Say It Ain't So Read online

  You told me to join the right side of the law and protect the streets on your behalf. It was you who lead me to become a state trooper. It was hard, especially at first, because I knew my street fam was gonna be pissed and think I was a sellout, but I did it anyway. And you worked it out, too, I gotta tell you. Strong-arming from the time I graduated high school until you told me to stop.

  All the lives I threatened, the bones I broke, the teeth I knocked out, the drug deals I protected, the tears I brought grown men to, and not one record of arrest. Amazing. You opened the doors and got me the job, and it was all because of your grace. You stood true to your promise, and even after I became a trooper, I still had the respect and admiration of the street fam I thought I would lose forever, because they knew I was doing what you told me to do.

  Even when I almost lost my life while on the job, you spared me. And although my injuries cost me my job last year, you spared my life. You even gave me a better job with Full Armor, a Christian-based security firm that provides services to those Gospel celebrities and churches that are all about doing your work, Lord, like I am. You even gave me a new love in my life, Kenya. I thank you for her, even though she plucks my nerves and we really aren’t speaking right now. If she’s the woman you would have me marry, then I’ll take her. Believe me, I trust you, God. But, for the life of me, I don’t know why you have me in this house guarding this . . . this . . . sinful seductress of a woman. With her beautiful face and perfect body. This woman, who has no virtues, and has the nerve to encourage her immorality to other women, Paisley Lawrence. Even her name is gorgeous. And those eyes . . .

  “Hello,” Landon answered his phone for the second time that night. The first time, he had been speaking with his twin brother, Benjamin, who was beyond excited when he found out Landon was not only Paisley’s security guard, but living with her.

  “Hey, baby, what are you doing?” Kenya asked.

  In a way, he was glad to hear from her. It had been a few days since they had talked, but their last conversation had gotten heated and he wondered if this one was going to be the same way. “Nothing. Watching television. What are you doing?”

  “Leaving work,” Kenya sighed. “It’s been a long day. We had college night at school.”

  Landon prepared himself for the ten-minute venting he was about to hear. Kenya was a high school guidance counselor and constantly complained about her job. With her it was always something, whether it was the students, the parents, or the administration. Landon had to wonder why she even stayed because she seemed so miserable.

  “So, other than that, what’s going on?” He tried changing the subject.

  “Nothing. How’s your new assignment? Is she all that they make her out to be?” Kenya said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “She’s nice,” Landon answered. One of the reasons he and Kenya hadn’t really been speaking was because of his new assignment to Paisley. She had been livid when he told her he was going to be staying there. Kenya told him to tell his boss no and when he didn’t, she called him selfish and disrespectful.

  “I bet she is. She’s probably prancing around in front of you half-naked all day,” Kenya told him. “I can’t believe you’re even there with her, Landon. You’re supposed to be saved, for Christ’s sake. Your staying there with her is wrong on so many levels.”

  “It’s my job, Kenya. You act like I volunteered for this.”

  “I’m just saying, you know what Paisley Lawrence is all about: sex, sex, and more sex. I hear she even has a sex school where she teaches sex classes. Call Full Armor and tell them you can’t do it. It not only goes against your own personal beliefs, but those of the company as well. How hard is that?”

  “Kenya, you know I’m not going to do that,” Landon told her.

  “Why? Do you wanna be there? Is that what it is? Do you want her to seduce you?”

  “You’re really tripping. It’s not that at all.” Landon wondered if the reason Kenya was so edgy lately was because she needed some reassurance about him and their relationship. “Baby, you know that I’m already seduced by you. There’s no way any woman, not even Paisley Lawrence, can do for my heart the things that you do. Stop tripping.”

  “Whatever, Landon. I’m telling you, you better stay prayed up and mindful. After all, she seduced Warren Cobb and it nearly killed him. I gotta go. Love you.”

