"Yes and he's a thorn in my side right now, so let's not go there."

"Are you going to let Tre rob you of your happiness?"

"He's done more damage than I care to admit, but I'm a big girl; I'll get over it." She rolled her eyes.

Garrett moved closer to her. His masculine scent threatened to make her succumb to whatever he was offering. "You don't have to get over it alone. I'm here. Let me help you. Let me show you how you should be treated. Let me show what you've been missing."

She pushed him away and scooted over. "You're so conceited. You had me until you said, *let me show you what you've been missing.' Ha. You're the biggest player I know."

"I've changed," Garrett responded.

"Why would I dump one chump for someone that has been proven to be the bachelor of the year?" She hit her forehead. "Is fool written across here?" She stood up and walked towards the front door.

Garrett laughed. She didn't. "I don't see what's so funny. If that's all you came over here for you can leave."

He followed her. "I'm leaving, but I want you to know before I leave that I'm putting you on notice."

"I've sworn off men," she pouted.

"Good. That makes me job that much easier." He locked his lips around hers and with each breath drawn, for those brief seconds, the world stood still.

"Good night Hailey." He didn't wait for her to respond. He walked away. "Lock up," he yelled.

She stood there in the doorway and watched him drive away. She locked up and spent the rest of the night going over the events of the last forty-eight hours. When she laid her head down to sleep, Trevon's face wasn't at the forefront of her thoughts; it was Garrett's. That scared her more than she cared to admit.

~ 21 ~.

Life at the office was as normal as could be. No one was aware of the turmoil Hailey was going through in her personal life except Brenda and she knew Brenda wasn't going to say anything to anybody. Well, at least she hoped not. Brenda and Bach had become chummy lately. It was good to see what appeared to be more than a professional relationship brewing between the two. Hailey wished them luck.

"Another good show," John said, as she passed by him back stage.

"Thanks to my number one producer," she responded.

"You're trying to make up for your stank attitude yesterday I see."

She did her best damsel in distress look she could muster. "Johnny, I'm sorry."

"Just don't let it happen again." They each departed and went their separate ways.

"Hold on," Mo said, to whoever he was on the phone with, as she passed him by. "Looking good Diva." He never waited on a response before going back to his phone conversation.

Jackie rushed behind her. "You're not going to like this but you're on the cover of a tabloid-the one everybody claims to not read, but does."

Hailey stopped in mid-step and snatched the rag magazine from Jackie's hands. The caption read, "Day time Diva Dishes Out Advice But Can't Take it." She screamed, "Heads are going to roll. Get me my agent on the phone now."

She stormed to her office and waited for Jackie to let her know Carmen Grisby, her agent, was on the phone. "Find out who wrote it and get them fired," she yelled.

Carmen responded. "And hello to you too."

"I'm sorry. It's just that after all that I've been through this is the last thing I need."

She briefly told Carmen about some things going on in her personal life. Carmen remained quiet before interjecting her comments.

"We can do one of two things. We can ignore it and it'll go away or we can make a big deal about it and then worry about the paparazzi swarming around you even more. You decide."

"I'm up for an Emmy. I don't need any negative publicity right now. With that Emmy, I can demand more money when its time to renew my contract."

"In this case, I say let it ride."

"For some reason I knew you were going to say that." Hailey sighed.

"Dear, in this business, I've learned to pick my battles wisely. Next time, we can go after them with full force. Hold on."

Hailey skimmed the article and cringed. Lies. A whole bunch of lies mixed in with some truth. Yes, she had been pining away after someone else's man; but no more. She was free. Free of Trevon. Free of all men.

"Parris says she'll see you tonight."

Hailey had forgotten about her dinner plans with her two friends, Parris and Casper. She ended her call with Carmen and called Parris to cancel. Before she could get through, Garrett's name was popping up on her phone display.

"How are you today?"

"I've been better."

"Need me to cheer you up."

"You're part of the problem." She twirled her chair around where her back was now facing the door.

"I have a solution. Let me take you to dinner tonight."

"No," she snapped.

"You can sure tear down a brother's ego."

"It would take more than me telling you no to tear down your mountain sized ego."

"Hailey Marie Barnes. You have hurt my feelings."

She couldn't stop chuckling. It had been awhile since she heard someone use her whole name. Even her mother, didn't resort to calling her by her full name these days.

She recalled the dinner plans she was in the process of canceling. She interrupted Garrett before he got even more outrageous.

"I have a proposition for you," she said.

"Does it require strawberries and cream?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter. A friend has invited me to dinner tonight and I need a date. If you're free, you're welcome to tag along."

"Let me think about it and get back to you."

She swung her chair back around just in time to come face to face with Brenda. "Yes or no because I have to go."

"What time?"

"Be at my place at six. See you then." She flipped the phone off.

