Almost Perfect: A BWWM Billionaire Single Parent Romance (6 page)

Lena
was not such an excellent judge of character and lunged at the
opportunity to change her lonely, divorced son’s status from
single to taken. Interviewing the girl replaced any desire Lena had
to yell at the staff, and soon Richard became ignored by both women.

Taking
the opportunity to wander off, he rested assured that mother dearest
would return with a passing verdict on Alissa and press for a date.
It would never happen.

Mulling
through the crowd and shaking hands with the other industry players,
Richard pretended to be good at socializing. Jared Simmons had an
unassuming name but packed a punch in the financial area. They were
discussing the stock market when heads began to turn. Both men and
women alike stared at a passing person, but Richard couldn’t
see. A very tall black man was shielding the subject of everyone’s
curiosity.

Lena
had found herself at Richard's side again and of course, tried to
deliver a report on the girl with the decorated throat. Calling his
name repeatedly, she realized that he was craning his neck to see
something she could not. Old and aggressive, Lena had no time to gawk
from afar. On her trod forward, the black man shifted to the corner,
holding the elbow of the woman everyone seemed fixated on.

As
the ass came into view and then a naked back covered in brown skin,
Richard's mother stopped in her tracks and followed his intense gaze.
“Kimberly?” His lips said, and his face scrunched up with
confusion and excitement balled into one. Were his eyes deceiving him
or was she really there in a dress that made his and every other
man’s blood race? As he stepped forward slowly, ignoring his
still talking friend, his mother looked back and forth, connecting
the dots. Taking a long stemmed flute from a passing server, she
shook her head and sipped viciously. There was going to be a problem.

This
is nice, Kimberly thought, socializing and chatting with an actual
man. Yes, this was definitely nice. Roland was a talker and he had
much to share. He was on to the messy divorce with his wife Sondra,
who Kimberly also knew, when an equally tall figure emerged behind
him. Admiring the dress of the girl he approached with, Kimberly was
unaware of Richard’s presence until his smooth voice said,
“Excuse me for interrupting, but I thought I saw someone here
that I knew.” Roland was not the rude type and genuinely
glanced around for who he might mean, totally oblivious that the
subject of Richard’s search was Kimberly.

Richard
had watched her for what seemed to be an eternity before he walked
over. As if possible, she looked even more stunning than her daytime
splendor and by God was her figure epic.

The
ringlets of curls made Kimberly appear youthful and innocent but her
body was that of a developed woman-in every way. Pouting lips were
exaggerated with the deep plum lip color she wore and whatever she
added to her eyes made them appear to be as black and mysterious as
midnight itself. He wasn’t aware that he was gawking until his
mother’s incessant voice barged through his thoughts. The old
woman was his mother, but she wasn’t dying or ill. Whatever her
latest tirade was about could wait. Kimberly was here.

Richard
was convinced that he was having a TV slow motion moment where all
the activity in the room ceased, and everyone but Kimberly stood on
suspended animation. The way she touched her chest as she paid a
compliment to the girl next to her, and the way she laughed
graciously as they exchanged comments, was timeless. In a second, he
was expecting the soundtrack from an old soap opera to strum in the
background.

“
Richard?”
Kimberly asked, looking up at the sound of his rich baritone. “What
a surprise to find you here!”

“
No,”
Richard said, “I am the one who is surprised!”

Ronald
had allowed Richard to interject in his conversation and
unfortunately for him, Kimberly would now be occupied for the rest of
the night.

“
If
I knew you were coming here I would have escorted you.” Richard
said. In her usual assertive manner.

Kimberly
replied, “That’s fine Richard, I am a big girl, I can
escort myself.”

She
flashed a grin and Richard’s heart turned to mush. The
butterflies in his stomach were feasting on it. What was she doing?
Would this appear unprofessional? He thought. Yes, it was a social
outing, but still things could be misinterpreted for something else
if the hound dog reporters picked up a scent. Richard was unsure if
he cared.

The
Chef appeared from the back of the large dining room to announce that
dinner would be served momentarily. Again, clasping her hand over her
chest in that gentle way only she could, Kimberly was suddenly
concerned that she didn’t know the seating arrangements. Better
informed guests were moving to their tables and she stood still.

“
Kimberly,”
Richard said, above the din of pulling chairs and shuffling feet.
“Would you like to sit at my table?”

“
I
don’t know if it works like that boss. It seems everyone knows
where to go except me.”

Authoritatively,
he took her hand and said, “Come with me.”

If
sparks could have flown from the electricity that the two connecting
palms ignited, it would have created a brilliant firework show. Both
aware of the heat, Kimberly and Richard hesitated momentarily,
knowing that this was quickly becoming more than a boss-employee
situation.

Stalking
past Lena, who stood with her mouth open, Richard pulled out a chair
and seated Kimberly to his left and then took his rightful place at
the head of the table. Tabletop made hefty donations to many
environmental committees represented here. He would have whoever he
pleased at his table.

Mother
dearest was the one who made the ruckus, and anyone would have sworn
she was an organizer of the event. With her deceptively sweet smile
she walked over to the pair who had just begun whispering to each
other and cleared her throat.

Richard
looked up from his important conversation as though agitated by the
intrusion, and cocked his ear to his mother while the girl with the
overly decorated neck stood behind her.

“
Son,
I had arranged for Alissa to sit with you, but I see you have a
guest.”

She
was waiting for an introduction and Richard decided to drag out her
agony a bit more.

