Nana Prah - A Perfect Caress

“I think I’m going to change my major.”

Having grown up with a business magnate for a father, one she’d emulated, Lanelle had known what she’d study long before she went to college. She’d never wavered in her decision and couldn’t understand how Vanessa had changed majors three times. “Again?”

“I’m having a hard time making up my mind.”

Lanelle had nothing scheduled for the day except her weekly video chat to keep in touch with her parents when they traveled. She could postpone it to the evening. For once they’d taken a trip to Jamaica to unwind, rather than for business.

She made a quick decision. Hanging out with Vanessa was like blowing bubbles: fun, light and easy. The young woman posed no threat. Her uncle, on the other hand...

“How about I pick you up for lunch and we’ll talk about it?”

“Sounds good. I’ll be waiting in front of the building with the golden dome like last time. Are you taking me to Azure again? Wait. How about I take you to lunch this time?”

“You’re a student. I’m not in the mood for Burger King.”

The harrumph of annoyance would’ve been more believable if not followed by a chuckle. “Goes to show what you know. I would’ve taken you to Wendy’s. Their value meals are better.”

“Since I invited you, I’ll choose the place.”

“I don’t care where we go—food is food.”

Said like a true college student. “I’ll be there in thirty. Bye.”

Every time she agreed to meet Vanessa, Lanelle wondered if Dante would show up. It unnerved her that she wanted to see him again. After two weeks, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind. A man Vanessa adored couldn’t be a bad guy.

The thrill of awareness she’d felt when he’d touched her had been unparalleled. She sighed. Maybe if she’d met Dante before her life had gone to hell, something good could’ve come from getting to know him. At this point, she could let no man in, not even a handsome, muscular, charming one who’d stolen her breath and ingrained himself into her daily thoughts.

* * *

In the middle of picking out his tuxedo for a fund-raising event two weeks from Saturday, Dante’s phone rang. He excused himself from the tailor after looking at the screen.

He’d barely gotten out his hello when his niece shouted, “Get to campus right now. Lanelle’s picking me up in twenty-eight minutes.”

“What happened to not telling me where she’d be?”

“That was before I realized you’d be perfect for each other.”

Besides their initial two chance meetings, Dante hadn’t run into Lanelle again. He knew nothing about her other than that she possessed the wit and intelligence he’d observed during those brief encounters. Over the past couple of weeks, an image of her beautiful face would pop into his mind at random. When he remembered the spark in her eyes when they’d touched, his skin would get flushed. Not a day went by when he didn’t regret not pushing her for a date, but she seemed as stubborn as he tended to be tenacious, so he’d played the game by her rules. “What makes you think so?”

“I’m not going to say. I just know. Are you coming down?”

And have her call me a cheater and renege on the offer of a date? No. “I’m in the middle of a tuxedo fitting.”

“Can’t you do it later?”

The salesman tapped his foot as he leaned against the counter. “I’ll be out of town for a couple of weeks. I’ll be back just in time to attend a formal fund-raising dinner I’ve been invited to. If I don’t get fitted now, then I’ll be wearing a suit to the dinner.”

“Where are you off to now? I thought you gave most of your travel assignments to one of your executives.”

His niece had a knack for remembering things he’d never expect her to, especially when it came to his work.

“Is it Italy?” She sounded so excited Dante chuckled. “Can I go with you?”

Vanessa had been hounding him for a trip ever since she’d been a little girl. Maybe he’d have to make her dream come to fruition. After the cancer scare, he knew life, no matter the person’s age, could be gone in a moment. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Have a good time with Lanelle. As she said, if it’s meant to be, it will be.”

Vanessa sucked her teeth. “That philosophy is bogus. I like it better when you say that if you want something, go out and get it. What changed your mind?”

I don’t want to piss her off and mess up a chance to get to know her. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

Dante turned to the salesman. “I’m ready.”

Lanelle had starred in all of his fantasies since meeting her. It wouldn’t mean as much if they’d all been sexual. When he’d imagined them having a conversation over dinner, he knew she’d affected him more than a woman he’d just met should’ve. And yet he hadn’t made a move toward finding her. He’d give it more time. Maybe a month. If they didn’t meet by then, he’d do what was more in line with his nature and make it happen.

In the meantime, he’d focus on his business. The hospital project had fallen into his lap, the perfect way to try his hand at a new type of flooring. This contract marked the beginning of a new era in his company. Once they completed the job to perfection, the referrals would flood in. Then he’d be able to get the wicked and greedy Calvano clan off his back.

He ground his teeth at the thought of losing part of his business to them. A deep breath helped to clear the anger. With this hospital bid in his pocket, he no longer had to worry. He’d beat the deadline and maintain complete control of his company.

Perhaps the only thing that would rank with beating the Calvanos would be dating Lanelle.

Chapter 5

Everything at the fund-raiser was perfect, from the food to the elegantly dressed patrons who’d donated generously to be part of the event. Of course it had helped that she’d let it leak that her paparazzi-beloved brother, Miguel, would attend. He loved the limelight more than Lanelle did her privacy. She watched her brother schmooze his way through the guests, encouraging them to further support the NICU by bidding in the silent auction they’d planned.

“I wish Mom and Dad could be here to see what a wonderful job you’ve done,” Lanelle gushed as she took in the splendor of the ballroom. “Toshia, you’ve outdone yourself.”

“Thanks. I tried to create a glamorous space without going crazy with the budget. Where are your parents now?”

“You know them. They said they went to Jamaica to relax, but after a week they took off to the Dominican Republic for a tour of their sugarcane plantations and manufacturing company. Then they’re going to Columbia to check on their coffee investment.”

Toshia shook her head. “What aren’t your parents into?”

Lanelle rolled her eyes up and to the right, pretending to think. “Staying in one place for too long, and drugs. Wait, let me clarify. Illegal drugs. They do own a pharmaceutical company.”

Her friend dropped a piece of fresh cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto onto her plate. “Good job getting Miguel to come.”

She smiled as she found her younger brother laughing with a politically prominent man. Miguel was the antithesis of their oldest sibling, always seeking fun, while Leonardo took life much too seriously “I didn’t even bother to invite Leonardo. He would’ve claimed to be busy with work, and I wasn’t up for the rejection.”

Toshia didn’t hide her frown at Lanelle’s antisocial brother’s behavior. “How far has the forensic accountant come with the investigation?”

Lanelle shook her head. “Nothing yet. He’s thorough, too. He’s inquired into the contractors we used, but he hasn’t found anything out of the normal. It’s not as if anyone is going to confess to stealing the money, so it might take some deep digging to find out what we need. I still find it impossible to believe someone would embezzle from a hospital. Or at all, for that matter.”