Authors: Cheris Hodges
Too Hot for TV (23 page)
Raymond read over Cortina Richardson's test results and smiled. Her cholesterol was down, her blood sugar seemed to be in control, and she'd dropped fifteen pounds. He loved it when his patients listened to him. As he closed the file, he looked at the calendar on the wall. Imani was returning today. The last three months had been hell on earth without her. Phone calls and Skype were not enough to quell his thirst for his woman. He needed her in his arms, in his bed, and more importantly, as his lawfully wedded wife.
“Raymond,” Keith said when he popped his head into the office. “There's a woman out here to see you. What's up with that?”
“Just send her back,” Raymond said.
“She's not Imani, and I know damned wellâ”
“Keith! Send her back. We have an appointment.”
Scowling at his friend, Keith headed out front, then returned with the tall, buxom blond woman. She smiled at Keith and then turned to Raymond.
“It is good to finally meet you, Dr. Thomas,” she purred. Raymond locked eyes with Keith, who was leaning against the wall in a stance that said he had no intention of leaving. Raymond laughed, figuring that his friend must have thought he'd lost his mind.
“Helen Jameson,” Raymond said, “I'd like you to meet my business partner, Dr. Keith Jacobs. Keith, this is Helen, my jeweler.
“Oh,” Keith said as he shook Helen's hand vigorously. “I'm sorry about the third degree I gave you out there.”
She snatched her hand away from him and offered him a plastic smile. “It's all right. Are you married?”
“Engaged. Why?”
She handed him her card. “I just get the feeling that at some point you're going to need to buy an apology piece for your future wife. My prices are pretty reasonable, but you might have to buy from the back row.”
“That's funny,” he said, but took the card anyway.
“Now,” Raymond said, “can we get some privacy?”
“Sure,” Keith said as he walked away.
Raymond laughed at his friend as he turned his full attention to Helen. She'd come highly recommended from Mrs. Wentworth, who'd told Raymond that Imani was not an off the rack kind of girl and he needed to show up at the airport with a special engagement ring for her.
“All right, Raymond,” Helen said as she sat across from his desk and set her briefcase on top of it. “I have some custom pieces that I think you and your future bride will love.” She opened the case and turned it toward Raymond, showing him a display of diamond engagement rings. “These rings are very rare and unique. This one,” she said as she pointed to a three-carat princess cut platinum ring, “was made for one of J.Lo's engagements. She never got the ring because she and a certain mogul were involved in a shooting.”
Raymond shook his head. “I don't want that one. I want something that . . .” He stopped talking when a sparkling gem caught his eye. It was a marquis cut diamond and emerald white-gold ring. It was odd, not your typical engagement ring. His eyes were riveted to it. It was perfect. It was Imani. Raymond reached for the ring. “This is what I want.”
The woman smiled and took the ring out of the case. “Ahh, you have great taste. This ring was designed with Dorothy Dandridge in mind. You're fiancée is an actress, right?”
“She is, but more than anything else, she's just as unique as this ring,” he said as he lifted it from the case. “What if I need to get it sized?”
“I can take care of that as well,” she replied.
He held the ring up to the light; it sparkled like a thousand stars. Was he really ready to take this step?
Yes, I'm ready,
he told himself. He had never met anyone like Imani, a woman who supported him and the choices he made concerning his career. She supported him like no other woman ever had. She was the one. This was his destiny. He handed the ring back to the woman. “I want this one,” he said decisively.
Yes, I'm ready,
he told himself. He had never met anyone like Imani, a woman who supported him and the choices he made concerning his career. She supported him like no other woman ever had. She was the one. This was his destiny. He handed the ring back to the woman. “I want this one,” he said decisively.
The woman pulled her card out of the side of the case and handed it to Raymond. “Just in case you have to call me again to have it sized,” she said.
“All right,” he said as he pulled out his wallet. “How much?”
“Twenty-five hundred,” she said as she put the ring in a velvet box. “Cash or credit?”
