Dangerous Ground

by Smith, Stephanie Jean

  Carl gave Loretta a sheepish grin. “Loretta don’t look at me that way, I just wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t try to make a move on you. I knew the day we met that we would never be more than friends. All kidding aside, I’ve been dating Sharon for the last eight months. I got a feeling that she might be the one I’ve been looking for. Best of all, Sharon and Tanya adore each other. Sometimes I feel as if she’s in love with my daughter instead of me. Should I marry a woman to fulfills the needs of my daughter, or should I continue to look for a woman who fits my needs.”

  “I thought that way once before I married Alan. My parents thought the sun shown when Alan walked into the room. I didn’t love him, but I thought it was a good time to get married. You saw what happened to me. My marriage was a complete disaster.”

  “Loretta you’re comparing apples to oranges. Sharon is nothing like Alan.”

  “If you’re thinking of marrying this woman because your daughter needs a woman’s influence, you’re using this woman, and in time she’s going to realize that. If you’re thinking of marrying again, it should be with a woman you love and respect.”

  “I’m not getting any younger Loretta, and neither is my daughter. Tell me about the man you’re running from.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I heard it through the grapevine that you and Coach Johnson are pretty close.”

  “Xavier is a friend, we go out from time to time, but that’s all.”

  “How often do you and Xavier go out?”

  “Once or twice a week.”

  “I don’t see my mama that often! Whether you’re ready to hear it or not, Xavier wants to be more than just a friend.” Carl didn’t tell Loretta about the man who had been glaring at him all evening; someone who’s tall, dark and handsome, a lot more athletic than he was, and extremely angry. Carl was no pushover, but he certainly didn’t want to tangle with the man.

  Loretta decided to come clean with Carl. “I like Xavier a lot, but you’re wrong about his attraction for me. Xavier told me last weekend that he was getting married. I’ve been in a state of denial ever since. I was at Expression’s restaurant Monday, and I saw Xavier with his fiancée.”

  “You’re not going to try to give Xavier’s fiancée a run for her money?”

  “Carl I’m not even in her league. She looked as if she came straight from the cover of Essence magazine.”

  ”You surprise me Loretta; I thought you were the type of person who would never go down without a fight.”

  Loretta put her hand over Carl’s hand. “Don’t feel sorry for me old friend, I had a chance, and I let him slip away.”

  “Hey, would you like to see the ring I’ve picked out for Sharon?”

  “I would love to. You’ve been pulling my leg; you intended to ask Sharon to marry you all along.” Loretta said as Carl reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it and showed it to Loretta. “Oh Carl it’s beautiful.” The ring had a 2 carat diamond in the middle and was surrounded by smaller diamonds in a platinum setting.

  Carl put the box back in his pocket. He picked up his wineglass and saluted Loretta. “Here’s to love in both of our lives. Let’s hope we have the wisdom to do the right thing.”

  “I’m glad I came out with you tonight Carl, sometimes a person needs to talk to a friend who understands.”

  Loretta looked so sad, and he had to do something to make her smile. “Do you want to go dancing tonight?”

  “Carl that sounds like a good idea let me go freshen up.” Loretta got up and went to the ladies room.

  Carl saw the man across the room. He was watching every move Loretta made. Carl was willing to bet his entire savings that the man was Xavier Johnson. If Loretta thought that the only thing Xavier wanted to be a friend, she was in for a big surprise.

  ***

  Chapter 4

  Xavier spent the evening watching some overweight lover wine and dine his woman. He had never experienced the gnawing ache in his stomach before. Xavier knew this feeling had to be jealousy. Amazing enough he had never felt that sentiment in his life until now. He saw them when they arrived; Loretta rarely wore her hair down, so at first he didn’t recognize her. He did a double take when he realized that the woman in the clinging red dress was Loretta.

  Xavier thought he was going to lose control when the man pulled a ring out of his pocket for Loretta to see. At first he thought that man was asking Loretta to marry him. She couldn’t be thinking about getting married, as far as he knew Loretta didn’t even date. Xavier calmed down, when he realized that Loretta was only admiring the ring. The man put the ring back in his pocket. Evidently the it was for someone else.

  He couldn’t believe how scared he was at the possibility that he would have to fight off another man for Loretta’s affection. Xavier was supposed to be conducting a business meeting; he just couldn’t get past the fact that Loretta was out with another man.

  It took all of his will power to keep seated. He let this situation get way out of hand, and the time for playing games was over. Xavier decided that he was going to have a long overdue talk with Loretta tonight. When Loretta got home from her date, he would be there waiting for her.

  ***

  When Carl dropped Loretta off it was almost two o’clock in the morning. Carl was a lot of fun, and he almost made her forget the emotional turmoil she’d been experiencing lately. Carl gave her a hug at her front door. “Loretta don’t wait too long to call me back. I’ll let you know if I decide to get married, you’ll be the first one to receive an invitation.”

  Loretta locked the door as soon as she got inside her house. Loretta slipped off her shoes before walking into the kitchen. Just as, she reached for a glass on the shelf, she heard a knock at the front door. Whom could it be at this time of night?

