Chapter 7
“You were right.”
It was one o’clock in the morning in the Dirty D, but Carol was glad that Gabriella had returned her call. She put the call on speaker and repeated her statement. “Did you hear me? You were right.”
“About what?” Gabriella asked.
“Me and Alex.”
Gabriella whooped. “Y’all had sex! I knew it would happen.”
“Not yet, but probably soon.”
“Definitely soon is more like it. When he asks, you know you’re going to break down and give him some. I could have told you that was going to happen a long time ago.”
“Girl, please. I’m not all into him like that.”
“Tell that to somebody who wasn’t around the day y’all first met. Troy later said he even felt the vibe going on between you two.”
Carol smiled. “That day at the Ritz when he and Troy came over for the briefing; I’d forgotten all about that.”
“After they left, you and I acted like teenagers, remember? Squealing and whispering about how hot they were, and how excited we were that they got the job. From that moment I knew that Troy and I were going to get together, and I felt that you and Alex would hook up, too.”
“Yes,” Carol said with a sigh, “I guess we were pretty smitten back then.”
“Ha! That’s putting it mildly. Who would have thought when Troy breezed into my world just over a year ago that now I’d be wearing his last name? Like I said, girl. You could be next.”
“I don’t think so. Alex is definitely in the running for Mr. Right Now, but I don’t know if he’s Mr. Right.”
“Why not? He’s an excellent catch from everything I’ve seen.”
“True, but we differ in one major area.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m past the point of wanting tons of travel while he can’t wait to get back on the road.”
“Long-distance relationships happen all the time.”
“Not with this chick. I’ve waited too long for a man in my life to have one that I only see occasionally. So I’m not going to fool myself. I’ll live in the present moment, let Alex’s fine ass scratch my itch, take a couple pics for the memories, and keep it moving when he leaves my life.”
“How long is he in Detroit?”
“Another week or two, I think.”
“What are y’all doing for New Year’s Eve?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Because Troy and I are having a party at the house; nothing fancy, just our families and a few friends. I’d love for you and Alex to join us and can have my assistant make your plane reservations. You could fly out on the thirty-first, and back to Detroit on the second.”
“That sounds fun, Gab. Because of my work I’d only be able to stay a few days, anyway. I’ll ask Alex.”
“Great! I’ll tell Troy.”
“See you soon!”
Later that morning, Carol called Alex.
“Good morning, Carol. This is a nice surprise.”
“Good morning. How are you?”
“Better now. I have to leave for the hospital in about ten minutes.”
“I’ll make this quick.”
“Oh, no worries.” His voice dropped. “I always have time to talk to you.”
It shouldn’t have affected her the way it did—his voice, dripping with sexy, humming with heat—melting her defenses like a Hershey’s bar in the Mojave sun. But her insides quivered and her muscles clenched as she imagined the mouth she’d watched wrap itself around a spicy chicken wing become intimately acquainted with another certain set of lips. Her nipples hardened; her breathing increased. Girl, you are pitiful, she admonished in an attempt to quell her reaction, and even though she was already reclined, instructed her blatant desire to have several seats.
“What are you doing for New Year’s?” What was meant as a matter-of-fact question came out in a sexy purr.
“Why,” Alex asked, his voice stroking her ear the way she wanted a part of his anatomy to stroke part of hers. “What did you have in mind?”
“Troy and Gabriella are having a small party and have invited us to join them.”
“In LA?”
“Yes, at their house. She said she’d make the ticket arrangements as soon as I gave her our answer. Does that sound like something you want to do?”
“I’d have to check with my doctors; make sure it’s okay to leave for a couple days. Other than that, I guess it would be cool.”
“You sound iffy. Please don’t tell me that you’re still lusting after Gabriella.”
“No, I lost that crush as soon as she became Troy’s woman.”
“Then what is it?”
“How long would we be in LA?”
“Just a couple days.”
“Where would we sleep?”
“Where else? Troy and Gabriella’s of course. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Only if they try to put you and me in separate bedrooms.”
“I’ll see what I can do about making sure that doesn’t happen.”
“See that you do because when the clock strikes midnight, I plan for it to be with you in my arms. And once I get you there, I plan on it being awhile before I let you go. You feel me?”
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“Well, so as to avoid confusion, let me spell it out to you. I want to know what you taste like; have been curious about it ever since you opened the door to the Ritz hotel wearing that silky halter and those tight-ass jeans.”
“Wow, you remember what I was wearing?”
“Let me tell you something, Carol. Your girl Gabriella has the flash and everybody’s attention for a moment, even mine. But your quiet efficiency, engaging smile, and sexy body is something I’ve never forgotten.”
She wanted to speak but couldn’t. His words had her weak and vulnerable; in a position where she might say something that she’d later regret. Like ask how fast could he make it over to her house, or how did he like his eggs for breakfast even though she couldn’t cook.
“So, are you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?” she forced from a mouth gone dry.
“What you taste like. I want to know if the chocolate on your toes is as sweet as the chocolate on your earlobe. I want to experience every part of you, leave no inch of skin untouched.”
She almost moaned out loud.
“Can you promise me that you’ll allow me to have my way with you when we’re in Los Angeles, treat you like the queen and the diamond that you are?”
“Did you get a degree in talking smack? You could teach the subject!”
“It’s only smack when your heart’s not sincere. Baby, as I’ve said before, I mean every word that I’ve said.”
Funny thing is, Carol actually believed that he did.
“I’m waiting.”
“For what?”
“For your promise.”
She took a deep breath, getting the distinct yet unrealistic impression that her agreement would have consequences extending far beyond the upcoming weekend. “Okay,” she said at last as she exhaled. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” A beat, and then, “I have one more question.”
“Yes?”
“Is it possible that we not wait until next week? I’d love nothing more than a quick taste right now.”
Carol looked at the clock. It was just past ten a.m. “I don’t know, Alex. Maybe we should wait. . . .”
“We’ve known each other awhile now. I think we’ve waited long enough.”
Carol closed her eyes, blocking out the train of thought that urged caution, restraint. That yellow light had ruled her whole life, was part of the reason she basically had none, why she’d been content to live in Gabriella’s shadow and bask in the residue of her best friend’s vast glow. She hadn’t grown up seeing healthy romantic relationships, had been told that they didn’t exist. Yet she’d continued to believe in happily ever after, had yearned for something different, and had quit a lucrative and perky job so that change could come.
Change was on the phone, asking to come over.
Nodding to herself, she asked, “You ready for my address?”
After hearing it recited, Alex had only four words for her. “I’m on my way.”