LITMIR.BIZ

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unless he accepted the date in his stead, Houston wasn’t so sure he’d be here.

      Houston picked up two menus and handed one to Kelly. He opened his despite his knowledge of what food and dessert items were offered. “Hope you brought along a decent appetite. This place is appropriately named. My teammates refer to it as Triple A.”

      “All About Appetites,” Kelly said on a laugh. “Cute! I like it. I was here once, but not for dinner. I came around the same time they started offering live music.”

      “Surprised I didn’t run in to you. I love the music entertainment they bring in. My teammates and I frequent this place.”

      The couple quietly began discussing the menu. Kelly asked Houston questions about the entrées and he recommended several items he’d ordered before.

      “The tender, juicy mesquite grilled steak and jumbo shrimp is one of the best combination entrées,” Houston praised.

      “I love steak and shrimp.”

      Once Houston and Kelly selected their meal choices, he summoned the waiter and wasted no time in making their preferences known.

      As if Houston had suddenly recalled something, he snapped his fingers. “Please bring the lady a glass of white zinfandel.” Austin had overheard Kelly’s wine order at the auction and had passed the information on to Houston.

      Kelly looked at Houston with skepticism. “How in the world did you know?”

      Houston winked. “I make it my business to know.” He laid his forefinger against his temple. “By the way, my brother never told me why you wanted me to come on this date versus him. Care to enlighten this old curious George?”

      Color stole into Kelly’s cheeks. Although she already knew the answer she pondered Houston’s query, the million-dollar question swirling around in her mind.

       Did Houston need to know the truth?

      Kelly cleared her throat. “I bid on Austin because I utterly love to annoy Sabrina Beaudreaux, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. She and I are old college roommates. The lady treated me horribly the first semester. I eventually ended up changing roommates.”

      “I heard there was tension between you. Members of our family felt it at the auction. We tried to accept Sabrina in our lives. Austin was going to marry her, but the Carrington family was never comfortable with his decision or with her. She was rude to us and she constantly showed an unattractive spirit of selfishness and heartlessness.”

      Kelly snorted under her breath. “I’m sure your family didn’t see the half of it. People Sabrina dislikes, fears or is just plain jealous of are the ones who feel the full brunt of her meanness. She often made me the butt of her downright crude and unkind jokes.” Kelly cringed at the painful memories.

      “I’m sorry for whatever you endured.” Houston closed one eye and peered at Kelly through the other, letting her know she still hadn’t answered his question. “I’ve heard what you’ve said, but I’m also aware of what you haven’t said. Why me?”

      Amused by his persistent line of questioning, Kelly smiled softly. “Why not you?” she asked straightforwardly.

      “That’s what I want to find out,” he said, eyeing her inquisitively. “You’re the only one with the answers.”

      “Although Austin was the most popular male athlete on the auction block Sabrina wasn’t the only reason I bid on him. I simply had a desire to check out the chemistry I felt the first time I saw you in person. So I asked Austin if he was willing to make a switch for the luncheon.” She’d told Austin not to reveal her agenda, like she thought that would really happen between brothers.

      The famous triplets, Austin, Dallas and Houston, born to Angelica and Beaumont Carrington, were tall, toffee-brown-complexioned, sinfully handsome, athletically built and buff beyond imagination. The brothers’ sexy, athletic physiques, Southern accents, sparkling ebony eyes and silken curly hair had women all over the nation swooning. Kelly had found out she was no exception on her first glimpse of Houston.

      Leaning forward, Kelly made unflinching eye contact with her date. “I find you attractive and sexy and I wanted to see if the first unbelievable reaction I had to you was real.” She trilled off the sweetest, most heart-stopping laughter he’d ever heard. “It was.”

      Feeling good about Kelly’s remarks, Houston laughed jovially. “You’ve hit a tender spot in my heart. The compliments are so sweet.” His gaze strayed momentarily. “You’re not alone in your reaction. I confess I was also enamored with you on each of our quick encounters. It’s nice to share lunch with you, Kelly Charleston—very nice.”

      While extending her hand to Houston, Kelly felt the heat rise in her cheeks.

      The meals were delivered in a timely manner. Once the waiter found out everything was to his patrons’ satisfaction, he promptly disappeared.

      Kelly didn’t know if Houston was into blessing the food or not so she took the lead and said a short supplication. Following his enthusiastic amen, he looked up at her, approval shining in his dark eyes.

      The next look Houston gave Kelly was odd. “I know this is just a celebrity charity date, but I try to let people know who and where I am regardless of the situation. As for the women I date, rarely is there a second one. Because of my profession and lifestyle, I have a lot of platonic female relationships, but I’m not the type to commit. I only date one woman at a time, but even that is never serious.”

      Kelly was totally surprised at Houston’s pointed remarks. He’d been up-front on sharing his views on relationships, but she wasn’t sure the timing was appropriate.

      The look on Kelly’s face let Houston know he’d caught her completely off guard. “You may think I shared too much information for a first-time get-together, but that’s the way it is with me, Kelly. I’m direct and up-front, pulling no punches. Big problems arise for me when I don’t lay my cards out in plain view.”

      Taken slightly aback by how painfully direct he was, Kelly took a sip of her drink. “It is a bit much, but only because I’m surprised by the timing. Are you perfectly clear from the jump with every woman you meet? And why aren’t you the committing type?”

      Houston ran steady fingers through his dark curls. “I love meeting all kinds of women, love them in all shapes, sizes and colors. My career keeps me moving at full speed. I think it’d be unfair to tie someone down, especially when I can’t be there on a consistent basis. Commitments come with a certain amount of demands. I have a house but I’m also in love with a new condo…commitment is not my middle name.”

      “Hmm, those are interesting and commendable edicts. I like a man who is straight and to the point, yet it’s unusual for stuff like this to come up in a discussion during a casual first lunch, don’t you think?”

      “You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who kids herself. We’ve both mentioned our wild reactions to each other so I think the things I’ve said are appropriate.”

      Shrugging, Kelly chuckled nervously. “Put like that, I’d have to agree. How do you define yourself and manage your life as a superstar athlete? And how are things for you out of the spotlight of superstardom?”

      Giving several moments of intense thought to her queries, Houston pursed his lips. “I define myself as a man, Kelly, a simple man who tries to live an uncomplicated life. I try not to give out false hopes and I don’t go through life with unrealistic expectations from others or myself. No expectations equal no disappointments.”

      Though fascinated by his philosophy, Kelly tried hard to hide her feelings. “Why don’t you believe in commitment?”

      “It’s not that I don’t believe in it, because I do. I commit myself to important issues every single day of my life and I work hard to fulfill them. My job has me on the road a good bit. Personal relationships often suffer badly under that type of scenario.”

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