No Place Like Home

by Trina Crooks

  He made his way to the kitchen to see what was in there to eat and to his surprise there was nothing. Most nights after work he got a meal at a restaurant or picked up some takeout. It just seemed easier to do that than trying to make a full course meal for one. Now what was he going to do? Before he could make a decision though, his cell phone rang out. With one glance he saw it was his older brother Rashad.

  “What do you want?” Antonio asked jokingly.

  “I wanted to talk to the cover man of Fabulous Life Magazine,” his brother teased.

  Antonio sighed. He had his preview copy of the magazine for a couple of days now and he’d chosen to keep it to himself because of this right here. His brother was not going to let him live it down. “Here you go.”

  “Oh, you are so finnnnneee. Can I have your autograph?” Rashad went on to say which made Antonio laugh.

  “Shut up. I should have expected you were going to be the first person to call me.”

  Rashad chuckled. “Of course, I was.” Antonio could hear commotion in the background. His two nieces were yelling and screaming, probably playing around with each other while their father was on the phone. “Girls! Settle down.”

  “Sorry Daddy.”

  “So, no one else mentioned the magazine to you today? I find that hard to believe.”

  In fact, his brother was not the first person to say something to him about the magazine. Antonio received several phone calls about the article from women he knew. All of them telling him how handsome he was in the five-page spread the magazine did on him. He was extremely honored that they wanted to write an article about him until he heard the title—Single and Loving It. That didn’t exactly describe how he felt. Not at all. Antonio wanted a love of his own so that he could be anything but single. “Well I had a couple of calls.”

  “All from your adoring fans I am sure.”

  Antonio had a reputation for being a ladies’ man for quite a few years now and had left a lot of women in his wake. But he was ready for more. One woman that he could love, adore and cherish as his one and only, but that woman hadn’t come into his life yet. “You can say that.”

  “Daddy, come play with us please?” five-year-old Brandy and seven-year-old Tasha said in the background.

  “One second girls.” And then there was another voice on the phone.

  “Is this thee Antonio Randall in Fabulous Life Magazine?” Rashad’s wife Angela said when she got on the phone.

  “Not you too sister-in-law.”

  “But for real. They did a really good job. All of those pictures captured you in a great light. You are going to have women coming out of the walls trying to get at you. Are you ready for all of this extra attention? It’s not like you don’t get enough as it is.”

  Antonio had an abundant amount of phone numbers in his little black book and he didn’t need any more; he didn’t want any more. At this point he just wanted one but he knew that no one in his family would understand that.

  “Quit teasing my brother lady,” Rashad said as he took his phone back. Just listening to all that his brother had made Antonio feel worse. He was so jealous. That was what he wanted. The whole family unit.

  “I gotta go Rashad. Talk to you later.”

  “All right.” They hung up and Antonio was once again faced with his hunger. There was only one place to go that he knew would have some food for him to graze over.

  Antonio drove over to his grandmother’s house because he was sure to get some food there. They just had Thanksgiving dinner at her house so hopefully she was still trying to get rid of some leftovers. As he pulled onto the long cobble stoned driveway that led to her spacious mansion, Antonio wondered why his grandmother hadn’t downgraded to a smaller house. Her six-bedroom, four bath manor was way too big for her to keep up with at this age, but he would never have the guts to tell her that.

  “What are you doing here?” his grandmother asked when she found him on her doorstep.

  “Aren’t you looking cute?” he complimented, deflecting her question as he admired her. Antonio hoped that he would look as good as she did at seventy years old. She was always doing long power walks with her walking club of friends which helped to keep her fit and liked to dress to impress which made her appear years younger than she was. “My little silver fox of a grandma,” he teased referring to her medium length gray hair.

  “Okay, for real. You are up to something.”

  “I didn’t think I had to have a reason to come see you Gigi.” Gigi was the name the family affectionately called her instead of Grandma.

  She gave him a crooked smile as she walked into the kitchen. “There are still leftovers in the fridge. Help yourself,” she told him as if she was psychic.

  So, Antonio did just that—pulling out some turkey and fixings that he threw into the microwave. There was no time for putting anything in the oven. He turned to his grandmother and heaved a sigh which caused her to really take a good look at him.

  “Tell me what is on your mind.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I’ve known you longer than you’ve known yourself. What’s wrong? You have been moping since Thanksgiving dinner.”

  “When am I going to find love? I just want that one woman that I can love forever. I want what you and Grandpa had. Shoot, what Mom and Dad have.”

  She came over and stood near him. “You are not going to find that kind of love by jumping in bed with every woman you meet.”

  “Gigi. I gave up that life some time ago. I haven’t jumped into bed with anyone for a while.” He was serious about what he wanted and made significant changes in his life to meet his desire. Random women were a thing of the past. “I probably wouldn’t know the right woman if she fell into my lap.”

  “Yes you will. And you will do anything in your power to get her.”

  “I hope so.” He grabbed his food from the microwave and reached into the drawer for some silverware. “What did you do today Gigi?” Antonio asked as he sat at her large kitchen island to eat his dinner.

