The Sweetest Encounter Read online

  “OMG, I almost forgot about that,” Janique said, cackling. “Tyree and I used to visit their big ranch out in Fort Worth, Texas every summer. Dallas was sixteen and I was twelve. We were just chilling in her room when Uncle Holt bust in with one of his shotguns, looking mad. Come to find out Little Miss Texas had a boy in her room. And guess where he was hiding? Under the bed.”

  I burst out laughing at that memory. “Don’t believe you remember that, darlin’,” I said, poking her on the shoulder.

  “Oh yeah,” she said, giggling. “She was punished for the entire summer. She had to clean out the horses’ stalls and feed them.”

  “That’s right.” I grimaced at that unpleasant experience. “Y’all take a seat. That’s one memory I wanted to forget. Thanks for the reminder, Cousin.”

  Janique was still giggling as she and Natalia sat around the breakfast bar; I joined them.

  “All right, y’all eat up.” I chuckled as they dug into the food.

  “Umm,” Natalia said, chewing. “This tastes soo good. It’s the best country-fried steak I’ve ever had.”

  “Thank you, honey,” I said, and bit down into the succulent steak.

  “I told you so,” Janique added, stuffing her face. “My cousin can cook her ass off.” She smacked her lips and turned towards me, licking the gravy off her fingers. “I’m coming over here for dinner every night. Mommy works too much. I’m eating a lot of junk food. I don’t get any home-cooked meals anymore. That’s why my ass is getting so big.”

  “Y’all can stop by anytime.” I smiled, watching her wolf down the steak. I turned to Natalia, who had her mouth stuffed, and I shook my head. They were eating as if it was their last supper.

  “Wait until I tell my brothers about you,” Natalia said, biting into a buttery biscuit. “They will not believe how gorgeous you are and that you can cook. My brother Franco says pretty women can’t lift a finger in the kitchen. He wants to marry a plain Jane because they make good wives.”

  “Is that right?” I raised my eyebrows. “Well, I want to meet your brother to prove him wrong. How old are these boys of yours, suga?”

  “Well, Franco is the oldest; he’s twenty-six and a firefighter. Johnny just turned twenty-four and is set to graduate in a few months from the police academy. Patrick is twenty-two and is training to be a police officer too. Gino is seventeen; he’s a senior in high school and plays baseball. He might get a scholarship because he’s awesome at it. And my baby brother, Sean, is twelve. He plays basketball,” Natalia chatted and gulped down the homemade sweet tea.

  “Wow, that’s quite a family tree you got there,” I said, savoring the mash on my tongue. “Are the older ones married?”

  “Not yet, but Johnny is engaged to a bitch named Sheila.” She smacked her lips and sank her teeth into the juicy steak. “Patrick has a steady girlfriend named Beth. She’s fantastic. Franco sees this pathetic girl named Kelly.” She shook her head. “She’s such a loser. I don’t know what he sees in her.”

  I bust out laughing. I was going to be in trouble hanging out with them.

  After finishing our supper, we washed up and got ready for Nova. I was eager to meet my new coworkers and to enjoy some much-needed fun.

  Chapter Two

  Franco

  I went into the locker room at the Brooklyn Heights Firehouse and picked up my duffle bag. Boy, it was good to leave this place. I had been on duty since yesterday. I was heading home to crash. Thank fuck I don’t live with my parents anymore. I wouldn’t get any f’ing sleep in that zoo.

  Yawning, I walked to my black Jeep Wrangler and slid behind the wheel. My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, my boy Derrick’s name flashed across the screen. He went to high school with me and we were on the same basketball team. Everyone thought Derrick would go to the NBA, but he suffered an injury in college. He became a software engineer and worked for a tech company on Wall Street. I swiped the screen.

  “What’s up man?”

  “Yo, shit face, I’ve been hitting you up all day, man,” he complained. “You still on for Nova tonight, right? The fellas are meeting up at the Sports Bar on Fourteenth Street. After that we’re heading over by midnight?”

  Fuck. “Yo, dude, I forgot about that shit. I’m heading to my place right now to crash, man. I did a double.”

