by Tina Martin
“But she leans more on you for emotional support since you’re the oldest and all.”
“I know, but I think it’s dangerous for her to do that. She can have a life outside of us.”
“Sure she can.”
“That’s one of the reasons I’m glad I moved here.”
Zoya placed a bowl on the table in front of Harding.
“Thank you.”
“Welcome,” she said and then returned to the stove. “So, you want mom to have a life. Does that involve dating?”
“Maybe, but I feel sorry for the man who thinks he’s good enough for my mother.”
Zoya laughed. “Wait…let me understand. How are you going to say mom needs a life one minute, then threaten the nonexistent man in her life?”
“Because that’s just the way it is. And anyone who tries to push up on you and Amira will get the same treatment.”
Zoya laughed it off, but she knew Harding was as serious as serious could get.
“This is good, by the way,” he told her.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Harding ate more, then wiped his mouth before asking, “How was she today?”
“Who? Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“She was herself, I suppose. Why? Is something wrong?”
“No, well, she sleeps more and more now and has been complaining of heartburn and swollen ankles.”
“Well, that’s to be expected. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. It comes with pregnancy.”
He nodded.
“She and Tennyson work well together.”
“Yeah, he’s a cool guy—a little on the anal side, though.”
“Meaning what?” Zoya asked, amused.
“He’s very—I don’t know—stiff. Orderly. Likes things to go a certain way. But he’s professional and knows his job. Everybody around the office knows he’s married to his job, and he’s cool with that. Did you get a chance to meet him?”
Oh did I ever...
“I did.”
“What did you think? He’s stuffy, right? Reserved? All business?”
Zoya raised a brow. Were they talking about the same man? “You are talking about Tennyson Tillman, right? The lawyer who comes over to work with Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“That’s interesting. I didn’t find him to be reserved at all. He was the complete opposite. The man nearly talked my ear off.”
“You hardly know him. What could he talk your ear off about?” Harding asked, returning to the stove for seconds.
“Just stuff. Anyway, I’m picking up groceries tomorrow. Is there anything you need in particular?”
“Savannah could probably give you a better idea of what to shop for.”
“I’ll check with her before I go, then.” Zoya took a sip of water. “It’s so crazy the turns life takes. Who would’ve thought you’d be living in Asheville and expecting your first child?”
“I know. Life is unpredictable, sis.”
“For some people it is, but not for me,” she told him.
“How do you figure?”
“I carved out a path for myself. I know what I want and what I don’t want, so it’s easy for me to remove the suspense out of life. I go to work. I go back home. That’s it.”
“So, you’re married to your job, too, I take it—just like Tennyson.”
His statement had her and the man she just met pegged together in the same category. She didn’t want to feel like she had something in common with Tennyson. As it was, she was already attracted to him, and that was bad for her. Tennyson, or any other man for that matter, wasn’t a part of the path she’d carved out for herself.
“I’m not married to my job, Harding. If that was the case, I wouldn’t be here right now, would I?” Zoya took a sip of water.
“You do work a lot. I never see you let your hair down and have fun.”
“Seriously, Harding?” she drawled out. “You’re the one who told me to work hard for what I want—to be relentless as I pursue my goals. How do you suppose I made it to manager? It certainly wasn’t by letting my hair down and having a good ol’ time.”
“Yes, but you don’t want to burn yourself out, Zoe. You need an outlet.”
“Fine, then I’ll use my two weeks here as my outlet.”
Harding cracked a smile. His sister was just as stubborn as he was.
Chapter 5
Zoya was busy in the kitchen unpacking bags when she heard the front door open.
“Wow! That was the fastest appointment in history. You’re back already, Savannah?” she asked, placing a head of lettuce in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. She glanced up expecting to see Savannah but there stood Tennyson looking his usual perfect ten self, wearing a navy blue suit today. The smirk on his face was a self-fulfilling one – one that said: I know I’m bugging you. I just don’t care.
“What are you doing here, Tennyson? I’m sure Savannah told you she had an appointment this morning.”
“She did,” he said, studying her again today, taking in her figure. She looked relaxed and casual today wearing ripped jeans, a pair of blue and white slide-on canvas shoes and a plain navy blue tee.
“Then why are you here?”
“Take a guess.”
Zoya removed more food items from a plastic grocery bag: rice, chips, raisins, paprika, garlic pepper and a bag of sugar. “Beats me. Did you leave some documents or something?”
“No,” he said walking over to the island and began unpacking a bag.
Zoya, though annoyed by his actions, didn’t say a word about it. She didn’t need help. Didn’t ask for any help. Didn’t want any help…
“I came back to see you,” he said as straightforward as straightforward could get.
“Tennyson I told you—”
“I know what you told me,” he said, interrupting her. “You don’t have to reiterate it but you do have to go out with me.”
“No, I don’t have to go out with you,” Zoya said more amused now than irritated. “I’m curious—do these lines actually work on women?”
