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However, little had he known how much was riding on the success of his South Beach renovations. To say that his dad and uncle had made some poor business decisions over the years was putting it mildly. Now, not only did Jaleen have the responsibility of getting this job done in record time, but his family’s company was relying on the money they would get when they resold the properties.
“Okay, men,” he said when he arrived at the restaurant. “Ideally, we’d love to finish this project in three months.” A couple expected groans echoed throughout the room. “I know it’s a tight timeline, but we’ve had tighter and managed to complete the renovation on time. On behalf of Walker Realty Partner, I’d like to thank each of you for all the hard work you continuously put into our renovations.” Jaleen touched on a few additional key points before releasing the men to get started.
At the end of an entire twelve-hour day, he wasn’t as confident that they’d make the deadline. He was almost to the apartment he’d rented for the duration of his stay when his cell phone rang.
“Hey, Aiden. What’s up man?”
“Jay, I know it’s last minute, but Summer and I figured we’d have a few folks over tonight for some food and drinks. We wanted to extend an invite to you if you’re free.”
Damn. He was so exhausted he couldn’t even guarantee he wouldn’t fall asleep sitting on Summer and Aiden’s couch.
“I don’t know, man. I’m pretty wiped out.”
“Okay, so I’ll be honest,” Aiden said. “Summer is always inviting the ladies over and, usually, I either hang with them or I leave to hang out with some of the guys I’ve met since moving to Miami. But I called a couple of my guys and they are busy.”
“So I’m your next best choice? I’m offended,” Jaleen said, mocking irritation.
“Nah, man. You only just told us you’d be here for a while a couple of days ago, so it slipped my mind.”
“I’m just messing with you.” Jaleen ran his hand down his face as he weighed his options. “Is Danni going to be there?”
Aiden laughed. “Yeah, she’ll be here.”
“Then I’ll see you around eight.” He ended the call, excited that he’d finally get a chance to see Danni again. His excitement was short-lived when another call came in shortly after.
“Hey, Jeremiah. What’s up?” Jaleen opened the door to his apartment.
“What’s up, little brother? I hope you have an explanation for blowing off your meeting with Mr. Rose while you were in Europe. JW is furious.”
Growing up, Jaleen knew that Jael Walker had never wanted to be called “Dad.” Therefore his sons called him JW, as did most of his business associates. “Yeah, well, I was pretty upset when I learned JW had informed Mr. Rose that I would meet with him without clearing it with me.”
“You know how Dad is. He always makes decisions without consulting us, which means you also know how important that meeting was.”
“Well, things come up. I’ll reschedule with Mr. Rose when I have the time.” The line grew silent. Once Jeremiah got quiet, the conversation was either over for the time being or a second round of lectures would soon follow.
“If that’s all you called for, then I need to get in the shower. Give the kids and your wife my love.”
“Jay, before you hang up, can you promise me one thing?”
“It depends on what it is.” He knew he was giving his brother a hard time, but he couldn’t help it. Jeremiah and his other brother, Joel, always listened to what JW said. Half the time, Jaleen spent their serious discussions trying to decipher how his brothers really felt versus what their father had encouraged them to say.
“Can you promise me that after you turn thirty-five, you’ll finally try to live your life the best way you can and stop all this foolishness? Everyone has responsibilities and although I know that it’s difficult for you to accept some of yours, I also know you well enough to realize you’ll eventually do the right thing. I’m not saying families like ours are normal, but we can’t change what we were born into, so the easiest way to accept your future is to obey the rules and enjoy it as much as you can.”
Jaleen let his brother’s words sink in. He’d heard them one too many times before and, just like all the other conversations he’d had with Jeremiah, they always ended with him doing what was expected of him rather than what he actually wanted to do.
“I understand what you’re saying, Jeremiah, and, as always, I appreciate the advice.” Jaleen turned on the faucet for his shower. “And, as always, I’m going to remind you that I have six months until I turn thirty-five and, until then, I don’t have to obey every command JW gives me.”
“I know, Jay... I know.”
