by Tina Martin
Get to know each other...
He knew what that meant. He also knew by her body language she was down for whatever he would throw at her. A simple gin and tonic wouldn’t be enough to quench her thirst. A lot of women wanted him for his looks. Many wanted him for his money. He was aware of that, and so he’d oblige as long as he could get what he wanted in return.
And then that lifestyle didn’t seem too thrilling any longer. Woman-free, he’d spent a year figuring out what he wanted. He wanted something deeper. He longed to meet a woman who could not care less about his tax bracket. His muscles. His eyes. His strength. Stamina. He knew that woman was Sherita, but the kiss he stole from her the other night had sent him running.
If he could revert back to his old ways, he could forget about Sherita. So, turning to Audrey, he said smoothly, “We could go up to my room if you’re cool with that.”
She smiled. “Let’s go.”
Distraction. He needed one and he got it from a woman he barely knew named Audrey. Side-by-side they’d walked to the elevator, and when they stepped inside, she reached for his necktie. She’d been flirtatious from jump, but even though she was a distraction, he still had images of only one woman in his head.
He could see the joy in her eyes when she took pictures of Ezra and Grace. The light wind tackling her hair. And speaking of hair, he still remembered the way it smelled – like sweet fruit when he’d stood behind her in line at the coffee shop. And when his hands brushed against her arm, he remembered how smooth her arm felt. When he leaned in close to her while they took pictures, her face was warm. Soft. He felt her tremble just by the sensation of them being skin-to-skin. Then there was the kiss they shared. His heart had never pounded so fiercely before. He’d never kissed a woman the way he kissed her, practically devouring her right there in his brother’s front yard. The more he heard her moan, the more he wanted her to produce those sweet sounds.
The ding of the elevator took him out of his trance. His mind was so wrapped up with Sherita, he had forgotten he was in the elevator with Audrey, but when he felt her reach for his hand, he snatched it away, looked at her and said, “It was nice to meet you, Audrey, but I have to go.”
Dejected, she said, “Is something wrong?”
“It’s business…something I neglected to do earlier.”
“Is it something I can help you with?”
“Thanks, but no. It’s just a small fire I need to put out before it becomes a raging inferno,” he said.
“Okay, well thanks for the drink.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, and after watching her step back inside of the elevator, he continued down the hallway to his room, mumbling disappointment at the realization of what was happening to him. Sherita wasn’t even here, and the thought of her was doing a number on him. Making him feel things he didn’t want to feel. Would it ever stop?
In his room, he undressed quickly, stepping under a stream of lukewarm water, attempting to put out the fire he’d just told Audrey about. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be working. He could still feel the heat of Sherita’s lips against his. Her face against his. Out of frustration, he slapped the tiled wall and shut off the water. He didn’t like this not one bit. No woman could have this kind of control over his mind. He was determined to get her out of his head, one way or another.
CHAPTER 10
The next morning, Desmond sat up with a frown on his face, reluctant to start the day with thoughts of the woman he’d dreamed about. Again. Did he want her that bad? So much so she would invade his thoughts and dreams every time he closed his eyes?
He yawned. Stretched. Glanced at the clock. He quickly looked at it again, not believing it was almost noon. He’d overslept. He didn’t have anything on the schedule today, but he didn’t want to sleep in either. Extra sleep was a waste of valuable time. There was always something to do, even if it was something as simple as updating his calendar or planning his next business trip.
First, he needed to check his messages. Taking his cell phone from the nightstand, he noticed several urgent text messages from Dante. Then again, everything was urgent to Dante. As CEO of The Champion Corporation, his oldest brother made sure to stay on top of everything. Since Desmond hadn’t called to give him an update on Bell-Butler, he was certain that was the reason for Dante’s text messages.
Dimitrius had tried calling, too but didn’t bother leaving a voicemail or a text.
Sitting on the edge of the bed now, Desmond dialed Dante’s desk phone. Dante rarely took lunch breaks, so Desmond was sure he’d be in his office.
“Desmond, where have you been, man,” Dante answered with irritation in his voice.
“I was sleeping. What’s so urgent, Dante?”
“I need you on the next flight to Asheville.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Desmond asked. He stood up and walked over to the windows in the gray boxers he was wearing.
“Let’s just say I got an interesting visit from Victor Westwood yesterday.”
“He actually came by there?”
“He did, so get dressed, get on a flight and get here as fast as you can.”
“And what about Bell-Butler?”
“We’ll worry about them if and when they contact us. If need be, Kurt can take over this account. Right now, I need you here, bro.”
“Got it,” Desmond said. “Let me throw on some clothes, and I’ll head straight for the airport.”
“Thanks, Des. Later.”
Desmond set the phone back onto the nightstand and blew a frustrated breath. It was only Tuesday, and he was already going back to Asheville. So much for his plan of getting Sherita out of his system.
* * *
Sherita had been home all day today, frustrated with the process of uploading pictures to her website’s portfolio page. If she was going to make photography her only occupation, then she needed to make money at it – enough to support herself and take care of her parents. Her father had gotten laid off two years before retirement age, and her mother never had a job. Now, all the money they had to live off of was the money her father made working odd jobs and the money she would give them.
