by Donna Hill
Not too long after, the hospital loomed ahead. Bailey drove into the visitors’ parking lot. Justin opened his eyes and sat up.
“Hmm. Safe and sound.” He yawned. “Ready?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he didn’t have to come with her, but this time she refrained from what, to her, was instinctual. “Sure.” She swallowed. “Thanks.”
“I was supposed to call and find out what time they were releasing her,” Bailey was saying as they pushed through the revolving glass doors. “I totally forgot.”
Justin checked his watch. “If the hospital is true to form, she won’t be released before noon.”
They stopped at the information desk and received passes to enter the ward.
“Why is that?” She pressed the button for the elevator.
“After twelve they can charge for another day.” He gave an offhand shrug. “Capitalism.”
The elevator doors opened. Justin and Bailey stepped aside to let the passengers off, one of whom was Dr. Phillips.
“Bailey.” He smiled warmly.
“Dr. Phillips. I was coming to pick up my sister. How is she?”
The elevator doors closed.
“She had a restful night. The tests look good, so I’ve already put in the discharge order along with instructions for aftercare.”
“Thank you.” She extended her hand, which he shook. “Thank you so much. Dr. Phillips, this is Justin Lawson.” She turned her attention to Justin.
The two men shook hands. “Lawson...Senator Lawson’s son?”
“That would be me,” he said without humor.
“Pleasure to meet you. Tell your father he has my vote in the next election.”
Justin only returned a shadow of a smile.
“Well, make sure your sister gets plenty of rest. No driving while she’s on the medication. It’s pretty strong. She should come back in two weeks for a follow-up, but of course if there are any problems, she should come in right away.”
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Lawson. Ms. Sinclair.” He gave a short nod of his head and walked away and out the door.
“On a first-name basis,” Justin said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
The elevator doors opened. They stepped aboard.
“What?”
“He called you Bailey.”
She blinked in confusion, then it hit her. “I met him for the first time last night. He calmed me down when I got here and explained everything that was going on with my sister.” She took his hand and looked into his eyes. “That’s about it.”
“Look, it’s not a problem. I was wondering. That’s all.”
She linked her fingers through his. Her insides smiled. He was jealous.
The doors opened on the third floor, and they walked to the nurses’ station to get Apryl’s room number.
“I’ll wait here. I don’t want to walk in on your sister,” Justin said. “She doesn’t know me.”
Bailey reached up and lightly kissed his lips. “Thanks.” She hurried off down the corridor.
When she arrived at Apryl’s room, she was up and dressed and sitting in a chair by the window.
“Sis.” She smiled then winced.
“Hey.” Bailey crossed the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. Head hurts, and this cast and sling are annoying, but I’m here.”
“I ran into Dr. Phillips, and you’re all set to go home.”
A nurse entered the room. “I have your discharge papers, Ms. Sinclair, and your prescriptions.” She handed the papers to Apryl then turned to Bailey. “You’ll be taking her home?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get a wheelchair.”
“I don’t need one.”
The nurse smiled. “Sorry. Hospital policy. I’ll be right back.”
Bailey sat on the edge of the bed. “I, uh, brought someone with me.”
“Who? Addison?”
“No. A friend. His name is Justin.”
“Oh, a man friend.” She grinned. “Good for you, sis. It’s about time.”
Bailey made a face. “Anyway, we’ll be taking his car to my place.”
“His car? What happened to yours?”
She blew out a breath. “The short version...I had to get it towed. Finally conked out on me last night after I left here.”
“Oh, damn. You need your ride.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Sure can’t use mine,” she said and grimaced at the memory.
The nurse returned with the wheelchair and helped Apryl to sit. “You have all of your belongings?”
“Yes, thank you.”
The nurse pushed Apryl out of the room and down the corridor with Bailey right alongside. Justin rose from his seat as they approached.
“That’s him?” Apryl whispered in awe.
“That’s him.”
“Yummy.”
Justin joined the trio en route to the elevator.
“Justin, this is my sister Apryl.”
The resemblance was remarkable. Apryl was a carbon copy of her older sister. Where Bailey kept her hair long, wiry and wild, Apryl’s natural curls were cut close to her head. Bailey’s more serious, worldly eyes were offset by Apryl’s mischievous ones.
“Lucky lady,” Justin said and hit her with his megawatt smile.
“I don’t always look like this,” she joked. “Nice to meet you, though, and thanks for looking after my sister.”
“It’s been my pleasure to look after Bailey,” he said on a deep note that stroked Bailey’s insides with innuendo. He winked at Bailey, and her cheeks flushed.
They rode down in silence, and the nurse wheeled her out to the front. Justin went to get the car and when he pulled up in front of them, Apryl let out an expletive of shock and pleasure.
“Apryl,” Bailey said in admonishment.
“What?” she innocently retorted.
