Sweet Southern Nights

by Rochelle Alers

“I’m just going to take a nap before I stop by and see my mother. She’s driving me insane with this so-called wedding reception. If it wasn’t for the baby, I wouldn’t have told her that Reggie and I had remarried. I’ll call you with the update.”

  “Give Big Poppa a kiss for me,” Angela yelled as Traci made her way to the rear exit.

  “I will.”

  Angela walked into the front of the shop and stared through the plate-glass window. Passersby were dressed for the rainy weather. And what was worse was they hadn’t had one customer all day. If it had been up to her, Angela would’ve closed early. But the Garden Gate was Traci’s business and she was a minority partner.

  She and Traci had talked about hiring a part-time salesperson to fill in once Traci went on maternity leave. Angela knew she would have to change her hours if only to open up and lock the shop every day. It would affect how much time she could spend writing. But family was family and Traci would do the same for her.

  She turned around and made her way to the daybed, picking up a magazine. This was one time she wished that she was home, cloistered in her office. Later she would retreat to the back porch and watch a movie.

  Angela was flipping through the pages of the magazine and had become engrossed in an article on luxury yachts when the doorbell chimed. A tall man in a bright yellow slicker and baseball cap walked in. It wasn’t until he took off his cap and shook off the rainwater, that she realized who he was.

  “Levi.” His name was a breathless whisper.

  One minute she was standing, staring up at a bearded man, and an instant later she was in his arms, her mouth fused with his. Everything about him came rushing back—his smell, the intoxicating taste of his mouth, the warmth of his body.

  “When did you get back?” she asked in between kisses that burned her mouth.

  Levi’s smile spread amid his bearded face. “I came directly from the airport.”

  Unzipping the slicker, she ran her hands over his chest. “You lost weight.”

  “I lost a lot, baby—sleep being number one on the list.”

  Her hands went to his face. “Why didn’t you go home?”

  “I needed to see you first.”

  “You see me, Levi. Now I want you to go home and get some rest. I’ll be by after I close up.”

  Levi glanced at his watch. “Maybe I’ll crash on your daybed until you close.”

  Pulling his arm, Angela led him to the back. “No, you won’t. I have a love seat that converts into a bed. You can crash there.”

  Levi slipped off the slicker and hung it on the hook next to Traci’s smock. He ran a hand over his hair. It’d been weeks since he’d had a haircut, and he hadn’t shaved since the day he left for Indiana.

  “I’ll do that,” he said when Angela attempted to pull out the convertible bed. After unfolding the bed, Levi removed his boots, socks and damp jeans as she spread a sheet over the mattress and provided two fluffy pillows with matching pillowcases.

  “Do you want a light blanket?”

  Levi’s eyes made love to the woman who’d occupied his every waking moment. He’d lost count of the number of cuts and gashes he’d sutured, tetanus and cholera shots. He’d delivered four babies—two were full-term and the other two preemies, who had excellent chances for survival once the neonatal clinic was up and running.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Get in bed, sweetie.”

  Levi knew if he didn’t sit down he would fall down. He didn’t want to wait and drive back to Louisville, so he booked a flight on a private plane to fly back, and took a taxi from the airport to downtown Louisville.

  He got into bed, sighing audibly. “I’m going home with you tonight, because my car is at my apartment.”

  Angela spread a handmade quilt over him. “When are you going back to the hospital?”

  Levi’s eyelids fluttered as he struggled to stay awake. “Not for a week. Remember, we’re going to Philadelphia this weekend.”

  Sitting on the side of the mattress, Angela leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Go to sleep, sweetie. We’ll talk once you wake up.”

  He opened his eyes. “You’re not bailing on me, are you?”

  “Never.”

  A dreamy smile parted Levi’s lips. “Love you, babe.”

  “Love you back.”

  Within seconds he was asleep, his chest rising and falling. Angela felt a rush of emotion once she realized he’d come directly to her instead of going home. Did she dare hope that he loved her?

  Levi slept for thirty-six hours, waking up when nature called. He drank lots of water, then went back to sleep. Having him under her roof had curtailed her writing and Angela made certain all evidence of her manuscript was concealed in a locked file cabinet. Perhaps she was superstitious, but she wouldn’t even let Traci read any of her work while she was still writing.

  As much as she’d wanted to tell Levi that she was bestselling author, Angelina Courtland, she didn’t. Once she delivered the manuscript, she decided she’d reveal her secret to Levi, and tell him that she’d been invited to New York to meet with her editor and publisher.

  Chapter 18

  “I think your mother is angry with me.”

  Angela turned and stared at Levi’s profile. He’d gotten a haircut and a shave and his smooth jaw seemed to glisten in the sunlight. “You’re imagining things.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so, Angie. She kept giving me dirty looks and said that you needed to be with your family this weekend to celebrate Traci and Reggie’s wedding.”

  “I did that already when we took them to Ruth’s Chris.”

  “That didn’t count.”

  “It didn’t count because Dianne Chase wasn’t involved in it, Levi. When I promised I’d go with you to your family reunion I had every intention of keeping that promise. I have twenty-five other weekends in the year to hang out with my mother.”