  “I was packing. I leave for Jasper Springs tomorrow.”

  Antonio listened to Gigi talk about this little town in Texas for the last five years. She always went south for the winter and at first it was to somewhere in Florida but lately it was Jasper Springs. “What is so special about this place?”

  “It’s just a small-town feeling. I am starting to establish a little family down there.” Gigi started to get that sly smile that he hated. It meant she was up to something. “You should come with me. You look like you need a break.”

  Antonio sat there and thought about that offer. He was long overdue for a vacation and since he could essentially do his job from anywhere, this sounded like a wonderful plan. He just had to run it past his father, who was the CEO of the company but he didn’t see why he would say no. “Alright Gigi. I think I am going to go.”

  “That’s great. Trust me. You won’t be sorry you went. It will change your life.”

  Chapter Two

  Antonio almost laughed out loud as he drove the rental car into Jasper Springs. The town was so small that if he blinked too long, he would probably miss it. “Gigi, really?”

  “Yes. It might be small but there is something magical about Jasper, especially at Christmas time. You just wait and see.”

  “I will have to take your word for it.” He drove along the streets with Gigi pointing out everything of interest along the way. Antonio noticed that they were setting up the town for Christmas already with several people decorating their business doors with wreaths and tying red velvet bows to all of the bench seats on the street. He had to smile to himself when he saw residents greet each other with waves and hugs like old friends as he’d only ever seen in the movies. After five minutes of driving, Gigi finally instructed for him to pull into what appeared to be an empty lot. Antonio had to take a double take before he pulled in. “Here?”

  “Yes. We have to go in here and get you some housing because
you are not staying with me.”

  Antonio stared in front of him to see a small building that looked like a mini house and shook his head. “There is someone running a business out of there?”

  Gigi got out of the car in a huff and he followed suit. “Not everyone is running a multi-million-dollar company Antonio.”

  “Apparently,” he answered as he looked at the building again. He followed his grandmother inside and found that there was just enough room inside for maybe five people to be comfortable, max. The woman that worked there was on the phone with her back to them and Antonio had his attention centered on her very ample ass and thick thighs that looked oh so good in her jeans. Damn. If she was any indication of what kind of women Jasper Springs had to offer, then he was going to enjoy his visit tremendously. She finally hung up the phone and turned around and he was just as struck with the front of her than he was with the back of her. Antonio was so mesmerized by her beauty and didn’t come out of his trance until she screamed.

  “Gigi! I am so happy to see you.”

  “I am happy to see you too Sonya. I am even more excited to finally be down here in Jasper for the winter. I just love it here.”

  “So why haven’t you moved here full time?” Sonya asked with her hands on her hips while Antonio stood there and watched as her full lips moved. She glanced at him temporarily with her soft brown eyes before she brought her attention back to his grandmother. This gave him time to stare at her shamelessly. Her caramel skin was flawless and decorated with a light coat of makeup which Antonio found unnecessary because she was beautiful enough without it. Then he looked into her kind eyes that he knew he could stare into all night long. Her whole aura was wonderful. He liked the way she talked, and walked, and stood, and…shit. Just everything.

  “One day I will.” Gigi finally decided to add Antonio to the conversation. “This is my grandson Antonio. He decided to join me for a month down here in Jasper Springs this year.”

  Sonya turned to him and gave him a bright smile. Antonio felt warm feelings pulsating through his body with just that one gesture. “You are going to love it here. There is no place like Jasper for Christmas.”

  “That’s what Gigi said,” he replied.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Sonya extended her manicured hand and Antonio took it. She then tried to take her hand back but he kept a hold of it a little longer than necessary before he slowly released it.

  “Very nice to meet you,” he emphasized as he held her gaze until she finally looked away.

  “What brings us here is I need my keys and we need a place for him,” Gigi said.

  “I can take care of you easily. I have all of your paperwork together.” Sonya moved behind her desk and reached into a cabinet to pull out his grandmother’s keys and had her sign her rental agreement for the four months she was normally down in Jasper Springs. She then looked at him and once again the uninvited feelings of longing came rushing in. “And now what are you looking for in a home?”

  “Nothing special. Just a place to lay my head.”

  Sonya started typing on her computer and Gigi turned to Antonio. “She’s cute, isn’t she?”

  Antonio just nodded his head. Sonya was staring at her screen with the most adorable frown as she tried to look for him a place. She cocked her head to the side cutely and pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. “I don’t know why I can’t just stay with you. Don’t you have like three bedrooms or something?” Both Sonya and Gigi shook their head no quickly.

  “That isn’t necessary. I can find you a place of your own. You are too old to be living with your grandmother.” After a few more seconds she said, “Well the house next door to yours is vacant. Will that be okay with you?” Sonya was asking Gigi this question which puzzled Antonio. Shouldn’t she be asking him that?

  “I guess that is fine. If he likes it,” his grandmother replied with a shrug.

  “That sounds great to me. That way I can keep an eye on you.”

  “I don’t need you to keep an eye on me but I know the housing choices are slim. Give me the car keys because I am ready to get to my house.”

