Hearts on Hold

by Charish Reid

  “Plus, I’m already more flexible than most of the class. I can kick over my head. Ooh, look at that dress!”

  John laughed as Becca stopped at a storefront window and examined a pink cocktail dress. He could relate to her shiny-object distraction. “That’s pretty cute,” he said, casting it a brief glance.

  “Hey, that’s your friend, Victoria,” Becca said.

  John stopped dead in his tracks.

  “What?” He peered into the store window, trying to hide behind the pink dressed mannequin. He watched a voluptuous woman in a small black dress saunter towards the window, hands on her waist, full hips swaying with every step. He recognized those hips immediately. It was Victoria alright, and that dress... Her cleavage was ample, much more than he was used to seeing in those prim professor blouses.

  “Yeah, that’s her.” Becca, hopped up on post-workout endorphins, whizzed past her uncle and entered the store. She didn’t have time to hear him hiss, “Becca, no!”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Paula, you’re day-drunk on white wine,” Victoria said, squeezing into the black minidress that she’d found on the sales floor. “I’m not listening to you.”

  Paula, who was in the next dressing room stall, made a sound that may have been teeth sucking. “First of all, bitch, when housewives do it on TV, no one says boo. Second of all, I’m not the one who gave that boy a schedule.”

  “Girl,” Reggi sounded off in the stall on the other side of Victoria. “And then you’ve got the nerve to not follow the damn schedule. Aren’t you supposed to be with him right now?”

  “I panicked,” Victoria huffed as she pulled the zipper up her side. “I started doubting everything once we ran into Dr. Williams. He acted like an asshole and John gave it right back to him.” Even though the whole confrontation had made her break out into a cold sweat, she was thrilled John had come to her defense. Hadn’t she already told Kenneth how she felt about being called Ms. Reese? It had been so satisfying seeing her boss look flustered by John’s clever retorts. “I can’t imagine how he’d react to my mother, the queen of criticism. Thinking about those two squaring off makes me sick.”

  “Katherine be might critical as hell, but you’re too grown for her to be a cock-block,” Reggi said with a scoff. “Besides, I’d like to sit ringside for that introduction. You need a guy like John in your corner.”

  It was easy for her friend to think about the long-term relationship that Victoria was actively ignoring. Even if Katherine did approve of John, she’d still pester her about her future. When will you get married? We’ll spare no expense with the invitations. Uncle Jeffrey didn’t lose a finger in the Gulf so you could serve him salmon. Their weekly phone calls would become a daily occurrence. “Anyway, now Dr. Williams is running loose probably telling everyone I’m cavorting with a children’s librarian in order to complete my Four-Week Initiative.”

  “He wouldn’t be completely wrong,” Paula said. “But I see what you’re saying. When I met him on campus, I totally understood why you’d want to cavort. He’s a gentleman who brings women potted plants.”

  “Potted plants?” Regina asked.

  “He brought me an orchid plant,” Victoria explained. “It was a beautiful gesture.” And a naughty private joke. A smile touched her lips every time she glanced at it.

  “Aww, that’s really cute.”

  Victoria returned to the issue at hand. “And then there was this thing with his niece, Becca. The situation at her school felt so familiar and painfully awkward. I remember being helpless when I was her age, not knowing where I fit in or who to ally with. By the time he drove me back to the school, it all felt too messy.”

  “Okay, that’s a long list of excuses,” Paula said. Victoria could almost hear her roll her eyes. “But that’s life; it’s messy and complicated. Romance is no different.”

  “Day-drunk Paula is right,” Regina added. “While I commend you for trying to stay neat and in control, romance isn’t like ticking boxes on a sushi menu.”

  The comparison wasn’t unfair. “Maybe you’re both right,” she said as she checked herself out in the mirror. “I think I’m shocked by how quickly I got used to the idea of a fun, flirty affair. It was so...liberating. Like I was rebelling against something.”

  “And the first time he started talking about ‘first dates,’ you freaked out,” Paula said above the sound of swishing fabric. “Are you afraid of commitment?”

