by Rochelle Alers, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Brenda L. Thomas; Crystal Lacey Winslow
He sat down opposite her, smiling. “This is nice.”
“Very, very nice,” she said, referring to her dining partner. His strangely colored gold-flecked eyes bore into her, and she felt a flame of awareness flare to life between her thighs.
There was something so different, so foreign, about Drew that she found herself a little off balance. His manners were impeccable, his bearing different from any man she had ever met before—and in thirty-four years she had met a lot of men. But she hadn’t slept with a lot of them—that just wasn’t her style.
Could she sleep with Drew and not ask for something more?Oh hell, yeah! the naughty voice shouted in her head. She would sleep with him just to find out how many licks it would take to get to his dark chocolate center. Lowering her gaze, she stared at the menu on the table in front of her, not seeing any of the selections.
“Would you like to share a bottle of wine?” Drew asked. Her head came up with the query.
“Yes, I would.”
“White or red?”
“White or blush.”
“Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Rhine, white Zinfandel, or champagne.”
Drew was quite versed in wines. “I’ll take the Zinfandel.”
A sly smile crinkled the corners of his slanting eyes. “That happens to be a favorite of mine.”
“You seem to know a lot about wines.”
“That comes from dining with clients.”
“Who are?” she asked, lifting her eyebrows.
Drew’s smile vanished quickly. “I’m afraid I can’t disclose their identity.”
“Are you telling me to mind my business, Drew?”
“No,” he said smoothly. “It’s like doctor privilege. I’m bound by an agreement not to reveal who they are.”
Nina gave him a long, penetrating look. Hehad told her it was none of her business, but in the most gracious way possible.
“This is the last time I’ll ask you about your business.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you, “he said quickly.
“I’m not insulted.”
Reaching across the table, he covered her hands with his. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” There was a hint of laughter in her voice.
He nodded. “I’d hate for us to be at odds before we get to know each other.”
“I hardly think we’d get to know each other after one date.”
“Who said anything about one date, Nina?” Drew tightened his grip on her fingers when she tried pulling away.
“But I’m spending the summer here.”
“So?”
“You live in the city.”
“So?” he repeated.
“If you want to see me, then you’re going to have to come out here.”
“So?” he repeated for the third time. “It’s only a few miles.”
“It’s more than a few miles from Sag Harbor to the Bronx.”
He gave her a narrowed look. “You don’t think you’re worth the distance?”
Her breath quickened, heat warmed her face. “Whether I’m worth it has nothing to do with you coming out here just to see me.”
He released her hands and leaned against the back of his chair. “Now I am going to tell you to mind your business, Nina.” He ignored her audible gasp. “If I want to come here to see you, then that should be my concern and not yours. The time it takes and the number of miles is also my concern, not yours. Is there anything about what I’ve just said you don’t understand?”
Mixed feelings surged through her. She had finally met a man who’d shown an interest inher, and she was pushing him away—a man who was not only intriguing, but also candid. Hadn’t she complained to her girlfriends that she was tired of lies, alibis, and those who couldn’t commit or spell it correctly?
And she was more than aware that Drew did not have to drive more than eighty miles to get a woman to sleep with him.
“I read you loud and clear.”
He smiled the sensual smile she’d come to look for. “Good. Now that we’ve settled that issue, what would you like to eat?”
Chapter 4
After her second glass of wine Nina placed her hand over the top of the glass when Drew attempted to refill it. “No more, please.” They’d finished their entrées, but lingered at their table to enjoy the balmy summer breeze.
“But you’re not the designated driver.”
She gave him a lopsided smile. “That’s okay. You don’t need me to fall asleep on you.”
The flickering light from a candle in the middle of the table threw long and short shadows across his face. “That wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. I’ll just sit up and watch you sleep.”
“I’ve been told that I snore.”
“Who told you that?”
“My mother.”
He nodded and stared at her under lowered lids. He was certain Nina had no idea how desirable she was.
“Your mother told you?” She nodded. “How about a boyfriend?”
“What about a boyfriend?” she asked, answering his question with one of her own.
“Are you seeing someone?”
“Not at the present time.”
“How long has it been?”
“A little more than a year.”
“What happened?”
She averted her gaze. “I couldn’t trust him.”
Drew let out an audible sigh. “That will do it every time.”
Nina stared at him. “Are you seeing someone?”
Drew shook his head. “No one I would consider special. Present company excluded,” he added quickly.
“What makes me special, Drew?”
There was a pulse beat of silence before he said, “I don’t know.” And he didn’t know, but he intended to uncover what it was. “Would you like dessert?” He had once again segued smoothly from one topic into another.
Smiling, she shook her head. “No, thank you.”
Motioning for their server, Drew settled the bill and left a generous tip. Nina noticed he’d paid with cash, not a credit card. She wondered if he had any plastic, then reminded herself to stay out of his business.
Many of the shops near the marina were closed as they left the restaurant and made their way to the parking lot. The exceptions were eating establishments and the movie theater.
