“Don’t remind me,” he blew out in a whisper. “You know, it’s funny how life works. I had it all, and I thought it wasn’t enough. Now,” he looked back at his empty living room to make sure we were still alone. “Now, I have no one to love me except the two kids you’ve given me. I don’t even know if her kid is mine yet, but I had to talk her into coming here to make sure she didn’t go through with an adoption.” He sounded weak and dismayed discussing Melody’s possible betrayal.
I reached for Rodney’s hand and squeezed it tightly. For the first time in a while, I truly felt for him.
“Rodney, we all get the Karma we deserve in life. Now, it’s time to start putting good karma out in the world so that it will come back to you. When you do good to people, good comes back to you. I can honestly say this is true. So do good by our kids. That’s all I ask of you.” I let go of his hand and smiled.
“I will continue to do that, Tameka. I promise.”
“Good. Did you tell them I’m here?”
“No, Melody started tripping before I got the chance to tell them. I’ll go get them now.” Rodney backed away from me with a look of relief on his face, and we exchanged a smile.
When he returned, he had Kevin and Eva by his side. Eva ran over to hug my waist. “Mom, I missed you!”
“Hey, Mom,” Kevin said as if he wasn’t ready to leave.
“See you guys in two weeks,” Rodney chimed in. “Come here.” He pulled our children in for a hug.
“You guys go ahead to the car,” I said, and they went racing off to see who would make it to the front seat first. “Bye, Rodney,” I said, hugging his neck quickly. “I wish you the best.”
“Tameka?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to do better with building a relationship with you and Jeb, so we can raise our children in a healthier environment. From now on, we are in this together.”
“I would like that Rodney,” I said. Being cordial and respectful was all I’d ever asked of him since we divorced. Finally, we were having a breakthrough. Hopefully, it would last with that witch Melody lurking around.
I drove home listening to the stories of the kid’s wonderful weekend with their father. These were the types of tales I wanted to hear, the magical ones they would remember for a lifetime and cherish forever. Eva’s bright smile as she talked about the time she spent with her father was enough to bring a tear to the corners of my eyes.
“When we went to the Dad and Daughter Paint Night, Dad’s picture of a peacock was so funny, Mama. He painted the feathers in three different colors, and it looked like a baby painted it,” Eva laughed.
“Rodney has never been into the arts,” I said and laughed along with Eva. The moment was innocent, and it was what she needed from her father. “You guys really had a good time with your father, huh?” I asked.
“We really did,” Eva said, smiling.
I looked back at Kevin, and he was sticking his finger in his mouth as if he were pretending to vomit about the paintings. “What about you, Kevin?”
“Well, when Dad wasn’t doing all of that girly stuff with Eva, we got to play the game and go fishing. I had fun learning how to fish.” His little brown cheeks perked up into a smile when he talked about his time with Rodney.
Thank you, Rodney. It’s about time you gave our kids what they deserved, I thought and made it up in my mind that I would call him and thank him and tell him what an impression he’d made upon the kids.
“See, he did something for both of you. And you have to let Eva have her time with him too,” I said, knowing Kevin wasn’t used to sharing when it came to his time with his father. Instead of making an effort to reach Eva, his father usually casted Eva aside because of her attitude toward him. Now, that had changed, and I was happy for my daughter because she deserved a father who understood her needs too. I could only hope that the past year had changed Rodney forever.
When I pulled into the driveway, I turned the car off, and the kids jumped out running full speed to the front door.
“I got the TV first,” yelled Kevin.
“You always get it… Mama!” Eva turned to me for help as her brother sped past her and reached the door first.
“Listen to me, guys. Before you whack each other’s heads off trying to get inside, why don’t you go to your rooms and look at the surprise Jeb and I have for you.” I used my key to unlock the door, and they bounded up the steps, heading to their rooms.
Jeb walked out of the den and over to me. His arms wrapped around me, but before I could return the hug, the excitement from Kevin’s voice made me look up at him.
He was at the top of the stairway, yelling down, “Wow! This is so cool, Mom. I can play my game without Eva bothering me!”
“Mom, I can watch my Disney shows without the big baby having a temper tantrum,” Eva said to annoy her brother.
They both ran down the stairs. “Thank you, Mom,” they said in unison.
“You’re welcome sweetheart, and so are you Kevin, but it was Jeb’s idea to give you each your own TV, so he deserves the credit.”
Eva smiled at Jeb, and Kevin gave him a thumbs up.
“I’m about to go play the game,” said Kevin.
“And I’m about to watch my Disney shows,” added Eva. Her golden brown cheeks, which were a few shades lighter than her brother’s, perked up into a smile.
Kevin ran halfway up the steps then turned around and looked at Jeb. “Thanks, Pops.”
Jeb’s smile widened as Kevin ran down and hugged him. Eva slowly meandered over to her brother and Jeb and joined the group hug.
“Anything to make my little ones smile,” Jeb said.
After their tender moment, the kids took off to their rooms.
“Babe, something happened when I went to pick the kids up. I’m afraid to pinch myself for fear I’ll wake up and everything will go back to normal with Rodney,” I began.
