Authors: Cydney Michele; Rax Lutishia; Grant Lovely
Crush (17 page)
18
Delicia stood in the exquisitely manicured backyard of another potential new home. She’d been house hunting for almost a month, ever since the day the judge and jury had sided in her favor. It would be another six to eight weeks before she received the check, but based on the inevitable arrival of a big chunk of change, she’d found a bank willing to extend her a line of credit. Having grown up on the south side, Delicia had often dreamed what it would be like to have the type of home you wanted, the type of car you wanted, and all of the clothes that you could buy. She remembered watching
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
, had even made champagne her drink of choice for a while, inspired by the show’s famous tagline: champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Now, she was realizing everything she’d wished for, and very soon would be living the life of her dreams.
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
, had even made champagne her drink of choice for a while, inspired by the show’s famous tagline: champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Now, she was realizing everything she’d wished for, and very soon would be living the life of her dreams.
“Country Club Hills is a wonderful community for your family,” the realtor said as she continued the tour. “The streets are safe and the schools are excellent. This house is priced to sell, which means there will more than likely be several offers. If you’re interested, I suggest we move fast.”
Delicia nodded. She found it interesting, bordering on ludicrous, that a home listed at over three hundred thousand dollars was considered a bargain. But that’s how the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath, Tudor-styled home had been described. When she’d begun the search for her self-described mansion, the numbers had astounded her. Now she knew more about the market, and also what a generally solid investment a home could be. “A good place to put your money,” the financial planner that Chaz referred her to had explained. Delicia agreed. If anything happened to her, her children wouldn’t be homeless.
“Shall we go back inside, take a look at the guest bedrooms and the master suite?”
They walked into the home, passed the state-of-the-art kitchen and dining room where Delicia had already envisioned Thanksgiving dinner being served, and climbed the staircase to the second floor. They looked at two nice-sized bedrooms and a hall bathroom before walking to the master suite on the opposite end. The realtor opened the door and then stepped back to let Delicia enter.
“This is beautiful,” Delicia said as she looked around. The first thing she noticed about the room was its size. The living room of her current abode could fit inside this space, with room to spare. Plenty of sunshine streamed in from three large windows while a cozy sitting area with built-in shelves anchored the other side of the room. But the jewel of the room, the master bath, is what Delicia would later say sealed the deal for her. Sea green and icy-blue glass squares were the back-splash to the oversized Jacuzzi that took up one corner of the large room. On the other side was a shower stall and next to it, a vanity complete with marble bench and makeup lights. A walk-in closet and dressing room was just beyond the vanity, and the toilet area was separate. Unexpectedly, tears welled up in Delicia’s eyes. “It’s really beautiful,” she repeated, her voice hushed and reverent.
“Would be the perfect place for a romantic evening with you and your guy,” the realtor said. Sensing a sale, she wanted to paint pictures that her client could see and, just as important, feel. The smell of chocolate-chip cookies worked in the kitchen; talk of love and romance usually helped sell the master suite.
“Yes, it would,” Delicia answered, her finger skimming the counter where the “his and her” sinks were housed. When daydreaming about her and Chaz being together, she hadn’t been able to imagine him being in her cramped, inner-city apartment. She could imagine him here.
“Well, what do you think?” the realtor asked as they walked back through the house and stood in the living room, where a beamed, vaulted ceiling offered an unobstructed view of the dining room’s crystal chandelier.
“I think I’d like to make an offer.”
19
“Daddy! Can I get an ice cream cone? Please?”
“Of course, sweetie.” Chaz’s heart filled with love for his daughter. He’d readily admit that she had him wrapped around her finger. She was daddy’s little girl, in looks and temperament. Chaz adored her. He pulled out a five-dollar bill and gave it to Cherish. “You want one, too, son?”
He gave his namesake a five-dollar bill, then turned and saw Jennifer’s broad smile. “What about you?”
“What I want to lick is not in a cone.”
