by Zuri Day
“Like the one in the movie starring Jeff Gold-blum?”
“Who?”
“Never mind.” Dominique forced the smile from her face and turned serious. “Listen, Jake. There are a million reasons why we have to keep this relationship strictly professional... and platonic.”
“Name three.”
“One, of course, is my son. I don’t intend to introduce any more temporary men into his life.”
“That’s fair, but what Justin doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Two?”
“Two... I’m not interested in you.”
“Whoa! Way to pierce a brothah’s ego, baby.”
“Just keeping it real, darlin’. I’m focused on my career right now, and on raising my son.”
“Another one of those career women,” Jake mumbled. He preferred more homey and less driven women, the way his mother had been, and a couple of his sisters-in-law were. They were content to take care of home. That’s the kind of women he found attractive. Wasn’t it? The way he kept trying to make a case to the contrary, one couldn’t tell. “I don’t buy that you’re not interested,” he continued. “But let’s move on to number three.”
Dominique stifled a sigh. “Do you really need more beyond these first two I gave you?”
“I guess not. But I’m bored tonight. Humor me.” When seconds passed without a response, Jake asked his question again, with a bit more bass and sexy to his voice. “What’s the third reason?”
Dominique shifted in a bed that suddenly seemed to have too much room for just her body alone. “Three is... well... it’s late.” Yes, that sounds good! “Any invitation after ten is just a booty call.”
At the word “booty,” Jake almost groaned aloud. Visions of Dominique’s plump rump had plagued him ever since he’d followed her to his front door. After a couple seconds, he responded. “What if I told you what would happen if you came over?”
“Do you really think it would make a difference?”
“Let’s see.” Jake then proceeded to tell Dominique what he had in mind for their late-night rendezvous.
“My answer,” Dominique stuttered, even as her nipples remained hardened by his words, “is still no.” She mentally kicked herself so hard, a headache set in.
“What about tomorrow?” Jake persisted.
“I have to work tomorrow.”
“On a Sunday?”
“It’s a photo shoot with a busy actress, the only open date on her calendar, and I need to be there to hold her hand.”
“Working seven days a week, Dominique? Where is the balance in that? You’re focused on your job and on Justin. Who’s focused on you?”
Nobody was, but she was less than pleased to be reminded that outside of work she had no life.
“Let me take you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
Because he didn’t have school on Monday, Justin was spending an extra day in Inglewood. Dominique couldn’t remember the last time she’d been taken out to dinner, let alone the last time she’d spent time in the company of a desirable man. “I’ll think about it.”
“I have a feeling you do too much thinking. What time would you like me to pick you up?
This man is relentless! A part of her was appreciative of this fact. She liked that someone else was in charge and making decisions for a change. “What restaurant do you have in mind? I’d prefer to meet you there.”
They chatted for a few more moments before Dominique ended the call. What have I gotten myself into? That was the first question that came to mind when the heat of her libido had cooled and sanity returned. You’ll soon find out was the devil’s response, vying with the just-say-no angel on her other shoulder. She went back and forth between wanting to jump Jake’s bones right now and cancelling the dinner date she’d just made. As sleep overtook her, she still hadn’t decided. But one thing was for sure: Jake’s description of what he wanted to do to her had definitely whetted her appetite.
8
“Baby! I’ve met a man!” Reggie waltzed into Dominique’s office carrying two large lattes. They’d decided to meet at the office to check over a presentation for the following day before riding together to the Malibu photo shoot.
So did I. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, honey, and that no-good two-timing a-hole I’ve been crying over for the past month is now in my rearview mirror!” Reggie paced the room as he described his latest love interest to Dominique, the one he’d met the previous night and with whom he’d awakened with this morning.
“I’m happy for you, Reggie. But be careful. You tend to jump first and ask questions later. And while I’m not trying to rain on your parade, this sounds like a rebound romance.”
