Not Always

by Ancelli

  “How can I help you?”

  Javier was the first to speak. “We’re here to see Phil Thompson.”

  José glanced around the space, looking for the man’s office. The name etched on the gold plate of the second door was exactly who he was looking for. Javier nodded at him. He’s got my back.

  “Is he expecting you?” She opened her agenda, trailing her finger along the page. “I don’t see anything in his calendar.”

  “He has one now.” Knowing he had to make it quick, José ambled toward the office. As soon as he stepped over that threshold, she was going to call security.

  He looked back, making sure his brother was all right. Javier was speaking politely to the woman.

  “Sir!” She stood. “You can’t go in there.”

  “Watch me.” José stormed into the office.

  “Silvia!” Phil yelled without looking up. “How many times—” He finally looked up, and his jaw dropped in surprise. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  He slammed the door shut, and locked it. Phil jerked in his seat. José was on a mission: he wouldn’t leave the asshole’s office until he got through to the guy. No one would make Jewel feel threatened enough to pull out a gun.

  José cracked his neck. “We need to have a talk.” He glared at the scumbag in front of him.

  Phil met his stare. “About?”

  He could see Phil’s eyes slowly turning red, as if he was going to cry.

  “Keep away from Jewel!”

  “Excuse me?” Phil stood and placed his palms on his desk.

  José took four strides and stopped in front of the furniture. “You put your hands on the wrong woman.”

  Phil held his gaze. “I would never hurt her.”

  José stabbed his finger in the air, then made his voice low and deadly. “If you ever touch Jewel again, I will break every bone in your fucking body!”

  “Are you threating me?” Phil shouted.

  “I don’t make threats.” José glared at the idiot.

  Phil smirked. “Jewel isn’t your woman. A thug like you could never replace me.”

  José knew the man was egging him on, trying to push his buttons. It wouldn’t work. He clenched his jaw tight, grinding his teeth, then lifted his lips into a sarcastic smile. “A thug, huh?”

  “You could never make Jewel’s body feel the way I can.” Phil smiled, fixing his pants, leaving no doubt about what he was insinuating.

  José slammed his fist into the desk, splintering the faux mahogany wood. He couldn’t imagine another man touching her, seeing Jewel naked. She’d become his lifeline and he wasn’t going let anyone take her away. He lifted his head and narrowed his eyes. Phil jumped back when he looked in José’s eyes. He must have seen the anger, the intent he had to crush the bastard.

  “Fucking say her name again,” José spoke between gritted teeth, “it will be the last time you do.” He cracked his knuckles.

  José could hear loud voices coming from the other side of the door. Javier was arguing with the secretary and two male voices added to the commotion. Must be security.

  “You don’t scare me.” Despite his words, Phil’s tone was rattled.

  José eased around the furniture to stand in front of Phil, and smirked. “You need to fear me.” His voice was low and vicious. Phil was shaking like a leaf, Jewel was right he was all bark, no bite, but he knew his type. Phil was the kind that wouldn’t have a problem getting someone else to do his dirty work.

  There was banging on the office door. José knew Javier had held them off as long as he could. A man’s voice echoed through the barrier. “Mr. Thompson, are you okay?”

  “It was nice speaking with you.” José brushed Phil’s suit, startling him. “Next time, there will be more than just talk.” José winked at him. He placed his palms on the desk and knocked everything that was on it off to the floor. “Jewel has me now. Remember what I said. Keep away from her.”

  He marched over to the door and swung it open. Javier stood in front of two security guards. José smiled and nodded at his brother.

  “You are going to pay for this!” Phil yelled.

  Javier spun on his heel and followed José. “Are the cops on their way?”

  José chuckled. “Naw, I didn’t touch the fucker. I wanted to, but I can’t afford to get locked up.” Instead of waiting for the elevator they took the stairs.

  “I almost had Sylvia believing you were Phil’s college buddy, until he started yelling.” They took two steps at a time.

  “I hope I got my message across.” José swung the glass door open, and waited for his brother to move past him. “Because next time, my fist will do all the damn talking.”

  ***

  Jewel was falling asleep trying to grade history essays. Once again, José was late. He’d started coming home later and later. Jewel tried not to think of what he might be doing. She shook her head and picked up the red pen. She was about to resume grading papers when the front door cracked open. She glanced up, staring into the foyer. “José?” No one answered. “José, is that you?” She moved to stand and looked down. A small ball of fur with a big, red bow tied around its collar ran toward her. There was a note attached to it. “Oh my God!”

  Jewel got down on her knees and picked up the puppy. Snuggling the little animal, she read the piece of paper.

  Muñeca, Coco was just like me. He had nowhere to go…he reminded me of the person I used to be until I met you. I found a home in you and hope he will too.

  Jewel couldn’t stop smiling. She was a goner. José was everything she’d been missing.

  He strolled through the door, looking so damn sexy. Even from a distance, she could feel the electricity between them.

  Jewel placed the puppy on the floor, and stood. Running up to him, she jumped into his arms. “Joe, every day with you is a surprise.”

  “Is that a good thing?” He caressed her back.

  Jewel nuzzled his neck. “I’m so happy you’re mine.”

