by Pat Simmons
“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work,” God spoke from John 9:4 and convicted her spirit.
If God had laid it upon Denise’s heart to locate her remaining siblings, then Gabrielle wanted to be a blessing and have her back. She looped her arm through Denise’s.
“Come on. Let’s go see if ugly men are related to you.”
“Yes!” Denise pumped a fist in the air. “Girl, don’t be badmouthing my kinfolks.”
Laughing, they strolled through the grand entrance. A woman greeter asked them the name of their party. She courteously directed them to the ballroom on the right. Music from another function across the spacious, marble-floor lobby briefly distracted Gabrielle.
Inside the room reserved for the Jamiesons, there were definitely more people present than those who attended the ceremony. Denise craned her neck. “Do you see him?”
Gabrielle scanned the room. Sure enough, the handsome hunk was holding court with a group of adoring female fans. She twisted her lips in annoyance and pointed. “Yep, Adonis is over there.”
As if he sensed their presence or attraction, Cameron glanced their way. Excusing himself, he walked toward them. With each step, heads turned until finally he invaded their space. His cologne tickled her nose.
Quickly appraising him, Gabrielle surmised that Cameron was used to being the center of attention. This gorgeous, six-foot-plus man standing before her believed Talise when she told him about her pregnancy—even when Ace didn’t. The same man had also planned to set up a trust fund for their baby before Ace came to his senses. Maybe that was what endeared Cameron to Talise.
During the scene at the church, Gabrielle didn’t miss his condescending and confused expressions about her job. It was as if all Howard University graduates had to become politicians or performers. Not everyone would take the literary world by storm, like Toni Morrison, and be recognized for their achievements.
What he didn’t know was Gabrielle’s position was in middle management within the company, not a ticket agent. She wore many hats, including handling the workload of three people.
But things were about to change. It was time to explore a challenging new career, even if she did have to forfeit her travel vouchers. Gabrielle had always been smart with her money. She could cover her own expenses and fly twice a year to exotic places for vacations, if she so desired.
Gabrielle had already started interviewing for top-level positions outside of the industry and the city. Acting as her personal headhunter, Talise was even trying to lure her to St. Louis. In the end, God would always have the final say in Gabrielle’s life: personal, business, and spiritual. So far, the Lord wasn’t talking.
“Ladies,” Cameron greeted them with a sultry grin. The silky hair of his goatee outlined perfectly inviting lips. His dimple was barely noticeable to the eye. So how did she see it? No doubt, he had the power to make any woman lust after him, including Gabrielle. She definitely needed to remember that and keep her distance.
However, Cameron had other plans as he steered them in another direction. “Why don’t we pick up where we left off? Did you already find your seats?”
Guests were preassigned seats, so Cameron strolled from table to table, checking the names on the tent cards. When he located Gabrielle’s name, he pulled out three chairs. Once they were seated, he sat between them.
After winking at Gabrielle, Cameron turned his attention to Denise. “You look somewhat familiar. Who is it you remind me of?” he asked, with a puzzled look.
His comment seemed to paint a smile on Denise’s face.
“So what would you like to ask me?”
All of a sudden, Denise seemed uncomfortable as she glanced around the room. “I was hoping for a bit more privacy.”
Lifting his jet-black silky brow, Cameron looked between them. He nodded suspiciously and stood.
“It’s getting pretty packed in here. Why don’t we go out into the lobby? I’m sure there’s some secluded alcove where we can chat.”
Leaving the reception, they canvassed the lobby area. “Ah, I see something,” Cameron noted. There was an unoccupied corner near the elevator bank. He walked ahead to the vacant group seating area. Folding his arms, he eyed anyone who even looked like they wanted those seats.
Gabrielle didn’t want to be present for the conversation, or anywhere near this man, for that matter. But she promised her support. She and Denise settled on an oversized loveseat. Cameron chose the ottoman and faced them. Resting his elbows on his knees and leaning closer, he linked his hands and glanced from one woman to the other.
