"True." Destiny would have loved another pa.s.sion-filled week making love on the beach with Cayson. The Maldives seemed like a distant dream now.

"Let's do lunch next week if you have the time," Linda suggested.

"I'd like that," Destiny answered.

Linda was barely out of earshot before La'Treece demanded to know, "What trip you went on?"

f.u.c.k. Destiny hadn't told her about the trip. "I had to go on business for my job," she lied.

"Uh huh."

After all the accusations La'Treece was making, Destiny wasn't going to tell her she'd been to the Maldive Islands with Cayson's family. La'Treece probably didn't even know where The Maldives were anyway.

Now, that was rude and insensitive.

But it was true. Destiny didn't know where the islands were either, until a few weeks ago. Thankfully, the waiter came to take their order. Destiny was grateful for the interruption. In fact, she wished lunch could be over. She was starting to think this whole thing was a big mistake.

"You still living with Cayson?" La'Treece probed.

"Yes, but we hardly see each other. He's working and so am I."

She didn't know why she felt the need to put distance between then. She didn't want La'Treece asking her a whole lotta questions about their relationship.

La'Treece pulled a compact mirror from her purse and flicked it open. She bared her teeth, checking for pieces of food. It was an annoying habit of hers. La'Treece was obsessed with oral hygiene. "When is your apartment gonna to be ready? 'Cuz I'm ready to move."

"Where have you been staying?"

"With some friends Porter hooked me up with."

Before lunch, Destiny had been eager to share her good news with La'Treece. Now, she knew she couldn't do that just yet. It seemed her entire conversation today had been filled with lies. One more wouldn't hurt. "I've been pushed further down on the waiting list. I don't qualify now because they said I make too much money."

"What the f.u.c.k? Are you serious?" She snapped her compact shut and tossed it back into her purse.

"Yeah."

"How much money you makin'?"

"Not a lot. But it looks like I'm going to have to save up and get my own place. It'll be a few more months at least." Destiny hate to be dishonest, but she needed some time to think. This would buy her a few more months while she sorted out her feelings toward La'Treece.

La'Treece nodded like she understood. Then, she leaned forward in her chair and eyeballed Destiny with an ice-cold stare. "You're lying," she said. "You don't want me to move in with you."

Destiny's heart jumped inside her chest. La'Treece had been her friend for seven years. But they were on different tracks in life. La'Treece was bitter. She felt the world owed her something. Given her sordid background, Destiny didn't blame her. She just wasn't ready to come along for the ride anymore..

"I don't think we should move in together," Destiny admitted, "but I do want to remain friends." She was saying the last part only to be polite. They both knew the friendship was over.

La'Treece's dark eyes flashed. "You let that motherf.u.c.ker come between us."

"Cayson has nothing to do with this."

"Don't lie to me!" She slammed her palm on the table, attracting the attention of some customers sitting nearby. "You think you're so high and mighty now. You don't know s.h.i.t, Destiny. He goin' f.u.c.k you, then toss you to the side like yesterday's trash."

"Listen La'Treece"

"No, you listen," she hissed. "If it wasn't for me, you never woulda met him. I saved your a.s.s from jail. Now, you're leaving me in the cold? You b.i.t.c.h!"

Destiny was too stunned to avoid the gla.s.s of ice water La'Treece threw in her face. She sat in shock as the freezing liquid streamed down her face, seeping into her silk blouse. Her first impulse was to throw her gla.s.s of water right back at La'Treece. But she was a professional woman now.

Professional women did not have catfights.

Professional women did not throw water in restaurants and make scenes.

She wiped her face with her cloth napkin and stood. She calmly collected her purse, mindful of the murderous rage in La'Treece's eyes. Then, with as much force as she could muster, she shoved the table over. The contents spilled all over La'Treece as she toppled backwards and landed flat on her a.s.s on the black and white tiled floor. Destiny huffed as she stormed from the cafe. That was definitely not something a professional woman would not do. She'd be the first to admit, she still had a long way to go.

Cayson strained to see through the rain pelting his windshield. In a few more minutes he'd reach the safety of his neighborhood. He'd left work before the thunderstorms unleashed their fury. But due to the weather and the traffic, he didn't pull into his neighborhood until d.a.m.n near ten o'clock. It was late. He parked in his driveway just as a streak of lightening lit up the night sky. He fiddled with the garage door opener, but it didn't budge.

s.h.i.t! The electricity must be out again. These older homes were notorious for losing power in inclement weather. He raced from his driveway to his front door, dodging thick pellets of rain. By the time he got his key in the lock, he was soaked. He dripped pools of water all over the tile in the front entryway.

I'd better clean this mess up before Destiny slips and fa His heart wrenched. Destiny was leaving him, if she hadn't gone already. And he'd given her no reason to stay. He'd been a first-cla.s.s a.s.shole. Ignoring her for the better part of a week. G.o.d, he missed her so much. The realization was like a kick in the gut. Destiny had him second-guessing himself. If he was ever going to settle down, she was the woman to do it with. She was beautiful, spirited, caring, and honest. And more important: she kept him in check.