Frustrated, she took a break from her computer to stretch. After taking a bottle of water from the refrigerator, she stepped out onto the balcony and marveled at how beautiful the day was turning out to be. Low-eighties. Bright sky. The laughter of children filled the streets and something she hadn’t thought about in a long time had floated its way inside of her mind. Her happily ever after…
Her closest friends had already married and started their lives with good, solid men. And there she was, still single. Normally, she wouldn’t think about things like this but thanks to her mother, Thane had been on her mind. And then her mother said Thane might be her last chance at happiness. How could she be happy with a conniving, serial cheater? How could a relationship work when one party didn’t trust the other? She definitely didn’t trust Thane. He’d broken her heart once. He wouldn’t do it again.
Walking back inside, she picked up her cell to call Emily when she saw another text from Thane:
We need to talk. I’m thinking about one day next week. Let me know what day is good for you.
-T. P.
Just go away already. She shook her head and continued with dialing Emily’s number.
“Hey, girl,” answered.
“Hey. Are you at the store today?”
“I am.”
“Would it be too much trouble if I came over? I need to talk to you about something.”
“You know you don’t have to ask to come and see me, Sherita. Come on over, girl.”
Sherita smiled. “Okay. I’ll be there shortly. Thanks, Em.”
“All right. See you in a minute.”
CHAPTER 11
“Hey, Rita,” Emily said, looking at Sherita as she quietly walked in her office.
Sherita sat down, burying her face in her hands.
Emily immediately jumped up and stooped
down in front of her. “Sherita, what’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t even know where to begin,” she said tearfully. Honestly. She sniffled and after removing her hands from her face, more tears rolled out of her eyes.
Emily grabbed a box of Kleenex from her desk, then was right back in front of Sherita, attempting to comfort her. “Rita, talk to me. What’s bothering you?”
Sherita shook her head. “Gosh, I can’t believe I’m actually crying. I’m so stupid.”
“No, you’re not stupid, you’re human, now talk to me.”
Sherita dabbed her eyes. “I was home alone thinking about how almost everyone I know is either married or getting married, and I’m still single and I’ve been single for four years. Four years, Emily.”
“Oh no, Sherita. Did our conversation on Friday bring this on? If it did, I am so sorry.”
“No, well that was a part of it. Then, yesterday, I got a phone call from my mother, telling me that Thane was in town. She proceeds to tell me he has changed, and I should date him again because I didn’t have any other prospects.” Sherita dabbed her eyes. “I must be a total loser if my own mother thinks I can’t get a man.”
“You know that’s not true, Sherita.”
“I do…still I don’t want to hear it, especially when I feel like I’m the woman no one wants.”
“Rita, there’s somebody for everybody, and like you said, you’re only twenty-six.”
“According to my mother, I’m twenty-six with no prospects. It’s like she was telling me to go ahead and get back with Thane because he was my only hope.”
“Nonsense.”
“That’s what I thought initially, but what if my mom is right?” she said in a teary whimper. “Maybe I should just get back with Thane, marry him and have his babies. At least then, I can fit in with you and Melanie again.”
“Sherita, now you’re talking crazy.”
“No, I’m not. I see how you two have moved on with your fabulous lives, and don’t get me wrong Emily. I’m happy for you both. I just don’t know why a man has never wanted me that way…so much so that he’d go through great lengths to get me like Dante did to get you. And you have Ezra…you have your family. Pretty soon, more babies will come and then your lives will totally revolve around your family…not your single friend who just can’t seem to get or keep a man.”
Emily sighed and dabbed her eyes. “Sherita, I try to include you in almost everything we do.”
“I know, because you don’t want me to be left out. I get it, but you shouldn’t have to do that, Emily. As a matter of fact, don’t do it anymore, okay.”
“Sherita—”
“No, I’m serious. I don’t think I’m going to be here much longer, anyway.”
“What are you saying?” Emily asked, paling slightly. “You’re moving?”
“I’ve been thinking about it.”
Emily swallowed hard and failed to catch the tear that slid out of her eye. With a shaky, trembling voice, she said, “I know this is selfish of me to ask, but what about Ezra? What about Grace? What about me? You’re like a sister to me, Sherita. I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, but—” Sherita took a breath. “There are more job offers for me near the coast, and it would help a lot if I lived there already...” Sherita sighed. “Listen, I’m going to go. I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to talk…to get some things off of my chest.”
Emily stood up.
Sherita joined her. “Well, thanks for listening.”
“This isn’t over. I’m coming by your place when I close the boutique.”
Sherita shook her head. “No. You don’t have to. You have to get home to Ezra, and when you do, give him a kiss for me. Okay?”
“I’m coming over, Sherita,” Emily said, taking a step closer to her friend, pulling her into an embrace. “And listen…I don’t care what your mother says…if you don’t want to be with Thane, or whatever his name is, then don’t settle for something you don’t want. What kind of name is Thane anyway?”
The women laughed together, teary-eyed and all.
