by Candace Shaw
“How’s that working out since the last time we Skyped?” The ladies headed through an archway to the kitchen. There were appetizers on the granite island that the chef Rasheed hired had prepared. Bria grabbed a plate and filled it with cheeses, miniature quiche, chicken salad croissants, and veggie rolls along with a glass of red wine and sat down opposite Megan on one of the barstools who filled her plate with fruit and quiche.
“Honestly, we’re fine. Our friendship hasn’t changed. He’s still my best friend, but now we just added sex to it and that’s very satisfying.”
The ladies laughed.
“That’s good. I don’t think I could actually live with my friend-with-benefits for a month and not hopelessly fall in love with him.”
Bria tried to laugh it off but deep down she was falling for him. Heck, she’d fallen for him the minute she met him which is why she tried her best to ignore that fact because she knew he was a player. At times, she was having regrets about the addition to their friendship. She felt as if he was being secretive all of a sudden. Now whenever his phone rang, he would glance at it and then ignore the call unless it was one of his family members, friends, or business associates.
For the next few hours, Bria finished giving Megan a tour while she took measurements. After she left, Bria retreated to the beautiful master suite to finish hanging up her clothes in the ‘hers’ closet.
“Boo!” Hands grabbed at her waist and turned her around.
“Rasheed, you scared me!” She looked up into his handsome face, placing her hands on his cheeks. “Your face is so cold.” She rubbed her hands in circular motions to warm it up.
“It’s cold outside, girl. I went out back to look at the outdoor kitchen area with Chef James.”
“I’m so glad you hired him while we’re here. He made some delicious baby quiche and veggie rolls for me and Megan for lunch and the omelet this morning was simply delish. Can he come back to Memphis with me?”
“Well, I’m glad you approve of him. He’s getting ready to cook dinner in a few, but I want to take you somewhere first.” He kissed the top of her forehead.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise, but you may want to dress warm and comfortable.” He glanced around the closet. “Maybe some sweatpants, with a sweater and something under that and your grey pea coat. I’m going to get out of this suit.”
A sly smile crossed her face. “You need some help?” she asked unloosening his tie.
He raised a wicked eyebrow and bent down to capture her lips in a kiss that ignited every part of her.
“You are so bad, you know that, Bree? Unfortunately, the limo will be here in a few minutes. Think you can be ready in ten minutes?”
“Sure.”
“Perfect, and then later on tonight, you can help me out of my clothes.” He kissed her once more before walking across the bathroom to the ‘his’ closet.
Fifteen minutes later they were settled in the limo as it pulled out of the gated community.
“You remember the last time we were in a limo?” he asked, holding her in his arms while she rested her head on his chest.
“Oh, yes I do. So where are you taking me?”
“Ice skating at Centennial Olympic Park. I thought it would be fun and different.”
“Oh and it is. I haven’t been since my days at Spelman, but I’m game. Have you ever ice skated before?”
“Nope, but I know how to roller skate and ski, so how hard can it be?”
*****
“Take my hand and slowly raise yourself without bringing me down with you,” Bria said as Rasheed sat on the ice after his second fall.
Laughing, he reached for her hand and pulled her down on top of him. They both laughed as they tried to help each other up. He was laughing so hard he couldn’t even speak, especially when she slipped and fell again on top of him.
“Now, look Rasheed, stop pulling me down.” She playfully punched his shoulder and slowly stood, holding out her hand again.
“Okay,” he laughed. “Let me get serious. I just can’t help it. You should see how cute your face looks every time you fall. Okay, I’m ready.” He grabbed onto her hands and stood all the way up. They held hands standing face to face. He wanted to move a wisp of her hair from her face, but was scared he was going to fall again.
“Having fun, Bree?”
She nodded and smiled that beautiful smile that always touched his soul.
“I am. The more we fall, the more fun I have. However, let’s try to stay upright on this next lap around the rink.”
