“Miss Patrice, it’s so good to see you again,” the woman said with obvious affection.
Patrice returned the smile then reached out to wrap the woman in a huge hug. “Fran, you haven’t changed a bit.”
Fran gave Kareem a startled look before giving a stiff pat to Neecie’s back. Neecie quickly stepped away. “I apologize.”
A forgiving smile crossed Fran’s face. “I understand, Ms. Patrice. Of course you’re happy to be home.”
Kareem flinched. The reprimand in the woman’s voice clear. He guessed hugging the help wasn’t allowed.
Neecie’s smile lost some of its brightness as she took a step back. “I guess I am.” She turned away from Fran to slide her arm through Kareem’s. “Right, sweetie?”
Kareem had to suppress a smile. “Sweetie?”
She poked him with her elbow, and he gave her a half smile. “Where are my manners? Fran, this is my fiancé, Kareem. Kareem, this is our housekeeper, Fran.”
If the tightening of Fran’s mouth was any indication, he’d been correct to assume he wouldn’t be easily welcomed into the family fold.
“Good afternoon,” she said in a clipped voice. She quickly eyed him from head to toe. He could practically hear the tsking in her head before she looked at Neecie. “The family is in the study, Miss Patrice. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get someone to take your bags to your rooms.”
“Rooms?”
Fran again gave him a quick glance. “Ms. Janice put you two in separate rooms.”
Kareem chuckled at the obvious attempt to put him in his place. Fran’s eyes narrowed, and he tried to cover it with a cough. He stared at Neecie and raised a brow. Her answering smile started the crazy feeling in his chest.
“Please put Kareem’s bags in my room. Kareem, you can give Fran your keys.”
Fran opened her mouth, probably to argue, but Neecie straightened her shoulders and stared back. Fran’s lips snapped together and she nodded.
“If you say so,” Fran said, taking Kareem’s keys. “We’ll see what your parents say later.” Fran did an about face that would make an army general proud and marched down the hall.
“Separate rooms, huh?” he asked after she walked away.
Neecie rolled her eyes. “They don’t believe we’re really together.”
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “We aren’t really together.” Her body trembled against his, and he smiled again. He was really going to enjoy seducing her.
“That’s why we’re going to convince them otherwise,” she said softly.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to do that.” He let the suggestion come through in his voice. Her eyes widened before she averted her gaze.
“Come on, let’s get this over with.”
They crossed wood floors polished so well they reflected his and Neecie’s silhouettes. He got the same feeling he’d had in sixth grade when he took a trip to the Smithsonian—afraid to touch anything without being reprimanded for marring the many antiques and collectibles. He imagined Fran had maids hidden in corners to come out and wipe up any speck of dust or fingerprints.
Neecie stopped walking just before they reached a threshold at the end of the hall. Her body trembled, and her brows were drawn together. The sounds of voices wafted out of the room. Kareem rubbed her cheek with his knuckle. She glanced up, and he did a quick lift and lower of his chin. Neecie blinked, her eyes cleared. The sunshine smile returned, and she threw back her shoulders, lifted her chin, and nodded. In that moment he recognized she was a lot stronger than he’d given her credit for.
The study was a mirror of the rest of the house. A sweeping glance of the family inside was enough to say they fit the décor. Neecie was right—they looked like the perfect family. Sitting around a roaring fire, the bright sunlight filtering in surrounding them all with a halo of gold.
“Hey, everyone.” Neecie’s normally breezy voice nearly trembled with her nervousness.
Kareem unhooked their arms and rubbed the small of her back.
“Patrice!” A young woman with the same bright smile and friendly eyes as Neecie jumped up from a chaise. She rushed across the room in what was too fluid to be called a run and threw her thin arms around Neecie.
Good. At least someone in the house wasn’t against giving her a warm welcome.
Neecie returned the hug with equal fervor. “Beth, I missed you so much.”
