Free No Other Lover Will Do by Cheris Hodges Page A

green beans with almonds, baby greens and fennel salad, and bananas foster for dessert. After tasting each dish, Solomon gave the man his stamp of approval. “This is going to be a great dinner,” he said. “Make sure you don’t let some other resort steal you away from us. I see your own restaurant in your future.”
    The chef smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
    Solomon shook hands with the chef, then headed into the dining area. The wait staff had made a booth private for him and Kandace. Fresh flowers adorned the table and two candles in the center of the table were ready to be lit. Looking down at his watch, he saw it was time for him to get Kandace. He couldn’t help but picture the look of shock on her face when he ended up taking her to the restaurant and not his suite. At least, not right away.
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    Kandace slipped the strappy Manolos on her feet. They weren’t her style—the heel was way too high and too Sex and the City —but they did make her legs look great and set off the dress. She knew how expensive the shoes and the dress were. The dress was Roberto Cavalli, a designer that Serena and Jade were crazy about. Kandace was content with clothes that just gave her a polished look. After assessing herself in the mirror one last time, she was certain she was sufficiently polished in her designer threads. “I bet he’s going to try and have dinner in his suite and I’m not falling for it,” she said as she adjusted her strap.
    Just as she reached for her purse, there was a knock at the door. She opened the door and saw Solomon standing there dressed in a pair of black wool slacks, an olive turtleneck, and a vintage denim suit jacket. “Amazing,” he said as he gave her a slow once-over.
    â€œSo, where are we going?”
    â€œIt’s a surprise,” he said as he extended his arm to her.
    â€œIt had better not be your suite, because I agreed to dinner and nothing else,” she said with finality.
    â€œThe night is young,” he replied as they headed to the elevator. “But for now, we’re going to a private booth in the restaurant.”
    She nodded. “That sounds good. I’m almost impressed.”
    â€œAlmost?” Solomon asked with a raised eyebrow.
    â€œYes,” Kandace replied. “I figured you were going to try and lure me up to your suite. But as you just said, the night is still young.”
    â€œThat’s right,” he said as they stepped on the elevator. “You might be racing me to my suite before the night is over.”
    â€œI doubt that,” she said as the doors closed. Solomon turned to her and pulled Kandace against his chest.
    â€œYou know why I picked out this dress?” he asked as he ran his finger across her shoulders.
    Kandace tried to pretend she was unaffected, pretend that she didn’t feel the press of his erection through his zipper, pretend that the touch of his finger wasn’t making her tingle all over. “Why?” she found the voice to ask.
    â€œBecause it’ll be so easy for me to take it off you,” he said, then leaned in and brushed his lips against her neck. Kandace closed her eyes, shivering with anticipation for about three seconds before she pushed back from him.
    â€œLet’s do something different,” she said. “You keep your hands and lips to yourself.”
    â€œWhere’s the fun in that?”
    â€œHave you ever had a real conversation with a woman?”
    The doors to the elevator opened and Solomon winked at her. “Maybe.”
    She shook her head as they walked into the restaurant. “I thought you were going to try and act like a real person,” she said. “This is not attractive.”
    â€œBut you are and you know it. If I didn’t notice it, then you would be upset,” Solomon said. “That’s how you women are.”
    â€œMaybe that’s how the women you meet are, but I