“I don’t care. That doesn’t give him the right to put his hands on you, let alone hurt you.”
Raquel looked away. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a lot of work to get done, so if you don’t mind…”
Terrance stood back. Raquel was pretty, intelligent, definitely not the type of woman he would ever have thought would endure physical abuse. “Fine. If I can’t get answers from you, I’ll just go ask Dolan.”
“No, wait!” Raquel cried, stopping him just as he reached the door. “Please don’t do that. It’s only going to make things worse.”
Terrance slowly turned around. “Then tell me what’s going on.”
Raquel sighed as she fell back in her chair. “I told you. Dolan gets out of control sometimes. But when he’s himself, he’s the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”
Terrance walked over and sat down across from her. “I can’t believe you’re staying with a man who would put his hands on you.”
“I couldn’t believe it either. At first, I believed his promises that it would never happen again. But then it kept happening again. But don’t worry, I’m working on an exit plan. Just one more month and I’ll have enough money to get my own place.” She sounded like she had thoroughly thought this through. But it wasn’t enough for Terrance.
“Yeah, a month. That’s plenty of time, if he doesn’t kill you first.”
That thought didn’t seem to come as a shock to her. She hesitated before saying, “Look, Terrance. Please, let me handle this. I’m not a weak woman. I know it may seem like it, but I know what I’m doing, okay? Just trust me.”
Terrance just stared at her. No way could he support her in her decision to stay with Dolan, for any amount of time.
“It’s my life,” she reminded him. “And I’m going to ask you to respect that.”
Terrance sighed in defeat. Fine. He’d respect it for now. But he knew deep down, things with Raquel would get a lot worse before they got any better.
chapter 17
Terrance said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t see anyone he knew.
“I told you, I’m the bowling champion!” Savannah loudly proclaimed as she pumped her fist in the air. People were starting to stare, but she didn’t seem to care. “Get back, get back, you don’t know me like that,” she sang.
Terrance flashed a forced smile. He couldn’t help but notice how the woman next to them outside of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Restaurant kept staring at them. She looked at Terrance and recognition seemed to set in. Then she turned to Savannah and a look of disgust flashed across her face as her eyes roamed up and down Savannah’s tight capri pants and black, tight, diamond-studded T-shirt that was cut too low at the top and too high at the bottom.
As much as he enjoyed her company, her attire—and moments like this—had him questioning what he was doing with Savannah.
Terrance was all too relieved when the parking attendant pulled around with his car. He held Savannah’s door open while she climbed in his Land Rover.
They had been in the car less than five minutes when Savannah leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?” She was a lot calmer now. This was the woman he loved being with.
Terrance looked over at her and smiled. He had actually enjoyed himself, until they were leaving and Savannah’s loud and boisterous behavior drew stares. “I did have fun,” Terrance said, deciding to let his feelings about her behavior go. “I don’t think I’ve been bowling since I was a little kid.”
When Savannah had suggested they go do something fun, Terrance had readily agreed. He had been happy for the distraction. He hadn’t been able to get his mind off Raquel and her situation with Dolan all day. So he was grateful when Savannah showed up at his office this evening and suggested they go bowling.
Savannah flashed a sexy smirk as she leaned back and gently rubbed the back of Terrance’s neck.
“So, am I taking you home now?” Terrance asked as he pulled onto the freeway.
Savannah nodded. “Unless, of course, you have some place else you’d like to go.” She had a look in her eyes like she didn’t want the night to end.
Terrance headed along Highway 59 toward Savannah’s apartment. The way she continued to stroke his neck and back was awakening feelings he had forgotten that he had.
So far, Terrance had been a complete gentleman and hadn’t tried anything. But he could tell Savannah was ready for that to change.
“Terrance, can I ask you a question?” Savannah asked, breaking the silence that had filled the truck.
Terrance nodded. “You can ask me anything.”
“Where do you see our relationship going?” She paused, like she was unsure if she should continue. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it a lot.” She took a deep breath. “I really enjoy being with you. And, well, I’d just like to know if you feel the same and where you see us going?”
Terrance didn’t know where he saw them going, if there even was a them. One minute he was sure she was the one. The next, he just didn’t know. He did know that he enjoyed being with her, but the way she clung to him tonight, and any other time they were out in public, made him extremely uncomfortable. Now he was back to questioning whether they could ever have anything serious.
“Ummm, I like you, too, Savannah. And, umm, I don’t know, I guess I hadn’t given much thought to a future,” he lied. He hated lying, but right about now he simply did not know what to say. Part of him really liked her, but there was something—he couldn’t quite put his finger on it—that didn’t feel right with her.
Savannah quickly tried to lighten the mood. “Look, let’s not even worry about the future right now.” She gently ran her fingers along the base of his neck. “Why don’t we just worry about the present?”
As if on cue, they pulled in front of her apartment. He parked right in front of her unit, then jumped out to walk around and open her door.
Savannah noticed that he left the truck running, so she reached over, turned it off, and removed the keys, before stepping out of the truck.
