Page 21 of A Perfect Pairing
“Next time we’re driving,” Dana said. “By the time we get there, I’ll be starved to death.”
They made it to Ms. Ida’s a couple of minutes later, and as soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw Claudia Jennings. The woman’s dislike of Natasha went all the way back to junior high school. Natasha never understood why and didn’t much care. It got worse once she and Antonio started dating. As the head cheerleader, Claudia believed she should have first dibs on all the star athletes or cute boys, and once she’d settled her sights on one, every other girl was supposed to defer to her wishes. Natasha hadn’t gotten the memo—okay, she’d gotten it; she’d just chosen to ignore it. And nothing had changed. Determined to take the high road, she said, “Hey, Claudia.”
“Natasha.” Claudia turned up her nose and strode past Natasha and Dana.
Dana rolled her eyes. “She still irks my soul. Out here acting like she’s God’s gift to men, discarding them on a whim and going through them like water in a colander.”
Natasha and Dana shared a look and burst out laughing. “Truth!” The hostess seated them and left menus. They decided to share the huge appetizer platter for two, which included chicken wings, ribs, mini quesadillas, and fries.
Dana’s cell rang. She dug it out of her pocket and groaned. “It’s Paula. Let me go take this.” Paula was the receptionist at the auto shop.
The waitress brought their drinks, and Natasha thanked her.
“Hello, Natasha.”
She turned, smiled, and stood. “Mama Nora. Ms. Della.” She hugged both women. “How are you two ladies doing?”
“We’re good for old women,” Mama Nora said with a little laugh.
Ms. Della snorted. “Speak for yourself, Nora. I’m not old. I’mexperienced.” That brought on a round of laughter.
Mama Nora took Natasha’s hands. “I’m so happy about all your successes, baby.”
“Thanks, Mama Nora.” She loved Antonio’s grandmother as if she were her own. Natasha had been close to Antonio’s entire family, but after their breakup, she’d stayed away because she’d felt so bad. However, Mrs. Hayes and Mama Nora told Natasha that they didn’t hold anything against her, that they’d all made mistakes when they were young. It made her appreciate those ladies even more. “Are you two just getting here? You’re welcome to join us. Dana went to take a call.”
“Oh, no. We’ve already eaten and are just waiting for our ride.”
Mama Nora’s face lit up, and Natasha glanced over her shoulder to see what had captured the woman’s attention. Her pulse skipped when she saw Antonio heading in their direction. The man looked good in anything, but there was something about seeing him in jeans and a tee that stretched taut across his sculpted chest and emphasized his well-defined biceps that did something to her. Always had.
“Ladies.” Antonio kissed his grandmother and Ms. Della. “Hey, Tasha.”
“Hi.”
“I think you forgot someone,” Mama Nora said with a twinkle in her eye, dividing her gaze between Antonio and Natasha.
Out of her periphery, Natasha saw several patrons staring their way, and she knew that if he kissed her, it would be all over town before he made it to the exit.
Antonio hesitated briefly, then placed a soft kiss on Natasha’s cheek.
Unlike that first brief, impulsive kiss, this time his lips lingered against her cheek, sending warmth flowing through her and making her heart race. Both Mama Nora and Ms. Della had wide smiles.
Mama Nora brought a hand to her heart. “Della, didn’t I tell you these two were meant to be together?”
Ms. Della nodded. “I agree. And they say the second time around is always better.”
Natasha did her best not to look at Antonio but failed. His expression appeared to be somewhere between shock and irritation. She let out a nervous chuckle. “Oh, Antonio and I are just friends.”
“Right,” Antonio chimed in. “Just friends. Are you ladies ready?”
Mama Nora patted Natasha’s cheek and divided a knowing glance between Natasha and Antonio. “Mm-hmm, baby. Whatever you two say. Oh, Natasha, I’ll be having a birthday party in a few weeks, and I expect you to be there.” She looked up at her grandson. “Antonio will give you all the details once they’re finalized. Actually, Antonio, you’ll bring her, right?”
“Ah… sure.”
What else would he say to his grandmother? Natasha swore the woman was playing matchmaker.Not good. So not good.
Antonio had a death grip on the steering wheel as he drove his grandmother and Ms. Della home. When Grandma Nora called and asked him to take them to and from the restaurant, he figured it would be an easy pickup and drop-off, but nothing had gone as planned since he stepped foot back in his hometown. And this latest fiasco seriously had him contemplating taking off and spending a couple of days in the Bay Area, maybe Oakland or San Francisco.
The two women chatted as if they didn’t have a care in the world, while his gut swirled with emotions he hadn’t felt in a long while. The attraction between him and Natasha seemed to be growing steadily, and he didn’t know how to make it stop. His matchmaking grandmother and her best friend weren’t helping. How could he still harbor the hurt and mistrust that had built over the years but want her more each time he saw her? And the kiss… It had been nothing more than a little peck on the cheek, but the alluring fragrance of whatever perfume she was wearing—something sweet, yet warm and soft—had reached out and wrapped around him like a favorite blanket. Antonio had spent the last several days tryingnotto think about her or that almost kiss, and this little stunt just put her back front and center. Who was he kidding? She’d never vacated that position in his mind, had occupied his every waking moment and starred in his nightly dreams.
