Anything For Your Love

by Amore

  Ami wasn’t surprised. She knew her brothers and cousins had mastered the game of seduction. That was why she had not fallen for all the sweet talkers and good lookers in Los Angeles. But, those roses were different. Bigger, redder, more expensive than she had seen him send in the past. Alex was laying it on thick. A feeling of apprehension fell over Ami as she considered the possibilities. Maybe she should be less concerned with Jada’s heart and more concerned with Alex’s. Her dear cousin was falling hard and fast. She hoped her good friend could handle the kind of love the men in her family were capable of giving.

  Jada flopped down on the sofa with one of the roses. “They are so beautiful,” She said as she brought one to her nose.

  “Mmmm, hmmm,” Ami skeptically agreed.

  “Oh, come on. What is that look for?” Jada asked with a silly grin she couldn’t seem to get rid of.

  Ami smiled before she sat on the chair across from Jada to unhook her sandaled foot. What she was thinking was, ‘It would be nice to have her best friend as her cousin-in-law.’ What she said was, “I was just thinking how nice it is to see you having a good time.”

  “Yes. I am having a good time, and I like it!” Jada said, standing from her sitting position and grabbing her cell phone. “I need to call my grandma. I haven’t talked to her since we arrived in Philly. She’s gonna have my head.”

  Ami watched her friend as she seemed to skip across the room and giggled. “Tell her I said hello, and I’ll come to see her when we get back.”

  “All right, I’ll tell her,” Jada said as she headed out to the balcony to call her grandma. She still had the silly, schoolgirl grin.

  “Hey, Grandma,” She sang as her call was connected across the United States.

  “Hey, baby girl. How are you? How is everything going?” Grandma Whitman asked.

  “Wonderful. I never thought the east coast could be so, interesting.”

  “Is that so...”

  Ami smiled at her friend’s happiness. She couldn’t ever recall her being so light and free. She seemed to be floating around the room. As Jada slid the French doors closed after stepping out onto the balcony, Ami whispered, “That’s right, cousin. Bring your ‘A’ game.”

  *** “So, Alex, where are we going in Atlantic City?” Jada asked,

  deciding to keep the conversation light while sitting next to him in his massive Navigator. He had just picked her up from the hotel. He had been waiting out front talking to the doorman when she came downstairs at one thirty p.m. Again, he wore an expensive, obviously tailored navy suit. Whoever his tailor was needed a bonus. He wore a French cuffed dress shirt with his initials in the cuff, with well thought out shoes and tie. He looked like he meant business. His aviator sunglasses prevented her from looking directly into his eyes. For the moment, she was glad. He had removed his jacket and hung it in the back. His hands and arms flexed as he maneuvered the air conditioned vehicle down the highway.

  “I have a short meeting with some people concerning a land deal for Ty and Chris’ second restaurant. I hope you don’t mind that I’ll have to leave you for a while.” He glanced over at her and thought for the millionth time that she was definitely beautiful. “But, I promise to make it up to you later. The family has a condo here that we all share. I’ll take you there before the meeting. You’ll have access to the entire hotel and casino as well as the beach. Do you think you can stay occupied until I get back?” He asked with a seductive smile.

  “Sure, Alex, I’m a big girl. I’m sure there will be something for me to do.” She returned the gesture and settled into her seat.

  She was wearing a baby blue silk dress that had immediately caught Alex’s attention. It fell just to her knee, although sitting next to him in his truck, the skirt of the dress exposed just enough caramel colored thigh to make his breathing uneven. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, which afforded him the opportunity to take in her profile. Her shoes were a baby blue and white swirl of crocodile skin that had to have a heel of at least three and a half inches. They delicately hugged her feet and made her hips sway when she walked, just the way he loved. The sun was bright and she wore highly fashionable sunglasses that he had not recalled seeing her wear before. They made her look like a movie star. He found that he noticed everything about her and committed those things to memory. Her closeness was getting to him. He had to stay focused if his plan to have her permanently was going to work.

