Just to Be with You

by Sheryl Lister

  “Of course. Everyone should take some time to relax and have fun, especially someone like you who works so hard. When was the last time you let yourself go, threw caution to the wind and did something just for the sheer enjoyment of an activity?” When he didn’t respond, she shook her head. “That look on your face tells me it’s been way too long.” She patted his arm. “It’s a good thing I’m here today. We’re gonna have some fun.” She winked at him and continued to eat.

  Terrence chuckled. Janae was different from every woman he’d ever met—and more dangerous, too. She had slowly chipped away at the wall he’d erected around his heart just by being herself.

  He finished his food and lay back on the blanket. Taking a deep breath, he thought about what she’d said. He’d been so focused on music for such a long time that he never stopped to think about how empty his life was, probably because he didn’t want to think about it. He found it easier to hide behind the “Monte” persona. So lost in reflection, he didn’t hear Janae calling him until she touched his arm. He rolled to his side facing her and propped on his elbow.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “I asked if you were okay. You kind of zoned out for a minute.”

  “I’m fine. Just thinking about what you said. So, what kind of fun did you have in mind?”

  She smiled. “First, we have to put this stuff back in the car.” She repacked the basket and stood.

  He slowly came to his feet and gazed at her questioningly, but she continued to smile while they folded the blanket. He picked up the basket, then started toward the car. As soon as they deposited everything in the trunk, she removed her sandals, placed them next to the basket and looked at him expectantly. He raised his eyebrows.

  “The ground is not too hot, so come on. You have to take off your shoes.”

  His gaze slid down to her small, perfect feet with white-tipped and clear-painted toenails. “Do I really need to take...?” He trailed off when she folded her arms. “Fine.” He slipped off his sandals and put them next to hers.

  “See, it’s not so bad, is it?” she teased. “It’s not like you have twelve toes covered in bunions.”

  He closed the hatch, pressed the remote to lock the doors and grabbed her hand. “Come on, girl.”

  She burst out laughing and followed him.

  He looked down at the delight on her face and tried to hold on to his scowl, but failed.

  They walked near the water’s edge, and she dropped down in the sand, pulling him with her.

  “We’re going to build a sand castle.”

  “I don’t know, Janae. I haven’t done this since I was a kid.” Ten years old, to be exact. The last time he’d built a sand castle was with his father, after he had recovered from the first brain tumor. He’d brought Terrence to the beach so they could have some fun together. The thought evoked bittersweet memories and a barrage of emotions—the love and support he’d always received, and then the pain of losing him.

  “Well, now’s the perfect time to let that kid out again.” She started digging, packing and forming sand into a tower. “Don’t just sit there, start working. Do what I’m doing.”

  He picked up a handful of sand and followed her lead.

  “Yeah. Like that.”

  “We’re a little close to the water, aren’t we?” He frowned as he watched the waves come close to where they sat.

  “We need wet sand, the wetter the better since we don’t have any tools. And we’re not that close. I haven’t seen any waves come this close.”

  Terrence kept building. He relaxed and started to actually have fun. Pretty soon, they had the makings of a decent castle. “Hey, this is starting to look like a real castle.”

  “Told you.”

  They kept building until there were towers, walls and doors. She had even built an arch. “How did you get so good at this?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I try to hit the beach a few times each summer. But unlike you, I have to drive at least an hour to Santa Cruz or Monterey. I also use sand in my classroom.”

  “This looks good.” He took out his phone and snapped a picture. “So what do you do with it after you finish?”

  “Leave it. Either the water or someone will come by and knock it down.”

  “Why wait for someone else to knock it down?” He broke off a piece of the tower.

  “I know you didn’t just break my tower,” she said incredulously. She scooped up a handful of sand and threw it at him, hitting him square in the chest and splattering it across his face.

  He jerked back in surprise and stared down at his shirt. Pieces of damp sand clung to it, and a large, wet stain formed in the center. She must have interpreted his look because she jumped up and ran.

  She squealed and dodged the sand he threw, but kept running and laughing. Three steps later, he ran her down and scooped her into his arms. She screamed when he threw her up and caught her.

  “Are you crazy? You could have dropped me.”

  “Me crazy? I’m not the one throwing sand at people,” he said with mock outrage. “I wouldn’t have dropped your little lightweight butt anyway. I bench-press more than twice what you weigh.”

  “What-eva. All I know is if you drop me, I will hurt you real bad, Terrence Campbell.” She looped her arms around his neck and impulsively kissed his cheek.

  The soft kiss caught him off guard, and before he could stop himself, he lowered his head and crushed his mouth to hers in a scorching kiss. He shuddered when she ran her hands up the base of his neck and into his hair, pulling lightly on the curly strands. He moaned and tightened his arms around her, deepening the kiss.

  At length he lifted his head, belatedly remembering they stood on a crowded beach. He’d never kissed a woman in public like this. With her, he found himself doing a lot of things he’d never done before. She stared up at him with a look that made his gut clench.

