“You already knew that.”
“Yes, but to be here, to meet them. I just hope that I’m not . . .”
“Shh. Don’t even go there. Yes, there are those in my family who are highly successful. But we don’t judge people based on awards and degrees. We’re more interested in a person’s character, their integrity, their family values.” He reached over and pulled her into his arms, gave her one kiss, and then another. “So you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Jessica nodded, and entwined her arm in his as they walked toward French doors that led to a solarium. She knew that Nathan meant what he said when he told her not to worry. He’d meant to be soothing. Little did he know it was exactly his upstanding views on character, integrity, and family values that worried her most of all.
CHAPTER 2
“What do you think?”
Dinner was over. Various family members had broken off into smaller groups. Nathan and Sherri were in the kitchen, sitting at the island, eating second slices of sweet potato pie that neither needed but couldn’t refuse.
“She’s cute, I’ll give you that.” Sherri took a sip of cold milk. “But she’s so quiet, Nate, and”—she paused, searching for the right word—“reserved. Not the type of woman you usually date.”
“She is different from anyone I’ve dated in the past. That’s part of what attracted me to her.”
“How did you guys meet?”
“I told you, remember? At the sports bar in Buckhead where I like to hang out.”
“Was she a friend of a friend, someone’s sister . . . ?”
“No. She was at the bar, alone. We’d noticed each other throughout the evening and at one particular point, when my friends and I were in a heated debate, she walked up and said, ‘I don’t know what you guys are arguing about, but you win,’ looking at me.”
Sherri gave her brother the side eye. “Really? You win? That was the line that did it?”
“It wasn’t so much what she said as the way she said it: sincere and straightforward, with the merest twinkle in her eye.”
Sherri finished her pie, pushed back the plate. “And then she whipped out the card containing her phone number.”
Nathan shook his head. “And then she walked back to her bar stool and pulled out her phone.”
“And waited for the bait to take hold.”
“Not at all. In fact, if one of the guys hadn’t observed her leaving, I would have missed my chance. She was almost out the door when I caught up to her. I liked her style. Considering the types of bold and aggressive women out there and the lame, tired, and insulting ways I’ve been approached, her compliment delivered with no ulterior motive was refreshing.” Nathan finished his pie as well. “See, you’ve been out of the game too long to know what it’s like out here right now. Married for fifteen years and with Randall for what, three or four years before that? Hell, I think the Cabbage Patch doll was all the rage the last time you had to flirt with someone not your husband. That or the Model T.” He dodged Sherri’s punch. “I’ll admit that men in Atlanta have women coming at us every way and every day; beautiful, successful, educated. It’s easy to get jaded, to tell you the truth. Which is probably why I find Jessica so intriguing. She’s never tried to impress me by being anything other than herself.”
“Where’d she go to school?”
“She didn’t.”
“No degree?” Nathan shook his head. “Wow. That’s different, too.”
“If you’ll remember, your dual-degreed brother was temporarily unemployed not so long ago.”
“Only because your company downsized and could no longer afford you. And only because you could afford to be selective in choosing your next job, which if I remember correctly is netting you a cool six figures.” She looked around, lowered her voice. “Does she know this? That you own your own home, and how much you’re making?”
“Sherri . . .”
“I know your nose is wide open and all, but you haven’t known her long. I’m just throwing up the caution sign. That’s what big sisters do.”
“I know a gold digger when I see one and trust me, I’ve seen plenty.”
“You’re a good judge of character, baby bro, and normally I wouldn’t be concerned. But given what happened to me and Randall last year . . .”
“You have every right to be skeptical, and I have every intention of listening to your advice. I’ll be careful. But it’s been a long time since I’ve felt about someone the way I feel about Jessica. That’s why I wanted her to meet the people most important to me.”
Sherri stood and hugged her brother. “I want nothing more than to see you happy, Nathan. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that this one works out and that Jessica will be everything you desire . . . and more.”
On the other side of the tastefully appointed home and one level up, a conversation similar to what Nathan and Sherri were having was happening with Jessica and Sherri’s best friend.
“Nathan is like a brother to me,” Renee said as the two ladies watched the dancing flames in the sitting room’s fireplace. “He’s one of the good ones. So if you mess with him, then you’re going to have to deal with more than his family.” Her tone was light, she chuckled even, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she was as serious as a brain tumor.
Jessica’s response was guarded. “I see.”
Renee’s eyes narrowed a bit as she eyed the attractive woman with flawless sun-kissed skin, luscious lips, mesmerizing eyes, and hourglass figure. It was easy to see why Nathan would have been tempted by the package. However, considering the type of women he usually dated—vivacious, outgoing, and supremely confident—Renee couldn’t understand why he’d fallen so hard for the contents inside this pretty wrapping. Wanting to find out, she tried to lighten the mood.
“How did the two of you meet?”
“At a sports bar.”
“You’re into sports? I am too, mainly because of the fine men who play them.” This time her light laughter elicited a brief smile.
