Anything For Your Love

by Amore

  Realization was dawning on Alex as he pulled into the parking lot of the skating rink, parked, and cut the engine. It was a realization he didn’t like one bit. “Tell me something, Rhonda. Are you in this because you love me, or because you love what you think I can do for you?” His voice was cold and void of emotions.

  “You, Alex...” She started as she poked him in the chest, “are selfish and arrogant. You are blowing the opportunity of a lifetime to pursue some silly dream of being like your stupid father. I need a man who can take care of me, and you obviously are not the one. So, you can take your silly dream and your silly father, and shove them both up your silly ass. I’m out.” She got out of the car before he could say one word and headed toward the entrance.

  Alex’s light eyes turned icy cold. The woman who just thirty minutes ago he wanted to be his wife, ripped his heart out, stomped on his dreams, and insulted his family. He felt dizzy, like the car was spinning, and he certainly wanted to get off this crazy ride.

  He was gripping the steering wheel so tight, his fingers were beginning to cramp. Rage, mixed with hurt and disappointment, coursed throughout his body. How could he have been so wrong about her? He never misjudged people, especially women. Thinking back, Ami was the only one in his family that liked her. His parents had always been polite, but never really warm. His brothers and sisters just stayed away from her. Come to think of it, Maddy was the only one who told him she wasn’t the one, but he refused to hear her.

  He glanced up in time to see Rhonda smiling and laughing with another boy who attended a rival high school. He watched as she threw her head back, laughed, and gave him her trade mark smile that she only reserved for him. Well, used to be reserved for him. She hooked her arm into his and proceeded to walk into the rink. She couldn’t wait ten seconds before she moved on to someone else. His hands were shaking from the fury of what just happened.

  Alex seethed. He got out of the car, slamming the door. He stalked over to the entrance, ignoring the lingering congratulations from the night’s game. The security guys he was so familiar with never gave him a second glance as he walked purposefully through the foyer.

  Ty and Chris spotted Alex coming in the door. They had already noticed Rhonda being a little too friendly with some other guy. They were immediately by his side. Whatever happened could not possibly be good.

  “What’s up?” Ty asked, noticing the hardened expression on Alex’s face. Chris stepped back. He didn’t like it one bit and, quite frankly, Alex scared him a little.

  “Where is she?” Alex asked through his teeth.

  Ty grabbed Alex’s arm. “What happened?” He asked firmly, that time trying to gain his brother’s attention. His look was murderous.

  Alex looked at Ty, recognition finally showing in his eyes. With anger and hurt in his voice, He said, “She’s walking out.”

  Ty was stunned. Chris took another step back. He still had about three or four inches to catch up with his older brother’s height and he knew when Alex really was upset, Ty and Ami were the only ones who could calm him.

  “What? Why?” Ty finally asked, not believing what he’d just heard.

  “Apparently, my love is not enough for her. She had another agenda,” He said, the anger evident on his face and the tenseness of his muscles. “Where is she?”

  Ty took a moment to take it all in. Then, it occurred to him that in Alex’s current state, he may really hurt someone, especially Rhonda if she said the wrong thing. He sent Chris to go find the girls. “Look, Alex, I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk to her right now. Let’s get out of here.”

  Alex’s anger did not dissipate in the least. He started to walk further into the rink and spotted her. She was on the dance floor, grinding and pumping with the guy he saw her walking in with.

  His heart shattered into a thousand pieces. How could she turn him off like that? Anger and rage quickly replaced the hurt as he headed toward the dance floor and Rhonda.

  Ty tried desperately to hold Alex back, but emotions were moving him at that point. All he could do was stick close to him and hopefully stop him from getting arrested.

  Alex went up and stood directly behind Rhonda as she continued to put on her performance. “Let’s go, sexy,” He breathed in her ear. The statement dripped with sarcasm.

  She whirled around and sneered at him. “Call me, Alex, when you make some money and stop being Daddy’s Little Boy.” She turned her back on him and continued dancing.

