I Saw Your Profile Read online

  Her reporter’s analytical brain kicked into overdrive. She liked the piece. It was passionate and emotional, like something she’d write herself.

  Perhaps, too emotional.

  Mr. Good Body was a little too homophobic to be so in touch with his feminine side.

  What looks too good to be true, usually is.

  Arianna couldn’t wrap her mind around what it was that bothered her about Chauncey, but until she could, she’d keep her emotional distance, despite his poetic charm. She wasn’t trying to get caught up just to get played.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Pellets of sweat dripped from Chauncey’s face as he strained to balance two hundred pound weights above his chest.

  “Aaahh,” he bellowed, the sound of his pain bouncing off the walls of the YMCA gym.

  “Don’t be such a wuss,” said Max, who was spotting him.

  “Take the bar already,” Chauncey barked.

  Max grabbed the bar and returned it to the supports on the weight bench.

  Chauncey sat up, breathing heavily.

  “Don’t ever play like that again,” he whined.

  Max threw him a towel. “Buck up, ol’ boy. Ain’t that how you Brits say it?”

  “I’m from Barbados,” Chauncey sneered, still catching his breath.

  “Yeah, but you lay the Queen’s English on thick for the ladies.”

  Chauncey stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow and his neck.

  “Speaking of ladies, I’ve got a paarty coming up in two weeks. Are you in?”

  Max handed Chauncey a bottle of water. He took a long sip.

  Can’t, man. My old lady saw you pullin into a hotel a few weeks ago with that fat chick you picked up in Virginia. Asked me if you had broke up with Nicole or if you were creepin.”

  Chauncey nearly choked. He coughed, spitting water on Max.

  “Damn, man! What the hell!” Max shouted as he backed away.

  Chauncey wiped his mouth. “Sorry. Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  “This is the first time I’ve seen you.”

  “You couldn’t call?”

  “Man, please. I don’t call niggas up to gossip. I figure you know how to handle your business.”

  “What did you tell her?” Chauncey asked.

  “I told her it wasn’t our business.”

  Chauncey raised his eyebrows. “And?”

  “And – she said she didn’t want me hangin around you anymore.”

  Max’s nonchalance incensed Chauncey. “So, just like that, you’re going to diss me?”

  “Have to, man. I told her I was still gonna work out with you here at the gym, but no way is she gonna let me do any more parties with you. Too many women, she said. Plus you bein a dog and all means I’m guilty by association.”

  “You didn’t deny it for me?” Chauncey asked.

  “Of course, man. She didn’t believe me, though. She never trusted you and never liked me goin out of town with you in the first place. Now that she thinks she’s got proof you’re a dog, she ain’t havin it.”

  Chauncey puckered his lips around the top of his bottle and sucked down the remaining water.

  “What kind of man are you? You just let your woman tell you what to do?”

  “I’m not like you, London. I love my woman and I’m not gonna lose her behind your bullshit. I gave up my player card a long time ago.”

  “What does that mean – you’re not like me? I love my woman, too.”

  Max cackled. “Which one? Nigga you’re like that damn rap song. You got hos in different area codes.”

  “Anybody can mack women from behind a computer screen,” said Joe, a personal trainer who had lost several clients to Chauncey.

  Joe was dark brown and muscular, but short and round. He had been eavesdropping from a nearby weight machine and walked over to join them.

  Offended, Chauncey stood up to face him. “Yeah, but it takes charm and personality to keep them interested once you meet them and I’ve got that. What have you?”

  “What have I?” said Joe, mocking Chauncey’s accent.

  “My own shit. I don’t let women support me.”

  Chauncey lifted his fist, but Max grabbed his arm before he could get off a punch.

  “Let me go!” he hollered. “You’re just jealous because your clients left you for a real trainer.”

  “No, they left me because I refused to climb under the sheets to earn a dollar,” Joe said. “You’ll do anything and anybody to make a buck.”

  Max let go of Chauncey’s arm. “Take it easy, man.” He looked at Joe and continued. “Man, stop hatin. Let Chaunc here do his thing. If his women like it, I love it.”

  “Whatever, man,” Joe said, dismissing both men with a wave of his hand.

  “Trust me, these women know the deal,” said Max, picking up a dumbbell. “I learned a long time ago that women know shit even when they don’t say anything.”

  “So your man here better watch his back then,” Joe said as he turned and walked away.

  Chauncey sat back on the bench, a somber look on his face. He turned toward Max. “Is your lady going to tell Nicole?”

  “Naw. She ain’t like that. Besides, she barely knows Nicole. She’s more interested in your influence on me than your relationship.”

  “Why? You’re a big boy.”

  “Whatever, man. Find somebody else for your parties.”

  Chauncey couldn’t stop thinking about Max’s lady seeing him with Janelle as he showered in the locker room.

  Was Max right? Could she be the one woman who knew how to keep her mouth shut?

  Even if she were, he knew he was on treading thin ice.

  Should he quit while he was ahead? Become a one-woman man?

  He thought about Max’s question.

  Did he love any of the women with whom he was sharing himself?

