A Lassiter's Christmas (The Gems & Gents Series Book 4) Read online

  Pearl looked appalled. “How dare you. You don’t know me like that. In fact, you don’t know me at all.”

  Joe Lassiter looked from his daughter to the man she was arguing with, then looked around. “Pearl, where’s your car?”

  “At the hospital,” the two answered angrily.

  Joe raised an eyebrow. “Why is it still at the hospital?”

  “It wouldn’t start. I’m going in the house,” she announced then stomped off.

  “The ungrateful little wench,” Theo murmured, as he looked angrily away from the house.

  Joe stood there staring from his daughter, who was now at the door of his house, then back at the man who didn’t seem as if he planned on leaving. “Would you like to come in for some coffee, Dr. Prentiss?”

  Theo looked up wondering how he knew he was a doctor. Joe pointed. “The label on your scrubs, the tag hanging from the mirror in your car, added to the murderous look in your eyes you are trying to fight. The Hippocratic oath will get you every time if you hang around Pearl long enough.”

  “Sir, I just met your daughter less than an hour ago, and I don’t mean to insult you, but your daughter is a bit on the…. bitchy side. I’m not calling her out of her name. It’s the only verb I can think of to describe her at this moment.”

  Joe, with his easy way, patted Theo on the shoulder. “Why don’t you come in, have a cup of coffee and tell me what’s going on with Pearl’s car?”

  “Thank you, sir, but it’s been a long night.”

  “It wasn’t a suggestion, son,” Joe stated as he gently guided the man into the house.

  Chapter 2

  The moment he stepped inside he felt at home. The door opened to a long hallway that led straight to the kitchen, which seemed to be the hub of the house. It was the wee hours of the morning so Theo didn’t expect anyone to be up and about, but he was wrong. They passed the living room on the left, a few feet down was a staircase with garland wrapped around the bannister with a huge red bow in the center. On the right was a family room, with three large sofas and two recliners at the top of the oval shaped room. Inside the room was a decorated Christmas tree in the corner. In the center was a brick fireplace with stockings hanging around the huge mantel. Above each stocking was a silver-framed picture. In the center was a huge picture of what appeared to be a family. A large flat screen television was above the fireplace. The room was warm and inviting. He could imagine watching football games in that room. Further down the hallway was a huge kitchen, which he saw from the doorway. From there he could see it connected to a large dining room and an enclosed side porch.

  Theo followed Joe into the room, where he greeted a petite woman with deep dimples, and a short haircut with a seductive mixture of grey. Theo stood in the doorway as the couple kissed, not once considering curtailing their hello because a stranger was in the house.

  Joe finally came up for air and turned to him. “Dr. Prentiss, my wife, Sally. Sally, this is Pearl’s friend Dr. Prentiss.”

  Sally extended her hand. “Friend, you say.” She smiled. “That’s not exactly how Pearl described you a moment ago, but welcome.” Sally pointed to the table. “Please, have a seat.”

  “It’s Theo. I don’t want to interfere,” Theo stated. “I’ve pulled a long shift and if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to get some rest.”

  “But I just made a fresh pot of coffee and cobbler for my husband.” Sally placed the cobbler on the table. Steam was rising from the center filling the kitchen with its wonderful aroma. “Surely you have five minutes to spare.”

  His mouth was watering the moment the cobbler hit the table. “I may be able to spare a few minutes,” he said as he pulled out a chair.

  Sally smiled, then winked at Joe, who sat at the other end of the table. She had just poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Theo when Pearl appeared. She had changed clothes to a pair of sweats, a midriff top and slippers. “Why do you have your feet under my table?”

  “Last I heard it was my table,” Joe said as he filled his mouth with cobbler. He looked up at Theo. “What do you think?”

  “Heaven,” Theo replied as he ignored Pearl.

  “Daddy, aren’t you supposed to be at work?” she huffed.

  “My husband came home to have his lunch break with me. One day if you change your attitude you may have a husband to do the same for you.” Sally sipped her coffee, then took a seat at the table.

