Kevin stepped back. “Whoa, man. Reyna has really gotten under your skin. I’ve never heard you revert to name-calling. Maybe you should rethink this tenantlandlord thing.” Tyson had shared his plan with Kevin two days ago.
“There’s nothing to rethink,” Reyna said upon entering the kitchen after Marlissa let her in. “I held up my end of the bargain. Now he’s stuck with me.”
Tyson whirled around to face the woman he cared about but at the moment found difficult to like. Reyna had publicly embarrassed him again, causing him to lose his placidity. He glowered at her from head to toe and then silently berated himself for admiring the yellow pantsuit she wore. Even though Reyna had a smug look on her face, her beauty excited him. She wore more makeup than he thought necessary, but it was what he saw beneath the surface that twisted his heartstrings into agony.
“How can you be so callous toward God?” Tyson asked through clenched teeth. “You once had a strong relationship with Him.”
The doorbell sounded again, and Kevin left the kitchen.
Reyna planted a fist against her waist and stepped closer to Tyson. “What I had was a bunch of lies fed to me by people claiming to be His mouthpiece.”
“It wasn’t people, Reyna. It was one person,” Tyson corrected. “And you need to forgive Pastor Jennings so you can move on with your life.”
Reyna scowled. “You may forgive seven times seventy per day, but I’m not there yet.”
“Well, at least you remember one scripture,” Tyson shot back just has Leon and Starla joined them in the kitchen. Instead of greeting one another, the couples stood back and watched the interaction between Reyna and Tyson.
“I remember more than you think, but it would do you some good to remember the one about drawing people with love and kindness,” Reyna sneered. “All you do is judge me for not wanting to serve your God anymore.” She turned toward Kevin. “Sorry if this offends you, but your mother destroyed my life.”
Tyson erupted before Kevin could respond. “You are not a child! You’re a grown woman with a mind of your own. No one can make you do anything you don’t want to do. You’re just as much to blame for your bad decisions as Pastor Jennings. You were a willing participant.”
Reyna’s fist pounded the granite countertop. “Shut up! You’re self-righteous, just like Pastor Jennings!”
Tyson’s cheeks burned, and he lost control. The words tumbled out before he could stop them. “Come off it, Reyna! Were you a victim, and was Pastor Jennings the reason you spent the night at the Claremont with a man you barely knew?”
Tyson heard the collective gasp of his friends behind him, but the pain etched on Reyna’s face held him captive. In seconds the arrogance and bravado evaporated, and tears welled up in her eyes. Tyson hadn’t meant to expose her, but her careless act had hurt him to the core. Her boorish behavior only added salt to the open wound.
“Who I spend my nights with is none of your business!” Reyna blessed Tyson with a string of expletives, then stomped toward the front door.
“How could you put Reyna’s business on Front Street like that?” Marlissa said, letting Tyson have a piece of her mind at the same time the front door slammed.
“I didn’t mean to, but that woman drives me past crazy,” Tyson replied, defending himself.
Starla joined in. “You were so wrong for that. I never thought I’d see you stoop so low.” She planted her balled fists against her waist, which caused her swollen abdomen to stick out even farther. “Now, you go outside and apologize!”
“Now!” Marlissa added, while pointing at the door.
Kevin and Leon didn’t offer any support.
Sure he was wrong, but apologizing to Reyna for bringing out the worst in him was getting old. He detested public scenes, yet in less than one hour, he’d allowed Reyna to pull him out of character twice. As much as he wanted to cast the blame on her, deep inside Tyson accepted full responsibility for his lack of self-control. Not to mention his efforts to steer Reyna back to the household of faith had just been derailed. Exasperated, Tyson threw his hands up, then went to find Reyna.
He assumed she’d be sitting in the car, but she wasn’t. He was about to panic when out of his peripheral vision he spotted yellow fabric floating down the slope. Kevin lived atop a hill.
