Free Can't Stop Loving You by Lisa Harrison Jackson

“Martinique!”
    It had happened so fast that Kaycee didn’t know what to think, let alone do. She took a seat and hoped that Kendrick could resolve things and bring Martinique back, but when he returned alone fifteen minutes later, she knew that things had not gone well.
    â€œKendrick, what happened?” she exclaimed jumping up from her chair.
    He shook his head. “Martinique walked out on me and we haven’t even started serving dinner. I don’t know why she was tripping, it’s not like you and I were doing anything.”
    She eased down on the corner of his desk.
    â€œAre you seeing Martinique?” she whispered, wanting to know the level of their relationship while hoping not to hear the word yes .
    â€œNo,” he replied.
    Kaycee exhaled with relief.
    â€œA few years back, we used to date, but now it’s strictly a business relationship.”
    Kaycee licked her lips. “She acts like she’s still in love with you.”
    â€œI don’t know why,” he grumbled. The only woman he was finding himself drawn to was the one standing in front of him. “We haven’t seen each other for more than a year.”
    â€œWhy did you break up?”
    â€œShe just wasn’t the one. I think you know the one when you meet her.”
    The room was silent for a few moments as both pondered Kendrick’s last words. It was Kaycee who broke the silence. She stood up and smoothed out her dress.
    â€œWhere do you need me to start?”
    Kendrick’s brow raised. “Excuse me?”
    â€œMartinique is gone and, like you said, you have folks to feed.”
    â€œKaycee, you don’t have to—” he began.
    â€œI know I don’t have to,” she replied, then softly added. “I want to.”
    Her words caused his insides to leap, and he thought he could easily have cleared off his desktop and made her his right then. The thought made the blood rush from his brain to his lower regions, and he stumbled on his response.
    â€œUh…uh, to the kitchen I guess,” he said and rushed from the room. The gentleman in him would have allowed her to exit the room first, but he didn’t want to catch another glimpse of her backside or he would be totally at her mercy.
    Â 
    The whole evening went off without a hitch. Kaycee proved herself to be invaluable as she aided Kendrick in pulling off a great event.
    She informed Sidra that she would be catching a ride with Kendrick since she would be working. Sidra was happy because that meant she could follow Hampton to check out another party without having to worry about getting Kaycee home. To her relief, Kaycee didn’t see Paul again the rest of the night. She wanted to put on her best face to prove to Kendrick that they could work together. She played hostess by engaging in conversations with community leaders and political figures, all of which she enjoyed immensely.
    A little after one o’clock, the crowd began to thin along with Kaycee’s patience with the discomfort she was feeling from her aching feet.
    The band began to wind down their last set with a saxophone rendition of Etta James’s song “At Last.” Her sentiments in line with the song, Kaycee crawled into a booth and kicked off her sandals. She yawned as she massaged her stiff toes and the numb balls of her feet. The shoes were cute, but not to work in.
    Kendrick was standing by the door talking to three other men. The four could easily have been discussing anything from politics to coffee as far as Kaycee could tell. All of them were “seasoned” with age and were equally handsome, but it was Kendrick who stood out. She knew he was an older man, but compared to the others he looked more virile.
    His back was strong and broad and looked as though it could withstand heavy weights. His defined arms promised to pick her up and hold her closely with ease. She was sure the rest of him wasn’t small-time,