  Pearl started to speak, but Joe beat her to it. “I only have an hour for lunch, Pearl. I don’t want to spend it hearing you degrade men. Now, have a seat and tell me what happened to your car.”

  Pearl slumped into the seat across from her mother as she poured her a cup of coffee and smiled at Theo. She thanked her mother then proceeded to tell her about the car and why she was at the hospital.

  “Well, I’m happy to hear you are giving Samuel and Cynthia your support. You can’t help who you fall in love with.”

  “That’s true.” Joe nodded. “Besides, it wasn’t Cynthia who was in a relationship with you. It was that dumb jock. He’s the one who stepped out. You really shouldn’t be upset with her.”

  “And it was so long ago, Pearl,” Sally added. “You really need to move on.”

  Pearl looked at them, appalled. “I can’t believe you are discussing my business in front of a stranger.”

  “Dr. Prentiss is not a stranger,” Sally replied. “The moment he helped you and brought you home, that made him family.”

  Theo looked up from the cobbler and smiled. “Family,” he chuckled.

  “So you’re a doctor now?” Pearl screeched. “What other lies have you told my parents?”

  “Don’t disrespect your parents’ table by raising your voice,” Theo scolded.

  Sally and Joe glanced at each other and grinned, quickly lowering their heads so Pearl wouldn’t see it.

  “I’m not disrespecting my parents,” she said a little calmer. “You are by telling them you’re a doctor.”

  “What’s all the yelling about?” Phire, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Lassiter’s, asked with sleepy eyes. She sat on a stool at the breakfast bar.

  “Sorry we woke you,” Sally said to her daughter. “Phire, this is Pearl’s friend Theo. Theo, our youngest daughter, Sapphire, we call her Phire.”

  Phire stood up and shook Theo’s hand. “Hello, Dr. Prentiss.”

  “Hello, Phire,” Theo replied just as Pearl cut him off.

  “Why are you calling him doctor?”

  Phire looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “Has she been drinking?” she asked her parents who shook their heads. She looked back at Pearl. “His scrubs have Dr. Prentiss on the front.”

  Theo smiled and turned to her. “See.” He ran a finger across the name. “Dr. Prentiss.”

  “You didn’t say you were a doctor.”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  “I asked if you worked at the hospital.”

  Theo replied coolly, “And I replied yes.”

  “But you…” He cut her off by putting a forkful of cobbler in her mouth.

  Phire laughed. “Finally, somebody found a way to shut her up.” She stretched. “I’m going back to bed.” She kissed her mother’s and father’s cheeks. “Night, Pearl.” She waved. “See you next time, Dr. Prentiss.”

  “There isn’t going to be a next time,” Pearl announced.

  Phire looked at her and smirked. “Sure there will.” She waved her sister off and left the room.

  Theo stood. “I’ll have my mechanic tow your car to the garage. He’ll take a look to see what’s causing the problem.”

  “We have a mechanic,” Pearl lied.

  “Who?” Joe and Sally asked in unison.

  Pearl gave them a look.

  Theo smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Lassiter, thank you for the cobbler and coffee.” He rubbed his stomach. “I know I’m going to sleep well tonight.”

  “Thank you for assisting Pearl.” Joe shook his hand.

&nb
sp; “Yes, thank you for bringing her home,” Sally added. “Pearl, show Dr. Prentiss out.”

  “With pleasure.” She quickly walked out of the room.

  Theo took his time. “Goodnight,” he said then joined Pearl in the hallway.

  She stood with her hands on her hips and the front door wide open.

  Theo stopped in front of her five-four frame and wondered aloud, “Do you have problems with all men or is it just me?”

  “I don’t have a problem with men.”

  He smiled. “Then I’m going to take it as a compliment that it’s me. I get to you, don’t I?”

  “Mr. Prentiss, or whatever you call yourself, I don’t like arrogant, elitist suburbanites who drive a hundred thousand dollar automobile and look down on people who live on the wrong side of town. Being in the same room with them makes me sick to my stomach.”

