Pushing Up Daisies (10 page)

Daisy was overwhelmed. “I’d love to!”

“Great. You have my card. See you Monday at nine?”

“Mr. Wiles, I don’t know if I can. I have to be at the flower shop at eight. Can I go at lunchtime? I really don’t want to call in. I just started a week ago.”

“I see.”

“But I…I want the job,” Daisy stammered.

He laughed. “I believe you do, and you can have it. I’m just impressed with your dedication, that’s all. I don’t see too much of that around here. Tell me, do you plan on working two jobs?”

“If I can.”

Mr. Wiles shook his head. “Did you look at the card? I own several buildings and a couple of atriums. I’ll need you full-time.” He reached for the business card he had given Daisy and scribbled on the back, then handed it back to her. “That’s your starting salary, with benefits. And you can hire a couple of helpers, of course.”

Daisy gasped.
Salary?
There was no way she could turn him down. The measly $7.50 an hour she was getting at the flower shop couldn’t support her and Jay. “You’d really hire me without seeing my work?”

“No.” Mr. Wiles laughed. “I’ve seen you work here for free. Anyone who does that
must
love what they do. I trust you’ll do even better with a paycheck. Call it instinct. Good deeds never go unrecognized, not by me. I’ll see you Monday at lunchtime.”

Daisy was beaming with excitement as she walked out of the building. She called her mother immediately from her cell to tell her the exciting news. Both Jay and Ms. Christine sounded just as excited as she was, although Jay didn’t realize what an accomplishment it was. Adult problems had never been discussed with him. Blowing him a kiss through the phone, Daisy told him that she couldn’t wait for him to come home. He’d be back in a few days, and she knew that soon she’d be able to afford a place for them.

Daisy felt lighter on her feet than she had in a long time. She had to refrain from skipping down the street. Things were finally starting to look up.

Leaning against the metal barrier, Daisy stood watching the currents on the Hudson River. A faint salty scent tinged the air. The Manhattan Promenade was serenely beautiful at night, tucked behind tall buildings on the West Side Highway. Blue lights glowed from the three-level deck situated at the end of the pier.

Adonis’s warm hands massaged her shoulders. She felt completely at ease with him. In the cab, she had shared everything with him, given him all the details about her stroke of good luck. He’d listened intently, then agreed to help her find an apartment.

Daisy couldn’t believe how much time they were spending together. She enjoyed his company, and the hours always flashed by. She knew she needed to go home but couldn’t make herself do it. “I hate to leave you.”

“You don’t have to. You know you’re welcome to spend the night.”

“It’s still too soon.”

Adonis turned her toward him. They were standing a breath apart, and every inch of her wanted him.

“Daisy, I swear that I wouldn’t try a thing. I’m just offering, that’s all. I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go back to Ming Li’s when I know you don’t want to.”

Daisy couldn’t resist the temptation. She threw her arms around Adonis’s neck, resting her head on his chest as his strong arms embraced her.

“It’s okay.” She looked up, and they locked eyes. Daisy shivered at the intensity of his gaze. A man had never looked at her that way before, as if he were looking through her, searching her depths for answers she didn’t possess.

“Are you cold?”

“No. A chill just ran through me.”

“Could it be me?” He grinned, unbuttoned his shirt, and draped it around her.

“Maybe.”

“I hope so,” he said, smiling mischievously.

Daisy grinned, his smile infectious. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes lit up. She had no control over her body. Or her soul, for that matter, if he asked for it.

“Why the smile, Daisy? Do I make you smile?”

Daisy nodded.

“Good. I’m glad. Somebody should. You have a beautiful smile. You should show it more often. Are you ready to go? It’s almost two in the morning.”

“No, not really. But I guess I should be getting home,” Daisy said reluctantly.

“Not home, Daisy. I’m not letting you go there tonight. And I know you won’t be comfortable at my place either. Not yet, anyway. So pick a hotel, because you need time to yourself.”

Daisy hesitated, considering. “Well, if the offer still stands, I’m coming to your place. I don’t want to be alone.”

Adonis emerged from the balcony doors with two glasses and a towel. He sank down in the wicker chair across from Daisy. “Here,” he said with a smile, handing her a glass. “I thought you’d like something to drink.”

“Thanks.” Daisy held the cold drink to her head before taking a sip.

Adonis’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “Ming Li shared a secret of yours with me.”

Daisy almost spat out her drink. “She did
what?
”

“She told me you’ve always wanted me. Do you?”

Heat filled Daisy’s body. She was going to kill Ming Li. “I don’t know if
want
is the right word…”

Adonis laughed and kissed her hand. “No need to be bashful. You won’t know what you’re capable of getting unless you go after it.”

