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Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts

The "Unexpected" Book Trailer



Unexpected by Tinisha Nicole Johnson



Unexpected is the love story of a business woman Dahlia Ray. A weekend up in the mountains away from work turns into more than just a relaxing get-a-way.

Visit the author behind this book at her website: www.TinishaNicoleJohnson .

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THE SECRETS LIES & ALIBI'S CONTINUE

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GET "FAMILY SECRETS....LIES & ALIBI'S TODAY!!!!
Nanette Buchanan's Debut Novel

We pray and bless the life and soul of our loved ones as they pass on. Their lives as we know them are buried and forever gone with all their indiscretions and secrets. It is only when the haunting truth is uncovered that we find the soul, the spirit, the loved one, the friend is not who we knew at all. How often do we find that they have lived another life parallel to the one we know? Outside lovers, children, homes, finance and interests; all of which somehow become a part of the chaos presented at their funeral, the repast or the reading of the will.
What does one do when friends become family? How do relationships change with the death and haunting truth of the riches left behind?

"Family Secrets....Lies & Alibi's" tells the story of D.Q. Mince after his burial. The haunting truths of his life uncover the secrets of his remaining family members. His wife Tonya must face his mistress of thirty years only to find that as his wife she has not been left any of his estate. Tonya Mince will stop at nothing to prevent Nikki Robbins, D.Q.'s lover, and their son Darrell Mince from inheriting D.Q. Enterprises. The haunting truth of D.Q.'s love for Nikki surfaces as his will is read with a confession of his undying love. Nikki is now the new target for Tonya's anger. Darrell and Dershai are not just lovers who didn't want to reveal their relationship to a rich father. The haunting truth of their love must now become their secret. The chaos uncovered the secrets and the lies but the excuses, the alibi's are in the sequel........

"A Different Kind of Love"- Tonya Mince is keeping her own secrets but when the haunting truth uncovers her past she must confess her indiscretions, the blackmail and drama that led her husband to be unfaithful. Darryl and Derek Mince claim their inheritance from their brother and father only to find that their business deals are leading to death threats and promises of revenge. Darrell and Dershai must confront the family with the truth; the secrets that may rattle the roots of the family tree.


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BUCHANAN

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In My Prayers with My Legs Wide Open

www.msthangwrites.com
www.myspace.com/jatanawilliams

NOT an urban christian book...an entertaining tale of sex, marriage and trying to do the right thing.

“LORD, HELP ME. You said before I even say my prayers you will answer. HELP ME!”
I’m standing in the mirror wearing my Sunday best for what I feel is going to be my last time. The tears coming down my face are no longer made of saltwater but of blood. The face that I’ve been so proud of and quick to brag about is now bruised. I should’ve taken my ass straight to church and not to Mr. Dress Shop’s crib. This is one time I needed to pass on getting to know a brotha better…….

I’m sitting in this oversized burgundy sofa chair wearing a black lace corset, crotchless panties, lacey thigh highs, and a pair of hooker shoes from a Halloween costume from years ago. The clothes I wore to meet him are thrown around the hotel room as if a hurricane just hit. I was on my way to my church’s weekly bible study meeting when he sent me a text to come see him tonight. Bible study is always held on Thursdays. For the last few weeks, I haven’t missed once; and I wasn’t planning on missing it tonight. I agreed to this last minute plan and told him I’d see him after nine. Usually when I meet up with a man, I’m already prepared. I’m already dressed in my seductive lingerie and leave straight from my house. Tonight, I had to stop off the freeway to change clothes in a gas station restroom. Good thing I left some of my ‘sexies’ in the trunk of my car from another meet and greet session. I never hook up with someone unless it’s a Friday or Saturday night, but he said this was all he had open for weeks. I didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity of getting to know a brotha better.
Hmm…looking around I have to say this is one of the most stylish hotel rooms I’ve been in recently. It has Asian color palettes with 1940’s inspired cherry wood furniture and floor to ceiling windows. The city light shining through the windows makes the room luminous and gives it a romantic feeling. I guess reading all those damn home decorator magazines taught me a little something. His choice of rendezvous location proves to me that he’s got good taste. Really the fact I’m here proves he has excellent taste. That’s not a conceited statement; I just know I’m the shit! I can tell he took time preparing for my arrival. He’s got a tea light and votive candle on each nightstand and the room is filled with the scent of jasmine. There’s a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with two wines glasses on the table in the sitting area.
I look into the bathroom and admire his naked body. He stands in front of the Spanish marble sink with his dick rock hard, shaving and singing "PYT.” This man can’t hold a note to save his life but it doesn’t matter. I didn’t come here tonight to hold talent auditions. Hell, if I did, I’m not looking for that kinda talent. He notices me in the mirror staring at him and gives me a smile. A man with a nice smile and big lips is a natural aphrodisiac for me. His smile is what caught my attention in the first place...

