Love Me Now

by Celeste O. Norfleet

Trey laughed. Her outrageous request and threat took him off guard. He was right—she was definitely going to be interesting. “I think maybe we can do better than that. What happened to negotiating?”

  “That was negotiating,” she informed him.

  “Middle ground,” he offered.

  “There is no middle ground.”

  “There’s always a middle ground.”

  “Not with me,” she said firmly.

  “I do enjoy a challenge,” he stated, smiling.

  “As do I,” she replied.

  “Okay, show of good faith. Help me out this evening and we’ll discuss the matter in detail.”

  “My position would be firmer if I didn’t, and we discussed the matter now.” She smiled, deciding to take advantage of his need for her cooperation.

  “I could come clean and you’d have no position at all,” he countered.

  Kenya bristled. He’d called her bluff. She turned to walk away.

  Trey reached out and took her hand. “Kenya, I need you,” he whispered softly. “Please.”

  She stopped, not because he held her hand, but because she felt his desperation. She wasn’t sure if it was real or not. But for the time being, it put her on top again. It was Economics 101, supply and demand. He wanted something from her that only she could provide. Maybe this was her perfect in. Maybe there was a way to get what she wanted. She turned to him and smiled. “It’s gonna cost you.”

  Trey returned her smile; the idea intrigued him. He also noted something had most definitely changed about her attitude. “Exactly what do I get for this cost?”

  “Exactly what you asked for,” she said. “My time.”

  “Fair enough. How much?”

  “Two thousand, five-hundred fifty dollars,” she said quickly before she lost her nerve.

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “Do I look like I’m joking? I’m a businesswoman.”

  “Exactly what kind of business are you offering?”

  “Look, my time is valuable. I’m sure you charge an exorbitant amount for your time, as well. Mine is just as important. If you want me to play nice this evening, then fine, two thousand, five-hundred fifty dollars is the price.” He smiled as he considered her offer. “Tick tock, better hurry up,” she said, smiling knowingly.

  Trey didn’t have to consider her offer. He knew he’d accept it. It wasn’t the money or Mamma Lou’s matchmaking this time that prompted his decision. It was the growing interest in a woman who obviously thought she played the game as well as him. What gave him pause was what she thought she was doing.

  But he needed to be careful. Dumb luck. There was no set name for a novice chess player checkmating a master, or a seasoned fighter being knocked out by an amateur. But it happened. Her father was proof of that.

  “So what do you think you know about me, Kenya?”

  She smiled. There was a connection building. She knew they both felt it. “Quite a bit actually. You have a way of making news.”

  “That’s unavoidable in my line of work,” he offered.

  “Ah, but it was your personal life that I found much more interesting—the parties, the women, the parties, the women. Shall I continue? It was a very detailed file.”

  “Let me guess, the Internet.”

  “That was one source. You like to play by your own rules.”

  “I play by the rules that were in place long before I came along.”

  “So you’re saying that everything they say and what’s written in the press—the Iceman, coldhearted businessman, bachelor playboy…that not you?”

  “Some of it is, some of it isn’t. But that’s not all there is to me. The rest you’ll have to find out for yourself,” he said softly, moving closer.

  “I don’t deal with bad-boys who have Peter Pan complexes. Been there, done that, never again. So you can save the charm thing. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not feeling it.”

  “You did this morning,” he whispered.

  She knew he was talking about her reaction to the kiss. She looked up at him. The depth in his eyes went straight through her. An overwhelming swell of heat began to generate deep inside her body. Her heart thundered and her stomach fluttered. She was on the verge of backing away, but then she caught herself. “Don’t flatter yourself, Trey, I’ve been kissed before. You kissing me was really no big deal.”

  “Ah, but I think it was. There was something about the look in your eyes afterward. You see, that’s my business, I read people. My job is to know and study tells. Like poker, it’s not always what people say that’s important.”

