had gotten himself lost for twelve days of pleasure with a client. Vanessa Harrison had been his dream come true, and when he’d finally come up for air, he, too, had been ready to walk down the matrimonial aisle.
Even the most conservative of the Boudreaux siblings, the son everyone had sworn would be the last to marry with him being so committed to his career, had beaten Kamaya to the altar. Their brother Donovan had flown around the world to the Tuscan heat chasing his dream. Now he and renowned author Gianna Martelli were writing their own love story as they awaited the birth of their first child.
And now, with Tarah, the baby of the family, suddenly someone’s missus, Kamaya found herself on the hook, everyone anxious for her to catch and reel in her own happy ending. But, truth be told, despite all that happy everyone in her family claimed to be having, Kamaya just wasn’t willing to trust any man with her heart.
Maitlyn dropped into the seat beside her. “You good?” she asked, concern ringing in her loud whisper.
Kamaya nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She lifted her eye toward her parents who were huddled in conversation. “They still mad at me?”
“They weren’t mad. Mom’s just worried. You know how she is. And you snapping at her didn’t help. Now she’s even more concerned about you.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen. It just slipped.”
“Yeah, you were being a little sensitive. Do you want to talk about it?”
Kamaya shrugged. “Not really. I’m just ready to get back to work. I need to focus on something other than bridal gowns and floral arrangements.”
Maitlyn giggled softly. “It really wasn’t that bad. And how beautiful was our little sister?”
“She was stunning. It’s so strange to see Tarah all grown-up and mature-like. Nicholas has been good for her.”
“She’s been good for Nicholas. And your turn is coming.”
Kamaya scoffed. “Did anyone ever think I might not want a turn?”
Maitlyn nodded. “I did. But your mother says differently, and you know Katherine Toutant Boudreaux is never wrong about anything!”
“You got that right!” their mother interjected. She had moved down the aisle and was suddenly standing beside them.
Kamaya smiled. “You still love me?”
Katherine waved a dismissive hand at her. “Don’t I always?”
The three women smiled brightly at each other. Their ensuing conversation was calm and easy, Kamaya falling back into balance with everyone.
The flight attendant interrupted the moment. “Ma’am, the pilot is preparing the plane for landing. We’ll need you to take a seat and put your seat belt on, please.”
Katherine nodded, hesitating for one minute longer. “Are you coming to the house after we land?” she asked, meeting Kamaya’s stare.
Kamaya shook her head. “I don’t think so. I really need to stop in at the office and check on things, and then I want to go home and catch up on some sleep.”
Her mother nodded. “Plan on lunch next week. I need to make sure you’re really okay.”
Kamaya smiled, exchanging a look with her sister. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
“Yes, ma’am. I will. Yes, ma’am.” Wesley Leroy Walters was nodding into his cell phone.
On the other end, his mother, Annie Walters was cataloging a lengthy list of must-dos and expectations. “And I want you to get to church sometime soon,” the older woman said.
His father laughed, chiming in on their three-way conversation. “God knows your heart, son! Just do a drive by, wave at the pastor and get back to work. Jesus will excuse you.”
“Leon Walters! How are you going to tell our son some foolishness like that!” Annie exclaimed.
His father laughed and Wesley laughed with him. He could just imagine the look on his poor mother’s face. It made him smile as he thought about the only woman in the world who had his whole heart.
“It’s all good, Ma. I promise I’ll go to service this Sunday,” Wesley said. Behind him, the sound system suddenly blasted on, the throbbing techno bass of the 1983 club hit “White Horse” echoing throughout the room. It surprised him, his eyes widening as he slammed his palm against the mouthpiece of his cell phone.
“Wesley, what’s that noise?” his mother questioned, the sound carrying over the phone line.
“Sorry!” he exclaimed, as he shot a look at the sound man in the corner, gesturing for him to turn the music down. “I turned on my radio and didn’t realize the volume was so high,” he said, the little white lie spilling past his full lips.
His father chuckled. “Thought you all were having a party in that office of yours.”
“No. No. Nothing like that,” Wesley said as he shot an evil eye toward the other men in the room. “But I do have to run,” he said. “I need to get ready for a meeting. I’ll give you a call tomorrow, okay?”
“Of course, baby,” his mother answered.
“Handle your business, son!” his father added.
After telling them both that they were loved, Wesley disconnected the call. “What the hell?” he shouted over the music.
On the stage, Bryan Lackey was refining his dance routine. He gave Wesley a thumbs-up as he gyrated his hips from side to side.
Trey Jackson laughed. “You know he did that on purpose, right?”
Wesley shook his head. “I swear, if one of you outs me to my mother there’s going to be hell to pay!”
The other men in their group laughed heartily and Wesley couldn’t help but laugh along with them.
Bryan turned off the music and jumped down from the stage. “Sorry about that, big guy. I didn’t know it was your mother. I just knew you were lying to some stray you picked up here at the club.”
“When the hell have you known Mr. Straight-As-An-Arrow to pick up anyone from the club?” Trey asked.
Bryan shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything,” he said casually.
“You do know who you’re talking about right?”
The group laughed.
Wesley shook his head. Standing among his closest friends in the world, the men he’d known for too many years to count, he trusted them with his secrets. Knowing not one would ever purposely betray him, he also knew that any of them would take great pleasure at an opportunity to make him sweat.
Since his sophomore year at Grambling State, the men in that room had stood by him, offering a friendship that felt more like a family bond. He and Bryan had met first, college roommates. Biracial, Bryan had been the only blue-eyed blond with a porcelain complexion in their dorm. As much as he stood out, he’d fit in, and they’d become fast friends.
Trey Jackson had been their fraternity brother, pushing them both to pledge Kappa Alpha Psi. When the trio had bemoaned the stresses of financial aid or lack thereof, Victor Hudson had come with an answer to all their problems. Wesley remembered that defining moment as if it had just happened yesterday.
The party they’d been invited to had been a Who’s Who of Louisiana’s finest. A smorgasbord of beautiful, sexy, financially successful women looking for a night of entertainment. Before either Wesley or Trey could change their minds, someone had turned on the music, each had been given a stage name and the rest had been history. They had all started dancing to supplement their empty pockets. Now they each continued for a variety of reasons. Together, they were the hottest male exotic dance troupe to grace the state.
Bryan