Page 82 of Seasoned
Kendrick strolled over. “Hey there.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. His lips were warm and soft and made her body tingle.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m famished and looking forward to that excellent meal you promised me.” After dinner at the restaurant, she planned to have his tight, muscular body for dessert. She’d already picked out the perfect lingerie set—a sheer lace teddy with a plunging neckline.
“Um…about that.”
Jackie pulled back and gazed up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s been a slight change of plans. We’re still going out, but instead of us spending the evening together alone, we’re going to have company. Remember I mentioned my father was coming to town?”
Jackie nodded.
“Well, he came early and wants us to do something tonight.”
Well, damn.
Jackie resolved not to let the disappointment show on her face. This was, after all, the father he’d had a difficult relationship with for years, but Kendrick had recently confided that he very much wanted a reconciliation.
“We can cancel tonight,” she offered. Their relationship was still young, and meeting his father made her uncomfortable. No telling how this man, whom Kendrick wanted to impress, would react when he saw his son with a woman old enough to be his mother.
“No, it’s fine. I told him about you and he wants to meet you. But if you’d rather not…”
The words dangled in the air, and though she wanted to cancel, she could tell he’d prefer if she agreed to come with him. “No, let’s all go to dinner and have a great night. I’m sure you’ve picked a wonderful place for us to eat.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Positive.”
“Thanks, baby. He’s meeting us here and should arrive any minute.” Kendrick glanced at his watch.
“In that case, let me hurry up and get my bag.”
Jackie left him alone, still uneasy but figuring she’d go with the flow. Besides, Kendrick might welcome the buffer between him and his father.
While in the back, the door chimed, indicating Kendrick had opened it. His father must have arrived.
She fluffed her wig, dotted her forehead with a tissue to get rid of the shine, and touched up her purple lipstick. Taking a deep breath, she strutted toward the front with her large purse slung over her shoulder. The voices of both men wafted to the back, but she couldn’t clearly hear what they were saying.
As she approached, Kendrick’s father said something about having a taste for steak.
Jackie raised an eyebrow. Nice voice, though a bit muffled by the distance. Deep and very sexy. She couldn’t wait to see the man attached to that sound.
She passed by the register and stopped.
Oh, damn.She knew this man.
Bald-headed and dressed in a dark blue pinstriped suit, he had a mustache and well-groomed beard with gray sprinkled throughout. Normally, she didn’t go for men with full beards—and ten years ago, it had been more of a goatee—but with his looks and body, exceptions could be made.
His skin looked like he’d been dipped in the deepest, darkest chocolate, without a hint of cream. His lips were full and luscious, and those eyes—when he lifted them to observe her approach—were the color of the blackest garnet stone. The man was absolutely breathtaking, and the way he wore his suit let her know that he still had the same hard body she’d licked all over during the hottest week of her life.
Kendrick flashed a welcoming grin to Jackie, and she gulped and walked slowly over to them.
“Jackie Bryant. Well, I’ll be damned.” Tyson’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Hello, Tyson.”
Tyson Small. But there was nothingsmallabout him. At least six feet five and well-endowed…which was an understatement.
Kendrick appeared startled, his brow furrowing. “Wait, the two of you know each other?”
