Erotic City (29 page)

“I was so young when he was at the peak of his fame. You know, to us he was just dad. He was gone a lot. We didn’t really get close to him until he slowed down after he got sick when he was older.”

“I can tell that you and Milan are very close.”

“Oh yeah, we’re best friends. We’ve been though a lot.” She sipped a bit more.

He nodded. “Let me ask you, if you don’t mind. I mean, with your sister having a club like that and every-
thing, is that something you ever thought about? Swinging?”

Tamiko wore a small frown. “Oh no. I went there once the other day since I was thinking about helping her run it for a minute while she’s out of town, but I’m leaning toward not doing it. It was more than I could have ever imagined.”

“Not your style, huh?”

“Not even. How about you? Have you ever tried it?”

“No. Not that I haven’t thought about it, you know. I mean, a lot of people that I know have tried it.”

“I guess you just have to be curious enough to want to try. And I definitely am not.” She crossed her legs.

“It does sound like she’s doing okay for herself over there.”

“She is. They’re making money off of it. Their bad press proved to be good for business.”

Tamiko took another swallow of her potent drink and it burned as it traveled to her belly.

Kellen aimed the CD remote to play Lauryn Hill’s “I Used to Love Him.” “Tell me about you and what you do as far as business. How’d you get into designing clothes?”

“Oh, way back when, my mother had a sewing machine that she never used. I took a sewing class in school and started making my own clothes. I even made my own prom dress. I got pretty good. Guess I just have had a knack for it. My dream is to have my own line called Cheekz.”

He eyed her legs and said, “Nice name. You know, you could be a model yourself. You’re very beautiful. You know that’s your name, right? Beautiful.” He did a stretch and yawn move, reaching around to hug her.

She moved an inch closer and nodded. “Thank you.”

He grinned. “It’s true. So what’s stopping you from getting your line off the ground? That name is hot.”

“I’m working on it. I’m getting some samples made and then I’ll get out there to the buyers. I have a meeting next week to go over some skirts and pants I designed.”

“You know, I can help you if you want me to.” He eyed every inch of her face.

Her eyes lit up. “How?”

“I know a lot of buyers. We sometimes book blocks of time for celebrities to shop alone and they close down the designer stores. So the managers tend to pick up the phone when I call. What you need to do is showcase your designs and invite these guys.”

“I’m working on it. So, you’ve got some serious hook-up power, huh?”

“I do know a little bit about the business. I had a line of caps called Positivity. I sold that a while back.”

“Positivity was your design? With the positive slogans and stuff?”

“Yep. That idea is why I have this house.”

“Impressive. You’ll have to tell me all about how you got that started.”

He watched the movement of her mouth. “I will. Hey, ah, Beautiful?”

She noticed him noticing. “Yes.” Her voice became shy.

“You’ve got the sexiest lips I’ve ever seen. I’m telling you.” And with that Kellen brought his face to hers and began kissing Tamiko. She closed her eyes and followed his lead once their tongues met. He slowly pulled away, but not before his tongue lingered to trace the design of her lips. The parting made a smacking sound. And then it was Tamiko who moved in to his mouth, kissing him, placing her hand on his shoulder. She backed away and waved her hand to her face, looking flushed.

The white pepper and mandarin scent of his Bur-berry Touch cologne tickled her brain. “I shouldn’t have kissed you back like that.”

“Why not?” He saw the shape of her hard nipples showing under her tight T-shirt.

She set her glass on the coffee table and uncrossed her legs. “As nice as that was, I just need to get to know you first.” She looked at her wristwatch. “Plus, it’s very late. I’m usually in bed by now. I don’t think I should even be here. I should’ve left earlier.” She began to stand.

He took her hand and guided her back down to the couch. “Who says? Just try to relax.” He pulled her close.

“I’ll be honest with you. I just don’t want to get intimate so soon.”

“I understand. Please don’t think you need to go slow because I might think badly of you. I just enjoy having you here. No pressure.”

Tamiko rubbed her forehead as she spoke. “It’s just that, I haven’t been with anyone but my ex in more than a year. And now that it’s over, I really don’t want to have that rebound sex. You know? I just need some more time.” She turned to him and realized that she was a little buzzed.

