“See you around,” he said and quickly departed.
As soon as they got home that night, Colleen challenged Terence. “Why were you squeezing my hand so hard?” she yelled.
“Because.” That was Terence’s quiet reply.
“Because? You hurt me!” Colleen accused angrily.
“Well, I was trying to squash your flirtation with Felix James,” Terence stated, matter-of-factly. His eerily calm tone gave Colleen chills up her spine. But she was dealing with an alpha male and wouldn’t back down. “Flirting?” Colleen huffed. “Are you serious right now? I wasn’t flirting! He just said hello to me, Terence. That’s all.” Colleen grabbed his hand to get his attention, but he shrugged her off. To her chagrin, he was still frighteningly unruffled and leisurely undressed as if he had done nothing wrong. His unconcerned attitude irked her to no end. At that very moment, Colleen felt like splitting his head wide-open. “I want an apology,” she demanded.
Terence ignored her and went to relieve himself. Vexed, Colleen didn’t bother undressing; instead, she grabbed her pillow and blanket, then trounced to the living room. “I’ll sleep on the couch,” she said. Colleen fluffed the pillows and shifted her body, but she just couldn’t settle. Tears pricked her eyes. Suddenly, she felt scared and alone.
Terence was not who she thought he was. He is wicked and heartless. What had she gotten herself into?
She heard Terence flick on the television from inside the bedroom and opened her mouth in amazement. He seriously intended to leave things like that between them and had no intention to apologize. What about not going to bed angry and all that other stuff he yammered on about in church? Her temper kicked in. That’s it! She wasn’t going to stay here a minute longer. In one fluid motion, fueled by rage, Colleen sprang off the couch, kicked the blanket, and tossed the pillow on the floor. “Take that, Mr. Fastidious!” She quickly grabbed her keys and left.
Terence heard the front door slam. He went out to investigate and saw the headlights of Colleen’s Lexus tearing out of the driveway. He wasn’t worried. An hour passed . . . Then two. Then it was the next morning, and she still hadn’t returned.
Terence rested his hand on his chin in thought. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but evidently, he must have done something for Colleen to leave in such an uproar. She’d been distressed at the way he held onto her hand outside the church, but that was nothing. It wasn’t enough for her to just up and leave.
Well, she’d had her time-out. It was time for her to come home now. He needed to settle matters between them and fast. The head pastor, Bishop Greenfield, was scheduled to pay a home visitation soon under the guise of dinner and conversation. However, Terence knew the deal. He needed his wife front and center, willing and cooperative. Terence knew that Bishop Greenfield wouldn’t ordain him as an associate minister if it appeared that his home was in chaos. After all, if he couldn’t control his own home, then how could he effectively run a church?
Terence thought about Colleen. He knew she had to be happy because he’d given her free rein to shop and do as she pleased. She didn’t have to work, because he made more than enough to support her. A lot of women would kill to be in her position. And what did he ask of her in return? Nothing much in comparison, Terence reasoned. He only admonished her to do what he thought was apt as a pastor’s wife. Nothing more.
He reached on his nightstand where he’d left his cell charging. He’d call Gina. He bet that’s where Colleen had spent the night.
“Hey, Gina, I needed to speak to Colleen. Is she there, by chance?”
“No—no. I haven’t seen her. Is everything all right?”
They spoke for several seconds before he ended the call. Terence pressed the END button. He wasn’t sure if Gina had been lying about not knowing his wife’s whereabouts. Friends lied to cover for each other all the time. Yet, he couldn’t come out and accuse Gina outright of dishonesty, but where else would Colleen be?
Terence expelled a huge breath. His heart pounded . . . Unless, she’d found out about . . . No, she couldn’t have. Could she? Scenarios raced through his mind.
Terence tasted palpable fear. He was too close to where he wanted to be and couldn’t lose everything because of one heedless act. Panicked, he got on his knees and fervently prayed. “Lord, please, I’ve asked for your forgiveness in that matter. It was just a moment of weakness. Don’t punish me this way, please, Lord. I sincerely love Colleen, and, Lord, if you send her home, I will be different. I promise.”