The nurse helped her up while Justin grabbed his garment bag, jumped out and held open the passenger door. He helped her with her seat belt then walked around the other side to Bailey.
He stepped up close. “I’ll call you later.” He draped the garment bag over his shoulder and leaned down and kissed her slow and deep, letting his tongue play for a moment with hers. When he broke the kiss, Bailey felt light-headed. She blinked and slid her tongue across her bottom lip to savor the taste of him.
“Okay,” she managed. “How are you going to get to the office?”
“I called a car service while I was waiting. It should be here in about ten minutes.”
“Thank you...for everything.”
“Whatever you need.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “Whatever.” He pecked her on the lips, turned and bent down to wave goodbye to Apryl then headed back inside, out of the heat, to wait for the car.
Bailey watched him until he blended in with the visitors and hospital staff then got in the car.
“Girl, you done hit a grand slam!”
“It’s not like that, Apryl.” She put the car in gear and eased away from the curb.
“If it’s not, it should be.”
Bailey turned on the music.
“So, spill. Where did you meet Mr. Fine?”
“At work.”
“And?”
“And nothing. We’re just friends.”
“A friend with benefits.” She laughed lightly.
Bailey shook her head. She wasn’t going to feed into her sister’s penchant for scintillating details. Apryl had no qualms about divulging her most intimate details about her various male friends, and believed that her sisters should reciprocate. Bailey didn’t agree.
“Fine, don’t tell,
” she said with a pout.
“I didn’t intend to.” A smile mirrored on her recently kissed lips.
“Does he have any brothers?”
“I haven’t met his brother.”
“How long have you known him? What does he do for a living to be able to afford this ride?”
“He’s an attorney.”
“Niiiice. Right up your alley. And speaking of right up your alley, when do you start school? You are going back, aren’t you?”
Bailey heaved a sigh. “I don’t know.” With so much going on in her life recently, she hadn’t had a moment to focus on the upcoming fall semester. She still had no positive response for the grants and scholarships she’d applied for, and time was running out.
Then Apryl being Apryl zipped off topic to prattle on about the guy she’d met. Bailey half listened. She only wished she could be as carefree as her sister. But if she was, there was no telling where any of her siblings would be.
Chapter 14
By the time Justin arrived at his office building it was nearly one.
“You’re pretty casual today, Mr. Lawson,” his assistant teased.
“Hectic morning. Any messages?”
“A few.” She handed him the slips of paper. “Mr. Hurley stopped by to see you. He asked that you give him a call when you get in.”
“Thanks.” He started for his office.
“Mr. Lawson...”
He stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“You have a three o’clock with Mr. Turner on his infringement case. Do you want to reschedule?”
“No. Thanks. Pull the files. We can meet in the small conference room.”
“I already have it blocked for you from three to four.”
“Hopefully it won’t take that long,” he said.
“I allowed for Mr. Turner’s long-windedness.” She smiled.
Justin went into his office and locked the door. He got out of his sweater and jeans and changed into his dark blue Italian-made business suit, winter-white shirt and pinstriped navy tie. He took his black wingtips from the bag and slid them on his feet. Reviewing his messages he decided that they all could wait until he’d spoken with Mr. Turner.
The afternoon sped by and true to form his client, Mr. Turner, took up the entire hour—all of which was billable.
Justin loosened his tie and put in a call to Carl, who told him that he’d gotten a call from the Realtor, and he had a place for them to look at that evening. Justin told him they’d have to ride together as Bailey had his car. Carl couldn’t hide his shock knowing how much Justin loved that car. He’d never let anyone drive it—ever—not his siblings and not even him—his best friend.
“She got you whopped, my brother,” Carl taunted.
“Call it whatever you want to call it. Just meet me out front at five-thirty.”
Carl chuckled. “See you then.”
Justin disconnected the call, sat back and gazed upward. Bailey Sinclair had certainly done something to him. Whatever it was, he liked it.
* * *
The space was located in Downtown Baton Rouge, about a mile away from their current office. It was a suite on the tenth floor, with space for reception and enough cubicle space for at least four employees with an additional two small offices.
“What do you think?” the Realtor asked once they’d completed the tour.
Justin exchanged a look with Carl. “It has everything that we’re looking for. How long would the lease be?”
“We can do a one year or a two.”
“How soon do you need an answer?” Carl asked.
“As soon as possible. Space in downtown is premium and rare, especially at this price.”
Justin slung his hands into his pockets. “We’ll get back to you first thing in the morning.”
“Fair enough.” He led them out and locked up.
* * *
“It’s your call, man,” Carl said as they pulled away from the building.
“I think it will suit our purposes as a start-up. We don’t need more space than this. I would have preferred a stand alone, but I think this will work.”
“I’m down if you are.”
Justin grinned. “Then I guess we go for it.”
