Yes, Sara (you know who you are). I included you in this story. :)

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Imani

"Table Six needs two Margaritas and another round of chicken poppers."

As she submitted the order, Imani darted a worried glance at Axel. "How did we get so active?" She looked out at the packed room and let out a long sigh. There was hardly a table available at Paradise Lounge. There was no room at the counter, and the line to get in was getting longer by the minute. Monday nights are always busy, but this was the biggest crowd in weeks.

"Karate match."

She questioned, "At Karate Kicks Dojo?" and Axel gave a subtle nod.

"They had their reopening tonight."

"Huh." Taking two glasses, Imani started filling them up from the fountain. "I hadn't realized."

"They've been closed since summer for the plumbing and other repairs. Two teams shared the $1,000 first-place prize. Promoters traveled miles to be here. I hear the owner wants more Monday night matches, so I expect a packed house," Axel explained.

"Same." Imani noticed a table close to the stage where customers were joking and playing around. After replacing one glass with an empty one, she silently watched the packed table before fetching the pitchers of beer and approaching the group.

She knew all three couples: Emily and Frank Boudreaux, Claudine, and Dirk Guidry, and Sara Daigle, who practically sat in Julien Hawthorne's lap. Imani despised Julien Hawthorne's attitude and vanity, despite his good looks. She had turned down his advances for weeks, realizing that Sara was why he hadn't been to the bar in days. Imani wanted to avoid this interaction because she didn't like this group of people. But she had a job, so she treated every customer fairly.

Moving back, Imani placed the mugs in the center of the table. "The kitchen has received your order. The wait will be longer than usual because we are rather busy."

Sara hugged Julien. "Hi, Imani." Her fingers caressed his cheek. "How long have you worked here? I thought you were at the animal shelter."

"I work at both places." Imani held onto her tray and said, "Mr. Fisher only needs me during the day, and Suzanne asked me to work evenings here."

As Sara scowled, she straightened in her seat and reached for her drink. "I've never seen you working."

"That's because Paradise Lounge schedules Imani on Mondays and weekends," Julien smirked at her. "What can I say? The service is good."

Sara's smile was as icy as the north wind blowing around the building. "Interesting. I thought it was because of the food."

Julien pressed his lips together, his dark hair styled and bright eyes locked on Imani. Not for a single moment did he avert his gaze. "The Paradise Lounge is just fantastic. I love everything here. Particularly, the entertainment."

Emily spoke after a tense moment. "Did you hear? I saw Andrew Fisher earlier, and our local FBI agent is back. Why is everyone coming home?"

"Beaumont's back?" Julien played coy. "Coming back to help his granddaddy die, of course." A snort escaped his lips. "I'm sure he's here to embezzle more money from the residents."

"That's not why he's here," said Frank Boudreaux. "Should they dare to cross us again, his family—specifically his grandfather—is well aware of the consequences. Almost nine years of peace have gone by, and it better stay that way."

"What are you talking about?" Imani grumbled. "Garrett stands apart from his family. He makes a great living and doesn't take money from others."

"Right," Julien muttered under his breath while furrowing his brows. "What matters most to a Beaumont is what they can get out of somebody else. But that's old news. Don't you agree, Imani?"

Everyone at the table, including the Boudreaux's, appeared uncomfortable, and Claudine's eyes grew wide. They were all locals and knew about Imani's heartbreaking relationship with Garrett.

"Did anyone want anything else?" Imani asked as she took a step back. She quickly instructed the other server to clear the booths in the back without waiting for a response, bypassing the crowd.

When she returned to her position, her rage had escalated. The irritation worsened, and she didn't understand why. What a scumbag Julien was. She expected his rudeness. Not that his words were incorrect. Garrett left. Before moving to another state, his family conned half the community and ruined many connections.

Imani stopped caring. What she knew about his family had consumed her for a while. A spectacular Saturday night with Garrett can never happen again. Knowing that her cheeks were as red as the beer label she'd given Axel, she bowed in embarrassment. She swallowed the lump that stayed in her throat repeatedly, ignoring her goosebumps.

"The group at the end need two Bud Lights," Axel told her.

She nodded without looking up to relax and soothe her annoyance. She smiled reluctantly when she saw the front door. Her forced smile lasted only a few seconds.

"Hello, Ms. Washington," someone said in a low, Spanish accent next to her, and she whirled around.

"Ramón!" If her best friend can return to town, then something must be in the water. With a big smile, she asked, "How the hell are you? What are you doing here?"

He chuckled. "I told you I'd come see you soon."

"Yeah, but I thought it was going to be next month or something."

Ramón let out a soft laugh. "That was the plan, but as you know, things change in a split second."

"True." Imani's smile faded. "So, where have you been?"

Ramón briefly studied her before responding. "I went to see Garrett. He's outside talking on the phone."

Oh.

"Is it a problem for us to be here?" her friend asked, and she shook her head.

"No. It will be fine." She cleared her throat. "Garrett and I are good."

