His Sexy Bad Habit (23 page)

“That might not be such a bad idea,” Jade said. “Lord knows you were sick over that man.”

“I’m coming to the party, taking a few pictures with the other owners, and then I’m off to spend the night with my man.”

The women waved good-bye to each other and Serena headed upstairs. After getting ready for the party, she went to see Antonio to make sure she hadn’t spent the afternoon dreaming.

Norman and Kamir sat in the living room as A.J. grabbed his fishing gear.

“Thanks for taking him with y’all,” Antonio said. “But are you sure this isn’t too much?”

“Not at all. I love hanging out with A.J.,” Norman said. “He and Kamir are the best fishermen I know.”

Kamir smiled proudly under his grandfather’s compliments.

“Besides, Kamir needs to hang out with someone his age. His brothers are into other things these days and they don’t want little brother hanging around.

“I don’t want to play no stupid video games anyway. But they can’t have my fish,” Kamir said.

“That’s right, no fishing, no eating,” Norman said.

Before Antonio could respond, the doorbell rang. Since the door was open, he saw it was Serena and he beckoned her in. Dressed in a
strapless black lace dress that hit her at her knees all the air was sucked out of the room when she walked in. Her skin seemed to glow and with her hair pulled back from her face, her eyes were expressive and shining. Antonio stood up and inhaled sharply as his eyes roamed her body. Even Kamir smiled appreciatively at Serena.

“Hi,” she said as she walked over to Antonio.

“Hi,” he said.

Norman cleared his throat to remind everyone that he was in the room.

Serena turned to him and smiled. “Hello, Norman, long time no see.”

The older man stood up and smiled at Serena. “Yes, I see you’re still wearing those sky high shoes.”

“Well, when I walk in the restaurant tonight the floor will be finished. You guys did a great job,” she said, then glanced at Kamir who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she walked in. “Hi, there.”

“Hee-hee, hi,” he giggled, then buried his face in Norman’s arm.

“This is my grandson, Kamir,” Norman said. “He’s not usually this shy.”

“Where’s A.J.?” Serena asked. “I wanted to see him before I headed to the party.”

“You’re just in time,” Norman said. “He was about to join us for a fishing trip. So, I guess I’ll have to wait and go to the next party with you. Antonio will take my place tonight.”

Serena and Antonio laughed as A.J. ran into the living room with his fishing gear. “Miss
Serena.” He dropped his gear and hugged her around her legs. “You look pretty.”

“Thank you. So, you’re going fishing. Does that mean I get to eat some more cole slaw and fish?” she asked as she stroked his head.

“Yes! Tomorrow we can have a fish fry, right Mr. Norman?”

“We sure can,” Norman said. “Right here in Antonio’s big kitchen.”

“That’s fine with me,” Antonio said, thinking that Serena was going to wake up at his place anyway.

Norman seemed to have the same thought. “I’ll call before we bring all the fish over,” he said knowingly and Antonio nodded in silent thanks.

“Ooh, Miss Serena,” A.J. said. “I have a present for you.” He turned and rushed upstairs.

Serena stood beside Antonio and squeezed his arm. “So, this means I have a date tonight?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he replied in a low voice. “And you can help me get dressed.”

“Or undressed,” she said, then turned to the staircase when she heard the pitter-patter of A.J.’s feet. He stood at the bottom of the staircase proudly holding her Mickey Mouse ears. Serena headed over to him and took the ears from his hands and stuck them on her head. Antonio couldn’t help but smile. Serena didn’t care about messing up her hair or anything.

“It matches your dress,” A.J. said.

“Then I will keep them on during the party,” Serena said.

“People might laugh at you,” A.J. said with a giggle of his own.

Serena shrugged. “Are you kidding me? I love Mickey Mouse and I don’t care who knows. Thank you for my gift, A.J.”

A.J. hugged Serena again. “You’re welcome.”

“All right,” Norman said. “We’d better get going so we can set up camp at the lake.”

A.J. picked up his gear, then he, Norman, and Kamir told Serena and Antonio good-bye.

