The Savvy Sistahs (29 page)

Brandy reached down and took his hand and pulled him to his feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and skimmed her lips along the corner of his mouth and cheek. “If you want tonight to be the last night for us then that’s fine. I won’t like it but I’ll take it because I discovered awhile ago that I had fallen in love with you.”

“Brandy, I—”

“No, Grey, let me finish while I still have the nerve,” she whispered softly against his lips. “And because I love you, I’m willing to give you time to decide just how you feel about me. I’m aware that it takes some people a while to come to conclusions about certain things. But I don’t plan to wait forever, Grey. I plan to get on with my life with or without you. You are
not
a free man, but I
am
a free woman and I plan to stay that way. Being free means accepting the good things the future has to offer and not dwelling on the things your past life has brought you. I can no longer moan and groan over what Lorenzo and Jolene did to me just like you can’t get hung up on what Gloria did to you. Let it go and move on. And when and if you decide to do that…and if it’s not too late for
us
, I’ll be here.”

She sighed and decided she had said enough. The ball was in his court. He could play it or lose it and dear God she hoped he would play it. She cuddled closer into his arms wondering what he was thinking while he was holding her so tight, like he never wanted to let her go. She had meant what she’d said. If he decided that tonight would be their last night together then that was fine. Somehow she would find the strength to move on. She’d done it once and she would do so again. She was a Bennett and like her Grampa Ethan always said, you had to be the one to take the reins of your life and seek your own happiness. And everyone owed it to themselves to be happy.

She hoped and prayed that one day Grey would realize that.

Chapter 30

P
raise God, I’m glad it’s over,” Carla said with profound relief in her voice as she hung up the telephone. Amber had called to tell her about Brandy’s ordeal with Jolene Bradford and to let her know that Brandy was okay.

“Is everything all right?”

Carla looked over and met Jesse’s concerned gaze. He stood in the middle of the kitchen doorway, his eyes glued to her. For a brief moment she had forgotten he was still there. He had dropped by earlier to spend time with Craig before his bedtime. Craig had fallen asleep while his father had been reading him a story and Jesse had been the one to tuck him in.

“Yes, everything is fine. A good friend of mine was being stalked and I just got word that the stalker was caught.”

Jesse nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yes, so am I. I’ve been worried about Brandy and when I go to bed tonight, I’ll definitely be able to rest better.”

Jesse swallowed deeply. He didn’t want to think of her in bed but was having a hard time not doing so. Every time he entered her home, which had been on a daily basis lately, to see his son, he would have a physical reaction the moment he saw her. And tonight it was worse than ever. He crossed his legs so the lust that was ripping through him and settling dead center in his midsection wouldn’t be too obvious. Carla had begun getting comfortable around him, he could tell. She had started letting her guard down more and more. Whenever he dropped by, he enjoyed seeing her as much as he enjoyed seeing his son. And although every cell in his body screamed for him to make a move, he had decided to be patient and take one day at a time, and he could see the results.

He could also feel the need of his frustrations.

He wanted her and wanted to rediscover all those feminine secrets he had uncovered the last time. He wanted to sink his hard shaft into her while kissing her to oblivion. He wanted to—

“Jesse?”

He blinked upon realizing she’d been talking to him. “Sorry, what did you say?”

She smiled. “I said that I talked to Sonya today. She’s decided to stay in town for Thanksgiving and came up with an idea.”

“What idea is that?”

“She offered to help me with dinner if you can get your friend Mike Kelly to join us.”

Jesse lifted a brow. “She wants to invite Mike?” he asked surprised.

“Yes, evidently they’ve run into each other a few times and she thinks he’s a nice guy.”

Jesse nodded. “How do you feel about an extra person coming for dinner?”

“I don’t have a problem with it and she wanted to know if you would ask him.”

Jesse nodded again as he took a couple of steps into her kitchen. “Yes, I’ll ask him although I’m not sure he’ll come. Mike is somewhat of a loner during the holidays.”

