“Alright, is everyone here who wants to go on the road trip?” Kenzie asked in her typically cheerful voice.
A chorus of yeses came from the Magnolia Palace occupants. Will looked forward to the van being overcrowded again. It would give him a chance to drive in the Maserati with Zoe. Alone.
“Okay,” Kenzie went on, “Zoe, how about you sit up front with me and I’ll drive.”
Wait, what? Will thought quickly. This was his chance to have her alone. For a brief moment he contemplated banging his fist on the table or kicking the chair’s leg in protest. But he was the CEO of a major cosmetics company. He was here on business to represent said company, but he was fighting the urge to act like a spoiled child for not getting his way. Will started to get up, but a set of hands clamped down on his shoulders. Ramon was standing behind him.
“I kind of need a favor from you, bruh,” his new friend said. He slid into the seat Rebecca had left. “Kenzie is a bit upset with me and has kicked me off the tour. I figured since you have an empty seat in that car of yours, I could catch a ride.”
“Sure, not a problem.”
Will didn’t ask what the problem was. As with he and Zoe, there was clear tension between the former cheerleader and the owner of the bed-and-breakfast.
Zoe and Kenzie were already at the doorway. Both ladies glanced back and purposely tilted their chins in the air at the men before turning fully around and leaving.
Whatever Ramon had done to piss off Kenzie, he needed to stop. This was interrupting Will and Zoe’s time together.
* * *
When the van pulled up to the Mas Beauty School, Zoe’s heart started fluttering. She led the tour of her great-grandmother’s beloved three-story structure. They started with the old classrooms on the first floor, where the original structure was made up of four rooms. The home started off as a single level and thanks to success, they’d expanded. Sadie Baldwin used one room for teaching, and she and her husband lived in another, raised their two boys in the other, and opened their third bedroom to students coming from across the state of Georgia, and even farther away, to study the techniques of the trade.
The success of the beauty school had made it easier for the Baldwins to add on to the house. The structure grew upward with two more stories. Sadie, whom Zoe called GiGi for short whenever she came to stay, had been quite young when she gave birth to Zoe’s grandfather.
Zoe retold the story of the success of the original beauty school, and pointed out that two of the other downstairs rooms were turned into classrooms, as well. During the fifties and sixties, word had gotten out about Mas, and girls traveled from as far as Chicago to come to the school where the young student’s parents and grandparents attended Annie Malone’s as Poro Agents. Before the internet, businesswomen signed on as Poro Agents and sold Miss Annie’s products. Miss Annie went on to become a millionaire and came out with her own hair-care line for African American women in the 1900s. GiGi molded her career after Miss Annie to sell to those who could not afford to travel upstate. It was GiGi’s classes that had inspired Zoe to get a degree in cosmetic chemistry.
Zoe smiled at everyone soaking in the history lesson. A lot of the women were already aware of it. Even Rebecca nodded her head with awe. Old newspaper clippings about the accomplishments of all the graduates hung in frames, and a significant number of the former students had gone on to work at Ravens Cosmetics—a little bit of news clearly interesting to Will.
Will rubbed his square jaw with his hand and stood at one of the silver-framed photographs. The picture was of GiGi with the young and successful Naomi Ravens. When girls graduated from Mas, many went back home to start their own shops and salons, but GiGi thought those who went on to Ravens Cosmetics were the ones who truly succeeded.
The tour continued through the kitchen, where GiGi once used to stand at the stove and make sure all of her students were fed and taken care of. Eventually, when the funds permitted it, she had been able to hire a cook. By the time Zoe came to live here, the number of students enrolled had begun to dwindle. With more beauty schools popping up in so many different cities, no one needed to travel to get the hands-on experience GiGi gave. At one point, everyone in Southwood came to GiGi’s school for free hair and makeup treatments at the end of each semester. After the doors to the school closed, GiGi kept her shop open for local customers until the day she passed away.
