Do Me (Irresistible Husband)

by Sheryl Lister

  “I thought I was the only one who hated weddings.”

  He glanced up at her and slowly rose to his feet. “Why would a beautiful woman like you hate weddings?”

  “Probably for the same reason you do.”

  He lifted a brow. “Is your mother so determined to marry you off that she’s bringing a string of guys around and letting them know you’re single?”

  “Not quite, but they’ve been coming anyway. May I?” Londyn asked, gesturing to the empty chair next to his. She’d spent the past two years telling herself she neither wanted or needed a man, that she had no time in her busy schedule for romance. She had devised so many excuses that she’d become adept at keeping any and every man at bay. Yet, tonight, she had purposely sought one out. A man whose mother thought he needed help. Men who looked like him didn’t stay unattached long and could take his pick among women. Just from his mannerisms he seemed to be a good catch. She couldn’t recall any man she’d dated standing at her approach. So why, she wondered, wasn’t he seeing anyone?

  “Please.” He seated her then reclaimed his chair.

  “Braxton.” He extended his hand. “And you are?”

  His large hand closed around her smaller one. Strong and warm. And since he seemingly wasn’t interested in relationships, safe. “Londyn. Bride or groom’s family?”

  “Groom. He’s my cousin. What about you?”

  “Bride. A member of the family is my colleague.”

  Braxton opened his mouth, then closed it. His lips settled into a grim line.

  Londyn followed his gaze and saw a woman she assumed to be his mother, a look of determination on her face, approaching with another woman. She chuckled.

  He hopped to his feet. “Would you like to dance, Londyn?”

  She read the plea in his eyes. “Sure. I’ll help you out.”

  A slow grin curved his lips. “I appreciate it.”

  He led her out to the dance floor. Belatedly she realized the DJ had switched from the fast-paced dance songs to a slow, jazzy ballad. The moment Braxton wrapped his arms around her, she knew she’d made a mistake. He smelled good and his hard body against hers felt even better. Even in her heels, he towered over her five-foot, three-inch frame by almost a foot. He gathered her closer, keeping a respectable distance, but his thighs brushed against hers and she stifled a moan. All the emotions she’d repressed since her breakup surfaced, and for the first time in a very long while, she felt desire. Londyn was torn between wanting to flee or move closer to the man whom she now realized was anything but safe.

  “So, what do you propose I do as payment?”

  She looked up at him. “Payment?”

  “For helping me.”

  Londyn averted her gaze. “Nothing, since you’re helping me, too,” she said without thought. She wanted to snatch the words back as soon as they left her mouth. Just great, Londyn. The man probably thinks you’re desperate or something, she muttered to herself. To his credit, he didn’t push the issue. As soon as the song ended, she intended to thank him and leave, but he swung her out and started moving his hips to the up tempo beat of the next song. No way would she leave the dance floor now, not when it was a song by her favorite artist, Prince. The old school funk of “Musicology” made her throw her hands in the air and sing along. The DJ followed up with Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.”, Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love” and a few more classics. Londyn couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun. Finally, they left the dance floor.

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Actually, I’ll have to take a raincheck. I need to get going.”

  Braxton nodded. “How about I walk you to your car?”

  “Then you can consider your bill paid in full.” His deep laughter surrounded her and made her belly flip.

  “I’ll take that.”

  He placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her to the elevators and down to valet. She stole glances at him striding next to her and couldn’t figure out why he needed help finding a woman. The man was fine, sexy and a true gentleman. She tried to discern how old he might be—somewhere in his mid-thirties like her she guessed based on the way he carried himself—but his unlined face didn’t give anything away. Another thing she noticed about him was that he didn’t talk a lot. While waiting for her car to be brought around, she asked, “How much longer are you planning to stay?”

  “I’ll probably be right behind you. I stayed through all the formalities, so my mom should be satisfied.”

  “Miss, your car,” a valet said behind Londyn.

  “Thank you.” Londyn turned to Braxton. “Thank you for a great time, Braxton.”

  “Thank you. Maybe I can return the favor one day,” Braxton murmured.

  She smiled. Secure in knowing she’d never see him again, she said, “Maybe.”

  He helped her into the car. “Have a good evening, Londyn.”

  “You too.” He closed the door and stepped back.

  As she drove off, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw him standing there for several seconds before turning and going back into the hotel. She couldn’t believe she’d stayed at the reception for more than two hours when she had only planned to be there long enough to taste the cake and toast the newlyweds. Then again, as she noted earlier, Braxton could make a woman forget herself.

  Londyn hadn’t taken two steps inside her condo when her cell rang. She dug it out of her purse and smiled when she saw her friend’s name on the display. “Hey, Monique. I knew either you or Felicia would be calling me tonight.” She had met Monique Broussard and Felicia Holman in college and the three women had formed a bond as close as sisters.

  Monique laughed. “How else am I going to get the details about the wedding? Did you meet any sexy guys?”

  “I didn’t go to meet any guys, sexy or otherwise, but the wedding was beautiful.” She walked straight to her bedroom and kicked off her shoes. Dropping down on the side of the bed, she massaged her aching feet.

