Designed for Love (9 page)

     
Chuckling,
Vincent shook his head at his friend’s antics. “You may want to start with the
sex and save the movie for later.”

     
“Ha!
You think I haven’t already decided that.”

     
“I’d
never doubt your genius, Zeth. Talk to you later.” After Zeth’s goodbye, Vincent
disconnected the line.

     
“Do
you need more time to make your decision?” The old Hispanic man asked, glancing
from his uniquely designed pieces to Vincent.

     
“No,
I’ll take this one.” Reaching out, Vincent claimed a single object from the
black velvet covering a portion of his desk.

     
“Oh,
you have selected well.” Mr. Alvarez clapped his small withered hands.

     
“Yes,
I have.” Vincent wasn’t referring to the ring in his hand but the woman in his
heart.

* * * *

     
“What
are you going to do?” Becky set her plate on the coffee table after having
consumed her third slice of pizza. Chelsi’s friend was a dark-skinned girl with
amazingly thick, long hair that showed off her
Virgin
Island
roots. Prepared for dinner and a movie, Becky wore a black chiffon mini skirt with
matching halter. Her open-toed black boots were lying on their sides by the
door.

     
Similarly
dressed in a chic casual fashion, Chelsi wore a simple off the shoulder
tangerine silk top with a matching black leather paneled skirt. Folding her
legs below her on the couch, Chelsi shook her head and played with the stem of
her wine glass. It was her second drink, but she hadn’t touched it yet.

     
Though
they were dressed to go out, at the last minute she’d opted for them to stay
instead of going to the movies. She just didn’t feel like watching the romantic
comedy that was the new release. Now that she sat there with a slice and a half
of pizza and a glass of California Zinfandel sitting in her stomach, she wished
she had just gone to watch an action movie instead. Nothing like things blowing
up on a twenty foot screen with surround sound to clear the mind. Answering her
friend’s questions, she said, “Not see him again.”

     
“Is
that going to be hard since the two of you are working on his new store?” Becky
poured herself a second glass of wine then turned to face Chelsi.

     
“Probably,
but most of Densa’s contact goes through Rudolph. I don’t see why Vincent would
ever have to be involved.”

     
“The
grand opening?” her friend supplied, as she sipped her wine.

     
Swirling
her wine in her glass, Chelsi said, “There’s no reason we can’t be mature,
professional adults around each other.”

     
“How
has that worked for you so far?” Becky lifted a single ebony brow at her.

     
Chelsi
remained silent for a moment. “You’re right, Beck. Every time we are within
breathing space of each other my heart and hormones go up in flames.”

     
Fanning
her face, Becky joked, “Flames? Meow, baby. Where can I find a double dose of
that?”

     
Slapping
her friend on the knee, she laughed. “Whatever.”

     
“Maybe
you’re making too much of this.” Becky placed her empty wine glass on the
table. “If you enjoy having sex with him and he likes it too, I assume, then
just see where it goes.”

     
Closing
her eyes, she took a shuddering breath then opened them and stared at her
friend. “Because he makes me wish for things that can never be,” Chelsi
proclaimed.

     
Laying
a gentle hand on her knee, Becky’s voice was soft as she said, “How do you know
he doesn’t want it, too?”

     
“Please.
Mr. Corporate Bachelor? He was going to get married two years ago, but the
woman turned him down because he didn’t love her. Now, I’m supposed to believe
he loves me more than just for a roll in the sheets? Because what, a high
school love that once was?”

“Maybe.”

     
“No,
Beck, he just wants a woman panting underneath him, and I want…” Could she say
it? Admit to her friend out loud what her heart wanted? Vincent. That was it. Just
the boy she loved who became a man.

“You
want what—”

     
The
sound of a horn pulled their attention away from the conversation.

     
“Who
in the world is that?” Becky frowned and glanced in the direction of the
window.

     
The
blinds were open, but from where they were sitting, Chelsi couldn’t see outside
and didn’t care to. “Someone picking up one of my neighbors maybe.”

     
“Strange.
People don’t usually honk in your community, especially since the tenants have
to clear the person to come in.”

     
“True.”
Setting her drink down, she said, “Thank you for spending my birthday with me.
Sorry about the mov—”

The
horn blew again.

     
“Good,
Lord they are persistent.” Becky got up and walked to the window. “Oh shit,
Chel, you have to come see this.” She waved her over frantically.

     
Getting
up, Chelsi rushed to her friend’s side. Now, she was curious. When she got
there, her mouth fell open, accompanied by the wide stretch of her eyes.

     
“Is
that Vincent?” Becky whispered as if someone could hear them.

     
It
may have been dark outside, but the street lamps did a great job of
illuminating Vincent Poindexter, dressed in a black tuxedo, standing by the
back door of his pearl white limo.

“That’s
him all right,” Chelsi confirmed.

     
“He
is hot. If I would’ve known in school that nerd was going to grow up and look
like that I wou—”

     
Chelsi
cleared her throat and folded arms as she eyed her friend.

     
“I
would’ve hooked him up with you sooner.” Becky gave her brilliant smile and
chuckled.

     
“What
is he doing here? He was supposed to be at the same benefit tonight Peter was
going to.”

“You
won’t find out until you get out there.”