  “Love you too.” He hung up the phone. He clicked on the television and tried to focus on the news, but the oil painting of Paisley hanging over the fireplace caught his attention and he became engrossed. He stared at it, and smiled as he thought about her trying to use the huge butcher knife to scratch under her cast. The perfection of her body was clearly visible in the shorts and tank top she’d had on. Trying not to stare at her breasts had been a struggle. After all, he was a man and, Lord knows, she was a woman.

  I’m trying, Lord, I promise you, I am. But this is a test that I don’t know if I’ma be able to pass.

  Chapter 13

  Paisley tossed and turned all night long, unable to fall asleep. She was so angry and hurt by Landon Malone and the things he said about her. Not only that, she was pissed at Warren for just tossing Landon into her life without even discussing it with her. She called Warren’s cell phone and left several voice and text messages, not giving a damn if Kollette heard them.

  “Warren, it’s me. I don’t know what the hell you were thinking when you hired Landon Malone, but you can unhire him. I don’t like him. He’s pragmatic, hateful, and demeaning. I know you called yourself looking out for me, but I don’t need you and I damn sure don’t need him. I want him gone, ASAP!”

  Paisley got dressed quickly and headed downstairs with Killa right on her heels. The house was so quiet the chirping of her disarming the alarm seemed deafening. She opened the back door and the dog ran out of the house, barking at some ducks who were hanging out near the pool. The time on the microwave in the kitchen read six-fifteen. Damn, it’s early, she thought as she filled the dog’s bowls with food and water. A few seconds later, Killa came running in and began eating. Paisley leaned against the counter and watched as he devoured the food. She was tired. Coffee. She reached into the cabinets and was disappointed when she didn’t find any. She spotted the keys to her truck, grabbed them from the counter, and headed out the door.

  It was the first time she had been behind the wheel of a car since the accident. Paisley was extra careful, making sure her seatbelt was on and all of her mirrors were positioned just right. Her foot slowly pressed on the brake and she eased the gear shift from park to reverse. Knock, knock, knock. Paisley nearly jumped out of her skin and slammed on the brake.

  “What the hell is your problem?” she screamed, throwing the car back into park.

  “I should be asking you that same question!” Landon yelled back.

  She hadn’t even seen him come out of the house. Dressed in a wife beater, black sweatpants, and a pair of Nike flip-flops, he seemed menacing and she could see his anger, but she didn’t care. She was angry too.

  “I’m trying to leave.” She glared at him.

  “I can see that. Why are you sneaking and—”

  “Sneaking? Please. I’m a grown-ass woman, I don’t have to sneak anywhere,” she told him.

  “You know I’m supposed to be with you at all times in case something happens.” He frowned.

  “I’m good,” she told him, “nothing’s gonna happen. As a matter of fact, I don’t even need you to be here. You’re fired.”

  “Yeah, right. You can’t fire me,” he said smugly.

  “Really? Watch me,” she snapped at him. His smugness made her even angrier.

  “Whatever. Look, I don’t know why you’re tripping this morning, and I’m not even gonna argue with you. You wanna go somewhere, fine. Move over so I can drive you,” Landon demanded.

  “Yeah, right. You’re not my damn chauffeur. Just leave, Landon, for real. I don’t need you. You’re fired,” Paisley told him, kicking the
truck into reverse and pulling off, nearly running him over.

  I hope his ass is gone by the time I get back. She turned the radio up and allowed the comedy of Steve Harvey and his morning crew to help improve her mood. Before long, she was laughing and singing along with Chris Brown as she pulled into the parking lot of Java’s, her favorite coffee shop.

  “Well, well, well, I haven’t seen you in a while.” Dobie, the owner who regularly waited on her, smiled. “How are you?”

  “I’ll be better once you hook me up.” She smiled at him.

  “The usual?” he asked.

  “Of course,” she said, nodding. He quickly made her cappuccino exactly the way she liked it without her having to give instructions, placed a slice of coffee cake on a plate, and slid it across the counter. Paisley smiled as she took a bite, savoring the buttery goodness. “Damn, I missed this.”

  “We missed you too,” Dobie laughed. “My brother has been asking about you. He heard about your accident and he was worried to death.”

