A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) (4 page)

Stroking his goatee,
Miss Summer is a shy one
. It’s been years since he encountered such a shy woman. Most women he met were the aggressors with nothing shy about them. This was definitely a change, a refreshing change. His primal instincts immediately kicked in. The chase was on.

Swirling his chair around facing the window he gazed out at the surrounding skyscrapers hovering over William Penn.
This isn’t over.
When Nick was determined to have something he went after it until he got it. And that included Summer Jackson.

Hanging up the phone, Summer hissed at Ava and Starr. “Y’all make me sick, the both of you.” Yanking a chart from its holder, she fussed, “Ava, why didn’t you tell me it was
him
calling again? I told you I didn’t want to talk to him.”

Sucking her teeth, Ava snapped, “Then you shouldn’t have given him your work number.”

Summer threw her hands up in the air and huffed, “I didn’t think he would call. We pretty much said everything we had to say. I told him I was a nurse in a hospice unit. He told me his mother had died from pancreatic cancer three years ago and that he had attended and donated money to the benefit every year since. I told him I had to go. He asked for my number, I gave him this one. I didn’t think he would call.”

The truth was Summer always had some crazy reason as to why she didn’t want to go out on a date. She didn’t know how to tell her friends it made her uncomfortable when men ogled her. Not to mention on those rare occasions when she did go on a date, by the end of the evening the jerk thought because he bought dinner that gave him the privilege to fondle her. So whenever her friends set her up, she always found a reason to break the date. Once, she even went to the extreme of working a shift in the emergency room on a Saturday night when there’d been a shortage of nurses, to get out of going on a blind date. The sham wasn’t a complete lost though. Summer enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the emergency room so much that occasionally she worked a shift here and there when the ER was short staffed.

Starr eased up next to Summer, putting her arm around her shoulder, “What’s the matter Boo? You act as if you don’t deserve to go out on a date or something. I know you get tired of hanging with me and Av all the time.”

Laying her head on Starr’s shoulder, “I don’t know. It seems like every time I like a guy he turns out to be a jerk. The only thing they’re interested in is the booty and you know I’m telling the truth.”

“I hear you girlfriend, but give the brotha a chance. Okay? It seems like he’s feeling you girl, and I mean strong. Brotha is definitely sweating you.”

Summer thought about it for a second. “I’ll see. Let me get into Mr. Smith’s room. He was about to tell me a story about the Super Bowl.”

Ava who was standing within earshot laughed at Summer. “Crazy girl, it’s the World Series, not the Super Bowl. One is football, the other baseball, duh!” Ava knew this because Mr. Smith told her the same story two days ago when she was his nurse.

“Whateva!” Summer threw over her shoulder as she bounced down the hall to Mr. Smith’s room.

When she was out of hearing range, Starr questioned Ava. “Do you think she’ll go out with him?”

“Hmmm, maybe. I hope so. She’s such a pretty girl.”

“Brotha ain’t too bad to look at either.”

Ava nodded her head in agreement. At the same time they blurted out, “They’d make a cute couple.”

Nick was determined to break Summer’s resolve. After a week of daily phone calls, flowers and Godiva chocolates, she agreed to a date on Friday night.

♥♥♥

Pulling a black long sleeve wrap Donna Karan dress from her closet, Summer was anxious to get the night over with.

“At least I finally get to wear this dress I spent all that money on,” she said to Ava and Starr who were sitting on her bed as she hunted through her closet for the perfect pair of shoes.

Starr flipped through a magazine while Ava flicked from one cable station to the next. Looking up from the magazine, Starr agreed with her. “Yeah girl you did spend some bucks on that dress, but it’s gonna look cute on you.”

“Thanks, Starr.” Holding up a different shoe in each hand, “What do you guys think? the pumps or the wedges.”

Ava turned her attention away from the television. “I like the pumps.”

“Yeah, me to,” Starr said.

“Okay, it’s the pumps then.”

Spontaneously, Ava and Starr jumped off the bed and start doing the Beyoncé booty bounce while rapping the old MC Hammer hit, Pumps and a Bump.

Summer cracked up. “You two are fools! Y’all know that right?”

“We know!” They’d agreed as they continued to rap and booty bounce.

Shaking her head, Summer threw the wedges in the closet and joined Ava and Starr in acting a fool. They were having too much fun for her not to cut up with them.

After about five minutes of goofing off, Summer asked, “What time is it, Ava?”

“Seven fifteen. What time is he coming?” Ava inquired as she flopped back on the bed and resumed channel surfing.

“He’s coming at eight. I better hurry up. Y’all got me acting all crazy. I’m about to be late.”

Starr never stopped her gyrating as Summer rushed pass her into the bathroom.

Summer surprised herself. She was showered and completely dressed in less than forty minutes. It certainly helped she didn’t wear a ton of makeup. The only things she applied to her face was a moisturizer, eye shadow in gold and brown and a sheer mocha lip gloss that complemented her light complexion. Adding the final touch, Summer sprayed a few squirts of Vera Wang perfume on her wrists and behind her ears.

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, she was satisfied with her reflection. The wrap dress hugged every curve stopping just below the knees to give a full view of shapely legs in sheer black stockings. The pumps showed off well-toned calf muscles, courtesy of daily heel raises. Starr flat ironed her hair and curled it at the ends, letting the long tresses fall down her back.

Giving one last glance in the mirror, Summer headed down the stairs. When her foot hit the last step the doorbell rang. Her heart began to thump as she went over to the door slowly opening it.

The man was absolutely fine. Nick was wearing a gray sports jacket, black turtleneck and dress slacks with black Kenneth Cole dress loafers.
Mmmm he always smells sooo good!

