Kandace looked from Richmond to Alicia, but didn’t say a word. Alicia shrugged at her friends and gripped her glass. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Then maybe Richmond can tell us why he knocked out a complete stranger tonight,” Kandace said.
“Because he was being disrespectful and I snapped. Did I do something wrong? Had any of you ladies been in the same situation, I would’ve done the same thing.”
Alicia released a tense breath because she knew her friends wouldn’t be in the same situation. Seeing Felix unlocked some emotions that she’d kept hidden for several years. Seeing him just made it come back in ways that scared her. She hoped that she wouldn’t have to see that son of a bitch again.
Richmond stroked her arm. “What are you ladies doing for dinner, because I know whatever they’re going to serve here isn’t going to be as good as Busy Bee Café.”
Alicia nodded. “That’s a good idea. Rubber chicken isn’t what I consider a good meal.”
“What about our award?” Jade asked.
“I don’t have to be here,” Alicia said as Richmond took her hand in his. “We’ll link up later at the hotel and y’all can tell me all about it.”
Kandace and Jade exchanged confused looks. “Can we have a second before you leave?” Kandace asked.
“Not right now,” Alicia said. “I can’t do this.”
“What’s going on?” Jade asked.
“Nothing, I’m just over this. See you later.” Alicia allowed Richmond to usher her out of the patio area without looking back at her friends.
Once they were alone on the sidewalk, Richmond rocked back on his heels. “What do you feel like eating for dinner?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite for real food, but a chili dog from the Varsity would be awesome.”
“What’s the Varsity?”
Alicia smiled. “You’re really going to have to learn more about Atlanta if you want people to take you seriously. The Varsity is like one of the most iconic restaurants in Atlanta. And I have to introduce you to Southern hot dogs.”
“What’s the difference?”
“You’ll see.” Alicia sighed and felt her heartbeat calm down. “Richmond, have you started your marketing research yet?”
“Yes. Actually, I have a copy of the report saved in the cloud and . . . We’re not doing this tonight. Let’s just eat the hot dogs.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’d be happy to look over it with you.”
“Great idea, because I can admit that I will need some help learning this city. Should we take Uber or walk?”
“We could walk if I weren’t wearing these shoes.” She held her foot out and showed off her four-inch heels. Looking at her shapely leg, Richmond couldn’t help but wonder again what they would feel like wrapped around his waist.
She placed her hand on his wrist. “I’m going to order an Uber.”
“Cool,” he said.
About fifteen minutes later, a black car came to pick them up. Richmond opened the door for Alicia and she slid into the car. The scent of her perfume filled his nostrils and his want for her rose like yeast.
“What’s that scent you’re wearing?” he asked as he closed the door.
“Jasmine oil.”
“Smells amazing,” he said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask, but I might not answer.”
“That guy back there. What was that all about?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “Just some unresolved college issues. And I don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s fine. If you ever need my hands again, know that I’m here for you.”
She offered him a smirk. “That’s good to know. I hope you don’t think that I’m some drama queen and this is how I roll in business and life.”
“I have no room to judge anyone after all that I’ve been through. Things happen and you can start over or let it consume you.”
“Is that why you’re in Atlanta?”
Richmond shrugged. “Being here is more about me blazing a path of my own. I’m sure you’ve read about it in the papers—my whole life was a lie.”
“You don’t have to get into it if you don’t want to. We’re just going to have hot dogs. We can save the commiserating for another day.”
“So, that means we’re going to see each other again—outside of a business office?”
Alicia’s cheeks heated. “I guess we can make that happen.”
He wanted to kiss her as much as he wanted to take his next breath. And though he tried to stop himself, Richmond stroked her smooth cheek. “You are so beautiful.”
“Richmond, you—”
“Guys, we have made it to the Varsity,” the driver said.
Alicia looked into his eyes. “Guess that’s our cue to get out.”
Richmond exited the car, then held the door for Alicia. “All right, let’s see how these iconic hot dogs compare to the dogs from New York.”
Chapter 4
It was official, Richmond decided as he pushed his half-eaten hot dog into the middle of the table. Southerners ruined a good dog with that damned coleslaw.
“What’s wrong?” Alicia asked before taking a bite of her hot dog.
“Southerners really know how to mess up a hot dog. Sauerkraut, not coleslaw, belongs on hot dogs. Mustard and ketchup and that’s it.”
She laughed and took another bite of her hot dog, which was filled with cheese, chili, coleslaw, and ketchup. “You, my friend, have been missing out.”
“No, you don’t know the truth about what a hot dog should taste like. The fries are great, though.”
“Maybe you should order a burger. Because if you leave here hungry, then I have failed at my job.”
“Then I will get a burger and some more fries.”
She nodded and watched him walk up to the counter. Alicia sighed and sipped her milkshake. Being with Richmond over these last few hours had been so calming. She hadn’t expected to be so affected by seeing Felix again. His voice and the arrogance of him thinking that she would ever allow him to touch her. What a fucking moron. She slammed her empty glass on the table.
“You’re all right?” Richmond asked.
