Her Protector

by D. Camille

  He smiled. “Yes!”

  “My turn,” Alex said.

  She closed her eyes this time. “Hmmm…Orange?”

  Alex grinned. “Yes!”

  “Now me,” Lotus told them as she opened her eyes.

  The twins looked at one another then nodded. “Purple!” they shouted together.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my! Yes!”

  Lotus kissed them both again while Kent stood looking confused. Sean led him into his office, and Lotus took off with the children. Inside, Kent took a seat with the same look on his face.

  Sean took a seat behind his desk. “Before you hurt yourself, it doesn’t matter what colors they say, they’ll all agree.”

  “They do it to confuse and unnerve people,” Sean continued. “And it usually works.”

  Kent shook his head. What in the hell?

  “Although the twins do have a special connection to both Lotus and Lavender,” Sean explained.

  “I know that Lotus has visions,” Kent told him.

  Sean nodded. “Have fun with that.”

  “I like that Lotus is different,” Kent admitted. “She’s special.”

  “The Masters women are very special.” Sean agreed. “So since you are here in LA, I’m assuming that everything is ready in Atlanta.”

  Kent nodded. “It’s all about to go down.”

  “Good job Kent,” Sean complimented. “I’m impressed.”

  “I get it done.”

  “I see,” Sean told him. “And you had motivation.”

  Kent smiled. “Of the most beautiful kind.”

  “I understand that kind of motivation,” Sean agreed. “Have you seen Trent yet?”

  “Nah, I’m going to see him when I leave here. I know he’s going through it right now with his father.”

  Sean sighed. “That’s currently a very volatile situation. Ray has assigned Kyle to go over the information Justin brought with him, because he doesn’t think Trent is focused enough to be thorough.”

  Kent smirked. “Glad to hear Kyle has some work to do.”

  Sean laughed. “I don’t think Kyle is any threat to you. You’re all my sister-in-law talked about this entire week.”

  “What did she say?” Kent asked and Sean frowned. “Never mind, I’ll ask her.”

  “You do that.”

  Kent nodded. “I’m taking Lotus back to Atlanta with me and when Phase I is completed, I’ll finalize Phase II personally.”

  Sean shook his head. “They don’t know what’s coming.”

  When Kent and Sean finished, they found all the kids with Lily, Lavender and Lotus. Lotus’ mother smiled at him as she came to embrace him.

  “The twin flame is here.” She kissed his cheek.

  “Hello, Mrs. Masters.”

  Lily watched her sister beam when Kent entered the room and greeted everyone. Lotus sat with Lilac on her lap hiding a smile of her own.

  Kent looked over and saw the little girl who looked so much like his little Momma then he moved over to where they sat.

  He knelt and held out his hand to Lilac. “Hey little pretty Momma.”

  “Hi,” She took his hand and smiled shyly at him with tiny dimples in each cheek and afro puffs.

  Kent’s eyes connected with Lotus as he released Lilac. “She looks just like you. She could be your daughter.”

  Lotus looked down at her niece. “This is Kent.”

  Lilac turned and hid her face against Lotus’ chest. Lotus laughed and looked at Kent. “She likes you.”

  “They always do,” he told her and she looked at him.

  Lavender laughed as she watched the pair. She could feel the happiness emanating from her youngest daughter. Along with that happiness was also an intensifying heat. Little Lilac would soon have another cousin. Hopefully, they’d begin her name with an ‘L’ to continue the tradition.

  Kent took the seat next to Lotus and the two shared looks while the family visited. Lilac eventually ran to her daddy’s lap and Lotus took his hand in hers. Kent brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

  “Kent, Lotus tells us that you’re an investment broker,” Lavender said. “Do you like that?”

  He gave her is attention. “Yes, I learned that I liked numbers, so this turned out to be a good career move for me.”

  “And what about being an Uncut Diamond?’ Lavender questioned. “Do you like that as well?”

  Kent smiled. “I wasn’t sure at first, but yes…I like it a lot.”

  “I’m thinking about becoming an Uncut Diamond too, Momma.”

