Gotta Get Next To You

by Emery, Lynn

  Her smile brightened again. “That’s great. I’m glad you and Denny are getting close.”

  “Yeah, well…” Lee’s face felt stretched tight with the effort to force his mouth to smile back.

  She touched the tip of her forefinger to his chin briefly, and then sat back. “You’re good for him. We can get together another time.”

  Lee looked into her eyes and saw traces of the passion they’d shared. “What about tonight?” he blurted out without thinking.

  “Oh?” She gazed at him, head tilted to one side.

  “It might be kinda late. But I’d really like to be with you,” he said. That was no lie.

  “Call me,” Andrea said.

  His heart warmed at the happiness in her eyes. “For sure,” Lee said.

  She smiled at him and left the room. A few minutes later Denny strolled back into the file room. He leered at Lee and nodded in the direction of Andrea’s office.

  “No hard feelings.” Denny leaned against a desk.

  “What are you talking about?” Lee turned his back to him.

  “I was going after that. She’s fine, even if she’s older

  than me. But you got there first. Guess I moved too slow.”

  “Stop dreaming, youngster. Slow or fast, you weren’t going anywhere,” Lee said over his shoulder.

  “Cocky. I see your game. Smooth move, man.” Denny chuckled.

  “Smooth how?” Lee swiveled the chair around and faced him again, arms crossed.

  “Get in with the boss lady and make our way even easier.” Denny wore an expression of admiration as he nodded. “Yeah, I can see we’re gonna do big things.”

  Lee ground his teeth to hold back his temper. He was as angry with himself as he was with Denny. Not only was he lying to Andrea, but he’d made her the object of lewd speculation.

  “Ms. Noble is a fine lady. She cares about you,” Lee said in a controlled voice.

  ‘Too bad she cares about you more.” Denny grinned.

  “Look—”

  “Hey, hey, don’t go off about it, man.” Denny held up a palm. “I’m just saying it’s good for business.”

  “Right,” Lee muttered, and swallowed the anger he felt. He could not get out of character now or Denny would get suspicious. “So Friday is definitely on?”

  “No doubt about it,” Denny said promptly. He winked at Lee and went down the hall whistling.

  Lee rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

  ***

  Andrea hummed a tune as she worked late in her office. The long day didn’t bother her because Jamal was at the end of it. Everything seemed to be going her way. Her days at the clinic were fulfilling. Both of her new programs were drawing rave reviews from the people she’d most wanted to please, the patients. The clinic’s advisory board was happy with her latest progress report. The state health department seemed ready to forgive and forget. Andrea’s assurance that there was no serious breach, merely a lack of a paper trail, had helped, of course. Bureaucrats loved documentation. But they liked they way her programs satisfied federal officials even more.

  Best of all, she got to see Jamal every day. The days were sweet, but the nights were fantastic. She sighed and stared out the window at the lovely view.

  Buildings on both sides of the street cast long shadows in the late afternoon sunshine. Most had been built over fifty years ago and had antique charm. The oldest building, a hotel built in the late nineteenth century, had been renovated along with a dozen other structures. A local landscaper had helped city officials plant trees and flowering plants along the streets. Downtown Bayou Blue was coming alive again.

  So was she, Andrea mused. It was just a year ago she’d alternated between feeling numb and being angry. The memory of strong hands kneading her breasts and hot kisses rushed back. That she could be fulfilled both professionally and with a man was a wonderful discovery.

  “Ahem, I was going to say don’t work too hard, but…” Katy stood in the door. She wore a teasing grin.

  Andrea blinked her way back from the sweet reverie. “I’m just taking a break.”

  “I hear ya.” She came and dropped into a chair. “You know the old saying, ‘Careful what you wish for’? Well, we’re living proof. I’m beat, boss lady.”

  “Speaking of busy, it’s time for me to review invoices and the drug record again. Look at what I found.” She handed Katy a trade journal.

  “Effective inventory controls in clinic settings,” Katy read. “So?”

  “I’ve written up a new procedure, a lot of it based on that article. Sally helped, too.”

