Destiny Mine

by Nana Prah

  What she didn’t want was someone she could push over. Other than being emotionally unavailable, Adam Quarshie fit the bill of her ideal man. This set her heart galloping with fear.

  Alice started ticking the qualities of her perfect-for-Esi cousin off on her hand. Esi tried to pay attention, but Adam walked over to the other side of the desk, his hand grazing along her behind. Her stomach quivered. The damn man was a nuisance.

  “And he’s ready to get married,” Alice completed.

  Heat infused Esi’s face as he bore his gaze into hers and said with a shrug, “He sounds desperate to me.”

  Alice crossed her arms over her chest. “Not at all. He hasn’t found the right woman yet.”

  “I see.” He angled his head as he looked at Alice, reminding Esi of a curious puppy. “Is there such a thing as the right woman or man?”

  Esi’d had enough. She grabbed the ward rounds trolley and pushed it down the hall. She would start whether he joined her or not.

  She pivoted as she heard his footsteps behind her, catching him ogling her ass. She stopped, angled her body to the side, and let him pass.

  He had the audacity to wink. “I can still see it, Esi. It’s too voluptuous to hide.”

  She clenched her jaw. Anger prevented her from thinking of a clever retort. All of her life, people had talked about her rear. Had she asked God for a well-rounded, full ass? The comments she got from women were worse than the ones from men. At least the men admired her shape. The women could be mean and spiteful.

  Add to it her D-cup breasts and she turned into a moving target. There had been more than once when she’d gone home crying to her mother after being teased at school. Back then, she had desperately wanted to change her body. Over time, she’d learned to appreciate her curves.

  ***

  Esi’s anger refused to abate during ward rounds although Adam behaved himself.

  On his way out, he turned to her. “Are you going on a date with the loser Alice is setting you up with?”

  “Like everything else in my life Dr. Quarshie, that is none of your business,” she snapped.

  “Why are you so angry?”

  She looked to the nurses’ desk. Martha sat behind a stack of folders, not bothering to hide her interest in their conversation as she propped her chin on her palm. Esi grabbed his arm and marched him to the door. “I don’t enjoy being ogled at my place of employment. I am a professional who deserves to be treated like one.”

  She restrained herself from hitting his shoulder when he laughed. Her punch probably would’ve felt more like a tap to him anyway. A glorious structure of hard planes and muscle. Disgust with the intrusive thought compounded her frustration. She pivoted on her heels with a huff. He reached out for her arm and pulled her back with little effort. The tingling sensation where his hand met her skin peaked her irritation. A deep rumble escaped from her throat as she glared at his hand. He let go.

  “When you stormed off down the hall your….” He paused. “One of your greatest physical attributes shook with each hard step you took, compelling me to look. It’s your fault.”

  She clenched her hand into a fist. “I think it would be best if we only spoke to each other regarding patients.”

  He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Let me try this again. I’m sorry. I know you’re a professional, and I respect your skills as a midwife. I’m in limbo with you.”

  Esi pursed her lips. “What the hell does that mean?”

  He lowered his voice sending butterflies flittering in her stomach. “I want you.”

  “You can’t have me,” she managed to squeak out.

  “And that’s the problem. With any other female I’ve desired this badly, I would have had her long ago. Of course she’d understand it was casual. We would’ve enjoyed each other and then gone our separate ways.”

  Tapping her foot on the floor instead of kicking him with it didn’t make her feel any better. “What is the point of this conversation, Quarshie?”

  “I don’t know how to treat you. You don’t fall into any of the parameters I’ve set up with women. I like talking to you.” He leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “I love kissing you.”

  Taking a self-protective step backwards, she rubbed her arms to remove the goose bumps. “Treat me like you did before.”

  “We were at war. And I”—his chest made a thumping sound as he hit it with his finger— “didn’t even know what we were fighting about.”

  So her maltreatment had bothered him more than he’d let on. “We weren’t fighting,” she mumbled, not able to look him in the eye as she lied.

  “Yes we were—at least you were.”

  She should apologize, but the hospital would crumble around them first. The one way to get over this mess she’d created would be to move forward.

  “Okay.” She crooked her neck to look up at him. “So how about new territory? Friends.”

  He snapped his head back as if he’d been slapped “Friends?”

  “Yes. We’re cordial to each other. Help each other when we need it. Friends. Like you and Jason. Just not as close.”

  “Can we add benefits?”

  She smothered a snicker at his eyebrow wiggle. There’d be no negotiation on that. “No.”

  He smirked. “I’ll try almost anything once. What if you want to have your way with me one day?”

  Esi rolled her eyes. “I’ll try to restrain myself.”

  “Hmm. I would prefer you didn’t.” He crowded into her space. She stood her ground. “One move, and this friendship gets benefits added.”

  She swallowed hard. It had been her who’d initiated their first kiss. Would she be able to resist doing him? Her next words were more for herself. “It won’t happen. Friends?” She extended her hand.

  He grabbed it, and a zing of something she attributed to Adam’s touch ran up her arm.

  Oh boy.

