A Taste of Remy Read online

  A Taste of Remy

  By

  Dahlia Rose

  A Taste of Remy

  Copyright © June 2013 Dahlia Rose

  Cover Art by Mina Carter

  Formatting by Bob Houston eBook Formatting

  ISBN 978-1-939151-94-0

  All rights are reserved. No part of this e-book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Chapter One

  “Sodding Billy and his sodding band.” Lynette stomped into her apartment and slammed the door. Then, in a fit of anger, she opened it and slammed it again.

  She was going to repeat the process when a voice stopped her.

  “Oy, enough with the noise!” her neighbor yelled from across the hall.

  “Sod off! Move if you don’t like it!” Lynette yelled back, but she closed the door quietly.

  There was no point in aggravating her neighbors because Billy was an asshole. She’d been gone on business for six months and came back only to find out that letting Billy stay in her flat had turned him into a whore. She came home to find panties and clothing in her drawers that weren’t hers. She angrily stalked down to the pub where he played and found him with not one but two women and all he had to say to her was, “Chill out, love. We can all be friends.” Her response was to punch him in the face and run her keys down the pimped out van he drove. He probably masturbated to its recent paintjob so she took infinite pleasure carving her name deep into the metal.

  Now she had to de-skank her apartment because God knows what they did in there. Maybe I should just chuck it all and burn everything, she thought looking around. Her personal mementos could be boxed up and she could actually move into Adira’s apartment. She grabbed the keys from the drawer and locked up her apartment before going downstairs. She at least knew for certain that Adira’s bed wasn’t soiled with the bodily fluids of Billy and his skanks.

  Inside, she showered and changed into her nightshirt before climbing into the bed. Looking around Adira’s room made her miss her friend more than ever and reminded her of how warm and inviting Adira’s home had been and how cute baby Mateo was. Maybe she’d just go back to New York and be with the closet thing she had to family. Her iPhone rang and she reached onto the bedside table to tilt it upward. FaceTime, Remy Sanchez. Lynette’s tummy gave a delighted little lurch looking at his name. There was no doubt that there was attraction between them, but she hadn’t seen him in six months. She pressed the accept call button and Remy’s face appeared on the screen.

  “I’m in bed, Remington Sanchez,” Lynette said primly.

  “I’ve always wanted to be in bed with you, so I called the perfect time,” Remy teased. His voice was a rich baritone that sent pleasure running through her. “How are you, dulzura?”

  Sweetness. He used the word in many of their conversations.

  “I’m having a bloody awful evening, thank you for asking,” Lynette replied.

  “You took the pink out of your hair,” Remy said.

  “How can you tell? I have on a head wrap and I’m lying on a pillow,” she said. “Did you plant cameras in Adira’s flat?”

  “A little bit is peaking out from under that leopard print thing on your head,” he answered.

  “Oh.”

  She didn’t actually know what to say after that and lay against the pillow looking at the screen, roaming the contours of his face and gazing into his eyes. He was so handsome. His dark hair was shiny as if it was damp from a shower. His skin was tanned like he spent hours walking on the beach in Puerto Rico. His eyes were a warm dark brown and always seemed to glisten with happiness. They reminded her of melted chocolate and she always felt it would be easy to drown in his gaze. His lips were almost sinful, not too full or thin and could easily curve into a wicked smile. She’d seen him frown only once or twice, and his face turned to cold stone when Favian’s stepsister injured Adira. Now his face showed concern at her silence and it touched her heart. It was amazing that when she was in Dubai working on a project for Favian, she missed him and didn’t even think about Billy.

  “You look sad,” he said simply. “Tell me what I can do to make it better.”

  “Come to London and beat Billy’s whoring ass,” she said.

  “Done. I’ll be on the jet,” Remy said.

  Lynette laughed. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

  “In a New York minute.” He was silent for a moment. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Lynette.”

  “I believe you,” she said softly. “You know, I haven’t been sleeping with Billy, even when I came home from New York.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “You, me, I guess we have this thing,” Lynette answered.

  His lips curled into a smile. “A thing, huh?”

  “A mating dance. You chase, I run, I give you a smashing wicked sexual innuendo and we make plans to have babies,” Lynette reminded him.

  “Ah, now I remember,” Remy grinned. “So, come on, what’s keeping you?”

  “Keeping me?” Lynette said.

  “From coming to New York and jumping my bones,” he teased.

  “Really, is that what you’re going with, jumping your bones?” Lynette laughed. “You may want to open your bedroom door and give your ego room.”

  “Who says I’m in bed?” he drawled.

  “I can see your bare chest. Unless you’re trying to entice me, you’re in bed,” she said.

  “Want me to move the phone lower?” His voice was so sexy she gave an involuntary shiver.

  “I’ll pass for now.” Lynette certainly wanted to give into temptation but restrained herself.

  “I guess I’ll be direct. Lynette, there is something between us, right, or am I just a stupid man with a case of raging hormones for a really hot girl?”

  “There is more than just a little bit of attraction,” Lynette said. “I dream about you sometimes.”

  “Good dreams?” he asked huskily.

  “The kind of dreams that leave a woman wanting the real thing,” she admitted.

