“How’s Kadina adjusting to the new house?” Kahron asked.
“Pretty good, actually.” Kade shielded the setting sun from his eyes with his hand. “Having Garcelle around is making the transition smoother.”
Kahron nudged Midnight around. “Yeah, Garcelle is great.”
Kade swallowed a lump in his throat as he steered his horse back in the direction from which they’d traveled. “Yeah . . . great.”
He didn’t miss the sidelong glance his brother cast him. “I’m not about to lose another housekeeper, am I?” Kahron asked, referring to his startling record of hiring—and firing—fifteen housekeepers in a very short span of time. Garcelle was number sixteen.
Kade shaped his handsome, square face into a frown. “What do you mean?”
“Not trying to steal her away for good, are you?”
Kahron squinted his eyes as he looked up at the fading sun. They took the lead, guiding the rest of the group across the grassy land.
“Man, please. We just started having civil conversations,” said Kade.
“Good. Because I don’t think I can take another housekeeper hunt.” Kahron steered his horse to the front as they neared a narrow trail. “With Bianca working so many hours at her practice and doing her share at her father’s horse ranch, we need the help.”
“Everything okay with the newlyweds?” Kade asked as the trail widened, and he steered Star beside his brother.
“Just not feeling so much like typical newlyweds since we got back from our honeymoon.”
Kade nodded in understanding at the long look his brother gave him. “Oh.”
Kahron reined in his horse. Kade rode ahead a bit before he, too, stopped and looked over his shoulder at his brother. “What’s the holdup?”
The dozen or so hands came to a stop as well. Kade frowned as Kahron waved them on. “What the hell?” Kade muttered as his brother rode back toward him.
“How in the hell do you do it?” Kahron asked before Kade could even open his mouth to question him.
“Do what?”
“Man, Bianca and I hit a dry spell for a couple of weeks, and I’m frustrated as hell. You haven’t seen, smelled, touched, tasted, or been near a woman for years, and you’re cool as can be!”
Kade laughed a little to shake off the slight embarrassment he felt.
“I’m not judging you or saying you need to find something to screw,”said Kahron. “I’m just asking what techniques you use to get it off your mind. Help a brother out.”
Kade shrugged. “Rolling over to the other side of the bed when it is cold has a way of softening things.”
Kahron released a heavy breath. “I guess I just need to adjust to married life. Going from twice a day to once a week is a helluva switch, you know.”
Kade laughed and slapped his brother on the shoulder. “I got two words for you, little brother. Cold . . . shower.”
“A cold shower?” Kahron balked. “Hell, I can think of another way to get wet that don’t have jack to do with a cold shower.”
Kade cleared his throat playfully. “Speaking of jack—”
“I asked you to teach me something I don’t know.” Kahron flung his head back and laughed so loud that it bounced across the woods.
Garcelle and Kadina were in the den, laughing over rerun episodes of In Living Color, when Garcelle saw something appear at the window and then disappear. Garcelle rose from the sofa and made her way over to the window. She looked out into the ebony darkness of night. Her mouth twisted into a frown at the sight of a package, which was illuminated by the porch light.
“Is that my daddy?” Kadina asked from behind her.
“No, not yet,” Garcelle called over her shoulder as she made her way to the front door to open it.
“Now what’s this all about?” she asked aloud at the sight of the package and a balloon sitting there.
She bent down a bit to open the card attached to one of the curly ribbons at the base of the balloon.
Kade—
Just a hint of things that will
go down between us . . . in due time.
Call me at 555-0000.
XOXOXO♥
Garcelle slapped the small card closed, with an eye roll. She straightened back up to her full height and eyed the pink and white box as she crossed her arms over her chest. I wonder what is in that box.
She was just reminding herself that it wasn’t her box to open when Kade’s SUV pulled in front of the house. Her eyes shifted from the box, and she watched him climb the stairs to the porch.
Nearly every inch of his uniform and his Timberland boots were dusty. Sweat had thinned the fullness from his curls—curls that were now plastered against his head. There was a streak of something dark and caked across his nose.