Trying to convince Hailey of his sincerity seemed a difficult task but he was up for the challenge. He had waited all of these years to settle down with one woman, so he wasn't going to let something like a little attitude stand in his way of getting what he wanted. He could play the substitute friend since she and Trevon were no longer talking, but there would be one difference; he wasn't going to be satisfied with a piece of a relationship. He wanted Hailey; all of her.

Trevon's voice broke through his thoughts. "I need your help."

He listened as Trevon tried to convince him to tell Shareeka about Hailey. "So you want me to tell Shareeka that Hailey and I are now a couple to get her off your back."

He let out of sigh of relief. "I knew I could count on you."

"A few days ago you cussed me out because you thought Hailey and I were a couple and now you're encouraging me to be with her. You need Dr. Phil."

"Look. I'm just trying to get some order back in my life. If you dating Hailey is going to get them both off my back, then so be it."

"You're a mo-fo joke. Hailey don't want you. Didn't you tell me she kicked you out? In fact, she told me herself."

"Wait a minute. You've been talking to her behind my back."

Garrett looked around. "Man, this is a place of business and I'd appreciate it if you keep your voice down. Secondly, Hailey is a client or have you forgotten about that. Thirdly, I can talk to whoever I want to when I want to. I don't need your permission."

Trevon backed down. "I'm just saying. She was mine first. I just don't want us to be fighting over a woman. You know. Our friendship means more to me than that."

"Well I don't have a problem. Get a grip." Garrett got up and walked past him.

~ 22 ~.

Hailey took extra time preparing for her date with Garrett. As much as she hated to admit it, her feelings for him were slowly changing. She found herself mentally comparing Trevon to Garrett and without a doubt Trevon didn't measure up. She had seen many women hurt by Garrett so she wasn't so easily convinced that he could give up his playboy ways. She had never seen him be with any one woman for a long period of time. She wasn't foolish enough to think she could break the cycle and change him. If she couldn't make Trevon commit to her, she knew in her heart there was no way she could make Garrett commit.

Unlike Trevon, Garrett was prompt as usual. She slid on her five inch sling back heels and met him at the door. She wasn't prepared to feel the queasiness in her stomach. She blushed when he flashed his kilowatt smile. "You look absolutely beautiful," Garrett said, as he embraced her.

"So do you," she responded.

"I've been called handsome or even cute, but beautiful. That's a first," Garrett teased.

"I don't give out compliments freely, so you best take that."

"Hailey, one day you'll let go of the attitude."

She grabbed her purse. "Maybe, but today is not that day."

About an hour later, they pulled up into the driveway of Parris and Casper's elegant home. "How long have you been friends?" Garrett asked, after opening Hailey's door.

"CJ and I have been friends for over five years. Parris and I became friends after her and CJ got together."

Their conversation was cut short when Casper opened the door. "If it isn't my favorite talk show host," he said, greeting Hailey with a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Casper, this is Garrett Morgan. Garrett, this is Casper."

They shook hands. "And this is my beautiful wife," Casper said, as he moved and Parris, who was dressed in a white chiffon pants suit, extended her hand.

After the brief introduction, they were led to the formal dining room. Neither couple seemed to be able to take their eyes off their mates. In between eating, Casper asked, "So how did you get into your line of business?"

Garrett responded, "I decided to put both of my degrees to use. I have one in criminal justice as well as computer science."

"I didn't know you took up criminal justice," Hailey said.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," Garrett said, right before flashing a huge smile.

Hailey blushed. Parris and Casper looked at one another. It's as if they could sense something more there than what Hailey knew herself.

Parris said, "Hailey's been secretive about you, so excuse us if we seem to be a little nosy."

Hailey almost spit out her drink. "Please. Even if I would have told you about Garrett, you would be asking him fifty questions."

Hailey held her head down.

Casper said, "It takes a special man to put up with our Hailey."

Garrett said, "I'm up for the task. I'm in this for the long haul."

Hailey held her hands up. "Excuse me y'all, but I'm sitting right here. You're talking about me like I'm not in the room."

Parris intervened and said, "Lay off guys."

Casper wasn't about to. "She's always in other folks business, so I'm just returning the favor."

Hailey held up the peace sign. "If you stay out of my business, I'll stay out of yours."

Everybody at the table laughed, except for Hailey. In between laughter, Garrett said, "Tell that to someone who doesn't know you."

An hour later, Parris and Hailey were alone in the kitchen. "Girl, if I wasn't married to the man of my dreams, I would jump on that," Parris said, as she placed the half eaten platter in the refrigerator.

Hailey looked in the direction of the door. "Garrett's okay."

"He's more than okay. I hope you'll stop running behind Trevon. I've never thought he was the one for you anyway."

Hailey took a sip of her drink. "Now you tell me."

Parris looked at her. "Like you would listen to me anyway."

"True." She devoured the rest of her drink. "Can I be honest with you?"

"You don't even have to say it," Parris said, as she wrapped up some of the dishes.