The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels (55 page)

* * *

"Cassie told me," Drake said as Eric entered the Blue Mango's back office. The gray, drizzly day seeped into the austere finish of the room.

Eric hung up his jacket. "Told you what?"

Drake stood against the wall with his hands in his pockets. "About Nina."

Eric took a seat and opened a drawer.

"Quite a complication."

Eric pulled out a folder and shut the drawer. "She's not a complication."

"It's hard to have a relationship with a kid involved."

He glanced up. "You speak from experience?"

"Common knowledge."

"Nina will not be a problem."

"You're determined to make this work, aren't you?" Drake sat, crossing his legs at the ankles. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say this was serious."

"Fortunately, you do know me."

"Sometimes I wonder."

Eric began reviewing the expenses. He knew his brother couldn't figure him out. He preferred it that way. He had maintained a distance from people all his life. He knew a psychologist would say that his parents' deaths had traumatized him so much he was fearful to get close to anyone. It ran much deeper than that. There was a dark part of him no one would understand. At times it even scared him. He made sure to keep it well hidden.

"I still think this is a bad idea," Drake said.

"Since when is having fun a bad idea?"

Drake rubbed the back of his neck. "Adriana is not like you. She can't cut off from people like you do."

Eric pushed up his glasses. "Do you honestly see her getting attached to me? One thing I'm not is a heart-breaker."

"You deserve more than this. You can't keep on having affairs."

"I take what I can get."

"You can get better than this."

Eric tapped his pen against the desk. "Want to place some odds on that?"

Drake lit a cigarette; Eric tightened his grip on the pen.

His brother only smoked when he was worried or upset. He hated to see him do it. Hated to know he was the cause.

"I thought you were quitting," he said, watching the smoke drift to the ceiling.

Drake smiled without humor. "I'm always quitting."

"If it's an oral fixation, why don't you just suck your thumb? You'll look just as ridiculous."

Drake exhaled and studied him through the haze.

Eric sighed. "I like my freedom. I like trying new things, meeting new people. No one will get hurt."

"Jackie found an engagement ring in your room."

Nosy brat. He would have to get his spare key back from her. "I needed something to pawn." He hated lying to his brother, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Drake shook his head, not willing to probe further. "What about Nina?"

"She's not part of this equation."

Drake took a long drag and exhaled. "She will be. Don't be reckless."

"I'm never reckless."

Drake sent him a look.

"That was a long time ago."

Drake tapped his cigarette ashes in a tray, maintaining his gaze.

"I made money for us. Are you going to hold it against me?"

Drake took another long drag. "Are you?"

Chapter 8

Adriana watched Rita Detano walk into the ballroom of the Montgomery Hotel. She had the energy of a caffeine addict and a smoker's deep voice.

She ran her fingers through her short reddish brown hair as she sat. "Thank you for coming, Adriana." She set a small Coach bag on the table.

"I couldn't help it. You said it was an emergency."

"My life is an emergency, honey. I need help. You like the room?"

Adriana surveyed the space around her. The large gilt mirrors, chandeliers, wooden floor, and round tables would be transformed in a few months. "Of course."

"Good. Let's eat."

They went to the hotel restaurant. Adriana looked at the prices and silently swore. Eric would kill her.

"Don't worry, I'm paying," Rita said.

"I'll kiss your feet later."

"No need. I just had a pedicure."

They ordered and then talked about the fashion show.

Rita said, "I got the Timmons modeling agency to provide six girls and four men."

"You mean women, not girls."

"It wasn't a slip of the tongue, honey. They specialize in twelve-year-olds that look twenty-five. I requested girls at least sixteen. You know how the industry is."

"Well, that's good."

"Mazur will handle the flowers and Praxton is handling the publicity."

"Will they be tasteful this time?"

Rita lit a cigarette and blew out the match. "People came."

"Yes, and were disappointed. Silhouette nudes give the wrong impression."

"They'll be tasteful this time." They paused when the food arrived. "So I hear you're going to show some of Divine Notions' new line."

"Yes."

"I'm sure it will be fabulous. Not like Vinton, who everyone talked about. He went to New York and fell flat on his face. There was nothing special about his work anyway." She tucked into her salmon. "So when can I see them?"

"Soon."

"You can't keep them hidden. You know I have to give a description to the announcer."

"I know."

Rita tapped a finger on the table, displaying her bright pink manicure. "You have until December, early January the latest, and then I have to see them."

Adriana smiled wearily and lifted her drink.

* * *

The thought of Rita reviewing her work was paralyzing. She couldn't work, her mind was blank, and her last date with Eric didn't help. They had gone to the National Air and Space Museum. She sighed. Would every date be an educational adventure? She bought Nina a necklace; she'd politely thanked her. Eric had offered to buy Adriana a small chain at the museum shop; she chose something else, offering to pay the difference. Adriana was glad to use him as a buffer with Nina but she needed stimulation—excitement.

She invited her friends over that week. She needed to bring back a semblance of what her life used to be before Nina and Eric. Nina politely introduced herself, then went to her room, whispering that they looked scary.

"So how's your friend doing?" Hinton asked, popping a beer can.

Adriana frowned. "Who?"

"The old man," Randan said.

"Oh, Eric, yes." She curled up her legs, grabbing a handful of pretzels from the coffee table. "My little mathematical nerd is becoming a nuisance."

"He seemed sweet to me," Tanya said.

"Then you try dating him. He actually schedules dates where we can take Nina along. Not exactly a hot, passionate affair. You'd think he'd have passed the meaning of the word in the dictionary."

