Oscar

by SJ McCoy

  He grinned. “Me too. I didn’t realize it until you said it, but you’re right. This has been like making a new friend.”

  “Instead of having to listen to a woman talk until you can get in her panties?”

  That smile! If he’d wanted into her panties at that moment, she would have agreed. But he was right, she felt as though she was making a friend.

  “Guilty as charged. That’s usually me.” His smile faded, and he looked puzzled. “I told you, Grace, you’re an unusual lady.”

  “Thank you.”

  When he’d paid Gavin, they made their way out onto the street. He slung his arm around her shoulders, and she looked up into his eyes. Who would ever have guessed that Big Cat, the arrogant prick, would turn out to be a good guy?

  “I want to walk with you for a while. I want to take you home. I want a lot of things, Grace. But most of all I want to honor our agreement. So, I’m going to call TJ and ask him to come get us and drop you home.”

  If he’d said he wanted her to go home with him, she would have gone—eagerly. Part of her was disappointed; part of her was glad that he wasn’t only about having sex with her.

  They both turned to look as the limo pulled up to the curb.

  Oscar gave her a rueful smile. “There. Decision made for us. I was wavering, thinking I could call a cab to take us back to my place.”

  She wondered why TJ couldn’t do just that.

  As he’d already done a couple of times, Oscar seemed to read her mind. “I can’t ask TJ to do that. I already asked him not to let me take you home.”

  “Why?”

  He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “Because I don’t want to screw this up.”

  He lowered his head, and she lifted her lips to meet his. His kisses did strange things to her, not just the usual, expected, physical things—making her knees weak, and her head spin, and the heat build between her legs. No, he checked all those boxes. What was strange was that his kisses felt like coming home—only she’d never had a home.

  Chapter Eleven

  Grace sat at the counter in the coffee shop, stirring her coffee and staring into space.

  “Do you know what you want from him?” Spider interrupted her daydreams.

  She stared at him for a long moment. She’d just been thinking about what she wanted from Oscar, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Spider about it. In her imagination they’d just been lying on his sofa, they were down to their underwear, lips and limbs entangled, and she’d been very close to getting what she wanted. She shook her head. That wasn’t what Spider was talking about. “I want to see what he’s prepared to offer. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I could ask for an amount of money—but whatever amount it was might be much more, or much less than he’d be willing to give. I could ask for something specific, but that would rule out any ideas he might come up with himself. He’s a smart guy. He might have something in mind that hasn’t occurred to us. So, I’m just going to wait and see.”

  Spider nodded. “That makes sense. What time is he supposed to be here?”

  “Twelve-thirty.” She couldn’t wait to see him again. It had only been twelve hours since TJ had dropped her back at Louise’s last night. She hadn’t been able to sleep, tossing and turning—all hot and horny and wishing that he’d taken her home.

  Spider checked his watch. “Not long then. Do you mind if I follow you over there? I’ll give you some time to show him around and that, but I’d like to talk to him.”

  “Of course.” Although she tended to oversee the decisions regarding the center, Spider did just as much for the place as she did. She wasn’t trying to make this about her and what she wanted. It was about what would be best for everyone.

  “Okay. I’ll give you a half hour head start and then I’ll come over.”

  “Is there anything that you want from him?”

  Spider smiled. “I’ll be happy if he wants to do anything at all, as far as the center goes. I also want to have a word with him about my girl.”

  “Your girl?”

  “You, dumbass. You know what I mean.”

  “What?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I just want to remind him that you’re not some poor damsel in distress. That just because you’re coming to him for help, it doesn’t mean he can take advantage of you.”

  Grace laughed. “You think I could be taken advantage of?”

  “Not really, but you never know. I don’t want him trying.”

  “What if I do?”

  “If you do, that’s your business, and it won’t be my place to say a damned thing, not to you.” He held her gaze for a long moment. “Do you?”

  She nodded. “I’m going out with him again tonight and tomorrow.”

  “Fair enough. I knew you liked him. I won’t lay it on too hard, then.”

  “Thanks.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Oscar pulled up outside the coffee shop. TJ had offered to drive him, but it was his day off, and Oscar had wanted the time to himself. He was trying to get his head straight. Grace had him all turned around. He wanted her more than he could remember wanting any woman, but then he couldn’t remember having to wait this long to get a woman into bed either. He’d known her for ten days, and she still hadn’t slept with him. He shook his head. It was about more than that, though. She was in the way of his plans, and that bothered him. Normally, he didn’t let people get in the way. He sidelined them or sidestepped them—and occasionally bulldozed them if they were assholes.

  He didn’t want to sideline Grace. He didn’t even want to work around her. Her agenda was more important to him than his own. He sat up and looked himself in the eye in the rearview mirror. Had he really just admitted that? Yep. He had. It wasn’t that her agenda was more important because it was hers. It was more important because she was involved in something that was in line with his own values. She was doing something that mattered, something that made a difference in people’s lives. He was just …what? Entertaining himself by providing entertainment for others. He blew out a sigh. So? Entertainment wasn’t wrong. It was fun. Everyone needed fun in their lives—especially him. That was why he’d gotten into the club business. He’d needed fun after spending his time with stuffy bankers running the hedge fund.

