When I’m With You (Indigo) (10 page)

He gave her a sexy wink. “Of course. You can’t have roots from N’awlins, baby, and not love shrimp jambalaya.”

“Smells good.”

“Trust me, it is.” Marcel bunched his brows together. “You’ve had shrimp before, right?”

“Yes, but I only like them deep fried.”

He dipped a spoon in the pot and lifted out a jumbo-sized shrimp. “Come on. Try mine. I guarantee you’ll love it.”

Caitlyn scrunched her nose. “Do I have to?”

“Yes.” Marcel chuckled. “Come on. Open.” He eased the shrimp inside her mouth.

“Um…um…um, now that’s good.”

* * *

During dinner, Caitlyn learned just how different she and Marcel were. She loved simplicity; Marcel relished grandeur. For the most part she was even-tempered; it took a lot to set her off and make her mad. She took things slowly. Marcel, on the other hand, could spiral off the deep end if things didn’t go his way or according to his schedule. But Marcel always maintained control of his emotions, and she knew that it would take something near and dear to his heart for him to totally lose it. Amazingly, as different as they were, there were many things they had in common. Both claimed to be Wimbledon champions because of their passion for playing tennis, and listening to smooth jazz ended their days.

She’d finally gotten Marcel to admit he was a secret member of the Black Hole, the notorious but loyal group of Oakland Raiders football fans. Since he had private box seats, she accepted his invitation to the home games on one condition: that he tutor her in French, a language he spoke fluently.

While he cleared the dishes, she went to the family room and looked intently at the array of pictures. A while later, he came up behind her and settled his arms around her waist. With her back against his chest, she placed her arms on top of his.

Marcel leaned around, staring at the intense look on her face. “What’s wrong, kitten?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“You sure?

“Positive.” She pointed to the wall in front of her. “I was just admiring the pictures of your family. Guess it made me think about what it would have been like to have a family of my own.”

“You’ve never told me much about your family.”

She turned to face him, but didn’t answer right away. “There’s not a lot to tell. It was just my mom and me up until I was five. One day, she didn’t pick me up from school and no one could find her. Since we didn’t have any other family, I was placed in child protective services.” Pain settled in her voice. “It was kind of scary, being only five and shifting from the only place you’ve ever called home to the home of a complete stranger.”

“I can’t even imagine what it was like.”

“Not pretty. Trust me. I bounced from one foster home to the other. Some families were kind. Some were in it just for the money. I guess that’s part of the reason I’m reluctant to ask people for help. Growing up, I had to pretty much depend on myself.”

“How long would you stay at each home?”

“In the beginning, usually not long. For seven years, I kind of bounced through the system. When I turned twelve, I was placed with Ms. Ruby and stayed until I left for college. She’s the only family I ever had until I met Vic and her family.” She smiled. “Oh, Marcel, you’d love Ms. Ruby. She’s a retired teacher and never had kids of her own. God, I don’t know where I’d be if it hadn’t been for her.”

“You really love her, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes. She’s my mother in every sense of the word. You know, she could’ve retired the year I left for college but continued to work so I didn’t have to take on a part-time job.”

“I hope to meet her someday.”

“That would be nice.”

“Did you ever find out what happened to your mom?”

“She had a heart attack the day she didn’t pick me up from school. She died that night.”

He tenderly asked, “What about your dad? Do you know anything about him?”

“No. That’s one of the things I’ve always regretted, not knowing him. I don’t know who he is, or if he’s dead or alive. But that’s next on my to-do list, to try and find out. I want to have closure to that part of my life, if nothing more.”

“Do you know his name?”

She shook her head. “His name isn’t on my birth certificate.”

“Perhaps I could help out.”

She looked puzzled. “How?”

“I’ve got a friend who’s a P.I. I could ask him to do some investigating.”

Her eyes shone with excitement. “Really?” She thought about her budget, and just as quickly, the glimmer faded.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t have the money in my budget to spend right now. I’ll wait until—”

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll work something out.”

“But, Marcel, I don’t want to be obligated to you for anything.”

“Okay. Listen, if you feel uncomfortable about accepting the money, would you consider it a loan?”

“Well, I guess so. As long as we’re clear that it’s a loan.”

He chuckled. “We’re clear. And I’m sure you’ll come up with a payment plan that’s acceptable.”

She nodded graciously at his offer. “Thank you. I’ll pay back every dime.”

“I trust you, kitten.” He placed a kiss at each corner of her mouth.

“You need to know that I’ve always paid my bills on time.”

“Umm-hmm.” He rained kisses along her temple.

“We better go clean up.”

“All taken care of,” he whispered, never ceasing his actions. Burrowing his face in the space between her neck and shoulder, he bit down gently, and moments later, the warmth of his breath blew the sting away. “Tell me what you miss most about Newark.”

“My two dogs.” She snuggled closer to him. “I knew I couldn’t take them with me, and it broke my heart to have to leave them behind. The last thing I did before I left Newark was drop them off at a shelter to be placed for adoption.”

“What kind of dogs?” His tongue left a wet trail along her slender neck.

“Bichon Frise,” she whispered with her head thrown back.

Marcel lifted his head and smiled. “Were you guys close?”

“We slept together every night.” She saw his eyes widen in mock surprise and playfully punched his shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I do.”

Standing on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss against his cheek. “It’s been a wonderful evening.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them until her back rested against the wall. “In more ways than one.”

