“Did she know what was going on?”
“Nothing, except she mentioned seeing Tony last week at a fundraising event. According to her, he was with a woman that wasn’t local. She looked more New York socialite than Charleston bred. One minute in her presence and Tessa said she felt her skin crawl.”
“I know a lot of socialites that make my skin crawl. Most of the high society bitches have earned their stereotype.”
“You met Tessa last night. She’s raised three rowdy sons. Not to mention putting up with me. Nothing makes her skin crawl.”
“Okay, that’s a lot to process.”
“I know to be on alert with Marco, but after Tony’s call, my gut instincts kicked in. Something’s not right.”
“I get it, my gut is rolling now as well. But what does a dickhead dad Governor and a longtime friend-slash-client have in common?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve made a call to find out.”
“A call? To who?”
I glance over as the answer comes to him. “Scottie.”
“Scottie,” I confirm.
“Did he have any theories?”
“He’s locating Tasha to see if there’s something to worry about there.”
The cab of the truck is quiet as we drive through town. My unease settles a bit the closer we get.
“Where are we going?”
I pull up the picture on my phone and toss it to him. “What do you think?”
“Think about what? It looks like a standard, southern, two-story red brick building in need of some serious TLC.”
“It’s approximately sixty-two hundred square feet with rooftop access. Plumbing, piping, electric, HVAC—all solid. Needs work, but not much. There are several entrances and an elevator. The parking lot in back is newly resurfaced.”
“Great. Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I bought it.”
He inhales deep, sucking all the air out of the truck.
“For Poppy,” I go on.
“Oh, Jesus, is this…?”
“I hope so. It’s a highly desired area that’s safe. It’s near Darby’s bakery and less than two miles from my office.”
“Are you telling her?”
“Not yet.”
“Evin, this is… this is… You bought her a dance studio! More so, you bought her a building!” His voice goes pitchy.
“I need to know what you think. From what I understand, this is your studio, too.”
The truck takes on a new vibe, and he stares out the window. After a full minute, he speaks low, “I’m not ready to give it up. And more importantly, I’m not ready for her to be gone.”
“Hell, Dante, I’m not either. This will be waiting when she’s ready. Are you having second thoughts?”
“Fuck no, that’s not what I meant. Pips and me, we’re in this for the long run.”
“Well, I’m a part of her long run, and I decided. The week she was in Charleston, as soon as she told me about your retirement plans, I contacted a broker. That broker was Tony Sanchez.”
The connection and name click into place. So does the timeline.
“You did this before her accident?”
“Yes. It didn’t take long with my connections. It may not look like much, but it’s the best. And I don’t mean the best available, the best fucking real estate deal in the city. Luckily, I got the first option before they shopped around it. This pissed a lot of people off. I hadn’t even closed yet and brokers were calling, throwing substantial cash offers my way.”
“You’re taking a tremendous risk.”
“Not my first, and I’m confident in my decision. If Poppy isn’t on board, we have options.”
“Man, you don’t mess around.”
“Nope. Didn’t get to where I am by letting opportunities float.”
“When are you telling Poppy?”
I pull my lip through my teeth, not ready to share the full details of my plan. “Not now.”
“That’s vague.”
“She has enough happening.”
I keep my eyes on the road, feeling the heat of his disapproving glare.
“Dante—”
“You’re worried,” he guesses partly correct.
“Worried and cautious. Dr. Rexwell highly recommended I meet with a behavioral specialist before Poppy was released.”
“Highly recommended you meet with a behavioral specialist? You mean he made you meet with a shrink before he’d discharge her?”
“Basically.”
“Not surprising, but what does that have to do with you hiding that you bought Poppy a fucking building?”
“It’s not the building, it’s what it represents.”
“It represents her over-the-top, out-of-his mind, obsessively-driven husband bought her a goddamned building to fulfill her dreams!”
“Jesus,” I cut my eyes to him, my lip twitching, “you’re quite the drama queen when you get riled up.”
“Who does that? Although I don’t know why I’m surprised, considering you own the building where your sister works.”
“I half-own that one. This one’s all mine, but you’re losing focus. Can we go back to the key point?”
He continues his theatrics, doing an all-over body shiver before settling back. “Okay, the key point. The shrink thinks it’s too much right now?”
“Not what I said, she’s concerned about what Poppy perceives.”
He stays quiet and then understanding dawns on him. “She’s scared Poppy will see it as you giving up hope.”
“Yes, but I’m not.”
“She shouldn’t come back to Cirque,” he admits lowly. “I say that because she’s never going to fly through the air without terrifying me. The sounds of those pops…”
My chest seizes, and I grind my teeth. “I need your help here, but if it’s too much.”
He straightens. “I’m good. I may not retire immediately, but you are giving my Pips her studio.”
The building comes into view with Pierce, Miller, Warren, and my dad waiting by their trucks.
“Good lord, the testosterone in your crowd is almost too much.”
I chuckle under my breath, parking in the front spot.
He jumps out, and I follow, letting us in.
He doesn’t wait for me, pushing by and taking his tour. The rest of us walk through, the Kendrick men explaining in depth the last appraisal report since I was in Vegas. The elevator sounds several times, each time it lands on the bottom floor. Dante steps out taking pictures, then disappears back upstairs.
A few minutes later, he comes down, his focus on me. “I have forty. Pips has about the same. My family will pitch in if needed.”
“You talking about money?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not taking your money.”
“I won’t do this without you taking my investment.” His eyes go steely, staring hard. “That’s the deal.”
Dad mutters under his breath. The other men move away.
“I am doing this for my wife.”
“Poppy Malone and I have a deal. This is our dream.”