It's Been You

by Rina Gray

  Within minutes, she returned to her emails, promising herself that she would get back in the game. If Mel were here, she would call it Operation: Insert Cheesy Name. Tiana smiled when she thought of the perfect one: Operation: Get Some Action.

  After work, she packed up for the day and made the trek back home. Her roommate was already at the apartment.

  “So Tim is down for the date on Saturday.” Mel munched on a carrot.

  Tiana froze as she was placing her purse on the rack near the kitchen. “Wait. What date on Saturday? I said nothing about going out this Saturday.”

  Mel raised a halting hand. “Woman, do not give me any grief. We both know that if I hadn’t gone ahead and set it up you would’ve punked out and then poor Tim would be roaming the city, crushed about the date that never was, wondering if you’d had one look at his face and bolted. Wondering if you thought he was too short or a poor dresser.”

  Tiana twisted her lips at Mel. “How in the heck do you come up with this stuff?” She shook her head. “But while we’re on the subject, I’m assuming he’s not short or unattractive?”

  “Do you really think I would suggest someone who wasn’t handsome? Actually, that’s putting it lightly. He’s F-I-N-E, fine.”

  Walking into their small living room, Tiana sat near her friend. “How fine are we talking?”

  “You know that first time you saw the video to the Janet Jackson song “Again” and you saw that guy with the dreads and you were like ‘daaayyyummm’?”

  Tiana nodded. Her teenaged heart had beaten like a rattlesnake at the video model.

  “Yeah, he’s that jaw-dropping fine. So you’re welcome. All I ask is that you name your firstborn after me.”

  “If he looks that fine and is intelligent to boot, then deal.”

  “Excellent. He will be calling to confirm the details, but I strongly suggested he take you to that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.” Mel smiled. “Diago’s.”

  Tiana grinned. “Damn, you’re good. Our child’s first and middle names are Melanie. What’s his last name?”

  “Lytle.”

  “Then he or she shall be named Melanie Melanie Lytle.”

  Mel tipped her head to the side as if thinking through the name. “Has a nice ring to it.” She rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait to get you together with Mr. Hunkalicious.”

  A door to one of the bedrooms shut, and Tiana turned her head. Damien, her roomie’s fiancé, stood in front of Mel’s room.

  “You’re not allowed to call anyone Hunkalicious but me.”

  “Hey, Damien,” Tiana greeted warmly.

  “Hey.” He smiled as he stalked toward his fiancée. Tipping back her chin, he dominated Mel’s lips.

  “Did you tell her the good news?” He looked back at Tiana.

  “Oh, duh! I was so excited about the blind date thing that I forgot to tell you we set a date for the wedding!”

  “What?” Tiana squealed, bouncing up and down. “That should have been the first thing you said to me when I got home.”

  “Sorry, sorry. It’s set for December fifteenth.”

  Tiana pulled a planner from her purse. After Damien had asked Melanie for her hand in marriage, Tiana had volunteered to plan their wedding. Tiana had served on several event-planning committees for fundraisers in Atlanta and had even coordinated a few of her friends’ and old coworkers’ weddings. “We have sixteen months to pull off a New York wedding. Just enough time. I’ll get started on researching venues, and then we’ll—”

  “Actually … ” Her friend cut in, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “Damien is pretty keen on getting married soon.”

  “Very keen,” he agreed in a smooth baritone voice that didn’t hide his laughter at Mel’s obvious discomfort.

  “Yes.” Tiana smiled. “I got that when he proposed to you in front of fifty thousand people at Yankee Stadium.”

  “Right.” Her roomie nodded. “So … we’re getting married this year.”

  This year! “Are you out of your mind, Mel? That’s four months from now. Four months! How am I planning a wedding in four months’ time in New York freaking City!” Jumping from her seat, Tiana paced. “You’ll have to get married on the subway. That’s the only thing that’ll be open. We’ll have to get street performers for entertainment.”

  Mel tugged her curls and laughed. “Chill out, T. First off, I’m not getting married in New York. We are going to do a simple wedding in Atlanta.”

