by Candace Shaw
The look he gave her was one of hurt and disbelief, and for a second she felt bad. She knew her father had worked hard to start the practice. It had been his dream for all of his children to work there, but she had dreams and goals, too. He’d taught her to be goal-oriented, resourceful, and an independent thinker. He instilled that into her at an early age. She was shocked that he didn’t understand.
He cleared his throat. “Moving to Atlanta is out of the question.”
“So what you’re saying is I have no say so in my life at all.”
“Bria, this is our family business that you own part of. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Oh, so even though I own part of it, I still have no say so. Okay, I’ll sell my ten percent shares back to you.”
“No. Out of the question, young lady.”
“Daddy,” she stood, grabbed her coffee mug and notepad. “I haven’t made any decisions about anything. I just want to see how it can be incorporated, that’s all.” She moved toward the door as he continued to sit brooding on his throne.
“I haven’t dismissed you, Dr. Bria.”
She placed her hand on the doorknob and closed her eyes to hold back the tears she knew would come down. “Yes, you did. You dismissed me when you decided not to listen to what will make me happy. Have a good day, Dr. Francis.” She opened the door and closed it softly behind her.
*****
“That bad, huh?” Raven asked.
Bria sat on the couch in her office with Raven and Cannon. Raven rubbed her back, and Cannon made Bria some chamomile tea.
“He won’t even listen to me. How can Daddy be like that?” Bria asked with tears running down her face.
“I’m so sorry.” Raven wiped Bria’s tears with Kleenex and reached for the tea Cannon extended to her. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m still going to Atlanta, but I never said I was going to stay and work for Taylor. Why is Daddy tripping so hard?” She sipped the tea and handed it back to Raven. She placed her head in her hands and then rested her head on her knees.
Cannon sat on the other side of her and rubbed her back as well. “Daddy is tripping because he’s old school. He doesn’t understand all of this alternative medicine stuff. He’s almost seventy years old. Just do what is best for you. If moving to Atlanta is best, then go. Raven and I will support you. Right?”
“Of course,” Raven answered her twin brother who was older than her by five minutes. “Maybe when you get back, let him sit in with you and a patient that will benefit from an alternative approach. Do a trial or something with the person, free of charge, and keep Daddy posted with the process. If it goes well, maybe he’ll have a change of heart.”
Bria sat all the way up and leaned back on the couch. She dried her tears and took another sip of tea, letting the calming warmth fill her body. She smiled at Raven and nodded.
“I like your idea. Thank you. You two are the best!”
“Thank you,” the twins said in unison.
Cannon patted Bria’s knee, stood, and retrieved his white coat from the hook on the back of her office door before putting it on. Raven patted her knee, too, but she added a kiss to Bria’s forehead before her pager went off. Raven smiled and placed it in her pocket.
“It’s baby time. Catch you two later.” Raven grabbed her purse from the couch and left.
“Well, I have one last patient at four.” Cannon checked his watch. “Afterwards, I’m off to the children’s hospital to check on a few patients. Plus, I promised Dr. Johnson to help him with a study he’s doing. I’ll see you at the New Year’s Eve Bash at The Groove.”
“Are you bringing a date?” Bria had been worried about Cannon lately. He had broken up with his girlfriend of two years last summer when she mentioned marriage. Bria thought Cannon wanted to get married one day. He’d been engaged once during medical school, but the wedding was called off before he began his residency. He was a workaholic and was constantly looking for ways to keep busy.
“Naw, I’m sure there’ll be enough single ladies in the place for me to hit on. That is if Sean and Rasheed don’t get to them first. See you later, sis.”
Humph. The thought had just crossed her mind that Rasheed would definitely be there flirting with the ladies, or worse, he would have a date. She sighed and then strode over to her desk and plopped down in her chair. She swirled it around twice and closed her eyes. She didn’t know which was worse—her father being unreasonable or Rasheed with a date. The new year was approaching, and she was ready to make some serious decisions about her career as well as her love life.