True to his word, he gave them his full attention, even when a few people called out his name. Cameron didn’t blink, as he waved them away. “Ladies,” he said with a nod, “I’m all yours.”
When Denise hesitated, Gabrielle reached for her hand and squeezed. Cameron squinted at the gesture.
Taking a deep breath, Denise slowly exhaled. “We might be related.”
Gabrielle cringed. Did her friend have to be so direct? She could have warmed up to it. They waited for Cameron’s perplexed reaction. Nevertheless, Denise’s bluntness didn’t seem to faze him.
“Both of you?” Swallowing, he stared at Gabrielle. Disappointment was evident.
“No, just me.” Denise patted her chest, trying to steer his attention back to her.
Cameron nodded and relaxed. “Go on. Please explain.”
“Well, it’s a long story.”
Gabrielle took that as a cue for privacy. She cleared her throat and touched Denise’s arm. “Hey, I’m going to the ladies’ room. Take your time.”
Before she could stand, Cameron did. While making a speedy escape, Gabrielle mistakenly glanced over her shoulder. He was still watching her. She guessed he was waiting for her to get out of hearing range.
To allow them a chance to talk, she took her time heading for the ladies’ room. Guests were mingling throughout the lobby, causing her to exchange smiles with the passersby. Gabrielle continued to pray silently. Jesus, please bless my friend. If they are related, please let Talise’s new family receive Denise in the spirit of love.
Inside the restroom, she spent a few minutes chatting with some ladies while fussing with her hair and makeup. Gabrielle wanted to stall as long as possible. She hoped the conversation between Denise and Cameron was going well.
Well, I guess I can’t put it off any longer, she thought, as she strolled out of the restroom. All of a sudden, she caught the scent of alcohol. The next thing she knew, a man was blocking her path.
“Dance with me, pretty lady,” the stranger demanded. The suit and tie he was wearing didn’t quite mask his uncouth manners. She couldn’t help but notice the guy’s face had the markings of a rough life.
“No, thank you,” Gabrielle graciously declined and tried to walk around him, but he matched her step. Her heart pumped with fear. Surely, this man wouldn’t try something in a public place, would he? “I’m really not interested,” she addressed him.
When his thick, grimy hand quickly encircled her wrist, Gabrielle tried to jerk free, but couldn’t. She didn’t want to make a scene, but she only had two choices: scream for help or make him sorry he stopped her.
The latter sounded better. Using her free hand, she fumbled inside her purse, which hung from her shoulder. Gabrielle was itching to try out her new can of Mace, and this guy seemed like a good candidate to test it. She would only use enough to deter him.
Pulling it out, she aimed for his face and fired. In that instant, a bulky figure blocked her path, and the drunken man released his hold. Too late, Gabrielle was already spraying. Then she recognized her rescuer from the back of his head—it was Cameron.
“Oops!” she said, stopping immediately.
“The lady’s not interested. You want a dance partner, I’m it.” His voice was low, but threatening.
“Man, you ain’t no lady,” the guy said, becoming indignant.
&nb
sp; “But I can dance. Do you want to see my fancy footwork?”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. No way, Cameron could not think he was Muhammad Ali’s protégé. Just then, a gentleman who appeared to be on security duty approached them. The woman introduced as Grandma BB was making her way to the scene too. In describing her character, Talise once mentioned to Gabrielle that Grandma BB had a way of sniffing out mischief.
“Is there a problem?” the security detail asked.
Instantly, Cameron took control of the situation and explained to the officer what he had observed from a distance. Gabrielle reassured everyone that she was all right. While the guard proceeded to defuse the incident, Gabrielle went in search of someone who worked at the facility. She had to act quickly to put together an antidote before a stinging sensation penetrated Cameron’s skin.
Stepping inside an entrance to the nearest banquet room, she said, “Excuse me,” to the first server she encountered. “Can I get a glass of milk, please—a big one? Hurry, please.”
