by Cece Monét
Angela simply nodded.
~
Less than an hour later, after Brian had been arrested for disturbing the peace, the cops had cleared out, and the nosy neighbors had finally gone on about their business, Cheng was sitting at Angela’s dining room table. They had made a quick breakfast and were eating together now. “I sent word to the office that the two of us have a vendor’s meeting this morning and we won’t be in until the early afternoon. So I blocked off both of our calendars until two.”
Angela nodded mutely as she nibbled on a piece of turkey bacon. She still looked like she felt shaken. Cheng scooted his chair over closer to hers and she immediately leaned her head on his shoulder as she continued to take mini bites out her turkey bacon. He put his arm around her and continued eating his breakfast too.
Afterwards they went back to her bedroom where he held her and stroked her hair until they both ended up going back to sleep for a two hour nap. When they awoke again, Cheng showered and dressed. Angela was dressed for work now too and he offered to drive them both in today, which she said was alright with her.
However, they detoured before they got to work. Cheng drove them to a shop on the outer edge of Chinatown. “What are we doing here?” Angela asked as Cheng came around to open the passenger door for her.
“I told you we had a vendor meeting this morning,” Cheng reminded her smiling and with a wink before they were buzzed in and permitted entry into what turned out to be a very exclusive jewelry store.
Cheng had made a personal appointment with the jeweler himself because the ring he was here to buy had to be something extra special. Just like the necklace he’d had custom made for his son here had to be something unique.
Cheng and Angela were greeted warmly in Mandarin and English before they were shown into a private back viewing room. Various settings and precious gem stones were brought in for their perusal until Angela decided what she wanted. Once they made their selection, they were shown to another room where they waited with refreshments while Angela’s ring was being set in its custom casting and unbeknownst to her, also being engraved.
Cheng also completed his purchase transaction there and another two hours later, they made one more stop. They went to a beautiful park, complete with a spouting water fountain, an idyllic setting, where Cheng dropped down on one knee.
“Tian shi, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Of course,” Angela answered, smiling. “I’d love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. The guy who despite all your refinement can still kick the other guy’s ass at the end of the day… and at the beginning of it too apparently.”
They both laughed as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Cheng lamented that they would finally have to head into work for the day soon, but he couldn’t wait to see how this news would be accepted in their office.
~
“Looks like you took that old guy’s advice after all,” Angela said admiring the new ring on her finger. Though truth be told, she appreciated Cheng way more than the phenomenal ring he’d just gifted her with. Never in her life did she imagine she would wear two different engagement rings, especially from two such completely dissimilar men in the span of less than twenty-four hours. The difference was like day and night.
The ironic shift in jewelry also represented the shift her life had taken overall within the last day, though some things had been in the works for more than half a decade already. Angela knew this latest directional shift was a good, healthy paradigm change for her, and gearing her life to go down a much more positive and solid path than it had previously been heading.
“What do you mean?” Cheng asked as he came up from kneeling and moved to embrace her now, planting a light peck on her lips in the process.
“Remember, our business partner told you just yesterday that if you were smart, you’d go ahead and marry your Director, damn what anybody else thought or said.” She paused briefly before adding, “Good thing you’re so smart.” Angela smiled at him then.
Cheng laughed, still holding Angela lightly around her waist. “Yeah, he was right. What can I say? We gotta respect our elders.” He paused for a moment before adding, “good thing those damn hotel condoms didn’t work either. Now I got you and our baby for life,” he said as he wagged his eyebrows at her.
Angela laughed heartily herself this time. Then she wrapped her arms gracefully around his neck and kissed him with the kind of fervor and passion that she’d always reserved just for him. Since the moment she’d first seen him and had fallen in love with him instantly.
Keep Reading for a Preview from Vol. 2…
The Chocolate Chronicles Volume 2:
Fudge Brownies – Trouble at All Costs
Coming Summer, 2012!
Beautiful, outrageous, outspoken, untamable, flamboyant radio personality and self-certified diva Beverly Simmons is in danger of losing both her heart, figuratively as well as her life, literally!
SWAT negotiator and sharp shooter Nathan Hawkins was star struck by Beverly Simmons long before she became a celebrity in the public’s eye. Now his sister’s best friend since high school, which also happens to be his long time crush, needs his help. Bev is in danger as an unknown stalker closes in on her. Can Nate catch the culprit and keep the spirited and sassy Bev from falling into any unsuspected traps, while he simultaneously gets her to fall into his arms and bed forever?
