Let Me Tease You Read online

  “What does that mean?” I said, coolly. I didn’t choose my name, but I also didn’t like having it used against me. I also didn’t like being made the recipient of aggression, hostility, and anger that I didn’t create.

  “You’re out here, buying flowers, kissing hands, and taking me out on a date—“

  “This isn’t a date. I’m just getting something to eat. I invited you to eat with me.”

  “Oh, why? Because you feel sorry for me? Because Raquel and Dilayla told you all of my business, and you’re sitting here thinking you can charm me into sleeping with you?” She sat up and cocked her head to the side. “Was this their idea?”

  I felt my lip curl and my brow furrow. This. Chick. Was. Crazy. Crazier than she was sexy. Every ounce of interest I had for her melted into regret. I’d have to swallow my words and accept that Dilayla was right. I should have left her alone.

  “No, they didn’t put me up to anything. My sister actually told me to leave you the fuck alone. I should’ve listened.” I said the last sentence under my breath, shaking my head with disgust.

  “You know what?” She cocked her eyebrow, nostrils flaring. “Fuck this. Eat by yourself, Roooomeo. I’ll just get an Uber.”

  She stood to leave just as the food came. Melissa looked confused. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. I’ll be right back, ma’am.”

  “Where are you going?” Beverly scowled.

  “You left your shit in my car. I’m making sure you get everything you need so we don’t ever have to speak again.” My volume was regular but my tone was dramatic. I never wanted to see this woman again in my life. She wasn’t the polished, class act I thought she was. Underneath all that allure, she was crazy and rude as fuck.

  After getting all her bags and the flowers out of my car, I turned to walk away. I didn’t bother saying goodbye or telling her to get home safe. And I didn’t even mention the party. If she came, I would have her escorted out.

  Once back inside, all I wanted to do was enjoy my food. But it was hard when she was right in my line of vision. I shook my head as I bit into my tacos and looked at the full, untouched plates in front of me.

  “All this because I smiled at a woman.” I chuckled ruefully. And she called it a date? This wasn’t a date. Orange Blossom was cool but for a woman like her - excuse me, the woman I thought she was - I would have chosen someplace more upscale and exclusive. We were simply grabbing a bite to eat.

  “Hi,” a mellow voice interrupted. I looked up to see the pretty black girl standing where Beverly had been sitting.

  “I notice you and your date got into an argument. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I just smiled because I was being nice and I was taught to be friendly.”

  “You did nothing wrong.” I smiled. “Some people just don’t know how to act.”

  “Some women can’t see the blessing in front of them.”

  “Her loss.” I said, watching Beverly haul her bags into the back of the Uber that had arrived. I looked at the food spread in front of me. “You hungry?”

  She smirked as she slid into the seat, eyes rich with sensuous gratitude.

  Beverly

  “Are you serious?”

  I arched my brow in disbelief, mouth open in shock as I looked at my mother. I’d come home, cases and all, tears streaming down my face.

  When she asked why I was upset, I broke down and told her everything. About Alex. About Raquel. About Romeo. About tonight’s party, and the fact that I wasn’t going. I provided every little detail, and instead of supporting me, she told me I was the problem.

  According to her, not only was I going, I owed Romeo an apology.

  “Do I look like I’m playing?”

  She arched her perfect brow in confirmation and lifted her glass of water. That luxurious sip showed off her sparkling teardrop engagement ring. Yes, my mother was was getting re-married, and her ring was just the beginning of things her fiancé planned to spoiled her with. Another story, another day.

  “That’s crazy! She knew Alex was a cheater, and she said nothing,” I spat, speaking of Raquel. And then, Romeo… ugh.

  “I’m going to be honest with you. You’re a little out of touch with reality.” She set the glass down and clasped her hands as she leaned over the kitchen counter. “You dated this Alex guy for six months, and he’s been full of red flags the entire time. Everyone tried to point them out - your father, your soon to be stepfather, your friends - we all did our best to make you aware. You didn’t listen. You were distracted by sweet talk and sexy muscles. You couldn’t get clarity from him no matter what you tried.”

