Kemi shook his head and took the sunglasses off. “All you’re missing is loafers. Penny loafers and you could be the black guy in the background on Happy Days. Guess I should be grateful your colors match.”
“Keep it up, and I’ll go home.”
“It’s always all or nothing with you,” Kemi sniped, smoothing a hand over the sleek hair he’d combed straight back and fastened at the nape of his neck. The motion was not lost on the approaching full-bodied red-haired waitress in the tight-fitting white shorts. Seeing her smile, sensing advantage, he hooked a thumb into his belt and smiled back.
Harry smiled politely when her eyes and big toothy grin turned to him.
A woman on a mission, the redhead bounced on her toes and pivoted, moving hips first toward the brothers. “Hi,” she drawled. “My name’s Betty. Let me help you two good-lookin’ fellas to a table.”
A quick glance at Kemi told Harry that his brother found Betty charming. A quick look at Betty said she shared the sentiment. It was Kemi who said, “That would be nice, Betty.” But it was Harry’s hand she closed into her firm dry grip.
“Y’all come on with me now.”
Harry left his hand in hers and let her lead them to a table. The table had four chairs. Did Betty know they were meeting others, or did she plan to come back and join them, enjoy them at her leisure? Maybe bring a friend? Leaving Harry to wonder about her intentions, Betty sauntered off with a lingering over-the-shoulder glance and a knowing smile.
“Nice lady,” Kemi said, aware of his brother’s restraint. “Think the menu is still the same?”
Relaxing, Harry stretched his long legs out in front of him. “Hope so, especially the wings. I used to love them.” He propped his arms on the chair and looked around the room. “So tell me about your new lady friend, the one we’re here to meet.”
“What is there to tell?” Akemi raised a brow and imitated his brother’s posture. “Women, especially beautiful women, can be cautious. Julia is beautiful and cautious.”
“This is not the kind of place you bring a cautious woman to. This is the kind of place you bring your buddies to for a beer before or after a game. This is a hangout kind of place.”
“Are you trying to get me to tell you that I told you a little white lie to get you here tonight?” When Harry inclined his head, Kemi gasped dramatically and splayed a hand across his chest.
“Now that hurts. It really does. All I did was ask you to be my wingman, watch my back, and sing a little karaoke. This is my first date with a pretty customer I met at Kin Kura. It just so happens that she’s also the sister of one of my employees, so I have to make a good impression. Besides, it’s not as if you had anything better to do tonight.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know you. Kishi kaisei.”
Harry gave his brother a dark look. “So you figure it’s your job to wake me from death and return me to life, huh? What is the sister like?”
“Gorgeous,” Kemi said. “Just the kind of woman you would choose for yourself—if you were in a choosing frame of mind, that is.”
Harry opened his mouth, but Betty appeared with a suggestive wink, freshly applied cologne, a pair of long-necked bottles of cold beer, and menus. She took her time setting the beer on thick cardboard coasters.
“Thought you could use these while you decide what else you want,” she breathed, handing over menus. When neither of the brothers took her up on her offer, she passed a tongue over her painted lips, then let her long fingers trace the strong line of Harry’s shoulder.
“We’re actually waiting for two other people,” Harry said. “We’ll wait for them before we order.”
“Boys’ night out always makes my job interesting.” Betty tipped her head and let her lashes fall low over richly blue eyes as she brushed her fingers along Harry’s shoulder. “Lemme know when you’re ready.” She turned on her toes and let her easy strut and emphatic hips carry her back to the long wooden bar.
“Happy birthday to you,” Kemi whispered seeing Betty turn her back to the bar and park a sandaled foot on the brass rail at its base. “She’s flirting with you,” he said, claiming his beer.
“How do you know it’s me? Could be you.” Harry picked up the second bottle and tipped it casually to his lips.
“Nah, this is all you. She’s damned near about to climb up your leg and settle in your lap. She likes the more solid, mature type. She’s strictly interested in you, Harry. This is just the kind of night out you needed.”