  “I like John,” Victoria said, staring at her reflection. “God, this sounds so stupid. I think I like like him, so yeah, I’m afraid of a ton of things.”

  She was met with silence. For once her friends had nothing to say?

  “This one’s a little too low-cut for my taste,” she said, changing the subject.

  “Let’s see it,” Regina said.

  She tried to hitch the neckline upward before pulling back the curtain. “What do you think? Too much?”

  Regina cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “I think you could go lower actually.” She went ahead and adjusted the neckline herself.

  “Hey, wait—”

  “Aw hush, you don’t get to have these titties and not show them off every once in a while.”

  “Reggi!”

  Penny, the boutique owner, and a statuesque black woman with a giant sandy colored afro and leather leggings, walked over. They had been loud enough for her to listen to their dressing room discussion. With her hands on her hips, she pursed her lips and appraised the dress on Victoria. “She’s right, that one is actually classified as a ‘freakum dress.’ And you’re filling it out perfectly,” she said with a smile. “I think you should try on some shoes for the full effect.”

  “Aaaayyyeee,” Paula called from her stall. “Get it, girl.”

  A bashful smile spread across Victoria’s face as she checked herself out in the three-way mirrors. “Yeah?” The little black dress hugged her hips, snatched her waist, and outlined her full bust before settling on her shoulders. She wound her braids into a neat bun at the top of her head and looked at the lines of her neck and curves of her shoulders. Not bad at all.

  “Well, you got legs for days, so yeah,” Reggi said.

  Paula whipped back the curtain to reveal her own dress. It was an A-line emerald green cocktail number that stopped above her knees. The boat neck bodice and three-quarter sleeves sparkled while the skirt was fluffy taffeta. The dress complemented her full figure so beautifully, Victoria actually squealed. “Paula, you look like a sexy black June Cleaver.”

  They collapsed against one another in laughter as Penny strolled back with a simple pair of black velvet pumps. “Try these on,” she instructed as she knelt down and held them in place.

  Victoria slipped her feet into the shoes and smoothed down the front of her dress. “Okay,” she said, admiring herself in the mirrors. “This might be okay.”

  “She’s not used to anything but work clothes,” Reggi told the store owner. “So this right here, is literally blowing her mind.”

  “Calm down,” Victoria said, still staring at herself. “I like it, but where does a Pembroke professor wear a ‘freakum dress’?”

  Penny shrugged. “It sounds like you need to wear it just the one time with the children’s librarian.”

  The store went silent as Victoria’s eyes widened.

  “I know that’s right. Okay?” Her friends shouted in unison as they exchanged high-fives with the woman.

  Victoria released the breath she held and chuckled. “As the proprietor of this store, I’m swearing you to secrecy,” she said.

  The woman placed her hand on her chest. “I promise.”

  “Since she likes likes him,” Regina said with a cheeky grin and wink, “She should probably buy this dress?”

  Penny smiled. “It couldn’t hurt.”

  “Now please walk the runway,” Paula
goaded. “Do your hip thing.”

  Victoria did as she was told and walked the clear space of store, working her hips as she went. As the women whooped it up, she grinned. She couldn’t ask for better hype-women than her friends. But when she saw Becca’s familiar face in the storefront window, she stopped in her tracks. Next to her, was her uncle Johnny, who stopped short and did a double take. He tried to hide behind one of the mannequins, but she saw him. Before she could back up and return to the protection of her friends, Becca burst through the front door. “Dang it.”

  Becca came streaking inside, face flushed and sweaty and curls all askew. “Victoria?”

  She froze with an awkward grin plastered on her face. “Becca, what are you up to?” She glanced at the window where John had already disappeared.

  “I just got out of kickboxing class,” the young girl panted. “I’m really good at it.”

  “Oh wow...”

  Becca took a moment to look her over. “That dress is awesome.”

