Heartfelt Choices (Kendra's Conflict, Book One)

These excerpts make the most sense in the order they were initially shared with the public. Please scroll down to see the most recent sneak peeks.

       He arrived at the Mexican restaurant fifteen minutes early and decided to wait at the bar. Consequently, he was sipping a double shot of tequila when he saw her walk in. His heart pounded double-time. What was Kendra doing here? As if she felt him staring, she turned her head and their eyes locked. First, shock filled her expression and then pleasure. She made her way to him, her wide hips swaying the way he remembered. The printed skirt practically caressed her legs as it floated around them. He drew his eyes back to her face just in time to smile for her greeting.

“Hey,” she said softly. “What are you doing here?”

“I guess our souls were destined to cross paths again,” he replied with a teasing grin.

She rolled her eyes but laughed. “I shouldn’t have said all of that stuff. It wasn’t appropriate.”

“That doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” A touch of sadness entered his eyes. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

“You know, not all soul mates are meant to be romantic,” she reminded him.

“I’ll take what I can get.” He smiled and tried to shake off the lingering disappointment. “So, what are you doing here?”

“My boyfriend and I are here for dinner.”

“Oh? He didn’t let you out alone this time?” he teased.

“No.” She giggled. “He had to take a call, but he’ll be here in a minute. We’re meeting his cousin.”

“His cousin,” Carlos repeated with the iciness of understanding spreading through his stomach. He could feel his smile slipping just as Alonzo stepped up beside the woman Carlos had been dreaming about for weeks.

“Come and dance with me,” Kendra said to Carlos halfway through her first drink.

Alonzo chuckled as his cousin threw him a concerned look. “It’s either you or the hairy, middle-age, pudgy man with the receding hairline who’s been staring at her tits since we walked in,” he shrugged. “When my baby wants to dance, I let her. You know it’s not my thing.”

“Okay,” Carlos reluctantly agreed. Alonzo understood that it had been a long time since he and Carlos had gone on dates where they swapped women, even for something as insignificant as a dance. None of those dates had been with anyone important, so Carlos probably wasn’t sure how he felt about this. Alonzo understood, but Carlos would need to be comfortable interacting with Kendra when they were all together if he was going to be able to look out for her when Alonzo was out of town. Of course, Carlos didn’t know that he was going to get that responsibility yet.

The plan was still forming in Alonzo’s mind.

He almost wanted to laugh at the expression on his cousin’s face as Kendra pulled him close for the slow dance and whispered something in his ear with an emphatic nod that had Carlos glancing back at their table with a near panicked expression in his eyes. Alonzo raised his whiskey glass in acknowledgement. Carlos visibly relaxed and moved his hands from her sides to the middle of her lower back.

Alonzo smiled.

After a couple of songs, the music changed to a more upbeat rhythm and Alonzo got a chance to see how Carlos reacted to Kendra swinging those luscious curves against him and running her hands over his muscles. A few raised eyebrows sent his direction were only met with shrugs and chuckles that indicated Alonzo had no problems with what his woman was doing. Carlos had no way of knowing that Alonzo was getting a bit aroused watching the two of them on the dance floor.

That was his and Kendra’s thing: her dancing suggestively with other men while he watched. She was always careful to not be overtly teasing, so she wasn’t too handsy or suggestive with Carlos. Still, Alonzo was enjoying the show.

Knowing the pair would probably be thirsty, Alonzo ordered another round of drinks that arrived as they were returning to the table.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even return his text!” Kendra scolded her friend.

“Why? He was a little too consumed with what was going on with you. I’m not wasting my time on your castoff.” LaToya rolled her eyes.

“Seriously?” Kendra jabbed her straw into the glass of soda in front of her. “It’s not like I dated him, so he isn’t really my castoff. Besides, since he’s going to be around, I need everyone to stay on good terms. The least you could have done was answer the text to say you’d changed your mind instead of just blowing him off. That could make future social events awkward.”

“You’re right.” LaToya picked up her phone and tapped several times to access her messaging app before typing a quick reply. “Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I really don’t think things will work between us. Best wishes,” she read aloud. “That good enough?” The glare she sent her friend was anything but friendly. Her finger hovered over the send button until Kendra reluctantly nodded.

“I don’t get you,” Kendra finally said. “All you could talk about was his hot body and how you wanted to get close and personal with his sexiness. Now, you’re acting like you were infatuated and got your hopes crushed.” She dabbed a French fry in ketchup without looking at her best friend. “I think you pretend not to want a relationship to keep people from knowing that’s exactly what you want. The problem is that you’ll never get it if you don’t put yourself out there and invest your heart instead of just your body.” She popped the fry into her mouth.

“I hear you,” her friend sighed. “But just because I’m not ready for all that, don’t’ think I want to hook up with someone who will be fantasizing about another woman while he’s humping me. No matter what you say, Carlos is into you. Maybe you don’t see it because that would complicate your life with Alonzo, but I’m not blind and I’m not stupid.” She took a sip of her lemonade.

The two women ate in silence for a long time.

Kendra thought about her friend’s words. The truth was that she couldn’t afford to see what LaToya was saying. She needed to believe that she, Alonzo, and Carlos could be one happy family, as they would be if no ill-advised feelings were present. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that people who were happily in love were never physically attracted to other people, but it was loyalty that kept love safe. She would simply have to ignore any errant feelings—Carlos’ and her own.

“You know what else I need you to do, right?”

“Keep an eye on Kendra?” Carlos asked with a smirk.

“Yeah.” Alonzo sighed. “Basically, I don’t want more than two days to pass when she doesn’t see either you or me. If she’s been in the house for a while, take her somewhere or go over and watch a movie. Get to know her and keep her from being lonely.”

“Seriously? You want me to get that close to your girlfriend?” Carlos shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. I won’t mind taking her out dancing every once in a while, but it’s not cool to ask me to step in like that.”

“Why not? Because the two of you had instant chemistry?” Alonzo waved his hand dismissively. “Relax, man. I know my woman won’t cheat on me and you would never try to take her from me because we’ve never been in competition like that. So, do this for me. Okay?” He could tell how uncomfortable Carlos was, but he needed his cousin to agree.

Carlos leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His head hung while he considered his cousin’s words.

“I don’t know if I can be around her like that. She’s so …” He paused to collect his thoughts.

“Amazing?” Alonzo finished. Carlos sighed.

“When I first saw her, I wanted her. When she told me she was already involved, I was more disappointed than I’ve been in a long time. Then, to find out that she’s your woman really messed with my head because the attraction is still there, man. Now, you want me to take her out like I’m dating her when you’re not around? Honestly, I don’t know what might happen with my feelings if I spend that kind of time around her, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea for us to find out.”

“You’ll be fine,” the other man assured him. “If I was going to be in town, the two of you would spend a lot of time together. I get what you’re saying—honestly, I do. But, there’s nothing to stop you from inviting other women to tag along and from dating them when you’re not hanging out with Kendra.” He studied his cousin, giving the man some time to process his emotions against Alonzo’s counter-argument. “I need her to not be miserable while I’m building this business, man. I like that the two of you clicked because that means you’ll enjoy each other’s company and I won’t have to worry about her while I’m away. Kendra likes being social, but you see how men approach her. It makes her uncomfortable when I’m not around.” Then, in a softer tone, he added, “I trust you, and it’s not like you’re doing anything behind my back.”

Carlos rubbed his hands over his honey-colored face and sighed again.

“Damn. Fine, I’ll do it.” He stood.