My father inhaled deeply. “That’s always been the thing about you, Grey. Sometimes you overthink, son.”
Greyson’s eyes narrowed at my father as he leaned back. “And sometimes you want me not to think at all. I won’t do it, Dad. It’s cost me too much in the past.”
“What do you think this is gonna cost you, son?” my father asked, striding toward the table, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I have no idea. But I do believe it’ll cost Kent in the end.”
I had been leaned back in my seat, my arm casually resting along the back of my chair. “What’s it gonna cost me?”
“You never know with Dad.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Dad?”
“Do you want the property or not? Bill informed you no one would be losing their homes. There’s nothing to worry about. Some people owe me some favors, and this is a chance to do something for my son. I’m proud of the things you’re doing, how you’re becoming an accomplished businessman, and investing in various opportunities. You’re not sticking to one base but expanding your portfolio. I want to support that.”
I glanced at Greyson again. Shrugging, he replied, “I don’t know, Kent. It’s your call.”
“Son, I’ve never left you hanging on anything. Whatever you’ve ever asked me for, I’ve given it to you willingly. So, this is your call. Take it or leave it. It doesn’t matter to me,” my father said, turning on his heel and leaving the room.
Bill stared at Greyson and me.
My father was right; he had never denied me anything. Instead, he had indulged all of my wishes. I couldn’t imagine this was anything more than that.
“Your call,” Greyson repeated when I looked to him once more.
“Okay, Bill. I’ll take it.”
“Good. I just need your signature here on the line, and then I can submit your offer to the bank.”
I accepted the pen, ignoring the heavy, sinking feeling in my belly as I signed my name on the bottom of the page. Looking towards Greyson, I accepted his half-smile as having my back.
Bill stood up with his lips pressed into a thin line, which was a resemblance of a smile. I stood and handed the pen back to him.
Shaking his hand, I said, “Thanks, Bill.”
“Thank you, Kent. Congratulations, you’ve purchased your first piece of property.”
After Greyson and I had boarded the elevator heading back to our ride, I looked at my big brother.
“Did you feel like this after purchasing your first property?”
“Like what?” Greyson asked, turning my way with an interesting look.
“Like you’d made a deal with the devil?”
A slight smirk lifted his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes. “Hell, no. I refused to do business with Dad.”
CHAPTER 14 – MADISON
“One...two...three...four. Arms above your heads, ladies,” I corrected as I went down the line, repositioning arms and reassuring the little ones with an encouraging smile.
We ran through another fifteen minutes of practice before I stopped the music.
“Job well done today!” I said, taking a curtsy and smiling as they mimicked my position, the smaller ones struggling to not fall on their heads.
“Kimara, work on your pliés while you’re gone,” I said to my twelve-year-old student. “Tiffanie, let your jumps be more gentle,” I advised a nine-year-old student.
Both girls beamed brightly at me and nodded their heads.
“You both did amazing work today, along with the rest of you,” I called out to the other seven girls as everyone hurried to grab their backpacks and other items they had brought along straight from school.
Most of them wore leggings and t-shirts, or shorts and tank tops. The grant that allowed me to run this program covered minimal expenses. Installing a supportive floor that wasn’t too slippery or too sticky, and purchasing ballet shoes, and mirrors took up most of the grant.
I volunteered my services, rather than accepting the paltry pay the grant offered.
As far as the uniforms the girls would need, I planned on purchasing them with my funds and surprising them and their families with them. Not that they needed the leotards, tutus, tights, and skirts, but I knew it would boost their confidence and self-esteem.
The day had been long, and I was ready to head home. Grabbing my bags, I headed out the door and hopped in my car to rush an hour away to a restaurant where I would meet my brother, Zion. Thankfully the restaurant was down the street from my house. That would give me time to get home, park the car, and walk to the restaurant at the end of the block.
There would be no time to change because the class had run over by twenty minutes.
I hopped in my car and blasted Coldplay’s Orphans as I headed for the highway.
With rush hour traffic in Atlanta, I’d be doing great if I could make it there within the given time frame. It was already six-twenty-three.
When Zion asked me to dinner, I’d agreed with the provision that he brought along my sister-in-law, Zoe, and my nephew, Xavier, and niece, Chloe.
I tried to make time for them as much as possible, but still, it never felt like enough time. Briefly, my mind wandered to that forbidden territory it loved.
Thoughts of my future children raced through my mind: a little girl and two boys. I wondered if they would have my dark coloring and dark eyes, or if they would look like my future, currently unknown husband. Then visions of caramel-colored babies with thick curls danced in my head.
That thought led to Kent. I inhaled deeply, squeezing my thighs against the heat that was taking over down below when I thought of making love to him.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I had a full-fledged heatwave. Thoughts of Kent weren’t so easy to shut down.
Within seconds after arriving at my brother’s table, all that heat had been doused. My six-year-old nephew, Zay, and four and a half years old, niece Chloe were climbing up the walls with energy.
No sooner than I had been seated, they were clinging to me and pulling at my jewelry and hair, asking fifty million questions. I laughed and patiently answered them all as I showered their faces with kisses.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” I asked Zion after we had placed our orders.
