A Bookie's Odds (18 page)

“Nick, be serious. My father doesn’t have a cabaret license.”

“It’s only needed if there are three or more people dancing. As long as Ray doesn’t join in, we’re fine.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Raymond called from behind the bar, where he was sweeping up broken glass. “This ain’t my kind of music.”

“See, it’s all right. Relax and enjoy yourself.”

He felt her relax in his arms. Her lips turned up in a smile. He spun her away from him and her melodic laughter blended with the music. But when he pulled her back, her body began to shake and her laughter turned to sobs.

Nicholas stopped moving. “Sshh, it’s all right.” He held Georgia to his chest and rubbed her back.

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head. “I’m a horrible daughter.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am. I’m over here dancing and laughing while my father’s in the hospital.”

“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself. You know your father would not want you moping around.”

“How would you know what he wants? It’s not like you’ve ever sat down and talked to him. He doesn’t even like you.”

“Whatever you say. You can lash out at me all you want.”

“Stop being nice to me.”

“Sure, anything you say,” Nicholas agreed without releasing her.

He kissed the top of her head as he gently rocked her. When her sobs finally calmed to a whimper, he pulled back and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Do you feel better?”

Georgia shook her head.

“Do you want to cry some more?”

She shook her head again.

“Do you want me to just hold you?”

She nodded.

He pushed her back to his chest as the bell over the door tinkled.

“What the hell’s goin’ on?”

Georgia tensed and tried to pull back. Nicholas maintained his grip on her as he glanced over her head at her friend.

“We’re cleaning. Whaddaya think we’re doing?”

“Funny, it looks more like yah feelin’ her up.”

Nicholas cocked an eyebrow. Georgia’s so-called perfect man abandoned her at the first chance he got and then had the nerve to fume over her finding comfort elsewhere.

“Nicholas…”

Sighing at Georgia’s use of his first name instead of the abbreviation, he reluctantly released her but stayed near her side. Raymond lowered the volume on the radio.

“Where’ve you been?” her friend shouted despite the decrease in background noise.

“That’s none of your business.”

Nicholas smiled. He was proud she refused to let the other man intimidate her.

“It is when we had a date.”

“Our plans weren’t definite. I told you I’d think about it.” Georgia shook her head. “Besides, you didn’t expect me to go out last night, with my father in the hospital, did you?”

“It’s not like you were sittin’ at home waitin’ for news.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” She placed one hand on her hip and pointed to the door with the other. “William, go home until you want to be reasonable.”

The man’s mouth dropped open. He looked like he was not used to having anyone…especially a woman…dismiss him. He took a step and reached out for her. He missed his target as Nicholas stepped between the two.

“I think the lady asked you to leave.”

The other man grimaced as he glanced from Georgia to him and then back. After a second, he held up his hands and backed away. “You’re right. Things are getting a bit tense around here…you know…with your father not around. I’ll come back later and we can talk.”

Georgia nodded. Nicholas did not approve, yet he decided not to add to her aggravation by voicing his opinion. He simply stood there until the other man walked out and the door closed behind him.

“I don’t like him.” Raymond voiced what Nicholas had been thinking.

Georgia looked at the young man. “That’s unfair. You don’t know him.”

“I’ve a feeling about him.”

Georgia pursed her lips together as if she was trying to hold back an argument. She was unable to tell him a “feeling” held no merit. Not after she claimed she’d had one about Gianni.

Nicholas realized he had yet to bring up the reason they had not talked for several weeks. But that was another topic for another time.

The telephone rang, breaking the tension. Raymond picked up the handset and listened. A smile grew on his face. After a second, he told the other party to hold on. He then held out the handset and announced, “Your father’s awake.”

Chapter 15

“You look worse than what the cat drug in,” her father mumbled as she rushed into the room.

Georgia shook her head. She had known he’d have something to say about her outfit, but she had been too eager to see him to change from her pants into a skirt.

“What I look like doesn’t matter.” She leaned over the side of the bed and placed a kiss on his forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Like somethin’ the cat drug in.”

