Breathless 4: Loving Montie

by Shani Greene-Dowdell

  “Hi Mario,” Shayla said, checking us both out. She studied Lissa who was having as much trouble as I was hiding her attraction to me. Wild, heated glances passed between us whenever our eyes locked.

  “Hey,” Mario answered. The enthusiasm he had when he strutted over to their table in full confidence that he would be picking Lissa up had fizzled away. It was obvious by the bun in Shayla’s oven that she was taken. That left Mario without anyone to score.

  “How are you doing this afternoon?” I addressed the question to both ladies, but my eyes were glued to Lissa’s. Her smooth mocha brown skin coated with a hint of shimmer shined bright under the restaurant’s lighting. I didn’t think it was possible for her to be any prettier. She somehow managed to highlight every aspect of her natural beauty, down to the glistening pink gloss of her lips.

  “I’m fine. How are you, Montie?” she asked with a blush rising upon her cheek as I took the seat next to her. I thought it had been the liquor after our date that made her so happy to be around me, but no…I she was feeling me the way I was feeling her.

  “I’m having a great day, now,” I replied. “Have you guys ordered yet?”

  “Yeah, because my man here is starving,” Mario interjected. “I’m sure he’ll be ready to go if the food is not out in ten minutes, right Montie?”

  “No, I can wait,” I shot Mario a glare that let him know to chill out.

  “That’s good to hear,” he said with a slight chuckle. “Cause when we came in here you said you wouldn’t wait no longer than fifteen minutes.”

  “That was then. Now, I’ll wait on the food, however long it takes,” I said narrowing my eyes at him. He threw his hands up in neutrality and looked at Lissa and then back at me. Now, both Mario and Shayla were scrutinizing us with their questioning gazes.

  “So how do you two know each other?” Shayla broke the loud silence.

  “Montie is the owner of True Color Technology, the company I closed the deal I was telling you about last week.”

  Shayla’s right brow rose. “Oh, so this is Mr. Brown?”

  “Yes,” Lissa answered.

  Shayla went back to sipping on the glass of water in front of her. “Nice to meet you,” she said when she placed it back on the table.

  “Montie, we’ve already ordered. When the waitress comes back, you can place your order,” Lissa said as I scanned the menu. When the waitress returned, Mario and I placed our orders. I decided on a burger and fries, which was the first thing I saw that looked good.

  “I’ll have the chicken salad,” Mario told the waitress. “I’m his physical trainer who is totally appalled by the hamburger and fry thing he’s doing to his body,” Mario added, which caused Shayla to laugh.

  “You’re funny,” she said.

  “Yes, he is a jokester,” I admitted.

  We kept the conversation light over the next few minutes. The waitress came back to the table with a salad for Lissa, a humongous plate of fries covered with chili and cheese for Shayla, Mario’s salad and my hearty burger. One hour later, my ravenous appetite was quenched and I had my fill of hanging with the two, beautiful, smart and witty ladies—oh and Mario too.

  “I hate to see our time together come to an end, but I have 3 p.m. doctor’s appointment,” Shayla announced as she gathered her purse.

  “I guess I should go too. I have work that’s not going to get done by magic,” Lissa said to her friend. “I enjoyed having lunch with you, Montie.”

  “And what about me?” Mario pouted.

  “I enjoyed your company too, Mario,” Lissa said.

  “You both were entertaining,” Shayla threw in.

  “Thanks, it was nice meeting both of you ladies. We have to do this again some time,” Mario said.

  “Yes, we should meet up here again soon,” Lissa said, looking in my direction.

  “Most definitely,” I drank her in. Silently, I let her know she wasn’t getting rid of me any time soon. She responded with a slight moan that sent a surge of energy to my center. Damn right, we’re going to do this again. Next time, alone.

  Lissa’s brown eyes scanned the room. “Where is the waitress with our ticket?”

  I pointed to the kiosk in the center of the table. “I already settled the tab, so we’re good.”

