She tweaked his nose. “Little man, you’d better make a lot of money when you grow up because I’m charging you for all my dry cleaning,” she said then kissed his cheek.
The little boy laughed and Jade shook her head. “For someone who doesn’t want kids, you’re really good with him,” she told Serena.
“That’s because I know I can hand him right back to you.”
“I’ll get you a dry shirt,” Jade said as she took Jaden from her arms. “And little guy, let’s get you cleaned up.” To Serena she said, “You might want to put some water in that pot on the stove so we can steam the broccoli.”
“That’s all right, I can wait,” Serena said as she unbuttoned her blouse and took it off. She grabbed one of the empty grocery bags and stuffed her shirt inside. When she heard the front door open, she wished she could disappear.
“Look, man,” she heard Maurice say. “We’re trying to make money and I want to give back to people as much as you do, but—”
“Nah, Mo, you don’t want to give back. If you did, you’d get what I’m trying to do,” James replied.
“I’m tired of arguing about this,” Maurice said as they walked into the kitchen.
Serena grabbed a dish towel and attempted to cover her chest.
“Jade’s cook … Serena, why are you topless?”
James looked at her and furrowed his eyebrows. “Serena? What’s going on?”
Jade and Jaden returned to the kitchen and when she saw her husband and her brother-in-law standing there, she burst out laughing, then quickly tossed Serena a white tank top.
“How about you two turn around,” Jade said through her laughter. James and Maurice did as they were told.
“What are you two getting into?” James asked as he kissed Jade and took his son from her arms.
“And I know y’ all aren’t cooking for real,” Maurice said.
“Shut up, Mo,” Jade said as Serena signaled that she was decent. “We are cooking and it is for real.”
“What time are we eating, then?” Maurice asked.
“This meal isn’t for you guys,” Serena said as she walked back to the bar stool. “I’m having dinner with a friend tonight.”
James shook his head. “I didn’t know you women still did this.”
“Did what?” Jade asked.
“Tricking a man into thinking you could cook,” Maurice chimed in.
Serena crossed her legs. “Trust me, I don’t have to trick him. It’s not my cooking that he’s after.”
“Wow,” James said. “It’s like listening to a female version of Maurice after the draft.”
“I think I’m offended by that,” Maurice said. “I never tricked those girls with food.”
“And I’m not tricking Antonio,” Serena said. “I just don’t want to spend the night in the emergency room because I fed him raw chicken.”
The trio of Goings laughed. “At least you’re honest,” James said as he took a seat at the table.
“Yeah, but what happens when your man wants you to cook for him in the morning?” Maurice asked as he pulled out his cell phone and punched in his wife, Kenya’s, number. “Hey baby.” He walked into the den to talk privately.
“I have muffins,” she said. “Who said I’m going to allow him to spend the night?”
James nodded and pointed from Serena to Maurice, who’d returned to the kitchen. “I think you two are related.”
“All right,” Jade said, “stop giving my girl such a hard time. One day, she’s going to be happy to cook.”
“When is that day going to come for you, babe?” James asked his wife. Jaden laughed and tugged at his father’s neck tie.
Jade shot James a sultry look over her shoulder. “We both know you didn’t marry me for my cooking,” she cooed.
James smiled at her shapely figure as she sauntered over to the stove. “Serena, you sure you can’t just order out?”
“Sickening,” Serena said.
Maurice laughed. “When are you going to join the club?” Maurice asked.
Serena folded her arms across her chest. “Not you too?”
“What?” Maurice asked. “As close as you and your girls are, I know you and Alicia are going to be walking down the aisle soon. That’s how you women do.”
Serena rolled her eyes. “Maurice, every woman’s goal isn’t to be Mrs. Somebody. I’m happy with my life. I don’t need a husband.”
Jade shook her head. “All right. We don’t need to start this right now,” she said.
Jaden fell asleep in his father’s arms and James quietly rose from the table and took his son into the nursery.