They managed to make it around the rink slowly without falling flat on their faces as more experienced ice skaters zoomed right by them. Rasheed laughed the entire time. He was truly having a good time, but most importantly, he was with Bria. She was the epitome of what he wanted in a woman. She was intelligent, caring, independent, and beautiful on the inside and out. When he first met her, a desire for her had risen in him so strong he thought he was coming down with a fever. He could now honestly admit to himself that it was hard to control what he felt, and he tried to hide it, but now he wanted her to know.
They skated for another hour taking a few hot apple cider breaks before calling it quits. The rink had started to get crowded with teenagers and children. Once Rasheed and Bria were back settled in the limo, they cuddled under the blanket he had requested the driver bring just in case.
Rasheed loved the way Bria was nestled against him to warm up. He was never one for cuddling with a woman, but Bria seemed to fit perfectly against him, and that’s where he wanted her to be.
“Are you warming up?” he asked.
“Yep. My hands are a little numb.” She rubbed them together, but he grabbed them and held them in his, massaging them to warm her up.
“Thank you. I had a lot of fun tonight. I needed that. Tomorrow I’m going to go visit Taylor’s practice.” She sighed and wrapped her hands around his waist.
“You seem nervous.”
“Hmmm … not really nervous, but Rasheed, to be honest, I don’t want to work anywhere else but my family’s practice. I just wish my father would listen to me.”
“Well, who knows? Maybe you’ll like the atmosphere at Taylor’s practice, plus at least there you can incorporate alternative methods with traditional. It will all work out, Bree. Have a little faith.” He kissed her forehead.
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for the pep talk. You always know how to make me feel better.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
Chapter Ten
“Dr. Arrington, it was so nice to meet you today. I hope we can work together in the near future,” Dr. Daneca Benton said as the two ladies shook hands. Dr. Benton was a dermatologist at Banneker’s Women’s Wellness Center. Bria had just met with the all of the doctors after touring the center and briefly met with a few patients that wanted an opinion on alternative methods.
“It was nice meeting you as well, but please call me Dr. Bria. Rarely does anyone call me Dr. Arrington.”
“Honey, that may work at your family’s practice, but around here, we’re all on a last name basis. I didn’t go through four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, and a five-year residency to be called Dr. Daneca.” Dr. Benton sashayed away, but unfortunately her overbearing perfume and hoity toity attitude lingered in the wellness center’s waiting room.
Bria sat down on the couch while she waited for Taylor to finish with her last patient. Bria had been visiting the wellness center for the past four days and loved the atmosphere and camaraderie but felt as if something was missing.
She’d been enjoying her vacation so far. Her days with Taylor and her nights wrapped in Rasheed’s strong arms. She hated leaving him in the warm, comfy bed every morning to go to the wellness center, but her career was important. Besides, he was busy on the set of Sports Fanatic during the day as well. The show’s producers loved Rasheed’s fun and jokester personality, and they offered him th
e position on the spot. Bria also figured it was because of his deep, articulate voice and the eye-candy that he was would draw in women viewers.
That evening, she was going to an Atlanta Hawks basketball game where Rasheed would be hosting from the Sports Fanatic’s sky box. He’d given her some courtside tickets, so she invited Taylor, Megan, and her girlfriends to tag along.
“All set?” Taylor asked. She took off her white coat and exchanged it for her trench coat and Bria did the same. It was a chilly day in Atlanta.
Bria had always admired how well put together Taylor was. Her pixie hair cut was neat and precise with dark red highlights throughout her brown hair which complemented her sandy brown complexion. The black pants suit she wore fit her size eight shape perfectly and showed off her hippie shape. Sean and Cannon always teased that Taylor had the ideal hips and butt to bare children.
“Yep. Whenever you’re ready.” Bria was riding with Taylor to the game and they were to meet the other ladies there. “I noticed that everyone wears their white coats all day. Is that mandatory?” At her family’s practice, it wasn’t, even though everyone did except for Sean, because he didn’t need one, and her. She preferred to be comfortable in her scrubs. Occasionally, she’d wear a sheath dress and heels with her white coat over it, like she did today, or a pair of slacks and a blouse.
