She glanced at her car keys on her dresser. If only she could go now. Shaking her head, she cleared away the thought. No way would she become a long distance hook up. “How do you feel about me?”
“I told you that when I was there. I want to continue seeing you. Preferably this weekend.”
“I can’t. I promised my dad I’d visit this Saturday.”
“You can come Sunday.”
She rolled over onto her stomach. “Or, you can come on Sunday.”
“I’d like more than anything to come on Sunday.” His words sound a lot naughtier than a simple visit.
She trembled and wetness blossomed between her legs. “Then come.”
“What time?”
CHAPTER 21
Mikayla nearly skipped to the door when Andre knocked late Sunday morning. She pulled in a deep breath, ran sweaty palms down the sides of her jeans and opened the door. Andre’s perfectly kissable lips spread into a welcoming grin. His shoulders seemed broader in the brown leather jacket. Beneath it he wore a dark green sweater and tan slacks that despite their casual style still managed to make him look polished. A hot gaze swept over her. She wished she’d chosen something sexy to wear. Instead, she’d chosen a cute, but not sexy lavender V-neck sweater and comfortable flats.
When his eyes met hers, the thoughts of clothing vanished. Desire, hot and potent, darkened his eyes. Her breath caught and she leaned on the door to support her suddenly weak legs.
“Hey you.” His baritone rolled over her.
“Hey you.”
He closed the distance between them, the wonderful scent of Guess Seductive, the cologne he preferred, mixed with the warmth of his large body. She leaned forward lost in the intensity of his gaze. Slowly, he brought his hand up to her hair, gently sank his fingers in the curls then tilted her head back. Mikayla’s eyes fluttered closed and his lips pressed against her.
The familiar shock that she experienced when he kissed her swooped through body. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as she pressed closer. Her nipples beaded against his firm chest. She opened her mouth to him, and slowly, initiating a sensual dance, he slid his tongue past her lips.
His warnings and all insecurities faded. This felt right, kissing him felt right.
They finally broke apart, but he didn’t release her. It took several seconds after the kiss to get her thoughts back in order.
Lowering her forehead against his chest, Mikayla felt his heart hammering beneath the muscle. “I thought we were just friends.”
“I’m feeling a lot more than friendship right now.” He pushed back a little until she lifted her head. “It’s time to call this what it is. I’m not interested in seeing anyone but you.”
“This is really happening.”
He nodded. “It is.”
She swallowed hard. If everything worked out, this relationship would turn into…what? The love of her life? A possible marriage proposal? Highly unlikely. Right now she had fiery passion from a guy who liked her. She’d take the fire. She hadn’t had fire in a long time.
“I planned a day for us.” Mikayla stepped out of his embrace then immediately wanted to crawl back into his arms. “Help me carry some of this stuff in the kitchen.”
“I thought we’d spend the day here.” The look in his eyes made her breasts ache and heat spread through her belly.
“It’s the end of February and a surprisingly warm day. I thought it would be nice to get out. You like hiking, right?”
He raised an eyebrow. “We’re hiking?”
“No, but we will walk through Riverfront Park. It’s nice, even in winter.”
She hurried into the kitchen, and his heavy footsteps followed. She grabbed the small cooler packed with sandwiches, grapes, potato salad and a few slices of pound cake she baked at her dad’s house the day before.
He took the cooler and peeked inside. “You bought all this?”
“No, I made all that. You’ve supplied the food for our last few…dates. It’s my turn.”
“You baked the cake?” Something like admiration flashed in his eyes.
Her cheeks heated and she smiled. “I can bake and cook, when I have to.”
He crossed the room and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “And yet another reason to like you.”
“Let’s go,” she blurted out before she ended up sighing into his chest.
She grabbed a jacket and they left. It didn’t take long to leave her downtown apartment and arrive at Riverfront Park. They entered and walked past the water plant onto the bridge over the canal. The sky was blue, and the temperature offered a spring teaser hovering near sixty. Several runners and a few families were out enjoying the beauty of the river along the park.
“This is my first time here,” Andre said. “It’s nice.” He gazed around, taking in their surroundings much like he’d done in the mountains.
“It is nice. Sometimes I come out to jog.” She laughed. “Let me clarify, I came twice when I tried jogging. Other times I usually come for festivals.”
A runner passed on her right side and Mikayla stepped out of the way. Her hand bumped against Andre’s hand. His fingers slowly wrapped around hers as if he were unsure. She tried to imagine him walking hand in hand with Angelica in a park. Couldn’t see it. The thought made her smile and entwine her fingers with his.
“I was wondering about that. I didn’t picture you as the jogging type.” He took a leisurely glance down her body. “Good thing. I’d hate to see your curves shrink.”
She ran a hand across her hips. “These hips aren’t going anywhere. I’ve tried and nothing about me will be as thin and attractive as Renee.”
He stopped. When she turned to him there was a frown on his face. “There is nothing wrong with your figure. Renee is too skinny if you ask me. I love your curves.”
Pinpricks of heat traveled from her chest, up her neck to her cheeks. “I know I’m not fat. I just…thought guys liked the supermodel type.” At least those were always the types of women boys, and now men, chose over her.
