Can't Say No Read online

  Today had proven what she’d always known. Only a genuine womanizer would be bold enough to try and talk one woman into his bed while he was escorting another. Being close to him, smelling his clean male scent, seeing his firm lips and dark penetrating eyes were enough to convince her that she was darn lucky to have left him that fate-filled night with her heart whole.

  Ralph’s looks alone were enough to explain the steady flow of females willing to risk it all for just the opportunity to get close to him. Add in a generous dose of the Prescott charm, blend with keen intellect, quick wit, then combine with an enviable bank balance and mix in excellent health and sexual attraction, was it any wonder that Ralph would never lack for female companionship?

  Vanessa’s time would be better spent concentrating on what was most important, taking care of her family and working toward her goals to finish her college education and design beautiful bridal and evening gowns.

  “I’ve wasted enough time on that man,” she muttered aloud, then got up and went into the small utility room behind the kitchen, where an overflowing basket of clean clothes waited on top of the drier to be folded or ironed and put away.

  “I didn’t hear you this morning,” Lana said into the telephone.

  Vanessa was at her desk, sipping a steaming mug of coffee. “You were sleeping so peacefully, I decided not to wake you.”

  “The twins weren’t so considerate.” Lana laughed.

  Joining in, Vanessa asked, “Did you see the bowl of tuna salad left for sandwiches in the refrigerator? And I also left a list of books you and the twins might want to check out while you’re at the library. If you have time, would you pick out something on business accounting for me?”

  “No problem. But Nessa, it’s summer vacation. We’re supposed to have fun every once in a while. You have us scheduled to go somewhere almost every day.” They were fortunate that the public library was only a block from their home. The neighborhood community center, three blocks away, had art classes and recreational programs for kids that included use of their pool during the summer months.

  Vanessa laughed. “Okay. But call me if you need anything. I’ll be in the office most of the day.”

  “All right. Talk to you later.”

  Gretchen and Vanessa spent the morning working on the proposed budget for a dinner dance to generate funds for the following year’s scholarship fund.

  Gretchen had left for a meeting downtown with several high-school counselors. Vanessa was preparing a list for Gavin of proposed tuition hikes across the country when Anna came into the sunny home office Gretchen and Vanessa shared.

  “Try this,” Anna said, as she placed a small tray on Vanessa’s desk.

  Vanessa smiled. “Smells good,” she said, accepting a bowl of savory stew and a homemade buttered yeast roll. Anna was close to finishing her cookbook. Trying out new recipes was a perk of Vanessa’s job. “Mmm. It’s wonderful.”

  “It’s lamb stew. I changed it a little. What does it need?”

  “Nothing as far as I can tell.” She relished the taste, closing her eyes. “It’s delicious. When is the cookbook coming out?”

  “Next summer if I can get all the kinks worked out. Do you think it needs more curry?”

  Vanessa took another taste. “Not for me; I’d say it was fine.”

  “Thanks, Vanessa. I’ll pack it up and take some over for Mama and Daddy to try out. There’s more if you get hungry later. I also baked a fresh batch of sweet potato bread with walnuts this morning. There is a loaf with your name on it ready for you to take home on the counter. See you later.”

  “Thanks.” Vanessa laughed. “I’ll never lose weight around here.”

  “Why bother? You always look great,” Anna called over her shoulder. “If Gavin calls, tell him to call me on my cell.”

  “All right.” Vanessa went back to the list. She enjoyed her job. If it weren’t for her goals, she would be content to work for the Mathises. She thought it was wonderful that Gavin and Anna had decided not to limit the scholarship fund to only low-income graduates with the highest grades but to average students as well.

  Vanessa had finished her lunch when the telephone rang. She said automatically into the receiver, “Mathis Enterprises.”

  “Hello, Vanessa. It’s Ralph. How are you?”

  Her heart rate accelerated at the sound of his deep male voice. She wasn’t about to tell him that he didn’t need to identify himself. She knew his voice…knew too much about him, including the feel of his warm caresses as he stroked her nude body. Memories of his long body pleasuring her filled her thoughts.

