Redemption (Reunion Book 1) Read online

  “I wasn’t planning on bringing a date, but I’d like to take you as my date if you agree.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s a formal event, like prom night, and I don’t have a date.”

  “What makes you think I don’t have a date?” Lilah demanded.

  “Usually women with huge chips on their shoulders have a hard time getting dates,” he grinned. “I’m a nice guy, so I’ll volunteer to be your date. I would hate to see you being a wallflower all night,” he cajoled.

  Lilah couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped at that statement. “Okay,” she relented with a little smile.

  “Okay, what?” he asked.

  “I agree to your little game. Guess my name before the night is over, and I’ll be your date,” she replied. “Here’s your first clue,” she added as an afterthought. “My name is not Rumpelstiltskin.” She knew there was no way he would guess her name. She had been beneath everyone’s notice in high school, especially the crowd he and Cheryl hung with.

  He chuckled as if he had no chance of losing the challenge.

  Lilah remained quiet as he filled several drink orders and wiped the bar. When he finished, he returned to her and asked, “Are you going to make me guess where you live too?”

  “No. I’ll give you that one for free. I live in Illinois.”

  “Did we have any classes together in high school?”

  “Yes.”

  “Which one?”

  “Almost all of them in junior and senior year.”

  “Really? And we never talked?” he asked.

  “Not once.”

  “You must have been one of those shy, quiet girls then. All I have to do is look in my yearbook for black girls who look like shy nerds, and it should be pretty easy to find you,” he said with a laugh.

  He was giving off a flirtatious vibe, but his comment struck a raw nerve. She turned away from him and looked at her cousin and his brother at the end of the bar. They had progressed to touching each other. His arm rested on the back of her barstool, and she let one of her hands rest on his thigh as they talked.

  “You won’t find me in the yearbook. I missed senior picture day, and they forgot to list me in the not pictured section,” she said quietly.

  “So, you really are a little mystery,” he said as he leaned across the bar towards her. “It’s a shame you aren’t in there; you have the most beautiful eyes.”

  Despite her less than favorable feelings for him, Lilah’s face suffused with heat. She was probably just one in a long stream of women to fall briefly under his spell. He was hot on a scale that most normal men could never even hope to achieve. His tall, muscular frame was a direct testament to the fact that he owned a gym and took good care of himself. Even if his body hadn’t been absolutely perfect, he still would have been a dream to look at. He had flawless olive toned features and pair of dimples that added an irresistible cuteness to his otherwise ruggedly handsome face. In high school, he had been voted most handsome, and it was apparent now that the title had been an understatement. Lilah looked away from him as she reminded herself that the handsome façade could not erase the ugliness he had on the inside.

  “I’m sure you’ve said that to hundreds of women over the past year alone,” she countered as she tried to calm her racing heart.

  “I’d tell you I haven’t, but you wouldn’t believe me,” he replied with a shrug.

  He was absolutely correct, so Lilah didn’t bother to contradict him. She turned away, presenting her back as she observed everyone else in the darkened bar. Quiet conversations and flirting abounded. Part of her still wished she had the capacity to relax and open herself up to being more friendly and engaging like Cheryl.

  A thunk on the bar caused her to turn back around. “I believe you ordered sangria, Miss Johnson,” he said as their eyes met.

  She reached for the fruity drink as he smiled down at her in delight. “What makes you so sure, you’re correct?” she asked as she took a sip.

  “You looked surprised, and you haven’t bothered to deny it yet, Delilah.”

  “I go by Lilah now,” she said with a frown. “How did you remember my name? It’s not like we talked even once back in high school.”

  “When you turned around, I recognized the back of your head,” he answered with a wink.

  “That’s ridiculous; Cheryl must have told you my name.”

  Diego glanced at Cheryl and Hugo and said, “I don’t think your friend notices anything but my brother right now.”

  “You’re probably right,” Lilah conceded as her eyes followed his. “Okay, how did you really guess? If I think you’re lying to me, I’ll stand you up tomorrow.”

  He released a deep, rich chuckle that sent little vibrations up her spine. “I really did recognize the back of your head. You sat right in front of me in Calculus class. Once I recognized your curly hair and the way you hold your posture, it was easy to remember your name. Do you remember how Mrs. Winters always made us pass our homework back to be graded?”

  “Yes,” Lilah said quietly.

  “I always graded your homework. I remember thinking how great it was that you didn’t have to grade my homework. Yours was always so neat and perfect, I would have been embarrassed if you had seen mine. Of course, if you had been the one grading my homework, that might have inspired me to put a little more effort into it. I always thought Delilah was such a pretty name.”

  “Yes, well…now that you’ve remembered my name, I’m sure you want to take back your invitation to be my date. Mystery solved,” she said as she took another gulp of her sangria.

  “Why would you say that?” he asked with what looked like genuine confusion in his eyes.

  If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought she had misjudged his character. She steeled her nerves against the favorable feelings that were beginning to creep up on her and said, “Diego, let’s not pretend that we don’t both know what type of man you are.”