Thank you, Jesus!
She leaned her head on his arm.

Adonis rubbed her shoulder, then pulled her close and hugged her. She felt as if he were squeezing away all of her pain. He released her, swept her hair out of her eyes, and kissed her gently on the cheek. It took everything she had not to grab his face and guide his mouth to hers.

“Come on, baby, let’s get you settled.” Adonis took her hand and led her into the apartment.

Her face lit up when she noticed the large portrait of Adonis’s mother sitting on the limestone fireplace mantel.
You know what they say about a man who loves his mother.
Daisy scanned the room. Adonis had taste. In front of the fireplace were two matching high-backed chairs separated by a chess table. The game wasn’t finished yet, and she wondered who his opponent was. The original art adorning the walls drew her in. Africa…she remembered Africa.

Back in college, they’d all taken a trip to the motherland for spring break. Adonis had joined them, even though he was in grad school. They’d longed for a piece of their identity, but Daisy had discovered more than culture on that trip; she’d discovered her lust for Adonis.

Daisy rose from the sofa and felt herself glide to the wall as the memories returned, running deep. Unsettled sand had drifted on the dry, bittersweet air, attaching itself to any exposed bare flesh. It had come to rest on her feet, becoming her sandals. Intense heat had chaperoned their nights and days, and the sun had deemed itself mother, warming and lighting the way for her children.

“Remember that one?”

Daisy jumped, her hand flying to her chest.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“That’s okay. Yes, I remember that one, and I’m taking it home—”

“No, no, no,” Adonis scolded, wagging a finger. “You gave that to me, remember? Right after I saved you—”

“Saved me? Oh, Adonis, please. You didn’t save me.”

“Yes, I did. Remember, I was your husband for one night?”

Yes, Daisy thought, he had been her husband. And she should’ve kept him. But in those days, Adonis wasn’t meant to be kept. He had been a football star, a wide receiver, popular on the field and widely received by the ladies.

She crossed her arms. “Yeah, you were my husband all right, only because you didn’t like the attention I was getting. But why, Adonis? We didn’t have anything between us, except mutual friends…and Gigi. I never asked you to claim me as your wife.”

Adonis flashed his killer smile. “You didn’t have to. I was jealous and I didn’t want anyone else to have you. I’ve wanted you for years, even back then. But you were too wholesome, too vulnerable. Gigi would’ve killed me if I hurt you. You weren’t the type of girl…excuse me, woman, that a man could have a fling with. You were never a fly-by-night.”

“Thank you.” Daisy was squirming on the inside, praying that Adonis couldn’t tell. Her heart kissed her soul, and her spirit laughed. She was glad that the feeling had been mutual.

“And then there was him—Jasper. We’d already clashed when my father married into the family….”

A quiet fell over the room. Daisy stood and stretched, then felt Adonis’s arms embracing her middle. She relaxed and nestled her head against his chest. He eased her closer. Amel Larrieux’s pretty voice filled the air. Adonis took Daisy’s hand, whirled her around, and held her tightly. Centimeters apart, they swayed to “Make Me Whole.”

Daisy could have swayed with him forever. Lust had left her. They didn’t have to make love, and she didn’t even care if he spoke. But she needed him to hold her. With Adonis, she felt safe and protected. His arms felt like home, a home she wanted to move into.

Not wanting to give him too much too soon, Daisy grabbed his hand and led him to the fireplace. “I love your art collection. Especially this one.” She pointed to a painting of an elderly man looking toward the sky, and then she noticed a picture on the mantel. She picked it up and stared at it.
Oh, God. Calvin.

“That’s my frat brother. You remember Calvin Harris, don’t you?”

Daisy nodded.
Lalani’s father.
“I didn’t know you knew him.”

“Oh, yeah. We became good friends after college. I haven’t seen him in years, though—”

Daisy turned and forced a smile.
Good.

“—but we talk pretty often and try to hook up when I go home to visit. But we’ll see him soon; he comes to New York often. One of his sisters moved to Queens. Maybe we can all have dinner together. I’m sure he’ll be interested in seeing you.”

Did he say “we’ll see him”? He knows, doesn’t he?
“What would make you think that?” Daisy quizzed.

“Don’t look so shocked. As beautiful as you are, who wouldn’t want to see you?”

Relief splashed into Daisy’s soul, easing her for the moment. She weighed her options. If she wanted to be with Adonis, she’d have to tell him about her and Calvin eventually because he was “connected” to both of them.
But if I spill now, he may not want me. After all, they’re friends—frat brothers.