“Is it locked?”
I yanked on the door, and shouted, “No, I think it’s stuck.”
Christina frowned. “Why are you talking so loud?”
“Because I love the way my voice echoes off the walls!” I replied and started laughing.
She gave me this look like I was crazy and then started giggling. “You are retarded.”
“Yeah, I know. I think the lock is just sticking.”
“Here, let me try,” she said.
I stepped aside and Christina turned the key, then pushed open the double doors. “There’s nothing wrong with this lock.”
Shrugging, I replied, “I guess it didn’t work for me.” With a sweep of my hand I gestured for Christina to go inside first. She took a few steps and stopped.
“How come the light didn’t automatically come on?” she asked.
“Hold up, I think Pearson said they’re over here.” I rubbed my hand along the wall near the door then hit the switch. And as soon as the room flooded with light…
“SURPRISE!” was shouted across the room and then there was collective laughter.
Grinning, I looked over at Christina’s stunned face.
“What the…”
The large room was packed with friends, family and even some of our most loyal customers who had all come out to celebrate Christina Holloway’s big day.
“What’s going on?” she mumbled, but there was a smile on her face she couldn’t have hidden even if she wanted to.
“Just wait and see.” I playfully wrapped my arms around Christina and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.
“You know I don’t like surprises,” she mentioned.
“Since when?” I retorted and then released her just as a tall, gorgeous man walked toward her, moving with so much swag and cockiness he had every woman in the warehouse’s attention. Dereon Sanders had this style about him that was hard to resist. Mahogany skin, bald head, beautiful golden eyes, and a pencil thin mustache darkening his top lip…, he was a work of art. He was also in love with my best friend.
Lucky heifer.
He stopped directly in front of Christina and took her hand. When he smiled, deep dimples became prominent on both sides of his dark-chocolate face.
“Baby, what’s going on?” she asked, looking from him to me and then back to her boyfriend. “Why are all these people here?”
“Boo, I invited all our friends and family here today because I wanted them present for one of the most important moments of our lives.”
Her eyes widened as he continued.
“Sweetheart, a few months ago you came strutting into my life.” He paused for the crowd’s laughter because everyone knew her well. “Since then my life hasn’t been the same. But one thing I do know is I never want to know what life is like without you in it. Christina, you are the air I breathe,” he continued in a low voice. “… my last thought before I go to sleep and the first thought that brightens each and every morning. Well tonight I wanted to say in front of all our friends and family, I love you Christina Holloway.”
My eyes were growing misty while I watched her shake her head in disbelief and whisper, “I love you, too.” Dereon leaned in and kissed her passionately and I watched our guests grinning and elbowing one another.
Pulling away, Dereon looked down at Christina. “I have a question for you.”
She didn’t push, just waited, her eyes glowing with curiosity. He brought a hand up and slowly stroked the side of her face and anyone who wasn’t blind could see how much that man loved my best friend.
“Christina, I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. If you’ll have me, I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy, or die trying.”
“What?” She gasped then looked up, searching his face.
Stepping away from her, Dereon reached into the pocket of his jacket and took out a blue box. Trust me, Christina knew Tiffany’s when she saw it and with a choked gasp, she started waving her hands with excitement. “Oh my God!”
He dropped down on one knee. And when he popped the box open she was screaming and crying all at once. I don’t blame her. Dereon showed me the ring a few days ago and if a man bought me a diamond like that I would be screaming too. “Christina, marry me.”
Her lips parted. “I… well…”
“Marry me,” he repeated, gazing deep into her eyes.
“Yes… yes I’ll marry you!” she answered breathlessly.
The crowd started applauding. He took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger while Christina scrubbed at her face, wiped away the tears before they ruined her make-up.
Dereon rose and captured Christina’s mouth in a kiss that even had me gasping for air. The crowd cheered while the engaged couple hurried out the room for a private moment. I raised my hand in the air, signaling the deejay who started spinning tunes. Within seconds, their engagement party was in full force. I still wasn’t sure how I managed to pull this event off without Christina finding out, but I had.
Damn, I’m good.
I grinned proudly as my eyes circled the room, admiring the space. There were several raised platform stages with professional dancers inside cages. The deejay, who we had flown in from New York, used to be a regular on 106 & Park back when Free and AJ were the hosts. My gaze swept over all the small intimate tables covered with white linen. Christina was too bougie for the ghetto nightclub theme so I kept it upscale. There were bartenders set up in all four corners of the room and a buffet table with everything from caramelized baby carrots to prime rib.
I spoke to several guests. A couple of clients stopped and wanted to discuss business but I shut them down and asked them to call my office in the morning. After weeks of planning, I needed an evening off to finally breathe and relax. I waltzed through the packed room in a black mini-dress that showcased my long legs and boosted my C-cups, and made it to the bar.
“I’ll take a tequila and pineapple please.” I took a seat on a barstool.
“Coming right up for the lovely lady.”
