The Sweetest Thing Read online

  Dwayne pursed his lips together, his head nodding ever so slowly. “I can appreciate that. I’m sure your decision will make Quentin and Troy very happy. I just appreciate your considering my offer. So,” he questioned, “does that mean you’ll be staying in Memphis longer?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know yet. But it does mean that I’ll have more reason to come back to Memphis to visit if I do decide to leave.”

  “Well, I hope you’ll stay. Memphis needs a shining star like you to keep us all on our toes.”

  Harper smiled. “Thank you. You’ve been very nice about everything.”

  Dwayne puffed his chest forward. “You say that like I’m not a nice guy,” he teased. “I will have you know that I’m a very nice guy.”

  “Yes, you are!” Harper said with a deep giggle. “In fact, I don’t believe half the dirt people have been whispering about you.”

  Dwayne smiled, the width of his grin filling his dark face. “What kind of nonsense have people been filling your ears with, girl?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Harper said coyly, winking a teasing eye at him. She reached for her purse as she graced him with an easy smile. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment. I need to go to the restroom.”

  “Why don’t I order us some dessert and coffee while you’re gone? They have the best apple-cinnamon bread pudding here.”

  She nodded. “That sounds great,” she said as she eased her way out of her seat and headed toward the back of the restaurant.

  As she walked away Dwayne gestured for the waitress and placed their order. His expression was anything but happy about the decision Harper had made. He didn’t like to lose and he wasn’t ready to admit defeat. He realized he was going to have to take matters into his own hands and come at her from a whole other angle. Clearly, his plans were going to require something far more drastic.

  With the coffee and dessert delivered Dwayne thought about Harper and those things that seemed to motivate her. He was impressed with how loyal she was, her family and friends of great value to her. With Pop’s death Quentin had become her family and it wasn’t hard to miss that his old friend had managed to capture a spot in her heart. There was clearly something between them and it hadn’t taken long at all for it to bloom. But with the two of them not knowing each other for very long maybe what they were sharing was just a passing phase that could be dimmed just as quickly. Just maybe.

  From across the room Harper had stopped and was chatting with a woman who seemed excited to see her there. The other woman’s exuberance ignited hers and her expression glowed. Harper was an exquisite beauty and as Dwayne eyed her he couldn’t help but think that they would make quite a handsome couple if by chance anything between them could be explored. And maybe exploring that possibility might lead to Harper’s wanting him and not Quentin to have that bakery. Dwayne grinned as she met his eye and smiled back, lifting her index finger to indicate that she would only be a minute.

  He studied her, quite taken by her petite stature and the curves that attracted much attention from many admirers. He licked and curled his bottom lip, suddenly curious to know what Harper might feel like in his arms. As she made her way back to the table her eyes shimmered with energy. She slid into her seat, her head waving from side to side.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. “That was Mrs. Humphries. She’s one of the bakery’s customers and her daughter just had a baby. She stopped me to show me the pictures.”

  “It’s not a problem. I’m actually impressed. You must be making quite an impression on people for them to want to share their personal lives with you.”

  Harper shrugged. “I just enjoy getting to know new people and their getting to know me.”

  “You are a stunning woman, Harper. I hope there’s someone in your life telling you on a regular basis just how beautiful you are,” he said. He leaned forward in his seat as she lifted her eyes to his, pondering his comment.

  “That’s very sweet of you,” Harper answered. She was taken aback by the intensity of the man’s stare, his deep, dark gaze feeling as if he could see right through her. Her eyes widened and she was suddenly uncomfortable with the attention he was lavishing on her. She tried to laugh it off. “Stop looking at me like that!”

  “Like what?” Dwayne asked, his voice dropping two octaves.

  “Like you have a sweet tooth and I’m the last piece of chocolate in the box.”

  Dwayne laughed as he reached his hand out to hers, drawing his fingers across the back of her fingers. “I’ll try,” he teased, “but you make it very hard.”

