Some Kind of Wonderful Page 8

  He felt the nudge to his arm. He turned to see Morgan Chase. He was an entertainment manager, and one of the businessmen the group was honoring tonight was his cousin. His business was in Dallas, but he was always looking for new talent as well as new clients.

  “Where did you find her? She definitely stands out,” Morgan asked.

  “Good friends of mine recommended her because I was in a jam last minute. Jill quit on me.”

  “Really?” Morgan asked.

  “Yeah, it was a shame. She was very good.”

  “Not like this one though. She engages the people, draws them in. Jill was stuck up, and she had no qualms about hinting for tips. Where does C.C. work normally?”

  “Harper’s in Cherry Hill. She waitresses mostly but does bartend a little. She’s helped out my friends at their bar Finnigan’s, as well, when they have a special event.”

  “It sounds like she is a hard worker. Maybe needs the money?” Morgan asked.

  “Probably, because my friends mentioned that she is always looking to sub in at places.”

  “Hmmm, introduce me.”

  “Wait,” Collin said and placed his arm in front of Morgan as he started to walk toward C.C.

  “What?”

  “What are you thinking?”

  Morgan raised both eyebrows up. He exhaled. “You know I’m always looking for great talent. Particularly, there are these events that take place within driving distance and maybe a plane ride for special private parties and events. She could be a great member of the team.”

  “Morgan, she bartends. What could make her so special besides her body and good looks for you to take such notice and then think of offering her such a deal?”

  “She’s young, energetic, and she acts like she loves this work and meeting people. She may be pretending, but look at that crowd forming. She has them laughing and having a good time. I’m telling you, she’s special, and if you’re right, and she has to work so many jobs, then one steady one for my entertainment firm could be her ticket to flexibility, freedom, and money. I pay very well. I can see her at top tier, as many of my clients require a certain look to the staff working an event. Hell, she could probably run an operation, and lead a group of bartenders, teaching the correct way to engage clients. I don’t know. I’m just rambling here, Collin. Introduce me,” he said. Collin was a little concerned, yet he had known Morgan for many years, and he did have a knack for identifying talent. He also paid well, had a large number of employees and people retired from his company. Maybe this could be an opportunity for C.C.

  C.C. was laughing at something Morgan Chase was telling her. He was so charismatic, and a total charmer. Turned out, he wanted to offer her an opportunity to work for his entertainment business. The headquarters was in Dallas, but he had smaller offices in Benter, Austin, and even San Antonio. She wasn’t sure if he was playing her at first, but then Collin joined them as the party died down and Morgan explained about his company. His cousin, Andrew, walked over. He and his buddies had taken some pictures with her, wanting to tell their friends about the gorgeous bartender who knew how to make off-the-wall drinks and who got them wasted. She laughed at them. They were harmless, and four out of the five were married.

  “Cos, you have got to hire her. Maybe for that event in a few weeks in Dallas? She could run circles around those other bartenders, and even that manager you’ve been thinking about getting rid of since she slacks off,” Andrew said to him.

  “I was thinking about it, but I haven’t gotten to that part yet with C.C.,” Morgan said and smiled at her.

  “Well get to it. You don’t want to miss this opportunity. Plus I think she would get along great with Elizabeth, too,” he said and then took another sip of his drink.

  “Elizabeth is a tough cookie. She runs a tight ship, too, and isn’t easy to please,” Collin said, apparently knowing this Elizabeth.

  “Elizabeth would look at C.C. and immediately know she was special, plus she’s the best-looking bartender, never mind woman I’ve laid eyes on in a long time. She’s got it all going on,” Andrew said. He seemed to teeter a moment, and Collin chuckled as he grabbed him. Andrew pointed at her, squinting. “You, pretty lady, got me drunk.”

  She laughed. “It wasn’t me.”

  “If it wasn’t you then who was it, huh, bartender?” he asked, teetering.

  “Jack Sparrow,” she said, and they all started laughing. Andrew growled like a pirate, or at least tried to, and they laughed some more.

  An hour later as Morgan handed her his card and they exchanged phone numbers, she wondered if this was legit, and if she could really try to take an opportunity like this and turn it into something professional. From what Morgan explained, she could move up the ladder pretty quickly because of her experience and her professionalism. C.C. began to think about the things she wanted in life, but then stopped herself. People always seemed to have an angle, a way of scamming things from those easily manipulated, or weak minded. She would make sure this guy was legit. Somehow, some way, she would do that before she risked making a mistake that could hurt her family. Without her working and making money, Elsie and Aiden suffered. She was the breadwinner, the provider, and any hopes of having a professional career were lost. She was twenty-two—

  Her jaw dropped, her gut clenched, and tears filled her eyes. Twenty-three today, and no one even knew. It was just another day. Another year gone by, along with any hopes or dreams of a better life, or a life to be proud of.