Sherita dabbed her eyes again and said, “I’m a mess. Let me get out of here.”
“Okay, and don’t forget…I’m coming over.”
If Emily said she was coming over, then she was coming over. She’d always been a loyal friend, something Sherita appreciated about her. So instead of offering up any defiance, Sherita shot a half smile, then headed for the door, leaving the boutique.
CHAPTER 12
Dante paced the floor with his hands buried in the pockets of his pants, waiting for Desmond. It was already six in the evening. He should’ve been there by now. What was the hold up?
Dimitrius called Melanie to inform her that he was still at the office, waiting for Desmond to arrive.
Dante left a message for Emily since he couldn’t reach her. Then he called the nanny to check on Ezra.
Dimitrius looked at his watch. “Dante, maybe we should just do this tomorrow morning…start fresh on Wednesday with a clean slate. You know how moody Desmond gets after traveling.”
Dante smirked. “Desmond has been moody a lot lately, but I doubt it has anything to do with travel.”
“Oh, yeah…Sherita.” Dimitrius grinned.
Dante thought quietly for a moment, then said, “Our brother has some deeply rooted issues he needs to resolve, and he’s going to need our help. So we’ll just have to suffer through his mood swings for now. This is too important to wait until tomorrow. He needs to hear this now.”
“Hear what?” Desmond said, stepping into Dante’s office, taking a seat next to Dimitrius.
“You’re here. Finally.” Dimitrius scowled.
“Slight flight delay,” Desmond responded. “Now what’s going on so I can get out of here? I’m ready to crash.”
“Well,” Dante said, walking over to the door, closing it. Even though the workday ended at five, there was a good amount of people who hung around until six, and he needed to keep this information strictly confidential. “So, as I told you both already, I met with Victor Westwood yesterday.”
Dimitrius nodded silently while Desmond sat expressionless.
Dante sat in a chair, not behind his desk, but near his brothers. He took a good look at Desmond, studying him for a moment. He looked tired as he should’ve been after back-to-back flights, only to have to come straight to the office at six in the evening. Dante leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs and interlocking his fingers. “Before I go any further into that, I have a question for you, Des.”
“Shoot.”
“Were you at a park on Friday evening?”
With a clenched jaw, Desmond asked, “What does that have to do with the business at hand, Dante?”
“It has everything to do with this business proposition which Victor is pretty much handing to us.”
“How so?”
“Victor thinks he saw you at a park Friday evening. Now, I told him he must’ve been mistaken because I knew you were at my house Friday evening watching the kids, but he claims he saw you, or someone who looks like you, at a park taking family photos.”
“I was at a park on Friday,” Desmond admitted, clearing up the matter. “Carrier Park. What that has to do with Victor is beyond me.”
A look of confusion washed over Dante’s face. “So you were at a park on Friday?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Affirmative,” Desmond said.
Dimitrius scratched his head with a pen. “But you were supposed to be watching the kids Friday, right?”
“I was watching the kids...”
“Then what? You took a break and went to the park?” Dante asked.
Desmond nodded. “Something like that.”
Furrowing his brows, Dante asked, “With who?”
“With…” Desmond paused. Gosh, he had to say her name again. “Who do you think? I was with Sherita. She wanted to surprise your wives by taking some pictures of the Ezra
and Grace at the park. Victor must’ve seen us, and the old, disorientated man just assumed we were a family. I told you we shouldn’t work with this guy, Dante. Why would he just assume I was with my family?”
“If I saw you at the park with a woman and two kids taking pictures, I would probably assume same thing,” Dimitrius said.
“Well nobody asked you, Dimitrius,” Desmond responded.
“Nobody had to ask,” Dimitrius fired back. “I’m making a statement. And what’s gotten you all bent out of shape anyway? Women problems?”
Desmond glared at Dimitrius. Then, refocusing, he asked, “Dante, are we done here?”
Dante stood up. “No, we’re not done.”
Dimitrius leaned back in his chair. “Come on, Dante. You’ve kept us in the dark long enough. Now what is Victor pitching to you?”
Sighing deeply, Dante sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. “Okay, listen…Victor wants us for his new project. He’s launching a company called Service Swap, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’ll be a new website where people can swap services. No money will be exchanged between them, but the site will charge a yearly membership fee. He wants us to design the website and a smartphone application.”
And why am I here again? Desmond wasn’t a designer, nor did he create smartphone applications. He had vast computer knowledge, even assisted with creating the company’s website. Still, his job was marketing. He had the ability to make people want things they really didn’t need. “So what does that have to do with me?” he finally asked.
“Victor wants you to lay out an eight-week marketing campaign,” Dante told him. “But your little photo shoot has us in a bind.”
“How’s that?” Desmond asked, feeling his irritation grow deeper.
“The only reason the old man wants to work with us is because he thinks we’re all married. All of us,” Dante said, looking at Desmond. “Marriage is a sign of stability to people like Victor. Now, he wants to do dinner with us and our wives to get a feel for our personalities, and therein lies the problem. If he finds out you’re still single, Desmond, he’s probably going to back out of the deal altogether.”
