“Roshawn, I don’t care what it costs but you are cutting my hair from now on. Just name your price.”
Roshawn shook her head. “I’m out of the business. Let’s just say this was one last time for the road.”
“Like heck we will! I don’t care what it takes, but I plan to keep you in a lot of business. My husband needs his hair cut and I know half a dozen wives who’ll pay upwards of a few hundred dollars if you can work this kind of magic on them.”
Roshawn’s eyes widened at the prospect. “Maybe I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll tell you what, are you doing anything later this evening?”
Roshawn shook her head. “I don’t have any plans.”
“There’s a great dance club in town that a number of the Titans’ employees and players frequent. Let’s meet for drinks. I owe you one. It’ll give us a chance to talk and you’ll have a great time.”
Roshawn nodded. “I’d like that.”
Nina reached into her own purse for a pen and a piece of notepaper. She jotted quickly, then passed the page to Roshawn. “Here’s the address. I’ll meet you at eight o’clock. And come ready. There’s usually some very nice eye candy to keep us entertained.”
Roshawn grinned. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about!”
* * *
Angel Rios stood waiting for the elevators in the lobby of the Titans’ corporate offices. He took a quick glance at the Rolex watch on his wrist, noting that he was still a few minutes early for his appointment with the team’s scouting director, the man who had been instrumental in negotiating his transition from the minor leagues.
Pushing the button for a second time, he watched as the building’s digital readout navigated the descent of both elevators from the upper floors. When one stopped, so did the other, as if the two were descending hand in hand. Angel stepped to the doors on the right when it appeared that conveyor would open first. When it did, he was greated with a rush of noise as the doors opened and a roar of laughter exited before the passengers did.
The two women standing inside the elevator both stopped speaking abruptly, grinning as if they shared a secret no one else was privy to. Nina nodded politely as she eased her way out of the elevator, Roshawn close behind her.
As Roshawn stepped past the handsome man who stood waiting, a rush of heat swept through her body. The man’s gaze was intense, burning hot with appreciation as he appraised her, his stare racing the length of her frame and back again.
“Excuse me,” Roshawn said softly, her body brushing against his as Angel moved to step inside. The touch was unexpected and both bristled as energy spun from one to the other.
“I’m sorry,” Angel said, a rush of color flooding his cheeks as he inhaled the light floral perfume that billowed in the woman’s space. A rush of heat rained in a southern direction as the scent danced up his nostrils.
Roshawn’s hand moved to the spot between her breasts, a flutter of something she didn’t recognize filling her with a sudden yearning. The good-looking man had taken her breath away. Unable to resist she found herself easing slowly backwards toward the front doors, her gaze lingering with his for just a brief moment before she spun back around toward her friend. Her eyes were wide, excitement painting her expression, and the two women giggled like schoolgirls.
As Angel waited for the elevator doors to close, he couldn’t help but take stock of the female form that was exiting toward the building’s front door. The black woman was exceptionally thin, an A-line skirt in white linen and a floral print blouse adorning her petite figure. Her hair was closely cropped and long chandelier earrings shimmered from her earlobes. Angel grinned foolishly as he stood watching her watching him and when she turned an about-face, he leaned ever so slightly to get a better view of her backside, admiring the easy side-to-side shimmy of her hips and rear end, and the nicely toned length of leg that peeked from beneath her hem. As he stood peering intently, one finger depressing the button that held the elevator door open, the woman turned to look back over her shoulder one last time.
Roshawn could still feel him staring, his eyes burning curiously over her body and she couldn’t help tossing one more look in his direction. He was dressed nicely, tan slacks and a white polo shirt complementing the warm bronze tones of his complexion. His expression had been a mix of curiosity and admiration, clearly appreciating what he had been staring at. His intense gaze made Roshawn smile, and for a brief minute, as the closing elevator doors blocked him from view, she was tempted to go back and ride the elevator back up for a second time.
