Heated (8 page)

“You all are very close?” Bianca asked, turning her head to look out at the dark shadows of the trees lining the road. Maybe if she had siblings, she wouldn’t have suffered through her father’s emotional distance after her mother’s death.

“Yeah, we all meet up to my parents for a big dinner every Sunday, and any holiday, birthday, or major announcement is cause for one of my mama’s barbeques.”

“I would love to have a big family one day,” she admitted.

Kahron squeezed her hand as he steered the vehicle up Highway 17 toward Charleston. “I’m working on it.”

Bianca warmed at the thought of a son with Kahron’s devilish grin, but she said, “Let’s get through this first date, okay?”

“You know you want me to be your baby-daddy.”

Bianca just laughed before they settled into a comfortable silence. “You don’t have any kids, do you?”
Bianca asked, hating that she let Trishon’s gossip intrude on her date.

“Definitely not, and not even the one in Summerville everyone says is mine.”

Bianca dropped her eyes guiltily when he cast her a knowing glance.

“Can I assume Trishon filled you in on my supposed sins?”

Bianca said nothing.

“And this from a woman who doesn’t even associate with her family. She acts like her own mother doesn’t exist.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Bianca said.

“Bianca, I am not the kind of man who wouldn’t claim his children,” he told her, as he pulled the car up to a red light. “I wasn’t even dating the girl when she got pregnant. We hadn’t been together for at least five or sixths months before that.”

“That’s none of my business, Kahron.”

“Any other rumors you want to dispel?” he asked, humor in his raspy voice.

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

His look was questioning.

Bianca reached up and stroked his beard. “I heard that you were one hella good kisser.” She leaned forward to press her lips to his with a soft purr, nibbling his bottom lip before she traced his lips with her clever tongue.

Kahron took the lead, leaning forward to capture her tongue with his own intimately. His hands left the steering wheel to rest warmly on her thigh as the intensity of their kisses increased and the steam rose from their bodies.

Bianca slid her hand up to his nape as she pressed his
head closer.

Kahron’s hand rose to her hip and his fingers pressed into the silk of her camisole as he lightly massaged the curve as he drew her tongue into his cool mouth to suckle deeply.

The sound of someone leaning on their horn broke them apart. Their shallow breathing echoed in the car. Bianca’s taut nipples throbbed to be touched, stroked, and suckled as they pressed against the thin material of her lace bra and camisolelike twin pebbles.

Kahron accelerated forward, the light long since green. He shifted in his seat, rising a bit to loosen the material around his obvious erection. “How’d I do?”

Bianca inched her skirt up a little around her knees as she used her purse to fan playfully between her legs. “Damn good,” Bianca sighed, letting her head fall back against the headrest. “Oh yeah.”

“I am stuffed,” Bianca sighed rubbing her stomach as they enjoyed a relaxing stroll along historic Waterfront Park.

“That was all those croissant rolls you ate,” Kahron teased. “You ate more of them than you did your dinner.”

They enjoyed dinner at California Dreaming on Ashley River, the only restaurant in Charleston where every table had an excellent waterfront view of the harbor.

“I’m a carb junkie.”

“I’m a meat man myself.”

Bianca cast him a sidelong glance. “I’m sure you are.”

Kahron wiggled his brows suggestively, placing his arm comfortably around her shoulders.

They continued along the waterfront, other couples
also strolling and enjoying the view of the moonlight sky against the deep darkness of the water. Charleston Waterfront Park was a twelve-acre park located along the Cooper River. There was a four-hundred-foot-long wharf and a fishing pier with shade structures, a riverside promenade, lawns and formal gardens, tree-shaded walking and seating areas, and two major fountains that were exquisite in design.

Kahron and Bianca came to a stop at the park main entrance near a fountain surrounded by decorative walls with ornamental iron fencing. Kahron leaned back against the wall and pulled Bianca back against him, his arms circling loosely around her waist. He enjoyed the feel of her body next to his.

“I’m having such a nice time.” Bianca let her head fall back against Kahron’s broad shoulder as her fingers covered his. “I don’t want the night to end.”

Kahron leaned his face against Bianca’s, his nose flaring as he inhaled deeply of her scent. “Me either. I could hold you in my arms like this forever.”

Bianca turned and pressed her face into his neck as she

let her eyes drift close. “I don’t want you to let me go.”

Kahron kissed her temple.

Bianca was such a unique woman to him. She was smart, driven, focused, courageous, and sexy. His heart raced when she smiled and she made him hard as stone with her touch. There was a connection between them that seemed natural and right.