*****
“Yes!” Bria jumped up and down followed by the Reebok dance from the 1990s. “Another strike. I’m the bomb. And you said I would only hit a few pins.” Bria glanced up at the computer screen above their lane as her name flashed like a lightning bolt for her second strike.
“Yes, another strike for someone who can’t bowl, pushes the ball down the lane, and then talks to it,” Rasheed said through gritted teeth as he picked up his own personal black bowling ball, got into position, and glanced back at Bria.
“Yet for some reason, you can’t even make one strike tonight, and you usually can do at least six in a row.” She shrugged and gave him a wink.
He chuckled. “Watch your boy in action.” He rolled the ball which hit only half of the pins.
Bria laughed. “You were saying, Mr. Vincent?”
She had been trying to remain composed the entire evening. Rasheed looked particularly fine in a pair of jeans, a red sweater, and a black newsboy cap—which added to his already sexy persona. She couldn’t jerk her eyes away from how his butt fit in the jeans, enhancing his muscles. She imagined clenching her fingers on his bare bottom as he thrust in and out her as she pulled him deeper into her. The image she’d conjured up was making her want to forget their truce and satisfy her longing for him.
“You’re a distraction, Bree,” he said through clenched teeth as he waited for his ball to return.
No, you’re the distraction. She twitched her mouth to the side and approached him. “How am I a distraction?”
“You can’t possibly expect me to concentrate when your hair is curly and bouncy down your back and you’re wearing a sexy little black sweater dress with thigh high boots—well bowling shoes at the moment—but you’re still sexy. If you’re going to hang with me, you need to not look so hot.” He grabbed his ball and bowled a spare.
Bria sat back on the bench even though it was her turn.
He joined her a few feet down and stretched one arm across the back of the bench, his hand almost reached her shoulder. He shook his glass of rum and Coke. “I do believe it’s your turn, or are you ready to throw in the towel?”
Throw in the towel?Bria was ready to throw in the towel but not for bowling. She was ready to throw off her sweater dress and beg Rasheed to do her and do her good. Who was she kidding? How did she possibly think she could just forget about his lips caressing hers, his hands on her bottom, or the deep groans that ignited from his throat, all of which sent a tidal wave of fire through her at the mere thought?
To avoid being next to him, she went ahead and bowled. She bent over, set the ball on the line and pushed it down the lane. It slowly rolled while she yelled “go, go.” The ball hit all but two pins. She rejoined Rasheed on the bench while she waited for her ball to return.
“Damn, girl,” he chuckled. “You keep bending over like that, and I’m going to forget the deal we made the other night and seduce you right here in this bowling alley.”
A heat wave washed over her at his words. She’d had another sleepless night last night pretending her hands were his massaging her breasts and in between her thighs. She shuddered and squirmed in her seat at the possibility of that becoming a reality but with more than just his hand between her thighs.
Rasheed was jokester, but when she looked at him, she couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Even though he was laughing, his expression and tone had been ser
ious. She decided to find out.
“Boy, stop playing. However, I was just talking to Taylor the other day about having a sex buddy.”
“A sex buddy?” He scooted closer to her on the bench and relaxed his arm behind her. “I’m intrigued. Explain more, please.” A wicked grin crossed his handsome face and the beats of her heart sped up.
“It’s really just a joke between Taylor and me but …” she looked away from him to hide her embarrassment.
“Um … as in you and Taylor being sex buddies.” He downed the rest of his drink and set the empty glass on the other side of him on the bench. “Okay, now I’m really intrigued. Please continue.”
She playfully punched Rasheed in the arm. “Get your mind out of the gutter. No, not me and Taylor. Me and a guy.”
He looked stunned for a moment. He cleared his throat and a serious expression formed on his face.
“Wait, you’re serious, Bree?”