“That’s the thing—I usually don’t have to try so hard.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah,” he said placing a box of lasagna noodles on the table. “That’s right.”
“Then, by all means, go find your usuals. I told you—I’m not interested and I’m not going out with you, Tennyson.”
She watched something like a frown appear on his forehead as an arrogant grin glowed on his face. “And who are you kidding—I’m not your type? I’ve seen you twice now and every time you look like you stepped out of a catalog. Your suits cost more than my car.”
“Meaning what?” He walked over to the pantry where she was organizing canned foods by the type. After handing her a box of noodles he said, “I can’t be interested in you because of my choice of clothing?”
“No. Well, yes sort of.”
“Look—whatever the case, I’m not really—” She paused when she turned around to find him standing there – like right there – in her space. She could smell the scent of warm male skin tickle her nose along with the cologne he had on. Her heartbeat quickened. She forgot what she was saying.
“You are not what?” he asked, that entitled smile quirking his lips.
“I’m not going out with you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to,” Zoya said stepping around him to get more groceries.
“You like me.”
Zoya laughed. “I don’t know you.”
“That’s okay. The little you do know, you like. Even now you’re smiling.”
“I’m smiling because my comprehension can’t handle this level of audacity. Do you really think I would drop everything and fall under your spell?”
“That’s not what I want.”
“That’s exactly what you want…coming here pretending to help me with groceries. You probably don’t shop for your own groceries.�
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“I do. Does that humanize me a little for you?” Tennyson asked, taking two dozen of eggs from a bag and placing them in the refrigerator. “You shouldn’t be so quick to rush to judgment about people.”
“You’re right about that,” she agreed. “I did learn a little about you, though—something I found fascinating.”
“Do share.”
“Word is, you’re obsessed with your job.”
He shook his head. “Obsessed is a strong word.”
“Okay. You’re married to your job, so I heard. How does a man who does nothing but work—a man who’s made work his spouse—deviate from that to ask me out on a date?”
“That should speak to the power of you,” he told her. “You’re right. I do work a lot. I don’t date because I have responsibilities. Besides, I’m very particular about who I decide to spend my time with outside of work.”
She watched as he returned to post up by the door, crossing his legs at the ankles. Right away she could discern some things about Tennyson. One – he was a man who didn’t take no for an answer. He was persistent, and she didn’t have any doubt that it came with being an attorney. Two – he knew he was fly – knew all the perks he had to offer a woman. After all, his profession was second behind doctor when women rambled off the kind of man they wanted, although there was nothing that said second about Tennyson Tillman.
“Does the silence mean you’re thinking about accepting my offer?”
Zoya sighed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go out with Tennyson. She wasn’t ready to shift her focus to him or any other man. That’s not why she came to Asheville. And then there was the thing about not trusting men...
“If I go out with you, will you leave me alone?”
Tennyson threw his head back and laughed. “What kind of deal is that?”
“It’s a win-win situation. You get what you want—a date—and I get what I want—to be left alone.”
He chuckled harder. “You’re hilarious. I like that already.”
“I’m not laughing. If I go out with you, will you leave me alone?”
Tennyson’s smile faded as he analyzed her question. If he said no, she wouldn’t go out with him. If he said yes he was cutting himself off from future potential dates. So, he did the only thing he could do.
Lie.
“Yes,” he told her. “What time should I pick you up this evening?”
“I already have plans this evening.”
“I know. You’re cooking a big meal for Savannah and Harding. Savannah told me earlier. She agreed to get takeout today to free you up.”
“You’re lying.”
“Call her if you don’t believe me.”
Even though he was annoying, she was beginning to admire his persistence. “Okay, fine, but you’re not picking me up. I’ll meet you somewhere.”
“Works for me,” he replied back. “There’s this nice tapas bar by my house with a pretty cool vibe. I’ll text you the address.”
She shook her head. He wanted to text her the address so he could get her number, she knew. “Grab that notebook right there and write the address down for me,” she told him.
His cheek dimpled. “Nah, I’d much rather text it to you. What time would you like to meet? Six? Seven?”
“Six is good.”
He took a few steps over to her, handing her his phone. “Punch your number in.”
She obliged, taking his phone in her grasp for the few seconds it took to enter her phone number.
When she handed it back to him, he pressed the dial button to call her phone. He heard her phone ring and said, “Perfect. Now, you have my number.”
“Ugh…” she muttered.
“You could pretend to be excited to go out with me.”
“I could...”
Tennyson laughed again. “Okay, well I’ll leave you to doing whatever it is you’re about to do.”
Thank God, she thought. It was hard enough to keep her composure around him. It proved to be even harder to pretend she wasn’t interested when she admired everything about him.
“I’ll see you at six.”
She nodded.
He smirked wondering why she was quiet so suddenly. She wouldn’t be this way at dinner, would she?
Zoya observed Tennyson as he walked away thinking how pleasurable of an experience it was to watch him walk – the sexy powerful way his legs moved was like no other. It definitely made him stand out. And as he walked to the door, he looked back at her since he could feel her staring him down. He smiled then quickly glanced away before leaving.
