Taking Jana (Paradise South #2) (15 page)

“Perfect. And so, we’ll swap stories tomorrow afternoon then.”

“Right, tomorrow at three,” he said, standing there for a beat, almost lingering, maybe with a hint of concern on his face? Seemingly unsure if she’d be all right there alone, like a guardian, a protector.

She smiled at him, nodding that she really was just fine.

He turned to leave. “Goodnight,” he said as he closed the apartment door quietly behind him.

But his calm, overseeing presence hung there in the small studio apartment, and she felt lighter for it.

“Jana?” His deep voice startled her through the door.

“Yeah?”

“Lock the door.”

“Right, thanks.” She smiled as she turned the deadbolt. “Night.”

She could hear his footsteps fading out as he moved down the hall.

He really was like a bodyguard. She hadn’t known a man like him before, and she’d known a lot of men.
Remember, Jana, he’s being paid to do a job.
Fine then, it was rare to find someone who took his job so seriously.

And talk about different. His
make-believe
wedding band struck her as curious and somewhat intriguing. What man—and a pretty damn attractive man at that—would try to turn away action for himself in his own limo? It was unheard of with the men she’d ever known. In her experience, men were wholly incapable of using their common sense before their cocks. But this man, Tony, actually wore a mock wedding ring to stave off sex? For professionalism’s sake?

He had to be lying.

And if he wasn’t lying, then what planet did this guy come from? Maybe he was gay. But no, he’d insinuated he’d turned down both women and men.

Too curious. God, there were just too many unexpected characters in her life right now, between her new boss and her chauffeur. God,
her
chauffeur?

She just needed sleep.

She looked down at the club cell phone in her hand, then slid it onto the kitchen counter. The phone skidded along like a pebble across a placid pond as she ran at the bed and dove onto it again.

She fell asleep in an instant. Makeup on. Clothes on. Lights on.

But her worries were finally shut off. At least for the night.

*

She woke up with a gasp…from a dream. She and a faceless man were driving down a winding scenic highway. It was sunny. She had her sunglasses on. And the companion had a cap on, yeah, a police officer’s cap. The strangest thing was that her hands were on the steering wheel.
She
was driving––she hadn’t been in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in her entire life. And even though, ironically, the cop in the passenger’s seat should’ve been stopping her from driving without a license, he was holding her hand, making her feel safe, secure. A sweet, gentle, comforting hand. A guiding and protective hand.

And, the dream still so fresh, she remembered the feeling of the wind rushing through the open windows. It had taken her breath away. And her favorite
girl-angst
rock band,
A.D.,
was on loud enough to compete with the torrent of fresh mountain air. Yes, mountains were the foreground and backdrop. Serene, royal green and
purple-ridged
mountains. And while driving through those mountains, she was in control. God, no motion sickness, even. Simply
heart-pounding
happiness. She was free.

Then she’d woken up. There hadn’t been a cliff or a
dead-end
. Just her and her sweet and safe mystery cop driving far and free. The exhilaration lingered in her for a moment. Then it was gone. Because here she was, in her real life. No scenic mountain road. No, no. Just
Newark-fucking
-New Jersey.

She sighed and swallowed back a knot of disappointment. She got up, found a glass, downed two rounds of tap water, and then stripped off her pants, her shirt, and her bra under that. She scrounged for the light switch in the room, found it in the kitchen and flipped it off. Found the bed, crawled under the sheets, and fell back to sleep easily.

No more dreams. At least, none that she could remember when she woke up late the next morning.

CHAPTER 22

T
ony slept like
hell. Not the quiet, calm he was used to, especially being in his own bed as opposed to the
all-too
-familiar driver seat of his limo. But no matter where he slept, he always reached equilibrium. Just not last night. And carrying over to today, he couldn’t pinpoint the unsettling feeling that nagged at him ever since leaving Jana at the studio apartment the night before. Not to over think it, he put it to sheer exhaustion and age creeping up on him.

