. She called me after ‘Poor Tanner’s’ anguished phone call about our broken engagement.”

  “Collins always was a pussy!” He smiled again at her outburst of laughter.

  “Mother wants me to take him back because he’s such a good catch. Oh, she also wants me to quit my job.”

  “So you can be just like her? Pop out a namesake or two, let a nanny raise them, and live out your days playing bridge and sleeping with the tennis pro and anythi
ng else that moves?”

  “Can you imagine me living that kind of life, Drake?”

  “Hell no, and you shouldn’t have to. I never could understand the way they treated you.”

  “They treated both of us badly.”

  Drake rubbed a hand over his eyes. “You worse, Tiff, at least they paid for my education. I’ll always feel guilty as hell about that.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I got the education and the career I wanted. There’s not a damn thing they can do to take that away from me. I spend my days helping people.”

  Drake opened his mouth to reply then closed it with a snap.

  “Are you still there?”

  Drake gave the back of his neck a one handed massage. “I’m here, but I’ve been thinking lately that I don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Help people. I practice corporate law, and I don’t help anybody but big business.” He flipped a silver swivel photo frame, sending it spinning on its stand. It stopped, the shiny side reflecting his haggard face back at him. “Most of the time I’m helping to take over some company which results in putting hundreds of people out of work. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Maybe I’m developing a conscience.”

  “You’ve always had a conscience, Drake. You just wouldn’t listen to it. Open your private practice. Do what you want to do.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Maybe it’s too late for me, and I’m already permanently corrupted.”

  “If that were true, you’d be able to sleep at night.”

  He chuckled. “They did a number on us, didn’t they?”

  “I’d begun to wonder if I’d ever be able to feel again, but I know damn well I can’t live the way they do. Not after seeing what I saw today.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, curious to know what finally brought her to her senses about Tanner.

  “A real family. It seems not everyone was raised in a household like ours.”

  “Whose family?”

  “Red McAllister’s, the friend I’m staying with tonight. He had a big Thanksgiving dinner here. His entire family came—his parents, six of his brothers and sisters, their spouses, and children. Plus other friends of ours were here. His parents have been married almost fifty years and they’re still so much in love with each other. I’ve never seen anything like it. They all sing or play instruments. Our own parents don’t even know that you and I can sing, Drake. Who do we even get that from? How is it that we don’t know that?”

  “It beats me,” he admitted. “So tell me everything that happened.” He listened as she poured her heart out to him, telling him what led to her being here for the night.

  “So Red rescued the damsel in distress,” he said. “What’s in it for him? Should I be concerned?”

  “No, he’s a good friend.”

  “Where’d you meet him?”

  “I performed surgery on a friend of his back in August and he was at the hospital. We got off on the wrong foot for awhile, but we straightened it out.”

  “What do you mean, the wrong foot?”

  “He assumed I was a nurse.”

  “And you jumped on him for being a sexist chauvinist, of course.” Her laughter sparked a feeling of pride for his sister.

  “Ah, but you know me too well. He claims it was because I looked too young to have gone to medical school. I had a good day, Drake. I wish you could have been here. His parents are wonderful, especially his mom. I spoke more to her today than I have to mother in my entire life.”

  “Ah, and I bet she didn’t mention once how your selfish act would ruin her reputation, did she?”

  “Has someone been running around with the wrong type of woman again, little brother?”

  Drake’s living room filled with his own raucous laughter. “Always, Sis. You know that.” They both quieted and he waited for her response.

  “I wish you could meet Red’s family. If you ever do, I’m warning you now, it’ll change you. You’ll know you can’t go back to living the way you were.”

  “Maybe one day I will,” he murmured.

  “Maybe I can get us invitations for Christmas. I’m eating Thanksgiving leftovers right now—turkey, cornbread dressing, and some kind of yummy veggie casserole his mom made.”

  Drake groaned. “Rub my face in it, why don’t you?”

  “She also makes pecan pralines, fudge, and divinity just like Melinda used to make us, remember?”

  “Man, I’d kill for some of Melin’s pralines and those strawberry tarts, too.”

  “Did you go somewhere today?”

  “Nah, I had work to do. It was just me and my Chinese take-out.” He waited, through Tiffany’s prolonged silence.

  She finally spoke. “Promise me something, Drake.”

  “What sis?”