  “Atlanta? That sounds like your mama’s doing.” She shook her head. “You guys met and fell in love here. And anyway, I doubt even Atlanta has any venues available on this short notice.”

  Her friend sighed and patted the couch, signaling Tiana to sit. “I need you to calm down and take a deep breath. Now yes, it was my mom’s idea, and I did refuse at first. But Damien wants to get married like now, and my mother found out someone had a last-minute cancellation at the Laraby. It’s a win-win.”

  Tiana squeezed her hand. “And what about you? What do you want?”

  Her friend’s happy smile punched a hole in her cold heart. “I want to marry Damien. I don’t care if we get married on a cruise ship or a subway. We’ll make our home in New York, and that’s enough for me.”

  Tiana saw the truth in Melanie’s wide brown eyes and let it go.

  “If that’s what my bestie wants, that’s what she’ll get. I’m guessing your mom and aunt have already started the planning?”

  “Yes, and they will be calling you over the weekend.”

  “Well, haven’t you’ve just filled out my social calendar for the next several days?” Tiana stood and stretched, suddenly exhausted from the day’s events.

  “Oh, go open the freezer,” Melanie yelled from the couch. “I have something for you.”

  A blast of cold air whooshed when Tiana opened the pocket-sized freezer that could barely fit a family pack of chicken. A gallon of birthday cake ice cream! Tiana smiled. My favorite. The perfect combination of tasty birthday cake and cool vanilla finish. With sprinkles, of course.

  Inside, a giant ring pop was wedged into the ice cream with a little flag that asked, “Will you be my maid of honor?”

  “Awww, Mel.” Tiana closed the freezer door and walked to the couch. “Of course I will.” She gave her roomie a tight squeeze. Her attention then drifted to Damien, whose eyes were filled with love and devotion for his fiancée. Tiana couldn’t have picked a better man for her best friend.

  Chapter Five

  Diago’s was clearly set for romance. A trio of tea light candles illuminated the small, round, intimate table, and a string quartet played in the corner. Tiana wouldn’t change a thing about the setting … just the man seated across the table.

  Mel had been on point about Tim being fine with a capital F. Mocha-brown skin with dreads. His eyes were dark and compelling, and his lips were full and inviting. Well, maybe not inviting to Tiana, but for most women with a heartbeat.

  He was staring and grinning at her again. Lifting the beige paper menu to avoid the gaze, she pretended to scan the food and drink options but already knew what she wanted. The slow-stewed rabbit in a white-wine sauce would pair perfectly with the Annamaria Clementi.

  Tim cleared his throat, and she lowered the menu. Stop being rude, Tiana.

  She tuned back into her chatterbox date and his boring story about work. “So I says to Dave, who works in the marketing department …” Tim waved his hands around. “You’re not seriously adding a pixilated banner to the website!” Tossing his dreads behind his shoulder, he laughed. Loudly. So loud that other patrons turned around to figure out the commotion. Not to mention that he tossed his hair better than a Pantene Pro-V model.

  She smiled back, albeit forced, with strained cheek action. No dessert for me.

  He continued cackling and tossed his hair … again.

  And no more dates with cackling, hair-tossing pretty boys who misuse plurals.

  The young, brunette waitress returned t
o the table, and Tiana quickly gave her drink order. She needed the wine and, besides, it shouldn’t add more time to dinner.

  Turning her attention back to her date, a familiar figure entering the restaurant caught her eye. “Gah. Why me?”

  “What’s wrong?” Talkative Timothy asked in the middle of another diatribe. This time, he was gabbing about his dog MiMi, who’d been a bad puppy when she nibbled his Ferragamo loafers.

  Tiana’s child would definitely not be Melanie’s namesake.

  “Sorry,” she said with another fake smile. “I just saw a coworker that I was hoping not to have to see until Monday.”

  “Oh,” he whimpered sympathetically and looked over his shoulder.

  Tiana mentally added whimpering to her things-any-man-of-hers-wouldn’t-do list. “Ah, and here he comes.” She sighed. However, she wasn’t too put out. At least Nathaniel could serve as a sexy distraction.

