The next day

 

At the doorbell ringing, Martha Jean quickly straightened her blouse and pulled her shoulders back to better position her posture. The nearing footsteps caused her excited nervous system to jump, but she kept her face calm and unbothered. The latch on the door was lifted, and when it opened, Norma Rodriguez stood there with surprised eyes as she glanced over Martha Jean.

“Ms. Richards,” Norma said, “to what do we owe the pleasure?”

Norma was really being pleasant. Everyone knew when Martha Jean came around, a scenario could either get wild or be surprisingly calm. More so the former than the latter. But it was in Norma’s blood to be cordial.

Martha let her eyes roam over Norma. She’d met the older woman when Samiyah married Jonas. Martha remembered the first time she’d been introduced to her. She wasn’t that impressed with Norma’s five-foot-five height and short and stocky body, but she was surprised by her salt-and-pepper hair that was cut right below her ears in a bob. It was a different look from what Martha Jean had expected in a housekeeper when she’d first been told about Norma. But now standing in front of her, Martha Jean had to admit the woman looked a little different like she’d lost some weight.

“Hello,” Martha Jean sang. “I hear your birthday is coming up, and I wanted to be proactive in bringing you a gift.”

Norma’s eyes perked, and she smiled while stepping to the side.

“Oh, my goodness, Ms. Richards come on in,” she said with a light Spanish accent.

 Martha Jean eased inside, and she looked around before settling her gaze back on Norma. “I hope you have a sweet tooth,” Martha Jean said, “because these come fresh from the bakery.”

Martha Jean handed over a fruit arrangement that held chocolate covered strawberries, mango, and pineapples. Norma gladly took the gift, her smile spreading further across her face.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Richards. Hopefully, you’ll stick around and help me eat a few.”

“Oh, I would be delighted,” Martha Jean said. It was her sole purpose for coming to Christopher Lee Rose’s compound. When Christopher didn’t reach out to her after the photo Martha Jean had sent, she surmised the man must need an up close and personal look at her new appearance. And that’s exactly what she planned to give him.

Norma stepped past Martha Jean. “Follow me,” she said, walking through the foyer, down the hallway, to the kitchen. As Norma sat the basket down, she retrieved two small appetizer plates and sat them on the counter then turned for the kitchen sink to wash her hands.

“I’ve been outside in that stubborn garden trying to make sure the ground stays fertilized,” Norma said. “If I don’t, Mr. Rose will hire a whole firm to come in here and tease the ground when spring comes back around.”

Martha Jean frowned slightly. “It sounds like you’re working yourself too hard, Norma. If Mr. Rose wants to hire people to come tease the ground as you say, then why not let him?”

Norma turned off the sink and turned around, reaching for the towelette across the counter to wipe her hands on.

“Ms. Richards, I’ve been around here for a long time. I was here when Mrs. Rose passed, and I’ve seen the boys grow into distinguish gentlemen. So, trust me when I say, if I let Mr. Rose throw money at anything, he would be broke.”

Martha Jean snickered. “Nooo, I don’t believe that for a second.”

Norma smiled. “Okay, maybe not broke, but a close second.”

Martha Jean continued to chuckle at what she assumed was Norma’s joke. Again, her eyes took in the woman’s light brown butter skin, the mole that sat on her cheek right up under her nose, gray eyes, and the short bob hairstyle.

“You know, Norma, you look like you’ve lost a little weight. I hope you don’t mind me saying so. Everyone takes what I say so personally these days.”

Norma chuckled again while she pulled fruit kabobs from the Edible arrangement. “I’ve gotten good about taking a thirty-minute walk in the morning,” Norma said, “and with all my daily activities the extra workout must have me shedding a few pounds.”

“I hope you don’t mind me asking,” Martha Jean began, “but why haven’t you had a significant other? It’s hard to believe that you haven’t wanted the company in the twenty or so years you’ve been working here.”

Norma smiled wider. “I’ve had boyfriends,” she said. “They never last under the scrutiny of the Roses.”

Martha Jean’s mouth dropped. “Are you telling me that they all stick their necks in your business?”

Norma was tickled at the outraged look on Martha Jean’s face.

“You have to understand,” Norma said, “they don’t see me as their housekeeper. Actually, they’ve never treated me like one. To them, I’m family, and no one gets past the Roses’ inspection. To do so, you would have to be a pretty standup guy.”

“Hmmm,” Martha Jean said.