“Reyna!” he yelled and caught the attention of Kevin’s neighbor. “Sorry,” Tyson offered when the older gentleman dropped the water hose, then proceeded to trot after Reyna. “Reyna, wait!” he huffed as he picked up momentum. When he purchased the tailored suit and dress shoes, chasing Reyna down a hill was not what he had in mind. The spiked heels that minutes earlier had adorned Reyna’s feet were now swinging wildly in her hands.
Reyna turned and paused long enough to tell Tyson to take a permanent trip to the dark side, then continued trekking down the hill.
When Tyson caught up with her and grabbed her from behind, Reyna whirled around and swung her heels at him. “I can’t stand you!” she screamed.
With ease, he held her hands stationary and steadied his breath. “Would you calm down and listen to me?”
“Why? You just told all my business.” Reyna yanked her arms free and glared at him. “How did you know what happened at the Claremont? I didn’t tell you that.”
“I saw your car in the parking lot on Saturday, when I went to retrieve my coat,” Tyson answered, still hoping his deductive reasoning would prove incorrect. Tyson observed the anger seep from her, only to be replaced by shame. Her shoulders slumped, and she turned away. “So I was right?”
“Yes,” she answered just above a whisper. “You were right about more than you think.” The stilettos slipped from her hands and clanged against the cement the second her shoulders started to heave.
Tyson grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Seeing Reyna shed tears because of his behavior made his insides quiver. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain in the literal sense. He reached inside his jacket pocket for a handkerchief and wiped her face. “Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He searched for words. “You’re my friend and I care about you, but sometimes you drive me crazy and I don’t know how to handle that,” he admitted.
Reyna snatched the handkerchief. “Would you shut up and let me talk? This is hard enough, but since you put it out there, you might as well know the whole truth. I only got mad because somebody found out about my stupid mistake.”
“Go on.” Tyson nodded, wondering if he would ever understand this woman.
Reyna didn’t hold his gaze as she confessed, “You were right about everything. I spent the weekend with that guy from the dance floor. He liked me, but not enough to tell me about his wife and kids until after I’d gotten drunk and given him my virginity.”
Tyson flinched but didn’t respond verbally.
“From my clothes, he thought I was a hooker, and paid me for my services before he left.” Reyna covered her face and shed silent tears. “I feel so stupid. I actually thought he cared.”
Lost for words, Tyson molded her against his chest and held her. When Reyna didn’t resist, his heart acknowledged the truth. He was really in love with Reyna. What else could explain why he felt the urge to shield her from an opportunist like the guy from the dance floor, although she’d purposely set out to use the man to hurt him.
“Reyna, you’re not stupid. You’ve just been making bad decisions lately,” Tyson said, attempting to comfort her.
Reyna raised her head and met his gaze. “You don’t consider what I did pathetic?” she questioned.
Tyson held her gaze and for the first time shared his heart. “Sweetheart, you’re wounded and looking for love. The problem is you’re looking too hard and in the wrong places. You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman, and you deserve the best. You need to slow down and open your eyes. What you need just may be in front of you. I’m here for you, and I’ll help you in any way I can.”
Re
yna’s face twisted as if she was pondering his words. Tyson’s heart pounded against his chest cavity in anticipation of her response to what he considered a declaration of his feelings.
“You’re right. I do deserve the best, and I’m going to find it on my own,” she finally answered.
Frustration threatened to overtake Tyson’s emotions once again. He released her and stepped back. “Were you listening?” He didn’t allow her time to answer. “Slow down. Stop being angry, and allow God to direct you.”
“Tyson, you’re a good friend and a smart man. And as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right about me being wrong to blame Pastor Jennings without shouldering some of the blame for the wreck I’ve made of my life. Maybe one day I’ll consider God again, but today is not that day.” She closed the distance between them and cradled his cheek with her thumb and forefinger. “Please try to understand that right now I have to do me. I want to experience life. I missed that being Pastor Jennings’s shadow. I want to know what fun is. I want to go—”
Tyson wasn’t sure if he meant to or not, but before Reyna could finish the sentence, he pressed his lips against hers. When Reyna didn’t protest, he held her and deepened the kiss. Thoughts of good and evil battled in Tyson’s mind. He shouldn’t be kissing Reyna like this in public, for all the neighbors to see. He shouldn’t be kissing her at all, but it felt good.
