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The Tessarae Inn |
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Poseidon Rising CHAPTER 5 Blair watched Chad as he scanned the final quadrant of the main area of the club. The decision to hire him as the manager of Capricorn was one of her best, even though she had to strong arm RJ into it. Chad, it turned out, was a great manager—ambitious, skillful, diplomatic and one very nice piece of eye-candy that drew in lots of women who were followed by lots of men who eagerly bought lots of drinks for themselves and the objects of their affection as they preened and spread their feathers in shameless bids for attention. Even RJ, who was now primarily focusing his attention on other endeavors, had to concede the point that things had never run more smoothly. Chad noisily corralled the scattered chairs and then pushed them toward their assigned places at the tables. “Damn, your life is a soap opera,” he said as he shoved one chair and then another into place. He stopped and lifted his arms up in an expansive gesture. “No, this is more like major extreme. Like one of those rock opera things. He’s back. Alive. Never called.” Blair glanced slowly around Capricorn and tried to focus on something else. Chad had a right to know what was going on but she really didn’t feel like talking about it. She looked at the brightly lighted shelves full of liquor bottles that banked the wall behind the bar and she could see her image reflected back but distorted, strangely colored and off center. That’s how her life felt right now. Chad pushed the last errant chair back into its berth then walked next to her. He was so close she could feel the heat of his body. When she turned and looked up at him he was studying her intensely. She shifted her gaze away from his face and he finally moved back a step. “How’s Starr taking it?” Blair smiled and relaxed her shoulders. “She’s thrilled. Both of them are. Of course, they would be but I was afraid that it might be a lot for them to absorb so suddenly. Starr accepted it without missing a beat and the first thing Jack did was to reach out his little arms to him.” Chad nodded but he didn’t say anything as he walked behind the bar. Blair eased around on the bar stool so she could face him. She really needed to make sure he understood what she was saying. “They love their father. There’s no question about that. They couldn’t wait to get over there tonight.” A frown leaped across Chad’s face and he tapped his fingers lightly on the bar. “He has the children tonight? Aren’t you worried?” “No. They’ve stayed with him the last two weekends. He’s not going anywhere with the children.” “How can you be so sure?” Blair shrugged then leaned slightly forward. “I have security on them twenty-four-seven. That was the first thing I did after he died. More of my money went into paying for that than any other expense. It was rough at first. There were a lot of expenses.” “Why? I heard he was loaded. Why were you worried about money?” “Because it was his money and I chose to remember that.” Chad looked at her for a minute. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cross a line.” “Just a lot of history there, is all.” Chad began to line up bottles of liquor on the bar as he recorded the number and type from the bottles usually stashed behind the bar. “People were disappointed tonight. They’ve gotten used to you doing the after set.” What people? Blair glanced around the club. The place was empty except for the two of them. He glanced at her then said, “Bad enough that you haven’t been here at all for a couple of weeks. I’ve missed you.” What a strange ritual she developed after Todd “died.” Every Saturday night at Capricorn, she sang a set after the last set of whoever was performing. That meant even on a good night when she started singing the place was only three to four people shy of being empty. When she finished her set, she had one drink of Scotch as Chad closed down. When she finished her drink, they danced--one dance--and then she went home--alone. She drew a small circle with her finger on the bar top. “Things have been a little intense.” To say the least. She didn’t realize until last weekend as she sat for hours on her deck not eating anything but drinking wine and obsessively going over everything that led up to Todd’s death and all that happened afterwards for the millionth time that the reason she chose Capricorn was because of Todd—it was his sign. Capricorn. Todd was a Capricorn and she hadn’t even thought about it until he died. So many Saturday nights she had been praying for him in her own way and she didn’t even know it. She rubbed her forehead to dislodge the regret. He was back now and she really could get on with her life. Chad cleared his throat and she realized she hadn’t really answered him. “Singing didn’t seem right tonight given the circumstances,” she said. “I’m not sure what the appropriate behavior is in the face of a miracle.” Chad made a hoarse grunting sound and stepped back from the bar. “Well, I’m really glad he’s alive,” he said as he raked his hand through his hair. “I hated seeing you grieving for him. Why not celebrate?” Blair watched his every move. For some reason, she really wanted him to understand what all of this was doing to her. But how could he understand when she didn’t? Chad moved closer to the bar again then reached over and ran his fingers lightly over her arm. She tried to ignore the surge of electricity that shot through her body. She didn’t look at him but she could feel his stare. Finally, he walked around the bar. A minute later she heard music drifting through the room. She turned around slowly. He moved close to her and stretched out his hand to her. She shook her head. “Not tonight.” He leaned over, took the glass out of her hand and placed it on the counter. “Especially tonight.” He pulled her gently toward him and held her tightly until she relaxed in his arms. The soft, sexy sounds of The Isley Brothers making promises about love filled the room as she swayed in her arms. Blair suddenly felt lonelier than she had ever felt in her life. His body felt warm and hard. Maybe he could make her feel safe again as if she was on