“Sure, why not? I wouldn’t mind having someone I can have sex with but no strings attached. Just sex. That’s it. No emotions. No relationship. Kind of like how you’ve been doing but only with one person, not a Mac truck load.”
His stare was intense, and his pupils turned darker than she had ever seen them. “I’m available, Bree,” he said in a sexy tone. He moved closer with his lips less than an inch from hers, sending tingles through her body. “You already know what it’s like to kiss me. Imagine if you had a chance to experience more than that.”
Ha! I’ve been imagining.
He ran a finger down her cheek, lifted her chin and slowly kissed her trembling lips. His tongue met hers twirling around it. Every inch of her body was ablaze with raw pleasure as he continued his assault on her lips. When he pulled away, she felt abandoned, and she let out a soft moan of disappointment.
“There’s plenty more where that came from. Much, much more.” His lips lingered on hers. “It took everything I had not to kiss you the other night as I was leaving. I wanted you right there up against the door. I want you right now in this damn bowling alley in front of all these people on this damn bench.”
“Rasheed … I …” She was at a loss for words as the passion she had for him rippled through her system causing her to go dizzy.
“I know you want me, Bree. Stop denying it.”
“Rasheed, I was just teasing.” She tried to laugh it off even though a visual popped in her head with an image of her feet sitting on his shoulders as he thrust in and out her. She turned her head away from to him to hide her thoughts.
“I wasn’t.” His voice was full of lust and sex. “I would be the perfect man. In fact, I should be the only man you consider. I know how to please a woman and would love to show you. I would make you feel things you’ve only imagined in your wildest dreams.”
Bria gulped, and her body was stuck to the seat for she wanted to move away from him but couldn’t. She closed her eyes and hoped that she wouldn’t jump him in the middle of the bowling alley.
“My ball is back,” she said, her voice a shaky whisper. She managed to get up and walk over to the ball dispenser.
“Yes, the ball is in your court, Dr. Arrington.” He used a serious, dark tone which made her want to get undressed right there in front of him.
He stood and grabbed her hard against him as his strong hands circled her tiny waist. She tried to remain calm but breathing seemed to escape her.
“You and I as sex buddies wouldn’t work. Now let go so I can bowl.”
“Fine, but I know you want to know what it’s like to be with me. It’s written all over your beautiful face. Go ahead and bowl.” He stepped back but didn’t sit down, and she had a feeling the conversation wasn’t over with it.
She could feel his eyes on her as she picked up her pink bowling ball and walked toward the lane. She was so nervous of his gaze, that she dropped the ball with a twisted release and watched it roll slowly into the gutter. She stood on the line, her white and blue bowling shoes glued to the floor. Hard hands gripped her shoulder, lips brushed her ear, and the beginnings of a hard groin on her backside caused her eyes to flutter shut.
“Your release and form is all wrong, Bree. I can show you how to do it properly. I have more experience than you in all areas, especially in the bedroom, or wherever you want it.”
“Humph. I bet you do.”
“This is why I would be perfect. You want no strings. That’s fine with me. I don’t either.”
“I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”
His arms circled her waist, and he rested his chin on her shoulder, his warm cheek brushed with hers tenderly. “I don’t want to ruin it either. You mean more to me than you realize and personally, I’m tired of the different brainless women I keep meeting. I don’t want a relationship either. I want a woman I can trust, have great sex with, and still be able to hang and talk to about whatever without her wanting more. So, that’s what I want. Think about it because I know you want me just like I’ve wanted you since I first laid my eyes on your adorable face.”
He kissed her on the cheek and released her. He was back a few seconds later with her bowling ball.
“Now, let me show you how to bowl a strike without pushing the ball down the lane and coaching it like it can really hear you.”
Bria wanted to answer him, but her tongue had been cut out and her mouth taped shut. He had told her what she wanted to hear, and the ball was definitely in her court, or at least in her hand at the moment as he showed her the proper way to bowl the ball. However, the fact that he could be seductive one minute and then back to being a friend was perfect. This way no feelings would be involved but crossing that line and ruining their friendship wasn’t something she wanted to do. However, she wasn’t sure how long it would be before she succumbed to his game of seduction.