  “Thank you?” Victoria said as she tried to bury her panic. G.D. it! John was going to follow Becca inside and they’d have to talk and she hadn’t solved any of the problems regarding their weird relationship. She could feel herself spiraling and couldn’t stop the free fall.

  The door opened and John entered the safe space of women trying on dresses. Victoria felt exposed in more ways than one. She wasn’t wearing the armor of her buttoned-up work attire. They weren’t meeting for an illicit hookup; they were out in the open with her friends and his niece looking on in curiosity. Her sexy catwalk was over and she stood awkwardly while he approached Becca, laying a hand on her shoulder.

  “Mr. Donovan,” she breathed.

  His eyes took a slow tour down her body before returning to her hot face. “Dr. Reese.” Her stomach dropped and her breasts tingled when he licked his lips and his nostrils flared. He and Becca were both dressed in workout clothes, but John’s gray sweatpants caught her attention. There was a definite outline against the front of his pants that she tried not to focus on. His sandy hair was slicked flat with sweat as if he had also exerted himself that afternoon.

  “John, it’s nice to see you again,” Paula said, racing towards the clusterfuck. She sidled up to Victoria while Reggi found herself on her other side. Even Penny made an appearance. Four thirsty women against a man and child. Victoria held her breath and hoped for the best.

  “I’m Regina Crawford, banker and one of Vicki’s closest friends.”

  The store owner edged in and said, “I’m responsible for her dress.”

  A flicker of amusement lit John’s face as he regarded each woman who crowded around Victoria. “Ladies,” he said, tilting his head. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

  “Charmed,” Regina said.

  “I’m John Donovan and this is my niece, Becca,” he replied.

  “We know,” Regina said. Victoria shot a glare that her friend ignored. “Victoria told us about the project you’re working on.”

  John’s eyes flitted back to hers before he blushed His eyes dropped to her cleavage once again. “Yeah, well. I’m hoping that I can help her as best as I can.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you will,” Regina said in a demur voice. She looked down at Becca who watched the entire exchange with a bemused grin. “Baby girl, your hair is doing the most right now.”

  Becca grinned. “I was kickboxing,” she said with pride.

  The mother in Regina couldn’t help herself, and she gathered the child away from John’s grasp. “That doesn’t mean you still can’t look cute. Lord have mercy, look at these curls.”

  Without Becca as his shield, John stood alone and looked sheepishly at the ground. “We got a late start this morning,” he explained. “I didn’t have time to help her in the hair department.”

  Victoria shook her head. “You don’t have to explain,” she said in a low voice.

  Regina wouldn’t stop. “You got this baby out here looking bedraggled.”

  “Reggi...” Victoria said through her teeth. She knew what her friends were trying to pull and it was thoroughly embarrassing.

  “Let me fix what’s going on here while you two chat about your little project,” Regina said leading Becca to the dressing room area. Paula and Penny picked up on what Regina was putting down and joined her, leaving Victoria alone with John. The two stood before one another uncertain of what to say.

  “Honestly,” John started. “If we weren’t late, I would have helped her do something with her hair. I’m not completely inept.”

  Victoria tried to suppress her grin. “They’re not concerned about Becca’s hair in the least,” she said in a quiet voice. “They’re preying on your insecurities as a white dude while they push us together.”

  John gave a nod of recognition. “Gotcha. And why would they do that?”

  “Because my friends are messy.”

  “Right,” he said, biting his lip. “My best friend, Chris, might be as messy.”

  Victoria ducked her head to hide her smile. In truth, she was happy to see him. She felt terrible for evading him since yesterday evening. Throughout the night, she’d considered texting him, but decided against it. Instead, she had opted to hang out with the girls to discuss yesterday’s events. She went to sleep thinking about John and woke up thinking about him. Victoria sighed before explaining herself. “I just wanted to spend time with my friends today. I was hoping to call you before seeing you.”

  “It’s fine,” he said. “You were right. Today was a good day for me to spend time with Becca. As she said, she’s taken up kickboxing. Apparently, it’s life-changing.”

