But when his butler opened the door for them and they entered his penthouse apartment and she saw a team of what Vince called stylists waiting beside racks and racks of designer clothing and designer shoes and all kinds of designer handbags, she looked at Vince. “What’s this about?”
And just like that, Vince realized his error. “Give us a moment,” he said to the stylist and her team of assistants. Without a word, they quickly went out into the corridor, closing the door behind them.
Vince looked at Ricki. He wanted to find a way to say what he knew he needed to finally say to her, but without using those traditional words. “You’re with me now,” he decided to say.
He wanted to continue talking, but Rickibeing Rickiwasn’t about to let him spring something that odd on her and keep it moving. “I’m with you now?” she asked him.
“That’s right.”
“But what does that mean?”
Who was he kidding? There was no way in hell Rasheda Richardson was going to let him get away with his littlehear what I mean to say without me saying itscheme. He had to bring it correct with Rasheda, or not at all. “You’re my lady. My girlfriend,” he said.
Inwardly, Ricki was filled with joy. But outwardly she looked as if she had missed something. “I am?”
“Yes, you are.” But her look irritated Vince. “What are you looking like that for?”
“I don’t recall you asking me to be your girlfriend. Or did I miss that conversation?”
Vince smiled. “Smart ass,” he said. “Always holding my feet to the fire.”
She smiled, too, because that was exactly what she was doing.
Vince respected her for not letting him skate by the way every woman he’d ever been with would easily do. And that was why his look turned serious, and he placed his hands on her arms and pulled her closer.
He looked deep into her eyes. “You’ve made me do what I can only describe as the impossible, Rasheda,” he said to her.
That wasn’t what she was expecting to hear from him at all! And it concerned her. “I made you do it? What did I make you do?”
“Despite your sassy mouth, and your sassy attitude,” Vince continued, “and despite the way you get on my last nerve over and over again, you have managed to make me do something I’ve never done before in my life.” It was getting real for him, and his heart was hammering. “You’ve made me fall in love with you.”
Now that was what she wanted to hear! But was it sincere? “Imadeyou fall,” she asked him, “or did youwantto fall in love with me?”
“I didn’t want to fall in love with anybody,” Vince quickly shot back. “And especially not your sassy ass.”
Ricki grinned. She knew what he meant.
“But in your case,” he said, still serious, “it couldn’t be helped.”
“But have you fallen and you can’t get up,” she began asking.
“Oh for crying out loud, Rasheda!” he interrupted her. “What’s with you and the twenty questions?”
But Ricki was serious. He had to have buy-in too. She wasn’t going to let him put it all on her. “Have you fallen and you can’t get up,” she asked again, “or have you fallen and you don’t wanna get up?”
It was a great question. She was even sharper than he thought she was. Which only heightened his respect for her. “Yes,” he said. “I’ve fallen and I don’t want to get up.” Then he exhaled. This was huge for him. “I love you, Rasheda,” he said to her.
And only when he said those actual three words, straight with no chaser, did her heart melt. And she smiled too. And tears of joy appeared in her eyes. “I love you too, Vincent,” she said, even as he was pulling her into his arms.
Vince’s eyes were watery too, but he made certain she didn’t see any sign of water anywhere near his eyes by the time they stopped embracing. He’d already exposed his soul to her. That was enough!
“The reason you see all of these clothes and shoes and pocketbooks, and even lingerie,” he added, “is because it’s time.”
“Time? Time for what?”
“I know it’s early. I know we’re just getting started. But I don’t see the point in delaying it. Tonight will be an excellent time for me to introduce you to some of the people in my circle.”
“And I’ve got to look the part?”