  His hands gripped her ass. “Girl, you make me a better man. I would do anything to see a smile on your face.”

  “Even when I’m nagging you?” She chuckled against his skin.

  “Even then.” He brushed his lips over her hair.

  “Coco…” Jewel arched her eyebrow.

  “The lady at the pound said he’s potty trained.” He bent down and picked up the shaggy puppy. “Do you like him?”

  “Yes! How did you know I wanted a puppy?”

  “You told me you always wanted a pet growing up, but your parents said no.” He observed her. “I want all your dreams to come true, even the ones in your past.”

  Jewel had to admit she was in love. She knew the real José. To the world, José was a hard man, but to her he was so tender and sweet. The man had crept into her heart when she wasn’t looking. She stretched her legs down to the floor.

  He pulled an envelope out of his back pocket and handed it to her. “I found this outside.”

  Jewel peered at the black envelope. It was the same one she’d been receiving every month. She took it and opened it. “Another freaking puzzle piece.” Who was sending her these pieces?

  “Another puzzle piece?” José sat heavily into the sofa.

  “Yes.” She dropped it on the coffee table. The other six pieces she had connected, but she still couldn’t see what it meant. She was tired of the games. “At first I thought it was Phil, but now I don’t know.”

  “Maybe you have a secret admirer,” he said sarcastically.

  “I’m just going throw them away.” She sat next to him.

  “You’re not curious?” He put his feet over her lap.

  “Nope.” She grabbed the dog. “I don’t like games, ’specially if I don’t know the rules.”

  “Rules are meant to be broken.” José gazed at her.

  “Are we still talking about the same thing?”

  “Maybe it was your friend Chris.” She noticed he hadn’t answered her question. Jewel,
let it go.

  She smirked, knowing José didn’t care for Chris, but he was her friend. “I asked him, and he said no.”

  “And you believed him.” José petted the pup. “Why are you still talking to him?”

  “He is my friend, that’s why.” Jewel gave him a side-glance.

  “A friend that asked you to marry him.” José watched her.

  “Who told you that?” When had he found that out? She hadn’t told him.

  “Chris did.” The puppy moved over to his lap. “He made sure I knew he had you first.”

  “Had me?” Jewel raised her voice, sitting up straight. “I never slept with Chris.”

  José’s facial expression softened. “I didn’t mean it like that.” José sighed. “He wanted me to know that he was in line if I messed up.”

  “Chris is a friend. Yes, I dated him, but nothing came of it. He asked me to marry him after four months of dating.” Jewel placed her feet under her legs. “I said no. He’s a nice guy, but he wanted things too fast for me.”

  José was making her uneasy as he gazed at her. She wondered what he was thinking. “He wasn’t the man for me.” Jewel stared at him. “I’m happy I didn’t get involved with him because then I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to be with you.”

  José’s eyes sparkled as he watched her. “Good thing you didn’t marry that fool, because you are mine.”

  Jewel chuckled. “Yours, huh?”

  He leaned over, covering her side with his body. “Yep, don’t you ever forget that,” he whispered against her collarbone, making her giggle. “How was your day?” José moved her over, and settled behind her.

  She noticed that he’d changed the subject again. “It was okay. How was yours?”

  “I took care of some business, and I got us a pet.” He combed his fingers through her hair.

  “Thank you, baby.” Jewel laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. This was where she wanted to be, close to his heart. This was what she wanted. This was home.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “I can’t believe you fell asleep in church,” Javier uttered. “Church! Ma would kill you.”

  José chuckled. “No, she would pop me upside the head.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  They were at Jewel’s parents house for Sunday dinner. José always had an excuse not to attend their family dinner ritual. After church he would leave and go home, let Jewel be with her family. Not this time. Mrs. O’Neal had gotten to him.

  “Why are you so tired?” Javier asked him.

  “I told you I’ve been working at the restaurant after hours, trying to make some extra cash to buy Jewel something nice for her birthday.” José sipped from his glass of water. Jewel didn’t want to do anything for her birthday. She said she wanted to stay in and celebrate with him. She mentioned she had something planned. “I know she’s getting suspicious, but she hasn’t asked me why I’m getting home so late.”

  “Because she trusts you.”

  “I would say to a certain point. I see the way she looks at my clothes when I come home.” José gazed at Jewel. She was gorgeous, wearing a black pantsuit. Her kinky curls were wound in a tight bun off her neck, making her almond eyes lift at the corners. She was on the other side of the room talking with Janice and Jazmine. Those sisters were a handful when they got together, always messing around with their mother, teasing her about how she’d changed. Michael and his wife argued all the time. They were outside, fighting about a whole lot of nothing, and Jewel’s dad had been eyeing him since he walked through the front door. “I’m going to tell her soon.”

  “What are you trying to get her?” Javier grinned.

  “Jewelry.” José couldn’t stop staring at his woman. “Diamonds are a girl best friend.”

  Javier chuckled. “Damn, diamonds? The most expensive thing you’ve ever bought a girl was a movie ticket.” He laughed louder.

  José arched his brows.

  “Just kidding.” Javier placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I think Jewel would like anything you give her because it’s coming from you.”