  Had he just had enough fun? Was one club already more than enough? He needed substance in his life too. He needed balance. He might do a bunch of charity work with Clay and a couple of other foundations, but it wasn’t much. TJ had kept letting his disapproval be known since he’d been back. Oscar had kept telling him that he needed to find some balance in his life. He was so serious, so intense. He needed to learn to relax and laugh a little. But maybe Oscar was the one who needed more balance?

  He peered through the windshield. He could see Grace sitting inside the coffee shop. She was at the counter talking to the big burly dude she’d introduced him to the other night. He should get in there. Get on with this. Figure out what they wanted from him. What he could do to help. And while he was at it, maybe he could figure out what he wanted out of life.

  She looked up when he pushed the door open. Damn, she was beautiful. She was wearing a black top and those weird, but wonderful purple tights. He was more used to women in designer dresses, women with perfect hair and makeup, but none of them could hold a candle to her. She was fresh; she was real; she was doing a number on him, and he was powerless to resist. He smiled back, holding her gaze as he approached the counter.

  “Davenport.” He finally tore his eyes away from her at the sound of her friend’s voice.

  Spider. That was what she’d called him. Oscar nodded. He liked the guy. He wouldn’t want to piss him off, but he liked him. “Spider. It’s good to see you again.”

  Spider nodded. “You, too. I hope your visit to the center will give you an idea of what we do—of what people are going to lose when you tear the place down and open your new club.” />
  Oscar nodded. He wasn’t going to get into any kind of confrontation—especially since he didn’t know if there’d be any reason for it.

  Grace shot Spider a look that clearly told him to back off. Oscar was surprised when the guy smiled. “Hey, it’s no secret what’s going on here, is it?”

  Oscar smiled back. “I don’t suppose it is. I want to help; I do. I just need to get an idea of what the center’s all about. What you’re going to need.”

  “Why don’t we head over there, then?” Grace offered.

  “Are you coming?” Oscar met Spider’s gaze. He didn’t know what Grace might have told him about the two of them, but the guy wasn’t stupid. Oscar wanted to include him and to get his take on the center. Grace had said he played a big brother role in her life and getting him on his side wouldn’t do any harm.

  “Yeah. You two go on, and I’ll catch up with you in a little while.”

  “Okay. We’ll see you over there.”

  When they reached the car, Oscar opened the door for Grace to slide into the passenger side. When he slid into the driver’s seat, she greeted him with a smile.

  He turned to face her. “Hi.”

  “Hey.”

  “I want to lean over there and kiss you. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I let you go last night.”

  Her smile grew bigger. “So, why don’t you?”

  He did. He leaned across and slid his hand into her hair, pulling her closer so he could taste the plump pink lips that featured in so many of his fantasies lately. She kissed him back, gripping his shoulders and pulling him to her.

  When they finally came up for air, he held her gaze. For a moment, the pull of her was still so strong. He hadn’t been lying last night when he’d said he felt like he was making a new friend. He felt so close to her; she wasn’t just a hot body, a pretty face, or a physical pleasure he was chasing. She was so much more than that. He didn’t know what to do with it. It seemed she didn’t either. He could see so many questions in her eyes, then they were gone, and she smiled. “We should probably get out of here. I don’t think Spider would approve if he comes out and finds us making out.”

  Oscar shot a glance over his shoulder at the coffee shop. He felt a momentary flash of defiance. Grace was his girl, and if they wanted to kiss in the car, they would. No one could stop them. When the thought faded, he was surprised at himself. For starters, she wasn’t his girl. And for another thing, he could usually contain himself. He didn’t need to kiss a woman in his car. He usually waited until he could get a woman alone—his private room at the club, her place, the nearest room with a lockable door. He enjoyed women whenever and wherever, but he never did it in public. He dropped a kiss on the end of her nose. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  When he pulled up outside the center, he remembered his visit here with TJ. He’d sat in this very spot while TJ had gone inside. He’d started out worried that she might be trying to con him somehow. He’d felt pretty stupid as he calmed down, and especially after TJ came back out. The center didn’t have an online presence because it was as old-school as it got. They didn’t have all the permits and licenses they needed, so they flew under the radar to avoid getting shut down. He wondered if Grace would admit that to him. If he was going to get involved in some way, everything would have to be above board.

  She let herself out and came around to meet him. He climbed out and met her gaze. He had the feeling he was about to get to know her a whole lot better. He just hoped he’d like what he learned.

  She smiled. She didn’t seem as if she was trying to work him for help or for a donation. He knew how that felt. People did it all the time. Her smile was so fresh and eager. She wasn’t trying to work him; she wanted to share with him. He could tell, even if she wasn’t aware of it herself.

  “Okay, are you ready for this?”

  “I am.”

  “Saturday afternoon tends to be one of the busiest times of the week. There probably won’t be too many kids around, but the vets will be here. There’ll be people coming in to the food pantry.” She shrugged. “I don’t know who will be here. We should just go in and see.”

