WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Viva La Valentine Edition (5 page)

My God, he’s fine! And he smells so good.
Concentrate on what you’re doing, Jan. Don’t chop off any fingers.
Calm down and try to keep from sounding like an idiot.

Jan moved to the stove, sautéed the
vegetables and continued the conversation. “What kind of work did
you say you do?”

“Sports management. I work with professional
athletes negotiating their contracts and endorsement deals, setting
up media interviews, arranging for etiquette training, bailing them
out of jail. That kind of thing.”

“Sounds interesting,” she said, admiring his
smile. With such a lean, muscular body, he could easily be mistaken
for an athlete himself.

“It’s a nice way to make a living. Plus some
great perks come with the job – season tickets, private party
invitations, you know.”

“No. I don’t. I wish I did.”

“So, how did you get to be a personal chef,
Ms. Davis?”

“Please, call me Jan,” she said without
looking up from stirring the food. “I’ve always loved to cook as a
hobby. One day I read about a woman who’d left her accounting job
to become a personal chef. It struck me as something I’d love
doing, so I got my certification and started taking clients on the
side. Once I saved up enough money to advertise, I placed a few ads
in local papers, and things just took off. It got to the point
where I couldn’t work days and also handle my clients. Eventually,
I resigned from my job and started cooking full time.”

“Pretty ambitious. How does your husband feel
about it?”

He would’ve hated the idea. He wanted a
housewife, always ready and willing to feed his boring clients. It
never crossed his mind to take them out sometimes. No, it had to be
a gigantic home-cooked meal so they could see he married the black
Rachel Ray.
“I’m not married. I got divorced a year ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, sounding quite
sincere.

“I’m not.” Jan gazed at him, bit her lip and
turned away.
Maybe that was a too forward
.

“Okay.” He rested his chin on his hand, a
bemused smile on his full sensual mouth. His lips begged to be
kissed. A primitive warning sounded in her brain. To get her mind
off his mouth, she asked, “Do you have someone to serve tomorrow
night?”

“No. I figured I’d make it buffet style and
let everyone serve themselves. It’s not a formal dinner, just a
couple of my clients, a few potential ones and their dates. I guess
we could go out, but I want the night to be unhurried and relaxed.”
He paused for a second and smiled again as he popped open another
Red Bull. “I appreciate you doing this. You come highly
recommended. Ron Scott mentioned you one day at lunch, and
suggested I call you.”

“He’s my best friend’s husband, so it wasn’t
exactly a professional reference.”

“Well, he told me you could throw down in the
kitchen. That was enough to convince me.”

“Thanks. I appreciate your confidence.”

His gaze followed her every move as she
maneuvered around his spacious, modern kitchen.

“Would you like to join us tomorrow
night?”

Shocked by his offer, she stammered, “I – oh
– I couldn’t.”

“Why not? Then I could introduce you as my
personal chef. It would be good for your business. Most of these
guys are loaded.”

“That’s nice of you, Mac, but I think it’s
better if I just leave you some of my cards.”

“Okay, but meeting people in person always
makes a better impression. I think you’d enjoy yourself. Besides, I
like your company.”

She wiped her sweaty palms on the sides of
her skirt. His invitation sounded more personal than business.
Romantic attention was as foreign to her as ancient Carthaginian
cuisine. This handsome man was the complete opposite of Robert’s
paunchy middle-aged colleagues. Mac appeared to be at least ten
years her junior, and he lived in a gorgeous body.

With the meat, pasta and vegetable dishes
done, she started on dessert. They made small talk about everything
from religion to Atlanta traffic. Mac didn’t extend the invitation
again until she had cleaned up and repacked her utensils.

“I wish you’d think twice about joining us.
I’ll be the only one without a date, and I’m the host. We should be
getting started around eight o’clock.” He wrote a check, placed it
in her hand and held it a bit longer than necessary. Strangely she
had no desire to pull away.
This is definitely more personal
than business
. “Thank you, Mac, but I make it a policy to keep
my business and personal lives separate.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He licked his
bottom lip and never took his gaze from her eyes.

“Let me know how everything went. I’d better
get going now.”

