Real Love

by Tracy Reed

  “Kyla.” He stood up, extended his hand and waited for her to sit down. “No.”

  “Shopping in the middle of the day?”

  “I’d rather be at work, but it’s my office manager’s birthday and she’s been talking about a pair of shoes she saw here. So, I thought I’d surprise her.”

  “That’s sweet.” He knew he had just scored some major sensitivity points.

  “It would be even sweeter if I could remember which shoes.” She laughed. He loved her laugh. It reminded him of a bird humming. “Instead, I got her a gift card.”

  “Smart man. But if you don’t know which shoes, then how did you know how much to get the gift card for?”

  He was on cloud nine, not only did she think he was sensitive, she also thought he was smart. “I didn’t think of that. It’s just a pair of shoes. How much could a pair of shoes cost?”

  She shook her head and smiled. “Typical man. Tell you what, I’ll get my shoe guy’s card. You call him and tell him what you did. Then tell your office manager to ask for Ronnie when she comes in. If you’re a little short he’ll call you so you can discretely handle the difference.” She flagged the hostess and asked her to get a card from Ronnie in the shoe salon.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  “Why are you here?” he asked. “I’m sorry, would you like something to eat?”

  “No thank you, I was doing a little shopping as well.” She reached across the table and broke off a piece of flat bread and put it in her mouth. When the server passed by, she changed her mind. “I’ll take a glass of champagne. Thank you.”

  “Champagne…rough day?” He continued eating his soup.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Okay.”

  The server returned with the champagne and Kyla took a sip and let out a sigh. “What is it about you men? You think just because you’ve known a woman a while you can treat her any way or say anything.” She ate another piece of flat bread followed by another sip from her glass. “I mean…I’m sorry.”

  His heart sank as he realized from her statement that she had a boyfriend. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry. I was rambling. Did you get your office manager a cake and flowers too?”

  “Yes, we’re having a little celebration tomorrow at lunch.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Boyfriend trouble?” he asked.

  “Not really…I mean, I’ve been out of town and this was our first day seeing each other and…he acted like a jerk.” She turned the glass up emptying it and flagged the server for a refill.

  He thought to himself, whoever this guy is, he must be an idiot. “I take it you had a fight?”

  “More like a misunderstanding. He thought he could tell me what to do and I thought it best not to be around him right now.”

  He nodded and thought this was the perfect opportunity to slide in and take the other guy’s place. Instead, he took the high road to friendship. He took a sip of his mineral water and watched as she finished the last piece of flat bread. He motioned to the server to bring some more.

  “How long have you and the boyfriend been together?”

  “Over five years.” His heart sank further. “If he doesn’t change his attitude…the last time he got some will be the last time.” He choked on his soup and remembered she said she was blunt. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head smiling. “I understand.” Her phone rang and she pressed the button ignoring the call. “Is that him?”

  “Yes, he’s been calling me since I walked out on him.”

  “Don’t you think you should answer it?”

  “No, because right now I don’t want to talk to him. He’s on punishment and he needs to understand that.” The server placed the champagne glass in front of her. “Thank you.”

  Sean thought it would be best if she spoke to him. Maybe in her haste she’d break up with him leaving the door open for him to move in. Scratch that. He didn’t want to be the rebound guy. The one who gets all the anger. Instead, he wanted to be the healer. The one who stepped in and got all the love that’s been stored up just waiting to be shared.

  “So what about you, do you have a girlfriend?”

  “No.”

  She looked shocked. “You’re kidding!”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “How is that possible? You’re a good-looking, successful, smart guy.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” She smiled. “Do you have stalker tendencies? Are you into some weird ritualistic stuff? Or is there some baby mama drama I’m not aware of? I know you’re not gay, so what’s wrong with you? Why hasn’t some nice girl snatched you up?”

  He tried processing everything she had just said before answering her. “Thank you for the compliment…I think.”

  “I’m sorry. No more champagne for me. I mean I can’t see anything physically wrong with you, so it has to be something else. Was the sex not good?”

  He smiled, “I was engaged, but she called it off. She said I was stuffy and wanted someone not afraid to walk on the wild side occasionally.”

  “So it was the sex. You know there—”

  “It wasn’t about—”

  “Then what?” The server placed the bread basket in the center of the table and she started eating. “Thank you. Sean Prescott, why did your fiancée dump you?”

  “I wasn’t dumped.”

  She looked at him smiling. “Really? There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Who hasn’t been dumped?” She took another sip from her glass. “So?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m celibate and focused on my relationship with God which is why I think the fiancée dumped me. She didn’t like being second in my life.”

  “So you’re a church boy.” She continued eating.

  “A church boy?”

  “Yeah. I know some church boys. I dated one and man could he kiss. Are you a good kisser, Sean?” She smiled.

  “Excuse me?” He smiled. Her frankness and language was refreshing. It reminded him of his sister-in-law. “None of the women I’ve dated had complaints.”