“I’ll give him a call in the morning. I’m sure there’ll be papers to sign.”
“This is it, bro.” Justin glanced at Carl.
“Yep, this is it.
“So let’s hear it. What happened with Bailey?” Carl asked as he drove Justin home.
Justin brought him up-to-date on what had transpired up to him meeting Bailey’s sister.
“Humph. You really dig this woman, don’t you?”
Justin’s smooth brows drew close. “Yeah, I really do.”
“All I have to say on the subject is don’t let the thrill of something new screw with your head. ’Cause let’s be real. Bailey is not the type of woman you usually deal with. Your ready for all that?”
“Ready for what?”
“For bringing her into a world that...maybe she’s not used to. You know the circles your family travels in.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this shit, man.” His jaw tightened as he glared at Carl.
Carl held up one hand and kept the other on the wheel. “I’m being real. I’m not throwing shade on her. She is the exact opposite of every woman you’ve ever been with. That’s the truth. So are you with her because she’s different and you think you can ‘rescue her’ or is it real? I’m just asking. I wouldn’t be a friend if I didn’t bring it up.”
Justin fumed, but there was some truth to what Carl said. Bailey was the polar opposite of every woman who’d slept in his bed. It was refreshing, and he did want to help her, do things for her. But he knew how she made him feel—truly alive in a relationship for the first time in his life. And he wanted more of it. He wanted more of her.
“I’ll keep that all in mind,” he grumbled. He and Carl were always honest with each other, even if it pissed the other one off. He didn’t have to admit that to Carl. It was an unspoken understanding.
They pulled up on Justin’s street.
“You coming in for a minute?”
“Naw. I need to get home. Wife is waiting.” He winked. “Talk to you tomorrow. You plan to call the Realtor or you want me to take care of it?”
“I’ll give him a call when I get into the office. I have an 8:00 a.m. meeting, so I’ll call when I’m done.”
“Good. Then we can get the lease signed and get this show on the road.”
They gave each other a fist bump and Justin got out. “Later.”
Carl pulled off, and Justin headed inside, feeling truly inspired, and he wanted to share it with Bailey.
* * *
It was good having her sister with her. Apryl was truly entertaining with her tales of escapades with her line of suitors. She kept Bailey in stitches while she fixed them dinner. She checked the pot of jerk chicken that was simmering on the stove.
“Girl, you are a hot mess,” Bailey said.
“You only live once, sis. I want to enjoy life and the men that come along with it. If I’m lucky, the right man will find me in the process.”
Bailey caught the wistfulness in her voice. She looked at her. Apryl was staring off into the distance. Of all the children, Apryl had taken their mother’s loss the hardest. She was the youngest and she’d needed a mother even more than her sisters, and with their father out of the picture and the string of men that their mother had brought home, Apryl grew up looking for love. She was still looking.
“A good man would be lucky to have you, Apryl. And probably when you stop looking...he’ll find you.” She gave her a warm smile.
“Like Justin found you?” She gav
e her sister a knowing look.
Bailey felt flush all over at the mention of his name. She turned away from the stove, wiped her hands on a towel then sat down at the shaky kitchen table. She blew out a breath. “He’s...special. The way he makes me feel. But...”
“But what, sis?” Apryl reached her good hand across the table and covered her sister’s clenched fist.
Bailey raised her gaze to her sister’s questioning look. “It’s so hard to explain. We come from two different worlds. Justin Lawson comes from one of the wealthiest families in Louisiana.”
“And that’s a bad thing, how?”
“You don’t understand.” She pushed up from the table.
“You’re right, I don’t.”
“Every time I think about me and Justin...I think about mama and what happened with her.”
Apryl’s eyes searched her sister’s face. “What really happened to Mom?”
Bailey lowered her head. “She chased after a dream...and believed that the right man could provide it for her...”
By the time Bailey finished telling Apryl about their mother, they were holding each other and shedding silent tears.
* * *
Bailey was cleaning up the kitchen when Justin called.
“Hi.”
“Hey, babe. How is everything?”
“Good. Just finished dinner. Apryl is resting, and I’m getting ready for work.”
“I’ll stop by the club. Have some things to tell you. Plus, I love to see you walking back and forth behind the bar.”
Bailey giggled. “You are so bad.”
“Oh, baby. I thought you told me I was so good.” He chuckled.
“Bye, Justin.”
“See you later, babe.”
She hung up the phone with a big grin on her face then went to get ready for work.
“You sure you’ll be okay?” she asked Apryl.
“I’ll be fine.” She yawned. “These pills will have me knocked out before you get to the front door.”
“Okay, but call me if you need me.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
* * *
Bailey parked Justin’s car and checked three times that it was locked before she went inside. Being responsible for that piece of beauty was nerve-racking to say the least. She didn’t want anything to happen on her watch.
