“Okay, then. I like that. Take all the time that you need.”
“I plan to.”
“So, would you like something else to drink?”
“I would . . . as long as you have no ulterior motives.”
Mr. Harris smiled again. He leaned in to whisper to Korie. He motioned for her to lean in as well. She did.
“Ms. Dillon, I assure you, I have no ulterior motives—tonight. Right now, I’m only interested in getting to know you better, that’s all. But I will say this. I’m quite happy you decided to spend more time with me.”
He placed his hand on hers. His thumb rubbed her fingers. His touch was light and affectionate. He sat back in his chair and reviewed the dessert menu.
“So, I have a question,” Korie began to say.
“Go ahead, shoot.”
“Why did you want to take me out? I’m sure a man of means like you could go out with anyone.”
He licked his lips before speaking. Korie thought he looked incredibly sexy each time that he licked his lips. He looked at her confidently and spoke.
“I probably could have gone out with just anybody. But what if I wanted more than that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I wanted to go out with you because I thought you were beautiful. Also, because I wanted to go out with someone who was real.”
Korie blushed. She smiled a wide smile before catching herself.
“Okay, wait a minute. I looked a hot, sweaty mess when you first saw me. I didn’t even have any makeup on.”
“My point exactly. When I first saw you, I thought to myself, Wow she is really beautiful; naturally beautiful.”
“And the sweat?” Korie said.
“Oh, I didn’t mind that,” he said, laughing. His laugh reminded her of how Denzel Washington sometimes laughed in his movies. “I didn’t mind that at all. Besides, I didn’t think you were sweating so much as you were glistening.”
“And the difference between the two?”
“Sweating is kind of . . . well, primitive, carnal . . . maybe even nasty.”
“And I wasn’t any of those things?” Korie’s eyebrow went up.
“No, you were none of those things. Like I said, you were glistening. Your skin, it had this . . . copper shine to it. It was kind of a glow.”
“A glow?” Korie said sarcastically.
“Yes . . . a glow. It wasn’t nasty at all. It was rather . . . exotic.”
Korie blushed. As she blushed, Vaughn smiled. Then the two shared a laugh.
“Better Days” by Joe was playing overhead.
Korie asked Vaughn a million questions. He gave her a million answers. They all seemed correct. The next thing that she knew, it was almost eleven o’ clock. They talked most of the night over wine and dessert. With all the love songs that played, it was like she was in her own world with the only man in the city who mattered. She enjoyed his smile, his rugged good looks, and his conversation. Before long, they spoke to each other with an ageless familiarity. They talked like old lovers or old souls.
Initially, Korie was apprehensive about coming out this evening on this non-date. As the night went on, all she could think was how much she would have missed out on had she not gone. At 11:15, Korie decided it was time to say good night. She gave Mr. Harris her card and a smile.
“I enjoyed myself this evening, Vaughn.”
“I enjoyed myself as well.”
“I think I’ll be saying good night now.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
They both got up from the table and Korie noticed that he didn’t pay a bill and one was not brought out to him. Then it dawned on her that he paid for this evening in advance. When they left the Grand Lux, the dining area where they had eaten was then opened up to the public. People looked at them as they exited the dining area. Some looked as if to say, Who are you? Others looked at the couple as if they were royalty or celebrities. Some of the looks made Korie uncomfortable. Vaughn, however, walked with confidence as if he were used to these looks. It didn’t faze him in the slightest way.
When they reached street level, Vaughn offered Korie his arm. They walked together slowly and deliberately as they laughed and continued to talk. It was obvious that neither wanted the night to end. Korie started to ask Vaughn to come back to her place, but her manners told her that would be unladylike. Jayna was probably in bed with Brandon right now, but Korie wasn’t like that. She was selective with whom she gave her body to. Rich or not, Mr. Vaughn Harris would have to wait for her goodies, if and when she decided to give them to him.
He walked her to her car, arm in arm. She chirped the alarm and unlocked her doors. He opened the door for her and leaned in and casually kissed her on the cheek. She was both surprised and impressed that he didn’t try for a kiss on the lips.
“Good night, Ms. Dillion.”
“Good night, Mr. Harris,” Korie said, smiling.
“Here’s my card. Please call or text me to let me know that you’re home safe.”
“Call or text? I’m surprised you’re text savvy.”
He laughed. “Because I’m older than you? Or because you think I’m old?”
Korie’s expression changed. It didn’t dawn on her that her comment might seem offensive.
“Because you don’t seem like the type to text anyone.”
“Okay . . . well, you have a good evening. Call or text to let me know you got home safely.”
Korie started up her car. More slow songs were playing on the radio. Korie watched Vaughn walk away all smiles. She had to smile to herself as well because she had such a wonderful time with him. After he got on the parking garage elevator, she sat in her car and listened to the music for a while. She wondered if anything could happen between them. She wondered how much potential they had as an item. She wondered how much potential they had as a couple. Just as quickly as she thought of it, she dismissed it. She knew in her heart that statistically if they were to even attempt to get into a relationship, it would be doomed to fail.
