by Stacy-Deanne
“In public, we do what we have to, to make it look real. But in private, you leave me alone. No sex and we sure as hell won’t share a bed.”
“I’m running the show.” He stroked his chin. “Why should I agree to this?”
“There has to be dignity left in you.” She flattened her hand over her bosom. “Let me keep mine. You’ll get my money and my soul. Isn’t that enough?”
“Fine. I’ll keep my distance.” He leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head. “But, hold on to your seat, Princess. This is gonna be one wild ride.”
CHAPTER TEN
July (Three Months Later)
“My god.” Max eased his fork into the velvety slice of strawberry cheesecake, rolling his eyes back into his head as if he’d had an orgasm. “This is heaven.”
Osana faked a smile while chewing the tangy, sugary treat. She sat next to Max across from Wanda and Georgia at the pool of the Spears estate.
Georgia sipped sparkling water from her glass. “I’m glad you like the cheesecake, Max.” She passed another suspicious glance at Osana. “It’s my special recipe. I put orange juice in it.”
“You’ve outdone yourself.” He dabbed the corners of his mouth. “You’re rich, gorgeous and can cook? How could a man resist?”
Georgia chuckled, chewing cheesecake.
Osana hated to admit it but Max cleaned up well. The navy-blue Armani shirt made his brown eyes appear lighter than usual.
“So, Max,” Wanda said, batting her hazel eyes. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Osana fidgeted at her mother’s obvious lying.
“I told Osana I wanted to know more about you.” Wanda switched her gaze to her daughter. “You guys have been hot and heavy for the last three months yet I hear everything from the grapevine.”
“Isn’t that where you usually get your news, Momma?” Osana sipped her pineapple drink, which didn’t clash with the taste of cheesecake.
“You don’t like people in your business, especially me.” Wanda sat erect in her pink and white summer dress, appearing decades younger than fifty-eight. “But, seeing someone for so long means this is getting serious. Am I wrong?” The gold highlights sparkled through her auburn locks.
“You’re not wrong, Mrs. Spears.” Max locked his arm on the back of Osana’s chair, the top of his hair blowing in the breeze. “I apologize if we’ve been aloof. Our romance caught us off guard.” He kissed Osana’s nose. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
“Right.” She moved cheesecake around in her mouth. “Anyway what’s the big deal? I’m grown aren’t I?”
“But, why does it seem like you guys purposely don’t come around?” Georgia’s slanted eyes got even smaller. “It’s like you’re hiding something.”
“Stay in your lane,” Osana warned.
“Whoa.” Max laughed. “Sweetheart.” He kissed her hand. “No need to be rude to your sister.”
She dropped the fork. “She’s not my sis—”
“Chill.” Max scooted his chair closer. “I’m trying to get Osana to work on her temper.”
Georgia grumbled, the yellow summer dress bringing out the glow of her smooth, almond-brown skin. “Good luck with that.”
“I told Osana we all should get together more,” Max said. “Georgia, your story is like a fairytale.” He grinned. “I was blown away when Osana told me about you. To find out you’re Anthony’s daughter, and you had no idea all those years?” He licked strawberry sauce from his fork. “And you end up with half of this place and the bulk of his estate.” He sucked the fork, gawking at Georgia’s cleavage. “All that…money.”
“Yeah, well the money isn’t the most important thing,” Georgia said. “All my life I wanted a father, and I ended up finding an entire family.” She took Wanda’s hand. “My mother’s dead and Wanda’s become a second mother to me.”
“Give me a break,” Osana muttered.
Georgia let Wanda’s hand go, peering at Osana. “Unfortunately, Osana still hasn’t made an effort to get along.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Osana wiped her mouth. “I don’t try to beat your ass when I see you anymore. That’s an effort, right?”
“Osana, cool it.” Max took her hand and laid it on his lap. “Save the tiger for when we’re in bed.” He cackled.
“Max.” She yanked her hand away.
Wanda and Georgia batted their eyes with stiff expressions.