  Four pair of adult eyes turned to Lotus. “What?” they all said in unison.

  “I think I’d be a great Diamond.”

  Lily looked at Sean, who looked at Kent, who looked at Lotus.

  She smiled at Kent. “Don’t you think so baby?”

  The room became quiet waiting for his response. He scrunched his face as he looked at Lotus. “I don’t know…”

  Lotus frowned at him. “You think Isis can be a Diamond, but I can’t?”

  Kent lifted his hands in defense. “Hey, I didn’t make Isis a Diamond. That was Marc and Ray.”

  “You said Marc trained her, so you and Sean can train me,” Lotus said simply.

  Lily looked at her husband again then at her sister. “Why would you want to be a Diamond, Lotus?”

  Lotus smiled. “Why wouldn’t I, Lily? I want to help people too, that’s why I became a doctor. Clearly there are female Uncut Diamonds with Callie, Isis and Simone, so it’s not like I’ll be alone.”

  “Lotus, this is dangerous work,” Kent said holding her hand.

  “For you too,” she told him.

  Sean shook his head. Ray was going to have a fit. His Uncut Diamonds were turning into eHarmony. He knew that Lotus wasn’t going to back down and that Kent was so in love, he wasn’t going to deny her. Sean took his wife’s hand.

  “It’ll be fine,” he comforted her. “He won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Lily looked at her sister who was now in the corner having a whispered conversation with Kent. Of course Lotus would want to be an Uncut Diamond, that made perfect sense in the world of Lotus Masters. Her sister had always marched to the beat of her own drum. Lily would just hope that Lotus’ senses along with the other Diamonds, would keep her safe.

  “This is crazy,” Kent whispered to Lotus.

  She smiled. “You always said I was.”

  “Be serious Lotus.”

  “I am serious Kent,” she responded. “So if you won’t help me, I’ll just ask Kyle. He’s a Diamond too.”

  He nodded. “Oh, you want to get ignorant now? You want me to show my ass in front of your family?”

  Lotus folded her arms. “I don’t care about you showing your ass! Until you give me a reason other than ‘it’s dangerous’, I want to become an Uncut Diamond.”

  “It’s not a damn club Lotus. That training was hard as hell,” he told her.

  She gave him a look. “I’m sure Marc didn’t go that hard on his Princess.”

  Kent lowered his head and closed his eyes. This is why the rule was to keep the Diamonds a secret, but nooooo, he’d had to tell Lotus like a lovesick fool. He wanted to kick his own ass right now. He felt her lips touch his softly.

  “Don’t do that,” he complained.

  She touched her lips to his again “Will you help me?”

  “Lotus…”

  When she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, he threw his head back.

  “If I can’t cut it, then I’ll let it go,” she promised.

  Kent looked down into her face. Wrong move. Those beautiful dark eyes beckoned him and in that crucial moment of indecision, her dimples appeared.

  “Please…” she whispered lowering her face against his heart.

  He sighed. “If Ray says it’s okay…”

  Lotus squeezed him tightly. “Thank you! I love you.”

  Kent raised her face to his. “Please don
’t make me regret this Lotus.”

  ******

  Trent walked into his kitchen where Callie and Carolyn were seated at the counter.

  “Kent’s coming by in a little while,” he announced and Callie nodded. “He’s bringing Lotus with him.”

  “Are they official now?” Callie asked.

  Trent made a face. “I guess. We’ll see shortly.”

  Callie laughed. “Okay, I’ll make some snacks, which is the reason you came in here to tell me that.”

  “You’re such a good wife,” he told her with a smile as he came closer.

  She kissed him softly. “You’re just greedy.”

  He laughed. “I like food and so does my daughter.” Trent placed a hand on her stomach. “And so will my son.”

  Carolyn watched the couple with a soft smile. It was good to see her son laugh and smile. For the past week, he’d done very little of both. Trent left the kitchen to return to the girls and Callie turned to Carolyn.

  “I’m worried about him,” she told his mother.

  “So am I,” Carolyn agreed. “What happened with him and Justin…I can’t imagine.”

