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  Covered in green walls, decorated with all things Irish, paneled with dark wood and bubbling over with Guinness beer, his hangout was as close as she imagined he could get to something from home.

  A few people knew him there and a few others wanted to know him. LaToya saw at least five women staring at them from across the room. Every time he’d catch someone’s eye, that person would lean over to their friend and nod their way. However, Mitch just kept talking and laughing. Either he did not care, or he did not care to show that he cared.

  Music played in the background, something that sounded like an Irish jig, and people laughed and whirled about. It was a lot less pensive than the clubs she went to with her girls, but it was still packed.

  In the corner, a group of men threw darts, while a group of women flirted a few feet away from them shooting pool. The bar was full with every seat occupied. Couples sat beside each other talking and drinking, kissing and fighting.

  The barmaids were dressed in red, kilt-like uniforms. Most of them weren’t above a size four but had breasts the size of bowling balls. They brought cold beer fast and plates full of greasy foods to the table every half hour, all the while bending over in front of them so that Mitch might have a better view. But he never looked once.

  This entire thing was extremely out of character for her, and she berated herself silently for it as each hour passed. However, she was having a great time.

  Mitch was funny. He didn’t take himself too seriously, but he was passionate about two things - Zack and work. Zack was his son, mothered by a housewife gone rogue right after moving to Phoenix. Mitch had sworn the heat had driven her mad but inwardly, he knew it was Zach’s pediatrician who had stolen her.

  “Here’s a spin on things,” he said with his Timberland boots up on the booth seat across from him. “Most of the time they say that spending time with your family will keep you together and that’s true, but keeping your son out of pediatrician’s office is the key.” They both laughed. He shook his head and continued. “Zack’s got chicken pocks, you say? Oh, we’ll give him a little oatmeal cream for his body and send him on his way, but whatever you do, don’t send him to the doctor...he’ll come back with an ointment and the wife comes back pregnant.”

  LaToya stopped laughing. Wow. That was deep. He looked at her and nodded as if to say, yes, that’s what happened. That was my fall from grace. She understood and felt compelled to share as well.

  “I was engaged once,” she said, barely above a whisper. She smiled as she confessed. “He was a great guy, so I thought. We planned this great wedding, and then I found him in the bed with one of my closest friends.” Running her straw around in the nearly empty mug of beer, she looked away from him. It was still painful for her. “They’re happy now. They have three kids and live in San Diego, where I’m from.”

  “Oh, so you’re not from here?”

  “Nope. I left home after that and started my cleaning business.”

  “Well, I can’t blame you. If I didn’t have a child with Elaine, I would quit my job and hightail it out of here, too. Do you know how embarrassing it is for everyone to know that your wife’s run off with the pediatrician?”

  “Yeah, trust me, I feel your pain. I’ve been embarrassed on a few occasions.”

  “Like when?” He took another sip and looked at the straw sticking out of her mug. Who drank beer out of a straw?

  “Outside of the engagement thing?”

  “Yeah, purge. Go on. It’s good for me.”

  “Good for you?” she laughed.

  “Yeah, it helps me feel less worthless.”

  She laughed. “The night I met you, I thought...no, not just me, everyone thought that you were coming over to ask me to dance or ask me out or ask me anything other than to clean your house.”

  Mitch bucked his eyes. “Is that why you had that look on your face?”

  “What look?”

  “Like you were repulsed. Like I had a booger in my nose.”

  “I wasn’t repulsed,” she laughed.

  “Well, you sure seemedrepulsed. I was glad that Byron made my attentions clear. You seemed relieved afterwards. You were like...” He swallowed and lightened his voice. “Please, please don’t let the white boy ask me out, especially standing there with a huge booger in his nose.” He stuck a fried pickle in his mouth.

  “I wasn’t relieved, and you didn’t have a booger in your nose.”

  “No?” He tilted his head. Licking his fingers, he winked at her. “You seemed relieved.”

