Breaking All My Rules (27 page)

Jerome laughed. “C'mon now, you should give me more credit than that.” He led her a few steps over to the couch. “Let's sit for a minute.”

Erica removed her coat and took a seat. She hadn't realized that her hands were still shaking until she placed them on her lap. The concerned look in Jerome's eyes told her that he was worried about her.

“You want something to drink?” he asked.

“No, I'm good.”

“I'm sorry those knuckleheads did that to you. You sure you're okay?”

“I'm sure. I guess it's just been a long day and those young boys sent me over the edge.”

Jerome took her hand in his and held it gently. “I'm sorry about the things I said this morning.”

“Me too.”

“You only reacted the way you did because of what I said. I led you down that road.” He paused, then took a deep breath before continuing. “You were right. I felt insecure, and I let it take over. Feeling vulnerable is a new thing for me, Erica. I want to be with you, and I don't want you to look at me as any less because of my current circumstances. I'm working hard to make sure I can give you the things you want and deserve.”

Erica kissed the bottom of his chin. “I work hard every day, just like you, and it's no secret that I make a good living. I can buy myself practically anything I want and need. But in just a short amount of time, you've given me things I can't purchase, like joy and fulfillment and happiness and butterflies and safety and love.”

“I do love you, baby.”

“I love you, too.”

When Jerome took her in his arms, the residual fear and doubts she'd been carrying were erased by the passionate kiss he placed on her lips. One by one he undid the buttons that held her silk blouse in place. Then he slowly removed her arms from each sleeve to reveal her lavender-colored lace bra. He held his arms up as Erica lifted his cotton knit sweater over his head, exposing his hard pecs and sexy six-pack. She leaned back, allowing Jerome to slowly ease her down so that she was lying on the couch. They kissed again, creating a rhythmic beat with their tongues, which swirled and glided, caressing each other's mouths as their bodies danced below.

Erica lifted her hips as Jerome slid her skirt down her legs, planting gentle kisses on her softly scented skin. She let out a gasp when he rolled his tongue around her knees after removing her tights and panties. She unzipped his pants and pulled them down the length of his muscular legs, letting her palms graze the skin on his taut thighs. She hooked her fingers around the elastic band of his boxers and released his rock-solid hardness as she rubbed it gently.

She could barely contain herself as he reached for a condom. She opened her legs wide, watching him slide the latex glove over his impressive erection. When he entered her, slow and deep, their fingers laced and they never lost eye contact. They looked into each other's heart as they kissed, caressed, and made love on his couch.

Chapter 41

J
erome was happier than he'd ever been, and as he reminisced about the past few weeks, he knew he had a lot to be thankful for. His relationship with Erica was progressing so fast and so smoothly, he felt as though angels were guiding them on their way. Not since their Monday morning blowup nearly a month ago had they experienced one moment of discontent or strife. They were like glue, sticking together to form a tight bond that couldn't be torn apart. They communicated openly and honestly whenever their differences threatened to cause a problem, and they helped each other grow in ways that complemented each of them, and for that, Jerome felt Erica was making him a better man.

He was proud of the accomplishments she'd recently achieved, and even though her days had been like a whirlwind since the Tracy Reese fashion show, they'd still managed to spend quality time together. Paradise had been a hit, and everyone who'd used the luscious body butter had raved about it, so much so that Erica had appointments lined up to meet with buyers from several department stores who were interested in carrying her products. The beauty editor at
Essence
magazine had even contacted her to arrange an interview and photo shoot so that they could feature Opulence in their big holiday issue.

And for his part, Jerome was doing equally well. He had gotten a pay raise at his regular job with the city and had received his GED, and his home repair business was picking up, thanks to his hard work, his dedication, and the Web site Erica had helped him create. She'd also been instrumental in assisting him with organizing the necessary paperwork he needed in order to file for his D.C. business license and obtain certifications that would legitimize JK Contracting as a fully operating entity.

And best of all, Jamel was doing well in school and had been responsible in his actions with Tiffany. Jerome was glad that so far as he knew, Jamel hadn't had sex with the girl. But he understood it was coming, so he planned to prepare himself to cross that bridge when it rolled around.

When he thought about all the great things that were happening in his life, Jerome couldn't stop himself from smiling several times a day, and he knew that Erica was a major reason for his good fortune. Gone were the days when he'd been eager to hang out in the streets and hook up with several women in one night. Now the only woman who he wanted to come home to was Erica, and he couldn't imagine spending one day without her.