~
Nate was staring at her now in a way that made his admiration for her shine through his eyes clearly, definitively. Beverly felt lost as she stared into the depths of his mesmerizing chocolate eyes. Unconsciously, she pressed her pouty, full lips covered in a metallic fudge lip color together. Nate’s eyes tracked the movement of her mouth, his gaze suddenly making her feel self-conscious. He wasn’t even touching her and yet with just a look, he made her feel breathless, exposed, vulnerable in a way no one else could, and oh so aware. His sensuality was a nearly tangible cloak that only added to his mysterious, tall, dark and handsome allure.
“W-w-what are you doing to me?” she stammered. Dammit! Bev didn’t stammer. She didn’t lose her cool normally, even when she was completely out of her element. It’s not like she was some inexperienced virgin saint about to get her first kiss. After all, she was the one who was used to calling all the shots, whether it was at work in the studio or at home in her bedroom. She’d always been in the driver’s seat. Yet, there was something so enticing right now about the thought of having a partner. Someone she truly trusted enough to open up to and genuinely share her life with, including all of the responsibilities she usually shouldered alone and maybe even some of the lime light.
Nate stepped closer to Bev, so close that she could smell his deep, rich, earthy, masculine, sandalwood essence. His very presence reminded Bev suddenly of getting back to the basics, to a place that was clean, rustic, refreshing, maybe even a bit primitive, but definitely simpler. “I’m not doing anything really. I’m simply letting nature take its course and reminding you that we could be good together. Good to and for one another. I’m letting you remember what it’s like to just be a woman in the company of a man who appreciates everything about you.”
Nate skimmed his hands over Bev’s waist then, allowing his big, strong hands to rest on the satiny smooth bronzed skin of her bare midriff. Then he moved closer to her before he engulfed her body by wrapping her into his solid embrace. She kept staring into his eyes, still uncertain about what it was she wanted from him. Though she could tell as they stood there on her deck staring at one another in the moonlight that she could let herself fall, right here, right now and Nate would catch her. So as he moved his face closer to hers, Bev sighed in resignation. She closed her eyes and lifted her arms up and moved them into place around his neck.
When his lips touched hers, it was like a spark that set off a whole storm of lightning. The blaze swept quickly from her lips, traveling through her blood stream and spreading to her limbs, blasting a trail t
hat rapidly shot through everywhere until it emblazoned her entire body. Bev felt like liquid fire was coursing through her veins now, propelling her to greedily deepen her kiss with Nate. Good Lord! If the man could do this to her with just one kiss, what would happen when their clothes actually started coming off…
About The Author
CeCe Monét is a contemporary romance author who focuses much of her writing on the true essence of human nature via the choices people make when faced with unexpected circumstances. She is also interested in diversity in general, such as multicultural human social connections and interactions. She has specific interests in multi-ethnic and biracial people, interracial and multiracial romances, and race relations’ issues too.
Additionally, she is a veteran writer who has covered a broad spectrum of literature from short stories, blogs, novels, articles, newsletters to poetry. She currently resides in Southern California with her son and is a self professed foodie who not only enjoys writing, but also reading, art, baking and wine tastings.
CeCe Monét loves to connect with her readers, so feel free to check out her website at http://cecemonet.com or contact her at [email protected]!
Cheng Liu is a hot shot young Chinese professional. He’s tall, polished, assertive, sexy, ambitious, good looking and used to speaking up and getting what he wants. So when he sees beautiful and equally poised, but shy and reserved African-American professional Angela Hawkins, he knows that opposites definitely attract in this case. He simply must go introduce himself to her and maybe even seduce her in the process…
In this first installment of the contemporary romance series The Chocolate Chronicles… Lemon Truffles – Love Instantly, two young adult workaholic professionals share one steamy, pleasurable night together in Hong Kong. Yet can their short, passionate one night affair turn into a lifetime of love, happiness and companionship? Can their AMBW (Asian Man Black Woman), lemon and chocolate swirl decadence, creamy, sultry, rich, sweet, tangy and indulgent romance survive a seemingly betrayed promise?
CeCe Monét
The Chocolate Chronicles Volume 1:
Lemon Truffles – Love Instantly
