Vote Then Read: Volume I

by Carly Phillips

  She’d checked into a hotel with cash, then found a lawyer willing to see her that same week, and he filed paperwork to change her name from Faith Holland to Faith Lancaster. Understanding the rush, he’d pulled strings to get her in to see a judge, who he convinced her life was in danger. And as she still had faint bruises on her neck, and photographs she’d taken immediately after, he’d been willing to seal her records.

  She’d been in New York for a year and she’d moved fast with everything she’d done. She had a new name, a new life, a shop she’d leased because it already had a commercial kitchen … and as she glanced around her apartment and out the window, she remembered she also had a slashed tire that might or might not present a problem.

  Was it any wonder she’d turned Jason down? From the time her dad had left, leaving her to feel like it was her fault, that she was too much of a burden for him, she’d learned to distrust men. If the one who was supposed to love and take care of her couldn’t stick around, why would someone she merely dated?

  She wasn’t a virgin, but she definitely didn’t get involved with many guys. Yet for the first time, she’d been severely tempted to break her no-dating rule. Jason got her blood pumping, desire flowing, and he made her want to step out of the hidden comfort zone she’d cushioned herself in for most of her life.

  But she couldn’t. She knew better than to trust any guy, let alone a nightclub owner she’d just met. Even if he had been her savior tonight.

  Chapter Two

  Jason drove away from Faith’s apartment, a basket of candy on his passenger seat and his mind on the sexy woman he’d left behind, an unusual occurrence. He never had problems leaving a female in his rearview mirror. He wasn’t an ass, he just didn’t get attached. Something about Faith got to him, and considering she’d turned down his request for a date, he’d be better off forgetting about her. Except her tire had been slashed…

  He shook his head and rode uptown to his cousin Gabe’s apartment. His wife, Izzy, greeted him at the door, her three-year-old-son, Noah, in her arms, her wild hair a halo around her head, her pretty face lighting up at the sight of him.

  “Jason! Come on in. Gabe said you’d be stopping by.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and chucked the boy under the chin. “Hey, little man. You’re getting so big.”

  The child held up three fingers, wiggling to get down from his mother’s grasp. “I was just going to give him a bath. I’ll get Gabe for you,” she said.

  As he stepped into the apartment, Gabe met up with him in the entryway. He paused to play with his son, lifting the child into the air and laughing with him before settling him into his mother’s arms, and they headed for his bath.

  “I’m always shocked to see you so light-hearted and laughing,” Jason said. “Sorry. It’s just so different from the man you were.”

  Gabe’s eyes lit with pleasure. “Look what I have in my life to make me smile.” He glanced toward where Isabelle had taken his son. “You’ll see yourself one day.”

  “Oh, no,” Jason automatically said. “My life is full enough.”

  “Until you meet the right woman.”

  Jason’s thoughts immediately went to the gorgeous, shapely blonde with a good sense of humor and the ability to charm him. “Hey, I brought you some candy,” he said to Gabe, lifting the basket. “A … friend gave it to me.”

  “Is this friend the reason you’re running late?” Gabe asked, a wry smile on his face.

  Jason winced. “She ran into tire trouble.” He didn’t mention that he’d just met Faith when he saw her on the side of the street kicking her van. He recalled that moment with an amused smile.

  “I’ll take that grin as a yes. So who is she?”

  Jason chuckled, then decided to confide in his cousin, after all. “I met her tonight. She had some issues and I helped out. She has a candy shop near the club.”

  “So you decided to be a Good Samaritan.”

  He nodded.

  “And she thanked you with treats. That you like, a lot.”

  Jason rolled his eyes. “Can we discuss business?”

  Grinning, Gabe gestured into the apartment, and Jason followed him through the huge open design and into his private office, where they settled into wingback chairs. “Drink?” Gabe offered.

  Jason shook his head. He wasn’t a big drinker. Not since that night. “No, thank you.”