  “Vanessa…”

  “I’m well, thank you.” She waited, refusing to say his name. Finally, she asked, “May I take a message for Anna or Gavin?”

  “I called to speak to you, beautiful. Would you like to go out to dinner with me? I have a plane ready to fly us to the Keys. I know of a restaurant that has the best lobster and Key lime pie in the state of Florida. We’ll have time to walk on the beach in the moonlight, that is, if you insist on coming back tonight.”

  Eleven

  Ralph frowned when he heard Vanessa’s laughter. “What’s funny about a dinner invitation?”

  “Will you get real? The answer is no. First of all, it’s a weekday. Second, even if I were crazy enough to even go across town with you, I still have three hungry kids at home expecting me to prepare them dinner tonight. Last and most important, we have an agreement. I suggest you call one of your money-hungry little friends for entertainment. Tell me, is stubborn your middle name?”

  Ralph couldn’t help laughing. The lady meant business, but so did he. He intended to see her, and soon. He wasn’t about to take no for an answer. Not when he knew he was capable of making her purr, again. He was looking forward to hearing that sexy sound she made when she came…purring only for him.

  Around a wide grin, he said, “Who told you my middle name? Here I was thinking it was a family secret. Tell you what, don’t worry about cooking tonight. Leave dinner up to me. Does your family like Chinese?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean…”

  “It means we have to eat. See you,” he said, ending the call.

  He shook his head. Talk about stubborn. The girl could give lessons. She was right about one thing. The ladies he normally hung out with would never turn down his offer…any offer. In a sense, Vanessa had done him a favor. She’d reminded him that his lady friends weren’t only interested in his winning personality. They were after him for all the advantages his hefty wallet could provide.

  There was no doubt that Vanessa had her feet firmly planted on the ground. The man who won her heart would have more going for him than moonlight and roses. She was nobody’s fool.

  A few hours later, Ralph was leaving a meeting in Coach Gardner’s office when he ran into an old friend he hadn’t seen in some time. “Well, well. I don’t believe it. When did you get back?” Ralph playfully slapped his longtime friend on the back. The two had been teammates and friends at U of D and the NBA.

  Scott Hendricks grabbed Ralph for a bear hug. “Man, it’s good to see you. How have you been? Missing the NBA?”

  “Somewhat. It’s been an adjustment,” Ralph admitted.

  “Man, it’s good to see you. Are you just passing through the ‘D’?”

  Scott shook his head, surprising Ralph. “No, I’m back for good. I bought a place in Bloomfield Hills.”

  “So, the rumors are true. You’ve given it up?”

  “That’s right. I gave it ten years. Now, it’s time to hang up the uniform and pick up the textbooks.”

  Ralph was shocked. The other man had been an A student working toward a degree in chemistry when he quit U of D after his sophomore year and been drafted in the NBA. “Wow! Giving up the big bucks for a test tube. Well, if anyone can do it, you can, Scott.” Ralph glanced at his watch. “Look I’ve got to run. I plan to put in a few hours at the Malcolm X Community Center. Maybe I’ll run into you there. You know
Dexter Washington and Charles Randol.”

  Scott laughed. “Of course. Both of them are old friends. Back in the day, that center helped keep my nose clean. I hope, once I get settled, to put in some volunteer time. But, I’m here to drop in on Coach. Is he in?”

  “Yeah.” Ralph punched him playfully in the arm. “Stop in to see me on campus. Better yet, give me a call. We can hit a few balls.”

  “Sounds good. Later.”

  Ralph had a smile on his face as he headed for the parking lot. It had been great to see Scott. But Ralph knew his good mood was mainly because he was going to get some of what he needed…a chance to see, and, with some luck, spend time with, his lady.

  Vanessa might not be ready to admit it, but they definitely had something going on between them. But it was going to take a great deal of work on his part to persuade her to give him another shot. He planned to prove her wrong. Friends can be lovers! Why not, if it was what they both wanted? They could make up their own doggone rules.

