Beale Street Blues

by Angela Kay Austin

  He searched his heart and ignored the argument his body put up in disagreement. "I want to be whatever she needs. Whatever she'll allow me to be."

  "All those years ago, I needed a friend. Too many men wanted money..." She cleared her throat. "…Companionship, but no one wanted a no-strings-attached friendship."

  "Be her friend?" he asked. How was he supposed to be only a friend to a beautiful sexy woman that filled his dreams every night?

  "Listen to her. Be there for her. Don't try to be her hero or her prince charming. Why do men always think a woman needs rescuing?" she asked rhetorically. "You don't know what this other man did to her, or what her dreams with him were. Let her know how wonderful a man you are." She smiled. "Show her the man I know and she'll love you as much as I do."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Barbara had wasted too many weekends reviewing reports for upcoming tradeshows at Slater Enterprises watching Jaxon and waiting on the perfect opportunity. The bang of the overloaded box to the thinly carpeted floor ricocheted through the empty hallways. A happy tingle shot threw her as she dragged the box stuffed with brochures and useless trinkets.

  Jaxon rounded the corner and rushed toward her. As he neared, shock or confusion clouded his expression. He slowed his approach. "Barbara, what are you doing here on a weekend?" he asked as he assisted her with the load she dragged.

  She marveled at how easily he lifted the box and stacked it on top of another case lined up against a nearby wall.

  "I needed to ship out a few more things for the tradeshow next week." The simplicity of her plan pleased her. She stifled a smile. "Instead of shipping all these." She waved her arm in the direction of the various boxes she'd filled and labeled. "I can drop some off with Darling."

  "Does she need to carry it with her?"

  No, but there's no other way to get him to Darling's house. She hadn't seen the woman who'd visited with his mother in weeks, so maybe there was still a chance for her. And when he sees Darling's neighborhood and her parents, he'll see she's not the right woman. There's no way she would fit into his life better than her. "She doesn't need the stuff for the booth. But, I pulled together packages of brochures and other items that she can use."

  "What would she use them for?"

  How many questions will he ask? Rodney would never have questioned her. All she ever needed to do was flash a little skin and lick her lips, and he gave her whatever she wanted. Or, at least, she thought he did. He didn't give her the big ass budget Darling had. Bigger budget meant more shows, more sales, better bonuses, and happier employees. Everyone practically whistled while they worked. She would've been able to do the same thing, if she would've had the same support. "This is the first time we've attended this conference. I don't want to take any chances. With these materials, she can set-up and test the booth. She'll know ahead of time if we need more space or more materials."

  He didn't speak, but seemed to mull over her words as he scanned the crap load of boxes strewn through the hallway.

  She continued, "Sir, would you mind helping me load my car?" She beamed her most innocent smile.

  As they loaded her car, Barbara, rehearsed what she could say to get him to drive to Darlings' house.

  "Looks like you're set." He closed her trunk and slapped his hands together to remove the dust of the boxes from them.

  Barbara reached for her phone. "Thank you, Mr. Slater." She tapped the screen to wake it up, and pretended to read a text message. "Sir, I'm sorry, but there's an emergency. I have to pick up my nephew. Would it be okay if I call Darling and let her know you'll bring this stuff to her?"

  "I have plans. Can't you take it later after you help with your nephew?"

  Damn. She thought he might jump at the chance to go to Darling's house. "Sir, she's driving out Monday and she's going to need this stuff." Not really. But, by the time he found out the truth, he'd be thankful she'd stopped him from getting any more involved with Darling.

  "Okay, text me her address and pop your trunk." He attempted to squelch a smile.

  "Thank you. You're a life saver." She hid a smile of her own.

  Jaxon had strolled the deserted hallways of Slater Enterprises with no purpose, but no matter which way he turned, he ended his walk in the same place—Darling's office. Because he had no reason to be in Memphis and there was only one woman, he wanted to spend his time with. The weekends were nothing to him but two days that annoyed the hell out of him because he couldn't see her. He knew the ache in his gut wouldn't go away until she returned from her site visit for their next event in Little Rock. The trip to Little Rock would only be for a couple of days, but tell that to the knot in the pit of his stomach. He'd been grateful for the sound of dropping boxes that pulled him down the hall dragging his attention away from her empty chair.