He went to check his cell in case Jana had changed her mind about getting groceries, or for any dispatch alerts. But no missed calls. It occurred to him then that the restlessness he felt might have started when dispatch relayed the request from Jocelyn Carlson the night before, just after leaving Jana. That crazy woman wouldn’t quit.

But, no, that wasn’t it. Jocelyn Carlson’s incessant car requests to dispatch annoyed him, but it also gave him a slight jolt of pleasure in denying her. He knew that maddened her endlessly and he liked it.

What the hell was it then…his unease? Cracking his knuckles, he bit his bottom lip in thought, replaying the night in his mind.

The ring. When Jana had noticed the ring, it had reminded him. Yes. It made him remember the four missed calls and two voicemails over the past few days from Michelle. Her voice oozed
guilty-warmth
, sweetly harping on and on about him needing to return the final papers. She couldn’t wait to replace ‘Ruiz’ with ‘Simon.’

Yes, that was definitely the nagging in his brain and in his gut.

He laughed out loud at the similarity between Jocelyn and Michelle. God, they both even wore the same poisonous perfume––each and every time Jocelyn had gotten into his limo, that damn
Giannia’s Destino
burned his nostrils as it traveled up to his head where horrible memories of Michelle and Simon together would immediately surface, followed by a pounding headache for the rest of the damn night.

Damn you, Michelle.
She had turned out to be two people in one. How had he been so blind? It haunted him. If he had just kept on course and not gotten distracted in the first place. But he’d been so sure Michelle was the one. They’d met at work, had the same
balls-to
-
the-wall
work ethic and lofty goals, and, he’d thought, a lofty love.

When he’d bumped into her leaving Simon’s office, her forehead vein throbbing like it did only after she and Antonio made love.

At least, she didn’t insult him by denying it.

But shit, she didn’t even try to deny it! Beg for forgiveness! Nothing!

What a fucking cliché he’d become. And he couldn’t just get over her, which was why he’d subconsciously let the “separation” drag out for so long.

But now, apparently, Michelle was officially ready to be done.
Divorce.
God, he could hear his mother rolling over in her grave. But it wasn’t really religion or tradition that stopped him from signing those papers Michelle had broadsided him with. By Antonio not finalizing the divorce, he was making her wait, holding back what she wanted so badly. Pathetic, he knew. He was supposed to be so above such shit. It embarrassed him to admit it to himself.

So he pushed the topic way back, and just jostled his car keys in his hand, then began tossing them up and catching them coming down. Again and again. God, he didn’t want to be home. He wanted to be out. Away. With Jana.

Whoa.
What?

Yes, he wanted to be with Jana, listening to her, talking with her, glancing up at her in his rearview. Jana.

The memory of Jana diving onto that bed last night made him stir. Then wince…the bed of Johnnie Demonte.

It was a similar feeling he’d had with Michelle at the start. Innocent attraction,
ever-growing
intrigue, but with Jana, his contracted passenger and Johnnie Demonte’s ‘consultant,’ it was different.

She’d been a stripper, and he had no respect for strippers. But had she
been
a stripper? She had
danced
, albeit naked, but she’d never
become
a stripper. That was obvious. And she’d done it for her family. Her situation may have been even more desperate than his had been growing up. Then she put herself through school and became a nurse. God, and now, when her family needed her again, she’d dropped everything? And she even found a slightly more reputable way to help her folks. She was something else entirely.

But he worried. He knew Johnnie and what he must really be trying to get out of her.

Damn it! That was it. Johnnie Demonte. Jana at his apartment. In his bed. Jana surrendering to his bed with such abandon. Then imagining Johnnie climbing into his bed after her, over her. Antonio’s hands formed
white-knuckled
fists.

That was definitely it.

Because Michelle was just a lingering scab that he constantly picked at. Michelle wasn’t the cause of this discomfort that had morphed into what was now a deep ache.

No, it was Jana, definitely Jana.

He stood up then.
Go for a run. Then to Tae Kwon Do. Shower. And three o’clock will
come.

CHAPTER 23

S
he felt like
she was walking through a movie studio, like she could saunter up to the
flower-potted
front porches and check behind the houses to see 2x4s holding up the facades.