Raymond pulled out his credit card and handed it to Helen. She produced a handheld credit card machine and ran the card through it. After receiving confirmation that the card was approved, Helen handed Raymond the box. “Good luck,” she said as she turned to leave the break room. When she opened the door, Keith was standing there, holding a chart and trying to pretend he hadn't been eavesdropping on their conversation.
Helen shook her head. “Make sure you call me. Your fiancée is going to need a lot of jewelry,” Helen said, then flounced down the hall and out the door.
Keith turned to Raymond, who was trying to hide the ring he had just purchased, but Keith grabbed the ring. “Now, you were in Hawaii when I went out to get Celeste's ring. I get to critique your taste,” he said as he opened the box. “Damn!”
“Give me that,” Raymond said as he took the ring back. “You're nosy as hell. What do you think, though?”
Keith rolled his eyes. “You know you just messed me up, right? When Celeste sees this, I'm going to be in a world of trouble. I guess it is a good thing that your jeweler did give me this card. When does your superstar fiancée get back into town?”
Raymond snapped the ring box shut and looked down at his watch. “I'd better get going. Her flight should be here in an hour.”
“Raymond,” Keith called after his friend as he dashed out the door. He'd forgotten to tell him that Elize from the network had called for him. Just as he was about to head out the door to grab Raymond before he got into a cab, Karen and Maria stopped him with two files he needed to look over.
Chapter 22
Imani had never been so happy to get off a plane. The trip from Los Angeles seemed to take thirty hours rather than five. She had been jolted awake when she heard the pilot announce that they were about to make their descent into New York's JFK Airport.
“The weather is clear in the Big Apple,” he'd said over the public address system. “It's a brisk forty-five degrees and sunny.”
Imani had sat upright in her seat and looked out the window. She couldn't help but smile happily as she saw the Statue of Liberty. “Home sweet home,” Imani had whispered.
Her seatmate had cast an amused look at Imani. “You live in New York. Poor thing,” the older lady said.
“I wouldn't want to live anyplace else,” Imani replied.
“If I was young, I guess I'd feel the same way,” she said. “But I'm just coming to visit my daughter. She goes to NYU and has some crazy idea about being an actress. I hope I can talk some sense into her,” the woman said.
“Someone tried that with me once,” Imani said.
“What happened?”
Smiling, she said, “I just finished filming with Will Smith.”
“Whoa. I've been sitting beside a superstar and didn't even know it?” As the plane had bounced down on the landing strip, the woman had asked Imani for her autograph. Grabbing an in-flight magazine, Imani signed it for the lady:
Let your daughter make her own choices. She might surprise you and make a success of this acting thing. Imani Gilliam.
Let your daughter make her own choices. She might surprise you and make a success of this acting thing. Imani Gilliam.
Once Imani was off the plane, she rushed through the gate like O. J. Simpson in those old school Hertz commercials. When she saw Raymond standing near the baggage claim, she thought she was seeing a mirage. She hadn't told him that she was taking an earlier flight in.
“Are you just going to stand there, woman, or do I get some love?” he asked as he crossed over to her. Imani leapt into his arms and kissed him so slowly and deeply that his knees shook.
“Damn, I missed you,” she said when they broke the kiss. “Three months was too long to be away from you.”
“You're telling me.”
“I'm glad you're here, but how did you know I was taking an earlier flight?” she asked.
“Call me Mr. Anxious,” he quipped. “I left the clinic early and traffic was light on the way over here. I had no idea you'd be early, so it must be fate.”
“Well,” she said, “let's get these bags and get out of here, because I have a surprise for you.”
“Really? I have one for you too.”
Imani tilted her head to the side. “Can I have it now?” she asked.
“Absolutely not. Where do you want to go, Brooklyn, since I know you love that place, or uptown?”
“I want to be wherever you are,” she said as her cell phone chimed. “Damn it,” Imani muttered as she reached into her carry-on bag and fished out her phone. “Hello, Edward.”
“I have some news that is going to knock your socks off,” he said.
“Really?” she said, looking at Raymond and thinking of another way she wanted her socks knocked off.
“You've been cast for the show and after the glowing reviews Damon gave you, Gina can't wait to meet you. Kid, you're about to blow up.”
