by Jacki Kelly
“But—” Dakota started.
“Shh, the meeting is getting ready to start,” Asa patted her sisters arm and leaned forward in her seat.
His confident swagger made her tingle. Simeon strolled across the stage to stand behind the podium. He cleared his throat and adjusted his papers. She squeezed the agenda tighter and concentrated on what he had to say. Understanding what he planned to do with her grandparent’s house was the only thing that mattered.
As the lights dimmed he pointed to a detailed presentation. Several pictures of a sprawling planned community flashed on the screen. A community center with basketball courts, an indoor pool, game rooms, computer center, and a commercial- sized kitchen had several people cheering. One slide depicted cottage style housing for senior and disabled citizens. His presentation of the colorful strip mall, with red awnings, slated for the Golden Leaf area drew jeers from the back of room. The muscles in her back knotted. A dry cleaner occupied the space where her home now stood.
Asa used her hand to smooth the agenda against her thigh.
Swallowing hard as she tried to make sense of his project, she scribbled dates and locations into the margins of the wrinkled paper. The image of Simeon’s broad shoulders and muscular build made it hard to concentrate. After all these years, his voice still sent ripples down her spine. But saving the house was too important to focus on anything else.
In the ten years since leaving, he’d grown taller and morphed into a charismatic man. With a boyish charm he never possessed in high school he strolled around the podium discussing the two projects’ benefits. His deep voice filled the room as he commanded the auditorium.
Everyone’s eyes focused on him. He rolled through the papers in front of him with ease. His long, lean fingers restacked the papers, banging them against the podium to indicate his presentation was finished.
“I’d like to thank all of you for coming out tonight. You can see the design for the community center or the mall on the website listed on the program. Also, if you have any questions please feel free to contact my office.” He took a step away from the podium and flashed a smile directly at her.
“Hey, Mr. Big Shot,” a man shouted from the back of the room. “Just where are we supposed to live now?”
Simeon stopped and faced the crowd. “Everyone is being compensated handsomely for their homes. If you don’t think your offer is commensurate with the value of your house, please contact my offices.”
“You bet I will,” the man huffed.
Asa watched the exchange with her mouth open. “I wonder if he’ll have the same tone after talking to me?” she asked her sister.
The crowd rushed to their feet. Some moved for the back doors. Others elbowed through them pressing toward the front of the room. Asa stepped aside, gathering her thoughts. Forming a coherent sentence seemed impossible. This wasn’t the place to discuss her issue. She needed a different approach. Getting him alone could work in her favor.
His infamous good looks and dimpled cheeks were familiar. But the way this man finessed the crowd, he could make them believe in Santa Claus. Even the angry gentleman seemed pacified now. The Simeon she remembered couldn’t, or wouldn’t do that.
Several women stood in the line to talk to Simeon. From the way they refreshed their lipstick and patted their stylish hairdos, Golden Leaf wasn’t what drew them to the school tonight.
“How do I look?” Asa asked Dakota, suddenly feeling underdressed. Her jean shorts and lace tee seemed inappropriate now.
“You look fine. Why?” Dakota turned around to see what Asa was looking at. “Oh, well, you’re not showing as much cleavage as that woman, but you look fine. This is a school, not a night club.” Dakota pushed her forward. “Now go up there and ask your questions so we can get out of here. I saw him smile at you,”
“You need to stop. Girl, there are nearly a hundred people in this room. I think he smiled at all of us. He needs to smile at every homeowner that lives at Golden Leaf to make sure we agree with his project. But I’m not falling for his charm, smooth talk, or his plans. Why in the world would he want to tear down all those houses? We need another strip mall around here about as much as we need a basement full of rats.”
“Oh boy,” Dakota sighed. “There you go.”
“You know I’m right. That neighborhood is great. The houses are historic. We had a great time growing up there. Remember the fantastic block parties we had every summer?”
“Not as fondly as you do, evidently.”
“Our parents and grandparents would turn over in their graves if they knew that house could be torn down. We have to try to save our memories for them.”
“I was there last week when I had the electricity turned on and I didn’t get a warm, fuzzy feeling about the house. Instead it felt a little creepy to me.” Dakota shivered.
Asa eyed her sister. “Well maybe you need to spend a little more time there. My first few minutes felt great, until Melissa called.”
“And you think the feeling was because of the house? Maybe that warm feeling was because you were closer to people who love you or because you were closer to Simeon. Everybody knew you had a crush on him. Maybe you still do,” Dakota snickered.
Asa ignored her sister. “I’m going up there to talk to him.”
“Just remember, be nice. It’s like Mim always said, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
“Mim had lots of sayings. Remember the one about be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home? It seems you and Melissa forgot that one.”
Dakota shrugged. “I’m just saying be nice. Don’t lose your temper.”
“Of course, I’ll be nice. I’m going to present the facts...he can’t ignore facts. Besides, since he has so much money, he can find another tract of land to build his mall.”
