Something About You

by Reese Ryan

  “Sorry ‘bout that, Lita. What’s up?” Dale asked.

  “It’s about Meeka. She’s—”

  “Is she all right?” he asked, his voice suddenly tense.

  “She’s…engaged.” Lita still found the word difficult to say.

  “To be married?” Dale asked. “How could she be? She hasn’t even finished school yet.”

  “Apparently it’s not a requirement,” she shot back, then sighed. “I’m sorry, Dale. I didn’t mean to sound snippy. I’m just stressed by this whole thing.”

  Her ex sucked in a deep breath, then responded after a long pause. “Who is this boy? Do you know him? How long has she been dating him? And why on earth can’t they wait until she graduates in a couple years. Unless…is she—”

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “Our baby girl is going to be a mother. By the end of the year we’ll be grandparents.”

  “Shit.” The other side of the phone went silent.

  Had the call gotten dropped?

  “Dale…are you still there?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here,” he said. “How did this happen?”

  “Dale…if I need to explain how babies are made at this stage of the game—”

  “You know what I mean, Lita. We sent her away to school for an education. Not for her to get—” he inhaled deeply, as if he could barely muster the strength to say the word, “—pregnant.” He whispered the word, and the sound of the television was no longer in the background, as if he’d left the room where he’d apparently been watching television with Alayna. Which meant he didn’t want her to know his daughter had gotten knocked up.

  “What you’re asking is how did I let this happen.” Lita kicked off the nude Kahmune pumps that matched her skin tone perfectly—one of her prized possessions. She paced the floor. “Which means you’re blaming me for the fact that our daughter is pregnant and about to get married.”

  “Well…you are her mother.”

  “And you’re her father,” she shot back. “So how is this somehow my fault, but not yours?”

  “I’m assuming you had the talk with her. About sex and being safe,” Dale said.

  “I did. But here’s a newsflash for you, Dale. Our daughter isn’t a little girl anymore. She’s a grown-ass woman who can make her own choices. I’m no more responsible for her decisions than you are. We’ve raised her to the best of our abilities, and now what Meeka does with her life is up to her.” Lita’s heart raced. She couldn’t believe her ex had the audacity to blame her for this. As if their daughter was a toddler left in her care.

  “Are you saying you’re in favor of her getting married and becoming a mother before she finishes school?” Dale asked.

  “No, of course I’m not happy about it. In fact, she’s furious with me right now because of how I reacted to the news. But this is the decision she’s made, Dale. And unless you or someone else can convince her otherwise…she intends to take a year or two off of school while she raises the baby.”

  “So all of that expensive tuition we’ve been paying is just going up in flames?”

  “That’s your biggest concern right now?” If Lita could reach through the phone, she’d strangle her ex. Their daughter was about to throw away her entire academic career, and all her ex was worried about was the tuition payments he’d made.

  “Of course not. I’m worried that baby girl is in over her head.” He suddenly sounded weary. “And I wasn’t blaming you—”

  “Yes, you were.”

  “Okay, maybe I was. But it was a knee-jerk reaction. I realize this isn’t your fault. You’re a damn good mother, Lita. There are a lot of things I’ve done in my life that I regret. You being the mother of my kids isn’t one of them.”

  “Thank you, Dale. It means a lot to hear you say that.” Lita sighed. She needed to hear that she hadn’t somehow screwed up their kid’s life. It was particularly comforting to hear it from the father of her children. “I should go, but you should call your daughter. Not tonight, because right now she’s already angry with me. She stormed out of the restaurant and she won’t even take my calls.”

  “That doesn’t sound like baby girl.” Her ex-husband sounded concerned.

  “I know. I sent her to college to become an independent thinker, and apparently she has.” Lita laughed bitterly, wiping away the tears that leaked from the corners of her eyes. “So give her some time. Try calling her tomorrow. She’ll be at the beach with her fiancé. Maybe she’ll be more relaxed and receptive then.”

  “She isn’t coming home?”