“Wow,” Imani said. “This is amazing.”
“Are you ready for this?” Edward asked. “You've wanted to do a show on Broadway and now you have your chance. John Guare wants you in
A Free Man of Color.
”
A Free Man of Color.
”
“Are you serious?!” she shrieked. “Oh my God.”
Raymond stopped in his tracks as he picked up Imani's bag. Turning to her, he mouthed, “What?”
“Why don't we get together tomorrow and talk about this?” Edward said. “I'm sure your man is at the airport waiting for you.”
“He is and I can't wait to talk about this with you.” Imani hung up the phone and jumped up and down as if she won the lottery.
“Okay, what's going on?” Raymond asked.
“Edward told me that I have a chance to finally star in a show on Broadway. Oh my God, that's one of my biggest dreams.”
“One?”
“Yes. I have another one that I believe will come true as soon as we get out of here.”
“That sounds good. Let's get out of here.” Imani and Raymond rushed out to their awaiting cab and headed to Harlem.
“I was trying to wait for the perfect time to give you this,” she said as she reached into her purse, “but I can't wait.” Imani held out the check Damon had donated to the clinic.
“What's this?” He looked down at the amount of the check and let out a low whistle. “Oh my God.”
“While I was in LA, when I wasn't running lines, I was talking about you and the clinic. Damon, the director, heard me and Lloyd, one of the crew members talking about you, New York, and the clinic. He was impressed and wanted to helpâwithout getting his name in the papers.”
“Well, you tell Damon thank you. This is going to help us get that MRI machine that we've needed for a long time,” he said, then kissed Imani's cheek. “And that was amazing of you to go to Los Angeles and tell your colleagues about the clinic when you could've been gallivanting around Hollywood letting Paris Hilton write about you.”
“You mean Perez Hilton,” she said with a laugh. “You're going to have to get these gossip bloggers down. If this movie does as well as everyone expects, thenâ”
“I don't give a damn about a gossip blogger. I know what's real,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed herâlong and slowâuntil she moaned in pleasure. Imani had dreamed of this moment for three months. Kissing for real, tasting the sweetness of Raymond's mouth mixed in with the flavor of spearmint gum. His hands roamed her back, heating her up like a summer day. She wanted him, wanted to make love to her man as she slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer to her.
“Umm,” he said as they broke their kiss. “I've been waiting for a kiss like that for the last ninety days.”
“Me too,” she said, then licked her lips. “When we get home, I'm going to show you what else I've been waiting for these past ninety days.”
Raymond tapped the driver's seat. “Can you move this thing any faster?”
“Traffic,” the man said, glancing back at Imani and Raymond. “Hey! You're the couple from TV. Why did you guys leave the show? That bitch who won, she was so annoying.”
Imani and Raymond glanced at each other. “We didn't even watch the show after we left. Who won?” Imani asked.
“Some chick named Lucy and the fat dude who looked like the Penguin from those Batman shows. They won't be together long. I'm guessing they got married for the money. They were pretty funny on the reunion show pretending to be in love. That girl needs some acting lessons.”
Raymond and Imani burst into laughter. “But,” the taxi driver said as he turned down a side road, “I knew you two were real, even if she is an actress.”
“Well, thank you,” Imani said. When Raymond recognized the block where they were, he peeled off the cab fare and a hefty tip, then told the driver he and Imani could walk to his place.
“Are you sure? It looks like you have quite a few bags,” he said.
“We're good, thanks, bud,” Raymond said as they hopped out of the car and he hoisted her luggage out of the trunk when the driver popped it open.
Imani looked down at her feet, happy that she'd worn sensible shoes. Dana would be so proud, she thought as she reached for one of her bags. “So, are we walking so that we can get a wonderful hot dog from a street vendor?” Imani asked.