  LaToya lied. “Well maybe just a little bit.”

  They both laughed again. The tension broke.

  “I don’t imagine that many women would find me worthy right now. I’ve just received the final divorcee decree to a woman that I’m now paying child support to for two children.”

  “Two?”

  “She had the otherone while we were married. Then I signed the birth certificate, so by law the pediatrician’s kid is mine,” he winced.

  “Oww. It keeps getting worse for you,” LaToya said, raising her finger to get the check.

  “Yes. I’m currently fighting it in court. Do you want another beer?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not Irish. This is bordering on illegal.”

  “We passed illegalabout three hours ago, my dear.” He looked at his watch. “You know, if we were back in New York, we could walk home from this place.”

  “Yes, but here it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

  “I know.” He drank the last of his beer and turned to her. “So why did your ex marry that woman? I can’t rightly understand it after hanging out with you.”

  “Because she was prettier and smaller than me. I was always a big girl. I still am for that matter. I’ve always been a little bigger than most of my friends.”

  His green eyes bulged a little. “Big? You’re robust, but you’re not fat. I mean, I like a woman with a little meat on her bones.”

  “Well, I have a lot of meat.” She sucked down on the straw.

  He leaned over and looked at her legs hidden under black tights and a black, long, form-fitting shirt. Sweeping her body once more, he raised his brow and winked at her.

  LaToya was leaning with her hands cupping her chin. She watched him eye her up and down and then rolled her eyes. He had to have a motive for looking at her like that. If he thought that he was going to get free cleaning services because the wife may be taking half of his stuff, he had another thing coming.

  He finally spoke. “You’re weightis in all the right places, LaToya. That’s what matters. Any man who thinks otherwise is an idiot. You have to have something to hold onto at night. I’m sure you make a gentleman feel warm, like there is nowhere else to be in the world but in your arms.”

  “Okay, you’ve had enough to drink,” she said finally. What else was there to say? He’d nearly made her choke on his words. If she stayed, she might do something stupid. Shaking her head, she tried to put it all into perspective. Give the man a break. He’s been drinking, she said to herself.

  “Are you attracted to white men?” he asked abruptly. He swallowed hard after his question and sat his mug on the table. She watched his Adam’s apple bulge. His eyes were bright. Could it be that he was sincere?

  “I’m not attracted to any man on the rebound, Mitch,” she said sympathetically. “Are you cute? Yes. You’re probably everything that a woman needs, but you just came out of a serious relationship, a marriage rather and...”

  “Goodness, woman. I just asked if you were attracted to white men. I didn’t ask you to be my girl,” he said, shaking his head.

  There was complete silence.

  “Are you ready?” she asked, getting out of the booth.

  “Yeah,” he said, under his breath. Standing up, he threw the money down on the table and watched her walk off. “Must have been something I said.”

  When LaToya and Mitch arrived back at his place, she parked the car and turned down the radio. Although it was just a
short drive, he had fallen back to sleep with his head tilted back on the seat. Softly, she placed her hand on his and stirred him awake.

  “We’re here,” she smiled.

  “Wow, I went to sleep that quickly?” He sat up and yawned. “Thanks for...everything.”

  “Welcome.”

  He paused for a minute. “Look, if I did anything to make you feel uncomfortable, I do apologize. It was very nice of you to take time out of your day for me. I needed it, and you didn’t have to.”

  She cut him off with the wave of her hand. “You didn’t offend me. I’m a big girl, trust me.”

  Mitch nodded.

  “Look, your home is to the point where we can go to one hour three times a week now,” she explained.

  He frowned. “I did offend you.”

  “No. No. I was going to tell you earlier, but then all this happened, and it really just slipped my mind. Don’t you see the difference in your place?”

  “It looks great. I feel like I can actually think in there. My work productivity has gone up tremendously because of you.”

  She liked that. “Well, I’ll see you Friday...for one hour then.”

