My Destiny (11 page)

Chapter 18

L
u Jin gestured toward the dance floor. “Will you just look at them?”

Wes shook his head and gulped down his drink. “I know. It’s sickening, isn’t it? I wish they’d just jump each other’s bones and get it over with.”

“Who do Miles and Destiny think they’re fooling? One looking at the other when they’re not looking and vice versa.” She turned away from the dance floor, shaking her head. “They need counseling.”

“More like they need a bed.”

“Amen,” Theo and Juan said, joining them at the bar.

“Who has the bet for this month as being the month they finally sleep together?” Juan asked.

Elliott held up a hand. “That would be me and judging by what’s going on on the dance floor, you can all just fork over my money now.”

Lu Jin shook her head. “Nah, not tonight. Or did you miss that Destiny brought a date?”

Elliott laughed. “He has to go home sometime. Or did you forget that Destiny and Miles still live next door to each other?”

“I heard
that!
” Wes held up his hand and the two men gave each other high fives.

“I still say you’re wrong,” she said stubbornly.

“Uh-huh. You’re just mad because your bet is for December. Hell, you may be planning a baby shower by that time.”

The men laughed.

“You all can just go to hell. Besides, that’s what you’ve said for the last two years.”

“You know there’s a chance they’ve already slept together and haven’t told us,” Theo suggested.

Wes and Lu Jin looked at each other and considered the possibility then shook their heads. “Nah,” they said in unison.

* * *

Across the room, Adele watched the coy glances darting between Destiny and Miles with a knowing smile.

Violet leaned over and whispered into her friend’s ear. “The way I figure it, we’ll be in our nineties by the time they figure things out.”

Adele laughed. “Surely not that long.”

“I don’t know. Miles may have graduated at the top of his class, but I’m beginning to suspect that he’s not the sharpest tool in the toolbox when it comes to romance.”

“I can testify the same for Destiny,” Adele said with pursed lips.

“Any ideas on how we can get them together?”

“Not a clue—you?”

Violet exhaled a long tired breath. “None. I’ve been shoving the idea of him dating Destiny down his throat every chance I get, but all he does is laugh and say—”

“We’re just good friends,”
Adele finished the sentence since she’d been getting the same response from Destiny. “Maybe we should just face the fact that we’re lousy at playing Cupid and leave them to their own destruction.”

The women looked at each other, and then wicked smiles bloomed across their faces as they responded in unison, “Nah.”

* * *

Miles tapped Steve on the shoulder and interrupted his slow dance with Destiny. “Mind if the birthday boy cuts in?” he asked with an amicable smile.

Steve looked as if he wanted to refuse the request, but he glanced back at Destiny then said, “Of course not.” He stepped away.

Miles thanked him and pulled Destiny into his arms. “I didn’t think I had a chance of prying you two apart, judging by the way you’re all over each other.”

Destiny laughed and swayed in time to the music. “Are you playing the part of the overprotective brother again?”

He shrugged. “Since the job is available, I don’t see the harm. Do you?”

“I don’t think Steve sees it that way,” she said honestly. “He already thinks there’s something going on between us. After this dance, I’m going to have a hard time convincing him otherwise.”

“Uh-huh. Since when did you start scanning the scene at Justin’s for dates?”

“I met a client there for drinks during Happy Hour.” She shrugged casually. “Steve approached me and made me laugh, so I agreed to go out with him.”

“You don’t think Junior’s too young?”

“He’s legal so I don’t see a problem.”

Miles laughed. “I can think of at least a thousand reasons why dating him is a bad idea, Mrs. Robinson.”

“Hey, I’m not above teaching the younger generation a few things.”

Miles’s handsome features hardened into a scowl.

Destiny laughed at his reactions and thought how much he reminded her of Adam whenever they talked of the men she dated in college. He, too, never had a kind word for any of them and constantly thought she was too good for them.

“So what else do you know about our little teenager?”

“For one thing, I know he’s
not
a teenager.”