While I waited, my eyes traveled over to the dance floor where guests were already grinding to the beat as the deejay served it up. I found myself swaying my hips and getting caught up in the vibe.
Videos were rolling and cameras were flashing. I had allowed limited access to the media, but there were enough in the house to give Christina the attention she demanded. I shook my head. She was truly a diva.
Christina and I owned Cater to You, the hottest catering company in St. Louis. I was a confectioner, which means I’m all about the sweets, while Christina’s responsible for putting together a fabulous menu of dishes for our guests. Last month we catered a party for Ludacris and his new wife that was so off the chain, our office phones had been ringing off the hook ever since. Our success had caught the attention of several A-list celebrities and with the growing demand we were planning to expand our business.
As soon as my drink arrived, I sauntered over to a large table that had been reserved for a select few. Christina and Dereon were standing there talking to her younger sister, Portia. She was married to a pediatrician who made you take your shoes off and leave them on the front porch when you visited their home. I hadn’t been back to the mini-mansion since.
“You did good.”
I took a moment to calm my nerves before I swung around. Not that it did any good. The moment I turned and spotted the man standing in front of me, my body started vibrating with wanting.
Maximilian James was coochie-clenching gorgeous. At six-four he had smooth nutty brown skin and eyes that were dark and seductive. And then there was his short-cropped curly hair and a perfectly trimmed goatee that surrounded a pair of the softest, juiciest lips I had ever seen. He was Dereon’s best friend.
“Thanks Max.” I was amazed at how calm my voice remained. And it wasn’t easy, considering the way he was staring down at me.
“How have you been?” He moved in closer so he wouldn’t have to s
hout over the music. Damn, that man smelled so good I was tempted to lean in and sniff.
“I’ve been great. Business is good.”
“I didn’t ask about business… I asked about you.”
Why did his voice always do crazy things to me? The last thing I wanted was to be attracted to him and yet I was. To be honest, Max was the cause of my sexual frustration.
“I’m doing great. Just bought a house.”
He nodded. “Dereon said he came out and inspected it for you.”
I beamed. Last month I had stumbled upon a foreclosure that was everything I had dreamed of but didn’t think I would have ever been able to afford on my own, but I had given up long ago on the dream of finding a husband and decided to pursue a future on my own. The house had been the first step. And I couldn’t be happier. It symbolized I didn’t need a man in order to get ahead in this world.
“Thanks. I finally moved in last week.”
“You should have called me. I gotta truck and the boys and I would have been more than happy to have moved you in.”
Goodness, just the thought of the five men construction crew running around with their shirts off at my house was more than I could have handled. It also would have meant being around Max. The further I stayed away from him, the better.
“Give me a call if you need some help hanging anything. I’m pretty good with my hands.”
I just bet you are. Instantly I thought about those large hands rubbing me in some of my most intimate places. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I lied. There was no way in hell I was giving him a call.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked.
I looked over at the dance floor at all of the sweaty bodies clinging together, imitating sexual acts. Yeah right. “I think I’ll pass. But thanks for asking.”
“Okay, then come and sit with me.”
Max was persistent. I’ll give it to him. At one point I had almost considered dating him.
“When’s your baby due?” I already knew the answer but I could see I needed to remind him why I wasn’t interested in him.
“The baby is due in six weeks. But what’s that got to do with us?”
Men like him just don’t get it. “It’s got everything to do with us. I don’t have time for baby mama drama.”
“There’s no drama with me.”
“That what you say but I met her, remember?” We had been standing outside a house he and the crew were renovating when Parker came screeching up in front of the house. She waddled around the car and made sure I saw she was having his baby. As loud and ghetto as she acted, I knew if I got involved with Max, it would be just a matter of time before she would be smashing out the windows of my Range Rover. Nope. Don’t have time for that bullshit.
“Listen, like I told you before I don’t know if that’s my child or not but until I do, I need to stand by her. But we’re not together.”
Maybe, maybe not, but the second the baby was born and he found out it was his he might have a change of heart. And then where would I be? Standing on the outside watching the happy family. Fuck that.
“Nah, the only babies I want my man to have are mine. But you hold that thought and holla at me after you get the paternity test results.”
I didn’t waste another moment standing there talking to him. Max was just too damn fine and a woman could only resist so much when it came to him. I was attracted to him. There was no doubt about that and I spent countless nights imagining him fucking me. But I wasn’t interested in the real deal because I knew for a fact once with Max would not be enough.
I walked over to the buffet to make sure there was still plenty of food. Since there was no way I could have prepared a spread this size without Christina knowing, I had catered the event with another company we often subcontracted. They provided the foods while my staff and I prepared most of the sweets using their kitchen.
