Yield to Love (7 page)

Marlowe scrunched up her nose. The two
stared each other down for a few moments before Jade walked
solemnly upstairs to her room. A slamming door signified the
release of her anger.

Roque turned to Marlowe. “Happy now?” he
asked.

“
A girl her age should be
collecting clothes, not bugs.”

“
So, if she were a boy, it
would be okay?”

“
I wasn’t referring to her
gender, I was speaking of her hobby. Why don’t you get her a dog or
cat or a fish?”

“
That’s not what she
wants.”

“
You spoil
her.”

“
Look who’s talking. It
takes one spoiled brat to know one.”

Marlowe marched toward the front door. She
would not stand here and be insulted by him. “You are enabling her.
No! You’re crippling her by indulging her every whim.”

“
Everyone can’t be a
terrible parent like your mother.”

She gasped. “There’s no need for
rudeness.”

“
And killing my daughter’s
pet isn’t rude? Please tell me, so I can be straight on the proper
etiquette.”

“
You wouldn’t know proper
etiquette if it jumped up and bit you on the ass. Any man who
purposely disregards the wishes of someone and sends his goons to
destroy someone’s mother’s possessions can’t possibly be concerned
with etiquette.”

His eyes narrowed.
“
You’re still pissed at me about sending
that truck?”

“
Give the man a gold star!
He actually has some sense of perception.”

“
I’ve already explained I
was being helpful.”

“
You were helping
yourself.”

“
I told you I was on a
deadline.”

“
And I told you I wanted a
chance to go through everything.”

“
You can go through it in
Juan’s truck.”

“
That’s not your call to
make!” A cocktail of anger and frustration surged through her. It
was as if she were losing her mother twice. She would not cry in
front of Roque. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing
her weakness. “Did it ever occur to you this is traumatic for me?
My mother has been dead for over twenty years. All I have is the
things she left behind, and you’re trying to take that from
me.”

“
Do you hear yourself?” He
grabbed her by the shoulders, sending a jolt of electricity through
her. “This is just stuff, Marlowe. The real memories you have are
the ones inside you.”

“
Damn you, Roque Coleman.
You think you can just wave your magic wand and the whole world
should fall in line?”

He smirked. “Not the whole world.”

“
Just me? Well, I’ve got
news for you. I don’t fall in line. I’m at the head of the line. I
make the rules.” She shrugged from his touch.

“
You’re too emotional to
make a decision right now.”

“
And you’re not? Your
emotion is pride. Fueled by greed.”

“
And you’re high
maintenance. I bet this has nothing to do with you wanting to go
through your mother’s belongings. You just want to annoy me—and
you’re doing a damn good job of it!”

“
When it comes to being
annoying, crass, and arrogant, you’ve got me beat. It’s a wonder
anyone can stand to be in your company.”

“
I was thinking the same
of you, lady.” He got in her face. His nose was inches from hers.
“I’m glad I’m not your man.”

“
Hah! You should be so
lucky. You couldn’t handle me, anyway.”

“
Oh, I assure you, once I
handle you, you won’t want to be handled by anyone
else.”

“
You arrogant
bore.”

“
Spoiled brat.”

“
You don’t know
me.”

“
I know your kind. You
need a man who can be firm with you.”

She scowled. “You need a woman who will
stand up to you.”

“
Woman, I would rock your
world.”

“
I would leave you begging
for more.”

Roque stared at the firecracker in front of
him. Marlowe Jones had him heated up. His temperature was through
the roof. Every one of his nerve endings was on fire. He’d never
found her sexier than at this moment. He’d like to test her theory.
Would he really beg for more? He’d never begged a woman for
anything in his life.

He leaned in and crushed her mouth against
his. He would show her who’d be the one begging. He swept in, his
tongue invading every corner of her mouth. He wouldn’t stop until
he forced her unconditional surrender.

As he explored her warm, wet mouth, her
tongue battled with his. She wasn’t backing down, wasn’t
submitting. Her hands came up and draped around his shoulders, her
fingers playing with the locks of hair at the nape of his neck.
Electric volts shot through him, and he pulled her against his hard
body. The soft lines of her breasts melded against him. He took
everything she offered and then more.

He was triumphant when he heard her whimper
beneath his mouth. His ego soared. No, he hadn’t rocked her world,
but he’d tilted it on its axis. He pulled away, eyeing her swollen
lips.

He gloated. She’d enjoyed the kiss. He knew
it and she knew he knew it.

She didn’t even bother to say goodbye. She
turned on her heel and walked toward the door. It was as if her
surrender made her even madder at him.

He couldn’t resist the chance to rub it in.
“Ms. Jones,” he called after her. “You were right,” he admitted
when she turned to glower at him. For a split second, a flicker of
hope flared in her eyes. He was happy to burst her bubble. “I am
greedy.”

He smiled as she flung the door open and
slammed it behind her. It was the second time today a door had been
slammed in his house. This time, it was music to his ears.

###

“
Oh, I think that would
look gorgeous on you,” Toye remarked as Marlowe held up a royal
blue, floor-length crepe dress.

“
You think?”

“
Yes, it would go perfect
with those sapphire chandelier earrings you have.”

Marlowe had a better idea. She would wear
the beautiful citrine necklace her sisters had given her for her
twenty-fifth birthday instead. The orange and yellow gemstones
would contrast nicely with this blue.

“
The question is where are
you going to wear it?” Toye asked.

“
I can always use a formal
dress. With all of the functions I attend on behalf of Three
Sisters Construction, this will come in handy. In fact, Gabe’s
investor mixer is coming up in a few weeks. He has an annual event
where he gets all of his clients together, introduces them, and
gives them a chance to network. I’m helping him coordinate this
year’s event.”

