Night of Seduction (31 page)

Eric stared at
his brother.
“
I
’
ve never
known you to be so loving, first Latoya and now
TeKaya.
”

“I never loved
Latoya, but I do love TeKaya,
”
Jason
smiled.

Eric
sighed.
“
I know the feeling.
”

Siri

W
hen TK and her mother
returned on Sunday from Atlanta, Siri was so excited. She talked
non-stop for hours telling them about the book deal and her new
agent. Not much could spoil her good mood. They were sitting at the
dining room table having a celebration dinner Siri had prepared,
when the door bell sounded. Siri jumped up.
“
I
’
ll get it,
”
she sang out and
left the room.

TK looked at
her mother.
“
I
don
’
t know what all the tension was about yesterday at
Eric
’
s house, but I have a feeling it was about
Siri.
”

Kerri
sighed.
“
Why do you think it was about Siri?

“Because Eric
was upset, not Jason.
”
She sat forward at the table and
folded her arms on top.
“
Whatever it is, do
not tell Siri now. Let her have this happy moment in her life
without it being spoiled by anything or anyone.
”

“I
’
m not sure I can do
that.
”

“Yes Mother,
you can. If I can put up with Sierra
’
s mother for the next
eighteen years, we can certainly carry this burden for Siri for a
little while. Call it selfishness or whatever, but I just
don
’
t want to see my sister unhappy while
I
’
m beside myself with joy.
”
She reached
over and placed her hand on top of her mothers.
“
You
understand
—
don
’
t
you?
”

“Understand
what?
”
Siri asked as she re-entered the dining room with
Carl in tow.

“I
don
’
t understand why you would let the devil in the house
on a Sunday?
”
TK smirked.

TeKaya, where
are your manners?
”
Kerri scowled.
“
He is not
the devil.
”
He
’
s the
devil
’
s spawn, she thought but did not say. She smiled
instead.
“
Hello Carl. Would you like some
dinner?
”

“No thank you,
Mrs. Kendrick.
”
He looked at TeKaya who was shooting
daggers at him.
“
I
’
m happy to
see you are free and at home.
”

Before TK could
respond and a have a full blown argument ensue. Siri
interrupted.
“
Um, Carl needs to
talk to me about something, so we
’
re going to step out
for a while.
”

“Siri we just
got home and I have so much to talk to you
about,
”
TK exclaimed.

“That can wait
until you get back. Go ahead,
”
Kerri
suggested.

Siri frowned;
not wanting to choose Carl over her sister, she looked at
TK.
“
Are you sure? If you really want to talk,
I
’
ll stay.
”

TK looked from
her mother to Siri then up at Carl, who was scowling at her.
“
No, Mother
’
s right. We can talk
when you get back. You won
’
t be long will
you?
”

“No,
”
Siri replied smiling.
“
Not long at all.
”

“Let
’
s go
Siri,
”
Carl said as he quickly took her hand. She pulled
her hand away and walked in the direction they came
from.

Once they were
outside on the porch, Carl walked towards his car.
“
Where would you like to go,
”
he asked as he
pulled his keys out of his pocket.

Siri hesitated,
then replied.
“
Let
’
s just walk around
the neighborhood.
”

He stopped and
studied her. She had always been a beautiful woman, but today she
looked radiant. A frown appeared on his face as the vision of
Eric
“
Silk
”
Davies coming out of the house
putting his shirt on came to mind.
“
It
’
s not
exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking something a little more
intimate.
”

She stepped off
the porch, took a few steps, and stopped in front of him. She took
his hand and smiled.
“
You are and always
have been a very handsome man. You know that?
”
She
kissed his cheek.
“
Let walk and talk for
a minute.
”

The sigh was
loud and clear
—
he
didn
’
t want to have this conversation. But she pulled him
forward and he reluctantly followed.
“
I
’
m not
going to like this, am I?
”

Putting her
hand inside his arm, she walked beside him.
“
Probably
not. But this conversation is long overdue.
”

“Siri,
”
he closed his eyes and
stopped.

