Standing three feet away from me, he looked like a little businessman about to present a proposal. He looked so much like Montie, naming him after his father was appropriate.
"It's about Mr. Jacob."
I faced him. "Okay, what about him?"
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Yes, he is."
"Why didn’t I know about him ‘til we came home yesterday?"
"Because it wasn’t time for you to meet him yet."
“And now it’s time.”
“Yes.”
"Where you meet him at?"
"Downtown at Tazi's."
"He like Tazi's?" Junior asked, as if he finally found common ground with Jacob.
"Yes, he does now. The day we met was his first time there."
"Mommy, he likes Tazi. He likes you. He’s nice. I like him."
"I'm glad you do. He really is a good person, but I want you to know that you and Montana are my first loves. No one is more important than you."
Junior walked over and hugged my neck. "It's okay if Jacob be one of your loves, too. I just hope daddy won't be mad."
"My young man, don't worry about that. Your dad will be fine. Go and wash your hands for breakfast and wake your sister up too."
Junior giggled. "She doesn’t ever want to get up, not even for breakfast."
He skipped down the hall to get Montana, and I shook my head. That boy was becoming more and more of a man each day.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DESTINY
Bridled Passion
Jacob decided that we needed to plan another day out where the kids could just be themselves and continue to get to know him better. I was all for the idea of another family day out. He picked us up right on time, and when I opened the door, he pulled me into a breathtaking kiss.
"Eww," Montana said.
I reluctantly drew back and turned to see her watching us with her hand over her mouth. "Go get your brother," I said. Montana bounded out of the foyer headed to find Junior.
Jacob laughed and rested his hand against his chest.
I turned to him and grinned. "Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?"
"I think I can handle it." He leaned in, brushing another kiss against my lips.
“I bet you can.” I smiled, knowing he could handle us.
My kids came to the door.
"Are you ready to go bowling?" Jacob clapped his hands together and asked.
“Yes!” They clapped with enthusiasm.
“Let’s go then!” Jacob held open the door and we all walked out of the house. My kids and I walked toward my car. “Where are you going?” he asked.
"To my car.”
"No, we'll go in my car.”
“But mine already has the car seats in it," I protested.
“We’ll be fine, Destiny. I had two car seats delivered and put in for the kids today."
"You did what?" I asked, and my question was answered when he opened the door to a black-on-black Bentley SUV that had two leather child seats installed in the back. “Well, okay,” I humped my shoulders. “We’ll ride with you.”
Junior got into the booster seat while Jacob buckled in Montana. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, as I laughed at him struggling to buckle her in. He pulled away and closed the door, looking at me.
"What’s so funny?" he asked intrigued.
"Isn’t too easy, is it?"
"Give me some time. I’m sure I'll get used to it." He got into the driver’s side and drove us to the bowling alley.
Junior and Montana mumbled to each other. I’m not sure about what. I glanced in the rearview mirror and watched them, but didn’t interrupt. When I returned my attention to Jacob, he was smiling at me. "I’m glad we’re doing this," I told him.
He reached over and grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. "Me too," he spoke with the pleasing smile that never left his face.
When he parked, we got out and each of us grabbed one of the kids’ hand. Their eyes got big as saucers when they looked at the large building.
"Ever been bowling before, Junior?" Jacob asked.
Junior shook his head without breaking his gaze from the building.
Jacob grabbed my hand. "I rented the entire alley for us today, and lunch will be served in a couple of hours," he announced just before we reached the front counter.
"Jacob, you didn’t have to do that. I could have paid for mine…" I began, but he put up a finger to stop me.
"I got this babe. I'm going to show you so much more than this, so get used to it." He winked at me, checked in with the attendant, and led us to alley number three. "Besides, this day is about us. I didn’t want anyone else to be in here."
My heart swelled. I felt like royalty. We’d only been together a few months, and he was doing more than my ex had done in four years. It was never about the money. It was always about having his time and being made to feel like I mattered.
"At least let me get our shoes, Jacob."
"Ask for the ones I ordered," he said as I walked away.
“Okay,” I said and went to the shoe booth. I grabbed the shoes for everyone and came back to our lane. I put new shoes on Montana, and they fit perfectly. Jacob helped Junior by tying his shoes for him. "You know we could have worn the shoes from the alley. You didn't have to order new ones especially for us. Our feet are not too good to share with the general public," I told him as I laced mine.
"What did I just say, woman?" he said without offering any further explanation. He shook his head as he typed in our names into the computer. “I see you’re going to have to get used to how I do things, and it damn sure isn’t conventional.”
"You're right," I relented. “I’m in for quite a few surprises with you, Mr. Turner.”
“Good that you recognize that. Now, enjoy the ride,” he winked then his expression turned serious as he looked at the kids. "Okay, the object of the game is to win. We are playing boys vs. girls, and of course the boys will win this thing."
"Yes!" Junior yelled, giving Jacob a high five. He then turned to us and there was a new light in his eyes. Junior pumped his fists in the air as he sang his battle cry. "Mommy, you both don’t stand a chance."
I crossed my arms. "Those are fighting words, son."
