Tia gathered the remaining dirty dishes and placed them in the sink. She returned to the table and removed the cutlery and glasses, wondering when her mother would resume her interrogation.
It didn’t take long. Seconds after turning on the water, Mrs. Edwards asked, “What’s going on with Chris Jensen?”
“What?” Tia faced her mother.
“You heard me,” said Jackie Edwards as she opened the dishwasher and began rinsing a plate under the water spray. “Who is he?”
“You already know that. I told you about him. He’s the new attorney from France,” Tia repeated while removing the salt and pepper shakers from the table and placing them on the countertop.
“Maybe I didn’t ask the right question. Who is he to you?”
Tia marched across the kitchen floor and stood in front of her mother. “He’s one of the attorneys I work with.”
“No. That’s not what I’m talking about. You and Darnell broke up less than twenty-four hours ago. Today you turn up on my doorstep with a new man on your arm.” Tia’s mother rubbed her hands together. “A white man. What’s going on?”
“Momma, you’ve got it all wrong. Chris is part of the deal I made with Adam.”
Mrs. Edwards scoffed. “Adam’s always in the middle of everything.”
“You sound like Darnell, Momma.”
Shrugging, Mrs. Edwards added, “If the shoe fits…”
“It’s not my size. Darnell has always disliked Adam. I’m not sure why. But I suspect it involves jealousy. Adam shows him up for the lack of man he is. Darnell gets his kicks by stirring up messes. Don’t listen to him.”
“Okay. I’ll put Darnell on the back burner for a few minutes, but I still want to know about Chris.” She moved around the kitchen, removing dessert plates from the cupboard and forks and napkins from the drawer. “What’s going on between the two of you? Are you dating? When did all of this start?”
“There is no ‘all of this.’ Chris and I are not dating. Where did you get that idea?”
“From Chris.”
“What? I beg your pardon? Momma, there’s been way too much Danielle Steel in your diet.”
“Ha-ha. Cute. Real cute, Tia-Mia.” Mrs. Edwards dropped her hands onto Tia’s shoulders and said, “All I had to do was watch the two of you together. Chris barely kept his eyes off of you the whole time he sat at the dinner table. If I went into the family room right now and asked him how the fish tasted, I’d bet money he’d tell me it was perfect.”
“You didn’t serve fish. We had pot roast.”
“My point exactly. His focus was exclusively on you.” Tia’s mother squeezed her shoulders before dropping her hands to her sides.
“What does that prove?” Tia asked.
“He stayed focused on you all through dinner. You were what he was interested in. Nothing else.”
“I think you’re wrong and that you’re exaggerating the situation.”
Mrs. Edwards laughed softly. “You are so naïve. Chris followed you home to make sure you were okay. Tia-Mia, he’s slowly circling his prey like a fox before he pounces. You may be unaware of it, but that man has some serious plans for you, and I’m not sure I like it.”
“I don’t understand. Even if we were involved, dating each other, what’s not to like?”
“Chris is here for a while! An unspecified amount of time. Am I right?”
Sensing a trap, Tia nodded slowly, trying to work out the details in her head. “Yes.”
“At some point in the near future, he’s going back to France,” Jackie Edwards stated confidently.
“Possibly. So?”
“Baby, don’t let him steal your heart. He’s not for you. I know you and Darnell are finished, but don’t make a second mistake. Give yourself a little breathing room before you venture into the realm of dating again. Don’t test the water with any man before you’ve completely recovered from Darnell.”
“I don’t know any other way to tell you this. There’s nothing between Chris and me. We’re colleagues and friends. Period.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Mrs. Edwards laughed. “Tell your old mother anything. Come on. Let’s dish up dessert.”
“Momma, there’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m fine. Darnell disappointed me and hurt my feelings, but I’m dealing with it.”
Her mother studied her with that practiced ease that always made Tia squirm like a child caught in the middle of a lie. After a moment, Jackie Edwards nodded. “Be careful. Take your time.”
