A test of Love - Navaura Campbell (best management books of all time .txt) 📗

in about a half an hour ago, just so they could soak in the honey barbeque he'd swept over them after taking them off the grill.
Using his mother's old recipe book, he'd found a barbeque meal calling out his name. Barbequed spare ribs, with southern styled potato salad and homemade Macaroni and cheese. He knew this was not the kind of meal you had over candle light, but he wanted to make this night special for her. There was no particular reason, he just wanted her to feel good. He wondered how good it had been since she'd felt good about being her. A smile and a sigh both came over him as he thought about her. He wondered if loving her more than he had in high-school was possible. He'd been crazy about her then, but now, he felt somewhat different. He loved her more, that he was sure of, without the whirlwind of ups and downs. He was solid in what he wanted now. He knew if she told him she didn't want to see him anymore, he'd do the same thing he'd done in high-school with more persistence. He wasn't going to let her get away this time. Not even if she wanted too.
Clearing his throat, he heard the timer ding and came out of his thoughts.

Denise knocked on the door to the living room entrace. Immediately the door opened and Jordan smiled at her, his green eyes flushed with an emotion she recognized all too well. Just seeing it brought back a flood of memories, the first time they met, the first time they'd kissed, even the time she'd spent when they were just friends. He was on a mission. Licking her lips, she smiled, "Good to see you too."
Jordan nodded, "Yep, come on in." He moved to the side of the door and allowed her entrance. Immediately, her nostrils were asaulted with the beautiful smells of barbecue sauce and Macaroni and cheese. Her stomach growled. Turning to Jordan she inquired, "You cooked?"
He smiled, "Yes, I did." He closed the door and followed her as she made her way to the livingroom. She heard the soulful sounds of Anita baker coming from the record player.
"Jordan, this is..." She took in the soft glow of the candles lit on the table, giving the room a romantic feel to it. She felt the warmth radiate in the room.
"Do you like it?"
She smiled, "God, this is beautiful."
Jordan reached out to open the door that led into the kitchen. Putting a hand on the small of her back, he swallowed, "Thanks." The gasp he got when the door was opened, made him smile. He knew that he'd made the right decision.
"Are those wine glasses?" She questioned, going over to the wine glasses and picking them up. He laughed, "Yeah, they are."
"You bought wine?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yep. Something called Tropical."
"Oh, that stuff is good." She placed the wine glasses back in their spots and then took a seat at the table. This warmed his heart to know that she felt comfortable enough to sit there without asking.
"hmmn, I've never tasted it."
"You've picked the best one."
Jordan laughed, "I didn't know you drank wine?"
"I'll drink it for dinners and stuff. Other than that, nothing else."
Jordan nodded his head, "oh."
Jordan went to the fridge, took out the potato salad and sat it on the counter. Opening the oven, he grabbed a mitten hanging on a nail hook above the stove and grabbed the pan of ribs from inside. When he pulled them out, Denise's stomach rumbled. "It's a good thing you're hungry, De-De."
"I haven't eaten since lunch."
"And what time was that?"
"Around eleven thirty this morning."
"Oh yeah, you're definitely in need of some real food." He set the ribs on the stove top to cool off. The mac and cheese was already there.
"What's for dessert?" She inquired.
He glanced over at her and with a twinkle in his eyes, asked one of his own, "Do you really have to know everything?"
"Does everything always have to be a surprise with you?" She smiled flirtatiously.
"When concerning you, yes."
Denise raised a brow, "What are you trying to say?"
Jordan shook his head, "You're nosey."
"Not nosey, inquisitive." She corrected.
Jordan laughed, "No, sugar, inquisitive is when you ask to get a better understanding."
"Nosey, is when you ask stuff that is just none of your business-stuff that really has nothing to do with you."
Denise stood up out of her chair, hands on her hips, both brows raised, ready for war. "How is having dessert none of my business when you invited me over here?"
Jordan stepped up to her, stopping a few inches in front of her face, his eyes sparks now. She was really turning him on. "Because, I clearly stated that it was a surprise. Everything I do for you tonight is a surprise."
Denise's lips became pouty. "Why does it have to be a surprise?"
Jordan smiled. She was really cute like this. He liked it when she was riled up. She actually thought they were arguing. "I want it to be because I thought you could use one. A nice relaxing evening with wine, a nice dinner and company. Is that a horrible thing?" Denise's heart was thumping in her ears. She stood there, processing his words, processing this idea, not really knowing what to say or do. With a trembling voice, she whispered, "Ok."
When her lips relaxed and the poutiness was gone, he ran his eyes over her features, feeling recognition as he hit every curve of her face. Why did she have to be so beautiful? Taking a deep swallow, he looked into coffee brown eyes and felt his heart melt over. As he did this, her eyes seemed to become brighter. She swallowed, and that was when he saw the quickening pulse in her neck. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to that spot. A different scent hit his nostrils than the lilac.
"What is that?" He inquired, his mouth still on her neck.
"Jasmine." She whispered.
His nose traveled down the length of her neck, feeling the blood pump through him furiously. He felt a stiffening in his groin area and then a desire to flicker his tongue over the soft curve of her neck. This scent was tantilizing in a different way than lilacs. Lilacs was sweet, it seemed to draw you into it. Jasmine was different. It teased your nostrils floating up and around, creating heavy swirls within your mind. When mixed with her scent it caused a stronger reaction. He exhaled sharply. This caused her to step back abruptly. She placed her hand on the spot where he'd breathed at. He grinned, "What? Did I bite you or something?"
Denise shook her head no. "The ribs are cooled off now."
H0e lowered his eyes at her and left his thoughts in the air. What's wrong?
Chapter Eleven

