“Ooh…” I purred. “You should stop talking like that! In fact, why don’t you fly out here real quick and do some stuff to me.”
“I may just have to do that. I need to see you soon. I’m in need a Gabriella fix in my life.”
“It’s just a flight away, baby.”
“And that’s so good to know!” he yelled. “I can’t wait to have you back in my arms again with all your sexiness.”
I shifted gears leading the conversation to a somewhat serious place.
“Okay baby…seriously, when are you coming out here?”
“I’ll be out there soon, babe. We have to work out some dates.”
“Hopefully we can do that soon. I do want you inside me and all that good stuff, but I also wanna get this trip to the lion’s den out of the way, and I have no interest in doing it on a solo mission.”
“What’s the rush babe? You sure you wanna tell everybody right now? I was thinking we keep it between us for a bit.”
What the hell was he saying?
I wasn’t sure how I was feeling about what he said, but I listened, waiting for a point to be made that resonated with me.
“I just think that since it’s so new, we need to be in it by ourselves for a while before we invite people in. We don’t know yet if everybody will be happy that we’re together.”
“Who is everybody, Kenny?”
My feelings were hurt, but I wasn’t going to show that. Before he could answer, I doubled back.
“…Okay, you know what?” I jumped in before he could answer. “My bad. Forget I brought it up. Let’s do what you said and pace it.”
“Are you upset, Gabriella?”
“Not at all,” I lied.
“You sure?”
“Yep…I’m good.”
I didn’t want him to know that I was hurt by his desire to keep us a secret. I got a taste of my own medicine with that reveal. It’s how Robert must have felt in the moments he expressed interest in meeting my parents.
Gabriella…meet Karma, she’s a bitch.
I thought it would be best to change the subject, so I asked him how his flight home was.
“It was cool. I can’t complain. I was happy to touch down on soil though. I’m not too fond of flying, even with as much travelling as I do.”
“Yeah, does sound a little crazy, but normal ain’t for everybody,” I joked. “It’s reserved for us special folk. Sounds like you missed your opportunity.”
“Ha! You’re funny!”
Feeling rejected, angry, and sad all at the same time, I went MIA for the remainder of the conversation.
“Well, Mister, I think I’m gonna go now. Need to check some email and get my deliverables lined up for tomorrow which I’m pretty sure will be 12-14 hour day.”
“Awww! She’s trying to get rid of me!”
“Nah, that’s not it. I just want to get the ball rolling. Being freshly back, I may be moving a bit slower than normal since I’m still on Brazil time.”
“Okay, I understand baby. I hate to let you go, but go do your businesswoman thing. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, right?”
“Sure. You have a good night.”
“I’ll try. You do the same, Sweetheart.”
When I pressed the end button, I was back in my own head again and allowing doubt to set in.
I decided I would treat our new thing as casual and let the chips fall where they may. If it morphed into something, then it was meant. But in the meantime, I was returning to basics.
I’d done fine without a serious relationship, so the beauty of it was that I could fluidly slip back into mode.
And that’s exactly what I planned to do.
CHAPTER 58
~*~*~
The next morning, it was back to business. Although my mother and Di had done an awesome job while I was away, business was bursting at the seams, so there were always tasks to complete. But I loved it! It’s what made my world go around.
I had done a lot, but there was still more to be done. I still had location openings to plan, and delve into staffing those new businesses with dream teams.
I loaded my computer to begin my morning ritual, and was sifting through new emails, when one popped up from Natalia, with a simple subject: “me chamar.” Nothing in the body of the email, just call me.
I responded to a few emails, returned some phone calls, and right around the noon hour – four in the afternoon in Brazil – I called Natalia, before taking my shower.
“Hey, beautiful!” I yelled excitedly when she answered the other line. “Como vai?”
“Girl, you speak more Portuguese when you go back to America than you do when you’re here!”
“Says the red-headed girl who put the subject of her email, in Portuguese! Don’t judge me!”
“Okay, okay!” she laughed. “How’s it going since you left your lover boy?”
“Uhhh…things are okay,” I treaded carefully.
“Okay, we’ll get into why you kept his identity a secret from me later!” she scolded. “Hurts that I’m the last to know.”
Oh shit! Valentina had gotten the chance to tell her before I did.
“I already know, Talia,” was all I could say.
“As long as you do,” she retorted. “So, how are things since you got back. In work mode, I’m sure?”
“You know me. I’m already back on the grind. Hours, hours, and more hours, of work.”
“And you love it, Gabriella! You are a workaholic!”
“You’re right. I do…and I am. There’s nothing like having your own, Talia. I never really saw myself working for anyone but myself, and it’s rewarding. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
“Well now you have a man,” she stressed. “So you better get used to splitting that time. You know men don’t like to feel they’re playing second fiddle to anything! They’re so needy.”
“Oohh! I’m gonna tell him you said that!”
“Go right ahead, and I’ll deny every single word,” she cautioned.
“Ha ha! I miss you, silly girl!”
