Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
“ T hat was hot ,” Nyla said a short while later, her body still humming with pleasure. They were back in her office, refreshed and dressed just in time to get the party started.
“I agree. That was incredible, and so are you. You look hella good, by the way,” Harrison said, his heated gaze eating her up. “I’m digging the outfit. Is that what you’re performing in tonight?” he asked, moving to sit on the edge of the desk. Nyla glanced down at her clothes.
Like him, she was wearing all black. That included a long-sleeve T-shirt, baggy cargo pants that hung low on her hips, and even combat boots that Harrison had bought for her a couple of weeks ago. Even her fingernails were black. Her jewelry, a bulky chain-link necklace and a long chain-link belt around her waist, were thick and bold.
“Yeah, since we’ll be on stage together, I figured I’d try to blend in with the Black Knight’s attire.”
Harrison nodded, smiling approvingly at her. “You look sexy. I’m looking forward to performing with you tonight. I was thinking maybe we can start with John Legend’s ‘Ordinary People’ before we roll into Pharell’s ‘Happy.’”
“Sounds good. Maybe you can play your bass for those and then switch to your sax for Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going on.’ I’d like that one to be all instrumental if you’re okay with that.”
“Works for me.”
It had been his idea for them to perform together on stage, and Nyla agreed. From the moment they started dating, they’d been spending a lot of time in his music room. Her favorite room in his house. She had never dated a musician before, and she was glad Harrison was her first. They literally made beautiful music together.
He would be the main entertainer for the night, and then a DJ would take over.
“Hey you guys,” Jamie said from the opened office door. “I hope you’re ready to get this night started. The caterers are all set up, and your parents just arrived. Your mom wants to know if you need help with anything. Do you want me to send them back, or are you coming out here?” he asked Nyla.
“No, tell her she’s a guest tonight, and I’ll be right out.”
“Will do. See you guys out there.”
“Are you ready for tonight?” she asked Harrison.
“I should be asking you that. Your family and friends will be here, and you’ll be playing hostess all night. Can you handle it?”
When he stood, she looped her arm through his, and they headed for the door. “As long as you’re nearby, I can handle anything. Let’s do this.”
Hours later, Harrison pulled Nyla to the dance floor just as the DJ played Roxette’s, “It Must’ve Been Love.”
“I’ve been wanting to dance with the prettiest woman in the club all night,” he said, holding her snug against his hard body as they began to sway to the music. “You doing okay?”
“I’m great, Mr. Sweet-talker.” She smiled up at him, then squeaked when he spun her before pulling her back into his arms. Laughing, she touched her lips to his. “I love dancing with you.”
She still remembered the first time they danced together. It was the first night at her apartment, and they were in her small kitchen unpacking pots and pans that she’d had in storage. Music was playing, as usual, and Eric Benét’s “Spend Your Life With Me” poured through the speaker. After their dance, Harrison insisted that was their song.
Even in their short time together, Nyla had a list of special memories like that one.
“Sometimes it’s hard to remember what my life was like before you came along,” she said close to his ear. “I just…” She started to say more but instead leaned her head back and stared into his intense brown eyes.
“I love you,” he said, surprising her. “I love you so damn much, and I don’t want to think about how empty my life was before you came along.”
A huge smile kicked up the corners of her mouth, and her heart overflowed with love for this man. “I love you, too, sweetheart. A lot!”
He laughed and captured her mouth with his as if sealing their revelation with a kiss.
Nyla’s heart thundered. There was a dreamy intimacy with this kiss, and she savored every tender lap of his tongue. It didn’t matter they were opposites in so many ways. There were times like this she was reminded of how perfect they were together.
“Excuse me. May I cut in?”
Nyla pulled her mouth from Harrison’s, and she burst out laughing when she realized it was her mother doing the asking.
“Really, Mom?” Nyla said, grinning. “Can’t you dance with Dad or anybody else?”
Her mother planted a hand on her hip. “Your dad is tired of dancing, and I can’t find Zion. He’s probably hiding or something. Besides, I want to dance with the newest member of our family. You don’t mind, do you, Harrison?”
Harrison let out a full belly laugh, which made Nyla start laughing. “Mrs. Priestly, it would be a pleasure to dance with you. You don’t mind do you, Nyla? ” he said, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to laugh again.
Nyla sighed playfully. “ Fine . I guess I can find something else to do.”
As she left them on the dance floor, Nyla was pretty sure she fell a little more in love with her man in that moment. She slowly made her way to the bar, weaving around groups of people and tables, glad to see everyone enjoying themselves.
