Hot Like Fire (26 page)

He tried not to wince at her morning breath. "Go
brush your teeth before you burn out my nose hairs."

Kadina covered her mouth with both her hands
and giggled. "You should brush yours before I lose
my eyebrows, Daddy," she said, her voice muffled.

He sat her down at his feet and covered his
mouth with both of his hands as well. "Let's both
brush. Deal?"

She nodded before she went running off to the
bathroom.

Kade dropped his hands as he walked back into
his bedroom and then into his private bathroom.
He did his morning ritual before he strode back
into his bedroom. He turned on the television,
then looked in his closet for an outfit other than his
usual Dickies uniforms.

Choosing his own outfits took getting used to.
Reema had laid out what she thought he should
wear, down to his socks and shoes. Life is so much
easier in one of my uniforms, he thought as he selected
a pair of jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a tailored
suede blazer.

Garcelle used to love to see him in anything except
one of his uniforms.

He paused in putting on his clothes at the thought of her. He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts as
he finished getting dressed. "Kadina," he called out.

"I'm right here, Daddy."

He nearly jumped out of his skin at her sudden
appearance at his side. "You brought your clothes?"
he asked as he flopped down on the end of his bed.

"Si, Papi."

He helped her get dressed in her colorful, opaque
stockings and the ruffled jean dress she'd chosen.
"Ready for some turkey and stuffing?"

"And macaroni and cheese, and greens, and cranberry sauce," she finished in a little singsong fashion as she did a little dance.

"Then let's get our shoes on, and let's ride."

She winked at him before she went skipping out
of the room. "You ain't said nothing but a word,
Daddy."

He was slipping on his shoes when Kadina reappeared at his door. He looked up at her face and was
surprised by her serious expression. 'What's wrong?"

"Daddy, I don't want you to be alone anymore,"
Kadina said suddenly as she walked into the room
and smoothed down his lapels.

"First, I'm not alone, because I have you and a
whole bunch of family." Kade looked up at her.
"Second, I know you love me and you just want me
to be happy, but trust me, I'm okay."

"Don't you think Mama loved you?"

Kade's brows furrowed as he frowned at the question. "Yes, your mama loved me very much."

"Then wouldn't she want you to be happy, too,
Daddy?"

Kade paused.

His daughter was right. Reema had been a warm and caring woman. She had put others before herself. She wouldn't want him to be alone.

"I miss hanging out with Garcelle, Daddy."

He nodded. He had a wrenching feeling in his
gut. "Me, too, baby girl. Me, too."

Kade fell silent. Life without Garcelle was hell.
Seeing her around town, and having to fight his
urge to go to her, tore him up. He hadn't been
back in Donnie's restaurant since the day he found
out she was working there. It took everything he
had not to go to her.

Garcelle was still in his system.

"You really like Garcelle, don't you?" he asked her.

"I like her a lot."

"I know you do."

"Don't you like her?"

"I do."

"Good."

If only things could be that simple.

His eyes fell on the wedding portrait as he stood
and slipped his wallet into his back pocket. His
heart ached, and he knew he needed to be around
his family more than ever.

The Santos house was organized confusion.
Everyone spoke freely in Spanish. Music played.
The television blared. The clang of pots echoed
from the kitchen.

Garcelle wiped the sweat from her brow with her
forearm as she stirred a large pot of seafood stew.
She reached for seasonings and bumped into her
father, who was roasting chickens. "Sorry, Papi," she
said as she bent over slightly to taste the broth.

She felt his eyes on her, and she looked over at him, with the spoon poised before her lips. When
she did turn her head to meet his eyes, she saw the
concern he had for her. "I'm okay," she said before
he could ask.

"I disagree, Garcelle."

"Did Marisol call?" she asked as she moved to the
fridge to remove the bowl of salsa.

"Yes, she did, but don't change the subject, Garcelle." Carlos pierced her with his eyes. "Ever since
you and Kade broke up, you have been moping
around the house. You hardly eat. You don't play
poker anymore. You do nothing but go to school
and go to work."

"Papa-"

He held up his hand. "No, let me finish."

