Healing Inc. (4 page)

“You’re a student?” he asked, silently re-evaluating how old he thought she was based on her looks.

“I have my MBA but I like to take a class now and then.  It gives me something to do and I think it makes me a better person.”

“Were you really going to spend the entire weekend studying?”  He found it hard to believe that someone as good looking as her didn’t have better things to do with her time.

“That and this,” she answered as she waved her arms over the now shrunken pile of clothing that sat before them.

“How much hot water are you going to be in for not getting this work done?” he asked, worried that she would have to pay for their diversion from the task.

“I actually finished everything that needed to be done for the sale tomorrow yesterday.  With your help they’ll be ahead of the game, giving them an easier week.  Thank you for that.”  She gave him a warm smile.  It occurred to her that she seemed to be doing that a lot around him.

“You’re welcome.  But, shouldn’t you be doing better things with your time off, like spending it with your family?” 

He was fishing and Evy knew it.  “Well, the only real family that I had outside of Nita’s was my mom.  She passed away several years ago.”  She couldn’t keep some of the sting she still felt from the loss of her mom out of her voice.  “Even though Nita’s family considers me to be the ‘other little sister’, I feel the need to give her space every now and then.”

Tyler sat for a moment taking in what she had told him, acknowledging her close ties to Nita.  “I’m sorry to hear that.  I can empathize with you.  I lost my mom when I was sixteen.”

“Wow!  That must have been hard for you.  My condolences to you and your daughter.  I’m sure wherever she is right now she’s very proud of you.  From what I can tell, you turned out well.”  Her reply was heartfelt.

“Well, it was money I received from her death that gave me the chance I needed to build my business.  I didn’t take her for the type to establish a trust fund for me but she did.  I owe a lot to her.”  Evy nodded in agreement.

They sat eating in content silence for another moment.  This time Evy was the one to break the quiet.

“I have to ask,” she hesitated a moment, “is it true that you have ties to the mafia in New York?”  As she took another bite from her half sandwich she was sure she was coming off as nosy and maybe even overbearing.  However, she felt that since he wanted in on Healing Inc., which was her baby, she had every reason to ask this question.

Tyler didn’t answer right away.  He continued looking straight ahead, chewing the piece of sandwich in his mouth.  “Yes,” he finally responded.  “Yes, I do.”  He took another minute to decide whether he should clarify his answer or not.  Usually whenever someone mentioned his ties or his family members he would lose his temper.  Oddly enough, he didn’t take offense to her doing so.

“Luckily, being a bastard tied to the Moriatti family by my mother, I was able to make a more honest living than the rest.  I guess in some regards that saved me from an official indoctrination into the family business.”  He finished with a slight chortle as his mind drifted off with the weight of what that all meant. 

Evy could feel that he had been hurt by his family, his past.  It did something to her heart.  She suddenly felt the urge to reach out and touch the back of his hand or give him a sympathetic hug, but fought it knowing that she was too bombarded with her own demons to take on his. 

Coming out of his reverie, he turned focusing his gaze on her.  “Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”  His voice was more upbeat now.  “You have a beautiful voice, why don’t you perform in public anymore?”

A slight sense of dread came over her.  She had tampered with this dangerous line of questioning and he had turned it back on her.  She didn’t have to ask where he had heard her perform because Nita had told her all about the exchange that took place last March.  She hesitated, taking in his deep royal blue eyes, straight pointed nose, full lips and short wavy dark hair.  His tan made his eyes look all the more intense as he gazed at her.  For the first time, she really noticed just how good-looking he was. 

A sigh escaped her, announcing the gravity of what she was about to confess.  “Let’s just say some people have addictions.  Performing is mine.”  He gave her an odd look prompting her to explain further.  “When people are addicted to drugs or alcohol they live for it, and will do some of the worst deeds to get it.  I allowed performing to be my drug.  I didn’t do anything illegal but I definitely let it control my life.  I couldn’t walk away from it when I should have, and when I tried to, it was too late.  Now, fourteen years later I’m still dealing with the consequences of it all.”

 At that point, she lost the ability to maintain eye contact with him.  If only for a few hours he had managed to take away all of her pain only to innocently hand it back to her with a simple question.  Suddenly, the sandwich that had tasted so good lost its flavor.  Placing it on the chair beside her, she turned to the clock on the wall to see what time it was.

“It’s getting late.  I think we need to call it quits,” she informed him.

Tyler thought she was bluffing about the time until he looked down at his Rolex.  It was well past eleven pm.  The time had gone by so quickly he hadn’t noticed that the light of day no longer flowed in through the shop windows.  He sensed that his question had altered her mood and felt bad about it.  He acknowledged that she had demons to fight, big ones it sounded like and suddenly wished for more time to help her slay them.  An impulsive urge to protect her came over him accompanied by the thought of this possibly being their last encounter.  At first, he had thought it was because he was lonely with Cecile leaving home that made him want to stay.  Now he knew it was because he wanted to be around her.

“Might I interest you in joining me for dinner some time?”  It had been a while since he had dated.  That had been by choice.

