Duke Read online

  When Creed excused himself for an issue in the kitchen, she couldn’t help turning to Duke to question him. “Does it bother you to be in their shadows?”

  “I work best in the shadows.” He leaned closer to her. “If I say I’m hurt, would you comfort me?”

  “No.”

  He chuckled. “You don’t bite your tongue, do you, Takiyah?”

  She gasped. Most men forgot her name a second after hearing it. He remembered, but she didn’t let it go to her head. Not after he gave her a knowing look. The man was exhausting.

  “I’m just here to try to get a job. I’m not interested in you one way or another.”

  His dark brows rose toward perfectly disordered hair. “And after you looked down on me for being a waiter?”

  “Correction, that was Adele. I just looked down on you in general.”

  “Ouch.”

  Creed returned and went over information about the hiring process and what would be expected of the wait staff. At her side, Duke got a kick out of her dismissal of him. She felt his gaze on her far more than on Creed. Not that he needed to pay attention since he wasn’t being considered for a job.

  Takiyah’s cell phone dinged, and she cringed when Creed glanced her way. The frown on his face said she was already off to a bad start, and she scrambled to silence the phone. Creed seemed like the easy-to-fly-off-the-handle type.

  One of the supervisors on her day job acted like that, and she couldn’t stand him. He shouted at everybody and criticized people for not meeting their quotas for number of calls per day. Lately, she and he had been having words, and she didn’t know how long it would be until she found something else. The waitressing would at least keep food on the table for her and her son.

  While Creed answered one of the ladies’ questions, Takiyah checked her phone real quick. She liked to always be available if anything happened with Keen, her son. Duke leaned over close to her, invading her space.

  “Is it Adele?” He tried to check for himself, but she smacked his hand and glared at him.

  “You don’t give up, do you?”

  He touched a finger to his lips, amusement in his eyes. “Creed’s talking.”

  Like this idiot cared. She dismissed him and faced front. Soon the group interview began. Takiyah ordered her thoughts and sat straight. She willed Creed to understand that she was the kind of person who would work her ass off and become an asset to his restaurant.

  “What about you, Tak-Tak…?”

  She opened her mouth to answer, but Duke cut her off. “This is Takiyah. Trust me, she’s an excellent waitress. You want to hire her, cuz.”

  “Trust you,” Creed said.

  There were protests around the room. “Oh that’s how she’s playing it,” one of the women said. “Move in on the cousin to get a foot in the door.”

  She thumped a hand on the table. “I don’t even know him!”

  “Come on, Yah Yah,” Duke teased. “We had such a great time the other night.”

  Takiyah’s temper flew through the roof. “Stop playing games with me. I don’t like you. Get it through your head. Creed, I hope you’ll consider me for the job. I’ll work damn hard, but I’m not going to sit here quietly while he ruins my chances.”

  Damen appeared to be amused by the situation as much as Duke, and she recognized pity in Stefan’s expression. Both pissed her off even more. Creed folded his arms over his chest and grew thoughtful.

  “So, you don’t think getting closer to Duke will give you an advantage?” Creed said.

  “Why would it? He’s an id—” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “Um, sorry. I know he’s family, but…”

  Despite Duke bugging her, she didn’t like to call people out in front of others unless she had to. That wasn’t her style.

  “No, please go on,” Creed said. “I like honesty, and you can ask my wife who is notorious for saying whatever she pleases. I’d rather my employees say exactly what’s on their mind than kiss my ass and screw up their jobs because they’re distracted.”

  So he was married, but none of the preening women cared. They still felt like they had a chance. Takiyah sighed.

  “I’m not sure Marquette’s is right for me. It looks like you have a nice place here, and your reputation is all over New Orleans.”

  Creed nodded. “And the reason you’re not sure it’s right for you?”

  She side-eyed Duke. “Because I’m not for nonsense. I have a thirteen-year-old son to raise, and I don’t risk his well-being for anybody.”

  “Understood.”

