The Game of Seduction (Arrington Family Series) (7 page)

“Business?” her father asked. “What kind of business would you have there?”

She hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t expecting her father to question her in a harsh tone. He was usually in a pleasant mood. She cleared her throat and avoided eye contact with him.

“Well, you all remember my friend and mentor, Dr. Taylor Banneker. I haven’t seen her in ages, so I’m going to hang with her for the month, visit with the twins, and check out Taylor’s practice.”

“What kind of practice is it, dear?” her mother asked.

“Oh, it’s a women’s wellness center. There’s a dermatologist, an ObGyn, a dietician, and of course Taylor is a fertility specialist. The doctors there incorporate naturopathic approaches if necessary,” she said, still avoiding eye contact with her father and only looking at her mother. “So, I’m going to go check it out.”

Raven coughed and Sean simply whistled the
Andy Griffith
theme song quietly.

“Bria.” Her father cleared his throat as he placed his glasses on his salt and peppered hair. “While I’m proud that you have an interest in naturopathic approaches and you’ve even gone as far as becoming certified in some areas of that field, we don’t offer that here, so I fail to understand how going to Dr. Banneker’s wellness center will give you any ideas that you can bring back and incorporate, young lady.”

Bria hesitated to answer him as she looked around the conference table. Her father sat at the head of the table, with Sean and Raven flanked on either side of him. The three nurses sat on the side where Sean was and across from them were the receptionist and two medical assistants who looked as if they couldn’t wait for Bria to spill the tea so they could gossip about it later. Her mother, who sat at the opposite end of the table to her father, looked back and forth between Bria and her husband, while continuing to hold Bria’s hand. She sat to her mother’s left with Cannon sitting directly in front of her.

All eyes were on her except for Sean whose face held a serious expression as he typed something on his iPad.
Probably trying to analyze me as always.
Taking a deep breath, she remembered the pep talk Rasheed gave her that morning. She squeezed her mother’s hand for support as she answered her father in a professional tone and this time, gave him full eye contact.

“Well, Father, Taylor has an opening for an allergist with all of my qualifications and certifications which would allow me to still practice traditional medicine but incorporate alternative medicine as well.”

Dr. Francis Arrington stood and stared at Bria so hard she thought surely she would explode right there in her chair.

“Everybody out!”

Chapter Five

“Francis, go easy on her, dear,” Darla pleaded. She was the last person still left in the conference room. She placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder and gave Bria a comforting smile before leaving. Sean barged back in and grabbed his iPad from the table.

“Dad, I feel it is my duty to stay and take notes on this very crucial situation. As a psychiatrist, I may be able to figure out why your second youngest child is rebelling similar to how Shelbi was rebelling against you when she decided to become a food critic, forget all about starting her residency and flushing all of your money you paid for medical school down the toilet. Luckily, she came to her senses after I spoke to her, but this situation is different. I feel I can help you in this matter, Dr. Francis.” Sean used the name the siblings and staff called their father at the practice. Because there were seven Dr. Arrington’s, they used their first names with doctor added in front to not cause confusion amongst each other or the patients and staff.

“Son, what were you typing on your iPad earlier before I kicked everyone out?”

Sean gave a smirk and glanced at the tablet in his hands.

“All the names, the ones I remember, of the models I dated this year.”

“Sean, get out,” Bria said, before placing her head on the table. She was sort of hoping he could help, but his mind was clearly on his playboy lifestyle.

After Sean left, her father closed and locked the door. He sat back in his chair, which the siblings had dubbed his throne, since it was slightly bigger than the rest of the chairs around the conference table.

“So, how serious are you about leaving our family practice that your mother and I started for our children and move to Atlanta and work for someone else?” Dr. Francis asked.

“Daddy, I’m just going to go check it out. I haven’t made any promises.”

“Bria, this is our family business. Your mother and I worked hard to be able to start the practice over ten years ago with the hopes that all of our children would eventually work here and then run it when we retire in a few years. Who knows, maybe our grandchildren will be doctors here as well.”

