To Love a Man (26 page)

Ramón han
ded Desiree an American express platinum credit card.

“You’re not serious?”

“I am. And so you know it has no limit so go crazy if you want.”

“I can’t take this.”

He took her hand in his and placed the card in her hand. “You can and will. We are a team now. So go out and finish Christmas shopping I will keep Zack Company till Charles comes.”

Madison
jumped up and grabbed Jamie “We are gonna go get Aunt Nikki so we can go.”

Zack sighed.
“I am gonna go finish getting ready.”

They ran out the room and Desiree looked at Ramón.

“I think we should sign a prenup.”

“What?”
Ramón said moving towards her. “I don’t understand why we need one.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up to him.
“I want you to know I love you and if signing one is what I have to do I will.”

“What are you talking about? I don't want you to have to do that.”

“It’s what I need to do. There won’t be any fighting about it at all. If you want me to give this card back I will.”

“Desiree I have no doubt in my mind that you love me. I know it’s not about the money. I want to give you the world.
And if we are going to be honest about it I have been in the NBA for a while now and I am really good with money. And I don’t know the exact number right now but just to give you a rough idea your man is worth well over a hundred million. Giving you this card is nothing compared to what you have given me. What is mines is yours, you are going to have full access to everything I have.”

Desiree smiled and kissed him as he pulled her up to him.

“How did I get so lucky?”

Ramón smiled.

“You must have been a very good girl when you were younger.”

“
Must have been. So what are you going to do while we are gone?”

“
The usual cool down.”

She shook her head
“20 laps, 50 sit ups, 50 pull ups, 2 sets of 100 crunches and 5 miles on the treadmill.”

“
Exactly.”

She loved her determined he was to keep his body in tiptop shape and it showed. When he wasn’t at practice he was his home gym working out and watching game films. Knowing that he was in his prime only fueled his need to work harder.

Desiree pulled him down to her and hungrily kissed him “after all that, when I come back I will give you a backrub and help you get ready for tomorrow.”

“
You promise?”

He saw a twinkle in her eye and knew immediately that she was ready to
bargain with him.

“I
promise if I can drive the BMW.”

“Ah I see you like that car don’t you?”

“Yes I do and I think the girls would enjoy riding in it too.”

Ramón
pulled his keys off of the key rack and smiled at her as he handed them to her he kissed the tip of her nose.

“Thanks.” She said as she ran out of the
room. He smiled after her feeling extremely lucky that he found someone as amazing as she was.

***

Desiree and Nikki walked behind Jamie and Madison sipping their Auntie Annie’s Lemonade. After walking around the mall for the last hour Desiree was more than happy to head back to the car. Nikki took Desiree’s arm in hers.

“I can’t believe you are gonna be moving here. It kind of comes at a great time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bryant got a raise
.”

“What?”

“Yes and he was given a choice of four locations to move too. And guess where he choose?”

“
Where?”

“Atlanta.”

Desiree stopped and looked at her best friend.

“
Are you serious? You’re not messing with me?”

“Nope its more money tha
n both our checks combined so moving wont affect us money wise.”

Madison smiled as she walked back over to them.

“Mom did you hear they are moving to Atlanta that means we are going to be closer.”

“Yes Nikki just told me.”

Jamie squealed. “This means we get to come visit more.”

Nikki
smiled. “yeah I am gonna need my best friend close to me seeing how I am pregnant and like last time might try to harm my husband.”

“What! Are you serious? This is crazy right?”

Desiree hugged her tightly with tears filling her eyes. She was so happy for her best friend. Nikki wiped Desiree’s tears. “I was so worried about leaving you I mean besides a few friends you have no family in Florida other than me. We have always been within walking distance of each other.”

“
Well I guess both our prayers were answered because I don’t know what I would have done if you were still almost 8 hours away. Two hours is so much better.”

They begin to walk again
as Jamie and Madison planning talking about their Christmas lists and Desiree and Nikki threw their cups in the trash. Desiree grabbed her keys from her purse as she repositioned her shopping bags.

“
Are you young ladies ready to go?”

They nodded shifting their own bags from one hand to the other. As they walked out the door
and moved towards Ramón’s 335is Blue Metallic with Coral red and Black leather interior Convertible. Desiree open the trunk and they placed their bags in. as they opened the doors to get into the car someone walked over to her.

“Excuse me are you Desiree Holloway?”

Desiree looked at the man who had to be 5’3 because he was short than she was, with his vanilla complexion and blonde hair reaching past his shoulders she had no idea who he was. “Can I help you?” she asked trying not to be rude.

“You are aren’t you? Can you speculate on the rumors going around that you and Ramón Norris are engaged?”

“What?” she asked taken back at his bluntness?

“Wait isn’t that Madison Norris? It is true can I have a quote. And pictures.”

Before she could protest a camera flashed and video camera’s surrounded them. Desiree covered Madison as Nikki covered Jamie and they helped the girls into the car. As she stepped into the driver’s side she looked around and noticed there were a few more reports around the small car.

