No More Playas

by Brenda Jackson

  10

  Sean

  “How about joining us in a celebration, Sean?”

  Sean glanced over at Elizabeth Howard, a fellow physician. She was one of the doctors he usually teamed up with on these types of goodwill medical missions, and they had known each other for years. They’d even dated a few years back, but then they decided just to be friends. “Sure, why not? I have a lot to celebrate.”

  “How are those wedding plans coming along?”

  He sighed, hating that question. He really didn’t know how any plans were coming. He and Asia had decided that because of his schedule and her book-signing and writing commitments, a June wedding was best. Now he wished he’d talked her into marrying him before he had left the States. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she was having misgivings about their engagement, and hearing that her sister was in town wasn’t helping matters. Although he had never done anything to Claire personally, she detested all the Crews family, thanks to David. She thought her sister would be better off not having contact with any of them.

  He still hadn’t answered Elizabeth’s question. “They’re coming, Liz. We’ve decided on a June wedding, although if it was up to me, we would marry sooner.”

  She smiled, nodding. “Hey, it sounds like you’re one of those grooms who don’t intend to get cold feet.”

  “Not hardly.” He had fallen in love with Asia Fowler the first moment David brought her home. He had felt guilty as sin for harboring such feelings, especially when he thought she’d be the one to finally capture his brother’s heart. It didn’t take long to realize that no woman could really touch David, and that he intended to add Asia to his long line of women. It had been hard to sit back and do nothing while David played her for a fool. David’s marriage to another woman had been the last straw, and since his brother hadn’t been man enough to tell Asia the truth, Sean had felt that he owed her that much.

  “Meet us at the bar downstairs in a couple of hours. We’ve decided to have a partying good time our last night here.”

  Sean smiled and stepped off the elevator. “That sounds good to me.”

  Sean had showered, changed into a pair of khakis and a polo shirt, and was about to grab his hotel key off the bed when there was a knock at his door. He walked across the room to discover a bellman there. “Yes?”

  “There’s a delivery for you, Dr. Crews.”

  He lifted his brow as he took the envelope. He prayed the work orders hadn’t gotten changed to tell him he wouldn’t be leaving the island after all. He went to the desk in the room, sat down at the chair, and opened the sealed package.

  His mouth formed an angry line. Enclosed was an article taken from what appeared to be the New York Times’ society page that included a photo taken of Asia and Lance Montgomery kissing. Beneath was the caption, “Enemies or Lovers.” The short write-up read:

  It is a known fact in the publishing world that these two renowned relationship experts, Dr. Lance Montgomery and Dr. Asia Fowler, very seldom see eye-to-eye on anything. But it appears when this shot was taken, they were definitely seeing lip- to-lip. An added note of interest is that Dr. Fowler is engaged to marry the well-known orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Sean Crews.

  Tossing the article aside, he picked up the note that had accompanied it.

  Sorry, Sean, but I tried to warn you that Asia was bad news. Now I hope after seeing this picture that you’ll believe me when I say that she’s only marrying you to get back at me. While you’re over there saving lives, your supposed fiancee is here having an affair. Lucky for you the article was cut due to lack of space and never appeared in the paper. Someone I knew at the Times thought I’d like to have it.

  I hope that you’ll finally admit that you deserve better.

  David

  Sean picked up the newspaper article again. He wanted to believe there was a reason for what he was seeing. He had known when he first met Dr. Montgomery, that the man wanted Asia. He’d even known that something—Asia refused to say what— happened between them later that same night. All he knew was that Asia had called him the following day and had accepted his proposal. He had been too elated to ask questions at the time.

  But then, he couldn’t forget when Montgomery had shown up at the Patterson’s party wanting to talk to Asia. He had never seen Asia be so hateful toward a man. He had known then that whatever Asia and Montgomery had shared, it had been brief, and it was completely over.

  So he refused to take David’s accusations at face value— although the article was pretty damn incriminating. There was only one person who could explain what the hell was going on, and that was Asia.

  Tossing the newspaper aside, he picked up the phone. When a voice came on the line, he said, “Yes, this is Dr. Crews, and I need a flight back to the United States immediately.”

  11

  Asia and Lance

  Lance leaned back in his chair. The room had filled with women and men who had come to Atlanta to attend the AABCC, the African American Book Club Conference, and Asia, one of the keynote speakers, should be arriving any time now.

  He had arrived at the hotel yesterday with his laptop in hand and had basically remained in his room, working on the book he still had to write. He was happy to see that he was making tremendous progress. But whether or not Carl and his editor would be pleased with the finished result was anyone’s guess.

  He figured there were over a thousand people attending the three-day conference, and although he had paid the conference fee and had received the registration tote bag, he had kept a low profile, not wanting to chance running into Asia. Timing, he’d decided, was everything.

  “This crowd is awesome, don’t you think?”

  Lance glanced sideways at a woman who had leaned closer to him to be heard. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties and on her face was a smile as well as a look of complete awe. He scanned his surroundings and had to admit there were more people here than he had expected. “Yes, there’s quite a crowd.”