  Callie began prepping for snacks. “Ray says Jordan told him that Trent was really out of pocket with Justin. His anger got the best of him.”

  Carolyn shook her head. “I think it’s more hurt than anger.”

  “I agree, but I don’t know what to do,” Callie told her. “I’m glad that Kent is in town. Trent usually listens to him.”

  “Well I hope he can talk some sense into him,” Carolyn said quietly. “Because I don’t want either of them to get hurt.”

  Callie turned to her. “How do you feel about him being here?”

  Carolyn looked away. “Sean said he wants to talk to me.”

  “Do you want to see him?”

  Carolyn felt her heart speed up. “Yes and no.”

  Callie returned to her seat next to Carolyn. “What does that mean?”

  “What I once felt for Justin was all consuming. He would call and I would come at the drop of dime. It was like he had a power over me that I couldn’t break away from,” Carolyn confessed.

  “I don’t want him to make me feel that way again,” she said quietly.

  Callie took her hand. “Well you have all of this family now to support you and none of us will let Justin Black hurt you.”

  “I’m surprised that he wants to see me since we haven’t spoken since the birth of the twins.”

  “Maybe he wants to apologize for what he put you through,” Callie offered.

  Carolyn shook her head. “Why now, after all this time?”

  “Because sometimes, it’s just time.” Callie told her. “Sometimes all the hurt, anger and pain have to be put to the side so that real healing can begin.”

  Carolyn smiled at her. “How are you and your mother?”

  “We’re doing better. Thank you for asking,” Callie said quietly then studied Carolyn. “You know one day; Chloe will come around.”

  “I hope so. I don’t even know how to reach her.” Carolyn twisted her hands. “She’s so angry too.”

  “There’s a lot of healing and forgiving that’s going to have to happen for all of you,” Callie commented.

  Carolyn closed her eyes. “I can’t believe Justin is alive and here with both of our children.”

  “It’s a day I’ve hoped for and dreaded at the same time,” she confessed.

  “Let’s hope for the best…” Callie said getting to her feet.

  “And prepare for the worst…”

  Chapter 19

  Kent and Lotus arrived at Trent’s building and were greeted by their friends. The couple was ushered into the living room where two little girls sat playing.

  Smiling at Trinity, Lotus commented, “She’s getting so big.”

  Callie smiled. “She likes to eat like her daddy.”

  “She’s just growing,” Trent told them.

  Lotus watched the other little girl watching her. “Hello, I’m Lotus.” She held out her hand and the girl took it with a small smile.

  “I’m Tara.”

  Lotus made her eyes widen. “You know, Kent told me about a little girl he met named Tara. He said that she was smart and pretty, so that must be you!”

  Tara’s face beamed as she glanced at Kent. “I think so.”

  “I know so,” Lotus told her with a smile.

  “Who’s ready to hang out with Grandma?” Carolyn said entering the room.

  Tara’s hand shot into the air. “Me!!!”

  Carolyn smiled then said hello to Kent and Lotus. She gathered up her granddaughters, along with snacks and headed downstairs to her apartment with them.

  Lotus watched them go. “They are adorable,” she told Callie. “And you’re having another one?”

  Callie smiled up at her husband. “Yeah, he did well the first time, so I’m giving him another opportunity.”

  Kent smirked. “You two have fun with that.”

  Trent looked at his friend then at Lotus. “So what about you two?”

  “What?” Kent asked.

  “Dude, stop fronting. Your ass ain’t in LA to see me.” Trent told him. “Let’s hear it.”

  Lotus waited as Kent came and hugged her from behind. “Yes, I’m in love with this woman and if you say one thing wrong, I’m kicking your ass in your house, in front of your wife.”

  Trent and Callie shared a look before they both rushed over to the couple.

  “It’s about damn time, man!” Trent said patting Kent on the back. “I thought we’d be wheeling you out of the strip clubs.”

  Callie hugged Lotus. “I’m so happy for you two!”

  “Thank you Callie,” Lotus said returning her embrace.

  Trent looked at them. “So I have to know how this happened.”