Terence got off his knees, feeling a lot better. While praying, God had given him a divine inspiration. Without a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the phone to make some calls. He knew what he had to do.
Chapter Ten
“She’s not your problem or your concern. Whatever you do, don’t call her,” Keith lectured himself. He paced the kitchen, waiting for his coffee to brew, while engaged in this mental tug-of-war. He hankered to call Gina—just to hear her voice—but he needed to be honorable. Keith attributed that his strong desire to call stemmed from the fact that Michael had dogged her out, then assuaged his guilt by hightailing it to a whole other state. But, he still would not betray his brother in any shape or form. He couldn’t cross that line. However, he was sorely tempted to try to warn Gina to back off.
She needed to run far . . . far away from Michael.
And into my arms?
No. Keith protested. He just didn’t want to see Gina hurt. That was all. Keith closed his eyes and willed her face into his mind. He remembered watching her eat and felt his insides begin to respond. There was just something about her that made him feel alive. Gina had brought a little savor to his mundane existence. Somehow, she had managed to cut through the red tape he called life, and had gotten through to him. It was as if their minds had been engaged in their own conversation, with everyone revolving around them none the wiser. She stimulated him mentally.
This is crazy!
Keith was very surprised at his behavior. He could not believe that he was standing here fantasizing over his brother’s woman, especially since he had a baby on the way. That was not only immoral, but it was also downright sordid! Keith berated himself repeatedly for this futile attraction. He counted on one hand the number of times he’d seen Gina. Yet, here he was, behaving like some infantile . . .
Keith stopped suddenly and dragged his hands across his face and over his head. He absolutely refused to give Gina another thought.
Eve . . . Eve . . . Eve . . . Keith said her name over and over, like it was a mantra, to shift his mind away from Gina. He mentally conjured a visual image of Eve in his mind. He saw her smiling at him as she protectively held on to her growing stomach. Yes, that’s it.
The telephone ringing so early jarred his concentration.
“Keith, I need a favor . . . Take Gina to the Homecoming Dance for me. It’s tomorrow night.”
Michael statement was not a request. He rushed on without waiting for a reply. “Thanks, Bro,” and disconnected the call before Keith could utter a single word.
He looked at the cordless, and then put it back on its cradle. From his brother’s quick, rushed tones, he wondered if Karen was in listening distance. Or, Michael could’ve been on his way to a meeting, Keith supposed.
Well, whatever the reason, Michael had some nerve. Because of his own stupid and irresponsible actions, Keith now had to help him clean up his mess. His brother had not changed with time. From the time that they were young, Michael had always expected Keith to bail him out.
Asking me to take out his woman. Keith reached into his pocket for his cell phone. How preposterous . . . How presumptuous . . . How promising ...
The following night, Keith dressed in a dark-gray suit, with a black shirt and gray tie, and made sure his shoes were parade shine. He was just about to leave when Eve popped in. Keith quickly brought her up to speed. He made sure to sound unaffected to give her the feeling that he was just doing a favor—blah-blah-blah—no big deal.
Eve wasn’t buying it. “I don’t like it. I don’t care if you’re doing Michael a favor. In my book, two people going out somewhere, all dressed up, constitutes a date.”
“Well, it’s not,” Keith refuted. “And, I’m already committed to go, so . . .”
Eve dug inside her purse to search for a stick of gum. She popped it into her mouth, chewed, and scrutinized him under hooded eyes. “Michael is obviously an imbecile to send Gina out with you.”
Keith took umbrage. “What’s that supposed to mean?” It was pure reverse psychology, of course, because he knew Eve was no fool.
She sucked her teeth and mimicked his words, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Keith looked heavenward. “Don’t start.”
Eve’s head swung back and forth like a bobble head. “Michael must be clueless when it comes to women, Keith. You know that. He’s a genius at work, but when it comes to women and his love life, he’s a complete idiot. Even a blind man could see the tension emanating between the two of you. I think you like her.”
