Lucius laughed and attempted to make light of the situation. “No, what I want to do is put her over my knee and spank her.” An image of Naomi lying over his thigh with her bottom facing him sprang into his mind. He’d love nothing better than to give that delicious little bottom of hers a spank before he...
“Lucius!”
He blinked. “What?”
Adam shook his head while an amused grin spread across his lips. “You’ve got it bad, dude.”
“For Naomi?” Lucius sipped his scotch neat. “You couldn’t be more wrong. What I do have is a little bit of sexual frustration, and once it’s released, I’ll be right as rain.”
“Sure,” Adam responded. “If you think that’s all it is.”
Of course that’s all it is, Lucius thought. Despite his sexual attraction toward Naomi, he didn’t want or need any romantic complications. Naomi was the type of woman that a man got serious about and married. Lucius was not the marrying kind. And never would be. He needed to focus on his two objectives. One was getting his hands on Brooks and Johnson. The second was getting Naomi in his bed, and the dinner with her family was his ticket in.
Chapter 8
Naomi was nervous as she waited for Lucius to come pick her up at her home in Belmont Heights. Why hadn’t she asked him to meet her at her parents’ instead of picking her up? Now he not only would know where she lived—though he probably already had a file on her—but this was starting to look a lot like a date. She hadn’t had one of those in God knew how long. Brooks and Johnson’s rapid growth had caused Naomi to put her love life on the shelf.
She’d focused on building her brand rather than making any lasting connections with men. And it had cost her. At thirty-two, she’d only had one or two serious relationships, and dating had been nonexistent the last couple of years. She’d envied Kelsey. Her friend had always made time for romance and subsequently had met and fallen in love with her husband, Owen, five years ago. Now Naomi was all alone and forced to face the dating scene solo. And since she’d always been awkward around men, the thought of going out clubbing or online dating hadn’t appealed to her. Which would explain why she was so nervous. She was about to spend the evening with Lucius Knight. He was not only her high school crush and the first boy she’d ever wanted, but he also happened to be one of the sexiest men alive, in her opinion.
She knew she shouldn’t, but Naomi couldn’t help herself and dressed with Lucius in mind. She wanted him to see her as desirable. She’d taken care by spiral rodding her natural curls so they now hung in ringlets to her shoulders. And she’d dressed in a fuchsia maxi skirt with a button-down denim shirt and extra-wide belt that showed off her curves. Naomi fully expected Lucius to be shocked when he saw her.
She was right.
* * *
Lucius stared at Naomi when she opened the door to her home. He hadn’t known exactly what the appropriate attire for an evening with her family would be and hoped that his casual approach of dark jeans, plaid shirt and cable-knit V-neck sweater was the right look. He’d been right, because she was wearing a high-waisted maxi skirt that showed off her amazing slender waist and hugged her hips. He liked that the denim shirt was open just enough to allow her gold necklace to dangle between her breasts and show him a slight swell of cleavage.
Lucius swallowed. How was he supposed to keep his hands to himself when she dressed like that?
“I’m ready,” Naomi stated with her hobo bag over her shoulder and a light jacket in her hand. Before he could take a step inside her home, she closed the door behind her.
He smiled. If that was how she wanted to play it, that was fine, but Lucius knew that before the night was over, he would be coming inside, and not just in her home.
“Great, let’s go.” He gently placed his hand at the small of her back and led her to his Bentley parked outside on the curb, but not before whispering in her ear, “By the way, you look gorgeous.”
She glanced up at him. “Thank you.”
After helping her inside, he came around to the driver’s side and hopped in. “You lead the way,” he said as he started the engine.
They chatted easily on the twenty-minute ride to her parents’ home. Naomi told him about their history. “You’ll love them. They’ve been married for thirty-five years and are as still in love as they were when they first met.”
“That’s pretty amazing considering the divorce rate,” Lucius responded.
“I know, right?” Naomi gave him a sideways glance. “Trust me, I know how lucky I am to have my parents together after all these years.”
“And you have a brother, Tim, and sister, Gemma, right?”
She smiled when she looked at him again. “You remembered.”
“I do listen,” Lucius said, “it’s a must in business.”
“And is that what tonight is?” Naomi asked, a frown quickly spreading across her mouth. “Because I didn’t ask you here on business. I asked you as a friend.”
“Duly noted,” Lucius replied. “And I am here as your friend.” He emphasized the word even though he didn’t want to be her friend. He wanted to be her lover. “I’ve put business on the shelf tonight.”
“Glad to hear it.”
They parked in front of her father’s Mercedes-Benz several minutes later and exited the vehicle. Lucius grabbed the rare bottle of wine he’d obtained from the gourmet store for dinner along with a bouquet of calla lilies for Naomi’s mother.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Naomi said when he met her at the front door just as she was opening it.
“I know, but my grandma Ruby did raise me with some manners,” he answered with a smile.
“Naomi!” A beautiful petite woman with a caramel complexion and dressed in a wraparound print dress met them in foyer. She had Naomi’s exact same riotous curls.
“Mom!”