  The rest of their evening went pleasantly. Dwayne continued to tease and make her laugh and when he finally delivered her back to the front door of Just Desserts, Harper could honestly say that she’d had a good time and she did.

  “Thank you, Dwayne,” she said. “Dinner was great. And again, I appreciate your understanding my decision not to sell.”

  Dwayne’s smile was a mile wide. “Harper, I wouldn’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do. If selling your father’s business doesn’t feel right then I definitely support your decision. That’s what friends do. And I really hope you’ll consider me your friend.”

  Harper smiled, her hand on the car’s passenger-side door handle as she prepared to exit the vehicle. “I’d definitely rather have more friends than enemies,” she said. “You have a good night, Dwayne.”

  “Let me walk you to the door,” he said.

  “Really, that’s not necessary. I appreciate it though and your mother would be very proud,” she said with a soft laugh.

  Dwayne laughed and nodded. Then without another word he leaned across the car’s center console, stalling her hand as he grabbed her wrist. Harper inhaled swiftly as his eyes locked briefly with hers and then Dwayne leaned to kiss her lips, his other hand cupped gently beneath her chin.

  “He kissed you?” Jasmine’s incredulous expression registered over the computer screen.

  “With tongue!” Harper whispered as she threw a quick glance toward the closed bedroom door.

  “Did you tell Quentin?”

  “He’s not here. He left a note that he and Troy went to some club.”

  Jasmine shook her head. “My, my, my! Aren’t you just the little skank! Two men after you. No wonder you don’t want to leave Memphis!” She laughed heartily.

  “It’s not like that!” Harper exclaimed. “I am not interested in Dwayne like that.”

  “Well, Dwayne is interested in you like that.”

  “This is crazy,” Harper said.

  “Well, you know what they say. Just because you’re on a diet doesn’t mean you can’t look at the menu. And a little taste every now and then won’t hurt you!”

  Harper shook her head. “I’m not looking at the menu or taste-testing, Jasmine.”

  “So do you plan to tell Quentin?”

  “I have to but . . .”

  “But what?”

  “Those two already have a ton of drama between them. I don’t want to throw any more igniter fluid on that fire if I don’t have to.”

  “If you really care about Quentin you have to tell him.”

  Harper paused as she stared into her computer screen. She took a deep breath.

  “What?” Jasmine suddenly questioned. “You do care about him don’t you?”

  “It’s more than that, Jasmine. For both of us. When we were in Nashville he told me that I was his first love before the bakery and his music.”

  “Do you love him?” her friend asked.

  A tear suddenly slipped past Harper’s lashes. “I . . .”

  A knock on the bedroom door interrupted the conversation. Quentin pushed open the door and peeked inside. “Harper?”

  “Hey,” she said as she swiped a hand across her eyes. “I was just talking to Jasmine.”

  He smiled, tossing up a hand in front of the computer’s camera. “Hey, Jazz. I didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”

  Jasmine grinned. “H
i, Quentin. I was just hanging up. Harper, girl, you go talk to Quentin. You can call me tomorrow,” she said. “And you better call me tomorrow!”

  “Good-bye, Jasmine!” she said with a slight eye roll. Harper shook her head as she disconnected the line.

  She turned back to face Quentin and before either could take another breath, Quentin slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. He met her stare and held it, his gaze dancing in perfect sync with hers. Harper felt her heart race and then skip a beat before settling comfortably in her chest.

  “I’m sorry,” Quentin whispered, his cheek pressed to hers.

  Harper nodded her understanding as she felt herself dropping deep down into the warmth of his touch.

  “I was being a complete asshole,” Quentin whispered. “And I love you,” he said as he drew back to look her in the eyes. “I love you very much.” And then he kissed her, his lips dancing with hers as his hands glided across her back.

  They kissed for an eternity before Quentin pulled himself from her. Harper gasped for air, completely lost in the heat that seared her skin. “We really need to talk,” she panted. “There’s something I need to . . .”

