Night of Seduction (10 page)

“I can testify
to that,
”
she said while looking up at him.

He looked down
and all the attraction he was trying to hold in began seeping out.
Her black eyes reflected the mutual understanding of the moment.
They may agree not to speak on the night they met, but both were
deeply affected. She stood slowly as if something unspoken
commanded her. A drop of blue paint from the roller landed on the
tip of her nose. Reaching out he touched the spot. The sensation
that surged through him was stronger than he had ever
experienced.
“
If you keep looking
at me like that, I am going to kiss you and we will relive that
night right here in this room.
”

“Hey did you
guys here the announcement on the radio?
”
TK asked from
the doorway.

The two did not
answer for a moment, which seemed to be missed by TK who was now
standing by the radio turning the volume up. Jason on the other
hand noticed a little more. His brother was zoned in on Siri as if
she was the only woman on earth. To keep her distracted and quench
the urge to hold her close, Jason turned to TK with his hand
stretched out,
“
Dance with me
TeKaya.
”

“I would love
to,
”
she smiled sensuously.

Placing the
roller against the wall, Eric extended his hand to Siri. Afraid to
take it, but terrified not to, she joined him in a dance as his
voice echoed in the room. Kerri stood in the doorway and admired
what she witnessed. The room was filled with a sense of oneness,
which only surfaces when there is love in the air. Leaning against
the door Kerri wondered, now I know about Jason, but when and how
did Eric happen? The thought pleased her, but concerned her as
well. The last relationship her oldest daughter was in was public
and it almost killed her, this one could be worse.
Eric
’
s popularity was worldwide, not local. If this were to
go badly it could destroy her.

“Doesn
’
t appear to be much
work going on in here!
”
Mable Austin yelled
to be heard over the music.
“
Siri I believe your
behavior at the moment is in conflict of your contract. Would you
mind turning that blasphemous music off?
”

Siri walked
towards the radio.
“
I
’
m rather
enjoying that music and since this is a Saturday and not a school
day, the contract you mentioned is not in affect
Maybelline,
”
Kerri spoke as a mother protecting
her cub.

“Regardless of
what day it may be, her behavior reflects on the Board. If she
wants to keep her job, it
’
s best that she
remembers that.
”

“I understand
the contract Mrs. Austin. I don
’
t need to be
reminded,
”
Siri replied.

“It appears you
do. Oh just so you know, from this point on, any ideas or
suggestions you have for this school will come directly to me, not
Carl.
”

“Hey I just
checked out the cafeteria and some of the rooms. It really looks
great. Siri this was a wonderful idea.
”
Carl commented
enthusiastically as he walked in from the hallway. When nothing was
said, he looked around the room at the sullen faces, and then
looked to his mother.

“Excuse
me,
”
Mable said as she left the room.

“Hello Mrs.
Kendrick, TK, Siri.
”
He extended his hand to Jason who
stood close to the door,
“
Carl
Austin.
”

Jason shook his
hand,
“
Jason Davies.
”

Carl walked
over to where Eric stood and extended his hand.
“
Silk
Davies, I
’
m a huge fan. Thank you for giving us a
hand.
”

Eric shook his
hand and looked at Siri.
“
I
’
m here to
help Siri and the children. Do you normally make it a habit to
insult people who volunteer to help in the
community?
”

The smile on
Carl
’
s face dropped and he looked at Siri and
exhaled.
“
I don
’
t know what my mother
said to offend you, but please accept my apology. We do appreciate
anyone that steps forward to help with our schools.
It
’
s clear that your participation brought others in the
community forward to help as well. As hard as we may try,
it
’
s difficult to get people to understand if they give,
the community will prosper. Sometimes bringing in a celebrity
encourages others to do what they can to help themselves. Thank you
for coming forward.
”

As much as he
wanted to, Eric did not dislike the man that was once married to
the woman he could not get off his mind.
“
You
’
re welcome. If we are
planning on finishing this room, we better get back to
painting.
”

“Sure
I
’
ll get out of your way.
”
He turned to
Siri,
“
Umm, may I speak with you outside for a
minute?
”

Siri walked
past her mother and kissed her cheek.
“
Go home Mommy,
I
’
ll be fine,
”
then stepped outside
the room.

“Will you guys
be okay while I walk my mother out to her car?
”
TK
asked.

