BOOTLEG LOVE

5

She had barely slept a wink, and what sleep she had were plagued with dreams where she stood trapped between the door and Payton with those sensuous dark eyes and his lips near her own. He would lean in close, his body pressing against her own, and then… she woke up. What did this mean? Was she infatuated with Payton? She tossed and turned all morning, waking often and trying to go back to sleep.

            It had felt like a minute since she closed her eyes when a knock at the door roused her. The sun was coming through the drapes; she must have been asleep longer than she thought. Evangeline rolled over as her mother came through the door, surprised to see her still in bed.

            “My God, Child, it is half-past twelve; why on earth are you still in bed?” She huffed, crossing the room and throwing open the drapes to allow the light in. Evangeline lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light that now assaulted her senses.

            “I did not sleep well,” Evangeline moaned and laid back down, pulling the blanket up over her head, “leave me be.”

            “Don’t you sass me, girl?” Her mother warned and pulled back the blanket, her hard-stern gaze locking with Evangeline’s. “A lady keeps her engagements. Mr. Hamilton is waiting downstairs to take you to lunch.”

            Quincy! “Damn it!” She had completely forgotten about him. Evangeline leapt from the bed. She began to rush around the room, trying to get dressed as fast as possible.

            “Such language!” Her mother scolded. “Where did you learn to talk like that? Certainly not from me.”

            “Help me or get out.” Evangeline snapped, stepping behind the partition to change. She stripped down and hastily pulled on her camisole and then her stockings.

            “I will not have you speaking to me like that,” her mother barked, “but since there is a fine gentleman awaiting you, I will let it slide. I will go downstairs and bide your time.” And with that, she left the room.

***

            Quincy paced the parlour patiently. He was not surprised when Mrs. Canyon informed him her daughter was not ready. Women were often running behind, but when that woman looked as good as Evangeline did, he was more than happy to wait on her.

            “I’m afraid Evangeline will be a few minutes.” Mrs. Canyon said, coming into the room with a bright smile. “Can I offer you some tea, or perhaps you may prefer a cup of coffee. The cook makes a fine cup of coffee.”

            Quincy offered her a pleasant smile in return. “It sounds wonderful, but I will have to pass, perhaps another day.”

            Mrs. Canyon took a seat on the couch and gestured to the seat next to her. “Please sit. Tell me what your plans are this afternoon?”

            Ah, the worried parent wondering if his intentions were pure. “We will be taking lunch down by the lake and perhaps afterward a walk in the park… if that is acceptable.”

            “Sounds like a lovely day.”

            “I will have her back by dinner.” He promised, taking a seat next to her.

            “Oh, please, take your time. I know my baby girl couldn’t be safer with anyone else. Much better with you than some hoodlum.”

            The sound of heels on the wood floor drew his attention to the door as Evangeline rushed into the room, pulling on her coat. She looked rushed but ravishing. Her pale blue dress draped her figure nicely, accenting her womanly attributes. Most ladies these days had a shapeless boyish figure, but even though Evangeline did her best to hide it, she had curves that made a man ache. She smiled apologetically and lifted her hand to be sure her hair was presentable.

            “Sorry to be late.” She apologized as he came to his feet.

            “It was worth the wait.” He said, taking her by the hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles, a bold move in front of her mother, but he had a feeling that the Canyon’s liked him and supported his pursuit of their daughter. “You look stunning. Your beauty leaves me awed every time I see you.”

            Evangeline blushed and pulled her hand from his. “Thank you.” Her gaze darted to her mother, who was grinning like she had just won a fortune at cards. “Shall we go?” She suggested.

            “Yes, let’s.” He tipped his hat to Mrs. Canyon. “Goodbye, Mrs. Canyon.”

            “Goodbye, Mr. Hamilton.”

***

            Quincy escorted Evangeline outside where his car was waiting; it was a small, rather inexpensive car, she could only assume the force had provided him with. After all, one could not fight crime on foot. He was an important man and needed to get around quickly.

            Quincy opened the door for Evangeline. She climbed into the car and watched as he walked around the front to the driver’s door. “So, where are we headed?” She asked as he turned on the engine and pulled out of the dirt driveway.

            “There is this quaint little Italian Bistro down by the waterfront with a great view of the lake. I thought a light lunch would be nice and then a leisurely walk by the lake.”

            “Sounds fantastic.”