  “Twice the number from last year,” the woman replied. “I know, since I come to this event every year. My book club, the Diamond Ladies, is from Boston. Book clubs are a wonderful way for readers to get together to bond and read a lot of good books.”

  Lance nodded and asked, “Have you read any of Dr. Fowler’s books?”

  The woman looked at him like he had asked a very ridiculous question. “Of course. I’ve read every book she has published. They are so inspiring and motivational. She went through a lot before getting her life back together, and for her to share her trials and tribulations with other women so they won’t make the same mistakes is totally uplifting.”

  Lance had nothing else to add. However, the one thing he knew not to say was his name. He had registered for the conference under Carl’s name, figuring what his agent didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. He had a feeling that none of the women attending this conference would be fans of his.

  “Have you read any of her books, Carl?” she asked after checking out his badge and seeing the fictitious name.

  The first time Lance had read Asia’s work it was for amusement. Only recently, after discovering how much he loved Asia, had he taken the time to go back and really read her books. And afterward, his admiration, as well as his love, only increased.

  The woman next to him was right. Asia was inspiring and motivational, and he could see why so many women had come to hear her speak. He remembered the first time he’d done so in New York, back in August. He hadn’t been the same since.

  “Yes, I’ve read all of her books. She’s a wonderful writer,” he finally answered the woman.

  “Yes, she is,” the woman agreed, smiling.

  The room suddenly got quiet, and Lance glanced toward the front of the room and saw Asia take a seat on stage. He couldn’t ignore the rush of excitement that raced up his spine when he saw her. Then there was something else he was feeling, too. Profound love. He loved her in a way he never thought was possible.

  �
�She’s a beautiful woman, isn’t she?” the talker next to him said. “If good-looking women like her get dogged out, I wonder if there’s hope for the rest of us.”

  Things got quiet again while the moderator of the event introduced Asia, first listing her educational background then giving a brief summary of why she had decided to start writing her books. “That’s a story only Dr. Fowler can tell,” the woman was saying, “and I’m sure that she will, since it has helped to shape her into the phenomenal woman she is today. Each and every time I hear her story, my admiration for her goes up another notch. She is living proof that women can get their lives together and that we don’t have to put up with any man’s mistreatment of us. I introduce to some and present to others, our speaker of the hour, Dr. Asia Fowler.”

  Pride ran all through Lance as Asia approached the podium with such an awe-inspiring, confident, and feminine grace. With her shoulders back and her head held high, she smiled to the audience, who provided a deafening sound of applause as they got to their feet. A lump of emotion formed in Lance’s throat as the group gave Asia the recognition and honor that she deserved.

  Dressed in a two-piece business suit of lime green, she looked good in the outfit, which did a lot to capitalize on her curvy form. When the audience had taken their seats again, Asia looked out over the crowd, still smiling. A part of Lance hoped like hell she didn’t see him ... at least not yet.

  “Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I am Dr. Asia Fowler, a woman who’s been through hell but survived, and I’m here to tell my story.”

  Lance settled back in his chair. He had heard it before—that time in New York—but today he wanted to hear it again. And this time he intended to listen with a better pair of ears.

  “Dr. Fowler, thanks for agreeing to take part in our Dine with an Author segment again this year,” the conference coordinator was saying as she and Asia walked off the elevator and into the hotel’s beautifully decorated lobby. “There were a number of book clubs who bid for the honor, but of course only the highest bidder could be selected. And they paid quite a lot to dine with you this evening. As you know, all proceeds are going to charity, and I’m happy to say the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation will benefit greatly.”

  Asia smiled. The SCAF was special to her ever since one of her closest friends from college had died from the disease more than seven years ago. “You’re welcome, Rhonda, and I always look forward to meeting with my readers. I consider them special. What’s the name of the book club, and where are these ladies from?”

  “The name of the group is the Enchanted Book Club, and according to Linda Springfield, the person who coordinated Dine with an Author, the book club is from central Florida and this is their first time attending our conference.”

  Asia smiled. “I’m looking forward to dining with them tonight.”

  “And I’m sure they are looking forward to dining with you, as well. Emerils is the restaurant they’d chosen, and a limo is parked out front ready to take you there to join them.”

  “Thank you.”

  Asia walked out through the swinging doors and was met by a uniformed chauffeur. “Dr. Fowler, I’m Edward, your driver for tonight.”

  Asia smiled at the man. “Hello, Edward. I can’t believe the difference in the weather here and what I left behind in New York,” she said when he opened the door for her to slide onto the limo’s backseat.

  Edward closed the door and then quickly walked around the car to get into the driver’s side. She leaned back, liking the feel of the leather seats and thinking that today had been busy but productive. She enjoyed attending conferences where she could mingle with her readers and—

  The opening of the door cut into her thoughts, and she blinked when another passenger got inside swiftly, sliding into the seat beside her. “Okay, Edward we can leave now. And I want complete privacy back here.”