  No, not a sexy distraction. Just a regular, run-of-the-mill distraction.

  Nathaniel stopped in front of their table with a young woman trailing him. Wearing a charcoal gray suit with a striped blue-and-white tie, he looked good. And his five-o’clock shadow gave him a rugged look that juxtaposed with the stylish European-cut suit.

  “Tiana.” Nathaniel’s eyes darted between her and Tim.

  “Hello.” She greeted him just as warmly. He had, after all, muted her date.

  Tim cleared his throat, and Tiana tossed a frosty look in his direction. She’d had all intentions of making introductions. No, she and Tim had no future little Melanies pattering around their five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home.

  “Nathaniel, please meet Tim, my … um … ”

  “Her man,” her date finished for her, giving an aren’t-you-too-silly-for-words head shake and smile as if they’d known each other and dated for years.

  Nathaniel cocked his head to the side, eyes focused on Tiana. “I had no idea you had a man,” he said with a hint of bite.

  Before she could reply—honestly she had no idea if she would first address Tim’s gross over-assessment of their relationship or Nathaniel’s silent accusation that she somehow had not been forthcoming—Tim decided to reply for both of them. Wrong move.

  “Well, you’re just coworkers, right?” Tim once again slung his dreads over his shoulders.

  Nathaniel lifted his eyebrows and looked at her as if to say, “Get a load of this guy!”

  “Tim is my dinner companion tonight, and we just met.” She smiled at Tim, who had the audacity to look hurt, and then at Nathaniel, who looked a little too smug for her liking.

  Nathaniel shifted; she’d almost forgotten about the small young woman behind him. “This is Shelly, I presume?”

  Shelly smiled brightly while Nathaniel frowned beside her. “Yes!” She smacked a glob of pink bubble gum. “How did you know?”

  “Nathaniel, umm … mentioned you a few times,” Tiana lied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.

  The last time Shelly had called the office, he’d rolled his eyes to the sky and sighed. But Tiana didn’t have the heart to tell the excited young lady that didn’t look a day over twenty that she called way too much. So much that he’d assigned her a special ringtone.

  She gave Shelly another smile as she studied her—model-good looks, tight red dress that hugged her curvy body, and eyelash and hair extensions. Is she the kind of woman he likes? Tiana mentally reviewed and made a comparison to her own wardrobe. A royal blue dress that flared at her knees and sky-high silver spiked heels. No fake lashes or fake hair. But my makeup is flawless.

  Nathaniel’s dark gaze scanned her frame with an appraising artist’s eye. Too raw. Too intimate. Too real. He stared as if he’d planned to memorize every mole and blotch and smile line, and paint her portrait for the entire world to see.

  Shivering with unease, she fought to force a smile, but her mouth and teeth were uncooperative. She couldn’t quite get the mouth corners to lift up, and her teeth refused to appear. “I think we should be going and leave these two to enjoy their night.” Nathaniel’s deep voice washed over her as he grabbed Shelly’s elbow.

  “Okay, nice to meet you!” The girl waved.

  “Likewise,” Tiana returned, trying but failing to return her cheer. C’mon, T, you can fake it better than that. “Come and … and visit us at the office sometime!”

  Oh, no. She realized her mistake as soon as she said it.

  Shelly clapped excitedly and turned to Nathaniel, looking pissed at the suggestion.

  Tiana gave him another smile; an awkward one that she hoped conveyed “my bad.”

  She didn’t want him thinking that she was trying to be underhanded to get his mind off the director’s position competition. She’d had enough of his false accusations in grad school. No, she wanted to win fair and square.

  Returning her attention back to her menu, she clapped her hands together and then looked at her date. She planned on punishing Tim for his lack of … everything by ordering an expensive appetizer and dessert. “I think I just worked up an appetite.”

  • • •

  Nathan beat Tiana to the office Monday morning, still bothered by the surprise sighting over the weekend. His little ice princess had punched him straight in the jaw, and she didn’t even know it.

  When he’d first met Shelly, they both knew the score. The perfect hookup. Young and fun and flexible. She hadn’t wanted a relationship at the time.

