by D. Camille
Christian grabbed his case. “Please don’t go around telling anyone else that…at least until we have a decision in our favor.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I’ll be in touch when I have more information.”
Khalil walked his attorney to the front and watched him head out into the cold. The snow had stopped last night and now it was all about digging out. He’d arrived at five in the morning to meet the snow removal crew to have the parking lot cleared and salted.
His mother had arrived earlier to accommodate his schedule. One of his parents came every morning to stay with Kyros while Khalil opened for breakfast at the Center then returned to get him ready for school. He honestly wouldn’t know what he’d do without his family and friends. He’d never imagined how hard being a single father was going to be and how much help he’d need.
When he’d arrived at the school, Danielle’s car was gone and Kamryn was already in class. Khalil was happy to see that she’d been able to get her transportation. Back at the Center, he’d met with Christian about the upcoming court battle. Now, as he stood at the door watching Christian walk to his car, he saw a familiar face coming toward the entrance.
Her high heeled boots were completely inappropriate for the weather as she gingerly made her way to the door carrying a large brown paper bag. Khalil stepped out into the cold without his coat and went to assist her.
She smiled as he came to her aid and took the bag. “Mr. Lewis, you were just the man I was coming to see.”
“Good morning Ms. Watkins.” Khalil held the door open and she walked inside. “I actually wanted to speak to you as well.”
She smiled at him as he led her to his office. Sitting the bag on a chair, he waved for her to take the other empty seat. Khalil rounded his desk and sat behind it looking at the woman.
“I brought you some cookies to thank you for everything you do here at the Center,” she told him.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
She crossed her legs in jeans that were molded to her thighs underneath the short winter jacket. “Well I wanted you to know how much we appreciate you.”
Khalil smiled slightly. “I wanted to speak with you regarding Brandi.”
“What has that girl done now?” she asked with a smile.
“She’s spoken to Kyros and relayed some information that I think is inappropriate for children,” he told her.
“What did she say?”
“She asked if I had a girlfriend and told him that her mother likes me,” he told her plainly.
The woman looked surprised. “That girl knows better than that.”
“I was hoping that you would speak with her.”
“Yes, I’ll see her today when she gets home from school. I’m sorry about that.”
Khalil shook his head. “Once you talk with her, I’m sure it will be fine.”
She looked at Khalil in his dress shirt, tie and suit jacket. “She must’ve overhead a conversation that she shouldn’t have.”
“It happens,” Khalil agreed and stood to his feet. “Thank you for stopping by.”
Ms. Watkins got to her feet as well. “No problem and if you need any help around here, I’m available.”
“That’s good to know. We can always use volunteers, and actually there’s a board in the hall that lists all the areas where you can help out.”
She smiled at him. “I’ll take a look at that.”
Khalil saw her to the door and waited until she walked away before closing it. He walked over to the bag and peeked inside. Laughing, he shook his head and went back to his desk.
“Damn, at least take the price sticker off.”
******
Danielle hurried into the restaurant pulling off the scarf around her neck. Unbuttoning her black dress coat, she headed toward the table where her friend was waving at her. She reached the table and embraced the woman.
“Hey girl!” her friend greeted.
“Hey Toya,” Danielle returned her hug and kissed her cheek. “You look so good!”
Her friend looked at her. “I’m not the only one. There’s some glow in your cheeks that I don’t think came from the cold.”
Danielle smiled. “Yeah, that’s why I wanted to see you today.”
“Ohhhh tea! I can’t wait,” Toya said eagerly taking her chair.
Removing her coat and hanging it on the back of her seat along with her purse, Danielle sat across from her and sighed.
“Aww…come on girl! I have got to hear this.”
“It’s a man,” Danielle confessed.
Toya looked at her. “It had better be. I wish you would come in here acting like this, over a pair of damn shoes or something.”
Danielle looked out of the window at the snow covered street. “He’s not just a man.”
“What does that mean?” Toya frowned.
Danielle turned to her. “Help me. You’re my best friend. Tell me that I can’t possibly be sprung over a man I literally just met.”
Toya looked around the restaurant then back at Danielle. “Excuse me Miss, I’m supposed to be having lunch with Judge Danielle Baxter. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Danielle covered her face with her hands. “I know!”
“Well damn, who is this man?” Toya asked. “Is he from Earth?”
She removed her hands. “I’m not even sure.”
Toya leaned forward. “What did he do to you?”
“Absolutely nothing and totally everything,” Danielle sighed again.
“Damn D., he got you all poetic.”
“Khalil Lewis will do that to you.” Danielle confessed. “He has me wanting to leap tall buildings for the man.”
Toya lifted a brow. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“He runs the Pride Center and he’s one of the Negus,” Danielle told him.
“And how did Mr. Negus turn my friend out?”
Danielle closed her eyes. “We talked…a lot.”