“I wasn’t trying to say you needed a man,” Maurice said. “But everybody is happier when they have someone to share their life with.”
Serena turned away from him, hating that for the second time that day thoughts of Emerson popped into her mind. What if they had gotten married? Would she be happy like James and Jade, Maurice and Kenya, and Solomon and Kandace?
No, he wasn’t the one for you. Maybe you need to start hanging out with more single people, she thought.
Maurice’s cell phone rang and he answered it as Serena headed over to the stove to watch what Jade was doing and to avoid further talk of marriage. “So,” Jade said as she poured three cups of rice into a pot of boiling water. “You flashed everybody?”
“It’s a good thing I had on a bra today,” Serena joked.
“You’re a trip and lucky that I’m an understanding friend.”
“Please, neither one of those men have eyes for anyone but their lovely wives. I wouldn’t have taken my shirt off had I known they were coming in,” she said.
Jade nodded as she placed the broccoli in a pot then sprinkled a pinch of salt into the mix. “Girl, I know. What’s amazing to me is that Maurice is telling you about the joys of marriage.”
“Can we please talk about something else?” Serena asked after sucking her teeth.
Jade looked over Serena’s shoulder and saw that Maurice was in deep conversation. “Can I ask you a question? About L.A.?”
“Jade,” Serena cautioned.
“It’s been five years and you never talk about it. One minute you’re about to star in a movie and the next you’re on your way back to Atlanta.”
“I went to L.A., chased a dream, came up with nothing, and returned to reality,” Serena said. “What more do you need to know?”
“You’ve been different. When you left, you weren’t so cold to the idea of love,” she said.
Serena yawned and rolled her eyes. “Do I need to cut up some chicken or something?”
Jade laughed. “Right. You, cooking? You really don’t want to talk about L.A.”
Maurice walked over to them and said, “Who’s going to L.A.?”
“Nobody,” Jade said.
“Well, I’m out of here. Kenya sends her best,” he said as he strode over to Jade and gave her a brotherly peck on the cheek.
“Hey, keep your lips off my wife,” James called from the doorway of the kitchen.
“Please,” Maurice said as he headed for the door. “You’ve been kissing my wife for years.”
Serena shook her head as she watched Jade stir the rice. “You people are just strange.”
An hour later, Jade and Serena realized they’d cooked too much chicken and broccoli. “He’s going to think I’m trying to fatten him up if I take all of this food home with me,” Serena said.
James walked into the kitchen and saw how much food his wife had cooked up. “Are you having a party?” he asked.
“No,” Serena said. “Obviously, someone didn’t read the instructions on the rice.”
James shook his head. “Restaurant owners who can’t cook. It would be funny if it wasn’t true.”
Jade dipped her spoon into the rice and told James to open his mouth. “It won’t be Devon Harris, but it’s good.”
James swallowed the rice and nodded. “Babe, I didn’t know you had it in you. So, no
w dinner is on you.”
“Great, then you guys keep half of this and I’ll take the rest home for me and Antonio,” Serena said. She glanced at her watch. “I have to get going.”
Jade helped Serena pack half the food in plastic containers, then Serena took off for home so she could get ready for her date with Antonio and make it seem as if she’d spent time cooking their meal.
Chapter 8
Antonio and his crew packed up and called it a day around three-thirty since the floor needed to dry. Once the men installed the panels on the walls, the renovations on Hometown Delights would be complete. As distracted as he’d been, Antonio was surprised they’d gotten the work done. His distraction had a name. Serena.
He couldn’t wait to see her and it didn’t matter if dinner was good or not, as long as he got a chance to touch her, taste her, and get inside her again. He couldn’t believe how hooked he’d gotten on Serena’s body after just one time.
Antonio hadn’t felt passion like he’d felt from Serena since he’d been a teenager. Smiling, he pulled out his cell phone and called Casey to let her know he’d be picking A. J. up early.
“Hey, Antonio,” she said when she answered. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine. I’m calling because I’m going to pick A.J. up early,” he said.