  Lotus stared up at Kent. “The Universe told me that Kent was the one.”

  Trent and Callie frowned. “Really?” Trent asked and Kent shook his head.

  “Don’t do it,” he warned Trent. “Lotus saw me as the man in her vision and she called me.”

  “What did she say?” Callie asked confused.

  “No, I didn’t literally call him.” Lotus explained. “My energy called him.”

  Trent and Callie frowned again.

  “And I answered.” Kent said firmly.

  Trent scratched his head. “Okay…what did you say?”

  Kent’s eyes narrowed. “Look, the bottom line is that Lotus and I are together despite the fact that your wife and Isis were trying to hook her up with Kyle.”

  Lotus looked at Kent.

  “Oh, I didn’t forget that shit.” He told her.

  “I thought they were a couple,” Trent said honestly and Lotus glared at him.

  “Kyle and I are good friends and nothing else,” she said adamantly.

  Callie added, “At the time Kent, I didn’t know you were interested in Lotus. You had known her for a long time and we always thought you were scared of her.”

  Kent knew how that made Lotus feel, so he took her hand. “I was tripping and slipping on the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I’m so glad that she waited for me.”

  Lotus smiled at him and he kissed her cheek.

  “How long did she wait?” Trent questioned.

  Still staring at Kent, Lotus answered. “Five years.”

  “Five years!!!” Trent and Callie yelled. “Damn!”

  Kent frowned again and Lotus touched his face. “It was worth the wait.”

  “I hope so,” Trent commented and the couple turned to him.

  “Shut up Trent,” they both said.

  All four began to laugh before Trent came over to Lotus. “This dude right here is my brother and if he was going to fall in love with somebody, I’m so glad it’s you.”

  Lotus felt her eyes water. “Aww…thank you Trent!” She hugged him as Kent and Callie smiled at one another.

  “Kent, you know that next to my husband and Ray, I trus
t you more than anyone in the world. You’ve always been there for me and Trent and I’m so happy for you,” Callie told him and Kent embraced her.

  “Thanks Callie.”

  When they separated, Callie grabbed Lotus’ hand. “Now you have to come tell me the whole story.”

  Trent and Kent watched the women disappear then turned to one another.

  “Lotus…” Trent commented. “You were running through them in Atlanta to fall in love with Lotus.”

  “You ran through them in Atlanta,” Kent corrected. “I was selective.”

  They both took seats on the sofa. “Whatever, so how does it feel?” Trent asked.

  Kent shook his head. “Like nothing I’ve ever imagined.”

  “I know,” Trent agreed.

  “Momma loves her,” Kent told him.

  Trent’s brows raised. “Damn you took her to meet Ms. Baker?”

  “The first time I took her out,” Kent confessed.

  “Damn, you was gone from the start.”

  Kent laughed. “I can’t even lie, I was. It was like one day she was crazy Lotus and the next, I was crazy in love with her.”

  “I wanted to whip Kyle’s ass because he’d been all up in her spot with favorite dishes and shit,” he said shaking his head.

  Trent laughed hard. “That green-eyed monster was something else.”

  “Jealous as hell,” Kent agreed. “And you know that wasn’t me.”

  “You felt Kyle was legit competition?” Trent asked.

  Kent looked at him. “Hell yeah dude. They’d get together and talk about their pharmaceutical drugs and he was acting all protective. I wanted to bust his ass.”

  Trent shook his head. “I’m surprised y’all got anything done down there.”

  “I handled business, but I had to keep an eye on his ass, for real.” Kent assured him.

  “So you cool now?” Trent asked.

  “Yeah, I’m straight. I know I’m the one.”

  Looking at him, Trent said, “Let’s not go there again. I’m still confused as hell.”

  “As long as I understand it,” Kent told him. “It’s all good.”

  Trent studied him. “Like I said, I’m glad it’s Lotus because you couldn’t have found one better…or stranger.”

  “Lotus is special. Don’t play about my baby.” Kent said firmly.

  “Who is this serious dude?” Trent asked with a smile.