A few blocks from the worksite, he pulled into a convenience store parking lot. He climbed out the truck and squinted his eyes as snow blew all around his face. After he stepped inside, he stopped by the deli counter to order two sausage-and-cheese biscuits, then strolled to the back and made himself a large black coffee.
Trey had texted him earlier and said he was going by the Arbor Meadows house to work on the iron railing for the turned staircase. He was grateful for his friends. It was rare when you found four men just as determined as he was to succeed.
The clerk called his number and Reggie grabbed his order from the deli counter and moved in line at one of the registers.
“That will be six-nineteen.”
He reached his winter-chilled fingers inside his pocket and removed his wallet. “Can I also get two Missouri Lotto tickets and the winning numbers from Wednesday’s drawing?” Reggie asked as he handed her a ten.
“Somebody won the three million dollar jackpot,” she told him as she moved over to the lottery machine and hit the buttons.
His brow quirked. “Really?”
She nodded her spiky red hair. “Yep. The winning ticket was bought in Jefferson City.”
Reggie scowled with envy. “Damn, some people have all the luck.”
“I know, right,” she agreed.
He waited while she moved over to the machine and within seconds three tickets spat out that she handed to him. “Thank you.”
“Good luck!” she said giving him his first smile of the day.
He stepped back out into the chilly weather and into his work truck. He checked his cell phone and discovered Berlin had called. “Hey boo,” he began as soon as she answered. “You up?”
She gave a soft moan that made his dick hard just hearing it. “Yes, I’m getting ready to head into the shower. I didn’t hear you leave this morning.”
He took a moment to remember her lying there, naked, auburn hair fanning the white pillowcase. If he hadn’t been anxious to get a head start this morning, he would have done a lot more than just stared. “I kissed your shoulder but decided to let you sleep.”
“I wish you hadn’t.” Her purr hinted at naughty thoughts.
He groaned a warning, “Boo, don’t start that shit. Otherwise, my ass will be driving back home.”
Berlin giggled playfully and added flirtatiously in the phone, “I guess you’ll owe me tonight.”
“Trust and believe, I plan on being all up in that before I take my boots off,” he promised between sips of coffee. “Stroking, licking, and sucking every drop.”
They talked a few minutes longer and he was seconds away from driving back to his house when Berlin remembered she had a nine o’clock meeting.
Smiling, Reggie ended the call and reached for his wallet and was getting ready to put his tickets away when he decided to check his numbers. He removed the stub from Wednesday’s drawing and compared it to a ticket in his wallet. He lined up the two rows of numbers, and when he gazed down at the winning numbers, his eyes flicked back, forth, back again, and then his breath stalled.
12 36 8 1 22 3
Frantically, his eyes scanned both sets of numbers again.
It was a perfect match.
No fucking way.
Shaking with nerves and excitement, Reggie snatched his keys, jumped out of his truck and practically ran into a man coming out the store. “Sorry,” he mumbled before stepping inside the convenience store. He needed verification fast. Quickly, he got back in line, clutching the ticket possessively in his hand until he reached the counter.
“You want to buy another lottery ticket?” the cashier asked with that same smile.
“Uh-uh. Can you check this ticket for me?” Reggie said and it wasn’t until he handed it to her that he realized his hand had been trembling.
“Sure.” She scanned the barcode. When he heard the bell chime, and the cash prize flashed across the lottery screen, the cashier gasped and shouted, “You won!”
The three million dollar jackpot.
* * *
“You wanted to see me?”
“Come on in,” Berlin said as she looked up from her chair and waved him into her office.
Cameron Clarke.
The man she had once been determined to make her baby’s daddy. Now she laughed every time she thought about it. Cameron was now the medical director of the clinic. “I have November’s expense report ready for your signature.”
With a smile, he walked over and took the folder from her hand. “I’ll look over it at lunch and get back with you.”
She nodded approvingly. “How’s Cynthia?” She was referring to his wife.
The sudden scowl indicated things weren’t going as well as they should. “Not too good. She still blames the whole world including me for the accident,” he added with a heavy sigh.
Six months ago, Cameron and his wife were on their way back from a comedy show when a semi-truck swerved in front of them, causing Cameron to slam his Porsche into a tree. Cameron had walked away with minor injuries but his wife sustained serious trauma to her legs and was told she might never walk again. The couple also found out she had been pregnant with their first child.
“Just give her time. I’m sure she’ll come around,” she said, being optimistic.
“Yes, I know,” he replied although he didn’t look so sure. “How’s the baby doing?” he asked. And her heart went out to him for losing his.
She glanced down briefly at her stomach and felt guilty for grinning. “She’s doing fine.” There was no mistaking the envy in Cameron’s eyes. “Yeah, my man Reggie is excited.” The two men went way back to grammar school. Berlin liked to think it was because of Cameron that she and Reggie were now together, especially since it had been Cameron she had been pursuing before Reggie decided to intervene, and stole her heart in the process.
A slow, lazy grin curved his mouth as he watched her sitting behind the desk caressing her baby bump. “Reggie’s a lucky man. I’m really happy for both of you.”
