This Time

by Ingrid Monique

  “So wha’ happen?”

  “No protection,” Kelee said.

  Lori nodded her head in approval. “Told yu’ he was different.”

  “There’s something so familiar about him.” Kelee recalled the sense of being so comfortable with Sean.

  “Wha’ do yu’ mean?” Lori asked, curious.

  “It’s like I know him.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but it’s really strange. He’s so familiar, like I’ve known him before.”

  “Yu’ two made a connection, that’s good.” Lori smiled.

  “I guess, but I can’t shake this feeling of knowing him.”

  “It was almost like that with Allan an’ me. It was instant, we both knew it.”

  “That must be it.” Kelee sighed and sipped her coffee. “It’s just so strange connecting to someone so quickly. Yu’ know how long it takes for me to really trust someone.”

  “I know but sometimes yu’ just have to let ’tings happen.”

  “Yu’ right,” Kelee admitted, looking at the clouds as they rolled in. She heard the roar of a distant thunder.

  “He does understand that yu’ll be going back to New York?” Lori asked. Kelee could hear the concern in her voice.

  “Yes, we talked about that.”

  “An’?” Lori pressed.

  “He understands,” Kelee told Lori. However, she couldn’t help but wonder if getting involved with Sean was a good idea. She couldn’t deny the fact that she wanted him. She knew he felt the same; last night had proved that. There was some level of danger in getting involved with Sean, regardless of their mutual attraction. She had to be careful not to fall for him. Men like Sean were easy to fall for, which made them a danger to any woman with an open heart. She had to guard her heart well against him. She took some comfort in the fact that he understood their situation and was comfortable with it.

  Sean sat at his desk reminiscing about Kelee. He loved the way her body had responded to him last night. He couldn’t wait to make love to her. He wanted to feel her wrapped around him. He wanted to hear her cry out his name. Last night he knew he had put his mark on her. She would have given in to him regardless of the condom issue. He laughed under his breath because last night he did have a condom. He wanted to make sure that she really wanted him and she did. His plan to seduce her was going along just fine.

  “I see she still have yu’ smilin’; must be nice,” Jack said, entering his office. Sean pushed all thoughts of Kelee aside.

  “Wha’ yu’ have for me?”

  “Yu’ not goin’ to tell me who she is?” Jack asked.

  “No,” he insisted.

  “Mus’ be good.” Jack grinned.

  “Can we move on?” he asked, pretending to be annoyed.

  Jack laughed. “Now I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Sean glared at him and Jack got serious, briefing him on a potential bad situation involving some deportees who were actually from Africa looking to start up a drug ring.

  “Put Hall and King on it; the minute they do some’ting I want them locked up,” Sean told Jack.

  Deportees were the leading cause of violence in the Caribbean these days. Many of them were too embarrassed to be deported to their native island so they told the U.S.A., Canada, and England immigration that they were from other islands. Many of them were starting to create gangs, causing violence to escalate on some islands. Jamaica was having a big problem right now with its deportees. Sean wasn’t about to have any of it—not in St. Pala. The minute they did something illegal he was locking them up for good.

  “Wha’ ’bout Mike?” he asked.

  “He’s still in Cayman.”

  “I want to know the minute he sets foot back here,” Sean insisted.

  “Yu’ got it.” Jack nodded.

  “No’ting on Adams and Penn?”

  “No’ting’. I’m runnin’ out of ’tings to tell the families,” Jack told him.

  “Tell them they had to go to Cayman to do an investigation.” Sean was grasping at straws and they both knew it. Jack gave him a questioning look. He also knew that Adams’ and Penn’s wives wouldn’t buy it, but it was all he had to give right now. He had run out of places to look for them; it was like they had disappeared into thin air. Sean had to keep the faith. He wouldn’t believe anything until he saw his men, dead or alive, preferably alive.

  “Yu’ sure yu’ want to do that?”

  “Jus’ tell them.” He sighed, frustrated. He didn’t want to give them anything to worry about when he didn’t have any proof.