  She glanced back at the group of women crooning around Becca and smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “You look gorgeous,” he said, changing the subject. “That dress is amazing.”

  When Victoria turned back to meet his intense gaze, her face heated up. “Thank you.”

  “I know that I’m supposed to wait on you to call me, but I feel like acting impulsively,” he said. “Would you like to come by my house tomorrow? Becca is staying over at her friend Kelly’s house and the girl’s dad is going to take them to school on Monday. I think they’re still hammering out the details for their feminist manifesto.”

  Every doubt she had just shared with her friends, was quickly banished by his invitation. Eff the consequences and be with this man! “Yes,” she said quickly. “I’ll come to you.”

  “Good,” he said with a determined nod. “I’ll leave the ‘fun’ planning to you.”

  “Okay,” she breathed. “I’m sorry with how we left things yesterday. I think I just got nervous.”

  “Dr. Reese, you never need to feel nervous around me.” John stepped closer towards her, his green eyes sparkled. “I thought I already proved that you can feel other things.”

  Victoria’s breasts heaved against the tight neckline of her dress, constraining her breath. “Right,” she said.

  “I’ve thought about us in your office, in the greenhouse, inside of a closet,” he whispered in a low purr, “and I can’t shake your taste, your scent, or the feeling of your beautiful lips wrapped around my cock.”

  She stood there in a dress and a pair of shoes that weren’t hers, trembling under his steady gaze, feeling naked and vulnerable. The soft huskiness of his voice, paired with the rawness of his words, made her panties damp with desire. “John,” she whispered.

  He shook his head. “No,” he said with a quirk of his mouth. “Not now, my dear. I’ll be your Johnny tomorrow.”

  Victoria nodded her head silently. Tomorrow.

  “Becca, honey, we need to head out,” he called, keeping his gaze locked on Victoria.

  “Do we have to?” Becca answered from somewhere in the back of the store.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Becca trotted to the front of the store, meet
ing up with her uncle. Her curls were gathered in a tighter, neater bun at the top of her head. “See you later, Victoria,” she said with a sunny smile.

  “I’ll see you later, sweetie.”

  John threw an arm around the girl and guided her towards the door. “Dr. Reese.”

  “Mr. Donovan.”

  When they left, she let out the breath she held and shook out her arms. Anxiety and nerves coursed through her body, shaking her to her very core. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “Oh my god.”

  “Girl...”

  “Bitch...”

  “Okay...”

  The women surrounded her with knowing looks, tongues wagging like thirsty wolves. “I know,” she breathed. “I didn’t sound like an idiot, did I?”

  “I couldn’t tell,” Regina said. “You two had your heads together talking so low.”

  Penny leaned against her counter and crossed her arms. “He looked like he was going to eat you up.”

  “It was probably the dress,” Victoria said. Her knees were still shaking after their interaction and she couldn’t wipe the wide grin from her face. She returned to the three-way mirror and gave herself another look. Dang it, I look good.

  Penny gave a throaty chuckle. “I wish my dresses could take the credit, but eighty percent of that exchange was you.”

  “The Facebook pictures don’t do his body justice,” Paula said. “He really does look like a Viking dressed in sweats.”

  “Right?” Victoria asked excitedly. “I’ve seen him in jeans, dress slacks, but the sweatpants might be a game changer.”

  Regina’s jaw fell. “I’ve never heard you say anything sexual about a dude, much less openly objectify one... How big is it?”

  She shook her head. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

  “Suck and tell, you mean?” Paula asked.

  Victoria burst into laughter. “Okay then, suck and tell.”

  Wide-eyed and visibly shook, Regina clutched her heart and rolled her eyes upward. “Jesus Christ, Vicki. You have to tell us everything.”

  Maybe she didn’t need the dress to catch John’s attention, but wearing it made her feel sexy enough to let her hair down in front of her friends. Today, she didn’t feel like Prim Victoria, too polite to talk about sex with the girls. This new Victoria was just a little more reckless and exciting. “Where to start...” she mused at her reflection.