Scandalous Heroes Box Set (136 page)

Adam nodded against his shoulder.

Abe clapped Adam on the shoulder. “I apologize for all the names I called you while we searched for you.” Grinning, he shook his head. “No need to go into them now, just trust me, I need to apologize. I'm glad you're back, contacting Trinity was a mistake.”

Adam nodded. “Yeah it was.”

“Adam, can you forgive your granddaddy?” Allie asked from the side while blithely ignoring Blaine's frown.

“I guess so since everyone forgave me.” He stepped toward Sean. “What you did wasn't good by any stretch. It cost me, Mom, and Abe, especially when we were younger. But we can't turn back the clock. The only thing to do is forgive and move forward.” He hugged his granddaddy and then returned to his father's side.

Blaine beamed at his son.

Allie nodded. “Thanks, Adam.” She looked up at her husband and took his hand. “I left the food on the stove, everyone go ahead inside and eat. I know you're hungry. I have something I need to take care of.” With that decree, she tugged her husband forward to his car, and moments later they drove off.

Chapter 19

Belinda checked her cell phone again to be sure it was working before she stepped into Pam’s foyer. Her father had been lucid this morning for a short time and spoke to his nurse briefly. When she came into his room he'd smiled at her and asked her to sit with him for a minute. As soon as she settled into the chair next to his bed he had fallen asleep. The nurse assured her that sleeping was a good sign.

All day she had hovered near his room hoping to get a chance to talk with him, to hear him say he was doing okay, but he was in too much pain when he woke up and the nurse had to give him more pain medication. It also put him to sleep.

Blaine had Adam and planned to bring him home the next day. Donnie and Abe had gone to check out some out-of-town colleges, leaving her alone. When Pam discovered she was home alone with her dad and his nurse, she insisted that Belinda get out of the house for a few hours.

“Belinda!” Pam greeted her in the hallway, wearing a purple sheath that clung to her like a glove. She looked radiant. “I’m glad you made it.”

Belinda snorted. “Well, your last threat of coming to my house and pulling me out of bed and dragging me here was effective.”

Pam laughed as she threaded her arm into Belinda’s elbow. “Hey, whatever works.” She leaned closer. “Plus, I needed you here, Julio’s been pissed all day about the guest list. Problem is, these are his friends and he needs to stop being an ass and hear what they have to say. We moved here because he has a good history here and he’s been upset over something that has to do with these guys. I went over his head and scheduled this dinner, and invited his friends and their wives. He wasn’t very happy, but it’s done. They’re here. I want everyone to relax and have fun so they can talk without bloodshed.”

Belinda nodded glad to be of assistance to her friend although the bloodshed comment seemed over the top. “No problem, whatever you need.” Together they entered a large elegantly furnished room that made her stop in her tracks.

“Pam, this is breathtaking.” She looked up at the fresco designs decorating the high domed ceiling and walls. The spring theme brought the outdoors inside. Matching pieces of furniture were strategically placed in groups around the room. Her gaze landed on Red and a pretty black female sitting close to him. When she looked closer, she recognized Denise. Sitting on another chair was Cherise. A tall handsome white guy had his hand on her shoulder. Veronique and Frank were nearby chatting with Tex. And Julio was talking to Vianca and her date.

“I know him, or them,” she whispered to Pam.

“You do? Who? Which ones?”

“Red, the guy with Denise. Wait... She’s married. She’s married to Red?”

Pam nodded. “It’s like an interracial lovers convention in here, girl. All these black women are married to these white guys except Vianca’s Spanish and Smoke’s black.” She chuckled beneath her breath. “Sisters don’t play. They got these guys on lock-down.”

“Yeah, Red is Donnie and Blaine’s youngest brother. Frank is their oldest,” she whispered, turning so her back was to everyone in the room.

Pam’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “That might explain a couple of things. No offense, but your future brother-in-law can be an ass. Red, not Frank.”

Belinda sputtered. “Brother? What? No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. And I haven’t made a decision on that in-law stuff yet.”

“Mmm hmm, tell that to someone who believes that crap. Right now you have a lot on your plate, but your heart has already made a decision. All I ask is that you give me some notice so I can come sit in the 'I told you so' section.”

Belinda snorted and then laughed. Pam had a way of cheering her up and she sorely needed that right now. “We’ll see. Right now let’s meet your guests before they think we’re talking about them.”