  After kissing her once more, he whispered, “Are you ready to leave?”

  “Um...yes.”

  He slowly lowered her to her feet, and she wobbled slightly. He placed his hands on her waist to steady her. Reaching for her hand, they strolled back to the car, stopping to rinse off their hands and feet. The ride back to the hotel was accomplished in silence. Both were lost in their own thoughts.

  Before getting out of the SUV, he pulled his baseball cap down over his eyes and slid the glasses on. Coming around to the passenger side, he helped Janae down. “What?” he asked, looking into her smiling face.

  “You hiding in plain sight.” She chuckled as they entered the lobby. “I’m guessing these people staring think we’re in the wrong hotel, being this dirty.”

  Terrence glanced down at their clothing. “I guess we do look a little out of place. I haven’t been this dirty since I was a kid.”

  “But you had fun, didn’t you?”

  He slid his key card in the elevator’s PH slot, and the doors closed. Holding her gaze, he stroked a finger down her cheek. “It was the most fun I’ve had in over twenty years.”

  “I’m glad,” she said softly. “I’m so tired I’m ready to pass out, but I’m way too dirty.”

  He opened the hotel room door and stepped back to let her precede him. “It’s about four-thirty. You can relax for a while if you want, and we can get dinner around six. The party doesn’t start until eight, but I have to go down and meet with a couple of people from our publicity department at seven. You can come down with me or closer to eight.”

  “Dinner at six is fine. Can we eat here?”

  “Sure.”

  “I think I’ll wait until later to join you. Will I be able to get in if I’m there before eight?”

  “I’ll make sure of it.”

  She nodded. “I think I’ll go get cleaned up and lie down for a while. What ar
e you going to do?”

  “Probably shower and relax, too.” Walking over to where she stood, he rubbed his hands up and down her arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Take the master bath. I’ll shower in the other bathroom. Let me get my stuff, and I’ll be out of your way.”

  Terrence stepped into the shower and let the water run over his head and body. Bracing his hands on the wall, he tried hard not to imagine Janae naked, lying in the bathtub. Each time they were together, he saw another facet of her personality. She was intelligent, talented, somewhat shy and, as he learned today, playful. And she had him doing the same thing.

  Until now, his dates with women had usually consisted of dining at exclusive restaurants or taking in a show at the theater. None of those women would have been content playing on the beach or hanging out at home talking all night. Thinking back, most of those conversations had been centered on the women wanting to know what parties he’d been invited to, other famous people he knew and whether or not they could get free concert tickets. Some had even insinuated that they’d be more than willing to attend all those high-profile functions.

  He laughed to himself. Janae was the first woman he’d ever asked to attend a function, and it had taken her a week to decide.

  “Yeah, she’s real different,” he said aloud.

  He finished his shower, dressed, then went to sit out on the balcony. The temperature was still warm, and he dropped down onto one of the loungers. While there, he made a few calls and confirmed the meeting time with Donovan. Lying back on the lounger, he closed his eyes and willed his mind blank. He didn’t realize he’d dozed off until he felt a touch on his shoulder.

  Terrence sat up and swung his leg over the lounger. “Hey. What time is it?”

  “It’s almost six. I know you have a meeting, so we should get something to eat.”

  He ran his hand over his face and stood. “Do you have any idea what you want for dinner?” he asked while stretching. He noticed Janae’s eyes focused on his bare chest. When she looked up, his eyes were waiting. A slow smile formed on his mouth.

  “Um...what did you say?”

  “I asked if you know what you want to eat.”

  “Oh. No. I haven’t looked at the menu yet.” She whirled around and went back inside.

  Janae leaned against the desk, looking over the menu. He came up behind her and pinned her with his body. Bending down, Terrence buried his face in the hollow of her neck. “Mmm, you smell good.” He pressed his lips softly against the space, then leaned over her shoulder to read the menu. She gasped softly. “What looks good?”

  “I...um...I think I’ll have a Caesar salad with grilled chicken.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll have the same.” He knew he should probably step back, but her soft curves felt so good pressed against his hard frame. Instead, he moved even closer and reached for the phone. After placing their order, he turned her to face him. “I can’t get enough of your kisses,” he whispered against her lips.

  She leaned up to take him deeper, and he used his tongue to taste every crevice of her mouth. She moaned and reached up to pull him even closer.

  Her soft moans sent fire through his veins. He didn’t know how long they stood there before he lifted and carried her to the nearest chair, sitting so she straddled his lap. His hands moved purposefully over her body, mapping her curves. He dragged his mouth away from hers, tilted her head back and charted a path with his tongue over the exposed column of her neck and the portion of her chest that was visible above her sundress. He groaned deep in his throat when she treated him to the same wanton caresses. Sliding his hands back up her arms, he reached for the dress’s thin straps.

  Someone knocked at the door.

  He groaned in frustration and leaned his forehead against hers. Standing with her in his arms, he turned and placed her on the chair and went to answer the door, stopping in the bedroom to grab a shirt and willing his body back to a state of calm.

