Players

by Rachel Cross

Drawing a deep breath, she clicked the video chat open. After a few short beeps, Courtney and then Casey answered.

  “Hold up, sis,” Courtney greeted in a breathless voice and smile. She raised her hands in the air and bent over at her waist, resuming some sort of exercise routine.

  Casey threw his hands in the air. “C’mon, I ain’t got all night!” he whined.

  Tiana bristled at his grammar. “You don’t have all night. Surely your Ivy League education at Yale has taught you the difference.”

  Her brother muttered something under his breath.

  “Three, two, one! Okay, I’m back.” Her sister’s face came back into view, braids swinging against the screen.

  “I can call back. Did I catch you at a bad time?” Tiana asked, ready to stall their soon-to-be awkward conversation.

  “No, no. I popped in an exercise DVD and thought I had enough time to finish. We haven’t talked in forever!”

  Dipping her chin, she frowned. “And whose fault is that, young lady?”

  Casey smirked, and Tiana pointed her finger. “You, too, Casey. Seems you both never have time for your old hag of a sister.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You know we love you, yadda, yadda, yadda.”

  “Of course we do, Tee-tee!” Courtney’s toothy grin covered the screen. “Why, Casey and I were just talking about how we’re going to make sure we put you in the most expensive old-folks’ home in twenty years.”

  “Hardy-har-har. I’ll be the ripe old age of forty-nine.” She rubbed her sweaty hands on her lap. “Anyway, I called you guys to discuss Thanksgiving.”

  Her brother leaned back in his chair. “What’s there to talk about? We’re still coming. You’re still cooking, and we’re still eating you out of house and home.”

  Tiana laughed, knowing full well he secretly loved to cook and would be helping her in the kitchen.

  Courtney rubbed her hands together. “And since we’re twenty-one, you promised we could drink this year. I want you to try my signature cocktail.”

  Tiana’s attention snapped to her little sister. “Signature cocktail? You just hit the legal age a few months ago. How in the world do you already have a signature cocktail?”

  “I, uh, well, you know . . . ”

  Casey tried to save his sister. “We’re college students. College students drink from time to time.”

  Tiana crossed her arms. “I didn’t drink until I was the legal age.” Sighing, she massaged her temples. “It’s too late for a lecture, but I expect you both to be careful and refrain from doing something that would jeopardize your lives or scholarships.”

  “We won’t,” they both agreed in droll voices.

  Tiana nodded. “All right . . . back to Thanksgiving. I, that is, we were, um, invited to celebrate Thanksgiving in Connecticut.”

  “Oh.” Courtney’s brows wrinkled. “With Melly and her new boo thang?”

  “Ummm, no, not Melanie and Damien, although the offer was extended.”

  Her sister leaned forward, her face nearly a blur on screen. “Who then?”

  “With, well, with my boo thang, Nathan.” Boo thang was putting it lightly after the night they spent over the weekend. They hadn’t had sex, but they’d done just about everything else.

  Courtney tilted her head. “Who the heck is he? Sounds familiar. And why didn’t you mention him last time we spoke?”

  Casey smacked his hand on his forehead. “It’s that guy that kept calling me Simba. Courtney, he’s the dude I told you about.”

  “The one who took care of Tee-tee?”

  “Yeah, well, after he lied about who he was. I guess he did take care of her.”

  Tiana snapped her fingers. “Hello, children. Still here. Anyway, no pressure. We can still do the Holliday-only Thanksgiving celebration.”

  Courtney shook her head, a gleam igniting her eyes. “Oh, no. We most definitely will be meeting your boo thang.”

  • • •

  Tiana rubbed the back of her neck and blew a cleansing breath as she took in the estate, better known as Nathan’s childhood home. If Melanie’s parents weren’t millionaires, Tiana would’ve been intimidated by the roundabout driveway and looming stucco mansion surrounded by manicured lawn.

  This was it. The Hollidays meet the Lawsons. Twisting in the driver seat of her rental, she faced the twins. “Guys, please, please, please be on your best behaviors.”

  From the back, Courtney huffed a breath and tilted her nose in the air. Oh, no. She was going to do her horrible British accent.