  Before she made a fool of herself, she got her money from Collin, thanked him for introducing her to Morgan Chase and his cousin, Andrew, and headed to her car. By the time she pulled into the driveway at their little cottage, the tears, the sorrowful thoughts of how lonely she really was, and how hollow her life appeared, it was 4:00 a.m. She quietly made her way inside, locked up, checked on her cousin, and then peeked in on Aiden. As she reached for the teddy bear to sit him upright like she did every night, she saw the card he had made for her. A birthday coloring, his handwriting exceptional for a young boy not even in kindergarten, and the tears rolled down her cheeks. Aiden didn’t forget it was her birthday. So this was what he had been working on yesterday and trying to hide it from her? She smiled, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. Then she pulled out the little fancy box of chocolates she took from the event this evening, and placed them in front of Teddy the bear. She leaned down and kissed Aiden’s cheek gently before she took the birthday card, walked out of the room, and headed to her bedroom to grab what she needed to shower.

  As she got there she saw a handmade card from her cousin. The emotion that hit her made her vision blur with tears as she sat down on the bed and looked at it.

  “I wish I could drive and get you a real card, but this will have to do. I love you with all my heart. I wouldn’t be alive, and neither would Aiden if it weren’t for you. I hate to see you work so hard every day to provide for us. I will get better because of you, and hopefully will be able to take care of Aiden, work, make money, and provide for him and me so you can have your own life, and fulfill your own dreams. All my love, Elsie.” The tears fell as C.C. read the words and looked at the picture her cousin had included. Elsie was sixteen and C.C. was twelve, and looked up to her big cousin. As their families drifted apart, their bond had never lessened. They both dealt with tragedies, as Elsie’s parents died in a car accident and C.C.’s parents never really wanted her or acted like parents, so she provided for herself at a very young age. She saved money to go to college, used their poor financial documents to get a scholarship, and she was doing the best she could so she could have her own life and succeed. She didn’t want to wind up like her parents, or like some sad case. She gently stroked the picture, remembering how close they remained, their bond they shared never lessening, and when C.C. was in trouble with Bennet, Elsie was there and shared with her how Dylan was abusive and doing drugs. C.C. felt her stomach ache, and she put down the picture and the card, forcing the flashbacks away. She grabbed he
r things for the shower, but it didn’t matter. It was an emotional day, her birthday, and all she could do was focus on the negatives in her life, or rather, the painful decisions she made in an attempt to save her family. More tears fell, that hollow, guilty feeling hit her belly hard. She never thought she would ever have to kill someone, but she did. When it was her life, her cousin’s and baby’s life or that monster’s, she had no choice. The judge, the police, everyone saw it plain as day, but she still took a life, and she didn’t think she would ever get over that. She washed her hair, cleaned up, then turned off the shower. When she got into bed after drying her hair, and she laid her head on her pillow, she closed her eyes and she saw them. Birdie, Freddie, Conan, and Axel. Four older, charismatic, sexy, hardcore men who wanted a relationship with her. Who made her feel alive, hell, normal, and brought on a surge of positivity and emotions she didn’t think she had the right or true capability of getting. Hell, of going after. Could she have them in her life? In her bed? She thought of Elsie’s card and of Aiden’s. She had to put them first. Anything she could want for her would come after.

  From there on out she thought about meeting Morgan Chase, about an opportunity to have something more professional. Could she take the risk? Maybe try a few jobs, but not give up Harper’s. She didn’t have to work at the diner in Central Valley. Maybe she could slowly give this a shot? Then again she thought of the men, the way they aroused her, kissed her, played her body like an instrument, strumming her senses, her inner desires to be taken by a man intimately. To be held in such big, strong arms and feel safe. She didn’t even know what feeling safe felt like until she was in their arms. They were so big though. So capable, and if provoked, they could hurt her, not only by breaking her heart and using her, but physically hurt her. She shivered as exhaustion overtook any more thoughts, and she fell into a deep sleep.

  “We should have gotten her cell phone number. How are we supposed to make plans to see her, to spend time together if we can’t contact her?” Freddie asked Birdie. They were in town and heading to the supermarket.

  “I guess by going to see her Thursday at Harper’s,” Birdie said, but then Freddie stopped walking.

  “Hold up,” he said. Birdie followed Freddie’s line of sight, and his eyes landed on C.C. walking from the parking lot in front of the café and diner along with a little boy who was holding onto her leg and another young woman with a cane. They were walking very slowly, the woman with the cane definitely was taking her time, and she didn’t look much older than C.C.

  As they got closer, C.C.’s eyes locked onto Birdie’s then glanced at Freddie’s, and she looked surprised, but also didn’t smile or acknowledge them. Her face went flush as she caressed the boy’s hair, and then the boy looked up at them. He stopped short, pressed his face to C.C.’s dress, and then the woman with the cane looked up.

  “Hello, C.C.,” Freddie said, and Birdie followed his lead and slowly walked closer.

