Any Man I Want

by Michele Grant

  I was saved by having to respond by the ringing of the doorbell. I found Tara, my assistant, standing on the front porch with Shawn. They’d been reviewing the information on Renee’s laptop. From the looks on their faces, it looked like they’d found something. “Tell me you’ve got something.” I waved them inside.

  “We’ve got something!” they announced together.

  “Awesome. Let’s see it,” Yazlyn said.

  Shawn connected his iPad to the big-screen TV in the living area and pressed a few buttons. An image of Renee’s loft came up on the screen.

  “Whoa! How did we get this? I did not plant any cameras.” The patio door slid open and Beau and Carter walked in carrying platters of meat.

  “What’s up?” Carter asked.

  Shawn looked at me uncertainly and I nodded at him reassuringly. “We’ll explain all in a second. Shawn?”

  “After you put the tracking and cloning software on Renee’s laptop—”

  “You did what?” Carter asked, smacking the ribs down on the countertop.

  “Babe, seriously. One second.” I motioned for Shawn to continue.

  “When Tara and I started looking at it, we realized that Renee has a smart house.”

  “A what?” Yaz asked.

  “A smart house,” Tara explained. “Everything can be controlled by a computer or cell phone.”

  Beau started smiling. “How much of her life is connected through that?”

  “Damn near all of it,” Shawn offered, “Her phone numbers, both home and cell, are digital numbers so every call and text both in and out are tracked through her e-mail. She has cameras set up outside her door and in her living room to guard against intruders, but she either she doesn’t want to or she forgets to turn them off, so we can see and hear everything that goes on near that area. She gets her work e-mail on her cell phone, which backs up onto her laptop. As do her calendar and her contact lists.”

  “We got access to this how exactly?” Carter questioned, sliding me a look.

  The doorbell rang and I motioned for Beau to answer. Belle and Jewel walked in.

  “Ou est mon frère?” Beau asked where Roman was.

  “Roman went over to pick up Chase and Madere and Pops,” Jewel answered, looking at the food first and the TV second. “Uh-oh, I recognize that living room.” She looked at me with wide eyes.

  Carter folded his arms across his broad chest and quirked a brow.

  “Fine!” I caved. “We did a little breaking-and-entering. I got some software from Shawn to clone Renee’s laptop so we could go in and look at what she was up to. We were just trying to see her e-mails. Who knew she was such a control freak that her whole life is on there for just anyone to see?”

  “Anyone who broke into her place and hacked her computer, you mean,” Carter snorted.

  “We had good intentions,” Belle mumbled.

  “You were driving the damn getaway car, weren’t you?” Beau said, glowering at Belle.

  “My car. Driven for felonious purposes,” Carter groused.

  “More like a misdemeanor. We didn’t really break and enter. We had the key, so we just entered,” I hedged.

  Carter’s head tilted. “How exactly did you get a key?”

  Shawn shuffled his feet and looked off into the distance.

  I cleared my throat. “We’re off topic. I felt and still feel that the ends justify the means.”

  “The criminal means?” Beau argued.

  “Isn’t it only a crime if you get caught?” Jewel wondered as she plunked down on a bar stool and gnawed on a rib.

  Yazlyn clapped her hands together. “People, people! Focus. However this was obtained; let’s see what it is before we decide if it was worth catching a case.”

  Beau sat down in one of the armchairs and tugged Belle down next to him. Carter and I perched on the other two bar stools.

  Tara glanced around the room nervously, waiting to see if any more fireworks were forthcoming. When they weren’t, she continued. “Anyway, check this out.” She slid her finger across the iPad’s touchscreen and the video started to play. We watched an older man standing outside of Renee’s apartment for a minute before she let him in. Renee had kept herself in shape. She was a size eight chocolate-skinned cute girl with a shoulder-length bob and a tendency to wear clothes that were stylish but a little too tight, particularly across her generous hind parts. I’d never seen her when her face was not flawlessly made up, her hair not perfectly coiffed, and nails not perfectly done. Even answering her door, she was in a tight red sweat suit that was studded with crystals with matching five-inch cherry-red pumps. It was one of my pet peeves: Women who wore sweats with heels. It looked like they were either trying too hard or couldn’t make up their minds. Are you casual or dressed up? Your outfit said one thing and your feet another. But maybe it was just me.

