Caribbean Nights

“I’m going to Jamaica ,” Keeta announced. “Can you believe it?”


“No way! That’s awesome, girl. You’re finally getting a break from the sweat shop. I’ve been telling you forever you need to take your earned days and make them realize what an asset you are.”

Keeta grimaced. “Well, I’m not actually going on vacation.”

“Why did I get my hopes up?”

“It’s still Jamaica . You can’t beat that.” Keeta wasn’t even convincing herself at this point, and she knew it wasn’t going over to Candace. Her girlfriend was always a reality check for her when Keeta lost sight of her dreams or, like Ann Marie sometimes did, forgot that she was a person. “Remember that Caribbean Nights shoot I was telling you about a couple weeks ago? They’re doing it in Jamaica , which I knew, but today Ann Marie said she needed me there, and the magazine will pay for everything. I know I’ll be working hard, but I’ll have my nights free to walk on the beach or whatever. I can’t wait.”

“Okay, I’m excited for you,” Candace admitted. “And who knows, you might meet your one and only down there and fall madly in love. I can hope. You, above all others, deserve someone special, Keeta.”

Keeta sucked her teeth. “Girl, don’t even go there. You know I’m all about my career right now, and I’m thinking about going back to school for my Masters. Besides, I don’t have time for a man.” What she didn’t admit was that there was absolutely no way in the world a man would look her way with five supermodels in bikinis running around. Her size fourteen body, pushing a size sixteen, had never once gotten a man’s pulse racing when she walked by, and that wasn’t about to start in Jamaica.

“I better get off this phone,” she told Candace. “I have a ton to prepare and nothing started. I was just so excited I had to tell you. We’ll talk about it later when I get home.”

“If you get home. Okay, sweetie, don’t stay too late. Luv ya.”

“Luv you too,” Keeta echoed and hung up the phone.

When she went back to her list of models, she marveled that after five years working as Ann Marie’s assistant, Keeta still had to squint and stare at Ann Marie’s handwriting to figure out what she’d written. She concentrated so hard, that it took her a minute to realize someone stood over her desk, blocking some of the light.

Keeta looked up—and up farther. The man standing over her desk was a veritable giant with broad shoulders, a powerful chest, and the rest of his body lickably hard in slacks and a collared shirt. When she made it to his face without cramping her neck, Keeta caught her breath. Even better, his face was that of a god carved in marble. Except he was tanned from, she guessed, lots of time spent outdoors. His eyes were chips of coal to match the tight, dark curls on his head. His jaw line was steel with a small goatee and a slight, shaped beard at his chin.

A full bottom lip compressed with the top one, teasing Keeta’s feminine senses and giving her a brief fantasy of kissing him. The aura the man gave off was danger, and the way he stood erect and proud gave her the impression of a military career. Keeta was good at noticing details about people like that. It helped with work.

Still staring at the man, she snapped out of it when he cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow. “May I help you?” Glad her voice had worked and she didn’t sound like the mouse she felt, she waited for his response.

“Dominic East to see Ann Marie Connor,” he announced in the deepest, panty-wetting tone Keeta had ever heard. She clutched her hands in her lap while squeezing her legs together.

“Do you have an appointment?”

He leaned down over her, bracing his palms flat on the desk calendar. Even lowering himself in that way, he was still much bigger than she was. The sensation was unreal. He narrowed angry eyes on her face, making her squirm this time with nervousness. “No, and I have no business in this building, yet here I am.”

Her mouth fell open. “Come again?”

He was about to explain, but they were interrupted by Ann Marie, herself. She glided up, all business and holding out her hand. “You must be Dominic. Hello, I’m Ann Marie. Let’s talk in my office.”

Heart sinking, Keeta examined her boss. As usual, she wore a tight-fitting dress that somehow managed to be professional while also showing off her ample cleavage and offering a peek at a smooth, slender thigh. The high heels that Keeta could never wear without turning her ankle and landing her on the floor showed off Ann Marie’s long legs to perfection. Then again, what did Keeta expect? Ann Marie had been a model in her younger days, and even pushing forty-eight, she was still beautiful. Keeta felt herself fading into the wallpaper behind her and resisted the tug.

She stood up, grabbed her pad, and rushed across to Ann Marie’s office. She was an assistant. There was no reason why should couldn’t get in on this meeting to find out who the mystery man was, because it was for sure, as scrumptious as he was, he was nobody’s model!