The Closer I Get to You (Cochran/Deveraux Series Book 8)
Page 24
“She didn’t tell me not to tell anyone, so I’m not betraying a confidence. And he didn’t tell me, so I’m not betraying him. But this is so key to what makes him tick,” she said earnestly. And she related what Sarah had told her about Titus. Ruth’s face was full of concern for both Titus and Paris.
“That’s some story,” she said, shaking her head. “My God, what that young man went through. I can see where he would have issues with intimacy and fears of abandonment; it makes it a lot easier to understand why he’s been such a loner.”
Paris nodded unhappily, and gave Ruth the rest of the story about his disastrous loves. “So he got dumped by one girl because he was too light and he was about to marry a woman who only liked him because of his light skin. Can you imagine? I just don’t understand the color game we play with our own people.” She frowned and shook her head again. “But that’s why I know it’s hopeless, Aunt Ruth. As much as I love him, I have to keep telling myself that it won’t last forever because he can’t commit to anything long term. And now I understand why,” she said with a poignant sigh.
Ruth stared at Paris and reached over to take her dessert plate, which still bore a sizeable piece of the lusciously rich cake. “You don’t deserve this,” Ruth said crisply. “If you really believe what you just said you need your head examined, dear. Is there any more coffee?” Paris picked up the thermal carafe and poured Ruth another cup while Ruth continued to take her to task.
“Paris, sweetheart, men and women are very, very different. If a woman says something you can take it to the bank because we’re very verbal and that’s how we express ourselves. If you want to get a clue about a woman all you have to do is listen to her because she’ll tell you everything you need to know. Men aren’t like that,” she said, taking a swallow of hot black coffee and cheekily offering Paris the last bite of her portion of cheesecake. Paris refused and Ruth looked slightly contrite. “I shouldn’t have just Bogarted that piece, but I was trying to shock you. And I’m greedy. I only eat dessert once or twice a month and this is my weakness,” she confessed.
Paris smiled warmly. “I didn’t mind. To tell you the truth I’m not much of a cheesecake fan. I don’t really have that much of a sweet tooth except for fruit and sorbet and Popsicles, things like that. But quit stalling and tell me what you mean about men and women, you can’t leave me hanging like that.”
Ruth swallowed the last bite and followed it with coffee. She daintily blotted her lips and placed the napkin next to the dessert plate on the coffee table. “Okay, if you’re really ready to hear this, here we go. Men communicate in a different way, Paris. It’s actually not good for some of them to talk too much because they say some really stupid things, like the night you made love for the first time; you remember the lovely speech Titus made, of course. You’ll be able to recite it from memory on your fiftieth wedding anniversary, but that’s not the point. The point is you have to watch what a man does, and not count too heavily on what he says because they don’t express themselves as easily as we do. And when you meet a man who can express himself with a lot of ten-dollar words and poetic phrasing, watch him. There’s a good chance he’s lying through his teeth or on the downlow,” she said briskly.
“Now you’ve convinced yourself that Titus is incapable of committing to a relationship because of what he told you over six months ago, right? Let’s forget that he was stuck on stupid that night and let’s fast forward a bit. How does he act towards you? How does he treat you? What has he done to show you what you mean to him?” Ruth paused while her words sank into Paris and she could see the younger woman recalling specific incidents that apparently brought her great joy in the recalling.
Her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling, Paris looked genuinely happy for the first time that evening. “You’re a very smart woman, Aunt Ruth. Thank you for pointing that out to me, although I should know it already, growing up in a house full of men. It really doesn’t matter what they say, the bottom line is what they do. And no matter what he says or doesn’t say to me, Titus treats me like I’m the most incredible thing in his life. He really does,” she said softly, her eyes growing all misty. “But sometimes I wonder if I even deserve to be in a relationship with him.”
“Paris, what are you talking about? Why or earth shouldn’t you be with Titus?” she demanded.
