“The truth,” Reyna answered before biting into a chicken wing. “The truth is always best.”
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said after swallowing. “I saw you walk in, and I liked what I saw. You look like a woman who could stimulate my mind.”
Reyna smirked. “That last part was corny. But thanks for the compliment.” She looked down at his left hand again. Reyna was determined not to make the same mistake twice. “Are you married?”
“No,” he answered without hesitation.
“Gay? Bisexual? In a relationship of any kind?” Reyna rattled off the questions, then held her breath for the answers.
Peyton chuckled. “No. No. No. And no, I don’t have any children running around. What about you?”
Reyna finally exhaled. Peyton had potential. “No to all of the above.”
“Now that that’s out of the way, tell me about yourself.” Peyton appeared visibly relaxed as he listened to Reyna talk about working in real estate.
“What about you?” she asked.
“I’m an investment banker in the city.” That was how local residents referred to San Francisco. He went on to share some experiences related to his position at one of the top firms in San Francisco.
As she ate, Reyna observed his mannerisms and listened to his speech. Peyton appeared confident in his ability at work but said nothing about family and God. That scored well with Reyna.
“Do you live near here?” Peyton asked as Reyna finished the last chicken wing.
She washed down the garlic delight with a drink of water before answering, “I’m about ten minutes away, in Broadway Terrace.” A smile creased his face, and Reyna felt proud to say she lived among the Bay Area elite, even if she was renting from a friend. “What about you? Do you stay in the city?”
“Most of the time.” He paused and leaned in so close, Reyna felt his breath against her skin. “But for the right person I’d be willing to commute.”
Reyna pushed back from the table. Peyton was handsome and employed, but she still didn’t know him. “I have to get back to work,” she announced as she stood.
Peyton stood and gently grabbed her arm. “Please, may I have your number before you go? I’d love to see you again.”
Reyna looked down at the light manicured hand touching her and was amazed she felt the heat of his touch through the fabric of her jacket. For a brief moment she entertained the truth: dating someone outside of her race fascinated her.
“Sorry, Peyton, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Lunch was good, but it didn’t earn my phone number. After all, I don’t even know your last name.” She reclaimed her arm and made a dash for the exit.
“Covington. My full name is Peyton Ryan Covington.”
Reyna stopped dead in her tracks. By stating his full name, this stranger had given her more than the man she’d naively shared her body with. She ignored the intuitive warning and retraced her steps.
Chapter 10
“Do you want to talk about it, or what?” Kevin asked after Tyson threw his racket on the wood-paneled floor after missing the ball for the third time.
Tyson usually excelled in racquetball, but today his game was way off. His whole day had been off-kilter. He’d overslept and almost missed a preliminary hearing. In the rush to make it to the courtroom on time, he’d parked in a handicapped space and received a four-hundred-dollar parking violation ticket. Now he was losing to Kevin in their weekly game of racquetball.
He paced the length of the court, wiping his forehead with a towel.
“Well?” Kevin said and sat on the floor and adjusted his prosthesis.
Tyson ceased pacing and leaned against the wall near his friend. “I hate to think how you’d whip me if you had two full legs.” Kevin’s right leg had been severed below the knee in a car accident when he was a teenager.
“My remarkable athletic skills are the least of your problems,” Kevin smirked. “My prowess on the court can’t touch the whipping Reyna has put on you. And just think, she doesn’t even know it.”
Tyson’s denial came out as incomprehensible grunting.
Kevin stood upright and asked, “Have you reconciled your feelings for her yet?”
Tyson threw his hands down. “Man, I know I’m in love with her.” The admission left a bitter taste in his mouth. He frowned at Kevin’s laughter. “It’s not funny.” He threw the towel at his friend.
“You’re right. It’s not funny.” Kevin bent over, holding his stomach. “This is downright hilarious. The stoic anal retentive attorney Tyson Stokes has fallen in love with Reyna Mills. What are the odds of that? You guys are like oil and water.”
