“Great,” Zaire murmured. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”
“You’re going to do fine,” Max assured her.
She sat down at her desk. “I’m so nervous.”
“You shouldn’t be. You are going to nail this—you’ve worked out a perfect weekend retreat.”
Max’s predictions were correct.
Bill Daniels enthusiastically clapped his hands at the end of Zaire’s presentation, which prompted his partners to do the same. “I have to say that it takes a lot to impress me, but you have managed to do so. You’ve planned the retreat with an emphasis on a healthy lifestyle for our company.”
“Then we should get it on the calendar,” Zaire stated. “I don’t want you to miss out on your preferred dates. I can book the ranch this afternoon.”
“Sounds good,” Bill said.
Max arrived with lunch for everyone.
“In keeping with your goals for health and wellness, I’ve ordered a light lunch of grilled chicken and spinach paninis, vegetarian BLT wraps and a delicious antioxidant salad for lunch.” Zaire stole a peek at Tyrese, who gave a slight nod of approval.
After lunch, Pilar came to Zaire’s office.
“Bravo,” she said. “Tyrese and I thought the presentation was outstanding.”
“Thank you.”
“Zaire, I wanted you to know that I will be relocating to New York, but I am only a phone call away if you ever need to talk to me. We are making the announcement soon. We’re opening another office.”
“Congratulations, Pilar. This is wonderful for you, although I had hoped you would become my mentor.”
“I can still be your mentor,” she assured Zaire. “I have to meet with Tyrese shortly, but I wanted to stop by and congratulate you. Let’s plan to have lunch one day next week.”
The telephone rang minutes after Pilar left the office.
Zaire answered it.
“How did it go?”
“Kellen, it went great. Better than I ever expected, actually.”
“I’m proud of you, sis.”
She broke into a grin. “Thanks. So what are you up to?”
“Just got home from the library. I have a date later on.”
“When do you not have a date?”
He laughed. “Hey, don’t hate.”
“Whatever...”
“Well, I know you’re still at the office, so I won’t keep you on the phone. I’ll give you a call one day next week. I may need your help with my thesis.”
“Okay. Just let me know.”
Zaire hung up, grabbed her purse and left for the day. She felt like celebrating.
* * *
Saturday morning, Zaire was up early, helping her mother prepare for the cookout.
“I need to find a place of my own,” she announced as she retrieved a covered pan laden with raw fish from the refrigerator and set it on the counter.
Barbara glanced up from her cooking. “You don’t have to be in such a rush to find an apartment, dear.”
Zaire sat down on one of the barstools at the breakfast bar and opened up the classified section of the newspaper. “I know, Mama, but I really want my own place. There are some really cute apartments not too far from the office. I really need to do this for me.”
Barbara nodded. “I understand. You’re ready to leave the family nest.”
“I am,” Zaire confirmed. “Kellen and I have lived together for three years and now I’m back home with you and Daddy. I’m ready to find a place that’s totally mine.”
“Do you mind if I help you look?”
“I would love it, Mama.”
Two hours later, Zaire opened the door for Ari and his family. All of the family except for Kellen would be joining them for a weekend of fun and food.
Eyeing her sister-in-law’s swollen belly, she asked, “Natasha, how are you feeling?”
“I get tired a lot, but I’m fine.”
Sage and Ryan arrived a few minutes later.
“I thought Blaze and Livi would be here by now,” Ari stated as he opened the subzero fridge. “They were leaving around the same time we left.” He grabbed a bottled water and opened it.
“They’ll be here shortly,” Barbara announced. “I asked Blaze to stop by the store to pick up some barbecue sauce and more eggs.”
Zaire moved about the kitchen, helping her mother apply the finishing touches to the meat. Ari carried it outside to the grill.
Livi entered the kitchen, carrying a shopping bag.
Barbara relieved her of the burden. “Thank you, dear.”
Zaire left the women in the kitchen to join her nephew on the basketball court. “What’s up, Joshua?”
“Nothing.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, noting the unhappy look on his face.
“I want to play football, but Mommy said I couldn’t. Dad said that I might get hurt.” He stole a peek over his shoulder before adding, “I think they’re scared that I might get sick again.”
Zaire blinked back tears. Eight-year-old Joshua was in remission from leukemia. Just two years ago, he was not able to attend school because his blood counts were low, putting him at risk for infection. Joshua was able to keep up with his friends and class work via satellite. The chemotherapy treatments placed him at risk for long-term effects that included bone thinning, severe joint pain and possible joint replacement. His doctors had informed Ari and Natasha that he would have to be monitored for at least ten years.
“Honey, we love you so much, and we just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“All of my friends play football. I want to do it, too.”
Zaire glanced over at Ari.
