Tareef (The Brothers Ali Book 4)

by Celeste Granger

  Tareef

  Book 4

  In

  The Brothers Ali

  By

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Celeste Granger

  Note from the Publisher: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or references to locations, persons, events, or locations is purely coincidental. The characters, circumstances, and events are imaginative and not intended to reflect real events.

  Tareef – The Brothers Ali Book 4

  Copyright 2020 Celeste Granger

  All Rights Reserved and Proprietary.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or format without written permission from Publisher. Send all requests via email to thecelestegranger@yahoo.com

  Printed in the United States of America

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  Acknowledgment

  Greetings, reading family. I am always grateful to the Creator for the opportunity to share my gift with you. And I do feel like writing is a gift, not one that I conjure but one He entrusted me with. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the Moore Sisters so much. I believe that’s how many of my reading family have come to know my work. But honey! These Ali Men are something else. I feel like this series just started, and I am already at the second to the last brother! Total sad face! I have completely fallen in love with The Brothers Ali, and from your DM’s to me, your comments, and the reviews, you have to! Thank you so much for embracing them. They are not the Moore Series, but they do give us another family to cheer for.

  Thank you reading family, and my literary support team. Thank you, Alpha readers, editors, graphic designers, and ARC team. I can’t do this alone. I appreciate you.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to those who understand that love is patient, love is kind and not easily provoked. But even unconditional love takes work.

  Prologue

  Six Months Earlier

  Gold and green, the high school’s signature colors, were on full display with balloon arches that created a colorful entry to the space. Cars lined the street, and valet service was busier than ever outside Upstairs Atlanta, located in the heart of West Midtown; a refurbished factory converted into a party space with floor to ceiling front windows that displayed a sweeping view of the Atlanta Skyline. Perched atop a hill, Upstairs Atlanta was the host to Langston Hughes ten year reunion party.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Racquel fussed as she eased her BMW into the valet parking line.

  “But you look cute, though,” Naomi sang as she checked her makeup in the lighted visor mirror.

  “You look cute, too,” Racquel huffed lazing, dragging her eyes over her best friend. Naomi was stunning in an emerald green mini dress that rode the thick of her thighs and sparkled under from layers of iridescent paillette sequined discs that made the dress shine even in dark places. Racquel was radiant as well in a matte gold lame mini dress that hugged her voluptuous curves. The front of the dress plunged into a deep v that nearly reached her belly, and the dolman sleeves added beautiful body and glamorous effect to the otherwise sleek dress.

  When the Ali brothers stepped across the threshold, cameras flashed.

  “Mr. Ali, this way,” cameraman after cameraman called out. They were an item, two of the most eligible bachelors in Atlanta, international businessmen, and billionaires? Whether it was a national red carpet or the one for Khalid’s high school reunion, the Ali brothers drew the attention of the media. The brothers paused long enough to allow for a few pictures to be taken.

  Inside, Naomi and Racquel saw the barrage of flashing lights.

  “Rocky, you won’t believe this,” Naomi smiled as she turned and looked at her friend. “Come here, girl,” Naomi encouraged, seeing the resistance painted on Racquel’s face. Taking another long sip of her drink, Racquel sashayed over to where Naomi stood. There were so many people gathered around the flashing lights, it was hard for Racquel to see what Naomi was making such a fuss about. Then the crowd parted.

  “Girl, its two of ‘em, and one of them is Khalid,” Naomi beamed, biting her lower lip and releasing it slowly as her eyes focused on the younger Ali. She remembered him from high school, and although he was younger, he was cute. Now, she could see that Tareef was grown, all the way grown and cute had become handsome and fine as hell.

  “We are not going to hold up this wall all night,” Naomi said, reaching over and taking the glass from Racquel’s hand. “Let’s go,” she insisted.

  “No, Naomi,” Racquel fussed, dragging her heels as Naomi gently moved her forward. “Don’t make me do this.”

  “Too late,” Naomi replied, offering a smile. “We’re dancing!”

  The music shifted, and the bass beat dropped, echoing through the party. The DJ played the electric slide, something that was sure to get the entire crowd moving. Naomi didn’t stop dragging Racquel until they were near the center of the dancefloor and in line, quickly falling into the familiar steps that got the group moving in unison. Racquel still resisted, even though her body moved to the beat. Naomi was relentless, though. She refused to allow Racquel to withdraw, which happened much more frequently since the passing of her father. Racquel and her dad were so close. Naomi was going to make Racquel have a good time even if she hated every damn minute of it. Reaching forward, Naomi placed her hands on Rocky’s hips and guided her through the dance steps even though Rocky knew them.

  “Dip baby, come on, come on, dip baby,” Naomi sang.

  Rocky resisted at first but Naomi was persistent. Before long, Rocky threw her head back, laughing at her best friend’s off-key melody.

  “I’m ready to go,” Racquel groaned as the two walked across the room.

  “Not before I get to Tareef, we’re not,” Naomi countered.

  “You’re serious, aren't’ you?” Racquel challenged.

  “Rocky, did you see him? I mean, look at him,” Naomi swooned.

