I’ve been a busy bee since last I wrote. Edits for Deceived are finished and I’m looking
forward to its release. I’ve been debating an excerpt to post. I like surprises
and I don’t want to ruin the plot by posting too much. So I decided to post a
bit of the beginning. After the release, I’ll post another (possibly more
revealing and steamier) excerpt.
Janelle Avery
stared out over the lights of the city far below the penthouse suite of the
Clark Hotel in Charlotte. The glass doors that led to the balcony reflected the
simple white dress she wore and the quiet party going on behind her. It was
sleeveless with a shimmery bodice. The A-line skirt ended midleg. On her wrist,
she wore a thick silver cuff.
Jerome Wilson,
her boyfriend, had gone to the bar to get her a drink. The last six months
Jerome had been working insane hours in hopes of getting a promotion. This
party was a perfect example. Aidan Clark had dropped this event on Jerome less
than twenty-four hours ago. Initially, they’d planned on going dancing or
seeing a movie and then ringing in the New Year at her apartment. But then
Jerome had been “invited” to this party for select executives of Clark
International in celebration of a recent acquisition of prime waterfront
property in France. “Ordered to attend” would have been a more fitting
description. No way could he pass up this opportunity to rub elbows with his
boss. Supportive girlfriend that she was, she hadn’t been able to say no when
their first romantic evening in months became a social engagement.
“I don’t think
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you?” The voice was deep, one of the deeper
ones she’d ever heard, with a hint of gravel that sent a shiver up her spine.
Janelle’s reflection was joined by that of a tall white
man with impossibly broad shoulders. At five foot seven, she was above average
height for a female. Even in her three-inch heels, this man towered over her.
She turned. The ponytail that she’d artfully arranged over her shoulder swung
loose and trailed between her shoulder blades.
He held a
tumbler of amber liquid in one hand as he extended the other toward her. “Aidan
Clark.”
She knew who he was. Jerome had pointed him out soon
after they entered his home. Aidan Clark was ruggedly handsome with thick
chocolate-brown hair that was closely cropped and expertly tamed. He couldn’t
be called pretty. His featured were too angular and sharp. Only his mouth with
its full lower lip could be described as lush or soft. The rest of him appeared
to be carved from stone. Yet, he was the type of man that was impossible for a
woman to ignore or forget. The way he moved, the way he held himself, spoke of
confidence and simply screamed sexy. His black suit with black shirt and tie
had to have been tailored for his big body. The fit was so perfect she couldn’t
help but admire it as her slender hand was engulfed in his much larger one. His
skin was warm and his handshake was firm. “Janelle Avery. I’m Jerome’s guest.”
Aidan glanced
around until he spotted Jerome chatting with a blonde lady in a red dress while
they awaited their turn at the bar. “And I took him for a smart man.”
“Oh, Jerome is
very smart,” she said, immediately rising to his defense.
“Yet, he left
a woman as lovely as you unattended.” His gold eyes were intense as they
traveled over her face, lingering on her lips before meeting her gaze once
more.
Somewhat
unnerved by his frank appreciation, she forced a smile. “Thank you for the
compliment, but I sent him to fetch me a drink.”
“Ah, that
explains it. I hope you’ve been enjoying your evening. These events can be
terribly dull for the guests.”
“Oh, I was
just enjoying your view.” She indicated the glass doors at her back.
“Yes, it is
breathtaking,” he agreed, but his eyes never left hers. “Sometimes I think I’ll
miss it when construction on my home is completed.”
“You’re
building a house?”
He nodded. “Construction should be complete
within the month.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Jerome
appeared at her elbow. He held two glasses of champagne. Passing her a glass,
he nodded at his boss. “Aidan, I see you’ve met Janelle.”
“Yes. I’m glad
that the two of you were able to make it on such short notice.”
“Sir, I was
honored to be invited. Thank you again.”
“Nonsense.
You’ve worked very hard and I appreciate it. It makes me more comfortable
giving you greater responsibilities in the future.”
Janelle could
see Jerome’s chest puff up with pride. “Thank you, sir.”
“No, thank
you.” He nodded at the two of them. “I’ll leave you to your lovely companion.”