  “I hope so.”

  “When is Carlitos coming?”

  “Next month.” José frowned, making his disappointment evident. He’d expected his son to spend the whole summer with him, but Olga had gone behind his back and made plans for Carlitos to visit her grand parents in Panama. His son hadn’t seen them in years. He didn’t have the heart to tell him he couldn’t go, even though it meant he’d only have Carlitos for one week.

  “Is Olga going with him to Panama?”

  “Yeah.” José scratched his head. “She did this on purpose. Summer was supposed to be my time with him.”

  “You need to take her to court for visitation rights,” Javier argued.

  “Believe me, I plan to.” Jewel’s father Paul, walked toward them. José bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Here we go.” His comment made Javier look up.

  “May I have a word with you?” Paul stopped before José. “Alone, please.” He cast a glance at Javier.

  “Excuse me.” Javier walked away, picking up Nicolas on his way to the living room.

  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you.” Paul glared at José. “You’ve been avoiding my calls.”

  “I’ve been busy.” José crossed his arms over his chest.

  “You’ve been living with my daughter for how many months now?” Paul peered at José.

  José didn’t owe anyone any explanation for anything he did, but it seemed since he’d moved to this town, that was all he did.

  “We’ve been living together for almost eight months, but she’s been my girlfriend for six.” José made sure he cleared that up.

  “Do you think the way you’re living is right?” Paul asked in a stern voice.

  José bit the inside of his cheek.

  “What are your intentions with my daughter?”

  “As long as I treat your daughter with respect and she’s happy, that’s all that matters to me.”

  “You really believe that’s all that matters? What about job security, taking care of her? Marriage! My daughter doesn’t need a man mooching off her.”

  José smirked. “I have never asked your daughter for a thing. I provide for myself.”

  “Can you provide for her, too?”

  “No disrespect, sir, but what Jewel and I do or don’t do is no one’s business but ours.” José could see the anger in her dad’s eyes. He wasn’t going to be intimidated by anyone. Javier had told him that Jewel’s father would be the one to accept him and welcome him into the family, but her mom would be trouble. That hadn’t been the case: her father was the problem while her mother had welcomed him with open arms. “Jewel is my queen.”

  Her father glared at him. “A queen needs a king, and from where I’m standing you are not it.”

  “Sir, who are you to judge me?” José’s body started tightening.

  “Her father!” He raised his voice, making Javier glance back. “I want the best for her.”

  José clenched his jaw. He really was trying to be respectful. “And who says it’s not me?” He focused at her dad’s baldhead.

  “Me!” The man huffed. “She doesn’t need an ex-convict messing up her life.”

  “And you’re the Christian.” José sneered. “What happened to forgiveness? God forgives and accepts anyone who comes to him, but you can’t look past what I did thirteen years ago when I was a kid. I made a mistake, but I’ve rectified it, and I won’t let you or anyone else punish me for it.” He scanned the older man’s face. His full lips were thinned. “I don’t care what other people think about me. Just Jewel.”

  “If you hurt her,” Paul spoke between gritted teeth. “Don’t think for a second that because I’m a Christian I won’t hurt you.”

  José chuckled, imagining Paul coming after him. “I don’t doubt that, sir, but it won’t come to that.” José moved away, then turned back. “
Where were you when she was being mistreated by her ex-husband? Did you have this discussion with him? Did you harm him when he hurt your daughter?” José stepped away. “If you’ll excuse me, I think Mrs. O’Neal said dinner is ready.” José strode away, joining the family.

  His hands were sweating as he rubbed them together. He was sick and tired of people judging him because of his past. He was better than his past. His future was bright and no one was going to hinder that. Jewel took his hand in hers and entwined their fingers together. José smiled, gazing at the amazing woman next to him. Her simple touch made him feel much better. With her by his side, he could handle anything thrown at him.

  Adults sat at a large, black table decorated in pastel colors. Mr. and Mrs. O’Neal sat down at each end. There was an abundance of food set across the surface: ham, fried chicken, greens, potato salad, mac-and-cheese, vegetables, rolls, cake, pie, and the Spanish rice he had made. The children sat at a small, round table with their plates already served. Haven banged her little fist on her high chair, waiting for food.

  “Here you go.” Jazmine placed a small bowl with rice on her tray. Haven dug in with her fingers and began eating.

  Jewel laughed. “She doesn’t play when it comes to her food.”

  “No, she doesn’t.” Michael’s wife Kanisha smiled.

  “Let’s say a prayer.” Jewel’s dad bowed his head. Everyone closed their eyes and listened respectfully.

  “Amen.”

  They all started serving themselves. Bowls and plates were passed around the table. The aroma of the food had his stomach growling. José ignored the dirty looks Paul shot at him from across the table. He sighed as he twisted in his chair to face Jewel. There was nothing more to say to her father.

  He grabbed a roll. Janice threw a pea at Jewel, and stifled a laugh.

  “Grow up, Janice!” Jewel hollered.

  Jazmine giggled. “You two will never change.”

  “Speaking about that, Janice…” Jewel squinted her eyes at her older sister.

  “What?” Janice lifted her head and stared at Jewel.