Trouble with Luv' (13 page)

Xavier kept a nervous eye on his date. He didn't like seeing Ebony with Kale Washington. Or anyone else for that matter. He resented her popularity and the interest she received from other men.

A buxom waitress who would make Dolly Parton look flat chested bent down and set a cocktail glass before him. “Enjoy,” she said cheerfully, her breasts jiggling in his face.

Xavier shifted his eyes away from Ebony and Kale. “I didn't order this.”

She flicked her head in the direction of the bar. “She did.”

Ebony knew he didn't like to drink, but what did she do? Go ahead and order him a cocktail. He pulled out his wallet, took out a ten-dollar bill and handed it to the waitress. “Can you take this back and bring me a glass of iced tea?”

“Keep your money. She prepaid for the drinks.” The waitress returned the cocktail to her tray and promised to return in a few minutes with his drink.

An ugly scowl worked its way onto Xavier's mouth. Ebony was taking over again. She had taken the liberty of ordering for him, and if that wasn't enough, she had paid the check—again. Xavier rubbed the side of his face. This was all too much. His life hadn't been the same since he met her, and that bothered him. He wasn't comfortable with change. Wasn't comfortable being with a woman who garnered attention wherever she went.

Xavier checked his watch. Kale and Ebony had been talking for…for twelve minutes. Seven hundred and twenty seconds. Watching her from across the room stirred all sorts of desires within him. Her white sleeveless dress displayed her toned arms and slender legs. Xavier longed to have Ebony in his arms, and craved her touch in return. His mind lingered back to the afternoon they spent at the jazz festival. Just as he was about to revisit their impromptu make-out session, he turned away from his thoughts. Xavier faced the facts. Wherever Ebony Garrett was, trouble would soon follow. She used her sexy ways to entice as many men as possible and got a kick out of turning heads. Not his type of woman. Xavier wanted a good girl. A truthful, respectable woman who was ready to settle down and start a family. Ebony didn't fit that description. She was dangerous and wild and a slice of temptation too captivating to resist. Like Eve and that damn apple.

The waitress returned with his drink. Xavier downed it in three gulps. After tonight, there would be no more dates with Ebony Garrett. She was bad news. Mind made up, he turned back to Spencer and asked him who he liked in the NBA finals. He gave Spencer his full attention, but every few seconds his eyes strayed to the bar. It was going to be hard severing ties with Ebony. They hadn't known each other long, but he liked her immensely. No, he couldn't second-guess himself now. It was over.

But at the end of the night when Xavier led Ebony through the lounge area, and caught the envious I-wish-she-was-my-woman stares the men fired his way, the last thing he was thinking about was severing ties with her. Her must-have body made her the desire of every man in the room. And when Ebony slipped her hand around his waist, Xavier's chest puffed out like a hot air balloon. It felt good to have the best-looking woman in the bar on his arm. So what if she was a flirt? Did it matter that she craved attention? Xavier found Kale Washington through the crowd. Surprised to find the athlete watching them, he held Ebony a little tighter and guided her out of the bar.

E
bony stepped inside the foyer, shut off the alarm and slipped off her high heels. She beckoned Xavier to follow her inside.

The image of Ebony in Kale Washington's arms flashed in Xavier's mind.

He hovered on the porch, wavering between the prodding of his heart and the deliberations going on in his mind. If he went inside, he'd probably fall back under her spell, but if he left without giving her the room to explain, he'd be judging her again. “Ebony, what kind of games are you playing?”

“I'm not playing any games. Like I told you before, what you see is what you get.” Ebony flicked on the hallway light to get a better look at Xavier. He didn't look angry but there was no mistaking the harshness of his words.

“What I see is what I get, huh?”

Feeling the heat rise up the back of her neck, she unzipped her jacket and hung it up in the closet. “Out with it, Xavier. What's your problem?”

He leveled the irritation in his voice; he didn't want to come across as being hypersensitive or jealous. “You slink over to the bar, without bothering to say where you're going, spend twenty minutes flirting with Kale Washington and then return to the table like nothing happened! Why did you bother inviting me tonight if you were going to spend most of night hanging out with other guys?” He added, “You know what your problem is, Ebony? You're an insatiable flirt! Every time I turn my head, you're batting your eyelashes at someone.”

Ebony's first inclination was to tell Xavier to get out of her house. She didn't like his tone and he had no right talking to her like that. She wasn't a child and he wasn't her father. What she did, where she went and who she spoke to was none of his business. He wasn't her man. Or her husband. And since she didn't remember them taking a trip down a rose-scattered aisle, exchanging vows or being pronounced as husband and wife in front of a roomful of family and friends, he had no say in who she spent her time with.

But instead of giving in to her temper, she held her tongue. Counting to ten calmed her nerves and cleared her head. In the painfully long silence, Ebony revisited his accusations and thought back over the night. Ebony couldn't take issue over what Xavier had said; he was right.

