Duke Read online

  He chuckled. “Is that your way of asking if I’m in the market for a mansion, or something equally pretentious?”

  “It was a question.”

  He wasn’t fooled. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of money. I figure I can get something in my price range that’s also safe enough to take you.”

  She said nothing, and he almost believed she would turn him down. He’d thought he heard a bit of excitement in her voice, the same as he was feeling at the prospect. Jeez, hadn’t he just told Creed he wasn’t interested in settling down? No, this isn’t settling down. A place to take my lovers is a good idea.

  “Kiyah?” he called over the line.

  “All right, fine. When do you want to go?”

  He made the arrangements with her and ended the call.

  The short walkway outside the house led to a wide wooden gate, which Duke couldn’t see past unless he opened it. The wood showed a lot of wear, and so did the upper level balcony to the left, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. The charm of the house shined through the need for a paint job.

  Inside the house, he paused on the second floor landing. He’d told the agent to wait downstairs while he and Takiyah looked around the second floor. While she moved ahead of him, he watched her ass and grinned. Which house he bought didn’t matter all that much, but he found it amusing to take in Takiyah’s facial expressions and her reactions to everything she saw.

  She turned those big brown eyes to him as she ran a hand over the railing. “I love the way this looks over to the first floor. The house is narrow and small, but the way it’s designed is like a mini-mansion. It’s the best one we’ve seen today.”

  He nodded. “Sure.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You don’t remember any of the other houses, do you?”

  “I do.”

  “No, you don’t, and it doesn’t seem like you care about buying a house.” She faced him and slapped her hands on her hips. “Are you even serious or just trying to impress me?”

  “Do you like this one?” He gazed around the upper landing. She rolled her eyes at him and marched along the hall to the master bedroom. Duke followed at more sedate pace. When he entered the room where she had disappeared, he imagined a king size bed against the wall to his right and Takiyah under him, writhing with delight. His cock hardened at the thought. He’d definitely not gotten her out of his system yet.

  Takiyah stood across the room, facing away from him. Beyond her was a walk-in closet. On the opposite side was the bathroom. He spotted a shower, a sink, and a toilet—good enough for him.

  “This closet puts mine to shame. It makes me jealous.”

  “So that’s a yes?”

  She frowned over her shoulder at him. “I’m not the one who has to live here, Duke. Do you like it?”

  He shrugged.

  “Ugh, you’re infuriating. Yes, I love it. We can look around some more, but if I was in the market, I’d grab this one. Did you see that little Italian place on the corner? I can’t believe a cute little restaurant like that is just steps away. I’m in love with this place. The neighborhood is so nice. It gives the impression of being upper middle class, but the price is decent.”

  “Sounds like the one.”

  “Can you cough up a little more enthusiasm? Never mind. What am I thinking? You’re not serious.”

  He spun on his heel and moved to the railing in the hall. “Sally.” His voice echoed in the empty space. The real estate agent came into view, her heels clacking over the hardwood floors. “Duke, honey, what do you think? If you want to see something else, you just let me know.”

  “I’ve decided. Draw up the paperwork. I’ll take it.”

  She beamed. “Well, there are a few other offers on the table, but…”

  He leaned on the railing and gave her what the movies called a smoldering look. In his mind, it was comical, but it had never failed to make women swoon. Sally, even at fifty-something, was no exception. She raised a hand to her chest and grew breathless. He suppressed his amusement and waited.

  “I’ll do what I can, Duke. Don’t you worry, honey. This house is yours no matter what. Now, let’s go to my office and sign some papers.”

  All the way back to the realtor’s office, Duke was aware Takiyah still doubted him. He wasn’t worried about it. In the past, he’d pulled off crazier stunts to get a woman in his bed. Buying a house wasn’t so bad. Okay, maybe it was a bit extreme when a word or two of seduction could get Takiyah to spread her legs for him. This idea was a far heavier hit. He sensed it when Sally handed him the papers for committing to purchase, and he handed over a check.

