Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 5

Feelings? Maybe she was just confused. She had an intense physical attraction to Norris, and he was upset last night after learning about Reese, so her heart went out to him. Her attraction to him coupled with his emotions made her more susceptible to empathy. Yeah, that’s what it was. Empathy.

  Dahlia lifted her head to find Norris awake and smiling down at her. “How’d you sleep?” he asked.

  “Not as well as I do when I’m in my bed, but okay. You?”

  “Best sleep I’ve had in years.”

  “How long have you been up?”

  “Well, I’ve been awake for a while, but I’ve been up even longer,” he said with a lusty smile, straddling her on his lap.

  Dahlia curled her arms around his neck and rolled her hips, smiling. “I can tell.” She loosened the buttons of his shirt, exposing the fine dusting of dark hairs covering his chest. Norris had the perfect body. Not bulky and over-stuffed like most of the guys that defined ‘fit’ on the cover of fitness magazines, but solid and well-defined, beautiful. “I’ve been up for a while myself.”

  His lips brushed hers. “Thank you for last night.”

  “I didn’t do anything special.”

  “Letting me be here was special. You listened and you talked. You made me know as uncertain as things look, everything with Reese could be okay.”

  “I’m glad I could be of help.” She kissed him softly and swiveled her hips, eliciting a deep groan from Norris. “I think you have another problem I can help you with right now.”

  “Uh-hmm.” His lips claimed hers, hungrily, passionately. She opened herself to him, welcoming the warmth of his exploring tongue as his hands explored beneath her top. A short gasp fell from her lips when his caressing thumb brushed against the tip of her breast, bringing the tiny nub to immediate attention and shooting every nerve ending in her body to high alert.

  The next moments found her top on the floor and Norris’s mouth fastened to her breast. His deep moans grew with her sighs of pleasure. He turned his attention to her other breast. Tasting, teasing, and deliciously tormenting her, Norris’s hot mouth and skillful touch had her heart racing and body crying for more of him.

  Having endured all the foreplay she could take, Dahlia longed for the main event. Sliding her hands between them, she worked feverishly to unloosen his belt and find the button of his slacks. Just as she reached his zipper, the phone rang.

  Norris captured her lips in a kiss. “Don’t answer it,” he mumbled against her mouth, attempting to lower her pajama bottoms below her waist.

  The ringing continued.

  “It might be the salon.”

  “Let it wait.” He ground against her, and as natural as breathing, her hips responded to his movements. His lips trailed along her neck. “I’ll go crazy if I don’t have you.”

  Dahlia nodded in agreement. The answering machine would soon pick up, and if important, the caller would phone again.

  “Dahlia, are you there? I’m sorry to call so early, but . . .”

  Reese’s troubled tones broke the sound of heavy breathing and the sexual tension in the room. Dahlia grabbed the phone.

  “I’m here,” she said, careful not to mention Reese’s name.

  “Why are you out of breath?” Reese asked.

  “Why am I out of breath?” Dahlia glanced at Norris. “I was halfway down the stairs when the phone rang,” she lied. “I raced to the closest phone. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s my mom,” Reese explained.

  “Is she okay?”

  “I don’t know. Can I come over? I really need to talk to you. I can be there in half an hour.”

  “Yes, that’s fine, come on over.”

  Norris touched her shoulder. “Come over?” he mouthed.

  Dahlia shrugged. She was sorry to disappoint him, and herself, but it was clear Reese needed to talk. And after what Norris had told her last night, she was pretty certain of what was troubling Reese. “I’ll see you in a little bit. Bye.”

  “You’ll see her in a little bit?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry, Norris, but it’s one of the girls I met when I did my presentation at the high school last year. She’s interested in attending Columbia and studying business, so we got close. Something’s upsetting her and I want to help.”

  “I can’t fault you for that, although . . .” He looked down to his lap. “I didn’t expect the morning would end like this.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Me, either.”

  Norris buttoned his shirt. “Can I see you tonight?”

  “I insist on it. Your place?”

  He nodded. “Six o’clock?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Dahlia pulled on her top and walked him to the door. “What are you going to do today?”