“Rebound, he-bound, what does it matter? I’m in love, sistah. I’m not hurting anymore!”
“Love doesn’t happen in twenty-four hours. You’re in lust, sistah. But hey, whatever floats your boat.” Dominique took a sip of her coffee and tried to squelch her ire. Her lack of sleep from the previous night’s restlessness had nothing to do with Reggie. “Besides the presentation and the shoot, is there anything else on the agenda?”
“I know what needs to be on your agenda.” Reggie sat and crossed his designer-clad leg as he muttered this answer.
“I heard that, Reggie.”
“No disrespect, Miss Dom, but it’s true. You’ve been snapping at me for a while now and while I’m not trying to get all up in your business, I’ll bet you ten to one that that attitude is all because nobody is on dick duty.”
Dominique looked over her reading glasses at Reggie’s sincere face. In the time that he’d been her assistant, their relationship had definitely gone from strictly professional to professional and personal. The lines had begun to blur during his second year at Capricious, when she’d broken up with Kevin Patterson. Reggie had been an excellent listener and had often provided the comic relief that this time in her life sorely needed. Her executive position and busy schedule were more conducive to associates than friends, so aside from her mother, Anita, and her sister, Faith, there weren’t many people whom she felt comfortable confiding in. But her love life, or lack thereof, wasn’t a topic she wanted to share with her mother, and with Faith having just experienced a painful miscarriage, she didn’t want to burden her sister either. Still, Dominique needed another opinion and, right now, Reggie was her only other choice.
“I met someone, too,” she began in a casual tone.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Reggie became even giddier than his impromptu romp in the hay had left him. He slapped her arm before sitting back with a big smile on his face. “Do tell.”
“I met him at Justin’s football game.”
“One of the parents? You met a single father?”
Dominique shook her head. “The coach.”
Reggie whirled around in his chair. “All right now. You go girl. I like those athletic types myself. Quinn plays tennis.”
“Quinn?”
“My new man!”
“Well, help me keep it straight, Reggie. You never mentioned his name.”
“Girl, trust and believe, his name wasn’t the least bit important last night.”
“Ha! You’re a skank.”
Reggie laughed. “Thank you, darlin’. I appreciate that compliment. But we’re talking about you right now.” After a few seconds of silence, he continued. “So, spill the beanie wienies!”
“His name is Jake, and he’s an ex-NFL player.”
“Ooh, a manly man. Those are the best.”
“If you say so.”
“I definitely do. What does he look like?”
“He’s... attractive. Tall... dark, handsome...”
“How tall?”
“At least six foot four, maybe five.”
“Girl,” Reggie responded, drawing out the word. “That’s a guaranteed extra long all-beef frank, hold the ketchup and the mustard, okay?”
“Speaking of condiments,” Dominique said with dry sar
casm, “he’s also a good cook.”
“Hm... to know that then, he’d have had to be in your kitchen or you would have been in his. Do tell some more.”
“It was nothing, really. After Justin’s game he invited us over for chicken tacos that he made from scratch using fresh ingredients, a salad, and this spicy rice that was really delish.”
“Shut the front door! You mean he can fix your meal and then you can be his meal? That’s what I’m talking about!”
Dominique pointedly ignored Reggie’s sexual innuendo about the man who’d invaded her thoughts since first seeing him a little more than two weeks ago. The intense feelings she felt for a virtual stranger made absolutely no sense. But denying them was equally crazy, which is why she felt so torn. She wasn’t in the emotional position to give her heart to anyone and logistically wouldn’t be able to do so for another six years, after Justin graduated high school and left home for college. That’s when she’d be able to once again focus on herself, and love.
“He invited me out to dinner tonight, but I’m going to cancel.”
Reggie didn’t even try and hide his chagrin. “Why?”
Dominique sipped her coffee, answering thoughtfully. “He seems like a nice enough guy, but the timing sucks. I’m not interested in a relationship right now and have never been able to handle casual encounters. Going out with him would be pointless because nothing can come of it.”
