Authors: Angie Daniels
When It Rains... (2 page)
One
One month later
Â
“W
hat do you think?” Honey asked, studying her handiwork.
hat do you think?” Honey asked, studying her handiwork.
Wrapping long manicured fingernails around a handheldmirror, Mrs. Doyle tilted her head from one side to the other, admiring her reflection, and said, “Sweetie, you've done it again.”
Honey Love watched her customer run her palm along the upward sweep of her gray hair, held tight in a sophisticated French roll. She was pleased to see Mrs. Doyle finally looking forward to her fortieth class reuniontomorrow night.
Mrs. Doyle set the mirror down on the vanity, then reached into her billfold and removed several crisp bills that included a substantial tip. “I'll see you in two weeks.” She clasped Honey's hands in gratitude before she rose from her seat and practically skipped to the coatrack in the corner.
“You make sure you call me,” Honey called after her in a warm, maternal tone. “I want
all
the details.”
all
the details.”
Slipping her arms inside her navy blue wool coat, Mrs. Doyle nodded happily as she exited the salon.
Honey grinned as she watched the older woman walk out to her car with more pep than she'd had in years. Mrs. Doyle was a faithful customer, and it warmed her heart to know she'd done something to uplift the grievingwoman's life. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Doyle had become increasingly self-conscious, and Honey had done everything in her power to try and boost the woman's self-esteem.
Honey moved to the front window, where her warm breath lightly fogged the frosted glass, and watched her customer climb into a silver Cadillac. She was certain the new hairdo and the smashing two-piece outfit Mrs. Doyle had brought in for her to see would definitely give the lovely woman the self-confidence she deserved.
As the car pulled out of the parking lot, Honey turned to her efficient, twenty-something receptionist who was just finishing up a call. “Candy, please pencil in Mrs. Doyle's two-week appointment.”
“Sure,” Candy chirped, eyes shining with enthusiasmas she bobbed her head. The action sent her micro-braidsswinging in several different directions as she reached for the large leather-bound appointment book on the corner of her desk.
Even though Honey had only just completed her first appointment of the morning, the salon already smelled of hair care products. After quickly straighteningher workstation, she untied her smock and placed it on the counter. “I'll be in my office if you need me,” she called over her shoulder, then headed to the back of the shop, stopping along the way to retrieve a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Once inside her private quarters, Honey leaned back in her chair and brought the mug to her lips, savoring the Colombian blend Candy always prepared to perfection.Her receptionist was a lifesaver. Although young, Candy was outgoing and extremely eager to learn, which was just what the salon needed as its first level of contact.
Tuesdays were slow at the shop. Her staff typically didn't schedule appointments until early afternoon, but Honey took care of the majority of her customers in the morning, allowing ample time to catch up on paperwork and prepare weekly checks for her employees. Peering over the rim of her mug, she looked down at the totals for the previous month and smiled. Love Your Hair had done well since she'd opened its doors four years ago.
Love Your Hair was an upscale salon in the heart of St. Louis that Honey had designed to make her customers feel right at home. The décor was pink, with burgundy carpeting in the waiting room that held four conversationallyarranged love seats. There was a stereo for her customers' listening pleasure, and a large console televisionfully equipped with cable. At the back of the salon, across the pink and white tiles, were six workstationsoccupied by some of the best hairstylists in the city. While Honey also had a chair on the floor, it was booked by appointment only; the majority of her day was spent in her private office.
She was proud of her establishment. In fact, the shop had been doing so well she had an appointment at her bank next week to inquire about purchasing the vacantsuite next door. She wanted to expand her business by adding six additional workstations and a kitchen.
Flipping through her schedule for the week, Honey realized she still needed to order a cake for a baby shower she was hosting over the weekend. She removed the yellow pages from her lower desk drawer and hummed while thumbing through the bakery section.Her best friend, Sasha Andrews, was scheduled to give birth to her first child in March.
Honey was thrilled to become a godmother, and was especially pleased that her longtime friend had finally found happiness. She leaned back in her chair and sipped her coffee, remembering the day Terraine Andrewswalked into Sasha's life.
