Love in Play

by Zuri Day

  “You do those types of things with Michael and Uncle Aaron.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not the same.”

  Dominique sighed softly. “I know.” And then, “Your father called yesterday. How would you like to spend Thanksgiving in Dallas?”

  Justin shrugged.

  “You could spend time with your brother and sister, get to know them better?”

  Justin snorted. “It doesn’t even feel like they’re my family. Leland Clark is more like a stranger on the street.”

  “Leland?” Dominique repeated. “Don’t you mean Dad?” While she agreed with her son, she would not allow him to be disrespectful.

  “Travis said he wasn’t a dad, he was a sperm donor.”

  Dominique inwardly cringed as she answered, “Sounds like Travis has a lot to say.”

  “But he knows!”

  “How?”

  “Because Ian, the guy who comes to the games?”

  “Yes, Kathy’s husband.”

  “Uh huh. He’s not Travis’s biological father. But Ian adopted him when Travis was like one year old. So when Travis asked about his real dad, they say that Ian was his real dad and that the other man was just a sperm donor.”

  Dominique simply nodded her understanding. There was nothing she could add to the mouthful of wisdom her son had just spouted, courtesy of Travis and his clan. “Baby,” she said, switching the subject after a beat. “I can understand why you admire Jake, and even why you want to be like him. But please try not to get too attached. Soon, you’ll leave Middleton Prep and enter junior high. There will be other coaches, other teachers.”

  “Not like Coach Mac.”

  “Maybe not. But just remember that some relationships are not meant to last forever. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Like last time, with Kevin?”

  Dominique nodded. “Like last time.” This time it was Justin who nodded, seemingly with an understanding that belied his young years. “So will you promise to remember what Mommy is saying, and not expect too much from Coach Mac? Because the truth of the matter, Justin, is that no matter how we feel about it you already have a father and his name is Leland Clark. Not Jake. I want you to stay clear on that. Okay?”

  “Okay,” Justin whispered.

  “I’ll speak with Leland about your spending more time with him. Okay?”

  Justin nodded.

  Dominique leaned over and kissed Justin’s forehead. “I love you, baby. And just for the record, I’m glad that Jake McDonald is your coach. He’s a good man to look up to.”

  “So he can be like... my hero?”

  Dominique smiled. “Yes, baby, he can be your hero.” And maybe mine, too.

  The phone rang, and Dominique started. Her first thought was Jake and she eagerly reached for the phone. She’d been thinking of him all day.

  Looking at the caller ID, her spirits sank. “Hey, Reggie.”

  “Don’t sound so down, Miss Dom. This call isn’t work-related.”

  “That’s okay. What’s up?”

  “That’s what I’m calling to find out. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, why?”

  “You weren’t yourself today. You came in at noon and then left at four. I don’t mean to be nosy—no, wait, yes I do. But I’m concerned, too.”

  “I appreciate that, Reggie. I’m fine. Just decided to take advantage of a rare day not filled with meetings to spend more time with Justin.”

  “Aw, you put your mommy hat on.”

  Dominique smiled. “Yes, I did and I plan to do it more often. He’s entering his formative years and I need to pay attention and step up my parenting game.”

  “Well, know I’m here to help pick up the slack. And while you’re busy taking care of your son and the magazine, don’t forget to take care of yourself.”

  “Thanks, Reggie. See you tomorrow.”

  Dominique hung up the phone and walked to her closet. Reggie’s comment had once again placed Jake front and center in her mind. It was all she could do not to call him. But Faith had been right. When it came to dealing with Jake, she needed to check her controlling nature and let him take the lead. She’d just finished changing into a nightgown and was heading into the bathroom when her cell phone rang again.

  That’s probably Faith. She said she’d call me later. Dominique and her sister had always been close but Faith’s marriage and Dominique’s career had made in-depth visits and phone calls less and less frequent. Dominique was glad that they were communicating more, and made a mental note to schedule more time with Faith and her family.

