Love in the Afternoon

  Love in the Afternoon

  Love in the Afternoon

  Midpoint

  Love in the Afternoon

  (The Lingerie Series)

  Yvette Hines

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission by the author.

  Love in the Afternoon

  Copyright © 2013, Yvette Hines

  Proofing Editor: A. Jackson

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to eStore and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Series Note:

  I hope you enjoy The Lingerie Series, a new short story edition of the “Stir Sticks & Stilettos” series. This line of the SS&S will feature the voluptuously, lovely, full-figured heroines of different ethnicities that are confident, successful and not ashamed to flaunt their bodies in alluring lingerie paired with sexy mouth-watering heroes as so many of my readers have requested. These little nuggets of erotic shorts are meant to excite you, at the same time, give you a little happiness at the end. Stay tuned for the next stories to follow.

  Never give up on love, because just when you think the door has closed…a window opens.

  “Okay, everyone. We all need to be very quiet. Chase should be home in minutes.” Kalan, my best friend, was smiling broadly as she stared at the faces of Chase’s friends and their family, Kalan’s family as well. Kalan and Chase were first cousins.

  All of us were gathered at the park across the street from Chase’s cul-de-sac with various baked goods and gifts in our hands. Chase had been away for the last two months in Nebraska setting up his wholesale produce shipping company there. He worked with local farmers to get their goods and vegetables to customers' doors in less than twenty-four hours. Henderson Packing and Shipping’s slogan was 'From fields to the table in a day'. We all knew how big of a deal it was that Chase had been able to add another state to his expanding business. As a pilot, Chase had flown private jets for the rich and famous for seven years. When so many of his clients were starting to become vegans and healthier eaters, they began to ask him to fly to places and pick them up foods from all over the country. Chase realized that working, everyday people deserved the same kind of service, if not more. He had realized that middle class households where both parents worked wanted their families to be healthy, too. However, they didn’t have time to go to the store every other day for fresh produce. So, he brought the freshness to them.

  The business had exploded in their state, North Carolina, and by the end of his first year, Chase had added five other surrounding states. Six years later, he shipped to most of the East Coast and was moving into the Central and Midwest states. The upper class subdivision was proof of how well Chase’s company was doing.

  “Are you sure we should do this tonight, Kalan? I thought Chase wasn’t due in until tomorrow night.”

  “Yes, Uncle Donald.” Kalan, holding her gift and mine, stared at Chase’s father, holding a box of wine. Three weeks ago when Kalan had gathered all of them at a restaurant and discussed Chase’s surprise birthday, Donald had insisted he was bringing the box wine.

  It was the reason Jax, Chase’s college roommate, was holding a case of expensive Champagne for everyone else to drink. Glancing at Donald Henderson, I would never understand why a man that loved eating at four star restaurants would allow such a cheap alcohol to grace his palate, but that had always been Chase’s father. For Chase’s college graduation, his father had prime rib and butcher’s select ribs on the grill for the pool party; however there were cases of box wine and cheap no-name beer in the cooler.

  “You’re controlling this train. I’ll just hang on to the caboose.” Donald called out loud, not heeding Kalan’s words or the whispered tone she was using.

  I could not help but smile. Chase’s parents, Donald and his wife, Mary Ann, were kind and big-hearted people who loved their two children immensely. That was something I would have given my right arm for. My family wasn’t close at all. My parents were still married but only by strings of determination. They fought and argued all the time. My older brother never came home to visit them because he and my father fought about every decision my brother made and Lance couldn’t take it so he stayed away.

  Same reason I had gravitated to Kalan and the Henderson clan. They still did things like holidays parties and a monthly potluck and game night. Since I was Kalan’s best friend, they had included me in their circle and I loved it.

  “As I told everyone when I called two hours ago that Chase finished up today and decided to catch an early flight.” Kalan looked around at the fifteen people gathered. “We all good? Ready to go?”

  I was holding the birthday cake, yellow with white butter-cream frosting. I had picked it up from the bakery this afternoon. It hadn’t been finished yet, but I refused to leave without it. I wasn’t sure if the shop keeper had fleeced me out of twenty dollars for the ‘rush’ fee or not. I didn’t care. Chase deserved a cake for his thirty-fifth birthday celebration. I peeped through the cellophane window at the top of the sheet cake box. Chase's dark gray eyes stared back at me. Even printed on edible sugary paper, they still gave me chills.

  It wasn’t because I had a thing for Chase. No way. I’d put those feelings away years ago. Besides, he had Leeza Rockingham, a red head bombshell. Leeza was a life consultant to the Charlotte elite. Chase had been dating her for the last year and proposed to her six months ago. Something all Chase’s family and friends knew Leeza had been aiming for.

  “Where’s Leeza?” Mary Ann, Chase’s mother, frowned as she looked around the people prepared to descend on Chase’s home with a celebration.