Chapter Six
“Having a good time?” Rasheed asked his date for the evening, Roxy.
“Yes, I am.” She placed her hand on his knee under the table, but he readjusted his body in the chair, and her hand slipped off.
Well at least one of us is having a good time.
He scanned the ballroom at the Peabody Hotel, nodding his head at people he knew and even those he didn’t know. It was the day before New Year’s Eve, and it seemed everyone wanted last minute money for their charities. Rasheed didn’t mind donating, but he had no interest in coming to the event. However, his publicist had persuaded him to attend. So here he was sitting next to Roxy, a model and aspiring actress who had appeared in some music videos and had been an extra in a few movies. She was a sweet girl but a little too touchy feely considering he’d just met her that evening when he picked her up from her hotel. His publicist had set it up since she swore he needed a date for the event. His plan was to drop off the check to the event organizer and go hang out at Lillian’s with Derek. But here he was sitting next to Roxy at the Save Sports in Schools Charity Ball.
She continued to talk, but it all sounded like the teacher on Charlie Brown. He smiled and nodded his head as she continued to discuss the latest music video she did in Los Angeles with some unknown rapper. She was in Memphis to host a New Year’s Eve party at a club and to appear in another video. He didn’t knock her hustle, but he was tired of going out with the same type of women. He’d asked his publicist why did she suggest Roxy and not someone outside of the entertainment industry, and she responded “I thought that was your type.”
Was that his type?
His thoughts led him to Bria. She was witty, beautiful and intelligent. Soft. Sexy. Seductive. It took everything he had not to try to seduce her last night at the bowling alley, but he was trying to be respectful to their friendship. He sipped his wine, remembering the sweet taste of her lips. She must’ve had on flavored lip gloss like strawberry or cherry for it was still on his lips as he had lain in bed imagining her naked body lying on top of him, kissing him gently and running her hands over his bare chest.
Bria had called earlier when he was in the limo, but he d
idn’t answer the phone. Normally, he would have, but for some reason he didn’t want her to know he was on a date even though they were just friends. That damn kiss had changed things between them.
He glanced back over to his date. Roxy was attractive and had a pleasant demeanor. She had a nice body that was perfect for dancing in videos. However, he wasn’t interested in getting to know her. Usually, he wanted to know something about a woman especially if she had the potential to be his latest conquest for the next month or so. But all he could do was think about Bria’s flirty laugh, her kissable lips, her cute dimple on her left cheek, and sinking his hands into her hair to kiss her again.
He spent the rest of the evening choking down dry chicken, nodding, and smiling pleasantly at Roxy and chit-chatting with some people he knew. At around 10:00, he was ready to go, and they headed out to the limo.
“I had a nice time, Rasheed,” Roxy said, sliding closer to him on the seat.
“I’m glad you did.”
“What are you doing tomorrow night for New Year’s Eve? You should hang out with me. I have a VIP section for my entourage.”
Entourage? He almost laughed, but he didn’t want to hurt her feeling or get cursed out. She’d done a few videos and now she considered herself a celebrity.
“Thank you, Roxy, but I’ll be hanging with family and friends tomorrow evening. I’m sure your event will be a success.”
The limo pulled up in front of her hotel, which wasn’t far from the Peabody. The driver opened her door.
“You wanna come up?” Her voice was laced with sex as she ran her hand up his thigh. Normally, his penis would’ve had some type of reaction to a sexy woman touching him and offering up her goodies, but it didn’t move.
“I’ve had a long day and have to get up early tomorrow. But I had a nice time, and it was a pleasure meeting you. Have a safe flight back to Los Angeles.”
He reached over and gave her a hug and a kiss on her rosy cheek. Roxy’s face showed discontent. She barely said goodbye and got out of the limo. Once she left, he called Bria.