Episode 45
Episode 45
Blue Blood
NAOMI
“Baby, you want to go ahead and introduce me?” Memphis let go of my hand and curled his arm around my shoulder, hugging me close.
“Memphis, um, this is Malik Hendrickson. A family friend and someone I used to date.” I sighed tiredly, really not wanting to get into my romantic history with Malik right now.
“Date?” Malik scoffed. “We were engaged to be married, Naomi…” he blustered, his expression becoming harsher by the second.
“Good to meet you, Malik.” Memphis cut him off at the quick. “I understand you work for the Shaws?” he prompted, shocking me. Mostly because I hadn’t shared anything about Malik and our past. He must have done some research to know anything about my ex.
“That’s right. Although I’m far more than an employee or a friend,” Malik inserted, challenging Memphis’ word choices.
“Well, a friend of the family I’m marrying into is a friend of mine,” Memphis announced good-naturedly with a smile.
Malik’s eyes widened, and his jaw firmed. “You expect to be friends?” He laughed in that haughty, richie-rich way I abhorred. It was so pretentious and demeaning. And here Memphis was, being kind and courteous as usual. Memphis didn’t realize he was staring a wolf in Tom Ford clothing straight in the face. And Malik was the type of man to make his enemies feel safe and welcomed before he struck and tore their lives apart.
“Sure, friend ,” Memphis emphasized. “We’ll share a beer together some time. But first, my woman is beat. She needs food and cuddle time with her man.”
“Cuddle time?” Malik mocked as if Memphis had spoken gibberish.
“Yeah, you know. When couples actually spend their evenings together connecting, having a meal, sharing their troubles,” I said pointedly. A not-so-subtle reminder of one small issue on a long grocery list of things that didn’t work between me and Malik. Besides the fact he worshipped my father, hated sports, and loved eating out when I wanted to eat in. Also, the man was greedy in bed. I did all the work for very little return on that investment.
Memphis was literally the opposite of Malik. He adored me , and his family . Two things I could get behind. And he was the best lover I’d ever had. Relentless in his pursuit of my pleasure before taking his own. The man breathed football, which was a sport I enjoyed wholeheartedly, much to my family’s and Malik’s irritation. My father hated seeing images of me at sporting events caught by the paparazzi. He felt sporting events were for common folk and beneath us. His words, not mine.
“I would love to share a meal with you, Naomi, if you’d ever answer my calls. And I’d resolve any troubles you had promptly, provided you’d confide in me,” Malik hissed.
Memphis rubbed my arm. “Yeah, well as nice as that is for a friend of the family, I’ve got things covered from here on out. You ready to get settled, baby?” he asked me.
I hummed and rubbed my head against his shoulder. “Beyond ready. Will you cook for me then take me to bed?”
“Anything, you know that. How’s about a famous Taylor family grilled cheese? My granny’s recipe.” He kissed my temple, both of us ignoring Malik, now positively fuming.
“Sounds like perfection, honey,” I whispered, then rose up on tip-toe as he dipped his head to peck me on the lips. “I’m so happy you’re here,” I sighed and kissed him once more.
Malik cleared his throat. “I hope the cook has enough for three of those sandwiches because I’m staying here this week while Chantelle recuperates.”
“What!” I snapped, my head turning to take in Malik’s shit-eating grin. “Why?”
“Your father doesn’t want to be too far from his wife. Isn’t that sweet? And there is important work to be done for Shaw International. You’d know that if you would finally accept your role in the family business.”
I groaned. “As I told you and my father a thousand times before, that is never happening. I have paved my own path.”
“Naomi, please. Your little business has done well, but it will never be Shaw International. The company is worth billions.”
“Yeah, and my company profited in the hundreds of millions in the last few years. I’m doing just fine on my own.”
“Damn, Nay. You’re the shit. Hundreds of millions. I’m so impressed,” Memphis hugged me tight, showing his affection.
Pride filled my chest, and his praise made me feel ten feet tall. “Thank you, honey. Can you feed me now? I’m so tired. Remember, you kept me up most of the night with your shenanigans,” I batted my eyelashes making it very clear what those shenanigans consisted of.
Memphis chuckled playfully before leaning toward my ear and speaking loud enough for not only me to hear, but also Malik. “It was worth it,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with salacious intent. “Let’s get you settled, babe.” He reached for my hand. “If you’re staying here, I guess we’ll talk later, Malik.” He gave a flick of his hand in a salute then led me toward the front entrance where another member of my parents’ staff was waiting.
“Hi, Patrice,” I waved at the housekeeper who assisted Rupert with the family’s needs.
“Welcome home, Ms. Shaw. Shall I tell the cook to set a meal for the two…” Her gaze reached Malik who was stomping up the steps, clearly agitated. “…three of you?”
“No,” I rubbed my hand up and down Memphis’ strong, broad chest. “My fiancé plans to woo me with a family staple tonight.”