  Jake! Dominique took a deep breath before answering the call. “Hello.”

  “I accept.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your apology,” Jake said, his voice low and sexy. “I accept it.”

  Dominique smiled, even as a squiggle of heat hit her nana and spread out in all directions. “Thanks, Jake. I’m glad. I’ve gotten your forgiveness, Justin is back to his chatty self, my life is almost back to...” Belatedly, Dominique realized what could be implied by what she was about to say.

  “Normal? Is that what you were going to say?”

  “Yes,” Dominique answered, her voice low and soft.

  “So are you saying that your life isn’t normal without me in it?”

  Dominique walked the short distance to her bed and sank down. In the seconds it took to do so, she decided to throw caution to the wind and acknowledge the feelings she had for Jake, to stop acting like all he was to her was a piece of meat. In the week she’d been without him, she’d realized that he was so much more.

  “Like I said last night, I miss you, Jake. I didn’t realize how much I’d grown accustomed to our regular chats and...”

  “Regular sex?”

  “Yes.” Dominique squirmed, the thought of what she missed and how much she wanted it causing her heartbeat to increase and her mouth to go dry. She reached for the glass of water that sat on her nightstand.

  “Baby?”

  “I’m here. I was just taking a drink.”

  “Have I driven my baby to drinking?”

  “Ha! Almost. Only water, Mr. McDonald.” She paused for a moment, trying to figure how best to put her feelings into words. “You know, Jake, I haven’t always been the strong, confident woman you met. I didn’t have an easy time of it when I was younger. I was always a big girl and when we moved from Alabama to Los Angeles, I became the country girl as well. Like all young females, I wanted to belong and when the clique on the block deemed me not good enough, that left a scar.”

  “What happened to change things?” he asked.

  “My teachers,” Dominique readily replied. “Thank God I was smart. They recognized that and were also aware of my challenges in adapting to a new environment. One teacher in particular, Mrs. Calvin, noticed that I had a flair for writing and that I liked clothes. She took the class on an outing to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. There was an exhibit on fashion in the 1800s, when buxom women with curvy, full figures were all the rage. I think I stood a little taller after that visit, which came not too long after I’d read a magazine article about Nell Carter and Jennifer Holliday. I saw beautiful, successful women who were my size and larger. I think that’s when the seed for Capricious was planted, subconsciously anyway.”

  “And then you became a force to be reckoned with.”

  “Not right away,” Dominique replied. “I dealt with my share of fad diets and squeezing myself into various contraptions trying to look thin. And then I met Leland, who was the first person besides my family who made me feel beautiful just like I was.”

  “Is that why you married him?”

  “I loved Leland, but I think we were too young to get married. It wasn’t until after the ‘I dos’ that I realized how different we truly are. And then it seemed that the more successful I became, the more resentful he felt. My professional life is where my confidence flourished and when Leland didn’t think I needed him anymore ... he found so
meone who did.”

  “That still doesn’t excuse him abandoning his child.”

  “You’re right, it doesn’t. He’s remarried with two children by his present wife. She discourages his continued involvement with Justin. He was only three years old when Leland left, but he still misses his father. Especially after my last relationship ended.”

  “With the asshole who stole from you, right?”

  “Despite his ulterior motives where I was concerned, I believe Kevin genuinely cared for Justin. He spent a lot of time with him: playing ball, video games, stuff like that. Justin was crazy about him and was affected by our breakup. That’s when I vowed to never again put him in that position ... to get attached to someone only for them to leave.”

  “Is that what you think will always happen, Nick? That a man will always leave you?”

  “That’s the way it’s been so far.”

  “That’s because you were with senseless jerks!”

  Dominique warmed at the vehemence she heard in Jake’s voice. It had been a long time since she’d felt like a man was truly on her side. “I talked to Justin about his comment on your being his father.”

  “And?”

  “And I reminded him that he already has a dad.”

  “Sounds like you need to remind the dad that he has a son.”

