Betting On Love

by Hodges, Cheris

  Serena slapped her hand against her thigh. “Tell me that you’re speaking hypothetically,” she said. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Jade shrugged her shoulders. “It explains a lot. I’ve been sick for no reason, and I checked my calendar. My period is late.”

  “Let’s find a drugstore and get a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, are you going to keep it?”

  Jade closed her eyes. “Whatever decision I make, James and I are going to make it together,” she finally said.

  “Are you sure it’s James’s child?” Serena asked quietly.

  Jade rolled her eyes. “Yes. If I were pregnant by Stephen, I’d be showing by now. You know we hadn’t been sleeping together toward the end.”

  Serena nodded and folded her arms underneath her breasts. “I don’t envy you,” she said. “Have you talked to him?”

  “Yes. We’re supposed to be meeting for dinner. Do you mind staying overnight?”

  A slick smile spread across Serena’s face. “I sure don’t. As a matter of fact, I’m going to call Antonio and discuss our contract.”

  Jade grabbed her friend’s shoulder. “Please don’t do anything to mess things up with him. They say he’s one of the best contractors in town, and you know how hard it is to find honest contractors.”

  “Trust me, I’m not going to do anything but talk to the man,” Serena said. “We have a lot invested in this unnamed restaurant.”

  Jade rolled her eyes. “We’re going to come up with a name, all right. Let’s go see if we can find a room in Uptown.”

  “Uptown? You’re sounding like a native already,” Serena joked as they got into the car.

  CHAPTER 25

  Jade called James around six and told him that she and Serena were staying at the Westin and she’d be ready to meet him for dinner around 7:30. What she didn’t tell him was that she was waiting to see if her over-the-counter pregnancy test was going to turn blue. The first test she’d taken had given her the plus sign, meaning that she was pregnant. The second test had had the two pink lines, meaning that she was pregnant. With mixed emotions, she waited for the last test to make a prediction.

  Serena knocked on the bathroom door. “What’s the verdict?”

  Jade opened the door and walked out with the blue test and held it out to Serena. “This is not good.”

  “Jade, what are you going to do?”

  Crossing over to one of the beds, Jade plopped down and shook her head. “I guess I’m going to have to tell James.”

  “But the test could be wrong.”

  “All of them? I took three of them. Same result.”

  Serena sat down beside her friend and put her arm around her shoulders. “You know, whatever happens, we’re going to have your back. Alicia, Kandace, and I want this restaurant to succeed, but if you want to be a mommy, then we’ll just hire a—”

  “Wait a minute. I’m still going to manage the restaurant, and if I do have this baby, I’m sure that there are day cares and things that will make it possible for me to work and take care of my child.”

  “And what’s James going to do while you’re trying to be supermom?”

  Jade shrugged. “Who knows what his reaction is going to be? He may not even want a baby.”

  Serena shook her head and hugged her friend again. “Like I said, we got your back.”

  “I’d better get ready for dinner,” Jade said as she walked into the bathroom.

  Serena was already on the phone, calling Alicia and Kandace.

  James walked into the lobby of the Westin Hotel at 7:20. He wanted to see Jade as soon as she walked off the elevator. Things had been so much simpler in Vegas, he recalled. But now he had feelings invested in this woman, and the last thing he wanted was to be hurt because she wasn’t over Stephen or something crazy like that. I need to stop expecting the worst, he thought as he heard the chime of the elevator. Moments later Jade was walking toward him, with a worried look on her face. James took note of the black dress she wore and the matching leather pumps. Though the outfit was alluring, something about the look on her face troubled him.

  “Are you all right?” James asked after saying hello.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she said quietly.

  James raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re sure? You have the look of a woman carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.”

  Jade stared at him for a moment. “I’m a little confused, James. Are we supposed to be picking up where we left off, or do we forget what happened the last time we were together?”

  “I made a mistake and I’m sorry, but I’m not the only one who should be apologizing. You just left, with no word about where you were going or anything.”

  “And you were so worried about me that it took you a month—thirty days—to call me?” she snapped.

  “I called,” James said. “But I kept getting voice mail. Obviously, you were too busy to talk.” His statement lingered in the air like an accusation. “But you know what? You didn’t dial my number, either, Jade.”

  “I didn’t think I had a reason to. James, you have got to understand, I’m a one-man woman, and you are the man I want and need in my life,” she said. “Tell me you believe that.”

  He reached out and stroked her smooth cheek. “I do,” he replied. “Let me be honest with you. This is new to me, and maybe I was trying to deny what’s been happening for a long time.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “That I’m falling in love with you, and it drives me crazy to think that I could lose you or that someone else will kiss you, touch you, or make love to you,” he said emphatically. “And I take back what I said. I’m not falling in love with you. I’m already there.”

  Jade melted in his arms. “I love you, too,” she murmured. “But I’m just as gun shy as you are.”

  “Maybe we just need to stop being shy and just pull the damned trigger,” James said, then brushed his lips against hers.