He looked her in the eyes. “Okay. But I still don’t think you need to be driving. I know you don’t live too far but, you can sleep in my room. I won’t touch you. I promise.”

“Your room?”

“My room. And tomorrow, I’ll take you to breakfast and we can talk some more. How’s that?”

Tamiko gave a long blink, exhaled and said, “That’d be nice.”

“Good.” Kellen stood up after finishing his last sip of beer. He walked back through the den and down the hallway. His voice traveled. “I’ll find something for you to sleep in. And I’ll get the bed ready. I’ll sleep in the guest room next door.”

Tamiko spoke loudly. “Okay.” She also said under her breath, “What am I doing?” As she heard a beep sound, she looked down at her purse, which was on the floor, and reached inside to get her cell, noticing that her battery was low. Just as she started to press the power button, her phone died anyway.

She replaced her phone and sat back, securing her back onto the cushion, and sipping the last of her amber liquid. She stayed.

By three-thirty in the morning, Tamiko awoke. Her eyes widened little by little and she gave a jerking motion, as though she forgot where she was. The room was pitch-black as she looked at the large red numbers of the digital clock over the television. She pulled back the soft sienna blanket from the panel bed and got up, walked to the bedroom door, and went to the next door. Her head spun slightly as she stepped. She knocked. “Kellen.”

“Yeah,” he said, sounding groggy.

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

Quietly, she turned the knob and stepped inside of the handsomely furnished guest room, walking along the plush carpet on her tiptoes. The flat-screen television was muted.

He asked, “Are you okay?”

“I am. I just have a tiny headache.” She stood over his side of the four-poster king bed. “Do you mind if I get in with you? I don’t want to be alone. I mean, I’m just wondering if I should. It’s just that being alone in your bed made me think it would be better, I mean since I’m here and you’re here, if we just, well you know, slept in the same bed.” Her face showed the same uncertainty as her words.

He gave her a major grin. “Yeah. Come on.” He patted the empty side of the bed and she crawled over him. She wore a big white T-shirt and white panties. “Do you want some Tylenol or something?” he asked.

“No thanks. I just need to sleep it off.” She snuggled under the mocha-embroidered covers and backed up to him, hugging two foam pillows with her left arm.

“Do you mind if I go with you to that meeting next week?” he asked in her ear.

“That would be fine.”

He rested his arm along her waist and found her hand. As they interlocked fingers he said, “Good-night, Beautiful.”

She could feel his nature rising behind her butt. “Good night,” she replied while grinning just as major as he was.

46

“Give It Up, Turn It Loose”

Friday, June 6, 2008
9:50 a.m.

W
here’ve you been all night?” Milan asked after answering her kitchen phone, sounding tense. “Your phone went straight to voice mail.”

Tamiko was driving from the Waffle House toward her home. “My phone died. I have it plugged in the car charger now. I was at Kellen’s.”

“On a first date you went over to his place?”

“I did. We just had breakfast.”

“Dang, Tamiko.”

“Dang what? Wasn’t it you who told me to live a little?”

“And? What happened?” Milan’s voice was expectant.

“Nothing.”

“Yeah right.” Milan sat at her kitchen bar area, sipping on cinnamon coffee.

“Milan, I’m telling you the truth. He was a perfect gentleman. What’s up with you?”

Milan spit it out. “Nancy’s in the hospital. I went by there last evening. I was gonna wait until today to call you but when the club closed, I decided to try you on my way home. She was raped.”

Tamiko’s voice got higher. “Raped?”

“Yes.”

“And you went by to see her?”

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

“The hospital called me. What was I supposed to do?”

Tamiko gave an exasperated breath. “Okay, with you being the one to tell me it was on as far as Nancy goes, what do you expect me to think? I know she didn’t give them your number?”

“Jarod gave it to them.”

“Jarod was there?” Tamiko’s voice cracked. Her sigh was audible.

“Yeah. And I think they’re, well, he was still there when I left.” Milan slipped her index finger over the rim of her coffee cup and traced the edge.

“Oh my goodness. I guess he rode in on his black horse to save the day for real.”

