A Pleasing Temptation

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “Anything!”

  “First, if you ever ignore me again, that’s going to be a problem for both of us. I can’t be in a relationship with a woman who won’t talk to me.”

  “I was angry and I didn’t want to say something I regretted.”

  “I don’t care. If you love me, then you say whatever it is you think you need to say. And then we’ll talk. But we will never be able to fix anything if you shut me out.”

  Kamaya took a deep breath. She nodded her head slowly. “I really am sorry. I really regret how I’ve been acting. You deserve better than that from me.”

  “One more thing.”

  She held up her hand to stall his comment. “Before you finish, who’s Carrie?”

  “Carrie?” A hint of surprise shimmered across Wesley’s face. “Where did you...”

  “She was at your house looking for you this morning.”

  “You were at my house this morning?”

  “I wanted to apologize. I went there to talk to you so that we could figure things out. Your friend Carrie was there when I arrived.”

  Wesley nodded. “Carrie is an old friend. I’m sure she was just there to drop something off.”

  “That’s what she said. But she wouldn’t tell me what it was and she said she couldn’t leave it with me.”

  “Carrie’s like that. Don’t take it personal.”

  Kamaya shrugged. “So, what’s the second thing you need from me?”

  “No more secrets. You and I both need to come clean to the people who love us most. I told my parents about what happened and about the club, the business and my dancing. I need for you to tell your parents the truth about everything, too. Because I love you I can’t keep lying for you. We can’t keep lying. It’s not who I am. And it’s not who you are, either.”

  A veil of tension suddenly billowed between them, and then her mother’s words echoed loudly through her head. I have been telling you since you were two, just be yourself! Be honest and truthful and just be you! We will always love you no matter what.

  Kamaya had kept her life from her family. Unlike her twin brother, who had done the same in order to protect the family from his responsibilities as a CIA agent, she had done so because she hadn’t wanted any of her family to be disappointed. She had wanted her parents to be as proud of her as she knew they were proud of Mason and Maitlyn and the rest of her siblings with their many, many accomplishments. She’d been fearful of upsetting the family balance and tarnishing the legacy of the Boudreaux name. Fear had been holding her back from many things.

  Her gaze reconnected with Wesley’s. “We should get back. Your ice cream is melting.”

  * * *

  Kamaya heard her sister calling out to her as Maitlyn let herself into the family home. Her father was still bellowing at her, his index finger waving back and forth with his narrative. As Maitlyn came into the room Kamaya shot her sister a look, wanting to forewarn her that Ma and Pa Boudreaux were not happy campers.

  “Hey, there!” Maitlyn sang out. She waved a slight hand as she locked eyes with each of them. “What’s going on?”

  Senior twisted in his seat to face her. “Did you know your sister owns a bunch of sex shops?”

  Kamaya rolled her eyes. “They are not sex shops!” she exclaimed for the umpteenth time.

  Katherine shot a look in her direction, her head moving from side to side.

  Maitlyn took a deep breath. “I am very aware of Kamaya’s business investments. She’s consulted with me on most of them.”

  Kamaya’s gaze skated in Maitlyn’s direction. Her sister gave her a smile.

  “And you didn’t tell us?” their father queried.

  “Kamaya didn’t want everyone involved in her business decisions and I had to respect that. Besides, it wasn’t my place to tell you.”

  Senior turned his attention back to his other daughter, continuing where he’d left off in their conversation. “Kamaya, your mother and I have not always agreed with the things you and your brothers and sisters have done, but we never expected that you would think that you couldn’t trust us to support you.”

  “It wasn’t about trusting you, Senior. I just didn’t think you’d understand, and I didn’t want to embarrass you or Mom.”

  “You do know that we love you, right?” Katherine said softly.

  Kamaya nodded. “Of course.”

  Wesley interjected. “Senior, Kamaya and I needed to be honest with you both. And my parents, too. We know we can’t build a successful relationship without telling everyone the truth. Our families can’t support us if they don’t know what we’re up against.” He squeezed Kamaya’s hand, drawing the back of her fingers to his lips and kissing them.

  Senior nodded. “And what does Mason think? I know you asked Mason for help, right?”

  Kamaya shook her head. “No, sir. I didn’t. I built this business all on my own.”

  Maitlyn moved to Kamaya’s side, dropping her hand against her sister’s shoulder. “Kamaya’s net worth should make you very proud. She took everything you and Mom taught her and she didn’t need to lean on her brothers or any other man to help her accomplish her goals. Had she opened up to you, or Mason, or anyone, you all would have tried to influence her decisions. This way, her mistakes were hers and no one else’s.”

  Katherine nodded. “And her accomplishments are hers, as well. No one else’s!” she said, beaming excitedly. “That’s my girl!”

  The room grew silent, everyone falling into their own thoughts. Minutes passed before Senior suddenly moved onto his feet at Kamaya’s side. He hugged her close as he kissed her cheek.

  “You’re going to have to explain that vaginal rejuvenation to me. That don’t make no kind of sense!”

  Kamaya winced, a blush of color warming her cheeks. “I’ll bring you a brochure.”