* * *
It was normal for Roshawn to be fashionably late as she sauntered through the doors of The Lotus Room at half past eight o’clock. Nina sat at a center table with a pleasant-looking black man when Roshawn caught her eye from the other side of the room. The woman waved excitedly and when she pointed in Roshawn’s direction, her companion spun around in his seat to see where it was she stared.
As Roshawn made her way to the table an attractive man with flaming red hair appeared at her side and gripped her elbow. She recognized him from his publicity photos and smiled warmly. His Southern accent was as big as he was as he greeted her. “From the way my wife is actin’, you must be that new best friend she’s been ravin’ about all night. Hi, I’m Patrick Tracy.”
Roshawn stepped out of the warm hug he’d wrapped around her. “It’s very nice to meet you, Patrick. I’m Roshawn.”
The man guided her to the table, stepping out of the way as his wife jumped from her seat to give Roshawn a quick hug. “I was afraid you’d forgotten about us,” Nina said.
Roshawn shook her head. “Not at all. I’m still learning my way around town.”
Patrick gestured toward his friend. “Roshawn, this is Cedric Guy. My agent.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cedric,” Roshawn said as she extended her hand toward the man who was sizing her up as if she were his next meal. His grin was cocky as he leaned in to grip her fingers and kiss the back of her hand. His voice was deep, tinged with a self-assurance that said he intended for her to be his next conquest. “Roshawn. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
Roshawn’s chin rose ever so slightly as she appraised him. She smiled sweetly. She could see it was going to be necessary to shut him down early. Her instincts were shouting that this was a man she wanted absolutely nothing to do with. She pulled her hand from his and reached for a paper napkin sitting on the table, wiping at the spot where his lips had touched. When she finished, she pressed the napkin into the palm of his hand, closing his fingers tightly around it.
Nina burst out laughing. “I keep telling you that tired approach is never going to get you anywhere.”
“Ouch, that hurt,” Cedric said as he shrugged. He pulled his drink to his lips and took a large gulp, then used Roshawn’s napkin to wipe his mouth.
Nina was still chuckling. “Roshawn, what do you drink?”
“A chocolate martini would do nicely right about now.”
The woman nodded her head, shaking her new hairdo comfortably. “Cedric, you’ll take care of that for us, won’t you, darling? And I’ll have another vodka-tonic.” She reached for Roshawn’s hand. “There are some wives here that you just have to meet, Roshawn. Gentlemen, we’ll be right back. Have those drinks ready.”
Roshawn gave the man a quick wink as she came to her feet. She smiled sweetly. “I appreciate that, Cedric. And I prefer top shelf. Thank you.”
The man shook his head and grinned stupidly as Patrick tapped him in empathy on the back. As the two women walked away, the man could do nothing but chuckle under his breath.
The Lotus Room was a small, intimate nightclub that boasted a regular clientele of baseball players, baseball fans and groupies, and an occasional tourist. The setting was low-key, inspiring just a hint of seduction and intimacy, if one desired. Seating areas were comprised of circular booths upholstered in lush, chenille fabrics with large pillows for guests to relax against. The evening’s
musical selections were a nice mixture of jazz and blues; easy, sensual beats that made a woman want to dance if the right opportunity presented itself. The clientele was clearly upscale and mature, no hint of any teeny boppers lurking in the background. It was obvious from the bouncer at the door and the scrutiny she’d been made to endure to gain entrance, that the management didn’t fool around. Roshawn wasn’t partial to nightclubs, but she could see herself spending a good deal of her downtime in a place like this one.
Thirty minutes later, Nina had introduced her to half the room. Roshawn was ready for her drink, the names and faces no longer connecting in her head. The beat of the music was intoxicating and Roshawn found herself drunk with wanting, imagining the experience against a perfectly proportioned, exceptionally hard male body. She suddenly thought about the man in the elevator and a quiver of hope coursed through her bloodstream. She appraised the sports manager for a second time and the thoughts instantly flew from her mind. As the two women took their seats, Cedric excused himself, rising to go test his pickup lines on a voluptuous blonde at the bar.
