Recipe for Desire (23 page)

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Authors: Cheris Hodges

BOOK: Recipe for Desire
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“We don’t know yet,” Jade said. “Solomon said there was a complication.”
“Oh, no,” Devon said. Marie gripped his hand, noting the pained look on his face.
Serena held on to Antonio tightly as her eyes misted with tears. “She has to be all right,” she whispered.
“She will be,” Antonio said comfortingly. “She’s a fighter, just like the rest of you ladies, and she isn’t going to leave that baby without a mother.”
About an hour later, Solomon walked into the lobby and smiled at his friends. Jade and Devon leapt to their feet. “How is she?” they asked in concert.
“My wife and my daughter are just fine. I’m guessing this is the first of many near heart attacks I have to look forward to,” he said as he leaned against the wall and sighed.
“So, what happened?” Serena asked.
Solomon released a breath and started telling the story. “The baby was breach. The doctor thought she would turn, but as Kandace continued to dilate, the baby didn’t move an inch. Then she went into distress because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. Kandace’s blood pressure dropped. It was scary for a while. All of the machines were going crazy and I was standing there about to pass out.”
Devon held Marie closer to him, Antonio stroked Serena’s shoulder, and Jade and Alicia squeezed each other’s hands as Solomon continued his story.
“I told the doctor he had to save them both, and he went on about how they couldn’t do the emergency C-section if Kandace didn’t stabilize, and I thought my life was going to end right there. But she did stabilize and the rest is, as they say, history.”
Jade, Alicia, and Serena surrounded Solomon and enveloped him in a tight hug as they cried tears of relief and joy. As Marie watched them, she felt out of place, as if she was intruding on a private moment.
“I’m going to get everyone some tea,” she told Devon. He nodded and did everything but shove her down the hall—at least in Marie’s mind.
She slowly wandered down the corridor, wondering if she was being too sensitive to what she thought was a random dismissal. After all, the woman had been his first love, and she was married to another man and just gave birth to his child.
And she nearly died. Of course Devon is going to be concerned about her. This isn’t William; it’s not as if you’re going to walk in someplace and find them kissing.
Marie didn’t do insecurities and these feelings were new. And if she was honest with herself, she knew she’d never felt this way about anyone else she’d ever dated because she had never been in love. Never put her heart into it because she was afraid to get hurt. Now she had fallen so deeply for Devon that she was afraid that such a love would lead to pain. But Devon wasn’t the type of man to play games, and he hadn’t given her a reason to feel this way. Her old sabotaging self seemed to be whispering in her ear as she walked into the cafeteria.
Maybe I don’t deserve a man like Devon,
she thought as she ordered tea for everyone and picked up some snacks just in case anyone wanted something to eat. When Marie returned to the waiting room, Jade and Alicia were gone. Devon told her they were visiting Kandace as he took the drinks and snacks from her hands. “You must’ve known that we were sitting here contemplating ordering some food.”
“Well, I wanted to make sure everybody could have something they wanted,” she said. Devon kissed her.
“Thank you, baby,” he said as he grabbed a granola bar. Antonio and Serena thanked Marie as they took tea and two bags of chips. Marie started to ask Devon if he thought she should be there, since she was much like an outsider to the crew, but Jade and Alicia walked over to them.
“She is a beautiful little girl and Solomon is already so protective of her,” Jade said.
“What did they name her?” Serena asked.
“Kiana Danielle,” Alicia said and the three women laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Antonio asked, then took a sip of tea.
“Nothing, except she’s been carrying that name around since ...” Serena stopped and glanced at Marie and Devon. “It’s an old name we came up with in the AUC.”
Marie grabbed her cup of tea and took a big gulp so that she wouldn’t say something inappropriate. “They took the baby back to the nursery; Solomon said he’d come and escort us over there to see her,” Jade said.
“You can wait for Solomon,” Serena said. “I’m going to see my goddaughter now.”
As she walked down the hall, Alicia turned to Jade and shook her head. “You see how she just automatically assumes she’s the godmother,” she said, then laughed.
Devon noticed how quiet Marie was and sat down beside her on the bench where she was sending e-mails from her BlackBerry.
