Ready for Love (4 page)

“Okay, Lace, we will take you on as a client, but what we need you to
do
and to
stop doing
is firm unless you like throwing your money away. We can’t help you clean up your image if you are bent on continuing to be that scandalous tell-all video ho.”

Lace smiled a real smile that made her look like the young twentysomething she was. “You won’t regret this, Maritza. I swear. This is going to be lucrative for all of us. Because if New Images by Keys and Morales can clean up my image, just think of all the Hollywood and hip-hop clientele you will be getting.”

“We’ll see about that. In the meantime, I am going to set up some shopping trips for us. You will need a new wardrobe. You know the saying ‘Dress for the job you want, not the job you have’? Well, it’s time for you to start dressing for the life you are aspiring to live.” Maritza took a minute to take in Lace’s popping red, super tight and extra short spandex micro-minidress.

“So that means we’re going to need you to be a little less video vixen and a little more businesswoman slash rising starlet. On top of that, it’s time to stop
doing
moguls and time to start concentrating on becoming one. Your mindset is going to be the hardest thing to change.” Maritza kept her face stern and no-nonsense. She knew she was laying it on heavy with Lace. But she wanted the young woman to know that this wasn’t going to be an easy thing to accomplish.

Changing people’s perceptions of you was a damn near impossible endeavor. But as far as Maritza was concerned, New Images by Keys and Morales dealt in possibility and faced the impossible down until it flinched.

“Am I paying for this lecture or is it a bonus service?” Lace twisted her lips to the side and rolled her eyes.

“Oh, the lectures are free. One thing you should know about me is I keep it real. I shoot straight from the hip. I will always be up front with you and tell you exactly what I think. Some people say I’m bossy.” She gave her signature shrug. “But I tend to think I am well versed in knowing what can and should be done—”

Lace busted out laughing and Maritza couldn’t help herself, she had to join her.

“What’s so funny about that.” Maritza made her face as expressionless as possible considering the fact that she wanted to break into a fit of laughter again. “Am I wrong for thinking that the world would be a much better place if everyone just did what I told them to do?”

Both women laughed at that and Maritza was glad the weird energy between them seemed to be gone.

“I should warn you, Maritza, that I suffer from the same affliction. I’m cursed with knowing what’s best for every situation and unable to keep those thoughts to myself. Something tells me that unless we are on the same page all the time, we are going to bump heads often, maybe even clash.”

Maritza stood up and held out her hand to seal the deal. “Oh, I have no doubt we will clash, Lace. But hopefully we will be able to move past the clashes and get you the results you want. Remember at the end of the day, my suggestions are only meant to help you present the image you say you want to present and get you where you say you want to be.”

Lace shook Maritza’s hand and the genuine smile that surfaced transformed her into a sweet and almost likable woman. “I’m looking forward to working with New Images by Keys and Morales. If anyone can help me get where I want to be it would be Penny Keys and Maritza Morales.” She paused as if considering what she wanted to say. “I really do look up to you two. You both made me want to be a video model and when I look at the successful business you’ve built, you make me want to become more than some rapper’s prop.”

“And you can. You will.” Maritza really did believe that Lace had the tenacity and drive to make it at whatever she put her mind to. The only question was if she was really ready to put her mind and energy on cleaning up her act. Only time would tell.

She walked her to the front door of the office and picked up the stack of pink memo slips her receptionist had left in her in-box. There was a message of a call from Terrill marked urgent.

Without thinking she rushed to her desk and dialed his cell phone number.

“What happened? Is everything okay? Is Penny okay? I knew I should have gone to the funeral. We could have cancelled everything for a few days—” Maritza went off into a barrage of questions as soon as Terrill picked up the phone.

“Calm down, calm down, nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. I just wanted to hear your voice. How are you?” Terrill’s voice sounded strained and a little weary.

Maritza sighed. He didn’t sound like everything was fine. And why the heck did he want to hear her voice?

