“Are you okay?” Virginia asked, concern dancing in the woman’s ocean blue eyes.
Kamaya took a deep inhale of air as she sat back in her seat. A moment passed before she nodded. “Yes. Send him in,” she said finally.
With a tilt of her head the other woman turned on her low heels. A quick minute later she ushered Wesley into the inner sanctum, shot Kamaya one last look and then closed the door leaving them alone.
“Wesley! This is a surprise.” Kamaya moved onto her feet and rounded the desk toward him. Her hand extended in greeting.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Wesley said as he moved closer. He came to an abrupt stop when the subtle fragrance of her perfume wafted into his personal space. They shook hands, the polite touch inciting a current of electricity between them. He gasped, a slight smile pulling at his mouth.
Kamaya took in another breath of air as she gestured toward the leather sofa that decorated the space. “Not at all. Please have a seat. What brings you here?” She dropped down onto the cushioned bench beside him.
“I could say I was in the neighborhood but that would be a lie.” He smiled, the warmth of it filling his face. “I wanted to see you. And I was hoping to pin down that date for dinner.”
Kamaya’s gaze skated over his face, noting the sweet bend of his mouth and the way his brow furrowed slightly. There was something hopeful in his gaze as he eyed her. She took another deep breath to stall the quiver of energy that pulsed deep in the pit of her stomach.
“About that,” she said as she stood abruptly, moving to lean against the edge of her desk. “Do you really think it’s a good idea that we see each other socially? I mean...well...”
“You mean you’re getting cold feet.” He stood and closed the distance between them as he moved to her side.
Their gazes locked as they stood staring at each other. Kamaya felt moisture rising to the surface of her skin, perspiration threatening to dampen places it had no business. She inhaled swiftly, frozen in place as the heat from his body blended nicely with her own.
Kamaya found herself staring at his mouth, imagining the feel of his lips against her skin, his tongue trailing a damp line over her flesh. She suddenly realized she was panting slightly. She turned, her eyes blinking rapidly.
She took a deep breath before she spoke. “Look, it’s not about cold feet. I just...well...” There was a moment of pause as she gathered her thoughts, wanting to find just the right words to explain herself.
Wesley was eyeing her intently. He was awed by how beautiful she was. Kamaya was a gorgeous woman without an ounce of effort. She had a natural glow, an intoxicating aura that had him drunk with wanting. He bit down against his bottom lips as he fought the urge to reach a hand out to touch her. Wanting to trace the back of his fingers against her skin. He crossed his arms over his chest and clasped both hands beneath his armpits. He took a step and shifted his weight back, needing to widen the distance between them just slightly.
Kamaya finally spoke, shifting her gaze back to his. “Look, I have to be honest with you.”
“I expect nothing less,” he interjected, his eyes dancing with hers.
“I don’t do relationships and you seem like a relationship kind of guy. I would hate for us to...well...you know.” She suddenly stammered, beginning to lose herself in his deep gaze. She blew a gust of air past her lips. “It just wouldn’t work and we would still be obligated to work together,” she concluded.
“Are you always so negative?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve already broken up with me and we haven’t even had our first official date.”
“I didn’t break up with you!”
“Yes, you did. Which means you know we’re going to have a relationship and, because you’re not the relationship type, that scares you.”
“It doesn’t...”
“But that’s okay,” he said as he took a step toward her, closing that distance he’d needed moments earlier. “I’m not scared and I’m not going away, Kamaya Boudreaux. I am a relationship kind of guy and I believe you and I are going to be magic together.” He slid the pad of his index finger across the line of her profile. “So, how does tomorrow work for you and what time should I pick you up?”
A slow smile widened across Kamaya’s face. She clasped her hand over his, drawing it back down to his side. A low laugh eased past her lips. “You are so full of yourself,” she said, the comment ringing warmly through the air.
He laughed with her. “Yes, I am. It’s what you like about me!”
Chapter 6
He couldn’t get her out of his mind. It had been three weeks since their coffee date and Wesley hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Kamaya. He felt slightly bewitched. And completely out of sorts.
Everything about their encounter had warmed his spirit. She had been funny, her dry sense of humor moving him to laugh more than he had lately. She was smart, her intelligence challenging his own. She gave as good as she got. And she gave often, quick with her quips and smart remarks. It didn’t take much for him to realize that holding his own with her would keep him on his toes. A time or two she’d actually had him blushing. Kamaya had no filters, speaking her mind on any and every subject that moved her.
He pulled clothes out of his closet, trying to decide what to wear. After he had stopped by her office unannounced they had made tentative plans. He had called her the very next day to confirm, only to be told something had come up. Since then, they had talked many times, each ending their day in conversation. Kamaya hadn’t been overly helpful with the planning of their first get-together, insisting that he surprise her. But he had sensed that she wasn’t a woman who actually liked surprises.