  They engaged in light conversation on the forty five minute ride to Atlantic City, taking the time to get to know each other better, again. Alex talked about his role in helping his brothers with the new restaurant, and Jada talked about an upcoming film project. She liked talking to him because it was easy. It must have been a Love trait because it was the same way with Ami also, she thought.

  They discovered they liked the same eclectic mix of music and movies. They both enjoyed a good meal and it didn’t matter what kind of food it was, as long as it was good. She loved the way he was devoted to his family and he loved the way she loved her grandparents. During the ride, she even discovered that he liked to crack jokes, which she didn’t even think was possible. By the time they reached the final toll booth on the Atlantic City Expressway that led into the city, she had tears in her eyes from all the laughter they shared.

  Finally, he pulled up to the valet at one of the casinos in the heart of Atlantic City. “I thought we were going to your family’s condo first?” She asked.

  “We are. It’s in the casino’s hotel. A few years ago, the casino opened a few floors to be used as apartments and condos. We bought one.” He shrugged. “A very wise investment my father and his brothers chose. Atlantic City has been changing by leaps and bounds. Very soon, it will be the little Las Vegas of the east.”

  As Alex stepped out of the SUV, he was immediately greeted by what Jada thought had to be one of the managers at the hotel/casino. He was of average height and weight, his hair was the shiniest of black, and his smile was filled with warmth. He was wearing a suit, not a uniform, and all the employees seemed to straighten up a little when he walked past. He paid them no attention. His sole focus was on greeting the man standing at her side.

  “Mr. Love. It’s so good to see you again. It been a long while,” The man beamed. “Are you here on business or pleasure?” The man looked over at Jada. “Maybe a little of both?”

  “Tony, it’s good to see you, too. I’m here for both. Jada Whitman, this is Anthony Piazza, hotel manager,” Alex introduced. Jada extended her hand with a warm twinkle in her eye.

  “Beautiful!" Tony said as he took her hand. “Careful, Tony,” Alex joked. “Yes, Mr. Love, but a man must show appreciation for such a perfect piece of God’s artwork,” Tony continued. Jada blushed. “Ah, and she is modest, too.”

  “I do agree with that, Tony. Jada, while we are here, if you need anything, Tony will take of it. He knows every inch of this place and is the very best in town.”

  “Oh, thank you, Mr. Love. Do you have any bags? I can have them sent to your place,” Tony asked.

  “Not today, Tony. Unfortunately, this will have to be a short stay. You can do me one favor. Can you see to it Ms. Whitman gets to the house because I have a meeting I need to get to?” Alex asked.

  “Absolutely, Mr. Love. I will escort her myself. Oh, and I did speak with Isabella yesterday about your request. Everything was taken care of to your specifications,” Tony said, hooking Jada’s arm in his.

  “Thank you again, Tony. You and your staff are the best in the city.” Alex watched as Tony pulled Jada closely to his side. “Last warning, Tony, careful” Alex said again, leveling his gaze on the closeness of the space separating the two. He leaned over to place a gentle kiss on Jada’s already flushed cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. There’s something in the master suite for you.” Before Jada could react or respond, Alex was back in the SUV and pulling off.

  “Oh, that Mr. Love is a first class gentleman,” Tony said, breaking into Jada’s
thoughts. “Always does things right.” He gently led her through the wide entrance of the hotel.

  “Oh really?” Jada asked, finding her voice. “Does he bring a lot of women here?”

  “Oh no, Ms. Whitman, you are the first. He mostly comes for business or when he wants to be alone. He treats the staff like family. His entire family does. They are just a great bunch of people. Sometimes, several members of the family will just pop up,” Tony explained. They stepped onto a mirrored elevator. “You must be really special.”

  “Why do you say that?” Jada asked.

  “Because, Mr. Love has pulled out all the stops tonight, Ms. Whitman. All of them,” He said with a sly grin.

  They stepped off the elevator on the 25th floor. The hallway was regal. Jada could tell a lot of planning and time went into decorating the place. The hotel itself was gorgeous.