  He was obviously trying to bait her again. But unlike this morning, now she was prepared. She took a deep breath, then let it out, slow and easy. He wasn’t going to do this to her again. She knew his game and she intended to play to win. There was no shyness or hesitation in her, not this time. She was ready for him. “So what am I saying now?” she asked.

  “I’d say right now, you were bluffing.”

  “Is that right? Are you certain?” she asked, arching her brow. He nodded with assurance. She smirked. The idea of getting him back and beating him at his own game hit her instantly. On impulse, before a second passed, she leaned in quickly and kissed him.

  As their lips met, an explosion of passion erupted. The kiss was force meeting force. Her hands reached up to hold his neck firmly in place. He leaned back against the counter and she molded her body against him. She felt his body respond in needful earnestness. He had something she wanted and she intended to get it. She opened her mouth to him, leading him exactly where she wanted him to go. He followed willingly.

  When the kiss ended, she remained pressed against him and looked boldly into his eyes. His stunned bewilderment amused her. She had taken him by surprise just as he’d done to her earlier that day.

  “How does it feel to not be so sure of yourself?” she asked. He laughed and nodded. “Seems you’re not as good as you think you are.” She moved to step back. He instantly pulled her back against his body, locking her in place with his strong arms. She felt the hardness of his desire reach out to her. She liked the sensation.

  “Actually I am,” he said, feeling her shudder.

  “Do you ever get tired of being so sure of yourself?”

  “I could ask you the same question.”

  “You like doing this, don’t you?” she asked.

  “What, this…? This is just playful banter,” he said, loosening his grip on her body.

  “Aw, now you’re taking the fun out of this,” she said. “It’s not banter.”

  “And what would you call this?” he asked.

  “This would be called foreplay, so I guess you’d better take notes.” His eyes sparked. Kenya nearly shivered as the words left her mouth. She knew exactly what she was saying. She just hoped she knew what she was doing.

  “I stand corrected,” he said, licking his lips, tasting her again. The lights dimmed, then brightened, then fluttered. They looked up. “What was that?” he asked.

  “That was a two-thousand-five-hundred-fifty-dollar invoice.”

  “Ah, so that’s why you want the money,” he said, releasing her fully.

  She took a step back. “Yes, that’s why I want the money.”

  “Check, cash or credit card?” he asked.

  “Cash,” she said. He pulled out his wallet and gave her the money. “Thanks.” She took the money and put it in her jeans pocket. “Okay, Trey, for the next three hours, I’m all yours. So this is your party. When do we start?”

  Trey glanced up to see Louise Gates looking up at the address. “I’d say now is as good a time as any.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her. Just as her mind was turning to mush, he stopped and smiled. “We’re on.”

  Chapter 7

  The gentle knock on the door turned her head. An elderly couple stood smiling. On wobbly legs, Kenya walked over and opened the door. Her mind was still rattled, so putting distance between them was the perfect e
scape. “Hello, hello, hello,” Louise greeted as she hugged the still-rattled Kenya.

  “Good evening, all,” Colonel Wheeler added, taking his cap off as he entered the building.

  “Hi. Welcome,” Kenya finally said. “Please come in.”

  Trey walked over and greeted the couple.

  “Where are my little ones, Jonathan, Johanna?”

  Two little heads popped up. Shelly stood from the tiny desk and chair and helped the twins get to their feet. She took their hands and walked them back to the front area.

  “Hello, my darlings,” Louise said, beaming at the sight of the twins running to her with papers flying. They grabbed her legs and she leaned down and kissed the tops of their heads. “What do you have there?” Trey quickly reached down and scooped both up in his arms. He gently placed them on the wooden countertop and held them tightly.

  They offered Louise their crayon-scribbled drawings. “Oh, my, did you two do these? I love them,” Louise said as she hugged the two. Their little arms grabbed her tightly.

  “Hey, what do you have there?” Colonel Wheeler asked, being offered a crayon from Jonathan.

  Kenya moved as a smiling Shelly walked over. Kenya glared at her knowing that she must have witnessed the kiss a few minutes ago. “Groove on, my sistah,” she whispered.