“All right. I understand. It was a pleasure,
Jan Davis. Hope I’ll see you again soon.” He watched her walk all
the way down the hallway to the elevator.

Once he closed the door to his apartment, she
dragged in a long breath.
I need to talk to somebody about
this.

• • •

Anxious to share what had happened with Mac,
the next night Jan waited for Verna outside the restaurant for our
regular Friday dinner. Of her three friends, she and Verna were the
closest. They shared everything, and Jan could always count on her
to be honest. Since the restaurant wouldn’t seat incomplete
parties, they had to wait for Kathy and Noreen. She and Verna
squeezed into a corner of the crowded lobby.

“I need to tell you something before the
others get here.”

Verna folded her arms across her ample chest.
“Sure. What’s up?”

“Tell me what you think about this. Last
night I cooked for a dinner party for Mac Sinclair, one of Ron’s
associates. He stayed right there in the kitchen with me the whole
time. At first I thought he just wanted to see how I fixed
everything. You know how some people want to make sure you don’t
poison them. We talked a bit, but most of the time he sat there
watching me.”

“So? What’s wrong with that?” Verna asked
with a curious frown.

“I caught him staring at my legs, and
realized he wasn’t hanging around to pick up cooking tips. It made
me a nervous wreck.”

“So did he say anything out of line?”

“No, not out of line, but he invited me to
the party. He said it would be good for business because the guests
are rich, big name athletes.”

Verna raised an eyebrow. “So?”

“I don’t think he wanted it to be all
business. He said he’d be the only one with no
date
.”

Verna laughed. “Don’t say the word like it’s
so offensive.”

“What?” Jan whispered, hoping nobody in the
lobby had overheard. “Why are you laughing?”

“So is he a leper or something?”

“Lord, no! He’s the finest man I’ve seen in a
long time. That’s what’s got me so –”

“I think
flustered
is the word you’re
looking for?”

“Yes. No. Oh, I don’t know. Verna, He’s only
in his early thirties. Why would he be interested in me?”

“You underestimate yourself, Jan. I’ll bet he
thinks you’re his age. Did you refuse?”

“I haven’t been out with a man other than
Robert in twenty-five years. I wouldn’t even know how to act.”

For twenty-five years Jan had been in a
marriage that died a slow and painful death. Although Robert was a
decent man and a good provider who’d remained faithful, he’d been
emotionally distant. Nurturing the intimate side of their marriage
was unimportant to him, and he proved it regularly by forgetting
her birthday, their anniversary and even Mother’s Day. Whenever she
voiced her disappointment, he would stuff cash into a card thinking
it would pacify her. He rarely took her out. Romance after the
wedding had been pointless to him.

Kathy and Noreen came in the door looking as
distinctive as night and day. Kathy always wore something
Afrocentric with her head wrapped in colorful fabric, while Noreen
looked every bit the Vogue model. Verna waved to get their
attention. Once the hostess had seated them, Verna announced, “Jan
has something she needs to share. Go ahead, girl.”

Jan gave her the evil eye.

“What’s up?” Noreen asked. “Come on, spit it
out.”

“Okay. Just promise me you won’t laugh.” She
told the entire story but didn’t mention Mac’s age then waited for
their reactions.

“What does he look like?” Noreen asked. “And
how much money does he make?” The resident expert on single life,
she’d never been married and delighted in being unattached.

Kathy shot her a disgusted glare. “When are
women in our community going to understand those aren’t the two
most important issues in life?”

Noreen rolled her eyes. “They should be. Only
a fool
wants
a broke, ugly man.”

When they finally stopped laughing, Jan
answered. “He’s very good looking, and a body that could boil
water, and works as a sports management agent.”

“So what’s the problem?” Noreen asked.

Verna answered her question. “He’s only about
thirty-five, Noreen.”

Noreen’s face lit up. “Aw, sookie sookie now!
You know how I feel about those young tender morsels. “There’s
nothing better than waking up next to a healthy, robust, young
brother.”

Kathy pinched the bridge of her nose as if
she’d suddenly developed a migraine. Noreen’s preoccupation with
sex irritated her. “For God’s sake, Noreen. Can’t we ever have a
conversation without you stepping into the gutter?”