“She’s so full of passion.” Max kissed her cheek. “I can’t get enough of your daughter, Mrs. Spears. That’s why I’m glad we could get together like this.” He dug in his pocket. “There’s something important I need to do.”
“What?” Osana grimaced.
“Hello, all.” Kel Youngblood walked through the fence that separated his place from the Spears’ home. “Sorry I’m late.” He dabbed his chest, showing off an irresistible tan. “You must be Max.” He took his shades off and held his hand out to him. “I’m Kel Youngblood.”
“Yes.” Max stood, taking his hand. “You’re Georgia’s boyfriend, right?”
“That’s right.” Sweat ran from Kel’s curly, brown hair. “Excuse my sweating, but I’ve been working in the greenhouse.”
“Yes.” Max sat, straightening his chair. “You’re the faithful gardener I hear.”
“You can say that.” Kel kissed Georgia’s cheek. “Is that the cheesecake that smells so good or you?”
Georgia grinned; her straight, raven-black hair blowing in the breeze. “Kel is obsessed with flowers.”
“I hear that,” Max said.
Kel sat beside Georgia.
“You’re turning red, sweetie.” Georgia pointed to his neck.
He rubbed the reddish spot. “Yeah, I forgot to put suntan lotion on. I figure I can be out here another hour before I turn to toast.”
Max laughed. “This California sun is something else.”
“Yes it is.” Kel smiled.
“You want some cheesecake, honey?” Georgia reached for the dessert.
“No, I’ll take a little piece of yours.” Cuddling Georgia, Kel took a bite from her cake.
“That’s so romantic.” Max scooped cheesecake on his fork and held it to Osana. “Sweet Potato Pie?”
“Sweet Potato Pie?” Kel chuckled.
“It’s my nickname for her.” Max waved the fork in front of her mouth. “Open the tunnel. The train’s coming through. Woo. Woo.”
The others laughed.
Osana grumbled as he slid the piece into her mouth.
“Good, huh?” He kissed her. “I just can’t get enough of this woman.”
“We see that,” Kel said. “Where you guys been hiding?”
“We haven’t been hiding,” Osana said. “You all could’ve come to my place or contacted me about Max.”
“We hoped you’d volunteer the information,” Georgia said. “For someone who’s so in love you sure aren’t acting like it.”
“Bite me, Georgia.”
“Osana,” Wanda said.
“I’m not in the mood for this today.”
“When are you ever in the mood to be around me or Georgia?” Wanda asked. “We’d be waiting forever for you to reach out. If Georgia hadn’t set this up we wouldn’t have seen you today.”
“And I didn’t do it to be nosey or to make you mad, Osana,” Georgia said. “I’m trying to make an effort in our relationship.”
“What relationship, girl?” Osana hit the table. “You got everything you could want now. I’m supposed to believe you want a relationship with me?”
“Anthony would want us to get along.”
“Child, please.” Osana sighed, rubbing her head. “Max, I’m ready to go.”
“Wow.” Georgia shook her head. “Hope you can get those temper tantrums out of her, Max.”
“Bye.” Osana threw her napkin on her plate and stood.
“Sit down, please.” Max took her hand.
“No, I’m ready to go.”
“Osana, sit.�
� He glared at her. “I got something to say.”
“And I said I’m tired.”
“Sit your ass down!” He pulled her into the seat.
Wanda and Georgia gasped.
He chuckled at them. “She’s so stubborn.”
“This better be damn good,” Osana said.
“I have an announcement to make so I’m glad we could all get together like this,” he said.
“An announcement?” Osana asked.
“I love Osana very much. Everything happened fast, I admit, but fast doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
“Max, what the…”
He tugged on Osana’s hand, silencing her. “I never had luck with love. There’ve been women.” He exhaled. “There’ve been lots and lots and lots and lots of women.”
Wanda and Georgia exchanged glances.
“But even through those moments of great, great, and great sex—”
“Max.” Osana scowled.
