Passion by the Book (Kimani Hotties) Read online

  He cut in. “I’m not interested in seeing a shrink.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because, they’re just as messed up as the people they counsel.”

  An awkward silence fell between them. It lasted for several long, painful seconds.

  “I better get ready for bed,” Simone finally said. “I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, and I’m so nervous, I don’t know how I’m ever going to fall asleep.”

  “You’ll be fine, Simone. Friendship House is lucky to have you.”

  “Are you coming to bed soon?”

  “Yeah, in a minute.”

  Dropping her towel in the clothes hamper, she sauntered into the bedroom, au naturel.

  “Great, just great,” he grumbled under his breath. “She’s returning to work.” He sat there, in the cool, soapy water, watching Simone move around the master bedroom. Marcus wanted to go to her, wanted to sweep her up into her arms and carry her to bed, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said. Her words swirled around his head. Simone was right. There was no reason to worry. No reason to stress.

  Marcus tried to block out the voices inside his head, but they continued, persisted, pursued him like an emotional stalker. Family comes first, always has, always will, he told himself, gaining strength from his thoughts. Simone promised nothing was going to change. But if that’s true, he thought, watching his wife slip into a slinky, purple negligee, then why do I have a sickening feeling that life as I know it is over?

  Chapter 14

  “Does the TV have to be so loud?” Simone asked, raising her voice above the noise. She had a vegetable tray in one hand and a juice pitcher in the other, but she strode into the living room at breakneck speed. Her husband’s friends were coming over to watch the big football game, and she still had a million things to do before they arrived. “Turn the volume down, Marcus. The surround sound is deafening!”

  Pointing the remote at the entertainment unit, he decreased the volume and then strolled over to the glass serving table. “My friends aren’t going to eat this stuff,” he said, pointing at the finger foods. “We’re watching a game, not the Macy’s Day Parade!”

  Simone patted his chest. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll bring out the ‘real food’ once everybody gets here.”

  “That’s my girl! You had me worried there for a second.”

  “And you’ve had me worried all day!”

  Marcus chuckled. “I know I get a little crazy on game day, but I can’t help it. I love college football, and my team is the favorite to win.”

  “Look at us, Mom and Dad. We’re superheroes!” Jordan and Jayden raced into the room, giggling uncontrollably and waving toy swords in their little hands. “I’m Motorcycle Man and Jayden’s Crybaby Boy.”

  “I don’t want to be Crybaby Boy!” Pouting, Jayden chucked his sword on the floor and crossed his arms across his chest. “I want to be Motorcycle Man!”

  “Boys, you can’t play in here, I’m busy getting—” The rest of Simone’s sentence fell away when she realized what her sons were using as face masks. She snatched her lace underwear off Jayden’s head and then went after Jordan, who took off running. Once Simone retrieved her panties and stuffed them inside her apron pocket, she scolded the boys for playing in her bedroom. “Where did you get Mommy’s pant—” Her voice faltered and she tripped over the word. Clearing her throat, she rephrased the question and tried again. “Where did you get those masks from?”

  Jayden pointed a finger at Jordan, and Simone shot her son a stern look.

  “I found them under the bed.”

  “Whose bed?”

  “Yours.” Jordan lowered his eyes to the floor, but the grin on his face remained. “There’s lots of masks under your bed, and in different colors and sizes, too!”

  Marcus burst out laughing. Jordan and Jayden broke free from their mother’s grasp and raced over to their dad. Marcus picked them up and spun them around the living room. “Who’s ready to watch football?”

  Jordan cheered and Jayden moaned.

  “Daddy, I don’t want to watch football. I want to paint.”

  “Paint?” Marcus rubbed his stubbly chin across Jayden’s face and he squealed in delight. “What am I going to do with you, boy?”

  “Me next, Dad! Make me laugh, too!” Jordan chimed in. “Come on, Dad. Do it to me!”

