Negotiating for Love

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “It’s been a tough few weeks, and I haven’t been sleeping well. I just got back in town a few hours ago.” Paul stared down at all of the food on the counter. “I wanted to prepare dinner for you and bring it out here before you left.”

  “Your friend set me up. He better hope I don’t run into him.”

  Paul laughed. “He’s my cousin.” And if things went according to Paul’s plans, she would definitely see Davion again.

  “So tell me about the house. What happened to your downtown apartment? I thought you preferred apartment living since you spend half your time on the east coast.”

  “I still have it.” He picked at the pasta salad on his plate while Martina finished off almost half her meal. He really couldn’t talk about the place without discussing his hero. “My grandfather left me the house in his will. He died six months ago.”

  “Oh no. Paul, I’m sorry. I hadn’t heard.” Martina covered his hand with hers and warmth traveled through his body. “I know how close you two were.”

  He had often talked about his family, especially his parents who drove him nuts. Discussing family was something he did, but that wasn’t the case with Martina. He knew her grandparents raised her and that she was close to her four female cousins, but her parents were a mystery to him.

  “Some days I have to remind myself he’s gone. I keep expecting to get a call from him telling me that I work too much. Or that he needs me back here in Cincinnati so that my parents can pick on me and leave him the hell alone.” Paul chuckled, but the weariness he felt for his loss went deep.

  “What happened?” Martina wiped her hands on the napkin he had placed next to her earlier. “Was he sick?”

  “Pops had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure last year. His doctor tried putting him on a strict diet and convincing him to get more exercise, but the old man was stubborn. He loved food almost as much as you and I. Instead of taking his health serious, he insisted that no matter what he did, when it was his time to go, it was his time to go. He died of a massive heart attack.”

  “Oh, Paul, I really am sorry.”

  Paul shrugged. “Thanks. Pops was one of the good guys.”

  They sat in silence for a long stretch, each of them caught up in their thoughts.

  “Sooo, I guess you have to deal with your parents by yourself now.”

  He chuckled. Her comment reminded him of the time he had told her that he would rather be stranded on a deserted island for a year than to be left alone with either of his parents for more than a day.

  “Don’t remind me. My grandfather is not around to come to my rescue when dealing with them, especially when they start discussing me running for president. Which I have no intention of doing, but they refuse to hear any of that. Anyway, the old man left a lot of great memories.”

  “I don’t want to think about how it would be if I didn’t have my grandparents in my life. They are my rock, especially my grandmother. When my mother…”

  He waited, hoping she would continue. When she didn’t, he prompted her. “When your mother what?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Paul decided not to push. She would open up to him one day. He just hoped it was sooner than later.

  “So your grandfather left you the house months ago. Why’d you just decide to move in?”

  He took a swig of his beer. “Because I ran into you.”

  Martina’s eyebrows dipped. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I wanted to see you again. Since you keep running from me, I figured I’d try a different tactic.”

  “Pretty expensive tactic don’t you think?”

  “Maybe, but it was worth every single penny to share a meal with you.”

  “You shared a meal with me a month ago. You didn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to have a meal with me, Paul. So what’s the real reason for all of this?”

  He shrugged, rubbing his head, exhaustion seeping deeper into his body. “At the time, I felt I was killing two birds with one shot. I was finally getting this place renovated, and it gave me a chance to see you again. I know it’s a little extreme, but Martina there is nothing I wouldn’t do to have you in my life again.”

  Martina sat speechless, fidgeting in her seat. Instead of responding, she went back to eating. He took her silence as a good sign. At least, she didn’t take off. She knew as well as he knew that there was still a smoking hot connection between them. Paul wanted to explore that connection to see if he could turn it into something deeper. Something deeper that she wouldn’t be able to deny.

  He watched her eat and couldn’t take it any longer.

  “Don’t do that,” he practically growled.

  Martina froze. “Don’t do what?” She licked her lips, trying to get the barbecue sauce off her mouth.

  “That.”

  He moved closer and placed a finger under her chin before lowering his head. Martina stiffened but didn’t stop him. He licked the barbecue sauce near her bottom lip. From there he had to taste those lips.

  Slipping his tongue between her slightly parted lips, arousal flared within him. Her mouth was just as inviting, her lips just as sweet as before. Kissing him back like this, Paul knew there was no way Martina didn’t still have feelings for him.

  As soon as the thought entered his mind, Martina ripped her lips from his. “Wait. I can’t be kissing clients,” she panted.

  “Former client. I paid the balance two days ago.” He stood, pulling her up with him.

  Before Martina could respond, his lips covered hers again, and he folded her into his embrace, holding her tight. The initial hesitation vanished, and her arms slid around his neck.

  Paul reveled in the way she fit perfectly against him and how her tongue dueled with his. Ripples of pleasure jockeyed around inside of him.

  On a groan, his hands palmed her bottom. The feel of her ass in his grasp lit a flame that wouldn’t be easily doused if he didn’t slow down. He couldn’t mess this up by taking things too far, and if they kept going like this, that’s exactly what would happen.

