Who's That Lady? by Andrea Jackson Read Free Book Online

forehead creased. “You know how it is. Just thinking about what my life is all about. I like my job, I have a good future, security. Everything should be cool, but something’s missing.”
    “Like what?”
    He shrugged and gave her a half-embarrassed look. “I don’t know. Nothing probably. Just feeling like I could use a friend. So why don’t you and I just hang this weekend?”
    “Yes,” she said without hesitation, glad to be needed, even if she understood he was doing this for her as much as for himself. “What do you want to do?”
    “I was going to a club downtown tonight for a show. Wanna go with me?”
    “Who is it?”
    “A local rap artist. We can go and get our boogie on.”
    Crystal hunched her shoulders with displeasure. “I don’t know, Emerson. Hanging out with a bunch of rowdy teenagers? Why don’t we go to a movie or something?”
    “Stop making yourself out to be so old. It’ll be good for you to let your hair down for a change. This guy is great. I’ll take you to dinner and a movie and we’ll do the concert afterwards.”
    Again she was driven to protest. “Afterwards? What time are we talking about, Emerson?”
    He laughed. “Come on, Grandma. We’re going to get down all night long. You can show Miss Shonté she’s not the only one who can get wild. We’ll make her worry about you for a change!”
    “She knows me better than that. My life is just not that exciting.”
    Key eyed her while one corner of his mouth lifted in a rueful grin. “I don’t know about that, Shortcake. Tonight you’re going to be my hot momma.”
    The easy compliment made her squirm with a warm glow of pride that was unsettling. “Yeah, right,” she mumbled, ducking her chin down into her chest as she sat hunched on the bleachers.
    “Come on, I’ll race you up and down the bleachers. Loser buys drinks tonight.”
    She forgot her discomfort in a squealing spurt to beat Key to the top and back down. He let her win, of course. They always ended up doing something physical when they were together. She theorized it was because he was generally athletic, by nature and profession. She didn’t mind. In fact, she figured it helped keep her size sixteen figure from ballooning out of control. She’d never be a hottie like Shonté, but with Key around she was never going to be out of shape either.
    He was right about going out, too. As the day passed with no sign of Shonté, Crystal found the anticipation distracted her from too much worrying. Key had a point. She did need to do something reckless now and then. This date had her blood pumping and her mind active.
    Not that it was a real date. Still, she spent an inordinate amount of time going through her closet, trying on and discarding clothes. Why was everything she owned so seriously stodgy? Maybe it was time she loosened up. She fussed with her hair, washing and blow-drying it. It was a simple bob-length cut, easy to keep up. But so boring.

CHAPTER 4
    When the doorbell rang, Crystal backed out of the closet clutching a pair of leather loafers. Flinging them down, she shoved her feet into the shoes. She took a last hasty glance in her dresser mirror as she passed it, tweaking her hair, smoothing her sweater over her hips. Were these jeans too tight?
    When she opened the door, Key’s appearance made her even more self-conscious. Key’s custom-made burnt orange shirt and trousers fit his toned physique with an easy grace that was certain to turn women’s heads. A wool sweater vest added an easy panache, along with the white athletic shoes trimmed with orange around the shoestring eyelets.
    Key’s glance skimmed over her, not registering anything in particular. “Hey. You ready?” he asked.
    “Yeah.” She spun to grab her jacket and purse from a chair near the door. Her total wardrobe consisted of jeans, sweats or one of her conservative work outfits. She would have to make do with what she had on.
    “Umm. You smell good,” Key commented.
    She had