In Love by Design (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod) (3 page)

Snorting at my
dazed, round eyes, Jaz ended by saying, “I’m practicing one of your rules, Bel. Never mix my business with my pleasure. That’s the main reason I can’t give you a first-hand account.”

“
Holy Moly, thank you for small favors!” I fanned my own pink cheeks.

I’d only recently discovered
for myself the first-hand joys of a super-dong and I took a long drink of cold wine to wash away the hot thoughts of my absent boyfriend. Listening to Jazy regale me with twenty of James Byrd’s unique sexual encounters that qualified him as a super-stud, I was feeling gauchely inexperienced and somewhat dizzy. Yes, some of the acrobatics Jazy mentioned sounded very uncomfortable. And I’m also pretty sure there was no way I’d willingly go sit in a closet to wait for any man while he leisurely drank a scotch and decided whether or not he was in the mood to fuck me. But all in all, I was still transfixed by Jazy’s recounting.

Feeling
a
little bitter for what I’ve been missing by not being attracted to a man for years and years, I wondered if I should have read more hard core erotica.

‘
No more excuses for you, Miss Pitiful!’
I warned the sex kitten in me.

I had that
attraction to a male now and I was surrounded by books, so I just needed to make up for lost time. From now on, I was hard core. Who knows, maybe erotica won’t bore me like it has in the past now that I can envision Luke as the man. Regardless, I obviously needed to add Sex Ed to my current curriculum of training lessons and I wished Luke would get his privates home soon, so I could practice.

I’ve been practicing shooting the Ruger at the gun range with Jack Banner, I’
m stepping up my morning workout at home, I’ve joined a kickboxing class three times a week, and my bedtime reading now consists of various how-to books. These books span a broad spectrum from “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Private Investigating” to a translation of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”.

Luke was adamant
that he be the one to teach me self defense. My sexy sensei cocked an eyebrow and explained this way I won’t learn any bad habits that he’d just have to turn around and make me unlearn. That’s great and I wanted Luke to teach me the sneaky good stuff, but I haven’t even had my first lesson yet. A girl can’t wait around forever. I’m pretty sure he also wouldn’t appreciate me getting any practice on my Sex Ed lessons from anyone else. This made me giggle when imagining Luke frowning at me while he directed me to unlearn some bad habits on that front.

Reluctantly, I abandoned th
is amusing line of thought when Jazy started talking about James again.

Upon Charles Barkley’s advice, Jaz approache
d James to help her financially and they’ve had nothing but a platonic business friendship. I was flattered that my baby sis took to heart one of my most sensible rules, and also relieved. At least this was one piece of life’s many puzzle pieces falling into place. It explained so much about the lack of intimate personal interaction I noticed between Jazy and James the couple of times that I’d met him. James Byrd isn’t her boyfriend, but her friendly financial genius.

Jazy smiled at me. “There’s no denying he’s a damned
fine specimen of a male animal, but I’m actually okay with just being friends.” Both dimples winked when she went on, “Now his cousin, Max Byrd, is another story. There’s no way I’m doing business with that man. You should see him on a horse. He’s a Senator!”

Surprised for
a moment, I then grinned. “You mean a centaur?”

Jaz
tossed her head and shrugged dismissively. “Potato, Patoto…”

A
snort escaped, but then I attentively listened while the words tumbled out of Jazy’s mouth. She was very excited to tell me all about the stupendously brilliant James Byrd. After she finished explaining everything he’d accomplished on her behalf, I admit my interest was piqued.

Teasing aside,
Jazy was by no means slow. She did well in school and loves a good paranormal romance novel, if the heroine was kick-ass, but she’s the ultimate outdoors woman. There’s no denying she’s much more comfortable with animals and action, and that’s where her heart lies. In the past, you’d have to tie Jaz to a chair to coerce her to sit still and deal with financial investments.

