Chuckling, she took the cash. “Can I be you for a day? I’ll be back.” Pamela walked out of my office and the door slammed shut.
A few minutes later, my desk phone buzzed. I glanced over and saw that it was Melissa. I clicked on the speaker. “Hey, what’s up, suga?”
“I’m just reminding you about the three o’clock interview with Elizabeth Wilson. You and Pam have been busy all morning and it might have slipped your mind. Pam told me she was going down to Five Guys to get you a burger.”
Damn. I forgot about my interview with Beth, Patrick’s girlfriend. I met her on Sunday and she came over to Aunt Dez’s house with Natalia. We got to talking and I found out she was looking for work. I mentioned that I was in need of an assistant and told her to come in for an interview.
“Oh shoot, it completely slipped my mind,” I said, feeling grateful for Melissa. “Thank you for the reminder. You’re the best.”
“No problem.” She laughed. “That’s what I’m here for. I am eating with Gillian in her office. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”
“Okay. See you later.” I hung up the phone and went back to work. A few seconds later, my cell phone beeped with a message alert. I grabbed it and tapped the text envelope. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it was a text from Franco. I could not stop thinking about that gorgeous Yankee. When I saw him on Sunday, he looked so sexy in those basketball shorts and T-shirt. It showed off his bulging biceps and rock-hard abs. My panties were wet the whole time during our conversation. It was so hilarious the way he asked for my number. His brothers and Natalia gave him hell for that line. Heck, I was chuckling along with them. I glanced at the text.
Franco: Been thinking about you, Dallas Cowboy. Do you want to have dinner with me on Friday?
My heart sped up. He was asking me out to dinner. I should not be this happy, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to go out with him. I smiled and felt impish.
Dallas: I don’t know, Yankee. I will have to think about it. I am swamped at work right now.
Franco: Really? I have a crazy schedule too, but I’m off duty on Friday. Let me know.
Dallas: OK, will get back to you by Thursday. Is that all right?
Franco: Yes. Anything for you, Dallas Cowboy☺. Don’t keep me waiting long. I cannot wait to hear that sexy twang of yours again.
Dallas: LOL. Talk to you soon.
A grin spread across my face. He was thinking about me too. But I would take it slow with him. It was too soon to rush into another relationship, and my emotions for him were already intense. I felt excited and alive in his presence—something I had not experienced in a long time. Let me stop daydreaming about the man and get my butt back to work.
An hour later, my phone buzzed again. I pressed the speaker. “Hey. Is Miss Wilson here?” I glanced at the time and it was two forty-five p.m.
“Yes. Should I send her in now?” Melissa asked. “Or do you want to wait until three o’clock?”
“No. Send her in.” A few seconds later, Melissa ushered Beth through the door. I stood up to greet her and reached for her outstretched hand. “Howdy, Beth, it good to see you again. Come on in. I love your outfit.” She wore a dark blue suit, teaming it off with medium-heeled black pumps, and carried a black tote bag. Ringlets of blonde curls surrounded her face, and small black-rimmed frames covered her serious brown eyes. The glasses made her look studious. “I didn’t know you wore glasses. You look cute in them.”
“Thank you,” she replied, looking timid. “I usually wear contacts but couldn’t find them. I appreciate that you’re taking the time to interview me.”
“It’s no problem, honey,” I said, trying to make her feel at ease. She was fidgeting but had nothing to worry about; the job was hers if she wanted it. Interviewing her was only a formality for Gillian and Melissa’s sake. I sat at my desk and glanced at her resume. “Take a seat and tell me about yourself.”
“I worked at my last job for two years,” she said, sitting down in front of me. “I go to Queens College two nights during the week and on Saturdays. I’m twenty-two years old and I live with my grandparents in Queens.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said, impressed with her qualifications. “What are you majoring in?”
“Business. I want to open a boutique one day,” she said, and her shyness returned as she glanced away from me.
“Wow. I like that idea.” I smiled at her, feeling enthused. “You like fashion?”
