NiceGirlsDo Read online

  “Good. Now, you want to tell me what's really bothering you before I decide to slap your skinny, half-white, flat ass into the middle of next week?”

  “I’m black.”

  “Whatever! What’s your damned problem?”

  Amber shrugged. “I guess you know, huh?”

  “That you're pregnant?” She nodded. “How far along are you?”

  “About ... three months. Oh, Darbi. Clay is going to freak when he finds out! And Damien will be rolling up his sleeves wanting to ... he and Clay are so ... crazy when it comes to me. They think it's okay for them to whore around, with both of them fucking Cami until she can't walk, but I'm supposed to keep my knees pressed together until I've graduated from college and gotten married.”

  Darbi blinked. “What? What did you say about Cami?”

  “What do you mean? What did I say?”

  “They both sleep with her?”

  Amber's green eyes widened and she pressed a hand against her lips. “You didn't know? Oh, shit! Don't tell Clay I told you or he'll throw a fit. I thought you knew!”

  She stared at Amber, wild thoughts chasing each other around in her head. Was that why he didn't believe in marriage because he and Damien shared their women? Is that why Damien had looked dismayed at the picnic when he learned Clay and Cami had gone off together? Had he feared they were having a quickie without him? Did this sharing explain Clay's initial willingness to believe she'd slept with Damien? Would he expect her to sleep with his brother? And did he plan to sleep with Damien's woman?

  She closed her eyes briefly. Get a grip, girl. Get a grip. No matter what he and Damien used to do, you know he's not interested in sharing you with any other man. And he doesn’t want any other woman. So don't lose it.

  She opened her eyes and looked at Amber, who was still staring wide-eyed at her. She spoke with far more confidence than she felt. “That's over now. He is no longer sleeping with Cami. Clay and I are in an exclusive relationship.”

  “Oh? Oh, well. Good, but he and Damien are still unreasonable when it comes to my having a lover.”

  “Their feelings might be annoying to you, but I'm an only child and I would have loved to have two older, adoring big brothers.”

  “Adoring? They're not adoring. They're ... draconian.”

  “What about the father?”

  She lifted her chin. “What about him?”

  “Does he know?”

  She nodded.

  “How does he feel about it?”

  “He was surprised like me because I'm on the pill and he used a condom. How is that for luck? He says he'll do whatever I want.”

  “What do you want?”

  “To be able to have my baby ... by myself.”

  “You don't want to marry him?”

  “No. Marriage is not in my game plan.”

  Didn't any of the Fraziers believe in marriage? “Then what's your problem?”

  “My problem is going to be Clay and to a lesser extent Damien. It's going to be easier to tell my parents than them.”

  “Why are you so afraid of telling Clay?”

  “Because he's going to freak out like a nut. Trust me. I know him. And Damien will threaten to kick his ass.”

  “Who's ass?”

  “Paul's.”

  “I think you should just tell them both. Being pregnant isn't the end of the world.”

  Amber tossed her head angrily. “And what do you know about being pregnant?”

  Darbi moistened her lips and met Amber's gaze. “You might be surprised.”

  Amber's gaze widened and she leaned forward. “You mean --”

  Darbi shook her head. “Let's talk about something else.”

  “Like that?”

  “Like the special meal I'm going to make Clay on Saturday night.”

  “He's coming on Friday night.”

  “I know, but his plane isn't due into Philly International until nine 'o'clock. By the time he gets home it will be well after ten. He'll be tired. I'm going to drive him home and let him sleep. On Saturday I'm going to make him a special dinner.”

  “Then you'll tell him?”

  She shrugged. “Let's concentrate on your problem, Amber.”

  * * *

  Clay grinned when he spotted Darbi on deplaning. He rushed forward to draw her into his arms. “Hi, sweetheart!”

  She returned his embrace before pulling away to smile at him. “Hi, honey. Let's pick up your bags.” She turned away.

  He caught her hand.

  She turned to face him. “What's wrong?”

  “Honey? You called me honey.”

  “I did?” She frowned. “I ... I didn't realize it. You don't like being called honey?”

  He drew her back in his arms and gave her a bear hug. “I love it.”

  “Oh. Then it's okay?”

  “It's more than okay, but it’s the first time you’ve ever called me anything but Clay ... or cocky and arrogant bastard.”

  She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Let's get your bags and get out of here.”

  He nodded.

  “Do you want to drive?” she asked as the valet parked her car in front of them.

  “No.” He accepted the keys from the valet and tipped them. He handed her the keys. “It's been a long day and I'm tired. You don't mind driving back?”

  “No.”

  Inside the car, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’ve missed you and I’m so glad you’re back, Clay.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “Close your eyes and sleep if you like.”

  He smothered a yawn. “You're sure you won't mind?”

  “No. You can make it up to me tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” He closed his eyes and settled against the passenger seat.

  When Darbi woke him, they were parked in his courtyard. Getting out of the car, he saw his bags in the foyer through the open front door.

  He frowned. “You should have awakened me.”

  She placed her hands against his chest. “You were tired and I'm not some delicate ninety pounder unable to lift a few bags. Look, you're dead on your feet. I'm going home and I'll call you tomorrow.”