Kissing him had been
such
a bad idea!

Yet knowing that and stopping the big old grin that started to form on her face seemed to be impossible to get together. She plopped down on her white leather office chair. It rolled just a little and stopped.

“I don’t understand, Terrill. If it is not about Penny or our business, why would you want to hear my voice?”

Terrill chuckled. It was a sound that normally would have grated her nerves and gotten under her skin. But for some reason in that moment she was relishing the sound of it. It sounded sexy and made her insides get gooey.

Not good.

Change the subject.

“How is Penny? I haven’t had a chance to speak with her since she left.”

“She’s doing as well as can be expected.” He sighed and she could hear the stress in his voice. “Big Mama’s death was unexpected and sudden and Penny is going to need time to cope.”

“She can take as much time as she needs. I can certainly hold down the fort here at the company.” It would be hard, because she and Penny were a perfect team. But she would do whatever she could to help her friend out in her time of need.

“We know you can handle things, Maritza. But I didn’t call to talk about business. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“You just wanted to hear my voice and that was urgent?” Maritza winced at the breathy sound of her voice.

What was wrong with her?

This was Terrill, also known as off limits to Maritza. She knew that. Or at least she used to know that. She didn’t know what she knew anymore now that he had hauled off and kissed her like he had no damn sense.

Terrill did that sexy chuckle thing again and her heart fluttered. “Urgent like you wouldn’t believe. With everything going on here with Penny and Jason Hightower, I have come to realize that people waste way too much time being apart when they should be together. And it has made me even more certain that I am doing the right thing by moving away from the herd and going after the person I want.”

Maritza’s heart began to pound furiously and for once in her life she didn’t have a clever or snarky response. All she could do was literally wait with bated breath to see what Terrill would say next.

“So I thought it was only fair to warn you again. I’m through playing games and denying whatever this thing is between us.” He paused and her heart thumped even louder. “And I’m coming for you, girl.”

Her breath caught and the logical side of her wanted to yell
no, you take that back. Don’t say that!
But some other part of her, probably that same part that was silly and hopeful enough to think she could actually make a difference for someone like Lace Monroe, was
actually
wondering how soon would it be before Terrill came for her and how long she should let him chase her before she let him catch her.

And once again she was speechless.

It was becoming a bad habit that couldn’t bode well for the future.

If she wasn’t snapping at Terrill, she really had no idea how to talk to the man, especially when he was staking claims and stuff.

She cleared her throat and opened and closed her mouth, happy that Terrill wasn’t there to see just how he was affecting her.

“Well, thank you for putting me on notice. I…errr…appreciate it. I guess…” What was she supposed to say? “I should let you know that I don’t think this is a good idea at all.”

“I know you don’t. That’s why I’m going to change your mind,” he offered with that sexy chuckle of his. “I’ll let you go so you can continue to stress and fret about it. But you should know that it’s going to happen. I’m serious about this, about us. I’m tired of wasting time. If I learned anything from what went down between Penny and Jason, it’s that you can never get the wasted time back and you are never really going to be happy without the person who was meant for you. And I think that you are that person for me, Maritza. I plan to see if I’m right about that.”

“I don’t think—” she started, finally working up her indignation.

“Yes,” he cut her off. “It’s probably best if you didn’t do that where I’m concerned. Your objectivity is off. I’ll handle this. And I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“But—” she started again.

“Just save all your objections till tomorrow. I’ll be calling to hear your voice again. Goodbye, Maritza.” He hung up.

She stared at her phone for a full minute before finally hanging it up. She had no idea what had just happened. But she was starting to think she wanted to find out.

“Y
ou just won’t stop will you? If you can’t cut Penny some slack on the day she buried Big Mama, then you need to leave.” Terrill spoke in a calm tone that gave only the slightest hint of his increasing level of irritation with Jason.

Jason just watched angrily as Penny walked away before turning his glare on Terrill.

