Ready for Love

Chapter 1

“Good, glad you’re still here. I’m on my way to the airport. But I wanted to catch you before I left. That plan you have for Da Stunnas needs to be scrapped and you need to come up with something more feasible. The folks in A&R hate it.”

Maritza looked up to see her supposedly silent business partner, Terrill, doing what he seemed to do best, talking.

She rolled her eyes and kept flipping through the latest magazines making sure that the clients she needed to set up various photo opportunities for made it into this month’s issues. It didn’t make sense to make sure your habitually drunk driving, heiress client spent every Saturday morning volunteering at a soup kitchen or ensuring that she used her driver and wore her underwear when she went out partying if the paparazzi didn’t get the good shots to counteract all that negative media.

She was also checking out the latest fashion styles and trends for when she went shopping for some of her other clients. New Images by Keys and Morales offered a variety of services to their clients. They could help you clean up your image, figure out how to spin a negative to a positive and keep you looking good to boot. Their chic offices were on the third floor of the office building Terrill owned downtown.

Maritza’s office was all white furniture with clean, straight lines. She liked to think her office represented her straight-no-chaser outlook on life. Plus, she needed a clean canvas for an office because she brought enough color and style to fill the space.

“So you’re doing your little ignore-Terrill-and-he’ll-go-away thing. That’s cute, Maritza. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for that. I have a plane to catch. I have to be there for Penny at Big Mama’s funeral. If I hurry, I can make it in time for the wake, at least part of it.”

For some reason, that really made her want to roll her eyes but she refrained.

She didn’t know what was worse—the fact that he was going to be there for their best friend and business partner, Penny Keys, and she wasn’t, or the fact that he was always coming to Penny’s rescue. It had to be the former because she could really care less about the latter.

Plus, that was just the way it was. Girls like Penny got rescued and girls like her got…

Well, we get what we get, don’t we…right?

So what if he had some sick need to be his best friend’s personal knight in shining armor?

So what if that same knight morphed into a nagging bridge troll where she was concerned?

Okay…a really cute, honey-toned-hazel-eyed-built-like-one-of-God’s-warrior-angels nagging bridge troll, to be fair, but an old mean and nasty bridge troll nonetheless…

He was fine, though…

He had looks that could best be described as Michael Ealy’s face on Boris Kodjoe’s body. And he knew exactly how to work those looks to entice even a sane woman like her to think about doing something crazy—like making a play for him when she knew it would never, ever, ever work out between them.

He was Mr. Do Everything Right Can Do No Wrong, and the world loved him. She was Ms. Do What She Likes or What Feels Right, and she didn’t care what the world thought. In short, they weren’t meant to be. It was a good thing she’d had sense enough to figure that out the first time she set eyes on him and had managed to keep a nice healthy distance from her desire.

But times like these with him all in her personal space…

She had to keep her wall up and abrasiveness worked best in that regard.

“By all means hurry then, Terrill. You really didn’t have to come here, you know. You could have called. You could have sent an email. Hell, I don’t know, you could have minded your business and let me do my job.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Any number of things…” She kept her game face smile locked in place, but all the while she was shooting laser daggers at him with her eyes.

“Listen, I know you think I’m overstepping my boundaries and maybe I am. But I am a silent partner here. And Da Stunnas is one of our biggest new clients at my record label.” He stopped midsentence and ran his hand across the deep waves in his Caesar haircut. “I didn’t send them to you all because that would have been a conflict of interest. But now that they are working with you guys of their own accord, I need to be sure that the label’s interests aren’t jeopardized.” He sighed again as if he was just entirely too irritated for words.

“You are going to turn the biggest hardcore rap-rock group ever into a bunch of punks in the public eye and we won’t be able to market them the way we had planned.”

Maritza hissed. Before she knew it she was out of her desk and in Terrill’s face.