Then she raced back to the ladies’ room. Luckily, it was stocked with fluffy white terrycloth hand towels rather than paper towels. Grabbing one, she dampened it with cold water. As she rushed out, the staffer was coming from the opposite direction, searching for her.
Curiously, the young man handed her the glass and watched as she held the towel over a potted planter and poured milk on it. “Thanks. I really appreciate this,” she said and left him standing there in wonder.
As security escorted the drunkard in another direction, Grandma BB gave the offender a swift kick with one of her Stacy Adams. He twirled around and snarled at her.
Grandma BB batted her lashes. “I’d love to dance.” Then she turned to Gabrielle. “You’re my hero. I saw everything and was coming to your rescue. We’ll talk later about recruiting you for my team.”
“Okay.” Gabrielle had no idea what the old woman meant. Walking up behind Cameron, she gently touched his arm and applied the compress to the back of his neck. His shoulders tensed as he jerked instinctively. When he began to relax, Gabrielle knew the concoction was taking some of the sting away.
Reaching around, he covered her hand with his. As if they were performing a tango, Cameron slowly guided her to face him.
She cringed as she removed the towel, not knowing how he would respond. “Sorry, you got in my way.” She apologized profusely. “I’m so glad it wasn’t your face or eyes. Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“For foiling my attempt at rescuing you, I’ll recover more speedily if you go out with me.”
He was smooth. Gabrielle wasn’t expecting that. She wrinkled her nose. “Even if I’m armed and dangerous?”
“I don’t scare easily.” Cameron pressed. His stare was so intense that he seemed dangerous to her better judgment. “We already have something in common besides loving Ace and Talise.”
As far as Gabrielle was concerned, that’s where their interest ended. “And what is that?”
“We’re both from Boston, remember? So is that a yes or no?”
“Maybe.” Gabrielle couldn’t believe her mouth said that. Her answer should have been a flat-out no.
“I hope you don’t play poker because your expression is so readable. You’re thinking of every excuse to say no, aren’t you?”
It was eerie that he could so easily challenge her, and she thought about lying just to make a point. But he wasn’t worth a moment of sin. “And when I come up with a real good one, I’ll let you know.” Ending her spiel with a smile, Gabrielle turned to walk away.
Cameron grunted. “Ooh. This stuff is really starting to sting.” He winced. “You may need to call an ambulance before I suffer nerve damage.”
“You’re lying.”
“And how do you know that?”
“It’s in your eyes, your smirk, and your fake mannerism. Maybe you’re the one who shouldn’t play poker.”
Gabrielle tried to act unaffected, but his subtle cologne was intoxicating, and she had to get away before it sucked her in more. “Ah, but just in case I’m wrong—”
“You are wrong about me.”
She ignored him. “I meant about the pepper spray. I’ll go and get you another towel.”
This time, Gabrielle escaped before she would succumb to the Jamieson charm.
Chapter Three
Cameron masked his pain as he stared into Gabrielle’s clear brown eyes. Beautifully thick lashes encircled them. Her concerned expression was endearing and seductive. Whatever potion she nursed him with helped, but the evidence still lingered.
Their chemistry was undeniable as he watched her walk away. Very few women turned him down. Yet, she basically did. Cameron snickered. It was definitely a struggle for her to do it.
Still, this was a wedding reception, not a back alley. Weddings were supposed to be about love and happiness, not pepper spray and lost loved ones.
He knew Denise wasn’t lying. It had nothing to do with her facial similarities to Ace and his brother Kidd. Because his family had uncovered many relatives while researching the Jamieson tree, everyone was very much aware of Ace’s other siblings. However, getting in contact with them was a sticky issue.
Ace was a free spirit, and when Cameron tracked him down using genealogy research, his cousin accepted him at face value. On the other hand, Kidd wasn’t interested in knowing any Jamiesons. Even after Kidd embraced his salvation a few years back, he still had the most hatred for Samuel Jamieson. His father’s philandering ways resulted in almost a dozen children. According to Denise, only nine remained out of eleven.
