Perfectly Imperfect (Men of Whiskey Row Book 4) Read online

  Casey turned the television off with an irritated expression and Sidra protested. “Hey, I was watching that!”

  “That gibberish is pure bullshit! I understand and respect the first amendment, but sometimes it shouldn’t be exercised so recklessly,” he said with a scowl. “If she was a man, she wouldn’t be allowed to go on and on with that garbage.”

  “That’s funny because Donald Trump gets away with saying outrageous bullshit all the time. What’s so wrong with what she was saying?” Sidra smirked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Women are the superior sex.”

  “Well, I definitely think that sex with you is far superior to anything else I’ve ever had,” Casey returned as he took the coffee cup out of her hands for another swallow. He gave her a hot look over the rim, loving the way her dark jeans clung to her curves and the coral blazer and white tee that made her skin appear even deeper and richer. “Did I tell you how nice you look, darlin’?”

  Sidra smiled at him “Yes, but I never get tired of hearing it, Mr. Sullivan.”

  “Oh yeah? Even when I say you look especially nice takin’ my di-” he taunted, but she quickly placed a manicured finger against his lips as she linked her arm with his, and he grabbed her luggage as they walked towards the front door.

  “You need to stop,” she scolded, and he grinned before drawing her finger into his mouth and nipping it. “Soooo full of yourself! That’s exactly why I didn’t do relationships before you. Let a man know how much you’re feelin’ him, and he thinks he’s got all the juice in the relationship.”

  “So I got the juice, huh?” Casey grinned cockily, as Sidra nibbled on his earlobe.

  “Relax yourself, boo. Ruby’s got more in her sippy cup than you do,” she kidded, allowing him to steal another kiss.

  “You got everythin’? Don’t forget to call me before you leave the studio. Your flight is at twelve this afternoon. I know how you and Dick get in the studio and forget all about the time,” Casey finished sarcastically, frowning at the thought of her boss Dominick Harris and the time she spent with him. It took everything in him not to let Harris know how he really felt about him. If he didn’t respect Sidra and what she did, he would have fucked the fool up a long time ago.

  “I won’t forget, babe,” Sidra said happily as he locked the door. The elevator ride down to the lobby was spent exchanging the kind of kisses that had them wishing they could go back upstairs and underneath the sheets.

  “Dammit, woman,” Casey said thickly as she subtly stroked him through the fabric of his pants with her back to the camera. “I miss you already.”

  “Mmmm, is this all for me? I could use another cardio workout,” Sidra whispered suggestively into his ear, loving the way he shuddered when she bit his earlobe and gave him one last caress before the elevator opened. “Don’t forget that after the wedding, Bison Blue is on tour for three weeks. I sent you my itinerary this morning, baby.”

  “So, you’re tellin’ me that I need to exercise my right to own your ass before you leave?” Casey drawled, kissing her neck and breathing in her signature apple and floral scent. “Three weeks, huh? Alright then, I’ll have to make do, I guess. I really hate sleepin’ without you, darlin’.”

  “I know, and I feel the same way, but we’re only doing major cities in Canada, and then I’m in town for four months,” Sidra smiled winningly at him. Although Casey never voiced any displeasure about their time apart, she tried her best to make it up to him whenever they were together.

  Casey walked her to the waiting black town car while the valet retrieved his Jaguar. “Have a nice day, darlin’. I love you and miss you already. Tell the girls hi for me. Safe travels.”

  “You too, and I’m going to miss you so much! Go kick some ass in court!” Sidra cheered as she got in the car, and he shut the door and stepped away. The window slid down and her face appeared. Her smile was bright, but her large eyes were troubled. “Casey…”

  He made sure his smile remained in place, even though it was killing him. “I know darlin’.”

