Here is the novel that started it all. The characters for It's in My Blood, My True Essence, Embracing Myself Now and other stories still in development. Here is the new cover. What do you think?
Have you met Toney, Colby, Rebecca and Rajj? You should. I think it will change your life. They definitely changed mine. Read the first chapter below. Available in all ebook formats and paperback.
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Chapter One
Dorothy Love Memorial Building Annual Tenant Meet &
Greet
“I don’t believe you’ve had the pleasure. My name is
Candice,” Candice offered her hand to the six foot plus cocoa brown man she
stepped in front of. “My friends call me Candi.”
“I’m sure I’d remember if I had,” he took her hand and
caressed the top before releasing it. “I’m Rajj, and so far it is a pleasure
Ms. Candice.” He took in the scent of vanilla pear and peered down the petite
woman’s low cut blouse that matched her striped mini skirt.
“I’m hoping we’ll become quick friends. So please call me
Candi,” she flashed a thousand watt smile. “So, Rog, is that short for Roger or
like the old show What’s Happening Now?” She looked up at him through her
lashes with a seductive smile.
“Like the show,” he licked his lips and spoke to her
cleavage. “Mine is spelled with an A and two J’s.”
“Interesting, I never had -- I mean heard it like that
before in real life. Originality is very sensual to me,” Candice said. “I don’t
see a lot of it as a call center manager. I work on the sixth floor at Baal
Research Technologies. Where do you work?” she shifted her weight from her left
to her right foot. This caused his gaze to shift to her short but shapely legs.
“I’m the senior associate at David, Haden and Associates.
I’d love to hear about what you all do up there on the sixth floor. The name
sounds so top secret. Let’s get something to drink and find a quiet spot.”
“We do biochemical research that combines technology with
chemistry to see how the two can work together in the commercial world outside
of the medical industry. It’s somewhat classified but my information is open
and available to you.” She raised the glass he handed her to her rose painted
lips and drank without looking away from him.
“I see. Where would you like to continue this?”
“Anywhere we can have enough privacy for us to express
ourselves as needed.”
“My office should be able to accommodate our needs,” he
placed his empty cup in the waste basket at the end of the table. As he turned,
he brushed against her and his arm tingled on the spot where he touched her.
“Maybe we can schedule a conference after we finish in my office.”
“Let’s see how our first meeting goes then I’ll let you
know.”She placed her cup in the waste basket and stepped around him.
He followed her out of the room to the elevator around the
corner. She pressed the up button before bending over to brush something off of
her shoes. Rajj approved everything he saw before she stood up. The elevator
doors opened. He placed his hand on the small of her back guiding her into the
small space. He smiled as she turned to him and pulled his face down to hers
and whispered into his ear.
“Candi, I must admit that I’m not used to dealing with such
a bold client. But I’ll do everything I can to make sure that all your demands
are met.” Rajj turned and kissed her on the lips, parting them before she had a
chance to move. The doors to the elevator closed. He lifted her up and placed
her legs around his waist.
***
Toney stepped off the elevator into the hallway. Before
entering the double doors and returning to the event she stopped in the ladies
room to check her lipstick. She exited the ladies room through the entrance
into the café. Making her way to the buffet table she wondered where her
boyfriend could have gone. As she turned to go to her office she felt a hand on
her shoulder.
“Hey Colby,” Toney said. She gave a quick hug to the café au
lait man.
“Toney, you look beautiful.” Colby said. “I meant to stop by
your office earlier and ask if you were coming.”
“Thanks, you clean up pretty nice yourself. I was about to
go back up there and get my coat.” She noticed an attractive woman walking up
behind him.
“I didn’t mean to hold you. I wanted to introduce you to my
assistant, but maybe I can do it another time,” the woman stopped next to him.
“Or I could do it now, Toney this is Rebecca Tavares, Rebecca this is my best
friend. The one I’m always talking about. The cheerleading coach.”
“Toney it’s really nice to meet you. Colby told me
practically everything about you, except the fact that you’re a woman.” Rebecca
let go of her hand and playfully punched Colby on his shoulder.
“I told you Toney was a cheerleading coach. I assumed you
knew it wasn’t a man.” Colby said. Toney punched him on the arm.
“Colby what is that supposed to mean? There are lots of male
cheerleaders which means somewhere in the world there is probably a male
cheerleading coach. Saying stuff like that let’s me know I’m not praying enough
for you,” Toney shook her head and laughed with Rebecca when Colby rubbed the
spot on his arm.
“How would I know that? I played basketball at an all boys’
high school. Our cheerleading squad was from the all girls’ high school
nearby,” Colby said.
“Rebecca, please forgive me for beating up your boss. We’ve
known each other since we graduated from college but I still forget how he is
sometimes.” Toney said.