Patrick gave his wife a quick kiss. He leaned in Roshawn’s direction. “I apologize for my friend, Roshawn. He can’t help himself sometimes.”
Roshawn smiled as she took a sip of her drink. “Not a problem. He’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“So, Nina tells me you’re new to this area. What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
“My daughter. She’s relocating here to live with her father while she attends the University of Phoenix. I’m just here for the summer to help her get settled.”
“You lucked into a great temp job,” Nina mused. “They say John Chen is great to work for even when he’s acting like a man!”
The two women chuckled.
“Well,” Roshawn said, setting her glass against the wooden table. “John is my ex-husband. I kind of had an inside track.”
Nina’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your ex? You actually work for your ex-husband and you get along?”
“We’re great friends.”
Nina laughed. “Oh, this is too good! So, how do you get along with his wife?” Nina queried, leaning in closer to Roshawn. “She’s not very friendly. Doesn’t hang out with us wives much.”
Her husband shook his head. “Don’t start, Nina.” He turned to Roshawn. “Don’t answer that. She’s spends more time in other people’s business!”
Roshawn laughed. “Allison’s very nice. She and I don’t have any problems. Trust me, it’s not as strange as it seems.”
“You go, girl! I have to give it to you. I can’t stand Patrick’s ex-wife. It’s a good thing they didn’t have any kids.”
The man shuddered. “Patrick can’t stand his ex-wife.”
The trio chatted comfortably for a few minutes and then the DJ shifted the mood with a classic Sam Cooke selection. When Sam started pleading for his woman to bring her love on home, Roshawn needed to get out of her seat. Her new friends were thinking the same thing as they followed behind her and headed hand in hand to the dance floor. The DJ had set a seductive mood and Roshawn found herself wishing for someone to hold her close as she shut her eyes and moved in time to the music.
* * *
Angel Rios caught sight of the ebony-toned woman the minute he walked into the room. It was the woman from the elevator and she was dancing alone. Alone on the dance floor and for a moment he and every other man in the room was transfixed by her movements. Smooth black skin glistened under the faint lights as she moved slowly and suggestively, her body bending in sync with the beat of the music whispering out of the speakers. The sheer, caramel-colored dress she wore was skintight, clinging like mist to her lean frame. Barely a size four thick, her bustline amounted to just a mouthful, her paper-thin waist magnifying just a hint of hips supported by lean, sculpted legs. Her regal presence was undeniable as she moved with a liquid fluidity that held him hostage where he stood.
Savoring the sight, Angel was grateful for the darkness that concealed his obvious interest. Taking a quick glance around the room, he noted the wealth of attention the woman was garnering, admirers sitting straighter in their seats as each contemplated making a move on the beautiful woman. He took a step closer himself before movement out of the corner of his eye pulled his attention. Everyone spied the man who was almost racing to the dance floor to catch up with her.
Angel recognized the sports agent who had moved quickly to the woman’s side, his large hands falling possessively against the line of her hips as he pulled her close. Her eyes opened to acknowledge the man, but they were cold, no hint of desire emanating from them. Angel smiled ever so slightly. That woman would surely not be possessed by that man that night. In fact, Angel mused as he continued to study her body language, that man would not possess her ever.
A manicured hand fell against his own forearm, breaking his thoughts. The woman who smiled up at him was eager for his attention, her bright red fingernails lightly grazing the length of his arm. Angel smiled back as she pulled him toward the bar. Her intentions were clear. His would be also. He turned one last time to stare back at the dance floor, catching one final glimpse of the exquisite woman as she disappeared out the front door, leaving her admirer doubled over in pain in the center of the room.
* * *
It was close to midnight and her two friends were laughing over the telephone as Roshawn gave them an update on everything that had transpired since her arrival.
“The last straw was when the brother starting grinding on me. He has the audacity to whisper in my ear that we needed to take it back to his apartment because he was much better doing a horizontal mambo.”
