Authors: Angie Daniels
When It Rains... (19 page)
“No problem. I'm glad I could be of service.”
I'd do anything to have you smile that way at me.
“I'm havin' a good time.”
I'd do anything to have you smile that way at me.
“I'm havin' a good time.”
“You're good with him,” she said. While working on her client's head, she'd watched Jay interact with Marcus,exhibiting a great deal of patience. She listened as he explained the different tools to the little boy, and even demonstrated their use.
“I'm gonna be busy working on another case for the next several days, so it feels good to have a chance to relax and spend a little time with you at the same time.”
Honey ignored the jolt of her heart. Willing her hand not to tremble, she propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her open palm. “How's the detective business?”
“Good.” Jay smiled. “Too good, as a matter of fact.” For a moment, he considered telling her that Jocelyn was a client. But if he did, it would defeat his entire reason for popping up with her at the steak house. Now would be a really good time to tell her about the baby, too. But he decided against that too. So he said, “As soon as I get done with this new case, I'm gonna take a little time off and take care of some personal business.”
“Why are you takin' on more work? Sasha said you've been workin' yourself ragged for months. Don't you have operatives to do all that runnin' around for you?”
A light shone in his eyes, and his lips curled into a crooked smile. “You've been checking on a brotha.”
“No. I have
not
been checkin' up on you,” Honey snapped.
not
been checkin' up on you,” Honey snapped.
“Then what would you call it?”
“I wouldn't call it anything.” She wagged a finger in front of his face. “See ... that's why I can't be nice to your ass. You always take shit the wrong way.”
He shrugged and said, “My bad.”
A huff was her only response.
“Well ...” Jay cleared his throat. “Just so you'll know, I'm leaving Valentine's Day open.”
“So?”
“So, how about being my date?”
“For what?”
“For Valentine's Day.”
“What about Dr. Price?” she blurted out.
Seeing her blank expression, Jay couldn't tell if he saw jealousy or not. “She already has a date.”
She and Jay had never been out on a real date before,and now wasn't the time to start. It was too damn intimate. “Well ... so do I.”
“With who?” he pressed, even though he already knew what the answer would be.
“W-well ... Darrius, of course.” Her lie was smooth; she was certain if she asked him, he'd say yes. Shifting her attention away from his steady gaze, she watched Marcus play.
After a long silence, Jay asked, “Are you a virgin?”
She snapped back around with her mouth wide open. “What?” Astonished, she burst into laughter.
“It's okay,” he said with a shrug. “It took me a while, but I finally figured it out. Now I know why you broke things off between us.”
Just like a man.
“Don't flatter yourself.”
“Don't flatter yourself.”
“So you're saying that you're not a virgin?”
“Yes, I'm saying that,” she retorted.
“Are you attracted to me?”
Her upper lip stiffened. “You're attractive, but I'm not attracted to you.”
“I don't believe you.” He flashed a sly grin.
Honey had to chuckle. His line of questioning was ridiculous. “The reason you don't believe me is that you're used to women throwin' themselves at you.” She waved him away with disgust. “And this girl ain't interested.”
“I still don't believe you,” he said. Why else would she keep up so much animosity?
He leaned forward, and the scent of him invaded her senses, so much so that she had to turn away, trying to suppress the desire churning inside.
“Well, believe it.”
“Then prove it.”
She rolled her eyes at that. “I don't have to prove shit to you.”
“You're scared. Admit it.”
She hated to be challenged. “I'm not afraid of anything.”
“Then if you aren't afraid, be my date on Valentine's Day.”
She frowned. “I don't have time for games. I thought we agreed to be friends.”
“I've changed my mind.”
Her body betrayed her again; his words caused a stirring at the pit of her stomach, and she had to force herself to concentrate on what he was saying, and not on how good he looked. “Too bad,” she forced between clenched teeth. “I'm not interested.” She turned in her seat and looked over at Marcus again, glad for the diversion.
Jay was silent for a moment while he observed her stern profile. Honey was definitely a piece of work. He chuckled.
His laughter drew Honey's attention again, and she shifted in her seat. “What's so funny?”
“You're somethin' else. You know that?”
Crossing her arms on the table, she met the glitter in his eyes and couldn't hide her own amusement. “I am, aren't I?” She then laughed, a deep throaty laugh, findingherself relaxing for the first time in a long time.
The alluring sound warmed his heart. He hadn't heard her laugh like that in so long, and he missed it more than she could ever know.
Jay returned her smile and leaned forward in his seat, resting his arms on the table. “I miss this, us laughing, enjoying each other's company. I want that back with you.”
“Then quit tryin' to make more of this than it really is.” She caught herself, and her next words were gentler.“I'm sorry if it's hard for you to believe that I'm only interested in being friends. I don't have room in my life right now for anything else.”
He didn't believe her, but decided not to argue. “No funny stuff,” he pledged. “Friends again?”
Her face lit up with a beautiful smile. “Friends.”
While returning her smile, he tried to force himself not to think about kissing her moist lips.
Marcus rushed over to them, out of breath. Honey held out her arms and scooped him up. “How's my baby?”
He frowned, obviously embarrassed, and squirmed out of her arms. He moved to Jay and patted him lightly on the arm. “Can you come and play with me?”
“Sure.” Jay rose, smiling. “Let's get some more tokensfirst.”
Marcus latched on to Jay's hand with worship in his eyes. Honey dropped her chin to her hand and watched the two of them together. Jay looked so right with Marcus.All the more reason they could never be more than friends. She would never deprive him of this happiness.
