Comfort of a Man (Arabesque) (11 page)

I
saiah returned to his mother’s home bright and early on Monday morning—and was totally surprised to see Yasmine’s radiant face greet him at the door.

“It lives,” she exclaimed as she bounced with excitement. Then, her gaze took in his rumpled suit. “What on earth happened to you?”

“Only the best thing that could ever happen,” he said, and whistled as he passed her.

Her squeal of delight followed him up the stairs as she followed him to his bedroom. “Spill it, spill it, spill it. I want to hear everything,” she demanded.

Isaiah shook his head, but couldn’t stop smiling. “You know I never kiss and tell.”

“You are today.” She glanced at her watch. “You just
came home after a thirty-six-hour date. If you think you’re going to hold out on the details then you’re sadly mistaken.”

At the soft knock at the bedroom door, Yasmine and Isaiah turned to see a smiling Georgia.

“Good morning, Mom.”

Georgia’s eyes twinkled. “Is it?” She entered the room, pressing most of her weight down on her cane. “I take it you had a nice time on your date.”

Isaiah flushed and averted his gaze. “I guess you could say that.”

“My, my. Dating has certainly changed since my day.” Her eyes twinkled. “I’m going downstairs and fix you a nice breakfast. You hurry down.”

“That’s not necessary, Mom. I’ll do it.”

“You’ll do no such thing. I’m quite capable. Thank you.”

When his mother vanished from the doorway, Yasmine looked to him and crossed her arms. “I want details. Heck, I might want to take a few notes.”

Isaiah rolled his eyes. “I need to change. Don’t you two have something else you need to do?”

“No.”

“Well, I do.” He laughed, and then tried to direct her toward the door.

She wouldn’t budge.

“I don’t believe this.” He started unbuttoning his shirt as he headed to the adjoining bathroom.

However, in an impressive move, Yasmine cut him
off. “You’re not leaving this room until you tell me something—anything. Don’t forget, I played I Spy for you.”

“And I’m eternally grateful. Now, get out.” This time he placed a hand under her elbow and dragged her toward the door.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go if you answer one question for me.”

He released her and folded his arms. “It depends on the question.”

“All right.” She, too, folded her arms while her features struggled to appear serious. “Was your date worse, equal to, or better than your time in New York?”

His lips twitched into an easy smile. “It was definitely better.”

Brooklyn was having the best Monday she’d had in years. Not only did she wake up in a great mood, she also had three houses placed under contract before noon.

“I’m mad at you,” Toni announced when they finally settled in their booth at Mick’s for lunch.

Brooklyn looked up, startled. “Me? What did I do?”

“I called you like a hundred times yesterday. What did you do—take your phone off the hook?”

A wave of embarrassment washed over Brooklyn. “Oh, that.”

“Yeah, that,” Toni huffed. “You came crawling to me for help. I loan you my best dress and then nothing.”

“Well, I did plan to call you as soon as the date ended, but there wasn’t time.”

“What do you mean there wasn’t any time?”

“Well, actually—”

“Can I get you ladies something to drink?” a bright-eyed waiter asked, appearing from out of nowhere.

Brooklyn’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Yes—”

“Could you please give us a few more minutes?” Toni flashed a look of warning in Brooklyn’s direction.

The waiter frowned, and then recovered. “Of course, ma’am.”

Brooklyn waited until he was out of earshot. “Don’t you think you were a little rude?”

“I’ll leave a big tip. Now, spill it. Why didn’t you call me at the end of your date?” Toni perked at her friend’s broad smile.

“I didn’t call because…” Brooklyn looked around and then leaned forward to whisper, “because when Isaiah left my house, it was time for me to go to work this morning.”

Toni’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Smug, Brooklyn leaned back against the booth. “Nope.”

“Wow. That dress must have worked wonders.”

Unable to stop herself from bragging, she met Toni’s gaze. “It did—for the short time that I had it on.”

Toni squealed, and then clamped a hand over her mouth when she remembered where she was.

Brooklyn glanced around. “Keep it down,” she hissed when her heartbeat returned to normal.

Toni retrieved her cell phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m calling the girls. They’re never going to believe this.”

Brooklyn reached over and snatched the phone away from her. “You will do no such thing. What I tell you doesn’t leave this table. Is that clear?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me, right? Maria, Ashley, and Noel are waiting on pins and needles to find out how your date went.”

“You told them?”

“Damn right. This date falls under current events and late-breaking news. Hell, now it sounds like it should go under sports as well.”

Despite herself, Brooklyn laughed.