“Whew!” Reyna said, fanning herself after breaking the kiss. “Not only are you a good friend, but you’re also a good kisser. If you weren’t so anal and wouldn’t get the wrong idea, I’d let you kiss me again.” She bent over and retrieved her shoes. “You’re going to rock Paige’s world.” When she returned to the upright position, Tyson was walking back up the hill.
Chapter 9
Reyna activated the Bose sound system and moved to the rhythm as she prepared a breakfast of bacon and eggs with wheat toast. Having a place of her own was liberating. Jewel would keel over and die if she could see Reyna now as she stood at the stove in her underwear, gyrating to the R & B hit and singing the lyrics about dancing the night away. She switched off the stove and transferred the bacon and scrambled eggs to a plate the precise moment the toaster dinged. After pouring a glass of orange juice, Reyna sat at the counter and devoured her breakfast. As she licked jelly from the corner of her lips, thoughts of Tyson tainted its sweetness.
The previous day’s events on the hill had rocked her world more than she cared to admit. In his anger Tyson had embarrassed her, but then with tenderness he’d comforted her without condemnation. His kiss had not only seared her lips, but had also warmed her soul. Reyna had been so discombobulated that before dinner back at Kevin’s house she’d offered to say grace. If the gesture had pleased Tyson, he didn’t show it and didn’t mention it on the ride home. In fact, he didn’t say much to her at all after the incident on the hill.
Tyson was a good person, but why Reyna felt compelled to expose her vulnerability to him was a mystery to her. It had always been that way with him. When her world began spiraling out of control, Tyson was right there, trying to break her fall, but she wouldn’t take heed of his advice. He was the one who had bailed her out of jail and helped her nurse the wounds. She’d mastered the art of cursing him out, yet Tyson respected her. Whenever she needed help, Tyson was right there, such as when he offered his home to her. She had noticed his patience was starting to wear thin with her attitude about church, but she wasn’t ready to change. One day she’d face reality and acknowledge that Tyson desired much more than friendship from her, but today wasn’t the day. Not as long as he worshiped the God she detested.
The clock above the stove chimed, indicating she had forty-five minutes to iron and get dressed. Today she wanted to arrive at the real estate office early. She was on a mission to fix Tyson up with Paige as a way to direct Tyson’s affections away from her. In compliance with the office dress-code policy, Reyna selected a black pencil skirt that stopped just above the knee and a tapered jacket with a white-collared shirt. After applying makeup and styling her hair, Reyna slipped her nylon-covered feet into four-inch pumps and headed for the office.
Before backing out of the driveway, Reyna turned on the satellite radio station and blasted the latest number one R & B hit. Traffic was unusually light for a Monday morning, and she made it work with ten minutes to spare. Just as she suspected, Paige was already seated in her office, with her eyes glued to the computer screen. As usual, Paige’s model-like physique was covered in a dark-colored business suit.
After the previous warning, Reyna wasn’t sure how to approach the subject of Tyson. “Good morning, Paige,” she cheerfully greeted from the doorway, then looked down at her watch. “How long have you been here?”
“About two hours,” Paige answered, without turning her attention away from the computer.
Reyna inched into the office and looked around. Paige was one of the best; the multiple wall plaques proved it. Paige was beautiful, self-sufficient, and successful. A tinge of jealousy and regret sparked in Reyna as she wondered what her life would be like had she finished her master’s degree and started her own practice. Would she be as successful as Paige? She quickly decided that she would be phenomenal. She directed her thoughts back to the task at hand.
“How was your weekend?”
“Church was wonderful,” Paige answered as her fingers glided across the keyboard.
