She smiled through the tears that kept coming. “I love you too, Adam West.”
“Come here baby,” he murmured. She went willingly, snuggling against his chest.
Intertwining their fingers, he brought them up so they could look at them. “You see this?”
Roxy nodded her head. “Yes.”
A flash of something she couldn’t quite describe crossed his features. “You see how tight they are?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t let anything come between us.”
Although his words were soft, there was a veiled warning behind them that made Roxy slightly uneasy.
Pushing herself up on her elbow she gazed down into his handsome face. Lightly stroking the furrows in his forehead which always appeared when he was serious about something, she asked, “You want to talk about it?’
Letting out a deep sigh, he brought his forearm up to rest underneath his head. No, he really didn’t want to talk about it. But since he let an old pain from the past bubble to the surface, possibly ruining his confession of love, he had no choice but to talk about it.
The loud growling of Roxy’s stomach was just what was needed to lighten the mood.
Chuckling, Adam suggested as he got out of bed and headed to the closet, “Grab the food.”
As her feet hit the floor, she’d been too occupied earlier to notice how plush the carpeting was. She quickly surveyed the room and its sleek furnishings. This was her first time at a boutique hotel, and she was thoroughly impressed.
“You like the room,” he smoothly asked as he walked up behind her, helping her to don a white, fluffy robe that matched the one he wore.
“Yes, it’s beautiful,” she answered, picking up the bag with their lunch and following him over to the loveseat in the seating area.
Adam reached into the bag sitting on her lap and pulled out the sandwiches. “What’s this?”
“Pastrami.”
“Ah… one of my favorites.”
Roxy sheepishly grinned at him. “I know.”
Sitting the sandwiches on the coffee table, he next pulled out the chips and drinks.
The room fell silent as they begin to satisfy their hunger. Adam popped the last of his meal in his mouth and washed it down with his remaining beverage. Wiping his mouth with a napkin he cut his eyes over at Roxy.
Eyes lowered, she patiently nibbled at her food. She didn’t want to push Adam. But if there was something in his past that might affect their relationship, she wanted to know about it. Now that they’d confessed to loving each other, she didn’t want some ghost from the past popping up and messing everything up.
“I was in love once before,” he slowly began.
Roxy’s head popped up at the admission as she stared wide-eyed at Adam. “Oh.” A part of her felt a little dejected. She knew he probably was infatuated in his younger days, perhaps even had a case of puppy love. But she’d hoped, wanted to believe that she would be the first woman he loved.
“Paula and I met in law school. We ended up in the same study group and one night, one thing led to another. We became inseparable. Everyone, including me, thought we’d be married by now with a house in the suburbs, two kids and a dog.”
Her stomach began to churn. The thought of him at one time seeing himself married with kids to someone else was making her nauseous. “That serious, huh?”
Adam dragged his hand down his face and let out a long sigh. “Yeah, it was that serious until some anonymous person slid a letter under my door that she’d written to her cousin talking smack about giving me until six months after graduation to land a job with a high powered firm.” He used his hands to make the quotation mark sign in the air as he bitterly spat out, “because if I wanted her I had to give her the life she deserved.”
“Oh wow, that was messed up Adam,” she said, feeling sorry for him.
“Oh, it gets better. She went on to brag to the cousin about how she’d slept with one of our professors to get a passing grade.”
Roxy shivered when he let out a bitter chuckle. She wanted to cover her ears like a small child. She didn’t want to hear any more, but knew she had to sit there and listen since she opened her big mouth and asked him if he wanted to talk about it. Dummy!
“Adam, you don’t have to—”
He silenced her by holding up his hand. “No, let me finish. You need to hear this.”
Roxy drew in a ragged breath. Oh God.
“The tramp slept with him again the night before I asked her to marry me. I’ve never forgiven her for not just ending things that night. Instead, she accepted my proposal, pretending to love me.”