  “What type of man do you think I am?” he asked.

  “Charming, handsome, the kind of man who thinks he can have any woman he wants, even if it is just for one night. I steer clear of men like you.”

  “Oh? And it’s not even remotely possible that I might actually be curious about you and find you attractive? It’s not possible that I might want to get to know you better? Not just your body, but the whole you?” he countered.

  “Anything is possible, but I don’t think it’s very probable.”

  “You are definitely a challenge, Delilah.”

  “I know,” she sighed. “It would be easier on you if you talked to one of your many friends from high school and left me here to sulk all night. I only came to this thing because my cousin Cheryl guilted me into it.”

  “Cheryl is your cousin?” he demanded in shock.

  “Second cousin. Our mothers are cousins, but they don’t speak.”

  “Why didn’t you guys ever tell anyone you were related?” he asked.

  “You’re kidding, right? Why would the most popular girl in school admit that she was related to me?” Lilah chuckled.

  “You say that like you’re some sort of pariah. I would have liked to get to know you a little back in high school. Actually, I’m thrilled you’re talking to me now,” he smiled.

  “Okay, now you’re laying it on a little thick, Diego. You expect me to believe that Mr. Handsome himself wanted to get to know the quiet girl whose calculus papers he graded, because he thought she had neat handwriting and a nice name?” Lilah asked.

  “I thought you had beautiful hair and a hot ass too. Does that make it any more believable?” he returned with a sensuous little smile. “I used to lean forward so I could catch the scent of your hair when you turned your head to the side, but you never bothered to turn all the way around to look at me. It was always like you were in your own little world, and no one else could penetrate it. Ricky and Torrence used to make obscene jokes just to see if they could get you to turn around an
d glare at them, but you never did. You always just sat there, like you were so prim and proper, and ignored everything we did to get your attention.”

  Lilah fought against the heat that swamped her body at his confession. The hottest, most popular boy in school had not only noticed her on a daily basis; he had wanted to get to know her better. It was impossible not to be flattered by that knowledge. It was also impossible for her to forget her reasons for hating him. She staunchly reminded herself that he was still just as ugly on the inside as he had been back in high school. That would never change. His charm and phenomenally good looks were only temporary diversions from his personality. “So, you really do remember me,” she conceded with a small smile. “Good for you.”

  “Yes, good for me,” he said in a husky voice that sent a cascade of shivers down her spine. He left her side to work the rest of the bar, and she fought the near constant urge to watch him. He gave off all the appearance of being a good person.

  After about ten minutes of mixing drinks and handing them out, Diego announced that Karaoke hour was upon them. His announcement met with enthusiastic applause, and a number of people clamored to go first. Diego took the microphone and looked directly at Cheryl as he said, “I think it’s only fair that the prom queen go first.”

  Cheryl squealed and jumped out of her seat to approach the stage. The opening bars to Whitney Houston’s hit I Will Always Love You sounded over the speakers, and everyone in the bar clapped and buzzed in anticipation. Her dark skin glowed as she centered herself and took on what Lilah liked to think of as her diva persona. Looking at her now, one would never be able to tell that Cheryl was battling kidney disease and a host of other complications from lupus. Cheryl was nothing but radiant as she belted the song out with triumph in every note. She finished to chants of “Encore! Encore!”

  Cheryl’s eyes met Lilah’s across the crowded bar, and she winked at her before beginning the next song.

  “Your cousin is really something. It’s hard to believe the two of you are related,” Diego said as he took the seat next to her.

  “It’s too bad your brother got to her first,” Lilah said as Cheryl left the stage.

  “He’s welcome to her,” Diego snorted as he looked at Lilah again. He gave her a full on smolder as he continued, “I noticed you both before you walked through the door, and I knew exactly who I wanted to talk to when you sat down at the bar.”

  Lilah tried to look away, but his deep brown eyes held her captive in that instant. She wasn’t supposed to be attracted to him, but she was. That fact appalled her beyond words. Her body betrayed her with its constant awareness of his presence. Every breath he took reverberated through her, and she felt the heat emanating from his muscular frame. She wished she could escape his orbit, but she didn’t want to encroach on her cousin’s private space with Hugo, and the thought of mingling with anyone seated at the tables was a little too intimidating at the moment.

  He seemed to notice her discomfort, and he looked away for a moment. When he spoke again, there was a friendlier vibe to his voice. “What do you do in Illinois?” he asked.

  “I’m a grant writer. I consult with small community based non-profit organizations and guide them through the process of applying for federal grant money. I’ve helped secure over five million dollars in state and federal grant funding over the past seven years. I’ve also helped open three Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs recently,” she said.

  “I can see you doing those things. You always seemed like the serious, do-gooder type back in school. Those articles you wrote for the school paper were always thought provoking,” he replied.

  “What do you do?” she asked him. She hated to admit, even to herself, that she was the least bit curious about the past ten years of his life.

  “I run the local Gold’s Gym, and I just recently opened this bar. It’s the only place in town that does Karaoke,” he answered.

