Chapter 4

 

Jamison hung up the phone and glanced around his bedroom. Sabrina Jones. Her grandfather had just informed him that she’d be picking up his car. Jamison rubbed his cheek as he stared at the phone. It had been years since he’d seen Sabrina, that - glance of her ass yesterday didn’t count. He wondered if she was still hiding behind that big pretty smile. She had always been a puzzle to him. She was smart, with a curvy figure, a really pretty face, and she never acted stuck-up. Not in high school or the few times he saw her out and about. It was if she had no idea she was this gorgeous babe. Come to think of it, none of those Jones girls put on airs. They always had a smile and hello for everybody.

But Sabrina, that girl hid some deep shit. If Carla, his ex lover, hadn’t showed him pictures of Elise after the fight she had with Sabrina, he never would have believed the former class president was capable of throwing it down like that. Looking at the multiple bruises on the photos, he knew there was a sinister side to Sabrina Jones that she kept hidden. To look at her, you’d never guess she could or would fight anyone. Or stare down a crackhead. Word had been she didn’t tolerate any bullshit. Step correct or get knocked down or cursed out, supposedly ten years ago she had been proficient at both.

It was like there were these two women inside her. There was the senior class president at school who constantly made the honor roll and the one who worked a few days a week at the drug store in a fucked up part of town. There was an underlying edginess beneath her sweet smile, like she knew things nobody would ever expect a “good girl” to know.

He snorted. “What the hell is a good girl?” he asked himself as he got dressed. Somebody had started a rumor that she was gay since she didn’t date or deal with any of the guys at school. From what he’d been told, she and her sister laughed really hard when they heard that particular bit of gossip. Not that he blamed them. Sabrina wasn’t a lesbian. She just hadn’t met the right man, until today. Most people only saw and accepted the smiling face she showed the world. That was a mistake that he would not make.

Pulling his clothes together, he dressed to meet her at the shop. He planned to open it early so he could spend some time alone with her, feel her out, see if she was game for something more. Women with secrets intrigued him and something told him Sabrina had more than most.

 

<<<<>>>>

 

“Da one deh, a me cyar. Me gwan pick it up later.” Sabrina stopped as she tried to recognize the speaker's language.

“No, me not gwan play dis game. Me already pay yuh. No more.” The voice continued.

Unable to understand all the words, Sabrina moved forward into the brightly lit, empty waiting area.

“Hello?” she called out tentatively, looking in the direction she’d heard the strange language.

“One minit,” came the husky reply.

Nodding, she leaned on the wooden countertop. This shop was quiet compared to the one yesterday. She glanced at her watch, it was ten-thirty and there didn’t appear to be any other clients or workers here.

“Me tell yuh already, mi nah gwan change me mind.”

Sabrina stared, mouth agape as a tall, green-eyed man stalked to the counter with a scowl. He tipped his head in her direction as he listened on the phone. Typically, she preferred men clean shaven, but his close-cropped beard added to his hard-edge appeal, it fit him. Coils of interest unraveled in her chest as she sensed a predatory gleam in his eye.

Colorful tattoos snaked up his arm and disappeared in his tee-shirt. Twin diamond earrings in his left earlobe winked at her beneath the light. There was a single one in his right ear. Definitely different from the suited men she’d dated since college.

Backing up, she watched his firm lips move as words with a strong accent flowed from his mouth. She closed her eyes, savored the rich sound and opened them again wishing she could listen to him talk all day. Miami was a melting pot, but damn, this white guy sounded like he had just arrived from a Caribbean island.

He held up a finger and turned sideways.

Well defined muscles pulled the fabric of his tee-shirt tight across a seriously muscular chest and arms. Thick mahogany colored hair brushed against his upper back. The various colored strands of gold, blond, dark brown and red charmed her. He flexed his inked arm, showcasing art and nicely rounded biceps.

A tingle of awareness slid through her.

“Me tell yuh last time, have the cyar dere or forget it.” He snapped the phone shut and Sabrina thought he’d have preferred it was the neck of whoever he’d been talking to. There was an aura of don’t-fuck-with-me menace surrounding him. Inexplicably, it made him more appealing, or interesting, she wasn’t certain which. Throw in his sexy accent, plus the fact he wasn’t trying to impress her, and he had her attention. She wracked her brain trying to remember the language he’d been speaking and couldn’t place it.

He turned and leaned down on the counter, bringing his face even with hers. The corner of his lips inched up into what could only be considered a mischievous grin. “I apologize for that. You’re here for your grandfather’s car.”

Green eyes that reminded her of the color of mint leaves flickered down, stopped at her chest and then returned to her face. His piercing eyes locked onto hers, and she had the notion his apology was based on manners alone. He really didn’t care she’d been privy to his conversation, or that she'd had to wait.

She took a step back. Pleased he spoke English, she nodded. “Yes.” She cleared her throat, wishing he’d look someplace else instead of her.

“It’s over here.” He rounded the counter and headed toward a bay full of cars. Watching him move, she realized he had to be over six feet and he had a sexy swagger as he walked.

When he stopped, she noticed her grandfather’s Acura backed into a bay. “It’s ready then?” She could’ve slapped herself. Of course it was ready, that’s why she was there. Straightening, she strode toward the car.

“Yeah. The keys are inside.”

“Thanks for bringing it to Kendall, its closer.” She looked at the car, at the other cars, even at the concrete floor, rather than see those piercing eyes of his that seem to see more than she was comfortable with.

He nodded as he leaned against the black Acura and stared at her. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Mouth agape, she whipped around. It wasn’t often she was caught off guard.

