Just then the buzzer sounded. Angelique had a reception area as well as a big office and workroom. Because she did not employ a receptionist, she had the buzzer installed for security. Paris glanced at her watch and said she would get the door on her way out. "I need to be getting back to work anyway." She left Angelique in the big main room and went to the reception area to find out who was calling.
When Paris didn't return immediately, Angelique's curiosity made her go to the reception area to see what became of her. "Paris, who was that at the … " Her voice faded away as she looked into the amused eyes of Donnie.
Paris also looked quite entertained as she waved at her cousin, then left, saying, "See you later, Angel. Have a good trip, Donnie." Angelique made a mental note to do something really bad to Paris at her earliest convenience. In the meantime, she concentrated on looking composed. "Hello, Adonis. What can I do for you today?" she asked politely.
Donnie was looking better than any man had a right to at that hour of the morning-at any hour of the day, as a matter of fact; the man was ridiculously handsome. He was wearing a beautifully cut, tan cashmere topcoat over a charcoal-gray suit no doubt custom-tailored to accommodate his height. His leather gloves were in one hand and his over-the-shoulder briefcase was sitting by the door. While she took in every detail of his appearance, Donnie was looking around her studio with great interest. Angelique cleared her throat and repeated her question. "What is it that I can do for you?" she said more sharply than she intended.
"I'm here because I wanted to see you. I haven't seen you since the party, and I never told you thank you for your hospitality. It was a good time. My dad is still talking about that gumbo," he said with a smile as he shoved his gloves into this coat pocket.
"Even though I'm the one who made it?" she said with a slight grin.
Donnie dropped his head for a moment, and then looked up with a plea in his eyes. "You're not going to let me live that down, are you? It was a mistake, I admit it."
At the party, when the buffet had been laid out and people started eating the wonderful repast, Donnie had looked at Paris and said "Girl, you put your foot in this gumbo. This is the best I've ever had."
Paris had smiled and said "Well, thanks, Donnie, but I didn't make that. Angelique is the real cook, I just kind of putter around."
Remembering the scene, Angelique gave him a grudging look of amusement. "Hard as it is to believe, I can do a few things, Adonis."
Now it was his turn to smile. "You know something? I never liked my name. Never could stand it, it was just too affected for me. But I like the way it sounds when you say it. I know you use my name to irritate me, but it sounds really sexy coming from your mouth."
Angelique's eyes widened and she took a step backward even though they weren't standing close. She was still in the entrance to the reception area and he was in the middle of the room. Donnie could sense her nervousness and he wanted to put her at ease as soon as possible, though that might be difficult, given what he'd come to say. It was his turn to check her out and he liked what he saw, very, very much.
"You're looking very stylish today. Beautiful, in fact," Donnie said appreciatively. He enjoyed the faint pinkness that spread along her cheekbones at his compliment, but he meant every word; Angelique looked like a high-fashion model. She was dressed in a stunning black outfit: a pair of slacks with a kimono-styled jacket over a white tunic with an asymmetrical, mandarin-styled collar. She looked courant and avant-garde, yet professional. Her hair was once again worn in a updo, but this time it was sleekly styled off her face and had two abalone chopsticks stuck though it. She smelled differently, though, and Donnie tried to place the scent. "You have on a new perfume today, what is it?" he asked.
Angelique was so surprised by the question that she answered him without hesitation. "Cashmere Mist."
Donnie filed that information away for future reference. "I like it. It's as nice as the other one you wear."
"I'm so glad you approve," she said snidely. "I live for that, you know."
He liked the look of her studio; it was done in calming neutral colors and had a clean, minimalist effect, due to the lack of doodads. The walls were done in eggshell and the taupe furniture consisted of a long sofa and two chairs. Aside from a coffee table with magazines, a simple but elegant floor lamp and two ficus trees, there was nothing in the room except a few photographs on the walls, all in black and white. The space looked sophisticated and artistic.
"This is a nice place, Angel. But it doesn't look like you," Donnie said honestly. "It's too cold, too impersonal. I don't know you as well as I should, but I can tell you that this room isn't anything like you."
Angelique blinked and then shook herself quickly. She crossed her arms as if she was chilly and needed the warmth. "I don't know what you're talking about, Adonis. This room is exactly like me. Cold and impersonal, that's me all over," she said hotly, as she returned to the main work space. To her displeasure, Donnie followed her.
This room was neat as a pin, but it was much more colorful, with some color shots on the walls as well. There was a large table in the center of the room with a big zipper portfolio laid on it, neatly stacked prints arranged around it. The walls were lined with cabinets that stored her equipment. She was trying to look busy at the table when Donnie's voice stopped her movements.
"Oh, no, you're not. You're as far from being cold and impersonal as it's possible for one person to be. This room looks more like you. This room and your house, that's you. Warm, vibrant and creative," he told her. The look of confusion in Angelique's eyes touched him to his heart and also made him get to the point. He wasn't here to torture her; quite the opposite. "Look, Angel, I'm going out of town. I'll be gone all week, but when I get back, I'd like to take you out. I think it's time we stopped ignoring this attraction and did something about it, don't you?"
Angelique was so surprised by his words, she couldn't answer at first. Then she said the first thing that came to her mind: a resounding no. "No, I don't. I don't think that's a good idea at all, Adonis."
He closed the gap between them in one step and put his left hand on her shoulder. With his right hand he tilted her chin up, then placed a soft, moist kiss on her lips. "I told you, I like the sound of my name on your lips. I like a lot of other things about you, too. And I think you like me, at least a little. Say you'll go out with me, just for dinner," he coaxed.
"I... I..." Angelique valiantly tried to remember why this was a bad idea. He was standing so close, the warmth of his body was igniting hers; his body chemistry was making his aftershave into an aphrodisiac and his lips felt wonderful, even for that short moment. Just as she was about to say no again, he touched his lips to her cheekbone, and the warmth spread over her like a blanket of passion.
"Say yes, Angel. Please say yes," he said softly.
"Yes," she said with a sigh. "Yes, I will."
After Donnie left the office, Angelique was ready to sit down for a long time and think about what had just happened. Despite all her efforts to stay in control, she was trembling. And today was just not the day for that, not when she had to go the museum to meet with the director. If it weren't for the fact that A.J. was coming with her, she'd have been a wreck.
***
He showed up to collect her a little bit earlier than they'd agreed on and she was truly glad to see him. She gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then asked him why he was so early. "Not that I'm not glad to see you. I'm glad you're here," she said inhaling his familiar scent. "You look very handsome. She's not going to pay me a bit of attention with you sitting there looking gorgeous."
He did look rakishly charming as always, this time in pleated black trousers, a black cable knit turtleneck and his long leather coat that made him look like a model. Although his long dreadlocks were gone as a result of the chemotherapy, he had a start on new ones in the form of a headful of black curls that spiraled every which way. He shrugged off the comment and concentrated on Angelique.
"I came early so I could see how nervous you are," he replied. He looked her over from head to toe and nodded approvingly. "You clean up nice. You look very uptown, just like a seasoned professional. Love the chopsticks."