Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents)
Page 26
“I didn’t know you would be here tonight, Mel.”
“Dru invited me.”
“I’m glad she did.”
“I came with Charlee and Giselle.”
“No Ellis?” he asked, the makings of a smile playing on his lips.
I pulled my hand from his grasp and wriggled my naked finger. “No Ellis.”
“Do you think Charlee and Giselle will mind if I steal you for a minute?”
I shook my head. He led me into the main dining room of the restaurant to a quiet table in the corner. He pulled out my chair, then sat across from me. He just stared at me for a good minute before he uttered a word.
“I knew.” He paused. “It had been a long time, but I still knew.”
“Knew what, Malik?”
“I had been running from feeling something real for so long. Running from relationships, from love. The fact that you were spoken for made it easier for me to keep running. But I knew what I was feeling and it was getting more difficult to contain. The night of the snowstorm I stopped running and all my pent-up feelings for you broke loose. The passion between us was crazy, but the echo I felt after was stronger, and I knew. I realize you may not feel the same right now, but I’m willing to wait for—”
“I think I know too, Malik. I’ve known for a while. I kept thinking that I needed to stay away from you because I was curious and curiosity could get me in trouble. But the night of the storm I didn’t care about the repercussions. All along you’d been showing me glimpses of what I was missing and that night I wanted to be with you. I felt our connection, the passion.”
“We’re good together, Mel.”
“Malik, I don’t want to rush into—”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take it slow.”
“I’d like that.”
He got up from his chair and reached out for my hand. I stood in front of him.
“Let’s start with a kiss and see how that goes,” he said.
I tilted my head to meet his kiss. His lips gently parted mine and our tongues intertwined. His arms tightened around me, holding me firmly, securely. When we pulled apart, I felt lightheaded.
Malik smiled. “That was nice. Next maybe we can share a dance or two.”
He guided me on to the dance floor where we grooved to the music and when he held me, I felt a warmth that made my body melt into his.
I saw my girls and his boys pointing and smiling when they saw us together. I guess they all knew, too.
At midnight we toasted in the New Year together, as one big boisterous group, celebrating new beginnings.
Malik leaned over and whispered in my ear. “And finally you can come home with me where you belong.”
“But I don’t have my bed anymore, remember?”
Malik wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me to him.
“I guess that means you’ll have to sleep close to me each and every night.”
“How close?”
“Real close.”
“As close as we can get?”
“Even closer.”
“You win . . .let’s go home.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The moment you realize how blessed you are, is the moment when you should begin to give thanks. This is my moment. I want to thank everyone who picked up this book to spend a little time in Close Quarters with me. I appreciate you and hope that you enjoyed it.
To my family, your support has been amazing. You never let me down, always lift me up and I thank you for having my back then, now and always. I love you guys!
Lots of love to the Old School Crew . . .you know who you are. And where would I be without my sisters? DST for life!
Zane, you are an inspiration! I’m truly thankful to be a part of the Strebor family. Charmaine, you’re an absolute joy to work with and I thank you for all you do. Keith, thanks for bringing sexy to the cover—it’s hot, hot, hot! Sara Camilli, thank you for being an amazing agent.
Thanks to all for your encouragement. You motivate me to keep creating.
• • •
Stay tuned . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo Credit: Shamara Ray
Shamara Ray is a graduate of Syracuse University. She first enticed readers with her debut novel, Recipe for Love. Shamara has a penchant for the culinary arts and enjoys entertaining friends and family in her Long Island home. She is currently working on her next novel.
Find out more about Shamara at http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Shamara-Ray/75426760.
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COVER DESIGN BY MARION DESIGNS
COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY KEITH SAUNDERS
ALSO BY SHAMARA RAY
Recipe for Love
Strebor Books
P.O. Box 6505
Largo, MD 20792
http://www.streborbooks.com
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
© 2012 by Shamara Ray
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever. For information address Strebor Books, P.O. Box 6505, Largo, MD 20792.
ISBN 978-1-59309-443-0
ISBN 978-1-4516-7908-3 (e-book)
LCCN 2012933944
First Strebor Books trade paperback edition December 2012
Cover design: www.mariondesigns.com
Cover photograph: © Keith Saunders/Marion Designs
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