Caitlyn reached up and drew his head down to hers. She’d dreamed of his kiss, but fantasy was nothing compared to reality. She’d longed to feel his lips on hers again. Marcel’s mouth stirred sensations within her she’d never felt before and revealed a need to know what it was like to be thoroughly devoured by him and feast on everything the man who gently held her in his arms had to give.

Without shame, she molded her slender body against him and felt the unhurried gyration of his hips rolling against hers. She tightened her arms around his waist, urging him to continue to fuel the fire he’d created. Greedily, she took his tongue, not wanting the kiss to end, and savored the intoxicating intimacy they shared.

The need to breathe eventually brought the kiss to an end. Marcel released a ragged moan and placed his forehead against hers. Barely able to replace his oxygen supply, he stepped back. “Come on. I’ll follow you home. I want to be sure you get in safe.”

“Uh, well…okay.” She looked down, then back up at him. “Marcel, what I told you about the rape…I just don’t want you to think that it…” She pursed her lips and dropped her head.

“That it what?”

She shrugged. “That it left me with hang-ups about sex. I-I’m not loco behind it, okay?” She shrugged again. “You might be one of those brothers who thinks a woman’s damaged goods.”

“Don’t even go there.” He hauled her against the solid wall of his chest. “No woman should have to go through what you did. And no, I don’t think you’re loco.” He smiled. “Your head’s as hard as a boulder sometimes, but you’re not loco, no way.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “And just to set the record straight here, at this moment, I want you as bad as a crackhead wants his next rock. But I made a promise to you that I’d earn your trust, and I won’t go back on my word by rushing anything between us.”

“So, in other words, you don’t want me to stay a little longer?”

“Oh, I want that, more than you’ll ever know. But if you stay, I think we both know what will happen. God knows I want you here with me tonight, but I also want something more.”

“What’s that?”

“Your trust. If you can honestly look me the eye and tell me I have your complete trust, this discussion is over.”

She looked away. God, she wanted to say the words, but in her heart she knew it would be a lie. “I-I can’t. Not right now.”

“Then we wait. Besides, I’m looking forward to pampering you first.”

She wrapped her arms tighter around his waist and looked up. “You pamper all your women?”

He shook his head. “No. You’re the first.”

“Yeah, I bet. I’m sure you have women falling down at your feet.”

“Wrong presumption.” His face was void of any expression.

She stared, stunned. “Really?”

“I’m not going to lie and tell you I haven’t dated, but I’ve never wanted to pamper anyone until now.”

She stared up at him, her heart warmed by his words. Placing her head back against his chest, and with nothing but a mustard seed of faith to guide her, she whispered, “Marcel?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“His name is Cole Mazzei.”

Marcel was as restless as a wild animal in a cage. He paced in the sitting area of the master bedroom. After following Caitlyn to her apartment, he’d parked, gone inside and checked the tiny space from top to bottom. His nerves were still rattled from what she’d shared earlier, and he didn’t want to take any chances this Cole character would pop up on her in the middle of the night like a jack-in-the-box. In two months, she’d managed to wrap herself so firmly around his heart and had become such a part of his being he couldn’t imagine life without her.

He plopped down on the bed in a spread-eagle position and thought back over his life. Of the six children, he’d always had the most compassionate and a giving heart. If he could help something or someone, he did.

Growing up, his family and friends had teased him for bringing home every stray dog he found. His desire to help others had really taken root during his senior year in high school. His track mate, Alex Robinson, had just transferred from a school out of state, and they had immediately bonded. Marcel talked his father into letting Alex and his mother move into their home when he discovered they were homeless. The day they settled in, he made a solemn vow, that rich or poor, he would share whatever he had with anyone who needed it. Although wealth and material possessions had fallen his way, they hadn’t fazed him a bit. If he lost everything, so be it.

Discipline was his catalyst to achieving his aspirations, and for the last three years, he’d forced himself into a self-imposed hiatus from anything and everything that would distract him from the professional goals he’d set for BF Automotive. That included women. He hadn’t missed the thrill of the hunt. His last relationship had been doomed from the start. He had always been selective in the few women he’d dated, but he’d realized early on they were more interested in how many zeros followed the first number of his bank account than him.

Not even his best friend Alex knew his heart’s desire—to establish a corporate philanthropic foundation with the hope that it would make a difference in the lives of inner-city youth.

Marcel stared at the ceiling and knew he’d gone past wanting Caitlyn. She’d done what no other woman had managed to do: make him fall in love. It had taken him thirty-eight years to find love, and he knew he was in for the fight of his life. He’d never had to fight to earn a woman’s trust.

He wanted to be the first man to erase the hurt from her memory. He wanted to be the only man to fill her present and future with love. He wanted to be the last man with whom she ever shared her body. But he wanted that feeling reciprocated. But before any of those things could happen, he needed to find out a little more about this Cole Mazzei. He rolled over and picked up the phone.

“Hey, partner. You awake?”

The insistent ringing had awakened Alex out of a dead sleep. “At two o’clock in the morning? Hell no!”

Besides his father and two younger brothers, Alex was the only other person Marcel trusted with his very life. He’d often reminisced of their times together while attending Tuskegee University. During their sophomore year, they’d pledged the same fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. After graduation, Alex spent several years as an undercover police officer with the Pennsylvania Police Department before moving to Oakland. Now he was the owner of one of the top private investigative companies in the country. Marcel knew that if anyone could find the answer to a question, it was Alex.

“Listen, Robinson, I need a favor.”