  Chauncey closed his eyes as he lathered his face, conjuring up mental pictures of each one.

  Nicole appeared first in his mind’s eye. She brought him a feeling of warmth. Truth was he did love her as far as his definition of love went.

  He wasn’t in love with her, though. Hell he couldn’t remember the last time his nose was open for a woman. He did know he never wanted to be that vulnerable again.

  His thoughts traveled to Richmond. He cared about Janelle in his own way. She gave him peace. Never asked too many questions or made any demands. Always put him first. All she needed was his company.

  The image of Arianna came next, bringing him a smile and an erection. His attraction to her was mental and physical. He liked the way she challenged him and she was definitely a good lay.

  The others also served their own purposes.

  I don’t want to give any of them up.

  He wondered, though, whether juggling three leading ladies along with his supporting cast might prove too much. He was worried about being caught.

  He’d stood up Janelle to see Arianna.

  He was lying so often to Nicole, it was getting harder to keep track.

  He remembered the argument he’d had with Nicole over money. Her trust in him was surely waning. He needed to do something to make her feel secure.

  After all, her home was where he laid his head.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The aroma of callaloo wafted from the kitchen and greeted Nicole at the door when she arrived home from work. It was her favorite Barbadian dish. Chauncey made it often when he first moved in. He was away so much; it had been a while since he cooked for her. The scent from the coconut milk made her mouth water.

  She walked to the kitchen. Chauncey was standing at the stove wearing a “Kiss the Cook” apron and Jamal was setting the table. Nicole stood in the doorway watching. It was Friday and they usually ordered pizza.

  “Don’t just stand there, daahling. Can’t you read?”

  “Huh?” Nicole muttered.

  He pointed to the apron. “Come over here and give me a kiss.”

  She sm
iled. “Oh!”

  She gave him a closed mouth kissed on the lips.

  “Is that the best you can do?”

  “In front of Jay? Yes it is.”

  “All right. You can do better tonight.”

  Jay laughed. “Go on, Ma. Slob him down if you want to. I don’t mind.”

  She pretended to be angry. “Boy, what do you know about slobbin somebody down?”

  Jay put his head down. “Nuttin.”

  “That’s what I thought. Do you have a kiss for your mother?”

  “Aw. Do I have to? I’m gettin too old for that.”

  “Jamal, you are nine, not nineteen.”

  He sighed. “Okay.”

  Jamal sheepishly planted a wet one on her cheek.

  “Thank you, baby. How was school?”

  “It was okay. My science project is due next Friday and you promised to help me with it.”

  “Sure, sweetie.”

  She turned her attention back to Chauncey. “So, my other baby. What have I done to deserve this? And on a Friday night, too?”

  “Nothing specific. Do I need a reason to cook for my lady?”

  “No. It’s just that you don’t do it as often as you used to.”

  “I know. I’ve been away a lot lately and I realized that we don’t spend nearly the amount of quality time together as we used to and I wanted to make up for that. How am I doing?”

  “So far, so good.”

  “There’s more.”

  “Do tell?”

  “Candace is coming over to pick up Jay after dinner and he is spending the night at her place. You and I are going dancing.”

  “Dancing? We haven’t gone out in months. I’m not sure I even remember how. Where are we going?”

  “I thought we’d go to Dream in D.C. unless you have a better idea.”

  “Nope. Dream it is.”

  “Good. Why don’t you go pick out something to wear while I finish dinner? You know how long that usually takes you. This way you can get a head start.”

  “That’s a good idea, wise guy. Call me when dinner’s ready.”

  “I shall.”

  The stairs became clouds under Nicole’s feet as she floated to her bedroom. She searched the closet for her black, tea-length designer dress that hugged her figure just right.

  She held the dress against her body and looked in the mirror. It was the perfect outfit for a perfect night. She started remembering all the things she loved about Chauncey. His gentleness and sensitivity. How he would pamper her. The way he made her laugh. How he treated her son.

  She laid the dress on the bed and started humming as she searched her jewelry box for accessories. Gold hoop earrings and the gold bangle bracelet Chauncey gave her for her birthday.

  She was tired when she first walked through the door. Now she felt like she could run a marathon. It was a rush she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “A penny for your thoughts.” Chauncey walked into the room and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “I was thinking about how good I feel right now.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  He rubbed his face against hers and looked in the mirror. “My, what a handsome couple. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “One of us is, anyway.”

  “Why do you always do that, Nicole?”

  “Do what?”

  “Put yourself down like that? You are a beautiful and sexy woman.”

  “Sexy? Chauncey, please.”

  “You are sexy to me and that’s all that should matter.”

  Chauncey turned Nicole around to face him.

  He kissed her forehead, then her nose. Her neck. Her lips.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been very attentive lately. I’ve been wrapped up in work and in myself. But daahling, I don’t ever want you to doubt the way I feel about you.”

  “And how is that Chauncey? How do you feel about me?”

  “I love you. You know that.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Have you picked out something to wear?”

  “Yes. It’s over there on the bed.”

  “Lovely. Good choice. By the way, dinner is ready. Why don’t you wash up and I will meet you at the table?”

  “Be right down.”