“Sure,
we
’
re straight,
”
Jason, replied with
a smile as the women walked out. He walked over to the wall Eric
was angrily painting.
“
I
don
’
t like what I just saw. It
’
s as if she is
surrounded by people who are openly disrespectful to her. The
mother-in-law is at the forefront. We have to fix this
Eric.
”

It had been a
year and a half since he had been inspired. Everything he wrote in
that time was garbage to him, even if his team disagreed. Eric knew
deep down it was not up to his standard. Fate was a bitter pill to
take. Someone has had come along that touched him so deeply he was
creating music in his sleep. The past few weeks, the vision of this
woman and the music in his mind were one. He thought he would never
see her again. Now she
’
s here with more
baggage than the lost and found at LAX and just as exquisite as he
remembered. There were women all over the world who wanted to be
with him, give their lives to him, be at his beck in call. He could
simply settle for one or two of them and be happy. But no, he had
to have a woman with a reputation of a child molester, an
ex-husband that clearly still has feelings for her and an
ex-mother-in-law from hell. What he was about to say was clearly a
sign that he had lost every ounce of good sense his mother had
given him.
“
Find me a condo and
studio in Richmond.
”
Disregarding the surprised look on
his brother
’
s face, Eric
continued painting.
“
Let
’
s finish this
room.
”

Eric and
Siri

H
ow could such a
wonderful day turn into a huge mess? Every room in the school had a
fresh coat of paint and the floors were clean. The number of
volunteers increased as the news of Silk
’
s presence
leaked out. Of course, Mable was contributing the successful
undertaking to Carl through every news media source that would
listen. But Siri didn
’
t care. The important
thing was that when the children arrived at school next week, they
would have a better learning environment.

Carl crossed
her mind as she walked through the hallway ensuring all trash was
gone and there was nothing out of place as Roscoe had ordered. He
did step up to get the paint they
’
d needed to do the
job. For the first time she actually heard him apologize for his
mother
’
s behavior, that in and of itself, was an
accomplishment. She was still leading him around like a puppy, at
some point Carl would have to cut the apron strings. As much as she
loved him at one point, there was no way she could go back to him.
The cut was too deep and the wound had just begun to
heal.

Putting the
keys Roscoe had left with her in the office and locking the door,
she looked around one final time. Eric
“
Silk
”
Davies did this. At least his
celebrity status did. If it had not been for that, they probably
would have gotten only half the number of rooms painted. People
loved him and his music so much that they came out and accomplished
a great thing.
“
Of all the people you
could have sent into my life, why him Lord? The man is walking
temptation to every woman on earth. I couldn
’
t resist
him that night and as much as I try I can
’
t resist him
now.
”
She shook the outer doors to make sure they were
locked then walked around the building towards her car
thinking
—
Jason and TK seemed good for each other. She
didn
’
t know a lot about him, but she had never seen TK so
happy. Young love is a wonderful thing, she thought, but it also
had the potential to hurt. Carl was her first and the only man she
had ever been with until Eric.

Tired to her
bones and starving, the thought of him eased her weariness. He was
quite a man. She certainly understood why women all over the world
went crazy over him. That extraordinary night was proof. Never in
her life would she have slept with a total stranger, much less want
more. She stopped walking as the thought settled in. She wanted to
make love with him again. The first time was unplanned,
spontaneous, uncontrolled. The next time she wanted to be fully
aware of all that occurred. Easing into her car she placed her head
on the steering wheel and wondered what was she going to do? She
had the hots for the brother of her sister
’
s new man. He
was a music superstar who woman would kill for and she
wasn
’
t sure if he felt the same for her.
“
You really got yourself in a fix this time Siri
Octavia."

♪

When she
reached the two story split-level house she called home, there were
two SUV
’
s parked in front. Shrugging she pulled around
them and parked in the driveway. The sounds of laugher and
conversation could be heard from the front porch as she inserted
her key into the doorknob. The sight that greeted her was unusual,
but very familiar. It reminded her of the way the house was when
Daddy was alive. It was always filled with people laughing, eating,
and just enjoying life. Closing the door, she walked through the
foyer and searched the small crowd of about ten people to identify
at least the residents of the house. As she stepped down into the
family room TK and Kerri were sitting near the fireplace, on the
floor, flagged by Jason on one side and Eric on the other. The guys
from the band were around them with plates piled high with food and
laughing at photos. As if sensing her presence Eric looked up and
smiled then looked back down at the pictures.
Siri
’
s eyes followed the direction of his and she
gasped.
“
Mommy are you showing my baby
pictures?
”

“Hey
Siri,
”
TK beamed looking up at her.
“
It
’
s about time Roscoe
let you go. Is he locking up?
”

“No, Roscoe
left the building around six. I just finished cleaning and locking
up.
”

“He left you in
that building alone, this time of evening?
”
Kerri asked in
a motherly tone.

“I was fine
Mommy.
”
Feeling a need to get all eyes off of her, she
looked to the guys.
“
Did you guys leave
any for me?
”

“Nope, J-bird
ate it all,
”
one of the men joked. The man she
assumed to be J-bird sucker punched the other guy and the battle
was on.

“There
’
s plenty in the
kitchen.
”
Kerri stood with Eric
’
s
assistance.
“
You worked so hard
today, baby. Why don
’
t you go up and
shower while I prepare a plate for you.
”