“And, of course, your only reason for dating him just has to be work related. I swear, girl, you are just like the rest of your family. I have never seen a set of people more married to their jobs.”
If there was one issue that came between them, this was it. No matter how many times she tried to explain, Nia would never understand that for Monica, work was all she needed.
“I just want you to be happy,” Nia said, dropping her hands to Monica’s shoulders and giving her a light squeeze.
Monica patted her hand. “I am happy. Really. Moving here was a good thing. I’m loving my job, and the people I work with, and if it’ll make you feel better, I think about Patrick less and less each day.”
“I want you to forget his name,” Nia said. Her voice was stern, but Monica could feel the compassion behind her statement. Nia cared.
“I will,” Monica promised. “Eventually, I will.”
The two best friends stood for a moment holding each other. Nia was the first to move.
“Come on, girl. We’ve got a fine man picking us up in a half-hour. I’m ready to have some fun.”
Monica shook her head, and said a small prayer for the city of New Orleans. With Nia on the loose, God knows it would need it.
Chapter Fourteen
Eli pulled at the hem of his wheat-colored cashmere sweater, making sure it was in place. He ran a hand over his head and down his cheeks, then stared at the doorbell labeled M. Gardner. What was it about this woman that had him acting like a teenager going on his first date?
This dating scheme wasn’t going exactly as he’d planned. He hadn’t expected this to feel so, well, right. There was something about the way she smiled at him when she knew he was pulling her leg. Or, maybe it was the way she had meshed so well with his family. A couple of times this afternoon when he looked over at the card table and caught her laughing, or when she went over to the swing set to push Jasmine on the swings, Eli couldn’t help but think how much she seemed to belonged there.
Just as he was about to ring the bell, the door opened. It was Monica.
“Hi. Sorry I’m late.”
“That’s all right. Nia’s still getting ready.” She scooted past him. “I need to get something out of my car.”
“Do you need help?”
“No, I think I can handle getting a tube of lipstick by myself.” She smiled. “Go on up. I’m in 2B. Maybe you can light a fire under Nia’s tail.”
Eli looked up and down the street. Even though it was illuminated by the Old World-style street lamps, this was still the French Quarter at night. He wasn’t about to leave her out here alone.
“I’ll come with you to your car.”
Monica’s eyes lit with laughter. “You do realize I go outside alone on a regular basis, right?”
“This city may be safer than it used to be, but it’s not Disneyland. A lot can happen to a single woman on these streets.”
“Thanks for the concern, Dr. Holmes, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
To hell with her objections. She was the perfect target for some vagrant or drunken reveler.
“I’m not leaving you out here, so we can either stand in this doorway for another hour or we can get your lipstick.”
Monica shook her head, the smile still tilting her lips. “Suit yourself.”
As she led the way to her car, for the first time since she opened the door, Eli noticed what she was wearing. Her black top was made of a soft, stretchy fabric that clung to her perfectly shaped breasts. It ended right above the top of her jeans, providing a glimpse of smooth, mocha-colored skin.
Eli’s mouth went dry.
He followed a few steps behind her, focusing on a nice, round butt clad in dark blue jeans. Her hips flared slightly, creating the perfect spot for his hands to grab onto.
Monica unlocked her car and leaned into the passenger-side doorway, leaving her butt in the air. Eli had to bite down on his lower lip to keep from groaning out loud. He itched to pull her from the car and drape her over the hood. He could have her out of those clothes in a heartbeat.
For a brief second, Eli closed his eyes and imagined what her underwear looked like. She was too fine to wear plain white. No, Monica Gardner looked like a black lace kinda girl. His body instantly hardened with the thought of peeling silky lingerie from her soft brown skin.
“See,” she said, coming up with a lipstick tube. “I even managed not to trip on the sidewalk, but having you here to help made all the difference.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a smart alec,” Eli drawled.
“Only when it’s warranted.”