Because she always had her guard up, Korie wondered if this was just a thing or a phase for Vaughn. She wondered was he just a rich man looking for a booty call from an average woman. She thought to herself that some men liked women with big butts. Some liked women who were top heavy. She wondered if in some sick way, DeVaughn Harris was a man who got off on sleeping with middle-income women.
Girl, you’re trippin’. This could be a black version of Cinderella or Pretty Woman, she thought.
Then reality hit Korie quite hard as she continued to think about what could develop between the two of them.
Or, it could be another heartbreak, she thought to herself.
She sat in her car and simply exhaled. She made up her mind that as far as she was concerned, the ball was in DeVaughn’s court. If he chose not to call then it would be his loss. She did, however, make up her mind that she would be fair with him.
She drove through the parking garage and down eight floors where she paid for her parking. The bill was twenty-two dollars. She was miffed at the expensive cost of parking downtown. Still, she had a great night. As she pulled out of the garage, “the Daddy Thing” by Jaheim was playing. She looked at her backseat and put Darrin Lowery’s book The Daddy Thing in her purse so she would remember to read it.
As she pulled out of the garage, she headed east to State Street. She then headed south on State Street, where she saw a familiar figure walking and looking at the storefront windows. She drove slowly beside the tall figure and rolled down her window.
Vaughn was taking a late-night stroll down State Street.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He looked up at her and smiled. He was not expecting to see her.
“Just taking in the sights, and thinking about you.”
“What about me?” Korie said, smiling.
Vaughn walked over to her car and knelt before the driver-side door. Korie cut off the engine.
“I was
just thinking how nice it was to have dinner with you. I was just thinking that I seldom take time out for the important things in life.”
“Things like what?”
“Things like family, marriage . . . love.”
Korie was stunned. She was apprehensive and anxious all at once.
“Love?”
“Relax, Ms. Dillon. I’m not saying that I love you.”
“Whew, I’m glad to hear that because I was just starting to like you,” she said, smiling.
“Oh, so you like me,” he said, smiling.
She thought to herself, He has such a wonderful smile.
“You’re okay, I guess.” They both laughed.
“So what I was saying is tonight got me to thinking; thinking about the important things in life: family, people and love. Not that I’m in love, but for a long time I haven’t been open to the idea of love. “
“So what have you been doing all these years since your wife passed?”
“Making money.” He stood up and put his hands in his pockets, staring off in the distance as if he were disappointed in himself. “Making lots and lots of money. I think that’s my only skill.”
“That’s not a bad skill to have.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s a lonely business.”
“I’m sure. I’m also sure that you have other skills. Outside of business, when was the last time that you went out to enjoy yourself?”
“I have dinner at different places all the time. In fact, I went to Vegas just last week.”
“When was the last time you went skating?”
“Skating?”
“Yeah, skating,” Korie said, smiling.
“Shoot, I don’t think I’ve been skating since high school. Hell, that might have been before you were born.”
He laughed.
She didn’t.
She briefly thought about the age difference. Just as quickly as she thought about it, however, she dismissed it.
“And what was the last book you read for recreation that wasn’t about finance?”
“Uh, that would have been quite some time ago,, and it was The Coldest Winter Ever.”
“Great book. It’s one of my favorites. What was the last movie that you saw?”
“At the theater?”
“At the theater.”
“Well, not to brag, but I have a theater at home.”
“I’m sure you do, but that doesn’t answer my question. What was the last movie that you saw at the theater among other people?”
He had to think about it. He was almost ashamed to say.
“I believe the last movie I saw at the theater was The Five Heartbeats.”
“Oh my god.”
“But I’ve seen all the current movies. I just haven’t seen them at the show.”
“We’ll have to do something about that.”
“Oh really?” he said, smiling a full smile.
“Really. The next date is on me. I’m going to take you out and we are going to have some fun.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“What’s your schedule like over the next few weeks?”
“I have a lot of things scheduled for this week, but you know what? I’ll make the time . . . for you.”
“I like the sound of that.”
They both stared at each other like two teenagers. They looked at each other lovingly. And for the first time, Korie didn’t see him as the older man. She just saw him as a man.
“Okay, well, I have to go home,” Korie said.
“Well, good night again, Ms. Dillon.” He leaned in a second time and kissed her on the cheek.
He smiled.
She smiled.
She then pulled off, turning the car stereo up and heading back to her place. Thoughts of this evening played over and over again in her head. Korie didn’t remember the last time that she felt so good.
Then it dawned on her. The last time she felt this good about a man it was him. She turned the stereo down and drove in silence on the way back home. She thought about the gamble she was taking. She thought about the last time that she was hurt and she weighed her options again for the hundredth time.