  “So what’s going on?” Gabe had been Jason’s mentor since he’d finished college and decided to stay in New York with his now-partners. He’d helped him find an apartment and funded his venture, Club TEN29, named after the date Levi died. A date the men would never forget.

  “Now what did you want to discuss about the future of your club?” Gabe leaned back in his chair and met Jason’s gaze.

  “I came here to ask for ideas, but when I was talking to Faith earlier…”

  “The candy girl?”

  Jason laughed. “Yes. She mentioned wanting to stand out in her area of business and dominate, and I realized that’s what we needed to do and an idea came to me on how. We should expand Club TEN29, utilize our stage, and upgrade our acoustics. Then we bring in live talent. I want a Miami vibe in New York.” His excitement grew as he explained. “I don’t expect big names off the bat, but I know we can get solid people. I can hit up Avery’s husband, the rock star, for help.” Jason had also dated Charlotte Jasper, another recording artist he’d met through his half brother-in-law. He could ask her to perform.

  “All of which would require funding.” Gabe steepled his fingers in thought.

  Jason nodded. Gabe had his hands in various businesses and had the money to lend should he deem it a worthwhile investment.

  “We have the collateral now to go to a bank for a loan.” Which they hadn’t had when they were starting out. Gabe had lent them the money for the start-up, which they were still paying back over time. “But I’d prefer to work directly with you again.”

  “Talk to your partners and see if they’re on board. Work up a plan and bring it to me.”

  Jason rose to his feet. “Thank you.”

  Gabe stood, walked over, and slapped him on the back. “Your success is my success. Besides, we’re family.”

  Their grandfathers had been brothers but the Dares remained close despite some living in different states. Even the half-siblings had come to an understanding and had sibling-like relationships now. Some more than others.

  “Enjoy your family,” Jason said to Gabe as they walked to the door.

  “Thanks. Enjoy your candy girl.”

  Jason’s heart gave a kick. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing her again.” She’d made it clear she didn’t think it was a good idea, and if he had to look deep into his soul, the part of him he protected, he had to agree.

  But he still couldn’t forget the slashed tire or the troubled look that had crossed her face when he told her about it.

  “Letting her go easily doesn’t sound like the Dare way,” Gabe said before saying goodbye and shutting the door.

  Jason groaned and headed back to his car, Gabe’s words in his ear.

  After her failed attempt to deliver candy and meeting her dark knight, as she’d come to think of Jason Dare, Faith spent a restless night tossing and turning. She had too much on her mind to relax. From the need to reschedule her candies to a daytime delivery, which meant taking time away from being in the store, to her worry about Colton finding her, to thoughts of the sexy man she’d turned away, she was unsettled, to say the least.

  She woke up extra early and made herself a cup of coffee in the Keurig she’d splurged on, poured in some cream, and grabbed a cup of yogurt. No Greek yogurt for her; she liked the tiramisu-flavored kind, sugared and all.

  She settled in at the kitchen island that doubled as her table and powered up her laptop. With Jason’s card beside her on the counter, she pulled up the website for Club TEN29, telling herself it was mere curiosity overall that compelled her. That she wasn’t cyberstalking Jas
on Dare.

  At a glance, she was impressed with the interactive website and the wealth of information and rooms available on the premises for events and parties. The website provided music and gave a much more professional impression than the basic site she’d created for Sweet Treats.

  Professional website, she jotted down in the notes section of her computer. Another expensive item on her to-do list for her business, she thought with a sigh.

  Then, unable to help herself, she clicked on the About section, and photographs of the three partners came up in full color. Jason had the lightest brown hair, the other two men were darker, all sporting a scruff of beard, but it was Jason’s startling indigo blue eyes that stood out. If she hadn’t been so overwhelmed, she’d have paid more attention to them last night. She studied him, his intense gaze, slightly brooding, sexy look, and sighed, squirming in her seat at the sight of him.

