Carla nodded, wondering why a lot more men didn’t think that way. The world would be a better place if they did. There were too many children who didn’t know their fathers, and fathers who didn’t want to know their children. They were men who had enjoyed their time in the bedroom but didn’t want the responsibility of being a father to the child they had created.
“Thank you.”
Jesse lifted a brow. “For what?”
“For having that attitude.”
He shrugged. “For me it’s more than an attitude, Carla. It’s who I am. Craig has brought something special into my life. He has given me purpose, direction. He has made me look deep into who I am and what I am. Being with him, spending time with him has helped me to see the mistakes I’ve made and to be there to encourage him, to teach him and show him how not to make those same mistakes.”
Carla nodded. “I’m about to have a cup of coffee, would you like one?”
“Yes, I’d also like to talk to you about something.”
“All right. Go ahead and sit at the table and I’ll bring the coffee on over.” Carla’s kitchen was a compact place and she could feel Jesse’s presence like a tangible thing. He suddenly made her kitchen feel warm and intimate. She watched him sit down at the table and could tell something important was on his mind and couldn’t help wondering what it was.
After pouring two cups of coffee she brought them over to the table and sat down across from him. Earlier, while he had kept Craig occupied, she had gone into her bedroom and changed into a pair of slacks and a loose-fitting top. It was one of her favorite outfits for lounging around the house.
“What do you want to talk to me about, Jesse?” she couldn’t help asking before he’d taken his first sip.
He met her gaze. “Thanksgiving. If you don’t have any plans for that day I’d like to take you and Craig to dinner.”
Surprised, Carla lifted a brow. “You would?”
“Yes.”
Carla inwardly sighed as she recalled another Thanksgiving that the two of them had spent together. He had remarked more than once during the course of that evening how special she’d made that day for him. She leaned back in her chair. “Thanks for the invitation,” she said grateful and appreciative. “But I’d made plans to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner here for me and Craig.”
“Oh.”
For the past two years it had been just her and Craig. Both Brandy and Amber usually traveled home to be with their families and it had become a tradition for Sonya to visit her grandparents who lived in South Florida on Thanksgiving. When Craig was born Carla had started her own tradition with the two of them getting up and saying a prayer to thank God for all of his blessings, eating breakfast, then settling down to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Then, a little after two o’clock they would eat the dinner she’d prepared the night before.
“If you’re not doing anything that day, Jesse, you are more than welcome to eat dinner with us.”
He met her gaze. “Are you sure?”
She smiled. The expression on his face reminded her so much of Craig’s when he was excited about something. “Yes, I’m positive, and I know Craig would want you here.”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment then asked, “What about you, Carla? How would you feel about having me here?”
His question jolted her although it shouldn’t have. For the past couple of weeks she had done a lot of thinking and had to admit that she had provoked him to go the extremes that he had. They had both made mistakes. “I’m fine with it.”
He nodded slowly. “And would you go out with me sometime if I were to ask?”
Carla shook her head. “No, not now. I believe your main focus should be on getting to know your son, which you’ve been doing. Don’t think about adding me in the mix because it won’t work.”
His gaze raked her features, frowning. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not interested in having a man in my life right now.” In that moment, she decided to share something with him that he really didn’t have a right to know but maybe then he would understand. “In fact, Jesse, I haven’t been romantically involved with anyone since that night I spent with you.”
At the curious lift of his brow, she continued. “A couple of months after that night we spent together I found out I was pregnant and not long after that my brother died which threw me into the role of being CEO of Osborne Computer Networks. Then after Craig was born my time was taken up with him. He became my sole interest, my only interest when I wasn’t at work. I received offers for dates but I turned them down, preferring to spend my free time with my son. I did go out with Brandy, Amber, and Sonya occasionally and for me that was enough.”
Jesse stared at her and she couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. She hoped he understood that she wasn’t ready for a man in her life and accepted that.
But Jesse wasn’t accepting anything. He looked away when he saw that he was making her nervous. He sipped his coffee, his thoughts churning furiously.
He had been the only man she’d ever slept with? She hadn’t been with anyone since?
When she got up from the table to pour another cup of coffee, he released a deep breath. Right then and there he decided he would immediately start work on his most important merger. It was the one that would make his son and the mother of his son a permanent part of his life.
Not too far away, on the other side of town, a secret meeting was taking place.
Sonya walked into the restaurant and glanced around. She smiled when she saw Mike Kelly stand up and wave her over. He was sitting at a table facing the window and she quickly walked over to join him.
She passed a table where a man and woman sat enjoying their meal. When the man glanced up he recognized her immediately. Dalton Gregory’s eyes nearly popped out of his head and he began choking on his wine. A waiter quickly crossed the room and began pounding on his back.
Sonya inwardly smiled. Dalton had learned a hard lesson that hell knew no fury like a sistah’s fury. He would think twice before using another woman again. Dismissing him from her sight as well as her thoughts, she continued walking toward Mike Kelly.
