A New Toy (8 page)

Logic returned a few minutes later. "I'm sorry. I just needed a little privacy."

"Don't apologize. I understand. I probably should have done the same. I'm sorry you had to see my nuclear meltdown. It's just been a very long day."

"Tell me about it. What happened to your truck?"

"Well, I was on my way home..."

"Washington?"

"Yes. I had a deposition that I had to get. And it went over a little longer than I anticipated."

"You're an attorney?"

"Yes. I'm a Public Defender. So, of course it started to snow... And I wanted to get home before the roads got too treacherous, so I was pushing it. Out of nowhere this gigantic deer leaps in front of my truck and just stands there. I couldn't believe it."

"They say that the headlights mesmerize them. If you cut off the lights he would have just ran away."

"Well, I didn't know that. Anyway I had nowhere to go and no time to stop so I hit him."

"I saw the tow truck leave as I pulled in. It looks pretty bad."

"Yeah, it's probably totaled. Sixty thousand dollars worth of bent metal… Thank God for insurance. I just got it last month for my birthday." I sighed.

"Did Jamar give it to you? He's your boyfriend, right?"

"You're funny. No Jamar bought me the Motown Greatest Hits CD Collection and I was shocked he even remembered my birthday. And no he's not my boyfriend."

"That's right; your man is the cop with three damn guns." Logic teased.

The smirk on my face indicated that he was dreading in dangerous water. "We've already established the fact that I made that up. So can I please continue?"

"Just one more question. You're not hurt right? I mean, I can go with you to the hospital if you want to get checked out."

"No, I'm fine. The airbag punched me in my face, but I'm okay. In retrospect that punch in the mouth from God was just the wakeup call I need to get my life in order."

"Haven't been to church in awhile, huh?" Logic smiled.

"No, I go to church almost every Sunday. I just haven't been living right in awhile." I giggled.

"God knows your heart." He chuckled. "And he honors your struggle."

"So, you're a Christian."

"Yes, and like you I struggle everyday to do the right thing. It's not easy."

"People sure don't make it easy. Sometimes you have to just cuss a bitch out." I mumbled beneath my breath, but of course he heard me."

"So, I guess I jinxed you with that song." He pried.

"Not really. He was never my man and my heart wasn't even in it."

"Just sex, huh?"

"Yes, mind boggling, back cracking, and knee buckling sex."

"You know that comes with love sometimes, right?"

"Yeah I heard that. I just haven't encountered it." I sarcastically responded.

"You should try it. Love makes the sex ten times better."

"Really, are you speaking from experience or reciting something you heard?" I challenged.

"I'm speaking from experience and talking about something I've heard."

"Well, I'm a black woman if you haven't noticed. And apparently, there's just not enough single men and good love to go around. I'm sorry Logic, but I’m a realist. I don't like to pretend or play make believe. So I've just learned to keep a tight rein on my emotions and avoid chasing fairy tales, unicorns, rainbows and Santa's flying reindeer."

"That's probably what flew in front of your truck." Logic laughed.

"You're probably right." I snickered. "So what about you? What’s your story?"

"What do you want to know?"

"It's Christmas Eve; you're here in Nowhere Special, West Virginia trying to come down my chimney."

"Ho, ho, ho!" He joked as he did his Ghetto Santa impersonation. "You got me there little girl."

I laughed. "You believe so strongly in love. Yet you ask me to play one of the saddest songs ever written. So, who is she and what did she do?"

Logic sighs. "I had almost forgotten about that bullshit."

"Sorry to reopen festering wounds, but inquiring minds want to know what happened.”

He hesitated briefly before pulling a small ring box out of his jacket pocket. He slowly pushed the ring over to my side of the table. "See for yourself."

I took the Tiffany ring box and slowly peeped in. A stunning five carat pink princess cut stone surrounded by two carats of white diamonds almost blinded me."DAMN!" I thought to myself. "Somebody fucked up big."

Continuing to play it cool and controlled I shook my head no and announced. "It's too much... It's too soon. We just met. I hardly know you. What will I tell my parents? Okay well if you insist. Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!"

Logic laughed as I admired the beautiful engagement ring. "You're right. It is a little too soon. So you probably should tell your parents that you just loss your damn mind."

"I know I shouldn't ask but I'm a girl and I just have to." Can I pretty please just try it on? I'll give it right back I promise." I begged, dying to see how a ring like this would look on my finger.

"Sure, go ahead. I trust you."

I carefully tried to remove the flawless diamond ring from the Tiffany Jewelry Store box. It was obviously extremely expensive. My hands were trembling in anticipation. I couldn’t stop them from shaking.