“Because in all the time I’ve known him I never knew anything about his past. I claim that I fell in love with him because he’s so wonderful, but I didn’t know one single personal thing about him until we went to Charleston together. Doesn’t that make our relationship seem really shallow and phony? I’m like the nosiest person in North America, I always find out everything there is to know about a person,” Paris said sadly. “I really missed the boat on Titus.”
Ruth looked at Paris with great affection. “You really are far gone, aren’t you? Sweetie, if a man doesn’t want to tell you something no power on earth is going to drag it out of him. I’m willing to bet that you asked him the usual questions and he ignored them or changed the subject so smooth you didn’t even know he was doing it. Stop stressing about what he told you or didn’t tell you and just enjoy the love. Just think about how he looks at you, how he makes you feel and how he treats you; those are the important things.
Paris looked at Ruth and suddenly her eyes sparkled again, this time with mischief.
“So tell me, Aunt Ruth, how does my daddy treat you?”
Ruth raised one eyebrow and gave Paris a smile that was more mysterious and provocative than the Moan Lisa’s. It was so enigmatic and deliciously feminine it actually surpassed that famous look and set a standard of its own. If she’d been a cat, Ruth would have been purring out loud. “He treats me like I’m the Queen of Sheba, honey, that’s how he treats me. Like royalty.”
Paris had her mouth open to say something when Ruth’s cell phone played a jazzy little tune. She answered it quickly, saying “Hello, Julian.” Her smile got even more beguiling and adorable as she chatted. “I’m just fine, and you? No, I’m not too busy to talk to you. I’m having dessert with your lovely daughter, actually.”
Surmising it would be a good time to give Ruth a little privacy, Paris discreetly left the room with the dessert plate and coffee paraphernalia on a tray. She rinsed everything off before filling the dishwasher, humming the whole time. Her phone rang and she answered it with a lilt in her voice. “Hello?”
“Hello, yourself. Just wanted to hear your voice.”
With a big smile she sank onto a tall stool. This was the perfect way for her evening to end.
***
Paris would always remember this as her best birthday ever. It was held at Bennie and Clay’s house because it was the biggest. Everyone she loved was there and everyone was having a wonderful time. It was the first weekend in May and it was warm enough to grill outside. The Summers sisters were catering the affair, but to her amusement, her father and Bump Williams, Lillian’s husband, took over the grillwork and dared anyone to try to usurp their territory. They kept referring to themselves as The Grillmasters and made a huge production out of the process, although the result was absolutely delicious. They grilled ribs, steak, chicken and fish and there were hotdogs and hamburgers for the smaller children, as well as Boca burgers for Aidan and any other vegetarians. The side dishes and desserts were phenomenal, however, all courtesy of the Summers. The women were so grateful to Paris for having them as guests on her show they couldn’t stop thanking her, thanks that Paris brushed aside.
“You ladies are so talented and your restaurant is so special all it needed was a little publicity which I was happy to provide,” Paris assured them. “Everyone in Georgia should know about Aunt Sisters. I hear business is booming now,” she added with a smile. “Just don’t forget to save me a table for Sunday brunch.”
The music was supplied by Trey and a couple of his schoolmates and they were surprisingly accomplished DJs. They kept the music varied and constant, not too loud but loud enough to
create an air of festivity. Since Clay and Bennie had purchased the house next door for a guesthouse, they’d added a big pavilion between the two homes, which was perfect for big outdoor parties like this one. It served as a dance floor as well as overflow seating and there were colorful little golf carts available to travel back and forth. Paris was so busy hugging and kissing everyone she didn’t have time to get really nosy, but she made notes, there were a couple of people she wanted to question carefully once this was over.
Billy Watanabe was still in Atlanta recording with Bump, who was also a world famous jazz artist. And there he was with Twyla, holding hands and acting as though they’d gotten to know each other very well indeed since the weekend of the Academy Awards. Paris didn’t say anything but she gave Twyla a look that said ‘Gotcha’ and Twyla just grinned at her without a hint of guilt. She finally relented when she hugged Paris and whispered that she would give up the details at work on Monday.
