THE SPICY, SWEET AROMA OF cheesy jalapeno cornbread spread throughout Leslie Spaulding’s house, which overlooked a wide river in one of the most elite subdivisions found in the surrounding areas. A few moments ago, Leslie had gathered all of her guests at the long rectangular table inside her fancy dining room to say the blessing. Since the children had ate earlier, they weren’t there. Instead, they were in the den watching cartoons. Requesting for everyone to join hands and bow their heads, Leslie said a beautiful prayer.
“In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
“Amen,” voices resounded throughout the room.
Standing next to Kayla, Richmond pulled out a chair for her, and after she took her seat,
he took his. At a rapid rate, Richmond was falling for Kayla, the beautiful woman sitting next to him. But it wasn’t just her looks that had him so smitten. Or so captivated and so enthralled. It was her sweet personality and her fun ways. Full of adventure, he was looking forward to spending most of his free time with her, especially after what’d happened at his beach house yesterday. And her house the night before.
Using a pair of tongs, Richmond lifted a piece of rotisserie chicken from the silver platter and lowered it to his plate. “Would you like a piece of chicken?” he asked Kayla.
“Sure.”
Sensing her nervousness, he asked, “Which piece?”
Kayla’s eyes drifted to the roasted pieces of chicken. “I’ll take the breast, please.”
When the word ‘breast’ had left her lips, a vivid image of him sucking hers on yesterday while she rode him crossed Richmond’s mind. Lowering the chicken breast to Kayla’s dish, his lips tilted into a smile.
“Thanks,” she said, scooping a heap full of mashed potatoes onto her plate.
Things between him and Kayla hadn’t gone as he’d originally planned when he’d first hired her to be Isabelle’s caregiver. Back then, all he’d expected from her was to be a good nanny and teacher to his daughter. But now, today, as he sat next to her at his mother’s home, he couldn’t deny the strong attraction he felt for Kayla. The strong chemistry he had with her swirled in the air. And just like he could feel it, he was certain that everyone else at the table could feel it, too.
As if reading his mind, his younger brother, Suade, burst out with, “So, Richmond. When exactly did you and Kayla start dating?”
Kayla’s eyes rounded in pure disbelief. But Suade’s question hadn’t bothered him the least bit. In fact, he found it rather flattering. “Yesterday.” There, he’d said it. Only problem was, he hadn’t told Kayla that the two of them were officially dating yet.
Suade picked up the glass of sweet tea sitting on the napkin in front of him. “Well, I can most definitely see why you like her. She’s as pretty as all get out.”
Russell gave Richmond a peculiar stare. Holding a fork with shrimp potato salad to his lips, he looked at Kayla, then back at him. “Yesterday?! Y’all just started dating yesterday? That’s rather quick, don’t you think?”
Leslie wiped her mouth. Tilting her head, she gave Russell a bland smile. “Mind your own business, Russell. Richmond and Kayla are grown. They can do whatever they please.”
A sudden icy contempt flashed in Russell’s eyes. “You’re always jumping in the conversation when no one is talking to you, Leslie.”
In her most famous proper voice, Leslie exclaimed, “Now, Russell, this is my house, and if you don’t like when I speak my mind whenever I please, you know where the front door is.”
Russell rolled his eyes. “If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have this house!”
Leslie kept her cool demeanor. “Putting up with your cheating, why my, my, my, I think I deserve to live this fabulous, darling. Don’t you?” She twirled her wrist in the air.
Chuckling, Richmond held up his hand. “That’s enough, you two.”
Suade laughed. “Welcome to the family, Kayla.”
“Thanks.” Kayla giggled.
“Sandella,” Leslie called out Sandella’s name as she sat on the other side of Kayla. “That Logan is too pretty. She’s such a darling little girl. Do you and Braylon want any more children?”
Russell shook his head. “Now look who’s being nosey now.”
Leslie’s eyes narrowed at Russell. “Forget you, Russell.”
Russell’s brows furrowed. “I wish you would forget me. It’d save me some money, that’s for sure. All the money I have to pay you for alimony is absurd.”
Leslie shot Russell a contemptuous glance. “I don’t even know why you bother to come over here for dinner on Sundays.”
“Hell, I got a problem with you, not your food,” Russell spat, then grinned.
Everyone at the table, including Leslie and Russell, burst into hearty laughter.