Working Man

“Actually, it’s the greens she’s after. She’s crazy about them,” Dakota said as she walked to the kitchen to get Cha-Cha’s dish.

Nick admired her figure as she walked away. If soul food was what put that luscious behind on her he was going to make sure she had a steady supply from then on. She looked even prettier than she had earlier and he could tell she’d done a little primping while he was gone. It pleased him to see that she’d made the effort, although she would probably deny that’s why she’d done it. She returned to the living room, where the cat was now dancing around in excitement.

“Okay, we need to share with her or we won’t be able to eat in peace,” Dakota said with a smile. “Which one is mine?” she asked, looking at the bags.

Nick reached into the larger bag and took out two containers. “They’re both the same, so help yourself,” he said as she took one from him.

He watched with amusement as she put a small portion of greens in the cat’s dish. She used the plastic knife and fork to cut it up finely, and then added a small piece of cornbread, which she crumbled over the top. Cha-Cha fell on it as though she hadn’t eaten for days, purring loudly while she ate. While Dakota cleaned her hands with a small bottle of antibacterial cleanser, Nick watched the scene in amusement.

“I never saw a cat eat greens in my life,” he said, taking the bottle from Dakota and using it on his hands.

“Oh, she loves greens, grits and catfish. If you want to see her really go nuts, bring some chitlins up in here. She’ll gank you for them,” Dakota said before saying a quick grace and taking her first taste of the deliciously prepared food. “This is sooo wonderful! Thank you so much, Nick.”

Nick watched her eat and smiled with satisfaction. She ate daintily but with good appetite and was obviously enjoying every bite. He loved watching a pretty woman tackle a good meal, it was a wholesome and sexy sight that often led to some fantastic after-dinner sex, but he wasn’t crazy. He knew better than to put some cheap moves on her so soon. She was a different breed of woman and he could sense it, but it didn’t stop him from teasing her as he dug into his own meal.

“What you know about chitlins? You look like the beefWellington type to me. You don’t seem like the type who would eat chitlins or pig’s feet or anything real down home,” he said between bites.

Dakota rolled her eyes at him. “I could ask you what you know about beef Wellington, which I happen to despise. What do you think you know about me that makes you say something like that? Did you bring anything to drink? I’m not touching that water from the kitchen tap,” she said grumpily.

Nick indicated the other bag. “I brought us some sweet tea. And you just seem like the real sophisticated type, you know.”

Dakota reached for the bag, took out both tall paper cups and handed him one. She opened the other one and took a long draught before cutting her eyes at Nick.

“You know nothing about me. And I doubt that you’ll get to know me much better, so let’s just keep out of each other’s business, okay? Let’s talk about what you think you can do for this house, how about that?”

Cha-Cha was inching her way to Nick, trying for another handout. Nick obliged her with a little piece of chicken before fixing her owner with a long sultry gaze.

Dakota was suddenly uneasy with his scrutiny and looked down to see what he was staring at. “Did I spill something? What are you looking at?”

Those big pretty breasts of yours, he thought, but prudently kept that notion to himself. “I was just thinking about how to get your house in order. Why don’t you move in with me until everything is finished?” he asked quietly. He enjoyed the look on her face as she really did spill something; iced tea rolled right down her chin and splashed onto her bosom. As much as he wanted to lean over and lick it off, he didn’t miss her next words.

“Are you out of your mind?”

By nightfall, Dakota was fairly confident that the man was in full possession of all his faculties. While they ate their dinner, he’d explained to her that he was in the business and that his crew could get her house up to the proper specifications in short order. He also told her that he owned three storage facilities and that he could have her things stored there until the house was ready to be occupied. By the time they’d finished eating, he’d made a few phone calls, and when the movers arrived, he’d directed them to the storage place, and by the time she’d cleaned up after their meal, he was ready to prove to her that he meant every word of what he’d told her.

He took her to his offices, which were spacious and nicely furnished. He introduced her to his office manager, Leticia Banks, and showed her all his credentials, licenses and letters of thanks from grateful clients. Dakota had been impressed in spite of herself. Leticia, who was plump, pretty and well-dressed, had given her a sly smile.