Tia opened her mouth to deny the relationship again. Her mother lifted a hand, cutting off Tia’s words.
“Think about what I’m saying. Don’t rush into anything, especially not a new relationship with a man who could easily leave town as quickly as he showed up. I know you and Darnell were together for a long time, and sometimes relationships fall apart, just like yours did. You’ve got plenty of time to find the right man. He’s out there for you. Give yourself the opportunity to heal before moving to the next man.”
Her mother made perfect sense. Had she noticed something that Tia was deliberately ignoring?
Tia tried to offer her mother a reassuring smile, but her face felt unresponsive and unyielding. “Don’t worry,” she pushed from stiff lips. “I’m not looking for the next man. I’ve had enough, Momma. I want peace for a while.”
“Okay. That’s the last I’m going to say about it.” Mrs. Edwards pointed at a cupboard. “Hand me that tray. I’m going to put the dessert on it.”
10
Tia entered the executive wing of Gautier International Motors and headed for her workstation. Seconds after she locked her purse in her bottom drawer, Chris peeked out of his office. He spied Tia and hurried across the floor to her desk. Suppressed excitement oozed from him.
“I found it,” he announced.
“Found what?” Tia asked, finding his excitement contagious.
They’d grown closer since the night Chris had followed her to her parents’. Chris had become a great friend as well as a colleague. Constantly at her side and tuned in to her every mood, he had been the kindest, most caring person Tia could want to help her through the first painful days of her breakup with Darnell. When she felt down, Chris found ways to make her laugh and keep her entertained. He never let her focus on the poor state of her love life for very long.
Maybe my mother is right. Is Chris interested in getting involved with me? If I don’t watch out, I’ll fall for him, Tia thought. No. You need to quit that line of thought. Our lives are heading down two very different and unique paths.
“I found a house.”
“House?” She frowned, gazing into his intense blue eyes. “I thought you wanted to find an apartment.”
“No,” he answered with an expressive shake of his head. “An apartment is no better than the hotel. The rooms are too close together. I can hear my neighbors making love.”
That comment brought heat to Tia’s cheeks. She sat quietly as Chris continued.
“I want privacy.” Chris perched on the edge of the desk and folded his arms. “After we looked at those apartments, I thought about how they treated you, like you didn’t exist.” His handsome face turned to stone, and his voice resonated with fierce determination. “No one tells me who I can have as friends. I didn’t like the way those people wanted to control our lives, so I decided on a house. As long as I pay the rent and keep things legal, I can do what I want.”
“Makes sense. Where is this perfect place?”
A broad, happy smile quickly spread across Chris’s face. His tone turned light. “Grosse Pointe Farms…the same community where we looked at that first apartment. I like it because it’s not too far from here, yet it puts enough distance between Gautier and me. Believe me, there are days when I need it.”
Smiling softly, Tia added, “I understand that. Grosse Pointe Farms is a really nice community. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Chris grinned. “It looks it. Since I found the house, I’ve driven th
rough the neighborhood a couple of times. It seems calm and stable. There’s a lot of families with children. I think I’m going to like the area.”
“I’m glad. Living in the Marriott seems to have gotten old pretty quick.” She sat for a moment and then asked, “What happens if you get reassigned back to France or someplace else? What do you do about your lease?”
“Ah! Good question. We negotiated a month-to-month lease.”
“Did you?”
He nodded.
“I’m surprised the owner agreed to that.”
“Me too. Reynolds suggested I use Gautier’s name to help, and it did.” He stood and cleared his throat. His full, sensual lips shifted into a somber line. “I know you have a busy schedule, but can I ask for your help one more time?”
Leaning closer, Tia answered promptly, “Certainly.” Chris had been entirely too sweet to ignore his pleas for help. “What can I do for you?”
“Come see the house.”
“What? Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Why?”
“I value your opinion. And I think you’ll see things that I missed.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t there someone you respect that you’d like to take with you?”
