Midnight Kisses (12 page)

“I can only imagine how that affected you. I can only promise you that I won't ever intentionally hurt you. I'm not one for making love without commitment. I may not be the minister I was before, but I'm still not happy with just having sex for having sex. I care about you.”

“Then we're in agreement. I don't want to be a booty call. That's not the kind of person I am, but as you said, I'm uncertain, too. Maybe I'll go to Barbados with you. That way we can use the time there to see if this is more than just a romp between the sheets.”

“Well, how about we romp between the sheets right now? I want to make love to you again.”

Her hands gripped his hardness tightly and it jerked in her hands. Damn, he was definitely ready for her again. He rolled her over onto her back, poised himself above her and shifted her legs apart with his knees. He looked down at her, seeing the sweltering heat in her eyes. He captured her lips in a passionate kiss and set out to show her how much making love to her gave him pleasure.

 

Daniel walked into the Center feeling as if he were walking on air. It was a bit of a cliché but in his case it was completely true. His feet felt light and his body felt agile.

He left Renée's apartment in the early hours of the morning, reluctantly. He'd watched her as she slept and knew that if he were honest with himself he would admit that what he felt for her went further that just attraction. Even now he didn't want to say the word. But in time he knew he'd have to face up to the reality of what was happening to him.

Shelley stepped out of her office as he was about to knock on her door.

“Morning, Shelley,” he practically chirped.

“You're very cheerful this morning, Mr. Buchanan. I'm wondering what, or should I say who, is responsible for that aura of satisfaction.” She bent her head closer to his, her brown eyes sparkling, and whispered, “Can I assume that it is the lovely Ms. Walker?”

He laughed, but the look on his face told it all.

Shelley squealed and placed her hands over her eyes. “Oh, my, the image in my mind is too vivid. This is not good for an aging individual like me who doesn't get any.”

They laughed.

“On a more serious note,” he said, “and so that our colleagues don't think that we've gone crazy, I need to take some vacation time in the next few weeks. Over Thanksgiving. I've decided that I'm going to Barbados.”

“That's good. The best idea I've heard in months.”

“Renée will be going with me.”

She squealed again. “Oh, a tropical wedding!”

“Shelley,” Daniel cautioned, “we're going to Barbados for a family reunion that my brother Taurean has planned. That's it. Nothing more,” he emphasized.

“So you say. You mark my word, there's going to be a tropical wedding some day soon.”

“I hear you,” he responded. “And now I think you better go on your way,” he said with a smirk. “Just want to know if I can have the time.”

“Of course you can. Haven't I been trying to encourage you to take some time off? You haven't taken a vacation in the two years you've been here,” she commented. “What about Jerome?” she added.

“I'll talk to him today when he comes in. I wish I could take him with me, but he has exams coming up. I'm meeting with his grandmother this evening about letting him come to stay with me. I've mentioned it to her on the phone. She's worried about him. She's sick and there is no one to take care of him. She and I don't want him to end up in the system.”

“I'm sorry to hear about her. But are you sure you want to do this?” she asked.

“I'm sure. I know I want to take care of him. I know I'm ready to be a father again. Maybe this is part of my healing.”

“Good, I'm hoping it all works itself out. He's a good boy and just needs someone like you in his life. Plus he'll be gaining two in one.”

“Two in one?”

“Yes, a dad and a mom,” she replied, chuckling.

“You're too much. Just don't count my chickens before they hatch.”

“Oh, I never do, but I'm going to tell Jerome he's going to have to call me Aunty Shelley.” She paused. “That sounds so good.”

He glared at her.

“Okay, I'll leave you. I'm going over to meet with the mayor. He wants us to work on an upcoming program. Sounds interesting and should bring us some great funding.” She walked away, whistling loudly.

It was only as he turned to walk to his office that he realized she was whispering, “I'm Getting Married in the Morning.”

 

Of course, Cheryl's reaction to her upcoming trip made Renée wonder if she was doing to right thing.

“Oh, you're going to have some great sex under the tropical moonlight. I wish I could come with you,” Cheryl whined.