  Kalan rolled her eyes dramatically. My best friend was never one to bite her tongue about her feelings surrounding anything, especially the topic of Leeza. “I don’t think she’s going to make it.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek. I could just imagine the explicit words going through Kalan’s mind. I’d already gotten an earful on the phone from Kalan while we were headed to the rendezvous site. It was all about status and money to Chase’s fiancée. Family game night and barbeques were things Leeza rarely showed up for.

  “Shouldn’t we wait for her? Chase hates when we don’t include her.” Mary Ann’s face now was contoured in worry.

  “I’ve tried to call her multiple times since Chase called me. He had attempted to reach her before he called me. I left a message on her cell phone to let her know that Chase was coming in tonight. I’m sure when she’s finished with whatever party or design show she’s attending tonight she’ll arrive in a splash of excitement.”

  Taking several deep breaths, I had to keep myself from laughing at Kalan’s emphasis on the word excitement. Leeza’s excitement over anything that Chase wanted was always false to anyone that wanted to look beyond the expensive whitening job of the flashy woman’s smile.

  “Well, as long as we tried.” Donald gave a brisk nod, ending the conversation.

  “Can we go? I don’t want Chase to catch us sneaking to his house,” Kalan called out.

  “Lead the
way.” Natasha, Kalan’s mother, called out from the back beside me.

  With little discussion, we all made our way across the street then rounded the house on the corner and went to the path beside the thick grove of trees at the edge of the stream that ran at the back of all the houses on this side of the street. There was a paved running trail the housing association had installed. It was perfect for us to keep off the street.

  Ten minutes later, Kalan led us all into Chase’s backdoor with her emergency key. Before he moved Leeza into his house a few months ago, he used Kalan to get things from his home office or sign for deliveries when he was out of town.

  Entering the kitchen at the back of his two-story house, we all moved around by the light Chase kept on over his stove. We didn’t want to alert Chase that we were there when he came into the front door. The house was quiet and there was a lamp on in the living room, but from what I could see, the rest of Chase’s home was dark. However, my view was limited from the kitchen, where we all were gathered and attempting to keep hushed as we discussed food placement and things. I could barely see the side view of the living room.

  Even with the darkness, I knew his home. Last year it had been Chase’s turn to host the Henderson family Easter brunch. I had been invited, as I was for most of the events. His home was kept clean and fresh by his weekly housekeeper. It was designed with chic furniture, and custom-made artwork graced his walls and tabletops. Even with the house's striking beauty, I thought the four bedroom residence felt more like a museum than a home. The place seemed to come alive when all the family was in attendance with their rambunctious children, all of which were with baby sitters tonight. Kalan didn’t want to chance the little ones making noise and giving away their surprise.

  Lenny and Darrell, the twenty-three year old twin sons of one of the uncles, walked out of the dining room where they had randomly taped balloons and streamers on the wall. Passing them, I entered and allowed a low laugh to come out as I saw in the moonlight coming in through the window how crazy the room looked now. The decorations had no rhythm or reason or understanding of people’s height which said a lot since the twins themselves were six two. However, I knew Chase wouldn’t care. He’d be too excited that his family was around him.

  Kalan entered the dining room behind me carrying a stack of dessert plates and forks as she moved close to me.

  “So, where do you think Leeza is tonight?” I whispered.

  Kalan shrugged. Keeping her tone as low as mine she said, “Who in the hell knows. Chase mentioned something to me about an animal rescue benefit one of her clients was putting on that he thought she’d said something about attending tonight.” Setting down the dishes carefully on the table, she continued, “I tell you, Oriana, I don’t know how Chase could let that viper into his life.”

  “She's vivacious, pretty and succe—”

  “A wild card is more like it. Why can’t anyone get a hold of her?” Kalan placed her hands on her hips and stared at me. “And her ass isn’t any prettier than any other eligible woman…especially not you.”

  Wow. Where the hell did that come from? That ship had sailed and I knew better than to entertain my friend’s fanciful ideas. Kalan had known about my past attraction to Chase, but that was over. All the time Kalan had invited me to the gatherings, we both knew it was in hopes that Chase would not only get used to having me around but that maybe he’d start to see me as more than just the fifth wheel in the family unit. That never happened. Kalan was just as smart and single as I was. I told her many times that it was best for her to concentrate on her own life status. My best friend was a corporate finance major in college and had a successful career in her field. I knew, just like me, she found it a lot easier to focus on other people’s problems than her own. At least weekly, I reminded her to step up and talk to a guy she’d been crushing on at work, but Kalan refused. I knew my friend was afraid that if the man turned her down, the workplace would be awkward for her.

  Shaking my head, I said, “Girl, I’m not even going to try and figure out the mind of a—”

  There was a sound from overhead, a thump as if something dropped on the floor or hit the wall.

  “Shh.” Kalan placed a finger to her lips as we both stared toward the ceiling.