  “Which is code speak for you met someone. Besides, I detected a change in your tone, so you might as well tell me, girlfriend.”

  “You’re as bad as my mother,” she mumbled. “Okay, fine. I danced with a guy the entire night. He’s one of the groom’s cousins.”

  “I knew it. What’s his name, what does he look like and when are you two going out?”

  Londyn shook her head and chuckled. “You act like this was a date or something. We both just happened to be at the same wedding.” When Monique didn’t comment, Londyn sighed. “His name is Braxton, he’s good-looking and seemed nice enough, and we aren’t. He didn’t ask for my number and I didn’t give it.” She told her about them dancing and him walking her to her car.

  “I can’t believe you, Londyn. How could you not give the brother your phone number, especially after he had the courtesy to walk you out?” Monique asked with exasperation.

  “I’m not looking for anyone to date.” She didn’t plan to let another man shatter her heart.

  “I know Antoine hurt you, but it’s been almost two years. All men aren’t like him.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m not ready to take that chance.” She said the words even as an image of Braxton’s smiling face floated through her mind. Admittedly, she’d had fun with him. Would he have turned out to be different? It didn’t matter because she’d never know.

  Chapter 2

  “Who was that woman you were dancing with last weekend at Mikel’s wedding? Y’all were out on the floor for a long time.”

  Braxton glanced over his shoulder at Debra. “She said her name was Londyn and that’s all I know.” He resumed nailing a board in place. His brother-in-law, Jared, had asked him to help build a two-level deck and the two men had been at it since eight, well before the time Braxton usually left his house on a Saturday morning. Now, three hours later, they had only completed a small portion of the top level. Because of Jared’s construction experience, he’d estimated that it would take about
three weeks with the two of them working on weekends and Jared doing some during the week.

  “Baby, if you want this deck finished sometime before spring, you need to leave Braxton alone. This weather isn’t going to hold long.”

  Debra placed a hand on her hip. “Jared, why are you always taking Braxton’s side? You’re supposed to be married to me.”

  Jared stood and kissed his wife. “I’m not taking sides. I’m trying to build the deck you wanted and you’re messing with my help.”

  Braxton chuckled. “Right. And this help is going to want a good meal as payment.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “And not takeout. I’m thinking fried chicken, homemade mac and cheese and some of those green beans you make with the bacon in it. Oh, and rolls. At least a half a dozen because nobody makes rolls like you,” he added with a wink.

  “Mmm hmm, yeah, right. You just don’t want to tell me what’s going on.”

  He threw up his hands. “Sis, there’s nothing going on. We danced a few times, I walked her to her car, and that’s it.”

  Debra studied Braxton a long moment, no doubt looking for any sign that he might be lying. Three years older, she was the only one who’d always been able to read him like an open book. “Alright. If you say so. But if you meet someone, I’d better be the first to know,” she called over her shoulder as she entered the kitchen through the sliding glass door.

  “Man, you two have been married for seventeen years and you still can’t get your wife to stay out of other folk’s business.”

  Jared let out a bark of laughter. “Debra stop being nosy? That’ll be the day.” They continued to work in silence for several minutes, then he asked, “So, is that all you really know about Londyn?”

  “Yes,” he answered without looking up.

  “Is that all you want to know about her?”

  Braxton wanted to say yes, but knew it would be a lie. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her all week. From her beauty and infectious smile to her sensual voice and the way she moved her sexy body on the dance floor, she had totally captivated him. “No.”

  “Then just call her up and invite her out.”

  “I didn’t get her number.”

  Jared whipped his head around. “What? You didn’t ask her for her number?” He doubled over in laughter. “I can’t believe it. You’ve been interacting with computers so long, you don’t even know how to behave in the real world. Maybe you need to start spending a little less time building computer networks and actually network.”

  “I don’t spend all my time with computers.” Okay, so maybe over the past few months, he’d put in more hours on the job than normal, but outside of meeting up with Cole and Axel weekly and the monthly family dinners, he didn’t have much else to do. After several disappointing dates, he’d pretty much stopped thinking about having a long-term relationship.

  As if reading his mind, Jared asked, “If that’s the case, when was the last time you were in a relationship? And I don’t mean those one-and-done dates.”

  Braxton didn’t respond.

  “Like I said, you need to get out and see people. Did Londyn say who invited her to the wedding?”

  “She mentioned someone in the bride’s family being a coworker.”

  He nailed in another board. “You can always call Aunt Barbara and ask.”

  “I’m not that hard up for a date.” Besides, he’d sensed her being tired of men trying to hit on her and hadn’t wanted to fall in the same category.

  Jared laughed. “If it’s been that long, you just might be.”

  He shot his brother-in-law a dark look. “Shut up, Jared.” He didn’t need any reminders of how long it had been since his last sexual encounter. Fifteen years ago, he would’ve gone crazy without having sex at least weekly. Braxton was in the middle of a six-month drought and it hadn’t bothered him as much as he’d thought. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t miss the physical connection with a woman and he’d awakened more days than not hard as a rock. These days he just wanted more.