Jacob laughed as our eyes met. "The boy is right. We’re going to clobber you two,” Jacob added.
“We’ll see about that,” I blurted back.
“Let me show you how to do this, Junior. Stand right here," Jacob picked up the ball and Junior stood next to him watching intently.
"Now, what you have to do is put the ball down behind this white line, and then push it as hard as you can," Jacob said.
He put a lightweight ball down in front of Junior and Junior rolled it. It was a kiddie aisle so the ball went toward the gutter a few times, but the bumpers kept knocking it back out. The ball got to the end and knocked down seven pins.
“Yay, did I win?” Junior asked excitedly.
"You get one more roll, but you’re doing great, buddy!" Jacob said, as he and Junior high-fived.
Again, Junior rolled the ball. This time, he knocked down three pins and jumped up and down. "Yes!" He turned to me and his grin was huge. "Mommy, did you see that?"
"I saw it. Great job!" I beamed.
"Your mother is right. That’s a good first try,” Jacob added.
"Thank you, Mr. Jacob!" Junior threw his arms around Jacob’s leg.
"You’re welcome!" Jacob said and pat him on his curly head.
Junior sat down.
Jacob glanced at me and I swore I saw a few tears in his green eyes. I wanted the day to go well, and it was already so much better than I had anticipated.
"Now, it’s your turn, Montana," he said, having already grabbed the silver slide that helped little ones to guide their ball.
“How I do it?” she asked, looking at the slide like she didn’t know what to make of it.
r /> "Here, I’ll help you." He placed her ball on top of it.
She cautiously walked toward him, and he grabbed her hand and put it on the ball, when she was standing in position. With a slight push, he guided the ball down the slide and onto the lane.
Montana’s eyes were big when she turned around and looked at me. She then looked back down at the pins and half of them fell down. She jumped up with enthusiasm she’d seen from her brother. "Mommy, Mommy," she yelled. “You see it?”
I chuckled, "I see it, sweetie."
She rolled it, again, knocking down two more, and she seemed every bit as pleased.
Then, it was my turn. I walked up to the lane and removed the tool that Montana used.
"Need some coaching?" Jacob asked with a wink. "I could stand behind you to guide it in."
I shook my head. "Down boy…just step back and watch how it’s done," I bragged.
He glared at me. "Oh, I like a woman who knows how to trash talk."
I rolled my eyes, turned on my heels and rolled the ball. It went down the lane and knocked down all the pins. “I talk trash, but I can back it up,” I quipped.
"Not bad," he muttered his surprise.
I shrugged, walked past him and gave Montana a high five. “Just a little girl power,” I said, teasing him.
He picked up his ball and postured to roll his ball. He, too, got a strike. We locked eyes and he said, "I’m coming for you, girls."
"Bring it!" I looked at Montana and Junior. They were laughing just from seeing the pins fall. Our day couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
*******
"We should do that again sometime," I said, putting Montana in a highchair and glancing at Jacob.
He rolled his eyes and looked at Junior. "You better get used to women bragging. They win one little game and that’s all they want to talk about."
I laughed when Junior nodded his understanding. "Mommy, can’t you just stop it?" he asked using Jacob’s sarcastic tone.
“Okay, I’ll drop it." I playfully glared at Jacob and then Junior. I giggled and took a swig of my soda.
Then Montana clapped her tiny hands together. "We win…we win!" she yelled.
"That’s my girl,” I said and gave her another high five. “I said, I’d drop it, but I can’t make any guarantees about Montana.”
"I had a lot of fun, even though me and Mr. Jacob didn’t win," Junior spoke, after the waitress brought our lunch.
"I’m glad you enjoyed it," Jacob replied. “That makes us all winners then.”
Junior seemed to be thinking and then he asked, "Don’t you want your own kids?"
"Montie Jr.!" I scolded. “Why would you ask him that question?”
Jacob raised his hand to quiet me.
“No, it’s a fair question. Junior, I love kids and would give anything to be blessed to have a couple, or three, one day. I just never was lucky enough to find the right woman to have my kids." Jacob hesitated looking in my direction, and when he did I saw how important having his own children was to him. "You'll understand one day, buddy," Jacob turned his attention back to Junior.
Junior nodded and grabbed a crayon. “Nah, I don’t want any kids, ever,” Junior replied and got lost in coloring a picture. “I just wanted to know if you wanted my mama to give you children and would that be my sister or brother?”
“When I do have children, I could only hope that it’s with a woman as amazing as your mother, but me and your mother have not discussed having children because we’re not ready for that yet,” Jacob explained to Junior, who simply nodded and kept coloring.
"You are amazing, Jacob," I whispered.
"They make it easy," Jacob said, as he reached under the table and intertwined his fingers with mine. He moved closer to me and kissed my cheek.
The rest of our table conversation was easy, with Junior monopolizing most of the topics. Jacob was on every wavelength with my son, and I loved that. Jacob had his approval and mine.
Standing at my front door at the end of our family date, I unlocked the door, and Jacob stepped inside. The look in his eyes told me what he wanted.
"Hey, how about a movie?" I asked Montana and Junior, ushering them toward the living room. I held up my finger and left Jacob standing there, so that I could put a movie on for them. “Give me just a second.”