“Even Mr. Rose’s friends Fred and Sampson have tried their luck.” This had Norma’s laughing rising. “But Mr. Rose would fly Fred and Sampson to a remote island before he’d let them get anywhere near me.”

Martha Jean rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard about them two, they sound like heathens that need to be tamed.”

Norma laughed harder. “They are an interesting team.”

“It almost makes you wonder why Mr. Rose entertains them fools as friends. Why not just kick them to the curb all together?”

“Oh, they’re harmless,” Norma reiterated, “just a bit loose at times.” She chuckled.

 “Mmhmm, speaking of, I heard they were in town,” Martha Jean went on, getting to the real reason for her visit. “Are they here?”

“Not now.” Norma handed Martha Jean the small plate with three chocolate covered strawberries on top.

Keeping up the charade, Martha Jean pulled one to her lips for a juicy, mouthwatering bite. “Mmm, this is good,” she said with juice running down her lip. Cupping her hand to her mouth, Martha Jean moved to grab a paper towel. Carefully, she dabbed the corners of her mouth.

“So good,” Martha Jean quipped.

Norma agreed with a nod of her head as she also bit into the sweet fruit.

“So, does that mean Christopher is also gone? I know he’s been babysitting them since they got in town.”

Norma nodded. “With all the time they spent getting fit for their tuxes yesterday, believe it or not, they still didn’t finish.”

“Why not?” Martha Jean said, annoyed that Christopher wasn’t home, and she’d bought the expensive fruit and made the trip for nothing.

Just as Norma went to respond, the kitchen door swung open and in walked Antonio Rose, Christopher’s brother. Antonio stopped short upon seeing the two women chatting in the kitchen.

He turned to them with a smile and a cocked brow. “Good afternoon,” his voice crooned. He held out his hand toward Martha Jean for a shake.

Slowly Martha Jean reached out, accepting his greeting. “Good afternoon… Antonio, right?”

Antonio smiled slowly, his thick lips spreading the span of his tightly carved jaw. “You remembered my name this time,” he said.

“Yeah, you only told it to me a thousand times,” Martha Jean retorted.

Antonio laughed. It was an easy grooving sound that ran a surprising chill over Martha Jean. Approaching Norma, Antonio circled his arms around her for a full hug that picked her slightly off her feet.

“Mr. Rose,” Norma said, tickled. “Put me down before you hurt yourself.”

Martha Jean smirked. She had a feeling Norma would be fun to hang out with for a grown woman’s night out. Pushing her lips out and after a second thought, Martha Jean scrubbed that last idea.

“I take it my brother’s not here,” Antonio asked after placing Norma back on her feet.

“How’d you know?” she asked.

“His Crown Victoria is absent from the garage.”

Norma glanced at the watch on her wrist. “He’s been gone for about an hour. Honestly, there’s no telling how long he’ll be out with Fred and Sampson.”

Martha Jean held back an eye roll. Christopher had really planned to babysit those two, and she couldn’t be more irritated.

“I see.” Antonio brought his focus back to Martha Jean. “I take it you’re also here to see my brother?”

Feigning unawareness, Martha Jean threw a hand to her chest. “Who me?”

Antonio took his gaze around the room, pretending to look for someone other than Martha Jean. When he made it back to her, Martha Jean held pursed lips with her eyes cut at him. A low chuckle slipped from Antonio as he took in her shoulder length silver hair that sat straightened to perfection on her shoulders. The silky strands moved easily with even the softest of movements, and the diamond studs in her ear sparkled beneath. Martha Jean watched him as he took in her dark brown eyes, short nose, and medium full lips. As his eyes found their way down her silver blouse, black denim jeans, and ankle boots that were barely an inch off the ground, Antonio found himself whistling, haphazardly.

“That’s a fine color you’re wearing,” he said.

Martha Jean found herself suddenly warm.

“Oh this?” she said, running a hand down her blouse. “It’s just an old silver shirt I had in the back of my closet,” she lied. Martha Jean had purchased that shirt last week after she’d set her battle plan for winning Christopher’s heart.

“No,” Antonio said, “the color on your lips.”

Another wave of warmth coasted over Martha Jean, making her rub her lips together. In all of her groveling over what to wear this morning, she’d almost forgotten the deep shade of red lipstick she’d applied.

“Oh,” she waved him off. “Thank you.” She blushed, feeling ridiculously coy. She switched gears quickly. “I just stopped by to bring Norma an early birthday present.” Martha Jean gestured toward the open Edible arrangement.

“How nice,” Antonio said.