“I'm gonna order another pizza. You want somethin' to eat?” Jay's voice nudged into her thoughts.
“Pizza's fine.”
“You still like sausage and mushroom?”
She nodded at his photographic memory, and caught herself smiling as she watched them stroll across to the cashier.
Jay moved to the token machine and stuck in a ten-dollarbill, giving Marcus a handful of tokens before he darted off ahead of him.
He couldn't believe his good fortune. After weeks of trying, he finally had Honey to himself. And this time he wasn't going to mess up. As much as he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless, he knew he couldn't do that. Their friendship meant the world to him. The last time he jumped the gun, she quit speakingto him. He didn't want to take the chance of ruiningtheir relationship forever. This time was going to be different. He was going to take his time and allow things to progress naturally ... and on her terms ... until he could slowly tempt her to the boiling point.
Reaching deep in his pocket for money to pay for the pizza, Jay realized he'd left his cell phone at the salon. Oh well. If there were any problems, Chad would handle them. Right now, nothing was as importantas being with Honey.
He and Marcus returned to the table just as two piping-hotpizzas arrived.
“Perfect timing.” Honey greeted them with a welcomingsmile.
“You have a whiz kid,” Jay said, ruffling Marcus's hair before he took his seat.
“Auntie, I beat Jay at every game,” Marcus boasted. “Look!” He held up a long roll of tickets that were exchangeablefor prizes.
“Wow!” Honey nodded as she slid off the bench so Marcus could sit down beside her.
“I don't know about you two, but I'm hungry again,” Jay said as he grabbed a large slice of sausage pizza, then a slice of cheese pizza for Marcus.
“Why don't I get the drinks?” Honey offered. Rising,she headed toward the soda fountain.
“Pepsi for me,” Jay called over his shoulder.
“Me too!” Marcus added.
Honey was tickled. Jay had an admirer. Marcus knew his hyper ass wasn't allowed to drink Pepsi. Caffeinewas one thing he didn't need this late in the evening.
Jay and Marcus dominated the conversation during the meal. Marcus talked nonstop about preschool and video games. Jay told him how he used to be a Boy Scout. Honey found the discussion interesting, and added her experience as a Girl Scout, including some of her most disastrous camping trips.
After sipping her soda, she said, “I remember when we were at a campsite in Indiana. We thought a bear was right outside our tent. My troop was so scared we ended up knockin' the tent over tryin' to get away.” Honey laughed as her mind was flooded with memories.
“Auntie, can we go camping sometime?” Marcus mumbled, his mouth full of pizza.
She licked sauce from her fingers before answering. “Maybe one weekend I'm not workin'.”
Jay could see that she seemed relaxed and more approachablewhen her nephew was around. Maybe Marcuswas the answer to getting close to her. “We'll see if I can't coax your auntie into lettin' me take the both of you real soon.” Jay winked at Marcus, who beamed with joy; then they both directed electrifying grins at her.
Honey looked at both of them with raised eyebrows and knew that she'd better start shopping for sleeping bags.
The live puppeteer show started on the stage with Chuck E. as the star, but Marcus, who apparently had outgrown Chuck E. overnight, wasn't paying the stage any attention. All his attention was focused on his new buddy, Jay. Honey could tell that Jay found Marcus equally intriguing. She observed as Jay listened attentivelyto everything Marcus had to say without appearingannoyed with all his questions. Instead, Jay looked as if he was having the time of his life. He was a natural.
Of the three of them, the boys ate most of the pizza. Honey didn't mind; for some reason, she didn't have much of an appetite.
Marcus began licking his fingers with exaggerated smacking sounds.
“Mind your manners,” Honey scolded. Finding it amusing, Jay started laughing.
“Jay, can you come over and play video games with me and Auntie sometime?”
Jay looked over at Honey before answering. Unable to deny her nephew, she smiled even wider in approval.
“I'd like that very much,” Jay said. His answer generatedheat between Honey's legs, making her thong hot and wet.
Dinner was over much too soon, but it was getting late and nearing Marcus's bedtime. They put on their coats, and then Marcus dashed off to the counter to collecthis prizes. Honey and Jay headed to the door with his arm draped comfortably around her shoulder, his male scent turning her ass on.
“You have a nice nephew.”
“Thanks, I think so too,” she said, beaming.
After his spending the afternoon with Marcus, thoughts of becoming a father were becoming overwhelming.“I never thought about having a family, but recently all that has changed.” His words were soft, and his brown eyes gazed intensely at her.
Like a helium balloon, her entire mood fizzled.
Jay didn't seem to notice the change in her. “Give me your keys so I can go and warm up your car.”
She reached into her purse and handed them to him. Jay pulled his hat down over his ears and exited the building. The cold February air hit him at the door. He reached into his pockets for a pair of thermal gloves. Unlocking the car, he climbed into the front seat and started the engine.
He had no control of his emotions when Honey was involved. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, and fuck the shit out of her.
Not yet, take it slow, let things happen naturally
, he chanted inwardly. He had to allow her a chance to make the first move.
Not yet, take it slow, let things happen naturally
, he chanted inwardly. He had to allow her a chance to make the first move.
He climbed out of the car, reached into the trunk, and pulled out the ice scraper.
Honey came out shortly after, bundled up in a camel-colored full-length coat with matching gloves and hat. Marcus ran up to Jay and showed him his prizes, which consisted of a plastic whistle and a fistful of candy.
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