When she knew he was gone for sure, Zoya called Savannah.
“Hey, Zoe,” Savannah answered.
“Has the doctor called you back yet?”
“Yep. I’m waiting for her to come in right now.”
“Good. The faster she sees you, the quicker you can get back here so I can strangle you.”
Savannah laughed. “Tennyson must have called you, huh?”
“Call me? He came by here to talk to me face-to-face. Why did you tell him you’d get takeout for dinner? I was looking forward to cooking and spending the evening with you and Harding. Now, I have to go out with Casanova.”
Savannah giggled. “Tennyson’s not a bad guy. You’ll have fun with him.”
“How do you know? Harding told me Tennyson was stuffy.”
“Stuffy?”
“Yeah. Like weirdly into his job and secretive.”
“I don’t know about all of that but I do know he’s a cool, laid-back guy, and it’s so obvious that he likes you. He couldn’t concentrate on work yesterday because he knew you were in the kitchen.”
“Am I supposed to be flattered? Men flirt with me all the time.”
“Yes, but what kind of men?”
“Men I wouldn’t give the time of day.”
“Exactly. Tennyson is different, and it’s my belief that he’s really into you. So, get ready, girlfriend. You’re about to know what it feels like to be chosen.”
Zoya giggled. “Say what now?”
“You heard me. Harding chose me and it was the best feeling in the world. Now, it appears Tennyson has chosen you.”
“Savannah, have the doctor check your temperature, too,” Zoya said, “Because you sound real wacko right now.”
“Hey, I’m just calling it how I see it.”
“Is that why you wanted me to come to Asheville? So you could set me up with Tennyson?”
“No. If you recall, you volunteered to come here. Don’t get me wrong—I appreciate it but I can assure you this was no setup. Tennyson genuinely likes you which is great for the both of you if you ask me. He needs to loosen up a bit and you need some male interaction in your life.”
“Sounds like a setup to me,” Zoya mumbled.
“It wasn’t. The universe just has its own way of making sure some things come to fruition.”
Zoya sighed heavily.
“Just go with him and try to have a good time, Zoe.”
“Okay. I’m going. I already told him I would. I doubt I’ll have a good time, though.”
“You will if you keep an open mind.”
“If you say so.”
Chapter 6
Zoya drove to downtown Asheville, parked on the street and walked the rest of the way to the tapas bar. She had no idea the place would emit an incredibly romantic atmosphere with its dimly lit, beige candles illuminating the tables and an open kitchen where she could see at least two chefs busy with the work of preparing meals. And the place smelled good like you didn’t have to sample anything to know the food was off the charts. The aroma did it all for you.
“Welcome to Blue’s Tapas Bar. Right this way, Ms. Champion.”
“Okay,” she said, impressed that the hostess knew who she was which meant Tennyson must have described her perfectly. And if he was able to do that, then he’d been extremely observant during the few times he was around her.
The hostess led her to a table near
the trickling indoor water feature where she observed Tennyson sitting comfortably wearing the same suit from when she saw him earlier this morning. He still looked handsome like he’d done nothing to break a sweat – handling his job like a true boss.
As she approached the table, he rose to his feet.
“You made it,” he said.
“Yes. I made it.”
He pulled out a chair, gestured for her to have a seat and after she did so, he sat down again.”
“Did you have any trouble finding the place?”
“I made a few wrong turns but nothing major. I’m still learning my way around.”
“If you want, I could show you around the city one day after work,” he offered.
Zoya grinned. “That’s real smooth...already trying to set up a second date after you promised me you would leave me alone once this one is over.”
“I wasn’t trying to set up a date. The offer was sincere.”
“Yeah, sure it was.” She met his smile with one of her own. “What’s good to eat here?”
“They make a good garden salad but you must order the pork spring rolls.”
“I must the lawyer says,” she said with raised brows glancing up at him then returned her attention back to the menu.
“Okay, I’ll reword that. The pork spring rolls come highly recommended and it would be in the best interest of your taste buds to order them. Was that better?”
She looked up, her vision matching the intensity of his dark brown eyes.
“You have the most gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen,” Tennyson said.
Geez...again with the compliments. Nothing annoyed her more about being showered with compliment after compliment from a man. It would take a lot more to capture her interest.
“Why must you pretend this is the first time you’ve seen hazel eyes? My brothers all have the same color eyes as I do.”
“Your point?” Tennyson asked.
“My point is, you’ve seen hazel eyes before.”
“True, but they look so much more beautiful sitting up in your head. And, not that this needs to be said, but I’d much rather stare at you than your brothers.”
Zoya brushed off his flattery. He wouldn’t impress her by telling her how good he thought she looked. She could get that from any man. Then she pondered something – did she want him to impress her? It’s not like they would have a second date so why was she stressing? She needed to keep this date light and airy. When the waitress came by, she ordered water, an apple martini a garden salad and the pork spring rolls as Tennyson had suggested.