Night of Seduction (41 page)

Kiki took a
seat between Ty and Nana who had Sierra in her lap.
“
Pretty,
”
Sierra said.

“Thank
you,
”
Kiki smiled as people began passing dishes of food her
way.

Siri sat back
down with a slight gleam in her eyes. Nana looked between Ty and
Kiki, Jason and TeKaya, Eric and Siri, then she looked down the
table to her daughter-in-law and smiled.
“
You know,
I
’
ve been a blessed woman. To sit here at a table where
there is evidence of God
’
s
existence.
”
Everyone quieted down and
listened.
“
Any time you have a
room full of love you know God is working his magic. I look at
TeKaya who has always been a burst of energy, just like this child
in my arms, and I wondered if she would find a man who could
appreciate her energy and not try to stifle it. Well, it appears
she has. I look into your eyes son and I see you love my grandbaby
and I want all of you to look at the way they accepted
God
’
s gift of love and learn from their example. Many
people live a lifetime and don
’
t get that gift. I
don
’
t want any of you to be foolish,
”
she
looked dead at Siri,
“
enough to think you
will get a second chance at a gift of love.
”

Miriam held up
her glass.
“
Here,
here,
”

Kerri smiled
lifting her glass.
“
Words of wisdom, well
spoken.
”

“To Jason and
TeKaya,
”
Eric said lifting his glass.

Everyone else
joined,
“
Jason and TeKaya.
”
They all drank from
their glasses and cheered.

After dinner
the mothers, Nana, Gabby and Sierra retired to the family room as
the younger guests cleared the table. Eric approached Siri and Kiki
as they were taking plates to the dishwasher.
“
Why
don
’
t you two go take care of business?
”
he said
taking the plates from their hands,
“
We
’
ll pitch
in, and get this done.
”

“No,
”
Siri said.
“
It
’
s too
much.
”

“He
’
s right, handle your
business,
”
Ty said as he smiled at Kiki.
“
By the time you are finished, we will be done and then we
can all go out dancing or something.
”
He took the plates
from her hands and followed the path Eric had taken to the
kitchen.

Jason and Eric
were waiting when he entered the kitchen, both with arms folded
across their chest.
“
Dancing, you dance
now,
”
Jason asked.

“What?
”
Ty asked as if he was
confused.

“Umm
hmm,
”
Eric said.

Jason
laughed.
“
Nana
’
s been saying that
all evening.
”

“Nana
’
s been saying
what?
”
TeKaya asked as she and Jasmine walked around the
corner.

“Nothing babe.
How do you feel about going dancing tonight?
’

“Dancing!
”
Jasmine, exclaimed.
“
That sounds wonderful. But will it be an issue for you to
go to a club Eric. I mean what about crowd
control?
”

“Most of the
time, people don
’
t notice unless
someone makes a big deal out of it,
”
he
replied.

“Then
it
’
s settled. A few drinks and
dancing,
”
Ty smiled then left the kitchen to get more
plates. Jason and Eric just stared at each other, over
Ty
’
s sudden interest in dancing.

The moment Siri
and Kiki reached her bedroom the door was slammed shut.
“
Who in the hell is that?
”
Kiki
demanded.

A surprised
Siri took a step back.
“
Who?
”

Kiki shook her
head.
“
Girl don
’
t play with me. Who
is that man with the eyes, the body? Didn
’
t you feel it?
The pull the tension, didn
’
t you feel
it?
’

“Okay, slow
down. Are you asking about Ty?
”

She ran over to
the laptop on the desk and pulled up the internet.
“
What
’
s his full
name?
”

Siri did all
she could to suppress her laughter. She put her hand on
Kiki
’
s to stop her from keying.
“
Look at
me.
”
When she did, Siri continued.
“
His name is
Tyrone Pendleton, he is an attorney from Atlanta and he is also
Jason and Eric
’
s adopted brother.
Yes, he is single and a really nice guy, that
’
s as much
as I know. But I
’
m sure TK knows
more.
”

“Get her up
here,
”
Kiki demanded.

