Read Just Can't Get Enough Online
Authors: Cheris Hodges
Just Can't Get Enough (18 page)
“It's me.” The phone went dead and Darius looked at the small silver phone to see if his signal had dropped. A few seconds later, the front door to the building opened and Celina marched down the steps. She was looking like New York again, not the same woman who stood before him on the back steps of Thomas Hart's house in Elmore. She was dressed in a black Prada minidress that was tailored to her exquisite frame, a pair of black stiletto boots that left a sliver of skin showing. Her afro was pulled up in a ponytail with a pair of designer sunglasses stuck on her head. “I can't believe you're here,” she said as she rushed into his arms. Celina's lips brushed across his neck.
Darius let her go and held her at arm's length so that he could look into her eyes. “I thought about stepping back and giving you time to do whatever you needed to do, but I know that you've been known to sabotage a relationship. Besides, I missed you.”
“And, you don't play fair,” she said with a laugh.
Darius smiled. “That's true. So, are you going to invite me up?”
“Of course,” she said as she grabbed his hand and led him up the steps as if she were excited to show him her place. Celina's loft was everything he expected it to be. The walls were painted bright yellow, with green ivy stenciled on them. The colors reminded him of a bright summer day. Several prints of her work sat on the floor. The ceiling was painted powder blue like the sky. “Wow,” Darius said as he looked around the place.
Celina smiled. “I can't believe you, Darius.”
“What?”
“You're here.”
“That is a good thing, isn't it?” he inquired. Celina nodded.
“It is.”
“I mean, if I'm crowding you, let me know, because I don't want to scare you away.”
Celina kissed him on the cheek. “I don't think I have a reason to be afraid.”
Progress
, Darius thought as he fought to keep his expression unchanged.
, Darius thought as he fought to keep his expression unchanged.
“Are you hungry?” Celina asked as they walked into the kitchen. Darius followed her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Yes, but not for anything in your icebox.” Darius captured Celina's lips with his, kissing her with an unbridled passion that made her head spin. He let her go. “But, I'm willing to wait for that. This dress means that you have somewhere to go, doesn't it?”
Celina cleared her throat several times and rubbed the front of her head. “Um,” she said. “I was about to head into midtown and drop off some prints at the Barbara Mathes Gallery. Why don't you come with me and we can make a day of it?”
“I'd love to,” Darius said, although, he really wanted a day of making love to his woman. The woman he wanted to love, cherish, and honor for the rest of his life. The thought of waking up to Celina every day made him smile. “All right, would you grab this for me?” Celina asked as she picked up the prints from beside the door and handed them to Darius.
“You're taking a cab, right?” he asked as he placed the prints under his arm.
“Cabs are a luxury,” Celina said as she reached into the ivory and yellow jar sitting by the door on a wrought iron table and pulled out a Metro card. Darius shook his head, not looking forward to lugging Celina's art collection through New York's underground.
“I'll get the cab and you can cook me a steak for dinner,” he said.
Celina giggled. “What, are you afraid of the subway?”
“No, just the hernia I'll get from lugging your masterpieces,” he said.
Celina tapped him on the shoulder. “All right, Darius, we'll take a taxi, but let P. Diddy take care of your steak.”
“Justin's for dinner, huh? I'll settle for that, as long as you provide the dessert,” he said as he headed out the front door.
“You're so bad,” she said as she locked the door behind them. The couple walked about three blocks before a yellow cab passed them. Darius soaked up the city atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of the crowd, the mix of Spanish, hip-hop, and old soul music blaring from the various brownstones. Trucks, cars, and SUVs sped down the road as if they were rushing to a fire or the crash of the stock market. Celina seemed to flourish in the busyness of it all. He wondered how she could walk so comfortably in those killer shoes. Darius was sure this was why she always walked around barefoot at home. He watched her as she stuck her arm out to hail a cab. Her profile was big-city chic. How could he ask her to give this up for Elmore? She was in her element and nothing in Elmore could compare to New York.
“Celina,” Darius said as they got into a cab that finally stopped for them. “Are you sure you're ready to give this up?”
She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. Right now, I just want to be wherever you are.”
Darius touched her face. “You don't know how that makes me feel to hear you say that,” he said as he kissed her lips gently.
The Jamaican taxi driver cleared his throat. “Where you two heading? Weddin' chapel?”
Darius laughed.
“No,” Celina said. “Not right yet. East 57th Street.”
