by Tina Martin
She looked up at a booth that served fish tacos. “You said we’ll make up for the time now?” she asked him.
“Yes, which means I’ll get to spend the whole day with you since you agreed to come with me to the beach this evening. I figure we can eat ourselves into a stupor out here with all this good food, have a light dinner, maybe a lil’ wine and spend the rest of the evening on the beach.”
Sounded good to her but she knew there would be repercussions later – like gaining a pound or two. And then there was the fact that she was spending time with a man again – which would, in turn, make her have more dreams – nightmares – about Mark.
“What do you say, Ms. Alexander?” His gaze swept over her.
“You said you wouldn’t call me that anymore.”
“Right. I did. So, what do you say, Tamera, and stop stalling.”
She giggled. “I’m not stalling.”
“Then answer me already.”
“Okay. Fine,” she said. “It seems you have it all figured out, so—”
“Excellent. Now, let’s get some fish tacos. I’ve been dying to try those.”
Was he reading her mind or what?
“Okay. Let’s go.”
He grabbed her hand, interlocked their fingers.
She looked at him, and before she could ask him what he was doing, he explained, “This way I won’t lose you in the crowd. And it’ll keep random men from migrating to you if they think we’re together.”
“Well, in that case…” she squeezed his hand tighter. “Let’s go, partner.”
A sensation ran through him when she squeezed his hand. Was it a sign she trusted him, or was she just in a better mood today? A playful one? Comfortable because there were people around? Whatever the case, he liked it. Wanted more of it.
Stepping over to the food truck and waiting their turn, Tamera was busy checking out the menu, but Preston’s eyes, hidden by sunglasses were checking her out. Amazing. He’d been in the company of beautiful women, but Tamera took beautiful to a new level. Maybe because she was smart and beautiful. Or it could’ve been the way he could imagine his hands molding to the shape of her head, or his lips smashing against her pouty ones with his arms wrapped around her tight. Protecting her.
She snapped her fingers twice and said, “Preston Michaels?”
He came out of his trance and looked at her. “Yes?”
She giggled. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”
“No. I was preoccupied with my thoughts…thinking about all I have to do when I get back to Charlotte.”
“Oh. Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“No. I check out of the hotel Tuesday morning. You?”
“I check out Monday morning.”
He’d have to be here all day Monday without her. Successfully hiding disappointment, he said, “So what taco are you trying first?”
She laughed. “That’s what I was talking to you about before you zoned out on me. I said wanted to try the barbecue mahi-mahi.”
“I’ll try the same. I love sampling the same food as you because I firmly believe your taste buds are out of whack.”
She giggled. “There ain’t a thing wrong with my taste buds, thank you very much. You’re just accustomed to eating all that high-priced fancy food.”
“Really, says the woman whose brother is a well-known, nationally awarded chef. I’m sure he’s cooked a fancy meal or two for you.”
“Okay. You got me there.”
When it was their turn to order, Preston stepped up to the counter and said, “Let me have two barbecue mahi-mahi tacos.” While he waited, he looked at Tamera. “I’m curious. What did you think about the lemonade?”
She squinted her eyes at him. He’d watched her drink the lemonade, too. “It was delicious.”
He shook his head. “The flavor of freshly squeezed lemons was good, but the overall drink was too sweet.”
“You thought so?”
“Yeah. I try to stay away from real sugar.”
“Why?”
“So I can keep my muscles, baby. That’s why.” He chuckled.
“Real sugar is better than synthetic sugar. They say the artificial stuff doesn’t digest. It just lingers in your body. Forever.”
Lingers in your body forever. His breathing quickened. He could linger in her—
“Here you go, Sir,” the man said, handing Preston two small trays.
Preston took them both, handed one to Tamera and said, “Brace yourself.”
She laughed.
“You ready to do this?” he asked.
“You make it seem like a huge deal.”
“It is, for you at least.”
“How you figure?” she asked, amused.
“I watched you eat last night. You take tiny bites when you’re trying something for the first time. In the restaurant last night, you bit a medium-sized shrimp in half. Like, who does that besides you?”
She laughed. She couldn’t deny it.
“I go all in, and that’s what I would like to see you do, Tamera. Open your mouth as wide as you can, you know, like when you’re arguing with me.”
Her mouth fell open.
“Yeah. Sort of like that.,” he said amused. “Just wider so you can take one big bite.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s how you get the full flavor, baby.”
“What if I don’t like it? One big nasty bite is going to be a lot to spit out.”
“But what if you do like it? Where’s your optimism?”
She sighed heavily. “Okay. I’ll do it your way.”
A satisfied smile glowed on his face. “Thank you,” he told her. “Now, on a count of three, we take big bites. Ready?”
“As ready as I’m going to be.”
“Okay. One. Two. Three.” Preston opened his mouth wide, biting almost half the taco while watching Tamera take a big bite of hers. “Mmm,” he mumbled.
Tamera chewed for a moment then said, “Oh my gosh. I’m in food heaven.”
“If that taco is that good, honey, I think I’m going to go ahead and try it,” an older lady standing nearby said, then giggled.
