CHAPTER NINETEEN

Darius wrapped his arm around Cherish’s waist as they entered Balla’s Italian Cuisine for dinner. They were quickly escorted to a candlelit table, just as he had reserved for them. He had wanted a quiet, romantic evening, so they could talk. With them both being so busy lately, it seemed almost impossible to find time just to have an intimate conversation. But instead of talking, he mostly stared at her, drinking in her beauty. Her shoulder length hair was in a French roll, calling attention to her delicate ears. The candles on the table added depth to her brown eyes. He was enchanted and tongued-tied. Nothing that came out of his mouth seemed coherent.

They enjoyed their meal of cabo san Italia, which translated into a grilled boneless skinless chicken breast wrapped in Italian bacon, topped with provolone cheese and marinara sauce, accompanied by angel hair pasta.

Cherish sipped her wine, watching her companion. “Is Darbi more at ease about going to visit Curry’s parents this weekend?”

Darius laughed, coming out of his trance. “I don’t know who’s more anxious, her or Curry. He’s been walking around more nervous than a bridegroom on his wedding day.” He knew the trip meant a lot to Curry. It was almost as if Darbi was meeting her future in-laws.

After their meal, Darius drove Cherish home. He wanted to spend the night, but he knew he had an early meeting the next day. “I’ve got an early meeting.” He looked down into Cherish’s brown eyes, wishing that he could stay and fulfill the fantasies he’d been having all night. “You know I would otherwise.” He kissed her goodnight and was gone, before he changed his mind.

Darius pulled into his garage and turned off the engine. Looking at his cell phone, he cursed himself for being weak, picked it up, and punched in Cherish’s phone number. He smiled when he heard her sultry voice. “I wish I were there with you, now.”

“Me, too. Goodnight, Darius,” she purred.

* * *

Friday afternoon, his assistant, Bea, announced to Darius he had a phone call on line four. He sighed, knowing it was Curry calling from Seattle, again. He had already called twice about Darbi. She was a bundle of nerves and had lost her breakfast as soon as the plane landed. It would have been comical if it hadn’t meant so much to Curry.

Darius picked up the phone and took a deep breath. “What’s wrong now, Curry?”

Curry gave a shaky laugh, which only meant trouble. “I know I sound like a nervous wife or something, but she’s been hovering over the toilet for about forty-five minutes. I’m just worried about all this throwing up.”

Darius was too. He wanted Darbi to enjoy herself on the trip, not live in the bathroom. “Let me talk to her.”

Curry breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay.”

Darius heard a door open and Darbi moaning. Finally she spoke into the phone.

“Hello,” she croaked.

“Darbi,” Darius started, knowing that it was time for some tough love or Darbi would be sitting in the emergency room. “I want you to sit on the edge of the tub and put your head between your legs. It will help the nausea pass.”

“But,” Darbi countered weakly.

“Do it,” he commanded. “Or you’ll be blowing chunks until you make yourself sick. Curry’s already called me three times worrying about you. So do it,” he commanded with no room for discussion.

He heard her struggling into the position.

“Okay. Now what? I still feel sick to my stomach,” Darbi reported, taking a deep breath between each word.

“I know, just be patient. You should feel better in about thirty minutes. Don’t worry about Curry’s mom, her bark is worse than her bite.”

“It’s not her.” Another deep breath.

Darius knew immediately what it was. Not only was his best friend afraid of being in love, so was his sister.

* * *

“How was Seattle?” Cherish asked Darbi a few days after her return from Washington. She was dying to know what had happened and Darius had not been forthcoming. She knew Curry had called Darius several times for advice during the weekend.

“Pretty good. Those first few hours, I was violently ill. Then my nerves calmed down and it was okay. The party was fun. Of course, I was the subject of most of the discussions. No one believed I was 39. I had to show my driver’s license. His brothers are a riot; they made me feel welcome instantly. Those people can sure eat.” She took a deep breath, thankful that trip was over. “What’s going on with you and Darius?”

Cherish breathed a long dramatic pause. “I don’t know. We’re going, I guess. He was so romantic in Paris, but once we returned here, it’s like he turned the romance off. He’s attentive, but not like Paris. I want some excitement.”

Darbi laughed at her friend. “I told you. That’s just Darius. He’s always going to act differently away from home. At home he’s always worried about his corporate image. One day something will happen and he’s not going to care about what the higher ups at Sloane think, but until then, you’ll just have to plan lots of trips.”

“I just wish he could incorporate some of his away enthusiasm into everyday life. But that’s asking too much, huh?”

“For Darius, yes.”

* * *

Wednesday night, Darius sat across from Cherish at a candlelight supper for his birthday. All his favorites were included: steak, pasta, salad, and Italian cream cake.

After he consumed most of his meal, he said, “This was an excellent birthday, Cherish. Thank you.” Darius held her hand across the table. “You’re so special. I’m a very lucky man.”

“You’re my special man, Darius,” Cherish said, feeling a slow tingle in her body. All Darius Crawford had to do was look at her with those chocolate brown eyes and she was liquid, or at least certain parts of her were. “Come to the living room for part two of your birthday.” Cherish stood and walked into the living room. Darius followed her to the couch and sat down beside her.

“Close your eyes,” Cherish ordered.

He did as he was told.

Cherish rose from the couch and walked to the hall closet to retrieve his gift. She dragged it across the floor to stand a few feet in front of him. “Okay, open your eyes,” came her quiet command.

Darius opened his eyes and immediately smiled. “This is wonderful, Cherish. Thank you. Amazing.” Darius looked in amazement at the forty x fifty oil painting of jazz great Dizzy Gillespie leading his band. “I’ll hang it in the living room.” He walked to Cherish and kissed her in celebration.

“We’re not finished, Darius.” She grabbed his hand and led him upstairs to her bedroom. “Wait here.” She walked hurriedly to her bathroom.

As she entered her bathroom, she quickly undressed and put on the special nightgown she’d bought for the occasion. It was sheer and mauve, Darius’s favorite color. She wondered if he would notice she had nothing else on underneath. Probably not. Not her rigid Darius. She laughed at her own pun. She opened the door and almost lost her nerve at Darius’s expression. Apparently, the gown was totally transparent. He was speechless!

Darius cleared his throat as Cherish walked toward him. “Cherish?”

She tried to walk seductively toward him, but her knees were giving her away.

Darius spoke softly. “I like what I see. Or what I don’t see,” he clarified.

Cherish led him into the bathroom. “This is for you, Darius.” She pointed to the bubble bath, candles, champagne, and the jazz music playing softly in the background. She started to unbutton his shirt. After she took his shirt off, she noticed his hesitation. “What is it, Darius? I know we’re never intimate in the bathroom, but I want to for you. I want to show you how much I love you.” Cherish looked up at him, hoping he didn’t object.

Darius nodded and unbuttoned his slacks.

Minutes later, Cherish and Darius sat in her oversized bathtub sipping champagne and giggling like hormone driven teen-agers. Cherish leaned against his chest and sighed. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, bringing her even closer to his body. She’d taken a big chance that he would like the surprise and he did.

“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” Darius kissed her neck and caressed her full breasts gently. He let his hands glide over her flat stomach, enjoying the feel of silk beneath his hands.

“Because,” Cherish whispered, “you said something about the bathroom being for one person at a time.”

“You agreed with me,” Darius countered as he drained the last of his champagne. “I may have been wrong about that.”

Cherish smiled as she snuggled closer to his naked body. This was exciting to her as well.