Gotta Get Next To You

by Emery, Lynn

  Andrea lowered her head. Lee lifted her hair and brushed his lips against the exposed patch of silky light brown skin on her neck.

  The sound of loud voices approaching seemed to wake them both from the dream. Andrea went rigid, then whirled around and backed off.

  “Thanks,” she stammered as she avoided looking at him. “I feel okay now.”

  Lee was not ready to let go of the moment. “Are you sure? I could …”

  Andrea swallowed hard. “I’m positive.”

  Lee took several deep breaths to collect himself. He should have been grateful she wasn’t looking at him. His legs were wobbly as he went to the table and sat down. The pulsing hunger in his crotch eased, but only slowly. Think of something neutral like football or cold waterfalls! Lee shifted to ease the discomfort.

  Andrea cleared her throat. “So you were in college.” She seemed eager to introduce a safe subject.

  “Excuse me?” Lee’s mind was still foggy.

  “You said you studied massage therapy.” Andrea put distance between them by going to the counter opposite him. She got a cup and poured coffee into it.

  “Yeah, but that was after college.”

  “What’s your degree in?” Andrea glanced at him with interest.

  “I only went a few semesters. Too much partying and too little studying.” Lee grinned at her.

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Andrea smiled back at him.

  “I’m a grown-up now. Mr. Responsibility, that’s me.”

  Andrea considered him thoughtfully. “I see.”

  Lee got a sudden chill, a flash that he was in danger, but not the kind he’d been used to as a cop. It was time to put more than physical distance between them. He shied away from troubling emotions like caring too much, emotions he’d suppressed for a long time. Andrea could be up to her neck in whatever was going down. Experience had taught him long ago not to trust appearances. Now here he was shaking like a fifteen-year-old kid in heat. His mind had turned to mush and veered totally off his goal, which was to get answers.

  Having recovered from the attack of lust, Lee rose from his chair. “Better get to work. I’ve got a real tough boss,” he said jauntily, back in his role as a flirtatious lightweight.

  “She’s not as bad as they say,” Andrea said jokingly.

  Lee paused in the doorway and looked at her. “Nah, not half as bad as she’d like folks to think,” he said in a quiet voice.

  They stood staring at each other for a few moments before Andrea blinked hard and put her cup down.

  “But you’re right about one thing, it’s time to get busy. See you later.” She placed the cup in the sink and walked past him.

  Gardenia fragrance floated to him as she went by. Lee felt rooted to the spot. “Right, later,” was all he could manage.

  He would have to think about a lot of football and cold water to get through this case.

  ***

  Andrea gazed around the open field of green grass dotted with tents and booths. The small park was near the center of town. She smiled at people who passed but kept a watchful eye on everything happening. The first big public event staged by the clinic seemed to be going well. Billed as the First Annual Bayou Blue Health Fair Extravaganza, it was set up on a prairie near the center of town. The site was used for carnivals and other outdoor events.

  The health fair included fun activities for adults and kids. Face painting, a space walk, and helium balloons were as much a hit with parents as with their children. Red-striped tents covered most of the booths and exhibits. The crowd was not as big as they’d hoped, but Andrea knew it would take time for the clinic to inspire confidence. Her vision was for people from other small communities around Bayou Blue to eventually use the clinic also. Andrea wanted to reach the poor, underserved people in the southeastern third of Lafourche Parish. For now she was more than satisfied with the first health fair.

  Gran ambled over to her with two of her lifelong pals, Miss Sandra and Miss Noreen. “This ain’t half bad.” She nodded to Andrea in approval.

  “Thanks,” Andrea said dryly.

  “No, I thought you’d have some of them lectures on all kinds of diseases that would scare folks into an early grave. You know what I’m talking about.” Gran glanced at her pals, who nodded in agreement.

  “Lordy, yes,” Miss Noreen piped up. “Went to hear a talk on heart disease and almost had a heart attack!”

  “You’re so right. By the time that lady doctor got through talking about us old black women droppin’ dead, all I wanted to do was cry.” Miss Sandra rolled her eyes.