Like you
, Carla wanted to say but decided not to. This past week had been busy with a lot of legal matters. Craig’s last name had officially been changed to Devereau and when she’d seen the name written on the legal document for the first time, she had felt a profound sense of pride that the man who had fathered her child had wanted to claim him. She knew that in addition to the transfer of Osborne Computer Network stock, Jesse had also established a very hefty trust fund for his son. There was no doubt about it, Craig was a blessed little boy and she intended to make sure he grew up knowing it.

“I’m sure Sonya would like it if he were to come,” she added when the kitchen became quiet. Seeing him standing in the middle of the floor suddenly made her feel incredibly hot, aroused. Those things were constant whenever he came over for a visit. It didn’t take much for her to remember that one night they had spent together, and how easily he had fit between her legs, how tender and caring he’d been upon realizing that she was still a virgin. And his lovemaking had sent the both of them soaring, not knowing at the time that they were in the process of creating a very beautiful little boy. She would never forget how it felt when the weight of his body had pressed hers down into the mattress while he smoothly and rhythmically thrust into her over and over again while making love to her mouth at the same time.

“Carla?”

She blinked and swallowed deeply, quickly composing herself when he recaptured her attention. “Yes?”

“I said it’s time for me to leave.”

She noticed he already had his jacket in his hand and was putting it on. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

When they reached the door he stopped and turned to her. “It still may be too early yet, but do you have any idea what Craig wants for Christmas?”

She laughed and when she did a disarming smile curved the corners of his mouth. “Trust me I have plenty ideas of what he wants,” she said.

“Then maybe the two of us can go shopping after Thanksgiving.”

Her stomach fluttered at the thought of spending time with him without Craig as a buffer. He had suggested that they go out once but she had flatly refused. But now, a part of her wanted to spend time with him. “Yes, I’d like that.”

“All right. You can let me know when. I’m sure it will benefit the both of us to get an early start.”

“Yes, I agree.” Carla cleared her throat and looked at him, her gaze searching his in the foyer’s dim lightning. He wasn’t making any attempt to leave but at the same she hadn’t opened the door for him to leave either. She swallowed deeply when he took a step closer to her.

“I’m glad we agree on that,” he said huskily.

“Yeah, me too,” she said taking her own step toward him and automatically reaching out and smoothing her hand beneath his jacket, her palm coming to rest on his chest. The contact sent an immediate shudder through him, one that went straight to her. Ultimate awareness, sexual attraction, chemistry reaction…all the things she had tried downplaying, ignoring and avoiding over the past weeks hit them dead center—right in his midsection and right between her legs.

“Have I ever told you how incredibly beautiful you look each and every time I come to see Craig?” he asked huskily.

Carla licked at her mouth and couldn’t help noticing how Jesse’s gaze was focused on her tongue that she was using to wet her lips. “No, you’ve never told me that.”

A sensual smile curved his lips. “Then I’m telling you now. Every time I drop by you look incredibly beautiful.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“You deserve it.” She saw his face lowering to hers and of their own accord, her lashes began drifting shut and her lips parted. And then she felt his mouth on hers, taking it with a hunger which was the same hunger she felt, tangling his tongue with hers. He was determined to recapture the intensity of the kiss they had shared three years ago. Even if that was impossible, it appeared that he intended to die trying.

She moaned as his tongue took her mouth on a joy ride through Pleasure Park. A part of her needed to experience this, needed to relive this. And he was giving her everything she needed in full force. And when the palm of his hands touched her backside, bringing her body right smack to his hard erection, she was suddenly overpowered with such an erotic sensation that she felt her body move against him.

In the back of her mind she wanted to pull away. She wanted to think that they were moving too fast, too soon. But then she remembered that it had been almost three years for her. Almost three years without this. And her body was responding to the one person it remembered as giving it ultimate satisfaction.

She finally pulled her mouth from his and groaned deep within her throat when he tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back to taste her throat and neck before recapturing her mouth again. Their tongues tangled, mated, as she continued to come unraveled in his arms and with his kiss.

