IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN

by LaConnie Taylor-Jones

  “Red, your people have made me feel as much a part of this family as you are. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to know them.”

  “Thank you for listening to my story.”

  “Being around you,” he whispered quietly, “being here at Olivia, going through cancer, meeting these young bothers has given me the chance to see this truth about myself.” He let out a long breath and a sexy smile surfaced as his voice dipped. “Now it’s a matter of figuring out what my next move will be.”

  “Which great economist, in the midst of a discussion, prophetically told his colleagues, quote, ‘I believe we must adjourn this meeting to some other place,’ end quote.”

  “Adam Smith.” Ray released Laney and let his gaze burn her before he put some distance between them. “You’re the complete package, Red. I’ve been given a second chance. Most folks don’t get that opportunity. I want to do things with us the right way.”

  Laney smiled. “The right way?”

  Ray smiled back and moved in front of her. He let his eyes roamed over her face to capture every facet of her beauty. Never mind he’d stayed at Olivia for months with Laney under roof, their relationship had changed. She was an only child. Heck, he recalled how protective he and his brother had been of his three sisters growing up. God help him if he messed up with Laney because if he was ever stupid enough to do so, he’d be a walking dead man. “Yep. The right way. I’m heading out to Oakland tomorrow to talk with Charles.”

  Laney nearly gasped when his finger slid and slowly traced a lazy pattern up and down her arm. She shuddered and her nipples strained against her blouse. Her mouth went dry and she licked her lips in reflex. Her heart pounded wildly with anticipation. She noticed how Ray’s slate blue eyes were almost closed and his breathing labored. She wanted him as just as much as he wanted her, but she respected his wish that they wait until he’d spoken with her grandfather. Still, the undeniable passion between them was like an elephant in the room. This was the first time she ever recalled where she needed to put some distance between them. She turned away and braced her arms over the rail.

  Ray stood behind Laney and moved her hair off to the side. Pulling her against him, he circled his arms around her waist and planted open-mouth kisses on the side of her throat. “What kind of magic did you use on me?”

  With her back to him, tears burned Laney’s eyes. “Love,” she said simply. “I love you.”

  Laney tried to turn, but Ray squeezed her tighter. “Not yet. Let me hold you like this for a little while.”

  With exquisite slowness, she relished the way Ray’s hands moved with masterful skill and played havoc with her breasts. This was one time she was glad she hadn’t worn a bra. He rolled her nipples between his fingers until they tightened. The delicious passion coupled with the straining desire was her undoing. With her back arched, she whimpered her pleasure.

  “You’re beautiful…” he whispered next to her ear.

  Laney felt beautiful, too. Time ceased when he turned her around, easing her top toward her chin. He bent his head and flicked his tongue across one hard nipple, then the other. “Raphael,” she begged, frantic with need.

  “This isn’t about sex. This is about you.”

  It took a moment before Laney understood, but she soon figured it out. She became acutely aware of his hand on her bare belly, but he didn’t stop there. Moments later, his fingers crept inside her pants until they landed at that part of her that was hot, damp, and ready. With her head against his chest, she panted while he stroked her with such tenderness, she almost cried out loud.

  Ray allowed his gaze to burn her again. It was hard to concentrate while her hands glided along his flesh. He wanted her. Denying himself through the months of chemo was the hardest thing he’d done, but necessary. Until he’d finished, he’d promised to wait. Their first time together needed to be free of all barriers. He’d wanted to fully recover and have his strength and stamina back, so they could make love until their bodies were damp with sweat. He’d settled for nothing less than sampling the fiery passionate love she felt for him. “Look at me, Red.”

  Laney lifted her head and stared up at him, her body consumed with need to the point she ached.

  “You feel that?”

  The moment his finger settled deep inside her core, Laney answered with a gasp and her eyes slid close. “Yes,” she uttered hoarsely.

  “One day soon,” he whispered against her lips, his fingers moving back and forth, “I’ll be inside of you like this.” He thrust his finger to the hilt.