He tilted his head to the side with a tiny smile. A small dimple appeared in his cheek, she wondered if it was a practiced move meant to disarm and persuade.

Clearing her throat, she refocused on the conversation and not his sexy smile. “Should I? Did we go to the same schools?” She’d graduated from University of Florida, and one of her sorority sisters would’ve told her if this hunk was on campus. Plus, since he knew his way around cars; he would’ve been the man to know on the yard.

“I graduated from Coral Reef High School the same year you did. You were active in student council. I remember seeing your campaign posters. I think it said something like, 'If you want to get things done, Sabrina is the one,' or something like that.”

Her face heated at the reminder. At the time the catchy rhythm worked, but now over ten years later is sounded corny, pompous even.

“I voted for you by the way.”

Her head shot up as she tried to read the truth of his words. “Thanks, it was an interesting time in my life. I was surprised I won.”

He waved off her comment as she tried desperately to place him. “You were much prettier than anyone else running.”

Her face was on fire. For the first time in a long time, she was speechless. Staring haplessly at him, she offered what she hoped was a decent smile in lieu of a comment.

“Have you been to any reunions?”

Licking dry lips, she answered him. “No. They had the five year, but I had to work and couldn’t get off.” She’d just gotten the assistant manager’s position and thought it better to cover for Henri, who rarely showed up to work. She’d averted several crises that weekend, but she’d missed seeing her old friends. Perhaps if everything worked out well with Nikki and the new restaurant she’d be close enough to enjoy more events. She hushed the small voice that said it’d be good to enjoy her handsome classmate as well.

He nodded. “I didn’t remember seeing you or any of your sisters. What do you do now? I know you’re the person in charge wherever you work. I’m curious who was able to gain your management talents.”

Feeling somewhat exposed, and not sure why, she nodded. “I manage a restaurant in Orlando, not too far from Disney.”

He smiled. “I knew it. I bet you have a large staff and you run a tight ship. Whoever owns that company got lucky.”

Unsure whether to be pleased or worried that he acted as though he knew her, she grunted with a smile. “What’s your name?”

“Jamison Volks.”

She studied his features again and was stunned when a jolt of lust ran through her. “Did we take any classes together?” She had no idea who he was, but that could change.

He smiled again and she couldn’t look away. He was handsome in a rugged way, not pretty or polished, but hard and masculine. “Just a couple of general classes. I took engineering and you were in business administration.”

She frowned. “How’d you know that?”

“Sabrina Jones, every straight guy at that school knew you and Angie. Whether you know it or not, your face and curves were the focus of a whole lot'a fantasies.” His voice deepened on the word, fantasies, without any hesitation. His eyes swept over her again. “Time’s been damn good to you. You’re still looking good, girl.” His voice turned silky smooth and touched off a spark in her lower region.

“Thank you.” Jamison looked sexy as hell standing against the backdrop of the garage, limbs loose with his feet crossed. As teens, she and her sisters had been pursued by a lot of guys, but remembering the fiasco of her parents' relationship, and her inclination for doing the wrong things, had convinced Sabrina to focus on getting good grades so she could take care of herself first. She had wanted more out of life than getting stuck with babies and boys, in that order.

Jamison nodded and walked slowly to a concrete pole in the middle of the shop area and pushed a large red button. The large bay door opened. She blinked as the bright sunlight spilled inside.

“I’ll pull it out.”

She nodded and headed back to the counter to pay. Had she been his fantasy? He didn’t say. A rush of giddiness overtook her at the thought of such a fine, good looking man, without a necktie, fantasizing over her. What would they have done? Lewd, vivid erotic pictures slid through her mind on a loop.

“Sabrina?”

Heat flooded her face as the object of her private, kinky photo session stood in front of her behind the counter. Mumbling, she dropped her head while searching her purse for her grandfather’s credit card. Inhaling, she pulled out the plastic and handed it to him.

He kept an eye on her as he ran through the charges. “So how long you here for?”

“Five days,” she said without thinking as she accepted the charge slip and signed her grandfather’s name.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Dinner?” She stared up at him, wondering where her ability to speak coherent sentences had flown.

He crossed his arms and smiled down at her. “Yes, it’s usually the last full meal of the day.”

She blinked. It took a moment for his words to penetrate, but when they did, she chuckled. “That was good.” He had a sense of humor, which was a major bonus. “Okay, we can do dinner before I leave. When did you want to get together?”

“Tonight, around seven.”

“Tonight? I don’t know –”

“Casual dinner and conversation. I’d like to catch up, find out what’s been happening with our class president.”

Pride straightened her spine. She had been busy in high school, so what? Her extra-curricular activities had helped keep her out of trouble, and prepared her for college and her job. “Former class president,” she corrected while nodding. As far as she knew there wasn’t anything going on at the house tonight. “Where do you want me to meet you?”

He frowned. “Meet me?”

“For dinner.” No way would she allow him, or any man, to come to her grandparent’s house. That would almost be the equivalent of getting engaged and this was just a date.

“I can pick you up,” he said. His accent more pronounced with a stubborn tilt of his chin.

“I know you can. But I prefer you didn’t.” She blanked her face into a mask of indifference as she waited for him to tell her where they were meeting or renege on his invite.

“Coolios. Coolios on the beach at seven.”

Surprise competed with a feeling of relief, both of which rushed through her as she nodded. “I’ll see you there.” Turning, she walked slow, barely keeping her hands from pulling on the hem of her shorts. She felt the heat of his stare as she walked outside and stepped into the car. He waited until she drove off before closing the bay door. It was then that she noticed his hours of operation on the marquee.

“Opened noon to eight weekdays.” It seemed Mr. Businessman had come in early. She wondered if he did that for all his customers.