She made him laugh. When she gave in to the carefree side of herself Bianca had the kind of dry humor that made your sides ache with laughter.

She made him think. The woman had an opinion on everything from politics to pop culture. She was impassioned about her views, but she also wanted to know what
he thought about things. Was he as angry as she over the treatment of the New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina? What did he think about the war? Poverty? Racism? Gross consumption? The portrayal of women in hip-hop? It felt good to converse with a woman whose topics weren’t limited to fashion or other inane subjects.

She impressed him. Kahron visited the website of her clinic and the accolades that she was too humble to mention were listed there. Now, the way she had taken on the challenge of revitalizing her father’s business let him know the woman was amazing.

She made him happy. Sitting across from Bianca as she affectionately caressed his hand and gave him her full attention pleased him and made him want to please her. To see a smile on her face and in her eyes made his heart swell in his chest.

She made him want to prove that she could trust him. He knew she had had doubts about his involvement in the sabotage of her father’s business, but here she was giving him the benefit of the doubt. To him, that was major.

He hadn’t felt this strongly about a woman in a long time and never this quickly.

“I could see myself falling in love with you, Bianca King,” he admitted as he rubbed his beard lightly against the side of her face.

She tilted her head back and looked up at him. “And I’d fall right along with you,” she answered him huskily, the truth of her words in her hazel-green eyes.

8

Bianca didn’t think life could get much better.

Her father was in rehab to help him learn to battle his alcoholism. She had the ranch on track for a future grand re-opening. Last night she welcomed Kahron into her life, her world, her heart.

Oh, she didn’t love him—they’d only had one date—but she
wanted
to love him, so she would offer no resistance.

She stretched in the bed, wishing Kahron was laying there beside her. He was busy on his ranch all day and she was driving into Walterboro to run some errands and start apartment hunting, but they had plans to have dinner at his house later that night.

Her cheeks flushed as she recalled the last time she’d been to Kahron’s house. She’d jumped on him like white in rice. She could only shake her head in shame as she climbed out of bed.

Bianca was showered, dressed in a casual velour sweat suit, and heading downstairs in an hour. She didn’t see Trishon and was glad. The woman’s attempts at souring her on Kahron were not going to ruin her good mood.

She left the house and climbed into her vehicle, pushing the button to lower the convertible top. She tooted her horn
as she passed Papa Doc and Dante, one of Kahron’s ranch hands, talking at the store. They both waved back at her as she whizzed up Highway 17, the sounds of Alicia Keys blaring from her speakers.

When his ranch manager, Carlos Santos, came to Kahron and suggested that he hire his youngest daughter, Garcelle, as his new housekeeper/cook, Kahron had been reluctant. With his luck Garcelle might turn out to be a real piece of work and when Kahron fired her that might anger Carlos—leading him to quit.

When Carlos stressed that the income would allow Garcelle to save for college, however, which was something she desperately wanted to do, Kahron’s kind-hearted nature won out. He just hoped he wouldn’t regret his decision.

“Mister Strong… Mister Strong!”

Kahron turned from brushing down Midnight to see Paco running toward him. “Whassup, Paco?”

“My sister said to tell you your lunch is ready,” Paco said, grinning up at him as he shook the hair from his eyes.

His stomach grumbled loudly. “Tell her I’m on my way.”

He watched as Paco went running back toward the main house before he finished grooming Midnight and then leading her to her stall. He had just gotten back from checking on the herd and he was starving.

Kahron climbed onto the four wheeler, laughing as Hershey rose to run behind him as he headed for the house. Paco was sitting on the porch reading a book when Kahron pulled up.

“Paco, will you feed Hershey for me?” Kahron asked as he climbed the stairs.

“Sure thing, Mister Strong.”

The grumbling of Kahron’s stomach increased as he entered the house. Whatever Garcelle was cooking smelled divine and he hoped it tasted as well. No matter how it tasted it felt good to come home and smell real food being cooked.

He was headed to the kitchen when he noticed that his living room was spotless. Gone were the magazines, old dinner plates, and dirty clothing that had littered the floor. Even the stain in the carpet from when he accidentally kicked over a glass of fruit punch was gone. The fine layer of dust that accumulated quickly on the furniture was absent. The windows were open and the summer breeze filtered into the house.

Kahron did a quick walk through of the house. His bedroom and private bathroom was spotless as well. Even the small clutter he made this morning was absent, and the faint scent of something lemony filled the rooms.

Kahron was impressed.