  “Promise me that you’ll be here with me for Christmas. I won’t be making any Christmas party in Houston this year.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “It doesn’t matter where I’ll be. I just want to make sure you’ll be here with me. Please, Drake, we’re all we’ve got.”

  “I’ll plan for it, if it means that much to you.”

  “It does,” she said.

  He heard her try to stifle a yawn. “Are you tired?”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long day, and I’m beat.”

  “Go get some rest. I promise I’ll be there for Christmas. I love you, Tiff.”

  “I love you too, Drake. Thanks.”

  <><><>

  Tiffany ended the call and got up to put her empty plate in the dishwasher. She heard Red’s bedroom door open and looked up. He walked into the kitchen wearing soft faded jeans and a clean, white tee shirt, his hair still damp from the shower.

  As their gazes met, he stopped and shook his head. “I still can’t get over the difference your hair has made. How’d it go with Drake?”

  She smiled brightly at him. “I made him promise to be with me for Christmas. I’m not going to Houston this year.”

  “You know, after you left, my family decided they wanted to have Christmas here, so if you and Drake want to join us, we’d love to have you.”

  Tiffany grinned. “I’m accepting for the both of us. How much banana pudding should I bring?”

  “At least double what you brought here today so we have leftovers. It’s our family rule that whoever’s house gets used and abused gets to keep them.”

  “That sounds fair.”

  He nodded. “That’s why I volunteered my place again. I won’t have to cook for days. Did you get enough to eat?”

  She patted her belly. “Yep, it was better than it was for lunch. Excuse me,” she said, covering her mouth as a small belch escaped. “Two beers and a belly full of food, and I’m not very good company.”

  “Why don’t you go on to bed, Doc? We can start moving your things first thing in the morning.”

  “I’m sorry, Red. I know this is an inconvenience for you.”

  “It’s worth it to get you out of that place. Besides, I don’t sleep much,” Red told her.

  Tiffany sent him a shocked look. “Me either, I hardly ever sleep past four a.m., whether I have to go to work or not. But right now, I feel like I could sleep for ten hours straight.” She covered another yawn with her hand and let Red walk her to her bedroom. Before closing the door, she gave him a hug. “Thanks for everything, Red.”

  He hugged her back tightly. “Good night, Doc.”

  Tiffany changed into her L.S.U. flannel lounger pants and tee shirt then crawled under the down comforter on the queen sized guest bed. It was only ten fifteen, but it seemed later—she supposed because of the day’s drama. She stretched out on the luxuriously comfortable bed, and was asleep within minutes.

  <><><>

  Tiffany’s eyes popped open in the darkened room, blinking several times to get her bearings. She stretched out on the soft bed, trying to remember why she wasn’t in her own. Red. The digital clock flashed four
a.m., causing her to release a frustrated groan. Why couldn’t she get a full night’s sleep? She functioned well on five hours or so, but wondered how much better she’d perform on a full eight hours.

  Tiffany washed her face and rinsed her mouth then stared at her reflection in the mirror. She fluffed her curls, amazed at how quickly the change made her feel like her old self.

  Wishing she’d remembered to pack her latest medical journal, she slipped her robe over her lounger set and stepped into her slippers, before setting off in search of reading material. Tiffany tiptoed into the living room and picked up a Forbes magazine on an end table. She cringed at the articles in it, and put it back. As she walked over to the kitchen to get a drink of water, she noticed a soft glow of light shining out from under a door in the hallway in the opposite wing.

  Tiffany tiptoed over and stood listening to the soft strumming of a guitar. She gave the door a gentle push and peeked inside. Red sat in his office chair, jean clad legs propped on his desk and crossed at the ankles, his chest bared and brawny, as he strummed John Michael Montgomery’s Hold on to Me. She smiled, recognizing the song they’d danced to at Jackson and Giselle’s wedding.

  Tiffany shivered, remembering how good Red had looked in his classy black tux, and realized he may well look even better half dressed. Clearly, he’d retained any and all physical attributes since Vivienne had snapped those photos of him posing at his pool. She hadn’t seen anyone that buff since she and some co-workers saw the Chippendale dancers last year.

  Tiffany watched his fingers skillfully manipulate the strings of the guitar, listening as long as she dared, before making her presence known to him. Reluctantly, she took a deep breath and spoke.

  “Red?”

  He jumped slightly before grinning up at her. “Well, hell, Doc. Look at us...Sleepless in Lake Coburn.”