  What gives her the right to judge him? The only thing he did was stop to help her. Yes, he hesitated before turning in the neighborhood. It was an area he had never visited before. He had no idea if he was in Richmond, Henrico or wherever. Did he deserve the bashing she was dishing out? Hell no, then it dawned on him. The lady protests a little too much. Before thinking, he pinned her against the wall, wedged his thigh between her legs to keep her from inflicting any damage to his jewels, held her hands above her head, and kissed her with a voracity he had never experienced. The intent was to make her eat her words, but that mouth of hers was so sweet, he had to savor the taste a little longer. It was provocative, the way he devoured her mouth, not caring that they were in her parents’ hallway, with the door wide open and the cold air filtering in. When he felt her vigorous response, he stroked her tongue over and over again until he couldn’t take any more.

  He pulled away, liking the look of her kiss swollen lips, the look of tenacity on her face, but most of all, the loss of those stinging words that seemed to spill so easily from her lips. Her eyes fluttered open. Disbelief and confusion was there. He gave her his card.

  “Call me in the morning. I’ll prescribe something for your upset stomach.” He turned and walked out of the house without looking back.

  From the staircase above, Phire laughed. “That was hot. The doc’s got moves.” She stood and disappeared down the hallway.

  Pearl looked around to see her mother and father standing in the kitchen doorway.

  “Daddy, did you see what he did?”

  “Yeah, I saw. You want to close that door. You’re letting the heat out.”

  “The heat walked out with Dr. Prentiss.” Sally smiled then walked away.

  Pearl stood there in the hallway alone. What in the hell just happened? Every nerve ending was pumping exuberantly through her body. Her lower lips were moist; no, they were wet as if she had just had an orgasm, which wasn’t possible from a kiss. Or was it?

  From the moment she’d looked up and saw the tall fine man standing there she felt a tingle deep down in the bottom of her stomach. When he tackled her and placed his thigh over her legs, she wanted to spread them wider. His arms generated warmth like a blanket, and his breath on her neck felt like a smooth caress. No man had ever made her feel like that. It was her who set the boundaries with men. She liked getting her freak on as much as anyone else, but she also liked having control. This man took that away from her and she didn’t like it. Didn’t like it one bit.

  Chapter 3

  This was right. It felt so right it bordered on sinful, but Theodore didn’t care, he wanted the sensation of her body next to his to continue. His mind did not register the sound of the telephone ringing for it was consumed with joy from this woman’s touch. He kissed her neck, her shoulder, the swell of her breast and was right at the tip of her nipple when that irritating sound of the phone rang out again. This time the woman pulled away. He grabbed for her, but she was out of his reach. He sprang up in bed, hard as steel. Sweat was streaming down his chest, as if he was in a sauna. He wiped his hand down his face to find he was drenched there as well.

  “What in the hell?”

  The phone rang again. He grabbed his cell, pushing the button without looking. “What?”

  A voice on the other end gasped. “That is not the proper way to answer a telephone, Theodore. What if it was the hospital calling? You must watch your tone at all times.”

  Theo fell backwards onto his pillows. “Mother,” he sighed. “What could you possibly want this time of morning?”

  “It is well after seven, Theodore. You should be on the golf course with your father and Dr. Pritchard.”

  Theo loved his mother, he truly did. However, there were moments, such as this, when he could literally choke her to death.

  “It snowed last night, and I worked a seventy-two hour shift with little to no sleep.” He checked the clock on the wall. He had slept for four hours.

  “You know the course at the country club is cleared every morning.”

  He sat up as his mother continued to talk. He threw the comforter to the side and put his feet on the floor. “It’s cold outside, Mother. The club does not have heaters on the course.”

  “Your father loves the cold weather. He says it’s invigorating.”

  “My father is of the Caucasian persuasion. He likes the cold. I took after your side of the family, I like heat.” Theo stood, put his slippers on and walked into his bathroom.

  “You have his blood as well as mine.”

  “I tend to lean towards my African-American heritage more.”

  “That has nothing to do with your heritage.”