“It’s delicious, too. Would you like a chocolate covered strawberry, Mr. Rose?” Norma asked.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he said, taking it upon himself to pull a strawberry off the kabob.

Norma moved in to pluck a few more berries off and sat them on a plate. With the remaining arrangement, she trekked to the refrigerator and placed it inside. Martha Jean hadn’t managed to take her eyes of Antonio’s lips from the moment they closed around the fresh fruit. It unnerved her and twisted her gut, and the warmth she’d felt rose. Martha Jean bit her lip just as Antonio’s gaze connected with hers.

Walking toward her casually, he spoke, “This is delicious.” He held the half-bitten fruit. “You should try one.”

As if her body had a mind of its on, Martha Jean stepped forward, closing their gap. With an open mouth, she slipped her lips around the other end of the half-eaten fruit and closed her eyes in a sensual moan. The warmth from her wet lips seeped into his fingertips, and the fire went straight to his shaft.

His pupils darkened. “Was that good?”

Realizing what she had done, Martha Jean froze mid-chew, then swallowed instantly as a blush fell over her. Antonio’s lids lowered, and a smirk sat on his lips.

“Ms. Martha Jean,” he said, “have you had lunch today?”

Martha Jean swallowed. “Lunch?”

He smiled. “Yeah, lunch.”

Martha Jean shocked herself by considering the open invitation. She cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t want to take up your time. I can hang with the best of them when it comes to eating.” She cleared off a nervous laugh.

Standing in the corner watching them with a smile, Norma waited for Antonio to move in and close the deal. She’d been around the Rose men long enough to know not many women were immune to their charms. And she didn’t blame them. Being a part of the family for a little over three decades, Norma had been able to watch her three sons grow up and send them off to college with paid tuitions. She hoped her boys would turn out to have the integrity the Rose men carried. The year they left, Norma had packed up and moved in to the compound after much coaching from Christopher. He reasoned that there wasn’t much reason for her to stay in her home, alone, so he’d given her the other side of his mansion.

Antonio’s smile widened. “I love a woman who can eat,” he said. “Please, join me, that is, if you’ve completed the reason for your visit.”

Martha Jean stumbled for an excuse. It had been a long time since she’d have to find a way to turn someone down without just flat out being rude and saying hell no. This new caring side of her must have been Samiyah’s doing. She was the one always telling Martha Jean to turn it down a notch. Whatever that means. At least that’s what Martha Jean told herself.

“I’m trying to watch my calorie intake, so I probably shouldn’t.”

“Does that mean you don’t eat?”

“Of course not,” she stumbled, “I- um, just don’t know many restaurants that can cater to the diet that I’m on.”

More lies. They were flying out of her mouth like she manufactured them ahead of time, and they stood in a line waiting for the moment when she needed to use one.

Antonio slipped his hands in his black slacks pockets. “If you need assistance with maintaining a healthy regimen and burning calories,” he drawled, “I’m the perfect person to help you out.”

The smile he offered was just as naughty and wicked as the words he spoke. And Martha Jean wondered why she hadn’t slapped him yet. Because you love it. She almost shushed her inner thoughts out loud but was glad she didn’t.

Antonio pushed her further. “Come on, Ms. Martha Jean. Have mercy on a brother and dine with me.”

More tug of war went on inside of Martha Jean. She was interested in Christopher. What did she look like going out with his brother? That would just be confusing. But Antonio wouldn’t give up. He knew the feisty firecracker that Martha Jean was. And he loved it. Soon enough, he surmised she would feel the same way about him.

“We’ve blended families, right?” Antonio continued. “What better way to get to know each other. Then, maybe you’ll never forget my name.”

Martha Jean swallowed, and she suddenly wondered how she’d ever forgotten his name. Was he this fine all this time?

She shrugged. “Well, you’re right, but only if they have food I can eat.”

Antonio was smiling so wide she could see his full set of pearly white teeth. Remembering to be polite, Antonio turned to glance at Norma.

“Would you like to come along, Norma?”

“Oh no, I’ve got enough work around here to do,” she said. “You guys have fun.”

Antonio nodded. “Would you like for me to bring you something back at least?”

“Oh no, no, I’ve got plenty of food here.”

“If you insist,” he said.

With his eyes settling back on Martha Jean, he held his arm out. She glanced down to it and hesitated before circling her through his. They left the kitchen, and Norma trailed them to the front door. Standing in the doorway watching, Norma chuckled at them going back and forth over whose car to drive. That Martha Jean never ceased to amaze her. Norma figured she would get more laughs from that woman as the days went on.