The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed

by Tina Martin

  He turned around and looked at her, feeling his muscles tense. Why was she riding his back? If only she knew what she was doing to him. “I suggest you go back inside. I told you…I have plans.”

  She grinned, shook her head then turned around to begin her walk back to the house. “Now who’s running?” she said in a monotone.

  “What’d you say?” Desmond asked.

  Sherita kept on walking, and something about that infuriated him.

  He dropped his helmet, made a beeline for her, and before she could catch a breath, he grabbed her arm, spun her round and clamped his mouth onto hers, his hands resting against her face, taking a powerful, earth-quaking kiss from her lips – lips he’d dreamed of kissing. And then his hands crawled to the back of her head, gripping her tightly, controlling her every movement – allowing him to fully possess those lips, making her part them for him, giving him full access to every corner of her mouth.

  A deep moan settled in his throat, similar to the strange humming sound he’d make when he ate anything sweet. But nothing, he knew, could be sweeter than this. He heard her whimper – heard the rapid breaths she’d attempted to take, but greed wouldn’t allow him to let go of her. No, not after he’d been dying to do this since he first realized how weak she’d made him. He would take all he could, because this would never happen again.

  When he finally had his fill, he pulled his mouth away from hers and with his hands still gripping her head, he said, “This is why I have to leave, and this is why I can never see you again. Goodbye Sherita.”

  Too stunned to say a word, she watched him return to his motorcycle, put on his helmet then drive away, listening as the motorcycle roared off into the night.

  CHAPTER 7

  Desmond woke up Saturday morning rubbing his eyes, still confused. What was happening to him? After he’d left in a hurry last night, he came home, took a shower and continued thinking about her. About the kiss. Thoughts of her invaded his dreams, forcing him to wake up twice, panting. Becoming reacquainted with her had been a mistake. Kissing her had been an even bigger one. He needed a distraction to take his mind off of her, and it needed to be something drastic.

  He told his brothers he wanted to postpone his travels for a while, but a getaway is just what he needed. He was supposed to leave for New York on Monday, but had made arrangements for Kurt to go instead. Now, he would go. He would just let Dante know he had changed his mind.

  * * *

  “So how did it go last night?” Emily asked Sherita.

  “Yeah, how did it go?” Melanie asked with bright, inquisitive eyes.

  The women were having lunch at a restaurant a few miles away from Sherita’s apartment.

  Sherita glanced up at them. They were both staring at her, anxious for an answer. How did it go? All she could think about was that kiss. After Desmond kissed her, she had to touch her lips to make sure they were still attached to her face. And then there was the fact that he told her he could never see her again. Emily and Melanie certainly didn’t need to know any of that. “What were you guys expecting to happen?” Sherita asked them.

  “I don’t know,” Emily said. “One might say they were hoping you and Desmond hit it off.”

  “Well, one might be wrong,” Sherita said. “And I’ve already had the Desmond conversation with you, Emily.”

  “Yes, but I still want to know what happened,” Emily replied.

  Sherita sighed heavily. “The evening started off rocky. As soon as you guys left, he was asking me what our baby plans were for the evening.”

  “Baby plans or baby-making plans?” Melanie quipped. She, like everyone else, knew Desmond had a thing for Sherita.

  “Ba-by plans,” Sherita clarified. “Later, we got into an argument…well, he said we were having a conversation…about the fact that he had been avoiding me for an entire year. We got some takeout, ate dinner together, and then he told me why he was avoiding me.”

  Melanie leaned forward.

  Emily’s eyes widened.

  The women were listening acutely, waiting for Sherita to tell them what everyone had been puzzled about.

  “Before I say a word more,” Sherita said, “Nothing leaves this table, not even to Dante and Dimitrius. Got it?”

  “Yes, now spill it…what did he say?” Emily said.

  “He said he’d been avoiding me because he liked me and—”

  “And what?” Melanie asked.

  Almost too ashamed to say it, Sherita said in a low tone, “He wanted me.”

  “I knew it!” Emily shouted. “I knew he was infatuated with you.”

  Melanie giggled. “I knew it, too. It was so obvious. I’m just surprised he admitted it. Dimitrius makes it seem like Desmond is some anti-relationship bachelor who’s incapable of loving a woman.”

  “And Dimitrius would be right,” Sherita said. “Desmond proceeded to tell me that he was ignoring me because he couldn’t give me what I wanted. Said he didn’t want marriage, children or none of that. Said I wasn’t ready to be pursued by a man like him, so he stayed away from me more for my sake rather than for his own.”

  Emily’s mouth fell open more than Melanie’s had.

  “He actually said that?” Emily asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I mean, out loud,” Emily clarified. “He said that out loud?”

  “Sure did. Some nerve right?”

  “Wow. And I thought Dante was bold when he wanted to date me. Guess he didn’t have anything on Desmond.”

  “I was thinking the same thing about Dimitrius,” Melanie said.

  “Wait…it gets better,” Sherita said. “Even after all of that, we manage to squeeze out a somewhat decent conversation. I asked him where he lived…he asked me where I lived, and everything was going good until he got up from the table and practically ran out of the front door.”