It was Monday morning around 7:30. We were both waiting for our orders at the local coffee house. I saw him standing by the table of discounted coffee mugs texting on his cell phone. He looked up at me and there it was…a smile sent down from the Greek gods! I remember feeling a twitch between my legs when he did it. I stood straight and fixed my hair. I wondered if he noticed me foaming at the mouth over the pastries. I was talking myself out of buying a piece of lemon pound cake when he walked up behind me and told me to go ahead and have one. “I’ll treat you,” he said. That was how our conversation started.
I explained to him why I was on a diet and all about how my battle with being overweight had begun in my childhood. He explained to me why he’s always loved big women; he considers them to be sexy. He told me his mother raised him by herself and she was a big woman. I never considered myself to be big but I rolled with it. I didn’t want this to be our first and last conversation. When the guy behind the counter called out “J” we both walked up to grab the coffee cup. We laughed and stood in the way of others trying to get their orders as we exchanged phone numbers. He ended up walking me out to my car. We talked and sipped on our coffee. He told me he works for a marketing firm in their IT department. He does side work designing websites for small black businesses. He has plans of going to Africa for six months to teach a school how to do computer programming. Not only was he sexy but he was smart. I found him to be very interesting and became attracted to his personality as much as I was to his body. The conversation was so good before we knew it we had drank up our coffee and he was late to work…