  Lynette was as straightforward and blunt as a hammer against glass. Why shy away from words or hold your feelings back? She was a firm believer of accept me as I am or take your sodding ass to hell and out of my bubble.

  “I have them too, about you,” Remy said. “So you should come here and let’s see where it goes, or I could go there.”

  “Does that breach our two-year verbal agreement?” she said with a laugh.

  “Yes, it does, but I’m sure what we’re ready to begin can certainly compensate for that.” He grinned. “My reina, come to me and let’s see if I can make you burn hotter than your dreams. What do you have to lose?”

  “My heart.” Her words were simple but the impact was great.

  “Don’t you know I already treasure your heart as my own?” he asked. “Come to New York. Let’s dance with each other instead of around each other and see how good we can be.”

  “I want to be a mom,” she said suddenly. “I wasn’t kidding about that. Being around Mateo makes me ache somewhere deep inside. I don’t want to be wild or free or crazy anymore. I want to settle down and hold my baby in my arms instead of holding someone else’s child. I want to feel a life growing inside me. I want to give my kids this legacy, this money I’ve worked so hard for, everything. I’m lonely and if you’re just looking for a good time, it’s best you hold up now before we lose our friendship.”

  “Come to New York,” Remy said with a smile. “Your dreams are the same as mine so let’s share them together.”

  “Well, then, that bloody well settles it. I’m coming to New York,” she said with an excitement that made her heart
beat faster. “Remy Sanchez, I’m about to knock your sodding socks off.”

  “The way you said that, and with that accent, I think we just had foreplay.” He laughed. “Send me your flight information and I’ll be there with bells on to pick you up.”

  Lynette nodded. “Okay, but you don’t have bells. I’m taking a cab.”

  Remy laughed. “Roger that. See you very soon, Lynette.”

  “Goodnight, Remy,” she said and disconnected the FaceTime call.

  Lynette put her phone on the bedside table and lay looking up at the ceiling. A huge grin crossed her face thinking about what she had just agreed to. No more dancing around he had said and she totally agreed. It was about time she gave into the desires of her body and heart and take a gamble at love. They talked, texted or video chatted so much she knew their feelings went deeper than friendship.

  She’d outgrown Billy and her wild child somewhere in the last six months. Remy promised her something that was way more appealing than a night out dancing in a club. Being a mother. She was going to be a better parent than her parents ever were and give her child the best the world had to offer. So she was leaving London and heading into the arms of Remy Sanchez. Lynette had to admit she could not wait.

  Chapter Two

  Lynette is on her way.

  Remy felt his cock throb with desire at the simple thought. He hadn’t been able to sleep the night before after she had agreed to his proposal. He even did a mental cheer when he heard that Billy was no longer in the picture. After meeting her when he went to London with Favian to find Adira, no other woman had even captured his interest. She was lightning in a bottle, pure energy and sass.

  He grew up in project housing in the Bronx, the buildings—tall, low-income apartment complexes—held hundreds of people. He learned early to mind his own business, and if you could run from trouble, do it. If not, fight like you were going to die, because if you didn’t, you probably would. In school is where he met his best friend, Favian Rivera, and when gangs almost destroyed his life, Favian’s mother and father took him in.

  Life in New York was hard and it ate many alive. He was one of the lucky ones who had brains as well as brawn and escaped that life. Leaving the Bronx, he never looked back. Even now, he could make the trip in less time on his bike than a person could on the subway, yet the thought of going back stuck wrong in his throat. Too much had happened and some of it he couldn’t let go. He found himself frowning at the thought and instead focused on Lynette.

  “Why are you sitting there grinning like a hyena?”

  Favian’s voice drifted in from the doorway and Remy looked up at his friend. Fatherhood and marriage agreed with him. Favian had the look of a man completely satisfied with his life and loving every minute of it. Remy could only dream he’d be as blessed as his best friend.

  “Lynette is coming to New York, and I think she may be planning to stay awhile,” Remy answered. He felt his mouth form into a grin again. He couldn’t help it.

  “How did you know? I was coming to tell you.” Favian closed the door and sat down across from Remy at his desk. “I knew Adira couldn’t keep it to herself. She called you, huh?”

  “No, she didn’t. She’s coming here to me, Favian.” Remy drummed a little tune on his desk with his fingers.

  “So you’re hooking up with Lynette?” Favian frowned. “I’d better warn you if you mess around with Adira’s best friend and hurt her, I can’t save you from Adira.”

  “This is not just a hook up. We’re going to be a couple and have a few kids of our own,” he said.

  “You mean that two-year thing you guys were talking about at the hotel?” Favian laughed. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  Remy frowned. “Why would I not be serious about this, Favian? You think I’m not good enough for Lynette, or maybe only you can meet a nice woman and get married?”

  “Madre de Dios. Remy, you know I don’t think that,” Favian said. “I want you to be happy, but I thought you guys were just joking.”

  “No, we weren’t. Since she went home, we’ve talked every day about anything and everything,” Remy explained. “She sent me pictures from Dubai and some of them weren’t tame. There’s something between us, Favian, and I plan to see where it goes.”