“What does he do for a living? Or is he having a hard time getting his parents to sign a work permit for McDonald’s?”

She slapped him on the arm. “Behave. I’ll have you know he’s a financial analyst for Smith and Barney.”

“Successful?”

“Very.”

“Hmm.” He looked over his shoulder and found Steve standing on the edge of the dance floor, watching them. Miles waved and flashed him a smile. “Maybe I shouldn’t have interrupted you guys.”

Laughing, she turned in Miles’s arms and caught Elliott giving her the thumbs-up signal. Not understanding his meaning, she frowned.

* * *

Wes pulled his attention away from the dance floor and leaned closer to Lu Jin while they stood near the bar. “So when are you going to give up the ghost and go out with me?”

The smile Lu Jin held seconds before disappeared. “Shortly before the second coming of the Lord,” she answered, shaking her head.

“Good. I hear he’s coming in the morning so why don’t we cut out of here and head on over to my place for one last night of sin? I’ll supply the baby oil.”

She laughed at his quick comeback. “Two points for Wes.”

“How many points do I have to get before I get a chance to hit a home run?”

Cocking her head, she settled a hand on her hip. “You’re a million points away from even being able to step into the batter’s box.”

Undaunted by her flippant response, Wes blew a kiss in her direction. “You know, there’s something that I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“What?” she asked impatiently.

“You know last year when you played a prostitute in that Denzel Washington flick?”

“Stop. Because I can already tell you’re treading on thin ice.”

He smirked. “I was just wondering where you did your research.”

Lu Jin’s eyes narrowed. “I simply riffled through your little black book and interviewed all the women you’ve dated.” She turned on her heels and stalked off.

Wes winced, but then a slow smile crept across his face. “Damn, she’s beautiful when she’s mad.”

Theo chuckled from behind him. “I’m not quite sure I’m following your plan on winning Lu Jin’s heart. Every time I see you two together, she looks angry.”

“You’re mistaken, my friend,” Wes said, turning toward him. “Her anger masks an even deeper feeling—passion.”

Theo chuckled. “Whatever, man. Whatever.”

* * *

Miles and Destiny continued dancing into their third song together. With the greatest of ease and familiarity they glided across the floor oblivious to knowing smiles and conspiratorial whispers.

“Thank you,” Miles said with a deep sincerity.

She leaned back in his arms and studied him. “For the party?”

“For everything,” he answered.

“It was my pleasured. Of course, I had to fight Wes on inviting strippers and holding a wet T-shirt contest. Other than that, I think the night has turned out to be a great success.”

Miles’s body quaked with laughter. “He can get a bit carried way when it comes to parties.”

“
Now
you tell me.”

His eyes still twinkling, he guided her gracefully across the floor. “I don’t mind telling you that you’re the best-looking lady in the room. New hairstyle?” He referred to her new short crop.

She tilted her chin up, giving him a great view of her elegant bone structure and asked, “You like it?”

“Amazingly, I do. I think if you’d asked me before you whacked it all off, I’d probably have thought it a bad idea. But seeing it now, I have to say it definitely suits you.”

“So glad you approve.”

Miles smiled and continued to stare down at her.

“How are you feeling, really?” she asked, misunderstanding his silence. “Are you okay with turning forty-five?”

His gaze finally deserted her face. “I’ll feel better when I turn forty-six.”

“You will,” she said, inching closer. “Because I have an even bigger party planned for next year.”

Her comment solicited yet another laugh from him. “We’ll see.” He spun her in his arms and enjoyed dancing with her until the end of the song, when Steve finally returned for his date.

Miles retreated to the arms of Celeste, but there was never a moment when he didn’t know exactly where Destiny was or what she was doing.

Chapter 19

M
iles absolutely loved the taste of Destiny’s mouth, her neck and her breasts. It was all he could do to hold on to what little sanity he had left while her hips rocked against him.