  “Exactly. You’ll have to show me sometime.”

  “What?” He thought he heard her invite him to kiss her. Her phone started ringing again and she dropped it in her bag.

  “The church boy I dated had magic lips. They were soft and full and he knew just how to…” She closed her eyes and started smiling. “Anyway, where do you go to church?” She took another sip from her glass.

  “Phillips Christian Center.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “Amsterdam and Ninety-Third Street.” Since he gave his life to Christ, it was at this point his dates lost interest. Not Kyla. She was full of questions and this wasn’t a date.

  “How long have you been going there?”

  “Fourteen years.”

  “And the celibate thing?” She put another piece of bread in her mouth.

  “Fifteen years.”

  She almost choked hearing his reply. She reached for his glass of water and took a couple of sips. “You haven’t had sex in fifteen years?” she asked patting her chest.

  He raised the empty bottle signaling to the server to bring another one. “Yes.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “I’m committed to God. At first it was a little difficult, but the more time I spent with God, the easier it got.”

  “Wow! I don’t know if I could do that.” She took another sip of water. “Have you ever slipped up?”

  In his mind, this conversation would take place about a month or so into their relationship, not now.

  “Yes.”

  Her eyes got wide at his confession. “And?” She reached for a roll, broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.

  “I felt bad. It was horrible. The forgiveness from God was easy. Forgiving myself wasn’t.”

  She rested her elbow on the table supporting her chin eager to as
k the million dollar question. She needed to know who could make a man as focused as Sean forget a promise he made to himself. “Was it your fiancée?”

  “Yes.”

  “What happened?”

  He took a deep breath and explained. “She came over to talk. It felt like it did in the beginning…comfortable, relaxed, fun. She apologized for the way things ended, we talked and hung out like we used to. Then we ordered dinner and by the second egg roll we thought maybe we could make it work. We started kissing and the next thing I knew we were naked and…”

  “Wow! And then?”

  Her smile got wider as he continued. All these years he had kept the details of his slip up to himself. He hadn’t even told his brother or best friend. Here he was, telling a woman he barely knew. The whole thing seemed so right and comfortable. He felt confident she wouldn’t judge him, but would understand.

  “She got dressed, called me a hypocrite along with some other choice names and said she never wanted to see me again.” Kyla was hanging on every word. “I begged God to forgive me and I’ve been celibate ever since.”

  “Fifteen years. Dude, you…I don’t even know what to say.”

  “There’s nothing to say. At the time, I thought I was missing out or making some big sacrifice by not having sex. Like I was doing God a favor, when it was the other way around. Getting closer to Him has enriched my life.”

  “So you can’t date?”

  “I date. I just date with a purpose.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I asked myself why I was dating…the purpose…the reason.”

  “And?”

  “I didn’t have an answer. I thought she was what I needed.”

  “But?”

  “My ex-fiancée is the perfect woman for her husband.”

  “I sense a but.”

  “No but, she’s beautiful and smart and before I got saved, that’s all I wanted…a showpiece. Later, I realized I needed a teammate, a partner, someone to push me to the next level. And a nice package didn’t hurt.” He laughed.

  “Interesting. So you’re looking for a pusher.”

  He laughed. “I guess you can say that. What about you?” He filled both glasses with water.

  “Me?”

  “What about the boyfriend?”

  “What about him?”

  “Is he…”

  “The one? No.”

  “Then why are you wasting your time?”

  “I’m not wasting my time. Just because I don’t want to get married, doesn’t mean I can’t have a good time.”

  “Oh.” His heart quickly dropped to the bottom of his stomach. Not only did she have a boyfriend, she didn’t want to get married. “Why don’t you want to get married?”

  “It’s too confining and I’m a little selfish. I’m not the dinner party hostess and soccer mom type excited about spending a week at Disneyland.” She laughed and he forced a smile. “My boyfriend knows that. He’s proposed to me several times and I always turn him down.”

  “You’d make a good wife. You’re smart, funny, beautiful—” He quickly stopped speaking. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Thank you for the compliment, but I don’t—”

  “Miss, I was told to give this to you.” The server handed her Ronnie’s card and asked, “Will there be anything else?”

  “No, thank you.” She wrote her name on the back of the card and handed it to Sean. “I’ll be sure to tell Ronnie to expect a call from you.”

  “Thank you.” He looked at his watch. “I need to get back to work.” He stood up and helped her to her feet.

  “Thank you.”

  He stood transfixed by her scent as he helped her with her coat. She turned to face him and her smile drew him back in. Maybe friendship was best. A serious relationship with a woman like this could be dangerous.

  “We should do this again.”

  “We will, when you treat me to dinner after you finish that apartment you’re working on.” He smiled.

  “That’s right. I forgot you’re taking me to dinner.”

  “No, you promised me dinner, remember?”

  “Vaguely.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek and his insides melted. He felt like a twelve year old boy being kissed by the hottest girl in school. “Maybe next time you’ll give me one of those church boy kisses.”

