Authors: Niobia Bryant
Chloe smiled into her morning cup of tea, nearly two weeks after their first explosive night of passion together. She was still feeling the physical effects of their lovemaking last night in the bathtub. Even now she felt herself wet with desire as she thought of the fervor they shared in each other’s arms every night.
They shared the most incredibly satisfying intimacy ever.
But she was still dealing with Calvin’s betrayal and Devon had Elissa. Chloe felt no jealousy for the woman Devon had once loved. Nana Lil had been the one to tell her about the woman and she remembered the conversation well.
Chloe’s house would be finished by the deadline, and she had asked Nana Lil to ride with her to Hilton Head Island. She wanted to stock up on linens, dishes and other necessities for the house. She had discovered that Hilton Head catered to wealthier society more so than Charleston did, and she was sure to find the top quality products she wanted. And she had. Her checking account nearly two thousand dollars smaller and her SUV filled with packages, Chloe and Nana Lil headed home late in the afternoon.
“You know, Elissa would’ve loved to be your friend,” Nana Lil said suddenly.
“Elissa?” Chloe asked as she slipped her Dolce & Gabana shades on to cut the glare of the sun through the windshield.
“She’s Devon’s ex-girlfriend,” Lil said so matter-of-factly as she used the electronic controls on the door to adjust the seat until her small thin frame was comfortable.
Chloe nearly ran off the road. Of course, Devon had had girlfriends. That was not anything to fret about. But instinctively she knew there was more to the story surrounding Elissa than any other woman Devon had dated. “Why would you say that, Nana Lil?”
“Elissa would’ve loved going with you to all those stores with those expensive things.” Nana Lil looked over at Chloe. “I mean really, Chloe, thirty dollars for one plate? I don’t care if it is rimmed in eighteen-karat gold.”
Chloe was patient with her as the older woman switched gears on her, speaking of the Ralph Lauren flatware and linens she had purchased. “Anyway, like I was saying, going to all those stores and whipping out your credits cards or checkbook and buying whatever you want without blinking an eye. And all those people recognizing you and asking for autographs and pictures. Elissa would’ve
loved
that because she was always putting on airs like she could and would do those things. That’s why Devon broke up with her snooty behind. You can’t take a steak-and-potatoes man and make him . . .” She turned to Chloe. “What’s that we had for lunch?”
She smiled as she drove. “Lobster caesar salad with avocado, asparagus, basil croutons and lobster coral dressing.”
“Well
that
.” Lil sniffed. “Do you know I overheard him tell Shawnie that she wouldn’t even let him kiss her after she put on her makeup, and that she always had to be on top so that her hair wouldn’t get messed up.”
Chloe laughed at the face Lil made. “I don’t know about this Elissa, but I’ll take steak and potatoes any day.”
Lil gave her a serious and hard look. “You’re not like Elissa. You have what she wanted and don’t even flaunt it. She wanted what you have, but didn’t have it and wanted to pretend like she did. She expected Vonnie to do the same thing.” Lil sighed. “No, you’re not like Elissa, but remember that it might take Vonnie a little while to realize that.”
Chloe remembered she had asked her what she meant, but Lil had just given her a look that said, “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”
As remnants of that conversation faded into the distance one phrase stuck out.
No, you’re not like Elissa, but remember that it might take Vonnie a little while to realize that.
Chloe stood up from the table and moved to the sink to wash her cup and saucer. “Elissa had hurt Devon and Calvin hurt me,” she said aloud softly to herself as she rinsed the dishes and set them in the dish rack on the counter. “Neither one of us wants to be hurt again.”
Although their late night rendezvous were getting to be habit forming, the secrecy of sneaking to his suite once everyone was in bed only heightened the experiences they’d shared. They both had agreed it would be best to keep what went on between them private. The town was full of gossip-mongers and, frankly, it wasn’t anyone’s business.