The room spun while the only air he could get into his lungs came in short ragged spurts. Her dewy walls sheathed and massaged him into dizzying heights—so much so he swore he’d never come down.

The sound of his name tumbling from her lips also had a heady affect. He plunged deeper. He loved her cries of euphoria and loved the sight of her flushed burgundy face.

A rush of heat whirled within, he could feel his body building to a sweet release when—

Miles’s alarm clock blared from the nightstand and his arm shot out from beneath the sheets to bang the snooze button. He slammed his eyes closed and tried to return to his dream, but he couldn’t. He groaned with disappointment and sat up in bed. The dreams he had of Destiny were sweet, but he knew that was all they would ever be—dreams.

On the morning after his forty-fifth birthday, he climbed out of bed in time to watch the sunrise. It had turned out to be a growing habit of his in recent years, and he found that the peaceful scenery did wonders to calm his soul.

He drew in a deep cleansing breath and reflected over last night’s events. It was just like Destiny to try and make his birthday a special event. Every year, she went out of her way to find some obscure jazz record or rare comic book she knew he wanted.

Smiling, he couldn’t imagine what life would ever be like without Destiny’s friendship.

And then his thoughts turned dark. The results from his last physical reported that he was in perfect health, but he knew the inevitable would still happen and he wondered how his death would occur. Would he be at the wrong place at the wrong time, catch a stray bullet or, better yet, would the brakes on his car mysteriously give out?

Shaking his head, Miles moved away from the window. If he was still going to meet Destiny for their morning run, he’d better get a move on.

As he dressed, he made a promise to himself not to discuss his gloomy thoughts and prayed that Destiny wouldn’t bring it up. He’d never been a fan of pity parties and the last thing he wanted to do was have one in his honor.

“It’s about time you finally got your lazy butt up.” Wes smirked from the kitchen.

Miles’s head jerked in his direction. “What are you doing here?”

“Raiding your refrigerator. What does it look like?” He shook his head as he scanned the contents. “Do you ever eat anything other than health food? Haven’t you heard that too much of a good thing is also bad for you?”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now do you want to tell me what you’re doing here?”

“Maybe I just came by to make sure that you did, in fact, wake up this morning.” He shrugged.

Miles smirked. “Am I to believe that you were actually worried about me?”

Pulling out a carton of eggs, Wes rolled his eyes. “Just don’t let it go to your head. Besides, I told you this family curse thing was a bunch of bull. You look fine to me.”

“I’ve never said that we died exactly on our forty-fifth birthday, only that we never make it to forty-six.”

Wes shook his head. “Whatever. How about I make the birthday boy an omelet?”

“I’ll have to eat it when I get back.” He looked at his watch. “You know Destiny and I take our morning run together.”

“Jeez, I can’t believe you haven’t nailed her, yet.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that it isn’t like that between us? She’s like a sister to me.”

“Uh-huh. Well, I got a sister and I don’t go jogging with her every morning. I don’t work with her every day or hang out with her after work, and I certainly don’t live across the hall from her. For two supposedly smart people, you guys have to be the dumbest I’ve ever met—and that’s saying something.”

Miles simply smiled. “If you don’t understand by now, then nothing I say is going to make a difference.”

Wes rustled a pan from a lower cabinet. “Don’t get me wrong. I like Destiny. She’s nice, beautiful and has beautiful friends.”

Miles laughed at his reference to Lu Jin—who had always treated Wes like something stuck on the bottom of her shoe.

“But—” Wes held up a finger “—I think you need to be honest with yourself.”

Miles crossed his arms. “Meaning?”

“Meaning—the reason that you’ve come up empty on your so-called search for Mrs. Miles Stafford is because you’re looking for someone just like your next-door neighbor.”

“That’s not true.”

Wes raised an inquisitive brow. “It’s not? You mean you’re not looking for a woman you want to spend every waking minute with?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“And while I’m on a roll here—what woman you know is going to be cool with all the time you do spend with Destiny?”

Miles paused.

