While recuperating from surgery, she’d enlisted her father to drive her to each of the restaurants, where she spent hours training the owners to submit the information on their employees’ work hours on their computers, which eliminated the need for her to retrieve the data in person. They’d installed time clocks that tracked the cumulative number of work hours, which they forwarded to Nydia at the end of each payroll period. Rolling her head from side to side, she attempted to relieve the stiffness in her shoulders from sitting in the same position for hours.
Her cell phone rang and she picked it up, smiling. “Hola.”
It had been two days since she’d last spoken to Lamar. After the Toussaint gathering she had returned to the hotel with Jasmine and Cameron. She’d thrown herself into her work to keep her mind off the man who unknowingly had her thinking of him when she didn’t want to; he had invaded her sleep, and she experienced erotic dreams that left her shaken from sensations reminding her why she was born female. Nydia lost count of the number of times she’d picked up her cell to call him and invite him to spend the night with her, but in the end threw herself into her work.
“Hello to you, too,” Lamar crooned, singsong. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No. In fact I just finished working and planned on ordering room service, and then turning in early to watch a movie.”
“Would you like to eat out?”
Nydia smiled. Lamar was giving her the opening she wanted. “I’m too wound up to be a good dining partner. I need to stay in and relax. But I wouldn’t be opposed if you’d come and eat with me.”
There was a pregnant pause before Lamar said, “Do you still want to order room service, or should I bring something?”
“I’ll order, Lamar. What do you want?”
“Surprise me.” His velvety laugh caressed her ear.
“You may regret saying that.”
“No,mijo. I never regret anything I say. You should know that by now.”
“You’re right about that. What’s on your calendar for tomorrow?”
“Chillin’,” she drawled.
Lamar laughed again. “How long do you plan to chill?”
“At least two days.”
“I’m taking the rest of the week off, so I’m available if you want to visit Cajun country.”
Nydia swiveled on her chair and stared at the rain sluicing down the windows. It had begun raining earlier that morning and was predicted to continue for the rest of the week. “I don’t want to go out in the rain.”
“What’s the matter, brown sugar? Are you afraid of melting?”
“Yes. I’m a Leo, a cat, and we don’t like water.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
“Come and hang out with me and I’m certain we can come up with a few things to do to keep us occupied.”
There came another pause. “If I come and stay with you, you know what it means?”
“I know exactly what it means, Lamar.”
“If that’s the case, give me time to pack a bag and pick up a few things before I come over. Meanwhile, wait about thirty minutes before you order room service.”
“What can you eat?” Nydia asked him.
“Everything but sushi. I’m allergic to raw fish.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
“Luego,mi amor.”
Nydia ended the call. Lamar calling her his love lingered with her as she walked into the bathroom to shower. She knew inviting him to live with her in the suite for the next two days would definitely be a turning point in their relationship. Her attempt to hide her feelings for Lamar behind witty and what she deemed skillful repartee had failed miserably. She was in love with the single father, wanted to marry him and become the mother Kendra had lost. She knew she could never replace the girl’s mother, and she wouldn’t pretend to. Nydia wanted Kendra to trust her enough to confide in her, and together they would navigate the bumpy road from adolescence to adulthood.
