Read Love After War for Free Online Page B

which would add to the story. There was a silver lining.
    â€œYou got it,” she said, then started making the drinks. For Adrian, a glass of orange juice and more gin than tonic for Richmond.
    â€œHow are things going with the hotel?” Adrian asked.
    â€œWhat?” he asked, still distracted. “Will be an amazing feat if we get it done on time. I don’t know who’s worse to work with, Dad or Solomon.”
    Adrian cringed inwardly when Richmond said Dad. What made Solomon and Richmond Crawford worthy of their father’s love while he and his mother were cast off from the family? “Why did you all decide to build in Los Angeles after all of these years? There’s already plenty of luxury properties here.”
    â€œI asked that same question, but this is my father’s pet project,” Richmond said. “Which is odd, when my mother was alive, she hated Los Angeles and refused to entertain expanding to the West Coast—even after she retired.”
    Adrian folded his arms across his chest and leaned back on the bar, watching the door. “Interesting,” he said absentmindedly.
    â€œWhy do you care, though?” Richmond asked as he followed Adrian’s pose. “If we partner with you, all you have to worry about is keeping the club at the hotel packed like this.”
    â€œThat’s . . .” Adrian’s voice trailed off when he saw Dana walk through the door with actress Imani Thomas, some tall dude, and freaking Ian Kelly. And Kelly had the nerve to have his arm about his woman’s shoulders. And Dana was smiling as he whispered something in her ear. What in the blue hell was going on? These were her plans. Oh, hell no! Adrian was not about to watch Dana have a date in his damned club. Of course, the thought of her being with another man anywhere made him angry, sad, and disappointed. He couldn’t have expected her to carry a torch for him for two years, though.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Richmond asked, taking note of Adrian’s silence and following his gaze to the people who’d just entered the club. “Wow, that’s the photographer Solomon tried to hire to work on our family book. No wonder she turned us down. A hotel company must be boring subject matter when you’re hanging out with Hollywood stars.”
    â€œFamily book?”
    Richmond nodded as he accepted his drink from the comely bartender. “Another big idea by Dad. Said he wants to show that we’re a family business, and no matter how big the Crawford empire is, family is the most important thing.”
    Between listening to Richmond and watching Dana flirt with Ian Kelly, Adrian felt ill. He gulped his orange juice and wished there was vodka in it. He turned to Richmond. “Excuse me for one minute.” Rising from the bar stool, he crossed over to Dana and her crew. On the way over, he stopped one of the waiters and took a bottle of champagne from his tray. Adrian stood in front of Dana and set the bottle on the table. “Welcome to Allure,” he said, attempting to sound jovial. “I’m the owner and I’d like to offer you a complimentary bottle of bubbly.”
    â€œThank you,” Imani replied.
    â€œAdrian,” Dana said.
    â€œAdrian?” Imani furrowed her brows in confusion.
    â€œThis is your place?”
    â€œYes, Dana,” he said, locking eyes with her. “Had you told me your plans included coming here, I would’ve rolled out the red carpet for you.” Adrian glanced at Ian, who had his arm around Dana’s shoulders, and sneered.
    â€œYou need to do more than that, jackass,” Imani muttered, causing her husband to give her a cautioning look as he squeezed her hand.
    â€œHad I known this was your spot, I would’ve suggested we go someplace else,” Dana said coolly.
    â€œI’m glad you and your friends are here,” he said, forcing a smile.
    â€œThanks,” Ian