Once they were in the house alone, Antonio grabbed Serena and pulled her against his chest. “I’ve been wanting to do this since you walked through the door,” he said, capturing her lips in a hot wet kiss that made her swoon. A soft moan escaped her throat as Antonio’s tongue danced around inside her mouth. His hands danced across her back and he felt her shiver against him.

Serena pulled back from him and placed her hand against his chest. “If we’re going to go to the party, you can’t kiss me again. You’re going to have to go and get dressed,” she said breathlessly.

He winked at her. “Too bad you’ve already taken your shower. I could use some help upstairs.”

Serena unzipped her dress revealing she didn’t have anything on underneath. “You can never be too clean,” she said with a wink.

Antonio lifted her into his arms and dashed upstairs. Though they’d made love a few hours ago, feeling her soft skin underneath his fingertips and her lush lips brushing against his neck, Antonio was aroused beyond words. His erection nearly leaped from his boxers as he laid Serena
against his sheets. She was a goddess, even with the Mickey Mouse ears on the top of her head. He was about to take them off when Serena locked her arms around his neck and kissed him hot and deep. With her strong legs, she pushed his pants down his thighs as they kissed and she pressed her body against him. Desire grew inside him and his erection ached for her wetness. Serena ground against him, teasing him with her wetness. Without even thinking of the protection they needed, Antonio dove inside her and Serena cried out with pleasure. She tightened her muscles around him, nearly bringing him to climax. Raw pleasure surged though his body as he and Serena rocked to the sensual rhythm of their throbbing heartbeats. She squeezed her thighs around him and Antonio dove deeper inside her, lavishing in her wetness.

“I love you,” she cried as he felt her climax exploding around him.

“I love you too,” he breathed into her ear. He slowed the pace of their lovemaking, in and out, in and out until her thighs shook and he released himself. Antonio’s climax escaped like an atomic explosion.

They drifted off to sleep, spent from their lovemaking. It was another hour before they were up, showered, and dressed for the party.

Antonio channeled his inner Eric Benet with a pair of blue jeans, a white button down shirt, and black sports jacket. He slipped a pair of aviator sunglasses on to look cool as Serena stepped into her dress.

“Sexy,” she said as she smoothed her hair, then picked up her Mickey Mouse ears.

“You don’t have to wear those,” he said with a smile.

“I’m going to take a few pictures in them to make A.J. smile. He looked so happy when he saw they matched my dress.”

Antonio walked over to Serena as she put her shoes on and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?” she asked.

“For thinking about my son. I know in the beginning you weren’t sure about us dating because of my son.”

“I’m the first to admit I’m glad I was wrong. I love A.J. How could I not?”

“Exactly. He’s a chip off the old block,” Antonio quipped. He stared into her eyes, thinking Serena was everything he and his son needed in their lives.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. Are you ready?”

“Yes, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave,” she said with a wily smile. “Because I want to sleep under the stars with you on top of me.”

“Then we’re wasting time,” Antonio said, lifting her into his arms and heading downstairs.

When Serena and Antonio arrived at Hometown Delights, Kandace met the couple at the door. “It’s about time you got here,” she said to her friend as she hugged her. Kandace looked up
at the Mickey Mouse ears Serena was wearing. “What’s up with that?”

“My son gave them to her and told her they matched her dress,” Antonio said.

“Okay, so who is this woman and what have you done with my friend?” Kandace joked.

“I’ll tell you who I am, as soon as you tell your husband to buy new furniture for our office.”

Kandace blushed and led the couple over to the table where Solomon, Jade, James, Kenya, and Maurice were sitting. A few photographers snapped pictures of them and Serena pulled her ears off and set them on the table.

“Did you think this was a costume party?” Jade asked.

Serena rolled her eyes and kicked her friend underneath the table. “I did that for A.J.”

Maurice leaned into Antonio and said, “Congrats for still being alive.”

“I heard that,” Serena said over Maurice and Antonio’s laughter.

“Right now, I’m not scared of you,” Maurice said.

Kenya pinched her husband on the arm. “Play nice,” she said.

“That’s right,” Antonio said. “Y’all must have my lady confused with someone else.”

The table erupted in laughter. James leaned over to Antonio. “There are stories that I could tell you, but I’m afraid you’d walk out the door.”