Tamera and Preston laughed with her.
“This is my first time trying fish tacos and they are delicious,” Tamera told her.
“They are,” Preston said. He went on to say to the woman, “I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. Take a big bite to get the full flavor.”
“Don’t worry. I will,” the woman said, tickled. “Y’all enjoy the rest of your day now, ya hear.”
“We will,” Preston said.
“You make a lovely couple by the way,” the woman added.
Tamera nearly froze before she snapped out of it and said, “Um, actually we aren’t—”
Interrupting Tamera, Preston said, “Thank you, ma’am. You enjoy your day as well.”
Tamera slapped him on the arm when the woman went up to the counter to order her food.
“What?” Preston asked with a sneaky smirk on his face.
“We’re not a couple.”
“We know that, but that woman is a stranger. Stop being selfish and let her enjoy us as a couple,” he said, failing to hide his amusement.
“You’re strange.”
“I know,” he responded, then stuffed the remaining bit of taco inside of his mouth.
Tamera proceeded to finish the rest of hers.
For the next hour, they roamed around the festival grounds – the boardwalk – trying samples of beer and wine. Tamera snapped pictures of the crowds, more pictures of the food they shared – a deep-fried Snickers bar, smoked turkey leg, corndogs and nachos. When she needed to take a break, they found a bench in some shade.
Failing to withhold the smile that showed on his handsome face, Preston asked, “Are you hungry?”
“No, but I do want to try that roasted corn over there.”
Preston looked up to where she’d pointed. “I’ll go get us some,” he volunteered. “Do you like season
ing salt on yours?”
“Don’t know. Never tried it. I just stick to regular salt and butter. I like to go with what I know.”
“Nah, I think I want you to try the seasoning salt,” he said, standing and heading towards the booth.
As far as she was concerned, he had the sexiest walk in all of America. The way his body moved was as sexy and sophisticated as if he was wearing a suit and walking into his magazine’s headquarters. She took off her hat and tried to fluff her hair back to life. She wondered what his angle was. Why did he want to spend time with her of all people?
When he headed back, she was ecstatic that she still had on sunglasses. He couldn’t see her eyes and she used that to her advantage. Looking him up and down, loving every distinct movement of his body, her mind drifted to men in general. They were all ‘nice’ in the beginning, weren’t they? But years into a relationship, the woman had to get her own ear of corn because the man didn’t want to be bothered. With her or corn…
She grinned to herself.
“What are you smiling about?” he asked as he approached.
“Nothing. Just remembered something.”
He handed her the corn.
“Thanks,” she said, noticing he’d sprinkled on seasoning salt.
“You’re welcome,” he said moving her hat so he could sit next to her. “Now, nibble on that and tell me how good it is.”
“Aren’t we sure of ourselves,” she quipped.
“Very much so. Remember, big bite,” he said, staring at her lips.
“You mean big nibble.” Opening wide, she nibbled on the corn.
“Good, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah, it is. The seasoning salt adds more flavor than regular salt.”
“Exactly. Now, you can tell your brother I taught you a thing or two.”
She smiled. “I still need to call him. He doesn’t know I’m here.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
She shrugged. After taking another bite of corn on the cob, she said, “Tyson would’ve insisted I stayed with him if I’d called him.”
“What’s so wrong with that? Didn’t you tell me you got along fine with your brother and his wife?”
“I do, but they live in a small house. With two kids. There’s no extra bedroom. Only a couch. There was no way I was sleeping on a couch for three nights. And then there’s the fact that he would try to cook for me like I’m some celebrity.”
“And you see that as a bad thing, why?”
“Hello! Tyson has a family now. They deserve all of his attention. Not me.”
“What do you deserve, Tamera?”
She smiled uncomfortably. “Why does it feel like this conversation is suddenly taking a serious turn?”
“Because it is.”
She looked at him, held his vision until it became too much for her.
“I’m a pretty serious guy most of the time,” he said. “Can’t help it. I’ve been work-driven and focused on success for a very long time.”
“If I’m reading this right, it sounds like you’ve grown weary of it,” she said.
“To some extent, I have. It’s like, in life, you strive to make something of yourself to get money and live comfortably, but in the meantime, you can’t stop and take a breath. You can’t see what making money is doing to you. It made me this serious guy whose idea of fun is going out for drinks after work with his employees.”
Not knowing how to respond, she offered up a smile.
He liked to see her smile, especially considering all she’d been through. Reaching for her face, he used his thumb to brush a kernel of corn from the corner of her mouth. “You had a piece of corn there.”
“Thanks,” she said, not embarrassed in the least.
“Welcome.”
“So, drinks with the employees, huh?” she asked.
“Yeah. It’s something we do to celebrate an accomplishment and to establish trust in each other, you know, a way to improve working relationships in the office.”
“Nothing wrong with that.”
“Not at all. I just wish I wasn’t too busy working to plan a real getaway. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to come here.”
I jumped at the opportunity, too, but that was only because I thought I’d be getting away from you. Tamera smiled. Now, she was glad her plan hadn’t worked. She enjoyed the morning she spent with Preston, and he seemed to be enjoying her company as well.