For the life of him, Terrill really didn’t know what the hell Jason kept popping up for. If he really hated Penny as much as he claimed and really believed that Penny had betrayed him all those years ago, he must be a glutton for punishment or something to show up at Penny’s grandmother’s home after the interment.

Terrill could totally understand Jason’s need to pay his respects to Big Mama. Hell, that was why he was there as well. They had spent a lot of time as kids running around Big Mama’s house and eating her good food. Big Mama’s house and the Hightower place had been Terrill’s second and third homes growing up. But Jason was taking it to the extreme, showing up where he wasn’t wanted and clearly didn’t want to be.

Enough is enough.

“You need to mind your business, Terrill,” Jason snapped.

This guy!

Terrill wondered if Jason knew he was about five minutes shy of a serious beatdown.

“Penny is my friend. And you used to…” Terrill paused before hissing in disgust. “Jason, this just isn’t the time or the place. You should leave if you can’t see that.”

Forget this!

If Jason wants to play the sulking angry teenager who’d lost his girl and stays stuck in the past, he could do it someplace else. Terrill sneered in disgust and placed any lingering guilt he had about the way things went down fifteen years ago behind him. If Jason had half a brain he could have Penny back. But if he wanted to walk around wounded, glowering and striking out at folks, then that was on him.

“You gonna make me?” Jason’s shoulders arched and he was clearly spoiling for a fight.

Terrill narrowed his eyes as he remembered the sucker punch Jason landed on him fifteen years ago. What he wouldn’t do to take it to the grass and finish
that
fight. But it was neither the time nor the place.

“We’re grown men. I’m not going to resort to fisticuffs here.” Terrill shook his head and turned up his lips.

“Why? You scared I’ll kick your ass?” Jason leaned forward a little and it looked like he was going to try and make a move.

Yeah, come on. Do it. Touch me, son. Do it and let’s see who will lose!

Terrill found himself puffing up and rearing for a fight. His nostrils flared and he was tempted to take the first punch himself.

He shook his head.

He couldn’t go there. He couldn’t do that when they were supposed to be mourning and remembering Big Mama.

“No. I don’t want to add any more stress to Penny than she needs at this time.”

“Well, aren’t you the perfect
little
boyfriend?” Jason taunted.

“Just lay off, Jason,” Terrill hissed.

“Mind your business, Terrill!” Jason sneered.

“You boys aren’t going to start fighting in here, are you?” Carla came sneaking up on them.

“No. We aren’t.” For the first time ever Terrill was almost glad to see Penny’s former crackhead mother.

Almost.

The woman gave new meaning to the words “loud” and “inappropriate.” Add that to the fact that he’d never cared for the way she treated Penny, and Carla would probably never make his favorite people list. But he was sort of glad she’d popped up before he had to coldcock Jason in the mouth.

Even though Penny was in her thirties, Carla was only in her late forties. Carla was more of an older sister to Penny than a mother. She certainly had never acted like a parent, especially not when she was hooked on drugs. All those years of addiction had caught up with her—she was still a decent-looking woman, but her once-soft looks had a hard and rough edge to them. Her honey complexion was a dull yellow in spots. Her naturally wavy hair was a tad brittle and had lost its shine. She had a lot of gray hairs mixed in with the black. Her eyes still held the same youthful, wholesome appeal however. They literally danced and shimmered with mischief.

Carla opened her mouth in a wide grin and Terrill saw that one of her front teeth was badly chipped. Less brazen women might be too shy to smile with that kind of grill, but not Carla.

“I always wondered what Brat had that made the two of you follow her around like little puppies. Whatever it was I guess she’s still got it. Ha!”

“We were just friends, Carla. If anything, Penny was stuck to us like glue. We just realized she wasn’t going to go anywhere until we let her join the crew.” Terrill wistfully remembered the old days when they were kids without a care in the world and thought they would be the Three Musketeers forever.