When Kidd finally agreed to learn about his father, the Jamieson clan easily uncovered information about Samuel. Unfortunately, that research included his obituary. His death years earlier denied Kidd the opportunity to confront his father and clear the air between them.
Cameron was in Boston when his brothers broke the news to Kidd and he was distraught after reading Samuel’s death notice online:
Samuel Jamieson was the son of Kingston III and Hulda Robertson. He was united in holy matrimony to Eillian Ivy and to this union seven children were born: Saul, Jayson, Mayson, Zaki, Benjamin, Giselle Rayford (Jacob), and Lacey Jamieson of Hartford, Conn.
Years later, Samuel was united in holy matrimony to Zenita Pope, and to this union two daughters were born: Suzette and Queen of Tulsa, Okla. He was also the father of Kevin and Aaron Jamieson of Boston, Mass.
Along with the rest of the family, Cameron was taken by surprise over the disturbing report. Anyone who knew Cameron was aware of how protective he was of his own. His number one priority was keeping the peace in his family.
But what about Denise? He could identify with her quest. Yet, at the moment, he couldn’t care less about a Jamieson missing link.
Cameron wanted to know more about Gabrielle besides her education. He thought about restraining her before she hurried away, but with that can of Mace in her purse, he didn’t want to become the intended target. At the same time, he couldn’t just let her go. Before she left tonight, he would corner her in a nonthreatening manner and press her to say yes to a date.
Holding the cold towel on the back of his neck, Cameron accepted that Gabrielle was probably hiding out in the ladies’ room. Or maybe she was somewhere telling Denise about her incident. So he returned to the reception, ignoring the guests’ questionable stares and curiosity about what happened to him. The only one he had to avoid was the photographer.
Since his two sisters-in-law had abandoned their seats at the bridal table, Cameron flopped in the chair between his brothers, Parke and Malcolm.
They stopped talking and gave him a curious stare. Finally, Parke asked, “Bro, what happened to you?”
“I got sprayed with Mace.”
Parke smirked. “That’s a first. What did you do?” He didn’t look one ounce concerned.
Cameron grunted. “Man, I tried to protect a woman who apparently didn’t need protecting. She was ‘armed and dangerous’,” he said
, using her exact phrase. Suddenly, his heart pounded as if it sensed her presence. Cameron couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. He was speechless.
Effortlessly, Gabrielle garnished attention with each step as she wove her way through a throng of guests. She moved with determination in her advancement toward him. Needless to say, Cameron liked the way she walked.
“Well, if that’s her, it appears she’s coming to finish you off.” Parke snickered. “Death by beauty. What a way to go, Cam.”
“Hello,” Gabrielle greeted the two men, capping it off with a dazzling smile. They nodded in return. “Excuse me. He’s my patient.” She pointed and stepped behind Cameron.
Delicately, she removed the towel Cameron still held on the back of his head. “Here’s a fresh one. It should help to extract some more of the oil in the pepper spray.”
Gabrielle’s ministration was gentle. He wanted to close his eyes and moan from her pampering, but it ended too soon. Plus, with his brothers having front row seats, he had an unwelcome audience. No doubt about it, Cameron needed to get her alone, without any distractions. He was convinced he could win Gabrielle over. Positively.
“I’m sorry again. I really am.” She paused and said to him, before taking off. “Well, I’d better get back to Denise.”
He watched her retreating, gorgeous figure. Cameron didn’t realize he was in a trance until Parke nudged him.
“Breathe, dude.”
“Huh?” Reluctantly, he shook his head and then frowned at the interruption.
His brother Malcolm interjected, “So do you want to tell us about her?”
“Not yet. It’s her friend and … our cousin Denise I need to tell you about.”
The mention of an unknown family member put his brothers on alert. “Do we have a cousin named Denise?” Parke asked.
Cameron imagined Parke was mentally scanning their genealogy Rolodex for that name. “That’s her middle name. She’s a Jamieson, Giselle Jamieson.” Before landing the clincher, he hesitated slightly, “Shall we say, the groom’s half sister?”
