Love UnCharted (Love's Improbable Possibility) (25 page)

“Oh! Well, that’s good to know. She looks so young. I didn’t…”

“She is. And she’s also very bright, clearly.” I watched as Dawn measured my words carefully. I recalled what Rayna said the night before about not painting Dawn a better picture of our relationship and felt I owed it to both of them. After giving her a moment to chew on it, I continued, “And for the record, I am a private man regarding personal affairs, but my affairs with Ms. Brimm are serious. I need you to know this as we proceed with this business relationship. Our contract is provisory and so far I’m happy with what you’ve been able to deliver. Don’t allow what is not possible to interfere with your paper.” I drag my gaze to her contemplative eyes, noticing her signature smile. “Don’t eat where you shit. Do you understand, Ms. Taylor?”

Her smile was fading. I could tell I’d hit a nerve, but couldn’t be concerned about her feelings. I needed to clear a path for Rayna and if  that meant it had to be at Dawn’s expense, so fucking be it.

“Direct enough,” Dawn murmured before taking the last mouthful of her cocktail. “The
Vibe
article that you’re featured in it hit the shelves yesterday. You should pick yourself up a copy. You look good and read well in print.” Her spirit collapsed.

“Indeed.” I had totally forgotten about that article. It was good to see their proposal unfold. “If you ladies need a tour of the facility, my executive assistant here can handle that.” I could feel her gaze in my peripheral and decided not to give it my attention and possibly open up a can of worms. She grabbed her purse and turned her body completely to face me.

She murmured, “Azmir, you stay on this not mixing business with pleasure kick.” Dawn let out a soft exhale, “I’ll try to play nicely. I am an only child who challenges rejection. I always seem to end up with those things that I pursue.”

With that, she turned and strutted off.

I take a beat and then call out to her without changing my stance, “I don’t want any trouble in our business affairs, Ms. Taylor.”   

I heard the abrupt pause in her heels against the floors as she considered my words, “It’s not our business affairs that anyone should be concerned about,” she shot back before hitting the door.

It was in that conversation I’d realized that my previous draw to Dawn actually worked against her. Yes, she made it clear she wanted me, but she left nothing for me to desire. Nothing for me to chase. On the other hand, while I enjoyed the chase with Rayna, I needed to feel every once in a while that she appreciated my efforts. I needed to know she wanted my companionship. In all honesty, I wanted Rayna to need me, like I needed her. I was hoping that I didn’t fuck up things with Rayna and had hope to Allah that she’d find it within herself to forgive me. If I wanted something solid with Rayna, I had to work with her and give her time to come around.

Damn. I’d just hope she’d come around.

“Sir,” Brett called out to me, breaking me yet again from a trance.

“Ah, yes. Next week will be fine,” I rebounded, recalling the last of their exchange.

“Okay, I’ll let your stylist know that you’ll need wardrobe for then,” Brett replied.

“Oh, he finally speaks up?” Shayna quipped. I guess I was that distant from the conversation.

“I’m here, Shayna,” I chimed in.

“How are you today?” Shayna asked in her usual southern hospitable tone.

“I’m well. Thanks for asking. I’m pleased about this brandy deal. You guys are blowing me away.”

“Well, thanks for that. We have a lot more in store.”

“Mr. Jacobs…” Dawn chimed in with her kitten voice, dripping sex appeal.

“Yes.”

“
Honey
magazine wants to do a
personal experience
piece with several semi-nude shots for one of their winter issues. They really loved the
Vibe
article and learned that you were a boxing enthusiast, which means they know you’re physically fit and want see your body. I think we should do this and mention Cobalt for marketing purposes.”

Did I hear her correctly?

“Dawn, I am a businessman, not a model hopeful. That may be ideal for
Cobalt
, but does nothing for
Global Fusions
. I’ll have to pass.”

Global Fusions
was my merger, acquisition, and liquidations firm with Richard. We were growing in lightning speed in this economy. I didn’t need any traction.