Garcelle met her father's eyes.

"If it isn't meant to be, Garcelle, then it just isn't
meant to be," he said softly as he reached over to
squeeze her hand.

He tugged her hand, and she was wrapped in his
loving arms. She didn't want to cry. She wasn't going
to cry. "I just really thought he was the one, you
know? I thought he was for me," she admitted softly.

"I know, bambina, I know." Carlos rocked her
from side to side like she was still his little girl. "The
one for you will come. I promise."

She nodded as she swallowed back any fussy
tears. "Perhaps," was all that she said.

"The food ready?" Paco asked as he peeked his
head into the kitchen.

"Yes, Son, yes," said Carlos. He patted Garcelle's
back comfortingly before he walked over to the
kitchen counter and turned up the radio. The sound
of Tito Puente filled the air as Carlos extended his hand to Garcelle. She smiled and danced over to
him to take his hand, and he spun her.

They used what little room they had to dance
around the kitchen as they cooked. Garcelle knew
it was her father's way of lightening her mood, and
she loved him all the more for it. She loved Kade
no less, but the pain she felt about their breakup
wasn't quite so sharp anymore.

Hours later, after the seven courses of their holiday dinner were enjoyed, Carlos rose to his feet, with
a glass of sangria. He looked around the table, momentarily resting his eyes on each and every person.
"I just want to say that I enjoyed spending time with
you all. Family is very important to me, and on a day
like to day, I am especially thankful to have you all
in my life. Never forget the importance, the strength,
the support, and the love of family."

Everyone raised their glass in a joyful toast before
they sipped from their drinks. Garcelle realized
that the fun, good food, family, and friends had
kept Kade from her mind for most of the day. She
was grateful for that.

Kade knocked on Kahron's office door before he
strolled in. He slid his hands into the pockets of his
tuxedo pants as he looked down at his brother.
"Looking for an escape from all the wedding
hoopla?" he asked before folding his tall frame into
one of the leather chairs before Kahron's desk.

Kahron shook his head as he leaned back in his
chair and wiped his mouth with his hand. "My house has been turned upside, and this is the only
spot where I feel like I'm not a visitor in my home."

Kade laughed as he crossed his ankle over his
knee. "It will all be over tonight, little brother."

Kahron just mumbled under his breath as he
rose and walked over to the bar. He offered Kade a
shot of cognac, but he declined.

"Is uh ... Garcelle coming?" asked Kade.

Kahron watched his brother over the rim of the
glass as he sipped his drink. "No."

Kade felt disappointed and relieved.

"Pour me one of those," said a familiar voice.

Kade looked over his shoulder as Kaleb and
Kaeden strolled into the office in their tailored
tuxedos. Kahron poured the drink and handed it
to Kaleb. He laughed as his brother downed it in
one gulp and winced afterwards.

"Want another shot?" Kahron asked.

Kaleb scowled. "No," he said in a strangled voice.

Kade looked up, and he saw Kahron's face become
transformed. He followed Kahron's line of vision and
saw Bianca walk into the room, in a strapless, floorlength, satin dress of the deepest shade of purple.

The men all rose to their feet before they faced her.

"You're a lucky man, brother," Kade drawled.

"Don't I know it," Kahron said as he walked past
his brothers to reach his wife.

"So this is where you all are hiding," she said as
she raised her face to kiss Kahron briefly before she
looked past him. "Now, I must say that this looks
like a Sean John ad or something. You are one
bunch of sexy ... ass ... men."

"Hey," Kade said as if affronted.

She looked up at Kahron. "You're the sexiest of
them all, baby."

"I'd like a vote on that," Kade called over to the
couple.

"You got that right," Kaleb drawled.

Kaeden straightened his bow tie. "Since Kahron
and I look alike, I'll agree with you, Bianca."

She winked at him before she rubbed her hands
together. "Okay, the wedding will begin, so I need
you all to come out of hiding."

The men headed out of the office just as Bianca
turned back around suddenly. "Boys, if you care
about me at all, keep your mama and her dang-on
J. C. Penneys and Sears catalogs from me today ...
please. Deal?"

"Deal," they all said in baritone unison.

