The Heat Between Us. Cheris Hodges

lunch? Because here he comes.”

      Michael turned toward the door and smiled when she saw him walking her way. Their eyes locked and Michael’s heart rate increased. Relax, she told herself.

      Jamal Carver was a beautiful, yet rugged, man. His caramel-brown skin was smooth as silk and that goatee gave him the right mix of tough and sexy. His bedroom eyes gave hints of mystery and sex, and that brilliant smile just made her melt every time. Even if she tried to deny there was an attraction between them that went beyond friendship.

      Then he had a body that seemed chiseled from mythological marble and wood, crafted by a sensual deity for pleasure and desire. But since she wasn’t the friends-with-benefits type, she kept her wanton thoughts under wraps.

      “Hello, ladies,” he said when he reached the table, then leaned in and gave Michael a kiss on the cheek.

      Mimi smiled. “Jamal, what are you doing here?”

      “Thought I’d check this place out and I see that great minds think alike,” he said then winked at Michael as he took a seat across from her.

      “And here I was hoping to scope it out and bring you someplace new for a change,” Michael replied.

      “Have you all ordered yet?” Jamal asked.

      “No, and I’m going to go,” Mimi said as she waved her phone, a peculiar gleam in her eye. “Brent wants me to meet him at the office.”

      Jamal and Michael shared knowing glances. “Umm, huh,” Michael said. “I bet he doesn’t need you.”

      “Anyway. You two enjoy—lunch, that is,” Mimi said as she rose to her feet and sauntered away.

      “Were we set up or what?” Michael asked.

      Jamal shrugged innocently. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. You know how I love new restaurants.”

      “Sure you do,” she quipped. “How’s your Monday going?”

      “It just got a thousand times better,” he said with a wink. Michael felt herself blush.

      “Glad I could help,” she said. “Hopefully this place is as good as it smells.”

      Jamal reached across the table and took her hand in his. “What are you doing tonight? I have something I want to show you.”

      “What?”

      “Why would I tell you now?” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Shivers of delight attacked her spine as his fingers caressed her. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t held her hand before, but today felt different. She slipped her hand from underneath his, urging her heart to return to its normal pace.

      “Because I hate surprises.”

      “Too bad. About nine, meet me at my place.”

      “Jamal, I... Okay.”

      “Don’t get all excited on me,” he quipped.

      “Oh, stop,” she said with a giggle.

      A few moments later, a waitress appeared at the table to go over the day’s specials. Michael decided to go with the shrimp, chicken and grits, while Jamal was a bit more adventurous and chose a crawfish jambalaya pie.

      “Wow,” Michael said. “Now, that was a bold choice.”

      “Have to try it first to see if I don’t like it.”

      She nodded in agreement. “But if you don’t, my grits are so off-limits.”

      “Just selfish. But I’m sure this food is going to be amazing. If not, I have good company.”

      “Flattery is not going to get you a spoonful of my grits,” she joked. Michael liked being with him—laughing was so easy. But she couldn’t and didn’t want to risk her heart again or get hurt. Jamal was everything that she knew wasn’t good for her. A playboy. Would he even want to settle down with one woman? Could he?

      “MJ?” Jamal said, breaking into her thoughts.

      “Yes?”

      “Where did your mind go?”

      “Work. A client who came in today wants to do a citywide jazz fest.”

      “Mmm, that could be a logistics nightmare, depending on how many venues you plan to use.”

      “Not when I know a dream team that can help.” Michael smiled. “First Line of Defense, perhaps.”

      “I’d be happy to help, but I have to be honest with you. We had an incident over the weekend.”

      “What happened?”

      He told her about the shooting at the concert and how his team hadn’t been able to prevent it. “Ten years in business and nothing like this had ever happened.”

      “People make mistakes, Jamal.”

      “But this is bigger than a mistake. Someone died.”

      “And that’s not your fault.”

      “Wish I felt that way,” he said as the waitress made her way to the table with their food.

      * * *

      Jamal was silent until he and MJ took their first bite of food. Then they were singing the praises of the dishes and Jamal wasn’t thinking of last night’s tragedy. “These are the best grits I’ve ever had!”

      Jamal nodded in agreement. “And the corn bread is tender and sweet. Reminds me of something else.”

      She rolled her eyes. “And what would that be?”

      “You.”

      “Jamal, you probably say that to all of the girls.” Michael wiped her mouth with her napkin.

      “Being that you’re the first girl I’ve eaten with here, you’re the only one who gets treated to this.”

      “For now.”

      “This is officially going to be our spot. It’s going to be MJ and Jamal’s, not the Sunshine Café. Should I carve our names in the table right now?”

      She hid her grin as she shook her head. “You’re a mess.”

      “And? If I was Joe Regular, you wouldn’t be here with me, now would you?”

      She smiled and nodded. “You’re right. And that pie looks delicious.”

      “It is.” Jamal held a fork full of his savory meal out to her. When Michael closed her lips around the fork, he was jealous. That fork had what he wanted. Michael’s lips and tongue. Then Michael moaned. He could make her moan like that. She just needed to give him the chance.

      “So good.”

      Jamal nodded. “Like I said, this is our spot. And for the record, I want points for sharing my food.”

      She nodded. “Ten points for sharing your food. Only if the dessert is as good as the entrées.”

      Jamal slowly allowed his eyes to roam over Michael’s lithe body. “Where does it all go?”

      “What?”

      “The food.”

      “Burns off in the gym. You should join me for one of my morning workouts.”

      Jamal laughed. “You’re not ready. Have you forgotten that I’m a marine?”

      “Sounds like you’re challenging me and I’m always up for a challenge. You haven’t learned from that spades game at Brent’s place?”

      “Yeah, but you won’t have your partner in crime Mimi this time. Name the time and the place.”

      “Six a.m., Anytime Fitness in midtown.”

      “Hope you like burpees.”