  Katy stood. “On that cheerful note, I’m going home. What about you?”

  Andrea brushed back her hair and smiled. “For once, I’m going to leave on time.”

  “Good for you.” Katy stood and walked to the door. ‘Trust me; the work will be here when you get here in the morning. Staying late won’t change a thing. Good night.”

  “Have a nice evening,” Andrea called after her.

  She stayed in her office a while longer to straighten her desk and files. The voices of staff faded as they left for the day. Andrea followed soon after. She walked out the door and saw Denny getting into Jamal’s car. They waved to her as they drove out of the parking lot.

  “Have fun,” she called out to them.

  Andrea considered the two men. They were so much alike. Jamal still had traces of a reckless young man. Maybe that was why he understood Denny and why Denny listened to him. But beneath that brash grin and confident animal stride was a kind heart. Andrea smiled. Jamal was a real man. Later tonight she would hold him close again and tell him so.

  At home, the hours dragged by. She tried to keep herself occupied by reviewing the reports she’d brought home. Yet her gaze kept drifting to die clock.

  “Come, on, girlfriend. He said it would be late. Now you’re mumbling to yourself. Not good.”

  Andrea stretched to relieve the tension in her shoulders. She put her feet up on the sofa and settled back to read. The first report was a blistering assessment of the clinic, completed two years ago. Andrea intended to contrast their progress with the problems cited. To do that, she would attack the most troubling issue. The improvements in tracking drug inventory would be the first portion of her annual report. She put the audit aside and went over the printout she’d gotten from the clinic database.

  “Hmm, I must have made a mistake somewhere,” she said.

  According to what she’d written, at least ten invoices were missing. Each invoice had a six-digit number. Andrea had decided to keep them in sequence as part of the new inventory procedures. Yet the numbers skipped around. Still, she was not too concerned since the amount indicated on the printout roughly matched her review of the drug stock. More than likely, Denny and Jamal were behind on entering data. Andrea tossed the papers aside and tapped a foot nervously. Maybe there was something interesting on television. She sat pressing buttons on the remote. Channels flew by.

  The doorbell was a welcome sound. Checking through the peephole first, Andrea opened the front door. Jamal was an even more welcome sight. He wore a white shirt with a dark green stripe down one side and jeans that hugged his lower body.

  “I’m later than I thought I would be. If—”

  “You’re right on time.” She took him by the hand and pulled him inside.

  He pointed to the piles of folders. “Do you ever stop thinking about the clinic?”

  Andrea looked at the papers, and then quickly gathered them up. In seconds they were stashed away in the extra bedroom she used as a home office. She strode back to the living room with a smile.

  “I’m not thinking about it now,” she said. “Let’s have a drink. White wine okay?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Jamal sat down on the sofa.

  Andrea went to the kitchen and poured them both a glass from a bottle taken from the refrigerator. “So did you bond with Denny over hamburgers?” she said as she walked to the sofa.

&nbs
p; Jamal smiled as he accepted the glass from her. “It was pizza, and I guess you could say we did.”

  “Good. I’m glad you came over.” Andrea sat next to him and drew her knees up onto the sofa cushion.

  “If you’re tired, I’ll understand. It was a long day at the clinic. I was running from the minute I stepped in the door. So were you.”

  “But we’re standing still now.” Andrea lifted her glass to him in a toast. ‘To the weekend.”

  “You know it,” he replied, and raised his wineglass. Andrea watched him as she sipped wine. Jamal drank deeply as though thirsty. “You look tired.”

  “Like I said, a long day.” He did not look at her. “Well, now you can relax.” Andrea turned off the television and turned on the stereo radio, using another re-mote. “How’s this for setting the mood?”

  “Nice,” he said without looking at her.

  ‘Tell me more about yourself.”

  Jamal shifted positions and glanced at her. “Not much more to tell. I’m from Los Angeles. I moved here about a year ago after my divorce. That’s about it.”

  “And you have a son,” Andrea said.

