Free Curvaceous by Marilyn Lee Page A

the living room and was sipping my coffee, biding my time until I judged it wouldn't be too early to call Bree when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID screen before smiling and answering.
    "Hey," I said.
    "Hey yourself. So? How did it go?"
    My smile turned into a grin. It was just like Jess to decide I was taking too long to fill her in on my date and call to get the details before I was ready to share them. Not that I minded. Much to her husband's displeasure, Jess and I were as close as we'd been in college. Granted ours was a strange friendship, but it had stood the test of time. Most of our friends and some of the women in my life had come to understand that the only thing I shared with the Angela Bassett look-alike was friendship. Our relationship hadn't always been platonic, but the sexual part of our relationship ended near the end of our junior year of college. Our friendship had survived. 
    I shook my head, forcing myself to concentrate on Jess's voice. "It didn't."
    "Tell me about it," she invited.
    "Where's Malik?" I knew he wouldn't take kindly to what he'd call my monopolizing her on a Saturday morning.
    "He's not here."
    "He's not?" He often used the excuse of their spending time together on the weekend as an excuse to make it as difficult for us to see each other as possible. "Is everything okay?"
    "Yes."
    I noted the hesitancy in her voice. I frowned. "Are you sure?"
    She spoke after another pause. "Yes. Now give."
    I attempted to keep my voice neutral and made no mention of my plans for revenge as I shared the details of my date with Bree.
    "She closed the door in your face?"
    I frowned. She sounded amused.
    "You wouldn't be losing some of that blue-eyed charm of yours, would you?"
    I wasn't in the mood for jokes. At six-three with a muscular body I worked to keep toned, said blue eyes and what I'd been told was a big, hard, sweet, hot, cock,  I'd never had any problems landing and keeping the woman of my choice until Lea dumped me.
    I shrugged. "It doesn't matter because she's not my type."
    "Then why are you sending her flowers and planning to call her? What are you up to, Jake?"
    I suppressed a sigh, wondering when I'd learn not to tell Jess too much. Along with Chuck, who I'd known since junior high, Jess was one of my closest friends. When it came to uncovering things I'd rather not admit, Jess had no peer. She was fond of saying she knew me like she knew the back of her hand.
    "Don't go trying to get psychic on me, Jess. I'm not planning anything."
    "Then why send her flowers? That will only encourage her to think you want to see her again."
    Oh, I was hell bent on seeing her again—just long enough to get her into the sack a few times. Then I'd move on. And I'd sure as hell know better than to allow Lea to set me up on a blind date again. "I don't have any other prospects at the moment."
    "So you'll risk leading her on and then dropping her when someone who is your type comes along? That's not like you, Jake."
    "Look, you're making too much of this. I'm talking about a few dates at most. I promise I won't hurt her."
    "You'd better not or you'll have to deal with me," she warned.
    "You don't know her, do you?"
    "No but when dating a good-looking, sweet-talking white man looking to break hearts, black women have to stick together."
    "What? Break your...Our breakup was mutual. I didn't break your heart. "I frowned. "Did I? I mean...You said—"
    "Relax, Jake. You didn't break my heart, but only because I was careful not to fall in love with you. When a black woman falls for a white man...it opens up all kinds of potential problems for her."
    I wasn't in the mood to discuss the social ramifications of interracial dating. I didn't want nor need anyone telling me who I could or should date. "She's a big girl, Jess. I'm not going to be seeing her long enough for either one of us to get hurt."
    "Look, Jake, I know you won't hurt her intentionally, but you're a big, good-looking man. If you're not