Sasha, a fashion model, had met the CEO of Diva Designs with the hope that if she modeled his designs, she could persuade him to purchase several of her own unique creations. Honey chuckled and shook her head as she remembered the power struggle between the twoâTerraine's pursuit, and Sasha's denial of her feelings.Eventually Sasha had followed her heart and given in.
Tapping her knuckles on the desk, Honey felt a twinge of sadness as she remembered Terraine's brother, Jay. She hadn't seen him since the wedding, where she had served as Sasha's maid of honor and Jay was the best man. She remembered how
fine
he'd looked in a tuxedo tailor-made to fit his rugged body. Honey had hoped that maybe they'd have a chance to talk. But as he took her arm and they proceeded down the aisle, Jay's actionshad been extremely formal, his responses monosyllabic;no one would have ever guessed they had once shared a powerful bond.
fine
he'd looked in a tuxedo tailor-made to fit his rugged body. Honey had hoped that maybe they'd have a chance to talk. But as he took her arm and they proceeded down the aisle, Jay's actionshad been extremely formal, his responses monosyllabic;no one would have ever guessed they had once shared a powerful bond.
Honey sighed, remembering the way things had been. Once, Jay had been her close friend. Her ace. Her confidant. Staring up at the floral wallpaper bordering her office, she knew why he'd behaved as he did.
You brought that shit on yourself.
As much as she wished things could be different, she knew in her heart they couldn't be.
You brought that shit on yourself.
As much as she wished things could be different, she knew in her heart they couldn't be.
Her private line rang, intruding upon her thoughts. She reached for the receiver and brought it to her ear. In a professional voice she answered, “Honey speaking.”
“Hey, baby, what's up?” the familiar masculine voice greeted her.
Closing her eyes as his words churned her stomach, Honey realized the time had come. Damn! Had it been two weeks? Where the hell had the time gone? “Hello, Lavell.”
Lavell didn't miss the disappointed tone of her voice. “You don't sound too happy to hear from me.”
Honey quickly tried to correct the mistake of allowingher feelings to surface. This time when she spoke, her voice was friendly as she blurted, “Oh no, you just caught me deep in thought.”
Pleased to hear the thaw in her voice, Lavell let out a hearty breath. “Good. I was starting to think you didn't want to see me anymore.”
Honey said, “No, not at all,” then pressed her lips together.Lavell was the son of one of her many faithful customers. After he'd brought his grandmother to severalappointments, and initiating idle chatter, Honey had agreed to have dinner with him. During the past two weeks, Lavell had done everything under the sun to sweep her off her feet: more dinners, movies, flowers,and chocolate. Tired of her family constantly on her back about bringing a date, Honey had even taken him to her mother's house for dinner last Sunday.
The problem hadn't arisen until that evening after Lavell had dropped her off at home. Instead of accepting her usual brief kiss on the cheek, he'd pulled her into his arms and kissed her with passion, parting her lips and seeking her with his tongue before whispering against her flushed cheek, “I want to make love to you.”
Once upon a time, those words would have caused her to fall apart, but now, as she was learning to come to terms with her past, she had managed to remain calm. She hadn't called him since.
“How about a quiet candlelit dinner at my house tomorrownight?” he suggested in a deep seductive voice that came out as a very bad imitation of Barry White.
Panic rose in Honey's chest. Visiting a man's home was a dangerous game, one where there were no rules. This was a game she wasn't about to play. “I can't,” she began, then quickly added, “I already have plans.”
“How about Saturday night?”
“No, I don't think so.”
After a brief silence Lavell said, “Then you tell me when.”
How about never?
she thought, but didn't feel nearly brave enough to say the words aloud. It already had been two weeks. She never dated anyone longer than that. And damn if she was going to start now.
she thought, but didn't feel nearly brave enough to say the words aloud. It already had been two weeks. She never dated anyone longer than that. And damn if she was going to start now.
Honey sighed inwardly and imagined a picture of Lavell sitting at the law firm where he was a partner. He probably had both feet propped up on the end of his executive desk. Sporting twists, Lavell was rawboned, with a handful of freckles the same color as his amber eyes, sprinkled across a broad nose. More than likely he was wearing one of his numerous psychedelic ties that looked as if they were cutting off his damn air supply.He was preppy, clean-cut, and so damned professional.When Honey once suggested a game of
NBA Jams
on her PlayStation, he'd looked at her as if she had lost her damn mind. Talk about a fuckin' bore!