  Levi’s hands tightened on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told her that I’m in love with her daughter and I have no intention of taking her away from her family.”

  Angela slumped in her seat as if she’d been stung by a taser. The air whooshed out of her lungs. Had Levi said that he was in love with her?

  “You shouldn’t have told her what?” she asked, recovering her composure.

  “I shouldn’t have told her that I love you.”

  “Levi, you’re in love with me?”

  The corners of Levi’s mouth tilted when he smiled. “Yeah, that, too.”

  Angela put her hand over his on the steering wheel. “I’m serious, Levi.”

  “So am I, Angela. What’s the matter? You don’t believe I love you?”

  Her thumb caressed his long, slender fingers. His hands were strong, the hands of a healer. “I would’ve believed it more if you’d told me first instead of my mother.”

  Levi set the car on cruise control, and took his foot off the gas pedal. “I told you, Angela, when I sent you a text that I loved you. And it didn’t take being away from you for three weeks for me to realize that. At first I thought it was about the sex, but I knew it went deeper than that. I’m not saying making love to you isn’t wonderful.”

  She turned her head so he wouldn’t see her smirk. “What are you saying, sweetie?”

  “I’m in love with you, Angela Chase. Does that meet with your approval?”

  The smirk slowly became a full grin. “I think it does. Now I have something to tell you.”

  “I’m listening, baby.”

  “I think I love you, too.”

  “You think?”

  “Uh-huh. However, the jury is still out.”

  “What would I have to do to sw
ay said jury?”

  They shared a smile. “I’m certain I’ll think of something before we get to the City of Brotherly Love.”

  “I’ll have you know that the brothers from the city do know how to love.”

  Leaning over, Angela kissed the back of his hand. “You know you’re confused.”

  “About what?”

  “You love Philly, yet you sound like a Southerner. You live in New York, claim you like the Yankees, but you never talk about the Jets or the Giants. What’s up with the divided loyalties?”

  “Don’t hate, baby, just because Kentucky doesn’t have a pro team. It’s like ya’ll don’t know nothin’ except basketball.”

  “That’s because basketball is a religion in Kentucky. Don’t you hate, Levi. We have the Kentucky Derby.”

  “Did you forget that New York has the last leg of the Triple Crown. Triple Crown, not double crown, baby. So there!”

  “Oh, no you didn’t put your hands in my face!”

  “My hands would like to be someplace else, but I’m certain we’d be arrested for indecency if I pulled this car over and did what I’d like to do.”

  There was an awkward silence.

  “Do you want to stop and eat something?” Levi asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

  Angela met his eyes. They were serious. “Sure.”

  “I’ll pull off at the next exit.”

  He’d decided to drive to Philadelphia instead of flying because it was impossible to get a ticket for the holiday weekend. Philly was a little less than seven hundred miles from Louisville, and he figured with occasional stops he could complete the drive in less than twelve hours.

  “I don’t mind sharing the driving,” Angela volunteered. “That is, if you’ll let me drive your car.”

  “Why wouldn’t I let you drive?”

  “Some men don’t like women driving their precious cars.”

  Levi frowned. “It not as precious as you are so you’re more than welcome to drive. Besides, with both of us driving, we’ll get there faster.”

  “When do you think everyone will get there?”

  “My dad and mother came in last night. My brothers and their families are coming in tonight. The ones who live in West Virginia and D.C. are probably already there. The Texans won’t be in until tomorrow morning.”

  “Why do you call them the Texans?”

  “That’s how they refer to themselves. It’s like ‘we Texans don’t do this or that.’ You don’t know how that irks some of the other Eatons. But family is family, so we have to love them.”

  “Have you ever brought a woman to a family reunion?”

  “Nope. You’re the first.”

  “Did you tell anyone you were bringing a woman?”

  “Nope.”

  “Surprise, surprise.”

  “Don’t worry, babe. They’ll love you.”

  Levi parked his car at the entrance to The Rittenhouse and was met by a valet. Within minutes their luggage was unloaded and he escorted Angela across the lobby of the five-star Philadelphia hotel. Griffin and Belinda Eaton-Rice were this year’s family organizers and they’d selected the hotel for out-of-town relatives. Griffin, an entertainment and sports attorney who lived in Paoli, a suburb west of the city, had opened his home to his brother-in-law Myles and his family, who’d driven in from Pittsburgh.

  As Levi checked in, Angela glanced around the luxurious hotel lobby with Art-Deco furnishings. They’d stopped once to eat breakfast and refuel. But once she was behind the wheel of the car, her focus was on reaching their destination as quickly as possible. Levi took over driving once they’d reached the Pennsylvania state line.

  Levi handed her one of the cardkeys. “We’re in the presidential suite.”

  “I won’t feel like a first lady until after I have a bath.”

  Cupping her elbow, Levi led her to a bank of elevators. “There’s a spa, salon and health club on the premises, so if you want to get your hair done or get a massage then just pick up the phone and make an appointment.”

  “What’s the itinerary for tomorrow?”

