Love After War (25 page)

“Are you all right?” Dana asked as they got into a black town car that Solomon had called for them.

“I'm beginning to think that my mother had the right idea.”

“Which was?”

“Leaving this city and never looking back. That Crawford family tree is twisted as hell.”

“They're still your family.”

“Family, yes, but unlike Richmond, being a Crawford isn't my entire identity.”

Dana stroked his hand. “At least they want to include you in—”

“You really love this city, huh?”

“Not as much as I love you,” Dana replied. “I know you have a successful business in Los Angeles and you're a hands-on business guy.”

“Yeah, but more than anything else, I want to be a hands-on father. And I am going to be an extremely hands-on husband. So, you tell me, do you want to live in New York or Los Angeles?”

“Is Chicago still an option?” she joked. “Adrian, wherever we are together, we'll be happy. I can set up a second studio in Los Angeles. My base can be here and I can work with the studios more often.”

“And have our baby grow up on movie sets?”

“Or in the office of a nightclub?”

They both broke out laughing. “So, we're going to be a bicoastal family?” Adrian asked.

“Sure, when little Adrienne is three.”

“Adrienne? The female version, because you're so sure that we're having a little girl? I'm sure Daniel will enjoy spending his formative years in Los Angeles.”

“New York.”

“LA.”

She smiled and climbed onto his lap. Dana nuzzled his neck and flicked her tongue across his earlobe. “I bet I can change your mind.”

“Mmm,” he moaned as he felt his erection stretch against his zipper. “I'm sure you can.” He slipped his hand underneath her dress. The smooth skin of her bottom made his anticipation grow as well as his erection. Then she ran her tongue up and down the column of his neck while unzipping his pants. Dana stroked him, making him moan without regard to the driver, who was getting an ear show.

“Let's hear it for New York,” she whispered in his ear before easing down his body and taking his throbbing erection between her lips.

“Oh yes!” he exclaimed. “I love New York!”

Three months later, Adrian was still struggling with being a New Yorker. Subways sucked; he didn't give a damn about the convenience. Traffic leaving Manhattan to get to Brooklyn every day was, at times, worse than the PCH at five o'clock. Cabs sucked. The drivers seemed to do everything to ensure the passengers had a heart attack while sitting in the back of a vehicle that smelled like a summer day in Beirut.

But what he loved about New York was watching his woman work. And watching his child grow inside her. Dana was showing only slightly, but she glowed like a Christmas tree every time she woke up in his arms. Even Imani had warmed up to him. She was also pregnant, and she was pretty, but Dana was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

While Adrian didn't officially join Crawford Hotels, he did offer his services as a consultant for the LA project. He and Solomon got along as if they'd grown up together—most days.

He and Solomon were headstrong and always thought they were right. That led to a few arguments and threats of violence that usually ended when Solomon broke out the good liquor. Richmond, who had buried himself in work after learning of his paternity and the quickie divorce that Vivvy had gotten done in Mexico, tried to loosen up. He still had work to do. But Adrian was glad to see that he hadn't crawled into the bottom of a bottle.

Standing at the bay window in Solomon's office, Adrian smiled as he looked at the skyline. He really did love New York.

“Yo,” Solomon said, breaking into Adrian's thoughts.

“What?”

“I said are you going to stare out the window all day or do you have some information for me about the opening party at Crawford Towers?”

“Yeah,” he said. “It's in the file I e-mailed to you.”

“I thought you said we needed to talk?” Solomon asked as he kicked his feet up on his desk.

“We do need to talk. But it's not about business.”

“Okay,” Solomon said as he flipped through some photos on his iPad. Adrian glanced over his brother's shoulder and saw the pictures were of his niece, Kiana. “You staring or you want to talk? I'm a busy man.”

“Yeah, whatever. She's a beautiful little girl. Are you ever worried about what happens when she grows up and meets a man of—”

“He'd better be a track star because if I get my hands on him, he's a goner.”

“That's why I pray for a son every night. I hurt Dana in the middle of all of this. The fact that she agreed to marry me and have my child, it's unbelievable. I want our wedding to be magical. Something that will knock her off her feet.”

“And you're doing it in New York, right? You know a divorce in California will cost you half.”

Adrian raised his eyebrow at his brother. “Cynical much?”

“Yeah, when it comes to other people's marriages, not mine. I'm in it for the long haul and a few more kids.”

“Anyway, no offense, but New York isn't that romantic to me. Between the subways and crazy cabdrivers, I have to get her out of this city to marry her.”