“I was wondering where you’d gone off to.” Nia came out of the building dressed in a tasteful, but definitely sexy hot pink halter-top and matching leather pants.
“Are we ready to go?” Eli asked.
“I just need to run upstairs and grab my purse,” Monica said.
“Got it,” Nia said. A small black bag hung from her fingertips.
“All right then.” Eli lead them to his Rover. He opened both doors on the passenger side and waited from them to get in, Monica in the front and Nia in the back. Then he closed the doors, rounded the car and got behind the wheel.
“Nia, is this your first time in New Orleans?” Eli asked as he pulled away from the curb and headed up Dumaine Street.
“I was here for Mardi Gras my sophomore year of college, but I can’t remember a thing.”
“Thankfully, I missed that trip,” Monica interjected.
“I do remember it being unique, and that hasn’t changed,” Nia said as they passed a saxophonist leaning against an ornate street lamp at the corner of Dumaine and Decatur. The horn’s sweet sounding melody wafted in even through the Rover’s closed windows. “It’s fascinating.”
“That’s one thing Katrina couldn’t take away,” Eli said. “There’s no place like New Orleans.”
“The city seems to be recovering well,” Nia commented.
Eli shrugged. “Depends on where you are. The downtown area is almost back to normal, but some of the outlying neighborhoods look like they did the day after the storm hit. It’s all going to come back, though. It’ll take a lot more than a hurricane to break this city’s spirit. Now how about some New Orleans-style soul food?” he asked.
“Umm...sounds wonderful,” Nia answered.
“That’s okay with you?” he asked Monica.
“Sure. I’m up for anything.”
Eli stifled another groaned. If she were really up for anything, he would drop her friend off in the middle of the Quarter and head straight for his house.
Eli turned onto Frenchmen Street, and luckily, found a parking spot only steps away from the entrance to the Praline Connection.
“I’m warning you, Dr. Holmes, I take my food seriously.” Nia said as she exited the car.
“You are about to eat the best cornbread in New Orleans,” Eli answered. “You’re not watching your weight are you?”
“Nia doesn’t have to,” Monica answered for her friend. “She’s been naturally skinny her whole life. She can eat an entire buffet and not gain a pound. That’s why everyone hates her.”
“I am not skinny. I’m fine, sweetheart.” Nia wrapped her arm around Monica. “And you know you love me.”
It was obvious they were best friends. They exhibited the same camaraderie he shared with his brothers. Eli would bet money they would get in a fight before the end of the night. He, Alex and Toby couldn’t be around each other for more than a few hours before they were ready to kill one another.
Eli opened the door to the legendary restaurant and followed behind Nia and Monica as the hostess showed them to a table. He’d called before leaving his house, and had managed to reserve a table even though reservations weren’t generally accepted.
“Can I start you off with an appetizer?” the hostess asked after handing out menus and placing glasses of ice water in front of them.
“Ooh, why don’t you for
get dinner and just bring me some of this homemade bread pudding with praline sauce,” Nia said, smacking her lips.
“I second that,” Monica replied, closing her menu.
“Oh, come on. You two are not eating just dessert. Especially you,” Eli nudged his head in Nia’s direction. “Monica can get this kind of food anytime, but you can’t get cooking like this in St. Louis.” Eli turned to the hostess. “Bring us the Taste of Soul platter and three orders of bread pudding.”
“Gumbo, fried catfish, greens, jambalaya. That’ll work.” Nia passed the waitress her menu, folded her arms on the table and looked Eli directly in the eyes. “So, you’re an obstetrician?”
“Yes,” Eli answered after taking a sip of water.
“He’s known as Super Doc around the hospital,” Monica teasingly interjected.
Eli tried not to stare at her but it was impossible. The soft light above their table glistened off her dark brown hair. The woman had the prettiest hair he’d ever seen. He could say the same about her eyes.