Despite all of that, the man’s good looks could not be denied. Like it or not, her pulse raced, and she felt something electric touch every part of her body.
“Is that for you?” he asked as he reached the top step.
Garcelle shook her head. “It’s for you,” she told him softly as she lifted her hands and twisted her hair up into a knot.
“Me?” he said in obvious surprise. He squatted down and took the lid off the box.
Garcelle leaned forward to peer into the box as well. She made a face of disgust.
“Damn,” Kade said in a drawn-out fashion as he lifted a mini-whip and massage oil out of the box of tricks.
“Tricks from a trick,” Garcelle muttered under her breath. She was glad Kadina hadn’t come out and found the box first. How would she explain the gargantuan chocolate dildo nested in the bottom of the box?
“Huh?” Kade asked, looking up at her as he dropped the items he held back into the box.
Garcelle shook her head and feigned confusion. “Nothing.”
“Is this from you?” he asked as he rose to his full height.
Garcelle cocked a brow. “No disrespect intended, Kade Strong, but you must be out your—”
Kade held up his hands. “Why don’t I just read the card before you flip?”
“Yes. Do that,” she told him, with attitude.
Kade actually chuckled before he read the card and then tore it in half. He scooped up the box. “You want any of this before I toss it?” he asked.
Garcelle held up a hand.
“It’s all new,” he joked, with a twinkle in his warm brown eyes, which lit up his face.
Garcelle almost dropped four of her fingers.
Kade laughed as he made his way down the stairs, with the balloon floating in the air behind him. Without hesitation or a pause in his movements, he dumped all of it into the large garbage container sitting in the front of the house.
Garcelle was surprised by the move. She bit her bottom lip as she watched him make his way back up the steps and onto the porch. “Didn’t you want your . . . gifts?” she asked him, her accent heavy.
Kade shook his head as he came to a stop in front of her. “If I was looking to get involved with a woman—which I’m not—it wouldn’t be one who sends a man sex toys.”
Garcelle nodded in understanding.
Kade moved past her to walk into the house. He paused in the doorway, and Garcelle looked up at him. There were just inches between them. Inches that were infinitely filled with power.
“Thanks so much for helping out with Kadina,” he told her in that masculine voice that was everything good: a hot toddy during a bad cold, great sex, sweet and hot double chocolate, a foot massage after a hard day of work, winning the lottery. . . .
Garcelle swallowed a lump in her throat. “You’re welcome,” she said as she fought off her awareness of him.
“Do you want me to follow you home?” he asked, as he’d done every evening since she’d taken the job.
“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll call, like always, to let you know I got home okay.”
“Good.”
“I better be going,” she said, turning to walk into the house.
“
Garcelle.”
She turned at the sound of him saying her name. Her eyes locked with his. “¿Sí?”
“I was only joking earlier,” he said, with a smile. “I didn’t ever think you sent that box to me. Trust me.”
Garcelle nodded and smiled playfully. “I didn’t think you were crazy.”
Kade flung his head back and laughed, and the light from the porch bounced off of his silver curls. “You don’t bite your tongue, do you?”
She shook her head. “Never.”
They fell into a comfortable silence.
“Listen, I better warn you,” she said suddenly. “The ladies feel like you’re open for business since you moved back in your house. Your little gift tonight is just the start of it. You are the talk of Holtsville.”
Kade looked disbelieving. “Me?” he asked, pointing to himself.
Garcelle shook her head. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know you’re cute, Kade Strong.”
His eyes locked on her, and she saw them fill with hesitation.
“I’m not feeling you like that,” she balked, reaching up to pinch his arm. She tried not to notice the steel beneath her fingertips. “In fact, I’m probably one of the few single women in Holtsville who ain’t on the prowl.”
Kade sat down on the top step of the porch. In the quiet, the sounds of night creatures echoed loudly. He dropped his face into his hands before he wiped his eyes and then dragged his long fingers through his soft hair. His eyes were troubled as he looked up at the full moon, which seemed three times its normal size.