  Kenya bumped her with her hip. “Mamma Lou, Colonel Wheeler, this is my friend and business partner, Shelly Turner.”

  “Hello. How are you, Mr. and Mrs. Gates,” Shelly said as she shook their hands.

  “Actually, Shelly—” Trey began to clarify.

  “It’s Louise Gates and Otis Wheeler,” Kenya corrected.

  “For the time being,” Otis added, smiling at Louise.

  Trey, never one to miss a hint, instantly picked up on his remark. He also noted the twinkle in Colonel Wheeler’s eyes as he said it. There was something going on, he easily surmised. Maybe he wasn’t the target after all.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Shelly said, looking slightly embarrassed.

  “Not at all, but call me Mamma Lou, dear, everyone does,” Louise said sweetly.

  “And Colonel Wheeler here,” he said.

  “Well, it was good meeting you both, but I have to go or I’ll be late for the theater.”

  “The theater?” Louise said.

  “Yes, we do work for the local children’s theater company when they need us.”

  “We?” Trey asked with interest.

  “Yes, Shelly and I design costumes and help with scenery. The childrens’ theater is like our pet project. We donate our time,” Kenya said.

  “Plus, we just all have a lot of fun. It’s very rewarding.”

  “I bet. How wonderful,” Louise said.

  “We enjoy helping out and the kids get a kick out of the costumes we design. They’re putting on a production of Peter and the Wolf. And if I don’t hurry, I’ll be late. So I’d better get going. Again, it was great meeting you all, Mamma Lou, Colonel Wheeler, Trey. Bye, guys,” she said to Jonathan and Johanna. They waved and said bye.

  Kenya followed Shelly to the door. They stood quietly talking a few moments before she left. After locking the door Kenya sighed. She wasn’t sure what she’d gotten herself into. She didn’t realize this little game was going to get so complicated. Well, she was stuck now, so she might as well get it over with. She turned, ready to continue with the pretense.

  “Well, I’m curious,” Louise said as she looked around the open space. “I want to see everything. Tell me, do you actually design all of the clothes for the store?”

  “Yes, we both will.”

  “So Shelly’s a designer, too?” Colonel Wheeler asked, holding a twin in each arm. They laid their heads on his shoulder, making the sweetest picture.

  “Yes. We have our workroom in the back.”

  “Can I persuade you to give us a brief tour?”

  “Sure,” she said, “but truthfully, there’s not much to see really. Shelly and I just moved into the building a couple of weeks ago. It still needs a lot of work and sometimes it feels like the place is about to fall down around us. But the rent is perfect and the location is just what we were looking for.”

  “Did you consider renting a storefront in a shopping center?” Trey asked. “The foot traffic is constant and there is always security.”

  “Actually, no, we didn’t, not really. This is a great part of town. There are three elementary schools in the area and dozens of day-care centers. Plus it’s right by the Metro stop. It’s a mommy-and-me haven.”

  “Yes, that does make a lot of sense. Plus the area is just starting to come back,” Colonel Wheeler said.

  “Exactly,” Kenya added as she turned toward the workroom. Everyone followed. “Being a pioneer in an urban renaissance is a tremendous opportunity. We’re excited about being here.” She opened the door and held it. Louise, Colonel Wheeler and the twins entered the large open space.

  Trey followed and nodded his head, obviously impressed by her business savvy. As he passed, Kenya looked into his eyes. She wasn’t sure what she saw, but something was definitely there. He leaned in too close. His arm brushed against her breasts. “Thank you,” he whispered. His warm breath tickled her neck and made her stomach flutter.

  “Oh, my,” Louise said, drawing Kenya’s attention away from Trey.

  “Sorry, it’s not usually this messy,” Kenya said and quickly picked up scraps of fabric from the floor. She’d forgotten all about the mess they made earlier. She folded one of the ironing boards and put bottles of silk-screen paint back on the shelf above the sink.