Bridget laughed. “Please, don’t tell me you went home with him.”
Roshawn sucked her teeth. “Of course not. That fool got all he was getting from me. I left him slumped over after giving him one well-placed knee to where it hurt him the most. He won’t be trying that with me ever again.”
Jeneva chuckled. “You haven’t been there for two weeks and already you’re assaulting people. Brings back memories,” she laughed.
“Ha, ha, ha,” Roshawn chimed sarcastically. “You are so funny.”
“How is the job?” Bridget asked.
“Not bad actually. And I think I might be doing hair on the side every now and then.”
“Now that brings back memories,” Bridget said. “You use to hook up some hair in your mother’s kitchen. Remember that, Jeneva?”
“I sure do. Roshawn learned how to do her first weave on Connie Brimm’s big head. She did Connie and Connie cleaned out Mrs. Bradsher’s refrigerator.”
The trio giggled.
“Well, you sound great Roshawn,” Jeneva said.
“Yes, you do,” Bridget agreed.
“I’m feeling good, although…” Roshawn hesitated.
“Although, what?” Bridget prodded.
Roshawn paused, searching for the words. She heaved a deep sigh before she spoke. “I was actually lonely tonight. It was strange. For a quick minute I was missing Chen, and then I realized it really wasn’t Chen I was missing, it was…”
“Not having a man,” Bridget finished for her.
Roshawn sighed again. “Yeah.”
Jeneva nodded into the receiver. “You’ll meet someone, Roshawn. You just have to give it time. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to.”
“I don’t know about all that now,” Bridget interjected. “I’m still waiting, and it’s been how long? You’ve had two husbands, Roshawn’s had one, and I’m still trying to get a date who lasts longer than the appetizer and dinner.”
“If you’d talk to the man, you wouldn’t have that problem,” Jeneva stated.
“What man?”
Roshawn laughed. “You know what man. Is he still in Louisiana?”
“Oh, please!” Bridget said, her eyes rolling.
“Darwin’s back in a few weeks,” Jeneva responded. “Then we’ll see what’s up.”
Roshawn giggled. The
moment went quiet for a quick second before she spoke. “I miss you guys,” she said softly. “I miss you two a lot.”
“We miss you, too,” they both responded.
“Call us next week,” Bridget commanded. “Okay?”
“I will. Jeneva, kiss my baby for me, and tell Mac I said hello.”
“I will. Enjoy it, Roshawn. Everything will work out just fine.”
After hanging up the receiver, Roshawn looked out onto the moonlit patio. The house was eerie, nothing but the quiet of darkness surrounding her. Closing the blinds, she headed toward the back of the house and the master bedroom, thinking that maybe tomorrow night wouldn’t feel so empty.
Chapter 7
Chen met Roshawn at the office door, a long list of things for her to do in his hand.
“Where are you off to?” Roshawn asked, noting the airline tickets peeking from his breast pocket.
“Cancun. Allison has a few days off so we’re taking Ming for a quick trip.”
Roshawn slowly nodded her head. “Thanks for telling me.”
The man studied her for a quick minute, noting her tightened jaw and the abrasive glare washing over him. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it’s only for the weekend.”
“I didn’t say anything yet, Chen.”
“You didn’t have to. Your face is saying it for you.”
Roshawn cut her eye at him as she moved to the seat behind the desk. “Chen, you don’t have to get my permission to take your wife and our daughter on a trip. But having the courtesy to tell me before you’re walking onto the plane would have been nice.”
“I’m telling you now.”
“You could have called me last night, Chen. I was hoping to spend time with Ming this weekend.”
The man tossed his head back against his shoulders, exasperation shadowing his expression. “Is this going to be a fight?”
“Only if you make it one.”
Chen closed his eyes for a quick moment, then refocused his gaze back on Roshawn’s face, her eyes piercing straight through him. “I apologize. You’re right. I should have called you last night.”
Love in the Lineup Page 6
