An Unexpected Song (23 page)

“I was seventeen by then, and not stupid.” Tony waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “The point is that I pay for law school, Nick. And I’ll only have to work three nights a week to do it. I’ll have plenty of time for studying.” He leaned forward and said earnestly, “I gave this a lot of thought, and I know exactly what I’m doing and what it means for my future. It’s going to be all the sweeter because I was the one who worked for it.”

“But—”

“No buts, Nick! Even if I were willing, you can’t pay for the tuition. You’ve got everything tied up in those custom homes you’re building. You’re strapped enough right now, and I’ll be damned before I strap you any further. It’s my turn to pay. The job is fine, and I have enough sense to stay away from the ladies, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Tony—”

“No. Face it, Nick. I’m twenty-three, and I’m all grown up. You have to stop being a parent.” Tony stood. “Now, this is the end of the discussion. It’s two in the morning, and I have to get back to the motel and get some sleep. Tomorrow afternoon, we’re leaving for a show in Baltimore.”

He walked away.

Rising, Nick cursed aloud and threw money down on the table. He quickly caught up with his brother.

“Tony …”

“Give it a break, Nick.” His brother smiled to soften the words. “Come on, I’ll walk you up to your room.”

Nick sighed in defeat. He knew if he pressed the issue he’d drive Tony away from him. It was the last thing he wanted. Maybe Tony felt the same, since their arguments always ended before irreparable damage was done.

“Come over and have breakfast with me before you go,” he said as they crossed the lobby. “We can pick up where we left off.”

Tony grinned. “Anybody ever tell you you’re a wonderful, kindly brother?”

“Not lately.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to spoil my record. By the way, thanks for letting me use your shower earlier. I’m drenched after a show.”

“I bet,” Nick grumbled, remembering his brief introduction to his brother’s work.

Tony wagged a finger. “Watch out, Nicolas Mikaris. You’re going to fall off that pedestal of yours very soon, and I’m going to be there to see it.”

Nick stared at him. There was smug amusement in his brother’s tone, and his eyes were alight with mischief.

“You look a little too pleased about that.”

Tony attempted to smother his amusement under a shrug. He wasn’t entirely successful. “At least you didn’t punch me in the jaw tonight. For a moment there, I thought you were going to.”

Nick cuffed him lightly. “Don’t tempt me, pal. Adonis! Lord help us!”

Tony laughed. “Hey, it’s my real name.”

Nick couldn’t deny that. The name on Tony’s birth certificate was Athoni, which, unfortunately, meant Adonis in Greek. If Nick had his way, Tony would be named Hector or Wilbur or something. The less said about Adonis, the better.

When they reached his hotel room, Nick unlocked the door and flipped on the light. He noticed Tony staring slack-jawed into the room. He turned around to see what had caught his brother’s attention. Except for one side of the bedspread slightly rumpled, the room was as it had been when he’d left it earlier.

“Did you sit on the bed when you cam up for the shower?” he asked.

“Oh! Ah … yes.” Tony straightened. “I … ah … called Bill to tell him I’d be late. Hope you don’t mind.”

“No problem.”

His brother blinked, and to Nick’s surprise, peered around the room again. “Right. Well, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Around ten?”

Tony gave the room a last searching glance, then nodded.

“Are you all right?” Nick asked, puzzled by Tony’s odd behavior.

“Fine. Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Nick closed the door behind him and shrugged. Maybe he’d been too tired tonight to argue effectively with Tony. There had been several problems at the job site today, and as the owner of Mikaris Builders, he had been the only one able to fix them. For a while, he’d almost thought he wouldn’t be able to get away to see Tony. Not that it had done any good, he thought with irritation. Things were still at their usual stalemate.

Yanking off his pullover, he flexed an aching shoulder and decided what he needed was a good night’s sleep. He pulled down the covers of the bed, shed the rest of his clothes, and climbed between the cool sheets.

The image of the woman he’d spotted in the banquet room flashed through his mind. She had been captivating, with her shining brown hair and large innocent eyes. Her features had been almost angelic in their delicacy, and yet he’d sensed a waiting fire in her. It had teased him, tantalized his sanity.

She was probably married.

He blocked out her image and closed his eyes.

Lying across the bathroom floor, Jess hugged the cool porcelain of the toilet bowl to her flushed cheek in relief and gratitude. It was so smooth and cool. Her stomach was finally calming down. It ought to, she thought absently. Nothing was in it now.

She lay there for the longest time, almost dozing, until she finally realized that comforting as the bowl was, it wasn’t comfortable. Pulling the last of her energy together, she sat up. She became aware that she was still in her clothes and her purse was hanging on her arm. She dropped her purse on the floor and stripped off her dress. Amazing, she thought. She couldn’t care less that she’d fallen asleep in a Rudolpho, but the dress didn’t show a wrinkle. Finally, she staggered back into the bedroom, tossed the dress purse over a chair, and slowly settled into the bed. As she closed her eyes, she vowed to never, never do one of these practical jokes again.

The aftermath was a killer.