  Then he rapped the top of the car, and it moved away from the curb, but their eyes stayed locked on each other until the car pulled into traffic. With a curse, Casey moved to his own waiting car and got in. He kept telling himself to give her time, but it had been three months since he’d first said it, and she showed no signs of saying it back. Sidra was funny that way. She trusted him with her social security number; he had access to her passwords, apartment, and credit cards, but she would not trust in their love. The next time they’d see each other would be the wedding. They would talk afterward so that he could finally see where they stood. Because Casey wanted certain things, and if Sidra didn’t want those same things, it would be painful but time to move on.

  Chapter Two

  Nikka Vosta, owner of Vosta Beauty Salon and Spa, nervously watched her longtime client Sidra Barton as she observed her new hairstyle in the handheld mirror, turning it first to the left and then to the right. She had been quiet the entire process as Nikka removed the signature blue and purple streaks from her hair and put layers in her now dark tresses, which was very... surreal. Being quiet was so unlike Sidra Barton; that if you knew her, you would know to run and take cover when moments like this occurred.

  Clearing her throat, Nikka asked uneasily, “So…do you like it? I did exactly what you requested. You said-”

  “Nikka, it’s fine. I’m just not used to being without the color, but I like it,” Sidra assured her with a friendly smile. “How’s your family?”

  Nikka sighed with relief and then beamed proudly, “Oh, we’re good, girl. Mama and Daddy are on their annual Mexican cruise. My son is going away to college, and-” Nikka took a deep breath and shoved her left hand in Sidra’s face, squealing giddily, “Roland just proposed to me!”

  Sidra stared at the pretty diamond engagement ring on her hairstylist’s left hand. She knew for a fact that Nikka and Roland had only been dating for six months but were crazy about each other. Love was definitely in the air. One of her best friend’s, Avery Monroe, was getting married to their other best friend Noelle’s brother-in-law Darby Sullivan in a week. They hadn’t even been a couple for five months, but Avery and Darby were not messing around because according to Avery, “When you know, you know”. “Wow…congratulations, Nikka! You’ll have to let me know where you’re registered.”

  “Thanks, lady! Enough about me, how are you and that fine-ass man of yours doing? Next, it’ll be you and him right?” Nikka inquired with a friendly smile as she untied the protective cover from Sidra’s neck and shook it off to the side. Then she fluffed the layers of Sidra’s hair while waiting for her response.

  Sidra smiled pensively, thinking of the look in Casey’s eyes this morning when she hadn’t returned his words of love. It killed her to watch the light in his hazel eyes dim at her lack of response. Casey had said he planned to make her a wife and a mother, but he had yet to meet her parents, so she couldn’t really take him seriously until he did. Just the thought of him meeting Lena made her stomach roll. Her mother was definitely a hard pill to swallow.

  “He’s good,” she finally responded, not bothering to address a possible proposal. “Just tying up some loose ends before the wedding next week. So, I should get going, as I’m keeping the girl’s waiting already. What’s the damage?”

  Nikka told her, and they walked to the front of the salon to settle the bill. They exchanged goodbye hugs, and Sidra caught a cab to On A Whim’s headquarters and sat back to enjoy the ride through the city. It was a beautiful mid-summer morning in Manhattan but a little too hot for Sidra’s liking. There was a time when the hustle and bustle of this city was what she thrived on. But ever since Noelle married Jack Sullivan, and Sidra had been exposed to Whiskey Row, the quaint, picturesque town in Tennessee that both of her best friends now called home, she too had come to think of it that way. It was the one place where all of her private demons and doubts disappeared, not to mention, it was her man’s hometown as
well. They both worked very hard and loved to spend time with each other and their family and friends whenever they could get the opportunity. There was never a dull moment to be had with all of the different personalities around.

  Her phone dinged, and Sidra looked down and noticed it was her reminder that she had her doctor’s appointment later this afternoon. She took a selfie and typed Casey a text as she neared her destination.

  Hi babe! Just got my hair done. What do you think? Now meeting the girls for lunch. I miss you and can’t wait to see you again!!!

