teacher/mentor-turned-friend, Lauren, who’d encouraged Aliyah to choose UC Davis for her residency. She also let him know that while her body was in California, her heart still bled Brooklyn. She was a New York Jets fan for life. Aliyah ascertained that Terrell’s extended family was a close-knit one, that he was a member of the Raider Nation, but—that glaring offense aside—there was substance behind the sexiness. It was clear that neither wanted the night to end. But for Aliyah, it had to. She had a son to pick up and an early surgery to assist with in the morning.
She placed her napkin on the plate. “Thanks for dinner. The food was delicious.”
“What about the company?”
She shrugged, reached for her glass. “It was all right.”
“Ha! Just all right, huh?”
“Yep.” She finished the last of her soda. “Just all right.”
“You’re something else, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told a time or two.”
“Well, hopefully I made a better first impression the second time around.”
She blessed him with a smile. “You did.”
“Enough for you to go out with me again?”
She reached for her purse. “Maybe. But tonight’s good time has come to an end. I have to be up early in the morning.”
Terrell reached into his wallet and tossed a couple bills on the table. They stood and together walked out of the restaurant. He passed his shiny sports convertible and continued to her car.
“So, what kinds of things do you like to do?”
“I’m pretty adventurous and open to new things. There’s probably not many things I wouldn’t try at least once.”
Her quick once-over suggested he was included in this statement.
“Is that so?” They reached her car. He opened the door. Before she could get in, he cut her off and pressed her against the metal. “What about Friday night?”
She didn’t back down. She pressed back. “I have to work this Saturday. I’m off on Sunday, though.”
“Then what about Saturday night?” He ran a strong, large hand down her arm, before resting it lightly on her hip.
“Highly likely, if I can arrange a sitter. But not here, in your town. I’m not up to watching you fend off women all night and if insulted again, I might not act as civilly as I did tonight.” She pressed a hand against his shirt, and met a chest as solid as steel. “You work out.”
“I do. As tight as your body is, looks like you do, too.” Their bodies were close, their faces, too, so much so that their breaths mingled.
“Can’t say much for crunches and treadmills—” she slid a finger down the side of his face “—but there are certain ways I like to exercise.” She gently pushed him away and got into the car.
“Keep Saturday night open.”
“Don’t keep me waiting. Make a date.”
“All right then. Saturday, seven o’clock. I’ll text the details later.”
“See you then.”
She closed the door, started the engine and left the parking lot without looking back. Thoughts of Terrell accompanied her home, though.
Saturday night couldn’t come soon enough.
The days flew. By the time Saturday arrived Aliyah had almost changed her mind again about her date with Terrell. Though this was a woman’s prerogative, she was usually more decisive. But he’d been on her mind more than was comfortable, took up more mental space than a potential casual should occupy. Trying to finish a three-year residency in two and a half was the only type of serious she could handle right now and something—okay, keen intuition and a heart that skipped a pitter when his face came to mind—told her that keeping things easy breezy and detached might not be possible. That scared her. So did the potency of her attraction. Yes, he was good-looking and yes, he was rich. She’d dated her share of handsome men and Kyle’s father’s family was part of the east coast’s Black bourgeoisie. Her ex’s family had doubted the truth of Kyle’s paternity and shattered her self-esteem. She didn’t want to go through that kind of scrutiny and judgment again, which is why a friend with benefits was all she wanted Terrell to be. But what if her heart felt otherwise? Did she want to chance a hot, sexual fling blazing into a relationship? Or worse, an inferno?
When she’d pulled up stakes and left the east coast, falling for an obvious heartthrob within a month of arriving hadn’t been in her plans. It still wasn’t. At least through this year, the only male she planned to focus on was the not yet three-foot-tall, sweet and curious tyke standing in front of her with his ever-present tablet in hand. But unlike most kids, Kyle was as likely to be working math problems from the study modules she’d downloaded as playing video games. The child had an unusual interest in numbers. She’d purchased the kid-friendly program to encourage him. Being good with numbers could take you places.
“Where are you going, Mommy?”
“Out with a friend, sweetheart.”
“Is it Mr. Drake?”
Aliyah was stunned, but maintained her composure by putting on her earring before she turned around. “What makes you think Mr. Drake and I are friends?”
“Because.”
Aliyah watched as her son held his arms out to the side and “flew” around the room. He could never sit still. She walked over to where he was and placed hands on his shoulders to still him. “Because what?”
“Because of how he was smiling when you came to pick us up.”
On Friday Lauren’s teenaged son, Conrad, had fractured his arm while skateboarding. On her way to emergency she’d called Aliyah, who agreed to pick up Kyle and Conner from the center.
“Mr. Drake wasn’t there, honey, remember? I spoke with your teacher, Mr. Adams.”
“I know, but Mr. Drake saw you, too. He stopped in the hallway and started smiling. Like this.”
Kyle smiled broadly. Aliyah laughed.
Observant little bugger. Note to self: watch your actions with Terrell when Kyle is around.
“I think he wanted to say hi, but this woman came and got him.”
A scowl jumped on her face without her permission, before she could stop it. The unconscious reaction surprised her. No doubt Terrell was popular with the ladies. And obviously unattached. Why wouldn’t they be swarming around him like bees on a honeycomb? And why should it matter to her? All she wanted from him was some horizontal exercise. She vowed to remember that.
“Do you see Mr. Drake often?”
“Yes.
