Until Daddy: Dark Lace Series

by Stone, Measha

  Jamison turned his chair to get a better look at his father, hoping maybe he was joking. Nothing left behind? Could a son not be enough?

  “You want to build this hotel because you want to leave your name on something when you die?” His jaw clenched.

  “I want to leave my stamp, yes.” When his father turned back to him, Jamison saw something—something he’d seen a thousand times in his father’s expression but always ignored. He’d seen the coldness, the disconnect between the two of them. No matter if Jamison did this project with him, he’d never been seen as his mark on the world. He could own half the city—hell—all of the city, and his father would still not see him as an extension of himself. He’d still just be his son.

  Baron Croft was all about himself. And nothing, no amount of success would change that. Jamison talked himself into believing he didn’t care about his father’s opinion, that he didn’t need his approval to make himself worth more. But it had been just talk. Now, seeing the amount of joy his father took in thinking he was finally going to leave his stamp on the world with a fucking building, he realized what a liar he’d been to himself.

  “Since you’re here, I have a question for you. It’s about Mother.”

  Baron’s jaw clenched, but otherwise his expression remained passive.

  “What could you possibly want to know about that woman? She walked out on you, on us both.” Baron shook his head, but something felt off this time. He’d said the same thing over and over throughout the years—she’d walked out on them—but this time Jamison noticed the shift of his gaze when he said it.

  “Why? I mean throughout the divorce, she never said anything?”

  Baron cleared his throat. “We didn’t see each other through the divorce. I’ve told you this. She left, and everything went through attorneys. I never saw her. And she didn’t want to have any rights to you or visitations either.”

  Well-rehearsed sentences. Jamison had taken them for gospel over the years, but the little hesitations, the tiny shift in his stance sent doubt barreling through Jamison’s memories.

  “Right.” Jamison took a deep breath. Baron wouldn’t be very forthcoming, and would opening old wounds really get them anywhere? How much good could it do for Jamison as a grown man?

  “Well, Garrick and I will have an answer for you at dinner.” Jamison stood and closed the folder. “I’m sure your lady friend is waiting for you.”

  Baron Croft’s expression softened, as though he noticed the change in Jamison, but he didn’t say anything about it.

  “Yes. She probably is.” Baron walked around the desk, not giving another glance toward his son. “I’ll see you tomorrow night then.”

  Baron walked out of the office, quietly closing the door behind him and leaving Jamison in the silence of his thoughts.

  * * *

  Being the son of a multi-millionaire was cliché in Jamison’s book. He’d spent most of his adult life trying to break out of that box. He didn’t play the party boy role most of the other sons seemed comfortable with. Even Garrick had taken his turn in that role for a summer, but Jamison had never bothered with it.

  Yet, there he stood on the corner of Wells and Walton, looking at small block of businesses his father would have to purchase in order to build his tower. Acting the dutiful son didn’t fit him well, either. It made his stomach turn. A family-owned grocery store, a boutique, and an unmarked building—his father would be putting them out of business.

  “Jamison.” Garrick stepped out of a cab and up onto the curb with him. “Is this the block?” he asked.

  “This is it.” Jamison nodded. He pulled the collar of his coat up to fend off the chilled air whirling around them. He’d spent most of the day in his office finishing several projects he’d been ignoring while trying to build a foundation with Carissa. This was his last stop before heading over to pick her up for their evening.

  “It’s not a bad location.” Garrick nodded and stepped out of the way of a small group of women walking past them. “I mean, it’s within walking distance of Michigan Avenue. The El and all the museums are pretty easy to get to from here. He picked a great spot, actually.”

  “Yeah. I’ll agree with you there.” Jamison stuffed his hands into his pockets and watched as a young woman, no older than eighteen, struggled to manage a large overstuffed bag and a baby bundled in blankets as she walked up the steps to the unnamed building.

  “Those could be apartments. They might not want to sell.” He nodded toward the young girl who barely managed to ring a bell located on the side of the glass door.

  “I’m sure your father will figure out a way,” Garrick stated with less admiration than sarcasm in his tone.

  “He’s obsessed with this project. His way of leaving his stamp on the city.”

  Garrick gave him an incredulous look. “Baron Croft will never see anything past the nose on his face. He’s an idiot, Jamison.”

  “Yeah. It’s not like you haven’t told me that before. But I guess it took hearing it, or rather seeing, really seeing him as the man he is instead of the man I desperately wanted him to believe it too.”

  “You gave him the benefit of the doubt all these years. But it’s good to see you finally realize you’re doing just fine without his stamp.” Garrick shook his head. “Stamp on the world. A hotel will accomplish that?”

  “Who knows. But you know, Carissa said something the other day that made me think. She asked me why I believed my father’s story about my mom just leaving us. What if she didn’t? What if he kept her away?” Jamison had been thinking about that scenario more often than made him comfortable. He’d gotten over his mother’s abandonment years ago, but the idea that maybe she hadn’t done it, maybe she did want him, had resurfaced.

  “Carissa was probably deflecting something you asked her, right?”

  They’d been talking about her family, and she had changed the topic a few times. “We were talking about our parents.”