“Yes. In fact, we don’t wear scrubs except for the nurses and medical assistants or unless you’re going to perform a procedure.” Taylor stopped speaking to wave at the receptionist as they walked out the door to the catch elevator. “But you’re an allergist, so that probably won’t be too often.”
Bria simply nodded. They rode in silence in the elevator. Taylor was texting and Bria was thinking how much of a change it would be to work for Taylor. There were other rules and regulations that had been explained earlier that were different from her family’s practice. Some she didn’t agree with, but Taylor made the final decision on everything. At least with her family’s practice, they did vote on new procedures and rules. The only thing her father wouldn’t budge on was Bria incorporating naturopathic medicine which was why she was at Taylor’s practice in the first place.
Bria had worked a year at her family’s practice of which she’d owned a small percentage. When she mentioned to Taylor about the possibility of buying into the wellness center, Taylor immediately said no and then carried on the conversation to another topic.
Bria sighed as the stepped off of the elevator. The grass wasn’t always greener on the other side.
*****
Rasheed peered out the sky box into the crowded arena. He smiled as he saw Bria with her cousins and girlfriends sitting courtside laughing and having a good time. Halftime was coming up soon, and he was getting geared up for his opinion on the game and the players.
After his segment, he turned his attention back to the area to where Bria was seated. A few men were standing around talking to the ladies, including his friend, Gary Parker. They’d played basketball together in college, but Gary never got drafted for the NBA. He was now a basketball coach at a local high school in Atlanta. He wasn’t sure what Gary was saying, but whatever it was, it made the women laugh. It seemed as if most of his attention was directed toward Bria whom he was sitting next to during the game. A tinge of jealousy clutched his gut, and he wanted to yank his friend away from Bria and dribble him down the court and shoot him in the basket, making sure to hit the backboard first.
After the game, Rasheed interviewed a few of the players from both teams and the coaches on the court but was still annoyed that Gary was hanging around Bria. Did she like the attention? He kept glancing in their direction, but a crowd had gathered on the court, and she was now blocked from his view. He could see Megan or Sydney—he couldn’t tell the twins apart—sitting on the end, but he still had no idea what was going on with Bria and Gary. It nagged him to death. After his last interview, he gave his microphone equipment to one of the show’s assistants who was standing nearby.
“Hello, Mr. Vincent,” a bubbly voice behind him said.
He turned around to see Cindy, one of the cheerleaders who was the fiancée of his producer, Jeff. Rasheed had met her earlier in the sky box when she stopped by before the game.
“Hey, Cindy. Great moves out there.”
“Thank you. I’m trying to do my best. When Jeff and I get married this summer, no more cheerleading for me. He says he doesn’t want men salivating over me.”
“Well, can you blame a brother?” he laughed. ”What man would want his beautiful wife on display for a bunch of men to see in a short skirt and a tank top?”
“I hear you, Mr. Vincent.” She gave him a quick hug. “Gotta go change and meet Jeff.” She bounced off with a few more cheerleaders who were waiting for her.
Rasheed continued walking through the heavy crowd on the court in the direction of where Bria was sitting only to bump right into Gary.
“What’s up, man?” Gary extended his hand to Rasheed. He shook his hand a little too firmly, and Gary gave him an odd stare. Not meaning to come off angry, Rasheed offered a smile instead.
“Nothing much, Gary.” He hoped the fact that he was in a foul mood with his friend didn’t show. Besides, maybe he hadn’t flirted with Bria. Gary always was a people person and spoke to everyone and since he was seated next to her, maybe he was just being nice. “Good to see you. How’s the coaching thing going?”
“Going great. I have a really good varsity team. Maybe you can stop by the school and give them a pep talk one day.”
“Of course. I’ll be in and out of Atlanta now.”