“Hey, you,” he said. “I guess all this motherhood stuff isn’t your scene, huh?”
“I thought it wasn’t your scene,” she shot back. Marie shook her head. “I’m sorry, I guess I need a nap. I just feel like you guys have a life and a connection that I will never be a part of. I mean, you’re almost leaping for joy that Kandace had a baby, but the one time we had sex without a condom, you nearly jumped out of your skin at the prospect that I could be carrying your child.”
“Really? You want to do this here?” Devon asked, taken aback by Marie’s attitude.
“No, I don’t. As a matter of fact, let me go and leave you with your friends. Enjoy the tea and the snacks.” She leapt to her feet and stormed to the elevator. When she felt a hand on her arm, she was honestly surprised that Devon had followed her.
“First of all, I don’t know where this is coming from,” he said in a whisper. “Obviously, you knew what kind of friendship Kandace and I had or you wouldn’t have reached out to her earlier today. Secondly, her baby has nothing to do with me. Am I happy for her? Yes. But I’m not going to be the one responsible for raising that child. That’s her and her husband’s job. So, what is really going on with you?”
Marie couldn’t answer the question. Because she was afraid that her answer wouldn’t make sense at all. She was jealous, plain and simple, and she knew she had no reason to be. Devon was right; she had reached out to Kandace when she thought he was in trouble.
“Why don’t you just go back to your friends,” she said. “I need to go and talk to Adriana about some business and I don’t need to be hanging around here.” She jabbed the button for the elevator, and Devon shook his head. But he didn’t try to stop her, recognizing that whatever she was fighting with in her head, he couldn’t do anything to help her until she calmed down.
Chapter 22
Two days after their disagreement at the hospital, Devon still couldn’t figure out why Marie had gotten so upset. But he had grown tired of her avoiding him and not answering his calls. She had adjusted her schedule at the shelter to get there after his class was finished. After he finished his preparation work at the restaurant, he headed to Marie’s office to put an end to the madness. Either they were going to work things out or it was time to stop wasting time.
Who am I kidding? I’m not letting her go, and if I have to lock her in this office until we get things right, then that’s just what I’m going to do,
he thought as he hopped into his car. Driving to her office, all he could think about was how empty he’d felt these past few days. As he pulled up to a stoplight, his cell phone rang, jarring his mind away from Marie.
“Yeah?” he said when he answered.
“Devon, this is Amélie Michel from Paris Dining,” she said. “Bonjour.”
“Bonjour,” he said.
“It’s been a while since we’ve spoken about the show,” Amélie said. “Today, I’m able to make you a formal offer. The host of our show has decided that he wants to focus on running his restaurant and no one wants to see this show end.”
“Wow,” he said. Since Devon and Marie had gotten serious, he hadn’t given Paris a second thought.
“You say that as if Paris is no longer an option for you,” she said, her voice tensing.
“Honestly, Amélie, I haven’t thought about it in a while.”
“
Mais non
, Devon. You’re the only chef I know who can pull this show off. You have a following in Paris because of the
gâteau d’amoureux.
One cake. You have to do this. How much will it take to get you here?”
“It’s not the money,” he said.
“I understand that you’re working with a restaurant in North Carolina, but I will buy out your contract and pay any penalties. You made your mark here. Do you know how many students have a dessert being sold in Le Bouquet des Archives? Of course, you’re not a student anymore, and your talent has become world renowned.”
Devon laughed underneath her compliments. “I don’t know if I’d go that far. When would you need my decision?” he asked as he turned into the parking lot of Marie’s office building.
“Well, we don’t start the show for another ten months, but if you’re going to take over the restaurant, change the menu, and remake our dessert offerings, then I’d like to have you here in the next six months.”
“I have a lot of things I have to tie up here,” he said, thinking about the upcoming fund-raiser, his work at the shelter, and Marie. Looking up at the office building, he thought about turning the offer down. But Paris was his absolute favorite city, and he had considered going back there. Would Marie come with him? This would be a chance for him to start over and put distance between him and his father. He couldn’t start a new life if Marie wasn’t a part of it, though.
“Well,” she said, “I wish I could say that you had all the time in the world, but I’m going to need an answer in a month.”