“Uh-huh. No woman either of us have ever met.” Wes cracked an egg into the skillet. “You should think about it.”

Miles headed toward the door. “You sound just like my mother. There’s nothing to think about. Destiny and I are friends and that’s just the way we like it.”

“What’s the big deal?” Wes called out to him.

Miles turned toward his friend again.

“Really? What’s the worst thing that could happen if you two did decide to date?”

Miles didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and exited the apartment. He waited a few minutes in the hall before Destiny’s door cracked open, but instead of Destiny rushing out to meet him, he came face-to-face with Steven Bennett.

A flash of anger hardened Miles’s features.

Steve’s shocked expression suddenly turned mischievous. “Morning.”

Miles didn’t reply.

Closing the door behind him, Steve crossed his arms. “Quite an arrangement you two have here. You’re partners at the office and even live across from each other.”

Forcing an air of nonchalance, Miles smiled. “It seems to work for us.”

Annoyance flashed in Steve’s eyes. “You want to know what I’m wondering?”

“I can’t imagine.”

“I’m wondering, if you do have a thing for each other, why neither of you have acted on your feelings. I mean, ten years is a long time—too long if you ask me.”

“Next time I’m doing a consensus, Junior, I’ll make sure I knock on your door. Besides,” he went on to add, “there’s nothing going on between Destiny and I.”

Steve nodded and uncrossed his arms. “That was my conclusion.” He moved away from the door and headed toward the elevators, but not before he added, “Lucky for me.”

* * *

Seconds later, Destiny rushed out of the apartment. “Sorry I kept you waiting,” she exhaled her apology in a flurry of movement.

Miles glared at her. “I can’t believe you.”

She looked up at him perplexed. “Can’t believe what? What did I do?”

“I just said hello to your
boyfriend.
Didn’t you say that you just met him?”

“My who? Oh, you mean Steve?”

“Yes, I mean
Steve.
Or do you have more men stashed in your apartment this early in the morning?”

She laughed. “What has gotten into you? Steve is hardly my boyfriend. We just met.”

Miles didn’t trust himself to speak. The alternative of what she was implying was too troublesome.

“He just stopped by this morning to tell me how much he enjoyed your party last night.” She crossed her arms and stared at him. “Or didn’t you notice that he wasn’t wearing the same clothes he had on last night?”

Blood instantly drained from Miles’s face as an awkward silence expanded between them.

She shook her head and locked her apartment door. “And if something had happened between Steve and I, brother dear, it wouldn’t be any of your business.”

“Can we change the subject since I’ve made a complete ass out of myself?”

“Gladly,” she said, heading toward the elevators. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Good,” he said, wishing she’d chosen another line of questioning. He knew exactly what her next question would be.

“Any anxieties?”

He pressed the down button for the elevator. “None that I can think of,” he lied.

She eyed him suspiciously.

He knew she was trying to decide whether she believed him. He suspected she didn’t, but she said nothing to support that theory. In fact, she changed the subject.

“Lu Jin and I are going to go check out that house I told you about in Alpharetta.”

“So you’re really going to leave me?”

Destiny reached up and gently cupped his cheek. “Aw. Are you going to miss me?”

“We’ve been neighbors for ten years. What do you think?”

“I think you’re going to be just fine.” She pinched his cheek again. “You’re a big boy.”

“I’m glad you’ve noticed.” He puffed out his chest and made an arm curl to show his muscles.

“I’m your friend. I’m not blind.” She flirted with a wink.

Miles raised a surprised brow. “Feeling a little feisty today, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “What can I say? I’m in a good mood. Besides, we’ll still see each other at the office.” She flashed him a brief smile. “But it’s nice to know that you’ll miss me.”

As if standing beneath the sun, Miles was warmed by her bright smile. In the past few years, the bond he shared with Destiny had strengthened to the point where he couldn’t remember what life had been like before they were friends—or when their friends weren’t friends.

