Dinner was pleasant with smooth jazz and blues playing in the background. Thanks to the light bantering between Dennis and Robyn, there was no need for conversation from him. The two were the most oddly matched couple he had ever come across, yet their relationship seemed to work.
Dennis was about 5’2, and that was being generous. He was skinny with a short afro, and loved to talk, jumping from one story to the next, half the time not completing an entire sentence. Sam didn’t mind Dennis’ rambling because Dennis found a captive audience in Robyn, a tall Vanessa Williams look-a-like. Sam couldn’t help but wonder how the nerd ended up with the prom queen.
Sam mused at the thought when Dennis began telling a joke he had heard at a recent medical convention he attended, but then proceeded to laugh before he got to the punch line.
“You see, this is why you can’t tell a joke,” Robyn said with a laugh, pointing a finger at Dennis. “You always ruin it before you get to the punch line.”
“But I made you laugh, babe.” Dennis took Robyn’s hand and brought it to his lips making kissing noises.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“But you love me anyway.”
Sam stared at Dennis and he wasn’t the only one. Alexandria also looked on with equal fascination.
For all the guys out there fishing in the pond of love, looking like the Dennis’ of this world, with no a hope of catching any thing resembling this Vanessa Williams look-a-like, Sam couldn’t help but wonder how did this guy had done it?
“With a relationship plan.”
“What plan?” Alexandria looked up from her salad at Dennis.
“Welcome back to earth, Ms. Day Dreamer. I was talking to Sam.” Dennis pointed his fork at Sam.
“Me?”
“I see the way you look at me and Robyn. You’ve got this freak of nature look on your face.”
Sam was taken aback by his blunt comment and thought about lying, then decided to come clean with an explanation.
“In high school you had the jocks and the nerds. The jocks got the prom queens. It’s the law of nature.”
“You got the prom queen, right?” Dennis said, pointing his fork at him again.
“Yeah.” Sam felt Alexandria’s probing gaze. For most of the evening she’d been lost in her own world with only the occasional nod to show she was still with them. He had her full attention now. What the hell had he gotten himself into? He certainly didn’t like being the center of attention.
“I knew it! While some poor guy name Wilber sat at home watching television on prom night.”
“I can’t account for what Wilber did,” Sam chuckled.
Dennis looked at him as if was some kind of research project, ready to be dissected. The man was a top research doctor in his field after all.
“That’s because you scored with the prom queen,” Dennis said, as he popped a piece of broccoli in his mouth. “I bet it was her first time too.”
“Dennis!” Robyn said as if she was shocked but clearly she wasn’t. The smile on her face was a dead give away.
All eyes were on Sam. There was no way he was going to answer, but his silence only fueled Dennis’ argument.
“Of course, he did,” Dennis said to Robyn. “Come on, look at him. He’s perfect—the alpha male. Why do you think Alexandria can’t keep her eyes off him?”
That brought Alexandria’s head up and she leveled a cold stare at him.
“Dennis, that’s enough,” Robyn said, this time she wasn’t laughing.
“Sorry, no offense, Alexandria.”
“None taken,” she smiled sweetly, pretending to go back to her meal.
“My point is…what some guys fail to realize is that they can have any woman they want regardless of her status or what he looks like.”
“I don’t know about that,” Sam said with a chuckle, avoiding Alexandria’s gaze.
Even though she’d been pushing her food around on her plate appearing to be uninterested, her body language suggested she was tuned into the conversation. He reached for his water, trying not to look at Alexandria, but it was kind of hard since her eyes hadn’t left his face since Dennis unveiled his point.
“You don’t strike me as a man easily swayed,” Dennis said. He tilted his head, studying Sam. His thumb pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, ready for a discussion.
“I don’t think that has anything to do with it. Sometimes you just need to walk away.”
“Not away from what you want,” Dennis said. “Are you the walking away type, Sam?”
• • •
Sam became acutely aware that the conversation was no longer about Dennis and Robyn. It subconsciously became about him and Alexandria and the attraction between them.
The music stopped, conversation ceased. He was once again thrown back into the spotlight. All eyes were focused on him. He decided to put the ball back in Dennis’ court.
“It’s clear you got what you wanted. How did you do it with the relationship plan?” He knew guys like Dennis. They loved to talk about their accomplishments. What better way than to get him to explain his relation plan? He might even learn something.
“You want to know how the geek landed the prom queen, by figuring out what she wanted and giving it to her.”
It was as though he’d discovered a cure for the common cold. Excitement glittered in his eyes.
“What did she want?” Sam couldn’t help asking.
“Dr. Anderson was and is still,” Dennis winked at her, “passionate about her work. When I first met her, she didn’t even see me, but I made her see me.”
“Me and everyone in my life,” Robyn said. “He talked to all my friends and family just so he could figure out what was important to me.” Her face glowed when she spoke of Dennis, their hands entwined. “Then when he started the research foundation for Sickle Cell and was also able to get some very prominent doctors to support the project, he got my attention. By the time I started working with him and we started Robyn’s Nest, I was already in love with him, and didn’t even know it.”