  Creed went on with the interviewing process. Takiyah answered questions to the best of her ability, and when the session was over, she jetted out the door.

  “Takiyah,” Duke called after her on the street.

  She sighed and waited for him to catch up. “What? You don’t have anything else to say to me, Duke.”

  “I wanted to apologize.” He seemed sincere. At least the smug grin was off his face. “I promise I was only trying to help.”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but for the short time I was in there, it didn’t look like you have much of a reputation with your cousins.”

  He chuckled and shoved his hands into his pockets to rock on his heels. “I am sort of the black sheep in the family.”

  “And you’re proud of it?”

  He shrugged. “I live my life the way I choose. Couldn’t ask for more than that. To answer the question you didn’t ask, no, it doesn’t bother me at all how others view me. Not even a little bit.”

  She studied his handsome face and believed him. What was that like, not to care about other people’s opinion? Her phone vibrated again, and she checked it. An email had come in from Marquette’s with info about coming in to fill out paperwork and get her measurements for ordering a uniform. She blinked in surprise.

  “I was hired that fast?”

  Duke grinned. “I knew you would be.”

  “Because of you?”

  “Indirectly. Creed doesn’t like waitresses who spend all their time trying to seduce him or his brothers. You’re different, so it was a no-brainer. Now you just have to do a good job. The bear is easy to appease.”

  “The bear?”

  He chuckled. “That’s what we call him. Make no mistake, the teeth and claws are deadly. I’ll protect you though.”

  “No thank you.”

  He laughed. “Aren’t you the least bit grateful to me? I was the foil so you could look your best.”

  She put a hand on her hip. “And that means what exactly?”

  He leaned in so close she almost thought he would kiss her. To her surprise, her heart started pounding, and she stumbled back a few steps to get some air. Duke, the stubborn ass, moved in again, and her breath caught in her throat.

  “You could tell Adele what you’ve learned about me.”

  She spun away from him and started walking down the street. He fell into step beside her. “You don’t give up! So what, you expect me to tell her you’re related to the guys who own Marquette’s? Did it ever occur to you Adele might be the kind of woman who would get with you to later go after your cousins?”

  “You’re worried about me?”

  “So not.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m a big boy, and if Adele uses me for my connections, couldn’t I use her in return for…”

  “I despise you.”

  He burst out laughing, throwing his head back. The man had a smile that could arrest a woman’s heart. They all did. The Marquettes were a dangerous brood even if the others were married. She wouldn’t be bringing Adele around if she could help it. Not that Adele was the kind of woman who would try to break up a marriage, but Takiyah loved her, and she wouldn’t want a shallow asshole like Duke to hurt her.

  Doesn’t have anything to do with you being attracted to a man who only sees your white girlfriend.

  “Goodbye, Duke.”

  She started to walk off, but he grasped her hand in a gentle but firm hold. Her he
artbeat kicked up a few notches. She tried her best to keep her breathing under control. Duke’s gaze bore into her hers as if he knew the reaction he had on her and was amused by it. “You’ll take the job?”

  Rather than pull out of his grasp and prove he unsettled her, she let him hold onto her hand. His strength ignited something inside her, and the innocent touch turned intimate in its quality. She licked her lips and turned her head so he couldn’t see her expression.

  “I might take it,” she said. Really, she wanted to say no, but she never let anyone run her off from whatever decision she’d made. Marquette’s paid well, and the atmosphere was just what she was looking for.

  “Take the job, Yah Yah.”

  She gritted her teeth. “Call me Yah Yah again and see what happens.”

  He chuckled. “I like teasing you. With you at Marquette’s, it will be a lot more entertaining.”

  “I’m there to do a job.” She couldn’t take it anymore and tugged at her hand. He squeezed it gently and then let go slowly. His thumb stroked over her skin, sending chills racing along her spine. From his expression, one would think he didn’t notice what he’d done, but she wasn’t fooled. Why the hell was he flirting with her if he wanted Adele? Her opinion of him plummeted even more because of the way he behaved.

