***
“I don’t want to hurt Lance by…”
“Who said anything about Lance?” Dora asked, punching a number on her cell phone. “Ajay?” Tanesha couldn’t help the grin that brightened her face when she heard the name of her crazy, hunky, sexy cousin on her mother’s lips. This was going to be good, she thought. If anyone could put on a show to teach Ty a lesson, Ajay was that person. “Have anything doing this evening? Good. We’re going to a dinner party at the White House. No, just Dad, myself, you, and then Tanesha. The boys are not going. Get here by five so we can talk strategy. We’ll go together. And Jay? Dress to kill.” Then with a devilish laugh, Dora Ashton hung up and gave her daughter her best Cookie Lyon pose. “Now, show me a killer dress?”
Tanesha burst into laughter. “Oh, I love you, mum.” She threw her arms around her mother’s neck. She knew she couldn’t have asked for a better mother.
“Love you too, baby. But promise me you’re going to let this go after what we’re going to put Wesley through.” Dora looked into her daughter’s eyes.
“Mum, I can’t just forget about…”
“All I’m saying is for you to let go of the anger. He sorta…didn’t have a choice.”
“That’s just it mum.” Tanesha gushed. “He did. He could have…”
“I know what he could have done. But from what you said your friends told you this afternoon, he looked for a way out. Be grateful that he was able to. These military folks don’t joke with their rules. Listen, baby, life is short. When you get the tiniest chance at happiness, you have to grab it with both hands…and feet if possible.” Mother and daughter smiled at each other. “Forgive,” Dora whispered.
Tanesha nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Okay, mum. Thanks.”
***
LtCdr. Ty Wesley stared with his mouth opened. The two Arrowheads standing with him didn’t even notice how ridiculous their colleague looked because they also had the same gobsmacked expressions on their faces as Ty.
“Fuck!” Jackson, Ty’s badass African American colleague gasped. “Nice rack. Are they real?” He asked but Ty didn’t answer…he didn’t hear a word.
“This is it, man.” Will, the other Arrowhead rasped. “Tell me you’re hitting that. ‘Cause if you’re not, I…”
“Go anywhere near her and I’ll break you fucking legs,” Ty growled and started towards Tanesha as if he was being controlled by a force.
“And where do you think you’re going, soldier?” Matt asked in his deep voice, steering Ty in another direction. “What did I tell you? You had your reasons, man. And a good one at that. Much as I understand her anger, it had to be done. But you have to give her time to stew. When she’s ready to talk, she’ll come to you.”
“I can’t wait till when she’s ready, Matt.” Ty groaned. “Look at her. There’re a few words I can come up with to describe exactly what I’d like to do to her in that dress in front of everybody.”
“Dude… come on…”
“I need to talk to her. Being in the same room with her and not being able to talk to her is killing me.”
“What do you mean being in the same room?” Matt chuckled. “She just got here for fuck’s sake. She hasn’t even seen you.”
“But I have seen her and…who the fuck is that guy?” Ty growled, staring daggers at the scene unfolding before his eye. Some hunk had his hand placed possessively on the small of Tanesha’s back. And her back was bare for fuck’s sake.
“Looks like she brought a date,” Matt stated the obvious. “Work with me here dumbass. You act too eager and desperate, she’s going to drag this out. Trust me on that.” Matt lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I swear that girl of yours is a closet redhead. You sure do know how to pick them.”
“Look who’s talking.” Ty snorted.
“Hey, I’m not on the chopping block here. You are, asshole.” Matt gave a mock scowl. “You could always cut in when she’s dancing with someone later in the evening. No matter how angry she is, she’s still a lady and can’t tell you to go fuck yourself…like she should…”
“You dickhead.” Ty chuckled, his eyes still stuck on Tanesha and her date. He wanted to shoot the idiot between his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. This dickhead is trying to save your ass so stop staring and pay attention. When you get her in your arms, do your thing. Remind her with your body what she’s missing. Then politely thank her after the dance and leave.”
“You really think I can do that?” Ty looked at his friend with his face filled with incredulity.
“You have to…”
***
Across the room from where Ty stood with Matt, Tanesha stood in a corner with her cousin Ajay, who had his hand on the small of Tanesha’s back. Ajay was saying something but Tanesha’s eyes remained locked on Ty. He was in another white ceremonial attire but this one was actually a suit. And Ty in a suit was an absolutely cum-inducing sight. Tanesha felt her breath quicken as she stared at the man who ruled her heart, admiring his masculine perfection. He was unbelievably sexy.
“Tanny come on, help me make this believable.” Ajay drawled, amused at the stark need in Tanesha’s eyes.
“God, he’s so hot.” Tanesha whispered, not taking her eyes off Ty. “Look at that suit on that body.” She sounded dazed.
Ajay chuckled. “Yes, the decorations make it nice and all that but…it’s just a suit.”
“Well, if you care to know, a well-tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men, Jay.” She said, still looking longingly at Ty.
“Really?” Ajay laughed softly. “I didn’t know that. Tanny, stop staring at him already. The guy hasn’t even looked your way once.”
“Well, you can see that he’s busy talking to people.” Tanesha hissed. “He hasn’t seen me yet.”
“Well, I can’t wait till he does. Dude is going to drool. ‘Cause girl, you’re rocking that dress. Damn!” Ajay purred making Tanesha burst into laughter despite herself. “Your friend was right you know. You do look breathtakingly elegant.”