Dominique stood in front of the floor-length mirror in her master suite. She was looking at her fourth wardrobe choice, a streamlined blouse and pencil skirt that were precariously close to joining three other choices in the reject pile. Why is nothing working for me tonight? Probably because I feel like a frick-ing teenager going on her first date. She’d heeded her own desires and her sister’s advice and called Jake. He’d been pleasantly surprised to hear from her and even though the second game of the season was tomorrow at noon, immediately accepted her invitation to get together tonight. She’d suggested meeting at his place, and this is where Reggie’s advice came in. Screw that brothah’s brains out and let him return the favor. She wanted to go over there, get her groove on, and get the lust for this man out of her system. “This is about two adults handling the business of being attracted to each other,” she’d explained, after voicing her meeting choice. “I don’t want or expect anything more.” But Jake had insisted on making an evening of it, saying he’d pick her up at eight, and told her to dress sexy. Dominique took another look in the mirror and blew out an exasperated breath. The blouse and skirt weren’t the look either. She walked to the dress rack in her large, walk-in closet. Her eyes fell on one toward the back that she’d purchased on impulse and never worn. “Of course!” she said aloud. That one is perfect! She quickly slipped into the silky number and pulled a pair of three-inch stilettos from the shoe rack.

As she stepped into them, Justin burst into the room with a football under his arm and a pack strapped on his back. “When is Grandma coming?”

“She should be here soon, Justin. What about your room? Is it clean?”

“Kinda.” Then he fixed her with the big brown eyes and crooked smile that melted her heart and Dominique decided not to force the issue, even though she knew that looking under his bed would probably require searchlights and tracking equipment. When she told him to put things away, that’s often where they got shoved. Many items weren’t found until Tessa’s weekly cleaning, only to sometimes be lost again in no time flat.

Justin watched Dominique put on her heels and walk over to her jewelry collection. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere special, just out with a friend.”

“Who?”

“Why are you being so nosy?”

“You know where I’m going.”

“I’m supposed to; I’m the parent.”

Justin watched his mother apply powder and mascara, and then cocked his head to the side. “Is it with Coach Mac?”

Dominique hid her surprise behind a spritz of Vera Wang. “Why would you think that?”

Justin shrugged. “Dunno. I really like him though. Sometimes...”