  He smiled. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  He let her go in ahead of him and stopped inside the door to let his eyes adjust. It was so bright out on the street and much less so in here. It was a huge open space. There was an area that looked like a cafeteria with tables and chairs set out at the far end. One corner housed several old worn out sofas and a TV. There was a pool table over in the back.

  He thought there was a guy bent down working on the pool table, but when he came into view, he was in a wheelchair. He was an older guy with wild gray hair and steely blue eyes that held an intelligence Oscar hadn’t expected to find here. He wheeled himself over to them and smiled when he reached them. The smile didn’t have many teeth in it, but the eyes had a lot of questions in them. “You okay, Gracie?”

  “Hey, Terry. I’m fine, thanks. How about you?”

  He nodded. “Good.” He turned to meet Oscar’s gaze. “So, you’re the moneybags kid?”

  Oscar chuckled and held his hand out. “I’m Oscar Davenport. It’s nice to meet you, Terry.”

  Terry shook with him. “How’d you get to be so rich? Did your mommy and daddy give it to you?”

  Oscar grinned. He was used to people who expected him to be a trust fund kid, an air-head who hadn’t earned his money. “I won’t lie. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but my parents took it away when I was eighteen.”

  Terry frowned at him, and Grace gave him a curious look.

  He nodded. “I come from a wealthy family, but my parents are smart people. They made us earn our own way in the world. When I graduated high school, they told me I was on my own financially. I worked my way through college and graduated with no debt. I built a tech company and sold it, then I repeated that a couple of times. Then I learned about investment banking and tried my hand at that. It turned out I was pretty good at it, but it was no fun.”

  Grace was staring at him wide-eyed. She’d no doubt believed—as most people did—that he’d had a major financial head start in life. He didn’t normally disabuse people of that belief. It didn’t matter to him what they thought. But this Terry guy was astute, and he obviously wanted to know the measure of the man in front of him. And perhaps that was just an excuse for Oscar to spell out for Grace that he hadn’t had everything handed to him in life.

  Terry surprised the hell out of him by winking. Oscar got the feeling that he knew all too well that the explanation had been for Grace’s benefit as much as his. “Your parents are good people, then. Are you?”

  “I like to think so.” Oscar looked around. “I’d like to think that I’ve found my way in life and that I do my bit to help people find theirs.”

  “And you think building a nightclub is the way to go?”

  Oscar met his gaze again. “It’s one way to go.”

  Terry nodded. “What do you think you can do to help here?”

  Oscar looked around again. The place was old. It was clean and well-maintained, within its limits. He had a feeling that if an inspector came through, the place would be shut down in a heartbeat. “That’s what I’m here to figure out. What does this place mean to you, and what would you do if it closed?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Grace stared at him. He’d said if it closed. Did that mean he was reconsidering?

  Terry shrugged. “I’m not going to throw myself on your mercy if that’s what you’re thinking. We might not have much, but we have some pride left, and we have balls.” He smiled at Grace. “Especially her. This place has transformed my life. It’s given me shelter; it’s given me food.” He patted his wheelchair and shot Grace a smile. “It’s given me mobility. But more than any of that, it’s given me community. If it shuts down, I’ll go back under the bridge. That doesn’t worry me. I’m an old fart. I’ve got no future worth crying over. What worries me is that I’v
e gotten to know all these kids.” He looked around the center. “The little kids, the kids still in school, the moms with babies who are still kids themselves. The kids who’ve come back from another stupid war only to be forgotten like we were back in the day. They’ve all got futures, and if this place goes, those futures don’t look too bright. I didn’t think there’d be any point telling you all of this. I thought you were just an asshole who wanted to build a club and make more money. Now I’ve met you, I want to tell you. You can make a difference. You’re proud of yourself for what you’ve done with your life, and I ain’t knocking that. All I’m saying is, imagine how proud you’d be if you could do that for all of their lives.” He gave Oscar a long, hard stare. “Imagine how proud your parents would be of you then.”

  Grace held her breath. She’d been determined not to make any impassioned speeches. Oscar was a businessman. She hadn’t been convinced appealing to him in that way would work. If she was totally honest, she hadn’t wanted to make it personal—hadn’t wanted to manipulate the bond she couldn’t deny was starting to form between them. Terry hadn’t made an appeal. He’d just laid it out the way he saw it, and she imagined it would be hard for anyone not to be touched by that. She turned to look at Oscar and was shocked by what she saw. His face was stony. If he was touched, he was hiding it well. She didn’t know what to say. Terry nodded at them and turned and wheeled himself away. She waited, wondering what Oscar would say.

  His lips were pressed together into a thin line. This was a new Oscar. She hadn’t seen him like this before, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. There was a little pulse jumping rapidly in his temple. If she had to describe the way he looked, she’d say he was angry. Shit! Was he? And why? He still hadn’t said anything when she saw the front door open, and Spider came striding in. He came straight toward them.

  Oscar turned to look at him.

  “How are we doing? What do you still need to know?”

  Oscar shook his head. “I’ve seen all I need to see.” With that, he turned on his heel and strode out.