Friends & Lovers Trilogy (30 page)

“
What’s up, Roni?” He
seemed truly happy to see her.

“
Hey,” She responded,
trying to focus on his face. His brown hair was curling at the
ends, damp with sweat. She didn’t understand why she found that so
attractive. Maybe it had been too long since she’d had sex. It
shouldn’t feel like she had to make a concerted effort not to throw
herself at him. “Um, not much. I hope I’m not
intruding.”

Rich picked up a towel and used it to wipe
the sweat from his face, then he moved passed her to grab a water
bottle from the fridge. “You’re not. Would you like a water?”

“
Sure,” Roni said when she
realized that her throat felt dry. “Thanks.”

“
Sorry, there’s not much
room around here for entertaining,” Rich said with a chuckle as he
looked around his small space. “I haven’t had a chance to do much
with it yet; I’ve only been back a few days.”

“
That’s fine. I can’t stay
long. My shift starts soon.”

When she didn’t say anything, Rich smiled at
her and the familiar twinkle lit his eyes.

“
You just came by ‘cause
you missed me?”

That broke Roni out of her sex-crazed daze.
She rolled her eyes at him and snorted. “That’ll be the day.
Actually, I came by with a proposition.”

“
Even better,” Rich said,
his grin widening at the look on her face.

“
You wish,” Roni retorted.
“I’m talking about a business proposition.”

“
Okay,” Rich said with one
last wink, before the flirty smile left his face.
“Shoot.”

“
I know you’re planning to
use the space to offer different classes to the kids and the
community. I want to start off by saying that I think it’s a
wonderful idea, and all joking aside, I love that you’re actually
doing it.”

“
Thanks,” Rich said with a
sincere smile. “I appreciate that.”

Thrown off temporarily by his change in
demeanor, Roni cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and laid out
her proposition.

“
I’m a dancer. It’s been a
while since I’ve been able to train, but I’ve danced since I was a
little girl. I’d love to open up my own studio, since there isn’t
one in town. Since you have all of this space, and are looking for
ideas of classes to offer, I thought I would bring my proposition
to you.”

She paused to look at him momentarily, so
she could gauge his reaction. He looked intently at her and nodded
for her to go on.

“
My long term goal is to
own my own studio, but that just isn’t plausible right now. I
thought maybe you could rent space to me here. I don’t want to just
be hired on as a teacher; I want to own my own business. I want
full creative control to use the space as I see fit. Of course,
since it’s your building, and I would be renting from you, I would
consult with you. But I want to be fully in charge of the studio
and what I do with it.”

Roni breathed in deeply again, holding her
breath in as she waited for his response.

“
I didn’t realize that
you’re a dancer,” Rich began. “Kent told me he knew someone I could
contact about instructing, but never mentioned it was
you.”

He paused to consider that for a moment
before continuing, “First of all, I’ll say that it sounds like a
great idea. You’re right, I do want to offer dance lessons here at
the center. I hadn’t thought about renting space, but that doesn’t
mean I object to doing it.”

Roni chewed on her lip as she waited for him
to continue.

“
This is a lot to take in
and I know you have to get to work… Can I get back to
you?”

Roni exhaled and nodded.

Rich continued, “I have to talk to a few
people and I’ll think over your proposal. I’m having
auditions/interviews in two weeks for the people who are interested
in setting up classes here. I can set up a time for you now, or you
can wait until I get back to you on the rental idea.”

“
Now would be good,” Roni
said with a small smile. “I appreciate you considering my
idea.”

They settled on a time for the interview and
Rich walked her outside to her car.

“
Thanks,” Roni said again,
as she opened her car door.

“
Anytime,” Rich said the
saucy grin back on his face. “I look forward to seeing the way you
move.”

Roni rolled her eyes at him as she got in
her car, but she waited to drive away until she’d enjoyed the view
of him walking away.

