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  He clasped her by the elbows. “Ms. Jones, are you okay?”

  She shook her head, and then held one palm over her heart and the other palm in the air like a human stop sign.

  “Did you…say…LaReesa Jones?” she managed.

  “Yes. You do know her, don’t you?”

  One of the bridesmaids barged up to him. “What the hell is going on?” she demanded. Her gray eyes flashed with anger. “What are you doing to my cousin?”

  Roque was torn between stepping away or consoling Marlowe. “I, uh, was telling her about LaReesa—”

  “What? Why are you bringing that woman into this?” Gray Eyes spat.

  He could see he’d touched a nerve. Maybe there was bad blood between these ladies and LaReesa. Gray Eyes pulled Marlowe into her embrace. Then, another woman with platinum blonde hair and ruby red lips arrived and pushed an inhaler into Marlowe’s hand. Roque watched as Marlowe dragged two deep breaths from it.

  Great. Apparently, he’d made her asthma flare up.

  “What did you say to her?” Blondie demanded.

  Aw, hell. Now, he had three women pissed at him. Gray Eyes gave him a glare that would probably turn most men to stone. But he wasn’t most men.

  “I was explaining to Marlowe that LaReesa Jones left some property to her.”

  Blondie gasped. “LaReesa!”

  Damn, why did everyone have this reaction when he said that name?

  “What kind of property?” she asked.

  “I’m really not at liberty to discuss it with anyone but Marlowe.”

  Gray Eyes jumped in. “I’m her cousin, Toye. Whatever you can tell her can be said in front of me.”

  Jeez, if I’d known the crowd would be this tough, I would have sent Gator!

  Roque picked his card up off the ground and handed it to Toye. “I represent Coleman Developers,” he told her. “We’d like to buy a section of property that incudes a house and land now owned by Marlowe. It was left to her by LaReesa Jones. By the looks on your faces, I’m assuming you all know her. Let’s give her a call. Maybe she can clear all of this up.”

  All three women gasped aloud at the same time.

  When Marlowe finally spoke, she scowled at him as if he’d committed a crime. “LaReesa was my mother. She’s been dead for almost twenty years.”

  TWO

  “I can’t believe that fine ass man was the bearer of bad news,” Toye complained. “He actually had the nerve to track you down at a wedding. Talk about ruining a fantasy.”

  Marlowe sat on a chintz print sofa beside her cousin in her posh condo near downtown Miami. It was only yesterday when the stranger delivered the news that still had her reeling. The cool March air blew through the sheer curtains of an open window. She wrapped her fingers around a warm mug of hot apple cider.

  “Are you talking about your fantasy or Olivia’s?”

  Toye pursed her lips. “You know what I meant. Did you tell Ronnie and Candace?”

  “How could I? I didn’t want to ruin their special day. I figure I’ll tell them when they get back from frolicking in the sun.”

  Candace and Gabe were honeymooning in Fiji. Ronnie and Vic chose The Greek Isles. Marlowe wished she were vacationing somewhere exotic instead of agonizing over her dead mother. Right now, she needed her sisters most, but she had to handle this burden alone for at least a week.

  She barely remembered driving her shiny, new red Acura to the reception hall yesterday. In between interrupting her sisters’ eating and dancing, she’d briefly spoken with them, but she didn’t bring up the subject of their deceased mother. She had the good sense to know it was not the day to burden hers sisters with that news. Especially not Ronnie. Her relationship with “Reesa” as everyone referred to their mother had been tenuous at best.

  Marlowe was only eight years old when her absentee mother passed away. She wished she knew more about the woman who gave birth to her, but she’d learned over the years that asking questions only irritated Candace and Ronnie.

  “You made the right decision,” Toye said. “Ronnie ain’t trying to hear nothin’ about Reesa right now.”

  “Tell me about my mother, Toye. You were thirteen when she died.”

  Toye sipped from her cup of tea. “You know, all I remember was Reesa did some pretty outrageous shit. Like the time she joined a biker gang and sold all of y’all’s furniture to buy a used motorcycle—when she had no clue how to ride it.”

