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Promises We Make
Pamela Yaye
Fast-track creative director Niveah Evans is too busy climbing the corporate ladder to think about love.But beneath that hard-driving facade is a woman yearning to make magic with one special man. And when she spies a gorgeous hunk at a bar, she does something totally out of character. . . and ends up in Damien Hunter's hotel room, sharing the most unforgettable night of her life.Business has brought the New York playboy to Florida, but it's pleasure that keeps him coming back for more. Especially when he discovers that he and Niveah will be working together. That blows Niveah's mind, but Damien is determined to win her trust. . . and her love.
“I know I promised I wouldn’t try anything, but …” Damien trailed off, as he drew his lips across Niveah’s cheek, her ear and her neck “… I can’t control myself when I’m around you.”
Niveah didn’t know how much more of this she could take. It was just a matter of time before she was gasping for air and her legs gave way. Damien cupped her chin and kissed her so fully, so passionately, Niveah felt like she was spinning on a carousel. Her shoes fell off, her dress sailed down her hips and her fifty-dollar nylons lay in pieces on the floor.
Still kissing, they stumbled farther into the suite, knocking into end tables, couch legs and other furniture. Down to just her panties, her body throbbing with heat and desire, she dragged her fingernails up his chest, across his neck and over his head. Moving to an inaudible beat, Niveah rocked her hips against his crotch, causing Damien to release a savage groan. Niveah reached around, unzipped his pants and reached inside.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
I couldn’t have asked for a better family, and feel incredibly blessed to have the following people in my life: Jean-Claude, Aysiah, and Christian Yaye. My parents, Daniel and Gwendolyn Odidison. My siblings, Kenneth and Bettey Odidison. You all mean the world to me and I love you guys something fierce!!!
Special thanks to Delly Dyer for answering my questions about the advertising/marketing business. The information you provided was invaluable and helped to improve the novel.
Books by Pamela Yaye
Kimani Romance
Other People’s Business
The Trouble with Luv’
Her Kind of Man
Love TKO
Games of the Heart
Love on the Rocks
Pleasure for Two
Promises We Make
About the Author
PAMELA YAYE has a bachelor’s degree in Christian education and has been writing short stories since elementary school. Her love for African-American fiction and literature prompted her to actively pursue a career in writing romance. When she’s not reading or working on her latest novel, she’s watching basketball, cooking or planning her next vacation. Pamela lives in Calgary, Canada, with her handsome husband, adorable daughter and precious son.
Dear Reader,
What could be more salacious than a sexy office romance featuring two headstrong characters vying for the same position? While writing this story about discovering love in the workplace, I quickly realized that Niveah Evans and Damien Hunter had much bigger problems than just being coworkers. Their love-hate relationship is tumultuous and passionate, and the more they try to resist each other, the hotter the fire burns!
Before they can ride off into the sunset together, Damien will have to convince Niveah that his feelings for her are real. It won’t be any easy task, but Damien won’t stop until they have their happy ending.
My next Kimani romance novel, Escape to Paradise (July 2011), is a story filled with secrets, betrayal and a hero so sensitive and romantic and alpha, he’ll make you swoon. To find out more about me and my novels, drop me a line at pamelayaye@aol.com or visit me at www.pamelayaye.com.
With love,
Pamela Yaye
Promises
We
Make
Pamela Yaye
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Dedicated to my son in heaven, Justice, and my children
here on earth, Aysiah and Christian. Mommy loves you
very much—more than words can ever truly express.
Chapter 1
“Is it just me or do all the men up in here look like broke-down versions of Boris Kodjoe?”
Niveah Evans laughed out loud at her best friend’s assessment of the male guests at the Ritz-Carlton’s annual New Year’s Eve bash. Tickets to the black tie event had set her back a hundred dollars, and as she glanced around the elaborately decorated ballroom, she wondered what all the hype was about. Champagne flowed from a gold fountain and the performers suspended from the ceiling were giving one hell of a show, but it was nothing Niveah hadn’t seen before. As a creative director for the largest advertising company in the U.S., it was her job to be up on the latest trends, and she’d seen the act six months earlier in a Paris nightclub.
“I can’t believe no one’s asked us to dance,” Roxi Gonzalez complained, wrinkling her nose as if she’d just gotten a whiff of an old shoe. “I wasted the entire morning getting plucked, waxed and shaved and no one in here gives a damn.”
Jeanette Miller released a deep, pitiful sigh. “This is turning out to be the worst New Year’s Eve on record. I should have stayed home and watched the ball drop in Times Square.”
