Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(13)
“Yes, they do.” Again, it was Myrtle, and she was pointedly looking at just Peter this time. Her brown eyes revealing her intuitiveness.
Again, Peter chose to ignore her, and turned towards Jason Paralta. “And with those long legs, I think I would enjoy giving her chance.” The comment was made softly, but all the council members heard. Myrtle and Josephine made a distasteful glance at one another. They must have often heard Peter making sexually charged remarks before. But Jonathan wasn’t going to overlook it anymore. He had enough of this mans rude and condescending overtures.
“She’s off limits, Peter.” Jonathan’s words came out smoothly. Factually. He hated hearing this malicious gossip coming from a respected council member. More than anything right now, he felt like smashing in Peter’s cocky face. He wanted to wipe the smirk off of it, but chose to be diplomatic. It was what his mother would want. And he knew the tribal council had final say in all major decisions at the casino. He couldn’t smash the man’s face. It would be difficult to work with him after that, let alone gain his support for new projects. Peter’s dark slash of an eyebrow shot up.
“Really?” he questioned, peering at Jonathan with interest, but expressing doubt with the single word. So the young Sassacus was interested in Miss Aliya Chance. That was interesting to him. And when Jonathan avoided answering him, not willing to add to the claim he had just made, Peter just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. The man had to do better than that, if he thought Peter wasn’t going to try to get better acquainted with that sexy dancer. “Well, I think I’d like to reacquaint myself with her anyhow. Find out more about this studio she wants to open. It’s for our people, after all.” He continued to prod the younger man into revealing his hand, but Jonathan remained mute. His lips pressed into a grim line. He gave Jonathan a shifty smile and once more a shoulder shrug turning to Jason beside him.
With every fiber in his being, Jonathan wanted to stake his claim on Aliya. He wanted to say, ‘I’m seeing her. Hands off. She’s mine,’ and he probably should have, but he resisted. She hadn’t agreed to a date. Yet. Though she conceded to other things with him. The auditorium was now empty. He saw the curtains move, and then as if on cue he saw Aliya emerge from behind the green velvet.
Peter was the first to approach her, but Jonathan was quick on his heels. “Ah, we were just talking about you, my dear.” At Aliya’s raised eyebrows in Jonathan’s direction, she was met with silence as she walked down the stairs into the pit below. Peter reached his hand to her to help and added. “About your talent of course.”
Aliya took the compliment with a small nod and smile, her eyes darting quickly to Jonathan as he fought to recover his control. Stepping between the two, he introduced Aliya to the other council members quickly.
“We hear good things about you, Aliya,” Jason added.
“We were talking about your idea of having a studio on the reservation in Lantern Hill,” Peter added and Aliya’s eyes lit up, her attention once again on Peter.
“Oh, I’m very excited about it. I’m almost done preparing my proposal and presentation.” Aliya smiled at the small group before her, and then added. “I want the studio to be a place where our youth will learn traditional dances, folklore, learn about our culture, but also bring in elements of our modern world by teaching modern dance, ballroom, hip hop, and ballet. It will be a great physical outlet and offer a healthy alternative to our youth.” Aliya watched as both Jason and Myrtle nodded and smiled at her. Josephine’s face remained a stoic mask.
“I’d love to hear more about it, Aliya,” Peter enunciated each word commanding her attention. His dark eyes were kindly. This man could possibly help her make her dreams come true. She needed three votes to get the space she needed on the reserve, although she could also rent something nearby. But her dream was to have it close to her patrons on the reservation, the children she wanted to serve. “We all look forward to reading your proposal and business plan.”
“Oh, I’m very excited to answer your questions. Anytime.” Inside Jonathan groaned. She was opening herself to this man’s advances. He saw the gleam in Peter’s eyes. He’d talk to Aliya about this the first chance he got. Before he could intervene, Peter was speaking again. “Why don’t we have dinner and discuss it more? I’m sure it will help to have a friend on the council. Although we are all friends here,” he added chuckling, but included the other members of the council with a sweep of his beefy hands.
“Yes, yes, of course.” She was beaming.
Jonathan was pissed. Fuck no. His woman was not having dinner with this lecherous pig. Especially alone. And when he got her alone later tonight, he would be sure to tell her that. They began to walk up the aisle towards the exit. Aliya made her exit as Jonathan continued to escort the council members out. As per their earlier agreement, she would wait for him inside the Oneida, one of the small bars on the ground floor where they would have a drink and then go to his suite upstairs.
As she waited for him, she hugged herself. Life was most assuredly getting better. Her decision to come home had been a good one. Meeting the council members tonight, and Peter, she would assuredly get the opportunity to have her studio on the reserve. And maybe sooner than she had hoped.
Chapter 6