My Destiny (12 page)

“We’re not all like that,” she insisted. “And while we’re on the subject—the guys running around here aren’t exactly worth writing home about, either.”

“What?”

“You heard me. When I first met you, you were changing women like you changed your clothes. And now that you’re ready to settle down, you expect Miss Perfect to show up on your timetable. Well, love doesn’t work like that. You reap what you sow.” With her temper barely in check, she began jogging again.

Miles quickly caught up with her. “Did I miss something?”

She drew in a deep, steady breath and seemed to calm down.

“Desi?”

She glanced at him and favored him with a quick smile. “No. You didn’t miss anything. It’s just that I had this same conversation with Elliott and Zack the other day. I know for a fact there are plenty of good women out there, myself included. The problem is we have to put up with all these guys who want to be playas and have their women look like video vamps and have low IQs.”

Miles shook his head. “Like you said, we’re not all like that. Besides, I know a lot of playas that have changed their ways when the right woman came along. The problem is we have to navigate through those vamps to get to the right person.”

“If you know so many good men, then why haven’t you ever set me up with one of them?” Destiny asked curiously as they entered their building.

A formidable frown marred his handsome features to the point that he looked like he was scowling. “Set you up?”

She nodded.

“With one of my friends?”

Puzzled, yet entertained by his reaction, Destiny smiled as she crossed her arms and stared at him. “Yeah, why not? Someone other than Wes, of course.” When he continued to look disbelievingly at her, she went on. “What’s the matter?”

The elevator arrived and they stepped on.

“Well?” she probed. “Or were you just pulling my leg about knowing so many good men?”

Finally, his furrowed brows relaxed. “All right.” He pressed the button for the fourteenth floor. “But you have to do the same thing for me.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, you have to find me a date with one of your quality women, too. And I don’t mean Lu Jin. Someone who you truly believe is marriage material.”

Destiny’s heart skipped a beat at the very thought of having to set him up with one of her friends.

“What?” He smirked. “Can’t think of anyone?”

She straightened with fake resolve and rose to the challenge. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Chapter 20

W
hen Miles ran the agreement between him and Destiny by Wes, his friend exploded with laughter.

Miles rolled his eyes.

“You want to run that by me again?” Wes cupped his ear toward Miles. “There’s got to be something wrong with my hearing.”

Miles eased behind his desk as a smile spread across his face. “There’s nothing wrong with your hearing.”

Wes shook his head. “You’re going to find Destiny’s Mr. Right and she’s agreed to find Mrs. Right for you?”

“That’s the arrangement.”

Still shaking his head, Wes plopped down in the vacant chair across from Miles. “I swear. You have to be the luckiest bastard alive. Stuff like that never happens to me.”

Miles shrugged, but his smile grew wider. “What can I say? Destiny and I just have each other’s best interests at heart.”

Wes held up his hands in mock surrender. “Please, keep the crap to a bare minimum. I’m not wearing my boots today.”

“It makes sense if you think about it,” Miles explained. “Who better to set me up than someone who knows me as well as Destiny?”

“What am I—chop suey?” Wes sat upright. “And for the record, this crazy arrangement doesn’t make sense to anyone other than you guys. But I’d appreciate it, if you ever do get the urge to jump her bones, if you’d wait until September.”

Miles frowned. “September?” Then understanding narrowed his gaze. “Don’t tell me that silly bet is still going on.”

Wes shrugged; a smile dominated his features. “Hey, September is a great month. The leaves change color, the air is crisp—all that romantic crap women go crazy for.”

Miles rocked back into his chair with quakes of laughter. “You need to find something to better occupy your time than a nonexistent romance.”

“Are you kidding me? The drama going on between you two is better than what’s happening on
Days of Our Lives.
”

“Really?” Miles’s brows shot up.

Wes cleared his throat. “Not that I’ve ever watched the show—but I’m guessing.”

“Of course you haven’t,” Miles said, still smiling. “So who has the bid for this month?”

Wes waved his hand absently. “Elliott. He was just convinced you were going to have one hell of a birthday gift to unwrap last night.” His twinkling gaze turned suspicious. “You didn’t, did you?”

“No,” Miles barked, and then added, “not that it’s any of your business.”