She pulled him
along,
“
Come on. You said you wanted to talk.
So
—
we
’
re going to talk,
openly and honestly.
”

They began
walking again, at first in silence, then Carl spoke.
“
I
’
ve totally lost you, haven
’
t
I?
”

She smiled up
at him as they continued to walk.
“
I
’
ll always
be your friend. This, is an improvement. A few weeks ago I could
have cut your balls off, for making me think I was sexually
inept,
”
she raised an eyebrow.
“
Now,
it
’
s not important. I want to keep your friendship, even
if only to make your mother mad.
”

Her smile was
contagious
—
it had always been so
for him. He knew, the moment Siri had agreed to marry him, he was a
blessed man. But like most people, he did not appreciate the
blessing until it was gone.
“
Are you sleeping with
Silk Davies?
”

They continued
to walk until she was comfortable with her reply.
“
That
’
s a complicated
question. It
’
s also not your
business.
”
She rubbed his arm to ease the
bruised feelings she was sure he was experiencing. They stopped and
she looked up at him.
“
You gave up the right
to ask questions like that when you divorced me.
”
He looked
down at her and exhaled.
“
However, if you are
asking as a friend,
”
they began walking again,
“
I will say we have been intimate, however, we
aren
’
t any longer.
”

His sigh of
relief could be heard across the street. He even chuckled a
little,
“
Whew. I had no idea how I was going to compete
with Silk Davies.
”

Stopping in
front of him, she gathered his hands in hers and looked directly in
his eyes.
“
There will be no
repeat of you and I, Carl. The hurt cut too deep. I can forgive,
but I will never forget what you and your mother took me through. I
don
’
t think I will ever get over the public humiliation.
The problem is I have to find a way to at least come to terms with
it and get past what happened. My first step is forgiving you and
telling you a secret.
”

“Siri, I
don
’
t want to know a secret unless it
’
s that you
still love me,
”
he sighed.

She pulled him
forward to start walking again.
“
Yes, you do. I want
you to think about something. Promise me you will think before you
answer.
”
He looked sideways at her.
“
Promise,
”
she said again.

There was
something so calming, so delightful about her, there always had
been. Damn, he was a fool.
“
Okay, I
promise.
”

“Alright,
here
’
s the question. Right at this moment is your body
tingling with sexual excitement?
”
She pointed a
finger.
“
Now think about it. Do you have an irresistible
urge to pull me over to the back of the house and have your way
with me?
”

“I
’
m always ready for
you, you know that.
”

“That
’
s not what I asked
you. You
’
re playing the politician on me, and avoiding the
question with nice words. Now, answer the question honestly or
I
’
m not telling you my secret.
”

He
laughed.
“
You are too much,
”
he looked down at
her and replied.
“
Okay, no,
I
’
m not tingling with excitement. But you just gave me a
one two punch here. With the, there will be no repeat. What do you
expect?
”

“I
don
’
t expect anything. That
’
s just it, we settled
for each other. Both of us should have waited until that person
came along that makes time stand still when they are around and
leave you wanting when they are not; that wasn
’
t
us.
”

“Is that what
Silk does for you?
”
He stopped and she looked away. This
time he pulled her along.
“
If
that
’
s the case why are you walking away from
him?
”

“What make you
think I
’
m the one walking away?
”

“Because I saw
the look in his eyes when he walked out the door and saw me. He was
seeing me as his competition and I was seeing him the exact same
way. Now, this time you think before you answer. I am asking you
again. Why?
”

She sighed long
and deep.
“
Eric is a mega star.
Everyone in the world wants a piece of him. I know
that
’
s an exaggeration, but that
’
s what I feel.
My being involved with him means dealing with the media and I just
can
’
t do it again.
”

Stopping he
turned to her. It cut like a knife knowing he was responsible for
her turning her back on something or someone that could make her
happy.
“
Let
’
s walk
back.
”
He took her hand and wrapped it around his
arm.
“
I
’
ve never known you to
be a coward, Siri. If Davies makes you happy and you are the person
he wants in his life, don
’
t let anything stop
you from going for it. I made the mistake of allowing my mother to
come between us. Now, I have no one.
”

“Well,
”
she smiled up at him,
“
that
’
s not exactly
true.
”