Dakota’s dubious look didn’t go undetected. Asa shook her finger at her sister and made her way to the podium. She fell in line behind a woman that reeked of perfume and openly flirted with Simeon. She purred his name the way a woman does when trying to entice a man. Asa slapped her flip-flop against the cement floor while she waited for the ridiculous spectacle to end. The woman placed her hand on his shoulder, faking laughter at something he said. He shifted just enough to escape her touch. The elusive Simeon hadn’t changed; the ice cube embedded in his heart remained intact.
Asa hadn’t been this close to Simeon since that unfortunate day in the school parking lot. Excitement coursed through her veins. Maybe this time she could tease him like he teased her in school. Let him do a little panting while she cruised out of his life. It would serve him right.
Her planned speech evaporated on her tongue as she watched his luscious lips. He glanced over the woman’s shoulder. His dark eyes drew Asa closer as warmth crawled up her spine and settled in her neck. She looked away until the woman finally ended her flirting and stepped aside.
In front of him she pushed her shoulders back and smiled. His aftershave smelled as good as he looked. The black flecks in his chocolate brown eyes made him look hunky and tempting. If she focused on those eyes, she would follow him anywhere, like Hansel and Gretel following crumbs through the forest. He cleared his throat and broke her trance.
“Simeon you might not remember me.” She stuck out her hand and gave him a firm handshake. “We went to high school together. I’m Asa Suarez...um...Conroy.” She scrambled for something more to say.
“Yes, I remember you. What can I do for you, Asa Suarez Conroy?”
“No, it’s just Asa Conroy now. I’ve been divorced for two years; sometimes I still slip up.” She pushed a handful of curls behind her ear. “Anyway, I’d like to talk with you about this project--the strip mall. My grandparent’s house will be impacted by it.”
“I see.” He took a wider stance, clasped his hands and held her gaze. “You haven’t changed much since high school.” He flashed a smile.
He was capable of emotion; who knew? Her stomach somersaulted. She wasn’t suppos
ed to feel this way. Anything she felt for him should have died years ago. Play it cool girl.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Dakota nod with encouragement. Her sister’s support helped bolster Asa’s courage. “Can we talk?”
“Sure what would you like to know that wasn’t already covered in this meeting?”
“Well I don’t know much, only what you’ve shared tonight.” She wrung her hands.
“We’ve sent quarterly notices to keep everyone informed.
“I haven’t been following the notices. I just got in town tonight.”
“I can have my administrative assistant get copies for you.” The curl of his lip was sexy and seductive.
“That won’t be necessary. I’m sure my sister can fill me in. Can we meet tomorrow and talk in private?” A little time would allow her to formulate a plan and quell the rebellion building in her stomach.
“There are so many people waiting to talk with you tonight. I don’t want to hold up the line.”
He hesitated; his eyes ran the length of her legs. “We can do that.” He pulled his phone from his breast pocket and used his thumb to maneuver the screen. “How about tomorrow, we can have lunch at my offices and I can go over the plans with you?”
“I wasn’t thinking of something so formal.”
“I’ll keep it casual, it’s not a problem.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. His platinum Rolex flashed under the fluorescent lighting. Dakota had tagged it right. He was wealthy. He reached for her hand again. This time holding it longer than necessary, but even a millisecond would have been long enough for a rush of heat to shoot up her arm. Before she could read anything into the gesture, another resident drew his attention.
Asa stumbled away to find her sister talking with a small group. What just happened? The look, his touch, was he flirting? She was the one that was supposed to be flirting. Did the lack of male companionship over the last two years have her confused?
After all these years, the last thing she should have cared about is what Simeon thought about her, but she did.
§ § §
Simeon stared after Asa as she walked away. She had to be joking. Not remember her? Unable to forget her, came closer to describing his feelings. He had seen her walk into the auditorium. For a moment, he thought it might have been a Conroy cousin, but when she smiled, there was no mistaking it was Asa. The hairs on his arms stood at attention. Only Asa Conroy could cause that kind of reaction.
He chatted with one of the residents of Golden Leaf, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Asa. The way she sashayed across the room was pure heaven. The familiar sway of her hips reminded him why he liked her so much in school. If possible, she looked even better now. The skinny high school cheerleader had blossomed into a stunning woman. The glow of her smooth complexion, along with the loose unruly curls made a spectacular package. Could her skin feel as soft as it appeared? After all these years, thoughts of Asa still swarmed in his head. Without her even knowing, she still held his heart and always would. His current appetite for her exceeded his childish crush. Thankfully, age made him wiser and in control of his desires.
He ran the back of his hand across his brow to wipe away beads of sweat.
“Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry,” Simeon focused his attention on the resident standing in front of him. “Please repeat that for me.”
“You’re still looking at that pretty girl you were just talking to. I don’t blame you.” The man rubbed his hands together. “If I wasn’t married, I just might give you a run for your money.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t have to compete with you.” Simeon joked with the older man. He watched as Asa found her sister. The Conroy family always stuck together. He wasn’t surprised to see two of them at this meeting tonight. There were probably more Conroys gathering in the parking lot to support Asa’s mission. The Harper family could take a lesson from them.
“What can I do for you tonight?” Simeon turned back to the gentleman.
“I just want to thank you. It’s a good thing you’re doing for the neighborhood. We need a place to shop, without having to go across town.”
