DUBIOUS

by McKinney, Tina Brooks

  “Wow! Do you think you pushed him too hard?” Sherman asked, worry etched all over his face.

  “Not at all. He really has no other choice. Macro Systems has not had a major update since 2000. Your upgrades will take their product well into the twenty-fifth century. Why should he reap all the benefits of your hard work?”

  “When you put it that way, I guess you have a point.”

  “Plus, he knows the alternative is to give the program to his number one competitor. I know he’s not that stupid.”

  The phone hadn’t been resting on the cradle but two hot seconds before Mr. Harvey called back.

  “Ms. Clark speaking, how may I assist you?”

  Mr. Harvey said, “Draw up the contracts and have them delivered to my office in the morning.”

  “Consider it done. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” I hung up the phone and did a little dance around my desk.

  Sherman jumped up, grabbed me in his arms and swung me around. When he finally set me back on the floor, he kissed me.

  I wasn’t talking about a mere kiss on the cheek. He grabbed my face, lowered his lips to mine, sucking them as if they were Godiva chocolate, and plunged his tongue into my mouth. His hands ran up and down the length of my body, and I shamelessly returned the kiss. I could feel the bulge of his dick pressed against my thigh; my taunt nipples pressed against his chest. His cologne filled my nostrils, banishing all other thoughts from my mind. Had we been anyplace other than my office, we would have been fucking—that much I was sure of.

  Reluctantly, I pulled away from his embrace. My cheeks were on fire and my panties were soaked. We stood there looking at each other, neither of us knowing exactly what to say. I backed away, bumping into my desk. That was bound to leave a bruise. My heart was beating so fast, I didn’t know whether to shit or go blind.

  “I guess I should apologize for my outburst, but I’m not. Our business is finished. He closed the space again. “I can now treat you like the woman you deserve to be treated like.”

  “Uh … we don’t have the signed contract yet.” I inched my way around the desk.

  “That’s just a formality. You and I both know that he will sign it so stop hiding behind this business façade. You’ve been doing it over a month now. I know you find me attractive, and I think you’re beautiful.” He was being bold and cocky and I liked it.

  I managed to find my way back to my chair. I needed to put some hardwood furniture between us or else I would wind up in his arms again. It had been so long since I’d been made to feel like a desired woman, I just didn’t know how to act. “Sherman, I’ve been married to the same man for thirteen years. I don’t even know how to be with another man.”

  “Felicia, I’m not asking you to sleep with me. All I want to do is feed you.”

  “Didn’t I hear that line in a movie?” I laughed to cover my embarrassment.

  “We could do a movie, too, if you would like.”

  “You don’t give up do you?”

  “Not when I see something I want. So can I pick you up tonight at eight?”

  “Uh … sure. Do you need my address?”

  “I know it already.”

  I raised my eyebrow.

  “I told you I’m relentless when it’s something I want. I’ll see you tonight.” He blew me a kiss and walked out of my office.

  Talisa came in as soon as he left fanning her hands. “I don’t care what you say, that motherfucker is fine.”

  “Isn’t that the truth. What do I have on the schedule for the rest of the day?”

  “Let me go get your book, but I think you’re free.” She walked out, and I thought about the way Sherman had kissed me. She came back in a few seconds later and confirmed my availability.

  “Do me a favor,” I said. “Call Kenya, ask if she can squeeze me in. I have a date tonight, and I need to run by the mall and get something sexy to wear.”

  “So you’re taking my advice?”

  “Sort of. I believe we settled his case, so he’s not officially a client anymore. We are going out to dinner.”

  “Well go head, Ms. Thang. I ain’t mad at ya. Just make sure it falls above the knee.”

  “I think I can do that. Hit me on my cell if she can get me in and out. If not, I’m just going to have to go like I am.”

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with your hair now, but I can understand your wanting to look brand new.”

  “Oh, I also have to stop by the kennel. I’ve been avoiding the place since I hired, what’s his name, and I want to make an appearance. Please call him and tell him I’m on the way. There are some things in Randy’s old office that I need to get out of there so now would be a perfect time.”

  “Done. Make sure you call me tonight if it’s not too late and tell me how things went.”

  I gave her a devilish glance. “You are so nasty.”

  “I done told you, ain’t no shame in my game.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Felicia

  I stopped at the kennel with mixed emotions. Although Talisa had called ahead and told Sam to expect me, I wasn’t sure what type of feelings visiting the kennel would evoke in me since it marked the beginning of the end of my marriage.

  Sam was sitting at the front desk when I had entered.

  He stood to shake my hand. “How are you today, Ms. Clark?”

  “Please, let’s not stand on formalities. My name is Felicia, and I’d like to call you Sam, if that is okay with you?”

  “Sure it is. Would you like to take a walk around? We have quite a few new pups, and they are coming along nicely.” He stretched.

  “I’d like that.” For it to be a kennel, it was quite. There were no yapping dogs or fowl odors. It was clear that Sam was running a tight ship. The pups were kept away from their mothers and only brought to them for feeding. I found this odd. “Why do you keep the puppies away from their mothers?”

