Loving Dasia Read online

  “You know, I still can’t believe he waited to get to the altar to confess his undying love for that heifer.”

  “I get the feeling you were expecting something to go wrong.”

  “Yeah, I was. And, boy, did it. I mean, how inconsiderate was that? Why couldn’t he have just said something before we got to the altar? Or maybe I was just the stupid one. Why didn’t I just say no when he asked me to marry him?”

  Dasia fought the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She’d shed enough tears tonight and refused to let herself succumb once again to the pain and anguish Jeremiah had caused her. She’d learn her lesson this time. It was officially over for her and Jeremiah.

  “Love makes us do crazy things sometimes.” It was G’s turn to close his eyes to hide the pain. He’d been hurt before and had promised to never set himself up for that kind of pain again. No, things were easy now. Treat her like a lady, get what you want, but most of all, don’t fall in love.

  “You sound like you know from experience.”

  “I’ve not been stood up at the altar, if that’s what you’re referring to, but love has blinded me a time or two.”

  This last one had been the worst. G had been stupid. His best friend had warned him about the woman, but he’d dismissed the accusations as jealousy. In the end, his friend was right, and he lost the only woman he’d ever truly considered marrying.

  “I just don’t get how I could have been so stupid. Why did I ignore all of the years of his cheating? How could I have just turned my back on his constant lying?”

  Stupid, stupid, stupid. What kind of a person ignores what’s right in front of her? She knew what he’d been doing, and yet she’d just turned the other cheek. Why had it taken this for her to realize that if she kept turning the other cheek, he’d just keep hitting her there? The answer to that too was right in front of her.

  For years her mother had subjected her to a double standard. In public her mother insisted that the rich, dark-chocolate complexion Dasia inherited from her father was an exotic asset. In the privacy of their own home though, she was an outcast, a constant reminder to Marilyn that her family didn’t possess the genetics to blend in with the class of people she wanted to be a part of.

  Dasia lowered her head. “You want to know the worst part about this?” She took a deep breath, not wanting to shed another tear over that man. Not now, not ever.

  G waited patiently while Dasia gathered her thoughts. Though he too had had his heart broken, Dasia had grappled with something that no one should have to face. What kind of a person waits till they get to the altar to not only break off a relationship, but to then confess devotion to another?

  “I can’t believe I sacrificed my health just to fit into that damned dress. His mother wanted me to wear the cursed thing. It took me months to lose enough weight to get into it.”

  “Feel free to not answer this, but how much weight did you lose?”

  Looking at her without all of the makeup, G thought her face looked unnaturally thin. Some people were just destined to have a little weight on their bones. Dasia was one of them. She looked sickly. What kind of torture had she put her body through to get down to her size?

  “I went from a fourteen to an eight.”

  G sat there speechless. He never understood why women felt the need to be so thin. He preferred his women with a little meat on their bones. Although a size fourteen was probably not healthy for Dasia, considering her height, a ten or twelve would probably be ideal. A size eight made her cheeks sink in, and the abuse to her body had wreaked havoc on her skin.

  “When’s the last time you’ve eaten a decent meal?”

  Dasia replayed the last five to six months, but the only thing that came to mind was salad and grapefruit. She’d given up her precious dark chocolate and replaced it with meal replacement shakes, her love for bread with green leafy vegetables and grapefruit, and her taste for rich wine with water.

  “Actually, I can’t remember.” She lowered her eyes. “Guess it’s been that long.”

  “Have you eaten today?”

  Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she replied, “No.”

  “Then we’ll finish this conversation over room service.” G stood and made his way back into the room.

  He yelled back to her through the open sliding doors, “Are you allergic to shellfish?”

  “No!”

  He picked up the phone and ordered lobster, asparagus and baby carrots, coffee, and water. She’d finished off a bottle of champagne, quite enough alcohol for one night.

  In that moment, G caught himself. He found this young lady to be attractive, even in this time of distress. Something inside of him wanted to help her. He had to be careful though. He’d been here before. Too many times before. Good guys usually got strung through the ringer, and his last girlfriend had done just that to him. He’d try not to hold that against this young lady. Something about her called out to that part of him that just wanted to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe from all of the terrible things in this life.

  Shaking the thoughts from the past from his mind, he rejoined Dasia on the balcony. “Dinner will be here in a few minutes.”

  “Dinner sounds wonderful.” Dasia leaned back in the chair and stared up at the sky.

  “Wanna know something else messed up about my situation?” Not even her family knew what she was about to tell this stranger.

  “What?”

  “Come tomorrow, I’m going to be homeless.”

  “Homeless? Why?”

  “Well, since I was supposed to be moving in with my new husband, I didn’t renew the lease on my apartment. All of my stuff is in storage. I don’t really have any place to go. I guess I’ll have to stay in the hotel a few more nights until I can find a new place.”

