Page 54 of Enough

Chapter Seventeen

There was a light breeze in the Las Vegas atmosphere, and Jaden and Claudia managed to spend most of the day at a barbeque joint. Laughter and conversation had held them steady for what seemed like minutes but in actuality had been hours. Claudia had grown friendly with the manager immediately. It appeared that no man could resist her charm. She’d whispered something in the owner’s ear, and he’d perked up.

“I would be delighted,” he’d told her.

Puzzled, Jaden watched Claudia rise from her seat. “I’ll be right back, handsome.” She placed a tender kiss on his jaw and scurried off to the kitchen. When Claudia returned, she was skirted in a red apron with a bowl in her hand.

Returning with her, the manager sat down a rack of ribs that sizzled; holding a juicy moistness that made his stomach growl.

“This is my mother’s secret sauce,” Claudia informed him. She placed a piece of rib on his plate and doused it with the sauce. “If you like it, I’ll give you more.”

The thick honey smell assaulted his senses, and he immediately took a bite. Claudia watched him as he inhaled the fall of the bone meat. He made eating look like sex. Or maybe she was just horny. Either way, Claudia could watch him eat forever. When a single drop of sauce hit his chin, she’d wanted to lick it off with her tongue, but she held back.

“This is delicious. Your mother must be proud.”

Claudia sucked her lips in. “She doesn’t know I’ve learned it.”

Jaden stopped chewing then swallowed the remainder of the meat that sat on his tongue. “How does she not know, she taught you, right?”

“I watched her thoroughly, but my mom and sister don’t take me seriously, so I just kept it to myself. I have a habit of doing that.”

“Keeping things to yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To guard myself I supposed.”

Jaden considered her for a long moment. “And what things are you keeping from me?”

Claudia wasn’t prepared for that question even though she’d stepped right into it. A plethora of thoughts ran through her mind, but she said none of them.

Stumbling she said. “No- nothing.”

There was unease in her response, and Jaden knew she was keeping something from him, but he reverted to her initial reply to give her a break. Later, he thought, we’ll get to it later.

“Why don’t you talk to them about it? I think your mom will listen.”

Claudia twisted her lips. “And Desiree?”

“One at a time. We’ll work on her.”

Claudia laughed, and they sat and ate.

“There is something I’ve wanted to ask you about,” Claudia confessed.

Jaden sat his rib down and looked on eagerly.

“You have my attention,” he said.

“I’ve lived in Chicago all of my life and as famous as your family is, I didn’t hear a lot about you growing up. It was only when I was in my twenties that I began to see you on TV or in the newspapers. I mean, I know we run in different circles with me growing up in the hood and all but I just—”

Claudia rambled, and Jaden’s hands touched her arm. The heat from his palm made her shiver. She stopped speaking instantly at his touch.

“Ask your question, chérie,” he said.

Claudia swallowed her tongue.

---