  His voice turned husky. “Friends.”

  She pulled her hand back. “Great. As your first task as my friend, you can take me car shopping.”

  “No problem. Do you know what kind of car you want?”

  A patient walked through the door. The woman sucked in air through her teeth—one hand holding her rounded stomach as she snapped her fingers, displaying her pain. “I have to go.” She walked to the woman suffering through a contraction. “We’ll talk later.”

  He backed away towards the door. “Sure.”

  ***

  “Chale, There’s no way she and I can be friends.” Adam sat in Jason’s consulting room, holding up the line of people waiting to be seen. “Sparks flew when we shook hands. It’ll be impossible not to touch her when we’re together. Friendship is out of the question.”

  Jason wasn’t being a good comrade chale by laughing at him. “That’s what you agreed to. Don’t you have a surgery to do? I need to see some patients. Come by the house tonight, and we can talk then.”

  “With hormonal Ora there? No thanks. I’d rather not see your wife until the babies are out and she’s returned to normal.”

  Jason leveled him with a narrow eyed glare. “She’s not that bad.”

  “Because you got her knocked up and have to pay the price. The rest of us don’t need to suffer like you do. And if you tell her I said any of this, I’ll wrestle you into the ground.”

  “When will you let the whole wrestling thing go?”

  “Never,” Adam gloated. “It’s the one thing I know I can beat you at. We should take another wrestling class so I can whip your behind.”

  “Ora’s cooking has put a few pounds on me. I think I could take you now.” Jason rubbed his flat abdomen. “Are you coming to the house?”

  “Will Ora be home?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, no.” He stood and walked to the door. Jason’s next words stopped him.

  “Fine. Then deal with your friend issue by yourself.”

  Avoiding unstable pregnant woman versus trying to get into Esi’s pants
. Tough choice. “I’ll be there around six. If I have to deal with Ora, then you have to feed me.”

  Jason laughed. “She’s not that bad.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Esi knew who would be on the other side of the door, but it didn’t stop her breath from catching in her throat when she opened it. The man who could lift her without sustaining a hernia made her mouth water by showing up in a dark blue Polo shirt and a pair of thigh hugging jeans.

  Adam’s raised eyebrow indicated his surprise at seeing her. She didn’t blame him. She was supposed to have left an hour ago, but Ora wouldn’t let her go.

  “Come in.” The need to talk about this disconcerting development in their relationship had brought her to Ora’s. The thought of having him as anything more than a work colleague made her nervous. She clenched the doorknob to prevent herself from grabbing him for a kiss. Friends didn’t manhandle friends. “I came to visit Ora and help out with dinner.”

  Stepping past her, he asked, “Are you staying?”

  She closed the door with intentional slowness in order to gather her composure. “I hadn’t planned on it. I have some things to do at home.”

  “They can wait. I’ll give you a ride. Besides, we have to talk about you buying a car.”

  Ora and Jason walked into the hall. She offered Quarshie a smile. “Hi. How are you?”

  Esi’s annoyance with his domineering nature receded, replaced by amusement at his wary expression. Her cousin was driving everyone nuts with her wayward emotions. Ora had repressed her true feelings for most of her life. These few months must’ve been her subconscious way of venting. Too bad the rest of the world had to suffer. Some days were better than others, but you never knew what emotion she’d land on.

  After the pleasantries were exchanged, they sat down to dinner. The traditional meal consisted of banku—corn dough mixed with cassava dough boiled until it became a soft, thick consistency—and okra soup with smoked fish.

  “Ora the soup is delicious,” Adam said.

  “Your friend Esi made it.”

  Ora was going to get it when Esi got her alone. Esi pinched off a piece of her banku and took her time molding it, trying to avoid looking at him.

  “It’s really good, Esi.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

  “Thank you,” she mumbled.

  An uncomfortable silence prevailed until Ora burst into tears. What now?

  “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Jason asked his wife.

  Ora sniffled. “Nothing.” She continued to cry. “I didn’t mean to say it, Esi. It slipped out. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’m sure everyone knows Quarshie’s and my relationship has transitioned into friendship.”

  Jason snorted.

  The emotional pendulum swung in the opposite direction as Ora whipped her head towards her husband. “What’s that supposed to mean, Jason?”

  “It didn’t mean anything.” He stuffed a large piece of fish in his mouth and chewed.

  When Esi’s gaze met Adam’s. He mouthed that she should eat faster.

  “Have you bought anything new for the baby?” Esi presented her cousin’s new favorite topic. The rest of the dinner went by without any more outbursts from Ora, but they were all careful not to step on any of her emotional landmines.

  ***

  On the ride back to her apartment, Esi and Adam discussed meeting up on Saturday.

  “I’m not sure what kind of car I want, but I know how much I’m willing to spend on it,” she said.

  “No problem. We’ll shop around until we find one you like.”

  When they reached her place she turned to him. “I appreciate your taking me car shopping.”

  “We haven’t gone yet.”

  “But we will, and I know I’ll get the best car at the greatest deal thanks to you.”

  He shrugged. “That’s what friends are for isn’t it?”