  “She plans to spend the summer at the beach with her fiancé and his father. And then they’re getting married.”

  “Shit.”

  “I know.” Lita heard the clink of glasses out in the kitchen. “Look, I have to go. I just thought you should know.”

  “Yeah, I need to go too,” he said. “Thanks for telling me. Oh, and Lita…”

  “Yes?”

  The line went quiet again, then she heard Dale’s heavy sigh. “Nothing. Goodnight.”

  Lita dropped her phone on the bed and sighed, too. She was feeling so many emotions. She was tired and hurt. Angry and frustrated. Grieving for the loss of everything she’d wanted for her daughter. Feeling guilty about the fact that Meeka hadn’t felt she could come to her with the truth earlier.

  Part of her wanted to curl up in a ball beneath the covers in the T-shirt that smelled like Trey Hampton and cry herself to sleep. But she was lured out of her room by the smell of warm, buttery popcorn and the comfort of spending a little more time with the man himself.

  Chapter 5

  Trey loosened his tie and rummaged in the cabinets of the well-stocked hotel suite kitchen for a bowl big enough to hold the popcorn he’d just popped. It’d been a long day, and it was late, but he was too wired to go to bed for the night.

  Part of it was the bomb Jamil and Meeka had dropped a few hours ago. He prided himself on staying cool and collected on the surface. But inside, he was freaking the fuck out.

  His son was about to become a husband and a father. The boy he’d barely been able to get to clean up after himself just a few years ago. The boy whose little hand he’d held as he’d walked him to his first day of school.

  He had such high hopes for what his son would accomplish. He wanted Jamil and Jason to travel the world. To experience all the things he hadn’t been able to at their age because he’d had the obligations of being a husband and father. And he knew Jamil, who was bright, compassionate, and gregarious, would someday make a difference in the world.

  Trey groaned quietly. Marriage and fatherhood didn’t negate the possibility of Jamil accomplishing great things in his life, but it certainly made it more challenging.

  “Something smells good.” Lita hovered at the edge of the kitchen in her bare feet, still wearing the pale yellow dress that hugged her in all the right places while the flirty hem hovered just above her knees.

  He smiled instantly, some of the tension lifting from his shoulders.

  Lita Woods was the other reason he was too wired to go to sleep. He liked Lita. A lot. He wasn’t ready to end his unexpected night with this gorgeous, fascinating woman who was sharing his suite for the night.

  When he’d seen her standing in that bar, he’d known he couldn’t leave without shooting his shot with a gorgeous woman like that. There was something commanding and almost regal about Lita Woods. From the way she’d strutted into that bar with her head held high to the lilt of her voice and the glimmer in her dark brown eyes. He’d been completely mesmerized, and even though she’d turned him down, they’d definitely made a connection. The time and place just hadn’t been right. In that moment, he’d never hoped more for serendipity. That maybe they’d cross paths again one day.

  So he’d been stunned to discover she was the mother of his son’s girlfriend.

  Looking at her now, he should’ve seen the resemblance.

  “Can’t watch movies without popcorn and snacks.” He stuffed his h
ands in his pockets as he leaned against the small island. “And I know you didn’t commit to it, but just in case…I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

  Lita’s smile broadened, her eyes twinkling. “Are you always this prepared?”

  “You can’t plan for everything, obviously. But I try to be as prepared as I can for any given situation. It’s part of my DNA now, honed over the years raising the boys. You know how folks joke about the grandmother who has everything in her purse? Well, that was me. Only it was a backpack that weighed a ton. I have mad respect for all the grandmas out there who manage to have everything and still carry that bag around like it’s nothing.” He rotated his shoulder. “Because my right shoulder hasn’t been right since then.”

  “Aww…” Lita stepped forward and massaged his shoulder. She glanced up at him, her expression sincere. “You really are a pretty amazing dad, aren’t you, Trey?”