He turns around to look at me “I hope you like the scent of jasmine? I sprayed a little bit on the bed.”
“Yeah, it smells good.”
I’m rubbing my hand up and down my thighs. Besides trying to look sexy, I’m rubbing trying to remember his name. I always forget names. I never let on to men that I don’t remember. It’s better not to know a brotha’s name then to get names mixed up. There’s nothing worse then calling out the wrong name during an orgasm. I always give men nicknames according to how I met them. My name for him is Mr. Coffee. Of course, I don’t tell the men this. Their nicknames are just for me to know. If people were to look at my cell phone address book it would trip them out. I have names like Mr. Gym Parking Lot, Mr. Grocery Store Bread Aisle, and Mr. Gas Pump. These men don’t matter to me so why should I learn names anyway.
He looks back into the mirror and continues shaving. “Jasmine with JJ, together they stimulate my mind and you’re sure to stimulate my body.”
His comment sounds like some shit said in a Harlequin novel. But his effort to be romantic is cute and I make note of it. It actually reminds me of when I first met my husband Darius. He was so cute. Damn…speaking of my husband I said I wasn’t going to do this again. I told myself the last time I cheated…was the last time, but here I am again and I can't wait for it! I’m feeling inpatient so I get out of the chair, walk into the bathroom, and stand behind him. He knows I’m up to something because his smile got bigger. I start stroking his dick and kissing him on his back. Mr. Coffee’s feeling me because he can’t stop flashing those pearly whites. I stand in front of him so I can kiss those luscious lips. I have to get on my tippy toes because he stands about 6’4 and I’m only 5’5.
His dark, smooth skin makes my mouth water. He reminds me of the fudge topping I put on my ice cream. I bet he tastes just as good. He’s powerfully built and by the story in his eyes he’s nothing to be played with. I better come with it or he might split me in half. I’ll make sure I take my time and not get him too excited. I don’t want him pulling my hair or smacking my ass too hard. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good freak every now and then, but getting my ass whooped while trying to bust one is not on my To Do list. I wonder if I’m even gonna be able to handle this man. He looks like he’s been in the desert for weeks without water. I know he’s strong so I have to make sure I’m in control. I always have to be in control anyway. I can feel his body tensing up. I need to get him relaxed. Hmm…How can I take his mind where I want it to go? I take the razor out of his hand and place it on the sink. I wipe what’s left of the shaving cream off of his face. I put one of the bath towels over the toilet seat.
“Sit down.” I demand.
“Right here?” he asks.
I push him down on the toilet.
“Yeah, right here!”
I grab the condom from on top of the sink, unwrap it and place it on top of a wash cloth so I can have quick access. I’m not trying to be unprepared. That’s what gets folks caught up. Trying to un-wrap these child proof wrappers is enough to make me say fuck it! But I have too much to lose by not protect myself. ‘Wrap it up’ is my motto. I gained this motto from learning some tough ass life lessons. When I was younger all I cared about was feeling a raw dick. Butt-naked was my motto back then. Now, I know better.
I get on my knees and spread his legs apart. I take the tip of my tongue and run it up and down the shaft of his dick. I suck the head into my mouth then take it out just to tease him. I start stroking it with the palms of both hands. I look up at him, watching as he leans his head back and moans. Now, he’s relaxed. Ooh, his moaning is exciting me! I feel the wetness from my pussy form a stream in between my thighs. I can’t wait to feel him inside of me. I start sucking his dick. The harder I suck the more he moans and the more I get excited! I start sucking so damn good he can’t do nothing but grab for shit in the air that don’t even exist and smile big!
Mr. Coffee knocks over the complimentary toiletries and pulls the towels down from the rack behind his head. His smile is different from a few minutes ago. It’s a smile of exhilaration and of pleasure. I take pride in knowing he’s enjoying himself. It makes me want to please him more. I want to keep going until he cums. Suddenly, he grabs me by the shoulders.
“Get up!’ He demands.
I’m confused.“What?”
“Get up and sit on my dick!”
I quickly grab the condom and put it on him.
He laughs.“You makin’ sure I don’t give you nothin’!”
I respond with sassiness, “You don’t know me and I don’t know you.”
“Well, babe. I hate to tell you but you can catch shit in your mouth!”
I make sure the condom is on good.“Don’t fuck up the moment!”
“Nah, I ain’t doing that one. Do what you do, ma.”
He shows off how strong he is by bending over and putting his hands around my waist. He pulls me up on top of him. I’m no small female, so this move turns me on! I’m riding his dick like he’s a black stallion horse and I’m his jockey. I’m digging into his back with my nails and he’s softly biting me on the neck and sucking my titties.
He yells, “Ride it, babe! Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!”
I love when a man talks to me. Letting me know I’m handling my business. I want to take this to the next level of ecstasy. So, I tighten up my pussy muscles and rotate my waist like a belly dancer. That’s too much for him to take.
“Ah shit, I’m cumin’!” He shouts.
He cums so hard. It’s like a pipe busted! We sit in each other’s arms silent. For a moment, I think about how much he reminds me of my husband Darius, but only for a moment. Feeling his dick throb makes me want some more. I’m ready for round two, but he still wants to sit here. I’m frustrated, so I get up and wash myself off. He’s sitting on the toilet with his eyes closed and rubbing his hands through his thick, beautiful, salt-n-pepper dreads.
I pull him by the arms.“Let’s take this to the bed.”
“That sounds good. I’m ready for a nap.”
A nap! Ah, hell no! I guess I’m gonna have to remind Mr. Coffee that I didn’t get mine and that’s the point of me bringing my ass here. Before I can say anything, he stands up, picks me up and carries me over to the bed. He’s standing over me and his dick is hard again. I look up at him and wet my lips.
“Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!”
Mr. Coffee walks over to his pants and pulls a handful of condoms out of the pocket. “I’m prepared!”
I give out a little laugh. “Damn, I guess so!”
He slowly puts the tip of his dick inside of me. That’s all he puts in at first is the tip. He’s teasing me. “This is pay back for earlier.” He states while showing his beautiful smile.
Before I know it Mr. Coffee starts turning me out. He strokes my pussy in rhythm like he’s on the dance floor. Damn, this man knows what he’s doing! He’s not just the average in and out brotha. He’s making circular motions and moving his waist from side to side. He’s hittin’ the corners of my pussy I forgot I had! Now, I understand how women get caught up stalking men. If they’re putting it down like this all the time, it’s like giving crack heads one hit and then telling ‘em to go away. It’s not gonna happen like that. They’re coming back until they get another hit. Shit, I knew he was going to be good but I didn’t know this damn good! It’s so good I lost count of how many times we came. All I know is there’s a sea of condoms on the floor.
“You gonna pick those up?” I ask him laughing.
He pulls out another condom.
“Right after I hit it again.”
“Ooh, go ahead and make me a crack FEN!”
“What was that babe?”
“Nothing, do what you do!”
I wake up to find Mr. Coffee is gone. The bottle of wine is still sitting there and a cart with breakfast and a white carnation. I find a note is on the table in the middle of the room. I get up and stumble over. My legs are still weak from last night. It’s been a long time since a man has made my legs weak. I’m looking at what’s on the cart trying to see if there’s anything good. It was nice of him to make sure I ate. That must be part of his liking big girls—keep ‘em big! Let me stop. How sweet. The note is sitting on a piece of lemon pound cake. Huh, I might have to remember his name. I pour myself a cup of coffee and read the note written on the hotel stationery.
