Anything For Your Love

by Amore

  “Where the heck have you been?” Alex asked. “Have you seen these? Someone else is trying to buy the land.”

  “I was busy, and yes, I have seen the papers. I’m not worried. We have the funding and we have you. What is there to worry about?” Ty smiled as he leaned casually on the back of a chair.

  “Do not try to charm me, Tyreese. I have a lot on my mind right now. Sit down so we can finish this. I have a messenger coming at twelve thirty to pick these up.”

  “Great, because you have a lunch date at one p.m.”

  “Ty, I can’t go to lunch. When I’m finished here, I’m going to see Jada.”

  “Oh, I know. She is your lunch date at one p.m. It’s all settled. Now, where do I sign, because I’m sure you and Chris have reviewed this a thousand times and all the Ts are crossed and the Is dotted.”

  Alex looked at Ty and the corners of his mouth slightly turned up. “Sign the first twelve pages at the bottom until you catch up with me and Chris.”

  The messenger arrived a short while later, and was greeted at the front hostess stand by Lisa. She escorted him to the table where the Love brothers sat waiting. Handing over the package and a generous tip, Alex and Ty prepared to leave.

  Alex’s mood had lightened considerably since Ty told him he was meeting Jada for lunch. Sean had called to inform him that Rhonda and James were being charged with several counts, including felony kidnapping and falsifying federal documents, among other things. They were facing serious jail time.

  Alex pulled into a parking lot one block from the location Ty had given him. He could feel his chest tighten in anticipation of seeing her again. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms. The ringing of Ty’s cell phone interrupted his thoughts.

  Just before Ty answered, he said to Alex, “Don’t worry, I’m not staying long. I just need to check on a few things. Hello?”

  “Ty. Where are you?” Ami asked in an almost panicked voice. “Old City. Why?” He answered, trying to sound casual.

  “We have a problem.” “Are you guys ok?” He asked, trying not to alert Alex as he paid the parking attendant. “I’m fine. Jada left,” She explained. “What?!” He practically shouted. “What do you mean? Hold on.

  Alex, I’ll meet you inside. Just a minor issue I need to handle. I’ll be right there.” He turned and stepped out of the car.

  “She left a note saying she was going back to Los Angeles. It said something about clearing her head. I’m supposed to call when I get back.”

  “Alex is going to lose his mind,” He whispered into the cell phone.

  “Yeah, I know. Are you at the restaurant?” “Yes, and I told him he was having lunch with her.” “Reed and I are already in the car. We’ll be there in two minutes.

  Wait for us.” “You are damn right I’m waiting. No way am I telling him that by myself.” Jada had called the airport to get the first flight out to Los

  Angeles. Knowing Reed would leave with Ami, she left as soon as they did and boarded a flight home. She needed to be back in her comfort zone. During the flight, she tried convincing herself that she was not running away, just seeking clarity. She sure felt like she was running, though. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed the negative feelings away. She idly fingered the open heart that hung around her neck. She couldn’t bring herself to take it off.

  Hours later, she walked into the door of her condo. It was a warm day and she was glad her cleaning lady left the air conditioner on the timer. She dropped her bag next to the sofa and flopped down. She had fully expected her cell phone to be ringing off the hook, but was glad for the reprieve. She knew Ami would be calling soon, but she wasn’t sure about Alex. She chastised herself over the way she left because she was sure he would be upset with her. She needed the space to clear her head, though. She found that she could not think straight around him and she needed to be sure about her feelings.

  Thoughts of Alex haunted her the entire trip home and they were still with her. He had those exotic, light brown eyes that pierced her soul whenever she gazed into them. His hands expertly caressed her body. His sensuous lips knew exactly how to start a fire in the pit of her stomach.Jeez!She thought to herself.Get over it!She got up and headed for the kitchen for a glass of water. She picked up the phone to call the one person who she knew would understand her choice.

  Grandma Whitman. “Hello?” Doreen Whitman answered on the third ring. “Hey, Grandma, I’m home,” Jada replied, feeling completely drained. “Baby girl! How are you? How was your trip to Philadelphia?” “Confusing, Grandma, to be perfectly honest.” Jada took a seat on the sofa and told her grandmother almost everything about the trip to Philly. By the time she was finished, she was fighting the tears that threatened to fall as she finally faced a storm of confusing emotions.