  The doorbell rang, and the trio set off down the hall. For the next hour, Marcus and the boys manned the door while Simone worked in the kitchen. The serving table was covered with a wide assortment of foods, the air was filled with a tantalizing aroma and the mood in the house was festive. Simone loved entertaining, and it was the first time since starting her new job three weeks ago that she and Marcus were laughing and joking with each other.

  “Hello! Welcome to our home!” Simone waved in greeting at each new arrival—even Marcus’s loudmouth brother, Derek—but got so caught up frying the samosas, she didn’t notice Gladys had entered the kitchen until her mother-in-law was standing right beside her. “Gladys, what are you doing here?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

  “I don’t see why not. I came to hang out with my grandbabies.” Gladys put the white ceramic bowl she was holding down on the counter and draped her red, belted coat on one of the raised stools. “You look like you could use some help. What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing, I’m fine,” Simone chirped, turning off the stove and wiping her hands on the side of her apron. “Why don’t you go in the living room and relax with the other guests?”

  “Because I’m not a guest. I’m family.”

  Don’t remind me.

  “See, that’s your problem right there,” Gladys griped, wagging a finger at her. “You think you’re Wonder Woman and can do everything all by yourself.”

  “Calm down, Gladys. There’s nothing to get upset about. All I said was—”

  “Don’t patronize me!” Her eyebrows jammed together, and a scowl crimped her lips. “That’s why I hardly come over here anymore. I can’t deal with your holier-than-thou attitude, and neither can the rest of the family. That’s why we stay away.”

  “I don’t have an attitude.”

  “Yes, you do,” she shot back. “But what you need to do is get a life and quit nagging my son for trying to provide for his family.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Gladys propped a hand on her hip. “You heard me. Find something meaningful to do with your time besides sitting around all day waiting for Marcus to get home. You’ll be a lot happier, and so will your family.”

  Simone cleared her throat. Her mother-in-law was blunt and to the point, and her words stung. Her rebuke was hard to take, but Simone wanted to improve her marriage and it started with making peace with Gladys. “I don’t mean to be difficult, and I’m sorry if I ever said or did anything to offend you,” she began, her voice quavering with emotion, “but sometimes I feel like you undermine me as a wife and mother.”

  “I would never do that,” Gladys said. “I want you and Marcus and the boys to be happy. That’s why I suggested you return to work, and why I offered to help out any way I can.”

  “I really do appreciate you helping us out with Jordan and Jayden,” Simone confessed. “It’s made my return to work that much easier.”

  “Do you like your new job?”

  “I love being at Friendship House, but I’m overwhelmed by all the paperwork, and the sheer number of families I’m responsible for. There’s a lot I have to learn, and right now I feel like I’m failing miserably.”

  “You’re a smart girl. You’ll get the hang of it.”

  The metal serving spoon in Simone’s hands fell to the floor. She knew she was standing beside the stove, with her mouth wide open and a bewildered expre
ssion on her face, but she couldn’t have been more stunned. “Y-y-you think I’m smart?” she stammered. “Really?”

  “Of course I do! I wouldn’t have encouraged my son to marry you if I didn’t.”

  “I’ve always thought you didn’t like me.”

  “You’re a fabulous wife and mother, Simone, but sometimes you’re too hard on my son, and it pains me to see him hurt.” Her voice cracked, and her eyes began to water. For several moments she didn’t speak, but when she did her tone was filled with anguish. “Marcus is a better man than his father ever was, and he loves you and the boys more than anything in the world.”

  Simone felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. And as she reflected quietly on what her mother-in-law said, she realized that Gladys was right. She had to stop blaming Marcus for what was wrong in their marriage and focus on all of the good things he did for their family. From now on, she was going to make a concerted effort to be more understanding. And not just with Marcus, but with the rest of his family, too. “Gladys, I love Marcus very much, and I would never do anything to hurt him. I just wish he spent more time with me and the boys, that’s all.”