  “She was a biker?”

  “More like a biker’s side-piece. She only did it for some married dude she was sleeping with. But they broke up three weeks later, when he stole the bike from her and totaled it in a high-speed accident.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “That was mild compared to some of the other stuff she did. One time she got fired from her job working at a mental health hospital for smoking weed with the patients.”

  “Oh, come on. You’re making this up.”

  “I wish. Why do you think Ronnie gets all riled up whenever you mention your mother?”

  Marlowe shrugged. “I figured it was because Reesa was a free spirit.”

  “It was more than that. She practically abandoned you guys. Leaving you to fend for yourselves for days on end. She really was a shitty mother, just like mine.”

  Marlowe sighed. Reesa’s sister was Toye’s mama. Both of their mothers were wild. They treated their children like the inconvenient by-products of having a good time. That’s why Marlowe vowed never to have any kids. She didn’t want to inherit any of her mother’s bad habits.

  “What I don’t get is how she could be living in that house and none of us knew about it.”

  Toye’s face grew serious. “Only Ronnie can tell you that. All I know is the two of them had a conversation and the end result was not good. She can tell you all you need to know about your mother.”

  That meant waiting a whole week for Ronnie’s return. But if there was one thing about Marlowe, it was that when she wanted instant gratification, nothing short of pneumonia could stop her. “Nope. I’m going to find out on my own,” she said. She jumped up and retrieved a business card from her purse.

  “What are you doing?” Toye asked.

  “That guy gave me his card. I’m calling him to help me put the pieces together.” She read the name aloud. “Roque Coleman. CEO, Coleman Developers. He spells his name R-O-Q-U-E. It’s pronounced ‘rock.’”

  “Roque,” Toye repeated. “I like it. Sounds hard. Strong. Virile.”

  Marlowe smirked. “You should see your face. Your eyes are glazed over like you’re giving a testimonial for Viagra.”

  “I wish. It’s been a minute since I’ve been tightened up.”

  The two women laughed. Marlowe had to admit the man’s rough sounding name made her think all kinds of nasty thoughts.

  “But on the real, you need to go on and hook me up with his number,” Toye said. “You’re having sex on the regular. It’s not like you don’t get enough.”

  “Excuse you.” Marlowe twisted her lips. “First of all, I’m not trying to hook up with this man. It’s strictly business. And second, there’s no such thing as enough sex. Shit, there’s always room for more.”

  “Fine. I guess I’ll just live vicariously through your phone conversation.”

  “It’s just business,” Marlowe sang.

  “Whatever,” Toye sang in reply.

  Marlowe giggled as she dialed the man’s number. She should have waited for Toye to leave before she made the call. Her cousin was so damn nosey. But she needed the comfort of someone else in the room.

  “Put him on speakerphone,” Toye instructed.

  Marlowe rolled her eyes. Why do I have the feeling I’m about to regret this?

  Her heartbeat faltered when he answered. “Roque Coleman speaking.”

  “Mr. Coleman? This is Marlowe Jones.”

  “Ms. Jones, I’ve been waiting to hear from you. I take it you’re calling to accept my offer?”

  Marlowe
grimaced. The nerve of him! She’d barely gotten a chance to say her name before he jumped all over her like a hyena on a baby lion. “Um, no. I’m calling to get the address where the property is located. I want to see this place for myself.”

  “No problem. However, I don’t mind telling you I’m dealing with a deadline. Do you have time to look at the property today?”

  She did. But she didn’t appreciate his pushy attitude. She glanced at Toye who was nodding her head in agreement. “Tomorrow would be better.”

  Toye’s frown was comical.

  “That works for me,” he said. “I’ll have a car pick you up at ten a.m.”

  A car? Well, well, Mr. Bigtime. Why would he send a car for her when she was perfectly capable of driving herself? Was he trying to impress her or something?

  She glanced at Toye who vehemently bobbed her head up and down, mouthing the word, ‘yes’ over and over.

  “No,” Marlowe told Roque. “I’ll provide my own transportation.”