I made a plate, then went over to the table and took a seat. Dereon and Christina were on the dance floor locked in each other’s arms. I was happy for them. Really I was. Christina had been dying for a husband and now she was about to get her wish. The St. Louis police detective was more man than any of those bozos she used to date. You know the saying, opposites attract? She came from money with a socialite as a mother and a millionaire father who had just recently come back into her life. Dereon kept Christina grounded and that was what she needed.
I sat with a few friends. Chatted nonstop then excused myself to the restroom. I followed the arrows away from the loud music. I was turning the corner when I heard a familiar voice.
“Have that pussy ready for me.”
What the hell? I froze in my tracks. My mouth hung open and I then realized he was on the phone.
“I’ll be there just as soon as I can. Just unlock the door.” There was another pause and I eased my ear closer to the door and held my breath, wishing I could hear the response on the other end of the phone. “What color panties you got on?” Was he for real? “Take them off. I want you butt naked and spread eagle when I get there.” He chuckled and I just stood there, listening and shook my head. Who is that? I wondered and I wasn’t leaving until I had a chance to see who it was.
“Claudia, we have a problem in the kitchen.”
“What’s the problem?” I didn’t mean to snap at Montel, but I was trying to find out who was on the other side of the door.
The culinary arts major continued. “Ummm…one of the servers is drunk.”
“What?” I barked. It’s amazing how quick I forgot all about being nosy and followed him toward the kitchen in back. To pull off an event this size, I had reached out to Culinary Resources, a staffing service for temporary personnel in the food and hospitality industry. Every now and again they sent me a problem child. But once I rounded the corner and spotted a young Meagan Good lookalike talking loud and staggering around the room, I cussed under my breath. My mistake. That chick was someone I had hired, doing a friend a favor.
I marched right up to her. “Shalisa, have you been drinking?”
She gave me a look as if I was bothering her. “Just a little. Why you trippin’?”
No she didn’t. “I’m tripping because you’re here to work.”
She rolled her big bubble eyes at me. “I am working. Damn, we’ve been working all day.”
“And that’s what you’re getting paid to do.”
“I…” she began and then she dashed over to the trashcan and started puking her guts.
“Freda, please get her home.”
“I’m sorry,” Shalisa said between moans.
“Gary, please take out that trash. Nina and Rachel, let’s get that area sanitized.”
After that little fiasco, I was the one who needed a drink. I made my way to the ladies room. My mystery caller was long gone. I was pissed because I really wanted to know who he was.
I went back to the party, had a few glasses and made my rounds, networking and doing what I do best. I was talking to a previous client when I spotted Max over near the buffet talking to one of Dereon’s cousin. That hoochie was smiling and throwing her big boobs in his face. I tried to act like I could care less what he did, but I knew I was lying. The sight of them laughing and having a good time churned my stomach. It was messing up my head. I don’t remember when I have ever met a man I had wanted so bad and yet knew it was better just to leave him alone.
I was laughing with Christina’s favorite cousin, Tamara, when I caught them on the dance floor bumping and grinding. Max was running his hands all across that female’s ass and she looked like she had just come on herself.
“Goodness Max is fine! If I wasn’t already married I would be all over him,” I heard Tamara hiss. “Christy said he’s single. How come you’re not all over that?”
I gave a rude snort and tried to act as calm as I could. “Because he’s got enough women on his plate as it is and I don’t believe in being second to nobody.”
“I know that’s right.” She gave me a high five.<
br />
“How that baby girl doing?” I asked.
“Getting so big.” She was beaming with pride, the way all new mothers do. I was happy for her.
“Have you allowed Christy to keep Summer yet?”
“Hell no. She doesn’t know the first thing about babies.” We laughed before Tamara’s husband came over and dragged her out onto the dance floor. When I stole another look at Max, that chick had her head resting against his chest, her eyes closed, and lips parted. Oh my. She was already caught up under his spell.
I know the feeling. I almost made the same mistake.
By the time the two of them got off the dance floor I was rolling my eyes. Then I caught Max coming my way.
“Hey beautiful.”
I shook my head. “Bumping and grinding… that’s how you got yourself in the predicament you’re in now,” I accused and pointed my finger at him.
He simply chuckled and yet that sound vibrated through my body.
“Dance with me, CC.”
“I already told you— Whoa, wait a minute… CC? How did you know my name was Claudia Ciara Winters?” I asked suspiciously.
“I have my ways.”
“Nobody calls me CC but my family.”
“I want to be your family.” His voice was a little rough, lacking in the usual flirtation, but it was still enough to make my body heat. Oh, he was smooth, I’ll give him that. “Now stand up.” He took my hand. “I like this song. Let’s dance.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.” He clasped my hand and yanked softly, but I drew back with my feet firmly grounded.
“What are you afraid of?” He held out his other hand. “I want to dance with you. To be honest, I’d use any excuse to hold you in my arms.” With a wry smile he added, “Come on, CC. What do you say?”
Damn, he looked too yummy standing in front of me “Fine.” I blew out a long breath then took his hand. “You’d better not step on my foot.”
Beg For It Page 13
