Читать книгу Careful of the Company You Keep - Angie Daniels - Страница 19

13

Danielle

After work on Monday, I headed over to Calvin’s house. He had gotten back from his conference yesterday and was dying to see me. What else is new? Sometimes I felt smothered by the fact that he wanted to be with me all the time. But after screwing Ron Friday night, I felt so guilty, I owed it to him. Besides, it had been a long day at the hospital. Working as a labor and delivery nurse was no easy task. I had no intention of cooking anything and I was so hungry, I was tempted to stop at a fast food restaurant on the way, but Calvin, who was a wonderful cook, was preparing dinner.

Usually, I go home first and change out of my scrubs into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, but it was only Calvin. No point in dressing up.

I pulled into his subdivision and drove up the drive of the first house on the left. A two-story, three-bedroom house with blue siding. I jumped out of my car and moved up to the door. Damn, it was cold this afternoon. I guess it could have been a lot worse. Like snow and ice.

“Danielle, you made it,” Calvin said as soon as he spotted me standing there in his doorway. Before I could enter, he leaned down and gave me a big hug and then a kiss. “Damn, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I murmured against his lips. “Now can you move so I can get out of the cold?” Not waiting for a response, I brushed him aside and hung my coat on a hook in the foyer. “Something smells good. What are you cooking?”

“It’s a surprise. Please come have a seat.”

He signaled for me to follow him into the living room. Soft jazz music was playing on satellite television. I took a seat on the couch and he sat beside me.

“How was your weekend?”

I should have known he would ask. “Dull like always,” I lied. I still couldn’t believe Ron hadn’t called me yet. I felt a connection between us the other night and couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just come home and stop playing games, because it was starting to get old. “You know how this little boring-ass town is. Nothing to do here but eat out and go to the movies.”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea. How about we go and see a movie on Friday?”

“Maybe, depending on the way my week goes. I’ll let you know.” Ron was going to call, I was sure of that, and there was no way I was passing up a chance to be with him.

Calvin wrapped his arm around me and I leaned back against him. He always made me feel comfortable. I closed my eyes while he ran his fingers through my shoulder-length hair.

“Danielle, I would like to know where you see our relationship going.”

I was glad he couldn’t see me frown. “Going?”

He chuckled lightly. “Yes, Danielle. Going.”

Nowhere, if Ron calls. And it better be soon. I was thinking about running by his mama’s house on the way home to see if he was there. I don’t know where he’s living at now and didn’t think to ask him the other night. Stupid! Stupid! Why didn’t I get his home phone number? All I was thinking about was being with him; I never thought about how we were to keep in touch. “I don’t know, Calvin. I’ve been enjoying our relationship. I like taking it one day at a time.”

He pulled me closer. “I love you, Danny, and would love to spend the rest of my life with you if we decided that’s what we want.”

I frowned. Why now? Why couldn’t he wait until I had a chance to see where things were heading with me and Ron first? Don’t get me wrong, I care about Calvin a lot, really I do, but I know that I’m not ready for what he wants. Not as long as I think I have a chance with Ron. And I was certain I did. I could feel it in my gut. It was just a matter of time. Unfortunately, patience has never been one of my strong points.

“Can we just leave things the way they are . . . for now. I’m afraid if we try to rush things we’re going to ruin everything that we have.” I held my breath hoping that what I said had gotten through. I wasn’t lying, really I wasn’t. I just needed more time.

Calvin gave an impatient sigh, then kissed the top of my head. “Sure, Danny. We can take all the time you need.”

I released a sigh of relief.

He patted my thigh. “Come on, let’s eat.”

I eagerly rose and followed him into the kitchen. I was more than ready to eat.

He made a fabulous meal of shrimp fettuccine, garlic bread, and red wine. Calvin was a fabulous cook and I loved the way he got creative in the kitchen.

Halfway through the meal my cell phone chirped. I practically choked on a shrimp. I reached down for it and checked the ID. Damn, it was Renee! I put my phone down, smiled over at Calvin, then started eating again. We talked about his conference and Regina, his assistant, finding excuses to knock on his hotel room door late at night. That sneaky bitch had been trying to climb up on Calvin’s dick. I teased him about it until he blushed. Regina was wasting her time, because Calvin’s dick belongs to me.