He wasn’t taking that bait. Keith plucked at the lint on his pants and prepared to leave. Eve’s gum chewing escalated. She sounded like a cow chewing its cud, but now wasn’t the time to point that out. Besides, she wasn’t done.
“You jumped at the chance to take her out. Admit it,” Eve accused. “Gina’s no supermodel, but she’s refreshing, and that can be real enticing . . .”
Keith shrugged, but didn’t argue. He wasn’t about to add any fuel to the fire. Let Eve think whatever she wanted to think. He knew the truth.
That she was right.
“She’s one of those women who would be appealing, even if she wore a potato sack,” Eve continued, gauging his reaction.
Outwardly, he remained aloof. But on the inside, he fervently agreed. He searched for his keys.
Eve wouldn’t let it go. “Keith, I’m worried. I mean, things are finally good again between us, and you seemed like you’ve come around with the baby . . .”
Keith noted the worry etched on Eve’s beautiful face, and he empathized. He could have given her the reassurance that she desperately sought, but he wasn’t about to say something he didn’t mean. He awkwardly reached out to pat her on the stomach, but that was all he could do.
“How stupid could Michael be?” Eve whispered. She had probably meant that for her ears only, but Keith had heard her.
He dwelled on that sentiment as he drove to Gina’s house. Why was Michael so trusting?
At exactly five o’clock, Keith rang Gina’s doorbell, wondering for the hundredth time why he had let Michael manipulate him into coming.
Please. Nobody can twist your arm, and you know it.
“Okay,” Keith muttered under his breath, “so, maybe I wanted to come.”
Gina opened the door, and Keith raised his eyebrows as he saw her. “You look gorgeous,” he declared. Scanning her, Keith tried to figure out what was different. He kept looking until he figured it out. She was wearing makeup, and it transformed her into a hot, luscious diva. Her lipstick made her full lips look even more kissable and inviting.
“Come in. I’m almost ready,” Gina invited. “So, is Eve all right with you being my date?” She held both hands up to form quotation marks as she said the word.
No. “She understood.” What an understatement, he mused, thinking about their run-in. Keith focused his attention on what she was wearing. Gina was dressed in a black cocktail dress, appropriate for chaperoning a school event, but it sported a split in the front that he could truly appreciate.
“Ah, can you help me with my zipper? For the past five minutes, I’ve been trying to get the zipper and hook done before you arrived, but to no avail. I feel like I have two left hands when it comes to performing any fine-motor task. I’m such a klutz. Did you know it took me a good ten minutes to get my earrings, necklace, and bracelet on?”
She was rambling, a true indication of nervousness, so Keith just nodded. He didn’t mention the interesting view he had been given.
“Okay, turn around.” Keith motioned with his fingers, and Gina complied. It took effort for Keith to concentrate, but being the gentleman that he was, he performed the small, but necessary task. His hand brushed against her skin, and he stifled a gasp. Her skin felt baby soft. If it were anyone else, he would think this request on Gina’s part was a subtle invitation.
She has beautiful, soft skin.
Gina took a deep breath—a sign she’d not been unmoved. He noted her jitters and whispered, “You look stunning.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself. Thanks for coming with me to the dance in Michael’s place. You didn’t have to.”
His heart jumped at her bright smile. “Nonsense, it’s my pleasure, believe me.”
They looked at each other and smiled. Their smiles said even more than they did. They said how much they were going to enjoy the night without feeling guilty. They said how glad they were to be given this night alone, with just the two of them to see if the attraction was real.
Gina’s cell phone rang, ending the intimate moment.
Her eyebrows creased in concern, and his heart constricted. He hoped everything was all right.
“No . . . No, I still haven’t seen her or heard from her. Is she okay? . . . Okay, bye.”
Gina clicked the END button, and stared at her phone.
“Is everything all right?” Keith asked.