“
You have got to be kidding me…they just don't give up do they?”

“Nope dad is gonna be upset.”
Maddie shook her head.

Desiree put the car in reverse
“I'm upset myself.”

As she started to back out of the spot someone
banged on the door. They all screamed and Desiree hit the lock door button. She turned her head back to the rear of the car but soon realized the car was surrounded by reporters.

“This is Ramón Norris’s car and you have his daughter so it must be true.”

She rolled her window down.

“If you don't want to be road kill I suggest you move. Now!”

She began to back out of the parking spot and people backed away. She drove out of the parking lot and sighed.

“You girls ok?”

“Yeah.”

Nikki laughed
“I thought you were gonna hit them with the car.”

Desiree
snickered and Nikki leaned into her.

“They better be lucky I wasn’t driving.”

Desiree shook her head and laughed. She knew Nikki was serious too. She hit first ran second and on occasion answered some questions. As they arrived at the house Ramón and Bryant walked out to help with the bags. Ramón looked at Desiree’s face and knew something was wrong.

“What’s wrong?”

“You were right about the engagement getting out. As we were leaving the mall we were confronted by cameras and reporters. I can’t believe they would hound us like that.”

“Did you say anything?”
Ramón asked.

“No. Why, is that all you care about?”
she asked hurt that he didn’t bother asking what she was feeling. She was feeling violated.

Ramón pulled her to him.
“It’s not. I am sorry you were put through that.”

“It’s not me I was worried about. It was Maddie and Jamie.
They came out of nowhere and if freaked them out.”

“Let’s get you inside and I will run you a bath and give you a massage. Then maybe you can give me one.”

She smiled and shook her head.

“You have a game tomorrow you need to be rested up.”

“After my workout Bryant, little Eddie, Zack and I played a few games then relaxed watching a movie. I am well rested.”

Desiree smacked her teeth.

“Charles didn’t show up?”

“No he called saying he got called into work, but its ok
Zack didn’t want to go and we still had fun. Now let’s get inside so you and I can have some fun.”

Ramón grabbed her by the hand and pulled it to his lips.
He kissed his way from her hand up to her shoulder.

“I need the motivation to play a great game tomorrow. You know as my soon to be wife you have certain wifely duties.”

“Oh and what would those things be? Would it be something like this?” she took his hand in hers and placed her lips over his middle finger, closed her lips then gently pulled his finger out of her mouth. She flicked it with her tongue and Ramón instantly felt himself rise to the occasion. He pulled her against his rock hard body and she could feel his excitement.

“
I see you are much better at showing then telling.” He kissed her earlobe and whispered in her ear. “So am I.”

Desiree pushed him away from her.
“You need to stay focused. I can’t have you going out there on that court with your head out the game.”

“Trust me
.” He said slowly moving her into the house with him. “With you by my side I will be fine. Now let’s finish this conversation in the bedroom.”

             
Fourteen months earlier

Desiree jumped up and cheered as Aj made a three point shot. Ramón high fived him and they ran back down the court. Nikki smiled.

“You wouldn’t believe they just bounced back from a two game loss.”

“I know our boys are looking so good out there.”

Desiree and Gia screamed loudly as Aj caught a rebound and tossed the ball to Derek. Nikki took a sip of her water sitting back down.

“So what are you guys doing tonight?”
she asked Desiree.

“The
guys hit the road tomorrow on a five game stretch so Ramón and I are gonna just relax tonight. Rachael is gonna keep the kids till he leaves then we are all gonna see them off.”

Gia sighed. “
The next two weeks are going to be busy for you right Nikki? Desiree said you are moving?”

“
Yes I can’t believe we have the final run through of the old house this week. And being the super best friend she is, she’s keeping the kids for us.”

“You know I don't mind. We are gonna have fun this week.”

“So what are you going to be doing Gia?”

“
Visiting family back east. I don’t like being alone in the big house that is why I cannot wait to get pregnant.”

Nikki felt her stomach and laughed,
“See that comment right there tells me you have never had a child before.”

They laugh as Desiree rises from her seat
“I am going to the bathroom.”

“Ok hurry up
or you are gonna miss everything the game is almost over.”

‘
I will.”

Desiree excused herself passing others
and went to the restroom. As she washed her hands a woman walked in. Desiree grabbed a paper towel and walked towards the door. The woman stood in front of the door and folded her arms. Desiree walked towards the door.

“Excuse me you
’re in the way.”

“
Oh I am my bad let me move out of the way so you can do what you need to.” The woman said coldly, however she stayed firm in place and Desiree heaved a sigh.

“Well
?”

“
Well what? I was just showing you how to bow out gracefully.”

Desiree
balled up the paper towel and threw it in the trash can. “Do I know you or something?”

“You’re Desiree? Desiree Holloway?”

“It doesn’t matter so like I said you are in my way.”

The woman moved closer to Desiree and she began to feel very
irritated. The woman cracked her knuckles which only made Desiree laugh.