She smiled as she walked to the empty chair on the other side of the bed. At least he was maintaining his sense of humor.

“The doctor explained all your injuries and said you’re going to be here for least a week.”

“Yeah, whatever. It ain’t like he got a bar to tend to.”

“Don’t worry about the bar. Nick and I spent the morning cleaning and taking inventory of what’s needed. I’ll place the orders on Monday.”

Her father turned his head and glared at Nicholas, who leaned against the doorjamb. A smile spread across his lips as if the older man’s actions amused him.

“You know where I keep the emergency fund. Do what you can with it.”

“It won’t be necessary. There was plenty in the drawer to cover the expenses,” Georgia replied, wondering if the doctor should reexamine her father’s head. She never expected he’d agree to her helping out with the bar.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. His lips moved, yet she could not make out what he was mumbling. After a minute he frowned at her, and she shook her head.

“I didn’t ask anyone for the money.”

“I know you didn’t, girl. Though you’re still to blame.”

“Why’s that?”

“’Cause of your kindness. That man would’ve never filled up that drawer if you weren’t a good girl.”

“Then if anyone’s to take the blame, you should. You’re the one who taught me right.”

“I concede.” Her father chuckled. “So what else have you’ve been up to?”

“Nothing else, Daddy. I’ve just been worrying about you.”

She conveniently left out where she had been worrying. She did not want to be responsible for the coronary he’d have if she told him she’d stayed at Nicholas’s apartment.

“By the way, William sends his best.”

“Now, he’s the type of man you should be hangin’ wit’.”

Her father was impossible. He couldn’t let up with his matchmaking for a second. She suspected he would actually consider the brief make-out session in the car a positive sign.

Unfortunately for William, the kiss had been another strike against him. It had been a disappointment, and she had been eager to get away from him. She, however, had enjoyed every moment with Nicholas and regretted his pulling away. In fact, she was certain she would have allowed him to continue if he had not stopped.

“Are you all right, girl?”

Georgia snapped out of her thoughts. “Yes, why?” She forced a weak grin on her lips.

“You had this funny look on your face.”

Her cheeks warmed. “It’s nothing, Daddy,” she said as she raised her eyes to peep at Nicholas.

He didn’t notice her look. He had been focusing on something in the hall and now stepped out of the room. A second later, he ushered in Celeste.

“I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“You know you’re always welcome.” Georgia’s father spoke for the entire room.

Too excited to speak, Georgia jumped out of her chair. By the time she reached the door, Nicholas had grabbed the bouquet of flowers from his sister’s hand and slid her coat off her other arm.

When they were younger, Georgia and Celeste would squeal and embrace each time they met as if they not seen each other days. This time, it had been weeks, not hours, since the women last spoke. While they did not emit high-pitched noises that would have nurses running to the room to investigate, they hugged one another with just as much fervor.

After a minute-long embrace, the women stepped back. Through the tears falling from their eyes, they sized each other up. Though Celeste’s hair was pulled back in a single braid, it lacked luster. She had circles under her eyes and had lost enough weight that her clothes hung off her small frame.

Georgia’s eyes dropped to the bruise peeping from her friend’s short sleeve. She reached up and touched the arm. Celeste jerked back and grimaced, but her features quickly straightened. With a small laugh, Celeste wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“It’s nothing,” her friend explained before anyone had a chance to ask questions. “I walked into a wall the other night. You know how clumsy I am.”

Georgia shook her head as she wiped her own face. She didn’t remember her friend being clumsy. The only time she could recall Celeste ever walking into anything was the night of their prom, and the woman had been smashed at the time.

“I was sorry to hear what happened, Mr. Collins.” Celeste reached for the flowers Nicholas had rescued. “I got you these. I wasn’t sure if you’d like them.”

He lifted his left hand, and she placed the bouquet in the crook of his arm.

“They’re beautiful. Come, sit down.”

Nicholas slipped out of the room as Celeste took the chair Georgia had vacated.