  “Man, stop crying like a bitch,” Derrick added, sounding annoyed. “You still got time, bro. It’s only four o’clock. I’m leaving work in a few, and heading home to shower and change.”

  “All right, dude, you got me,” I said, rubbing my tired eyes. “I’ll head back to crash for a few, and I’ll meet you at Nova. I will pass on the bar on Fourteenth, though. Is Vinny at the door tonight?”

  “Yeah. We don’t pay. I’ll see you later, man.”

  “Yeah, peace out.” I ended the call and shut off my phone. I did not want to talk to anyone else right now. I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, driving by Cadman Plaza heading towards the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway. If the traffic was light, then I should be home by five o’clock. I wanted to sleep for a few hours before meeting up with them tonight. I approached the entrance to the highway and sighed in relief. The traffic was moving smoothly. Feeling drowsy, I pushed the button, opening the windows. Damn, I should stop at Dunkin Donuts to get caffeine.

  The firehouse was chaotic for the last two days. A five-alarm fire broke out in a brownstone on Clinton Street. Two other stations helped, and this afternoon we rescued ten people. They were stuck on one of the elevators at the education building over on Court Street for almost two hours.

  Forty-five minutes later, I parked my vehicle on the street. My apartment building was on the corner of Jamaica Avenue. I lived in Queens Village on the border of Long Island. I was saving to buy a house in Glen Oaks, Queens. If my parents had their way, I would be living right next door to them. It was not happening. I already lived too close for comfort.

  Opening the door of my apartment, I headed straight into the bedroom. Peeling off my clothes, I jumped onto the queen-size, messy bed. My room was chaotic, and clothes were scattered on the floor. I should call up Kelly, my sometimes hookup, to clean up the place. I’d known her since high school, but won’t ever settle down with her. She was not wife material. She had no ambition and still lived at home with her parents. She was cute and had big boobs, but that was it. I’d had many other girls through the years, and when I wasn’t seeing anyone steady, I called her up. My thoughts drifted from Kelly to my much-needed rest and passed out.

  ∞∞∞

  A few hours later, the fellas and I were at the bar at Club Nova. I gulped down a cold brew while the fellas did shots. I checked out the eye candy on the dance floor. Beyoncé’s “Drunken Love” was pumping in the background, but dancing was not my thing. I loved music, and it did not hurt to look at the fresh meat. One-night stands did not appeal to me either. However, things could change. You never knew.

  “Bro,” Derrick called out over the loud music. “Isn’t that Nat and her sweet little friend Janique coming from the VIP section?”

  “What the fuck?” I said, swinging my head around. Sure enough, it was my little sister and her best friend, Janique. How the fuck did they get in here? You couldn’t get into this fucking place without connections. What the hell is she up to now? Blood rushed to my head. She was only nineteen years old. “I’ll be right back, man. I can’t believe this shit.”

  I stomped over to the both of them. They looked wasted, and their dance moves were sloppy. I grabbed Nat’s arm, and she stopped dancing. She glanced over at me, her mouth hanging open.

  “What the fuck?” she said, looking shocked. “Franco, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “I should ask you the same question,” I said, clenching my teeth. “How the fuck did you girls get in here? It’s hard as hell to get up in this place. You two are fucking blasted. Who bought you drinks?”

  “That would be me, Yankee,” the sexiest southern twang chime
d in from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, and my mouth gaped. Holy shit! What a knockout! She had long brown hair with blondish highlights and wide amber eyes. Her skin looked like it was dipped in caramel butter. Lips were luscious and red like sweet raspberry. Whoa. My heart thumped hard and my breath caught in my throat. She was smoking hot in a tight black dress with a plunging neckline. It showed off her curvaceous boobs. She had on the highest black heels I’d ever seen. The girl left me dumbstruck. I heard Nat and Janique giggling from my expression.

  “OMG Franco, you can close your mouth now.” Nat chuckled. “Didn’t I tell you that, Janique? He’s acting like a fool. Franco, meet Dallas. She’s Janique’s cousin, and we’re here with her.”

  She sauntered over and extended her hand. I took it, and a jolt of electricity went up my arm. She pulled her hand away quickly. “Howdy,” she said in that fabulous accent. “What a pleasant surprise. The girls are here with me in the VIP section. I’m taking good care of them, so there’s no need to worry.”