She thought about how her mother had been pulling Harrison into their family little by little, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Virginia Priestly was growing on Harrison too. It was fun to watch him get flustered when she’d say or do something that embarrassed him.
Like the other day when they were at the B & B, and her mom asked Harrison if he would escort her to her church’s annual banquet in a few weeks. Nyla’s dad couldn’t attend, and Zion had outright said no . Then her mom’s attention went to Harrison, and everyone cracked up when he agreed to attend.
He was going to regret it later, which was why the family had been laughing. Virginia liked to be the first person to arrive at events and was often the last one to leave. In between that time, she insisted on talking to everyone, and there was no doubt she’d want Harrison by her side the whole time.
With him spending time around her mom, Nyla hoped he’d one day want to see his mother. She wasn’t sure what that would look like, but getting some type of closure, where she was concerned, would be good for him.
Nyla went to the bar. “Hey, Jamie, can I have a bottle of water?”
“Sure thing, Boss Lady .”
She smiled at his term of endearment while he opened the bottle and handed it to her. “Thanks, and thanks for being here. I still think you should’ve been a guest instead of insisting on working the bar.”
“I know, but you know I love bartending. Besides, Dre needed to attend his daughter’s recital,” he said of their only other bartender.
Hiring another bartender was on the top of Nyla’s list of things to do. She also needed a couple of more servers. Her to-do list was growing by the day, but she was too excited about being her own boss to care.
“You did good, sis,” Zion said, sidling up to her while taking a sip of what looked to be whiskey in his glass. “This place looks great and speaking of great, you and Harrison on stage sounded sensational together. Good enough to take your act on the road. If you guys decide to do that, let me know. I’ll be your bodyguard.”
When he started flexing his biceps through the fitted Henley he wore, Nyla couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll keep that in mind. So what, no date tonight? I thought for sure you’d be strolling in here with a woman on each arm. It’s your birthday. You’re slipping.”
He snorted and shook his head. “Nah, I didn’t need to bring anyone. I figured there’d be enough women here for me to choose from.”
“Yeah, right. You didn’t bring anyone because everyone probably turned you down,” she joked.
They both laughed, knowing she was full of it. That was one thing her brother never had a problem with—picking up women. He was a good-looking man, and he knew it. She had witnessed him catching the eye of plenty of ladies of all ages over the years, and he didn’t hesitate to pour on the charm.
But lately, he seemed to have settled down some. Now that Nyla thought about it, Zion had been flying solo more often than not.
“Are you dating someone?” she asked, wondering if he was keeping a woman out of sight for fear their mother would start hounding him for grandkids.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why? Are you turning into Mom and planning to try to fix me up with someone?”
“No way. I can’t stand it when she does it to me. So, you don’t have to worry about me doing it to you.”
After a long hesitation, he said, “Between you and me, I met someone almost a year ago while I was attending a conference. She wasn’t one of the attendees, but she’d been at the hotel bar one night, and we hit it off. Problem is my dating life hasn’t been the same since. I keep comparing everybody to her.”
“ Really? Does that mean you found the one ? And when are we going to meet her?”
“Well, that’s the thing. I don’t know how to get in contact with her. I only hung out with her that one night and…”
Nyla gasped playfully, bringing her hand to her mouth as if she were in shock. “Don’t tell me you had a one-night stand,” she whispered.
Harrison rolled his eyes skyward. “Don’t be weird. Despite what you and our sisters think, I’m a grown man.”
Nyla laughed. “If you say so, but what are you going to do about your mystery lady? You’re a cop. Can’t you use your cop skills and hunt her down?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know her last name. Hell, I’m not even sure she gave me her real first name. Besides, the conference was in Vegas. She could live anywhere.”
“Ahhh,” was all Nyla could say, and before she could think of anything encouraging to say, a beautiful woman approached the bar, asking if he wanted to dance.
“Duty calls,” Zion said to Nyla and handed her his empty glass before taking the woman’s hand and leading her to the dance floor.
She had just set the glass on the bar when Harrison’s strong arms wrapped around her. He placed a kiss against her neck before she turned and faced him.
“Hey you,” she said and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Hi.” He looped his arm around her shoulders. “It looks like the party is a success. Not that I’m surprised,” he said as they stared out at the crowd.
“I agree, and thanks for all your help. I know I keep saying this…about almost everything lately, but I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He kissed her, and Nyla felt more content than she’d felt in a very long time.
My own business. Wonderful, supportive family. A sexy, smart, loving man. My life is perfect.