What he did know was that there was nothing pretentious about Kamaya Boudreaux. Wining and dining her at some five-star establishment wouldn’t impress this woman. He knew enough to know that she’d been to some of the finest restaurants around the world, so what the best of New Orleans had to offer wasn’t going to be good enough to make the kind of impression he wanted. He wanted this first time to be one she never forgot. A moment in her history that she would one day regale her grandchildren with stories about. The sound of his cell phone suddenly interrupted his thoughts. For a brief second he feared another cancellation until he looked at the caller ID. He smiled.
“Hello, beautiful lady!”
“Hello, son! How are you?”
“I’m good, ma. How about you?”
“I have no complaints so it’s a good day. Do you have a minute?”
“For you, I have as many as you need.”
Annie gigged softly. “I want to take your daddy on a cruise for our anniversary. We’ve never been on a cruise before and you know how that man can be! I could use your help making that happen.”
Wesley laughed. “I can do that. Just let me know what you need me to do.”
“For starters you can help me convince him the ship won’t capsize while he’s on it.”
“I’ll call him.”
“Thank you, baby. So what are you up to?”
“I’m going on a date. I was just getting dressed.”
“A date? Do I know this young woman? Where did you meet her?”
Wesley dropped down on the corner of his bed, his extended legs crossed at the ankles. “Her name’s Kamaya. Kamaya Boudreaux. She and I will be working together on a business project. And ma, she’s...well...she’s something special!”
“You sound happy, baby!”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this way about any woman. Kamaya challenges me. She’s not going to give me an easy time. If I don’t come correct she probably won’t give me the time of day.”
“I’m sure that girl knows the kind of man you are. She should consider herself lucky that you’re even intereste
d in her.”
“Says the best mother in the whole wide world!”
“I know that’s right!” Annie laughed heartily. “And how long have you and this young lady known each other?”
“A few weeks now. We met when she had a business proposal that I was interested in. I invited her out for coffee and we had a really great time. Then I invited her to dinner but with her schedule we’ve been playing tag trying to make that happen. But we’ve talked on the phone every day and I’ve really been enjoying getting to know her.”
“Do you know anything about her family?”
“She comes from a very good family. A big family. Her brother is Mason Boudreaux. I don’t know if you remember me talking about him.”
“He’s that young man who spoke at that seminar you went to a while back. The man you were so excited about meeting.”
“That’s him.”
“Does she go to church?”
“She’s very grounded in her faith.”
“You should invite her to go to church with you, Wesley. You don’t want to be in a relationship with any woman who doesn’t keep God in her heart.”
He chuckled, having heard his mother’s mantras many times before. “I appreciate the advice, ma. I really do.”
“Well, just take things slow. You don’t need to rush into anything.”
“You rushed. You and daddy knew each other for two days when he asked you to marry him and you said yes.”
“That’s true but I also made him wait a year before the marriage happened. I needed to be sure.”
“You were sure after two days.”
“I was but your daddy didn’t need to know that.”
There was a momentary pause before Wesley spoke. “How did you know, ma? How did you know dad was the man you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?”
He could hear his mother taking a deep breath before she answered. “You just know. There’s a feeling you get deep in your gut and you trust it with everything in your heart. Just like you knew Brenda-Joy was the wrong woman for you, you’ll know when the right woman comes along.”
“Thank you. I love you, ma!”
“I love you, too, son. You have yourself a good time and I’ll call you tomorrow to check on you.”
Minutes later Wesley admired his reflection in the full-length mirror that adorned his closet door. His fresh haircut was pristine and edged to perfection. He’d selected a handcrafted, dark blue, Charles Dean two-piece suit with the signature peak lapel and white dress shirt that opened at the two-button collar. With a quick adjustment of his cuffs he turned and moved through the house toward the kitchen.
An oversized picnic basket sat on the countertop. He’d packed it earlier, and after one last check to insure that he hadn’t forgotten anything, he headed out the door.
* * *
Kamaya had been trying on clothes for over an hour. She didn’t have a clue what she should wear and it was taking more energy than she cared to exert to try and figure it out. She cut an eye at Maitlyn who was laughing at her hysterically.
“Why are you here?” Kamaya asked, her hands clutching both hips.
“Because...” Maitlyn gasped, catching her breath. “Because you’re actually going on a real date and someone needed to record it for posterity.”
Kamaya blew an exasperated sigh. She was going on a date and she was still in awe of how that had happened. It was as if she had never dated before and this was her very first time. She was actually nervous, and she couldn’t begin to explain why.
Wesley had called her the day after they’d met for coffee. It had surprised her and it shouldn’t have. She had believed him when he had said he wanted to take her to dinner. But for reasons she couldn’t explain she hadn’t trusted it. Yet he had called, wanting her to choose a date, a place and time. At best, she’d been dismissive, promising to call him back. Then she hadn’t. So he’d come searching her out.