“Can you come by for a minute? I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“Just stop by. Please. I’ll tell you what happened and then you can tell me about your night.”

Tamiko sucked her teeth. “I’ll be there in a minute.” She hung up.

One hour later, after Milan and Tamiko talked while they sat at the bar area in Milan’s kitchen, Milan picked up the phone and dialed while speaking in a low tone to her sister. “Tamiko, we’ve gotta do this. I’m telling you. She has to get on her feet and she has to decide to give up her claim to Dad’s money. Nancy’s no fool.” Milan heard someone answer and then she said, “Nancy Kennedy’s room please. Thanks.” She sat on the teakwood stool next to Tamiko, who was quiet as a mouse. A frowning mouse.

“Hello.”

“Nancy?” Milan asked.

“Yes.” Nancy’s voice was low-key.

“This is Milan.”

“Hello.”

“How are you? Any better?” Milan asked as Tamiko cut her eyes away toward the floor.

Nancy’s voice dragged. “I’m adjusting. My back still feels like it’s broken. I think I’m immune to naproxen. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to keep my mind off of the pain. The police came by again this morning. They don’t have any leads and no one saw a thing.”

“I’m sure the police will find the guy.”

“I hope so.”

Milan said, “I talked to Jarod while I was there. He shared some things with me.”

Tamiko bounced her legs.

“He did?”

“He told me how you really felt about what happened after my dad died. My feeling is that we might not agree on a lot of things, but bottom line is, you were my dad’s wife. And I, for one, tend to agree with you. I know that he loved you.”

“I believe he did.”

“When you really stop and think about it, to be with someone for sixteen years, that’s gotta be love.”

Nancy spoke faster. “I want you to know that I came to the club to talk to you. And I wanted a copy of the agreement to look it over. I did have a little bit of law school you know. But, things just happened.”

“You could have called if you wanted to help me.”

“I didn’t think you would’ve taken my call. I barely got Tamiko to talk to me.”

Milan watched her sister sitting with her legs and her arms crossed. Staring. “Nancy, in spite of what we’ve thought about you, you were my dad’s wife. And for whatever reason the marriage didn’t work, I know my dad wouldn’t want us to be the way we are with each other.”

“I agree. And truly, I know you girls are being protective of him. You always have been.”

“Nancy, the reason I called this morning is because Tamiko and I have talked, and when you get on your feet, we want you to live in the house in Miami.”

Tamiko mouthed, “We?” and twisted her lips, cutting her eyes.

Nancy was silent for a second. She then spoke louder than before. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am.”

“Milan, I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked.”

“It’s the right thing to do. But I have to ask you, were you, are you living in your car?”

“I was but—”

Milan talked over her. “Now see, we can’t have that. Our attorney can draw up the lease. Just find a way to pay four hundred a month to take care of utilities. That’s not a lot but you’ll need to find a way to make some money once you get out there.”

“Milan, your dad obviously wanted you girls to live in his two homes. Especially his house in Miami.”

“You were not in the situation then that you are now. I don’t believe he wanted you living in your car. The house is unoccupied. I just ask that you take care of it.”

Tamiko was now eyeing her sister down like she was imagining sticking needles in her eyes.

“Milan. I don’t know what to say.”

“What you must do is agree to waive any rights you might have to claim anything against our dad’s property ever again. And this document will be much more specific than the divorce settlement agreement.”

“Okay, but I want you to know that I never filed a thing.”

Milan sat up straight. “I understand. First things first though. You need to get well.”

“Milan. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. This morning I was wondering maybe, you know, that maybe I deserve what happened to me. It’s probably karma for all that I’ve done in my life.”

“You’re human. Anything can happen. I’m just trying something different.”

“And I apologize for all that I’ve done to both you and to Tamiko.”

Milan watched Tamiko’s blank face again. “I forgive you. And you can tell Tamiko that yourself. She’s right here.” Tamiko widened her eyes at Milan.

“Okay.”

“Hold on.”

Tamiko’s forehead buckled. She balled up her fist toward her sister with one hand, taking the phone with the other. “Hello, Nancy.” She sounded like she was truly forcing it.