After shaking the resident’s hand Simeon sought out Asa again. The beautiful Asa was still as gorgeous as ever. Now she was divorced and available. He smiled. Maybe the time was right.
The poor, timid boy from high school disappeared the day they buried his father. Simeon lifted his chin and peered over the crowd. The Harper family name now represented prosperity and wealth. His current projects alone would net his company millions.
He sighed. Asa wanted to talk to him about the project. If she wanted to stop him she was wasting her time, but he planned to enjoy every minute they were together. For once, he had something the Conroys wanted and nothing she said or did would nudge him into changing his mind about tearing down those houses and the ghastly memories associated with them. That block along with the disgusting park bench his father called home would cease to irritate him.
But, a well thought out plan might allow him to enjoy Asa Conroy while convincing her the house had to come down. At least I’ll give it a good try.
Chapter Two
Asa beckoned to her sister and hurried out of the auditorium. She wanted to put as much distance as possible between herself and Simeon. Standing so close to him unnerved her. His dark, piercing eyes seemed to touch her heart. The menacing demeanor from high school had vanished, replaced by a much more charismatic personality. Resisting him would take fortitude she wasn’t sure she possessed.
Everyone in the room seemed to gravitate toward him, wanting his attention or simply to bask in his aura. She hadn’t recognized herself as she talked with him, shifting from one foot to the next while avoiding eye contact like a nervous high school girl. The college graduate, the accomplished and composed fashion designer had disappeared.
“What’s your hurry? I’m enjoying myself.” Dakota rushed to keep up with Asa.
“I need some fresh air. Lots of fresh air.”
“Your talk didn’t go so well, huh?”
“Oh, it went just fine. We’re having lunch tomorrow. Instead of barking at me the way he used to in high school, he remained very calm. I think he even stroked the palm of my hand.”
“He remembers you, all right. Every time he stops in the bookstore he asks about you.”
Asa stopped in mid step. “You never told me that.”
Dakota hunched her shoulders. “I didn’t know you were carrying a torch for him.”
“Ha. I’m not carrying a torch. That was years ago.”
“The way you and Eric were always fighting, the last thing you needed to hear was some causal remark from what I thought was a high school friend. Anyway, it’s good to have you home.”
Dakota probably didn’t mean for her comment about her marriage to jerk a knot in Asa’s heart, but the result hurt just the same. Those words echoed the same sentiment expressed by her parents many times over the years. Too bad they died before seeing her make good on her talent as a designer and turning her life around.
Asa unlocked the car doors and they got inside. “I can’t believe you want to stay in Mim and Pepa’s house. Nobody has lived in that place for years. Are you sure everything works?”
“We’ll see tonight. Thanks for having the water and electricity turned on for me. But what happened, I thought you were going to get the place cleaned?”
“Oh, yeah.” Dakota snapped her seatbelt. “I forgot about that.”
“Uh huh. And what about getting that ghost out of the basement too.”
“Ghost?”
“Before leaving to pick you up I heard a rustling noise. I didn’t try to shoo it away. You know how much I hate that basement.”
“Give me a few days to clean up my place and you can stay with me if you’re afraid. We can sit up all night and catch up, like we used to do.”
“Thanks, but I want to stay in the house. I need to. Why don’t you spend the nig
ht with me?” Her request sounded like a plea.
“No, thanks. I’ve got paperwork to do tonight.”
“I’ve been estranged from the family. Staying in the house where Mom and Dad and our grandparents lived...” She shrugged. “I’ll feel closer to them. Their essence is all through that house. You understand, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t have to make sense to me; it only has to make sense to you. I’m just glad you’re back. Remember my offer will always be open. By the time the block is leveled I’ll have my spare bedroom all ready for you.”
Asa gasped. “Dakota don’t say that. Don’t even think it. I’m going to change his mind. I have to.”
Dakota shook her head. “Please don’t go chasing dreams, Asa.”
“I’m not. He might change his mind.” Asa turned on the windshield wipers to clear the mist that had started to fall.
“Suppose he doesn’t. Have you thought about that? What will you do?”
“I’m only thinking positively. There are plenty of other places he can use for his project. I only have to convince him or help find another suitable location.”
Asa stopped the car in front of her sister’s house and kissed her cheek. “I feel like I made a little progress tonight. I’ll make a little more over lunch. So wish me luck.”
“I don’t know,” Dakota sighed. “He’s not the same man you went to school with. Simeon has a reputation for getting what he wants. He can be ruthless.” Dakota said before getting out of the car.
Asa pulled away when Dakota disappeared inside the house.
He might not be the man I remembered, but I’d like to give him something he won’t forget.
§ § §
Simeon sped away from the school parking lot in his Mercedes Roadster. The misting rain coated his windshield and slipped into the lowered window.
Asa Conroy had breezed back into his life just as quickly as she had disappeared. Sassy Asa still gripped his heart with a firm hold.
They were having lunch and if his luck held out, maybe more. His stomach swayed. Nothing in his life came easy, so he couldn’t get excited. This wasn’t just a normal date; she wanted something. If history was any predictor, whatever the Conroys wanted, they got, which meant this date could cost more than he could afford to pay.
