LITMIR.BIZ

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snow. I figured you’d go some place tropical or back to Las Vegas.”

      “No more Vegas trips for me—and who goes to Vegas to relax? Do you find gambling relaxing?”

      “That’s true. Well, have fun, be safe, and please leave the laptop at home. I’ll call you when you get back,” Serena said.

      After hanging up with her friend, Kandace read more about the resort. It was a new property in the Crawford Hotel chain. The Crawford family business was nationally known for its boutique hotels and customer service. Kandace was sure she was going to have the best and most relaxing two weeks. If she had as much fun as she thought she would, she might even stay until Thanksgiving.

      After logging off the Internet, Kandace decided to treat herself to some vacation clothes, including a pair of Uggs. After all, she was going to be in the snow and that’s just what those boots were for. She dialed Jade’s number as she reached for her car keys.

      “Yes, Kandace?” Jade said when she picked up.

      “What do you say we do some shopping?” Kandace asked. “I’ve got to get some ski gear.”

      “Ski gear? You’re taking your vacation in the snow? That’s funny.”

      Kandace smacked her lips. “Look, I grew up in Guam. It doesn’t snow there. Besides, the resort where I’m staying looks divine. I’ll probably just watch the snow fall from the spa.”

      “Where are you going, Vail?”

      “No, Sugar Mountain. It’s not that far a drive from here and it’s supposed to snow next week. The Web site said that it’s cold enough to make snow anyway.”

      “I don’t see the big deal about snow, but I’m glad to hear you excited about a vacation. Wish I could take this shopping trip with you, but James and Maurice are done playing super dads. I knew they wouldn’t last all day. Kenya owes me a trip to Starbucks as soon as Jaden starts drinking a bottle.”

      Kandace laughed. “That’s why women are the caregivers,” she said. “Well, I’m going to get my Uggs. Maybe I’ll stop by the restaurant to make sure everything is okay.”

      “Don’t you dare. Shop, then go home and get ready for your trip,” Jade cautioned. “You’re banned from work.”

      “Fine,” Kandace said with a chuckle. When she and Jade said their good-byes, Kandace headed outside to her car and SouthPark Mall. Two hours later, she was all shopped out with enough winter gear for her trip, including a pair of chocolate brown Uggs.

      Kandace unpacked her shopping bags, ready to hit the road. Morning couldn’t come soon enough.

      Sweat poured off Solomon’s forehead as he ran on the treadmill. The day had started out horrible and gotten worse. First, his office was bombarded with calls from reporters about his dalliance with the Maxim girl. Then Richmond returned with a message from their parents. “Straighten up,” he’d said his parents had warned. “Finally, they are tired of seeing our name dragged through the mud because you can’t control your libido.”

      He was sure that Richmond had been leaning on his parents for months, despite the success of the business and the new direction he and Carmen were taking the company in.

      “Thought I’d find you here,” Danny Jones said as he climbed onto the treadmill beside his best friend. “You’ve been all over the news today.”

      “Yeah, I know,” Solomon said as he slowed down to a brisk walk. “I have got to stop attracting crazy women.”

      “Crazy hot,” Danny said. “Kinsley Monroe. Damn.”

      “Please, her looks are all that she has going for her. I guess I was supposed to be impressed by her cover. She didn’t know who she was dealing with.”

      “And speaking of not knowing who you’re dealing with, have you considered my random background check offer?”

      Solomon stopped his machine just as Danny was getting his started. He smiled at his friend, who was more like a brother to him than his blood relative. Danny was a private detective who had spent five years on the force with the NYPD before he struck out on his own. Truthfully, if it wasn’t for Solomon and so many of his indiscretions—tracking down false paternity claims and keeping scorned women quiet—Danny wouldn’t have been in business over a year. Now, he was one of the most sought after PIs in the city.

      “Yeah, you can get started on that while I’m down south,” Solomon said.

      “So, who’s the Southern babe that’s sending you down south? Or are you trying to get out of the media spotlight until the thing with Kinsley blows over?”

      “I’m going to check out my new resort and make sure it meets Crawford standards. And who knows, I might run into a few hot snow bunnies.”

      “Somehow I knew women would come into play at some point. Are you ever going to settle down?”

      Solomon ran his hand across his damp chest. “How about no? I’m having too much fun. And there is enough of me to go around.”

      “What happens when you meet a woman who knocks you off your feet?”

      “Will never happen. I’ve come to this conclusion about New York women: they want my money and I want their bodies. Like the Rolling Stones said, ‘You can’t always get what you want,’ unless your name is Solomon Crawford.”

      The men broke out laughing. “That’s bullshit,” Danny said. “Tell me something…You and Miss De La Croix, that’s strictly business?”

      “Yes.”

      Danny shook his head. “That woman is fine. And her body is sick. An ass you can sit a beer can on, and the way she fills out a top. I just want to lick her.”

      “What’s stopping you?” Solomon asked as he began lifting free weights. “She’s a great girl. I’m making her rich, so you don’t have to worry about her pulling out a shovel and digging for gold.”

      “All women aren’t bad,” Danny said. “You didn’t get like this until…”

      “Don’t say it,” Solomon cautioned. The last thing Solomon wanted to think about was his broken marriage to Alyessa Cartwright. He’d loved her more than he wanted to admit. They’d met at a concert in Central Park during the summer of 2000, back when he was more carefree and studying filmmaking at NYU. Alyessa had the SoHo look down, from her wide afro to her platform-sandal clad feet. Her cocoa skin and shimmering brown eyes took his breath away. That night, they’d sat down and talked through the concert. By the end of the night, Solomon was falling in love. Over the next three years, he and Alyessa had fallen deeply in love and Solomon was about to premier his feature film at the New York Film Festival.

      Beauty’s Embrace had been the fictionalized account of his love affair with Alyessa. The crowd loved it, especially the ending, which Solomon had described as yet to be written. As the credits rolled, he’d dropped to one knee in the crowded theatre and asked her to marry him. When she’d said yes, Solomon had been ready to give Alyessa her happily ever after and lots of babies. His family had been slow to warm to Alyessa, however, feeling that she was too common to be a Crawford. But Alyessa had been anything but common. She was of British decent and had come to New York to escape her domineering family. Had it not been for the headlines of her engagement crossing the pond, Alyessa and Solomon would’ve been able to have the dream wedding that they’d planned.

      But on the couple’s wedding day, a man showed up at the church claiming to be Alyessa’s husband.

      “Husband?” Solomon had demanded. “How in the hell can you be married when we just took our vows?”

      “Solomon, I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would matter,” she’d said as she attempted to close the space between them. “I don’t love him.”

      He’d pushed her away from him. “Get the hell away from me, you

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