Her Unexpected Valentine

by Sherelle Green

  But even if that’s the case, think about how much you’ve gained from being with a man like Kendrick...if even for a short time. Mind made up, she knew she had to open up. Exposing herself to rejection wasn’t an easy thing to do, but she’d regret it even more if she went back to Miami having never shared her true feelings.

  * * *

  You’re such a chicken. Monty and Angelica had been gone for a half hour, and Nicole still hadn’t worked up enough courage to tell Kendrick how she felt.

  All you have to do is get over your fear of starting the conversation. The words will just come after that. She’d been repeating the same thing in her mind since halfway through the pool game, but no matter how easy it sounded in her mind, saying it aloud was entirely different.

  “Are you okay?” Kendrick asked as he gathered the empty cups and walked them over to the kitchen.

  “I’m fine,” she said as she followed him with the remaining buffalo sauce. “I just have a few things on my mind.”

  “Really? Can I help with anything?”

  Yeah, you can tell me how you feel first and put me out of my misery. “No, not really,” she said instead as she turned toward the refrigerator to place the sauce inside.

  Chicken. That was your chance and you missed it! She froze. If she was going to agonize over it all night, she might as well just own up to her feelings and lay her heart on the line.

  “Actually, I do have something to say.” She turned around quickly, ready take full advantage of her newfound courage and slammed into Kendrick’s chest.

  “Oh, no,” she said as the buffalo sauce went all over his white shirt and jogging pants. “I’m so sorry!” Ignoring the sauce that spilled on her clothes, she grabbed a towel and tried to help him clean it up only to slip on the spilled dip and fall on hard tile of the floor.

  “I’m starting to see a pattern,” Kendrick said with a laugh as he helped her up. “First the drinks in the bar. Now buffalo sauce in my condo? If you want my attention, all you have to do is ask.”

  “Ha-ha, very funny.” She glanced down at her buffalo-sauce-covered clothes. “I guess I just had my mind on something else.”

  Kendrick placed his hand under her chin. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help ease that racing mind of yours?”

  Nicole grinned. “Well, now that you mention it, I’d love to get out of these messy clothes.”

  His eyes sparked. “That can be arranged.” Without warning, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. She squealed as her arms wrapped around his neck.

  “Where are you going?”

  “You’ll see,” he said as he walked up the stairs with her still in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. Too sexy. Once they were at the top, he carried her to the master bedroom, only putting her down once they were standing in front of the bathroom.

  “How about we get you clean,” he said as he cut on the light, revealing a breathtaking stand-up shower with a whirlpool tub in the corner of the bathroom.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, getting a closer look. “But you know I’m not supposed to get my tattoo wet. It’s still healing.”

  “A little water won’t hurt,” he said. “Besides, I have a mist option, so you’ll be fine.”

  “In that case,” she said as she lifted her shirt over her head. “Let’s get clean.”

  Kendrick shook his head, his eyes glued to her breasts. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing you naked. It hits me right in the gut every time.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere.” She removed his shirt next and then hers. Once they were both naked and the temperature of the water was perfect, they both stepped in the shower.

  Before she could even get a good lather going on the washcloth he provided, he was already placing kisses along her spine.

  “I thought the point was to get clean,” she teased. Instead of stopping, he moved his kisses to her neck.

  “I figured we could get dirty before we get clean.” He ran his fingers along her side, the movement giving her goose bumps all over. It wasn’t until she was squirming from his touch that she realized he was outlining the tattoo he’d done on her.

  “I can’t stop looking at it,” he said. “I can’t wait to finish the job.”

  She turned to face him. “I loved everything about the experience.” She placed a kiss on his neck and was rewarded with an appreciative groan. Will it always be like this? she wondered. One kiss. One touch. One look is all it takes to turn my heart to mush around him. Even in her mind, she felt like she was sounding like a broken record, but in some ways, she still couldn’t believe how their relationship had escalated.

  She met his eyes. “Kendrick, I... I...” Great, now I’m stuttering. She was failing at this whole tell him how you really feel thing. Luckily, Kendrick decided to put her out her misery.

  His lips collided with hers at the same time that he pushed her toward the bathroom wall. Unlike the soft kisses he’d been giving her all night, this kiss was all-consuming and touching her heart in ways it had never been touched.

  Her thighs rose on their own accord into Kendrick’s awaiting palms. Only then did she notice he’d managed to put on protection. Oh, he’s good. The problem was, he wasn’t just good at one thing. He was good at so many things, she could barely keep track anymore.

  When she felt his shaft rub against her core, Nicole adjusted him so that he was positioned directly in front of her entryway. Slowly, he slid into her, both of them moaning as he did. Nicole closed her eyes. I’ll never get tired of how this feels.

  When he was buried deep within her, all she wanted was for him to be even deeper. Being with Kendrick just felt so right. It felt like she’d waited her entire life to experience a moment like this. It was pure unrestrained bliss, and she was loving every minute of it.

