by Iris Bolling
“No, it just brings in top level investors.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It would take finding property, assessing the area’s needs, determining if the land can get the proper zoning.”
“Minor obstacles,” he shrugged. “I kind of like the idea of seeing Nicole Brooks on a building. NB all the way, from beginning to end.”
Xavier pushed his plate aside, took her hand and walked to the overstuffed chair next to the fireplace. He grabbed his pad along the way and pulled her onto his lap. “Tell me your vision.”
She snuggled next to him.
“Who do you imagine living there?”
“Newly married couples who still want to enjoy the night life. Singles who want a safe environment to live. Young couples with one or two children.”
“Sounds like you need a combination of one, two, and three bedroom condos. You need daycare, a play area for the children.” He began drawing. “Shopping, both grocery and boutiques for the women, maybe a sports complex of some kind for the men, restaurants, night clubs, a bistro or two and a church for those single, or living in sin couples who want to tie the knot?” He looked down at her and grinned. You will need schools, elementary, middle and high school. Maybe even a small community college that offers workforce development.”
“It would take substantial land to do all of this.”
Xavier thought for a moment, looking out at the mountain top. “You know, I have this property near the waterfront, a little distance from the city. Grant, that’s a friend of mine, talked about doing something with the property that will build up that the area of the city.”
“How much land is it?”
“About forty acres with a stream running through it that connects to the river.” He turned back to her. “It could be a perfect location for this. Or we could check out locations in Brooklyn.”
“Or the Bronx near Yankee stadium.”
“You like baseball?”
“It’s the American way. Baseball and apple pie, right.”
“You are the weirdest rich woman I have ever met.” He kissed her nose and continued drawing. They stayed in that position for hours making plans for the project and subconsciously for themselves too.
The scene was magical, with the fireplace lit in the background. The couple curled up in a single chair oblivious to their surroundings. Outside a light trickle of snow began to fall. The only contrast to the romantic scene was the man behind a tree with a long lens camera invading their private moment.
Atlanta, GA
Saturday
Most executives worked Monday through Friday and spent their Saturdays on a golf course making more deals. Not Cannon, this was a working day for him. He’d held meetings for several hours straight. Now, in the late hours of the evening, he sat at his desk reviewing all the reports submitted by his team. A decision had to be made and it was his job to deliver the best option for success to Mr. Singleton.
One lesson Cannon learned early was never let the right hand know what the left hand was doing. With this in mind, none of the people involved in this project were privy to each other or the ultimate goal. Monday, he had to meet with the man, one on one, to determine the best course of action to take.
His meeting with Trish Hargrove revealed interesting tidbits on Nicole. He believed a lively public court case against the legendary family of lawyers would be the easiest way to sensationalize. Money and sex always peaked the media’s curiosity. They would use the ‘public has a right to know’ angle and the media would feed on the case day to day. That would keep the Brooks name in the paper in a somewhat negative light.
Another option was to go at Nicole Brooks with the land deal in London. With Ellington’s help they could plant evidence that the funds from her purchase of the property were connected to terrorism. That area was a hot spot for that type of activity and it would be easy to get the rumor started. Hence keeping the Brooks name negatively in the news cycle for days. This option would pull in James Brooks and his connection to the White House. That could bring in a level of investigation from the FBI he did not want his employer to endure. Using Nicole Brooks brought in the unknown entity, Xavier Davenport. Could the man be brought?
Vernon Brooks brought another element of danger to the table. He was volatile, unpredictable when riled. The man should know this better than anyone. Messing with the man’s wife was one thing, bringing his daughter into the mix was a colossal mistake, in Cannon’s opinion. Using Nail was dangerous. The man was a two bit punk with no boundaries. They could only pray he hadn’t done something stupid with Taylor Brooks that would bring the wrath of Vernon Brooks on them all.
From what he’d learned about this family, they were sophisticated, but ruthless as hell when it came to their own. Why Singleton had targeted them, Cannon wasn’t sure, all he could do was pray like hell Singleton knew what he was doing.
“When they told me Lawrence Cannonball McNally was the exec at B7 Beats, I said nooooo, not my Cannonball. I walk through the doors and who do I see? Cannon.”
Cannon sat back from his desk to appreciate the unique combination of beauty, brains and balls of Rene Naverone leaning against the entrance to his office.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Be still my heart.”
The stride she took to his desk was meant to mystify and it did. Cannon watched every step those spike heel boots, with the long shapely legs took, until they reached his desk, sat and crossed within his reach. “You’re killing me, Naverone.” He kissed her knee. “Whatever you want is yours.”
“There’s no challenge in that Cannon. I haven’t even begged you yet.”
“I’m cutting my losses early,” he said as he moved some papers from under her nice behind.
Naverone looked back over her shoulder as she sat forward to allow him to pull the papers from under her. She caught the name Brooks, but it wasn’t Taylor. It was Nicole. She made a mental note of the information, as he put the papers away.
“Since you are the man here at B7-” she played with his tie, “-would you give me an intro to Nail?”
“Nail?” The request caught him off guard.
