Her Man: An Interracial Romance (The Bentini Brothers Book 2) (2 page)

     “No, Antonio.  We can’t do things that way…you
didn’t even ask me what I want.  I’m not sure that I’m ready to get married,
but I know that I’m definitely not ready for babies.  How can you think that
what you did is okay?   Do you care about how I feel?”

      “Of course I care about how you feel,
Tiressa.  I love you and I’m ready to commit to you, but apparently you don’t
feel the same for me.”

     “I care deeply for you Antonio.”

     “Yeah, but do you love me?”  I don’t answer
immediately, but he remains calm.  “Tiressa, I keep telling you that you’re
my
love at first sight
.  I can’t explain it other than to say that everything
about you feels right to me.  Our being together feels right –even if you’re
not willing to admit it…yet.”

     I don’t know how to respond…our being together
does
feel right.  I’ve never felt this way about any man before, and
that includes the jerk I married.

     “I love you, Ti, and I’m willing to do what it
takes to prove it to you?”

     “By getting me pregnant, Antonio…is that how
you’re going to prove that you love me?”

     “All I’m saying is that it wouldn’t be the worst
thing in the world Ti.”  Shaking my head at him, I have to resist the urge to
screech.  “We’ve only been dating for a very short time.  We don’t know if this
thing between us is going anywhere and you want to bring babies into it.”  It’s
not a question, it’s clearly an accusation.       

     He quickly stands up from the sofa, towering
above me, his calm expression gone.  “This
thing
between us, as you put
it, will only work if we…if you…want to make it work!  I’ve been declaring my
feelings for you almost from the moment I laid eyes on you.  I’m prepared to
commit to you, yet you persist in acting as if what we have is meaningless!”

     “I never said that!”  I exclaim warily.

     “Then start acting like you want me as much as
I want you!”

     “Antonio, I do want you! You know I do!”

     “Do I?”  He questions doubtfully, piercing me
with a wounded glare for a long angry minute before walking towards the door.

     “Where are you going?!”  I can’t believe he’s
leaving…
is he breaking up with me?! …gawd no!

     “Home.  I told you I don’t play games and I
have a low tolerance for bullshit.  Call me when you make up your mind about this
thing
between us.”

     I stand in the middle of my living room
staring at the door long after Antonio slammed out. 
Damn
.  How did I
end up on defense when he’s the one trying to trap me into a pregnancy I don’t
want.  Sitting on the sofa, I swipe at the tears sliding down my cheeks.  I’ve
never seen Antonio so angry before…at least not at me.  I indulge in a bit of
self-pity for a few minutes before I pull myself together and think about the
consequences that could result from last night.  Getting up off the sofa, I slip
on a pair of sandals, grab my purse and car keys.  Less than ten minutes later,
I’m at the pharmacy down the street from my apartment paying for the morning
after pill.  Although I balk at shelling out fifty dollars for one tiny pill, I
gladly hand the pharmacist the money.  He looks at me with such a condescending
smirk, which really pisses me off –so much so, that I have him ring me up for
two more. 
Judgmental bastard!

     I spend the rest of the day curled up in bed praying
that the gawd-awful headache and nausea—side effects from the morning after
pill—will soon release me from my misery; my only comfort is the pillow I’m
hugging tight against my stomach, the one with Antonio’s familiar masculine
scent.

Chapter 15

     “Mr. Bentini, Mr. Matthews has arrived.” 

     “Thank you, Ms. Fuller, please send him in.”  Antonio
stands behind his desk as Derrick enters.  He doesn’t offer his hand, instead
he motions towards one of the chairs in front of his desk and directs Derrick
to have a seat.  “Look, Derrick, I’ll get right to the point.  I’m aware that
you and Tiressa dated for a brief time, months ago, before she began working
here at B&S.”  At Derrick’s quirked eyebrow and nod, he continues.  “And
you’re aware that Tiressa and I are now dating.”  Caught completely off guard,
Derrick stammers a reply.  “Uh, no.  No, I can’t say that I…that I was aware of
that.”  Giving him a searing look, Antonio states.  “Yes, well, we are—”

     Derrick cuts in, his voice rising.  “She
hasn’t mentioned that she’s seeing you.”

     “Whether she’s mentioned it or not, the fact
remains, she and I are dating and we have been for a while now.  So, I’m sure
you’ll understand that I don’t appreciate your repeatedly throwing yourself on
her.”

     “With all due respect, Antonio, I don’t recall
that I’ve ever thrown myself on Tiressa.”

     “Apparently, we disagree.  Not that it matters
much.  She’s with me and there’s no room in our relationship for a third
wheel.  You need to step out of the picture.”

     “What exactly does that mean, step out of the
picture?”

     “It means exactly what it sounds like.  Sever
your friendship with Tiressa.”

     “I don’t believe that’s a decision for you to
make.  Tiressa is—”

     “My woman and I have zero intentions of
sharing any part of her with you or any other man.”

     “Look, Antonio, I’m fully aware of the power
you wield here at B&S, but my friendship with Tiressa is a personal
matter.  I don’t—”

     “What you
don’t
want to do, Derrick, is
continue down this path because you’re not going to like where it leads you.”

     Shaking his head, Derrick lashes out.  “It’s
never going to work; everyone knows how Mrs. Bentini feels about…”  His voice suddenly
trails off as if he just realized what he’s saying; but he doesn’t back down, matching
Antonio, glare for glare, before finally saying what’s on his mind.  “Are you
serious about Tiressa or are you just looking for a good time?”

     “That’s none of your damn business.  Tiressa
is no longer your concern.  Stay away from her.”  After throwing out that
command, he stands up, giving Derrick no choice but to stand up as well; it is
an obvious signal that the discussion has ended.  As Derrick is walking to the
door, Antonio stops him.  “Derrick.  Consider yourself warned.  You only get
this one.”      