Terrill noticed Jason raising his eyebrows as if to make clear that they were no longer friends.

But a part of Terrill wanted to hold out hope that one day they would all be friends again.

He smiled as he remembered the first time they had all played together in the small attic apartment on Warren Street where Terrill lived with his mother. Big Mama had had to rush off for some emergency with Carla. She had no choice but to leave Penny at their house. Jason had come over to play with Terrill and Terrill remembered his buddy being thoroughly disgusted that a girl was interrupting their playtime. Terrill was used to having Penny around. In fact, he had already secretly considered her his other best friend. As long as no other boys knew he was friends with a girl, he was fine. So he had pretended to be just as horrified as Jason when Penny showed up.

But Penny wouldn’t let them brush her off. She was a tough kid back then, every bit Carla’s child, mouth and all. Terrill laughed as he remembered the way she had snatched Jason’s Rubik’s Cube and snapped, “Let me show you how to do it.” She had finished the complicated box that had had both he and Jason stumped for months in no time flat.

Terrill wasn’t surprised she beat them at the Rubik’s Cube. She used to beat him at games all the time and even showed him some winning strategies and techniques. She was really cool…
for a girl.

And if he had known anything about love that day, he would have realized that was the day his best friend Jason started to fall in love with his secret best friend, Penny. The three of them cemented a friendship that day that he thought would last forever.

“Whatever. A girl could do worse than having two strong, strapping young men such as y’all to look out for her.” Carla let out a hooting laugh and her eyes took in Jason.

“Then I guess you don’t really look out for her anymore since she stomped on your heart. But you’re here anyway, huh? You can’t stay away now that she’s back. Ha!” Carla laughed so hard she started to cough as she opened the fridge and pulled out a can of grape soda.

Jason visibly winced. “I’m just here to pay my respects, Carla.”

“Yeah, right. And I can take a hit of crack today and not have to worry about getting hooked. Somebody is swimming in the river of
de-nial.
” Carla sang the last word.

“We’re all just here to pay our respects. Big Mama always opened her doors to us and made us feel like family,” Terrill offered. Even now he couldn’t let Jason take all the heat. Some loyalties never died, no matter what. “We wouldn’t want to do anything that would take away from this time of mourning for your family, or for Penny.” Terrill gave Jason a pointed stare.

Jason sneered at him before turning his attention back to Carla. “I’ve got to go. Please accept my condolences, Carla. And please tell Penny I will be back by later to talk with her.” Jason took off in a huff without giving Terrill a second glance.

Terrill shrugged. He was just happy to see Jason leave. At least now Penny could catch a break.

Once everyone else but Carla and Penny left Big Mama’s house, Terrill was glad that he had decided to stay a little longer before going back to Los Angeles. Penny certainly needed a friend and needed all the backup she could get. She certainly wasn’t going to get that from her mother.

As they sat on the worn sofa, Terrill watched Penny run her hand lovingly over the rips and large exposed patches of cotton filling. The room looked like a prop room for
I Love the ’80s,
from the black pleather sofa to the black lacquer and gold and mirrored coffee and end tables.

Terrill figured Penny must be missing Big Mama something awful if she was smiling at the rips in the pleather sofa. He knew for a fact she had hated the pleather furniture when Big Mama first purchased it and used to complain that Big Mama could have at least gotten some real leather.

He could still hear Big Mama telling her, “Child, I’m not gonna spend that kind of money just for you and your little friends to eat potato chips and drink soda on it and tear it up. You better get this here! Stuff that you could wipe off when you get a spill.”

The far-off expression in her eyes and the layers of pain he could see spilling off of her made him worried. “If you need me to stick around a little longer, Penny, I will. I can rearrange some things and do it.”