  “And don’t let ’em start talking about cancer, girl!” Gran shook her head. “Some of them doctors look like the grim reaper himself.” This brought a burst of laughter from her buddies.

  ‘Tell you what, this is ten times better. Got me all kinds of ink pens and key rings.” Miss Noreen held up a bag of freebies given out by exhibitors.

  “Noreen, your house already looks like a swap meet. What you gonna do with all that junk?” Gran said bluntly.

  “My grandchildren gotta have pens for school, and people just love these key chains. I give ’em away.” Miss Noreen was not at all deterred. “In fact, I ain’t through makin’ my rounds. Come on before all those little notepads are gone.” She walked away with a slow but steady gait.

  “Oh yeah, I want some of those, too,” Miss Sandra said, following her. “Let’s go, Mavis.”

  “All right, you pack rats. I’ll catch up in a minute,” Gran said with a laugh. She carried a bulging plastic bag with a home health company logo on it.

  “You seem to be doing your own share of packing,” Andrea said, eyebrows raised.

  “I’m getting health information.” Gran pulled a pamphlet out of the bag. “See, this one’s on tasty low-fat recipes.”

  “Oh yes, I do see.” Andrea peered down into the bag. “And I also see six ink pens, three pencils, a key chain—”

  “Oh, hush.” Gran snatched the bag behind her back.

  She looked at Andrea, then laughed out loud. “Okay, you got me this time.”

  Andrea laughed with her and put an arm around her grandmother’s waist. They walked in the direction Miss Sandra and Miss Noreen had taken. “If hard cases like you three take home health information, then we’ve done our job today.”

  Andrea knew that many poor and elderly people put off seeking medical assistance until their symptoms were severe.

  “Don’t mind me, sugar. You’ve done a beautiful job. Your way of bringing this information down home is what we need,” Gran said.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that.” Andrea sighed. “It was a lot of work, but worth every minute.” They both looked around.

  Gran nodded to where Denny stood with Jamal. Both men helped kids into a giant inflated space walk. “How’s Denny making out?”

  Andrea followed her gaze. “Better than I expected. He’s still a bit undisciplined, but not as bad as some I had to let go.”

  “His grandmamma told me she appreciates you giving him a chance. Helen has been through so much with that boy. Maybe he’s finally coming around.” Gran watched Denny, her brows drawn together.

  “What do you mean?” Andrea looked at Gran.

  “You know that’s her youngest son’s child. His mama is on drugs and Helen’s son is in a gang out in Los Angeles. The welfare folks took him away from them and Helen got him when he was twelve. Wild as could be.” Gran shook her head slowly.

  “He’s been in trouble?” Andrea was not surprised.

  Denny had the bravado of a young man wanting to prove his masculinity in all the wrong ways.

  “Small scrapes, yeah. Skipping school, fighting in class, and shoplifting little stuff like candy bars.” Gran sighed. “Helen stuck by him, though.”

  “He does seem to be trying. Lately he’s been more cooperative.”

  Andrea did not add it had taken at least three heart-to-heart talks with the young man. Denny had a habit of arrivin
g late, leaving early, and doing as little as possible in between. At first he’d shown lots of attitude, while making snide comments under his breath. But over the last three weeks he seemed to be coming around. There was something in him, Andrea thought, some kernel of goodness that made her think he was not a lost cause. There were times when he showed initiative. Then he’d come in another day with that cocky “I’m bad” attitude again. Still, she knew his family and the problems they’d faced. Andrea was determined not to give up on Denny too quickly.

  “Well, keep a firm hand. Don’t do him any favors just ’cause Helen’s in my prayer circle at St. Isidore.” Gran pressed her lips together. “Poor thing worked hard all her days and her children broke her heart.”

  Andrea grinned and pinched Gran’s cheek. “Message received and understood, for the third time.”

  Gran beamed at her. “I’m so proud of you, baby.” Then she shifted her attention. This time she pointed to Jamal. “That’s another employee you should be happy to have.”

