Naughty by Nature by Brenda Hampton Page A

Shane. How are you?”
    â€œGood, good,” I said leaning back in my chair.
    â€œThat’s good. And, how’s Sam?”
    â€œShe’s doing fine.”
    â€œYou be sure to tell her I said hello, okay?”
    â€œI will. I promise you I will.”
    She paused. “Where’s that husband of mine? I want to find out what time he’s going to drop off my package at my parents’ house.”
    I sat up and swerved my chair around. I hated to lie to Nokea, but it damn sure wasn’t in my best interest to tell her he’d just walked out of the door with Scorpio. Just as I was about to open my mouth, I looked out of the window and saw Jaylin standing in front of Scorpio talking, while the door to her car was opened. They stood pretty close and my eyes were like binoculars.
    â€œHe’s, uh, in the bathroom, Nokea. I’ll have him call you the moment he—he gets out.”
    â€œIs he okay? We spoke earlier and he said he was going to the bathroom. He isn’t sick or anything, is he?”
    â€œNaw . . . not at all. He wasted some ink on his hands when I was showing him one of my projects. That ink is hard to get off, and you know how Jaylin is when it comes to cleanliness.”
    â€œYes I do know. Just tell him to call me when he’s finished.”
    â€œWill do. And, kiss my godchildren for me, okay?”
    â€œMost certainly,” she said and then hung up.
    I stood up, still tuned into Jaylin and Scorpio by her car. They’d moved in even closer and when her hand moved up the side of his face, I felt for the brotha. He took her hand off his face and kissed it. He held her hands tightly together with his; I wondered what he was saying. I noticed her open his jacket and wrap her arms around his waist. He planted a kiss on her forehead and she backed away from him. Conversing a while longer, she finally sat in the car and he closed the door. She pulled off and he stood on the curb and watched her. Trying to interrupt his thoughts, I reached for my phone and dialed his cell phone. I watched as he reached in his pocket and answered.
    â€œSay, dog, where you at?” I asked.
    â€œI’m on my way back up,” he said. I saw him cross the street so I knew he wasn’t lying. I turned my chair back around and pulled it up to my desk.
    â€œYou all right?” I asked.
    â€œYeah, I’m cool. I’ll see you in a bit.”
    A few minutes later, Jaylin stepped back into my office. He took a seat on my gray and black contemporary sofa and sat back.
    â€œNokea called. She wanted to know what time you’re going to her parents’ house.”
    â€œI’ll call her,” he said in a low voice.
    â€œAre you sure you’re cool? I need all of you here with this meeting I’m about to step into.”
    Jaylin rubbed his hands together and then traced his goatee with the tips of his fingers. “Like I said, I’m cool. But, that was hard—real hard.”
    â€œYou know I didn’t want to complicate things—”
    â€œShane, you don’t have to keep saying that shit, man. I know you ain’t intentionally try to make my ass uncomfortable. It fucks me up how my heart can’t stop pounding.”
    I didn’t say anything because I figured right about now Jaylin needed to get some things off his chest.
    He walked over to the window again and looked out. He then slightly turned his head towards me. “Ain’t she a fine motherfucker, man?”
    â€œNo doubt,” was the only thing I could say.
    â€œDamn!” he yelled. “I can’t believe how being around her still makes me feel weak!”
    â€œWhat are you saying, Jay?”
    â€œI’m saying that I . . . I just wanted to take off those tight ass jeans and wear that pussy out! That’s what I’m saying.”
    I snickered, as my dick had jumped at the same thought. “I feel you” I said. “I show-nuff feel you