  “Why is that woman wearing evening pumps with a velour sweat suit?” Belle said, frowning. Okay, it wasn’t just me.

  “Because she belongs to the ‘Doing the Most and I Don’t Care Who Knows It’ club,” Jewel said with her fork hovering over the potato salad.

  The view switched to Renee’s living room and still the man had his profile to the camera. Something about him was familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. In the next frame, Renee took two steps and pointed a remote. A slow, sultry Brian McKnight song started playing. My eyebrows skyrocketed. That was “it’s about to go down” music.

  “Wait a minute, is this about to get freaky?” Jewel asked. “Because you know, I’m not trying to see that and my stomach is delicate.”

  Shawn nodded and looked embarrassed. “You might want to push the plate away for a second, ma’am.”

  Jewel set her fork down with a snap. “Did he just call me ma’am?”

  “Shh!” I scolded as Renee did an impromptu, but surprisingly skilled, striptease to the completely appropriate strains of “What We Do Here.” “Whoa. She’s got some moves.”

  “This bringing back any fond memories for you?” Belle slid Beau a sardonic glance.

  “Ah chère, you know I forgot every other woman once I had you.” He patted her arm.

  “Um-hmm. Good answer, sugar,” she drawled.

  When Renee stood in see-through lingerie and pumps, the man reached for her and drew her close. He slid his hands down to her rear and squeezed.

  “I’m so not trying to see this.” Jewel grimaced.

  The couple spun around, groping each other, and I was able to get a clear look at the man’s face. “Pause it right there!” Belle, Beau, and Yazlyn all gasped.

  Shawn nodded. “See that?”

  “What are we looking at?” Carter asked.

  “We are looking at Madison Archeneaux, the CEO of Royal Mahogany, getting his swerve on with Renee Nightingale, his former PR director,” Yaz announced.

  Jewel’s jaw dropped. “I guess we should have seen that coming, but this is kind of a skank move, even for Renee.”

  “It’s actually kind of smart in a smarmy, adulterous, ambition-at-all-costs way.” I shrugged. “How better to entangle him? If you want influence over a man, if you want to really control him? You have to know his weakness and make him need you. Either for money, love, sex, or survival. Once a man feels that he needs a woman, that woman owns him. He’ll do or say anything for her.”

  “Is that right?” Carter said silkily, in a quiet and dangerous voice.

  Oops. Yaz, Jewel, Belle, and Tara looked at me in disbelief. I was over-sharing. There were certain things that women knew that men didn’t need to hear about. Sometimes when I was thinking out loud, I forgot to filter. I spun toward him. “You don’t count. I’ve already learned not to try and manipulate my way around you. You’re your own man and fairly immovable once you have your mind made up.”

  “Uh-huh. Nice save, Kitty.” He patted my hand.

  Whew. “Anyway, anything else we need to know?” I looked toward Shawn and Tara.

  “We’ve found a lot in her e-m
ail. She really has no love for all things Montgomery. We’re going to summarize and get it to you next week. As far as video goes, there is quite a bit of activity, mostly of Renee with this guy and some other guy we haven’t identified yet,” Shawn shared.

  “Send it over to Captain Calvin and let him take a look,” Beau said.

  “Who is Captain Calvin?” Belle asked.

  “A former military friend of Gramps who is looking into Delancey for us,” Beau answered.

  “He’s the big gun?” I asked Carter.

  “He’s the big gun.” Carter nodded.

  Beau nodded too. “Let’s see what the big gun has and compare notes before we decide when and how to use this. What do you think, C?”

  “I agree. If we have opportunity to take them both down and can do it in the grandest, most public way possible, we should go for it.”

  The doorbell rang and I glanced at the clock on the microwave. “I’ve still got to change. Can you get that?” I headed for the staircase.

  “I got it,” Beau said. “Carter needs to get some water up next to his musty parts too.”