  “Yeah,” Jamal said with a wide smile. “One good thing that came out of a bad marriage.”

  “What’s he like?”

  “Smart and smart mouthed.” He laughed. “Seriously, he’s a good kid. Doing great in school now. He had a rough time after the divorce.”

  “Children do take it hard.”

  “I should have been there more for him.” Jamal’s expression became solemn. “My ex-wife reminds me of that every time I visit.”

  “It’s great that you moved to be near him.”

  “Guilt. I’ve got a lot of that,” Jamal mumbled.

  “And a lot of love for your child,” Andrea added. “You’re a good father and a good man, Jamal.”

  “Ahem, thanks.” He tapped a tightly clenched fist on the arm of the sofa and didn’t look at her.

  “You mentioned that relatives lived nearby,” Andrea said.

  “A couple of aunts in New Orleans, and cousins in Baton Rouge.”

  “Do you visit them often?”

  “Holidays mostly.” Jamal drank the last of his wine and stood. “Think I’ll have more wine.”

  Andrea stood. She put her hand over his as she reached for the glass. “Let me get it.”

  “No, I can …” His voice trailed off when he gazed into her eyes.

  She stroked the back of his hand with her fingertips and moved close to him. “Why don’t we both have some more,” she whispered, and covered his lips with her own.

  She teased his lips wider with her tongue until he gave in completely. He tasted sweeter than ever as Andrea kissed him greedily. Yet he seemed to be holding back. Andrea ached to touch him and to feel his touch.

  She pulled away long enough to put both wineglasses on the sofa table. When she turned to him again, she was disappointed to see him checking his cell phone.

  “I’ve been paged. I’ll just return this call.” He turned away as he punched the keypad.

  “Sure. I’ll get those refills,” she said.

  Andrea went to the kitchen and poured more wine for them both. She was sitting on the sofa when he came back. Jamal gazed down at her with a tight expression.

  “Listen, I gotta go,” he said.

  “Go?” Andrea blinked at him.

  “I just wanted to come over for a few minutes and—” He raked long fingers through his dark hair.

  “What is this about, Jamal?” Andrea stared at him in confusion. “Did we have a fight and I missed it?”

  “No, no, it’s not you. It just things are moving kinda fast.” He seemed to struggle for words.

  “Give me a clue, Jamal, because I’m lost.” Andrea’s heart pounded at the sudden turn his mood had taken.

  He gazed at her. “I guess what I mean is …”

  “Wait a minute, do you think I’m getting too serious because I asked about your family?” Andrea said. She frowned at him. ‘Take it easy. I’m not desperate.”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “I enjoy being with you, but I’m not trying to push you someplace you don’t want to go.” Andrea’s temper rose toward the boiling point.

  “Sure.” He rubbed his jaw and took a deep breath.

  Andrea’s anger dissolved at the look of acute distress on his face. This big, strong man was afraid of getting hurt again, something she understood very well. She moved close to him, but didn’t touch him.

  “My marriage went bad and the divorce was worse. I felt the same way you did,” Andrea said.

  “So, we should take it easy this time around.” Jamal looked at her. His eyes said he wanted to hold her, but he did not move closer.

  “I don’t want to own you and I don’t want to be owned, okay?” she said quietly.

  “Okay. Look, I’m sorry for taking you through drama. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.” Jamal looked genuinely puzzled with himself. He took a deep breath and let it out.

  “Leave if it’ll make you feel better. But I can promise you one thing. I’ll make you feel a lot better if you stay.”

  Andrea watched his expression. She understood his fear. She felt it herself. What would she do if he decided to run?

  I’m stronger now. At least that was what she wanted to believe. Still, she clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached.

  Jamal came to her with one long step and took her in his arms. His kiss was gentle, searching, as though he needed to be reassured. Andrea gave him what he wanted. Her response was to mold herself against him until their bodies were a perfect fit. They went to her bedroom without speaking. Once there, Jamal let her undress him. She massaged his shoulders and back until his muscular body relaxed beneath her fingers. Andrea stripped down to only the fuchsia bra and panties she wore.

