Betting On Love (18 page)

Authors: Cheris Hodges

BOOK: Betting On Love

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“Did I say anything about Devon? You go say good-bye to your âmother-in-law,' and I'll meet you outside.”

Jade drained the remainder of the coffee and headed to the register. Kenya was sitting at the counter, devouring a slice of tart and sipping a glass of milk.

“Leaving so soon?” Kenya asked.

“Yes, Kandace and I are trying to line up a celebrity chef for the restaurant. What we really need is to bring Mrs. Goings back with us,” Jade said.

“My sons have been trying to get me to Charlotte since Maurice was picked by the Panthers, but I love Atlanta too much to leave,” Maryann said. “Want to try my tart?” She held a slice of the golden pastry out to Jade, who happily accepted the sample.

“This is delicious,” said Jade as she chewed the crisp pastry.

“Thank you. I love baking and making new flavors,” Maryann said. “So, how did you and James meet?”

“We were both on vacation in Las Vegas and ran into each other,” Jade said, saving the more salacious details.

“Oh, well, that's interesting. My son hasn't told me a thing about you, though,” Maryann confessed.

“Are you surprised?” Maurice asked as he fixed himself a cup of coffee. “James doesn't share anyone's business but mine. And he's been busy at work. You know, Jade is a businesswoman. She and her friends are opening a restaurant in Charlotte.”

Jade shook her head as she looked at Maurice.

He continued talking. “Our company helped Jade and her people find a restaurant in the Cherry community.”

“Maurice,” Maryann said. “Boy, hush.”

Jade was glad his mother had quieted him because she was a little afraid of what was going to come out of his mouth next. “Well,” Jade said, “I have to get going. But I'd love to get a few of those cinnamon buns to go.”

Maryann boxed up three buns for Jade and threw in two slices of the tart.

Jade looked at Maurice. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she whispered.

“Because my mother's here,” he joked. “No, I can admit that I was wrong about you. Anyone that can beat Stephen Carter at his own game is all right in my book.”

Jade folded her arms across her chest and eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”

Maurice leaned into her and whispered, “I hate that man more than James does, and my only regret is that I wasn't the one who kicked his ass this morning.”

“What?” Jade asked.

“Jade,” Maryann said, “here's your order.” Jade headed to the register, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that James had gotten into a fight with Stephen. What in the hell was Stephen doing in Charlotte, anyway? After paying for her order, Jade headed outside.

“Took you long enough,” Kandace said. “They grilled you, didn't they?”

“No,” Jade said. “I've got to call James, though. You go back to the office, and I'll meet you there.”

“Is everything all right?” Kandace asked.

Jade nodded as she reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone.

James leaned back in his leather chair, with his eyes closed and his hand buried in a bucket of ice. When his cell phone rang, he nearly turned the bucket over to grab the phone from the center of his desk.

“Yeah?” he said.

“Hello to you, too,” Jade said.

“How are you doing?” James asked, sticking his hand deeper into the ice bucket.

“The question is, how are you doing? I heard that you were playing Mike Tyson today,” she said.

“You heard what?”

“I was down in Sweet Auburn and ran into your mother and your brother, who told me that you and Stephen were fighting today.”

“That damned Maurice,” James muttered. “So you met my mother?”

“She's a nice woman and I love her cinnamon buns.”

“What did Maurice tell her about you?”

“Only that you want to marry me and have lots of babies,” she joked.

“What?” James grunted, sitting up in his chair and overturning the ice bucket.

“I'm joking,” Jade said. “But did you really get into a fight with Stephen?”

“Yeah, and I have a swollen fist to prove it,” he said. “The dude showed up at my office and ...” James didn't want to tell Jade that the fight had been over her and the disrespectful things that he'd said about her.

“What?” she asked.

“We just don't get along, and some old feelings came up that caused me to deck that dude,” he said. “I hate that I didn't get to introduce you to my mother.”

“Your brother was nice about it. A little shocking, though.”

“Maurice was nice? That's a first,” James said, with a laugh. “We're still on for Saturday, right?”

“I wouldn't miss it, because I can't wait to see you. Just promise me, there will be no more fighting.”

“As long as your boy stays in Fulton County, I won't be throwing any more punches.”

“Good,” she said. “Oh, and you should've told me that your mother is such a great baker. I'm going to be coming down to Auburn Avenue every day for these cinnamon buns.”

“Those things are good. Mo and I used to fight over them all the time. I tell you what. See if you can bring some of the cinnamon drizzle with you this weekend. I have an idea as to where it would taste delicious.”

Jade laughed. “And just how am I going to ask your mother for that?”

“Easy,” he replied, with a laugh.

“I've got to go. The train will be here soon.”

When James said good-bye to Jade, he picked up his office phone and dialed the bakery so that he could take his lumps from his mother like a big boy. He knew that when his brother came back to town, he was going to get him for telling his mother about Jade.