Antonio took Serena’s hand in his and kissed it. “That’s not going to happen,” he proclaimed.

“And James, I got stories too,” Serena shot back with a smile on her face.

Jade shook her head. “Leave Serena alone. Antonio, ignore them.”

Solomon chuckled as he sipped his drink, then glanced at his wife.

“What?” Serena asked. “No smart comment?”

“No,” he replied. “I was always taught that if you can’t say anything nice, wait until the ladies leave.”

“Stop it, Solomon,” Kandace said. “But Antonio, we’re really glad that Serena met you.”

“I’m the one who’s glad,” Serena whispered to Antonio, then slipped her hand between his thighs underneath the table.

He leaned in to her and whispered, “If you do that again, we’re out of here.”

“Promise?”

“Hey,” Maurice said, “no whispering. Share with the class.”

Kenya smacked him on the arm. “Leave them alone,” she said again. “You remember when you couldn’t keep your hands off me?”

“Oh yes. Every day I’m reminded.” Maurice pulled his wife against his chest and kissed her forehead. “And later, I’m going to remind you how you can’t keep your hands off me.”

“It’s getting thick at this table,” James said. “Y’all could at least wait until you get home.”

Maurice rolled his eyes at his brother. “Put both your hands on the table then.”

“Mind your own business,” Jade admonished, causing another chorus of laughter.

Alicia walked over to the table with Devon Harris, the celebrity chef who had been running the kitchen for Hometown Delights and filming his popular Food Network show there. “Hey,” Alicia said as she hugged her girlfriends. Everyone noticed the coolness between Solomon and Devon but didn’t acknowledge it. The two men, mostly Solomon, were leery of each other because Devon and Kandace dated in college. For a brief moment before Kandace and Solomon met in Sugar Mountain, Devon had been trying to ease his way back into Kandace’s life as more than a friend and business associate. But Kandace hadn’t been interested since their relationship ended badly. Since her marriage, Devon knew they’d only be friends and business associates, but Solomon didn’t trust the guy. Before marrying Kandace, Solomon never allowed a wedding band to stop him from going after a woman. He couldn’t help but think that Devon was harboring feelings for his wife.

“Devon has a great idea,” Alicia said. “Instead of me introducing Babyface, he should do it. It would give the women a jolt and at the end of the first set, we can all get our pictures with Face.”

“That is a good idea,” Kandace said.

Solomon muttered, “Anything to get him out of my way.”

Kandace stomped on his foot.

“Ouch,” he said, then drained his drink.

Devon and Alicia ignored Solomon and ordered another round of drinks. “This is a really
good crowd,” Alicia said, hoping to ease the tension as she and Devon took their seats.

“Yes,” Devon said. “And the menu is being executed perfectly. You ladies should be proud of what you’ve done here.”

Jade smiled, then kissed James on the cheek. “Now all we need to do is make sure nothing happens here to put us on the evening news for all the wrong reasons.”

“Exactly,” Kandace said. “Because no matter what people say, all publicity is not good.”

When the waiter came to the table and set everyone’s drinks in front of them, Kandace tried to quietly send hers back, but soon all eyes were on her.

“What’s up with that?” Jade asked.

“With what?” Kandace coyly replied.

“Oh, play if you want to,” Alicia said. “You’re not drinking, so does that mean you’re—”

“Knocked up?” Serena said.

Solomon smiled proudly revealing the answer that Kandace was trying to avoid.

“Wow,” Jade said. “This is so beautiful.”

“Wait a minute, guys,” Kandace said. “I don’t know for sure yet, but—”

“She’s pregnant,” Solomon said. “I have eight home pregnancy tests to prove it.”

“Oh, those things are accurate, right Jade?” Serena joked.

Jade tossed the lemon from her drink at her friend. “Shut up.”

“Are you sure y’all are just friends and not family?” Antonio asked.

“That’s the question we’ve all asked at some point,” James said. “Welcome to this dysfunctional group.”

“And please don’t leave,” Devon said. “I’ve never seen Serena smile this much.”

“Why do they keep saying that?” Antonio asked.

“Because these losers never gave me a reason to smile,” she joked, then kissed his lips gently.

