“Damn, Kandi. I know I’m not the most social person in the world, but even I go out and hang on occasion. It shouldn’t be thatshocking.”
Kandi stepped closer to her desk, watching Mandisa carefully. “Not much in the last year and a half. Not since Ms. Sadiepassed.”
Kandi’s statement hung heavy in the air, making it difficult for Mandisa to breathe comfortably. Eighteen months still wasn’t enough time to erase the sting of loss Mandisa could never seem tooutrun.
“I’m sorry, Mandisa, I didn’tmean…”
Mandisa closed her eyes and swallowed hard in an attempt to push her latent grief down. Once she was certain she had it under control, she allowed a small smile to grow slowly on her lips. “It’s fine. You don’t have to be scared to mention Mama. And you’re right. I haven’t done anything but work and sleep since she passed. Tonight changes all that. Tonight, Dr. Avery takes a reprieve, and Mandisa gets to come out andplay.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Kandi sang. “That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout.”
Mandisa laughed at her friend. If there was anyone in this world who could make Mandisa enjoy herself even when she didn’t really want to, it wasKandi.
“All right, slacker, Dr. Avery has to finish up work today if Mandisa is going to partytonight.”
* * *
Mandisa climbed the circular staircase carefully as she made her way to the bar in the upper-level lounge. Syn was a bi-level club. Downstairs was for dancing and partying. Upstairs was for conversations and cocktails. Her friends were downstairs grinding with the other patrons on the dance floor. Mandisa had done her last two-step when her pretty pumps began pinching her toes. That’s what she got for trying to just jump back into the club scene without stretchingfirst.
She pushed through the heavy doors that protected the quiet from the loud bass currently banging on the lower level. As soon as the doors closed, there was an instant drop in volume. It wasn’t silent, just a measured groove where people could listen to slow jams as a soundtrack to their conversations, orthoughts.
She sat at the end of the bar and waved to catch the bartender’s attention. He was currently serving another customer at the end, but acknowledged her with a slightnod.
“Evening, what can I getyou?”
“A whiskeysour.”
With impressive speed, he slid her drink in front of her. A quick, “Here you go,” and he was turningaway.
“How much do I owe you,” she asked as she reached into her pocket to pull out abill.
“Nothing. The guy at the end of the bar says he’s picking up your tab for the rest of thenight.”
Mandisa turned her head to glance at the stranger. Dark hair tapered neatly at the sides and a clean-shaven face. He offered her a wide smile that seemed to reach his sparkling blueeyes.
Her gaze traveled down his square jaw until she took in the size and build of him.Damn, he’s a big one. The long-sleeved white button-down shirt and the simple black slacks did little to mask the distinct silhouette of his carvedmuscles.
She continued to move her gaze down the length of his body, appreciating every inch as she continued her perusal. She stopped dead at a large pair of black cowboy boots that made her remember one of her mother’s colorful pearls of wisdom regarding men.Baby, if you really want to know what a man is packing, just look at the size of his feet. If he ain’t working with double digits, he ain’t worth yourtime.
She closed her eyes against the shiver of lust that spilled down her spine. If those boots weren’t well into the double digits she’d sell her rightarm.
Damn!
“Sizethirteens.”
The deep rumble of a nearby male voice forced her eyes open. The stranger was sitting beside her. She was so busy daydreaming about how hung he might be she hadn’t seen him move closer toher.
“Excuse me?” shemanaged.
“My boots. I saw you looking at them, figured you were probably amazed at the size of these boats. I promise I won’t step onyou.”
Size thirteens, goodgawd!
“I’m Slade, by the way.” He offered her his hand and another helping of his brightsmile.
“Mandisa,” she countered, accepting his hand with anod.
“Mandisa. What a beautiful name? What does itmean?”