Angelique had come all the way from Detroit with Donnie, Lily Rose and a big announcement; she and Donnie were expecting again. That made two babies on the way, with Ceylon and Martin also expecting. While she was hugging Angelique and exclaiming over the news, Paris had an opportunity to see the look on Bennie’s face as she congratulated her youngest brother Donnie. It was a look of longing and intense desire that Clay also picked up on, apparently. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but she heard Bennie and Clay talking later in the evening.
“You wouldn’t want another baby, would you?” His tone of voice clearly indicated, at least to Paris, that he certainly wanted one. “You already have so much on your plate with the rowdies we have now. And having another baby would add to the madness, Peaches, not to mention the physical effects on you,” he said.
A momentary silence told Paris they were probably kissing right then and she felt terrible for listening, but then Benita replied.
“I know, Clay, I know. It’s such a crazy idea I wasn’t going to say anything. But I really would like just one more,” Bennie said sadly. “I love you so much and I love our children so much and I don’t know how to explain it, but I love carrying your babies. I feel so close to you and so much more desirable when I’m pregnant. I really do want to have one more baby,” she told him with a deep sigh.
“Then that’s what we’ll have, Peaches. I want one, too, but I didn’t want you to think I was nuts. I love you so much, baby. When you’re pregnant it’s so beautiful and sexy it drives me crazy, it really does. You bring me more joy than I ever thought was possible and I’ll never be able to tell you how much I love you,” he told her.
“Then show me, Clay. Show me right now.”
Paris sped out of the kitchen, which was one of her best listening spots. The sexy giggles she’d heard from Bennie in the dining room needed no interpretation and no audience. She was in such a hurry she ran smack into Julian, who’d come looking for her with Lucien in tow.
“There you are. Come look at your present so we can take it to your house and set it up,” Julian said.
Paris followed him out to the driveway with a puzzled look on her face. “Why do you have to set it up? I don’t get it.”
Her brothers and her father gave her the same thing every birthday and that was jewelry. Paris had an extensive assortment of really fine pieces, all genuine and all expensive. Her father wanted her to have lovely things and her brothers wanted to give her things that she could pawn if things got rough. And as Wade put it, if she were used to fine things she wouldn’t let some punk bribe her with something shiny. Loving to the end but always practical, that was her brothers to a T. This was different, though. She waited until Wade opened the door of his SUV, since he and Julian had driven from New Orleans. There on the backside was a box that contained a state-of-the-art plasma TV, something she would have never expected to get from them. She couldn’t decide whether to be pleased, surprised or hurt, but the look on her face told it all, at least it did to Wade, the most perceptive of her four brothers.
“Look, cher, we didn’t get you jewelry this year because you don’t need us to do that anymore. Things have changed, baby girl and we have to change with them,” he told her with a look of great affection.
“I don’t get it,” she said fretfully.
Julian tried again to explain it. “What he means, Coco, is that we won’t be the ones buying your jewelry anymore,” he said gently. He turned Paris so she could see Titus, making his way up the driveway with a gift bag in one hand and a beautiful bouquet of roses in the other. “No man wants another man buying jewels for his woman, even if that other man is kin.”
Paris would have sworn he gave her a little push in Titus’s direction, she could never be sure. But she was in Titus’s arms in seconds and everything else fell away from her consciousness, the way it always did.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Rosy. I had a little delay in Kansas City.” He handed the bag to Julian and the flowers to Wade so he could give her a proper hug. They looked at each other and shrugged before departing.
“I missed you,” Paris whispered.
“I missed you,” he returned. “Happy Birthday, baby. I hope you like your presents.”
“You brought me presents? What did you get me?” she demanded. Paris loved surprises of any kind. “You’ll get a couple of them here,” he said, kissing her neck and her ear. “And you’ll get another one at home,” he added, finally capturing her lips for the long, juicy kiss he’d been dying for. “And if you keep kissing me like that, you’ll get even more when it’s just the two of us,” he promised.
