Talk a Good Game (15 page)

Around nine the lights dimmed
dramatically. I looked over and said, “C
’
mon.
Let
’s
dance.
”

He took my hand and led me out
onto the floor. It was a fast number and now that I had a slight
buzz I was ready to wiggle my hips and show him what this diva was
all about. Kaleb had some moves and I ain’t mad at the way he was
dancing to the music. Damn that brotha had so much swag and he
moved with enough confidence he had me getting moist between the
thighs.

We were doing our thing when I
spotted
Alphonso’s red-bone
ass stepping
out onto the dance floor.
What the hell
did he want
? I’ve been avoiding his calls
ever since our dinner when he was eating like a puppy dog. What was
it going to take for that idiot to get the hint? We made eye
contact, and I just gave him a quick nod then returned my attention
to Kaleb.

“
Who
’s
that?”

Kaleb didn’t miss a beat. I
noticed the way he was watching me waiting for my reaction. “Just
someone who comes into the restaurant a lot.” I tried to say it
like it was no big deal because in actuality it wasn’t a big deal.
I went back to dancing and tried to ignore Alphonso even if it
wasn’t easy. He was standing off near the bar staring at
me.

The band performed a Kool and the
Gang hit and I started gyrating me hips, ignoring him. The only man
on my mind was that sexy mutha in front of me. I was laughing and
having such a good time I didn’t spot Al until he was walking
across the dance floor again. This time, he had the nerve to brush
past us.

“
Are you sure there isn’t anything
going on between the two of you?”

“
I said there isn’t!” I didn’t
mean to shout, but it was the only way he could hear me over the
beat of the music.

“
That
’s
funny, because I swore that
mothafucka just bumped up against me.”

“
What? Why would he do
that?”

He glared at me.
“
I
don’t
know, you tell me.”

I tried to play it off. But trust
me, my insides were churning. “
It ain’t
shit
going on between us. Now quit tripping off that dude and
dance.”

“
I
’
m not tripping. But
I
’
m not stupid. I know what I
saw.”

I blew out a breath. “I barely
even know his name.”

We were dancing when I saw Alphonso coming around
again. The second he came up behind me, and I felt his hand grope
my ass. It took everything I had not to swing around and cuss his
ass out. If I did then Kaleb would know I had been lying.

I went back to dancing and was glad when the song
was finally over so that we could return to our seat. Kaleb seemed
agitated.

“
You okay?”

He shook his head.
“
I
don’t
appreciate that nigga bumping all up
against me. If there
’s
something I need to know then
you need to tell me so I’ll know how to handle the
situation.”

For a weak moment I almost blurted
out about Alphonso groping my ass. But I knew better than that.
Instead, I placed a hand on Kaleb’s arm trying to reassure him.
“There is nothing to tell you. I don’t know. Maybe the dude is
crazy.”

“
And
you
’
re sure there is nothing going on
between the two of you?”

“
No.” I was really starting to get
worried with all of the questions. I really like Kaleb and I didn’t
want anyone especially not lame-ass Al blowing this chance for me.
“Sweetheart, the only man I want is you.”

He grinned, and I released a sigh
of relief, but then I spotted Alphonso coming passed our table.
Quickly I draped an arm around Kaleb
’s
neck and
pulled him in for a long kiss. If Al didn’t know, he knew now. This
was my man. I
’
d be damned before I let someone
stand in the way of my future. After that Kaleb seemed to relax a
bit.

Our dessert arrived and we dug in and he commented
on how much he enjoyed the peach cobbler. The whole time I kept my
eyes on Alphonso. The second I got home I planned to call and lay
his ass out.

He moved past the table again and
I dropped my eyes to the table making sure Kaleb didn’t see me and
him make eye contact. Apparently Kaleb was watching him as well.
“If that dude looks over here at my woman one more time you might
as well alert security.”

I grinned. “Your woman, huh?
I
’
m not thinking about that dude
and neither should you.” We ordered another round of drinks and
danced two slow dances. We were heading back to our table when I
said, “Hey, babe. I
’
m going to the ladies room real
quick. I’ll be right back.”

I turned and hurried to the restroom. Those drinks
were running right through me. I moved into the only empty stall,
peed then washed my hands and slipped down the hall to my office.
As soon as I was seated behind my desk, I removed my phone from my
purse and sent Alphonso a text.

What the hell are you doing???

That was the reason why I
didn’t
let
men
I was dating know where I worked. They
just couldn’t resist stalking me.

I grabbed my purse then hurried back into the main
room and over to my hostess.

“
Get
Al
’s
ass out of my restaurant now!” I hissed loud
enough for Penny
’s
ears only.

There was no need to explain.
“Sure, Jae. I’ll handle it.”

I was confident
she
’
d get security right on it. The
place was packed. I waved at a few customers then moved back to the
table where Kaleb was leaving a nice fat tip.

“
Baby you didn’t have to do that.
Although Charmaine will be real happy to get it.”

“
That
’s
what a gentleman does.” He put
his wallet back in his pocket then swung around on the seat. “So
what did you go back there to do… meet that mothafucka in the
kitchen?”

It took a moment for his words to
register. Even then my eyes grew large and my jaw dropped. I was so
stung by his comment that it took me a second to find my voice.
“Excuse me? I went to the bathroom.”

“
No the fuck you didn’t. You met
that mothafucka!” He was practically yelling. Thank goodness the
music was too loud for anyone else to hear.

