Authors: Zuri Day
Lovin' Blue (19 page)
38
The rest of the week passed smoothly. Eden planned to personally try all the preventative and healing methods offered at the center so that in addition to her administrative acclimation, she'd experience Reiki, hypnotherapy, and the best massage she'd ever had. After a month off, Eden felt good being back at work and easily settled into her workday routine. She also remembered how much she looked forward to Fridays, no matter where she was employed. Even though her Capitol Hill job regularly called for working on weekends, Saturday and Sunday were still her favorite days of the week.
Alex tapped on Eden's open door. “Big plans for the weekend?” he asked before stepping inside.
“Spending time with family, friends. You?”
Alex shrugged. “The usual, I guess. Shoot a couple rounds, get some sun.” All week Alex had pondered how best to ask the question that most interested him. Finally he could take it no longer and decided to ask outright. “Are you married, Eden?”
All week, Eden had anticipated the question and didn't hesitate in her answer. He'd acted professionally, but Eden wanted Alex and everyone else to make no mistake about her status. “I'm in a committed relationship.”
Alex nodded. “Lucky guy. What does he do?”
This time, there was a slight pause. “He's a police officer.”
Alex didn't try to hide his surprise. He walked over to Eden's desk and sat down in one of the two chairs that faced her. “A cop? As in crime-chasing, gun-toting officer of the law?”
Eden nodded.
“Forgive my saying so, but that is probably the last profession I'd guess for your partner.”
“I understand.” Eden further established her boundary by adding, “Jansen is a special man. I'm the lucky one.”
“I look forward to meeting him,” Alex smoothly replied. She'd said committed relationship, not marriage. In Alex's mind, that simply meant she was with the best one until the better one came along. On one hand, Alex knew he was playing with fire, that he'd be better off focusing on someone other than a “committed coworker.” On the other hand, there was very little that this only son from a well-to-do Greek family desired and didn't get. He'd wanted to become a doctor. It had happened. He'd wanted to practice in the States. It had happened. And now he wanted Eden Anderson. As far as Alex was concerned, it was only a matter of time.
Rivulets of hot, sudsy water poured over Eden's shoulders and down her back. Knowing the consequences but being unable to resist, she'd stuck her head under the nozzle and allowed the pulsating stream to massage her scalp and neck. She thought the master bath one of the best rooms in Jansen's house. Comparatively, Jansen undoubtedly had the better, more comfortable home. Eden thought if only he'd get rid of his mini arsenal, it would be a perfect abode. His gun collection was the reason she'd missed luxuriating in this steel and marble paradise. She'd been here only once since the weapons discovery, had used whatever excuse necessary to get him to come to her place. She knew she'd have to have the conversation one day. But not now. Not now when things were magical, when her declaration of love had brought out an even more attentive, more passionate officer who was a gentleman.
“Come on, woman!” Jansen commanded from just outside the shower stall. “We need to leave in less than an hour.”
“Almost done.” Eden rinsed the conditioner from her hair, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped the nearest towel around her wet hair. Before she could take two steps to retrieve one for her body, she was in Jansen's arms. “Jansen, we've got to hurry, remember?”
“Baby, when I see you like this, all clean and wet, I forget about everything else.”
Eden shook her head as she wiggled free from his embrace. She hadn't known many men, and of the ones she had, she'd never met anyone who compared to Jansen McKnight. He'd come over to her place every night that week, and still he'd ravished her as soon as she'd stepped in the door. Something about being in his arms stoked her flames of desire to heights heretofore unknown. There'd been no resistance as he'd undressed her in the living room before placing her on the dining room table and treating her as his meal. They'd ended up in the kitchen, where things had happened with a counter, a footstool, and a jar of chocolate syrup that then led to the shower, hair washing and, if she'd had time, a nap.
Ninety minutes later, Jansen and Eden strolled into the Greek, an intimate outdoor amphitheater nestled in the tree-covered hills of Griffith Park. For them, the night was perfect, dressed as they were in lightweight sweaters, jackets, and jeans. Jansen enfolded Eden's hand in his as they navigated the almost six thousand patrons waiting to groove to the sounds of Maxwell, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu.
“Baby, do you want us to get our seats and then come back for the food basket?” They'd ordered “The Superstar,” which consisted of breads, cheeses, a Greek salad, for Jansen a peppercorn top sirloin steak, and for Eden a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. “Those sandals look sexy as hell, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable”
“Oooo, you are so sweet to ask, but no, these shoes are comfortable, I don't mind standing.”
