What the Heart Wants ; Sealed with a Kiss

by Donna Hill

  Today was a day when she really needed a girlfriend, someone to pour her heart out to about Franklin Grant and get some girlfriend advice on what to do. The closest person to remotely fit that description was Anna.

  The movie was up to the part when Carrie and Big finally said “I do,” and he surprised her by inviting her besties to the justice-of-the-peace ceremony. The final joy-filled reception scene of the girlfriends and their significant others at the restaurant had her wondering which of the four women she most identified with.

  Something deep inside jumped as if startled. That’s what she wanted right there in front of her—true friends, a man who loved her, a family.

  For years she’d convinced herself that medicine, her career, would fill all the empty spaces. But she’d never left any room for those spaces. When she thought of spaces to be filled all she could see were the two six-foot holes that they put her mother and father in. To her the holes were dark, bottomless pits, opening up to take into their bellies the two people who had loved her unconditionally. She never wanted space, openings, uncharted territory to ever enter her life again. Everything and everyone in her life must have a reason for being. No ambiguity. No unknowns. Her world from that day forward would allow no spaces in her life. Until now, and it scared her.

  Franklin pried them all up. With the skill of a surgeon he made the tiniest of incisions, slipped inside and now here she was in totally unchartered territory, looking down into the space that was opening by degrees.

  The credits rolled. Dina swung her bare feet to the floor. Doing nothing beyond watching romantic movies was definitely not going to make her feel better, but a run around the park would help.

  * * *

  Franklin finished up his last set of reps, hoping that maybe total exhaustion could erase what happened to him on his way to the gym. His spotter retuned the two-hundred-pound weight back on the rack. Franklin’s breath heaved in and out as he pulled himself to a sitting position. “Thanks, man.”

  “You got it.” They did a quick one-hand, one-arm parting thing and the spotter walked away.

  Franklin grabbed his towel and mopped his face and neck. He’d been in the gym for nearly three hours. Weights, the track, elliptical, the punching bag, the bike. Every muscle bounced, flexed, hummed.

  He made his way around the machines and the grunting, sweating men to get to the showers. He was one of few black males who frequented this gym. Most of the time, that reality didn’t faze him one way or the other. He was well-spoken, financially secure, lived in the best part of town and he was a surgeon. But lately he’d been giving his melanin-deficient brothers second looks, wondering if today would be the day when they’d feel “uncomfortable” or if the female hostess suddenly questioned his membership. In the blink of an eye a black man, woman, boy or girl could become suspect or worse.

  Lately social media and the news outlets were flooded with scenarios of “call the police on black people because they dare to live and breathe.” For so long he’d been somewhat insulated from that reality, but it didn’t diminish his understanding that at any minute it could be him, especially in the current cultural climate, and being pulled over, yet again, on his way to the gym, had solidified that reality.

  No different from the half-dozen other times he’d been pulled over, even with his MD plates. Today simply felt different. Where are you coming from? There’s been a rash of robberies in the area. Your car fits the description.

  He turned the shower on full blast, turned his face up to the steamy water and closed his eyes. They always let him go, never apologized. He should consider himself lucky, he supposed.

  He lathered his body and took his time rinsing off as if somehow he could wash away that feeling of violation. When he’d been with Dina, all the bullshit, the stops, the surgeries, the life-and-death decisions had disappeared. He, for the first time in much too long, felt connected, a part of someone. He wanted that feeling again, needed it, even for a little while.

  He turned off the water and snatched the towel from the hook. Dina was what he needed.

  * * *

  Dina did something that even surprised her. She called Anna.

  Anna in one of her many monologues had mentioned that she enjoyed jogging around Rock Creek Park on her day off. She said that while it was great exercise and a stress reliever, the real reason was that there was an endless stream of hunky guys who had turned out to be more than “exercise” on a couple of occasions.

  “See that guy over there,” Anna huffed as they approached a guy doing some stretches on the bench.

  “Yeah,” Dina breathed.

  “Connor. Real estate. Not bad if you know what I mean.”

  As they passed him, he turned. Anna waved. Connor smiled and waved back.

  “See.” She laughed. “You should try it.”

  Dina didn’t want to get into how inappropriate, not to mention dangerous, it was to pick up men in a park. But she kept that little aside to herself. “Hmm, maybe some other time.”

  Typical for a Sunday afternoon, the park teemed with joggers, bikers, strollers. On the rolling hills camped out on patches of emerald-green grass, picnickers made the most of the sunshine and clear skies. Rollerbladers and skateboarders whizzed by in single file and groups. Squeals of laughter floated along with the light breeze.

  They came around a curve, then took the short incline. There were teams on the field to the right of them setting up the stage and equipment for a concert.

  “Wonder who’s performing.” Dina huffed.

  “Pretty sure it’s Jill Scott, not sure who else.” She sucked in some air as they rounded another bend. “All I know is that I’m on call for tonight so I totally put it out of my mind.” She lightly elbowed Dina. “See now, if you’d take up with one of these fine specimens out here you might have had a date for the concert.”