“
Girl, this dress will
dazzle every client in the room!”

Marlowe summoned one of the salesladies in
the chic boutique, who added it to the growing pile of clothes in
Marlowe’s dressing room.

Thi
s was exactly what Marlow needed—a little retail therapy.
She’d spent the last couple of days going through the items in
Reesa’s old house.

Her mother had so much stuff in there, it
would take an entire lifetime to go through everything. She and
Toye had barely finished the bedrooms. She dreaded to think what
objects lay in the boxes stacked high to the ceiling in the living
room.

She had to admit, this was indeed a daunting
task. For a fleeting moment as she lay in bed last night trying to
claim some sleep, she thought of just giving up and going with
Roque’s idea to have the entire house demolished. But something
wouldn’t let her do that. Maybe it was the fact that it had been
his idea to begin with, and not hers. She didn’t want to give that
man the satisfaction of knowing that he was right about anything.
Especially about the kiss they’d shared a few days ago.

He’d said he could rock her world. She was
ashamed to confess, those words titillated her. She wanted to see
what he was working with. So, she hadn’t resisted when he branded
her lips with a kiss so hot she’d put the A/C in her car on full
blast the moment she left his doorstep. She was no slouch in the
bedroom, having brought many men to their knees; but something
about Roque Coleman was a challenge to her. He was what any woman
would consider a conquest. But after that kiss, she was afraid
she’d be the one conquered—not him!

So far, she kept her feelings to herself,
not even bothering to confide in her cousin. Not for the first
time, she wished her sisters were here. Then, she could tell them
about her erotic encounter with Mr. Coleman. The man was driving
her crazy!

She couldn’t believe she was trippin’ over
one fucking kiss. But oh, what a kiss it had been. She’d never
thought the ruthless man capable of delivering such passion. His
mouth wasn’t cold and calculating, like him. It was surprisingly
warm and welcoming, but demanding. His bold kiss was an indication
of how he’d be in bed. Rough, demanding, and all-consuming.

It made her even angrier that her body had
betrayed her that day. She’d practically purred in his mouth, eager
to receive everything he had to give.

That’s it. I’m a horny ass hussy.

She was always at her sexual peak right
before and right after her period. That had to be it. She was just
horny. If it hadn’t been Roque, it could have been anyone,
including her on and off again friend with benefits, Jamari. She
had a high sex drive, and Jamari always delivered. Maybe she would
call him tonight and let him release some of this pent-up
energy.

“
Let’s go to that new
designer shoe store that just opened on the second level,” Toye
suggested.

“
I’m down. I need to find
some strappy stilettos to go with this dress anyway.”

As Marlowe made her way toward her dressing
room, her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but she
answered anyway. With Ronnie and Candace still on their honeymoon,
she was holding down the fort for Three Sisters. The call might be
important.

“
Marlowe Jones
speaking.”

“
Ms. Jones, this is Jade
Coleman. I need your help with something.”

Marlowe stopped in her tracks. “How did you
get this number?”

Jade huffed. “Easy. I found it in my dad’s
contacts on his computer. Duh.”

Marlowe gritted her teeth. This child had
more sass than the law allowed. “How can I help you, Jade?”

“
There’s something I
need.”

“
Why are you calling me?
Ask your dad.”

“
He can’t help me with
this…I need…I need you to do it.”

Marlowe scoffed. She had better things to do
than play games with this girl. Dealing with her father was bad
enough. “Look, if this is about that spider—”

“
It’s not about that. It’s
something else. I need you to meet me at my house.”

“
What? I’m in the middle
of a very important business meeting, Jade.”

Marlowe would have gotten away with the lie
if Toye hadn’t talked all loud in her ear.

“
Girl, my dress was
twenty-percent off!” Toye squealed. “I’m getting two pairs of
shoes. Hurry up.”

Marlowe motioned for Toye to be quiet.

“
Are you shopping?” Jade
demanded.

“
Yes,” Marlowe admitted.
“I’m with a client. I’m super busy.”

“
Yeah, right.” Jade called
her bluff. “This works out better anyway. Where are you? I can meet
you there.”

“
Excuse you, young lady. I
just said I’m with a client. I don’t—”

“
Listen, Ms. Jones,” the
girl suddenly sounded dejected. “All I’m asking for is a little of
your time. I wouldn’t be calling you if I had any other options.
Besides, you owe me.”

Marlowe didn’t feel like she owed this bossy
little girl a damn thing. She’d already attended a spider funeral,
something she never thought she’d ever do in a million years. But
she could sense the vulnerability in Jade’s voice. This child was
just like her daddy. She didn’t know the meaning of the word,
nice.

Marlowe let out a deep breath. “Fine. I’m at
Merrick Park Mall. That’s about thirty minutes from you.”

“
I know where it is. I’ll
meet you at Neiman Marcus in an hour.”

“
Wait! How do you plan on
getting here?”

“
I’ll have Gator drop me
off, of course.”

Marlowe shook her head as the girl hung up.
“That’s the bossiest child I’ve ever met.”

“
Who was that?” Toye
asked.

“
Roque Coleman’s daughter,
Jade. She’s coming here to meet me. Says she needs my help with
something.”

“
What?”

“
She didn’t
say.”

“
How’s she getting
here?”

“
She’s going to have her
limo driver drop her off.”

“
Damn!” Toye’s jaw
dropped, obviously impressed. “Can Roque be my daddy?”

“
Girl, you’re only a few
years younger than him.”

“
I meant my sugar
daddy!”

Marlowe cracked up laughing. “C’mon, let’s
go get those shoes so I can meet this little girl.”

“
I wonder what she
wants.”

“
That makes two of
us.”