“How did the interview go?”
“It went really good,” he said with that cocky look that was so Timmy. He leaned forward on the chair with his large arms resting on my desk. “I think I gotta good chance at getting it.”
“So do I.” Since I worked in personnel it wasn’t hard to find out how many other candidates were being considered for the position. And trust me the second he left I was going to Janet’s desk to find out. She was a civilian, so she wasn’t there, but I knew where she kept the active job postings.
“You got time to go grab a bite to eat?” he asked and there was the wolf gleam in his eyes that screamed, “Beware!”
“I-I don’t know,” I stuttered.
“You know you want to,” he began with a cocky smirk. “We can just run and get a sandwich.” He rose from the chair like it was no longer up for discussion. “C’mon I haven’t eaten all day.” His voice had dropped to a low tone that I felt clear down in my belly. Moving toward the door, Timmy waved his hand and signaled for me to follow.
There was something about the way he was always sure about himself that was such a turn-on about him. I tried to tell myself going out to lunch with an ex-boyfriend wasn’t a good idea but deep down I knew I wanted to go and spend some time with him. I grabbed my purse from the bottom drawer and followed him out to his rental car. We chatted nonstop until Timmy pulled into one of the drive-up stations at Sonic’s. The second the car was in Park, Timmy swung around on the seat.
“So what’s the deal? You in love with dude?” he asked.
Goodness, he was so sexy. I nodded. “Yes, I’m in love.”
He kept staring at me and licking his lips at the same time. I started to squirm. Timmy knew he was working on me. “But is he the right man?”
Timmy has always been one to get straight to it. I looked down briefly at my hand then back up to him again. “Yes, I believe he is. I’m at a point in my life I am tired of the games. I want something real… something solid.”
“So do I.” he dragged a hand down along his face. “I was hoping if I got this position you and I would have a chance to finish where we left off. We’re good together, Nyree. Remember?”
How could I forget with him sitting over there licking those juicy lips of his? But I had to remind myself with Jeremy it wasn’t about sex. We had something that connected our souls.
“Yeah, we were good, but Jeremy and I are better. For someone who’s supposed to be starving you sure are taking all doggone day to order.” I tried to add a little attitude to my voice.
“Yeah, okay.” Timmy started laughing then pressed the button and we ordered our food. After he paid with a credit card, we waited and I should have known he wasn’t ready to put our conversation to rest.
“I bet that Jeremy dude can’t suck that pussy like I do.”
“What?” I yelled trying to sound offended when in actuality I was squeezing my thighs together fighting the memories. Like I said, Timmy had some juicy lips and they were made for sucking Ms. Kitty. “Timmy shut the hell up.”
He shifted on the seat, so he could look me dead in the eye. “Why? Because you hate hearing the truth?”
“No because you’re being ridiculous,” I spat and looked everywhere but at him because if I did he would have seen the truth. Nobody ate pussy like Timmy. But sex ain’t everything. “I love Jeremy. We’re practically living together.”
That knocked that cocky grin off his face. “Damn, you really are serious, aren’t you?”
“I told you I am. With Jeremy I’ve learned there’s a lot more to a relationship than just sex, especially when you meet the right person.”
There was no disguising the disappointment on his face. “I guess you’re serious about dude.”
“I’m dead serious.” I released a long breath and was proud I was able to resist temptation. Our food arrived and he handed me my drink and burger.
“Yo, Nyree. Listen, I’m sorry for disrespecting you. I’m not gonna lie. I’m jealous as hell. But it’s my loss. I had a chance to get with you and I fucked that up. Now another mothafucka slipped in and snatched yo ass up. I hate to lose but I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
Suddenly, Timmy leaned in close enough so his lips were touching my ear and whispered, “But I’m gonna try every chance I get to steal yo fine ass away.”
As we sat and ate our lunch I had a sinking feeling resisting Timmy wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
By the time five o’clock rolled around, I was worn out. I made it back to Columbia, ready for a night with my feet up on the couch. But the second I pulled into my driveway and raised my garage, I was suddenly full of energy when I saw Jeremy’s car parked inside.
I had given him a key over a week ago and he hadn’t used it until today. Part of me wondered if the reason he was here was because he knew I had been out to lunch with another man.
I stepped into the house and drew in a long slow breath. The scent of my favorite margarita scented candle was in the air. Soft music was playing in the background and Jeremy knew how much I loved me some Ne-Yo. I stepped into the living room and left my purse and keys on the coffee table.
“Welcome home, Angel.” I looked over to see Jeremy coming down the stairs in a white beater and a pair of Redskins shorts. Did I mention how much I loved this man?
“What’s going on?” I said and shook my head. He was carrying flowers in his hand. I couldn’t believe how romantic this was.
“I just wanted to come over and show my Angel how special she is to me.” I tilted my head and met his warm, sweet kiss then drew back and stared up into his eyes.
“I know you had a long day and I wanted to do something to make your evening nice.”
“This is so nice.” I took the bouquet from him into the kitchen and went in search of a vase.