“Yes.” He jerked a finger in Tia’s direction. “You.”
Oh, man, she thought, Chris knows what to say to make a woman feel cherished and important. “I’m honored.”
“I’d like you to come and take a look at the place before I sign my lease and hand over cash. You live in Detroit and know things about the surrounding areas. I don’t want to make a huge mistake and find myself locked into something that doesn’t work for me.”
“When?”
“Today.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Tia glanced at her inbox, which was stuffed with work that Adam expected her to complete. She shook her head. “I’ve got lots to do.” Adam wouldn’t go for it. “Maybe after work.”
Chris grabbed her hand and held it between both of his. That simple touch sent her blood pulsing in her veins. “I’ve already spoken with Adam. He suggested we do this at the end of the day. That way we’re not leaving for hours and returning later. This way you won’t have to return to Gautier.”
Tia glared at him suspiciously. She leaned back in her chair, shook her hand free of his, and folded her arms across her chest.
Laughing, Chris added, “Really.”
“I don’t know.”
“If you don’t believe me, go ask Adam.” Chris reached into his pocket and removed a single silver key, jiggling it in front of Tia’s face. “Come on. Help me out.”
“This is sounding better and better.” She unfolded her arms and hit the switch to turn on her computer. “Okay.”
Chris gave her a quick hug and then added, “Thank you. I’m glad that I convinced you.”
Stunned, Tia stiffened. Blood pumped wildly through her veins. Every time he touched her, no matter how innocently, she found herself enjoying those gentle caresses while fighting the urge to respond.
What was Chris thinking? Was this part of his habit of always entering her personal space? Fighting back the desire to stay in his arms, she kicked the chair away and answered with a calm, reasonable tone, “What time do you want to leave?” She reached for the mouse and clicked on the Internet Explorer icon.
“I’ve got meetings until about three.” Chris picked up a sticky-note pad and a pen from Tia’s desk and scribbled a number on it. “I’ll meet you at the house around four. Will that work for you?”
“Yes,” Tia answered. Her nostrils were filled with Chris’s scent. Her ears rang with the sound of his accented, sexy drawl. Stop! Get yourself under control.
He dropped the pad and pen on the desk. “Four o’clock.”
Tia drove down Jefferson Avenue toward Grosse Pointe Farms. She glanced at the black street signs with white letters. Chris had chosen a wonderful area. He was right. Grosse Pointe Farms gave him the distance he needed from Gautier and the Detroit Marriott, yet allowed him the proximity he needed to avoid long commutes.
She turned onto a tree-lined street, moving slowly to check the addresses. Chris’s Harley sat in the driveway. The ranch-style house was laid out on a half acre of land. Red and white striped awnings accented the redbrick structure. A large bay window covered one side of the front of the house.
Children played up and down the street. The distinct aroma of burning charcoal filled the air. This was a perfect place to live and raise a family.
Tia stepped onto the porch and rang the doorbell. Seconds later, the door opened and Chris grinned at her. He studied his watch for a second and then said, “It’s fifteen after four. What happened? Did you get lost?”
She laughed. “No. I took my time. I wanted to check out your new neighborhood. After all, you said you wanted my opinion.”
“Come on in,” he said, holding the door open for her.
Tia stepped into the foyer. Windowed doors were located on both sides of the small space. Pale gray walls led into a hallway that branched into different rooms. Chris took her hand and hurried her down the hallway to the kitchen. “Let’s start at the heart of the house, and then we’ll move through the other rooms.”
“You’re my host.” Tia moved around the kitchen, admiring the room. It was spacious. The walls were painted in a soft cream with a multicolored floral border. A granite-topped island sat in the center of the room with a built-in range and sink on one end. A black chair sat at the opposite end. In contrast, the appliances were stainless steel and black. The floor was covered in cream ceramic tile with charcoal-gray-colored geometric etchings.