  Marlowe almost laughed as Toye muttered under her breath. “Damn.”

  “I’m sorry, what was that?” Roque asked.

  Marlowe moved farther away from Toye so Roque wouldn’t pick up any noise from her. “I said I hate to bother you when I’m sure you have more important things going on.”

  “I wouldn’t consider it a bother at all. Besides, it would give me a chance to go over the paperwork with you on the ride over.”

  “I don’t think so. Any legal documents would go through my attorney anyway. And also, I don’t know you. I’m not taking a ride with a complete stranger.”

  “All right.” His deep chuckle warmed her insides like whiskey on a fall day. “I can assure you, I don’t bite—unless you want me to.”

  An image of him teasing her nipples with his teeth sent a flush of warmth through her. She glanced at Toye, who sat on the edge of her seat with her mouth agape. Then, just as quickly, her cousin recovered, smiled, and gave her the ‘thumbs up’ sign.

  Marlowe shook her head. “I’ll pass on the biting, Mr. Coleman. But you can give me that address anytime. I’m ready.”

  “319 Club Lane.”

  She scribbled the address on the back of an envelope. “Thank you.”

  “Are you going alone?” he asked. “Or do you have a man to escort you?”

  Unbelievable! Did this guy realize how obnoxious he sounded? “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”

  “It’s a rough neighborhood. I just thought I should let you know to be careful.”

  “Trust me, Mr. Coleman. I’m more than capable of handling myself and any other man who comes along.”

  “Ms. Jones, somehow I’d expect nothing less from you.”

  Roque hung up the phone shaking his head. Marlowe Jones was a handful. He felt sorry for whatever unsuspecting guy crossed her path. He didn’t know much about her, but from what he could tell, she was opinionated, sassy, and quick-witted. And from the way she ordered everyone around at the wedding, he could tell she was accustomed to people indulging her. He’d thought about her a lot since yesterday. He kept seeing her caramel eyes and flawless skin. With legs for days and a gorgeous face, the woman definitely made him look twice.

  She was the kind of woman who might be worth pursuing, if he hadn’t already dealt with her type before. He could tell from a mile away she was a spoiled, materialistic brat. He already had his own spoiled brat to deal with. He didn’t need another. But it was his fault; he’d made her that way.

  Her ears must have been burning, because the female he was thinking about picked that moment to intrude. She stood in the doorway to his study with her hands stuffed into the back pockets of her jeans.

  “Dad, Alexander is missing. Have you seen him?”

  Roque looked up at his daughter from the glass and chrome desk he sat at. The entire house was furnished with the same clean, linear look—except for his daughter, Jade’s room. It looked like Wild Kingdom in there.

  “No, Jade, I haven’t seen your pet lizard, but I know you better find that thing. The last time you lost him, he made it as far as the garage, and I dang near backed my Mercedes over him.”

  “Don’t remind me,” she huffed. “It was one of the worst days of my life.”

  Jade was always having a worst day of her life. Since the day she was born twelve years ago, the kid had inherited the drama chromosome from her mother. She was the spitting image of the woman he’d married. Wide blue eyes that didn’t miss a thing. Chocolate ringlets that framed her adolescent face. And a tall, wiry frame that was deceptively skinny. Not many people knew this girl could put away a half a pizza by herself.

  “Baby, I’m a little busy right now. Could we talk about this later?”

  She pouted. “But it’s Sunday. You’re not supposed to be working on Sundays. Even The Bible says God gave us the day off.”

  “Try telling that to Crowne Industries.”

  He was happy she was quoting The Bible this week. Last week it was the Quran. The week before that, it was the Torah. Earlier this year, she’d been assigned a group project in her history class to find similarities between five religions. Ever since, she’d been using what she’d learned to manipulate any situation. His little pre-teen was not the average kid. Unfortunately, she was also the one soft spot in his life.

  Jade crossed her arms. “I thought now that we’re rich you don’t have to work so hard.”

  “We are not rich.”

  “Wealthy?”

