To Love a Man (6 page)

“Desiree this is my son I was telling you about. Ramón Norris meet Desiree Holloway she is just here for the day.”

Ramón stretched his right hand out to hers and as their hands touched she felt her core heat up. She smiled at him trying not to let him see her blush and gush over him.

“Hi nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

As he spoke his voice astounded her, it commanded attention and aroused her at the same time. Desiree tried to hide her excitement. She had always wanted to meet this man. This beast on the court they call the quite giant. As she took his whole 6’9 height in, she thought giant indeed.

As Desiree turned back to the hymn she held in her hand Ramón frowned. He looked back at Desiree and wondered why she didn’t do what most women did. They would accidently bump him or move closer to him during the service. They get the uncontrollable urge to smile in his presence and can’t help but steal glances at him.

This woman however, did nothing of the sort she kept her focus on what was going on? As the church began to sing the first hymn, he heard her voice rise above the others and was shocked at how it touched him. He glanced at his hymn as a way to steal glimpses at her. She was not his average girl by a long shot. She was more than a foot shorter than he was about the same height as his mother so that meant she had to be about 5’4 maybe 5’5. She had long light brown hair with blonde highlights, her hair was curled and she wore it in a ponytail. She was light almost tan. Her coloring reminded him of that of Faith Evans.

This woman who wouldn’t pay him any attention seemed to send off this vibe of being so down to earth. Most of the vibes he got off women were that which was not appropriate in church. As he glanced at her body, she was unquestionably not the size most women he gave second glances to were. She was curvy all over the simple dress she wore didn’t hide that fact at all. He tried to glance elsewhere but his mind kept begging him to look at her. When he did, he saw she was swaying to the beat of the music. His eyes followed her back and forth. It’s like her body had him in a trance.

As she moved her aroma caught him off guard. As he closed his eyes and inhaled he loved how the smell came across soft and sexy. As he opened up his eyes he glanced at her again as she lightly bit her lip. He wondered if her lips were as soft as they looked. He turned his head trying to take his mind off of her. He still could not believe that she still completely ignored him. By the time it came for his father to give his sermon he realized there was, no way, she could have known who he was or she would have made some effort to get closer to him.

The one saving grace was in every sermon his father gave he mentioned the wonderful things Ramón had done with his time in the NBA. And once she realized she was sitting next to him her attitude would change.

Desiree couldn’t help but steal a glance at Ramón. She couldn’t deny the pictures and television did not do him justice. His skin was a richer chocolate than she’d realized. His lips were full and surrounded by the sexiness of a well-trimmed goatee. She didn’t like facial hair on men but somehow it seemed his face would be incomplete without it. She looked away trying to stay calm. No doubt, women fawn all over that man. Well she would never do that no matter how tall dark and lord help her sexy he was.

Joseph Norris stepped to the pulpit and smiled out to the congregation.

“Good morning Church family. It is a true joy to see your beautiful smiling faces out there. This week as I mulled over what I would speak on today I realized just how fortunate and blessed myself, and my family have been. It’s a blessing to stand here in front of you today with no ailments. I am standing her on my own accord without the help of a cane or chair. Without the need for oxygen or pills on a day-to-day basis. I am truly a blessed man of God.

“As I heard the choir sing “I’ve got a testimony” those words have never been truer. The lyrics are “As I look back over my life. And I think things over. I can truly that I am blessed. I’ve got a testimony. As I look back over my life. And I think things over. I can truly say he’s brought me all the way, I’ve got a testimony.” Those words are as true today as they were over forty years ago when I first heard them. We all have a testimony. We all have a reason to wake up and smile. My testimony today is as it always is. I have a beautiful wife who I have been in love with for over twenty years.

“I have three wonderful children. My beautiful oldest who is holding my newest grandchild has always been a light to everyone. That is why no one was surprised when she chose teaching as her field of choice. Those students of yours couldn’t be luckier and I am sure my son in-law would agree. Then my second oldest daughter who is currently in Atlanta working for Atlanta PD was always the bravest of the three. She was always determined to make a difference and now every day she is. And my son. My giving wonderful son who you all know as the Center for the Greenville Eagles but I know as a chip off the old block has always given not only of himself but on behalf of others.

“And every time I brag on my family I am asked how did you get to where you are Deac and I honestly answer. Prayer. If you will turn in your bibles to Mark 11:24.”

Everyone opened their bibles and Ramón glanced at Desiree as she looked around for a bible. He smiled knowing this was his opening.

“You can share mines if you want. My dad usually goes to one or two verses while he speaks it’s no biggie.”

She smiled and nodded. She moved a little closer to get a good look at the words. The moment she did that she regretted it. The closer she was to him the more she wanted to see just how soft his ebony skin was.

Ramón couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She didn’t even brush his arms when she leaned in. but what she did do was send off a bunch of alarms in his head. She smelled heavenly. It was a scent he had never smelled before and the more he inhaled it the more he wanted her. He prayed the Lord would take those thoughts from his head. She smiled widely as Joseph read the scripture.

“This is my favorite scripture.”

“Really?”

“Yep. It basically says if you believe in your heart that you want something and your heart desires it. Then pray about it and it will come true.”

He looked her in the eyes and felt some something stirred inside him. Her eyes were light brown, but the moment she smiled at him, he knew there was something about her. He winked back at her.

“Wow. Maybe you should be up there.”

“Yeah not even.”

She laughed and bit her bottom lip then gave her focus back to the pulpit.