Reyna rolled her eyes but stopped short of smirking. “What about the rest of the weekend? Surely you didn’t spend the whole weekend at church, did you?” The more Reyna thought about it, the more it seemed possible for Paige to spend the whole weekend at a shut-in prayer session.
Paige continued typing. “No. I also visited an art gallery.”
“Really?” Reyna saw the opening she’d been waiting for and took the liberty of sitting in one of the guest chairs. “I didn’t know you like art.”
“I collect pieces as a hobby.” Paige smiled, just slightly, but continued typing. “Not to brag, but I have an extensive collection. Are you a collector also?”
“Well, no.” Reyna leaned back and crossed her legs.
“But Tyson is. You should see his place. He has art everywhere. Maybe the two of you could compare pieces or visit galleries together.”
Paige’s fingers ceased their movement, and for the first time, she looked up at her employee.
Reyna sat in anticipation until Paige scowled at her, then stood, with her fists planted on the desk. “Reyna, I told you to leave that alone. Tyson and I are adults with a long history. If we want a relationship, we know how to establish one without any interference from you.”
Reyna’s jaw fell.
“Furthermore, you don’t know Tyson as well as you think. If you did, you wouldn’t waste your time trying to fix him up.” Paige sat back down. “I suggest you go to your workstation and focus on the job you’re paid to do and leave my personal business alone.” With that, Paige redirected her attention back to the computer screen.
Humiliated, Reyna stood and swiftly left while she still had a job, but she wondered just how much history Tyson and Paige shared.
By lunchtime, as she waited in line at the Chinese buffet, the early morning events were long forgotten. After hours of inspection reports and credit checks, the only thing on Reyna’s mind was chicken chow mein and garlic chicken wings. To get her daily serving of vegetables, she added a spoonful of broccoli to the already loaded plate and approached the cash register.
“Someone has worked up a big appetite.”
Reyna paused momentarily to see to whom the bass voice belonged, and almost lost her desire to eat. The six-foot-plus-tall man standing behind her was gorgeous. Normally, she wasn’t attracted to Caucasian men, but this dark-haired, bearded man was built like a bodybuilder and had deep sea–blue eyes. He was dressed in a tailored suit, complete with silver cuff links. His skin wasn’t pale, but olive, like he’d just stepped from a tanning salon.
“Excuse m—me?” she stuttered.
>
The man’s smile revealed a straight set of teeth. “I didn’t mean to distract you, but it’s not every day I find a woman who can eat more than me.”
Reyna’s eyes traveled down to the stranger’s plate, and she blushed. Her plate held double the amount of food in comparison. “I guess I am pretty hungry.” She sobered. “Do I know you?”
He extended his free hand. “Now you do. My name is Peyton.”
Reyna took note; he had presented his left hand. The ring finger was bare. After resting her tray on the counter in front of the cash register, Reyna shook his hand. “I’m Reyna.”
“Nice to make your acquaintance, Reyna,” he responded while squeezing her hand.
“You hold up line. You ready to pay for your food, miss?” the Chinese cashier interrupted in broken English.
Embarrassed, Reyna snatched her hand back and reached inside her purse.
“We’re together,” Peyton said and handed the cashier a twenty-dollar bill.
“I can’t let you do that,” Reyna protested. “You don’t know me like that.”
“That’s exactly why I’m treating you to lunch. I want to know you like that.”
Reyna didn’t know how to respond to his aggressive behavior or to the wink that followed. What she did know was that she wanted to know more about this fine white man with the blue eyes. While Peyton collected his change, she secured a table near the door, just in case he turned out to be crazy. Before she sat down, she checked her clothes. She wasn’t dressed like a hooker today, so Peyton’s interest in her had to be genuine.
“Thank you for sharing this meal with me,” Peyton said once he had fitted his long frame in the chair.
“You’re welcome,” Reyna said while twirling a noodle around her fork. “I am curious, though. Why do you want to know me?”
Peyton poked a broccoli spear, then looked up. “Do you want the truth or some corny line?”
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