Derek stood in the doorway of Lana’s bedroom as she finished packing her bag. She turned to him with a sweet smile.
“I’m ready,”
He lifted a brow. “Are you sure you don’t want to repack that bag for a fourth time?”
She looked sheepish. “It’s been so long since I’ve been away, I don’t know what to bring. I keep thinking that I’m missing something.”
Derek walked over to where she was standing by the bed. “It’s two days and Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan. I’m sure we can find whatever you need,” he teased her.
Lana looked at her bag then at him. “I’m being silly. You’d think I’d never been anywhere at all.”
He took her into his arms. “Listen, don’t sweat it. Let’s go and have a good time.”
“Okay,” Lana said wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to spend a lot of time with you the last few days. I was trying to make sure everything was taken care of before I left.”
“I’ve had my own things to take care of, so I understood.”
Lana looked at him. “How are things in D.C.?”
“I think the adequate term is, utter chaos, at this point.”
“Wow, help me understand this,” Lana requested.
Derek smiled. “Let’s talk in the car. I don’t want to tempt you to repack this bag again.” He grabbed Lana’s bag from the bed and she laughed while taking his hand, and following him out of the room.
At the car, Derek opened the door and seated her inside then placed her bag in the trunk along with his. In the driver’s seat, Derek quickly got them on the road before Lana could have any second thoughts.
Sensing his urgency, she turned to him. “Are you in a hurry?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Why?” she asked confused.
“I don’t want you to change your mind,” he confessed, glancing over at her.
Lana rubbed his arm. “I’m not. You don’t have to kidnap me.”
“I would, so don’t tempt me.”
She smiled. “That’s against the law.”
“I told you, laws are broken, changed and amended…every single day.” He winked at her.
Lana shook her head. “How do you deal with that? We’ve always been taught to follow the law so that you’d stay out of trouble.”
Derek nodded. “That’s a good premise, but in practice that doesn’t always work, especially when laws are created specifically to target a certain demographic and at the end of the day it’s always about the bottom line and whose getting paid.”
Lana sat back in her seat. “So how do you continue to work in that system knowing that?”
“Because, I can’t change it from my living room. Somebody has to put in the actual work.” Derek focused on the road. “My sister Dina taught me the law, and everybody thought that I was going to be a constitutional lawyer, but I discovered that I couldn’t protect something that was never created to protect me, or my family, or my ancestors in this country.”
Derek tapped the steering wheel as he drove and Lana listened closely. “I decided that if I couldn’t support the system as is, I needed to find a way to change it. Sure, I could’ve ran for an office and filled one seat, but now I help fill many seats.”
“Most people would want the be the focus,” she commented.
He glanced over at her. “I don’t want a politician’s life. One day I want a wife and a family, and I want them to live without their every move being scrutinized because of my job.”
She smiled at him. “That’s very thoughtful of you. Your wife and family will be taken care of very well.”
“That’s what a god/king does…” he said giving her a look.
“I forgot about that perfect memory.”
Derek laughed softly. “Tell me about that.”
Lana took a breath. “Our book club reads an author that writes about black men as god/kings. It’s an interesting concept and makes you look at our brothers in a different light. Sometimes you’re portrayed so negatively.”
“Yeah, we are…way too often.”
Lana agreed. “Anyway, the brothers know who they are and are ready to be the men their women need,” she glanced at him. “And of course, they’re fine…and smart…and sexy.”
“Like you…” she whispered.
Derek took her hand. “Compliments will get you everywhere.”
“I’m a big proponent of the truth.”
He smiled and kissed her hand. “I think honesty is the most important part of a relationship. If I have to lie to you, then I shouldn’t be with you.”
“I agree, and before I’d cheat or lie to someone…I’d walk away,” Lana told him.
“What’s up with Robbie?” Derek questioned.
Lana rolled her eyes. “I haven’t talked to him, although I’ve seen him around the Inn. He’s booked for two weeks, so I don’t know what he’s doing.”
“I’ve seen him too,” Derek commented while watching the passing scenery.
