Too Close for Comfort by La Jill Hunt Page A

a surround-sound station. She scrolled through the hand-held device until she found Janet Jackson and hit the title, “You Want This.” She turned the volume all the way up, and the girls began dancing.
    They were jamming, when the door opened and Jarrod walked in.
    â€œWhat the hell are y’all doing over here? Turn that shit down some!” He yelled.
    The three of them looked at him and then each other. They danced in a circle around him closer and closer until he was sandwiched between them. Unable to resist, he began dancing and gyrating along with them.
    Moments later, Quincy walked in. “What in the world?”
    â€œThey jumped me, man. Wasn’t nothing I could do,” Jarrod said, without missing a beat.
    â€œYeah, right!” Quincy said.
    â€œI’m serious.” Jarrod shrugged. “Yo, show him what y’all working with.”
    The three ladies eased away from Jarrod and circled Quincy. They were so enticing that he found himself dancing, like Jarrod, as well.
    A few other guys came over to see what was going on, and before they knew it, a full-blown party had ensued.
    â€œSee why I didn’t want a walkthrough doorway.” Yaya laughed in her brother’s ear.
    The next morning, decked out in their black After Effex baby T’s, black jeans, and sure enough, all black Air Jordans, courtesy of Twan, who had so much fun at the pre-grand opening party, he gave them each a pair.
    Qianna, Taryn and Monya cut the ribbon and opened the doors of After Effex Salon. They had taken care of every little detail, and everything went smoothly: The caterers arrived on time, and the food was delicious; the photographers took shots of everyone and everything; the deejay played the right music at just the right time.
    Family, friends, and colleagues all came out to show their support. From top fashion models in the industry to brides whose faces Yaya or Taryn had done on their wedding day, it seemed as if everyone who got an invitation showed up.
    Quincy had gone all out, calling in all sorts of favors and taking care of most of the marketing for the girls. The radio station did a live broadcast, and even the newspaper did an interview with them.
    Monya and Taryn did nails nonstop. Yaya filled the role of hostess, make-up artist and receptionist at the same time; she was in her element.
    â€œYo, Yaya, come here for a moment,” Quincy called from the front of the salon.
    She walked over to see him standing beside a beautiful woman with short, wavy hair and the cutest little girl. “What’s up, Q?”
    She noticed that he was holding the woman’s hand. No doubt, the woman’s looks were striking, but she was different from any woman she had ever seen her brother with. Quincy always went for tall, dark, slim women. Paige was barely five foot five, almond-colored, and clearly a size twelve.
    â€œYaya, this is Paige. Paige, this is my sister, Yaya.” He beamed.
    â€œNice to meet you. You can call me Yaya.” She held her hand out to Paige. “And who is this pretty woman?”
    â€œThat is Ms. Myla.” Quincy reached over and rubbed the little girl’s head. “Paige’s daughter.”
    Yaya was shocked by her brother’s behavior. Quincy rarely, if ever, showed any public displays of affection. To see him openly holding Paige’s hand and showing attention to her daughter let Yaya know that her brother had to be feeling something for this woman. But he hadn’t even talked to her about Paige.
    Usually, Quincy would allow Yaya to meet girls before he dated them on the regular, let alone become involved with them on a serious level. Most women often looked forward to meeting her, when he mentioned he had a sister; if they didn’t, they had to be hiding something.
    â€œI have heard so much about you,” Paige told her. “Your brother is so proud of you. You’re all he ever talks about.”
    â€œAll good