Looking For Trouble (26 page)

“That's a job,” Alexandria said, rolling her eyes slightly.

Denise stopped and trained her eyes on Alexandria. “I know I didn't hear any sass in that voice, did I?”

Alexandria remained silent.

“I love you just like you're mine,” Denise said, placing her hands on her wide hips. “Your mama and me been close since before you were even a thought, and I know how much she loves you. I love you, too, so I'm gonna say what you need to hear, since you obviously won't listen to her.” Denise shifted her weight to the heel of her stylish red pumps as she spoke. “Be careful and slow down. Just because something looks good, that doesn't mean it is good. You have to use your head and make sure you know the temperature of the water before you jump in.”

Alexandria looked at her mother as if she'd just been accosted. “You told Aunt Denise about PJ?”

Victoria nodded. “Yes, I did.”

Denise nodded and continued talking. “Take your time and make sure you know what you're doing. You're young and beautiful. There's no rush for anything.”

“I told her the same thing,” Victoria piped in.

“Well, I spoke my little two cents and now I'm gone. Bye, baby, and remember what I said.” Denise gave Alexandria a quick hug and then walked back out the door. Alexandria was upset, and she'd had enough. “You freely told Aunt Denise about PJ and me, but have you told Dad?” she asked in a flip tone. “Have you told him that I'm involved with the son of the man with whom you almost cheated on him and nearly ruined your marriage?”

Victoria's back stiffened as straight as a board. She cleared her throat and looked directly into Alexandria's eyes as she spoke. “Yes. I told him.”

“You did?”

“I learned a long time ago that keeping secrets only leads to trouble.”

“Well, your mistakes won't be mine, that's for sure.”

“You're being spiteful, and I don't appreciate it,” Victoria said, hurt seeping into her voice. “I told Denise because she's a dear friend, and I know I can trust her and confide in her about how concerned I am for my child.”

Victoria rose from behind her desk and claimed the empty club chair beside Alexandria's. “You're right, I've made some terrible mistakes in the past, and I don't want to see you go down the same road. But contrary to what you think, I'm not worried about what might happen between Parker and me. That's a journey that has no legs. My main concern is for you and your well-being. I see you rushing in and it scares me, sweetie. I don't want to see you get hurt.”

Alexandria felt horrible about how disrespectfully she'd spoken to her mother. All she could attribute it to was the tangle of emotions and revelations she was experiencing all at once. She hadn't heard her Grandma Allene's voice in a few days, and she was missing her now. She looked into her mother's eyes and saw nothing but love, which comforted her. “I'm sorry for what I said and how I said it,” she whispered softly. “I've been going through a lot lately, trying to sort things out. But please trust me, I know what I'm doing. PJ is the one for me.”

Victoria leaned back in her seat and smoothed the crease in her linen skirt. “Okay, I see that you're very resolute in that belief.” She paused for a moment. “Wait a minute. Have you had a vision or seen something in your future about you and PJ?”

“Not exactly, and only because I don't want to spoil the fun and mystery of building experiences with him. But I've gotten confirmation in another way, with my own eyes. He's the one with the diamond.”

Victoria blinked twice, but she didn't say a word.

“When I was at PJ's place last night, I saw a tattoo on his arm in the shape of a diamond.”

Victoria looked more uneasy than ever. “I don't get a good feeling about this.”

“Did you hear what I just said? He's the one with the diamond.”

“I don't understand. Why would Grandma Allene lead you straight to trouble?”

“Trouble for me, or for you?”

Victoria took a deep breath and crossed her long legs. “Okay, let's talk about what I know you really came over here to discuss.”

“Do you still have feelings for PJ's dad?”

“Yes, I do.”

Although Alexandria knew what her mother's answer was going to be, hearing it made the realization a little harder to swallow. She and Victoria sat in silence for a long pause; each one was consumed by different sides of the same troubling quandary. Alexandria finally spoke: “Do you still love him?”

“No, I don't,” Victoria said slowly, shaking her head. “The feelings I have for Parker are complicated. As you know from what you saw, we had a whirlwind, intense love affair. He was embedded in my heart at one time, but things happened.”

“He cheated on you, and you fell in love with Dad,” Alexandria said.

A smile that was etched in sadness formed at Victoria's lips. “It wasn't that simple. It was a crazy, complicated time, and it seemed as though everything happened so fast,” she said in a low voice. “Please believe me when I say that I have nothing against PJ. I'm sure he's a fine young man, and if Grandma Allene has led you to him, then . . . I'm sure it's for the best.”