“I have to call them. It’s under the Girlfriend Rule Book section one. All Juicy Sexual Encounters Must Be Reported. Check your handbook.”

“You didn’t tell me about what’s-his-name the other night. I had to drag that out of you.”

Toni rolled her eyes. “The key word is
juicy
. Pay attention.”

“Whatever. I’ll decide who I want to know what and when.”

For a while Toni leaned back and stared at her. “How long am I supposed to be quiet about this?”

Brooklyn shrugged. “I don’t know. A couple of weeks—months. I’ll play it by ear.”

Toni’s features remained a mask of disbelief. “I’ll never be able to figure you out. If I were you I’d scream at the top of my lungs—I got laid, I got laid.”

Embarrassment blazed up Brooklyn’s face. “Will you behave yourself?”

“I certainly will not. I’m ecstatic for you. You should be, too.” A twinkle appeared in Toni’s eyes and she inched closer to the edge of her seat. “Was he as good as you remember?”

“Better,” Brooklyn said, already forgetting to weigh just how much she wanted to tell her friend.

“And you stayed in bed for two days?”

She giggled like a schoolgirl. “I wouldn’t say that we only stayed in the bed.”

Toni bounced in her seat and clamped a hand over her mouth to prevent her squeal from filling the restaurant.

Brooklyn shook her head and despite the smile on her face, her thoughts turned troubled.

“What is it?”

She shrugged and tried to play it off. “Nothing. I’m fine. I’m happy.”

Toni’s eyes narrowed. “Uh-huh. Then how come you don’t look too happy?”

“I am,” she insisted with a bright smile. “It’s just…”

“What?”

Her smile dimmed as she studied her friend. “I’m just worried about where this is going. A part of me is expecting the bottom to drop out at any moment, you know? Like this man is too good to be true and I’m afraid that I’m going to get caught up in the moment.”

“Its just sex, right?” Toni shrugged. “You made it clear that you weren’t looking for a relationship, didn’t you?”

Brooklyn folded her arms and leaned onto the table. “Well, we didn’t really discuss it, but I told him before that a relationship wasn’t possible.”

“Then don’t worry about it. Just relax and enjoy the ride.”

“Are you sure this woman isn’t a ‘ho’?” Yasmine asked, leaning back on Isaiah’s bed when he stepped out of the bathroom.

“What? What are you doing back in here?’

“I left and now I came back.” Yasmine shrugged. “I think it’s a good question.”

“No, it’s not.” Isaiah failed to keep the irritation out of his voice. “By the way, what time is your flight today?”

“Why? Are you tired of me already?” Yasmine placed a hand over her heart and slid on a wounded expression.

“No, never, of course not—when do you leave?”

“Fine. Tonight, if you must know.”

Isaiah put on his jeans beneath his robe, and then removed his robe altogether.

Georgia gasped as she entered her son’s room. “There are ladies in the room.”

He frowned. “You’re my mother.”

Her color deepened considerably. “I know, but I was referring to Yasmine.”

Isaiah and Yasmine laughed.

“Trust me, Mom. The lady is not interested.”

“Yeah and besides, I’ve seen him in a lot less.” At the realization of what she’d said, her eyes rounded as she slapped a hand across her mouth.

Isaiah shook his head.

“I don’t think I want to hear any more.” Georgia frowned with disapproval.

Downstairs at breakfast, it was Georgia’s turn to interrogate Isaiah about his date. He went down the checklist of saying how wonderful and warm he believed Brooklyn to be. And yes, he was sure that Georgia would like her. He told her everything she needed to know, which
didn’t
include details. When he was finished, he looked at his mother and found that she was studying him.

“What?”

She shrugged and took another sip of her coffee. “I guess I was hoping that this woman would mean more to you than just a new bed partner.”

His heart squeezed and he knew better than to be
surprised that his mother could see straight through him. “She does.”

She met his gaze again. “How can you tell? Life exists outside the bedroom. Love isn’t something that’s just found between the sheets.” She smiled and patted his hand. “Anyone want some more coffee?” She stood from the table.

“Sure, I’d like some,” Yasmine said with a flickering smile.

Isaiah shook his head.

When his mother left the table, Yasmine leaned over to him and whispered, “She’s right. If Brooklyn does mean more to you than just a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, then you’ve sort of put the cart before the horse.”

Isaiah nodded. “Maybe.”

“What do you mean?”

“Brooklyn isn’t looking for a horse. The last one sort of trampled over her, if you know what I mean.”

They fell silent for a long moment before Yasmine asked, “Are you looking for a horse—metaphorically speaking?”

“I wasn’t before I met her.”