  “I can understand that,” she said, nodding slowly. “But nagging never works. Remember, dear, you can catch more bees with honey than vinegar.”

  A smile tickled Simone’s lips. She couldn’t believe it. Gladys was being nice to her, and laughing and joking around, too. She stared at her mother-in-law, as if seeing her for the very first time. It felt good to confide in someone, and thanks to Gladys, she was feeling more confident not only about her job, but her abilities as a wife and mother, as well. “Thanks for the advice, Gladys. And you’re right. It’s time I get back to doing the things I love and quit depending on Marcus to make me happy—”

  Cheers and raucous laughter filled the air, drawing Simone’s attention to the living room. A gasp escaped her lips. When Marcus told her was having a “few guys” over to watch the Florida Classic, she’d offered to make dinner for the group, but Simone never imagined he’d invite dozens of people. There were bodies everywhere. On the couch, in the hallway, leaning against the living room wall. And as she watched the all-male group devour the snacks on the serving table and guzzle down the fruit punch, Simone feared she hadn’t cooked enough food.

  “Gladys, I think I need your help after all,” Simone said, wearing an apologetic smile. “Can you grab a couple boxes of frozen lasagna and throw them into the oven?”

  A smile broke out across Gladys’s face. “I’d love to.”

  The two women worked silently, side by side, for the next forty-five minutes. Simone felt a pang in her stomach and feared she would faint if she didn’t eat soon. Reaching into the ceramic bowl Gladys had brought, she swiped a Swedish meatball and popped it into her mouth. Her mother-in-law was one hell of a cook, and before Simone knew it, the bowl was half-empty. “Gladys, these meatballs are delicious!” she said, licking the sauce off her fingertips. “You have to teach me how to make them.”

  Gladys beamed. “It would be my pleasure.”

  Simone slid on her pink cooking mitts and opened the oven. The rich, mouthwatering scent that filled the air sent her stomach on a grumbling tear. She put the tray on the stove and watched as Gladys added a dash of basil to the potato skins.

  “This is nice, huh? Us working together as a team.”

  “Thanks for all your help, Gladys. There’s no way I could have cooked all of this extra food without you.”

  Her mother-in-law smirked. “I told you you needed my help!”

  The women laughed.

  “I remember how stressful it was being a working mom, so if you ever need me to take the boys to school or keep them overnight, just ask.” Gladys untied her apron and dropped it on the counter. “I get lonely in that big old house by myself, and I love when Jayden and Jordan come over. They make me feel young, and laughing is the best calorie burner!”

  “Then, in that case, they can spend every weekend at your house!”

  Gladys gave an earnest nod, and Simone cracked up. She was so happy that they were getting along, she could have cried tears of joy. Simone didn’t know if their friendship was going to last, but she sensed that this was the start of a new beginning, and she looked forward to getting to know her mother-in-law better.

  “Let’s make a deal,” Gladys proposed, extending her right hand. “You quit acting like Wonder Woman, and I’ll do a better job of sticking to that silly schedule you drew up.”

  Laughing, Simone shook her mother-in-law’s outstretched hand. She knew Gladys would always take up for Marcus and would keep spoiling the kids, but she was glad that they had finally made peace.

  “College girl, is the food ready?” Derek strolled into the kitchen, threw open the fridge and grabbed a beer. “All of the snacks are finished, and I’m starving like Marvin!”

  “Here, take this.” Gladys picked up the casserole dish and handed it to Simone. “Now, get out there before the men start smashing the furniture in a hungry rage!”

  Taking the dish and a bottle of hot sauce, Simone set off for the living room. An army of brown-skinned men, who were smacking their lips and patting their stomachs, surrounded Simone as she arranged the food on the large serving table.

  “Hi, I’m Fabian.”

  Simone turned to the left. A tall, lean man in a football jersey, jeans and boots was staring at her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Another guy stepped forward. “I’m Bradley, but everyone calls me Tank.”