Beth leaned back and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Then never go away for so long again.”
The rest of the family came over. He immediately figured out who was who. The mother shared the same features as her two daughters. She was slender like Beth, and her thick, dark hair was pulled up into an elegant twist.
“Welcome home, Patrice,” her mom said. Her hug wasn’t as big as her youngest daughter’s, but the happiness in her eyes was just as real. Happiness that quickly disappeared when she lifted her chin and looked at Kareem. “You must be Roger.” She held out her hand.
Neecie frowned and turned his way. He gritted his teeth to keep from swearing. “Roger is my first name. I go by Kareem.” Her fingers were slender, but her grip was firm. She also didn’t hesitate to drop his once the shake was done.
Her dad, an older version of Chad except with a beard and hair slicked back in waves, came forward and hugged Neecie as well.
“We missed you, darling.”
“I missed you too, Father,” Neecie said in a smooth, cultured voice.
Kareem tried not to scowl. She’d been gone for five years, and her parents greeted her as if she’d just returned from a weekend vacation. At his homecoming, his mother had smothered him with kisses, cooked every one of his favorite meals, and then insisted he try on all of the new clothes she’d purchased to make him feel at home again. Watching Neecie’s cool reception, minus her sister, made Kareem feel guilty for brushing off his mother’s obvious joy at having him back.
Milton Baldwin held out his hand to Kareem. “Roger.”
Kareem took his hand and had no qualms about returning the extra pressure Milton put in his grip. “It’s Kareem.”
Milton gave a stiff nod and a quick up down pump of their hands. “If you insist.” He turned to the rest of the family. “Why don’t we all have a seat?”
Janice looked between the two. “Would you care for anything to eat or drink?”
“No, Mother, I’m fine,” Neecie replied. She looked to Kareem. “Would you like anything?”
He scowled. She’d practically rubbed a hole in her pants in the car she was so anxious to see her family again, and now she was socialite daughter of the year. He didn’t like it.
“I’m good.”
“Very well,” Janice said. “But we do have some snacks Fran brought in earlier.” She turned and gracefully walked back to her chair. Milton and Beth followed.
Neecie moved to follow. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Warm welcome,” he said with a half-smile.
“They can loosen up when it matters.”
He raised a brow, and she chuckled. Her body relaxed, and the tension left her eyes. They followed the family to the sitting area. Chad stood rigid next to the chess table before the fire, looking every bit the southern frat boy in a blue button up and grey slacks. His icy stare went from Kareem’s hand on Neecie’s lower back to Kareem’s uncaring face.
“Melinda, you look great,” Neecie said to the blonde woman sitting on a rose-colored couch that matched the loveseat he and Neecie occupied.
Melinda smiled, but her blue eyes darted nervous glances toward Kareem. “Thank you. So do you.”
“How was the drive up?” Janice asked.
Neecie shrugged. “Relatively uneventful.”
“That’s good to hear,” Janice said. “I worried with the light rain last night. You know how people drive on the highways after a rain.”
Melinda nodded. “You’re right. I always tell Chad that I refuse to drive anywhere when it rains.”
The conversation continued to flow around the weather and traffic. What the hell was wrong with these people? The entire situation was like something out of a bad drama. The more he watched, the more frustrated he became. Didn’t they want to know what she’d done for the past five years? How she came to work for him? Why she left in the first place? Where was the concern that she would disappear again? Or even the happiness to have her back?
Beth slapped her magazine on the table next to her chaise, cutting off Melinda’s comments on her wish for snow. “How long after the party will you be staying, Patrice?”
Finally, someone who seemed to want to establish if Neecie planned to hightail it out of their perfectly decorated lives again.
“For a few weeks.”
Her parents exchanged pleased looks. Milton turned away from the chess table to give Neecie a satisfied nod. “That’s good to hear.”
“Kareem and I are exploring a few options.”
One of Janice’s manicured brows rose. “What type of options?”
