Passion by the Book Page 5

  “Awww, can’t we stay a little longer?” Jayden asked, his eyes glued to the talking book cradled in his hands. “I want to finish this story, Mommy. It’s really good!”

  “Ten more minutes, Jayden. That’s it.” Tired of standing, Simone dropped down in a cozy armchair and searched the café for Tameika. The stylist was nowhere to be found. Since the coast was clear, she opened the little pink book to chapter one and started reading.

  A “Seductress” is a complete woman, a “Together Woman,” a sister who knows who she is, what she wants and how to get it. A “Seductress” doesn’t wait for things to happen; she makes them happen. She’s on top of her game, savvy as hell and always well put together. She doesn’t leave her house in tattered sweats or with jacked-up hair and stank breath, either. And since a “Seductress” knows her hair is her glory and her body’s a temple, she doesn’t skip workouts or forsake beauty appointments unless there’s an emergency (think, death).

  It’s time to get it together, girl! While you work on getting your mind right, get your body right, too. First things first. Get rid of those funky flannel pajamas. If you look like his mother, he’s going to treat you like his mother. Okay? Go all out when it’s time for bed, too. I’m not telling you to don an evening gown, or drape yourself in diamonds, but for God’s sake, take those damn rollers out of your hair and wash that exfoliating mask off your face! Sexify your wardrobe, girlfriend! It’s time to burn the flannel and embrace the lace!

  Simone hooted, cracked up until water filled her eyes.

  “Mommy, you’re being too noisy.”

  Smiling sheepishly at her sons, who were staring at her with raised eyebrows and bunched-up noses, she said, “Sorry about that, boys. I forgot.”

  “It’s okay,” Jordan replied, reopening his comic book and settling back into his beanbag chair. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

  For the second time in minutes, Simone laughed out loud.

  Chapter 5

  “How do I look?” Simone asked, exiting her walk-in closet. Jayden and Jordan were seated on her bed, a plastic bowl overflowing with fruit wedged between them. When she raised her voice, they glanced up from the cartoon they were watching on TV. “Is my outfit okay?”

  “You look big, Mommy. Like a giant!”

  Simone arched her shoulders and sucked in her stomach until it hurt to breathe. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she carefully assessed her look. Is it that obvious that I’ve put on weight? Shoot, if the boys noticed, surely everyone at the party will, too, she thought, her eyes glued to her ever-widening backside. Damn, Angela! I knew I should have gone for that free consultation at that cosmetic surgery clinic!

  “Mom’s not big, Jayden, she’s tall,” Jordan said matter-of-factly, tossing an apple slice into his open mouth. “Mom’s wearing girl shoes, and girl shoes always make her look taller.”

  Simone sighed in relief. Crisis averted. She’d spent the last hour searching for the perfect dress—one that highlighted her curves and hid her stubborn problem areas, but everything she tried on felt tighter than a straitjacket. After an exhaustive search, she’d decided to wear her favorite outfit—a slim-fitting chocolate-brown sweaterdress with capped sleeves. Pairing it with the swanky new booties she’d scored at the sale gave the dress a trendy, sexy vibe. Just like one of those blonde chicks on Gossip Girl. Gold accessories complemented her outfit nicely, as did her sleek, metallic clutch purse. A stroke of blush, a touch of lipstick and Simone was good to go. All she needed now was Marcus.

  Where is he?

  Simone glanced at her watch. It was five-thirty. The time they should have been leaving for Angela’s housewarming party. She opened her purse and took out her cell phone. There were two text messages from Angela, but none from Marcus. Simone considered calling him, to find out exactly where he was, but decided against it. Dr. RaShondra said a “Seductress” didn’t sweat the small stuff; she was cool, chill and never argued with her man over trivial things. Changing her attitude was going to take a lot of work, but Simone was willing to give it a try.

