Page 2 of Do Me
Alana smiled flirtatiously up at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Braxton. Your mother has told me so much about you and how well you’re doing at your company.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shot his mother a quick frown.
“Maybe you can come over to my place and help me figure out what’s wrong with my computer.”
His mother smiled expectantly.
“Actually, I don’t work directly with computers, but I’m sure if you call the tech department of your computer brand, they can better assist you. Excuse me.” Braxton walked off without waiting for a response and didn’t stop until he was standing outside on the balcony overlooking the hotel’s garden. He gulped the drink. The woman looked pretty enough, but the moment she mentioned him “doing well,” warning bells went off in his head. She couldn’t have been more obvious that she had dollar signs in her eyes. After a few minutes, he went back to his table. Thankfully, the only women he encountered until they served dinner were his aunts and cousins, so he relaxed and started to enjoy himself.
His enjoyment turned out to be short-lived. As soon as dinner ended, his mother escorted two more women over. He politely discouraged any conversation. Braxton scowled at his mother as she walked away in a huff, muttering about her hard-to-please son.
A few minutes later, his older sister, Debra, passed by the table. “Mom said stop frowning, so Aunt Barbara won’t think you’re not having a good time.”
“I’m not having a good time,” he said tersely. “Mom keeps parading these women over here like we’re at a Miss America contest.”
Debra burst out laughing. “Sorry, baby bro. You know she just wants you to find that special woman. Then there’s that whole grandchild thing. Jared and I are done, so that just leaves you. And since you’ll be turning forty at the end of the month, you might want to pick up the pace.” She had a fifteen-year-old daughter and a twelve-year-old son.
He scowled at her. “If she keeps pushing, I’m going to turn into a monk.”
She shook her head, bent, kissed his cheek and patted it. “See you later.”
Braxton leaned back in his chair. Maybe he could get his dad to talk to his mother. Something had to change. And soon. Otherwise, he was going to start boycotting all the family gatherings. They announced the garter toss and his mother’s gaze trained on him. He had no intention of catching a garter or anything else and snuck out a side door until a shout went up. He poked his head in the door in time to see the groom’s best man catch it. Smiling, he stepped back into the room and noticed his mother talking to another woman and pointing toward him. She’d kept her promise about not shouting it across the room, but had found another way to do the same thing. Braxton groaned.Not again.
“Uncle B, come dance with me.”
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at his niece, Tonya. “Absolutely. Let’s show these folks how it’s done.” He extended his hand.
Tonya giggled. “You’re the best uncle ever!” She took his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.
He’d dance with her all evening if it helped him dodge his mother.
* * *
Ugh! I hate weddings.Londyn Grant moved back as far as the crowded dance floor allowed, but it still didn’t create enough space between her and her dance partner. The mixture of cologne, smoke and alcohol was enough to make her nauseous. She couldn’t believe she was the only one from the office here. Her coworkers—all five of them—had backed out of attending the wedding at the last minute, citing one reason or another and leaving Londyn as the only attendee at their administrative assistant’s daughter’s nuptials. Her sole reason for accepting the invitation had been because she had counted on having her two male colleagues to create a buffer between her and the constant flow of wannabee suitors. She had declined several of the celebrations over the past year because she’d begun feel to like prey in a nightclub, as if she wore a neon sign posted on her forehead that read,single and lonely. Okay, so that might have been the truth, but since her disastrous relationship ended a couple of years ago, she’d crossed men off her list. She’d take loneliness over a broken heart any day.
Another song came on and the man raised his hands in the air and did a spin move. Londyn took advantage, and while he had his back turned, snuck off the dance floor. Fanning herself, she headed to the bar for something cool. Out of her periphery she noticed a man dancing with a teen. Her steps slowed and she stood transfixed by his movements. He seemed to be enjoying himself, if the smile on his face was any indication. Tall, rich, brown skin with close-cropped dark hair, a beard riding his jaw like a shadow—giving his handsome face a dangerous edge—and a smile that would probably make the strongest sister weak. He’d discarded his suit jacket and even in the white dress shirt, she could tell he had a fabulous body. Yeah. Sexy. Londyn shook herself.What am I doing?No men,she reminded herself as she continued to her destination.
Minutes later, Corinne came toward her with a wide grin befitting a proud mother of the bride. “Oh, Londyn, thank you for coming.” They shared a quick hug.
“It was a beautiful ceremony and they look so happy.” She’d spoken with the bride and groom briefly to offer congratulations.
“Wasn’t it? I’m so excited for them. My baby girl has married into a wonderful family. They’re all so warm and friendly. Have you had a chance to meet some of our family?” She winked at Londyn and whispered conspiratorially, “Quite a few of these handsome devils are single from what I understand. My nephew just moved here from Florida. He’s joining a law practice here. I could introduce y—”
“No,” Londyn said quickly. She forced a smile. “I mean, I’ll just mingle for a while, if you don’t mind.” She didn’t do matchmaking, either. “I’ll probably only stay a little longer.”
“Okay, but let me know if you change your mind.”
She wanted to tell the woman she didn’t plan to change her mind in this century or the next, but kept the comment to herself.
“I’d better go. My sister needs something. If I don’t talk to you before you leave, I’ll see you on Monday.” Corinne rushed off.
Thank goodness,” Londyn muttered. She went back to her assigned table and sipped her ginger ale while the party continued in full swing. The DJ played a mixture of old and new school songs that had everyone either up on the floor or bobbing their heads in their seats. This was how she had envisioned her own wedding—full of love, laughter and the promise of forever. Tears burned her eyes and the old sadness bubbled up inside her, but she forced it back down. She refused to shed another tear over her ex.The jerk.
She continued to scan the room, smiling at a senior couple out on the dance floor grooving to Usher’s “Yeah!” Eventually, everyone relinquished the floor to them and let out a series of whoops when the woman did a little shimmy.
“Go, Grandma!” a woman called out.
Everyone around the room had gotten into the action, except the man she’d seen dancing earlier. He sat a table with a heavy scowl lining his face. She wondered why. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who hated weddings. Curiosity got the better of her —as a psychologist, she had an interest in human behavior—and she found herself crossing the spacious ballroom to his table.