“Those fools destroyed a stage and almost burned down a club full of their fans! Tell me you can give away their album now? Isn’t that the reason they came seeking help with their image in the first place? Aren’t your A&R people fit to be tied? Hasn’t the album been pushed back several times now? El stupido!” She turned and walked away. There was no talking to him. She would just have to let Penny handle him because if she had to keep talking to him she was going to punch him or worse.

“Who are you calling stupid, girl?” His strong hand pulled her back to him with a quickness she wasn’t expecting and she stumbled right into his arms.

When she looked into his eyes, his very beautiful hazel eyes, she didn’t like what she saw there. Gone was the know-it-all-jerk who barged his way into her office like he owned the place.

Well, technically he did own the place, New Images by Keys and Morales leased from one of the office buildings he owned. And he had put up the major capital for them to get started. But that didn’t mean he had the right to make himself a nuisance.

And now something else, something sexy and dangerous, was simmering in his eyes and she couldn’t look away.

“Let go of me, Terrill!”

He pulled her closer and let one hand trace her face. “Promise me you’ll at least think of some different ideas for Da Stunnas.”

“No. My ideas are great. Now let me go!”

He had the nerve to chuckle and it had the nerve to sound sexy.

Had she fallen and bumped her head and ended up in bizarro world? The Twilight Zone? What crazy altering of the universe was this where she was thinking anything that Terrill-get-on-her-last-nerve-Carter did was sexy?

“You know what? I have often wondered what it would take to shut you up.”

Maritza smirked and filled her expression with more brazenness than she felt at that moment. “Funny, I’ve often wondered the same thing about you. Unfortunately, Penny would miss you if I followed through on any of my ideas.”

Terrill chuckled again, all throat and bobbing Adam’s apple. It was masculine laughter at its finest. “Hmm…good thing my idea will shut us both up for a while…then we both win.” His sexy face leaned in, further invading her space.

She gulped. And she willed herself to pull away. But she leaned forward instead. It was as if some magnetic force was moving her head, twisting and contorting it to find the right angle for his lips to meet hers.

It couldn’t be of her own free will. Could it?

She did not want this. Did she?

His lips connected to hers and she sighed. It sounded like a contented kitten that had just lapped up the last bit of milk. More like a sigh and mewl mixed together, but nevertheless problematic…

His tongue traced her lips and more shocks went through her. Her heart seemed like it wanted to pound its way right out of her chest and into his hands.

Stupid heart, she thought as she opened her lips and allowed her tongue entry into his mouth.

She wasn’t letting her heart out. But there was no reason her tongue couldn’t come out and play.

She wrapped her arms around him and soon she was holding him just as tightly as he held her and it felt good.

Too good.

She moaned as she clutched him. He groaned as he let his strong hands trail her back down to her behind. He held her firmly in his grip and his kiss became even more intense.

As if that were possible…

His tongue traced every nook of her mouth, marking each place. She tried to give as good as she got but she became enthralled with his skilled lips and was content with following his lead. She tracked his tongue, followed his marks and made similar marks of her own in his mouth. Each time his tongue landed on a spot, she found a spot to lick and savor. She got lost in the thrill and game of it.

Later she might say she lost her mind. But at that moment, all she wanted to do was kiss him.

So she did.

She could think about the consequences tomorrow…

Terrill wished like hell he didn’t have a flight to catch, because he had wanted to have this woman in his arms exactly like this from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her.

She felt amazing in his arms.

She was made to be in his arms.

And her lips…

They were the softest and sweetest lips he had ever tasted.

Maritza Morales was walking perfection if he had ever seen it. She had a figure that could make grown men fall to their knees and thank the God that saw fit to make her. Unfortunately she also had a mouth that could probably make grown men cry.

She was wearing a stylish red power suit with matching pumps and lipstick. As usual, her outward appearance seemed to scream “don’t mess with me.” Too bad he was done listening to her signals and outside appearances.

He couldn’t help the groan that came from deep down in his gut when she wrapped her arms around his neck and finally gave in to the passion between them.

It was a good thing he had a plane to catch because the things he wanted to do to her required time and space—lots of both.

