The Perfect Present

by Rochelle Alers

  She clinked her mug against his. “I’ll drink to that.”

  DeShawn set his mug on the floor, then took Kayla’s from her hand. “I’m serious. In the New Year, I want us to be a team in every way, at work and in life. I could kick myself for wasting all these years, away from the one woman I’ve ever truly loved.”

  “DeShawn, don’t do this here. We—”

  He took her face into his hands and kissed her, slow and deep. He didn’t care who was watching and he ignored Autumn’s cheering as he kissed his woman. All that he cared about was having her in his arms.

  Kayla pushed back from him and they locked eyes, seeming to be at a loss for words. He brushed his lips across hers. “I love you. Always have and probably always will.”

  “DeShawn.”

  “Girl,” Autumn said, “let that man finish!”

  “Can we go somewhere and talk in private?” Kayla said as she shot a glance over her shoulder at her sister.

  “Come on, let’s go outside.” DeShawn walked over to the front door and opened it. A cold breeze blew in and he quickly shut the door. “Better yet, let’s go to your room.”

  “Leave the door open,” Autumn quipped.

  “Shut up,” Kayla hissed as she and DeShawn headed down the hall. Once they walked into the bedroom, DeShawn closed the door and stopped himself from pressing her against the wall and kissing her senseless.

  “What do you want to talk about?” he asked.

  “What are we doing? I know that we care about each other and we feel as if we missed out on ten years of being together, but we can’t pile all of that into these next five minutes and act as if we’re ready to—”

  He brought his finger to her lips. “I’m willing to wait, a little while. But Kayla, I need to know that you want this as much as I need to be with you.”

  She paused for a beat and DeShawn held his breath. What if he’d pushed too hard? He didn’t know everything that had happened with her ex. If she wasn’t ready, he didn’t want to push her too hard. But he knew one thing was for sure: Kayla Matthews wasn’t going to walk out of his life for a second time.

  “DeShawn, I want to be with you. But I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t be. Baby, I got you. And you don’t ever have to live in fear.” Closing the space between them, he pulled her into his arms. “Just let me love you.”

  “I will,” she whispered. “I will.”

  He covered her mouth with his, kissing her slowly. Her body melted against him, and he loved it. Kayla’s mouth was as sweet and potent as the eggnog they’d been drinking.

  DeShawn pulled back from her and smiled. “As much as I want you, I can’t do this at your mama’s house.”

  Kayla laughed. “I guess that would be awkward.”

  He kissed her cheek. “So, have you had a chance to think about coming to work with me at the school?”

  “That I don’t know about. Your ex will probably try to block that, for sure,” she said.

  “I doubt it. Taylor is just like the rest of the board. Since I’ve dropped the nugget about the media, like you said, they’re trying to make sure that we don’t look bad in public. I’m meeting with them in the morning and I want you there by my side.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “You see the reaction that your report got. I want you there by my side. And if it doesn’t work out, I have a contact at the local community college who could use your expertise.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know what I don’t have to do, but I want to make sure that you have every reason to stay here. I told you, no more running back to California or anywhere else. You’re going to be here with me for the long haul.”

  Kayla smiled and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m yours, babe. And I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I’m holding you to that.” He was about to bring his mouth down on top of hers when there was a knock on the door.

  “What are y’all doing in there?” Autumn asked. “Mama said get out here and you better have your clothes on.”

  “Shut up, Autumn,” Kayla said with a laugh.

  “Told you we couldn’t do anything at your mama’s house,” DeShawn whispered as he opened the door.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning, Kayla woke up around six a.m., much earlier than she would wake up on a normal day. Why had she agreed to go to this meeting with DeShawn?

  She wiped her hand across her face and sighed as she thought about the night they’d spent together. After they’d drunk more eggnog and eaten some of Nora’s brownies, DeShawn and Kayla had cleaned up the kitchen while Autumn and Rodney started to help Nora prepare the Christmas decorations.

  “You look sexy covered in suds,” he’d said as he flicked some dishwater in her direction. “Why don’t you come home with me and let me run your bath water?”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Sounds like a good idea. They are going to start arguing in about five, four, three, two . . .”

  “But, Mom, you should really consider the LED lights this year,” they heard Autumn whine.

  “I know what kind of lights I’m using, and I’m not changing them just because you say so.”

  Kayla turned to DeShawn as she dried the brownie pan. “Let’s get out of here before they drag us into this fight.”

  “Kayla!” Autumn called out. “Please help me out here.”

  “Nope. My name is Paul and that’s between y’all,” she said. Turning to DeShawn she pointed to the door. “I’m going to pack a bag.”

  Autumn and Nora were so deep into their argument, going through the box of decorations that had been around for years, that they hadn’t even known that DeShawn and Kayla had crept away.

  When they’d arrived at his place, DeShawn noticed that he’d gotten an email from Lucas, the chairman of the board.

  “Damn,” he muttered as he read over the email. “The board is calling a meeting in the morning to discuss a change of direction with the leadership of the school.”

  “How is this different from your previous meeting that you had scheduled?” Kayla asked as she sat on the sofa beside him.