He'd thought long and hard one night before coming to a powerful decision that he knew would change his life permanently for the better. He'd decided he was going to propose to Erica during the upcoming Christmas holiday. Given the fact that it was a time for year-end celebrations, Jerome couldn't think of a better present than the promise of spending their lives together. He also knew that if he planned to marry her, he needed to introduce her to his family right away.

He was nervous at first, because he'd never introduced a woman to his mother. Even when he'd been dating Kelisha, he had just brought her over one day when he was passing through, and had casually said, “Mom, this is Kelisha. She's pregnant with my baby.” Mabel had been left dumbfounded, and Jerome didn't want that to happen again. This time around there was no pregnancy tying him to a woman, only love, and love changed a multitude of things.

Jerome planned a Saturday afternoon dinner meeting at his parents' favorite soul food restaurant so they could meet Erica. He knew that a good meal helped even the most uncomfortable of situations go down smoother. And to his relief, Erica and his mother got along so well.

Erica broke the ice by bringing his father a black leather travel bag filled with Opulence shaving cream, raw soap, and body oil, and for his mother, she'd put together a colorful basket filled with fresh flowers and bath products fit for a queen at a ritzy spa. The two women talked like mother and daughter, and by the time the meal ended, they'd exchanged phone numbers so they could keep in regular contact.

The next step was introducing Erica to Jamel and Kelisha. Jerome knew Jamel would love Erica, because he was such an easygoing kind of kid, plus, he knew his son wanted him to be happy. But Kelisha was another story altogether.

Even though he'd ended their turbulent relationship two years ago, Jerome knew that Kelisha was still hoping they'd eventually get back together. Whenever they spoke by phone—which he limited to subjects that involved only Jamel—she always tried to extend their conversation, hinting and flirting until he had to bring the call to an end. Whenever she saw him at Jamel's school activities or sporting events, she always made sure she strutted her curves in front of him. And each time his birthday or the holidays rolled around, she gave him gifts, even though he'd repeatedly asked her not to.

Kelisha's actions were the reason he wanted to meet with her in a public place when he told her the news. But to his discomfort, she insisted that he come over to her house, saying that after a long day of doing nails at the salon, she didn't feel like going anywhere except her couch. Not wanting to argue, he agreed to come over on her day off.

Jerome entered Kelisha's house, feeling almost like a stranger. It had been more than a year since he'd been inside, and judging from what he could see, everything still looked the same. Kelisha had moved into the well-kept row house when her grandmother died a few years ago and left her the property. It was located in a sleeper community in the northwest section of the city, known for its clean streets and conscientious residents.

“Usually when you want to talk about somethin', you just pick up the phone and tell me what it is,” Kelisha said, placing her hand on her round hip as she greeted Jerome. “But you comin' over in person, so somethin' must be up. What the hell's goin' on?”

“It's good to see you, too,” he replied in a calm tone, bracing himself for attitude.

Kelisha motioned for him to follow her into the living room and have a seat on the couch. “So what's up?”

Jerome settled his body onto the love seat across from her. He didn't want to be there any longer than he had to, so he got right to the point. “I wanted to let you know that I'm going to introduce my girlfriend to Jamel.”

Kelisha was quiet for a long moment. She leaned forward and stared at him as though he'd just asked her a multiple-choice question. Right then, Jerome knew there was going to be some drama.

“I don't think that's a good idea,” she asserted, then sat back and crossed her legs.

“No disrespect, but I'm not asking your permission, Kelisha. I'm giving you the courtesy of letting you know that I'm going to introduce her to Jamel.”

“How you gonna come up in my house all big and bad and tell me what you gon' do with my son?” Kelisha's voice was elevated, but Jerome knew that it could travel several octaves higher before their conversation ended.

“Jamel is a teenager now. It's not like he's a kid. And even if he was, I'm trying to do the right thing and be respectful by coming to you first.”

“That's some bullshit! The respectful thing to do would be to let me meet her first so I can see what kinda woman you bringin' around my child.”