  His face warmed, and heat traveled down his spine. God, this woman smelled good. Like sunshine and tropical flowers. And something about having her this close…it was like a sunny day at the beach when the whole world felt right. “I don’t know about amazing.” He shrugged. “But I’ve always tried to be a good dad. Mostly by following my father’s example.”

  “You had a good relationship with your dad then?” Lita stepped away. She folded her arms. “I wish I’d been able to experience that. My relationship with my parents wasn’t the greatest.” Sadness washed over her lovely face. “Maybe if it had been, I wouldn’t have ruined my relationship with my daughter.”

  “You haven’t ruined your relationship, Lita.” Trey put a hand on her arm. “You had an argument. Yes, it was a big one. But you’re an incredible mom, and Meeka loves you. You two will get through this. We all will.”

  “Right.” Her voice was faint and not at all convincing.

  It seemed best to let it go for now.

  Trey handed Lita the bottle of water he’d purchased down at the gift shop, along with the overpriced bags of microwave popcorn. “I overheard a little of your conversation when I tried to bring your bottle of water to your room. Was that the ex?”

  Lita nodded. “Meeka’s dad, Dale. We were married just shy of twenty years. Nineteen years too long.” She muttered the last part.

  “Sounded like he was upset,” Trey hedged. For some reason, he needed to know who this man was and why he hadn’t stayed with a woman like Lita. Why he’d walk out on a daughter as wonderful as Meeka.

  “He was…which I can certainly understand. But then he was blaming me and…” She laughed, shaking her head. “I actually found myself quoting you. A lot. Like, your entire argument about how Meeka is a grown woman. So thank you for that.”

  “Anytime.” Trey smiled. “Did it help?”

  She nodded. “It did. Dale apologized for being a jerk. Told me what a good mother I’ve always been. Something it would’ve been nice to hear while I was in the heat of the struggle.” Lita opened the bottle and sipped her water. Then she grabbed a handful of popcorn and nibbled on it. “Did you call Jamil’s mother?”

  “Uh…no.” There was that twisting in his gut again. After all this time, it still bothered him to admit aloud that his wife had walked away from him and their boys and never looked back. “I haven’t spoken to her in more than ten years. The boys don’t hear from her much. She pops up every now and then. So I wouldn’t have any idea how to contact her anyway.”

  “I’m sorry.” Lita frowned. “That must be really hard on your sons.”

  “They’ve grown accustomed to it.” Trey rubbed a hand over his head. “Jamil adjusted to it a lot better than Jason did. It was a part of the reason he acted out so much growing up. I don’t think he’s ever gotten over the fact that his mother made the choice to walk away from him.”

  Lita slipped her hand in his and squeezed it. A silent show of support that signified she understood his pain.

  He tightened his grip on her smaller hand momentarily before forcing himself to release it and the comfort it had given him. “So about this movie. I was thinking of watching a classic. Coming to America. What do you think?” He picked up the bowl of popcorn and his bottle of water then headed over to the couch.

  “Good choice. I’ve seen it dozens of times, but it never gets old. Besides, it’s been a minute since I’ve seen it.”

  They settled onto the couch. Trey picked up the remote and pulled up the movie on demand that he’d seen earlier. Lita shifted, folding one leg beneath her; the other bounced.

  Did he make her nervous? Or was she still worked up over her conversation with Dale or simply concerned about her daughter?

  Either way, it seemed best not to ask. Instead, he’d give her a chance to relax and a reason to laugh. A chance to get out of her head and forget about the reality they were facing, if only for a couple of hours.

  As the movie was starting, she sat up suddenly. “Wait. You promised me snacks, in addition to the popcorn.”

  Trey chuckled. “I did indeed. And I’m a man of my word.” He trotted over to the kitchen and reached in the bag on the counter. Then he sank onto the couch beside her again and held up his bounty. “I had to sell a kidney for this overpriced shit.” He chuckled. “But I didn’t know if you were a Raisinets or a Good & Plenty kind of woman.”

  Lita laughed. “There is something about the combination of chocolate candy and the salty goodness of the popcorn that I just can’t resist. Sometimes, my chocolate and popcorn fix is the best part of the movie experience.”