  “Best behavior, she says. As if we’re savages raised amongst wolves. Did you hear that, dearest brother?”

  “That I did, sister, sharer of my mother’s womb,” Casey’s deep voice answered in an equally terrible British accent. “Though our mother was an alcoholic and drug addict, can we not rise above our circumstances? Will we always be marked by her sins?”

  Tiana sliced a hand in the air. “All right, I get it. I’ve had enough of Shakespeare from the ‘hood. Let’s move.”

  Her sister whistled as she stepped out the car. “Nice digs. You could do worse.” She nudged Tiana.

  Tiana pinched Courtney’s side. Hard to do without an ounce of fat on her lean and trim sister, but she managed.

  “Ow!”

  “Oh, hush. Your bony-ass elbow poking my side was worse,” Tiana whispered as they approached the door. Before she could ring the bell, the robin’s egg blue door swung open.

  “Peaches.” Nathan pulled her close. He inhaled as he placed a gentle kiss on her neck and then swung her around to face the music. Courtney looked amused. Casey looked pissed. “Simba.” Nathan stuck out his hand for a shake.

  After a few beats, her brother accepted. “Don’t swing my sister around. You’re gonna break her neck,” he said with a bit more bass in his voice than usual.

  Courtney cleared her throat and smiled.

  Nathan focused his attention on her sister. “And you must be the brilliant future scientist, Courtney.”

  Tossing her braids, she gave him a dazzling smile. “Oh, yeah, Tee-tee.” Her sister nudged her side again. “You could do much worse.”

  • • •

  Nathan shook his head and smiled at his nervous little Georgia peach. She was all “yes, sirs” and “no ma’ams.” After a few hours, she finally relaxed around Pops. Not surprising that his father, an ace at putting people at ease, got her to laugh and enjoy herself.

  Tiana squeezed her hands together in her lap, and her feet tapped a panicky rhythm under the dining room table.

  “Wine, Tiana?” Nathan rubbed her tensed shoulders.

  “I’ve already had my glass for the evening. I have to drive back to New York. Precious cargo, you know.” She jerked her head toward the twins.

  “I’m driving you guys back, Peaches.”

  “You are?”

  “Pops picked me up and drove us here. Drink up, if you want.”

  “Try my signature drink, Tee-tee,” Courtney yelled from the other side of the room.

  “Like I already said . . . you don’t get to have signature drinks. Not until you’re in your late twenties or early thirties!”

  Her sister gave Tiana a sweet smile and then tilted her head. “Like you?”

  “Smart ass,” she mumbled under her breath.

  “Dinner is ready!” Martha announced from the kitchen. “Courtney and Casey, can you help me bring the dishes in the dining room?”

  “Of course, Mrs. Lawson.” Casey unfolded his tall frame from the couch with Courtney following closely behind. Laughter rose from the kitchen, and Nathan wasn’t sure who was charming whom.

  His stepmother seemed to be basking in having Thanksgiving guests, and Pops had been regaling them with stories of growing up in Virginia and Nathan’s childhood.

  The twins also shared stories, mostly centered around Tiana.

  His chest swelled with pride. He’d had an inkling before, but after hearing stories about how Tiana had sacrificed her teenaged year
s to raise them, he knew she was sweet to the core. She did everything a good mother would—read them stories when they were kids, attended parent-teacher conferences, and made sure they were well fed and dressed. And somehow, she was able to maintain high grades in her high school honors classes.

  Tiana shrugged it off, claiming that her best friend Melanie and her parents had helped them over the years. But the twins wouldn’t allow their sister’s modesty.

  Anyone who walked up to one of them and said that Tiana didn’t walk on water and fart sunshine would get sucker punched.

  Dinner was lively, and Tiana eventually relaxed. Afterward, they all sat together in the formal room to play several rounds of Taboo.

  Eventually, Tiana yawned against his shoulders. “This was wonderful.”

  Nathan kissed the top of her forehead. “I’m glad you came. I really like your family.”

  Laughing, she leaned back to look into his eyes. She curved her fiery red lips. “Even Casey?”