“Babe, let me take care of that. Why don’t you go and get undressed. I just filled your tub. I thought maybe we’d get in, kick back and relax together.”
I was smiling like a nut because no man had ever been that thoughtful before. “That sounds so romantic,” I cooed and leaned over and pressed my lips against his again.
“Go on and take your sexy behind on upstairs.” I squealed when he swatted me playfully on my butt then hurried up to strip out of my uniform. By the time Jeremy came up, I was standing in nothing but my birthday suit.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said and quickly pulled off his t-shirt and shorts.
“Go on. I’ll join you in a second.” He ushered me into the bathroom and what I saw brought tears to my eyes. The large garden tub was filled with my favorite stress relief scent that I got from Bath and Body Works. There was a bottle of red wine chilling in a bucket on the side of the tub as well as candles flickering around the room.
“You like?” Jeremy asked coming up from behind and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I was so choked up I couldn’t even speak so I nodded. If I didn’t know it before I definitely knew it then. How much I loved that man.
My bottom lip began to quiver. That man had transformed my bathroom into something you would have seen in the movies. It was beyond romantic.
“Angel, say something,” Jeremy urged with that squeaky voice that suddenly gave me goose bumps.
“I can’t believe you did all this.” I was shaking my head and looking around the room all at the same time.
“You’re my queen. I plan on showing you every day how truly special you are.”
I closed my eyes and thanked the Lord for bringing this amazing man into my life, and suddenly felt guilty for spending lunch with Timmy. Not that I had done anything inappropriate but it still felt like I had been cheating, so apparently something had been wrong about the entire situation.
“Thank you so much,” I murmured then tilted my head back and met his lips in a kiss that I felt clear down to my toes.
“Whadda you waiting on? Go ahead and get on in.” Jeremy released me and I sta
rted giggling as I stepped over to the tub and climbed inside.
“I hope you’re planning on joining me?” He was standing over the tub grinning
“I will in a minute.” Jeremy reached for one of the flutes and filled it with wine. I took the glass from his proffered hand then brought it to my lips and moaned. It was so smooth. He then poured himself a glass.
“Are we celebrating something?” I asked and gave him a curious look.
He hesitated long enough that I had this feeling at the pit of my stomach.
“Baby… what’s wrong?”
He took a sip then took a seat on the end of the tub and looked in my direction. “I got a job promotion.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Jeremy, oh that’s wonderful news! Congratulations!” I expected him to look happy but instead he had this painful look in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“The job is in Hawaii.”
I sprung up from the pillow. “Hawaii?” There is no way I had heard him correctly.
He nodded. “I’m afraid so. I interviewed for a GS-12 position long before we’d started dating. I just figured they had given the job to someone else, but I found out this morning I had been selected.”
I was stunned. That was the last thing I had expected to hear was that my man had gotten a job in a state that was probably several thousand miles away.
“What did you tell them?” I said in this far off voice.
Jeremy paused then said the words I wasn’t prepared to hear. “I accepted the position. I report November first.”
“I’m excited for you. Really I am.” I tried to act happy for him but it was hard, considering my heart was hurting. Here it was—I had met the man of my dreams and now he was leaving. The story of my life. I guess some people just weren’t meant to have a man for any length of time.
“Excited?” he mocked. “No you’re not, so quit lying.”
His comment made me angry. “What the hell you expect me to say? No baby, please don’t leave!” I mocked.
“Yeah, something like that would be nice. At least then I would know that you cared.” A half-smile curled at the corners of his lips.
“You know I care about you. I love you and you know that!”
“And I love you.” His eyes locked with mine.
“Well if you love me then I can’t understand how you would accept a job without consulting me first!” I protested.
He looked glum. “Because I was hoping you’d go with me.”
“What?” I searched his eyes. Was he serious? Me go to Hawaii with him?
“You heard me. I want you to come to Hawaii with me.”
Oh my God! Jeremy was dead serious. “Uh… well… maybe. There is the Hawaii National Guard.”
“Yep. I already checked. Their headquarters is a twenty minute drive from my job.”
I had to grin. He had put his work in. “That’s something to think about.”
“I want you to do more than think about it.” He rose, then slipped off his boxers and I gazed down at his beautiful erection. My man might not have the same equipment as Timmy, but he knew how to work with what he had. Again I felt guilty about my lunch date but I brushed it aside and slid over in the tub and made room for two.
“C’mere,” Jeremy commanded.
I moved between his legs then leaned back against his chest.
“Finish your wine,” he said and then reached for his own.
Silence fell between us. We sat there together, sipping and listening to music. I know it was wrong but with him leaving in a few months I suddenly thought about Timmy. Thinking now that Jeremy was leaving maybe we could have a chance to see if there was anything left between us. But instead of being hopeful about the idea, I felt sad. I knew there was no way I could live without this. Now that I had Jeremy in my life, I didn’t want to be without him.
“Angel, I love you and I wanna spend my life with you. But if you don’t want to move to Hawaii then I’ll call them tomorrow and decline the position.”