  “Hopefully not tonight.” He’d said the words before he could stop himself. They were future in-laws. So despite their attraction, they’d agreed that exploring whatever they were feeling for each other was a bad idea. He shouldn’t be flirting with her. And yet, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from doing it.

  Lita’s smile was almost bashful. “You picked a good movie, and the company is exceptional. I don’t think we need to worry about that.”

  “Same.” He handed her the Raisinets and opened the box of Good & Plenty. Then he tried his best to turn his attention to the movie, rather than staring at the glowing brown skin on the heart-shaped calf that bounced nervously. Or noting how damn good she smelled. Or that he could feel the warmth radiating from her body just a few inches from his on the couch.

  He’d suggested the movie because he hadn’t been able to resist spending a little more time with her. But also because he hoped it’d take her mind off their current dilemma so she wouldn’t spend the evening fretting over a situation neither of them could change.

  But as he sat less than two feet away from the woman who’d floored him from the moment she’d sashayed into that bar, it became clear he’d have to draw up every ounce of control he could manage to keep his eyes and hands to himself.

  The laughter had been good for them. As had spending a few hours focused on something other than the issue at hand. But eventually, the movie came to an end.

  Trey could’ve stayed up talking to Lita until the sun rose. But they both had long days ahead of them, including the long drive back to their respective homes on opposite sides of the state. Hers in Charlotte; his in Pleasure Cove.

  It was time to say goodnight, even though he didn’t want to.

  Trey reluctantly turned off the television and stood, stretching his arms and loosening up that right shoulder. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I have a couple of client meetings tomorrow I can’t put off.”

  “I have a lot to do tomorrow too,” she said. “I should’ve gone to bed hours ago.”

  He extended a hand to her, and she accepted it, allowing him to draw her to her feet.

  She stood in front of him, neither of them speaking, neither of them moving.

  He should say good night right then and walk away. His head was completely onboard with that. But the rest of his body disagreed. He wanted a taste of those lips, stained a deep berry color that popped against her warm brown skin. Because he’d been wondering about the taste and feel of those lips fro
m the moment Lita Woods had walked into that bar and sat her fine ass on that stool, leaving every single man in that room mesmerized.

  Trey’s heart hammered in his chest and his skin felt hot. His hands twitched at his side.

  He waited for Lita to walk away. For her to say goodnight and make a mad dash to her room. But she didn’t. She gazed at him expectantly.

  Trey lifted a hand to her face and grazed her cheekbone with his thumb. He leaned down slowly and captured her full, lush, pillow-soft lips in a slow kiss.

  Lita tipped her chin and lifted onto her toes. She slipped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer and nestling her soft curves against his hard body.

  It felt like heaven being cradled against her. Trey lifted his other hand to her face, tilting her head to give him better access as his tongue explored hers.

  Her mouth tasted both salty and sweet—like popcorn and chocolate-covered raisins. And he couldn’t help wondering if her soft skin would taste the same.

  Suddenly his phone rang, and Lita jumped. As if they were teens who’d been caught kissing in the hall in high school.

  She stepped back, touching her fingertips to her kiss-swollen lips. The move only made her look hotter. “Your phone,” she said, as if he hadn’t heard it and deliberately ignored it.

  “It’s Jamil,” Trey said.

  “Then you should definitely answer it.” The dreamy, lustful look that had been in Lita’s eyes moments ago was replaced by concern. “What if something’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, Lita. The kids are fine. Jamil is probably just letting me know everything is okay,” Trey said calmly.

  “Meeka won’t answer my calls, so I need to know my baby girl is okay.” Her brown eyes pleaded with him.

  Just like that, their magical moment was over. Jamil was twenty-one. Yet, he was still a little cockblocker with the worst timing who always managed to throw salt in his dad’s game.

  Trey sighed quietly and nodded. He was being selfish. Of course, she wanted to know her daughter was okay.