Feel The Fire (Unforgettable Series) (2 page)

Toni’s toes curled at the velvety smoothness of his voice. “I figured we could make an exception, seeing how you look as if you needed it.”

While Toni signaled for the bartender, she could feel the man’s eyes linger. She hoped he liked what he saw, but there were no guarantees, since she’d dressed down for travel.

“The
I-can-eat-anyone-alive-and-still-have-room-for-dessert
look.”

For a few minutes after the drink was delivered, Toni found herself at a loss as to how to keep the conversation going. She had already used the penny-for-your-thoughts line, and she just wasn’t willing to demean herself by asking for his zodiac sign.

“Thanks for the drink, but I don’t think I’m going to be very good company,” he said.

She considered him for a moment and warred with herself whether to stay or leave. “You know, I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener,” she said. “And it looks like I have plenty of time to kill.

“You don’t want to hear my sob story.”

She smiled. “Maybe I can help.”

“Trust me. I’ve heard it all. Trouble don’t last always. This, too, shall pass. Or my personal favorite—there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

Toni remained true to her word and listened to the man’s heartbreaking story about a love gone awry. There were parts that were funny, sweet and endearing. The only problem was that it was a love story that involved three people-one too many by her count.

A couple of hours into the story, Toni thanked the bartender for another round before settling her gaze back on the handsome man beside her.

The question threw her off guard. Toni had dated many men—from all walks of life. Some men had showed her a good time, others had taught her life lessons and the rest she’d rather forget.

“I’m going to take that as a no.” He chuckled.

“Well, it’s not that I don’t believe in love or anything,” she said, “but I’ve never experienced a lightning bolt or stared into the depths of a man’s eyes and felt beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’d met my soul mate.” Toni laughed, but then she was crushed by a wave of disappointment. She had come close once, but close didn’t count.

“Then consider yourself lucky,” he mumbled.

She didn’t feel lucky. While she was out leaping tall buildings in a single bound, most of her friends had settled down and started families. Meanwhile, she couldn’t decide whether owning a dog was too much of a commitment.

And yet, she was okay with being single. Preferred it, really, when she considered the hell her parents’ marriage was. “Flight 2193 is now ready for boarding. Flight 2193.”

Toni sighed. At this rate, she could have taken a taxi to Los Angeles. “So what happened?” she asked, reaching for her glass. “I have to admit I’m intrigued.”

Toni huddled closer as her handsome stranger continued his story: boy gets girl, boy gives girl an ultimatum to get rid of the other boy, but things start unraveling at the seams.

“I think you’re purposely drawing this story out to keep me on pins and needles,” Toni complained after another hour had rolled by. “When are we going to get to the wedding?” She gasped. “Wait. Was there even a wedding?”

Toni glanced back at her companion with a million questions racing through her mind. His story had the makings of a soap opera. Did this Ophelia Missler really love her childhood friend, Solomon, or had Jonas, her current drinking partner, stolen her heart?

“You know, I really don’t know why I’m running off at the mouth like this. My rehashing this story isn’t going to change how things turned out.”

Fearful she wouldn’t hear the rest of the story, Toni carefully placed a hand against his arm. “Maybe not, but talking about things can be therapeutic.”

His silence seemed to stretch for an eternity before he finally met her gaze. “I guess you want to hear the rest?”

Toni nodded and leaned in close. However, the wedding turned out to be a disaster with the bride marching down the aisle; but unable to say “I do,” and leaving Jonas at the altar while the bride ran off to Las Vegas to marry Solomon.

“Flight 1269 to Los Angeles is now ready for boarding.”

“Oh, that’s me.” Toni dabbed her eyes and then slid her purse strap over her shoulder before she glanced at Jonas again. She didn’t quite know what to say to such a bittersweet love story, especially since he had gotten the short end of the stick. “It looks like I did a lousy job in cheering you up,” she admitted.

Jonas’s adorable dimples flashed. “I don’t know about that. It felt good to finally talk about it. It’s been a year, and Lord knows, my brothers, though well-intentioned, have been unsuccessful in getting me to open up.” He met her gaze. “Looks like you
are
a good listener.”

“A year, huh?” Toni’s interest perked.

“Yeah. I heard Ophelia and Solomon had a beautiful girl last month. For the most part, I’ve been able to move on. I’m a little nostalgic because today would’ve been our one-year anniversary.

Toni nodded as she studied him. “You know, I bet she was right about you,” she said. “One day you’ll make some woman a wonderful husband.”

She didn’t know what possessed her to say that, but she meant it. Maybe it was something about his eyes. He had kind eyes, though now upon closer inspection and after hearing his sob story, she could see he was still very much a scarred man. Most likely, he had even thrown in the towel when it came to love.

