was lucky to get this phone call. “And the reason you tried reaching me?”
“Doyle intends to announce his candidacy for mayor of Beverly Hills next weekend at the house. I want you here.”
You can hold your breath for that to happen, Quasar thought. That’s how it had been in the past, though. Louis gave an order and he obeyed. Even if he had to jump through hoops to do so. Even if it meant spending three years in jail. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m busy next weekend.” Already he was looking forward to visiting Randi in Richmond. “Besides, I’m surprised you’d want me there, being an ex-con and all.”
“You served your time. And I want to show family unity.”
“Family unity doesn’t really exist with the Pattersons. Count me out.”
“Look, Quasar, this is a serious matter,” Louis snapped.
“Like I care. I haven’t been back home in ten years and I have no reason to return now, so like I said, count me out.”
“It was your choice not to return to LA. We would have been glad to see you.”
Yeah, right. When he’d been released seven years ago, he’d taken Shep’s advice and joined Striker and Stonewall in Charlottesville. There was nothing for him to return to in LA. It was a decision he’d never regretted making.
“Tell that to somebody else, Louis. You haven’t seen me in ten years. Another ten won’t bother you.”
“It’s not like I haven’t tried keeping the lines of communication open. I do call to check on you and make sure you’re okay. It’s not like I haven’t tried getting you to come home. Hell, you wouldn’t even tell me where you moved after you got out of jail or even how to reach you, for that matter. I probably still wouldn’t know if I hadn’t hired that private investigator.”
Quasar drew in a deep breath, trying to keep his anger at bay. Yes, his father called from time to time, but usually it was with some BS. The old man always bragged about Doyle’s successes and highlighted what he saw as Quasar’s failures. The phone conversations were so draining mentally that Quasar regretted answering the calls.
And the old man was right. He hadn’t let him know his whereabouts after leaving prison. He hadn’t seen the need. Neither his father nor Doyle had visited him or communicated with him while he’d been locked up. Not even during the time he’d nearly lost his life in jail and had to be hospitalized. Other than his godmother, no member of his family had given a damn. That was the main reason he had wanted to put as much distance between them as he could once he became a free man. He’d wanted a new life, one without the stench of them in it. He was determined to make something of himself without their criticisms, and to come to terms with the fact that he had a father and brother who didn’t give a fuck about him. He’d been able to do that by getting a surrogate family. Shep was the father figure Louis could never be, and Striker and Stonewall were the brothers Doyle had never tried being. Quasar was satisfied with his life.
“Don’t you think it’s time for you and Doyle to call a truce?” his father asked.
Truce? Honestly, Quasar didn’t think he and his brother were at war. Doyle was probably the same ass he’d been all his life. And as far as Doyle marrying Lilly, well, they were welcome to each other. It hadn’t taken him long to realize she’d just wanted to be married to a Patterson.
“If it’s about him marrying Lilly,” his father continued, “then you need to get over it. They love each other.”
He doubted Doyle or Lilly truly knew what love was. They equated love to opportunities. “Glad to hear it. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to—”
“I need you to come home, Quasar. You should come home. Think about it.”
Quasar shook his head. He should come home? There was no reason why he should. Over the years, Louis had said the same thing a number of times, and Quasar knew it was a biting burr in his father’s ass that he wasn’t there under his thumb for him to manipulate and control. “There’s nothing to think about. I’ve made plans for next weekend and don’t intend to change them.”
He heard his father snort. “Why are you wasting your time working at that job? You’re my son. You should be working alongside Doyle to run Patterson Industries and—”
“And do what? Wait for him to stick his hand in the cookie jar again so I can go to jail to protect him? No thank you. I’ll pass. Three years of serving time for a crime I didn’t commit was three years too long. But I don’t expect you to understand that. Now, goodbye.” Not giving his father a chance to say anything when there was nothing that could be said, he clicked off the phone.
Plans were still on for him and Ryker to get together tomorrow. Then he would head back to Charlottesville by evening time. For now, he intended to put his father as well as his phone call, out of his mind. The only person he wanted to think about was Randi. He’d never been involved in a long-distance affair. In a way, long-distance equated to long-term, but would that be such a bad thing? At least he wouldn’t have to worry about her showing up unexpectedly at his place, and while he was on assignments, out of sight would mean out of mind. Then, whenever he felt the urge to spend time with her, mainly sleep with her, he could take the drive from Charlottesville to Richmond. He figured it wouldn’t be more than an hour on Interstate 64. Unless he decided to take the scenic route for a more relaxed drive. Either way, the destination was the same. Randi’s arms and her bed.
He licked his lips, thinking of the kiss they’d shared. He was convinced he could still taste her and hadn’t wanted their kiss to end. And the way she’d wrapped her arms around his neck, clung to him, plastered her body against his, had made blood pump through his veins like crazy, especially in his groin. Hell, he was still throbbing down there. Hard as a rock and causing an ache against his zipper.
The instant he’d inserted his tongue inside her mouth, he’d known heaven. Her taste had been delicious, and he had deepened the kiss on instinct to get more of it. His greedy-ass tongue had shifted from one side of her mouth to the other while exploring and tasting as much of her as he could. Desire for her must have practically taken over his senses since they’d done that standing in a public place. But at the time, he hadn’t given a damn. The only thing he’d wanted was her. A part of him had known she would turn down his offer to go to his hotel with him, but shit, you couldn’t blame a man for trying.
When the car behind him blared its horn, Quasar realized the traffic light had turned green. He smiled as he headed to his hotel while thinking next weekend couldn’t get there quick enough.
* * *
RANDI WAS STILL floating on a cloud when she entered the guest bedroom. The house was quiet, which meant everyone was asleep. Evidently not, she thought moments later upon hearing the knock on her door.
Placing her purse on the dresser, she crossed the room. She hoped she hadn’t awakened anyone when she came in. Easing open the door, she really wasn’t surprised to see Anna and Haywood standing there. Anna was holding a bottle of wine and a bottle of grape juice, while Haywood was dangling three wineglasses between her fingers.
“Is there a reason for this late-night visit, ladies?” she asked, moving aside to let them enter.
“What do you think?” was Haywood’s flippant reply. “You owe us an explanation.”
“Do I?” Randi asked, closing the door behind