  “Uh, hi, Freddie, Birdie, how are you?” she asked and caressed the boy’s hair.

  “Doing great now that we saw you. We forget to exchange numbers the other day. We were hoping to get together with you soon,” Freddie said, and he looked at the woman and the kid. Both looked timid, the kid scared.

  “Oh,” C.C. said. Then the woman cleared her throat, and C.C. flushed again. “This is my cousin, Elsie, and her son, Aiden. Aiden, say hello to two friends of mine, Freddie and Birdie.” She introduced them, and Freddie reached out his hand for the woman, Elsie, to shake. She gave a soft smile but then looked away.

  Freddie gave a wink to Aiden. “How old are you?” he asked Aiden.

  “Five,” Aiden said.

  Birdie shook Elsie’s hand hello, and she was definitely intimidated by their sizes, he could tell. She stepped closer to C.C. who bent down next to Aiden, wrapped her arm around his shoulders as Freddie lowered down to say hello to the kid.

  “Nice to meet you,” Freddie said and reached his hand out for Aiden to shake. The boy nibbled his lower lip.

  C.C. caressed his hair. “It’s okay, Aiden. Freddie and Birdie are friends of mine, and they are very nice men,” she said. When she caressed the boy’s hair it caused the top of her dress to lower a little, and Freddie and Birdie both looked at her full breasts, inhaled her scent, and smiled at her. Aiden slowly reached his hand out to shake Freddie’s then Birdie’s.

  “What are you up to today?” Freddie asked, but his eyes went to C.C.’s.

  “We’re just grabbing some lunch at the café,” C.C. said and stood up. So did Freddie and Birdie. They both stood in front of them.

  “That’s nice. You look really pretty, too. I like this dress on you,” Freddie said to her.

  “Oh, thank you.”

  “Special occasion?” Freddie asked.

  “A change from the uniforms of work I guess.”

  “It’s C.C.’s birthday, and we’re going to have cake and ice cream,” Aiden said.

  Birdie squinted his eyes, and then Freddie did, too. “Birthday? It’s today?” he asked.

  “Not a big deal,” C.C. said as she squeezed Aiden to her side.

  Elsie tugged on her arm. “We should get going,” Elsie said and C.C. nodded.

  “Well, it was nice seeing you both.”

  “We were going to stop in the café for lunch, too. Maybe we can celebrate your birthday together? Maybe get to know your family?” Birdie asked, and C.C. looked stunned. She just stared at him, and he saw tears fill her eyes. She glanced at Elsie. Elsie eyed Birdie and Freddie over like she didn’t trust them or was protective of C.C., yet it appeared to Birdie like C.C. was the one protecting Elsie and Aiden. He got a funny feeling in his gut. But if they were going to gain her trust, then they needed to spend time with her. Maybe her family stood in the way of that, too?

  “We’ll walk with you, and grab something. We don’t have to sit with you guys if you want it to be a family thing,” Freddie said, and Birdie hid his smile. Obviously he picked up on things, as well, and was concerned.

  “Don’t be silly. You can join us,” C.C. said and as they walked and Aiden stayed on her left, then Elsie after him. Birdie took C.C.’s hand and squeezed it. She looked at him, and he gave a soft smile.

  “Slow,” he whispered and she nodded her head.

  Elsie wasn’t quite comfortable having these extra large, obviously military men, joining them at lunch for C.C.’s birthday. She was immediately intimidated by them, had questions about their interest in C.C. and whether her cousin was falling for their charms. The fact that the men mentioned two other brothers, one who was injured recently and returned home, was another disturbing thought. However, those were her fears and hang-ups, and she knew C.C. had her own and more than likely would blow these men off like she had blown off others. Elsie felt badly about that because she knew a lot of those choices were because C.C. was dedicated to taking care of Elsie and Aiden. She felt badly, but she feared for C.C. She didn’t want some guy or guys hurting her or possibly pushing on her what Bennet had done.

  Aiden chuckled at something Birdie had said to him as the waitress, Stella, brought over their lunch.

  “So how was that job you did last night for John and Keith’s friend?” Freddie asked and then took a bite of his burger.

  “It was good. I actually enjoyed it a lot and met some interesting people.”

  “You did?” Elsie asked her.

  C.C. nodded at her. “There was a guy there that owns and operates a large entertainment company. They do everything from high-priced themed parties, to private estate events, and even book entertainment and things. Pretty cool stuff,” C.C. said and then took a bite of her salad.

  “What did they do, offer you a job?” Elsie asked, feeling a bit uneasy and concerned for C.C. She was always trying to find new ways to make more money, and Elsie knew that waitressing was weighing its toll on C.C. physically besides in her social life. That was probably another reason why C.C. hadn’t mentioned these two men or their two other fri
ends. Could C.C. be considering a ménage after almost being gang raped? Elsie felt sick.