Sweet Silver Bells

* * *

Joseph, seated next to Crystal, took surreptitious glances at her. Each time she asked him to pass her a dish, their shoulders brushed, making him more than aware of her feminine scent.

He was surprised at how comfortable he felt interacting with her and her cousins.

It had to be an Eaton thing because he had experienced the same thing when meeting Solomon for the first time. He’d been referred to the judge by one of his law professors who’d attended law school with Solomon.

Although passing the bar on his first attempt, Joseph found himself mildly intimidated working for the former celebrated U.S. prosecutor, who struck fear in defendants and the opposing counsel whenever he entered the courtroom. Solomon never went to trial unless he was certain of a victory. Joseph’s mentor jurist treated him as an equal, and he learned more about the law working with Solomon than he had in three years of law school.

Joseph swallowed a forkful of grits and eggs, savoring the piquant flavors. “Do you guys eat like this every morning?” he asked.

“I wish,” Xavier intoned. “Most mornings I have breakfast at school. It’s not as appetizing as it is health-conscious.”

Selena smiled at Joseph. “I save the grits, eggs and pork for the weekend or whenever we have houseguests. If I ate like this every morning, I’d end up going back to bed instead of working.”

Joseph slathered apple butter jam on a fluffy biscuit. “Xavier told me you have a home-based mail-order business.”

She nodded. “Yes, I do. I closed my shop on King Street and went completely mail order after Lily was born. We expanded the house and installed a commercial kitchen. Working from home allows me to spend time with Lily and to do what I love.”

He picked up the small jar of jam, staring at the label printed with the Sweet Persuasions website. “Do you sell these, too?”

Selena nodded again. “Those I give away as complimentary gifts for first-time customers. Most times they order the larger size whenever they place subsequent offers.”

“Do you also make them?”

“No,” Selena said, smiling. “I can’t take credit for the jams, jellies and preserves. My grandmother makes them for me and I sell them in two-, four-and six-ounce sizes.”

“How large an order can you accommodate?”

“How large are you talking about?” Selena asked.

“I’d like to begin with an assortment of at least five hundred jars. My family own and operate a number of vacation resorts throughout the Caribbean, and a variety of gourmet jellies and preserves would be perfect for breakfast breads and high tea. The larger sizes could be sold in the gift shops.”

“Which resorts?” Crystal had asked the question before a seemingly stunned Selena could respond to Joseph’s offer.

“ColeDiz International Limited.” Joseph’s expression was deadpan.

A soft gasp escaped Crystal’s parted lips. “You’re one of those Coles?” Even though it’d never been substantiated, the Coles were purported to be the wealthiest African-American family in the United States. It was then she remembered he’d introduced himself as Joseph Cole-Wilson.

The hint of a smile flitted over his mouth. “And you’re one of those Eatons.”

Xavier’s gaze shifted from his cousin to Joseph. “Am I missing something here?”

Joseph told Xavier he’d been a law clerk for Solomon Eaton and that they also belonged to the same fraternity. “Now I’m a true believer that it’s a small world, but I never would’ve expected to meet the judge’s niece when I checked into the Beaumont House.”

Xavier nodded. “Fate is a fickle woman. You never know what to expect from her.”

“Why does it have to be a woman?” Crystal and Selena chorused in unison. Sharing a wide grin, they exchanged a fist bump.

“I think we’d better quit while we’re ahead, brother,” Joseph suggested, as he and Xavier executed their own handshake. He redirected his attention to Selena. “Do you think you’d be able to meet my request?”

She closed her eyes for several seconds. “I...I don’t know. I have to think about it.”

He nodded. “Take all the time you need. However, I’d also like to invest in your company. Just name your price. While you’re thinking about it, can I place an order and have you overnight it to Diego Cole-Thomas. He’s the CEO at ColeDiz.”

A heavy silence descended on those sitting in the kitchen as Crystal stared at the contents of her plate instead of the man sitting next to her. He definitely was one of those Coles, she mused.

She didn’t know if Selena was willing to give up a portion of a business she’d worked to grow over the past three years, and if she did agree to Joseph’s offer, then the Eatons and Coles would be linked even further.

Crystal knew Joseph’s family guarded their net worth like a top-secret government document, and had elected to remain a private company instead of going public like many billion-dollar conglomerates. People such as Joseph sealed deals with a single phone call or with a stroke of a pen.

And he had it all: looks, brains, wealth and power. Something told Crystal to run in the opposite direction, that when they returned to the Beaumont House she should end her association with him. But realistically she knew that wasn’t possible. Xavier had invited him to their Super Bowl party.