“Yes, I think I need another milkshake. It’s been awhile since I’ve had this kind of late dinner.”
He nodded, but Richmond wondered if there was more going on. “Vanilla, right?” He set his burger and fries on the table.
“I got this. As a matter of fact, I’ll get you one so that you can get the taste of coleslaw out of your mouth,” she said as she rose to her feet. Richmond smiled as he watched Alicia sashay to the counter. They stood out like a pair of stylish sore thumbs. Richmond smiled as she crossed the room looking like a model. He figured that she would sell thousands of milkshakes if anyone saw her on a poster holding that milkshake with a smile on her face. Though he knew it was common knowledge that Elliot Crawford was not his biological father, and that Richmond had been arrested in Los Angeles—though the details of his arrest hadn’t been exposed, he wanted to talk to Alicia about all of that. He knew he could trust her and he wanted her to feel that comfortable with him.
“Here you go,” she said as she set the creamy concoction in front of him. “I had the whipped cream added because everything is better with whipped cream on top.”
Richmond’s mouth fell open as he imagined whipped cream covering her chocolate breasts. He took a big sip of his milkshake, but the fire that was burning inside him couldn’t be extinguished. He wanted Alicia, badly.
“What’s that look?” Alicia asked when their eyes locked.
“Just thinking that we must look pretty ridiculous right now.” He looked around at the crowd, most of the customers dressed in shorts, tank tops, and sneakers. Richmond noticed the strange looks they’d received. Especially the looks that Alicia got. She was beyond beautiful in that dress. But he knew a place where he’d like to see that frock—on the floor beside his bed.
“R
ichmond? Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Are you ready to go? I just called a car for us.”
“I was going to do that.”
“Well, I just jumped the gun because I want to see your house. If you don’t mind having a little company tonight.”
Richmond shrugged. “There’s really not much to see there. One room is furnished and . . .”
“You know, in Atlanta, your house is your calling card, and since you’re in the hospitality industry, your home has to be magical. I can help you with that. Get your face out there and make people remember your name.”
Richmond folded his arms across his chest. “What does my house have to do with the hotels?”
“Because people are going to want to get to know you. And by knowing you, that means getting inside your home. It’s an image thing. Think of it like this: If people are going to spend money for your luxurious hotels, they’re going to want to see how you’re living.”
Richmond frowned. “I guess this is the part of building my brand that I didn’t consider in the marketing aspect of everything. I’ve had enough about letting the world into my life.”
“That’s why you control the narrative and I have a friend who can help. Like get you on the cover of Atlanta Scene Magazine.” Alicia rubbed her hands together. “And Dunwoody is the new hip spot in Atlanta, so let me see this house.”
“All right, let’s do it.” They headed outside to wait for the car and Richmond placed his hand on the small of Alicia’s back. It seemed as if his hand belonged there, as if holding this woman was what he was meant to do. Even though it felt so right, nothing good could come from this. Not when he needed her to help him take over the city of Atlanta. He’d seen firsthand how mixing business and pleasure blew up in Solomon’s face, and he couldn’t make that same mistake. Still, it felt so good to have this woman in his arms.
Alicia melted into his embrace, felt the heat coming from his hand as they stood there. She leaned her head on his shoulder. A feeling of calm rushed through her and Alicia was shocked. This made absolutely no sense. She wasn’t that weak-willed woman who thought a man with a strong right hook was the cat’s meow. She always prided herself on being able to handle herself without the assistance of a man. So, why was Richmond different? Was this a reaction to months without having any interaction with a man? She took a deep breath and tried to shut her mind off.
As the black car pulled up, Richmond crossed over to the passenger side and opened the door for Alicia. “M’lady,” he said in a horrible British accent.
“Ooh, don’t do that again,” she quipped as she slipped into the car. Richmond followed and eased close to her. He stroked her cheek and brought his lips down on top of hers in a slow and gentle kiss.
“As long as I can do that again, I’ll stop.”
Blinking, she looked up at him and sighed. “We’d better get going.”
“Right. But you should answer my question. Will I get to kiss you again?”
She stroked her chin and smiled at him. “All I’m going to say is maybe.”
He wrapped his arms around Alicia’s shoulders as the car started. She leaned against him and closed her eyes. She was tired, but excited to see what Richmond was working with in the burbs.
As they cruised along, the car hit a pothole, jostling Alicia and Richmond. He wrapped his arms around her and she made no move to break out of his embrace.
The car stopped and Alicia looked up at the colonial house with wide-eyed wonderment. First she was captivated by the ivory columns, then the redbrick porch made her think of the charming Old South, where debutants were photographed with parasols and beaus holding their hands.
“This is beautiful,” she said as she stepped out of the car. Though it was dark, she could tell the lawn was manicured, as a great Southern lawn should be. As she walked up the steps, her shoe slipped from her left foot. Richmond picked up the shoe and smiled.
“I see you, Cinderella,” he said as he held the shoe out to her.
“Sorry about that,” she said as she took her golden sandal from his hands. “Richmond, this place is magical.” Alicia spun around in the empty foyer. “We can get you styled and up and running in no time. How did you find this place?”
He shrugged. “I just wrote a check.”
