Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (11 page)

  It took Millie a moment to collect her thoughts. “Um…what do you want me to make with the ground beef?”

  “I’m not picky. Whatever you make, I’ll eat.” He smiled. “I’ve had your cooking so I’m not worried.”

  Millie’s eyes continued to devour his muscled chest and legs and everything in between. “You want to come in pretty woman?” he asked in that slow southern drawl.

She shook her head. “No, I’d better make your dinner before I have to go.”

  With one long last look, Millie turned and went back to the kitchen. When Henry finished his shower, he smelled the most delicious smells coming from his kitchen. He dressed in a T-Shirt and some jeans before heading out to meet Millie.

  Henry found her in the kitchen at the stove. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You look so pretty in my kitchen,” he breathed against her neck.

Millie sniffed in his clean scent. “You smell good.”

  “Do I usually smell bad?” he asked still kissing her throat.

  “No, of course not,” She turned slightly to see his face. “You just smell really good right now.”

  He kissed her briefly. “This food smells good. I didn’t know you could do all this with a package of ground beef.”

  “I wanted to make you something hearty. I know you’ve been working really hard.”

Henry looked over at the stove. “What is all this?”

  “Salisbury steak, rice, gravy and mixed vegetables,” she told him.

  “Can you come every day and cook for me?” he teased.

Millie turned away. “I’ll cook for you whenever you like Henry.”

He kissed her cheek. “Can I eat now?”

  She agreed and they made plates before moving to the table where Henry blessed the food. As usual, he waited for her to begin. When she paused, he lifted a brow.

“What’s wrong Millie?” Henry asked.

  “I should tell you something…”

Henry became concerned. “Tell me what?”

Millie looked at him. “It’s about Bill.”

She watched as Henry sat his fork down and pushed away from the table.

Chapter 11

  Millie sat her own fork on the table and looked at Henry. His soulful brown eyes were curious as he sat at attention waiting for her to continue.

  “He came to my school, said he was thinking about taking some classes,” she explained slowly.

  Henry nodded watching her. “I don’t want to start any trouble,” Millie told him. “I’m only telling you because you asked me about him before.” Her heart was beating as she phrased her next words.

  “He asked me to dinner to talk about the Nursing program…”

  Henry knew there was more to this story. He hoped that it wouldn’t involve him getting his hands dirty with Bill because Lord knows that if he’d done something to upset Millie, it was a done deal.

  “I told him that I didn’t think that was a good idea,” she continued.

Millie paused again, now worried about Henry’s silence as he simply lifted a dark brow.

  “He said that you pursued me because you knew that he was interested. Is that so Henry?” she asked confused.

  Henry leaned forward and took her hand gently. “No ma’am, that’s not true.” He lifted her face to his. “I pursued you because you’re the strongest, smartest and prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“Yes, I knew Bill was interested but that didn’t matter after you smiled at me from the field. I realized then that Honey was amazing but I know now that Millie is incredible,” he finished stroking her soft cheek.

  “You’re being true to me, aren’t you Henry?” she questioned.

  “Yes ma’am.” He gave her a look. “Are you being true, Millie?”

Millie moved closer. “I’ll always be true to you.”

Henry helped her from her seat over to his lap. “Bill wants to be a problem. I’ve warned him already.”

  “I don’t think he’s going to go away Henry,” she whispered then looked up at him with wary eyes. “He grabbed me…”

Millie watched Henry’s face turn from the fun loving country boy into a dangerous black man.

  “What did you say Millie?” he asked slowly.

  “I went to walk away and he grabbed my arm,” she explained.

  “Did he hurt you?” Henry demanded hotly.

Millie flinched. “No, he just startled me. I told him to let me go and he did.”

  Henry took a moment to calm himself after seeing Millie’s reaction. He lifted a hand and touched her hairline. “I’m sorry. I promise you he won’t ever touch you again.”

Her eyes widened. “What are you going to do Henry?”

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head. It’s fine.”

Millie studied him slowly. “I don’t want to get you out of jail again Henry,” she warned him.

  “I’m not going to jail Millie,” he assured her.

  They stared at each other in a silent battle until Henry leaned over and kissed her slowly. Instinctively, Millie responded in return before Henry leaned her back across his arm, kissing her thoughts away. When he lifted his head she stared up at him.

