Her Protector

by D. Camille

  Kent sat back and allowed Lotus to wash his hair, something that no woman had ever done since he was a boy. Her hands felt like heaven as they moved around his head. The gentle massage began to cause another reaction.

  Lotus looked down and smiled. “I take it you’re enjoying this.”

  “Oh hell yeah,” he murmured.

  She finished and turned on the water to rinse away the product. When she was done, she whispered in his ear, “Is there anything else that you’d like me to wash, baby?”

  ******

  Justin Black walked down the hall of the hotel until he reached the room he was looking for. He knocked on the door and waited for the woman inside to answer.

  The door opened and the surprise on her face was evident. “Daddy?”

  “Hello Chloe, may I come in?” He lifted a brow.

  She smiled. “Of course.”

  Justin had decided to drop in on his only daughter since he’d not been hearing from her on the regular basis that he was accustomed to.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?” Justin asked looking around the room. His gaze landed on a young man’s pair of shoes underneath the coffee table that contained two glasses.

  Chloe looked away. “No, not at all.”

  A door opened and two pair of dark eyes turned in that direction. Justin’s pair narrowed as he focused on the man.

  “Hello Mr. Black,”

  There was silence as the man picked up his shoes and immediately put them on.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be watching my daughter?” Justin asked.

  “Daddy…” Chloe began.

  Finishing with his shoes, he stood and faced Justin. “Yes sir, I am.”

  Chloe folded her arms. “Daddy, stop. I was tired of being cooped up in this room and I asked Kyle to come and keep me company.”

  Justin studied Kyle for a moment. “Thank you Kyle. I’ll take over from here.”

  Kyle nodded and turned to Chloe. “You know how to reach me if you need me.”

  “Thank you Kyle.”

  With one more glance at Justin, Kyle left the room.

  “Daddy, don’t go making assumptions,” Chloe chastised picking up the glasses from the table.

  “I don’t think your brothers are paying him to have drinks with you,” Justin pointed out.

  Chloe huffed. “I think my brothers need to be focused on finding out who’s after us and not who I’m having drinks with.” She placed the glasses on the bar.

  Justin folded his arms. “I wondered why I haven’t heard from you as much.”

  Chloe plopped on the sofa. “Well that certainly has nothing to do with Kyle since he just recently got back into town from Atlanta.”

  Taking a seat across from her, Justin asked, “You keep track of his whereabouts?”

  “Why are you here Daddy?” Chloe questioned point blank. “Are we ready to move?”

  “No, I wanted to talk to you about your mother.”

  She frowned. “Which one?”

  “Don’t’ play with me Chloe. You know damn well who I’m talking about.”

  “Carolyn,” she said rolling her eyes.

  Justin sat back. “You need to talk to her. It’s time to start healing.”

  Chloe shook her head. “Why couldn’t Camille have been my real mother?”

  “She wasn’t and now she’s gone. Carolyn is here and you need to give her a chance.” Justin told her.

  “I’ve explained to you how the majority of all this is my fault. Don’t blame her for my mistakes,” he finished.

  “Has Trent stopped blaming you for everything?” she questioned.

  Justin looked at his daughter. “Trent and I are working on things but even that has nothing to do with you and your mother.”

  Chloe looked away. “I don’t know.”

  “What are you afraid of?” Justin asked. “That you’ll find out that she’s not really the monster you’ve painted in your head?”

  “I don’t care who she is.”

  Justin moved to the sofa. “This is why I brought you here Chloe. This is your family. I know that you had your adoptive parents, but this is your blood. You’re a Black.”

  He took her hand. “Will you do this for me?”

  Chloe looked at her hand in his. “I’ll think about it.”

  “And I’ll think about not busting your little guard’s ass.”

  She blushed. “Please stop. Don’t’ embarrass me like that. I’m a grown woman. Kyle was the only one who was nice to me when I got here.”