“Wow,” Jerome
whispered as Aidan drifted out of earshot. His excitement was palpable. “Did
you hear that? ‘Greater responsibility.’ Sounds like promotion to me.” He
pumped his fist off to the side so as not to be visible to any of the other
guests.
Janelle
laughed. “Congratulations.” Throughout the evening, Jerome introduced her to
more of his coworkers. His mood remained high from the conversation with Aidan.
Though Aidan didn’t approach them again, Janelle often found his gaze on them
as they circulated. Shortly before midnight, they turned on a flat-screen
television and watched the ball drop. Janelle shared a kiss with Jerome, but it
was understandably chaste. He didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his
chances of a promotion. She smiled at him and used her thumb to remove any
trace of lipstick from his lips. When she withdrew from Jerome’s embrace, her
gaze was snagged by Aidan’s. He nodded to her and lifted his glass in salute.
She nodded back.
On the ride
home, Jerome couldn’t stop speculating about the meaning of Aidan’s words. As
he walked her to the door of her apartment, she dug out her keys and said, “I
agree. It does seem auspicious. I’m happy for you.”
“Hey, I want to thank you for your help.”
“My help?”
“You helped me
make a good impression just by being your beautiful self. And you picked out
this suit for me.” Charcoal gray with pinstripes, the dark suit made his light
brown eyes stand out against his honeyed skin tone.
She waved away
the compliment. “It was a no-brainer. It’s what I do.” She owned a small
boutique filled with her own fashions. Jerome had wandered in while on a
shopping trip with his mother. “You’re easy to dress.” And easy on the eyes.
Jerome was very handsome and he knew it.
He grinned and leaned forward. His lips grazed hers in a
kiss so light and brief that it was over before she could participate. “So, I
owe you dinner and a movie. Are you free this weekend?”
She nodded.
“I’d like that. Are you coming in?”
“Can’t. It’s
late and Mom will worry.” He could afford his own place, but his mother was
elderly and suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. Janelle thought it
was sweet that he sacrificed his privacy to live with his mother. “Besides, I
have a few reports to turn in tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek before dashing off
taking the steps in a gallop.
Janelle
watched him leave and then turned and unlocked her door. She sighed. They
hadn’t made love in months. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was
cheating on her. But he was always at the office. He was constantly telling her
that as a black man, he had to work twice as hard to get ahead.
Deep in thought, she shrugged off her coat and hung it in
the closet near the door. She continued through her cozy den and into her
bedroom. This was her favorite room in the apartment. Here, she’d let her inner
girl out. Frilly lace curtains hung in front of her windows. Her comforter was
the thickest she could find in winter white. It was covered in fur pillows of
Navajo white and pale pink. Dolls and teddy bears took up all the available
level surfaces. Even they were dressed in varying shades of pink and white.
Janelle
removed her dress and carefully placed it on a rack in her closet. She supposed
she should look at this evening as a success. She liked Jerome, and as her best
friend Dionne would say, they’d make beautiful babies together. At the rate
they were going, that would be years off. She admired Jerome’s work ethic and
he always claimed that his priority was their future. While she’d liked the
sound of “their future,” they weren’t engaged, nor had they discussed marriage.
In the meantime, she felt neglected and unwanted. She didn’t think of herself
as an attention-craving diva, but being ignored wasn’t particularly flattering.
She pulled a
frilly cotton gown over her head and slid her feet into fuzzy rabbit slippers.
Stretching her arms over her head, she reminded herself that she should be
grateful that she had a good man with a great job. Jerome wasn’t perfect, but
then who was?
Perfection
made her think of the suit Aidan Clark had worn tonight. Definitely Armani. The
cloth had molded his body like he was born in it. Janelle had been surprised to
find out he was so young. Jerome had explained that Aidan had begun building
his empire at the age of nineteen. He’d purchased his first hotel with money
left to him by his grandfather.
She went to
her kitchen for water. Swallowing the cool liquid, she couldn’t help but think
that Jerome had more than a small amount of hero-worship for Aidan. She didn’t
think there was anything he wouldn’t do to impress the man.