Jesse sealed the moment between them the only way he knew how— the only way that seemed appropriate—with a kiss that would open some doors for them while at the same time permanently closing others. The bad memories of the past were behind those closed doors where they belonged, and where he intended for them to stay.

He released her mouth and continued to hold her in his arms. Tonight the depth of their feelings had thrown them and there was no turning back.

Chapter 31

S
hutting off the shower, Amber dried off with a huge velour towel. After lotioning her body and applying some of her favorite perfume, she quickly dressed in a bra and panties then wiggled into one of her favorite dresses.

Deciding not to put on any pantyhose, she slipped into a pair of comfortable flats. A few minutes after applying makeup, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Although she had spent the last twenty minutes making herself look pretty damn good, she didn’t have a single place to go.

Brandy had given her tickets earlier that week for the Florida Classic’s Battle of the Bands, where the bands from the two rival universities would be competing on the football field tonight.

She had attended the event the prior two years and had enjoyed herself immensely, but she didn’t want to go there tonight. She’d thought about going to see the new Halle Berry movie but decided it was a chick flick, one she would enjoy seeing with Brandy and Carla, or with her sisters when she went home next month for Christmas.

She also ruled out the thought of going to dinner alone since she wasn’t in the mood. She had spoken to Brandy earlier and she was in just as dismal a mood since her bodyguard had left yesterday. Although Brandy hadn’t said much about the guy, Amber had a feeling that the relationship had ended up being more than a business one. That thought kicked off an idea in Amber’s mind and she quickly decided that instead of finding someplace to go, she would visit the nearest Blockbuster and rent one of her favorite movies,
The Bodyguard
.

Leaving her bedroom she picked up her purse and grabbed her car keys off the counter. Her evening seemed a little brighter now that she would be spending it with Kevin Costner.

A half hour later Amber sat in the driveway and listened to the smooth humming of her car engine. After leaving Blockbuster it seemed her hands had a mind of their own and instead of heading back home, she had gotten on Interstate 4 and within minutes she’d found herself pulling into Cord’s yard.

It had been a week since he had come to her store, a week since he had delivered his ultimatum. Either she was willing to move in the same direction he was headed or she wasn’t. She still wasn’t sure what her position was on that. Every time she thought of getting serious with him she got scared and remembered how things had been with Gary. All she knew was that she had to see Cord tonight, and talk to him.

After shutting off her car’s engine she began having doubts that she’d made the right decision about coming, at least without calling first. What if he had company? What if he was asleep, since the house looked pretty dark? What if he was still royally pissed with her and didn’t want to see her?

Refusing to sit outside in her car any longer, Amber decided to face whatever Cord dished out. She opened her car door and got out. Sauntering up his walkway seemed like the longest stroll of her life and it didn’t help matters that her heart was beating a thousand beats a minute. But she was determined to see him. And then?

She didn’t have a clue.

Cord lay in bed, listening to the sound of Brook Benton croon about a rainy night in Georgia. The music was playing on the radio and having nothing else better to do, he had turned it on the moment he had gotten into bed.

He tried to think of a number of things, especially Dev’s announcement earlier that he intended to ask Briana to marry him and had purchased the engagement ring that day. Dev wanted a short engagement, in fact he was pushing for them to marry New Year’s Eve day so they could ring in the new year as man and wife.

Cord was definitely in agreement with that and had told Dev that marrying Briana before the year’s end would definitely be a tax advantage. But Cord knew income taxes were the last thing on his best friend’s mind. Dev was in love, undeniably so. He had found the woman of his dreams and wanted to make things forever.

Forever.

Cord didn’t see anything wrong with forever with the right woman and immediately thought of Amber. Amber with the beautiful eyes, voluptuous hips, and full curves.

Although she wasn’t ready to accept anything serious between them, he knew in his heart that she was the right woman for him. It didn’t matter that he had known her for a little more than a month. What did matter was that there was something between them and it was something he refused to dismiss even if she wanted to.

He shifted in bed to find another comfortable position when he heard the doorbell ring. Deciding that it couldn’t possibly be Dev and Briana since Dev had driven down to Daytona to propose to her on the beach, Cord wondered if it was another buddy of his, a fellow accountant, who dropped by occasionally to shoot the bull and drink beer.

