Candace Shaw - The Sweetest Kiss

Clearing his throat, he straightened his tie and entered the great room. Some of his colleagues were mingling and a few were waiting in line at the bar. He spotted Josh and headed over to him.

“I was looking for you,” Josh started. “Matilda mumbled something about a pastry chef and walked out.” He raised a blond eyebrow with a smirk. “You weren’t getting busy with a pastry chef were you?”

Normally, Broderick would tell the truth when it came to the women he was pursuing or dating, though this time he didn’t. There was something about Tiffani he wanted to keep all to himself.

“I have no idea what Matilda is referring to. Is Jeffrey Benson from Benson and Smith Enterprises here? I liked his ideas from the mixer we attended on Saturday, but I need more information before proceeding.”

“He’s on the list but hasn’t yet arrived. However, Carl Tandy and Cedric Diggs are here, as well as Devin Montgomery from Supreme Construction.”

“Cool. I saw him at the wedding I attended and invited him to come this evening. His company is building new lakefront subdivisions in North Carolina, and I’m interested in investing. Make sure you set up a meeting with him.”

“No problem, boss. I’ll go speak to him now while you see what Carl and Cedric are cooking up in the investment department,” Josh stated as the two gentlemen in question approached.

The men shook hands, grabbed some cocktails and retreated to the library to discuss their next business venture in private. Upon entering, Broderick smelled Tiffani’s perfume still lingering in the air. His mind drifted back to savoring her delectable lips and the warmth of her skin under his hands. However, he couldn’t think about that right now. Even though it was hard not to, considering her scent surrounded him as he now sat in the same spot he had just a few moments ago.

“Josh tells me you two have some new project ideas.”

Carl nodded as he sipped his drink. “Yes, along with two other possible investors and hopefully you.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well, there’s this outdoor shopping area in Dekalb County not too far from the Perimeter Mall area. The property value is high but the stores in the shopping center are old and need some updating. Heck, they may even need to be torn down, but we won’t really know until an inspection is done. The man who owns the place is ready to retire and move to Florida and is selling at a reasonable price. We’d love to buy it, tear it down if necessary and rebuild with high-end stores. The places that are already there could stay at a higher lease once their current one runs out. Some are national chains like Starbucks and some are locally owned businesses.”

Broderick stirred the ice cubes around in his bourbon. “Mmm...not sure if I want to invest in a strip mall. What else you got?”

“It’s not a strip mall,” Cedric interjected. “It would be one of those work, live and play areas with condos or lofts, eateries, and so on. There’s some vacant property behind it that’s for sale, too. About two hundred acres, so we can expand. We’ve done it before with the other group we used to invest with and you were quite happy with the results.”

“Still not sold. I’m looking for something different this go-round. What was the other project?”

“Well...the other one is similar, just a different location. It’s in the Stone Mountain area. However, we’re also contemplating a famous restaurant chain here in Atlanta. Rumor has it they want to expand to adjoining states.”

Broderick nodded as he soaked in the information. He was most interested in the restaurant chain. “I am searching for something new to invest in, but you know I don’t just put my name on anything or write a check until I have every detail. Send Josh the information so he can start gathering data to determine the best choice to go with. Anything else?”

Carl shook his head. “Nope, that is all for now. We’ll contact Josh if anything else comes up.”

“Great.” Broderick stood as his cell phone vibrated in his shirt pocket. He withdrew it and saw a text from Tiffani. “If you gentlemen would excuse me I need to take this. Help yourself to the food in the dining room. Chef Crenshaw really outdid himself this time.”

He retreated outside on the veranda so he could read her text in private.

Made it to KJ’s tournament just in time. Talk to you later. J

Broderick smiled at the cute smiley face. It was so like her and her girlie personality. Rejoining his guests, he chatted for the rest of the evening, but he wasn’t really focused on discussing any of their money-making opportunities. He kept thinking about Tiffani’s scrumptious lips on his and the soft purrs from her mouth. He didn’t know how long she expected them to just be friends before he was able to kiss her again. But he also understood her husband had died not too long ago, and she probably wanted to take things slowly. However, it was the sweetest kiss he’d ever tasted and he was hungry for more.

* * *

“Thank you for saving me a seat, Preston.” Tiffani plopped down between her brother, two years her senior, and their dad on the bleachers at the karate tournament. “Has KJ gone yet?” She bit into her chicken and pecan salad, sighing with relief. She hated the days when she was too busy to eat, and she also hated buying a salad from a fast-food restaurant, but it was that or remain hungry.

“No, his group is next,” Preston said, then whispered, “Why do you smell like cologne?”

Darn it. She’d been so busy inhaling the remnants of Broderick’s enticing scent embedded on her skin that it never occurred to her that others could smell it, too.

“Huh...what?” Tiffani tried to stare straight ahead. If she looked at her brother, he’d see right through whatever lie she told. She also sensed her father’s eyes on her.

“You heard me. You were late. You’re never late. Did you have a date?”

“Shh. We’re being rude.” She took a bite of the salad and chewed slowly so she wouldn’t have to speak and hopefully he’d leave her alone. At least for now.

Tiffani continued to stare straight ahead as the kindergarten group did their routine, but she wasn’t paying attention. Instead, her thoughts led her back to Broderick’s strong, manly embrace and his wicked tongue dancing with hers while his sensual hands cruised over her body. He’d driven her insane with his handling of her and in just a short time, he’d unearthed a passion she didn’t know she possessed, and she wanted more. More of him. His intoxicating scent that still lingered, only added more to the erotic feelings she was experiencing. She couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to reach for his tie and belt and had had to restrain herself from doing so. She’d been on a couple of dates since her husband’s passing and had a few first kisses but nothing to the point of being blown away. Broderick’s kiss made her feel like a desired woman, which was new, exciting and scary.

Tiffani had met Keith their freshman year of college and he’d been her first and only sexual experience. However, she wasn’t turned off by the idea of having sex with another man. Far from it, and earlier Broderick confirmed that. She was grateful she’d had to leave and that he had a party to host. If not, things may have gotten more intense, if that were even possible. She may have also done something that in her heart she wouldn’t have regretted. Being with Broderick was awakening, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so sexual and free.

Have I ever? she pondered. Because of Keith’s treatment of her during their marriage, she’d fallen out of love with him and sex became a chore that she hated but only did because she felt obligated.