  Racquel refused, fearing that a look in that direction would bring her back in contact with her nemesis.

  “I still don’t understand what was up with you and Khalid,” Naomi sighed. “Like, you’ve explained it to me before, but that wasn’t about nothing, girl. Besides, not liking him doesn’t mean you have to throw the whole family away.”

  “So, you’re going after his brother even though you know how I feel about him?” Rocky protested.

  “Umm, let me think,” Naomi replied, placing a polished finger to her chin. “That would be a yes,” she smiled. “It’s ex-boyfriend’s that are off-limits between friends, not the brother of someone you claim to hate.”

  “Whatever,” Racquel huffed.

  “Well, baby girl, I’ve got plenty of use for that fine specimen of a man standing next to him,” Naomi hummed, eyeing Tareef from across the room. She wouldn’t stop looking in his direction until he felt her eyes rakingly appraising him. When Tareef did look around the room, either feeling or seeing Naomi staring, a slight smile parted his full lips. That was all Naomi needed. Her smile widened as her eyes narrowed, and she focused her gaze intently.

  “Damn,” Naomi uttered as Tareef took his eyes back from her. She wouldn’t allow that to be their last encounter. She wanted to see him up close and personal to let him know she was more than interested. Naomi had no intention of waiting for T
areef to make the first move. She’d gotten his attention, and Naomi intended to capitalize on it.

  “I’ll be back,” Naomi said, smoothing down her dress, flipping her shoulder-length hair back behind her ear, and adjusting her posture, dropping her shoulders and enunciating her bustline. She kept her eyes focused on him as she strutted across the room, the sway in her hips practically defying gravity and drawing the attention of many men in her wake. Naomi didn’t care what kind of song was playing, whether it was fast or slow. She intended to dance with Tareef and never let him go.

  Naomi wasn’t the least bit dissuaded by the number of women ogling him, trying to gain his attention, lure his eye. They were mere stepping stones to the prize that she kept in her crosshairs, leveling a heated gaze she hoped he’d feel across the crowded room. The natural sway in Naomi’s hips deepened as she glided across the room. The men staring at her were inconsequential. The fact that they were drooling over her didn’t matter. There was only one man on her mind, and she wouldn’t stop until she was in his arms.

  Whether Tareef felt her leveled gaze, Naomi’s energy field, or whether he just so happened to have turned in her direction, their eyes met. Naomi breathed on a gasp as she felt him, her consistent gaze returned. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’s interest was piqued by the other. The closer she got to him, the louder Naomi’s heart pounded. The echo in her ears was almost deafening, dulling the music that boomed in the background. But Naomi didn’t cover her ears. She welcomed the thump of her heart because he caused it. There was just something about Tareef Ali that heightened all her senses and made her swoon. He was dreamy and within reach.

  She stepped through the women hanging around, pushing them to the periphery by her mere entrance into the space Tareef occupied. He noticed their adjustment and Naomi’s presence. She wasn’t a stranger to him. Tareef knew her by association and by her beauty. Naomi was stunning, shorter than he was by nearly a foot, flawless cocoa brown skin, her natural tresses hanging just past her shoulders, riveting warm brown eyes, full lips, cavernous dimples when she smiled, and a body that would not quit, curved, voluptuous in all the right places.

  “Tareef,” she purred.

  “Naomi,” he crooned.

  At that moment, it felt like the world stopped spinning. At that moment, Tareef was the axis, and when the world started to spin again, he was the center. Tareef saw it in her eyes. He saw the attraction. He saw that she wasn’t like the others, simply enamored. It was more to it than that. Tareef didn’t’ ask her if she wanted to dance. He already knew she did. He reached for Naomi’s hand, and she gently folded hers in. That first touch nearly took her breath away, but Naomi refused not to breathe. She wanted to feel the sensation of Tareef’s incredibly powerful touch fully.

  And she did as Tareef led Naomi on to the dance floor. She felt the eyes of everyone around them, watching, seeing her with him. But that didn’t supersede how he made her feel. When they arrived at the center of the dance floor, Tareef paused, pivoting on his heels while simultaneously sweeping Naomi into his arms. A vaguely sensuous light remained between them as he pulled her against his frame. Naomi opened her mouth on a pant as she felt Tareef’s hand find the center of her back, locking her into his desired hold. Naomi could feel, she could sense, the sexual magnetism that made him so sexily self-confident.

  The slow jam the DJ played offered the melody but pressed against Tareef’s length offered the bass beat. Tareef’s ecru eyes were like summer lightning, full of fire and depth as he lowered them to study Naomi’s face. Something in his manner soothed her, causing her heart to beat erratically and her pulse to quicken. Yet, the entrancement of his leveled gaze and how it made Naomi feel paled in comparison to the current that raced through her because of his touch.

  His projected energy and known power undeniably drew Naomi. She was keenly aware of the warmth and strength of his flesh against hers as Tareef lowered his head, and they danced cheek to cheek. He moved her in the seductiveness of his arms, causing her body to bend to whatever his will was. Naomi lifted her arms and laced them around Tareef’s neck possessively. She would love to be able to hold him close to her forever. It was so perfect, so right, so what she desired. And she basked in that moment, reveling in his scent, inhaling his intoxicating essence and breathing in again because she needed to. Tareef’s nearness was overwhelming, and the way he made her body feel was exciting. Naomi’s heart fluttered wildly in her chest as he cradled her securely in his arms.

