If he had asked me weeks ago I would have jumped at the chance. Hell as desperate as I was after the situation with Rock, I would have taken anything I could get. But now that I had met someone that lived close enough I could see him as often as I wanted I wasn’t sure if a long distance relationship was where I wanted to be.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.. Maybe.”
“Damn, baby, you make it sound like I’m putting a gun to your head.” Timmy even had the nerve to try and look hurt.
“Nah, I didn’t mean it like that.”
We got to Wendy’s and I felt my phone ringing in my purse. “I gotta pee. Order me a strawberry salad,” I said and dashed into the stall. By then the phone had stopped ringing but I noticed Jeremy had sent me another text.
J: Whatcha doing? Thinking about me? Notice I didn’t put a LOL
I’m a big believer of multitasking so I decided to text and pee.
Me: Actually I am.
J: I knew it. Care to share??
Me: I was thinking about the comedy show last Friday. You were laughing, joking and so relaxed. I’d like to see more of that side of you.
J: I told you I am a clown. I enjoyed u also.
I sat there on the toilet, sighing. This was like one of those romance novels or something. Jeremy was sweet and respectable and I kept wondering how in the world was this amazing man single?
* * *
“What the hell is he waiting for?” Timmy screamed.
We were in my hotel room watching the Lakers play Portland, and Kobe Bryant was looking sad out on the court.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with them?” All I could do was shake my head. I was a diehard basketball fan and the Lakers used to be my team before I fell in love with Kevin Durant. “Kobe ain’t been the same since Shaq left.”
Timmy looked at me with that beautiful grin of his. “You’re something else.”
I was sitting beside him on the bed with a bowl of popcorn between us. It was nice being here with him again. As soon as I first found out I was attending the training class I was wondering if Timmy was going. And then, when I saw the list of people planning to attend I had gotten excited and started thinking about the way things used to be and what if we could hook up while we were here. But like I said, that was before I met Jeremy.
Speaking of him, I’d been ignoring his calls all evening. If fact, I had to turn off my ringer.
“I’ve been thinking about applying for a position at Whiteman AFB.”
“Really?” That was less than two hours away from Columbia.
“Yeah, the superintendent is retiring.”
I snapped my fingers. “I think I heard something about that.”
“I was thinking about applying. I would be closer to my dad.” His father lived in Des Moines, Iowa. “And this sexy woman sitting beside me.”
I was grinning like a damn fool when he leaned over and pressed his lips against mine.
“So tell me what’s going through your head. What do you think about all this?”
I’m thinking weeks ago I would have been all for it. “Well…” I didn’t know where to begin. “Look… I’ve gotta be honest.” I can’t believe I’m doing this. “I’m sorta seeing someone.”
“And what does that mean for us?”
I have this fine man sitting beside me, single, with no kids, who’s willing to relocate so he can be closer to me so we can finally have a relationship and yet my dumb ass was hesitating. I can’t explain it but I guess it’s something about what coulda-shoulda been and trying to rekindle a flame that had burned out years ago. I don’t know. When I wanted him he wasn’t available but now that he’s ready, well, just like a brotha, they expect you to drop everything and be on board. I just wasn’t with that.
Images of a life with Jeremy had been dancing in my head. “I’m seeing someone I really like. I don’t know where it’s headed but I’m interested in finding out. I’m not saying you and I don’t have a chance. I’m just saying someone has jumped ahead of you in line.”
His eyes started to twinkle and there was that smirk on those pretty lips of his. “Well since he’s not here and I am, then I guess I need to give you a reason to put me ahead of the rest.”
Timmy started kissing me and I rolled onto my back and allowed him to draw me close in his arms. The kiss was nice and when his tongue slipped into my mouth, I was all about meeting his strokes, yet the entire time I caught myself thinking about what was waiting for me at home.
14
JANELLE
I had just finished checking on how dinner was going when I stepped out of the kitchen and spotted Kaleb standing up front looking scrumptious in gray slack, a white dress shirt and Ferragamo loafers. Trust me, I know my designers. The second Kaleb spotted me he grinned. I sauntered over to him and watched as his eyes took in everything from the blue Manolos on my feet to the black wrap dress that tied at my small waist. Yesterday I had made a trip to the mall so my new push-up bra had my girls covered in satin and looking ripe for the picking.
“You made it,” I purred and tilted my head for a brief succulent kiss.
As he pulled away, Kaleb had a sexy smirk on his face. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“Then come on and follow me. I have a table reserved.” I signaled for him to follow my lead as we weaved through the small intimate tables covered with fine linen. Closer to a long bar were a couple of oversized love seats. Of course several customers stopped me along the way, wanting to comment on how good the food tasted. I smiled, sucked it all up, and kept it moving.
“You’re popular,” I heard Kaleb say.
I shrugged and glanced briefly over my shoulder. “I’m the owner and everyone knows how hands-on I am with my restaurant.”
“I can’t wait for you to show me a little hands-on experience,” he teased.
I giggled and pointed for him to take a seat at the best table in the house.
He did that sexy one eyebrow thing. “You joining me, right?”
