Feel The Heat
Roderick Mason had been a master at teaching that lesson. He’d promised her the fairy tale, but ended up being the frog. Not only had he cheated on Mimi, but he’d stolen her credit card and bought the other woman an engagement ring.
Livid, she’d gone straight to the internet after pressing charges against Roderick for identity theft and told her story of betrayal, with pictures and the police report. Who knew that heartbreak would’ve given her a new career?
“I’m not saying he isn’t fine, but the last thing I’m looking for is a serious relationship,” Mimi said. “But I wouldn’t mind waking up with him on a Sunday morning.”
MJ sucked her teeth. “There you go with that Sunday morning nonsense. You need to wake up and go to church some Sunday morning, instead of deciding that your Saturday night was a mistake.”
Mimi laughed, thinking that she hadn’t had one of those Saturday nights in a long time. Even though most of her blog posts were about relationships, Mimi had decided that she enjoyed being single. She reveled in her freedom to do whatever she wanted to without questions from anyone.
“Whatever, Mikey. I’m not like you, who has to know a man’s Beacon score before you allow him to buy you a drink.”
“Shut up and please get dressed.”
Mimi glanced at the screen one last time. Brent was nice eye candy, but she was sure that he was one of those men with a phone full of women happy to warm his bed the minute he called. Rising to her feet, Mimi headed to her bedroom to get dressed.
* * *
Brent was impressed with the lounge Jamal had chosen. The smooth jazz soothed him as he sat at the bar. “I’m surprised you’d come to a joint like this,” Brent said to his friend after they ordered drinks and hot wings.
“Because this is the spot where you meet the women who are classy in the streets and freaks in the sheets.”
Brent shook his head. “It’s always about chasing women for you, huh?”
Jamal nodded toward a couple of women who were standing at the entrance of the club. “Those are women worth chasing,” Jamal said.
Brent sipped his drink and shook his head. “You’re something else. What are you going to do when the right woman comes along?”
“She doesn’t exist. So I’m going to buy Miss Right Now a drink.” Jamal casually walked over to the entrance and greeted the women he had noticed from the bar. Brent was about to order another drink when he spotted her. Mimi Collins was a vision in gold. Her full lips were painted red and those expressive eyes of her shone in the dim light of the lounge. Her smooth skin looked as if it were carved from mythical wood. The way she wore that knee-skimming strapless gold dress that hugged her curves like a second skin made his body hard as a brick. “Damn,” he muttered as he set his drink on the bar. The bartender noticed Brent’s stare.
“Brother, you don’t stand a chance,” he said.
“What are you talking about?”
“If you keep staring at Mimi like that, when she comes over here, she’s going to give you hell,” he said.
“I wasn’t staring... Wait, you know Mimi?”
“Firecracker? Yeah. Went to college with her and Michael.”
“Michael? Is that her husband or something?”
He nodded at the woman standing next to Mimi. “Michael, who goes by MJ, is her best friend. She helps me with the marketing for the club.” The bartender extended his hand to Brent. “I’m Nicolas Prince, the owner.”
Brent shook his hand. “Owner and bartender?”
“A little short-staffed tonight, but I don’t mind meeting my clientele. And just a little advice: if Mimi’s on your radar, you better be ready to have your relationship broadcast to hundreds of thousands of readers. Her blog is popular and she has no filter.”
All Brent could think was that didn’t seem like the woman he’d met earlier. Mimi was a bit of a mystery, but in that dress, he knew he wanted to unravel every part. Still, her blog gave him pause. He didn’t like the spotlight, and it seemed as if she lived for it, according to Nicolas. When he saw Mimi and MJ heading toward the bar, he turned back to Nicolas.
“Whatever they’re drinking, put it on my tab.”
Nicolas gave him a toothy grin. “You don’t know what kind of minefield you just stepped on.”
“She can’t be that bad.”
“Don’t believe me, just watch.”
And watch Brent did as Mimi and MJ walked over to the bar. Mimi had the sexiest walk he’d ever seen—confident and alluring. And those legs. Long and strong. Immediately, he thought about them wrapped around his waist while he drove into her wetness.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Mimi said, breaking into his erotic thoughts. “I’d say you’re a stalker, but I know this is a hot spot, thanks to the brilliant woman behind the marketing.”