I really f.u.c.ked up this time.

He flicked the light switch, but nothing happened. He groped in a nearby drawer for a flashlight. The house was dark and quiet. Too quiet. His steps carried him upstairs to Destiny's room. Without bothering to knock, he pushed the door open.

She jerked upright in bed. Still fully clothed. Red eyes puffy and swollen.

"What happened?" He was at her side in seconds. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "That son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h, Porter. If he's hurt you."

She shook her head. "No...I..."

Fresh tears flowed as she babbled incoherently. Something about ice water and an argument with La'Treece. Finally, she stopped in mid-sentence and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Cayson, just hold me, please."

He crushed her in his embrace. She was hurting, but this was the one thing he knew he wouldn't screw up. He knew how to hold her and make her feel better. He stroked her back until her sobs faded to sniffles. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He handed her a box of Kleenex from the nightstand. When she blew her nose, it was the most endearing act he'd ever seen of her. He didn't care that she'd saturated his shirt with her hot tears. He never wanted to let her go.

"Everything about my life has changed," she said. "I feel like I don't know myself anymore. La'Treece hates me. I'm walking a thin line between two worlds. I can't live in both. I have to choose."

Cayson kissed the tip of her nose. "I know this is hard, but I hope you choose me."

Long lashes glistening with teardrops met his gaze. "What?"

He clasped her hands in his. Now that he had her full attention, he wasn't backing down. It was now or never. "You were right about what you said in The Maldives. I've had s.e.x with plenty of women, but I've never made love until I met you. What I experienced with you was life-changing. It opened my eyes. You changed me, Destiny."

"What...are you...saying?"

"I'm saying you're everything I want in a woman. I love you, Destiny. I'm in love with you."

"No. You can't be." The anguish written across her face was mixed with disbelief.

"But I am. Ever since I met you. Some force keeps pulling me toward you. I can't get you off my mind. And I don't want to. I just want to lose myself in you, woman. I can't imagine my life without you."

"I've been nothing but trouble to you. Not to mention I've irritated you beyond words."

"I'm irritated with myself for not realizing sooner what a precious gem I have in you. I tried to deny it, but I just can't resist you, Destiny Jackson."

Hope danced in her eyes. "You mean it?"

"h.e.l.l yes. I know I don't have the right to ask anything of you. But I don't want you to leave. I want you right here with me."

She pursed her lips. "You want me to shack up with you?"

He chuckled. "See, you're the only woman who can keep me in line. No, I don't want to shack up. I want to make an honest woman out of you."

"I'm already honest. Remember? You defended my honor in court."

"I'm asking you to marry me, woman."

"I know."

"So, what's your answer?" He waited, his breath suspended in his chest. He'd always been confident when it came to women. He used his charm to manipulate events his way. But Destiny was like no other woman he'd ever met. He was never more unsure than when he was with her. But he was sure that he loved her, and that was all that mattered.

She sniffed. "Cayson, you're the most irritating, stubborn, handsome, intelligent, pa.s.sionate man I've ever met."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Objection. That remark calls for speculation."

"Sustained." He grinned, feeling like a schoolboy with his first crush. Once the laughter started, it was hard to shut it off.

The corners of Destiny's lips lifted into a smile. "What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking how ironic it is that ole Barracuda threw us together out of spite. But the joke is on her. Maybe we should invite her to the wedding."

Destiny glanced at her bare hand. "We can't have a wedding without a ring. I can't believe you showed up to a proposal empty-handed."

"Baby, I'll buy you the biggest, fattest diamond you want."

"All I want is you, Cayson Sullivan."

Their gazes locked. His chest swelled with love for her. And that wasn't the only thing swelling. He captured her mouth in a kiss he hoped would convey all the pa.s.sion he felt for her. He was glad he'd come to his senses. Glad she'd given him another chance. From this moment on, he'd be everything she wanted in a man. He'd do right by her. No more playing the field. No more resisting Destiny.

THE END.

Wait a minute. Were you thinking this was over much too soon? Well after all, it is a short story. But don't fret. You can still get your Sullivan Brothers fix. Look for the other books in the "Resisting" series. Resisting Cupid is the story of Mark and Kendra. Resisting Temptation features Dane Sullivan and Charly Monroe.

For more of my books, visit my website at www.ChantaRand.com.

Other Books by Chanta Jefferson Rand.

THE HIGHEST BIDDER DELAY OF GAME.

SIGNS OF LOVE DIRTY LAUNDRY.

PHARAOH'S DESIRE G.o.dDESS.

YOU'VE GOT MALE!.

Short stories.

RESISTING CUPID (Mark's Story).

RESISTING TEMPTATION (Dane's Story).

RESISTING LOVE (Bundle of three Sullivan Brothers Stories).

BRO-MANCE 101.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE.

If you enjoy this book, don't keep the news to yourself. Please submit a review afterward. Readers rely on reviews to help them decide whether to purchase a book. Also, you'd be helping me out because good reviews for me mean more sales, and more sales means I get to quit my day job. I'm just saying...

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