More Than He Can Handle (29 page)

“All right. Maybe I'll invite you to the wedding when she says yes,” Cleveland ribbed. “I'll call you later.” After hanging up the phone, he smiled and prayed that the train would grow wings so that he could get home and pop the question again.

After Freddie left Lillian's, she didn't go straight home. She wandered around downtown Atlanta, for once not cursing the slow flow of the traffic and clogged streets. As she drove, with her windows down and the wind blowing her hair, Freddie went back and forth on saying yes to Cleveland's marriage proposal.
What if I say yes? Will his family think I'm trying to take advantage of him because I don't have a job and my savings aren't going to last much longer? And if I say no, I could miss out on the best thing that's ever happened to me,
she thought as she slowed her car for a red light. Looking to her left, she glanced at the DVA building where Cleveland's sister-in-law worked. Though she didn't know Jill that well, Freddie decided that she needed to swallow her pride and pay her a visit. Maybe Jill could help her find a job, because Freddie didn't want to enter into a marriage where she was totally dependent on Cleveland.

Pulling into the vast parking garage, she wondered if Jill was in the office or if she would even see her. This woman was the CEO of the company and it was highly doubtful that she'd just open her door to Freddie as if they were two girlfriends about to have a chat. Still, Freddie got out of the car and headed into the building. As she entered, she saw Jill and a tall, brown-skinned man who wasn't Darren. The way they laughed with one another, she sensed they were familiar with one another, but not romantically.

“Freddie,” Jill said when she spotted her. “What are you doing here?”

“I'm sorry to just show up like this, I'm sure you're really busy,” Freddie said.

“Malik and I were just going to grab some lunch. How rude of me, Malik Greene, this is Freddie Barker, Cleveland's girlfriend.”

Malik extended his hand to Freddie. “Nice to meet you.” He suavely kissed her hand as if they were meeting on a street in Paris. Jill rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Down boy,” she ribbed. “Remember who's waiting for us at the restaurant.”

“My beautiful wife,” he said. “I'm married, not blind.”

Freddie laughed nervously. “I don't mean to interrupt your lunch, I just . . .”

“Why don't you join us?” Jill suggested. Freddie looked down at her jeans and simple white oxford shirt.

“I don't know, I'm not properly dressed and . . .”

“We're going to a casual place and you're basically family, so it's cool,” Jill said as they headed outside. “It's just two blocks down.”

Freddie nodded and fell in step with Jill and Malik. “So, you're another Alexander?” Malik asked.

“Not yet,” Freddie replied with a smile. “That's something we're working on.”

“It's the season of the bride,” Malik said then turned to Jill. “My lawyer's getting married next week.”

Jill smiled. “You started all of this,” she said. “You and Shari make marriage look so easy and breezy.”

“You know that isn't true,” Malik said. “And you of all people should know that Shari and I have had a time of it.”

Jill nodded, then turned to Freddie. “Don't listen to us. It's all worth it in the end. Having someone who you love and who loves you back is an indescribable feeling.”

Malik nodded. “And don't tell my wife, because I don't like to get mushy, but I can't sleep unless I feel her arms around me.”

“I feel the same way about Cleveland,” Freddie said.

“So, when's the wedding?” Jill asked. “I hate that I missed Louis's wedding. But that's where you two got your start, huh?”

Freddie blushed as she recalled the wedding and how she spent the wedding night. “Yes,” she said. “Here's the thing, though, I can't marry Cleveland the way I am now.”

Jill furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Freddie. “What do you mean?”

She sighed and ran her hand over her windblown hair. “I walked away from everything that I built in New Orleans and I don't want to be dependant on Cleveland or not be able to contribute to our marriage.”

Malik tapped Jill on the shoulder. “I'm going to go inside and wait for you guys.”

She nodded and then led Freddie to a bench near the entrance of the restaurant. The women took a seat and Jill faced Freddie. “I understand what you mean. But Cleveland loves you and I'm sure he doesn't think you're leeching off him or anything like that.”

“I know, still, I've been working all of my adult life. I'm not wired to be a housewife.”

“What were you doing in New Orleans?”

“Running a hotel,” she said. “My mother and I own The French Garden Inn in the French Quarter. I was in charge of the day-to-day business and she spent the profits.”

“I have some friends in hospitality around here, I can put some calls out there and see what's available,” Jill said.