Although Crystal did not want to become involved with Joseph, fate, destiny, providence or external circumstances had intervened. He would become a part of her existence while in Charleston and possibly beyond because of her uncle.

Chapter 4

It was after one when Joseph and Crystal returned to the Beaumont House.

When he called the front desk and was told the smoky condition had been extinguished, Joseph made arrangements for the driver to take them back. They hadn’t exchanged a word during the return ride.

He reached for Crystal’s hand, guiding her through the throng of guests to the elevators. Aside from reconnecting with his parents and siblings, he couldn’t remember when he’d spent a more enjoyable morning since returning to the States.

The cooking skills of the owner of Sweet Persuasions were superior and the interchange between Crystal and her cousins light, lively and easygoing. He listened closely when Xavier talked of his intent to become a career officer, but after being seriously wounded he’d smoothly transitioned to civilian life and moved to Charleston to teach military history at a prestigious military prep school.

His interest in history was evidenced by the memorabilia in Xavier’s home/office that included military maps, books on military history and black-and-white photographs of players from the Negro Leagues, and different countries and cities he’d taken while on leave.

Selena recounted her career from actress to pastry chef, and now mother of a precocious two-year-old. She admitted to being a frustrated interior decorator, teasing Crystal that whenever she decided to give up her mail-order enterprise she wanted to assist her at Eaton Interior and Design.

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.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a little casual dating.”

“I’ll think about it, Mother,” Crystal lied smoothly.

Two months was hardly enough time for her to meet and become romantically involved with someone, and what Jasmine termed as casual dating usually meant seeing someone for a month. It would take her more than a month to truly feel comfortable enough to take their casual dating to the next level.

“Hold on, darling. The gatehouse is ringing me.” Seconds later, Jasmine said, “I have to go. My driver is here.”

“Have fun, Mother.”

“I will. Love you, darling.”

“I love you, too.” She ended the call, staring at the live fern in a painted glazed pot on a corner table. The words her mother found so difficult to say when Crystal was a young girl now came so easily from Jasmine. She’d wanted Jasmine to be like the mothers of her friends and cousins who got up and prepared breakfast before seeing their children off to school. Or when she came home after classes, she wanted to find freshly baked cookies waiting for her as she sat down to do her homework.

What she did remember was Jasmine sleeping late, chain-smoking and visiting her therapist, while handing over the responsibility of taking care of her daughter to a series of nannies. Once Crystal turned eight, there was no longer a need for a nanny or babysitter; she had unofficially moved in with her uncle Solomon and Aunt Holly.

Shaking her head to banish painful childhood memories, Crystal pushed off the chair and climbed the staircase to the upper level. Restlessness assailed her, akin to an itch she couldn’t scratch. She needed a full-body massage. She didn’t know why, but she always experienced unease whenever Jasmine called her because she never knew what to expect. Why, she mused, couldn’t they just have a normal mother–daughter discussion without Jasmine bringing up the topic of dating?

What the older woman did not know was that she did date, although it had been a while. Over the years she’d dated a few handsome and not-so-handsome men, those who were well-to-do and others whom she suspected lived from paycheck to paycheck. Their looks and the size of their bank accounts were never prerequisites for Crystal to agree to go out with them. It was always their confidence and manners—the latter taking precedence over the former. Even before she was old enough to date, her mother had lectured her constantly about home training.

Even behind closed lids Crystal could still see the image of Joseph’s deeply tanned face, his dark eyes and tall, toned slim body. He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. And the fact that he was wealthy didn’t begin to play into the equation.

She didn’t want to think about Jasmine or Joseph. Rolling her head, she attempted to ease the tight muscles in her shoulders and upper back. It was time for a massage. Having access to an on-site health club was one of the reasons, along with the unisex salon, spa and boutique, was why she’d decided to buy property in the Fort Lauderdale gated community.

Picking up the phone, she dialed the number to the hotel’s Serenity Silk Day Spa. Her call was answered after the second ring. “Good afternoon, Ms. Eaton. How may I help you?”

“I’d like an appointment for a facial and a mood-makeover massage. Is it possible for me to combine the massage with hot stones?”

“Of course, Ms. Eaton. What time would you like to come in?”

Crystal glanced at her watch. “I can be down in less than half an hour.”

“We’ll be waiting for you.”