  He wanted forever. Not just a quick lay.

  With strength he didn’t realize he possessed, he pulled slightly away, but didn’t drop his hands from her rear.

  “God, I’ve missed you.”

  Her hand hovered over her mouth. “I…uh…I have to go.”

  Paul sighed and dropped his hands. “You can’t keep running, Martina, when there is clearly something still between us.”

  “I’m not. Well not exactly.” She quickly gathered her belongings. “I have to go to school. I have class tonight.”

  “Oh.” He wasn’t ready for her to leave, but at least this time she had a good reason.

  Paul walked her outside while she told him he’d have to give himself a tour. He wanted her to stay, but didn’t want to make her late. He also didn’t want to scare her away for good.

  “I noticed you’re rolling in the company’s van. Does that mean you finally got rid of that piece of junk that you call your baby?” More times than he could count, he had offered to purchase her another vehicle for fear that old truck would break down, and she’d be stranded somewhere.

  “I still have it, and she’s still going strong…sort of. And I don’t appreciate you talking about my baby.”

  Paul backed Martina against the van, blocking her in with his arms on each side of her, his hands flat against the van.

  “Are you sure you have to leave?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at her watch. “As a matter of fact, if I don’t hustle, I’m going to be late. Besides, you need to get some rest.” She cupped his cheek and stared into his eyes. “Thank you for dinner. It was excellent.”

  “Does that mean you forgive me for not being totally honest about the house?”

  She sighed dramatically. “I guess I forgive you, but just don’t do it again.”

  “I won’t. So if I call you sometime, will you answer?”

  “
Why?”

  He pulled back slightly. “Martina, why do you always give me a hard time?”

  “Because it’s what I do. Besides, you like it when I give you a hard time. Be honest. Don’t you?”

  He smiled. “Maybe, but damn girl, can’t you give a brotha a break sometime?”

  She burst out laughing. Evidently, his hip-hop flow wasn’t hitting the mark.

  “Okay, you can call me.”

  “And…”

  “And I’ll answer. But right now, I really have to go.”

  “I’m proud of you.” The back of his fingers glided slowly down her cheek.

  “Why?”

  “Because of your determination to get your degree. I know it can’t be easy working construction during the day and then attending night school.”

  “It’s not easy, but it’s something I have to do. After this semester, I’ll need six more credits to complete the requirements for my business degree.”

  She had once told him that she planned to one day run Jenkins & Sons Construction. She and, Peyton, had discussed trying to expand the business to northern Ohio.

  “I know you’re going to do it. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I’m great in History and English. I’m also available if you need a mental break and maybe want to work off some pent of energy.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows, and she burst out laughing.

  “Oh, I bet you can. I’ll keep all of that in mind, but right now I have to get going.” She said the words, but neither of them moved.

  “Have dinner with me next Friday.” Paul nuzzled her neck. He knew he was getting to her by the grip she had on the front of his shirt and the soft whimpering sounds she made as he laced her neck with feathery light kisses.

  “I…I can’t have dinner with the enemy,” she murmured.

  Paul chuckled and slowly lifted his head. “Well technically, you just had dinner with me, and you kissed me as if we were no longer enemies.”

  She pushed against his chest, and he dropped his arms. “Well technically, you tricked me into having dinner with you. You knew I wouldn’t be able to resist your barbecue ribs. So tonight doesn’t count. And you kissed me. I … I only kissed you back because I didn’t want to be rude.”

  Paul threw his head back and laughed. “You’re a real piece of work.”

  “And you’re still on my short list of enemies.”

  She folded her arms across her chest, and his gaze immediately settled on her breasts. She wasn’t as top heavy as some of the women he’d dated in the past, but she was more than a handful. Add that to all of her other tempting assets and he could barely keep his hands off of her.

  “So give me a chance to get my name off that list.”

  He wanted to see her again. Hell, he had to see her if he ever wanted to get a good night’s sleep. Every waking hour for the last few weeks had been filled with thoughts of her.

  He placed his hand on her hip and moved closer. “I’ll tell you what. Since I don’t want us to be enemies any longer, how about we get together over dinner next Friday and discuss, calmly, the situation regarding the unions?” He placed a finger against her lips when she started to speak. “That way you can give me some constructive ideas on how I might be able to turn this into a win-win for the state, as well as for the unions.”

  He dropped his hand, but she didn’t speak right away. Instead, she stared at him as if trying to decide if he were serious, or if he was trying to play her.

  “Don’t say no,” he said. “This is a perfect opportunity for your concerns to be heard and an opportunity for us both to maybe get what we want.”

  He didn’t bother adding that all he wanted at the moment was her. Their time apart did nothing to squelch his desire. Just being in her presence today made him long for her that much more.

  And in all honesty, he really did want to hear her out about the unions.

  “Okay, I’ll think about it, but right now I’m outta here.”

  He kissed her one last time then held the door while she climbed into the van.

