Chapter Two

Asa beckoned to her sister and hurried out of the auditorium. She wanted to put as much distance as possible between herself and Simeon. Standing so close to him unnerved her. His dark, piercing eyes seemed to touch her heart. The menacing demeanor from high school had vanished, replaced by a much more charismatic personality. Resisting him would take fortitude she wasn’t sure she possessed.

Everyone in the room seemed to gravitate toward him, wanting his attention or simply to bask in his aura. She hadn’t recognized herself as she talked with him, shifting from one foot to the next while avoiding eye contact like a nervous high school girl. The college graduate, the accomplished and composed fashion designer had disappeared.

“What’s your hurry? I’m enjoying myself.” Dakota rushed to keep up with Asa.

“I need some fresh air. Lots of fresh air.”

“Your talk didn’t go so well, huh?”

“Oh, it went just fine. We’re having lunch tomorrow. Instead of barking at me the way he used to in high school, he remained very calm. I think he even stroked the palm of my hand.”

“He remembers you, all right. Every time he stops in the bookstore he asks about you.”

Asa stopped in mid step. “You never told me that.”

Dakota hunched her shoulders. “I didn’t know you were carrying a torch for him.”

“Ha. I’m not carrying a torch. That was years ago.”

“The way you and Eric were always fighting, the last thing you needed to hear was some causal remark from what I thought was a high school friend. Anyway, it’s good to have you home.”

Dakota probably didn’t mean for her comment about her marriage to jerk a knot in Asa’s heart, but the result hurt just the same. Those words echoed the same sentiment expressed by her parents many times over the years. Too bad they died before seeing her make good on her talent as a designer and turning her life around.

Asa unlocked the car doors and they got inside. “I can’t believe you want to stay in Mim and Pepa’s house. Nobody has lived in that place for years. Are you sure everything works?”

“We’ll see tonight. Thanks for having the water and electricity turned on for me. But what happened, I thought you were going to get the place cleaned?”

“Oh, yeah.” Dakota snapped her seatbelt. “I forgot about that.”

“Uh huh. And what about getting that ghost out of the basement too.”

“Ghost?”

“Before leaving to pick you up I heard a rustling noise. I didn’t try to shoo it away. You know how much I hate that basement.”

“Give me a few days to clean up my place and you can stay with me if you’re afraid. We can sit up all night and catch up, like we used to do.”

“Thanks, but I want to stay in the house. I need to. Why don’t you spend the night with me?” Her request sounded like a plea.

“No, thanks. I’ve got paperwork to do tonight.”

“I’ve been estranged from the family. Staying in the house where Mom and Dad and our grandparents lived...” She shrugged. “I’ll feel closer to them. Their essence is all through that house. You understand, don’t you?”

“It doesn’t have to make sense to me; it only has to make sense to you. I’m just glad you’re back. Remember my offer will always be open. By the time the block is leveled I’ll have my spare bedroom all ready for you.”

Asa gasped. “Dakota don’t say that. Don’t even think it. I’m going to change his mind. I have to.”

Dakota shook her head. “Please don’t go chasing dreams, Asa.”

“I’m not. He might change his mind.” Asa turned on the windshield wipers to clear the mist that had started to fall.

“Suppose he doesn’t. Have you thought about that? What will you do?”

“I’m only thinking positively. There are plenty of other places he can use for his project. I only have to convince him or help find another suitable location.”

Asa stopped the car in front of her sister’s house and kissed her cheek. “I feel like I made a little progress tonight. I’ll make a little more over lunch. So wish me luck.”

“I don’t know,” Dakota sighed. “He’s not the same man you went to school with. Simeon has a reputation for getting what he wants. He can be ruthless.” Dakota said before getting out of the car.

Asa pulled away when Dakota disappeared inside the house.

He might not be the man I remembered, but I’d like to give him something he won’t forget.

§ § §

Simeon sped away from the school parking lot in his Mercedes Roadster. The misting rain coated his windshield and slipped into the lowered window.

Asa Conroy had breezed back into his life just as quickly as she had disappeared. Sassy Asa still gripped his heart with a firm hold.

They were having lunch and if his luck held out, maybe more. His stomach swayed. Nothing in his life came easy, so he couldn’t get excited. This wasn’t just a normal date; she wanted something. If history was any predictor, whatever the Conroys wanted, they got, which meant this date could cost more than he could afford to pay.

He swung the sports car around and headed for Bristol. Facing issues head-on always worked best. The sooner he found out what Asa wanted, the sooner he could deal with the problem and move on.

Even in twilight, the same old banshees that chased him when he was too young to fight back lurked in all their familiar places. Now the housing project that he used to call home stood vacant. He smirked. In a few months, this whole neighborhood would be very different.

He drove a few more miles and turned on Excalibur Avenue. On the corner, the stately Conroy house anchored the block. He stepped out of the car and ran for the porch before adjusting his tie and squaring his shoulders. He wasn’t a schoolboy anymore. Now he could talk to pretty women without getting tongue-tied.

He rang the doorbell.

Asa swung open the door. Her eyes widened. For a moment she stared without saying anything. “How did you know I was staying here?” She bent down to move a piece of luggage, from just inside the doorway. Her posture provided a clear shot of her breasts.

Simeon’s back stiffened at the sight of her exposed bosom. “I took a chance.”

“What about our lunch tomorrow?” she asked. Simeon swallowed the knot in his throat and averted his eyes. “We’re still on for tomorrow. But I don’t like surprises. You didn’t stomp into my meeting tonight just to catch up with an old friend.” He tried to keep his eyes on her face, but the low cut top and the tiny shorts made it difficult.

“I hear you want to tear down this grand old house.” She rested her shoulder against the doorjamb. “I know it looks pretty bad right now, thanks to my well-intended sisters. But the house still has charm.”

“I didn’t take the personality of the house into consideration when I planned my project.

“You should have.” She pushed off the doorjamb and motioned him in.

Two large pieces of luggage sat in the hall. “Are you coming or going?”

“I got into town just in time to put a stop to your plan.” She sat down on the sofa and tucked her legs under her. Her shorts gave him a shot of shapely thighs and enough of her butt to make him look away.

“I doubt that.” He took the chair across from her.

“Keep an open mind.” She leaned forward. Her smile swept him back ten years and melted his heart.

He swallowed. “How long will you be in town?”

“I’m here to stay. I want to make this place my home.”

“Isn’t Bristol a little slow for you? After Atlanta, why would you want to live here again?”

“How did you know I was in Atlanta?”

“I know more about you than you can imagine.” He shifted in the chair.

“Is that right? Well it seems I don’t know much about you.”

“In due time.” He smiled. “So tell me, why did you come back?”

“This is home.” She glanced around the room. “My family is here—well most of my family.”

He nodded. “I was very sorry to hear about your parents’ accident. I think the whole town mourned their passing.”

A pained expression crossed her face but disappeared in seconds.

He stood up. “My project is pretty well set. It’s a little late to make any changes.”

She unfolded her legs and stood up too. “A little late means it isn’t impossible.”

“I see you’re still as charming as ever.”

She focused on his eyes.

“I haven’t even turned it on full force yet.” You don’t know what you’re in for.