  Jaxon relaxed as he drove up to the front of The Peabody. But, he found it difficult to mask his excitement. It became equally as hard for him to wait patiently for his mom to fasten her seatbelt. "Sorry, mom, but this shouldn't take too long. We'll drop off the packages, and then I promise, I'm all yours for the rest of the day."

  "It's good to see you smile. Is that because you can't wait to play a game of tennis with me, or because we're stopping by Darling's?" She stared straight ahead, but the subtle smile that curved her lips told Jaxon she understood his motivations too well.

  He grinned as he pressed the gas a little too hard, jetting from the curb.

  The older neighborhood Jaxon's GPS sent him to could not be correct. Could it? But, as he slowed and reached for the button to ask the navigator to correct his location, he saw her. With her hair pulled high on top of her head neatly into a ponytail, she wore a torso hugging t-shirt and shorts that drew his attention to her round bottom. One shoe on and one off, she ran across the yard chasing behind a little boy with the complexion of butterscotch that held the other one. "Cedric, give that back."

  On wobbly legs, the smiling little boy glanced over his shoulder at her, but kept running.

  It took a moment to find a parking spot on the crowded two-way street. Jaxon and his mother watched as children and adults climbed out of their cars heading toward Darling. The large front yard had become a temporary playground. A huge inflatable swimming pool had been placed in the center of the yard. Children bubbled with laughter as they splashed and played under the hot Memphis sun. Equally, as many children bounced to the beat of their own giggles, inside a beautiful white castle that rivaled the height of some of the surrounding trees.

  An older man plated hot dogs and burgers. A snowy white haired woman whose height and physique resembled Darling's, mingled with the crowd. Each person Darling approached smiled and hugged her as if they'd known her their whole life.

  Softly, his mother touched his arm. "Son, should we interrupt?"

  "Barbara called to tell her I was coming." He popped the trunk and began to exit the car. "It shouldn't take me long."

  She jiggled her seat belt. "I'm coming with you."

  Before he could complain, she exited the car.

  He grabbed the packages, and approached the crowd. The first day he walked into the corporate offices of Slater Enterprises, he didn't feel as anxious as he did making his way through the crowd toward Darling. Although Barbara had called, he felt that he was intruding on a very private family moment. Work should not cut into her time with the people she loved. How did Barbara manage to talk him into this?

  As he passed by the older gentleman on the grill, he was certain that the man was Darling's father. The man's dark skin and facial features mirrored Darlings.

  "Well, hello ma'am." Darling's father nodded at Jaxon's mom. "Young man, what can we do for you?"

  "Hi, sir, my name is Jaxon Slater and this is my mother, Elaine. We came to drop off a few packages for Darling."

  "Darling…" He pointed a long fork in Darling's direction. "…Is over there." He smiled with a slight nod of his head.

  Jaxon knew exactly where she stood. He needed no ass
istance, but he allowed his eyes to follow the fork. "Thank you."

  "No problem." Mr. Crawford jabbed at some hot dogs and corn. "Would you like something to eat?"

  "No thank you," he said as he walked toward Darling.

  His mother lingered behind. "I'd love one of those burgers," his mother said. "No tomato if you wouldn't mind."

  As he neared Darling, she let go of the young boy she'd finally caught and glared. "What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?" She stomped toward him.

  The anger of her words froze him where he stood. Lifting the box he carried, he said, "Barbara told me you needed this, and asked me to deliver it." He glanced over his shoulder at his car. "I have more in the trunk of my car."

  She attempted to snatch the boxes from his arms. Their weight or his grip deterred her.

  "Just drop them." She turned and walked away.

  He trailed behind her. Something about the moment reminded him of the first night they'd spent together. Except, this time, he had on his pants. "Darling, I wasn't trying to intrude."

