Married to His Lies (Love. Lies & Lust Series) Read online

  “What’s up, Tay?” he asked, his dark brown eyes beaming. He gave me a big bear hug, then turned to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.

  Octavia and Damon made the perfect couple. They were sexy, successful and ambitious. If they were in Hollywood, they would be considered the ultimate “power couple”.

  Is Kenny going to join us today?” Damon asked.

  I watched while he brushed barbecue sauce on the row of chicken leg quarters he had cooking on the grill.

  “Not today,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment. “Today it will be just the four of us.”

  “Not a problem,” Damon said smiling. “Just make sure you take some of this food home to him.”

  “Don’t worry,” I said, rubbing my stomach, “you know the Holloway family loves to eat, and I’ll do anything to get out of cooking!”

  “Cooo,” Jasmine’s soft voice came through the receiver.

  The outdoor kitchen had a built-in six-inch screen that was connected to the elaborate security system Damon had wired inside of their home. The screen gave a clear view of the guesthouse where Jasmine was. Looking at the monitor I watched her lying on the bed, kicking her feet up in the air.

  “Aunt Tay, you got her?” Octavia asked, looking at me. I was walking pass the huge pool to the guesthouse before she could finish her sentence. “I guess that means yes!” She laughed.

  The guesthouse was more of a one bedroom apartment. It was fully equipped with a kitchen, full size bath with a garden tub, and a king size bed. I vowed that if I ever needed a quick vacation, I would just spend a week in Octavia’s backyard.

  I sat on the bed kissing Jasmine’s soft warm cheeks. Jasmine was the most beautiful baby in the world to me. She had almond colored skin, with large, light brown eyes. She was the perfect combination of her mother and father’s genes. I touched her thick, curly black hair, and felt a surge of joy fused with sadness. I found being with Octavia and her family to be bittersweet.

  Whenever I saw Octavia with Damon and Jasmine, it took me to the place in the back of my mind where I stored all of my broken dreams. There was a time when I had dreamt of having children of my own, but I knew that would never happen naturally. I was even willing to adopt. However, Kenny said he didn’t want to raise another man’s flesh and blood.

  Jasmine had her small hand wrapped around my index finger, as I held her in my arms. Leaning down, I kissed her pudgy nose. She smiled.

  “Are you two okay?” Octavia asked, sticking her head in the door.

  “Yeah,” I said halfheartedly.

  Octavia’s facial expression told me that she knew I was lying. In the five years we had been friends, we knew each other well enough to know when something was wrong.

  “Is the food ready?” I asked.

  “Almost,” she said.” I actually came to get you because there is someone I want you to meet.”

  “Who is it?” I asked, following her out of the guesthouse with Jasmine in my arms.

  “Damon’s friend, Savoy,” Octavia said.

  “Savoy?”

  “Damon hired him to start construction on Ambiance 2,” she said smiling.

  The Ambiance is the upscale restaurant and jazz club Octavia owned before she and Damon got married. For their one year anniversary, Damon purchased property to build her Ambiance 2.

  “How are things coming along?” I asked.

  “Great,” she said proudly. “If all goes well, we’ll have construction completed by this fall.”

  “I’m happy for you,” I said sincerely.

  Damon was still standing by the grill singing, only this time it was Family Affair by Mary J. Blige, and his friend was playing back-up singer.

  “That’s Savoy,” Octavia whispered to me. “Girl, the man is fine.”

  Savoy was tall, with tiny twists in his hair. He had on a pair of denim shorts that showed off his nicely toned calf muscles, and a short sleeve T-shirt that showed his solid biceps. If the rest of him looked as good as his profile from the back, then Octavia was right.

  “Please stop hurting Mary’s song!” Octavia said loudly. They turned around, and my eyes locked with his. “Savoy Breedwell,” Octavia said, “this is my girl, Shontay Holloway.”

  “It’s nice to see you again,” he said, a small smile creeping across his face.