“Has he said anything to you?” Lana asked concerned.
“We’ve established that he has nothing to say to me.”
Lana frowned and looked at him. “Some of those urban tendencies?”
He turned to her. “You like that though.”
“Yeah, I really do.” Lana admitted then turned to look out of her window. “Let me know if he becomes a problem.”
“I solve problems, baby,”
Looking back at him, she gave him a look. “This is your vacation and I don’t want you ‘solving problems’ that concern me. Save that for D.C., since it seems you’re going to need it.”
Derek sighed. “You’re right…this shit is crazy. I never thought I’d see the little democracy that was in place, destroyed so quickly.”
“How is this President getting away with all of this? Isn’t he breaking ethics laws or something?” Lana asked.
“This is the danger when one party has control of both sides of Congress and the White House,” Derek explained. “And the President is showing all the signs of corruption.”
“Checks and balances are out of line,” he finished.
“What can be done?”
He shook his head. “The minority party is starting to organize. They have to regain one side of Congress, at least, to even attempt to put an end to this.”
“They need strong candidates that can win some of these seats, but the party has to put forth better options for the people. Not the same old, same old. People are tired of seeing the same faces, doing the same things. They want real change and aren’t going to settle for less.” Derek informed her.
“That’s certainly how I feel. There was no way that I could vote for either of those candidates in good faith because I didn’t believe either one cared about the plight of our people. During that entire campaign, black people were being murdered by the police and not one word from either camp.”
Lana shook her head as she continued, “I mean, if you blatantly show me that I’m of no concern to you, then why should I give you my vote, that my ancestors fought for me to have.”
“I hear you…when I watch the videos of what our people went through to get the right to vote and then I heard people actually telling voters to select ‘lesser of two evils’ during this election. It’s not supposed to work like that,” Derek admitted.
“Both candidates were suspect,” Lana told him. “I understand that politics is a dirty business, but don’t throw the mud in my face and tell me it’s pie.”
Derek laughed. “Pie huh?” He continued to drive down the highway. “I don’t judge anybody based on their choices. Voting is a right, that we fought for…it’s not an obligation just to put anybody in office. We must start holding these elected officials accountable.”
“How? We’re such a minority and it seems that most things are not designed for us.” Lana mentioned.
“Black people don’t understand the power that we wield, even as a minority,” Derek began. “Our vote counts but it has nothing behind it. We’re not organized as a people, simply loyal to a party that has done us a disservice in many ways.”
“What is your affiliation?” Lana asked.
“I’m not tied to a party,” Derek told her. “I believe in truth and justice and I want my people to have it, wherever we can find it. I judge people by their actions, not necessarily their affiliations.”
Lana studied him for a minute. “I need to brush up on my basic government education.”
“It’s not basic right now. It’s become extremely complicated and even involves a foreign enemy,” he paused. “I never imagined this could happen, and it certainly would not have with our last President.”
Lana frowned. “A black man would never, ever get away with a fraction of this nonsense. He wouldn’t even have been elected with that reputation. He had to be spotless at all times.”
“I’m glad he finished scandal-free, with a beautiful family and a man of class. That’s something they can never take away from him,” Derek said proudly.
She smiled. “He wasn’t perfect, but he was MY President!”
“The next one is out there,” Derek assured her.
“And you’re going to be his or her campaign manager,” Lana said happily.
He laughed. “That would be something.”
Lana sobered and touched his face. “I know you could do it.”
Derek held her gaze for a moment. “Thank you.”
She smiled again. “Now let’s go to Grand Rapids and enjoy ourselves, before you have to go find me a new President.”
“Anything to make you happy, baby.”
******
Back at the Inn, Robert visited the lobby and found Lorna covering the desk. Placing a smile on his face, he walked over to where she was stationed.
“Hello Lorna,”
She looked up. “Good afternoon Robert. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I was looking through your brochure and I saw that you all prepare picnic baskets. I’d like to order one for this evening.”
Lorna nodded and raised a brow. “Okay, what time would you like it to be ready?”
