Chapter 14 Chanel #3
program. “I’ll look into it, but only if it’s online like yours. No way can I stop working for multiple weeks. Those bills
won’t pay themselves.”
“No lie. And I can’t see myself moving back home with my parents after being out for the past few years.”
Moving back to my parents’ house would never be an option. Just the thought made Chanel shudder. “Agreed.”
“Ready?” Vincent asked once he settled the bill.
“Yes.” Though truthfully, it had been the best first date she’d had, and she didn’t want the evening to end.
The two spent the drive back to her place talking about everything from music and sports to where they saw themselves five and ten years down the road and swapping childhood stories—his mostly.
They were still laughing as he walked her to the door.
She unlocked it, and he followed her inside.
He closed the door behind him and leaned against it.
“I gotta tell you, Chanel, I really enjoyed being with you tonight,” he said, sliding an arm around her waist. He towered
over her five-five frame by a good eight or nine inches.
“Same here.” He gathered her in his embrace, and she rested her cheek against his chest, where she could hear the strong,
steady beat of his heart.
“I’m not ready for the evening to end, but we both have work tomorrow.”
Chanel stared up at him. “And you have some studying to do, so I guess next time needs to be on the weekend.”
“Great minds think alike,” he murmured, trailing butterfly kisses along her cheek. “It’ll have to be the weekend after the
family dinner, because I promised Shawn I’d help him move some stuff. We can take a walk on the beach, then I can fire up
the grill—”
“Mmm-hmm, and I can make the side dishes.” Her eyes popped open. Did I just volunteer to cook with this man?
“Sounds like a plan. But right now, I’d like to kiss you, if that’s all right.”
Yassss! her inner voice screamed. “It’s okay.”
His mouth came down on hers the moment she uttered the words. The kiss was sweet, tender, unhurried, but filled with an intensity
she felt from her head to her toes. The way he kissed her felt as if he’d perfected the art solely for her benefit, and she
was here for every single second.
When he ended the kiss, he stared down at her and smiled. “Yeah, this right here makes my mouth water. It’s gonna be hard as hell not to drag you into an empty room and indulge my newest craving tomorrow, so be
warned.”
“Vincent, we can’t. I don’t want everybody to know.” She could see it now—the stares, the whispering behind her back. “Please
don’t think I’m ashamed of dating you. It’s just—”
He cut her off with a kiss. “Relax, sweetheart. I don’t like people in my business like that either. I said it would be hard,
but I plan to keep things quiet. For now.”
Chanel nodded but noted the emphasis he placed on for now. Did that mean he intended for them to go public, so to speak, at some point?
“But make no mistake about it, I’m not going to hide our relationship forever.” He gifted her with one last lingering kiss.
“Lock up, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then he was gone.
Leaning her head against the door, she willed her rapidly beating heart to slow.
“Sis, I’d shout it to the world if a man ever looked at me the way Vincent does you.”
She spun around. “Girl, you scared the crap out of me. What are you doing—spying?”
“No. I was in the kitchen when you guys came in, so I kind of heard the conversation. Why don’t you want anyone to know? Is
there some rule against coworkers dating?”
“There’s no rule, but just about every single woman there has been trying to get with him since I started working there. I
don’t even want to think about what they’re going to say once they find out we’re dating,” she said, crossing the room and dropping down onto the
sofa.
Jada followed and let out a little giggle. “Oh, I know exactly what they’re going to say: I wish it were me.” She collapsed dramatically onto the other end of the sofa.
Chanel couldn’t stop the laughter that poured out of her. Her sister never failed to put a smile on her face. “Probably, along
with a few dirty looks. One woman invited him to some club event this weekend earlier today, and apparently he told her he
didn’t think the woman he was dating would appreciate him going out with another woman. Now everybody’s trying to figure out
who he’s dating.”
Jada’s smile widened. “Oooh, I so want to be a fly on the wall when those women find out it’s you. Y’all have any job openings?
I’d be happy to work on a marketing plan to entice more patients.”
She playfully bumped Jada’s shoulder. “You just ain’t right, girl.”
“Maybe not, but the way you were moaning a minute ago says the brother knows how to kiss.”
Chanel stood. “You know what, I’m not having this conversation with you. Good night.” She didn’t need any reminders about
the most erotic kiss she’d ever experienced. Every kiss before seemed like a waste of her good time. And she couldn’t wait
until the next time. First, she had to get through the family dinner.