Chapter 10
10
After going back and forth with herself and coming up with every excuse why she wasn’t ready to be back in a classroom, Tracey finally had to look herself in the mirror and admit that she had to stop being afraid. New Tracey was trying new things. New Tracey was learning what she liked. New Tracey wasn’t going to underestimate herself. So she’d signed up for the entrepreneurship class at the technical college before she could talk herself out of it. According to the registrar, she had gotten the last seat. She wasn’t sure if she should be happy or regretful about that.
Even though Tracey had vowed never to step foot in another classroom after she’d graduated from college, her excitement had sprouted and grown like a well-watered flower as the first day drew closer. Maybe she would learn something that would help her promote the inn and drive up business. She had to find a way to make her bed and breakfast stand out enough to have travelers opt to visit hers over a hotel in a larger city.
Class started at six, but she arrived early to make sure she was in the right location and could snag a good seat. When she walked in the building she easily found the room for the class. A woman stood at the front of the classroom and used a remote in her hand to click through slides on the screen.
“Hey, is this the entrepreneur class?” Tracey asked just to be sure she was in the right place.
The woman turned around, and Tracey recognized her immediately as Mikayla. “It is.” Mikayla’s eyes narrowed, and she slowly crossed the room toward Tracey. A second later her eyes widened and she grinned. “Tracey, is that you?”
Tracey grinned and nodded. “In the flesh.”
Mikayla laughed and opened her arms to hug her. “Oh my God, it’s so good to see you.”
Tracey hugged Mikayla back. She smelled good, like expensive perfume, and she looked even better. She wore a tailored green suit that fit her slim curves perfectly, and a matching green scarf was interwoven in the twists pulling her hair back in a neat bun. Her makeup was understated and flawless. Not surprising considering that Mikayla was a millionaire. Tracey had improved her clothing choices in the last few weeks. Things no longer fell off her body, and she was learning to be more confident with her own curvy figure, but she felt light-years away from looking as sexy and put-together as Mikayla.
“It’s good to see you, too,” Tracey said. “When Halle told me you were putting this class together she said I had to learn from the best.”
“Halle is great. I’m so glad she recommended my class. I’m excited that the technical college was willing to let me do a small class here. There are so many entrepreneurs in and around Peachtree Cove, and I want to see everyone making as much money as they can.”
Tracey raised a brow and nodded. “I like the sound of that.”
“Girl, everyone loves the sound of making money. You’ve got the bed and breakfast, right?”
“I do. It’s doing great thanks to the Best Small Town designation, but I really want to get better at marketing the inn. The shine from the designation won’t last forever.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t undervalue that designation. There are places still bragging about being the best something or other from 1998. That’s one of the topics I want to focus on for the class. I’d like to show everyone how to leverage any recognition into even more exposure and profitability.”
The words were like warm sunshine on Tracey’s growing excitement. Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea. “That’s exactly what I need. How many people are in the class?”
“We’ve got fifteen, which is about all I want to handle for my first class.”
Another woman walked in. Tracey waved when she recognized Carolyn Jones from Sweet Treats bakery. Tracey took the time to scope out one of the better seats in the class while Carolyn walked over to introduce herself to Mikayla. She opted for a seat on the end of the second row. She was excited, but she wasn’t first-row excited.
More people filed into the classroom. Several others she recognized from around town, including Joshua who co-owned A Couple of Beers with Imani’s fiancé, Cyril. Tracey tried not to roll her eyes when Mattie came into the class with one of her best friends. The two busybodies loved nothing more than to get into other people’s business. Unfortunately, they chose to sit right in front of her in the first row.
“Hello, Tracey,” Mattie said. Her assessing gaze roamed over Tracey’s hair and the fitted black T-shirt she wore. “You’re looking…well.”
“Hello.” Tracey didn’t try to warm up her voice at all as she tried not to fidget. Mattie hadn’t been one of Tracey’s favorite people, but when she’d had the nerve to talk junk about Joanne and her brother when they’d started dating, followed by coming to the bar with Monique, Tracey had put the woman on her permanent Don’t Fuck With list.