“No. If you are
interested in Ty
—
you find out what you
need to know from him. Don
’
t let the internet
taint your mind one way or another. Get to know the man,
yourself.
”

“Okay.
”
She hesitated,
“
How?
”

Siri frowned at
her.
“
By going out, talking, asking questions. The normal
way a girl gets to know a guy.
”

Kiki stood
up.
“
Alright. Let
’
s
go
”

“Where?
”

Kiki pulled her
by the arm and opened the door.
“
Dancing.
”

♫

Calling ahead,
Kiki cleared the way for the Davies party to be allowed entrance to
the VIP lounge at the Rendezvous Restaurant. The music was pumping,
the crowd was lively, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Jason and TeKaya hit the floor when they first arrived and
hadn
’
t stopped dancing for more than five minutes since. Ty
and Kiki sat at the table talking and sharing law school stories,
while Jasmine stayed close to Eric. She had too much class to ask
him to dance, so she kept sending subtle hints until he finally
gave in and asked her to dance. His only reason was because Siri
seemed to get a little more uncomfortable with him around. It
seemed every time he said something or came near her she would
squirm. To give Ty and Kiki some privacy, Siri strolled over to the
bar and took a seat. A few minutes later, Garland,
Kiki
’
s brother stopped by.

“Please explain
why a beautiful woman would be sitting at a bar alone when the
music is off the chain and the men are
plentiful?
”

Siri
smiled.
“
Hello Garland.
”

“Hi yourself.
You don
’
t appear to be having a good
time.
”

“No,
everything
’
s good. The lounge is
really nice.
”

“So, why the
long face?
”

“Been a busy
day.
”

“You want to be
alone, I won
’
t push. If you need
anything let me know.
”

“I will.
Thanks.
”
Siri smiled until he walked away then
relaxed.
“
Whew.
”

Eric stood in
the corner and watched Siri at the bar as Garland walked by.
“
You need something, Mr. Davies?
”

“This is a nice
place. If you ever need a performer let me know.
”

“If
you
’
re serious, I can set you up now,
”
Garland
offered.

“Not tonight.
But, I
’
ll stop by one night and do a number or
two.
”

“I
’
ll take you up on
that.
”
He watched as Eric eyes continuously roamed to
Siri.
“
I
’
m about to change up
the play list. Any requests?
”

Eric looked at
him and smiled.
“
Since you asked, I
have a request or two.
”

“Name
it.
”

A few minutes
later Eric walked over and sat next to Siri. The moment he was near
her, she knew.
“
It cuts deep to know
I make you so uncomfortable. Anything that I can do to make the
next few days easier, just say the word and I
’
ll do
it.
”

Tears began to
form in her eyes.
“
It hurts to see you,
be around you, and know we can never be.
”
She looked
sideways at him.
“
You are wearing that
white linen shirt with those locs, the sensuous smile, and that
smooth voice. All of it is driving my body crazy. And
I
’
m trying so hard to control my senses.
I
’
m failing miserably.
”

Moving a curl
from her face, he smiled.
“
Me
too.
”
He exhaled.
“
Why did you have to
wear that red dress with your skin glistering and calling out to
me? My lower region is screaming freed me, feed
me.
”
He laughed.

She put her
elbow on the bar, placed her chin in her hand then turned towards
him.
“
We are adults, why can
’
t we control this
thing?
”

Leaning closer
he looked into her eyes and when he spoke, she could feel his
breath on her lips.
“
We
’
re
fighting against the inevitable; forces much stronger than us. For
you, Siri Austin, are my destiny. It has been said, it shall be
written.
”
Smiling she was lost in the web of sensuality he
was weaving. The music changed to Eric Benet, I Wanna Be
Loved.
“
Dance with me?
”
He stood and held
his hand out. For a moment, he thought she would say no, but then
she put her hand in his and he led her to the dance floor. Placing
her hand over his heart, he eased the other around her waist and
pulled her close. For now, this moment, she let go, placed her arm
around his neck, placed her head next to his, and moved with his
body. Everything and everyone in the room disappeared to them. It
was just them, just the music, just their hearts beating as
one.

“Wow,
”
Kiki whispered,
“
look at
that.
”
Ty reluctantly pulled his eyes from her and
looked on the dance floor where Jason and TeKaya and Eric and Siri
were. The love could be felt throughout the room.

He held out his
hand.
“
Shall we join them?
”

Kiki smiled up
at him.
“
Tyrone
—
you know if we hold
each other at this moment it may lead to something
more.
”

“Say may name
like that again and there is no maybe about it, it will lead to
something more. Can you handle that?
”

Reaching out
she took his hand and joined the other couples on the dance floor.
As their bodies touched, she moaned in his ear.
“
Tyrone.
”