CHAPTER 20

Two days after Kenya filed the lawsuit against Stephen, Jade was getting ready to head to Charlotte, armed with the icing from Maryann, confidence that Devon Harris was going to meet with her on Sunday, because he was in Charlotte with celebrity chef Marvin Woods, and a smug feeling, knowing that Stephen had been served and he was losing. Just as she packed her last piece of lingerie in her overnight bag, the intercom buzzed.

“Yes?” she said into the speaker, expecting to hear one of her girlfriends on the other end.

“Jade, it's Stephen. We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” she barked into the speaker. “You can talk to my attorney.”

“This is madness,” he said. “If anyone should be suing someone, it should be me.”

“What?”

“Do you really want me to stand out here talking about our business, or are you going to be mature and invite me in?”

“I'll come down there, because I'm on my way out.” Jade smoothed her hand across her black leather dress, which skimmed her knees; then she grabbed her bag and purse. She glanced at herself in the mirror as she headed for the door, then shook her head. She didn't give a damn what Stephen thought about her outfit or anything else. Why was he even here?

When she got out to the street, Jade was shocked to see Stephen with a black eye; then she remembered that he and James had fought earlier. She didn't hide her smug smile as she walked up to him.

“You have five minutes to say whatever you have to say,” she spat.

“I don't even need that much time. I'm willing to give you the fifty thousand dollars you claim to have invested in my company in exchange for the property in Charlotte, and we'll be even.”

“You're insane,” Jade said, then attempted to push past him. “I'll see you in court.”

Stephen grabbed her arm. “I have lawyers, too, and your little boyfriend isn't going to like it when I have him locked up for assault. It's funny that he was trying to defend your honor when you have none. But that's just like James. Always trying to play Captain Save a Ho.”

Jade snatched her arm away from him and was tempted to punch him in his other eye. “You're such a sleazy bastard. I don't know what I ever saw in a slime like you.”

Stephen shook his head. “You thought I was your meal ticket,” he said. “You and that crew of yours are nothing but gold diggers. I know it, and that's why I got rid of you.”

“The only gold digger I see is your thieving ass,” Jade said, then stomped on his foot, putting all her weight on the stiletto heel of her boot. Stephen doubled over in pain, and Jade pushed him to the ground. Then she walked away as if she hadn't done anything wrong.

Stephen was going to be a problem, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, she had opened this can of worms when she decided to go after him.
James was right,
she thought as she climbed into her car.
It was never worth all this.

James walked into the hotel ballroom where Kenya was decorating for Maurice's party. When he saw his sister-in-law standing on a stepladder, hanging a banner, he rushed to her side.

“What are you doing?” James asked as he lifted her from the stepladder.

“Decorating, since you're late.”

“Super woman, you know you could've waited.” James hopped up on the stepladder and slapped the HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAURICE banner in place.

“I thought you had gotten caught up with Jade or something. She's good for you, James,” she said.

“What makes you say that?” he asked as he stepped off the stepladder.

“I haven't seen you smile this much in years. That's a beautiful thing when someone can touch your heart in that way.”

“Jade is special. Who knew this was going to turn out like this?”

“So, will there be wedding bells soon?”

James shook his head and laughed. “Why do you married women feel that it is your duty to marry off every single person within a ten-mile radius of you?”

“Whatever,” Kenya said, then tossed a balloon at him. “I just want you to be as happy as I am.”

“Well, marriage is not on my radar right now. And thankfully, Jade isn't one of those âmarry me now' women. We're taking our time and getting to know each other. There's no dash to the altar.”

Kenya shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so. She is coming tonight, right?”

“Yes. Speaking of tonight, I got to go get the baby cake,” James said as he made a dash for the door. “Don't try and hang anything else until I get back.”

Kenya offered up a mock salute and continued blowing up balloons.

As soon as James got into the car, his cell phone rang. Grabbing the phone, he knew it was Jade before he said hello.

“I'm running late,” she said.

“Where are you?”

“Greenville. I meant to be there before now, because I have a surprise for you.”

“What's that?” he asked.

“Why would I tell you now?” she stated. “It sort of defeats the purpose of a surprise.”

“You have a smart mouth for someone that needs a place to stay,” he joked.

“Trust me, you're going to be more than willing to open your home and more to me.”

“This must be one hell of a surprise.”

Jade laughed. “Do you want me to meet you at your house or ... Where is the party?”

“The Blake Hotel. Meet me at my house. I'm going to get Kenya's surprise cake for Mo. Then I'll be home waiting for you.”

“All right. I'll see you in a little bit,” she said.

James couldn't get to the bakery fast enough. He wanted to make sure he dropped the cake off with his sister-in-law because he had the feeling that he was going to be late for the party.

About two hours later, after the baby cake was hidden and the ballroom decorated with silver and blue balloons, streamers, and banners, James arrived at his house at the same time Jade did.

He rose from the car and waited for Jade to exit hers. When she got out, James drank in her divine image, loving the short leather dress that she wore. The knee-high red boots set the black outfit off perfectly.