  Vanessa was still angry with Ralph even later that afternoon when she parked in her driveway. He was full of himself, but even an egotistical jock like him wasn’t bold enough to show up at her door with dinner. No way! She tried to laugh at herself for imagining the worst.

  Ralph Prescott, smooth-talking charmer with millions, was used to women falling at his feet. Once he realized his romantic offer had been turned down, he wasn’t about to waste the evening of seduction by having dinner with Vanessa and her three kids. He was most likely flying to the Keys by now, sipping champagne aboard his private jet with one of his gorgeous lady friends. Goodness knows, he had enough women to choose from.

  She called out a hello, as she unlocked the screened, side door.

  Judging by the squeal of laughter coming through the back sunporch everyone was playing in the fenced-in backyard. Ignoring the neat stack of bills that had evidently come in that morning’s mail and dropping her purse on the hall table as she went back out the side door, she walked past the detached garage.

  “Hi!” she called, as she opened the gate and walked across the thick carpet of grass.

  “Nessa!” the twins yelled, and ran to give her a hug. As usual, they were talking over each other, telling her the day’s events.

  When Vanessa sat in one of the swings on the old but sturdy wooden swing set that her father had put up for her when she was a girl, Courtney climbed on her lap facing her, so they could swing together. She pushed off. Curtis pouted for a moment, then climbed up the ladder to the overhead platform and slid down the curved slide. Lana took the other swing and began talking about the trouble the girls next door had gotten into with their parents.

  “Are you listening, Nessa?” Lana quizzed.

  “We have any ice tea?” Vanessa asked, pumping her legs to go higher as she kissed her giggling baby sister’s cheek.

  “Yes, we do. I’ll get it.” Lana got up and headed toward the house.

  “No name calling,” Vanessa warned Curtis, who had taken the empty swing.

  “Okay, but I’m next!” he insisted.

  “Look who’s here,” Lana said, stopping to greet the man walking through the gate and into the backyard.

  “Hey.” Ralph smiled.

  Vanessa rose, placing Courtney on her sandal-covered feet. Curtis ran over to greet Ralph. She was forced to smile, aware of the twins’ curious gazes moving between the two of them.

  “He brought dinner.” Lana peeked inside the huge bag of Chinese takeout he carried. Excited, Lana said, “Enough for everyone, by the looks of it.”

  “Just happened to be in the neighborhood, right?” Vanessa crooned, careful to keep the anger and frustration out of her voice.

  Ralph laughed. He dropped down until he was at eye level with the twins and held out his hand. “Hi, Courtney. Hi, Curtis.”

  Courtney blushed, but smiled, too shy to put her tiny hand in his for a handshake.

  Curtis stuck out his chest and offered his hand. “Hi, Mr. Prescott. How tall are you? Are you bigger than Shaq?”

  Ralph shook Curtis’s hand. “Shaq has a few inches on me. “I’m six-seven, but I can jump higher than he can,” he boasted, his twinkling dark eyes rested on Vanessa. “Since I wasn’t sure what everyone liked, I brought a little of everything, including plenty of egg rolls.”

  “Yeah!” Curtis spoke for them both, and the twins giggled.

  “How nice, Mr. Prescott. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.” Vanessa, folding her arms beneath her breasts, suddenly remembered what she looked like. She was in a pair of comfortable jeans and a pink knit sleeveless blouse. She hadn’t put on more than a little powder and lip gloss, both of which were long gone. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She told herself it didn’t matter. He wasn’t staying for dinner.

  “Mr. Prescott, you can stay for dinner, can’t you?” Lana asked.

  “Yes!” the twins said excitedly.

  Ralph’s dark eyes danced as he looked expectantly at Vanessa. “I’d love to, if it is all right with you, Nessa,” he teased.

  Forcing a smile, Vanessa knew she had no choice, and said, “Oh please, you must join us.”

  “I’d love to, but everyone has to call me Ralph. Not Mr. Prescott.”

  Both the twins clapped their hands, jumping up and down excitedly.

  “Nessa,” Lana called back over her shoulder, “you coming?”

  Vanessa, suddenly in a hurry to get away, nearly bumped into her sister, who had stopped to open the gate. Lana gave her sister an odd look, causing Vanessa to ask, “What?”