Evy thought for a moment.  She had enjoyed his company, yes, but was she ready to head down that road with him?  Nita had tried to set her up with one of her brothers but it had been more like dating her own brother, not to mention those boys were a little rough around the edges.  This could be different.  He was just asking for dinner, right?  What if he was one of those guys who just wanted a small taste of her after seeing her perform? She pondered all the issues that she had experienced with David.  This was the anniversary of having met David.  She allowed this last bit of processed information to be her deciding factor. 

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”  The look on his face spoke volumes.  She could tell he wasn’t a man that people said no to very often, yet she had done so and on a personal level.

“No?” he shouted in disbelief.  “After the day we had together you’re saying no!”  He couldn’t help but be a little agitated, not to mention utterly confused.  He thought she had enjoyed being around him as much as he had enjoyed her.

“I’m sorry, Tyler,” she started in her softest tone.  “I don’t think I’m ready to head down that road just yet.  I don’t think being in a relationship with me would be fair to anyone right now and I’ve never been one for casual dating.”

“I didn’t ask for a relationship,” Although that’s exactly what he wanted, “and I don’t partake in frivolous encounters either.  I just want to have dinner with you.”

 “Dinner?  Just dinner?”  She stood with her hands on her hips.  “You really just want to sit, eat and talk together like we just did?”  Technically she was right.  They had had dinner together.

He knew his mulish streak was kicking in but, try as he might, he could not control it.  The right thing to do would be a gentleman and respect her answer, but he just couldn’t do that.  Then something occurred to him.  “Are you declining my invitation because I’m white?”

“Really?  You are?” she joked.  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”  The racial difference actually hadn’t come to mind before he mentioned it.  She had never seen herself with anyone other than David but that was only due to him ruining her for anybody else.  The impasse made them pause and stare at each other, neither of them backing down.

“We
are
going to have dinner, Evy,” he declared, ending the stalemate.  His face was turning red as he fought to control his temper.  He knew she was right about having eaten together but no way in hell was he going to admit to it.

She looked at him incredulous. 
Well, well, well the arrogant asshole does exist
.  “Tyler,” she started as calmly as she could, hiding her thoughts from him. “You’re a really nice guy and I’m glad that you came by today, but you can’t force me to have dinner with you”.

“Oh, it won’t be forced.”  He replied, eyes wide with resolve, his head bobbing up and down slowly.  A devious smirk slowly traversed his face sending a slight chill up Evy’s spine.

Evy wasn’t sure what to make of all of this.  One thing was for sure; her stubborn side wasn’t going to make this easy for him.  Who the hell did he think he was anyway!  She hadn’t escaped from the prison of one controlling man only to end up in another.  “I think we need to go now.”

They took a few minutes to straighten up a bit, both of them working in complete silence.  Once finished, they walked out of the building together.  Tyler stood guard while Evy locked the door.  He wasn’t about to leave her alone with it being as late as it was.  Together, they walked to their cars.  After she unlocked her door he quickly opened it for her, demonstrating what a gentleman he really was.  They stood facing one another for the final time that night.

“Well, Tyler, it was so nice meeting you.  Thanks for all your help today.  I’m sure everyone who works this week will appreciate it.”

“I’ll pick you up here on Tuesday at six, unless you want to tell me where you live.”

Quiet claimed them once again as they stared each other in the eyes.  Evy got in her car and he gently closed the door behind her.  Standing by his car, he watched her drive out of the parking lot. 

“What the hell are you thinking?”  He asked himself.  Getting in his Jaguar, he headed home.

***

Meanwhile in Chicago
….

 “Tu es la mujer más sexy del mundo, you are the sexiest woman in the world,” Tony, a.k.a. Anthony Sparrow, whispered in Nita’s ear as he stroked repetitively in and out of her womanhood.  “You are so beautiful… You feel sooo good!”  Nita responded to his awesome love making with whimpers and moans.  She couldn’t believe how good it felt to be back in his strong arms again, relishing in all the warmth and strength of him.  She allowed his soft words to propel her further toward the ledge of ecstasy.  He continued his journey with his mouth at times claiming hers, kissing her nose, eyes and ears.  His hands roamed freely, occasionally stopping to grasp an ample breast or tease a taunt nipple.  Their passion gained momentum, building on each thrust and word spoken.  “Te quiero Nita… I love you so much!”  She contracted and convulsed as his back stiffened, his declaration of his love for her catapulting them to the stars together.

Nita lay in Tony’s arms with her back to him, her body still journeying back to Earth from the climax.  She had anticipated this weekend for a long time and now found it well worth the trip.  She knew he meant every word that he had said to her while making love.  She felt it in his kiss, his touch and every look he gave her.  Her heart was his and vice versa, making it more and more difficult to say goodbye to him after each rendezvous.  They had been meeting like this for ten years.

“So,” he started, “when are you finally going to move back here and marry me?”

She sighed.  “Iye, Tony!  Can’t we just finish enjoying the moment before we talk about that again?”