“I finally know what always keeps a smile on the two of your faces,” Mia said.
“Oh, really?” Dani said with a raised brow. “And what might that be?”
“Having a fine, sexy man to wake up to every morning.” She flashed a wicked grin and a wink.
Savannah and Dani laughed.
“So you’ve discovered the secret of sublime happiness,” Savannah said.
Mia bobbed her head. “Yes, chile,” she said, emphasizing each word. “Steven is absolutely a dream come true. And to think we’ve known each other for years and never took it further than hello.” She looked off wistfully. “It’s just so wonderful. I mean, I’ve never really had anyone that made me feel good all…the…time. Know what I mean?” She looked from one to the other. Well, there was someone once, but she’d never told her friends about him then and with good reason. And with everything going so right in her life with Steven there was no point in bringing it up now. It was old news and best that it stay buried in the past.
“I know exactly what you mean,” Dani offered. “And you know me, Ms. Love ’em and Leave ’em. I think I’ve been whipped, my sistahs.”
Savannah and Mia applauded.
“We never thought we’d see the day,” Savannah said.
“Me, either. Nick has totally taken me by surprise. It’s like those romance novels where the heroine gets swept off her feet and lands flat on her back, ready and raring to go,” she added in her typical ribald fashion.
The trio broke up laughing.
“Some days,” Savannah offered, “it’s still hard for me to believe that me and Blake are still so crazy in love and still hungry for each other.”
“Even with the loaf in the oven?” Dani asked.
Savannah’s eyes widened. “Girl, it’s even worse. When I’m not sick, I’m horny as hell! Can’t wait for the man to get home from work! Hormones are in overdrive or something. And Blake, Lawd, he never felt so good!”
Dani started fanning herself and Mia quickly followed suit.
Their meals arrived, and they continued swapping stories of their scorching love lives.
Outside the restaurant, the three women hugged.
“Have a safe trip, Mia,” Savannah said. “And I’ll be in touch if I can use your help.”
“Yeah, take care, sis.” Dani kissed her cheek. “What is Steven going to do while you’re gone?”
“Miss me.” She rocked her head to the side. “I intend to wear the brother out before I leave. Make sure it holds him over until I get back.”
“Now that’s gangsta,” Dani teased.
“See you guys in two weeks.” Mia waved as she headed down the street to where her car was parked.
Savannah turned to face Danielle. “Let me know when you have some free time. I’m going to call Jean in the morning and try to set up a meeting as soon as possible.”
“You know me. I’m my own boss. My schedule is pretty light this week with photo shoots. I have a couple of location shots, but that’s it.”
“Great. So as soon as I get it set up, I will give you a call.”
“Sounds good.”
“Thanks, Dani, I really appreciate this.”
“Hey, that’s what superspy friends are for, right?” she teased.
“Yeah, exactly.”
When Danielle returned to her apartment, it was empty. She was surprised that Nick wasn’t there. He hadn’t mentioned he was going out.
She tossed her purse on the table in the hall and deposited her keys in the glass bowl right next to it before heading to the kitchen for an ice-cold beer.
She took her beer and went to the so-called second bedroom, which served as her office/darkroom. There should be a law against false advertising, she thought, as she flipped on the light. When she’d read the ad for the “spacious two-bedroom apartment” some five years ago, she was expecting spacious. Well, the “second bedroom” was about eight feet long and five feet wide. The only person who could sleep in there was a midget. If you put a full-size bed in the room you’d have to walk over it to get in and out! So she’d converted it to a tiny office space with a flat-screen computer, a small desk and her photography equipment, which was stored in the closet. With a few shelves mounted on the wall, it actually became a functional space.
Danielle had a photo shoot scheduled for the following morning and wanted to go over the shot schedule. There were five models involved in the shoot for a new designer who was launching a line for the fall. They were going to set up in the Central Park Zoo so that the caged animals could serve as a backdrop.
The weather for the next day was set to be in the high seventies, which would make for a very uncomfortable day for the models and the crew.
She went down her list of supplies for the day, making sure to include two cases of water and an ice cooler.
The front door opened and shut, and the sound of male voices filled the front room.
Danielle pushed her papers aside and went to the front room.
“Hey, hon,” Danielle greeted Nick, as she strolled up to him in the living room and kissed him lightly on the lips. She turned to their guest. “Bernard…”
“Good to see you again, Danielle.”
She’d met Bernard Hassell several weeks earlier at a get-together at Mia’s house. Bernard was a dead ringer for Billy Dee Williams and the current love interest of Claudia, Savannah’s mother.
“You, too, Bernard.” Her brow wrinkled ever so slightly. “Where did you two hook up?”
“At the gym,” Nick said. “Well, as I was going to the gym. Bernard was walking by on his way to this new spot, Pause for Men. He invited me to join him.” Nick grinned. “The place is fabulous. Full spa, exercise rooms, saunas—the works—and a health-food cafe.”
Bernard hooked his thumb over his shoulder toward Nick. “I think Pause just got a new member.” He chuckled lightly.
Dani eyed Bernard. “Wow, no wonder you stay in such great shape,” she teased.
Bernard grinned and made a slight bow. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Can I offer you something to drink?” she asked, moving toward the kitchen.
“We were gonna grab a couple of beers and catch the end of the game,” Nick said, pecking her cheek. “How was the afternoon with the girls?”
“Fine,” she answered absentmindedly, trying to wrap her mind around the odd matchup of her man with one old enough to be his dad. “Well, I’ll leave you boys to your games. Good to see you again, Bernard,” she said before returning to her office.
Once inside, she closed the door behind her and dialed Mia on her cell.
“Hey, Dani, whatsup?”
Danielle cut a quick glance toward the closed door, then spoke in a harsh whisper. “Guess who’s here?”
“What? Why are you whispering?”
“Put your damned glasses on so you can hear me!”
“Not funny. Abuse I don’t need,” Mia said haughtily. “Now, speak up.”
Danielle blew out an exasperated breath. “Bernard is here.”
“Who?”
“Bernard!