A rope draped from one staircase railing to the other, warning everyone away from the third floor. That was Zoe’s sanctuary. Her father still lived upstairs when he wasn’t gallivanting around the world to meet up with her mother. It was probably for the best. There’d be no telling what her old room looked like now.
Kenzie took over the rest of the tour, mainly guiding everyone back downstairs and outside to the second add-on to the home. In her typically excited way, Kenzie told everyone about the back area facing into the woods known as the Firefly Forest. The covered area was meant for cookouts and party events. Kenzie and Lexi had arranged for a special late dinner the next night. It was Lexi’s way of thanking everyone for their hard work. Sunday was the beauty pageant and everyone was going to be torn in different directions.
Zoe lingered behind the group, mainly to keep an eye out for Will. She hadn’t meant to avoid him that morning, it just sort of happened. Not finding him in the crowd worried her a bit. Somehow she knew she’d find him on the third floor. She ducked under the tape and trotted up the steps. Of course he was standing in her bedroom with the door open. His arms were crossed over his chest; he stroked the hair on his chin and stared at the wall. In his jeans and Timberland boots he looked more like a star on a trendy hip-hop reality TV show.
“The tape over the stairwell didn’t clue you in that this area was off-limits?” Zoe asked, approaching. Years ago, when her father had opened the house for tourists, the carpets were taken out and the floors stripped to reveal the original hardwood. He must have learned his lesson after having them constantly cleaned. Her father also kept the off-limits sign up to keep the family’s personal belongings safe. Kenzie had a key to the house, as the town historian did with just about every historic place in town open for tours.
“I like to pick and choose when the rules suit me.” Will chuckled. He dropped his hands and nodded toward the wall. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Walking farther into the room, Zoe found her old canopy bed still intact. The creamy veils surrounding the bed were open and held back with eggshell-colored ties. The walls were a soft beige; off-white frames holding old family photos hung on the bare wall, along with a corkboard with the framed A+ paper she’d done on the Ravens family.
Embarrassed, Zoe closed her bedroom door before another rogue tourist strayed upstairs to witness her adolescent obsession. She stood in front of Will, as if her height could actually make a difference. Not a chance. “Don’t look at that.”
“Why not? I want to learn about my family history.” Will gently moved Zoe to the side and moved closer to the report. Zoe waved her hands in front of his face. “Wait, is this the crystal ball you were talking about that told you you belonged at Ravens Cosmetics?”
Of all the times to remember something. Zoe groaned inwardly.
“I must say, I’m quite impressed,” Will continued. “You managed to include my all of my aunts and uncles, including Aunt Octavia. Most people forget about her.”
“How can they forget?” Zoe gawked “Before social media, she had to have been the scandal of the decade. I mean, the eighties were a breath away from social media. Can you imagine what the rumors would have been like? From what I read, no one could believe someone could walk away like she did and disappear.” As Zoe went on, Will’s lips flattened together. Zoe covered her mouth and shook her head. “I’m sorry. That was probably insensitive of me.”
“Nah.” Will let her off with an easy smile. “Everyone else in
the family seems to have forgotten about the missing heir—she’s been missing for a few decades now. My siblings and my cousins never knew her. We only know her as the abstaining vote.”
“She still has a stake in the company?” Zoe asked.
Will nodded. “My grandmother…”
“Ms. Naomi,” Zoe provided with excitement, pointing to the spot on the Ravens family tree, where an old photograph of his grandmother was pasted.
“Yes, my grandmother Naomi still believes Octavia will come back one day.”
In a way, Zoe had always thought the same thing, especially with the way everyone used some form of social media platform. Didn’t Octavia want to see her family? What drove her away? Zoe had a thousand and one questions.
Will brushed his elbow against her shoulder. “Look here, you got as far as my third great-grandfather.”
Zoe beamed proudly for a moment. “Well, my great-grandmother swore by the products your family used to come up with and urged everyone to work for your grandmother once her students graduated.” Then Zoe moved away, turning so he didn’t see her blush. How much of a stalker did she seem right now? All her life she’d wanted to be a part of Ravens Cosmetics. “You must think I’m crazy.”