  He caught her hand. “Is Amber here?”

  “No. She's staying with Sharde and Jeff because Damien has a date and she didn't want to be alone.”

  “Then why are you leaving?”

  “Because you need to rest and I need to do a little work.”

  “Can't you do it here?”

  “No.” She stood gazing up at him, a troubled look in her eyes. “We need to talk, Clay.”

  “So talk to me.”

  She shook her head. “It can wait until tomorrow.”

  “You're sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” He walked her back to her car, kissed her, and stood watching until the automatic gate closed after she drove through. He reentered the house, went to his bedroom, undressed, and was asleep soon after he slipped into bed.

  The ringing phone woke him the next morning. He groaned and rolled onto his side. He picked up the cordless phone on his nightstand. “Hello?”

  “Clay?”

  He sat up. “Cami? What's wrong?”

  “Clay, are you alone?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “I really need to talk to you.”

  “Go ahead. I'm listening.”

  “No, I mean I need to see you.”

  He glanced at his bedside clock. 11:16. Damn. He'd wanted to have a late breakfast with Darbi. He sat up. “Cami, I just woke up. What's wrong?”

  “I know you have other interests now, Clay, but I really need someone to talk to. Can you come over?”

  “When?”

  “Now?”

  He shook his head. Damn. He wanted to see Darbi, but Cami had always been there for him. Through the years when relationships had ended badly and he wanted or needed a soft, willing woman, Cami had always been there. She had never once turned him away. If she needed to tal
k, he could wait a few hours longer to see Darbi.

  “Ahh. Sure. I just woke up. Let me get a shower, have a cup of coffee, and I'll see you in about an hour.”

  “Thanks, Clay.”

  He ended the call and then dialed Darbi's number. He got her voice mail. “Listen honey, I have to go out for a few hours. I'll call you when I get back.”

  He was halfway to Cami's place before he realized he'd left his cell phone home. He swore softly, but since he didn't expect to be with Cami for more than an hour or so, he decided not to go back for it.

  * * *

  Darbi put her groceries down on her kitchen counter. She unpacked her bags, putting away the expensive steaks she'd just picked up at the butcher's. She saw the message indicator light blinking on the wall-mounted phone. She glanced at the clock over the kitchen doorway. 11: 30. She'd have plenty of time to cook the steaks, sauté a medley of vegetables, bake a few potatoes, and have time to spend half an hour soaking in her favorite bubble bath before Clay arrived.

  After a surprisingly long night’s sleep, she’d awaken with the conviction that no matter what had gone on between Clay, Damien, and Cami, it was over. There was no way Clay could want her as badly as he did if he were interested in anyone else.

  Based on that belief, she had taken another big step yet in their relationship. She thought about her trip to the jewelers and the ring she had picked out for him. In buying it, she had gambled that if his feelings were as strong he said, he'd want to do whatever it took to make her happy. She closed her eyes. Lord, please let him accept this ring.

  If he did, it would change their relationship in a way so exciting, just thinking about it sent shivers of anticipation through her. But she was getting ahead of herself. He had to arrive and accept the ring before she started dreaming of a real future with him.

  She opened her eyes. The phone rang as she moved across the kitchen to check her messages. She picked it up. “Hello.”

  “Hi, girl, I didn't expect to find you answering the phone today. I thought I’d just leave a message.”

  “Hey Dani. Why not?”

  “I thought you'd be too busy with Clay.”

  She smiled. “He's still home. He slept on the way home from the airport so I decided to let him sleep in.”

  “Big plans for today?”

  She nodded. “You know today is the third anniversary of our first date. I'm making him a steak dinner.”

  “With your special sauce?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, my, if you don’t have him now, you’ll have him once he tastes that sauce of yours.”

  She laughed. “And I'm going to wear this little black dress I paid a fortune for. He loves me in black. I bought special candles so we can eat by candlelight. We'll dance and then later, I have a new black teddy I think he's going to love. I'm telling you now, do not call me tonight or tomorrow morning because I expect to be very busy.”

  Jadan laughed. “Oh, I heard that, girl. Are you going to tell him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Listen, have a great anniversary night and on Monday, Willow and I want to meet for lunch. It's time we discussed a party to introduce him to your friends.”

  She nodded. “You're right. I'll talk to you on Monday.”

  “Okay.”

  As Darbi made her preparation for the special night she and Clay would share, she kept expecting the phone to ring. When she hadn't heard from him by four-thirty, she remembered that she'd never checked her messages.

  She ran a tub full of her favorite bath beads and took her cordless phone into the bathroom with her. Sliding down into the slick, wet silk of the warm water, she closed her eyes, and listened to her messages.

  She frowned as she finished listening to Clay's message. He'd left it at twelve-thirty. It was now after four-thirty. So why hadn't he called her? She dialed his private line in his bedroom and his got his voice mail. She tried the number to the rest of his condo and his cell phone. She received voice mail on each line.

  Amber answered on the third ring. “What are you doing calling here? I thought Clay would have you in bed by now.”

  Didn't she wish. “He's not here. Is he there?”

  “He's not with you?”