“Oh yeah? What happened?” Jeb asked and appeared to brace himself as if he were preparing for a new episode of Rodney’s never-ending drama.
“For starters, Melody has moved back in with him. So we talked about his effect on the kids when they spend time with him.”
“And how did that go?”
“He apologized for the way he treated me and the kids in the past. He says he wants to build a relationship with you so that we can co-parent in a healthy way.”
“Wow. Are you sure this is the same man I met before?” Jeb laughed.
“Something about him was different. It’s like he’s matured over these past few months.”
“Could it be that he has bumped his head again?”
“Stop it, Jeb. I’m trying to be serious.”
“I am, too, baby. The Rodney I know is a long way from mature, so we just have to watch out for the other shoe to drop,” Jeb replied.
“I guess all we can do is wait and see,” I said, knowing only time would tell if Rodney was telling the truth.
Jeb inched closer to me. “I will do anything it takes for us to have a family unit that works. You, Eva, and Kevin mean the world to me, and I want you to be happy. It would be great if Rodney cuts out the unnecessary drama. If that means us meeting to talk things out, I’m all for it. But if he gets out of line—”
“I’ll be the first to cut him off,” I finished his sentence.
Jeb enveloped me in his arms. “Enough about him…” He began to rock me in his arms and whisper sweet things close to my ear. The heat from his breath sent me reeling into another universe as I inhaled his distinct and intoxicating scent into my lungs. “Can I keep you forever?” he asked as he breathed in the sugary scent of my hair.
I smiled. “Do you even have to ask?”
He tightened his hold on me, kissing my neck, and I became stiff in his grasp. He loosened his arms and leaned back to look me in the eyes, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. He caressed my face and held it in his hands, looking into my eyes with the purest affection.
When he inched his face closer to mine, so sooo slowly, I thought I might die with the anticipation of reuniting with him. I shut my eyes, awaiting the unison. His soft lips met mine, and I was in bliss.
Only in my fantasies had I dreamt of having someone to love so deeply. He pressed soft, quick kisses, and nibbled on my bottom lip, demanding entrance. And I let him in, and it felt…heavenly.
“Are you really ready for forever?” he asked, and his breath blew against my earlobe sensually.
“Yes. I’m yours,” I submitted, fully and eternally in love with Jeb—the man who overcame the hate planted inside of him and exhibited undying love to me and my children.
I have written an alternate ending to the Safe Place Series that wraps up Jeb and Tameka’s love story but ends in a cliffhanger on what happens next for Bruiser and Alise.
If you would like to receive this alternate ending free, sign up to my newsletter, then email me at [email protected] to request it be emailed to you.
Yes, this is really the end of Jeb and Tameka’s story. But they will return, along with Kemara and Channing, in Bruiser and Alise’s story—
A Dangerous Way to Love
(Coming in November)
*Now Available for preorder on Amazon*
Now, for a few previews of Imperial Publishing House Releases…
Slim and the Lady
By Tonya
Chapter 1
L ast night’s hangover was still evident. His eyes were bloodshot. His lips were crusty and white. A shower would fix it, he thought. He moved as quickly as his pounding headache would let him. Then, he showered and dressed for work.
“I got to stop drinking,” he said as he looked at his haggard reflection in the mirror. It’d been over a year, and it was time to move on.
On his way to work, he stopped by McDonald’s for coffee and a biscuit. He still made it to work with time to spare. As soon as he got into the building, he knew something was wrong. People were speaking in harsh tones and rushing about. There were shocked expressions and dazed people wandering aimlessly.
Downsizing was the word they used. He, along with about three hundred other people in his department, was let go. Slim had expected something like this to happen, so he was prepared. He’d already accepted an offer elsewhere. Today, he was planning to turn in his notice. He smiled because now he had the day off. Brendan “Slim” McNair always landed on his feet.
He didn’t want to go home but didn’t have anywhere to go. Everyone he knew was at work. He decided to go home to clean his apartment and do his laundry. After giving his apartment a thorough cleaning, he loaded every scrap of laundry into his truck. He was determined to make this week count. He planned to finish up the many household projects he’d started. Armed with about forty dollars in quarters, he drove the two miles to the nearest laundromat. As he unloaded his truck, he swore for the umpteenth time that he would invest in a washer and dryer soon.
Arriving before noon on a Monday gave him access to all the washers he needed. He got the clothes loaded and sat down. His stomach growled angrily, reminding him that a breakfast sandwich was all he’d eaten. He looked over at the vending machine and saw an “out of order” sign posted across the glass. He turned around just as a young girl walked in with a young child happily snacking on a bag of chips.
“If you want a snack, the hotel next door has a vending machine right inside the lobby,” she said as she plopped down in a chair.
“Thanks,” Slim said with a nod and headed out the door, lighting up a cigarette as he went.
It only took a few minutes to reach the hotel. Seeing the side entrance, he pulled on the door, but it didn’t budge.
“You have to use your room key,” said a feminine voice behind him.
He turned at the sound of her voice and was unable to move or speak. She was just that beautiful. Unlike the women he usually dated, this woman was obviously more mature. She was well dressed in a burgundy business suit with her hair pulled up into a stylish bun. The lady pulled a key out of her pocket and slid it through the slot. She tapped her nail on the “no smoking” sign before walking in.
