Read Online All Up In My Business by Lutishia Lovely - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lutishia Lovely
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beautiful, dark-skinned woman with a bodacious body and long, thick locs, accompanied by a distinguished-looking older man. He recognized her instantly. “That’s Alexis St. Clair. She’s an interior decorator, and in case you’re thinking of using a remodel as your line, save it. Toussaint already tried it and it didn’t work.”
“Maybe Toussaint’s getting rusty.”
“Hardly. She doesn’t date clients, and right now she’s redoing his house.”
Jon watched the older man walk away from the table, leaving Alexis alone. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured as he stood, straightened his tie, and walked to his target.
Malcolm shook his head, smiling at memories of him and Jon in grad school. They’d gotten in more trouble than the law allowed, with many of their young-adult antics known to them alone. It was only now that Malcolm realized how much he’d missed his friend. But they’d grown distant when Jon left Atlanta for Yale Law School and Malcolm became immersed in the family business.
I wonder if he still plays golf. Maybe we can hit the holes once a week and stay connected
.
“Malcolm, I thought that was you.” Joyce Witherspoon had noticed Malcolm when she entered the establishment but hadn’twanted to interrupt the conversation. Now she sidled up to his table with her hand outstretched.
“Hello,” Malcolm said while rising, his expression revealing his puzzlement. And then, recognition dawned. “Joyce! I almost didn’t recognize you!”
“May I join you?”
“Please.” Malcolm moved so that Joyce could sit on his side of the booth. “You look nice. Not that you don’t when you come to the office, or I see you in the catering kitchen but … well …”
Joyce laughed. “I’ve been told I clean up well. And after wearing conservative suits all day while interacting with my clientele, I like to get girlie after hours.” She especially took care with her appearance when she came to the club, and tonight was no exception. The Christian Dior silk, form-fitting dress that stopped a couple inches above the knee, not to mention her four-inch heels, made Joyce feel feminine and fabulous. The thick, permed hair that was almost always in a conservative bun swung loose and carefree around her shoulders, and the subtle fragrance that brought to mind flower gardens and springtime tickled the noses of those around her. She’d stopped by here on her way home, hoping she’d run into Adam. Even though he’d called her the month before and clarified—yet again—that there was no way he’d have an affair with her, that he very much loved his wife, Joyce was determined and patient. She’d always been attracted to older, successful men, and had carried a torch for Adam Livingston for years. She would most likely never stop hoping they’d get together. But now, here sat Adam’s son, bearing a striking resemblance to his father. She’d always thought Malcolm handsome but had never considered how much he favored his dad.
Hmmm, I wonder if he’s faithful to Victoria?
While Atlanta had come to be known as the “black gay capital,” there was still a plethora of single, heterosexual men who would love to spend time with Joyce. She was attractive, smart, and her event-planning businessalready boasted an upscale clientele. But for some reason, the men Joyce found herself attracted to, the ones she felt most successful, most attractive, and most desirable, were also, usually, most married. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here,” she said once the waiter had taken her drink order. “It’s been a while.”
“I’m sure a wife, four children, and the business keep you pretty busy.”
Malcolm nodded. Suddenly, he didn’t want to talk about Victoria, the kids, or Taste of Soul. He wanted to talk about a topic he hadn’t paid much attention to lately—himself.
As if she’d read his mind, Joyce’s next question provided the opportunity to do just that. “How do you know our esteemed
“Maybe Toussaint’s getting rusty.”
“Hardly. She doesn’t date clients, and right now she’s redoing his house.”
Jon watched the older man walk away from the table, leaving Alexis alone. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured as he stood, straightened his tie, and walked to his target.
Malcolm shook his head, smiling at memories of him and Jon in grad school. They’d gotten in more trouble than the law allowed, with many of their young-adult antics known to them alone. It was only now that Malcolm realized how much he’d missed his friend. But they’d grown distant when Jon left Atlanta for Yale Law School and Malcolm became immersed in the family business.
I wonder if he still plays golf. Maybe we can hit the holes once a week and stay connected
.
“Malcolm, I thought that was you.” Joyce Witherspoon had noticed Malcolm when she entered the establishment but hadn’twanted to interrupt the conversation. Now she sidled up to his table with her hand outstretched.
“Hello,” Malcolm said while rising, his expression revealing his puzzlement. And then, recognition dawned. “Joyce! I almost didn’t recognize you!”
“May I join you?”
“Please.” Malcolm moved so that Joyce could sit on his side of the booth. “You look nice. Not that you don’t when you come to the office, or I see you in the catering kitchen but … well …”
Joyce laughed. “I’ve been told I clean up well. And after wearing conservative suits all day while interacting with my clientele, I like to get girlie after hours.” She especially took care with her appearance when she came to the club, and tonight was no exception. The Christian Dior silk, form-fitting dress that stopped a couple inches above the knee, not to mention her four-inch heels, made Joyce feel feminine and fabulous. The thick, permed hair that was almost always in a conservative bun swung loose and carefree around her shoulders, and the subtle fragrance that brought to mind flower gardens and springtime tickled the noses of those around her. She’d stopped by here on her way home, hoping she’d run into Adam. Even though he’d called her the month before and clarified—yet again—that there was no way he’d have an affair with her, that he very much loved his wife, Joyce was determined and patient. She’d always been attracted to older, successful men, and had carried a torch for Adam Livingston for years. She would most likely never stop hoping they’d get together. But now, here sat Adam’s son, bearing a striking resemblance to his father. She’d always thought Malcolm handsome but had never considered how much he favored his dad.
Hmmm, I wonder if he’s faithful to Victoria?
While Atlanta had come to be known as the “black gay capital,” there was still a plethora of single, heterosexual men who would love to spend time with Joyce. She was attractive, smart, and her event-planning businessalready boasted an upscale clientele. But for some reason, the men Joyce found herself attracted to, the ones she felt most successful, most attractive, and most desirable, were also, usually, most married. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here,” she said once the waiter had taken her drink order. “It’s been a while.”
“I’m sure a wife, four children, and the business keep you pretty busy.”
Malcolm nodded. Suddenly, he didn’t want to talk about Victoria, the kids, or Taste of Soul. He wanted to talk about a topic he hadn’t paid much attention to lately—himself.
As if she’d read his mind, Joyce’s next question provided the opportunity to do just that. “How do you know our esteemed
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