Even after he had shown up at her office she’d had doubts. She had hesitated instead, putting the onus back on him to decide, and now, almost three weeks later here they were, about to spend the afternoon with each other. Three weeks later because she’d cancelled on him six times, until she couldn’t think of any more excuses to put him off.
There was something about Wesley Walters that intrigued her and had her wanting to know more about the man. Since their first phone call they’d talked every day. After two weeks of conversation he had begun to start his morning, and hers, in prayer. The first time it had been disconcerting. Then she had come to look forward to his morning ministry, something his mother apparently did with him on a daily basis. His faith was important to him, and his sharing that with her was a reminder that her own was important to her, as well.
Then she had started to call him in the evenings, to see how his day had gone and to wish him a good-night when neither of them could keep their eyes open. They found a routine with each other, and balance, and everything about it felt right to her, and comfortable.
And now that they were actually going to be in each other’s company for an extended period of time, she was actually nervous. Because she didn’t do relationships. She did one-night stands and casual acquaintances. Men had been like her line of sex toys, useful when necessary and expendable when not. But Wesley and what was growing between them was different.
“Will you please help me get dressed? I don’t know what to wear.”
“Usually you’d throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Why is this day any different?”
“Because...well...because I want to look nice,” she replied, throwing yet another dress onto the floor.
Maitlyn had been lying across Kamaya’s bed. She suddenly sat upright, her eyes widening. “You really like this guy!”
Kamaya cut a nervous eye in her direction. “I just want to look nice, Maitlyn. Don’t read anything else into it, please.”
Her sister laughed. “Miss In Control is suddenly feeling a little offsides. I’m reading a lot into that!”
Kamaya rolled her eyes. “I hate you! Help me find something to wear! Please!”
Maitlyn grinned. “Well, for starters, stop trying on all those dresses. Did you buy any of them?”
“No. Your mother did. She was trying to spruce up my wardrobe.”
“That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“Why each of them make you look like an old church mother.”
“They’re not that bad.”
“They really are.” Maitlyn rose from the bed, moving into Kamaya’s walk-in closet. “Where is he taking you for lunch?”
“I don’t know. I told him I didn’t want to overdress, so whatever he chooses to do should just be casual so I can dress comfortably. He agreed, except he asked that I not wear sweats or jeans.” Kamaya blew a soft sigh. “Maybe I should just call and cancel.”
“You are not canceling,” Maitlyn said. She began to flip through the clothes racks, shifting garments from one end to the other. “Now that’s more like it!” she exclaimed, holding up a tailored jumpsuit. The price tags were still attached to the sleeve. “This is so you and it’s cute!”
“I didn’t buy that, either. I think it’s Tarah’s, to be honest with you. Mom brought it over when she was cleaning out our room.”
“Well, it’s perfect. Put it on.” Maitlyn passed the garment to her sister and then moved back atop the bedspread. She folded her hands below her pregnant belly, wincing slightly as she made herself comfortable.
Minutes later, Kamaya stood in front of her full-length mirror. The all-white jumpsuit was cute and even cuter on her. The sleeveless, one-piece unit featured pant legs that tapered at the ankles and a slightly plunging neckline that gave it a slight hint of sexy. It was belted around the waist and it fit like a glove. She stepped
into a pair of stylish suede pumps, then kicked them off in favor of a wedge heel for a more casual feel.
“What do you think?” she asked, turning to face her big sister.
“I think you look very pretty,” Maitlyn said. “This Wesley guy is going to be blown away!”
Kamaya grinned. “He better be!” she muttered, as she pulled at her natural curls, insuring each was in perfect place. She leaned in closer to the mirror to inspect her face, swiping her index finger over one eyebrow and then the other. Her makeup was light, just enough to enhance her natural beauty. She’d underscored her eyes with a hint of eyeliner, and just the faintest touch of lip gloss coated her lips.
“You look great,” Maitlyn reiterated. She quickly snapped a picture with her cell phone.
“What are you doing?” Kamaya said, her whole face frowning.
“You really don’t think I’m going to let this moment go by and not share it with everyone, did you?”
“Maitlyn!”
The other woman laughed. “I only sent a text to Tarah and Katrina. But I’m sure Tarah will share it with the boys.”
The doorbell suddenly resounded through the house, the soft chime resonating like church bells. As it did, the color drained from Kamaya’s face.
“That’s him! And I’m not ready!”
Maitlyn moved back onto her feet. “Yes, you are. I will go answer your door. Take a deep breath. Go pee one last time. Take another deep breath, then come say hello to your guy.” She paused in the doorway. “And if you take too long, I’m going to regale him with stories about what you were like when we were kids.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Don’t make me,” Maitlyn said, her grin wide and full, and then she turned, disappearing toward Kamaya’s front door.
* * *
“Kamaya shouldn’t be too long,” Maitlyn said, as she gestured toward the living room sofa. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
A Pleasing Temptation Page 7