  “Her parents aren’t worthy of conversation.” Garrick’s tone hardened.

  “You knew them?”

  “No. I met Carissa through Jade. So not until they were in college. But I saw the mess her mother made of her, the mess her father had put her in.”

  “She said her father was somewhere in Texas.” Had she been lying to him, hiding things from him again?

  “He probably was or is. That asshole caused all sorts of trouble for her when he lived here. Always trying to use her to get some sort of government aid. Tried to claim he was a single dad. Once he snatched her from her mom, kept her for a month trying to get housing or some shit like that. When it didn’t work, because Carissa let it slip that she lived with her mom, he dropped her off on the corner of her street and drove away. From what I could tell, that was the last time she saw him. He called a lot looking for money, though.”

  “And her mom? She made is sound like she’s a bit of a revolving door.”

  Garrick laughed. “Yeah. Gail is like that. Meets a guy, moves in with him right away, breaks up, and starts over. It’s her way. She’s never done much good for Carissa, but at least she never tried to use her or hurt her.”

  “No wonder the woman doesn’t think a relationship is possible. She’s never fucking seen one.”

  “I told you. Black and white—that’s just how she thinks.”

  “You know, you sound very much like a big brother. You aren’t going to give me trouble about her, are you?” Jamison and Garrick had never argued about women, or really discussed them much until they both found themselves with someone important to them.

  Garrick laughed. “Fuck no. From what Jade said, you’re exactly what that little brat needs. And besides, she helped me get Jade’s head on straight when I needed her assistance. I’m pulling for you to win this little battle. Jade also told me about the expiration date.”

  “You shouldn’t let your girl gossip.” Jamison tried to sound firm, but weren’t they doing that exact thing?

  “It’s
not gossip when it’s true.” Garrick pulled the collar of his jacket up around his throat. “Don’t look at me like that. Those are her words, not mine.”

  “You’re getting soft.”

  Garrick shrugged. “You’re still coming over tonight, right? Jade hasn’t seen much of Carissa since you two started seeing each other, and she asked me at least a million times this morning to make sure you let her come over.”

  “A million?” Jamison quirked an eyebrow.

  “You know what I mean. She’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to Carissa, and she swears you’re keeping her locked up somewhere.”

  “I assure you, as much as I’d love to have her locked up anywhere, that’s not the case. She’s been working insane hours and volunteering. Don’t they see each other at work?”

  “Different shifts this week.” Garrick waved down a cab. “It’s cold as fuck out here. I’m heading home. Jade’s probably already cooking.”

  “I’m on my way to Carissa’s. I doubt she even ate today let alone cooked anything,” he said. The shipment of groceries had been delivered the day before, but he wasn’t positive she’d done anything with them except put them all away. She’d grumbled the entire time they talked on the phone that night about how many groceries he’d ordered and how she was never going to be able to eat it all.

  Garrick laughed, opening the door to the cab that pulled up in front of them. “Not like you to be so gentle with your woman. Guess she’s got her hooks in you.”

  “Guess yours does, too, in you. Make sure you tell Jade you’ve relayed her message, and I will bring her friend to her with no delays.”

  Garrick’s expression darkened. “Now I’ll have to make sure she can’t sit for dinner, to repair the injury you’ve just inflicted on my manhood.”

  Jamison let out a burst of laughter. “Like you weren’t already going to do that anyway!”

  Garrick flashed a smile and got into the cab. “True enough.” He shut the door.

  Chapter 10

  “Who knew you could actually cook?” Carissa leaned against the counter next to Jade, who was chopping lettuce.

  “I’ve cooked before.” Jade shot her a nonplussed look, scooped the lettuce into two hands, and dumped it into the bamboo salad bowl.

  “Yes, I believe I’ve enjoyed such entrees as macaroni and cheese—the powder variety—and hamburger helper—in which you substituted ground turkey for the beef. Such a culinary success you’ve been.”

  Jade laughed and placed a ripe tomato on the cutting board.

  “Okay, so I don’t usually cook, but it’s not that hard. We’re just having spaghetti and salad.”

  “That’s my Jade.” Carissa laughed and walked over to the wine rack. She’d give almost anything to have a glass of pinot with dinner, but she wasn’t sure Jamison would allow it. He hadn’t said she couldn’t have any wine ever; he had just said that one night she couldn’t. And they were heading into the playroom, so that made perfect sense. This was just dinner with friends.

  “Grab a bottle. I’ll have a glass, too,” Jade said.

  Did she need to ask? He hadn’t given her any actual rules about alcohol, and he had said going out with her friends for a glass of wine or two was fine with him.

  Feeling safe, she grabbed a bottle of Pino and shuffled around for the wine opener.

  “What are you looking for?” Garrick stepped up behind her, startling her.

  She took a deep breath and waited for her heart to stop pounding. “Your wine opener, you big ninja.”

  Garrick laughed and took the bottle from her hands. “Here. I’ll open it for you girls.”

  Jamison walked in, sporting a curious expression, moving his gaze to the wine rack.

  “Garrick’s opening a bottle of wine,” she stated.

  He moved closer, brushing his lips across her forehead. “Only one glass tonight.” He tweaked her earlobe.