  “Alright...goodnight.”

  But the hand he had on the door didn’t move. Instead, he looked at her, as if he was waiting for something. LaToya watched his face, how beautiful he seemed, how different he was becoming in her mind.

  Mitch swallowed hard again. LaToya was an enigma to him. She was strong and silent, direct and professional, but there was a side to her that he was curious to see. Earlier, she had smiled and laughed with him, shared with him. He had forgotten all about Elaine. For one moment, he was just a normal guy out with a beautiful girl grabbing a bite to eat. And now, something deep inside of him wanted to know more about her.

  “Rebound,” she finally said, breaking his concentration on the beautiful curl of her glossy lips.

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s all a part of the rebound,” she said as she hit the console and unlocked the doors. “Goodnight, Mitch. Get some rest, will you.”

  Chapter Four

  LaToya laid in bed past the alarm’s loud blare on Thursday. Staring at the ceiling, she thought about Mitch again. He was an odd ball. To look at him, she would have sworn that he had it all together. He had a great house, a great job and a great body. But looks where not everything and mostly they were deceiving. He was also funny and warm, very much aware of his shortcomings and amazingly, there wasn’t a conceited bone in his body. He was quite an unusual package.

  The smell of his cologne came to mind, and she trailed her fingers over the comforter and bit her lip. What if she had taken him up on his advances? What if she had moved in just close enough to kiss his lips last night? Would she be alone in her bed right now?

  It had been a long time since she was in a relationship. After the breakup with Troy four years ago, all things sexual had gone out the window, maybe except her toys. Her move from San Diego to Phoenix had been sudden. She followed Angela to this desert oasis in hopes of starting over. When she first bought her little two-bedroom home, she had sworn to lose weight, change her entire outer appearance from her hair to her makeup to her style. But nothing had changed except her view of men.

  Dates had been sparse since she arrived in Phoenix. She’d gone on two, in fact, in the last year. Both were disasters. One man picked his teeth throughout the entire date and the other talked about his Porsche through dinner, which once he walked her to the car, she found out was an ’83 in horrible condition and missing paint spots on the hood.

  After two blind catastrophes, she decided that dating was not her thing and spent all of her time either at home or with her friends.

  Today, she decided to take the day off work. Instead of going to Byron’s place and cleaning, she sent one of her other cleaners. She was going to relax and clean her own place for a change before her friends came over for dinner. While it was not eventful, it would definitely be enjoyable. She hadn’t seen them in a month and was curious to see what new developments had taken place in everyone else’s life.

  Pulling herself out of bed, she went into the bathroom and got on the scale. Looking down at the machine as it populated on the digital reader, she gasped when she saw the number. Quickly, she dropped her robe. Still not happy with the number, she took off her watch and earrings. As she looked down at the number again, she finally gave up.

  ***

  Sitting around the fire pit in LaToya’s perfectly manicured backyard, the women laughed and drank wine while she served them up a quick meal and turned on the lanterns. The night was ending, and now was the time to dish the dirt as customary for their small clan.

  “So, tell us what happened with Byron,” Deana said to Angela as she crossed her feet Indian style.

  Angela grinned and looked over at LaToya, knowing she was the only one of her friends who hadn’t heard the news.

  “Well,” Angela answered, pulling her hair behind her ear. “He and I had dinner again for the second time last night.”

  “And,” Kristen pushed. “How did it go?”

  “It was so romantic. After a great dinner, he took me back to his place and fixed me a nightcap. Then we sat by the fireplace and kissed all night.”

  “All you did was kiss?” Kristen asked disappointed.

  “Among other things,” Angela laughed. She raised her brow. “He has big feet, big fingers and big...everything else.”

  “Bryon’s got a big penis!” Deana laughed. “So, he does have everything. Damn, I wish he had asked me out that night. I could use a good man, with a good job and no children. He almost seems unreal.”

