THE
BUSINESS OF LOVETHE
BUSINESS OF LOVENOTHING'S MORE COMPLICATED...
The heir to a fast-growing Washington DC hotel chain, public relations specialist
Maya Woodson is determined to make the chain's plans to go public successful--even
if she is at odds with Trajan Matthews, the handsome, fiercely ambitious investor
relations expert who's been hired to run the stock offering. Now she needs to
put a stop to the all-consuming desire flaming between them, before their business
deal goes up in smoke.
...THAN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE
Trajan survived D.C.'s toughest streets with one goal: to achieve success by
any means necessary. But he soon finds that Maya's strength and unshakable sense
of purpose are challenging everything he values, and stirring his deepest, most
hidden passions. Now, as a shocking crime endangers the chain's future--and
their careers--Maya and Trajan must discover what they cherish most...if they
are to share a future filled with love.
As soon as Maya appeared in her doorway dressed in a playful polo dress, a shade of hunter green that delighted her skin tone and flirted with her thighs, Trajan knew this was about more than he’d intended. He’d tried to convince himself this was about convenience, about a truce. That was all shattered with one smile.
"I can see I’m not overdressed." Maya sat back in the comfortable leather seats of the rented Buick Park Avenue.
"You’re referring to my polo and shorts?" Trajan smiled, keeping his eyes on the road. It wasn’t easy with her so close to him. The dress hiked up her thighs as she sat down. He could see from the corner of his life. "You don’t approve?"
"Don’t be silly." Maya approved. She approved too much. Looking at his strong, muscular legs and arms, she felt the summer heat getting to her.
There was an awkward silence at the red light. He stole a glance. Her hair fell over her face, hanging without order over her shoulders. Only lipstick, but a soft shade of red that highlighted her face. That nose. It was just as adorable in a profile as up front.
Maya adjusted the vent in front of her focusing the air on her face, which was getting hotter every second. "So, who are we meeting? What firm are they with?"
"I know these people from way back."
"I assumed as much." Maya noticed they were leaving the business district, not towards the city, but southeast. "For it to be okay that we’re dressed like this. Where exactly are we going?"
"You’ll like them," he said. "They’ll definitely like you."
"You mean they’ll like Pharaoh." She wasn’t stupid. Maya knew something was up. Where they were headed, there were no companies here, and the few restaurants there weren’t necessarily fit for business meetings.
Trajan nodded.
The silence returned. Maya’s anticipation grew. She tried to ignore the voice that said it wasn’t wise to entertain the thought she was entertaining. Especially with him. As they drove down a neighborhood street, Maya heard the music, first. She saw a couple with a little girl around five years old, walking down the street, the woman holding a plastic round cake holder at the straps.
The two orange street blockades came into view. The block party had already started.
Maya turned to Trajan as they stopped. He smiled mischievously.
"Go ahead," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Explain yourself. You have one minute."
He spoke fast, in one breath.
"This is my old neighborhood. We’re having a block party, and my aunt begged me to come, begged me to bring someone. I didn’t want to, but I never visit so I had to. Besides, you agreed."
Maya tried to keep from laughing. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t angry with him. "I agreed to a business dinner. I don’t know your family. I don’t..."
Trajan was out of the car already. Maya watched with her mouth wide open as he moved the barriers. He jumped back in the car.
"As I was saying when you left me in the middle of a sentence," Maya continued. "I don’t..."
"They’re great." He winked at her before hopping out to replace the blockades.
Maya folded her arms across her chest as he parked the car. "I’m not getting out."
"Come on, Maya. They’re good people." When she hadn’t blown up in anger, Trajan knew he had won this one. The rest was small stuff. She was getting out of this car.
"But they’re your people. I don’t even know them. Who will they think I am?"
He sighed. "I’ll tell them you’re a friend. You can survive one night of friendship with me."
She shook her head. "You took me for granted. You deceived me."
He wouldn’t let her frustrate him. "Maya, that’s a little stretch."
"You tried to make me think everything was fine this morning, so I would be dulled into complacency and..."
"Everything is fine! What was wrong?"
He’d regretted saying that the second he heard it come out of his mouth. Everything hadn’t been fine. This relationship, or whatever it could be called, was confusing at least. No where near fine.
"Look Maya." He lowered his head, took a deep breath and raised it again. "Can we start over? I can’t explain the kisses or the arguments anymore than you could. But if we start over, maybe we won’t have to."
"I don’t know." Maya was torn. She loved the idea of a clean slate, but part of her didn’t want to forget the kisses. Another part wasn’t sure they’d gone too far for a clean slate to be an option.
"My aunt Audrey made grilled pork chops, smoked turkey and her famous cheddar garlic rolls."
"Food doesn’t sway me," she lied.
"Baked, soft and mushy sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon sugar. Greens, corn on the cob, barbequed ribs, fried chicken."