"You can be honest. We can find another place to hang out, Imani."

"Don't do that. The nearest restaurant is in Montgomery, and that is thirty miles away. Stay here."

"Thanks. You're a sweetheart."

The person in question appeared at the front door, slipped around the bar next to Ramón, and looked at Imani the second he stepped in.

She and Garrett locked eyes, staring as if the world had stopped. Even with the commotion and distractions, Imani felt like they were in their own universe.

Garrett looked good. His features were stunning. His well-groomed hair framed his attractive face. Square jaw and prominent cheekbones. This sensual stubble covered his chin and made him look dangerous. The dark navy shirt, with its collar and crewneck, perfectly accentuated his well-defined muscles and biceps.

Those fascinating eyes. Seductive eyes that could turn someone on.

Imani turned away. She became lost in them the last few days. The thought of alcohol and vintage songs brought her close to surrendering herself again. She gently aimed a glass at the fountain. Axel taught her how to pour Guinness gracefully. She filled it and settled it, then did the same with the other glass.

"Imani," Garrett whispered. "I went to your house yesterday."

She stared at her hands. She tried to stop them from shaking so badly. Axel joined her. He casually took two limes, looking beyond Imani to Garrett.

"You want me to help them?" Axel asked with a sneer.

Shaking her head, Imani answered, "I can do it."

Axel waited a few seconds before moving aside to serve the two women at the end of the bar and the cocktails he had prepared.

"Imani, can we talk?" Garrett approached her. "Please."

"Not now." Her gentle words made her doubt he heard her. Finally, she raised her eyes to his. "I have to work."

"We need to talk." His voice was raw, fierce, and strong. "We're both in the same city. Eventually, you'll have to face me."

"But you can avoid me for eight years?"

Imani felt nervous, passing the glasses under Garrett's piercing gaze.

"Is everything okay?" Ramón glanced in their direction with curiosity and asked.

"Yeah," Imani responded, her fake smile resurfacing.

"All right, then." Ramón leaned over the counter and gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek. "We'll get a table near the stage. There is space now."

She paid no attention to Garrett, fixating instead on Ramón. "You never told me how long you'll be here for."

"That's because I don't know."

Imani felt her curiosity piqued and observed him. "What's going on?"

Ramón shrugged. "A lot of things." A mischievous grin spread across his face. "When can we catch up?"

Garrett looked from Imani to Ramón and back again, his pupils widening with each movement. "You won't talk to me, but you'll talk to Ramón?"

"That's because he won't supply me with bullshit."

"That is a little unfair, don't you think?" Garrett let his jaw slightly droop. "I'm trying to be civil here."

"I get that," she said, seething through her teeth. "Look. It's busier than usual tonight, and I have tables waiting for their orders."

"Take your time on our order, Imani. We'll be here for a couple of hours," Ramón said, giving her a wink.

Imani smiled, nodded, and bolted. Ramón and Garrett were already in a booth when she returned from serving champagne to another table and fetching wing orders from the kitchen.

It was a good thing the men weren't in her section, and Cherry Calhoun appeared to be quite happy that they were in hers. The young woman was just entering her twenties. Her gorgeous red hair complemented her slim, youthful frame. Her ass—ugh! She had a perky behind, as usual. Imani hated her.

Except she didn't.

Cherry has great charisma and a contagious smile. Who cares if Garrett laughed every time the girl approached their table? It didn't worry Imani.

Still, it did. Cherry treated Garrett like an appetizer most of the time, staring at him like she wanted to sample what he provided.

Imani had a feeling Ramón wouldn't care about the waitress. He liked being with men and wasn't sexually interested in women. Because of this, he and Imani became good friends, and she felt safe being herself with him. She had no one else like Ramón, who supported her when Garrett left.

Trustworthy. Honest. Understanding. Her dearest friend had all those qualities she appreciated.

She became irritated, and her jaw hurt from clenching it so firmly after glancing at Garrett. 

A pair of crimson nails ran along his neck.

"Fuckin' bitch." Imani pulled her hand away and stepped back from the counter. "Shit!"

"What'd you do?" Axel glanced at her. A few inches separated them.

"I sliced my finger while chopping up onions."

"Now, I see why you have tears coming out of your eyelids."

She rolled her eyes and covered her finger with a napkin. "Funny."

Axel cast a troubled glance over his shoulder. "That is deep. You may need stitches." He surveyed the room. "We're almost done tonight. First, clean your wound, and then we'll see how it looks. There is a first aid kit in the office."

Imani's finger throbbed as she reached under the counter and carefully wrapped a clean cloth. After entering the office, she saw the kit on the top shelf behind Suzanne's desk. After examining the wound, she chose a bandage. The ache eased, and blood circulation continued to flow. 

When she exited the office, Garrett was staring at her with an odd expression. He looked down and grabbed her hand.

"What happened?"

"I'm fine. No need to come back here. It was a minor cut."

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Her attention shifted to his firm hands and lengthy fingers as she felt his warm touch. "Mani?"