  They stared at each other. She wanted him to lean in and kiss her, but he wouldn’t break their promise. She opened the car door and got out. “By the way, Kwesi and I never slept together. I felt like he was hiding something from me, and I couldn’t trust him. My gut was right on the mark.”

  He shifted his upper body towards her. “You have to trust someone to have sex with them?”

  She dropped her head with a sigh. “You don’t get it do you Quarshie? I’m not looking for sex. I need a solid relationship that will lead to marriage.”

  “Ah yes. You and the M word.” He scoffed. “Why? Why do you need to be tied down to the same person until divorce do you part?”

  Rage filled her, this time not directed towards Adam. “If I ever meet Lynette, I’m going to kick her ass. Have a good night.”

  ***

  On Saturday morning, Adam knocked on Esi’s gate. He’d spent the week being nice to her, and she had reciprocated. This friendship thing isn’t so bad.

  The thought flew out of his head when she opened the door wearing a lavender and white polka dotted dress. She looked amazing. Her vanilla scent engulfed her without overwhelming him. Shit. What is this woman doing to me? She’s too beautiful not to bed.

  Stepping in front of him to walk to the car, a low moan escaped when the bare expanse of her upper back came to his attention. The expanse of smooth skin proved too much. How would he survive the day not touching her?

  He tore his gaze away and forced himself to move to the car. “Why are you so dressed up?”

  “I like looking good.” She opened her door. “Just because you always see me in scrubs doesn’t mean that’s how I like to present myself on my off days.”

  He needed a plan. He had to find a way to convince her to sleep with him. He couldn’t take another night without sex. Five months had to be some kind of record for him. When he tried asking another woman out, Esi would jump into his mind and somehow block him. Damn frustrating.

  He pulled out onto the street and headed towards Spintex Road where he’d bought his beloved Mercedes ML350. The man had been fair and easy to negotiate with. The sooner they got the car buying out of the way, the sooner he could return to seducing her. No, he would make her come on to him. By the time the day ended, she’d beg him to make love to her.

  “Why are you smiling?” Her words came out hard as if the action were a crime.

  Because tonight you’re going to scream my name. “No reason.”

  “Well, stop it.” She scooted toward the door. “You’re scaring me.”

  “As you wish.”

  At the stoplight, he reached over to the glove compartment, making sure to brush his arm on her leg. It was as silky smooth as it looked. Her small gasp as she moved away satisfied him. “I need to get something, and you’re in the way. Can you open your legs?”

  “Pardon me?”

  He lowered his voice and enunciated each word, hoping to hypnotize her. “Open your legs.”

  Her movement was so slow, it made his mouth go dry. He opened the compartment and removed his phone charger. As soon as he closed the small flap, she brought her knees together and angled them towards the door. His gaze glided up to her face. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

  “You’re hot. Do you want me to turn on the air conditioner?”

  She removed a handkerchief from her bag and dabbed at her forehead. He resisted the temptation to lick the drops of sweat sliding down her temple before she wiped them off.

  “Yes, please. The weather is humid today.”

  The light turned green as he reached down to switch the air conditioner on. “It looks like it might rain. It will cool down the weather, but it wouldn’t be fun to get wet. I could think of better ways to make you wet than to get you caught in the rain.”

  She turned and glared at him. “Listen, Quarshie. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but stop it.” She mumbled something he couldn’t hear.

  He rolled up the windows. “What did you say?”

  “I can’t believe I thought we could be friends. Who wa
s I kidding?” Raising her hands, she let them fall to her lap with a slap.

  She was right. Because he wanted her didn’t mean he had to have her. He took a deep breath. As his mother tended to remind him, he was old enough for his wants not to kill him. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I run on autopilot. When I desire a beautiful woman, I tend to go after her with everything I have. I’ll restrain myself from now on.”

  She sucked her teeth for so long she could’ve won a contest. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Me neither. I can’t promise, but I’ll try not to let it happen. Forgive me if I slip up once in a while. Old habits die hard. This friendship thing is more difficult than I thought it would be.” Her looking downright irresistible didn’t help at all.

  She looked out the window, but didn’t speak. When he parked at the car dealer, she turned to him with a somber expression. “Do a better job at controlling yourself, please. Otherwise, we’ll settle on seeing and talking to each other only at work.”

  His heart tightened at the possibility of having no personal relationship with her. “I’ll do better.”

  “Good.” The most beatific smile appeared on her face as she opened the door and said, “Now let’s go buy me a car.”

  Seven car dealers and five hours later, they hadn’t found her car. Esi was exhausted, and Adam didn’t look much better.

  “You didn’t see anything you liked?” he asked.

  “There were plenty. I especially liked those huge Mercedes SUVs. The ones that looked like yours? But those are way out of my price range.”

  He used his remote to click open the automatic car locks. Since the first time he’d driven her home, he hadn’t opened the door for her. “We can go check out the dealers at Circle.”

  She slumped her shoulders, dragging herself to his car. “Not today, Quarshie. I’m tired, and I have a date to get ready for.”