“Are you kidding me? With your physique, business ventures, and brilliant mind we can cause major traffic to your entire brand. Your Google numbers would be out of this world. Just look at Christian Cross. His spread in
Men’s Health
demonstrated a significant boost in his cutlery line.”

“That’s because men don’t shop for knives and I don’t have many products exclusively geared toward women. I’ll pass.”

“Is that a
hold
action item for a future meeting?” Dawn goaded.

“That is an definitive, absolutely, positively,
hell
no.” I was firm and slightly annoyed by her persistence.

There was a brief pause.  “Okay. We’ll work another angle,” Shayna assured.

That’s when I got a text
from
Shayna, asking for a personal and private conversation with me soon. What a clandestine thing to do, given we were on the line together now. It must’ve had to do with Dawn. I told her I’d be agreeable to it.

The conversation went on for nearly an hour before we ended and Brett and I moved on to another conference call. It was a long morning and an even longer afternoon. By five p.m., my trepidations concerning Rayna’s showing for dinner that night with my mother had grown exponentially. I didn’t want to reach out to her, not wanting to pressure her or be overbearing considering our time together the night before.

And that had played out so well. That Monday, I was preparing to “run into” her
after
her staff meeting, but when I saw her standing in the lobby waiting for the elevator, I felt several emotions: longing, excitement, hunger, and anger—she cut her fucking hair! I can’t stop thinking about it. I felt a flair of possessiveness and wanted to go fucking caveman and snatch her ass up so that I can fully examine what she had done—without my fucking approval! But instantly her beauty speared me. I saw the narrow structure of her neck, exposing soft caramel skin—skin that my fingers tingled to touch, and my tongue twitched to taste. I had visions of running my tongue the length of her ear down to her shoulder. And suddenly, I couldn’t resist, I had to make my move.

She gave a little resistance and I couldn’t believe the way that I’d practically begged her to let me back in. Rayna was still raw. The shit I copped to in the elevator and those that I shared with her in her bed last night was something I’d never experienced. I wanted to slap the shit out of myself at times for being such a bitch, but I can’t lie, I don’t regret a word I uttered. I’m simply not accustomed to being so transparent about my inner most personal feelings. Yet, I felt compelled to let her know that she meant the world to me.

I’d picked up Yazmine from her hotel. Since her arrival from New York, she always looked uneasy when getting into the Bentley. I knew it was a lot to take in, but I also didn’t want to make any changes just to suit her. I was content with what I’d built over the years. I’ve lived beneath my means for years, and still do to a large degree, so there was no need to recede when she was around.

Yazmine had been pretty refreshing during my suspension with Rayna. We’ve talked a lot about our individual lives, and our time apart. She was really laid back, but very discerning, something I didn’t recall as a child, perhaps because my mind was not mature enough to catch it. At the dinner table assessing the wine menu at Maggiano’s, I was nervous. I searched for something that would help me bear the brunt of Rayna’s absence. I was nervous as hell about her standing me up. I still hadn’t heard from her and after a long day could certainly use her presence.

“Why are you so fidgety?” Yazmine observed.

“Am I?” I responded calmly, or so I attempted.

“Yes, you are. You can try to play that smooth shit with the rest of them, but I’m your momma. It don’t matter how long I been up, I know when something’s wrong witcha’,” Yazmine’s accent was thick with her Brooklyn roots and broken idiom from prison, I’d guessed. But no matter how she expressed herself, I’d still experienced a small semblance of the mother I had once known.

I gave a small chuckle. “I’m good. Just had a long day.” I placed the menu down. “How was yours?” I tried steering her away from my truths of Rayna standing me up.

“It was all good. I reached out to Daryl.” That caught my attention.

“And?”

“And I told him I was in town and need to kick it wit’ him.”

I didn’t feel good about that because I no longer trusted Big D. “And what was his response?” I needed to know how he was going to swing this.