  Simone put down her phone and picked up the little pink book instead. Two chapters in, and she was already in love with the book. And she was hopeful about her marriage, too. Dr. RaShondra knew her stuff and had a healthy fifteen-year marriage to prove it. The key principle of section one was simple. Take care of your mind, your body and your soul. If you love you, he will, too. Instead of waiting until next week to start eating right, Simone cleared the junk food out of the cupboards, cut her food portions in half and signed up for the Hot Yoga class at Samson’s Gym. A few days in, and she’d already dropped three pounds. Sure, it was only water weight, but it was a start.

  “Daddy! You’re home!” Jayden and Jordan leaped off the bed and into their father’s outstretched arms. “Yay!” they yelled with a loud cheer.

  Simone smiled. Watching Marcus with Jayden and Jordan made her melt every time. He was so sweet with them, so affectionate and warm. They adored their father, and when he was home, nothing else mattered—including their beloved cartoons.

  “How are you guys doing? Not giving your mother any trouble, I hope.”

  Jordan shook his head. “I was a good boy today, Dad. Just ask Mom!”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Anything fun and exciting happen today?”

  The boys talked over each other, then laughed hysterically when their dad tickled them.

  “Can we set up my train set now?” Jayden asked, his eyes deliriously wide and bright.

  “Sure,” Marcus said. “The last one to your room is a rotten egg!”

  The boys jumped out of his arms and raced through the bedroom door.

  “Marcus, you need to get ready for the party.”

  “It’ll only take a few minutes to get the train set going.”

  “But it’s almost six o’clock, and you know how Angela is about people being late.” Simone put on her diamond earrings and secured the clasps. “She’s already called here twice looking for us, and I don’t want to get on her bad side tonight.”

  “It’s not like we’re going to a formal event,” he pointed out, kicking off his sneakers. He unzipped his sweat suit, tossed it into the clothes hamper and selected a lightweight tan dress shirt from his armoire. “It’s just dinner at Angela’s, so what if we’re a few minutes late?”

  “Are you forgetting that...” At the sight of Marcus’s naked body, her mouth dried and her heart raced. Simone blinked, forced herself to focus. “Are you forgetting that we still have to drop the boys off at the sitter’s?”

  “No need—my mom’s coming here. I called her today, and when I told her we were going out tonight, she volunteered to watch the boys. She should be here any minute.”

  Oh, so you have time to call Mommy Dearest, but not me. Simone strangled a groan. Gladys was as punctually challenged as her son, and although she set all the clocks in her house ten minutes early, she was always running late.

  “Babe, where’s the rest of the smoked turkey?” Marcus asked, slipping on a pair of dark tailored slacks. “I wanted to make a BLT, but I couldn’t find the leftovers in the fridge.”

  “We’ll eat at Angela’s.” Simone couldn’t resist adding, “If we ever get there.”

  “Don’t be like that,” he said, staring intently at her. “I got here as fast as I could. I planned to leave the gym early, but my last client waltzed in twenty minutes late, then insisted on doing weight work at the end of his session. Damn reality stars!”

  Simone kept her frown in place. Inclining her head to the right to get a good look at him, she brushed her bangs out of her face. His eyes were bright, and his lips were twitching at the corners. He didn’t look sorry. In fact, it looked li
ke he was trying hard not to laugh. “Is it too much to ask for you to be on time when we have plans?”

  “I tried to leave work early, but it’s just been one of those days. Today was the start of Samson’s Fall Shape-Up Promotion and the reception area was so full I had to get some of the towel boys to lend a hand. By the time I finished up in the office, it was after five.”

  Simone wasn’t moved. Marcus worked hard, and she appreciated the life he provided for her and the boys, but once—just once—she’d like him to show up on time. It wasn’t often they went out without the kids, and when they did, they were usually the last couple to arrive. And that annoyed the hell out of her.

  “Dad, hurry up!” Jordan hollered, poking his head out of his bedroom door. “We’re patiently waiting for you!”

  The couple laughed, shared a smile that caused the tension in the air to dissipate.

  “I better go hook up that electric train before they flog me with the extension cord!”