"Stop." Maya’s stomach grumbled.
"Homemade pound cake and hot peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream melting all over it."
Maya bit her lower lip. "I hate you, Tre."
Trajan smiled victoriously. "I can accept that. Now, get on out of this car, woman."
Maya was enjoying herself right away. George greeted them on the way, not an inch of surprise on his face at seeing them together. Trajan’s Aunt Audrey hugged her tightly, as if she’d known her forever. Everyone made her feel welcomed immediately, most of them vaguely aware of her father, the hotel. She was flattered by their compliments, but grateful that no treated her differently for it. The food was abundant, home grown and rich. Maya filled herself up, urged by Aunt Audrey, who complained about her weight as if she was being starved.
Trajan watched Maya all night. He enjoyed watching how she naturally warmed to people, and how they naturally warmed to her. She was a beautiful person inside and out, and made him feel like a better person just from being with her.
Urged on by some pre-teen girls, Maya went into the street and held the rope for double-dutch. As the sun set, the street lights illuminated the scene. Laughing eating, joking, meaningful conversation about much of nothing and innocent play. It was all beautiful and Maya was caught up in the moment remembering her childhood, and grateful that Trajan brought some of it back to her.
"You got some serious issues boy." George handed Trajan a beer as they stood against a tree.
Trajan smiled, emotions waving through him as they had all evening. "How did you know?"
"You got that look on your face," he said. "Like you just gave in to something you’ve been fighting. Like that look in between a perp denying everything and confessing it all. I know it well."
"So I remind you of a perp, a criminal?" Trajan laughed, surprised that he was so readable.
"You know what I mean."
Trajan nodded, looking up the tree. "Remember this tree?"
George nodded. "The only one on the block big enough for me to hide behind."
Trajan looked down the street. "Whose living there now?"
"Last Audrey told me, some middle-aged woman and her mother. Nice folks. She says they keep to themselves."
Trajan had thought to walk that extra block, but didn’t. He’d expected to feel apprehensive, maybe a little afraid, but he didn’t. He could see his old house from where he stood and he felt fine. He had George, Audrey, and especially Maya to thank for that, even though they didn’t know it.
"You take the good with the bad, brother." George drank his beer.
Trajan nodded. "It’s not that easy. I mean, I have a lot of good memories. Mama was so good to me, would do anything for me. Give me anything."
George looked away. "I know the story. But she had nothing but love to give you."
"You don’t know how hard it was for me, man." Trajan felt his fists clench. "Fighting every inch. Seeing her spend her life just trying to keep her head above water."
"I grew up here too, brother. Remember?"
"But you had a dad. A good dad that made some money."
"So what are you saying? By ignoring where you came from, you can gain...what?"
Trajan shrugged. "I’m here aren’t I?"
Trajan watched Maya in the street, laughing. She was beautiful, so comfortable around everyone.
"Issue number two."
"Enough." Trajan held up a hand to stop him. "Don’t drag her into this."
"She’s already in it, man. I could see that from the start. I think you did too."
Trajan nodded, taking a sip. He watched as the music blared and the girls tossed the ropes aside to dance. Maya was as sensual as she was playful.
As if by nature, Trajan started for the street, soaking her up with his eyes. When she swung around, her eyes caught his and she stopped, but only for a moment.
Maya felt her body warm as he headed for her. She kept dancing to the strong base of the hip hop song. She was inviting him to join her, wishing for nothing else in this world. Only a few hours ago, she would have never guessed Trajan Matthews could get down to a rap song, but he showed her the contrary as he joined her.
A few hours ago, Maya would have never thought she wanted to kiss him again, but as soon as the song changed to a slow tune and he took her in his arms, she knew she did.
"Your aunt thinks I’m your girlfriend," she said, looking up at him. The night had cooled considerably, but she was just as hot as the midday sun.
"So my plan is complete." Trajan loved holding her. She was soft and feminine to touch. He liked having her close. Her smile was like wine to his system.
"Plan?" Maya’s hands were at his shoulders. He smelled like cologne and sun, and her senses liked it.
"My plan to keep the matchmaking at bay." He wanted to kiss her again.
"So you’ve used me again." She playfully punched his arm.
He pulled her closer, looking down at her. Her lips were so moist, inviting. "Hey you got sweet potatoes out of it. I think you came out good."
She nodded. Maya could hear her heart beat fast. "If your aunt is a matchmaker, you might want to avoid her, but I think I need her number."
"Now Maya." She smelled too good. "There’s no way you’re in need of a matchmaker."
"Thanks for the compliment, but its hard out there."
"Especially for those of us committed to our work."
There was a silence as they both contemplated a relationship with the other. But no, they told themselves. Business before pleasure, Trajan thought. Look for something you can handle, Maya thought.
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