Once they'd eaten dinner, had conversation and waited for the food to digest, Jordan grabbed the bottle of wine and took it into the living room, where Nina Simone was playing on the radio. Denise, without a protest, got up and followed him. He sat the glasses down on the table and opened the bottle. Denise watched as the light pink liquid filled up the glass. She picked up her glass, thanked him for it and took a sip. She sat the glass back down. Jordan set his glass down on the table as well and stood up. Going over to the radio, he switched the dial up, cranking up the melodic sounds of black street’s, don't leave me girl. Going over to Denise, he held a hand out to her, his eyes on her. She grasped his hand in hers and pulled her up from her seat on the couch. Pulling her in his arms, he held her while they danced to his favorite song. A minute into the song, she brought her head up from against his shoulder and inquired, "So, how's everything going with getting the Nicholas and your mom's room squared away?"
Jordan glanced down at her, "I've done Nicholas room already."

Denise swallowed the grief that pressed its way into her throat. "And your mom's?"
A forlorn sigh escaped his mouth. "I haven't had the strength to even began that one yet."
Denise gave a small smile, "Maybe you need a little push to get things rolling."
Jordan sighed, "Every time I go into her room, I feel over exhausted and walk right back out."
Denise licked her lips. "Maybe I can help you out with that." She volunteered.
Jordan raised a surprised brow at her, causing a smile to capture her features.
"You'd seriously help me do that?"
Denise shrugged her shoulders, "Why not? She would prefer my help than allow you to go through this alone."
Jordan sighed, "Yeah. She would."
"So, I'm offering it, if you want it." Denise stated, her fingers began kneeding into his kneck, she absent minded.
"Alright, that's cool." He agreed as she rested her head on his shoulder a second time. As this song faded, a remake of the song Just my imagination by Baby face and Gwyneth Paltrow came on. Jordan ran his hands along her back and up to her shoulders. Listening to the lyrics, his fingers trailed up her shoulders, to her neck. He ran them in circular patterns across her neck, giving her the same pleasure she gave him. She sighed and closed her eyes.

Denise awoke later that night to find shadows surrounding her every move. Wiping her eyes, she glanced out at the full moon in the window. Stars twinkled in the sky, lighting up the darkened space. Sighing, she glanced around, bringing back memories of Jordan and her dancing in the living room. Sighing, she looked down, expecting to see him beside her, but instead, saw that she was laid out in bed by herself. The covers had slid off her shoulders and to her waist. She noticed for the first time, that she was wearing a purple and white striped pajama pants, which she hadn't seen since moving into the house. Running her fingers along the material, she smiled, thinking of the day she'd gotten these in the mall. Right before she found out she was pregnant. Her old pajamas had gotten too small and she'd bought ones that were elastic around the waist, that way she'd be able to grow into them so to speak. She hadn't known how true that statement had been back then. A few weeks afterward, she'd found out she was pregnant. Inhaling a deep breath, she pulled the covers back off of her and felt her way to through the room. Finding the door, she pulled it open and discovered that she wasn't in his room after all. She was in Nicholas old room. Glancing around, she saw an old antique bed set up in there, a dresser and small tiny couch completed the ensemble. Turning out of the room, she pushed the door open and walked across the hall to the bathroom, wondering what time it was.

After going to the restroom, she took the stairs to the living room and went to gather her things from off the couch. When she made her way down there, Jordan was sitting on the couch, watching a movie. When