  Norris opened the door and leaned against the jamb. “I’m going to start the process of getting to know my daughter. I don’t know how yet, but that’s my big plan for today. Thank you for everything, Dahlia.” He pecked her lips. “I mean that.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said with a smile, her heart fluttering from his sweet kiss. “I’ll see you later.”

  Dahlia closed the door after Norris drove away in his gray Porsche—his hot man-mobile. She had some thinking to do. The very real and unexpected feelings she had for Norris grew stronger with every second she spent with him, and were beginning to eclipse everything in her life. No strings? Huh! There were plenty of strings, and they had her tied in more knots than she thought she could ever see herself through.

  * * *

  Norris drove straight home and hopped into a cold shower. Though disappointed he couldn’t start his day drowning in Dahlia’s delight, her selfless desire to help a young friend in need gave him even more reason to love her. Love? Norris laughed out loud. He still couldn’t believe it. “I’m in love.”

  When the icy spray of the water jets accomplished the desired effect, Norris dried off and padded to his bedroom. Spotting the number five flashing on his answering machine, he sat on the bed and listened to the messages. The first was from his mother, whom he hadn’t heard from in months, stating she’d be coming to South Carolina for a visit in the next couple of weeks. He grunted. That should be fun.

  Calls from lady friends wondering when they’d see him again made up the next three messages, and the last was from Lara inviting him over for breakfast. Norris laughed. The poor woman probably didn’t get a wink of sleep last night from wondering what he had on his mind. Norris decided not to keep her waiting. Changing into some designer warm-ups and sneakers, he made his way to his friends’ house.

  Justin, Ryan’s ten-year-old son, pulled up on his bike as Norris parked. “Hey, Uncle Norris,” he greeted.

  “What’s up, buddy?” Norris removed his sunglasses. “Where are your folks?”

  “In the kitchen with Angelica.” Justin looked down the street and reversed the cap on his blonde head. “I see my friends. See ya later.”

  Norris walked into the house. The unmistakable scent of blueberries filled the air. Muffins or pancakes? He hoped pancakes.

  “A beautiful, pregnant lady invited me over for breakfast,” he said, strolling into the kitchen. “Is this where I sign up?”

  “Uncle Norris!” Angelica leapt from her chair and raced over to him with open arms.

  Norris swooped her up and kissed her cheek. Curls of golden-streaked brown hair framed her pretty face. “Is this my breakfast?” He kissed her neck, evoking giggles from the three-year-old. “You’re so sweet and good, can I eat you up?”

  “No, Uncle Norris, you can’t eat me up. I’m going to the park with Sue-Ma,” she said, her brown eyes shining bright.

  The girl’s happiness at spending time with “Sue-Ma,” Ryan’s former mother-in-law and Justin’s grandmother, gave Norris a lot of hope in regard to his parents and Reese. Sue’s initial unhappiness with Ryan and Lara’s relationship could have inspired legends, but the realization that Lara being a part of Ryan and Justin’s life wouldn’t rob her of her
place in their lives transformed Sue. Not only did she have Justin, but she loved Angelica just as much. They were a wonderful extended family. Complete blood ties had to make a difference for his family with Reese.

  “You can eat up Daddy’s pancakes,” Angelica suggested. Norris kissed her cheek again. “I guess that’s a pretty good second choice.”

  “Glad you could make it, Norris,” Lara said with a smile.

  “I’m sure you are,” he replied, joining her at the table and propping Angelica on his knee. “I’m sure this breakfast invitation was totally altruistic.”

  “We love you, Norris. We want to be sure you have a complete and healthy breakfast.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Ryan brought over a stack of pancakes. “How can you question our sincerity?” he said.

  “I know you.” He looked down at the plate. “What, no sausage and eggs?”

  “Your wish is our command.” Ryan brought over a platter of bacon, eggs, and sausage. “Have at it.”

  Lara smiled as Norris poured maple syrup over the pancakes. “Is there anything else we can get for you?” she said.