“We’ve spent the whole week together, practically day in and day out. Why didn’t you tell me about your family’s links with mine?” Will asked. His voice neared her. Chills rolled down her spine. “Can’t you see that’s yet another thing we have in common? From what I learned today, it’s as if our grandmothers aligned us to be together.”
“Get serious,” Zoe said as she spun around. She came face-to-face with his chest, which she stared at rather than meet his eyes. But it was useless. Will tipped her chin so she’d face him. “Will,” she pleaded. “I heard you this morning on the phone with whomever. You said so yourself, there is no me and you.”
“That was my sister Dana on the phone,” Will replied softly. “If I gave my family any information about my love life, they’d plan a wedding before we return to Miami.”
Strong hands brushed against the backs of her arms. Will’s thumbs drew circles on her skin. She shivered and leaned against him.
“You’re what’s stopping what’s happening between us, Zoe, because of one specific thing,” Will said against her neck. “But you’re overlooking the thousands of things we have in common with each other. You don’t find that too often in two people.”
Zoe bit her bottom lip and tried to fight her desires. At what point did she let go of her dream of being a part of Ravens Cosmetics? And at what point did she need to realize and give in to the temptations of the man who made her remember she was still a woman with desires? Everything about Will screamed he was the perfect man for her. She’d put all of her dating options on hold. None of the men she’d dated matched her need for success. After listening to Will’s concerns with RC, she knew without a doubt they were perfect together.
Giving in, Zoe turned and found herself in Will’s embrace. He cocked his head to the side and brought his lips close to hers. They’d almost kissed yesterday. The desire for a taste of him still lingered on her lips. Will finally put her out of any misery, satisfying her with a brush of his mouth against hers. A soft kiss greeted her at first, and then another one. In unison their mouths parted and their tongues danced together.
If heaven had a taste or feeling, this would be it. Will wrapped his arms around Zoe’s waist and held her close as he deepened his kiss. Lost for a moment, Zoe gave in to every urge racing through her body. Her hands followed the deep muscles of his chest and wound around his neck. The tips of her fingers played with the curly hair at the nape of his neck. Will’s hands roamed up and down her back, one bracing her shoulders, the other caressing her backside. Long fingers played with the hem of her shorts. The mere touch liquefied her.
A mew escaped Zoe’s throat. Any common sense went out the window. The two of them found her bed and the old cushions absorbed their weight. Zoe lay beneath him, the palms of her hands embracing his face.
Will pulled his face away for a moment. His lips pressed against the curve of her collarbone and trailed along the edge of her collar. Her breasts swelled and ached for his mouth, not just the warmth of his breath.
“Will,” Zoe moaned.
“Zoe,” Will replied, trailing kisses back to her neck, jaw and lips.
“Zoe?” Another voice penetrated the barrier of the door.
Using all the strength she had, Zoe sat up straight. Will sat on the edge of her bed with a bewildered look on his handsome face. “Dad?” Zoe called out, and Will mouthed the same but with more questions on his face.
The brass oval door handle turned and creaked. The whole entrance took a mere few seconds, but in Zoe’s mind it took forever for the door to reveal her father standing in the doorway while she struggled to sit up in the bed.
Because of the nontraditional way Zoe’s parents had lived, with her having no stereotypical mom and dad to come home to every night, her maternal grandparents had been ashamed of their marriage. Zoe never wanted to do anything to cause her father embarrassment. All her life, she’d been the doting daughter. She never got in trouble in school. She went on with college and got her degrees, all without incident.
“What are you doing in here?” Frank Baldwin asked, his eyes narrowing at the sliver of space between herself and Will. “With a boy, no less?”
Zoe stood up. A cool breeze brushed against the exposed skin of her stomach. Quickly she tugged the material down. “Daddy, what are you doing here?”