Three blocks down she made the right. Not a soul in sight. Her stomach prayed that the deli Tony had mentioned would be open on a Sunday morning. It was eleven o’clock already, so chances were good. Then, if the place had
Wi-Fi
, oh man, she’d be set. For as little time as Johnnie spent in the studio, she wasn’t entirely surprised it had no Internet or even a TV. The Demontes could for sure afford it, though. But like Tony had said last night, random things were a sticking point with wealthy people. After all, they didn’t get or stay rich by tossing their cash out the window, did they?

But either way, at least, she was out in the fresh air and walking. She didn’t know how much she’d needed that until her feet were on the pavement. Fresh air, movement,
alone-time
, oh, and that morning’s shower had been all sorely needed.

The deli’s neon sign came into view just as her club cell phone rang. She flipped it open, knowing it would be either Johnnie or Tony. She hoped it was Tony so that it’d be quick because the beginning of a low blood sugar headache was coming on.

It was Johnnie.

“Morning!”

“Hey, it’s Johnnie.”

“I know that…no one else has this number, right?” she said with a laugh in her tone. Except for Tony, but Johnnie’s driver didn’t count. “How are you?”

“Just got to Merrick and was thinking about you. Wanted to make sure the apartment had everything you needed.”

Except for
Wi-Fi
. “Yes, thank you. Everything is so great. I haven’t had a night’s sleep like that in as long as I can remember. My place in the City is smaller, and the bed is harder, neither of which matter much ’cause I was hardly ever there with my ER hours,” she said as her heart sank at the thought. God, Sunday mornings in her ER, buzzing and alive after the City’s usual Saturday night
party-scene
slaughter. She just needed to get inside the deli to scope out a free
Wi-Fi
sign and check her email. That was more necessary than feeding herself.

But she couldn’t rush Johnnie.

“Good, I’m so glad. Well listen, I wanted to get your dress size. I was so impulsive in asking you to join me for the show next Wednesday, I forgot that you’d probably not packed a gown in your rush over to Jersey for your dad! I mean, right?”

Oh God, he was right. What the hell would she wear? She didn’t own anything appropriate for an
off-Broadway
matinee let alone an evening show at Lincoln Center. Nor did she have the money to buy a dress that even came close to par. Shit, she should have declined in the first place. She shouldn’t be going out with her boss, the one who obviously has a thing for her. Hell, to be honest, she might have a tiny thing for him too.

“No, you know, I wanted to tell you, I really should decline, Johnnie, because my father will be close to—”

“You’re coming with me in a new dress, Jana, and I won’t take no.”

Stunned, she knew he was trying to be sweet, but it was a little
off-putting
. She really didn’t want to go. But she didn’t want to insult him either. She was crashing at his apartment alone, and the job, the limo. He had been constantly kind, seemingly genuine.

“Size 2 petite, but—”

“I’ll get the perfect gown for you. I can picture it already.”

“Please don’t spend too much—”

“I will spend what I like, and you can repay me by having dinner with me the day after our contract ends. And you will wear the gown I get you that night too. Deal?”

Dinner.
Innocent enough. And it seemed like a confirmation that he respected her choice to keep their relationship casual while they worked together. Okay, this felt slightly better to her. “Deal. Empire waist is best for me if it’s floor length,” she hinted. “And
I’ll
get the shoes. Just tell me what color and material,” she asserted.

He laughed on the other end. “Fine. So, what are you doing now?”

“Heading for a bite to eat.”

“Tony driving you?”

“Ah, no. Walking. Nice neighborhood, good weather…and I wanted some ‘me’ time, and a light walk hit the spot. Tony will be by later to take me to the grocery store, though. Then to work.”

“Okay. Just be careful, you know, on your own. And remember, Tony was hired around the clock.”

“No worries, Johnnie. He’s at my disposal, and I insisted on being on my own this morning. He even wanted to come earlier and—”

“And what?” he spat then cleared his throat.