Hey Jasmine,
I enjoyed last night. If we were not already married, I’d ask you to be my wife. That’s how good it was! Holla atcha later!
Big J
Hmm…now he’s gone to far with shit! Dude reminds me a lot of my husband but not that much to be my husband! Hell, I can’t see myself married to nobody but Darius; but because his dick was so damn good, I’m gonna have a hard time shaking thoughts of this brotha. He made my legs shake! Let me get my mind right. Mr. Coffee was just another piece for me. I can’t be catching feelings for a man just because he laid the pipe right. I throw the note in a wastebasket and grab a piece of toast. I take a bite. It’s hard and dry as hell with no damn butter!
“Must be white folks cookin’ in this hotel!”
I throw the toast down and finish up my coffee. I walk into the bathroom and start running the shower. I stand in the mirror. “Damn, what’s wrong with you? Look at yourself Jasmine James-Brooks!”
I’ve always had this fear of losing who I was once I got married; even though, I wasn’t exactly sure who I was. So when I finally did jump the broom, I thought it was a good idea to hyphenate my last name. The idea of no longer being referred to as ‘JJ’ wasn’t working for me. My dumb ass didn’t know marrying somebody wasn’t going to change what people have been calling me for years. JJ is my nickname from childhood and hearing it helps me keep it real. Just because I’m livin’ the good life doesn’t mean I have to change. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t, regardless of what name I carry around. The scars and beauty marks of my past are what made me. Not a name.
Hell, it’s easy to drop off a brotha’s last name but hard to get rid of them bastards. Right now I’m not trippin’ ‘bout that. My life with Darius is sweet. We have our ups and downs but we’re good for each other. He shows me how folks with money live and I show him how to BYOB at a garden party. Ha ha, for those of you who don’t know, a garden party is what rich white folks call a BBQ! Sometimes I forget I don’t have to be ghetto about everything I do. Yeah, I’m not the best person in the world, but I’m not the worst either. Darius is not perfect. He has his little evil ways. But one thing I do know, he’d never put a hand on me or try to hurt me in any other way. Yeah, I make mistakes but the Lord always forgives me and so does Darius.
The Lord already knows I’m hardheaded. I try to fix my wrongs by giving more then ten percent in tithes. I show up early to church for Sunday school and help clean up after service. I don’t know what else I should be doing. I’m a good person, but I’m still young. Only old folks close to dying worry about their walk with God. At least I’m working on my walk with Him now and not waiting until I’m on my death bed. I still have time to get it right. I’m only thirty-eight years old.
I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Darius is very supportive of me. He’s put me in different courses and certificate programs over the years. I’ve never finished any of them because in the middle I found out I didn’t like none of them. My husband doesn’t get upset. He makes real good money, so it’s not as if he’s trying to get me a job. When I’m not in class, I end up having too much time on my hands. I try to keep myself occupied with activities while my husband is gone on business trips; but the PTA isn’t as exciting as forbidden sex in a five star hotel on a Friday night. I try to go to the gym a couple of times a month. All that does is give me more opportunities to meet other men. I get on a couple of machines and work up a sweat, but I have a short attention span. I end up standing by the water fountain collecting phone numbers. I use to be self-conscious about the scar on my neck and my kangaroo pouch stomach. I would go to the gym all covered up in sweats. Once I started reflecting on the things my grandma use to teach me and realized how fine in the face I am and that I have a stop traffic ass and thighs. Huh, nobody could tell me shit! Hell, I’m too damn fine for men to pass me by. They can’t help but want to try and hit this at least once. So I don’t have to explain how the gym is not the best place for me to go.
And I don’t like hanging with a bunch of females, so girl’s night out is not happening. Shit, I’m no longer a girl; I’m a grown ass woman. I don’t have time to play on the playground. Anyway, females are too busy being in your business or trying to be in the bed with your man. I only have one close friend and she knows a lot of dirt on me. I never trip about her telling it, because her dirt is mud. There’s a reason for only having one close friend. The fewer witnesses I have, the better.
I’ve also tried doing volunteer work for different shelters but even that doesn’t keep me from feeling lonely for a man’s touch. My husband doesn’t go on these trips often. He’s not gone for weeks at a time. At the most, he’s away from home four days; but those four days are so long, I can’t stand it. I thank the Lord I’m not married to a military man. They’re away from home too much. I have to get mine on the regular. I’d completely lose my mind if I had to wait for six months or longer. Then again, I wouldn’t wait. I’d be doing the same thing I’m doing right now—taking care of getting me some dick. You see, my sexual desires overtake me on a daily. Having sex for me is just like eating breakfast everyday. I need it to get me going and it’s the most important meal of the day. Look, I’m trying to fight these desires; but, so far, I’m losing the battle.
When I was a teenager, my grandma warned me, “JJ, baby, when you hit your mid-thirties, you gonna get excited by looking at the shape of a lamp post!”
My grandma swore there was some crazy sexual curse put on all the women in our family. Supposedly it hits us when we reach our thirties. I use to laugh it off because she was known for her exaggeration. I’m sure if she was around today, she’d have some new crazy ass story to tell.
I wish grandma was around. I need someone to talk to about what’s been going on with me. I’m having this uninvited battle between doing right and wrong. Between loving the man God has given me and not loving him. I want to be faithful; and, then again, I don’t. I’m sure it has something to do with me going to church and studying the bible. That’s why I waited so many years to start going to church faithfully. Don’t trip, I went to church growing up but nothing ever stuck. That’s because I never wanted to have a conscious. Now that I’m getting one, everything looks and feels different. Being sexually promiscuous or, in layman’s terms, a ho is starting to bother me, but I have this thing about fucking other man that excites me and I can’t control it.
Don’t get it twisted. My husband is a real good man. They’re hard to find these days. He’s also a good lover. Nobody can kiss me the way he does. Matter of fact, nobody can lick the kitty the way he does. When he’s home, he definitely takes care of business. I love the hell outta my husband. I love who he is and what he stands for. The truth is, besides the Lord, my husband is the only other reason I keep it pushing everyday. Darius came into my life and brought stability and a comfortable lifestyle.
I know you’re wondering why I just fucked Mr. Coffee if my life is so sweet with my husband. Hell, I don’t know! Maybe you can tell me what’s going on. Yeah, I’ve heard it all before from my girl about how my husband must not be fulfilling my needs. Yeah, I’ve watched Oprah, Montel, and even sat through ten minutes of Dr. Phil. What is the problem? None of these shows helped me to find out why I cheat on such a good man. I know I should find a way to figure this out, but I’ll be damned if I go talk to some psychiatrist or therapist who don’t know shit about us and tell all my business. I’m gonna have to do what my pastor always says and take it to the Lord.

