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voice after the shock had worn off. And when she didn’t answer he repeated the question, louder this time.
    Stacie’s eyes snapped open. “Nuthin’,” she denied, looking down at her shoes. They sat helplessly in her hands. Her high was suddenly gone. Deflated like a ten-cent balloon. She felt the wetness on her face and knew that her chin was glistening. She self-consciously swiped her hand across her mouth and chin.
    Embarrassed, she pushed herself up, and on shaky legs made her way around the room. She snatched her panties off the lampshade, plucked her blouse from the dresser top and grabbed her skirt from the bed.
    She dressed silently, perched on the side of the bed, occasionally throwing sidelong glances at Crawford. She glanced at him one last time and wished she hadn’t; his glare was so cold that it’d cool Atlanta on an August day. She was at the hotel room door, her hand on the doorknob, when Crawford called her name.

6
If You’re Ever Lucky Enough to Receive a Piece of Heaven…Don’t Blow It
    T ameeka smiled as Tyrell trotted around his truck, then stopped at the hood and made a funny face at her before coming around to the passenger side and opening up the door for her. Their whole day was like that. He’d do something silly to hear her laugh and she’d comply and laugh until her stomach hurt. Tameeka stepped out of the truck and they walked hand-in-hand to her apartment. At the door Tyrell pulled Tameeka into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. Tameeka sighed happily as she relaxed against his chest; she had finally found happiness.
    â€œI had a wonderful evening tonight, lady,” Tyrell said, thrilled that the day was better than he had anticipated.
    â€œMe, too. The swimming, the beer making and dinner—you’re spoiling me,” she said, grinning up at him.
    â€œIsn’t that what a man supposed to do?” he asked softly as his eyes caressed her face. Then, “When are we going out again?” Tameeka and Tyrell said at the same time. They both burst out laughing. Tyrell stopped long enough to say, “Later this week is cool with me.”
    â€œI’ma have to check my schedule. Bea is supposed to have a day off and I’m going to have to fill in. After all, I am the owner,” she said, and Tyrell winced. This was the tenth time today that she’d mentioned she owned a store.
    â€œI know you’re the owner, hell, everybody in Georgia knows that you’re owner of Heaven on Earth. You don’t have to keep announcing it every five minutes,” Tyrell said dryly.
    â€œAnnouncing it?” Tameeka sputtered, and her happiness suddenly shriveled up. “Oh, now I see, you’re a brother who’s threatened by a strong black woman,” Tameeka snapped.
    â€œHardly,” Tyrell scoffed. “But, baby, give it a rest. You’re the owner of a shop, it’s all good.” Tameeka crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him as though she wanted to kill him.
    â€œCome here,” he demanded, then opened up his arms, inviting her to step in. “Come give your teddy bear a big hug and kiss.” He winked and wrapped Tameeka in a giant hug and her anger instantly disappeared. She tilted her head back and their lips met. His kisses were like lush drops of chocolate and she couldn’t get enough.
    â€œWow!” Tameeka breathed and leaned back against her door and fanned her face. “Wow!” she repeated. “Where did you learn to kiss?” That was the best kiss of her life.
    Tyrell smiled modestly, then said, “It wasn’t me. It was all about you, baby.”
    â€œWow!” Tameeka repeated, beaming.
    â€œHey, what’s up?” Stacie waltzed up to her friend, and she couldn’t help noticing her glazed eyes and smeared lipstick. She gave Tameeka a wink, then turned to Tyrell. “I’m Stacie…Tameeka’s