The driver put the pedal to the medal and headed for midtown. When Darius and Celina got to the gallery, he was surprised to see a banner heralding Celina's exhibit.
“Wow, I didn't know you had a showing here,” he said in awe.
“The gallery director heard a rumor that I'd left Paris and she made it her mission to get me here. It's a short showing, just a few pieces for a few weeks. I told her I have to go back south, so she put this together really quickly. I didn't know about it until I got off the plane.”
Darius nodded, thinking that he was asking Celina to give up a lot to be with him. When they walked into the gallery, a tall, wispy, blond woman dressed in the Manhattan uniformâall blackâgreeted them. She rushed toward Celina. “Oh my goodness, you look divine. Is that Prada? Did you pick this up in Paris?” Then she turned to Darius. “Wow, did you pick him up in Paris, too?”
Celina shook her head, looking as if she was about to die of embarrassment. Darius had forgotten how brash city women could be. Celina turned to Darius and smiled. Then she looked at the woman. “No, Millicent, this one is homegrown.”
“Really?” Millicent asked. “Maybe I need to take a trip down south. Are there any more like you at home?”
“No,” Darius said. “I'm one of a kind.”
“Pity,” Millicent replied. “So, Celina, get on with the introductions.”
“This is Darius McRae, my boyfriend.”
Millicent raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Celina Hart has a boyfriend.” She linked her arm around Celina's and said in a loud whisper. “I see where the inspiration for these paintings comes from.”
Darius cleared his throat, “Are you ladies going to take these paintings or does my arm have to fall off?”
Millicent raised her arm and snapped her fingers. “Where is William? I swear these interns are getting lazier and lazier. Darius, dahling, will you just bring these paintings over here.” She led Celina and Darius to a dim area off the main floor. Darius leaned the paintings against the wall. “What do we have here?” Millicent said as she pulled the white cloth covering the paintings back. She eyed the paintings with wide-eyed wonderment. “I love them all, but this one.” She pointed to Celina's latest work,
H2Love
. “This has got to go on the Web site. This will start people talking.”
H2Love
. “This has got to go on the Web site. This will start people talking.”
“Yes, it will,” Darius commented, remembering the day Celina painted it. He stole a glance at her. She had a bright smile plastered on her face as if they shared the same thought.
“Well,” Millicent said as she looked from Darius to the painting. “You must be the model.”
“No, just the inspiration,” Celina said. “So, when does the show open?”
“Tomorrow night and I have so much to do,” Millicent said as she placed her hand to her forehead, reminding Darius of a drama queen. “But the buzz is there. Fresh from Paris, New York's own Celina Hart. The
Times
is coming, as well as
InStyle,
and all of the TV stations. Word is you have a famous former president as a fan, so please don't wear a blue dress.”
Times
is coming, as well as
InStyle,
and all of the TV stations. Word is you have a famous former president as a fan, so please don't wear a blue dress.”
Darius and Celina broke out laughing. “I don't have a blue dress,” Celina replied once she gained her composure.
Millicent looked at Darius. “You will be here, right? I'm sure you have an haute couture tuxedo for Celina's big night.”
Millicent was starting to grate on Darius's nerves. “Actually,” he said ironically. “I'm happy with what I'm wearing.”
She visibly blanched. “You can't be serious. This is New York, the press, you're Celina's best accessory,” she said.
“Millicent,” Celina said. “Calm down. Darius is more than an arm piece, okay? We're going to go grab something to eat. I'll be back later to check out the space. Thank you so much for this.”
Millicent nodded. Celina and Darius turned to walk out the door. Celina squeezed Darius's arm once they got outside. “And you wonder why I want to give this all up,” she said.
He shook his head and kissed Celina on the cheek. “Miss Millie just doesn't have any manners, now, does she?” Darius said as he held his arm up to hail a cab.
CHAPTER 18
Celina talked Darius into taking the subway to Justin's and as soon as they got on the crowded subway, she wished they had taken a cab. She grabbed the only empty seat in the car and Darius stood above her.
“So,” he said as he held on to the bar above her seat. “Do I really need a tux?”
“Maybe a nice suit, but not a tux. Don't pay Millie any attention. She thinks that anyone not from New York or not an artist has no sense of fashion. After lunch, we can go shopping, if you want to,” she said.
Darius grinned. “You don't trust my judgment?”
Celina snorted. “Well,” she said stroking the fabric of his jeans. “Not in everything. And I didn't see you with any bags when you appeared on my doorstep.”
