by Celya Bowers
2 Good
Celya Bowers
Genesis Press, Inc.
Indigo Love Stories
An imprint of Genesis Press, Inc.
Publishing Company
Genesis Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 101
Columbus, MS 39703
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, not known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission of the publisher, Genesis Press, Inc. For information write Genesis Press, Inc., P.O. Box 101, Columbus, MS 39703.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author and all incidents are pure invention.
Copyright© 2009 Celya Bowers
ISBN-13: 978-1-58571-594-7
ISBN-10: 1-58571-594-8
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition
Visit us at www.genesis-press.com or call at 1-888-Indigo-1-4-0
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my mother, Celia Mae Bowers Shaw Kenney, and a very dear person I recently lost, Falice (Fay) Lee.
Acknowledgments
2 Good would not have been possible if not for the incredible support of the following people:
My family: Darwyn Tilley, Jeri Murphy, William Kenney, Sheila Kenney, Kim Kenney, Shannon Murphy, Yolanda Tilley, Celya Tilley, and Rod Kenney.
I would like to thank my friends: Erica Black, Cherry Elder, Sharon Hickman-Mahones, Donna Lefear, Beverly Cofer, Lewis Stewart, Roslin Williams, Deandra Garrett, Darlene Ramzy, and Lisa-Lin Burke.
The special people in my life: Kennedy Tilley, Eddie Lee. Thank you for making this world a much nicer place.
To my fans, both new and old, thank you for giving me the chance to be a part of you. Keep those emails coming!
My military friends and fans: Bless you for defending our country.
My critique group: Diane Kelly, Angela Cavener, and Michella Chappell. Thanks for all the meetings at Starbucks, now I’m hooked on coffee!
The members of Celya’s Corner: Louise Brown, Gail Surles, Paula Washington, Pamela Washington, Clara Washington, Mattie Washington, Kenneth Portley, Melody Alvarado, Ingrid Johnson, Alice Pollock, Nalen Busto, Shirley Washington, Tammy Hill, Kerry Elder, Winston Williams, Dawn Moore, Mary Tompkins, Ruthie Scroggins, Jessie Kenney, Sherry Kenney, Judy Brown, Shaunette Smith and Eulanda Bailey.
If I omitted anyone, blame my head, not my heart.
Peace,
Celya Bowers
www.celyabowers.net
[email protected]
CHAPTER 1
It was Monday morning and she was through being the fool.
Madisyn O’Riley had had it. Her now ex-boyfriend loved to push her to the limit, but this time it had backfired. Catching him in a compromising position wasn’t anything new for Madisyn, but last weekend she had been strong and chucked his no-good behind to the curb permanently.
He was surprised, to say the least, but it made Madisyn feel as if she’d conquered Mt. Everest. Nothing could take away her feeling of jubilation, not even the thought of having to deal with a new boss.
She had been an administrative assistant at Brandt, Anderson and Mallory Advertising for over five years, but today felt like her first day. She loved her job and would miss her former boss, but time marched on and so did she. As she prepared for work that morning, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her honey-brown skin was clear. Her bright green eyes stared back at her. People always asked her if she wore colored contacts. She didn’t. She had inherited her green eyes, honey-brown complexion and her figure from her mother. Her plump mother. Madisyn was what most people referred to as thick. But she didn’t mind. She was happy with her body for the most part.
She checked out her starched white blouse, closely inspecting it for any flaws. Not seeing any, she walked back into her bedroom and picked up her jacket, then headed for her garage.
The heat greeted her as she raised her garage door by way of the remote. Why did North Texas have to be so hot during the summer? Since she lived in Dallas and it was the middle of June, she knew the day was going to be a scorcher.
Madisyn arrived at work early that morning in order to get a jump on preparing things for her new boss, who was due to arrive in a week. She needed to order his nameplate and business cards and issue a service order for the IT department to change the computer to his specifications. She was busy working her magic when her friend and co-worker, Keisha Allen, approached her desk.
Keisha was dressed in a too-short dress that hugged her slender frame. She had a knack for wearing just about anything and making it look drop-dead sexy. She’d always told Madisyn how proud she was of her body, that she wasn’t ashamed to show it. Keisha sported the latest complicated and trendy hairstyle, complete with required quota of hair weave, and her makeup was always perfect, making her pecan-brown skin almost glow.
“I like that dress, girl,” Madisyn said politely. Privately, she thought Keisha looked like a call girl, albeit a high-dollar one. Madisyn had been raised to say something nice no matter the circumstance, but Keisha continually pushed that envelope.
“Thanks. But not now. Your new boss is on his way up. He is hot, girl. H-O-T!” Keisha said.
“Yeah, yeah, fine words from a woman whose thermostat is stuck on purgatory anyway. Any man not wearing a wedding band would be hot to you.” And even if he were wearing one, Madisyn mused.
“Don’t hate because I date. You’re just jealous. I told you Darnell wasn’t good enough to spit on. You’re pretty, Madisyn, and it’s time for the world to see the real you. Some men like a healthy woman.”