  “Hey, all star, the lady and I are trying to have a good time here. Why don’t you move on?” The punk she was dancing with snickered.

  Alex’s hands clinched into fists. Ty saw it and moved to stand in front of him. As he put his hands up to attempt to protest what he thought was Alex’s next move, Maddy put her hand gently on Alex’s tense shoulder. Alex turned slightly and looked into his sister’s identical eyes.

  She shook her head slightly and said to Ty, “Why don’t you, Alex, and Chris go over to the diner. We’ll meet you there.”

  Alex didn’t make any attempt to move. He glanced over at Ami and Hannah. His gaze slid back to Maddy, who offered him a wicked smile.

  “Go ahead, big brother. The ladies have to handle a few things around here.” That time, her smile was warm. Ami and Hannah wore the same signature smile. He relaxed slightly.

  Without one word, Alex turned and headed toward the exit. Ty and Chris were by his side.

  On the dance floor, Maddy tapped Rhonda on the shoulder as she discreetly removed her earrings and placed them in her jeans back pocket. Ami and Hannah did the same.

  “Rhonda...” Maddy started, “can I talk to you outside for a moment? And, just so you understand, no is not an option.”

  Chapter 10

  Alex was looking forward to the upcoming weekend. The case he was working on was becoming tense. At least he thought it was the case. He had been consumed with thoughts of Jada all day, but the news of Rhonda back in town was not sitting well with him. She was trouble and he knew it. His intercom buzzed. “Yes, Karen?”

  “Mr. Love, I’m leaving for the day. Do you need anything else?”

  Alex hadn’t realized the time and it was well after five p.m. “No, Karen. Enjoy your weekend.”

  “You, too, Mr. Love. See you Monday.”

  It was getting late. Alex was supposed to have dinner with Jada and needed to leave. He needed to get to the house to change. He loved spending time with her and was counting the minutes, no seconds, when he would have her in his bed.

  Since their experience in Atlantic City, she had become more relaxed in his presence. He, on the other hand, felt more and more out of control every time she looked at him. He shut down his computer, grabbed his briefcase and jacket, and headed out the door. It was going to be a good night.

  Across from Alex’s office building was a small park with a few benches. Often, people would sit and enjoy a warm summer evening. He exited the building and removed his jacket. He looked forward to his walk home and the quiet time to think. He didn’t notice the woman sitting on the bench, pretending to read a book across the street, watching him. All he noticed at the moment were all the beautiful sights of the city.

  As Alex began his stroll toward his home, he smiled at the thoughts of Jada playing in his mind. His mouth watered when he thought of kissing her. Her soft, full lips pressed against his made his heart leap. He remembered the way she reacted to him at the condo in Atlantic City. His chest tightened and his groin heated at the picture that played in his mind. It amazed him that she was able to do what no other woman was able to do. Little things made him think of her, and he would often times lose focus during the day. He couldn’t wait to have her in his life, permanently. He realized that if and when he did see Rhonda, she would mean nothing because Jada was becoming his everything.

  Rhonda had been sitting on that bench for about thirty minutes when Alex came out of the building. She caught sight of him immediately as her sole purpose had been to watch tha
t door. He had been handsome back in high school, but he was gorgeous now. From the reaction of his family at the restaurant, she knew she had to play the game just right. She still wasn’t sure if he was seeing anyone. She got a funny feeling when she’d met that chick Jada at The Love House, but still wasn’t sure. That didn’t matter, anyway.

  She quickly decided to follow him as it appeared he would be walking. She noticed he walked at a leisurely pace and he looked happy. She wondered if making partner had him in a good mood, because it certainly had her in one. Her adventure down south had not worked to her favor. She had expected to live the glamorous life with her R&B star boyfriend, but he quickly dumped her after realizing she was in it for the money. She had dated a string of R&B and Rap stars, but nothing ever lasted. Alex was a lot more stable and a lot more well off. His wealth was bound to go on for ages, and that was just what she wanted. She watched him stop at a small jewelry boutique and wondered what he was buying. She didn’t want to go in and risk being seen. She wasn’t ready. About fifteen minutes later, he left the store with a small bag and a huge smile.His smile is dazzling, She thought as she continued to follow him.