  Senior winked at Katherine. “Your mom and I can read it together. Might come in handy!”

  The matriarch laughed heartily. “Senior, I know you have lost your mind!”

  Chapter 15

  It had been a long day. Too long. But in spite of everything, Kamaya felt happier than she had in a very long time. Opening up to her mother and father had gone better than she could have ever anticipated. Their support had been unwavering, and suddenly having no secrets to keep had Kamaya feeling like a new woman.

  She rinsed the dish she’d just washed, sliding it into the drying rack. Wesley’s mother patted her gently against her back. “You okay, baby?” she asked.

  Kamaya nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’m really good.”

  Annie smiled. “It was so nice to meet your mama and daddy. I’m so glad you all could come have dinner with us.”

  “We appreciate you inviting us. And the food was so good. You’ll have to teach me how to fry chicken like that so I can cook it for Wesley.”

  “I’d love to show you. Fried chicken is his favorite, you know.”

  Kamaya laughed. “I think anything you cook is his favorite!”

  Annie laughed with her. “You make him very happy, Kamaya. And that makes me very happy.”

  “Thank you. He’s an incredible man. I’m very, very lucky.”

  “That you are!”

  The two women continued chatting until the last dirty dish had been washed, dried and put away. Wesley had wanted them to use his dishwasher, but his mother had insisted on hand washing them, giving the two women an opportunity to spend some quality time together.

  “What are you two talking about in here?” Wesley asked, moving into the room. He kissed his mother’s cheek and then Kamaya’s.

  “We were comparing notes on our favorite guy!” Kamaya said. She winked at his mother.

  Annie laughed. “I didn’t know Kamaya knew your daddy that well!” she said teasingly.


  “Ha, ha, ha!” Wesley said. “My favorite women both have jokes.”

  The trio laughed, continuing to banter back and forth. Wesley’s father soon joined them.

  “I was just about to send out the troops to look for you all. What’s going on in here?” Leon asked.

  His wife slid herself against his side, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Just spending some time with our future daughter-in-law,” she said, as she gave him a squeeze. She winked at her son.

  Kamaya and Wesley exchanged a quick look. The moment was awkward and they both tittered, a nervous chuckle that soon had all four of them laughing heartily.

  “I really need to head home,” Kamaya said.

  “Don’t rush off,” Wesley said, as he rested a large hand against her waist. His eyes danced with hers, his look practically pleading.

  “I have a big day tomorrow,” she said as she reached up on her toes to kiss his lips. She moved to where his parents were standing. She hugged Annie first and then Leon. “It really was a pleasure to finally meet you both. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”

  “We look forward to it, young lady,” Leon said. “And make sure you tell that father of yours that I can’t wait for him and your mama to come to Alabama so I can take him fishing!”

  “I’ll be sure to tell him,” Kamaya responded. She gave them both a slight wave of her hand and turned toward the door.

  “Let me walk you to your car,” Wesley said. He reached for her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. The two exited the room, his parents grinning brightly behind them.

  “I really like your mom and dad,” Kamaya said, as they strolled down his driveway toward where her car was parked.

  “They like you, too, and that’s a good thing. I couldn’t be with any woman my mother didn’t like.”

  She smiled. “You are such a mama’s boy!”

  “That’s why you love me.”

  There was a brief pause, and something Wesley didn’t recognize crossed her face. She suddenly locked eyes with him, tears misting her gaze. “I really do love you,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. “You know that, right? I love you more than anything else in this world.”

  Wesley wrapped his arms around Kamaya and pulled her body close to his. He hugged her tightly and then he leaned to press his lips to hers.

  The kiss was sweet and tender, the moment solidifying everything that was good between them. They kissed for what felt like an eternity, neither wanting to let the other go. When Kamaya finally pulled away, stepping out of his arms, it felt as if they were both losing a small piece of themselves.

  “I’ll call you when I get home,” she whispered softly.

  Wesley nodded. “Baby, you really don’t have to leave. My parents will understand.”

  “Your mother likes me and I’d like to keep it that way,” she said, as she gave him one last peck on the mouth. “I’ll call.”

  He chuckled warmly. “They head home tomorrow. Tomorrow night I’m not letting you leave.”

  Kamaya grinned. “Tomorrow night you won’t have to.”

  * * *

  The next morning Kamaya dragged herself to the office, the few hours of sleep she’d had fueling her steps. She and Wesley had talked on the phone until the early dawn, planning their future. Dreams fueled what they hoped for themselves and wished for each other. She imagined he was as exhausted as she was.

  Virginia met her at the door with a large cup of coffee and a stack of manila folders. “Morning, boss lady!”

  “Good morning! Did you get my text message?”

  The woman nodded. “Yes, ma’am! I called your sister and everything is being handled.”

  Kamaya gave her two thumbs-up before reaching for the coffee mug and the paperwork. “Have you seen...” she started.

  “Paxton is in your office waiting for you,” Virginia said, her voice dropping to a loud whisper.

  Kamaya’s gaze narrowed ever so slightly. “What’s wrong? What am I missing?”

  Virginia shook her head. “He’s not alone,” she said. “His fiancée is with him.”