Garcelle did more in three hours than all the other housekeepers had ever did… combined.

He made his way back up the hall and to the right towards the kitchen. The scent of the food strengthened and Kahron’s steps quickened.

Garcelle turned and smiled at him as she held a plate in her hands. Kahron was caught a little off guard. This was his first time meeting Garcelle, and she was quite pretty.
Very
pretty in fact. Long jet black hair. A smooth brown complexion. The striking, yet angelic features of Beyonce—with the body to match.

Okay, she’s fine. Duly noted. Now move on, you have Bianca
. His heart raced at the thought of Bianca and he knew her place in his life was not threatened. Although he had to wonder what
she
would think about his new housekeeper. Was she the insecure, jealous type—like
Shauna—or would she take it in all in stride and know that she could trust him—even with a beautiful woman floating around his home.

Garcelle would in fact be a good test of Bianca’s faith in him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Señor Strong. And thank you again for giving me the job,” she said, her Spanish accent very pronounced.

“Your very welcome,” Kahron said, moving to take a seat at the table. “Boy, this smells good.”

“Everyone loves
quesadilla
,” she said, moving back over to the sink. “And I have made
paella
for your dinner. Just put it in the oven for thirty minutes when you come in this evening.”

Kahron just nodded as he shoved one of the triangular slices of tortilla with melted cheese and stewed chicken in tomato sauce into his mouth. It was way better than the quesadilla appetizers he enjoyed at Ruby Tuesday or Applebee’s, and, Lord knows, Taco Bell’s offering was ridiculous in comparison.

Garcelle set a glass of lemonade next to his plate. “I’m going to the laundry room. Just holler if you need me.”

Kahron waved her off as he took a large gulp of the lemonade—which he found to have a hint of lime and orange in it.

Had his luck finally changed when it came to housekeepers? He hoped so.

Kahron was browsing through the morning paper and finishing up his lunch when his cell phone vibrated against his hip. Wiping his hand against his dusty jeans to remove the grease, he answered it. “Strong here… hey Bianca—”

His face went from pleasure to anger and then con
cern. “I’m on my way.”

Seconds later he was out the door and climbing into his pick-up truck headed to Walterboro.

Bianca felt heated with a blend of emotions.

Who would do such a thing
? She wondered as she paced the length of the car in the parking lot outside of the new Super Wal-Mart. She wished she could get her hands
and
feet on the culprit. Her emotions ran the gamut. From helplessness to anger to fear and back again.

When she looked down and saw her beautiful Volvo sitting on all four rims—its deflated tires looking like sagging skin hanging from the metal—she felt like screaming, “
Why
?”, at the top of her lungs; but because she wasn’t that dramatic and she was sure people would stare even more than they already were, Bianca refrained. So, she paced as she awaited the police and Kahron to arrive.

Okay, Bianca admittedly wasn’t playing the helpless female role, but she wasn’t exactly the “I hate all men” kind of woman either. It felt good to have a man to call for help and he asked no questions, offered no excuses, and just said, “I’m on my way.”

It felt
damn
good.

So, even as the police turned into the parking lot—the blue light sirens just a blaring like a murder had occurred—it was Kahron Bianca wanted as she tried to figure why someone had slashed her tires and dug the word
BITCH
into the paint.

Two policeman left their black and gold cruiser—one white and the other black—and walked toward her, frowning as they took in the sad sight her vehicle made. The crowd that was milling about and gawking in
creased in size until a semi-circle surrounded her and the area where the police cruiser and her vehicle sat.

“How do you do, ma’am?” The tall police officer asked, his notepad and pen poised for action.

“I was doing just fine until I came outside and saw this,” Bianca answered politely, waving her hand toward her car.

She maintained her patience through all of their questions—knowing that they were doing their job. And they asked many questions—so many that they started to blend one into the other.

In the end they were just as baffled to the cause for the vandalism, even suggesting it was a random crime.

“I thank you so much for your time, gentleman,” Bianca told them.

“Shame to mess up a beauty like that,” the short officer said.

“I would have been no less upset if it was hooptie,” she assured them with honesty.

“Sure you don’t need a ride home?” the brother, Officer Laskin, asked as he slid his notepad back into his pocket.

“No thank you my—”

Bianca paused. What was Kahron to her, certainly after one date she wasn’t grouping him into the boyfriend category? It was far too soon for that, but nothing else seemed to fit.

“My friend,” she finished. “He’s on the way.”

“Lucky man,” the tall brother said, giving her an appreciative once over before he headed to his vehicle.

