“You’re kidding,” Avery blurted, taking a seat and propping his face in his palm.
Capri smoothed her hands over her cream-colored coat dress and recrossed her legs. “Is that a problem?”
“No, ma’am.” Avery frowned. “Not at all. I’m just surprised to see such a young lovely woman in charge of the shoot.”
Rod cast a quick glance in Capri’s direction and could tell that she wasn’t satisfied with that answer. Rushing to keep the waters calm, he cleared his throat. “We chose Capri because of her expertise with the nude layouts she frequently produces for several well-known women’s magazines. Haize Fragrances, the company that created the cologne, loves her work, too, so, of course she was the obvious choice.”
“Will you have a problem working with me, Avery?” Capri asked again, not wanting to waste any more time than necessary with the man.
“I won’t, Capri. You’re the boss,” Avery assured her.
“Well, will you have a problem working in the bare minimum?”
“None.”
Capri nodded and reached for the portfolio on Rod’s desk. “All right, well, since the cologne created by Haize Fragrances is called Bare Minimum, I think the shots should reflect that very idea. I want to set up shoots in different locations void of lots of props and extras. For instance, in a light, airy room, furnished with only a chair or a lamp. Or say by the beach with maybe a palm tree far in the background,” she explained, shifting in her seat. “See, I want the shots showing the least of everything, no matter what the setting, with a few shots of you in nice suits for good measure.”
Avery and Rod nodded in unison. Capri smiled and opened her portfolio. “If you gentlemen will gather around, I can show you the visuals for the location my crew and I have decided on.”
“Droopey? Droopey! Come on!” Tiberius glanced at his watch as he held one of the doors open on his truck.
In a few seconds, a gorgeous female collie raced out to the driveway. At her master’s request, she hopped into the back of his silver Navigator.
Tiberius smiled, watching Droopey get settled in the vehicle. He heard the soft yet persistent ring of his cell phone seconds before the unsettling vibrations began against his thigh. Checking the faceplate, he grinned at the sight of Roderick Jackson’s name.
“Well, well. Haven’t heard from you since the party!”
Roderick grinned at the sound of his friend’s voice. “As a doctor you should understand being swamped beneath a crap-load of work.”
Tiberius ordered Droopey to stay where she was by pointing a finger in her direction. “Say no more, man. We should try getting together soon though.”
“No doubt. There was something I wanted to discuss with you anyway. No reason why we can’t do it over drinks.”
“Well give me a hint, man. Everything all right with Kiva?” Tiberius asked, referring to Rod’s longtime girlfriend.
“Yeah, yeah, she’s great. This is a real-estate question.”
“Ah! My
other
job.”
Again, Rod chuckled. “Right. I’m in the middle of wrapping up a conference now, so how about we get together to discuss it, have a few drinks while we’re at it.”
“Sounds good.” Tiberius settled in behind the wheel as he and Roderick discussed particulars.
“Well, that’s all I have,” Capri said when they’d returned to Roderick’s office later that afternoon to conclude the meeting. She stood and extended her hand toward Avery. “It was good to meet you. I’m looking forward to working together.” She said, giving him her dazzling one-dimpled smile.
“Same here,” Avery said, watching Capri nod in Rod’s direction before she strolled out of the office. His eyes set on her full bottom pressed against the very flattering cut of the dress she wore.
Rod’s laughter was close to the surface as he watched the helpless look on his friend’s face. “Forget it, man,” he called.
Avery’s gaze was focused on the door as though he were still watching the provocative frame that had just exited the room. “Is she married?”
“No,” Rod answered. “But forget it anyway. You’ll never get anywhere with her.”
“I get somewhere with every woman, my man,” he bragged before slanting Rod a wink and leaving the office.
He caught up to Capri just as she turned into her office at the end of the long photo-lined corridor.
She had just taken a seat behind her desk when the knock sounded on her door. She was silent, watching as Avery peeked inside.
“Problem, Avery?”
“Just a question.”
“Shoot.” Capri leaned back and waited.
Avery was stealing a glimpse of the office, taking in the impressive portraits and photos decorating the walls and shelving.
“It may be a good idea to get together for drinks, you know? Get to know each other a bit better before we start the campaign,” he suggested, while taking a closer look at the awards on the shelves near her desk.