“It is, Mom. I feel more alive and free with him than I ever have in my entire life. He makes me happy.”

“My mother used to say that all a parent wants is for her child to be happy. I didn't understand the full meaning of that until the day you were born. I would gladly give my life if it meant sparing you any pain.” Victoria reached for Alexandria's hand and held on tightly. “If PJ makes you happy, you two have my blessing.”

Alexandria rose from her chair, knelt in front of her mother, and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Mom. This means so much to me. You'll love PJ, once you meet him . . . again. And Dad will, too.”

Victoria released their hug and stared into her daughter's eyes. “Your father flew out on a business trip this morning and won't be back until Monday. When he gets in town, I'm going to tell him about the diamond and brace him for the fact that Parker will be back in our lives.”

Alexandria smiled and forced herself not to flash ahead to see what was in the future. She already knew it wouldn't be good. But for now, she wanted to enjoy peace and happiness. She'd worry about trouble a little farther down the road.

“In the meantime,” Victoria said, “I think you should make it your priority to end things with Peter, once and for all.”

“I agree. I have to run a few more errands and then finish writing the piece I'm going to perform tomorrow night. After I do that, I'm going to take care of the situation with Peter—‘once and for all.' ”

“Good,” Victoria said, letting out a relieved sigh. “Oh, and, sweetie, go home and change out of PJ's clothes before you do it.”

Chapter 36

I
t was almost midnight as Alexandria and PJ sat in the middle of her queen-size bed, drinking wine and eating chocolate-covered fruit from a silver tray. She'd spent the early part of her evening preparing the delicious treats for them to share: strawberries, apples, bananas, cherries, pineapples, and raspberries, all covered in milk chocolate she'd melted from her Godiva box. Making the scrumptious desserts had taken her mind off her situation with Peter.

She'd called him that afternoon, wanting to meet so she could end things properly—once and for all. Contrary to her mother's advice, she knew the best way to handle her breakup was by having a face-to-face conversation. She and Peter had agreed to meet at the coffee shop near the mall, where she was running her last errand of the day. She'd waited for him for well over an hour, and had even called him several times. On her way home, he rang her phone and told her that he'd been held up on an important conference call. He asked if he could come over to her place, but she knew that was out of the question.

“We really need to talk, Alexandria,” he said. His voice was serious and calm, and she felt he already knew what was coming. “Face-to-face, so we can settle things the right way and move forward.”

“Yes, I feel the same way.”

“Good. I have to go into the office tomorrow because of this big project I've been working on, but how about Sunday? We can meet for brunch.”

As Alexandria looked at PJ, happily eating in her bed, she was glad she was finally going to end things with Peter—“once and for all”—clearing the path for her future with the man in front of her, who looked more appetizing than any of the fruit on the tray.

“This is good,” PJ said as he munched on a piece of chocolate-covered banana. “I can't believe you made all this.”

“It was really easy. My mom taught me how. You know she can burn in the kitchen.”

“And I'm glad you can, too. There's nothing like a beautiful, sexy woman who knows how to cook.”

Alexandria was thankful that over the years she'd paid attention to her mother's culinary lessons because the saying “the way to a man's heart was through his stomach” was true in PJ's case. He loved to eat, and he wasn't picky, as long as the food was plentiful and full of flavor. His chiseled abs defied the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, pie, and ice cream he could devour in one meal.

Alexandria adjusted the oversize T-shirt she was wearing; then she took a small sip of her wine. “I guess it's time to talk about the heavy stuff, huh?”

PJ nodded. “You already know what my dad said, don't you?”

“Actually, I don't. I purposely put it out of my mind. So what did he say?”

PJ set the strawberry he'd started to eat back down on the tray. He paused for a moment before letting out a deep breath as he spoke. “Ali, he still has a thing for your mom.”

“Shit!” She bit her bottom lip and frowned.

“I know. And after all these years, he said he's never gotten your mom out of his system.”

“Never?”

PJ shook his head. “He knows she's still happily married to your dad. I told him that, and he figured as much. But that doesn't change how he feels. He was blunt and honest with me, I'll give him that.”

“I can't believe he's not dating anyone.” Alexandria said, wishing there was a woman in his life to serve as a buffer.

“Well, he has a friend.” PJ shrugged. “They've been seeing each other for a few years, but it's nothing serious, and she's way more into him than he's into her. To be honest, I don't really care for her.”

“Why not?”

