Sweet Silver Bells

Joseph had waited patiently for Crystal to open up about her life and career, but she appeared more interested in her cousins talking about themselves. He still didn’t know her age, if she’d been married or why she’d decided to become an interior decorator. He was also puzzled about her reaction when he’d revealed he was a Cole. He felt her withdraw when it was quite the opposite for him once she revealed she was an Eaton.

Both of them belonged to prominent black Florida families but hadn’t crossed paths. He’d come to Charleston to oversee a business venture and had unknowingly come face-to-face with his mentor’s niece. Joseph wasn’t certain what she’d heard or read about the Coles that made her refer to his name with so much aversion.

It was another five minutes before they were able to squeeze into one of the three elevators. His arm went around her waist, easing her back against his body as a large man settled his bulk against Crystal’s slender frame. His sigh echoed hers when they finally exited the car at their floor.

When he’d gotten up earlier, Joseph had planned to eat breakfast and then drive over to the tea garden to meet with the manager of the tea garden, not spend the morning and early afternoon with a woman who was as intriguing as she was stunningly beautiful.

Reaching into her handbag, Crystal removed her card key, while the hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Let’s hope the rest of the day goes a lot more smoothly than this morning.”

Joseph wanted to tell her there was nothing remotely wrong with his morning. Circumstances beyond his control had connected him with his penthouse neighbor and a plan he never would’ve been able to devise even if he’d mulled it over for days.

“It wasn’t a total loss. At least not for me,” he added, smiling. “And thank you for allowing me to tag along with you for brunch. I’d like to return the favor and prepare dinner for you tomorrow night.” He’d heard Crystal tell Selena she would see her Saturday afternoon.

Crystal’s fingers tightened on the card key. “You can cook?”

His expression changed, vertical lines appearing between his eyes. “Why would you ask me that?”

Cocking her head to the side, she drawled, “Your being a Cole, I thought you would’ve grown up with live-in cooks and housekeepers.”

Joseph’s frown vanished quickly. “So you think because I’m a Cole I’m completely helpless and that I need someone to cook and pick up after me?”

“I don’t know what to think,” Crystal countered. “What I do know is that you’ve overdosed on entitlement pie. You hadn’t known my cousin an hour before you expected her to accept your offer to invest in her company.”

Joseph stared at the carpeted floor for several seconds; then his gaze came up and his eyes met Crystal’s. “I asked her because I’m a businessman.”

“I thought you were a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer, a farmer and also a businessman looking for new opportunities in which to expand my family’s company.” He realized that two years ago he never would’ve admitted to being a businessman or a farmer. Joseph had challenged the CEO of ColeDiz when Diego gave him the responsibility of adding the tea company to the list of other ventures under the corporate umbrella with the argument that he wasn’t a farmer.

The disclosure that he was a farmer shocked Crystal. “What are you growing?”

Joseph’s expression closed. “We can discuss that when you have dinner with me. Tomorrow night, seven o’clock, my place, casual attire.”

Much to her chagrin, Crystal laughed. She’d just accused Joseph of having OD’d on entitlement and he’d just assumed she would share dinner with him because he wanted it. “What you need to consider is eating a slice of humble pie,” she said laughingly.

Splaying the fingers of his right hand over his heart, he managed to look contrite. “I’m so very sorry, Miss Eaton, but will you do me the honor of sharing dinner with me?” He lowered his hand. “Is that humble enough?”

“It’ll do—for now,” she said, biting back more laughter. Even though she thought Joseph slightly arrogant, she had to add charming to his other obvious assets.

* * *

“Do you like Italian food?”

“I love it.”

“Then Italian it is,” he said with a wide grin.

“Do you want me to bring anything?” she asked.

“No. I have everything I need.”

“Tomorrow night at seven,” she repeated.

Turning, she walked the length of the hallway to her apartment. Crystal felt the heat from Joseph’s gaze on her back, and seconds before she slipped the card key into the slot, she turned to find him watching her. He hadn’t moved. Their eyes met, gazes fusing for a nanosecond; she glanced away, opened the door and then closed it behind her.

Kicking off her shoes, she placed the card key on the table in the entryway and set her handbag on the leather-covered bench seat next to the table.

Walking on bare feet, she made her way into the living room. Flopping down on an inviting club chair, she rested her feet on the matching ottoman and closed her eyes at the same time her cell phone chimed. Pushing off the chair, Crystal went to retrieve the phone from her handbag.

Swallowing back a groan, she tapped the screen. “Hello, Mother.”

“Why did I have to wait almost twenty-four hours just to hear your voice?”

Walking back to the chair, Crystal sat down again. She’d promised her mother she would call her once she arrived in Charleston, but she didn’t because she didn’t want to hear Jasmine go on about her latest breakup. “Mama, please don’t start.”

“Please, Crystal. You know better than to call me by that tacky title.”

She rolled her eyes upward even though Jasmine couldn’t see her. “How are you today?”

“Wonderful. I’m leaving for the airport to fly out to Vegas to meet Philip. He called early this morning to say he wants me to join him.”

Crystal clenched her teeth to keep from spewing curses. She didn’t want to believe she’d driven down to Miami to console her mother just to have her reconcile with her latest beau the very next day. “What happened to you breaking up with him, Mother?”

“I changed my mind. Of all of the men I’ve dated, Philip is someone I’d actually consider marrying.”

“He must really be exceptional if you’re willing to give up your alimony payments.”

“I did say consider.”

Crystal stared at the chipped polish on the big toe of her right foot as her mother talked incessantly about the plans Philip had made for them. “I told him I wanted to take a flight over the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon,” Jasmine continued without pausing to take a breath, “but he said he’s not certain whether we’ll have enough time.”

“When are you coming back?”

“Wednesday night. Enough talk about me. Have you seen Xavier and his adorable baby daughter?”

Smiling for the first time since answering the phone, Crystal said, “Yes. But Lily’s not a baby anymore. She’s a toddler who’s walking, talking and potty-trained.”

“I really miss seeing Raleigh’s family.”

She registered the longing in Jasmine’s voice. “Remember, Mother, you divorced Daddy, not the Eatons. Whenever they invite you to family reunions, you always decline. And I’ve lost count of those who’ve asked about you year after year.”

“I don’t come because I can’t abide those tramps hanging on to Raleigh as if they can’t breathe without him. He needs to be told to stay away from strip joints when looking for a new wife.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, Mother.” Crystal didn’t understand how her father could take up with women who were the complete opposite of his first wife. Jasmine had more class in her little finger than all of her ex-husband’s ex-wives collectively.

“I know you don’t like talking about it, but why don’t you ask Xavier to introduce you to some of his single guy friends? If you’re going to spend a couple of months working in Charleston, you should have some fun, too.”

Crystal rolled her eyes upward again. “I came here to work, not look for a boyfriend.”