He smiled. “Let’s say around sunset.”
They both turned as Jamal entered with his usual bouquet of flowers. He paused when he saw Robert standing at the desk talking to Lorna. Watching Robert closely, he continued over to them and placed the arrangement on the counter.
Lorna smiled at him. “Jamal, Lana said no deliveries today. She’s gone out of town.”
Looking from Robert to Lorna, he gave her a soft smile. “I know, these are for you, my beauty.”
“You’re so sweet,” Lorna said gazing at the bouquet.
Robert watched Lorna. “Lana’s out of town?”
Turning her attention away from the flowers, Lorna looked at him. “Yes,”
“Where did she go?” he demanded.
Jamal turned to him with a frown at his tone.
Robert calmed down. “I mean, I’m here to see her and she ups and leaves?”
Lorna shook her head. “You should let that go Robert. Lana has moved on, a long time ago.”
“I’ve never stopped loving Lana and everything I’ve done is for her…for us. We are meant to be and I’m here to show her that,” Robert relayed and Jamal watched in silence.
“You can’t make her change her mind,” Lorna told him softly.
“I can try,” he said adamantly. “She’s the only one I want.”
Lorna placed a comforting hand on his arm and Jamal lifted a dark eyebrow. “I think it’s too late.”
Robert turned to her. “How long has she been with him?”
“I’m not discussing Lana’s business,” Lorna told him before removing her hand, and Jamal released the breath he’d been holding to remain calm.
“If he’s her man, why is he staying at the Inn and not at her house?” Robert questioned Lorna.
Jamal stepped forward. “She just said that she’s not discussing her sister’s business. Take that and keep it pushing.”
Robert put his hands up. “Look, I came back here for the woman I love. I don’t want any drama or conflict.”
Lorna gave him a look. “You’re not coming across that way,” she told him.
Sighing, Robert ran a hand down his face. “It’s frustrating, I’ve been here for a few days and I haven’t seen Lana at all. I want her to at least give me a chance.”
“That’s between you and Lana,” Lorna said flatly. “Although, I don’t think there is a chance and I’m sure that Lana’s not leaving Grayling for LA.”
“If she never leaves, how does she even know what’s out there?” Robert questioned.
“It’s her choice,” Lorna answered.
“When does she get back?” Robert asked. “I don’t want to be hanging around here for nothing.”
Lorna went back to her work. “When she gets back.”
Jamal looked at Robert and waited until he walked away, back to the stairs. Turning to Lorna, Jamal said, “I don’t like that dude.”
Lorna grinned. “I could tell. I was hoping you wouldn’t hit him.”
“I’m trying not to do stuff like that anymore…unless it’s necessary.”
She touched his arm. “I’m glad.”
“I’ve got too much at stake,” Jamal said quietly.
“Yeah, you do.”
Jamal glanced toward the stairway. “If that dude gets out of line, let me know.”
“I think you’ll have to get behind Daddy and Derek,” she said with a smile.
“I can wait my turn.”
“Boy, get out of here.” Lorna pointed towards the door. “And thank you for the flowers.”
Jamal took her hand and kissed it. “You’re welcome, beauty.”
Lorna watched him leave, then sniffed the bouquet. Her eyes wandered over to the stairway and she wondered how long Robert was going to draw this out with Lana. She, along with her sister and father were happy to see Lana falling in love again and giving another man a chance in her life.
Lorna knew that Lana never planned to leave Grayling, but as she stared at the flowers before her, she knew from experience, that plans had a way of taking on a life of their own.
******
After checking in at the front desk of the JW, Derek and Lana headed upstairs to their room. After they put their luggage away, Derek came to her side as she stared out of the window.
“What’s on the agenda?” he asked standing behind her.
Lana turned to him and smiled. “I’d like to look around since I’ve never been here before.”
“Okay, I’ve got dinner covered tonight,” he told her.
“Derek…”
He shook his head. “Don’t complain. I let you pay for the hotel.”
“You’re only here because of me,” she reminded him.