“It’s okay we’ve only been working together for a few months
but I’ve come to realize that his heart is in the right place even though he is
a little loco,” Rebecca said.
“That’s enough of that. Y’all can bond later, and not on my
account. I apologize Rebecca I’m so used to Toney I forget to mention she’s a
girl sometimes,” Colby moved just in time to dodge Toney’s second punch to the
same arm. “I’m gonna get something to drink while you two finish talking about
me.”
“He’s so dramatic. I’m still surprised he’s creating
commercial ads instead of being part of them. I don’t understand how y’all get
any work done.”
“It’s kinda refreshing my last manager was so stiff he made
rulers jealous. I prayed for a job like this before I moved here from New
York.” Rebecca chuckled.
“Then you will love working for Colby. I hope it works out.
His last two assistants weren’t used to it and took his kindness for weakness.
Now they’re taking people’s orders at Burger King.” Toney looked at her watch
then at the door. “I don’t mean to be rude I’m just wondering where my
boyfriend is, he was here when I ran up to my office. He said he was ready to
leave but I didn’t think I was gone long enough for him to do so without me.
Now I’m rambling.”
“It’s okay I understand. Men will do that to you. He
probably just ran upstairs to get something. He wouldn’t leave without saying
goodbye would he?” Rebecca watched Toney shake her head ‘no’. “You know men,
they live in their own world sometime.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll just hang out with you guys a
little while longer hopefully he’ll finish whatever it is he is doing soon.”
“So Toney where is that high powered lawyer boyfriend of
yours? With you looking like that I’d think only God himself would be able to
peel him from your side,” Colby said. He handed each of them a drink.
***
Candice sat up and smiled as she looked down at Rajj
breathing heavily beneath her. He looked up at her amazed. She threw her head
back and laughed then raised herself off of him and out of the chair they
occupied. She sat on his desk.
“So, Mr. Thorn, did you get all of the information or were
there some additional questions you had?” She threw her right leg over the left
and crossed them at the knee.
“Yes, I did, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to finish this
interrogation in here. Let’s see if the conference room is available. First I
need to make a call to clear my calendar for the evening.” He picked up his
phone and smiled as she eased off of his desk and into his lap again. He hoped
he could keep his composure. The phone rang once before someone picked up.
“Hey, Toney. Uuhhm. I had something… uuhhh… very important
come up at the office so don’t wait for me to leave okay...No it’s cool really…
I’m not sure it’s a new case and I’m becoming acquainted with all of the
details now…I’ll get up with you later…Hey thanks for understanding…Same
here…yeah later.” Rajj sat back and watched Candice then pulled her to him and
kissed her. “Candi, a man could get a serious cavity. Let’s finish this down in
the conference room.”
“Your call, counselor, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get
such good representation again. My cases are normally settled quickly.”
“I don’t know, cases that have such promising payment have
been known to take a long time. Let’s take a more in depth look down the hall
to the right, conference room D.” He smiled as he turned off the light in his
office.
***
“Then Toney switched over to the professor, patted him on
the head and said, ‘thanks short stuff I got it from here’.” Colby doubled over
laughing as Rebecca and Toney exchanged glances and shook their heads. Colby
stood up with tears in his eyes. “I guess you had to be there, she was always
doing stuff like that. It’s a wonder we graduated. Whoo. I’m going to get some
more punch.” Toney’s cell phone rang.
“This is him now calling from his office excuse me one
second. Hey … are you sure…how long will you be…alright…I’ll ask Colby to walk
me to my car…Your welcome. I love you… I’ll talk to you later. Rebecca I won’t
be able to introduce y’all tonight something came up.” Toney put her cell phone
back on the waist of her skirt. “I hope Colby isn’t boring you to death with
his stories, I’m normally able to keep him from doing this when we see each
other at church. I’m surprised he hasn’t invited you yet. He thinks everyone in
Houston should attend Agape Cathedral.”
“Actually Toney, I invited Rebecca to church the first month
she started here but she already attends Potter’s Clay Christian Center with
Bishop J.T. Stakes. She said she saw him
on TBN and God told her to move to Houston. Now that I think of it, isn’t that
where Rajj goes to church?” Colby said.
“It is but she probably doesn’t know him, their church is
even bigger than ours. He just called. He is stuck in the office with
something. So I might need you to walk me to my car,” Toney said.
“I got you. We can go whenever Rebecca is ready.” Colby and
Toney turned and looked at her at the same time.
“It shouldn't be long. My feet hurt after trying to dodge
this guy who was trying to talk to me from the second floor. I think he is a
personal trainer but I’m not sure the sessions he offered were approved by the
gym. There he is. I’m ready we can leave now.”
“Great. My mission was
accomplished you two met and I met a lot of potential clients.”
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