My Destiny

by Adrianne Byrd

  * * *

  Destiny found Steve’s sarcastic humor a riot. Laughing at another one of his wild witticisms, she caught sight of Miles from across the room with a familiar face. Steve’s words faded into the background as her mind scrambled for where she’d seen the attractive woman next to Miles before.

  When she couldn’t remember, she experienced a strong urge to go and investigate.

  Don’t be ridiculous. She turned her attention back to Steve and realized that she had no idea what he was rambling about. When he paused, she took it as her cue to laugh and hoped that it was the appropriate response.

  Steve smiled and she was relieved that her attention lapse went undetected. But she was still itching to work her way back over to Miles to solve the puzzle of the mysterious woman. Then, she had an idea. She tilted up her glass and in one long gulp, drained the champagne.

  Steve’s brows crowded together as he stared at her.

  Destiny came up for air and held her empty glass toward him. “Could I trouble you for a refill?”

  Slowly, he reached for her glass and said, “Sure.”

  No sooner had he turned his back, Destiny pivoted and made a beeline toward Miles.

  “We should try and get together some time.”

  Destiny caught the tail end of what the woman was saying.

  “That sounds good to me,” Miles said.

  Destiny frowned, then immediately put on her best smile as she interrupted the cozy couple. “So how’s everything going?” She stepped between them. “Is everyone having a good time?”

  Miles smiled and moved to stand by his girl friend. “Everything’s great. Destiny, you remember Celeste Silverman?”

  The pretty woman offered her hand. “It’s been a long time.”

  Destiny accepted the hand, clueless to the woman’s identity.

  “You have no idea who I am, do you?” Celeste asked.

  Destiny started to deny it, but then figured it was best to be honest. “I’m sorry. But you do look familiar.”

  “Actually, I was there when you two met for the first time. You were just moving into the apartment across from Miles ten years ago.”

  “Oh, yes,” Destiny said with the memory resurfacing. “How have you been?” She casually checked the woman’s hand for a wedding ring and was disturbed to find her fingers bare.

  “Great. I hope you don’t mind me crashing your party, but I sort of heard about it through the grapevine—or rather Wes.”

  “Of course not. I’m glad you could come,” Destiny lied with relative ease.

  “You know a few years ago when I heard you two went into business together, I couldn’t believe it.”

  “There you are.” Steve moved in to join the small group. “I was wondering where you’d sneaked off to.” He handed Destiny her drink.

  “Thank you.” She smiled.

  The band struck up an instrumental of Beautiful Ones and Celeste turned toward Miles. “I know this is out of character, but would you like to dance?”

  “I’d love to,” he responded, smiling. He looked back to Destiny and Steve. “Would you excuse us?”

  “Certainly,” Steve answered.

  Destiny said nothing. She simply watched the retreating couple with a feigned smile.

  “Well, he seems like a nice guy,” Steve commented, easing an arm around Destiny.

  She didn’t hear him.

  “He also seems to have a great deal of interest in you.”

  “Huh? What?” She turned toward him.

  “And if I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re more than a little interested in him, as well.”

  “Oh, don’t be silly. Miles and I are just good friends.”

  “I’ve never known friends to look at each other the way you do.” Though his words were accusatory, his voice held a note of patient sincerity.

  Shaking her head, she eased closer to him, purposely brushing her body against his in a suggestive manner. “I don’t detect a hint of jealousy, do I?”

  He quirked a brow at her as a mischievous smile curved his lips. “Should I be jealous?”

  She leaned forward and kissed him. “Not at all,” she murmured when she pulled away. “Not at all.”

  * * *

  Miles frowned at the sight of Destiny and Steve’s open affection. He rolled his eyes. “If they are going to behave like that, I wish they’d just get a room,” he grumbled.

  Celeste followed his gaze, and looked suspiciously at him. “Is there something going on between you guys?”

  When he didn’t respond, she tapped him on the shoulder. “Miles?”

  “Huh?” He looked back at Celeste and had the sinking feeling that he’d just been caught not paying attention. “Oh, I was just...” He paused not really knowing how to finish the sentence.

  She drew in a deep breath. “Yeah. I know what you were doing.”

  “I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”

  She studied him.

  “What?” he asked finally.

  “I’m trying to judge whether you’re the same old Miles Stafford I knew ten years ago—the consummate bachelor.”

  His smile waned. It was his turn to study her. “I hurt you once, didn’t I?”

  Her answer was quick and honest. “Deeply.”

  “I’m sorry,” he responded in equal measure. “Forgiven?”

  “Yes.” Celeste smiled. “It was a long time ago.”

  “Friends?”

  “Friends.”

  Miles nodded, and then pulled her close and began to sway in time to the music. In the distance, he heard Destiny’s

  laughter and like a moth to a flame his gaze sought her in the crowd.

  Chapter 18

  Lu Jin gestured toward the dance floor. “Will you just look at them?”

  Wes shook his head and gulped down his drink. “I know. It’s sickening, isn’t it? I wish they’d just jump each other’s bones and get it over with.”

  “Who do Miles and Destiny think they’re fooling? One looking at the other when they’re not looking and vice versa.” She turned away from the dance floor, shaking her head. “They need counseling.”