"Here let me help you with that." Logic said as he took the ring from the box and gingerly placed it on my ring finger. "Wow, imagine that. It's a perfect fit." He sighed as his eyes engaged mine for an uncomfortably long time.

I looked down at the ring and back at him, repeatedly. Finally, as if by magic we instantly connected. For the first time that night I felt what he had known all along. This was no mere chance meeting. This was the beginning of something new and unexpected.

"So Logic, what's a girl got to do to get a ring like this?" I teased.

"Love me. Forsake all other men for me. And..." He hesitated as he shook an unthinkable memory from his head.

"And what?" I asked intrigued.

"And promise me you'll never sleep with my best friend."

"What? Oh my God! Your girlfriend slept with your best friend?"

"Yes she did. In fact, she screwed him the entire time we were dating. Apparently, the two of them fell in love and didn't know how to tell me."

"I am so sorry. You seem like a nice guy. Who judging by the price tag on this ring was obviously very much in love."

I said as I continued to admire the breathtakingly gorgeous engagement ring on my finger, unable or unwilling to give it back. Logic didn't seem to mind, so I continued to enjoy how wonderful it made me feel. I never could fathom anyone loving me enough to give me such a tremendous token of love. "This bitch must be a damn fool!" I concluded.

"Logic, I'm sorry. No one deserves that level of betrayal."

"Why are you sorry? You didn't sleep with him too, did you?" He chuckled.

"No, and I can't even imagine how spectacular he must be to make anyone hurt you like this."

"There's nothing really that damn spectacular at all about that slick talking, manipulative, back stabbing, ass wipe, except his dick."

Caught completely off guard I burst into laughter. "On second thought he does sound just like my type." I teased.

"Don't worry; I'm not taking you nowhere near his stupid ass. He can keep her, now that I've found you. They don't know it but they did me a huge favor. I'd never have met you if I didn't catch the two of them fucking like chimps in my fuckin bed."

Normally, I'd have some quick comeback to deflect all matters and types of bullshit like that, but for once I was absolutely tongue tied and speechless. I knew he wanted to taste my Christmas panties. And I actually was considering giving him a taste, but this was totally unexpected. This man sounded like he wants to do more than just get it started. He sounded like he's looking for a relationship. So I instantly decided that one more climb up the pretty boy tree really wouldn't kill me.

"So is it really over?" I cautiously asked, praying that I could see in his eyes that it was.

"You tell me. You're the one wearing the five hundred thousand dollar engagement ring I bought her." His sultry voice challenged as he seduced me with those haunting eyes.

"Oh that shit is so over." I mumbled as his finest mesmerized me and held me captive for what seemed like an eternity.

He grinned. "I am so glad to hear that, because I don't want to spend Christmas alone."

"So where do you live?" I asked as if it mattered. Hell, I can practice Law anywhere.

"Las Vegas, but I have a home in Baltimore. That's why I offered to give you a ride. I have to go right through DC on my way home."

"Are you serious? What are you doing way out here?"

"After I caught them in my house together I just got in the car and drove and drove and drove. I was on my way back until I stopped here for a break."

"Yeah, about that ride, if the offer is still on the table I'd like to take it."

"Oh I'm afraid that offer has expired Counselor." He stared at me trying to gauge my reaction as a sinister grin slowly crept across his face.

"Oh really?" I asked, instinctively knowing that he had something even better on his mind.

"So are there any other offers available that you'd like to put on the table at this time Mr. Hart?" I seductively asked as I flipped my long hair back and put on my "Come fuck me face."

"Yeah, actually I'm working on another proposal as we speak. Give me a little time and I'll present it to you." He grinned as he soaked in my sensuality like a dry sea sponge.

"I
can't
wait
to
see
what
you
come
up
with."
I
responded
as
I
serenely
continued
to
float
off
into
paradise
in
those
piercing
brown
eyes.

The
flirtation
and
customary
first
date
interview
continued
as
we
enjoyed
good
conversation
and
a
surprisingly
good
steak
and
egg
breakfast.
Logic
was
an
amazingly
rare
find.
Good
looking,
tall,
charismatic
and
oh
so
damn
mouth
wateringly
sexy,
he
was
quickly
beginning
to
resemble
the
man
of
my
dreams.
As
if
that
wasn't
enough
I
soon
noticed
a
manly
gentleness
that
comes
only
when
a
man
has
been
taught
to
respect
and
value
the
worth
of
a
woman.
He
was
attentive,
decisive,
protective
and
endearing-
qualities
that
I
had
never
encountered
in
one
man.
And
that
was
all
I
needed
to
see
to
seal
the
deal
and
offer
him
the
key
to
my
love.