“I never have to stalk a woman. And I must say, you look amazing in gold.”
She smiled, then turned to Nicolas. “You’re the bartender today?”
“Good to see you, too, Mimi,” he said while smiling at MJ. Brent noticed that MJ and Nicolas had started talking in hushed tones. From the way she was smiling, whatever he was saying to her must have been good.
Mimi shook her head and reached for the bowl of peanuts next to Brent. “They get on my nerves,” she said, then rolled her eyes.
“That’s not nice to say about your friends,” he said.
“If only you knew the story. And for the record, I only have one friend over there, and that’s MJ.” She popped a nut in her mouth and Brent shifted in his seat. Lips like hers were sinful.
“I’d like to know your story. Everyone who knows you has something interesting to say about you.”
Mimi smirked and then licked her bottom lip. “So, you’ve been asking about me? All you had to do was knock on my door. I might have even given you a cup of sugar.”
Brent took a quick sip of his drink to cool the heated desire building in his belly. She had to know what that move with her tongue did. She was sexy and owned every bit of it. “I didn’t ask. Everything was volunteered, Firecracker.”
Mimi tossed a handful of nuts in Nicolas’s direction. “Really, Nic?” she snapped when he and MJ turned her way. “You just talking about me to strangers?”
“Mimi, I was trying to save the guy from one of your rants. Warn him that you’re nuts,” Nic said with a laugh as he brushed peanuts off the bar. MJ touched his shoulder.
“I hope you two aren’t going to start acting up this evening,” she said. “Tonight is about celebrating.” MJ shot Mimi a cautioning look.
Mimi glanced at Brent and held back her caustic comment. “I’m here for the music,” she replied.
Nic held up his hands. “Mimi, you know I love you like a sister. An annoying little sister, but I love you nonetheless.”
“Whatever,” she said, keeping her eyes on Brent, who seemed amused by the scene in front of him.
“I took a look at your blog. It’s very popular,” Brent said. “A relationship expert, huh?”
“Hardly. I’m a lifestyle blogger. It just so happens that it seems as if people around the world are always interested in bad dating stories.”
“So that’s why you date, to have stories?”
“Technically, I don’t date,” she said, then popped a peanut in her mouth. “I go to events, watch people and tell stories about it. What I really want to do is start traveling and be a black girl around the globe, or something like that.”
“That sounds good and everything, but is this your career?”
Mimi raised her right eyebrow and shot him a cold look. “I’m sorry that I don’t want to spend my time locked behind a desk in a stuffy office with bad lighting. I have the talent to make the world my office. And since you were all over Google checking me out, you see I wrote a bestselling book about dating, so don’t try me like that.”
“Hey, I didn’t mean any harm. Go for it, black girl around the globe.”
She rolled her eyes. “Does being condescending win many cases for you?”
“Ouch,” he said as he downed his drink. “You speak your mind without hesitation. That’s pretty sexy.”
“And that was pretty sexist. Insult the woman, then try flirting with her to shut her up.”
“Damn, Mimi, you don’t give people a chance at all, do you?”
“Those who deserve it,” she said. “Pity, I thought you’d be one of those people. I’m glad we had this talk.” She started to stand and Brent touched her elbow.
* * *
Mimi tried to pretend that the feel of Brent’s hand on her skin didn’t affect her. She wanted to act as if their tête-à-tête hadn’t been the most interesting conversation she’d had with the opposite sex in a long time. She wanted to muster the strength to storm away from him as she would’ve done with any other guy who’d pissed her off. But Brent was different. She liked him. Liked that he challenged her and wasn’t a pushover.
He just didn’t need to know that.
“Please get your hands off me,” she said quietly.
“After we dance, I won’t ever touch you again,” he said with a smile that made her heart skip three beats. Brent stood up and wrapped his arm around Mimi’s waist. Without giving her a chance to protest, he ushered her to the dance floor as the band began to play a slow groove.
The moment he pulled her against his chest, Mimi sighed. His arms felt so good. And the man had some moves. His hip thrusts seemed to foretell nights of pleasure wrapped in the bed. Not to be outdone, Mimi unleashed her own moves, spinning and doing a quick step that rivaled the winner of Dancing with the Stars. A few other couples around them stopped to watch the sensual movements Mimi and Brent were doing. When the song ended, half of the applause was for Brent and Mimi rather than the band.