“Get to know each other?”
Avery perched on the edge of the desk. “Yeah…ease the tension most people have between them when they first meet.”
“Hmm…” Capri stood then and perched on the end of the desk opposite of Avery. “The only thing I need to know is your face and I’m afraid I can do that just fine without the aid of drinks.”
“Ouch.” Avery winced. “Not very smooth with that approach, am I?”
“I’m sure it’ll be very successful on whomever you try it on next. Look, we’re not gonna have any problems here, are we, Avery?”
He raised his hands defensively. “Not a one.”
“Good.” Capri’s perky demeanor returned and she moved back to her desk chair. “Close the door on your way out, will you?”
Avery watched her for a moment longer, then shook his head and left the office. He saw Rod on his way down the hall and shrugged to concede the man’s point. Rod’s laughter filled the corridor.
“T
iberius, can you please talk to this man?” Marilyn Joffey begged, spreading her hands wide across the desk.
Tiberius laughed at the forty-something couple seated before him. His patient Marilyn Joffey and her husband Gary were expecting their first child in less than a month. Leaning back in his huge leather chair, Tiberius scratched his eyebrow. “Exactly what is it you want me to talk to him about?”
Marilyn rolled her piercing green eyes toward her husband. “This man is about to drive me crazy with worry.”
Tiberius smiled and nodded. “Marilyn, in all fairness, he is about to have his first child.”
“Thank you,” Gary spoke up, slamming his fist into the palm of his hand.
“Bull,” Marilyn protested. “Tiberius, you don’t have to live with him.” Pushing herself up further in her chair, she pointed. “Do you know that he wakes me up in the middle of the night just to ask if I’m all right?”
Tiberius’s rich, deep chuckles filled the spacious cream-and-beige office. “Gary? You might be taking this a bit too far, man.”
Marilyn nodded. “See? I told you, he’s a nervous wreck.”
Laughing loudly now, Tiberius stood and walked around the side of his desk. “Trust me, Gary, everything’s gonna be fine.” He tried to reassure Gary, patting the man’s shoulder.
The three of them talked for a while longer, with Tiberius going over a few notes he’d made during the ultrasound. As Marilyn was having her first child at the age of forty-one, Tiberius intended to be as thorough as possible. Their discussion covered every precaution
regardless of how minor. Still, there was the matter of Gary’s nerves. Once Marilyn was satisfied by her husband’s vow to work harder on not driving himself or, more importantly, her, crazy with his angst, the couple prepared to leave.
Tiberius was still speaking to the expecting parents about their next appointment when his assistant buzzed through.
“Yes, Pam?” Tiberius hurriedly answered his assistant’s call.
“Dr. Evans, I have your friend Roderick Jackson on the phone. He says if it’s not too much of a bother, he’d like to reschedule your lunch today, to around two o’clock?”
Tiberius quickly scanned the calendar on his desk and nodded. “That sounds good to me. Tell him I’m looking forward to it.”
Slamming her freshly filled tea glass to the table, Pepper Gregory narrowed a penetrating gray stare toward her friend. “This is hard to believe,” she whispered.
Capri didn’t bother looking up from the large green salad before her. “Why?”
“Why?” Pepper repeated, tapping one manicured nail against the smooth brown column of her neck. “Girl, I just can’t believe you’re tired of Miami. Tired of it enough to move out.”
Shrugging, Capri munched on a forkful of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. “I’m not tired of Miami, I just need a change in atmosphere.”
“Honey, do you realize how much you have going for you here?” Pepper questioned, pushing a lock of her thick, curled hair behind her ear. “Not to mention your fabulous job and friends.”
“Pepper, look, for the last time, I’m not leaving the city altogether. I just don’t want to be here day in and day out.” Capri sighed, tugging on the lapels of her coatdress.
“Why?” Pepper asked, still bewildered. What could be better than living in the heart of the fast-paced, gorgeous city?
“Well, aside from just wanting more room to breathe, I’m sick
of the same lines, and same approaches from men,” Capri confided, propping her forehead in her hand. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to act like I’ve got men lined up all the way to the Keys, but it gets…wearisome.”
