Read Online No Other Lover Will Do by Cheris Hodges - Free Book Online Page A

this woman that got under her skin so badly. Maybe it was the fact that she didn’t know what was going on. When Solomon had his flings with models and actresses, he kept her in the loop, telling her how stupid they were and what a disappointment they’d turned out to be. This woman was different, because Carmen knew she wasn’t stupid. And from the pictures she’d seen of her on the Internet, she wasn’t ugly either. Still, she needed to know if Solomon had gotten what he wanted and was ready to move on. Better yet, to come back to New York. She picked up the phone and started dialing his number again.
    â€œKnock, knock,” Danny said from the door of her office. Carmen looked up and faked a smile as she hung up the phone.
    â€œDanny, right?” Carmen said.
    â€œYou’re killing my ego,” he said. “I invite you to lunch and you never call back, then struggle to remember my name.”
    â€œI’m sorry, we just ran into some problems at the resort in North Carolina,” Carmen lied.
    â€œI thought Solomon was down there handling all of that,” Danny said as he walked in. “You know that guy works you too hard. Does he realize how valuable you are?”
    â€œI knew what I was getting into when I signed up for the job,” Carmen said with a hint of attitude in her voice.
    Danny threw his hands up. “I was just kidding with you. No need to get so testy,” he said. “Solomon is my boy.”
    Carmen raised her eyebrow and leaned back in her seat. “All right, why are you here?”
    â€œAt some point today, you’re going to have to eat. I’m here to insure that you eat one of those meals with me.”
    While Carmen smiled at Danny, inside she was groaning and pushing him out of her office. Who did he think he was? Solomon Crawford? His line was stale and he didn’t have half of the charm and charisma that Solomon had in his pinky finger.
    â€œI’m sorry you wasted your time, but I can’t go out to eat with you today. I have to put out this fire in North Carolina, head to my spin class, and then I have to brief Richmond on some other projects.”
    Danny perched on the edge of Carmen’s desk and stared into her expressive hazel eyes. “Tell me something. Are we ever going to go out? If you’re not interested, let me know and I can stop making a fool of myself.”
    Carmen patted his knee. “I’m sure you’re a nice guy, but I just don’t want to go out with you. Don’t take it personal. I hope we can be friends, but nothing more.”
    Danny nodded. “I can live with that, especially since we’re going to be seeing more of each other anyway.”
    â€œHow so?” she asked.
    â€œSolomon hired my company to run background checks on new employees and to do random background checks company wide.”
    Carmen tugged at her hair. “He didn’t tell me about this.”
    Danny shrugged. “Probably slipped his mind. If you have any security issues or questions you want me to take a look at, I’m going to be right down the hall.”
    â€œThen I guess we should have lunch and talk about what you will be doing for us,” she said as he stood up. “Is one-thirty good for you?”
    â€œI’ll check my calendar and get back to you,” he said, then headed out of her office.
    Carmen was going to have to make extra nice with Danny. The last thing she needed was for that chump to uncover what she had worked so hard to hide.
    Â 
    Three hours after she entered the spa, Kandace stepped out feeling like a brand new woman. She would have to thank Solomon for her deluxe treatment, which included a facial, pedicure, manicure, and an appointment with the hair stylist on duty. Kandace had decided to try something new with her hair and allowed the woman to take two inches off her brown tresses. She ended up with a sleek bob that highlighted her cheekbones and