IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN by LaConnie Taylor-Jones Read Free Book Online
Authors: LaConnie Taylor-Jones
that.”
“I’m two steps ahead of you, buddy. I spoke with Charles last night. He’s got a place you can hang out for while. As for your chemo, one of the best team of oncologists will be at your disposal.”
“Where’s this place at?”
“About an hour outside of Memphis.”
“Memphis,” Ray repeated with indignation. He’d never considered staying any place south of the Mason-Dixon Line, not even on a temporary basis. He’d only visited the Bluff City once and was thoroughly unimpressed. Everyone he’d met talked with a drawl and moved as slow as cold molasses on a winter day. What sane man would want to live there?
“I don’t know about this one, mon frère .” Ray frowned. “Charles’s crib … is it private?”
“Very.”
Ray lifted his brow, unconvinced. “How much is very?”
“Hard for the media to find private. Shall I proceed?
Too weary to care anymore, Ray nodded. “Go for it.”
“There’s just more minor detail you need to know.”
“Talk to me.”
“Charles doesn’t actually own the property.”
“Well, who does?”
“Laney.”
“Oh, shit.” Ray stood and paced in a tight circle. “Deals off.”
“Listen, Ray—”
“Ice it, mon frère . We need to come up with plan B.”
“I know I just threw a lot on your plate, but right now your options are limited, if you want to keep things under wraps.”
Ray looked grim. He knew Alex was right, but it didn’t mean he liked it. No matter how careful he was, if he stayed and underwent chemo in California, someone could very well spot him. Daaayuuum .
“How you holding up?” Alex asked with concern.
Ray offered a flinty smile. “After what you just threw down? I’m here, mon frère . That’s about all I can tell you. I’m here.”
“You’ve been locked up in this house too long, “Alex chided. “Why don’t you come over to Marcel’s tonight?”
“What’s going on?”
“You remember T. J. Benford, don’t you?”
“Yeah. He was on the same line with you and Marcel when you pledged Alpha. So, what’s going on tonight?”
“Every year our line gets together for Christmas. This year it’s Marcel’s turn to be the host. It’ll do you good to chill out for a while. Maybe shoot some pool.”
“Let me think about.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
~ ~ ~
Laney stared at her desk. It was disgustingly clear. The goal she’d set out to accomplish ten years ago had been achieved. She could do one of two things. Stay at work for the rest of the day and hope in vain that Raphael would come or leave and prepare for his arrival.
She wasn’t desperate, but determined. During the days since she’d returned to Memphis, Raphael Baptiste had imbedded himself so deeply into her daily routine that her life seemed empty without him. While she’d been with him, she’d felt more alive than she’d ever felt before. This wasn’t lust, but love. She’d finally fallen in love with a man. Not just any man, but Raphael Baptiste. With Raphael, she wasn’t Dr. Laney Houston, world renowned scientist. She was Red, his woman. It was both amazing and electrifying.
Weakness was one word she’d tossed out of her vocabulary years ago. Steeping out on nothing but faith, she pushed back from her desk and stood. She refused to give in to the fact that Raphael wouldn’t accept her offer to recuperate at her home. She didn’t know how it would happen. What she was confident of was that it would.
Smiling with confidence, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed toward the door.
~ ~ ~
“Man, tell me you lying !” Ray shouted and nearly toppled off the barstool. He sat at the bar with T. J. Benford in the family room at his brother Marcel’s estate.
“Brother if I’m lying, God strike me dead,” T. J. said, lifting a Coke can to his lips. “I was diagnosed with testicular cancer five years ago.”
“Did you have any symptoms?”
T. J. nodded. “Umm-hmm. And like most men, I ignored them. You
“I’m two steps ahead of you, buddy. I spoke with Charles last night. He’s got a place you can hang out for while. As for your chemo, one of the best team of oncologists will be at your disposal.”
“Where’s this place at?”
“About an hour outside of Memphis.”
“Memphis,” Ray repeated with indignation. He’d never considered staying any place south of the Mason-Dixon Line, not even on a temporary basis. He’d only visited the Bluff City once and was thoroughly unimpressed. Everyone he’d met talked with a drawl and moved as slow as cold molasses on a winter day. What sane man would want to live there?
“I don’t know about this one, mon frère .” Ray frowned. “Charles’s crib … is it private?”
“Very.”
Ray lifted his brow, unconvinced. “How much is very?”
“Hard for the media to find private. Shall I proceed?
Too weary to care anymore, Ray nodded. “Go for it.”
“There’s just more minor detail you need to know.”
“Talk to me.”
“Charles doesn’t actually own the property.”
“Well, who does?”
“Laney.”
“Oh, shit.” Ray stood and paced in a tight circle. “Deals off.”
“Listen, Ray—”
“Ice it, mon frère . We need to come up with plan B.”
“I know I just threw a lot on your plate, but right now your options are limited, if you want to keep things under wraps.”
Ray looked grim. He knew Alex was right, but it didn’t mean he liked it. No matter how careful he was, if he stayed and underwent chemo in California, someone could very well spot him. Daaayuuum .
“How you holding up?” Alex asked with concern.
Ray offered a flinty smile. “After what you just threw down? I’m here, mon frère . That’s about all I can tell you. I’m here.”
“You’ve been locked up in this house too long, “Alex chided. “Why don’t you come over to Marcel’s tonight?”
“What’s going on?”
“You remember T. J. Benford, don’t you?”
“Yeah. He was on the same line with you and Marcel when you pledged Alpha. So, what’s going on tonight?”
“Every year our line gets together for Christmas. This year it’s Marcel’s turn to be the host. It’ll do you good to chill out for a while. Maybe shoot some pool.”
“Let me think about.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
~ ~ ~
Laney stared at her desk. It was disgustingly clear. The goal she’d set out to accomplish ten years ago had been achieved. She could do one of two things. Stay at work for the rest of the day and hope in vain that Raphael would come or leave and prepare for his arrival.
She wasn’t desperate, but determined. During the days since she’d returned to Memphis, Raphael Baptiste had imbedded himself so deeply into her daily routine that her life seemed empty without him. While she’d been with him, she’d felt more alive than she’d ever felt before. This wasn’t lust, but love. She’d finally fallen in love with a man. Not just any man, but Raphael Baptiste. With Raphael, she wasn’t Dr. Laney Houston, world renowned scientist. She was Red, his woman. It was both amazing and electrifying.
Weakness was one word she’d tossed out of her vocabulary years ago. Steeping out on nothing but faith, she pushed back from her desk and stood. She refused to give in to the fact that Raphael wouldn’t accept her offer to recuperate at her home. She didn’t know how it would happen. What she was confident of was that it would.
Smiling with confidence, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed toward the door.
~ ~ ~
“Man, tell me you lying !” Ray shouted and nearly toppled off the barstool. He sat at the bar with T. J. Benford in the family room at his brother Marcel’s estate.
“Brother if I’m lying, God strike me dead,” T. J. said, lifting a Coke can to his lips. “I was diagnosed with testicular cancer five years ago.”
“Did you have any symptoms?”
T. J. nodded. “Umm-hmm. And like most men, I ignored them. You