Lucius watched Naomi bend down to lean into her mother’s embrace and felt his heart constrict. He and Jocelyn never hugged. They barely touched.
“And you must be Lucius,” her mother said, and before he could answer she enveloped him in a warm, motherly hug. Surprise must have been evident on his face, because he noticed Naomi mouth it’s okay, so he hugged her back.
“Thank you for having me, ma’am,” Lucius responded when they parted. “I brought you some flowers and wine.” He presented her with the bouquet and bottle of rare wine.
Mrs. Brooks beamed with pleasure. “You shouldn’t have, but thank you. They’re lovely. Come on inside.” She slid her arm through his and led him into the home. “So you can meet the rest of the family.”
Five minutes later, Lucius had been introduced to the entire Brooks family. Her father, Benjamin, was a big bear of a man with a grip to match. Her brother, Tim, who although not as muscular as his father was just as tall as Lucius, eyed him suspiciously. Tim’s wife, Audrey, was a quiet, unassuming woman who suited him to perfection. And they had a precocious four-year-old daughter, Grace, who wanted to be the center of attention. Then there was Naomi’s sister, Gemma. She was sassy and just as fiery as Naomi, if not more. She wasted no time firing questions at him. He liked them all immediately.
“So, Lucius,” Gemma asked when they all sat in the living room, “do you remember going to high school with my sister?”
Lucius sat beside Naomi on the love seat while her father sat in a recliner, her mother stood passing around appetizers and refreshments before dinner, while her brother and his wife sat opposite them on the sofa.
He felt Naomi tense at her sister’s question, but he patted her knee lightly. “Actually, I do,” he said with a smile. “I remember Naomi was a bit shy.”
“Shy?” Gemma laughed out loud. “She was more like a nerd!”
“Gemma!” Her mother wagged her finger at her. “That’s not nice.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Gemma acted like she was remorseful, but Lucius highly doubted it. As the youngest, he suspected Gemma was used to being coddled instead of being given the discipline she so desperately needed. The Brooks family wasn’t perfect, but that’s what made them real. “But you know it’s true,” she continued. “Back then, all Naomi did was have her head in a book.”
“Unlike you?” Naomi responded. “Who was always into cheerleading and boys.”
“Hey, don’t hate me because I was popular,” Gemma replied with a smirk.
“And were you popular, too?” Her brother directed a question to Lucius.
“Not at all.” Lucius slid his arm along the back of the love seat behind Naomi. It was a casual move, but told Tim man-to-man that his interest in his sister was of a romantic nature. He saw Naomi’s eyes widen, but she didn’t say anything.
“Afraid not,” he finally answered. “Like Naomi, I was more of an outcast.”
“A bad boy, if the papers tell it correctly,” Timothy responded.
Lucius shrugged. “Bad boy, outcast. Does it really matter now?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Brooks stated from his recliner, “only matters what a man makes of himself when the dust settles. And from the looks of it, you haven’t done too bad for yourself, Lucius.”
“No, sir. I’ve done quite well.”
“Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Brooks said when she reentered the room. Lucius hadn’t even seen her leave. He’d been so engrossed in the family dynamics. Was this what it was like being part of a family? If so, he could get used to this.
* * *
Naomi smiled as she watched Lucius interact with her family. He was a natural and fit right in. He was charming to her mother. Forthright to her father. And accommodating to Tim, who pulled no punches in his direct questioning of Lucius.
Her brother had drilled Lucius, wanting to know how he’d gotten his start, when he created Knight International and more. Naomi was just glad that Tim had heeded her earlier call when she’d begged him not to bring business or Lucius’s interest in Brooks and Johnson into the conversation. Her father also wasn’t stopping. He made sure to question Lucius about his background. That’s when she felt Lucius’s mood change.
“So tell us about your family?” her father asked. “Your mother and father, what do they do?”
“Dad,” Naomi interjected. “You remember I told you that Lucius was raised by his grandmother.” She glanced to her side and saw the firm set of Lucius’s jaw.
“Oh, of course, I’m sorry, son,” her father replied. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“No offense taken,” Lucius responded. “My background is no secret. My father wasn’t around, and my mother chose not to raise me. Lucky for me, my grandma stepped in.”
Naomi noticed he plastered a fake smile on, but she knew otherwise. This topic of conversation made Lucius uneasy.
“Do you even know your father?” Gemma asked from the other end of the table.
Naomi choked on the water she’d been sipping and her brother had to pat her on the back. She shot Gemma a cold look as she wiped her mouth and watched Lucius warily. His eyes were impenetrable and she couldn’t fathom what was going on in his mind.
“No, I do not.” He was to the point and it was stated with such finality that even Gemma busied herself with refilling her wineglass.
“Well, how about some dessert?” her mother asked.
Bless her heart. Naomi couldn’t have been more thankful for the distraction and change of the conversation. The set of Lucius’s mouth was grim, and the smile that had been on his face throughout the course of the evening had faded. In its place was a sullen and withdrawn man. A man who reminded her of the teenage boy she’d once fallen for.
Dessert continued with Naomi and her mother doing their best to revive the conversation. Lucius made polite chitchat and was never rude in any way, but Naomi could tell that the earlier conversation had rattled him.
