I wake up extra early and make myself a cup of coffee in the Keurig I splurged on, pour in some cream, and grab a cup of yogurt. No Greek yogurt for me; I like the tiramisu-flavored kind, sugared and all.
I settle in at the kitchen island that doubles as my table and power up my laptop. With Jason’s card beside me on the counter, I pull up the website for Club TEN29, telling myself it’s mere curiosity overall that compels me. That I’m not cyberstalking Jason Dare.
At a glance, I’m impressed with the interactive website and the wealth of information and rooms available on the premises for events and parties. The website provides music and gives a much more professional impression than the basic site I created for Sweet Treats.
Professional website, I jot down in the notes section of my computer. Another expensive item on my to-do list for my business, I think with a sigh.
Then, unable to help myself, I click on theAboutsection, and photographs of the three partners come up in full color. Jason has the lightest brown hair; the other two men are darker, all sporting a scruff of beard, but it is Jason’s startling indigo blue eyes that stand out. If I wasn’t so overwhelmed, I’d have paid more attention to them last night. I study him, his intense gaze, slightly brooding, sexy look, and sigh, squirming in my seat at the sight of him.
Scrolling further, I come to the meaning of Club TEN29 and suck in a startled breath. The words are brief but impactful:Club TEN29 is named in memory of Levi Bennett, who died in a tragic accident on October 29, 2009, beneath the photograph of a young man who appears almost identical to the older photo of Landon Bennett. They must have been twins. How tragic and sad, I think, closing out of the website.
But not before taking one last lingering look at Jason and feeling a sense of regret for what might have been if my situation were different and I was free to see him again.
I make a note to go to a gas station and order a new tire for my old van, and get the others checked before turning my attention to ordering supplies for my shop. Incoming orders are coming in surprisingly quickly, and I’m thrilled with my slow but steady growth and return clientele.
After I finish mypaperwork, I shower and dress in dark jeans and a sweater, pulling on my lightweight puffer jacket for the day, and load up my van again with my candy. I stop to open the shop for Kelsey. While my intern handles sales, I will drop the baskets off at various local businesses. If I don’t do it today, the candy will start to go stale, and I don’t want anything to go to waste. I’m operating in the black by being careful.
I spend the day working, and though I wish I could say I put Jason Dare out of my mind, I can’t stop thinking about him, his tight ass, and the warmth in his eyes when he looked at me. But I remind myself that he doesn’t need trouble in his life, and that’s what I’m running from. Trouble in the form of my brother.
***
Jason
I texted mypartners, telling them I want to meet in the morning at the club, which is why I’m walking upstairs inside the darkened venue at noon the next day. The guys were up late, so I pushed the time to a more reasonable one. If it was up to me, I’d have been here by nine.
I join them in the large space we occupy as our shared office, when we aren’t holed up in our individual private rooms, to find the guys in jeans and tee shirts, both Landon and Tanner guzzling coffee and glaring at me.
“This had better be worth dragging me out of bed,” Tanner mutters. “I’m fucking beat.”
Landon yawns. “What he said.”
I’m not surprised. Landon is a man of few words.
I flip on the overhead lights, guaranteeing my friends perk up. I wait for the cursing and groaning to end before I gesture through the window that overlooks the main staging area below.
“Imagine an A-list artist performing on stage. Now picture the lines to get in. A Miami vibe in New York. A whole new TEN29.” I give my pitch, short and sweet. “So much stronger thancome on in and dance,” I add for good measure.
When the two men look at me over their coffee cups, I frown and go on. “We started this club and built it into a respectablebusiness. I want more. We’re capable of beingmore. In honor of Levi, this place should bemore.”
Their eyes narrow at the mention of our friend, Landon’s brother, who’d died too young. In a stupid way, because we were all too afraid to walk away from a situation we’d committed to and didn’t know how to get out of. We all blame ourselves, yet none of us blame each other.
Am I challenging them to step up? Hell, yes. “We don’t want to get complacent,” I say.
“I’m in,” Landon immediately says, the mention of his twin clearly getting his juices flowing.
I wonder if I can convince my talented friend to play the guitar on stage. Not something I’ll bring up now. It’s too early in the process, and Landon has avoided his instruments for years because he used to play with his twin.
Right now, I just need them on board for the change of direction in the club.
Glancing at Tanner, I wait.
“Yeah. You got my vote,” Tanner finally says. “We need to build and find our own niche. Get away from the other basic clubs, and the best way is to outclass and outsmart them.”
“Not play dirty the way some of them do,” I say, glancing at Tanner, whose temper is legendary, trying to remind him, by sheer force of will, he needs to continue his good behavior and stay out of trouble.
Tanner gets the message, lifting his hands in a gesture of peace. “No worries here.”
We all hope Tanner is finished using his fists to make his point. Ever since going into business, he’s thrown his energy into the club and channels his anger into positive pursuits.
