LOVE ME NOW
NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR
CELESTE O. NORFLEET
LOVE ME NOW
To Fate & Fortune
Dear Reader,
This is the story you’ve been waiting for, Trey’s story. The ultimate elusive bachelor, Trey Evans has been dodging and hiding from Louise “Mamma Lou” Gates since he was first introduced in my 2004 Arabesque release, Irresistible You. Since then he’s been in several novels, but has always managed to somehow slip through Mamma Lou’s matchmaking fingers, until now. In Love Me Now his time’s run out. He collides with children’s fashion designer Kenya Whitaker and finds that he’s in for the time of his life. She’s smart, focused and determined to get exactly what she wants—and she wants sexy Trey Evans in the worst way.
This is the seventh book in the MAMMA LOU MATCHMAKER series, following Priceless Gift, One Sure Thing, Irresistible You, The Fine Art of Love, Following Love and When Love Calls. It’s fun, it’s fast and it’s hot. I know you’ll enjoy reading Trey and Kenya’s romance as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you’ve missed reading any of the previous matchmaker series books, check out my backlist on my Web site. Also, don’t forget to pick up my upcoming Kimani Romance and Kimani TRU books and look for a new Arabesque title next year.
Please feel free to write me and let me know what you think. I always enjoy hearing from readers. Please send your comments to [email protected] or Celeste O. Norfleet, P.O. Box 7346, Woodbridge, VA 22195–7346. Don’t forget to check out my Web site at www.celesteonorfleet.com.
Best wishes,
Celeste O. Norfleet
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Prologue
“Speech, speech, speech,” Lynette, Kenya, Asia and Sidney, the Whitaker women, chanted as they clapped and cheered. It was the end of a lovely spring afternoon. Outside in the yard, beneath the spreading oak tree, they sat around a picnic table surrounded by the perfect setting. Their traditional Saturday Memorial weekend picnic had been perfect. The weather, the food and even the conversation had been pleasant, minus the occasional arguments, of course. Theirs was a family of high energy, emotion and love. It showed in everything they did.
James Whitaker sat at the head of the table looking at the faces of his family surrounding him, all smiling and happy. How could he possibly tell them what he’d done? He couldn’t. Their disappointment wasn’t something he could handle. He’d finally done something right; now it was all for nothing. He was back at square one again.
Fifty million dollars had a way of redeeming a man. He had been their hero, their savior, and he wasn’t ready to go back to the way things were. He had to try. He stood, half smiling, and nodded thankfully.
His girls were his real treasures, his sweet spot. His wife of over thirty years was his rock. Three daughters, each talented and vastly different, were his heart. They each possessed something of which he wished he had more—strength, courage and resourcefulness.
Kenya, the oldest, was his strength. She was beautiful, intelligent and dependable. She always found a way to get around any obstacle. Asia was his dreamer. She was beautiful, getting the best features of both parents. She had dreams larger than life, and a will and courage to make them happen. Sidney was his baby, the youngest. She was impulsive and spirited. Nothing and no one ever held her back. Her resourcefulness was her greatest asset. He loved them all and disappointing them was going to break his heart.
“Come on, speech, speech,” they chanted again.
“Okay, okay, enough already. I’m really not worthy of such gratitude. I haven’t done anything.”
“Of course you have, dear,” Lynette said. “You made all this possible—our new home, the wealth, Kenya’s design boutique, Asia’s acting career and her new apartment in New York—”
“Yeah, speaking of which,” Sidney interrupted, “when exactly am I getting my apartment?”
“Would you let Mom finish, Sidney,” Kenya said.
“Fine, whatever, it’s just that everybody else got a place to live except me.”
“You have a place to live, Sidney,” Asia said. “Here.”
“Yeah, but it’s not my own apartment.”
Lynette smiled. “And now our vacation of a lifetime. You did it all, honey. I know I’ve been hard on you in the past about your gambling, but I have to admit, you were right all along. Patience and perseverance finally paid off. You did it, dear. You hit the big one.” They all cheered and applauded.
James smiled weakly. Hearing his wife say such things was tearing him apart inside. Yes, he was finally able to give his family things that he couldn’t afford before. Thank God the house and the trip were already paid for, at least.
“I still can’t believe you’re going,” Kenya said, smiling at her mother sitting across from her. “A second honeymoon in Africa for a month, that’s so romantic. You’re gonna have the best time ever. You’re right. It is a vacation of a lifetime.”
“Remind me again, why can’t I go, too?” Sidney joked.
“Because it’s the honeymoon they never had, Sidney, that’s why,” Kenya said firmly.
“I wasn’t asking you, Kenya. Besides, I was only joking. You always take things so seriously.”
“Yeah, right,” Kenya said, knowing better. She knew her younger sister too well. Spoiled was an understatement. Sidney got whatever she wanted, when she wanted it. She always wanted to be the center of attention no matter what. Most of all, she lived for drama.