  After he scratched his signature on the page, Sally excused herself to make a phone call. Duke turned to Takiyah, but she wasn’t looking at him. He reached out to skim a thumb over her shoulder, and she shivered. Her expression remained closed, but he wasn’t fooled.

  “Say you’re sorry,” he teased.

  She glared. “For what?”

  “For doubting my resolve.”

  She made a noise of dismissal. “You only did it to prove me wrong. I bet you’ll back out after you drop me home.”

  “Are you saying that so I’ll be forced to keep the house?” He leaned closer to her, making sure his breath warmed her neck, and he cast his voice low. “You really want into my bed, don’t you?”

  “Asshole!”

  He chuckled. On the phone, Sally’s face had pinked, and he figured she heard what he’d said. Duke turned back to Takiyah. “Now that’s done, I owe you lunch.”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  He took her hand, flipped it over, and kissed the palm. “I insist.”

  She cleared her throat and tugged her hand away. He let go with reluctance.

  “I guess I can spare you a little more time before our shift tonight.”

  She had no idea that he was just getting started. Until he was done with her, Takiyah was all his, but he would do everything in his power to make sure she was satisfied.

  Chapter Eight

  Takiyah stood before her mirror, checking out a small blemish. She sighed and straightened, trying to dismiss all the nervousness that went along with a first date. No, this isn’t a date. It’s… Her mind went blank. If this wasn’t a date, then what was it? And why was she going to dinner with Duke?

  “You say he’s a coworker, Takiyah?” her mom asked as she sat on Takiyah’s bed folding clothes.

  “Ma, I told you I can do that. Why don’t you go rest in your chair in the living room? I turned on your favorite show.”

  Her mother frowned, but she didn’t look up. “You never date anyone from work. You said it would get in the way of doing what you have to do.”

  “Ma.” Takiyah chuckled and shook her head. She started doing her makeup. “I know I don’t date coworkers. This isn’t a date. Duke is just returning a favor, and hell, I need to get out sometime.”

  “You’ve been gung-ho and serious ever since your father passed and I got sick. You don’t have to take on everything yourself, baby.”

  “Taking care of our little family isn’t that big a deal.”

  “I would like to see you married again. Is this man marriage material?”

  “Ma!”

  Her mother blinked at her innocently. “I’m just asking. You left Ed and divorced him. He was a good man. I’d rather see you settled and with a man who will always be there for you. Ed would have.”

  Takiyah paused in applying eyeliner and looked at her mother’s reflection. “Ed is a good man. I don’t deny that, but he…” She wanted to say he was a damn fool she couldn’t put up with after a while. If she said it, her mother would probably be hurt because she loved Ed like a son. Takiyah knew her mother still hoped for reconciliation between the two of them, but that was because she had been with Takiyah’s father for forty-three years before he got sick and died. She wanted the same stable and loving relationship for Takiyah, but Takiyah wasn’t s
ticking with a man who wasn’t right for her just to have a man until old age.

  “I’m not looking to jump back into marriage, so you don’t have to worry about that, Ma. And before you say it, no, I’m not getting back with Ed. He’ll always be a part of my life because of Keen, but that’s it.”

  Her mother sighed. “Well, tell me about Duke.”

  She groaned, wishing she had told her mother she was going to dinner with Adele. The problem was she’d never been able to lie to her mother or get away with anything. At thirty-one, she should be over trying to stay on her mother’s good side, but old habits died hard.

  “It’s not serious,” she said after some time and put down the makeup. “Maybe I should call him and tell him I changed my mind.”

  Just as she said the words, the doorbell rang, and she stiffened. A glance at the clock told her she had a good half hour before he should arrive. Ed wasn’t due to pick up Keen until thirty minutes after she left with Duke. She felt she had arranged things well. No time to spend hearing how Ed missed her.