She shivered again from the cold edge in his voice. Somehow she felt like this was a warning. Nervously licking her lips, her eyes pleaded with him to believe her. “Adam, I’m not pretending. I really do love you.”
Reaching over, he curled his large hand behind her neck. Bringing their mouths together, he whispered against her lips, “Baby, I know you love me.”
Chapter 32
Kay’s heels clicked against the marble flooring as she hurried toward the elevator. “Hold the door!” she yelled out, her legs quickening their pace.
Roxy immediately recognized the voice. Reaching for the open door button, she held the door. “Come on slowpoke, you’re making everybody late!” she teased.
The other occupants in the car didn’t seem to find anything amusing as they huffed and rolled their eyes at being held up. Roxy softly sucked her teeth. Goodness gracious these folks are acting like waiting ten seconds is going to end the world!
Ignoring them, Kay let out an exaggerated breath as she dug through her large tote bag searching for the keys to her office. “Thanks, girl. I enjoy our quarterly half-day off, but I end up having to do catch-up work.”
Roxy chuckled. “Yeah, me too. I’m working on some reports for that new account we just got.”
Gathering the key ring between her slender fingers, she looked up at Roxy. “So what did you—” Kay’s words abruptly came to a halt. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. Nudging Roxy with her elbow, she mumbled under her breath, “I see what kind of fun you were having yesterday. Or should I say last night.”
Wrinkling her nose up, Roxy mouthed, “What are you talking about?”
The same two women who’d rolled their eyes five seconds ago were gawking down their throats. Returning the irritated gestures, Kay huffed and rolled her eyes. “I’ll tell you when we get in the office.”
Roxy was grateful they were the first to arrive because as soon as they stepped off the elevator, Kay grabbed her by the hand, dragging her down the hall and around the corner to her office.
Roxy couldn’t help but to laugh at her. Kay’s hands were working extra fast at getting her office door open. “I guess you really do want to know what I did after I left here yesterday.”
Dumping her tote on the desk, she spun back around on Roxy. “I know what you did.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she quipped, “you are so bad, Roxanna Harris.”
Roxy laughed. If she only knew. Waving her off, she downplayed her friend’s suspicions. “Girl, you don’t know nothing.”
Dropping her arms, she strolled up on Roxy. With her index finger, she pointed at the side of Roxy’s neck. “Then what is that?” she asked rather smugly.
Roxy’s hand flew to her neck, her face infusing with heat. “Oh my God!”
Kay pumped her fist in the air. “I knew it! I knew it!” Calming down a bit, she raised an impish brow at her friend. “Was it good?”
Roxy slumped against the nearest wall. Was it good? It was better than good. “Yes! Yes! And Yes!” she shouted not caring if someone had come in and would hear her.
“Oh my God, Kay it’s not like I have a lot of experience with men. Matter of fact, I’ve only been with two other guys before Adam.” Bashfully averting Kay’s assessing eyes, she admitted, “I don’t think I’ve done it more than ten times before Adam. I just wasn’t really into the whole sex t
hing. But with him it’s so different.” She sighed dreamily, remembering everything about his touch. “I want to be with him and only him forever.”
“Daaaang girl, you all in love,” Kay giggled, nodding her head.
Heat crept up Roxy’s face. She was in love. She loved Adam West with every cell in her body. “I know,” she acknowledged, touching the spot where her lover left his mark.
Kay gave her a big squeeze. “Girl, I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks,” she gushed, feeling her friend’s genuine happiness. “Enough about me, what did you do yesterday afternoon?”
Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, Kay lowered her eyes in a coy fashion. “I got ready for my date with Quincy.”
“Shut up!” Roxy squealed.
Beaming from ear to ear, Kay nodded her head. “It was the most romantic date I’ve ever been on.”
Playfully snapping her fingers in her face, Roxy demanded, “Details” snap, snap, snap “I want details.”