  Dina smirked, shook her head and kept on running.

  They finally slowed to a stop near the pond, purchased two bottles of water from a vendor and plopped down on the grass.

  “Thanks for running with me,” Dina said. “I definitely needed to get out of the house.”

  Anna took a long swallow from her bottle of water. “Anytime.” She wiped her forehead with a small, checkered hand towel. “Listen, um, I know sometimes I...might come off the wrong way. I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of slut. Because I’m not.”

  “Of course not.” She shrugged her right shoulder. “Not for me to judge. You’re a grown woman, Anna.” She sipped her water.

  “It’s just that sometimes I know I can come off a bit...strong. And things I say get taken the wrong way.”

  Dina turned to look at her. “Something specific?”

  Anna gazed off toward a group of kids skipping rocks across the pond. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. “Let’s just say that sometimes when you lay your cards on the table you find out who a person really is.”

  Dina’s brows lifted. “I’m sure that’s true. But isn’t it best when you know?”

  “I suppose.” She finished off her water and pushed to her feet, checked the time on her phone strapped to her upper arm. “I’m on duty in like three hours.”

  “Sure.” Dina got up, as well.

  They walked side by side to the exit from the park.

  “So when are you back on?” Anna asked when they reached the parking lot.

  “I totally lucked out. I go back day after tomorrow.”

  “Wow. Lucky you. See, it pays to be the favorite of the head guy in charge.”

  Dina inwardly rolled her eyes. “Doubt that is the case.”

  “Anyway...” She lightly squeezed Dina’s arm. “I’m parked down the street.”

  “Okay. I’m the other way. Listen, thanks again for today.”

  “Anytime. See you on the floor.” She walked
off toward her car.

  Dina sighed. Anna was a strange bird.

  * * *

  Now that she’d gotten her exercise in, she was starving and went in search of something to eat after a quick shower. While she was chopping up some leftover chicken for a salad, her cell phone rang. She licked her fingers and dug her phone out from her back pocket.

  Her heart jumped when Franklin’s name popped up on the screen. She swallowed. “Hello.”

  “Hey. Busy?”

  “Um, not really. Trying to fix a salad.”

  “Oh. Listen, there’s a concert tonight. Rock Creek Park. If you’re not busy, thought you might like to go.”

  She smiled so hard her eyes hurt. “That is so funny. I just came from there. Running.”

  “Really? So, is that a yes, or just a funny?” he teased.

  Dina laughed. “I’d love to go. Jill Scott, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m all in. What time?”

  “First act is at eight. I figure if we get there by sixish we can get a decent spot.”

  “Perfect.”

  “I’ll have the restaurant downstairs put a basket together.”

  “I can bring wine.”

  He chuckled. “Sounds great. I’ll see you about five thirty. That good?”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “See you then.”

  She said her goodbyes and finally breathed. A date. She was going on a date. She hop-skipped to her bedroom to find something to wear, her salad totally forgotten.

  Chapter 22

  By the time Franklin arrived Dina was certain she’d worn out a path from her window to the door. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been out with him before or slept with him. She took a quick peek out the window. This was different, not like the anniversary party where it was part feeling sorry for her and part wanting someone on his arm. The sex part was beyond mind-blowing and she didn’t want to make more out of it than it was. After all, he’d reminded her that it was a no-commitment kinda thing. So...what was this?

  She leaped at the sound of the doorbell, squeezed her eyes shut for a second, then pulled the door open.

  “Hey,” she said with all the casual tone that she could summon. This was yet another version of Franklin Grant. Fitted black T-shirt that defined his hard chest and carved abs, denim jacket and totally sexy short-brimmed straw hat, dipped at just the right angle. And damn if those jeans didn’t fit too much like right. “Come on in.”

  She whirled away. Her heart pounded. “I didn’t know if there was seating or if we’d be on the grass. I have a blanket and a small cooler,” she called out over her shoulder.

  “Definitely a grass night.” He followed her into the living room area. “Let me get those,” he said, taking the cooler and blanket from her. “Anything else?”

  She took a quick look around. “Nope. All ready.” She walked around him and opened the door.

  “Seen Jill Scott before?” he asked when they stepped out.

  “No, but I love her music.”

  “You’re in for a treat.” He opened the trunk and put the cooler and blanket inside, next to the basket from the restaurant. “I saw her a couple of years ago at the Kings Theater when I went to New York.” He came around, opened her door, then got in behind the wheel. That trip to New York to hang with his frat brothers was the perfect cure to soothe the sting of what happened between him and Lindsay.

  Dina settled in her seat. “Long way to go for a concert,” she said, amused.

  “The trip was double duty. Fraternity reunion. The concert was one of our hangout events.” The rest she didn’t need to know. Until he’d said it out loud he’d almost forgotten how much that trip and being with his brothers had helped take the edge off. They all knew about his relationship with Lindsay, and between drinks, laughter and swapping stories of relationship wins and losses, he got his head back in the game and his eyes back on the prize—his work.

