The Game of Seduction (Arrington Family Series)

by Candace Shaw

  “This is simply beautiful, Rasheed. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. When I saw it, I immediately thought of you. Cute and classy. Now, don’t go telling any of my boys I said the words cute and classy, but that’s what I see when I look at you.”

  Bria’s heart skipped a beat or five at his words. He had always paid compliments to her before, but that stupid kiss had changed things between them—or least it had for her. He was a man who wasn’t fazed by a simple kiss. He was acting as if it hadn’t happened, which was good in a way.

  “Let me put it on you,” Rasheed whispered with a glimmer in his eye and slid closer to her on the couch.

  She blinked, and her heart started beating faster. “What did you say?”

  “I’ll put the necklace on for you.” Gone was the seductive tone from his voice. Maybe she’d imagined it. Her thoughts of having sex with Rasheed were clouding her head.

  “Oh.”

  She gave him the necklace and sat with her back towards him. He scooted up closer and she rested her arm on his knee and tried to concentrate on breathing, but the air was clogged with the stimulating scent of his cologne. She lifted her hair up as he slipped the necklace over her head to fasten it. She felt his fingers brush the back of her neck which sent more warm sensations through her. It seemed as if he lingered longer than necessary, but she knew she was imaging that only because she wanted him to.

  He cleared his throat and let out a sigh.

  “Um … it’s clasped now.”

  She looked down and admired the heart-shaped key dangling down to the top of her chest. She turned around, and her face was a few mere inches from his.

  She had seen his face plenty of times, but being in such close proximity of it had her tilting her head to the side and really study his captivating features. His shiny, bald head was always perfectly shaven, and his smooth forehead set a backdrop for his dark eyebrows that had risen slightly as she stared at him. Underneath were his chocolate eyes, followed by more smoothness of his strong jaws and his sexy mouth that held his creative tongue which had drawn on her neck like an artist. Above his lips, sat a neatly trimmed mustache, but he’d shaven off the goatee, and she had never noticed the cleft in his square chin before.

  Bria placed her hand on his chest to steady herself, but feeling the rock hardness of him shook her to the core. She was at a loss for words as she stared at his chiseled face and waited to see what on earth he was going to do or say. He was eyeing her with a weird expression. He licked his lips as if he were a hungry tiger ready to pounce on the poor, helpless bunny rabbit, which caused Bria to suck in her breath and turn her attention back to the necklace.

  “It looks beautiful on you, Bree,” he said in a deep, husky voice as he cleared his throat again.

  “Thank you.” She stood and walked to the mirror in the foyer to admire the necklace even though she really needed to escape. Being so close to him made her want to experience a repeat of the kiss and maybe even more.

  “Are you coming down with a cold?” she asked, walking back into the living room. She decided to sit in the chair to avoid being near him on the couch. “You keep clearing your throat. I have some Echinacea tea and some vitamin C. Knock it right out.”

  “Huh? Nah, girl. I’m good.” He picked up the television remote and aimed it toward the flat screen.

  They sat in sat an uncomfortable silence. He continued to flip the channels while she sat staring straight ahead to avoid looking at him. She wasn’t sure if everything was fine or not between them. He was hard to read sometimes.

  “So, how’s Brooklyn?” she asked with the intent to end the awkward moment that had transpired for her. He loved talking about his baby sister, and his eyes lit up when Bria asked the question.

  “She’s good. I’m glad she’s finished with her master’s degree. She’s in the process of moving out of her dorm room into the apartment above Lillian’s. Justin is letting her stay rent free for a year.”

  “Cool. Does she have any jobs lined up?”

  “Actually she does, but she hasn’t accepted anything yet.”

  “She e-mailed me the pictures she took at the wedding, and they’re so professional. Shelbi has asked her to make a separate photo album of her candid shots for the members of the wedding party. If Shelbi had known, she would’ve hired Brooklyn to be the photographer.”

