Up to the Challenge ai-2 Read online

  “I’m not tense. Are you tense, Sid?” He’d probably regret pushing her, but Lucas couldn’t help himself. Sid was gorgeous with a smile, but sexier than hell when pissed off. Right now, she looked hot enough to burn the place down.

  God knew his own smoke alarms were going off.

  “You’re picking up on pretty boy’s nerves is all.” Sid removed her pocketed apron, careful not to spill the contents. “We have a little bet going that I could outearn him in tips. He’s about to lose, which has his fragile ego all atwitter.”

  She had him atwitter all right. But not his ego. “I suggest we have Beth count the money. Not that we don’t trust each other or anything.” Lucas leaned on the bar. “But an unbiased third party never hurts.”

  Through pinched lips, Sid agreed. “Everything I made is in here,” she said, handing the apron to Beth. “I’ll get Annie caught up on my stations while you count.”

  Ten minutes later, Beth strolled out of the office carrying two ziplock bags full of money. One looked more full than the other, but Sid couldn’t be sure whose was whose.

  “This one goes to Sid,” Beth announced, dropping the bags before their respective owners and looking up at Lucas. “She outearned you by more than a hundred dollars.”

  “There’s no way.”

  Sweet victory. Sid considered being gracious about the win, but where was the fun in that? “Pay up, sucker,” she said, a satisfied grin on her lips, hand out expectantly.

  He crossed his arms, emphasizing those damn muscles. Keeping hazel eyes locked on Sid, he asked Beth, “How much do I have in there?”

  Beth pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “One hundred thirty-eight dollars and twenty-three cents.”

  Without a word, he hoisted the bag off the bar and hurled it at Sid’s head. She caught it three inches from her nose. “You expect me to count out the hundred myself?”

  “Nope,” he said, spinning his register keys on one finger. “Take it all. Consider it a bonus for our first day together.”

  Another one-forty on top of her earnings on the day would add a nice chunk to the garage fund. But instead of feeling satisfied about taking his money, she felt guilty. Why couldn’t he have been smug or demanded a recount? Instead, he’d been the gracious one.

  Such a jerk.

  “If you’re going to be that way, you can keep it.” Sid threw the bag back, but he returned it as if they were playing a game of hot potato. She kept the game going, throwing it back, harder this time. “I said forget it.”

  The bag headed for her forehead. “You won fair and square,” he said.

  She returned it. “We weren’t playing for all or nothing.”

  He sent it back. “What’s forty dollars either way? Just take it.”

  Forty dollars meant half a day closer to her garage but hell if she’d let him know that. She sent the bag sailing through the air again, but this time Joe caught it.

  “That’s enough,” Joe said, then looked at Beth. “Open Sid’s bag.” Beth did so and they all stood motionless as Joe emptied Lucas’s tips in with hers. “Now,” he said, shoving the bag into Sid’s hand. “Take the damn money and get the hell out of here. Both of you. We have a restaurant to run.”

  Joe stormed off, leaving the three of them in stunned silence. Then Beth turned to Sid and whispered too quietly for Lucas to hear, “He’s going to make such a good dad.”

  Sid turned raised brows on Beth. Had she missed a memo?

  “Someday!” Beth exclaimed. “I mean someday. Not anytime soon. Sheesh. Don’t even joke about stuff like that.”

  “Stuff like what?” Lucas asked.

  “Nothing,” Sid said. She didn’t have to be a psychiatrist to know the subject of Joe and Beth having kids would not sit well with Lucas. At least not yet.

  “Guess I’d better go.” Sid tucked her tips and winnings under an arm, then grabbed her own keys. The thought of Lucas walking home intensified the guilt she already felt for taking his money. Not that the man needed more money. He drove a BMW for Christ’s sake. But still. “You want a ride?”

  Lucas didn’t answer right away. His eyes locked on her face for several seconds, then dropped to the floor as if he were contemplating a difficult puzzle.

  Sid held her breath, wondering why she’d offered when the man seemed determined to keep her pissed off at all times. Admitting she wanted to be near him regardless was out of the question.

