Doin' Me by Wanda B. Campbell Page B

this woman.
    Reyna didn’t hold his gaze as she confessed, “You were right about everything. I spent the weekend with that guy from the dance floor. He liked me, but not enough to tell me about his wife and kids until after I’d gotten drunk and given him my virginity.”
    Tyson flinched but didn’t respond verbally.
    â€œFrom my clothes, he thought I was a hooker, and paid me for my services before he left.” Reyna covered her face and shed silent tears. “I feel so stupid. I actually thought he cared.”
    Lost for words, Tyson molded her against his chest and held her. When Reyna didn’t resist, his heart acknowledged the truth. He was really in love with Reyna. What else could explain why he felt the urge to shield her from an opportunist like the guy from the dance floor, although she’d purposely set out to use the man to hurt him.
    â€œReyna, you’re not stupid. You’ve just been making bad decisions lately,” Tyson said, attempting to comfort her.
    Reyna raised her head and met his gaze. “You don’t consider what I did pathetic?” she questioned.
    Tyson held her gaze and for the first time shared his heart. “Sweetheart, you’re wounded and looking for love. The problem is you’re looking too hard and in the wrong places. You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman, and you deserve the best. You need to slow down and open your eyes. What you need just may be in front of you. I’m here for you, and I’ll help you in any way I can.”
    Reyna’s face twisted as if she was pondering his words. Tyson’s heart pounded against his chest cavity in anticipation of her response to what he considered a declaration of his feelings.
    â€œYou’re right. I do deserve the best, and I’m going to find it on my own,” she finally answered.
    Frustration threatened to overtake Tyson’s emotions once again. He released her and stepped back. “Were you listening?” He didn’t allow her time to answer. “Slow down. Stop being angry, and allow God to direct you.”
    â€œTyson, you’re a good friend and a smart man. And as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right about me being wrong to blame Pastor Jennings without shouldering some of the blame for the wreck I’ve made of my life. Maybe one day I’ll consider God again, but today is not that day.” She closed the distance between them and cradled his cheek with her thumb and forefinger. “Please try to understand that right now I have to do me. I want to experience life. I missed that being Pastor Jennings’s shadow. I want to know what fun is. I want to go—”
    Tyson wasn’t sure if he meant to or not, but before Reyna could finish the sentence, he pressed his lips against hers. When Reyna didn’t protest, he held her and deepened the kiss. Thoughts of good and evil battled in Tyson’s mind. He shouldn’t be kissing Reyna like this in public, for all the neighbors to see. He shouldn’t be kissing her at all, but it felt good.
    â€œWhew!” Reyna said, fanning herself after breaking the kiss. “Not only are you a good friend, but you’re also a good kisser. If you weren’t so anal and wouldn’t get the wrong idea, I’d let you kiss me again.” She bent over and retrieved her shoes. “You’re going to rock Paige’s world.” When she returned to the upright position, Tyson was walking back up the hill.

Chapter 9
    Reyna activated the Bose sound system and moved to the rhythm as she prepared a breakfast of bacon and eggs with wheat toast. Having a place of her own was liberating. Jewel would keel over and die if she could see Reyna now as she stood at the stove in her underwear, gyrating to the R & B hit and singing the lyrics about dancing the night away. She switched off the stove and transferred the bacon and scrambled eggs to a plate the precise moment