Rounding her desk, Kay took a seat. Roxy followed, sitting in the chair opposite the desk. After quickly booting up her computer, she glanced at the clock. As she leaned comfortably back in her chair she couldn’t help the blooming smile spreading across her dainty features. “Okay, but I’ve got to hurry. We only have twenty minutes before everybody starts coming in.”
Adam nervously glanced at his watch. She’s late, was all he could think as he waited for his lunchtime companion to join him. Maybe it was a mistake asking her to meet him here. What would he do if Roxy ever found out? No, she wouldn’t find out. He’d make sure of it.
The waitress approached the table again. “Are sure you wouldn’t like something to drink before your party joins you?”
Yeah, he’d like a drink alright. A nice shot of something strong would do him good right about now. Glancing over the drink menu, he was extremely tempted to order a drink at one in the afternoon. Looking up from the menu, he noticed his lunch date rushing over to the table. Standing, he asked the waitress if she’d come back in a couple of minutes.
As nervous as he was he couldn’t conceal his handsome smile as he embraced the beautiful woman. “It’s so good to see you again. It’s been a long time.”
She smiled up into his handsome face. “Yes, it’s been a long time.”
Pulling out her chair, he helped sit his lunch date at the table before taking his own seat. “Thank you for meeting me. I really appreciate it.”
The woman smiled at him and he couldn’t help but to blush when she inquired, “Does my daughter know you asked me to lunch?”
Adam folded his hands in front of him on the table like a little school boy. “No, I didn’t tell her.” He chuckled when she raised a curious brow at him. “I wanted this talk to be just between the two of us.”
Reba tilted her head to the side. “Oh?” she replied as the waitress returned to take their orders.
After they’d given their orders and the waitress moved on, Adam didn’t waste any time getting to the reason he invited her to lunch. Squaring his shoulders he looked Reba in the eye as he spoke.
“Roxy told me about your uneasiness regarding us seeing each other. Said you’re afraid I’m going to hurt her.” He could feel the agitation bubbling up again. He had suppressed it for Roxy’s sake when he first learned of her mom’s unfounded concerns.
Taking a sip from her water glass, she slowly nodded her head, maintaining eye contact. The barely noticeable twitching in his jaw was a telltale sign she’d hit a nerve. “Did she also tell you about her father?”
Oh… no… she… didn’t. That muscle in his jaw really began to twitch double time. Adam had more character in his pinky fingernail than Harold Avery had in his entire body.
Adam’s voice was low, almost lethal when he spoke. “Ms. Reba, please do not compare me to that man. I would never treat Roxy the way that bastard treated you. I would never get her pregnant and turn my back on her. I would take care of her and my child. Trust, neither of them would want for nothing.” His chest swelled with pride when he affirmed, “My father raised a man, not a punk.”
Reba sat stunned as she gazed at the man across from her. He spoke with such passion about her baby. She now understood why her Roxy was so crazy about him. Understood why he had been the one she ran to when Harold showed up, wounding her all over again.
Reaching across the table she took hold of both his large hands. “Adam, I didn’t mean to offend you. Roxy is my baby, my everything. I don’t know what I’d do if—”
Adam gently squeezed her hands. “I swear Ms. Reba, I would never do anything to hurt Roxy. I care too much about her to ever mistreat her.” A lazy smile curved his lips. “And if I did, even unintentionally, you’d have to get in line behind my mom. She’s already told me I better do right by Roxy or else I’d be in big trouble.”
Reba laughed as she let go of his hands. “Knowing Brenda, I bet she did. How are your parents?”
“They’re both doing well. Chuckling, he added, “And getting on my case about settling down and giving them some grandchildren.”
Adam didn’t miss the spark of interest in Reba’s dark eyes when she probed, “So are you ready to settle down?” Because if you’re not leave my baby alone right now.
Without hesitation or reservation he said, “Absolutely. Now that I have the right lady in my life.”