  His strokes continued while he devoured her mouth. Her head spun from the ecstasy and her fingers pressed deeply into his shoulders. She never dreamed the way he was touching her now could feel this good, and she never wanted it to end.

  “Raphael?” Laney’s questioning cry was thin and feverish. Tension built. The fever inside her increased to the point it became unbearable.

  “Don’t fight it, mon ange. Let it go.”

  Laney cried out his name, her entire body shuddering. What she’d just experienced was a sweet madness, a pleasure beyond description.

  The fact she called out his name in the throes of passion was all he needed to hear. The way she responded to his touch had almost sent him over the edge. He returned his gaze slowly to her face, studying the movement in her throat. Her mouth was parted and her nostrils flared, just at the edges. Those green eyes were at half-mast. Pulling back, he trailed his finger up her chest, leaving her dampness in its trial.

  “Was it good for you?” Ray asked with his lips pressed next to her temple.

  For answer, she moaned.

  Ray stroked a finger along her jawbone. “That’s was the opening act.”

  Laney’s voice quivered. “How long must I wait for the grand finale?”

  Ray flashed a devastatingly sexy grin. “The call is yours. Now before I nut up and lose my good intentions, you might want to turn around and head back to your room.”

  Laney released a long breath through her nose and nodded. Dear God, if the opening act felt this good, she wondered what the finale would feel like.

  ~ ~ ~

  The next day, Ray arrived in Oakland shortly before noon. After he settled in, he phoned Laney’s grandfather, Charles O’Reilly and asked if he could schedule some time to meet with him.

  The moment the silver-haired man with the green eyes walked into the room, Ray drew to his feet. That was one thing his late mother, Angelique, had instilled in each of her children. Always stand to acknowledge someone’s presence when they entered the room.

  If he hadn’t considered this to be a vetting process before, he did now. He studied Charles. His face went from flesh to stone in all of thirty seconds.

  “Raphael, have a seat.” Charles poured a Scotch and water into a shot glass and followed with a question without bothering to look up. “I understand this conversation involves Laney.”

  Ray nodded. “Yes, sir. I’d like your permission to date her.”

  Charles arched a gray brow and offered an appreciative nod. “I don’t need to remind you that Laney is the only living blood relative I have.”

  “No, sir,” Ray replied, noticing the way Charles’s eyes smiled, but not his mouth. “I know that.”

  Charles lifted his shot glass to his lips, tilting his head slightly. “Laney has been a fighter all her life. Did you know she weighed just a little over a pound when she was born?”

  “No, sir.”

  “She was born just shy of thirty weeks gestation. In fact, doctors didn’t expect her to live. It was over three months before we could even hold her. For the longest day I live, I’ll never forget the moment she was placed in my arms. She was absolutely breathtaking.” Charles swirled the liquor in his glass and took a liberal sip. “I’ve always admired her resilience and tenacity. She’s never needed a crutch except for one time. Has she shared that part of her life with you?”

  “Yes, sir. She told me about the breakdown.”

 
“Clarisse’s death nearly destroyed her. It took a while, but she found a way to bear the load and move on. You know, most teenage girls look forward to high school, or their prom night, or having a sweet sixteenth birthday celebration with their best girlfriends. Did you know that by the time Laney was sixteen, she was going into her junior year in college?”

  Ray nodded, again. “Yes, sir. She told me.”

  Charles placed his empty shot glass on the bar. “Well, I guess there’s really not a lot you don’t know about Laney Olivia.” He chuckled softly. “And I think this is one time I’ll take Zamora’s advice and stay out of grown folks business.” He braced a finger to his temple and aligned a razor sharp gaze with Ray’s. “Raphael, you’re a very special man for Laney to have shared the most painful part of her life with you. I hope you know that. Whenever Laney is happy, I’m happy. However, make absolutely no mistake about one thing.”

  “What’s that, sir?”

  “Your fault, Laney’s fault, or a combination there of, if she sheds as much as one tear of unhappiness, I give you my solemn vow you’ll shed ten. Are we perfectly clear?”

  “Yes, sir. Perfectly clear.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  “Mon frère…” Ray stood in front of Alex and held up two sample swatches. “Which color you like best?”

