That kiss... it was so sweet, so sensual that the mere memory of it took her breath away and put her right back into a place where she could still taste his lips, still feel his strong arms locked around her, still feel the wild and unfamiliar longing that only he could assuage. The tender memory was always followed by the recollection of his behavior the very next day, when he had ignored her completely. That was also something she'd like to forget. Suddenly, despite her efforts to concentrate on her work, her mind drifted. With a sound of disgust, she stopped what she was doing and propped her head in one hand, the past few days coming back to her with unerring clarity.
She, Paris, and A. J. had all gone over to Alan's house and she'd even brought a huge bowl of shrimp salad to contribute to the meal. It was her mother's recipe and Lillian's shrimp salad was welcome wherever it went, it was that spectacular. The real reason she'd brought the salad, however, was because Donnie loved it. He'd had it on several occasions when he was visiting Bennie and Clay in Atlanta and always raved about it, so she'd taken the shrimp salad out of the refrigerator without hesitation, even though it was for her party the next day. After A.J. and Paris convinced her to go to the party, she decided to cast caution to the wind and see if there was something more to the spontaneous kiss than either she or Donnie realized. Dressed in the beautiful lapis-blue cashmere sweater Paris had given her for Christmas, Angelique really thought she was looking her best. She had on midnight-navy velvet jeans and sleek ankle boots, and a sheer misting of her favorite fragrance, Youth Dew by Estee Lauder. It was considered to be an old-fashioned fragrance, but she loved it and it smelled fantastic on her skin. She was ready to face Donnie, whatever the outcome. Yes, she'd made herself vulnerable to him and even a target for his ridicule by giving him that kiss, but now she was ready for the consequences.
Angelique suddenly sat up straight with fire in her eyes. She picked up a matting tool and stared at it, then put it back down. She couldn't trust herself to cut anything in her present mood. There was no point in trying to avoid it-the memory was too galling to go away. After greeting all the Cochrans and introducing A.J. to anyone who didn't know him, Angelique had really begun enjoying herself despite the little thrills chasing around in her stomach in anticipation of seeing Donnie. Tina, Alan Cochran's wife, had just said something to Angelique about the possibility of her showing at the museum and Angelique had confirmed the information. A.J. had put a brotherly arm around her and was praising her work when Donnie finally walked in and everything went wrong.
Donnie looked as handsome as ever in another gorgeous sweater, this one a soft blue gray that warmed his already rich skin tone and made it more appealing. He was wearing jeans and some good-looking black shoes that laced up and looked very Italian, although they were probably Doc Martens. His smooth face was freshly shaved and he smelled wonderful. Angelique's mouth had become dry and her hands had gotten damp and itchy. She couldn't have said anything if she'd wanted to. As it turned out, she didn't have to say a word; Donnie had ignored her completely. He didn't look at her, he didn't greet her in any way and he had acted as though she didn't exist. A hard, cold weight formed in her stomach and the rest of the time went by in a blur. Luckily, A.J. was serious about shooting some film and they left rather quickly. They drove to Metro Beach and took some shots of the setting sun over the bleak winter shore.
Angelique jerked out of her reverie, suddenly reminded that her film would be ready that day. They'd been shooting in color and she didn't like to do her own color processing. She'd developed a good relationship with a small lab that wasn't too far from the building, and they were always willing to expedite her orders. She glanced at her watch and saw it was almost time for lunch, so she decided to go pick up the order, reasoning that a brisk walk in the cold air would do her some good anyway. Abandoning all pretense of work, she quickly put everything away and went down to the main lobby. As she waved at the concierge and turned quickly to the big brass doors that led to the street, she ran smack into what seemed to be a wall made of wool.
The wall was actually a tall, good-looking man who seemed rather pleased at the collision. "I guess I was in the right place at the right time," he said. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Angelique looked up into a broad, smiling face and had to smile herself: the man was adorable. It was a strange adjective to use about a big, handsome, obviously well-off man, but there was no other word that fit him so well. He was about six-two and a big teddy bear of a man, with that Gerald Levert kind of sex appeal. His skin was a rich, warm brown and his full, chiseled lips were surrounded by an impeccably groomed mustache and beard. His eyes were kind and merry with thick eyebrows and long, straight lashes.
"I'm fine, thank you. I think I should be apologizing to you," she said nicely.
"I wouldn't hear of it. Here, let me help you with your coat," he said gallantly, holding out his hands for the garment.
Angelique promptly gave it to him and allowed him to assist her. He waited while she shifted her purse and gloves from one hand to the other, and then made sure the coat was on her shoulders properly. "No hat today?" he asked.
Still smiling, Angelique shook her head no.
"Now, that's not good. You lose most of your body heat through your head and your feet," he chided gently.
"You're not wearing one either," Angelique said with a raised eyebrow.
"Aww, baby, just look at me. I'm a walking furnace," he said with a chuckle. "Besides, I don't want to mess up my hair." He gave his hair a pat with an exaggerated flutter of his amazing eyelashes.
He did have a pretty head of hair, thick and black and perfectly trimmed. Angelique thanked him again for his chivalry and promised she would get a hat.
"I have to run now. Take care of yourself," she said as they each gave a brief wave good-bye. Suddenly the cold winter day was warmer and more cheerful, all because of a chance encounter.
***
"Mr. Cochran, Dr. Alexander is here."
"Thanks, Margaret, I'll be right there." Donnie smiled broadly as he went to the door of his office. It was his habit to personally receive all visitors; Benita had taught him that courtesy when she was head of Cochran Communications. This time he was combining business with pleasure, as Dr. Warren Alexander was one of his oldest friends. The doctor had been interviewed on the talk-radio station owned by Cochran and the two men had arranged to have lunch afterward. Donnie met his friend in the reception area of the executive floor and took him back to his spacious private office, where the two men began chatting.
"So how're you doing, man?" There was real concern in Warren's voice, as he knew the story of Donnie's proposal and the less than stellar results.
Donnie shrugged and spread out his hands in a gesture of acceptance. He and Warren were both seated on the long Ultrasuede sofa that graced his window-lined work space. "I'm doing okay. Better than okay, actually. I had a long talk with Aneesah and she made a lot of sense. I think I was more in love with the idea of a partnership than I was with her," he admitted. "Although, I don't agree with her that I'm an intellectual snob."
"An intellectual what?" Warren asked with a raised brow.
Donnie related the entire conversation to Warren, who took advantage of his old-friend status to laugh in Donnie's face. "Yeah, well, she's right, my brother. You do have some fairly rigid standards when it comes to dating. If a woman isn't superlative in all ways, from size to height to intellect to credentials, you aren't interested. You do make up a list and go shopping in the woman store, Cochran."
"Okay, maybe I do. But I like what I like, how can you fault me for that? I grew up with amazing women all around me, Warren. Benita practically raised me. I really don't remember my mother at all. Think about my sister: she's an incredible woman, probably the most incredible woman I've ever known. She's beautiful, brilliant, kind, compassionate and talented. There's nothing she can't do, Warren," Donnie said. "She ran this company from the time she was about fifteen, practically, as well as kept everything running at home and raised us after Mom died. My aunt Ruth, she resigned her commission in the army to help raise us; she's another outstanding woman. My sisters-in-law, Tina and Faye, check them out. Tina is a circuit court judge and Faye is a college president. Adam's partner, Alicia, is considered to be one of the leading architects in the country, Warren. Not the city or the state, she gets national recognition, man. So why shouldn't I have high expectations for the woman in my life? I've had nothing but brilliant examples of womanhood around me all my life."