  She gave me a knowing look, and my lips pursed in disapproval. Not because she was inaccurate. Because hindsight was 20/20, and even though it scathed my heart to admit it, she was right.

  I wanted her to end there, but she was on a roll. “Now you befriend this girl just a few months ago, not knowing she was supposed to be on a date with your so-called boyfriend. And you’re mad because she kept it from you this long?”

  “Exactly. She should have told me!” That was my problem with Raquel. She let me look foolish with Alex, knowing he wasn’t worth a damn.

  “No, she shouldn’t have.” My mother replied coolly.

  Was she kidding me? Whose side was she on?

  “Mom!” I shrilled in frustration, feeling my nerves threaten to fall into a wave of sadness and instability. “That’s crazy. How can you say that?”

  “Easy. It would have been a waste of time. You wouldn’t have believed her. Your head was stuck so far up his behind, God himself couldn’t tell you that relationship was one-sided.”

  “You don’t know that because—“

  “I do know that because there’s no way a man disappears for three days on Memorial Day because he sat in jail over unpaid tickets. There’s no way a man gets the flu whenever you ask him to come meet your mother. There’s also no way a college guy with no discernible job has the ability to go out of town as frequently as he does. And unless his life is really that tragic, he has too many relatives dying over the past six to eight months.”

  Her matter-of-fact tone drained my face color. My mouth fell open as my cheeks burned with shock. She was telling the truth, and it was almost too much.

  We stood there, staring each other down in silence. I could feel my energy becoming hostile, and my nostrils flared, a forewarning that tears were about to fall.

  “I’m just angry, Mom. Hurt. Heartbroken. It’s all coming at me all at once.”

  “I understand.” Her voice quieted, and her gaze softened in compassion, but I could tell she wasn’t budging on her stance.

  “Okay. So going out tonight, hanging out with them… What’s that supposed to do?”

  “It will give you a fresh start. It will give you the opportunity to hear her side of the story, why she didn’t want to tell you. She said they never went out, right?”

  I nodded. “Correct.”

  “Well there’s that. She discovered you were with him, and had the worst night of her life.”

  “She’s married now.” I added that detail. “Supposedly the guy she went to dinner with saw her waiting from the bar and took over. They got married just a few months later.”

  “See that?” Mom asked. “There are men out there who don’t play games and are willing to win your heart.”

  “But what does that have to do with tonight?” I asked. “Can’t I get time to relax? To get a break, cry, and heal before I move on?”

  “Hush!” She waved me away and scoffed with amusement. “You’re 22 years old. There’s nothing to cry and heal over. You’re at your best now and you’ve got over twenty years of love and life in your youth. I’m not going to encourage you to sit here to cry and heal over a man who never bat an eyelash over losing you.”

  Mom didn’t mince words, but she was right. Alex never bothered to confront me, speak to me, or even contact me after I left him at the apartment with Summer. He was out of town wit
h her, probably taking her out to eat, and telling her everything he told me.

  “I’m going, but I’m not going to apologize to Romeo.” I folded my arms and pushed my hip to one side. She gave me a pointed look, cocking her eyebrow once more.

  “You will apologize to a man who went out of his way to buy you flowers, invite you out, and do something nice for you.”

  “Oh. I see. He gets a pass for being in my business? For being pushy and just cutting into my pain?”

  Mom’s held her countenance but her eyes were ignited with anger. She shook her head. “You have your father’s temperament.”

  “I’m not dad!” I pushed.

  “No, you’re not him, but you are prone to being a victim, Beverly. What you did was classless and dramatic. He asked a question, and you snapped on him.”

  “What was I supposed to do?”

  “Tell him the subject was fresh, and you weren’t ready to talk about it. Change the conversation to a speed you were comfortable with, giving him the opportunity to see the beautiful woman you are inside and out.” She looked at the flowers, which were indeed beautiful. “He barely knew you and purchased these? He’s a man of impeccable taste.”