  “You tell me. Are you upset because I let Mr. Prescott, I mean Ralph, in the gate without asking you first?” Lana rushed on to say, “I’m sorry. I let him in because I thought he was your friend. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  Vanessa kissed her cheek. “Nothing’s wrong. And you’re right. Ralph is a friend of mine.”

  “But you’re upset.”

  Vanessa forced a smile. “I’m just surprised. Now get going. We’ve got people waiting to be fed.”

  Evidently relieved, Lana laughed, motioning to the large bag she held. “No worries. He brought enough to feed a small army.”

  Vanessa was forced to swallow a scream of frustration. She didn’t want her sister to see how very upset she was. If she were a swearing woman, she could have turned the air blue. He knew exactly what he was doing. He’d backed her into a corner, and there was nothing she could do about it in front of her family.

  “Goodness!” Vanessa exclaimed, once they were inside the roomy kitchen and she saw how much food Ralph had provided. Rather than his generosity endearing him to her, she wanted to give him an earful, but she would have to wait until she could talk to him alone. Instead of grinding her teeth together in mute frustration, she put Lana to work setting the table while she began heating the food in the microwave and filling serving bowls.

  “Should I use Grandmother’s tablecloth?” Lana asked

  “No. We are eating in the kitchen.”

  Lana had been on her way to the china cabinet to get out their mother’s good dishes. “Why?”

  Vanessa pointed at the cabinet where the everyday dishes were stored. “Ralph is a friend, not company.”

  Even though Vanessa had seen how comfortable Ralph was with his teen cousin, Gavin’s brother Kyle, and even his two little nieces, she nonetheless was shocked how quickly Curtis and Courtney warmed to him. Even Lana, despite her shyness, was laughing at his corny jokes. By the time the meal had ended, all three kids were hanging on his every word, especially Curtis. When Ralph volunteered to put up a basketball hoop and show Curtis how to play, Curtis was beside himself with excitement. It was painfully obvious that the little boy lacked male attention.

  Afraid that Ralph was going to disappoint the child, yet at the same time determined to keep Ralph as far away from her family as humanly possible, Vanessa didn’t know if she should tell him to stay away or demand he keep his promise. Her need to protect her family wo
n out.

  With a forced smile, she volunteered to walk him to his car. Before she could start yelling at him, he kissed her temple.

  “You don’t have to thank me. I enjoyed dinner.”

  “Thank you!” she huffed indignantly.

  He chuckled, and teased, “Yes, thank me. After all, I did bring the meal, saving you the effort. Seriously, you have a great family, Nessa.” He used the nickname the kids preferred. “I’m sure it can’t be as easy as you make it look. The twins are well adjusted and happy. And Lana is a sweet girl. I applaud you. You’ve done a remarkable job. And you’ve done it on your own.”

  Surprised by the compliment, Vanessa was unsure if he was sincere or putting her on…trying to get next to her. His approval warmed her heart, the last thing she needed or wanted. She blinked rapidly, struggling to push the tender emotion away. She wasn’t going to take it or him seriously. In the end, the good manners her mother had drilled into her prevailed.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You are welcome.” He smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then he climbed into his dark red Navigator and started the motor.

  When she knocked on his passenger-side window, she repeated, “Tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I promised Curtis I’d put up the hoop and teach him my game.”

  She shook her head firmly. “That’s not necessary. I’ll come up with some kind of excuse so…”

  “It’s necessary, Nessa. Once I give my word, I keep it. I thought you knew that. Bye.”

  Before she could say more, he pulled away from the curb and drove off. Resisting the urge to fling a few choice words at him, she settled for kicking a few loose rocks and muttering to herself.

  How did he do it? How did he get the better of her? She had told him more than once what she thought of him. Why didn’t he just give up? By the time she walked inside the house, she was relatively calm. The twins were plopped down on the area rug, watching television, and Lana was curled up on one end of the sofa, talking on the telephone to one of her friends. Silently, Vanessa promised herself that she would tell him tomorrow to get a life and leave her alone.