Derek pulled her close. “I will take you anywhere you want to go.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Let’s check out Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’ve never been here before either so it’s our first time together,” Derek said quietly.
“First times with you haven’t disappointed me yet,” Lana whispered before kissing him.
When they finally broke apart, Derek smiled at her before taking her hand and they headed out to explore the city. The couple started their tour at the Frederik Meijer Gardens then made their way to the Gerald R. Ford Museum. At the exhibit titled, “Amending America”, Lana watched as Derek’s attention was completely absorbed in the display on America’s Constitution.
“You really like this stuff?” she asked watching him.
Derek turned to her. “Yeah, I guess I do. I’m a dork.”
She hooked her arm in his. “I like dorks.”
“Anything that has to do with politics and government is fascinating to me,” he confessed. “Now you know my secrets…I have other tendencies.”
Lana smiled. “I don’t expect you to be one-dimensional and I want to see all the different facets of you.”
They began to walk around the exhibit. “In addition to being a dork, I can do a mean Detroit Ballroom, courtesy of my friends down in the ‘D’ and I also love bananas and raisins in my breakfast cereal,” he told her and she nodded succinctly.
“I am a somewhat of a nerd,” she admitted.
“I like nerds,”
She smiled and continued. “I can’t dance, other than group dancing and I love hot, big breakfasts because I’ve eaten them all my life.”
Derek picked up his end of the conversation. “I love reading political thrillers…”
“I love reading romance and romantic suspense,” Lana added.
“At least we both read,” he commented.
“And eat,”
He laughed then whispered. “My favorite is chocolate buffets.”
Lana bit her lip and looked him over. “We both like those.”
They completed the tour and returned to the hotel to prepare for dinner. Inside the room, Derek checked his watch.
“We have a little over an hour,” he informed her.
Lana moved into his arms. “So what would you like to do?”
“Why don’t you take a bath and relax?” Derek offered.
She looked surprised. “You have me here, all to yourself and you’re sending me to take a bath?”
Derek kissed her cheek. “I didn’t bring you here to pounce on you.” He moved to her mouth. “I’ve told you, I don’t have to rush. I’m not going anywhere.”
Lana returned his kiss. “You want me to trust you,” she whispered.
“Eventually, I want you to love me.” Derek replied, lifting her into his arms.
He carried her to the luxurious bathroom and set her on her feet in front of the Jacuzzi tub. “Tonight is our first date and I want it to be special,” Derek told her. “I want you to just focus on being beautiful and enjoying yourself.”
“It’s starting out very special,” Lana said touching his jaw.
Kissing her again, he left her to her own devices. Lana started the water and gathered her mass of coils to contain them before moving to the sink for the scarf she’d put away earlier. As the water filled, Lana undressed then eventually slid into the deep tub and let the water rise up to her neck.
Lying back, she relaxed in the warm water and closed her eyes. Lana couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt the way she felt when she was with Derek Wells. The easy demeanor that he used with her belied the fire that she knew was within.
She never felt rushed with him or pushed into doing anything that she didn’t want to do. Derek made her feel comfortable and empowered, both of which were very important to Lana. Although, she had no qualms about holding her own, she wasn’t one who enjoyed the fight. Lana much preferred things nice and easy, the way Derek presented them.
“Are you enjoying your bath?”
Lana jumped at the voice and opened her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Derek apologized, sitting on the edge of the tub.
“I was just thinking about you,” Lana told him.
He slid a hand into the water. “What were you thinking?”
“I like how you keep things even. You do things very methodically,” Lana said holding is gaze.
“I’m a strategist, I have to be methodical. I have to access a situation and decide the best course of action,” he explained.
“Do you have a best course of action with me?” she questioned.
“Since the first time I saw you,” he admitted.
Lana leaned forward. “You were determined to get me?”
He nodded and moved closer. “Now I’m determined to keep you.”
They shared a tender kiss until he moved back slightly. Derek slid a finger down her cheek and smiled at her. “Do you mind if I shower?”