  “This is the thanks I get for slaving over a hot grill for you?” Carter smacked Beau on the back of the head as he walked by.

  “I’ll set the rest of the food out,” Belle offered.

  “I’ll start mixing drinks,” Yaz added.

  “Make yourselves at home!” I called out and hit the stairs at a run.

  I ran into the closet and started tossing my dirty clothes toward the hamper. Carter strode in and paused at the sight of me naked.

  “Don’t even think it, C. Pops will come up here and check on us. Like, walk right in.”

  “Yeah, so would Gramps. Chris too for that matter.” With a sigh, he stripped and stepped into the large walk-in shower.

  I used a washcloth to freshen up before slipping on lingerie, pulling my hair up with a clip, and dragging a simple sundress over my head. Carter was stepping out of the shower as I buckled woven metallic sandals onto my feet. I eyed him in the mirror as I threaded dangly silver earrings through my lobes. For some reason, the strangest thought popped into my head.

  “Would you ever make a sex tape?” I asked.

  “Haven’t you had enough of being a film star?” he teased.

  “Not for public consumption. Just . . . you know . . . to see what we’d look like.”

  “That’s what mirrors are for,” he said drolly. “And they can’t be hacked.”

  “Good point.”

  “What made you ask?” he wondered.

  I gestured to him. “You looking like you look. Us doing what we do. I wondered if it looks as hot as it feels.” Then right after I said it, I wanted to take it back.

  “Hmm. You’re a deep pool of a woman, Audelia Katrina.”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Katrina, I’m coming up there in two minutes if you’re not down here!” Pops called out. “You’re not grown to me, l’il girl!”

  I rolled my eyes. “He’s got zero chill. What did I tell you?”

  “Go, I’ll be down in a second.”

  I hurried back down and greeted Madere, Pops, Gramps, Chris, and Chase, who snuck his arms around my waist. “Auntie Kit?”

  “Yes, baby?” Chase was the spitting image of his father, with the charming personality of his uncle and the shrewd mind of his grandmother. He was going to be deadly when he got older.

  “Why does Pops call you l’il girl? You’re big now.”

  “Not to him I’m not. To him I’m still his little girl.”

  “What about me?”

  “Well, you’re on your way to being a man, so we’ll just have to remind Pops of that.”

  “Okay, where is Uncle Carter?”

  “He’ll be down in a second,” I answered.

  “Is he your boyfriend now?”

  “Yes, yes he is.”

  “Does that mean you kiss and stuff?”

  “Yes, yes it does.” I smiled down at him.

  “Are you going to have a baby too?”

  The room fell silent and all eyes swung to me.

  “Uh, why do you ask?”

  “Daddy said sometimes when two people are like that and they kiss and stuff, they make a baby.”

  “Yes, but only sometimes.” I shot Roman a look. He threw up his hands and turned away. Coward. Troublemaking coward, at that.

  “It’s better if you marry him before you have a baby so people know you’re a family,” Chase said seriously.

  “That’s very smart advice.”

  “Are you going to marry him?”

  I cast my eyes about, looking for some help, and got none. Carter stood in the middle of the staircase, enjoying my discomfort. I decided to give as good as I got. “We haven’t talked about it. But look, there he is now. Why don’t you ask him?” I gave my nephew a kiss on the cheek and walked into the kitchen.

  Carter picked up Chase and whispered something in his ear before adding, “That’s our secret, though, okay? Bro code?” He put out his fist and Chase bumped it.

  “Bro code.” Ready to move on to the next subject, Chase asked, “Can we play football now?”

  Roman spoke. “Son, it’s a little hot for football today.”

  “Water football? In the pool?” He gave his best I’m-so-cute-you-can’t-say-no-to-me face.

  “Fine. One hour. Water football. Pick your team,” Roman relented.

  “I want Chris and Uncle Carter.”

  “Son, you don’t want me and Uncle Beau on your team?”

  “No, I can play with you anytime. I want professionals,” Chase announced.

  “Dat chile is gettin’ more like his Uncle Beau ev’day.” Madere shook her head.