Ace of Hearts

Portsborough, NY, 1981
CHAPTER ONE
Shevaughn left the precinct in her gold ’79 Audi 5000. On the expressway, she listened to the Whispers sing “Olivia”, one of her all time favorites while she waited for traffic to move. The song about a prostitute made her think of her life in contrast.
She had worked at the Twenty-Third Precinct for the past seven years during which time she had gone from rookie to detective. There was really not much else to note. At thirty-one, she had no children and no steady man. In fact, all her male friends were co-workers. Yes, she was lonely sometimes. Married to my job, she thought. What else did she have?
She wondered if her lack of boyfriends was due to her appearance. Hell, no! That’s not it. She frowned, thinking dear Lord, there must be at least one man out there waiting for me!
In her short dating experience, she’d only been with three men. She had been smitten with an attractive stranger while in her senior year of high school. She’d gone to a gymnastics exhibition and one of the athletes caught her attention. He had golden skin and green eyes. Well, his eye color depended on his mood or what color he wore. He was FINE.
She was ashamed to admit it, but she had done everything possible to get him to notice her and when he did, they had only dated for a couple of months. She gave him her virginity at the end of the second month, her anticipation not allowing her to wait any longer. The experience had been very disappointing. Obviously, he’d been working out the wrong muscles!
Then there was her first husband. What he lacked in the romance department, he made up in freakiness. He had taught her all she knew about sex. She had lived a whole year in a haze of sexual satisfaction until she found out he was giving the same lessons to two other women who lived right in their apartment building!
After the divorce, she waited three long years before falling for her next love. He was an older man, separated from his wife. Had she been as mature then as she was now, she would have known there was no future in it, but she had been so young and the sex had been so good. Before the sheets had cooled that man was back with his wife and Shevaughn was just a memory.
Memories depressed her and consequently, depression made her hungry. Shevaughn decided to treat herself to dinner and a little music. She wanted to check out this new jazz guitarist, Emily Remler, who was playing at “The Basement”, a tiny club in Asperia. She drove until she got to 21st and Finley and parked in a spot near the entrance.
She felt nothing as she walked down the long, dark stairwell to the club entrance. Fear was the least of her worries, especially since she was armed. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and soon she could see as clearly, as if it was daylight. Inside it was quiet, almost empty. She counted nine patrons other than herself.
The waiter seated her at a table for two near the stage and gave her a menu. She ordered their specialty shrimp salad and a glass of the house Chardonnay. She sipped her wine, looking at the empty chair. It was depressing as hell and only stood to serve as a reminder of how lonely she was.
The musicians moved methodically across the stage setting up equipment, which seemed to occupy her mind, until someone stepped into her view.
“Excuse me, are you waiting for someone?” His voice was deep and smooth.