Robyn gazed at Dennis and practically melted. No one had ever looked at him that way before. The woman beside him would rather spit in his eyes than give him the time of day. She tolerated him because of the threats on her life.
“And that ladies and gentlemen, is how I landed the prom queen.” Dennis stood up and bowed, one arm behind his back and the other in front.
“Sounds like a book in the making.”
“Don’t encourage him, Sam.”
“Fair enough. You mentioned Robyn’s Nest. What’s that?”
“Alexandria didn’t tell you?” Robyn asked looking at her. “She works with us.”
“Work?” Sam was surprised. As far as he could tell, Princess had never worked a day in her life. He certainly didn’t consider what she did this morning work. It was rich people writing checks and trying to outdo each other in the latest fashion.
“I help out when I can. I would hardly call it work.”
Robyn frowned. “You do a lot more than—”
“Does anyone want coffee?” Alexandria asked getting up from the table. It appeared she was going to make a run for the kitchen, but Robyn cut off her path.
“No, you sit. I’ll take care of it.”
Robyn got up and disappeared into the kitchen, but Alexandria didn’t sit back down at the table. She excused herself to go to the washroom. When she returned, she sat down on the sofa and brought her legs upon the sofa with a yawn. She leaned back, resting her head on the cushion, clasping her hands under her jaw and closed her eyes.
They had been exchanging barbs with each other ever since they’d met. Yet the woman lying there was nothing like the person he’d met the day before. Or the woman that walked out of her bedroom a few hours ago. She was—
“Hey, earth to Sam.”
“Umm?”
“Do you want to hear some Miles Davis?” Dennis stared at him. He was in front of the stereo unit.
&
nbsp; “Go ahead.” Sam picked up his plate and carried it into the kitchen placing it into the sink.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Robyn said, as she filled four mugs with coffee and handed him a mug.
“I don’t mind.”
“Maybe you can teach Dennis to do that,” she said with a laugh. “Milk or cream?”
“Cream, please.”
The kitchen like the rest of Robyn’s place was decorated in a mishmash of colors caught up in a time warp. Nothing liked the flash and glam of Alexandria’s place. There was no stainless steel or marble, just appliances that didn’t match. Even though the cupboards needed a coat of paint and the black and white vinyl floors has been worn from use, the place was spotless. Comfortable.
Robyn was simple, comfortable around the kitchen in total contrast to Alexandria. He wondered how the two ever became friends and how Alexandria ended up at Robyn’s Nest.
“You and Alexandria are different in every way and yet you’re friends.”
“Is that a question or an observation?”
“Both.”
“She reminds me of my baby sister.” Robyn fell silent and a sad smile settled on her face. “I guess she has her reasons for gravitating toward me and Robyn’s Nest. Our friendship works, defying the odds.”
“Tell me about Robyn’s Nest.” Sam sat down on the stool.
“It’s an organization that helps children with Sickle Cell Anemia and provides support for the families of those children. I lost my sister at a young age to the disease and watched it destroy my parents’ marriage because they couldn’t cope. They didn’t have anyone to talk to and they didn’t talk to each other. Robyn’s Nest provides support whether it’s financial or emotional. Dennis leads the research team in working on finding a cure and just generally understanding the nature of the disease. That’s the technical side of it.”
“You said Alexandria works for Robyn’s Nest. What does she do?”
“I think you should ask her that question,” Robyn said with a gentle smile.
“Do you think she’d tell me if I did?”
“Probably not. She organizes the fundraising gala every year and she brings in the money with her connections. That’s a major part of her job. That takes the whole year to plan. I should know. I did it before she took it over. She also works with the kids, reads to them and sits with them while their parents grab a bite to eat. She really connects with the kids.”
“You don’t read about the work that she does in the papers.”
“Where would you read about it, Sam—in the gossip magazines? It’s not juicy enough. Some of these so called journalists know that she volunteers with us but it doesn’t sell papers. After all, she’s Warren Prescott’s daughter and since they can’t get at him, they use her as a punching bag.”
“She goes along with it. Why?”
“I’ve known her for years and I haven’t been able to figure it out. Maybe you can. What you see out there is not the real Alexandria, Sam.” Robyn pointed to the living room. “The clothes, the jewelry, the car…it’s not really her. It’s a defense mechanism because everyone comes to her with their hands outstretched.”
Dennis came in the kitchen. “Hey, babe,” he glanced from Sam to Robyn. “Looks like I interrupted something intense.”
“We’re just talking.”
“About Alex?” Dennis guessed.
“You know she hates it when you call her that. Oh, by the way, the crack you made at dinner was uncalled for.”
“I know, I know,” Dennis said laughing. “I’ll apologize again. Anyway, she’s asleep.”
“We better go. Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks for bringing her,” Robyn said. “I didn’t think she would come after what happened.”
“You’re not the type she normally brings around,” Dennis said and took the mug of coffee Robyn handed him, leaning against the counter.
“I gather you don’t approve of the types she brings around.”
“It’s not for us to approve or disapprove of what she does or who she dates,” Robyn said looking at Sam. It wasn’t that warm and friendly look she had given him a moment ago. Robyn cared about Alexandria a great deal. The way she came to her defense was like a mother protecting her child.