Kade knew his mother was in full grandmother
mode. She'd been the same way when Reema was
pregnant with Kadina. As soon as she knew the egg
had been fertilized, she started shopping. Bianca
had no clue that the more she showed, the worse
his mom was going to get. It would be a full blast of
old wives' tales, talk of decorating the nursery,
choosing baby names, and everything else baby related under the sun.

Of course, she did it out of nothing but love. It
had taken time, but eventually Reema had been glad
for the help. Plus, he knew his mother had been
looking for a heap load of grandkids from them.

Kade's steps faltered. The way his life was going,
there wouldn't be any more kids for him. That
thought saddened him. He loved Kadina to death,
but he'd always imagined having plenty of children.
He frowned deeply.

"What's wrong, Kade?" Kaeden asked as he
slapped him soundly on the back. "You look like
you're the one headed to the altar."

Kade just shrugged as they walked out the front
door and across the lawn to the huge heated tent in
the center of the field. The cold bit through his
suit, and he sped up his steps. He paused at the entrance to the tent, beside his brothers.

"Wow," Kade said as he shoved his hands inside
the pockets of his slacks. "Bianca went all out."

"Yeah," his brothers all said in unison.

The front half of the tent was reserved for the
wedding ceremony, and the rear was given over to
the cocktail reception and dancing. Big, fat dripping candles were lit in every available spot inside
the tent. A multitude of elegantly arranged and
deeply colored flowers made the entire tent smell
like the inside of a perfume bottle. Thirty people
dressed to the nines sat in gold chairs lined up on
either side of the aisle. Hank's and Mimi's names
floated against the walls in lights as they stood at
the altar, before the minister. Kahron, Bianca, and
Kadina stood behind them as the best man, maid of
honor, and flower girl. The soft strains of Etta
James's "At Last" played softly in the background.

I'm late. Garcelle shivered from the cold. Winters
in the South were still winters, and she was freezing.
The faint wave of heat from inside the tent blew
against her body, and she damn near sighed in
pleasure. She eased the tent flap back, hoping to
slide in and grab a seat in the rear, but she stopped
searching when her eyes fell on Kade's profile.

He looked devastatingly gorgeous. His silvery
hair contrasted so well with his skin tone and the
rich black of his tux. Suddenly, the air outside
wasn't quite as cold anymore.

She was late because she had sat for nearly an hour,
looking at her dress, which hung on the door, and
trying to decide-once and for all-if she was going
to attend the wedding. Going to the wedding meant
seeing Kade. She was finally in a place where the
thought of him didn't hurt as much. Memories of
him-his touch, his kisses, his humor, his presence,
his love-were easier to recall without regret. The fact
that their relationship had ended was less bitter to her.

She was getting over Kade Strong ... very slowly
... but very surely.

Garcelle wanted her to attend the wedding, and
she had to admit her curiosity about Hank and
Mimi's relationship made her want to attend. Besides, she thought it was a good way to prove to herself that she was getting over Kade.

So here she was.

Garcelle forced herself to shift her gaze from
Kade. She smiled as she watched Kadina fidget. She
looked adorable in her purple satin dress as she
played with her basket of flowers and made motions with her matching shoes. Kadina turned and
looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened when
they landed on Garcelle. She smiled and waved.

Several people turned to see what had caught
Kadina's attention, and Garcelle could have died.
Especially when Kade looked over his broad shoulder, and his heated eyes fell on her.

Kade felt the breath literally leave his body as he
watched Garcelle step inside the tent and take an
empty seat in the rear.

"Wow," Kaleb said in his ear.

Kade knew his rogue of a brother was commenting on the way Garcelle looked in her short, strapless,
fitted sequin dress, which was a deep slate gray, and
her matching short fur. Her hair was piled atop her
head. Her make-up was dramatic. She looked
absolutely stunning. Wow was right.

His heart hammered in his chest as he forced
himself to face forward.

The minister's words of love and devotion, coupled with the romantic setting and the sounds of
Ettajames, made for a beautiful ceremony. It made
a woman want to believe in love and a man want to
believe in happily ever after.