Breathless - Jesse Book 1 (20 page)

 
Kenny and I sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Kenny slapped his hands on his thighs and attempted to get up off the couch. “No sense sitting here feeling sorry for myself. There’s still a shit load of work to get done today at the bar.” The fatigue of his illness kept him from standing and he fell onto the couch. God damn, I hated seeing him like this.

“Easy, Kenny.” I sprang to my feet to steady him. “Why don’t you stay here and get some rest. I can take care of everything at the bar tonight.”

“Nah, nah...” He attempted to wave me away intent on rising again, but the exhaustion on his face told the true story.

“Damn it, Uncle Kenny, you’re not going into work tonight. Let me and Chase handle it.” He surrendered and succumbed to the soft cushions of the couch.

~~**~~

Where the hell was Chase?

This bar wasn’t going to run itself. The set ups still needed to be prepared and I was up to my neck in liquor re-orders. I raised a bottle of top-shelf vodka to the light and eyed the contents through the glass. This was the last bottle and it was nearly empty. I slammed the bottle back in the rack. My nerves were scratchy, like steel wool.

 
Shit.
Where the fucking hell was Chase?

The silence in the bar was interrupted by impatient rattles and clinks. I was in a rush to prepare the bar for the day’s business. I heard the whoosh of the back door. Chase was late.

I called out over my shoulder and continued to wipe the bar top with a white rag, “About time, asshole.”

A female voice answered, “That’s no way to say hello to your girl.”

I dropped the rag and strode over to meet Niki, as she popped out of the back hallway. “Hey baby. I thought you were Chase.”

“Do I look like Chase?” She grinned.

“He was supposed to be here half an hour ago, that asshole. What are you doing here at this hour?” I kissed her lightly on the lips. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

Niki dropped her books and tote bag on one of the tables, and snaked her arms around my neck.

“Don’t call Chase an asshole. He’s my friend.” She stuck out her lower lip in a pout. It made we want to suck it into my mouth.

I circled my arms around her waist and said, “I meant it with love. He’s my friend too, baby, but it’s just that I’m up to my neck in shit here.” I tipped my head and touched my forehead to hers. “I’m glad you stopped by to see me. But I’m afraid, I really can’t take a break right now.”

“No need to take a break, I came to help out. I’m ditching school the rest of today.”

“You are a lifesaver baby. What would I do without you?”

I pulled her in and tasted her lips for a long kiss, breathing in her delicate floral scent. My nerves relaxed, as she leaned into the kiss. She felt so damn good in my arms with her petite body pressed against mine. She pulled away and let her hands rest on my shoulders, giving a little squeeze and massage.

“Wow, you feel tense, Jesse.” She continued to knead my shoulders. I pulled away and moved to the bar to organize the glassware. Niki slid onto a bar stool opposite me to talk while I worked.

“I’m tense because I have a ton of shit to do and this place stays open long hours. It’s not a “nine to five” kind of job. Then with Kenny being sick and all...” I threw down the knife I had picked up for cutting lemon wedges and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket.

“And I have no idea where Chase is.” I checked my messages, nothing. I slid my phone down the slick surface of the bar, as frustration pricked at my nerves.

Niki’s eyes followed its path, growing wider as it went. She could tell I was pissed.

“Wow, you
are
on edge. How is the situation with your uncle, by the way? Have you heard anything from the test, I mean do you know if you’re a match to be a bone marrow donor?”

“It’s been four fucking days now. You would think they would work overtime to get the results as fast as possible. For Christ’s sake a guy’s life is at stake here.” I ran my hand through my hair and picked up the knife to cut lemons. “If I’m not a match, Jimmy said he would be tested too.”

“That’s good. I can’t wait to meet Jimmy.”

“Oh, he’s very different than me. He was the good kid, I was the black sheep.” I shook my head and managed a laugh. Niki sat with her elbows propped on the bar, sucking on a red candied maraschino cherry she plucked out of the garnish tray.

My phone moved, as it vibrated to an incoming call. I looked in the direction of where it had come to a stop and dropped the knife.

“That better be Chase.” I wiped my hand on my jeans and stepped down to answer it.

‘Hello?”

“Hi, this is Nurse Rosen from Scripts Hospital. Is this Jesse Morrison?”

“Yes, I’m Jesse Morrison.” My heartbeat picked up.

“The results of your bone marrow test have come in and we have good news.”
She sounded cheery and I realized I had been holding my breath.

“You are a perfect match for your father.”

“Ah, that’s great. But you mean my
uncle
,” I corrected her.

“No...”
She paused for a few seconds, as I heard her shuffling the files.
“The results of the DNA test, clearly state, Kenny Morrison is your biological father.”

My stomach wrenched as the world suddenly fell out from under me. I looked straight into Niki’s eyes to anchor me as I responded, “Ms. Rosen…You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

To be continued in Fearless – Jesse Book 2 coming September 2013

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First, I would like to thank all of my readers. Without you, my books would not exist. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I would also like to give a big “shout out” to the girls in the Smutty Book Whore Mafia on Facebook. You girls rock! Without your connections and support, Deceived wouldn’t have had such a good beginning. I enjoy the humor and candor with which we interact, not to mention the awesome photos.
 
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