"Excuse my manners-I just don't like the idea of you getting set on by my beasts," he said
Angelique smiled to herself at his thoughtfulness. In a few minutes they were greeted by the happy, dancing dogs who were thrilled with her unexpected visit. Donnie calmed them down after she petted and praised them.
"Go lay down. Go," he said sternly and they went to their big pillows in his laundry room, albeit with great reluctance. Then Donnie turned to Angelique and asked if she'd like to see his house.
"Yes, I would," she said thoughtfully. "I've never seen your house, Adonis."
He looked surprised for a moment and then thought about it. "I guess you haven't. I've never invited you over here before, I wonder why?" he mumbled more to himself than to Angelique. "Okay, Angel, you're now going to get the grand tour. Come with me."
He took her hand and led her through the kitchen, the dining room, the living room and the three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms was completely unfurnished, one was set up like an office and one was apparently Donnie's bedroom, judging from the mammoth unmade bed. Like her very tall brothers, Cochran men had a need for a huge bed. There was a bathroom with a big claw-foot tub, and a powder room he deemed unworthy of a visit. They talked about the house as they toured it. It was a typical Arts and Crafts-styled bungalow typical of Detroit in the 1930s. There were hardwood floors throughout and big fireplaces in the master bedroom and the living room. It was nicely furnished in a masculine manner, but it lacked a real personality, although Angelique prudently kept this thought to herself. They ended up in the basement game room, with Angelique walking around and admiring the arcade games. Donnie, meanwhile, was admiring her. She walked over to the bar and sat on one of the tall stools. Playfully, she patted her hand on the counter and called, "Bartender!"
Donnie walked slowly across the room and stood behind her stool, leaning in so that he pressed against her back. Their eyes met in the big mirror behind the bar. "Are you thirsty? I can fix you something to drink, if you like," he said in a husky voice. Still staring into his reflected eyes, she shook her head no. Donnie pressed even closer and wrapped one arm around her. "Are you sure you don't want anything?" he asked, his warm breath bathing her cheek.
She whispered, "No, I don't want anything," and Donnie nodded absently, removing her red hat and stroking her silky hair while he kept his other arm locked around her. "Well, I want something, Angel. Something only you can give me," he whispered.
Instead of tensing up, Angelique felt her body melt against Donnie's and she leaned back into him. "What do you want?" she whispered.
He let her go long enough to turn her around on the bar stool and pull her into his embrace. "I want this," he murmured as he brought his mouth down on hers. He kissed her softly at first. Once, twice, three times their lips touched each other, and then his tongue traced the same path hers had followed earlier. He painted her lips with the moisture from his mouth, softly and thoroughly learning the curves of her soft lips. Then they began kissing in earnest, harder and wilder as they reveled in die taste of each other, the feel of each other. Kissing her mouth wasn't enough; Donnie pulled her from the stool and held her as close to him as their coats would allow. He kissed her temple, her cheek, her neck, and moaned as her warm scent drove him crazy. Kissing his way back up to her lips, he parted them slightly with his hot tongue and initiated the intimate contact again, the sweet, tender explosion satisfying him like nothing else ever had. They might have gone on kissing for hours, if it hadn't been for the insistent noise of a cell phone. Angelique finally recognized the persistent buzzing as her own phone, which she snatched out of her pocket with a look of extreme irritation. "What is it?" she snapped into the little phone.
Paris answered with her usual good humor. "Just letting you know the coast is clear and it looks like the mission was accomplished. I think we have some lovebirds over here," she said cheerfully. After a monosyllabic grunt from Angelique, Paris's nimble mind put two and two together. "Ah-ha! You two been gettin' busy, haven't you? And it was good, too! Ooh, wait till I get you home!"
All Angelique could do was stare wordlessly into Donnie's sexy eyes. Now what have I gotten myself into? And do I even want to get out? Before she could answer her own question, Donnie pulled her back into his arms and his lips put an end to any more thoughts.
Chapter Nine
Days after the Super Bowl party, the attendees were still talking about what a good time it was. The food, the company, and the general atmosphere of fun made it a day to remember. The guest list was varied and included some of Paris's coworkers at Cochran Communications, a few neighbors and those members of the Cochran family who could make it. Renee and Andrew were in Renee's hometown of Cleveland that weekend for her parents' anniversary and couldn't attend; Alan and Andre Cochran had already made plans with their fraternity brothers for Super Bowl Sunday and were also absent. But Adam was there with Alicia, as was the patriarch of the family, Big Benny Cochran, along with his bride, Martha. And of course, A.J. attended with one of his female friends.
The evening was a complete success in all ways, especially the matchmaking part. Warren and Lisette appeared well on their way to bliss, something Paris continued to talk about to Angelique's chagrin. "Chagrin" because Paris would start talking about the couple who belonged together, Warren and Lisette, and end up interrogating Angelique about Donnie. No matter how many times Angelique changed the subject, issued outright denials or threatened Paris's life, the end result was the same. She was being treated to it again this very morning while Paris was having a late cup of coffee in Angelique's studio on the first floor of the Cochran building. Paris had come back to the building from a business meeting and dropped in to see her cousin before heading upstairs. And, once again, the normal conversation led right into what Angelique thought of as Paris's Fantasy Land.
"Angel, I don't know how you do it, but this is the greatest coffee in the world. You make the best coffee I've ever tasted," Paris said appreciatively. She watched Angelique at work and they talked about this and that, until-like the homing pigeon she was beginning to emulate-Paris went right back to the topic Angelique wanted to avoid more than anything.
"So, Angel, when are you going to admit that something happened between you and Donnie? I could see the way you two were looking at each other all afternoon; something happened and you and I both know it. Y'all came back here looking like two sixteen-year-olds on your first date and you were all moony-eyed the rest of the day. Lisette didn't notice because she and Warren were doing the same thing, but I certainly saw it. Even Willis asked me if you two were an item," she added slyly.
That gave Angelique pause and she narrowed her eyes at Paris. Willis Gaffney was a friend and occasional date of Paris's, an advertising account executive who did business with Cochran Communications. "I certainly hope you told him there was nothing between us," she snapped.
"Actually, you'd better be glad he thinks there's something going on. He was just about to make a move on you that night and Donnie put an immediate stop to that." Paris chuckled. "All he did was look at him, but I think it made poor Willis's heart stop. That's when he asked me if you two were a couple."
Angelique dropped her head into her hands and gave a muffled shriek. "What did you tell him? You didn't tell him we're dating, did you?"
Paris enjoyed her cousin's discomfort for a few seconds, and then showed her mercy. "No, I didn't. All I said was, ‘What do you think?' and let him draw his own conclusions. He's not going to say anything to anybody about it because Donnie scared him half to death with one look. I was pretty impressed, actually. Nobody's ever looked at anybody like that on my behalf," she reflected. Arching a neatly shaped brow, she gave Angelique a wicked grin and said, "Which brings me back to my original question: what's going on with you and Donnie? You know how nosy I am; put me out of my misery."
Lifting her head up, Angelique shot a mean look at Paris, which didn't scare her one bit. "I'd like to put you out of your misery, all right. Permanently. For the last time, there is nothing, I repeat, nothing, going on between me and Adonis Bennett Cochran," she said with a grimace.