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repeated, “I have plans tonight.” At least she hoped she had plans. “And I am not going to break them.”
         “Well, what plans do you have, Nikki, that are so important?” slightly annoyed that Nikki would not just drop everything to pacify her.
        “Mother, I am forty-three years old, way past the age where I have to report to you for everything I do. Now I told you that I have plans and that should suffice.”
         “Humph,” her mother pouted, “I guess those plans involve you gallivanting around town to those cheap pick-up spots they call clubs nowadays with that slut, Tia. Oh, yeah, I heard about the two of you out clubbing and I also heard that she was so drunk that they had to take her out of the club. Yeah, you thought I didn’t know. Well, Mrs. Freedman’s daughter was there, too and she told her momma everything. Imagine my embarrassment when she told me my child was in one of those places. I bet your sis . . .”
         Nikki interrupted her mother’s sentence before she could finish. “My sister, Mother, your precious daughter and favorite child used to frequent those places so much that the bouncers knew her by name.” Nikki was fuming. She had not meant to be so disrespectful to her mother, but tonight of all nights, she did not want to hear her mother go on about Gina.
          “Humph,” Her mother said trying to make Nikki feel guilty,” You go right ahead and do whatever it is that is more important to you than spending time with family. With your attitude, we don’t want you there anyway.” With that her mother hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.
          “Sorry, Momma,” she said looking at the phone as she put it back in the cradle, “But I’m living for me now.” Nikki picked up the phone again and called Carlos.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
         It was almost six forty five and Carlos was due to arrive at seven. It had taken quite a bit of persuading before Carlos relented and said that he would join her for dinner. Nikki put on a sheer black pants outfit with silver rhinestone sling-back heels. She had the plates warming in the oven, the wine chilling in the fridge and was just about to light the candles when she heard the doorbell ring. Carlos was early.
         When Nikki opened the door, the man standing before her once again took her breath away.
         “Hey, beautiful,” he said, looking apprehensive.
         Nikki smiled and went toward him into his arms. She held onto him as thought her life depended on it. She didn’t even care who saw them standing in the doorway.
         “Well, this is certainly not the welcome I expected to get,” Carlos said when she finally let go of him.
         “I told you on the phone. I’m a changed woman.”
         “What brought all this about?
         “Let’s just say a good friend knocked some sense into my head.”
         “I like that friend,” Carlos said, hugging Nikki again.
         Nikki took Carlos’s hand and guided him into the living room. “I hope you’re hungry, because I have a meal fit for a king.”
         “I am hungry, but not for food,” Carlos said, pulling her onto his lap. “Girl, you feel so good.” He leaned close and kissed her cheek and then her neck. It was at that moment that she knew that all she wanted right now was this man. This man who looked so good, this man who stood up to her and told her how he felt. She knew that she wanted him and he wanted her right back. She kissed him on the lips softly at first and then her kisses became more urgent. She slipped her tongue into his mouth and didn’t say a word. She would let her body do the talking for her.
         As the intensity of their kisses increased, so did Carlos’ manhood. He took Nikki’s hand and guided it to his zipper. “Nikki, feel this. If you are playing with me, this would be a good time to stop.” Nikki could not ignore the desire in his eyes or the desire