pretty sure you won’t want to be hanging around here when this place opens in a few hours.”
“Mmm...” Clarissa leaned her head back as though she were envisioning the meal. “Add drinks to that offer and you’ve got a deal.”
“Now we’re speakin’ the same language.” Rayelle hurried over to Clarissa. They exchanged kisses and hugs over the stack of folders.
* * *
“You threw us for a loop here, sir. We weren’t expecting that,” Elias told Cleveland Echols when they spoke by phone later that afternoon. Eli had wasted no time asking the man about his decision to back out on the construction of the new bank.
“I am sorry about it, boy, but it’s like I told Tigo and Linus. A sudden loss of investors.” The man sighed. “Can’t say I’m all that surprised given the shaky state of the economy.”
“Right,” Eli agreed then massaged his eyes. “So that was the logic behind their decision to pull the plug.”
There was silence from Cleve Echols’s end of the line.
“Mr. Cleve?”
“It’s a complex matter, son.”
Eli bowed his head then, regretting the strain that came through in the man’s voice.
“How long have we known each other, Mr. Cleve?”
Cleveland Echols’s soft chuckling came through the line. “Since your mama brought you to the bank to deposit your first twenty dollars.” Cleve’s laughter continued as he recalled a then seven-year-old Elias Evan Joss refusing to leave his money until Cleve had come out from his office to personally assure him that he’d have access to his funds at all times.
“You should know that I only want to help, sir,” Eli cautioned once the laughter had settled. “It should go without saying that you can trust me.”
“That’s really all I have to tell you, Elias. The investors pulled out and went in with Waymon Cole.”
“Cole...how do I know that name?” Eli murmured.
“He’s made money for a lot of folks in this town. These days a quality investment banker is a godsend.”
“Investment banker—that must be it.” Elias didn’t sound totally convinced.
“Cole’s probably best known though as Jaz Beaumont’s business manager,” Cleve added after a few more seconds of silence had held the line.
“Right.” Elias realized that was the connection he sought.
* * *
Rayelle decided that her friend could use dinner, drinks and a little dress up to brighten the evening. They wangled a last minute reservation to Via!, a restaurant that specialized in hearty grilled foods served in an upscale atmosphere. Jackets were required of all male patrons while female diners frequented the establishment in their sexiest attire.
“Did I do good?” Ray asked as she and Clarissa stood just inside the dining room near the host’s stand.
Clarissa smiled brightly and nudged Ray’s arm. “Better than good,” she said.
The maître d’ greeted the women by letting them know how “delicious” they looked. Offering an arm to each, he escorted the ladies into the spacious dining room that blazed golden from the electric candles that were spaced across the area.
Most women who visited the restaurant visited on the arm of a male patron. When two women arrived together as dining partners, the overwhelming population of male customers couldn’t help but take notice. This was amplified with respect to Rayelle and Clarissa, who took sexy-chic to another level. The stunning duo drew more than their fair share of attention. Rayelle showed off her dancer’s legs in a strapless lavender number. Clarissa’s breathtaking curves were gloved in an asymmetrical peach frock that blurred the lines between elegant and erotic.
“Now, how the hell do they expect us to focus on a thing when they dress like that?” Santigo queried, making no effort to mask his delight.
“Guess it depends on what we’re supposed to be focusing on,” Elias noted, his vivid blue-green gaze locked on Clarissa.
“Who’s that with her?” Linus asked.
Tigo shrugged and tossed his napkin to the table. “Guess that means we should go over and introduce ourselves.”
“Show some restraint.” Elias’s advisement was soft. “The woman just lost her aunt.”
Santigo stood and dropped several bills to the table as payment for the dinner he had promised his friends. “In that case we should go and pay our respects.” His demeanor was serious now.
Eli and Linus rose together and the three made their way across the plush dining area. The partners captured interest in much the same manner that Clarissa and Rayelle had upon their arrival. The male trio had always snagged feminine appreciation quickly and with full awareness. While Tigo and Linus made great use of their attributes, Elias proved to be the more selective member of the group. It was difficult, if it was even possible, for him to put into words what truly intrigued him enough about a woman to pursue her.
Whatever it was, Clarissa David possessed it in droves, and that disturbed him. Elias Joss was not a man who liked to be disturbed.
* * *
Rayelle let loose a low wolf whistle when she spotted the sexy threesome heading in their direction. When Clarissa glanced up from her menu, Ray cast a pointed nod in the direction she looked.
Clarissa did a double take when she saw that Elias Joss was part of the group that had garnered such praise. It was unnecessary to say that he had her interested. Whether that was because he was so scrumptious to look at or because he’d reserved a distinctly chilly look for her, she couldn’t say.
Nevertheless, a smile did curve her mouth when she saw Santigo Rodriguez and Linus Brooks on either side of Elias. Clarissa pushed her chair away from the table and went to greet them.
Linus was first to take Clarissa’s hand and pull her into a hug. “So sorry to hear about Miss Jaz.”
“Thanks, Linus.” Clarissa patted his jaw when he kissed her cheek.
Tigo moved in next to offer condolences, when he noticed Eli’s expression. The look was an effective warning to keep the contact brief. Clearing his throat, Tigo stepped back but kept hold of Clarissa’s hand.
“We were very sorry to hear about this. We’d just spoken to her a few days ago.” Tigo nodded toward Linus. “She looked like a picture of health.”
Clarissa could feel her throat tightening on the now-familiar sensation of emotion crowding it. “She, um... I know she enjoyed working with you both. I hope you won’t mind working with me for the duration?”
“Oh, no,” Linus said while Tigo shook his head. “That won’t be a problem for us, um...Mr. Joss—” he tilted his head in Eli’s direction “—has requested to be your go-to person.”
Clarissa