“Not bad,” he said. “I get the feeling that you have a lot of surprises underneath that gold dress.”
She smiled, hoping that her heartbeat would return to normal as he drank in her image. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Right now, I’m just going to buy you a drink,” he replied with a smile.
I could wake up Sunday morning with him, she thought as they headed back to the bar.
Chapter 4
By the time Brent and Mimi pushed through the crowd and made it back to the bar, there wasn’t an open seat in sight.
“Well, that escalated rather quickly,” Mimi quipped. She scanned the crowd for MJ and wasn’t surprised when she found her friend in a corner with Nic. “I guess the real bartender showed up.”
“If he didn’t, that would explain the traffic jam at the bar. I didn’t realize there were so many people in here. Then again, with my workload, I don’t get to hang out in the Atlanta popular spots much.”
Mimi hadn’t noticed either, because when she’d been wrapped in Brent’s arms nothing else had mattered.
“Want to get out of here?” she asked.
“Sound like a great plan. I’m not fond of big crowds,” Brent replied, then draped his arm around Mimi’s shoulders as a wave of people pushed passed them. His possessive touch sent a wave of pleasure down her spine. She wiggled out of the intimate embrace because it felt so good.
“Some Waffle House would be really good,” Mimi said. “Nic and his tapas menu isn’t going to work for me tonight. I’m really hungry.” Though her hunger had more to do with the man she’d been dancing with than food.
“Man, I haven’t had a pecan waffle and grits in a minute.” He glanced at Mimi’s svelte figure. “And I see this isn’t a habit for you either.”
“Two hours a few times a week in the gym while writing makes up for my indulgent foodie ways,” she said as they headed for the exit. “But for the record, I hate grits.”
“A foodie, huh? Do you ever write about that on your blog?”
“Have you ever read my blog?”
“Not closely. I gave it a glance earlier, remember.”
Mimi rolled her eyes. “Rule number one, never tell a blogger that you don’t read her blog.”
“I prefer to be honest.”
She sucked her teeth. “What a tragic character flaw. Wait a minute, you’re a lawyer, and you lie every day.”
“Wrong. I’m closed on Sundays.”
“Aww, so you admit it!”
Brent shook his head. “Admit what?”
She rolled her eyes. “It is too late to play this verbal jujitsu. Let’s just go eat and be good neighbors.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said. “But I’m a little curious about something.”
“What’s that?”
“Why do you open your personal life up for the world to see?”
Mimi shrugged. “Because I write about things that women can relate to. I’m doing a public service, you know.”
“Interesting way of thinking. Very creative. I guess I’m going to have to subscribe to your blog,” he said with a wink. Then Brent glanced down at Mimi’s shoes. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to make it in those sky-high heels?”
Mimi nodded. “The sidewalk is my runway. Just don’t let me fall. And if you like my blog, you should buy my book, too.”
Brent laughed. “I will definitely catch you and buy your book if you promise to sign it.”
* * *
The short walk to the Waffle House did prove to be a little bit of torture, but not because of Mimi’s shoes. It was Brent. Every time she took a breath, his masculine scent filled her nostrils and sent waves of desire through her body. She couldn’t figure out if it was sandalwood or just his natural scent that was driving her crazy.
As they walked into the restaurant, Brent placed his hand on the small of her back and an electric jolt rushed through her body. Be still my beating heart, she thought.
“Booth or the counter?” he asked.
“Booth, for sure.” She glanced at the people standing at the counter waiting for take-out orders. “It’s too busy over there.”
Brent nodded in agreement and they took a seat at a table in the back of the restaurant. Mimi nervously grabbed the plastic menu and pretended to study it, while she quietly checked Brent out. He looked really good with clothes on. His tailored shirt hugged the muscles she’d seen up close.
“I thought you knew what you wanted,” Brent said. “You’re studying that menu as if it’s an SAT exam.”
Mimi lowered the menu and smirked at him. “I took the ACT and made a perfect score. I’m just thinking about trying something new.” Like you.
“Can’t go wrong with a pecan waffle,” he said. “And bacon.”
“Not a fan of pork,” she said. “But I think a pecan waffle and cheese eggs are just what I need.”