“You’re right, this is pretty bad,” Niveah conceded, reaching for her mai tai, “but at least your boss isn’t bringing in some clown from head office to babysit you for the next few weeks. I single-handedly landed that Discreet Boutique account, and now Mr. Russo thinks I need help. How am I supposed to shine with another creative director breathing down my neck? I have half a mind to complain to—”
Her friends groaned.
“The next time you mention your job I’m out of here,” Roxi threatened, leveling a finger at her. “I came down here to have a good time, not listen to you bitch about work.”
Jeanette put down her wine flute. “Niveah, you know what your problem is? Your life has no balance. All you care about is impressing Mr. Russo and getting another raise.”
“What are you talking about? I travel—”
“For work,” Jeanette chirped.
“I entertain on a regular basis—”
“For work.”
“And I take the last Friday of every month off to recharge.”
“Yeah, but that’s because Mr. Russo forces you to!”
It was times like this that Niveah wished she hadn’t befriended Jeanette at the company picnic five years earlier. Within weeks of meeting, they were working out together, gossiping about their colleagues and planning the first of many Las Vegas shopping trips.
Intent on being heard, Jeanette raised her voice above the rock song playing. “Working sixty hours a week is prematurely aging you. I didn’t want to say anything because you just celebrated your birthday, but you’ve lost your youth, your shine, that healthy glow I always envied.”
“You’re so busy clawing your way up the corporate ladder you don’t realize that life is passing you by,” Roxi continued. “You’re working like a dog to forget what happened with—”
Niveah silenced her with a look. “Don’t even think about mentioning that jerk’s name. I’ve moved on, and I wish you guys would, too.”
“We will, as soon as you start living again.” Smiling sympathetically, Jeanette rested a hand on her best friend’s shoulder. “You know what you need to do? Let your hair down. Live on the edge. Do something wild and spontaneous for once,” she admonished.
“Ever since you started dating Tavares you’ve been obsessed with hooking me up,” Niveah complained, running a hand through her naturally curly hair. She’d accomplished a lot in her thirty-four years, and contrary to what her girlfriends thought, she loved her life just the way it was. So what if she didn’t have a husband, kids and a three-story house in the suburbs? She was successful and financially stable and that’s all that mattered. “Quit badgering me, Jeanette. And for your information, I do tons of exciting things.”
Roxi raised her eyebrows. “Really? Like what?”
“She’s bluffing,” Jeanette accused. “Niveah will do anything to stay in her boring little world, including lying about having an active social life.”
“I have a lot of fun. Just last week I went rock climbing with some of the teens I mentor.”
Roxi guffawed. “If that’s what you call exciting, then you’re worse off than I thought!”
“Niveah, you’re never going to find true love if you keep hiding behind your attaché case,” Jeanette told her. “You need to take a page out of my book because once I quit stressing about work and started doing activities I enjoyed, I couldn’t keep the men off me. And now I have Tavares, and my life is complete.”
Roxi gave Jeanette a high five. “Me, too, girlfriend. It’s just a matter of time before Cedrick pops the question, and once he does, I’ll be all over the Saks Fifth Avenue bridal registry!”
“If you two are so blissfully in love,” Niveah challenged, “then why are you at this party?”
“Keeping your rusty butt company!”
Jeanette and Roxi roared with laughter.
“Before the night’s over, I’m going to find you someone to dance with. Someone like …” Jeanette’s gaze panned the crowd and after several seconds, she squealed. Bouncing up and down on her seat like an unruly toddler high on sugar, she clapped her hands and nodded her head. “Check out the hottie at the end of the bar. He’s a perfect ten!”
Niveah didn’t bother looking up from her drink. Jeanette’s idea of good-looking was a lanky gangbanger plastered in tattoos; but Niveah preferred studious, conservative types. Not a square, just someone with manners and class, who’d treat her with respect. But as her ex-fiancé had so aptly proven nine months ago, looks were deceiving.
“That man is beyond fine! I’d do him in a New York minute!”
Niveah’s ears perked up. If Roxi thought the stranger was fine, then he was. Despite being divorced twice, she was in the market for husband number three, and could spot a good-looking guy a block away.
Straightening in her seat, Niveah peered around the cluster of model-esque clones obscuring her view of the bar. Jeanette yanked her to the left, pointed an acrylic fingernail directly ahead, and yelled, “He’s the one in the dark designer suit.”
Niveah’s mouth fell open.
“I told you he was perfect.”
And he was. Words couldn’t describe how truly gorgeous the stranger was. Bald, buff brothers didn’t usually catch Niveah’s eye, but this man had it seriously going on. Immaculately groomed, with clear skin, and defined features, he had a one of a kind look that instantly made her wet. His gaze was hungry, almost predatory, and his sexy mouth was rimmed with a neat, trim goatee. The brother owned the room, and the hearts of all the females in attendance—including hers. Her body hummed, and suddenly the grand ballroom felt hotter than a furnace. An aura of mystery surrounded the stranger, making him even more appealing. Staring at him, so intently, was bound to make Niveah go cross-eyed, but she didn’t have the strength to look away. She was drawn to him, overtaken by a blinding sexual hunger she’d never known.