“
What?”

“
You heard me. You went in the
bathroom, called him on the phone and told him to meet you in the
kitchen. I watched him walked that way right after you
did.”

I couldn’t believe what I was
hearing. “You
’
re crazy.”

He held out his hand. “Then show
me your phone.”

It took everything I had not to
flinch. The last thing I was going to do was give him my phone so
he could see that text message I sent. He would swear up and down
I
’
d been lying all the
time.

“
I
’
m not going to ask you again.
Show me your got-damn phone!” His eyes were large and his chest was
heaving. Who the hell was this psycho mothafucka? He had this
scared crazy kinda look that I didn’t know how to begin to
explain.

“
You
’
re tripping. Sorry but you got
the wrong bitch. I don’t do jealous or crazy.” With that I rolled
my eyes and stormed back to my office. I still couldn’t believe
what had just happened. How dare he accuse me of meeting another
mothafucka around the corner? Back in the day, maybe, but the new
me was all about him.

I had just turned on the light and flopped down onto
my chair when I glanced up to see Kaleb standing in my doorway.

“
The exit is that way.” I pointed
toward the front of the restaurant.

“
Look
…
I
’
m sorry.”

Seriously
? Did he think it would be that easy? “Whatever.” I mumbled
under my breath.

“
I
’
m serious. I guess I got carried
away. I saw the dude looking at my woman all night and I didn’t
know what to think. For all I knew he could have tried to bust me
upside my head.”

“
Puhleeze.
That
’s
what I got security for.” I
turned on the seat and rolled my eyes. It was going to take a lot
more than that before I forgave him.

“
I
’
m sorry. I saw that dude and I
just went crazy thinking about someone else being with
you.”

Anyone else I would have sent packing but Kaleb just
intrigued me too much that I felt myself being drawn in again by
his charm.

“
Babe, I
apologize for going crazy like that. Can you please find it in your
heart to forgive your man?” He was shaking his head and looked so
full of remorse as he stepped into my office. “
Baby, we
’ve
got so many plans. A life together. A restaurant to expand
that we can’t let some fool come between what we
’
re
tryna build here.”

Did he say expand my restaurant?
Cha-ching bitch! I was about to cash in. I acted like I was still
considering his apology even though I had already made up my mind.
I pretended I was looking through a file. Hopefully he wouldn’t
notice it was upside down.

“
I’ve got so
much going on in my life and I need a good woman but it has really
been hard for me to be able to trust anyone. I have females running
game and trying to get their hands on my money. If you haven’t
noticed, well, I
’
m pretty wealthy and I just need
someone in my life who
’s
ready for some
next-level-type shit. Can you understand where I
’
m
coming from?”

All I heard was wealthy. I could
already see us getting married and he buying the vacant space next
door, eliminating my student loans and everything else I wanted and
needed. That was reason enough to keep hanging in there with his
jealous ass. I just had to remember that nothing got past Kaleb and
what worked with the other dudes wasn’t going to work with
him.

But it wasn’t anything I couldn’t
handle.

“
Okay,” I said
like it had been a difficult decision. He just didn’t know how easy
it had been. “
But don’t
you ever try to
embarrass me again!”

“
Thank you, babe.” By the time he
leaned down my head was tilted waiting for his kiss. “I love you,”
he said between kisses.

“
I love you too.” I heard myself
say and I wasn’t sure if I meant it but I knew in my heart that was
what I was feeling at this time. He was gorgeous and the sex was
decent so what more did I need?

When he finally broke the kiss, I
gazed up into his eyes and there it was, love, uncertainty, and
swag, all rolled up in one. And let
’s
not forget he
was rich. A girl couldn’t possibly ask for more.

“
Since
we
’
re alone, how about I give you a
little of my hands-on experience?” I purred then reached down for
his zipper.

NYREE

Why when you
’
re in
a rush everyone wants to move so damn slow? I just don’t get
it.

We had just landed at St. Louis
International Airport and the door was open yet everyone was moving
like they had all the time in the world. I didn’t want to push my
way down the aisle but I was eager to see Jeremy.

I finally got off the plane
dragging my rolling suitcase behind me. I decided to dip into a
restroom and freshen my make-up. The whole time I was putting on my
mascara my hand was shaking. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was
to see him. I was wearing Rocawear jeans, a form fitting chocolate
blouse that dipped low in the front and brown pumps. I looked good.
Hell, I looked better than good. I looked fierce! I popped a few
breath mints in my mouth then hurried toward the exit.

And there he was.

Jeremy was standing right at the end of the exit
holding a bouquet of flowers and looking nervous, with that boyish
grin of his that I liked so much. His melon shaped head was even
starting to grow on me.

“
Hey, beautiful,
” he
greeted, and stared at me as if I was Mariah Carey or
somebody.

I blushed and moved toward him,
swaying my hips, hoping he hadn’t missed all these curves. “Hey,
Jeremy.” When I was close enough, he wrapped me in his strong arms
and squeezed me tightly. I wasted no time tilting my head, and then
our lips met. It was like the Fourth of July. I got these sparks
that shot through my entire body. I
’
m serious,
warmth flooded through me and when his tongue touched mine I had to
fight back a moan. I loved the way Jeremy kissed. He had this way
of making me feel beautiful and wanted. Something that Rock had
never been able to do for me no matter how much I tried to convince
myself otherwise. This man made me feel like the luckiest woman in
Missouri.