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Authors: Cheris Hodges

BOOK: Betting On Love
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“Something's going on with Kenya,” Maurice said.
“What do you mean?”
“This morning she was sick. Lately, she's been eating some weird shit, and she hasn't been complaining about cramps. I think my wife is pregnant.”
“Uh, don't you think she would've told you if she was?” James asked, trying not to ruin Kenya's birthday surprise.
“Maybe she doesn't know for sure. Man, if I'm going to be a father, that is the best thing that could ever happen to me.”
“Better you than me,” James said.
“There you go. You know you want some kids.”
“Yeah, when I get married. I refuse to be another one of those men who make babies but don't take responsibility for them. You know, like our sperm donor.”
Maurice shook his head. “Don't remind me of that bastard. That's why I want a son, so I can teach him what I never learned. I just hope Kenya's ready for a family. She works so much, and then she took on that case with your lady friend. She's going to be going back and forth to Atlanta. If she's pregnant, she's going to have to quit this job.”
James laughed and slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Let me know when you're going to tell her that, because that's going to be better than any TV drama. Kenya isn't quitting her job because you said so.”
“Why does she need to work? I have more than enough money to ...”
“Mo, Kenya doesn't give a damn about your money. She works hard because that's who she is. Let that woman work. I don't get you. One second you're talking about all the gold diggers in the world, and the next you want your wife to sit at home and live off you.”
“That's because she's a woman that deserves to be taken care of,” Maurice said. “Just like our mother, who still works at that bakery despite the fact that she doesn't have to.”
“Mo, where do you come up with this caveman bullshit of yours?” James asked, with a laugh.
“Whatever. Hell, your woman might like it when you take care of her.”
“Here we go with this bullshit again,” James snapped as the bartender set his drink in front of him.
“I'm just saying,” Maurice said. “Her friend Serena Jacobs is a piece of work. Women like that run in packs.”
“I know Jade. I know who she is and what she does. She's not responsible for her friends any more than you're responsible for your cheating-ass teammates. What if everyone subscribed to the notion that all you NFL guys cheat on your wives? Then what?”
Maurice held up his glass in mock salute. “Touché.”
James took a sip of his drink and shook his head at his brother. “And you act like Jade and I are getting married. Despite what I feel for her, I won't be ready for marriage anytime soon.”
Maurice clanked his glass against James's. “Thank the Lord! I was really thinking that you were going to tell me next week that you and this lady were going to get married.”
“Man, that's way off in the future for me. Besides, you're the family man. I'm still a bachelor, and I'm loving the single life.”
“That's what you say now,” Maurice said. “But when the right one comes along, you'd give it up in a heartbeat.”
“Only took you nine years to figure that out, huh?” James said, with a laugh.
“Whatever. Hell, when you're young and stupid, you do dumb things. You're not that young, bro.”
“Are you trying to say I'm doing something stupid?”
Maurice shrugged his shoulders and then took another sip of his drink. “You and Jade met in Vegas, started having sex immediately, and then you made it seem as if you'd fallen deeply in love with her.”
“I like Jade. I could see myself falling in love with her down the road,” James admitted.
“She got you, man,” Maurice said.
Before James could reply, two squealing women walked over to them. “I told you it was Maurice Goings. Oh my God, you look even better in person,” the taller and bustier woman said.
“Thanks,” Maurice said dryly.
The woman reached out and placed her hand on Maurice's thigh. “Can I please have your autograph? I love the Panthers!”
Maurice pushed her hand away and asked the bartender for a pen and a piece of paper.
“No,” the woman said as she unbuttoned her blouse. “I want you to sign here.” She pressed her body as close to him as she could. Then her friend snapped a photo. Maurice eased back against the bar.
“Ladies,” James said, “have a nice night and move along.”
The women turned and looked at James as if he were an alien. “Who are you?” they asked. “Do you play for the Panthers, too?”
“No, I'm head of security. Keep it moving,” James said as he gave the women a gentle push.
As the women walked away, they mumbled under their breath about what an asshole James was.
Maurice rose to his feet and shook his head. “On that note, I'm going home.”
“You know, I'm proud of you, Mo.”
“Huh?”
“I remember when you didn't turn down groupie love.”
Maurice shrugged. “I got real love at the crib. I'm not risking that.”
James watched his brother walk away and thought about what he'd said. Was he ready, despite saying otherwise, to have real love at home?
CHAPTER 18
Fatigue started to set in as Jade crossed the state line into Georgia. Part of her was wishing that she'd taken James up on his offer to spend another night. But she knew if she'd stayed with him tonight, she'd be taking this drive tomorrow night. Besides, leaving his arms wasn't easy.
She stopped at the Waffle House at the first exit she came across to get a cup of coffee. People could say what they wanted about the food at the twenty-four-hour restaurant, but they had the strongest coffee on the interstate, and she needed a jolt. After getting her coffee, Jade got back on the road.