  “Seems as if they’re trying to pull the trigger on firing me,” he said, not adding that he knew Taylor was behind it all. She’d told him that he’d pay for ending their relationship, and she knew what was important to him. The kids at that school.

  Sighing, he’d risen to his feet and headed to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. When he returned to the living room, Kayla took the beer from his hand.

  “No drinking. What we’re about to do is come up with a game plan to lay out why you’re the only man who can lead this school.” She set the beer on an end table and told him to get his tablet.

  For the next three hours, Kayla and DeShawn had worked to put together a report showing the strides that the school had made under DeShawn’s leadership and how, in spite of a shrinking budget, he’d managed to keep all of the main programs running at the school.

  “You’re still close with Maurice Goings, right?”

  He nodded. “But I don’t like leaning on my friends for—”

  “Hush! I need you to have Maurice vouch for you. He’s one of the most well-known and well-respected people in this city, and he’s your friend. Based on what you told me about these people, a good word from Mo would have more impact than anything I can say or what this paper report will show.”

  DeShawn had glanced at the clock on the wall and decided that it was too late to call his friend. He knew Mo was a bona fide family man, and he didn’t want to interrupt family time. So, he closed his laptop and took the tablet from Kayla’s hands.

  “I tell you what,” he said. “We’ve done everything that we can do right now. Remember how I said you looked amazing in soapy suds?”

  “Are you serious?”

  He nodded and rose to his feet, then held his hand out to her. “Come on. It’s bath time.”

  Sh
e took his hand and rose from the sofa. DeShawn had led her to the bathroom and slowly stripped her out of her tunic and leggings. He’d smiled when he saw that she wasn’t wearing any undergarments.

  “Just amazing,” he said as he gave her a slow once-over. “Do you realize how beautiful you are?”

  “You know I’m at a disadvantage here,” she said as she folded her arms across her breasts.

  DeShawn started running their bathwater, then closed the space between them. He pulled her arms down and massaged her breasts until her nipples hardened like diamonds. Her soft moans filled the air like the notes of John Coltrane’s sax. DeShawn’s need for her made his body ache with desire. She tugged at his sweatshirt.

  “I won’t be naked alone,” she quipped as she pulled the shirt over his head. DeShawn kicked out of his pants and Kayla pulled his boxers down to his ankles. With one hand she stroked his hardness until he tossed his head back in pleasure.

  “Oh, that’s not fair,” he moaned. “Not fair.”

  “Neither was it fair for you to strip me naked and stare at me.” She gave him one last long stroke. “I think we’re even.”

  Shivers ran up and down his spine as he took a step back and added cocoa-scented body wash to the running water. “Turnabout is fair play,” he said, then scooped her into his arms. DeShawn stepped into the tub and plopped Kayla down. Then he turned the water off and pushed the bubbles up onto her breasts. “Even more amazing than I thought you’d look.” DeShawn slipped his hands between her thighs and stroked her most sensitive spot. Easing his finger inside, he made slow circles, causing Kayla to squirm underneath his touch.

  “Umm,” she moaned as she arched her body into his. Water splashed over the side of the tub. “DeShawn.”

  He brushed his lips against hers. “I love the way you say my name.” He pushed his finger in deeper. “Say it again.”

  “DeShawn!”

  Capturing her lips in a hot kiss, DeShawn sucked her tongue as if it were the sweetest candy he’d ever had the chance to taste. Breaking the kiss, they stared into each other’s eyes, silently broadcasting how much they wanted each other.

  Though he knew they needed to be protected, DeShawn couldn’t wait to be inside his woman, and he drove into her wetness. The heat radiating from her body nearly drove him to the brink, and when she leaned forward, tightening her thighs around his waist, it was a struggle for him not to come.

  Kayla rode him with zeal and zest, grinding against him until DeShawn exploded. She leaned against his chest, and as the bathwater covered her back, DeShawn kissed her chin.

  “I’m sorry I was so reckless, but—”

  “We’re both responsible for what just happened. You don’t have to worry about getting a disease or anything from me. It’s been so long since I’ve done this without protection and—”

  “What about a baby?”

  Kayla eased off him and pressed her back against the tub. Tears welled up in her eyes and DeShawn drew her into his arms. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  Kayla’s tears turned to sobs as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I-I had a miscarriage a few years ago. It started the breakdown of my marriage. I never told Raul what the doctor said. It might be impossible for me to have a child and . . .”

  “Shh,” he said. “It’s all right.”

  “I’ve struggled with this for a long time. I don’t kn-know how I can have a future with a man when I don’t know if I can give him a family.”

  DeShawn had lifted her head from his shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. “Our future will be amazing. And here’s the thing about life: No one can tell you what’s going to happen. If we want children in our future, we have several options. Kayla, I meant what I said. We’re going to be together for the rest of our lives, and I hope you don’t think this changes anything or how I feel about you. I love you.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”

  DeShawn’s hand on her shoulder brought Kayla back to the present. She turned and smiled at him. “You always wake up this early?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “But we have a big day ahead of us, and I don’t want our presentation to have any flaws.”

  “Lie down. We have time to worry about that later. Our meeting isn’t for another four hours.”