"You should be grateful he still wants to see you," Emily said. "Many men back off when a woman has a kid."

Tanya smiled. "I think men who like kids are sexy."

"I like kids," Randan said.

"Delinquents usually."

Hinton set his beer can down. "I don't think you're giving him a chance."

Adriana sighed. "But he's not like us."

"So what? We like him."

She made a face. "I don't know why."

He sent her a knowing glance. "For the same reasons you do."

* * *

She wasn't sure she liked him after he took them to a reading of funny poems and short stories. She fought to keep her eyes open. He was the bore she had suspected. He didn't even flirt with her or hint at sex. She might as well be going out with her brother.

"It's not going to work," Adriana told Cassie over the phone. She lay stretched out on the couch.

Cassie didn't argue. "Then tell him."

"Nina likes him."

"That's not a good reason to stay with someone who bores you."

Was it boredom or something else? She wasn't sure. All she knew was she was sick of museums, sick of seeing Nina and Eric together "discussing" things. She wanted her old life back. She wanted to be with a man who had a driving ambition to be something society rebelled against, someone raw and a little vulgar. She wanted to go to the salon, but couldn't for another week according to her budget. She was tired of signing school forms, ironing uniforms, and coming up with ideas for dinner. She didn't like the change in her life, and Eric was part of it.

"He's a nerd. A robotic geek."

"That's not fair."

"But it's true. Have you ever been out with him? I've got him programmed. If we got out to dinner I know what he's going to eat. If we go to a museum, I know which display he'll go to and what he's going to say."

Cassie sighed. "Fine, then break it off."

"I will tonight. He's taking us on a yawn fest. Driving around D.C. at night. Not clubbing—driving."

"It might be fun."

She moaned. "I'm sure he and Nina will have a great time."

* * *

The city showed off its finery as it sparkled in the dark night. They passed a memorial where a nineteen-foot marble statue of a tired, thoughtful Lincoln sat, his large hands leaning wearily on his armrests while he gazed toward the Washington Monument. The monument stood as a rigid granite and marble obelisk and loomed high above the city pale and gleaming.

She was supposed to be bored. She had been prepared, remembering her groan when Eric had offered to take them on a night time tour of the city. What was there to see? The shadow of buildings, homeless people gathered around a bin fire?

She didn't complain as she got into the car. She didn't sigh like a resigned prisoner as he pulled into the street. She gazed absently at the sights around her until he spoke. Suddenly, the city became a new and wondrous place. As if her eyes had been open for the first time. A city she had lived in for years became something new and wonderful like a relation one suddenly takes the time to know and discovers a life and history ignored.

They passed by the Vietnam Veteran Memorial, two V-shaped, polished black granite walls with the names of the dead inscribed on them. It stood half buried in the ground, the design as controversial as the war itself. She listened to him, no longer hearing a lecture but a history retold, coming to life in her mind.

She couldn't believe she was enjoying herself driving on a cold night through the city with a self-made tour guide and his seven-year-old fan. That's when she knew it wasn't Eric that bored her. It wasn't boredom at all. It was a restlessness, her resistance to change. A realization that there was another side of her she had chosen to ignore. A part that sought knowledge and culture. However, this wasn't the image of the woman she had created and it scared her. But she wouldn't analyze it tonight.

They warmed themselves with pastries and tea—milk for Nina—at a little cafe. Adriana went to order another cup. As she fixed her tea, a man in a dark suit came up to her.

"Hello," he said in a smooth, deep voice.

"Hi," she replied absently.

"Did you notice the moon?"

"No."

"I thought you would on your way down from heaven."

She turned to him, startled. He was flirting with her? "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested."

"I have my Mercedes out front, maybe I can persuade you."

"No, you can't."

"I've been watching you." His light eyes dipped to her chest, then back to her face. "I thought you needed a little rescuing. A beautiful, vivacious woman like you deserves more than listening to some guy talk all the time."

"I'm having a wonderful time," she said, defensive.

He looked unconvinced. "Uh-huh."

Eric reached behind her. "Excuse me."

She spun around, feeling guilty. "I'll be right there."

He sent her an odd look. "I'm just getting more sugar." He grabbed a few packets and left.

"He didn't seem overly concerned about us," her new companion said. He handed her his card.
Jared Moore—Architect
was written on it. "Just in case my offer interests you."

She wasn't impressed. Anyone could create a business card and become whatever they wished. She turned to him. "There is no 'us' and if you don't leave me alone, you won't have to go outside to see the stars."

He glanced at Eric and laughed as if she'd offered a Chihuahua as a guard dog. "Whatever you say, sister." He walked away.

She returned to her seat feeling foolish. Had she given off signals she hadn't been aware of? Did she really look so out of place with Eric? Why had she felt guilty when he came up behind her? She hadn't been doing anything. Was it because she had considered dumping him tonight?

Eric studied her. "Are you okay?"

"He gave me his card." She set it on the table.

He blinked. "Okay."

His calm was vexing. "Don't you care that another man was trying to hit on me?"

He raised a brow. "No, it's expected. I've seen you defend yourself, remember?"

"You trust me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Because no one else has. All her boyfriends would growl if a man even glanced in her direction. Then they would accuse her of flirting or trying to make them jealous. Laurence would have been on the man like a hound protecting his territory. Eric trusted her. She couldn't believe the freedom that came with that.

She tore up the card and lifted her tea. "Tell me about Union Station."