  “Point well taken. I’m working on that. In the meantime, we’ve decided that you can be Justin’s hero.”

  “Is that so?” Jake said, his voice dropping low, dripping with sexuality.

  “Yes,” Dominique replied. “I told him that you were a good man to look up to.”

  “You told him correctly, baby. There are men out here who are loving, loyal, and stand by their word.”

  Dominique stretched out, running her hand back and forth across her smooth, silk comforter. “Do you know anybody like that?”

  “Yes,” Jake answered, his voice barely a whisper. “Do you?”

  36

  Dominique reached her office and as soon as she’d settled behind the desk, she called Reggie. “Are you at the coffee shop?” she asked, once he’d answered.

  “You know I am.”

  “Glad I caught you. Can you add a double shot of espresso to my latte?”

  “Whoa, Miss Dom. Sounds like somebody had a late night.”

  “It’s not what you think.”

  “Whatever you say.” Reggie sang in a voice that suggested things were exactly as he imagined. “Two shots and a latte coming up!”

  Dominique rubbed her eyes and tried to shake the cobwebs out of her head. She and Jake had talked until two in the morning, and she’d enjoyed every minute of it. He’d opened up to her about the intimate details of his life: his father, marriage to Robin, and how her death had affected him, and how his own sense of mortality was never far from his thoughts. Later, Dominique would realize that it was in the wee hours of this very morning, as he exposed his fears and vulnerability, that she fell in love with him.

  Twenty minutes later, Reggie switched into Dominique’s office. Today he wore tight-fighting cream-colored slacks, a beige sweater, and three-inch heels. She looked up as he approached her desk and thought that no man should look prettier than a woman.

  “Here you go, Miss Dom.”

  “Thanks, Reggie. Check your Outlook; I’ve sent you a list of things that need to be done today—and oh, don’t forget to call the Body By Night gym and remind Night and D’Andra that their shoot is scheduled for next week.”

  “Ooh, I see Miss Dom doesn’t kiss and tell.”

  Dominique knew exactly what Reggie was talking about. “Okay, so I was up late last night. But,” she hurried on as Reggie’s eyes sparkled and he fairly preened before her, “all we did was talk. On the phone. It was nice actually,” Dominique continued, after taking a sip of her extrastrong brew. “Jake is a good listener.”

  “Child, I can think of better attributes on him than his ear!”

  “Ha! Reggie, you have a one-track mind.”

  Reggie picked up his coffee and headed for the door. He stopped just inside the office, his hand on the knob. “Is there anything wrong with that?”

  Dominique laughed and moments later was buried in work. The day passed quickly and as she handled one issue after another she realized what a blessing the previous day had been. How can I do it? she wondered, as she browsed through potential topics for the Capricious issue that was due to hit the newsstands in five months. How can I stay on top of everything here, and still carve out time for a personal life?

  That question was put on hold as Dominique prepared for her luncheon meeting with François Deux. He had always gotten on her nerves but she felt his timing right now was particularly annoying. In the past two years, she’d only had to deal with his bitchiness in person three times. And now he was requesting another meeting after seeing her just a few weeks ago? What can he possibly want now?

  Fifteen minutes into their lunch, she found out.

  “Dominique, the point of this meeting is quite simple. Capricious has to take everything to the next level.”

  Dominique prided herself on being able to maintain a straight, interested face when all she wanted to do was barf. She was normally a sucker for an accent, and François’s whiny voice and puckered pronunciations of o’s and oo’s reminded her of Dr. Oz on Oprah, when he’d puckered his mouth and said it resembled an anus. François was an asshole all right.