What she really felt like she needed was his lips pressed against hers, his tongue dancing with hers as they stripped each other naked. Biting her full bottom lip, Mimi wondered what would be the consequences of sleeping with her neighbor. Yes, she’d have to see him again. There would be that awkward moment after she dipped out of his place and went home. And suppose he brought someone home? Would she go all deranged ex or mind her business? Guess that would depend on how good the sex was.
A waitress walked over to the table to take Mimi’s and Brent’s orders. After they told her what they wanted and she walked away, Brent focused on Mimi and smiled.
“So,” he began. “Why do people call you firecracker?”
Mimi rolled her eyes. “Nic calls me that because he can’t handle a woman who doesn’t fawn all over him, like MJ. And people don’t call me that.”
Brent leaned back in the booth. “I think it fits.”
“You don’t even know me like that.”
“Let’s see, you—by your own admission—are nosy. You speak your mind and I get the feeling that you can be rather explosive.”
Mimi raised her right eyebrow at him. “And you’ve figured all of this out from knowing me less than twelve hours?” She looked down at her watch for effect.
“Part of the job. I have to be a good judge of character.” Brent smiled again and her heart fluttered.
Get it together, girl, she chided herself.
Mimi rolled her eyes again and held her tongue, lest he make another judgment about her. “Anyway, Matlock,” she said, “you’ve asked a lot of questions tonight and shared nothing about yourself.”
“I’m sure you ran a Google search,” he replied with a wink.
“Like you didn’t do the same thing. You’re a heavy hitter in the legal community and you give back to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Google makes you seem like you’re all work and no play. A little staid.”
Brent nodded. “I don’t know if I should be impressed or insulted.”
“Why are you hiding behind all of your good press? Angry exes? You’re really a playboy like your friend, Jamal?”
“Why do you immediately go for the negative?”
She shrugged. “Because no one is perfect and I like to know what I’m dealing with up front.”
“Who hurt you?”
Mimi was about reply when the waitress returned with their coffee and iced tea. After Brent watched her pour sugar and creamer into her steaming cup of coffee, he asked, “Well?”
“Well what?”
“You’re guarded and I’m sure there is a reason.”
She took a long, slow sip of her coffee. “And,” she said after swallowing, “you think I’m just going to open up to you because you have pretty eyes?” Why did I say that? Now he’s going to think I’m flirting.
“Usually works on beautiful women, but I see Mimi Collins is a different breed,” he quipped. “Can I ask one last question?”
“You can ask, but I’m not going to promise that I’ll answer.”
“Is Mimi your real name or your pen name?”
“Nickname. My government name is Mariah.”
“Beautiful name. It fits you.” Brent smiled at her and took a sip of his tea. Mimi’s cheeks heated under his stare. It felt as if Brent saw through all of her walls, and that never happened.
“Maybe if I were a singer and had bigger boobs,” she said. Mimi rolled her eyes and silently chided herself. She’d written about women doing the same brainless thing she was doing right now. Wasn’t she the one who wrote about men being hunters and women shouldn’t make themselves seem too available?
“Funny,” he said. “I think everything about you is just fine.”
Sighing, Mimi figured that since she’d made every mistake that she warned her readers about, she might as well go for the gusto.
“Why are you still single?” she asked. “You’re everything that women in Atlanta want. You should have a girlfriend, fiancée, wife or at least a baby mama.”
“I never said I was single,” Brent said.
Mimi’s eyes widened. “Oh, so...”
“My career is my everything right now. Too many women say I make them feel like a mistress because work comes first.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t reach your level of success without hard work and sacrifice.”
“Easy to say when you aren’t dating me and I’m working on a case that keeps me out very late.”
“You have a point there,” she said. “But the solution is don’t date. It’s too stressful and when it stops being fun, you should always move on.”
“Wow, that’s not even how it’s supposed to work.”
“It works for me. Besides, you can’t say that you’re looking for the white picket fence, two point five kids and a fluffy dog.”
Brent sipped his tea, then nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m looking for. I just haven’t found the right woman to share my vision.”
“When you build that time machine and head back to the 1950s, invite me to the wedding. I love wedding cake. Never tasted a piece of dry wedding cake.”