“But you'd have to bring Julian along. I'm sure he wouldn't want you finding some hunky island boy.”

“Me? Leave Julian? Definitely not! I was only allowing my oversexed mind to dream. I just read the most fabulous romance set on the islands. It was so hot I had to turn up the air-conditioning. Poor Julian didn't sleep at all that night.” She giggled. “Not that he complained. He has more energy that I do. Sometimes I have to tell him I have a headache just to take a break. And then in the middle of the night, I forget all about the headache and we're doing it like rabbits.”

“Both of you need help,” Renée teased. “I'm surprised that either of you can walk with all the sex you're having.”

“And on that note, I'm going to have to say goodbye. I hear Julian calling me from the bathroom. It's George Benson night…”

“George Benson night? As I said, both of you are sick. Have fun.”

“Definitely.” The phone disconnected, but not before she heard Cheryl yell, “I'm coming, honeypoo!”

Renée placed the phone down, unable to control her laughter. Cheryl and Julian were the perfect couple and she wondered why after a year of dating they hadn't made the final step. She'd never seen two people who were more in love. Well, except in the picture on the mantelpiece at her parent's home. The picture was one of the few memories of her father, but each time she looked at it, the love she saw in her father's eyes was the kind of love she wanted for herself. Her mother's words over the years had only served to confirm that her parents had been madly in love. Maybe that's why her mother never ceased her matchmaking. She only wanted what she'd had for her daughter.

Tonight she'd pay her mother a visit. In the past few weeks she hadn't even been over for dinner or lunch. Strange enough, her mother hadn't called about any new dates she'd set up. She definitely had to go visit. She wanted to tell her mother about Daniel.

Tomorrow she'd talk to her supervisor and let him know of her plans. She wanted things to work out with Daniel. She'd thought long and hard after their night of
passion and she knew she loved him. Her admission had not been earth-shattering, like in the romance novels she read, but it had come with a simple acceptance of what she'd long known but had refused to acknowledge.

She loved him. Loved everything about the troubled, stubborn man who hadn't even tried to charm her. He was a special individual and didn't even know it. His devotion to the Center, his willingness to take time out to see Jamie and his commitment to a young boy who needed a father. All these things made him the wonderful individual he was.

She could almost hear her mother now.
It's about time. Let's go shopping. I know where to find the perfect wedding dress.

But for now, these were her fantasies. She knew Daniel liked her, cared for her, and though Cheryl claimed that she was sure he loved her, to expect more would be to be two steps ahead of where their relationship was.

Even if he loved her, there was nothing that said he would marry her. She knew that, even now, memories of his past still haunted him. But that didn't mean she would give up. If ever there was a chance for her to find her happily ever after, now was the time.

So she'd go with him to the island. She'd be herself. And hopefully, the island would work its magic and under the midnight moon they'd share magical kisses and declare their love for each other.

She walked out onto the balcony and inhaled deeply. In the distant sky, a star hurled its way across the darkness. She smiled. Memories of another time she'd
stood here came back to her vivid and clear, almost as if she'd stepped back in time.

“Maybe…just maybe,” she whispered into the night. “I have found true love.”

D
aniel stepped into the elevator and pressed for the fifth floor, amazed when the contraption actually moved upward. He felt a bit uncomfortable. This was the first time he would be visiting Jerome's home. Usually, when they spent time together, Jerome would meet him at the Center. He'd spoken on several occasions to the teenager's grandmother, but never met her in person.

The elevator stopped with a groan and he thanked God that he'd reached his destination safely. He walked down the dirty hallway until he reached apartment 509. He knocked on the door. It opened immediately, and Jerome stood there smiling broadly.

“Yo, man.”

They did their usual knock and Jerome stepped back so he could enter.

The apartment was tiny and clean, but it took him a while to adjust to the dimly lit interior. An elderly woman sat there, her eyes focused on him.

She smiled as he approached her. She was frail and seemed tired, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.

“So you're the Mr. Buchanan who my grandson's always talking about. Come sit here so we can talk. Jerome, you go to your room while we adults chat.” Her voice was surprisingly strong.