  “François,” she began, in the calm voice she would use to tell Justin his boo-boo would heal, “I am well aware that there is a competitor on the horizon. If you’ll remember, this was mentioned at our last meeting. I am confident in what we have here: solid writers, great features, interesting subjects, and a loyal reader base. The numbers for Capricious are higher than they’ve ever been. Last year, our circulation increased 10 percent. We’re not yet in the league of Glamour and Cosmopolitan, but considering how long we’ve been out here, we’re strongly holding our own. We’re getting A-list interviews, our advertisers are solid. Everyone in the industry knows we’re one to watch.” Dominque paused, and took another calming breath. “To help me be on the same page with you, can you be more specific about this next level?”

  “Are you questioning my belief that this magazine can become much more than it is now, that we are nowhere near where we should be?”

  “Of course not. I—”

  “Need I remind you that as editor-in-chief of Capricious magazine, it is your sole responsibility to oversee not only its success with the readers but the satisfaction of investors and of the board?” He pressed thin lips together and raised an eyebrow as he pierced Dominique with a questioning look. She remained silent. “If you don’t think you can do that, well, I know several people who can.”

  By the time the luncheon was over, Dominique thought that the other restaurant patrons may be able to see smoke coming out of her ears. She was livid. But she knew what François’s anger was about and new competition had nothing to do with it. Ever since the board and investors had chosen her name suggestion, Capricious, over his, Grand, he’d been upset. Dominique had thought at the time, Are you serious? Who’d ever know that a magazine called Grand was a fashion rag catering to the plus-size community? She wasn’t the one who’d called the idea stupid. That had been one of the other investors, a former model turned tycoon named Mirabelle. But Dominique had agreed with her. All these years later and François was obviously still smarting. As far as she was concerned, he needed to pull up his big boy britches and leave her the hell alone. She’d poured blood, sweat, and tears into this company. This was her baby and she wasn’t going anywhere!

  Thirty minutes after leaving the restaurant, the frown hadn’t left Dominique’s face. She wheeled into her parking lot and strode purposely to the elevator. “Get me the sales figures for the last twelve months,” she barked at Reggie as soon as she reached the executive offices. “And the last six issues of the magazine.” She stormed past him and slammed her office door.

&n
bsp; Dominique reached her desk and put her head in her hands. Just when she decides to loosen her professional reins and focus more on her personal life, here comes this asshole, trying to back her into a corner. Dominique knew that she was good at what she did. But she also knew that the magazine industry and the fashion world could be cutthroat. She’d have to dot every i and cross every t to make sure every argument that she may need in the coming weeks and months was sound.

  Reggie gave a soft knock and then entered. He bore a look of concern as he placed the items Dominique had requested on her desk. “Want to talk about it?” he asked.

  Dominique sighed. “Sit down.” She gave him the short version of what had transpired at the luncheon.

  “That bastard,” Reggie said, a scowl accompanying this declaration. “You work your butt off for this company. Capricious can stand toe-to-toe with any magazine out there. And Doo-doo Deux knows that!”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Dominique answered, shaking her head. “He’s out for blood, and I’m going to make sure that it’s not mine that gets splattered across the pages. Do I have any meetings this afternoon?”

  Reggie shook his head. “But you do have that premiere tonight.”

  “Oh, shoot. I forgot all about that. Reggie, would you like my tickets? I’m really not feeling the red carpet right now.”

  Reggie clapped his hands together in glee. “Girl, you know I would! Oh my gosh, but it starts at 6:30. That only gives me five hours to plan what I’m going to wear. Ooh, Quinn is going to be over the moon.” Reggie jumped up, walked over, and gave Dominique a big hug. “Don’t let them see you sweat, Miss Dom. You’ve got this.”

  “Thanks, Reggie. Have fun tonight.” Reggie started toward the door, busy texting away as he walked. “Oh, and unless it’s an emergency, hold my calls for the remainder of the afternoon.”

  For the next two hours, Dominique buried herself in more facts and figures. She buzzed Reggie several times, having him bring in various reports on the competition, trends in the industry, and the like. For the most part, she felt satisfied with the information she’d have to present in any forthcoming meetings on her performance. But there were a couple of potentially problematic areas. Dominique sighed. This is going to be a long night.