He let his hands roam her body as his tongue tunneled forward, marking and claiming the spaces he wanted to revisit again and again, over and over. Because if he was sure about anything in his life, he was certain of one thing: He would be kissing Maritza Morales again.

He begrudgingly pulled his tongue away from its exploration and traced her lips before letting her go.

He waited a few seconds for the slap that might come and when it didn’t, he let out the breath he hadn’t even known he was holding.

It was time to put her on notice. “Play time is over now, Maritza. I need you to understand that. So I’m going to give you a little time to think about it. We aren’t ignoring this any longer. I can’t do it anymore.”

He turned and walked away while he still could and stopped at the door to her office. He didn’t turn around because he didn’t trust himself not to throw her over her desk and give them both the release that had been building up between them for years.

“I will call you from Jersey while I’m there and I’ll see you when I get back,” was all he could manage to say before walking out the door.

She was a smart woman.

She could read between the lines.

She should be able to figure out that they could no longer continue the way they had been.

Things between them had been irrevocably changed…

Terrill stood in the doorway of the funeral home and took a deep breath as he searched the room for Penny. He’d missed his first flight and taken a later flight from Los Angeles than he had intended to, because he had kissed a woman he never thought he would ever work up enough nerve to kiss, let alone stop being irritated with long enough to do so. And now he was running late for Big Mama’s wake and Penny was probably facing God knows what all alone.

Lee’s Funeral Home hadn’t changed much over the years. It was still a little bit grimy and worse for wear. The folding chairs and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. church fans might have been there the last time he had been there, years ago. It was clear, though, that they still made money hand over fist when killing season started in the hood. He remembered his last spring and summer living in Paterson before moving to Los Angeles to attend college. He had attended far too many funerals for brothers shot down in their prime.

When his eyes caught her in a heated debate with their former best friend, who also happened to be the former love of her life, Terrill rushed over and mentally kicked himself for being late. Jason Hightower’s angry voice greeted him as soon as he stepped up.

“Are you sure about that? Because from what I could see that woman missed you and mourned you the entire time. And for you to stay away that long shows what a cruel, heartless, selfish—” Jason took a deep breath, glared at Penny and cut himself off.

Terrill shook his head and sighed as he took in the anger in Jason’s voice and the angst-ridden, nervous energy surrounding Penny.

The two of you deserve each other, a backstabber and a schemer. I can’t believe I ever trusted either one of you.

The harsh words Jason had spoken fifteen years ago echoed in Terrill’s mind as he surveyed the scene. It was a good thing he’d decided to come and offer Penny moral support. There was no way she could have dealt with Jason and all their past baggage alone.

He watched Penny brace her shoulders squarely. She inhaled and exhaled several times in succession. “You need to calm down, Jason. This is not the time or the place. If you cared about Big Mama as much as you claim you did, then you wouldn’t disrespect her wake like this.”

Terrill placed his hand on her shoulder and Penny let out a sigh of relief.

“Everything all right?” Terrill spoke the words to Penny but his eyes remained fixed on Jason. He tried to give his former friend the visual warning that backed up what Penny had just told him.

Jason might have gotten a good sucker punch in on Terrill fifteen years ago, but Terrill wasn’t above throwing the man out if he didn’t heed the warning.

Penny hugged Terrill and he could feel her body shaking just a little in his arms. “Everything is fine, Terrill. I’m glad you were able to make it.”

Since they had just seen each other before she left Los Angeles, Terrill knew Jason’s presence was what made Penny extra happy to see him. She leaned on his shoulder and clasped the arm of his suit jacket.

Terrill smiled at her and winked. He wanted to tell her that everything would be okay. But he had no way of really knowing that. He glanced around the room and noticed that all eyes were on them.

Most of the people in the room were checking him out. It always seemed to happen when he went home. Not many people who’d grown up in a small one bedroom attic apartment with a single mom made it to be senior vice president of a major music label.