“There’s a lot to be said for a woman with something to hold on to.”
What had to be a silly grin popped up on her face. She turned to keep walking otherwise she’d spend the rest of the morning grinning at him.
“So how was work?”
She glanced over and caught his grimace.
“Work…was work.” He said in a dismissive way. “How did it go with your dad yesterday?”
She guessed she didn’t need to know about what happened at his job. It irked her a little bit that he didn’t want to confide. But they were at the start of their relationship and she wouldn’t push.
“It was fine. He had to help my uncle work on his truck. We spent the day over there. I occupied myself by handing the two of them wrenches until I got bored and went inside to make a cake.”
He gently swung their entwined hands between them. “You occupy your time by baking cakes?”
“No, for some reason we started talking about cakes which made each of us hungry. So I volunteered. It was either that or roll up my sleeves and help install a new starter.”
He stopped again. “You are full of surprises.”
She waited for the frown, or for him to hold up her hand and look for grease under her nails. Something the boy she’d had a crush on in high school had done when she’d worked up the nerve to ask him to prom. To this day, she didn’t know what made her so foolish. Probably some teenage movie about the underdog winning the cool kid’s love.
Andre grinned at her, but old fears were hard to disappear. She held up her chin. “I’m not the grease monkey I used to be. I don’t get under cars anymore, and I’m far enough away that my dad can’t drag me out of the house to go hunting at four a.m.”
“I don’t think I’d mind seeing you in overalls, with grease on your face. You’d probably look sexy.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. “You must be the only guy to think that.”
“If I�
��m the only guy to realize how great you are then I consider that a compliment.”
Brenden had liked her, but he’d never seemed delighted to learn about all of the things she could do. Never seemed to view her as a fascinating gift to unwrap. Andre seemed excited about every new thing he learned about her. Would he stop once when he realized there wasn’t anything fancy to discover?
“Where did you learn to be so charming?”
He grinned, tugged on her arm so they could keep walking. “Definitely not from my father.”
They strolled further down the trail and talked about everything and nothing at the same time. One of those fun first date talks that created giddy feelings about the future. A relaxed, easy, two-sided conversation. She’d spent so much of her time with Ryan, and to a certain extent Brenden, listening to them. What was going on in their heads, what bothered them, and their dreams. Andre kept his undivided attention on her. Even when beautiful women jogged by and tried to catch his eye.
They turned to walk back up the Riverwalk and stopped at the brick amphitheater to eat the lunch she’d packed.
“Mikayla,” a voice called out from the top of the amphitheater.
She turned and faced a dark skinned woman the same age as her holding hands with a tall, handsome guy.
Mikayla grinned. “Oh my, God, Caroline!”
The women embraced. When Mikayla pulled back, Caroline gave her the same once over that Renee usually did. Caroline was one of Renee’s childhood friends who now lived in New York. She’d come down to visit several times while Renee orchestrated Mikayla’s makeover. Though not as close to her as Renee, Mikayla considered Caroline, a friend.
“I thought that was you,” Caroline said.
“It’s me. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for a conference that starts tomorrow. I already called Renee and planned to give you a call. We’re getting together this afternoon at Rowdy’s over in The Village of Sandhills. They have karaoke. Come on by. We’re meeting at five.”
Mikayla glanced at Andre, who sat back and watched the two of them. “I’ll see if I can make it.”
Caroline turned to Andre. “Mmm, I guess I can see why you might not make it. Hello, handsome.” Caroline extended a slender manicured hand.
Andre gripped her hand and gave Caroline one of his charming smiles. “Andre, nice to meet you.”
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine.”
Mikayla shot a wary glance at Caroline’s male friend. He shrugged and smiled. “I knew Caroline was a flirt when I met her.” He held out a hand. “I’m Jeremy.”
“Now that we’ve done all the introductions,” Caroline said. “I insist that you come this afternoon. I must know more about you and this man.”
Andre laughed. Mikayla’s face burned. “There’s nothing to tell, Caroline.”
“Then you need to come so that I can tell you what to do with him.” Carline crossed her arms and studied Andre.
“She knows what to do with me,” Andre said.
“Ahh! That voice!” Caroline turned and grabbed Mikayla’s arm. “I bet you do know what to do with him. Girl, the pillow talk must be amazing.”
“That’s enough, Caroline,” Jeremy said with a raised brow. He reached over and pulled her to his side. “I love you, but my limit is reached. Come on, let’s leave them to their lunch.” He waved at her and Andre. “It was nice meeting you.”
Mikayla laughed. “Yeah, you too.”
Caroline allowed Jeremy to pull her back up the amphitheater. “Don’t forget, five at Rowdy’s see you there. If I don’t. I know what you’re doing!” She sang the last words, her delighted giggle trailing behind.
Mikayla shook her head and sat down beside Andre. Too embarrassed to look at him, she focused on eating her sandwich.
“Are we going?” Andre asked.
“No…of course not. I know you don’t want to go.”
Andre leaned over and placed a hand on the back of her head. She turned to face him and nearly melted from the heat in his eye. “I think it’ll be fun. Besides, your face kind of lit up when she mentioned karaoke.”