  Being in her presence was driving me insane. “So, Dallas is your name, as in the Dallas Cowboys?” My cheeks flushed from the stupid remark. Damn.

  “That’s right, suga,” Dallas drawled in that sexy-ass twang. Her voice gave me an instant hard-on. “My daddy named me after his favorite football team. You got it right, Yankee. Do you want to join us in the VIP section?”

  “I’m here with my boys.” I pointed out to my friends at the bar. They stared back with mouths hanging. Horny motherfuckers.

  “Y’all are invited,” she added, her amber eyes glinting with amusement. “Get the boys. Come inside with us. There’s plenty of room for everybody.”

  I was not bringing the fellas. I did not want them ogling her. Derrick, he loved exotic women. I did not understand why I felt possessive towards her. I was about to decline her offer and felt a slap on my shoulder.

  “Yo, dude, who’s this gorgeous creation?” Derrick said, his eyes scanning Dallas.

  My brows furrowed. I wanted none of these motherfuckers to monopolize her. I wanted to be the only one doing it. “Dallas, meet the fellas, Derrick, Josh, Karim, and José. We are leaving now. Make sure you get my little sister home.” I wanted to get them away from her. She was Janique’s cousin, and I could always get her digits.

  “That’s a shame,” she replied with the sexiest pout on her lips. “It’s nice meeting y’all. Franco?” She peeked over at me, seducing me with those big eyes. “I’ll make sure Natalia gets home safe.”

  “Why, thank you, Miss Dallas,” I said in fake southern accent. “Don’t be a stranger now. I hope I’ll be seeing you soon.”

  “Franco, you are silly,” Nat said, jabbing me. “Don’t make fun of Dallas’s accent, you idiot.”

  “Don’t worry, honey,” she said, flashing me an enticing smile. “I take no offense to your brother. See you later, Yankee. Boys, it was a pleasure.” She winked and sashayed into the VIP section, the girls following closely behind. My dick throbbed, seeing her juicy ass in that dress. What a fucking delicious package.

  “Yo, bro, are you crazy?” Derrick griped. “Why the fuck would you say we were leaving?”

  “Because I know you idiots,” I responded, turning back to them. “You would’ve been all over her, and I am not having it.”

  “You greedy ass motherfucker,” Derrick said, watching me. “You want her for yourself? What a beautiful piece of ass. No one came close to her up in this spot tonight. That is prime pussy right there. She is classy, and with that freaking southern accent? My dick is hard thinking about being up in that.”

  “Man, tone that shit down.” It bothered me hearing him talking about Dallas as if she were a piece of meat. “She’s my sister’s friend, man. Show respect.”

  “Oh, I see where this is going,” Derrick said, looking at me with a smirk. “You like her. Dude, she is not your type. She is not one of those trashy girls you date. Just hang it up right now. I am telling you that little Miss Dallas is swanky. She had on red-bottom shoes. And not the fake ones that some of these bitches are wearing now. She’s the real deal, and the dress was worth a week of your salary. Trust me, man. I know this stuff. So, you might as well forget about trying to get to know her. Your cheap ass can’t afford her.”

  “Bro, who said I wanted to get to know her?” My brows creased. I was annoyed at him for calling me out. He had been my best friend since high school. He knew me well. “I didn’t want your horny ass to disrespect her. She’s a family friend.”

  “Yeah, whatever, man,” he said, scrutinizing me. “I know you. Let’s get the hell out of here and hit up another spot. You fucked this one up for us.”

  The other guys mumbled under their breaths. They whacked me on the back of my head as we walked out of Nova to search for another place to finish our night on the town. I peered over my shoulder to catch another glimpse of her. I couldn’t get her out of my head now. I should forget her, but a woman like Dallas was unforgettable. I was in trouble with a capital T.

  Chapter Three

  Dallas

  On Monday morning, Rihanna’s “Stay,” one of my favorite songs, woke me. Still sleepy, I stretched in my bed and reached for the phone to shut it off. My schedule was flexible, but I wanted to be there early; it was my first day. Pushing back the satin sheets, I crawled out of bed. Not being a morning person, I forced myself to get moving. I removed my nightgown and stepped into the shower. I squirted my favorite body wash, warm vanilla sugar, into my hands and spread it over me.