  “Since we are breeding the pups for sale, I find it easier to separate them if they are not bound together constantly until they are sold. The pups in this first cage are already sold. We will keep them for another two weeks, then we will let them go. The pups in the other cage are only a few weeks old, so we will have them for another month or so.”

  “Business appears to be good,” I said.

  “Do you want to see the books?”

  “Sure, I may as well since I’m here. I also want to clear out some of the things my husband left in his old office.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I boxed it up and stacked them in the corner. I needed the space.”

  “No, I don’t mind. You saved me some time to be honest.”

  We went into Randy’s office and looked at the books. I was astounded that the business was doing so well. In fact, under Sam’s direction, we were making even more money than when my husband was running the place.

  “Wow, what can I say? I’m overwhelmed. You are doing a remarkable job. Are you still getting requests from other breeders to mate the dogs?”

  “Am I? I can barely keep up with the demand. There is only one dog that I can’t get to breed. I’ve tried him with several dogs. He is just not interested, even though the bitches are in heat.”

  “Which dog?”

  “Justus.”

  I was not surprised by this one bit. “He was my husband’s favorite dog. He rarely stayed in a pen and spent a lot of time with him. Do you think we should sell him?”

  “No, he’s an excellent dog. I think he would be better off as a pet, not a stud.”

  I debated whether to give the dog to Sam or keep him for myself. During the first few weeks of my separation, Justus was good company after he had gotten over the fact Randy was gone. He wasn’t much trouble, and I could use the company. “Tell you what: start looking for a replacement for him. I’m going to take Justus home with me and see how it goes.”

  “I think that’s a wise choice.” He closed the accounting book.

  “If you can help me load these boxes, I
will be out of your hair.” I looked at the boxes stacked neatly in the corner.

  “You’re not bothering me, I need a human to speak to every now and then.”

  * * *

  After we had loaded up my car, I headed to my hairdresser for a quick curl job. If I didn’t have time to stop by the mall, I had the perfect little black dress at home that would fit the occasion nicely.

  “What in the hell are you doing back in here today? I just saw your ass Monday,” Kenya said as I walked in the shop with Justus at my side.

  I plopped down in her chair. “If you must know, I have a date. I want you to tighten my curls.”

  “Ooh a date, I’m scared of you.”

  “Save all that nonsense until after the date. Just fix the curls on the side and top so I can go home and get dressed.”

  “I see you ain’t lost your stank attitude.” She looked at Justus.

  “I don’t have an attitude. I don’t have to give you all the details of my love life.”

  “So you’re in love now?”

  Justus laid at my feet.

  “See, now you're going to blow shit out of proportion. It’s just a date, that’s all.”

  “Alright. I ain’t going to say another thing about it. I’ll have you out of here in no time.” She stared at Justus.

  “Fine.”

  “So, what’s up with the dog?”

  “It was too hot to leave him in the car, so I didn’t see him as being a problem.”

  Kenya put her hands on her hips. “Well, if the board of health came in, they might have a problem with it.”

  “Just tell them I’m blind and he’s my Seeing Eye dog.”

  We both laughed. Justus looked at us with a bored expression and rested his head again on his huge paws. There was no doubt about it, the dog was truly spoiled.

  “Ain’t that the dog that Randy always had with him?” Kenya said as she started styling my hair.

  “Yeah. He was so unhappy in the kennel I just couldn’t leave him there. Plus, I could use the company around the house. I’m still not used to living in that big-ass house all by myself.”

  “Sell it.” She stared at me through the mirror.

  “And move where? That shit is almost paid for. The houses in my area are going up in value. I’d be a fool to sell now.”

  “To each his own.” She rolled her eyes. “What do you do about cutting the grass and shit?”

  “I hired two buff brothers who like to cut the grass without their shirts. The ladies in the neighborhood like it, and it makes me happy, too. I make sure I’m home every Saturday morning for the show.”

  “I hope this nigga you’re getting all jazzy for knocks your back out so you can come back in here next week singing.”

  “Fool, stop trippin’. It isn’t that type of date.” I did need some.

  “Whatever, hoe, just do you.”

  “What’s going on in your life?” I figured this was the best way to change the subject.

  “Same old same old. Just trying to keep the bills paid and keep a roof over my head. I miss hanging out with you. Ever since you broke up with Randy, you don’t call and we don’t talk anymore.”

  To be honest, I missed her too. “I’ll see what I can do about that. You are a very dear friend of mine, and I would hate to lose you, too.”

  “You would have to fuck my man to make me give up on your ass.”

  I said, “You don’t have a man.”

  “Ah … see that’s how long you’ve been away. I just met this man named Jamie, and I’m really feeling him.”

  “Oh yeah? Where did you met him?”

  “He comes in from time to time to have his hair twisted.”

  “Go ahead, girl. I hope it works for you. I can see the glow in your eyes when you speak of him.”

  “We haven’t started speaking on that level yet, but I feel it coming. He’s kind of shy.”

  “I know you, you will wear him down.”

  “And you know this.”

  * * *

  I walked Justus through the house reminding him of the rules and telling him which rooms were off limits to him. I believed he understood. I made a makeshift bed for him in the laundry room and he settled down onto it. Luckily for me, I hadn’t gotten rid of any of the food that Randy had at the house, so I had plenty of food and treats for him.