  “There’s breakfast here at the hotel, then everyone’s on their own until seven. Belinda and Griffin will host a welcoming dinner. Saturday is breakfast at the hotel and the rest of the day is free for everyone to tour the city. For those interested in baseball, Griffin purchased a block of tickets to the Phillies game.”

  Angela’s eyes grew wider. “Who are they playing?”

  “The New York Mets. Do you want to go?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. On Sunday we go to a church where Eatons have worshipped for years, followed by brunch at cousin Chandra’s house in the Brandywine Valley that will probably last all afternoon and into the evening. We come back here Sunday to sleep and check out Monday morning and head back to Louisville.” The elevator arrived at the designated floor, the doors opened and they exited the car. “Let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see while we’re here in Philly and I’ll reserve a driver to take us around.”

  “I want to eat a Philly cheesesteak.”

  “Pat’s or Geno’s?” Levi laughed when Angela gave him a blank stare. As they walked along the carpeted hallway to their suite, he told her about the cheesesteak war that had been going on for more than thirty years.

  “Which one is better?”

  “No comment. I’ll let you decide after you have both.” He stopped in front their suite, inserted the cardkey, waited for the green light and pushed open the door.

  Angela walked into a living room larger than the total square footage of some homes. A massive column divided the living room from the dining space. She smiled upon seeing a baby grand piano.

  Levi took her hand. “Come check out the bedroom.”

  Gold-and-maroon-striped wallpaper was repeated in the canopy above the king-size, four-poster bed. Pulling away from Levi’s loose grip, Angela ran to the bed and flopped back onto it. The firm mattress barely gave under her weight.

  She extended her arms. “Come on, Levi, and test it.” There was a knock on the door and Angela sat up.

  “That must be our luggage.”

  Angela didn’t move as Levi turned and left the bedroom to answer the door. She was still sitting in the same spot when he returned, placing their bags in a corner.

  Slowly, methodically, his hands went to the buttons on his shirt, then the waistband of his jeans. “May I interest you in sharing my bath?”

  Slipping off the bed, she curtsied gracefully. “Fancy you ask. I was contemplating the very same thing.”

  Levi undressed Angela, leaving her clothes on the bench at the foot of the bed. Then she undressed him. Hand in hand they made their way to the bathroom and standing under the warm spray of the shower, made love. It wasn’t the frantic coupling of two lovers who’d been apart for far too long. But their lovemaking unfolded like there was no need to hurry. They would savor the sweetness of their mating over and over again.

  Levi’s mouth was everywhere, nibbling at her ear, tracing the column of her neck, her breasts. He moved lower to her belly, deliberately bypassing the juncture between her legs. His tongue traced a path from the bottom of her feet, up her legs to her inner thigh. Angela thought she was ready for him when he fastened his mouth to her mound, as the tip of his tongue teased her clitoris until it swelled to twice its size.

  Head thrashing, tears washing away with the shower spray, Angela arched and screamed as the first orgasm seized her, holding her captive. A second followed, overlapping the first when he penetrated her. Cradling her hips in his hands, Levi lifted her higher and angled her body off the tiles as he thrust into her like a man possessed.

  “No!” he bellowed when the tingling indicated he
was about to ejaculate. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to. It was too soon. Slowly he pulled out, but not all the way.

  Angela slipped out from under Levi. Puting her hands on his chest, she met his eyes. “Lie on your back.” He quickly obeyed.

  It was her turn to give Levi the pleasure he’d given her. Her mouth charted a course down his body from head to toe. Then she reversed course pausing as she lowered her head until she took in as much of his sex into her mouth as she could. If he’d worshipped her body, then she wanted to return the favor, suckling his erection.

  “Stop, Angie,” he pleaded. “Please stop or I’ll come in your mouth.”

  Holding on to his shaft, her head popped up. “We can’t have that, can we?” she whispered. Levi shook his head. She tightened her hold on his throbbing penis. “What do you want, sweetie?”

  Levi managed to push to a sitting position, supporting his back against the wall of the shower stall. “Sit on me.”

  Angela straddled Levi and pressed her forehead to his. Smiling, she lowered her body until she took him inside her—inch by every hot, delicious inch. His hands cradled her waist, guiding her up and down over his erection.

  Levi didn’t know how long it went on. All he knew was that the pleasure was mind shattering. When he finally did release his passion, his body felt as if it was floating higher and higher. But instead of crashing, he felt his soul melt away.

  “I love you, I love you,” he repeated over and over when Angela cried against his shoulder.

  “I love you so much, Levi, that my heart hurts,” she sniffled.

  He smoothed the wet hair off her face. “Shush, baby. Love is not about pain, and I don’t want to ever do anything to hurt you.”

  Angela shifted in an attempt to straighten her legs. Her calves were cramping up. “I hate to kill the mood, but if I don’t get up I won’t be able to walk.”

  Anchoring his hand on the floor, Levi managed to stand, bringing her up with him. “You forget the man who loves you is a doctor and I can take care of all your aches and pains.”

  “Ain’t you somethin’, Dr. Feelgood.”