“Oh, just, you know, get me food, the groceries…” She felt his silence through the phone line. “He’s doing his job, taking care of me like you asked him to.”

“Okay, that’s good.”

“Johnnie, listen, my stomach is yelling at me to feed it.”

“Oh, go, go. Sorry, let me know if the deli is any good. They opened not too long ago.”

“Sure. I’ll have a real Jersey sub for you.” She giggled. “Talk to you later, and thanks, you know, in advance, for the dress.”

“I can’t wait to see you in it…okay, go, go, goodbye.”

*

She walked into the deli and the most
mouth-watering
fresh baked bread scent wafted toward her. It was so intoxicating that the fact there was no
Wi-Fi
wasn’t as immediately disappointing. She ate a
twelve-inch
sub loaded with the works. With the amount she’d be training, she felt entitled, and hell, at least, it wasn’t pound cake.

After she’d finished, she went to the counter to ask where the closest
Wi-Fi
hotspot might be. “One street down, the library,” the woman said, counting her till while swallowing down her own sandwich. “It has
Wi-Fi
. The only one in the area that’s open on a Sunday. My daughter,” she said as she pulled out her phone with one
mustard-laden
hand to show her a picture of a cute little girl in pigtails and a tutu, “takes dance. But they’ve got everything; art classes, chess, martial arts. You want it, they got it,” the kind lady plugged with enthusiasm.

Jana pictured taking a daughter of her own to a class like ballet someday. Again, far, far off, though. If ever.

Jana dug deep for her smile. “And
Wi-Fi
on a Sunday to boot…”

“Exactly,” the lady said with a nod then shoved her stack of cash back into the register. “I’m about to go and take a smoke break, sweetie. You need anything else before I do?”

“Oh, no. I’m set, thanks. Great lunch by the way.” Jana waved as she headed out and turned right down the sidewalk toward the public library.

*

As she walked, she checked her personal cell to be sure there were no missed calls from her mother who she’d texted earlier to let her know she wouldn’t be by until tomorrow. She half expected a ration of shit back, but no. Nothing. No communications from her ER’s HR department, either. That made her nervous. She shoved her phone back into her bag with clenched teeth.

Relax.
Nora had HR email, no doubt.
You’ll
see.

She took a deep breath in, shook her hands out of the smothering anxiety, and she felt better. Present.

As the library came into view down the block, the breeze picked up, making her hair whip about, strands hitting her face. She tried to hold her thick mane back with her hands as best she could. She had to stop a few steps from the library entrance to tie it all back in a ponytail. Looking up, squinting at the sky in concentration as she glided her thick hair though the rubber band, she felt a presence approaching quickly and then passing her on her left, a tall, strong presence. Done with her hair, she turned toward the building, the stairs, and watched a regal,
broad-shouldered
man making his way gracefully up the steps. He was dressed in a white uniform, a black gym bag slung over his shoulder matching the black belt tied around his trim waist.

Even though the library was her intended destination, the strong, almost magnetic force of the man drew her up those stairs––it was like she was compelled to keep him in her sights. She entered the library, just close enough behind the man to watch him go through a set of double doors to the left of the librarian’s desk. A “Free
Wi-Fi
” sign shouted to her on the wall ahead. She smiled to herself,
Wi-Fi
, finally
. But first…

*

She walked straight past the desk and headed toward the double doors. She peered inside. About twenty children, young, maybe the oldest being eleven or twelve, all sitting
cross-legged
, lined a large blue mat. Except for four, who were balled up in a diagonal line in the center of the mat. They were all in white with a variety of solid color martial arts belts tied neatly around each tiny waist. They were silent, sweetly attentive.

A sudden and deep grunt from inside the room made Jana jump back. A man,
the
man, with his back to her so she couldn’t see his face, flew past her eyes. Literally airborne with his top leg extended, foot flexed, he soared over the four small human bumps. He headed toward something on the far end of the room out of her field of vision. Then she heard a deafening crack.