“You look a little overwhelmed, sugar. Don’t worry about a thing, Nick can deliver on anything he says he can do,” she assured Dakota. “He’ll have you hooked up in no time.” She gave Dakota a sunny smile that didn’t seem to match the coolly assessing look in her eyes, but Dakota filed that away for later consideration. She was too busy trying to calculate how much more this was going to cost her and she was hoping she wouldn’t have to go to her father for additional funds. She had a big chunk of money tied up in the Amityville horror, as she was now calling her house, and she dreaded the thought of more debt. She’d been totally upfront with Nick about it, too.

“Look, I believe you. I think you can do what you say, but I’m worried about the cost,” she said earnestly as she sat in the comfortable chair that faced his desk. “I already have a bundle tied up in this situation and I’m not made of money. There’s not a money tree in my backyard waiting to be harvested,” she said with a sigh.

Nick had turned those mesmerizing eyes of his on hers and didn’t crack a smile. “Have I asked you about money? You worry too much, baby. I’m trying to help you out and you’re questioning every move I want to make.”

Dakota blinked her long lashes at him. If she didn’t know any better, she would swear there was something personal in what he said, almost something sexual. She stared back at him and once again she had to suppress a strong physical reaction to the man. Suddenly she remembered how he’d snickered when her big behind was getting back into her car after the accident and as angry as the memory made her, it gave her a kind of reassurance. Whatever he wanted from her had nothing to do with sex, he wasn’t attracted to her. For once her extra pounds had come in handy. At least she didn’t have to worry about him trying to get with her in return for his favors.

“I apologize for being slightly paranoid,” she said in a quiet voice. She shrugged her shoulders and added, “But you’re a businessman and a good one, from the looks of your operation. You didn’t get that way from giving people handouts and as far as I know, construction work doesn’t have a pro bono arrangement.”

Nick continued to stare at her for a long moment before answering. “Look, baby, it’s commendable for you to be honest about your situation and to be concerned about mine, but I got this, okay? I’ll get paid because I’m going after Bernard Jackson myself. And when I’m done with him, he won’t be able to do this same number on anybody else. People like Jackson give all black builders and contractors a bad name. You aren’t the first woman he’s swindled and you won’t be the last, unless someone puts a stop to it.”

Dakota was captivated by the change in Nick as he spoke. The intensity of his voice and his rising emotions made his voice even deeper and he seemed even more masculine than before, if that were possible. Her response to his firm declaration moved her so that she felt another massive tremor working its way through her body and she had to work hard to control the urge to fan away the heat he generated in her. Oh, this is bad, this is really bad, she thought. “You sound very sure of yourself,” she told him.

Nick leaned back in his oversized desk chair and linked his fingers behind his head. “I am sure of myself. I know what I can do and nothing comes out of my mouth that I can’t back up. That’s just the way I am. You’ll understand that when you get to know me better,” he said with a smile that bordered on cocky.

The smug look on his face was enough to snap Dakota back into her senses. She was about to say something smart when Nick excused himself to answer his phone. She took a good long look at him and had to admit she liked what she saw. He was too tall; she liked men who were about six feet, maybe an inch or two taller. She hated a man who loomed over her; there was something bothersome about it. But he was a handsome man, no question. She knew women in D.C. who’d pay to get a date with a man like Nick. Those cheekbones, that strong chin, that head full of beautiful black hair and especially those green eyes—he could have been a model if it weren’t for the fact that he was so broad-shouldered and muscular. Suddenly Nick looked up and caught her staring at him. He gave her a smile that could have melted an iceberg and this time she really shivered.

“Okay, Miss Lady, have I convinced you that I can be trusted? Are you going to allow me to do what I do and get your house in order?”

As if she had no will of her own, Dakota felt her head going up and down as she nodded yes. “But I’ll still need a place to stay. Are there any residence hotels nearby? Those executive suite places?”