“I miss you too…” she paused, “which brings me to the reason for wanting you to call me.”
“Am I gonna want to hear this?”
“I think so…or should I say, I hope so.”
“Goodie! I’m all ears.” I thought for a second. “Wait…I was just there not even one week ago, and you wait until I get home to do some full disclosure stuff. Should I be scared, Talia? What is it you want to tell me that you couldn’t tell me while I was there? And don’t say anything about I was otherwise engaged because you know I would have made time for conversation – man in the picture, or not.”
“My god, girl!” she said. “Will you breathe and let me know when you’ve caught your breath so I can get into my story?”
“So, there’s nothing wrong with you or anything like that?”
“No. It isn’t anything like that, honey. I wouldn’t do that to you. Confiar em mim,” she said her tone serious.
“I do trust you. No more interruptions,” I promised.
“I want to know if the offer is still open for me to come there to live and work with you…for you?”
My heart skipped a beat. I was ecstatic, but too shocked to respond immediately.
“Gabriella…You there?”
I didn’t know where the tears came from, but they escaped in a full on flood down my face. “I’m here…” I whispered.
“Are you crying? Don’t cry, Gabriella. You’ll make me cry too.”
“Okay,” I replied, trying my best to hold back tears. “I would absolutely love for you to come here to work with me, to live with me. I would love it, Talia! This is real, right? You’re talking moving here for good?”
“I am…” she cried. “I’m ready. I realized right after you left that I was ready. So whenever you say it’s a good time, I’ll begin tying up any loose ends, and prepare to make the Bay Area my home.”
“Yayyyyy!” I yelled through the ph
one. “I’m so happy, Talia! And whenever is good for me! There’s plenty of room here for you. If I only had a studio apartment, there would still be room for you. So whatever you have to do, just get here!”
When we hung up the phone, I was on cloud ninety-nine. Natalia was actually coming to live with me. I couldn’t believe it, but it was the best news I’d had in a really long time.
I had so many preparations to make!
Okay, so where was I? I had to ask myself.
Oh yeah! Off to the shower to begin my day and make my rounds to check in on things…in person. My mother offered since it was my first full day back, but she quickly followed it with, “But of course you want to do it yourself. Just use me up and then throw me away.”
“Mama! Stop that! You know it’s not true,” I scolded.
As much as she hated to admit it, she liked having her boss lady hat on. That much I was sure of. Every time I returned after a trip, my staff had glowing reviews, and she pretty much walked on water as far as they were concerned.
When I finally made it into the shower, the flow of the water left me feeling full of life.
CHAPTER 59
~*~*~
As I was applying the last of my accessories, my cell phone rang. Without checking the caller ID I answered, “Hi, this is Gabriella…”
“Hi Gabriella…this is your man.”
“My man, who?” I joked.
“Yeah…I’m not finding that too funny.”
“I know Kenny. Just kidding around with you. How are you doing?”
“I’m good now that I got you on the phone. I know you’re not still at home? It’s top of the afternoon where you are.”
“Yeah…” I said glancing at the clock. Damn near 3. I’m getting a real late start today. But my morning was pretty eventful.”
“Eventful, huh? In a good way, I hope?”
“Oh for sure. Definitely good.”
I placed him on a brief hold while I paired my Bluetooth for hands-free talking. I grabbed my keys, briefcase, and headed downstairs.
“So, what’s on your agenda for today?”
“Stopping by the San Francisco office, then headed back to this side to make sure things are set up for tonight’s crowd at the club.”
“Look at you! Have I told you how proud of you I am?” he gushed.
“You did. But you can tell me as often as you like. I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
As I opened the door to head out, I was stunned into silence when there he stood with that beautiful smile on his face.
“I was wondering how long it was gonna take you to emerge from inside the house.”
“Oh my god, Kenny!” I threw my arms around him, keys and briefcase hitting the ground as I did so.
“What are you doing here!”
“I came to see my baby, of course.”
“Oh my god!” I yelled overjoyed. My arms were locked around his neck and then like magnets drawn to metal, our tongues were doing a tango in each other’s mouths.
When we came up for air, all I wanted to do was look at him. No pinching needed, the truth stared me in the face…I loved the way he looked, the way he felt, smelled. Loved every bit of him.
“When did you get here?”
“I flew in on an early flight and came straight to you. My bags are in the rental. Is it cool to bring them in? Or should I head to the Marriott?”
If looks could kill, the one I shot him would have had put him in an early grave.
“I’m kidding, beautiful…” he said, holding me close.
Ooooh how I loved when he did that.
Needless to say, I called my mother, accepted her offer to do a check in on my behalf, and allowed my man to undress me.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in lovemaking bliss. We didn’t engage in much conversation even as we spooned in between. We were caught up in allowing all the beautiful moments to linger.
Each time we made love, it was more powerful than the time before it, and with each orgasm, any doubts I had before slowly dissipated.
After all the playing, we were depleted, more in love than before, and ready for the night.
