Kayla Perrin - Heart to Heart

His eyes took in her features now. Nine years had aged her face in only the most positive ways. She looked more mature, more womanly. And even more striking than she had when he had last seen her in person. Some stars were always touched up when they were in photos and on television to the point where they almost looked like different people without makeup. But Deanna’s caramel skin was blemish-free, and with only minimal makeup on, she was a knockout. Her beautiful smile exposed a set of perfect, white teeth, and her long lashes framed wide, expressive eyes. The kind of eyes that seemed to reach right through the screen and touch a person’s soul. It had been no surprise to Eric that she had done well in the music industry. She had the look of a star.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Deanna asked, glancing away uncomfortably.

“Your hair,” Eric quickly said, clearing his throat. “It’s shorter than it used to be.”

Deanna fingered the short hair at her nape. “You like it?”

“Yes, it’s very nice,” he replied.

She offered him a small smile. “So, as for dinner, did you have a particular place in mind?”

“Yeah, I did. Unless there’s a particular place you want to go.”

“I wouldn’t mind going to A Taste of Soul,” Deanna told him.

“Ah, Michael Jones’s restaurant,” Eric said.

“Yeah. The food is great. Have you been?”

“A few times.”

“And you like it?”

“It’s a great restaurant. Let’s go.”

“Good. Here’s some news. Michael Jones and my sister are dating.”

“Really?” Eric asked, surprised. “Natalie?”

“Yeah. I don’t know if you heard on the news about her divorce from Vance Cooper, the one who plays for the NBA?”

Eric nodded. “Definitely. I was sorry to hear about it. So many of these men out there get a good woman and don’t know what to do with her.”

Deanna nodded, looking at him with a curious expression in her eyes. Eric wondered what she was thinking, but she didn’t say.

“Anyway,” Deanna continued, “I’ve been there once, and the food is fantastic. Whether my sister was dating Michael or not, I’d go there again.”

“Of course. The food is great, the atmosphere is lively. What’s not to like?”

Finally, Deanna stood. Eric did as well. “I’ll drop Kwame home, then get ready. When should I meet you there? Is six o’clock good?”

“Sure. That’s great.”

Eric spoke casually, but he was all too aware of the familiar flush spreading over his body. The one he’d had every time he had held her close in the past, and when he’d watched her on TV.

He had waited nearly nine years for this moment, this opportunity to see Deanna without the shadow of his brother hanging over their heads.

And in just over two hours, he was going to make the most of it.

Chapter 3

Though Deanna had been more than appropriately dressed for dinner—wearing boot-cut jeans, a white blouse and a black velvet blazer—she went back to Uncle Dave’s place and changed. Her outfit now was decidedly more upscale. She was used to dressing up and going out to fancy dinners in L.A., and she relished the opportunity to put something on now that was a little fancy.

Though, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t help wondering if she had gone a little overboard.

She was wearing a black sheath dress and low-heeled black sling-backs encrusted with colorful jewels. Her hair was short, so she didn’t have to worry about fussing over that. She slicked it back, added some mousse so it would stay in place and concentrated on the features that she liked to accentuate. She added mascara to her lashes, eyeliner and a burgundy shade of lipstick.

Uncle Dave’s wide eyes and low whistle when she came downstairs made it clear she had dressed to impress. “You going to some fancy award show?” he asked her.

Deanna chuckled as she went over to him where he sat on his recliner, then gave him a kiss on the forehead. “No. I ran into an old friend. He’s taking me out for dinner.”

“Hmm…another romance brewing?”

“He’s an old friend,” Deanna stressed. “You remember the guy Natalie and I were fighting over all those years ago?”

Uncle Dave frowned. “Tell me you’re not going out with Marvin!”

“No. Definitely not. His brother, Eric, is the principal at Kwame’s school. I saw him today. And we’re going out now to catch up on old times.”

“Hmm.” Uncle Dave gave her a curious look. “Dressed like that?”

“I’ve got a suitcase full of nice clothes I haven’t had a chance to wear,” Deanna told him. Then she started for the door. “See you in a couple of hours.”

A short while later, when Deanna got out of her car and walked toward Eric where he stood waiting outside of the restaurant, the first thing she noticed was the way his eyes widened as he took in her appearance.

“You changed,” he said, his voice laden with approval.

“I figured I may as well get dressed up for the occasion. It’s not every day you run into an old friend and get the opportunity to get reacquainted.”

Deanna wasn’t sure if Eric even heard her reply, because his eyes drank in her appearance from head to toe, as though he was transfixed. “Wow. Seriously, wow. You are ravishing.”

For some reason, Deanna felt a tingling sensation in her belly. “Thank you.”

Eric made a sweeping hand gesture, indicating his outfit and frowning slightly. “I didn’t get to change.”

“You look great,” she told him. And he did. His black slacks, beige shirt and black blazer looked good on him. He had taken off the tie he’d been wearing at school earlier, which now made his professional look more GQ sexy.

“All the same, I wish I’d been able to vamp it up a notch to truly complement you.”

“Now you’re making me wish I hadn’t changed,” Deanna said.

“Nonsense,” Eric told her. “I’m glad you went to the effort to get dressed up for me.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

His eyebrows wriggled as he offered her his elbow, and Deanna cocked her head as she slipped her arm through his.

What were they doing? Flirting?

The question fled her mind as Eric opened the door and led them into A Taste of Soul. They were immediately greeted with a bright smile from a pretty young woman behind the hostess stand.

“Table for two?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Eric and Deanna said at the same time.

The woman picked up two menus and then began to lead them into the restaurant. Eric commented, “I wonder if we’ll see Michael Jones.”

“The owner, Michael Jones?” the hostess asked, looking over her shoulder at them. “He’s not here.”

“He’s headed out of town for an away game,” Deanna explained. “My sister went with him.”

The hostess stopped at a four-top table near the window and set the menus down on it. Then she placed her hands on her hips as she looked at Deanna. “Your sister’s— Of course, you’re Deanna Hart.”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Sandra.” She extended her hand, and Deanna shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Sandra. This is Eric, a friend of mine.”

“I’ve never seen Michael so smitten,” Sandra commented. “He’s really into your sister.”

“That’s good to hear, because she’s really into him.”

“Vivian will be your server tonight,” Sandra told them. “She’ll be out shortly.”

“Sounds like it’s going really well between your sister and Michael Jones,” Eric commented once Sandra walked away. He pulled Deanna’s chair out for her.

“It is,” Deanna said, sitting. “It’s almost like they were destined to meet.” Eric helped push her chair back under the table, and Deanna grinned up at him. “Why, thank you. You are certainly a gentleman.”