Page 20 of The Dating Prohibition
Kendra cleared her throat. “Hey, Ben, what’s up?” She trained her eyes on the glass she was polishing.
“Well, I’m about to take off, but I found a listing that I thought might fit what you’re looking for, and I have an appointmentto go and visit it tomorrow to learn more about the history of the property. I thought you might want to tag along?” His eyebrowsrose as he inquired.
She glanced up at him. His smooth skin and inquisitive eyes burned an imprint into her psyche, and she cursed herself silently for looking at this man like he was more than enough for an entire meal with leftovers for the next day. She wasn’t supposed to be mentally undressing anyone––she had a whole business to get off the ground that was supposed to take precedence over everything. And okay, he wasn’t a business partner, per se, but here he was trying to help her research and all she could think about was getting dicked down on the counter of her big brother’s brand-new establishment.
But look at him...He wore those glasses, which only upped his sex appeal, the rectangular black frames sitting on the bridge of his nose anddrawing attention to his curling lashes and curious eyes. That imploring look made her thigh muscles contract and her mouthwater as she stood transfixed.
Now, with BJ standing right in front of her and Shonda within earshot, Kendra’s cheeks reddened. In her periphery, she couldsee Shonda turn to make eye contact with Lani, some silent message transmitted via their optical connection.I just know it’s about to be some shit.I’m going to kill both of them.
Lani had tiptoed over to Shonda and they whispered conspiratorially. Kendra turned to ignore them and attempted a casual shrug.Her eyes landed hungrily on his mouth before trailing upward as she cleared her throat. “Where is this place?”
A twinkle of amusement lit his gaze, but if he was aware of the other two observing them like animals in the wild, he didn’tshow it. “Over by the Navy Yard. Not directly on the waterfront, but it’s in a walkable location. Right near the Sentry Tower.”
Her entire body snapped to attention and she gasped. “Seriously?”That location would be perfect!
He nodded, but his gaze had fallen to her mouth, and she froze as he moved closer. “Sorry, you just have a little . . . Ithink it’s sugar. You always did have a sweet tooth.” His finger swiped at the corner of her mouth.
She could barely breathe, his gentle touch made her mind wander, and she questioned whether she could trust herself aroundthis man knowing they’d almost kissed. Hell, she still wanted it. The thought of being in a confined space with him for morethan a few minutes overwhelmed her senses.Why did I choose not to hook up with that hot guy in New Orleans? This is just pent-up sexual frustration—it has nothing todo with BJ.She sensed the devil on her shoulder smirking at her, encouraging her mind to run amok on demon time.
Irrespective of the way her body was reacting––really, betraying her––the location was too good an opportunity to pass up.She smiled weakly. “Yeah, what time is the appointment? I can probably meet you there...”
His head tilted as he frowned slightly. “Actually, I was going to offer to drive. I have to drop something off to your brothertomorrow, and we’re gonna watch the game when I get back from the property.” When the professional football season ended,Logan and Ben focused their attention on the second half of the NBA season and March Madness on the college side. Logan favoredthe Tar Heels, while Ben supported the Volunteers. Neither of them went to the schools they cheered for, which made no sensewhatsoever to Kendra, but she focused on the women’s teams. With so many family members still living in the boot, there wasno way she wasn’t going hard for the Tigers.
“Oh. Okay, sure. Since you’re coming back to the house. Makes total sense.” She nodded awkwardly.Logan would definitely hear us if I took BJ downstairs... right?The mental gymnastics going on in her head made her avert her eyes. Suddenly parched, she reached for a bottle of water.“What time should I be ready?”
“Pick you up at one?” BJ’s eyebrows rose, his eyes roaming her face, refocusing as she sipped.
Did he look at my mouth? Is he thinking about the other night?“Sure, thanks.”
He nodded and headed outside toward the patio, where Kendra’s brother sat in one of their rocking chairs, enjoying a cup ofcoffee and a cigar. A side table between his chair and BJ’s held their cup saucers and an ashtray. A couple of heat lampsburned for the folks eating outside in the sunshine.
“Bitch,” Lani whispered as Kendra sauntered over to the bar and draped an arm over Shonda’s shoulders. “Did your mouth goso dry you had to gulp water before answering the man? Can you please make things a little less obvious?”
Shonda covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh. “It was really not your best work in terms of subtlety, Keke.” Sheshook her head. “I don’t even understand why you are throwing so much interest toward that man. Flirting is one thing, butyou should probably leave it alone after that.”
“What do you mean?” Lani’s head swiveled so fast Kendra was sure she heard her cousin’s neck pop.
Shonda shrugged. “You know how dudes in DC are. They got, like, six different side pieces and a main event. Ain’t nobody gottime for a perpetual bachelor.”
Kendra rested her arms on the bar and glanced out the window as BJ lit up a stick. “You sayin’ he got a roster?” Her stomach twisted in knots at the thought of him looking at others the way he’d been eyeing her. There was an attentiveness to his gaze when it locked onto hers––it just felt different. They never looked at each other with this kind of intensity when they were younger, at least not that she remembered, but she’d been gone for years. It wasn’t like she never thought he was attractive before, but when she’d last left, he was still grieving the loss of his first love. Ben never seemed like theplayer type––he barely made time for relationships since he had been pursuing tenure.But maybe Shonda knows better...
“Of course! Hell, you know your brother had a handful of chicks on standby when he and I first met. We had mutual friends,so I knew I crossed paths with one or two of his lil jump offs at some point. I was dating someone at the time, and everytime our friends hosted a get-together, he had a different woman on his arm.” Shonda shrugged. “I couldn’t even be mad. Allof them were sexy as hell.”
“Well, none of them that I remember even came close to you,” Kendra reassured her. She’d met plenty of the girls her brotherdated, and none could hold a candle to Shonda, whose vivacious energy and beauty only played second and third to her brilliance.No one could have made a better match for Logan, and she’d delight in reminding him of that anytime he started to act up.Shonda whipped him into shape without having to say a word.
“True.” Shonda grinned slyly. “Anyway, all I’m saying is guard your heart, girl. Flirt to your heart’s content, but just don’tthink it means anything until the actions speak for themselves. Dudes out here are on games, and I’d hate to find out BJ isone of them, but I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Kendra hummed her response, fixated on Ben as he tied back his locs and puffed on his cigar. He laughed at something Logansaid before turning and locking eyes with her. “Fuck, caught again,” she muttered under her breath.
Lani and Shonda giggled. “Maybe you should go home and take a shower, Keke,” Shonda suggested, her eyes widening suggestively.
Kendra sucked her teeth before nodding in agreement. “I think you’re right.”
She grabbed her keys and rushed outside to her car. She threw up a peace sign to the fellas and kept moving.
“Hey, where are you going?” Logan called to her, his cigar cradled in the side of his mouth.
She smiled wide and waved. “Hot date!”