  “You have ten minutes, Marcus. That’s it—” Frowning, Simone listened quietly for several seconds. She heard a door close, then the click clack of high heels on the hardwood floor.

  “Grandma’s here! And I brought McDonald’s!”

  The boys flew out of their bedroom, across the hall and down the stairs.

  “Marcus, you forgot to lock the front door again.”

  He shook his head. “No, I didn’t. Mom must have used her key.”

  “You gave her a set of our house keys? Why?”

  “In case of an emergency.”

  “So, why is she using it now?”

  “Because it’s freezing outside and she didn’t want to wait for us to open the door!” Marcus chuckled. “Relax, baby. It’s all good.”

  Like hell it is! Simone clamped her mouth shut, swallowed the stinging retort on her lips. Channeling her inner Buddha, she breathed deeply through her nose and allowed the fragrant scent of fresh fruit to calm her. A “Seductress” doesn’t lose her cool every time life throws her a curveball, Simone thought, turning back toward the dresser mirror to finish applying her mascara. She handles every problem with poise, with grace, and knows how to pick her battles.

  “I’m going to grab something to eat while you get dressed.”

  “I am dressed.”

  “That’s what you’re wearing to the party?”

  Simone stared at her dress, then back at Marcus. “Yeah, why? Don’t I look okay?”

  “Baby, please, you’d look good in a garbage bag...”

  “But...” she prompted, sensing there was a lot more he wanted to say. “What is it?”

  Marcus advanced into the room, came over to where Simone was standing. She smelled fresh, like a spring rain shower, and her scent aroused his desire. He slipped his hands around her waist, held her close. She felt soft and warm, and she fit perfectly into his arms. Simone was everything he wanted in a woman—no, more—and he took great pride in spoiling her, in buying her the very best that money could buy. And tonight he wanted to see her in something fabulous. Not a thick, bulky sweater that hid her drool-worthy figure. “Why don’t you wear the dress I got you for your birthday? You know, the one with the ruffles.”

  Because it’s butt-ugly, Simone thought but didn’t say. Marcus, with the help of his young, fashion-obsessed receptionist, had picked out a short, strapless couture gown that had fortunately turned out to be two sizes too small. It was revealing, clingy in all the wrong places and looked like something that had been rejected on Project Runway, but instead of telling Marcus she hated the dress, she said, “I felt like wearing this. Is something wrong with that?”

  “No,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “But you wear it all the time.”

  Her body stiffened. “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, you wore it to the fall concert at Mom’s church, that art gala at the museum and...” Marcus saw her eyes narrow and trailed off into silence. To smooth things over, and turn her scowl into a smile, he tried to make her laugh. “Forget I said anything. You can wear whatever you want. I’m not the fashion police!”

  “You’re right, you’re not,” Simone snapped, crossing her arms. Marcus had some nerve criticizing her outfit. She always looked neat and tidy, and when she had the time she did her makeup, so why was Marcus acting like she was a slob? Okay, so she wasn’t as fashion-conscious as she used to be, but it was hard keeping up with the latest trends when she had two rambunctious kids to chase after and a house to keep in order.

  “Lighten up, baby. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Lighten up? I’ll lighten up as soon as you start showing up on time, remembering to call when you’re running late and quit acting like the world rotates on your axle.”

  That felt good. But her satisfaction was short-lived. Guilt came, then a crushing dose of regret. That’s not how a Seductress behaves, Simone thought, catching sight of the little pink book on the dresser. A Seductress isn’t high-strung or petty, and she never flies off the handle.

  Simone pushed out a breath, forced herself to think pleasant thoughts. Imagining herself at Destination Wellness, luxuriating in their plush Euphoria Suite, didn’t help to calm her. Neither did the distant sound of Jordan’s infectious, high-pitched laugh.

  “Can we stop arguing long enough so I can share my good news?”

  Turning around, she noticed the twinkle in his eyes and the wide smile playing on his lips. Marcus looked like he was about to burst. “What’s going on?”