            They drove through town and down into the lake. There were houses and a few shops with apartments above. Finally, they pulled up out front of a fair-sized restaurant. The red, white, and green awning above the door read “Taste of Italy.” Out front where they parked were two dark Chevy trucks, a red and wood-panelled Chrysler Imperial, and a black Buick Marquette. Evangeline got a bad feeling as she got out of the car. Quincy’s attention suddenly focused on the other cars, and then he looked back at the entrance.

            “Shall we?” He asked, extending his arm to escort her inside.

***

            “Ten percent.” Remington Kingston offered Nico Rossi, the proprietor of the fine establishment they now sat in. “You will never get a better offer.”

            Nico looked unsure as he wrung his boney hands. Business was not good and hadn’t been for some time. He was going under, and if he didn’t make some money soon, he was not only going to lose the restaurant, but the bank would take his house too, and he had a wife and six kids to support.

            “I don’t know. It is terribly illegal. What if the coppers find out?”

            “Then we will shut down and move before they could ever find us. You have nothing to be worried about. We will take care of you.” Remington promised, placing his hand on Payton’s shoulder. “And my boy here will see to everything. All you must do is look the other way.”

            “How long would it take?” Nico asked, his voice hushed as if the walls had ears.

            “We could have this place flooded with booze by sundown,” Trenton said confidently as he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.

            “You could have cash in hand by tomorrow night,” Payton added.

            Nico looked surprised. “You can round up customers that fast?”

            “There is a surprising demand for alcohol in this city, and we have the best stock in the province. It is the law of supply and demand, and business is good.” Remington said with a slick smile. “You can get in on the ground floor of this deal.”

            “And just think about it, if you cater the parties, you could end up generating new revenue. Bring in more customers. You can’t lose.” Colton added his two cents.

            “It seems risky,” Nico said apprehensively. It was easy to see the old man was stressed. His face was lined with worry, and his dark eyes looked tired and defeated. He was terribly thin; perhaps he didn’t eat well, not enough money to feed all those mouths.

            “Why don’t you just think about it?” Payton suggested reaching for a menu. “In the meantime, I am famished; let’s have lunch and give Mr. Rossi the chance to mull it over.” He really was hungry, but he mostly wanted to give the poor man a little business.

            “That is a good idea. Lunch is on me, boys.” His father said, picking up a menu. His brothers followed suit, and soon they had ordered what they wanted, and Nico had wandered off to cook while his wife filled their cups with ice water. Once they were alone, Remington looked over at Payton, who was yawning. He hadn’t slept well at all. The late-night coupled with some frustrating dreams had kept him up. “You look worn out.” His father noted.

            “Too many late nights with the local jazz girls.” Colton teased, reaching for his coffee.

            “You are not burnt out, are you?” His father asked with concern. “I know this can be a demanding job. If you need a little time off, I’m sure Trenton or I could take over for a few nights.”

            “I can handle it.” He assured his father. “I have pulled many late nights and some all-nighters too. I will just take a nap before the club tonight.”

            “You know what, why don’t we all hit the club tonight,” Colton suggested. “See just how wild Payton’s parties get. What do you say, little brother?” Colton laughed, slapping Payton on the back.

            “I think that is a marvellous plan.” His father grinned. “The Kingston boys are going to tear up the town tonight.” He said with some excitement as Nico’s wife placed their meal in front of them. It was fast, but given they were the only customers, he supposed they were a high priority.

            The bell above the door rang as new customers came inside, drawing their attention. Payton tried not to let his jaw slack. Of all the joints in the city, she of all people had to walk into this one and with him. “Hamilton.” Trenton snarled quietly. They all knew him, and they all knew him well. He had been a thorn in their sides for so long, like a yappy little dog nipping at their heels.

            “Who is that with him?” Colton asked, taking a second look at Evangeline. “Va-va-voom.” He grinned wickedly. “I’d like me a piece of that.”

            “Hey,” Payton snapped, appalled by his brother’s subjugation of his dear old friend. Colton always was a horn dog, and in truth, it had never bothered him in the past, but the way he was looking at Evangeline now was going against the grain. “That is no way to talk about a lady.”

            “Come on, little brother, are you trying to honestly tell me you don’t want to bend her over a crate in the backroom and just giver?” Trenton teased, making a crude gesture with his hands and hips, simulating the vulgar act and making the others crack up laughing, but Payton wasn’t laughing; he was annoyed.

            “What’s wrong, Boy? They are just having some fun.” His father snickered.

            “It is not funny.” Payton snapped. “She is a good girl, and you are talking about her like she is a whore.”

            “Touchy,” Colton said, stabbing his fork into his pasta. “It is just some dame.”