Getting out of bed, he slipped into his pajama bottoms and made his way toward his living room. Whoever it was, he hoped they didn’t intend to stay long because he definitely was not in the best of moods.

Cord had breathed in her scent the moment he opened the door. “Amber? What are you doing here?” he asked, totally surprised to see her. His breath caught on a surge of pure happiness at the very thought that she was here, standing in his doorway and looking as sexy as any woman had a right to look. He swallowed deeply as he waited for her response. He had never been unsure of himself with any woman but with Amber he felt an emotional vulnerability that he’d never felt before. Before him stood everything he’d ever wanted and everything he needed, but he knew he had to convince her of that. Her ex-husband had done a number on her and he had the job of making things right. He knew at that very moment that his life would not be fulfilled until she was a part of it.

“I’m sorry, I should have called first, Cord, but—”

“Nonsense, you didn’t have to call first. Please come in.”

Her gaze left his face and moved to his naked chest. “You were in bed?”

“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “But I wasn’t asleep. I was listening to music.”

“Oh.” Amber’s gaze stayed glued to his chest. This was not the first time she had seen him without a shirt but every time she saw him she couldn’t help but appreciate just how beautifully made he was; dark chocolate coloring, muscled chest and shoulders, flat stomach, patch of hair that tapered down past the waistband of his pajamas…

“Would you like to come in?”

Amber swallowed and lifted her gaze back up to his.“Yes,if you sure you don’t mind the company.”

“No, I don’t mind at all.” When she was completely inside he closed the door softly behind her and leaned against it and looked her up and down. She was wearing a very sexy looking dress and it showed all her voluptuous curves. Sighing deeply, he left his place against the door and

strolled across the room to her. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Uh, no, but thanks anyway.”

He nodded. He looked into her eyes and what he saw left him completely breathless. She had that flushed look, that aroused look, that “take me to bed” look. At least he thought she did but decided that he needed to make sure.

“Let’s go into the living room and sit down,” he said softly, taking her hand in his. “There is something I want to talk to you about anyway.”

Amber lifted a brow but didn’t say anything as he led her into the living room. She sat down in the first chair she came to, a leather loveseat. “So what is it that you want to talk to me about?”

Cord sat down on the sofa and faced her. He wanted to talk about sex but decided it wouldn’t do good to rush into that kind of topic. Sex was something you eased into, in more ways that one. So he decided to throw her off base, mess with her mind, then later work his way to her body. He was tired of playing fair. He loved her and by the end of the evening she would know it and accept it. She would also realize that he wasn’t going to give up on her.

“I want to talk to you about
Tax Tips,
” he finally said.

Amber blinked. “Tax tips?”

“Yes, now is the time for you to think about ways to save your tax dollars for this year before it’s too late.”

Amber blinked again. Saving tax dollars was the last thing on her mind. In fact she frowned at the thought that Cord even wanted to talk about taxes. It was bad enough that she had the hots for him tonight and what made it worse was that he appeared oblivious to that fact.

“Have you paid your property tax bill yet?”

Amber lifted a brow. “Yes, why?”

“That’s good. That way you can claim it on this year’s tax return,” Cord said with a smile.

Amber raised her eyes upward.
Whoop-dee-doo
.

“And I suggest that you make any charitable contributions before the end of this year. Clean out your closets and donate anything you no longer want or need to a nonprofit thrift store—and get receipts for those non-cash contributions or for cash contributions of two-hundred and fifty dollars or more.”

Amber stared at him wondering if he was serious—not about the information he was telling her, since she believed it was true—but the mere fact that he was spending time even discussing such things with her. They were alone. He was half naked. She was fully clothed but she was getting hotter by slow degrees. Maybe she needed to get his attention or if nothing else, take his mind off the subject of taxes.

“And what about stocks, Amber?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “What about them?”

“Do you own any?”

“Yes,” she responded, slipping out of her shoes.

“If any of them decreased in value this year, you might want to sell them before December 31, and use the loss to offset other capital gains.”