Jerome had originally planned to do exactly what Kelisha had just suggested, but after thinking it over, he'd decided against that course of action. He knew that Erica could be a saint sent straight from God who fed the hungry, clothed the needy, and healed the sick, and Kelisha still wouldn't approve of her. She would find a reason not to like Erica and would try to poison Jamel's mind against her. But if Jamel met Erica first and liked her, there would be little that Kelisha could say.

Jerome knew she was trying to be difficult just for the hell of it. “Like I said, I'm coming to you first to let you know. But if it'll make you feel more comfortable, you two can meet her together.”

“Uh, that's not happenin'.”

“Why not?”

“You run the streets, and I don't know what kind of female you tryna bring around me and my son. I know how these scandalous females are.”

“As long as Jamel has been alive, I've never brought a woman around him, and that's because I'm very selective about who I choose to expose him to. You know that, so stop trippin'.”

“You the one trippin'. You called like you wanted to talk about you and me, and then you walk up in here with this bullshit.”

Damn. Here we go!
“Do you really want to take it there?”

Kelisha sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we can take it there and back again!”

It was classic Kelisha, and it used to irritate the hell out of Jerome. But now, instead of getting upset, he simply thought her gestures were childish and just plain sad. He knew he hadn't given her any false impressions during their brief phone call.

Jerome had wished for some time that Kelisha would start dating and find happiness of her own, instead of waiting around on him. She was still young, attractive, and in just as good shape as she'd been when they met in their twenties. She was the head nail technician at the salon where she worked, and when she wasn't being loud and disagreeable, she actually had a good sense of humor and could be fun to hang out with. He knew she could easily find a man, and he hoped that now that she'd seen there was no possibility of them getting back together, she would move on.

“I'm a good woman,” Kelisha said, shifting her weight to one hip as she rested her elbow on the edge of the couch. “But now that you got a big raise on your job and you startin' your own business, you gon' just piss in my face and get wit some society chick. You a damn sellout.”

Jerome shook his head. He wasn't surprised that Kelisha already knew about Erica, especially since Sasha, who was from the old neighborhood, had no doubt put his business out there for whoever would listen. “It's not like that. I was hoping we could have an adult conversation about this.”

“Oh, so now I'm not mature enough for you, huh?” she said, enunciating each word in a clipped, proper tone.

“Kelisha, please.”

“I put up with your bullshit for all these years, and this is how you wanna step to me?” Kelisha huffed. “I raised your son when your ass was out in the streets, whorin' and fuckin' everythin' movin' in a skirt, and now that you movin' up in the world, you just gonna forget about me.”

Jerome stared at her, his eyes holding her heated gaze. “Now, hold up. I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't there for Jamel in the beginning like I should've been, but you know that ever since the car accident, I've stepped up. I spend quality time with my son, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't talk to him on the phone. And don't I send you money every month and give you extra even if you don't ask for it? I bust my ass so my son can have better than either one of us did. I may have been out in the streets with women, but I've always taken care of my responsibilities.”

“And what about your responsibility to me?”

What the hell is she talking about?
Jerome was so confused by her comment that he squinted his eyes, as if it would help him better understand her irrational-sounding thoughts. “This isn't about you. This is about our son, and me coming over here to let you know that I'm going to introduce him to the woman in my life.”

“This is some bullshit.”

“No, this is life, and it's about moving on and being happy.” Jerome leaned forward, positioning himself closer to Kelisha. “What we had was over a long time ago, but we were blessed because God gave us Jamel. My commitment to my son and helping you with whatever you need for him won't change.”

“Last month you was tryin' to holla at me at Jamel's birthday party, actin' all nice and helpful and shit, and now you comin' at me with this!”

Jerome looked at Kelisha in disbelief. “You gotta be kidding me. Just because I offered to help you clean up after the party, that didn't mean I was trying to get with you. What the hell's wrong with you?”

“I stuck by you through all these years. You ain't never heard about me with no other dudes, either.”

“That's on you. I never asked you to wait around for me. I told you that the last time we were together. Honestly, I hope you find someone who will make you happy, because you're just bitter.”

Kelisha stared at him. “Get out.”

Five minutes later Jerome was in his truck, driving down the road. He turned off the volume on the radio so he could think about the conversation he'd just had with Kelisha. He knew she was irrational, but her behavior this afternoon had been over the top, even for her. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was, but his gut was sure there was something stirring. But he had to block it out of his mind because he was headed to Erica's house to spend a quiet, drama-free night.