“I’ve missed havin’ you around the apartment. It’s so quiet without the two of you gigglin’ at all hours of the night.”

“You couldn’t have heard us, Mr. Collins.”

He snorted. “Y’all used to make such a racket the deaf man in the next block complained y’all kept him up.”

Nicholas returned with another chair and a vase. He placed the second chair next to his sister.

“Thank you,” Georgia said as she slid into the empty seat.

Nicholas winked at her before he disappeared into the bathroom. A second later, Georgia heard the sound of water splashing against glass.

“So how’s married life treatin’ you?” her father asked.

Celeste flinched. It had been a slight gesture, one Georgia would have missed had she not been staring directly at her friend.

“It’s fine.” Celeste’s voice was unnaturally high, as if she was trying to force herself to sound cheerful. “I never realized how much work goes into taking care of a house, but Gio’s so patient with me. He’s so understanding when I do things wrong.”

Georgia glanced at her father, who rolled his eyes. He also wasn’t buying the load of bull Celeste was dishing out. The young woman, however, did not appear to notice the silent exchange as she continued to praise the virtues of a man Georgia suspected was no more honorable than the serpent was with Eve.

Nicholas walked back into the room. He passed the filled vase to Georgia, who held it out to Celeste. Her friend took the vase and placed it on the nightstand next to her. The movement caused her sleeve to rise. The bruise was wider than Georgia’s fist. It was more the size of a man’s fist. If she had to guess, she’d say the fist belonged to Gianni.

“Celeste, I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. Do you mind walking to the cafeteria with me?”

“Of course not. It’s…it’s just…” Celeste’s cheeks reddened.

“It’s just what?”

“I don’t have any money. I spent it all on the bus and the flowers.”

The confession made Georgia more suspicious. Celeste used to walk around with enough cash in her purse to go shopping at Bergdorf Goodman, have lunch at the Waldorf Astoria, and then pay a driver to take her from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Now she was claiming broke after spending fifteen cents for a bus ride and a dollar fifty for a small bouquet of daisies.

“No problem.” Georgia smiled up at Nicholas.

Shaking his head, he pulled out his wallet. “Will a fiver do?”

“That’s more than enough.” She stood, walked over to him, and took the five-dollar bill from him, then waved toward the door. “Come on.”

Celeste slowly rose from her chair and shuffled across the room. They headed down the hall to the elevator in silence. Neither spoke until they were seated at a table in the corner.

“What’s going on, Celeste?”

Her friend shrugged her shoulders. She ripped the wrapper off her chicken sandwich and tore into her food as if she had not eaten in days. Georgia lost her appetite, watching. She silently placed her sandwich on Celeste’s tray.

“Nothing’s going on,” Celeste replied after she swallowed the bite she’d been chewing.

“Come on, it’s me you’re talking to. I know you better than anyone else does.”

Celeste dropped her gaze to her tray as she shoved more food into her mouth.

“Is Gianni hitting you?”

Her friend squared her shoulders. She vehemently shook her head. Yet Georgia noticed the mixture of fear and sorrow in her friend’s eyes.

“How could you ask me something like that?”

“The bruise on your arm.”

“I told you, I walked into a wall.”

“I’d believe that if you weren’t the most coordinated person I know.”

Celeste’s shoulders slumped.

“If he’s hurting you, you need to tell someone.”

“Gianni would never hurt anyone. He’s the kindest, most gentle man—”

“And he’s patient and understanding…” Georgia ticked off the virtues on her fingers as she repeated the list her friend had recited while they were upstairs.

“Stop making fun of me.”

Georgia dropped her hands. The last thing she wanted to do was antagonize Celeste; however she could not back down until she got the truth.

She reached across the table and held her friend’s hand. “Do you remember what your father used to tell us?”

Though Celeste nodded, Georgia repeated the lecture the man gave them when they were old enough to date. “We’re princesses in our fathers’ eyes and princesses deserve princes. A prince would go out of his way to make a princess happy. He’d never do anything to make her cry, and he’d sooner chop off his own hands than lay them on her in anger.”