  “How is he?” Paisley asked. “I wish he were still here so he could come by the house.”

  Dobie’s brother was what Paisley called her “all around guy.” Whatever she needed done, he was always there to do it. Whether it was yard work, cleaning the pool, detailing her cars, he was always ready, willing, and able.

  “He’s good. You know we miss him a lot.” Dobie sighed.

  “You know he’s been bragging to all of his Army buddies that he knows you.”

  “I gotta send him a care package.” Paisley smiled.

  “Uh, Dobie, I finished mopping the back room,” A young guy came in and announced. He was dressed in a Java’s T-shirt and blue jeans. Paisley smiled at him, but he quickly turned away.

  “Okay, Nick,” Dobie told him. “Can you go ahead and start taking inventory for me?”

  “Uh, sure.” The young man nodded.

  “New blood?” Paisley teased.

  “Hey Nick, this is Paisley Lawrence, one of our regulars. Paisley, this is Nick,” Dobie introduced them.

  “Nice to meet you.” Nick barely glanced up.

  Paisley looked over at Dobie. “Shy guy?”

  Dobie nodded. “Yeah. I’m trying to break him out of it. He’s a really smart kid. A whiz when it comes to anything electronic. He set up the new Internet cafe for me in the back. That’s why I hired him.”

  Nick wore an embarrassed look.

  “And I’m sure you paid him every dime he’s worth?” Paisley asked, finishing up her cake.

  “Of course. Tell her, Nick, when everyone else around here wanted to pay you minimum wage, I stepped up and paid you eight-fifty an hour.”

  “Yes, sir,” Nick said.

  “I hate to tell you this, Nick,” Paisley said, twisting her itching arm, “but you got ripped off.”

  “What? I can’t believe you of all people said that.” Dobie laughed. “Nick, before he joined the service, my brother used to be Paisley’s personal gopher and she paid him peanuts.”

  “That’s a lie.” Paisley giggled. “If that’s the case, then why did he work for me so long?”

  “For the view, of course,” Dobie laughed.

  “Man, this cast is itching me to death,” Paisley groaned. Her cell began ringing and seeing that it was Warren, she quickly answered, “Hello.”

  “What am I gonna do with you, Paisley? Why is it that you have to be so difficult?” he asked.

  “How am I being difficult, Warren? I didn’t ask you to hire personal security for me. You took it upon yourself to do that,” Paisley hissed into the phone.

  “I hired him because I was concerned for your safety and you need him.”

  “I don’t need him and I don’t want him. As a matter of fact, I fired him this morning,” Paisley told him.

  To her surprise, Warren laughed. “You what? You can’t do that.”

  “Why not?” Paisley asked.

  “Because you ain’t hire him.”

  “That doesn’t matter.” Paisley rubbed her wrist harder. She glanced up and saw Nick staring at her. She gave him a quick smile and again, he turned away. “I don’t like him and I want him gone.”

  “It’s not about what you want, Paisley. It’s about what’s best. Get over it and get used to Landon being there. He’s the best in the business, and like it or not, you’re stuck with him.”

  “We’ll see,” Paisley told him.

  “Yeah, we will.” Warren sighed. “Other than that, how are things going? I miss you.”

  As he said it, her heart melted. “I miss you too. Things are going OK. I reopened the studio this week.”

  She continued filling him in on the happenings since the last time they had spoken, days before. He told her about his progress and plans for the next few days. For a moment, it was like old times; them catching up on each other’s lives like everything was normal.

  “Well, I gotta get going. I got physical therapy this morning,” he sighed.

  “Too bad I can’t help out with that,” she teased. “You know that’s my specialty.”

  “I know it is,” Warren said. “Look, Paisley, I need for you to know that I had ulterior motives in hiring Landon.”

  “I don’t care why you hired him, Warren. I don’t want him in my house and I don’t want him in my life.”

  “You’re being difficult,” he told her.