  “I think it’s more of a hobby, but I saw the pictures as well. They looked professional, but then again, she’s a Vincent. We don’t half step in anything, as you very well know.”

  He gave her a knowing wink which sent a shiver of desire through her veins as she remembered his tongue deeply penetrating her mouth. She blinked to get rid of the haziness that swept over her and proceeded to open the to-go box on the coffee table. She let her hair fall forward to hide her face from his view. One of her favorites from Lillian’s, beef short ribs and polenta with sautéed asparagus, sat in her box. He opted for grilled salmon, honey-cider collard greens, and roasted new potatoes.

  She grabbed a beer for him, a glass of red wine for herself and some silverware from the kitchen. They settled on her couch in front of her flat screen to watch a basketball game like they normally would, but Bria could still feel the tension in the air, or maybe it was just her.

  “I have some life changing news to share with you, Bree.” He took a swig of his beer.

  “What? You finally found someone to change your playboy ways?”

  “Ha! Very funny, girl. No. That will never happen. I just sold my share of Lillian’s to Derek today,” he said with a wide grin on his face, showcasing all of his pearly whites.

  Even though Bria had heard his last sentence, her mind was still wrapped around the one before. That will never happen. She asked that question often in a joking manner, and he always responded in the negative, but now she felt a little different about it. She was somewhat hurt, but she had no reason to be.

  She looked at him as he grinned ear-to-ear about his life-changing situation. He had mentioned selling his stake in the restaurant before, but she wasn’t sure if he would actually do so.

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. I have to admit it was a tough decision, but Lillian’s Dinner and Blues Club was Justin’s brainchild and dream, not mine. I was only invested in the restaurant to help Justin out a few years ago. He’s doing well, and it’s time to give Derek a piece of the pie. However, I’m really going to miss chitchatting with the customers—”

  “—female customers …” she added.

  “Damn, Bree. I hadn’t thought about that. Mmm … well. Derek is quite happy because now he’s an investor in the business. Justin is still the majority owner, but they have ideas of opening another restaurant, and you know Derek is good at that sort of thing. So, I’m moving on to another opportunity.”

  “Another endorsement deal? How many do you have?”

  “Six or seven, but Sports Fanatic offered me a chance to be a part-time basketball analyst.”

  “Rasheed, that’s wonderful!” She stood and gave him a high five. That was their favorite show to watch together. “When do you start? What time will your segment air? Will you be going to the games? Wait, how are we going to watch it together if you’re on it, damn it?”

  “Slow down, little red corvette,” he said as he laughed. “I don’t know all of the details yet. My manager called me yesterday with the offer. They want me to guest co-host for the next few months at their studio in Atlanta and do some traveling as well. I’ll be discussing college and NBA games like Barkley and Magic.”

  “Atlanta?” she repeated, a little sad.

  She had gotten used to seeing him at least three times a week. They had a routine, even though she broke it tonight by standing him up for dinner, but they had strained their friendship by kissing. Maybe it was best he moved to Atlanta, and she could get back to her life before the kiss, before she crossed the line and now didn’t know how to look her friend in the eyes without fumbling
over her words.

  “Yes, Atlanta, which is perfect. I bought a mansion there a few years back that I’ve never even lived in. I was going to sell it, but I ended up renting it out to another basketball player that played for the Hawks. He got traded to another team a few months ago, so I’ll stay there. It’s a nice place with seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, home theater, game room, indoor and outdoor basketball court, plus a swimming pool.”

  “I thought you had a condo there.”

  “I do, but that’s where I take the honeys, or I go to their place. They have no business at my mansion. They start getting ideas and what not.”

  Bria felt another cringe in her heart but put on a smile anyway.

  “Well, that’s great. I may be going to Atlanta after New Year’s, so we’ll have to hook up while I’m in town.” Great. Wrong choice of words that just added more to the white elephant in the room.

  He raised an eyebrow along with a flirty smirk. “Oh really? Why are you going to Atlanta all of a sudden? I thought you were going to south Florida to get some sun on your vacation.”