  “I know you’re grown, but you’ll always be my baby girl.” Justin told her. “And I protect what’s mine.”

  ******

  The next few days, all loose ends were cleared up in Atlanta. News of yet another Harding’s death shook the city again. The Diamonds made sure that the news reports were silent on Kent and Lotus’ involvement in the incident.

  Tonight was Lotus’ staff party and Kent was dressed in his tux waiting for her to finish getting ready. He stared at her mantle and smiled. It still held all her photos, but he had plans for that. She exited the room in a little black dress that showed her beautiful, curvy body. Her hair had been professionally twisted into an elaborate style and she looked even more amazing.

  Kent walked over to her and stared down into her face. “So, you’re really going to make me show my ass tonight?”

  Lotus laughed. “That won’t be necessary because I’m going home with you.”

  “We have another stop before then,” he told her.

  Looking surprised, Lotus asked, “We do?”

  He nodded slowly with mischief in those eyes. “We should go before I get out of hand.”

  She grabbed her purse. “Yes, let’s do that.”

  At the party, Lotus introduced Kent to her co-workers and watched the open stares at the handsome man beside her. Kent, for his part was the perfect escort giving her just enough space but staying close enough for it to be known that he was hers.

  The pair mingled and sampled dishes before they found themselves alone. “Are you having a good time?” Lotus asked.

  Kent shrugged. “As long as I’m with you, it’s all good.”

  Lotus slipped an arm around his waist. “You’re a perfect date.”

  “You’re a damn good doctor. These people are fawning all over you,” Kent said impressed.

  “Hell yeah, I’m the best.” She boasted and they both laughed.

  Kent sobered and stared down at her. “How did someone like me end up with someone like you?”

  Lotus smiled. “The Universe loves us.”

  He lowered his head to her ear. “And I love you, Dr. Lotus Masters.”

  When Kent lifted his head, something caught his eye that caused him to pulled Lotus closer.

  “Dr. Masters?”

  Lotus turned slowly at the voice then frowned. “What are you doing here? You’re not staff.”

  He smiled. “Neither is your date.”

  Kent watched the man closely and kept an arm around Lotus.

  “How may I help you?” Lotus asked.

  “I just wanted to say hello,” he said slowly.

  Lotus lifted a brow. “You’ve said it.”

  “It’s nice to see you two again too,” he told them. “I will be seeing you again Dr. Masters.”

  Kent and Lotus watched him walk away and join his date. Kent whispered in Lotus’ ear and she nodded in understanding. He kissed her cheek and gently squeezed her arms in support before walking away.

  Lotus went to the ladies’ room and stood in the mirror for a moment. She patted her face and checked her hair before washing her hands. The door opened as she was drying them and she looked over at the woman who entered.

  “Hi Dr. Masters,” she greeted.

  “Hi,”

  The woman entered the stall and Lotus completed her business before leaving the area. She strolled back out to the party and interacted with co-workers for a while. Finally, she made her way outside to a secl
uded area on a high balcony.

  “We meet yet again Dr. Masters,” the familiar voice sent a chill down her spine.

  Lotus turned slowly. “Dr. Banks or is it no longer Dr.?”

  He laughed softly as he came closer. “I owe you something.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” she corrected.

  “On the contrary, you cost me everything,” he spat.

  Lotus took a deep breath. “Listen Daniel, whatever you have in mind, I wouldn’t try it.”

  “Did you like my message?” he asked.

  “What message?” Lotus lifted a brow.

  “The one that said what I’m going to do to you,” he said harshly. “I almost died! Before those men beat the hell out of me, they told me it was for you.”

  “I lost my license, my practice and almost my life because of you!”

  Lotus shook her head. “No, that was because of you.”

  Daniel looked over the railing of the balcony. “That’s a long way down.”

  He took a step. “A woman who’s had too many drinks could fall right over.”

  Lotus pulled out her weapon and pointed it at Daniel. “And a man who’s acting crazy could too!” she snapped.