  From there, I laid out my clothes on the bed and took a quick shower. I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup when my doorbell rang. Nerves that I didn’t think I even had started to rattle. My hands were shaking as I grabbed my clutch off the bed.

  Justus was at the door sniffing under it and wagging his tail as if the visitor was for him. I had to tell him to go back to his room. Like an obedient child, he did was he was told to do.

  I snatched the door open without checking the peephole. Surprise surprise … it wasn’t Sherman at the door, it was Randy.

  “Uhm-uhm-uhm, you look nice,” he said, practically undressing me with his eyes.

  I looked down at my outfit as if I had forgotten all about all the effort I put into being beautiful. “Thanks. What are you doing here?”

  “I was in the neighborhood.”

  “This isn’t your neighborhood anymore.”

  “Can I come in or are you going to make me stand on the porch?”

  I was undecided on what to do. I knew Sherman would be here any minute and the last thing I wanted was a confrontation. Despite our divorce, Randy had never brought another woman up in my face. I wasn’t sure how he was going to handle seeing me with another man, and I wasn’t in the mood to find out.

  “Well … I was about to go out.”

  “I can see that. You and Kenya hanging out?” He came in anyway and shut the door behind him.

  “Not tonight.” I wasn’t volunteering any information I just wanted him gone. I don’t know why he’d asked about Kenya. He couldn’t stand her, because he thought she was a tramp. “So what really brings you over here?”

  “I just wanted to spend some time with my best friend. Is there any harm in that?”

  “Randy, I just don’t understand you. How can I be your best friend and we wound up divorced. You are sending me mixed signals.”

  “I know. I wish I had a better answer for you. There are times when I feel like I just have to see you.” He sat down on the sofa and plopped his feet on the coffee table like he used to.

  “Well, now is not a good time.” I was trying to be polite for a change.

  The doorbell rang.

  My heart slipped down into my pumps. Shit was either going to get ugly or uncomfortable. I didn’t make a move for the door, because my feet were rooted to the floor.

  “Do you want me to get that?” He started toward door.

  “Uh … no, I’ll get it.” I brushed pass Randy and opened the door. Sherman stood there looking like someone who had just stepped off the fashion pages of GQ.

  “Hey beautiful.” He was smiling at me until he noticed Randy standing off to the side. His face was puzzled.

  I had told him of my divorce so I could only imagine what was going on in his head. The uncomfortable part kicked in.

  “Hey Sherman. Sherman, this is my ex-husband. He found himself in the neighborhood and stopped by.”

  “Hey man, what’s up?” Sherman held his hand up for dap but Randy ignored him.

  Randy kept looking from Sherman to me with a look of disbelief on his face. Pushing up his shoulders and pumping up his chest, he tried to save face. “My bad. Sometimes I forget that this is no longer my home and she is no longer my wife. You two have a good time.” He walked through the door without closing it.

  I finally breathed once I was sure he was not about to spin around and come back into the room. I shut the door.

  “Did I interrupt something?” Sherman said, giving me the once-over.

  “No, not at all. I don’t know what that was all about. I opened the door, thinking it was you, and he was standing there. This is the firs
t time since he left that he has ever just dropped by, but I bet he won’t try that again.”

  He rubbed my arm. “Shall we go?”

  “Sure. Let me grab my shawl and bag, and I’ll be ready.” I was still a little disturbed by Randy’s visit, but I was determined not to let it ruin my night. I was, however, watchful as we made our way to Sherman’s Mercedes. I didn’t want Randy to start having second thoughts and try to run us off the road.

  Sherman opened the car door for me. “Would I be too nosey or forward if I asked you what happened between you two?”

  I waited until he climbed into the driver’s seat before I answered. “Under different circumstances, I would probably say yes because I dislike discussing my personal life with strangers, but I feel like I owe you some form of explanation.”

  “Hey, I ain’t trying to depress you or get you in a bad mood or anything, I just need to know what’s up.”

  “We were married for thirteen years; and, in my mind, things were going good. He was trying to find some direction in his life, and I allowed him that space. Never once did I ever consider that he may have been cheating on me or anything like that. He just didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life.”

  “So you pressured him to get a job?” He put the car in Reverse and backed out the driveway.

  “No, I didn’t. I was making a comfortable salary. Money wasn’t an issue between us. I figured what was mine was his. One day, out of the blue, he decides he wants to open up a kennel. This really surprised me since he never expressed any interest in animals. We didn’t even own a pet.”

  “Okay.”

  “I went with him while he scouted out locations. I put the money down for him to buy the building he liked. He started traveling all over the world choosing the dogs that he wanted to breed. I didn’t mind because he was happy.”

  “So … what happened?”

  “He stopped coming home. He spent all his time at the kennel. The only time I was able to see him was when I went by there. Even that didn’t bother me because I knew that he loved me. This went on for two years.”

  “You were very patient.”

  “Tell me about it. The kicker came one day when he actually came home—by my design—and asked me to mortgage our home so he could expand the kennel.”