“I love it!” Beth beamed and looked more relaxed. “I was so happy when I found out you work for a fashion house. It’s like fate.”
“How was your commute from Queens?” I asked, since she mentioned going to school, and I was hoping the distance wouldn’t cause a conflict.
“It was easy,” she said, grinning. “Most of the trains run over here, so it won’t be a problem. I am doing most of my work online this semester and have seven o’clock classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“That’s awesome. Working here won’t be a problem then,” I said, studying her. “What type of salary are you looking for?”
“Well, I was making thirty thousand dollars at my old job,” she said, fidgeting again in her seat.
“Well, you’re in luck, suga,” I smiled. “This job is paying fifty-five thousand dollars, and it’s yours.” The salary was at the top of the budget they gave me to hire an assistant.
“Oh my goodness,” she shrieked, eyes popping out. “I got the job! Thank you, Dallas. Does it pay that much? I can’t believe it.” She jumped up and hugged me. “When can I start? What time do you need for me to get here?”
“Can you start Tuesday? Monday is Labor Day,” I said, feeling happy for her. “Fashion Week begins on Wednesday, so your first week will be crazy. I hope it won’t be too much for you?”
“Of course not,” Beth said, eyes widening. “I can’t wait to start.”
“We’ll be busy with the designs of Gillian Smith, the owner of the company, and her top designer, Mikki Sharp. Diva Fashions show is on Wednesday at six o’clock at the Salon at Lincoln Center. The rest of the week we will be attending other fashion shows.” Beth was beaming as she listened. “Since you’re my assistant, you get to come along with me.”
“Dallas, this is a dream come true,” she said, looking overjoyed. “Thank God Natalia introduced us. I am eager to work with you. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
“No problem, honey,” I said, feeling great inside. Beth was adorable. “I’m not a morning person, but I crawl in between nine thirty or ten. You can start earlier if you wish.”
“Nine o’clock should be fine,” she said with a big cheesy smile.
“Okay. I’ll see you next Tuesday.” I smiled and reached in for a tight squeeze. “Welcome to Diva Fashions, suga.”
Chapter Six
Franco
Thursday afternoon, I packed up my gear in the locker room. I would be off duty until Saturday afternoon. It was a rough couple of days at the firehouse. There was a warehouse fire in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, and our station assisted. I loved being a firefighter, but it could be insane at times.
Thinking back to my younger days, I always wanted to save lives. My dad thought I would follow in his path to be a police officer, and it crossed my mind. But I joined the fire department after I graduated from John Jay College. I had been saving lives and putting out fires ever since. My mind came back to the present as I picked up my duffle bag and walked out the door.
A few minutes later, as I headed home to Queens on the highway, thoughts of Dallas surfaced. She did not reach out to me about dinner yet. This chick was driving me crazy. I could not get her out of my fucking head. She was attracted to me too. I saw it in her eyes on Sunday. We stared at one another the entire time. I had to keep busy to get her off my mind.
A beep came through on my phone as I exited the highway. I glanced over at the screen and saw a text message. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Dallas’s name on the screen. Eager to read h
er message, I pulled over on the side of the road.
Dallas: Howdy, Yankee. I didn’t forget about you. Just been swamped. Yes to dinner. Let me know what time & where to meet up.
I fist-pumped and typed swiftly on my phone. My heart was pounding hard in my chest. She said yes.
Franco: Awesome. I’ll pick you up. What’s the address?
Dallas: 200 Central Park West on 79th Street, Penthouse B.
Franco: Fancy☺. Do you like Italian?
Dallas: The men or the food☺? I like both.
Franco: ☺Glad to hear. What time is good for you, gorgeous?
Dallas: Is 6:30 okay? Leaving work early.
Franco: Sure. See you than, Dallas Cowboy.
Dallas: Do I need to dress fancy?
Franco: Dallas Cowboy, you always look amazing. Do what you do best. See you soon☺.
Dallas: Have a good night, Yankee.
