Corporate Seduction (14 page)

“Mother just has to get over it. I’m not marrying Sonya.”

Danielle sighed. She’d heard all this before and personally wasn’t at all bothered by her brother’s refusal to marry the catty woman. “So what’s this woman like? Does she work?”

“She’s a paralegal at this firm I’m working at. She lives a couple blocks away from me with her grandmother.”

“Is that all the family she has?” Danielle shifted on the stool in her kitchen.

“Well, I’ve met her mother, and I think she said she has a brother, but he’s in jail.”

“You might want to leave that tidbit of information out when you introduce her to Mother.”

Khalil laughed. He had been thinking about how this dinner was going to work out. Reka was important to him. And he knew that whatever the outcome, he was going to continue to see her, regardless of what his parents thought. But he still had reservations about how this would all play out. Naomi Franklin could be vicious when provoked, and as much as he loved his mother, he knew that he’d side with Reka should it really come down to it.

“Just try to make her comfortable, will you? I need somebody on my side for a change.”

Danielle smiled. If he only knew. She was always on his side because she’d always envied his independence, his determination to be what he wanted despite what was expected of him. She didn’t have any of that, and while she was happy with her life, her husband and her son, she often wondered what would have happened had she pursued her acting. “I’ve got your back, big brother, don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks, Danielle.”

He wanted to call Reka. It was after eight o’clock and he hadn’t heard her voice for more than five hours. This morning in her office had been a milestone for them. He wanted her and she wanted him. They’d already discovered that much. But something else had happened in that tiny room. Something had passed between them, something beyond just physical desire.

That was probably crazy, considering he’d known her for all of six weeks. Still, he knew what he felt and he trusted those feelings. Would she fit in with his family? Well, he wasn’t blind, he could see the obvious differences, her upbringing, her outlook on life, her candor. But those were all the things that made her who she was, and that was the woman he was falling in love with.

* * *

Khalil was scheduled to pick Reka up at two. It would take about an hour to get to his parents’ house in Greenwich, Connecticut. He planned to take the scenic route, because he knew she was nervous.

* * *

Reka was wearing the silver pantsuit and matching pumps with a lamé clasp at her ankle. She’d decided against her long leather coat and instead had gone with the fur-collared black wool. She felt classy and mature as she stepped into Khalil’s car. Against Tacoma’s advice she’d flat ironed her hair and let it hang around her shoulders. The moment he saw her, Khalil had run his fingers through it, saying she was beautiful. She’d call Tacoma the moment she got home to tell him.

While they drove, they chatted amiably about this and that and nothing. It was a comfortable ride and Reka found herself relaxing. “You know, I recall I was supposed to be helping you relax, but these last couple of days you’ve seemed more laid back than ever. I guess you didn’t need my help at all.” She glanced out at the thick trees and huge houses lining the streets.

For a minute he felt guilty for the pretense he’d used to get closer to her. “It’s because of you. I think by simply being around you I’ve become a new person.”

Reka turned her lips up in disbelief. “I didn’t change you. If you’re different it’s because that was the real you all along.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, I do. Sometimes I think people are raised to be a certain way, but that’s not the person they are on the inside.”

She’d hit the nail right on the head and Khalil cast her a serious look. She’d summed his entire life up in one neat sentence and she probably didn’t even know it.

“Do you think your parents will like me?”

Because she sounded vulnerable, her voice going very low, he was concerned. Was this a good idea bringing her out here? “They’ll like you, and even if they don’t, they’ll respect you and the role you play in my life.”

“And what role is that? I mean, what are we doing, really?” She’d lain in her bed last night pondering their relationship. He’d said he was going to show her how to love. Had he been serious?

Khalil thought about her question and, while he readily knew the answer, he wanted to phrase it so that she wouldn’t be afraid or discouraged. “We’re dating. And moving towards a meaningful relationship, I hope.”

“Oh.”

“What did you think we were doing?”

“I wasn’t entirely sure. That’s why I asked. I mean, we’ve been out and we’ve shared meals and we’ve, ah, kissed.” Although their kissing seemed a lot more significant than the average, she couldn’t think of a way to say that to him without embarrassing herself.