  “How about your firstborn daughter?” he quipped. “You two seem to be falling all over yourselves this morning to please me. How far are you willing to go?”

  Ryan removed Angelica from Norris’s lap and hugged her close. “Not that far.”

  Norris laughed as he cut into the pancake stack. “Just checking.”

  Minutes later a horn blew outside.

  “That’s Sue,” Ryan said. He carried Angelica over to Lara. “Kiss Mommy goodbye.”

  Angelica gave Lara a loud smack. “Bye-bye, Mommy.”

  “Bye, sweetie. You have fun with Sue-Ma.”

  The girl nodded.

  Sue knocked on the kitchen door and entered. “I’m sorry I’m a little late,” she said. “I had to stop by the ATM.” She waved at Norris. “Hello, Norris.”

  “Good morning, Sue,” he replied, before turning his attention to the delicious breakfast.

  Sue gave Angelica a big grin as she approached with open arms. “How’s my sweet angel?” she said.

  “Good!” Angelica jumped into Sue’s arms. “Let’s go.”

  “Yes, let’s. Carl and I want to take her to lunch, too. Is that okay?”

  “Sure,” Lara said. “I’m sure she’d have it no other way.”

  “Great. We’ll be back around three-thirty.”

  “See you then,” Ryan said, escorting them to the door.

  “Bye-bye, Daddy.” Angelica waved.

  Ryan kissed her cheek. “Bye, sweetheart. Have fun.” Ryan closed the door and turned his attention to Norris. “Okay, now, what’s going on?”

  “I can’t finish my breakfast?”

  “You can talk and eat.” Ryan sat beside Lara. “I know you better than anybody and I can’t figure it out. Your behavior last night had us worried.”

  “You had no reason to worry. I thought I explained that.”

  “You explained very little,” Lara said. “Now is yesterday’s tomorrow, so talk. What is it?”

  Norris finished his eggs and popped the last of his third sausage link into his mouth. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, getting a perverse pleasure in keeping them waiting. “Can I have a little coffee?”

  “No!” Ryan barked.

  “Now, now, Ryan. That’s no way to treat me, if you’re so worried about me.”

  Lara stood. “I’ll get it,” she said.

  “No, you stay down,” Ryan said, settling her into the chair. “You do enough running around in class with your kindergarteners. I’ll wait on His Highness.” Ryan retrieved the carafe and poured Norris a cup.

  “I hope that’s real coffee and not the stuff Lara drinks,” Norris said, detecting the scent of vanilla.

  “I can’t drink it right now, so I at least like to smell it,” Lara explained. “It is coffee.”

  “Humph. I’ll be more specific next time,” Norris grumbled, adding cream and sugar to the steaming cup.

  “Norris, you’ve been beating around the bush since last night. Spill already,” Ryan said.

  “All right, all right.” Norris drank some of the flavored brew and gave his full attention to his friends. “Yesterday, I found out I have a daughter.”

  “You what?” Ryan and Lara shrieked.

  “I have a daughter,” he said again, still getting used to the idea. “How’s that for a life-changing event?”

  * * *

  Dahlia changed into jeans and a T-shirt and finished a breakfast of dry toast and scrambled egg whites as she waited for Reese to arrive, grateful this Saturday was one of the two she took off every month. Between Norris and the feelings she didn’t want to feel for him and Reese and her troubled tone, she didn’t have anything left for her clients and their problems.

  The ringing doorbell announced Reese’s arrival. Dahlia moved to the door and pulled it open. “Hi, Reese, come in.”

  “I hope my coming over isn’t a problem,” Reese said, making her way to the living room couch.

  “Not at all. Do you want anything? Juice? Some breakfast?”

  “No. I ate a little something earlier.”

  Dahlia sat. “You sounded a bit out of sorts earlier. What’s this about your mother?”

  Reese shrugged and pulled on a lock of her curly hair. “I don’t know. She talked about my father last night.”

  Dahlia maintained what she hoped was a noncommittal expression as she listened quietly.

  “For years I asked her about him, and she sidestepped every time. It got to the point I stopped asking. But last night she brought him up, and she’s anxious we meet. He’s in Denburg.”