“But now?”

“More than anything.”

Later that evening, Isaiah appeared at Brooklyn’s door with flowers and the intention of taking her
out
for dinner. However, she had other plans and a few hours later, the lovers lay spent in each other’s arms.

“What are you thinking about?” Brooklyn asked as she rolled onto her side and stared down at him.

Isaiah debated telling the truth. “I was thinking about us.” He waited through the ensuing silence.

“What about us?”

He reached up and slid his hand softly along the side of her face. “Don’t tell me that you’ve never thought about us.” When she didn’t answer, he experienced a rush of panic. Did she still believe there was no chance of a relationship for them?

“I assumed what we have was enough for you,” she said in a thick voice.

He had a hard time deciphering whether she was angry, but he decided to forge ahead. “I never agreed to that.”

Expelling a long sigh, Brooklyn flopped back among the pillows.

Tension quickly filled the space between them, to the point where he half expected her to kick him out of the house. But when the seconds ticked into minutes, he became concerned.

“Brooklyn?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to have this conversation,” she answered in a tone he’d never heard from her.

This time he rolled over to gaze at her. She was more beautiful than ever with her hair splayed across the pillow and her lips swollen from their kisses. “I like
you a lot, Brooklyn. I just want the opportunity to get to know you better
outside
of the bedroom. Surely, that isn’t too much to ask.”

The corners of her mouth curved slightly. “No. It’s not too much to ask.”

This time he recognized what he heard in her voice because it also reflected in her eyes: fear. He reached up and traced the lining of her chin. “We’ve both been hurt before.”

She swallowed but her gaze never wavered from his. “It’s a big step for me.”

“For me, too. But let’s just take this a day at a time, one date at a time.”

Her smile broadened as she snuggled closer. “I think I can handle that.”

Three weeks later

T
o celebrate the Fourth of July, Isaiah and Brooklyn planned a large picnic at Callaway Gardens with family and friends. Brooklyn contacted Jaleel despite believing the introductions would be awkward. However, Jaleel declined her offer.

“Don’t worry about it,” Toni reassured her as she plopped down on the edge of Brooklyn’s bed. “I’m sure Evan is just showing him a good time.”

“Maybe too good.” Brooklyn massaged her temples. “Do you know Jaleel has only called me twice this summer?
Twice.
” She held her fingers up for emphasis.

“Don’t let it get to you. He’s enjoying his summer and so are you.”

Brooklyn drew in a deep breath and exhaled in a long steady stream. “Now, let’s hope Isaiah’s mom likes me.”

“Will you calm down?” Toni said, rolling her eyes. “His mother will love you.” She shook her head when Brooklyn held up yet another sundress. “Orange is not your color.”

“But what if she doesn’t? The way Isaiah dotes on her, it’s essential that she
more
than just likes me. I need her to
love
me.”

Toni chuckled at her frantic ramblings. “What’s this? Three weeks of dating and you’re dying to impress the mother? Have you guys taken a turn toward the serious side?”

Brooklyn ignored the question. She’d spent the last few weeks refusing to analyze her growing affection toward Isaiah.

“Fine. Don’t answer my question.” Toni jumped up from the bed and crossed over to the walk-in closet. “I know what’s happening despite your protests and denials. I am a lawyer, after all. I know what’s going on—no matter how much B.S. you shovel my way.”

Brooklyn’s lips curled. “Think all you want. I just want his mom to like me.”

“Whatever.”

“Speaking of shoveling it, I thought you didn’t like this Brian guy. So why is he going with us to Callaway?”

“I never said I didn’t like him. I just said he was lousy in bed—but he’s getting better.”

Brooklyn gaped, and then smacked her girlfriend a high five. “You go, girl.”

Isaiah held his cell phone tucked beneath his ear while he continued to load the rented SUV with enough food to feed a small army. On the other end, Yasmine droned on about how she and her girlfriend, Mary, would miss him during the holiday.

“So when are you coming back?” Yasmine asked. “Rotech isn’t the same without you.”

“Probably toward the end of the summer. Mom and I are having a great time.”

“Come on. Who are you trying to fool? Your mother is fine. You’re still there because of your new ladylove.”

He laughed. “I plead the Fifth.”

“I just bet you do.” She joined in with a light chuckle. “So is she the one?”

Isaiah considered the question and decided not to play coy. “I think so.”

“Then I’m happy for you, buddy. And I’d like to add that I think it’s about time. Now I can stop worrying so much about you.”

“Since when did you start?”

“It feels like a lifetime ago.”

