Night of Seduction (7 page)

“Is the car out
front?
”
Jason asked before Eric could question her
response.

“Yes, it
is.
”

Turning to
TeKaya,
“
Would you ride with us to the
airport?
”
Jason asked.

“Sure,
”
she replied a little disappointed he
had to return to Atlanta.

As they took
the 15-minute ride to the airport, Jason explained,
“
I
’
m sorry I have to return tonight, but Sierra is
home alone.
”

Startled, TK
jerked away,
“
You left her home
alone? Are you crazy leaving a baby alone?
”

Tickled by her
immediate motherly instincts showing Jason laughed,
“
She
’
s with her
nanny.
”

“Where
’
s her mother? You
indicated the reason she lived with you was so Sierra would have
both parents around her.
”

“That
’
s true,
but
…”

“There are no
but. Tonight she doesn
’
t have either you or
her mother. A nanny should not be raising your child.
I
’
m not saying anything against the nanny, but whose
values and beliefs do you want Sierra to have yours or your
nanny
’
s?
”

“Isn
’
t that the same
question Mom asked you?
”
Eric
grinned.

Jason changed
from the surprised look at TeKaya to the irritated look at
Eric.
“
Do you mind?
”

“Sorry,
”
Eric replied and looked
away.

“I have to have
someone dependable at the house for Sierra because I travel so
much. When I
’
m home she is with me
constantly. I can
’
t depend on Latoya
staying home with her.
”

Not
understanding the logic, TK stammered.
“
But
she
’
s her mother. Where else would she want to
be?
”

Seeing the lost
look on his brother
’
s face, Eric knew he
needed help.
“
TeKaya,
”

She turned from
Jason to Eric,
“
TK is
fine.
”

“Thank you.
Earlier you stated you owe me something, why?
”
As if the
answer was understood, she simply replied,
“
My
sister.
”
She turned back to Jason with a questioning
eye.

“Your
sister?
”
Eric questioned.

Realizing she
had not really answered his question, she apologized.
“
Oh, I
’
m sorry. My sister
was with me the night of your concert. She was going through a
difficult year with her divorce and everything. She had fallen into
a kind of funk, if you know what I mean. But something happened to
her the night of your concert and she became alive again. I have my
sister back and she swears you are the one to
thank.
”
She smiled.
“
If she was here
I
’
m sure she would thank you in some elegant way. But
since she is not you have to accept mine. Thank you for helping her
through a very difficult time.
”

Eric looked to
Jason,
“
I like her.
”
He then looked back
to TK.
“
What can I do to keep you
around?
”

Smiling
brightly she started to answer but stopped.
“
You know,
there is something you can do, both of you.
”
She looked to
Jason then back to Eric,
“
If you
don
’
t mind.
”

“Name
it,
”
Jason and Eric said in unison.

Surprised by
their eagerness to please,
“
I like that. But you
may not want to after I tell you what it is.
”

“Try
us,
”
Eric said with a smile.

“Okay, my
sister teaches at an elementary school that is in dire need of a
paint job. The school board will supply the paint but she has to
gather painters. Before the divorce, it would not have been an
issue, but you discover who your true friends are when you go
through adversity. To date she only has four volunteers. If you two
could help that would give us six people. What do you think? Will
you help?
”

“Let me get
this straight. You don
’
t want us to give you
the money to hire a team to paint the building
—
you want
us to help you paint?
”
Eric asked.

“Yes.
”

Eric and Jason
smiled at each other. They were both used to people asking for
funds or for Eric to sing to raise funds. This woman simply wanted
their help.
“
When is this going to
take place?
”

“That
’
s just it, her ex
husband will only be available this Saturday, so she did not have a
lot of time to pull things together.
”

Jason smiled
and asked,
“
Would you mind if I
bring a few friends?
”

“No, not at
all,
”
she eagerly replied.
“
Just let me know how
many, my mother is going to prepare lunch for
everyone.
”

“Why
don
’
t you allow us to bring lunch?
”

“Oh, I
can
’
t ask you to do that. Just your muscle will be
appreciated.
”

The car came to
a halt, to Jason
’
s despair. Eric
reached behind him and grabbed his guitar case.
“
TK it was
a sincere pleasure to meet you. If I
’
m free, I will see
you Saturday.
”

“It was nice to
see you again Eric.
”

Jason turned to
TeKaya.
“
The service is going to take you
home.
”
He pulled her close,
“
I
’
m so glad you agreed to see me tonight. I wish I
could stay.
”

She kissed his
lips softly.
“
I wish we had more
time, but Sierra is waiting for you.
”

Her concern for
his daughter touched him.
“
Thank you for
understanding.
”
He bent his head to kiss her and she
stopped him with her hand on his chest.