  Loretta walked over to the front door; however, she didn’t open it. “Who is it?”

  “It‘s me Loretta, open up.”

  Loretta would recognize Xavier’s voice anywhere. She opened the door and let him in. “Xavier, why are you here at this hour?”

  Xavier barely got in the door good before he started talking about her date. “Did you enjoy your date tonight Loretta?” Xavier towered over her trying to intimidate her.

  Loretta put her hands on her hips. “Xavier I don’t have to ask you or anyone else for permission to go out on a date.”

  Xavier realized that he couldn’t intimidate Loretta, so tried another approach. “You know you don’t want him.”

  “Since when have you become an authority on my wants and needs? For a man who’s suppose to be getting married, you sure are paying a lot of attention to my dating habits… ”

  Xavier cut off Loretta’s condemnation by kissing her thoroughly. When Loretta responded, Xavier wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to his body. “Whatever you’re looking for, you don’t have to go chasing all over the city. I have everything you need.”

  Loretta was momentarily disoriented. “Xavier I won’t be the other woman.”

  “Loretta, you’re the only woman.”

  “Then why are you getting married?”

  “I’m not getting married. I wanted you to realize that if you didn’t want me someone else would.”

  “You didn’t act like a man who wanted anything more that to be my friend. I’m not a mind reader, how was I supposed to know that you wanted to extend our relationship?”

  He grabbed Loretta by her arm and steered her into the living room. Xavier sat on the sofa and pulled Loretta down on his lap. “Loretta, I am your friend, but for the last three months I have certainly noticed that you are a woman. I knew that you would never see me as more than just your friend. So I decided to tell you that I was getting married.”

  “All you had to do was tell me the truth.”

  “You make it sound so complicated. When was the last time you dated someone seriously?”

  “Maybe two years ago, why?”

  “There is no lack o
f men who would love to take you out. You are the nicest woman in the world until a man asks you to go out with him, then you freeze him out after that. I was interested in you the night we met at the United Way fundraiser. After watching you in action, I thought the best way to enter your domain was as a friend. I got caught in the friend zone, and I’m ready to move up to the next level. Loretta I want you to be my woman.”

  Xavier was holding her as if she were something he treasured. Loretta was trying to focus on anything except the way Xavier made her feel. “Xavier, I have to be honest with you. I didn’t realize how much you meant to me until you told me that you were getting married. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and I’ve been trying so hard to pretend that these feelings don’t exist.”

  Xavier kissed her on the forehead. “At first I saw you as a challenge; I wanted to get you into bed no matter what the cost. As I got to know you better, I decided that you were worth more than a couple of nights in bed. I’ve never experienced jealousy before tonight, and I can’t spend another night like that Loretta. When I saw you with that man, I almost lost my composure. I probably lost a client tonight because I couldn’t concentrate on anyone but you.”

  Loretta lifted her head and looked at Xavier. “You were at the White Horse tonight? I didn’t see you. I’m surprised you didn’t come to my table and introduce yourself to Carl.”

  “Yes, I had a clear view of you and that heavyweight Lothario you were with. I couldn’t come over to your table because I would have tried to beat the hell out of that man for being with my woman.”

  “I didn’t go out with Carl with the intention of making you jealous. How could I possibly know that you’d be at the restaurant? I thought that I had lost you; I had to prove to myself that I could handle the dating scene again.”

  “I’m the man you want Loretta, and dating other men won’t change that. You can’t keep hiding the way you feel and hope that eventually these feelings will go away.”

  “So where do we go from here?”

  “I want to make love to you Loretta, but I don’t want to rush you. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

  “Who says I’m not ready,” She said as she reached up and touched his face.

  “Will you let me spend the night with you,” Xavier asked as he kissed Loretta lightly on the lips.

  “Yes,” Loretta said as she returned his kiss. Loretta eased off Xavier’s lap and turned off the downstairs lights. She came back into the living room; Xavier was already standing anticipating her next move. “Let’s go to my bedroom.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Xavier eagerly followed Loretta upstairs to her bedroom. The thought of claiming her as his woman was the only thing on his mind.

  Loretta flipped on the lights of her bedroom. Xavier didn’t know what to expect this was the first time he’d been in Loretta’s bedroom. The colors in her room were olive green and black. Xavier knew that a major part of Loretta was embedded in her bedroom, and he planned to find out what all her secrets were tonight.

  Loretta grabbed Xavier by his tie and undressed him as she moved towards her bed. “It’s been so long Xavier; I hope that I please you.”

  Loretta took off Xavier’s shirt and ran her hands across his chest. She turned her back toward Xavier so he could unzip her dress. The dress had a built in bra. When she turned around to face him, she didn’t have any more defenses.

  Xavier stared at Loretta’s breasts, her honey brown skin was driving him crazy. As he kissed her throat, his hands moved all over her body. Loretta started moving her hands down Xavier’s body stroking him tenderly. She didn’t want Xavier to know that she was scared out of her wits. Loretta hadn’t made love with anyone since her divorce.