  “Our food is getting cold.” Henry told her. “I don’t want to mess up this nice meal you made for me.”

  “I know what you’re doing.”

He smiled. “What am I doing?”

  “You’re trying to distract me.”

Henry kissed her again. “Is it working?”

  Millie ran a hand along the side of his handsome face. “Promise me that you’ll never do anything to lose your freedom. I can’t bear the thought of you behind some iron bars.”

“Millie, the whole reason I came here was because there was nothing more important to me than to be able to live my life. I didn’t come here to be locked up like an animal.” Henry kissed her cheek. “I promised this pretty woman that I’m going to court her and then I’m going to take care of her for a long time.”

Millie smiled slowly. “Okay, now you can distract me some more...”

  Henry proceeded to distract her a little while longer then they sat down and enjoyed the delicious meal Millie had prepared. Henry smiled to himself as his stomach rejoiced. A pretty woman who could cook like this? Yes sir, he was definitely marrying this girl.

  After eating their meal and cleaning the kitchen, the couple retired to the sofa where Henry pulled Millie down with him. Lying atop him, she rested her chin in her palms and stared down into his face as he locked gazes with her.

  “How is work?” she asked after a while.

  “Fine,” he answered. “I was surprised to come home and find you.”

Her eyes softened and she confessed, “I really did try to stay away, Henry.”

  “I never said you had to stay away Millie.  I just said we couldn’t go on our date until after the overtime ended,” he explained placing his hands on her back above her bottom.

  Millie pressed closer into his body contentedly. Laying her head on his chest, she noticed the box on the floor.

  “You forgot about your package,” she reminded him.

Henry looked over at the box. “It’s for you.”

She lifted her head. “For me?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

She looked at the box then at Henry. “What did you get me?”

  “Why don’t you open it?” he told her.

  Millie loved surprises so she scrambled off the couch quickly then took a seat on the floor next to the box. “It’s like an early Christmas!” she said excitedly.

  Henry sat up on the sofa and watched her happy face. He laughed wondering how she could be this excited without even knowing what was in the box. Laughing, Millie removed the tape and opened the flaps before her hands flew to her mouth. “Henry!”

  Gently she retrieved the item on top and lovingly ran her hand over it. Turning back to him, she looked at him in amazement.

  “How did you know I wanted these?” she asked.

  “Miss Helen told me that these would help with your studies,” he explained. “So I guess she’s not all bad, huh?”

  Millie smirked. “The jury’s still out on that, but she was right about these.” She lifted the remaining items from the box.

  “I can’t believe you got me the American Journal of Nursing! Every issue from this year,” Millie said looking over all the copies. “I’m going to be the best nurse in the program with all this information!”

  “Something to keep you busy until I can take you out,” he told her.

  She smiled at him as she got to her feet. Millie came to stand in front of him, placing her arms around his neck. “Thank you so much Henry. You really don’t know what this mean to me,” she told him softly.

  Henry lifted his face to hers. “You’re welcome Millie. I know how hard it is for colored nurses to get positions in the major hospitals. I want you to have the best opportunity.”

Millie felt her eyes water. “You’re so sweet to me Henry.”

  “You’re my girl. I’ll always be sweet to you,” he promised.

She smiled wickedly. “We don’t have much time left to fool around before Irma gets here.”

  Henry laid her back on the sofa then climbed over her before kissing her senseless and breathless. When she was able to breathe again, she looked up at him.

  “Have I mentioned that I like being your girl, Henry?” she asked breathlessly with his body pressed into hers.

  “Yes ma’am.” Henry promptly used the rest of his time making sure Millie couldn’t talk anymore.

******

  Bill glanced over at Henry when he returned to his station for a day. Henry was focused on his parts as Bill studied him. He’d expected to have had some sort of confrontation over Honey, but Henry hadn’t said anything in the week since he’d had his interaction with her. Maybe she hadn’t told Henry. If she hadn’t, did that mean she was considering his offer? Henry glanced up and caught Bill’s perusal.

  “Hey Bill, do you need a ride home today? I have some business to take care of in that direction,” Henry offered.

  “Uh, yeah that’s fine. Thanks Henry,” Bill said slowly.

  Henry nodded and went back to his work as the new foreman came down the line. He stopped at Henry’s station and looked at his work. Patting Henry on the back he commented, “Great job as usual Henry.”