“There’s room in here,” Lana whispered.
He gave a low laugh. “I need to get things ready and if I get in there with you, our date will take place in this bathroom.”
Reluctantly, Lana agreed because like a schoolgirl, she was actually looking forward to her first date with him. “Okay, this time.”
He stood and began to undress, giving Lana quite the sexy, sultry show of muscled brown flesh. Although, she’d seen it before, she wasn’t against seeing it again…and again. When he stepped into the glass shower, Lana laid back and watched the perfection that was one Mr. Derek Wells.
From his handsome face, to his beautiful body, he was a sight to behold. He may be a self-proclaimed dork, but Lana found that even more attractive. It was an interesting mix with his urban tendencies. She found his complexity endearing and his passion irresistible.
As Derek lathered his body, he caught her perusal and gave her a sexy smile before continuing with his task. Lana clenched her thighs underneath the water as her eyes landed on the part of him that she remembered could give her ultimate pleasure.
Controlling both her breathing and heartrate, Lana managed not to jump out of the tub and join him in the shower, but instead watched him rinse off and step out to begin drying himself.
“You need some help?” Lana asked innocently.
Derek looked over at her. “Nah, I saw how you were watching me so I know what your help will consist of…”
Lana laughed. “You’re in no rush, right?”
“I didn’t say I was made of stone,”
She lifted a naked leg out of the water. “I don’t know. I seem to remember something very solid.”
Derek paused before wrapping the towel low on his waist. “Tonight, girl.”
Lana slid down into the tub. “I can’t wait.”
Walking over, Derek bent and dropped a hand below the water. Gently he massaged the area that was anxiously awaiting his attention. Lana sighed and allowed better access to his strong hand. When his mouth covered hers, he sucked in the breath that she exhaled and Lana lifted her wet arms to enfold him.
“Finish your bath and meet me in the bedroom,” Derek whispered against her mouth.
Lana nodded quickly as he removed his hand and stood. With one last look, he left her alone in the bathroom. She threw her head back against the tub and gave a low moan before quickly grabbing a cloth to begin washing.
Five minutes later, she was wrapped in a towel and headed into the bedroom. When she entered the room, Derek was seated on the bed in dark shoes, slacks, a crisp white shirt and a dark orange, patterned bow tie.
Lana looked around the room. “Why are you dressed?”
“We’re going to dinner,” he said simply.
“I thought you said meet you in the bedroom?” she said looking at the bed then back at him.
Derek stood. “I did…so you could get dressed.”
She looked him over in his attire. “I didn’t know this was a dressy dinner. I didn’t bring a dress like that.”
“I took care of it,” he told her and she looked confused. “Actually, Lorna took care of it for me.”
“My sister?”
“Do you know another Lorna?”
Lana sighed. “What is going on?”
He walked over to her. “It’s our first date and I wanted to surprise you.” He lifted her face to his. “Your dress, shoes and accessories are in the closet.”
“What?” Lana asked trying to understand what he was saying.
Derek turned her toward the closet and whispered in her ear. “Everything you need is in the closet.”
He gave her a little push and she walked to the closet door. Pausing, she looked back at him and shook her head. “I don’t believe you did this.”
Lana opened the door and to her surprise, a beautiful burnt orange sheath along with shoes, bag, underwear and accessories were all in the closet.
“Derek…”
He took a seat on the bed again. “Get dressed baby, we don’t have much longer.”
“This isn’t my dress,” she told him.
“Yeah, it is,” he corrected. “I bought it for you.”
Lana put a hand to her face. “I thought you meant that Lorna had sent one of my dresses from my own closet.”
“I guess I didn’t put enough emphasis on the word ‘special’,” he commented.
Lana looked at him. “I really can’t believe you did this.”
He looked at his watch. “The sooner we get to dinner, the sooner we can have our buffet,” he told her.
Reaching into the closet, Lana yanked the hanger containing the lovely garment and laid it across the bed.
Looking at him, she dropped her towel. “This buffet will be all you can eat tonight…”