They spoke for a couple more minutes about his niece, nephew and sister-in-law before disconnecting. He wasn’t one of those types of people that didn’t appreciate his blessings, but for once, Jaleen wished he didn’t have several people moving around the pieces of his life as if he were a pawn in a chess game.
Stepping into the shower, he did what came natural every time he was reminded that his clock was ticking down and life got overwhelming.
He thought about Danni Allison.
Chapter 3
“Who’s that at the door?” Danni asked Summer for a third time. Just like the previous two times, Summer simply shrugged as she continued to play their card game.
“Babe, are you going to get that?” Summer yelled to Aiden. Tonight, Summer and Aiden’s beach home was the host location for one of their random Spades games. Danni and Summer were teamed against Nicole and Aaliyah, and they were tied one round to one round. They’d been playing Spades for an hour and, up until now, Danni’s focus had been completely on winning the next round to win the overall game.
That all changed when the doorbell rang and she noticed the women share a knowing look. She wouldn’t have cared that they shared a look, had she known what the look was for.
“Someone better start talking or I’m going to answer the door myself.” When no one responded and Aiden was nowhere in sight, Danni got up to go answer the door. Even before she answered, she knew who it was.
“Honey, I’m home,” Jaleen said as soon as she opened the door. She didn’t even have time to react when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her on her cheek.
“Ew, gross. Let me go.” She lightly pushed on his chest.
“You know you like it,” he whispered before letting her go.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a pervert?”
“Has anyone ever told you that playing hard to get doesn’t work if a man loves to chase?”
“Who says I’m playing hard to get? You couldn’t get me even if you tried.” Normally their banter went back and forth like this for hours, but today, his silence caught her off guard. She turned toward him and placed her hands on her hips.
“What’s wrong, Walker? Cat got your tongue?” She would have said more but the mischievous look in his eyes told her to stop while she was ahead.
“I can think of a lot of things I want to do with my tongue and each and every one of those things would bring you the utmost satisfaction.”
She couldn’t help the hitch in her breath at his innuendo. Apparently she wasn’t thinking as quickly on her feet as she normally did. He glanced behind her before curling his hand around her waist and pulling her into a corner of the hallway. He leaned his forehead to hers in a way he never had before. The endearing gesture only made her breathing more staggered.
“I’m exhausted, but I needed to see you today,” he said in a low voice. “I wouldn’t have come if you weren’t here.”
Of all the years she’d known Jaleen, she couldn’t recall a single time when she’d heard the vulnerability in his voice. It was then that she noticed the look of fatigue on his face and the small bags under his eyes. Without second-guessing herself, she raised a hand to smooth over his cheek. He leaned into her hand and briefly closed his eyes.
“I needed this,” he said with his eyes still closed.
She wanted to say something back to him, but she didn’t know what to say. So instead she placed a soft kiss on his opposite cheek.
“Whatever is bothering you, it will be okay,” she whispered when she finally found the words.
He opened his eyes and instead of the guarded—yet playful—playboy she usually saw, she recognized the man behind the sarcastic comments and charming demeanor. She saw the troubled man who had more questions right now than he had answers for. Uncertainty was written across his facial features, combating with the small part of himself that was hoping for a solution to his problems to magically appear. She understood the feeling all too well. She saw it in herself every time she looked in the mirror.
“Are you two just going to stand in the hallway all night? Or are you going to come and play cards?”
Both Danni and Jaleen turned toward the direction of Summer’s voice. No one could see them, but she assumed they’d heard their footsteps when they’d stopped right outside the dining room.
“We’re coming,” Danni yelled as she dropped her hand from Jaleen’s face. He squinted in disappointment. She was two seconds away from telling him they would continue whatever the heck just happened later, before she caught herself.
“We’re playing Spades,” Danni said to Jaleen. “But this is our last round. I guess you and Aiden can play whoever the winner is.”
“Sounds good,” he said, studying her eyes. She wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but was relieved when he began walking toward the dining room.
At the end of the third round, Danni and Summer had taken the win.
