A Tropical Rendezvous: A BWWM Interracial Bad Boy Billionaire Multicultural Romance (African American Romance) (13 page)

Melanie pushed herself away from the sink. The sun had already risen and she still wasn’t at work. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t trying, but every time she headed for the door, she found herself rushing back to the bathroom. Pregnancy was not agreeing with her.

“Are you sure I’m okay? I’m pretty sure I’m dying,” Melanie complained to Doctor Wash as she rinsed her mouth for the hundredth time.

“You’re not dying, but you might need to come in so I can take a look at you.”

“No can do. Important meetings today, I don’t have time for this.”

She could hear Wash groaning. “You don’t have a choice. You signed up for this when you got pregnant. It’s a natural part of it, but I need to make sure you’re getting some nutrients to the baby. You could be putting him or her in danger.”

“I get it. I get it. What’s your schedule look like in an hour?”

“For you? Free and clear.”

“Perfect.”

Melanie brushed her teeth again before she looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She looked tired. The bags under her eyes gave away the fact that she hadn’t been getting much sleep, if any. She reached into the cabinet, pulled out her makeup bag and got to work.

By the time she was done, Melanie was feeling a lot more like herself. She still felt the occasional wave of nausea wash over her, but she was able to keep it together. She called off of work before she dressed in a beige form fitting sweater dress and nude flats.

Wash was through in his exam. By the time she was done being poked and prodded, Melanie felt a lot like a lab rat. Wash sat in front of her, his laptop on a stand as he stared at the screen.

“Everything still looks okay, but I’m worried about your stress levels. You know what I’m going to ask you right?”

“Absolutely not! I refuse to stop working a day before it’s needed.”

Wash sighed. “You don’t have to stop, just slow down. It’s my recommendation that you cut down to part time and get a lot more rest. I wrote you a prescription to help with the nausea, but you have to do your part as well.”

Melanie groaned. “I’ll do my best.”

“I mean it.”

“I will. I will...cut down,” the words came out only after she struggled with them.

“Good. Go home, get some rest. You’ll be fine. This is all pretty normal.”

Melanie thanked him. As she walked outside, she decided that the day was too beautiful to waste. Besides, she didn’t want to go home just yet. She walked down to one of her favorite book stores, a tiny mom and pop store tucked between a starbucks and a Book Giant. She loved the fact that it was still  there after all those years, even surrounded by bigger places.

“Melanie,” a woman with circular glasses and a wide smile greeted her. “How are you today? It’s been a while.”

“I’ve had a lot of work to do,” Melanie said with a grin.

“Can I get you anything?”

Melanie settled down into a big, comfortable armchair. “A cup of tea would be amazing.”

“Coming right up.”

She watched Rachel shuffle off to the back of the store. The woman was getting up there in years and she wondered what would happen to the store when she could no longer take care of it. The last thing Melanie wanted was to see it get overtaken by the urban sprawl and turned into another place that no one needed.

The bell above the door tinkled quietly as someone stepped inside. Melanie gazed up paused. The man in front of her was a dream. He was tall with short black hair and the most startling shade of green eyes she’d ever seen. Melanie had to remind herself not to stare. Trying to look nonchalant, she picked up the nearest book and held it up as she examined him.

Rachel came back to the front of the store with a cup of tea on a delicate saucer. There was a little cake beside the cup. Melanie temporarily forgot about the man as she pushed herself up and walked to the counter.

“Thanks, Rachel,” she said with a smile.

“No problem. Can I help you with anything?” She asked the man behind Melanie.

“Actually, I’m just browsing,” he said. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

“Take your time.”

Tea and saucer in hand, Melanie made her way back to her seat. As she settled in, she felt eyes on her and gazed up. The man was looking at her, his eyes roaming over her. She caught his eye, lifted a browse and grinned at him. She could tell when someone was flirting with her.

The only question left was if she should go up and say something or let him make the first move. She bit her lip. Before her pregnancy, she’d never been shy about going up to a guy. Now, she was second guessing herself. What should she do?

Kian had been nervous all morning. He’d gotten a friend to do some digging into Melanie’s background the day before. Once he’d poured over all of the info, he’d decided that he needed to run into her.

He had to admit, he’d felt like a stalker earlier as he drove behind her to the bookstore. Kian had no idea how to make their run in look casual. Even if he did, what was he supposed to say to her?

From what he’d learned of Melanie, she was an impressive woman. A divorce attorney with years of experience under her belt who’d sailed through school and ran several charities. Kian found himself wanting to know more about her.

Kian browsed through the bookstore, happy that she’d decided to stop in there. It was easier to meet someone at a bookstore and look casual, or at least he hoped so. He looked from around a shelf and caught her eye. Kian gave her a wide smile before he looked down at the book. Only after she’d looked away did he look at her more closely.

She was sitting in a chair, smooth brown legs crossed as she looked at a book in her hands. Occasionally, she’d take a small sip of tea or run her fingers through shoulder length black hair. He could tell she was watching him, there was even a small smile on her lips.

Kian wondered if he should just go up to her, talk to her. What would he say? How could he say anything about her pregnancy without sounding  like a lunatic stalker?

Determined to get it over with, Kian walked over to Melanie swiftly. She lowered her book and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Kian gulped.
She’s beautiful.

He glanced down at her book. “Quantum mechanics?”

The woman gazed at the book in her hand as if for the first time. “Yeah, just some light reading,” she said with a grin.

They both laughed before Kian gestured to the seat beside hers. “Do you mind if I sit with you.”

“Not at all.”

Now what? Kian wondered what his next course of action should be. He ran a hand through his hair, his muscles rippling beneath the t-shirt that he wore. For the briefest moment, he caught Melanie gazing at his form. He wanted to laugh, but instead he simply smiled at her.