  “Are you always this stiff?”

  “Stiff?” she said too loud, and then glanced around the narrow street to see if anyone was looking their way. A few heads turned, but most people just went about their business. “You’re annoyed that I’m not drooling at your feet begging for your attention. You probably take advantage of all the women who come after you to get to your cousins.”

  He sniffed. “You’re right, Kiyah—I’m trying out a new nickname by the way. I’m the ugly cousin. No one loves me. Do you feel bad for me?”

  She snorted, and a laugh burst out before she slapped a hand over her mouth to suppress it. Duke’s eyes blazed with excitement. He knew he’d gotten to her. She gave him a shove, but it turned out to be a mistake when her palms touched the steel hardness of his chest. Through his shirt, she felt the ripped muscle.

  She snatched her hands back and whirled away to start walking. When he didn’t fall into step beside her, she paused and peeked over her shoulder. He stood where she left him, watching her, unmoving and unreadable.

  After a moment, he grinned and saluted. “See you on your first day, Kiyah.”

  She fled, burning up that he thought he had the right to call her by a nickname. Taking the job at Marquette’s was going to be a challenge, but she would do it—attracted to Duke or not.

  Chapter Three

  Takiyah pulled a pen from behind her ear and looked down at her order pad. She scribbled a few hasty notes. “Okay, you wanted the baked oysters with our famous Marquette’s sauce as an appetizer. With the grilled chicken, you want the chef to hold the onions. Is that right, ma’am? What kind of dressing would you like with your salad?”

  All around Takiyah, the restaurant buzzed with life. The clink of glasses and silverware against plates, people chatting and laughing, all of it provided a sort of harmony that blended with the actual music Stefan played on the piano. Takiyah loved music, and she was impressed with how well he played.

  She had to pause a minute in taking orders, along with everyone else in the restaurant when a young boy walked over to join Stefan. He picked up an electric guitar and looped the strap over his head. Damen appeared shortly after and grabbed another. Takiyah blinked. Were they in a restaurant or a club?

  “Dad, you ready?” the boy said into the mic, and Takiyah’s mouth fell open.

  “Start us off, bud,” Damen told his son, and the music swept Takiyah away. She’d expected it to be too loud or too wild, but they knew what they were doing. Looking around, she realized everyone in the place was transfixed with this family of talented people. Stefan’s fingers raced over the piano keys, and the boy’s fingers danced across his strings, perfectly imitating the music Stefan created.

  A hand fell on Takiyah’s arm, and she looked over to her customer. The woman, probably in her mid-forties, flushed pink and touched her chest. “I love this place, don’t you? Oh, if I was twenty years younger…”

  “Margaret, you still wouldn’t get one of them,” her companion told her. “They’re all taken. Except for that naughty Duke. I do like him flirting with me, though.”

  Margaret pursed her lips and waved a hand. “Duke will never be serious, and did you hear? He got into trouble again. He’s the dark horse of the family.”

  Takiyah wandered away from the table to put in the ladies’ order. She already knew what they were saying was right. Duke was in trouble. He didn’t show up for his shift earlier, and Creed was livid. She’d stayed away from everyone, setting up her tables, so she couldn’t get any details. However, a short while later, Creed had gotten a call, and he left the restaurant looking like he wanted to tear Duke a new one. As far as she was concerned, Duke did her a favor. He reinforced to her on a daily basis that he wasn’t worth her being attracted to him.

  An hour or so later, Creed returned with Duke behind him, quiet and sullen. Takiyah stood at one of the tables, setting it up with fresh silverware and plates. She couldn’t help watching the two men. Creed’s tight mouth said he was still pissed, and Duke while he didn’t appear repentant, he didn’t seem to be happy with himself either.

  She expected him to walk on by with his head down, showing at least a little shame at his actions. Instead, he stopped right beside her and removed a glass from her fingers. “Kiyah, let me buy you dinner.”