  “Why did you want to settle here?” Lilah asked.

  “Why not?” he asked with a smile. “All of my friends are here. My family has lived here for several generations. This is a nice quiet town, a good place to raise a family, and it’s close enough to the coast that I can see the beach on a regular basis. I’ve always loved it here, and it honestly never occurred to me not to come back after college.”

  “Where did you attend college?”

  “You’ll get a kick out of this, but you have to promise you won’t tell anybody else,” he leaned in and said in her ear.

  “I promise,” she whispered back.

  “I went to Rice University. When I first started, I was an engineering major. After my first three semesters, it became apparent that I couldn’t handle the math courses. The calculus sections for mathematics and engineering majors were way harder than the ones for business majors. I actually thought about you a lot during my calculus classes. If we had gone to the same college, I would have begged you to study with me,” he confessed.

  “So, you have a degree in engineering?” Lilah asked.

  “No. I couldn’t handle the curriculum, so I switched majors to business. I stayed through grad school and left with an MBA.”

  “Did you come back to Bay City immediately?”

  “No. My father would have killed me. I actually spent a few years in Austin, working at Apple as a logistics analyst. The money was good, and the city is beautiful…”

  “But it just wasn’t for you,” Lilah finished for him.

  “Yeah, I’m a small town person at heart. I bet you hate being outside the city. That’s probably why you couldn’t wait to leave after high school.”

  “Not at all,” Lilah chuckled as she looked back at him. “I don’t live anywhere near Chicago. I actually live in a small town closer to Southern Illinois. Saint Louis is the closest city to me, but I only go there when I have to.”

  He shifted closer, and suddenly she was surrounded by the scent of his subtle cologne mixed with his unique brand of masculinity. With a jolt, she realized that she was enjoying his company again. She looked down at her empty glass and tried not to be so aware of him.

  “Can I get you another drink?” he asked.

  “No thanks. I think I’ve had one too many already,” she admitted.

  “You’ve only had one!” he exclaimed.

  “Okay, one more. It’s been a while since I’ve relaxed and had fun,” she smiled.

  He returned the smile, and her insides lit up again. Part of the warm glow surrounding her was due to the alcohol, but the larger portion of it was due to his constant attention. He hadn’t looked at another woman the entire evening. He left her side, and returned a short time later with another drink.

  “What’s this?” she asked.

  “I thought you’d like to try a mimosa. If it’s too much for you, just let me know and I’ll get you something else,” he said.

  Lilah took a sip of the fruity mixed drink and said, “Wow, this is good. I wish I had tried one before now.”

  “I’ll bet there are a lot of things you haven’t tried yet, but if you step outside your comfort zone, you’ll probably like them” he replied.

  “Things like what?” she asked with a challenge in her voice.

  “Things like coming out of your shell and giving us the chance to get to know you. All the kids who were popular in high school turned into some pretty nice adults. Why don’t you try getting to know some of us instead of just assuming that we won’t like you?”

  “You think I’m shy?” she asked as she took a big gulp of her drink.

  He reached out and patted her shoulder as he said, “Yes. Painfully shy, but that’s okay. I actually find it very cute.”

  Lilah made up her mind in that moment to show him just how shy she was. There was a lull in people volunteering for Karaoke, so she stood up and approached the DJ before she managed to talk herself out of singing tonight. She hadn’t been very shy in high school, and she certainly wasn’t shy now. She was extremely introverted, but far from shy.
/>   She relished the look of shock on everyone’s faces as she centered herself at the microphone. Diego sat forward and eyed her with an expression that she couldn’t begin to identify. Even Cheryl looked stunned as she started singing Selena’s hit Tejano song, Tu Solo Tu. Lilah knew her voice wasn’t nearly as powerful as her cousin’s, but what she lacked in power and control, she thought made up for with her emotional commitment to the song. She wasn’t afraid to let her vulnerable side show as she thought about her ex-fiancé throughout the song. It had been six months, but her emotions still went a little raw when she thought about their breakup. James had been the perfect guy in many ways, but he had snagged his dream job in New York City. Rather than try to drag out a long term relationship, when she knew she would never live in the city, and he knew he had no intention of giving up a lucrative career for her, they had said goodbye.

  There was a smattering of applause as she left the stage to return to Diego’s side. “Still think I’m shy?” she asked as she looked up at him. Even from his seated position, he was still a little taller than she was standing up.

  He unfolded his long, lean frame and pulled her closer. She allowed herself to be held by him. She told herself that it was okay to enjoy his attention just for tonight. In two days, she would fly back to her quiet life in Illinois, and he would once again be nothing more than an unpleasant memory.

  “Okay, so you’re clearly not shy when it comes to singing,” he murmured in her ear.

  She melted into him, and hated herself for every moment that she enjoyed with him. “I’m not really shy at all. I’m introverted, but not shy. There is a difference, you know,” she whispered.

  “Just when I thought I had you figured out, the mystery deepens,” he said as he looked down at her again.