“That’s just it, girl. It’s because you’re thinking and not doing. Look, the reason why the attraction is so strong is because you’re making him forbidden fruit. We always want what we can’t have.” Reggie came over to the sitting area where Dominique sat idly flipping through a magazine mock-up. He sat down next to her and stilled the flipping pages to get her attention. “Here’s what you need to do. Call that man when you get home. Make a date to go over to his house as soon as possible. Screw that brothah’s brains out and let him return the favor. Get yourself some sexual healing, girl. You won’t be able to get him out of your mind if you don’t.”

“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to get him out of my mind if I do!”

“Well, hell, if you can’t win for losing at least be satisfied.”

“Ha! You just might have a point.” Reggie crossed his arms and gave Dominique a look. She acquiesced. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think, do.” Reggie looked at his watch and noted it was time for their weekly Monday meeting. “I gotta go set up. Can I bring you more coffee?”

“No, thank you,” Dominique answered. Just bring me Jake. She watched her well-dressed, never-without-a-man-for-long assistant prance out of the room and then she dove into the pile of articles waiting to be edited.

Lunchtime arrived and it felt as if Dominique had hardly made a dent in the day’s agenda. She knew the reason—couldn’t keep her mind on work. Every time she looked at a dark-skinned model, or saw a chocolate-brown piece of cloth for that matter... she thought of a certain well-defined face, containing lips she’d longed to kiss last night. She thought of the strong forearm and thick thigh on which her hand had rested, and the big chest on which she wished she’d placed her head. She remembered the story about his wife, the pain in his eyes that had accompanied it, and the determination she saw when he spoke of loving again. Immediately she thought of Justin, her go-to barrier where men were concerned but for some reason, in this moment, that hurdle was flimsy at best. Her head was telling her to stay away but her heart—and other body parts—were saying “Full speed ahead!” Maybe Reggie’s right, Dominique thought, pushing away the article in which she’d read two lines in ten minutes. Maybe I just need to do him and be done. With renewed determination, Dominique picked up the phone but before she could dial out, Reggie stuck his head in the door.

“I forgot to tell you that your sister called.”

“When?” Dominique asked, immediately thinking that something may have happened to Justin.

“Just about ten minutes ago, when you stepped away from your desk.”

“Thanks, Reggie.”