Visiting with Kale had been inconsiderate. She hadn't even realized that her quick hello had lasted almost a half hour. But when Kale got to making jokes, it was hard to leave. He plied her with compliments, shared humorous tales about his days in the major leagues and had a way of making her feel like he was really listening to her. She enjoyed his company, and the more time that ticked off the clock, the more she thought the rumors about him were just that—rumors. He nattered nonstop about his wife and children and had mellowed out considerably since the last time she'd come by the club.

Ebony closed the space keeping her from Xavier. Licking her lips, but managing to do it with just the right amount of sensuality, she smoothed her hands over his chest. Ebony wished Xavier would put them both out of their misery. He wanted her. She wanted him. It was as simple as that. “Are you attracted to me?” she asked, her eyes flitting over his lips. “Do I turn you on?”

Xavier swallowed.
Where did that come from?
he thought, clearing his throat. He paused, unsure of what to say. He wanted to say no, wanted to deny his true feelings, but Ebony would see right through him.

“I think you're charming and—”

“That's not what I asked you.” Ebony reached up and traced a finger gently over his lips. “Answer the question,” she ordered.

Xavier shut his eyes, reveling in her touch. Before he gave in to his desires, he recognized the attack for what it was: another one of her tricks. She had been touchy-feely all night and her ever-changing erotic arsenal had kept his head spinning. Ebony was always misbehaving. When she wasn't rubbing her perky D-cup breasts against his forearm, she was stealing kisses or “accidentally” grazing a hand across his crotch. Now this.

Disobeying his flesh, which was screaming out for some kind of sexual release, he stepped out of her reach.

Permitting her eyes to wander over his perfectly formed physique, she dropped her voice to a sexy whisper. “Do you think I'm sexy, Xavier? Do I turn you on? Do you want to make love to me tonight?”

“Enough!” he said, holding up his hands to silence her. He sounded defeated when he spoke, as if he had already lost the battle. “Who wouldn't be attracted to you, Ebony? You're stunning. Your honesty is refreshing and you're fun to be with, but that doesn't mean we're right for each other. I think—”

Ebony had Xavier up against the door before he could finish his thought. She circled her arms around his neck, parted her lips and then smothered his mouth with her lips. Pressing herself against him, she lightly caressed the back of his head. Ebony reveled in the moment. The heat of his mouth, the feel of his chest against her breasts and his hands gliding up her back only intensified her need. Encouraged by his muffled moans, she dipped her tongue further into his mouth.

Mouth-to-mouth, chest to chest, they pleased each other with their hands and lips. Xavier dug his hands into her hair, drawing her closer.

Ebony nibbled on his bottom lip like it was a piece of fruit. Her nipples strained against her dress, aching for his touch. Xavier stroked Ebony through her clothes, eliciting a grunt from her mouth.

“Let's…go…upstairs,” she managed. “We'll be more…much more comfortable…in my…bedroom.”

Xavier was tempted, like Adam had been in the Garden of Eden that fateful day, but he couldn't follow Ebony upstairs. Not tonight. Making love to someone you loved and respected was one of God's greatest gifts. He was wildly attracted to her—the plump lips, dark exotic eyes, tight curves—but he wanted to know her on a deeper level. There was no doubt in his mind that when the time was right, the sex would be great. He desired every inch of her delectable frame, but he didn't love her. Xavier was waist-deep in lust, and although he'd acted on those feelings in the past, he wouldn't tonight. Freeing himself, he used his fingers to erase all traces of her lipstick from his mouth.

“We can't do this, Ebony.”

Her face fell. “Are you still angry about what happened at Q's?” When he hesitated to answer, she said, “Just so you know, I was
not
flirting with Kale. I have no control over what men say or do, but I don't encourage their advances. And about me being a flirt…” Her eyes rolling upward, she smiled naively. “It's a gift. Take it up with God, not me.”

Xavier couldn't contain his laughter. “You're something else.”

“Something good or something bad?”

“What do you think?” he asked, enjoying their playful banter.

“I like you, Xavier.” Ebony giggled when he raised an eyebrow sky-high. “I want to get to know you better.
A lot better.
” With that, she kissed him again. “Sorry about the whole drink thing. That was my fault. I wasn't thinking.”

Xavier believed her. Something about her was endearing. He didn't know if it was her blatant honesty or the way she held his gaze when they spoke, but whatever it was touched him deeply. He was chivalrous by nature and loved to make the woman in his life feel special, but he felt compelled to go the extra mile for Ebony. He sensed that she had some trust issues, and wanted to prove to her that she could count on him.

Giving in to his need, he drew her back into his arms. His hold was tight. His eyes showcased his feelings, and his words came from the heart. “We have to trust each other, Ebony. No games. No lies. No half-truths.”

