"Papi-"
"No, Garcelle. Your father is talking to me, so I'll address him," Kade said, looking Carlos directly in the eyes. "I must be honest that it didn't cross my mind to ask your permission to date Garcelle. In truth, it's not something I or anyone I know has ever done. I'm not judging it. I'm just being honest. You see a pretty woman, you want to get to know her better, and you ask her if she wants to spend time with you to get to know you better as well. You date and you see if something serious can or will develop, and then you bring in the whole meeting of the families."
Carlos nodded as he continued to smoke his cigar. He looked at Kade through the smoke.
"So my way is different from your way. It's just a simple misunderstanding, and no disrespect was meant at all," said Kade. He looked up at Garcelle and then back at Carlos. "We've known each other for years. I know you're a good man, just like you know I'm a good man."
Carlos looked at Kade a long time-man to man. "And your heart is free to love another?" Carlos asked.
The question threw Kade off.
"Papi, we just started dating," Garcelle said, her words filling the silence. She walked over to Kade and held out her hand to him. "Come on. Let's go outside."
Kade rose to his feet. He stepped closer to where Carlos sat and held out his hand to him.
Carlos stuck his cigar between his teeth before he begrudgingly accepted Kade's hand.
Kade followed Garcelle out the door and to the front yard. "Talk about putting a man's feet to the fire," he joked lightly as they sat down on the front steps.
"I'm just glad my two crazy uncles weren't home."
Kade just smiled.
Kadina came running into the yard, with Paco hot on her heels. She ran to the bottom step of the porch. "Home base," she screamed as she panted heavily.
Paco stopped short as he swiped his long bangs out of his eyes. "Okay, this time you're it," he said before he knelt down into a runner's stance and then took off.
"Bye, Daddy. Bye, Garcelle," Kadina hollered over her shoulder before she flew off the porch and raced behind Paco, toward the rear of the trailer park.
Garcelle laughed at them. "I'm glad you and Kadina came to visit me here at my home," she told Kade as he massaged her neck beneath the soft layers of her hair.
"Me, too," he told her, fighting the urge to kiss her nape as she bent over, her head near her open thighs, with a soft moan.
"I miss you when we're not together," he admitted freely.
"Me, too, lover."
He used both his hands to massage her shoulders.
"That feels so good, Kade."
Just knowing he was making her feel good was making him feel hot. He felt himself harden between his thighs. Would thing ever cool off between them? "It'll be getting cool soon," he said, seeking a diversion from his erotic thoughts as he continued to knead her shoulders.
"Hmmm."
"I was thinking next Saturday we could take the kids to the pond and have that picnic," he offered.
Garcelle looked over her shoulder at him. "I would love that, especially including Paco. We're very close. Much closer than either of us is to our older sister."
Kade shifted on the step and lifted his leg over Garcelle so that she was sitting between his thighs. "You hardly talk about her."
"I hardly know her. She moved to Texas when I was in high school. She's a lot older than me. We talk on the phone some, but she has her life, and we have ours."
Kade frowned at the obvious distance between them, but he said nothing. He focused on putting his hands to work.
"You know, I had no idea you were such a good masseur," Garcelle said from beneath the layers of her hair. "I can only imagine what you could do if I was stretched out on a bed."
Kade's hands paused at the image of Garcelle, nude and gleaming with oil, as she lay on her stomach as he massaged her calves, the backs of her thighs, her buttocks, and her lower back. He would start with his hands but then would use his lips to taste every delicious inch of the soft skin covering the toned muscles of her body. Garcelle had the kind of body that made a Coca-Cola bottle look as straight as a ruler.
Garcelle looked over her shoulder at him again. Their eyes locked, and his heart raced when he saw her eyes were smoldering.
The interior of the SUV was hot and dark as Garcelle lowered the front passenger seat and climbed into the backseat, where Kade sat waiting for her. Being in the backseat of his SUV, surrounded by trees and dense brush on a dark and lonely country road, made everything about this heated moment so intense. Very intense. They giggled. They kissed. They whispered to each other. They bumped into each other as they struggled to remove their clothes.
Down to her panties and bra, Garcelle straddled his hips. There was just enough of the moon's light to see his handsome face as she unsnapped her lace bra to free her breasts. Instantly, he brought his hands up to massage them. At the feel of his hands and his mouth on her nipples, she gasped hotly and arched her back.
"Kade," she moaned as she reached down between them to stroke his curved hardness.