The kids settled down with crayons and a coloring sheet the restaurant provided. I noticed Zoe pass the kids their tablets when they finished coloring. She always had an option to keep them calm when they were out in public.
“I wanted to see my baby sister. Is there anything wrong with that?” Zion asked, beaming beautiful white teeth at me through gorgeous dark skin.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, if I believed it,” I said, pressing my lips together.
“Why wouldn’t you believe me?” he asked in shock, still wearing that broad smile.
I glanced at Zoe, who was smirking at me and shaking her head.
“Quit teasing her, Zi,” she scolded my brother.
“Mind your business, Zo,” he teased back, kissing her on the forehead.
I loved how my brother showed his affection and love for his wife. He adored and respected her and didn’t mind letting the world know.
“Mm, I think you came to pry into what happened with Steve and me.”
“I didn’t come to pry into you and Steve,” he said, wearing a look of outrage on his face.
“So, you’re gonna tell me you haven’t heard anything about me breaking up with him and everyone blaming it on Kent?” I asked, pulling my mug of beer to me.
Zion chuckled, and Zoe wore a look of affection and concern as her light brown eyes stared at me.
“Baby girl, don’t ask me to lie to you. I never said that I hadn’t heard about the situation. I said that wasn’t the reason I invited you here this evening. I wanted to see my little sister.”
I could tell from the gleam in his eyes that he was telling the truth.
“I don’t care about all of that, Madi. I care about y
ou. I care about making sure that you’re good. Mom called me, telling me what happened, and she was all upset. Dad’s in his feelings because you’re not taking their calls. Nic’s feeling bad about the part she played in it. So, mom asked me to talk some sense into you.”
Sitting back in my chair, I glanced between him and Zoe. “So, is this what this visit is? Talking some sense into me?” I asked with an edge in my tone.
Zoe was idly picking at her calamari appetizer and glancing at the kids every few seconds and then back to Zion and me. My brother stretched his arms and rested one around his wife. His other hand tugged his dreads over his shoulder, and then he glared at me.
“Madi, since when have I ever been the one to try to go toe to toe with you. You’re so damned bullheaded—”
“Language,” Zoe warned, giving him a sharp glare before turning her gaze back to the appetizers.
Zay looked up from his coloring briefly at his mother’s sharp tone before resuming his coloring.
“Sorry about that,” my brother muttered, humbly chastened. “Look, Madi. I’ve never done that, and I’m not about to start. What I am fully certain of is that you are aware of the situation you’ve been involved in for the last few years, as well as any situation that awaits you. The decisions you’re making, you aren’t making them idly. You’ve thought them through carefully and then made up your mind. You don’t need anyone talking sense into you when you have full control of your faculties.”
Twisting my lips, I replied in a softer tone, “Thanks. So, you’re really here to see me.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I just want to lay my eyes on you and see that you’re good for myself. That’s it.”
I looked over at Zoe, who smiled sweetly in confirmation of what her husband said. I loved that about her; she was a woman of few words, but when she did have something to say, it was meaningful.
“Madi, sometimes we get one chance at love in this life. Then some get nothing. Whatever decision you make, embrace the opportunity with your whole heart, withholding nothing. No regrets. Just live.”
“Thanks, Zoe,” I said, taking the hand she stretched across the table to me.
“So, you giving Kent a chance or what?”
I laughed as the waiter brought our plates out to us. Once we received our meals, I turned my attention back to my brother.
“You’re so nosy! Wouldn’t you like to know that?”
“I would.”
I smiled at my brother. Knowing I could trust him, I opened up to him and Zoe.
“I haven’t decided on that yet, Zi. I mean, I have deep feelings for him, and I have for some time now. But I’m not sure I want to act on them. Kent’s not the most settled and responsible person out there,” I shared.
“Your brother wasn’t either when I first met him,” Zoe shared. “He had more than his share of women.”
Zion laughed. “They were friends!” he remarked in an outraged tone.
“That’s what you were calling them, but you and I know better. Let’s not go down the road of ‘episodes,’” Zoe said, using air quotes.
Smiling and lifting an eyebrow at him, I asked Zion, “Episodes?”
He was still fighting off a smile and shaking his head.
“Just a few times when I caught your brother in the act of being up to no good,” Zoe shared.
“But you stayed?”
“Yeah. We weren’t in a relationship at the time. Like you and Kent, we were ‘friends,’ with benefits,” Zoe shared.
“Hey,” Zion said, tugging his wife close to him. “She doesn’t need to be hearing all that. We were friends,” he said, emphasizing the word “friends,” as he scowled at me.
“I get it,” I said.
“But, he realized I was all he needed, and he quit playing games and grew up.”
“Yeah. I did. But tell your friend Kent, he won’t get the same number of chances I get. He’s got one time...” Zion said, holding up his left index finger. “Just one. And I’ll break my foot off in his ass.”
“Ohhh, Daddy said ‘ass,’” Chloe said, her eyes round like two quarters.
“Zion!” Zoe and I both shouted at the same time as the kids erupted into giggles.