  Soon, the amount of people on the street began to thin and she had to hang back a bit. She watched him as he stopped in front of a brownstone, pulled out a key, and went inside. She made note of the address, figuring it was his home. She would be back to claim Alex as her own. She turned and walked back in the direction from which she came. After the way she walked out years ago, she knew he would not be easy to forgive. She had learned some new tricks over the years, though, and was absolutely sure her new prowess would win him over. Smiling to herself, she thought it would sure be fun.

  Alex stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed and ready to see Jada. As he briskly rubbed the towel across his hair, the phone rang. He quickly crossed the room to answer it.

  “Hello?” He spoke casually into the phone. “Hey, big brother.” Joi said affectionately. “Baby sister,” He said with happiness clearly lacing his voice.

  “How are you?” “I’m good. You know how it is. Babies don’t wait for anyone, so

  my work is never done.” “You are the best. That is the price you have to pay. What’s up?” “The question is, what is up with you? Word is the lovely

  Californian has captured your heart.” Joi chuckled. “Is nothing sacred in this family?” “Not if Mom knows. You know she has called all of us to either update us or gather information. All I’m saying is, I’m delivering your first born. I can’t wait to be an Auntie, so get cracking!”

  “You and Mom have me married with the white picket fence, the required 2.5 children, and dog. Slow down. I’m not trying to scare the woman.”

  “She doesn’t seem the type to scare so easily, big brother. I like her. Nevertheless, I’m happy for your happiness. She makes you smile and that makes me happy. Anyway, I just wanted to say hey before I go off to the hospital. Love you.”

  “Love you, too, baby sister. Get some rest.” “Yeah, yeah. Bye.” “Bye,” He said as he smiled at the phone. His mom didn’t waste

  any time eliciting the help of his siblings if she believed in something. Apparently, she believed in Jada. He crossed the room to his walk in closet to finish preparing for the evening. Life was turning out to be pretty darn good.

  Ninety minutes later, Alex was pulling up to Jada’s hotel. He had called her earlier to let her know what time he would be there. She was right on time. She was wearing a beautiful linen black skirt with white embroidery throughout. Her halter was pure white with crystal embellishment detailing at the bottom. She wore black and white peep toe high heeled stilettos that made her ankles look delicate. Alex had thoughts of kissing those ankles and he was instantly aroused. He thought he would never tire of seeing her. She smiled when she saw him and it sent shivers down his spine.

  “Alexander...” She said, and he loved the way it sounded, “always right on time.”

  “Jada...” He responded as he took in the full beauty of her, especially the way her hair flowed around her shoulders, “you’re as beautiful as ever.” He found that he loved it when she wore her hair down. He wanted to run his fingers through it and feel the silkiness across his palms.

  Jada saw the desire in his eyes. She wondered how long she would be able to resist him. He was becoming an expert at breaking down her many layers of defense. Grinning, she leaned in as he placed a heated kiss to her cheek.

  “Shall we?” He asked. “Absolutely.” “I figured we’ll have dinner at one of my favorite places and desert at The House,” He suggested, assisting her into his vehicle. “That sounds great. I’m beginning to love Ty’s cooking, but I’ve never had his deserts,” She responded as she settled comfortably into her seat.

  “Great, it’s all set,” Alex said as he pulled into traffic. “I really enjoy spending time with you, Jada. I’m glad you were able to come to Philly.”

  “Thank you. I enjoy your company, too. You know, I debated not coming when Ami asked me, but I’m really glad I did.”