“If you say so.”
Kemi nodded wisely. “I do say so. As a matter of fact, since you’re here, and you’re already the man with everything, I say we should call this a kind of casual birthday celebration for you—since you’re here, and the ladies are coming. Maybe Betty will find you some cake and we can all sing ‘Happy Birthday’.”
Harry looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. “Anybody else you want to invite?”
“Aw, come on, Harry. Loosen up, it’s not like you were going to hang out with the guys. Besides, you might actually have some fun. You just had a birthday—and I went and found you a beautiful woman. You need to show a little gratitude.”
Okay, score a point for Kemi. He’s right; I don’t have a lot of friends left in Atlanta. The old ones got married or just drifted away over time. He tried to think of the last time he’d talked with any of the men he’d grown up with. Most of them had grown into their own lives and out of Atlanta. He could count the ones still in the city on one hand. And the last time he’d seen any of them had been…how long ago?
Six or eight months ago, he remembered. AJ and Dench at that fundraiser the last time I was home…That’s a long time, considering they really are men I call friends.
“You’re right,” Harry grumbled, smoothing his sleeve. “I guess this could be fun, after all.”
* * *
“This had just better be fun, is all I have to say,” Bianca mumbled, watching Julia’s car pull into the lot and ease to a stop beside hers. “She drives like a little old lady, creeping into the space like that.”
Climbing out of her car, Julia paused to give her top a nudge. Not quite satisfied, she pushed her beasts into a more pleasing arrangement beneath her halter top.
“Whoa! She didn’t do that like a little old lady.” Bianca’s mouth dropped when Julia bent and twisted her top. She was muttering at her ill-behaved bosom when Bianca walked over to her.
“You and the girls having a problem?”
Caught in the act, Julia tried to regain a little dignity. “I just want to look good.”
“We both know that if you want to look good, you don’t leave the house in clothes you’re going to have to fix all night,” Bianca pointed out.
“Just tell me you have a safety pin.” Julia gave herself a little shake, then gathered a bit of fabric at the back of her neck. “For right here.”
Bianca dug into her purse to find a pin and neatly pushed it into the fold of fabric her sister held in place. Satisfied with the rescue effort, Julia’s fingers skimmed over her bodice. “Better, right?”
“You look fine.”
“So do you. I like your hair like that,” Julia said, her eyes traveling from her sister’s hair to her clothing. The white jeans looked like they’d been spray-painted along the curves of Bianca’s hips and legs, and the golden skin of her shoulders and arms peeked seductively above and through the sheer fabric of her teal blouse. “That man doesn’t stand a chance.”
“I beg your pardon?” Gold bangles jangling, Bianca parked a hand on her hip. “What did you just say?”
Caught, Julia angled her face away and busied herself with a dangling earring. “I said we look so good, those men don’t stand a chance.”
“You know I hear the lie behind that, don’t you?”
Wanting to get away from their parked cars, Julia kept her fingers on the earring and began to walk toward the street. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then why are you walking so fast? Huh? Why?” Bianca demanded, hurrying behind her sister.
Ignoring the gravel beneath her feet, Julia tightened her fingers on her faulty earring and quickened her pace. “Pay for the parking. We’re late, and they’re probably waiting for us.”
“This is some kind of a trick,” Bianca muttered, opening her purse. When she looked up again, Julia was headed for Dugan’s front door.
The balding man in the Dugan’s T-shirt looked up and flashing his dentures, jerked a thumb toward the sign at his side. “Eight bucks, pretty lady.”
When Bianca handed the money to him and refused change, the man rocked in his chair and grinned. “Hope you have a good time in there.”
“Thanks.” Hoping for the best, Bianca followed her sister into Dugan’s. Julia had already surveyed the room from near the door by the time Bianca caught up with her.
She barely had time to say anything before a lanky man, probably a basketball player, Bianca guessed, stood and bumped knuckles with the other men at his table. Seeing him, she nudged Julia. “He made a bet.”