  My cheeks blushed, both in amusement and shame as I looked at the flowers. I had no idea where they were from, but these weren’t common drugstore roses.

  “Is he cute?” Mom asked, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of gossip.

  “God, yes. He’s sexy. Perfect teeth. Bronze skin. Deep, bass-filled voice.” My heart lifted at the thought of him, and the way he walked in, kissed my hand, and introduced himself.

  He was wonderful.

  … Until he pushed his way into my business.

  Mom sighed, shaking her head. “You and these handsome men. At least this one’s got connections.”

  We nodded in unison.

  “Look, Beverly. You owe it to yourself to go, because you need to clear the air with that girl. You also have an opportunity to make connections with people who are in places you currently can’t access from exposure alone.”

  I bit my lip, mentally confirming this was true. Raquel had been nothing but nice since I’d met her. And to be honest, I realized if I were in the same situation, I wouldn’t have been as graceful as she’d been when I saw my date with another woman.

  And Romeo? He was handsome, sexy, charming. The elite distraction, but I doubted I could apologize enough for the way I’d acted.

  “I was out of order.” I spoke carefully, guilt slicing through my body as I caressed the petals of one rose.”

  “Was that so hard to admit?” Mom said. “All you have to do is show up and offer your apology. If you leave right after, that’s on you. But at least step up, be a woman, and do the right thing.”

  “He’s probably not going to want to talk to me.” My heart was heavy with the burden of shame. “I was such a bitch.”

  “And you think I’m going to let you get away with that? Being a self-proclaimed bitch to a man that honestly did nothing to you?”

  “I —“

  “Let me find an outfit. I’m going to make sure you apologize.”

  On any given day, the Mandarin Oriental was beautiful. Tonight, beautiful was upgraded to exquisite. Ice sculptures, floral arrangements, and event decor were plush and luxurious. Everyone was dressed in evening attire that was neither too formal or casual.

  My palms threatened to sweat when Mom and I walked in. She looked amazing in her soft pink midi dress and nude heels, a blushing refresh from plain white. She accessorized with a simple gold clutch and drop earrings.

  I opted for an aquamarine fit and flare. My hair was sleek and straight, and I opted for an eyeshadow palette with dramatic green and blue colors, to emphasize my eyes. Business cards were tucked in my clutch, just in case, but they weren’t my priority. Romeo was.

  The sea of partygoers was filled coiffed hair, clean shaven faces, groomed beards, and perfectly sculpted eyebrows. Everyone had clearly put on their evening’s finest before they left.

  My eyes scanned the room, hoping desperately to locate Romeo. My plan was to find him, pull him to the side, and apologize.

  “Beverly?” I turned to Raquel’s voice.

  “You made it.” She smiled. Pointing to the tall older man behind her, she added, “This is my husband, Kenny.”

  Kenny reached out and shook my hand before sliding it back to his wife. They looked wonderful in their coordinated outfits. Just as I’d thought, her makeup held up well tonight.

  “Yes, I made it. I figured it was worth checking out, instead of… you know.” I cocked my head to the side and shrugged, letting the unfinished words speak for themselves. I tossed my head in my mother’s direction. “I brought my mother with me. She’s in the pink dress over there.”

  Raquel looked behind me and nodded. “She’s pretty. She looks just like you.”

  “Thanks! I’ll grab her in a minute. Have you seen Romeo?”

  “Yeah,” she smiled. “He’s back in the corner next to Dilayla. She’s wearing a purple dress and is next to Nick Diamond. He’s Kenny’s best friend, and her husband.”

  “Thanks. Let me say hi. Catch up with you in a minute.”

  We shared a genuine smile before parting. Just a few hours ago, I could have bitten her head off. We were talking as if nothing ever happened - and to be honest, if Alex was all that ever happened - was he really worth bad blood with new friends?

