Passionate Game (Kimani Hotties) (16 page)
Read Passionate Game (Kimani Hotties) Online
Authors: Michelle Monkou
Tamara gulped, exhaling slowly.
“The young men. They have a place in my heart because I had never taken the time to mentor—really mentor—a group of young people who have challenged me to be humble, grateful and to put closure on my past. I kick myself every day for thinking that they would’ve betrayed me.”
“You should,” she mumbled, still out of sorts.
“I’m not perfect.”
Her conscience pricked. Maybe she could learn a lesson or two. She cleared her throat.
“I have come to care for those guys and will continue my mentorship of them.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“I would do anything to have you say a kind word to me. But I mean what I say, and I do it because it’s sincere, not for your approval.”
She nodded. “Every child who comes through the class is someone I respect and care for as if they were my younger sibling. I never want to count them out. Sometimes that gets me in trouble when they haven’t quite made the leap to being responsible.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t know.” Tamara took a deep breath and exhaled to blow aside her nerves.
“Nothing you say will stop me from loving you.”
“Can you love someone who you may not respect?” In Tamara’s mind, the two were not inseparable. She began, “I once knew a guy named Darth Dawson, who had the academic potential and attitude to make something of himself. He’d enrolled at my college and was accepted, like any qualified student. Then the news hounds got wind that he was an ex-con who had served time for manslaughter, in a case fraught with circumstantial evidence and civil rights violations. Before long, students divided between having his admission revoked or accepting him and giving him a chance.” She paused. Other than Darth’s mother, she had never admitted her role or fully voiced her regret. “I was on the side of the trustees, and I wanted to protect the reputation of the university and to appease the donors who threatened to withdraw their contributions over this one person.”
“What happened?” Grant had moved closer, but he correctly read her body language that she didn’t want to be comforted; not yet, at least.
“Darth was kicked out. The unprecedented action created lots of debate, but it all came to a head when news of his death in a shoot-out with cops hit the campus a week later. The police ruled it suicide by cop.” She shuddered. “I went to the funeral and heard his mother, his lawyer and all the advocates who hadn’t given up on him when he was in the state juvenile system. I came away with a new focus, a new desire to do what I should have done all those years ago.”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself.” Grant took her hand and held it.
“Maybe. But ever since, I vowed to do right by him. The young men that I take under my wing may have backgrounds that often don’t garner sympathy or willing hands of help. So my staff and I are there to empower them to change their lives.”
Tamara looked at Grant for his reaction. If she was going to start this new chapter of her life, as Darth’s mother had prompted, she had to unburden completely.
“Come, sit with me.” Grant sat on the edge of the bed, patting the empty space next to him. She joined him.
He asked, “And nowhere in that story of forgiveness, sacrifice and compassion is there a place for me?”
“I can’t think about us.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“You know what Oprah says...”
Grant held and kissed her—long and hard. He released her, breathing heavily, before looking into her face, into her soul. “I don’t give a damn about Oprah. I’m standing in front of you, flesh and blood, and I want you to understand what you have in front of you.” He placed her hand on his chest. “I am a man who is in love with you.”
Tamara clenched her fist to block off the electric buzz as they connected. Too late. Nothing she did could deny what her body and her heart craved.
“I thought that I wanted to be a bachelor all my life. Did everything in my power to stay true to that vision.” He exhaled. “I’m not going to lie, it started out feeling like this was for me. You had Oprah, and I had Clooney as my role model.” He touched her cheek, stroking its outline. “We’re neither. I’m your man and you’re my woman, and I’m not afraid to have you in my life, not for one second.”
Tamara nodded. Her soft sniffles mixed with her laughter. “I’m not afraid, either.”
Everything Grant had said was true. The time for fantasies and living in fear were over. She wanted her man, forever and ever.
* * * * *
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PASSIONATE GAME
ISBN: 9781460313671
Copyright © 2013 by Michelle Monkou
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