“Yeah, you got to wonder about a girl like that,” Wes continued, ignoring Miles’s comment. “You got everyone convinced you’re going to kick the bucket any minute. You’d think she’d let you hit it—at least out of pity.”

“You need to get your head out of the gutter.”

“And you need to jump in,” Wes countered quickly. “Before you started this wife quest, you were knocking boots like a part-time job. Nowadays, women have to pass a twenty-four-point inspection for you to say hello to them. And now you’re telling me that they have to get a stamp of approval from Destiny. As your friend, I’m telling you to lighten up.”

With his features scrunched in confusion, Miles asked, “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said.” Wes stood from his chair. “It pains me to tell you this,
but you’ve lost it.
Midas Touch Miles has died, and it’s been a messy death to bear witness to, I can tell you that much.”

“Come on. It’s not that bad.”

“Oh, yes it is. You’re not the same man I grew up with. You’re like a bad, watered-down version of your former self. It’s sad. I’ve made excuses to our friends as to why you’re not attending the hot parties. Hell, I’ve even seen Destiny at a few. And that girl is a freak on the dance floor.”

Miles frowned.

“Look, Miles. I know you better than anyone. And whether you want to admit it, you’re in love with your next-door neighbor and instead of being a man about the situation, you’re staying at home waiting for the realization to dawn on her. How am I doing so far?”

“You’re way off base.” Miles suspected he would have had better luck convincing Wes had he not hesitated before answering.

Wes’s grin took on a wicked quality. “Sure, I am, buddy. Sure I am.”

* * *

On Monday afternoon, Destiny joined her girlfriends, Debra, Monique and Lu Jin, for lunch. And while everyone chatted nonstop about husbands, boyfriends and children, Destiny’s mind roamed wildly on who would be a good candidate for Miles. The problem was that for every name that scrolled across her brain, she found a major flaw that knocked them off the list.

When Lu Jin leaned over and whispered, “Are you all right?” she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Oh, yes.” She looked guiltily around. “I’m sorry. My mind was roaming.”

“That much is apparent.” Monique chuckled. “I just want to know if it’s that new young thang you’re dating that’s got your mind up in the clouds.”

“Me, too,” Debra chimed in with a wicked smile. “The way you two were dancing the other night, I figured you guys got
real
acquainted after the party.”

As the women laughed, a wave of embarrassment rippled through Destiny.

Lu Jin elbowed her. “Well?”

Destiny smiled. “You know me, guys—I never kiss and tell.”

Everyone moaned in disappointment.

“That’s an annoying habit you got there,” Lu Jin said, shaking her head. “There should never be secrets between us.”

“Are you kidding? Secrets aren’t secrets long the way you girls love to gossip.”

Their eyes widened as they took in a collective gasp. “Who, us?” they asked in unison.

Destiny laughed. “I love you all, but I’m telling it like it is.”

Lu Jin was the first to verbalize her protest. “I’ll have you know that we don’t gossip. We exchange vital information.”

“That’s right,” Debra and Monique agreed, nodding.

Smiling, Destiny waved them off. “If you say so. I’m not going to argue.”

Monique leaned in. “Since you’re not going to tell us what happened when you left the party, surely you’re going to tell us how old Steve is.”

The women leaned in.

Destiny rolled her eyes. “Steven is twenty-four.”

They all squealed with delight.

“Glory be.” Lu Jin fanned herself with her hand. “I’m exhausted just thinking about it.”

Destiny slapped her hand. “Stop it. You’ve dated plenty of younger men.”

“Never more than three years younger. I don’t work out like you. I tire easily.”

“I heard that.” Monique held up her hand and received excited high fives from the other two women.

Destiny laughed and shook her head. “You girls are out of control.”

“
I
want to know what Miles said when he cut in to dance with you,” Debra asked. “Now that brotha didn’t look too pleased about your date.”

Once again, the women leaned forward in rapt attention.

“Ya’ll are some nosy women—and you need to get out of my business,” Destiny sassed. “But if it’s Miles you want to hear about, then maybe you girls can help me with something else.”

They bristled at not getting the information they wanted.

“I’m serious. Miles and I were talking the other morning about how hard it is to find quality people to date so we agreed to set each other up. Problem is, I think I just talked myself into a corner because I can’t think of anyone that would be perfect for him.”