  “Ma, Duke’s here,” Keen called from the base of the stairs. She groaned. The jerk was way too early. Probably did it to make sure she didn’t run off. Then she laughed. Duke’s ego wouldn’t allow him to think a woman wouldn’t fall all over herself to go out with him. From what she knew of him, he also would chase after her should she get it into her head to bolt. The man did everything he could to get what he wanted. Right now, he wanted her. She tried not to let it go to her head and stuffed down the warmer sensation that cropped up because a sexy man desired her.

  Her mother set the laundry aside. “I guess I’ll go meet him, see if he’s worthy to take my only daughter out.”

  “Ma.”

  Her mother ignored her and toddled out the door. Takiyah moaned and faced the mirror. Apparently, the people in her life did what the hell they wanted regardless of what she felt about the matter. She continued to get ready. Tonight she had chosen a skater dress with red satin underlay and black lace overlay. The last touch on her makeup was finished a good seven minutes before the time she had originally given Duke to arrive.

  Takiyah left her room and started descending the stairs. Halfway down, the bell rang again, and Keen appeared, sliding over the pinewood floor in his socks. He peeked through the hole in the center of the door and grinned, unlocking the door.

  “Hold on, Keen,” she began, but he had already swung the door wide. Edward Weise, her ex-husband, stepped inside and gazed up at her. Takiyah remembered all the times her heart had fluttered when she saw him, but the most she felt this time was annoyance. He was early too, damn it. Didn’t anyone respect her schedule? “You’re early, Ed.”

  He flashed that boyish and open grin he always wore no matter what the circumstances. “And you look incredible as usual. You and Adele going out tonight?”

  “Whatever I’m doing has nothing to do with you.”

  To complicate her life, Duke appeared in the hall. When his emerald gaze met her brown one, her heart skipped a few beats. In fact, she struggled to hide how short of breath he made her, damn him. She must have forgotten time for an instant as she looked at him because when she came to herself, she found Ed looking from her to Duke and back again.

  “Who is this?” Ed said. “I thought you were going out with Adele.”

  “Again,” she snapped, “nothing whatsoever to do with you.” She continued down the stairs and elbowed past Duke. “Keen, why don’t you have your shoes on? Don’t keep your father waiting.”

  “Duke Marquette,” came his deep voice behind her, and she cringed. She’d had no intention of introducing the two men. Turning back, she found that Duke had extended his hand toward Ed, and her ex-husband took it. An instant after she resolved not to compare the two men, her mind wandered to doing it anyway.

  Duke had Ed by a couple inches, but Ed was still a nice few taller than her. His build was good since he’d worked in construction for the last few years. Takiyah always wondered how he could maintain the job when he was so clumsy. Then again, his father owned a small construction firm, so Ed was no slouch when it came to knowledge of building. He just didn’t have the physical control not to make a mess of things. His father had made him foreman on the jobs where he worked, so he could use his head more than his hands.

  In the last couple of years, Ed had struck out on his own, refusing any more of his father’s money or help. She’d heard he wasn’t doing so well, and from the look of him tonight, the bandage on his wrist and a Band-Aid on his pinky finger, he still struggled. She felt sorry for him. He was a good man, just not for her.

  Duke grinned with confidence as he chatted with Ed, shifting his big shoulders and rocking a little on his heels. The man exuded animal prowess as if he ate it for breakfast and it leaked from his pores. She had never met anyone so confident with nothing much to show for it like Duke. He confused the hell out of her.

  Tonight, he wore faded black jeans that hugged his narrow hips, a white long sleeve shirt, and over it a gray double breasted woolen windbreaker. The jacket took what would have been a casual outfit to something stylish and sexy, and she couldn’t stop staring for a minute. When he gestured with his hand about something he discussed, his biceps drew the material of his jacket tighter, and her belly pulled with her desire. They’d had one quick round of sex, and she craved another taste of him.

  Dragging her mind out of the gutter with its lust for Duke, she was struck with a curious new thought. For all his massive presence and personality, Duke didn’t try to one up Ed, nor did he seem to look down on him. Duke was simply himself without having to prove his worth to anyone. As a result, the two men got along.

