“Hi. Everything okay?” she asked, gesturing to the phone he still held in his hand.
He nodded. “Avery is pregnant. My half sister,” he explained, a smile on his face.
“That’s great news!” Faith lowered herself to the bed, sitting beside him.
“It is.” Another Dare baby. More people to add to those he loved and worried about, he thought. “What’s doing with my mom?”
“She turned in for the night. I think the long day finally caught up with her.”
He nodded. “Did she mention my father?”
Faith shook her head. “I got the distinct impression she didn’t want to go there. We talked about other things. I like her.” She studied him intently, her brows furrowed over narrowed eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She was exceptionally good at reading him, he thought. But he wasn’t up for an emotional conversation tonight. Especially when he had no idea what he wanted to reveal about his feelings.
“I’m just tired. I think I’ll take a shower and turn in early, too,” he said.
She flinched at his brusque tone. But for a man used to living alone, to thriving on being by himself, he found himself suddenly surrounded by women. By emotions. Theirs as well as his. And though he wanted to lose himself in her body, he was afraid that meant losing his heart as well. And he wasn’t ready to face that truth. Not now.
And maybe not ever.
Chapter Eight
Jason finished his cup of coffee and glanced at the two women looking at him expectantly. He turned to his mother first. “I’m going to drop you off at Sienna’s on my way to work.” He’d been neglecting his duties, and one of the things he’d decided while tossing and turning last night was that it was time for him to get back to normal. To do his job while protecting Faith at the same time.
The new arrangement would also allow him to get his bearings and his emotions back on an even keel. They’d been together twenty-four seven, and it was messing with what he knew he both wanted and needed in his life.
He met Faith’s curious gaze, and he knew she was going to be hurt by what he said next. Gritting his teeth, he dove in. “I called Jack Renault, and he’s going to pick you up and escort you to work today. He’ll be on bodyguard duty, so you have nothing to worry about.”
He’d caught her, mug halfway to her mouth. She slowly lowered it and nodded. She met his gaze, to her credit, not looking away as he severed the routine they’d been in for the last few weeks with no explanation.
“Okay.” She straightened her shoulders, clearly holding back whatever she was feeling. “What time will he be here?”
“Thirty minutes.”
She nodded. “I’m going to finish getting ready.” She placed the mug into the sink, and without another word, she turned and walked away.
Jason exhaled, watching her go.
“What did you just do?” his mother asked in the tone he recognized as the chiding one from when he was a child.
He ran a hand over his face before answering. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Jason. I spent last night with Faith. I know you’ve been working from her shop, protecting her, making sure she’s safe. Now suddenly you’re sending her with a bodyguard? The poor girl looked blindsided.”
He swallowed back a curse. He probably could have handled it better. But when? He’d made the call to Renault while she showered, then fallen asleep on his side of the bed before she’d turned in for the night. He just needed a break and he took it. He left her in bed to shower and later met up with her in the kitchen.
“It’s for the best,” he told his mother. “We were getting too attached. It wasn’t a normal situation. The guys were getting annoyed that I wasn’t there. We’re close to opening a new version of the club. I need to be focused.”
She narrowed her gaze. “What did it?” she asked, lowering her voice. “Was it your father? Me? Almost losing Sienna? Or was it Levi that severed you emotionally?”
He reared back in shock. All this time he’d thought he’d kept his feelings to himself. Gone about his life. Lived it to the fullest. He never showed anyone his weakness, and yet here was his mother, nailing it in one breath.
“All of it maybe?” he said, uncharacteristically allowing himself to have this conversation.
“Jason, I can see how deeply you care about this woman. She’s special. She’s intelligent, smart, can run a business, and she cares about you. Don’t lose her because you’re afraid.”
He shook his head. It went so much deeper than that. He didn’t deserve happiness when Levi was buried and he’d done nothing to stop it. This was a thought he rarely let himself have, but he allowed it now because he needed the reminder. With his mother pushing him toward Faith and Faith’s pull so strong, he had to prompt his memory. The thought of Levi would keep him strong when desire threatened to pull him into the light.
“I can’t, Mom. She deserves someone who can give her everything. And I’ve given up on having it all.” He deliberately glanced at the clock on the microwave. “We need to get going.”
Savannah Dare sighed. “One day you’re going to look back and realize that you alone destroyed any chance you had at happiness. A chance you deserved. And one Levi would want you to have and live for him.”
He shook his head and walked away.
* * *
Jack Renault was a large man, bulky and heavyset, wearing a blazer beneath his winter jacket. Faith felt safe with him but not as safe as she’d been knowing Jason was nearby. She wasn’t stupid. She knew their arrangement couldn’t last. Not when he had an important business to run that had opposite hours of her own, but she’d enjoyed the time she had with him.
And if she’d given it thought, she’d have assumed they’d have an adult conversation before he up and hired a bodyguard and went back to his normal routine. Instead he’d waited until he’d slept with her and then run scared. She had no doubt that’s what had occurred, either.