“Whatever, man.” Tyson picked up his racket and started for the exit.
Kevin caught him by the shoulder. “Hold up, man. Just having some fun at your expense.” Tyson stopped walking. “I’m just saying, for someone who detests drama, you’ve selected a drama queen.”
Tyson slumped back against the wall. “Trust me, it wasn’t on purpose. Man, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He slid down the wall and rested on the floor with his knees bent, his head in his hands.
Kevin quickly sobered and sat next to him. “Man, this is really tearing you up. I’ve never seen you look so defeated and confused.” Kevin broke the silence that followed. “Do you plan on telling her?”
Tyson raised his head and forced out the remaining air from his lungs. “I did.” Kevin’s incredulous facial expression pushed him to explain further. “Okay, maybe not directly, but I told her I cared about her.” He paused. “Oh yeah, and I kissed her.”
Kevin’s whistle echoed through the court. “How did she respond?”
“She said I was a great kisser, and then renewed her ridiculous quest to fix me up with Paige.”
Kevin’s face twisted. “Paige? Why Paige?” Kevin paused. “Reyna doesn’t know about you guys?”
Tyson shook his head from side to side.
“Are you going to tell her?”
Tyson thought the idea absurd. “Heck, no! I’m not telling that woman that if Paige and I weren’t such self-centered and selfish adults back in the day, we’d be the parents of a twelve-year-old kid. You know Reyna will use that as an excuse for her crazy behavior. I can hear her now. ‘You had the chance to sow your oats. Why can’t I?’” His head shook, almost involuntarily. “No way, man. She’s already accused me of judging her. Besides, that’s not something I’m proud of.”
Tyson wasn’t proud. In fact, the decision he made almost thirteen years ago was his biggest life regret. When he met Paige in college, they were the perfect match. Both were driven by ambition, and neither wanted the emotional attachment that came with relationships. Their exclusive “friends with benefits” arrangement worked for a year, until a night of drinking led to an unplanned pregnancy. Neither wanted or needed a baby. Both admitted that although they shared their bodies, their hearts were far apart, and they mutually agreed to an abortion. Tyson paid for the procedure and supported Paige through the process. They had remained friends over the years, but the “benefits” part of the relationship ended with the pregnancy. The experience left them both scared and, eventually, led them to the altar and into a relationship with the Lord.
“Are you still haunted by it?” Kevin asked. Tyson had shared with him the nightmares he used to have.
“No, but I still regret it.” Tyson cleared his throat in effort to steady his voice. “I wonder what could have been.” He looked his friend in the eyes. “And to be honest, I’m jealous of you and Leon. I’m starting to think maybe Paige and I don’t deserve a family, because of our selfish decision. Look at us. We’re both workaholics and can’t relate emotionally to anyone.”
Kevin grabbed his shoulder. “Man, don’t do this to yourself. God forgave you and Paige a long time ago. You’re workaholics because you choose to be. You can’t express your feelings, because you’ve suppressed them for so long, you can’t identify what they are.”
Tyson’s head
dropped.
“And you need to learn what unconditional love is,” Kevin said after shaking him until he lifted his head. “Not that legalistic stuff you experienced growing up.”
“How do I learn anything else?” Tyson asked, hunching his shoulders. “I’m thirty-six years old, and I have yet to receive that from a human. I have to give my father a list of my winning cases in order to get one compliment out of him. And Mother, she’s always been too busy enjoying the prestige of being the wife of a judge to care about me.”
“Man, you know I love you. So does Marlissa. We accept you no matter how anal you are.” Kevin pushed him with his shoulder. “Come on, dude. You’re going to be my child’s godfather, remember?”
Tyson maneuvered himself upright. “That’s right. And don’t forget to name him after me.”
“Hmm. Anal Jennings.” Kevin said the words slowly, then stood up. “It has a nice ring to it.”