“We are talking about them.” Pam giggled as they moved fully into the room. Julio separated from his friends and met them. He wrapped his arm around Pam’s waist and brushed a kiss against her cheek while staring into her eyes. It was an erotic gesture that had Belinda wishing Donnie and Blaine were nearby.

“I’m glad my wife’s threats worked and you have come to dinner. I worried that she would insist on following through and I would need to drive the getaway car,” he said, smiling. Belinda grinned seeing why her friend had fallen fast and hard for the Latino heartthrob. Despite the edgy aura surrounding him, the man was sexy as shit and the hungry, devoted way he looked at Pam was the stuff women dreamed of.

“I keep telling her that she’s one of the toughest women I know. She looks all innocent and sweet but she has claws… big claws that don’t take shit.”

Pam laughed. “Like you can talk.”

“I can and I am. You’re one tough lady. I swore I was going to stay in tonight, but lookie here, I’m standing in this fabulous room because you threatened me.” Belinda laughed when Pam stuck out her tongue. “Good thing I know why you did it… and that rocks. Thanks for everything.”

Pam took her hand. “Anytime, I’m here for you, too.” She tipped her head slightly to the room and winked.

Belinda smiled.

Julio exhaled and looked at his wife. “Ready?”

Pam’s eyes flicked at Belinda and then returned to her husband. “Yes.”

With his arm wrapped around his wife, Julio turned to face his guests. “Come, Belinda, let’s go to the circus.”

Belinda bit back a laugh as she walked alongside them.

“Everyone this is Belinda Moore, my wife’s closest friend.” Julio stopped short of Cherise’s chair and began introductions. Belinda nodded and hoped she remembered the names of the husbands of the women she had already met. She wondered at the coldness in Julio’s voice when he introduced Red and then Cherise’s husband, Ross. Smoke, the only other black male in the room beside Tex, got a warm introduction, while Frank’s intro was indifferent. Whoever said it’s not what is said, it’s how you say it that’s important, hit the jackpot. Julio wore a pleasant face but made it clear that he didn’t care one way or another about a couple of his guests.

When they went to dinner, Red, Ross, and their wives sat at the opposite end from Julio and Pam. Belinda sat next to Tex, who kept up a funny dialog throughout their meal. When dinner was over, she headed for Denise and Cherise. Whatever was going on between them and Julio was not her battle or business. Besides, Pam wanted everyone to make up, have fun, and she was here to help her friend.

“Denise, when we met the last time I didn’t know you were married to Red.” She embraced the woman, earning a smile from Red, who then strode off toward Ross and Smoke.

“I know, right. Small world.” Denise leaned forward and whispered. “Girl…you got the twins, double trouble. I envy you all that luscious-ness.”

Belinda laughed. “So if I put them in the ring and we have a battle of smackably delicious beefcakes, you’re saying I’d win?”

Denise laughed, drawing attention. “Nope. Red still wins hands down, but I’d love to see that contest.”

“What contest?” Veronique asked as she and Cherise joined them.

“Well, Denise is under the misconception that her husband has the most delectable ass in the room. I disagree. Donnie can take him in a heartbeat, Blaine would be overkill and make Red cry.”

Veronique covered her mouth while choking and coughing.

Cherise laughed and looked over her shoulder at the men who were on the other side of the room watching them.

Pam and Vianca strolled over, grinning. “I see that wicked gleam in Belinda’s eyes, so I know whatever you guys are talking about is wild,” Pam said, taking a sip from her glass.

“What?” Belinda tried to sound innocent. “I was just suggesting a simple contest.”

Vianca frowned. “Contest?”

“Yes,” Denise said, holding in her laughter. “For which man has the most smackable ass. She thinks her twins have it hands down.”

“No, sorry Belinda, you’re wrong.” Vianca shook her head and set her hand on her hip. “Smoke has it hands down. Just look at him. See the high curve and the way his pants fit. White boys' flat asses can’t compare.”

They all turned and looked at the men who had started talking to one another. “Damn, she has a point,” Veronique murmured.

Cherise and Denise nodded as well. “I told Red to do a few more squats, that always blows my ass up,” Denise said, chuckling.

“Well, my man’s not white and is still in the running,” Pam said with a laugh.