“Ha! C’mon, now. Behave.”
“I’ll try,” Jennifer answered. But her mischievous smile suggested otherwise.
It was the second two-parent family outing since the children’s therapist had suggested it two months ago. There’d been little change in Cherish’s demeanor following Chaz and Jennifer’s separation and ultimate divorce, but Chaz, Jr. had become more quarrelsome and his grades took a dive. Since beginning the therapy, however, both parents had seen improvement. For Jennifer, the therapist suggesting outings involving both parents was an unexpected plus.
The family enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at Safari Land, a time filled with fun rides and junk food. As they walked to the parking lot with two satisfied yet sleepy children, both Chaz and Jennifer were remembering that there had been good times in their marriage, a time when they’d both been madly in love.
“I’d forgotten how much fun we could have together,” Jennifer said, after the children had hugged their mother and gotten in the backseat of Chaz’s car.
“I enjoyed it, too,” Chaz answered.
“I’d do anything to have a second chance with you, Chaz. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t kick myself for what happened. You’re an excellent lawyer, a wonderful father, and a good man. If I had it all to do over again—”
“Let’s not dwell on what we can’t change,” Chaz interrupted, even as something she said niggled at his mind. “This was a good day, let’s leave it at that. Your therapist deserves a thank-you. I can see a change in the kids, especially C.J.”
“It does make a difference, doesn’t it? The children seeing their parents together, acting civilized, happy. C.J. has a track meet in two weeks. Maybe we can—oh, hold on a minute.”
Jennifer had felt her vibrating phone in her pocket. She read its face and smiled. “Hold on,” she said, without looking at Chaz. Instead she focused on the keyboard, her thumbs moving rapidly as she typed in a message.
Chaz looked on with interest as his wife finished the message and placed the phone back in her pocket.
“Sorry about that,” Jennifer said, still smiling.
“I never knew you to be a text messager,” Chaz said, a myriad of thoughts racing through his head.
“I haven’t been doing it long, only a few months.”
“Couldn’t tell it from how fast your fingers moved over those keys.”
“You remember how I used to beat your butt at video games. This kind of stuff comes to me naturally.”
“You don’t say. Well, you’re obviously good at it.”
Jennifer hugged Chaz. He noted that her embrace was one of familiarity, her right hand rubbing his back while her left hand squeezed the back of his neck in a way she knew drove him wild. The feminine scent of her musky perfume assaulted his nostrils, even as the feel of her soft breasts pressing against Chaz’s chest became all too noticeable. Of their own volition, Chaz’s arms tightened around Jennifer, his right hand inching precariously close to the butt he used to squeeze in the throes of lovemaking. He brushed her buns with the palm of his hand. Jennifer reacted by pressing herself into him and placing a light kiss on his lips.
“Mama, I have to use the bathroom,” C.J. announced from the backseat window.
And the spell was broken.
“You come, too, baby girl,” Chaz said to his daughter, as C.J. bounded from the car. Chaz punched his son playfully. “It would have been too much like right for you to use it before we left the park, huh?” Then he turned to Jennifer. “This was a good day, Jen. I hope it is reflective of the type of relationship we can have . . . for the sake of the children.”
Jennifer stared at Chaz, not trying to hide the love in her eyes. “What time should I pick the kids up tomorrow?”
“How about I drop them off? Maybe we can even go out to dinner, us and the kids.”
“I’d like that!”
“Okay.” Chaz gave Jennifer another brief hug and then followed his children, who were already running back toward the restroom just inside the park’s entrance.
After they’d all done their business, Chaz, Cherish, and C.J. returned to Chaz’s BMW. All the way home, the kids chattered about how much fun they’d had and which had been their favorite rides. Chaz engaged them in conversation but at the same time, thought of other things. Like how good Jennifer had felt in his arms. And about her newly developed texting skills.
20
“Liz, I’m deeply grateful for this.” Chaz looked up from the two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar check he held, and blessed Elizabeth with a smile.