  Jamal helped a crowd of noisy children into the space walk. Squeals of delight came from the inflated fun room filled with soft plastic balls. Children bounced around inside the bright blue and red contraption. He seemed to take genuine joy in helping the little kids. He was equally proficient in handling them. Andrea watched his powerful arms reach out to cradle an anxious little girl hesitant to join the others. She watched him charm her until she was giggling. So he could be tender and caring.

  This thought brought back the memory of his hands on her shoulders, strong and soothing. Andrea blushed at another memory, the hunger to feel his strong and gentle fingers caressing the bare skin beneath her blouse. Her nipples had stayed erect for almost an hour. It had taken twice as long as usual for her to fall asleep that night. She’d kept imagining his lean, muscled frame stretched beside her in bed while he massaged her entire body. Andrea had tossed and turned until two in the morning.

  But Andrea also noted the knot of simpering mothers who surrounded him. He grinned and traded banter with them like an old pro. Andrea pressed her lips together. She knew his kind. He was a real smooth operator. The kind of man quite capable of making a woman feel as though she were the only one. Like her ex-husband, Ellis. Lies had rolled off his tongue like melted butter, and Andrea had let love blind her. Ellis had used sweet words and romance as a kind of rose-colored veil to hide the truth. Yet Andrea had gone along with it. Now here she was letting Jamal get to her in the same way. He bent his head down close to a pretty woman dressed in tight denim shorts. The woman laughed at some remark he’d made. There he stood, ready to finesse his way through the female population of Lafourche Parish. Well, he could count out at least one.

  “He’s okay,” she said, and looked away.

  “Okay nothing, the man is hot. Look at all those women. We best get over there and save him.” Gran hooked her arm through Andrea’s and tugged.

  Andrea did not budge. “The way he’s grinning, I don’t think he needs to be rescued,” she retorted.

  “He’s gotta be friendly. Come on so he can see this cute new outfit you got on up close.” Gran straightened the collar of Andrea’s red and tan cotton knit shirt.

  Andrea did not look at her clothes. She gently guided Gran’s hand away. “Stop that. And I’m not going to join his groupies.”

  “For crying out loud, c’mon,” Gran said, and yanked hard on her arm. She succeeded in moving Andrea a few steps, despite her resistance. “You’ve been to every other booth twice. Quit avoiding the man.”

  “I’m not avoiding him,” Andrea insisted.

  “I’ve been watching you for the last two hours. You went to every display table and made a big circle around him.”

  “It’s got nothing to do with him,” Andrea insisted. “My focus has been on the exhibits that are directly health related.”

  “And you’ve done your job. Time for fun.” Gran pulled her forward again.

  Andrea pulled in the other direction. “Katy might need help with her booth on immunizations.”

  Andrea’s body tingled at the thought of being so close to him again. Her physical reaction to Jamal yards away had been strong. She already knew what being close to him did to her body. Watchful eyes would detect any sign that she was attracted to him, and word that Andrea Noble had the hots for sexy Jamal Turner would be all over Bayou Blue by morning.

  “You scared of him or something?”

  “Don’t be silly.” Andrea sniffed. “I work with him every day. He does his job fairly well and that’s what counts.”

  “You’re trying a little too hard not to notice him.” Gran squinted at her. “And if you ask me, he does scare you.”

  “Ridiculous,” Andrea said with force. Still, she could not look Gran in the eyes.

  “Then come on.” Gran issued her challenge with a twinkle in her eyes. “Being close to rippling muscles and a gorgeous smile shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Fine.” Andrea tossed out the word in what she hoped was a careless tone. “Let’s go.”

  They both strode across the dark green grass. Andrea kept her head up and did not look away from where Jamal stood. She was quite aware that Gran kept darting sideways glances at her. The closer they got to him, the more obvious it became that the space walk was not the main attraction for the mothers. A pretty young thing rubbed her hand along Jamal’s arm. Andrea forced a smile despite the unreasonable and strong urge to peel the hussy off him. Denny stood several feet away. He watched the children while talking with another young man. He waved at them and they waved back.

  “Hi there!” Jamal called as they approached. “You ladies want to have a go? The crowd is thinning out.” He nodded to the space walk where now only two kids jumped around inside.