“On that note,” Nicole said as she stood from the table, “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“Me, too,” Aaliyah said, standing, as well. “I’ll see you ladies in the morning.”
After Nicole and Aaliyah left, Jaleen and Aiden took their spots.
“Jay, since you’re the newbie tonight, I have to warn you that Summer and I are a force to be reckoned with in Spades.” Jaleen gave Danni a funny look.
“What’s that look for?” she asked.
“You’ve never called me Jay. No other woman has ever called me that.”
She nervously bit her bottom lip. “Is that a bad thing? If you don’t like it, I’ll call you something else.”
“No, it’s fine,” Jaleen said with a smile. “You can call me whatever you want.”
“Great, thanks.”
Great? Thanks? Okay, Danni. Snap out of it!
When it came to cards, better yet, when it came to anything, she was competitive, not polite. However, thirty minutes into the game, it was evident that Jaleen was throwing her off her game. Not only were they barely talking smack to one another, but everyone was barely talking at all.
“Can you pass the pitcher of sangria?” Jaleen asked.
“Sure,” Danni said as she passed the pitcher. “Can you pass the pretzels?”
“Of course.” Jaleen passed her the bowl and a small plate to put the pretzels on.
“That’s it,” Summer said as she placed her cards facedown on the table. “Who are you guys and what have you done with the real Danni and Jaleen?”
“What do you mean?” Danni asked, although she knew exactly what Summer meant.
“Usually you both would have insulted each other at least ten times by now. Aiden and I are afraid to even speak because the sexual tension in the room is so high and, trust me, it’s not us.”
“Well, it’s kind of us, too,” Aiden said, winking at Summer. “But I agree with my wife. You two are sucking the fun out of the game. So how about we take a break? Summer and I will take a walk along the beach while you two work out whatever is going on.”
“You think you’re slick,” Jaleen said when Aiden helped Summer out of her chair. “My guess is your plan was to get Summer to take a late-night walk with you on the beach all along.”
“You have your methods and I have mine.” A look passed between the two men that didn’t go unnoticed by Danni.
Suddenly they were all alone with only the faint sound of the ocean in the distance seeping through the cracked window.
“What do you say we play two-person Spades until they get back?” Danni suggested. Anything was better than sitting in silence for the rest of the night.
“I’m game for that idea,” Jaleen said, reaching for the cards. “What if we up the ante with a friendly bet to start off our friendship journey?”
What is he up to now? “What kind of bet?”
He kept his eyes trained on her as he shuffled the cards. “As much as you hate to admit it, the chemistry between us is undeniable. So I propose that we do something about it.”
She adjusted herself in her chair, a little anxious about the turn in conversation. She’d spent the past few years trying to ignore their obvious attraction, so she couldn’t deny his words. “I’m listening.”
He placed the deck facedown on the table and popped a couple pretzels into his mouth. The act shouldn’t have been sexy, but even watching him chew was getting to her. “I want to take you out on a date.”
“That’s the bet?” she said with a laugh. “We’ve been on a date before.”
“I’m not talking about a date where all our friends are present. I’m talking about a date with just the two of us. Tell me something...” he said, standing to take the chair Aiden had just vacated so that they were sitting right next to one another. “When was the last time you were on a date with a man and truly enjoyed yourself?”
Almost never, she thought. “I’ve been on a few decent dates lately,” she said instead. The disbelief in his eyes was immediate. Soon, the disbelief turned to understanding. It took all her effort not to jump in her seat when he touched her hand.
“Let me try a different approach. How long have we known each other?”
“Um, about three years, I think.” Actually, about three years, two months and twenty-seven days...not that I’m counting.
“And in that time, have you ever thought of me in a nonfriendship way?”
Her mind raced to the first conversation they’d ever had. She’d been living in Chicago at the time, managing the Bare Sophistication boutique. She’d been the first to arrive at a local nightclub to meet up with Winter and Autumn for a girls’ night out, when Jaleen had approached her at the bar.