The way eyes darted and conversations took place behind hands showed Terrill had given many of the folks in the room something to talk about. In fact, given the history between the three of them, the room was probably abuzz with gossip.

Terrill figured they were talking about how Penny had dumped Jason for him all those years ago.

If only they knew about the lies that had broken up the Three Musketeers.

Terrill understood why most of the people in the room either couldn’t or wouldn’t take their eyes off of them. He knew what it had meant for both him and Penny to make it from their inner-city neighborhood in Paterson to their positions as movers and shakers in Los Angeles. Not many people from Warren Street who’d attended PS 10 and then East-side High School ended up where they were.

Terrill noticed that Penny lifted her hand to her right eye and rubbed it across the tiny scar she had gotten when she was twelve. Although barely noticeable now, whenever Penny felt uncomfortable or put on the spot, her hand found and rubbed over the small mark. He watched her circle it with her pointer finger for a moment before she forced her hand down at her side.

Terrill gritted his teeth. No matter what, Jason didn’t have a right to harass Penny like that. He made up his mind that he would personally dump Jason out on his ass if he didn’t cut it out. So what if everyone in the funeral home was probably waiting to see if they would cause a scene?

“Hey, Jason. How’s it going?” Terrill reached out to his old friend in an attempt to get him to cool down and got a harsh stare and a sneer for the trouble. He felt his face heating and knew that the red undertones in his skin were probably lighting up like Rudolph’s nose on Christmas.

Damn Jason for still being so arrogant!

Terrill slanted his eyes and nodded a nod that he meant more as a promise: don’t-start-none-won’t-be-none.

Jason didn’t even pretend to acknowledge Terrill.

“You’re right, Penny. This isn’t the time or the place.” Jason gave her a once-over before walking away, and didn’t even bother looking at Terrill. “It wouldn’t even be worth it anyway.”

Terrill’s mood morphed from disappointed to angry in zero seconds flat when he saw the pained look on Penny’s face. He knew that if he wasn’t careful he wouldn’t be able to contain his emotions and he might be the one causing a scene instead of trying to prevent one.

Jason’s disdain was still palpable. The two men hadn’t been able to say a kind word to one another in fifteen years. But as far as Terrill was concerned that was Jason’s fault.

Terrill squeezed Penny’s shoulder. Terrill hoped that Penny knew he didn’t blame her for losing his other best friend.

Looking at the three of them now, no one would be able to tell people used to jokingly call them the Three Musketeers and tease them about being joined at the hips. They had been best friends since grade school and the friendship hadn’t changed when Jason and Penny became high school sweethearts. They hadn’t thought anything would be able to come between them. But they had been wrong.

Terrill shook his head. There was no use dwelling on it now. He’d made his decision on whom he would stand by in the middle of a difficult time. But if he had it to do all over again, he wouldn’t have let things get so out of control that two people who loved each other would stay apart for fifteen years.

Still, he needed at least to talk to Jason and make sure that he didn’t make things any harder for Penny when she was trying to cope with the loss of her beloved grandmother.

When he found Jason standing outside of the funeral home, he had to step to him even though it was clear the man was leaving.

If the inside of Lee’s Funeral Home seemed as if it were stuck in a time warp, the outside and surrounding neighborhood really were stuck. Besides the changes in hairstyles and the clothing people wore, he noticed the same things that had been prominent back in the day, girls playing double Dutch and brothers playing dice.

“This is a tough time for Penny, you know. Big Mama was the only person who had always been there for her no matter what. She’s taking it hard. You really need to lay off about the past.”

A wave of emotions came over Jason’s face at once and Terrill could see the exact moment when his ex-best friend’s shield went up and he decided to block the emotions.

Jason sneered. “Shouldn’t you be inside with her, then, if she’s so torn up? Isn’t that what lovers are supposed to do for one another? Comfort? Console? Why are you out here talking to me?”