Tyson retrieved his towel and racket and once again started for the exit. “Just for the record, I love you too. I don’t think I could care for you more if you were my biological brother. And Marlissa? Well, she’s become the bossy little sister I never wanted, but I love her like crazy. And Leon and Starla have grown on me like mold on bread.”
“That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Kevin asked once he stopped laughing. “Sharing your feelings is good for the soul.”
“Yeah, well, if you tell a soul about my emotional meltdown, I’ll sue you for defamation of character.”
Kevin slapped him on the back. “And lose the only friend you have? I doubt that.”
Tyson chuckled at his idle threat. Kevin’s unconditional friendship had carried him through the hardest times in his life. When he confided in him about the Paige situation, Kevin didn’t judge him. When he passed the bar exam on the first try, it was Kevin who celebrated his achievement before his parents did. And it was Kevin who’d accompanied him to the altar the day he dedicated his life to the Lord.
Tyson treasured their bond, but he’d trade in his law practice to have a happily ever after with Reyna.
Chapter 11
Strutting before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, Reyna admired her reflection. “Girl, you look good!” she exclaimed. The black lace–strapped dress was perfect. It showed just enough cleavage, without revealing too much, and flared just below the knee. She’d learned her lesson the hard way; it was possible to look sexy without impersonating a lady of the evening. If she spent the night with Peyton, he wouldn’t feel obligated to leave money on the nightstand.
She and Peyton had spoken on the phone every day since their chance meeting five days ago. During those conversations, she learned Peyton had relocated to the Bay Area from Oregon less than a year ago. He had a business degree and ambitions to one day open his own brokerage company. The closest thing Peyton had to family in the Bay Area was an old college buddy. And although he claimed to have a close relationship with his parents, Peyton always changed the subject when questioned about them. That didn’t bother Reyna; she didn’t want to discuss Jewel or her runaway father, either.
It was Friday, and Peyton had promised to make it a night she’d never forget after she revealed she’d never been on a real date before. At first Peyton didn’t believe her, but then she shared how she’d grown up in the church under strict supervision.
At 6:00 P.M. sharp, the telephone rang. It was Peyton at the security gate, seeking access to the exclusive subdivision. After buzzing him in, Reyna rushed to the vanity and sprayed Mariah Carey’s fragrance on her neck and pulse points. After the Chase disaster, she’d thrown out Halle Berry’s fragrance. The doorbell chimed just as she slipped on the black stilettos. “This is my night,” Reyna declared, then raced to the front door.
“Hello. I . . .” she said after opening the door.
The red long-stemmed roses resting in the crook of Peyton’s arm took her breath away. The cologne he was wearing didn’t help, either. The black Versace suit must have been tailor-made to fit his chiseled torso so perfectly. His even skin appeared darker than when they first met. Either Peyton had a tanning salon membership or he spent countless hours lying in the sun. His beard had been trimmed, making his thin lips appear bigger and more attractive.
Using his free hand, Peyton took her hand and raised it to his lips. “Hello, my beautiful Reyna.”
She was no match for his cologne combined with his soft touch. Reyna exhaled and almost fell when she attempted to lean against a wall that wasn’t there. Peyton caught her just in time.
“Are you all right?” he asked once he’d steadied her.
Reyna downplayed her embarrassment. “It must be these shoes. I lost my balance.” There was no way she’d let this man know he’d blown her mind in less than sixty seconds. She stepped to the side. “Please come in. It’ll just take me a minute to grab my wrap.”
“Where would you like for me to put these?” he called after her.
Reyna stopped mid-stride. “He must think I’m a moron,” she mumbled to herself before turning around and offering him a smile. “Thank you. I’ll put those in water first.”
“Why don’t you let me do that?” he offered. “Just show me where you keep the vases.”
He followed Reyna into the kitchen. “Let me get that for you,” he said when Reyna reached into the top cabinet.
Her skin burned while his body pressed slightly against hers as he retrieved the crystal vase. Now she wished for long hair again so she couldn’t feel his warm breath against her neck. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus . . . She mentally recited the books of the Bible to calm her nerves. “Where the heck did that come from?” she scolded.