Garcelle moved from the doorway to sit on the top step, beside him. She licked her lips as she knocked her leg against his. “There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to get over your wife. I think it’s beautiful how much you loved—”
“Love,” he stressed.
“Right.” Garcelle touched his arm lightly. “My father hasn’t remarried since my mother passed away, and it’s been close to five years,” she told him. “Now, I won’t say that I don’t want him to find love again, but it has to be in his own time . . . just like you.”
Kade shrugged. “I’m just sick of people making me feel like I’m crazy out my ass because I’m not out sexing women and acting a fool. Damn, can’t a brotha just chill?”
Garcelle nodded, but her mind was momentarily stuck on something else. Did he admit he hasn’t had sex since his wife died? Garcelle pursed her lips. I feel for the woman he drops all that pressure on.
“Most men would probably head trip off the females chasing them, but it’s not what I need right now, for sure,” said Kade.
Garcelle bumped her shoulder against his. “Don’t worry. I got your back, and those hoochies and hags are gonna have to get through me,” she said, pointing to her chest, as Kade dropped his head and laughed.
“You don’t look like much of a bodyguard . . . for me, anyway,” he said as he turned his face to look at her.
Garcelle felt breathless. Kade really was a good-looking man, with his square, angular features and caramel complexion, which the sun had deepened to a bronze. His eyes were deep set, and so very intense, above sharp and high cheekbones. His features were hard and handsome, in perfect contrast to his soft and curly hair.
“Garcelle?”
“Huh?” she asked, her eyes focusing in on his.
“Thanks for the talk,” he said. “I never had a female friend—besides Reema.”
She forced a smile. “That’s me. Your buddy,” she joked, even as the disappointment she felt surprised her.
4
Two Weeks Later
“See, Daddy, we’re late for church,” Kadina scolded him as she double-checked her ponytail in the passenger-side window.
“God will understand,” Kade told her as he turned his Expedition onto the unpaved driveway of the Holtsville Baptist Church. Cars filled the yard, and Kade had to park near the ditch running along the side of the road.
They made their way inside, and Kade saw that his usual seats in the row with his family were taken.
“Psst . . . psst.”
Kade turned his head to find Portia Klinton, an old classmate and the ex-wife of one of the men from his hunting club, patting the empty seat next to her in the pew. She had “gotten saved” a few weeks ago, and everyone mockingly called her Sister Portia because she seemed to be saved only on Sundays. Every other day of the week, she did plenty to repent for.
Kade waved and kept on moving.
He saw his brother Kaeden trying to discreetly get his attention near the front. Kade gripped Kadina’s hand tighter and headed that way. Feeling like all eyes were resting on him, Kade was glad when they finally were in their seats.
As the church service continued on, Kade became more and more confused. Wherever he happened to rest his eyes, a woman smiled, winked, waved, or even blew kisses to him! Just when he thought he had to have imagined it, another woman would make her presence known to him. After Hazel Rogers, a divor-cée with six kids—all under the age of seven—gave him a more than friendly smile, Kade focused his eyes and his full attention on the minister.
The weirdness continued after church. He could have sworn he saw the twins, Pita and Rita, shoving people out of the way to head in his direction. Kade rushed Kadina out of the church, behind Kaeden.
Everyone mingled outside, on the church grounds, and Kadina went running over to Kade’s parents as soon as she spotted them. Kade and Kaeden followed at a slower space.
“Everything going good at the house?” Kaeden asked as he removed his rimless spectacles to clean them.
Kade towered over his brother by nearly four inches and had to look down at him as he answered. “Still have some unpacking to do, but I’m glad to be home.”
“Kadina like it?”
“She says she does, and she talks about her mother more . . . asking lots of questions and remembering things about Reema,” Kade told him, with a smile.
“She was a special woman.”
Kade paused in his steps. “Yes, she was.”