  “No. I haven't seen him today. He left a message while I was out saying he had to go out and he'd call me when he got back, but that was nearly eight hours ago. Now I'm starting to get worried.”

  “I haven't seen him since he got home. I called him last night around eleven and got my head chewed off for waking him and didn't expect to see him again until Monday night when he gets home from work.”

  “Is Damien there?” She left a message asking him to call her as soon as possible and settled down to enjoy her soak. She called him several times over the next two hours. At nine p.m. as she sat in the dark living room wearing the new dress she'd bought especially for him and that night, she decided to call Damien.

  “He's in his study working, but he's been here all day. Do you want me to get him?”

  “No. I'm probably overreacting. I'm sure he's fine.”

  “Hold on. I'll ask him.”

  After several minutes, Damien got on the phone. “Hi Darbi. I haven't heard from him since yesterday afternoon when he called to tell me he was on his way to the airport for his flight home. But I'm sure he's all right. If you like I'll call around to a few of his friends.”

  She blinked, realizing she had no idea who his friends were -- other than the damned Cami, of course. Should she ask Damien about the hussy? She decided doing so would call her faith in Clay into question. “Thanks, but I'm sure I'll hear from him in a little bit. Sorry to bother you.”

  “I'm sure he's all right, Darbi.”

  She nodded. But he wouldn't be once she got her hands on him. “Thanks. Good night.”

  At ten p.m. she warmed up part of the vegetables, ate them, had a glass of cider, undressed, and went to bed. She woke a little before twelve a.m. and called Clay's private number. She hung up when the voice mail message started.

  She went back to bed and lay sleepless for what felt like hours before falling asleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  At eleven-thirty, Clay stood over the bed where Cami finally slept. He brushed his hand against her cheek and quietly left her apartment. Forty-five minutes later, he let himself into his bedroom.

  He stripped down to his briefs and sat on the side of his bed while he checked his messages. When he saw all the messages from Darbi, he groaned. He glanced at the clock, decided it was too late to call her, set his alarm for eight a.m. and fell into bed.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  Clay rolled onto his back, opened his eyes, and stared up into Damien's frowning face. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He squinted at his bedside clock. “What the hell is wrong with you, Damien? It's two-thirty a.m.”

  “So you're all right, huh? Man, are you in trouble.”

  He looked up and saw Amber standing in the doorway. He frowned at her and tugged the cover on the bed over his briefs. “What are you two doing here in the middle of the night?”

  Amber shook her head. “I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, Clay. Darbi called around nine p.m. last night looking for you. She spent the day planning a special night for the two of you. She bought a new dress, candles, the works, and you stood her up.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “I did not stand her up. I called her and told her I had to go out.” He paused. “How do you know she planned something special for last night? Why would she tell you and not me?”

  Amber rolled her eyes. “Last night was the three-month anniversary of your first date. I told her you wouldn't care about anything as romantic as that.”

  Oh, damn, he was in trouble. He closed his eyes briefly. “Why didn't she tell me?”

  “Get real, Clay. She wanted to surprise you. Where were you?”

  “With Cami.”

  Damien, who had stood silently whil
e he and Amber talked, tensed. “With Cami? You stood Darbi up and then spent the night with Cami?”

  He cast a narrow stare at Amber. “Go to bed, Amber.”

  “Go to bed? I’m not a child, Clay. I’ll go --”

  He pointed a finger at her. “Do not make me repeat myself.”

  She turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her.

  He rose and faced Damien. “How many damned times do I have to tell you I only sleep with one woman at a time? I did not sleep with Cami.”

  “Then why the hell spend all day and half the night with her while Darbi sat alone waiting for you?”

  “I didn't know she planned anything special. Had I known, I wouldn't have stayed with Cami so long.”

  “Why were you with her in the first place?”

  “She wanted to talk.”

  “And that took all damned day and most of the night?”

  “I've never seen her so ... sad and depressed. She's in love with some bozo who doesn't love her.”

  “Why tell you -- unless you're the bozo she's in love with?”

  “It's not me!”

  “And I'm supposed to believe that? What the hell is wrong with you, Clay? Are you going to start playing with Darbi's emotions the way you've played with Cami's for years? Damn, I never knew you were such a selfish bastard! You have two women in love with you. Instead of picking one and sticking to her, you want them both!”

  Behind the anger, he heard tension in Damien's voice. He saw the pain in his gaze and sank down on the bed as he realized he was looking into the eyes of a man in the grip of jealousy. “You're in love with her! Why didn't you tell me, Damien?”

  “Fuck off, you selfish bastard!”

  When he rose and touched Damien's shoulder, Damien jerked away from him and stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door.

  He sank onto the side of his bed. Damn, he was in some deep shit.

  His bedroom door opened and Amber peeked in. “Damien just stormed out looking like ... is he all right? Are you all right, Clay? You two didn't ... fight. Did you?”

  “No, honey. Please go to bed.”

  “Okay, but you should call Darbi.”

  He shook his head. “It's too late.”

  “You shouldn't wait, Clay. She was so excited when she told me about planning last night and then when she called Damien's place, she was so worried. She must be out of her mind by now thinking you're with another woman.”