Nick rose and came around the desk, holding out his hand to her as he did so. “Baby, I told you I’ve got it all handled. Come with me and I’ll show you what I mean.”

Lordy, what am I getting myself into now? she thought as she accepted his hand.

As though he could read her thoughts, Nick suddenly pulled her up out of her chair and touched her chin with the fingers of his free hand. “You gotta trust me, baby. I got this. Let’s go.”

Chapter 3

Dakota was just getting out of the shower when her cell phone went off. She pulled the luxurious towel around her body a little tighter and sat on the edge of the bed to answer it, smiling when she heard her sister Billie’s voice.

“So what’s going on with you? I’ve heard some disturbing stories,” Billie said with a teasing laugh.

“I see you’ve been talking to our brother,” Dakota said dryly. “That boy can’t keep anything to himself.” She sighed and tried to get more comfortable on the edge of the huge bed.

“I heard the brownstone you bought turned out to be in the projects and you were sleeping in your car, that’s all,” Billie said. “Is any of that true?”

“None of it! You and Johnny both need to quit exaggerating. I’m sure he didn’t say I was sleeping in my car,” Dakota said impatiently. “You two are so dramatic. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

Billie had a quick answer for her. “You’re going to keep being our favorite sister, that’s what. Johnny didn’t say anything like that, of course, but he was really pissed about that so-called friend of his. So what happened, exactly?”

“The brownstone is a mess, but I have a builder who’s going to get it hooked up. He’s also going after the guy who did the number on me, says he’s a bum and he’s done it to other people, too, mostly women. And I’m not sleeping in my car. I’m staying in a furnished apartment, as a matter of fact.” She waited two full beats and then added, “I’m staying in his apartment.” Her mischievous tone of voice did the trick as all she heard was a loud scream from the other end.

“You’re staying with him? Girl, have you lost your reason? No wonder you told Johnny not to tell Daddy! I should tell him myself, you idiot. You don’t know this joker from a can of paint and you’re staying with him? Are all the hotels in Chicago booked up or something?”

“Ooh, girl, you really need to chill. Look up the word overreaction in the dictionary and I’ll bet your picture will be there. I said I was staying in his furnished apartment, I didn’t say anything about him being here, too. He lives in a house, thank you very much, and he just happens to have several rental properties. This apartment is the last place he lived before moving into his home,” Dakota told her.

“Oh.” Despite her earlier outburst, her sister sounded a little disappointed that Dakota wasn’t cohabiting with a stranger. “Well, fill in the gaps then. Don’t keep me in suspense. Give, woman. Who is this man, where did you meet him and what makes you believe he’s not just another con artist? Johnny feels terrible about it, by the way. He’s big-time pissed-off at his so-called friend and he plans to do something about it. But tell all, dear. Inquiring minds need to know. Who is this man?”

“His name is Nick. Nick Hunter. He was teaching his niece how to drive a stick and she bumped into my rear end yesterday. I got out of the car spittin’ nails, you know how I am when I’m tired and cranky, and he’s there trying to make sure I’m okay. The next day he came over to bring me flowers to apologize and he saw the poor excuse for construction that louse Bernard Jackson left me. He looked the place over, went to get us something to eat and when he came back, he told me he could get it fixed.

“I didn’t believe him at first, but he took me to his offices and showed me all his credentials and introduced me to his staff and he even drove me by some of his projects. He also put my furniture in one of his storage facilities until all the work is finished,” she added.

Billie pounced on that bit of info. “He has more than one? Is he a dealer or a booster or something?”

Dakota laughed. “Get your mind out of the ghetto, child. He owns three storage facilities. He has about twenty rental homes and four apartment buildings as well as a bunch of other commercial property. He’s a builder, land developer, whatever. He’s a legitimate businessman, trust me.”

“You looked him up, didn’t you? As soon as he turned his back you got on your BlackBerry and you were digging into his past like a gopher, I know you,” Billie said with amusement.

“I did not look that man up,” Dakota retorted. She let a haughty silence build for about thirty seconds before admitting, “I called Harold and he did it for me.”