“I understand
your love and concern for your daughter. But I do not play second
to any one. Before you and I go too much further, you should really
look at your relationship with your ex-girlfriend. Be sure you are
honest with yourself as to why she is living with
you.
”

“That
’
s
fair,
”
Jason nodded. He kissed her goodbye,
“
I
’
ll call you when I get home.
”

He watched her standing at the car as the
plane took off, and knew, TeKaya was his future.

♪

TK walked into
the house and joined her mother and sister in the family room
watching television. Siri looked at the clock as TK sat on the sofa
next to her.
“
You
’
re home early. Was he
that bad?
”

Slipping out of
her heels, TK sighed,
“
No, he was that
good,
”
she replied as she pulled her legs up and crossed
them on the coffee table.

Siri and Kerri
glanced at each other. Kerri smiled and turned off the television
with the remote.
“
Details.
”

“Mommy
I
’
m going to marry Jason. I don
’
t know when, I
don
’
t know where, but I am going to be his
wife
—
just as soon as I get rid of the
girlfriend.
”

“That
’
s taking it
slow,
”
Siri teased.

“What
girlfriend?
”
Kerri asked.

TK
exhaled,
“
Latoya Wright. She is his daughter
Sierra
’
s mother. From what he said they live separate
lives, but under the same roof.
”

“I
don
’
t like the sound of that TeKaya. I
didn
’
t raise you to be a fool. He has to finish cooking in
that kitchen before he starts storing food in another, you know
what I mean?
”

TK looked at
Siri then back to her mother.
“
No Mommy, we never
know what you mean when you say things like
that.
”

Kerri sat up in
her seat.
“
He needs to finish
his business with that woman before he starts a relationship with
you.
”

“I have to
agree TK. I don
’
t want you putting
your time into Jason, as fine as he is and end up hurt. It took you
three years to get over Cain. That was one boyfriend you could have
done without.
”

“Well the
Kendrick
’
s fall quick and love long. I fell for your Dad
in
…
.
”

“Two hours
twenty-three minutes and ten seconds,
”
TK and Siri
responded together and laughed. Then continued,
“
Without
ever saying a word to him, just watching and wondering when he was
going to make his move.
”

“Laugh if you
want to, but it is the truth,
”
Kerri grinned at her
daughters.

“I
’
m not laughing at you
anymore Mommy. I
’
ve fallen for Jason
hard. I can still feel his kiss lingering on my
lips.
”

“Wow,
”
Siri exhaled.

“My question is
did he fall for you?
”

“Yeah, Mommy he
did,
”
Siri answered for her.
“
I saw that the night
they first met. He couldn
’
t take his eyes off
her.
”

“Then it will
work out. You just might have to fight a little harder. When will I
get to meet this man?
”

TK picked up
her shoes and stood.
“
Saturday,
he
’
s helping with the school job.
”

Siri sprung
up.
“
Is he coming alone?
”

“He mentioned
bringing some friends.
”

“That
’
s wonderful Siri. A
few more people and you may get more than just the classrooms
painted,
”
Kerri replied excitedly.

“Um,
yeah.
”
Siri replied then asked,
“
Is Silk
coming?
”

“I
don
’
t know. I asked him, but he never said for
certain.
”

“Silk was here,
tonight, in Richmond?
”
Siri
’
s question raced out
before she could stop herself.

Both women
turned to her with questioning eyes.
“
Yes,
why?
”

Siri noticed
the look from them and decided to change the subject.
“
I was just wondering if he was going to be performing near
here again anytime soon.
”