Toya waited and when Danielle didn’t say anything else, she looked at her with her eyes still closed.
“Danielle!”
Opening her eyes, she looked distressed. “T., help me. This isn’t supposed to happen like this.”
Toya couldn’t believe this was her level headed, no nonsense best friend. Danielle was usually the one who talked sense into her. She could tell that her girl was truly messed up right now.
“So start from the beginning…” Toya told her and Danielle told her all that had transpired between her and Khalil in between ordering their lunch.
When she was done, she looked at Toya. “Now tell me to get myself together.”
“After the story you just told me; girl, you better go get that man.” Toya advised. “Your momma didn’t raise a fool.”
Danielle laughed. She and Toya had grown up in Florida together and both had traveled to Michigan for school. Toya was an engineer at the top firm in the state.
“I don’t want to move too fast. He has a son to think about,” Danielle confided.
“Did you tell him about your situation?” Toya asked and Danielle looked away.
“It’s too soon,” she whispered. “But when I fell on that ice yesterday, the whole thing flashed through my mind again.”
Toya reached across the table and took Danielle’s hand. “Listen, you survived and that’s behind you.”
Danielle turned her attention back to her. “I know.”
“Is he worth going back there to discuss it with him?”
“He’s going to see the scar,” Danielle told her.
Toya lifted a brow. “You sound sure of that.”
“Oh, he’s definitely going to see it,” Danielle affirmed. “Because I plan to be good and naked with Mr. Khalil Lewis, one day very soon.”
Toya laughed. “Well, I guess there’s your answer.”
Chapter 5
Danielle finished lunch with a renewed sense of purpose. Khalil Lewis may be a King, bu
t he was just a man. Although, he’d made her feel some things she’d never felt before, that didn’t mean she had to lose her damn mind.
Shopping bag in hand, she entered the Pride Center and proceeded to the check-in desk.
“Good afternoon, how may I help you?”
Danielle smiled. “I’m here to see Mr. Lewis.”
The young man at the counter frowned. “He’s not in his office right now. Was he expecting you?”
Danielle made a face. “No, I was going to surprise him.” She held up her bag.
The young man looked her over and smiled. “Uh, well he’s in the gym working out if you want to see him in there.”
“Thank you,” Danielle said and he directed her to the area.
Removing her gloves, she walked to the door and opened it. What she saw almost made her drop the bag to the floor. Khalil was shirtless in dark shorts, spread out on a bench where he was lifting what looked like a ridiculous amount of weight, up and down, in the empty space.
His broad chest glistened with sweat and his grunts filled her ears. Shaking herself, she walked slowly over to him and stopped to look down into his face. Khalil replaced the bar and stared up at her.
“Hi,” she said smiling.
“I wondered if I was imagining you.”
She shrugged. “No, here I am…in the flesh.”
He sat up and silently examined her in the flesh, with her black dress coat and furry hat.
“You invited me to come by…?” she said to fill the silence.
“Yes, I did and I’m glad that you took me up on my offer.” He stood to his feet and her eyes immediately moved to his naked torso.
Danielle licked her lips. “I wanted to see the…the uh…”
“The Center?” he asked.
She lifted her eyes to his. “Not really, I wanted to see you.” Danielle touched his chest and felt the dampness beneath her fingers.
Khalil stepped closer and placed his hand over hers. “So I need to get dressed before I do something very inappropriate to you in this public place.”
“Will you wait?” he asked and she nodded slowly.
“Thank you.” Khalil touched her cheek. “Tell the receptionist that I said to let you into my office.”
Danielle nodded again not sure where her voice had disappeared. Khalil led her to the door and she remembered the bag in her hand.
“I brought you something.” She held the bag up.
“Is it cookies?” he asked.
Danielle frowned. “No, did you want cookies?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I’m confused,” she said shaking her head.
He opened the door. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Danielle was allowed into Khalil’s office and she sat her bag down then looked around. On his wall were his degrees as well as numerous awards. On his desk were photos of Kyros and what looked like his parents. He also had a picture of another woman, who had to be his sister, since they had the same complexion and favored the older couple so much.
Spotting a bag on the chair, she walked over and peeked inside. When she saw the container of cookies, she smiled. Danielle took a seat and waited a little while before the door was opened and a freshly showered and dressed Khalil closed the door behind him.
“I’m happy to see you,” he told her softly as he crossed the room to her.
Danielle stood and greeted him again. “I should’ve called, but I decided to come at the last minute.”
He lifted a brow. “You didn’t want to come?”
“You just invited me yesterday. I didn’t want to look completely thirsty,” Danielle told him.
He stepped closer and looked down at her. “I like how you show and tell me what you want. Don’t stop, because it’s so damn sexy.”
“Are you flirting with me now?” she whispered.
“Yes, I am.”
She smiled. “You always answer questions so definitely.”
“When you tell the truth, there’s no need to hesitate.”
“I’ll remember that.”