“Honestly, I’m afraid,” Jan confessed. “I
haven’t been with anyone except Robert since I was twenty-one.
Singleland has changed a lot since then. I’m way out of my league
here.”

The mood at the table instantly changed.
Verna reached across and took her hand. These were the times her
friends were at their best.

“Honey, you just have to step out there. Once
you take the first step, it won’t be so scary. He sounds decent. It
wouldn’t hurt to see him once. The dinner party would be a safe
place to get to know him, since other people will be there.”

“So you don’t think there’s anything wrong
with seeing a man so much younger than I am?”

“That’s the new Hollywood trend. Besides,
you’ll need someone strong around to fan you when you start having
hot flashes.” Noreen ran her fingers through her expensive weaved
hair and laughed.

“What time is the dinner party supposed to
start?” Verna asked, checking her watch.

“He said around eight.”

“So call him, girl,” Noreen urged. “It’s just
after seven now.”

The idea sent Jan’s stomach into a double
flip. “What would I say?”

“Just ask him if he got a date. If he says
no, tell him you’d like to join him, if it’s okay.”

“So what if he says he asked someone else?
Then I’ll feel like an idiot.”

Kathy, the quietest and most serious one,
never spoke frivolously. Jan valued her opinion. “Say something
pleasant like, “Good. I hope everything goes well.”

“Take my word for it,” Noreen reassured her.
“If he had someone, he would’ve asked her before last night. Call
him.”

They prodded her on until Jan rose from the
table and took her cell phone into the ladies room. After she took
a few deep breaths, she dialed and waited for him to pick up.

“Sinclair.” His husky tone sent a shiver up
her spine.

“Hi, Mac. It’s Jan Davis. I’m not pulling you
away from your guests, am I?”

“No one’s here yet. I hope you’re calling to
say you’re coming tonight.”

Jan exhaled a silent sigh of relief. “Yes.
I’d like to join you, if you still want me to come.”

“How soon can you get here?” The expectancy
in his voice relieved her, and sent a spark of excitement through
her at the prospect.

“I’m over near Lenox Mall. I can be there in
about twenty minutes.”

“What’s your favorite wine?”

“I don’t drink, but a sparkling water with
lemon will do just fine.”

“I’ll meet you at the door with a glass.”

“Okay. I have to say goodbye to my
girlfriends, and then I’ll be leaving.”

“Ring the downstairs bell when you get here,
and I’ll buzz you in.”

“Well?” Verna asked with her palms raised in
curiosity as Jan approached the table.

“He said he’ll be waiting for me at the door.
Pray for me, ladies.” Jan grabbed her purse and left the restaurant
with her stomach flipping like she was riding the Goliath coaster
at Six Flags.

Her nervousness grew as she drove.
Why in
the world had I let them talk me into stepping so far out of my
comfort zone?
She parked in a visitor’s space outside Mac’s
building, retouched her makeup in the visor mirror and popped a
breath strip into her mouth.

The buzzer sounded as soon as she rang the
bell in the lobby. Just as he’d promised, when she stepped off the
elevator, Mac was leaning in the doorway holding a glass of
sparkling water.

“I’m really glad you reconsidered.”
Incredibly white teeth gleamed in contrast to his cocoa-colored
skin when he smiled. “Come in and make yourself comfortable.”

Soft music drifted in from the great room,
but Jan didn’t hear any conversation. “Am I the first one here?”
She looked around for any signs of life.

“Uh huh. That’ll give us a few minutes to
talk before they arrive.”

The black silk shirt he wore clung just
enough to show off his cut upper body. It took every ounce of
willpower to keep her from staring at the wisps of dark hair
peeking out at the neck. A thin gold chain sparkled against his
skin.

She followed him into the contemporary great
room accented by an impressive collection of modern art and
statues.
If I hadn’t been so rattled by his attention the other
night, I wouldn’t have missed these details.
He motioned for
her to sit on a huge sectional sofa.

“Is everything all set up?” Jan wondered if
he had someone to help him with the food.