***

     “What the hell was that Derrick?!”  Jason
demands sharply as they finish their racquetball match and head towards the
locker room.

     “Sorry, I guess I was taking it out on you.”

     “Hell, I figured that much out for myself. 
What I want to know is -what’s got you so angry?”

     “Your brother!”  Derrick responds heatedly.

     “What are you talking about?  Which brother, I
have six of them, you know.”

     “Antonio!”  Derrick fumes recalling his
conversation with the arrogant older brother of his friend.

     “Okay, we make progress…what did Tony do that
has you so livid?”

     “He had the audacity to order me to stay away
from Tiressa!”

     “What do you mean, stay away from her?”  When
Derrick hesitates and it appears he’s not going to answer, Jason continues. 
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to date her again?”

     “What if I am?”  Derrick demands.

     Shrugging his shoulders, Jason responds.  “Why
would Antonio care if you’re interested in Ti?”

     “Because he’s dating her!”

     “What the hell are you talking about?!” 

     “Are you saying you didn’t know?”

     “They aren’t involved like that!  Are they?”

     “That’s what I’ve been saying.  He’s seeing her
and today he had the balls to order me to stay away from her.”

     After letting out a low whistle, Jason ask, “Damn. 
What are you going to do?”

     “I don’t know, but I don’t want to give up my
friendship with Tiressa.”

     “You know you want to be more than just her
friend, Derrick.”

     “Even if I do, he doesn’t have the right to
demand that I completely stop seeing her.”

     “Maybe not, but you have to admit that no man
wants a male friend with the hots for his woman buzzing around trying to get
her honey.”  Jason laughs at his own wit.

     “Come on man, this isn’t funny.  Your brother
is acting like a damn tyrant…he thinks he owns her.”

     “Well, as your friend, I feel I should warn
you that of all my brothers, Antonio is the most possessive when it comes to
what he considers his.  If he told you to step out of the way, it’s probably in
your best interest to step out of the way.  You don’t want to cross him
Derrick.”

***

     “So what did you find out?”  The gruff voice asks
with reluctant resignation.  Letting out a heavy sigh, Antonio gives his report. 
“I followed her to her parents’ home a couple counties away.  I was able to
discover that she’s been visiting her parents a lot more over the past two
years –since that time she went to help nurse her grandmother and stayed for an
extended period, remember?”  When he receives a brief distracted nod, he
continues.  “During the times that she’s there, she basically keeps the same
routine; which is to visit with close family members, and sometimes she hangs
out with a few friends.  Lately, however she’s been seeing an old boyfriend.” 
At this point Antonio pauses before continuing hesitantly.  “They appear to be
pretty serious.  He shows up at her parents’ home every day that she’s there.”

     “Do you have any information on him?”  William
Bentini grates out between clenched teeth.

     “Yes I do.  But I’ll ask again, big brother...why
does it matter when you have a fiancée?”

     Looking Antonio right in the eye, William
responds.  “It’s complicated.  You should understand how convoluted things can
get Antonio, seeing as how you’re now seeing Tiressa.”

     Gray eyes clash with blue in a contest of power,
before Antonio swings his gaze to the window and then just as quickly fix his
eyes back on his older brother.  “I’m not giving her up Will, so save your
breath.”

     “In case you have failed to notice little
brother, I have enough lady problems of my own.”  They look at each other in
unspoken agreement.  Antonio will keep William’s confidence in regards to
Katherine, and William will keep Antonio’s secret in regards to Tiressa.

***

     Kathy and I are walking towards our offices,
when William Bentini stops us.  “Good morning ladies, Ms. Hawkins do you mind
if I have a word with Ms. Walters?”  Kathy and I exchange quick uneasy
glances.  “Sure, no problem, Mr. Bentini”, I say in a rush.  Swinging my gaze
back to Kathy I ask her to call me when she’s ready.  Then watch as William Bentini
walks Kathy in the direction of his office.

     “Hold all my calls for the next ten minutes,
Mrs. Bradley.”  William Bentini tosses over his shoulder to his administrative
assistant, as he ushers Kathy into his office with a firm hand at the small of
her back. 

     As soon as the door closes, Kathy rounds on
him.  “You have no right herding me in here like that!  You’re going to cause
people to talk!”

     “I wouldn’t have to herd you if you would stop
avoiding me and answer my damn calls.”  William Bentini snarls right back.

      “We have nothing to discuss William!  I am
employed by your mother.  You are jeopardizing my employment.”

     “Contrary to what you seem to think, we have a
lot to talk about!  Like, where do you go when you leave town?”

    
Oh my gawd, he knows!
  “Wh…What do you
mean?”  Kathy stammers, stalling, as she desperately tries to think of the best
way to respond.

     “Who is Todd Whitman?!”  William barely gets
the hated name past his stiff lips before he grabs Kathy by the arms.

     “What?  How do you know Todd?”  She asks
completely perplexed.

     “Never mind how I know
Todd
!”  William
brings her toe-to-toe with him.  Then it suddenly occurs to her.  “Oh my gawd! 
You had me followed!  Are you having me followed Will!”  When he stubbornly
refuses to answer, she breaks away from him.  “How dare you!  How dare you
invade my privacy that way—”

     “I dare anything I damn well please!”  William
attempts to grab Kathy again, but she darts out of his reach.  “William, you
threw me away for a woman your family approves of and you have the utter
audacity to interrogate me about another man in my life!”  Kathy didn’t know
which emotion was prevailing more…hurt or anger. 
Or relief.

      “Kathy, I didn’t throw you away…you know that
I love you!”

     “No!  No, William!  You don’t have the right
to say those words to me!”  Kathy shouts, angrily swiping tears from her
cheeks.