  That’s because you’re in love with him. Her eyes opened and landed on his as the importance of this moment crashed over her in constant waves. Had she suspected she was in love with him? Yes. Did she suspect that he cared for her too? Definitely. Had she planned on telling him tonight that she wanted to stay in LA? For sure. Was she still surprised that now—with him buried inside her to the hilt—that the only word floating around in her mind began with an L, ended with an E and was four letters? Damn right she was.

  Being in love with a man like Kendrick wasn’t the frightening part. The scary part was the act of being in love and what that represented. It’s scary because what if he doesn’t love you back? It was obvious that he cared for her, but love? Love had the ability to strengthen or damage relationships, and there was a very strong possibility that telling Kendrick that she wanted to stay in LA to see where their relationship would go was enough to send him running in the other direction.

  True, she’d known that if given the chance, she’d stay in LA anyway to pursue her career and discuss with her colleagues the possibility of keeping the pop-up shop open longer, but Kendrick had been through hell and back with women from his past. He had every right to be apprehensive. But you don’t even know if he’ll be apprehensive. What if he’s receptive to the idea?

  As Kendrick continued to stroke her into a powerful orgasm, the truth behind her fear had finally reared its ugly head. She wasn’t just afraid of telling Kendrick how she felt because she was worried that he didn’t feel the same way. She was afraid of telling Kendrick how she felt and realizing that he felt the exact same way. If that was the case, she’d have to own up to the fact that despite all her growth, the only thing she found more terrifying than allowing herself to fall in love was allowing herself to fall in love with the person who could be her future. That took courage... Courage that she wasn’t sure she had.

  Chapter 16

  “I’ll call you later,” Kendrick said as he placed a kiss on Nicole’s cheek.

  “I look forward to it,” Nicole said a
s she unlocked the door to the apartment. After having Nicole at his place all night and all morning, he didn’t want her to leave. However, they both had to be at the studio tomorrow, and Nicole had to work at Bare Sophistication tonight. Since their jobs couldn’t care less that they’d much rather stay in bed together the entire day, they chose to be responsible and see one another after work tomorrow.

  Last night, he’d accepted what he’d known in his heart weeks before. He’d fallen completely in love with Nicole LeBlanc. Kendrick felt like he was floating on cloud nine as he walked back to his car. The moment he pulled out of the parking lot, his phone rang from a number he didn’t recognize.

  “This is Kendrick,” he said when he answered.

  “Kendrick? Is that you, baby?”

  He pulled his car off to the shoulder at the sound of a voice he hadn’t heard in two years. “Amanda, is that you?”

  “Of course, it is, silly. Has it been that long?”

  “Over two years,” he said as a matter-of-factly.

  “Two years? It only feels like two months to me. Listen, I need you to meet with me in an hour.”

  “No,” he said. “You can’t call out the blue and tell me to meet you somewhere.”

  “I see. You need me to be polite,” she said with a forced laugh. “Kendrick, will you please meet with me in an hour?”

  “No,” he said again. “I’m busy.”

  “Busy,” she said. “You mean with that woman I saw you walk out of your condo building with today?”

  Kendrick frowned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t even know where I live.”

  “Yes, I do,” she said. “You’ve lived a few blocks from the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica for the past couple years. Just this morning you were wearing a burgundy tee and a pair of jeans. And I can’t remember what that chick you were with was wearing, but trust me, I saw you. And I think it’s best if you take me up on my offer to meet.”

  Kendrick dropped his head to his steering wheel. He’d known Amanda long enough to know that if he didn’t oblige, it would only make matters worse.

  “Where do you want to meet?”

  “At the park we used to always go to.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

  “I said an hour.”

  “Thirty minutes. I’ll see you there.” He disconnected the call and started driving in the direction of the park. His mind was racing with what she could possibly want. One thing he knew for sure. When Amanda popped up out the blue, it was never a good thing.

  * * *

  Kendrick glanced down at his watch. Late as usual. He’d told her to be here in thirty minutes, but she’d wanted to meet in an hour. Now it was an hour and a half since they talked, and she was just now strolling toward him.

  “You’re late,” he said.

  “I know,” she said, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Since you wanted me to be here in thirty minutes, I figured I’d make you wait it out.”

  Typical. She still enjoyed playing games. “Okay, so I’m here. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Well, I’m not giving up on my acting, but I’ve decided that I would be a great set designer. Since I got out of rehab, I’ve worked on a few sets for community service work, and I loved it.” She pulled out her résumé and handed it to him. “I need you to get your agency to sign me and tell them that I come highly recommended.”

  Kendrick grabbed the paper and read a few of her recommendations. “Are these recommendations legit?”

  She cleared her throat, cracked her neck, then cleared her throat again. “Of course they are, silly.”