“Okay, I was just about to make some Rice Krispies Treats. Maybe you can join us?” she said with a hopeful tone to her voice.
“No, I can’t. A.J. has been invited on a fishing trip and I need to take him home and get him ready.”
“That sounds like fun. So, you and A.J. are going fishing? I wish I could go, but I don’t like being outside that much,” Casey said as Antonio started his truck.
“Yeah,” he said not revealing the truth of his plans.
“Mom and Dad will be back on Sunday and I was thinking we should get together and have a family dinner like we used to,” she said.
“I’ll let you know,” Antonio said. “I’m going to hang up. Traffic is pretty bad right now. We’ll talk more about this later.”
“All right. I’ll get A.J. ready.”
When he hung up with Casey, he felt a little drained. Though he respected his former mother-and father-in-law, he didn’t want to spend Sunday afternoon eating dinner with them and hearing more about how wonderful Marian was. Many times, though it seemed cruel, Antonio wanted to remind everyone that Marian had been human and she made mistakes. He wished they knew the truth about the direction the marriage had been heading before her death, but it seemed wrong to tell them now.
Antonio’s cell phone rang again as he headed for Casey’s house. “Yeah?” he said when he saw it was Norman.
“Hey man. You tore out of the parking lot so fast, I was just making sure everything was all right. Guess I know where your mind is,” the older man said with a laugh.
“Yes, on picking up my son,” Antonio said.
“Sure,” he replied. “My grandsons should arrive at my place around five. We’ll swing by and pick up A.J. afterwards. I’m going to pick up a few pizzas. Is there anything other than pork you don’t want him to eat?”
“A.J. likes cheese pizzas. I’ll be happy to chip in for dinner,” Antonio said.
“No, that’s not necessary. See you later, man.”
“Hey, Norman, thanks for this and everything else.”
“You know you’re like a son to me, so you don’t have to thank me.”
When Antonio ended his call with Norman, he smiled and was thankful the older man was a part of his life and his son’s life. Antonio’s father had died when Marian had been pregnant with A.J. One of his biggest regrets in life was that his son hadn’t a chance to meet his father. Keith Billups had been a good man. He raised Antonio alone after his mother died and never put anything or anyone ahead of his son. He’d taught Antonio to follow his dreams and how to be a good man. The lessons he’d learned as a child, he tried to pass on to his son.
Antonio pulled into Casey’s driveway and hopped out of the car. He knocked on the front door and waited for Casey to answer. She opened the door dressed in a pair of spandex shorts and a tight T-shirt. “Hey, Tonio,” she said. “A.J.’s in the living room.”
“Thanks for watching him today. Next week he’ll be in a day camp program at Discovery Place,” he said as he headed for the living room.
“I’m going to miss him. I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you guys.”
“And I appreciate it, but we’ve intruded on you enough,” Antonio said as he entered the living room and kissed his sleeping son.
A.J.’s eyes fluttered open. “Daddy,” he said excitedly.
“What’s up, Sport? Are you ready to go?”
The little boy nodded. “We’re going camping, right?”
“Well, you are. Mr. Norman and his grandsons invited you to go fishing and hang out with them this weekend.”
“And you’re going to be by yourself?” A.J. asked. “I don’t want to go and have fun if you’re lonely.”
“I’ll be working,” he said, then kissed his son’s forehead.
Casey walked into the living room and sat on the sectional and looked at Antonio and A.J. “While A.J. is camping, why don’t I bring you dinner?”
“That’s all right, Case,” he said. “I plan to spend most of the evening in bed.”
She smiled and nodded. “I bet you are tired. You work so hard.”
Antonio looked down at his son. “Ready to go, Champ?”
“Yeah,” the little boy said as he leaped from the sofa.
“Don’t forget to grab your things from the kitchen,” Casey called out. “I made him some Rice Krispies Treats to take home.”
A.J. dashed into the kitchen to get his treats, leaving Antonio and Casey in the living room alone. “What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked. “Will A.J. be back in time for Sunday dinner?”
