CaughtInTheTrap (13 page)

“No doubt, since this is a predominately black neighborhood. There are only twelve families on this block that are not African American.”

She yawned. “I forgot who I was talking to.  How will I get in my apartment without keys?”

He raised his brows. “Who needs keys?”

“Yeah, what was I thinking? I hear a hot shower calling my name.  And I can finally put something on these dang bug bites,” she said scratching at her arms and legs.

Zach turned off the car not saying a word.

They got out of the car and Zack unloaded the backpacks. Carla looked around and smiled. “It’s good to be home.”

“Just be natural and don’t reveal to anybody where you were or who I am.”

She slung the lighter backpack over her shoulder and glared at him. “How am I supposed to explain you?  My best friend lives next door to me. We hang out all the time.”

“You won’t have to.  I’ll stay out of the way. Besides, I’ll be gone before you get up in the morning.”

“What?” she asked surprised as they took the four flights of stairs to her apartment.

Zach picked the lock and stepped inside the apartment to look around.  Carla stood at the door impatiently waiting for him to search each room.  She only had four and from where she stood nothing appeared out of place.  The apartment was neat, the same way she’d left it that dreadful morning.

“Finally, you’re back!” A high-pitched squeal of excitement came out of the blue.

The excited voice came from behind Carla and she jumped around. “Tonya!” She dropped the backpack and hugged her long-time friend. It felt good to hug a familiar person.

“Girl, where have you been?  I’ve been calling your phone and then it was cut off.  I was worried about you,” Tonya said hugging Carla tight.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call but something came up when I was visiting Mom and Paula. Do you believe I lost my phone at the airport and had to have it turned off?  I have to wait for a new phone to be delivered.”

Tonya looked her over and frowned. “What the heck came up? You look a hot mess, girl.  Look at that head of yours.”  She pulled at the tight ringlets covering Carla’s head.

Carla moved Tonya’s hand away. “I got caught in the rain. But, I like your new do.” Tonya’s new auburn hair color had long swirls of curls that fell past her shoulders and down her back.  She was a professional hairstylist and changed the length, color and style of her hair often.  She tried to get Carla to add extensions to her hair, but she refused.  Her hair wasn’t flowing or naturally straight, but when she had it done professionally, it looked nice and she was happy not having to fuss with the extra care.

“Get changed and we’ll run down to the shop. I can’t have you looking like Buckwheat.”

“I just got home and I’m beat.  Maybe tomorrow,” Carla said looking over her shoulder for Zach.

Tonya smiled and hugged Carla again. “I know you mock the things I believe in, Carla, but I sensed you’d come home today.”

Carla’s head was crushed against Tonya’s shoulder.  Her long hair pressed against her mouth, Carla mumbled, “You did?”

 “Yes, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.” Tonya released her and leaned against the doorjamb.  “I met this guy at the bar last night and he wants to take me to Racino tonight.  He called me before I left work this afternoon and guess what?”

Carla felt a groan coming on. “What?”

“He asked if I had a girlfriend that might be interested in meeting his successful friend.”

Carla’s shoulders slumped. “Oh no! I am not doing another blind date with a friend of a friend of yours.  That last guy had three fingers.  Every time he pointed at something it was as if he was giving it the finger.”

Tonya chuckled. “He couldn’t help that his fingers were gone plus he got paid for losing those fingers. Come on, Carla—it’s Racino on a Friday night.  I hear it’s a lot of fun. Plus, they went to college together so I know he’s legit and has all his limbs.”

Walking into her apartment, Carla forgot that Zach was inside.  She turned around to go back in the hall, but Tonya was on her heels.  “Not tonight, Tonya; I’m drained.  I just want to take a long shower and sleep in my bed.”

“Is he the reason you’re exhausted?” Tonya asked tapping a long fingernail against her lip.

Cringing, Carla knew that meant Zach was standing behind her.  How would she explain him to Tonya?
Think fast, girl.  What will she believe
? 
Hmm, better yet, don’t say anything and let him come up with something
. “Umm, this is…”

Zach extended his hand past Carla’s shoulder and to Tonya before she could speak. “I’m Zach.”

“Well hello, Zach,” Tonya answered in her flirty voice as she took Zach’s hand.