The house was quiet. The twins were down working on the house with their crew, of course. She had dropped Nana Lil off to her friends to finish a quilt they were working on together, and Alicia was over in the office.
She had just settled on the couch in the living room to start a new hardcover by Terry McMillan when the doorbell rang. Setting the book on the chair, she rose to answer it. Chloe groaned audibly when she saw the résumé clutched in the plump elderly woman’s hand standing before her.
“Hello Ms. Bolton. My name is Maddie Connors.”
Chloe’s hazel eyes widened as the woman rushed to speak: before Chloe could even open her mouth. She talked so quickly that her words seemed to run together. “I know they said you were turning away all the people who’ve been here so far, but I thought I’d try anyway. If you’d just read my résumé and references, you’ll see how qualified I am as a housekeeper and cook.”
The woman paused to take a deep breath, her voluminous chest heaving up and down with the effort beneath her “I Love S.C.” T-shirt.
Chloe gave the woman a friendly smile. “I’m sorry Mrs. . . .” She looked down at the resume. “Mrs. Connors. There’s been a mistake, just like I’ve explained to the other twelve women who’ve stopped by this week. I’m not in need of the services of either a housekeeper or a cook.”
Madeline’s plump face became confused. “But Alicia—”
“Alicia?” Chloe cut the other woman off. Her voice hardened.
She nodded, looking crestfallen. “Yes, Alicia said you asked her to put an ad in the paper for help because you couldn’t boil water and had never cleaned a day in your life. I guess we thought we would get a jump on the position before it was advertised.”
Chloe breathed deeply, trying not to direct the anger she felt at this innocent pawn in Alicia’s game. She forced a smile to her lips. “I’m sorry Mrs. Connors. Alicia was mistaken, but if I change my mind I will consider you.”
Madeline stomped her foot in anger. “I don’t know why I listened to that girl. Ever since she was a little girl she’s told a lie quicker than a gnat can lick his own ass!” She cut her round eyes over toward the office building, where she knew Alicia was. “Ms. Bolton, you have a good day and I’m sorry about the mix-up. I feel foolish coming here.”
Chloe felt sorry for her. “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea, Mrs. Connors?"
The woman shook her head and turned back to look at Chloe. “No, but thanks for offering. I best be getting on home now. My ride’s waiting. Goodbye.”
Chloe watched as the woman walked down the steps and got into the passenger seat of an old, battered pickup truck. She waved as the truck passed on the road. Before it was out of sight she was already marching with long angry strides over to the office.
Alicia initially looked surprised when Chloe stormed in, slamming the door behind her. The woman’s expression turned to one of pure dislike.
“Why are you telling people that I’m hiring a cook and housekeeper?” She put her hands on the woman’s desk and leaned down in her face, her voice cold with an angry edge to it.
Alicia leaned back in her chair from the anger she saw. “I didn’t tell anyone that. I could care less what you do down that road,” she said flippantly, her voice showing more bravado than she actually felt.
“Liar,” Chloe shouted. “Mrs. Connors just told me you told her that.”
Alicia shrugged. “I didn’t.”
“You know what, just keep my name out of your mouth,” Chloe warned her, her hazel eyes stormy green with fury.
Spitefully, Chloe looked her over behind the desk, from the disastrous bob haircut to the pink hued makeup on her pecan complexion to the bulky sweatsuit she wore to hide her disproportionate shape. She felt like offering her a free copy of one of her beauty books.
Her eyes showed disapproval at what she saw. “You really should use the extra time you have to talk about me to do something with yourself. You look a mess. Maybe Devon
might
pay you more attention if you’d pay some to yourself.”
Alicia stiffened in anger and embarrassment. Tight-lipped, she snarled, “I guess you think he wants you. All your money and fame, Ms. High and Mighty Supermodel, wouldn’t make Devon want you! ”
Chloe started to tell her just how much Devon wanted her, but instead said mockingly, “I’m not the one lusting undercover for him, you are!”