  She blinked at him. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.” She turned her back and moved to another table. Even though it wasn’t her job, she started clearing the table because she needed to keep her hands moving. All of her customers were taken care of, and it wasn’t time to see if they were fine or needed something else.

  Warmth stole over her body from behind, and she knew Duke stood there. “I’m serious. I want to get to know you better.”

  “Shouldn’t you concentrate on getting your life together?” She recalled she needed to grab some more cloth napkins and restock the shelf from the storeroom. The kind of issues Duke brought on weren’t anything she required. Besides, he didn’t ask her out for her own sake. He probably thought up a new angle to get her to convince Adele to give him a chance.

  Takiyah pushed open the kitchen door and walked in.

  “…he was arrested,” one of the dishwashers was saying, “and Creed had to bail him out. Again.”

  The woman looked toward Takiyah and grew silent, fear in her gaze. Takiyah peeked over her shoulder to find that Duke had followed. He still didn’t look like he felt guilty, but she was pretty sure he’d heard that they were gossiping about him.

  Takiyah frowned at him. “You know if you did right, no one would be able to talk about you?”

  “Takiyah!” The dishwasher ran over to Duke, shaking like she thought the man would murder her for badmouthing him. “I’m sorry, Duke. I…uh…”

  “Honey, why are you apologizing?” The waiter Takiyah had met the first day, whose name was Basil, walked in on the stuttering apology. “If Duke acted like he cares about the Marquette name, he wouldn’t get into so much trouble.”

  “Basil, shut up,” someone else whispered far too loud for anyone not to hear.

  Arguing broke out all around, from the sous chef to the dishwasher. Takiyah rubbed her forehead, thinking she’d get to the storeroom and then make her escape. She almost ran to the opposite side of the kitchen. A hall led back to the brothers’ offices, and to the side of it the door to the storeroom. She almost made it to the door before Creed’s big form blocked her advance. He didn’t seem to see her at all.

  “What the hell is all this noise?” he roared.

  Fingers wrapped around her arm and jerked her sideways out of Creed’s path. The man who did resemble a bear at that moment, stomped by. Takiyah breathed
a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I thought he would flatten me. I—”

  She broke off the appreciation when she saw that it was Duke.

  He grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  She rolled her eyes and walked into the storeroom. Behind her, Creed was slicing into his staff. Takiyah thought she heard Basil say something about Creed’s claim that the kitchen was his. Shada, apparently, would have something to say about that. She was lead chef now that Rene, the original cook, had moved to another restaurant. Shada loved the kitchen with an obsessive passion, but currently her focus was on her baby boy, Creed Jr.

  “So is that a yes to my question?” Duke asked.

  She blocked him out and located the napkins on a high shelf. Who the heck would put them up there? She stood on tiptoe to reach, and Duke stepped up behind her to help. Her heartbeat stuttered when she moved back a little and bumped her ass against his thigh. Biting off a yelp, she scooted away. She made the mistake of peeking up at him to see his stupid amusement.

  “Leave me alone, Duke.” She stood straighter. “Why would I want to date some man who can’t stay out of jail? You’re not going to use me to get to Adele.”

  He cornered her again. She pressed her back to the shelf behind her and licked her lips. The idiot acted like she did it to entice him. “What if you’ve got me all wrong?”

  “You were arrested, weren’t you?”

  “Yes.” He said it simply and without hesitation.

  “Then I haven’t got you all wrong.”

  He touched a hand to his chest and raised three fingers of the other hand. “I was helping an old lady cross the street.”

  She shoved at his chest. He didn’t budge. “You’re ridiculous. I don’t want to deal with you!”

  “Come on, sweet Kiyah. I—”

  “You what? Are you going to force yourself on me? Is that what you do? Use your cousin to get out of trouble when women tell you no?”

  His eyes widened with shock, and then darkened. She’d never seen a white person’s face so close to notice their eyes could change color with their emotions. Duke’s green eyes would be fascinating if she didn’t think she’d just pissed him off inside a closet. Who knew if a billionaire could make murder disappear.