  “Here we are,” Tony said, stopping in front of a door. Jada thought it looked like all the other doors on the floor, except there were less of them than a regular hotel floor. As a matter of fact, walking down the hall, Jada only recalled seeing three other doors. Tony opened the door and stepped aside so Jada could enter. She was floored as she stood taking in the room with her jaw hanging open.

  The large door opened to a huge, wide open living area with a sunken living room. To the right was a very formal dining room and to the left was what looked like an office. Off of the dining room was a semi-professional kitchen.That must be Ty’s room, Jada thought to herself with a chuckle. Just off the office, there were a set of stairs.

  Tony broke into Jada’s appreciation of the home. “Just up those stairs are the five bedrooms. The kitchen is fully stocked. There is a private residence pool at the other end of the hall. If you leave, you will need this key to access this floor.” Tony handed her the card key. “I believe only one other resident is here today, so the pool should be all yours. If you need to reach me, dial 28 on the telephone. If I’m not there, have me paged.” Tony turned to leave. Jada opened her handbag to give him a tip. “Oh no, Ms. Whitman. Like I said, the Love family takes very good care of us here. It was very nice to meet you and I’m sure I’ll see you again.” With that, Tony left, smiling all the way down the hall.

  Jada had stayed in nice places before and her apartment in Los Angeles was nothing to shake a stick at, but this was fabulous. She started to walk around. She smiled when she noticed several animal print pillows on the leather sectional. There were numerous family photos around, not only of Alex and his family, but of all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. They were mostly candid shots, nothing too posed. There was a baby grand Steinway piano in the one corner near the panoramic window and she wondered who played. The dining room looked straight out of a magazine and the kitchen belonged on the Food Network. She made her way back to the office. It was a lawyer or businessman’s dream. There were shelves and shelves of books. There were two computers on two different desks, a copier, and a fax machine. She imagined Alex and his father spending many hours in that room.

  She went upstairs to continue her exploration. She looked in several well decorated bedrooms until she found the one that was obviously the master suite. It was stunning. The bed was ridiculously big and the sheets had to be custom made. She resisted the urge to run over an jump up and down on it. The carpet was plush, reminding her of how she felt in Alex’s bedroom in Philadelphia. There was a small sitting area with a vanity table on one side near the bathroom and a desk with a computer, fax, and mini copier arranged on it. The family was definitely serious about their business.

  There was a small balcony just beyond the desk. The bathroom had a stand alone shower that had six multi level shower heads in various locations. There was a Jacuzzi tub with an enclosed fireplace at one end. They were a first class family. The place truly rivaled some of the homes she attended parties in on the West Coast. She turned and returned to the bedroom, now excited about staying in such a beautiful place. She hadn’t noticed before, but there were boxes on a table on the far side of the bed. Each one clearly marked:For now,For Later, andFor the Future. There was also a vase of red roses with a card with her name on it. Knowing they were for her from Alex, she excitedly opened the card:

  Thank you for sharing your time for now. I look forward to our time later. As for our future...enjoy. Alexander

  Her smile slightly slipped and her hand shook nervously. Alex was getting under her skin, touching her heart at its very core, breaking down every wall she had ever built around her heart. She picked up the first box.

  In the box were two swim suits. Both were two piece suits that were gorgeous. She knew she was headed for the pool in one of those. She began to get excited again as she reached for the second box.

  In the box was a black designer dress with stunning black heels. The box also included everything she would need for a weekend stay. He’d thought of everything a woman might possibly need for an over night stay. “Oh my goodness,” She breathed. The dress and shoes were fabulous. She suddenly found herself nervous about opening the third box, the future box.

  The third box was considerably smaller than the other two. She reached for it. Opening the box, she found a smaller, distinctive turquoise box with a perfectly tied white bow. Jada pulled one end of the ribbon and the entire bow fell away. She opened the box and found a platinum necklace with a diamond open heart charm gently floating on it. Her hands began to shake. She softly placed the necklace back in the box and put it on the table. She needed to sit. That was not a gift you gave to a casual friend. Sitting wasn’t working. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed Ami’s number.