Ending the call, she went upstairs to her bedroom to change out of her suit and into a pair of sweatpants, a shirt and a pair of flip-flops. The sound of something hitting the windows caught her attention. It was raining. Even if she’d wanted to do some sightseeing, Crystal realized she would’ve had to change her plans.

She slipped the two card keys, a credit card and cash onto a wristlet before leaving.

Crystal walked across the marble floor of the lobby to the spa discreetly located at the end of a narrow hallway. She felt the calming atmosphere the instant she opened the door to the candlelit space, finding herself enveloped in the sounds of a waterfall, soothing New Age music flowing from hidden speakers and the tantalizing scent of essential oils.

The white-coated receptionist escorted her to a dressing room, where she stripped down to her panties and put on a thick terry cloth bathrobe. She was given a cup of herbal tea and a questionnaire asking about her health status, including whether she was pregnant and/or had any implanted devices.

Twenty minutes later Crystal knew she’d made the right decision visit the spa. Her face anchored in the cushioned doughnut on the massage table, she closed her eyes and moaned softly when hot stones lined the length of her spine. She had her mother to thank for her turning her onto the practice of using heated stones dating back five thousand years to the Ayurveda, an ancient Indian healing tradition.

She found herself succumbing to the strong fingers of the masseuse easing the tightness in her shoulders and upper back, falling asleep and waking only when told to turn over.

The hot stone massage was followed by the application of oils made up of lavender and patchouli, and then a shower and a facial that left her moisturized face glowing. She lingered long enough for a mani/pedi.

After paying for the services, Crystal gave the masseuse and esthetician generous tips, feeling better than she had in weeks.

As she left the spa and walked through the lobby, Crystal had to decide whether she wanted to cook dinner for herself, order room service or eat in the hotel’s restaurant. Her step faltered as she headed in the direction of the elevators to find Joseph in a passionate embrace with a petite woman with a café-au-lait complexion and hair the color of ripened wheat.

Joseph lifted the woman off her feet at the same time his eyes met Crystal’s. She saw an expression of surprise freeze his features as he stared at her. She didn’t know why, but she felt like a voyeur even after she’d pulled her gaze away from the couple. Joseph had promised to cook for her the following day, and she wondered if the attractive blonde would join them.

Entering the elevator, she inserted the card key into the PH slot. Two’s company and three is a crowd. The familiar adage came to mind as the car rose quickly to the top floor.

Perhaps, she mused, Joseph should’ve waited to invite her to dinner before checking whether his girlfriend would show up. It was obvious her neighbor was faced with a dilemma, and because Crystal detested confrontation she was more than willing to accept his suggestion to cancel dinner. The ball, as the saying goes, was definitely in his court.

* * *

Joseph went completely still as he held his sister. When Bianca called from the concierge’s desk asking him to come down, he’d been surprised to hear from her. Then he saw Crystal stroll across the hotel lobby in sweats and flip-flops.

Once he and Crystal returned to the hotel, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, or comparing her to Kiara. He found himself transfixed by her soft drawling voice, her low, sensual laughter, the genuine affection she appeared to have for Xavier and Selena and the sparkle in her eyes whenever she interacted with Lily. He was completely mesmerized by the confidence and poise that seemed to come so naturally to her. And after comparing her to Kiara, he realized he’d wasted four years of his life with a woman with whom he had so little in common.

As a Cole, he would always put family first, but not with Kiara. Once she left Baltimore she refused to return or interact with her parents or anyone in her extended family. And whenever he mentioned meeting her family, she would fly into a rage, then not speak to him for days.

“Joseph, please put me down.” Bianca’s command broke into his musings.

“Sorry about that.” He gave her a long, penetrating stare. “How did you find me?” he asked.

A slight frown appeared between Bianca Cole-Wilson’s brilliant gold-green catlike eyes. “Diego told me you were going to be here for a few months. I need to talk to you.”

Joseph hadn’t seen his sister since Thanksgiving. Bianca, a premed senior at Duke University, hadn’t celebrated Christmas and New Year’s with the family because she’d spent the holiday in California with her sorority sisters with whom she shared off-campus housing.

Holding on to her hand, he steered to the bank of elevators. “We’ll talk upstairs.”

Bianca pulled back. “Can’t we talk down here?”

He gave her a questioning look. “What’s the matter?”

“Henri is waiting in the parking lot to drive me back to college.”

“Why are you going back so early? Don’t you have another week before classes begin again?”

“Yes, but I need to clean up my bedroom. I left clothes everywhere. It’s also my week to clean the kitchen and bathroom.”