Berlin inclined her head in simple acknowledgment of the compliment.
There was that look of envy again, only this time with a hint of sadness. “Well, I’ll bring this back later.”
After he returned to the clinic, Berlin swiveled around on the chair and gazed out the window thinking about how much her life had changed. A ten-step plan? A doctor? She giggled at the memory. She couldn’t imagine being married to anyone but Reggie. In the last five years she had learned love wasn’t about the size of a man’s wallet but instead how big his heart was. Reggie showered her with just the simple things, sometimes it was nothing more than a greeting card that put his feelings into word, or a trinket that reminded him of her. Those sentiments meant the most.
And then there was the sex, just the mere thought of him set off a slow burn between her legs. That man made sure there was always plenty of fire and excitement brewing between the sheets. She smiled. With Reggie, there was never a dull moment and she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life with anyone else.
“Knock, knock.”
She looked up to see Arianna strutting inside her office in a black pinstriped pant suit. “How was the meeting this morning?” she asked between sips of her favorite latte.
A frowned marred Berlin’s lips. “Projected cutbacks and layoffs for next year.”
“Yes, I heard about the layoffs. Possible two of our part-time nurses.” With a sigh, she took the seat across from her. “Hopefully you can come up with a great financial plan to save their jobs.”
Berlin cringed at the thought of being responsible for keeping food on someone’s table. “I’m working on it. I think if we cut back on a few programs that haven’t been as successful as we originally thought I think we might be able to save at least one of their jobs.” Last year Arianna, a program manager, had started a new program for teenage mothers to aid in caring for their babies. Some nights there were barely five mothers in attendance. She had later suggested subs
tituting the class with a pamphlet and a twenty-four hour hotline for questions and further assistance.
“If anyone can figure it out, you can,” Arianna said with a nod of assurance. “I saw your shoulda-been baby daddy leaving your office,” she commented and then raised a questioning eyebrow.
Berlin couldn’t resist a grin. “Ha-ha. I needed him to sign off on some expenses,” she started and then her expression turned serious. “Cynthia’s still grieving over the loss of their child.”
Arianna shook her head sympathetically. “I couldn’t imagine what she’s going through.”
Berlin pressed a protective hand to her baby bump. “Neither could I.”
There was a long pregnant pause before Arianna decided to change the subject. “Carlton’s parents won’t be making it for Christmas. His grandmother’s hip went out again, so his parents are going to drive to Memphis and spend the holidays at the nursing home instead.”
“Oh no, that’s too bad. I know how much you were looking forward to cooking,” Berlin teased. Arianna and her mother-in-law rarely got along. At past holidays all she did was criticize her daughter-in-law’s cooking skills. Berlin had to agree, Arianna wasn’t the most skillful in the kitchen. The beauty often joked that Carlton only married her for her skills in the bedroom.
“I’m so relieved, but don’t tell my husband that. Anyway, we decided to crash your holiday dinner instead, that’s if you have room for two more.”
“The more the merrier.” They were already planning to have their parents, Eileen and her family, and a few of Reggie’s crew hinted at stopping through while they were out making their rounds.
“Wonderful! What would you like me to bring? You know I saw this recipe—”
Berlin cut her off. “Nothing. Just bring my godson so I can kiss all over him.”
“You got yourself a deal,” Arianna said with a sigh of relief.
And the two ladies laughed.
* * *
“You what?” Trey squawked.
Reggie held out the ticket. “You heard me.”
Trey took the tickets from his hand and compared the two numbers then shook his head. “Damn! I can’t believe it!”
“Neither can I.” He had been in a daze for most of the morning.
His gaze darted to his. “So when are you gonna claim your prize?”
“As soon as I get my crew started on the renovations in the morning, I am personally driving to Jefferson City to the lottery commission.”
Shaking his head, Trey replied, “I don’t blame you. I’d drive down there myself. Damn, bruh.”
Reggie took the tickets from him and returned them to his wallet. Even with the proof right smack in front of him he still had trouble believing he had actually won. When the cashier at the convenience store had mentioned the ticket had been bought in Jefferson City, Reggie had forgotten he had driven there last week to bid on a guest house renovation for a doctor who used to work at the clinic. Before driving back to St. Louis, he had stopped by a 7-Eleven for a sandwich and a lottery ticket.
“What did Berlin say?” he asked as he reached for the power drill.
Reggie straightened his shoulders. “I haven’t told her yet.”
Trey’s gaze snapped to his. “You haven’t told her. Why not?”
“Because I want to surprise her.”
Chuckling, Trey walked back over to the stairs and replied, “And how long do you think you can keep it a secret?”
He slipped his hands in the pocket of his jacket and drew a deep breath. “I was hoping at least until Christmas.”
“So you’re planning to surprise her for Christmas?” Trey gave a low whistle then chuckled. “That’s one helluva surprise.”
“I’m also gonna give her this house for Christmas.”
His brow rose. “No shit?”
Reggie nodded. “Berlin loves this house, so instead of flipping it, I wanna give her her dream home.”
“Damn, bruh. That’s one helluva idea.”