  Asia inhaled sharply upon recognizing that voice, and then her gaze met a pair of disturbingly familiar dark eyes. Anger surged through her. “What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped, scooting away from him, as close to the other side of the vehicle as she could get. The arrogant bastard, she thought, had the nerve to look amused.

  “I’d think by now it would be obvious,” he said, leaning back in the seat as the limo raced onto the interstate.

  She was livid, fuming, enraged. “Nothing is obvious.”

  “Then let me explain things, Asia. I am a member of the Enchanted Book Club.”

  Asia pounded on the dark plate of glass that separated them from the driver. “Edward, I demand that you stop this car and put me out immediately!”

  “You’re wasting your time, Asia. He has orders not to stop this vehicle until we reach our destination.”

  She turned on Lance. “How dare you! You have no right to trick me and the conference organizers. And you have no right to keep me here with you against my will. I demand that he stop this car now.”

  “And do what? Put you out on the interstate?”

  Asia glared at him. “Even that is better than being here with you and enduring your sick games.”

  “I’m not playing a game with you,” Lance tried assuring her in a quiet yet husky voice.

  “That’s all you know how to do,” she nearly yelled with eyes full of contempt. “You played a game with me from the first, and I refuse to let you do so again. Since meeting you, I’ve been subjected to things I swore I’d never go through again, from intimidation to humiliation.”

  “What about love, Asia?”

  “Love?” she repeated ferociously. “You don’t know a damn thing about love. According to what you write, love is another word for bullshit.”

  His expression tightened. Yes, he had written that in his first book, dammit. “What if I told you I’ve come around and now think differently?”

  “Then I would gladly tell you to go to hell because I personally don’t believe you. Why can’t you understand that I see what you’re doing, what you’re all about?”

  “Which is?”

  “You’re pissed that I’ve agreed to marry Sean, because you were so sure you had me under your thumb, that I would be one of those women who see you as an addiction. And it’s obvious that you’re the type of person who dislikes losing, especially to another man.”

  All venom, she added, “Get over it, Lance Montgomery, because I am engaged to marry Sean, and I will marry him in June.”

  Lance was on the edge of his seat in a flash, his face mere inches from hers. “Why are you marrying him? You don’t love him, dammit. You love me!”

  Asia’s mouth fell open. She gaped at him. “Where in the hell did you get an idea so ridiculous? I don’t love you! I love Sean.”

  “No, you don’t, and I’m sick and tired of you saying it! Admit it, you love me.”

  “I do not.”

  “Don’t make me prove otherwise, Asia.”

  Asia drew in a fuming breath. “There’s no way that you can. I’ve been in love with Sean for a long time.”

  “Now that is bullshit. The last time we were in a limo together, you said you loved Sean in a special way and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what you felt for the man wasn’t love but gratitude. There’s a big difference. You are a woman who wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone. If you loved Sean—and I meant truly loved him in the full sense of the word—you would never have let me touch you that night. You wouldn’t have let me do all those things that I did to you, Asia. And don’t think I’ve forgotten our kiss a few weeks ago. We couldn’t get enough of each other. If you’re in love with Sean, you damn sure wouldn’t have responded to me the way you did. You’re a woman who equates passion with love, which is why you had stayed celibate for so long . . . and the reason you’re still celibate now.”

  Asia’s eyes flashed fire. “You don’t know that!”

  “I wasn’t sure until listening to your speech earlier today. Then I knew. You don’t know how imagining you sleeping with Sean Crews was eating me up i
nside. But today I knew for sure.”

  “There’s a reason we haven’t,” she said, despising him for dragging out her business. “Sean is out of the country, but when he gets back we will—”

  “When he gets back, you will have thought about everything I’m saying, and there’s no way you will in good conscience marry one man while being in love with another.”

  Asia was ready to explode. “Read my lips, Lance: I do not love you!”

  “And read mine, Asia: Yes, you do—and I love you, too. With all my heart,” he whispered huskily.

  “No.” Asia refused to give an inch.

  “Then we need to prove a couple of things to each other, don’t we?” Lance said, straightening and leaning away from her to settle back in his seat. If he stayed in her face one second longer, he would be tempted to kiss her, devour her, and make love to her right in the backseat. “First, I need to prove to you that I love you, and second, you need to prove to me that you don’t love me.”

  “I don’t need to prove a damn thing to you!”

  “Yes, you do, Asia, and if not to me then to yourself.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Then prove it. Give me a week with you, somewhere secluded, just the two of us, with you calling all the shots. If we sleep together, it will be because you want it and not because I forced it on you. If you don’t want to make love with me, then you’ll leave there still celibate. But if you do want to make love with me, I fully intend to fulfill your every desire and I will make sure you have no doubt about how much I love you. One week alone with you is all I’m asking for.”

  “No, I can’t do that to Sean,” she choked out.

  Lance lifted his hand and took her chin gently, tilting it with his forefinger. “And you can’t afford not to do that to him. I believe he’s a good man who deserves a woman who truly loves him. A week with you is all I’m asking for. Think about it.”

  “There’s nothing to think about, and your assumptions about me and my feelings are all wrong. The only thing I feel for you is loathing.”