LITMIR.BIZ

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words of affirmation to herself. Aloud she warned. “Do something, Cecil, or I will.”

      “Sista’, look like she could give a brotha’ a real nice time,” came the booming voice of the man in the Adidas hoodie. “I could go a few rounds with ma’.”

      “Me, too,” agreed the cross-eyed one. “That’s a bad-ass bitch over there.”

      Something inside Yasmin snapped. Her parents had raised her to let bygones be bygones, but she couldn’t let this go. Forgetting she was an educated woman, with a Ph.D. from one of the finest schools in the country, she leapt up from her chair. Blood pumping, chest heaving and hands clenched, she charged over to their booth. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind and all of them were illegal. I’m going to kill them! How dare they talk about me like I’m a prostitute standing out on the street corner? But before Yasmin could connect her fist with a face, a broad-shouldered man stepped in front of her, obscuring her view.

      “Apologize, now,” the stranger ordered. Folding his arms across his chest, he shot a murderous stare at the foursome.

      The men looked warily at each other, clearly intimidated by his imposing size. Other patrons glanced over, interested in the exchange, anxious to see how the confrontation would play out. The hostess rushed to the scene, her strawberry-blond hair flapping wildly behind her.

      “Is there a problem, Bishop?” she asked, dividing her gaze between her favorite patron and the black men in the booth. No one replied. Desperate to resolve the situation, she tried again. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

      Shrugging his puny shoulders, the ringleader stood abruptly and stepped away from the booth. “We don’t want any trouble, Bishop.”

      “Yeah, we were jus’ messin’ ’round, homes,” explained the pimple-faced Latino guy. “It was nothin’. I swear.”

      “She’s waiting for that apology,” he repeated. His voice was smooth, like aged cognac, not what Yasmin expected for a man of his size or stature. “You can apologize now or after we have a few words outside. It’s your choice.”

      The ill-mannered men mumbled apologies, then scurried out of the dining area before the stranger could make good on his threat. The situation defused, the hostess followed them out of the dining area and the patrons resumed eating as if nothing had happened.

      Rashawn Bishop turned around and felt a stab of guilt. He sympathized with the guys he had just chased out of the restaurant. It wasn’t their fault the woman in the curve-hitting dress was stunning, was it? He was ogling her, making a complete and utter fool of himself, but he didn’t avert his gaze. She probably thought he was just as corrupt as those young men were, but her photogenic smile was irresistible and he couldn’t pull his eyes away.

      The look of annoyance on her face didn’t impede her beauty. She was exquisite. A Nubian princess straight from the motherland. Her mink-black skin reminded him of whipped cocoa. She had thin eyebrows, a delicate nose and the biggest, brightest eyes he had ever seen. They were as deep as the Atlantic, round and bright. Under the subdued overhead lights, her eyes glittered like diamonds. Beaded earrings dangled from her ears, a chocker graced her neck and gold bangles hung from her wrists. She had a one-of-a-kind look that made her stand out in a roomful of women who were trying too damn hard. Her vibrant, copper-brown hair was an abundance of twists and Rashawn had to fight the urge to reach out and touch them. Her locks weren’t as wild as Lauryn Hill’s, but they were just as thick. The definition and tone of her arms and her healthy figure told him she was no stranger to diet and exercise. She had the kind of body he liked, all curves, all woman.

      “I’m sorry about that, Miss. They obviously don’t know better.”

      Yasmin eyed her defender. The stranger had a gravity about him that intrigued her. He had to be of mixed heritage, as his skin was more beige than brown. She couldn’t see beyond his steel-blue suit, but the way his jacket gripped his shoulders and draped casually over his chest told her everything she needed to know. He had a solid upper body, a flat stomach and not an ounce of fat. He was either a regular at a fitness club or had damn good genes. Either way, he was appealing in every sense of the word. His hair was cornrowed in an intricate crisscross design. He wore a cologne that smelled like the great outdoors and reminded her of the carefree summer days of the past. Yasmin loved his goatee, the quickness of his smile and the sensual tone of his voice. Unlike Cecil, she could listen to him talk all night. He had a host of attractive physical qualities, but his dreamy baritone was definitely his greatest charm. She shattered the silence by saying, “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”

      “No problem. I would have done something sooner, but…” Rashawn trailed off when he noticed her date was standing behind her, scowling. “Again, it was my pleasure.” With that, he turned and stalked away.

      Her eyes followed him back across the room. Two Hispanic men in dark suits were awaiting his return. When the stranger sat down and resumed eating, Yasmin wheeled around to face Cecil. The coward had the nerve to smile. Pulling out her chair, he said, “Let’s get back to our date. I think I was in the middle of telling you about the city charter rules when—”

      “This date is over and don’t you dare think of calling me for another one. Since I’m not worthy of your respect, there’s no reason for us to continue seeing each other.”

      “You are upset, and rightly so, but don’t let this, ah, misunderstanding ruin our evening.” Cecil fed a smile to some senior citizens sitting nearby. “Why don’t I order you another cocktail? Or would you prefer a glass of wine?”

      Ignoring him, she grabbed her purse and draped her jacket over her arm. Remembering that Cecil was an acquaintance of her sister’s, she said, “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

      Head high, she strolled out of the dining room, through the lounge and into the lobby. Cecil scampered behind her. He paused at the entrance, assured the hostess he would be back and followed Yasmin outside.

      It was the end of March but the air was warm. Long streaks of wispy clouds hung in the otherwise clear sky. The street was packed with partiers looking for some action. On Saturday nights, downtown Tampa hummed with life, activity and excitement. Groups of single women, couples and university students ambled around, stopping in at clubs, bars and cafés.

      Yasmin was in front of the restaurant, checking her cell phone for missed calls, when Cecil caught up with her. Stepping onto the curb, she extended her hand and signaled an approaching taxicab. Ignoring her, the driver continued down the street.

      “Yasmin, what did you expect me to do?” Cecil asked, glancing around to ensure no one was listening in. “Take on four gangbangers by myself?”

      “That’s ludicrous,” she said, rolling her eyes skyward. “None of them was a day over twenty-five. They were kids, Cecil. Kids. Boys who needed to be put in their place.”

      His second and third apology fell on deaf ears. “It won’t look good if I return inside without you.” Jamming his hands into his pockets, his eyes pleading for understanding, he said, “I had a special night planned for us. I thought after we finished here we could have dessert at the Grand Hyatt.”

      Yasmin shot him a not-on-your-life look. This would be the first and last time she went out with Cecil Manning. “Good night, Councilman.”

      “Fine, have it your way.” With a shrug, he ambled away.

      Rashawn glanced out the window. He had almost suffered whiplash when the dark-skinned woman had stormed out of the restaurant a few seconds earlier. When her date returned inside looking dejected, Rashawn excused himself from his table for the second time in minutes. When he got outside, the mystery woman was stepping into a taxicab.

      “Let me call you another one,” he said, extending his hand. “The driver looks buzzed.”

      Yasmin smiled knowingly. Puzzled, yet intrigued by where this was going, she stepped out of the taxicab and slammed the door. The driver sped off, leaving behind a trail of dust.

      “I didn’t catch

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