My heart was still thundering as I sat in my car. I was so fucking thrilled that she agreed to go on a date with me. Dallas was definitely from money. She lived in one of the fanciest neighborhoods in the city. I dialed my sister’s number, wanting to get more information on Miss Texas.
“Hey big bro, what’s up?” she answered after several rings. “You don’t usually call me at this time.”
“Can’t I call my only little sister?” I said, messing with her. “Why does something have to happen?”
“Cut the shit, Franco,” she chuckled. “It’s me you’re talking to. What’s up?”
“I’m going on a date with Dallas tomorrow––”
“Get the hell out of here!” Nat cut in. “You asked Dallas out! And she said yes. I cannot wait to tell Janique. I knew you liked her. I knew it!”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “I want to know more about her, though. Did you go to her house with Janique?”
“Yes. I am not gonna lie, big bro, she is loaded. Her dad owns hotels and ranches in Texas. The view from her apartment is fucking amazing. It’s like a mansion in the sky.”
“She’s out of my league, isn’t she?” I felt sick at the thought. Derrick and my brothers had warned me about her.
“She’s super nice, though, Franco,” Nat said, soothing my fears. “She hired Beth as her assistant, and she’s paying her fifty-five grand. How awesome is that?”
My mouth dropped open from the news. Hell, Beth was making almost as much as I made as a firefighter without the overtime. “That’s fucking fantastic,” I said. “On top of her being rich, she must make triple my salary if her company is paying Beth all that money. Why the hell is she even working?”
“Well, Janique said that something happened in Texas,” Nat said. “That’s why she accepted the job in New York. She wanted a new start.”
“What?” I said, taken by surprise. What made her run from Texas to New York? “Janique didn’t give you more details?
“Nah, I guess she didn’t want to tell her business. It had to be something serious. Dallas lost weight.”
“Oh, fuck,” I said, feeling like shit now. I hated that Dallas was hurt. Why was I worried so much about her being rich? I needed to get over my issues with rich girls. “I hope she’s okay now. Just forget that I asked about all that shit. We are just going on a date. I’m not marrying her.” Dallas is clearly wife material.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about with Dallas,” Nat reassured me. “She is not like the other stuck-up wannabe rich girls you hated back in high school. She’s cool. I hate to say this, but she might be a better cook than Mom too. Please don’t tell her I said that.”
“What?” I said, shocked. Nat must be crazy. Dallas in the kitchen? I could not picture it. “You must be out of your mind, little sister. Mom’s food is the best.”
“I thought so too.” She laughed. “I had dinner with Janique at Dallas’s place twice. It was like eating from one of those fancy restaurants. I’m betting you right now. If you think Dallas’s cooking is better than Mom’s, you give me your car for the weekend. If I lose, then I’ll clean up your apartment.”
“It’s a deal,” I said, agreeing right away. I knew that I would win the bet. There was no way in hell Dallas was a better cook. “I can’t wait for you to lose this bet. My place needs a good cleaning. I have been doing a lot of overtime and it is a mess. Thanks, sis.”
“Franco, I’m warning you,” she giggled. “You are going to lose this bet. I have to get back to class now. Peace out.”
“Thanks, Nat,” I said, my spirits lifting after the conversation. “I feel better about my date with Dallas now. Can you ask Janique Dallas’s favorite flowers and chocolate?”
“Fancy,” she chuckled. “You got it bad, big brother. You never spent this much time and effort on a girl before. No problem, big bro. You owe me one. I’ll collect later.” She laughed and ended the call.
I shook my head. My little sister was something else. My brothers and I might tease or drive her insane at times, but we would do anything for her.
I put the car back in drive and pulled away from the curb. I could not wait for our date tomorrow. I wanted to do something nice for Dallas. I rarely went all out on dates, but Dallas, my Texan spitfire, was an exception to the rule. She was first class all the way. Damn, my ass needs to call up my boy Derrick for some tips. I was not used to dropping a hundred dollars on chocolates and flowers, but Dallas was worth it. I would change my style just to impress her.