  Quentin shook his head. “We can talk later,” he whispered, kissing her again and again until she was quivering with want in her high heels. “Come here,” Quentin muttered as he took her hands, his gaze moving from the hint of curl atop her head down to the pointed toe of her leather shoes. He guided her to the bed and sat down against the mattress. “You looked absolutely gorgeous,” he said as he gently pulled her into his lap.

  Harper wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers twisting through the thick waves along the back of his head. Butterflies danced in the pit of her stomach. She clasped her fingers against the back of his neck and pulled him gently to her as she leaned in and kissed him hard.

  His lips were plush pillows and he tasted like citrus and berries. When his tongue entered her mouth, softly twisting against hers, her lips locked tight to his. It was intense and heated and then his hand slid up the length of her leg caressing her gently. Quentin could feel the heat from her crotch against his leg, the moistness of her treasure box warming his leg. Harper gave him one last quick kiss then stood up. The look she gave him was teasing.

  As he sat at the edge of the bed, Harper pushed his legs open, moving him to stretch them out easily. Turning an about-face she bent her knees as if to sit back down against his lap and then she bent over, straightening her legs as she leaned forward to give him a peek at her goodies. She was wearing no panties and his eyes widened, a slow smile pulling at his mouth. Harper stood up straight and turned back to face him. She straddled his leg and gently rubbed herself against him. His smile blossomed full and bright.

  Standing back on her feet Harper stepped back just out of his reach. She ran her hands across the line of her slender waist, up to the curve of her breasts and back down to her stomach. She began to slowly unbutton each of the pearl buttons that enclosed her blouse and when it was undone she eased it off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. Beneath it she wore a lace camisole and in one sexy step pulled it up over her head. She twirled it slowly around her finger before flinging it easily in his direction. His eyes were still held hostage by hers.

  Taking a step forward Harper rested her left hand against his upper thigh as she bent her head forward into his lap. As she lifted her right leg to kick off her shoe, he stopped her. “No, leave them on,” he said, his voice deep in his chest.

  With a subtle nod of her head, Harper eased back between his legs, reaching for his hand. Lifting his fingers, she sucked one past her lips. Still standing above him she lifted her skirt and guided his dampened finger down between her legs. She leaned in and kissed his neck as she guided his hand and finger over her damp folds, moving him to linger over the button of pleasure that was swelling full beneath his touch.

  Harper leaned against his ear, warm breath blowing across his face. “Take my skirt off,” she commanded, her stomach trembling with anticipation. She released the grip she had on his hand and he pulled his fingers to his own lips to taste her before he reached around her to unzip her skirt, pushing it down around her ankles. “Stand up,” Harper said as she stepped out of her garment and kicked it across the room. Standing naked in her high heels she drew her hand across her body.

  Quentin moved to his feet. He was completely lost in the emotion that seeped past her lashes. Harper pulled at the belt around his waist and then the zipper. She pushed his pants and shorts past his hips. The extended length of his erection protruded eagerly from his body, Harper having charmed him to glorious proportions. As he kicked them from his feet, his shoes and socks dropping as well, Harper pushed his silk T-shirt up and over his head and pushed him back to sit on the bed.

  Quentin reached for her breasts with both hands, slowly rolling her nipples between his fingers until both were hardened buds of rock candy. An easy moan escaped past her lips. She leaned to kiss his neck, her tongue following the line of his ear. Goose bumps prickled the length of his arm and he felt a chill roll down the length of his back.

  Quentin slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her down onto his lap, straddling her legs around his waist. As she wrapped her arms around his neck he ran his fingertips over her elbow, down past her shoulder to the contour of her breast, his arms settling around her torso, his hands clutching her buttocks. He pulled her body hard against his as his mouth captured her lips and his tongue searched out hers. Falling back against the mattress they melted down onto the bed, their bodies intertwined as hands caressed hair and flesh, the touch moving their temperatures to rise. Both were panting heavily, sharing the air between them.