“Daddy, I’m not saying I want to stop practicing traditional medicine. I just want to incorporate an alternative method for some patients who would greatly benefit from it.”

“I do not agree with your decision to leave our family practice.”

“So let me incorporate it here.”

“Out of the question. We’re a traditional medical practice. All that voodoo who doo isn’t what we’re about.”

She had really hoped her father would change with the times, but he’d always been a traditionalist in everything not just medicine.

“Dad, it isn’t voodoo. Just alternative methods such as taking evening primrose oil to lessen hot flashes in women during menopause or acupuncture to regulate hormones. Sometimes, it’s something simple like cutting dairy or white processed foods out of your diet to stop joint pain. More people are open to alternative medicine, and there are doctors who incorporate both.”

“Bria, this is my practice, and you will not offer anything but traditional medicine here. What you’re trying to do isn’t real medicine anyway.”

“Then I’ll have to leave because I’m not going to stay and have you dictate what I can and can’t do since it’s
your
practice.” She couldn’t believe she’d just spoken to her dad like that, but she was passionate about it and wanted her father to realize she was serious. “Taylor has already offered me a position.”

The look he gave her was one of hurt and disbelief, and for a second she felt bad. She knew her father had worked hard to start the practice. It had been his dream for all of his children to work there, but she had dreams and goals, too. He’d taught her to be goal-oriented, resourceful, and an independent thinker. He instilled that into her at an early age. She was shocked that he didn’t understand.

He cleared his throat. “Moving to Atlanta is out of the question.”

“So what you’re saying is I have no say so in my life at all.”

“Bria, this is our family business that you own part of. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Oh, so even though I own part of it, I still have no say so. Okay, I’ll sell my ten percent shares back to you.”

“No. Out of the question, young lady.”

“Daddy,” she stood, grabbed her coffee mug and notepad. “I haven’t made any decisions about anything. I just want to see how it can be incorporated, that’s all.” She moved toward the door as he continued to sit brooding on his throne.

“I haven’t dismissed you, Dr. Bria.”

She placed her hand on the doorknob and closed her eyes to hold back the tears she knew would come down. “Yes, you did. You dismissed me when you decided not to listen to what will make me happy. Have a good day, Dr. Francis.” She opened the door and closed it softly behind her.

*****

“That bad, huh?” Raven asked.

Bria sat on the couch in her office with Raven and Cannon. Raven rubbed her back, and Cannon made Bria some chamomile tea.

“He won’t even listen to me. How can Daddy be like that?” Bria asked with tears running down her face.

“I’m so sorry.” Raven wiped Bria’s tears with Kleenex and reached for the tea Cannon extended to her. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m still going to Atlanta, but I never said I was going to stay and work for Taylor. Why is Daddy tripping so hard?” She sipped the tea and handed it back to Raven. She placed her head in her hands and then rested her head on her knees.

Cannon sat on the other side of her and rubbed her back as well. “Daddy is tripping because he’s old school. He doesn’t understand all of this alternative medicine stuff. He’s almost seventy years old. Just do what is best for you. If moving to Atlanta is best, then go. Raven and I will support you. Right?”

“Of course,” Raven answered her twin brother who was older than her by five minutes. “Maybe when you get back, let him sit in with you and a patient that will benefit from an alternative approach. Do a trial or something with the person, free of charge, and keep Daddy posted with the process. If it goes well, maybe he’ll have a change of heart.”

Bria sat all the way up and leaned back on the couch. She dried her tears and took another sip of tea, letting the calming warmth fill her body. She smiled at Raven and nodded.

“I like your idea. Thank you. You two are the best!”

“Thank you,” the twins said in unison.

Cannon patted Bria’s knee, stood, and retrieved his white coat from the hook on the back of her office door before putting it on. Raven patted her knee, too, but she added a kiss to Bria’s forehead before her pager went off. Raven smiled and placed it in her pocket.

“It’s baby time. Catch you two later.” Raven grabbed her purse from the couch and left.

