by Edwina Fort
I inhaled as my heartrate increased. He didn’t let my hand go, he just lowered it in his lap and used his thumb to rub that spot just above my palm where my pulse beat was. I wondered if he could tell it was now beating faster?
“So, he gets in the car with a note from the teacher. Now this kind of stuff he never took home to his parents, he always brought it to me to sign.”
Bless Albert’s soul, he was a master at removing tension from the air.
“I read the note and I asked him what the hell he was doing with the little girl in the closet. Do you know this kid looked at me and said, I was handling my business, what you think I was doing?”
“What?!” I screeched. “In third grade?! Oh my goodness! How old were you?” I asked Jo. He had an embarrassed smile on his face.
He looked over at me with his sexy gaze. “Old enough to handle my business.”
I held my head back and erupted with laughter. I could see his little bad butt saying something like that.
“So, I knew I was going to have to teach him a lesson.” Albert continued. “I say boy, what are those spots on your neck? And I’m really selling it; I got a look of horror on my face and everything. He starts freaking out yelling, what spots?” By this time, Albert is barely able to talk around his laughing.
“He’s literally climbing the seats of the Town Car crying, saying he just kissed the girl, he promised. I said it don’t matter, kid. She gave you something, just look, you got more spots.” Albert had to pause because he was now clutching his sides laughing.
“He screaming, what she give me?! Al, what she give me?! I leaned in close and looked at his neck. I say, it look like she gave you VD, buddy. As soon as I pulled the car up in front of his house, he shot out the door and ran straight to his father’s office, who at the time was meeting with the Governor of Florida. He didn’t knock or nothing. He just burst through the door yelling, dad help me, help me, dad! I got the VD!”
Both Albert and I nearly slid out of our seats laughing at him. Jo let us laugh for a minute, although he didn’t join us. He just wore that yeah you got me look on his face, but then he turned to look at me.
“It’s really not that funny.” And of course, that just made me laugh harder.
Albert helped me clean up after dinner and then told us he had to go. I hugged him good bye and thanked him for all he’d done. I’m telling you, I don’t know where I would have been without him. When I came back into the living room Jo was sitting there looking like raw uncut temptation. Ayana’s little feet were on his lap, he was relaxed back on the couch.
He watched me with those bedroom eyes of his.
“Did you have fun laughing at me all night?” He drawled.
I bit my lip and nodded. “I did, it was quite funny the way Albert chose to have the talk with you.”
He shook his head. “Funny to you. He scared the hell out of me. Because of him, I didn’t touch another girl for the next sixteen years.”
I tried to hold on to my laugh, but I couldn’t. Just picturing a young Jo freaking out at the thought of getting VD is comedy gold.
“I sure do miss the sound.” He said so low I barely heard him.
“What sound?” I asked sobering.
“The sound of your happiness…”
Danger! Danger! Danger!
The warning bells were going off in my head. I cleared my throat. “Umm…I’m going to lay Ayana down, jump in the shower and hit the bed. It’s been a long day. Do you need anything before I go?” It took him awhile to answer.
I could have kicked myself for my choice of words.
Finally, he put me out of my misery and shook his head. “Naw, I’m alright.”
I picked up the baby. “Okay, goodnight.”
I practically ran out of the living room. Now, I know a lot of you guys are looking at me as something of a coward. Well, call me what you like. My mama said not to give in too easy. Had I stayed in the living room a second longer I’d been a goner. You guys do remember how aggressive Jo is, don’t you? He had a way of forcing himself past all your safety walls.
As I got Ayana settled down for the night, I thought back to how excited she had been to be in the presence of both her parents. She had spent the whole time crawling from Jo to me, then back to Jo and then Albert, who she loved like a grandfather.
How could she not when he was always there and spoiled her right along with Jo and I, and my mom? I leaned over and kissed her fat cheek. She was tuckered out.
Although she had been sleeping through the night lately, I left the nursery door cracked a bit just in case she did wake up and freak out from being in a new room.
After I took a shower, I had to laugh out loud when I saw that Jo had stocked damn near a year’s supply of cocoa butter in the bathroom cabinet. I shook my head as I moisturized my skin. It was hilarious how much he enjoyed the smell of it. Poor baby, to be black and not know anything about cocoa butter until he met me.
With a towel wrapped around myself I went to my bag for my pajamas. However, my eyes strayed to the pretty nightgowns in all colors that hung there in the closet, pretty silk and soft to the touch nightgowns. I took a cream one down from the hanger and slid it over my head. It felt as if the material caressed my skin as it slid down my body to fall mid-thigh. There was also a pair of matching panties.
Standing in the mirror I looked at myself. With my skin glowing from the cocoa butter, it looked as if I was on the way to join my lover in the bed.
I exhaled. Oh well, there is no rule against looking lovely to bed alone.
Before I slid between the sheets I opened the canopy on the bed so that I could have a clear view of the Hill, hoping that amazing view would help lull me to sleep. However, after an hour of tossing and turning I gave up on sleep.
Kicking the covers back I just kind of sat propped up with my back against the pillows and just enjoyed D.C. after dark. I think Jo was suffering from sleep deprivation as well. I heard him go into his room earlier. A little while later, he came back out. Then he’d gone back in.