“Thanks for agreeing to meet on such short notice, Mr. Kelly.”
Mike smiled as he took the hand she offered in a handshake. “No problem, Ms. Morrison. You said something about there being an emergency?”
Sonya nodded and sat down. She waited until after the waiter took their drink orders. “Yes. But first I want to thank you. Although you may not admit it, I have a feeling that you may have helped soften Jesse up just a bit. I think what he did in the end was wonderful. Now Carla won’t ever have to worry about the possibility of losing her company again. I appreciate your help and for that I will be forever in your debt.”
Mike smiled. “In my debt?” he asked, doubting she wanted to be in his debt. The payback just might be more than she would be willing to deliver.
“Yes.” She then opened her napkin and placed it in her lap. “But what I wanted to meet with you about tonight was Carla and Jesse and what’s going on between them.”
Mike raised a curious brow. “And just what’s going on between them?”
Sonya frowned. “Nothing.”
Mike chuckled at her frustrated look. “Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing, so I thought the two of us should step in.”
Mike leaned back in his chair, intrigued. “Step in and do what?”
“Make them realize they want each other.”
“And you think that they do?”
Sonya looked at him like he was dense. “Of course. So what do you think we should do?”
Mike chuckled. “Nothing.”
Sonya blinked. “Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing. Jesse can handle things on his own.”
“Well, he couldn’t before. Without our help he’d still be making a mess of things.”
Mike shifted in his seat uneasily. She had a point there. When it came to Carla
Osborne, Jesse had a tendency not to think straight. “Just what are you suggesting we do?” he asked reluctantly.
Sonya smiled and Mike thought it was the sexiest smile that he’d ever seen on a woman. “I have a plan,” she said happily.
Mike chuckled. “I figured you did.”
“And it’s going to take place on Thanksgiving night.”
Sonya leaned across the table and he couldn’t help but smell her scent. The scent of a woman. A very desirable woman. “Thanksgiving night?” he asked, barely getting the words out.
“Yes. Are you with me?”
Mike swallowed. Not as much as he would like but he intended to change things, slowly but surely. “Yes, I’m with you.”
Sonya smiled brightly. “Good.”
Chapter 28
Another arrangement of flowers, Amber?”
Amber couldn’t help but smile at Eileen’s raised brow. “Yes, aren’t they beautiful?” One thing about Cord Jeffries was that, if nothing else, he was a very persistent man. He claimed the flowers he was sending practically every two to three days was his way of thanking her for the time she had spent in his home taking care of him. But all she’d done was to make sure he had followed doctor’s orders. He had not been bedridden so she had not had to wait on him hand and foot. Her presence had merely been there to remind him of what he was supposed to do and what he was not supposed to do. And she had to admit that he had been cooperative but she’d known he’d had an ulterior motive. The man wanted to get with her and she had a feeling he was on his best behavior now because he planned to get downright naughty later.
“This guy must have connections with this particular florist,” Eileen added, breaking into Amber’s thoughts.
“That’s a possibility,” she said grinning, while remembering that Dev’s girlfriend Briana owned a nursery in town. She straightened the display items that were located near the cash register. Business was slow today. With the huge number of people in town for the big football game this weekend, business had been excellent for the past couple of days; so much in fact that she’d hired additional help. The young girl from one of the colleges was working out well and was a natural with the customers. Amber wished there was some way she could keep her on even when business went back to normal.
“Don’t look now, but guess who walked in?” Eileen whispered. Then with a conspiratory wink she added, “I wish a man who looked like that had the hots for me. I would certainly make it worth all the effort he’s putting into the pursuit.” The older woman then walked off.
Amber’s stomach muscles tightened in anticipation. She knew whom Eileen was talking about even before she looked in Cord’s direction. Their gazes met and immediately, just that quick, her breathing became choppy and she could feel her nipples pucker against the satin material of her blouse. The man, she had concluded quite some time ago, was living, breathing, walking sex appeal. She didn’t like thinking that way; didn’t like the way her body responded whenever she saw him and a part of her was appalled by it all. But still, it happened each and every time. While in his home those four days, they had tried to downplay their attraction, focus on other things, so they had spent a lot of time talking about their families or lack of, their days in college and their failed marriages. She had even told him about the baby she’d lost and her desire to have children. And he had shared some painful times with her as well. He’d told her about the woman who had agreed to be his wife but had never played the part. Yes, Amber concluded, she and Cord had gotten to know each other fairly well during those four days. And on the following day when she’d returned home, the flowers began arriving.
Amber remembered the times she had wanted Gary to send her flowers, especially on Valentine’s Day. But he’d been of the mind that it was wasteful to spend money on flowers when the best way to express his love was in the bedroom and between the sheets. She had believed him, gullible and stupid as she’d been, until she’d finally realized that Gary had confused love with lust.