She’d known who he was immediately since she’d seen him around Chicago with his best friend Taheim. At the time she was surprised when, instead of sitting next to her on a bar stool, he went behind the bar to make her a drink. Now that she knew Taheim’s brother Ajay owned the club, it didn’t seem too extreme, but at the time, she hadn’t known what to make of his behavior. So she’d done what she did best. Told him off and ignored their attraction. Had she known he’d become a constant person in her life over the years, she may have reacted differently.
“What happens if I admit that I’ve thought of you in nonfriendship ways before?”
His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t interpret. “Then I’d tell you that I propose that you allow me to take you on five dates.”
Five dates? Seems simple enough. “And what would happen on these five dates?”
He observed her once more before responding. “For years we’ve been tiptoeing around each other, so these five dates would give us a chance to act on our attraction.”
“And there’s the catch,” she said, shaking her head. “I assume you expect each date to end in sex.”
“No, not necessarily, although I’m not counting it out.” He winked at her. “These five dates would be more like fantasy dates. A chance for us to have a good time without worrying about the fact that we share a lot of mutual friends and the fact that we don’t want to ruin our friendship. It would give us a chance to experience what it would be like if you hadn’t turned me down the first night we met.”
She studied his eyes, noting the sincerity in them. How many times had she wondered what it would be like to be the object of Jaleen’s attention? How often had she wondered what it would be like to be intimate with him? True, this wasn’t exactly what she’d expected if, in the rare case, they did decide to date. But she couldn’t deny that the idea intrigued her.
“So if you win, we go on five fantasy dates. And if I win...?”
He scrunched his forehead in thought before snapping his fingers. “I got it. If you win, you pick five days in which I’ll cater to your every need.”
“Hmm, that sounds really similar to what you’d get if you won.”
His eyes darkened. “I was thinking more like I’d do chores around your house, pick up your clothes from the cleaner’s or do your grocery shopping. But whatever you want, I’ll give.”
Oh, come on! He knew how he meant it and so did she. She glanced at the cracked-open window, contemplating what she should do. If she agreed to the bet, it seemed that, no matter what, they would be spending five days together. If she declined the bet, she’d always wonder if she missed the chance to give in to her attraction to Jaleen because she had no doubt that if they were back in Chicago, she would have never even contemplated agreeing to this.
Be careful. You have a lot at stake by getting close to a man like him.
She wasn’t worried about getting attached to Jaleen. She could handle guarding her heart. What did worry her was the fact that even though they shared mutual friends, neither Jaleen nor those friends knew the truth about her past. True, her parents and brothers were amazing people and her family had accepted the mistakes she’d made. At least, the mistakes they knew about. However, her friends from Chicago and Miami didn’t know what poor decisions she’d made over the past few years that had placed her in her current predicament. In fact, she was pretty sure that if Jaleen did know her secrets, he wouldn’t be making this particular bet right now.
If she listened to that inner warning, she’d make the right decision and say no to what he was offering. Too bad that inner voice wasn’t loud enough to shout over the other part of her that was too enthralled with what Jaleen was offering to say no.
She smiled despite how nervous she felt. “Okay, Walker, you have a deal.” Her smile dropped the minute she shook his hand. His eyes were filled with promise, excitement and a fair warning that she be prepared for whatever he had in store.
Why do I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil?
Chapter 4
“I can’t believe I lost,” Danni said for the third time that morning. She could still see the look of accomplishment on Jaleen’s face last week when he’d won the game. Even worse, he’d had the nerve to do a happy dance around the dining room table, chanting that he’d won.
She would have thought his excitement was flattering had she not been a nervous wreck ever since that night. When he’d called to ask if she was free the entire Sunday, her initial thought had been to decline an all-day date. But the Jaleen she knew would never plan to spend all day with a woman, so she’d accepted out of curiosity. Four days after accepting, she was still nervous.
She glanced at her outfit in her bathroom mirror. Jaleen hadn’t given her a dress code, so she’d chosen to wear her favorite lavender romper and beige wedges. Instead of tying her hair up, she let her soft curls flow around her shoulders. Just as she lifted her eyeliner to apply some light makeup, a loud noise echoed through the wall.