  “Montie, you didn’t have to pay for our food. We could have gotten it,” Lissa said.

  Mario helped Shayla wobble from her chair to a rocky stand. “Yeah, we could have paid, but thanks,” Shayla agreed.

  “It’s really not a problem, at all. What kind of a man do you think I am? Of course, I bought you two beautiful ladies lunch. This was the highlight of my day.” Helping Lissa from her seat, I added, “And, we must get together soon to spend more time together.”

  “Oh, so your workout wasn’t the highlight? I’m crushed,” Mario pouted again.

  “Really Mario?”

  Lissa giggled and started walking to the exit. Salivating over her every stride, I shadowed her out to the curbside. She hugged Shayla and Shayla shook mine and Mario’s hand.

  “Again, nice meeting you,” she said before walking to her car.

  “The pleasure is all mine,” I said as I stared into Lissa’s light brown eyes.

  “Wow, Atlanta is always growing. They’re just building up all around here,” Mario said admiring a funkily painted building to the right of The Tavern. “Is that a new pool hall?” he asked.

  “I never noticed it there before, but yeah, that’s a pool hall,” Lissa said, surveying the building.

  “If you had time, I’d take you in there and whoop you in a few games,” I challenged her.

  “Is that a challenge, Montie Brown?”

  “No, it was more of a promise. But you said you had a lot of work to do. I’d hate for you to get behind on your work and get whipped all in one day, so we can do it some other time.”

  “Well, in the case of all of your trash talking, my schedule just cleared up so I can teach you a hard lesson about threatening to beat this girl in pool,” she accepted my challenge with a competitive arch of her brow.

  “Are y’all about to go in there for real?” Mario asked.

  “Yeah, come on with us. You can be the witness to her tragic loss,” I said.

  “I can’t stay. I have a training session at 2 p.m.,” he said.

  “Dang, that’s right. I left my car at the gym and rode with Mario. Looks like I’m going to need to take a raincheck, Lissa.”

  “I could give you a ride to get your car. That’s if you don’t mind riding back with the girl that’s kicked your tosh in pool,” Lissa bragged.

  “I can’t wait to put you in your place,” I said, taking her by the hand. “I’ll catch up with you later, Mario,” I tossed over my shoulder at my friend who was already heading to his car.

  “And where exactly is my rightful place?” Lissa said once we reached the door of the pool hall.

  “Once I win, I get to pick where we go out on our next date. Then, I’ll show you better than I can explain it to you,” I said.

  “Do I get the same thing? Do I get to choose our next date, if I win?” she asked.

  “That’s the wager. Whoever wins gets to choose our next date spot,” I confirmed.

  “That way no matter who wins, we get the same thing. How is that a fair wager?” she asked.

  “Oh, but sweetheart, that’s not true. When I win, you have no idea of the places I will take you.”

  She gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Is that another threat, Montie?”

  “I told you where I stand on threats. I don’t make them. I make promises.”

  We walked in and chose a table. Lissa leaned against the table and bit down on her lip. “Well, what if I win?” she asked in a raspy ‘come fuck me’ tone that nearly made me come unglued.

  I placed the balls in the middle of the table. I couldn’t wait to dive deep inside the ravenous little fireball that was curved to perfection. “If you win and that’s a strong if, then I wil
l take you anywhere you want to go in the world,” I said as a guarantee.

  “Put your money where your mouth is, Montie.” Lissa arched her back so that her torso dipped close to the table leaving nothing to imagine about how her rounded, plump ass would spread out in my bed. Heavens.

  She revved her pool stick backwards and hit the first strike sending the balls flying in different directions on the table and shoving my salacious thoughts to the back of my mind. Three in the pockets. Impressive.

  “Good start,” I congratulated her, “but don’t get used to it. That’s all the points you’ll get this game.”

  We ended up playing two rounds with Lissa stomping me each time. She really was a good pool player. Thankfully, I had set the rules so that I won, no matter how the game turned out.