He could actually picture her smiling on the other end. “Thanks, Yas. It’s good to know you’re always in my corner.”

“All right. Let’s cut the mushy stuff. Are you planning to stay in Atlanta permanently or are you going to try and convince her to pack up and move to Texas?”

“I think I’m a ways off on posing either question.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Is she still afraid of commitment?”

“She’s afraid of the
word.
”

“Wow. Her ex really did a number on her, huh?”

“Something like that,” he said, shaking his head. “But I’m determined to break down her wall of resistance. Even if I have to do it one brick at a time.”

Brooklyn found Brian Olson to be both handsome and humorous when she met him. She also saw how Toni lit up the moment he’d entered the house.

Brian guided Toni into his arms, kissed her, and then extended a wrapped bowl of some kind.

“What’s this?” Toni asked.

“I know you told me not to bring anything, but I didn’t feel right about that so I made some of my world-famous potato salad.” He smiled. “I hope everybody likes it.”

“I’m sure we will.” Toni leaned up on her toes and gave him a quick peck on the check.

Brooklyn lifted a curious brow at the loving couple and fought all that was holy not to say, “Aha!”

“Brian, can I get you something to drink while we wait for Isaiah to arrive?”

“Sure. I’ll take a beer, if you got one.”

She took the bowl from Toni. “One beer coming
up.” She walked into the kitchen and, on cue, Toni followed.

“So, what do you think?” Toni asked, her eyes shining.

“About what?” Brooklyn smiled and purposely kept her back to Toni.

“About Brian. What do you think of him?”

Brooklyn opened the refrigerator and buried her head behind the door. “Oh, he’s cute, I guess.”

In a flash, Toni was at the refrigerator, glaring down at her. “Cute? That’s all you can say—he’s cute?”

“And thoughtful,” Brooklyn said, withdrawing a Heineken and closing the door. “It was nice of him to bring the potato salad.”

Toni worked her mouth, but no words came.

Brooklyn couldn’t contain her amusement any longer and laughed as she hugged her friend. “He’s handsome and I think he’s taken with you.”

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Brian yelled out from the den.

Brooklyn’s smile widened. “He’s also extremely helpful.”

Toni’s interrogation would not be deterred. “How can you tell he’s taken with me?”

Brooklyn shrugged. “Something about the way he looks at you.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Brooklyn moved over to a drawer and pulled out a bottle opener. “You know, I should be mad at you.
All that crap you gave me about not being in love. You’re crazy about that man. It was written all over you when he came in.”

Heavy footsteps drew Brooklyn’s attention to Isaiah’s familiar figure coming toward them. A warm glow radiated from within as he flashed them a smile.

“Afternoon, ladies. Are we ready for our picnic?”

Brooklyn started to respond when Toni dabbed something from her cheek. “What is it? Do I have something on my face?”

Toni smiled. “No. It just looked like you had something written on it.”

By the time the small group arrived at Callaway Gardens, Brooklyn’s spirits were at an all-time high. Brian turned out to be quite the comedian and had everyone bursting at the seams during the hourlong drive. Once there, and despite the already large crowd, they picked out a great spot near the lake where the fireworks would take place.

“Yo, man. This is a ridiculous amount of food you got here.” Brian marveled at the spread before him.

Isaiah’s face split into a wide grin. “Yeah, I guess you can say we sort of got carried away.”

“Hmmph,” Georgia cut in. “We nothing. Isaiah wouldn’t let me so much as boil an egg. He was too busy trying to impress a certain girl,” she added with twinkling eyes.

“Ooh.” Toni and Brian turned knowing eyes toward Brooklyn.

Under such scrutiny, she couldn’t help but blush.

Georgia reached over and squeezed her hand. “Frankly, I don’t think he could’ve chosen a more lovely woman.”

Brooklyn’s embarrassment deepened. “Thank you.”

Soon, the paper plates and plastic cups were passed and everyone dug in.

Afterward, when everyone was miserable from eating too much, Toni leaned back in Brian’s arms and said to Isaiah, “Hell, if Brooklyn doesn’t marry you, I will.”

“Hey,” Brian protested with sad puppy-dog eyes. “I was going to say the same thing.”

Everyone cracked up.

“Sorry, bro. I don’t swing that way,” Isaiah said, easing closer toward Brooklyn. “This is all I can handle. Ain’t that right, baby?” He leaned down for a kiss.

“That’s right, honey.”

Brian looked to Toni. “I guess it’s our loss.”

“So it would seem.”

Georgia shook her head with mild amusement.

Upon meeting Georgia, Brooklyn understood where Isaiah had inherited his kind nature. The resemblance between mother and son was striking.