            “Evangeline is not just some dame!” He hissed and then wished he had chosen his words more carefully. They were all looking at him, and then they all looked at the woman being shown to a table across the room, then back at him with knowing amusement.

            “That is Evangeline Canyon?” Trenton asked, finding it very funny.

            “How do you know that?” Colton asked, looking back at Evangeline. “She could be anyone.”

            Payton decided to bite the bullet and come clean. “I ran into her yesterday when I took Mother to the seamstress. We had coffee and tea cakes at the shop down the street while Mother tried on some dresses.”

            They all looked back at Evangeline. “I suppose I can see it.” His father said. “She has changed a lot. The last time I’d seen her, she was just a little girl in ribbons and curls. She grew into a nice woman.”

            “What a woman.” Trenton whistled and winked at Payton. “Are you going to go after her?”

            “No,” Payton said flatly. “We are just friends.” Colton snickered. “What?”

            “Nothing.” Colton lied.

            “You think our friendship is funny?”

            “I think your friendship is hilarious.”

            “Really, why?” He was eager to hear what was so funny.

            “Ok, you really want to know?” Colton said, putting down his fork. “When you two were kids, that was one thing, but now that you are a man and she is a woman,” he gestured to her, “looking like that, there is absolutely undeniably no way in hell you two could ever be just friends.”

            “He is right,” Trenton added. “It is imposable for a man and a woman to be friends; s*x always gets in the way.”

            s*x… with Evangeline Canyon? The very idea was absurd. He and Evangeline were just friends, and that wasn’t going to change. They grew up together; she was like a sister to him. Then again, he had been up all night with disturbing dreams that involved the spunky blonde. Dreams that even to this minute made him uncomfortably stiff in the lower regions.

            “Wait, does Hamilton know that you know Evangeline?” His father asked with great concern.

            “I don’t think so.”

            “Good, let’s keep it that way as long as possible. Does Evangeline know what you do?” He asked, eyeing Payton closely. He had never been able to lie to Evangeline nor to his father, but at this moment, that was about to change. He didn’t think his family would understand why he confessed to her last night. They didn’t understand the bond he had with her. “She does, doesn’t she?”

            “God damn it, Payton, what the hell were you thinking, telling her? Do you know what her brother does? What her mother does? They live to shut people like us down and put us in jail.” Colton snapped quietly. “You hand no right to put us all at risk over some dame.”

            “It is not like people don’t know what we do. We don’t wear masks. Why can’t I tell her?”

            “Because she is affiliated with cops and politicians. What if she talks? What if Hamilton uses her to get to you and you to us?” Colton snapped.

            “She wouldn’t do that.” He argued. Evangeline would never betray him like that. “I trust her.”

            “I don’t.” Colton snapped, doing his best to keep his voice low so as not to be overheard. “Damn it, he spotted us,” Colton said, looking over Payton’s shoulder.

            Payton looked back to see Hamilton coming their way. He had seated Evangeline at the table and noticed them; now, he was coming over to stir up s**t. “Well-well if it isn’t the Kingston boys all in one place.”

            “Detective Hamilton,” Remington smiled, “always a pleasure.” He gestured to a chair. “Please join us; we were just enjoying a good meal.”

            Hamilton looked around at all the empty tables. “This place seems a little out of the way. How did you hear about it?”

            “You know how people talk. Heard the pasta here was to die for.” Colton said, taking a bite of his meal.

            “I see you have a fine lady with you today.” Remington pointed out. “Off duty, Detective?”

            “Actually, yes.”

            “And you still find the time to stop and talk to us. Your consideration is staggering, but it looks like your date is getting restless.” Remington said, looking past him to his date.

            “Something about you all being in one city rubs me the wrong way,” Hamilton said, glaring at them. “I’m keeping my eyes on you.”

            “Is there something illegal about having lunch with my boys?” Remington asked.

            “Something is up,” Hamilton said, pointing at his eyes and then at them. “I’m watching you.”

            “I feel all the safer for it.” Remington smiled politely as Hamilton walked back to his table across the restaurant. He then looked at Payton with a stern glare. “Cut her loose, boy. I don’t want you talking to that girl; it is too big a risk.”

            “I trust her. She’d never tell him anything.”

            “Maybe not deliberately, but it could still happen. It is safer for all involved if you just cut all ties. I’m giving you a direct order not to see that girl again.”

            “You can’t do that.”

            “I’m your Father, and you will mind me.” Nothing further would be said.