“A gift,” he decided.
Slowly, they took note of their cozy embrace. Alex released Topaz and smoothed his hands over her arms.
“So what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Lunch. Unless you’ve eaten?”
Topaz smoothed one hand against her stomach left bare by the design of the two-button sweater. “I probably couldn’t keep anything down.”
Alex laughed. “Well, if you decide not to eat, you can just soak up the atmosphere.”
Intrigued, Topaz smirked. “What have you got in mind?”
Alex raised his hands. “You have to come with me to find out.”
“Oh, I love Goofies!” Topaz was saying fifteen minutes later when Alex parked his truck in the parking lot of the popular jazz club. “How’d you know?” she asked, watching him shrug.
“A gift.” He boasted for the second time that day.
Topaz shook her head. “I should’ve known. I don’t think they’re open, though,” she noted as they walked closer to the establishment.
“They’re open for us,” Alex assured her with a mysterious wink.
Sure enough, when Alex knocked on the side door, it opened. The man who answered was as tall and well built as Alex. Topaz felt exceptionally tiny as she stood next to the two giants.
“Topaz Emerson, this is Cammie Reynolds.”
“Cammie?” Topaz repeated, smiling at the name, which seemed completely unsuited for such a huge man.
Cammie grinned and smothered Topaz’s hand in his. “Short for Cameron. Man, I told you not to call me that in front of the ladies,” he playfully admonished Alex.
Laughter followed, and then Cammie escorted them into the partially deserted club.
“I don’t believe I actually found a man in this town who doesn’t already know you,” Alex whispered to Topaz as they headed down a softly lit corridor.
She would have laughed, but they entered the main area of the club then. Topaz let loose a delighted scream and sprinted out onto the huge, empty dance floor. “I can’t believe I’m here when the place is this quiet,” she raved, twirling around like an excited little girl. “Do you know the owners?”
Alex waved one hand near his head. “One of the guys owes me a favor.”
Music drifted down from a state-of-the-art sound system, and Topaz stopped twirling and extended her hands.
“Dance with me,” she urged.
“Mmm-mmm.”
“Come on,” she whined, moving closer to Alex, “you know we’re goin’ to De’s party and you’re gonna have to dance there.”
“Wanna bet?” he argued, allowing Topaz to pull him onto the dance floor. When she turned and pulled his arms around her waist, he silenced his arguments.
Topaz smoothed her hands across Alex’s wide chiseled chest and savored the fact that they had the entire floor to themselves. She moved sensuously, loving the seductive rifts of the trumpet and sax piece.
In spite of his initial hesitation to dance, Alex was a natural leader. Soon, his masterful skill emerged and he enjoyed the beautiful woman in his arms. His hands ventured beneath her sweater’s flyaway hem and his fingers caressed the satiny expanse of bare skin he found.
“I’m impressed,” Topaz breathed, as his fingertips played a sensual melody along her spine. The music had slowed to a more mellow groove and she felt completely relaxed.
“Too much for you?” Alex teased.
“Please,” she teased back, though secretly she tingled from being caressed, held, and handled by such an incredible man.
Suddenly, Alex cleared his throat. “De knows I’m bringing someone to this party of hers.”
“Me?”
“I didn’t say.”
Topaz groaned. “This will definitely be interesting.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Hmph, I can.”
Alex set his hands on her hips and watched her intently. “What happened between y’all?”
Topaz shook her head, clearly wanting to avoid the subject. “De’s hated me ever since I started seeing Simon.”
“Why? She have a thing for the brotha?”