“Hell no. I would never make you do that. You’ve been looking for a supervisory position and who am I to stand in your way.”
He brought his lips close to my ear. “What you think matters. After all, I plan on you being my wife.”
I gazed up at him. “You do?”
“Of course I do. Look,” he said and then pointed to my glass.
I stared at it, with no idea what he was pointing at. “What?”
He chuckled. “Angel, look inside the glass.”
I tilted the glass and stared into the wine and gasped. At the bottom of the flute was a sparkling diamond ring. I gulped down the rest of the contents then turned it upside down so that the ring fell into my hands.
“Oh my God!” I cried.
Jeremy took it from my hand and slipped it onto my finger. “Nyree Gail Dawson, will you marry me?”
It was white gold with a diamond surrounding by baguette. It wasn’t all that big but it was beautiful just the same. “I had no idea!” I said and started crying.
“Angel, what’s the matter?” he asked then turned me around and cradled me in his arms.
“When you said you wanted me to go with you to Hawaii, I had no idea you meant as your wife.”
He dropped his lips to my forehead and cheek. “Sweetheart I would never ask you to uproot your life for me unless I was offering to spend the rest of my life with you.” He put his hand to my chin and tilted my head for another kiss. “Now answer the question… will you marry me?”
I was laughing and crying at the same time. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
We kissed and laughed and hurried into my bedroom and then made love. I didn’t think life could be any more perfect.
He was holding me in his arms, waiting for our heart rates to slow when I said, “I don’t have much time to plan a wedding.”
Jeremy smoothed my hair away from my face. “All I care about is you and I being there. I don’t even care if my family can’t make it.”
“Well, I can’t get married without my parents.” I was pouting, but I couldn’t help it.
“Invite the whole world. All I know is I’m marrying you and the sooner the better, hopefully, before my orders are cut. The agency is paying relocation expenses.”
“I’ll need to put my house on the market.”
He grinned. “So, the sooner we’re married the better.”
“I agree.”
He had the nerve to suggest, “How about we just go to the justice of the peace?”
I swung around in his arms and faced him. “Hell no! You’re not cheating me out of my special day.”
“Okay, then something small.” He dragged a hand across his face. “I promise I’ll make it up to you later. But right now pick a date. Then we need to move you into my place and make this happen. It’s already the end of June.”
I felt a shiver. I was finally going to be someone’s wife again. But this time I was going to make it work.
24
JANELLE
It was slow at the restaurant, so I decided to head home with dinner for the men in my life.
I stepped out the restaurant and walked passed Al’s tacky clothing store. A mannequin with some tight-ass zebra leggings was on display in the window. Every morning when I walked past, I was tempted to sling a big brick through that damn window but I talked myself out of it.
As I walked over toward my BMW, I forgot all about Alphonso Rucker and couldn’t resist a grin. That little beauty was all mine. I pulled off down the road, and noticed the people looking at my car, staring with envy. I truly love my life.
Things were starting to settle in pretty nicely. I never thought of myself as being a wife and a mother at the same time, but, like I said before, CJ was relatively a good kid so he made motherhood pretty easy. They were both needy as hell and wanted all my attention the second I stepped into the door but I was learning to adjust to the demand. Hell, for all them millions, I could even consider having that man’s baby.
I climbed out of my car and reached for the two aluminum pans on the back seat and stepped inside. Immediately, Midnight came trotting into the kitchen sending dog hair flying everywhere. Ugh! I backed up just before he could brush against my Antonio Melani dress.
“Midnight, get down!” I cried as CJ came stomping into the kitchen with his big heavy feet.
“Midnight no!” he said with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Ms. Jae.”
I smiled and carried the food over to the counter and heard his father pounding down the stairs, as well and Honey’s collar jingling.
“How’s mama’s baby?” I cooed, as Honey bounced around trying to get my attention. “You missed me?” Of course he did. As usual Midnight was stepping all over my dog trying to get closer.
“What did you bring?” CJ asked.
“I brought home some food from the restaurant. Ribs, corn on the cob, and macaroni and cheese.”
“Oooh, ribs!” Immediately he reached for a plate from the cabinet.
“Go wash your hands.” I tried to say it as nice as I could but I saw the way his face dropped at being scolded. Damn, did his father teach him anything? “And not dish soap. Go in the bathroom.” We went through this almost every day. I didn’t even want to think what he was doing when I wasn’t around.
“Hey babe.”
I turned and grinned at my man walking into the room while CJ moved into the powder room sulking. I wrapped my arms around Kaleb’s neck and leaned in for a kiss.
“What’s wrong with him?” he asked with a frown.
“I told him to wash his hands before eating.”
“CJ, what the fuck you upset about! Just wash your got-damn hands so we can eat!” he shouted, and had me even flinching.
“Yes, sir. I am washing my hands.”
I smiled, glad my man had my back.
“What you got in those pans?”
I pulled back the aluminum foil so Kaleb could see inside. “Hell yeah! That looks good.” He pulled me into his arms again.
“How was work?” I asked because Mama taught me to always ask about your man. It made him feel important.
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