“That we have,” he said wistfully.

She nodded at the sound of his voice because it mimicked just how she felt when she thought of their kissing. “So I was a little mixed up as to what exactly you would call us.”

“Let me make it simple for you. You’re my woman, which means I’d better not even hear whispers of you being with someone else.” He pulled into the driveway and put the car in park before turning to face her. “And I’m your man.” With a finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face so that she stared at him.

“Which means if I even hear whispers of you being with someone else I have permission to cut her and make your life a living hell,” she whispered.

Khalil smiled. “That’s it exactly.”

* * *

Reka wasn’t really sure what she expected, but it certainly wasn’t the large foyer—the size of her living room, dining room and kitchen put together—with marble floors and a huge crystal chandelier. The walls were stark white, the floor covered in a white woven rug with an intricate gray design. On one wall was a large picture, a countryside scene. On another wall a picture with swirling muted colors. She had no idea what it was supposed to represent. A woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties and was dressed in a gray uniform, complete with white bib and hat, came to take their coats. She looked to be Hispanic.

“Good afternoon, Marla,” Khalil said as he shrugged out of his coat, then reached to help Reka take hers off.

“Mr. Khalil, it’s always good to see you. But you’re a little on the thin side.”

Reka looked at the maid as she surveyed Khalil.

“That’s okay, I’ve fixed enough food today to fatten you right up. And who is this pretty little thing?” Marla looked at Reka now.

Khalil placed an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. “This is my girlfriend, Reka Boyd.”

There was no turning back now. He’d introduced her as his girlfriend. Taking a deep breath, Reka extended her hand, not sure if she was supposed to shake hands with the help, and frankly not caring. “It’s nice to meet you, Marla.”

Marla swatted her hand away and whisked Reka into a tight hug. “You like family now,” she said, patting Reka’s back. Then she turned to Khalil and hugged him. “It’s good you get back out there and start again.”

Reka wondered at her words. Khalil had told her that he hadn’t found the right woman to settle down with but she’d never questioned him about any of his past relationships.

“Is Danielle here yet?”

“Ms. Danielle is in the den with the little one and your parents. Go on in, they’re all expecting you.”

Marla cast Reka another smile and Reka smiled in return. She liked Marla and hoped the rest of his family would be as receptive as she was.

Taking her hand, Khalil escorted Reka down a long hallway, passing a room she could see was the living room and a formal dining room with the table set with china, fine crystal and silverware. Reka could hear voices and the tiny laughter of a young child as they approached a room at the end of the hall. She immediately tensed.

Sensing her dismay, Khalil rubbed his thumb over her hand, tightening his grip, then looked down at her and smiled. “You’re beautiful, and they are going to like you as much as I do.”

Because his warm gaze held hers, because her hand felt comfortable being swallowed by his, and because with his very closeness he made her feel safe and protected, she calmed and walked into the room with a smile in place.

“Khalil! It’s about time you got here.” Danielle jumped up from her seat on the cushiony couch and ran to her brother, hugging him close. “And this must be Reka.” Turning her attention to the petite woman beside him, Danielle made a quick assessment. She was definitely attractive; her eyes, the highlight of her round face, were an amazing hue. Her hair was lovely and her taste in clothes almost comparable with her own. Yes, she nodded, Khalil had done well with this one. Extending her hand, she offered a sincere smile. “Hi, I’m Danielle, Khalil’s sister. He’s told me a lot about you.”

Amazed that Khalil had talked about her to his family but not wanting to show it, Reka extended her hand and returned the smile of the tall woman in front of her. She had Khalil’s coloring, but her eyes were wider, lighter than his. Her hair was swooped up into a fancy French roll, showing off the not-too-small diamond studs in her ears. Tacoma would be happy to hear he was right about something. “It’s very nice to meet you, Danielle. I’m afraid Khalil hasn’t told me much about his family.”

Danielle took Reka’s arm, tucking it in the crook of her own, and moved away from Khalil. “Men can be so secretive at times,” she whispered to her. “Now come, let’s get this over with.”

Reka followed her lead as they moved further into the room. A very tall, very studious man with a wide mouth and deep set green eyes was first to come forward. “Andre Miller, Danielle’s husband and this little one’s father,” he said jovially, lifting a plump, cherub-faced little boy into his arms.