Chapter Three

Rich stood under the shower and let the hot
water massage his aching muscles. Eyes closed, he allowed himself
to think about Roni and the proposition she’d brought to him. She’d
looked so pretty standing amidst his cluttered room. He’d wished
briefly that he could throw her over his shoulder and ravish her
long, lean body on his sorry excuse for a bed, but he’d controlled
himself when he heard what she had to say.

Now that he was alone, he could take a
little time to remember how her shirt had been snug in all the
right places, and her little skirt had swayed slightly, flirty
toned legs that seemed to go on forever.

When his body started to stiffen, he changed
the course of his thoughts and admitted that her idea was a good
one. He stepped out of the shower and toweled off. He hung the
towel on the rod, and walked out into his room to find something to
wear.

“
Jesus, man,” Kent said as
he watched his friend stride into the room.

Rich just looked at him, a cocky smile on
his face. “Guess you shoulda knocked.”

“
There’s a freakin’ work
crew out there,” Kent exclaimed, gesturing towards the men on the
other side of the door. “I didn’t think you’d be prancing around
with your door open, naked as the day you were born.”

“
I ain’t got nothin’ they
haven’t seen before,” Rich said with a chuckle as he pulled on a
pair of jeans.

“
Shit,” Kent laughed. “And
he’s going commando.” This he said with his eyes rolled
upward.

“
What can I do for you?”
Rich asked as he picked up a t-shirt, smelled it, then pulled it
over his head. “Other than the free show.”

“
I was wondering if you
were up for a beer later. I was driving by on my way to the paper,
and thought I’d ask in person. Gives me a chance to see the
progress on this place.”

“
Actually, I was gonna call
you later. Colin and Bree are coming in for the weekend, and Colin
asked about us getting together tonight. Just the guys. You mind if
he comes with?” Rich asked as he looked around the room for his
keys and wallet.

“
Yeah, that’s perfect
actually. I’d love to get both of your opinions on something,” Kent
smoothed his hands over his dress shirt, as if to assure himself
that he didn’t look as disheveled as Rich. “You guys okay to come
by my house and hang out, rather than go to the bar. I don’t want a
lot of ears around.”

Rich slipped on some flip flops and looked
at Kent curiously. “Sure, man. I’ll let Colin know. Everything
okay?”

Kent smiled at him and said, “Yeah,
everything’s great. You do realize you’re wearing flip flops… In
December.”

Rich looked down at his feet, then back up
at Kent, “Yeah, I’m just running to my folks for a bit, then by the
bank. No dress code.”

Kent shook his head at his friend as they
walked out of the warehouse.

“
Alright, man, I’ll see you
tonight. Let me know if you guys want me to order some pizza or
something.”

“
Will do,” Rich said as he
got into his Charger. “Later.”

He murmured to the car as he started her up,
then headed a few blocks down to his parents’ house. He’d been home
a few days, and knew his mother was going to be salty that this was
the first chance he’d had to stop by.

When he opened the front door to his
childhood home, the smell of baking cookies greeted him, and he
couldn’t help but smile.

“
Somethin’ sure smells
good,” he yelled as he took off his shoes and made his way towards
the kitchen in the back of the house.

“
Hmmm,
that sounds suspiciously like my long lost son,” his mama said with
a hint of sarcasm. “Can’t be though, because
my
son would have come by the second
he’d gotten back to town.”

“
Now, Mama,” Rich said as
he dropped a kiss on the top of his mother’s head, snatching a
cookie as he narrowly missed the back side of her wooden spoon. “I
told you I wanted to get settled at the warehouse
first.”

She gave him a wry look that made him
chuckle. He bit into the peanut butter cookie and moaned as the
flavors hit his tongue.

“
I swear you make the best
cookies in the state of Texas,” Rich said with a wink.

As he knew it would, the frown fell from his
mother’s face, replaced by a big grin. She was the most wonderful
person he’d ever met. The site of her familiar grin warmed his
heart and reminded him of how happy he was to be back home.

Trying to keep the grin off of her face she
said, “Boy, don’t you try to butter me up with that charm of yours.
You know it shouldn’t take three days for you to unload your
boxes.”