She looked up and found herself speechless. Hell, this guy looked like he had stepped off the pages of GQ magazine!
“Uh… no,” she said at first, but upon further reflection added, “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but if you don’t mind, I’d prefer to be alone.”
“That’s fine,” the handsome stranger responded, “Maybe we’ll talk later?”
“Maybe…”
Shevaughn watched him leave and was surprised at the lust she felt. That was the only way to explain it. Blaming it on her mood and the wine, she put her glass down as Emily Remler came on stage.
Emily introduced herself, announcing the spring release of her first album, “Firefly”, and began playing the title cut, a perky, upbeat number. The music was intoxicating and fun, enticing Shevaughn to order another glass of Chardonnay. The next song was a bossa nova that drew a few couples to the little dance floor, leaving Shevaughn to watch with envy.
Closing her eyes, she got lost in the music, listening to Emily play a cool guitar, imagining herself on the dance floor, letting the music take her away. When she opened her eyes, there he stood again!
He held out his hand and she took it, rising from the table to join him on the dance floor as if in a trance.
He led her to the center of the floor, where their bodies melted together, magically becoming one. It was hard to resist his sensuous magnetic pull. There was a tightening within as her groin pulsated with a rhythm of its own. Blood rushed to her head, erotic warmth filled her body. She hadn’t felt this hot in a long time.
Pumped with a mixture of exhilaration and adrenaline, Shevaughn felt sublime. What was it about him that turned her on so? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was a sense of danger about him that made her feel a bit nervous. She was attracted to him — so much so she even thought about just saying, “C’mon, let me take you home.” She couldn’t believe she was actually contemplating her first one night stand!
Common sense quickly prevailed and not knowing this man from Adam, she reluctantly broke his hold. Despite her fierce attraction and burning loins, she decided to head home alone.
He was quite the gentleman, walking her to her car. After taking her keys and opening the car door for her, he snatched her up, like a rag doll, and kissed her slowly. It started innocently enough, just two lips slightly touching, when she threw caution to the wind and parted her lips. She felt the sweet sensation of surrender as his tongue softly touched hers, but he stopped and kissed the tip of her nose before allowing her to slip into her car.
She was half way home when she realized they had not exchanged names. She pondered the mystery and magnetism of this handsome stranger whose kiss lingered. It definitely ranked as one of the most intimate moments of her life and the feeling was so intense that even after sleep, she awoke with the memory of his kiss still on her lips. Smiling, she lay in bed for a while, relishing the sensation.
Shevaughn arrived at work by seven fifty-five, five minutes early, as usual. There were two incomplete case histories waiting on her desk. Like ‘cause I’m Black, I’m some kind of clean up woman? She refused to let it spoil her mood, for unlike most of her fellow officers, she really didn’t mind doing them. It gave her a chance to examine each file in detail. Sure, none of this was glamorous, but as long as she participated in the justice system, she was satisfied and felt important. Old cliché or not, keeping the neighborhood safe for the children and families she served, made her feel good, needed.
Shevaughn was on page three of the second report when she noticed a yellow Post-It note stuck under the cover. Tony O’Brien called. He wanted an appointment. Where had she heard that name before?
She rolled the name through her memory. Then it hit her. Tony O’Brien, the reporter. The same reporter who broke the police pension fund story, putting a spotlight and blemish on every man and woman in uniform. She had just begun her new tour as a detective, when the story broke about a group of higher echelon cops and their sticky fingers. It wasn’t their exemplary arrest and conviction record they became famous for, but stealing from the pockets and pensions of their brothers and sisters in blue. First, a rumor, then confirmed, they used the money to invest in stocks and a few get-rich quick schemes, none of which proved to be profitable. Tony broke the story in the Portsborough Journal and hit the jackpot, making a name for himself. However, cashing in made him persona non grata with the police force.
She thought about the note again. Calling Tony O’Brien, even on a good day, was the last thing she wanted to do.
__♥__
Tony thought about calling Detective Shevaughn Robinson again. Every female officer he’d tried had ignored his calls. He was on a deadline and his editor-in-chief was very specific about what his next feature would be, “Women, The New Breed of Cop”.
Shevaughn Robinson was the first black female detective in the City of Portsborough, New York. A history-making event, it caused all kinds of backlash at first. He wanted to hear her side of the story. How did it feel to be working in the male dominated environment? How does it feel to be the only one? Maybe he would just drop by and speak with her in person. Turn on some of that old Irish-Italian charm.
Tony knew how to charm the women. Currently, he was juggling two, Ellen Goldberg and Natalie Martinez. If anyone asked, he would say Ellen was his lady. As for Natalie, well, she was his standby. He wasn’t in love with her, but they were close. Sometimes, when he needed companionship or the occasional sex partner, she was there for him. So far, his luck was holding, four months and they were non-the-wiser. Women were a lot easier to handle when they thought they were exclusive.
Deciding he would go see her, Tony went to the men’s room to check his appearance. He ran his hands through his curly brown hair as he looked in the mirror. Smiling, he pulled his shirt collar over his jacket collar and smoothed it out, wanting to look presentable. Whistling, he walked down the hall and out to the parking lot, ready to go meet Detective Robinson.
__♥__
Shevaughn nearly starved while trying to make up her mind between Italian and Chinese for lunch. A knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in.”
She didn’t bother to look up, almost knowing that it was just one of the clerks dropping off more cases.
“Sit the files over there.”
She pointed with her head still buried in a menu.
“Uh, Hummm!”
She looked up.
“May I help you?” “Detective Robinson?”
“Yes, what can I do for you?”
Oooh, she thought, now that was a loaded question.
What could she do for this handsome, terribly delicious looking man? All of a sudden, she wasn’t hungry anymore.
“My name’s Tony O’Brien of NBS news.”
As he spoke, she checked him out. For some odd reason, she thought he would be short, since most news reporters she’d met were shorter in person. He looked to be about six feet tall, with an athletic, slender, but muscular build. She wondered if he’d played sports in his heyday. He had medium length curly brown hair with just a hint of auburn and brown eyes which seemed to show a hint of mischief — even when he smiled. He was clean-shaven with dimples and had a sexy cleft chin. His full lower lip just begged to be nibbled. Whoa, girl! Where did that come from?
Last night’s encounter definitely had her horns up! Dismissing the thought, she continued looking him over.
He was casually dressed in a tan suit with a camel and dark brown print shirt. He was a vision in brown.
“My station has decided to run a series on the new breed of cops — females and minorities.”
“And with me you figured you could kill two birds with one interview?”
Tony laughed.
She added a good sense of humor to his growing list of desirable attributes.
“The station did consider quite a few possibilities, but we decided you were one of the best candidates.”
“What happened, everyone else turned you down?” Shevaughn smiled.
“To be honest, yes.”
“Honesty in a reporter? How refreshing.”
“I’ve been called a lot of things, but that’s a first. Refreshing, huh? I think I like that!”
Just like that, the interview was on. She told him about her life and background. Things were going so smoothly, she hardly recognized that an entire hour had passed. That’s when her stomach growled so loud, they both laughed.
“Is something wrong,” he asked.
“No, I apologize. When you arrived, I was just about to order out and then we started talking and well, here I am or should I say, here we are.”
“Well, what did you have in mind? Because I never want to be known for being the one who kept you away from lunch.”
“Thoughtful, too! I’m leaning toward Chinese.”
“Fine with me,” he agreed. “But hey, no take out. I know a place just a few blocks away that makes the best sesame beef you have ever tasted.”
“That’s your opinion. I’ll reserve mine until after the meal,” she brashly responded.
As they walked the five blocks to China Garden, Shevaughn was wondering what was happening to her. First the stranger last night and now Tony. What the hell am I thinking? She had never had a relationship with a White man before, never even considered them romantically. In the 80’s, it was customary to stick to your own kind. People just didn’t approve of interracial relationships.
Now, here she was, walking with this hunk of a White man! Her luck (and obviously her taste in men) was definitely changing. Life was full of surprises.
Butterflies of apprehension fluttered in her stomach, almost replacing her hunger.
__♥__
Tony resisted the urge to take her hand. Hell, they had just met! It was silly, but his attraction was real.
From the moment they first met, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He guessed she was about 5’6” or 5’7” and built like a brick house. His mind had no problem calculating her dimensions. To his expert eye, she was about 36-30-38. She had a deep Godiva chocolate complexion, wide, dark brown doe eyes and full lips, the kind that made men want to cry. She was one hell of an attractive woman. He couldn’t ignore the fact that she was Black. He knew that people would consider anything between them taboo. Though he thought he believed in equality, dating a Black woman hadn’t been part of his dating history. All of a sudden, he was wondering why not.
They arrived at the restaurant, just missing the lunchtime crowd and the host seated them in a booth at the back. The lighting was low, and as far as Tony was concerned, a tad bit sexy. Even though he appreciated the atmosphere, this was supposed to be about work. Tony ordered a scotch and water and instantly regretted it when Shevaughn refused a cocktail because she was on duty. Mistake number one.
While he waited for the waiter to bring his drink, he began drumming the table with his fingers. Shevaughn shot him a look of annoyance. Mistake number two.
Tony took a sip of his drink and looked at a fish tank with one large, single fish that he’d spotted when they first walked in. He needed to be on safer ground.
“He needs a girlfriend,” he stated, nodding towards the fish tank.
“Excuse me?”
“The fish…” he pointed. “He needs a girlfriend.”
“The fish? Why do you say that?”
“Look at him, all alone in that tank. He needs someone to take care of him.”
“Oh. So does he need a mate or a maid?”
“Both.”
“So that’s what a girlfriend means to you?”
“Hold on, I wasn’t talking about me.”
“No?”
“You read too much into that.”
“Did I?”
“Okay, let’s just say the poor fish needs a companion.”
“He may be very happy by himself.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?
“Happy by yourself?”
“What makes you think I’m alone?”
“No wedding ring, no picture of a man in your office…”
“My, aren’t we the detective.”
Her attitude showed in her voice.
“Hey, no big deal. I’m not married either.”
“Is that a proposal?”
The scotch went down the wrong pipe and Tony choked, loudly.
“I didn’t realize the thought would be so upsetting.”
“No, no, I swear, I just choked.”
“Your timing was perfect.”
“Well, I can see you’re never going to believe me.”
“That you just happened to choke when I mentioned marriage? Like I may be considering it…, with you? You’re one egotistical idiot, aren’t you?”
“Now, don’t take it that way, it wasn’t like that.”
“That’s what it sounded like.”
“Okay, okay, can we start over? Hi, I’m Tony O’Brien of NBS News.”
“Is that your way of calling a truce?”
“Please.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He couldn’t hide the look of disappointment on his face.
“Truce,” she said smiling, raising her water glass. “I was just joking earlier, boy, are you sensitive.”
Good, she has a sense of humor. This woman was winning him over by the minute.
Tony was ready to dig deeper into her psyche, find out all he could about Miss Shevaughn Robinson, when the waiter interrupted with two piping hot platters of food.
He was pleased to see her use the chopsticks correctly and when she noticed him watching her, he smiled.
“Mother believed I should know a little of everything, you know jack-of-all-trades. So I got chopstick lessons when I was around nine.”
“Funny, my Mom did the same for me!”
Tony thought about his mother and her reaction to this new development in his life. They had never discussed their views on interracial relationships, but he knew she worried about him dating Ellen, who happened to be Jewish. It was somehow against her religion. He hadn’t told her about his dating Natalie, a Latina and at least she was Catholic! He rationalized it by telling himself you never tell your Mom everyone you’ve slept with. Now, look at him, actually thinking about a Black woman. God, he hoped his Mom didn’t give him a hard time about it.
He then wondered what else he and Shevaughn had in common. His instincts told him there would be a lot more. He hoped he was right. Tony found that he wanted to know everything about her and vowed to make this assignment last as long as possible.
He refused to let the intensity of his feelings show and quietly began eating his meal. The sesame beef was the best he’d ever tasted, but he found it couldn’t keep his mind off her. He wondered what she was thinking.
__♥__
Shevaughn pretended to be into the meal, but kept sneaking quick glances at the handsome man across from her. This was all so new. She has always interacted well with White folks. Being in the system had given her more contact with them than most Blacks her age. She’d never felt so interested, so drawn. It was scary, but she had to admit, it was a little exciting.
Basking in their own reflections, they finished their meal in silence, oddly comfortable just being in each other’s presence.