“I hope so. That was Colleen’s husband, Terence. He was calling to see if I had seen or heard from her.” Gina fidgeted with her necklace and bit her lip. “Something’s up because he called me yesterday morning as well.”
“Well, I’m sure she’ll call when she’s ready.” Keith comforted her with a light squeeze. “They probably had a spat, and she went somewhere to cool off.”
“Yeah, but . . .” But she sounded skeptical.
“You look worried,” Keith stated. “Do you want to skip the Homecoming Dance?”
“No, I can’t. A few of the teachers bowed out because there’s this stomach bug going around. So, my principal would have convulsions if I didn’t show up. Plus, I was actually looking forward to going. Let me call her.” She pressed the speed-dial button, but the call went directly to voice mail. Frowning, she tried again. Voice mail. Gina left a terse message urging Colleen to call. Then she sent a text.
She rocked her heels back and forth as she vacillated over what to do.
There she goes, biting that delicious bottom lip of hers. Keith cleared his throat. “Tell you what, let’s go, and if, when we return, you still have not heard from her, I promise to help you find her.”
“All right,” Gina agreed, and she took out a fall coat from the hallway closet. Before going through the door, she said, “I still feel uneasy about Colleen not calling me or anything. That is so unlike her. Whenever either one of us has a problem, we always call each other. But, then again, if she and Terence did have an argument, chances are that she wouldn’t want to tell me about it.”
“Why is that?” Keith queried.
“Well, she knows I have misgivings about Terence. I’ve been very vocal about that,” Gina said. “So, in this case, I may be the last person she calls.”
Keith wanted to ask more about it, but he didn’t want to dampen the mood. It was selfish, considering Gina was worried about her friend, but he’d been looking forward to the dance. They entered the gymnasium, and Keith felt as if he’d been thrown back in time to high school.
He looked over at Gina. At that moment, this night was no longer about her duty as a chaperone. It was about them. Keith led her to the dance floor. After a feeble protest, Gina started dancing. He saw her look around at the other kids that were dancing. “Forget them. Let’s have some fun.” That was all the encouragement she needed, and she moved closer to him. As they danced, Keith repeated in his head, She’s Michael’s woman . . . She’s Michael’s woman. It wasn’t working.
Gina would’ve kept up with the teenagers,
but Keith pleaded for a break. When he came back with some punch, he saw Gina on the phone.
“I just checked my voice mail. Colleen left me a message that she’s okay. She promised to call me. She canceled our plans for tomorrow night. So, I guess I’ll just have to wait for her call. I feel better hearing from her, though.”
Keith was all smiles hearing that. Gina was now at ease. Once the dance ended, at ten p.m., they drove around, chatted, stopped to eat, and took the time to enjoy each other.
Keith’s digital clock said 1:00 a.m. when he pulled into Gina’s driveway and parked, with swift ease, behind her VW. He turned the ignition off, and they both sat there, in limbo. “I’m not ready to leave you, yet,” Keith admitted.
“Me, too.” Gina turned to him. “Thank you so much, Keith, for a wonderful evening and a wonderful night.”
Keith smiled into her beautiful face. All he could think about was how much he wanted to kiss her. Gina read his thoughts and moved the door handle to open the door.
Keith followed suit and walked Gina to her front door. Gina dropped her house keys. He bent over to pick them up. “Allow me?” he lifted an eyebrow. She bobbed her head. He unlocked her door and stood aside for her to enter ahead of him.
Gina faced him and said, “Well, I had a great time . . .”
“Me, too,” Keith heard his wistful tone—not at all manly. What was this woman doing to him?
“It was fun . . .”
“Yeah, it was . . .” Keith agreed, but words were not his preferred mode of communication at the moment.
“Yeah,” Gina twisted her fingers, before she looked up at him with those dark eyes of hers.
He ached to discover what shimmered behind their depths. Gina tilted her face upward. Keith interpreted her thoughts. He knew what she wanted. He wanted the same. With a groan, he bent and rested his head against her forehead. “You know why we can’t, don’t you?”
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