Kareem sat forward. “I’m thinking of opening another place in Charlotte.”
Chad sort of chuckled. “Another barber shop?”
The condescending ice in Chad’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by Kareem. His shoulders tightened, and he fought not to let his anger with the arrogant asshole come through.
“Something a bit more than that. I’m looking into opening more of an upscale gentlemen’s salon. Maybe include a cigar bar.”
“Humph,” Chad grunted. “Interesting idea.”
Neecie sat up and placed a hand Kareem’s thigh. “It’s a great idea. You’re a perfect example that men like to be pampered.”
Her quick defense jolted his confidence. She had his back. Maybe just for show, but he liked her response just the same.
“A haircut by my own barber at the county club is my idea of pampering. Not in some corner barber shop,” Chad said with a barely concealed sneer. “I can’t believe you’re washing men’s hair. Patrice, your life would be so much better if you had stayed here instead of running off.”
Neecie’s plan to argue was written all over her face. Now they were getting somewhere. Kareem didn’t like Chad, but at least the guy broached the subject of her leaving. Though now that he’d met the “perfect” family, he kind of understood her need to get away. She was too free to be pinned up like these people.
Janice stood before Neecie could respond. “That’s enough, Chad. Why Patrice left isn’t the issue right now. The issue is that she’s home and,” she turned to Neecie with a pointed look, “I hope it’s for good.” She took a breath before turning her cool glance on Kareem. “No offense to you, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want Patrice to move back to Charlotte and be around her family. I know she said that the two of you are … engaged, but I also believe that was a rush decision. Maybe a few weeks here will help clear things up.”
Meaning, her family was going to use this opportunity to convince Neecie to stay away from him. Their engagement wasn’t real and he didn’t give a damn about what her family thought of him, but he did give a damn about Neecie. The thought of her losing some of her brightness and becoming as frigid as the rest of her family made him more uneasy than the idea of going back into the Runners.
He slid closer to her on the couch and ran his hand up and down her back. She didn’t stiffen or shrug away. She looked at him and rewarded him with her smile. Right then they felt more real than anything.
“Rushed or not,” she said, still staring at Kareem, “the decision was ours to make.” She looked at her parents. “I ask that you all respect our decision when we’re in town.”
Milton cleared his throat and stood next to his wife. “Of course we will, darling. Now,” he rubbed his hands together, “I’m sure you both must be tired. We’ll get Fran to show you to your rooms, and then, Kareem, maybe the two of us can get to know each other a little better before dinner.”
A pre-dinner drilling by the father. He hadn’t been through that since … hell, he’d never been through that. They type of females hanging around the Runners when he hit dating age didn’t have concerned fathers hovering.
“Fair enough,” Kareem said.
Neecie smiled at her parents. “I let Fran know to put our bags in my old room. There’s no need for us to be separated.”
Beth placed a hand over her mouth. Janice’s eyes widened, and Chad crossed his arms over his chest. The tension ramped up to levels Kareem hadn’t felt since prison. Anticipation that he would finally see something break their perfect facade made him sit straighter. They didn’t want his dirty hands on their perfect daughter. Too bad, he had plans to put his hands all over her body.
A teenage boy came into the room. “Sorry I’m late; there was an accident.”
All eyes swung to the door. Melinda popped up from the couch and hurried across the room.
“Joshua, are you all right?” Melinda ran her hands over Joshua’s arms and legs.
Joshua shrugged out of his mother’s hands with a smirk, looking like a miniature southern frat boy. “Not me, Mother, someone else had an accident and caused traffic.”
Melinda pressed a hand to her chest. “Thank heavens.”
Chad crossed the room to do his own visual inspection of his son. “I’m glad you’re okay, son. We were just welcoming Patrice and her … fiancé.”
Joshua’s eyes lit up and zeroed in on Kareem. “The convict?” he said with a bit too much admiration.