Maybe it was divine intervention, or maybe it was the Don’t talk to me look Tracey was trying to convey, but Mattie turned around and started chatting with her friend. Someone pulled out the chair next to Tracey. She turned to see who her seatmate would be and froze when her eyes met Brian’s warm gaze.
“What are you doing here?” she asked sharply, surprised that he was in the class. They’d worked a few weddings in the last couple of weeks, but he hadn’t mentioned the class. Neither had she, but she assumed Brian didn’t need any additional help. He always seemed so put-together and in control.
He slid into the seat next to her. He wasn’t in the usual Henley and dirty jeans he wore when he worked but instead wore a casual dark orange V-neck shirt that clung to his shoulders and gave an enticing glimpse of his chest and a pair of fitted tan pants. “I can’t learn how to make my business better?”
“Your business is good.”
He turned to face her. The scent of his cologne drifted over to her. The man always smelled good. “That doesn’t mean I can’t make it better. Besides, if you grow, then I grow. I need to hear the secrets.”
“Why are you sitting next to me?”
He chuckled as if the question were a silly one. The light in his eyes made her feel silly for asking. “I can’t sit next to my friend?”
Tracey tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach. If she were foolish, she’d swear he was flirting. She sucked her teeth and shrugged. “Whatever.”
Mikayla came to the front of the classroom and got everyone’s attention. “Alright, it’s six o’clock, and I believe in starting on time. Hello, everyone. I’m Mikayla Spears, and I’m excited to pass along some of what I’ve learned growing my financial planning business. I hope that the next few weeks will be beneficial to you all and that we can come up with some great ideas to help your businesses flourish.”
Mikayla asked everyone to introduce themselves and their business and share what they wanted to get out of the class. Then she dove into talking about the definitions of branding and marketing, before having everyone brainstorm three words that described their business and what the core values of their business were. By the time the class ended, Tracey’s head was mush. She hadn’t thought about her mission or core values related to the inn before, much less distilling her work into three words.
“Between now and the next class, come back with these ideas more refined, along with a tagline or catchphrase for your business,” Mikayla said at the end. “We’ll present the information to the rest of the group along with why you chose that phrase. Then we’ll go into how you can start using words and imagery around those phrases.”
Tracey sighed as she looked down at her notes. “Okay, that was a lot.”
Brian sighed next to her. “It was, but all good. Got me thinking differently about my nursery.”
“Same. I never thought about values and whatnot. It’ll be hard to come up with a catchphrase in a week.”
“Want to get together and brainstorm later?”
Tracey’s head popped up. “What, like study together?”
He grinned and lifted a shoulder. “Why not? Couldn’t hurt.”
“I don’t need you laughing at my bad ideas.”
“I promise I won’t laugh if you don’t laugh at mine.”
She was about to immediately say no. She wasn’t sure if she would come up with anything good, and she didn’t want to embarrass herself. But on the other hand, Brian was smart and never gave her bad advice or tried to humiliate her. Besides, it would be better to make sure her ideas weren’t too horrible before she brought them in front of the class.
“Sure, it’ll be good to bounce ideas off someone who was also in the class. Give me a call, and we’ll get together.”
They stood and headed out of the classroom together. As they neared the front door, she heard Mattie’s voice ahead of them.
“It’s good for Tracey to get out. I heard she’s sitting around the house looking sad while Bernard and Monique are all over town just flaunting their affair. And because it’s Bernard, everyone is just accepting it. It’s sad really.”
Mattie’s friend nodded. “It is.”
“What’s sad?” Tracey chimed in. “That I got rid of a bad husband? She can have him.”
Mattie looked startled for a second before lifting her chin. “Good for you. Keep your head up and everything.”
“I don’t have to keep my head up. I’m fine.”
Mattie gave her a sad look. “Well, you know what he’s saying, right?”
“I don’t give a damn about what he’s saying.” Tracey moved to walk around them.
“He’s saying that you’re going to just sit at home and cry. That you already begged him to come back.”
Tracey spun around. “Say what?”
She hated the smug look in Mattie’s eye. Mattie loved it when people took the bait, and Tracey had just latched on like a prize bass. Tracey wanted to ignore her, but if Bernard was out there talking about her as if she would even consider taking him back, then she wanted to know.