He came over to where they were standing. “Son, I’ve been talking with your mom, and we’ve changed our minds. We are going to let you play football. I want you to know something else. Uncle Drayden is going to be one of the coaches.”
Joshua’s face lit up.
“I need you to understand that you are not going to play all four quarters yet. You have to listen and do what you’re told. Remember what the doctor said about the effect of the chemo on your bones.”
“I’m gonna be real careful, Dad.” Joshua looked up at him. “Thank you for trusting me. I’m not gonna do something to end up back in the hospital. Besides, I believe that God has cured me of leukemia. We don’t have to be scared. I’m gonna go talk to Uncle Drayden about football practice.”
“You’ve made your son really happy,” Zaire told her brother.
“Wait until he finds out that he is only playing a few minutes each quarter, if that. Right now, it’s only going to be until halftime.”
“I don’t think it’ll matter. Joshua just wants to be a normal little boy.”
They settled down to eat.
Zaire sat down beside Sage.
Ari cleared his throat loudly. “Before we get started, I have an announcement. I was going to wait until after we ate, but this can’t wait.” He looked at his wife and broke into a wide grin. “Natasha and I just found out that we are having twins.”
“Congratulations,” Zaire yelled out.
“Do you know the sex?” Livi asked.
Natasha nodded. “We’re having a girl and a boy.”
Joshua was delighted. “I wanted a brother and a sister. Now we don’t have to have any more babies. I’m glad ’cause Mommy isn’t any fun.”
Zaire bit back her laughter.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do with that little boy,” Sage whispered.
“We’re going to have to watch him play football,” Zaire responded.
Sage glanced over at her. “So, they changed their minds about letting him play?”
Zaire nodde
d. “Drayden is coaching his team, and Joshua’s only going to play for a few minutes per quarter. Starting off, he’s only going to play until halftime.”
“I think it’s a good idea.”
She agreed, “I know they are afraid he’ll get hurt.”
Sage smiled. “Natasha is going to have him so padded up, he’ll probably bounce if he falls to the ground.”
Zaire laughed and then took a bite of her hamburger.
She decided to take a stroll on the beach after lunch. “I’ll be back shortly,” she announced. “I need to walk off some of this food.”
Sandals in hand, she walked slowly, relishing the feel of the wet sand beneath her bare feet.
“Zaire...”
Her steps slowed, and she turned around. “Tyrese, I’m surprised to see you. Do you live around here?”
He shook his head. “I was at a party nearby. It was getting wild, so I thought I’d take a walk before I headed home. I love the ocean.”
“So do I,” Zaire said.
“Would you mind if I walked with you?” he asked.
She couldn’t help but notice the tingle of excitement inside her. “No, I don’t mind at all.”
Tyrese glanced over his shoulder. “Do you live in the area?”
“Right up there,” she said, pointing to the top of the hill. “At least for now, anyway. I’m actually looking to move closer to work. I’m not crazy about the morning traffic.”
He nodded in understanding.
“Are you always so quiet?” Zaire blurted.
He chuckled. “I never really considered myself quiet.”
“Surely you don’t believe that being talkative is one of your qualities? I realize that you’re a very private person, but you’re also extremely quiet.” She could hardly tear her gaze from his profile.
“I suppose it’s part of my nature.”
“Tyrese, I apologize if I’m being intrusive,” Zaire stated. “I’ve only ever worked with my family, and we talk about everything.”
His mouth curved with tenderness. “You’re fine.”
Mixed feelings surged through her as they walked.
“I met your grandfather once,” Tyrese said. “At a charity event. I had just started my company, and Robert DePaul was very encouraging.”
“I hear that a lot,” she said. “I wish I could have met him. I hate that we didn’t find out that he was my father’s biological father until after his death.”
Zaire did not want to bring up work, but she had run out of things to say. She did not want to start tossing questions at Tyrese about his personal life, although she yearned to learn more about him.
“You’ve gone quiet on me.”
Zaire glanced up at him. “I am trying not to overstep my bounds. However, I must confess that I’m dying to ask you questions about you—especially since we’re partners.”
Tyrese laughed then. “What would you like to know?”
“What do you do for recreation?” she asked. “Do you like sports?”
“I like basketball.”
Zaire stopped walking. “Can you play?”
“Not as much as I used to,” Tyrese answered. “Work keeps me busy.”
“You need a life,” she blurted without thinking.
“Excuse me?”
“Outside of work, I mean.”
“You are something else, Miss Alexander.”
“I just believe in a well-rounded lifestyle. It makes you into a better person.” Zaire found herself extremely conscious of his virile appeal. She tried to assess his unreadable features.
She caught sight of someone running toward them. “That’s my brother.”
They waited for him to catch up.
“We were getting worried,” Drayden said between tiny gulps of air. “I figured I’d come looking for you.”