  Kent, who was waiting in the shadows rolled his eyes. Lotus had clicked into her wannabe Diamond mode. She was just supposed to get him to confess to sending the damn card, but here she was doing a Pam Grier impression.

  “Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Lotus told Daniel who now had his hands in the air.

  Kent lowered his head into his hand. This damn girl…

  “It’s your choice because either way, this gun has a lot of bullets and your name is on every one!”

  Lotus continued. “Because you got it twisted! You don’t know who you…-”

  “Stop!” Kent said coming out of hiding. “Shit!”

  He grabbed Daniel and pushed him against the wall before quickly patting him down. “I was going to kill you but Lotus has tortured the hell out of you, so you’re just going to confess to sending the card and stay the hell away from her. You got it?”

  Daniel looked into angry green eyes. “I just wanted to scare her.”

  Kent nodded. “Yeah, yeah I know.” He called for an agent to escort Daniel to the police station. When Daniel was taken away, he turned to Lotus who’d put her weapon away.

  She smiled. “I did that!”

  Kent frowned at her. “What were you supposed to do?”

  “I did get him to confess to sending the card,” she protested.

  “I didn’t say pull a gun on him Lotus.”

  Lotus nodded. “That was for effect. I had to sell it.”

  He walked over to her. “Are you ever going to follow directions?”

  “I tried,” she gave him a sad face. “I just got carried away.”

  He lifted her face to his. “Just don’t get carried away when I’m not around,” he warned.

  Lotus blinked up at him. “But I did good?” she asked cautiously.

  Kent embraced her gently. “You were perfect, little Foxy Brown.”

  Kent and Lotus left the party and climbed into his car. Shaking his head, he looked over at her.

  “Girl…”

  “What?”

  He started the car then began driving. “You’re going to calm that down before you get your ass killed.”

  “I knew you were right there,” Lotus told him. “I wouldn’t have acted like that alone.”

  Kent glanced at her. “Hell, I hope not.”

  Lotus laughed. “Where are we going?”

  “Just wait and see.”

  “It’s not your Momma’s house, is it?”

  He frowned. “Nah, it’s not my Momma’s house. You act like I take you there all the time.”

  Lotus shrugged and reached for the radio turning on a slow love song. Gently, she touched his arm. “I think your Momma’s house is beautiful and no, you don’t take me there all the time.”

  “Thank you,”

  Lotus shook her head. “So where are we going all dressed up like this?” she asked again.

  “Uh…Just. Wait. And. See.”

  “You’re such a smartass,” Lotus said chuckling.

  Kent took her hand and kissed it. “We’re going back to the beginning.”

  She looked confused. “The beginning of what?”

  “You’re so damn nosy.”

  “Inquisitive is the word you’re looking for,” she corrected him.

  “Nosy as hell.”

  Lotus sat back with a smile and listened to the music with her eyes closed. When they finally came to a complete stop, she looked out of the window.

  Quickly she turned to Kent. “The Universe?”

  “This is where you called me.”

  Kent stepped out of the car then worked his way around to Lotus’ side. Gently, he helped her out of the vehicle and escorted her inside the little club where she’d first performed the poem that had pierced his heart. Lotus was greeted by the regulars as they made their way to a table. Kent held out her chair as she sat then took the seat across from her.

  Lotus looked at the Lotus flowers on the table. “You do this everywhere we go.”

  “Because everywhere I go with you is special.”

  She stared at him over the candlelight. “You always get me with that sweet side.”

  He smiled at her and held her gaze.

  The couple enjoyed a light meal and drinks as the performers for the evening did their various things. Lotus was asked to showcase, but she declined as she wasn’t prepared.

  The emcee came to the stage to introduce the next act and Lotus turned at the sound of his voice.

  “Coming to the stage, we have a new creation here at The Universe. Everybody let’s give a warm welcome to The Green-Eyed Monster.”