After an incredible night where he’d opened up emotionally, after they’d given themselves to each other in intimate ways she’d never have imagined, he’d slipped out of bed before her and she’d woken up alone. She had no doubt it had been deliberate. Then his mother had arrived and they’d had no time alone to rehash or discuss, and she honestly thought Jason was relieved. Now she had a bodyguard and Jason’s distance spoke volumes.
Well, it wasn’t like she had nothing to do. Although it had only been this past weekend that she’d provided the treats for Izzy’s son’s birthday, three of her friends had contacted her via email already.
“Faith?” Kelsey called her from the kitchen.
“Yes?” She glanced out at the shop devoid of customers and walked into the back.
The young woman seemed nervous, which was unlike her.
“What’s up?” Faith asked.
“I was wondering if you had more hours for me? My classes this semester are almost over and I–”
“Yes!” Faith didn’t even let her finish. “Yes, of course. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of hiring someone else, as well. It’ll free me up for other parts of the business,” she said, and went on to explain the party favor aspect she’d discovered courtesy of Izzy Dare. “I want to build the business and you’re going to be a key part.”
Kelsey’s eyes lit up at the prospect. “I won’t let you down,” she promised.
And Faith didn’t think she would.
Kelsey returned to work, and Faith headed back out front, her gaze falling on Jack Renault, who looked fierce as his stare held the front door.
She sighed. If this mess didn’t end soon, she wouldn’t have customers. Jack Renault’s expression would scare them off.
Faith walked up to him, meeting his gaze. “Can we talk?”
“What can I do for you, Ms. Lancaster?”
“I want to know why it’s been so hard to find my brother? And if we do find him, how can we prove he’s been vandalizing my business and my house? I ne
ed to get my life back!” And so did Jason.
He’d made it clear he was finished giving up his time for her, and she wanted to free him up and get out of his space. As much as it hurt her heart, because she was definitely falling for the man, he couldn’t give her what she wanted or needed. Oh, when he’d made love to her, she’d believed it, but not when he’d shut her out right after.
“Your brother is obviously hanging out with people who aren’t on the radar, so to speak. I haven’t been able to track a cell. He’s gone underground.”
She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself. “What if I lure him out somehow?”
Now it was the other man’s turn to scowl. “Look, I don’t know how you’d find him, for one thing, and for another, Jason Dare wouldn’t just fire and not pay me, he’d have my head on a platter. Then Gabriel Dare would let me go and that’s my bread and butter. So I suggest you stay put. Your brother’s going to mess up sooner or later and we’ll get him. I’m pretty damn sure it’ll be illegal, which will put him in jail. Just relax and let me do my job. You go make candy,” he said, talking down to her, which she didn’t appreciate.
Stamping her feet wouldn’t help, so she spun around and headed back behind the counter. She couldn’t give Jason his space if she wasn’t safe, and she couldn’t change the status quo, either. Which left her frustrated at having to wait for Colton to make a move.
* * *
Jason spent the day and night at the club, back on his usual schedule. In an odd way, his mother’s issues had allowed him to take a step back from Faith. After spending the day with Sienna, his mom was at his apartment with Faith, both women being watched over by Jack Renault’s nighttime bodyguard outside the building, who would keep both Colton and Robert Dare far away.
Jason didn’t have to worry about either of them. He was free to do his job. It was exactly what he’d wanted … so why was he so fucking stir-crazy and unable to concentrate on anything but what Faith was doing? Worse, what Faith was feeling after his dick move of dumping her on a bodyguard with no warning.
“Hey, where do we stand with entertainment?” Landon asked, walking into Jason’s office, where he’d been holed up all day. Normally they sat together in the joint space, but Jason hadn’t been in the mood for the ribbing he’d take about finally joining them again.
“Grey’s out. My half sister’s pregnant and not feeling well,” he said, knowing it wasn’t like Landon was going to spill the beans to Jason’s family. “He’s trying to get us a performer.”
“Have you reached out to Charlotte as a possibility?” Tanner walked into the room, a can of cola in his hand.
Jason groaned and closed his eyes, a picture of Charlotte, her long black hair and willowy body, filtering through his brain. Worse, the memory of her hands on his body as they’d fucked also made its way through. He didn’t want anyone touching him but Faith. Shit.
He shook his head. “Anyone but her,” he muttered.
Tanner narrowed his gaze. “Are you really that far gone for the girl that you can’t even hire an ex to sing?”
Yes. “No. I just don’t want to deal with her wandering hands and inability to take no for an answer. It took me long enough to convince her it was over last time. No need to go there again.”
One stalker in a family was enough, he mused, thinking of Faith’s brother, until his words caught him up short. Family? Faith?
He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Can you assholes leave? I’m trying to get work done. You left me spreadsheets and work up the ass.”
Landon shook his head and laughed, while Tanner said what he was thinking. “Whipped, man. Let me know when the wedding is.”
Jason balled up a sheet of paper and tossed it at his friends. Then he went back to work. He wanted to finish up the paperwork before the club got busy for the night. It would be the first time he was downstairs in weeks, and he needed to put on a good show for his partners that everything was fine and back to normal.