Typical Keisha. Just because Madisyn didn’t weigh a hundred pounds and wear a size two, Keisha thought the end of world was upon her. “You know, you might be right,” Madisyn lied. “But I don’t want to change for a man. I want him to change for me.” Not that she thought she needed much changing. She was comfortable with her size fourteen frame.
“Hey, why don’t we start that new change tonight? My cousin Aisha is giving a party.”
“You mean the one that’s dating the Dallas Cowboy?”
“The same,” Keisha said, smiling. “You know, since she moved in with him a few months ago, I hardly ever see her anymore. Aisha said something about his friends dropping by to recruit for some of the local charities.”
So that was Keisha’s motivation. She would be in the midst of professional athletes. Madisyn liked her friend, but Keisha only saw dollar signs when it came to dates. That could never work for Madisyn. The next man she dated would be her soul mate.
“So, Madisyn, are you game? We can have dinner and then go to the party.”
“Yes, put me down for it.”
Keisha nodded and headed back down the hall. “See you at dinner,” she called.
* * *
Later that day, Madisyn could finally take a breather. Her new boss, who wasn’t due to report to work for another week, had showed up earlier that day, ready to work. Nothing was ready for him, of course, making her look like an idiot.
Now she had just enough time to grab some dinner with Keisha at their favorite restaurant before they headed to the party. Murphy’s was a little home-style restaurant located just a few blocks from the office. The place was always packed with people from every walk of life, and tonight was no exception. Madisyn entered the restaurant and sought out her friend.
Keisha waved
at her from a table in the corner. Returning the gesture, Madisyn headed to her friend. “How did you get here so fast?”
Keisha took a sip of her caramel-apple martini. “I don’t have a fine new boss watching my every move. My boss is probably in his girlfriend’s office right now, doing the wild thang, and with no idea what time I left.”
Madisyn settled into her chair, refusing to get involved in office chatter, and changed the subject. “What are you going to eat?”
Keisha looked over the menu and smacked her lips. “Girl, I can’t eat too much before we head to the party. Maybe I’ll have a salad or something light. I don’t want to look fat or bloated.” She cleared her throat. “Not that you don’t look nice, Maddie. But you should wear more makeup to dress up your green eyes. Most women would kill for eyes like yours.”
Madisyn wasn’t upset at Keisha’s comment. She’d known Keisha since junior high and she’d always had the same outlook. Size mattered, whether it was physical or financial. To Keisha “the bigger, the better” applied only to bank accounts. Madisyn felt sorry for her friend.
* * *
Later at the party, Madisyn realized she was quite out of her safe, staid element. The gathering was being held at Aisha’s home, which she shared with her boyfriend, Kerwin Gallagher, running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Madisyn had met him a few times over the last year. He didn’t act the way the media portrayed professional football players. While he wasn’t a saint, he was nice enough.
Every woman at the party was dressed in a short skirt or dress and stilettos that looked much too painful to walk in. Keisha was in her element with all the football players hovering around her. She was like a kid in a candy store. She hadn’t said two words to Madisyn since they hit the party.
Madisyn looked down at her frame hidden in a black suit and sighed. She looked pretty boring compared to the other women. Maybe Keisha was right about the makeover, she thought.
Aisha came over to Madisyn as she held up the wall in a corner of the large house. Aisha was dressed in the requisite short mini dress and four-inch stilettos, which made the slender woman appear to be about six feet tall.
“This is a lovely party, Aisha. I thought Keisha was kidding about the athletes being here. What on earth are these men doing here?”
“They thought it would be a great way to get volunteers for the charities they represent without it turning into a major media event. But it’s not going as well as we’d hoped. Most of the women here are looking for a man, not volunteer work at a charity organization. The majority of these guys are already spoken for.” Aisha snapped her perfectly manicured fingers. “Hey, you should meet Aidan Coles. He’s representing Mature Alliance. It’s so new they need volunteers really bad. They’re still finalizing a lot of details, but I know he could use your organizational skills.”
“What is the Mature Alliance?”
“It’s an organization to teach adults to read and help them get their high school diploma.”
Madisyn thought it sounded perfect. She’d wanted to volunteer, but had never known how or where to start. “And since I’m always going on about how I want to help in the community, I should volunteer for something, huh?”
Aisha shrugged her thin shoulders. “Well, yeah. Aidan could probably tell you something about it, or at least direct you to the right people in the organization. He’s the founder, but I don’t know how hands-on he is.” She grabbed Madisyn’s hand. “Come on, let’s go meet him.”
Madisyn didn’t want to make a scene, so she allowed herself to be led across the living room to the handsome man holding court with at least ten women. He was gorgeous of course, with caramel-brown skin, short black hair, and a thin mustache framing a large natural smile. The man was some kind of sexy. His wide shoulders were her downfall. He towered over Madisyn’s five-foot, ten-inch frame by at least five inches.
“Okay, scat, ladies,” Aisha said. “We need to talk business with Aidan.”
The women grumbled but left the area. Madisyn was impressed with Aisha’s skills. “Girl, you are too much. Remind me to take you shopping with me when there’s a big sale at the mall.”