  “A buddy of mine called this morning to tell me the Chicago Bears are looking for a new athletic director,” he explained. “L.J. told the general manager all about Samson’s Gym and gave him my business card.”

  “That’s great, baby! You’ve been a Bears fan for as long as I’ve known you—”

  “No, I’ve been a fan since I was in the womb!” Marcus chuckled good-naturedly.

  “What exactly does the job entail?”

  “I would create a detailed training regime for all the players, treat various ailments and injuries and of course attend all practices and games.”

  “That sounds like a lot of work.”

  “It is,” he conceded with a nod of his head. “But I’m up for the challenge.”

  Her cheeks felt stiff, as if they were caked in cement, and her stomach was in knots. Simone was torn, troubled by her feelings. She wanted Marcus to be happy, wanted him to fulfill his lifelong dream of working with the Chicago Bears, but Simone hated the idea of him adding yet another project to his already-busy schedule.

  “I have a meeting with Coach Tressel next Wednesday, and if things go well, I’ll be one step closer to landing my dream job.”

  Simone squeezed his forearm and sent him a smile filled with love and warmth. She was going to be supportive even if it killed her. And when Simone thought about Marcus spending even more time away from her and the boys, she knew that it would. “I’m behind you a hundred percent,” she lied, ignoring the bitter taste of dishonesty on her tongue. “The Chicago Bears couldn’t ask for a more dedicated, hardworking man.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, baby. It means the world to me.”

  Simone heard her cell phone ring and knew it was Angela. They were late for the party, and as usual, her best friend was calling to pinpoint their exact location. “I’m going to go change,” Simone said, kicking off her shoes and tossing her metallic clutch purse on the bed, “I’d hate to embarrass you in my old, tired dress—”

  “You could never embarrass me, Simone. You’re intelligent and vivacious and you have the sexiest little laugh.” Leaning in close, he glided his hands along her arms, down her waist and over her hips. “I just wish you showed off your body more. When you dress up for me it makes me feel proud, like I’m ‘the man.’”

  Simone straightened his shirt collar
, then smoothed a hand over his broad shoulders. She inhaled his scent, allowed the tranquil fragrance to shower over her like a sprinkling of rain. He smelled like freshly brewed coffee, and he was every bit as strong and mouthwatering as the scent. Simone could stand there, in Marcus’s arms, forever. Being with him was a natural high, the very best part of her day. These moments were rare, so few and far between, Simone couldn’t remember the last time they’d held each other like this. Love spread through her, filled every chamber of her heart. “I wish we could stay home and cuddle in bed.”

  “Why can’t we?”

  “Because Angela would kill us!” Simone quipped, her eyes wide with fright. “Don’t let her easy, breezy disposition fool you. Cross Angela Kelly and you’re as good as dead!”

  Chuckling, a wry smile on his lips, he wrapped his arms around her waist and slowly caressed her back. His lips grazed her neck, then brushed against her earlobes and cheeks. Kissing her, he drew her tongue into his mouth and feasted on the tip. His hands explored her soft flesh, filled her body with a delicious heat that caused her legs to tingle.

  Simone tipped her head back, and when Marcus showered kisses down her neck, a deep-seated moan slipped from her mouth. He ran his hands through her hair, twirled the curls sweeping across her shoulders. Desire tore through every cell in her body. Aroused, her breasts swelled and her nipples hardened with pleasure. His touch excited her, and Simone loved how Marcus was making her feel inside.

  “You feel so good, taste so sweet,” he groaned. His voice was quiet, almost too soft to hear, but laced with lust. “I have to have you.”

  “We’ll make love when we get home from the party.”

  “I can’t wait that long.”

  “You’ll survive,” she teased, wearing a cheeky smile.

  “Don’t do this to me, baby. I’ve been thinking about making love to you all day.” Marcus grabbed her butt, squeezed hard. “I’m going to smack it, flip it and rub it down!”