  I felt a small vibration in the hot spot between my thighs. He was even finer than I had remembered.

  “Again?” Octavia asked, looking confused.

  “We met at the bookstore.” I explained, never taking my eyes off of Savoy.

  “Are you enjoying the book?” he asked.

  “I enjoyed the book,” I said.

  “You finished it already?” he asked surprised.

  “Yeah, last night.”

  “What book?” Octavia asked, staring at me with raised eyebrows.

  “G-Spot,” he said seductively. The word sounded so good coming from his mouth.

  “Sounds interesting,” Damon said, removing the meat from the grill.

  “Sounds a little freaky,” Octavia said, taking Jasmine from my arms. “Bring it by so I can read it. I’m going to take Jazz in,” she said, looking from me to Savoy. “Dame, why don’t we move everything inside, it looks like it’s going to rain.”

  About an hour later, a heavy downpour watered everything in sight. After stuffing ourselves with the meal Damon had prepared, the four of us settled down in the in-home theater, in the Italian leather sectional to watch Ray on DVD. Although Jamie Foxx gave an outstanding performance, I found it hard to concentrate on the movie with Savoy sitting so close to me. Whenever his leg or arm accidentally touched my body, I felt a tingling in my pussy.

  “What’s up with these women who continue to allow themselves to be played?” Savoy asked, as we watched the credits roll on the 60-inch Plasma screen.

  “Love,” Damon answered. “When you love someone, you’re willing to compromise.”

  “What do you mean by allow?” I asked, puzzled.

  Shifting in his seat, Savoy gave me a look that said the answer was obvious. “Permit,” he said. “Keep giving them the opportunity.”

  “It’s almost as if you’re saying it’s the woman’s fault,” I stated.

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” he said seriously.

  There is no way that someone this fine can be so ignorant, I thought to myself. “Why do you say that?” I asked, waiting for his logical explanation.

  “Most men and women cheat because there is something lacking in their relationship,” he stated. “It’s a proven fact that what you won’t do someone else will.”

  “That’s the oldest and stupidest excuse in history,” I said, offended.

  “What about those who do all they can, and they still get cheated on?” I asked, crossing my arms across my breasts. “You expect us to believe that’s still their fault?”

  “Yes,” he said, without hesitation. “If you allow someone to continue to disrespect you, it’s nobody’s fault but your own.”

  “What if you don’t know?” Octavia asked.

  “That’s different,” Savoy said, looking at her. “I’m talking about when you do know, and you continue to subject yourself to the other person’s bullshit.”

  “I still think it boils down to love,” Damon said, stroking Octavia’s hair. “People compromise themselves and their beliefs for love.”

  “He’s right,” Octavia agreed. “People do and allow things they normally wouldn’t when they’re in love.”

  “There’s a difference in compromising the type of orange juice you drink or which side of the bed you sleep on,” Savoy stated, “and compromising the person you are. If being in love with someone means you lose sight of who you are and what you deserve,” he threw his hands up in the air, “then I say it’s better to be by yourself.”

  Octavia and Damon appeared to be in tune with what Savoy was saying, but I wasn’t buying it.

  “Well, if a man’s unhappy, then why doe
sn’t he just leave?” I asked.

  If Savoy was such an expert on relationships, then maybe he could shed some light on that question.

  “I said a man or woman,” he said, looking at me. “But since you want to make this whole conversation about men,” he gave me a quizzing look, “then why is it that the female doesn’t leave?” he asked.

  “Love!” Octavia and Damon said in unison.

  “Well, love yourself more and settle for less,” Savoy said. “The bad part is that women settle all the time. Then they complain when a brother turns out to be a dog. To make matters worse, they make all kind of excuses for staying with the man. Oh, he is so fine!” he said, mimicking a woman’s voice. “He has sooo much potential! Girl, his dick is soooo big!”

  Laughing, Damon shook his head. “Boy, you crazy!” he said.

  “I’m serious.” Savoy laughed.

  “Men settle too,” I said, slightly pissed off.

