“No, he didn’t,” Gage admitted. Eustace had mentioned taking his wife on the cruise, but not that he had traveled to Lafayette to see Desirée.
“He said they were going on a dinner cruise later that night because it had been a while since they’d spent some quality time together. I must admit he looks good now that he’s losing weight.”
“He’s really stuck to his New Year’s resolution.”
“I know you’re busy teaching, helping Eustace, and playing at the club, but are you taking time out to have a little fun?”
Gage’s eyebrows lifted as he slowed and came to a stop at a red light. “What do you mean by fun?”
“Stop pretending to be obtuse, Gage! You know I’m talking about you seeing a woman.”
He smiled. “I am seeing a woman. In fact, I’m on my way home to get dressed before I pick her up.”
There came another moment of silence. “Who is she?”
“She’s a chef who will oversee the restaurants at the DuPont Inn once it’s up and running.”
“When am I going to meet her?”
Gage chuckled. “It’s not what you think, Mom. Tonya and I are friends who happen to be chefs, divorced, and have children in their early twenties.”
“I didn’t ask if you’re getting married. I just want to meet the woman who can get my son to take some time out his hectic schedule to have some fun.”
“I must admit I enjoy being with her.” The admission rolled off his tongue so easily that Gage hadn’t had to think about it.
“Good for you.”
He maneuvered down the street leading to his condo and found a parking spot in front of it. “I’m home now, Mom, so I’m going to hang up so I can shower and change.”
“I’ll talk to you soon. Love you, son.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
Gage disconnected the Bluetooth, and then sat staring out the windshield. He had admitted to his mother what he had been reluctant to admit to himself. Not only did he enjoy spending time with Tonya, but he was beginning to like her and want for their friendship to become much more. He wanted to become her lover.
He realized both of them had had previous unhappy marriages that ended in divorce, yet both were mature enough to be able engage in a no-strings-attached relationship, to enjoy whatever they were willing to offer each other. Gage turned off the engine. Sitting in the vehicle thinking about Tonya and the possibility of their having an ongoing relationship was premature on his part, and he did not want to come on too strong or get ahead of himself, because she may not be that into him.
He finally got out and unlocked the door leading to the courtyard. Hopefully, before the night ended he would know exactly where he stood with Tonya, because it would be their first official date.
* * *
Tonya had quickly come to the conclusion that most of her clothes, other than her chef’s tunic and checkered pants, were black. When, she mused, had she become the quintessential New Yorker sporting the ubiquitous black year-round? The daytime temperatures had dropped to the mid-forties, so she decided a black wool gabardine pantsuit, silk shell, and a pair of matching kitten heels would be appropriate for the evening.
She paid special attention to putting on makeup, something she had not been used to since moving to New Orleans. It was a blatant reminder that she had had little or no social life over the past few years, which translated into not having that many dates since her divorce. Joining co-workers for get-togethers did not count as dates, and the few times she and Darius had gone out in the year since she saw him exclusively were unremarkable.
Tonya peered at her reflection in the mirror over the bathroom vanity as she washed her hands. The deep raspberry color on her lips matched the faint shade under her eyebrow and the blush on her cheeks. Pleased with the results of her handiwork, she returned to the bedroom to fill the small cross-body bag with her cell phone, tiny compact, lipstick, mints, and tissues. She smiled when recalling what she had mentioned to Gage about carrying pepper spray. Whenever she knew she was coming home late, even if it was with a car service, she made certain to take the canister out of her bag before getting out of the car.
The doorbell rang, and she glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was exactly eight o’clock. She had left the main gate open for him.
She left the bedroom and walked across the living room to the door. Peering through the security eye, she saw Gage. Smiling, she opened the door, her breath catching in her chest when he stood there dressed completely in black: mock V-neck sweater, slacks, and shoes. Her gaze lingered on his smooth, shaven jaw before moving up to the professionally barbered salt-and-pepper strands.
“It looks as if great minds think alike,” he said, smiling. “We’re both wearing black,” he added when her eyebrows lifted, questioning.
“You’re right. I didn’t realize until I went through my closet that I had so many black clothes.”
His lids lowered over his eyes. “I didn’t think you could improve on perfection, but you have.”
Heat flooded Tonya’s face with the compliment. “Thank you.”