  Kamaya’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Well,” she said. “Isn’t that special?”

  Virginia gave her a slight smile and then they both laughed.

  Taking a deep breath Kamaya paused at the door to her office. She counted to ten and then let herself inside.

  * * *

  Paxton jumped from his seat, anxiety washing over his expression as he came to his feet. Laney McDonald sat behind Kamaya’s desk, casually flipping through the papers that rested on top of the wood surface. Kamaya shot a look toward them both before she spoke.

  “Good morning,” she said. “To what do I owe the honor?” She moved to where Laney was still sitting like a log in her chair.

  “Good morning,” Paxton muttered. “Laney, that’s Kamaya’s chair,” he said casually.

  The woman giggled. “Kamaya, hello! I apologize! I hope I’m not in the way.”

  Kamaya forced her mouth into a polite smile. “There’s a chair beside Paxton,” she said. “Get out of my seat. Please.”

  Laney giggled again, rising slowly. She eased her way to the other side of the desk and sat down on the arm of Paxton’s chair. Kamaya shifted her eyes toward him, her expression giving him fair warning.

  Paxton tapped his palm against the chair beside him. “Sweetheart, sit. Make yourself comfortable,” he said.

  Laney rolled her eyes skyward as she slid into the other chair and crossed her legs.

  Kamaya took a seat in her chair, clasping her hands together in front of her. “So, what’s up?”

  Paxton swallowed. Hard. He looked like he was about to choke on the words he was carefully choosing. Laney reached a manicured hand out and trailed her lengthy fingernails down his thigh. She gave him a bright smile, porcelain veneers gleaming brightly.

  It was enough to make Kamaya vomit. “I really have a tight schedule today, Paxton, so spit it out,” she said.

  He nodded. “I mentioned it briefly the other day. Laney and I are going into business together. We don’t think it’ll be in our best interest for me to continue here. I think this is a good time for you to buy me out.”

  There was a moment of pause and then Laney threw her two cents into the conversation. “We’re so excited. We’re opening a chain of nightclubs with male entertainment. It’s all the rage now, you know!”

  Kamaya smiled. “Is it? My, my, my!” she said facetiously.

  “Paxton has done so much to build your business,” Laney continued. “It’s time he invested that time and energy into building something for himself. I’m sure you understand.”

  Kamaya shifted her eyes toward Paxton who looked like he wanted to find a large hole to crawl into. For a brief second she actually felt sorry for him, and then she didn’t.

  “You’ll be missed, Paxton. But I understand and I wish you only the very best.

  “Really?” A hint of surprise rang in his tone.

  “Yes! We’ve had a great ride together. When I started this and you agreed to come on board you were invaluable to me. I’ve appreciated everything you’ve done for me and you know I have much love for you. But if you feel it’s time for you to move on, then all I can do is wish you well and keep you in my prayers.”

  He gave her a smile, looking as if there were more he wanted to say, but Laney spoke for him.

  “So there won’t be any problems with you buying out his interests? You won’t hold up his cash? Because we’ll need it to get our company off the ground.”

  Kamaya gave the woman a look before she answered. “No, none at all. In fact, I was prepared for this. The attorneys are waiting to go over the paperwork with you. Our original agreement gave you thirty percent interest in the company, and over
the years you’ve borrowed very heavily against that. If I’m not mistaken, the final tally has you actually owing The Michelle Initiative, but they have all those figures, as well. And I have no problems working out a payment plan for what you owe.”

  “Thirty percent! Paxton, I thought you owned half this company?” Laney’s smug expression twisted harshly.

  “Laney, please,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “So, we won’t be getting any cash?” she persisted.

  Paxton squeezed his eyes shut, fighting to not blow a gasket.

  Kamaya stood up. “Good luck with your future plans,” she said, as she pointed them both toward the door.

  “Kamaya, I...” he started, suddenly looking like he’d just lost his best friend.

  “Let’s go, Paxton. We need to talk to that attorney!” Laney snapped.

  “Go, Paxton,” Kamaya said. As he turned, she called out his name.

  “Yes?”

  “You really should explain the noncompete clause in your contract to Laney. I’d hate for her to be disappointed.”

  Laney looked from her to him and back. “What is she talking about?”

  He blew a heavy sigh. Looking at the frustration painted all over Paxton’s face, Kamaya answered for him.

  “It means that Paxton won’t be opening any night clubs with male entertainment that cater to a female clientele. At least, not in the next fifty years.”

  “And what if he does?” Laney snapped.

  “Then I will shut you down and keep him tied up in litigation for as long as it takes.”

  “You wouldn’t!” Laney said, her tone snarky.

  Kamaya laughed. “Girl, bye! You better ask your boyfriend about me.”

  As Laney stomped out the door, Paxton paused, turning to meet her stare. His eyes were glazed as he fought back a flood of tears.

  “I’m really sorry, Kamaya,” he said softly.

  Kamaya nodded. “So am I, Paxton. But I really do wish you the very best. Please make sure you leave your keys with Virginia.”

  Laney screamed from the outer offices. “Paxton! Let’s go!”