  “You can’t wait two more seconds for me? What are you up to Gigi?” Antonio sat up straighter in the chair to really take in his grandmother. She chuckled and hit him as she stood.

  “Nothing child. Sonya can take you to the house because she has to show you around and see if you like it.”

  Antonio placed the keys in her hands and watched as she left him alone with this beautiful goddess. Sonya was so gorgeous and she probably didn’t even know it. “Are you going to take me to see this place?”

  “Sure.” She stood up and came around the desk so that they could leave. They walked outside, she locked the door to the business and made her way over to a car that Antonio knew couldn’t possibly be hers. That thing should be forbidden from being on the road at all.

  “You actually drive this thing?” Once the words left his lips, he wished he could draw them back because Sonya’s beautiful eyes turned to him with daggers in them.

  *~~~*

  What the hell did he mean did I actually drive this?

  “I’m sorry. Let me get the door for you.”

  I was ready to get away from him as fast as I could so I sat down in my car and let him close the door behind me. How dare he talk about my car like that? I knew it wasn’t a luxury vehicle but it certainly got me to and from all of my destinations. I turned the key in the ignition several times and by the time he entered on the passenger side, I had finally gotten Dorothy to start. “She’s a little temperamental.”

  “I see,” he responded as he secured his seat belt around him and I pulled off. As I drove these familiar streets that I could maneuver with my eyes closed, I tried to do my job as best I could. I pointed out different local restaurants that residents loved, drove past Michael’s bar that everyone liked to hang out at and a few other places I thought he might find appealing. “You don’t have to sell me on your town Sonya. I am already staying.”

  I heaved a frustrated sigh as I pushed the accelerator and made it to the house I wanted to show him in record time. It didn’t take long to get anywhere in Jasper Springs anyway. “We’re here.”

  In front of us was a three-bedroom, two bath house that happened to be right next door to his grandmother’s rental house. I got out of the car and led him up to the front porch. “This is nice. I have never had a front porch before. And that swing over there really lends itself to the whole southern living thing. It’s like right out of the movies.”

  “Yes, it is,” I responded as I tried to unlock the door but that was proving to be a difficult task. Antonio was standing right at my back, a little too close for my comfort, making it so that I could not concentrate. I have opened a million doors, I thought.

  “You need some help?” He reached around me and when he made contact with my arm, I felt my whole body quake. My breathing grew shallow so I stopped to take a full deep breath. I frankly couldn’t believe this man was having this effect on me.

  “Can you back up and give me some room please?” After he took a step back, I managed to get the key in the hole which allowed us to enter the house finally. “This is it. Go ahead and take a look around.”

  “I usually like accompaniment while I do my house tours. Will you walk with me please?”

  “Sure,” I replied. I followed behind him and tried to give a brief description of the house as we walked. But my mind kept getting sidetracked by how damn handsome he was. His dark skin looked to be as silky as smooth chocolate and his eyes were an amazing light brown. His lips were so inviting that I wondered how kissable they were and I found myself constantly looking at his large hands. You know what they say about large hands. “Shoot.”

  “Is there a problem?” he asked when he turned back to me with concern.

  “Um no. Just noticed that you were barely clearing some of the doorways. This is an old house and they didn’t build them like they do now. How tall
are you?”

  “6’4. And I think I will be alright. I like these old houses. Lots of character.” He stood with his hand on the top of the door frame as he gazed at me. Damn, I thought to herself.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Because you are beautiful,” he responded. His eyes made contact with mine and I almost literally lost my breath. How was this man that I just met making me feel like this?

  “So…so… shoot,” I said as I clicked my tongue to get it to cooperate. This caused a small smile to creep onto Antonio’s sexy mouth. “So, do you like the house?”

  “It is fine. And it is next to Gigi so I can be close to her.”

  “Great. I brought the paperwork for you to sign. It is 1000 a month.”

  “Sounds fantastic.” Antonio came over to stand next to me at the kitchen counter so that he could sign the rental agreement. He was just inches from me, allowing me to breath in his cologne and drawing me further into his web. I wanted desperately to snuggle my nose right into his neck so that I could get a good whiff but I restrained myself. After he signed the papers, I gave him a bright smile.

  “I hope you enjoy your stay in Jasper Springs.”

  He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms across his toned chest. “I think I am.”

  “Good bye,” I said abruptly as I exited the house, happy to take a good deep breath for the first time since I’d been in his presence. There was no way I could go back to work at this point so I decided to work from home and would check for voice messages every now and then.

  Antonio Randall. I was familiar with him because I’d seen him do a couple of television interviews for their family business. On the television I always found him extremely sexy and could see why women seemed to fall at his feet. Now that I’d met him in person, I found myself weakening at the sight of him myself. Antonio could be the poster child for tall, dark and handsome and just the sort of man that I would mold for myself if I could. And his eyes. I could swear they looked right into my soul. My imagination started to run away from me, getting to the point where I was starting to imagine this stranger absolutely naked when my cell phone interrupted my thoughts.