Capital gains?
She would show him the ultimate in capital gains, she thought. “It’s rather hot in here, Cord. I think I want something to drink after all. May I have a cold glass of water?”

“Sure,” he said standing. “I’ll be right back.”

“Thanks.”

By the time he returned with her glass of water, Amber had the three top buttons of her dress undone and was sitting back in the chair looking all innocent and serene. He brought the water over to her and she eagerly took it out of his hands and took a huge gulp. He sat down next to her in the loveseat and she looked at him with a soft smile after drinking the entire glass. “Boy, I needed that,” she said, handing the glass back to him.

He placed it on the table beside them. “And what else do you need, Amber?” he asked, tempted to lick away the excess water that was left on her lips.

“What I don’t need is more tax tips, Cord. That’s not why I’m here.”

He nodded, inwardly pleased with the approach he had taken. Now they were getting down to the real nitty-gritty. He leaned back in the seat. “And why are you here, Amber?”

She quickly looked away for a moment. He had asked her that very thing when she’d first arrived but she had avoided answering him. “I think we still need to clear up some things?”

Cord shrugged. “What is there to clear up? You made yourself pretty clear the other day. Just because I told you that I wanted more than sex you pretty much freaked out.”

“I didn’t freak out.”

Cord smiled. He thought she looked pretty damn sexy agitated. “Yes, you did. So I reached the conclusion that you enjoyed living in the past and weren’t ready for a future with any man, and that you liked living a solitary life. Is that true, Amber?”

She bit her bottom lip, wondering how she intended to answer him. At one time she had thought that, but now seeing him again was helping put a lot of things in perspective. “Yes, I thought it was true but I’m not sure about anything anymore.”

Cord nodded. “There’s a saying that the foolish person seeks happiness in the distance and the wise person grows it under their feet. I want us to grow happiness under our feet, starting now. What do you say about that?”

She sighed deeply. “I think that maybe you’re right and we should give things a try.”

Cord’s mouth creased into a smile. “I agree.” He looked at her and the three buttons she had undone. “So, instead of giving you tax tips, I’m going to give you sex tips.”

She stared at him. “You know some?”

“Yes,” he said huskily. “I happen to know a few.”

“Really? What are they?”

He reached out and began undoing the rest of the buttons on her dress. “Always take advantage of opportunities.”

“Okay,” she said softly. “I can agree with that one. What else?”

He met her gaze and smile. “Always make sure you have plenty of condoms on hand.”

She chuckled at that one. “And do you?”

“Yes, plenty.”

She nodded. “Is there another tip you want to pass on?”

“Yes.” He stood and she watched as he went back to the door and checked it. He then returned to her. “Never get naked unless you have a chain latch on the door, especially if someone else has entrance to your home, and it just so happens Dev has a key.”

Amber nodded again. “Are you planning to get naked, Cord?”

“Yes.” He then offered his hand to her, helping her to stand. “And I plan to get you naked, too.”

She watched as he undid the strings of his pajama bottom, letting them ease down his leg over his enormous erection. Amber swallowed. He was fully aroused and his shaft protruded boldly, proudly, and valiantly from the apex of his thighs.

Cord smiled when he saw she was checking him out. “Now it’s your time.”

Amber had never stripped for a man and didn’t know how she felt about doing such a thing. But the look in Cord’s eyes was reassuring. He wanted her; all of her and he wanted her just as she was. She slipped the dress from her shoulders then shimmied it down the rest of the way until it lay in a pool at her feet. Then came her bra and panties.

Sighing deeply she stood in front of him like he was standing in front of her, stark naked. “Any more tips, Cord?”

“Yes.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “When the situation warrants it, establish the fact that there is a difference in making love and having sex. Tonight I will be making love to you, Amber, and not having sex.”

Before she could say anything, he led her into the bedroom and beckoned her to the bed. Joining her there he leaned down and kissed her, sampling her taste and making her ache in the same way she was making him ache. He only stopped kissing her long enough to put on a condom. When his weight settled upon hers she began moving rest