  She fell into his kiss, her body reacting to the expert touch of his hands. But they broke off the kiss before they were carried away by passion.

  “We have dinner reservations,” he said. “But we could always go back to my place.”

  “No,” she said, with a grin. “But we can have dessert at your place.”

  It was James’s turn to smile. “I think there might be some icing in the refrigerator.”

  All through dinner, Jade tried not to focus on the three pregnancy tests she’d taken. James had said he loved her, and so if the tests were accurate and she was pregnant, they would be able to work things out, wouldn’t they?

  “You’re quiet,” James observed.

  “Just enjoying my last meal at Ruth’s Chris.”

  “Last meal?”

  “Yes, because once the restaurant opens, you’re not going to eat here, either.”

  James smiled and leaned across the table. “I know what I’d like to eat.” His voice had a hint of seduction dancing in it. “What do you think it is?”

  Jade reached up and stroked his cheek. “You’re so bad,” she said. “And I’m going to enjoy my steak.”

  “All right,” he said, easing back from her. “But I can’t wait to get you home.”

  Jade smiled and wondered if she should enjoy her reunion with James before dropping the bomb on him that she might be pregnant. As they finished up their meal, Jade decided to wait until she got confirmation from her doctor before telling James that she thought they were going to be parents.

  “Do me a favor,” she said as they walked out of the restaurant. “Take me to the hotel so that I can get a change of clothes.”

  “All right,” he said. “I’ll wait for you in the lobby, because I’m sure Serena isn’t going to be happy to see me”

  Jade laughed. “Actually, today she might be.”

  “And believe it or not, Maurice missed you.”

  “That I find hard to believe,” she said, with a dismissive laugh.

  “It’s just a
s believable as Serena being happy to see me,” James said.

  “I guess we’ve been making the people around us pretty damned miserable,” she said.

  James nodded in agreement as the valet brought his car around.

  Jade slid into the passenger side of the car as James tipped the young valet. Then James got into the car. “All right,” he said. “Let’s get out of here and into my sheets.”

  She winked at him and refused to think about anything except the pleasure that James was going to give her as soon as they got to his place. But first, she needed to pack a few things.

  James dropped her off in front of the hotel, and she headed for the room. When she made it upstairs and opened the door, Jade’s mouth dropped. Serena and Antonio Billups were locked in a passionate embrace near the glass doors.

  Jade cleared her throat loudly, causing the duo to break off their kiss. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said when they turned and looked at her.

  “Jade, I didn’t expect you back so soon,” Serena said, her face flushed with embarrassment.

  “I’d better go,” Antonio said.

  “No,” Jade said. “I’m just grabbing my bag. Serena, love, we’ll talk tomorrow.” She grabbed her bag and headed out the door. As soon as she reached the lobby, Jade called Serena’s cell.

  “Yes,” Serena answered breathlessly.

  “Please tell me that you aren’t doing what I think you’re doing!”

  “Look, we’re adults. There is nothing wrong with mixing a little business and pleasure. Besides, I had no idea that—”

  “That you would get caught? Can you at least wait until the renovations are complete before you start mixing?”

  “I have to go. Remember checkout is at eleven,” Serena said before hanging up.

  Jade shook her head as she walked over to James.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “The world is truly spinning out of control,” she said.

  James furrowed his brows. “Huh?”

  “It’s nothing. Serena’s just acting really strangely.” Jade linked her arm with James’s. “But that’s not important. We have dessert to get to.”

  He licked his lips and smiled at her. “That’s right.”

  The couple got into the car and headed out to James’s house. Jade closed her eyes and allowed her mind to go to a day when she and James would pull into his driveway with a beautiful little girl in their backseat, fast asleep. Jade figured that James would race to the backseat to lift his little angel from the car seat. Jade would grab the diaper bag and open the front door quietly as to not wake the baby. Once inside, however, the baby would wake up and start cooing at her loving daddy.

  “Hey,” James said, breaking into Jade’s fantasy. “Are you sure that you’re all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she said as they pulled into his driveway.

  “Still shocked by your friend?” James asked, probing.

  Jade nodded, hoping to mask the real reason for her silence.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist after she got out of the car. “Jade,” he whispered, “I missed you.”

  She twirled around and brought her lips on top of his, hungrily kissing him. James lifted her into his arms as he backed up to the porch. Gingerly, he stepped up the three brick steps, still kissing her and savoring the taste of her tongue. He dropped down on the wrought-iron chair, with Jade still wrapped around his body. He probed the depths of her mouth with his tongue as he slipped his hand underneath her dress. Jade moaned as his fingers pushed aside her panties and entered the wet folds of flesh between her thighs. She pressed her hips into his probing fingers, quietly urging him to find that spot to make her scream. James heeded her silent request and found her throbbing bud of sensuality. Arching her back, she nearly climaxed as he moved his finger back and forth, up and down, and in a circle. Her moans turned to screams as he used his free hand to stroke her bottom. Every nerve in her body was standing on end, so every time he touched her, she was near the brink.