“Oh, crap,” she said as she dropped her eyeliner in the sink. Orchestra music rebounded off her walls from the condo next door. When Summer had moved in with Aiden, Danni had accepted Summer’s offer to rent her condo. Danni had lived there with Summer for a short while when she’d initially moved to Miami, so she was familiar with most of the neighbors. Unfortunately the one she shared a wall with was the hardest to get along with.
“Mr. Higgins,” she said, banging on the wall. “Can you please turn down the music?” She’d thought they had an understanding after their last chat a couple weeks ago. Apparently there was no getting through to Mr. Higgins.
She reached into her drawer for the earplugs she’d purchased after one too many restless nights.
She’d just finished her makeup and taken out her earplugs when there was a knock at the door. “Hi, Jaleen,” she yelled. “Come on in.”
“Why is your neighbor’s music so loud?” he yelled back. “I was just about to call you because I’d been knocking for a while.”
“Sorry about that. I had in earplugs. My neighbor Mr. Higgins loves to play his music loudly three days a week. I thought I’d get used to it, but it still catches me off guard.”
“Oh, yeah,” Jaleen said with a laugh. “I think I remember Summer complaining about that guy one time.” He stopped laughing and looked her up and down.
“You look beautiful,” he yelled just as the music stopped. They both laughed.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “You look nice, as well.” He was wearing dark jeans and a blue shirt. “I’ve always liked you in blue.”
A smile spread across his face. “Then I’ll have to remember that for the future.” She was sure he meant future dates, but just mentioning the word made her feel warm and tingly in places she had no business feeling warm and tingly. The music started back up, breaking the moment.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said, grabbing her purse and sweater.
Once they were in the car, her nervousness eased. “You know, the girls laughed when I told them about the bet.”
“Considering our track record, I’m sure they did,” Jaleen said with a laugh. “But I’m really looking forward to today.”
“Me, too. Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Jaleen glanced from the road to her. “Did you bring an appetite, like I asked?”
At the time she hadn’t known if he’d meant an appetite for him or an appetite for food. Luckily, she’d brought an appetite for both.
Jaleen smirked. “Your mind is so dirty, Danni.”
She waved her arms in innocence. “What? I didn’t say anything.”
“Yeah, well, I can read what you’re thinking.”
She observed him as he drove. “Probably because you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
The rest of the twenty-minute drive was in silence. As they parked in a lot in Little Havana, Danni was still clueless about the day date.
“Since you grew up in Miami, I’m assuming you already know where we are.”
Danni turned to face Jaleen. “You remember that I grew up in Miami?”
He opened his door and went around the car to open hers. “I remember everything you tell me,” he said as he helped her out the car. “Just like I remember that you’re a vegetarian.”
Danni squinted. “Little Havana is known for its Cuban cuisine and doesn’t exactly have many vegetarian options.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” he said as she looped her arm in his. “I happen to have a friend who specializes in vegetarian Cuban cuisine.”
“You’re kidding,” Danni said with a smile. “Why haven’t I heard of a vegetarian chef here before?”
“Probably because she doesn’t advertise it. Her vegetarian dishes are by special request only.”
“How do you know her?”
“I flipped a house a few years back that she brought. She also gives cooking lessons out of the guest house on the property, so we kept in touch.” Jaleen led her to a small restaurant that already had people lining up on the sidewalk despite the fact it wasn’t even the afternoon yet. Instead of getting in line, they bypassed the people and entered the restaurant.
“Jaleen, honey, so nice to see you again.” Danni unlinked Jaleen’s arm so he could hug the eccentric woman who was wearing about ten different vibrant colors. Danni knew exactly who she was and had watched her cooking shows when she was on the Food Network channel. Artemela Rojas wasn’t only known for her unique Cuban cuisine, but also her flamboyant personality and fun-loving spirit. There weren’t too many people who rendered Danni speechless upon meeting them, but Artemela was one of those people.
“Hello, Danni. I’ve heard so much about you.” She pulled Danni in for a hug.