Eye Candy by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

Rihanna, Miley, and Beyoncé rolled up into one.
    â€œOkay, okay,” I said, the minute I noticed someone with a camera phone. “I’m done.”
    J. Love turned to the guy filming, one of the dancers from his crew. “Man, put that camera up! We trying to just have a good time.”
    â€œSee, this is why I sit over here, minding my business,” I said as I walked off the dance floor.
    â€œAwww, come on,” J. said, pulling me back to him. “I shut him down. We’re having a good time. Don’t ruin it.”
    â€œTell your boys don’t be filming me. I don’t want to end up twerking on WorldStarHipHop,” I snapped.
    Just then, the music slowed and Trey Songz’s “Heart Attack” filled the room. I tensed up as J. Love pulled me close to him to slow dance.
    â€œYou don’t want to dance with me?” he asked when he noticed how stiff I was.
    â€œJ. . . .”
    â€œJust relax,” he said. “We’re just dancing.”
    I took a deep breath, then laid my head on his shoulder. I couldn’t help it. It felt good to be so close to J., so when he squeezed me tighter, I squeezed him back.
    â€œYou know, I really enjoyed seeing you let your hair down,” he whispered. “You don’t do that enough.”
    â€œI have an image to maintain.”
    â€œSo do I. And together, we look like two celebrities having fun. That’s all. No big deal.”
    â€œI did have a good time tonight,” I said. “Except for that wine cooler.”
    He let out a small laugh. I had finally broken down and let J. talk me into drinking a wine cooler. And it had me buzzing, a feeling I did not like.
    I actually had been completely against it, but I’d gotten caught up in the moment, with all the fun we were having.
    â€œSo, Maya Morgan, are you really happy with nerd dude?” he asked me as we slowly swayed back and forth.
    â€œNerd dude’s name is Alvin, and why did you ask me that?”
    â€œI just asked a question.”
    â€œAlvin is a good guy.”
    He stopped, pulled back and looked me in the eye. “That’s not what I asked you. Are you happy?”
    I thought for a minute, then said, “I am.”
    He didn’t crack a smile as he said, “Then why are you here with me?”
    That made me stop swaying and I took a step back.
    He pulled me back toward him. “You know I keep it real. You are here because you’re feeling me, just like I’m feeling you. Maya, we are good together.”
    â€œWe tried that already, J.,” I said.
    â€œYeah, and I messed up. I thought you had sold me out to the tabloid and I just screwed up. I need you to give me another chance.”
    â€œI can’t, because I’m with someone.”
    â€œSo, you said.”
    â€œSo, I am.”
    â€œOkay, cool then.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “Just like that?” J. Love didn’t give up on anything that easy.
    He pulled me back to him to finish our dance. “I don’t believe in harassing anyone, but you will be mine. In the meantime,” he continued, “we’re just going to relax and have a good time.” He eased my head back down on his chest and I closed my eyes and savored the moment.
    The flash of a bulb caused me to jolt up. A photographer was zoomed in on us, snapping away.
    â€œMan, get them out of here!” J. yelled to his bodyguard.
    â€œDang,” I said, huffing because I didn’t want any pictures.
    â€œYou know that’s the price of fame.” J. shrugged. “But tonight, I just want to enjoy my time with you before we have to return to reality and I have to return you to your man. Because you know he’s only borrowing you right now.”
    â€œWhatever, J.” I told myself that he was only kidding, but for some reason, the feeling in the pit of my stomach told me that he wasn’t.

Chapter 22
    T he ringing phone blared, startling