“Maybe, but who’s going to test it? I’ll be a judge if you and Vianca want to go give your men a nice swat,” Belinda said, smiling.

The look of horror Pam sent her had all of them laughing. The guys stopped talking and stared at them. Julio stepped forward, which made them laugh harder.

“We’re going into the den, baby,” Pam said while trying to stop laughing and backing up at the same time.”

Frowning, Julio nodded slowly and watched as all six women left the room. Once they reached the den, they exploded in laughter again.

“Girl, you should’ve seen your face when I said go smack his ass,” Belinda said, pointing at Pam.

“It was priceless,” Denise said, slumping in the chair and holding her stomach.

“I thought you were going to throw up,” Cherise said, as she tried to catch her breath. “You looked ill.”

Vianca nodded. “She got you good with that one.”

“Yeah, but can you imagine the look on Julio’s face if she had done it?” Veronique asked.

They all broke out laughing again.

Belinda and Pam gazed at each with a small smile. Pam nodded, mission accomplished, the men were talking, and they were having fun. It was all good.

Chapter 20

Belinda eased onto the highway after the dinner party, still chuckling over some of the more outrageous comments Red had made when they were all reunited with the men. Abe was right, Red was funny. Add Denise to the mix and they had everyone laughing so hard, tears pooled in her eyes. Even Julio relaxed and threw in a few raunchy comments, causing everyone to laugh even more. She had no idea Pam’s husband had a coarse side, but he showed it tonight, to the point he stood next to Smoke for an impromptu ass-smacking contest. Pam’s hesitation to pop his ass in front of them served to make his comments cruder. She laughed in remembrance of Pam’s tiny taps and Vianca’s much louder smacks on Smokes backside. After Smoke teased Julio about his flat ass, Pam got into the spirit of the competition, which ended as a tie.

As she turned onto the road leading to her home, her phone beeped. She grabbed her cell and looked at the screen. She had four missed texts and two missed calls. Scared of what the text messages said, she held the phone on her lap until she pulled into the driveway. Inhaling deeply, she turned the phone over and read each text.

“Mr. Moore is awake and asking for you.”
She read the nurse’s first text and smiled.

“Mom, granddaddy is awake and he’s talking a little bit. He asked me who I was and smiled when I said, I’m your grandson. Dad and I are at the house now.”
Abe and Donnie must have returned earlier than they planned, she wondered what happened. Donnie had said they might spend the night in Detroit.

“I introduced granddaddy to my dad, I don’t think he likes him.”
She frowned. “What would make Abe think that?”

“Mom, answer your phone.”
She chuckled, sensing his aggravation at her missing both of his calls. Relieved, she stepped out her car and headed inside, eager to see her father. When she entered the living area the first person she saw was Donnie sprawled on the couch. She stopped and stared at him dozing with the TV on in the background. Moving closer, she placed her purse near his feet. A pang of loneliness hit her. Soon both sets of twins would be leaving for Pennsylvania. Seeing him on the couch in her living room seemed right, homey. If only… she turned and headed for her father’s room, leaving her hopes behind.

The nurse was checking his blood pressure. From the doorway he looked asleep and she hated she wasn’t here when he'd asked for her. Then he turned his head in her direction and their gazes met. She moved swiftly to the bed without releasing his gaze.

“Daddy?” Her voice shook a bit but she couldn’t hide her relief at seeing him awake.

“Hi cupcake. Glad you’re here. Looks like you were right, I can feel my legs and should start therapy soon.” He lifted his hand and she took it. “Thank you for coming…I’m surprised you came.”

She squeezed his hand. “When Chucky called and said you were asking for me to come help you, I had to come.”

“Chucky? Chucky called you?”

She pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat. This was the first time since she’d been here that they’d talked about anything other than his health. The condition of his back, coupled with arthritis, kept him doped up on pain medication. There wasn’t a lot that could be done about the arthritis or his twisted fingers, but the surgery should alleviate the pain in his back and allow him to walk a bit.

“Yes. He said he couldn’t come and you didn’t want to go into a home. Then he told me you wanted me to come.” Basically her brother had said it was her turn to care for their father since he had put his life on hold to help with their mother. He acted as if she had been missing in action by her own choice. When she reminded him that their mother had forbid her to come home, he downplayed it.