Pangs of jealousy twisted in Carla’s stomach.  Tonya was her best friend and also very attractive.  Her hair might not be all real, but everything else about her was.  She had a sculpted body of a model and was a lot taller.  She was 5’7” with sexy dark brown eyes to match her coffee colored skin.  There was never a day that Tonya was not well-groomed.  Makeup, hair, nails, toes all had to be in place and match whatever hot fashion was trending at the moment.

Tonya was also never without a man on her arm either. She dated them all, White, Black, Asian.  It didn’t matter to her as long as they were established in their careers.  And if they wore a uniform, it had to be one that called for the peoples respect.

Still holding onto Zach’s hand Tonya cut her eyes at Carla. “So, how did you two meet?”

“Um…”
Why am I freaking tongue-tied
Carla scolded herself?

“We met at the airport,” Zach said. “Carla missed her flight in Florida and I helped her out.”

Carla looked at Zach and smiled.  He was covering the basics for her since she couldn’t come up with a credible lie that Tonya would believe. The first lie from her mouth would’ve been he’s a boyfriend, but Tonya wouldn’t believe it.  She had given Tonya hell for dating outside her race one too many times.

“How long will you be in Cleveland?  I’d love to show you around town if you aren’t from here.” Tonya asked Zach.

Carla was shoved aside since she was blocking Tonya’s path at getting closer to Zach. She tumbled on the sofa and frowned. “Excuse me for being in the way.” She folded her arms together and pouted as she watched the exchange between the two.  She paid close attention to Zach’s reaction to Tonya.  She waited to see if he showed an ounce of interest and if her flirting could penetrate his hard shell.

As Tonya commented on his tattoos, her finger traced down his muscular arm.  Carla’s blood pressure rose and pounded in her ears.  Why was she jealous of her best friend flirting with Zach?  She couldn’t stand the man.  But for the last three days, he’d been her protector. And then they’d share an intimate night together. The night she would never be able to get out of her mind.

Her pulse quickened when Tonya lifted her skirt to show off the tattoo on her upper thigh. Carla didn’t have any tattoos or piercing other than those in her ears. They had something in common, but Zach didn’t belong with Tonya. Not saying he belonged with her, but she wouldn’t be able to stand seeing them together if they did hit it off. It would kill her knowing Tonya was getting the pleasure that Zach had given her.

Carla rolled her eyes wanting to smack herself upside the head.  What was she thinking?  Zach didn’t believe in relationships.  His job would not allow him to have one.  Carla released the tight breath in her chest knowing nothing would come of him and Tonya.  He’d be gone in the morning and the agent replacing him was a woman and definitely not Tonya’s type.

Bouncing her crossed leg, she listened to the conversation that she was not a participant in.  Only Tonya was talking; Zach listened with the same stone face he always wore.  The man was born without the ability to smile unless it was by command. She grinned inwardly knowing Zach would not make Tonya’s list of men to date once she got past his handsomeness and muscular body.  She enjoyed parading the handsome men she dated in front of other people and watching them stew with jealousy. Zach was not the man for that.  He was not a people person and very unlikely a party animal.

Zach stepped away from Tonya.  She had invaded his personal space, and Carla smiled that he had rejected her advances.  No man ever denied Tonya.

He walked over to the sofa and sat down leaving a gaping space between him and Carla. “I’m not from Cleveland and I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”

Tonya tossed her head back causing the cascading flow of curls to sway across her bare back. She looked luscious in the short denim halter top and a matching short denim skirt. She parted her full lips seductively running her tongue across them. “Well, that leaves tonight.  The nightlife in Cleveland is quite impressive.  I’d be honored if you’d join me for dinner.”

Carla rolled her eyes.  She and Tonya never competed for the attention of the same man; she would lose hands down.  However, the way Tonya was throwing herself at Zach was aggravating enough to make her forget they were best friends. “I thought you had a date tonight, Tonya?” Carla reminded her.

“Oh, I can get out of that if Zach wants to go out tonight,” Tonya replied.

Zach casually placed his arm around the back of the sofa and said, “Thanks for the offer, but I’d like to spend my only night in Cleveland with Carla. You understand don’t you?”

Tonya lifted a perfectly arched brow. “Sure, I understand.” Tonya winked at Carla and smiled. “You kids have fun and don’t worry about me hearing anything. Seems I will be out all night after all.”

