Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (the beach read txt) 📗

“Oh, he had to run to the restroom, too,” he said motioning at the loveseat for Ivy. “Have a seat, Ivy. He’ll be in here in a minute.”

“How much did you make?” Trina eyed the wad of money as he put it away.

“Enough.” He looked at her for a brief moment. “What I want to know is who told you to put on that short dress?”

“You like it?” Trina smiled cunningly.

“Yes, I like it, but somethings are meant for the bedroom.”

“So let’s take this to the bedroom.” Trina bit Brooks’ bottom lip.

“We’ll talk about this in a minute,” Brooks said pinching her side.

“Thank you,” Ivy said sighing. She really didn’t feel like seeing them carry on all night, and why did she have to get stuck on the love seat with Shaft?

“Boy, I was wondering what was keeping you so long in that bathroom,” Brooks said smiling at Nicola. Brooks knew that Trina hated every minute of his match making, especially with Nicola who Trina loathed most of all.

“This is Ivy, Trina’ friend. Ivy this is Nicola, my best friend and the head gangster of the Memphis Narc-T.A.C.T. special ops team.”

“Hi,” Nicola said extending his large masculine hand to Ivy.

“Hello.” Ivy looked up stunned. A shy smile crept across her lips as she took his hand and made immediate eye contact. “Nice to meet you,” she said trying not to stare too hard into his hazel brown eyes that hid flirtatiously under his long curling eyelashes. Oh, how she loved men with big brown eyes!

“The pleasure’s all,” Nicola said sitting down beside her on the love seat. “Man, Brooks. If I had known we were going to be in the presence of such beautiful women, I would have definitely been more presentable tonight.” He looked at Ivy again and smiled. “You ladies will have to excuse me for still being in work clothes.”

“No need to blow smoke up our ass so early in the evening,” Trina said attacking Nicola.

“Damn, baby,” Brooks said trying to hold back his laughter. Trina did hate Nicola in a genuine, unmistakable way.

“You’re excused,” Ivy said to Nicola laughing and trying to avoid his eyes again.

As Nicola grabbed a beer out of the cooler that sat across from him, Ivy had a chance to look at his muscular legs bulging in his cargo style black uniform pants and black SWAT lace up boots. Trina was right about their uniform, and he did wear it well. He had an amazing physique, huge sculpted arms, chiseled chest and wide back adorning a black cotton t-shirt that read “Cobra”. She could see now why Trina had taken the time to warn her. He could potentially be trouble.

Nicola had mastered the art of detection many years ago and could tell that Ivy was looking at him. But he allowed her to sweep his body quickly assessing all of his assets in hopes of her full approval. The shy grin that she tried hard to control confirmed her attraction to him. He liked her already, and she had barely spoken. He opened his beer and smiled again bearing the dimples in his cheeks and the deep one in his chin.

“Would you like a beer,” Nicola said turning closer towards Ivy. Just how far would she let him get by the end of the night?

“No, thank you.” Ivy said awkwardly. She wasn’t a big drinker. Was he?

“You just look hot in that turtleneck,” he said observing her rather large and perky breasts. That statement had two potential meanings.

“I’m fine.” Her eyebrow rose slightly.

Yes, you are, Nicola thought inwardly as he watched her closely. Nearly every woman in Brooks’ place tonight was in a low cut blouse and a high cut skirt showing everything they had and wanted to share. But this one was in a turtleneck and jeans. To him, that was a delightful tease in itself. No matter what she wore though, there was no hiding her heart-shaped ass or that adorably small waist. And her hair was so….

“Nicola, pass me a beer, man,” Brooks said interrupting Nicola’s thoughts.

Just what is he anyway, Ivy thought to herself quietly. Nicola had an awfully dark olive coloring to be a through and through white boy, but he was far too fair to be black. Was he Mediterranean, Hispanic, what? He had beautiful black hair that had small natural curls throughout it. His face was chiseled with a strong jaw line, a perfectly constructed nose, a dimple in his chin, wide, full, rose-colored lips that were shaped like a heart and a clean-shaven face baring a hard-working tan. He had beautiful cold black eyebrows that were naturally arched and his curling eyelashes hid hazel brown eyes that felt like they burned through her.

“So, Ivy what do you do?” Nicola said placing his hand on her leg playfully.

“I’m a graduating-senior at Bryton-Ritz University and the senior manager of African American collegiate marketing at Yveson and Letehwich.” Her response sounded scripted for an interview, and she looked away embarrassed as she heard Trina giggle. She knew that she would hear about that later.

“Sounds like you’re a very busy young woman.” Within minutes Nicola had already analyzed her enough to know she was uptight and conservative. Republican?

“Yeah, you could say that,” Ivy said taking another sip of her water. She was beginning to really tense up. Maybe she needed something stronger to drink than water? If she didn’t calm down soon, she would begin to sweat under her arms. It was a horrible nervous reaction that she could neither control nor conceal.

Realizing Ivy was uncomfortable, Nicola turned to her. “Relax,” he said putting his hand on her balled up fist.

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” Ivy said looking down at her fists. It was a yet another nervous habit of hers when she became uncomfortable. “I guess, I just wasn’t expecting there to such an intimate setting tonight.” She looked at Trina.

“This isn’t intimate.” Nicola chuckled at her remark