  Alex rubbed his jaw. “That one.” He pointed to the one in Ray’s left hand.

  Two months ago, Ray had hired a team of contractors and interior designers to oversee the home he was building in Cordova, a small community east of Memphis. Time was of the essence. He wanted it near completion before his family came to meet Laney’s extended family the following week. He studied the swatches for a moment. Then he turned to the interior designer next to him and handed her the one in his right hand. “Let’s go with this one.”

  “Why did you bother to ask me if you weren’t going to go with my choice?” Alex fussed.

  Ray grinned. “My bad. I forgot you’re colorblind.”

  Alex pointed to Ray’s waist. “Where’s your cell phone?”

  “Daaayuuum,” Ray muttered, glancing down at his empty belt. “I was in such a hurry I left it on the nightstand. As soon as I finish here, I’ll call Big Eddie and ask him if he’ll bring it to me.”

  “Why go through all that trouble?”

  Ray shrugged. “Red might need to reach me on her cell.”

  “You mean she finally moved into the twenty-first century and brought a cell phone?”

  “No, I brought her one. Got her a Blackberry.” Ray released a long whistle. “Trying to teach her how to use all the functions ain’t been easy.”

  Alex raised his voice to be heard over the contractor’s hammering. “Where’s Laney at now?”

  “Since she’s still off work, she figured it was a good time to go to lunch with Nicki.”

  Alex sighed. “God, that woman irritates me at times.”

  Ray grinned and tucked his pen behind his ear. “Well, you didn’t look all that irritated Sunday when you had your big behind parked at her mère’s table. You ate like you hadn’t seen food in all your life.”

  “There’s a perfectly good explanation for that.” Alex explained. “Ida Mae is a great cook and—” he broke off when his cell phone rang. He pulled the phone from the case clipped to his belt and answered. Listening for a moment, he chuckled. “He forgot to bring it.” He held his phone out to Ray. “It’s Marcel. He’s been trying to call you. ”

  Ray shook his head. “Ask mon frère if I can hit him back later.”

  Alex placed the phone back to his ear. “Partner, he said—”

  “I heard him,” Marcel chuckled. “Tell petite frère not to worry about calling back. I just wanted to check in to see how he’s doing.”

  Ray glanced up and noticed two men from the furniture company struggling with the custom-made sofa he’d ordered as they came through the door. One end of the couch slipped and hit the floor with a thud. He raced over, crisscrossing both arms in front of him. “Whoa, player, be careful with the sofa now. I can’t have you messing up my baby’s stuff. And be sure you don’t scratch up her floors, either.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The entire Baptiste clan flew in from Oakland to Memphis Friday afternoon for the housewarming party Ray had planned to celebrate the completion of his new home. The next day, Ray invited everyone over to his house for dinner. While they waited for Laney’s arrival, he’d lined them all up against the wall like suspects in a drive-by shooting. His gazed roamed over them from the crowns of their heads to the soles of their feet.

  “Mon frère,” Ray said, referring to his oldest brother, Marcel. With his knuckle, he tapped the knot in his brother’s tie. “C’mon and straighten yourself up. I don’t want Red to come in and see you looking all raggedy.”

  “Listen, Ray,” Marcel shot back. “There’s nothing wrong with my tie. My God, you act like Laney doesn’t know us.”

  Ray ignored the jab. He stepped to his right and landed in front of Caitlyn, Marcel’s wife. “Little Bit, help your man out for me.”

  Caitlyn planted her hands on her hips. “Now you listen to me, Ray Baptiste. My husband looks just fine.”

  If Ray heard Caitlyn’s comment, he didn’t respond. His second oldest brother, A.J., was next in succession. “Where is she?”

  A.J. smiled. “Who?”

  “Don’t take me there, mon frère. You know who? Where is she?”

  A.J. nudged his wife, Vic, who stood next to him.

  Vic released a hard sigh and turned around with her back to Ray. She spoke over her shoulder. “Satisfied now?”

  “Yeah. And keep her there.” Ray breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his eighteen-month-old niece, Valerie Angelique, in the baby carrier strapped to Vic’s back. “If she ever gets loose, she’d tear this house up!”