“Yes, Nail,” she said with a bit of sassiness.
“You are way out of his league. You know it and so do I. So what gives?”
“I need a meet for a client. One of my boys wants to meet some chick named Lil Tay. Said if something’s happening with her and Nail he wants to know before he goes that way.”
Cannon hesitated, then moved away from his desk, standing with his legs braced and arms folded. “Who’s your client?”
Naverone stood. “You taking a battle stance with me, Cannon?”
“Never, you know that.”
“Looks like it to me.” She shrugged taking a step towards the door. “You can’t help, okay. I’ll find another way. I always do.”
“I can’t give you this one, Naverone.”
“Yes, you can, Cannon. Connections are our business. You know that. Clients, they come and go. Our bond is in blood, man, that’s forever.” She stood there in a purple thigh high dress that held her body so tight you would think it was a glove.
“Who’s your client?”
“A basketball player. He ran into her at some club here in Atlanta the last time he was there. Got the hots for her. So after you get me in with Nail I might need an invite to her for my client.”
They stared at each other a long hard moment, before Cannon pulled a card from his pocket, wrote something on the back then gave it to her. Naverone looked at the address on the back of the card, smiled, then kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Cannon.” She turned and walked out.
He watched the doorway for a long time after she left and knew without a doubt his client’s plans were in trouble.
Charlottesville, VA
Saturday Night
They were enjoying the nightlife in Charlottesville at a club that had line dancing, with cowboy hats and all. They were doing the c
ountry western thing and loving every minute of it. Xavier looked good with his braids hanging beneath the hat, his polo shirt, and jeans hugging his behind. Nicole was doing all she could to keep up with the two-step everyone was doing. But not Xavier, he took to it as if it was second nature. He was doing the dosey-doeing and swinging her around like he had lost his mind. And she must be just as crazy, because she was laughing and enjoying every minute of it. A slow song hit the speakers and without skipping a beat, Xavier eased her into his arms and began swaying to the rhythm of the music. She heard him exhale and it felt good. He felt good. He felt right.
“I’m keeping you, Nicole Brooks.” He whispered in her ear.
“Is that right?”
“Yes,” he replied as they listened to the Whispers sing, ‘I’m going to make you my wife, you’re my everything, all my hopes and dreams come true. I can spend my life with you.’
He held her tight as they listened to the words of the song while moving to the rhythm. Each allowing the reality of what was happening to them to sink in.
When the song ended, Xavier sat Nicole at a table then went to the bar to get drinks. There were a few couples at the bar. At the end was a man sitting alone drinking. Xavier stood between the last set of couples, putting the man on his left. He placed his order with the bartender and put two twenties on the bar.
“Refill my man here.” He nodded, then turned to the man when the bartender walked away. “Is there something I can help you with?”
The man looked around as if to see who he was talking to. Xavier grinned. “You’ve been following us for two days. You’re either with the media, a blogger, or what, I don’t know. I really don’t care. Keep your distance from me and the lady and you and I will not have a problem.”
“Man, I’m just sitting here having a drink.”
The bartender returned with the drinks. Xavier picked his drinks up. “Come near us and it will be the last drink you will have. Have a good evening.” He nodded and walked away.
He placed the drinks on the table as Nicole spoke. “Do you know that man?”
Xavier looked over his shoulder. “No.”
“Your feathers seem to be a little ruffled.”
He had to smile at the realization that she was that in-tune with him. He kissed her lips. “My feathers are always ruffled when I’m around you.”
“That was smooth, Mr. Davenport. Now, take me back to the cottage and make love to me until I can’t move.”
That crooked grin appeared, as he took her hand to stand. “Your wish is my command.” As they left the club, the crowd, a mixture of college students from the university and young adults, dancing, drinking and enjoying the weekend, was growing. He looked around and did not see the man who had been following them. There was something about the man that did not register media. Maybe it was the outline of the gun under his jacket.
It was late October. The air was cold in the mountains, but neither of them seemed to mind. Hand in hand they were in their own world strolling to the cottage, anticipation building to the moment when they could once again bring the other to an heightened awareness of that feeling they called sinergy.
“Do you believe what we are experiencing is normal?”
Xavier smiled as he entwined his fingers with hers. “No and yes. People refer to it as love at first sight, finding your soul mate. It’s that feeling you get when words aren’t necessary. That gut feeling we got when we first saw each other, you knew and so did I. We saw each other across the room and knew what we each wanted. Even when we were at odds the other day, neither of us pushed the other away. The calmness we felt when we touched, it was instant.” They walked a few moments in silence.
“I can work from anywhere.” Nicole tilted her head towards the sky. “I will have to keep an office in New York, but I can move the northern Virginia office to Fredericksburg or Richmond.”
He brought her hand up to his lips, opened her palm and kissed it. “You would do that for me?”
They stopped. “I would move heaven and earth for you.”
The sincerity in her eyes cut through to his heart. This was the woman, the one who tilted the axis of his universe. He felt it rocking back and forth on the edge. Either way it rolled they were going to win. What did he ever do to deserve this…to deserve her? He ran his fingers through her hair, cupped her neck, then bent until his lips touched hers. “Sinergy.”