An hour later, he’d reconciled some deliveries, made sure everything was copacetic, and was ready to join Landon and Tanner at the bar when his phone rang.
A glance told him it was Grey. Hope sprung in his veins. “Hey,” he said, answering immediately.
“Hi. Listen, I tried. All the A-listers are booked every weekend for the next month. Even asking for favors didn’t work. Now I can get you Lola,” he said of Lola Corbin.
Now Lola Grissom, married to Rep Grissom Jr., a Major League Baseball player, she was the former lead singer of Tangled Royal when Grey’s band had been together.
“But I have bad news,” Grey said.
A tingle raced up Jason’s spine and he almost guessed the information, but he let Grey tell him anyway. “She’s been working with Charlotte Jasper, who was with her when I asked … and they both want to do the gig.”
“Motherfucker.” But he couldn’t deny the fact that both Lola and Charlotte together would put Club TEN29 on the map when it came to live acts. It would prove their cachet, and other stars would be willing to sign on to sing here. He let out another groan. “I’ll get my attorney to send them a contract and we’ll negotiate from there.”
“Sorry, man.”
“No, I should be thanking you. No worries. How’s Avery?” he asked.
“In the fucking bathroom puking. I don’t know how women do it or why they call it morning sickness,” Grey said, his admiration and worry for his wife obvious.
“Give her my love. I’m going to make the arrangements.” Jason disconnected and immediately texted his partners the news.
He then called his attorney and after that he called Gabe. Stars like Lola and Charlotte together were going to cost a mint and they’d need a loan until they were earning back what they paid on the talent.
Finally, he headed down to the darkness that was his bar. A place he’d always loved, but now he couldn’t wait to get home.
* * *
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Faith asked Savannah Dare, who was eyeing the dresses she’d had delivered from a personal shopper at Neiman Marcus.
“I think it’s the best idea I’ve had in a long time. We’re going to visit my son at his nightclub. We’re going to have a few drinks, have a night out, and enjoy.” Savannah picked up an emerald-colored garment lying on the bed. “This one is for you. I had three sent over, but the green matches your eyes.”
Faith lifted the beautiful garment and draped it over her arm.
“Don’t forget the shoes.” Savannah pointed to a pair of silver strap sandals. “Those are your size.”
Wondering how she’d allowed the woman to talk her into this, Faith headed for Jason’s bathroom, where she’d moved her makeup. Thirty minutes later, the women met up in the family room, dressed to kill. Or be killed, when Jason laid eyes on them outside of the apartment, Faith thought.
“He’s going to be so mad,” she muttered as Savannah, wearing a silver dress, opened the door to the apartment.
“That big bodyguard will be with us. He’ll get over it. I haven’t had a night out to just enjoy myself in God knows how long. I’m going. Are you with me?” Jason’s mother asked.
Faith picked up the small purse Savannah had also had delivered. “Let’s go.” She hadn’t had any time out in over a year. If anyone was overdue, she was. Jason was obviously working out his own issues, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t let loose for once.
And Savannah was right. They had a bodyguard. Let Jason be angry. He was the one who’d hired the man, so he must trust him, she thought, as the apartment door slammed closed behind them with a final thud.
* * *
With a seltzer over ice in hand, Jason made the rounds of the important people, those who paid a hefty sum to get into the nightclub and be guaranteed a private table and server. As the manager, it was his job to ensure everyone’s happiness at his establishment, and Tanner and Landon had been handling things in his absence.
It felt good to be back in the s
wing of things and pick up his routine. Apparently his partners felt the same, because from the other side of the room, Tanner raised a glass to Jason, and he did the same.
The other man strode across the room and came up to where Jason stood on the raised balcony area, where Jason had come for a break. “Welcome back, buddy. Good to have you here.”
“Thanks. Good to be here.” He slid his gaze toward the front entrance just in time to see two women walk into the room. Women he’d recognize in his sleep.
His mother, in a silver sequined dress and matching heels, her blonde hair curling around her face in the style she preferred, looked around, taking in her surroundings. She’d been here for the grand opening and so she already had her bearings.
The second woman didn’t have the same air of confidence, but with her rocking body, she didn’t need to. The emerald-green dress hugged her curves, the dip in the front revealing cleavage he felt extremely possessive over, and the way it draped her hips and ended above her knees was fucking sexy.
Neither one of them belonged here. He didn’t care if the big bodyguard he’d hired trailed close behind.
“Hold this,” he said to Tanner, who’d muttered, “Oh, shit,” at the same time.
“I’m not missing this,” his partner said and followed him through the back curtain and down the stairs.
He stood unnoticed for now at the bar, where he heard his mother order a gin and tonic for herself. Faith was looking at the drink menu, then whispered something in his mother’s ear.
“A ménage à trois for my friend,” Savannah said with a grin.
Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. He and his partners knew how to make every drink on the menu, and this one included crushed strawberries, fresh basil, white rum, triple sec, lemon juice, Gomme syrup, and ice, mixed then strained. They could be potent and Faith, despite her obvious nerves – she kept licking and biting on her pink-coated lips – had trouble written all over her tonight.
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