  “No doubt,” Savoy said, still laughing. “But we settle to get sex!” Everyone laughed, except for me.

  The sound of Jasmine crying came through the baby monitor sitting on the glass coffee table.

  “I got her,” Damon said, kissing Octavia on her forehead.

  “She’s probably hungry again,” Octavia told him. “I’ll get her bottle.”

  The two of them left Savoy and me sitting in the room alone. The strong sexual attraction I felt for him earlier had dwindled when he expressed his fucked up opinion on relationships. I knew it wasn’t Savoy’s fault, but I had taken his comments personally.

  “So, what’s up with you?” he asked, his eyes scanning over my body.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Why are you so angry?”

  “I’m not.”

  “I offended you,” he said.

  “What makes you say that?” I asked, pretending not to know what he was talking about.

  “Because you were defensive,” he said, staring at me.

  “I wasn’t defensive,” I lied.

  “You’re lying to me.” There was something about the way he was looking at me that made me feel naked. It made goose bumps form on my skin. “I make you nervous,” he stated, licking his lips.

  Hell yeah, you do, I said to myself.

  “You are so arrogant,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “Don’t try and change the subject.” He moved closer to me on the sofa. “I make you nervous,” he said again, touching my arm with his fingertips. The warmth of his touch sent heat from my arm to my toes. “Have dinner with me,” he said.

  “I’m married.” I held up my hand to display the gold band I had on.

  “That’s stating the obvious,” he said, laughing lightly.

  “So you make a habit of asking out married women?”

  “Only the ones as sexy as you,” he said smiling.

  If he was trying to flatter me, it was working. My kitty was purring like she had never been touched by a man.

  “I only go on dates with my husband,” I said, standing up.

  “You can bring him, but he’s paying his own way,” he said, standing in front of me.

  “You are trippin’?”

  Savoy stared at me with lust in his eyes. “Something tells me you’d rather it be just the two of us,” he said. I was at a loss for words.

  The man was sexy and arrogant. He was also reading me like the pages of a Zane novel. I couldn’t deny that I wanted some time alone with Savoy, and the wetness in my panties told me I wanted more than just dinner.

  Octavia strolled into the room just as the tension between the two of us was becoming too thick for me to handle. “Well, lil mama is full and fast asleep,” she said. “A woman’s work is never done.” She sighed.

  I continued to stare into Savoy’s eyes, while giving thanks to God that Octavia had returned when she did. One more moment alone with him, and I would have been handing him my panties on a platter.

  “I should be going,” I said. I tore my eyes away from Savoy, turned and gave Octavia a quick hug. “I have to get to work early in the morning.”

  Before either of them could respond, I grabbed my purse, and told Octavia to kiss Jasmine and Damon for me. I walked what felt like sixty miles a second out the front door.

  Chapter 3

  Smiling, I stared at the vase of twelve long stem yellow roses. Savoy had them delivered to the daycare earlier. Tucked amongst the roses was a plain white greeting card. Inside the card, he had signed his name and left his phone number. Even the man’s signature was sexy.

  My thoughts of Savoy had me on a natural high. Even though I had no intentions of cheating on my husband with Savoy, or anyone else for that matter, I was still intrigued. I decided to give him a call, just to thank him for the roses, nothing else.

  “Savoy Breedwell,” he said, answering his phone. “Do you make it a habit of sending married women flowers?”

  I asked jokingly.

  “Only the ones as sexy as you,” he replied.

  I smiled this stupid schoolgirl grin. “They’re beautiful,” I said.

  “I’m glad you like them.”

  “How did you know where I work?” I hadn’t mentioned it the night before, and I was almost positive Octavia didn’t tell him.

  “Octavia,” he said, laughing slyly. “I indirectly asked her a few questions about you.”

  “Like what?” I asked.

  “That doesn’t matter. Just know I asked enough to know where to find you.”

  I was flattered that he had put forth a little effort, but I wasn’t about to let him know it.