  The smell of warm vanilla tickled my senses and then my thoughts ran to Franco, Natalia’s older brother. He is yummy. I got aroused at the thought of that smoking-hot Yankee. I saw him across the room nursing a beer before I found out he was Natalia’s brother. I spotted the group of them at the bar while looking for the girls. He stood out among them. His hair was black with a buzz cut, and he had the same intense green eyes as Natalia. He looked like Channing Tatum, but hotter. His body was muscular, and he had dimples like his sister too. It must be a family trait like the green eyes.

  I had to control my urges; it was way too soon to be feeling like this over somebody. My career should be the first thing on my mind. There was no room in my life for someone like Franco. He seemed intense. Let me stop thinking about him and get my butt to work.

  Two hours later, I parked my black BMW 650i convertible in a parking garage on Ninth Avenue and Thirty-Third Street. The job was two blocks away. Scooting out of the car, I took the parking ticket from the attendant.

  “Miss, what time are you picking up the car?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll call you.” I smiled. “It’s my first day, and I don’t know how long I’ll be. Is that all right?”

  “Okay,” he said, nodding. “I’m Enrique. You call, and I’ll get it ready.”

  “Sure, Enrique,” I said, winking, and strutted out of the garage towards Seventh Avenue. A few minutes later, I stepped inside the building. My feet were on fire in the red Louboutin platform shoes. The designer A-line black dress with red dots that I was wearing matched my shoes. My hair was pulled back in a bun to keep it in place. A double-strand pearl necklace encircled my neck—a gift from my grandmother; she loved anything pearl. Heads turned as I glided across the floor toward the security guards.

  “Hello there.” I beamed at them. They looked over at me, grinning. “My name is Dallas Hollingsworth, and it’s my first day at Diva Fashions. Can one of you boys let Melissa know that I’m downstairs?”

  “They’re expecting you,” one of the guards said with a big smile. “Here’s your ID. You can go over to the second bank of the elevators and take it to the sixteenth floor.”

  “Thank you.” I took the ID and walked over to the elevators. I peeked over my shoulder to see them ogling me and flashed them a smile. “You boys have a good day now.” I waved, moving into the waiting elevator. I chuckled when they almost fell over.

  The elevator zoomed to the sixteenth floor and opened into the reception area
. It was my first time here; I interviewed with Gillian via Skype and she hired me on the spot. I strolled over to the receptionist, a brown-skinned girl. She had on a glossy red wig and too much makeup. I did not recall meeting her at Nova on Saturday night.

  “Howdy.” I smiled. “I’m Dallas Hollingsworth, the new stylist.”

  She looked up from the computer and did an eye scan, then she greeted me. “Hi, I’m Tanisha. Melissa is expecting you. I’ll take you to the back. Follow me.” She stood up, and I walked behind her towards the back. A few people who were at the party on Saturday waved as I passed by.

  She stopped in front of a desk where Melissa was sitting. “Dallas,” she shrieked, jumping up from the desk. She rushed over to embrace me. “You’re here. You look beautiful. Is that a Birkin bag? I love your shoes.” Melissa was a breath of fresh air, and she reminded me of an older version of Natalia. A natural redhead with freckles, she wore black specks covering those gorgeous green eyes. She was curvaceous and wore a gray pinstripe suit with black stilettos.

  “It’s good to see you too, Melissa.” I grinned, returning the hug. “I would’ve been here sooner, but got stuck in traffic.”

  “No worries.” She shrugged and pushed open a door behind her desk. “Come and see your new office. Gillian sent her apologies. She is looking for new fabrics on Thirty-First street with Mikki, one of the designers. They will be back soon. She wants to take you on a tour of the place.”

  “It’s okay.” I stepped into a spacious room with a view of the Hudson River. “Wow. It’s nice in here. I love the scenery. How am I going to get any work done?” I asked, glancing over at her. “I wasn’t expecting this. I thought I would get a little cubbyhole.” A desk with a flat-screen computer monitor was near the window, and a table with four red swivel chairs and a beige loveseat were in the corner.