As she drove, she called Kandace to see if she was still awake.
“Are you in Fulton County yet?” Kandace asked.
“What happened to hello?”
“I'll take that as a no. You and James made up. I'm really happy about that.”
“So am I. Kandace, I really like him, and it's kind of scary.”
“Why? You deserve a good man. Lord knows you've been with some losers lately. James seems different. I just wish he lived in Atlanta and had a single brother.”
“Please, as much as you work, when do you have time for a man?” Jade asked.
“People make time for what they want to do. Right now, I'd love to be getting done,” Kandace said, with a laugh.
“What kind of project are you working on?” Jade asked.
“Trying to find Devon Harris. Serena really needs to learn how to keep her damned mouth shut sometimes. She acts as if this thing with Stephen is her fight and not yours. Do you know how awkward it's going to be for me to contact Devon?”
“That thought crossed my mind when Serena said he'd be running our restaurant. Are you okay with this?”
“This is business. All that other stuff is the distant past. Black history, if you will.”
“Kandace, I know you, and I know that if you had your way, you'd still be with him.”
“How about we talk about your existing love life and leave my skeletons buried?”
“Whatever you say,” Jade replied.
“What's the real deal with you and James? Is this going to work from such a distance? And what happens when you get busy with the restaurant and your CPA firm?”
“How about we cross that bridge when we get to it?”
“All right, Jade. I don't want to see you get hurt again, and I would hate to have to call some of the boys in the hood that I know in North Carolina.”
“Please,” Jade said, with a laugh. “You are about as hood as George Bush.”
“Don't doubt my gangster,” Kandace said. “Anyway, do you think you two are going to make this thing work?”
“I know we are. James is making it really easy for me to fall in love with him.”
“Jade, you know I say this with love, but you're forever falling in love. I think you just like the idea of being in love.”
“Well, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black,” Jade said.
“Whatever. There has been only one true love of my life, and we all know how that turned out.”
“That was your own fault, and I thought we were leaving your skeletons buried,” Jade replied.
“I did say that, didn't I?” Kandace said. “Back to you, though. How do you know that you and James are on the same page?”
“I guess I'll find out. We're taking this thing one day, one moment at a time. Can't I just love the moment?”
“Told you. You, my friend, are addicted to love. It's just about that feeling to you. Just remember the pain that can come from this.”
“It doesn't always have to be that way,” Jade said wistfully.
“Whatever, Cinderella. That fairy tale you're weaving, I hope it doesn't come undone.”
“Who knows, this restaurant may be the start of your own fairy tale.”
“On that note, I'm going to say good-bye,” Kandace said. “How far away are you now?”
“I just crossed into Gwinnett County,” Jade said. “I'll be home shortly.”
“Drive safe,” Kandace told her, then hung up.
Jade shook her head as she placed her cell phone on the passenger seat. Kandace was just as addicted to love as she claimed Jade was. That was why they got along so well, she surmised. And that was why they needed the friendship of the cynical twins Alicia and Serena.
Yin and yang,
she thought as she took the exit for I-285.
After she got home, took off her clothes, and crawled into bed, Jade dialed James's number.
“Hello,” he said groggily.
“Did I wake you?” she asked.
“Nah, I was waiting for your call.”
“You're such a bad liar.”
“That's a good thing, isn't it?” James said, recalling the first conversation they had in Vegas.
“Funny,” she said. “Well, I made it home safely.”
“That's good to hear,” he said. “I was starting to get worried about you.”
“I've been home long enough to crawl into bed,” she said as she bounced against the mattress.
“Umm, what are you wearing?” James asked.
“Did you seriously ask me that?” Jade said through laughter.
“Seems like a proper question to me with you being in bed and all. So, tell me, Ms. Lady. What are you wearing?”
Jade looked down at her black T-shirt and oversize boxers, then said, “Nothing at all.”
“Really? Because I'm wearing the exact same thing.”
“Yeah?” she said, her voice taking on a low purring quality.
“And if you were here, then we'd be making slow, passionate love. I'll bet that you're wet right now.”
“Hot and wet, babe,” she cooed. Before she even thought about it, her hand was between her thighs, stroking the wet folds of skin, longing for James's hardness. She moaned as her finger found her throbbing bud.
“How does it feel?” James asked. “How wet is it?”
“So wet. Feels so good,” she said through staccato breathing.
“Just imagine me inside of you, you on top of me. Damn, I'm hard right now. Need you, want you so badly.”
Jade could only moan in response as she sped up the movement of her hand. James's labored breathing told her that he was giving himself ecstasy as well. Her legs began to quake as she imagined that he was deep inside of her, touching every spot, giving her the pleasure and passion that she'd craved since their meeting in Vegas.
“Come for me,” James moaned. “Let me hear it.”