Emerson wasn’t surprised that he’d gotten into the restaurant. The security officers at the door had abandoned the guest list and were allowing anyone with the cover charge inside the restaurant. Emerson gladly paid the fifty dollars and tipped the doorman twenty. He saw Serena and her friends sitting at a table near the stage. None of them noticed him as he slipped into the crowd near the bar. Before he’d come to the restaurant, he’d gotten a call that had put him in a sullen and angry mood. Lionsgate was passing on releasing the movie. Luther had told him he wouldn’t be interested in any other future projects that Emerson was a part of.

“Basically,” Luther had said, “your career is over. There’s talk about you not writing your own projects and what you did to Serena Jacobs has turned many studios against you. I had no idea you were going to marry her but left her at the
altar when the movie didn’t materialize. Women, who buy most of the movie tickets, don’t like that.”

“Are you kidding me?” Emerson had said.

“No, I’m not. Give it a couple years and allow this to die down. During that time, write a hit, film a hit, and maybe you will get out of this muck you created. All you had to do was get her to sign off on the film and we would be getting ready for the release.”

Emerson had slammed his phone against the wall of the hotel room and smashed it to pieces. As he looked at Serena, his anger rose again. He wanted to smash her as she’d done with his career.

“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked Emerson.

“A shot of whiskey,” he said, not taking his eyes off Serena and her friends. Somehow, he had to get her alone. Then he’d seek his revenge.

The bartender gave Emerson his drink and he gulped it down. Turning his back to the bar, he pretended to be excited about the start of Babyface’s set, as Devon Harris introduced the crooner.

Emerson’s eyes were glued on Serena. He felt as if he’d lost everything because of her. At no point did he think his downfall was his own fault, although he was the one who had put out crappy movies and hadn’t tried to improve his craft.

It didn’t matter to him. She was the person who had shut down the movie. The one who had been his muse was now his enemy.

“Give me another one,” he said to the bartender, as the lights dimmed, then slid a fifty dollar bill across the bar. “Keep them coming until the money is gone.”

As Babyface began singing “Soon As I Get Home,” Emerson saw a few couples get up and start dancing. He smiled when he saw Serena stand up and head toward the back of the restaurant. Slamming his glass on the bar, he bounced through the crowd, nearly knocking over a few couples. Finally, he made it to the back hallway just a few feet behind Serena.

He watched the sway of her hips as she walked into a door marked
OFFICE
. Looking over his shoulder, he didn’t see a security officer or one of Serena’s friends behind him, and knew it was time to make his move. Emerson walked into the office and slammed the door behind him as Serena walked out of what he assumed was a bathroom.

“Did you really think I was going to let you do this to me?” he hissed when he and Serena locked eyes.

“What are you doing in here?” Serena asked.

“What am I doing in here? You and your lawsuit sank my movie and ruined my reputation with the studios. No one wants anything to do with me.”

“And that’s my fault?” she snapped as she attempted to push past him.

Emerson grabbed her and pushed her against
the wall, holding her there with a hand on her chest.

“Get off me! Let me go!” Serena flailed at his hand, trying to free herself.

He caught her hand. “No, you bitch. How could you do this to me? All you had to do was sign off on the film, but you wanted to fight me,” he growled as he slammed her against the wall.

Serena clawed at his face with her free hand. “Help! Somebody help me!”

He grabbed Serena’s jaw and squeezed. “Shut up.” Pushing her head back into the wall he leaned in close. “All I needed from you was to let this movie restart my career. You got a second chance but you destroyed mine.”

“And you left me at the altar.” Then she attempted to knee him in his privates. Emerson shifted his hips to avoid her blow, but didn’t loosen his grip. Serena dug her nails deeper into his hand. “Let me go, fool.”

Emerson flung her onto the sofa, then pounced on top of her. He held her down with his knee on her midsection. Serena struggled to push him off her, but he gripped her throat and choked her. She writhed against the sofa and Emerson tightened his grip. Her body went limp and a jolt went though Emerson’s body. She was dead. He backed away from her, looking at her motionless body. He’d expected to feel satisfaction when he did to Serena what she’d done to his career. But all he felt was fear and emptiness.

