Struck Speechless

CHAPTER 1

Jackie looked around her sprawling, well-manicured backyard and let out a pleased sigh.

The DJ was jamming. Drinks were flowing.

The food, of course, was delicious; her baked beans were no doubt the highlight.

The weather was perfect with a hint of fall in the air.

The photographer she’d hired was standing by, and friends and family were bursting with anticipation.

Under the guise of her annual cookout, Jackie had pulled off the most epic surprise engagement party for her favorite cousin, Gideon, and her best friend, Tanika.

Jackie was thrilled at the fact that her best friend was going to officially become family, and that her cousin had found love after the loss of his first wife.

Their love story, while a little supernaturally freaky, had been one for the ages.

Everything was damn-near perfect, until Jackie’s eyes landed on the largest piece of shit in her yard—one that her dog PeeWee hadn’t created.

Antonio. Fucking. Steele.

Tanika had just asked Jackie if she could get the DJ to play something other than trap music, when Jackie turned and locked eyes with him.

And the asshole had the nerve to smile, showing those goddamned dimples.

Jackie held up a finger and called back to Tanika.

“On second thought, get Mya to do it. I see a snake whose head I need to cut off.”

Jackie made her way across her lawn, marching like Sophia from The Color Purple. When she reached Antonio, Jackie looked up at him, straining her neck. At barely 5’ 2”, everyone was tall compared to Jackie, but Antonio was impossibly tall.

“The trash gets picked up on Tuesdays. So, you’re a little early, Antonio,” said Jackie, forgoing any cordial greetings. He knew the deal.

“Hello to you, too, Jacqueline,” Antonio laughed, showing all thirty-two of his perfect teeth. “You look incredible.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Why are you in Atlanta and not in L.A. making someone else’s life miserable?”

“PJ invited me as his guest. I was in town on business.” He gestured to his left, where Jackie’s client PJ Dawson was nursing a beer. “Besides, it would be a crime to leave town without trying these world-famous baked beans I keep hearing about.”

Jackie narrowed her eyes. What business did Antonio have in Atlanta?

She was suspicious but refrained from inquiring further.

“First of all, my baked beans are for friends. You are not my friend. And secondly”—Jackie cut her eyes to PJ—“really, PJ? After all that drama, you still choose to hang out with this clown?”

PJ sighed, throwing up his hands. “Damn, Jackie. I thought you and Antonio squashed the beef. Can’t we all just be cool?”

“Oh, I don’t squash beef with people who try to undermine me professionally. Like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

Antonio put his hand over his broad chest. “I meant no disrespect, Jackie. I just wanted to make sure that PJ got what he was worth.”

“And you didn’t think I could do that? I’ve brokered major deals across every major sport in this country.

I have more clients than you, Steele. I’ve been PJ’s agent for two fucking years, and suddenly, you have this vested interest?

His mother hired me, not you! You snooze, you lose.

You need to get that shit through your pretty little head and stop trying to poach my client!

” Jackie pointed her almond-tipped nail into his chest. His very hard, defined chest. Jesus…

Antonio smirked. “I love it when you get mad. Your nose wrinkles up like a little kitten’s.”

“I hate cats.” Jackie dug her nail deeper into Antonio’s chest, and he only slightly winced. If Jackie didn’t know any better, she’d think Antonio was enjoying this. In fact, he looked like he was about to cream his pants. What was he? A sadist? “Stay the hell away from my clients, Steele.”

Antonio finally took a step back, out of her nail’s way. “Listen: I’m not trying to poach him. I’m just…” He grabbed a cocktail from a passing tray and took a sip, squinting at its sweetness. “Forget it.”

Jackie raised a brow. “You know what. I don’t know what your angle is, and I don’t care.

But I know one thing. If I hear about you pulling another stunt like you did with New Balance—whether with PJ or any of my other clients—I’ll instruct PeeWee to gnaw your balls like a chew toy.

” She gestured toward her French bulldog, who was busy destroying a stick.

“Ouch,” laughed PJ, nearly choking on his beer.

“Damn.” Antonio frowned. “You ain’t have to talk about my balls, Jackie. Unless—”

Before she could fully curse Antonio out, movement caught Jackie’s eye. Mya was motioning wildly in her direction. That meant Gideon was here. It was time to get this surprise proposal popping.

“If you’ll excuse me.” Jackie ran a hand through her short-cropped hair.

“I have something I need to handle. In the meantime, don’t drink all my liquor.