  He looked at her smile and knew he was in trouble.

  Chapter 25

  INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO work, Sean went for a walk. He enjoyed spending the afternoon with Kyla. He wasn’t expecting her to say some of the things she said, but he liked her candidness. Outwardly, she was exactly what he liked…average height with lots of curves and incredible lips.

  There were also, some things about her that could be potential problems. He loved God and it seemed like she didn’t. She was sexually active and he was celibate. She drank and he never touched alcohol. Major differences. He stood at the corner waiting on the light to change and the red color caught his attention. It reminded him of Kyla’s full red lips. His mind drifted back to her invitation to kiss her. He wondered how her lips would feel pressed against his. He knew any kind of social relationship with her was dangerous, but…

  He reached inside his pocket for his phone, pressing the programmed number waiting for someone to answer. “Hey, can we talk…sure…I’ll see you in about twenty minutes…Thanks.”

  He walked in and the doorman waved him in as he had so many times before. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor. On the ride up he kept trying to justify his feelings for Kyla. The elevator stopped, he stepped out and walked across the hall to the open door. He pushed the door open and was greeted by a beautiful honey colored lab. He rubbed the dog’s neck. “Hey boy. Where is everyone?” He started walking around and called out, “Hello.”

  “Hey Sean, I’m in the kitchen,” a woman’s voice called.

  “Come on boy, let’s go find your mama.” He walked down the hall to the kitchen with the dog leading the way.

  “Hey Sean.” He kissed the petite, dark skinned woman on the cheek. “Alvin sit down.” The dog trotted over to his bed in the corner and did as told.

  “Hi Trina.”

  “What’s her name?” Sean shook the baby’s hand ignoring her question. “Sean.”

  “What makes you think I’m here about a woman?”

  “Because you came to me first.” They both laughed. “Besides, if it wasn’t for your knocking some sense into Chris, I wouldn’t be your godsister.”

  “Very true.”

  “So, tell me about her.”

  “She’s…uhm…she’s not like any other woman I know.”

  “That would only be possible, if she weren’t troubled.” She looked at him and smirked and then back at her son. “Tyler, I don’t know what uncle Sean would do without mommy helping him understand women.” Tyler giggled.

  “Hey little man, I thought you were on my side?”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “She has a boyfriend and—”

  “I’m home,” called out a deep voice. “Where is every one?”

  “We’re in the kitchen honey.” Alvin barked and trotted off in the direction of the voice and footsteps coming into the kitchen. A few seconds later he returned and climbed up into his bed.

  “Sean, are you here trying to steal my wife?” Chris joked as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Like I could.” He laughed and hugged his godbrother.

  “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Chris asked.

  Chris and Sean’s moms were best friends and made a pact when they had children, to be each other’s godmothers. Both women made the pact hoping for daughters, but were blessed with sons. The boys grew to be best friends. After college, Chris gave his life to God. It was hard for Sean to understand, so they went their separate ways. When Sean moved to New York he looked Chris up. They got over their growing pains and rekindled
their friendship. It was Chris who introduced Sean to the Lord.

  “Nothing much,” Sean replied.

  “He’s here because of a woman,” Trina announced.

  “Is this about the woman you mentioned a few weeks ago?”

  “Yes,” Sean replied.

  Trina looked at Chris and the concern reflecting in his eyes. She stood up and brushed the crumbs off her lap. “I’m going to walk Alvin while you two put Tyler down for his nap and talk.” She kissed Chris, grabbed the dog’s leash and left with Alvin following her.

  Chris picked up Tyler and sat in Trina’s seat and waited for the door to close before saying anything.

  “Tell me about her.”

  A smile covered his face. “She’s beautiful, smart, talented, funny, has a boyfriend and—”

  “And God?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “That’s not true.” He tapped his legs hoping to lull Tyler to sleep.

  “Are you calling me a liar?”

  “No, I’m saying you’re not being honest with yourself. You know where this woman stands with God, you just don’t want to tell me.”

  “I don’t believe she has a relationship with Him.”

  “Then why are we even discussing her?”

  “Because I think there’s something there.”

  “Yeah, it’s called temptation, danger, disaster, lust. All of which lead to the same place.” He looked at his godbrother, trying to get a feel for what was going on. “I’m not gonna baby you. You have a tendency to fall for troubled women.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do. You’re a smart businessman, but when it comes to women, you have poor judgment. I don’t know what it is, but you’re only attracted to women with a lot of baggage. What’s wrong with this one apart from the boyfriend?”

  “In the fifteen years since I’ve given my life to Christ, she’s the only woman after sharing the news of my celibacy, to ask me questions and not judge me.”

  “So you think because she asked questions, she’s different?”

  “Yes.”

  “No. It just makes her clever. Do I need to remind you what happened with Francesca?”

  “No, you don’t and I told her about that.”

  “You did? What did she say?” He looked down at Tyler and saw his eyes fluttering.