When Jerome made his exit, she turned to him. “So you want to take care of my grandson?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he said. He felt like a little boy being interrogated by a principal.

“You think I can't take care of my grandson?”

“Not at all, ma'am,” he replied.

“Well I can't,” she said emphatically. “I'm dying. It's cancer. And there is no one to take care of him when I'm gone. The only person is his good-for-nothing uncle. I don't want that man anywhere around Jerome when I'm gone. He's bad and I thank God each day for letting my grandson go to that Center. He's been a different boy. I've seen the change in him. I've seen how you helped to change him.” She paused, coughing loudly, her body wracked with spasms.

He stood, moving to assist her, but with a flick of her hand, she ushered him back to his seat.

“It's all right. There's not much you can do. I can take care of myself. I didn't live for eighty-two years for nothing. But thanks for the help. You're a good man.”

“Thank you,” Daniel replied.

“Well, I don't see that I have much of a choice. I don't
have anywhere else for him to go, but besides that, I can see you're a good man. Get me a lawyer and we can take care of the legalities. At least when I die, I know he's in good hands. You have a girlfriend?”

“Yes,” he answered immediately.

“Good, Jerome needs a father, but he needs a mother, too. A woman's touch is good. You plan on marrying her?”

“If she'll have me.”

She laughed. “Oh, so she's giving you a bit of trouble? That's good. A man needs to do a bit of chasing so he appreciates what he wants. I remember giving my late husband a long chase. Made him wait until our wedding night.” She laughed loudly, but broke into another fit of coughing.

When she finally stopped, she said. “You can call the boy now. Where are you taking him?”

“My girlfriend and I are taking him to the movies. She hasn't met him yet.”

She smiled. “That's good.”

He stood and headed toward where Jerome had disappeared.

“One more thing,” she said. He stopped and turned.

“You take care of my grandson good. I want him to grow up to be a good, God-fearing man. I know I won't get to see that but that's my wish.”

“I promise. You have nothing to be worried about.”

“Then I can die in peace. You make sure you bring that girlfriend here and let me see her. If she's going to be my grandson's mother, I got to see her.”

“I'll do that as soon as possible.”

Daniel walked down the corridor and knocked on the door of room Jerome had entered.

The boy came out, concern on his face.

“You ready to go?” Daniel asked.

“Yes, sure. I've been ready. I can't wait to see this movie.”

“You sure you up to having my girl along.”

“It's cool, man. As long as she's not one of those snobs. She better be cool.”

“I promise you, she
is
cool.”

“Good, let's go.”

Daniel followed him back to the sitting room. Jerome bent down to hug and kiss his grandmother.

“Have a good time. Mr. Buchanan, you come here and give me a hug, too,” she said.

Daniel complied. The old lady was something else.

 

“Is she going to get here soon?” Jerome asked for the hundredth time.

“Jerome, didn't I tell you she'd be here in the next five minutes or so. We got here early.”

“I know, I know. I'm just looking forward to meeting her. Just want to see what kind of girl my main man likes.”

“Okay, well, your wait is over. She's coming.”

Jerome immediately turned in the direction Daniel was looking. His mouth stayed wide open, but he composed himself quickly.

“Man, you've got good taste. She's one hot…” He stopped. “Sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect.”

“It's fine. I
know
she's hot.” They both laughed.

Daniel greeted her with a kiss on the cheek when she reached them.

Renée turned to Jerome, smiling. “And who's this handsome young man?”

Before Daniel could respond, Jerome stuck a hand out. “Jerome,” he replied. “Nice to meet you.”

“A gentleman, too,” Renée said. “It's great to meet you, too.” With that, she placed her arms around him and hugged him.

“You gentlemen ready to go watch this movie?” she asked, putting her arm on Jerome's shoulder, who looked up at her with devoted eyes.

“Yes, I'm ready,” Jerome replied.

She turned to Daniel. “Who's paying?” she teased.

Daniel smiled, his heart soaring with love for her. Everything was going to be all right. He took her hand and together they all walked into the theater.