  Ray thought back to the day Valerie Angelique took her first breath in this world. The entire family had been thrilled at her arrival. As the newest member of the family, she’d immediately captured his heart. His niece looked like a light-skinned China doll with an angelic look, much like Laney’s, and that’s what had him worried. Plus, she was a hellion. She’d skipped crawling altogether, walked at eight months, and the entire family had been on guard ever since. He shook his head and wondered how someone so tiny with such a limited vocabulary could cause such destruction.

  Vic turned back around to face Ray. “Listen, Ray, if you think I’m going to stand here and let you talk about my child like that—” she broke off and glanced up at her husband. “Baptiste…he’s lost his mind. You’re a doctor. Do something.”

  A.J. patted Vic’s shoulder. “Settle down, Honey.” His gaze focused on Ray. “Petite frère—”

  “Hold that thought for me, mon frère.” Ray moved down the line until he landed in front of his three sisters, Brie, Moni, and Aimee. He shook his head. “Only God can help the three of you.”

  “What?” Brie shouted.

  Aimee crossed her arms over her chest and cut her brother a sideways glance. “I know you’re not talking about me.” She looked down the row at Alcee. “Daddy, talk some sense into him.”

  Alcee simply smiled and shrugged.

  Moni stepped forward from her place in the line, waggling her schoolteacher finger back and forth. “Now you listen to me, Raphael Armand Baptiste—”

  “Hold it a minute. I got something just for you.” Ray raced out the room and returned a few moments later. “Here,” he said and held a muzzle out to his brother-in-law, Zach. “Maybe we’ll have a little peace and quiet during dinner.”

  Moni grabbed her husband’s arm and shook it hard. “Zach, are you going to stand here and let Ray treat me this way?”

  “Now, wait right there, brother-in-law. My baby ain’t uttered a word…yet.” The Oakland chief of police stared at his wife’s mouth then glanced at the muzzle. “But when she does, this one ain’t gonna be big enough.”

  “Zach,” Moni cried out in disbelief.

  “Ev
erybody quiet,” Ray interrupted, waving his hands up and down. “Red’s coming.” He rushed over to the door when he heard the lock on the door turn. Grinning, he puckered his lips the moment Laney stepped over the threshold.

  “Oooh, I’m so happy to see you again.” Laney strolled in with Smitty and Wesson at her heels and headed straight over to the female members of the family, exchanging a sisterly hug with all of them.

  Ray stood, dumbfounded. Laney had breezed past him so fast, if she’d been larger, she would’ve knocked him against the wall. He went back to the door and peeked his head outside, then closed it shut. “Where’s Mama Z and Charles?”

  “They’re parking the car now.” Laney reached in her purse and pulled out a swatch of material and held it in front of her. “This pattern would go well with the color scheme for Raphael’s office. Don’t you think so?”

  Ray frowned. It was bad enough she hadn’t even offered him a kiss when she walked in. Now she was soliciting the opinion of his sisters and sister-in-laws for what his office would look like. “Red…”

  Laney turned around and smiled sweetly. “Yes, darling?”

  Ray walked over and stood in front of Laney. “The only one deciding the color scheme in my office is me.”

  “What do you mean your office?” Moni butted in. “You told us you built this house for Laney. So she gets the final say in how it’s decorated.”

  Ray tossed a hard glare at his middle sister. “Shut up, Moni. I’m not in the mood to hear you jaw jacking tonight.”

  The battle of the sexes was on. All the females stood together in support of Laney. The men surrounded Ray to lend whatever assistance they could.

  Laney’s angelic expression made a grand appearance. “Well that’s not what you told me last night, darling.”

  Marcel eased up to Ray, snickering. “Exactly what did you tell her last night, darling?”

  Ray tossed his brother a hard glare. “Listen, mon frère. We’ve got an A and B conversation going here. We don’t need you in the mix.” Ray couldn’t recall the conversation verbatim, but apparently Laney had. He folded his arms across his chest and stared at her. “All right. Exactly what did I say?”