No night at the Playground was ever the same. The mood of the evening moved with the flow of the crowd, influenced by the voracity of the music. The tones would be sweet and rich one night, wicked and sultry the next. Romeo liked it that way. He’d spend his days ordering booze, balancing ledgers, paying bills, and counting cash. The daily routine was the same, never changing, but his nights were always varied. He’d successfully recreated a gin joint comparable to any of the hottest clubs that had rocked well before his time. Relishing the satisfaction of his accomplishments, he welcomed the onset of evening and all of its uncertainty.
The Playground was now the place to be and Romeo and Malcolm the men to know. The success of the Playground had propelled both right into the spotlight. Although Romeo was still driven by the desire to do and be more, he could bask silently in the warmth of already having attained a level of contentment and accomplishment others would never know. He found great satisfaction in that fact.
Warm air suddenly blew eerily against Romeo’s neck as long arms snaked seductively around his chest. Soft lips, painted a vibrant red, brushed gently along his neck, teeth nipping lightly at his flesh. As pink polished nails were clasped firmly across his midriff, a familiar voice whispered hot against his ear.
“You still feel too good, lover.”
Romeo laughed, turning to encircle his sturdy arms around a lithe body draped in a fluid, black silk pantsuit. Brushing his lips against the woman’s, Romeo savored the taste of wintergreen and mint. Allowing his hands to glide down her lean back, he rested his palms lightly at the rise of her buttocks.
“Not as good as you do, Roberta. How are you, darling?”
“Better. Now.”
Romeo laughed again. “So where have you been hiding yourself, lady?” he asked, the scent of her perfume suddenly too familiar.
Roberta shrugged, pressing herself closer to Romeo. “I wasn’t hiding, honey. I just found a man who would marry me. I got tired of waiting for your good-looking behind.”
Romeo squeezed her gently. “So, you’re happy?”
“Would have been happier if you’d married me, but I’m not complaining.” Roberta goosed him gently, resting her hand warmly on his backside.
“Woman, you know I am not a marrying man,” Romeo exclaimed. “I would have never made you happy.”
The woman chuckled. “True, but you sure knew how to make me feel good,” she said, kissing him again.
Romeo laughed with her, shaking his head from side to side. “So, where’s this new husband of yours?” he asked.
“Home with the baby. It’s ladies’ night tonight.”
“A baby too!” Romeo exclaimed. “Damn, girl, you work fast!”
Roberta laughed again, a warm rise of noise that filled what little space there was between them. “So how about you? Who’s got your heart?”
Romeo grinned. “You know that’s a game I don’t play, girl. I’m too busy trying to keep myself afloat to be in a serious relationship.”
Roberta nodded. “But business is good, right? I mean, the place is bumping! And everyone’s talking about it.”
Romeo gestured toward the crowd, releasing his hold on the woman. “I can’t complain. This place definitely keeps me on my toes.”
“I’m really happy for you, Romeo. You really deserve all your success,” Roberta said with a nod, her shoulder-length bob swaying from side to side.
He smiled, the lift to his mouth warm and seductive. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
Roberta smiled back. “Well, I need to get back to my friends. I know they’re peeing in their pants with envy,” she said, pointing to a table of women staring intently in their direction.
Romeo nodded, pulling her back tightly against him. “Mmmm,” he hummed. “Too bad you have a husband now.”
“Liar,” Roberta said with a slight giggle as she punched him playfully in the chest. “Stop by the table and say hello,” she said. “I’d love to introduce you to my girls.”
“I’ll do that. And you take care of yourself,” Romeo said, placing his lips lightly atop hers, savoring the quivering lips one last time. He moved to kiss her gently against the cheek, whispering in her ear. “Got to give your girls something to talk about,” he said with a soft chuckle.
“Damn,” Roberta said, shaking in her six-inch heels. Squeezing his hands between her own, she paused briefly as a chill swept down her spine. “We could have been so good together, Romeo. Too bad you messed up.”
Romeo smiled broadly as he watched Roberta walk away, the familiar scent of her perfume fading with her departure, then lifted his hand to wave at the other women who still sat staring at him.
“You need to stop!” Odetta Brown, the head waitress, said with a deep laugh as she brushed past him.
“What?” Romeo asked. “I’m not doing a thing.”
“Uh-huh,” Odetta said, shaking her head. “Just keep it up and see if you don’t get yourself in trouble.”
Romeo laughed with her. “I just can’t help myself, Odetta. Some of my clients require a bit more attention from me than others.”
As Roberta sat back down her best friends began talking over themselves, each one eager to comment on what they’d just witnessed.
“I cannot believe you kissed that man!” Taryn Williams exclaimed, her tone scolding. “Did you forget you had a husband?” She narrowed her gaze on her associate.
Roberta giggled. “What I remembered was that my husband’s not here right now and how that man could make me feel back in the day,” she replied. She took a big gulp of her vodka tonic, fanning herself rapidly as she swallowed. A wide grin spread across her face.
Taryn shook her head. She tossed Romeo Marshall a quick look, the man knee deep in conversation with another woman at another table. She rolled her eyes skyward. Everything about his demeanor told her he was no good for any woman looking for a relationship worth more than an ounce of salt.
“Please, tell me you did not date that man for long,” she said, giving the other woman a questioning look.
Their friend Marsha chimed in. “They didn’t date. All they did was—” she started.
Roberta interrupted. “What we did was enjoy a mutually satisfying adult relationship. Don’t hate,” she said.
Marsha laughed. “Like I started to say. What they did never took them out of bed. I doubt she even got a meal out of the deal.”
“Oh, I ate,” Roberta said with a laugh. “I ate very well, thank you very much! And he did too. In fact—”
Taryn held up her hand, stalling the crude comment she knew was coming from her friend’s mouth. “Please, spare us the nasty details.”
Laughter rang around the table.
“Actually,” Roberta said after downing the last of the beverage in her glass, “Romeo is a really great guy and one day he’s going to make the right woman an incredible husband. I just wasn’t the right woman and we both knew it. But we knew how to have really great sex!”
Marsha shook her head. “I sure wouldn’t mind riding him,” she said with a woeful sigh. “Just one time.”
Roberta laughed, her head waving from side to side. “He’s not your type,” she said matter-of-factly. “I was thinking he’d actually be a great catch for you, Taryn.” She tossed her friend a raised eyebrow.
“Girl, please! That man’s a dog. Pure hound,” Taryn answered as she rolled her eyes skyward. She tossed Romeo another quick look. “No, he’s too much of a player for me,” Taryn added.
Roberta shrugged. “Girl, he is not that bad! I wouldn’t count him out if I were you. He’s one of the good guys and there aren’t too many of them left. Trust me when I tell you!”
Taryn’s gaze moved back across the room, eyeing Romeo curiously. As if he sensed her staring, his gaze suddenly turned in her direction, meeting the look she was giving him. Their eyes locked and held and then he smiled, a sly, seductive bend to his mouth that illuminated his dark face. She felt her breath catch in her chest as she
tore her gaze from his, suddenly dropping her eyes to the table and the empty wineglass she twisted nervously in her hands. She took a deep breath and then a second.
Roberta bumped her shoulder. “If I were you I definitely wouldn’t count that man out just yet.”
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in this book.
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 by Deborah Fletcher Mello
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
Dafina and the Dafina logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-6177-3778-7
ISBN-10: 1-61773-778-X
First Kensington Mass Market Edition: November 2015
eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-779-4
eISBN-10: 1-61773-779-8
First Kensington Electronic Edition: November 2015
Playing For Keeps Page 27