“Honestly, I barely know a layup from a field goal. But I like the establishment’s ambiance. Plus, they make the best martinis in town.”
“I love a good drink. I’ll have to make sure and go there the next time I’m in Atlanta. You do live in Atlanta, correct?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
Jessica took a sip of the spiced tea that the two ladies were drinking, except that Renee’s had been enhanced with a liberal shot of brandy. “Renee, it’s understandable that you’re curious about me. But I’m an extremely private person and your interrogation is making me uncomfortable.”
Renee reared back, incredulous. “Interrogation? Girl, that’s a strong word for simple chitchat.”
“Don’t take it personally.” Jessica stood. “It’s not you. It’s me. Nice meeting you, but it’s been a long day. I’m going to find Nathan.”
With that, Jessica turned and left the room. Renee watched her exit, her mind whirling with questions from front to back. For this Chi-Town to Sin City transplant, life was pretty much an open book. There was very little about her that friends didn’t know. On one hand, Jessica had every right to not answer Renee’s questions. But on the other, the woman’s response left her feeling uncomfortable and just a tad pissed. Yes, she was very attractive. Yes, she seemed nice enough. But there was something about her that made Renee’s brow crease. She slowly sipped her brandy-spiced tea and tried to figure out why.
She was still pondering the conversation when a short time later Sherri walked in. “Hey, Sis. What’s got your face all scrunched up?”
“An interesting conversation I just had with Nate’s friend.” She put emphasis on the last word. “Are they gone?”
Sherri rushed over and took a seat beside Renee. “Girl, yes. And I couldn’t wait to get your take.What happened?”
Renee told her. “I am direct and straightforward, as you know. But it wasn’t like I asked for the girl’s birth
date and social security number, just making conversation. It was odd that she was so guarded.”
“I thought it was me. Throughout the day—while setting up the dessert table, when I found her and Nathan alone in the solarium, after the guys had come back from playing ball—I went out of my way to engage her. She was nice enough, and seems genuinely taken with my baby bro. But . . .”
“Who wouldn’t be?” Renee fluttered her lashes.
“Stop it! You’ve never been interested in Nate!”
“Before, he seemed too young and immature, but brother man is growing up nicely. He’s what, seven or eight years younger than me?” Sherri nodded. “Hmm . . .”
“You know good and darn well you’re not going to step to my younger brother.”
“Never say never.”
“I think you’re serious.” Renee raised a brow. “Well, good luck in getting past Jessica. All day that girl stuck to him like wet on water.” They were both silent a moment. A log broke, causing the fire to pop and flare as the wood rearranged itself in the large hearth. “Do you think I’m overly paranoid because of all the drama that happened to my family last year?”
“Probably,” Renee said with a sigh, an involuntary shudder accompanying the memories of that unspeakable event. “None of us will ever look at strangers quite the same way again. But that doesn’t mean we’re not picking up on something, either.”
“That’s true. But you know what? Nathan is intelligent. And he’s grown. So I’m going to trust his instincts and give Jessica the benefit of the doubt until or unless she does something that causes me to think otherwise.”
“I don’t know. A man’s thinking isn’t always straight when he’s using the other head. And trust me, one look at that girl’s cute bubble booty and you already know. His other head is getting a workout.”
“Nay, really? I needed that information? It’s my brother we’re talking about!”
Renee answered, nonplussed. “Like you said, we’re all grown and we both know what grown men do with asses like that.”
The women continued talking well into the night, their conversation going from Nathan to Renee’s latest boo possibility, to Sherri’s new part-time teaching job, to Randall’s upcoming trips. In the back of both of their minds, however, was the topic that had begun this latest chat. The guarded, private Jessica . . . and what was up with that.
CHAPTER 3
She’d failed the test. The signs weren’t glaring like they’d be on a school paper, when one expected a gold star and instead received red marks and a minus sign. They were subtle, like the way Sherri gave her brother a big bear hug and Jessica’s arm a little squeeze. Or how Sherri’s friend Renee offered a skeptical smile when Jessica said it had been good to meet her. Nathan’s mother, Miss Elaine, was definitely the kindest of the bunch and probably the nicest as well. The men, especially Nathan’s brother-in-law, Randall, had been cordial but kept their distance. The other wives and girlfriends were friendly enough. Not that she cared about them. The ones she wanted to win over were Miss Elaine and Sherri. In this instance, one out of two wasn’t good enough. Especially given what was at stake, and what she’d promised.
If only I hadn’t . . .
Jessica jumped from the couch and walked to the window of her second-floor condo near Five Points. Of all the things she’d been thinking about since the weekend she’d spent with Nathan—first with his family in Virginia and then with his DC friends—what could, should, and would have been wasn’t part of the process then and wouldn’t be now.
It was Sunday evening. Nathan had dropped her off less than an hour ago. It felt much longer. Being practically inseparable from him for four straight days had provided some of the happiest moments of her life, especially when they partied in DC. After all of the holiday hoopla, her home was too quiet, and she too alone.