  “Thank you,” Henry replied.

  “Everything going okay?” the foreman inquired.

Henry nodded. “Everything’s fine.”

  The foreman patted him once more before moving on and Henry shook his head. Ever since the incident with Schmidt, every foreman on the line made it a point to check and make sure Henry was happy.

  Bill watched from his position and smirked at the way the foremen all fawned over Henry like he was the best thing since sliced bread. Even before the incident with the previous foreman, Henry received what Bill deemed special attention from the management. He frowned and went back to his work.

  Henry watched Bill frown at his interaction with the foreman and shook his head. Bill wasn’t a bad worker, but he could certainly be better if he applied himself. When Henry looked up again, Bill was on a bathroom break…for the third time today. Another worker who was passing by stopped at Henry’s station.

  “See you tonight Henry?” Jimmy asked.

Henry nodded. “I’ll be there.”

“We’ll see you then.”

As Bill returned, he saw Jimmy passing by. He lifted an eyebrow at Bill then continued on his way and Bill looked confused as he went back to his station to finish his shift. At the end of the day, Bill followed Henry out to his car.

  “Thanks for the ride Henry,” Bill said settling inside.

Henry looked over at him. “I have something to take care of anyway.”

They drove in the direction of Bill’s home with Bill watching the passing scenery.

  “So how are those college classes coming?” Henry asked and Bill froze for a moment remembering what had happened.

  “I checked it out,” he answered slowly. “Still trying to decide.”

  Henry nodded slowly as he continued to drive. Bill looked out the window again and saw unfamiliar scenery.

  “Where are we going Henry?” Bill asked becoming panicked.

Henry glanced over at him. “Need to make a stop first.”

  Bill sat watching Henry as he continued to drive to a vacant field near the Detroit River. He turned to Henry, “Why are we here?”

Parking the car and removing the key, Henry turned to Bill.

  “I’m going to give you the opportunity to win Honey’s hand,” Henry told him and Bill looked confused.

  “Does she want me?” Bill asked.

Henry lifted a dark brow over hard eyes. “Did she tell you that when you saw her at the college?”

  Bill swallowed. “What are we doing here Henry?” He turned as three other cars arrived and some of their fellow workers climbed out of the vehicles.

He turned to Henry. “What are they doing here?”

  “Witnesses,” Henry told him climbing out of the car. The other workers all greeted Henry as he closed the door.

Henry looked down inside the window at Bill. “Get out of the car.”

Bill shook his head. “No!”

  “If you want a shot at Honey, you’d better get out.”

After a few minutes, Bill exited the vehicle. “What do I have to do?”

  “You have to win her like a man,” Henry told him. “You whip me and I’ll walk away, but if I whip you…you never come near her again or I’ll just whip you for the hell of it.”

Bill looked around at the additional men. “Are they going to help you?” he questioned.

  Henry gave him a look. “They’re here to make sure I don’t kill you. I don’t trust myself.” He began unbuttoning his work shirt.

  “Let’s go, nobody has all night,” Henry ordered then threw his shirt inside the car. He moved over to an empty space on the field and waited for Bill.

  Bill looked at all the faces watching him before removing his own shirt. Slowly he walked to where Henry was standing and faced him.

Henry balled his fists and got into a boxing stance worthy of Muhammad Ali. “So you grabbed Millie?”

  At the first punch, Bill fell to the ground and Henry looked down at him. “Come on Bill, we’re just getting started.”

Bill scrambled to his feet then charged at Henry who pushed him aside and stepped out of his path.

  “Fight like a man!” Henry yelled putting his dukes up again while covering his face.

Bill adopted Henry’s stance and the two men moved in a circle. “Honey’s real sweet.” Henry taunted.

  Bill threw a punch and Henry ducked but still took a hit. “You know I wanted her!” Bill yelled letting his guard down.

  “She don’t want you.” Henry connected with another punch to Bill’s face causing him to stumble backwards. Henry followed him landing more blows before Bill could regroup.

  Bill pushed Henry off of him and moved back away from the assault. Touching his lip and nose he looked at his hand and saw blood.

He glared at Henry. “I’m whipping your ass now!”

Henry prepared himself. “That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for...”

Then the fight was on…