Bro-mance 101 Page 6
Zhané squeezed his hands. “Do you know what you’re asking?” she probed. “The last time, we got carried away. But now, we have time to think about our actions.” This was the first time he’d even touched her since they’d begun co-hosting together. Other than his light flirting, Dev had been a perfect gentleman.
“That’s my quandary.” His dark eyes sought hers. “I’ve been thinking about you too much. I don’t know what it is about you, Zhané, but I can’t get you out of my mind.”
Her heartbeat stammered. She was pleasantly surprised to learn that Devlin was experiencing a type of misery identical to her own, but this revelation confirmed the two of them were headed down a slippery slope. She couldn’t deny that just being around this man gave her a high that couldn’t be duplicated from boardrooms and RFPs. “I feel the same way about you,” she admitted. “I don’t want to put a damper on things, but what the hell are we going to do about this?”
He grinned. “You’re too much of a woman to let get away. You stimulate me physically and mentally. You’re equal parts femininity and strength, both traits that turn me on.” The pads of his thumbs stroked her palms. “You’ve got me thinking in a new direction. I like our vigorous debates. I think between the both of us, we perfectly represent both sides of an issue. I guess I’m trying to say I think we’re an amazing combination.”
“So tell me how you really feel,” she teased.
“Zhané Williams, you are a woman worth taking the plunge with.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
“Woman, you’re all that! I want to keep you around, and not just in a co-host capacity.”
She was tempted to return his megawatt smile, but she was trembling on the inside. Her disaster with Malik had shaken her confidence. She’d mistakenly believed that relationship was the real thing. She didn’t trust herself to tell the difference now. “I don’t know about this,” she hesitated. “If there’s anything I learned from you it’s that I’ve got too much going on to dedicate myself to a relationship. I don’t want to make the same mistake I made with Malik.” She pulled her hands from his. “You deserve better.”
Devlin cupped her face. “Baby, I appreciate you saying that. But you and I are different from you and Malik. You two had numerous issues, the biggest of which was that you didn’t make time for each other. That’s not going to happen with us,” he assured her. “You’re already making time for me.”
That was true. Initially, Zhané was only supposed to co-host once or twice a week. Yet, somehow she found herself at KLUV Studios every evening after work verbally trysting with Devlin on Bro-mance 101. She’d been worried that her career would suffer, but it hadn’t. Now, she got her “Devlin” fix every day, and she was even more productive at work. It was as if she and he fed off each other. Their boundless energy trickled into all aspects of her life.
Looking back, she realized her relationship with Malik had been draining. The last month or two, it had become a chore to be with him. Conversely, spending time with Devlin invigorated her. She too, enjoyed their debates. She loved the way he looked at her with that seductive gleam in his eyes. She purred whenever his velvety voice washed over her. She admired his intelligence. She reveled in his attentiveness. Even when he was talking with listeners, he made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world.
Devlin is definitely not Malik.
“So what do you think?” Devlin asked her. “Can we make a go of it?”
Ramon rapped on the glass divider, interrupting their private moment to signal that the commercial break was ending. He gave them a ‘thumbs up’ sign and a grin so wide Zhané thought his face would split in half.
Taking his cue, Zhané hurriedly donned her headphones, unmuted the microphone, and took the next call. “Welcome back to Bro-mance 101 with a twist of spice,” she announced. “You’re on the air with Zhané and Devlin.”
“Hello, Zhané,” a man’s voice filtered across the line. “My girlfriend works a lot and we rarely get to see each other. I’m thinking of moving in with her so she’ll spend more time with me. What do you suggest?”
“Dump her,” Zhané advised. “If she’s that busy, living with her won’t make it any better.”
“Whoa!” Devlin jumped in. “You’re just gonna tell a guy to dump his woman because she doesn’t make time for him, Zhané?”
She tossed him a saucy smile. “Exactly.”
“On what, pre-tell, are you basing that decision?”
She looked into Devlin’s eyes and held his gaze. “It’s simple. If two people really want to be together, they’ll find a way. No matter how many tornadoes are touching down in their lives, they will always find time to be with each other. That’s the sign of a relationship that’s meant to last. You don’t agree?”
Devlin took both of her hands in his and brushed kisses across the tops of each one. “Woman, I couldn’t agree with you more.”
The two sported matching grins as they continued staring into each other’s eyes. Zhané’s heart soared as she felt stirrings of hope flutter inside her. Devlin was right. Together, they were an amazing combination, and she was ready for all the possibilities their union could bring.
She was ready to take the plunge.
“Wow,” the caller interrupted. “I’ve never heard you two agree on anything.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” Devlin answered.
“Yes,” Zhané agreed. “And I have a feeling this will be the first of many firsts for us.”
***THE END***
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ann Jefferson – For your meticulous editing skills and constant words of encouragement.
Kerry Rand Photography – For the perfect cover shot.
To learn more about me, check me out at www.ChantaRand.com or drop me a line at Chanta@ChantaRand.com. I love hearing from readers.
Other Books by Chanta Jefferson Rand
THE HIGHEST BIDDER
DELAY OF GAME
SIGNS OF LOVE
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
PHARAOH’S DESIRE
DIRTY LAUNDRY
YOU’VE GOT MALE!