“It’s true. He said you want him back because you don’t know what to do without a man and you’re afraid to get out there. They were laughing about it the other night when I ran into them.”
Tracey saw red. Her heart twisted, and her stomach flipped. When she thought about all the pleasure he’d denied her, Mr. I Can’t Give My Wife an Orgasm but She Can’t Masturbate… More like he didn’t know what to do with a woman. “I know he didn’t.”
Mattie nodded and tried to look compassionate but failed. “Well, I just thought you should know what he’s saying.”
“Bernard is a liar and a cheater. And for your information, I know exactly what to do with a man. The next time you hear Bernard say that, tell him to ask the man I’m sleeping with right now if I know what to do.”
Mattie’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward. “Who are you sleeping with?”
“Tracey?” Brian said in a confused voice.
Tracey looked at him. Heat filled her face. She’d forgotten he was there. Once again witnessing her embarrassment and her lie. She looked back at Mattie and lifted her chin. “None of your damn business.”
She turned and walked out. Brian was hot on her heels. He took her elbow and stopped her when they were in the parking lot, sending a spark of electricity up her arms.
She jerked away before crossing her arms. “What?”
“Who are you sleeping with?”
Her head jerked back. “Why do you care?”
He paused for a second before shifting his stance. “I just didn’t know you were seeing anyone. And you told that to Mattie. She’s nothing but a gossip.”
“That’s exactly why I told her that. She is a gossip, and if Bernard is talking about me, then let him hear that.”
“But are you really seeing someone?” He sounded concerned.
“No, not right now, but I will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
An idea popped into her head. New Tracey was not going to be seen as sitting around waiting for someone. What had Joanne said? Something about not letting what happened stop her from at least getting some action when she needed some. She’d played with her new toys and also given herself several glorious orgasms. Maybe the time had come to move to the next level.
She snapped her fingers and grinned. “I’m going to find me a lover.”
***
When Brian decided to hang out with Cyril and Quinton that weekend, they opted to check out the cigar bar that had recently opened in town instead of going back to Cyril’s spot. Plus, Cyril said he wanted a change in scenery since he was always at the brewery and needed to know what other places were offering in town.
The three of them purchased their cigars and ordered bourbon on the rocks before settling into large leather chairs in a corner near the front window.
“How did the first class go?” Quinton asked.
Brian nodded his head while swirling the bourbon and ice in his glass. “Pretty good. Mikayla gave us a lot to think about.”
“I bet she would,” Quinton said. “I heard she’s a millionaire a few times over.”
“She is. Made her money and then moved back to Peachtree Cove after her dad’s surgery. Now she’s giving back to the town. She told us that she wants everyone in Peachtree Cove to have the opportunity to be financially whole.”
Cyril nodded. “Joshua said the first class was good. We spent all yesterday morning trying to figure out what the core words and our values for the brewery were. It was interesting to think about it that way.”
“Yeah, I’m supposed to get together with Tracey before the next class so we can brainstorm together.”
Cyril pushed back the black fedora on his head and raised a brow. “With Tracey, huh?”
Brian took a puff of his cigar before meeting his friend’s eye. “Yeah. Why you say it like that?”
“You know I don’t like to get into gossip.”
Brian did know how much Cyril hated gossip. As someone whose life had been upended thanks to rumors and false accusations, Cyril was the one least likely to pass along gossip. “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, sometimes I can’t help but overhear things at the bar. I don’t usually bring up what I hear, but this was about you.”
“What about me?” Brian kept to himself around town. His name wasn’t frequently tied to gossip.
“Apparently Mattie is going around saying that you and Tracey are hooking up.”
Brian sat forward in his chair. “No the hell she isn’t.”
Quinton pointed his cigar in Brian’s direction. “She is. I heard the same thing. I didn’t believe it. I know you and Tracey aren’t like that. But why would she say that?”
Brian had known Tracey’s response to Mattie the other day in class might get talked about. Mattie couldn’t help but spread any news she considered juicy. He hadn’t expected his name to be roped into Tracey’s claim.