“I really would like for you to come inside and tuck me in,” she whispered seductively. They were standing so close, he could feel the heat from her breath.
Terrance massaged his neck, then dabbed at the beads of sweat forming on his brow.
“You just don’t know…,” Terrance said, biting his bottom lip.
Savannah had aroused feelings inside him he hadn’t had in ages, since vowing to live his life the right way and wait to have sex with his wife.
“I don’t know what?” Savannah asked as she stroked his arm.
“How much I’d love to come inside with you. But me going in there is asking for trouble.” Terrance wanted to add that it would be a particularly bad idea since he didn’t know where their relationship was headed.
“Come on, T-baby. I’ll make it worth your while.” She casually ran her tongue across her lips, adding a sparkle to her MAC lip gloss.
“Ummm, Savannah, as enticing as that sounds,” Terrance managed to say as he took a step back, “I really need to get going.” Terrance knew he had just complained to himself about her outfit, but right now, the skimpy outfit exuded sexiness and a confidence that was completely turning him on.
Savannah playfully stuck out her bottom lip as she took a step toward him. She leaned in to make sure he could get a good view of her hefty cleavage. “Please? I promise you won’t be disappointed.” For a moment, she looked like she wondered if she was going too far, but when Terrance glanced down, she must have known she was getting to him because she broke out in a big smile. “I understand you have to uphold a certain standard,” she whispered as she ran her finger over his lips. “But it’s just me and you tonight. What goes on inside 2934 View Place, stays inside 2934 View Place.”
Terrance closed his eyes as he savored her touch. He let out a gentle moan before pulling himself away. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to pass.”
Terrance held out his hand for
his keys. Savannah dropped them in his hand, that seductive smile still spread across her face. “I’m not letting up,” she purred. “But I will let you go for tonight. I know you want me and it’s just a matter of time before you give in to that desire.” She kissed him on the lips, sending shivers up his spine, before sashaying up the walkway to her apartment.
She was right. He wanted her. Bad. But he knew sleeping with her would only complicate things. It’s bad enough that he was even entertaining the idea of fornicating, but he definitely couldn’t do it with Savannah when he knew she wanted a relationship.
Terrance wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he walked back around and got in the car. He watched as Savannah unlocked her door. She turned, waved, and blew him a sultry kiss. Yes, he needed to hurry up and decide what he was going to do. Because Lord knew it was just a matter of time before the temptation with Savannah became too great.
chapter 18
“So, you just gonna stay in a funk all day?” Tyra said as she stuck her head in Savannah’s bedroom. It was after one in the afternoon and Savannah was still in her pajamas. She’d been moping around the apartment all day, and right now she was stretched out across her fuchsia satin queen-size comforter watching paternity tests revealed on the Maury show.
“Tyra, I’m not in the mood, okay?” Savannah drily responded. “Besides, Esmeralda is about to test her seventh man to see if he’s her baby’s daddy.”
“It’s a rerun and he ain’t her baby daddy either. And, no, it’s not okay.” Tyra walked into the room. She was dressed in her usual sleeveless T-shirt, flowing skirt, and bangled arm. “What’s going on with you? And why don’t you clean this place up?” she asked, taking in the mounds of clothes strewn across the floor and the empty chips and soda cans that sat on the nightstand.
Savannah let out a long, frustrated sigh as she flipped off the television. “I’m stumped. I pulled out the seduction mode last night and it still didn’t work on Terrance.”
“Wow. There hadn’t been a man yet who passed up your ultimate seduction.”
“Who you telling?”
Tyra looked like she was deep in thought. “Well, I guess he is a minister.”
“But he’s still a man. Right?”
“You’re right about that.” Tyra sat down on the edge of her friend’s bed. “But obviously, this is going to take a little bit more work than we thought.”
“Tell me about it. Last night, I was hoping to take things one step further and get him into bed.”
“That would have been all she wrote. He would’ve been trying to get you to run off to Vegas and elope.” Tyra laughed. “No, seriously, he just strikes me as the type that’s not into casual sex. If he sleeps with you, I think he wants something real.”
“I want something real, too. And I know he’s feeling me. I can tell. But it’s just a part of him that won’t let go.”
Tyra looked like she was thinking for a moment, then said, “Do you think it’s someone else?”
Savannah shook her head. “I don’t think so. Terrance is not the type to play games. I think he’s just trying to play it safe. Plus, with all those haters at the church, including his aunts, I’m sure it just adds to the pressure of being with me.”
“So what are you going to do?”
Savannah threw herself back on her satin pillows. “I don’t know. I need to do something. Because time is running out. I have got to get Terrance to see that I’m the woman for him. And, Tyra, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”
“You’re really feeling him, huh? I mean, this isn’t just some attempt to prove you can get him?”
“I told you, Tyra. This is for real. When I’m with Terrance, it’s like I’m no longer that conniving girl from the hood. I feel, I don’t know, validated. Like I am somebody.”
