“No, they have turned her against me. My children are demons.” Annie huffs, winking at me.
“I’ll help,” Darby offers, leaving Pierce’s side.
“Should she be on her feet?” Ryanne whispers.
“I’m fine,” Darby insists, overhearing.
“She’s good at that,” Maya adds, “plus she’s stubborn.”
“I’m only good at it because my family likes to talk behind my back. And stop listening to your dad. I’m not stubborn.”
“Well, we just met but it has to be said; you look like you’re about to pop.”
“Oh my God, will everyone stop!”
“Nope, get your ass off your feet,” Pierce demands, “or I’ll get you off them.”
Darby snaps her eyes to him and tosses her hair over her shoulder, going to the door. “You act like a caveman, you’re sleeping with Cole tonight.”
“We’ll see.” Pierce grins in a sexy way that shows he’s not concerned.
“Here we go,” Cole utters, looking amused.
“Evin, I have a truck full of equipment. You and Poppy want to tell me where it goes?” Warren breaks in.
My joyful mood dulls. “Take it back to your house. I don’t want any of it.”
Evin stands, his eyes dancing as he brushes his fingers through my hair, speaking to his dad. “Let’s get it inside.”
“Seriously, Evin, I don’t want a wheelchair. We weren’t even using the one in Vegas. I’ll compromise he can leave the shower seat.”
I don’t add that the shower seat is only for when Evin doesn’t shower with me and support my weight.
“Rexwell gave me orders to have one here. You don’t use it, fine, but it’s staying.”
“I agree, Popsy. All these pregnant women can’t handle you if you fall. Better to be safe for the sake of the next generation,” Dante chirps.
“No one asked you,” I gripe, knowing he’s right. The wheelchair is a precaution.
“We brought you something that might help bring that smile back.” Lynda produces a bag out of nowhere, handing it over. Devin clutches it on my lap, gnawing on the edge.
I glance inside and my emotions take another swing. Inside is a new yoga mat, blocks, elastic bands, and an inflatable medicine ball. “Thank you,” is all I can say over my scratchy throat.
“Evin said you left your things back in Vegas. These are for your home training.”
“They are perfect.” I raise my eyes to the woman and her husband considered a part of the extended Graham family, trying to control the urge to burst into tears.
She acts fast, hugging me so my face is hidden, and giving me time to suck in a few deep breaths. “You’re where you need to be. We are all pushing until you dance again.”
I nod, beating down the reaction at her kindness. That’s it, she’s said it. I want to dance again. And at this moment, it hits me hard. I will dance again. No matter what. “I will dance again,” comes out raspy.
She backs away, her eyes warm with love.
“Y’all about done? The martinis are ready,” Annie calls.
“Shit, you’ll need the wheelchair tonight if you have one of those.”
“Then bring it in.” I glance up at him. “Let’s enjoy our welcome home.”
Chapter 31
Evin
“Be back in a while. You need anything, call me.” I kiss Poppy, rubbing my thumb across her cheek.
“I will,” she smiles, “stop worrying.”
“Seriously, leave already.” Ryanne points to the door, scowling. “Go have a beer, or five, order our food and give me some alone time. This is my last night with my best friend for weeks!”
“Got him.” Dante presses on my shoulder, cutting his eyes to the door. “Let’s go.”
He follows me, sliding into my truck, and before I’m out of the space, he’s barking, “Dude, what is up with you?”
“Dude?” I crook an eyebrow.
“Yes, you’re even more protective than normal, and that’s saying a lot.”
I grip the back of my neck, feeling the sharp tension that’s been a dull ache all day. “Don’t know what it is, but something’s off.”
“Something’s off? Care to elaborate? From where I stand, everything is coming together perfectly.”
“Marco called early this morning.”
“So? He contacts you every day.”
“No, man, he called,” I emphasize the word, “didn’t text. And he did it from a secure, unavailable number.”
“What the hell?”
“Exactly, gave me some bullshit excuse.”
“And you don’t believe it?”
“I didn’t exactly care. He asked about Poppy’s appointment with Rexwell, which I’d already reported to him through text. But he pried deeper, wanting to know specific details on her rehabilitation here in South Carolina.”
“The man’s been prying since day one.”
“This was different. He changed the tune of the conversation by getting personal. He asked things about my house, a security system, the safety of the neighborhood, shit like that. Then he wanted to know if someone was going to be with Poppy when I wasn’t around.”
Dante sits up straighter, twisting to face me. “Be with her how?”
“When I questioned that shit, he backtracked, covering by offering a private nurse if needed.”
“A nurse? Pips doesn’t need a nurse.”
“Exactly, and he knows it.”
“What else did he want?”
“I was waiting for him to ask to speak to her, figuring that’s why he called, but he never did. He hung up with the standard ‘take care of her’.”
“The same way he ends his daily texts?”
“Yes, but it was his tone. It was assertive like he was giving me an order and there was a hint of worry.”
“Well, he wasted his breath there. Shit, I hate to say this, but have you thought about Natasha?”