  Kayla eased back into his arms. “Last night, I know I may have gotten a little intense, but I just wanted you to know exactly what you’re getting into with me.”

  “I know what I’m getting into, and I’m looking forward to more of this.”

  “More of what?” She furrowed her eyebrows.

  “You waking up in my arms, just not this early. I tell you what, if you go back to sleep, I’ll cook us breakfast when we wake up in about two hours when my alarm goes off.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  DeShawn wrapped his arms around her and Kayla drifted right off to sleep.

  * * *

  Around eight fifteen, DeShawn slipped out of bed, leaving Kayla to sleep as he headed for the kitchen to cook them cheese omelets, grits, and bacon. Though he meant to wake her, he wanted a chance to call Maurice and see if he could get his friend to help him at the meeting.

  “Yeah?” Maurice said when he answered the phone.

  “I know the NFL’s MVP isn’t getting soft and sleeping in,” DeShawn quipped.

  “DC, brother, what’s going on?”

  “I’m just trying to keep my school open and these kids motivated. For some reason, they like you.”

  “Everybody loves me. What do you need? I think what you’re doing at that school is amazing, and Kenya reminded me last week that we didn’t make our donation yet.”

  “Not that I’m turning down your money, because we do need it. But I have a meeting today and I need a character witness.”

  “Say no more, let me check my calendar and make sure I can make it. What time and where?”

  DeShawn gave him the directions and the time for the meeting. “Hey, I got a question for you,” he said.

  “No, I can’t get you a walk-on tryout with the Panthers,” Maurice joked.

  “Please, I’m over playing football. I followed my dad’s advice, took the money and ran.”

  “I still say you could’ve broken Smith’s record. You were a hell of a back.”

  “My knee doesn’t think so. But what I need to know is where you got Kenya’s engagement ring. I need something special for my future wife.”

  “Whoa. You’re ready to burn that player card, huh? Congratulations. I’m going to text you my jeweler’s number. Let him know I recommended you.”

  DeShawn smiled as he watched Kayla walk into the kitchen. “Will do. I have to go. And, Mo, thanks.”

  She crossed over to him as he hung up the phone. “I thought I was dreaming when I smelled that bacon,” Kayla said. “You need help with anything?”

  He shook his head. “You’ve already done so much for me, all I need you to do is sit down and let me serve you.”

  “Be careful, Mr. Carter. I could get used to this.” Kayla sat on a stool in front of the breakfast bar and DeShawn leaned over and kissed her on the tip of her nose.

  “I want you to, darling.”

  After breakfast, Kayla and DeShawn showered, went over their report, and then headed for the school. Though he hid his nervousness from her, DeShawn had more butterflies in his stomach than he’d had when he took his first carry in his rookie game with the Dallas Cowboys.

  This wasn’t a game, this was for his kids, for their future and for the school he considered his second home. Pulling into the parking lot, he took a deep breath.

  “Are you all right?” she asked as she glanced over at him.

  “I’m good. Let’s get this over with.” As they stepped out of the car, a classic red Corvette pulled up beside them.

  DeShawn smiled as Maurice stepped out, dressed in a dark blue suit and a fedora. “Channeling your quarterback?” he asked as they shook hands.

&n
bsp; “Whatever. Good to see you, dude.” Maurice looked over DeShawn’s shoulder at Kayla. “Is that her?”

  “Sure is.”

  “Good job, bruh.” Maurice crossed over to Kayla. “Hello. I’m—”

  “Maurice Goings. It’s nice to meet you,” she said as she extended her hand. Maurice kissed the back of her hand and DeShawn gave him a shove.

  “Calm down, player. I gave up being Mr. Steal Your Girl a long time ago. You’ve met my wife. But you are a beautiful woman. Are you sure this knucklehead is good enough for you?”

  Kayla laughed. “I’m sure. One hundred percent.”

  DeShawn glanced at his watch. “Let’s do this.” Walking into the school, DeShawn felt as if he understood what his students meant when they always said “squad goals.”

  His butterflies were gone, and he decided that no matter what the board decided, he’d given his best to the school and the students. One thing he wasn’t going to do was play politics with them.

  “All right, what’s the game plan?” Mo asked as they stood outside of the conference room.

  “We’re going to lay out the facts and let the chips fall where they may,” DeShawn said. “If I didn’t love these kids and have a vested interest in their future, I’d tell the board where they could go and how soon they could get there.”

  “And I need you to tone it down a little bit,” Kayla said as she stroked his shoulder. “Calm, cool, and collected.”

  “Kiss for luck?” he asked as he leaned in to her. Kayla obliged his request, giving him a quick peck on the lips.

  “Aww, aren’t you two sweet,” Mo quipped.

  DeShawn opened the door to the conference room and all heads turned around and looked at him.

  “What is she doing here?” Taylor snapped when she locked eyes with Kayla. “This isn’t a—”

  “Kayla Matthews is an education consultant who’s been working with me to fix problems that all of you have ignored,” DeShawn began. “We’ve been running this school on a shoestring budget for too long because none of you really give a damn about what goes on here.”

  “You’re out of line,” Lucas said as he slammed his hand against the table.