Family Secrets Lies & Alibi's- Chapter 1


Title: Family Secrets Lies & Alibi's
Author: Nanette M. Buchanan
ISBN:13 978-0-9793883-0-9
10 0-9793883-0-9
Publisher: I Pen Books/Nanette M. Buchanan
Contact: ipendesigns@gmail.com
www.ipendesigns.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/ipendesigns



Chapter 1

The phone rang. It was early. The April mornings were still chilly and the phone beside the bed roused Darrell Mince from his deep slumber. He had slept under the quilt and left the windows open. The street was quiet, he noted, the dawn’s light was making only a bleak attempt to crowd in through his blinds. It was not the time for phone calls, at least not as a start for a Saturday morning. On weekends, away from his desk, away from crunching numbers for faceless clients, away from the constant conference calls allotted to his position as a top CPA at Sheldon Finance, sleep was sacred. But the ringing was insistent, and Rell lunged at the receiver, exposing only his arm to the chilled air.
“Yes?” he croaked.

“Mr. Darrell Quincy Mince?”

The voice had a professional quality, detached, impersonal, and no one had called him Darrell since he was six-years-old.

“Who is this?” he asked.

“Good morning, Mr. Mince. My name is Stan Simpson. I apologize for calling you so early on a Saturday. Did I wake you?”

“You did in fact”, he said, sorting it out. “Whatever you’re selling, I don’t want it.”

Ignoring the man’s protests, Rell slammed the receiver back in the cradle. His arm was just getting warm again under the quilt when the phone rang again. He swore and picked it up on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Mince, it’s Stan Simpson again. Please don’t hang up. I’m not a salesman. I’m an attorney.”

Rell turned over; the remnants of his dreams lifting like fog.

“Ok, you’ve got my attention. What do you want?”

“Well sir, we haven’t heard from you regarding your father’s requests and I’m simply calling to make sure you sign and return the paperwork we sent you. No later than Wednesday if possible.”

He paused and drew a rehearsed breath to signal concern.

And. Mr. Mince, I’m quite sorry for your loss.”

Rell struggled to sit up fully, the importance of the words weighing him down.

“What loss, Mr. Simpson?”

There was a long silence.

“Didn’t you get our certified mail?”

“I was away.”

There was a stack of mail on his kitchen table, left there after he’d come in late the night before from the airport, bills unopened, personal letters unread. He’d planned on making a morning of it over breakfast.