Jansen shook his head. “Women.”
Eden laughed. “Men.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He put an arm around her, pulled her close, and kissed her for real.
“Jansen!” A voice from much too close to either Jansen or Eden came between their lips.
Jansen pulled back and looked around, the scowl evident even in subdued lighting.
An attractive woman dressed in a skintight animal-print mini, heels two inches higher than Eden's and a weave long enough to have helped an Indian woman pay off her house, stepped up to Jansen. Grabbing his arm, she exclaimed, “I thought that was you!” She wedged herself in front of Eden and proceeded to engage Jansen in an intimate hug.
Or tried to. Jansen immediately stepped back, pulled her arms from around his neck, and reached for Eden. He anchored her to his side, his expression as stern as it was civil. “Tami,” he said with a restraint that Eden couldn't help but admire. “This is my heart, Eden Anderson.”
Jansen's “heart” soared with a lot of admiration and a little pride. If this was what it felt like to be possessed, Eden was ready to rethink her position. She couldn't help but compare him to Gregg, her ex-husband. In the same situation, Gregg would have acted as if Eden weren't there, would have flirted shamelessly with the other woman and may even not have been above walking off to have Eden fend for herself.
When I'm with a woman, she belongs to me . . . and I'm hers. That's just how it is.
It felt good not to have to guess where one stood with her man. Eden leaned into Jansen's protective, supportive embrace and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. Tami, correct?”
When I'm with a woman, she belongs to me . . . and I'm hers. That's just how it is.
It felt good not to have to guess where one stood with her man. Eden leaned into Jansen's protective, supportive embrace and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. Tami, correct?”
Tami looked at Eden as if she wore doo-doo on her face instead of a smile. Woman-to-woman telepathy told Eden everything she needed to know, including the fact that this woman should have gotten an Oscar for the grin she tried to maintain through her limp-as-a-noodle handshake. “Nice to meet you, Esther.”
“Eden,” Jansen corrected. “As in, the beautiful garden.”
“Oh, how quaint,” Tami responded. She turned to Jansen, and her smile became authentic. She tossed her lengthy mane, licked what Eden had to admit were perfect lips set in flawless skin, and in a voice as sexy as Marilyn Monroe and Pam Grier combined asked for a private moment of Jansen's time.
“I don't think so,” he responded without hesitation. “Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of her. There are no secrets between us.”
“Fine,” Tami spat, her cool facade slipping just a notch. “I see that your attention is temporarily diverted, but I just wanted you to know that all your things are still at my house waiting . . . and so am I.”
Jansen pulled Eden even closer to him. Another step, and she would have been standing on his feet instead of beside them! He turned to face her. “Eden, I dated Tami before you arrived. Unlike the committed relationship that we share, Tami and I had a nonexclusive relationship for about three months, during which time I visited her at her house because I rarely let women come to mine. I may have left some clothes there, probably some DVDs, toiletries, or whatever.” He looked from Eden to Tami and continued. “There is nothing I left at your house that I want, Tami. Nothing.”
Tami's skin reddened under the assault, but she regained her cool. “Hmph. Baby, I was there. I know what we have, and I know there is no other woman on this planet who can make you feel the way I do.”
“You're right,” Jansen countered. Eden's heart sank. To think that someone else had enjoyed the pleasures to which she was now addicted brought almost tangible pain. Jansen continued. “But there's someone who makes me feel like I've never felt before, feel things in ways I never thought I could. And you're looking at her.” Eden's heart soared.
They retrieved their basket, found their seats, uncorked the wine, and toasted the evening. Neither mentioned Tami. It was as if the nasty exchange had never occurred. Jill sang about love in E-flat, Erykah viewed life from a window seat, and Maxwell cried a fistful of tears. And something happened with Jansen and Eden. Their love deepened, expanded, took off on pretty wings. They enjoyed the concert immensely, but the music their bodies later played was what they loved the most.
39
“Look, Mike. I'm not trying to say Kobe ain't a bad baller, I'm just saying LeBron is more of the total package, an all-around player!” Jansen argued passionately, hand gestures further emphasizing his point.
“Kobe is
full
of game,” Michael countered. “He's going to go down as one of the greatest players of all time!”
full
of game,” Michael countered. “He's going to go down as one of the greatest players of all time!”
“And LeBron isn't? If you believe that, I've got some oceanfront land in Mississippi to sell you.”