Tonya turned around swaying full sexy hips as she walked to the door.  The spiked heels she wore emphasized her long shapely legs. From the corner of her eye, Carla saw Zach watching Tonya.  Sighing, she’d give anything to have a shapely body, but she was an athlete.  Her body was lean and muscular rather than stacked and curvy.  She didn’t understand how Tonya kept such a beautiful figure; she didn’t exercise anything but her mouth.

Carla rubbed her hands down the front of her shorts. “That was Tonya.  She’s a big flirt, but harmless.”

Zach hitched his chin. “She’s forward and very aggressive. She should watch herself; the wrong man will take advantage of that.”

“Please…men melt in the palm of her hand.  I’m surprised you’re still intact,” she said joking. “Didn’t you find her attractive?”

He leaned back on the couch and crossed a leg over his knee. “Pretty face, nice body but zero tolerance.”

“Zero tolerance for what?” Carla asked confused.

“I wouldn’t have the tolerance to deal with her.  She is high-maintenance and requires too much work.  I would get tired of working hard to please her and bail.”

Carla hung her head and mumbled. “I don’t know, one night with you might change her ways.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”  She got off the sofa. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to take a shower and then fix us some dinner.  How does that sound?”

“Don’t go through any trouble for me.”

“It’s no trouble; I have to eat.”

“Carla, are you upset that your friend flirted with me?”

She scrunched up her nose. “What?  That’s crazy.  If you want to pursue Tonya go ahead; I don’t care.”

“I don’t want to pursue her.  But you do care and you would be upset if I had I accepted her invitation.”

“Your ego is getting ahead of you. Granted, I don’t have Tonya’s perfect body or her seductive feminine ways, but I got the job done for you last night. Face it, Zach, you got your chance to see what it’s like to be with a black woman and your curiosity has been fed. At least for now it has.”

“Do you have problems with low self-esteem when you’re with her?”

Carla placed a hand on her hip. “What is your problem? I don’t have any issues with Tonya.  So, she flirts, big deal. I’m not her.” She heard herself getting loud.  Was she upset with Tonya for flirting with him?

He shook his head. “If I had walked out that door with that hot ass woman, you’d be pissed and you know it. My eyes are everywhere, Carla.  I’ll be looking at you and past you at the same time.  The evil looks you passed between Tonya and me were deathly. The one thing you knew for certain is I wouldn’t leave with her because I couldn’t not because I didn’t want to.”

She pinched the space between eyes. “This is baffling to me. Where are you getting this from? You and I have nothing between us.  You’re free to screw any woman you want. I’ll call Tonya back and let her know you’re interested.”

“You’re getting upset.  Let’s change the subject.”

“I’m not mad.  It would never work with Tonya.  She is a talker whereas you don’t know how to open up, Zach.  You’re so closed and cold its scares me more than the person trying to kill me.”

He leaned forward and folded his hands. “You’re afraid of me?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes, at first I was but I’m not anymore.”

“What changed your mind?”

“It’s a number of things. For one, I like how you caught me when I fell out of that tree.” She put her hands on her hips. “You’d be a lot more likable if you’d open up, Zach.  Talking about your work is out of the question but there are other subjects to talk about.”

He kept his eyes on her. “Ask yourself if you’d be willing to debate me in sports or politics?  Looking at me, you wouldn’t think I had an interest in those.”

She lifted her brow and smirked. “No. I don’t see anything but coldness in you.”

He chuckled. “That is my intention.  Ms. Parker, we should attempt to keep the peace until I’m gone in the morning. Now that you have home court advantage; do what you do and I’ll sit here and mind my business.”

Carla pursed her lips to keep her tongue from flapping. Politely she said, “Whatever you say, Agent Murphy.”

An hour later, Carla emerged from the bedroom feeling refreshed.  Nothing healed the soul better than a clean body and fresh clothes.  She even washed her hair knowing it would curl tighter to her head.  It was worth it to get rid of the smell of the woods, and any bugs that had taken residence in her hair from the tree.  The itching on her arms and legs eased after the hot shower also.

She passed the living room and saw Zach seated in the same position on the sofa but watching television.  In the small kitchen, she took a package of chicken breasts from the freezer and stuck it in the microwave to thaw. Taking items from the cabinets to put together some dinner for them, she doubled the portions since Zach was a big man.  The small portions of food she ate would not fill him up.