NBA Jams
on her PlayStation, he'd looked at her as if she had lost her damn mind. Talk about a fuckin' bore!
She sighed with regret. Their brief relationship had finally come full circle. There was no point in putting it off any longer; it was time to part ways. Honey closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
“Lavell, it's been a wonderful two weeks, but I think things are moving too fast.”
Here goes nothing.
“Lavell, it's been a wonderful two weeks, but I think things are moving too fast.”
His laugh was indulgent. “I don't think we could possibly move any slower.”
She rolled her eyes at his comical remark and tried again. “I'm not lookin' for a man in my life.”
“Honey, I didn't ask you to marry me,” he said with a chuckle. “I just want to get to know you better.”
Her fingers tightened around the telephone. “I don't want to rush into anything.”
Lavell gave a frustrated sigh at that. “Okay, I can deal with that. But what's that got to do with dinner at my place?”
She groaned inwardly, then asked herself why she continued to subject herself to the same ole' bullshit. “I'm not ready for sex,” she said. “And that's where we're heading.”
There was a long silence before he said, “I'm not gonna lie. I'm feelin' you. Nothing would please me more than to lick your sexy body from head to toe.” He paused a moment, as though contemplating his next question, then asked, “Be straight-up with me, Honey. Am I wasting my time and money?”
Ain't that a bitch!
Just like a man to remind a woman of all that he'd done for her so she'd feel obligatedto do something for him. All the men she encountereddid it, and for the same reason. To get some ass. “I guess you're wasting your time,” she admitted, biting back a note of resentment. A strained silence fell between them. For her it was fuckin' déjà vu, repeatedlyreliving the same scenario. From past experience, she was familiar with how awkward the situation was for a man when he was being rejected.
Just like a man to remind a woman of all that he'd done for her so she'd feel obligatedto do something for him. All the men she encountereddid it, and for the same reason. To get some ass. “I guess you're wasting your time,” she admitted, biting back a note of resentment. A strained silence fell between them. For her it was fuckin' déjà vu, repeatedlyreliving the same scenario. From past experience, she was familiar with how awkward the situation was for a man when he was being rejected.
With a note of irritation, Lavell asked, “So what are you saying?”
“Can't we just be friends?” Honey asked, knowing the answer to that question.
She heard him click his tongue, then say, “I want to be more than friends. I want to make you my woman. Hopefully more.”
Honey was quiet as she tried to think of an answer that would soften the blow, but failed.
Breaking the prolonged silence, Lavell cleared his throat, then said, “Yeah, whatever. I'll be in touch.”
“Lavell, I'm sorryâ” But all she heard was a dial tone.
Honey replaced the phone on the cradle, then dropped her chin to her palm and pressed her lips together.When was this shit going to end? Why, when it rained in her life, did it have to be a damn thunderstorm?Why couldn't it drizzle every now and then? She was drowning and didn't know how to swim to the surface. Where was her life preserver? It had to be out there somewhere. Only she didn't have faith that she would find it in time.
Her eyes flickered, then closed while she contemplatedher next move.
Honey indulged in a high volume of dating, but alwayson her terms. Men occasionally got her attention, but never more than that. She never allowed anyone to get close, and ended relationships long before they became complicated. Staring down, she rubbed her palms together as she stood. With a sigh she remembered severalmonths ago, when one man had come painfully close to making her think twice about her frigid behavior. Suddenly struggling against emotions she couldn't control,Honey saw Jay's fine ass invading her senses as clearly as that warm summer night he'd appeared on her doorstep.
Jay stood about six-three, with a sexy-ass body. He had the most gorgeous cocoa brown eyes. When Jay looked at her he made her stomach flutter, and his touch made her panties wet. Although she tried to deny the attraction, she'd always known it was only a matter of time before something kicked off between them. They had spent too much time together. Even though they had mutually agreed to maintain a platonic relationship,ultimately it became almost impossible.
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