The children clapped. Jana got closer to the door to see better. The man bowed to two adults who’d been holding the three thick boards he’d apparently broken for the demonstration. Then he turned.

Tony. Staring right at her. His head was notched to the side as a smile came across his face.

He walked in her direction, bowed again as he stepped off the mat, then headed to the door, coming out of the room to see her. God, she’d interrupted him, his time off, his class.
Damn it.
Her cheeks burned, her mouth dry.

“Hey, wow. Weird to see you here at the library. I would’ve thought you’d sleep in, hit the deli, but checking out a book on your free time?”

She smiled, then swallowed hard to find her voice. “
Wi-Fi
. I need to check email, waiting for an update from my ER. And wouldn’t you know it, the Demonte apartment is sans data and TV.”

He smirked. “They must not use the apartment for anything but…you know”––he cleared his throat––“sleep.”

“Well, I can’t believe what you did in there! You literally flew!”

“Yeah, flying down the highway got old fast.” He smiled. “I’ve been practicing Tae Kwon Do since I was a kid. Now it saves my lower back, really keeps me limber.” He twisted his torso for a half stretch then lifted his eyebrows. “And it keeps my spirits up. I love working with the kids. Hands down better than the immature adults I drive around in my backseat.” He winked. “You being the exception, of course.”

She smiled, not taking offense, sure that most of his other passengers were far worse behaved than she’d been yet. So, a sense of humor mixed with superhuman capabilities? Jesus, this guy.

“Well, saying I’m impressed would be an understatement. You know I’m Korean. Your belt shows seven degrees. You’re a
Sahun
; I mean, wow!”

Now
he
blushed but stood a little taller still. She loved his balance of humility and his understated yet unshakable confidence. “Have you ever practiced?”

“No, no. My brother did, but I wasn’t allowed. I watched a lot of martial arts on Korean TV, though.” She half smiled, but then became aware of the twenty pairs of eyes turned toward the door, visible to her just over Antonio’s broad shoulders. Her eyes lifted to let him know. “Sorry, you know, to have interrupted class. I just got curious. I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Do you wanna come in and watch? Meet the kids? My three nieces are in the class too.” He seemed excited, like he had never had anyone, at least not any of his passengers––or clients were they called?––see him outside of his role as chauffeur. And a martial arts instructor, a Master
Dan
? The contrast floored her, although, it somehow fit. It actually really fit him––to a tee.

“Well, let me check my email, and then toward the end of class? So I don’t totally disrupt your time with them.”

“Okay. Sounds good. It’ll be another twenty minutes. You’ll wait?”

“Sure. Yes.” She smiled as her eyes drifted from his defined collarbone down to the ‘V’ opening of his uniform, his chest wide, smooth and strong. Her eyes shot up to his face in an instant and her cheeks turned red from the unwarranted flood of heat rising up her body.
How mortifying.
Her feet were frozen in place, she couldn’t even move away from the awkward
face-to
-face.

He grinned at her. “Okay then.” He nodded then spun around to reenter the side room. “See you in a few.”

She backed up and began to walk through the maze of wooden tables to find a seat. But the resonating warmth from being so close to Tony and the pounding in her chest made it hard for her to focus, to even pick a table. Tony the Driver was now Tony the Master, and he had made her dazed and confused like a silly schoolgirl.

*

She finally took a seat facing the classroom door and realized she’d forgotten to get the
Wi-Fi
code.

She shook her head to herself as she made her way back through the wooden maze to the librarian’s desk. While waiting for the longhand version of the code, she pulled a few online college course brochures from the counter, thinking of the girls at the club and a flyer for
open-call
auditions for an
off-Broadway
show in the City. Laynie had mentioned theater was a forever dream of hers. Then she took the password from the woman behind the desk and went back to her seat.

Before her ass met the flattened chair cushion, one of her phones rang, jolting her up again. She scurried out of the building to avoid pissing off the readers dotting the large main room, as well as the currently
narrow-eyed
librarian.

Which phone? The smartphone screen was black, so she dropped it back in her purse and grabbed and flipped open the club cell. “Johnnie?”