  “Dinner’s about done.” Jade wiped her hands on a dish towel and nodded toward the salad bowl. “Just need to add some dressing.”

  “Carissa, bring some wine glasses out to the table for us.” Jamison directed and picked up the ceramic bowl of spaghetti.

  She nodded and gathered up four glasses then followed him to the dining room.

  Garrick had a spacious condo near Michigan Avenue which lay like a blanket outside the walls of windows. The sun had already set, and the city lights made a beautiful backdrop for their dinner.

  Although the condo was in one of the best locations in the city, Garrick never went over the top with spending or showing off his obvious wealth. The dining room with a view of the gorgeous skyline outside the windows was simply decorated and gave off a comfortable vibe. Most likely because over the years of their friendship, Garrick had listened to Jade’s decorating advice more often than not.

  “You’ve been quiet this evening,” Jamison remarked as he poured the last glass of wine and placed it near a plate.

  She had said little since they left her apartment. She’d been doing some investigating on his behalf and was brimming with excitement to tell him about it. But she couldn’t yet.

  She’d tracked down a close friend of his mother’s. Finding his mother’s name wasn’t hard thanks to Google and his father being such a large business presence in the city but finding her wasn’t turning out to be so easy. Every avenue she pursued led to a dead end. It was as if the woman had simply poofed into thin air. But she’d finally gotten a response back from another socialite woman who Carissa had seen in several photographs with both his parents. She’d responded to a Facebook message she sent and told her she’d be calling her tomorrow. Carissa wanted the woman to answer her questions right then through the messenger, but the message had come in during her shift. She’d have to wait until they could talk on the phone.

  “Just tired, I guess.”

  “Maybe an early bedtime is in order, then.” He flashed her a grin. Such a handsome grin he had; she could almost forget for a moment their relationship came with an end date.

  “Only if you promise to tuck me in properly,” she teased.

  Garrick and Jade entered the room carrying the salad and bread, effectively cutting off Jamison’s response, though the little crinkle on the side of his lips gave away the deviousness of his thoughts.

  “So.” Jade sat next to Garrick on one side of the table while Jamison and Carissa took the seats opposite them.

  “Yeah?” Carissa grabbed the salad bowl and passed it directly to Jade across the table.

  “No salad?” Jamison asked.

  “Not in the mood,” Carissa answered and reached for the bread basket. She waited to hear another lecture on her poor eating habits, but he didn’t remark any further.

  The conversation moved easily between the foursome. Having been friends with Garrick and Jade for so long made the dinner comfortable and sitting beside Jamison accentuated that level of relaxation.

  “Looks like we’ll be having dinner with Jamison’s dad on Sunday.” Jade brought up the exact topic Carissa had been blocking from her mind for the past hour.

  “Yeah.” Carissa took a long swallow of her wine, careful not to finish it off since she wouldn’t be having another.

  “You ready for a long business discussion, which neither of us will understand or care about?”

  “Sure.” Carissa shrugged and took another swallow, nearly draining the glass. “I’m sure it won’t be too boring.”

  “Of course, it will be,” Jamison promised and placed a scoop of salad on her plate. “But don’t worry. It will be a short conversation. The project he wants to do looks like a great investment. We’ll eat, give him the news he wants, and then head out after dessert.”

  “You liked the location, then?” Jade asked.

  “It seems like a great place to build a hotel. And from what my father tells me, the small businesses on the block have already started to accept his bids for purchase.”

  “Where is it?” Carissa asked, shoving the tom
ato from the salad away from her pasta. She didn’t want to get into another discussion about her eating habits. When he’d picked her up, he’d gone straight for the fridge to be sure she’d actually put the groceries he’d ordered away. He didn’t like the container of leftover Chinese from her dinner the previous night but was happy with her when she said she’d brought her own lunch to work and had eaten it.

  He was even happier when he made her turn around and flipped up her skirt to see her panties. Of course, she’d remembered to put on the good-girl panties he’d left and had even been wearing them to work. She couldn’t explain it, but knowing he’d given them to her, that he expected her to wear them, made her feel held by him. Walking around during her shift feeling a little bit of him was with her the entire time.

  Since he was in such a good mood, she didn’t want to divert the conversation to anything that lead them in the direction of an argument.

  “The location is at Wells and Walton. There’s one building that wasn’t marked, so I’m not sure what it was. I didn’t see any acceptance of bid from that address in the stuff father gave me, either. I’ll have to ask him about that one.”

  Her fork stilled halfway to her mouth, a bit of pasta falling off the end and back onto her plate.

  “Wells and Walton?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Oh. No,” Jade whispered and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

  “That’s the shelter I volunteer at. It’s a women’s shelter, so it’s not marked, you know, to protect them from the general public knowing what it is. So bastard men can’t find their wives and try to steal them back.” Carissa could hear the anger in her own words.

  “Really?” Garrick asked with raised brows.

  “You can’t do the project. You can’t let your father do it either. Find somewhere else to build your damn hotel.” She turned on Jamison, giving him a hard glare. Her heart raced. That shelter could not be torn down so more rich and powerful men had a comfortable place to lay their heads.