“Wow,” he said. “I certainly hope you didn't stop on the way here.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because some man is somewhere having a hell of a fantasy about those legs, those boots, and this,” James said as he pulled Jade against his body. He kissed her hard and deep. He cupped her round bottom, slipping his hand underneath her dress. He felt the silkiness of her skin and realized that she was wearing a thong. A shiver ran up his spine and caused his manhood to spring forward.

Jade stepped back from him, feeling his arousal. “We're never going to make it to the party if you kiss me like that again,” she said throatily.

He brushed his lips against her in defiance. “I really don't care about a party right now,” he growled.

“But I'm sure you want to be there for Kenya's surprise, right? And trust me, it's totally worth the wait.”

James released her, then reached in the car to grab her overnight bag. “Speaking of surprises, where is mine?”

“After the party,” she promised as they walked into the house. “I saw your mother yesterday. Those cinnamon buns are really good. I wonder if she'd allow us to sell her cinnamon buns on the weekends. Charlotte would be blessed with a little piece of Atlanta.”

“We'll have to ask her about that next weekend,” James said.

“Next weekend?”

“Yeah, I'm coming to town so that I can officially introduce you to my mother.”

Jade smiled and didn't tell him that she and his mother had already become fast friends. She wondered if they'd be going out to dinner with his mother if Maurice hadn't spilled the beans.
Don't do this,
she told herself as James headed into the house.
You're having a good time. Don't read more into it.

“All right. I'm going to get dressed,” James said. Then he stole a quick kiss from Jade's plump lips.

As James dashed down the hall to his bedroom, Jade took a seat on the sofa, smiling about the package of icing she had tucked away in her bag. She couldn't wait until this party was over, because she wanted to feel James's arms wrapped around her and his lips against her neck. Closing her eyes, Jade thought about the moment she and James would walk through the door after the party and how she was going to change out of her dress and into a strapless, black lace teddy and matching three-inch pumps. Then she would pull out the icing, and they could take turns tasting it.

“Jade,” James said, “you ready?”

She rose from the sofa and looked at him, drinking in his image. He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a collared white shirt, and a houndstooth sports coat. His look was sharp and classic. Jade could not wait until those clothes were out of her way.

“Yeah, let's go,” she said.

They headed to the car and drove to the hotel in uptown Charlotte.

When James parked, Jade smiled. “This hotel is nice, but didn't it used to be something else?”

“Yeah, it was the Adam's Mark for years,” he said as they exited the car. “Kenya has the ballroom decked out, and I'm sure that Maurice is in there, hamming it up.”

Jade smiled. “It was really nice of Kenya to do all this for him. And I'm glad I got to see another side of your brother.”

“Mo's all bark and no bite. He didn't even want this party, but when Kenya gives him his surprise, he's going to be very happy.”

James placed his arm around Jade's waist and walked into the hotel. The party was in full swing as the couple entered the ballroom. Most of Maurice's offensive line was there with their wives or the flavor of the moment. Kenya and Maurice were tucked in a corner, sharing a kiss.

“They're sickening,” James whispered to Jade.

“Someone sounds jealous,” she said as she rubbed her hand across his chest. “I'll kiss you now if you want me to.”

“Kiss me and we're out of here,” James breathed against her ear.

Homer walked up to the happy couple just as Jade was about to lay a kiss on James. “Well, well, well, if it isn't Ms. Cardsharp.”

Jade turned around and faced Homer. “Still bitter, I see,” she said, with a smile.

“Next time we play cards, I need you on my side,” Homer replied.

“No, my brother,” James said. “Jade's
my
ace. You got to get your own.”

“Hater,” Homer said. “This is a nice party. A little more subdued than a regular Mo bash.”

“What do you expect from a boring married man?” Smitty, a wide receiver, asked when he walked up to Homer, James, and Jade. He leered at Jade, licking his lips as if she were on the buffet table. “And who are you?”

James was about to say something but shook his head instead.

Jade, on the other hand, said, “Someone you don't and will never know.”

“Ooh,” Homer said. “Smit, you want to pick that up?”

Scowling, a disgruntled Smitty asked, “Pick up what?”

“Your dignity,” Homer bellowed.

James and Jade laughed before moving away from them. They headed for Kenya and Maurice.

“Get a room,” James said as he slapped his brother on the knee.

“It's about time you got here,” Kenya said as she and Maurice broke off their kiss.

“Happy birthday, bro,” James said as Maurice stood up and they embraced.

“Yeah, man,” Maurice said. “This is a great party.”

Kenya stood up and smoothed her silver dress. James smiled at her formfitting outfit and figured that she wore it because in the next few months, she wasn't going to be able to wear a dress like that. “James,” she said, “I need you to get the thing.”

James nodded and headed to the back, where he'd hidden the baby cake.

Kenya turned to Maurice and Jade. “I'm going onstage. You two play nice.”

“I'm always nice,” Maurice said, with a smile. He reached for his rum and Coke. “Having a good time, Jade?”

“The best,” Jade told him.

“Thanks for coming. I really mean that. You seem to make my brother happy, and that's all I want for him.”

“Is that so?” she asked. “I don't understand you. I mean, you've been pretty nasty to me, and this total one-eighty is catching me off guard.”