“I realized I was empty. Osana showed me what love is.” He touched her hair. “She showed me I was worthy of that fairytale romance we often dream of.”
Kel smirked as if he were holding in a laugh.
“Before Osana I didn’t know true love was possible.” He pulled a tiny, black box from his pocket.
“Oh my god.” Osana froze.
“This might not be appropriate to do here, but I love her and this is the most important day of my life. I want to share it with all of you.”
“Wait, a minute.” Wanda pointed to the ring box. “Is that a—”
“It’s a ring, ma’am.” Max nodded, turning to a shocked Osana. “Osana, I love you and you’re the only woman in the world for me. Since I first saw you I knew you were the one.”
What the hell?
She covered her mouth as the queasiness that always accompanied Max’s presence returned.
He can’t be doing this shit now.
“Osana.” Max opened the box and took out a ring with a large diamond surrounded by baby diamonds. “Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”
“Max—”
“Would you marry me?” He raised the ring, which shined brighter than the sun. “And spend the rest of your life in my arms?”
“Oh, hell no.” Wanda jumped from her seat. “Osana, get your ass up. We gotta talk.”
“What?”
“Get up, girl!” Wanda slapped the table. “Get up. Get your ass up right now. Uh-uh.”
“Is something wrong?” Max asked.
“You just stay right there,” Wanda ordered him. “Osana, get up!”
Wanda pulled Osana from her chair and flounced toward the house with Georgia in tow.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Get in here.” Wanda flung Osana into the living room and Georgia followed. “I’ll tell you what you’re gonna do, Osana. You’re gonna go out there and tell Max to go back to wherever the hell he came from.”
“Am I?” She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
“You damn well will.”
“Sorry, Momma.” Osana sat on the 7-piece recliner sectional. “I love Max.” She straightened her dress at the end. “And, I’m gonna accept his proposal.”
Wanda did a double take then touched her forehead. “Is this really happening or am I the one who’s crazy?”
Georgia sat on the off-beige loveseat. “You’re definitely not the crazy one in this room, Wanda.”
“Nor am I.” Osana lifted her head. “I know exactly what I’m saying and it’s my choice.”
“It’s not your choice,” Wanda shouted. “You’re not marrying this man, Osana. I forbid it.”
“I’m thirty-five years old, remember? You can rant and rave all you like, but you can’t change how I feel.”
“You think we’re stupid?” Wanda asked. “I’ve met Max three times and each time I disliked him more because Stevie Wonder could see what he’s up to.”
Osana poked out her lips. “What’s he up to, Old Wise One?”
“You know what I saw the first time I looked into Max’s eyes?” Wanda bucked hers with a crazed expression. “Tiny dollar signs, Osana.”
“I saw it too,” Georgia said. “All he talks about is money and he drools all over himself when he does it.”
“I guess you’d know,” Osana said. “That’s exactly how you looked when you first got here.”
“Girl, I’m trying to look out for you.”
“I don’t need you to look out for me, Georgia.” Osana stood. “I’ve been looking out for myself pretty well for the last thirty-five years.”
“Here we go with that again.” Wanda sighed.
“You don’t like Max and you don’t want me to marry him, fine.” Osana swung her hands. “But, I’m gonna do what’s right for me and what makes me happy.”
Wanda pointed toward the door. “That con artist makes you happy?”
“Osana, what is wrong with you?” Georgia gaped. “You’re usually the most suspicious person in the room but you honestly believe Max isn’t just after money?”
“You don’t know anything about us.” She passed the antique end table and stood by the window, looking into the serene yard. “Max is rough around the edges, but that’s what I like about him. He’s shown me a lot about myself.” She held her breath, fighting nausea. “We didn’t plan to fall in love but we connected over Kinard’s murder and it just happened. He was easy to talk to, and I enjoyed having him around.”
“Don’t give me this bullshit,” Wanda said. “What did he do, brainwash your ass? Because you sure aren’t acting like my daughter.”