Eli shook his head. This was bad. After years of vowing never to date another doctor, here he was, sitting across the table from Doctor Monica Gardner, and all he could think about was dragging his fingers through her hair.
Then again, he was a man. And what red-blooded, heterosexual male would not fantasize when faced with her luscious, smooth skin and womanly curves? He could just envision her naked on his living room couch.
Dragging his mind from the lust-filled tangent it had wandered off on, Eli squeezed a slice of lemon into his water and downed the entire glass in an effort to cool himself off. The waitress arrived with the large platter of food. She removed the bud vase and placed their food in the center of the table. “Enjoy,” she said, after handing out three smaller plates.
“This looks delicious,” Monica said.
“You ever thought about going into private practice, or are you content at the hospital?” Nia asked.
“I’ve been at Methodist Memorial for years. I can’t imagine leaving.”
“Really? I would think private practice would be more rewarding, at least financially.”
Eli knew a fishing expedition when he heard one. Nia was trying to scope him out.
“Money isn’t everything,” Eli responded. He waited for the waitress to refill his water glass. “How long have the two of you been friends?” he asked, trying to gear the conversation away from himself.
“Since the first grade,” Monica answered. “She stole my Wonder Woman pencil.” She dipped a portion of fish in the tangy tartar sauce and popped it into her mouth.
“I did not,” Nia protested. “It was a misunderstanding. To this day, I still have no idea how that pencil wandered into my book bag. So,” Nia rested her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her upturned palm. “How long have you and Monica been dating?”
“Actually,” Eli caught the glare Monica shot Nia’s way. “We were returning from our first “official” date when we drove up earlier this afternoon. I took Monica to my niece’s birthday party.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that!” she said innocently. There was definitely something going on. If Monica’s eyes could shoot fire, Nia would be fried crispier than the catfish on their plates.
“Have you ever been married?” Nia asked. Eli nearly spit his water across the table.
“Nia Gardner!” Monica groused.
“Your last name is Gardner?” Eli asked.
“She’s married to my older brother, Phillip,” Monica bit out.
“So you two are sisters,” Eli stated, the picture becoming clearer. Nia was married, so the noising into his personal life wasn’t on her behalf. She was looking for someone for Monica. Interesting. “No, I’ve never been married,” he answered.
“Engaged?”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Monica said, her lips thinned with anger. Nia shrugged her shoulders, an innocent look on her face.
Oh, yeah. There would be a serious fight in a certain French Quarter apartment tonight. Eli realized he would have to be careful around Nia. He wanted his family and friends to believe he and Monica were really dating, but he knew if he went overboard, overzealous relatives could make things a thousand times more complicated. Instinct told him Nia was the matchmaker in Monica’s life.
“Fill me in on what’s happening back home,” Monica said.
“Same old, same old,” Nia lifted her shoulder in a half-hearted shrug as she heaped a scoop of jambalaya onto her plate.
“Has my mother convinced my father to come out of retirement yet?”
“No, but not for lack of trying,” Nia answered. “She’s pressing Phillip to run for the state House of Representative seat. Arguing before the state Supreme Court on a regular basis just isn’t enough. She thinks he needs loftier goals.”
Eli noticed the shadow of annoyance that passed over Monica’s face. “That sounds about right where Mother is concerned. Even when you do your best, you can always do better.”
“Here’s dessert,” Nia said. The cheerfulness in her voice seemed more forced this time, Eli noticed. The waitress placed three servings of warm bread pudding on the table, effectively putting an end to all conversation.
“Oh my goodness, this is so good,” Monica groaned halfway through her dessert. She licked praline sauce from her knuckle and sucked it from the tip of her finger.
As hard as he had tried to keep his thoughts clean, that one act shot Eli’s efforts straight to hell. His mind instantly conjured a picture of her tongue wrapped around a part of his anatomy he damn sure shouldn’t be thinking about in a crowded restaurant.