“He was shocked as hell! I thought that piece of shit was having a damn heart attack on the phone!” She held her chest and laughed hysterically. Her other hand cupped her cupped her mouth, drawing attention to her gold nose ring. My mother had aged. She still had her mildly tinted brown skin, but the bags under eyes told tales of weariness. “We’re suppose to meet tomorrow at two…some place called Griffith Park? I knew your driver could get me there so I ain’t sweatin’ it.”

“I’ll send a new driver. I don’t want you venturing out alone.”

“No problem.”

I pulled out my pocket watch and noted that it was seven thirty-five, over a half an hour past our reservation time. I knew we had arrived ten minutes late due to traffic, but this was not like Rayna. I had begun to resolve in my mind that she wasn’t going to show.
Should I have called her to remind her or pushed the issue of having her picked up?
I was wrestled in my thoughts. I immediately became flooded with disappointment.

Yazmine gave me a deep gaze of skepticism. “Are you sure you’re okay, beloved.”

“Oh, yeah. I’d prefer you not go alone. I know that you and Big D have a history and with what we’ve recently discovered, I don’t want to take any chances of a heated encounter,” I assured her.

“No. It ain’t that. It’s something else going on in ya’ head.” She was right. Her name was Rayna. And she was stressing me the fuck out!

Having succumbed to defeat, I was just about to call the waiter over to start our order when I noticed her enthralling stride over to our table. She was dressed in a black, fitted, long sleeve dress that stopped just below her knees, and black suede Fendi metallic platform pumps with a gold with black Fendi fold-over clutch to match. I knew this because I was with her when it was purchased, just before her birthday, during the summer. I thought the combo was a bit understated, but she said that’s why it had appealed to her. It was nice to see her wearing it. Her hair was in the sexy, short loose curls she’d had it cut into. Her jewelry was modest, her make-up was soft, but her lips were lusciously nude against her skin. My dick inflated against my pants.

Just before she reached the table, I rose and took a few steps to meet her. She gave me a nervous smile and was receptive when I went to reach her and pulled her into the curve of my body, she didn’t resist. I was so relieved and excited to see her. When we embraced, I heard her breath catch at the point of our contact. In my elation, I pulled her face up with my right hand to plant a soft kiss on her lips, trying to fight the urge to smear her lipstick. Before my lips landed, I felt an electric pull as I inhaled her and when our lips met, I seemed to have shattered in a million pieces.

What the fuck is that?

When I opened my eyes, I noticed hers were open, trying not to give into passion. But I felt her erratic heartbeat in my arms. She smelled glorious in my fold. Her eyes danced back and forth while searching mine. I knew she wondered what the fuck was up with me.

“I didn’t think you were going to make it,” slipped from my lips in a whisper that could only be heard by her, and I immediately wanted to kick myself for letting it. I slowly released her lower back from my needy grip, raking my hand on the way and could swear I heard a moan escape her.

She looked me in the eyes with furrowed brows. There was so much I wanted to say, so many unfamiliar feelings I wanted to express, but of course this was not the time nor place. She looked over to Yazmine, leaving my embrace, and greeted, “Mrs. Jacobs, it’s so good to see you again,” as she extended her arms to indicate to my mother that she wanted to enfold her.

Yazmine, who appeared to have been watching our private moment, quickly followed suit and rose from the table reciprocating. I watched how they welcomed each other and both seemed to have been immediately taken. I could see Yazmine’s face from my angle and she closed her eyes during their contact, which let me know that there was a level of sincerity in her greeting to Rayna.

As they let go Rayna said, “I apologize for being so late. Not only was the traffic terrible, but I had to stop at a drugstore on my way. I picked up the phone to text Azmir on the way and saw that my battery had died.”

“Well, I’m just glad that you made it, beloved,” Yazmine gushed so forgivingly. “I saw Mir folding up over there. I think he was scared that you wasn’t gonna come.”