Kareem tensed, and heat infused his face. That was enough Baldwin family bonding time. He dropped his hand from Neecie’s back and stood.
“I’m tired. I’ll go find Fran and ask her where the room is.” He looked at Neecie. “Enjoy this time with your family.”
He took a step forward, then figured a loving fiancé didn’t just walk away. Spinning back, Kareem bent and felt awkward as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. Neecie jumped, and her wide, beautiful eyes met his. She’d had his back against Chad, making him wonder how good things would be if she were really his girl. The feeling in his chest revved up, a strong longing he hadn’t felt since trying to prove he deserved to be in the Runners. Before the feeling could take hold, he left the room. He walked down the hall, out the front door, and headed for the garden. He needed to clear his head.
CHAPTER 8
Patrice sucked in several sharp breaths after Kareem marched out of the study and hoped he wasn’t going straight to his car and back home. Barely twenty minutes in and he’d already been insulted.
“Joshua,” Patrice said with a hand on her hip, “Kareem is not a convict.”
Joshua shrugged. “I didn’t mean any harm. It’s actually pretty cool he did time.”
Her brother grunted and scowled. “You shouldn’t find anything cool about that man.”
Anger shot through Patrice. “Why are you determined to hate him? He made a mistake when he was younger and paid for it. Kareem turned his life around.”
Her brother crossed his arms and returned her glare. “You can do better. You deserve better.”
“What makes you think Kareem isn’t better?”
Janice crossed to Patrice and placed a hand on her elbow. “Is he really?”
“He likes me for who I am.” Patrice stepped away from her mother’s touch.
Janice waved a hand from Patrice’s head to her foot. “This isn’t you. Your hair’s all wild, your clothes are torn, and …” Janice bit her lip, struggling for words.
Patrice waited for the old discomfort—the urge to do and be better, to match the perfection of her mother and sister. Instead, irritation tightened her neck and shoulders.
“And what, Mother?” she said, cocking her head to the side. “I’ve gained too much weight?”
Janice shook her head and immediately looked contrite. “Not at all, dear. You’re curvy now. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“No, there isn’t,” Patrice said with an edge of steel in her voice. “Kareem likes me, and I can guara
ntee he wouldn’t overlook me throwing up after every meal.”
Janice cringed. Milton ran a hand over his face. She didn’t care that her family normally didn’t discuss difficult things. Not talking about her old insecurities was the reason she ran away instead of facing them head on.
Milton leaned both hands on the fireplace. “Your brother mentioned that to us. It’s not something we would have supported either, Patrice.” Pushing away, he turned to stare at her. “If you had stayed and told us what was going on, we could have gotten you some help.”
“It wasn’t just that, Father, it was me. I needed to get away.” She tapped her chest. “I needed to discover who I am and what I wanted.”
Joshua chuckled and sauntered over to plop down on the couch. “You wanted a thug.”
She glared at her nephew. He’d had the makings of a smart mouth at the age of ten; apparently he’d grown into a full blown smartass. “No, I just want to be happy.”
Janice grasped Patrice’s hands and squeezed. “We want you to be happy. Patrice, I hate that I didn’t see the signs, and I’m angry Roland overlooked what was going on. But that doesn’t mean you need to be with … this guy instead of finding someone who’ll appreciate everything that makes you special.”
“Mother, he isn’t the convict Chad would paint him to be.”
Chad crossed the room and leaned against the couch. “A carjacking and gang ties. That sounds like the perfect person to join the family.”
Janice glared at Chad. “Stop, Chadwick.” She turned back to Patrice. “Let’s not fight about this. You’re home, and I’m glad you’re home. We’re celebrating your father’s and my anniversary tomorrow, and then we’re going to spend as much time with you as possible. I want you to be happy here.”
Patrice wasn’t sure if that were possible, but the hopeful look in her mother’s eye made her want to try. “If that’s the case, then help us start Kareem’s business here.”
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