“If I had a man like that at home, I’d never leave,” Roxi quipped, fanning her rosy cheeks. “I think I’ll just go over and say hello.”
Niveah cut her eyes at Roxi. “What about Cedrick?”
“What about him? Until he puts a ring on it, I’m keeping my options wide open.”
Jeanette gripped her girlfriend’s forearm, preventing her from rising from her seat. “Sit your big butt down. I picked him out for Niveah, not you.”
“Girl, please. Miss Thang can’t handle all that man. He’s six feet tall and over two hundred pounds. He’d probably snap her skinny body in two.” Cackling like a witch on a broom, she adjusted the neckline of her outfit. Roxi used every opportunity to show off her boobs, and her zipper-front dress served up an eyeful. “I on the other hand, specialize in turning out jocks, and that cutie’s exactly my type.”
Angry about being dissed, Niveah shot her soon-to-be exfriend a scathing look. “You think you know everything about me, Roxi, but you don’t. I’m every bit as daring as you are. If not more.” To prove it, she stopped a passing waiter, ordered a cognac, and instructed him to deliver it to the gentleman at the end of the bar.
“Very well, ma’am. Would you care to include a message?”
Niveah shielded her mouth with the back of her hand. She spoke only loud enough for the waiter to hear, and when he departed, she couldn’t help but smile to herself.
“So you sent him a drink. Big friggin’ deal. You’re as straitlaced as they come, and—”
“Wanna bet?”
Roxi smirked. “I’d love to.”
“Knock it off, you two,” Jeanette ordered. “You sound like a couple of kids having a pissing contest on the schoolyard.”
Roxi ignored her and addressed Niveah. “If I’m right about you being a Goody Two-Shoes, you’ll have to hand over your new Gucci handbag. You know, the one I watched you drop a thousand dollars on at the mall yesterday.”
“Okay, and I want your Oprah tickets.”
Her face crumpled like a piece of paper. “B-b-but they’re the tickets to her final show.”
“Those are the terms. Deal or no deal?”
“You’re on. That purse is going to look great with the dress I plan to wear to the show.” Flashing a superior grin, she leaned forward in her chair, and rested her elbows on the table. “Did I tell you guys that Oprah will be interviewing her all-time favorite guests on the finale?”
“Only a million times,” Jeanette grumbled.
“There are also rumors circulating that world-famous singers will be performing together. I can hardly wait! It’s going to be …”
Having heard this before, Niveah glanced absently around the ballroom. It was no surprise that her eyes strayed to the bar. Her mouth dried. He was staring right at her. Guests blew noisemakers, and boisterous laughter filled the room, but Niveah could still hear her deafening heartbeat. It was beating in double-time, throbbing painfully in her ears.
Wearing a broad, megawatt smile, the handsome stranger lifted his tumbler in the air, tilted his head toward her and downed his glass in one smooth swig.
“Go over there and introduce yourself,” Jeanette encouraged, brimming with excitement. “He’s definitely interested in you, girl.”
Roxi shook her head. “Miss Thang is too much of a lady to approach a guy. Attending a high siddity university made her all proper and whatnot. See, I believe in taking life by the horns, so if you’ll excuse me, that hottie at the bar is calling my name.”
“Then, you need to get a hearing aid, because he’s checking out Niveah, not you!” Jeanette laughed at her own joke. “I know it’s hard for you to believe, Roxi, but you can’t have every man you want.”
“Oh yes I can,” she snapped, twirling her index finger around in the air, “and besides, Niveah wouldn’t know the first thing to do with a brother like that.”
Niveah gripped the stem of her cocktail glass to keep from shoving Roxi off her chair. They’d had a love-hate relationship ever since Jeanette introduced them, and it was at times like this that Niveah wondered why they were even friends. “We’ll see about that.”
Niveah downed the rest of her mai tai, pushed back her chair and stood. Her legs wobbled as she walked across the sleek hardwood floor. I can do this. I’m smart and sexy and I have a lot to offer. Repeating the words she’d once heard on an afterschool special didn’t bolster her confidence. Niveah wished she had another drink, because as she approached the bar, she felt an intense bout of the nerves.
The stranger stood against the counter, holding his Blackberry, oblivious to her approach. As Niveah came up beside him, she tried to think of something clever to say. Anything besides the standard greeting. “I hope you’re enjoying your cognac,” she said, in her sultriest voice, “you strike me as the kind of man who likes a strong drink.”