“Her personality. She's the type of woman who's only interested in status and phony bullshit. She calls my dad, ‘dahling,' ” he said incredulously. “I think he's just with her for companionship every now and then, and because she runs in the same social circles.”

“Wow.”

“When I was younger, he never brought women around, because he didn't want to introduce me to anyone unless they were going to be a significant part of his life.”

“I can understand and respect that.”

“Me too. He made a lot of sacrifices raising me as a single parent with a demanding career. He always felt bad about the fact that my mom wasn't a real mother to me. She never spent time with me, so he worked hard to fill her void. You can never replace a mother's love, but my dad's done a hell of a job. He's made me the man I am today.”

Alexandria smiled. “I'm the beneficiary of his hard work.”

PJ leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on her lips. “I'll tell him you said thank you.”

“My mom still has feelings for him, too,” Alexandria blurted out.

“You're shittin' me.”

“I wish I were.”

“This isn't good, Ali.”

“I know. It's going to be awkward, especially for my father.”

PJ nodded. “Yeah, unfortunately, my dad told me about their adversarial history. Damn, this is like something out of a novel.”

“I wish this were fiction, but it's real.” Alexandria shook her head. “It's so weird. Our happiness is going to bring about their pain.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because it's true. You don't have to have the gift in order to see that.”

PJ sat for a moment without saying anything, looking focused and serious. He reached over, removed the tray from the bed, set it on the floor, and then gathered Alexandria in his arms. “As long as we have each other, we can deal with anything that comes our way. Your parents and my dad will have to resolve things in their own way and time. We can't help what happened in the past. All we can do is move forward in our future together. Your parents love you, and my dad loves me, so they'll find a way to work things out for our sake and theirs.”

Later that night as Alexandria drifted off to sleep, she tried to enjoy the feel of PJ's hard body next to hers and the low hum of his snoring. But try as she might, she couldn't shake the twisting feeling in the pit of her stomach that what happened in the past was sure to creep into the present.

Chapter 37

A
lexandria was sitting at a table in the back of the Lazy Day, sipping from her glass of Moscato, waiting for PJ to arrive. He was late, which was unusual because he was a stickler for time. But since she wanted to rehearse her performance as many times as she could before she took the stage, she didn't mind.

Just as she was beginning to recite the verses again mentally, she looked up and nearly lost her concentration. There, in front of her, was PJ—and his very handsome and debonair-looking father.

“Surprise!” PJ said, giving her a happy smile.

“Mr. Brightwood?”

Parker smiled, flashing the same sexy Hollywood grin as his son's. “PJ was right. You are absolutely beautiful,” he said.

Alexandria stood and accepted Parker's embrace, which was warm and welcoming. She immediately felt comfortable with him, and the easiness of his way shocked her. “Thank you, Mr. Brightwood. It's great to see you after all these years.”

“Yes, my dear. It certainly is,” Parker said in a deep, rich voice, which was reminiscent of PJ's.

As Parker and PJ joined her at the table, Alexandria marveled at their startling resemblance. She didn't have to concentrate on a vision to see what PJ would look like when he got older, because she had living proof sitting to the right of her. He was the kind of handsome that still turned heads, and he could hold a woman's interest at any age. His extraordinary good looks were complemented by a polished refinement that let you know he was of a certain pedigree.

“Dad was supposed to leave this morning after his speech at the medical conference,” PJ said. “He decided to stay through the weekend, when I told him that you were going to perform tonight.”

Parker smiled. “PJ raved about how talented you are, and, well, I'm a man who deeply appreciates art, in all forms, so I couldn't miss this opportunity, since I was already in town.”

“I'm honored that you stayed so you could see my performance, Mr. Brightwood,” she told him. She looked at PJ and thought about the piece she'd written for tonight, which he'd inspired. The content was sensual and a bit spicy. Suddenly she wasn't so sure she felt comfortable performing it, now that his father would be in the audience.

She knew how important first impressions were, and she wanted to make a good one. PJ told her last night that his father had once again voiced similar worries to her mother's about the fact that they were moving too quickly. Given that concern, she didn't want him to think his son was rushing into a relationship with a woman of questionable morals.

I want this night to go well,
Alexandria thought. Just as she was about to forewarn PJ's father about the racy content she was going to perform, she realized she had a much bigger problem on her hands than a few seductive words.
This can't be happening!
she shouted inside her head. But it was, so she braced herself for fireworks when she saw her mother coming straight toward their table.