“Nope. We're walking because we're a half block from my place and I couldn't wait another second to get you in my arms.” They half ran to Raymond's brownstone. Once they made it inside, they tossed Imani's luggage in the living room and wrapped up in each other's arms, clawing at each other's clothes. Imani ripped his Oxford shirt open, sending buttons flying across the room, as he reached underneath her skirt and tore her panties off, then turned her skirt upward. He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he crossed into the bedroom. They tumbled onto the bed and Raymond kicked out of his pants as Imani kissed and sucked his bottom lip.
Damn, it felt good having her in his arms. Felt good to feel her heat against his cold sheets. He slipped his hand between her thighs, relishing in the sweetness flowing from her body. He stroked her until she screamed from the first sign of an orgasm, then he hungrily kissed her as his erection grew against her supple thighs. Darting his tongue in and out of her mouth, he savored her taste and teased her lips. Imani pressed her body against his, urging him to enter her awaiting valley.
“Love me,” she begged. “Need you inside me.”
“I need to be inside you. Need to feel you. I missed you.” Raymond parted her wet folds of flesh with his finger and teased her clitoris until he felt her get wetter and wetter. Imani grabbed his penis, rubbing him fast as she felt an explosion building in the pit of her stomach.
Raymond tenderly pressed into her awaiting body. She moaned as Raymond buried himself in her G-spot. Raymond knew her body almost as well as he knew his. He knew when he pressed deep into her, she would dig her nails into his back. He knew when he slowly ground against her, Imani's legs would shake and she would quiver with delight.
Watching her reactions turned him on, made him do more to make her come, to leave her satisfied. He got his pleasure from pleasing her, from making her call his name and rain her love down on him.
When she rolled her hips, moving to position herself on top of him, Raymond let go to allow her to take control of his body, to give him what he wanted more than anything elseâthe chance to watch her explode. She placed her palms on his chest and bounced up and down in the throes of passion as she gyrated against him. He alternated kissing each of her breasts, licking and sucking on her nipples as she leaned forward. Raymond could feel an explosion growing in his shaft as Imani rolled her body across his. He grabbed her waist as he began to climax, slowing her down and relishing in the river flowing from her body. Raymond groaned like a wounded animal as Imani collapsed against his chest. He buried his face between her neck and shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “We should stay like this forever,” he whispered in her ear. “But if we do, I can't give you your surprise.”
“Umm, there's more?”
“Oh, yes,” he said as they shifted positions so that they were lying face to face. Imani leaned in and kissed him softly.
“I love you so much,” she whispered.
“Hold that thought,” he said as he leapt from the bed.
Imani pouted like a child who had her toys taken away. “Where are you going?” she called out to his retreating figure. Raymond rushed into the living room and picked up his discarded jacket. He grabbed the ring box and then returned to the bedroom with his hands behind his back.
“I have a question for you. Well, two actually.”
She tilted her head to the side, confused by his stance and the fact that he'd gotten out of bed when she fully expected that they'd fall asleep wrapped in each other's arms.
“Really?” she asked.
“Work with me, babe,” he said as he crossed over to her side of the bed.
“All right, go ahead.”
“What are the best-dressed actresses wearing in Hollywood on the red carpet these days?”
“That's an odd question,” she said. “But I'm going to go with the guy who designed Michelle Obama's inauguration gown.”
“Then, you're going to outshine them all if you wear this,” he said as he pulled the box from behind his back and opened it. Imani's eyes stretched to the size of quarters. She brought her hands to her mouth as tears spilled from her eyes. “Is that . . . ?”
“Here's the second question,” he said. “Imani, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she cried. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Raymond took the ring from the box and slid it on Imani's finger. To his surprise, it was a perfect fit.
“Beautiful,” he said, then kissed her hand. “I was told that this was designed for a famous actress and now one is wearing it.”
Imani threw her arms around Raymond's neck and hugged him tightly. “You know what?” she said. “I never thought that I would ever meet a man like you and fall in love. You're the only leading man that I will ever need in my life and that's no act.”
“I know, baby. Before I met you on that island, I really thought that I'd spend the rest of my life surrounded by little old ladies trying to set me up with their granddaughters, and then you burst into my life and turned everything upside down. I'm glad the clinic nearly went broke, because otherwise, I'd still be missing the best part of me.”
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