“No, I’ll be fine. I’m not staying around here long. Just long enough to settle Big Mama’s affairs and then I’m out. For good.” She sighed and it sounded more like a shudder. “Thanks for being here for me. You’re always there for me and I appreciate it. I know that you gave up a lot to stand by my side and—”

Terrill interrupted her. “Don’t worry about it. But a lot of time has passed and maybe enough time—” He couldn’t help taking this as an opening to try and talk some sense into her. Maybe if she made the first move she could finally fix things with Jason and he could have both his best friends back again.

Unfortunately, Carla came into the room with her mouth open, and popping noise, as usual and he had to cut himself off.

“So you ended up sticking around. I would have put money on the other one being here.” Carla grinned at him, showing every chip and crack in her teeth with absolutely no shame.

“No offense, but I always thought he was a better match for Brat anyway. His folks certainly had more money. But I guess you rollin’ in the dough now too. Big time record company man and all! Ha! Are you the one hooked Brat up with them videos?”

An excited gleam crossed Carla’s eyes and she clasped her hands together. “Do you think you could hook me up? I’m thinking of moving out to Cali with Brat. I need me a change of scenery. I’m getting tired of P-Town. And Cali-for-nia knows how to par-ty. Cali-for-nia knows how to par-ty.” Carla did a little dance as she started singing the Tupac lyrics.

A serious hiss escaped Penny’s mouth and Terrill knew that meant Carla’s California dreams were going to stay just that if Penny had anything to do with it.

“Carla, you can give that one up. You are
not
moving to California.”

“Why not? What did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much, except give birth to your behind?”

“You have got to be kidding me, Carla. Just can it, ’cause I’m not the one. You can’t guilt me into taking care of you. You have never taken care of me. I don’t owe you anything.” Penny shook her head incredulously.

“I’ll help you settle Big Mama’s affairs and help you out so you can remain here and keep this place. But when I leave here the only thing you’re going to see from me is a monthly check. And if you keep tripping you’re going to mess that up.”

“What do you think, Terrill? You think it’s right that Brat is gonna to throw her mama out to the wolves? She knows I need help. But she’s just gonna go on about her little life.”

A tear trailed down Carla’s face and Terrill had to remind himself that this was the same woman who could out-hustle any hustler, had talked cops out of arresting her and even managed to con Big Mama into giving her chance after chance. He wasn’t about to fall for Carla’s game.

“I think if you would stop calling your daughter ‘Brat,’ she might be able to make her way past all the hurt you’ve piled on her through the years. And I think the two of you need to talk and come to a space of understanding.” Terrill gave Penny a peck on the cheek and placed his arm around her for a quick hug. “I’m going to head out and I’ll stop back by tomorrow to see how you’re doing. Maybe we can go to service at Mt. Zion. Call me if you need anything.”

Carla shrugged and her crocodile tears miraculously cleared up. “Hey, don’t forget about the videos. I think I have star potential,” she called after Terrill as he made his way out of the room and out of the house.

He shook his head as he made his way to his rental.

Just like the day before, all the drama with Penny and Jason made him want to call Maritza and try to get her to see that they should try and figure out what was going on between them.

Unfortunately, Maritza wasn’t going to just give in and make this easy on the two of them. Her skittishness meant he was going to have to take it slower than he wanted to.

He probably shouldn’t have kissed her before he left Los Angeles. But he had and now there was no turning back.

At least not for him…

Maritza, on the other hand, was going to keep running for a while. He could already tell.

He dialed her cell phone number and waited for her to pick up.

“Hello.”

He smiled at the sound of her voice. “Hello, Maritza. Just calling to get my daily dose.”

She sighed and he could envision her rolling her eyes. He hoped she was also fighting back that sexy smile of hers.

“Your daily dose of what? Sarcasm? Dry wit?
Fabulousity?
”

“All of that and don’t forget beauty, brains and overall sexiness.” He chuckled when she didn’t respond. Here he had thought kissing her was the only way to make her speechless. It turned out he could have also done it a long time ago by letting her know how smitten he was with her.