She turned on the radio. One of Nathan’s all-time favorites was playing, or so he’d told her the first time they’d heard it together. Jessica walked back to the couch, plopped down and grabbed a pillow as her mind drifted back to the night she’d spotted him across the room.
There ought to be a law.
That’s what Jessica thought as she looked across the crowded restaurant and beheld a table filled with caramel and chocolate testosterone. She lazily sipped a pomegranate martini, swinging a stiletto-clad foot as she watched them laughing, scoping, sipping, too. They were all handsome, but one stood out, and for more reasons than the fact that he was the one she wanted: tall, at least six feet—which, although she was only five-foot-three, she preferred—nattily dressed, expressive eyes and easy smile. The group of four men was in a lively discussion. The one she watched spoke little, but when he did, the others listened attentively.
A couple times their eyes had met. After hearing snatches of conversation as she passed their table on her way to and from the bathroom, she stopped and boldly made her move. At her declaration that he’d won the argument, Nathan nodded with a casual smile. One of the guys blatantly flirted. But she walked away from the table as quickly as she’d come, returned to her seat, and became engrossed in something online. She’d finished her drink and believed a rendezvous with the handsome stranger a lost cause until she’d reached the door, felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to find that same sexy, self-assured smile from across the room now on display in front of her.
They’d gone to dinner the next night, and dancing the night after that. The following weekend they’d enjoyed a neo-soul concert and the weekend after that they’d enjoyed each other. Nathan was a skillful, thoughtful lover, which she’d expected. What she hadn’t expected was to develop real feelings for him. Nor had she expected such feelings to be reciprocated.
No, that hadn’t been a part of the plan at all.
Her ringing cell phone brought Jessica out of her musings. Seeing the name on the caller ID only further muddled her mood. “Hey.”
“Hey. What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” A sigh and then, “just thinking and wondering what all this is about. And why you can’t explain.”
“My limited communication has to be frustrating. I know it’s a lot to ask but please, just trust me. Okay? How was Thanksgiving?”
“He has a nice family.” This elicited a snort and a curse word from the other end. “I knew you’d react that way, but it’s true. His mother was very nice to me, his sister, too.”
“Sounds like you’ve made quite the impression. His taking you around the family is a sure sign that he’s falling for you, that he trusts you. His absolute trust is very important.”
“That’s just it, Sissy. His trusting, caring nature makes your intense dislike for him uncomfortable to hear. That and the fact that I’m falling in love with him.”
“That’s real peachy, but love has nothing to do with why you’re with him. Then again”—a humorless laugh spilled from the phone’s speaker—“I guess it does.”
“Being with him over the holidays showed me that what I’ve never had but always wanted is possible, a close-knit, happy family. I used to talk about it. Remember?”
“Yes, in those letters we traded before I got caught. You always were the dreamer, the believer in fairy tales. But as your ex clearly showed you, life is not a storybook that ends with happily ever after, and blood is thicker than water. The man you now think is Mr. Wonderful is part of the reason I’m here. Remember that.”
Tension crackled like wood in a fireplace, heated by seconds of angry silence.
Jessica sighed. “I still don’t know what you want.”
“What I’ve always wanted: for us to be together and for you to be okay. That’s what all of this is about.”
Jessica smiled. In these infrequent, tender moments with her sister she felt protected and loved.
“I’ve got to go, but I’m sending you a letter. Read it for fun, like how we communicated when we were in different foster homes. Understand?”
“Yes. I got it.”
“Go
od. This is a huge favor, Jessie, and you’re the only one I can ask for help. Trust me when I tell you it’s the only way I can get out of here so that we can be a true family again.”
“I want that more than anything but . . .”
“But what?”
“Not knowing what you need is making me nervous.”
“It will soon be made very clear.When it does please, please don’t change your mind.”
“You’re the only family I have left in the world. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
CHAPTER 4
“Nate Carver.” His voice was all business as he eyed the unknown caller ID on his dashboard.
“Nathan, it’s Renee.”
“What’s up, Renee? This is a surprise.”
“Yeah, I was hoping you’d pick up. Sherri gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. What’s going on?”
“Thought I’d call and check on you. All the snow and ice . . . for Atlanta that’s crazy!”
“It was pretty bad earlier in the week. The streets are fine now.”
“That’s good. I wish I could bottle this eighty degree weather and send it to you.”
“We could use it right about now. What else is happening in Sin City?”
“Not much; just sitting home bored on a Friday night.”
“A pretty lady like you? That doesn’t sound right.”
“Brothers don’t know what they’re missing.”
“They need to recognize.”
She laughed. “I tried to get your attention at Sherri’s house. But you were preoccupied.”
Nathan switched the call from his car to his earbud, parked in front of a wine shop, and went inside. He entered the aisle stocked with a variety of cabernet sauvignons and eyed the labels.
“I’ve been known to leave men speechless but . . .”
“Sorry about that. I just walked into a store for a bottle of wine.”
“Romantic night planned with your girl, Jessica?”
The Perfect Deception Page 2
