A Case for Romance. Melanie Schuster

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СКАЧАТЬ remedying that. I’m moving here, and I think getting to know you better is going to be a priority.”

      “You’re moving here? Permanently?” Ayanna sounded slightly breathless.

      “Yes, I am. Didn’t Billie tell you? Let’s get something to eat and talk about it some more.”

      “Is food all you think about?”

      “Pretty much. Food and sex. What else is there, besides football?” Johnny’s face resumed its normal, humorous expression as he smiled down at her.

      Ayanna’s eyes widened. “You need Jesus, Johnny Phillips. You need help.”

      “So are you gonna help a brother out or what?” His hands flew off her shoulders as he heard Davina’s voice float out through the French doors. “Billie, where’s that brother of yours? He just disappeared.”

      “Help me get away from that succubus,” Johnny said urgently. “She’s been on me like a duck on a june bug, and I’m trying not to hurt her feelings. Come on. Let’s go in the side door.”

      “Johnny, you’re crazy!” Ayanna’s dimples wreathed her smile as she allowed him to hustle her away from the sound of Davina’s voice.

      “No, I’m not. I need help, just like you said. Help me stay away from the man-eater and I’ll give you anything you want.”

      A warm pleasant feeling settled over her at his teasing words. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. You have no idea what I might want,” she warned.

      They had reached the door that led to the kitchen. He squeezed her hand, which he’d taken when he led her off the patio. “That’s true, I don’t. But whatever it is, I’ll give it to you gladly. Count on that,” he replied with his devastating grin.

      They went into the big kitchen, and he stared at the table loaded with all kinds of good things to eat.

      “Dang, that looks good. Fix me a plate, and we’ll get started on your list.” Johnny went to the sink and washed his hands while Ayanna stared at his beautiful butt and his long legs that were slightly bowed.

      “I’ll fix you a plate, but what list are you talking about?”

      He turned around, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Your desires, Ayanna. I told you I’d give you anything you want.”

      She couldn’t move for a moment, and then she laughed at his foolishness. “Move out of the way so I can wash my hands. Your blood sugar must be low.”

       Chapter 3

       A fter the party ended and everyone went home, Johnny was still thinking about Ayanna. He’d insisted on following her home to make sure she got there safely, even though it was kind of superfluous seeing as how it was barely dark and she had Alec and Cameron for protection. He did it anyway and pulled up in the driveway behind them. He watched until they were all in the house safely, and then he punched in her number on his cell phone.

      “I told you I was going to call you,” he’d reminded her. She had laughed, the tinkling little giggle that reminded him of spring rain.

      “Yes, but I didn’t think you’d be calling from the driveway. You want to come in and have a cup of coffee?”

      He had done so at once because it gave him a chance to see her again, even for a little while. He had admired her house and got to observe her easy relationship with the boys up close. Actually, he’d spent more time talking with Alec and Cameron than he had with Ayanna, but it was cool because he liked them. She had raised some fine young men. She’d finally called the evening to a halt because they had to get up early for church the next day. He would see her there since she and Billie and Dakota attended the same church, and he always went with them when he was in town.

      Now Johnny was in the media room of Billie’s house, stretched out on one of the big leather sofas. The plasma TV was on ESPN, but he wasn’t watching it. He was thinking about Ayanna’s smile. She’d made an impression on him the first moment he’d seen her at Billie’s wedding. He’d gotten into Chicago the morning of the ceremony, and he’d missed all the festivities leading up to it, so he hadn’t seen the bridesmaids until they were walking down the aisle. Her huge black eyes, the big dimples and her perfect golden brown complexion were all adorable, but he’d thought she was about nineteen or twenty, way too young for him.

      After the ceremony he’d found out that Alec and Cameron, who’d played the violin and piano during the ceremony, were her sons. This made him think she was married. By the time he realized she was single, the reception was almost over and he’d hooked up with some tall leggy woman who was into a good time for one night only, which was his style. He remembered, though, watching Ayanna dance the night away with what seemed like every man there. She could dance her butt off, he recalled, in a sexy and alluring but not sleazy way. She was graceful and moved like she’d been doing it all her life.

      Billie entered the room and interrupted his thoughts. “Who won the game?”

      “Huh?” He turned to look at her. “Who won what?”

      She pushed his feet aside and sat down on the end of the couch. “Were you asleep? I asked who won. Aren’t you watching the scores?” she asked as she pointed to the TV.

      “No, I was thinking about Ayanna. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

      Billie tilted her head as she looked him over. “If you were any other man on the planet, I’d say you were smitten, but we know that’s not true, don’t we?”

      “You don’t know anything, little sister. Where did she learn how to dance like that?”

      “She used to be on a dance squad when she was in high school, I think, and she took dance when she was little. She teaches a dance class at a community center near her house. That girl can get down like a pro,” she said. “Wait, I have a DVD from the hospital benefit. Todd asked her to be his partner in this ballroom dance thing. Hold on, let me get it.” Todd Wainwright, Jason’s younger brother, had missed the party because he was at work.

      She rose gracefully and went to the wall where the DVDs were stored. “Let’s see…” she murmured. “Oh, here it is. I’ll put it in for you.”

      Jason appeared in the doorway as she slipped the disc into the player. “Baby, isn’t it time for you to go to bed? You did a lot today, and I don’t want you to tire yourself out,” he said.

      Billie went to him and nuzzled the base of his throat as he wrapped her in his arms. “I was just getting ready to come upstairs. I’m a little tired, but not because I did too much. You did everything for me, as usual.”

      Johnny sat up and waved the couple off. “Take your lovey-dovey newlywed expectant-parent selves out of here before I get sick from watching you,” he said.

      “Aw, man, don’t hate, participate,” Jason drawled. “This is what you get when you turn in your playa card and start being a real man.” He stopped talking and kissed Billie deeply.

      “I’m blind, I’m blind,” Johnny moaned. “Stop doing that, man, that’s my baby sister.”

      Billie and Jason shouted with laughter. “I might be your sister, СКАЧАТЬ