“It’s from the heart,” Liz replied, purposely using the name of Chaz’s beloved foundation.
“Even though you have a lot of it, there are many places you could spend your money. Believe me when I say that I truly appreciate it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Silence ensued, as Chaz and Elizabeth looked at one another with appreciation—for very different reasons. Neither would have disagreed that at another time, another place, they might have been one of Chicago’s power couples. One of them still wished that, because it seemed highly unlikely that they’d ever
be
a couple, they could couple, at the very least.
be
a couple, they could couple, at the very least.
“I’d like to have you over for dinner,” Elizabeth said.
You’d like to have me for dinner, more likely.
“I don’t think the two of us alone, without a chaperone, is a good idea,” Chaz responded.
“I don’t think the two of us alone, without a chaperone, is a good idea,” Chaz responded.
“You’re a big boy. And I won’t bite. Not much, anyway . . .”
“How are things with Max?” Chaz asked, in an abrupt change of subject.
Elizabeth sighed, and the slightest hint of vulnerability showed in her eyes. “Well, you were right. We’re not getting divorced.”
“What exactly did your father say?”
“That hell would freeze over and the moon would fall before that happened. Oh, and he also included a pesky detail about me being cut off from my inheritance.”
“Kenneth Owens is nothing if not exacting.”
“My dad’s a royal pain in the ass.”
“He’s a shrewd businessman who’d give his life for you,” Chaz countered. “Looking at you and this check from your public relations firm, a business I know you built without your father’s money, I’d say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
Elizabeth glowed at the praise.
“So how did you and Max kiss and make up?”
“He bought me the vacation home I’d been eyeing in the Bahamas. The one I want to use for clandestine getaways.” Elizabeth looked pointedly at Chaz. “And we agreed to formally have an open marriage.”
Chaz Covington was shocked, and he didn’t shock easily. “You’re lying.”
“Scout’s honor. It’s the only way he and I will be able to peacefully co-exist. This means we can be together, Chaz. I can have sex with you without breaking my vows.”
“What happened to the golf-partner’s son?”
“Oh, God. That little bunny rabbit came almost before he was in good.”
“Ha!”
“Half my age and no staying power. But I’m sure you, on the other hand . . .”
“Excuse me, Mr. Covington,” Lois interrupted, after tapping lightly on Chaz’s closed door. “But your two o’clock appointment is here.” She walked over to Chaz and handed him a folder. “These are the notes from your first meeting.”
“Get them settled in the conference room, Lois. I’ll be right there.”
Elizabeth watched Lois walk out of the room. “She sure has a different pep in her step. What did you do?”
“Not what
I
did, what
she
did . . . got a makeover at the mall.”
I
did, what
she
did . . . got a makeover at the mall.”
“Poor little thing. I hardly noticed. Then again, I guess it’s the first time I saw her hair outside of a bun or ponytail. You know she’s in love with you.”
“So I’ve been told. But true or not, that has nothing to do with Lois’s proficiency. She’s an excellent employee.”
“Yeah, one I just might steal from you.”
“Oh, really? Why’s that?”
“Melanie turned in her two-weeks’ notice, right before I left the office to come here.”
“Did she finally have enough of your verbal assaults?”
“The little twat was incompetent. And if it’s left up to me, she won’t get another job in this town.”
Chaz stood. “Well, then, it’s a good thing it’s not left up to you.”
“Oh, so you think you might hire her?”
“I have a couple of openings. We’ve promoted Gina Perez to office manager, so we need another secretary and a couple more file clerks.” He came around from his desk, hugged Elizabeth, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks again, Elizabeth. For everything.”
Elizabeth kissed Chaz on the lips. She looked into his eyes and kissed him again. “There’s only one way you can truly thank me, Chaz Covington. When the opportunity arises, and it
will
arise . . . don’t blow it.”
will
arise . . . don’t blow it.”
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