  “Baby girl, sounds to me like you are in love with Alex. Its ok, you know. You deserve to be loved. You have so much of it in your heart that you don’t have to be afraid anymore. Looks like he may be in love with you, too.” Her grandmother’s voice was rich and soothing.

  The tears begin to slide down her cheeks. “I do love him, Grandma.”

  “I know, sweetheart. It’s your time. Why don’t you come up to the house for a while?”

  A smile spread across her face at the thought of seeing her grandparents. “That sounds good, Grandma.”

  “Yes, and you can tell me all about the Love family. They sound like a lot of fun. I’ll see you soon. I love you, baby girl.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Alex stood at the entrance to the restaurant talking to one of his colleagues when he noticed Ami’s car, driven by Reed. An uneasy feeling blanketed him. “Hey, Reed,” He greeted as he approached. “Is everything ok? How are the ladies?”

  “Hey, Alex. Good for the most part, but you should talk to your cousin,” Reed warned.

  Alex felt the grip of panic around his heart. He rushed for the car door and practically ripped it off. Ami eased out and grabbed his hand, leading him back onto the sidewalk.

  “Where is she?” Alex demanded, fear lacing his tone. “She’s fine, Alex, she’s not in any danger,” Ami replied calmly. Alex allowed himself to relax, but just a hair. The look on Ami’s face told him to brace himself. “Where is she?” He asked again. That time much calmer, but much more intense.

  Ty stepped around Ami, not wanting her to get caught in Alex’s wrath when they broke the news. “Alex...” He started, “she’s gone.”

  Alex studied the features on Ty’s face as if it were the first time he had ever seen him. It was a face so much like his own. Ami took a step back preparing herself for the explosion. Alex’s face broke into a wide grin and Ami was stunned. “Stop playing, Ty,” He finally said.

  He stepped around his brother to head toward the restaurant where he was supposed to meet Jada for lunch. Ty grabbed his arm. “She’s not there, Alex. She’s gone.”

  Alex looked back and forth from Ami to Ty. Reed had stepped up behind them and his look was somber. Instantly, Alex knew it was not a cruel joke and she really was not there. Anger sparked and exploded within him.

  “What do you mean, ‘gone’, Tyreese?” Alex said through clinched teeth. “Gone where?”

  “Alex, please.” Ami reached for him. “Please, don’t be angry. She left a note saying she went home. She must have left when I went out this morning. She was gone when I got back,” Ami explained.

  “What happened last night, Ami Love?” Alex asked, feeling his anger being replaced by hurt and pain. Ami saw the change in his eyes and her heart went out to him.

  “Oh, Alex. She’s confused. That’s all. I’m sure she’s not trying to hurt you.” Ami tried desperately to explain, but knew she had no right to tell him Jada loved him. Just like she had no right to tell Jada that Alex loved her. They needed to be the ones to speak the words.

  Alex sat on the nearest step feeling like he could no longer breathe. Ami, Ty, and Reed were watching him expecting the worse, but hoping for the best reacti
on. Alex looked up at his family and said quietly, “I can’t believe she left me.”

  Ami saw that same hurt and pain that she saw when Rhonda walked out. That time, though, it was magnified. Her heart ached for him once again. She watched the light drain from his eyes and with each passing moment, her heart continued to break for him. He would never be the same and she truly feared for what he would become.

  Without another word, Alex stood and headed back toward his car. Ty was on his heels.

  “Alex, are you ok?” He asked as they reached the entrance to the lot.

  “Let it go, Ty,” Alex said without emotion. “No way, man. I’m not letting it go. You love that woman...” “And she cared enough about me to walk away without a second

  thought,” Alex cut in, his anger rising. “She’s scared, man. Give her some time,” Ty pleaded. “I don’t have the time or the heart for this anymore, Ty. I’ll talk to you later.” Alex went to retrieve his car, ready to go home. He didn’t even remember the drive home or parking in the small lot behind his house. Absently, he opened the kitchen door and went inside. His entire body felt numb and cold. How could she walk away like that? He poured himself a glass of scotch and headed to the room he used for his office. He needed to think.