“I heard you were now commentating with Sports Fanatic. I figured I’d see you tonight.”
“I was just coming over to speak to you. I saw that you were seated next to some lady friends of mine on courtside. Have an interest in any of them? I can put in a good word for you.” Rasheed hoped he wouldn’t smash in his friend’s skull in the middle of the Phillips Arena if he said the wrong thing.
Gary smiled a little too wide for Rasheed’s comfort. “Well, actually the pretty mocha-kissed one with the long hair flowing down her back.” Gary glanced in the ladies’ direction and pointed at Bria who was chitchatting with the twins. “Bria. She’s fine as hell! All of them are, but she’s something special.”
Rasheed stepped back and braced himself. He couldn’t be angry at the guy. It wasn’t as if they were in a real relationship. Bria could see and date anyone she chose, even though the thought was gnawing at him.
“Did you ask her out?” His heart stopped as he waited for the answer.
“No, I was going to, but she lives in Memphis. I can’t do the long distance thing again.”
Rasheed exhaled but was still somewhat curious as to what Bria would’ve answered if Gary had indeed asked her out. They were just friends-with-benefits, but he knew in his heart he wanted so much more with her, and the thought of some other guy even looking at her made his blood boil.
“Yep. She does. In fact, she’s here in Atlanta with me hanging out and what not.” Rasheed put heavy emphasis on the last two words.
“Oh … is that you, dog?” Gary asked with an apologetic expression. “No disrespect, man. I had no idea.”
“Nothing like that. She’s my best friend next to my homeboys Justin and Derek.” He glanced in Bria’s direction and finally made eye contact with her. She flashed a beautiful smile and waved. The other ladies waved as well. He nodded and smiled back.
“Okay. Because I did ask her if she had a man, and she said no.”
Rasheed’s chest felt like it had the wind knocked out of him. Did she actually say she didn’t have a man? Okay, fine. So they hadn’t made a commitment or anything, but surely she had to know how he felt about her. He’d never made love to a woman the way he made love to Bria. In fact, he couldn’t even think of a time before her when he’d made love.
It was time they had a serious conversation about the future of their relationship. No woman of his or soon-
to-be woman of his was going to go around telling people she didn’t have a man. She was going to have one soon enough.
*****
“You did an awesome job tonight at the game,” Bria said as they settled into the media room of Rasheed’s home watching the playbacks of Sports Fanatic. “You looked so good, I’m trying to hold back the urge to jump you.” He was sinfully delicious-looking wearing only a pair of white linen lounging pants exposing his rock hard chocolate chest.
“Thanks,” he mumbled and shifted in his seat.
He’d been quiet on the way home which was out of character for him. She expected him to be hyped and almost annoyingly loud, but he barely said a few words. Instead, he’d sat in the passenger seat brooding over something, and now it had carried over into his home. Maybe he felt as if he’d messed up, but he was articulate, confident, and wearing the hell out of his suit. One would never know he didn’t have any experience in the field of sportscasting, but he was a natural.
“Rasheed, what’s eating you?” She reached over and patted his hand. “I think you did a fantastic job.”
“Never said I didn’t.” He shrugged and took a swig of his beer.
Okay, so he’s still arrogant no matter what.
“So what’s the problem?”
“I see you met my friend Gary Parker at the game.”
“Yes. He’s a really nice guy. He kept us laughing during halftime with his jokes. I think he’s in the wrong profession.”
“Yep. Gary was always a funny guy back in college. In fact, he said something funny after the game. He said he was going to ask you out, but you live in Memphis.”
She gave a knowing nod and smiled because she had a pretty good idea where this conversation was going. Somebody was jealous. She had a feeling they were discussing her when she saw them on the court, and they both looked in her direction. Plus, she could sense Gary wanted to ask her out, but he wasn’t her type. Besides, she wanted to be with someone else.
“Well, I’m glad he didn’t ask me out because I would’ve definitely said no.”