Tropical Fantasy

by Monica McKayhan

  Just enough to entice without being abrasive.

  She searched for Vince but didn’t see him right away. Her instructions were to meet him at Starbucks, but that was all she had to go on. He’d extended an invitation for dinner, but Starbucks was far from a restaurant and she wondered what Vince had up his sleeve. When she saw him stroll through the door, it felt as if her breath had left her. His presence had a profound effect on her. She pretended not to be moved, but it was hard.

  She loved his handsome face, and she instantly reflected on the night they’d made love to each other. The thought of it made her toes tingle. She’d gone over it a million times in her mind—tried to erase the memory, but it was useless. She couldn’t help reliving every moment of it. Wanted to make sense of it. Casual sex had never been her style. She’d always been in a committed relationship long before lovemaking had come into play. But something caused her to be relaxed enough with this man to allow him in places that were normally off-limits.

  Vince caught her eye and then moved quickly in her direction.

  He gave her a strong hug and then kissed her cheek. “Hi, you. I couldn’t wait to see your beautiful face again.”

  “Hello.” She gave him a warm smile but remained standoffish.

  Before she would let her guard down, she needed answers to a few questions.

  “How long have you been waiting?” he asked.

  A lifetime for someone to make me feel alive again—the way I feel with you, she wanted to say. But instead she said, “Not long. Just walked in.”

  “What are you drinking?” Vince asked before approaching the counter.

  Sasha shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve already had my daily Frappuccino, so maybe a latte. Vanilla.”

  “Cool,” said Vince and then ordered Sasha an iced vanilla latte and a Caramel Skinny Macchiato for himself.

  He managed to snag a small corner table where the two of them sipped their drinks and talked about everything under the sun. It seemed as if they were the only two people in the room, and an hour had passed before she got around to asking him about the woman at the airport.

  “I saw you at the airport with a woman the other day. Now, I know that we’re not dating or in any type of committed relationship or anything like that, but I don’t mess around with other people’s men. So if you’re married or have a girlfriend...”

  Vince interrupted. “I’m not married, and I don’t have a girlfriend. The woman you saw me with at the airport was Gabby, my sister.”

  Sasha felt embarrassed yet relieved all at the same time. She exhaled. “I’m sorry. I just thought...”

  “You were jealous.” Vince grinned.

  “I wasn’t jealous,” Sasha lied.

  “Not even a little bit?”

  “Okay, maybe a little.”

  “You were somewhere in that airport stalking me?” Vince laughed heartily.

  “I wasn’t stalking you. I just observed you from a distance.”

  “Why didn’t you just come over and say hello? I would’ve introduced you.”

  Sasha admitted, “I wasn’t quite in that frame of mind. When I saw you with that woman, I wanted to forget about you.”

  “And now?”

  “And now, I guess I don’t.”

  “You guess? You’re not certain?”

  “Okay, I don’t want to forget about you.”

  “I’m very glad you had a change of heart.” Vince checked his watch and then stood. “We have to go or we’ll be late.”

  “Late for what?”

  “Our reservations,” he simply said.

  Sasha followed Vince through the crowded café and out the door.

  Once in the parking lot, Vince said, “Leave your car. You can ride with me.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t ride in cars with strange men.”

  “Are you serious?” Vince stood there in awe.

  “Very. I don’t know anything about you—where you live...”

  “I live in Stone Mountain, Georgia. What else?”

  “I don’t have your phone number, don’t know your mother’s name or where you work.” Sasha folded her arms across her chest.

  “You’re being ridiculous.” Vince pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. “Hey, Ma. It’s me. Look, I need a favor. I’m going to hand this young woman my phone. I want you to explain to her who I am and that she can feel safe going on a date with me. Yes, ma’am. Her name is Sasha. No, ma’am. Okay, I’m going to hand her the phone.”

  Sasha mouthed, “What are you doing?”

  Before she could say another word, Vince held the phone out to her. She took it reluctantly. “Hello?”

  “Hello, this is Dolores Sullivan. I’m Vincent’s mother. And you are?”

  “I’m Sasha Winters.”

  “Nice to meet you, Sasha. If you haven’t already figured it out, my son is very canny and very persistent. He’s probably different from anyone you’ve ever met.”

  “Yes, ma’am, he is,” Sasha agreed.

  “I often tell him that he missed his calling. He should’ve been a salesman.” Dolores chuckled. “But then on the other hand, he has a big heart, so he fits very well with the career that he’s chosen. Are you the young lady he met in the Bahamas?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “He really likes you. I’ve never seen him make a fuss over a woman before. Calling me on the phone...interrupting my show, Dancing with the Stars. Is it just me, or is Gladys Knight looking younger these days?”

  Sasha was speechless.

  “Anyway, I know you don’t want to hear about Gladys Knight. You want to know if my son is a good man or not. Well, I know that he has his flaws. He’s got some control issues, but overall he’s decent...”

  Vince’s mother went on and on about her son. Sasha couldn’t understand why, but after speaking with her, she felt more comfortable riding with Vince. What man actually puts his mother on the phone? After Sasha was done talking with Dolores Sullivan, she handed Vince his phone back.