“Easy, babe, I don’t think he meant anything by it.”
“It was merely an observation based on Dennis’ comment.”
“Sorry. It’s just that her father has such a hold on her. The more she tries to break away, the tighter he holds on. Is that why you’re here? To keep an eye on her and report back to Mr. Prescott?”
“Give the guy a break, babe?”
“It’s not like that, Robyn, but if you want to know why I’m here, you should ask Alexandria.” Sam placed the mug on the counter, coffee untouched. “We better get going. Thanks for dinner.”
Sam left them in the kitchen and headed for the living room. Alexandria was asleep on the sofa, her shoes on the floor in front of her.
He leaned over her and touched her cheek. It was surprisingly warm. “Wake up, Princess, it’s time to go,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes stretching like a kitten. Sleepy and sexy. The deep plunge in the front of her top left nothing to the imagination as she just about stretched right out of it.
“What time is it?” She yawned.
Sam checked his watch. “Almost 11:30.”
“I’m tired.” She closed her eyes again.
“I know, but I’m going to need you awake and on your feet. Come on, Princess.” Sam took her hands pulling her up and she stumbled against him. He held her to steady her, his hand on her back.
She looked up at him with soft brown eyes through long thick lashes and he was lost. His gaze shifted to her mouth as her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.
Soft instrumental jazz music played in the background, coupled with the smell of musk, wrapped itself around them. She leaned into him and his arms circled around her waist, their lips inches apart.
“Call me when…” Robyn stopped in mid sentence when she came through the kitchen door and saw them together, “…you get home.”
• • •
He watched them leave. O’Malley had his arm around Alexandria’s waist as if she belonged to him. With the moonlight shining on her face, she looked up at him, glowing. Throwing the half smoked cigarette to the concrete, he grounded it out with the heel of his boot, pretending it was O’Malley’s head and got into the truck, slamming the door.
She was leaning against him. It was wrong. She told him that he was nice and thanked him for helping her with her groceries. She’d even offered him coffee one morning after he had delivered her paper.
“What would I do without you,” she had said and smiled at him. He knew that it was her way of saying she loved him.
That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Anger bubbled up inside him as he watched O’Malley help her into the SUV and caressed her face. When she was with O’Malley, she didn’t see him. He had to make her see him again. He had to make her love him.
No one could love her the way he could.
He had to make her see it, see him.
• • •
“Dennis and Robyn were not at all what I expected.”
“Huh?” Alexandria turned her head on the headrest to look at Sam. She liked the way the street lights casted shadows across his face as he drove. Dennis was right. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Would he make her toes curl? She would bet money on it.
They had left Robyn’s almost fifteen minutes ago. He’d told her, or rather, ordered her not to fall asleep after her first yawn, but it was proving next to impossible. She should have stopped at the third glass of wine when she had her buzz on.
She’d ignored most of the dinner conversation until she found out Sam lost his virginity to his prom date.
Alexandria didn’t care for Robyn telling Sam about her work at Robyn’s Nest. She assumed Robyn had mentioned it to Sam while they were a
lone in the kitchen. What she did with her life was nobody’s business but her own. She didn’t owe anyone an explanation, but Robyn felt she did. When Sam woke her and said it was time to leave, she was ready to go home.
“I said Dennis and Robyn are not what I’d expected.”
“Oh.”
She turned her head toward the window yawning, thinking about her and Sam and toes curling. He would’ve kissed her if Robyn hadn’t walked in on them or rather she would’ve kissed him. She still wanted him to, craved it.
“I need you awake, Princess.” They stopped at a traffic light and Sam reached over and ran a finger along her cheek. She felt the same intense heat as she did when they were in Robyn’s living room. “Talk to me. Tell me about yourself.”
His finger left a hot trail along the path from her jaw to her chin and she moaned. The wine coupled with the hypnotic purring of the engine caused her inhibitions to fly out the window. She stared at him. His lips were full, jaw strong. His hands were big and strong as he shifted gears. She wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by those lips or feel his hands all over her body.
“What do you want to know? I would think Matt would have given you a file on me already.”
“I got a file but it pales in comparison to the lady.” Sam smiled and she went all warm, tingly and her heartbeat sped up. This was the first time since they’d met that he smiled at her and it softened the hard lines in his face. “Tell me about your relationship with Robyn. How did you meet?”
“Umm, let’s see… I heard her speak at a fundraiser about loosing her sister to sickle cell. That’s why she’s so passionate about it. I was interested in her work at the Foundation and she invited me for coffee a few days after. I’ve never known anyone to have such convictions about a cause.”
Three years ago Alexandria was looking for some kind of purpose or direction in her life. Her father had offered her a job at the time and she’d turned it down. Robyn had a purpose and a passion for her work and Alexandria wanted to feel something like that. She wanted to do something meaningful with her life and Robyn’s foundation was it. Somewhere along the road to self-discovery, Robyn’s Nest had become important to her. She had fallen in love with the kids, especially a little girl named Tiana.
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