  “I was, but I spoke to my friend Taylor earlier who runs a practice there where the doctors combine traditional and alternative medicine. You know my dad won’t let me do so freely, and I really want to. I told Taylor I would check it out. She’s offered me a position but …”

  “But what? Isn’t that what you want to do? It’s all you talk about.”

  “I know, but I would prefer to stay in Memphis and incorporate alternative medicine at the family practice, but my dad isn’t in agreement. However, sometimes I mention things to my patients that could help. For the past few months, I’ve been doing acupuncture treatments for one of Raven’s patients, but Daddy doesn’t know. The acupuncture really is helping her, though.”

  “Ouch. Doesn’t that hurt?”

  “For the last time, it doesn’t hurt. It’s quite relaxing. You should try it. I can do it for you.”

  As she reached out to pinch him on the leg, he bounded off of the couch and plopped down in the opposite chair. Bria learned to do acupuncture while studying abroad in China for a semester after she graduated from medical school. It was there she found a passion for alternative medicine.

  “Okay, fine. I’ve been through knee surgery, so I guess having a few little needles in me isn’t going to hurt.”

  “Perfect. The practice will be closed on New Year’s Eve, but I have some last minute paperwork to finish up before my vacation, so I’ve planned to work at the practice all day. It’s so peaceful when no one else is there. Just stop by sometime that day.”

  “Sounds good, but let’s get back to your dilemma. You need to tell Dr. Daddy how you feel. Be brave. Stand up to the man. You’re intelligent and know more than he realizes about that field. Make him listen to you. Man up, woman.”

  Bria laughed and felt somewhat better about their situation. Maybe they really could get past the kiss and continue their friendship without any tension. She grabbed his empty beer bottle and to-go boxes and headed toward the kitchen.

  “You want another beer?” she called out to him, placing the contents in her hand in the trash.

  She turned to see him in the kitchen doorway, wearing his pea coat and his keys in his hand.

  “No. I gotta go help Brooklyn finish moving her things from her dorm room.”

  He turned on his heel, and she followed him in silence as they walked to the front door. He always gave her a hug before leaving. Her heart was beating so loud, she was scared he could hear it.

  “Drive safely.” She reached to open the door, but he grabbed her, pulling her close to him. He rested his chin on top of her head and held his hands around her waist.

  He was silent for a moment, but she could feel his heart beating against the palm of her hand. She rested her forehead on his chest and waited impatiently to see what he was going to say. As a doctor, she knew his heart was beating faster than normal. It felt and sounded like anticipation or nervous beats.

  “You do realize that I’m trying my damndest not to kiss you again.” His voice was deep and laced with sexual tension.

  She wanted him so bad, she felt herself falling into his web of seduction. She shuddered at the thought of his lips on hers, her neck, and then inching down to her nipples that had hardened at his words. And then she felt something hard against her, and she knew he was serious as a heart attack.

  She tried to push him away before she let him devour her with kisses and did something crazy like run her hands down his body to feel his erection, but his chest was like a brick wall, and he wasn’t budging.

  “Rasheed … I …” she started, but she couldn’t get the words out. There was a frog stuck in her throat.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t break our truce, but I couldn’t leave here without you knowing how I felt.” He kissed her forehead, released her from his warm embrace, and left.

  She locked the door and rested her forehead against it and her hands palming it like she’d done on Rasheed’s chest. She sighed and turned to walk back into the living room but her cell phone beeped from the foyer table. It was a text message from Rasheed.

  Don’t forget what I said. Talk to your father.

  She smiled. Even in the midst of the awkward situation they created, he was still a concerned friend.

  Rasheed was right. She needed to just tell her father about her passion for alternative medicine. Even though at the present, the only passion she could think about was the one she felt for the last man she should be falling for.