“But what does Dana want?” Solomon asked.

“She's the bride and the bride always gets what she wants.”

“I want to surprise her.”

“Bad idea.”

Adrian stroked his chin and recounted Dana's hand in Imani's surprise Jamaican wedding. “I think her best friend would help with a little payback. The problem is, I don't want to take my pregnant fiancée too far away.”

“I don't blame you on that. Kandace said I held her hostage when she was pregnant, but that they don't get it. I felt so helpless when she was pregnant and that's not how I roll. But she was determined to go to Charlotte and Atlanta.”

“You let her go?”

“I didn't have a choice. As quiet as it's kept, I just do what that woman says because her happiness means everything to me.”

“The mighty Solomon Crawford is whipped.”

“Yeah, pot, I'm whipped and proud of it.”

They stopped talking when a scowling Richmond walked into the office and dropped a file at Solomon's propped up feet. “Here's the report from the resort in the Pocono Mountains.”

Solomon picked up the report and then banged his hand on the desk. “This is it. You can get married here.”

“What?” Richmond snapped. “Who's getting married?”

Solomon tilted his head toward Adrian. “He's trying to surprise Dana with a wedding.”

Richmond rolled his eyes. “You'd be better off to forget a wedding.”

“You two are some—” Adrian stopped short, remembering how bitter Richmond's divorce from Vivian Crawford was.

“Well,” Richmond said, “there is a chapel at the resort and the property manager was planning to promote summer and autumn weddings.”

“Hold up, my wedding is not going to be some marketing campaign.”

“Of course not,” Richmond said. “But there is a faculty there—you have a built-in excuse to get Dana there.”

“Yeah, pretend we're opening a club in the resort and we have to check the place out,” Solomon said.

“I like Dana,” Richmond blurted out. “She's a really good woman and those are rare to find.”

“Tell me about it,” Adrian said. “Now I have to get Imani on board. Our relationship is just a thread. If I don't hip her to the plan, then she's going to hate me forever.”

“All right,” Solomon said, then nodded toward Richmond. “Good job.”

“I used to be romantic and the like. I guess I got my balls back,” Richmond said.

Solomon smirked and tipped his imaginary hat to his brother. “Then you can plan the bachelor party.”

Richmond rolled his eyes and walked out of the office. He stopped at the door and turned to his brothers with a half-smile on his face. “Just let me know when I need to show up in Pennsylvania.”

“Will do,” Adrian said. “And thanks.”

“Hopefully this is a favor I won't have to extend again.”

It took two weeks for Adrian to get everything set up for his surprise wedding. Imani, who was finished filming her latest movie, had been more than happy to help Adrian.

“This had better work out,” she said when he called her with instructions for the wedding cake.

“It's going to work out, I'm sure . . .”

“I'm not talking about the wedding, Mr. Slick.”

“Are you ever going to call me Adrian?”

“Maybe on your seventy-fifth wedding anniversary—then I'll know it's real.”

“It's very real, Mrs. Actress, and I have to say, I don't think
Fearless Diva
is that bad of a movie.”

“See what I'm saying? Mr. Slick. That movie sucked ass. At least I can admit that now.”

“I saw your last movie too. That was great as well,” he said. “And that's the truth. Dana loves chocolate cake and—”

“Butter cream icing. I got this. I know what my best friend likes. And if you're smart, you'd better make sure there are some hot dogs close by.”

“You two and these hot dogs.”

Imani laughed. “You don't know how many dreams we discussed over those hot dogs.”

“Or how many Broadway producers you two stalked?”

“Dang! Did Dana tell you everything?”

Before Adrian could respond, Dana walked through the front door of the brownstone. “All right,” Adrian said as he rose from the sofa and crossed over to Dana. “I'll make sure to e-mail those details to you, Solomon.”

“Tell Dana I said hello,” Imani said before they ended the call.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said as he took the camera bag from Dana's shoulder. She was a month away from the release of her book and had been finishing up a couple of sessions so that she would have a clear calendar for a short promotional tour.

“I wish I could see me through your eyes. I'm tired and annoyed.”

“What's wrong with my baby?” he asked as he led her to the sofa. Adrian prompted her to stretch her legs on his lap. As he removed her shoe and massaged her feet, Dana told him about the Broadway cast she'd photographed that day and how annoying they'd been.

“I've dealt with some divas—hell, my best friend is one—but this cast took it to another level. Mmm, your hands are magical.”

“You think so?” he said as his fingers danced up her calf. “I think you need to get away for a bit.”