She could only nod and cautiously remove her fingers from his, her mouth parched. "I need to get back to work."

"You saw me at the hospital," he continued. "Why were you there?"

She looked up in surprise and wondered why Garrett was so interested in everything she did. "Every weekend, Dylan and I visit Suzanne. She is sick; I don't know whether you've heard."

"Word has gotten around." He appeared to be thinking about something. "But that doesn't explain why you were leaving Eugene's room. My grandfather and you have always had a complicated relationship."

"Because he is racist? Does the fact that Eugene is Southern and has a hard time accepting interracial relationships absolve him of accountability?"

"Hey!" Garrett spoke more loudly. "I didn't bring up ethnicity, and that wasn't what I was implying. We shouldn't argue. It does us no good."

Imani watched him closely. Did he want to talk about his grandfather? "Why did you follow me back here, Garrett?"

"We need to talk about us."

"It's not the best time." Her reply was sharp but to the point.

"Are you kidding me?" As he lowered his voice, it echoed through the cramped space. "Imani, we had made love. That meant something to both of us. I'm pretty sure you feel it, too."

"We just..." Nervously licking her lips and shuffling her feet, Imani was tongue-tied. "Let's move from that night. It's for the best."

While shoving his hands into the front pockets of his pants, Garrett swore. "You think I can do that?"

"I think you should."

"Mani, I love you. I always have."

"You need to forget about me."

"That's just not possible."

She let out a moan, certain that he sensed the rumble in his chest. "Just stop it, Gray. Please."

"I'm not letting this go, and you know that."

Perhaps the words he had just spoken had an effect. Or his terrifying "Don't screw with me" glint. Plus, he blocked the office's only exit. Imani sprinted forward and hit him in the chest with her good hand, as if on edge.

"You need to forget about us. We're never going to go there again. I've changed since you took off. I won't stay up all night wondering why you left. I moved on and had a son. We made a mistake."

"But we didn't." He reached over and placed a soft palm over her cheek. "What happened Saturday night was fate."

"That's where you're wrong." Should they do this now? "Garrett, you were my booty call. I apologize for seeming hypersexual, but I was in the mood. That desire is long gone."

"It wasn't just you. And it wasn't a booty call. Not for me."

She sobbed and said, "I'll admit that sex with you has always been incredible, even when we were teenagers, but that night should not have happened."

"You believe that?" After a moment of silence, Garrett slowly smiled. "Maybe the first time was about sex. The second, though, was extraordinary." Biting his lower lip, he cocked his head. "And the third time? Our lovemaking was beyond hypnotic. You wanted me, and I wanted you. Can you remember that moment I pressed you against the wall and fucked you senseless? You were hungry for it."

"You're such a douche."

"Only when I'm provoked."

"That doesn't surprise me."

Imani's pent-up anger stopped when they were quiet, leaving her weary, overly sensitive, and tired.

"Garrett," she uttered, hating her trembling. "This isn't the time or place for this."

With a muscle moving across his temple, Garrett's eyes sparkled in the low light. His tense face made her want to go.

"Okay." She tensed slightly, frowning at the pain in her finger, even though his voice was soothing. "Can I swing by your place this week?"

"No." While gripping her sore finger, Imani hissed. "I cannot be with you again."

"Why?" His question became so fierce that it took a lot of breath to say one word, and she was uncertain how to respond.

"Because our lives are different, and I want it to stay that way."

Ramón emerged from behind Garrett and clapped his friend on the back, glancing at her. "Bro, it's late. They're closing up." He gave Imani a slight nod. "I'll call you later to arrange a lunch date. Or dinner. Whichever works."

A giggle escaped her lips. "You didn't say breakfast."

"That's because you and Dylan have breakfast together before school."

That made her smile.

"Give me a minute," Garrett murmured, glancing at Ramón.

Imani sighed, and Ramón paused. "We can meet beside my truck when you're done."

Garrett shifted backward and placed his hands on his hips once Ramón left. "You can't stay away from me."

"I can try."

"I will see you again. Probably tomorrow night," Garrett declared. "We have to talk about this." He delicately brushed her lips with his index finger as she was ready to shake her head in frustration. "You can count on that."

Some of Imani's fury returned when she stepped back. "Sorry, but Dylan and I won't be home," she declared while furrowing her brows.

Garrett smiled that delicious smile and his eyes sparkled. "It doesn't matter," he muttered. "I'll find you. You cannot erase what happened between us."

"Yes, I can."

"We'll see."

Imani, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, watched Garrett walk away, feeling a strange electricity fill her lungs. Until he was out of sight, she stood there staring at him, then slumped against the wall. She knew that he would visit or find her. She was not upset, but a sense of rage grew out of the electric static, and she relished the unexpected rush it gave her.

As she left the office and walked back to the counter, she wasn't really worried, but she pondered. She made her way home without giving Garrett another thought, realizing that letting him back into her life was a mistake and one of her many poor decisions.

Imani was in the eye of a hurricane, and she hadn't realized it.

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