  He strolled over to the black convertible sports car, hit the locks and held the passenger door open.

  “This is your car? I never thought you to be a Corvette guy.”

  “I’m really very practical. In fact, I rarely bring her out—only for special occasions like this,” Vince said.

  “I see,” Sasha said and then slid comfortably into the bucket seat. She quickly fastened her seat belt.

  As he whipped the car out of the Starbucks parking lot, she knew that there was more to Vince than met the eye. With a quick press of a button, Jay-Z’s voice rang through the speakers.

  “If you want to hear something different, we can change it.”

  Although rap wasn’t really her style of music, she didn’t protest. She was simply enjoying this side of Vince that she hadn’t known existed. He was dressed in stylish jeans and a gray cashmere sweater, with gray Jordan sneakers. His outfit was not one that she’d expected to see him wearing, but she liked it.

  “It’s okay. I can get down with some Jay-Z occasionally,” she said and smiled.

  “That’s good, because you might hear any type of music while hanging out with me—everything from hardcore rap to Beethoven. I like it all. I’m a music fanatic!”

  “I like music too, but I’m sort of loyal to a few select genres and artists.”

  “That’s cool, but you’d be surprised what you might like if you branched out a little.”

  Vince zoomed down Peachtree Street toward downtown Atlanta. Downtown was lit up as usual with its bright lights and bumper-to-bumper traffic. The skyline was as beautiful as the autumn night. As they approached Philips Arena, Sasha took in the crowds that stood in long lines outside waiting to enter the building. It was always crowded on a
night when an NBA basketball game took place. Before Sasha knew it, Vince had pulled into the parking garage at the arena and shut off the car’s engine.

  “Hawks are playing the Heat tonight. Best game of the season and we have club seats.”

  Vince grinned.

  Sasha frowned. Basketball? Hadn’t he invited her to dinner? She wasn’t the least bit interested in seeing grown men running up and down a basketball court. Not to mention her stomach was growling because she’d passed on lunch in an effort to preserve her appetite for dinner.

  Sasha sat there for a moment. She was confused.

  “Trust me,” Vince said after noticing her hesitation. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

  Trust him? It had been a long time since she’d trusted a man. And the last time she’d done so, it ended badly. She’d lost sight of her own values and had missed all the red flags and found herself hurt. Trust was something that had to be earned. Her mind knew this, but her heart was already wearing down.

  She unsnapped her seat belt and reluctantly stepped out of the car. Vince rushed around to the passenger side of the car, grabbed Sasha’s hand and intertwined his fingers with hers while the two of them made their way into the arena. The walk was longer than Sasha anticipated. Although Vince had asked her to wear jeans, she’d decided to dress them up with four-inch heels. She hadn’t expected to do much walking—after all, most Atlanta restaurants offered valet parking, so the most walking she thought she’d be doing would be from the car to the door of the restaurant. Her goal for the night had simply been to look cute and become reacquainted with the man who’d stolen her heart in the Bahamas.

  She certainly wasn’t in the mood for hot dogs and nachos from one of the vendors in the arena, and she hoped that wasn’t what Vince had in mind either. As they drifted through the arena, Vince was engaged in brief conversations with several people—many who knew him by name. He offered high fives to youngsters whom he recognized and warm hugs and firm handshakes to older people. It was quite clear that he was no stranger in this place, and it seemed that everyone knew him. He introduced Sasha as his good friend to those who lingered for an introduction.

  “But I’m working on making her much more than that,” he explained to one older gentleman in particular.

  “I can see why,” the older man said with a grin. “She’s beautiful.”

  “She’s the attorney I was telling you about, Otis,” said Vince. “I’ll see if I can pick her brain for you.”

  “Do that, man,” Otis said. “I really could use some help.”

  “You holding up all right otherwise?” Vince asked.

  “About as well as can be expected.”

  “Taja missed our last two practices. Is everything all right?”

  “It’s just been tough getting her there. But I promise she won’t miss another one.”

  “Good! And bring her in to see me about those teeth too,” Vince said.

  “You know I lost my job. I don’t have my dental plan anymore. In fact, I don’t have health care or any benefits anymore. It’s a tough world when you’re out of work.”

  “Bring her in to see me anyway,” Vince insisted.

  When Otis shook Vince’s hand again, he held on to it this time. There was a moment of friendship shared between the two men, and it warmed Sasha’s heart. She gave Otis a smile. He seemed like a sincere man, and she wondered about his plight—why he was suffering, and why Vince had opened his heart to him. She didn’t understand why, but it made Vince that much more interesting. She loved the many facets of him and couldn’t wait to discover the rest. Even though she wasn’t quite settled with Vince’s idea of a date, she was feeling a little better about the evening.

  They took the escalator to the upper level of Philips Arena. They strolled past the food court, and Sasha wondered which vendor would be providing their feast for the evening. She was confused when Vince passed up the food court but was pleasantly surprised when they entered a sleek restaurant with red, black and gray decor. Red, written in bold red letters, with a martini glass in the center of the letter D, was the name of the upscale, yet casual restaurant inside Philips Arena. The restaurant boasted a premium view of the action on the floor. Vince had thoughtfully reserved a small table on the terrace, where they could enjoy a nice, elegant dinner and still take in every moment of the Hawks game.