  “If we are going to be seeing more of each other, you must get used to me winning,” Lissa bragged as she drove toward Mario’s gym, so I could pick up my car.

  “If I can set the rules so we both win, I don’t care if you win, forever.”

  “So, you think you’re going to like our next date, huh? How do you know I’m not going to take you somewhere and work you like a slave?”

  “As long as I’m with you, I’m down for whatever.”

  That caused her plump lips to stretch into a delicious spread across her face. “Good, I’ll text you the address to the place tonight. I want you to meet me there tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. sharp.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Montie

  The Next Day

  I turned onto Washington Street and took an assessment of the barren buildings on both sides of the road. Lissa must had given me the wrong address. There was no restaurant in sight and no place that looked even remotely decent enough to have a date. I pulled over and parked in front of a meter alongside the road in front of an old, dilapidated church and dialed her number.

  “Hello,” her melodic voice chimed through the phone brightening my mood instantly. Even if she had given me the wrong address, I could never be upset with her.

  “Hey Lissa.”

  “Hey, where are you?”

  “I’m out here on Washington. I don’t see a restaurant anywhere near the address you gave me. My GPS brought me to what looks like a rundown church.” I looked at the building again and down the street in front of me. There were a few cars parked outside, but I couldn’t figure out which of the buildings they might’ve been congregated in.

  “No worries, Montie. You’re in the right place. I’m coming out to get you now,” she beamed out with excitement.

  “This is it?” I asked, confused as I continued to look down the street in front of me. I thought surely she would come out of a quaint building that I missed in my surveillance of the area. There had to be an unknown Atlanta hot spot hiding out amid this worn area.

  “Yes. This is it, Montie,” she said sweetly as the door of the church opened and she stepped out.

  “Oh, I see you at the top of the steps,” I said.

  The surroundings faded away. Lissa was one show stopping woman. I just sat there salivating over her shapely thighs up to the tender features of her face. She was the kind of woman a man would follow anywhere.

  “Come on in. This is where we’ll be hanging out tonight,” she said once I joined her on the steps just outside the church door.

  “This is what you have planned for our date?” I asked with the faintest hint of disappointment in my tone. If her idea of a date was having a pastor standing over us preaching on a Tuesday night, the hours ahead were going to be a serious test. I popped a piece of chewing gum in my mouth and stared at her soft brown eyes. They held the power to send calming vibes all over me. I just wanted to be wherever she was going to be, doing whatever she was doing. But this place?

  She stood on her tiptoes and graced my lips with a quick peck. “Just come in with me, Montie.”

  I licked my lips to savor the flavor of her sweet lips upon mine. I wanted more, much more. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her again. “Oh, I’m coming in. Don’t worry about that,” I assured her once I released her.

  “Montie, we’re at church,” she said looking around.

  “I know but I couldn’t help myself.”

  “Well, that’s too bad. You’ll be helping others for the rest of the night, so consider that kiss as your prepayment for your services.” She chortled.

  I had no idea what she was talking about but went along with it. “Okay.”

  “This will be the best date anyone has ever taken you on,” she assured me as she pulled me toward the door. “I promise you.”

  I turned her to face me before we walked in. “Lissa, I like you a lot. I don’t want you to be upset with me if I go in here and decide this church isn’t for me.” I felt that fair warning was warranted. “I don’t comingle with judgmental or over preachy people.”

  “Montie, you don’t know me very well, but what do you know about me?” she asked.

  “Let’s see…what do I know? You’re funny, smart, highly successful, and so damn beautiful with the biggest set of kissable lips that I have ever had the pleasure of tasting and that’s not to mention that a…”

  An elderly couple made it to the top of the steps. Lissa coughed to stop me from speaking.

  “Let me get that for you.” I held the door open so they could walk in ahead of us.

  “Thanks Son,” the man said as he entered the door.