“That he is about to lose.” Julia’s impressive cleavage rose and fell, drawing the man’s gaze to her chest. When he finally pulled his eyes back to her face, Julia licked her lips and, locking her eyes on his, turned on a dazzling smile. Bianca matched her sister’s smile, and tempted by the sensual women, he quickly calculated the level of challenge and took a bold step forward.
Bianca turned her smile to her sister, and the man hesitated, indecision sketching his features. She slid her hand into Julia’s and leaned in to kiss her cheek softly, and the man gasped and stepped backward. When the two women stood holding hands and looking at him, he dropped his eyes and turned back to the table he’d come from.
The sisters watched the dumbfounded man hand over a fistful of cash to his gleeful cohorts as he sat down, shaking his head.
“Poor thing. He’s not used to losing.”
“Serves him right,” Bianca whispered.
“I love having a sister!” Julia squeezed her sister’s fingers, her smile going from saucy and sexy to loving and fun. “I always wanted to do something like that with you.”
Maybe this night is going to work out, after all. Liking the look in her sister’s eyes and on her face, Bianca squeezed back.
“Did you see what they just did?” Kemi leaned over to nudge his brother. “They shot Brother Man down so fast, he never saw it coming.”
“Yeah, it had to hurt.”
“Well, yeah. But he should have known they weren’t for him.”
Harry felt his stomach pitch and instinctively knew what was coming.
“They’re here for us.” Kemi grinned. “Yours is the tall one. Kachou fuugetsu, as Mom would say.”
“Yeah. Right.” Flower, bird, wind, moon—experience the beauties of nature and in so doing, learn about yourself. Guess the tall one qualifies as a beauty of nature—she’s gorgeous. “What did you say her name was?”
“Bianca. The one with the sassy smile is Julia, and she’s with me.”
“Thanks—not that I mind.”
“Gratitude is a good thing.” Kemi stood so quickly that Harry had no choice but follow suit.
Seeing Kemi, Julia raised a hand and smiled. They crossed the room, with Julia leading, but it was the other one who drew Harry’s eyes, and recognition ticked beneath his skin.
I know her…but from where? Kemi said she works for Kin Kura, but I’ve never met her there. Maybe I would know her voice—if we’d ever had a conversation…
“Harry, this is Julia.” Akemi beamed, kissing her cheek. “And this is Bianca.” He ushered her forward, and still kept an arm around Julia. “Ladies, this is my brother, Harry.”
“Hi, Harry,” Bianca said with a smile. Returning the smile and offering her a chair, Harry was grateful for his brother’s intervention.
Sitting, Julia plopped her purse to the tabletop and waited until the men were seated. Then the CEO in her soul asserted itself. “Well, here we all are,” she said, her eyes pinpointing Harry. “I understand you’ve been out of the country for a while. And now you’re back. Tell us about yourself.”
Harry leaned back in his chair, his face relaxed. “What would you like to know?”
“What do you do for fun?”
“A little golf, a little tennis, and I run.”
“A little,” Julia finished for him. “Bianca used to play tennis. Maybe you could help her with her game.”
“I’d like that.” Harry turned just in time to catch the glare Bianca directed toward her sister.
“Hear that, Bianca? He’d like that.” Pleased, Julia turned back to Harry. “How is it that a man like you is single and available?”
She probably would have said more, but for Bianca’s sharp kick. Julia’s breath whooshed out and wheezed in. She blinked and sat straighter when her sister’s eyes nailed her.
Bianca stood and offered a brittle smile. “Excuse us, please.” Her tight nod tolerated no debate. “Julia?”
Rising slowly, Julia collected her purse and tried to keep her smile from breaking. “We’ll be right back.”
Raised to have good manners, the brothers stood when the women did, then sat as they walked away.
Harry watched Bianca’s back until she was out of view. That woman has a walk like music—nothing but rhythm, all swing and sway. If I had ever met her, I would have remembered that walk. I know I would.