  Sitting in his chair, he threw his feet up on the desk, stared out the window, and sipped from his glass. The mid afternoon sunshine was brilliant, but everything was cloudy and gray in his world. He felt the ice settling in his heart. She didn’t even call.

  His cell phone vibrated on his hip. He closed his eyes to shut out not only the interruption, but the pain he was feeling. Finally, he looked down at the caller ID and saw it was Ty. He pressed the button to ignore the call and sent it to voice mail. Five seconds later, it vibrated again, that time it was Ami. Again, he ignored the call, turned off the phone, and placed it in his desk drawer. Now was not the time to talk to anyone because he knew he would be far less than pleasant.

  He closed his eyes and reclined in the chair. If he listened closed enough, he could actually hear his own heart breaking. He knew any second now, the house telephone would start ringing. Still not wanting to talk, he finished the glass of scotch, changed clothes, and headed to the gym. He had to work off some of that anger before he hurt some innocent person.

  Jada still had a little less than a week off, so she decided to actually stay with her grandparents for a few days instead of visiting for the day. She pulled her candy apple red Mercedes CLK63 AMG out of her garage and drove out to their house soon after she spoke to her grandmother on the telephone.

  She pulled up to their home on five acres of land and smiled. She had purchased that land and home for them just a few short years ago. She parked her car in the circular driveway and the front door of the house swung open. Her grandmother appeared in the doorway like magic. Like always.

  Grandma Whitman was a tiny woman. She stood only 5’2’’ and was thin. She was caramel colored, just like Jada. Her hair was in a single braid that hung to the middle of her back. Her all knowing eyes were the darkest of brown that caught the light when she spoke. She was extremely active and looked much younger than her seventy three years. She had always been Jada’s rock.

  “Baby girl, get out of that car and give me a hug!” Grandma Whitman called out. Jada’s smile widened.

  She got out of her car, grabbed her bag, and headed toward the house. She greeted her grandmother with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. Her grandmother stepped back from her, looked her up and down, and said, “First we eat, then you stop running. You’re looking a little thin.” Jada opened her mouth to protest, but quickly decided it would be of no use. Grandma Whitman was right, as usual. She just didn’t know if she was strong enough.

  Jada and her grandmother stepped into the cool house. Ceiling fans created gentle breezes that carried the scent of fresh flowers. Will Whitman, her grandfather, always brought his wife fresh flowers home. Jada dropped her bag at the foot of the stairs and continued to follow Grandma Whitman to the kitchen. She still had not said one word.

  Grandma Whitman pulled two glasses out of the cabinet as Grandpa Whitman came through the back door. Jada walked straight into his outstretched arms.

  “Hey, baby girl!” He said in the same voice that always brought her warmth and comfort. He was just less than six feet tall at seventy four years old, and still ran a mile every morning. He was slightly lighter than Grandma Whitman in complexion with barely noticeable freckles across the bridge of his nose and the cheeks under his eyes. His hair was not quite white, but not quite silver. She loved the way his eyes danced whenever he saw her without fail.

  “I thought you went to Philadelphia with your cute little actress friend, Ami.” He winked.

  “Will!!” Grandma Whitman spoke firmly.

  “What? She is cute, but you are gorgeous, honey.” He smiled at his wife.

  “Good save, Grandpa,” Jada finally said, still hugging his waist. Grandma Whitman rolled her eyes and continued toward the refrigerator to retrieve the lemonade.

  Grandpa Whitman winked at Jada before he continued. “Why are you back so soon? I didn’t expect you until next week.”

  “Things got complicated. I couldn’t focus there, so I came home,” She answered as she hung her head.

  Grandpa Whitman lifted her chin so he could look in her eyes. “I’m sure everything will work itself out. You are a smart young woman. God will see you through.” He hugged her tight before he held her at arms length and whispered, “Don’t make him wait too long, though, baby girl. Men tend to act silly when they don’t have any answers.”