Chapter Seven
Dallas
Friday, I was at the salon at Saks Fifth Avenue with Janique, getting my hair and nails done. I took the day off and Gillian recommended this place. Janique was getting a massage in the next room, and Ebony, the stylist, was putting big rollers in my hair.
“Your hair is so beautiful,” she said, brushing my mane. “I love the color. Is it natural or did you get blonde highlights?”
“It’s natural,” I answered, smiling. “I was born with blonde hair and it changed to light brown with blondish highlights as I got older. It gets lighter when I am out in the sun too.”
“Girl, do you know how many women want this color? You are truly blessed.” She secured the rollers under a hairnet. “Come on, it’s time for you to sit under the dryer.”
She pulled the hood over my head and I closed my eyes. My stomach was all bubbles thinking about my date later on with Franco. I took the day off because I wanted to look good for my first date in a long time. I was with Hank for three years and didn’t think I would be back here again. Sighing, I tried to get my mind onto better things. Didn’t want to think about that loser. I made up my mind to have a good time tonight and leave the past behind.
∞∞∞
A few hours later, I was sitting at my vanity, smearing on my favorite lip gloss. Ringlets of curls fell around my face, and the blonde highlights were vibrant. My body felt relaxed from an entire day of pampering, and my skin looked radiant. I walked over to the white jewelry stand in the middle of the closet and opened the top drawer. I searched for my platinum diamond pendant and stud earrings to match, a gift from Mama for Christmas.
After finishing my makeup, I slipped on an off-the-shoulder floral tulle minidress. In the midst of sliding on my sandals, I heard the intercom ringing. My heart sped up, and I glanced over at the clock on my bedroom wall. It was six fifteen. Oh my, he is here. I slipped the sandals on my feet and dashed into the hallway to pick up the phone.
“Good evening, Miss Hollingsworth,” Harry, the concierge, greeted me. “Your guest has arrived.”
“Thank you, Harry. You can send Mr. Donnelly up now,” I said, feeling out of breath. I was wound up and eager to see that sexy Yankee.
“Very well, Miss Hollingsworth,” he said in his stiff British accent.
“Bye,” I said, and hung up the phone. I checked myself out in the mirror again and strolled into the foyer to wait for Franco. My heart was beating fast because this was the first date that I would be going on after seven months.
͠͠͠Franco, 10 minutes earlier
I drove my Jeep through Central Park and stopped at the red light at Eighty-Sixth Street, the entrance of the park. I was heading to Dallas’s apartment on Seventy-Ninth Street. My fingers were numb because I had a death grip on the steering wheel. Christ, I need to get a hold of myself. I was acting as if this was my first time on a date. I never had to work hard to impress a girl. The ones in the past always chased me. I hope I do not fuck up because this is new to me.
Reaching her block, I spotted a parking space across the street from the building. I gripped the wheel and made a quick U-turn, squeezing my Jeep between two parked cars. My heart was palpitating, and I took a deep breath. Calm the fuck down, Franco, this is just a date.
I reached over the backseat to pick up two dozen yellow roses and a box of Godiva chocolate truffles, Dallas’s favorites. Getting out of the Jeep, I skipped around the oncoming traffic towards the posh building on the corner of west Seventy-Ninth Street. My palms were sweating, and I swiped a hand through my buzz cut. I went to the barber early this morning for a shave and cut. Afterwards, Nat and I went shopping at Macy’s in Green Acres Mall. Nat went all out with my credit card. She bought a new dress and sneakers out of the deal. I grimaced at the register, but I knew that it was well worth the price. I was wearing black Hugo Boss pants and a white dress shirt with black chukka boots.
I reached the building and the door attendant opened the huge bronze glass door for me.
“Thank you.” I smiled, and my jaw dropped when I entered the spacious lobby. Whoa, this place is fucking unbelievable. This is a building lobby?
The Sweetest Encounter Page 4