  “Hey, girl. What’s up?” Ami answered in a cheery voice. “How’s Atlantic City so far?”

  “Can you talk for a minute?” came Jada’s soft reply.

  Ami’s voice turned urgent instantly, “What’s wrong? Do you need me to come down there? I know Alex is in that meeting. I can call security...”

  “No, no, no. I’m fine, really,” Jada said, cutting her off. “I just need an ear and an opinion.”

  “Oh. Girl, you know better than to get me all excited like that. I’ve been over here talking to my cousin Joi about this loser she was dating and it’s got my adrenaline pumping overtime.”

  Jada giggled. “No, this is something entirely different. It’s good, but scary as hell.”

  “What’s up?”

  Jada told Ami they were staying at the family condo, which Ami already knew. Then, she told her about the gift boxes she found in one of the rooms with her name on it. Boy, Ami loved the Love men’s style. Damn, it was going to be hard for her. Anyway, she dismissed the thought.

  “What should I do?” Jada asked, interrupting Ami’s thoughts.

  “What do you mean, ‘What should I do?’” Ami asked incredulously. “Girl, put on a swim suit, hit the pool, and then later, knock his flippin' socks off in that dress. If I know my big cousin the way I think I do, the dress is fierce, but the shoes are killer! You better work!”

  Jada couldn’t help laughing out loud. She loved that girl. “I can’t do that.”

  “Why? Because no other man has stepped up to treat you like you deserve to be treated? Please. You said you wanted to go with the flow and have a little fun. So, do it! Life’s way too short to hesitate. Gotta go. Love you.” Ami hung up the phone.

  As she sat, she considered the possibilities. She needed to think. Her heart was telling her to go full steam ahead with Alex, but her mind had serious reservations. It had been a while since she was involved with a man for anything long term, and long term for her was about three months. Then again, she had never met a man quite like Alex and that was the part that was unnerving. She decided she would go for that swim. She dressed in one of the new swim suits, found a towel and a robe, and headed for the pool.

  Alex was glad the meeting ended early with such positive results. He had finalized the land deal for the new restaurant and everything would be moving along as scheduled. A messenger would be delivering the
paper work to The House for signatures. He had even met with a potential architect for the project named Tami Jones, who happened to be in town consulting on another project. She worked for a well know builder whom his uncle, Anthony, and other members of his family had done business with in the past. He would have to set up a meeting with his brothers and Ms. Jones to see what kind of ideas she could come up with. Not today, though. He had other things on his mind.

  Alex pulled up to the valet. “Good evening, Mr. Love,” The valet attendant said.

  “Hi, Mike. How’s your family?” Alex asked

  “Oh, very well, Mr. Love, thanks for asking. And yours, especially your Mother?” Mike asked.

  “Oh, she’s good. I’ll tell her you asked about her.” “Please do.” Mike smiled. Alex shook his head and smiled. Mike had to be around Chris’ age, yet he loved to see Abigail coming. “She’s old enough to be your mother, Mike. Is Paul around?”

  “I know, but she sure is pretty to look at. Paul should be in the front office.”

  “Thanks,” Alex said with a chuckle.

  Paul Winters was the head of security at the hotel/casino. As Alex approached the front desk, the front desk hostess immediately greeted him.

  “Hello, Mr. Love. How may I help you?” The friendly young woman said. Alex was sure Tony briefed everyone that he was there because he did not recognize the new face. He probably had pictures of all the VIP residents and made them study each and every one. Tony was very big on customer service, which was one of the reasons he liked him so much.

  “Hello. Is Paul Winters available?” He asked. “Just a moment, sir.” The young woman picked up the phone. Alex absently looked around the lobby. There had been some improvements since the last time he was there. It looked good. He’d have to come back for an extended stay and soon as he could. Of course, Jada would have to come with him. The high pitched female voice brought him back from his musings.