  I spotted Dilayla easily. Aside of mother, Raquel and myself, she was one of the prettiest standouts in the room. Cocktail attire for most meant simple black, red, cream, and navy dresses. We were all in bold shades that demanded attention in the sea of mute colors.

  Next to Dilayla stood Nick, who I recognized from his ball-playing days, and Romeo. My mouth watered when I looked at him. His deep navy suit was almost black, with thin, satiny pinstripes for detail. It contrasted well against his handsome bronze skin. His close shaven beard gave him an extra air of distinction. And maybe it was my imagination, but I could smell that fresh musk he wore.

  We locked eyes before I made it to his corner. He was smiling and laughing with his guests. When our eyes made contact, I saw his sharpen upon me with an indiscernible expression.

  “Good evening. Hello Dilayla. You look amazing.” We leaned in to give each other a friendly hug. She introduced me to her husband, Nick, who nodded as he possessively grabbed onto her.

  “Glad to see you’ve made it.” Romeo smiled politely, but I felt a little sting when I noticed he didn’t move. Just earlier, I was allowed a kiss on the hand, but right now, I couldn’t get a handshake.

  I looked into his eyes, doing my best to search for an ounce of invitation. He held his expression steady, providing nothing indicative of his interest.

  Beverly, you ruined your chances with him. Just apologize, slide off into the crowd, and make your best of this night.

  I swallowed the lump growing in my throat and professionally replied, “Yes. Thank you again for inviting me.”

  “Definitely not a problem. Enjoy yourself.”

  I eased my way back into the crowd, looking for my mother. Aside of knowing I was here, Romeo had no interest in talking with me. Perhaps it was too soon? Maybe he’d never put himself in a position to allow me to get that close to him again?

  I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Raquel, sans Kenny.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey girl. I was just about to look for —“

  “Come to the bathroom with me.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway to the restroom. She waited until the bathroom was clear before she spoke.

  “I owe you an apology,” she began, wringing her slender hands. “I should’ve told you about Alex sooner. I just… I learned a long time ago to mind my business. Nothing good ever came from confronting a woman about her cheating man. And I’ve met plenty.”

  I opened my mouth and she held her hand up, signaling for me to let her finish. Her brown eyes and tone of voice
were drenched with sincerity.

  “What I can assure you is that nothing - and I really mean nothing - physical or sexual ever happened between Alex and I.”

  “Never?”

  “We never even kissed. We talked and texted for a while, but he wanted me to send nudes, and I wasn’t interested. That was right before our date… and probably the reason he stood me up.”

  “He’s a dog.” I muttered.

  “That’s not nice,” Raquel frowned. “Dogs are loyal.”

  We shared a rueful smirk. She leaned in and lowered her voice. “I was a virgin when I married Kenny. It’s a secret only Dilayla really knows, but you can ask her yourself.”

  “Dilayla might not like me at the moment,” I confessed.

  “Why?” Raquel gasped. Now it was my turn to wring my hands.

  “Let’s just say things didn’t go well with Romeo today.”

  I filled her in on what happened. My guilt didn’t allow me to conceal the truth, and I admitted to being nothing less than an emotional bitch no matter how polite Romeo was.

  “It wasn’t good,” I said in my final statement. “I’m surprised he was able to even look me in the eye when I said hello just now.”

  Raquel’s face was pale. Her expression one of disbelief, and her tone was filled with disappointment. “Beverly…”

  “I know,” I said. “I actually came here to apologize. My mother’s here to make sure I do. She told me I was being dramatic and misplacing my anger.”

  “Well…” Raquel was compassionate, but she agreed with Mom.

  “But I’m nervous now. After seeing him, I know I should. I just hated how blunt he was - and I literally just learned what I learned from you.” Shame colored my face as I admitted, “I don’t have the courage. Not in front of everyone. I don’t need to ruin his night like I already did his day.”

  “I don’t think you’ll ruin his night,” Raquel replied. “Romeo knows how to enjoy himself regardless of the circumstances. But if you don’t speak to him now, how else will you contact him?Do you even have his number?”