“Are you trying to say I don't have model quality?” he joked.
“Well, when you're naked you do,” she said, then grew serious. “Guess who followed me to New York.”
“Don't tell me it was Tiffany,” he said.
Celina nodded and replayed the scene on the flight.
“Did she follow you from the plane?” Darius asked.
“No,” Celina said. “I made sure she left before I did.”
Darius banged his hand against his thigh. “I told Wayman she was dangerous, but he wouldn't listen.”
Celina shuddered, not wanting to believe that Tiffany would do something to hurt her or Darius. She placed her hand on Darius's leg. “Your love does all of this to women?”
“Tiffany never loved me, she loved what she thought I could do for her. We were supposed to be Elmore's answer to Ben and J-Lo.”
Celina laughed. “We all saw how their relationship turned out. What are we supposed to be?”
He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. “Celina and Darius.”
When the train came to a stop, they got off, holding hands and smiling at each other. Even to the most cynical New Yorker, the love between them was undeniable. Some people passing them on the street smiled at the young couple. “So, what are the well-dressed arm pieces wearing these days?” Darius asked as they passed a new men's boutique about three blocks from Justin's. Celina looked up at the store's marquee and squealed. “That's my painting,” she said. “Lou used it.” Celina pulled Darius by the arm and they walked in the store.
“Welcome to Legacy,” a tall, dark-skinned sales clerk said when Celina and Darius walked in. “What can I help you find, today?”
“Is Lou here?” Celina asked excitedly. Darius raised his eyebrow, wondering just who in the hell was Lou.
“I'll go check,” he said as he headed to the back of the store. Darius walked over to a rack of Italian suits, holding his breath and waiting to see “Lou.” Celina walked toward the back of the store. “Celina Hart!” a big voice boomed. Celina hugged Lou tightly, nearly being smothered by the woman's huge breasts. “Louise Parker. I can't believe you finally opened this place.”
“Well, I had to find something to do with that painting,” she said as she looked around the store and spotted Darius. “Um, who is that? He is a prime piece of . . .”
“That's my boyfriend,” Celina said.
Lou's mouth dropped open. “Your what? I can't believe it. You've actually let a man get close to you.”
Celina shook her head. Lou was one of the first people Celina had met when she moved to Harlem. The two women had moved into the same brownstone. Louise, who was twenty years Celina's senior, stopped her and told her how much she loved her hair. Celina thanked the woman and proceeded to pick up one of her paintings. Lou stopped dead in her tracks and offered Celina five hundred dollars for it. Celina, at the time, was strapped for cash, and sold the painting. “I'm going to make this painting famous,” Lou had said as she held up the canvas that depicted a man standing at the edge of a lake, looking into the water at the reflection of his ancestors. “I'm going to put this up at my shop.”
Celina had nodded and continued lugging her things up the steps. Lou had reached out and given Celina a hand, telling her that she reminded her of her daughter and, if she ever needed anything, to let her know. Celina had been touched by the older woman's kindness and the two became fast friends. Over the years, Celina and Lou had lost contact with each other because Celina was off doing her art shows and Lou had opened Legacy in Chelsea, but their bond remained unchanged.
“So,” Lou said, breaking Celina out of her thoughts about their friendship. “This guy, what's his name?”
“Darius.” Celina smiled when she said his name.
Lou was shocked at Celina and the way she was acting. She clearly remembered Celina saying that she'd never fall in love and that she didn't need the hassle of it.
“Well, well, the artist has found love. Is he from New York?”
Celina shook her head. “We actually grew up together.”
Lou smiled. “Ah, Southern Comfort. Have you guys moved to New York?”
“I don't think that's in the plans,” she said. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! I have a showing tomorrow at Barbara Mathes's Gallery.”
Lou clasped her hands together and smiled. “I can't believe this. I'm there,” she said. “So, that's why you're here? Mr. Darius needs a suit.” Lou looked at him and smiled. “I must say, you have good taste.”
Darius walked over to the two women, relieved that Lou was a woman and carrying an olive-green Sean John suit with a quarter-length jacket.
Celina reached out and touched the suit. “I like it,” she said.
“Hello, Darius,” Lou said extending her hand to him. “I'm Louise, also known as Lou.”
“She's my New York mom,” Celina said as the two shook hands.
“It's nice to meet you,” he said. “Just need to try this on.”