His hand went to the first button of her coat. “You should take this off so that I can give you a tour.”
Danielle waited until he unfastened all the buttons. “Do you undress all your guests that come to your office?”
Khalil caught himself and dropped his hands. “I’m sorry, I’m used to helping Kyros undress.”
She took his hands in hers and held them firmly. “It’s fine. I haven’t had help undressing in a while.”
They stared at one another in the quiet office. “Please tell me when it will be appropriate to kiss you,” Khalil said quietly.
Danielle looked at her watch. “Right now.”
“Are you sure?” he asked lifting a brow.
“Maybe you should check,” she suggested.
Khalil glanced at the large dial on his arm. “You’re right.”
Danielle laughed softly at this playful side of Khalil as he slid his arms inside her coat, around her waist. He pulled her against him and studied her face.
“You look beautiful today,” he whispered.
She contemplated his words with a slight frown.
“You looked beautiful yesterday too,” he said reading her thoughts. “And you looked beautiful in your courtroom.”
“Thank you,” she said softly as he lowered his head to hers.
The first touch of his full lips chased all of her thoughts away. The way he gently held her in his arms as though she were a precious gift, made Danielle feel safe and protected. With her eyes closed, she concentrated on the firm body pressed against her. When she felt his tongue softly trace her lips, she parted them slightly.
“Kiss me Queen…” he murmured against her lips.
Danielle slid her arms around his neck and lifted her face. Opening her mouth, she tasted him on her tongue before melting into his arms. Inhaling, she smelled his clean scent while their tongues intertwined in a sweet, sensual encounter.
Khalil again marveled at this woman in his arms as she returned his heated kiss. Her strength enveloped him as she held him close. He felt her warmth combined with her softness against his body and wanted to lie her down and discover what other treasures she held.
He lifted his head and looked down at her before whispering, “We should talk.”
“I agree, now that’s out of the way.”
Khalil stepped back and Danielle removed her coat before taking the empty chair. She watched as he moved the bag from the other seat and sat next to her.
“Would you like to go first?” she asked.
He nodded and reached for her hand. “You are so unexpected during a time when I’m most distracted.”
Danielle listened intently as he continued. “I would never give you less than you deserve and I don’t want you to walk away.”
He lowered his head. “I didn’t sleep last night thinking about you…about the possibilities that I could have with you, if you wanted to pursue the same thing.”
Danielle lifted his face to hers. “Tell me what you want,” she whispered.
“I’m too old to waste time and I have my son to think about. I don’t have women floating in and out of my life,” Khalil continued.
He paused for a moment. “At this point in my life, any relationship that I enter into is for the sole purpose of bringing my Queen home. I’m beyond requiring random sex. I want a woman that I can love completely, and I think that could possibly be you.”
She smiled. “We met yesterday.”
“I know that, but no other woman has ever affected me the way you have, and in that short amount of time,” he confessed. “I’m not proposing marriage today, but I want to make my intentions and expectations clear from the start so you can make an informed decision moving forward.”
“You’re so damn intense,” Danielle said quietly.
He lifted a brow. “You said it was really attractive.”
“I hadn�
�t experienced it quite at this level.”
He squeezed her hand. “Tell me what you want Queen.”
“Why did you kiss me first?” she asked.
Khalil smiled. “If you walk away, I had to at least have had you in my arms and tasted your sweetness one time.” He kissed her hand. “Do you want to come and begin to build with this King?”
Danielle watched him closely. “What are your game changers?”
“Hurt my son, other dudes, dishonesty.”
She nodded slowly. “Yours?” he asked.
“Other women, dishonesty, violence…”
“Never. I have a twin sister and I’d kill anyone who touched her, including her husband.”
She heard the truth in his voice. “I believe you.” She looked away. “This is crazy.”
This time he turned her face back to his. “No, this is real life and this is how two adults should approach a relationship. I’ve acted on physical attraction without any thought of what was to come. I don’t have that luxury anymore, so I’m always thinking about my future. My son has taught me that it’s a must.”
“Your son is adorable and I would never hurt him…or you.” She smiled at him. “I’ve never met a man who was so focused…on everything.”
“I’d like to focus on you.”
Danielle studied him. “You really think after one meeting that we could build something together?”
“Yes, I do.”
She smiled. “Those definitive answers.”
He returned her smile. “Stop stalling Queen, tell me your answer.”
Danielle leaned closer. “Of course I want you to focus on me Khalil because I’m suddenly focused on you, although I’d planned to try to ignore it for a while.”
He looked confused. “Why?”
“It felt like too much, too soon.” She answered honestly.
“We can take it slow, as long as we both know where we’re going,” he promised.
She nodded. “I think that could work.”
Khalil leaned in and kissed her again softly.
“But…exactly how slow are you talking?” she whispered.
“Fast enough to satisfy you but slow enough to fall in love,” he answered.