At exactly seven that evening, we met in the shower where we bathed each other, got dressed, and headed to Club Rendezvous.
~*~*~
I couldn’t wait for Kenny to see my club. He knew about my businesses, but I wanted him to see what I’d built, in person.
When we drove into the lot and parked in my space, Ken commented, “I’ve always loved this area. You’ve done good, baby.”
“It is pretty nice, ain’t it?” I bragged.
Walking through the doors produced a look of surprise on his face. He glanceed around in amazement, which was the exact reaction I wanted.
“Wow…” he exclaimed. “The pictures don’t do this place justice,” he acknowledged.
“Maybe…you should’ve checked our website, instead of Google!” I kidded, nudging his shoulder.
“Ha! ha! ha! you’re funny!”
“I’m kidding,” I said leaning against his arm. “Thank you, baby. I put a lot of thought into it.”
“You got style, that’s for damn sure.”
“Awww…you’re making me blush.”
He pulled me to him, for a warm, lingering kiss.
“So, what happens next, babe?”
“Well…” I said, rubbing my hand down his back, “…you can have a seat over in my area, and watch me work,” I flirted.
“Now that’s suggestive!” he flirted back.
I grabbed his hand and escorted him to my reserved area, and got him set up with a drink from the bar. Afterwards, I went to the front of the club to greet the couples who had begun trickling in.
Since I had missed a few events, I did a small introduction in the beginning to welcome the old and the new.
When the introduction was done, I made my rounds to check in on a few of my patrons, and shake hands, before joining Ken.
As I walked his way, I could see the smile on his face from a mile away.
“You look good out there, baby. You’re in your element.”
“You think?” I gushed.
“I know. I watched. You’re on fire, and so is this club.”
“Thank you,” I said rubbing his face. “And thank you for coming. I still can’t believe we’re here together. I love this.”
“So do I Gabriella,” he said rubbing my hand with his.
“Speaking of which…how long you here for?”
As soon as I said it, I realized it was the first time I posed the question. The length of his stay should have been the first thing I asked about, but it escaped me in the many moments of passion.
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed surprised, throwing my hand up to my mouth. “I didn’t even ask you that!”
“Yeah, because you were too busy tryin’ to jump my bones!” he joked.
“Well…you could’ve offered up the information! Don’t go putting it all on me!”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I guess because I was busy tryin’ to jump your bones too!”
He leaned over and planted a kisses on my neck, as I sat smiling. If anyone had been watching they might have mistaken us for two giddy kids who couldn’t get enough of each other…and their assumption would have been correct!
“See, we’re both to blame,” I said suddenly feeling a little sad that he would be leaving at all.
“I leave day after tomorrow,” he said.
“Ohh, a short trip? Okay. I guess we just have to make the time count,” I remarked.
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” he asked, moving closer to me.
“You came to see me, right? I mean, of course your family too, but I’d like to think you came for me,” I teased.
“Well, I’d like to think you came for me too,” he said rubbing my thigh.
“Kenny! Keep the focus!” I scolded.
“Alright, if you insist,” he said. “The reason I’m here is be
cause we have an announcement to make and it was better made as a couple.”
When the word, couple, rolled off his tongue, I felt butterflies in my stomach.
“I heard you last night. I hated ending the conversation with you thinking that I wanted to keep you a secret. My surprise was already in motion, so it was my way of throwing you off.”
“Kenny!” I yelled, “Why would you do that? I was so mad at you!”
“I figured that. I know attitude when I hear it,” he laughed. “That’s why I asked if you were good.”
“And you really thought I’d say, I’m good, in that moment?”
“I know, right? That was dumb as hell.”
“It sure was!”
“Listen, you…There’s no way I’m losing you again. I want the world to know. There’s nothing anyone can do or say that will change my feelings. I know I have a lot to prove to you, and I’m prepared to do that.”
I was speechless.
Over the course of a few days, the walls I’d had around me for so many, came tumbling down with a vengeance.
“I love you so much, Kenny. I really do.”
“I love you right back, Gabriella. I am excited about beginning a life with you. If there was ever a reason to be bi-coastal, you’re it.”
After our heart-to-heart discussion, with the house packed, and guests greeted, I left the evening to my capable staff, and headed home where we continued on our quest to make up for lost time.
CHAPTER 60
~*~*~
When the morning sun greeted us, we were both zoned and depleted of every ounce of energy. I could barely move. In fact, I barely wanted to move. I was content lying in bed for the entire day, being with him made me feel that way.
“Ahhh!” he exclaimed, turning onto his back. “Why is that sun in here so bright, and so early?”
“I would think you’d be perfectly fine since you live on east coast time. You should have been up three hours ago!”
“When I’m on the east coast, I don’t have some lady putting it on me like you did, so it’s a lot easier to get up in the morning without feeling like I just ran a triathlon!”
“All I can say is that it’s the high price of lustful nights. No regrets here,” I said stretching into a full stretch.
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