“It’s easy to want what we want and think that’s enough. And I see this all the time. You want something but instead of praying once for it you pray over and over and over. But the bible tells us to pray then give thanks. If you have faith that your prayer is going to be answered then why keep asking. It’s like we aren’t satisfied until we have it right then and right now. But we aren’t giving the Lord time to make the desires of our heart a reality. We miss so many blessings because we are too concerned with the timing. Pray for it. Then give it to God and thank him for it. And if you have to pray for it again then thank him for it and thank him for supplying it in his own time.”

“Wow.” He said looking at her.

Ramón purposely caressed her thighs with his wondering if she felt the rush of heat fill her up like he did. She felt it but she remained calm. Learning at a young age how to control her emotions she left her face blank while on the inside she wanted to melt in his arms. She shook her head as she tried to get the thoughts out of her head. She glanced at his masculine hands that were almost as big as the bible he was holding and felt shame and she thought of having them all over her. She felt a surge of embarrassment flush her face as she tried her best to stop the thoughts from entering her head. She couldn’t hold her head anymore and she turned towards Ramón and caught him staring at her. She looked away unsure of what make of him staring at her. Maybe she shouldn’t have spoken at all.

By the end of service, Desiree was ready to leave. She felt so wrong for all her thoughts during the service. As she got up to leave Ramón stood in front of her.

“It was nice meeting you Desiree.” He gave her a smile that sent shivers up and down her spine.

“You too.” She managed to get out and turned away before her legs went Jell-O beneath her.

“So you really don't know who I am?” he cocked his head and looked at her. She turned back towards him and gave him a puzzled glance.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I am kinda famous around here.”

She sneered shaking her head. “Ok and so what would make you think I don't know who you are?”

Before he could respond, she smirked.

“Wow. I see because I didn’t fawn all over you I must not know who you are right?”

“It’s not that it’s just.” Before he could get another word out she attacked him with words.

“What women throw themselves at you, so you’re validated as this amazing man? Well excuse me for trying to respect Gods house and not make it all about you. Forgive me for not rushing up to you and asking for your autograph oh, I am so ashamed of myself. You know I am kinda shocked at you. This is a place of worship not a place for big headed jocks to get more attention.”

Ramón stood by never feeling smaller than he did at that moment. But somehow as she was tearing him a new one he began to get aroused. Focusing on her lips to show her he could pay attention to what she had to say had been a mistake. The moment she licked them, while still telling him off, he wanted to taste them and see if their fullness felt soft against his.

The more she spoke he knew he should have been paying attention but all he could think about was grabbing her close to him and doing things to her that would make even the pastor of the church blush to hear. What made matters worse was his mother and daughter just standing there without saying a word not knowing that it took all his strength not to get completely turned on by this woman.

“Now if you will excuse me I am ready to leave.” She glared at him frowning he moved closer to her which he should have known was a mistake. The moment his arm brushed hers he felt tingles in his spine. The only thing he could manage to say was “I am sorry.”

She threw her hands up in the air “Oh no don't apologize to me I am sure in your mind all this makes no sense what so ever. You’re Ramón Norris. Starting center for the Greenville Eagles you average 23 points 15 rebounds and 10 assist a game. You were named best defensive player of the year four years in a row amongst all other awards. You have been chosen for the all-star team 7 out of the 10 years you have been playing professional ball and have never won a championship but you are determined to and your goal is to get back-to-back titles. Yes, I know who you are but that doesn’t mean that you’re so irresistible that I have to make a complete and utter fool out of myself. I never took you for a man who sought out attention at least not until now.”

She pushed past him as he tried to wrap his head around a woman who when he touched her sent butterflies up and down his spine, but had no problem bringing him down a peg. She passed Rachael she smiled at the older woman.

“It was nice meeting you Mrs. Norris and please tell your husband he did an amazing job. I can see why this place is packed. And it was nice meeting you Maddie.”

Ramón still in shock from the words just spoken to him was shocked to see a little boy run up to Desiree.

“Did you like it mom?” he looked up with hope in his eyes.

“I did.”

“Is this your son?” Rachael asked seeing how the two did have similar features. While he was darker than she was he shared her eyes and smile.

“Yes ma’am this is my Zack. Zack this is Mrs. Norris and her granddaughter Maddie.”

“Hello Zack.”

“Hi. Ohmigosh mom. That’s Ramón Norris. Mom its Ramón Norris.” She saw his eye widen with joy.

“Yes it is.”

“Hi you are my favorite athlete I love your team I am hoping my dad will take me to a game next season. I have like three of your jersey’s my mom does too she says you
are one of the best looking players in the league she and my aunt talk about it all the time.”

Ramón smiled a knowing smile.

“Oh really?”

“And now it is really time to go Zack let’s find your dad and leave so I can catch my flight.”

“But mom can I get his autograph?”

Ramón stood up and smiled.

“I don't mind.”

“But I do.”

Charles walked over to them and smiled.

“Ready to go I know you have to get to the airport.”

“Dad can’t we wait till I get an autograph?”

Charles looked to Ramón and Desiree rolled her eyes.

“I am going to be in the car.”

She walked away and Charles smiled.

“So you’re Ramón Norris?” he took Ramón’s hand in his and shook it

“In the flesh.” He said glancing back at Desiree who was making her way out of the church.

“Dad I need some paper.” Zack began to look through his pockets.

“Why don't you just wait until next Monday to get his autograph?”

“Next Monday?” he asked confused.