  "You can leave now," she said as she took the longest strides her legs would allow across the yard away from him.

  He needed to take control of the situation and her. "Darling, stop." People around them stared. "Is there someplace we can talk?"

  She stopped and crossed her arms across her body. "About what?"

  He wanted to drop the boxes, pick her up and fling her over his shoulder. If he could get her away from the gawking crowd maybe, he could get her to listen. "Darling, we should talk."

  "I don't want to talk." She headed toward the backyard. "It's the weekend. I'm on my time, not yours."

  "I thought I was invited." He kept following her. "But, I guess that part was a lie." He followed her into the modest home. They stood in the home's small dining room, which was tastefully decorated with a china cabinet filled with matching sets of plates and porcelain cups. The wood table in the center of the room only sat four. Big enough for Darling, her mother and father, plus one seat for a guest.

  "What do you want?" she asked.

  "I apologize if I shouldn't be here. But, I thought Barbara called to tell you I was coming."

  Darling leaned against the fridge behind her and crossed her arms underneath her small breasts. What she did in anger only tempted him. The gentle bounce of her breasts against her arms made him hunger for another opportunity to caress her nipples with his tongue and hear her moan for more of him.

  "Well, she didn't. I don't even know how she knew where my parents lived."

  He placed the boxes on the carpeted floor. "If you don't want us here, I'll grab mom and we'll leave." He left the kitchen feeling like one of the biggest idiots. How could he have fallen for Barbara's high school trick? Shit! He wanted to believe her. That's why. When he stepped into the backyard, he bumped into the woman that reminded him so much of Darling.

  "Are you leaving?" she asked.

  "Yes, ma'am." There was no reason for him to stay.

  "You just got here. You can't leave. Your mom is reading to a group of the children." She grabbed his arm and led him back to the front yard. "We'll get you a plate and if you have time, you can relieve my husband on the grill."

  As much as he'd love the chance to spend one more moment with Darling, he didn't want to be the laughing stock of the party. "I don't know if that's a good idea."

  She squeezed his arm a little tighter. "It's a perfect idea." She dragged him over to the grill. "I'm Darling's mother, Shannon Crawford."

  "I'm Jaxon."

  "I know exactly who you are." She grinned as they came to a stop in front of the grill.

  Mr. Crawford looked up from his duties as head chef. "So, you're my relief?"

  Jaxon stared at the food and searched his memory for the last time he'd actually grilled anything. College. A mixer with one of the sororities. He'd gotten drunk and ended up in bed with someone he barely knew. Everything on the grill had burned. "I don't know about that sir, I'm not the best on the grill."

  "Well, you better learn quick." He laughed. "This can be a mean crowd if you burn their smoked sausages."

  Darling's angry steps crushed the grass beneath her feet as she neared the grill. "Mom, dad…what are you doing?"

  "Honey, we needed a few more hands. Your dad needs a break." Her mom smiled at him. "Your friend Jaxon has agreed to help us out for a while." She allowed her eyes to sweep over the two of them. "Isn't that sweet?" she asked rhetorically.

  "Mom, dad, this is my boss and that's his mother." She glanced over her shoulder at Jaxon's mom, and then shook her head. "They are just being nice. I'm sure they have something else to do with their day." Her eyes pleaded with Jaxon.

  "Well, son, do you have something else to do?" her father asked.

  For a moment, he watched his mother who had children of all ages mesmerized with whatever story she read as she hopped around like a kangaroo. "No, sir. I think we're fine."

  "Great. Darling, you stay here and help him, while your mom and I take a break."

  Darling's expression was a mixture of anger and sadness. "Dad—" she pleaded.

  "Have fun, honey," her dad tossed the words into the air as he walked away with her mother.

  As much as Darling wanted to see him, she didn't want to see him. Not here at her parents' home. She'd been running around barefoot and her hair looked a mess. Without checking herself out in a mirror, she felt sure that somewhere on her body, there was barbeque and orange soda compliments of Cedric. And in front of her stood the one man that both excited her and made her feel ashamed. "Jaxon, how could you believe Barbara, and show up here at my family's home?"