Akemi blew into his fist, then looked over at his brother. “So what do you make of that?”
“I think your lady had a lot to say, and now she’s going to have to pay for it.”
“You think they’re in there talking about us?”
“Women do go to the ladies’ room for other reasons than to talk about men, you know.”
“At least, that’s what they’d like for us to believe.”
“Kemi…” Harry raised a warning brow.
“Do you know her, recognize her from somewhere? You looked at her as if you knew her.”
“Not that I can recall.” Harry shrugged. “Should I?”
“Maybe you dreamed her up.” Akemi grinned. “A woman that good-looking should walk through a man’s dreams on the regular.”
Harry drew a breath and then released it. “Bianca or Julia? Is either of them walking through your dreams?”
“Oh, no, you don’t. This is about you, not me,” Kemi said, thinking the question was hilarious. “Have you seen some of the women who walk through my real life? I don’t have to live for dreams.”
“Men like you never do,” Betty said, materializing at his shoulder. “I saw your friends come in. Are you ready to order?”
“I think we’re going to do wings, fries, beer, and karaoke all around.”
Betty’s pencil tapped Kemi’s shoulder. “Those didn’t look like hot wing girls to me.”
“Maybe it’s the company they keep.”
Her eyes shifted to Harry, surprised he’d spoken. “Maybe,” she said slowly. “I’m gonna go get those wings.”
Betty was still swinging her hips across the room in unsubtle invitation when Bianca and a chastened Julia returned. An awkward haze of discomfiture hung between them as they seated themselves.
“We went ahead and ordered. Hope you ladies like wings, fries, and beer.”
“I love wings. Lemon pepper or hot?”
“Both, with fries.”
Bianca’s eyes brightened and the tips of her fingers brushed Harry’s arm. He felt the hairs rise at her nearness, and for just a second, he thought he saw fire in her gaze. She felt it, too.
Betty had to make two trips to fully load the table. To her credit, she made an effort to be cheerful when she had to go back for catsup and hot sauce.
Bianca was enjoying the wings. “There was a time,” she said, carefully working the meat from a slender bone with greasy fingers, “I could have lived on these things.”
“That makes two of us,” Harry said, wa
tching her drag fries through a puddle of catsup. She even makes that look good.
Julia twisted her hips in her chair so she could look at Akemi. “I think it’s working,” she whispered. “She gave me hell in the ladies’ room.”
“Then we have to push them into the next step.” Akemi leaned closer, sliding his fingers into Julia’s hair.
“What are you doing,” she hissed, raising her hand to his. “This is an act, remember?”
“And if it is to be believed, shouldn’t we make it complete?”
Julia sighed and left her hand over his. “I know she likes him. She made me promise not to disgrace her any further.”
“Did you?” One of his fingers traced the back of the hand she rested on the table, and she nodded.
Bianca made an indelicate smacking sound when she sucked chicken from a small bone, and she froze. When her eyes came up, they met Harry’s and he laughed, the sound solid and contagious. She covered her mouth with her napkin, and laughed with him.
When was the last time I sat in a room with a woman and laughed over something as stupid as a chicken bone? Her eyes touched him, broke away, came back, and danced. When is the last time I sat with a woman and laughed for the sheer joy of it?
Kemi and Julia watched and smiled.
Across the room, pale light bloomed on a small stage, then brightened to gold when a woman in orange plaid pedal pushers stepped forward, bringing a pair of microphones on tall stands to the center of the stage. She gave her knit top a tug and leaned close the microphones. “Testing,” she murmured, coolly. “Testing. One, two, three.” She waited for the man sitting in the shadows to move his hands across the sound board, then brought her mouth close to the microphones again. “Testing. One, two…”
The sudden screech of microphone feedback drowned Harry’s voice out. Clapping her hands over her ears, Bianca dropped her napkin. As the sound faded, her hands came away to find the dropped napkin, and she leaned toward him, the soft light catching the creamy smoothness of her face and shoulders.
Wayward Dreams Page 13