“But it’s gonna take all of us to make this house ready by Christmas.” He paused and paced the room, taking in the soiled carpeting that needed to be replaced with hardwood. Trey had been working on the iron railing for the staircase all morning and was closed to completion but there was still plenty of work to be done. “She was out here yesterday so I know everything she wants to see happen to this house and I plan to give it to her.”
“Yo, it’s your money. As long as you’re lining my pockets before Christmas, it’s all good!” Trey rubbed his palms together.
“No doubt. Just as long as y’all clowns make this dream possible.”
Grinning, Trey strolled over and gave him a fist bump. “Dawg, you know we got your back.”
CHAPTER 6
“I can’t believe how cute these baby clothes are!”
Berlin grinned over at the pink frilly dress Arianna was holding up. “I know, right. I don’t think clothes were this cute when my niece Gabrielle was born.”
“You’re making me wanna have a little girl,” Arianna said with a playful pout.
“Yeah, right. I remember you saying you were never going through eighteen hours of labor again.”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember that.”
“I can show you the video,” Berlin teased.
The two shared a laugh as they moved over to another rack of little outfits. A bell over the door chimed as customers stepped in and out Precious Moments. The walls were decorated in garland and candy cane, poinsettias were all around the showroom floor, while the strain sounds of “Silent Night” drifted around the specialty baby store.
“Oh, you have to buy this sweater!” Arianna screeched.
Berlin gazed over at an adorable yellow cashmere sweater thoughtfully then frowned. “I don’t know if it’s a girl, and Reggie would kill me if I put his son in that.”
There was no mistaking her disappointment. “I guess you’re right.”
“Stay focused, Arianna. I’m depending on you. Otherwise, I’m going to fall off the wagon and buy a bunch of ridiculous stuff. And Lord knows we can’t afford to do that until that house is sold.”
“Okay,” Arianna said, dragging her shoulders back and taking a deep breath. “Alright, I’m back in control.”
“Good. We’re here to pick out furniture for the nursery,” she reminded.
“Okay, then we need to move over there.” Arianna steered her away from the clothes and over to the display window where furniture had been set up like a baby’s room. Outside the window, the street was decked out for Christmas. Garland hung from lampposts. Storefront windows had been wrapped with twinkling lights, and wreaths hung from doors.
“Ooh, I like this one!”
She looked over at Arianna and frowned. “Too much blue. I want something that would work for either a boy or a girl.”
“Then how about this one?”
It was tropical styled, featuring playful monkeys frolicking in colorful palm trees. With shades of chocolate, blue, yellow, green and rust, the color palette was both vibrant and soothing.
“I even like the rich dark furnishings.” Berlin was running her fingers across the railing, admiring the fine craftsmanship when something outside the display window caught her attention. She looked up and watched while her heart pounded at her throat.
“What are you looking at?” Arianna asked before she followed the direction of Berlin’s eyes. “Who’s that woman?”
She swallowed tightly. “No, the question you should be asking is what the hell is she doing with my husband.” Berlin watched Reggie climb out of his Escalade onto the snowy street and then walk around to the other side to help a woman out on the passenger side.
She was not only tall but had long jean-clad legs and stiletto boots. She was wearing a red pea coat and a black turtleneck that emphasized a long elegant neck. Watching her, Berlin felt fat and unattractive. She was beautiful with long black hair pushed underneath a black fedora.
Aria
nna mumbled, “She’s pretty.”
Rolling her eyes, Berlin breathed, “Thanks.” She watched as her husband cupped the woman’s elbow, helping her along the sideway. “I hope she slips and bumps her head,” she whispered under her breath.
“So do I,” Arianna added as she gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze. Berlin was angry for feeling jealous before she realized she had every right to feel that way. Reggie was her damn husband.
She couldn’t move as she watched Reggie open the door of El Patron, an authentic Mexican restaurant. Berlin noticed the way the woman was smiling and flirting up at him, and Reggie was grinning and sucking it up.
Quickly, she stepped away from Arianna, fumbled inside her purse and retrieved her phone.
“What are you doing?” Arianna asked suspiciously.
“What do you think I’m doing? I’m calling him,” she spat.
“Calling? You need to go over there and find out what’s going on!”
No, she wasn’t for scenes and who’s to say he wasn’t with a client. If she stormed into the restaurant it could be bad for business.
“I need to see if he’s meeting with a client.” She hit the speed dial and paced around the floor of the store while she waited for Reggie to answer. The call went to voicemail. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath while Arianna gave her a sympathetic look.
“Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions,” she said soothingly.
Rolling her eyes, Berlin dialed his number again and by the time it had rung three times, she spotted Reggie stepping outside the restaurant to answer.
“Boo?” he began. “You okay?”
I will be after you tell me what you’re doing with that chick.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just spending my lunch hour shopping with Arianna.”
“What are you buying now?” he said, not knowing she was glaring across the street at the grin on his face.
“I’m shopping for a crib.”
“I thought we were going to do that together this weekend?”
“You’ll be busy working on the house.” She suddenly decided to test him. “Why don’t you drive over to the store and look at the one I found?”
Naughty Before Christmas (Decadent Delight Series #3) Page 6