Summer was so taken with how darn good he looked and smelled, she hadn’t noticed him holding a bouquet of flowers. Handing her the flowers, flashing a hundred watt smile, “These are for you, Beautiful.”

Summer blushed. Accepting the flowers their hands touched, sending a current racing through her slightly knocking her off her square. “Come on in so I can put these in water.”

Nick watched as she quickly retreated to the kitchen. With each sway of her slim hips her hair bounced full of body against her slender back. Putting his hands in his pockets, he looked around the living room, then into the small dining room. Appreciating the feminine and genteel décor he strolled over to an entertainment unit. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked at photos of Summer at various stages in her life. From the photos he gathered she’d always been a looker.

A few seconds later, Summer emerged with the flowers in a crystal vase with Ava and Starr on her heels. They’d come down the stairs earlier to eat the take-out they’d ordered.

Stopping briefly to set the vase on the dining room table, the trio stood before Nick with Summer positioned front and center.

Pointing to her friends, “Nick, these are my friends, Starr Avery and Ava Peretti.”

Taking Starr’s, then Ava’s hand in a handshake, Nick flashed a charming smile. “Oh, yes, I remember you ladies from the benefit. How’s everything going?”

Sharing a quick glance they both sang in unison, “Good, everything’s good.”

He engaged in light conversation with Ava and Starr as Summer went to the hall closet to get her coat. Coming back into the living room with the coat draped over her slender arm, “I’m ready now.”

“Here, let me help you with your coat,” Nick offered as he smoothly sauntered over to her. She handed Nick the coat allowing him to assist her with it. Before Summer could pull her hair out Nick gathered the silky tresses in one large hand gently freeing every strain trapped beneath the coat.

Turning to face Nick, Summer gazed at him momentarily speechless. They hadn’t even left the house yet and she was feeling unsure of herself. He was already making her nervous.

“Thank you.” Summer whispered.

In a deep, low husky voice Nick replied, “It was my pleasure.” He loved the feel of her hair. It felt like what he’d imagined – soft, thick silk.

Summer shivered from the deep vibration his voice sent out. She had to say something, anything to help her regain her balance.

“Where’s my purse?” she asked her friends who apparently were in a daze.

Ava and Starr were just as taken as they stood staring wide eyed as the fine brotha made a simple act of helping a woman with her coat appear so sensual. Not to mention the way he was gazing at their girl Summer made goose bumps pop up all over them. They could only imagine what she was feeling.

Starr whispered to Ava, “Brotha got it going on.”

“You ain’t said nothin’ but a word.”

“Hellooo. Have you seen my purse?”

Snapping out of the trance, Starr pointed, “Right there on the sofa.” Taking quick steps to the sofa picking up the purse she handed it to Summer.

Giving each a quick hug, Summer told them she’ll see them later. Meaning, “Don’t go anywhere until I get back home.”

Both the women nodded their heads in understanding.

♥♥♥

“Are you always so quiet?” Nick wanted to know as he intently examined Summer.

Looking up from the menu Summer’s gaze was met by intense dark eyes encased in a serious expression.

“Umm, no, not really,” she answered barely above a whisper.

“Then why are you so quiet now?”

Hunching slender shoulders, she admitted, “I guess I’m just a little nervous.”

Nick took a sip from his water glass. “Of what?”

Letting out a slow breath, Summer tried to steady the quivering of her voice. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date.”

“And why is that? I know you must get asked out all the time.” Nick paused as his expression changed from intense to playful. “I noticed all those dudes asking you to dance. But you shot them down, one after the other. You broke a lot of hearts.”

He was right. Men did ask her out all the time. However, she avoided men like the bird flu because they usually only wanted one thing… Sex.

Lowering her head avoiding eye contact, she mumbled, “Because I don’t like being treated like an object.”
Sex object that is.

Summer breathed a sigh of relief when the waiter suddenly appeared at their table. After they ordered dinner the conversation moved to other topics. Nick decided to drop his line of questioning, it was clear she was uncomfortable. So instead, they talked about what they did for a living, their families, politics; anything to keep the evening from becoming strained.

Over dinner they discovered they both were an only child and were born and raised in Philly. Nick had gone to Central High School, the all boys’ school at the time, down on Ogontz and Olney Avenues. And Summer to Girl’s High at Broad Street and Olney Avenue, one city block away. Nick teased her about being in elementary school while he was in high school.

Sadness washed over Summer when Nick told her he and his dad had spoken only twice since his mother’s death. He shared with her they never had a good relationship.

He told her the malice between father and son further festered when he decided not to pursue law.

Summer couldn’t believe Nick’s father was
the
Honorable Judge Henry Stiles, who presided on the bench as a federal judge. Judge Stiles was known for throwing the book at criminals, especially repeat offenders. At least that’s how the media portrayed him.

Summer’s background wasn’t as illustrious as Nick’s. Her father had owned a small business as an electrician and her mother operated an in-home daycare center. Summer was proud; however, to tell him she was very close to her parents even if her mother did drive her crazy at times being overly opinionated about everything. Summer wasn’t ashamed to tell him she was scared that her parents had decided to move to North Carolina to build their dream home leaving her with no close family ties. Aunts, uncles, and cousins were scattered all over the country. Although she was nervous about being so far away from her parents Summer refused to move with them. “I don’t want to move down south. I’m just fine, right here in Philly.” She had told her parents.

When her mother continued to pressure her to move, Summer simply told her, “Mommy, I’m not going. My friends are here and my job is here. Just let me grow up, please.” Although she missed her parents, she knew she made the right choice to be totally independent of them and on her own.

Nick was impressed Summer’s parents invested their money in the seventies when most blacks didn’t know what CD’s, mutual funds and saving bonds were. He chuckled when she boasted she began making investments when she got her first job at sixteen with the hope of retiring by the time she was forty-five or fifty.