“Absolutely. Tonight’s my night off.” Or at least it officially started the moment he stepped into the restaurant.
“You got a nice place here.” He glanced around and looked clearly impressed. He should. I spent a lot of money designing a place with class. Thanks to my cousin Toby who was a hell of a contractor I was able to get most of the renovations for dirt cheap.
“Thanks. This is my pride and joy.” I was probably glowing.
Kaleb leaned back on the bench. Damn, the dude had swag. “As I was coming in, I noticed the space next door is for sale.”
He was observant. I’m impressed. “Yes, that was a bridal shop that went out of business.”
“You ever think about knocking out that wall and expanding your restaurant?”
I gave a rude grunt. “All the damn time but I know I need to crawl before I walk. My restaurant is just starting to turn a profit so I don’t have the money to expand just yet.”
He brought a hand to his chin and gave me a calculated look. “Well, we’ll have to see about that.”
See, that what I’m talking about! Kaleb went out of his way to make me feel special by doing things for me that showed he was interested in more than just dating. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself but if he was saying what I thought he was saying, I was going to be doing a lot of slobbering on that beautiful penis of his.
He reached for a menu and opened it in front of him. “So what do you suggest I order?” he asked with a curious look.
“Everything’s good on my menu.” I wasn’t trying to boast but it is what it is. I personally selected every item on that menu.
“Oxtails and rice?” His brow rose. “I gotta see this. Nobody makes them like my Big Mama.”
I pointed a finger at him. “That’s because you haven’t tasted mine.”
“So what you saying? They’re better than Big Mama’s?”
Uh-huh. I wasn’t even about to get between a man and his grandmother. “I’m saying they’re p
robably the next best thang.” He looked pleased by my answer. The last thing I was going to do was offend this man especially when I was dying for him to make me a permanent part of his life.
“How about we place a bet?” I said.
“What kind of bet?” Men never could resist a challenge.
I crossed my legs. “If you don’t like them then I’ll make it up to you with a little hands-on experience.”
“And if I do like them?”
“Then by midnight I expect to feel your hands all over me.” I licked my lips and leaned in close so the twins were resting on the table. His eyes dropped to my cleavage and lingered there long enough for me to know he had accepted my challenge. Not that I had expected any less.
“You’re on.” He accepted with the cutest little smirk.
To moved my menu to the side. “And when you finish my oxtails you’ll have to top that off with peach cobbler and ice cream.”
“Damn babe. You’re tryna reel a nigga in.”
I winked. “That’s the plan.”
My cousin Charmaine came over and took our drink orders. Kaleb moved his chair over next to mine and we held hands and listened while the band did their thang. Folks were still coming through the door and several recognized Kaleb and came over to speak briefly. I felt special being with him and I held his hand proudly. I could get used to being with this rich and powerful man.
“That band’s good.”
I nodded in agreement. “Fluidity be jamming. I heard them one weekend while I was in St. Louis at this joint on the north side and I invited them to drop through whenever they were in the area.” We chatted some more and placed our dinner order then I excused myself long enough to run to the kitchen and threaten Mimi that Kaleb’s oxtails had better be on point. When I finally made it back to our table he was checking messages on his phone. I took my seat. We chatted and listened to the band while they sung Atlantic Starr’s “Secret Lovers.”
I was humming and sipping an Apple Martini when I caught him looking at me. “What?”
“You sure you’re single?” he asked with a piercing stare.
“Why you ask that?”
“Because you got every brotha in here staring at you.”
I did a quick sweep of the restaurant. There were a few. Most of them were dudes I knew from the neighborhood, but I didn’t bother correcting him. A man loves having a woman everyone wants. And I was definitely worth having. Kaleb needed to know he wasn’t the only man yanking my chain even though right at the moment he was the only one who mattered.
I gave a shrug like it was no big deal. “No one I’m interested in.”
He grinned and brought my hands to his lips and kissed it.
A couple of friends stopped by my table to say hello and I introduced them to Kaleb. Shortly after our food arrived. I had ordered the oxtails as well and waited for him to dive in first. The second he put the fork in his mouth and his eyelids lowered I knew I had him.
“Daaayum this is good!” He moaned and shook his head as he took another bite.
“I’m sorry… I don’t think I heard you.” I cupped my ear with my hand.
He laughed. “Babe, you heard me. This food is off the chain!”
I waved a fork in the air. “Does that mean it’s as good as Big Mama’s?”
He gave me that cute smirk again. “Nah babe. It’s better. Just don’t tell Big Mama I said that.” He laughed and I joined in. Kaleb planned to introduce me to his grandmother. That meant I was in there.
Around nine the lights dimmed dramatically. I looked over and said, “C’mon. Let’s dance.”
He took my hand and led me out onto the floor. It was a fast number and now that I had a slight buzz I was ready to wiggle my hips and show him what this diva was all about. Kaleb had some moves and I ain’t mad at the way he was dancing to the music. Damn that brotha had so much swag and he moved with enough confidence he had me getting moist between the thighs.