Just then, Bianca saw Kahron’s truck turn into the parking lot. Her eyes stayed glued to the truck until he parked and walked through the crowd to reach her. He made an ugly face at the sight of her car before pulling
her to his side with one strong arm.

Officer Laskin’s face lit up in recognition. “Oh, hey whaddup, Kahron,” he called over.

Kahron gave him the universal head nod for a greeting. “Whaddup, Danny.”

“I called my insurance and they’re sending a tow truck,” Bianca told him as the cruiser pulled out the lot. “I just don’t understand all the whos and whys of it all. The officers said it might be random.”

“Considering you just got back in town, I would guess that’s most likely what it is,” Kahron added, rubbing his beard as his eyes pierced the vehicle.

“If it had happened on the ranch I would of thought it was the same creep who…”

Kahron faced became doubtful and that caused Bianca’s words to trail off.

“You still don’t think my father’s ranch was vandalized at all do you?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at him in surprise.

Kahron’s eyes shifted from hers.

Bianca swatted his arm. “Kahron!” she exclaimed in disbelief.

He looked at her helplessly with his hands open. “What?” he asked. “Listen, I just don’t see what could be gained by any of it.”

Bianca shook her head as if to clear it and then looked at him like he had two heads. “There was nothing to be gained by this—” she waved her hand at her car. “But
it
was done.”

“You got a point and I’m sorry. Let’s not turn on each other, B.”

The tow truck pulled up and the big burly man with shocking red hair started working to load the vehicle.

Bianca picked up her hobo pocketbook and her bag from Wal-Mart from atop the rear of the car. She put her purse strap on her shoulder and slid her oversized shades onto her face.

Kahron took the bag from her hands as they walked over to his truck. Before Bianca could climb up onto the seat, Kahron turned her and pulled her against his warm and secure body.

Bianca wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing her face against his chest as she inhaled deeply of his scent. It felt so good to have someone to lean on.

“Did you find an apartment?” Kahron asked as he stepped back to allow Bianca to enter the truck.

She heard Kahron speaking but her mind was elsewhere. She could gloss it over and fall into this man’s arms and move on, but the point remained that someone had just slashed all four of her tires and then dug profanity into the paint.
What the hell
?

She leaned back into her seat, her eyes focused on some unknown point out the window.
Why?

“Hey. Hey you.”

Bianca turned her head to look at Kahron as he climbed into the truck with ease. “Huh?” she asked softly.

“Never mind,” he said, starting the car.

Bianca reached across the seat for his hand, entwining their fingers. “I’m sorry. I guess I just don’t feel like talking right now.”

“Understandable.”

They rode home in silence.

Bianca wrestled with her emotions as she stroked the side of Kahron’s strong hand with her thumb. As they entered Holtsville, Bianca noticed Papa Doc’s big truck still parked at the store.

“Papa Doc told me he’s retired,” Bianca asked sud
denly. “What does he do for money?”

“Just what you see him doing now,” Kahron drawled. “He gets a pretty good disability check from when he was in the military. Why?”

Bianca shrugged a little. “Just curious.”

“Wanna come out to the ranch?” he asked, looking over at her.

“Actually, I got some things I want to check back at Daddy’s.”

Kahron nodded.

“My father’s in detox,” she admitted to him softly.

Kahron’s faced registered surprise. “Now
that’s
good news,” he said with pleasure, squeezing her hand. “For how long.”

“Thirty days.”

“My daddy used to brag on how even the richest white farmers would take their horses to Hank King for training,” Kahron said. “Your daddy’s was a legend in these parts. Straight up, Bianca? It was a damn shame to see how liquor just knocked him down. It was a waste, you know?”

“I really want to help him,” Bianca stressed, turning her head to look at him.

Kahron turned his head to look at her as well, his eyes serious. “Now that I know he’s trying to kick the booze I think you can help him.”

“I guess that’s why I want to move home. He’s my father. My Daddy, you know. And… I… want him in my life. I don’t want to look back anymore, or he passes on—God forbid—and I didn’t have him in my life.”

Kahron squeezed her hand.

“Family is more important than a big house in Atlanta or a practice.” Bianca released a heavy breath. “I’ve
missed my Daddy so much,” she finished with emotion.

“You feel guilty about leaving, don’t you?” he asked softly, raising their entwined hands to his mouth.

Bianca licked her lips and shifted her eyes to look out the window as they filled with shame. “Yes,” she admitted softly, so softly that it sounded more like a release of air than a word.