Lou looked at him, then the suit. “Make sure you get a crisp white shirt to go with this. It is going to look great with your skin tone. I know men's fashion. The fitting room is right through there,” she said, pointing to a pair of ivory curtains. Darius disappeared behind the curtains. A few minutes later he came out, modeling the suit. “What do you think?” he asked as he pulled the jacket open and turned from side to side.
Lou clapped for him as if he were a runway model. “That looks good. It's yours. If the press talks to you, mention Legacy,” she said with a laugh.
Darius looked at the price tag on the suit. “I can't buy this,” he said.
“You're not, I'm giving it to you,” she said. “Alan, get Darius one of those white dress shirts for the suit.” Alan nodded and walked over to a display of shirts, where he picked one.
After Darius got his suit, and Celina and Lou had caught up with one another, the couple headed to Justin's for lunch. As usual, the trendy restaurant was packed. There was an hour wait for a table. “I'm starving,” Darius said. “Why don't we go there?” He pointed down the street to an outdoor café. Celina smiled because the place reminded her of Paris. Since The French Bistro had just opened up, there wasn't a crowd. Celina and Darius took a seat at one of the tables closest to the street.
“I used to eat at a place like this in Paris,” she said as she picked up the colorful menu.
“Are you going back to Paris?” he asked. “I know that was a great opportunity for you. Thomas is doing better . . . you could go back and finish that project and . . .”
“Darius, I'm where I want to be. I thought I made that clear?”
He reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “I just don't want you to feel like you're giving up your life to be with me. Watching you and how you move through this city, seeing your name plastered across buildings, I know you're meant for more than just being in Elmore.”
Celina kissed his hand. “There are planes, trains, and automobiles that can take me anywhere I need to go. Darius, I'm an artist, a free spirit, remember. I love you and I don't want you to think that I'm doing anything that I don't want to do.”
“And you're sure about this?”
Celina nodded. “I've never been more sure about anything.” Though she still had her insecurities, she knew that loving Darius was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. His love was better than Paris, more important than an art gallery opening, and the one thing that had been missing from her life.
They ate their authentic French entrées in silence, only commenting on the taste of the food between bites. After lunch, Celina decided to take Darius back to her place so they could go sightseeing in Harlem. They hopped on the subway, heading back uptown. The ride back was less crowded and Celina and Darius sat side by side. She leaned against him. “I like this,” she said.
“What? Riding the subway?”
“Sharing New York with you.”
Darius fell silent, but finally built up enough courage to ask, “Are you going to move back here?”
“No, we have to open our gallery,” she said. “Darius, I love New York, but it doesn't compare to you.”
When they returned to Harlem, the last thing Darius wanted to do was walk around sightseeing. His time on the plane and their nonstop movement was catching up with him.
“I need a nap,” he told Celina as they walked up the steps to her brownstone. “I've been going all day.”
“All right, well, I need to get some things together for tomorrow. So, you nap and I'll work.” Celina opened the door to her loft and walked in. Once she and Darius were inside, she pointed him in the direction of the bedroom. He kissed her on the cheek. “Feel free to wake me up,” he said as he walked into the bedroom. Before Darius could take his shirt off, his cell phone rang.
“Yeah,” he said.
“I see your girlfriend has a gallery opening tomorrow. Wouldn't it be a shame if something ruined her big night?” Tiffany said.
“Listen to me, Tiffany, leave Celina alone.” Darius tightened his grip around the phone.
“Maybe I will. Darius, how long do you think she's going to stay with a one-trick pony like you? She has a life in New York that you can't compare to and when I'm done, she's not going to want to hear your name,” she said before hanging up the phone. Darius looked up and saw Celina standing in the doorway.
“That was her, wasn't it?”
Darius nodded. “Celina, don't worry about Tiffany. I have it under control,” he said as he motioned for Celina to come over to the bed. She sat down beside him.
“Everything would be perfect if she wasn't sticking her nose where it didn't belong,” she said angrily. Celina rose to her feet and paced back and forth. “Something has to be done about her. If she's unstable enough to follow me here, then there's no telling what she might do.”
Darius reached out to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Calm down, baby. Why don't you join me in bed, I just want to feel you against me,” he said.
Celina kissed his cheek. “I wish I could, but I have so much to do before tomorrow. So, you sleep and I'll work.” Celina stood up and headed into the living room.
Darius silently prayed that Tiffany wouldn't make good on her threat and ruin Celina's opening.
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