  Jack left his office. Sean sat in silence listening to the rain beat against the air-conditioner unit in the window. He needed to find his men. He had exhausted just about all his possibilities, but there were still a few people he could call, so he got on the phone.

  Sean spent a great part of his day on the phone. By the time he had gotten home he was drained. As he relaxed with a Red Stripe beer, his thoughts drifted to Kelee. He picked up the phone.

  Lori answered the phone on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Hey, baby mama,” he teased, and Lori laughed.

  “Keep it up,” Lori warned, amused.

  “How yu’ feelin’, by the way?” he asked on a more serious note. She was on the last leg of her pregnancy and he knew it wasn’t always pleasant. He had heard enough stories from his sisters to know.

  “Not too bad,” Lori told him.

  “Good.”

  “Yu’ want to talk to Kelee?” she asked before he could say anything else.

  “That would be nice.” He smiled.

  “She’s in the shower; want her to call yu’ back?” Lori asked.

  “Yeah.” He closed his eyes, allowing the tension of the day to flow out of his body.

  “Where are yu’?”

  “At the house.”

  “Yu’ sound tired.”

  “I am,” he admitted.

  “She’s startin’ to like yu’,” Lori said and a sense of guilt washed over Sean. He had the utmost respect for Lori. She was like family. He wondered what she would think of him when she found out what he was doing to her sister. He wondered if Lori really knew what her sister was like back then. How she had used him, then left him without so much as a good-bye. He intended to make Kelee regret what she had done to him.

  “Yu’ still there?” Lori asked, pulling him back to the present.

  “Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat.

  “Yu’ OK?” The concern in Lori’s question made him feel guilty, but he pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for guilt; he was sure Kelee never regretted what she did to him back then.

  “Yeah. Tell her to call me?” he said in a cheerful tone.

  “OK. Good night,” Lori told him.

  “Night,” he said and hung up the phone.

  A part of Sean knew what he was doing wasn’t right, but he couldn’t stop now. He couldn’t just come out and tell her who he really was. He would see this game to the end. Sean got another beer and waited for her call.

  “Mornin’,” Kelee greeted Lori and Allan as she entered the kitchen. They were seated at the dining table.

  “Mornin’,” they said in unison.

  Kelee joined them at the table for a hearty breakfast of fried sweet plantains, thin slices of honey ham, scrambled eggs, and toast. Nadine bought her a cup of coffee, as Kelee loaded up her plate. Her morning breakfast usually consisted of a yogurt, coffee, and maybe a muffin depending on how hungry she was.

  “Oh, by the way, Sean called for yu’ last night,” Lori told her.

  Kelee paused. “He did?”

  “Yeah, he wanted yu’ to call him back, but yu’ were asleep by the time I got upstairs,” Lori said.

  “Oh,” she moaned, disappointed.

  “His house number is by the phone, but I doubt he’s home. I’ll give yu’ his cell.”

  “I don’t want to disturb him, especially if he’s at work.” Kelee reached fo
r another slice of ham.

  “I don’t think he’ll mind.” Allan grinned. Kelee blushed, hiding a smile.

  Sean was just about to get into his jeep when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his hip, glanced at the number and smiled.

  “Hello,” he answered, leaning against the door of the jeep.

  “Hi,” Kelee’s soft sultry voice came over the line. He’d been expecting her call. He had fallen asleep on the sofa, waiting to hear from her last night.

  “I’ve been expectin’ yu’ call,” he told her.

  “Sorry. Lori just gave me yu’ message. I was asleep by the time Lori came upstairs.”

  “Dream of me?” he teased and she laughed.

  “Maybe,” she teased back.

  “Hope it was good.” He grinned.

  “Like I’d tell yu’.” Her voice was laced with amusement.

  “Yu’ wouldn’t?” He pretended to be hurt.

  “Yu’ busy?”

  “Not right now,” he told her.

  “So when can I see yu’?”

  “I have a meetin’, but I’ll be free after three. I could pick yu’ up around four.”

  “Where are yu’ taking me?”