  “Especially Casey. He’s just looking after you, but he doesn’t have to do that anymore.”

  She scrunched her cute button nose. “Why not?”

  “Looking after you is my job now. And as you know, I take my job very seriously.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Nathan stared at the email on his screen.

  Interview scheduled for Nathaniel Lawson – Director of Marketing – Tuesday, December 5th at 3:30 PM.

  He took a deep gulp of coffee and turned his head toward Tiana. Although the results of the campaign were a major factor for the director’s position and less than a month away, Isaac had requested that they both apply.

  She gave him a tight smile. “I take it you’ve received the invite for the interview with Mr. Hart and Mr. Goldberg.” Laughing nervously, she swiped her long bangs from her face.

  He nodded. “What are you thinking, Peaches?”

  “I . . . ” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m thinking we should prepare for our interviews.”

  She returned her focus back to the keyboard on her desk. Long seconds passed as she stared at the screen. Taking a deep breath, she wiggled her fingers and resumed typing.

  Probably confirming her availability. Hell, I should be doing it, too.

  But he couldn’t concentrate. “Are you nervous?”

  The clacking on her keyboard ceased as she tilted her head. Her eyes were guarded, and her jaw clenched. “Why would I be nervous?” Her tone returned to the imperial ice queen he’d thought he’d vanquished. “I’m a qualified applicant. I have a master’s in business, and I’m—”

  “I am.” He gripped the mug and turned to face her.

  “You are?” Her tone remained cautious but her eyes belied her anxiety.

  “Yes, I am. I know you’re qualified and so I am. To be honest, both of us would do well. But for once, I’m not worried about my career . . . I’m worried about us.”

  “Nathan I . . . I’ve never been here before. I’ve never had to compete against someone I cared about.” She pushed away from the desk and folded her arms. “I’m way out of my depth.”

  “Me, too. Any ideas?”

  Tiana laughed and rolled her eyes. “No. Not at all. But I’m all ears.” Dropping her smile, she cleared the laughter from her voice. “I really want this job.”

  A cold front invaded his chest. He raised the coffee to his lips and inhaled the warmth. What about us? “So do I.”

  She stood and smoothed a hand over her pants. “But I . . . ” Her eyes focused on his. “But I want you, too.”

  The cold front moved, and his heart picked up pace. “What are you saying?”

  “That we can somehow make this work. Only one of us can get the job.” She shrugged. “It’s bound to be uncomfortable, but we can deal. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about the interviews since we’re competing with each other and we can stick to our plan. Whoever doesn’t get the job will transfer and let’s agree to each be a good sport. We deserve to give this relationship a real chance. To see where this goes.”

  He had a flash of Tiana, dressed in all white, walking down the aisle toward him. Slow down, man. You’re not ready for all that.

  “I agree to your terms, Ms. Holliday.”

  The smile on her lips lit her eyes. “Let’s shake on it then.” Moving closer, she stuck out her hand.

  He pulled it and grabbed her hips, settling her on his lap. “No. Let’s kiss on it.”

  She licked her lips. He licked her lips, too, and then delved deeper. Heat suffused his chest, heart, and lungs. He growled into her mouth. Damn, can she kiss.

  He moved away from her lips, gripped her hips, and lifted her off his lap. His hands remained as she steadied herself.

  “I need you to go over there. Before I take you on this desk, here and now,” his coarse voice whispered.

  “Can’t take the heat, Nathan?” She smiled and turned around with an extra swing in her hips. Her luscious behind taunted him.

  “Turn around, Peaches. I don’t need any more temptation.”

  She turned to face him, her triumphant smile still in place.

  His gaze zeroed in on her pert chest. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Just . . . go sit down Peaches. Please.”

  Tiana’s rich laughter rushed over him. Damn, he wasn’t safe, even after closing his eyes. “Nathan, you really must get a hold of yourself.”

  • • •

  Tiana lightly rapped her knuckles against her roommate’s bedroom door.

  “Come in,” Mel yelled.

  Tiana opened the door. “You ready to talk about this wedding?”

  Mel had her back on the bed and her feet propped on the headboard. She turned the page in a book. “Yeah.” She reached for a bookmark. “Give me a minute.”