  Before we could investigate, there came the sound of footsteps on the front tile and keys being tossed into the chrome dish we all knew was by the door in the main hallway. “Leeza, you home?”

  It was Chase’s voice coming from the front room.

  Kalan’s face lit up with excitement as she waved me back into the kitchen where the rest of the family had set up the food and drinks on the counter. All low murmurs of conversation had immediately halted as we all listened to Chase’s footsteps on his hardwood floor as he went up the stairs.

  “Okay, everyone. We’re going into the family room, so we can surprise Chase as he comes down the stairs. He won’t see us from that side until we yell surprise.” Kalan was doing more mouthing of the words than she was actually speaking, but her hand gestures as she pointed toward the dining room exit made it clear what she wanted us to do.

  I watched all of my friend’s family faces glow with the thrill of the moment. There were soft giggles as we all moved out, tiptoeing through the house with presents in our hands.

  I was the last one in the sneaking procession moving through Chase’s house. Above me, I could hear voices, Chase’s deep baritone and Leeza’s high pitched screeching. I was a little taken back that Leeze had been upstairs the entire time everyone had been setting up for the party. Now, I realized that the noise Kalan and I heard upstairs must have been Chase’s girlfriend. Maybe we should have checked the house when we got in.

  Unable to keep myself from listening, even though I couldn’t make out any words, I recognized the tone of Chase’s voice; he was furious. Was he angry at Leeza for not being available for his calls, even though apparently she was at home and didn’t have any other plans.

  That would surely piss me off. I began to get a sinking feeling that maybe this wasn’t the best time for us to be here. Being a witness to a couple’s discord wasn’t my thing. I started moving through the crowd trying to make my way to the front and tap Kalan on the shoulder and tell her that maybe we should head back to the kitchen to give Chase and Leeza some privacy. However, before I could reach her, Chase’s angry voice erupted through the house.

  “You son of a bitch. Dillon, you fucker!” Chase yelled.

  “Listen, Chase, I can exp—” Dillon Cross, Chase's accountant’s normal deep voice had a high pitched sound to it and tremors.

  Something was struck. I wasn’t sure if it was a wall or someone.

  “Chase! Stop!” Leeza screamed.

  A bumping happened along the steps and more than one set of feet came charging down.

  “You hit me! Fuck, my nose is bleeding.” The whinnying became louder from Dillon.

  “Your whole face is going to be bloody when I finish with you,” Chase roared.

  Glancing around, I saw how the family’s faces became stretched and distorted with shock. Everything was happening so fast. I could almost hear the questions rolling through their minds. ‘Do we go out and let Chase know we’re here?’ or ‘Do we hustle back to the kitchen and pretend we never heard a thing?”

  Before any decision could be made, Dillon leaped off the landing of the stairs and around the corner into the den where the family was huddled. With nothing but a sheet around his hips, held tight in his fist, Dillon skidded to a halt. His face was a mask of horror as he looked from one set of Henderson angry eyes to another while blood ran from his nose and dripped off his chin onto his bare chest.

  The twins stepped forward like mountains of fury as they squeezed their fists and cracked knuckles.

  “Oh, shit!” Dillon cried.

  Next Chase rushed in with Leeza hot on his heels. Chase stopped, his hands balled tight, jaw clenched and his gray eyes dark and stormy. Leeza crashed into his back. The impact di
dn’t cause his body to rock forward. He stared over his shoulder at her, shooting daggers at his girlfriend from his eyes.

  Leeza hustled back and snatched the sides of the green satin robe closed over her nude, willowy form. Her red hair was wet and water caused the material to cling to her body.

  Since we hadn’t heard a shower running, we assumed Dillon and Leeza had been caught in Chase’s large garden tub in his bathroom.

  “Surprise.” Grandma Pauline squeaked out, the smile on her face appearing more painful then excited.

  Chase closed his eyes and exhaled loudly.

  My gaze ate up the sight of him as my heart broke at the emotions that must have been rocketing through his soul—embarrassment, sadness and betrayal. Everything, but joy of turning thirty-five.

  “Chase, honey—”

  He raised a hand. “Mom, don’t please. Not now.” His voice was heavy and his eyes were clouded with disillusionment when he lifted his head and he looked at his mom.

  I could see the pain in his eyes and it caused an ache in my belly. No man should have to bear such a moment in his life. It was too much.

  “Right now could you all please leave.” Chase’s voice was strained.

  Dillon didn’t wait for another order. The backstabbing accountant made a wide arc out of the room ensuring he was out of reach of Chase. A few seconds later, the front door slammed.

  “Of course.” Mary Ann Henderson crossed the room to her son and stretched up on her tiptoes and aimed her pursed lips toward her son’s cheek. The fifty-ish year old woman with her coal black and silver curly hair matching the waves of her son’s was only five-seven to Chase’s six-three height.

  If Chase had not leaned forward, Mary Ann would never have reached him. He gave his mother a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”