Sonya couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I remember that.” Then there was a long silence before Sonya let out a deep sigh. “Well, I’ll see you later. I need to get some sleep.”
Carla nodded. “And you’re sure you’re all right?”
She could hear Sonya’s slight moan on the other end. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just got a hell of a hangover, but I’ll be fine when I see you later. I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
“All right.” After Carla hung up the phone she decided that when she saw Sonya they would have a long talk. The two of them were best friends, always had been and always would be, and she couldn’t understand Sonya’s insecurities about their friendship.
She sighed deeply. Yes, they needed to have a long talk.
Amber placed the last book in the shelf, then stood back and admired her handiwork. She had color coordinated the books in the section of her store she called the “Kid’s Corner” so they could be easily recognized. Thursdays were her light days and Eileen’s day off. Jennifer wouldn’t be in until noon to help with the lunch traffic. Last week Amber had hired a part-time worker, a male student from one of the local high schools, to work three days a week, mostly to unload and help put away stock. Already she found that Keith was a hard worker and the money he earned was helping to prepare him for college.
Amber looked up when she heard the bell that signaled that a customer had entered her shop. She arched her neck. From where she stood she could see the man but he couldn’t see her behind the planter and Humpty-Dumpty’s brick wall. His back was to her but then he slipped his hands into his pockets and slowly turned around as he studied his surroundings.
The woman in her immediately liked what she saw as her gaze slid over his face and body in one fluid sweep, and then another for good measure. His coloring was dark—a deep dark chocolate, her favorite. He was dressed casually, in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and a pair of high-priced Nikes were on his feet, but from the way her body was reacting, he could have been stark naked.
A slight frown tilted her lips. Boy, she had it bad. The last thing she needed was for sexual urges to consume her mind and lead her astray, no matter how good the brother looked. But still, she couldn’t help but continue to check him out, for the moment not able to control her body’s response to him.
The tight fit of his jeans, the way his sweatshirt hung loosely over those jeans, not to mention the way that sweatshirt fit those muscled arms and shoulders were enough to give any woman, especially one who hadn’t had sex in a long time, a reason to feel intense heat between her legs. He was a man whose bones you’d want to jump any day of the week, any time of the day. A man who could make you forget all those principles of emotion and spirit fulfillment that were discussed at the sistah-circle meetings, especially the one that said, “Everything you need to be happy is inside of you.”
At the moment, in her opinion, if the man standing across the room ever got inside of her she would be more than happy, she would be thrilled right out of her bones. Just the thought of those firm, molded thighs wrapped around her, holding her in place when he made love to her was enough to make her forget that she was a woman who didn’t need a man, a woman determined not to want one. But then, there was something about him that was so basic, yet at the same time so complementary. Everything about him made her think of sex, sex, and more sex.
And that wasn’t good.
Amber blew her bangs out of her eyes. The room suddenly felt unbearably hot. She had to take a minute to catch her breath and to regain control of her senses. Something, probably the sound of her heavy breathing, caught his attention and he glanced her way. Their gazes met, connected, and held. She felt her heart thump against her chest and then her pulse began acting weird. His deep, dark eyes were definitely doing things to her—more specifically, doing things to her body. There was no doubt about it. Her panties were completely drenched by now.
Damn, I am simply pathetic.
“I take it that you’re open.”
That’s not all I am, she was tempted to say. Instead she came from behind the huge planter and Humpty’s wall and smiled, mainly to hide her misery. “Yes, we’re open. Were you looking for anything in particular or did you come in to browse?”
He smiled and her body went bonkers again. “I came in for a little bit of both. I want to read something for pleasure. Do you have anything to suggest other than those?” he said of the huge display of romance novels that stood in the middle of the floor. “They’re big sellers I assume?”
Amber’s throat went dry and she swallowed hard as she closed the distance separating them. Only standing a few feet away, she could feel the warmth of his body and could smell the scent of his aftershave. It was a manly fragrance and she found herself inhaling deeply to let it consume her nostrils. When she realized just what she was doing, she forced herself to look at the display.“Well,yes,especially this time ofthe year, romance novels are big sellers.”
He raised a dark brow. A very dark and gorgeous brow. “Why’s that? I thought Valentine’s Day was when people got silly and fell in love.”
She raised her own brow. He sounded a bit cynical although there was a teasing smile at the corners of his lips. They were lips that looked pretty damn naughty, but oh so nice. “Actually, people who believe in true love can fall in love at any time. But the reason we have a special display is because other than the summer months, late fall is the hottest time for reading and a lot of women like to read to escape.”
“Into fantasy land?”
“If you want to call it that.”
“I do.”
“Then what should women call it when guys become absorbed in books about superhuman heroes, creatures from the deep, Star Trek flicks, pets coming back from the dead, invisible men, and flying cars? Now that’s the stuff that sounds pretty much like fantasy to me. I find nothing whimsical about two people in a committed relationship.”