  "I don't know what to say to you, but I—"

  "But, what?" If she looked at him, she'd probably curse him out. She snatched the grilling fork from its resting place and used it to spear hot dogs and sausages before she tossed them into the empty aluminum pan she'd nearly crumpled. "But, what Jaxon?"

  His head lowered, and he whispered against her ear. "I wanted it to be true."

  The warmth of his breath against her skin confused her thoughts. What did he say? Why would he lie to her? "You wanted to spend your Sunday with me?" He had the model, and she was sure there were so many others that'd be more than willing to spend their Sunday with him.

  He placed a hand on her left hip and took a step closer.

  She took a step back and tried to take another, but he gave her hip a light squeeze, and she stopped. That touch reminded her of the night they'd spent dancing. She'd never be able to get this man out of her head.

  He kept his mouth where it was. "I find myself thinking about you often and I enjoy spending time with you."

  None of the events of the past weeks should've happened. No matter how much she'd enjoyed spending time with him, it made no sense. He and his mother didn't fit into her world. She watched his mother play with the children because she couldn't dare glance into his beautiful green eyes. Standing so near to him made her body buzz and her mind cloud. "Where's the blonde?" she asked. Just curious.

  He took a step back and stared into her eyes. "There's no one."

  It didn't matter how good those words made her feel, she knew she was right. "Jaxon, I thought we agreed."

  He placed a hand on her chin and forced her to look at him. "No. I told you I would do what you wanted."

  "Yes, but I thought you wanted it, too."

  He dropped his hand to his side. "Damn it, Darling. You know it's not what I want."

  "Jaxon, look at your mother. Look at me and my family." She didn't understand why this was so difficult for him. Couldn't he see what she saw? There was nothing she could offer him. They came from two different worlds. Just like her and her ex. Right now, she was interesting, but eventually he'd become bored with her, too. Or, think she and her family weren't good enough.

  If they stopped it before it began, there would be no hard feelings.

  "I'm looking at you, Darling." He put too much spa
ce between them and stuffed his fisted hands into the pockets of the shorts he wore. "What about you? Are you looking at me? My mother is having a great time, and I would be too, if…." He walked back to her side and slowly slid his hands down the length of her arms until he clasped her hand in his.

  "You don't understand anything." Frustrated with him and herself, she pulled her hand free of his and damn near ran to the kitchen with the pan of food.

  Before returning to his side, Darling stood near the back of the house and watched him. Even in shorts and a t-shirt, he could break any woman's heart. It would be so easy to let herself believe him and everything he said. But, she'd done that before, and look at what that got her. She was single and almost forty, while her ex began again with a woman ten years younger. There was no way she could go through not being good enough again.

  The line of folks waiting at the grill smiled and talked as he dished out food. The women hovered a little too long and close. The woman who walked behind the grill, Lisa, was bold. Darling watched as the woman cooed at Jaxon, then picked up an apron and wrapped it around his waist, tying it in the back. What the…? Well, Darling may not know what she wanted, yet. But, she knew she didn't like Lisa touching him. Darling interrupted their conversation. "Hope I wasn't gone too long."

  "No." Lisa smiled. "I was just helping him with the apron so he wouldn't spill anything on his shorts." The woman's hand wandered a little brushing Jaxon's thigh.

  "Thank you," Jaxon said.

  Lisa smiled as she walked away.

  Darling stretched on her tiptoes to reach his ear. "You just let everybody touch you?"

  For a minute, he stared without words. Then, a grin spread across his face. He placed his hand on her hip and dropped his head close to hers.

  Her heart jumped in her chest. She didn't know what to do, he was about to kiss her right there in front of everyone. Her body reacted to the need for his kiss. Possessive. His kisses made her feel wanted. A dull throb ached between her legs for his touch as her breasts begged for the gentle firm suckle of his mouth. She should push him away. She could feel the smile curving his lips as he touched them against her cheek.