  “I’ll call you.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Paul would give her a few days, but if he didn’t hear from her soon, she would be hearing from him. No way would he let her run again.

  Chapter Nine

  Paul sat in his D. C. office, elbows on the desk and his hands steepled. He impatiently listened as Senator Ted Collins droned on about the committee meeting they had just returned from.

  “I’m telling you, Paul, we all need to come to some consensus soon regarding this gun control bill that the Democrats are trying to bring back to the table.”

  The first thing that morning Paul had gone to the Senate floor to debate a bill, followed by three back-to-back meetings. He wasn’t in the mood to rehash the last meeting that consisted of mostly arguments.

  Ted was all riled up over a bill Paul wasn’t sure how he felt about. He respected the second amendment giving Americans the right to bear arms, but he also felt tougher laws needed to be in place.

  “And what the heck was that all about with them trying to connect everything to mental health? I think they are reaching. We already stopped the gun control bill from passing last year. I know they…”

  Paul tuned out. This time a vision of Martina with barbecue sauce on the side of her mouth infiltrated his mind. It had been three days since their impromptu dinner, and he hadn’t heard from her regarding the dinner invitation. Part of him thought she would call, but there was a part of him that wasn’t so sure. She was the most unpredictable woman he knew. That was part of the appeal. She kept him guessing … and wanting more.

  “They might be trying to reconfigure the bill,” Ted’s voice pulled him back to the present, “but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t think we—”

  Paul’s cell phone vibrated on his desk.

  “Excuse me, Ted.”

  Paul glanced at the screen where Martina’s smiling face showed. “Ted, this is an important call I’ve been expecting. Maybe we can continue this discussion a little later.”

  “No problem. I’ll catch up with you this evening.”

  Paul waited until Ted closed the door behind him before answering.

  “Senator Kendricks.”

  “Senator Kendricks, this is Martina “MJ” Jenkins. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.”

  Paul smiled despite himself at the sultriness of her voice. No doubt she was trying to get a rise out of him. And it worked.

  “This is a pleasant surprise, Ms. Jenkins. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He really didn’t care. Just hearing her voice had stirred something within him, and he was glad for the call. She could make his day by accepting his invitation to dinner.

  “I’ve decided to take you up on that dinner offer this weekend … with a couple of conditions.”

  Paul sat back in his seat and sighed. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like her conditions.

  “Let’s hear them.”

  “Okay first. No fancy restaurant. They don’t put enough food on the plates. Second, I want you to take me seriously when I explain why the Governor’s idea regarding the unions is a bad one. And third, none of that touchy feeling crap. You keep your hands and your lips to yourself. And lastly, you have to make me a batch of those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup cookies. I want at least twelve of them.”

  A smile spread across Paul’s mouth. He heard the humor in her voice as she ticked off her demands and was glad she decided to go out with him. During their impromptu dinner at his house, though it started rocky, by the end of the night he felt that she had softened. Accepting his dinner invitation was a good sign.

  “Anything else?” he asked.

  She hesitated. “Nope. I think that’s it.”

  “Okay deal … except, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to keep my hands and my lips to myself. You’re irresistible.”

  “Well, you’d better try unless you want to lose a hand.”

  Paul laugh
ed at her quick comeback. There was never a dull moment with Martina and Friday night couldn’t come fast enough.

  *

  Days later, Paul stepped across the threshold into Martina’s small bungalow and almost didn’t recognize the place. Not only had she installed siding on the outside of the structure, but she had totally transformed the interior. Walls had been removed, creating an open floor plan and now the living room, dining room, and kitchen were visible from the foyer.

  She’d purchased the home shortly after they started dating against his better judgment. Though she was a master carpenter, he didn’t think anyone should purchase a home where large, gaping holes in the walls were the first thing you noticed when you walked in.

  “So what do you think?” Martina stood in the kitchen, returning a pitcher to the refrigerator. “Big difference, huh?”

  “I’d say. It almost doesn’t look like the same place. I knew you had skills, but this place looks fantastic.”

  “Thanks. I did the majority of the structural work and my cousin Jada came up with the color scheme and staged the rooms.”

  “She did a great job.”

  “Yeah, she’s not only the fashionista in the family, but her interior decorating skills are second to none. I told her that once she finished fashion design school, she should use some of her design skills to stage homes for a living.”

  Paul made his way to the kitchen and stood across the counter from her. “So are all of you in school?”

  She shook her head as she finished wiping down the counter. “No, just Jada and I. Peyton has a business degree, and Toni attended night school during her apprenticeship and she has an engineering degree. Oh, and Christina didn’t go the college route. Have you ever heard of Sasha Knight?”

  “Yes, I have one of her paintings at my apartment in D.C. Why do you ask?”

  “That’s Christina.”

  Paul’s brows shot up. “Your cousin is Sasha Knight?”

  Martina laughed, and the rich sound of her laughter wrapped around him like a warm embrace.

  “Yep. So, when you say you have some of her work, do you have one of her nudes?”

  Paul laughed. “No, it’s an abstract painting. I had no idea she painted nudes.”