  “Heaven help us all,” Belle declared.

  Beau stood up. “More of me is always a good thing, ladies. So that leaves me, Roman, and Shawn on the opposing team. Pops, Gramps—if we could have you as our official referees and scorekeepers, please. Into the water, gents.” The men filed outside and started stripping down to their swim trunks.

  Yazlyn set down the spoon she was using to stir the beans and hurried toward her purse. She pulled out a camera and hotfooted toward the back door.

  “Where do you think you’re going, Miss Missy?” I asked.

  “You all may be related to them or whatever, but this is prime man candy and I plans to get me an eye-gaze full.” She waved her camera. “And a few choice pics for my screensaver. Good God almighty, Kat. Have you seen your man’s abs lately?”

  “Actually, I have.” But I set down the aluminum foil and stepped closer to take another look. Yep. Still drool-worthy.

  “And whew, Roman’s buns! Fresh out the oven and just as tasty-looking,” Yaz drooled.

  “Okay, watch it now,” Jewel scolded and walked over. “He is looking mighty right in those trunks, though. Buns of steel. Bless him. Bless every bit of him.”

  “Pregnancy hormones much?” Belle teased.

  “Perhaps, what’s your excuse?” Jewel returned.

  “Anyway . . .” Belle turned away.

  “And no disrespect, Mrs. Montgomery.” Yaz continued her unabashed swooning. “But your husband is quite well preserved and holding his own against these youngsters.”

  “I keep him young, sweetie. He’s a prime piece of man meat.” Madere giggled and poured herself a daiquiri.

  “Mom, did you just call my daddy man meat?” I asked in dismay.

  “You want me to lie? When I met dat man, my first thought? Dat dere is the tastiest damn morsel I’d laid eyes on. All da rest? The love, the conversation, the sweet stuff? Came later.”

  “Well, Madere, you made some beautiful children,” Belle said, eyeing up her husband like he was sizzling steak on a platter.

  “Had a hell of a time making them too,” she chortled mischievously.

  “I can’t un-hear that,” I groaned.

  “Hey, uh—does Chris have a girlfriend?” Tara asked breathlessly, watching him descend into the
water.

  “Not that I’m aware of,” I said, smirking.

  “You think he’s out of my league?”

  “No such thing,” Madere said. “If a woman wants a man, all she has to do is figure out what he wants in a woman and be that to get his attention. After dat, if it’s meant to be, it will be. C’est vrai.”

  I watched as Carter threw his head back and laughed at something Chris said. They jostled each other until Gramps spoke up and then they waited until his back was turned to elbow each other in the ribs. The brothers Parks were not bad to look at either. Not at all. “You know, we’re not on a schedule. The food is done and the cobbler has at least another thirty minutes. We could sit on the covered patio and have a frosty beverage or two.”

  “Dat would be far more dignified then standin’ here with our faces pressed to the door,” Madere snickered.

  I grabbed the pitchers of juices and cocktails while Belle grabbed the drinkware. We trooped outside and settled in to enjoy the show.

  21

  You woke up this morning feeling some kinda way

  Carter—Wednesday, July 7—6:18 a.m.

  As was my habit, I woke up before my alarm could ring. I needed to get up and get a workout in before facing the day ahead. I blinked twice and wondered what felt off. Looking to my left, I noticed Katrina sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed, staring at me. “Problem, diva?”

  “Do you ever wish I was less trouble?”

  I glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even 6:30 in the morning yet for all this deep conversation. “Less trouble than what?”

  “Less trouble than the way I am. I know I’m a handful.”

  “You’re two handfuls, but I have big hands, so it’s not a problem.” I held my palms up and grinned.

  She frowned and fiddled with the hem of her nightgown.

  “I’m serious, C.”

  I pushed up and rested my back against the headboard. “What brought this on?”

  She shrugged, looked down, and fiddled some more. Katrina was not one who displayed nervousness. Ever. I reached out and grasped her hands. I just held on and let her work through whatever she was struggling with until she was ready to talk about it. After a few moments, she raised her eyes and I was both surprised and dismayed to see tears in them.