 

Although Alexandria had told her mother that she was working on a new piece for tonight's show, it hadn't crossed her mind that Victoria would actually come to hear it.

Victoria had seen Alexandria perform many times, and was one of her biggest supporters. However, clubs weren't necessarily her cup of tea, especially if she had to step out alone, which she did tonight, since her father was out of town on business.

Alexandria's breath quickened when she saw her mother's confident stride begin to slow as she approached the table. Even though his back was turned to Victoria, Alexandria knew her mother could sense that the tall man, with the broad shoulders, occupying the seat beside a younger version of himself, was none other than Dr. Parker Brightwood.

Alexandria cleared her throat, looked at PJ, and then toward his father. “My mother is here.”

No sooner had the words tumbled from her lips, than Parker turned in his seat just as Victoria reached the table.

Alexandria could see that he was admiring her mother, and she couldn't say that she blamed him. Victoria was all beauty and grace as she strutted in a fierce pair of three-and-a-half-inch rhinestone-studded sandals. Her black Capri pants fit her slim curves, and her sleeveless silk white blouse swayed with the rhythm of her stride. Silver hoops bobbed at her ears, framing the elegance of her long, slender neck.

Victoria's ruby-colored lips formed a small smile, which grew into a wider one as Parker stood to his feet and hugged her in a long embrace. Alexandria watched them closely, waiting for them to release each other, but they didn't. They stood wrapped in one another's arms as they exchanged initial greetings and then light banter. Parker whispered something into Victoria's ear, causing her to laugh and then shake her head before she finally broke his hold around her waist.

Alexandria was dying to know what PJ's father had said. She knew she could find out if she really wanted to, but she knew that intruding into people's thoughts without their permission wasn't a good idea, unless absolutely necessary. As her mother once told her, when you look for trouble, you usually find it.

She saw PJ glance at her, and then over to their parents, and she knew he was just as concerned as she was about what was possibly brewing. His dad and her mom were still standing near the table, talking to each other in whispers, as if trading top secret codes in the back of a club. Finally the two turned toward the table.

“PJ,” Victoria said with a warm smile, offering him outstretched arms, “it's so good to see you again.”

“You too, Mrs. Thornton.” PJ smiled back as he stood to receive her hug, and then moved to the side to let Alexandria do the same.

Once everyone was seated, Victoria planted a small air kiss on Alexandria's cheek. “You look beautiful, sweetie. That color makes your skin shine.”

“Thanks mom,” Alexandria said with a smile. She was wearing a sexy, crochet-knitted gold-colored halter dress, which puddled at her ankles and hugged each one of her sassy curves. Had she known that PJ's father was going to show up, and then her mother, she would have worn something a bit less seductive, but it went along with the theme of her performance—if she decided to do it.

After the server took their drink orders—Ketel One on the rocks for PJ and Parker, and a pomegranate martini for Victoria—the table fell into an awkward silence. When Alexandria saw Kyle motioning for her up front, she welcomed the opportunity for escape. She felt bad that PJ would be left in the uncomfortable spot, but she knew he'd be able to handle it because of his even temperament.

“I have to go up to the stage now, because I'll be on in a few minutes,” Alexandria said, looking around the table.

“I can't wait to hear your new piece, sweetie. I know it's going to be wonderful,” Victoria said, beaming with pride.

Alexandria smiled, looking from her mother to PJ's father. “I have to warn you, this piece is a little provocative. I didn't know you were coming tonight, and—”

Victoria smiled and answered, “Do your thing. You're a grown woman. . . . Isn't that what you told me yesterday?” She winked at her daughter.

“All right, hold on to your seats.”

“Knock it out of the park, baby!” PJ cheered.

 

Alexandria sauntered to the side of the stage and waited. It would be only a minute or two before Kyle introduced her. As she took deep breaths to calm her nerves, her Grandma Allene's voice gently seeped into her ears. It had been a few days since she'd heard from her. When she recognized the whisper, she smiled.

“Thanks, Grandma Allene,” Alexandria whispered. She smiled even wider and walked onstage just as the crowd erupted in applause when they heard her name.

She stood in front of the microphone as the crowd settled and the room fell silent. The house was packed and ready as she greeted them with her usual, “How y'all feelin' tonight?”

She cleared her throat and smiled, zooming in on PJ in the very back of the room. “Let me tell you how unpredictable life is,” she began. “Last week, when I stepped onto this stage, I talked about the kind of love I desired and the kind of relationship I wanted. And now, just a week later, I've got it!”