  The three of them held hands as Chauncey said grace.

  “By the way, I talked with Junior today,” Chauncey said, speaking of his son.

  “You did? How is he?”

  “He’s fine. He misses me of course, as I do him.”

  Jay got excited and stopped eating his soup. “Can’t he come here to see you? He could stay in my room.”

  “I wish he could, son. But his mother won’t let him.”

  “Why not?” Jay whined.

  “I don’t know. She’s just funny like that.”

  Nicole jumped in.

  “Well, at some point we have to figure something out so either he can come here or you can go there.”

  Dream, a four-story club in a struggling section of Northeast D.C., was jumping. It had been touted as the hottest club on the East Coast, though many New Yorkers disagreed.

  There were four huge dance floors, bars everywhere, a poolroom and an outdoor deck. Each level was packed with patrons reflecting the multicultural makeup of D.C. Ethiopians, Asians, Hispanics, Europeans and African Americans gyrated to R&B, old-school, trance, hip-hop and Latin beats.

  Chauncey and Nicole had just finished grinding to Avant’s “Making Good Love” when he took her by the hand and led her back to the VIP section that Candace had hooked up for them with a friend who worked at the club.

  “I wanted to dance again,” Nicole protested.

  “I have something better in mind,” he said.

  As Nicole took her seat on the velvet couch, Chauncey got on his knees.

  “Baby, what are you doing?”

  “Asking you to marry me. Will you be my wife, Nicole?”

  Her head was spinning, as much from the three glasses of wine she’d drank as the proposal. Her instincts were saying ‘no,’ but her heart was saying ‘yes.’

  The loud music added to her confusion.

  “Baby, sit next to me, please.”

  Chauncey’s smile disappeared. It wasn’t the response he’d expected. “I can hear just as well down here. It’s only one word. Yes or No?”

  “Please, honey?”

  He joined her on the couch, pouting.

  Nicole leaned into him and spoke directly in his ear.

  “I love you, but where is this proposal coming from? Are you doing this so you can get citizenship?”

  “I’m hurt you would even ask me that. It comes from my haart. We’ve been together for two years and it’s time we move this relationship forward. I don’t deny I would be happy to be legal in this country, but if that were the only reason, I would have asked you long before now.”

  Nicole ignored the feeling in her gut and convinced herself that his logic made sense. She thought about Jamal Sr. and his new girlfriend and her brown eyes turned green. She was a mother. She wanted to be a wife, too.

  She smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  “So, when would you like to become Mrs. Chauncey Cockfield?”

  “Would you mind if I stayed Nicole Harris? I love you, honey, but I’m not sure I want Cockfield as my last name.”

  Chauncey flashed a grin. “Well, I could pretend to be offended, but considering the ribbing I have taken all my life, I can’t say that I blame you.”

  “Wow, that was easy. I thought for sure that Caribbean machismo would make you insist that I take your name.”

  “No, daahling. However, if we have any children, they will have my name. That is non-negotiable.”

  “Do you want more children? We’ve never really discussed that.”

  “Actually, I’m not sure. But we can talk about that and our wedding date later. Right now, let’s just enjoy our night.”

  Nicole grinned. “I like that. Our night.”
>
  Chapter Fifteen

  Nicole was in the mood.

  Her hands searched the space on the other side of the bed, but Chauncey wasn’t there.

  At two in the morning, she wondered where he could be. She rose and checked the bathroom.

  Empty.

  She heard Jay stirring. She tiptoed across the hall to his room, holding her blue silk nightshirt at the hem to cover her naked bottom. Her son was asleep on his side. As she pulled a blue, basketball print comforter over his shoulders, she heard the sound of computer keys.

  She headed downstairs to her office. Chauncey was sitting at the computer typing away.

  “What are you doing in here so late?” Nicole yawned.

  She startled him. Chauncey cleared the image on the screen and jumped up, his body blocking the computer.

  “I’m sorry dear haart. Did I wake you?”

  “No. I woke up wanting you and you weren’t there so I came looking for you,” she said, sauntering toward him with seduction in her eyes.

  He put his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest.

  “You want me? Those words are music to my ears. Let’s go upstairs and see if I can satisfy that request.”

  Nicole peered over his shoulders.

  “First, tell me what you’re doing up this late? You downloading porn over there?”

  Chauncey gently pulled her away. “Daahling, why on earth would I need to do that when I have you?”

  He kissed her and caressed her breasts.

  Nicole eased him away.

  “Puhleeze. I’ve heard all about those married men addicted to Internet sleaze and sex chat rooms.”

  “I’m not downloading porn, sweetie. I couldn’t sleep so I came down here to do some work. In fact, I was searching for fares for a trip I have to take next weekend.”

  Nicole’s hands leaped to her hips and attitude grabbed her tongue. “A trip where and for what?”

  “To Atlanta. I have a pamper paarty.”

  “Another one? You were just in Philadelphia last month and California a few months before that. How is it that massage therapists from Maryland get gigs hundreds, no thousands of miles away? And please don’t give me that bull about you guys being so good. I know they have massage therapists in California and Atlanta.”