That man is not this man. We need to give this man a chance. We need to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just see where this thing goes. These are the things she told herself.
Korie went inside her place and the first thing she did was get undressed and jump in bed. She lay down and stared at the ceiling, smiling to herself at how the evening went.
Not only was Vaughn handsome and financially stable, he was a gentleman the entire night. He made no effort whatsoever to come home into her bed, or to get her into his.
Korie admired that. She sent him a text that said she was home. His return text thanked her for a great evening. Just as she was ready to turn over and go to sleep her house phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Are you just getting home?”
It was Jayna. She was looking for dirt, no doubt. Korie smiled to herself again when she thought about how wonderful tonight was.
“Yes, Mama, I’m just getting home.”
“And how did the evening go?”
“You know what? It was great. I’m glad you set it up.”
“See, I told you he was the guy for you! Are you going out with him again?”
“Yep.”
“Where is he taking you?”
“I’m taking him. I think I’m going to take him to a Bulls game.”
“A Bulls game? Hold up, Did you say you were taking him?”
“Yes and yes. What’s wrong with that?”
“You shouldn’t be taking him out. Hell, if anything he should be taking you out. You should be going with him to Paris or something.”
“Girl, stop. I’m taking him out because he seems a little removed from the black community and he can’t remember the last time that he just kicked it and went out.”
“Uh, okay Korie. As far as being removed from the black community, that’s called progress. And as far as kicking it, a man of his stature needs to focus on one thing: Making millions for himself and billions for his company.”
“Well, if we are going to see each other, I’d like him to focus on other things.”
“Like what?”
“Like me.”
“So you’re telling me that you’re really feeling him, huh?”
“I am . . . a little.”
“Good. So . . .”
“So, what?”
“What happened? Spill it.”
“We talked. We laughed and then he kissed me on the cheek.”
“That’s it?” Jayna sounded disappointed.
“That’s it. How did things go with Brandon?”
“They went fine; he’s here with me now. He’s ’sleep.”
“You ho!” Korie said playfully.
“It’s not like that. I think he could be the one.”
“After one night, Jayna?” Korie was concerned about her girlfriend’s judgment.
“I don’t know what to say, we just clicked.”
Korie thought to herself, How many other men have you clicked with? The two women talked for about a half hour about their expectations. Minutes after that, they hung up. Throughout the conversation there were plenty of times that Korie had to hold her tongue. But again, she kept telling herself, sometimes being friends means not being judgmental. Besides, who was she to judge? Just days ago she was still thinking about her ex and now she was thinking about dating a man old enough to be her father.
Chapter Ten
Darren thought to himself, I’m finally rid of her. For the first time in a very long time, he hadn’t thought about her anymore. He saw his clients, he went out on dates, and he occasionally paid for the company of Stephanie.
They’d gone out for the past six weeks and each time had been more amazing than the last. Darren tried to tell himself that there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. He tried to tell himself, li
ke his client said, that he was simply in need of a service, and Stephanie provided that service. He knew that he sounded like one of his clients. He also knew that he was hooked like an addict.
It was costing him a pretty penny at 6,000 dollars a month, but he felt it was worth every dime. He simply saw more clients to offset the expense. It didn’t dawn on him that in a year’s time he would have spent 72,000 dollars.
He stepped his game up. He saw more elite clients. He took his last client’s offer of learning how to play golf. As he learned to play golf, his client introduced him to more and more affluent men. Men whose issues ran deep, but whose pockets ran deeper. Darren began seeing many of the men at the club and started making more money inside of a few months than he had ever imagined.
His client, DeVaughn, had shown a great deal of progress. He confessed that he met someone and stopped spending money on the escort service altogether.
Darren thought, Tell me the secret so I can wean myself off.
His client stated that he met a woman; a remarkable woman who made him feel young again. His client thanked Darren for helping him with his addiction. He also thanked him for saving his company millions and millions of dollars.
“Mr. Howard, I really want to thank you for all your hard work. Initially I thought therapy was just some BS, but thanks to you, I am happier than I have ever been in my life.”
“I’m glad I could be of help. If you think you’re ready, perhaps we should end our sessions together then.”
“Doc, are you breaking up with me?” he said, laughing.
“No. No, I’m not. But I do think you’re ready.” The two men sat and shared a drink on the ninth hole.
“So why do you think I did it all these years? What made me turn to escorts? Any idea?”
“What do you think?” Darren asked.
“I’m asking you what you think.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“Forever the therapist, huh? Do you ever answer a question directly?”
“I do. But not during a session. Listen, therapy isn’t about voodoo or curing people with some magic pill or anything. It’s like two people walking on the same journey, and on that journey, I’m not the guide: You are. I’m simply the companion. My job isn’t to answer questions. My job is to ask you difficult questions that you may be afraid to ask yourself.”
Second Time Around Page 11