  Chapter 14

  Janae leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed and hands fisted—heart pounding, breathing erratic, body pulsing—trying to gain some measure of control. Her limited sexual experience had not prepared her for these types of sensations. While lying in the tub, her mind had automatically wandered to him and how much fun they seemed to have together, no matter what they were doing. Hearing him in the shower had her remembering his bare, muscular chest and wondering what the rest of his body looked like—especially with the water streaming down over it. Now he had her body in such a state, she was tempted to tell him to forget about dinner, the party...everything, and finish what he’d started.

  She heard voices and dishes being placed in the dining room, but didn’t move from her position. A few minutes later, strong arms lifted her and she came to rest against Terrence’s chest. Opening her eyes, she met his gaze. He held hers intently and then placed a soft, lingering kiss against her lips. Draping her arms loosely around his neck, she leaned against his shoulder as he carried her over to the table, then placed her in a chair. Neither spoke for several minutes while they slowly ate. The sexual tension was so thick it wouldn’t take much to push them over the edge.

  Janae took a sip of her iced tea. “How long will the party last?”

  “Usually a couple of hours, but some people tend to hang around awhile longer. Why?”

  “Just curious. How long have you been working with the group?”

  “Two years. Kaleidoscope was signed to another label for four years before joining us.”

  “How many CDs do they have?”

  “One with the previous label. Tonight’s release will be their second with us.”

  “What type of music do they play?”

  “It’s categorized as jazz, but is probably more like jazzy R & B.”

  “I can’t wait to hear them.”

  They finished eating in silence, and then Terrence left to get dressed. Janae went back outside to the balcony. She leaned against the railing and studied the Beverly Hills view in the fading sunlight. From their floor, she could see buildings for miles. As she stood there, nervousness took hold again. Not one for a lot of attention, she must have been out of her mind to accept an invitation to be seen with one of the most popular music artists and producers in the country.

  “Yeah, that was really smart,” she mumbled under her breath.

  The door opened behind her, and Terrence stepped out. Her mouth ran dry. Wearing a pair of charcoal-gray trousers and white silk T that molded to his massive chest, he was a chocolate fantasy personified—a rich, decadent, sinful fantasy.

  “Hey. You look really good. Are you getting ready to leave?”

  “Yeah.” He hesitated. “I have something for you.”

  She arched an eyebrow, and he smiled.

  “Humor me.” He gestured her inside.

  She walked warily through the door with him following. On a side table sat a wrapped, long jeweler’s box, which he handed to her. Taking a seat in the closest chair, she carefully unwrapped and opened it. A small gasp escaped when she saw the diamond charm bracelet nestled inside. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “But you didn’t need to buy me anything.”

  Easing the box from her hands, he removed the bracelet then set the box on the table. “I know, but I wanted to.” He lifted her arm and fastened the bracelet around her wrist. “I chose the schoolhouse because you are an incredible teacher, the palette and brush because you’re an amazing and gifted artist, and the angel because you are the most beautiful and giving person I know.”

  His heartfelt words brought tears to her eyes. “I don’t know what to say. I... Thank you.” Rising from the chair, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, repeating her thanks.

  “You’re welcome.” A knock sounded at the door. “That’s probably Donovan.”

&nb
sp; Janae released him and wiped the tears from her eyes as she watched him disappear around the corner. He came back moments later with his friend.

  “Hey, Janae,” Donovan said.

  “Hi, Donovan. You look nice.”

  “You think so?” he asked, looking down at himself. “Yeah. I see your point. I do, don’t I?”

  She laughed. “Try not to break too many hearts tonight,” she teased.

  He ran his hand over his clean-shaven face and said humorously, “Hmm, I’ll see what I can do.”

  She glanced in Terrence’s direction to see him shaking his head.

  “What? She’s right. I do look good,” Donovan said innocently.

  Janae glanced back over at Terrence and laughed harder.

  “Man, I don’t know why I keep you around,” Terrence said with mock disgust. “Are you ready?”

  Donovan winked at Janae. “Waiting on you, T.”

  Terrence slipped into his suit coat and turned to Janae. “When you come down, tell the person at the door that you’re with RC Productions.”

  “Okay. See you guys in a while.”

  * * *

  Terrence listened to Erica, the company’s publicist, as she related the information regarding the postcards. Apparently, there had been a mix-up and their order hadn’t been completed.

  “The person who answered the phone tried to tell me I had the wrong date, but when I told him to check the bottom of the invoice, he backpedaled. I finally spoke to the owner, who promised that they would work overtime to have them delivered by seven-thirty tonight. He also cut the price in half,” she added.

  “What about everything else?”

  “Gary and I went through the boxes and everything’s here—CDs, shirts and raffle tickets. I have the concert tickets we’ll be giving away, as well.”

  “Sounds like you have it under control,” Terrence said, pleased that all the problems had been worked out.

  Erica nodded. “We’re going to start getting things on the tables.” She stood. “I know you need to talk to the guys in the group, so we’ll let you get to it.”