  “Oh, don’t mind us, Kenya. We know that the creative process is exciting no matter how you find it. The place looks wonderful. It’s exhilarating.”

  “I agree, I’m stimulated just being here,” Trey said, smiling. He stood between a mannequin and a dress form and watched Kenya in the wall-to-ceiling mirrors.

  Kenya glared at him as she moved to the other side of the room. She needed to get as far away from him and his boyish charm as possible. “Shelly and I have been working on some new designs.”

  “For the opening?” Louise asked.

  “No, those are already done. These are all for next season. We’re still in the process of designing and cutting patterns. It’s a slow, tedious process. Not at all like it seems on those television design shows.”

  “I can just imagine,” Louise said. “May I?”

  “Yes, of course, help yourself.”

  Louise, with Colonel Wheeler by her side, began looking over Kenya and Shelly’s drawings. Floor-to-ceiling sketches were secured to the wall. There were dozens. Some were of hats or socks or belts. Others had notations written on them, some had complicated instructions. Some drawings were fully completed and colored, while others merely quick design sketches.

  “These are marvelous,” Louise said.

  “Indeed. They’re an art form all their own,” Colonel Wheeler added.

  “Thank you,” Kenya said. Trey still looked at the illustrations, observing them more closely. He didn’t say anything. Kenya found herself more than anxious and actually caring what he thought about their work. When he finally turned, he was smiling. She was relieved, smiled, then quickly looked away.

  Louise finished looking at the design sketches on the wall and moved to the drawing table. She glanced at the open sketch pad. Colonel Wheeler, still holding the twins, stood behind her.

  Sketches and completed design illustrations were scattered and spread out across the work area. “These are all so wonderfully different—the dresses, the skirts, sweatsuits, pants. The designs are so playful and fun, absolutely marvelous.”

  “I like experimenting. I think it adds excitement to everything.”

  “It does, to everything,” Trey whispered in her ear. She spared him a quick glance. He smiled seductively. She turned and ignored him as she inched away.

  “Where do you find inspiration?” Colonel Wheeler asked.

  “All over the place,” she said.
“It’s mostly visualizing. For example, sometimes I’ll see a shape, usually something ordinary, and I imagine it differently. I vary colors and fabrics or even try different positions to make it more exciting.”

  “Different positions, is that right? That’s good to know,” Trey whispered only to her. Kenya didn’t even look at him this time. She already knew he was smiling.

  They continued talking about the drawings as Trey continued with his seemingly innocent comments that Kenya knew were anything but. She moved away easily, following Louise as she and Colonel Wheeler walked around the two larger cutting tables. He walked toward her, his eyes dead on his target. They eventually maneuvered their way toward the wall where the forms were lined up on the platform.

  “These are absolutely darling,” Louise said admiringly. “Is this your new line for next season?”

  “Yes, Shelly and I are very proud of it. Of course, these are just a few of the pieces. There are others already at our manufacturer.”

  “Where do you have the garments manufactured?” Colonel Wheeler asked.

  “We use a place in Southern California. They’re a bit more expensive but the clothes are sewn better and it’s not a sweatshop.”

  “Yes, that is important. People should not have to work in conditions that are deplorable,” Colonel Wheeler said.

  “I agree. Years ago my great-grandmother was a seamstress in a sweatshop. She was nearly killed when she brought the union in and changed things. Shelly and I are particular about who we do business with.”

  “Good for you,” Colonel Wheeler said.

  “These pieces are absolutely adorable,” Louise said.

  “They are really nice,” Trey added as he left her side and actually stood by one of the garments.

  “So where did you attend school?” Colonel Wheeler asked.

  “New York. Shelly and I were roommates at Parsons. We’d sit up late and talk about the boutique we were going to open someday.”

  “And here it is. When exactly is the grand opening?” Colonel Wheeler asked.

  “We’re still a few months away. We have a lot of cosmetic work to do. It’s an old building, but as I said, it’s a great location.”