Throughout this whole break up, I think the nights were the worst. You’ll be surprised at how quick you get used to that warm body sleeping next to you or being wrapped in a pair of strong arms.
The sound of gentle knocking broke through my thoughts. I turned toward the door wondering if I was hearing things. A few seconds the barely there knock came again.
“Come in!” I called.
Jo opened the door. I smiled at him standing there looking adorable with his fake cast on and unneeded crutches.
“Having a hard time sleeping?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I haven’t slept in week and I’m exhausted.”
I bit my lip. It had been a week since last we slept in the bed together. “Why?” My question was so low I didn’t think he heard me.
“Because I can’t sleep without the smell of cocoa butter against your skin.”
Cocoa butter against my skin? What the world does that smell like?
I cleared my throat trying to quiet my nervousness. “That’s not good for your healing. You need rest.”
He looked at me with those puppy dog eyes. “What do you suggest I do? I am your patient for the next six weeks.”
I put my finger against my chin. “Hmmm, maybe you can use a little sleep therapy.”
He looked skeptical. “What exactly is that?”
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “It’s when the nurse allows the patient to sleep in the bed with her, so that he can get the proper amount of rest.”
A huge grin spread across his handsome face. “I think that is the perfect prescription.” He nearly tossed his crutches away before he pulled his t-shirt over his head.
Give me strength!
He half limped half hopped towards my bed. I held up my finger as he leaned over me.
“Just sleep.”
He nodded. “Yeah, of course, just sleep.”
I gasped when he didn’t continue
to the otherside of me, but settled between my legs. His big hands closed around my waist sliding my nightgown up until my panties were showing and then he laid down resting his head against my center, moving it till he got good and comfortable.
My mouth opened in shock. After he found the spot he liked the best, he wrapped his strong arms around my waist holding me close and sighed.
“How I’ve missed that.” He muttered.
It took a minute for my shock to wear off, but when it did, I realized I still held my hands in the air over him. Slowly I lowered them and began to gently rub his head, holding him close.
Moments later, I kid you not, he was out. However, his heavy breathing was causing all kinds of havoc against my girlie parts.
Even still I found myself smiling. I think I liked the rascally side of Jo. And you know, although I thought there was no way I was going to be able to go to sleep in this position, it wasn’t long before I joined him in slumber.
He and I must have been tired because neither of us moved till the next morning and he not even then. I carefully slid from underneath him and looked down at him sleeping. He wasn’t lying about not getting any sleep. Jo was generally a light sleeper, but it looked as if his body was making up for the sleep he’d lost.
It felt good to know that our time apart had affected him just as much as it affected me. I stood there and allowed myself a moment more to visually enjoy the sight of his muscled chocolate body lying on my white sheets before I hurried into the washroom to perform my morning rituals. If Ayana wasn’t awake yet, she would be up shortly, and I didn’t want her to cry out and wake her father.
Once again, I chose to bypass the clothes I had brought from home and instead chose a beautiful yellow summer maxi dress that had caught my attention last night. I don’t know why, but I felt amazing and today, I wanted to be the girl in the yellow dress.
I even took extra care with my locs, moisturizing, re-twisting, and then piling them high on my head in a messy bun, allowing a few tendrils to escape down my neck and back. Barefoot, I tip-toed past Jo and out of the room. When I eased opened Ayana’s door, it was to find her standing up in her crib looking around wide-eyed at all the toys in her room.
When she saw me she reached for me. “Ma ma ma ma.”
“And how did you sleep, precious heart?” I asked her as I laid her on the changing table and changed her diaper. In a language that only she understood she began to tell me how she slept. In fact, she talked while I got her dressed and brushed her little hair into a ponytail on top of her head.
She continued to talk to her mama as I took her into the kitchen, sat her in the high chair Jo had gotten for her and prepared her a little bowl of baby cereal. She talked in between spoonfuls. The only time she stopped is when I sat on the couch and began to nurse her.
She still liked to nurse a little after meals. But since she was in fact eating solid foods, she was nursing way less. I had worried that the weaning process was going to be difficult, but surprisingly it was happening quite naturally.
“I am such a damn idiot.” Jo said startling me. I had been looking down at Ayana and didn’t hear him come into the room. He stood there in the entrance to the hall that led to the wing of the penthouse where the bedrooms were watching us. And honestly, I had no idea how long he had been standing there.
He was dressed in only his basketball shorts leaving his muscled chest and stomach on display to torture me. He must have decided to skip the crutches this morning, because they were nowhere in sight.
I chuckled. “What do you mean? What did you do?”
“I almost lost this.” He said gesturing toward me and Ayana. “I’ve been blessed with the two most beautiful girls in the whole world and I almost lost them.”
Blushing I looked away before my gaze came back to him.
“It’s a good thing the Heavenly Father is merciful, huh?”
He grinned at me. “Yes, indeed it is.”
Chapter Sixteen
Sealing the Deal
Journey
“Are you trying to kill us?!”
Jo yelled as he clung to the door of his brand-new Range Rover that had just been delivered this morning for dear life.