  “I’m going to keep my promise,” she whispered close to his ear.

  She lit all three wicks of a long, vanilla-scented candle that sat on her dresser. When she returned to the bed, Jamal took control. He pulled her panties down over her hips and thighs, kissing the soft flesh until she moaned for more. Reaching up, he unhooked her bra. Andrea took it off and sank down onto the bed. The sensation of his long, hard body stretched atop hers made her moan in pleasure. With a brief pause to put on a condom, he mounted her and slowly, maddeningly eased his penis inside. Andrea felt an aching need that was both pleasure and pain as she lifted her hips to take in every inch. She gasped each time he thrust.

  Then his gentle probing gave way to a frenzied pace. Andrea matched the rhythm of his hips with her own. They clawed at each other, their bodies slapping together as they sought to tame a primal hunger. Faster and faster they went until the queen-sized bed shook with the force of their thrusts. An orgasm started deep inside her until it spread in waves, a force that pulled her into bliss. Andrea panted his name low, then screamed once. She wrapped her legs around him and rolled her hips frantically; taking every drop of pleasure he had to give. Jamal let out a deep, guttural groan as he stiffened inside her. He came and pushed Andrea over the edge into another orgasm. Their movements slowed, and then stopped. They lay still in each other’s arms.

  “Are you going to stay?” Andrea whispered.

  Jamal braided his fingers through her hair. “Yes.”

  ***

  Lee gazed at Andrea and smiled. They were on the bayou behind Gran’s house. She was teaching him to fish Louisiana style with a cane fishing pole. Andrea wore a frown of concentration as she watched the small red and white float bounce on the gentle waves of water. A wire basket of flopping perch and sac-au-lait floated in shallow water between them.

  “They’re not biting now. Guess it’s gotten too hot. The best fishing is early in the morning,” she said quietly, as though afraid to scare away what few fish were left.

  “Maybe they saw you hooking their pals and took off,” he said in a stage whisper.

  She squinted at him. “Such a comed
ian.”

  “We’ve been at this for two hours and haven’t caught anymore fish. I’m hungry.” Lee rubbed his stomach.

  “You haven’t really tried,” she shot back.

  Lee stuck the end of his fishing pole into the soft mud bank and walked over to her. “I’ve been distracted. Do you have any idea how good you look from behind in faded blue jeans?” he whispered as he put both arms around her waist.

  “Why can’t you just admit I’m a better fisherman?” Andrea whispered back.

  “No, you fight dirty.” Lee pressed against her. “You put on this tight T-shirt to throw me off my game.”

  “I did not!” she said hotly. “I—Wait, I’ve got another one.

  Lee stepped away from her. Andrea reeled in another perch as Lee cheered her on. Her face glowed. Sunlight brought out red highlights in her dark hair. He smiled as he watched her. She seemed perfectly at ease despite years of big-city life.

  “Looks like Gran will have enough for a fish fry,” Lee said with a grin.

  ‘To feed my huge family? We’d have to do a lot better than this. So pick up that fishing pole.” Andrea took the fish off the hook and dropped him into the wire basket.

  “I say it’s time for a trip to the fish market,” Lee teased.

  Andrea glanced at the fish, then at him. “I say you’re right. This is hard work!”

  “Then let’s quit for the day and relax.”

  “Amen!” Andrea said with a smile.

  They packed up their catch and hiked back to the house. Gran made a big fuss over the fish, taking them from Andrea and shooing them back out the door after they’d washed their hands. They walked back to the bayou hand in hand, Lee carrying a wicker basket of goodies Gran put together for an impromptu picnic. Andrea had a large cotton blanket for them to sit on while they ate.

  “Let me show you another special place,” Andrea said.

  She led him down a footpath overgrown with thick grass. Wild ferns and honeysuckle bushes grew on both sides of it. They were sheltered from the pounding Louisiana sun by a thick canopy of trees overhead. Lee felt as though he were in a magical forest being led to temptation by a beautiful nymph in blue jeans. He followed happily.