  “Call it what you will, Warren,” Paisley told him, remembering the conversation she’d overheard Landon having and becoming angry all over again. “You know I don’t deal with people I don’t trust.”

  “What are you talking about? Landon is a great guy and he’s the best personal security guard in the business,” Warren went on to tell her.

  “I don’t give a damn if he’s Secret Service for the president of the United States. He’s fired,” Paisley snapped. “Go ahead and get ready for your appointment. Love you.”

  “Pais, wait . . .”

  Paisley hung up before he could say anything else. She took a long swallow of her coffee and sat back, trying to clear her head. Deep in thought, she nearly jumped when she felt someone touch her shoulder. She turned around and saw that it was Nick. He didn’t say anything as he held something out.

  “What’s this?” she asked, reaching for the small wooden item. Taking it in her hand, she saw that it was several coffee stirrers taped together.

  “Uh . . . I . . . You can slip it into your cast and scratch,” he said, slowly sliding the small sticks into her cast and wiggling them back and forth. Her arm was immediately relieved.

  “Oh my God,” she moaned. “That feels wonderful!”

  Nick quickly pulled his hand away and stepped back.

  Dobie laughed at his employee. “I told you he was brilliant.”

  Noticing that it was after seven, Paisley told Dobie, “Let me get another one to go and a large caramel mocha for my friend. If I go home without a cup for her, she’s gonna have a fit.”

  “No problem,” Dobie told her. She paid him and promised to be back soon.

  “Give your brother my love and tell him I promise to write him soon.” Paisley hopped off the stool and Nick held the door open for her. “Thanks again for my scratcher, Nick. See you next time.”

  “Uh . . . sure . . .” he said shyly.

  As soon as she stepped outside and into the parking lot, she heard clicking and spotted two cameramen out of the corner of her eye. She covered her face the best that she could, trying not to drop the coffee as she rushed to her truck. The men ran after her and continued taking photos.

  “Paisley! Ms. Lawrence! Double S! Sensual Seductress!” they called after her.

  “Get the hell away!” she yelled, and almost ran them over while backing out of the parking space. She glanced into her rearview mirror and saw the black Jaguar parked in the lot next to Java’s. Was that car there before? Her heart began pounding. She tried to recall seeing anyone in the restaurant, but couldn’t remember. She hadn’t been paying that much attention.
Maybe I’m tripping. There are a million black Jaguars in this city, she tried to convince herself as she drove home.

  Seeing Landon’s black Intrepid still sitting in front of her house when she turned onto her street didn’t help her frustration. I know I told this dude I wanted him gone. She walked into the house, placed the coffee on the counter in the kitchen, and was about to go find her ex-security guard when Seymone came into the kitchen.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  Paisley tilted her head to the side and replied, “I went to Java’s and got us some coffee.”

  “You gotta be kidding me.” Seymone shook her head. “What the hell is wrong with you, Paisley? You just leave without saying anything to me? Then, on top of that, you don’t even take Landon with you.”

  “I told Landon he was fired,” Paisley informed her.

  “I heard,” Seymone snapped. “Just what is up with you? Do you have a death wish for real? Because guess what, I don’t.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Look, Paisley, I swear, I’m trying. But damn if you’re not making it hard for me.” Seymone exhaled. “I told you, I promised you that I’d be here for you and I have. With all this craziness, I’ve been here.”

  Paisley was confused and didn’t have a clue what Seymone was talking about, nor why she seemed to have an attitude. She immediately became defensive. “What? You wanna leave, Seymone? It’s cool. I’ll be fine, I told you that.”

  Seymone’s eyes widened and voice shot up an octave. “What? See, this is what I’m talking about. You are so damn selfish. If I wanted to leave, Paisley, I would be out. But this is about me staying here, which I am. And my need to feel safe while I’m here. I mean, I know this crazy dude is stalking you, but guess what? I do worry about him harming me also. I’m just as scared as you are. I don’t give a damn about how you feel about Landon. But him being here is a safety measure that I’m grateful for. Having him nearby does make me a little less anxious and a little safer.”