  And then the song was over. The music stopped, and so did their dance.

  That could have been the end of it, one dance for the ages and then nothing. But there was something there. They both thought they were interested in exploring. And they did, for a while. And then, just like the dance, that stopped, too. Tareef was there with Naomi when Racquel’s father’s barbershop was vandalized. He was supportive and wonderful and caring. But their connection never moved to the next level where they became a couple. It never went that far, regardless of the fact that a relationship with Tareef was exactly what Naomi wanted. He was there to some degree, but they never moved further than a few dates, some polite conversations on the phone, some interaction but nothing that rose to the level of two hearts being joined together as one. And after a while, it all faded. The phone calls became less and then stopped altogether. And then there was nothing.

  Chapter One

  Six Months Later

  “Look at me, Na! I’m flying!”

  “Please, Mom, come back inside!”

  “Wee!” Ruby Singleton squealed as she stretched out her arms, teetering near the edge of the roofline on the family’s three-story home.

  “Mom, I need you to come back this way,” Naomi pleaded as she tried to balance herself on the slanted roof, trying to get to her mother without falling herself. Naomi was not a fan of heights. Not only did she try to keep her bearings so her feet wouldn’t slip out from under her, but Naomi also tried not to look down, staying near the center of the roof so she didn’t have to see just how high up they were or how far they could potentially fall. Naomi’s heart raced as she scooted her feet forward more, trying to reach out and grab her mother. She heard how the tiles sounded under her feet, how the roof gave on the house they lived in since she was a child.

  “It’s so beautiful up here,” Ruby smiled as she turned her face up toward the heaven. “I’m closer to God up here!”

  “Mom, come on now,” Naomi reasoned. “Step back for me, please. I don’t want you to fall.”

  Her mom rolled her head from one shoulder to the other as her head remained tilted back, her eyes focused upward instead of down. Her arms remained outstretched as Ruby enjoyed the breeze that blew against her face, the blue of the sky overhead, and the billowy white clouds that looked close enough for her to touch if she just jumped high enough.

  “I just want to touch the clouds, Naomi, that’s all I want to do is touch God’s clouds.”

  Naomi was momentarily distracted from her mother. She heard sounds, movement behind her that demanded her attention. Slowly and carefully, Naomi pivoted on her heels and looked back.

  “How long has she been out there,” Vance Singleton, Naomi’s father, asked.

  “I don’t know,” Naomi admitted. “We were sitting in the kitchen one minute and the next, she was out on the roof.”

  Vance could hear it in his daughter’s voice. She was anxious, scared, and tired. But he knew no matter how much her mother put Naomi through, she would always try to save her. She’d been doing it since she was a kid.

  “Vancy, baby? Is that you?”

  Ruby wasn’t nearly as careful as Naomi was. Hearing her husband of thirty years' voice, she twirled on her heels so she could see him.

  “Hey, Ruby D,” Vance replied as he strained to lift his large frame through the window. “Whatcha doing out here, Sweet Ruby?”

  “Trying to see God’s handiwork, that’s all,” Ruby smiled, still looking at her husband. Naomi adjusted he
rself so she could keep an eye on her mother. She was moving too much to be that close to the edge. Every time her mom moved, Naomi’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Come on, Mom,” Naomi reasoned. “Come back here so you can see Daddy.”

  “I can see him from right here, Na,” Ruby defended. “I ain’t blind. I might be crazy, but I for damn sure ain’t blind.”

  Ruby threw her head back, laughing at her own situation. She rocked back on her heels, her upper body leaning too far. Ruby had to take a step back to right herself, but there was just a little roof left for her foot to rest on.

  “Woooo!”

  Mom!!

  “Ruby!!

  Naomi forgot about her own safety as she rushed forward.

  “Oh, Lawd!” Ruby laughed. “Did you see that, Vance?”

  “I did, babe, and you are scaring me and your daughter. Now, come on back this way so I could give you a good ole hug and a kiss,” Vance encouraged. “Come on, Ruby.”

  Vance pleaded with his wife as he stepped onto the roof. The wood bearings moaned from his girth.

  “Mom, listen. We need you to come back to the window.” Naomi tried to sound reasonable, rational, but she was on the verge of tears. Her anxiety was through the roof, and she was angry.

  “Fine, fine,” Ruby smiled. “Since ya’ll making such a big fuss. I’ll come on back. Me and God were just having a lil talk, that’s all.”

  As if nothing happened, Ruby walked across the roofline back towards safety. Naomi didn’t fully breathe until her mom and dad reunited. He hugged her tightly and coaxed her into the house. Ruby didn’t put up a fuss at all. For her, it was no big deal. Just another day in the Singleton house. Naomi reached down and braced against her knees, trying to regulate her breathing and fight back the tears determined to fall. She was just so tired.