  “What?” Melanie asked, confused.

  “You heard me.”

  “He left while you two were talking?”

  “Yep. He stood up, walked to the foyer and grabbed his helmet. So I followed him outside…asked him if it was something I said and all he said was, he had to go. I asked him why and he sort of snapped.”

  “Snapped?” Emily and Melanie said together.

  “Yeah. Snapped. He dropped his helmet and then he—” Sherita paused. She didn’t want to tell them about the kiss, but since it would never happen again, what was the big deal about keeping it a secret? “He kissed me.”

  “He kissed you!” Emily and Melanie blurted out.

  Sherita chuckled. “Okay, doublemint twins…y’all need to stop doing that.”

  “Desmond kissed you, Sherita?” Emily asked.

  “Yes. Then he told me he could never see me again, jumped on his motorcycle and sped off like a crazed psychopath fleeing a crime scene.”

  Melanie laughed while Emily shook her head.

  “Something is seriously wrong with him,” Sherita said, giggling a little herself. “And I don’t want to hear anything else from you or you about Desmond because, like he admitted, he’s not like Dante and Dimitrius. He likes his carefree lifestyle, and a woman can’t stand in the way of him and his success.” Sherita took a sip of mango daiquiri. “Now, how was the concert?”

  “Girl,” Melanie said, “We had a great time. I didn’t realize how much I needed a break. I mean, I love my baby, but now I see how important it is for parents to get away every now and then.”

  “I second that,” Emily said.

  “Well, anytime you need a break, just call me,” Sherita said. “And let me just state, for the record, that I can watch them alone. I don’t need any help. None. What-so-ever!”

  The women laughed together.

  “Okay, Sherita,” Emily said. “We’ll keep that in mind.”

  CHAPTER 8

  After finding his luggage, Desmond waved down a taxi then went straight to his hotel. He’d be meeting with Bell-Butler Group, the parent company of over five-thousand temporary staffi
ng agencies in North America. His plan was to pitch the new eRoll service The Champion Corporation had to offer since Bell-Butler had been among other companies on his watch list that couldn’t make the product rollout in Las Vegas. Landing this contract meant big business for TCC. If Bell-Butler Group signed a contract, surely more staffing agencies would follow suit. That was his plan – catch the big fish and the little fish would follow.

  Once he arrived at his hotel, he left his suitcase by the door, took out his cell phone and dialed Dante. He walked over to the windows of his sixth floor room and stared down into the busy street, watching crowds of people flood the sidewalks. A sea of yellow taxi cabs blanketed the streets.

  “Hey, Des. Are you there yet?” Dante asked.

  “Just arrived at the hotel. I have about a thirty minutes to burn before they’re expecting me,” he said then bit into a jelly donut he’d grabbed from the lobby.

  “I was a little surprised to hear you changed your mind about traveling. You knew Kurt could handle the pitch, right?”

  “Of course. I don’t doubt his abilities. I just needed to go. You know me…I don’t like staying in the same place for too long.”

  “Speaking of staying at the same place, how was it hanging out with Sherita Friday night?”

  Desmond frowned. He came here to forget her and now Dante was bringing her up. “It was fine.”

  “It was?”

  Desmond could sense Dante’s frown even though he couldn’t see him. “Yes. Have you heard otherwise?” Desmond inquired.

  “No. I haven’t heard a thing. The only reason I’m asking is because you had already left by the time we’d gotten back.”

  “Oh, yeah…had to leave early to meet someone.”

  “Oh.” But why would he be meeting someone when it was obvious he had it bad for Sherita? Well, it was obvious to him. He hadn’t known if anyone else had picked up on it, but he certainly had. “So did you and Sherita get a chance to talk?”

  More Sherita questions… “A little.”

  “And?”

  His face twisted. “And what, Dante?”

  “How was the conversation? Did you hit it off? What happened?”

  “Nothing happened. What did you think was going to happen?”

  Dante chuckled. “Man, Desmond, I don’t know who you think you’re fooling, but I know you’re feeling her.”

  “I thought I was, too. Turns out, I don’t like her as much as I thought I did. Why do you think I came here, Dante? I told you last week I didn’t want to take this trip, but I had to get away from there, from her, and I would appreciate it if you and Dimitrius would stop pawning the girl off on me like she’s destined to be mine.”

  “Des—”

  “No, I’m serious. You married Emily. Dimitris married Melanie. Just because Sherita is the single friend of your wives does not make her next in line to marry me because that life isn’t for me.”

  Dante released a heavy sigh. “Fine. I won’t mention her name again, but do me a favor, Des.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t call me and don’t call Dimitrius when you want to find out if Sherita is going to be at a particular event. If you don’t like her, then you have no reason to avoid her. It’s not like she’s stalking you or anything.”

  “Not a problem. Later.” Desmond hung up the phone and scrubbed his hand over his head. Sherita strikes again…

  Now she was causing problems between him and his brothers. He had good relationships with his brothers – personal and work. They were close and the only time they got into heated discussions was when something came up that concerned the business. Sherita wasn’t included in that, yet she seemed to be driving a wedge between them. He had to get her out of his system, and he knew what kind of distraction he needed to do just that.