  “More like they need a bed.”

  “Amen,” Theo and Juan said, joining them at the bar.

  “Who has the bet for this month as being the month they finally sleep together?” Juan asked.

  Elliott held up a hand. “That would be me and judging by what’s going on on the dance floor, you can all just fork over my money now.”

  Lu Jin shook her head. “Nah, not tonight. Or did you miss that Destiny brought a date?”

  Elliott laughed. “He has to go home sometime. Or did you forget that Destiny and Miles still live next door to each other?”

  “I heard that!” Wes held up his hand and the two men gave each other high fives.

  “I still say you’re wrong,” she said stubbornly.

  “Uh-huh. You’re just mad because your bet is for December. Hell, you may be planning a baby shower by that time.”

  The men laughed.

  “You all can just go to hell. Besides, that’s what you’ve said for the last two years.”

  “You know there’s a chance they’ve already slept together and haven’t told us,” Theo suggested.

  Wes and Lu Jin looked at each other and considered the possibility then shook their heads. “Nah,” they said in unison.

  * * *

  Across the room, Adele watched the coy glances darting between Destiny and Miles with a knowing smile.

  Violet leaned over and whispered into her friend’s ear. “The way I figure it, we’ll be in our nineties by the time they figure things out.”

  Adele laughed. “Surely not that long.”

  “I don’t know. Miles may have graduated at the top of his class, but I’m beginning to suspect that he’s not the sharpest tool in the toolbox when it comes to romance.”

  “I can testify the same for Destiny,” Adele said with pursed lips.

&nbs
p; “Any ideas on how we can get them together?”

  “Not a clue—you?”

  Violet exhaled a long tired breath. “None. I’ve been shoving the idea of him dating Destiny down his throat every chance I get, but all he does is laugh and say—”

  “We’re just good friends,” Adele finished the sentence since she’d been getting the same response from Destiny. “Maybe we should just face the fact that we’re lousy at playing Cupid and leave them to their own destruction.”

  The women looked at each other, and then wicked smiles bloomed across their faces as they responded in unison, “Nah.”

  * * *

  Miles tapped Steve on the shoulder and interrupted his slow dance with Destiny. “Mind if the birthday boy cuts in?” he asked with an amicable smile.

  Steve looked as if he wanted to refuse the request, but he glanced back at Destiny then said, “Of course not.” He stepped away.

  Miles thanked him and pulled Destiny into his arms. “I didn’t think I had a chance of prying you two apart, judging by the way you’re all over each other.”

  Destiny laughed and swayed in time to the music. “Are you playing the part of the overprotective brother again?”

  He shrugged. “Since the job is available, I don’t see the harm. Do you?”

  “I don’t think Steve sees it that way,” she said honestly. “He already thinks there’s something going on between us. After this dance, I’m going to have a hard time convincing him otherwise.”

  “Uh-huh. Since when did you start scanning the scene at Justin’s for dates?”

  “I met a client there for drinks during Happy Hour.” She shrugged casually. “Steve approached me and made me laugh, so I agreed to go out with him.”

  “You don’t think Junior’s too young?”

  “He’s legal so I don’t see a problem.”

  Miles laughed. “I can think of at least a thousand reasons why dating him is a bad idea, Mrs. Robinson.”

  “Hey, I’m not above teaching the younger generation a few things.”

  Miles’s handsome features hardened into a scowl.

  Destiny laughed at his reactions and thought how much he reminded her of Adam whenever they talked of the men she dated in college. He, too, never had a kind word for any of them and constantly thought she was too good for them.

  “So what else do you know about our little teenager?”

  “For one thing, I know he’s not a teenager.”

  “What does he do for a living? Or is he having a hard time getting his parents to sign a work permit for McDonald’s?”

  She slapped him on the arm. “Behave. I’ll have you know he’s a financial analyst for Smith and Barney.”

  “Successful?”

  “Very.”

  “Hmm.” He looked over his shoulder and found Steve standing on the edge of the dance floor, watching them. Miles waved and flashed him a smile. “Maybe I shouldn’t have interrupted you guys.”

  Laughing, she turned in Miles’s arms and caught Elliott giving her the thumbs-up signal. Not understanding his meaning, she frowned.

  * * *

  Wes pulled his attention away from the dance floor and leaned closer to Lu Jin while they stood near the bar. “So when are you going to give up the ghost and go out with me?”

  The smile Lu Jin held seconds before disappeared. “Shortly before the second coming of the Lord,” she answered, shaking her head.

  “Good. I hear he’s coming in the morning so why don’t we cut out of here and head on over to my place for one last night of sin? I’ll supply the baby oil.”

  She laughed at his quick comeback. “Two points for Wes.”

  “How many points do I have to get before I get a chance to hit a home run?”

  Cocking her head, she settled a hand on her hip. “You’re a million points away from even being able to step into the batter’s box.”

  Undaunted by her flippant response, Wes blew a kiss in her direction. “You know, there’s something that I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

  “What?” she asked impatiently.

  “You know last year when you played a prostitute in that Denzel Washington flick?”

  “Stop. Because I can already tell you’re treading on thin ice.”