“And has no one told you?”

Mr. Simpson spoke slowly, tentatively. The way one would speak to a child who had just lost his dog.

“Look, I haven’t talked to my father in quite some time,” replied Rell. “Can we get on with it?”

“Mr. Mince, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your father passed away last week.”

Rell was more than stunned. He hadn’t heard from any family members in the past week. He had let them know he would be away on business but they could have contacted him by phone. Mr. Simpson allowed the pause in the conversation realizing the news had left Rell at a lost for words.

"Mr. Simpson, I must apologize for my rudeness when you called. I had no idea of the importance of the call.”
“No need to apologize Mr. Mince, however, I must repeat the importance of you reviewing the papers that were mailed to you.”
“Mr. Simpson, if it is not asking too much may I have your number to return your call. I have not had a chance to go through my mail, as I mentioned I was out of town.”
“Certainly, the number is on the letter introducing myself and the need for your attention to the enclosed papers. I will wait to hear from you.”
“Sir, I will definitely call you.
I will need time to confer with my family.”
“Of course, shall we say we will speak shortly after the funeral?"
“Yes, unless of course I have questions before hand.”
“Yes, that is understood. Again, Mr. Mince I’m sorry for your loss, your father was a good friend of mine. I hope to speak with you soon.”
“You will, Mr. Simpson. Thank you for the call.”Rell got out of bed, now fully awake he noticed the chilled air more. He pulled down the bedroom windows and put his bare feet into his slippers. The bathroom was giving him a wake up call which delayed his intentions of opening the mail right away. Rell paused while in the bathroom and gave more thought to his father’s last thoughts of his son not visiting him at the hospital. Rell washed the morning sleep from his eyes and rinsed his mouth with mouthwash. He realized he was only prolonging opening the mail and wiped the tears that welled in his eye.
The letter was addressed, “Mr. D. Quincy Mince”, knowing what the envelope contained Rell hesitated and took a deep breath before opening it. Rell read the letter over slowly wondering with each word why he hadn’t been called. He laid the letter on the kitchen table and held his head between his hands. Rell had never thought about losing either of his parents. The letter gave little details and mentioned only that it was imperative for him to contact the Office of Simpson & Simon Attorney’s At Law. The papers requested his current contact information and explained that he was named in his father’s will as the executor of his estate. If Rell had any objections there were directions and more forms for him to fill out. In reading the papers he realized they were mailed while his father was in his final days. Rell’s father, Derek Quinton Mince, better known as D.Q., had always hinted toward Rell taking his place one day, but Rell never thought about his death. Rell realized he needed to talk to his mother, his grandmother, or someone who could explain why no one called him. As he reached for the phone, it rang.
Rell answered, “Hello”, trying not to sound as depressed as he felt.
“Baby what’s wrong? You must have gotten the news.”
It was his mother, Nikki. She sounded as though she had been crying.
“Ma, you knew? You knew dad was sick? You knew he died?”
“Rell I,” sobbed his mother. “I got a letter from an attorney today.”
Rell cut her off saying, “Dad died from respiratory failure after a long hospital stay. Are you saying you didn’t know he was in the hospital?”
Nikki thought it best not to mention that she did go to the hospital two days before D.Q. died. She knew that would only spark an argument with her son and she wanted him to come home without the bad feelings coming between them again. Since his move to Maryland they had rekindled the relationship that had been lost. She had hoped D.Q. would have gotten better and then she would have coaxed Rell into visiting him in the hospital. She couldn’t tell him that his father had been sick for at least three months off and on or that this was his second hospital stay.
“Yes, you got the same letter?” Nikki questioned, ignoring his question about D.Q.’s hospital stay.
“What else did your letter say?”
“I guess it’s the same as yours.” Rell wasn’t interested in discussing attorney’s letter. He wanted to know why no one contacted him.
“Why didn’t we know he was sick? Why didn’t Nana call us? Mama, both you and Nana had my number to call if anything came up. Why didn’t you call me?”
Rell was feeling the pain of his father’s death fully now. Tears began to run down his cheeks. He didn’t know if he could have handled the information being away but it hurt him deeply that he wasn’t by his father’s side. The distance he felt now was more than the pain of their distant relationship. Rell hurt now knowing it was a relationship that was permanently lost.
“I don’t know baby, but I did call Nana after I got this letter. She said he died three days ago and no arrangements have been made. I guess she is waiting for your Uncle and Aunt to fly in from Detroit to help her with the arrangements. Rell, your grandmother said she wanted you home too.”
Nikki hadn’t called him sooner because she was in shock. She promised Nana she would call Rell right after she knew of his death. That was yesterday, her letter from the attorney’s office brought her to reality. She knew if she didn’t call him Nana would.
“So does this lawyer. This letter says nothing from his will or estate can be released without my signature. I was named executor of all his possessions. What was Dad thinking? We haven’t talked for at least a year.”
Rell let the words fade to a mumble regretting to have to admit that he and the only man he loved had a wedge between them. Somehow now it seemed as though he built the wedge and his father just gave him the space he needed.
“Rell, Rell”, his mother repeated softly, “You are coming home aren’t you? I need you by my side for this Rell, come home baby please.”
Since Darrell’s move to Maryland, Nikki had not seen him long enough to consider it a stay. Even when he visited, he would only stop in for a day and it was always on his way back home. Darrell’s thoughts drifted back two years to what led him to leave the home he knew in Richmond, Virginia and move to his new home in College Park, Maryland.

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