  Lotus froze. She could not have possibly heard that right, so when Kent stood from his seat, she grabbed his arm.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she whispered.

  He looked down at her. “I got this.”

  Kent tugged away from her grasp and headed to the stage. Lotus felt her heart beating a mile per minute because she had no idea what this boy was about to do.

  She listened as he cleared his throat in the microphone. “What’s up everybody?”

  “Okay so, this is not my thing so don’t expect a lot,” he told them before pulling a piece of paper from his pocked and unfolding it.

  “L, is for the way you LOVE me…”

  Lotus lowered her head slowly and shook it from side to side.

  “O, is for the OIL you wear that smells like coconut…”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Oh help me…”

  “T, is for how THANKFUL I am that you called me…” he said softly causing Lotus to peek up at him and he winked at her.

  “U, is for how you are so damn UNIQUE…”

  She began to feel herself start to melt at his sweetness.

  “S, is for how you STOLE my heart baby…”

  Smiling at him, she bit her lip as the first tear dropped on her cheek.

  “Lotus, I love you and I want to buy you a house where we can put our wedding pictures on the mantle,” he finished.

  Before Kent knew what had happened, Lotus had rushed the stage and threw herself into his arms.

  “Yeeeeessss!!!!!!!” she screamed and the crowd all stood and began clapping.

  Kent looked down at her. “Will you marry me Lotus Masters?”

  “Boy, didn’t you hear me say yes?” she told him through her tears. “I love you!”

  He kissed her in front of the crowd as she held on to him tightly. When they finally broke apart, Kent raised a brow and Lotus looked at him confused until he cupped his ear.

  Smiling happily, Lotus said into the microphone. “Oh my God Kent! You are so amazing! No other dude could ever compare to my green-eyed monster.”

  “I told you…”

  Lotus laughed and touched his face.
“Please don’t ever perform another spoken word.”

  “That’s cool. I’ll just do all my performing in the bedroom…”

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later Kent and Lotus were met in the Bahamas by their families, Trent, Callie and Kyle. In a room, Trent straightened Kent’s tie and they smiled at one another.

  “My brother is finally settling down,” Trent teased him.

  “Dude, I’m almost twenty-five. You act like I’m turning fifty,” Kent complained.

  “Well, you kept saying it would never happen, so I was worried.”

  Kent smirked at him. “Whatever…it wasn’t going to happen, until Lotus.”

  Trent shook his head. “That’s crazy. You’ve known her for almost as long as I’ve known Calista.”

  “I know. Since I first met her in the airport, Lotus has always been the one that could rock my world,” Kent confessed.

  “You were running scared for all those years,” Trent told him.

  Kent nodded. “Yeah I was, but I needed that time to become the man that can handle her.”

  Trent rolled his eyes. “You are a better man than me dude. Lotus would have me pulling my damn hair.”

  “I do the hair pulling,” Kent said with a grin.

  Trent frowned. “Too much information.”

  Kent laughed and looked at himself in the mirror touching his face and hair.

  “So what’s the rush dude? Two weeks?” Trent asked slyly.

  Kent turned to him. “The rush is that I wanted to marry my woman. Any other questions?”

  Trent threw his hands up. “Hey, Calista wanted me to find out.”

  “Tell Callie to stop being nosy.”

  “It’s the pregnancy,” Trent said and Kent looked at him. “That’s what she says it is.”

  Kent focused back in the mirror. “Lotus and I didn’t want to wait to plan a big wedding. She doesn’t like traditional stuff anyway.” He glanced back at Trent. “And we sure as hell wasn’t getting married three or four times.”

  Trent frowned. “Calista and I got married twice. Once in Africa and once in the States.”

  “One too many times,” Kent said plainly.

  “Shut up.”

  Kent laughed. “Anyway, I like tropical stuff so we chose the Bahamas. One and done.”

  He turned to Trent. “Thanks for coming and standing up with me.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Trent told him. “You know you’re my dude for life. We’re family.”