He bowed his head to fully meet her gaze and smiled. Then he released a deep, tumbling sound of laughter from deep within his gut. “Hey, lady, you got me there. You’ve definitely put me in my place.”
Amber smiled. “Not at the expense of losing a potential customer, I hope.”
He shook his head, still smiling. “No, not at all. I like women who speak their minds.” He glanced around again. “Do you own this place?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the huge sign inside the shop. “So you’re Amber?”
“Yes,” she responded, and wished he didn’t look so appealing. His nose was straight and his mouth was full, very full yet slightly curved. And she suddenly wondered how it would feel to spread her own mouth over that mouth and tinted a darker shade of brown at the thought. His voice sounded pretty damn good too. She could feel the goosebumps forming on her arms.
“Well, from what I can see you have a real nice place here. How long have you been in business?”
“For almost two years. In fact I’m having an anniversary party in a few weeks and you’re welcome to come.”
“Thanks, but for now I’ll just settle on that pleasure read.”
She nodded and stepped closer to him. “Before I make a few suggestions of my own, do you have anything in mind?”
“A friend recommended a book by Walter Mosley.”
Amber nodded. “Good recommendation. I take it you like mysteries?”
“If it will relax me, then yes.”
She chuckled. “Trust me. A good book can do more than relax you. It can carry you into another world if you get that absorbed in it.”
He braced his tall frame against one of the counters. “Really? I take it you like to read.”
“Yes, I love books. I use to be a librarian, so that should tell you a lot. And I take it that it’s just the opposite with you.”
He nodded. “I only read when I have to, mainly because I usually don’t have the time. I’m much too busy these days. I’m an accountant and tax season is fast approaching.”
/> Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to chill awhile and do some pleasure reading. If you like this book then please come back for others. We have a vast assortment of them here.”
He glanced around. “Yeah, I can see that.”
After Amber had shown him a copy of Walter Mosley’s latest book he agreed he would buy it. He also decided to buy a romance novel— out of curiosity and nothing else—and told her he would probably give it to his secretary since she had a birthday coming up.
When he handed Amber his credit card she glanced at the name. Cord Jeffries. “Will there be anything else for you today, Mr. Jeffries?”
“No, these two items should do it.”
“All right.”
After giving him his total, she presented the sales slip for his signature. She couldn’t help noticing his hands, how big and strong they looked. She bet they were hands that could evoke the most stimulating kind of passion and literally drive a woman insane. Amber cleared her throat when he slid the pen and sales slip back across the counter to her. He even had a real nice signature.
A few seconds later, she handed him the bag containing his books and the receipt. “Thanks for your business, and I hope you come back.”
His eyes lightened and he smiled. “I intend to.”
It was late afternoon when Brandy let herself into her suite. She’d had a meeting with the committee in charge of hosting the Florida Classic. Everyone was gearing up for the game that would be played in three weeks. Plans were in place to assure that every person who stayed at her hotel was well taken care of.
She dropped her briefcase and purse down on the sofa, and plopped down beside them. She decided to just stay in tonight and watch a movie and order something from room service instead of cooking herself. She appreciated the kitchen in her suite but tonight didn’t want to use it.
She stood and was just about to go in the bedroom to remove her clothes when she saw the note someone had placed on the breakfast bar counter that separated the kitchen from the living room area. She snatched it up immediately, recognizing the writing from yesterday’s note.
I stayed up late last night thinking about you and everything I plan to do to you. I hope you’re as ready for me as I am for you. Every time I see you I want you more and more and it won’t be long before I have you.
The Man
Brandy frantically glanced around the room. Everything seemed in place but someone had gotten into her suite and left another note. This one was just as creepy as the one before. Cold chills immediately swept up and down her spine.
She snatched up the phone to call security.
Chapter 6
So, who did you end up going out with last night?”
Sonya met Carla’s gaze over her glass of water. She had declined the waiter’s offer of wine since she had consumed enough alcohol last night to last her a lifetime. And even now, some of what had happened was still pretty foggy, but the one thing she did remember was leaving Sylvester’s with Dalton Gregory and participating in the most intense and enjoyable sex she’d ever had in her life. And to think she’d never liked the man. Well, she certainly hadn’t been thinking that last night. “
I went out by myself,” she responded. There was no way she was telling Carla she had slept with Dalton. “
By yourself and you didn’t come home?”
Sonya gave her a smirty smile. “Carla, a woman who goes to Sylvester’s doesn’t really expect to come home—at least not alone.”
Carla leaned back in her chair with a deep frown on her face. Anyone living in Orlando knew the place. It was a very trendy restaurant and bar that had a not-so-glowing reputation as a pick-up place. “I guess you must have had a purpose for going there.” She really didn’t expect Sonya to answer and almost dropped her mouth open when she did.
“Yes, I needed to have sex with somebody last night and in a big way. Nice, hot, sweaty, mind-boggling sex. Safe sex, of course, but sex just the same.”
Carla shot her another frown. “And all because I couldn’t meet you for dinner last night?”