  Scrolling further, she came to the meaning of Club TEN29 and sucked in a startled breath. The words were brief but impactful: Club TEN29 is named in memory of Levi Bennett, who died in a tragic accident on October 29, 2009, beneath the photograph of a young man who appeared almost identical to the older photo of Landon Bennett. They must have been twins. How tragic and sad, she thought, closing out of the website.

  But not before taking one last lingering look at Jason and feeling a sense of regret for what might have been if her situation had been different and she’d been free to see him again.

  She made a note to go to a gas station and order a new tire for her old van and get the others checked before turning her attention to ordering supplies for her shop. Incoming orders were coming in surprisingly quickly, and she was thrilled with her slow but steady growth and return clientele.

  After she finished her paperwork, she showered and dressed in dark jeans and a sweater, pulling on her lightweight puffer jacket for the day, and loaded up her van again with her candy. She stopped to open the shop for Kelsey. While her intern handled sales, Faith would drop the baskets off at various local businesses. If she didn’t do it today, the candy would start to go stale, and she didn’t want anything to go to waste. She was operating in the black by being careful.

  She spent the day working, and though she wished she could say she’d put Jason Dare out of her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, his tight ass, and the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her. But she reminded herself that he didn’t need trouble in his life and that’s what she was running from. Trouble in the form of her brother.

  Jason had texted his partners, telling them he wanted to meet in the morning at the club, which was why he was walking upstairs inside the darkened venue at noon the next day. The guys had been up late, so Jason had pushed the time to a more reasonable one. If it had been up to him, he’d have been here by nine.

  He joined them in the large space they occupied as their shared office, when they weren’t holed up in their individual private rooms, to find the guys in jeans and tee shirts, both Landon and Tanner guzzling coffee and glaring at him.

  “This had better be worth dragging me out of bed,” Tanner muttered. “I’m fucking beat.”

  Landon yawned. “What he said.”

  Jason wasn’t surprised. Landon was a man of few words.

  Jason flipped on the overhead lights, guaranteeing his friends perked up. He waited for the cursing and groaning to end before he gestured through the window that overlooked the main staging area below.

  “Imagine an A-list artist performing on stage. Now picture the lines to get in. A Miami vibe in New York. A whole new TEN29.” He gave his pitch, short and sweet. “So much stronger than come on in and dance,” he added for good measure.

  When the two men looked at him over their coffee cups, he frowned and went on. “We started this club and built it into a respectable business. I want more. We’re capable of being more. In honor of Levi, this place should be more.”

  Their eyes narrowed at the mention of their friend, Landon’s brother, who’d died too young. In a stupid way, because they’d all been too afraid to walk away from a situation they’d committed to and didn’t know how to get out of. They all blamed themselves, yet none of them blamed each other.

  Was Jason challenging them to step up? Hell yes. “We don’t want to get complacent,” he said.

  “I’m in,” Landon immediately said, the mention of his twin clearly getting his juices flowing.

  Jason wondered if he could convince his talented friend to play the guitar on stage. Not something he’d bring up now. It was too early in the process, and Landon had avoided his instruments for years because he’d used to play with his twin.

  Right now, Jason just needed them on board for the change of direction in the club.

  Glancing at Tanner, Jason waited.

  “Yeah. You got my vote,” Tanner finally said. “We need to build and find our own niche. Get away from the other basic clubs and the best way is to outclass and outsmart them.”

  “Not play dirty the way some of them do,” Jason said, glancing at Tanner, whose temper was legendary, trying to remind him, by sheer force of will, he needed to continue his good behavior and stay out of trouble.

  Tanner got the message, lifting his hands in a gesture of peace. “No worries here.”

  They all hoped Tanner was finished using his fists to make his point. Ever since going into business, he’d thrown his energy into the club and channeled his anger into positive pursuits.