She grinned. “That obvious, huh? It’s one of the things I love.”
He leaned over and kissed the side of her mouth. “Then we’re definitely going.”
And she officially stood one step from tumbling in love with this man.
*
Rowdy’s perfectly described the bar, loud music, not an empty seat at the large wooden tables, and laughter filled voices coming from every corner. Caroline squealed in excitement when Mikayla and Andre came through the door. She had three tables pulled together in the corner next to the stage. She introduced most of those at the table as people from her conference, a few Mikayla recognized as acquaintances of Renee’s.
“Is Renee here?” she yelled to Caroline over the music.
“Not yet, but she said she’s coming.” Caroline turned and wrapped her arm in Andre’s. “You are going to sing next. I’ve been imagining that voice singing Barry White since I met you.”
Before Mikayla could protest, Caroline pulled Andre toward the song selection set up near the stage. Andre shot a helpless look over his shoulder at Mikayla.
Mikayla bit her lip to keep from laughing. This will be interesting.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and smiled at Renee.
“Hey,” Mikayla said after they embraced.
“Okay, don’t get mad, but Ryan is here, too.” She pointed toward the door.
Mikayla frowned and glanced over Renee’s shoulder. Ryan stood at the front of the restaurant near the hall leading to the restrooms. He lifted his chin motioning for her to come over.
“Why is he here? What does he want?”
“He’s friends with Caroline. When he found out you were coming, he said he needed to talk to you.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk to him.”
“It’s about the Dalmtrix deal.”
Mikayla sighed, looked over her shoulder to where Andre and Caroline flipped through the book of songs. She had a few minutes to get rid of Ryan. With one last blistering glare at Renee, she hurried across the room toward Ryan.
“What do you want?”
“Don’t be like that, Mikayla,” Ryan said, ushering her down the hall and out of view. “I thought after the trip to Hartsville—”
“That was work. This is not.” She shuffled from foot to foot and glanced at the end of the hall. “You should go.”
He stood before her, forcing her to look into his face. “Not until I say what I came here to say.”
She threw up her hands. “Quit acting as if I owe you something.”
“You gave me a knee to the balls,” He said as if that meant she really did owe him something.
“Weeks ago, and now you want to bring that up? Why, because I won’t bend over backwards to be your friend?”
He opened his mouth, but she held up a hand. “The person caught in a closet having sex with someone else doesn’t deserve to be heard.”
He pushed her hand out of the way. “You were more embarrassed than hurt. Admit it. We both know we’re better as friends than lovers. Shit, Mikayla, you stayed up helping my cousin with her wedding favors instead of coming to bed with me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you did it?”
“No, I did it because I love Angelica. I’m pointing out the fact that you’d rather spend time torturing yourself than sleeping with me. I knew that going in, but thought because we were friends we could make a good couple. It wasn’t meant to be. We both know that.” He pointed and took a step forward. “Stop pretending I meant more to you than I did.”
A patron came down the hall heading to the bathroom. He eyed both her and Ryan before giving a tight nod and smile. Mikayla lowered her gaze to the floor Ryan was right. She felt more anger than scorned love.
“I am hurt Ryan. I thought we were friends. You know how I feel about being embarrassed or made fun of. I told you wha
t it was like growing up with that. You didn’t take my feelings into consideration. What you did was a betrayal…I can’t easily forgive betrayal of a friend.”
He shoved his hands into the pockets of designer jeans. Though dressed similarly to Andre in jeans and a sweater, he didn’t seem as relaxed as his cousin. Ryan always looked as if he were wound up and waiting for something to happen.
“I’ll take that. And hope one day you can forgive me.”
She closed her eyes, ran a hand across the back of her neck, sucking in a deep breath. When Mikayla opened her eyes and stared at Ryan, a glimpse of the friend, she used to have reflected in his sad dark eyes.
“What did you come here to say?”
His features hardened. “Senator Leventis is being blackmailed. Someone is trying to prevent Dalmtrix from moving to Hartsville.”
Her hands clenched into fists, and she took a step closer. “Who?”
“I don’t know, yet, but we’re going to find out.”
CHAPTER 22
“I’m really not a singer,” Andre said to Caroline. He’d never sung in front of people in his life. Never planned too. How in the world Caroline convinced him to make his stage debut boggled his mind. The things a man would do to make a woman smile. And the smile on Mikayla’s face was worth the ensuing embarrassment. He hoped.
“You don’t have to really sing. With that voice, you can just speak the words. And besides,” she leaned close and bumped her shoulder against his arm. “You keep your eyes on Mikayla, belt out Barry White, and you can bet you’ll end the night happily.”
He’d had a similar thought. Though he didn’t need Barry. The sexy looks, she’d thrown his way beneath thick curly lashes, were enough to boost his confidence. He stretched his fingers as anticipation tightened his skin.
Caroline searched through the book for a song, and he turned to find Mikayla at the table. Instead, he made eye contact with Renee. Her gaze darted away. He frowned. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. He scanned the crowd for Mikayla. She was nowhere to be seen. Andre looked back to Renee, caught her throwing glances toward the bathroom, then back at him.
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