“You want to know what I think? Good,” he hurried on before she could answer. “I think you should keep an open mind, Miss Dom. Not saying that anything serious has to develop out of anything. But would it really be so bad to go out to dinner every now and then, take in a movie or hit the dance floor every once in a while? Put your cards on the table and let him know that you’re just interested in friendship... although with a man such as the one you just described in close proximity your interest is sure to shift to something else before long. And I do mean long.”
“Ha! Reggie...” Dominique shook her head, sure that anything she said would fall on deaf ears. She looked at her watch. “Let’s get back to work. We need to leave in an hour.”
After Reggie had left her office, Dominique reached for her cell phone. Certain muscles in certain places clutched as the image of the person she was getting ready to call wafted into her mind. You mean he can fix your meal and then you can be his meal? Dominique took a deep breath and punched the first three numbers. Your interest is sure to shift to something else before long. And I do mean long. She punched in the next three, her resolve waning. Then she remembered what Jake had shared with her last night, the things he had planned if she came over—the plans that included cold ice cream in a hot Jacuzzi with no bowl or spoon needed. Then another picture came to mind—the look on her son’s face when she told him that Kevin had left and that he would not be coming back. She punched in the final four numbers.
Her heartbeat quickened as she waited for Jake to answer and she breathed a sigh of relief when his voicemail picked up instead. Even so, she couldn’t stop the flutters as she heard his smooth, deep voice encouraging all who reached out to him to leave a detailed message at the sound of the tone. Dominique cleared her throat. “Jake, this is Dominique. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to cancel on dinner tonight. I feel it better that you and I keep our relationship cordial, but professional, for Justin’s sake. Thanks for understanding.”
An unexpected wave of sadness came over Dominique as she hung up the phone but she quickly buried the feeling underneath a PowerPoint presentation. She was glad when the photographer called and said the actress had arrived and the shoot would begin earlier than scheduled. That sent Dominique into cram mode, which was just what she needed. And even with her mind crammed with all things Capricious, it wasn’t enough to keep her thoughts off of one certain tall, sexy, smart man... and his all-beef frank.
9
Jake stood directly under the hot water from the shower spray, tired but satisfied after his workout. His normal routine was three workouts a week, but since laying eyes on a certain female he’d worked out almost every day. So far the barbells, crunch boards, push-ups, and bike riding had been only partially successful in releasing the pressure. The tension Jake was experiencing was the kind that only a woman could help release. He smiled at the prospect that tonight could be that night and Dominique Clark could be that woman.
A short time later, Jake was dressed and out of the gym. He’d checked his phone and saw a couple missed calls. But it was the area code 818 that had him smiling. Dominique had called and left a message. Wanting no distraction while listening to her sexy voice, he waited until he reached his car and settled in to listen. A few seconds into the message, disappointment replaced anticipation. Jake did not like what he’d heard and before the day was over he planned to make Dominique aware of that fact. Just as he began to hit redial, his phone rang. “Yeah,” was his brusque greeting.
“Dang, man. Who pissed in your grits?”
Jake’s twin brother’s comment, a favorite one used by their grandfather, brought a slight smile to his face. “Hey, Johnny. Ain’t nothing to it, man.”
“Didn’t sound like nothing to me.”
“I’ll be all right. What’s going on?”
Jake should have known that he wouldn’t be able to get away with the vague response. Jake, the younger brother by seventeen minutes, and his twin, Johnny, had been thicker than thieves since holding each other’s hand in the womb. They were fraternal twins, but their looks and the differences of opinion in one important area are where the dissimilarity ended. In all other ways the men were alike—tall, good-looking, determined, successful. Jake and Johnny had two older brothers, Harold and Mike, and while it was a close-knit clan, the twins’ bond was even more special. “I had a date cancel on me tonight,” he responded, after a pause.