solid ground. He framed his face next to hers. The closeness felt so good and so familiar that she felt the bittersweet ache of touching again something long lost. When she looked up, he brushed his lips across hers softly and kissed her lightly and a surge of excitement raced through her body. It had been so long since someone touched her, kissed her, wanted her…. “Take me home with you, Chad,” she whispered. She felt his body tense but he didn’t say anything. He tightened his hold on her but as soon as the music stopped, he pulled back. She locked her gaze on his face but let her arms drop away from him. He looked up and over her head, breathed deeply and bit his lower lip for a second. “Not tonight,” he said softly. “I don’t think tonight is right. I don’t want to be used.” For a split second she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly then tears sprang in her eyes. She nodded her head. “I don’t blame you. Being used hurts like hell. I think I’ll go now.” He moved toward her. “Wait. I didn’t mean that. Not that way…” She looked past him toward the far corner of the club and cleared her throat. “No harm, no foul. A moment of weakness. As always,” she said and turned back toward him, “you were my knight-errant.” Chad’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. “Like hell. Don’t make me out to be something I’m not. I want you and you know that I want you. But I don’t want to be HIM for you.” ========= Todd looked at the darkened skyline of Llanview from his perch on the staircase. It was night. Late. Everyone else was asleep but all he felt like doing was roaming. There was comfort in the darkness, the loneliness, the stillness of the points of time between midnight and dawn. When he first came back he spent weeks walking the streets in the witching hours and trying to reconnect. Now after all this time things were still so unsettled. He tried to ease back into Blair’s life slowly but the longer he waited the more she seemed to be moving on. Maybe he waited too long. Lazarus who? He heard the unmistakable sound of small, bare feet hitting the stairs behind him. “Do you know how late it is, Starr?” he said without turning around. Starr slipped beside him on the step. “I’ve been able to tell time since I was three, Daddy. Did you know that Amanda lady in the other bedroom snores? Are you really married to her?” “No, I’m married to your mother.” “Mommy said you’re getting a divorce.” “We’re not getting a divorce. We are all going to be a family again. You, me, Jack and your mother.” Starr’s eyebrows arched upward and she pressed her lips together. “I wouldn’t count on that, Daddy,” she said finally. “She told me that was not going to happen.” He studied his little princess for a minute. “How do you feel about it?” “Okay, I guess.” Something cold slapped him in the face then seemed to circle his throat and start to squeeze. He sat up. “Okay? You feel okay about it?” Starr shrugged. “Chad told me he loves her and he’d never leave her like you do. That’s a secret though. He made me swear.” “Who the hell is Chad?” Starr smiled, threw head back and looked up at the ceiling. “He’s dreamy,” she said in a whisper. “Earth to Starr. Who is he?” She looked at him with mild outrage that he would drag her away from her revelry. Finally, she smiled and said, “He works at Capricorn. When Mommy first bought it, he used to come by all the time. He’s so cool, Daddy.” That stupid blonde kid at the club! Oh, shit. “You want this guy, Chad, with your mother instead of me?” Starr’s eyes widened then she looked away. “Do you, Starr?” She slowly looked over at him. “She cried every night for a long, long time then she stopped. She thought I was asleep but I heard her. I don’t want her to cry anymore, Daddy.” “Your mother didn’t cry when we were together.” “You lied to her about Jack.” Okay, that was true but why couldn’t they just drop it now. “I was sorry about that. I wouldn’t hurt her like that again.” “You can’t help it.” “Can too.” Starr put her hands on her hips. “You’re lying to her right now about your memory thing.” He started to protest but then changed his mind. “When did you know?” She sighed loudly. “I’m not a baby. I’m eight.” “I’ll make it up to her.” Starr dropped her head and shook it gently. “I don’t want her to cry anymore. It was my fault last time. It was because I wanted a baby brother.” “That was a good thing, Starr.” “No, it wasn’t.” “Yes, it was, Starr,” he said firmly. Starr wanted a baby brother and he blew Blair’s marriage to Max out of the water, made a baby with her, married her and finally got his family back. It was all good and nothing short of a miracle. She stared at him then said, “Maybe. But I’m sorry, Daddy, I think you should leave Mommy alone.” “You don’t really mean that do you, Starr?” She stood up and moved up a step. “I’m just a little kid. I need to put myself to bed now.” “Starr,” he said softly. She whirled toward him with her arms wide open. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You always want me to take your side. I love you, Daddy, and I love Mommy too.” He looked up at her. “You couldn’t love us together?” “You won’t stay. You’ll come then you’ll leave then she’ll cry. You’re never here to see her cry. Can I go to bed now?” “Yes.” Starr hugged him tightly. “I love you, Daddy. I’m glad you decided to come back again. I missed you.” Todd watched Starr run up the stairs. Running away from him. Was she right? Would it be better if he let Blair go? He stood up and walked into the living room. What did it matter? It’s not like he had a choice. Sometimes he wondered what would have happened if she hadn’t come after him in Key West armed with a baby lie. God, how he punished her for that lie. If she hadn’t come, though, he would have come back to Llanview for her. She had no idea how much loving her had scared him but still he couldn’t have stayed away from her. What new life as a beach bum was he talking about? She was his life even back then and he would always come back for her. Somehow she had forgotten that. Todd grabbed his coat. He had something to take care of and he was going to do it tonight. Chapter 6
Poseidon Rising
FAN FICTION
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