“
That’s
unfortunate Mother. I’m afraid I have to bid the beautiful
Alissa my most humble apologies.”

The
statement didn’t give Queen Lena what she wanted, so she
skipped the coyness and asked. “And who exactly is this exotic
specimen you are sitting with on a grand evening such as this?”

Alissa
backed away and Richard felt proud of killing another money, status
and social shark looking to marry well.

“
Never
patient are we Mother?”

Lena
produced a smile that mothers gave to children when they were moments
away from severe punishment. Richard yielded. “This is Kimberly
Walsh. She is the new lawyer for Tabletop and I have invited her here
as my personal guest. I will be sure to inform you of all my dates in
the future since you now seem so interested.”

Daggers
made of ice and fire were silently fired through Lena’s gaze
and she snapped her head around at Kimberly’s now extended
hand. Being a lady, Kimberly was taken aback when she received only a
cursory nod from the matriarch of the Damask family, and quickly
lowered her hand back to her lap. There was a time and place to
chastise little old ladies. This was not it.

The
old woman’s nose immediately went up into the air and she
walked around the table stiffly before taking her place adjacent
Kimberly at the table. What an interesting night this was turning out
to be. In a matter of minutes, Kimberly was reminded that Old Money
thought there were places for her people. Sitting at the head table
was not one of them.

Sipping
on the pre dinner alcohol made Kimberly senses heighten. The mention
of her as a date by Richard did not go unnoticed. Yes, definitely and
interesting night. Zucchini curls on a bed of arugula salad, dressed
with a creamy sauce were served with pickled shrimp in white wine
vinaigrette.

Selecting
the salad fork, Richards’s mother began to eat her first course
slowly, while darting her eyes from Richard to Kimberly and then back
to Richard. They were chatting a bit too closely for her comfort and
occasionally Kimberly leaned too close to her son for Lena’s
liking. She would have to call her ex husband in the morning to
address the matter of the boss and the help fraternizing.

Kimberly
was enchanted by the presence of her boss and the friendly manner in
which he dealt with her. The mother issue was not something to be
concerned about and she ignored the old goat completely. There was
something happening under the table and it was unnerving her. Though
the table was spacious, Richard’s legs were long and every time
he leaned forward for a forkful of salad, the one nearest to her
rubbed against her thigh. Separated by layers of fabric, the warmth
of the masculine leg stimulated Kimberly in ways she found unnerving.
How was it that the simple leg of a not so simple man could make the
breath in her chest feel insufficient?

Maybe
she was misinterpreting the messages she was reading from Richard. He
was a rich white man with luxuries she had only been recently
introduced to, and she was a black woman with a tormented history.
This would be an unlikely pairing, and Kimberly struggled to keep the
thought out of her mind. Richard would have liked if Kimberly could
sit closer. The smell of the food was delicious, but nowhere near as
alluring as the fragrance he inhaled when she came close to listen to
his whispers.

Watching
the rise and fall of her breasts as she laughed at his dull jokes,
Richard wondered if her breasts were just as soft as her palms. She
was a woman- full of ambition and she probably had an active social
life anyway. Money didn’t seem to be her only objective in life
and he found himself imagining what it would be like to be with her-
alone.

*****

Though
the tension wire of attraction was pulled tighter than ever, both
Kimberly and Richard managed to keep their interaction to an
employee-employer level. The dancing after dinner proved to be a
challenge as both the dismissed Alissa and Roland returned for a
chance to get closer to their targets.

Longing
glances across the dance floor were exchanged and stares diverted as
Kimberly’s and Richard’s dance partners filled their ears
with meaningless chatter. The applause at the end of the final waltz
was rousing and all present agreed that it was a truly pleasant
evening.

Alissa
never had the chance to solicit a personal invitation from Richard
Damask, because he abruptly left her side to escort Kimberly to her
ride. Giving Roland the excuse that he wanted to discuss some brief
company business with her, the two headed for the door.

It
was not a request and Roland understood this as he backed away,
bidding the stunning Kimberly Walsh a splendid good night. Maybe he
would have another chance but it wouldn’t be today.

Crisp
air greeted the now warm guests as they emerged from the cozy house,
and it was a good cleanse for the lungs. Forgetting about the shawl,
Kimberly hugged her shoulders as Richard joined her side. They both
waited for the valets to bring the cars around, amid the other
officials directing the now overflowing traffic. Richard was eager to
speak with her about anything. He just wanted to be in her presence
without interruption.

“
Did
you enjoy yourself?”

“
Yes,
I did. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It’s
evident I don’t get out much.” They laughed heartily at
the joke and without thinking she touched his chest affectionately.
Withdrawing her hand swiftly, Kimberly was aware that she may have
crossed the line.

Grabbing
it and placing it back on his chest, Richard said, “You don’t
have to be so cautious around me. I won’t push anything.”

Kimberly’s
girlish innocent smile spread across her face and then it was quickly
replaced with something else. Richard was no expert in women and he
needed help with this one.

“
What’s
wrong?”

“
Your
mother is coming.”

Richard
was a grown man. Responsible for an empire and with billions of
dollars under his belt, he still couldn’t get his mother to act
like anything less than an ice queen. It only took a second of his
time to glance around at the pending storm called Lena, and when he
looked around to reassure Kimberly that all would be well, he barely
caught the flash of her heeled sandals as she closed her limo door.
She waved goodbye and mouthed, “See you tomorrow,” just
before ordering her driver to take her home. Damn it!