Aisha laughed. “Just a little crowd control.” She pulled Madisyn closer to the smiling man. “Madisyn O’Riley, Aidan Coles. Aidan Coles, Madisyn O’Riley. You guys chat. I have to go police the area.” She walked off.
* * *
Aidan surveyed the woman standing in front of him. She was thick, as his mother would say. She had an easy smile, shoulder-length black hair, big, expressive green eyes and honey-brown skin. “Is that your real name?” He felt as stupid as his question.
“Yes, it is. I know I should be a middle-aged Irish woman with that name,” Madisyn said, glancing across the room.
He wondered what had her attention. She definitely wasn’t like every other woman in the room, making him the focus of her attention. “Not necessarily. It’s just very different. I think I’ve met Eisha, Tisha, Tameka, you know those names. Madisyn is refreshing and original.”
“Well, Aidan is not your everyday name either.”
“True. Blame my mother. She had a flair for the dramatic. My full name is Aidan Sidney Coles.”
Madisyn laughed. “Ouch. Aisha said you’re heading up the literacy program.”
“Yes, I am. It hasn’t really gotten off the ground yet. We’re short on volunteers,” he lied. He’d had a lot of volunteers, just not anyone who was actually interested in helping people. “We already have over fifty people signed up to learn to read.”
“Amazing,” Madisyn said, totally in awe. “I’d be willing to volunteer.”
Aidan smiled. “Really? You know there’s no pay.”
“Duh, hence the volunteering thing,” Madisyn said, laughing. “I’m doing this for me, not for money or to get close to an athlete.”
“You’d be the first,” Aidan said honestly.
“I’ve been around sports nuts all my life. Why would I want to go out with one?”
He shrugged. “Same as most of the women here. Money. Status.”
“Well, Aidan, I hate to be the one to inform you, but I’m not like most of the women here. I’m my own person. I love sports, don’t get me wrong. I’ve followed your career since you graduated from the University of Oklahoma.”
“No way,” Aidan said.
Madisyn had his attention now. “Yep, you attended Oklahoma University on a full scholarship, then were drafted in the first round by the New England Patriots. Then you went to San Francisco and ultimately to Dallas, about three years ago. You are one of the best wide receivers in the league and are worth the change the Cowboys had to pay for you.”
Aidan stood before her, clearly in awe. “I’m impressed you’ve followed my career so closely.”
Madisyn shrugged. “I come from a family of athletes. My dad was a high school football coach before he retired and I have four brothers. My oldest brother, Mike, is also a high school football coach. Liking sports is not an option in our family, you have to love sports. All sports.”
He nodded, understanding. She was definitely a breath of fresh air. He was tired of those women who only wanted to be with him because he played professional football. He wanted a woman who wanted to get to know Aidan Coles, the man. Was this the woman? Only one way he would find out. “The first meeting is Friday night at seven at the center. See you there.”
CHAPTER 2
Darnell Whitfield walked into the office of his boss, James Harland, and took a seat. Seldom did the president of Harland, Collins, and Roarke Investments call him into his office. He could count the times on one hand in the six years he’d been employed there.
After the receptionist waved him inside the large office, Darnell cleared his throat to announce his presence. Harland motioned him to a chair.
“Close the door.” Harland leaned back in his leather chair, watching Darnell as if he’d committed some crime too awful to repeat.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Darnell asked
as he took a seat.
“Yes, Whitfield. As you know, Kenneth Harris is going to retire in a few months, leaving open the position for senior investment banker. We value your hard work and your dedication to the firm.”
Darnell smiled at the old man. “Thank you, sir.”
“How’s that wonderful girlfriend of yours? If I was twenty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money. Madisyn is everything we value here. We don’t need anyone who’s going to cause a scandal or bring disgrace to our firm. I have to say, you were on shaky ground with us until you met her.”
Darnell couldn’t reveal that Madisyn had caught him with his pants down again. “Yes, sir. I’m very thankful you gave me a second chance.”
Harland laughed. “You should thank Madisyn. I’ll make the announcement of your promotion at the annual banquet. That way I can see the look of surprise on Madisyn’s face.”
Darnell racked his brain for an excuse. “I think she might be out of town that night. Some kind of trip with her mother,” he lied.
“Oh. Then we’ll wait to make the announcement.”
Oh, that was not good. “I’ll see if I can get her to postpone it, so she can attend the banquet.”
“Do that. I’d hate for you to miss out on such a great opportunity because you couldn’t convince her how important this is to you.”
Darnell saw the writing on the wall. If Madisyn wasn’t at the banquet and by his side, he wouldn’t have the promotion. Darnell smiled as he left his boss’s office. A plan was already forming in his head. Madisyn would take him back; she always did. A few well-placed words, a little attention, and he’d have her back in his arms. Easy as pie.
* * *
Two days later, Madisyn sat at her desk making sure everything for her new boss was in place. She hadn’t been prepared for his arrival and it had showed. He’d already made her feel the fool once by showing up a week early. This time she was going to be ready.
What she wasn’t ready for was the sight of her ex-boyfriend, Darnell, walking toward her desk with red roses in one hand and a box of candy in the other, his usual “Baby, I’m sorry” gift. He was dressed as impeccably as always. His tall, lean body was made for the dark suit.