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Niko got up and walked to the buffet. “Did you talk to Grace or a reporter for the Cove Chronicle?”
Ike Sr. snorted. “Is there a difference?”
“Don’t worry, Niko. I trust Grace to keep a confidence. She and I have been friends for decades.”
“I appreciate that but there’s no great story here. Yes, Monique and I met for dinner. For obvious reasons, we decided to do so privately.”
“You don’t owe us an explanation,” Terrell said, rising from the table and joining his brother at the buffet. “She’s an attractive, single woman. Oh, and she’s breathing. Of course you’d take her out.”
“That’s low, bro,” Warren said with a shake of his head. “And considering how many women’s numbers are in your phone’s address book, it’s a dig that you should not be making. Don’t listen to Terrell, baby,” he said to his wife. “Drake men aren’t players.”
“Boy, please.” London smirked while texting on her cell phone. “Considering how big Charli’s stomach is getting, it looks like someone’s had some fun.”
“London!” Jennifer gave her youngest a look. “How many times do I have to tell you…no electronics at the table.”
“Mom, it’s just—”
“Put it down.” Ike Jr. gave his younger sister a stare that dared her to defy him. She put down the phone.
Niko was glad the heat on him had been deflected and to know what Grace had seen. It was all the more reason why he couldn’t see Monique socially or act out the fantasy that had played in his head ever since holding her in his arms. No, there were too many eyes, too many people watching. It wouldn’t do for him to act on that desire at all.
Chapter 7
Monique blinked her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the bright sunlight. She was glad she’d taken her godmother up on her offer and attended church. It wasn’t something she did often, but the choir had sung beautifully and she’d enjoyed the sermon. Sitting in those pews, listening to his lyrical cadence speak on the truth setting one free and unconditional love, she’d been assuaged with a feeling of peace. And then another feeling, guilt, about Rob and the message from him on her phone when she had returned home from dinner with Niko. How he missed her and wanted her to reconsider the decision to end their relationship. Finally considering his feelings was what had led her to break up with him in the first place.
As if conjuring him up, her phone rang. She pointed to it, mouthed “I’ll be back” to Margo and stepped a few yards away from the socializing parishioners. “I was just thinking about you,” she said by way of greeting, adjusting her earbud to hear more clearly.
“I hope it was about what I suggested on the message I left,” Rob replied, his voice crisp and professional-sounding in her ear. “And how you’d like to invite me up to see you.”
She immediately thought of Niko, and how words that oozed from his inviting lips caused her toes to curl. Rob had never caused anything to curl, tighten or moisten simply by speaking. Ever. It was true, yet she immediately chided herself for making the comparison.
“How’s life in Los Angeles?”
“Same old, same old. Lonely without you.”
Say “I miss you, too,” Monique! She wanted to, but she couldn’t. The words were blocked by thoughts of the pastor’s message about truth and being set free. “I had my first debate with an opponent yesterday,” she said instead.
“Really? Who?”
“Niko Drake. He’s running as an independent.”
“That was fast. Didn’t you just announce your candidacy days ago?”
“Yes.”
“Who set this up so quickly?”
“Would you believe the owner of a beauty shop?”
“Come again?”
Monique laughed, then shared the short version of yesterday’s events. “We both held ourselves in check, didn’t let things get ugly. Then last night we met and agreed to leave the negative ads and mudslinging to others and run positive-oriented races that stick to the facts.”
“You met last night?”