“Case, I’m going to rest tomorrow and I’m sure A.J. will see his grandparents, but I’m not going to guarantee we’ll make it for dinner,” he said as he rose to his feet.
“Okay. They’re going to be disappointed,” Casey said. “I already told them we’d all have dinner together.”
“We’ll stop by to see them next week. A.J., let’s go,” Antonio said.
Casey stood up and crossed over to Antonio. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked as she stood across from him. “Sometimes, you act like you can’t wait to get away from me.”
“Casey, you know I love you and appreciate everything you do for me and A.J., but sometimes you come on a little too strong. I understand your parents want to spend time with their grandson, but they are rarely in town and they know A.J. is available to them anytime. I don’t need you making a schedule for us.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just that you and A.J. are the last connections I have to my sister.”
Immediately, he felt bad about admonishing her. He knew Casey was still having a hard time processing her sister’s death. But how would she feel if she knew the truth about where things had been heading with him and Marian?
“It’s all right, Casey. I’ll try to make dinner,” he said as A.J. bounded into the living room with a Ziploc bag filled with dessert bars. “Ready, son?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, then rushed over to his aunt and gave her a hug.
“Have fun, nephew,” she said, then placed a kiss on his forehead. “Catch a fish for me.”
Antonio and A.J. waved good-bye to Casey and headed out the door. “Did you have fun with your aunt today?”
“It was all right, but I’m ready to go to day camp so I can play with other kids,” A.J. said. “Do I get to go to school this year?”
“Yes,” Antonio said, happy that his son was excited about going to school. “We’re going to get you enrolled next week.”
The little boy pumped his fist excitedly. When they arrived at home, Antonio helped A.J. pack his camping and fishing gear. He watched how excited his son was about hanging out
in the woods for the weekend and Antonio made a mental note to take his son camping more often.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay without me, Dad?” A.J. asked after zipping his backpack. “Are you and Aunt Casey going to play together?”
“No, I’m going to play with a new friend tonight,” Antonio said with a smile. “And Sunday, we’re going to have dinner with your grandparents.”
“I thought they were at that rope place.”
“Rope place? You mean Europe? They’re coming back tonight,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe they brought you some ropes to play with.” Antonio tickled his son’s stomach.
“What am I going to do with ropes?” A.J. asked. “Maybe they brought me a game or something I can build my own restaurant with.”
“What are you trying to do, put me out of business already?”
Moments later, Norman and his grandsons arrived at the Billups’s house. A.J. barely allowed Norman and his three grandsons, Kamir, DaJon, and Fredrick to come inside.
“Slow down, homeboy,” Norman said. “I need to talk to your dad for a second. DaJon, help A.J. load his stuff in the truck.”
“Yes, sir,” the eight year old said as if he was happy for the responsibility.
When the four boys were outside, Antonio turned to Norman. “Are you sure you can handle all four of them? I can pack a bag and come along.”
“What are you trying to do, look for an excuse not to see Miss Serena? If you want to trade places, I’d be happy to.”
“Not on your life. But those four are going to be a handful and I feel kind of guilty adding A.J. to the mix so I can go out on a date.”
“Listen, I volunteered for this. Trust me, you’re going to be thanking me come Monday morning.”
“All right. Regardless, I’m a cell phone call away.”
“I won’t need you, but that’s good to know. Of course, you got my number if you plan to call and check on A.J.”
Antonio smiled. No matter what he had planned for the weekend, he would call and check on his son.
Two hours later, Antonio was on his way to Serena’s for dinner. He still wasn’t sold on her cooking dinner. She didn’t look like the kind of woman who spent much time in the kitchen at the stove. Though he knew where some of her talents in the kitchen were. Antonio took a quick detour to Amelie’s French Bakery to pick up some petit fours for dessert. Then he went to the Midwood Flower Shop and purchased a half-dozen red roses for Serena as a thank you in advance for dinner.
His Sexy Bad Habit Page 7