  Chapter Four

  Rasheed took a deep guzzle of his water as he watched the two teams of middle school boys in a practice scrimmage. Once a week during the school year, he taught a basketball clinic for the boys from his summer basketball camp at the community center in his childhood neighborhood of Frayser, a suburb of Memphis. Even though it was the students’ winter break, he decided to do a clinic before he went to Atlanta. During his first year in the NBA, he had the gym remodeled and the center named it the Rasheed Vincent Athletic Gymnasium.

  He walked out to the middle of the court and blew his whistle after the winning team made the final shot. The boys headed over and made a circle around him. Some of the boys sat while others stood. He briefly explained that he wouldn’t be doing the basketball clinic next month and that another coach would be taking his place. The boys had responded with “aw mans.”

  After he dismissed them, Rasheed sat on the bleachers deep in thought about Bria. His mind couldn’t shake thoughts of her no matter what. Even during the scrimmage, he could only think about the last time he and Bria played one-on-one basketball at his house. She had on a pair of pink shorts and a green T-shirt that accentuated her perky breasts. When she got hot, she took off her T-shirt to reveal a sports bra and a sexy six pack of abs. When she went up for a rebound, Rasheed caught her around her tiny waist to stop her. Her warm skin shocked his hands so bad, he’d thrown her over his shoulder, sat her in the middle of the court and then ran back to the basket to break their tie. But it was really to run off, was what he didn’t want to admit. He had a love jones for his little brown sugar friend, but he didn’t want to cross that line.

  Rasheed smiled as he thought about how adorable she’d looked sitting on the court huffing and puffing at him. Her hair had been in a curly ponytail and the fine hairs were dampened on her face from sweat. She’d taken off her tennis shoes and thrown them at him as she laughed and cursed him out at the same time. They’d had great times over the past few months, and he didn’t want to ruin it, but he would do anything to kiss her again.

  “What are you so deep in thought about?”

  Rasheed looked up and noticed Derek standing in front of him wearing a dark blue suit and a powder blue dress shirt. He sat next to Rasheed on the bleachers, took off his suit coat, and tossed it on the row in front of them.

  “Hey, man, didn’t realize you were here.” The men gave each other a hand shake followed by a fist pound.

&n
bsp; “I can tell by the way you’re gazing off into space.” Derek laughed and tilted his head toward the ceiling with a mocking smile and laughed again.

  “I’m a man,” Rasheed said with extra bass in his voice. “I don’t gaze off into space. I have some things on my mind.”

  “Apparently. So how was the scrimmage?”

  Rasheed nodded. “It was fine. I see a few future NBA stars if they continue to practice and stay motivated. How was your workshop?”

  Rasheed and his best friends, Derek and Justin, volunteered every week at the community center in the neighborhood where they grew up together. Derek did business and finance workshops for adults, and Justin taught a cooking class to high school seniors who aspired to be chefs.

  “A good turnout. But seriously, man. What’s eating you? You’ve been off lately.”

  Rasheed sighed and shook his head. “I did something I regret. Or I think I regret. Not sure.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Bria Arrington.”

  Derek looked taken aback. “Bria? Naw, man. Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her.”

  “Nope.” Not that he didn’t want to. In fact, he wanted to do so last night. The way her breasts had been pressed against his chest, her signature scent taking over his air, and the uncontrollable desire growing in his groin, caused him to rush from her apartment before he seduced her right against the door.

  “We kissed in the dressing room, right before the wedding.”

  “Well, damn. I could tell there was something in the air when she walked in with the boutonnières. Your eyes and tongue were hanging out like a thirsty bloodhound.”

  “Not funny. Anyway, she’s been uneasy around me ever since. But …” he stopped as two college-aged women strutted into the gymnasium giggling like two high school girls. They strode over in their University of Memphis sweatshirts and skinny jeans. Usually, Rasheed would’ve taken out his cell phone to get a picture of the red-boned one who was giving him major eye contact as if she would drop her panties right there on the gym floor. However, he wasn’t turned on by her at all. Sure, she was wearing the hell out of those jeans, but she was no Bria Arrington.