Don’t hit on any women here, especially my friends.

And if I catch you eating my baked beans, I’ll throw the entire pan on that cream linen suit of yours.

Looking like a tired ass uncle at the cookout! ”

Jackie threw up her middle finger as she walked away. She heard Antonio yelling after her, “Hey! This is an Off-White original!”

After greeting Gideon and Tanika, Jackie made her way to the DJ booth on stage. She smoothed down her denim jumpsuit, tapping the mic a few times to get everyone’s attention before speaking.

“Hey y’all! Thanks for coming to my annual backyard jam. I appreciate all my clients, family, and friends who made it out. Including Uncle Roydell, who is trying to hoard all the Hennessy White. I see you Unc! You ain’t slick.”

Uncle Roydell held up his very full glass of liquor and nodded.

As Jackie laughed, her eyes landed on Antonio once again.

He was staring at her, smiling with those deep dimples and perfect teeth.

His lips were so full, with just a hint of pink.

Jesus, those lips. Lips that she’d been intimately familiar with, but that was ages ago—

Jackie shifted nervously as she tried to regain her composure.

“Anyway, I hope you all have a drink in your hand because I want to give a toast. I don’t normally do this, but I feel like it’s only right.

I want to toast my amazing cousin, Dr. Gideon Miles, who just returned home from six months in Central America with Vision Without Borders, providing vision care to thousands of people who otherwise would be without.

I’d also like to toast Gideon’s girl, my brilliant best friend, Tanika Ryan, who, along with the efforts of WWSN, raised over a million dollars on behalf of the late Lauren Miles.

Please raise a glass on behalf of my cousin and my bestie!

” Glasses began to clink all around, which Jackie took as her cue to get off stage.

She didn’t like the fact that Antonio was boring a hole into her soul with his stare.

Realizing she was still gripping the mic, she pointed in Gideon’s direction.

“I’m turning it over to my cousin now. He has some words he wants to say. ”

Jackie passed the mic to Gideon and hurried to grab a glass of champagne, readying herself for the proposal.

She had no idea why she was so anxious. Maybe because she knew just how far Gideon and Tanika had come, and she needed this moment to be perfect for them.

Searching for comfort, Jackie beckoned PeeWee her way, scooping the hefty pup into her arms, nuzzling her nose at his collar.

PeeWee was the perfect emotional support animal, but before Jackie could fully relax into the hit of doggy dopamine, she felt the presence of someone standing close to her.

She didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was. She could smell him.

“Nice speech, Miles,” whispered Antonio. “Didn’t know you could be so sentimental.”

“Please,” admonished Jackie. “I’m trying to watch my cousin propose to my best friend, and you are ruining the moment.”

“My bad. Sorry.” Antonio said softly. But then he leaned in closer. “You smell incredible. New fragrance?”

It was a new perfume, but Jackie wouldn’t dare tell Antonio. For what? So he could buy it for one of his many sugar babies or groupies-of-the-week?

“It’s PeeWee’s dog shampoo. You want the name of it, for your bitches?” Jackie rolled her eyes. PeeWee let out a slight whimper as she hoisted him tighter in her arms.

Antonio sighed, and Jackie felt the low sound of it in her belly. She did not like the effect this man had on her.

“What makes you think I got bitches?” he asked. “I don’t deal with bitches.”

“Not anymore,” mumbled Jackie.

“I know you aren’t calling yourself a bitch, Jackie.”

Jackie swiftly turned to face him. “Who said anything about me?”

Antonio’s face immediately softened. “Jacqueline, please. You don’t know the whole story.”

At that moment, Mya flew past Jackie, carrying a box and handing it to Gideon just as he dropped to one knee. Jackie let out a breath. Saved by the engagement! Thank goodness, because Jackie didn’t know how long she could handle being near Antonio without punching him in the face.

Without saying a word, Jackie left Antonio’s side and joined her friends, who were gathered near the beaming couple. Tears formed in Jackie’s eyes as she watched Gideon pour his heart out and a weepy Tanika accept his sneaker-themed proposal. The engagement fit their personalities perfectly.

Sneakers were not Jackie’s thing. She lived in designer heels that took her from short to at least medium height—and besides, if she was going to receive a gift from a suitor, she preferred diamonds or cash.

Single life suited Jackie just fine, though.

She had her girls and PeeWee. They never let her down, unlike the men and women she’d dealt with in the past.