“James, James,” she called out.
He groaned, hinting to Jade that he'd also reached his climax. She clutched her sheets with a smile on her face, and part of her expected James to be beside her.
Sighing, she said, “I've never done this before. Never.”
“Well, I'm glad that I could talk you out of your cherry.”
“Ha.”
“Jade,” he said.
“Yes?”
“You're a helluva woman.”
“And you're a damned good man,” she replied. “What time is it?”
“Time for a satisfied woman to go to bed. Don't forget about Maurice's party this weekend,” James said.
“Are you sure it's all right for me to be there? Your brother still has an issue with me.”
“Don't worry. After this party, Mo isn't going to have an issue with anyone.”
“Sounds exciting,” Jade said.
“It will be,” he said. “Good night.”
“Good night,” she said. Jade knew her dreams were going to be filled with images of James. Sleep couldn't come fast enough.
 
 
When morning came, James nearly expected to find Jade wrapped in his sheets. All night he'd dreamed that they were doing all the things they'd talked about over the phone. Looking over at the alarm clock, he realized that if he didn't get out of bed soon, he was going to be late getting into the office. He and Amber had a new project to start working on with the city of Charlotte and one of their clients who had valuable land in the Fourth Ward. The real estate market in Charlotte was booming, and James couldn't be happier, but his real thrill came from Jade.
After showering and getting dressed, James headed to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee and a muffin. Then he dashed to the office. Amber met him at the door, with a worried look on her face.
“What's wrong, sunshine?” he asked his trusted assistant.
“There's a man here demanding to see you,” she said in a hushed tone.
“Who is he?”
“Says his name is Stephen Carter, and he wants to talk about that restaurant we just sold.”
James sipped his coffee. Stephen Carter was the last person he wanted to see, and he damned sure didn't want to give him an audience about the restaurant that Jade and her friends had outbid him on.
“Get rid of him,” James said.
“It's not going to be that easy, Goings,” Stephen said, appearing behind Amber. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Amber, excuse me for a moment,” said James.
Amber quickly ducked out of the way, as if she could feel the sparks shooting between the men.
James brushed past Stephen, set his coffee and muffin on the edge of Amber's desk, and then he focused his gaze on Stephen. “Hell of a nerve coming here,” James said.
“You're one to talk about someone having nerve. Chasing my sloppy seconds these days?”
“Five minutes, dude, and I'm not going to be able to control what happens to your punk ass.”
Stephen stepped back. “Why don't you let go of the past? You sold my future to that bi—”
Before he knew it, James had reared back and clocked Stephen in the jaw with a right hook.
Stumbling backward, Stephen held his jaw. “You son of a bitch,” he spat. Then he lunged at James, grabbing him around his neck.
James countered the move with a knee to Stephen's midsection. Stephen fell backward, clutching his stomach in pain. James stopped himself from stomping him while he was on the floor. He yanked Stephen up by his lapels.
“Get the hell out of my office, and don't show your face around here again,” James hissed.
Stephen shook free of James's grasp. “You will be hearing from my attorney.” He straightened his jacket and headed out the door. James looked down at his hand and saw that his knuckles were starting to swell. Amber returned to her desk and balked at the mess she saw.
“Are you all right?” she asked, her eyes wide in disbelief that James had gotten into a fight. “Who was that guy?”
“Someone who doesn't need to come in this office ever again. If you see him in the parking lot, call the police,” James said in a growl.
Amber stepped back from him, surprised at the anger that he was showing. James had always been the calm diplomat.
He turned to his assistant and offered her a lopsided smile. “I'm sorry,” he said. “That guy and I have a rocky past. He tried to cheat my mother in Atlanta after she'd done nothing but help his punk ass.”
“Knew it had to be something, because this isn't like you.”
“Why don't you go have some coffee or something while I clean this up?” James said. “I'll even pay.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty-dollar bill.
Amber took the money and headed out the door to Starbucks. James looked at his overturned coffee cup and mashed-up muffin. He hated that he had let Stephen get the best of him. That was something that Maurice would've done.
Guess we're more alike than I want to admit,
he thought as he tossed the remnants of his breakfast in the trash.
As he was mopping up the coffee with a rag, Maurice walked in.
“What happened in here?” Maurice asked.
“Stephen Carter happened.”
“What was that son of a bitch doing here?” Maurice asked hotly.
James focused his stare on Maurice and sighed as he picked up an overturned chair, then said, “He was here because of Jade.”
“What does she have to do with ... I forgot, they used to date. You have to wonder about a woman that would date—”
“Shut up, really,” James said. “Because my fist isn't too swollen to punch you in the face, too.”
Maurice folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. “I hate that I wasn't here to see thieving Stephen get what he deserved. Seriously, though, what did she see in him? Stephen's a liar and a fake. You claim she's a smart woman. How did she get—”

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