“Because she’s always in somebody’s business and likes to spread lies. She was getting on Tracey about Bernard saying she wanted him back. So she said she was sleeping with someone. Then we walked out of the class together. Mattie read things wrong.”
Even though Brian hadn’t liked the snake of desire that wound around him when she said she was going to look for a lover, for a split second he’d considered the possibility of him being her lover. Then he’d remembered that he wasn’t the relationship type, nor was he ready to sign up to be Tracey’s rebound.
His friends nodded. Quinton spoke first. “All she has to do is see two people together and she’s assuming something is going on. I figured you weren’t sleeping with Tracey.”
“Why you figure that?”
“Because you don’t like drama, and you aren’t looking to settle down. Tracey is fresh out of divorce. That’s too much going on over there.”
Cyril nodded. “Way too much. Tracey deserves better.”
Brian frowned. “Better than me?”
“Nah, I didn’t mean it like that,” Cyril said. “Better than what she went through with Bernard. I know you’re not trying to be in a serious relationship right now. You said so yourself.”
“I’m not.” But that was the second time someone said Tracey would be better off without him. He didn’t want a relationship, but he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Tracey if the two of them did happen to get together. Tracey needed someone to show her some affection, treat her right. If he were a relationship guy, he could at least do that. His divorce had soured him on long-term commitments, but he hadn’t turned into a dog either.
“So Renee called me,” he said thinking about his conversation with his ex.
“Man, what the hell did she want?” Quinton asked twisting his lips.
“She says her husband thinks I’m her kid’s father.”
Quinton’s eyes bulged, then narrowed. “Are you?”
“Hell no. I haven’t messed with her since that night at our friend’s party. But she told her husband. Now he’s jealous and thinking we’re still hooking up.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up,” Cyril said. “What did you do?”
“Told her that was her problem and blocked her number. I don’t have time for that.”
Quinton’s assessing gaze landed on Brian. He wondered if that was the same look he gave to the players on his football team. “That woman has a hold on you.”
Brian’s defenses went up. She’d had a hold on him. He was done with Renee now. “No, she doesn’t.”
Both Quinton and Cyril sucked their teeth and gave him doubtful looks. Brian stared at Cyril. “Not you, too?”
“Hey, I know we’ve only been friends for a few years, but I’ve heard the way you talk about her. And I was there after you two hooked up the last time. That woman had you all the way screwed up. She’s in your system, man.”
“She is not in my system. That relationship is over and done with. She’s having another man’s baby. We are done.”
Brian meant that with his whole heart. He was done playing games with Renee. He liked women who were more straightforward with what they wanted. He didn’t want to have to guess where he stood when dealing with someone.
“So if she walked in here right now, looked at you with those big brown eyes and said she missed you, what would you do?”
Brian scowled, picturing the scene in his head. Renee would expect him to trip over himself to get her what she wanted. The vision made his stomach curl.
“I’d tell her to call her husband and leave me alone with that mess.” He took a sip of his bourbon.
Quinton raised a brow. “Whatever. You’d fall for it, take her right back to your place.”
“Hell no,” Brian said. “I am done with Renee. All the way done. I’ve already moved on.”
“You sleeping with other women doesn’t mean you’ve moved on,” Quinton said.
Brian narrowed his eyes. “I’ve. Moved. On.” He realized it might take time for his friends to believe him. Actions spoke louder than words, and in the past his actions proved he was Renee’s plaything. Not anymore. He’d prove it to them and to his ex.
Quinton shook his head and sipped his drink. Brian looked at Cyril, who held up a hand and shrugged. Brian accepted that they were willing to let the subject drop.
“Now, Cyril, what’s up with the wedding pl…” He spotted Tracey through the window and his voice trailed off. She was on the arm of some dude and wore a dress that barely covered her ass and breasts. “What the hell?”
He watched as the two of them went to the door of the cigar bar. They came in. The man’s hand on the small of Tracey’s back in the too short, too tight, sexy as hell black dress. The conversation in the room lowered for a second as several sets of male eyes zeroed in on Tracey in the skimpy black dress. They made their way to the bar. Brian got a better look at the man’s face and recognized him from his gym. The guy always walked around trying to hit on every woman that came in the gym and was, according to the rumor mill, sleeping with the woman who worked behind the counter.