  Loretta moved her hands down to Xavier’s waist until they rested on his belt buckle. The shrill of her phone brought her back to earth. Xavier groaned as Loretta pulled away from his embrace to answer the phone.

  Loretta turned her back to Xavier as she answered the phone. She couldn’t believe her ears; Cookie was on the line demanding to know how her date with Carl went. “Cookie it’s almost three in the morning, what are you doing calling me at this hour?”

  Cookie was pacing back and forth in her kitchen rubbing her belly. “The baby is being particularly active, and I couldn’t sleep. I knew you would still be awake, so I decided to call. Please don’t tell me that I’m interrupting something.”

  “If you must know, Xavier is here.” Loretta held the phone away from her ear as Cookie started screaming. She looked over her shoulder, only to find that Xavier had left the room.

  “It’s about time you and Xavier got together.”

  “Listen Cookie I really do have to go.”

  “I want all the details.”

  “Cookie I don’t have time for this right now. Good-bye, I’ll call you sometime this weekend.” Loretta hung up the phone; she went to her closet and pulled out a black silk robe. As the smooth material wrapped around her body, Loretta pondered Xavier’s actions. Why did he leave her bedroom, he must have known that she wouldn’t stay on the line that long?

  Loretta found Xavier downstairs in the living room looking out the window. “Xavier why did you come downstairs? I thought you were going to stay with me tonight.”

  Xavier held his desires in check as he turned around to face Loretta. “I think it’s too soon for you to consider me as your lover. I saw the relief in your eyes when the phone rang.”

  Loretta flipped the light switch on, refused to have this conversation in the dark. She looked into Xavier’s golden eyes, Loretta could tell that he barely had control of the desire she saw reflected there. “Was I that obvious?”

  Xavier walked towards Loretta and pulled her into his arms.” Loretta, I don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for. There’s nothing worse that a woman going through the motions.”

  Loretta laid her head on Xavier’s chest. “I don’t know why I’m so skittish; I’m not even a virgin. Alan was my only lover, and I never pleased him in bed. I was scared that I would disappoint you the same way.”

  Xavier put his hand under Loretta’s chin and looked into her eyes. “Having only one lover is nothing to be ashamed off and I’m the last person you need to protect yourself from. I’m glad you told me because now I know why you shy away from being intimate with me. Loretta I want to be the man in your life. If that means we have to take things slow, I’ll wait until you’re ready.” Xavier kissed Loretta on the forehead. “You better get some sleep if you want to make it on time for your music appreciation class tomorrow.”

  Loretta followed Xavier to the door. “Why don’t you meet me after class and will have lunch together?”

  “What time will you be done?”

  “About eleven thirty.”

  “Then I’ll see you there. Wipe that look off of your face. I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

  Loretta watched Xavier as he got in his car and drove away. “I hope your right Xavier.” Loretta whispered to herself before closing the door.

  ***

  Chapter 5

  When Xavier arrived at the King Center for Loretta’s class, he was surprised at the number of children present. There were at least forty kids there ranging in age from eight to seventeen years old.

  Xavier arrived too late to get a seat, so he stood in the back of the room an observed Loretta in action. It was obvious that the children loved her. Loretta was doing more than teaching these children how to appreciate music. She was involved in their lives because she considered all the King Center’s children, as her children.

  When the class was over, parents and children swamped Loretta before Xavier could approach her. It was almost noon by the time Loretta started packing up to leave. She was going over some sheet music with a little girl who had attended the class. Finally, the little girl left and joined her mother in the hall.

  “It’s about time you finished up.”

  Loretta smiled at Xavier as sh
e packed away her sheet music and charts. “I’m sorry my class ran over. So, are you still taking me to lunch?

  “I’ve got some bad news, something came up this morning, and I have to take a rain check on that lunch date.”

  “On a Saturday, don’t you ever take a break?”

  “We’re having some difficulties with starting up the branch in Chicago. So I called a meeting today to try and clear up some of the problems. I just hope that I won’t have to make a trip to Chicago.”

  “You didn’t have to make a special trip to the King Center. Why didn’t you just call me?

  “I know how your mind works. If I called you over the telephone to break our lunch date, your mind would have started working over time.”

  “So you thought I would think the worst? Thanks for thinking about my feelings Xavier, but I don’t think I would have fallen apart over a broken lunch engagement. What did you think of my class?”

  “I think you’re an excellent teacher. You didn’t have to stop to discipline anyone the whole time you were in front of the class.”

  “Xavier, these children aren’t forced to come here. They come because they want to be here, and that makes all the difference in the world.”

  “What were you doing with that little girl who just left?”

  “That was Melissa Steward. Two years ago she asked me to give her piano lessons. I taught her everything I knew, then I hooked her up with the woman who gave me piano lessons when I was a child. Every once in a while I buy sheet music I think she might like, then I let her go through it and pick out the ones that she likes the best.”

  Xavier was helping Loretta gather her CD’s and tapes and put them in her bag. “Do you still give piano lessons?”

  “I’ve never given piano lessons, I don’t have the qualifications. I took lessons for eleven years and forgot most of what I learned. I remembered enough to get Melissa started though, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see that little girl on the concert circuit one day.”