  “So we need a plan,” Jason said. “Money to bring in the acts. Landon, booking is your specialty, but I’d like to talk to my brother-in-law. See if Grey Kingston will perform for us or talk us up to other musicians.” He didn’t mention Charlotte yet.

  Bringing her into the mix was risky because she’d wanted more than Jason had been willing to give. If he asked her to come to New York now, she might take it as a sign he’d changed his mind about a relationship. He hadn’t.

  Not with her.

  Not with anyone but… He still couldn’t get a certain curvy blonde out of his mind.

  He glanced at his friends. “It’s that easy? You’re both in agreement that this is the direction we should go?”

  Landon shrugged. “I like the concept. What did Gabe say?”

  “To talk to the two of you, then bring him a viable plan.”

  Landon walked over to the window and stared out at the empty club. “I’ll bring in an expert on live-act PA systems. Get an estimate on upgrading not just the equipment but the acoustics. I’ll also make a list of possible acts.”

  Tanner nodded. “And I’ll put together an estimate to make sure our security systems are upgraded to the best ones available. If we’re having top talent, we need to take security seriously.”

  With their support, the worry inside Jason eased. He should have known better than to think his brothers wouldn’t agree with his ideas for making the club even better.

  His cell rang and he pulled it from his pocket. “Gabe?” he asked as he took the call.

  “No. It’s Izzy on Gabe’s phone. Where did you get that basket of candy you left? Oh my God, Jason, it’s delicious!”

  He wished he hadn’t brought them the candy and had kept it for himself. Hell, any reminder of Faith would have made him happy, but he was glad Izzy had enjoyed. “I met a woman who owns a shop called Sweet Treats. Her name is Faith Lancaster.”

  “I want them as part of the giveaways at Noah’s birthday party. Can you get me in touch with the owner?”

  An excuse to see Faith again? The ability to help her grow her business? He held back the fist pump, but his heart began a rapid beat inside his chest. Clearly he couldn’t get this woman out of his system by trying to forget about her, so he was going to have to find another way to cure his craving.

  Seeing her again would be a start. “I’ll talk to her and have her give you a call,” he said to Gabe’s wife.

  “I’d appreciate it. This woman has talent,” Izzy said. “My friends are going to be so jealous I fou
nd her first.” She laughed at the thought.

  He shook his head and grinned. He’d always liked Gabe’s woman. “I’ll get in touch with her for you.”

  “Thanks, Jase. You’re the best.” She disconnected the call and he hung up, sliding his phone back into his jeans pocket.

  “What’s with the shit-eating grin on your face?” Tanner asked.

  “And who’s the she who put it there?” Landon asked as a follow-up.

  Jason groaned. He’d never been able to keep anything from these guys. As far back as college, from the time they’d met, the four of them, Levi included, had been tight. And if Levi hadn’t insisted on them joining a damned fraternity… He shook his head, pushing those thoughts from his mind. That was the only way he could live with the pain. Shove it away hard.

  “I met a woman the other night when I left the club to see Gabe. She had a flat tire on an old beat-up delivery van she was using and I stopped to help.”

  “You changed a tire? In your Ferragamo shoes and Canali suit?”

  “Damned right I did and don’t look so surprised. I can get my hands dirty once in a while.” Especially for a gorgeous woman like Faith.

  With a renewed sense of purpose, Jason turned to his friends. “So everyone has their assignments? I’ve got somewhere to be.”

  “We’re on it. Go get laid,” Tanner said with a chuckle.

  He wished. “It’s not like that with this woman.”

  “Oh, fuck. So it’s like that?” Landon shook his head. “If you aren’t interested in fucking her–”

  “I didn’t say I wasn’t. Just that I’m staying away.” Because she didn’t think them dating was a good idea and he’d agreed. Jason started for the door, done with this conversation.

  But apparently his friends weren’t. “Not taking her home and fucking her means you’re worried you could get serious about her,” Tanner said, sounding almost gleeful. If he could get under someone’s skin, it made Tanner happy.