Danielle reached out and pinched a chubby little cheek. “This is Lance, he’s two.”

“Andre.” Reka nodded to the man. “And hello, Lance.” On impulse she took a step closer to the little boy and touched his curly hair. “Aren’t you a handsome little man.” He giggled. “And you know it, don’t you?”

Lance gurgled and raised his arms for Reka to take him. She looked to his parents, who didn’t seem to mind, before reaching out to take the toddler in her arms. The first thing she noticed was how sweet he smelled. The second how soft and cuddly he was. The third was how right holding a baby in her arms felt. It wasn’t as if she never got the chance to hold a baby. Cienna and Keith had a little girl, Tiana, and she spent lots of time with her whenever Cienna brought her into her office and over the summer when she’d go to Cienna and Keith’s for cookouts. But she’d never given much thought to having her own. Today, with Khalil by her side and her feelings for him so fresh and new, she thought it might just be possible.

“He’s drooling on your jacket,” a cool voice announced.

Reka was so caught up in making cooing sounds and bouncing the happy baby in her arms that she barely glanced down before saying, “It’s okay, that’s a problem for the dry cleaner.”

“You’re quite right, but you should take better care. Appearances are everything when you’re a guest.”

The frosty tone settled over Reka and she turned to see from where it came. Garbed in a mauve-colored skirt and matching jacket with a diamond brooch stood the woman Reka knew would be her biggest hurdle. From the perfect hair to the excessive yet elegantly made up face, Naomi Franklin looked like the socialite Reka suspected her to be.

“It’s not a big deal, Mother.” Danielle moved to Reka’s side. “But I’ll take him and get him cleaned up a bit.”

Reka quickly gave Lance over to his mother, then smoothed down her jacket and faced Khalil’s mother once more. “Mrs. Franklin, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Naomi neither took a step closer to Reka nor made any attempt to shake her hand. Luckily Reka hadn’t extended hers, so she didn’t feel too foolish.

“I must say I’m surprised my son would pick a holiday meal to introduce you to us. It’s rather presumptuous of him to think we’d simply roll out the red carpet.”

Was she serious? Reka didn’t know whether to curse her out or simply leave. Khalil cast her an apologetic glance and she squared her shoulders, taking a step forward instead. “I don’t need any special treatment. It’s simply nice to meet Khalil’s family, since he’s already met mine.”

A man who looked so much like Khalil that he had to be his father joined them then. “Reka, is it? That’s a different name,” he said, then seemed to dismiss the thought. “We’re glad you could make it this afternoon. Unlike Danielle, Khalil hasn’t told us much about you. Come, have a seat so we can get to know each other.”

Relieved that she didn’t have to fight a double battle, Reka followed the man’s direction, with Khalil coming to sit next to her on the couch. Donald Franklin led his wife to a chair, seated her, then moved to another chair himself.

“So how long have you and Khalil been dating?” Donald asked.

“Not very long, I’m certain,” Naomi chimed.

“We’ve been seeing each other for about six weeks now. The law firm I’m working at is where Reka works as a paralegal.”

“Oh, you’re in law. That’s a growing field and a good living.” Donald pulled a cigar from his suit jacket and prepared to light it.

“Yes, I’ve been in law for a few years now. I enjoy it,” Reka added.

“I’m sure you do.”

That was Naomi again. In a minute Reka feared she was going to ask the old battleax what her problem was. Khalil rested his palm on her knee, silently advising her not to go that route. She wondered what the odds were that Naomi would skip the meal and take her angry behind upstairs for the duration of her time here.

Slim to none, she deduced.

* * *

Dinner was scrumptious, with Reka consuming things with names she couldn’t even pronounce. Conversation had been cordial, but that was mostly due to Danielle and her husband. They were very talkative and very much in love. Reka couldn’t help envying them.

They were having drinks in the living room when Khalil sensed that Reka was ready to go. But before he could announce his departure, the doorbell rang and Naomi seemed to perk up. Khalil was instantly concerned, but held his tongue and waited until Marla came in to announce who was at the door.