  Takiyah made a small noise, and both men glanced at her. She spun away and hurried to the kitchen for no reason. Why the heck was she disappointed? She liked to think she was mature enough not to want two men to fight over her. How ridiculous to feel pissy when they fell into talking like they were old friends.

  “Ma, what are you doing?” Takiyah asked when she entered the kitchen.

  Her mother stood at the refrigerator with the door open and studying the contents. On the table, she had already set out glasses of ice on a tray. Near it stood a pitcher of ice tea Takiyah had made earlier in the day.

  “I’m looking for that chocolate cake,” her mother said.

  “You’re not planning on serving them, are you? Duke and I are going to dinner, and Ed isn’t staying. Keen is sleeping at his house this weekend. Besides, Keen ate the last of that cake for breakfast although I told his hard head to leave it alone.”

  Her mother looked stricken. “I can’t have guests in the house and not give them anything, Takiyah. I raised you better than that.”

  She sighed. “They’re not guests, and if you give Duke food, it will ruin his dinner.”

  “Mm, I didn’t think of that.”

  Takiyah didn’t know how many times she’d heard those words her entire life. As far as she knew nothing had ever ruined her dinner. That’s why she carried extra weight now. She had a love affair with food, and nothing would change it.

  A shout in the hall brought her head up, and she ran out of the kitchen with her heart pounding. She reached the hall in time to see Duke with his arm around Ed’s neck and Ed’s arm twisted behind his back. Keen bounced in front of the two men, cheering his dad on.

  “Come on, Dad. Try harder. You can do better than that.”

  Takiyah ran over and grabbed Duke’s sleeve. “Let him go! What in the hell do you think you’re doing, Duke?”

  “N-No, it’s fine,” Ed gasped, but his face was beet red, and he puffed his cheeks out as he struggled in Duke’s hold. The idiot looked like he was about to pass out.

  Takiyah jerked at Duke’s arm and almost fell off balance. As soon as she stumbled, he released Ed and steadied her. She thrust his hand away and righted herself. “I can’t believe you would stoop to fighting in my house. What are you twelve?”

  The bastard didn’t look as
hamed. “He asked for it.”

  “Ed is not a violent person. You can’t convince me he asked you to attack him.” Duke’s expression baffled her. He didn’t give off even a hint of being angry or annoyed. In fact, he seemed amused more than anything, which pissed her off all the more. “Maybe we shouldn’t go—”

  “Ma, they weren’t fighting,” Keen interrupted. The boy’s eyes shined with glee. “Duke said he learned how to fight and all about pressure points and stuff in the army. I wanted him to show me something, but he refused to do it on me. Dad said he would do it.”

  She shook her head. “So you three fools thought it was fine to act like animals in my hallway? Come here, Ed. Look at your wrist. Did you forget you came in here with it bandaged?”

  He wandered over to her like a spoiled puppy, and as Takiyah began to re-bandage his wrist, she peered over Ed’s shoulder. Duke’s eyes narrowed, and the grin fell from his lips. Now he looked jealous. Well, she didn’t give a damn. They shouldn’t have been showing off.

  “You always did know how to take care of me,” Ed said, a little too happy.

  She shoved his hand away and moved past him. “Good night, Ed. Don’t let Keen stay up too late. I don’t care if it is the weekend.”

  “You’re going already? We could all hang out and—”

  Duke wrapped an arm about her waist and propelled her forward. Her glower at him did nothing to deter him as he shuffled her out the door. When she sat beside him in his car, she frowned at him.

  “I don’t know what you were thinking back there, but I told you before. I don’t like violence. Ed doesn’t act that way, and neither does Keen.”

  Duke’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You’re still into him?”

  “No.” She didn’t feel the need to explain or to remind him she hadn’t just been talking about Ed, but she was more concerned about Keen and the influence on her innocent son. Why couldn’t he understand that?

  “He seemed to think he still has a chance with you.” Duke pulled away from the curb and drove down the street. She eyed him, trying to see into his thoughts. The shadows in the car made that impossible.