  They worked for another three hours before calling it a day. Braxton showered in one of the guest bathrooms, then sat to play a video game with his nephew, who looked exactly like his father and happened to be his namesake. The family called him JJ to avoid confusion.

  “I’ve been practicing, Uncle B, and you’re not beating me today.”

  “In your dreams. I was playing video games before you were born.”

  “Anybody can play those prehistoric games,” JJ said with a grin.

  Braxton eyed him. “Are you dissing my childhood games?”

  He shrugged, not taking his eyes off the screen, his fingers moving nimbly over the control. “I’m just sayin’.”

  “Just for that, I’m going to beat you before you get to level two.” He leaned forward, concentrating on blowing up every villain that had the misfortune to cross his path.

  JJ scooted to the edge of the sofa and moved his body as if he were part of the game. “Ha! You missed. I’m about to pass you.”

  “I don’t think so, buddy.”

  “JJ turn off that game and wash up. Dinner’s ready,” Debra called from the kitchen.

  “Aw, Mom! It’s not over yet and I’m about to beat Uncle B.”

  “You’ll have to beat him later.”

  Braxton ruffled his nephew’s curly hair. “We’ll pick it up next time.” He placed his controller in a basket full of remote controls and other game controllers.

  Sulking, the young boy tossed his controller in the basket and stood. “Dinner is always ready at the wrong time.”

  He chuckled. “I happen to think dinner being ready is always at the right time. Come on, let’s get cleaned up.” Minutes later, they joined his sister, brother-in-law and niece at the table. “Something smells good, sis. I hope it’s those biscuits I worked hard to get.”

  Debra rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you, otherwise, you’d be having fast food.”

  Braxton kissed her cheek. “I love you, too. You’re the best big sister ever.”

  “I already cooked the dinner, so you can stop sucking up.” Growing up, whenever Braxton wanted something, he would lavish her with compliments.

  Smiling, he took a seat next to Tonya. He’d had his sister wrapped around his finger then and now. After Jared blessed the food, they filled their plates. Debra had prepared all the dishes he requested. His mother often accused her daughter of spoiling Braxton and she had been correct. Debra had been Braxton’s confidante, helped him solve whatever problems he’d had and, along with their father, talked to Braxton extensively about respecting women and his responsibility in romantic relationships. He would never forget the time when she’d overheard him and a few of his high school friends laughing about one of the girls in their class. Debra had taken him aside and asked him how he would feel if those boys had said those things about her. She couldn’t have made her point any clearer because he knew he would’ve kicked their asses. Ashamed, he’d apologized to the girl and, from that point on, had never knowingly done anything to hurt another woman. Braxton bit into a fried chicken drumstick and groaned. “This is so good.”

  “I know,” Debra said smugly. “I may not be able to do a lot of things, but I can cook.”

  “You can do it all, baby,” Jared said, grinning at his wife. “And you’re the best elementary school teacher in the country.”

  Braxton watched the loving stares between Jared and Debra and smiled. It was the same with his parents. The older couple had been married for nearly fifty years and were still very much in love. Braxton had caught them more than once sharing a passionate kiss, and he briefly wondered if he’d find the same kind of love. Londyn’s smiling face flashed in his mind. Why hadn’t he asked for her phone number?

  “Babe, Braxton said Londyn works with one of Lena’s family members. I told him he should call Aunt Barbara and have her find out, since he forgot to get it,” Jared added, not looking up from his plate.

  Debra fr
owned. “What do you mean you forgot to get her number, Braxton?”

  Braxton glared at Jared. “I didn’t forget. I just didn’t ask.”

  “You should’ve, Uncle Braxton,” Tonya said. “She’s pretty and, ooh, she can dance.” She threw her hands in the air and did a move in her chair.

  Four pairs of eyes focused on Braxton expectantly. “What?”

  “Are you going to get her number from Aunt Barbara?” JJ asked.

  “No, I’m not, so can we just enjoy dinner.” He forked up some of the mac and cheese and ignored his family. But he couldn’t stop the thought that crept in telling him he should put in that call to his aunt.

  Friday, during lunch, Londyn stood around the table in the small office conference room with her coworkers celebrating Dr. Ralston’s retirement. The man had established Ralston Mind & Wellness Center three decades ago and over the years expanded it to their current roster of five psychologists, an administrative assistant and a receptionist. They planned to wait a while before deciding whether to hire someone to replace Dr. Ralston.

  “I want to thank you all for making this counseling center one of the best around,” Dr. Ralston said, his voice filled with emotion. “Shawn, you were the son I never had, and I trust that under your leadership, all we’ve accomplished will continue.”

  Shawn nodded. He had been Dr. Ralston’s mentee and had worked in the practice since the beginning of his career. “I’ll do my best.” He shifted closer to Londyn and whispered, “And I’m going to finally bring this office into the twenty-first century.”

  Londyn shushed him. However, she agreed the computer system needed a complete overhaul. They were still using computers Dr. Ralston had installed more than fifteen years ago.

  “You know I’m right. I have a company coming in this afternoon to talk about designing a network for the office, so we can all access everything digitally and get rid of some of this paper.”