After the meal, she and Lucius said their goodbyes as her family walked them to the door. Her father shook Lucius’s hand while her mother once again enveloped him in a hug. As he bent down to accept it, Naomi could see Lucius warm up slightly at the contact.
“Thank you both for having me over,” Lucius said once they’d parted. “I truly appreciate the hospitality.”
“You’re welcome any time, son,” her father said, placing his arm around her mother. Then he turned to Naomi. “So feel free to bring this young man around again.”
Naomi smiled. Then she stood on her tiptoes to give her father a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Daddy.”
Lucius opened the front door and once again placed his hand on the small of her back and led her outside.
Naomi shivered slightly. The air had turned crisp. Lucius wrapped his arm around her as he walked her to the car. Once inside, she glanced up and saw her parents peeking at them through the curtains. She smiled and shook her head as Lucius hopped inside.
They were quiet on the drive back to Belmont Heights. She knew he didn’t like talking about himself and family was a sore spot for him, but she wished she knew more and why he was closed up about that side of himself. Transparency was not his strong suit. Whereas she wore her heart on her sleeve.
When they made it to her house and he turned off the engine, Naomi turned to him. “Did you have fun tonight?”
Lucius slid around to face her in his seat. “I did. You have a really great family.”
Naomi stared at him questioningly. “Are you sure about that?”
His brow furrowed. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because... I think you were having a good time until my sister asked you about your father. After that, well, let’s just say you were a cold fish.”
He grinned. “A cold fish?”
“Yes, and don’t go grinning like that,” Naomi said, pointing her finger at him, “and trying to be all charming now. Where was this guy an hour ago? I want to know where he went and why.”
“If you let me inside, perhaps I’ll tell you why,” he countered. His steady gaze bored into her.
There was a maddening arrogance to him that drove Naomi crazy. She hated that when he looked at her she was powerless to resist him. If she let him in, Naomi knew what it meant, and it caused her heart to jolt and her pulse to pound. There was no denying that alone in her house with no distractions, no interruptions, she would give in to her attraction to Lucius. She’d been trying to fight it for weeks. What would happen if she unlocked her heart, her soul, her body to this man? Should she chance it? She’d always wanted this man, wanted to know what it would be like to be with him. What was wrong with allowing herself this one night of pleasure with her heart’s desire?
She knew her answer and spoke quickly before she changed her mind. “Come inside.”
* * *
Lucius felt triumphant when he walked through the doors of Naomi’s home. It had been no easy feat getting Naomi to let go, but she finally had. However, there was a catch. He would have to open up and bare part of his soul to her in exchange.
He rarely spoke of his feelings about his family or lack thereof to anyone. What he’d told her before was more than he’d told any of his former companions—and yet she still wanted more and he would give it to her. What did that mean? Was she becoming more to him than just a means to an end?
He looked up from the sofa where he’d made himself comfortable while Naomi busied herself in the kitchen with refreshments. Did she need liquid courage to be with him? Or was it for him so he would feel more comfortable talking about his past?
He liked Naomi’s house. It was warm and inviting, like the woman herself. He liked the outside with the covered front porch, travertine stone walkways, landscaped planters and mature palm trees. The inside was just as appealing as the exterior, with hardwood a
nd ceramic tile floors in the front of the house. The living room had a built-in wet bar and etched French doors that led to a large balcony, which he was sure had gorgeous sunset views.
He turned around when he heard footsteps. Naomi returned with a tray holding a bottle of cabernet sauvignon, two wineglasses and an opener. She set the tray down on the unusual cocktail table that was made of treated wood and sat on the sofa.
“Would you mind uncorking?” She handed him the wine opener.
“Not at all.” He uncorked the bottle and poured them both glasses. He handed her one and held up his glass. “To new beginnings.”
“Is that what this is?” Naomi asked. Her eyes were unreadable.
“I hope so.” He placed his glass on the table and turned to face her. “You asked me in, so it’s a start.”
She leaned back against the sofa cushions. “I did. So why don’t we start with why you got so standoffish after my sister’s inquiry.”
So they were jumping right into the deep end? No preamble. He sighed. “All right, I suppose I was a little guarded.”
“Yes, why is that, Lucius?” She sipped her wine. “The other day you mentioned your relationship with your mother isn’t good.”
There was no judgment in her eyes, just questions. So he answered honestly. “Because it’s a sore subject for me. Family, that is. I don’t like talking about my lack of one.”
“Because you don’t know your father?” Naomi pressed, “Lots of kids today are growing up without their father around.”
Lucius chuckled. “So are you telling me to get over myself?
“Not at all, I’m just saying that fatherless black children are no longer the exception, but the rule. While I’m the exception, having both my parents together.”
“Your family is truly exceptional,” Lucius stated. “I really enjoyed them tonight.”
“Thank you, but don’t try to deflect the conversation. You’re not getting off that easy.”
He smirked. “I didn’t think I would. The thing is, Naomi, I’m angry. I’m angry because I’ve been denied the right to know my father.”
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