  “So the playboy days are done?” Favian teased.

  “I was never much of one. Seeing what my sperm donor did to my mom before she took off, cured me of that.” Remy felt disgust just thinking about the dour faced man who thought he was a king in the middle of the Bronx.

  “Are you going to tell her about…” Favian trailed off, letting the words hang in the air.

  “My past as a wannabe thug and Jose’s death?” Remy gave a sad laugh. “I plan to tell her everything. No point hiding the skeletons in my closet. If I want this to work, no secrets and no lies.”

  “Good for you, mi hermano,” Favian said. “Do you know when she’s arriving?”

  “Thursday night. I’ll pick her up,” Remy said. “Tell Adira we’ll be over on Saturday.”

  “She’s staying with you at the penthouse?” Favian laughed. “Adira and the baby will be over Friday morning, early, for tea as she likes to say. Just try to keep her away.”

  Remy shook his head. “I was afraid of that. I can change up our plans so Lynette can coo over gordo Mateo and they can catch up. I have an international call to Germany I can deal with in the office while they do the girl thing.”

  “About acquiring the Cintax Company?” Favian leaned forward. “Does it sound like they’ll take our offer?”

  “I think they’re swinging our way, especially after I told them they didn’t have to lay off any employees,” Remy said. “Trust me, I want to have their microchips. We can really make a dent in some of the tech projects I’ve got going on down in R&D.”

  “I think the new wireless tablets you guys came up with are going to rock the release.” Favian stood. “Marketing already has two million pre-ordered. Anyway, we’ll talk shop at the finance meeting on Wednesday. I’m sure you have plans to deal with right now.”

  “That I do.” Remy sighed and looked at his friend. “This feels right. I’ve fallen for Lynette and not because she’s hot…well, that’s one reason, but we were friends first. I know her mind, and we connect.”

  “Two techies in love. Microchips in the wedding bouquet,” Favian joked.

  “Our vows will be in computer coding,” Remy said, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms behind his head. “Get out of my office and go see your wife and kid. Kiss little fat man for me.”

  “Six months old and no one would know he was premature.” Favian’s eyes lit up with happiness. “He’s getting teeth now and he drools like Alien from the Alien movies. You can change him and two seconds later his shirt is soaked with drool.”

  Remy grimaced. “Great image. Thanks for that.”

  “He gives sloppy drool kisses. They are great,” Favian said.

  “I’ll take your word for it, man,” Remy answered with a chuckle.

  “Later.” Favian waved as he left.

  Remy sighed and went back to work on his computer. He didn’t want to go home because it would mean he’d sit there and be impatient for Lynette’s arrival, so he poured all of his energy into his programming. Maybe Favian was right and he was being an idiot for trying to bring Lynette into his world. But, damn, he’d never felt like this before and didn’t want to give it up. He wanted to have something good and pure and positive in his life. He felt like she would overshadow the darkness of his past or maybe even completely erase it.

  There was just something about Lynette, and he was going to follow his feelings because without her he felt as if the darkness might swallow him alive. He deserved to be happy and feel love. He craved it like a drowning man craved air. He wasn’t the boy who had to hustle for food and learn the streets to survive anymore. The past was firmly in the past and it would stay that way.

  * * * *

  By Thursday nig
ht, Remy felt like a schoolboy waiting for his date for the prom. Which didn’t make complete sense because he never went to prom, let alone went to school regularly. He got his GED and went on to college when Favian’s parents took him under their wing.

  “Remy S., is that you?” He heard a voice he didn’t recognize and turned to see who it was.

  Talk about a blast from the past. It was Alex Cruz, one of the guys he ran with in the gang. Instead of warm feelings and good memories springing up inside him, there was a bitter taste in Remy’s mouth. He didn’t want to see, hear or speak to anyone from the old neighborhood. When he crossed that bridge and left the past and the gang behind, in his mind, he torched the bridge and vowed never to go back.

  “Alex.” Remy said the name stiffly.

  Alex wore an airport skycap uniform and his face had aged but not well. He grinned at Remy. “So formal, mi hermano. We used to be tight.”

  “Used to being the optimal word,” Remy said.

  “Yeah, you hauled ass out of the Bronx and went ghost,” Alex said. “You haven’t missed much. It still looks the same. Lola is still around too.”

  “Well, she always loved the hood life, so that’s not much of a surprise.” Remy felt anger rise in his chest at the name. Lola was the one who sent him and her brother out that night and where all the trouble began. “Is she still running with Strala?”

  “Nah, he died, mi hermano, shot outside his apartment five years ago. She’s with me now. She’s the big boss of the seven-one-eights now,” Alex explained. “Look at you. That coat looks more expensive than a month’s rent in the neighborhood. I heard you moved on up, mi hermano. How come you never shared the wealth?”

  The name of the gang was taken from the telephone area code of the Bronx. Remy didn’t like remembering or hearing any of it and wanted to cut the conversation short. Alex, Lola, all of it, made old anger and hate rise up again in his chest.

  “First, I’m not your brother. Favian is the closest thing I have to family,” Remy said coldly. “You, Lola, all of you bastards left me and Jose out to dry.”