“I really appreciate that.” Freddie extended her hand to Jill, but Jill hugged her tightly.

“We're practically family. Come on, let's go eat.” Freddie released a sigh of relief, happy that Jill was willing to help her.

 

 

“Freddie,” Cleveland called out when he walked into the house. “Freddie?” When he didn't get a reply, Cleveland knew that he had time to set the mood. He dashed upstairs and prepared the bathroom by setting candles around the tub. Then he went downstairs to the kitchen and filled a bowl with strawberries and took them into the bathroom as well.

Cleveland grabbed a pair of plush brown towels from the linen closet and hung them on the towel bar. Then he opened the bathroom cabinet and searched for some bath oil. As he began to run the water, he heard the front door open.

“Cleveland,” Freddie called out as she headed upstairs.

“In the bathroom,” he said. “Come join me.”

She appeared in the doorway and smiled as he lit the last candle. “What's all of this?”

“Something special for you because you deserve it,” he said as he began taking his shirt off. “Why are you standing over there with all of those clothes on?”

Freddie placed her hands on her hips. “You are something else.”

Cleveland crossed over to her and brushed his lips against hers. “You think?” With nimble fingers, he unbuttoned her shirt. “Where have you been?” Before Freddie could answer him, he closed his lips on her neck, making her shiver.

“Umm, I had lunch with Jill and—ah—I was looking for a job and . . .” She stopped talking as his fingers slipped inside her bra.

“Come on, let's get in the tub,” he said as he pushed her shirt off her shoulders. Freddie stepped out of her pants and followed Cleveland to the bathtub. The water smelled of sweet jasmine and was warm to the touch. Freddie stepped in the water and Cleveland took his clothes off then joined her. They lay in the water, Freddie's back against Cleveland's chest. He took the bath sponge and ran it down the center of her chest.

“You don't have to find a job right away, I know you need to get settled in,” he said as he made small circles around her nipples with the sponge.

“Umm, I need a job. Sitting at home all day isn't my idea of fun,” she said.

Cleveland dipped the sponge between her legs and toyed with her inner thighs. “I hear you. But I can take care of you.”

Freddie turned around and kissed the center on his chest. “I know you can,” she said. “But it's not always all about me and what I need.”

“It is if I say it is,” he said as he tweaked the end of her nose.

She slapped his hand away, sloshing water over the side of the tub. “Seriously, Cleveland. I'm unemployed right now and other than the best sex of your life, what do I have to bring into this relationship?”

Though he was highly aroused, Cleveland found the voice to say, “What we have is about more than sex. Hell, the sex is good because we connect on so many other levels. Look, you haven't been in town that long and you've been through a lot. If you want to regroup before you get back on your feet, I'm fine with that.”

“But I don't want you to feel like you're carrying me,” she said. “That's why I went to Jill to ask her for help finding a job.”

Cleveland pulled her against his chest, so close to his face that their lips brushed against one another's. “You're important to me and if you feel like you have to work, that's fine. I never expected you to be a housewife, besides, I couldn't afford to keep you at home anyway.”

“And I wouldn't want you to,” she said, thrusting her hips into his.

“Don't do that. I'm trying to prove to you that what we have is more than sex and you do
that
.”

She gyrated against him, sloshing water with every sensual move. “Who said sex was a bad thing?”

Wrapping his arms around her hips, Cleveland blew out the candles, then slowly lifted her from the tub. “Then let me get some of this good thing,” he said with a grin on his face.

 

 

Later after they were spent from lovemaking, Cleveland and Freddie layed in bed wrapped in each other's arms. While she slept soundly, he drank in the beauty of her silky skin, her thick lips that were pressed against his moments ago. Freddie looked like an angel as she slept. Gently he ran his index finger down her cheek, careful not to wake her up. He inched closer to her and brushed his lips softly against her cheek. With his free hand, he reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out the ruby ring that he'd bought earlier that day. He placed the box on her pillow then kissed the back of her neck. Freddie's eyes fluttered open.

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he said.

“Umm,” she moaned. “Do I have to?”

“Yes,” he said.

Freddie stretched her arms above her head and her hand brushed against the box. “What's this?” She took the velvet box into her hand then opened it. “Cleveland.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Do you love me?”

“You know it.”

