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“I’ve been trying to tell him to go to the doctor for weeks, but he thinks we can’t afford it. Thank you, son,” she said with a smile on her weathered face. I made a note to send her for a spa treatment soon. I had to take care of my parents. They were all I had.
“You don’t owe me thanks for helping out, Mom. You two gave me so much when I was growing up. I know how hard you both worked.”
My father reached a shaky hand out to take the card from me. Relief and something else I didn’t recognize entered his eyes.
“Thanks, son. Thank you a lot. You’re a good man, and you’ve done well for yourself. That’s all I ever wanted. I’m proud of you.”
I nodded. Hearing that from the old man almost made me choke up. I don’t choke up.
“I have to get to the office now. Let me know how your appointment goes. Oh, and call me if you need anything,” I said, including him and mom in my gaze.
“We will, son,” they said together.
I turned to look at my parents one last time before I walked out. They were watching me with the look of delight on their faces. It made me feel good to be able to provide for them after all they had done for me. I had everything I needed right there in that house.
My family.
Alise’s smile permeated my thoughts. This had been happening lately, especially when I thought about having a wife and kids. A family. This time, I blamed it on all that talk my parents did about me starting a family. But why was Alise’s face popping up in my mind under those circumstances?
Chapter Four
Alise
Slipping Away
10:34 p.m.
“Since you’ve been away, I’ve been down and lonely. Since you’ve been away, I’ve been thinking of you,” Diana Ross’s melody glided out of my soul through my mouth. The notes bounced off my vocals effortlessly. I came to bring down the house on throwback night.
Club Elite was so packed that people were standing shoulder to shoulder. I couldn’t be more thrilled to know they were hanging onto every note bellowing out of me. I took a bow, and the loud cheers blew me away.
“Thank you. I truly want to thank you all for making a girl feel like she can sing. This is why I love being at Club Elite. This is home for me. So, don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back up later tonight for another set, then make sure you come back Saturday for new school R & B,” I said and curtsied before putting the microphone back on the stand.
I looked to the edge of the stage where Bruiser usually stood, waiting for me. His serious dark brown gaze met mine, and I melted a little. Without even trying, he had that effect on me. Neatly-trimmed, dark black hair crowned his gorgeous head. His hair was straight and smooth enough to run my hands through, and I imagined it felt better than silk. And, though rarely displayed, he had a charming smile that finished the melting job his dark brown gaze started. He was American, but Bruiser gave off Italian don vibes. By that, I mean, he had a ‘lick me up and down until I say stop’ Italian don vibe.
As handsome as he was, and as much sex appeal as he displayed, he had a hard exterior. He was hard to read, and I kept that same energy with him. Crossing the line from security detail to lover was not in the cards.
“I love you!” a man screamed from the crowd, bringing my attention away from Bruiser, who had just taken my hand to help me down from the stage. The room went into an uproar as people started clapping and chanting my name more.
“This way.” The corners of Bruiser’s lips hinted at a smile as he nudged me on.
“I really love you!” the man’s voice could be heard again, but this time, he was louder. He sounded like he was desperately trying to get my attention.
O—kay.
I searched the crowd for the man and returned his sentiment.
“And I love you back,” I said appreciatively. Without the microphone in hand, my reply couldn’t be heard by most, but I didn’t want a fan to feel ignored.
Bruiser guided me on off the stage and away from the crowd’s eye. The half-smile he had worn moments earlier faded away. He looked at the fan as if he were making a note to add him to a hit list. The fine lines in Bruiser’s forehead were now prevalent, bringing the one curly swirl of hair he possessed closer to his eyes.
“Thank you for getting me away from the crowd. Whew!” I said, looking up into Bruiser’s eyes and smiling. “You are a lifesaver.”
“You’re welcome. I think tonight was your best performance. It was…great.”
A rush of heat flooded my body at the sound of his compliment. The authority in his booming voice brooked no resistance when he spoke, so I had no choice but to take his compliment in and let it be a part of me. Tingles rushed over the arm looped into his. It was everything to receive praise from a man. It showed that he wasn’t so insecure that he couldn’t acknowledge when a woman was handling her business. Yeah, Bruiser could get it. That’s if I was giving it away. I wasn’t.
“I try,” I said, giving him a friendly nod. Keeping my secret desires covered were getting harder, but it was a must when I was around Bruiser.