  Now, six months later, she wanted more of his time and attention. Then, after Tiana’s suggestion about her visiting the office, the perfect hookup now had it in her head that they were headed for something more. And how in the hell did Tiana even know about Shelly? He shook his head at his own stupidity. The ice princess must’ve been eavesdropping on his calls.

  But what really ticked him off was that pissant Tom. Or was it Todd? Whoever. That dude had spoken for Tiana, and his eyes had roamed her body as if she were his property. Nathan wasn’t all that sure if she had downplayed their relationship or if ol’ dude had lied.

  Thoughts of the pissant touching and kissing Tiana had tortured Nathan all weekend. But he had no claim on his prickly coworker, nor did he want the headache.

  Tiana appeared in the doorway. “You’re in early this morning!”

  “Yes, my bachelor pad was compromised and turned into a love nest over the weekend since a little birdie all but suggested that I was in love with Shelly.”

  Shrugging her purse from her shoulder, Tiana chuckled. “I said no such thing. And I was trying to be nice. It’s not my fault that Shelby—”

  “Shelly,” he corrected. She damn well said her name correctly the other night.

  “Fine. Shelly,” she clipped, “thinks you are in love. And honestly, you should be settling down. You’re well over thirty. Stop playing the field before you break the wrong woman’s heart.” Tiana moved to pull something from the filing cabinet, and her ample behind beckoned Nathan to navigate those dangerous curves.

  “I’m only thirty-one, Peaches. And I’ll settle down once I find the right woman. The woman of my dreams.”

  Popping back up with a folder in hand, she placed the other on her hip. “You wouldn’t recognize the woman of your dreams if she were standing right in front of you.”

  Nathan stared, nodding at where she stood, only three feet in front of him.

  “Why, Peaches,” he said, raising his voice so others could possibly hear, “are you saying that you are the woman of my dreams?”

  She huffed, looking a bit flustered, and nearly tripped into her seat. “You know what I meant,” she whispered and then retreated back into her cold fortress.

  “No, I don’t know what you mean.”

  Tiana focused on highlighting notes in her file.

  That wouldn’t do. That wouldn’t do at all. He needed her attention. “Peaches … ” He kept his voice smooth and deep.

  Her chest heaved and, finally, after what seemed like a full minute’s deliberation, she looked up, hazel
eyes a cloud of confusion. He hadn’t seen that look before.

  “Fine. Do you even know the qualities of your dream woman?”

  “Beautiful.” Staring deep into her eyes, he felt a punch in his gut. Get a hold of yourself, Lawson.

  She shook her head and averted her gaze back to the file. “Of course. Shelly … ” She cleared her throat and clenched her fists. “Is certainly beautiful.”

  “She is, but I’m looking for inside and out, Peaches. And kind. Considerate. Compassionate. I need to know my woman would sacrifice her career or anything else for our child.” Unlike my mother. Just last month, Renita had texted him happy birthday—six months after his birthday passed. She was brilliant and poured her life and love into her job. Just not into her son.

  Hazel eyes blazed again, and she twisted her lips. Didn’t like that now did you, Peaches?

  “Sexual compatibility is a plus. I’m a man of … ” He paused for a moment, not quite sure how to describe himself without scaring the pants off of little Miss Prissy.

  “Of what?” she whispered.

  He delighted in her curiosity. “Of varied tastes. Sometimes I want to be in total control, so I need someone who can be submissive, and sometimes I’d like for her to take control. I hate being bored. That goes for the bedroom, too.”

  “Oh,” she responded softly, still staring at him.

  “Finally, and most importantly, I need someone who doesn’t take life too seriously. Someone who can laugh at themselves if they get caught in the rain.”

  Tiana’s tense body seemed to deflate on his last requirement. “My apologies.” The spark in those hazel eyes dimmed. “Seems you do know what you want.”

  “Yeah. I know just what I want, Peaches.” He waved his hand. “Now, you.”

  “What?” She jumped in her seat.

  Shit! “No I … I meant what do you want in a man?”