“Seriously, you need to lighten up, Kenya. I was only joking with Mom and Dad.”
“Yeah, right,” Asia added sarcastically.
“Nobody’s talking to you, Asia. Shouldn’t you be heading back to New York, anyway? What time does your train leave?”
“Come on, can we please end the afternoon without another argument?” Kenya said.
“There’s no way I’d horn in on Mom and Dad’s honeymoon. They know that. I’m not that insensitive. Jeez, give me a break,” Sidney said.
“If I remember correctly, you’re the one with separation issues,” Asia said.
“For the last time, Asia, he came on to me, not the other way around. Not that it matters, ’cause he wasn’t worth it, anyway,” Sidney insisted.
“That’s not what he said,” Asia countered.
“That’s what happened,” Sidney reiterated.
“Not again,” Kenya moaned, expecting the usual.
“Girls, girls, enough already,” Lynette interjected.
The sisters glared at each other. The usual argument was just seconds away. “All right, you two, enough of that. Your mother’s right. This is supposed to be a celebration, not another one of your fights.”
“She started it,” Sidney complained childishly.
“Never mind who started it. Your mother and I are flying out this evening, and we’d like this afternoon to be calm and drama free,” James said.
Lynette nodded then touched her husband’s hand. “Thank you, dear.” James, still standing, smiled down at her tenderly.
Asia and Sidney nodded, relenting easily.
“I’m just so happy you’re finally going,” K
enya said, knowing her mother’s love of travel and of everything African.
“Me, too,” Asia said.
“Me, three,” Sidney added.
“I still can’t believe it,” Lynette said. “It’s a trip I’ve always dreamed about. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would actually happen.”
“Thanks to Dad,” Kenya said proudly. James smiled weakly.
“Now you, miss lady, don’t forget the ground rules.” Lynette directed her attention to Sidney.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. No parties, no men and no fun.”
“Not exactly, but close enough,” Lynette agreed.
“Mom, give me a break. I’m an adult, remember?”
“Then act like it sometimes,” Kenya muttered quietly.
“Exactly,” Asia added.
“Fine, why don’t you just lock me up in a chastity belt and be done with it. I’m surprised you’re actually gonna leave me here alone.”
“You won’t be alone. Kenya will be stopping by.”
“See, that’s wrong. You let Kenya and Asia do whatever they wanted when they were my age.”
“Where did you get that idea?” Asia asked.
“They were stricter on me because I was the oldest,” Kenya said calmly.
“All I have is one more semester to go and I’m out of college and on my own. I’ll get my apartment and work with Dad at the company,” Sidney said happily. James tensed instantly.
“What about grad school?” Kenya asked.
“That’s your thing, not mine,” Sidney said. “All I want is the condo in the city that Dad promised.”
“Keep your grades up and stay focused and we’ll see,” Lynette said. “In the meantime take care of the house. That reminds me, James. We did take care of all the bills, right?” James nodded silently.
“I’m twenty-one years old, Mom,” Sidney stated. “You know, I could do that for you. I swear, sometimes you still treat me like I’m thirteen years old.”
“That’s because sometimes you still act like you’re thirteen years old,” Asia sniped.
“Get over it, Asia. He didn’t want you anyway.”
“That’s enough, girls,” Lynette said just before the battle between her daughters was about to resume again.
“Talk to her. She’s the one acting all hung up. And for the thousandth time I said that I was sorry, but for what I have no idea. ’Cause nothing happened,” Sidney insisted.
“You shouldn’t have been in the situation.”
“Nothing happened. And besides, how was I supposed to know that you were serious about him?”
“I had a ring on my finger, Sidney. Big hint,” Asia said.
“That’s enough, both of you,” Lynette stated.
“He didn’t want you, Asia, that’s why he was trying to push up on me. Big hint,” Sidney shot back.
“If you weren’t trying to seduce him every time my back was turned—”
“Oh, please, I warned you before he stepped up to me at the club. I was hanging with my friends and he just came up to me. So what was he doing out clubbing, anyway?”
“He was a grown man. I didn’t think that I needed to keep tabs on him.”
“Well, I guess you did,” Sidney said hotly.
“Yes, I did, because of my baby sister,” Asia added.
“You trusted him?” Sidney asked.
“No, Sidney, I trusted you.”
“He wasn’t worth it, anyway, Asia. He was drunk and stepping up to every woman in the club. I don’t know why you were checking him, anyway. All he had going for him was his big—”
“Sidney,” Kenya said firmly, “that’s enough. Asia, you, too.” As usual, Kenya had the last word.
“I was just gonna say, big bank account,” Sidney muttered. “And you need to chill on that, too, Kenya. At least we get out and actually date from time to time.”
“This has nothing to do with my social life,” Kenya said.
“What social life?” Asia said. Sidney snickered.
“Face it, ever since…when—” Sidney hesitated, then looked at Asia for conformation “—twelve months ago with Craig, you’ve had a serious man drought.”