  Dasia didn’t tell him to get sympathy. She was just trying to sort out all of the details she needed to tend to. Finding an apartment wouldn’t be hard. She could probably get her old place back with no problems, but she didn’t really want to go back there. She needed to get away from her old life, and any reminder of her time with Jeremiah. Her two weeks off from work would be more than enough time to find a new apartment, move in, and still have some time to herself.

  G thought, Hmmm. Don’t do it. Don’t fall into the trap again. It’s only going to bring you heartache.

  What harm could come in helping her? He had the means, and it was the right thing to do, something his mother had instilled in him since he was a child. He wouldn’t make any commitments. He didn’t have to get too involved. Just give her a chance to get herself together. Anything else would be considered an added bonus. Yes. He’d definitely help her.

  “I have a proposition for you. My company owns an apartment complex not too far from here. It’s in a fairly nice neighborhood, and it’s pretty secure. I usually keep a furnished apartment there for when I’m doing business in town, but you’re welcome to use it. If you like it, you stay as long as you like. If you don’t, at least you’ll have a place to call home, until you can find something more suitable.”

  Dasia had a couple of relatives, and at least one friend in Atlanta. After the wedding fiasco, she wasn’t ready to face them though. They could come looking for her if they wanted to, but she and Jeremiah hadn’t told anyone where they’d be staying the night. Thinking their Hyatt suite was her safest bet at avoiding everyone, she figured, if anything, Jeremiah would go to Monica’s hotel. She was actually glad Jeremiah had decided to stay at a different hotel from the wedding party and guests.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, what do you have to lose?” G gave her his best set of puppy dog eyes.

  “You’d do that for me?”

  G replied nonchalantly, “Sure.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m a firm believer in karma, so I try to give as much as possible. Besides, I see something in you that apparently your ex-fiancé didn’t.”

  “And what is it that you see?”
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  Before G got the opportunity to answer her question, a knock at the door interrupted them.

  “I guess dinner’s here.” He stood, offering his hand to her. She took it and allowed him to lead her into his suite and to the table.

  G opened the door and waited while the young man set up the table with their food. He signed the slip, charging the meal to his room, and handed the young man a twenty-dollar tip. The waiter thanked him and left them to their meal.

  G watched Dasia dip a morsel of lobster into the butter sauce and wrap her slightly pink lips around it. “So how is it?” he asked. One reason he’d chosen this hotel was that the food was excellent. By the look on Dasia’s face, she was going to enjoy this meal.

  A low “Mmm” escaped her as she enjoyed the flavor she’d denied herself for a long time. “Wonderful. I haven’t had real food in months.”

  “You know you shouldn’t treat your body that way. Starving yourself is not the most ideal way to lose weight.”

  “Actually, I’m okay with my normal weight.” Dasia cut a piece of asparagus and ate it. “I love to eat. I just wanted everything to be perfect, and it was easier to lose the weight than to argue with them.”

  She rolled her eyes thinking about all of the decisions about her wedding she didn’t get to make. Jeremiah’s mother was a real bitch. She’d come in and taken over the whole planning process and justified it by saying she was paying for it, so things would be the way she wanted them to be. The only things Dasia had been allowed to choose were the location and the colors, and that was only because Jeremiah convinced his mother to let Dasia have the wedding where she wanted, and Daisa’s favorite colors were also Mama Delpriore’s favorite colors.

  “Things are only perfect when you’re yourself, not who someone wants you to be.”

  “Believe me, in my head I know you’re right. Sometimes though, that’s easier said than done.”

  “How so?”

  For the next hour, Dasia relived the last six years of her life. She told him of how her mother had always told her she was too dark and too overweight for any decent boy to notice her. So when the captain of the football team asked her to the prom, she was ecstatic.

  She told G how she later found out Jeremiah had only done it to win a bet. It took her a long time to get over that. Eventually she chalked it up to something that had happened in the past and to let it be just that, the past. They talked about why she’d stayed with Jeremiah for so long, why she’d put up with all of his crap.

  G asked about her childhood, and Dasia revealed to him the torture she’d experienced over the years. She told him how the kids had made fun of her because she couldn’t run as fast because she was overweight. Kids used to tease her about how dark her skin was, calling her darkie, or blackie, or any other condescending name they could come up with. The years of abuse as a child led her to accept that any attention was welcome attention, even if it slowly diminished the little self-esteem or dignity she had left.

  By the time they’d finished dinner, he understood why she’d put up with Jeremiah. The years of being treated as if she wasn’t good enough had reduced her feelings of self-worth to nothing. G’s heart softened even more. He now knew the horrible existence she’d contended with for all of her life.

  Dasia rested her head on the back of the chair and closed her eyes. There was a time when all of the memories would have overwhelmed her. Over the years though, she’d learned to accept what she’d been through.

  She felt sleep pulling her under. She could still hear G talking, his voice becoming distant.

  G watched Dasia’s energy wear off. The combination of a whole bottle of champagne, a good meal, and hours of crying had taken its toll.