"Yah!" they replied in unison as they followed behind me. It took a few minutes to pick out a movie, with Junior being the most opinionated about what it should be. Finally, they agreed upon Shrek.
“Okay, you guys watch this quietly until I come back in here, okay?”
“We will, mama,” Junior said and sat on the sofa.
Montana sat beside him and started singing the intro song.
I went back out to the foyer and wrapped my arms around Jacob’s neck. "I don’t want you to go," I whispered huskily.
"I know, babe, and the last thing I want to do is leave here tonight. Do you see what just your hug has done to me?” I trailed his gaze down to the growing bulge in his slacks.
“Oh my.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” he said as he adjusted his pants. “I don’t want to confuse the kids and have them thinking more than they should right now," he admitted.
I loved the fact that he considered their feelings. I looked down at the floor thinking, but then felt his finger underneath my chin. "Chin up, beautiful. The next time the kids are with their father, I’ll spend the night doing things to you that you’ve never had done before. I promise you that." His lips pressed against mine, and his tongue owned every corner of my mouth. I was his, as his hand slowly inched up my shirt—a sign of what we both wished could take place. After he had his feel, he removed his hand and slowly tugged away from our embrace. "I better go," he whispered.
"Yeah," I said, knowing exactly what heat level we were ascending to, if he kept seducing me. But I couldn’t hide my disappointment, when he turned away from me and walked to his car, no matter how hard I tried.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JACOB
Going Back to Miami
I boarded my jet headed back to Miami. I had pressing business to handle, but for the entire flight I kept thinking about how much fun I had with Montie Jr. and Montana. I hadn’t laughed that much in quite a long time. Then visions of the way Destiny smiled the other night when I carried her to her bedroom and put on her pajamas assailed my mind. Her pretty, brown face was so peaceful and happy. I could see her in my life forever. I couldn’t wait until the day I could make things official between us. My hope was to keep her that happy for a very long time. I hated putting so many miles between us, but after receiving a call from Brian in accounting, I had to take this trip.
Brian informed me that the twenty-two million dollar bid we placed had been green-lighted by the Department of Defense. I had no doubt the DOD would award us the contract, and we would execute it with top-notch ability. My team of A1 vice presidents could handle it, but I was personally popping into the office to get the ball rolling. I always got my hands dirty when we had developments with over ten million in capital. These projects had to go off without a hitch.
So, I begrudgingly called Destiny to tell her I would be gone at least a week. She said she understood, but I could hear the disappointment in her voice. She wished me luck with the project, and to be frank, that’s all I needed to hear. I planned to have a couple board meetings about the Delaware office’s grand opening, too, while I was in Miami.
"Good morning, Mr. Turner," two of my staff members said as I walked through Turner Enterprises, reminding me how much I thrived off being in the center of the action. After all, Miami was where my family business began, and I was proud to be at the helm. I came from a long lineage of men who garnered the respect I was receiving. I stepped right into the shoes they left me and worked savagely hard to fill them.
"Good morning," I said to Jalisa Jeffers, my Vice President of Operations, when she approached me
in the hallway that led to my office.
"Good morning, sir, and welcome back to Miami. Are we still on for the meeting at nine?"
"Yes, and bring the estimates for the DOD and a printed draft of this month's financials with you. Ask Tom to bring whatever figures you don't have available. He was working on them for me, too," I said. It used to drive them crazy to know that I had two people working on the same task, but now they’re used to me being thorough, and they know I expect the same from them.
"Yes sir. I'll see you in a few," Jalisa said as she walked toward her office.
"Howdy Wanda," I addressed my long-time secretary in the same way my father did during his tenure. Wanda wore a purple jacket with matching pants and shoes. Her hair was in a bun with a purple ribbon tied around it. My father hired her because she brightened up the place all those years ago, and at seventy she still remains vibrant and full of life.
"Why good morning, Mr. Turner! I left some notes for you on your desk. Since you were planning to come in today, I didn’t email them to you. I hope that's okay."
Wanda was used to memos and sticky notes. I had gotten her into the digital world with emails, faxes, and even a little social media, and she complies with my request to be emailed, most of the time.
"That's perfectly fine, Wanda. Thanks." I unlocked my office and went in. The smell of fresh mahogany from my unique, handcrafted desk and bookcase impaled my senses. I flipped the light switch on and stared around the large room that had become my second home. I sat down in my Design Toscano chair behind my desk, and began going through the notes on my desk. One name stood out like a thorn: Justine. She’d left three messages in the past thirty minutes on my office’s voicemail, begging me to call her when I got into the office. When she called again, I buzzed Wanda’s desk.
"Yes sir?"
"How did Justine know I would be here today?" I huffed out, allowing my frustration with my ex to be evident.
"Sir, she called and asked for you early this morning, and I told her you would be in later. You didn’t tell me to screen her calls, so I hope that’s okay."
I looked at my watch. It was only 8:30.
"What time did she call?"
"Eight a.m. on the dot." She paused. "Actually sir, she calls every morning at eight a.m. to see if you are here. Today was just the first day she called that you were scheduled to come in."