  Sidra added a couple of heart-blowing emojis and sent the text just as the cab pulled up to On A Whim’s building. She paid the cab driver and stepped out of the cab. Immediately, she noticed Ella Kemp, Avery, and Noelle’s office manager, speaking with a tall, muscular, Paul Bunyan-looking guy. With his masculine features and deep blue eyes, Sidra wasn’t mad at her for letting him all up in her space. Ella saw her and gave her a nod of greeting before looking not quite at the man, but a point over his shoulder as she spoke. The man never took his intense gaze off of her and appeared to be greatly smitten, Sidra observed.

  She gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed, “You go, girl!” which Ella rolled her eyes at. Laughingly, Sidra entered the building and caught the elevator to the loft. When it opened, she waved at Kate the receptionist who was on the phone. Kate smiled in return and pointed to the conference room. Sidra headed that way and heard the escalated voices of her besties. Poor Avery. She’d been stressing over the last minute details, but Sidra planned to take her out today and get her totally smashed. Sidra opened the conference room door, and both Avery and Noelle jumped and looked her way with stricken faces as she strolled in.

  “Hey, dolls! Sorry, I’m late! What’d I miss?” she asked cheerfully but received no answer. “Wait; first, I just have to know who the sexicle is outside with Ella? Because if my boo wasn’t my boo, okaaay?”

  Hmmmm. Still no answer from either of them. Self-consciously, she touched her hair and defiantly asked, “What, you don’t like my hair?! I blame you, Avery! You’re the one who decided to pick coral for the bridesmaid’s dresses. It was going to clash horribly with my blue and purple streaks-”

  “No, that’s not it, Sid!” Avery cut her off sharply as she stood up and glanced at Noelle who stood up as well as if to give her moral support. A slither of apprehension went down Sidra’s back, and she just knew she wouldn’t like what was coming next.

  “Well then, what exactly is it?” Sidra snapped. “Just say what you have to say and stop beating around the bush. You’re freaking me out, dammit!”

  “Darby invited the Santos family to the wedding, and they accepted!” Avery blurted out, and for a moment, time stood still for Sidra. The woman, whom her entire life had a comeback for everything unless she decided you simply weren’t worth her time, was at a loss for words. Her father was coming to the wedding. They hadn’t been in the same room together if she could help it since her high school graduation. Everything seemed to slow down except her heart rate. Boom! Boom! Boom! Her heart was pounding so loud, she was sure that her friends could hear it as they came closer to her, and Noelle guided her into a chair. Avery brought her a glass of cool water and willed her to drink, but Sidra instinctively shoved the glass of liquid away for fear that if she opened her mouth, the bout of queasiness she was feeling would escape. Her father was coming to the wedding…

  Sidra watched as the water fell from the cup in slow motion and splashed on her new coral-colored Chloe heels and jeans, but she could only stare at the mess as she tried to pull herself together. Snap out of it! Sidra ordered herself. Get your shit together!

  “I’m so sorry about this, babe,” Avery said frantically. “We just caught their names on the revised guest list, and I tried to speak to Darby about it, but he explained to me that he had to because they were his security firm’s first clients and helped to put him on. I couldn’t insist without telling him your story, and that’s not my place to tell.”

  Avery’s words were slowly penetrating the protective shield Sidra had instinctively raised at the mention of her father as she continued to stare at the water on the tiled floor. Unfairly, she wanted to lash out and yell out that she should have insisted. That if Avery were in the same position, then Sidra would have done more on her behalf. But it wasn’t Avery’s fault, and Sidra knew her dear friend was already torn up about it as it was. Clearing her throat, she asked bleakly, “Exactly who is coming?”

  “The reservation is for two,” Noelle reported disdainfully. “So, I believe it’s safe to assume who will be attending.”

  “Yeah, that’s a safe assumption, given what we now know,” Sidra acknowledged dryly as she opened her purse and pulled out a handkerchief. Quickly she wiped her legs and then the floor. “Sorry about that, Ave. So, where are we going for lunch?”

  “Why don’t we check out the new Cuban place around the corner?” Noelle suggested and grabbed her purse. “I’ve got tons of new pics of the babies for you to see.”