“Must be nice,” she said as she walked into the empty living room. Her eyes went straight to the crystal chandelier above her head. “Turn this on.”
Richmond flipped the switch and the room was bathed in a golden light that sparkled.
“You’re going to have to take your picture in this light.”
“I guess I can do that,” he said with a smile. Richmond wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around. “Next you’re going to tell me that I should have a party here.”
“Oh, you can read my mind now. It’s a good idea, though.” He dipped her and they locked eyes as if they had heard a song of their own. She felt like a cartoon princess as he held her.
“Well. I guess I should get the full tour,” she said as they broke their embrace. “You took ballroom dancing lessons, huh?”
“You know it was a thing for a while. Vivian and I did it because everyone else was. She didn’t realize that we were actually going to have to touch each other.” Richmond laughed, then took Alicia’s hand in his. “All right. I did furnish my bedroom.”
“Typical,” she quipped as they reached the top of the spiral staircase. “This place is beautiful, though. Can’t believe you haven’t had it decorated yet.”
“I had no idea that I was going to have to share the ins and outs of my house with the city of Atlanta in order to do business.”
“You don’t have to, but you keep forgetting that you’re the Yankee in this situation. A little honey and Southern hospitality never hurt anybody.”
“Catching more flies with honey has never been my style,” he said. Richmond opened the door to his bedroom. Alicia immediately thought of candles, rose petals, and satin sheets. Then it was as if she felt his hands wrapped around her body, peeling her clothes off and touching her body in all the right places.
“Is it that bad?” Richmond asked, his lips against her ear.
“What?”
“You haven’t said a word.”
Facing him, she grinned. “Nice room. And this carpet.” Alicia took her shoes off. “So soft.” Crossing over to the window, she looked out on the velvet-black night. “I bet the sunlight coming through these windows is all the alarm clock you need.”
“Nah, I have blackout shades,” he said with a smirk.
“What a waste of a view.”
Not from where I’m standing, he thought as he gave Alicia a slow once-over. Her silhouette in the moonlight was nothing short of perfection. That was a view he wouldn’t mind waking up to every morning. Feeling a bulge in his slacks, Richmond realized that he needed to get his hormones under control.
“I have a bottle of merlot in the wine cellar. Want a glass?”
“That sounds amazing. I’m guessing your wine collection is legendary.”
He winked at her. “If I have to toot my own horn, it is. Want to see the wine cellar? The Realtor turned me on to this great wine shop, Perrine’s. Gave me a chance to amp up what I brought from New York.”
“Sure,” she said, then reached for her shoes. Richmond stopped her.
“You don’t need them.” He stopped himself from scooping her up in his arms. But Richmond wanted to feel her body pressed against his and kiss her again. She’d awakened something in him that had been dormant for too long.
He couldn’t even remember if he’d felt that way about Vivian in the early days of their courtship. Actually he could remember—he’d never felt this way about a woman in his life. The yearning, the want, and the need for Alicia Michaels was overwhelming.
“Watch your footing,” he said as they walked down to the cellar. “The last thing I need is to have to explain to your girls how you fe
ll down the stairs.”
Alicia glanced at her watch. “There’s going to be a lot of questions when I get back to the hotel.”
“The right answer is always I don’t know.” He flipped the light on in the cellar. “When I found out this was a part of the house, I knew I had to have it.”
“I thought you just wrote a check.”
“Yeah, when I found out about the wine cellar.” He laughed and took her hand in his. “Now, to find that amazing bottle of merlot.”
Alicia glanced around the cellar and nodded as she drank in the brick and oak walls. The soft lights gave the room a warm glow. “If you had some cheese and grapes, you could live down here.”
“That’s not creepy at all,” he quipped. “Ah. Found it, Albertoni merlot. One of my favorite California brands.”
Alicia took the bottle from his hands and read the awards. “I’m impressed.”
Richmond grabbed two wineglasses and a corkscrew. He led Alicia over to a settee in the corner, then took the bottle from her hands. Richmond made short work of opening the wine and poured a small amount in her glass. She sniffed it, then sipped the wine.
“This is delicious,” she moaned.
Richmond filled their glasses with the merlot and smiled. “Here’s to the start of a beautiful relationship.”
She clanked her glass against his. “Salut.”
They sat in the cellar and drank the merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Richmond and Alicia fell into a comfortable conversation about Atlanta, decorating, and his hardwood floors.
Glancing at her watch, Alicia pushed her empty glass aside. “It’s getting late.”
“You know what they say about time and having fun.”
Rising to her feet, Alicia was a bit wobbly and stumbled into Richmond’s arms. Their lips were inches apart. “I guess I should go.”
“It’s late. Maybe you should stay and go back to the hotel in the morning,” Richmond said.
Alicia’s knees quivered. If she spent another moment with this man, they would wake up with regrets. Pressing her hand against his chest, she sighed. “I’d better go.”
“Let me call a car for you. The last thing I need to do is introduce myself to Atlanta with a mug shot. But I’d love to pick you up for brunch tomorrow and we can tour the big peach.”
Strategic Seduction Page 4