  *  *  *

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Devon said from the stage. “Give it up for Babyface. He’s coming back, right after dessert.”

Babyface took a bow and the lights came back up in the restaurant. Antonio looked over his shoulder hoping to see Serena fighting her way through the crowd. “Do you think the bathroom line was that long?” Antonio asked.

Jade and Alicia looked at each other and shrugged. “I figured Serena would’ve gone into the private bathroom in the office,” Jade said.

“She has been gone for a long time, though,” Kenya said.

Antonio rose to his feet and studied the crowd. “I don’t see her. I’m going to the office.”

Alicia stood up and headed through the crowd with Antonio. More appropriately, she struggled to keep up with Antonio as he crashed through the crowd, nearly pushing people over. His mind reeled with the worst-case scenario—something bad happened to Serena. Had she drunk too much and fallen in those five-inch pumps? Maybe she had broken her leg and couldn’t move.

“Antonio,” Alicia said as she finally caught up to him. “I’m sure she’s fine. Serena’s a workaholic, so she might be in the office on the computer.” She reached into her purse and pulled out the key for the office door, but the door was unlocked and cracked open.

Antonio gently pushed her aside and entered the office. Looking to his left, he saw Serena lying motionless on the sofa. He rushed to her
side and felt her wrist for a pulse. He found a faint one, then yelled, “Alicia, call 9-1-1.”

He turned back to Serena. “Come on, baby, wake up. Wake up.” Hot tears of anger and fear poured from his eyes. Someone did this to her and his first thought was Casey. “Don’t die on me, Serena. I love you.” He brought her hand to his lips.

“She’s dead,” a voice from behind him said.

Antonio turned around and saw a figure in the darkness. Rushing the man, Antonio grabbed him by his collar and pulled him out of the shadows. When he saw it was Emerson Bradford, he knew who’d hurt Serena and began to pound him.

“You son of a bitch! You tried to kill her,” Antonio swore as he punched and pounded Emerson to within an inch of his life. He hadn’t noticed the police, the EMS workers, and Serena’s friends had entered the office until two police officers snatched him off Emerson. “He did this to her!” Antonio barked as the officers held him back and an EMS worker checked Emerson’s injuries. “To hell with him, you have to save Serena.”

The EMS workers turned their attention to Serena, taking her vital signs to determine whether further action was necessary.

Jade shivered against James’s shoulder as Serena was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled out of the office.

“Let go of me,” Antonio said. “I’m going with my wife.”

“Sir,” one of the police officers said, “we have to ask you some questions.”

“Let him go with her,” Solomon and Maurice yelled out.

“They’re going to the hospital. You know where to find him,” James added angrily. When the officers released Antonio, he tore out the door and hopped into the ambulance with Serena.

“Her airway is constricted and there may be a broken bone in her neck,” one of the EMS workers said to the other as they worked on Serena. Antonio watched silently, his mind flashing back to the day when Marian was taken away in an ambulance.

The EMS worker closest to Antonio touched his shoulder. “Sir, do you know what happened? Did you do this to her?”

Antonio shook his head. “I would never hurt her. Emerson did this.”

“Do you know if he used a ligature?”

Antonio looked up at the worker and wanted to say,
If I’d seen him trying to kill her, she’d be walking around and he’d be in here.
Instead, he said, “I didn’t see what happened.”

“She needs oxygen,” one of the workers said, then placed a mask over Serena’s face. Antonio stroked the back of Serena’s hand and prayed she would be all right. Prayed she would wake up and he wouldn’t have to tell his son that another woman they loved was gone.

Serena heard Marvin Gaye’s voice—not singing but talking. “You can’t leave that man. And you can’t let the other man win.”

What? Where am I? I thought Babyface was singing tonight,
she thought as she looked around and saw nothing familiar. She wasn’t in the restaurant anymore and all she saw was a bright light. And her throat ached.

Emerson. Emerson tried to kill her. Serena wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as it they were being held down by boulders. She could feel someone stroking her hand and that motion comforted her and she thought she smiled.

“Serena.” Marvin Gaye was singing. “Baby, open your eyes and look at the man who loves you and wants you more than you need to go to Heaven.”