Paris stood on her tiptoes, pressing to get even closer to Titus. “Let’s go right now,” she whispered. “Everyone’s having such a good time, no one’s going to notice if I’m here or not. Let’s go.”
He laughed gently at her eagerness. “We’re staying right here, nobody’s going to accuse me of corrupting you. Besides, you look so pretty I want to get a chance to look at you for a while. Because once we get to your house you’re not going to keep that on for very long.”
Paris stepped away from his embrace and modeled her dress, a red cotton sateen wrap around with a full circle skirt that came to mid-calf. The bodice had a halter neck but Paris was wearing a matching red shrug to cover her shoulders. On her feet were pretty Chinese Laundry embroidered flats, which she had chosen because she planned on dancing a lot. Seeing Titus had changed her mind somewhat, though; she really could have cared less about dancing at the moment. All she wanted was to be in his arms and boldly, she told him so. Her face looked shocked and then aroused, because Titus gave her bottom a smack, then grabbed it and pulled her to him almost roughly.
“Don’t tease me, Rosy, or I’ll haul you out of here so fast people won’t know what hit them. Let’s go back in and behave.”
Paris gave him a mock pout and then returned the gesture, smacking his hard, sexy butt and then grabbing it hard. “Okay, if you insist,” she said cheekily, laughing when Titus groaned. “Damn, Rosy, you’re really trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
It really was a memorable and happy birthday. Titus was pleased that Paris was so happy and he was also pleased that Trey was so astute, although he wouldn’t have said so earlier. Titus stretched his long arms and legs and gave a huge yawn. He hadn’t slept this late in years and it felt really good. He settled himself more comfortably on the pillows and chuckled as he thought about the list Trey had typed up for him in his office. The young man had pulled it off the printer and handed it to Titus with a flourish, saying this was all Titus needed to guarantee a happy relationship. Titus had read it over and looked at Trey, who gave him a look of supreme self-assurance. “Trust me, T., this works.”
The list went as follows:
1. Send flowers
2. Give her a nickname
3. Buy her jewelry
4. Cook for her
5. Take her on a trip
6. Make her laugh
7. Kiss her a lot.
9. Talk to her
10. Buy her a pet
Titus had looked over the top of the list, clearly unconvinced. “Buy a pet? This works?”
Trey had nodded enthusiastically. “We like animals in our family. My mom had a cat, Aretha, and she had gotten really old. She was way older than me, even. Anyway, when she died my mom was really sad and Dad went out and got a black kitten like Aretha and left her on the patio for Mom to find. She was so happy; she said it was like Aretha had sent Della to her so she wouldn’t be sad anymore. She didn’t think she wanted another cat because she had told Dad she didn’t. But he got Della anyway because he knew she would like her and not be so sad about Aretha.” Trey studied his fingernails for a moment, and then looked at Titus with solemn eyes. “Aretha was the best cat in the world, T. You can’t go wrong with a pet.”
Titus had initially rued the day he’d gone along with that advice. He did pretty well with his main gift selections; Paris had been delighted with them. She had insisted she didn’t want gifts, but people brought them anyway and she was as excited as a child. She let Vera and Marcus’s son Chase help her open the packages. Chase was a handful but he loved Paris devotedly and would do anything she asked. Titus was very pleased that Paris liked her gifts. He was more than pleased, he felt like king of the world at the joy on her face. I’m going to have to do this all the time, he thought. He’d bought her a set of fourteen-karat gold bangle bracelets, each one sprinkled with a different gemstone, since he noticed she favored colorful stones. There was a pair of matching hoop earrings that had each of the gemstones attached as a little dangler, she was totally taken with them and put them on at once. He also bought her perfume. He was going to get her ‘Stella’, but one called ‘Paris’ that was made by Yves St. Laurent caught his eye. He smelled it and decided it would be perfect for her; it was very feminine and smelled like roses. He bought everything the store had in that fragrance from bath gel to eau de parfum to dusting powder and she was very pleased with it. It wasn’t until he brought her home and gave her the last present that his confidence wavered.