  Sidra gave a genuine smile at the mention of her godchildren and inwardly sighed with relief that Noelle was willing to let her actually see pics. Ever since Jack snitched about ‘Baby Monitorgate’, Noelle was all over her ass. “Sweet! I’ve been missing them something fierce. Avery?”

  “I’ve got D.J.’s latest language quizzes and karate tournament pics for you,” Avery replied dutifully as Sidra nodded approvingly.

  “Looks like we’re all set then. Will Jenny and Ella be joining us?” Sidra asked as she stood up and headed for the door.

  “Nope; it will just be us like old times,” Noelle said firmly as she hooked arms with her girls, and they walked out together. “Don’t worry, Sid. Everything is going to be fine.”

  ***

  Sidra didn’t make it back to her place in Morningside Heights until eight in the evening.

  After letting herself in, she secured the locks, leaned against the door, and closed her eyes. Today had been the longest day of her life as she put on an Oscar-worthy performance for Noelle and Avery. She’d smiled, laughed, and joked with them, faking the funk as they went to lunch, followed by shopping for Avery’s honeymoon at four different department stores. The last thing she wanted to do was put a damper on the wedding vibes and spoil Avery’s joy.

  Her phone beeped, and she pulled it out. Sidra frowned as she realized she’d forgotten her doctor’s appointment. Crap! Now it would take her another two months to get another one. Maybe she could bribe her OBGYN with tickets to Dominick’s next show along with a bottle of the cabernet he loved so much. I’ll try in the morning, she thought as her phone rang. It was her mother returning the call she’d made in the restaurant bathroom earlier this afternoon.

  “Hey, Mom,” she said in greeting, trying to inject cheer into her voice. Lena was like a bloodhound when it came to detecting her daughter’s unhappiness.

  “Hi, sweetie!!!” Lena Barton trilled, and as always, Sidra had to hold the phone away from her ear at the enthusiastic greeting. “How was your day with the girls? Granny told me you were in town, but unfortunately, I’m out of town and won’t be back until the end of the week.”

  “I’m so sorry I’m going to miss you this time,” Sidra said sincerely as she did a happy dance and pumped her fist. Hell yes, the gods were on her side, and she could finally be honest with Casey if he mentioned meeting her mother again. Now, her father was a different story…

  “We’ll have to get together when I come back to town next month,” Sidra offered.

  “You should really branch out on your own! That man you’re working for is a fucking slave driver who keeps my baby too busy to see her own mama.” Lena sucked her teeth so loud that Sidra had to pull the phone away from her ear again. “Ain’t no man worth that much of your time, baby. Remember that! Well, at least you’re not out there losing your head over some silly-ass fool like your girlfriends did. But I just want what’s best for you, Sidra.”

  “That’s right, Mom. A
in’t nobody got time for relationships,” Sidra lied, crossing her fingers behind her back and mentally asking God and Casey for forgiveness. “Well, I have to go take a shower. This humidity has me done in.”

  “Yeah, you’re lucky to be small on top because it’s way too hot to be havin’ big titties out here,” Lena readily agreed. “I love you, baby, and give me a call before you leave town. Muah!”

  Sidra wanted to tell her mother the horrible news that she’d learned today, but that would only lead to a clusterfuck of epic proportions at Avery’s wedding. Besides, you’re a big girl and don’t need mommy to hold your hand, she told herself firmly.

  Instead, she simply replied, “I love you too. Goodnight, Mom.”

  “Goodnight, Sidra.”

  Slowly, Sidra walked into her bathroom to wash her face and froze as she glanced at her reflection. She was shocked by how angry, bitter, and aged she looked. This was why she didn’t like to talk about and refused to deal with her father. It brought out the ugliness and fury that she tried so hard to conceal and bury deep down inside. Her eyes filled with tears, and hating the weakness she saw, Sidra drew back and punched the mirror as hard as she could, closing her eyes and relishing the pain that came with the bits of broken glass piercing her skin.