Eden and Bridgett looked at each other, their unspoken message one of “this argument will never end unless we end it.” Eden knew her brother, and she knew Jansen was just as stubborn as Michael. Bridgett probably knew Michael even better than Eden. They let the men ramble for another moment or so, discussing how this Cheesecake Factory in Marina del Rey was their favorite and how the insanely divine weather and ocean views made southern California worth its earthquakes, traffic, and high-priced real estate.
Finally Bridgett had had enough and stepped in to change the verbal tide. “Speaking of land in Mississippi . . .” she began. “Oh, hell, there's no way I can use that for a segue. But I do want to change the subject.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Eden looked at Bridgett. Michael looked at Eden. Jansen looked at Michael. Bridgett crossed her arms and smiled.
“The floor is obviously yours,” Jansen said sarcastically, rocking back in his chair. “Are you going to tell us or what?”
“Yes, big brother,” Eden added, looking from Michael to Bridgett and back. “What's the news?”
Michael shrugged. “A little change in lifestyle. Nothing too serious.”
Bridgett swatted him. “Well, some things are going to happen sooner rather than later,” she countered. “Life keeps movingâit's up to us to keep up with it.”
Jansen sat up as the waitress brought their orders. When she left, he continued. “Okay, did I miss some part of this conversation, Bridgett, or did you start in the middle?”
Bridgett laughed. “I may have started in the middle. I just knew I had to start somewhere, or we'd be in a basketball Twilight Zone for the rest of the afternoon.”
“So what's up, Mike?” Jansen repeated. “You have something to tell us, or what?”
Eden stared aghast at the couple and for the first time noticed the twinkle in both their eyes.
OMG, Big Brother has been hooked. He's head over heels in love with Bridgett Chambers!
OMG, Big Brother has been hooked. He's head over heels in love with Bridgett Chambers!
After a beat, in which Michael and Bridgett swapped goo-goo-eyed expressions, Jansen and Eden took sips from their drinks, and even the seagulls waited for an explanation, Eden quietly exploded. “Well, out with it already. What the heck is going on?”
“Well,” Bridgett said coyly, “I can show you better than I can tell you.” She held out her left hand and proudly showed off the diamond ring sparkling from her third finger.
Eden gasped. “Michael! You're getting married?”
Jansen clapped his hands together. “Big Mike! You finally stepped up to the plate. Congratulations, man.”
Eden grasped Bridgett's hand for a closer examination of the ring. “You done good, bro,” she announced. “Congratulations. I'm really happy for you guys.”
Jansen motioned to their waitress. “This calls for a toast. Lunch is on me, as well as the celebratory bottle of bubbly!” After the waitress came over and stated the options, Jansen asked, “Bridgett, Mike will drink anything. So would you like the Veuve Clicquot or the Moët?”
“Actually,” Bridgett said, her demeanor once again uncharacteristically shy. “I think I'll have cranberry juice or sparkling water.”
“What? You've just announced some of the biggest news of your life, and you're going to go Ocean Spray on us?” Jansen shook his head decisively. “I don't think so.”
Eden placed a hand on Jansen's arm. She looked from Bridgett to her brother and then back again. “Wait a minute. Is there a second part to this announcement?”
A subtle pride emanated from Michael as he answered. “I'll put it to you this way, weed: Mama's about to get that grandbaby she's been yakking about.”
The conversation flowed from bachelor/bachelorette parties to possible wedding locations and baby names. The four stayed at the restaurant for almost two hours, leaving only because a phone call reminded Michael he was due in London soon, and he and Bridgett hadn't started to pack.
As they drove back to Gardena, Jansen was quiet, his mood subdued. Eden now knew this was part of his personality trait, but when he reached over for her hand, still silent, this conversational Libra could stand the mystery not one minute longer.
“What is it, baby? What are you thinking?”
“Why are you always asking me that?”
“Because it's the only way I'll know, and half the time even the direct approach yields no result.”
Jansen smiled, gave her hand a squeeze, and kept driving.
Eden looked at him a moment and then out the window. How was it that she had fallen in love with a man who preferred quiet contemplation when she could talk a blue streak to the moon and back! They continued the journey, almost twenty minutes, in silence.
When they reached Jansen's home, he turned off the engine and looked at her. “So you want to know what's on my mind?”
He was looking at her with such intensity that suddenly Eden wasn't sure whether she wanted to know. Curiosity won out. “Yes, Jansen, I want to know.”
“I'm thinking we should cancel our plans for the movies and spend the rest of the night trying to make a baby.”
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