“Patrice, have Cook make me a steak, rare. Potatoes and vegetables on the side. And a good bottle of red. I’ll take all of it in my room,” Malik snapped. No please or thank you to be found.
What a dick! And just like my father. Another reason things between us crumbled.
“Of course, Mr. Hendrickson. I’ll have that brought up as soon as it’s done. Anything else I can handle for you?”
Malik’s lips twisted into a snarl as he assessed us standing cuddled up. “No, that will be all for now,” he clipped, before pushing past us and taking the stairs to the guest rooms closest to my parents’ bedroom. Thank God we were set up in the opposite wing.
I rolled my eyes at Patrice, and she smiled as she looked down and away.
“Come on husband-to-be, show me those kitchen skills. I’m eager to experience this family recipe,” I encouraged, wanting to push away any of the nasty energy Malik had added to an already trying day.
* * * *
I moaned deeply then hummed, completely content for the first time all day.
“Well?” Memphis cocked a dark eyebrow, a wicked grin on his face.
“That was by far the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.” I licked my lips and watched my man’s eyes follow the movement of my tongue with interest.
He smiled. “Told you it would be. Granny Taylor does not play when it comes to food.”
“I look forward to thanking the matriarch for her talents in the kitchen upon our first meeting.” I said and then finished the tall beer he’d also poured each of us. I didn’t even know my parents stocked this particular beverage.
“Enjoy the beer?” he asked randomly.
I tilted my head. “Very much. I’m not normally an ale-type girl, but this did pair deliciously with the grilled cheese and chips you found. Honestly, I wasn’t sure my parents had what they would consider junk food in the house. Meaning beer and potato chips. I certainly never found any growing up.” I chuckled.
“The brew is a friend of mine’s. Well, technically, I’m closer to his wife Savannah than I am to Erik.”
I frowned. “Savannah? Sounds like a pretty little Georgia peach to me. Let me guess.” I tapped the rim of my empty glass with my nail. “She’s tall, sleek…an ex-cheerleader? Long, blonde hair…”
Memphis burst out laughing. “Total opposite, and she’s also not someone I dated, so you can calm the green-eyed monster I see lurking under those dark gorgeous eyes.” He finished with a smirk.
“Oh, fine. Ruin my fun.” I rolled my eyes. “So, you got me. Who is she?”
“Actually, she was in the last auction. Another candidate. We all became fast friends. I just attended her wedding with Alana and the entire group right before we arrived in Vegas. She was chosen by Erik Johansen the owner of Johansen Brewing Company.”
“Wow. He’s the biggest in the beer industry,” I said, flashing back to reading an article about the brewmaster and his company.
Memphis nodded and swallowed the remainder of his beer, following it up with a hearty, “Ahhhhhhhh,” before he licked his lips and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Savannah is actually a curvy redhead from Montana. She’s part of a sister team that joined the auction last quarter. She’s definitely the sweet one. Dakota, her sister, who ended up being auctioned to their rival neighbor, is a blonde ball-buster though. She takes no shit from no one.”
“Sounds like my kind of people.”
“Yes ma’am. I hope they’ll come to our wedding, but it may be tight. Dakota is pregnant with twins, and Savannah and Erik are on their honeymoon now.”
“That’s a long honeymoon if they were in the auction last quarter and supposed to get married within a month.”
“Oh, so you didn’t hear about all the drama. They, uh, got tangled up in some family business that went sideways with an ex-lover of Savannah’s who ended up pulling all kinds of hinky shit at their farm. Burning down barns filled with horses. Shooting and killing people. And then when they thought they had the right guy, they’d actually put the wrong one in jail. When we were all attending their first wedding, Savannah and Erik both ended up being shot.”
I gasped. “Lord have mercy, what in the world! That’s insanity! But they’re okay now if they’re on their honeymoon.”
He nodded with a grim expression. “They are but it was touch and go for a bit there. They waited to get married until after they both healed.”
“Wow. And you somehow ended up not being chosen in the last auction?” I surmised.
He shook his head. “Nah, I actually bailed on it. One of the other candidates, Jade Lee, you might remember her…”
“Alana’s new protégé?”
“That’s the one. She freaked out on stage. Bidders were yelling some garbage so I left the auction to help her through it.”
I reached out and looped my arms around his neck. “You took care of a damsel in distress?” His cheeks pinked. “My hero.”
He eased forward and took my mouth in a soft, slow kiss. I hummed and sighed into it, enjoying this quiet time with him. Tomorrow was going to likely bring a shitstorm of drama for us to deal with, especially with Malik on the premises.
“Soooo, you going to tell me what’s up with the suit, your ex-fiancé?” This was the one question I really didn’t want to deal with, but he deserved to know what he was up against. My father was already a mountain that was practically insurmountable, but paired with Malik? It was like climbing Mt. Everest with no tools or protective gear. Basically, a suicide mission.
“Malik and I were practically betrothed from birth. Our parents are longtime friends. From the very beginning, we were groomed with the knowledge that we should do what was best for our families’ businesses.”