We were doing our thing when I spotted Alphonso’s red-bone ass stepping out onto the dance floor. What the hell did he want? I’ve been avoiding his calls ever since our dinner when he was eating like a puppy dog. What was it going to take for that idiot to get the hint? We made eye contact, and I just gave him a quick nod then returned my attention to Kaleb.
“Who’s that?”
Kaleb didn’t miss a beat. I noticed the way he was watching me waiting for my reaction. “Just someone who comes into the restaurant a lot.” I tried to say it like it was no big deal because in actuality it wasn’t a big deal. I went back to dancing and tried to ignore Alphonso even if it wasn’t easy. He was standing off near the bar staring at me.
The band performed a Kool and the Gang hit and I started gyrating me hips, ignoring him. The only man on my mind was that sexy mutha in front of me. I was laughing and having such a good time I didn’t spot Al until he was walking across the dance floor again. This time, he had the nerve to brush past us.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything going on between the two of you?”
“I said there isn’t!” I didn’t mean to shout, but it was the only way he could hear me over the beat of the music.
“That’s funny, because I swore that mothafucka just bumped up against me.”
“What? Why would he do that?”
He glared at me. “I don’t know, you tell me.”
I tried to play it off. But trust me, my insides were churning. “It ain’t shit going on between us. Now quit tripping off that dude and dance.”
“I’m not tripping. But I’m not stupid. I know what I saw.”
I blew out a breath. “I barely even know his name.”
We were dancing when I saw Alphonso coming around again. The second he came up behind me, and I felt his hand grope my ass. It took everything I had not to swing around and cuss his ass out. If I did then Kaleb would know I had been lying.
I went back to dancing and was glad when the song was finally over so that we could return to our seat. Kaleb seemed agitated.
“You okay?”
He shook his head. “I don’t appreciate that nigga bumping all up against me. If there’s something I need to know then you need to tell me so I’ll know how to handle the situation.”
For a weak moment I almost blurted out about Alphonso groping my ass. But I knew better than that. Instead, I placed a hand on Kaleb’s arm trying to reassure him. “There is nothing to tell you. I don’t know. Maybe the dude is crazy.”
“And you’re sure there is nothing going on between the two of you?”
“No.” I was really starting to get worried with all of the questions. I really like Kaleb and I didn’t want anyone especially not lame-ass Al blowing this chance for me. “Sweetheart, the only man I want is you.”
He grinned, and I released a sigh of relief, but then I spotted Alphonso coming passed our table. Quickly I draped an arm around Kaleb’s neck and pulled him in for a long kiss. If Al didn’t know, he knew now. This was my man. I’d be damned before I let someone stand in the way of my future. After that Kaleb seemed to relax a bit.
Our dessert arrived and we dug in and he commented on how much he enjoyed the peach cobbler. The whole time I kept my eyes on Alphonso. The second I got home I planned to call and lay his ass out.
He moved past the table again and I dropped my eyes to the table making sure Kaleb didn’t see me and him make eye contact. Apparently Kaleb was watching him as well. “If that dude looks over here at my woman one more time you might as well alert security.”
I grinned. “Your woman, huh? I’m not thinking about that dude and neither should you.” We ordered another round of drinks and danced two slow dances. We were heading back to our table when I said, “Hey, babe. I’m going to the ladies room real quick. I’ll be right back.”
I turned and hurried to the restroom. Those drinks were running right through me. I moved into the only empty stall, peed then washed my hands and slipped down the hall to my office. As soon as I was seated be
hind my desk, I removed my phone from my purse and sent Alphonso a text.
What the hell are you doing???
That was the reason why I didn’t let men I was dating know where I worked. They just couldn’t resist stalking me.
I grabbed my purse then hurried back into the main room and over to my hostess.
“Get Al’s ass out of my restaurant now!” I hissed loud enough for Penny’s ears only.
There was no need to explain. “Sure, Jae. I’ll handle it.”
I was confident she’d get security right on it. The place was packed. I waved at a few customers then moved back to the table where Kaleb was leaving a nice fat tip.
“Baby you didn’t have to do that. Although Charmaine will be real happy to get it.”
“That’s what a gentleman does.” He put his wallet back in his pocket then swung around on the seat. “So what did you go back there to do… meet that mothafucka in the kitchen?”
It took a moment for his words to register. Even then my eyes grew large and my jaw dropped. I was so stung by his comment that it took me a second to find my voice. “Excuse me? I went to the bathroom.”
“No the fuck you didn’t. You met that mothafucka!” He was practically yelling. Thank goodness the music was too loud for anyone else to hear.
“What?”
“You heard me. You went in the bathroom, called him on the phone and told him to meet you in the kitchen. I watched him walked that way right after you did.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re crazy.”
He held out his hand. “Then show me your phone.”
It took everything I had not to flinch. The last thing I was going to do was give him my phone so he could see that text message I sent. He would swear up and down I’d been lying all the time.
“I’m not going to ask you again. Show me your got-damn phone!” His eyes were large and his chest was heaving. Who the hell was this psycho mothafucka? He had this scared crazy kinda look that I didn’t know how to begin to explain.
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