Page 13 of Protected
Chelsey had moved into the townhouse a month ago. Though it was a little older than she had preferred, she loved the Midtown Atlanta location. She figured she’d live there a year before she bought her own place.
When she strolled into her bedroom, she flipped on the light and her perfume, Miss Dior, lingered in the air. She released a long, cleansing breath as the floral and woodsy scent surrounded her. It felt good to be home. It was going to feel even better to get out of her dress and high-heeled sandals and change into lounging pajamas.
Feeling more like herself, Chelsey padded barefoot down the carpeted stairs and to the bright-yellow kitchen. Forget the ice cream that she’d been thinking about all evening. She needed something more decadent to wash the blues away.
After pouring a glass of milk, she grabbed the container of red velvet chocolate chip cookies and took them into the living room. She set the items on the end table next to her, dropped down on the sofa, and picked up the television remote. She ran through a few channels before settling on HGTV, her favorite station.
“Should’ve done this in the first place,” she mumbled and grabbed her cookies and the milk. Dunking the first one, she bit into the gooey goodness and moaned. “Yep, definitely should’ve stayed home with my cookies instead of going out with that loser.”
After a few bites, Chelsey pulled her cell phone from her lounging pants pocket and called her best friend.
“Don’t tell me the date is over already,” India said by way of a greeting. “It’s not even nine o’clock. Let me guess, he talked about how wonderful he is and how you’re lucky that he took time to grace you with his presence.”
Chelsey laughed. “Almost.”
She told her friend about the boring date, and her ability to pick the biggest losers in Atlanta. As she replayed the dinner and the conversation her mood lightened even more. She couldn’t have made up the events of the evening if she tried.
“Oh but let me tell you the best part. Parker was here when we arrived.”
“What? My man Parker showed up to claim his woman?Girrrl, you should’ve started with that. Tell me everything, and don’t leave anything out!”
“Pu-lease, you got it all wrong,” Chelsey said and recounted Parker’s surprise visit.
India howled with laughter as if Chelsey was telling a joke. It wasn’t funny at the moment, but now that she was replaying the events verbally, it sounded crazy as hell. She could understand why her friend was laughing, because it was so over the top, even for Parker.
“That man of yours sure knows how to—”
“He’s not my man, remember?” Chelsey grumbled.
“I would’ve paid money to see that,” her friend said, still laughing and acting like she didn’t just hear what Chelsey said. “I know you hate him, but I still love him for you. He’s gorgeous, smart, witty, sexy as hell, and protective.” India sighed wistfully, and Chelsey rolled her eyes. “If only I could land a man like that.”
“Whatever. Have you forgotten he dumped me,twice?”
“I haven’t forgotten, but we both know you’re not over him, and it’s safe to say the feeling is mutual. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be going to such lengths to talk to you. You always did attract the passionate bad boys. It sounds like Parker was living up to what you like in a man.”
Chelsey didn’t respond.
Parker was everything she wanted in a man, no matter how she tried to deny it. Her body and her mind missed him, longed for him, and craved him. How and why would she want to be with someone who was insane enough to hold a gun to a man’s head the way he had? What did that say about her and the men she chose to spend time with?
“Let’s go back to Terrance,” India said. “I’m surprised you didn’t sense something was up with him. Was he that good of a liar?”
“My spidey senses started tingling during the second date, but I went out with him again anyway. I knew there would never be anything between us, but you know how we women do. We try to give a guy a chance, even knowing deep down they aren’t the one for us.
“What angers me, though, is the fact that Parker was the one who dug deep into Terrance’s life. I’m so embarrassed. Now I have even more reasons why I don’t want to see Parker anytime soon.”
Chelsey’s phone beeped, signaling another call. She glanced at the screen, surprised to see her sister-in-law, Egypt’s, name.
“India, hold on a sec.” Chelsey clicked over. “Hey, Sis, what’s up?”
“Hey yourself. Sorry to call this late, but you’re about to get your wish. I hope you’re free tomorrow, because you’re needed to provide security tomorrow night.”
Chelsey dropped her sock-covered feet to the floor and sat forward.
“Yes!” she bellowed, feeling like she did whenever she placed first after running a hundred-yard dash in college. Like she had accomplished something she’d been working so hard toward. The powers that be at Supreme Security were finally giving her another chance to prove that she belonged on the Atlanta’s Finest team.
“Count me in!” It didn’t matter the job—she just wanted a chance.
“I’ll text you details in the morning. For now, I can tell you that it’s a fundraiser. I’m not sure how you’ll feel about this, but the client, a CEO of an ecommerce company, needs a woman on his detail. You’ll be going as his date.”