  Walking back into the living room, Tiana opened the door to the glass-covered media center and pulled out the wedding binder she’d created.

  The book contained color swatches, invitation proofs, and a checklist.

  Her roommate walked into the room and plopped down on the couch beside Tiana.

  “Hello, my wonderful friend. Why, isn’t this a lovely day?”

  Tiana shook her head. Her best friend was already an optimistic person. But since her engagement to the love of her life and with the wedding around the corner, Mel was like a Care Bear on crack.

  Who am I kidding? I’m a Care Bear, too, minus the narcotics.

  Nathan had a way of making her smile and forgetting all of her life rules about order and routine.

  “Yes, my friend, life is good.” Tiana slid the notebook onto Mel’s lap. “Now, let’s review the details. The wedding, two weeks from now, starts at six o’clock sharp. You and the most awesome maid of honor on earth, yours truly, will take pictures at four. Butts in seat for makeup and hair at noon. And—”

  “Tiana, Tiana, Tiana. You have already emailed the checklist twice. You went in my phone and set alarm notifications. And let’s be real, we will be with each other the night before the wedding.” Mel took a deep breath and grabbed Tiana’s hands. “Let’s just enjoy the moment.”

  Says the woman who had absolutely no hand in the planning.

  Mel squeezed her hand and snorted. “I know that look. No, I didn’t plan the wedding, but you, my mom, and my aunt all but forced me to step aside. You and I both know it would’ve been a disaster if I were involved in the details.”

  “True. At least we let you choose your own dress. It’s absolutely gorgeous by the way.”

  “Yes, I’m hoping to get Damien to drop a few tears.” She flashed a smile. “The hot kind.”

  Closing the notebook, Tiana laughed. “How is a grown man crying hot?”

  “Not crying. Just a tear or two. Something emotional, raw, real.”

  Tiana shook her head and laughed. “Damien doesn’t seem like a crier. But for you, he might.”

  A wave of sadness washed over her and pulled her under. She and Mel would no longer be roommates. Random
conversations and their word-of-the-day games would be few and far between. And knowing Damien, he’d want Melanie preggers as soon as possible.

  “What is it, T?”

  She blinked back tears . . . the ugly kind. She buried her feelings. “Nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me, young lady. What’s robbed you of that smile? Something with Nathan?”

  “No, Nathan and I . . . we’re solid. I just realized you and I aren’t going to be roommates anymore. I’ve been so caught up with work and wedding planning, I forgot to look for another roommate.”

  A flash of guilt marred Mel’s face as she grabbed Tiana’s hand. “Speaking of the roommate situation, I, well, Damien and I wanted to thank you for all your hard work.” She nibbled the corner of her lip. “So we kind of paid the rent for the next year.”

  “What?” Tiana squeezed her friend’s hand. “That’s . . . that’s too much.”

  Mel shook her head; her guilty look replaced by determination. “No, it’s not. Think about it, T. If I would’ve hired a wedding coordinator to plan this in a few months’ time, I would’ve paid just as much.”

  “No, you wouldn’t have.”

  “And besides,” her friend continued, talking over Tiana, “I trust you. You know me best. So this is my gift to you.”

  “I don’t like this, Mel. I appreciate the gesture, but do not pay the rent.”

  Standing, Mel crossed her arms. A mutinous mask covered her face. “The check has cleared. Unless you want to tell Mr. Douglas to return it?”

  Their landlord was a bit of a weasel. No way could Tiana get the money back.

  Sighing, she slumped against the couch. “Fine.”

  Her bestie arched a brow and gave Tiana a seasoned soccer mom glare. “A thank you would be better.”

  “Sorry. Thank you. Seriously, I owe you and Damien.”

  “No, you do not. Now, on to important matters. Are you bringing Nathan to the wedding?”

  Tiana shrugged. “I hadn’t planned on it. We have a strict seat count, and when I began planning your wedding, Nathan and I weren’t dating. Besides, it’s in Atlanta, and I don’t want to inconvenience him. Not to mention our interviews are a week before your wedding. Things might be a little tense.”