Brent laughed and Mimi closed her eyes. The sound of his laughter sent tingles down her spine that settled between her thighs. And as much as she wanted to blame it on the alcohol, she couldn’t because she’d had one weak drink at the bar. She wanted this man. Wanted his touch and to feel those lips against hers. Sure, her body was a little love-starved. But she had to pull herself together. Since this man was her neighbor, she knew that they could never be anything but friends. And that could be fun, she told herself as the waitress brought their food over.
The scent of the breakfast fare made Mimi’s mouth water for another reason. She was actually hungry for food. Mimi struggled to take dainty bites of her food, even though she was starving.
As she watched syrup drip from her waffle, Mimi decided that her charade had gone on long enough. She wasn’t on a date and she wasn’t going to pretend that she wasn’t starving.
* * *
Brent was mesmerized by Mimi’s mouth. Her full lips closed around the fork and he couldn’t tear his eyes away when she licked her lips when the syrup dripped down from the utensil. When their eyes met as she spooned eggs into her mouth, she raised her eyebrow.
Swallowing, she asked, “What?”
“Nothing,” he replied with a smirk.
Mimi dropped her fork and wiped her mouth. “So, the way I eat must have ruled me out as your 1950s ideal woman.” She shrugged and laughed. “I’m okay with that.”
“You’re funny. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. One question, do you like football?”
She scrunched up her nose. “Not really. But I’m a season ticket holder for the Atlanta Hawks because of something I wrote in my book.”
“Yeah, I really need to become your best friend fast.”
“That could happen. How handy are you with hanging flat-screen televisions?”
“There’s not much I can’t do with my hands,” he bragged. Mimi nibbled on her bottom lip and Brent wondered what her lips would feel like pressed against his.
“When are you going to prove all of this to me?” she asked. “I mean, I just bought a television for my bedroom.”
Brent looked down at his watch. Yes, it was too late to roll into someone’s bedroom, especially someone who looked like Mimi.
“In the morning,” he said.
“Technically, it is morning. I wanted to hook up my PlayStation and see what this new game that’s on everybody’s lips is all about.”
“You’re a gamer, too? Mimi, why are you still single? If you read comics, you’re a nerd’s dream woman.”
She folded her arms across her chest as if she were offended. “Really? Who said I wanted to be anyone’s dream woman, particularly a nerd?”
“We’re the new dream men,” Brent said, laughing.
“I’m not getting the nerd vibe from you,” she said. “So, are you going to hook up my TV or not?”
“Why not?” he said. “Let’s just hope we don’t start a scandal in the complex.”
Mimi laughed. “Really? I’m sure we’re not being watched yet.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. I’m going into the nosy neighbor’s spot.”
She reached across the table and pinched him on the arm. “Whatever, nerd. Superman or Batman?”
“Black Panther. I’m a Marvel Comics guy. But if I had to choose, I’d go with Batman. Superman is just too perfect. Who can live up to that?”
Mimi narrowed her eyes at him. “But he’s all about truth, justice and the American way. How can a lawyer not believe in that?”
“But he isn’t even American. Batman knows the truth.”
Mimi couldn’t really argue with that. “Still, everyone loves Superman.”
“And I guess that’s what you’re looking for, Superman?”
“No way. I could never share my man with the world and be all right with that.”
Brent laughed and then took a spoonful of grits into his mouth. Mimi was something else. And he was definitely intrigued.
They finished eating, falling into easy conversation, and he decided that they definitely liked each other.
Chapter 5
Mimi’s walk had changed to a shuffle as they left the Waffle House.
“Come here,” Brent said as they stopped in front of a bench near a MARTA stop.
“Why?” She sighed as she tried to ignore the throbbing in her toes. Her shoes had officially reached their time limit. Brent tugged at her arm until she joined him on the bench.
“We’ve already decided that we don’t have to impress each other. Give me the shoes,” he said.
“Umm, why?”
“Girl, you know your feet hurt. Give me the shoes.”
Mimi took her heels off and handed them over. Then Brent took her left foot into his hands, slowly kneading and massaging her insole. Mimi struggled not to moan in delight. So, he was good—no, amazing—with his hands. By the time he switched to her right foot, Mimi was ready to buy him a lifetime supply of bacon and bourbon.