Chapter 11
Tonya sat on the porch waiting for Gage to arrive. He had sent her a text to let her know he would pick her up around two-thirty. Just hearing his voice brought back images of them cooking, eating, and dancing together, while at the same time it reminded her just how long it had been, aside from Hannah’s wedding, since she had danced with a man. In fact, it had been almost a year since she had gone out on a date with Darius, because of his fluctuating work schedule.
She still couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in less than a week. She woke to the sound of birds instead of honking horns, sanitation trucks picking up garbage along her street, and an occasional slamming door and the voices of her fifth-floor neighbors.
The instant she’d closed the door to her apartment after a trio of men carried out the last box with her personal items to be shipped to DuPont House, Tonya had experienced an emotion bordering on anxiety. Doubt had crept in, making her question her decision to give up all she had in New York to move to start up a restaurant in a city known for its own unique cuisine.
Her anxiety was short-lived when, a week before Christmas, she picked up her new SUV and hugged Nydia while wishing her the best.
She drove south, stopping overnight in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then continued on to Daytona Beach, where she spent Christmas and celebrated the New Year with her parents. Samara called on both holidays, and although pleased to hear her daughter’s voice, Tonya had come to the realization that her adult daughter was exercising her independence for the first time. A sense of strength came to her during the drive from Daytona Beach to New Orleans as she remembered when she’d left the States to live abroad. She’d traveled without a companion and survived.
She was now a Louisianan, and not only would she survive living in a new state, but she was also confident she had made the right decision to go into business with Hannah.
A smile parted her lips as she recalled watching the video of Hannah and St. John’s first dance together as husband and wife. They were as graceful and fluid as professionals as they floated across the ballroom floor, much to the awe and shock of their guests.
It was as if Tonya had viewed the wedding, the cocktail hour, dinner, and reception through the eyes of the videographer, because he had captured expressions and nuances of everyone in the garden and ballroom. Her former apprehension that her gown revealed too much cleavage was belied when she stared at her image as Hannah’s maid of honor.
What she found blatantly obvious was Cameron Singleton’s entrancement with Jasmine when they danced together. Although Cameron was not a man whom she found attractive, she wasn’t ready to dismiss him as someone who could help Jasmine get over her ex-husband’s duplicity.
Jasmine had called her earlier that morning. Her voice was still raspy, but she wanted to let Tonya know she was feeling better and that Nydia was coming over to cook for her. Tonya did not know why, but she felt more like a mother rather than an older sister to Nydia and Jasmine—although shewasold enough to be Nydia’s mother. When she had mentioned this to Hannah, Hannah explained it was because they both were mothers, and although their children were adults, their maternal instincts were always front and center.
Sitting there and waiting for Gage to come pick her up for their date, Tonya realized she liked him, although she felt they had not gotten off on the right foot during their first encounter, for which he had apologized. She had met so many men in her male-dominated field who would become combative rather than admit they were wrong.
Tonya stood up as she saw Gage’s SUV maneuver up the winding path and come to a stop in front of the house. He got out and met her as she descended the steps. It was impossible to see his eyes behind the lenses of a pair of sunglasses. However, his smile indicated he was glad to see her. Her gaze lingered on the slight cleft in his strong chin.
“Hey, beautiful,” Gage crooned as he kissed her cheek.
At that moment Tonya felt beautiful as she leaned into him, savoring his warmth and strength. She had gotten an appointment with the stylist who’d cut her hair for Hannah’s wedding, tipping her generously for her handiwork.
“How are you?” she asked breathlessly.
Gage eased back, his smile still in place. “Better, now that I see you again. You look incredible.”
She inclined her head. “Thank you.”
Tonya had been in a quandary when she couldn’t decide what to wear: slacks, dress, or skirt. Garments were piled high on her bed before she decided to go with a long-sleeved black sheath dress with an asymmetrical neckline; the dress ended at the knees and hugged every curve on her body. She’d tried on several pairs of shoes and in the end slipped her bare feet into a pair of three-inch-heel black leather pumps. She had also applied a light cover of makeup to accentuate her eyes and mouth.
“Do you have to get anything before we leave?”
She raised her left arm, from which dangled a wristlet. “Everything I need is in here.”
“Do you always travel this light when you go out with a man?”
“It all depends on whether I’m forced to bring pepper spray or a Taser.”
His expression changed, suddenly becoming grim. “I hope you’re teasing.”
Tonya rested a hand on his shoulder. “I am.”
His eyebrows lifted behind the glasses. “You had me worried for a minute,” he said as he assisted her up onto the passenger seat.
She waited until Gage was seated and belted in, then said, “Thankfully, I’ve never been in a situation where I had to fight off a man because he didn’t want to believe that no meant no.”
Shifting into drive, Gage gave her a quick glance. “Good for you, because I’ve heard stories from women who weren’t as lucky.”
Tonya stared through the windshield. “Can you answer one question for me?” she asked after a comfortable silence.
“What is it?”