  “This isn’t a good thing for you? You said you asked her about him. Now’s your chance to get to know him.”

  “I’m confused about the timing. She was very evasive, Dahlia. I think something’s wrong with her.”

  “Wrong? What do you mean?”

  “I think she’s sick.” Tears streamed unchecked down Reese’s cheeks. “Why else would she want me to meet him?”

  “Hey now.” Dahlia pulled a tissue from the box on her coffee table and dried away the tears. “Reese, don’t worry yourself needlessly.”

  “I can’t help it.” Reese pulled a tissue and blew her nose. “Something’s going on.”

  “I know you’re confused, but don’t let your confusion stir up needless fears. Do you really think your mother would keep the fact she’s sick from you?”

  “I don’t know, Dahlia. I know something’s up.”

  What was up was Gail hadn’t told Reese about her trip to Uganda. She would visit her friend to find out why. “What’s up is you’re finally meeting the dad you always wanted to know,” Dahlia said. “Maybe that might explain her behavior. This is a change for her, too.”

  “She never told him about me.”

  “How did you feel to hear that?”

  “Surprised. Hurt. I always figured he didn’t want to be a part of my life because I’m black, and Mom stayed quiet so I wouldn’t feel bad about being abandoned by him. I guess I can’t feel that way now.”

  “You guess?”

  “I’m still black. To find out he has a sixteen-year-old is a shock, but the rest of it . . .”

  “You think he’ll have an issue with your race?”

  “Don’t you think so?”

  Dahlia had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming “Absolutely not!” Race was one problem Reese didn’t have to be troubled about where her father was concerned. Dahlia would have to find a way to get Reese to lose that worry without divulging her connection to Norris.

  “Your mom wouldn’t want you to meet someone who had an issue with you. And if your father had an issue, we’d have nothing to discuss right now, would we?”

  “I guess you have a point. Mom said he was a nice guy.”

  “There you go.” Dahlia draped her arm around Reese’s shoulders. “It’s Saturday, and you don’t need to waste this beau
tiful spring day fretting, as my grandma says. Catch up with Diana and go to the mall or something. Be a teenager. When you get to be an old lady of thirty-six like me, you’ll look back at this time and be glad you enjoyed it.”

  Reese nodded and smiled. “All right, I’ll do that.” She pulled Dahlia into a hug. “Thank you for talking and listening. It helped a lot.”

  “I’m glad. You take care.”

  Dahlia showed Reese out and then placed a call to Gail. The women exchanged pleasantries and agreed to meet for lunch. Gail mentioned something pressing she wanted to discuss with Dahlia. Considering Norris’s revelation, Dahlia didn’t have to wonder about the nature of the pressing matter.

  Following a workout and shower, Dahlia dressed for her lunch with Gail at Corlino’s Kitchen. The phone rang as she walked to the door. Dahlia looked over her shoulder, and after a short debate, decided to answer the call.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Dee. It’s been a while.”

  Dahlia grunted. She would learn to check the caller ID before answering. “I can’t talk now, Leslie.”

  “Are you saying that because it’s me?”

  “I’m not particularly interested in talking to you, but I was heading out the door.”

  “You still sound angry,” Leslie said.

  Dahlia rolled her eyes, galled by the statement. “You slept with my husband!” She sucked in a breath in an attempt to calm her fury. “I have every reason to be angry with you.”

  “It’s been years, Dee. A lot has happened.”

  “Not enough. I don’t have time for this right now, but I have your number. When I’m ready to talk, you’ll hear from me.”

  Without another word, Dahlia slammed down the phone. Memories of Leslie and Jonah going at it like jackrabbits played in her head. She rubbed her temples. If she needed a deterrent to relationships, that memory provided it. No strings equaled no hurt, and she would never allow herself to be hurt again. Tonight, she would remind Norris why their arrangement worked.

  Chapter 6

  “Don’t all speak at once,” Norris said, when the quiet around the kitchen table got too loud for him to take.

  “You have a daughter?” Ryan said, as Lara stared at Norris unflinchingly.