“I think I want to go for a walk,” Toni announced, and then looked to Brian. “You want to join me?”

“You bet. I need to walk off some of this food.”

They cleaned their area and stood to leave.

“We’ll check back in with you guys later,” Toni said, looping her arm through her boyfriend’s as they strolled off.

“Now, don’t they make a nice couple?” Georgia said, watching them.

Brooklyn nodded with a wide smile. “Yes, they do.”

“Well, there you guys are.” A male voice drifted toward them.

Isaiah looked up and was astonished to see Dr. Ramsey approaching them.

Georgia clapped her hands together. “Paul, I’m so glad you made it.”

Dr. Ramsey’s face split into a wide grin as he knelt beside her. “I’ve been looking everywhere. I’ve forgotten just how big this place is.”

Isaiah couldn’t stop staring.

Brooklyn leaned around him and offered her hand when the doctor sat next to Georgia.

“Hello. I’m Brooklyn.”

“Paul Ramsey. A pleasure to meet you.” He turned his gaze toward Isaiah. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Same here,” Isaiah said without conviction.

His mother laughed. “I think he’s in shock.” She leaned over and patted her son’s leg. “Don’t have a conniption. Paul and I are just good friends.”

“And dance partners,” Paul added with a boastful grin. “Came in second place at the Senior Ball tournament.”

Brooklyn perked up. “You two are ballroom dancers? How exciting. I’ve always wanted to do something like that. Unfortunately, I have two left feet, but a girl can always dream.”

Georgia’s face lit up as her words flowed with a rush of excitement. “I used to think the same way. Lord knows I could never drag Melvin to something like that.” She leaned over toward Paul. “But I found a willing victim in Paul here.”

“Oh, how nice.” Brooklyn looked to Isaiah. “Don’t you think that’s nice?”

Not particularly.
“Yeah, it’s real nice.” He flashed a quick smile, and then grew serious. “And just how long have you two been dance partners?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” His mother shrugged and looked to Paul. “It’s been about three or four years. Wouldn’t you say?”

“Five years, next Sunday,” Paul corrected with a firm nod of his head.

Georgia brightened with astonishment. “You don’t say? Has it been that long?”

“Yeah. You don’t say,” Isaiah said in a tone opposite of his mother’s. Inwardly, his emotions dueled. On one hand, he should be happy his mother had found companionship, but on the other hand, he couldn’t explain his apprehension.

“Sooo.” Isaiah struggled to sound casual. “How come you didn’t tell me about your dancing ambitions, lessons,
and
partner?
” To his left, he heard snickering, but he ignored it and continued to stare at his mother.

His mother’s eyes twinkled as she met his gaze. “Sweetheart, don’t start acting all weird on me in front of company. I’m sure I told you about that and many other things.”

Though he didn’t want to, Isaiah knew to drop the subject. However, he was positive that his mother never told him about any of this.

Brooklyn clutched his arm. “Why don’t we go for a walk, too?”

“Why?”

She tugged as she whispered, “I think they want to spend some time alone.” He stiffened.

She tugged again. “Please.”

Still reluctant, he allowed her to help him to his feet. And even as she led him away, he watched his mother and Dr. Ramsey from the corner of his eyes.

Brooklyn couldn’t help but find Isaiah’s behavior cute. “She’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’m sure Dr. Ramsey can take care of her while we’re away.”

He turned toward Brooklyn and his pensive expression relaxed. “Sorry,” he muttered with a sly smile. “I guess I’m handling this badly.”

“She never dated after your father died?”

“Off and on.” He shrugged. “Nothing that ever became serious.”

“So what makes this different?”

Isaiah glanced over his shoulder; his mother was no longer in their line of vision. “I’m not sure.”

Brooklyn tugged on his arm and regained his attention.

He smiled down at her. “She likes you, though.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “A lot.”

The thought sent a warm flush throughout her body. Yet at the same time she didn’t understand this need for Georgia’s approval. She also didn’t understand the dreams she’d been having—about him, Jaleel, and a new baby. Hell, there was even a dog and a white picket fence.

Isaiah draped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m glad we decided to do this.”

She smiled as they strolled among the mass of people. “I am, too.” She leaned against him and felt at peace with her world. What would the summer have been like had it not been for him? Everything was going great. Her sales were up, her stress level down, and Evan— “Brooke?”

She stopped cold and her smile faded at the familiar voice.

“Brooke, is that you?”

Slowly, she turned. Dread settled like an iron anchor in the pit of her stomach as she faced a shocked Evan and Macy.