  “Don’t know yet.”

  “I just wanted to know how to dress.”

  “Any’ting’ yu’ wear is fine,” he told her, getting into his jeep.

  “OK, four then?”

  “Yu’ got it.” He smiled. He had to admit that it pleased him that she wanted to see him. She was an intoxicating, beautiful woman who was easy to talk to and be with. He recalled her telling how familiar he was to her and the tinge of guilt that came over him then. He had managed to keep his emotions in check at that moment. In good time he would reveal who he really was, but for now he had to make sure he maintained her interest.

  Kelee must have changed outfits at least six times before she settled on jeans, a rayon wrapped shirt, and mules. She asked Lori to do her hair in a single braid down her back.

  “So where’s he takin’ yu’?” Lori asked.

  “Don’t know,” Kelee said, excited.

  “Yu’ really like him?”

  “Yeah,” she admitted. “Is there something I should know about him?” she asked, concerned.

  “No, Sean’s a good man.”

  “But?” Kelee waited for her to continue.

  “I jus’ don’t want to see yu’ end up hurt. Women fall so easily for him, and he knows it. He’s not conceited or anything like that, but he does have them falling at his feet.”

  Kelee told her, “Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself.”

  “I know that, but how will yu’ handle walkin’ away from him when yu’ have to leave?”

  “I’ll handle it,” Kelee reassured her with a smile.

  “Yu’ sure?” Lori looked at her, concerned.

  “Yes, Mommy.” She laughed and kissed Lori’s cheek.

  Sean picked her up a few minutes after four. As always, he looked good. He was a bit wrinkled and sweaty, but still, he looked good.

  “We have to stop at my house so I can take a shower before we go; is that OK? Or I could swing back and pick yu’ up in an hour.”

  “No, I’ll come with yu’. I’d like to see yu’ house,” she told him and got a smile that took her breath away.

  “Thought yu’ might.” He grinned and helped her into his jeep.

  At the top of the road Kelee noted that he headed farther uphill. She took note of the luxury homes on their way up. She was surprised when a few minutes later he pulled up to the gate of a massive house.

  “Yu’ live here?” she asked when he pressed a control that opened the gate.

  “Yes. Yu’ like it?” he asked.

  “Are yu’ joking?” Kelee asked as he drove down the path towards an open garage.

  Kelee got out of the jeep following Sean, marveling at the beauty of his two-level house. She loved the endless veranda and the soft cream and blue. She paused and turned to look out from the house and was met with the spectacular view of homes cascading down the hill. She spotted Lori’s house and immediately turned to find Sean grinning at her.

  “Great view.” She studied him as he casually leaned against the railing.

  “It is.” His eyes were focused on her, making her blush.

  “Come in.” He gestured towards the richly detailed front door of mahogany and stained glass. She followed him into the foyer; cream decorative tile gleamed under the lights. End tables held fresh flowers. A curved wooden stairwell led to the upstairs. The man had a great sense of style. He definitely knew how to decorate. She followed him into the living room, and instantly fell in love with his Caribbean colonial styled furniture.

  “Did yu’ have yu’ furniture custom made?” she asked, taking a closer look at the intricate carvings on the wall unit that held delicate mini statues. She admired a crystal market vendor woman, sitting over her basket of fruits.

  “These are exquisite, yu’ have really good taste,” she said, impressed. She touched the cool crystal of the statue.

  “Thanks,” he replied in a sarcastic tone. Kelee turned to look at him.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.” She pursed her lips. He had a playful smile on his face.

  “Did yu’ use a decorator?”

  “No,” he told her.

  “Yu’ have good taste,” she complimented him.

  “Thanks.” He smiled. “Let me go shower and change. Feel free to look around.”

  “OK,” she said, excited about seeing what he had done to the rest of the house.

  Kelee explored the rest of the downstairs. There was a sitting/TV room that housed a huge TV, plush couches, and a bar. There was also a small library, with a computer set up in one corner. She loved his spacious kitchen. The dining room sat just off the kitchen. The one thing she noted was how spotless his house was; he definitely had a housekeeper. She turned to leave the kitchen and gasped when she saw a very serious-looking middle-aged woman, arms crossed, glaring at her.