And unfortunately, so had she. But never again would she make that mistake. She knew the difference. What she was feeling for Cord was lust, not love. She would never let herself fall in love with a man again.
“Amber.” Cord murmured a greeting when he came to stand before the checkout counter. He smiled at her. It was a gentle smile. A sexy smile. “How are you?”
Amber sighed deeply. The man was so heart-throbbingly good looking that a part of her didn’t know how to deal with it. She just wanted to go someplace private with him and get naked. He brought out those kind of scandalous thoughts. And it didn’t help matters that the air surrounding them suddenly became drenched with his scent. Manly. Robust.
“I’m fine, Cord, what about you? Have you been taking things slow at work?”
He grinned. “As slow as I can and I’ve been leaving work everyday on time. My secretary doesn’t leave me much choice since she makes it a point to start turning out the lights and setting up the alarm system at five on the dot.”
Amber chuckled. “Good for her.” One thing she had come to realize about Cord during the four days they had spent together was that he was a stubborn man. He’d also been a sexually frustrated man and she had felt it each and every time he had looked at her.
Like he was doing now.
Damn. The two of them were hopeless. Two hopelessly hot people who didn’t want to do anything but jump each other’s bones, but who were also determined to prove there was more than sex between them. At least that’s what he wanted to believe. But with him standing in front of her, giving her silent messages with his eyes, messages that had her panties getting wet by the second, it was hard to buy into what he was selling.
“Would you go out with me tonight?”
Surprised by his question, Amber didn’t move for a few seconds as she calculated in her mind if his restriction of “no sex in two weeks” were up. She swallowed when she realized they were not. He had another three days to go. Going out with him would only be torture that neither of them needed. And the risk of temptation was too great.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Cord.”
He chuckled lightly. “I think it’s the only good idea there is, Amber. Dev may be concerned about me working myself into an early grave if I don’t slow things down at work, but I figure I’m going to work myself into an even earlier one if I don’t relieve some deep sexual tension pretty damn soon. There are only so many cold showers a man can take.”
Amber considered him for a long moment, and then quickly looked around to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “So, are you now saying it will be just sex between us?” She needed to hear him say it. She needed for him to confirm that the only thing they wanted from each other was a roll in the sheets. That was the only thing she could handle. She didn’t want to think about anything more serious than that.
Cord reached out and placed his hand over her hand that was resting on the counter. He leaned closer. “I want you, but not just for sex, Amber, although I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t the main thing on my mind right now. But I want all of you, your mind, your body, and your heart.”
She raised a brow. He’d said the wrong word. “Heart?”
His smile disappeared and a serious expression touched his lips. “Yes, heart.”
Speaking of heart, hers suddenly thumped as the safety shield surrounding it went up. She could deal with mind and body, but she knew she couldn’t handle anything dealing with the heart. That old vulnerability that had kept her from getting serious about a man just wouldn’t allow it. She’d made one mistake and didn’t want to make another one. “Let’s just leave the heart out of this shall we?”
He stared at her, his expression intense. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”
Amber frowned. “Then maybe you should. Your marriage was no better than mine.” She regretted saying the words the moment they’d left her mouth, but it was too late to call them back. At least she was honest and
had spoken just how she felt.
He narrowed his gaze. “That may be true, but that doesn’t mean I can’t move on. I suggest that you do the same.”
“I have moved on.”
“No, you haven’t. You’re still holding on to the past and all the things your ex-husband did to you. I think it’s time for you to let go.”
Amber lifted her chin. “Look, it’s getting pretty busy in here again. I really have to get back to work but thanks for all the flowers you’ve sent.”
“Will you go out with me tonight?” he decided to ask again.
“No, and please don’t ask again. I don’t need the hassle.”
He nodded. “All right. And I’m sorry if you think I’ve been hassling you because that wasn’t my intent. Just think about everything I’ve said, and if you think you might be interested then let me know. You know how to reach me.”
And without saying another word, he turned and walked out of the store.
Chapter 29
I don’t like this, Brandy,”
Grey all but growled. Brandy swallowed. She’d figured that he wouldn’t, but there was nothing she could do. The mayor had asked that she be present during several functions today when dignitaries of both universities, as well as the coaches, players, and teaching staff, made appearances. As owners of one of the hosting hotels as well as one of the major sponsors, she’d felt an obligation to be there although she knew it would throw a monkey wrench into all the security measures Grey had put in place for today. “This is something I have to do, Grey.”
Grey sighed. And keeping her safe was something he had to do. “Do you know all the places they want you to be?”
“Yes, but if you intend to follow me around, then please do so from a distance. Keeping watch over me at the hotel is one thing, but being hot on my tail in public is another. I’m a businesswoman, Grey, and having a lover who appears to be obsessed with keeping me in his sights twenty-four hours a day is not the image I want to foster.”
The Savvy Sistahs Page 27