  “Not out here, it isn’t,” Andrea said. She kept smiling. “No indeed.”

  “Excuse me while I talk to the boss,” Jamal said to the young woman. “Gotta make sure she’s happy.” “Bye-bye, Jamal,” the woman trilled.

  She gave a perfunctory nod to Andrea and Gran be-fore drifting off, hips swaying. She glanced back to make sure Jamal watched. Three women lingered, pretending an interest in the space walk while keeping an eye on Jamal. Andrea rolled her eyes. Gran poked her side with an elbow, a sign for her to behave.

  “You’re doing a wonderful job, son. Right, Andrea?” Gran said in a bright voice.

  “Thanks, ma’am. I’m doing my part for the health of Lafourche Parish.”

  “Making this health fair fun is an important job, baby. These children might even wanna come to the doctor next time. Right, Andrea?” Gran’s prompt this time was firmer as she poked Andrea’s side again.

  “Of course. The staff and I took that into consideration when we were planning.” Andrea wore a staid expression. Maybe she could be near him without having her senses go haywire.

  “Yes, we did,” Jamal said in a formal tone.

  Gran glanced from Jamal to Andrea and back again. She pursed her lips for a moment before she spoke. “Oops, I just remembered something. I’ll see y’all later.” She walked away at a brisk pace.

  Andrea blinked with surprise. Gran was fast putting distance between them. “Where are you going?” she called out.

  “I see Father Viator. I need to tell him something about the church bake sale,” Gran yelled back without breaking her stride.

  Andrea did not see the parish priest, and this was the first she’d heard of a bake sale. She frowned at the back of Gran’s flowered blouse as it disappeared into the crowd.

  “What a busy lady,” Jamal said.

  “Yes, she’s always up to something,” Andrea mumbled to herself.

  “I didn’t hear you,” Jamal said.

  “Nothing.” Andrea recovered. She began the start of a smooth exit. “Good job keeping the kids happy over here.”

  “It’s not hard. They love this thing.” Jamal jerked a thumb at the inflated attraction. “You must be happy about the way the fair has turned out. Good crowd.
” “Yes, I’m already thinking about what we’ll do next year.” Andrea’s brows came together. “I’ll start lining up sponsors next week. You know, ride on the success of this one while it’s still fresh in their minds.”

  “Great idea.” Jamal cleared his throat. “I thought of a few things myself.”

  Andrea made herself look at him. She gazed up into his eyes, hoping to lessen the impact the sight of his body had on her. It didn’t work. There was no way she could take in full lips or dark eyes set against creamy milk chocolate skin and not feel her pulse rate inch steadily up and up. Andrea swallowed hard. The man was pure poison. Jamal looked at her as though he wanted to speak but was searching for words. He seemed to lean forward, inviting Andrea to come closer. Then, without warning, he took a step back from her. His expression became tense, almost angry.

  “Excuse me,” he said curtly. “I better make sure the space walk is still anchored.”

  Andrea was embarrassed. Here she stood mooning over him. She behaved no different from the women she’d only moments before held in such contempt. Even worse, he knew it and was making a fast escape.

  “I, uh, better go check on … other things,” Andrea stuttered. She wanted to kick herself for being so trans-parent and clumsy.

  Jamal walked off quickly. “Sure thing. I’ve got this under control.”

  Andrea frowned as he walked away. She was more irritated at her own behavior than at him. She had showed herself as just one more fawning female, and Jamal was not interested, period. Still it rankled that he’d been so quick to escape from her while he’d courted the attention of other women. She turned sharply and marched in the opposite direction.

  “You’re an idiot, Andrea,” she whispered harshly. “He’s doing you a favor, so be grateful.” Her words did not ease the sting of rejection, or loosen the knot of disappointment in her chest.

  Chapter 7

  The small sandwich shop was crowded as usual. Lee told himself he was only here for lunch. Yet he scanned the customers looking for one face in particular. Andrea and Katy ate here almost every day. It was close to the clinic, fast, and had great hamburgers.