“I hear you.”

“Are you seeing anybody else?”

“No.”

“Good.” It came out like a sigh of relief. “'Cause I'm a one-woman man and I expect the same from my girl. I don't want to share you, Ebony.”

“You won't. You'll be the only one,” she promised. Long-term relationships terrified Ebony and the thought of marriage made her break out in hives, but when she was dating someone she remained faithful. Trust was important to her, too. Just because she wasn't out shopping for a husband didn't mean she was jumping from man to man. Ebony had a past like everybody else, but she was older and wiser now. She wisely grilled lovers about their sexual history, practiced safe sex, and got tested regularly for STDs. A woman couldn't be too careful these days. With brothers living on the down low, and playboys sleeping with two or three women at a time, the twentieth-century female had to be militant about who she let into her life. And her bed. But Ebony had a feeling she didn't have to worry about Xavier. He wasn't going to sit her down Maury Povich-style and tell her that he'd been living a secret life. No loud, out-of-control woman was going to show up on her doorstep in the middle of the night claiming he had fathered her child. Xavier might look, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to touch. The man was practically a saint. He was compassionate, responsible, sincere and brimming with a host of other venerable traits. So, when he suggested they go into the living room and “talk,” Ebony knew that was all he wanted to do.

 

Rain dotted Xavier's face as he dashed from his car to his house. Once he was inside, he propped his briefcase up against the door, kicked off his shoes and after hanging up his jacket, set off for the kitchen. A minute later, he entered the living room with an apple between his teeth and a stack of mail in his hands. He hit the playback button on his answering machine, before stretching out on the couch and making himself at home between two fluffy pillows.

“It's me, E-b-o-n-y. Just wanted to confirm that you're still taking me to the movies tonight. Don't forget, Xavier, you promised. Bye, sexy, see you later!”

Xavier tossed the mail on the coffee table. He cupped his hands behind a cushion, thoughts of his budding relationship with Ebony at the front of his mind. Somehow, she had managed to turn his life upside down in just a matter of weeks. But Xavier wouldn't dare complain; he loved his new life.

Three weeks had passed since the night at Q's Joint. Despite Ebony's hectic schedule and all the demands on her time, they managed to get together two or three evenings a week and spoke on the phone at least once a day. It was easy to be around her, and the more they talked, the more he liked her. Ebony had a knack for making people feel comfortable and no matter where they went or what they did, they always had a great time together. They played at video arcades, went shopping and ate together. On Sundays they attended services at Jubilee and last weekend Xavier had accompanied Ebony to her aunt Mae's house. The elderly woman shrieked with joy when she opened her front door and saw them. Dinner had been filled with laughter and amusing tales from Ebony's childhood, and there hadn't been a dull moment during the two hours they were there. When Ebony stepped out of the room to make a phone call, Mae Murdock had given him some pertinent advice.

“Be patient with my girl. She's a tad rough round the edges, but stick with her. She's one of the good ones. Hardworking, trustworthy and she can do for herself.” Mae added proudly, “She gave that fancy speech at her high school graduation, you know.”

Xavier nodded appreciatively.

Mae handed him a plate of leftovers wrapped in aluminum foil. “You're just the kind of man my Ebony needs. Someone who wouldn't shrink under her confidence and strength. A man. A real man.” She patted his cheek lovingly. “Remember what I said, son. Be patient.”

It turned out Mae Murdock was right. Ebony
was
one of the special ones. She made him feel like a king and when she was around he felt more alive than he had ever been. They went out for dinner, spent nights at the movies, and hung out with their friends. Xavier just loved to show her off. When Ebony was on his arm, he felt like a teenage boy with the most popular girl in school. There was never a shortage of laughs or smiles or kisses when they were together.

Xavier didn't know when or how it had happened, but his feelings for Ebony had veered from a tender affection to something deeper. He wasn't ready to say the L word, but what he felt for her couldn't be described any other way. She added to his life, both emotionally and spiritually, and if he had things his way, she would be with him twenty-four-seven. Being with her felt right, but Xavier knew he had to proceed with caution. Ebony was starting to open up to him and the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off with some mushy declaration, especially after what he'd disclosed last Saturday.

While playing a round of miniature golf, Ebony had revealed that she had never been in love. Ever. Xavier's golf club had flown out of his hand and landed in the pond. Then she had dropped another bombshell: she didn't ever want to get married. After he retrieved his club and dried it off, he led her over to a nearby bench and questioned her further. Xavier wasn't surprised when she got defensive and the usual smoothness in her voice fell away, but he was bowled over when she confided that her parents had turned her against the idea of marriage.

“When my father snapped his fingers, my mother went running. He barked at her nonstop. I don't know why she stayed. My parents were miserable every single day of their marriage and I refuse to follow in their footsteps. Besides, I'm happily married to my work.”