“All right,” he said. “I will get back to you.”
“
Au revoir
,” she said.
After hanging up the phone, Devon sighed, wondering if he should take the next step to further his career or if he should fight for the love of his woman. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. The woman he wanted to stand beside while she gave birth to his son. The woman who made him dream of chocolate and think of nothing but tasting it all over her body.
Was he ready to give up his dream for Marie?
 
 
Marie sipped a latte with her feet up on her desk as she listened to Adriana tell her about a horrible date she’d had last night. “Girl,” Adriana said. “You’re lucky.”
“What?” Marie said.
“No more bad dates; you have a great boyfriend,” she said.
“Yeah,” she said wistfully.
Adriana raised her eyebrow. “I hope you haven’t messed it up with him, because he is clearly the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Whatever,” she replied. “My wonderful boyfriend hasn’t talked to me since we had a disagreement at the hospital when his ex had her baby.”
Adriana shook her head and tossed her empty Starbucks cup in the trash can. “And it has nothing to do with the fact that you haven’t been answering his calls? I thought you were done with this craziness, Marie.”
“What do you mean?”
Adriana smiled and faced her friend. “You don’t want to be happy.”
“Excuse me?”
“That’s why you accepted William’s engagement ring. That’s why you’re trying to ruin what you have with Devon over the fact that he’s friends with his married ex,” she said. “His married ex, who he’s in business with.” She shook her head again. “Who just had a baby, so it’s not as if they can engage in some clandestine affair.”
“I never said they were having an affair or that it was possible, but ...” Marie stopped talking when she heard the door buzz. “Yes?”
“There’s a Devon Harris here for you, Miss Charles,” the doorman said.
“Send him up,” she said as she dropped her feet and smoothed her pencil skirt. Adriana giggled at her friend.
“Should I leave or pretend that I’m busy working on a campaign?” she asked.
“Get out,” Marie replied.
Adriana offered her friend a mock salute. “And in the words of RuPaul, don’t—” She stopped short when the door opened and Devon walked in. “Hi,” she said to him. “Marie, I’m going to meet with those club owners. It’s going to be a long meeting.”
Marie shook her head and muttered, “Smooth.”
Devon offered Adriana a smile as she made her hasty exit. Marie looked at Devon, wondering what to say as a tense silence surrounded them like thick curtains.
“I didn’t come here just to look at you,” he said.
“Why are you here?”
“Either I’m here to fix a problem or say good-bye.” His words stabbed her in the heart.
Good-bye?
“I. Hope that isn’t the case,” she stammered. “Good-bye? Why?”
“Because, you have decided that this isn’t what you want. You’ve been avoiding me and I have no idea why.”
“Because I’m an idiot. I don’t know what came over me at the hospital. Well, yes, I do. What you and Kandace shared really made me jealous.”
“She’s happily married. And what we had ended years ago. There’s nothing for you to be jealous about or to worry about.” Devon crossed over to her chair and placed his hands on the arms. “I love you. I only want you, and despite the fact that you tried to push me away, I’m not going to be that easy to get rid of, got it?”
She nodded. “I love you, too, and that really scares me.”
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You have nothing to fear. Let me prove it to you.” Devon captured her lips with a heated passion that took her breath away. His tongue slowly meandered the sweet crevices of her mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in deeper. Devon snaked his hand underneath her skirt, reaching for her creamy center. He could feel her throbbing need as his fingers danced across her crotch. And he was—again—thankful for flimsy lace that could barely contain Marie’s wetness. Pushing her panties aside, he slipped one finger inside, in and out as he kissed her, swallowing her lustful moans.
Breaking the kiss, he pushed her skirt up to her waist with his other hand, then dropped to his knees in front of her. He pulled her panties to the side and devoured her wet folds of flesh, hungrily lapping her sweet wetness and lashing her throbbing bud until she screamed out his name. “Come for me, let me taste what I’ve been missing.” Devon’s hot breath made her explode just as he’d requested. Feeling her climax sent electric currents through his body and made him harder than a Stonehenge monolith. Gripping her hips, he effortlessly lifted her from the chair and sat her on the edge of the desk. Next, he peeled her panties off as she reached for his belt. “Protection?” she moaned.