  His eyes met hers again. “I’ll pass, thanks.”

  A sound rejection. Twice in twenty-four hours. Lesson learned.

  Lucas nodded a silent good-bye and walked away without looking back. As Sid took the same path, Beth whispered two words. “Be patient.” Sid ignored her.

  Being around Joe and Beth should have been the toughest part about this extended visit to his island home. If anyone had asked him a week ago, Lucas would have said so without hesitation. Now he was starting to wonder.

  From the moment he’d looked up from the bar to find a goddess with attitude ready to do battle, the only thing he could think about was how hot Sid would be in bed. No trouble figuring out which head that thought came from, which is why the upstairs brain needed to take over.

  Sleeping with Sid would be bad. Okay, that wasn’t true. Sleeping with Sid would be amazing, and likely test his endurance and blood pressure. Getting involved with Sid would be the bad part. Sid belonged to Anchor, and one look in those melted caramel eyes told him she was the noncasual type. Her reaction to both his brief brush of her hair during the ride from the hospital and his offhanded flirting that morning revealed an innocent vulnerability he hadn’t expected.

  She may act tough, but Lucas was certain Sid didn’t play games or take sex lightly. Two qualities he found refreshing, considering the people with whom he associated on a regular basis were almost always working an angle and willing to play whatever role necessary to get what they wanted.

  Bottom line, Sid Navarro was his temporary coworker and nothing more, regardless of how tempting she might be. With that settled, Lucas rounded the corner onto Old Beach Road feeling as if he’d just solved a difficult life problem and come to a wise decision.

  Clearing a set of trees, he spotted Artie sitting on a bench in the shade.

  “How was the first day at the new office?” the older man asked.

  “Tiring,” he said, stepping into the trees. “We have to stop meeting like this, Artie.”

  “Take a load off.” Artie tapped the seat beside him. “And you found me this time.” Rufus barked as if backing up his owner.

  “Right. Is this what you do in retirement?” Lucas asked, taking the offered seat. “Wander around and occasionally occupy shade-covered benches?

  “Just about.” Artie flashed the smile of the unencumbered and Lucas felt a twinge of jealousy. Which made no sense at all since doing nothing had never appealed to Lucas before.

  “Don’t you miss it?” he asked, enjoying the relief of getting off his feet.

  “What, the law?” Artie shook his head, his wattle swaying with the movement. “Nah. Feeling needed. That I miss.” Rufus plopped his head onto Artie’s knee and the man gave him a loving pat. “You feel needed up there in Richmond?” he asked, the question taking Lucas by surprise.

  His first reaction, to say yes, was drowned by a voice whispering They barely notice you’re gone, making him rethink his answer. Every case he worked included an entire team of lawyers. He flattered himself thinking he was the best of the pack, but no one had even called for input since his leave started.

  That didn’t mean anything. Maybe they’d been told not to bother him.

  “I do a good job.”

  Artie chuckled. “That’s not what I asked.”

  Lucas shrugged, uncomfortable with the topic. “Every defendant needs a lawyer, right? So I’m needed.”

  “They don’t necessarily need a lawyer, they’re just entitled to one. And I’ve never figured you for the type to be one of many.”

  “I�
��m making something of myself up there. My name will be on the door someday. Someday soon,” he added.

  “Ah, yes. But one name among many.”

  “It’s been a long day.” Lucas rose from the bench, ignoring the protest from his feet. “I’d better get going. I need to get to the hospital before visiting hours are over.”

  “By all means, don’t let me hold you up. Tell Tom we’re all thinking about him.” Artie leaned an arm across the back of the bench, shifting his center bulk. “About the feet? Epsom salts and hot water. Takes the sting out.”

  Lucas nodded and continued on his way.

  One of many.

  That just meant he’d risen over many to get to the top. Nothing wrong with that, he told himself, ignoring the doubts his former mentor had just planted.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Sid parked her truck outside the abandoned brick building at eight the next morning. Old Man Fisher’s Cadillac blocked the garage door so she knew he was inside. The codger had been giving her grief about not having the down payment ready, but this time she had better news.