She turned and walked to the door, “Just remember you little dwarf, keep my name out of your mouth or I’ll fill it with a slap.”
She slammed the door after she stepped out of the office, missing the hate-filled daggers Alicia’s eyes threw at her.
Filled with embarrassment and anger, Alicia jerked back her chair from the desk and stalked over to Deshawn’s work area to snatch down the calendar. Viciously, she tore it to shreds, wishing she could get the real version out of her life just as easily.
Chloe walked back over to the house, still seething in anger. She wanted to yell out in frustration. She had never done anything to that idiot, so why did the woman instantly dislike her? Her mother had taught her not to begrudge the next person anything. If she wanted the same, then get out and work for it. It was insane to hate someone because they had money.
She went in the house and retrieved her novel, resolved not to let that woman’s venom ruin her day. She gently swayed on the porch swing as she read. The sun was up, but the weather wasn’t very hot. A nice breeze drifted by every so often, offering a refreshing reprieve from the warmth. She finally became so engrossed in the novel that she didn’t break in her reading for a solid two hours, and only then because she heard Alicia’s car door slam.
Chloe’s mouth widened in amazement when the woman childishly flipped her the bird as she backed out of the yard. Maliciously, she hoped the woman backed her car into one of the ditches running alongside the road, but then she changed her mind. Sometimes the bad people wished on others came back on them two-fold.
Her stomach growled in hunger and she realized how the hours had passed. Folding the page where she had stopped reading, Chloe closed the book and went into the house. She had just finished making a sandwich from the leftover ham Nana Lil cooked last night when she heard the front door open and close.
In a flash Devon strode down the hallway to the kitchen, took the saucer and glass of lemonade out of her hand and set them on the counter. With a devilish smile he pulled her slowly into his arms.
Chloe laughed huskily in surprise, very happy to see him and be near him. “Hello there.”
His response was a low growl as he captured her lips with a full kiss that shook her in her shoes. He deepened the kiss and captured her tongue to suckle. She was breathless when it ended, her eyes glazed and lazy with released desire.
“Nana Lil went for her quilt making?” he asked, his voice hoarse as he massaged the small of her back.
“Where’s Deshawn?” she asked huskily, nodding in response to his question as she rubbed her hips into him.
“He went to see if Poochie could get off work early.” They kissed again, brief but satisfying. “I don’t see her car. Did Alicia go to lunch?”
“A few minutes ago.”
“So we’re all alone.”
“Uh-huh!”
“Let’s go!”
He smacked her soundly on the behind as she ran past him to fly up the stairs to his room. He was right on her heels. She was already stripping out of the ecru embroidered peasant dress she wore, letting her wedges fly as she kicked them off, Devon quickly undressed as well, his eyes never leaving Chloe. “I’ve been thinking of you all morning, Chloe.”
Naked, she climbed onto the bed. “Yeah?” she asked playfully.
He nodded and climbed between her open legs. Already the scent of her desire was in the air and driving him wild. He took a hard nipple into his mouth and she arched her back for more.
Chloe was hot with desire, but not crazy. “Why . . . are . . . you . . . home . . . so . . . early?” she asked breathlessly, reaching over to his night stand to remove a condom. With ease, she removed it from its wrapper and sheathed him.
Devon lifted one of her long shapely legs and put it around his waist, with Chloe wordlessly lifting the other. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“Later, Chloe.”
“What’s my surprise, Devon?” she whined.
“Later,” he moaned against the soft chocolate globes. “I’ve got something else for you now.”
“What’s that?”
“This.” He entered her and they became lost in the passion.
∞
Chloe rolled her sweat-drenched body off of Devon. Her heart raced from their lovemaking. She looked at him where he lay sprawled on his back, his eyes closed as he breathed raggedly through his mouth.
“We have the most incredible sex, Devon,” she gasped, reaching down to pull the sheet over their naked bodies.