It did take Destiny and Lu Jin a while to get used to Wes’s wild parties and attention-grabbing antics, but in the end, everyone got along.

“Whatcha thinking about?” Destiny inquired a mile into their run.

“Nothing. I was just going over some details of the Nelson Rogers case,” he lied.

Destiny shook her head. “I wish you’d listened to me and rejected that case. The man is a slimeball.”

“Slimeballs have rights, too.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“And they have money. And after losing our ass on that Terri Morris case you wanted so badly, we need all the slimeballs we can find.”

She cut her eyes over at him. “You’re never going to let me live that one down, are you?”

He smiled at her. “Not if I can help it.”

Destiny laughed and picked up her pace, enjoying the slight burn coursing through her calves as she tackled an incline on the park’s trail. She remembered a time when such a hill would have done her in.

She glanced back at Miles and noticed another dazed expression had fallen over his features and she wondered if he’d been honest about what was troubling him. She opened her mouth to question him again, but thought better of it. He would tell her when he was ready—like he always did.

“So what do you have on your agenda for today?” she inquired instead.

“Run over to my mother’s like I do every Saturday and hang out with Wes this evening.”

“What? No date?”

“No. Thank God. I’m about ready to toss in the towel on finding Mrs. Right.”

Destiny wasn’t fooled, she knew exactly what was troubling Miles—that damn family curse. Of course, her heart dropped a notch at the thought of her being wrong.

“So what about you?” he asked suddenly.

She shrugged. “After I run by the office for a couple hours, I’m going house shopping with Lu Jin and my mother, and then I do have a date.”

As usual, his brows shot up when he barked, “With who?”

“What does it matter? You’re not going to like him.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’ve never liked any of the guys I’ve dated.”

“With good reason. And I don’t remember being wrong about any of them, either.”

She shook her head. “You’re impossible—but right.”

“So?”

She looked at him puzzled. “So what?”

“So who is it?” he persisted. “And please don’t tell me it’s that Steve character. There should be a law against—”

“Stop,” she said.

“What?”

“You’re doing it again.”

“Just my opinion,” he added flippantly.

Destiny just shook her head, but loved Miles’s overprotectiveness. “By the way, you’ll never guess what I got in the mail yesterday.”

“Can’t imagine.”

“Come on, guess.”

Exasperated, but knowing she wouldn’t tell him until he guessed, he took a stab at it. “You won the Publishers Clearing House ten million dollars.”

“I wish, but that’s not it. I got a wedding invitation—from Jefferson Altman.”

“You’re joking?” he asked surprised.

“No.”

Miles frowned at the fact that his old nemesis obviously wasn’t having the same troubles he had when it came to finding a wife.

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” Destiny questioned.

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. He certainly didn’t have trouble replacing me and moving on.”

“Stop it,” he warned.

She looked curiously over at him.

“You’re fishing for a compliment again.”

“I was not,” she answered with a small pout.

“Sure you were. You wanted me to tell you that no one could ever replace you and blah, blah, blah.”

She frowned. “Boy, aren’t you in a pissy mood.”

He laughed. “I just know how that little mind of yours works.”

“Humph.”
She rolled her eyes. “Like it would have hurt you to pay me a compliment.”

“So are you going to the wedding?”

“Why—so he can rub it in my face that he’s moved on? I don’t think so.”

They rounded another bend before Miles said, “Maybe there’s something wrong with us. We’ve both been searching for what I’m beginning to think isn’t out there.”

She frowned as she looked over at him. “Boy, you really are down today.”

He shook his head as their high-rise came into view. “I’m just being honest. It just seems nearly impossible to find a quality woman nowadays.”

“Whoa.” She slowed down to jog in place. “That’s not true. There are plenty of quality women. You’re just looking in all the wrong places.”

“Come on. You know what I’m saying is true. The women I keep running into are more interested in where I live, what I drive and how much is in my bank account. Sure, they all try to hide it, but sooner or later it all comes out in the open.”