Hittin' It Out the Park by Allison Hobbs Page B

tension between you and me. Okay?”
    â€œHmph! You’re the one who caused the tension, so don’t blame me!”
    â€œI know. I know. I’m an idiot. Do you forgive me?”
    She sucked her teeth. “I hate you,” she whispered.
    â€œNo, you don’t. You love me as much as I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “And I’m gonna show you how much I love you when I get you in bed tonight.”
    Sexy looked hot and she knew it, and she was accustomed to being appraised and admired back home in Philly, but she found it a little odd that glamorous New Yorkers—both men and quite a few women—were ogling her like she was a juicy piece of meat.
    And Yusef was such a hypocrite. With all that talk about the cost of her dress, he grinned with delight with his prideful eyes darting to her revealing dress each time he introduced her to one of his teammates. She got the impression that Yusef wanted every man at the party to check out the skin she was showing and to lust over her.
    Annoyed with Yusef, Sexy took a trip to the restroom to get away from him for a few moments. Inside the restroom, two attractive women were checking out their reflections in the mirror, touching up their makeup, and gossiping.
    â€œThat heifer needs to be working for the Secret Service the way she keeps close tabs on her man. She’s practically joined at the hip with Randy, and it’s not a good look. Cheryl needs to lengthen the leash on her husband—at least for tonight.”
    â€œI know, right? It’s his birthday, after all, and she should get from up under him, and give him some breathing room,” the other woman chimed in with her mouth turned down in disapproval.
    â€œBirthday or not, she’s so afraid of losing her Mega-Millions Man, I doubt if she’ll let him out of her sight for one minute, tonight.”
    â€œWe can’t put all the blame on Cheryl, though. I heard that Randy’s nose is so wide open, the groupies don’t stand a chance. Word on the street is that Cheryl has him so whipped, he won’t even sign autographs for good-looking women unless Cheryl gives him permission.”
    Sexy approached the mirror, and the two chicks looked her up and down sneeringly before departing the restroom.
    Haters! Gazing at her image, Sexy reflected on what she’d overheard about the birthday boy. So, he earns mega-millions, does he? I wonder exactly how much? I bet a man making big bucks wouldn’t complain if his woman bought a forty-five-hundred-dollar dress.
    She hadn’t met Randy Alston or his wife, yet, and after overhearing the gossip about their marriage, Sexy was eager to meet the couple. She didn’t care how gorgeous his wife was reported to be, Sexy highly doubted if Randy’s wife or any other woman at the party looked better than she did.
    Loving a challenge, Sexy smiled maliciously as she made a bet with herself that she could not only get Randy’s attention, but could also steal his heart away from his stupid-ass, jealous wife.
    When Sexy exited the restroom, Yusef was waiting outside the door. “Why’d you stay in there so long? Randy and his wife just arrived and we missed shouting out, ‘Surprise!’ ” Yusef said with a note of hostility in his voice.
    Sexy shot him a disapproving look. “I don’t give a shit about shouting, surprise. What are we, six-year-olds? Goddamn!”
    Yusef relaxed his facial muscles. “Nah, nah. It’s not like that. It’s all good. But I want to introduce you to Randy and Cheryl before this place gets so packed and you can hardly have a decent conversation.” He ran a caressing finger down the side of Sexy’s face. “Schmoozing with the Alstons can’t hurt. So, be extra polite to his wife.”
    Holding Sexy’s hand, Yusef led her over to where Randy and Cheryl were holding court. Cheryl’s beauty couldn’t be denied. She was