Page 74 of Essence of his Soul

That thought hit me hard, sinking in deep. Would Mark lie to keep Tyler in his life?

I was still deep in thought when Mark walked into the kitchen, his mother and sisters trailing behind him. His presence jolted me out of my own head.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, his voice low andsmooth like he always knew when I had something on my mind.

I forced a smile and rose to carry the devil eggs over to the counter. “Nothing important,” I lied, trying to push all those heavy thoughts aside.

Mark came up behind me, slipping his arms around my waist, and kissed me softly just below my ear. That spot that always made me melt, no matter how hard I tried to keep it together.

“None of that around my food,” Kelly called out, her tone playful but with a warning edge. “I’ve been in the kitchen since yesterday, helping Mama cook.”

“I agree,” Dorlinda chimed in, grabbing her apron. “Why don’t you go mingle while we finish getting everything on the table?”

Mark grinned and took my hand, leading me back into the living room, where the rest of his family was gathered. I was still trying to shake off what Kelly had told me, but being around all these people, all this love, it was hard to stay in my head for too long.

After dinner, which I’m sure added at least five pounds to my hips, we gathered around the Christmas tree for the gift exchange. I was glad I’d worn loose-fitting pants because, between the cornbread dressing, pies, and cakes, there was no way I could’ve sucked in my stomach if I’d tried.

The gift exchange was a simple deal—every adult bought a $25 gift for someone of the same sex. Calaine got the Barnes & Noble gift card I brought, and I ended up with a lovely Christmas pendant from Mark’s great-aunt. Tyler, of course, was having the time of his life, crawling around with two of his little cousins, giggling like he was on cloud nine. Thanks to Mark's relatives, he received more gifts than I knew what to do with. Between all the presents from the Saunders and my side of the family, my boy was set. I had to shake my head. Tyler was gonna be spoiledrotten at this rate.

I couldn't shake this feeling as I sat back and watched, surrounded by Mark’s family. The love, the laughter—it all felt so right. But at the same time, I kept thinking about what Kelly had said. One thing was clear: Mark was in this for Tyler. I just had to figure out where I fit into all of it.

* * *

"Hey, Kel," came that deep, smooth voice behind her.

Kelly turned around, and there he was, leaning casually in the corner of the room as if he hadn't been missing in action for the past few years. Her lips parted in surprise, and she could only stare at Diamere. His dark eyes—the same ones that had stolen her heart years ago—were locked on her, making it feel like no time had passed. But it had. Years, in fact.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she slowly walked toward him, taking in the sight of the man standing before her. He had changed. That much was clear. The cornrows he used to wear were gone, replaced by a clean, tapered cut that made him look more mature, more refined. His eyes still held that same mysterious, unreadable quality, but his face... the Air Force had sharpened his features, giving him an edge. He was dressed to impress in gray slacks and a black turtleneck, every bit of his six-foot-two frame on display. Yeah, Diamere was stillmuy caliente’fine.

"Hello, Diamere," Kelly managed, her voice slightly breathless as she took in that familiar, knee-weakening smile. Before she knew it, his arm was around her waist, pulling her into a tight, familiar hug that brought back memories. Her head fit perfectly beneath his chin, just like it always had. For a second, she allowed herself to lean into him, feeling the warmth of his body, inhaling the scent of his cologne. The fragrance hither like a flashback, reminding her exactly why she'd fallen for him in the first place. It scared her because she was supposed to be over him.Wayover him.

But then he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes and asked, "Where’s your husband?"

That question snapped her out of the moment. She quickly pulled away, wrinkling her nose and shaking off whatever spell he was trying to cast. “You know good, and damn well I ain’t married,” she shot back, rolling her eyes. “What about you? You ever stick around long enough to break somebody’s heart?”

Diamere’s low, smooth laugh rumbled from his chest. “I see you still know how to give a brotha a hard time,” he said, flashing that grin like he had all the answers.

“You better believe it,” Kelly smirked, crossing her arms, trying to act like his presence wasn’t getting to her.

He shook his head, still grinning. “True, but can’t you give us a break every now and then?”

She shrugged, playing it cool even though her heart was racing. “Men like a challenge,” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Can’t argue with that,” he said, his eyes sparkling with enjoyment at their playful banter.

The teasing had always been there. But as Kelly stood there, feeling the intensity of his gaze, she couldn’t help but notice something was different. Or maybe it was her that had changed. She hadn’t seen him in years, but all the old feelings were rising to the surface, threatening to break free. And the way he was looking at her? It seemed like maybe, just maybe, he was feeling it too.

He tilted his head, his eyes locking on hers in a way that made her heart flip. There was something behind his gaze as if he was trying to figure out how to navigate this moment now that she was no longer a kid. She wasn’t just Mark’s little sister anymore. And everything about how he looked at her said,I seeyou.

“I heard you’re thinking about coming home,” she said, trying to break through their growing attraction. His smile faded, and once again, she couldn’t read him.

He nodded slowly. “Yep, but I’m doing more than thinking about it. I’ve already put in my papers. My dad’s health isn’t too good, and I think it’s time I came back home.”

Kelly tried to maintain her composure, but how his eyes held hers seemed to unravel and made it hard to think straight. She kept telling herself he didn’t see her as anything more than Mark’s little sister. That’s all she was. That’s all she’d ever be.

“That’s good news,” she said, her voice steady even as her mind raced. “I’m sure your family will be happy to have you back.”

Diamere leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to that low murmur that always made her breath catch. “And what about you, Kelly? You gonna be happy to have me home too?”

---