“It was my first thought.” I clench the wheel tighter. Anger burns in my blood thinking about how Tasha dodged the protection order by leaving town. It’s hard to prove someone is stalking you when they are across the world.
I debate sharing the next piece of news, but if my instincts are onto something, Dante needs to be in the loop.
“There’s something else.”
“From Marco?”
“No, I got a call from a longtime client today while we were at my parents’ house. Tony requested a meeting on Monday. Said it was urgent.”
“You’ve been out of the office for an extended amount of time.”
“My being out of the office isn’t an issue. None of my clients have suffered any personal commitment. Most of them didn’t know I was in Vegas. What’s unusual is him calling me on a Saturday to discuss business. When I say he requested an appointment, it was more of a demand.”
“Is he the needy type?”
I let out a loud, caustic laugh and cast my eyes to him. “Tony is anything but high-maintenance. He’s been with me since my early days in investment management. I’ve made the man a multi-millionaire.”
“Humble brag.”
“Nothing humble about it. I have a personal relationship with all my clients, but with him, it’s always been tight. He and I are a lot alike, or we were before I met Poppy.”
“Seriously, maybe you’re looking too much into this. Didn’t the market make a turn last week?”
“He’s safe and he knows it. I emailed his review on Thursday night after Poppy’s appointment.”
“Maybe he didn’t like what he saw.”
“Dante, two months ago, he sat in my office and busted my balls for a good fifteen minutes after he learned I’d eloped. When I say we’re a lot alike, I mean the brotherhood of lifetime bachelors. He loves the women, but mention commitment and he’s out the door before his pants are zipped. The man has it all: success, wealth, looks, charm—many broken hearts in his wake, and yet the women keep coming back. His parting words were somet
hing about losing a brother to the power of pussy.”
“Did you kick his ass?”
“Didn’t cross my mind, because that’s him. An hour later, a thousand-dollar bottle of scotch was delivered with a note.”
“What did the note say?”
I open my console, locate the card, and toss it to him.
‘Fuck, Graham, one look at her and I’d hand over my man card, too. Happy for you. Look forward to sharing a drink with your new bride.’
“Okay, he’s not a dick?”
“Never to me, until today. It was like talking to a stranger. He was all business. Not even a hint of the friend I know. When we hung up, I checked my email and five more meeting requests were waiting. All of them from clients in Tony’s inner circle. I called Tessa.”
“Did she know what was going on?”
“Nothing, except she mentioned seeing Tony last week at a fundraising event. According to her, he was with a woman that wasn’t local. She looked more New York socialite than Charleston bred. One minute in her presence and Tessa said she felt her skin crawl.”
“I know a lot of socialites that make my skin crawl. Most of the high society bitches have earned their stereotype.”
“You met Tessa last night. She’s raised three rowdy sons. Not to mention putting up with me. Nothing makes her skin crawl.”
“Okay, that’s a lot to process.”
“I know to be on alert with Marco, but after Tony’s call, my gut instincts kicked in. Something’s not right.”
“I get it, my gut is rolling now as well. But what does a dickhead dad Governor and a longtime friend-slash-client have in common?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve made a call to find out.”
“A call? To who?”
I glance over as the answer comes to him. “Scottie.”
“Scottie,” I confirm.
“Did he have any theories?”
“He’s locating Tasha to see if there’s something to worry about there.”
The cab of the truck is quiet as we drive through town. My unease settles a bit the closer we get.
“Where are we going?”
I pull up the picture on my phone and toss it to him. “What do you think?”
“Think about what? It looks like a standard, southern, two-story red brick building in need of some serious TLC.”
“It’s approximately sixty-two hundred square feet with rooftop access. Plumbing, piping, electric, HVAC—all solid. Needs work, but not much. There are several entrances and an elevator. The parking lot in back is newly resurfaced.”
“Great. Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I bought it.”
He inhales deep, sucking all the air out of the truck.
“For Poppy,” I go on.
“Oh, Jesus, is this…?”
“I hope so. It’s a highly desired area that’s safe. It’s near Darby’s bakery and less than two miles from my office.”
“Are you telling her?”
“Not yet.”
“Evin, this is… this is… You bought her a dance studio! More so, you bought her a building!” His voice goes pitchy.
“I need to know what you think. From what I understand, this is your studio, too.”
The truck takes on a new vibe, and he stares out the window. After a full minute, he speaks low, “I’m not ready to give it up. And more importantly, I’m not ready for her to be gone.”
“Hell, Dante, I’m not either. This will be waiting when she’s ready. Are you having second thoughts?”
“Fuck no, that’s not what I meant. Pips and me, we’re in this for the long run.”
“Well, I’m a part of her long run, and I decided. The week she was in Charleston, as soon as she told me about your retirement plans, I contacted a broker. That broker was Tony Sanchez.”
The connection and name click into place. So does the timeline.
“You did this before her accident?”