Smiling at Adam, Reba fought really hard to keep the tears burning in the back of her eyes from falling. For so long she’d been so afraid that her bad luck with love had ruined her child. But now sitting across from this incredible man, she was so happy to know that her Roxy hadn’t been influenced.
Sniffling she asked, “Does Roxy know?”
“I’ve told her that I love her. And when the time is right she’ll know how much.”
“Okay.” There was no need for Reba to say more. She was satisfied just knowing that her daughter had a man in her life who truly loved her.
Adam pierced her with an unwavering gaze. “So, when the time comes, I’ll have your blessing?”
That time a few tears did escape. Dabbing at her eye with the napkin she’d draped across her lap, she smiled. “Absolutely.”
Chapter 33
Strolling down the street, holding hands, Adam gazed down at Roxy. Without her usual four inch heels, she just cleared five-feet. His eyes crinkled at the corners, a tease on the tip of his tongue. “How’s the air down there shawty?”
Laughing, she swatted at his midsection like a cat at a ball of yarn with her free hand. “You’re going stop messing with me about my height.”
“And if I don’t?” he taunted.
“I’m going to get my people on you,” she sassed, liking the way that sounded. She and her sisters established a routine of meeting once a week for lunch and talked. at least three times during the week. Last Tuesday, they along with their mom Donna had joined Roxy at Reba’s home for their weekly dinner date. The group of women had such a great time together laughing and chatting they decided to come together once a month for dinner.
“Oh it’s like that?” he grinned, loving the sparkle in her eyes as she boasted about her family.
She smugly tilted her chin in the air. “Yup, it’s like that.”
Turning the corner, she looked up at him just a few feet away from their destination. “Are you nervous?”
“Nah,” he easily assured her. Adam was sincerely pleased when she approached him to accompany her to Karen’s home to celebrate Dom’s niece, Zoe’s birthday.
“You just ought to not be nervous going to a kiddy party,” she joked.
Laughing, he volleyed back, “I should be nervous if this little Zoe is as impish as you and Abby were.”
Roxy laughed with him. “Lord, I hope not.”
“Ooh, she’s pretty,” Zoe excitedly gushed as she pulled Addy the African American doll from the American Doll collection out of a gift bag. She reached down into the bag again and pulled out a six-book series of Addy’s story.
“Zoe, baby, please read the card first,” Ava, chuckled as she gently chided her little girl.
Zoe bashfully ducked her head. “Sorry Mommy.” Reading the card, she beamed up at Roxy and Adam.
Jumping down from her chair she ran over in their direction. First throwing her tiny arms around Roxy and then Adam, she thanked them. “I love my doll. I promise I’m going to take good care of her. And maybe I can read you one of my books before you leave.”
Touched by the affectionate little girl, Roxy put her hand over her heart as Zoe skipped back to the table to open the rest of her gifts. “She is so adorable,” she whispered to Adam.
Adam slowly nodded his head. She was an adorable child. Today was her ninth birthday. She was a year younger than his baby sister had been before succumbing to her illness. A shadow of sadness washed over him as he thought about Abby.
His sister’s ninth birthday party had been nowhere as festive with all the children running around playing games and winning prizes; as the adults stood in the shadows keeping a watchful eye on the children, chatting about everything and nothing. Of all the children who were invited only two showed up. And from what Adam could recall of that day, they should have stayed home. Every time they came within five feet of Abby their mothers would get a look of absolute terror on their faces.
Tearing her eyes away from the little girl, she gazed over at Adam in time to catch the fleeting expression. “You okay, love?” she whispered, touching Adam’s arm.
“Yeah, I’m just thinking about Abby,” he quietly responded.
Taking his hand, she discreetly led them from the enormous dining room into the spacious kitchen.
When she asked him to come to the party with her, she hadn’t considered Zoe would bring back sad memories of his deceased sister. “Do you want to leave?”
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed the top of her head. “Nah, I’m cool babe.”
Easing back, she looked up at Adam. “Are you sure?”
The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) Page 18