  The funds weren’t in place—yet—but if she pulled in the same tips for the next six weeks as she had the day before, the goal would be hit by Labor Day, one month before Fisher’s latest deadline.

  He’d been pushing back the deadline since the spring, always with the demand that this was the last time. They both knew no one else was interested in this piece of property. Too close to the water. Too far from the main strip. Too old to be of interest to tourists, and too run down for anyone to see its true potential.

  But Sid could see it. Her dream would come to life inside these old bricks. All she needed was Fisher to be a little more patient, and the tips to keep rolling in.

  “About time you got here. I’ve been standing around for thirty minutes.”

  Sid sighed. These meetings were always a test. If she were her usual, go-fuck-yourself self, Fisher would have turned her down without a second thought. The property had been empty for five years and she knew he’d leave it empty for five more just to spite her if she called him on his bullshit.

  “You said eight o’clock. I’m right on time.” Not giving him a chance to argue, Sid charged through the faded front door into the dank interior. Hot air encased her like a wet blanket as she checked for damage from the last rainfall. All cobwebs remained in place. No puddles beneath the windows.

  Storm weathered, like she knew it would. The building had been standing for nearly eighty years, through countless hurricanes and storms, and would endure another eighty years to come. With her name on the door.

  “You got the money together yet?” Fisher brushed a sleeve against the doorjamb, then pulled back as if frightened of a little dirt. “Or did you bring me out here for nothing?”

  “Good news on that front,” Sid said.

  “Better be,” said Fisher, his furrowed brow sending wrinkles into his receding hairline like waves chasing the sand.

  Sid was too happy to be put off by the attitude. “You gave me until October first, but thanks to a new opportunity, I should have the full down payment by Labor Day. That’s almost a month early.”

  “Who said October first?” Fisher pushed his glasses up his bulbous nose and stuck out his bottom lip. Why did everything have to be an argument?

  “You did. The last time we talked. And it doesn’t matter because I’m going to have the money the first week of September.”

  Pulling a handkerchief from the pocket of his gray polyester pants, Fisher mopped his forehead. “I don’t remember anything about October.”

  “Are you listening to me?” Sid asked, struggling to control her temper. “I’m going to have the money.”

  “You’ve been saying that since the first of the year. I’ll believe it when I see it.” Exiting the building, he added, “But don’t expect me to wait forever. I’ve got others looking at this place too.”

  Sid had been dealing with Fisher long enough to recognize a bluff when she saw one. “Six weeks, Mr. Fisher. Six weeks and this will be a done deal.” She trailed behind him, using the sleeve of her West Marine T-shirt to catch the sweat running down her cheek. “I’ll have the money and you won’t have to deal with this place anymore.”

  “Like I said,” he opened his car door, “I’ll believe it when I have the check in my hand. And don’t go assuming I can’t find another buyer.”

  Sid grabbed the door handle as Fisher plunked onto the leather seat. “Mr. Fisher.” She waited until he met her gaze. “Six weeks. I swear. Just give me six weeks.”

  The man smacked his chops like a cow chewing cud, then conceded. “I’ve waited this long, haven’t I? I make no promises, that’s all I’ll say.” With that, he tugged the door from her grasp and started the engine.

  Doubt crept into her brain as Sid watched him drive away. No one else had even glanced at this property in years. Fisher had to be bluffing. If there’d been another offer on the table, he’d have told her right then to forget about it. But he hadn’t.

  Turning back to the garage, she pictured how the building would look when she was done with it. New paint around the windows. Pressure-washed red bricks gleaming in the sun. A new garage door with the words Navarro Boat Repair & Restoration in bold black letters.

  Six weeks. That’s all she needed.