Pepper sighed and propped her elbows on the table. “I can understand that. Men can be wonderful and aggravating all in the same breath sometimes.”
“You’ve hit it on the head there, my friend.” Capri groaned, her lovely dark eyes narrowing to slits. “I can handle it at work, but I guess now I’m craving a bit more distance from the hustle and bustle of it after five, you know?”
“Mmm…”
Capri scratched the hair that curled at her temple. “Lately…I don’t know, it’s just been so much of the same conversations that always lead to the
same
thing.”
A tiny smile pulled at Pepper’s mouth, as she closed her arms and watched her best friend.
“I don’t know…” Capri sighed, eyes lifting to the mahogany bar directly across from the table. Her midnight stare met the unwavering one of the man sitting there. The incredibly handsome giant was staring at her, his deep-set eyes sending the most unfamiliar of tingles up her spine.
Capri’s words trailed away as she became almost entranced by the man’s fixed and probing stare. She glanced at Pepper, who was giving her a curious look, and cleared her throat. “Like this guy,” she said, glancing at the bar again, “I can almost play out our first conversation in my head.”
Pepper toyed with the braided gold chain around her neck and gave a nonchalant look in the same direction. She glanced toward the bar and did a double take when she saw the huge man watching her friend.
Although he wasn’t looking at her, Pepper felt her own body
temperature rise. She fanned her hand in front of her face. “Ooo-wee.”
“Definitely,” Capri agreed, unable to ignore the man’s sex appeal.
Pepper pulled her eyes away and focused on her macaroni salad. “I wondered how long it would take,” she said mischievously.
Capri’s dark eyes snapped up to Pepper’s face. “How long
what
would take?”
“Honey, it’s obvious the, uh, celibate life is getting to you,” she replied without looking up.
“Wrong.”
Finally Pepper looked up. “Girl, when are you gonna stop pretending you aren’t human? It’s okay to admit to your urges.”
Capri rolled her eyes and said matter-of-factly, “the only urge I have is to get married one day and give myself to the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with.”
Pepper slapped her palm against the side of her face and stared wide-eyed into space. “That’s a beautiful dream.” She sighed. “But what the hell do you do in the meantime?”
“Don’t even try it, Pep, you know I date,” Capri argued. “Lately that’s even gotten to be too aggravating. The men I seem to attract only want to go out for sex.”
“Honey, do you realize how old you sound? I’m not knocking what you’re saying, but you can’t let a few bad apples spoil your fun.”
Capri toyed with a few curly tendrils that fell from her up-do. “You just think sex is everything, and it isn’t.”
Pepper’s light, lilting laugh turned more than a few male heads. “Honey, sex isn’t everything, but it is a
big
thing. In some cases a
very
big thing,” she added, casting another look in the direction of the sexy giant at the bar.
“Nasty,” Capri chastised, before she began to laugh helplessly.
“So, tell me this, are you just gonna keep turning men away until
one jumps in front of you and just happens to have all the qualities you’re looking for?”
Capri sucked in her breath and raised her hand. “All right, I know what you’re trying to say and I’m not that naive.”
“Hmph, I sure hope not.”
Capri groaned and brought her hand down on the table. “Look, Pepper, let me just put it this way, I’ve got three older sisters, all married to incredible guys—guys they saved themselves for.” She shrugged, grimacing a bit at the fact. “I guess I just figure…”
“It’s the natural order of things?” Pepper guessed, appearing as though she regretted pushing her friend into speaking on what was clearly a difficult subject.
Capri nodded. “I’ve placed all my decisions for much of my adult life on that very manner of thinking.” She clenched a fist. “It’s not so easy to admit that things may be meant to turn out differently for me. Not having an idea about it is…terrifying for lack of a better word.” She fixed Pepper with a pleading look. “Try to bear with me a little here, will you?”
Pepper raised both hands in a defensive gesture. “All right, I won’t say another word about it.”
“Thanks. Now can we change the subject? Let’s talk about something else.”
A devious glint sparkled in Pepper’s gray eyes. “Forget you. I’d rather talk to the guy at the bar.”
“Here’s another gin, Dr. Evans.”
Tiberius smiled and took the fresh drink from the bartender. “Thanks, Ernie.”