“Yes. It didn’t take long with my connections. It may not look like much, but it’s the best. And I don’t mean the best available, the best fucking real estate deal in the city. Luckily, I got the first option before they shopped around it. This pissed a lot of people off. I hadn’t even closed yet and brokers were calling, throwing substantial cash offers my way.”
“You’re taking a tremendous risk.”
“Not my first, and I’m confident in my decision. If Poppy isn’t on board, we have options.”
“Man, you don’t mess around.”
“Nope. Didn’t get to where I am by letting opportunities float.”
“When are you telling Poppy?”
I pull my lip through my teeth, not ready to share the full details of my plan. “Not now.”
“That’s vague.”
“She has enough happening.”
I keep my eyes on the road, feeling the heat of his disapproving glare.
“Dante—”
“You’re worried,” he guesses partly correct.
“Worried and cautious. Dr. Rexwell highly recommended I meet with a behavioral specialist before Poppy was released.”
“Highly recommended you meet with a behavioral specialist? You mean he made you meet with a shrink before he’d discharge her?”
“Basically.”
“Not surprising, but what does that have to do with you hiding that you bought Poppy a fucking building?”
“It’s not the building, it’s what it represents.”
“It represents her over-the-top, out-of-his mind, obsessively-driven husband bought her a goddamned building to fulfill her dreams!”
“Jesus,” I cut my eyes to him, my lip twitching, “you’re quite the drama queen when you get riled up.”
“Who does that? Although I don’t know why I’m surprised, considering you own the building where your sister works.”
“I half-own that one. This one’s all mine, but you’re losing focus. Can we go back to the key point?”
He continues his theatrics, doing an all-over body shiver before settling back. “Okay, the key point. The shrink thinks it’s too much right now?”
“Not what I said, she’s concerned about what Poppy perceives.”
He stays quiet and then understanding dawns on him. “She’s scared Poppy will see it as you giving up hope.”
“Yes, but I’m not.”
“She shouldn’t come back to Cirque,” he admits lowly. “I say that because she’s never going to fly through the air without terrifying me. The sounds of those pops…”
My chest seizes, and I grind my teeth. “I need your help here, but if it’s too much.”
He straightens. “I’m good. I may not retire immediately, but you are giving my Pips her studio.”
The building comes into view with Pierce, Miller, Warren, and my dad waiting by their trucks.
“Good lord, the testosterone in your crowd is almost too much.”
I chuckle under my breath, parking in the front spot.
He jumps out, and I follow, letting us in.
He doesn’t wait for me, pushing by and taking his tour. The rest of us walk through, the Kendrick men explaining in depth the last appraisal report since I was in Vegas. The elevator sounds several times, each time it lands on the bottom floor. Dante steps out taking pictures, then disappears back upstairs.
A few minutes later, he comes down, his focus on me. “I have forty. Pips has about the same. My family will pitch in if needed.”
“You talking about money?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not taking your money.”
“I won’t do this without you taking my investment.” His eyes go steely, staring hard. “That’s the deal.”
Dad mutters under his breath. The other men move away.
“I am doing this for my wife.”
“Poppy Malone and I have a deal. This is our dream.”
“Her name is—”
“Her name is Poppy Malone to those in the industry.”
He cuts me off. “She carries clout, popularity, and desirability around the country. People will come for her. You want her to be Poppy Graham, but I’m building my damn business plan on Poppy fucking Malone.”
A man I’ve never seen appears and I earn new respect for him. “She’ll work her way into Poppy Graham.”
“Probably, but get used to her stage name being our draw.”
“Got it, anything else?”
“Yeah.” He turns to Pierce and Miller. “You in charge of making this perfect?”
“That’s why we’re here,” Pierce answers.
He looks over at me. “This would be better with Poppy’s input.”
“Just give us an idea of what you think. Nothing is final until she agrees.”
“Down here can section into multiple studios. We’ll need a fully-functioning video system for choreography. This wall of windows facing the street would be a perfect place for the lobby. There’s a lot of potential for the upstairs.”
“I’ll take care of the upstairs.”
“Walk us around and explain how you see things, and we’ll get some sketches together,” Miller prompts.
“Okay, let’s start from the back door.” He stops mid-step and looks at me, his face full of approval. “If you pull this off, I take it back.”
With no other explanation, he spins and walks away.
The memory of my wedding night slams into me, and I chuckle, shaking my head. “Nah man, I’ll never be good enough for her.”
I snatch the phone, see the display, and bark out, “Tell me you have news.”
“Someone didn’t get their morning dose of happiness,” Scottie chirps. “I thought you’d be much more chipper.”
“I should be at home with my wife, and instead, I dragged my ass out of bed and was in the office at six a.m. to prepare for whatever clusterfuck is coming my way. Not to mention Marco continues to send me cryptic messages. Do you have news for me?”
The mood through the line shifts. “Unfortunately, I have little. But I can tell you Natasha Bindel left Africa. She’s keeping up the façade on her social media accounts, but our investigator said she flew into JFK two weeks ago. Since then, she’s been quiet. No credit card activity and no calls to her parents or friends.”
“I need that order of protection reinstated.”
Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) Page 32