  He wanted her to realize that money didn’t grow on trees and they could never take anything for granted. “We’re fortunate.”

  “You know the word ‘fortunate’ comes from fortune,” she said. “This was what Mama wanted. A fortune. Too bad she’s not here to enjoy it.”

  Roque’s jaw clenched. He was glad Jade’s mother, Natalyn, wasn’t here. Her mistake. Natalyn couldn’t take the lean years when he was starting out. He’d worked his ass off in the construction industry, climbing from a brick mason to the business mogul he was today, and owning his own land development company.

  He and Natalyn started off as friends and lovers, but after three years, their marriage had gone downhill faster than a house in a mudslide. She decided she was meant for the finer things in life. So, she left him and Jade for some old rich dude. Even though she’d been gone over five years, neither Roque nor Jade seemed to miss her. Honestly, Roque was glad Natalyn had left. Their dysfunctional marriage was taking a toll on his daughter. He sure as hell didn’t want Jade to think that was how men and women lived.

  “You said we could go to the aquarium today,” Jade reminded him. He held the long breath he wanted to expel. He loved his daughter dearly, but the thought of another day at the aquarium bored him to tears. She had a fascination with all things reptilian. And recently, she’d added spiders to her list of growing obsessions.

  He didn’t know what possessed him to buy her these things. It was probably his way of making up for the fact she didn’t have a woman around. Neither of her grandmothers was a strong substitute. His mom lived on the other coast near Seattle. Natalyn’s mom was battling cancer, and too sick to handle Jade or her other ten grandkids.

  “I’ll tell you what,” he bargained. “We’ll make a deal. You pass your English test and we’ll go to the aquarium next weekend.” This was the only way he could parent Jade. He had to negotiate. He didn’t always know the best way to handle her, but he was trying his best.

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  What? No argument? Great. Round One goes to Dad.

  “Now, what are we going to have for dinner?” Jade asked.

  “I don’t know.” He leaned back in his chair. “I was thinking—”

  “Alexander!” she shouted.

  Roque jumped up when he felt the lizard dance across his shoulder. He saw the flash of a long green tail whip through the air, and he cursed.

  “Shit!”

  Alexander leapt onto the desk, landing smack dab in the middle of a stack of papers
.

  “Dad, you cursed,” Jade admonished as she scooped Alexander from the desk.

  “You’re lucky that was all I said. You scared the h—you know what out of me with that lizard.” Roque’s heart was racing. He couldn’t believe he was acting like a punk over a damn amphibian.

  “Poor guy,” Jade crooned as she held Alexander in her palm and stroked his head. “I know you only go exploring because you’re lonely. Maybe Daddy will let me buy you a companion.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Roque warned.

  “Aw, why not?”

  He sat down again. “You already have enough creatures in your room to open your own zoo. And we’re not getting another lizard. There’ll be no lizard babies up in here.”

  She cracked up laughing, and despite his attempts to be stern, Roque grinned. “Seriously, Dad? Lizard babies. That was a good one.”

  “I’m not kidding, Jade. No more.”

  “But you’re so good with babies. You raised me.”

  “Yeah,” he scoffed. “And look how you turned out. Wild, just like the animals you keep.”

  She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind having a little brother or a little sister. Indya Pritchet’s mother just had a baby. He is so adorable! Y’know, she doesn’t even have a husband. She went to the sperm bank.”

  “Good for her.” He tried to focus on his computer screen. His daughter had made the announcement as if it were some triumphant accomplishment. Big deal. Indya’s mother had some stranger’s seed injected into her. He’d given Jade “the talk” when she was nine years old, and a girl in her class had begun menstruating early. It was awkward, but it was better she learned all the facts from him than from some knucklehead little boys who might fill her head with a bunch of bullshit.

  “Too bad there’s not an egg bank for men,” she said.

  He shook his head. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  “Then, you would be able to have a baby, too.”

  “Sorry to burst your bubble, honey, but most guys I know, myself included, prefer making babies the old-fashioned way. And even if I did want to have another child—which I don’t—there are no acceptable candidates in the picture.”