“No, I would have been in a bad way regardless, but at least talking to you would have taken the edge off things some, since you’ve become such a Goody Two-shoes these days. And since you didn’t have time for me, I found time for myself. Although I had to compete against all those young, hot, and easy college girls that were there. However, once it got past their bedtime then I hit gold. It felt downright sinful sitting in a bar with a bunch of men who were oozing with testosterone, knowing they were aching for something I had.”
Carla shook her head. Sonya sounded like an outright slut. “I hope you know what you did last night.”
Sonya smiled and thought of just how far she had gone with Dalton and just how far he had gone with her, and she had no complaints. “Hey, chill, let’s not get uptight. It’s not the first one-night stand I’ve had, and probably won’t be the last. And if I remember correctly you’ve been involved in one yourself? Little Craig wasn’t conceived with a vibrator.”
Carla frowned as she took another sip of her drink. “This discussion is about you and not me, Sonya. What is with you these days? Why all this misplaced jealousy when it comes to my relationship with Brandy and Amber? Why do you see them as a threat to our friendship?”
Sonya glared across the table at her. “Mainly because they are. The last several times I needed to talk to you, you were somewhere with them.”
“Yes, and no matter where we go I always invite you to come along.”
“I did once and I felt totally excluded from the conversation. The three of you have things in common that I don’t, like men problems.”
Carla leaned back in her chair. “Yes, and we admire you for that.”
Sonya lifted a brow, surprised. “Admire me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never let any man get under your skin and hurt you the way the three of us have been hurt. All we’re doing is trying to overcome a difficult period in our lives, as well as trying to survive in the business world out there. That’s what me, Brandy, and Amber have in common. With you and me it goes back farther than that and it’s even deeper. You were my friend when my mom and Clark wouldn’t give me the time of day. Then when Dad died, I don’t know how I would have made it without you sticking closer to me than a blood sister. You were there with me through that ordeal with Jesse Devereau; let’s not forget Mom’s obsession that I let him know that I’d gotten pregnant and when I refused to do so, how she turned her back on me. A person couldn’t ask for a better friend than you. I love you and I’m sorry if I let you down by not being there for you when you needed me.” Carla wiped a tear from her eye.
“Damn, Carla,” Sonya said, pushing back her chair and going over to Carla and giving her a huge hug, not caring that they were causing a scene in the restaurant.
“I’m sorry, too. Things have been so funky with Mom. She’s about to drive me to drinking. In fact she did. Last night I got so balled over in Sylvester’s that the bartender offered to call me a cab. But that was before someone offered me a ride to their place to spend the night.”
Carla wiped her eyes and broke off their hug. Sonya went and sat down. “You nut. What if the person had turned out to be a mass murderer or somebody?”
Sonya smiled through her tears. “Hey, he was okay and it wasn’t like he was a total stranger. He was someone I knew, although we’ve never hit it off before.”
“Until last night?”
Sonya chuckled. “Yes, until last night. And boy, could he do the thang. He plumb wore out this little body of mine.”
Carla shook her head. “You know you’re downright awful, don’t you?”
“Yes, and I’ve always been that way so don’t act surprised. You know I’ve always depended on you to keep me straight.”
Carla hugged her friend, smiling. “Well, it’s a tough job but I guess somebody has to do it.”
> Sonya couldn’t help laughing. “Yeah, you are so right.”
Perry Hall glanced at Brandy. She was standing in the same spot he’d left her in when he’d started making a thorough check of her suite. He had been about to leave for the day when she had frantically summoned him telling him only that someone had been her in suite. Although she claimed nothing was missing, it was apparent she was pretty shaken up and believed her claim although he could find nothing to support it. Everything looked pretty much in order.
“I checked the entire suite and couldn’t find anything. Are you sure someone else other than the cleaning lady has been here?”
Brandy met his gaze. “Yes, I’m positive.” She would not tell him or anyone at the hotel about the threatening notes she’d received. “I’ve been back up here a couple times after she left this morning, and this evening when I returned I noticed a couple of things out of place.”
He sighed. The only things she’d told him were out of place were some items on her kitchen counter. How a woman could rightly remember exactly how she’d left things beat the hell out of him. He had a gut feeling she wasn’t telling him everything. “I’m going down to the front desk and cut you a new passkey and recode the security panel box in the private elevator. No one will have access to this entire floor except for you. I’ll make arrangements with housekeeping to only let their person come when you’re here or for you to buzz them up. The same thing will apply to room service.”
“Thanks, I’d really appreciate it.”
He nodded. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She sighed deeply. “Yes, I’m fine, and I’d prefer if you didn’t say anything about this to anyone, Mr. Hall.”
“All right, Ms. Bennett. I’ll be back in a few minutes with that new key.”
An hour or so later, after Perry Hall had returned and gone, Brandy was still pacing the room. She had questioned her secretary, Donna Fields, when she’d come in that morning and the older woman had told her that other than the cleaning crew no one had dropped by her office. However, Mrs. Fields said that she had left early for a dentist appointment yesterday.
The Savvy Sistahs Page 7