  Alex kept the conversation light, although the heat and desire were building by the second. As he sat at a traffic light listening to her opinion on the state of the government, he thought she was both breathtaking and intelligent. She was not arrogant, like so many of the other women he had dated. She appreciated nice things, but was not consumed by money. Her heart was big, yet, he didn’t think she knew it because it had been closed for so long. He intended to open her heart for him. He wanted her as a fixture in his life. As he began to drive again, she shifted in her seat to ask him something. That was when he noticed it. She was wearing the necklace her had given her in Atlantic City. He hadn’t wanted to ask her about it, but seeing it on her made his blood simmer. He wanted to kiss her, but figured tying up traffic would be a bad idea. He stopped at the next light with his thoughts continuing to swirl about his brain.

  “Alex?” He heard her say. She was staring at him. He was caught up in his own thoughts.

  “I’m sorry, yes?” He finally said. “The light is green.” She chuckled. Alex looked up. “Oh.” She could so easily erase everything else that was happening around him. Jada looked out of the window. She and Ami had engaged in a good, long talk, again. She was so glad to have Ami as a friend. Although she hadn’t given herallthe details of Atlantic City, she did talk about how confused she was about Alex. He was like no other man she had come in contact with and in a short period of time, if she were honest, she thought she might be falling in love with him. She had talked to Ami, and Ami had been fair and objective, considering that was her cousin. She appreciated that. Although she was still not convinced a relationship would work between them because she was sure love never entered Alex’s mind, she was changing her mind about a casual affair. Ami had warned her against that because she didn’t believe he was into casual affairs, but Jada decided when she returned to Los Angeles, she would at least have lasting memories of Philadelphia.

  Alex pulled into the valet parking section of another exclusive hotel in Center City.

  “Where are we?” Jada asked glancing around the opulent front of the building.

  “I intend to show you the entire city while we dine. We’re going to the roof,” He answered.

  Exiting the car and walking around to the passenger side, Alex opened the door for Jada. Her perfume wafted through the air as she extended her hand to be helped from the vehicle. Alex had to steady himself to keep from pushing her against the side of the Navigator and kissing her mindless. She flashed him a smile, unaware of the chaos she caused in his body. He had no idea how much longer he could wait to have this passionate woman.

  Taking a deep breath, he hooked her arm through his and led her through the lobby of the hotel. Escorting her to the elevators, he pressed the ‘up’ button. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You look enticing tonight. I’ve been waiting all day to see you again, and I swear it was too damn long.”

  Jada blushed as she smiled. �
�Stop it, Alex.”

  “Stop what? Telling you I think you are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting? Stop telling you that you are not only beautiful, but intelligent and sexy? Nah, I don’t think I could do that.”

  Jada eyes sparkled when she looked at Alex. He had meant every word he said and it was showing in his eyes and his smile. “You do know how to make a girl blush, don’t you, Alex?”

  Gently tugging her so she faced him and placing his mouth so close to her ear she could feel the warmth of his breath, He whispered, “What I do know, is how to make this woman scream in pleasure. Are you ready?”

  The sound of his voice alone made heat flow and settle heavily between her legs. She was beginning to doubt how casual she could keep the brief affair with him.

  “Ah,” He said as he looked up at the elevator. “Dinner awaits.”

  Alex and Jada spent the next three hours talking, laughing, and enjoying a great meal. The energy between them was so apparent that they drew many curious looks all evening. People smiled in their direction as they passed by.

  “I’m glad you came out with me,” He told her as he held a glass of wine to his lips.

  “Thank you for inviting me,” She smiled, momentarily envying the glass.

  “I’m sure you’re going to love Ty’s strawberry shortcake. Let’s get out of here,” He suggested.

  “Alright.”

  As they made their way back to The Love House, they continued to talk and laugh. Once inside, they noticed there was a small jazz band playing a tender tune. Chris was gone for the evening, but Ty was still in the kitchen, which everyone knew was his second home. Lisa took Alex and Jada to the family table. That night it was just the two of them. As usual, Lisa stuck her head in the kitchen to let Ty know his family was in the building. Ty knew it was Alex and sent strawberry shortcake and champagne to their table. He would talk with his brother the next day.