I clutched the wheel with both of my hands, my adrenaline was pumping overtime. The last time I’d drove was when Rome was teaching me so that I could take my driver’s test. His temperament at the time had been very similar to Jo’s now. It was the only time I had ever seen my big brother afraid.
Okay, so maybe driving wasn’t my strong suit. And I may or may not have failed my driver’s test the first time I took it. But I eventually passed. And do y’all know Rome never let me drive his car a day after that? He said he would’ve bought me one, but he feared if he did, I would kill myself or someone else.
“Don’t be a baby!” I told Jo as I jerked the wheel to change lanes. “I just need to get use to how this car drives that’s all.”
And boy did it drive. I barely had my foot on the gas and this baby was moving.
Jo threw both of his hands out, drawing his body up and screeched like a girl when I was forced to slam on the brakes because some butthead had decided to turn at the last minute. The car in back of me laid on the horn.
“Come on, people!” I yelled hitting the steering wheel. “Drive like you have some sense! A signal would have been nice!”
Jo looked over at me with real fear on his face. “I’ve made a horrible mistake.” He whispered. It looked as if he was close to tears.
Nobody was as surprised as I when his Albert phoned upstairs and told us to come down to see Jo’s brand-new truck that the dealership had just delivered. Talking about a beauty. It looked like something that belonged in a museum for luxury cars. Jo spared no expense on the extras. There were several televisions inside. The seats were real leather and felt like heaven to sit on.
The inside was lined in a wood trim that matched the tan seats perfectly and contrasted beautifully with the sparkling black paint job. There was even a matching car seat for Ayana. I didn’t even know car companies made custom made car seats.
Then Jo had looked at me and asked if I wanted to go for a ride.
I shrugged. “Sure.”
But then he handed me the keys. “You want me to drive?” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice.
He gestured to the cast on his foot. “I can’t do it. I know this really nice bistro; we can go grab something to eat.”
I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling as I took the keys from his hand. This was so cool. Albert even agreed to baby sit Ayana so that Jo and I could have some alone time. I’m telling y’all, it’s something about wearing the yellow dress. This day was turning out to be AWESOME!!!!
Well…awesome for me. By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, Jo practically jumped out the car, thanking the Heavenly Father for not letting him die.
I folded my arms and shook my head at the heathen.
“You’re moving pretty good for just having your leg operated on.”
He didn’t even miss a step. “You’ll be amazed what a man can do when faced with death.”
I smacked my lips. “Being a little dramatic, aren’t we?”
He took his keys out of my hands. “Dramatic my a**, you are never driving again. You’re a menace to the road!”
My mouthed opened. “That’s not fair—”
“Mr. Warren, it’s good to see you up and about after the accident. May I have a second of your time?” The voice came from behind me cutting me off. Jo looked over my head.
“Dusty, the gossip extraordinaire? Whose life are you going to attempt to ruin today?”
The man Jo had just called Dusty held a microphone in his hand, standing next to him was a man with a camera that was pointed at us.
My heart skipped a beat. Oh no! It’s the media! I went to step away from Jo, but right then he took my hand in his pulling me back towards him as he handed the keys off to the valet.
Dusty ch
uckled. “If I promise to keep it clean, will you answer a few questions, sir?”
Jo pointed at him. “No questions about the campaign and you only have till I get to the door.” With my hand firmly in his he started toward the door. He had ditched his crutches all together, claiming he could walk better without them. I don’t know who he thought he was fooling; he didn’t even try to walk with a limp.
Excited that Jo was going to give him the interview Dusty fell into step with us.
Joseph
I chose this bistro because I knew the media liked to linger here in hopes of catching an interview with some of the legislators that frequent the spot. My baby felt that I was hiding her. After today, she will no longer feel that way.
Although I wasn’t going to allow Dusty to talk to her, I didn’t want to feed her to the piranhas. I am going to allow him to capture her on film. This would send a message to all parties involved about my feelings for her.
“Can I start by asking who this lovely lady is you’re holding so close?”
Sometimes you had to love the media. I couldn’t have asked for a better question. Journey squeezed my hand.
“This is the woman I hope to make my wife very soon.” She sucked in her breath sharply. Her nails were now digging in my hand. I doubted she was even aware of it.
Dusty chuckled. “You say hope, like there isn’t a woman alive that wouldn’t kill for the honor of being your wife and maybe one day becoming the first lady of this great nation. “
I chuckled. “I wish that was true. It appears I found the only one that’s immune to my charms.”
“What do you mean?” Dusty asked as he hurried around a group of business men and women as they left the restaurant.
“Well, I asked her to marry me and she turned me down.” I felt Journey’s gaze fly to me as I ushered her through the door.
“What are you going to do now?” Dusty called after us.
“Keep asking till she says yes!” I said over my shoulder as the doorman closed the doors behind us.
Journey
“Why did you tell him that?” I had to physically keep myself from screeching. My heart was beating so fast. Joseph Warren, only son to Senator Warren and future president of these United States, if his parents had anything to do with it, had just told PMZ, a well-known celebrity gossip television show that he proposed to me and I turned him down.