âDamn.â His hungry eyes roamed over her slender body.
âThat dress has been driving me crazy all night. Iâve been dying to see you in the light.â
Liz smiled and turned in a slow circle, lifting her arms behind her head. âWell, here I am.â
In a flash Darius was across the room and had her wrapped in his arms. âAnd all night Iâve been thinking about taking it off you.â
His mouth went to her neck, as he began removing the thin material with his teeth and sliding it down her body, kissing his way along the path he was creating.
Liz felt as if her whole world was spinning on its axis as he lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the bed. âWait! What about Dee and Marc?â
Darius paused. âWhat about them?â
âWhat if they come in and hear us?â Liz was trying to focus, but it was hard when all his sun-gold skin was being revealed inch by beautiful inch.
A smile spread across his face. âThen, I guess youâre gonna have to keep it down, huh?â
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read His Perfect Match. I hope you enjoy Darius and Lizâs story. Like fine wine, sometimes love needs time to age and evolve into something rich and wonderful. Darius and Liz discover this the hard way, but thankfully life gives them a second chance to get it right.
I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to write me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing what you think!
And make sure to look out for my next Kimani Romance title, Miami Attraction, coming out in April 2010.
Elaine
Ten years earlierâ¦
Cincinnati, Ohio
As he stepped off the train Darius North listened to a voice mail introduction of his fiancéeâs cell phone before speaking. âLiz, itâs me. Iâve been trying to reach you for two days. I need to talk to you. Call me as soon as you get this message.â He started to hang up before adding. âI donât know why youâre not returning my calls, but whatever it is Iâm sure we can work through it, just call me. Okay?â He tucked the cell phone back into the case attached to his belt.
Slinging his tote bag over his shoulder he moved through the crowded train station and out to the main entrance where cabs waited for fares. His troubled mind was running in a thousand directions. Something was wrong. She was having second thoughts. Darius knew it as certain as he knew his own name. He could feel it.
He climbed into one of the available cabs.
âWhere to?â the driver called over his shoulder.
Darius gave his home address and a few seconds later the car was in motion. He settled back in the seat knowing it would be at least twenty minutes before they reached his apartment complex.
He stared out the window at the passing cityscape as his problems raced through his mind. Whatever was going on with Liz had started over a month ago. Sheâd changed almost overnight. Now, if he said upâshe said down. If he said leftâshe said right. Heâd tried to talk to her before leaving on his trip and sheâd just brushed him off.
Which was extremely unusual. Liz was the most agreeable person he knew. He thought back to the last getaway theyâd had. Heâd planned a romantic weekend retreat to a local medieval-style castle. Sheâd not even known where they were going until they had arrived, and the surprise on her face when they pulled up to the castle had been well worth the effort. Theyâd had a terrific time that weekend, but that was before all the wedding plans had begun.
At first, heâd assumed it was just the usual nervousness that came with getting married. After all, he was experiencing his own share of it. The idea of taking responsibility for the financial and emotional well-being of another human being was daunting to say the least.
But he was prepared. Probably more prepared than most twenty-four-year-old men. After all he had a successful business to provide for them. And not only was it successful but thriving.
At the age of eighteen, straight out of high school, heâd signed up for the franchise-training program at the deli he worked in. Within a year, he was opening his own store. Two years later, another, and another across town, and now he was returning from a planning meeting in a city fifty miles away where he was preparing to open more delis and supermarkets.
Liz, a recent college graduate with a philosophy degree, could do much worse than him, he thought. So, what was her problem? His phone rang and he quickly answered it.