  She’s lying. She always cleared her throat and cracked her neck when she was lying. “Amanda, I’m not convincing my agency to hire you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, for starters, they are one of the most reputable agencies in LA.”

  “I know. That’s why I want them to sign me.”

  “That also means that they have a no-bullshit mentality. You checked yourself back into rehab last year. How long have you been out?”

  “For a month.”

  “How long have you been clean?”

  “For a month. What does it matter?”

  “It matters because I think you need to focus on getting healthy first.”

  “I am healthy,” she said. “And I’m trying to get back my life, which is why I need you to talk to your agency.”

  Kendrick handed back her résumé. “I wish you the best, but I don’t want to get involved. And I really think you need to focus on getting better first.”

  “What the fuck do you know?” she said as she stuffed the résumé back in her purse. It was then that Kendrick saw the bottle of liquor sticking out. He reached for it and pulled it out before taking a whiff of her breath.

  “I thought you said you were clean?”

  She grabbed the bottle from his hand and threw it back in her purse. “Who the hell are you to judge me?”

  “I’m not judging you. I just want you to get better and realize that addiction is a disease, which means that you have to get the help you need.” He stepped closer to her and lightly grabbed her elbow. “Amanda, don’t you see that this path you’re headed down is not a healthy one? You have to get the right help.”

  “Don’t touch me,” she yelled as she pulled her elbow away from him. “All my life, you’ve always looked down on me and thought you were better than me.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Yes, it is. And you and your self-righteousness are getting on my last nerve. I asked you to get me a job with your agency, and you pretty much laughed in my face. I didn’t want to have to do this,” she said. “I didn’t want to go there.”

  “Do what?” he asked. “Go where?”

  “I do have some connections in the industry,” she says. “So if you can’t get me the career I deserve, then I’ll find someone who can.”

  “Amanda, you sound crazy right now.”

  “Do I?” she yelled. “Do I sound fucking crazy? How about now?” She raised her voice even more. “Embarrassed to be in public with me yet, or is that big-ass ego of yours too good to be embarrassed?” She took two steps closer to him. “After I leave this park, I want you to remember this as the day that I finally stopped letting your judgmental attitude affect me and took matters into my own hands. Just remember that I warned your ass before I exposed you.”

  He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  She laughed. “Don’t you get it? I’m the only person in this new life that you’ve created for yourself who knows the real you. The you behind that do-gooder image you try to portray. But just in case you need a reminder, how about I give you a hint.” She got closer to his ear. “Ménage à trois.” With that, she turned and stomped through the park the same way she came.

  Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. As much as Kendrick wanted to ignore Amanda’s threat, he could tell that she was unhinged, so he wouldn’t put anything past her. He pulled out his phone and called his uncle.

  “Hey, nephew,” Benjamin said. “What’s up?”

  Kendrick huffed. “I need to get ahold of your lawyer. Amanda is threating to expose my past.”

  “Expose your past how?” he asked.

  “She has some pictures from a time in my life when I was at an all-time low. When I refused to help her get ahead in her career, she threatened to leak the pictures. I think she’s desperate to get her fame one way or another.” Kendrick ran his fingers down his face. “There may even be a video too.”

  “A video? Nephew, I think you better start at the beginning.”

  Kendrick grew more and more angry as he recounted the details to his uncle. By the end of his story, damaging his career wasn’t the only worry he had. His relationship with Nicole would be i
n jeopardy, as well.

  * * *

  Nicole walked into the studio anxious to see Kendrick. She’d tried to contact him several times yesterday, and he hadn’t responded to any of her calls or text messages. She’d had a strange feeling all morning, yet she couldn’t really place it.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Angelica said as she gripped her arm. She seems nervous.

  “Hey, Angelica. Is everything okay?”

  “Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? Have you seen Kendrick? Or have you talked to him today?”

  “No.” Nicole gave her a skeptical look. “Why do you ask? And why are you so nervous?” It was then that she noticed that everyone was staring at her with looks of pity.

  “Um, why is everyone looking at me?”

  Angelica nodded for Monty to come over. Once he reached them, Angelica and Monty took her into a small meeting room and shut the door.

  “Listen,” Monty said. “Kendrick is a good man. Please wait and talk to him about this before you draw your own conclusions.”

  “What are you talking about?” Nicole asked. “You guys are scaring me.”

  “It’s pretty bad,” Angelica said. “But I figured you’d rather see it with us than anyone else in the studio.”

  “Show me whatever it is that you’re talking about,” Nicole said. “I don’t like the energy in this place right now.”

  Angelica and Monty shared a worried look before Monty took out his phone. “A popular blog site posted this today, so of course everyone who follows the blog got the notifications in their emails. Kendrick isn’t famous or anything, but since he works in the film industry and through the agency, we have a lot of high-profile clients. News is spreading like wildfire.”