Slim grabbed the door and put out the cigarette in the nearby ashtray. By the time he got through the door, she was gone. He walked through the lobby in hopes of finding the lady. After a few minutes, he gave up and went over to the vending machine to grab a few snacks to tide him over until later.
He walked back to the laundromat to find the young mother bopping her head to something on her iPod while her kid ran top speed up and down the aisles. The woman looked up and smiled at him. He noted she was cute. Her braided extensions swung as she moved. She had a pretty face and banging body—a combination that usually spelled trouble. He didn’t need any more trouble.
He walked over to a chair and sat down. He still had a while before his clothes would be ready for the dryer. Slim scanned the magazines left on the table, finding them all boring. He selected a book from the pile of dusty books and began to read. Other people filed into the laundromat bringing the noise level up about seven notches.
He got up and transferred his clothes to the dryer and went to sit back down. About twenty minutes later, the cute girl from earlier sat down across from him and smiled, showing off a gold tooth and dimples. He nodded and went back to his book. He didn’t want anything to do with her, so he turned slightly and started reading again. Obviously, she didn’t understand his body language.
“Hi, my name is Rasheeda,” she said extending her hand.
“Slim,” was all he said and tried to get back into his book. Luckily, her kid needed attention, so she took him into the bathroom.
Slim got up and began loading his baskets and transporting them to the truck. Gathering the last two baskets, he looked over at Rasheeda, and she gave him a smile that said a lot. He knew that smile, and he knew that look. This time last year, he might have taken her up on her apparent offer. Every man had a type. She was definitely his.
Older and wiser now, he just shook his head as he looked at her one last time as he walked out the door. He had got burnt before by fooling around with a young chick. Never again. He was no longer looking for that type of woman.
***
Joy closed the door to her office, sat down, and leaned back in the leather office chair and tried to focus. Mondays were always busy. Weekend reports, as well as the day’s reports, had to be done. Once she finished that, the schedules for next week had to be written. She didn’t want her daydreaming about the man at the door to cause her to lose time. She tried to get the man out of her mind when suddenly the head housekeeper barged into her office waving her hands as she spoke. She was going a mile a minute, gushing over a man she saw walking towards the laundromat.
Joy’s lips curled up into a smile as she remembered the guy she saw at the door. She knew from Sydney’s description that she was talking about him. He was very nice to look at. The man had to be over six feet tall. He almost towered over her five foot seven inches. He was dark with a close-cropped haircut. Chocolate had always been her favorite flavor for men. ‘A tall drink of water’ as her mom would say.
Thinking about her workload, she shooed the young lady from her office. She had too much paperwork to do. The general manager was on vacation again, which meant not only did she have her own work to do but hers as well.
Even though the encounter was brief, it had left an impression. She thought about how he just stood there with a goofy look on his face. She knew he was checking her out. Her double Ds always demanded attention. She allowed herself to daydream for only a few minutes, then she drove him out of her mind. One disastrous marriage was enough. She looked down at her left hand and gazed at the huge rock she still wore. There was no man attached to the ring anymore. He had moved on and left her without so much as a backward glance. She called the ring her blocker since it made men think twice about asking her out.
Her best friend and one-time lover, Tristan, begged her to sell the ring and move on.
She knew he was right, but she wasn’t ready to even consider another man. She knew dating didn’t have to lead to marriage, but even dating was scary right now. The good-looking man at the door made her second guess her decision. He was tall, dark and handsome just the way she liked them. She hadn’t heard his voice but thought it would be deep and rich just like is skin. However, she didn’t have time to agonize over it. She had work to do.
Joy worked steadily, and the time passed quickly. She let her mind drift a few times, and he was in her thoughts. Never had the sight of a man made her consider a relationship since her ex-husband. Just seeing this man made her want to run after him. That piece of eye candy made her think about all she had been missing.
***
Slim put the last of the laundry up and walked into the kitchen to start dinner. Thanks to his mother and grandmother, he was a great cook. He soon had the apartment smelling great. He turned on the radio and enjoyed a glass of wine. As soon as he got comfortable, there was a knock at the door.
His ex-wife, Tiffany, stood at the door wearing a spaghetti-strapped sundress and heels. Her hair was down the way he liked it. She had it parted down the middle framing her face. She gave him a sweet smile, and he remembered why he wanted her in the first place. Tiffany was naturally pretty. Her skin was the color of smooth cocoa. She even sported dimples. She was as they say a ‘brick house.’ She smiled seductively, letting him know she definitely wanted something.
“Is it true? Did you guys get laid off?” she asked as she walked into the room uninvited. “I have a trip planned this weekend,” she continued.
“You will get your check,” he said evenly.
“That’s not what I want. I want to know if you can watch the kids. My mom can’t babysit, and since you off I was wondering…”
The look on his face silenced her. Slim opened the door and looked back at her without saying a word. She took the hint and walked silently out of the apartment, knowing what it meant when Slim motioned for her to leave.
Safe Place Series Page 26