  Still straddled above him Harper grabbed the back of his head and pressed his face to her breast. His teeth gently teased her erect nipple, biting at the lush tissue as he took it between his lips and sucked it in earnest. With her hands still twisted in his hair she guided him to where she wanted him to go. As his tongue circled, tasting her skin, she pulled him to her breasts, her body shifting as his mouth worked its way down her stomach, pausing to lap at her belly button. Harper eased her body farther up his torso until her thighs hovered above his head. She guided his mouth to her inner thighs and she gasped when he left a trail of kisses down one and up the other.

  Quentin inhaled deeply and savored the scent of her sex teasing his nostrils. He grabbed both her ass cheeks and pulled her to him, his lips kissing her folds as she straddled his face. As his mouth latched onto her core Harper fell forward on her arms to balance herself. He stuck out his tongue, finally tasting her sweet juices as he probed her inner lining. Harper opened her legs wider and lifted her body upward as she began to hump her body against his mouth. Her head was tilted back and she caressed her own breasts, pinching her nipples. Her moans became louder as he licked and sucked her, massaging her swollen clit with his tongue. His hands still circled her bottom, clenching and kneading her curves and then he pressed his fingers between her cheeks, a digit pressing at her back entrance. The penetration was swift and deep and Harper’s eyes widened as she inhaled swiftly. She clenched her muscles hard and as she did her orgasm suddenly erupted with a vengeance. She rode one wave and then another, his lips still locked around her throbbing clit as his two fingers jutted in and out of her backside, her anus tightening around his fingers as her juices overflowed. Quentin slowly pulled his fingers from her ass and held her tight. He continued to suck the last drop of nectar from her and then he flipped her onto her back, his head still lost between her legs, her high heels waving in the air.

  Harper grabbed his head and pulled him up her body by his hair. She kissed him, sticking her tongue into his mouth to taste herself, licking his lips and sucking on his tongue. It was passionate and raunchy and hardened every muscle in Quentin’s body as he kissed her back. He lifted himself up and grabbed her legs, opening her wide as he pressed himself against her. Harper wrapped her legs around his hips and back, locki
ng her leather heels against his buttocks. She lifted her hips against him and then he plunged his body hard into hers. In perfect sync their hips moved together as his hardness was swallowed whole in the soft lining of her center. Harper’s eyes were closed, her mouth partially open as she moaned his name over and over again. The scent of their lovemaking filled the room as every one of his nerve endings throbbed. He could feel his orgasm building, his whole body on the verge of climax. He pumped harder and harder and she met him stroke for stroke, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

  Harper suddenly exploded a second time, her body quaking in ecstasy. She screamed and as she convulsed around his hardness, his own sensitivities sent him over the edge. Surge after surge of pleasure wracked his body as Quentin convulsed with her. As the tremors finally eased he rolled against the mattress beside her. Both were hot and sweaty, the smell of great sex heavy in the room.

  Harper leaned to gently kiss his forehead. He brushed away a line of perspiration that trailed down her neck and kissed her cheek. Harper rolled her body against his and cradled her head against his chest, tossing one leg over his waist.

  Outside it had begun to rain and the patter of water hitting the roof resounded through the home. As they lay side by side, sleep eased itself between them. Quentin’s easy snores filled her ears. Harper smiled, everything about the moment as perfect as anything could ever be. She snuggled closer against him, his arms tightening around her. He’d told her he loved her and although she hadn’t said the words back to him, she knew that in her heart all she felt for Quentin Elliott was love.

  17

  Dwayne was already showered and dressed when Rachel opened her eyes. He was standing in front of the full-length mirror adjusting his necktie when she rolled across the mattress looking for him. Finding the bed empty she sat upright and looked around the room. Dwayne turned to meet her nervous stare.