“What did you say?” Peyton asked.
Reyna cleared her throat and stepped away. “Nothing. Be back in two minutes.”
Inside her bedroom, Reyna decided Mariah Carey’s fragrance yielded better results. Never in a million years did she think she’d be attracted to a white guy, but so far Peyton was the total package. He was attractive, attentive, and came with his own resources.
When Reyna returned from the third-level bedroom, the vase filled with roses rested beautifully on the granite countertop, but Peyton was nowhere to be found. Reyna retraced her steps into the living room. Still no Peyton.
“Peyton,” she called out.
“Down here.” The distant response came from the bottom level.
“What the heck is he doing roaming around my house? Even Mother taught me better than that,” she muttered on the way downstairs. “What are you doing down here?” she asked when she reached the landing.
Peyton either didn’t detect her attitude or simply ignored it. “Just checking out the place and admiring your impeccable taste. The real estate market must be turning around.”
Reyna almost asked what he was talking about, until she realized Peyton thought the town house and the furnishings inside belonged to her and that maybe she was a broker. With those perfect teeth smiling at her, Reyna didn’t find it necessary to correct him. Peyton didn’t need to know the space had once served as Tyson’s home office. The oak cabinets lining the walls had once contained law books. He’d left the matching desk and leather chair. Mounted on the wall was a forty-six-inch flat screen. The cabinet below housed a Bose sound system and a DVD player. Regal crown molding outlined the earth-tone walls, and the beige carpet would almost envelop your toes when walked on barefoot.
“I do my best,” she lied. “We should be going,” she said, reaching for the light switch.
“How long have you owned the place?” he asked, assisting her up the stairs.
She didn’t know how to answer that. Besides her car, the only things she owned were the clothes on her back. Before she could think of an answer that wouldn’t disclose that she’d just mailed the last payment on her five-year-old Camry two days ago, they reached the landing. She stepped aside and allowed him to open the front door.
“Thank you,” she said and stepped onto the walkway after locking th
e door. “I haven’t lived here long,” she answered and then changed the subject. “Someone’s having a special evening,” she stated in reference to the black limousine blocking her driveway.
Peyton placed his palm on the small of her back and nudged her forward. “I couldn’t agree more. This will be an evening you’ll never forget.”
Reyna was midway down the walkway when the chauffeur got out, walked around the vehicle, and held the door open. She ceased walking. “Wow,” she mouthed without sound. She’d never been in a limousine before, not even for the prom or a funeral.
“Don’t look so surprised.” He leaned so close, his breath warmed the hairs on her neck. “You’re worth it, beautiful.”
Reyna blushed but secretly agreed she was worth it. And she was beautiful. He urged her forward and helped her into the vehicle.
Once inside, Peyton filled two glasses of champagne before the limo left the subdivision.
Remembering the last time alcohol touched her lips, Reyna hesitated before accepting the golden bubbly liquid. Unlike before, the sip she took barely moistened her tongue. She casually held the crystal and admired the vehicle’s interior. Every detail, from the butter-soft leather seat to the lighted floor and bar, was exquisite, the highlight being the mini flat-screen TV.
Any anxiety she had was relieved once the smooth jazz sounds floated through the speakers and relaxed her to the point where she closed her eyes and hummed the notes along with the alto saxophone.
“You like that, huh?”
She heard Peyton’s words at the same time she felt his hand rest on her thigh. With more calmness than she felt, Reyna returned the glass to the bar and in the process removed Peyton’s hand. Flowers and a limo ride didn’t translate into free roaming.
“I didn’t realize how beautiful jazz can be until recently,” she responded honestly, without going into details about her strict religious upbringing. “Now I can’t get through the day without the soothing sounds.” When she turned and faced him, the lights from the bar illuminated Peyton’s blue eyes, causing her to temporarily lose her train of thought. “What music helps you select the right investments for your clients?” she asked once she recovered.
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