  Neither of them cared about being outside. James had enough privacy shrubs planted that no one would see them unless they drove up the driveway. So, when James pulled her dress over her head, Jade went along with the flow and clawed at the buttons on his shirt. He unsnapped her bra and let the straps fall down her smooth shoulders. She pushed his shirt off and brushed her lips across his chest while easing down his torso. She flicked her tongue across his navel as she reached for the button fly of his slacks. She made quick work of unbuttoning and unzipping his slacks, and then she slipped her hand inside, stroking his manhood, which was already hard. Dipping lower, she brought her lips over the tip of his hardness, taking him deep into her mouth.

  James moaned as she bobbed up and down. He buried his hands in her silky hair as she brought him close to climax. Pulling away from her, he once again lifted her and carried her inside. They didn’t make it to the bedroom, as James placed her on the sofa, kicked out of his slacks and then lowered himself on top of her. He made short order of removing her lace panties. Jade wrapped her legs around his waist as he reached into a pocket of his discarded slacks and retrieved a condom. She closed her eyes as he slid the sheath in place. Her mind went back to the one time they hadn’t used protection. Why had they been so irresponsible, and how were they going to deal with the consequences of their actions?

  Jade tensed up momentarily.

  James looked down at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” she said. “I want you.”

  She stroked his cheek and pressed her hips into his. James plunged into her, delving into her wetness and crying out her name. Jade gyrated her hips, falling into rhythm with James and moaning as he hit her spot over and over again. She pressed her mouth into his shoulder, gently biting him as the effect of an orgasm gnawed at her senses.

  James groaned as he spent himself. He focused on Jade, who sank back into the cushions with her eyes closed. He stroked her leg and smiled. “Let’s go to bed,” he said as he rose to his feet.

  “Uh,” she groaned, “give me a second.”

  He bent down and picked her up. “Come on. I think we both need some sleep.”

  Once they were in bed, Jade snuggled up next to James, resting her head against his chest, but she didn’t fall asleep. Nervousness flowed through her body as she thought about telling James that she was pregnant. What if he doesn’t want children? What are you going to do then? Jade rolled over onto her side, with her back facing James. Seconds later he had his arm around her waist.

  “I’m not even going to ask what’s wrong, because you’re going to say nothing,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.

  “There isn’t anything wrong,” she said.

  “Uh-huh,” he said, leaning his head against her shoulder. “Relax and go to sleep, all right?”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, patting his cheek gently. Jade closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come easily. Her torturous dreams were filled with images of James rejecting her and their child.

  The next morning James was up early, with a smile on his face. He went into the kitchen to prepare Jade a simple breakfast in bed. Despite what she’d said all night, he knew something was wrong. Maybe it was the stress of starting the restaurant; maybe there was something going on in Atlanta that she didn’t want to talk about.

  As he cracked eggs, James tried to shut his mind off to the doubt that was creeping in. Part of him couldn’t help but wonder if she and Stephen did try to see if they could work out their problems. Stop it, he chided himself silently as he flipped the eggs in the pan.

  After the eggs were done, he brewed a pot of coffee and dropped some bread in the toaster. He topped off their breakfast with a couple of links of turkey sausage and placed their plates on a tray. He crept back into the bedroom and watched Jade as she slumbered. She looked like an angel against the white cotton sheets. He was happy that she was getting some rest after she’d tossed and turned all night, and he almost felt guilty a
bout waking her up to eat. Still, watching her made him think about what it would feel like to wake up every morning with her by his side. Was he really ready to settle down and get married?

  Jade had awakened feelings in him that no other woman had. He craved her presence, yearned for her touch, and was aroused by the sound of her voice. Staring at her in this moment, he saw the other half of himself and the woman that he’d wait at the altar for. Setting the tray on the nightstand, James eased into the bed, beside her, and brushed his lips across her cheek. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he said.

  Like butterfly wings, her eyes fluttered open. “Is it morning already?” she grumbled.

  “Yes, and I made breakfast, so you don’t have to get up.” James held a buttery triangle of toast to her lips.

  Jade didn’t take a bite; instead, she bolted from the bed as if she had been stung by a bee and dashed into the bathroom. James sniffed the bread, wondering if the butter was spoiled. Placing the toast back on the plate, he crossed over to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

  “Jade, are you all right?”

  All he got in response to his query was the sound of Jade vomiting. Part of him wanted to kick the door in. What had made her sick? Just as he was about to open the door, Jade walked out, with a lopsided grin on her face. “What a way to start the morning,” she remarked.

  “Are you sick?”

  She shook her head. “Not exactly.”

  “So, was it the food or my morning breath?”

  Jade sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and closed her eyes.

  James drew her into his arms. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  She shook her head and blinked rapidly before saying, “I don’t know for sure. When I get home, I’m going to the doctor.”

  “Is this what’s been troubling you?”

  “Yes,” she said quietly.

  “It’s probably just a bug or something. You’ll be fine, and I tell you, I feel like going to Atlanta, if you’ll have me. I do owe you a visit.”

  She smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “All right. When?”