“What is she doing with him?” Brian put his drink and cigar on the table.
“Who?” Quinton asked.
Cyril tapped Quinton on the shoulder and pointed to the bar. “Tracey, that’s who.”
Quinton looked at Tracey and the guy then back at Brian. “Hold up. Are you and her really hooking up?”
Brian tore his gaze away from Tracey laughing at whatever the guy had said. “We’re not. I just know him. He’s not right for her.”
“Why?” Cyril asked.
“Because, he’s sleeping with the woman that works at the gym. And he’s still asking for numbers of the other women in the gym. He’s not looking to settle down.”
“Maybe she isn’t either,” Quinton said with a shrug. “I mean, she just got divorced. She might not want to get into another relationship.”
“But she still needs someone decent. That guy isn’t it.”
He looked back at the bar. The guy’s hand drifted from Tracey’s lower back to the top of her behind. Brian’s eyes narrowed and he stood. “I’ll be right back.”
He crossed the room to the bar before they could say anything. He stood behind her and spoke up. “Hey, Tracey, what’s up?”
Tracey turned wide, surprised eyes on him. She’d put on makeup that enhanced the brightness of her eyes and a gloss that brought attention to the fullness of her lips. She looked damn good. Enticing. Like a woman on the lookout for that lover she mentioned. Breathing became hard.
The surprise left her eyes and was replaced with curiosity. “Oh hey, Brian. What’s up?”
He didn’t know what was up. He’d crossed the room ready to tell her to stay away from the player sitting next to her, but he knew Tracey. She’d say he was minding her business and push him away. He had no right to tell her who to see or date, but he hadn’t been able to just sit there and not mind her business.
He racked his brain for a good reason to have approached her and said, “We still good for tomorrow?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m still good.”
He glanced at the guy, who watched him closely. Before he could interrupt and say something to Brian, he focused back on Tracey. “What time do you want me to come over?”
She raised a brow. “We already agreed that you’d come by at two. That still works.”
“Just want to make sure.” He looked back at the guy and lifted his chin. “Hey, don’t you work out at my gym?”
The guy nodded and grinned. “Yeah, I’ve seen you around.”
“You and the girl behind the counter. Y’all are cool, right?” Brian didn’t give a damn about putting his business out there. He couldn’t openly warn Tracey, but he could throw some hints.
The guy’s face tightened. “Just friends.”
Tracey shifted and got his attention. “Okay, Brian, have a nice night.” She did two quick tilts of her head as if asking him to walk away.
She either wasn’t taking the hint or was going to ignore it. He wouldn’t say anything to her in front of him, but maybe if he pulled her to the side she might listen.
He pointed over his shoulder. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Tracey sighed and rolled her eyes. “No, we can’t. I’m on a date. Go back to your boys, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“But—”
Tracey put her hand on his shoulder and turned him away. “Bye, Brian. See you tomorrow.” She gave him a shove.
He could have resisted the movement, but that would only cause a scene. She’d dismissed him, and he had no good reason to stick around. Tracey wasn’t his woman. He wasn’t her man. He also wasn’t the man for her. If she wanted to make a mistake, then that wasn’t on him.
He glanced back at her over his shoulder. “Hey, if you need anything, give me a call, okay? Be safe out here.”
Her lips pursed, and he prepared himself for her to tell him to mind his own business. But a beat later, she relaxed and nodded. “I’m good, Brian. Enjoy your night.”
He looked back at the guy, who had a smug smile on his face while his eyes trailed over Tracey’s body. He wanted to pull her to his side and drag her out of there. So much so, his hand clenched into a fist to stop himself from reaching for her. He wanted to tell her that she was worth more than the little bit of attention this guy would give her. But doing that meant what? That he was ready to move their relationship to something else? They were friends. He was looking out for her, had tried to give her a hint, but at the end of the day she had to make her own choices.
“Cool, but the offer still stands. If you need me, call.” He looked, met the guy’s eyes, and added, “Anytime.” The guy frowned, and Brian cocked a brow. Then he turned and rejoined his friends.