“I’m sorry,” Zaire said. “I ran into my boss on the beach. This is Tyrese Moore.”
Drayden smiled and offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I guess I let time slip away from me,” Zaire reasoned aloud.
“I’ll see you in the office on Monday,” Tyrese said. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
Zaire smiled and nodded. “You, too.”
“You do know he is your partner?” Drayden reminded her as they made their way back to the house. “You don’t play where you work.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I think you know.”
“Drayden, you’ve gotten the wrong impression. I just ran into Tyrese on the beach. What should I have done? Not walk with him?”
“Sis, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I won’t,” she responded thickly. “I’m just getting to know my partner—there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Just be careful.”
“Are you okay?” Sage inquired when Zaire sat down beside her on the patio. “You look upset.”
“I’m fine,” Zaire huffed. “Drayden just needs to mind his business.”
“What happened between you two?”
“It’s nothing I want to dwell on.” Zaire settled back in the lounge chair, disappointed.
* * *
It was a challenge for Tyrese to keep Zaire out of his thoughts. Running into her on the beach had not helped the situation. This was the first time he had seen her with her hair in its curly state. The soft, dark curls were windblown, adding to her exotic appearance. The denim shorts showed off her perfectly shaped legs.
Zaire was outgoing and vivacious. Tyrese liked those qualities about her. He was sure that she rarely met strangers because she was so friendly. He had never been that way. If it had not been for Pilar, Tyrese probably would not have had many friends. They were always together growing up, so her friends simply accepted him. Zaire possessed a freedom that he had never fully experienced.
Tyrese silently hashed out a number of reasons why he could not risk getting involved with Zaire.
His cell phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.
He glanced down at the screen, noting that the caller ID was blocked.
“Hello...”
“I’m glad you answered your phone.”
“How did you get this number?” he asked. Tyrese had just changed his number a few days ago. It was supposed to be private.
The tide rolled up closer to shore, wetting the bottom of his pants. Tyrese resumed his pace. “What do you want?”
“I have resources, Ty. Honey, I just want to talk to you,” the caller said. “There’s so much I need to tell you.”
“What we had is long over,” he stated. “I don’t know why you can’t get it through your head. I want nothing to do with you. The truth is that I should have followed my gut instinct in the first place.”
“You still love me, Ty. I know it.”
“You’re delusional if you think I still have feelings for you. I’ve moved on, and I’ve started a new life for myself. Take my advice and do the same. Goodbye.”
Tyrese ended the call, and then he decided to walk back to his parked car.
He glanced upward when he neared the house Zaire lived in. He could see a group of people standing near the brick enclosure.
Tyrese had not met Malcolm or Ari Alexander, although he had heard a great deal about them. He had considered approaching them in hopes of gaining their business, but before he could, Pilar had already connected with Zaire.
He’d liked Zaire instantly. She appeared honest to a fault, which he found to be a rare trait. His past relationships had been filled with lies, deception and manipulation. They had left a bad taste in his mouth. The last real relationship had taken him a couple of years to recover from, both personally and professionally.
It was for this reason that Tyrese would never get involved with Zaire. She was now his business partner, and he vowed to never cross the line with her.
He glanced up once more at the Alexander home overlooking the beach and Pacific Ocean. He released a long sigh in resignation.
There was no point thinking about a woman he could never have.
Chapter 6
Zaire glanced up from her computer monitor just as Max walked into the office. “There is a Harold DePaul here to see you.”
She stared at her assistant in astonishment. “Really?”
Max nodded.
“Bring him in,” Zaire stated. “I can’t wait to find out what this is about.”
Her family’s history with Harold had not been a positive one; however, Meredith had informed them that her brother wanted a chance to redeem himself. Zaire and her family were willing to give Harold that opportunity, although they weren’t quite sure of his sincerity.
“Nice office,” Harold murmured when he strolled in a few minutes later. “I like the red accents.”
“Thanks,” she responded. “What can I do for you, Harold?”
“I’d like for you to coordinate a weekend retreat for my management team. We usually go away to one of the properties in Hawaii, but I’d like to do something different this time.”
“When would you like to have the retreat?” Zaire asked, picking up a legal pad and a pen.
“Normally, we go in September. This will be for the retreat next year.”
She gestured for him to take a seat. “What have you done in the past?”
Zaire made notes while Harold talked.
“We spend most of our time in workshops. This time I really want the retreat to focus more on engagement.”
“Any preferences for location?”
“The island atmosphere works well, so somewhere exotic and tropical,” Harold stated. “My managers have worked hard, and I’d like to reward them for their efforts. We will still have some workshops, but I want the focus to be on recreation and relaxation.”
Zaire nodded in understanding.
After their meeting, she walked Harold to the lobby.
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