  Just as her body began to relax and she slipped into a deeper state of sleep, the hotel door swung open.

  “Aye, man.”

  “Shhh!” G quickly silenced his friend.

  He scooped Dasia up and took her into the bedroom. Pulling the covers over her, he placed a light kiss on her forehead. He’d make it all better. No matter what, he’d show her the other side of life, that life didn’t have to be the way she understood it. He whispered in her ear, “Sleep well. You’ve earned it.”

  Chapter 3

  G pulled the door closed behind him and joined Chaos, his best friend and right-hand man, in front of the biGscreen television.

  “So who’s the chick?”

  G and Chaos Emelio Donnigan had been partnered his first year at the Sovereign Securities Agency. They’d both been highly sought after, once joining the Agency. By their third year together anything that was considered classified and high-priority went to the pair. G and Chaos had taken a number of assignments involving international money laundering, and a few disposal assignments all in the name of justice. Though they suspected that some of their contracts came from the government, they worked for a private enterprise that kept an extremely low profile.

  They’d been through hell and high water together while employed at the Agency. A couple of close calls had nearly ended both of their lives. It came with the territory. Taking out the trash was a risky business by all accounts, and they’d weathered the storm when it came to walking the line between just and unjust. As long as they carried out their assignment, people tended to leave them alone.

  Even after G had resigned, they were practically inseparable. Chaos left the Agency a little over a year after G did and joined the police force. He’d assumed the role of Detective Chaos Donnigan ever since, his specialty being investigating potential murder-for-hire cases.

  “Man, don’t you ever knock?” G eyed his friend as he made himself more comfortable.

  “Have I ever?” Chaos snapped back, his attention still focused on the images flipping across the screen.

  “No, and that’s the problem.”

  G cut his eyes at Chaos again. He’d told him time and time again to knock before entering his room. G always gave him the courtesy, but his friend still hadn’t returned the favor. He was hoping not to have to resort to other measures, but Chaos wasn’t giving him much of a choice.

  “Since when have you gotten so touchy?”

  “I just didn’t want to wake her. She’s had a really bad day.” G emptied the last of the wine into his glass and tossed the bottle into the trash.

  “Damn! Is it that serious?”

  “Yes, it is. Now what do you want?” G took a sip from his glass and leaned back into the comfortable couch.

  “Got the call. Our last job just got taken down. We’re once again free men. We should be receiving our money in a couple of days. That’s officially it. I came to see if you wanted to go celebrate.” Chaos glanced over his shoulder at the closed bedroom door. “Guess you’re busy.”

  Although they had both officially resigned from the Agency, they still occasionally got called in under extenuating circumstances, when their expertise was invaluable. They’d received one of those calls nearly a week ago, and the job was supposed to be finished in a couple of days.

  Apparently the Agency had been able to apprehend the target ahead of schedule, a plus for the two men.

  “I’ll pass. I’d hate for her to wake up in the middle of the night and not remember where she is.”

  “Have it your way. How’d she end up in here anyway?” Chaos flipped the television to ESPN.

  G snickered inside at his comment. How true the statement really was. “You know I’m a sucker for a woman in distress.”

  “Don’t I recall that getting your heart broken before?” Chaos kept his attention locked on the screen. He remembered what his boy went through with the last woman he’d allowed into his life.

  “I really don’t need this right now from you.” G knew where this conversation was going and didn’t want to go there. Chaos was never going to let him live down letting his last girlfriend steal his heart, along with a huge chunk of change.

  “Okay. Okay. So, do I want to know what the problem is?”

  “N
o.”

  “Well, then I’ll leave you to tend to your new friend.” Tossing the remote onto the table, Chaos got up from the sofa and made his way to the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “I’m not like you. I wouldn’t take advantage.”

  “Yeah. You’ve always been too much of a gentleman for my taste. That’s why women walk all over you.”

  “Get out.”

  Chaos took the hint and left G to his thoughts.

  Chapter 4

  The warmth of the morning sun and the smell of fresh brewing coffee pulled Dasia from her sleep. Even with her eyes closed, she felt her head throbbing. She didn’t remember how much she’d had to drink last night, but she had one hell of a hangover. When she rolled over to her other side and opened her eyes, she noticed the black suitcase and realized she wasn’t in her suite.

  Dasia tried to remember where she was. The layout of the place looked identical to her suite. The only out-of-place object was the black suitcase where a blue one should have been. She pulled the covers back, glad to see she was still fully dressed, and climbed out of bed. She made her way over to the window and lost herself in the morning glow.

  For the next few moments she forgot about her troubles and enjoyed the feel of the morning sun against her skin. She wanted to just stand there and let everything pass her by, but she knew she couldn’t. There was a whole world just on the other side of the glass calling to her.

  A light tapping on the door drew her attention away from the Atlanta skyline. She knew there was someone in the other room—the coffee was a dead giveaway—but the person’s name eluded her at this moment.

  “Come in.” She beckoned to the stranger on the other side.