“I can relate,” she said. “I jumped at the opportunity to come here, too. My health department job is strict and I feel like I have to be a certain way at all times. I can’t even explain it.”
“I get it. Trust me.”
Trust. The only men she trusted was her father and her brother. She knew Preston didn’t mean it literally, but she couldn’t prevent her mind from going there.
“Some days, I sit in my office and stare at my computer screen thinking about what my life would’ve been like had I not pursued this career in publishing,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“I was in a long term relationship and she basically gave me an ultimatum – her or the magazine. I chose the magazine.”
“Wow. That must’ve been difficult.”
“It was. I loved her, but I didn’t choose her, and by not doing so, I gave up a family. Wife. Children. I always wanted a family.”
Tamera stood up to toss the cob in the trash. Preston did the same.
“Do you think I made the right decision?” Preston asked.
Tamera took her hat from the bench and said, “Well, all I know is, Charlotte Recreational is Charlotte Magazine’s biggest competitor. And, if you can’t count on your spouse to support you and your dreams, maybe that wasn’t the person for you after all.”
“I like that.”
“A woman is supposed to support her man, right?” she asked as they walked side-by-side again.
“I agree. Just like a man is supposed to support his woman.”
“I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Do you?”
“Not at all,” he said, grabbing her hand and interlocking their fingers when he saw a man walking towards them staring her down. “You get that a lot?”
“What?”
“Men coming on to you?”
“I just ignore it. And speaking of men coming on to me, why are you holding my hand again?”
“A better question would be, why are you letting me hold your hand?”
Her cheeks dimpled.
“I like holding your hand,” he said. “I like the way it fits into mine. Feels like it belongs there.”
She blushed. “You’re good.”
He chuckled. “Good at what?”
“This lil’ game you’re trying to run on me.”
“It’s not game. This is how I am. This is me, well outside of work, that is. Count yourself lucky for getting to experience the real me.”
She smiled.
“So where are we off to next, tour guide?” he quipped.
“I need a funnel cake in my life, so keep your eyes peeled for a booth.”
“A funnel cake?”
“Yes.”
“Are you talking about that big piece of bread with sugar sprinkled on top?”
“Powdered sugar. And it doesn’t taste like bread. It tastes more like a doughnut. I’ve had them before with the powdered sugar, but today I want to try it with strawberry topping.”
“In other words, you want sugar on top of sugar.”
“I know. I know. But it’s good, though. You’ll love it, especially when you take a big bite,” she said. Walking up to the booth, she ordered a funnel cake and had it prepared just the way she told Preston she would.
Preston gave the clerk a twenty and told her to keep the change.
The clerk then handed the funnel cake to Tamera with two forks.
“You eat this thing with a fork?” Preston asked.
“Yep,” she said, handing him a fork while they took a few steps
away from the booth to try it.
“Seems like they would slice it like a pie.”
“Hmm…good idea, Preston. Maybe you should include that in your article.”
“Maybe I will.”
“For now, use your fork, tear a big piece and go for it.”
“Okay. Guess I have to oblige.” He tore off a piece and crammed it inside of his mouth, chewing. “Mmm…that’s freakin’ delicious.”
Tamera giggled. “I knew you would like it.”
“I wonder why they call it a funnel cake?”
“Because they pour the batter into extremely hot cooking oil using a funnel.”
“Ah…makes sense,” he said. “What do you think about the strawberry topping?”
“I think it’s good. Makes it tastes more like a dessert.”
“I agree.” Preston tore off another piece. “Maybe we should’ve bought two.”
“I like the way you think, but no. I have to do a review on the restaurant we’re dining at tonight and I plan on having dessert.”
“You said we’re. Does that mean you’ve accepted my dinner proposal?”
“Yeah. Why not? You’re growing on me.”
Preston glanced at his watch, already anticipating dinner. “It’s almost one o’clock.”
Tamera looked at her watch, too and said, “It is! Where has the time gone? I have to go.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I signed up for a lighthouse tour at 2:00 p.m. I need to get to the hotel and change out of these sweaty clothes and put on some sneakers. I hear it’s quite the climb.”
“You mind if I tag along?”
“Not at all. That’s if you think you can handle it.”
“I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”
Chapter 13
She wouldn’t ride with him even though they were going to the exact same place and leaving at the exact same time. She had decided that after taking a quick, cold shower and dressing in a pair of comfortable shorts and a tank top. She’d forgotten to pack socks, so she slid her bare feet inside of her shoes.
Holding her purse, she stood at the door, peering through the peephole, looking at Preston as he stood in the hallway, waiting for her. He hadn’t changed clothes. He was just standing there. Waiting.
She studied him. Too bad you couldn’t tell if you could really trust someone by looking at them. As he stood up against the wall flipping through his cell phone, she studied the beautiful lines of his perfectly molded face. Beneath the surface was a decent man who’d opened up to her about the challenges he faced when trying to start his own business. His girlfriend, at the time, had wanted him to choose between her and his dreams. He chose his dreams and now, he seemed to regret that decision.