Nina stared out the windshield and into the blackness of the night as Drew drove back to her house. An occasional light shone from a window in the homes set back off the narrow, winding road.
“How long have you summered here?” Drew asked as he maneuvered into the driveway behind her rental.
“All of my life. My family has owned this property since the mid-1840s.” She smiled when he whistled softly. “My parents are retired schoolteachers who now live in a D.C. suburb, and my brother and his wife, who are also teachers, live in New Haven, Connecticut. Sometimes they take the ferry across the Sound and stay a week with me, or vice versa.”
He draped his right arm over the back of her seat. “You have a lot of teachers in your family.”
“Becoming an educator is a family tradition.”
“It’s a very noble profession that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.” His mother and grandmother were teachers.
Nina waited for Drew to come around and help her out. The instant he placed his arm around her waist to escort her up the porch steps, she knew she did not want the evening to end. “The next time you come, I’ll cook,” she said quickly.
He gave her a skeptical look. “You cook?”
“Don’t make it sound as if I have a contagious disease. Of course I cook.”
“I just thought today’s modern woman was too busy to do any more than heat up something in the microwave.”
“I’m a librarian, not an emergency room doctor. I work an average of one hundred eighty days a year, so I’m notthat busy.”
Spanning her waist with both hands, he eased her to his chest. “If that’s the case, then I’m looking forward to ou
r next date.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. “Good night, and thanks for the company.”
Nina inhaled his masculine scent. “Good night, Drew.”
He released her, stepped back, and made his way off the porch to his car. Then he was gone, the sound of the car’s engine fading into the night.
Nina unlocked the front door and walked into the house. She dropped her keys on the table beside the gaily wrapped box. She removed the velvet ribbon and the shiny silver foil paper. A bright smile crinkled the skin around her eyes.
He had given her the first volume ofThe Diary of Anaïs Nin. She opened the fragile cover and went completely still. It was a first edition, signed by the author, dated 1966. He had given her a collector’s copy.
Holding the book to her chest, she smiled. The alleged bad boy had a sensitive side. She reached into her purse and took out her cell phone. Scrolling down the directory, she stopped at Drew’s name and punched a button.
He answered the call after the second ring. “Yes, Nina?”
“I’m calling to thank you for the book.”
His rich laugh came through the tiny earpiece. “Save your thanks for when I see you again.”
“When will that be?”
“Next week.”
“Which day?”
“Thursday. I’ll come out early, and we can spend the day together.”
She smiled even though he couldn’t see her. “Okay. I’ll look for you on Thursday. Bye.”
“Bye back to you.”
She ended the call as she walked across the living room to turn off the lamp. The wine had made her sleepy, but she was not too sleepy to begin reading the work of a woman who definitely was ahead of her time.
Chapter 5
Drew experienced a sense of urgency that was alien and utterly foreign to him as he maneuvered his rental car along the winding road leading to Nina’s home. He wasn’t certain what it was about the petite librarian that had him thinking about her when he least expected it, but this weekend he intended to find out.
His early-morning meeting had gone better than he’d expected, and there was nothing to clutter his mind as he prepared to spend more than a few hours with Nina.
Nina rose from the chaise as she heard the slam of a car door. Glancing up from the James Baldwin classic,Go Tell It on the Mountain, she saw Drew striding up the path. This time he’d driven a BMW SUV instead of the Porsche.
Drew had surprised her when he called the night before and told her that he planned to stay on Long Island through the weekend. He hadn’t said whether it was for business, so she assumed it was a pleasure outing. The little smile that played at the corners of her mouth became a full grin as she opened the screen door to greet him.
“Welcome back.”
Drew entered the screened-in space and smiled. “Thank you,” he said before lowering his head and pressing a kiss to her cheek. “It’s good to be back.”
“Come inside and rest yourself.”
Drew followed her into the living room, his gaze taking in everything in one sweeping glance. The space was spotless, inviting, and the fact that it was uncluttered made it appear larger than it actually was.
He passed a dining room and walked into the kitchen. Hanging copper pots, wood countertops, and exposed beams imbued the space with warmth.
“We’ll sit out on the patio,” Nina said over her shoulder as she opened a set of French doors.
“Now I see why you spend the summer here.” He moved closer, his breath feathering over Nina’s ear.
She smiled. “It’s beautiful, and so peaceful.”
He nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“I’d planned for us to eat dinner out here, but now I’m not so sure. Looks like rain is coming.”
“There’s always tomorrow, Saturday, or even Sunday,” Drew said in a quiet voice. “Unless you’re expecting company.”
Nina stared up at him, meeting his amused stare. “I’m not expecting company.”
“I noticed there are a lot of new homes around here.”
“Are you considering building one?”
“Yes, I am,” he said slowly.
“Would you like to see a few homes up close? We can see them if we walk the beach.”
Sitting down on a cushioned rattan chair, Drew took off his sandals and rolled the hem of his khakis up to his knees. Glancing up at Nina, he smiled. “Now I feel like a clam digger.” Rising to his feet, he reached for her hand, and they headed for the beach.