     
As
if proving Becky right, the limo’s horn beeped again.

     
Headed
to her door, she said, “If nothing else, I’m going out to tell Thomas to lay
off the horn before he brings the whole neighborhood outside.” Slipping her
feet in leather ankle boots on the side of the couch, she left her apartment.

     
“Hello,
Chelsi.” Vincent didn’t move from beside the limo.

     
She
loved how good he looked in his formal wear. The tuxedo, like all his clothes,
were made to fit his body in a sexy fashion. Moving down her walkway, she
asked, “What are you doing here?”

     
“Sorry
about bring the limo in here. I know you don’t like your neighbors to stare and
ask you a bunch of question.” Mischief lightened his gaze.

     
“I
know the car comes with the man. So what brings you here?”

     
“Glad
to find you home. I remembered you telling me you were going out with Becky
today, but I hoped that by ten at night you would be back.”

     
Stopping
two feet from him, she met his gaze. “How did you get in here? The guard didn’t
call me.”

     
“I
pleaded with him not to.” He gave her a devastating smile.

     
“So
you convinced a man to break the rules, Mr. Poindexter. Now what?” She waved
her hands at her side and rolled her neck.
Keep
the distance
.

     
Frowning
at her words, he said, “You know I’m only Vincent to you.”

     
She
remained silent. Saying his name brought back memories of her calling it out
while he was buried deep inside of her. Those thoughts were best left alone.
“Why did you come here?”

“I
love you.”

     
What?
“What?” She could feel her
stomach muscles begin to tremble.

     
“I
love you.” Just as he said it the first time, calm and clear, there was no
mistaking his words.

     
“Vincent…no…”
Taking a step back, she shook her head. She couldn’t do this. He’d told her he
loved her that summer and then never called, especially when she had needed him
the most. He’d enjoyed a summer of fucking the homecoming queen and walked
away.

     
He
took one step. “Yes, Chelsi. Fate took her damn sweet time, but she finally
brought us back together.”

     
Standing
before her, Vincent seemed to be saying all the right words her heart wanted to
hear, but she didn’t know if she had the strength to survive losing him again.
“I don’t think I can do this.” She turned her back on him. Seeing Becky
standing on her porch staring at the exchange caused Chelsi to close her eyes,
blocking everyone out.

     
She
felt his presences behind her, the heat of his body cloaking her in warmth.
“What do you mean you can’t do this? It’s love, Chelsi. You don’t have to do
anything but follow your heart.”

     
“It’s
not that simple.” She lowered her head and stared at the asphalt. “I loved you
once, but it hurt too much.”

     
“Hurt
too much? Sweetheart, you’re not making sense.” Taking hold of her shoulders,
he swung her around to face him.

     
Uncertainty
and confusion clouded his gaze. She knew the time was drawing near for her to
tell him the truth. The results of that summer. Maybe the wine she consumed was
helping her be bold and reveal things to him she promised never to talk to
anyone about again. She and Becky didn’t even discuss it anymore.

     
“You
never called,” she croaked. Her throat was tight, and tears were beginning to
blur her vision of him.

     
“I
never called? When?” His thumb swiped along her cheek, and she knew she’d begun
to cry.

“After
we went to college.”

     
“Why
are you bringing this up?” Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hair, mussing
it a little.

     
“Because
you didn’t call. Not once.” Her voice started to rise, and all the anger and
hurt she’d felt lying in her dorm room clutching her phone, built and exploded.
“Not a how are you doing? Is school what you thought it would be? Nothing.”

     
“I
was trying to respect your decision.” His voice lowered, remained controlled
and clear. “You are the one who decided we needed a clean break as friends.
That our relationship wouldn’t last through the college years. I never wanted
it to end.”

     
Oh,
God. He was right. It had been her idea. The reminder of the past conversation
released her anger like a pin to a balloon.

     
That
was something she had forgotten, how he had debated with her. Their first and
only argument. However, she had convinced him it was better for them to part as
friends at the end of summer so no one would get hurt if one of them found
someone else. Even then she knew she would never find another Vincent, but she
had feared he would fall for someone else prettier and smarter. Her fears and
pride had been smothered under the pain, and she had waited for him, for a call
she had practically forbidden him to make.

     
“Chelsi…”
She must have been silent too long because there was worry in his eyes.

     
Lord
help her. She had suffered because of her own selfishness, and she had blamed
Vincent, believing he was glad for his freedom in college without her. It was
her fault.

     
“Oh,
God.” The tears poured down her face hot and fast. Her stomach ached, the
revelation making her sick. “Vincent, I’m sorry—”

     
Pulling
away from him, she was prepared to run into the safety of her condo. But he was
much quicker. Grabbing her arm, he swung her around to face him. “Tell me
what’s wrong,” he yelled, his control finally breaking. His blue eyes pleaded
with her, his hold tight almost to the point of pain.

“I
lost our baby.”

     
His
gaze shifted back and forth as if unable to settle on one area of her face.
“What are you talking about? What baby?” he asked in a low voice as if afraid
to question the words out loud.

     
“That
summer, I got pregnant.” The words continued to flow from her as if she needed
to purge herself with the truth. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know,
Vincent. I was in pain and bleeding. I didn’t know what was happening. I went
to the emergency room a…a…nd—”