  He began to urinate. “There are cultural differences as you point out each time we have a conversation about the women I date.”

  “It’s not about the color of their skin. It’s about their upbringing. The stock they come from is important. You are a doctor for goodness sake. You need someone who is articulate, intelligent and of course beautiful. Someone deserving.” There was silence. “Are you urinating while I’m on the telephone?”

  “Yes, Mother. This is what happens when you call someone before they are able to take care of their daily constitutions.”

  “Theodore Jefferson Prentiss, where are your manners? I know I taught you better than that.”

  “You did, Mother. However, you have not learned some of your own lessons. Such as not calling a person’s home at an ungodly hour.”

  “You are worse than your father.”

  “I know, Mother. We do it because it irritates you. Don’t you know that by now?” He flushed the toilet, and then washed his hands.

  Sounding disgusted, Leonora Prentiss huffed. “Why you or your father want to annoy me is unclear.”

  “It’s because we love you unconditionally and you have an adorable blush when you get upset with us.”

  “Well, if that’s the reason, I guess I can put up with a little teasing.” He could hear the smile in her reply. “I spoke with Liza Marks last night. She said Lorraine is in the office today. You should stop by to say hello since you are off.”

  He looked heavenward and closed his eyes for a moment. “It doesn’t matter how sweet you say it, I am not in need of legal assistance, therefore I have no reason to seek Lorraine out.” He walked into the kitchen, put a pod into the Keurig, pushed the button then leaned against the counter to wait for his morning cup of tea.

  “My birthday celebration is next week. You will need a date. I think Lorraine will be perfect for you.”

  “I have a date.” He flinched as he told the lie.

  “That’s wonderful, Theodore. Who is she?”

  The guilt ate at him as he heard the excitement in her voice. “No one you know, Mother.” At least that part was true for he had no idea who she was.

  “Will I get to meet her before the party?”

  “Not sure about that. The hospital is calling. I will talk with you soon.” He disconnected the call before she could ask another question. The thought of lying to his mother cut him a little. Despite her meddling ways, he knew she meant well. He smiled as
he prepared his tea with raw sugar, with a touch of lemon juice. His father always said, ‘You would think after we went through hell to be together, your mother would know better than to interfere in your love life. However, she does not. My suggestion is you take the same position your parents took. Marry for love, for nothing else will get you through the tough times like love.’

  Theo’s cell phone rang interrupting his thoughts as he sat at his kitchen table with his tea. This time he checked before answering.

  “Morning, Vinnie. Did you get the car?”

  “You know I should charge you extra for asking me to put this piece of junk in my showroom. You know I only work on vehicles. I’m not sure what this atrocity is called.”

  Theo laughed at the man he had known all his life, who, despite his contrary expression could repair anything mechanical placed before him. “Can you make it run again?”

  “There is no reason for insults, Theo. Of course I can. I may have to rebuild a part or two. I’m certain the manufacturers no longer carry parts for a 1989 Maxima. This car has over 300,000 miles on it. Who does this beast belong to?”

  “A woman I picked up in the hospital garage last night.”

  “Is she as old as the beast? You know we are in the twenty-first century now. She needs to upgrade.”

  “No, she is not. How soon can you have it ready?”

  “It may take a minute. I’ll have to call around to a number of junkyards to see if they have the parts I need. If I find what I need it will only be a temporary fix. The lady may want to consider purchasing a vehicle.” Theo heard a bang, then the roaring of a motor. “See that, it likes the Flintstone’s style of repairs. One good bang and she’s ready to go.”

  Theo couldn’t stop from laughing. Memories of Pearl banging on the car last night didn’t help. “How long?”

  “Not sure. It’s going to take a miracle. Maybe a few days.”

  “Give me a call when the miracle is ready.” Theo hung up the telephone as he thought about Pearl’s reaction to the news. He smiled as he dialed the number he put in his cell phone, wondering if her reaction would be as rambunctious as it had been last night. It would give him the opportunity to kiss her again. And he desperately wanted to kiss her again.