Kade pressed the condom into her hands and clenched his jaw as she quickly covered his length. He slid his fingers inside Garcelle's panties and roughly pushed them to the side. He lifted her slightly, with an arm around her waist, then lowered her.
"What if someone catches us?" she whispered against his chin before she bit it lightly.
"Everyone knows if the SUV is rocking, you don't come knocking." Kade planted rushed and heated kisses over her face as he moved his hands down to grab the softness of her buttocks. They both gasped as her warm and wet tightness surrounded him like a sleeve.
They laughed a little before Garcelle began to work her hips. The steam their bodies created rose to coat and fog the windows of the SUV as it rocked gently from left to right.
17
One Month Later
Bianca looked up as Mimi and her father walked into her kitchen, hand in hand. Kahron followed behind them and leaned in the doorway. Bianca's face filled with surprise. "I didn't know you were in town, Mimi," she said, rising to her feet to hug her close.
"I just got in a few minutes ago, sweetie, and we came straight over here."
The new Mimi-or was it the old Beulah-took a little getting used to. Thank God she's found a happy medium, Bianca thought as she reclaimed her seat. She had compromised: she was midway between the over-the-top Mimi and the dowdy Beulah. Her hair was in a classic bob, and she wore minimal make-up on her still-beautiful and refined features, but gone were the 1980s Dynasty suits, the bulky jewelry, and the Beverly Hills cowgirl garb, replaced by a simple fitted silk T and linen slacks, with crocodile flats. Mostly, that voice was gone. Her sharp sense of humor had remained, and for that, Bianca was grateful.
"Are you in for the weekend?" asked Bianca as she leaned back against Kahron, who stood behind her.
"No, she'll be staying for a while," Hank said vaguely, with a hearty smile, as he sat down on one of the stools.
They looked at each other.
Bianca's eyes darted from one to the other. "What?" she asked, sensing there was more. She turned slightly to look up at Kahron, but he just shrugged.
Mimi pulled her hand from the pocket of her pants and extended her arm to them. A good-sized solitaire twinkled from her left ring finger.
"Is that an engagement ring?" Bianca asked as she escaped from Kahron's hold and grabbed Mimi's smooth hand with both of hers. Her mouth dropped open as Mimi smiled.
"Congratulations, old man," Kahron said, stepping around the island to shake Hank's beefy hand.
"Thank you, Son. Thank you," said Hank.
"Ms. Mimi, welcome to the family," said Kahron. He literally picked her up off her feet and twirled her before he planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Oh, come on, Kahron. You have Bianca, and I have Hank. There could never be anything between us," Mimi joked as she playfully fluttered her lashes at him.
Everyone laughed. Everyone
but Bianca. She gave them all a hesitant smile as three sets of eyes turned on her. She met each look.
Her father sought approval. Mimi sought acceptance. Kahron wanted peace.
Mimi and her father were getting married. It took a minute to get used to the idea. The minute was over. She had never seen her father happier, and who was she to block him?
Her father jumped to his feet, with a stern look. "Bianca-"
"Kahron, baby, will you get a bottle of sparkling cider for us? Looks like we have some celebrating to do," Bianca said, pulling Mimi to her for a tight embrace before she moved over to hug her father.
"That's my girl," Hank said as he gave her a big bear hug.
Kahron handed each of them a flute. "Here's to a life filled with lots of love and happiness for you both."
"Hear! Hear!" they all said in unison.
Bianca placed a hand on her flat stomach as she smiled into her flute. "Since we're celebrating, anyway, now is a good time. I've been trying to figure out a really cute way to tell you something, Kahron."
Kahron's eyes darted to her, over the rim of his flute.
Bianca sat her flute on the island, then picked up her purse and dug into it. "Your mama and her damn fish dreams," she said softly, holding up the pregnancy stick as she looked into her husband's loving eyes.
Hank jumped to his feet. "Hot diggity damn!"
Kahron almost dropped his flute to the floor as he crossed the kitchen and pulled Bianca close against him. He picked her up and sat her on the counter and stood between her legs. "I love you so much, Bianca Strong," he whispered before he captured her lips with his own.
She was touched by the brightness of his eyes, hinting at tears she knew he wouldn't let fall. She caressed his silvery stubble with her hand as she smiled into his eyes. Eyes that she hoped their child inherited. They were having a baby, and she'd never loved him more.
That Sunday afternoon after church, Kade paused as he entered the kitchen, and all conversation came to an immediate halt at the sight of him. Five pairs of female eyes locked on him. His mother's, his sister's, his sister-in-law's, his daughter's, and his girlfriend's.