After dinner I helped with the dishes and then we moved into the bedroom with our wineglasses.

“You staying the night?”

I usually do, but what if Ron came by? Nope. I needed to be home just in case. Because if he came by and I wasn’t there, he wouldn’t come back. “No, I’ve got nothing clean to put on in the morning and need to wash, but I can stay for a little while.” I could tell he was disappointed and I felt a little guilty, but Calvin would never understand that I couldn’t deny what I was feeling.

I moved over to the bed and he signaled for me to roll onto my back and started working his magic. Mmmm, he knew how much I loved getting a massage. I closed my eyes and enjoyed his magic fingers. That is, before my phone rang and I practically jumped from the bed, knocking Calvin over onto his butt. I fell on the floor on top of him.

“What the hell?”

I reached down for my phone while I tried to come up with an explanation. “I’m sorry. I heard my phone and thought I better get it.” I looked down at the missed call. Private. Oh no! No, no, no! That was Ron. I know it. I just know it. I hit the Talk button and listened to my voice mail. My heart sank. There was none.

“Are you expecting something important?” I could tell he was pissed.

“Uh . . . yeah. My mom called earlier and said that Portia wasn’t feeling well this morning and she was going to take her to the emergency room if she didn’t start feeling better.”

He looked pleased to hear that. “So does this mean that you and her are going to work things out?”

Hell no. If it wasn’t for Portia, I would be at home right now with Ron lying between my legs. I rose from the floor, moved over to the end of the bed, and took a seat. I shrugged. “No, but regardless of what she’s done, she’s my daughter.”

Rising, he stood over me. “Hopefully this baby will bring the two of you back together.”

I doubt it. “Look, I need to get home.” I’m sure Ron had tried calling me on my house phone as well. I couldn’t wait to look at the Caller ID when I got there. I rose and leaned up against Calvin so he would know that I cared about him. “Baby, I’ll make it up to you later, but I do need to go home and wash clothes and relax before tomorrow.”

“I understand,” he said between kisses. “Call me when you get home.”

“I will.” I kissed him one last time, then moved to the living room to retrieve my coat and purse. Calvin walked me to my SUV. I was ready to race home but he wanted to kiss and hug. Dammit, for all I know, Ron was pulling in my driveway at that very moment.

I gave him a deep kiss full of tongue and promises of more on another day, then hopped in my SUV and peeled out of the parking lot. Halfway down the road, I called home to check my answering machine. Dammit! No messages. Okay, okay, don’t get upset. Ron had never been one to leave messages before, now was no different. He felt seeing his number on the Caller ID was sufficient.

“Nooo!” I squeezed the steering wheel. If he called it would say Private again. Damn.

I hurried home, hoping that he was waiting in the driveway. Hell, hopefully he still had his key. Or did I change the locks after my brother beat his ass? I couldn’t remember. Nevertheless, he wasn’t still mad because if he was, he wouldn’t have come over the other night. Or would he? No, no, no, don’t start second-guessing yourself. Not now. Not when I was so close to getting him back. Six months. I’ve waited six months for this day to come. And it was finally here.

I hurried onto my street and turned up the road. Dammit! No car in my yard, but then it dawned on me. He didn’t have a car. I had taken the Chevy Impala I had purchased in his name when we split up. When Kee and his boys went to teach him a lesson, my brother made him sign over the title and hand over my keys.

I pulled in front of the house and left the car running while I went inside to check my Caller ID. Sure enough, another private caller. After checking my hair and reapplying my makeup, I hopped into my car and drove over to his mother’s house. I know it might sound crazy, but I had to know if he had called me and the only way to find out was to go over and ask him. I was certain he was waiting for me to make the next move since I was the one who put him out in the first place.

Quickly, I drove down to the city certain that as soon as I pulled in front of the house he’d be ready to go home with me. I would definitely take the day off tomorrow and we’d spend it together. Maybe we could sleep in late and then we could have breakfast and then . . . I had to giggle as I thought about all the possibilities. Tonight would be the start of a whole new beginning. I was sure of it.

I waited impatiently for the light to finally turn green, then I made a left onto Nita’s street and pulled in front of her house in time to see Ron and another girl come out of the house. It was the same girl who drove the yellow Mustang, only this time she wasn’t hiding behind the car and my mouth dropped.

The long leather coat could not hide her large, swollen stomach.