That night,
Jazy was full of shy pride when she explained how James got her interested in her own financial affairs. He took the time and patiently worked with her until she comprehended the basic language of finance. I could tell this was true because she was able to explain to me how he’s restructured the majority of her financial affairs. Thinking over what she told me, I could find no flaws in his planning. When I had time, I’d be looking up a couple investing ideas she mentioned for further research.

In the meantime, I was feeling a soft spot for James Byrd
. He’s the man responsible for this new facet of self-respect I saw proudly reflected in my sister’s dark blue eyes.

Actually, between Jazy’s inherent
good judgment of a person’s character and with Charles Barkley’s endorsement, I didn’t doubt for a moment James Byrd was the modern Midas with the golden touch like she claimed.

I
had only one niggling doubt refusing to be stilled. “No offense Jaz, but this all begs the question. Just why is Mr. Magnifico willing to spend his time and energy on a small potatoes portfolio like yours?”

Jazy leaned forward and spoke eagerly,
“I hear you, and I wondered the same thing. From what I’ve found out, James’ father split when he was a newborn and left his mom high and dry. James belongs to the Anishinaabe tribe and grew up on the White Earth reservation.” She added facetiously, “That’s up northwest somewhere in Bumfuck, Minnesota, in case you were curious.”

“Appreciate that
helpful detail, thanks so much.”

Jazy grinned widely, but then her
voice got serious when she went on, “Most of the White Earth Nation, which I’ve learned has over twenty thousand members, was living way below poverty level. The tribe didn’t have casino money back then to improve their quality of life on the reservation. I’m ashamed to say I don’t know too much about what life is like for Native Americans, but I about died to hear most of the houses there didn’t even have electricity or running water when James was a boy! Can you believe that shit, Bel?”

“
Yes, I can believe it, all right,” I commiserated softly. Sometimes it’s no fun being a history buff. In most wars, there’s eventually a winner and a loser—at least until the next war. Losers always pay a price to some degree for the waging of that war. Still, the brutally sad reservation life forced on the majority of the conquered indigenous natives of America, and the scope of the damage that life has done to them as a people in the last century, wasn’t easily forgotten once learned. I’m no bleeding heart liberal, but facts were facts. The First Nations really got the shaft.

“Yeah, James
doesn’t say too much about living there. His mom moved them to St Paul and worked herself to the bone cleaning houses. They were still poor, but at least life was a little better. Then she got a client, a rich man who owned an investment firm.” Jazy smiled and tapped her temple. “I can see the gerbil wheels spinning in your head, Sister, and you’re sort of right. This rich dude ended up being James’ mother’s Prince Charming, but not with any hanky-panky angle. He was impressed with Mrs. Byrd’s work ethic, took her and the nine-year-old James under his wing, and gave her a full-time position as his housekeeper. After that, he helped James’ mom invest every cent she could spare from her decent salary.” She laughed and apologized, “Sorry, but I can’t remember the rich guy’s name for the life of me.

“Hey,
my gerbils are still impressed you could spout off all that sex stuff about James.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “PC works for me.”

Jazy grinned back over her wine glass. “Okay, PC
took an interest in James when he realized he was a brain. PC wasn’t a hugs and kisses type of man, but the opposite. He was very reserved and old school. He was also filthy rich, but he never handed them over any cash. Instead, he made them both earn their money and then taught them how to make their money work for them. PC’s philosophy was that people can always take care of themselves and eventually prosper, if they follow those two basics tenets in life.”

Jaz and
I traded wry glances at this familiar litany. PC sounded a little like a male version of NanaBel, just minus the hugs and kisses. Under the circumstances, that was probably a good thing.

She asked,
“Do you want to hear about James’ schooling and stuff?”

Interested in hearing the complete fairy tale and not having
anything else pressing to do, I asked her to wait while I quickly made us a bag of microwave popcorn to go so elegantly with our wine.

When the microwave dinged, I
slit a small hole in the bottom of the bag. I then shook out all the old maids into the garbage so we wouldn’t break our teeth.