  “You’re pretty. And, you smell good, too,” a man in designer eyeglasses said.

  Soon, Simone was shaking hands and engaging in small talk with everyone around the table. She panned the living room for Marcus, in the hopes that he would come rescue her from his flirtatious friends, but his eyes were glued to the big-screen TV. For all she knew, he didn’t even know she was in the room. What else is new? she thought sadly.

  “I forgot the salt and pepper.” Simone spun around. “Be right back.”

  “That’s Marcus’s wife, huh?” someone said.

  “Yup, that’s Simone,” an awe-filled voice replied. “Fine, isn’t she?”

  “Marcus is one lucky man.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Subduing the excitement she was feeling inside, Simone concentrated on not tripping over her feet. Dr. RaShondra said a “together woman” knew how to walk. According to the good doctor, “a together woman” moved with sinuous grace and commanded attention when she entered a room, so Simone raised her head, tilted her chin and arched her shoulders. Tall, dark and handsome men are checking me out, she thought, giggling. And that’s all right with me!

  * * *

  Marcus stood in the middle of the living room, watching Simone. She was down on her knees, picking crumbs out of the carpet and humming softly to herself. Three weeks ago, they’d had an explosive argument in Manchester, but these days his wife was as calm as a Zen master. He had attributed her sudden nonchalant attitude and her everything’s-okay smile to that pink book she was reading, but there was no book in the world that could bring about such dramatic changes in Simone’s personality.

  Tonight, he had witnessed firsthand just how much she had changed. When Jayden spilled grape juice on the carpet, she didn’t fuss. She gave him another glass, told him to be careful and cleaned up the mess. And when Nate begged for a third helping of her famous spicy barbecue wings, she didn’t roll her eyes or tell him to get lost. She smiled, took his plate and returned to the kitchen. She had done such a stellar job catering to his friends that most of the guys had shifted their attention from the game to her. At one point, he’d returned from the bathroom and found most of the guys ogling her, as she moved around the room, collecting plates and handing out cold beers. And then, there were the hungry looks and lusty smiles she received every time she bent do
wn to pick up one of the kids’ toys from off the floor.

  Have I forgotten how vivacious and captivating she is? He knew Simone was special, and that he was lucky to have her, but this was the first time in months, maybe years, that he’d seen her charm a room full of men, and make it look easy. The desire for her was so intense, so overwhelming, he strode across the room and pulled Simone to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lowered his head toward her and kissed her softly on the lips.

  “What was that for?” she asked when he finally broke off the kiss.

  “For being the best wife a man could ask for.” Marcus cupped her face in his hands and brushed his fingers tenderly across her cheeks. Seeing how much she’d enjoyed the attention from his friends bothered him. No, it hurt. Simone didn’t hop on anybody’s lap or shake her butt in anybody’s face, but she beamed and giggled whenever someone paid her a compliment. Marcus didn’t need to look inside her head to know she was feeling unloved and neglected, but from now on he’d make sure his wife knew how much he cared for her.

  “I love you, Simone. I know I don’t always tell you or show you how I feel, but I do,” he whispered, meaning every word. “Sorry for not being here for you, like you need me to be, but from now on I promise to be a better husband and father.”

  Her eyes lit up and sparkled with excitement. “That means a lot to me to hear you say that.”

  “Maybe we can do something together on Saturday.”

  “Sorry, baby, but I already have plans.”

  Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You do?”

  “Yeah, I’m taking the boys to a birthday party in the afternoon, and in the evening the girls and I are doing dinner and a movie,” she explained. “I can’t wait to see the new Tyler Perry movie. It’s gotten great reviews, and it was number one at the box office last week.”

  “I thought we were going to see it together. You know I love his movies.”

  Frowning, she slanted her head to the right. “I asked you if you wanted to see it, but you said you didn’t have time, remember?”