  Sasha had never been much of a sports fan, but as Vince began to explain every play on the court, she suddenly found herself engaged. When he rooted for the Hawks, she cheered them on, as well. When he admonished a player for making a foolish play, she offered her own reprimand. She began to see basketball in a new light. And enjoying it with Vince made it seem so much better. By the end of the night, she knew who Josh Smith was and knew why Lebron James’s nickname was “King James.” She felt as if she’d been accepted into an exclusive club, and she loved it.

  After dinner, Vince escorted Sasha to their box seats, where they continued watching the game. They talked during the downtimes, and Sasha learned a little bit more about the man who was slowly easing into her heart. He was interesting and charming, and she tried to imagine her life before he had waltzed into it. Had he not rescued her that very evening, she’d have been at home in front of her laptop computer, or she’d have her nose stuck inside a law book. And neither of those things could hold a candle to the evening she was having.

  The drive back to Starbucks seemed shorter than the earlier drive to Philips Arena. She knew that there was some truth to the saying that time flew when you were having fun. And she was definitely having fun. On the drive back, Vince had slowed the music down to a much more romantic taste than Jay-Z’s rhythmic chatter. As Will Downing’s rich baritone filled the Corvette, Sasha found herself slouching in the passenger seat. She’d become way too comfortable. She didn’t want to move; didn’t want the night to end. It was as if she was glued to the seat. As Vince pulled the car into the spot next to Sasha’s car, they sat there for a moment in silence, simply absorbing the sexy words of the song.

  Will Downing sang “I Want to Be Closer to You,” and Sasha hung on every word. She wondered how he had slipped into her heart and found those very appropriate words to sing. How could he know what she was feeling at that moment?

  Vince broke the silence, softly saying, “Thank you for a lovely evening.”

  “I had a good time,” Sasha spoke. “I enjoyed dinner and the game.”

  “When can I see you again?”

  “When would you like to?” Sasha asked. Why don’t we just sit here forever?

  “How about tomorrow?” Vince asked. “I’ll make you dinner.”

  “Oh, I forgot...you dabble a little in the kitchen.”

  “Yes, I do,” Vince stated proudly. “What’s your favorite?”

  “Surprise me,” said Sasha. She was becoming accustomed to Vince’s surprises and found them to be enchanting.

  “You’re learning to trust me,” Vince said. “I’m relieved.”

  “Don’t disappoint me.” Sasha smiled. She was already falling for the handsome man she’d gotten to know only a few days before. He was quickly working his way into her heart and stealing things that had been locked away for years.

  Vince grabbed her hand and slowly and gently kissed every finger. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you, Sasha Winters.”

  He got out of the car and moved quickly around to the passenger side to open her door. She stepped out and hit the power locks on her car. He swung her driver’s door open and stood in front of it, then grabbed Sasha’s waist and pulled her close. His lips gently kissed hers as he held her. She could’ve stayed that way forever—in Vince’s strong arms. He stepped aside and allowed her to get into the car. Without another word, he shut her door and moved back toward the Corvette. Sasha pulled away, wondering why she couldn’t just stay and why the nigh
t had to end so soon.

  * * *

  She sat with her back against the headboard. Instead of her usual sweats and T-shirt, she’d dug deep into her chest of drawers and opted for one of the sexy nighties that she rarely wore. As she sipped on a glass of Chardonnay, she went over the details of the night and relived every delightful moment. She couldn’t wait to see Vince again.

  Chapter 14

  Scott Sanders was a gray-haired man and always well-groomed. He wore a tailored suit for every occasion. He was charming, but uncompromising in business affairs. By the time Sasha had arrived at the upscale Italian restaurant for their lunch meeting, Scott had already ordered a bottle of Chianti.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “I ordered a celebratory bottle of wine.”

  “What are we celebrating?” Sasha smiled at her new client.

  “Our new relationship,” Scott said. “I like Louis—he’s a wonderful guy—but you’re so much prettier. And you come well recommended.”

  “Well, thank you, Mr. Sanders...”

  “Call me Scott. I have a feeling we’re going to become great friends.” He poured her a glass of Chianti before pouring one for himself.

  He held his glass in the air.

  “A toast,” he said.

  Sasha tapped her glass against his in a toast. She didn’t drink her wine, as she made it a rule not to imbibe with clients during business meetings.

  “Now, if we can just get down to business.” Sasha opened her iPad and pulled up her calendar. “I have us on the court’s docket for the twentieth. I’d like to just go over the details of the case with you. If you can just briefly describe the events that took place concerning your terminated employee, Ralph Falkins...” She punched a few keys on her iPad.

  “Ralph was one of our drug sales reps, and honestly, his work had become subpar.”

  “Had you spoken to him about his subpar work?”

  “You have to understand the nature of our office. It’s fast-paced...and competitive.” Scott seemed to avoid her question.