Osana held the tan, designer curtains. “I’ve changed since being with Max.”
“I guess so.” Georgia huffed. “You have even less sense than you did before.”
“No way.” Wanda marched across the room. “You can say this until the cows come home, but there’s something going on here, Osana. If you’re so in love why you been hiding him? So we don’t ask too many questions?”
“I don’t care what either of you think.”
“Yes, you do.” Georgia put her hands on her waist. “We’re on your side whether you want us to be or not.”
“Honey, don’t do this.” Wanda hugged Osana. “He’s a creep, and he’ll drain you dry.”
“This is sad, Momma. You don’t think a man can love me for me?”
“Of course I do.” Wanda touched Osana’s cheeks. “You’re a smart, beautiful, and successful woman. That’s why I can’t believe you’d fall for someone like Max. He’s not good enough for you and he’s a swindler.”
“In other words you don’t trust me enough to make my own decisions?”
“God, it’s like talking to a brick.” Georgia massaged her temples. “Either you do really love him or you’re completely nuts.”
“Excuse me.” She passed them. “Max is waiting for my answer.”
Wanda lifted a finger. “Max has a record.”
Osana turned from the doorway. “You did a background check on him?”
“You’re damn right I did.”
“He’s been to jail a few times for petty crimes. Nothing serious.”
Wanda shook her head, gaping. “Since when do you date jailbirds?”
“Stop judging him because you don’t know a damn thing about him.”
“Do you?” Wanda chuckled. “He doesn’t have family, and it’s like his life up until this point is a mystery. Is that normal to you?”
“I know all I need to know, Momma. He’s changed and everyone deserves a second chance. You and Georgia aren’t saints either.”
“What about Shad?” Georgia wiggled her head as if she had gained an advantage over Osana.
“What about him?”
“He loves you,” Wanda whispered. “Don’t you love him?”
“Well, his ass isn’t here, is it?” Osana forced away the pain of missing him and how she longed being in his arms. “If he cared so much then why hasn’t he contacted me more than five times since he’s
been in Italy? How come he won’t give me a definite answer as to when he’s coming back?”
“Shad loves you, and you belong together.”
“Momma, you didn’t even want me with Shad.”
“That’s before I realized he really cares. I’d sure as hell rather you be with Shad then that cretin out there.”
“Does Shad know about Max?” Georgia asked.
“He’s met him.”
Wanda’s forehead puckered. “Does he know you’re together?”
“No.” Osana sashayed to the footstool. “It’s none of his business.”
“You didn’t tell him you’ve been seeing another guy?” Georgia shrieked. “Osana, how could you?”
“Enough of this!” She swung her hands. “I’ve made my mind up, and I’m marrying Max. If you don’t like it then, tough.”
“I’m not going to the wedding,” Wanda snapped. “I’ll tell you that right now.”
“Max is waiting.” Osana marched through the hall and outside to the pool area.
Max and Kel stopped chattering when she got to the table.
“Max,” she said.
He stood with the ring. “Darling. Is something wrong?”
She glanced toward the walkway as Wanda and Georgia came out.
“May I speak to you?” Osana asked.
Max squinted. “Is something wrong?”
“Maybe we should give you guys some time alone,” Kel said as he stood.
Georgia and Wanda followed him.
“What is it?” Max asked.
“I can’t do this.” Osana paced. “There’s no way I can pretend I love you when I can barely be in the same room with you and not throw up.”
“What the fuck are you trying to pull?”
“I can’t do this.” She tugged on his shirt.
“Your ass is gonna do it.” He held the ring in her face. “You’re gonna put this damn ring on and agree to marry me. I got everything worked out and I’m not about to let you spoil it.”
“My mother hates you. She’s not gonna let this go.”
“Wonder why she hates me? Because you ain’t playing your part.” He swung his hand at her. “Here I am always being lovey dovey and you sit there like a lump. Of course she’s gonna be suspicious.”
“She’s suspicious because she knows I’d never be caught dead with you.”