He took the ring from the box and reached for her left hand. “What do you say we get married?”

Freddie's smile spread from ear to ear. “I say yes.”

He slipped the ring in place and it fit perfectly, just as he knew it would. “I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Freddie looked at the ring. “How did you know that I loved rubies?”

He shrugged. “It was just a hunch and I wanted something different for you. Because we have a different type of relationship, you know.”

“Do you think we ought to pull ourselves out of the bed and share our news?” she asked.

Cleveland took her left hand and placed it over his arousal. “Getting out of bed isn't an option right now.” He covered her body with his, kissing her with a fiery passion that was hot enough to make her melt. Freddie wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and deeper. Her legs quivered as his hand dipped between her thighs and anticipation coursed through her body like the blood that flowed through her veins.

“Cleveland,” she moaned as his finger found his way between the moist folds of flesh hiding her throbbing bud of desire. Inching down her body, Cleveland buried his face between her thighs and lapped her womanly juices like they were the sweetest nectar he'd ever tasted. Freddie grasped the sheets as he circled her most tender spot with his tongue. Her breasts heaved as she panted while his lips covered her flesh.

Freddie released the sheets as she exploded under his kiss. Intense feelings of pleasure filled her senses and all she could do was let Cleveland control her body as he had been. He traveled up her body until he reached her breasts. Freddie's nipples were rock hard, waiting for his lips and tongue to tease them. She placed her hand on Cleveland's manhood, stroking him as he kissed and licked her breasts and then her neck.

He moaned with a sound that came from the depths of his soul. “I need to be inside,” Cleveland groaned.

“Need. You. Inside.” Her voice was staccato. Cleveland retrieved a condom from underneath his pillow and with the quickness and skill of a magician, he slid the sheath in place and melted with her. As he pumped his hips in, Freddie matched him stroke for stroke. The heat between them was enough to build a forest fire in the middle of the bed. He lifted her from the sheets and folded her legs around his waist. They danced a sensual dance of passion until sweat dripped from their bodies like falling rain.

“Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland,” she repeated as if she was in a trance. The hot wetness that surrounded him rendered Cleveland unable to speak. Unable to say how much he loved her, unable to tell her that he wanted every moment of their lives to be this way.

Collapsing against the sheets, Freddie and Cleveland held each other and silently basked in the afterglow of their desire.

“Promise me that after we walk down the aisle that you're going to continue to blow my mind like this,” he said when he caught his breath.

“Are you sure you can handle this for the rest of your life?” she teased.

“Umm, you've been more than I can handle since the day we met, but somehow I've managed.” He kissed her passionately, arousing himself again. When she felt him throbbing against her thighs, Freddie knew that she was in for the ride of her life.

When Freddie and Cleveland got married, it wasn't a fancy affair. They'd had their fill of wedding drama after standing up for Lillian and Louis. Instead, the Grand Hilton hotel in downtown Atlanta, where Freddie was the General Manager, served as the venue for the wedding. The ballroom was aglow with the flickering light of a hundred candles (Lillian's idea) and a few hand-tied bouquets of white-and-pink roses circled the altar, even though Lillian thought the pink roses were mauve. Freddie told her friend that she needed to get her eyes checked.

As the couple stood in front of the reverend, Freddie stared deep into Cleveland's gray eyes. This wasn't a dream, she was going to be happy and spend her life with a man that matched her passion and intensity. A man who loved her above all else and someone who would never let her down. Just as the minister was about to pronounce the couple man and wife, Freddie could've sworn she saw her father tipping out the back of the ballroom. Smiling, she said, “I do.”

Before the reverend got the words, “You may kiss the bride,” out of his mouth, Cleveland had Freddie in his arms, kissing her as if they were the only two in the room. Catcalls and cheers came from the small audience of family and firefighters. Most of the guests at the wedding had to see Cleveland tell this woman “I do,” because they just couldn't believe that he was getting married. Though it was the happiest day of his life, Cleveland did miss Roland. He could only imagine what his friend would've said when he announced his engagement.

Cleveland smiled and squeezed Freddie's hand. Roland would've loved Freddie, eventually.

“Are we really supposed to be this happy?” she whispered as they posed for pictures with the wedding party, which was comprised of Jill, Lillian, Louis and Darren.

“Yes, we are,” Cleveland said. “And trust me, the best is yet to come.”