“Is that all? With the number of females lined up to sit in your presence, I’d think this a mere inconvenience at best.”
“Should be, huh?”
“But...”
“But this one isn’t like the other women. I don’t know what it is about her but she’s different.”
“Different how?”
“Looks for one thing. You know how I’ve always preferred the slender, petite sistah...”
“Yeah, which I could never understand since you’ve been over six feet since you were sixteen years old.” But if anybody had asked him, Johnny would have vouched for the fact that his tall brother and late wife, Robin, who had been shorter by twelve inches, had made the perfect pair. “So... what’s the stats on this one?”
“Tall... around five nine, ten. Big-boned.”
Johnny’s shock reverberated through the phone. “A fat chick?”
“Yes and no.” Jake closed his eyes, remembering soft velvety fabric hugging a vivacious body. “She’s a big girl, but she’s got curves in all the right places, breasts out to who and ass out to what... man.”
“A big pretty,” Johnny said, using another term passed down by the grandfather but mostly used by their dad to describe their mom before he passed.
“Brother, you don’t even know.”
There was a pause in the conversation as both men thought on similar things from different angles. “I tell you what I do know.”
“What’s that?”
“This is the first woman you’ve mentioned to me since Robin died. It’s been over four years, bro. If this one is worth brooding over, she’s worth going after.”
Jake agreed, but a call from his older brother, Harold, followed by one to their mom, delayed Jake’s call to Dominique. When he finally dialed her number, it went to voicemail. He wasn’t surprised. In many ways, her actions reminded him too much of himself. He resolutely waited for her greeting to end, and then left his message. If he wasn’t going to give her a piece of his body tonight, she was definitely going to get a piece of his mind.
Dominique rested a weary head against her plush, cherry-red leather office chair. What a day! It
had been a long one, both excruciating and exhilarating at the same time. Her team had pulled off the miraculous, and it wasn’t their first time. The cover shoot with Kirstie Alley had gone fabulously, making the crew wish they’d thought of her first instead of the temperamental no-show who’d been such a pain. And as if that weren’t enough, she’d received an e-mail stating that up-and-coming actress Gabourey Sidibe, as precious as she was capricious, had agreed to be their cover girl for the June issue. They’d been working with her publicist for weeks and had finally gotten the official yes. A contented smile came to Dominique’s face as she stretched and sat up. Her eyes widened as she looked at the time. Was it really seven o’clock? It was definitely time to go home!
As if to underscore this fact, Reggie bounded from the chair in front of her desk. “I sure hope we’re done for the day, Miss Dom, because I gotta go.”
“Yes, Reggie. It’s a wrap. Thanks for your hard work. I’ll remember this at the end of the year, when the holidays roll around.”
“Thanks, Miss Dom. See ya!” Reggie pranced toward the door but stopped short when he reached it. “Wait a minute. Don’t you have somewhere to go as well?”
Dominique shook her head. “I cancelled the date, Reg. But don’t worry about me. I’ve got a long soak in a hot tub and a glass of wine with my name on it. Justin is still in Inglewood so I’m looking forward to some me time.”
“If it were up to me,” Reggie said, “you would be doing something more meaningful with your footloose-and-fancy-free evening.”
“Then it’s a good thing it’s not up to you, huh? Now get on out of here before I think of more work for us to do.”
Reggie shrieked and was gone.
Dominique laughed out loud as the door slammed. Reggie could be a handful but when all was said and done he was the best assistant she’d ever had—organized, pro-active, could sell snow to an Eskimo and make Scrooge smile. His background wasn’t pretty but her assistant was proof that one could take life’s lemons and make lemon icebox pie. You could follow my lead sistah-girl, and have some dessert yourself. Dominique laughed again. “Get out of my head, Reggie,” she said aloud, reaching for her cell phone in the process. She saw that she’d missed a call. Her heart skipped a beat when she read the number. Jake. She pressed the button to hear what he had to say.