"Hello, ladies," he said, throwing them a charming smile.
"Hello," they all said in unison, with soft smiles.
"I, uh, just wanted to grab some beers for me and the fellas."
Garcelle cast him a soft smile before she walked over to the refrigerator. "How many would you like?"
He moved into the kitchen and walked past the ladies to reach Garcelle. He looked down into her laughing eyes. "Were you all talking about me?" he asked her as his eyes dipped down to her lips.
She nodded as she began to pass him the beers one by one.
"Good things?" he asked.
"Great things," she told him as she reached up to press her fingers to his lips.
He kissed them softly as he looked down into her eyes. His heart exploded in his chest, and he didn't think he could stop the words if he tried. "I love you, Garcelle," he whispered to her fiercely. "I really love you."
Her eyes widened and then softened before they smoldered. "Good. Because I love you, too."
"Get a room, you two," Kaitlyn called from across the kitchen, sending Kadina into a fit of giggles.
"I better go," he said, bending his head to taste her lips.
All the ladies sighed.
"Tell me again," Garcelle whispered.
Kade moved his mouth near her ear. "I love you," he repeated, with ease.
With one last kiss to the side of her head, Kade turned and strode out of the kitchen, with a wink at his mother.
"Well, whatever he said to you sure has put a big old Kool-Aid grin on your face," Bianca teased as she stirred a big bowl of potato salad.
Garcelle couldn't stop smiling, but she didn't share with them what had just passed between her and Kade. She would remember it always. A woman never forgets the first time her man tells her that he loves her.
"You ladies are discovering something that I have known for nearly forty years," Lisha said as she smiled warmly at Bianca and Garcelle. "There is nothing and I do mean nothing-like the love of a Strong man. Take it from the one who has the original. They live up to their names, ladies, they live up to their names."
"Doh, Mama," Kaitlyn joked.
"I don't mean just in the bedroom, daughter," Lisha said as she looked at Kaitlyn. "See a real man a real good man ... is good in and out of the bed. He got more going for him than what's below the waist. He got a lot going on in his head and his heart. That's a Strong man, baby, and I love mine."
Bianca grabbed the bottle of wine and topped off everyone's glass. She gave herself and Kadina more lemonade. "Well, here's to the Strong men."
The women all lifted their glasses.
"Hear! Hear!" they all said in unison.
"And to the future generations of Strong men and women," Lisha said warmly, giving Kadina a hug before she winked at Bianca.
"Garcelle ... Garcelle ... wake up, baby. We're here."
Garcelle stirred in her sleep and sat up in the seat. She looked out the window of Kade's Expedition. "Where are we?" she asked as she stretched.
"At the hotel," he said as he climbed out of the SUV and came around to open her door.
"The hotel? Why are we at the hotel?" she asked out loud as she slipped her feet into her sandals and grabbed her purse.
She accepted his outstretched hand. "Kade, Kadina stayed in Walterboro with your grandparents. Why didn't we just stay at your house?"
"I thought you would like this better," he told her as they walked into the hotel lobby.
Garcelle stopped in her tracks. He turned. She looked at him appraisingly. His eyes shifted from hers. She tugged on his hand. He looked up and locked his eyes with hers. She raised a brow. Kade smiled. She felt a tugging at her heart.
Love was an amazing thing. She pushed any doubts she had aside and followed him into the hotel lobby.
Kade carried Garcelle into the unlit suite, using his foot to nudge the door closed. She caressed his face, then bent her head to nuzzle his neck as she talked to him softly in Spanish.
He swung her onto the bed, and she stood, towering over him. The sliver of light through the crack in the curtain offered just enough illumination to silhouette the curves of her body as she kicked off one shoe and then the other. She reached up to unzip the lavender sundress she wore.
Kade ran his hands from her ankles to the firm contours of her calves and then to her thighs before massaging her soft buttocks. The dress fell to her waist, and he grabbed the material and jerked it the rest of the way down her body.
"Yes, Kade," she gasped as she reached up to release her hair from its ponytail.
He slid his fingers beneath the lacy rim of her panties to play in her soft curls before he slipped two firm fingers up inside her moistness. She bent her legs to receive them, with a hot gasp, as she rotated her hips against his hand.
"Garcelle," he said thickly before he removed the fingers and then slipped them into his mouth, with a deep groan.
Hot Like Fire (Dafina Contemporary Romance) Page 20