The crowd broke out into hand clapping, finger snaps, and one or two “Go 'head, girl” applause.

“My great-great-grandmother, Grandma Allene, told me these exact words. She said, ‘Speak what's in your heart. Say what it is that you desire, and watch it walk into your life,' ” Alexandria said with a smile. “Those words are not only profound, but they're life-changing. My journey is a testament to the power, beauty, and truth that blossoms when you speak your heart's desires, and then open yourself up to them without fear or trepidation.

“So tonight I'm going to share something with you that I wrote this week. This piece is for all of you who have that special someone in your life who ignites a fire in you. It's about that person who makes you tremble at the very thought of him, or at the sound of his voice, or the mention of his name. Simply put, it's about the desire you have for that special person, whom you don't want to be without. So that's what I've titled this piece, ‘Desire.' ”

Alexandria took a deep, cleansing breath and began to speak:

“Desire—sexy and bold. Bright and beautiful.

“Shining like the burning sun beaming down on my skin. Making me weak and strong all at once. Flooding my body with a new awareness. The softness of your lips and the fire in your touch make me shiver. You make me smile. You give me butterflies. I feel giddy. That's what you do to me with just one look, one simple gesture, exciting me because I like the man you are.

“Grown and sexy.

“A real man.

“Yes, I'm smiling.

“Hot—is how you make me feel when your tongue explores the depths of my mouth, then rolls across my lips, traveling down to greet my breasts. Engulfing, sucking, gently biting and nibbling, applying just the right amount of pressure. You know exactly what to do when you reach the meeting between my thighs, burying your head there, answering all my questions with each swipe of your tongue. I like returning the favor, taking you into my mouth, tasting you, swallowing you, licking and sucking you, enjoying the way your thickness feels against the back of my throat.

“You . . . are . . . delicious. A satisfying mouthful.

“Desire—sexy and bold. Bright and beautiful.

“Chocolate thighs wrapped around mocha hips—that's how we lay when you're stroking me. Hard flesh pressed against soft skin—that's what I like when you're deep inside me. You make me wet, causing me to drip sweet juice, preparing me for what's to come when I spread my legs across the sea you've parted, eager and ready to receive you.

“Hard—and oh so good—is how you feel when you enter me, filling my empty space, hitting that special spot, making it throb on command, delighting my moist middle with the promise of a sweet relief that will be met with the most pleasurable resolution.

“Sweet pain is what I feel when you're pounding me from behind, rocking me from the side, stroking me on an angle, molding me while I'm on top. The rhythm of your thrusts dances in concert with the stride of my hips. Strong hands, hungry mouths, nimble fingers, soft caresses, heated flesh, skilled tongues, insatiable lips—it's all so sweet. Exposed and naked. True and believing—that's what we are when we do what we do. This is a soul connection.

“I like it all. I want it now. I'm ready.

“Yes, you are . . . Desire—sexy and bold. Bright and beautiful.

“I'm flying high, letting your light shine through me. . . .

“Thank you,” Alexandria said, bowing her head to the audience. And just as it had been last week, she received a rousing round of accolades.

She floated off the stage as if she were on a magical carpet, high on the applause, which still sizzled in the air.

“You set this crowd on bloody fiah!” Kyle said as he greeted Alexandria at the side of the stage. “We've got to talk about signing you to a contract for a regular gig.”

“Are you serious?” she asked with excitement.

“Aftah that performance, you betta bet your ass I am,” he said, slurring his words as the smell of bourbon oozed from his breath. “I'll give you a call this Monday.”

“Thanks, Kyle. I can't wait.”

 

After stopping to accept warm words from the Dead Poet and a few other artists, Alexandria finally made her way to the back of the club, where PJ stood and clapped as she approached. He walked up to her, opened his arms, and hugged her tightly.

“Baby, you rocked it! That was tight!”

“You liked it?”

“Hell yeah,” he said, and then whispered into her ear, “You got a brothah hard as nails.”

When she pressed against him, she could tell he wasn't joking. She looked into his eyes. “That was about you, you know. How you make me feel. You're sexy, bold, bright, and beautiful.”

PJ held her even more tightly. “I can't wait to get you back to my place.”

Alexandria wanted to leave right then, but there was the matter of her mother and his father, who were looking on at the table just a few feet away. She and PJ walked to the table, hand in hand, and took their seats. Right away, Alexandria noticed that something was wrong.

She could see that her mother and PJ's father seemed visibly uncomfortable. They were sitting as far apart from each other as space at the small table would allow.