Sitting at a table in the Praline Connection, surrounded by dozens of people, Eli couldn’t help but imagine running his fingers through Monica’s hair as she knelt before him, suckling his body, sending him from one pleasurable peak to another.
Eli had to force his thoughts to change direction. There was only so much of this he could take before embarrassing himself beyond all repair. If he knew it would be this hard to resist her, Eli would have never suggested this whole pretend dating thing. What in the hell had he gotten himself into?
“I ate that way too fast,” Monica said, pushing the empty dish away. “You’ve hardly touched your dessert. You don’t like bread pudding?”
It took Eli a second to realize she was talking to him. “I ate most of the Taste of Soul platter. I forgot to leave room for dessert.”
“Well, I’m happy I did,” Nia said, stacking her plate atop Monica’s. “That was awesome. So, what’s next?” she asked.
“Are you two up for going to a club? Some new R&B singer my younger brother discovered is performing at Snug Harbor.”
“Sounds good to me,” Nia said, as she picked at a sugar-covered pecan she’d left on her dessert plate.
“I’m up for it,” Monica replied. “I don’t go in until tomorrow evening.”
“Well, come on,” Nia exclaimed, pushing out of her chair and heading for the door.
Monica rose from the table, shaking her head. “I’m sorry about Nia,” she said in a lowered tone.
“Forget it.” He took two twenties from his wallet and threw them on the table.
“I’ve got dinner tonight,” Monica said, unclasping the tiny black bag.
“No, you don’t.”
“Paying for my sister-in-law’s meal was not a part of the deal,” she said, still trying the clasp of her purse.
“Monica.” Eli put his hand on her arm and immediately realized his mistake. If he’d wanted to keep thoughts of her body at bay, touching her warm, silky skin was not the way to go about it.
Monica’s gaze traveled from where he touched her arm up to his face, and the desire he saw in her eyes was strong enough to knock Eli to his knees.
“Uh...all right,” she uttered, her voice shaky. “I’m... I’ll see where Nia went,” she said, disconnecting from his grasp. Without a backward glance, she left Eli standing next to the table, contemplating again just what the hel
l he’d gotten himself into.
Monica had no question as to how Snug Harbor had acquired its name. The place was about the size of a broom closet, but there was something to be said for quaint. The last time Nia dragged her to a club there was hip hop blasting from speakers the size of redwood trees, and dizzying strobe lights destined to send an epileptic into a seizure.
Snug Harbor was the polar opposite. Mellow lights shone off the rich wood beams that crisscrossed the high ceilings. Tiny blue oil lamps cast a soft glow over the small round tables. The laid back atmosphere was a welcomed relief.
Although there was nothing Monica wanted more right now than to be locked in her bedroom. Alone. The chaotic thoughts flowing through her mind were more than enough to keep her company tonight.
What had happened back there?
Either she was going crazy, or she and Eli had shared a... Well, she didn’t know what they’d shared, but after the lightening rod that shot through her body as his eyes stared into hers, Monica knew they had shared something.
It was not supposed to happen this way. This was a business deal, a strictly platonic mutual agreement. So why was the image of his deep-set eyes burning a permanent mark on her brain?
“Having a good time so far?”
Monica nearly jumped out of her skin as Eli’s whispered words entered her ear, sending a slight tremor down her spine.
“I didn’t realize it was also restaurant,” she managed to choke past the lump in her throat.
“We can come back another night for dinner, if you’d like.”
He’d gotten even closer. Monica started feeling faint.
“What’s this?” Nia asked, pointing to a series of pictures along the brick-laid wall. “A Mardi Gras parade?”
Eli walked over to examine the pictures. “No, a funeral procession.”
Nia shook her head. “Y’all party for everything around here.”
“When did they start letting in just anybody?”
A tall, spectacularly built man with light brown skin and eyes like Elijah’s stood at a door just beyond the bar. Eli met him halfway and the two embraced in a hug most men would be ashamed to share in public.
Deliver Me Page 14