  LaToya sat down with them and sipped her wine. Blushing for them, she thought about her client and nodded her head. She had guessed that about Byron. She couldn’t even name how many times she had thought about him and how attractive he was, but she knew that she wasn’t his type. It was a lost cause.

  “Well, I’m glad that I could introduce you two,” LaToya said chiming in.

  “I’m glad you did, too, girl. Good looking out. ” Angela rubbed LaToya’s leg. “He’s wonderful or something like it. The only thing I don’t like is his work schedule. He works all the time.”

  “I know. So does Mitch,” LaToya said quickly.

  The circle became quiet, and suddenly only the crackle of the fire could be heard.

  “Mitch?” Angela looked over at LaToya. “The white boy from the club?”

  “Oh, he’s a client now. Remember? That was the entire reason for him even coming over,” LaToya explained. “And he’s always working when I’m there.”

  “Uh huh,” Kristen said laughing. “She has been glowing all day.”

  “I have not,” LaToya scoffed. “He’s a nice enough guy. He’s just had a hard time since he’s been here.”

  “Well, maybe you should help him out,” Deana joked. “Cook that brother a meal. Wait for him to get off work and be in his bed naked with a bottle of lube and a bowl of cherries.”

  “No,” LaToya laughed. “He doesn’t like me that way. He’s just a client. I mean, true we did go out for drinks last night but...”

  The circle erupted in happy laughter.

  “This bitch has been holding out on us all night! You didn’t tell us that you had a man,” Deana cackled.

  “You know I hate when you use that word,” LaToya admonished.

  “And she’s blushing,” Angela pointed out. “She’s been seeing the white boy and didn’t want her girls to find out.”

  “No,” LaToya shrugged the notion off. “He doesn’t like me like that.”

  “Are you sure?” Kristen asked.

  “Why would he?” LaToya shook her head. “I’m not his type. He probably is attracted to little, bitsy, blonde, blue-eyed, prissy...”

  “Not all men want that, LaToya,” Deana said.

  “How would you guys know? Neither of you are above a size eight. I’m fighting to stay in a 14. Shit, I’ve gained five p
ounds in the last month.”

  “Well, have you been working out?” Angela asked. “I keep telling you to come with me to the gym. If you want a man, girl, you’re going to have to get rid of some of that weight. It blocks them from seeing you. Men with money don’t date big women. That’s probably the only thing that is keeping you two from hooking up.”

  “I don’t have time,” LaToya said, uncomfortable about talking about her size. “And if a man can’t like me for me, then I don’t want him.”

  “No man likes you for just you. He likes you because you look a certain way, cook a certain way, screw a certain way, make a certain wage...you feel me?” Deana said, taking a large gulp of wine from her glass.

  “Look, if you like him, then you need to do what it takes to get him,” Kristen added, pouring another glass of wine. “It’s not that much weight. Get lipo. I know you have the money.”

  “And once you drop the weight, then you’ll get the man for sure,” Angela agreed.

  “He doesn’t like me,” LaToya said softly. She really wished that they would all shut up.

  “Did he tell you he didn’t like you?” Deana asked.

  “No,” LaToya put her glass to her lips. “I just know.”

  ***

  In the tranquil silence of her backyard after her friends had left and everything had been cleaned, LaToya sat in her lawn chair with her feet propped up and looked up at the full moon and the incandescent stars. Life was peaceful again now that she was alone. It was strange how accustomed she had become to being in solitude and how relaxed she was with that fact.

  Her mother always worried that she would grow old alone. After the break-up, she had begged her to stay in San Diego and not run from her life. There was one problem for LaToya in doing that. If she stayed, she knew that she’d never really heal from her broken heart. Plus, her mother was married, her sisters were married, even her brother was married. Everything was just a constant reminder of what she did not have. At least now, all though she did have the occasional lonely night and sad moments during holidays, she enjoyed her life and what she had chosen to do with it.