As she unzipped his pants, Devon reached for his wallet and removed a condom. Marie snatched the package from his hand and ripped it open as he stepped out of his jeans. She slid the sheath in place, providing the barrier of protection they needed. Still, she yearned for a day when they were joined as man and wife and condoms were no longer a necessity. The thought froze her momentarily as the image of that wedding dress and Devon in a simple black tuxedo flashed in her mind. He took her face in his hands. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes,” she said. “But I could be better.” She slipped one leg around his waist, inching him closer to her desire.
He leaned into her, brushing his lips against hers as he melted with her wetness. She was hot, tight, and delectable as they ground against each other, going stroke for stroke. With each thrust, she released her fear, released her insecurities, and accepted his love.
“Oh, Marie,” he breathed against her ear as he felt the oncoming of an explosion. “I love you.”
Through her orgasmic haze, she cried out, “I love you, too.” They climaxed together, their hearts pounding to the beat of the same love song. A few moments of silence passed before either of them could muster the strength to unwind their bodies.
“We’d better put some clothes on before Adriana or one of your clients comes in,” he said, then kissed her collarbone, knowing it would make her hot.
“My clients are all online these days,” she said. “I’ve decided to work on social media campaigns rather than hitting the party scene every night.”
Devon smiled and adjusted her skirt while pocketing her panties. “Is that so?” he said.
“Yes, and did you just ...”
“I sure did, and if you want them back, you’re going to have to join me for dinner tonight.”
“I guess I will since those are my lucky panties.”
“Mine, too,” he joked. “On the way over here, I got a phone call that ...”
Marie’s phone rang, interrupting Devon. “I have to take this. My clients don’t come by, but they call all the time. Can we talk tonight or do you want to wait?”
Looking down at his watch, Devon saw he needed to get back to the restaurant. “Tonight.” She blew him a kiss as he headed out the door and she picked up the phone.
 
 
Driving to Hometown Delights, Devon thought about Paris. It had been a dream of his to work there for years, but would Marie go with him? Could he ask her to give up her business and move with him to France? Especially if they didn’t have a stronger commitment. He didn’t want to take his girlfriend to Paris; he wanted to live there with his wife. He wanted children who spoke French and English, who would see the
Mona Lisa
on the wall of the Louvre rather than in the pages of a book. There was only one thing he could do. Devon was going to ask her to marry him and live with him in Paris.
Now, he just had to tell the ladies that he was leaving. As he headed inside, his cell phone rang again. When he saw the 404 area code, he started not to answer, but he did.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Mr. Harris, this is Dr. Harold Neiderman from Grady Memorial Hospital.”
“OK.”
“I have some news about your father,” he began.
“You know what, you can save it. I’m not up for any more of his tricks and ...”
“Mr. Harris, I’m sorry to tell you this, but your father passed away this morning after being admitted to the hospital last night with complaints of chest pains. We tried to save him, but due to his condition, all we could really do was make him comfortable.”
Devon tugged at his ear, wondering if he was supposed to feel something or if he was supposed to say something to the doctor. All he really wanted to know was if his father had made peace with God before he took his last breath. Finally, he said, “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Well, he had instructions, but we had to notify his next of kin, and you’re the person who was listed.”
“Thanks for the call,” Devon said, then ended the call. He sat in the car for a few minutes, thinking this was a sign for him to let go of the past and move forward in the future. He didn’t have anything holding him back now. It was time for him to move on, and he was going to take those steps with Marie. That is, if she was willing to go to Paris with him.
Devon headed for the office and was glad to see Alicia and Jade in there. “Ladies,” he said with a smile. “We need to talk.”
“Anytime a man says we need to talk, it isn’t good,” Alicia quipped.
“What’s going on?” Jade asked. “We were looking at the AUC reunion site. Guess who’s getting honored at the reunion ceremony.” She nudged Alicia, who hid her smile.
“I don’t see why all of us are going to accept the award,” Alicia said. “And who is this prince from Africa?”
“I have no idea,” Jade said, then looked away from the computer and at Devon. “Well, what’s going on with you?”

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