“No problem,” Ernie Carson said, grinning in appreciation of the sizable tip Tiberius handed him. “Oh, and your friend Roderick Jackson just got here, he’s waiting at your table on the other side. The hostess will show you.”
“Thanks again, man,” Tiberius said, easing his huge, athletic
form from the barstool. Before leaving, he cast another look across the room at the tiny beauty with the gorgeous body. With a quick shake of his head he ordered himself to forget the delights of pleasure and remember the frustration of misunderstandings.
“What’s goin’ on, man?” Rod greeted, smiling when he spotted Tiberius approaching the table.
Tiberius grinned, his deep-set eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “Not a damn thing. Working, working and working.”
The two friends hugged each other tightly before taking their seats at the table. For a while, the men simply stared at each other, until Tiberius laughed.
Rod laughed, as well, and shook his head. “Man, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“How long has it been since we’ve been sitting in a restaurant together, kid?” Tiberius asked, between chuckles.
“I know, right?” Rod asked, smoothing his hand over his close-cut hair. “Like you said, working, working and working.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Tiberius sighed, taking a sip of his gin. “So how’s Kiva?”
A mischievous grin crossed Rod’s face as his thoughts settled on his live-in lover Kiva Reynolds. “She’s good. I’m inching toward asking her the big question.”
Tiberius took the last swallow of his drink. “What question?” he asked absently.
Rod rolled his eyes. “Man, the
big
question. I’m gonna ask her to marry me.”
Tiberius stared at Rod for a moment, before groaning. “Ah, Rod, man…are you sure?”
“Hell yeah, I’m sure. After four years I should be sure,” Rod firmly replied, a deep furrow forming between his sleek brows. Sitting back in his chair, Rod regarded Tiberius with a suspicious glare. “What’s up, man, I always thought you liked Kiva?”
Tiberius shook his head, holding his hand out across the table.
“Rod, don’t get me wrong. I love Kiva. I hope it works out for y’all.”
“Mmm-hmm. So what are
you
waiting on?” Rod’s voice was cool, though the curiosity was apparent in his tone.
Tiberius’s heavy dark brows drew close as he frowned at his friend. “What am I waiting on to get married? Nothing. Because I’m never doing it.”
Rod laughed. “Whatever you say, man.”
Tiberius didn’t appreciate Rod’s humor. “What’s so funny?”
“Man, when you finally meet
the
woman, you’ll be singing a different tune. I guarantee it,” Rod predicted.
“I doubt it.”
Rod was still laughing when the waitress came to the table to take their orders. Rod was barely able to control his chuckles as he placed his order. Tiberius, however, retained his cool, serious demeanor.
“Now, why does your friend seem to be in such a good mood and you don’t?” the waitress asked when Tiberius gave her his order.
“Because he’s a very sick man and doesn’t know it.”
“Hey!” a wounded Rod cried.
The waitress laughed, unable to pull her brown eyes away from Tiberius’s face. “Well, I hope your day will improve.”
Tiberius rolled his eyes away from Rod to look into the waitress’s lovely face. “Thanks. I’m pretty sure it’ll shape up from here on out.” He told her, his voice soft and deep.
The waitress’s sparkling smile only became brighter and she bowed her head. “Glad I could help.”
Tiberius leaned back in his chair and propped his index finger alongside his temple. “I’m glad you could, too.”
Meanwhile, Rod was shaking his head at Tiberius’s awesome talent for flirting. When the waitress left with their orders, Rod continued to stare at his friend.
“What?” Tiberius asked, shifting his gaze toward Rod.
“Nothing.” Rod sighed, leaning back in his own chair. “So, how’s your love life going?”
The look in Tiberius’s light-brown eyes became devious. “It’s not.” His expression became deeply serious for the first time since he’d met his friend at the table.
“Forgive me, I should have asked about your sex life.”
Grinning at the dig, Tiberius shrugged. “My answer would be the same.”
“What’s this? Casanova dissatisfied?”
“Just taking a break from all the crap.”
Rod chuckled and took a sip from his water glass. “Sometimes it can be worth it. When you fall in love you’ll see what I mean.”
A horrified look crossed Tiberius’s handsome face. “Man, please don’t put that on me.”