“Meaning keep the rich blood running true blue for generations to come.”
“You’ve got it.”
“And at some point, you were on board with that decision?” He leaned an elbow on the counter and rested his head in his hand, his entire focus on what I had to say. I loved the way he gave me every ounce of his attention when I spoke. It was refreshing to say the least.
“When you’ve grown up every day of your life being told how amazing Malik Hendrickson is and how your families together were going to run the world, you kind of get caught up in it. And Malik is good looking…”
Memphis made a scrunched up silly face.
“Not as handsome as you. Relax.”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
I let out an exhausted breath. “We started officially dating freshman year. We both attended the same private school. We broke up for a year in college because he was demanding I take classes that would benefit Shaw International. And he didn’t want to do anything fun. Just study and prepare to the be the best CFO in the business.”
“You didn’t attend frat parties or any ragers?”
“No, I did. Which is when I broke up with him. He was so pissed I wanted to go out and relax a little. Experience everything college had to offer. So, I cut him loose. Much to my family’s great dismay. I heard nothing but complaints from my parents. After about a year, and a thousand apologies from Malik, I caved and took him back. Things were fine all the way through college. It was graduation night that he asked me to marry him. I was completely unprepared. Our entire families were there, and the party had over a thousand people in attendance. So I had to accept.”
“Damn, he really put you on the spot.”
I nodded. “I was barely out of college and had already enrolled in a gem credentialing program. During my time at the university, I realized I didn’t want to be behind a desk. I wanted to create. I’ve always loved the sparkly things that came from my father’s mines. Not the mining business itself. I can put on my business hat, but I have highly educated people to do all of that for me. Now I get to create. Work directly with my clientele. And that’s what makes me happy. Not crunching numbers, hiring and firing, doing budget reports, meeting with the board of directors, marketing, admin…blech.” I made a gagging sound.
Memphis shook his head and laughed. “Deep down, Nay, I think you’re an artist. Most creative types can’t be shoved behind a desk or they’ll wither up and die.”
I pointed to him. “Exactly!”
He shrugged. “What happened after you accepted his very public proposal?”
I pressed my lips together in a little snarl. “I tried to give it a chance. But I couldn’t stand the fact that he never understood who I really was. What I really wanted for my life.” I reached for his hand and held it between both of mine. “You’ve known me a few days and understand me more deeply than anyone else in my entire life. Isn’t that messed up?” I whispered that last part, realizing how profound that bit of truth was.
Memphis Taylor was almost a stranger based on the length of time we’ve known one another, yet I was more comfortable with him than I ever was with anyone else I dated, including Malik, or my own family. Memphis sees me, not my family’s good name. He sees the woman I am, and that’s who he wants. Not the fame, fortune, or clout.
“I’m sorry, baby. That all sounds brutal. Just know I’m here now for as long as you’ll keep me.”
“You mean three years?” I pursed my lips and stared into his pretty eyes.
“How’s about we not set limitations on things we can’t begin to understand.”
“That being?” I hedged.
“The future, Nay. No one knows what it holds. Not you, not me. We committed to something, yes, but that doesn’t mean there’s an end date. Not really. That’s something we decide when the time comes.” He lifted our clasped hands and rubbed his scruffy cheek along the back of my hand. “I prefer to let the chips fall where they may. See where life takes us. Right now, it’s the Hamptons. Three years from now, it could be a bun in the oven, if that’s what we decide.”
Both my eyebrows rose up toward my hairline. “You want to have children with me?” I croaked.
“I want to have children one day with the woman I love. Nothing’s off the table, Naomi.” He smiled softly, the honesty clear in his steadfast gaze. “We’ve got time. Let’s enjoy it.”
I grinned and nodded. “We do. As long as we survive this week, the future is ours.”
“Now that’s the Naomi, I know.” He stood up and pushed his chair back in place, grabbed our plates and took them to the sink. “Should I wash these?” he asked.
I truthfully couldn’t remember the last time I’d washed a dish. We had staff for that. Still, it felt like a normal thing couples did together, and I wanted to experience everything with Memphis. Even washing dirty dishes together. “You wash, I’ll dry,” I offered. “Then I’m taking you to bed where I will have my wicked way with you.”
“Is that right, Ms. Shaw, soon to be Mrs. Shaw-Taylor?” He turned on the water and soaped up a sponge, then washed a plate.
“I think I’ll go with Mrs. Taylor, if you don’t mind.” I was happy to drop my father’s name.
He looked taken aback, but then a slow smile spread across his face. “Naomi Taylor. Sounds fucking beautiful to me.”
I bumped his hip with mine. “I think so too. Now hurry up and get those dishes washed. I’m ready for my dessert.”
“Dessert?”
I ran my hand over his firm bottom and squeezed a cheek. “Yeah baby, my dessert tonight is you .”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We were done with the dishes in mere minutes.