  * * *

  After eating a small salad for dinner, Sherita showered and was about to recline on the sofa when she heard her cell phone ringing. She picked it up from the coffee table and saw the caller – her mother.

  “Hey, Ma,” she answered.

  “Hey, Rita. How are you, sweetie?”

  “I’m fine…been busy with work. Are you okay?”

  “I’m doing good. Your father is okay, too. I was just calling to tell you that Thane stopped by. He was asking about you.”

  No, no, no, no, no! “Mom, you do realize Thane and I broke up like three years ago, and I haven’t seen him since.”

  “Yes, but I told you Thane would come around. He loves you, Rita. And you should see him now, honey. That boy done filled out into a good-looking young man. He told your father he started his own law firm right here in Asheville. Now you know he didn’t come back here just to start a business, sweetie. He came back for you, Rita.”

  “Well, that’s too bad, because I don’t want anything to do with Thane. Why don’t you tell him that the next time he decides to drop in?”

  “Come on now, baby. You both were young back then. People change, you know.”

  “People don’t change, Ma. They just get old.”

  Her mother laughed. “Well, with age comes wisdom, right?”

  “In some cases…definitely not all.”

  “Look-a here, Rita. Your father and I want you to be happy. Don’t you want to get married?”

  “Of course I do, but not to Thane Pennington.”

  “Right now, he seems to be your only prospect.”

  “Wow. Umm…Ma, I’m not having this conversation with you, okay.”

  “Look, now you gettin’ upset and I’m just trying to talk to you, Rita. I want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy. I don’t need a man to be happy. I’m fine. Now listen…I have to go, but tell dad I’ll have some money for him soon, okay.”

  Her mother sighed. “All right. Well, have a good night. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Ma. Goodnight.”

  Sherita sighed sharply then dropped her phone to table. Now she had the man on her mind.

  Thane Pennington.

  He had some nerve, still keeping in contact with her parents to stay in their favor, just so he could get to her. And to think when he had her, he didn’t want her. She remembered when her college buddies used to tell her he wasn’t any good. Said they’d seen him with several women. Not one. Not two. Several. Still, Sherita defended him. She said Thane came from a good family. She knew his parents. His mother was a teacher, and Thane had followed in the footsteps of his father and had become a lawyer. Then she learned the hard way that just because a person comes from a good family doesn’t mean they themselves are good.

  Sherita shook her head, grabbed the remote and powered on the TV. Her phone beeped when she sat back on the couch.

  “Who is it now?” she griped.

  Sitting up again, she took her phone and fingered over to the text messages where she saw one from a strange number. All it said was:

  Hey you. I’ve been thinking about us.

  -T.P.

  Thane Pennington. Her forehead creased. “No they did not give this fool my cell phone number.” Her mother, or it could’ve been her father, had given Thane her number. Sherita dropped the phone on the table and began massaging her temples. Between dealing with Desmond, Thane and some desperate parents who wanted their only child to marry, it was shaping up to be a long summer.

  CHAPTER 9

  Desmond was feeling more like himself this evening. He’d been sitting at the bar, on the ground floor of his hotel, still in the fly suit he’d worn earlier when he pitched eRoll to Bell-Butler Group. The meeting had been successful as all of his meetings were. He excelled in his field, so much so that lately, he’d been requested by other companies to help spearhead their marketing campaigns. While he would accept a few projects here and there, his loyalty was to The Champion Corporation.

  “So what line of work are you in, Desmond?” Audrey asked.

  Desmond took a tight-lipped sip of the Cognac he’d been slowly drinking for the last ten minutes, ab
out as long as he had been talking to Audrey. He noticed her the moment she walked in, wearing a black dress that hugged her hips with a pair of royal blue stilettos. And he was sure she noticed him. Every woman in the joint noticed him whether they were with a man or not.

  Still, he didn’t made eye contact with anyone. He was sitting alone, thumbing through his phone, checking emails from work. He would be in New York for the rest of the week, hoping he’d get the green light from Bell-Butler. It would be ideal if he could meet with them once more before leaving for Asheville.

  While he had been immersed in his phone, the good-looking woman introduced herself after taking the barstool next to him. And he’d introduced himself to her. The old Desmond was back.

  “I’m in marketing,” he told her. “You?”

  “Publishing. I’m an editor.”

  “That’s tedious work,” he said, taking a sip.

  She chuckled. “That’s why I’m at the bar.”

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  “A gin and tonic would be nice.”

  Desmond threw up two fingers, motioning for the bartender, ordering her drink.

  “Thank you, Desmond.”

  “No problem.”

  “Where are you from?” she inquired.

  “Originally from San Francisco but now I live in Asheville, North Carolina.”

  “I’ve never been to North Carolina.”

  “Really?”

  “Not at all, but I heard it was nice. As a matter of fact, I heard the Obamas wanted to live there after they leave the White House.”

  Desmond nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice. I have no complaints.”

  “How long are you in New York?”

  “Not sure. Maybe another day or two.”

  “Aw, that’s too bad,” she said with pouty, burgundy lips, turning to face him while crossing her legs. “We don’t have any time to get to know each other.”