  For the first time in three years, Lucas skipped his morning run. His body refused to get out of bed, and since he needed his body to perform the exercise, the run was a no-go. As it was, he had to negotiate a deal to make his body move in time for a shower before work. Where he’d find a rocking Key lime pie, Lucas didn’t know. But his body took the bribe, which put him at the restaurant less than five minutes before Sid.

  Sporting her now familiar ponytail, Sid charged through the door the way a boxer enters the ring. She seemed to wake up every day ready to take on the world. But there were moments, when she didn’t think anyone was watching, that she dropped her guard. In those brief lapses, Lucas caught a glimpse of the woman behind the act.

  The snarl would slide into a sexy grin. The brows relaxed and the normally challenging eyes softened. Lightened. Her body shifted to a casual stance, one hip kicked out giving the impression of soft curves beneath loose-fitting denim.

  Lucas made a note to add an amendment to the new bylaw. Sid not only was not permitted to wear oversized shirts, she must wear form-fitting jeans or nothing at all. The thought of nothing at all threatened to drain the blood from his brain, and a new fantasy developed in his mind. Ebony curls dropping onto olive shoulders. Full breasts covered in lace peeking through a satin robe.

  “You smoke something before coming in?”

  Lucas shook the erotic scene from his mind. Why the hell was he fantasizing over something he’d never get near? Stupid ass. He went for a blank expression, but knew it was a long shot.

  “I’m fine. Why?” He busied himself wiping down the clean bar.

  “Because your eyes glazed over and you got a dopey grin on your face.” Sid lowered the last chair, then took a seat on a bar stool. “Same challenge as yesterday?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Why?” She actually looked petulant. His chest tightened, as did something lower.

  “Your tips are your tips and my tips are mine.” No way would he give her another reason to skim down to a tank top. His lower half didn’t like the decision, but his brain was still in charge. For now. “You need a challenge, find a new one.”

  Sid huffed, turned her back to the bar, and glanced around the room. Then she spun back. “Pool.”

  “What about it?” Lucas asked, stacking beer glasses.

  “Bet I can take you before it’s time to open.”

  Despite himself, Lucas was tempted. He’d grown up in that poolroom, had snookered his fair share of money from the regulars over the years. Probably wasn’t fair to take her on, but then she hadn’t played fair the day before.

  And playing pool wouldn’t involve taking off article
s of clothing. Unless they played strip pool. Then they could find out how much weight those tables could hold.

  A glass slipped from his hand, nearly sending a row to the floor.

  “You need help back there?”

  The glasses saved, Lucas mentally scolded himself. There would be no strip pool or climbing on pool tables with Sid Navarro. Not today. Not ever.

  “So what do you say?” His current temptation hopped off her stool. “I’ll rack ’em. How much you want to play for?”

  Lucas dropped his rag on the bar and headed for the poolroom. He could win back the money she’d taken from him yesterday, but that would be cruel. “Twenty-five.”

  “I was thinking fifty,” she said, swiping a cue off the wall. “You got some quarters?”

  He slid three coins in the slots. The rumble of balls rolling out of the table echoed in the empty room. Seemed weird playing in silence. “Hey,” he said. When Sid turned he tossed two more quarters her way. She caught both. “Put something on the jukebox. I’ll rack ’em.”

  “I can do that.” Sid crossed to the jukebox in the corner. “Is it fifty then?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Fine,” she conceded with little enthusiasm. He heard two buttons being pressed, then a smooth male voice filled the room.

  “Is that that Bubble guy?” Lucas asked.

  “It’s pronounced Boo-blay. And yeah. I like this song.”

  The song choice took him by surprise. He figured Sid for Metallica maybe. Old standards, never. “I know how to say it. I was just teasing. Mr. Bublé isn’t what I expected from you.” Lucas stepped back from the table. “Let’s get this going. You break.”

  “What did you expect?” Sid asked, before striking the cue ball and dropping four balls into various pockets. “Three stripes and a solid. I’ll take stripes.”

  “Of course you will,” he said, settling on a stool. “I figured you for hard rock. Something loud and dark.”

  The ten ball dropped into a side pocket. The cue ball rolled up behind the fifteen.