“Oh, I wish I could go with you on your next trip to LA.” She placed her hand on her growing belly. “I might have one more ride in me.”

“Yeah, no one is talking about going to LA, so you can keep that motorcycle in storage. Solomon and I are talking about beefing up the entertainment at the resort in the Poconos.”

“The Poconos. I can't remember the last time I've been there. When are you guys going?”

“In a few days,” he replied as he started on the other foot. “And there will be no motorcycle riding in the mountains.”

She rolled her eyes and poked her bottom lip out as if she was upset. “You're no fun, Adrian.”

He spread her legs apart and slipped between them. “I'll show you some fun,” he said, then kissed her with a hot passion that made her forget about Broadway divas and motorcycles.

Two days later, Adrian and Dana arrived at the Crawford Mountain Resort. The first thing Dana did when she got out of the car was lift her camera and began snapping shots of the picture-perfect mountains behind the resort. As she walked around the side of the building and close to the edge of what Adrian thought was a steep cliff, he rushed over to her and grabbed her around her waist.

“What is wrong with you?” she snapped. “You know you messed up my shot!”

Adrian looked down and saw a two-inch drop, then kissed the back of her neck.

“You can't blame him,” Solomon called out from behind them. “These first-time fathers think a woman can't walk when she's pregnant.”

Kandace called out, “And he should know, because he was way worse.”

Dana turned around and waved at Kandace. “I didn't know you were coming, but thank God you're here. Now I won't be bored while they talk business.” She pushed past Adrian, just slightly perturbed about him messing up her picture. When he kissed her cheek, all was forgiven. Kandace and Dana headed into the resort, leaving Solomon, Adrian, and Richmond standing outside.

“So, does she suspect anything?” Solomon asked.

“If she doesn't, she will when she sees the three of us out here and no one's arguing,” Richmond joked.

Solomon and Adrian looked at their brother, then burst into laughter. Over the last few weeks, there had been a change in Richmond. He was relaxed and pretty funny. It was a good change to see.

“Well, let's wrap this up, then,” Solomon said. “I got a message from the front desk that Imani and Raymond are checked in. Kandace and Dana should be heading to the spa soon.”

Adrian nodded. “Is the cake here?”

“Yes,” Richmond said. “The restaurant e-mailed me the menu for the reception.”

“Then I guess it's time to get fitted for—”

“The monkey suits,” Richmond said.

Solomon shook his head. “You're going to remarry one day and I'm going to remind you of how bitter you were today.”

“Please, I wouldn't get married again if you paid me,” Richmond replied as the three men headed for a room where the tailor was waiting.

“This is just the conversation I want to have before my wedding. Thanks, guys,” Adrian quipped.

Three hours later, Dana stood in front of the full-length mirror in her suite, flanked by Imani and Kandace. The silver gown she wore was beautiful, strapless, knee-length, and way too much for a dinner with friends and family.

“What's going on? Because I know this is about more than dinner,” Dana said.

“Why would you say that?” Imani asked. “It's the Poconos, a romantic place, and we want to impress our husbands.” She twirled around in her beaded gold dress. Imani didn't mind showing off her baby bump, which had become the talk of Hollywood. Kandace looked at the pregnant women and took a step back.

“I need you two to keep your pregnancy dust over there,” Kandace said.

“Oh, come on, Kandace,” Dana said. “Kiana needs a little brother and I'm sure Solomon would be over the moon.”

“He'd better focus on being a happy uncle. And I hope you have a boy. It will take the pressure off if Solomon has a nephew.” The women laughed; then Kandace turned to Imani. “And are you going to be like the new Hollywood parents and sell your baby's pictures to
People
?”

“Raymond is not going for that and I think that's the dumbest thing that people do. Then
cry
about privacy. Besides, I'd like to see those photographers follow us to Harlem and try that LA crap.”

Dana nudged Kandace. “My friend thinks she's as gangster as some of the characters she plays.”

“Whatever,” Imani said. “I keep telling you, I know people.”

Kandace smiled and told them she couldn't wait to take them to Charlotte and introduce them to her friends, Jade, Serena, and Alicia.

“Charlotte sounds like a great trip,” Imani said. “And we can leave the husbands at home.”

Kandace shot Imani a cautioning look, and she shrugged in return. Dana looked from Kandace to Imani. “What is going on?”

“Nothing. Except we're going to be late for dinner if we don't hurry up,” Kandace covered.

“That's right,” Imani said as she slipped into a pair of ballerina flats. “I miss my heels but my feet are always swollen.”