Gimme an O! by Kayla Perrin

curtain swags. Her family had money, but she had never set foot on such an opulent estate.
    “I don’t want to gawk. Okay, I’m gawking. How big is this place? Fifteen thousand square feet?”
    “Twenty.”
    Lecia’s mouth fell open. She surveyed the ornate light fixtures outside the door while Anthony pressed the doorbell. The theme song from Monday Night Football sounded.
    Of course, Lecia thought, rolling her eyes. Kahari Brown was probably the type of ball player into the bling bling—large gold chains, gaudy gold and diamond rings. How could he not be, with an estate this size?
    The door opened. A man whose chest looked as big as a Mac truck greeted them both with a warm smile. He wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt, but no jewelry, except for one class-type ring.
    “Yo, T.”
    Anthony stepped into the massive foyer. It rivaled some of the hotel foyers Lecia had seen. Twin staircases led to a large landing overlooking the lower level. The banister was most likely cherry wood, the steps and floor marble. A gigantic crystal chandelier hung above their heads. Lecia wouldn’t have been surprised if the metal was platinum. Straight ahead, past the area beneath the landing, was what appeared to be a living room.
    “’Sup, dawg,” Anthony said.
    The two men greeted each other with a chest-knocking hug.
    “So this is Dr. Love.” Kahari’s eyes roamed lazily over her.
    Lecia stopped gawking to face him. “That’s me.”
    “Pleasure to meet you.”
    Kahari Brown seemed polite enough. Not at all like a cocky star athlete. “Thanks.”
    “Thanks for letting us come by,” Anthony said. “We’ll just head on to the kitchen.” He turned to Lecia. “Unless you prefer to sit outside?”
    “Wherever we’ll get this done ASAP.”
    “You’ll like the view outside.”
    Although this situation was hardly ideal, Lecia couldn’t help looking around the massive house with wide-eyed wonder. It wasn’t a house; it was a palace. The walls were stark white, but the furnishings were dark colors. She continued to gawk as she absentmindedly followed Anthony. This place was so big that two people could live here and never see each other.
    The kitchen boasted a large metal fridge, black marble floors, black granite counters, and white cupboards.
    Lecia supposed there was a first for everything, and seeing an actual café-style sitting area in the kitchen complete with leather sofas was a first for her. Surrounded with an alcove that had a coffeemaker, cappuccino machine, and bar, it was like this kitchen had its own Starbucks. The only thing missing was the menu display showing prices for calorie-ridden specialty coffees.
    She would have been more than content to sit and have a coffee there—until she caught sight of the backyard. Wow—she had been kidnapped and taken to heaven. In immediate viewing range was a large pea-shaped pool with a cascading waterfall. Surrounded by lush foliage, Lecia couldn’t help feeling that she had stepped out of L.A. and onto a Caribbean island. Several lounge chairs lined the pool’s perimeter. In the distance behind the pool, she could see the hillside and other houses across the valley.
    Clearly, the wide receiver liked to entertain.
    Women?
    “So, where will it be?”
    Lecia spun around. Her heart slammed in her chest when she saw Anthony standing so near to her. He truly was one fine-looking brother. Tall—at least six feet two. Smooth, dark skin. Strong arms. And for the first time, she realized that a T-shirt could be sexy as hell—as long as it was on the right man.
    Startled by the turn of her thoughts, she turned, hugging her torso. What was wrong with her? This was a man who had come unglued, to her detriment, on national TV.
    “Dr. Love?”
    “Please, call me Lecia.” Dr. Love sounded silly on his lips.
    “As long as you call me Tony. Or T.”
    “All right.”
    “So, would you rather sit inside or outside?”
    “Outside’s fine,” she said.
    “Coffee or coladas?” That