and see that, too.”
“I hope it’s real sexy, Ang, because I want Robert to realize what he lost.”
“Robert Gaskin made his bed, and now he’ll just have to lie in it. Look, cuz, I have to go if I’m going to be ready when Levi gets here.”
“Levi. Now that’s a name you don’t hear too often. Personally I like biblical names. They always sound so strong and masculine.”
Angela exhaled a deep breath. She knew if she didn’t get off the phone with Traci she wouldn’t be ready when Levi arrived. She still had to get dressed. “Bye, Traci. We’ll talk later.”
“Do you know if Yvette put us at the same table?” Traci asked, prolonging the conversation.
“Yes. I told her I wanted us seated together.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you later.”
“Later, Traci.” Angela ended the call, and concentrated on finishing her makeup.
Adjusting the light surrounding the vanity mirror, she surveyed her face under the flattering glow. Her makeup was subtle, and her eyes were dramatic with a smoky look. She turned off the lights, washed her hands and dried them. She walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom to the dressing area where her dress and matching day coat hung from a padded hanger.
Taking off her robe, she slipped into a pair of midnight-blue bikinis, a halter-top bra and sheer pantyhose. She had just put on her dress and slipped her foot into one of the blue-suede, peep-toe pumps when the intercom rang at the same time as the clock on the fireplace mantel chimed on the half hour.
“Levi.”
His name unconsciously slipped past her parted lips. A smile spread across her face as she tried to recall everything about him—the deep, soothing timbre of his voice, the sexy-looking lines that creased his sharp jawline whenever he smiled, and the way he angled his head whenever he’d listened to something she said. He was perfect—perfect enough that she could easily see him as Mr. Right Now.
Pushing the speaker button on the intercom, she said, “This is Ms. Chase.”
“Are you expecting Mr. Eaton?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Thank you, Ms. Chase.”
Angela put on her other shoe and then picked up her lightweight coat and evening purse. She made her way down the staircase, carefully navigating the steps in her four-inch heels. She walked across the living room floor, opened the entry door and stared out the storm door, watching for Levi’s car. The weather had cooperated for her cousin’s wedding. Afternoon temperatures were expected to reach the high sixties without a chance of rain. The sky was bright blue with a few puffy clouds.
She felt something soft brush against her leg and looked down to find Miss Divine sniffing the black silk bow on her shoe. “Not the shoes, Miss Dee. I left you food and water, so I know you’re not hungry.”
Her head popped up when she saw the sunlight reflected off the car as it approached the driveway to her house. She shooed Miss Divine away from the door, activated the alarm system and locked the door. Angela approached Levi’s car as he came to a stop, and got out to meet her. There was no mistaking his surprise when he greeted her.
Angela’s eyelids fluttered. Levi looked strikingly handsome in a dark blue tailored suit that looked as if it had been custom-made for his tall, slender physique. A white shirt with French cuffs, a royal blue Windsor-knotted silk tie, and black wingtip shoes made him look as if he’d stepped off the pages of a men’s fashion magazine. She felt her heartbeat kick into overdrive as he closed the distance between them. Her high heels put the top of her head level with his nose.
She tiptoed and pressed her cheek to his. “How are you?”
Turning his head slightly, Levi pressed his mouth to the column of her scented neck. “Wonderful.” Reaching up, he cradled her face in his hands, his eyes moving slowly over her features. “You look incredible.” He couldn’t disguise the approval in his voice.
Angela Chase was a chameleon. Gone was her natural look and casual attire, and in its place was a stunning femme fatale. The curly hairstyle framed her delicate features, falling a few inches beyond her shoulders. Large, wide-set eyes highlighted in subdued hues of dark-colored eye shadow met his direct gaze. He managed to curb a smile when he noticed mascara had added length and volume to her lashes. False eyelashes had always been his pet peeve with women. He disliked women who were fake-looking, but instead used makeup to enhance their natural beauty. His gaze traveled from her face to the diamond studs in her ears and lower to her legs in sheer stockings that displayed the perfection of shapely calves and slender ankles. His eyebrows lifted when he saw the dark blue, peep-toe heels with a black bow that adorned her delicate feet.
“Thank you,” she said, demurely lowering her gaze. She didn’t know why, but she wanted him to find her attractive. It’d been so long since she’d found herself attracted to a man.
“Are you going to be able to dance in those?”
Angela smiled, bringing his gaze to her parted lips. “Do you dance?” she asked, answering his question with a question.
“Of course I dance.”
She winked at him. “If that’s the case, then we’ll see how well I can dance in my heels.”
Levi leaned closer. “Is that a challenge, Angela?”
“Do you want it to be, Levi?”
Pressing his mouth to her left ear, he breathed a kiss. “I’ve never backed down from a challenge,” he whispered.
Angela laughed softly. “Neither have I.”
Standing back, Levi stared at the woman who unwittingly had captured him in a spell of desire. The few hours they’d spent together the night before had only served to whet his appetite and his curiosity.
He knew her old fiancé would be at the wedding, and that he’d cheated on her, but to Levi there was cheating and then there was cheating. There was having an affair with another woman, and then there was cheating with your partner’s friends and family. The former he could rationalize somewhat, but he drew the line when it came to friends and family.
He knew what it was like to be cheated on. During his junior year at Howard, he learned that the girl he’d been sleeping with was also seeing four or five other guys on campus. Of course, it made him wary of the opposite sex, but it didn’t ruin his social life. The truth was he liked women and they liked him. Yet, he was never one to take advantage of a woman. He readily admitted he wasn’t ready for marriage or to become a father. And most of the women he’d dated appreciated his honesty.
Angela had asked him if he liked a challenge, and he’d said yes because she was a challenge—a very beautiful and complicated challenge. He took her hand in his, and led her around to the passenger side of the car.
“Are you ready for this?” he whispered.
“Only if you have my back, Levi,” Angela answered.
“That’s something you don’t have to worry your beautiful head