“I thought I lived here.” Frank folded his arms across his chest. “What are you doing here? Besides the obvious.”
“Sir,” Will said, bravely stepping forward with an extended hand. “My apologies for what you walked in on. I have nothing but the utmost respect for your daughter.”
How embarrassing it was to be caught making out with a male by your father. But her father’s inspection of Will’s extended hand took the cake. Zoe grabbed her father’s hand and pushed it at Will. “Daddy, this is Will Ravens.”
“Ravens?” Frank repeated.
“Ravens,” Zoe said in a clipped tone, knowing exactly where her father was about to go with this. His thick dark brows rose with curiosity and his black eyes darted between the two of them. “The Ravens family?”
“The same one on the school report.” Will chuckled and pulled at her father’s hand. “We were just discussing the lengthy research she did.”
“Yes,” Frank said drily, “because that’s exactly what it looked like.”
“Daddy,” Zoe hissed. “Will is a guest.”
“He was certainly making himself at home.”
“I meant no disrespect, sir,” said Will. “I got carried away and took advantage of Zoe’s hospitality.”
Frank eyed Will skeptically. Zoe waited for what seemed like forever for him to say something. “Zoe,” he finally said, “go downstairs and let me and Mr. Ravens have a little chat.”
Even though she hadn’t been grounded in years, Zoe knew better than to argue with her father. She cast a pitiful glance back at Will, who winked at her. Funny how he wasn’t nervous at all. The last time Zoe had had a boy in her bedroom, Frank used the kid like a punching bag found downtown at Southpaw Shaw’s Gym.
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” Will assured her.
“We’ll meet you downstairs,” her father restated.
* * *
“I really came into town to finalize things for the reenactment of my summer engagement,” Frank Baldwin said, pacing back and forth in Zoe’s bedroom. “I’m not sure if Zoe ever shared with you, but Magnolia Palace is where I proposed to her mother. We’re still married but these things keep the spark, especially since we don’t live together.”
Of course Will remembered the story and the place. “Yes, sir.
” Will nodded, trying to focus on Zoe’s father.
“No need to get all official with the ‘sir’ business. Call me Frank. It was kind of refreshing, knowing my daughter is not consumed with work all the time.”
Never in Will’s life had he ever come face-to-face with a girl’s father. Sure, he’d done the proverbial sneaking out of dorm rooms back in the day. But Frank Baldwin walking in on them almost took the cake. What did take the cake was Frank shaking Will’s hand and thanking him for getting Zoe out of her comfort zone.
“Excuse me, sir?” Will leaned close to make sure he’d heard correctly. “I mean Frank.”
Frank Baldwin folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t enjoy catching her being pawed all over. But it was refreshing to see Zoe act reckless. My daughter has been insanely career-driven for a while.” Frank fanned his hand toward the family tree. “As you can see for yourself, she’s been a fan of the Ravens.”
Will held his hands in the air. “I apologize. What you saw was just a momentary lapse in judgment. I truly respect your daughter and I hold her work in high regard.”
“So you’re hiring her for your company and you’ll be keeping your hands off her?”
There went the whole hiring matter. Uncomfortable at being faced with Zoe’s father, Will cleared his throat. “I am considering it. The decision isn’t final.”
“I don’t understand,” said Frank. He crossed the room to the white-and-pink desk.
“I’ve already spoken with Zoe.” Will explained the situation with the board.
“You can’t lose if you go with Zoe.”
Those words resonated with Will as the two of them headed downstairs. Will liked that her father had decorated the upstairs hallway with framed photographs of Zoe’s work. If she hadn’t become a makeup artist, she should have been an artist.
The rest of the group was outside, but Zoe was seated at the large wooden table in the kitchen. Her eyes darted nervously between Will and Frank. As her lips parted to say something, the sound of a song by the late Prince sounded from Zoe’s cell phone.
Harlequin Kimani Romance June 2017 Box Set Page 46