Kaeden nodded. “There wasn’t a better whist player around—”
“Uh, excuse me, gentlemen.”
Kade and Kaeden turned to find Ollie Freehold standing behind them, with a big smile. “How you doing, Ms. Ollie?” Kade asked the sixty-something church secretary.
“Blessed all day, every day. Amen,” she replied.
“Yes, ma’am,” the brothers said in unison.
“Kade, I wanted to talk to you about hosting a shooting match as a fund-raiser for the church,” said Ms. Ollie.
Kaeden smacked Kade on the back. “I’ll let y’all talk business then and excuse myself.”
Kade glared at his brother’s retreating back as he felt himself cornered by Ms. Ollie.
Kaeden chuckled as he walked across the church grounds, toward where his family stood. His stomach growled, and he couldn’t wait to taste whatever his mother was serving up for Sunday dinner. Being a bachelor, Kaeden rarely got a home-cooked meal, and when he did, it was at his parents’. His high-tech kitchen still looked as spotless and new as the day he moved into his town house. Of course, to meet his Mrs. Right, he had to get more going on in his life than just his work.
Most of his time was spent with facts and figures—numerical and not feminine. Growing up, his brothers had joked he was the nerd of the family. The safe one. The cautious one. The nonphysical one. The nonfarming one. The nervous one.
It was always a joke that he was the spitting image of Kahron, but they were as different as night and day. Being allergic to everything under the sun had a way of making a small boy find things to do other than be outside. And being the only person in the family to avoid the outdoors had taught him often and early how to be comfortable being alone.
He felt the heavy pollen in the air tickle his eyes, nose, and throat. He lifted his glasses to rub his eyes and gave in to a sneeze that rose fast. He tried to fight using the inhaler in his suit pocket but eventually gave in, hurrying to put it
back in his pocket as soon as he was done.
At the sound of a flirty and feminine laugh, Kaeden turned his head. His heart hammered, and he instantly felt his palms sweat. He paused, and he nervously licked his lips as his eyes locked on her through his spectacles.
Jade Prince.
She was surrounded by four men, who all were just as captivated by her as he was. He watched as she reached out to lightly touch the arm of one of the guys as she spoke to him. She flung her head back and laughed, exposing the smooth dark brown of her neck.
In his mind, everything about her moved in slow motion. Her bright smile. The wind blowing in the medium-length curls of her jet-black hair. The flutter of long and curly eyelashes. The way her dress clung to her curvy, full shape.
She was woman. All woman. Curvy enough to compete with a glass Coke bottle. Full enough to be held tightly by a man. Soft enough to make that lucky man sigh at the very feel of her body pressed against his.
Kaeden wished he could be that man. When it came to Jade, he felt like a character in The Wiz: if he only had the nerve. Chancing one last look at her, Kaeden forced himself to keep on moving. A woman like Jade Prince would never take a second look at a guy like him. He had long since dealt with that fact.
“Well, who put the honey on your brother to draw all those bees?” his mother asked as Kaeden strolled up to his family.
Kaeden turned and looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened at the fifteen or so women circling around Kade. His brother looked like a deer caught in headlights from both directions.
“Whether he wants to be or not, looks like our big brother is back on the market,” Kahron quipped from behind Kaeden.
“Oh, Jesus, is that Nettie Barnes gazing up in Kade’s face with her fifty-year-old self?” Kael said, sounding annoyed.
“She’s just hitting her prime, Pops,” Bianca added.
“Well, I would want a stepmother, not a step-grandmother,” Kadina said, with a definite frown.
The entire Strong bunch laughed.
Garcelle stroked her brother Paco’s head, which rested in her lap, as they watched television. Her father was napping in the recliner across the room, and her two uncles were in the backyard, playing dominoes with a couple of their neighbors. The house was quiet, and it felt good just spending time with her little brother. Every day he was changing. She was already chasing off fast and hot little thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls who were flirting with him because they thought he was older than he looked.
Hot Like Fire Page 4