“My name’s Kian,” he said as he extended a hand towards her.”

“Melanie,” she replied taking his hand.

Her skin was so smooth. Kian resisted the urge to run a finger over her hand, her arm. It took all of his restraint not to shake his head so the idea would leave him. What was wrong with him? His eyes kept drifting to the line of her throat as she sipped her tea, the way her legs shifted against one another. Damn, this was going to be even harder than he thought.

“I’ve never seen you in here,” Melanie said breaking the silence and bringing him back to the present. “Most of the people here are regulars. I rarely see new people stop in.”

Kian nodded. “Honestly, I’ve never seen this place before today, but I thought I’d go ahead and check it out.”

“Good choice. Places like this need to be kept alive no matter what. They’re fading out too quickly, being replaced by big businesses.”

“What’s wrong with big business?” Kian asked with a raised brow.

Melanie shrugged, polished off her tea and returned the cup to the saucer before she politely wiped her mouth. “There’s nothing wrong with it I suppose, but it is sad that small places like these are being run out of business. You can’t get the same kind of atmosphere in the big bookstores as you can by sitting quietly here.” She chuckled. “Sorry if I’ve offended you. You must be part of some big corporation.”

“No need to apologize. And I am actually. I like to think that it’s done a lot of good for people.”

“What does it do?”

“It…it…,” Kian struggled to find the words. “It’s a technology based company. That phone in your lap? We made that.”

Melanie picked up her phone. “I see. Well that’s very fascinating, but how is that helping people?”

“Parents can call their children, people can call for help if they’re sick, people can find jobs and opportunities.”

Melanie laughed, making him pause. “Okay, I know when I’ve been defeated. You’re right, it is important. I just meant that I love small places like this over big ones, they hold more charm.”

“I can’t argue there,” Kian said glancing around the bookstore.

Melanie was right. It was quaint, cozy, comfortable. The large armchair that he was sitting in was soft and almost made him feel sleepy. The sun came filtering in through the front window, light streaming around the books stacked against the glass.

“Beautiful,” Melanie mumbled.

Kian glanced at her. She was gazing at the spot that he’d just been staring, but she was smiling. His eyes darted to her belly. There was no sign of a growing belly, but her skin seemed to glow.

“I know this is sudden,” he said and she turned to look at him with curiosity written on her features. “Would you like to get lunch with me?”

Melanie’s eyes were round. She seemed to be contemplating something, but before long she was nodding her head.

“What do you have in mind?”

While Kian made arrangements for lunch, Melanie drifted through the stacks in search of something. She brought several books up to the counter and chatted with the woman behind it. Finally, Melanie lugged the bag full of books towards the door. Kian held out his hand and she looked at him in surprise as he handed it off.

“Where to for lunch?” She asked.

“Nowhere too fancy.”

Kian helped her carry the bag to her car. WHen they were done, they strolled down the street together. Normally, Kian was very confidant in every word he spoke, but it was different with Melanie. He found himself simply listening as they made their way to the restaurant.

He’d already known she was a lawyer, but to hear her talk about it was another thing entirely. She was animated, passionate. He found himself hanging onto her every word. All the while, he wondered what it would be like to trace the elegant line of her chin with the tip of his finger.

              “Oh, here we are,” Kian chuckled. “You tell such good stories, I almost got completely lost.”

Melanie grinned. “I have that effect it seems.”

Kian held the door open for her and gestured for her to enter. She thanked him as she walked inside and glanced around. At the wooden podium, there was a young girl dressed in black, her chestnut hair pulled up into a bun. She smiled at them.

              “Mister Sapir, it’s good to see you again,” she beamed. She gave Melanie a warm smile. “Welcome. Let me show you two to your table.”

              Kian followed behind Melanie. He was surprised that he couldn’t even tell she was pregnant. The woman was more on the slender side, but her hips swayed when she walked. Kian had never really been that close to a pregnant woman before, he’d had no reason to be. He wondered if it was even true. Maybe there had been some mistake, maybe she’d changed her mind.

              He pulled out her seat before taking the chair across from her. They both ordered simple meals, a fresh salad for her and a vegetarian burger for him. When the waiter disappeared with their menus, Melanie leaned across the table, her straw twirling between her fingertips.

“So, you’re a vegetarian?”

              Kian chuckled. “Not really. I just enjoy the taste of it.”

              “Gotcha.” She sipped her water. “This place is...impressive. I don’t know why I’ve never come in here before. I don’t work that far away and I usually walk over here for my breaks.”

              “Not many people know about it,” Kian said with a smile. “it’s one of my favorite places to eat.”

              Kian also knew that mostly the small, but expensive restaurant was out of most people’s budgets or they just couldn’t get a table. He had a standing reservation, which made it easy to get in. However, he didn’t want to tell Melanie any of that. So far, she didn’t seem to know who he was at all. Hearing the name Sapir hadn’t brought her any recognition and he wanted to keep it that way.

              “People seem to know you,” Melanie said as she glanced around the room. “Why is that?”

              Kian laughed nervously. “It’s just because I come here often enough.”

              “You must live close.”

              “Pretty close,” Kian said as he took a bite of the food sat before him.

              Really, Kian had several properties. There was a loft not far from the restaurant, a house in the suburbs and a cabin that was tucked into the woods. And that was just for New York. He had properties sprawled throughout the states and a few in other countries as well. Kian hated hotels, he never trusted them and preferred the comfort of his own home, even if he hadn’t been there for months at a time.

              Together, they finished their lunch. Full and satisfied, they turned down the offer of dessert and decided to go for a walk. It was a beautiful day and the work crowd was still buried behind computers or busy doing construction.

              “Let’s go in here,” Kian suggested after they’d walked a bit.

              Melanie smiled. “I like your thinking.