“
Leave the boy alone,
Martha,” Rich’s dad, Frank, said as he walked in from the back
porch. “He doesn’t need you laying guilt at his feet; he’s a grown
man now. With a place and a business of his own.”

Martha shook her head and went back to
plating cookies, as Frank smacked Rich on his back.

“
We’re real proud of you
and what you’re doing over at the old warehouse, Son.” Frank smiled
around the toothpick that was always in his mouth.

“
Thanks, Pop,” Rich
replied. “They’re making headway already; you’ll have to stop
by.”

“
How about some food?” His
mom asked, “Have you eaten anything yet today?”

“
That’d be great, Ma,” Rich
said as his stomach grumbled in anticipation. “I haven’t had a
chance to eat anything yet. I worked out this mornin’, so I could
eat a small cow.”

“
Well, you’re kind of in
between meals,” Martha said as she eyed the clock. “You in the mood
for breakfast or lunch?”

“
I’d kill for some of your
biscuits and gravy.”

“
Bacon?”

“
You know it,” Rich said
with a grin.

“
Come on back, I’ll show
you what I’m working on,” his dad said as he headed towards the
back door.

Rich paused to grab his mother in a big hug
and kiss her on the cheek. “I’ve missed you, Mama.”

Martha squeezed him back and patted him on
the cheek. “I’m happy you’re home. Now go on outside with your
daddy, this food won’t cook itself.”

Rich followed his dad out into the backyard.
He’d missed this. He’d missed them. He really was happy to be back
home. Funny, he’d always thought he wanted nothing more than to get
away from here when he was growing up. Now he knew there was
nowhere else he’d rather be.

Chapter Four

Roni was leaning against the hostess stand
talking to Kara when her brother walked into the Bar &
Grill.

“
Hey, handsome,” Kara said
with a grin as she walked around to pull Kent into a quick hug.
“How’ve you been? We haven’t seen you around much
lately.”

“
I’m good, getting
everything squared away with the paper,” Kent gave her a quick grin
and lifted a hand in greeting to Pete, who was tending bar. “How’re
you?”

“
Things are great here too.
Pete’s been itchin’ for a guy’s night though, you gonna have a
poker night anytime soon?”

“
Actually, Rich and Colin
are stopping by tonight, I was gonna ask Pete if he was busy,” Kent
said, then looked at his sister. “I need to talk to Roni first
though, then I’ll see what he’s up to.”

Roni looked up at him, curious, “What’s
up?”

“
Can you take a quick
break?” He asked.

“
Yeah, I haven’t had my
break yet, and it will be at least a half an hour before we start
getting busy for dinner. Let me go tell Pam.”

Roni walked back and told the manager she
was going to take a break. Kara said she’d keep an eye on the door,
so Roni followed Kent outside.

Kent walked over towards the outdoor
seating, pulling a chair out for her before sitting himself.

He was smiling, but Roni noticed that his
leg was bouncing up and down and he was picking nervously at his
shirt. She began to worry that something was wrong.

“
What’s going on, Kent?
You’re kinda freakin’ me out.”

Kent reached out and grabbed her hand. He
let their hands rest on the table and smiled broadly at her. “I
wanted to talk to you about something.”

“
Okay,” she prodded,
wishing he would just spit it out already.

“
I’ve been thinking about
this for a while, and I’m actually gonna talk to the guys about it
tonight, but I wanted to talk to you first. Get your
opinion.”

Roni nodded her encouragement for him to go
on.

“
I know I haven’t been with
Nicole for that long, but I know I’ve never met anyone like her, or
felt this way about anyone before her. Mom and Dad weren’t the best
role models, and I know neither of us hold much stock in the
sanctity of marriage, but Nic does. I’m going to ask her to marry
me.” His grin got so big; it looked like he was beaming from the
outside in. He chuckled lightly and continued, “I know it’s crazy,
but I think we can make it work. I don’t care about getting her
parents’ blessing, and Lord knows, I couldn’t care less what our
parents think, but I wanted to make sure that we have your
blessing. Do you think I’m crazy?”