Her Man: An Interracial Romance (The Bentini Brothers Book 2) by Jaye McCloud

Antonio,
why are you stopping here?”
         “Because I’m trying to avoid getting into a
wreck.”  He says, as he turns and grabs hold to me, wrapping me up in his arms. 
“Those aren’t the words I wish to hear, but they’re close.”  After giving me a
quick heated kiss, he pulls back into traffic and we head to my apartment.  
         “Baby, let me go inside and get the pups and
your bags.”  Antonio says as he parks outside my apartment. “Why don’t you want
me to go in?”
         “Because it’s late, I’m tired, and you’ll take
too long.”
         “Okay, suit yourself…Oh, and please don’t
forget the puppy pen.”  It takes three trips, but Antonio finally got everything
packed into his SUV, and we’re soon on our way to his place.  Antonio’s house
is about twenty-five minutes away from my neighborhood.  In one of the more
affluent suburban areas of the county.  He presses a button on the console
inside the car and the tall black iron gates begin to open at once.  Antonio’s contemporary
two-story glasshouse sits back from the gates.  “Your house is beautiful Antonio.” 
He smiles, and as we drive up the driveway, he pushes another button on the console
and one of the four panels on the garage lifts without delay. 
         “Home sweet home.  You grab the carrier with
the pups—”
         “Cotton Candi and Snow Ball…Candi and Snow for
short… and that’s candy with an i.
        “So you finally came up with names, huh?  Well,
it’s a good thing their tiny and female or they’d be embarrassed.”  He mocks
with a straight face.  “Okay, grab Cotton Candi –with an i- and Snow and I’ll
get everything else.”
         “We enter the house through the four car garage
and walk right into a high ceiling, sleek kitchen.  Sitting the puppy carrier
down next to the island, I head back out to the garage to help Antonio bring in
my bags, but he shoos me back in.  Walking around the elegant kitchen, I see
that all the stainless steel appliances are some of B&S finest high-end products. 
The cabinets are made of light colored wood—probably birch, ash or maple, I
have no idea which.  Looking at the granite counter tops, as I run my fingers
along the edge of the island, I can’t help comparing my tiny basic kitchen to
this.  This kitchen is just incredible.  I don’t like to cook, but I can definitely
see myself cooking in this kitchen.
         “Come on Baby, it’s late and I’m exhausted and
I’m sure you are too.  I’ll give you a tour of the house tomorrow.  If that’s
okay with you.”  Antonio says as he locks the door and sets the security alarm. 
         “Sure.”  He takes my hand and starts walking. 
“Wait, my babies.  We can’t just leave them here in the kitchen.”  I give him a
look that says, “ And you better not dare suggest we do .”
         He picks up the carrier and takes my hand
again and we walk out of the kitchen, and across a spacious room –huge to be
just a living room— to a wide glass-paneled staircase.  I’ve never seen stairs
like this before.  As a matter of fact, I’ve never been in a house where the
entire living room walls are mostly glass…no curtains, just glass.  You can
actually see outside, there are no barriers.  It’s dark outside and although
the property is well-lit, it’s still kinda weird.  Beautiful, but weird.  The
second floor of the house is oval shaped; the same glass panels surround the
entire upstairs landing.  We pass five or six doors before we get to the
double-wide cream colored doors at the end of the hall.  Antonio hands me the
carrier, and then turns and throws both doors wide open.  Turning back to me,
he sweeps me and the puppies into his arms, causing me to shriek and squeal. 
Laughing he declares, “I’m marking this as a special moment.  I’ve been wanting
you here, in my home, for months.”
         Oh my starz!  I think all of