To her surprise, another burst of laughter erupted from her friends. She frowned. “What’s so funny?”

They were all so tickled by what she’d said, no one could stop laughing long enough to answer her question.

“What?” Destiny insisted.

Lu Jin pressed a hand against her chest and drew in a deep breath. “Let me get this straight. You’re going to find Miles a date?”

Destiny nodded, and then lifted her brows inquisitively when they laughed again. “He’s not a bad guy. Any woman should be happy to date him.”

“That’s not what’s so funny,” Lu Jin interjected.

“Then what?”

“Come on, Destiny. What have we been telling you for years?”

Rolling her eyes and waving off her friend’s comment, Destiny responded more impatiently than she intended. “Don’t start that again. I’m being serious.”

Eyes still twinkling, Lu Jin met her gaze. “So were we.”

Destiny drew in and expelled a tired breath.

Lu Jin went on, “You guys are perfect for each other. I don’t see how you can’t see it.” She counted off her fingers. “You work together, play together—why not sleep together?”

“Three for one,” Monique piped in. “You can’t beat that.”

“Nothing like bargain shopping,” Debra added and was the first one to laugh at her clever joke.

All Destiny could manage was a crooked smile.

Lu Jin rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Destiny. You mean to tell me that you never once fantasized what it would be like to be with Miles?”

Instantly, she felt trapped by the question.

Her three friends were quick to pick up on her hesitation and they squealed excitedly.

People from surrounding tables turned in their direction and Destiny tried to control her friends.

“Shhh,” Destiny said as though she corrected errant children. “We’re still in a restaurant, you know.”

Apparently unconcerned, Lu Jin continued laughing while managing to say, “You’re a fraud, Destiny Brockman.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why?”

“Because for the past five years, you’ve acted like you haven’t even noticed he was a member of the opposite sex. Oh, you’re smooth.”

“Sister girl got game,” Monique agreed, and received an impulsive high five from Lu Jin for her commentary.

Destiny shook her head at their antics. “Okay, I know he’s a member of the opposite sex—big deal. It doesn’t change anything.”

Lu Jin waved a finger at her. “It changes everything. And you’re crazy if you don’t see it. I mean, here is a man you spend practically every waking moment with and you’re attracted to him. Honestly, what else can you ask for?”

Debra leaned forward. “If I was you I would be trying to get that man in front of an altar—and soon. Your biological clock is ticking so loud, it’s waking me up every morning.”

“Not funny,” Destiny said with her best silencing glare. “I have plenty of time to have children.”

Lu Jin, who had never hid the fact that she didn’t consider herself mother material, ticked her finger like a metronome at her. “Do you really want to spend your golden years running to P.T.A. meetings?”

Debra and Monique, who were already mothers, nodded in agreement.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic?”

“Am I? Let’s say you play the field for another five years. You get married at forty and have children. Your firstborn moves out at eighteen—”

“That’s if you’re lucky,” Debra warned.

“Yeah,” Monique nodded.

“You’d be fifty-nine going on sixty. And if you put him through college, tack on another four years.”

“He could live on college campus,” Destiny argued back.

“Uh-huh, or he could be enrolled at the local community college and live at home.”

“Or worse, he could decide that college isn’t for him and refuse to move out until he’s thirty-five,” Monique added gloomily.

The rest of the women looked at her.

“What? It could happen. My brother turned thirty-five last month and he’s still home—and has no plans of moving out.”

“Okay, stop it, girls. You’re starting to depress me. I can appreciate you trying to look out for me and all, but you’re wrong about Miles and I.” She swallowed and searched for the right words that would finally make them understand. “I know this sounds ludicrous, but in my mind, Miles has sort of filled Adam’s shoes.”

She stopped and stared at their stunned faces. “He’s the big brother I miss having in my life. He loves practicing law. He’s overprotective about the men I date. Hell, he even likes the same music as Adam. Now do you understand?”

Their gazes darted from one another, but no one said a word.

“I gotta go,” Destiny said, suddenly jumping up from the table.

“Wait, no,” Lu Jin protested. “Don’t go.”

“It’s okay.” Destiny ignored her, quickly gathering her things. “I’ve already ruined the mood with my crazy ramblings. I’ll catch up with you girls later.” She tossed down a twenty onto the table and raced out before her tears won the battle against her willpower.