Terrill let out an exasperated sigh. He wished he could just be done with this crap. Sure, maybe he and Penny were in the wrong for deceiving Jason, but he so wanted to tell the man that he was being an idiot by not finally making things right with the woman he loved.

Terrill knew without a doubt that if he had the chance to really have the woman he loved he would take it.

“I’m out here because despite what you think, I want what’s best for everyone involved. She doesn’t need the stress. It’s bad enough she has to deal with Carla and you know how that can be.” Terrill ran his hand through his hair. “You don’t need to be all hung up on a past you barely understand. There’s a lot you just don’t know, Jason. If I could tell you without breaking confidences, I would.”

Terrill was close to just telling Jason that he had never slept with Penny all those years ago and they hadn’t left for California as a couple. That they, in fact, had never been anything more than friends. And the only thing he was guilty of was being a good friend and looking out for the love of Jason’s life until they came to their senses and got back together.

But no matter what, he couldn’t tell her secret—that it was all a lie. He couldn’t do that to Penny, especially not now with all she was dealing with.

So he watched the kids ride their bikes down the crowded street along with the other hustle and bustle of an urban city on a spring evening. Paterson’s streets were full of life with a hint of danger pulsing underneath.

Please let this fool wise up! I am so tired of this!

“Oh! Now you have morals. Where were they fifteen years ago when you stole my girl?”

Terrill threw his hands up and shook his head. “I give up, man. I tried, but you’re stuck in the past. You need to let it go. And like I said, lay off with the guilt trips on Penny. She doesn’t need that right now.” Terrill walked away before he did something stupid—like sucker punch his ex-best friend who was now a cop—and ended up in jail.

He had more important things to think about. Like being there for Penny in her time of need and making it back to California to see where things stood with a certain feisty Afro-Latina woman that he had shared the most amazing, earth-shattering kiss with. He was sure that once she got over being stunned, she was going to be pissed.

Maritza found her right hand couldn’t stop trailing her lips. It was really hard to focus on work when she had done the stupidest thing she had ever done in her life.

She had kissed Terrill.

Or he had kissed her.

Whatever the case may be…

She had messed up.

Big time.

And now he was in New Jersey with Penny. Helping Penny deal with Big Mama’s death.

Like always he would be there for Penny whenever she needed him.

How did a woman allow herself to kiss a man who would drop everything in a heartbeat to run to the aid of another woman? Another woman who was her best friend and his? It was a soap opera waiting to happen if she ever saw one.

“I knew this was a bad idea! Are you even listening to me?” Lace Monroe, the video vixen formally known as Lil’ Freak and author of several scathing tell-all books in which she named just about every rapper, mogul, athlete, actor or singer she ever so much as blew a kiss at, let alone anything else, hopped her perky little behind out of the seat and in front of Maritza’s desk with enough attitude to loan some out and still have plenty to spare.

Maritza tried to remember that Lace was a prospective client that would need so much help she might just as well have “Made Out to Cash” stamped on her forehead. But she couldn’t keep her left eyebrow from arching and her head from tilting to the side. Blame it on her parents, but Maritza Morales had Black girl attitude and Latina heat in equal combinations. She certainly wasn’t the one to mess with.

Lace noted the change in Maritza’s demeanor and gave her a good once-over before much more calmly sitting her behind back down.

Lace wanted to use the hype and the buzz surrounding her books to go legit. And she wanted New Images by Keys and Morales to help her present a more suitable image.

Maritza put on her most professional smile and folded her hands in front of her, admiring the pop of color she gave to her clean, white, contemporary-style desk.

“It will take a lot to clean up the image you have been busy cultivating, Lace. Not to mention the fact that you won’t be able to continue banking on it. If we take you on as a client, you can’t write any more tell-all books and you certainly can’t be out there gathering any more material for future books.” Maritza laid out the ground rules in her most blunt voice.

Lace rolled her eyes. “Please, if you and Penny Keys can clean up your images and become respectable businesswomen then I can, too. Trust and believe I heard the stories of how you used to get down, especially you.”