Tyra stroked Savannah’s bushy hair. “Oh, girl, quit trippin’. You are somebody. You don’t need no dude to tell you that.”
Savannah’s eyes watered up. “Do you know what my grandmother said when I called to tell her I was dating Terrance?” Savannah didn’t give Tyra time to answer. “She told me to use him for everything I can because ain’t no way in hell a man like Reverend Terrance Ellis would want somebody like me.”
Tyra bit her lip. “That’s messed up.”
“That’s what everybody says. But it’s different hearing it from your own flesh and blood.” Savannah let out a long sigh as she struggled to keep the tears at bay. “I want people to see that a woman like me can get a good man like that. And not to mention that I really do like him.”
Savannah thought back to her last serious boyfriend. They’d dated for six months and Savannah thought he was really the one. She found out he wasn’t on the day of his wedding.
When Savannah had asked him how he could do that to her, what about their future, he’d replied curtly, “Come on, baby girl, you can’t really think I ever wanted anything serious with you.”
She never let on, but that had torn at her soul. Sure, she’d used men in the past, but she wanted something different now. She wanted a nice, quiet, stable life with a man she didn’t have to worry about breaking her heart. Terrance could provide that life. That was her dream, and Savannah was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure that her dream came true.
chapter 19
Terrance had just pulled out of the church parking lot when he noticed the tall, fair-skinned woman leaning against her car, frustration on her face. She had the hood up and looked like she had no idea what to do.
Naturally, he pulled up in front of her, got out, then walked back to her car.
“Hi there. Seems like you’re having a little car trouble.”
The woman exhaled as she ran her fingers through her jet-black hair. “Try a lot of trouble. This dang thing just up and quit.”
Terrance leaned over and looked under the hood, not that he had any idea what he was looking at. He definitely was not mechanically inclined.
“Have you called a tow truck?”
“I have. My brother actually. He works for a towing company. He’ll be here, but not for another two hours. He’s on a job.” She pulled her pink wrap around her body. “It’s cool out here, I’m tired, and I just hate that I have to stay out here and wait. I can’t even start the dumb thing to push it off to the side.”
Terrance looked around, wondering if he should open the church back up and let her wait in there. He glanced at his watch. He was supposed to be meeting Deacon Tisdale to pick up some papers at Starbucks near the Galleria, which was about fifteen minutes away. “Well, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I’m Terrance Ellis, the pastor of Lily Grove,” he said, pointing back to the church.
“Oh, I’ve heard of you. Never had the chance to visit your church, but I’ve heard great things about it.” The woman finally smiled, revealing a set of beautifully white and perfectly straight teeth.
“Well, you should come to visit one Sunday. We would love to have you.” Terrance paused and looked at his watch again. “But, look, why don’t you ride with me to Starbucks? I have to pick up some papers from someone there. We can have a cup of coffee, then I can bring you back. That ought to kill about two hours.”
She looked around nervously. “You know, that sounds like a great idea.”
“Let me just lower your hood while you lock up your car. It should be fine here until we get back.” Terrance walked over and pushed the hood down while she grabbed her purse and locked the doors.
“So, I didn’t get your name,” Terrance said once they were in the car and heading toward the freeway.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners? It’s Debra. Debra Wright.” She grinned slyly.
After Terrance had signed the papers Deacon Tisdale needed, he settled at a corner table with Debra, who had ordered them both two small cups of coffee.
“I hope plain coffee is fine?” she said.
“It is. In this era of peppermint, mocha, vanilla crème, it’s
probably a rarity, but it’s still my preference nonetheless.” He flashed a smile as he took a sip of the coffee. “Although you should’ve let me pay for it.”
“Nonsense. It’s the least I can do. You’re a lifesaver,” she said, fingering her cup.
“So, Mrs. Wright, do you live by the church?”
“It’s Debra, please. And just so you know, it’s Miss, not Mrs. And, no, I was just visiting a friend in that neighborhood. I actually live in Sunnyside.”
Terrance’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t say?” Sunnyside was a rough area and she seemed anything but rough.
“The neighborhood is not as bad as people like to make it out to be. I actually grew up there and it’s a nice neighborhood, full of hardworking families.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Terrance said. “You just seem, a little, I don’t know, refined.”
“Oh, so classy women can’t come from rough neighborhoods?” She shot him a look like she was offended. For a minute he thought she was serious, but then she broke out in a huge smile. Her smile was contagious.
Terrance covered his face with his hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that like it sounded. Let me get my foot out of my mouth and start again.”
She smiled and lightly touched his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just giving you a hard time.”
They exchanged pleasantries for another ten minutes before she began sharing personal details with him. He was a little surprised at her candidness. She had openly told him that she was twenty-six, single, and hoped to one day get married and have children. She said she worked for a bank in downtown Houston and took real estate classes at night so she didn’t get out much and meet people.
Terrance was amazed at how well they had clicked, and before he knew it, two hours had passed. “Oh, wow,” he said when he noticed the time, “we’d better get you back or you’ll miss your brother.”
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