Jaz burst out
in admiration, “Bel, what a great idea! I lost part of a filling a few months ago on a date at the movies and it really hurt. I’ve been afraid to eat popcorn ever since!”

“Pretty cool, huh?”
Laughing, I added a dash of salt to the steaming bag and shook it. “Thank Chef Crookie. He showed me that nifty trick this weekend.”

I got out a bowl for our half of the popcorn, and then after thinking for a second, I grabbed a lunch-size paper bag from a drawer.

Jaz saw my smile. “You look evil. What are you doing?”

“
Speaking of dating, I’m getting into the holiday spirit by spreading goodwill among men and women.”

I nodded towards the living room
and raised my eyebrows suggestively. I shook out the hot popcorn until it filled about halfway up the paper bag. Catching on, Jazy’s frown cleared and she clapped a hand over her mouth to stop her erupting laughter.

She
spread her fingers and hooted, “Oh my God, I forgot about that stupid boy trick!”

Suppressing my giggles, I
carried the popcorn in its flimsy bag to the living room. I deposited it carefully on Crookie’s lap. He automatically reached to hold it in place, looking up from the TV in smiling thanks.

Smiling back, I said, “Here you go, guys. Now Crookie,
be careful because this popcorn is super hot. Make sure you hold the bag like that to keep the popcorn steady, so poor Tre J doesn’t burn herself.”

He blinked
, but gallantly agreed, “Oh, okay.” He turned to Tre J with a shy smile. “Want some popcorn, Tre?”

Tre and I shared a
brief look while she bit her lip and I grinned broadly.

Reaching over and taking her time digging around in the bag on Crookie’s lap, she smiled bea
tifically a few inches from his face. “Thank you, Crookie. I just love popcorn.”

Seeing Crookie’s eyes widen at her ro
oting hand, I called out, “Enjoy!”

I
hurried back to the kitchen and my shaking sister. We held our sides in silent mirth and watched the back of Crookie’s rigid head and shoulders while Tre dived repeatedly into the bag to happily munch on one piece of popcorn at a time. After a few moments of our juvenile fun, Jazy mopped her eyes and returned to her story.

“
Let’s see, PC continued to mentor James throughout his teens and college years and, of course, he used his influence to help James get into the right schools. PC wanted James to mingle with the kind of people who would later become his major clients, or the types to be of use when networking in the business world of high finance.”

I wrinkled my nose thinking that also sounded familiar, but I guess Mike McClain and PC were right. In a professional capacity, it’s a fact of life that sometimes who you know
was just as important as what you know. However, being an obnoxious boor ass like Mike in the process was optional.

“
James went to the International School through high school. He got his under grad at Hamline University, where he double majored in Finance and International Business.”

I interjected a question
with a little laugh, “Geez Jaz, did James slip you his resume to memorize or did you ninja him?”

“
Ha ha, neither. His mom told me. She’s been taking some riding lessons this past month at the Lazy J and we’ve become pals.” Jazzy laughed despite the popcorn in her mouth and added, “There’s nothing that woman likes blabbing about more than her whiz-kid son.”

I
smiled at that. It seems to be a common trait with mothers.

“His mother’s English name is Patricia. Anyway, Patty says James could have gone to Harvard for his graduate degree in Economics, but instead he went to the University of Chicago, so
he’d be closer to home for her sake.”

“Oh, what a pity James had to settle for such a second
rate school,” I mocked lightly. “So, James does have a fault. He’s a mama’s boy!”

Jazzy giggled into her wine glass. “It’s true they’re close
. Patty must have been about fifteen when she had James, so she looks like his older sister. Let me tell you, she talks so much, it’s probably the reason James doesn’t. Poor guy probably couldn’t get a word in edgewise growing up. No, the real reason he stayed near home was because Patty was real sick for a while there and James wanted to be able to keep an eye on her.”