  He smirked. “I was just wondering where you did your research.”

  Lu Jin’s eyes narrowed. “I simply riffled through your little black book and interviewed all the women you’ve dated.” She turned on her heels and stalked off.

  Wes winced, but then a slow smile crept across his face. “Damn, she’s beautiful when she’s mad.”

  Theo chuckled from behind him. “I’m not quite sure I’m following your plan on winning Lu Jin’s heart. Every time I see you two together, she looks angry.”

  “You’re mistaken, my friend,” Wes said, turning toward him. “Her anger masks an even deeper feeling—passion.”

  Theo chuckled. “Whatever, man. Whatever.”

  * * *

  Miles and Destiny continued dancing into their third song together. With the greatest of ease and familiarity they glided across the floor oblivious to knowing smiles and conspiratorial whispers.

  “Thank you,” Miles said with a deep sincerity.

  She leaned back in his arms and studied him. “For the party?”

  “For everything,” he answered.

  “It was my pleasured. Of course, I had to fight Wes on inviting strippers and holding a wet T-shirt contest. Other than that, I think the night has turned out to be a great success.”

  Miles’s body quaked with laughter. “He can get a bit carried way when it comes to parties.”

  “Now you tell me.”

  His eyes still twinkling, he guided her gracefully across the floor. “I don’t mind telling you that you’re the best-looking lady in the room. New hairstyle?” He referred to her new short crop.

  She tilted her chin up, giving him a great view of her elegant bone structure and asked, “You like it?”

  “Amazingly, I do. I think if you’d asked me before you whacked it all off, I’d probably have thought it a bad idea. But seeing it now, I have to say it definitely suits you.”

  “So glad you approve.”

  Miles smiled and continued to stare down at her.

  “How are you feeling, really?” she asked, misunderstanding his silence. “Are you okay with turning forty-five?”

  His gaze finally deserted her face. “I’ll feel better when I turn forty-six.”

  “You will,” she said, inching closer. “Because I have an even bigger party planned for next year.”

  Her comment solicited yet another laugh from him. “We’ll see.” He spun her in his arms and enjoyed dancing with her until the end of the song, when Steve finally returned for his date.

  Miles retreated to the arms of Celeste, but there was never a moment when he didn’t know exactly where Destiny was or what she was doing.

  Chapter 19

  Miles absolutely loved the taste of Destiny’s mouth, her neck and her breasts. It was all he could do to hold on to what little sanity he had left while her hips rocked against him.

  The room spun while the only air he could get into his lungs came in short ragged spurts. Her dewy walls sheathed and massaged him into dizzying heights—so much so he swore he’d never come down.

  The sound of his name tumbling from her lips also had a heady affect. He plunged deeper. He loved her cries of euphoria and loved the sight of her flushed burgundy face.

  A rush of heat whirled within, he could feel his body building to a sweet release when—

  Miles’s alarm clock blared from the nightstand and his arm shot out from beneath the sheets to bang the snooze button. He slammed his eyes closed and tried to return to his dream, but he couldn’t. He groaned with disappointment and sat up in bed. The dreams he had of Destiny were sweet, but he knew that was all they would ever be—dreams.

  On the morning after his forty-fifth birthday, he climbed out of bed in t
ime to watch the sunrise. It had turned out to be a growing habit of his in recent years, and he found that the peaceful scenery did wonders to calm his soul.

  He drew in a deep cleansing breath and reflected over last night’s events. It was just like Destiny to try and make his birthday a special event. Every year, she went out of her way to find some obscure jazz record or rare comic book she knew he wanted.

  Smiling, he couldn’t imagine what life would ever be like without Destiny’s friendship.

  And then his thoughts turned dark. The results from his last physical reported that he was in perfect health, but he knew the inevitable would still happen and he wondered how his death would occur. Would he be at the wrong place at the wrong time, catch a stray bullet or, better yet, would the brakes on his car mysteriously give out?

  Shaking his head, Miles moved away from the window. If he was still going to meet Destiny for their morning run, he’d better get a move on.

  As he dressed, he made a promise to himself not to discuss his gloomy thoughts and prayed that Destiny wouldn’t bring it up. He’d never been a fan of pity parties and the last thing he wanted to do was have one in his honor.

  “It’s about time you finally got your lazy butt up.” Wes smirked from the kitchen.

  Miles’s head jerked in his direction. “What are you doing here?”

  “Raiding your refrigerator. What does it look like?” He shook his head as he scanned the contents. “Do you ever eat anything other than health food? Haven’t you heard that too much of a good thing is also bad for you?”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Now do you want to tell me what you’re doing here?”

  “Maybe I just came by to make sure that you did, in fact, wake up this morning.” He shrugged.

  Miles smirked. “Am I to believe that you were actually worried about me?”

  Pulling out a carton of eggs, Wes rolled his eyes. “Just don’t let it go to your head. Besides, I told you this family curse thing was a bunch of bull. You look fine to me.”

  “I’ve never said that we died exactly on our forty-fifth birthday, only that we never make it to forty-six.”

  Wes shook his head. “Whatever. How about I make the birthday boy an omelet?”