“Well, I have one last patient at four.” Cannon checked his watch. “Afterwards, I’m off to the children’s hospital to check on a few patients. Plus, I promised Dr. Johnson to help him with a study he’s doing. I’ll see you at the New Year’s Eve Bash at The Groove.”

“Are you bringing a date?” Bria had been worried about Cannon lately. He had broken up with his girlfriend of two years last summer when she mentioned marriage. Bria thought Cannon wanted to get married one day. He’d been engaged once during medical school, but the wedding was called off before he began his residency. He was a workaholic and was constantly looking for ways to keep busy.

“Naw, I’m sure there’ll be enough single ladies in the place for me to hit on. That is if Sean and Rasheed don’t get to them first. See you later, sis.”

Humph.
The thought had just crossed her mind that Rasheed would definitely be there flirting with the ladies, or worse, he would have a date. She sighed and then strode over to her desk and plopped down in her chair. She swirled it around twice and closed her eyes. She didn’t know which was worse—her father being unreasonable or Rasheed with a date. The new year was approaching, and she was ready to make some serious decisions about her career as well as her love life.

*****

“Yes!” Bria jumped up and down followed by the Reebok dance from the 1990s. “Another strike. I’m the bomb. And you said I would only hit a few pins.” Bria glanced up at the computer screen above their lane as her name flashed like a lightning bolt for her second strike.

“Yes, another strike for someone who can’t bowl, pushes the ball down the lane, and then talks to it,” Rasheed said through gritted teeth as he picked up his own personal black bowling ball, got into position, and glanced back at Bria.

“Yet for some reason, you can’t even make one strike tonight, and you usually can do at least six in a row.” She shrugged and gave him a wink.

He chuckled. “Watch your boy in action.” He rolled the ball which hit only half of the pins.

Bria laughed. “You were saying, Mr. Vincent?”

She had been trying to remain composed the entire evening. Rasheed looked particularly fine in a pair of jeans, a red sweater, and a black newsboy cap—which added to his already sexy persona. She couldn’t jerk her eyes away from how his butt fit in the jeans, enhancing his muscles. She imagined clenching her fingers on his bare bottom as he thrust in and out her as she pulled him deeper into her. The image she’d conjured up was making her want to forget their truce and satisfy her longing for him.

“You’re a distraction, Bree,” he said through clenched teeth as he waited for his ball to return.

No, you’re the distraction.
She twitched her mouth to the side and approached him. “How am I a distraction?”

“You can’t possibly expect me to concentrate when your hair is curly and bouncy down your back
and
you’re wearing a sexy little black sweater dress with thigh high boots—well bowling shoes at the moment—but you’re still sexy. If you’re going to hang with me, you need to not look so hot.” He grabbed his ball and bowled a spare.

Bria sat back on the bench even though it was her turn.

He joined her a few feet down and stretched one arm across the back of the bench, his hand almost reached her shoulder. He shook his glass of rum and Coke. “I do believe it’s your turn, or are you ready to throw in the towel?”

Throw in the towel?
Bria was ready to throw in the towel but not for bowling. She was ready to throw off her sweater dress and beg Rasheed to do her and do her good. Who was she kidding? How did she possibly think she could just forget about his lips caressing hers, his hands on her bottom, or the deep groans that ignited from his throat, all of which sent a tidal wave of fire through her at the mere thought?

To avoid being next to him, she went ahead and bowled. She bent over, set the ball on the line and pushed it down the lane. It slowly rolled while she yelled “go, go.” The ball hit all but two pins. She rejoined Rasheed on the bench while she waited for her ball to return.

“Damn, girl,” he chuckled. “You keep bending over like that, and I’m going to forget the deal we made the other night and seduce you right here in this bowling alley.”

A heat wave washed over her at his words. She’d had another sleepless night last night pretending her hands were his massaging her breasts and in between her thighs. She shuddered and squirmed in her seat at the possibility of that becoming a reality but with more than just his hand between her thighs.

Rasheed was jokester, but when she looked at him, she couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Even though he was laughing, his expression and tone had been serious. She decided to find out.