Reluctantly, Toni stood from her bar stool. She reached into her purse and withdrew a business card. “If you’re ever in Los Angeles, give me a call.”

Still watching her, Jonas accepted the card. “I just might do that, Ms...” He glanced at her name and a wide smile eased across his lips. “Ms. Wright.”

“Until then.” She winked, and then made sure she swished her hips in just the right way as she strolled out of the Crown Room.

Jonas enjoyed the view as he pocketed the card. “Until then, Ms. Wright.”

Chapter 2

Jonas swore this would be the last time he would fly commercial. The airlines were always losing baggage, overbooking flights, delaying flights or just flat out canceling them. It was a wonder how any of the companies managed to stay in business. Not to mention, first class wasn’t what it used to be. The only thing it meant nowadays was that you’d get your drinks first.

In truth, the last thing he needed was a drink. How many did he have sitting in the Crown Room talking to that attractive attorney-four? Five? Hell, he’d lost count.

Settling into his seat and waving off the stewardess when she asked for his order, Jonas turned and glanced out of the window. How pathetic he must have sounded in that bar. A year later and he was still moaning about Ophelia.

He had tried everything he could think of to get over her. He’d even been desperate enough to take Q’s advice and jump into bed with an extremely long line of faceless but curvaceous beauties. Sure, they gave him physical pleasure, but emotionally, he was still tangled in knots.

It was better than getting emotionally attached. Hell, he’d take pleasure over pain any day.

Then there were days when he wanted to track down Solomon Bassett and drag him into a dark alley and have an old-fashion fistfight. But what would that solve?

It wasn’t that he was still in love with Ophelia. He wasn’t. It was just...he wanted to get even.

Jonas pulled Toni’s business card out from his shirt pocket. For no particular reason, he just studied the stylish gold font promoting her as an associate partner of the law offices of Kaplan, Grey, & Kaplan.

Maybe he hadn’t been too pathetic. She did give him her card after all, but what would be the point? He hardly ever went out to the west coast and he wasn’t interested in a long-distance relationship.

“Just two ships passing,” he whispered under his breath, and tucked the card back into his shirt. “Miss?” He waved the stewardess back over to his seat. “I think I will have a drink.”

Toni dreamed about a very naked Jonas Hinton during her five-hour flight back to Los Angeles. She pictured his entire body to be a smooth, even caramel glaze color, which would go perfect against her chocolate skin. Also in the dream, she had the brother bending in every direction imaginable and hitting all her hot spots.

Judging by the sheepish grins from the passengers around her when she woke, she guessed she had been talking in her sleep and have given everyone quite an earful. However, she exited the plane with her head held high and an extra pep in her step.

Toni had lived her whole life marching to a slightly different beat. She wasn’t quite wild child, but she was by no means a goody-two-shoes, either. She quite simply worked hard and played hard, too. When it came to men...well, they were like a box of chocolates. She never knew which one she was going to get.

As long as she kept replenishing the box, she was happy.

It was late when she finally made it home to her overpriced studio flat and she was more than ready to dive into her bed and get some real sleep. However, her ringing phone prevented her from fulfilling that wish.

“Hey, Maria,” she answered without even looking at the caller ID.

“Well, thank heavens you’re alive,” Maria barked in her thick Spanish accent. “You don’t know how to pick up the phone and call?”

“Sorry. I know I was supposed to come to your party, but my flight was delayed and I’m just walking through the door.”

“You’re just
now
getting home?” she questioned dubiously.

“Yes. I swear,” Toni assured. “Next Botox party, I’m there.” Toni loved Maria to death and she was a beautiful woman, but she hated how vigorously her girl fought aging. If Maria wasn’t pumping silicon, collagen or Botox into her body, she was lasering, tucking and stretching her skin to the max. In the two years since Toni moved to Los Angeles, she noticed this behavior was the norm. California women were obsessed with youth.

Toni, once again, offered up a prayer of thanks for her good genes. Her skin was just as smooth and supple as any twenty-year-old’s. Her casual workouts and active sex drive kept her curves tight and cellulite nonexistent.

“Okay, girl. Next party, be there.” Maria paused for a moment and then asked, “How was your trip back to Atlanta? Did you see him?”

Toni sighed as she kicked off her shoes and finally dumped her bags onto the sofa. “I saw him. We screwed. I left.”

“Toni!”

“What? We were both mature adults about it. We were there, we were horny, so we did it. There’s nothing wrong with having sex with an ex, as long as both of you know that’s all it is.”

She thought he did; but after a few drinks, Brian made it clear he wasn’t over her. “It doesn’t matter,” she finally said, shrugging off the guilt. “It’s over now.”