CHAPTER 15 – KENT
“Cabot,” I said cheekily, one arm propped on the top of my door and the other pressed against the doorjamb. “How’d you get past Barney Fife downstairs?” I asked.
“You’re gonna let me in or not?” she asked.
“Depends. First, you gotta tell me how you snuck up.”
Laughing, she pushed against my chest, and I caved in, moving out of her way like she knew I would. My eyes dropped to her ass swaying in those tight jeans she wore, and I groaned. Why the hell did I have to be wearing damned basketball shorts that failed miserably at hiding any damned thing?
Dropping her bag on the couch, she said, “You forgot that you put me on the list of visitors who had access at any time?”
I watched as she dropped down on the couch beside her bag, kicked off her flats, and then crossed her legs. No, I hadn’t forgotten I had added her to that list. She was the only one on that list.
“How’d you know I wasn’t up here, boning some girl?” I asked, leaning against the doorway that led into the kitchen as I watched Madison.
“Because if you were, I’d have to kick her ass. All this damn trouble you’ve created in my family, you’d better be accessible to me whenever I need you,” she said, wearing a smirk.
“Any time,” I replied with a wink.
“Where’re you coming from?” I asked, taking in her jeans with the holes in the knee and her leotard.
“Practice.”
“Hey, I was letting off some steam. Wanna come on back?” I asked.
I had converted the second bedroom of my condo into my music room. Playing the violin was my way of relaxing. I’d been taking music lessons since I was a kid. With all the expectations our father placed on us, that was the one thing my mother asked of me. She loved music and wanted to nurture that love in at least one of her children. That had been me. I can’t lie; I was pretty much my mom’s baby.
Although I’d never shared it with anyone except my mother, and later Madison, I loved music, too. My brothers knew I played, but they didn’t think I loved it.
Madison followed me into the large room and grabbed a seat on the tan couch against the back wall. Clutching my violin, I sat in the corner of the room on a stool and began to pick out the sounds stirring in my soul.
I closed my eyes, let the rhythm flow through me, and then set off into a vibrato, wavering the pitch of the note by rolling my fingers back and forth on the string. I continued until the beat picked up and then set off in a series of harmonics.
“What was that?” Madison asked when I finished.
“Just something I’ve been playing with. A number I wrote.”
She smiled at me. “A man of many talents. I swear no matter what you put your hand to, you strike gold, dude.”
“Yeah? That must be that silver spoon and shit,” I said, closing my eyes and plucking the strings once again.
Madison grew quiet as I began to play the opening notes of Usher’s Dive.
The lyrics flowed from my instrument as though I were making her sing the song. My violin was my baby. I could make her purr like a kitty in my hands or make her scream like an opera singer reaching her highest notes.
I was still on the first verse about to go into the pre-chorus of the song when I felt a light breeze caress my face. Opening my eyes, I saw Madison dancing on the floor in front of me. At some point, she had removed her jeans and was dancing in nothing but the leotard she wore.
Her long, muscular legs opened wide as she leaped into the air and came back down. Her body flowed with the melody, arms light as a feather as they twirled with her body. Her form was perfect as her right foot crossed at the inside of her left thigh, above her knee.
Her arms formed an arc as she spun in a perfect circle before coming out o
f her pirouette.
Madison was pulling the music from my violin and breathing life into my song as she danced across my floor. Her form, her graceful movements, and the elegant way she poised from one pose to another spoke to my soul.
I continued playing even as my breathing grew deeper.
My fingers felt raw as I plucked my string harder, breaking one, and then another.
I didn’t stop.
I had two strings left, which I continued to stroke, caress, and pluck to give Madison what she needed.
She danced around me, her hands brushing my face, her hair sweeping over my shoulder. Her breath was warm on the back of my neck as she moved behind me. Delicate fingers brushed across my shoulders as her head rested on my shoulder for a moment before she was swept away in a gale of legs, arms, and hair again.
My need for her grew with every dance step she took until I could take no more.
I stood, resting my violin in its stand. I walked to the sound system mounted on the wall behind me and selected Dive from my playlist. I wanted her to keep dancing.
Madison kept moving gracefully across the floor even as I took calculated steps towards her.
Head arched back; she did a series of spins across the floor before coming to a stop in front of me.
Madison’s chest rose and fell as I backed her up against the wall. Her eyes were on me, questioning, begging, speaking words that her lips could not.
I watched as her eyes slowly closed, lips open, waiting for my kiss.
But she wasn’t going to get it. Not yet. I was determined Madison would have to ask for what she wanted tonight.
Resting my hands on her waist, I lowered my forehead against hers. Slowly, I brushed my lips across hers, inhaling the warmth of her breath and the faintly sweet scent lingering there.
Pulling back, I turned her around to face the wall. Spreading her arms out to her sides, I slowly lifted them and pressed her palms against the wall.
Madison’s breathing grew deeper, her face plastered against the wall, light moans slipping from between her parted lips.
Leisurely I trailed my fingertips up her arm, watching as the fine hairs lifted along with the goosebumps I raised there.
Smooth: The Sons of Victor Black: A BWWM Romance Page 10