“Sinergy,” she giggled.
The kiss was sweet, sensuous and branding, as tongues swirled, touching every corner, doing the tango their bodies had perfected. His hands cupped her face between them, as his thumbs caressed her cheeks. “I’m keeping you.” He kissed her nose. How do you think your parents will react to all of this?”
They began walking again, swinging arms, smiling like children. “The suddenness of it will throw them for a moment. Then they will see how elated I am and won’t care. What about your mother?”
Xavier laughed. “As long as you are not Trish she won’t care.”
Nicole stopped. “What are we going to do about Trish?”
He pulled her forward. “Be happy, she is out of our lives.”
“But she’s not.” Nicole stopped before entering the cottage. “People like Trish don’t stop until you make her. What you did the other night, believe me, it only energized her to do something else. That’s how she operates.”
Xavier opened the door, picked Nicole up in his arms and walked her over the threshold. He kicked the door closed behind him as Nicole giggled. “The drama of Trish ended when that door closed. She’s outside, we’re in here. Now, what are you going to do to make up for the last five minutes you took from my weekend to discuss another woman?”
With her arms wrapped around his neck, she kissed his cheek. “I guess I have to find a way to make you forget.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than a kiss on the cheek,” Xavier warned.
“Really?” She kissed him behind the ear, then nibbled on his earlobe. “What if I undress you with my mouth, kiss every inch of your body, then ravish you until you scream?”
He carried her over by the fireplace, which was lit, putting a glow on the room. “I have another idea.” He peeled her leather jacket off, dropping it to the floor. “To show you how forgiving I am-” he pulled off her boots, “-I’m treating you tonight.” Next he pulled her sweater over her head, leaving her standing there in tight jeans and a black lace bra. Xavier dropped to his knees, then pulled her to him. The first kiss landed on her navel, as his hand unzipped her jeans. His tongue dipped into the crevice of her navel. His hands traveled inside the back of the jeans, then down the back of her thighs as the material uncovered her, revealing black lace panties.
He sat back on his haunches and slowly took in her body from head to toe. He pulled the blanket from the back of the chair, and spread it out on the floor in front of the fire, which crackled in the background. He placed one arm around her waist and the other under her knees, then placed her gently on the blanket. Standing above her he slowly began to undress. The jacket was thrown to the side. His sweater was next, revealing each ripple of his six-pack, one at a time. The sweater was thrown to the side pulling his braids, causing them to cascade around his broad shoulders. Then he unzipped his jeans, stepped out leaving his arousal standing proud and erect. His dreamy brown eyes held hers as he took a single red rose from the vase above the fireplace. “Welcome into my dream Nicole Brooks.”
With the bud of the rose, he drew a straight line from the tip of her nose, down her cheek, between her breasts, down her stomach, between her legs, down her thighs, then tickled the bottoms of her feet. “Allow me to introduce you to my fantasy.”
Taking the rose petals from the stem, one by one, he dropped them onto her body, until the sweet fragrance filled his nostrils. He knelt between her legs and was overwhelmed by the mixture of her scent and the roses. He stretched out on the floor between her legs. “You know, one of the most sensuous things about a woman is
her unique scent.” He pulled her pants down her legs. “Your scent sends my testosterone into overdrive.” He licked his fore finger then touched her bud. Her body jerked. “Sensitive. I like that.” His long, thick finger dipped inside of her. He pulled it out, then sucked it. “You are so sweet.” Spreading her legs, he held her thighs down, licked her from top to bottom then dove in. His hand massaged her inner thigh as he gave her the tongue lashing, he hoped, of her life.
Nicole couldn’t believe the sensations the rose petals were having against her skin. It felt as if she had been blanketed with silk. As each petal dropped Xavier’s eyes darkened. Was it the feel of the petals or the look of pure desire in his eyes that was causing her body to react as if she had been caressed? She didn’t know. Then his wet finger touched her and the blood began to pump furiously throughout her body. When he replaced his finger with his tongue, lavishing her, all senses flared to attention, relieving her of all control. Blood whooshed through her mind as if she were in a wind tunnel. Everything went blank for seconds, then slowly returned.
Xavier lay there on his elbows watching her body react to his assault. He decided then and there, nothing was more beautiful than Nicole when her body exploded…nothing.
Reaching for his jeans, he pulled out a condom, slid it on then braced his arms on both sides of her easing into her pulsating inner lips. No other part of their bodies touched as he withdrew, then eased in again. Looking down at her, he knew there would never be anyone else for him.
Chapter 15
McLean, VA
Sunday
“So, you are the man who has turned Nicole’s life upside down.” Gwen smiled as she hugged Xavier. “My, your picture does you no justice.”
“Guilty,” Xavier replied with a smile, “and thank you, Mrs. Brooks.”
“I see it a little differently from my wife, Davenport.” Avery shook his hand as they stood in the foyer of the Brooks’ home. “You’re the person who is causing havoc at Brooks International.”