  “You said you were out at the park earlier.” He checked the mirrors, then pulled off.

  “Yep,” she said on a breath. “Went running with Anna.”

  He glanced over, mildly surprised. “You two are getting pretty tight. After-work drinks, jogging in the park...”

  Dina laughed. “Does kinda seem that way.”

  “Hmm.”

  She frowned and turned toward him. “Something you’re not saying?”

  His brows knitted, but he kept his focus on the road. “Not at all.”

  Dina watched the lines of his face tighten, his full lips thinned. Anna didn’t have the best effect on most people. She could attest to that, but she got the feeling that it was something else happening here. Anna’s asides and references about Franklin from how sexy he was, what a great catch he would be, to his standoffish personality flipped through her head. Anna often gave off the impression that she believed she was not getting her due and somehow Franklin could or should change that. What little Dina did know about Anna always had a way of raising the hairs at the back of her neck. Had Anna been hinting that she knew Dina and Franklin had something going on? But tonight was not the night to concern herself with Anna Lorde. Tonight it was all about her, Franklin, chilling under the stars and drinking in Jill Scott—along with some wine. Whatever happened after... She shifted her bottom in the seat. She bit back a smile, more than ready.

  “Hope you don’t mind, but we’re probably going to have to park a few blocks away. Folks start showing up at midday,” he said, chuckling.

  “Have on my walking shoes.” She flexed her sneakered foot. “How often do they have concerts out here?”

  “Hmm, during the summer, there’s usually something going on every weekend, with special events during the week. Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve been out there. Usually working.”

  “Then we really need to celebrate.”

  He slid a glance at her. A half smile was on his lips. “Yes, we will.”

  Her stomach did that funny butterfly thing when she saw the penetrating look in his eyes and the way his tongue idly laved his bottom lip. She swallowed hard.

  “So...what’s in the basket?” she asked to get her mind on her stomach and not what was happening between her legs.

  “Well, Felix, my main contact, put together a feast fit for a king and queen. I think you’ll be pleased.”

  “Your main contact?”

  He didn’t even try to look embarrassed. “Yes, my go-to guy. As you may have noticed, I don’t cook.”

  She bit her lip, her eyes wide in feigned surprise.

  Franklin cleared his throat. “Anyway when I moved in about five years ago, I ordered in all the time, or ate out. I got to know Felix from going in the restaurant so often and he got used to my voice on the phone. Knew what I liked, how I liked it and I tip really well.” He smiled.

  “I see,” she said, holding back laughter. “Good to know folks.”

  Franklin cut her a glance. “So back in LA...you get to go out much?”

  “Not really. Definitely not as much as I’d have liked. Crazy hours at work,” she added. “And I was really focused on getting the fellowship to come here, hone my robotic skills. Not much time or energy for much else,” she said, trying to rack up as many reasons as she could for why her life was pretty much a one-woman show.

  “No siblings?”

  “No,” she whispered. She felt him look at her.

  “What about your folks? We never really talked about your family. Are they in LA?”

  Her throat clenched. “My parents died in a car accident when I was fifteen.”

  “Oh, wow. I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

  She held up her hand. “It’s okay. Been a long time.” She lowered her head.

  “Did they get who did it?”

  She glanced out the window, drew in a breath, then turned
toward him. “My parents were on their way home from a weekend getaway. They were driving... My dad...had a massive heart attack, lost control of the car and then hit the median. My mom lasted about a day in intensive care. My dad was pronounced on the spot.” She blinked away the burn in her eyes.

  He reached over and squeezed her balled fists. “I’m really sorry.”

  She nodded. “Thanks,” she murmured. “It’s why I wanted to be a heart surgeon.”

  “I totally get it.”

  She drew in a deep cleansing breath. “What about you? Why medicine?”

  He gave a slight shrug and laughed lightly. “Would you believe that out of the three of us, me and my brothers, I was the nerd?”

  Dina burst into laughter. “Get out. Seriously.”

  He nodded. “Yep. Black-rimmed glasses, pocket protector.” He chuckled some more.

  She slapped his arm. “Stop lying.”

  “I’m not. There is photographic evidence.”

  “Those I have got to see.”

  “They are on lockdown.”

  “I think your mom kind of likes me. She might let me get a peek.”

  His brow arched. “Oh, you’re in good like that—after one night.”

  “I make a very good impression.” She paused. “It can be more than one night,” she said and wanted to take the words back the instant they were out of her mouth.

  They pulled to a stop at a red light. “I’m going to park on the next block. The walk isn’t too far from there,” he said.

  Dina wanted to disappear. Her fists tightened.

  He parked the car and got their things from the trunk. Dina tucked the blanket under her arm and moved to pick up the mini cooler when Franklin stopped her.

  She looked up at him, feeling totally foolish.

  “About that more than one night thing... I’m with that if you are.”

  Her heart slammed in her chest. Her whole body heated. “I am.”

  Franklin leaned down, tilted her chin up and slowly pressed his lips to hers. He moved back, stroked her cheek. “Let’s go listen to some Jill.”