“If you build in Ninevah, then you’ll have B. Smith, owner of B. Smith’s restaurant, and her husband Dan Gatsby as neighbors. Earl Graves, publisher ofBlack Enterprise, and Susan Taylor have also built here.”
“Do they live here year-round?”
“Some do.”
Drew took a quick glance at Nina’s profile. “How do you feel about all the building?”
“I think it’s spectacular because it indicates black success. A few longtime residents weren’t pleased with the palatial homes that look as if they should be in Malibu. They claim the ostentation robs the area of its folksy charm.”
They walked together, holding hands until the darkening skies and a rising wind forced them to turn back. Large fat raindrops dotted the sand as they sprinted to escape the imminent downpour.
Nina couldn’t keep pace with Drew. He was running too fast. She pitched forward, nearly losing her balance when he tightened his hold on her hand. Seconds later, she found herself in his arms as he sprinted up the path to her house. They were only a few feet from the patio when the rain came down in torrents. They stood under the protective cover of the patio, breathing heavily, their clothes pasted to their bodies like a second skin.
Drew’s gaze was fixed below her neck, prompting Nina to glance down at her chest. The outline of her distended nipples was clearly visible through her silk bra. As casually as she could, she crossed her arms over her breasts.
“You should get out of those wet clothes.”
“You should, too,” she countered, hardly lifting her voice above a whisper. The golden eyes staring at her lit a fire that flared throughout her body, threatening to incinerate her into tiny pieces, pieces that would disappear with the slightest breath.
Nina walked toward the French doors leading into the kitchen but was thwarted when Drew reached out and curved an arm around her waist. His hands slipped down her hips and pulled her up close to his body. There was no mistaking the solid bulge in the front of his soaked khakis.
She rested her hands in the middle of his chest, feeling the heat emanating from his body.
“Drew?” His name was a whisper.
His fingers tightened on her buttocks. “I want you.”
Nina closed her eyes. He wanted her and she wanted him, had wanted him from the first time their gazes met, it was just that she hadn’t known it at that time.
Tilting her chin, she stared up at him. “Let’s go inside.”
The moment Drew curved his arm under Nina’s knees, sweeping her off her feet, her world blurred, becoming surreal.
“Go that way.” She directed him down a hallway to where the bedrooms were located. He stopped at the first one, and she nodded.
Drew knew he and Nina had to get out of their wet clothes, but he did not want to rush what was to come. He wanted her so badly that he feared he was going to come out of his skin. Everything that was Nina seeped into him: her scent, the fullness of her breasts pressed to his chest.
His gaze locked with hers, he lowered her to the bare wooden floor, reached down, and pulled the T-shirt over her head. Nina was tiny, her shoulders and waist narrow, but her breasts were full, the nipples showing through the sheer fabric of her bra dark and prominent.
Reaching around her back, Drew released the clasp on her bra and slowly slipped the silken garment down her arms.
“You are so beautiful, Nina.”
Nina closed her eyes against his intense stare. “Don’t talk, Drew. Please.”
/> His hands circled her waist. “What do you want, honey?”
Her fingers tightened in the fabric of his wet golf shirt. “I want you inside me,” she breathed through compressed lips.
Smiling, he dipped his head, pressing a series of kisses along the column of her neck as he undid the button and zipper on her slacks. One hand slid down her silken bikini panties, tightening over the firm flesh on her behind while the other moved around to her belly, slipping under the elastic and covering her mound. Nina gasped, arching as his fingers searched the folds, finding her wet, hot, throbbing, and ready for his possession. He removed his hand long enough to ease her slacks and panties down her legs in one continuous motion. She stepped out of them, standing before him naked.
He put his hand to his mouth and licked the tips of the fingers that had explored her body, a smile curving his lips. “You taste as good as you look.”
Nina dug her fingernails into Drew’s shoulders, shuddering as his hand slipped up her thighs to continue to work its magic. Moaning and writhing, she found that she couldn’t get close enough. She gathered his shirt and pulled it from the waistband of his khakis. He was forced to release her as she attempted to ease the shirt over his broad shoulders. He gently brushed her hands away, unbuckling his belt and unzipping his pants.
It was her turn to stare in awe as he bared his body to her. The blood-engorged flesh jutting between his muscled thighs was mesmerizing. She thought about Michelle’s assessment of him: a chocolate licorice stick, while she’d called him a chocolate Tootsie Pop.
She smiled. He was both.
Drew reached for the condoms in his pocket and placed them on the bed. Curving an arm around her waist, he lifted Nina and placed her on the bed, his body following. Cradling her smooth legs between his, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her parted lips, their breaths mingling. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and he tasted her for the second time.
Nina drank in the sweetness of Drew’s soft kisses; he nibbled at the corners of her mouth, leaving her wanting more as his hardened sex pressed against her belly and ignited a burning desire, an aching need for him to penetrate her. Passion pounded the blood rushing through her heart, chest, and head. First she was hot and then cold.