Chapter 3 #2
He didn’t intend for that to happen, nor did he intend to cool his friendship with Richard.
It was better to nip this in the bud. There was no way any woman, regardless of how beautiful, would get the best of him.
After all, hadn’t he and his brothers been called the Masters of the Game in high school for a reason?
Making a decision, he began walking in the direction Desiree had taken. Since most people were headed the opposite way, it wasn’t long before he saw her. He quickly caught up with her. “Hey, where do you think you’re running off to?” he asked, hooking his arm in hers.
When he turned her to him, he saw that she’d been crying. He frowned in concern. “Desiree? What’s wrong?” Had what he’d said earlier offended her? The comment about her partying?
“Nothing is wrong,” she said rather quickly. “Weddings make me weepy.”
He thought there was more to it than that, but he’d take her at her word…
or let her assume he did. “You’re not alone,” he said, steering her in the direction the other wedding guests were headed.
“No doubt my mother, Inez Masters, is somewhere crying a river of happy tears right now. She’s probably thinking, two sons down and one more to go. ”
He appreciated the sound of Desiree’s chuckle. “She wants all her sons married?”
“Yes. That’s her most ardent desire. Thank goodness she’s never been desperate enough to play matchmaker. She believes true love will eventually find each of us, without her help. So far, it has for Tez and Colt.”
“But not for you?”
“Mom knows it’s just wishful thinking when it comes to me. Marriage isn’t in my plans.”
“It’s not in mine, either.”
Her words surprised him. “Really? I thought all girls dreamed of a day like this,” he said, guiding her around several groups of people.
“I’m not one of them. And where are you taking me?”
“Closer to where the bride and groom are.”
“Why?”
“I’m expected to be there.”
“You, maybe, but not me,” she said, pulling away slightly.
He loosened his hold on her arm, but didn’t let go completely. “But at the moment you happen to be with me.”
They walked over to where Kelly’s mother and her husband stood.
His parents, Cortez and Victoria, along with the rest of the Masters family, were close by.
Cobra and Desiree arrived just in time to hear the last of his father’s speech.
His brothers looked at him, saw the way he’d hooked his arm in Desiree’s, and smiled.
Cobra frowned, knowing what they were thinking ─that he wouldn’t be able to resist temptation.
He would let them think whatever they wanted. He knew better.
Desiree leaned in to ask, “Where are they going on their honeymoon?”
He moved closer to answer, realizing too late that it wasn’t a good idea.
The beauty of her hazel eyes was even more profound up close.
“Maybe it would be better to ask where they aren’t going.
Colt has a four-week honeymoon planned, covering six countries—London.
Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Amsterdam, and Belgium.
“Sounds nice.”
“I’m sure it will be. Here, I’ll share my rice with you,” he said, pulling a small pouch from the pocket of his tux.
“Thanks.”
After tossing rice on the couple, Cobra and Desiree, along with the other wedding party and guests, watched as Colton and Kelly drove away from the wedding reception.
Once the car was no longer in sight, he turned to Desiree, wondering what to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but that was out of the question. Still, the wedding reception was over, and this was the time when they should part ways, but he wasn’t quite ready.
He would forever be grateful to Richard for his timely appearance. “I’ve ordered the car to be brought around, Allison. The jet is fueled and ready to go,” Richard said. Then he turned to Cobra, “You need a flight back to New York? If so, you can certainly join us.”
“Thanks, Richard, but I’m fine,” Cobra said, accepting that he had shared enough of Desiree’s company today.
Richard nodded. “Then I’ll see you Thursday for our chess game. Come early to dinner.”
“I’ll make sure that I do.”
Cobra turned to look at the woman whose arm he was still holding. It was time to release it. “Thanks for the dance, Desiree.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Cobra.”
He chuckled—she was just being nice in front of Richard. But that was okay. In five months, Cobra was going to prove to her that the pleasure had been all his. And if he had anything to say about it, there would be a lot more of it. At least that was something he could look forward to.
***
Cobra heard a knock on his hotel room door. After glancing through the peephole, he opened it, then stood aside to let Cortez enter. “What do you want, Tez?”
“I thought I’d come keep you company for a spell.”
Cobra rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the door. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Straw, Tomb, and Titus. I don’t want or need any company.”
“You even said that to Savannah’s mayor?” Cortez asked, grinning. “You must really have it bad.”