  Jada’s jaw dropped as she stared at her Grandpa. She knew her Grandma hadn’t shared any information. She would never do that to her. How did he know?

  “Well, ladies,” He started to announce as he walked over to kiss his wife, “I’m off to shower and change. Gotta keep my standard appointment with the fellas this evening.” Grandpa Whitman headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, grabbing Jada’s bag along the way to put in her room.

  Jada watched her Grandfather leave the kitchen as she eased down in her seat. Grandma Whitman placed the glass in front of her and took the seat next to her.

  “Dinner will be ready soon. So, tell me about Philadelphia. I haven’t been there in years,” Grandma Whitman spoke sweetly.

  That was the first time Jada noticed the smell of a roast in the oven. She picked up her glass and took a sip, trying to decide where to begin.

  “I’ve told you, Grandma. On the phone when I was home.” She sighed.

  “That was over the phone. Now I need to see your eyes when you speak his name,” She said as her hand covered Jada’s.

  “He is Ami’s cousin. I wasn’t even looking to meet anyone. I just wanted to get away from Los Angeles for a minute. Take a break and have a change of scenery. The east coast is certainly different.” She chuckled.

  “Tell me about him,” Grandma Whitman insisted.

  Jada stared out of the super clean kitchen window. An unconscious smile touched her lips. “He is what Hollywood calls ‘tall, dark, and handsome’. There is a whole family of them. Brothers, sisters, cousins, parents, aunts, and uncles. The sheer number of people is a little overwhelming. Only he and his siblings, though, have these piercing light brown eyes like their mother.” She paused, thinking about the Loves.

  “Go on, sweetie,” Grandma Whitman encouraged.

  “He is so...genuine. He treats everyone he meets with respect, even if he doesn’t like them. He makes me feel safe and I knew he would come for me when I was kidnapped. I have never met a man who was so attentive, funny, protective, generous, loyal, and good looking. He is almost too perfect.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he is not perfect, honey.”

  “Ami says when he is pushed he has a terrible temper, but, Grandma, I don’t see that in him. She also says when he sets his mind to something he makes it happen.”

  “Baby girl, if he loves you, you may never experience his temper
first hand, but I’m sure you will see it.”

  “That’s just it, Grandma. I don’t know that he loves me.”

  Grandma Whitman rose from her seat and headed toward the stove to check the roast. “You say the young man is a lawyer, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Tell me this. Do you think he would put his license to practice on the line for anyone?”

  “He would help, but jeopardize his license, no.”

  “What do you think he was doing coming into that house with the police? I’m sure he was supposed to stay outside. The rest of them, too. I’m also sure that if his brother was not with him, he surely would be in jail right now.” She walked over, sat back in her seat, and pulled both of Jada’s hands together. “That young man loves you and you love him. What’s his name again?”

  Jada looked up at her Grandma. “Alex. Alexander Love.”

  Grandma Whitman smiled. “There it is, baby girl. There is the sparkle that shines when you say his name. I would bet my apple pie that his eyes shine the same way when he talks about you.”

  Jada could feel her eyes glassing over. “I’m scared, Grandma.”

  “If you weren’t, I would be worried. You are facing a leap of faith, sweetheart. Jump. God won’t let you fall.”

  Jada felt the tears roll down her face and fall from her chin. Grandma Whitman was right, like always.

  “Come sit outside with me. The sun will do you good.”

  Chapter 19

  Over the last few days, Alex drowned himself in his work. Ami decided to stay in Philadelphia for the rest of the week. Alex refused to take most calls from his family. He came into the office early and stayed late, hoping that work would erase the thoughts of Jada that were constantly with him. He refused to call her. She was obviously done with him since she hadn’t called to say she even arrived home safely.

  He found that he went to sleep with thoughts of her, dreamed of her, and awoke the next morning aching with the need of her. No matter how hard he tried, she was constantly there. It was beginning to annoy him that he could not simply erase her from his mind. He knew she had the power to do that to him, yet, he went along for the ride, anyway. He had never wanted to hurt so deeply. Every minute of every day he felt as if he were dying a little more. He hated the day she walked into his life.