Instantly, Tia fell in love with this room. Although she didn’t make a habit of cooking, she preferred to prepare a meal in a room that had all of the accoutrements she needed. She turned to Chris and nodded approvingly. “I love your kitchen.”
“Good. I’m glad you’ve given it a good report.” He took her arm and led her out of the room. “Let’s move on.”
Chris steered her to the front of the house, and they passed through the cream and pale green living room. He stopped inside the empty dining room before leading her through the four bedrooms. The master bedroom included a skylight and a fireplace. All of the rooms were empty.
“Oh, Chris. This house is perfect, although I don’t know what you’re going to do with four bedrooms.”
“One will be my office. And, of course, the large one will be my bedroom. The rest will be sorted out at a later date.” He moved closer, into her personal space. The heat from his body reached out, drawing her closer as his unique scent swirled around her, intoxicating her like a love potion. This is far too intimate. I need to get out of here, she thought, taking a step away from his alluring presence.
Tia took a step toward the door. “What about a basement? Is there room for a washer and dryer? And, while I’m at it, are you going to hire a housekeeper?”
Chris nodded. “There’s a finished basement with a laundry room. Yes, I believe I’ll need a person to help me keep this place in order. What do you think?”
“You’re the attorney. If you’ve reviewed the lease and it’s fine, then I say go for it.” She glanced at her watch and then started for the door. “I think it’s time for me to get on my way.”
He caught up with her in the hallway. “What’s your hurry?”
“No hurry.”
“Then let me show you the family room. We went by it on our way to the kitchen.”
“Okay,” Tia muttered, wondering why he just now decided to show her this particular room.
Waving a hand toward the rear of the house, Chris asked, “Are you hungry? Have you had anything since lunch?”
“No. I didn’t have lunch. I wanted to make sure I had all of my work done before I left to come here.”
“That was nice of you.”
He led her into a room with dark wood paneling and cream carpeting. Three thick, lilac-colored candles on tall, narrow metal cand
leholders were lit, putting off a lavender bouquet fragrance. A brown blanket covered a section of the carpeting with a wicker picnic basket at its edge. White plates, wineglasses and cutlery were already set.
“Oh!” she moaned, impulsively turning to Chris and kissing his cheek. “How sweet. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Do you have time for a light meal and fine wine?” Chris cupped her elbow and urged her across the floor to the blanket. “I wanted to thank you for all of your help and support.”
Giggling, she asked, “How fine is the wine?”
“Store-bought.” He pointed toward the end of the block.
Tia decided to toss caution to the wind and enjoy some free and easy time with Chris. Besides, he’d gone to a lot of trouble to make this happen. She sank into the deep carpet on the edge of the blanket. He followed, scooting beside her.
“Here, you need to get comfortable.” He reached for her foot, pulled off her pump, and then repeated the act on the other foot. Chris’s hand caressed her feet and ankles and massaged her calves.
Tia’s heart pounded erratically in her chest. His gentle caress touched off a spark that began in her toes and surged into a five-alarm fire in her belly. Sensing danger, she pulled her leg from his light grasp, tucked her legs under her, and pointed to the picnic basket. “What’s for dinner?”
“We’re having turkey and Swiss croissants, strawberry and poppy seed salad, with pinot noir.” Chris removed the items as he announced them, handing them to her.
Tia placed the sandwiches on the plates and split the salad between them. She held the glasses steady while Chris filled them with the wine. She leaned against the wall and crossed her bare feet at the ankle.
Chris settled in beside her and said, “Let’s have a toast.”
“To what?”
He waved his hand around the room and raised his glass. “Everything. You. The house. My job. Life. I want to salute you for being a good friend. Whenever I need you, you are there. I know Adam asked you to help me, but I think you’ve gone beyond the call of duty. And that makes you special to me. Here’s to a wonderful friend who I’ve come to appreciate.” Chris touched his glass to hers and then took a sip. Tia did the same. He leaned close and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. The meeting of lips felt as light and gentle as the touch of an infant’s hand stroking her cheek.
You're All I Need Page 8