“Believe it or not, I don’t tell you everything about my social life.”
“That’s ’cause you don’t have one,” Sidney muttered. Asia laughed and Kenya glared at them both. “I’m just saying,” she added.
“I’ve had enough of this, I’m gonna go pack my things,” Asia said as she headed toward the back door.
“Fine, whatever,” Sidney said, sulking as usual. “I’m going to the store.” She stood and headed toward her car parked in the driveway.
“Kenya—” Lynette said, seeing both daughters walk away.
“I’ll talk to them,” Kenya said, assuming her usual role as the eldest daughter.
“Wait, we need to talk first,” James said quietly.
“Sure, about the trip?” Lynette asked.
“No, something else has come up. It’s about the business.”
“I’ll go talk to Asia and Sidney,” Kenya said, seeing the deep furrows in her father’s forehead.
“No, actually this affects you as well, and I need to tell you both before I lose my nerve. I don’t really want Asia and Sidney to hear this just yet, so I guess I’d better tell you now.”
“What is it, dear?” Lynette asked as she started gathering the empty picnic plates. She had a nervous habit of busying herself when she sensed trouble. Kenya helped.
“Do you want the bad news or the really bad news?”
Both women stopped and looked. Kenya’s father had a way of getting attention. At this point he had all he needed. He pulled out a bottle of Pepto-Bismol and tipped it to his lips. After a longer-than-usual swig, he wiped his mouth with his hand and screwed the top back on. His hands shook nervously.
“Dad, what is it? What’s wrong?” Kenya asked.
“James?” Lynette asked in a soft voice.
James looked at his wife and his oldest daughter. Lynette was his world. Crushing her dream would devastate her, but he knew she wouldn’t say a word. Kenya, his oldest, was his heart. She was smart and levelheaded. Maybe she would think of a way to get him out of all this. He grabbed the bottle of Pepto-Bismol and tipped it to his lips again.
Chapter 1
“I’m desperate, you’re my only hope. They’re killing me over here. They don’t listen to what I say, and they’ve completely trashed the place.” Trey Evans looked around miserably at his once immaculate house. He didn’t even recognize it. It had only been five hours but already his house was a complete mess. Trey thrived on order and control, and losing both at the same time was a nightmare for him. “I need you here now, please,” he pleaded.
She didn’t even try to veil the I-told-you-so amusement in her voice. “I thought you told me you planned for this. You said that you had everything under control. You had a backup plan in place just in case, remember? And, if I’m not mistaken, you also said that you didn’t need my help.”
“I did have a backup plan. I called an agency a few days ago. I interviewed three women yesterday afternoon.”
“And?” she prompted.
“And unfortunately I got the distinct impression that they were more interested in taking care of me than the twins. I think they considered the interview more of an invitation to fill the position by my side permanently.” She laughed out loud. “This isn’t funny. Kelly, I need you over here now,” he insisted more firmly.
“Trey, I told you the last three times you called, I can’t do it. It’s impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible.”
“This is,” Kelly Rhames, his assistant, said, seeing the flight attendant opening the breezeway to the waiting plane. “Trey, I’m boarding a flight in exactly one minute. I can’t just tell everyone to stop, hold everything, while I pop over to your house.”
“I’ll get you a private jet to take you wherever you want to go,” he promised desperate
ly.
“I can’t,” she said.
“Sure you can,” he cooed, turning on the charm.
“Trey, this was your idea, remember, a three-week cruise in the Mediterranean. We’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. I’m not going to pass it up.”
“I’m not asking you to pass it up. I wouldn’t ask such a thing, you know me better than that. But I had no idea this was going to happen.”
“You can run a multimillion-dollar company, and move millions around like Monopoly money, but when it comes to two toddlers, you panic.”
“I’m not panicking.”
“Yes, you are. You got yourself into this,” Kelly said, more than a little amused by the situation.
“I know, I know. I thought it was going to be easy.”
“You are kidding, right?” she asked rhetorically.
“You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been going through this morning. There are toys everywhere. They don’t listen to me and every surface in the house has messy, sticky fingerprints. And I have no idea how they got Cheerios in the DVD player.” Kelly chuckled. “It’s not funny. I need help,” Trey said.
“You certainly do, but not from me.”
“Okay fine, then find someone for me.”
“You just can’t order up a human being, particularly one with the credentials you need,” his assistant said. “Besides, it’s a holiday weekend, everybody’s—”
“Kelly, I don’t care what you have to do, or how much it costs, I need somebody over here now. I can’t do this alone.”
“Sorry, Trey, you’re on your own.”
“Am I gonna have to make this a direct order and put your job on the line?” he threatened sternly. “I’m serious.” The conversation was over as far as he was concerned. End of discussion. He didn’t want to hear excuses or promises or anything else. He was used to an immediate response, and he didn’t like waiting for anything or anybody. All he wanted was results. And that’s always what he got. Except…
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