20 Days of Love: Afflicted & Conflicted

Hello Beautiful People!!! I've been traveling on tour with BeJeweled: Standing Strong, but I have missed you all so very much. I'm bringing it home to rest today, as I start our annual 20 Days of Love tour!

I have several great authors in store for you, some friendly familiar faces and other new ones to The Beautifully Inspired Blog. I will be sharing one of my special treats with you today.

My next release will be in March. It is a duology entitled A Woman's Design. The first one is Afflictions.  Read on...

I looked at the clock on the wall and realized how fast time had flown. It was almost one o’clock and I was supposed to meet Nick in Stone Mountain in half an hour. I knew there was no way I would make it. I called him to let him know I was running late. I finished up some last minute touches for the fashion show, sent out a couple of emails to clients, and ran to shower and change.
Strutting in the restaurant I knew my simple summer outfit was looking good. I don’t know why it mattered to me that I was fierce, but it did. I hadn’t seen Nick in almost a week now, and I wanted to be spot on. Why? Because the truth was I was attracted to that man. I had no business being attracted to him, and I knew it wouldn’t lead to anything, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to be desired.

I wore a black halter tank top, with ruching on the bra area. My tan wrap skirt, sported a split up to the middle of my thigh. I paired it with gold and black bangles, gold tri-hoop earrings, and a pair of black espadrilles. Every step I took showcased my toned right thigh and gave a little glimpse of the left one. I was a woman who knew how to be sexy without being sleazy. And I could do it in the simplest clothing. Sexy was a state of mind, an attitude more than the clothing you wore. Many women didn’t get that and thought that the less they wore, the sexier they were. I knew the reverse to be true.

I was meeting him at Flaming Rio, a Brazilian restaurant in Stone Mountain. When I approached the table he had reserved, he stood up to greet me. I saw his eyes light up the moment he spotted me, and then I saw his gaze slowly roll down every inch of me and stop at my thighs.
Nick pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth, and stretched out his arms to welcome me. He gave me a nice hug, and squeeze before releasing me. But in that brief moment I felt something I had never felt before. It was some spark or connection between the two of us. I wondered if I had imagined it, because I had missed him so much.

He was dressed in a pair of black jeans, a white t-shirt, and tan linen blazer over his shirt. His casual appearance caught me off guard, as I was used to seeing him dressed in business attire.

“Well, hello there, look at you. Looks like someone took the day off,” I remarked, addressing his casual attire.

He laughed a deep, sexy laugh and shook his head full of loose locs. “I had to visit a couple of the construction sites today. I tend to dress down on those occasions. So, did you miss me?” he teased.

“Of course I did. I have had no one to have lunch with, or toss all of my issues on,” I pouted, teasing him.

“Awww, I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve taken you with me,” he said, as he grabbed my hand across the table. I felt it again! It was almost like an electric shock. I looked into his eyes and saw a longing desire. He held my gaze for several moments before I finally turned away.

I cleared my throat and made an attempt to resume the conversation. “Mm-hmm, I’ll bet you did,” I replied, slipping my hand from his grasp. I decided it was the perfect moment to take a sip of my iced tea, which I grabbed with both hands to keep them occupied and out of his hands. He had ordered drinks and our meal just before I arrived, after I called him when I was five minutes away.

He smiled at me again. “I really wish I could have taken you with me. It would have made the trip more interesting. How’s the show coming along?”

“Everything is falling into place. I tell you I am so thankful to you for the connections you have provided. This is taking my business to a new level faster than I imagined. But above all of that, it’s so rewarding working with these women. I am having an entirely new level of fulfillment in my life that I never could have anticipated.”

“Well I’m glad to hear that. How are things on the home front?” Nick asked, looking into my eyes imploring me to be honest with him.

Nick was the only person that I truly opened up to about my marriage these days. The girls knew that Eric stayed busy at the law office and when he wasn’t billing hours, he ran the streets. But I didn’t share my feelings over my marriage with them. I had known eventually I would need someone to air my grievances to and Nick had proved to be that sound shoulder. He never uttered a word against my husband, instead he always encouraged me to stand strong.

Some days I didn’t feel as if I could, like today. “It’s still the same. I’m so tired of it all, Nick. I just wish he had cared when I cared. These days I’m not even concerned if he comes home, or speaks to me at all. He could call me up tomorrow and say he’s never coming back, and it wouldn’t phase me. The only thing that means anything anymore is building my business and being able to work with those wonderful women, and these lunches I share with you. I look forward to it every day. I actually rush my weekends by, just so I can see you again on Monday,” I stirred my sweet tea with my stirrer, and looked back up at him before going on. “That’s sad isn’t it?”

It appeared as if he was looking into my soul he was staring so intently at me.

“No, it’s not sad. Your heart just longs to be loved. And you’re missing a part of you right now. I’ve come along and provided friendship, something you crave, along with attention, and it’s making you feel alive again. I can understand that. Believe it or not, I look forward to these lunches, too. It does a man’s ego good, to have a beautiful woman to share a meal with. But girl you gotta stop coming around me in skirts like the one you’re wearing today. There’s only so much temptation a man can take.” He smiled that beautiful smile at me that warmed my heart. I thought about what he said and I wasn’t upset that I had achieved my goal.

“It’s about time you took notice. And I’m glad you like it.” I was bold in my choice of words. I left them open for interpretation.

Nick leaned back and placed his arm along the back of his booth, and then grabbed his glass of wine and took a sip. He looked at me over the rim, those smooth, chocolate brown eyes darkening with something mysterious behind them. I was glad that I wasn’t drinking. I began blushing when I thought about how forward and provocative I had been.

“Yeah, I like it very much,” he answered. He shook his head and I could tell he was thinking. He confirmed that after a few moments when he posed his next question.

I hope that you enjoyed this excerpt, and come back tomorrow for another 20 Days of Love!

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Living Life Beautifully Inspired