I’m going to Heaven, for real?
Serena thought, then her eyes fluttered open.

Antonio was standing at her bedside, holding her hand. “Thank God,” he whispered, then pressed the button for the nurse.

A woman walked into the room. “Is everything all right?” she asked as she crossed over to Serena’s bed.

“She opened her eyes,” Antonio said.

The nurse looked at Serena. Seeing that her eyes were open she pulled out a penlight and shined it in her eyes to evaluate her pupil response. The nurse smiled when Serena’s eyes followed the light. She placed her hand on Antonio’s shoulder. “I’ll go get her doctor.”

Antonio wanted to kiss her. He prayed that Serena was coming back to him. It had been three days since he’d seen her beautiful eyes.
Three days of pure hell not knowing if Serena would wake up. He’d told A.J. that Serena wasn’t feeling well. He hadn’t wanted to upset his son about Serena’s true condition. Antonio couldn’t say that she might die—he couldn’t go through the pain of losing her. Not when he loved her as much as he did. He’d spent every moment he could by her bedside.

Jade had tried to get Antonio to leave earlier to get something to eat, but he’d told her she needed to go eat more than he did. “Antonio,” she’d said as she left the room. “You’re not going to do her any good if you wind up in a bed beside her. Be prepared to eat when I get back.”

He’d offered her a halfhearted smile. “Thanks.”

Then Serena had opened her eyes and Antonio was glad he hadn’t left.

The doctor walked into the room and began running a series of tests to determine if Serena was fully awake. Antonio watched with baited breath as the doctor made notes and placed his fingers on the sides of Serena’s neck. “What’s going on?” Antonio asked the doctor.

“Well, Mr. Jacobs, Serena’s vocal cords are still swollen, so she won’t be able to speak, but her vital signs are strong and she is awake. She can hear you.”

Antonio smiled and returned to her bedside, seeing that Serena was following him and the doctor with her eyes. He also knew that not being able to talk was killing her. He took her hand in his and kissed it as he’d done over the last three days.

“Welcome back, beautiful,” he said. “I have missed you.”

She smiled at him and blinked her eyes.

“Killing you not be able to talk, huh?” Antonio asked. “Not that you talked a lot, but now I have your undivided attention and I have to say this. I never want you out of my sight ever again. When you get your voice back, we’re getting married.”

Serena blinked her eyes in rapid succession as if she was saying something to Antonio’s declaration.

“I’ll give you time to think about it,” he said. “But know that I love you more than anything in my life.”

Serena parted her lips and the doctor touched her foot. “Mrs. Jacobs, don’t put stress on your vocal cords right now. I’ll have the nurse bring you a notepad.”

Serena nodded, then squeezed Antonio’s hand. She mouthed,
I love you, too.

As the doctor left the room, Jade walked in with a bag from the cafeteria. “Is she awake?” Jade asked when she saw Antonio holding Serena’s hand.

“Yes,” Antonio said happily. “Her doctor just left and said her vitals are looking good but she can’t talk.”

“She’s in hell.” Jade smiled at Serena as she set the bag of food on the chair next to the bed. She leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for coming back to us. You’d better keep this man around because he’s the one.” She glanced
up at Antonio. “But I’m sure you already knew that.”

Serena nodded and Jade turned to Antonio. “I’m going outside to call the girls and let them know how she’s doing.”

When they were alone, Antonio grabbed Serena’s hand and kissed it again. “A.J. wants to see you, but I think we’re going to hold off on that until you’re talking again.”

She nodded, but her eyes said she had so much to say.

“And when you’re able to say ‘I do,’ I expect to walk down the aisle and make you Mrs. Antonio Billups.”

A tear spilled down Serena’s cheek as the nurse walked in with a pad and a pencil. Serena pressed the up button on the bed and accepted the pad and pencil. With a shaky hand, she wrote,

Pulling the pad toward him, Antonio read the note, then tore the piece of paper off the pad, folded it, and slipped it in his pocket. “I’m going to keep this and remind you of it when we have our first argument.”

She smiled and the doctor walked into the room again. “Sir,” he said to Antonio, “I need to get by you to adjust your wife’s medication and take another look at her throat.”