  “Hi,” she greeted the woman with a smile. The woman glared even harder at her. Kelee suddenly wondered if she should make a run for it. The woman was blocking the doorway, so that exit was out.

  “Who yu’?” the woman asked in a gentle voice. Kelee relaxed a bit.

  “Kelee, a friend of Sean’s,” she told her. The woman’s face relaxed a bit and she nodded. Kelee felt a little better. The woman was truly intimidating, with her hard leathery face and mean scowl. “Oh. Where is he?”

  “Showering. He told me I could look around.”

  “Yu’ want some’ting to drink?” the woman offered, moving to a cupboard and opening the door, pulling out a glass.

  “Thank yu’. What’s yu’ name, if I may ask?” Kelee asked carefully, wondering who she was.

  The woman paused and studied her for a moment before responding. “May Brown, housekeeper.”

  Kelee smiled and moved towards her with her hand out. “Nice to meet yu’,” Kelee told her. May simply looked at her hand. Kelee dropped her hand.

  “Wha’ yu’ want to drink?”

  “Juice is good.” Kelee watched her. Apparently May wasn’t all that friendly, but she was nice enough to offer her a drink. So, she couldn’t be all that bad.

  Kelee watched her as she poured her some juice from a jug. She offered it to Kelee, who took it, thanking her with a smile and taking a sip. The juice was different, but delicious.

  “Mmmm, this is good, what is it?” Kelee smiled at her.

  “Passion fruit, pineapple and ginger, Sean’s favorite,” May said with a slight smile.

  Kelee drank some more. “Delicious. Thank yu’.”

  “Which island yu’ from?”

  Kelee stopped drinking and told her, “Jamaica.”

  “Knew a Jamaican man once,” May mused with a reflective look in her eyes. “Nice man.” She shrugged. Kelee couldn’t help but smile. She found May’s subtle expressions amusing.

  “How long h
ave yu’ worked for Sean?”

  “Five years,” May told her.

  “What’s he like as a boss? He doesn’t overwork yu’, does he?” Kelee smiled at her with curiosity. May smiled, flashing perfect white dentures. Her smile lessened the harshness in her face.

  “He’s a good boss.” May regarded her with a curious expression. “Yu’ mus’ be special.”

  Kelee was surprised by May’s words.

  “Why do yu’ say that?” Kelee was curious about the meaning behind her statement.

  “He never brings anyone home.”

  May’s answer stunned Kelee; for a moment she wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or cautious.

  She was about to press May for more information when she heard footsteps. She turned to see Sean entering the kitchen. He was dressed in jeans and a cream polo shirt. His hair was still wet but he looked so good, Kelee couldn’t help but stare at him. He smiled at them.

  “Talkin’ ’bout me?”

  “Maybe,” Kelee teased.

  “It better be good,” he said with a sexy smirk. He looked at the glass in her hand and said, “Good, my favorite.”

  May moved to get him a glass and poured him some juice. Kelee watched him as he drank the entire contents. May flashed a knowing grin.

  “Ready?” Sean moved to put his glass in the sink.

  “Yes,” she told him.

  May took her glass from her. “Thank yu’.”

  May nodded at her.

  “Let’s go,” Sean said, putting an arm about her waist.

  “How come yu’ never bought anyone home?” Kelee asked Sean as they headed down the hill.

  “Wha’?” Sean asked, stunned.

  “May said yu’ never bring anyone home.”

  His rich laugh filled the jeep, making her smile.

  “She mus’ have taken a like-in’ to yu’,” Sean said.

  “Is that good or bad?” Kelee was curious.

  “It’s good.” He smiled at her. Kelee was flattered.

  Chapter 7

  “Where are we going?” Kelee asked. They were heading into the district area uptown.

  “A friend of mine is having a birthday bash at the Swan,” he said, maneuvering through traffic around Kings Circle.