  “You’re stalking me?” I asked.

  “Nah, I’m just trying to get to know you better.”

  I switched the phone from my right ear to my left. “Why do you want to know me?”

  “Because, since the moment I first saw you, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.”

  The feeling was mutual. Savoy had inadvertently invaded my inner thoughts. Hearing that I had done the same to him made me feel so desirable.

  “Are you there?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I answered smiling.

  “Have dinner with me,” he said.

  I stared at the polished gold band on my finger. “I can’t,” I said. Why did I have to be so damn loyal?

  “Thank you again for the roses.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Goodbye Savoy,” I said.

  “Goodbye,” he said.

  ***

  I was still on my natural high when I walked through the front door of my home. That soon changed when I saw Kiya’s toys scattered all over the living room floor.

  “Tay!” Kiya screamed, throwing her arms around my leg.

  “Hey munchkin.” I lifted her up into my arms and gave her a big hug.

  At first it took me some time to get use to the idea that Kenny had a daughter, but after spending time with Kiya, I had grown fond of her. I had to remind myself that it wasn’t her fault she was in the middle of the triangle shared between her parents and me. Although there were times when I wanted to have my husband to myself, I understood the importance of him bonding with his daughter. I grew up without a father, and that’s something no child should ever have to do.

  “Where’s Daddy?” I asked, putting her down.

  “Mad.” She ran back to the stack of toys she had been playing with.

  “Kiya, take your toys to your room,” I said.

  “No!” She pouted, folding her arms across her chest.

  It was amazing how much she looked like Kenny. They had the same dark skin and big eyes. They even had the same stubborn attitude.

  “Yes, now,” I said firmly.

  “Otay!” she said.

  I would never spank another person’s child, but I would definitely threaten them. I had made several threats to Kiya, so it wasn’t hard to get her to do what I asked. All I had to do is give her my “try me” look.

  I walked into the bedroom and found Kenny
sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked like he was going to explode with anger.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I picked Kiya up from school, and guess what they said,” he stated.

  “What?”

  “Alicia hasn’t paid them in three weeks!” he said, raising his voice. “I had to shell out three hundred damn dollars to keep them from dropping Kiya.”

  Kenny and Alicia had a verbal agreement that, in addition to child support, he would pay half of Kiya’s daycare cost.

  “Did you ask her about it?”

  “I called her cell, but she didn’t answer. But please believe she better have a damn good answer for what she did with my money.”

  The doorbell rang, and I knew there was going to be drama. I followed Kenny, as he marched to the front door. I looked around the living room, and smiled when I saw Kiya had put away all of her toys. She was now sitting in front of the TV watching SpongeBob.

  Kenny swung the door open, pointed his finger directly in Alicia’s face, and yelled, “Why ain’t you paid the daycare?”

  Alicia didn’t say a word, she just stood there staring back at him with her eyes wide. I looked at the fresh sixteen-inch ponytail she had attached to her head. I immediately concluded that she had spent part of the money on getting her weave done. The rest was most likely spent on her clawlike fake nails, and the low-cut black skank hoe dress she was wearing. I turned my nose up, like I had suddenly smelled something funky.

  I don’t know what he was thinking when he laid up with this ghetto bitch.

  Alicia was not a pretty woman. In fact, the only thing she had going for her was her big ass and small waist. She had zero class, and didn’t pretend to be a lady. Alicia was the definition of a Hoochie Mama. Her hair was dyed platinum blond, even though she was dark as coal. Her clothes always looked like she went bargain shopping at the girl’s lockers of one of the local strip clubs. When I first saw her, I thought she was a prostitute. She looked, dressed, and acted like one.

  “Mommeee!” Kiya cheered, running over to the door.

  “Kiya, stay inside,” Kenny ordered, stepping outside and slamming the door.

  Kiya ran back to her spot on the floor in front of the TV. I started to place my ear to the door so that I could hear what was being said, but decided against it. I figured whatever was said Kenny would tell me later.