“Whatever,” Cobra said, leaving his place at the door to walk over to the love seat and sit down. “I know the only reason for your visit tonight is to see if you could catch a woman in my room.”
Cortez chuckled as he eased down in the chair. “You are known to engage in that sort of thing after a wedding.”
“That was before Bernice Whey. You made a trip here for nothing.”
“It’s never for nothing when I visit one of my brothers. Seriously, I just came to keep you company.”
“And as I said, I don’t want company.”
Cortez chuckled. “Being horny has made you—”
“Unpredictable,” Cobra interrupted. “At least that’s what you said earlier.”
“So, you admit to being horny?”
“No reason for me not to admit to it. I’ve never gone a month without getting laid, and going seven months is uncharted territory for me. But I’m managing.” Then, to change the subject, Cobra asked, “So… Why are you here, keeping me company, and not with your wife?”
Cortez leaned back in his chair. “You know what it’s like when the Bennett cousins get together. They’ll watch a movie and catch up on all the family gossip.”
Cobra nodded. Yes, he knew their routine.
It always boggled his mind that three Masters men had married Bennett women.
His cousin Quinn had married Alexia, his cousin Grey had married Brandy Bennett, and Cortez had married Victoria Bennett.
Colton had come close. Although his wife, Kelly, was not a Bennett, she was a half-sister to Monica, who was a Bennett.
“So, who is the woman you were with earlier?” Cortez asked.
“Don’t you know?” Cobra quipped.
Cortez shook his head. “I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed to be holding on tight to her. And earlier, I saw the two of you dancing. So, to answer your smart-ass question, no, I don’t know who she is.”
“Her name is Desiree Sharpe.”
Cortez sat up straight in his seat. “Sharpe? Is she Richard Sharpe’s granddaughter?”
“Yes.”
A frown appeared on Cortez’s face, and he leaned back in the chair. “Shit. Then that’s definitely a game changer.”
Cobra raised a brow. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s beautiful, and you’re attracted to her. That much is obvious. I was hoping she would be the one who made you fall into temptation. But that won’t be happening.”
Tez was right. It wouldn’t be happening. But he was curious as to why his brother was so sure of it. “And you’re certain of that because…?”
Tez rolled his eyes. “You’re an intelligent man, Cobra.
Sometimes too intelligent for your own good.
You’re Sharpe’s wealth and asset manager.
Most of the man’s portfolio is now being handled by Colt at Masters Unlimited.
There’s no way you would risk Richard Sharpe’s ire by messing around with his granddaughter.
His business is way too valuable for you or Colt to lose. ”
“I have no intentions of messing around with Desiree.” At least until his year of celibacy was over.
“Thank goodness. I guess Colt and I will have to send more beautiful women your way to remind you of what you’re missing.”
“Don’t waste your time. But I have to ask, why were you and Grant heading Desiree’s way earlier, when she was talking to Monica? Was he vying for an introduction?”
“For your information, Grant and I were headed over to where Sherelle Telfair was talking to Brandy. Grant recalled meeting Sherelle at a party Lake gave in Orlando a couple of years ago, and I think he’s interested in her.”
Cobra nodded. Brandy Bennett Masters was married to their cousin Grey, and Sherelle Telfair had worked as a junior executive at Masters Unlimited, a marketing firm owned by their cousin Lake, with Colton as second-in-command.
When Sherelle resigned last year, she was hired by the now Kelly Perkins Masters to manage one of Kelly’s three consulting agencies.
“And where is Grant tonight?” Cobra asked.
“He caught a flight out after the reception for Memphis. He has a court case next week.”
Because Cortez and Grant were best friends, most of the Masters knew the Corbains of Memphis. Grant’s father was a judge, and his mother, Grant, and his three older siblings ─Adam, Lincoln, and Sydney ─were all successful attorneys in their family’s law firm.
Cortez stood after checking his watch. “I’m to meet up with Quinn, Lake, and Grey for drinks at the bar. You’re welcome to join us, if you want.”
Cobra stood as well. “I’ll pass. After the game, I’m going to bed—alone.
I have an early flight home in the morning.
But you and Victoria can expect a visit from me in a few weeks.
It’s been too long since I saw my nephew.
” He knew that Victoria’s mom had flown to LA to keep her grandson while Tez and Victoria attended the wedding.
“Cornell is always glad to see his Uncle Cobra,” Cortez said, giving his brother a bear hug. “Have a safe flight back to New York.”