Admission of Love by Niobia Bryant Page B

saw the two women as one and the same, although this was the first time he met the beauty face to face.
    “Will the house be finished by the end of next month?”
    “Yes, we haven’t suffered any major setbacks. We’re right on schedule —”
    “Vonnie! Bring that girl in the house and offer her something to drink. You were raised!”
    Chloe turned to look at the owner of the strong, feminine voice. A petite, older woman dressed in a white cotton dress stood on the wraparound porch, her hands on her narrow hips. Her salt-and-pepper hair was pulled into a French roll, with a pretty, makeup-free face, even with the prominent wrinkles. She waved “hello” at Chloe with a smile.
    “That’s my grandmother. Just call her Nana Lil; everyone around here does.” As she waved back, he studied the woman. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. “Pull your car in behind my truck.”
    He crossed back around the truck and hopped up into the cab. After she pulled her car in behind him, onto the driveway, he walked over to her car door to meet her. “Since you’re around today, why don’t we meet in office and I can answer any questions you have.”
    “My intent had been to call tomorrow and set up a time to come to the site. But if you’re sure that I’m not inconveniencing you, we can meet today.”
    “Not at all.” Actually, he would’ve preferred to foist the task off on his brother. Being around her made him nervous.
    As they walked toward the house, he hoped she didn’t turn up her nose at their home. He knew it was no comparison to her apartment in New York, or the luxury hotels she stayed in during her travels. If she showed any outward signs of disrespect to the house his loving grandmother had taken over caring for ever since she moved back into the house where she raised her own family, then he swore to toss the model out on her skinny but. House or no house.
    Chloe was charmed by the exterior of their sprawling three-level home, reminiscent of the old plantation homes of the eighteenth century. The large porch had a huge wooden swing and a rocking chair, the whitewash was fresh and bright like it had been recently painted. The dark trim was the perfect contrast for the shutters, especially with the brightly colored flowers in the small boxes at each glass-paned window. She immediately felt comfortable; it was the epitome of a country home.
    “Hello Nana Lil, it’s nice to meet you.”
    Lillian figured that in her eighty-seven years on this earth, she had become a good judge of character on her strong instincts alone. This beautiful and tall woman, who resembled her best friend Tessa so much, stood before her almost shyly. She was pretty but not conceited, confident and not arrogant, and she didn’t take any stuff. She saw that from the way she had stood up to a formidable Devon. The eyes were the mirror of the soul, and Lil liked what she saw in the girl’s cat-shaped depths. Kindhearted, friendly and drug-free. The eyes of a drug abuser was sickly yellow.  Hers were bright white and clever. That dispelled all the negative thoughts Vonnie had of her being an airhead and a drug addict. Lil liked her on the spot. This was Tessa’s grandchild.
    “Nana Lil, this is Chloe Bolton.” Devon spoke from behind her and Chloe felt his warm breath on her neck as he spoke. She stepped up away from his closeness. This brother could get to be irresistible , she thought as she shivered with awareness.
    “Nice to meet you, Chloe. I remember when you were just an arm baby, but now you’ve grown up to be so pretty, just like Tessa.” Lil step forward and hugged Chloe, the top of her head only reaching the model’s shoulders.
    Chloe hugged her back, only slightly surprised. “You knew my grandmother?”
    “Knew her?” Lil scoffed as she released her. “Tessa and I were the best of friends, since childhood and right up until her and Odis’s passing.”
    Sadly, Chloe thought of her own friendship with Anika and