  “No problem.” I smiled at the lady who reminded me of my grandmother.

  “If you trust me, you know I wouldn’t subject you to anything that might offend you. I think what we’re doing tonight will help us get to know each other better. I want you to know this side of me. Give me a chance to show you without judgement, and if you don’t like what you see you can walk away no strings attached.”

  Without knowing what waited inside, I didn’t know the implications of what she was saying to me. However, I had no intention of walking away from her, ever. I opened the door to the church and allowed her to walk in front of me. As soon as we reached the sanctuary, I noticed a line of people wrapped around the room leading to a backroom.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked.

  “Tonight, we serve the people,” she said taking my hand and walking me down the aisle of the church to the back where she handed me an apron and a pair of gloves. “I have you working mac and cheese. We give them a small scoop each, because by the end of the night we will have served a thousand people, give or take.”

  “Are you saying I’m going to scoop one thousand hunks of mac and cheese?” I asked in surprise of her revelation that our date had shifted in intent much too fast for me to comprehend. People served my food to me at restaurants. I had never worked an assembly line serving food to the community.

  “Well, actually there are two lines with the same thing on each side, so maybe five hundred,” she laughed. “I’ll be right beside you giving out green beans.”

  I had gotten dressed in some of my best casual wear and was well shaven with new clean smelling cologne, and a fresh hair cut specifically for my time with Lissa. I anticipated a five-star meal and a walk by the riverside.

  By the time I was sure I had seen four hundred and ninety-nine smiles on the people’s faces and the humbleness with which they came to receive food from a rundown church that I didn’t even know existed, I was sold. Anything I felt for Lissa got real in that instance. I was so in love with her by the end of the night. No, I don’t think you understand, I loved that woman for everything she stood for by the time I scooped my last serving of mac and cheese and looked at her work tirelessly with a smile as she raised her last scoop of green beans. We could’ve been anywhere. She could have used this time to make a hundred-thousand-dollar deal with a potential client, or be wined and dined at an expensive restaurant, but she chose to look into the eyes of those less fortunate and light them up with her smile, her loving spirit, and she brought me along to experience it. I was beyond taken by her. I was
always preaching about doing what mattered. She showed me that it was more fulfilling to do what mattered.

  “Glad you didn’t run out on me,” she said as she came out of the kitchen with a large utility broom in her hand and began sweeping. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?” she asked.

  “Well, I’m definitely worn out, but—”

  “You didn’t like it,” she asked and halted sweeping. She held the broom close to her chest, her heart-melting smile fading away.

  “No, this was an experience I will never forget. I loved it. Thank you for sharing this part of you with me,” I said. Her lips upturned in a smile, making all things right in my world again.

  “You’re welcome, Montie. It brings me so much joy to give back. When I beat you at pool, I figured I had to bring you along for the weekly community dinner.” Her vulnerable glare dead set upon mine rendered me incapable of looking anywhere but into her pretty brown eyes. “I’m not trying to imply anything more than what we are. I understand that we’re just two people doing business and getting to know one another. I just wanted to do something with you that makes me happy.”

  I cut her misunderstanding by closing the space between us and crashing my lips down onto hers. I kissed her properly, the way I wanted to since the first night we broke the first rule of engagement for business partners and went back to my place after our celebratory dinner. That night, I had been able to subdue my feelings for her. But standing there in the church’s kitchen, sweaty and with mac and cheese stained clothing, I was overtaken with desire to become one with the five-foot two beautiful soul standing in front of me.

  Judging from the look in her eyes when I finally released her, our soul-burning kiss had smoothed out any rough areas her mind was taking her to. She understood completely that I was ready for whatever she wanted to share with me. “I, uh, I think we should finish up here, so we can leave,” she said and handed me the broom. “Do you mind sweeping out here?” she asked, quickly picking up a pan warmer and rushing toward the kitchen.

  “Hey,” I called after her.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m glad you won the game.”