Tina took her coat off and threw it on the couch and then walked over to the kitchen. Steve couldn’t help but catch himself staring at her assets that seemed to struggle to show themselves through her very tight dress.

Tina then walked over to the kitchen. She put the alcohol down and then put the food on the counter. She then looked around. First opening a cabinet, then a drawer. Steve continued to enjoy the view standing at the front door.

“Where are the plates and utensils? And why don’t you shut the front door? And close your mouth.” Tina laughed.

Steve smiled as he seemed to jerk back into consciousness. He wondered what Tina was doing, but he had to admit to himself she did look good doing it. He said, “Over to the right.”

Steve then took a few papers and magazines off the table and walked into the kitchen to help Tina find everything for dinner.

“Let me help you.” Steve said as he eased past Tina reaching for a couple of forks.

Tina then moved slightly to ensure that they would bump each other. She raised her eyebrow and said, “Are you trying to get close to me?”

“Ah, no, I was just trying to get the forks.” Steve responded.

“AWWW” Tina whined, “I was trying to get close to you.” Tina smiled.

Steve smiled awkwardly and took the forks into the other room and placed them down on the table.

Tina followed him very closely.

Tina put down the plates and the napkins while still staying very close to Steve. Steve accidentally bumped her again.

Tina laughed.

“Why don’t I just sit here and wait till you are finished.” Steve said.

“Yeah, why don’t you do just that.” Tina said while passing him the food.

Steve wanted to get to talking about something, anything, to keep him from looking at Tina’s curves.

“That Vanderholt project is going to be complete soon. It will be really good for the company.” Steve said in a business tone.

“Yeah, I was really looking forward to working on that project with you, but Janet took the project back, I really wanted to get the opportunity to work very close to you, but if I can’t work close with you, then maybe I can play close to you.” Tina said.

Steve couldn’t help but get hot and bothered as this attractive woman constantly kept flirting with him, but he thought he would try again.

“So why do you think that Janet changed her mind?” Steve said.

“I don’t know, I don’t care. She is acting like a child. She even told me that I can’t ask you out.” Tina said.

Steve seemed to jump out of his seat as he said, “She said what?”

Tina sat down and began eating some noodles.

“Yeah she acted like she didn’t want me to approach you and then she told me that she would do the project herself. I think she needs to grow up.” Tina said.

Steve sat there quiet. He was flattered that Janet didn’t want her dating someone. He was also angry at the same thing.

“So she doesn’t want me, she goes crazy, and she doesn’t want me to date?” Steve said.

“Exactly. I look at you, a nice, handsome, successful man and wonder why she was leading you on to make her boyfriend jealous and then starts acting funny.” Tina said as she eased out of her seat and began massaging his back.

“Yeah…I was up front with her and she started playing games. Just like Penny. Playing games.”

Steve then looked at Tina, “Is it a black thing, are you playing games?” Steve immediately thought that he shouldn’t have said that as it left his lips. But, he did really wonder in that Penny and Janet were the only African American women he had ever dated.

Tina looked shocked. She stopped messaging and looked in his face. She put her hand on her hips and said, “So what, is this when you use the n-word?”

“No…No…” Steve said apologetically.

Tina’s face softened and she walked back over to her seat to continue eating her noodles.

After a few awkward moments of silence, Tina said. “I ain’t Penny and I ain’t Janet.”

Steve was angry with himself and continued to try to make ammends, “Hey you really gotta try this Egg Foo Yong.” He said while offering him some off his fork.

She ate it. And said, “That’s good, but not as good as my Lo Mein.” She then offered him some which he ate off her fork.

“I’m sorry, I…” Steve began to say.

Tina then touched her finger to his mouth and said, “Shhhhh…” She smiled, removed her finger.

Steve couldn’t help himself as he eased in and his lips touched hers.

***

Janet sat outside in her car thinking about what to do. She got out of the car and then got back in. Her mind kept playing possibilities. Maybe he is not into her. She hoped.

Janet couldn’t help but realize how attractive Tina was and how stupid she had been. She wondered if this is how it will end. Her phone buzzed. She looked at it. It was Terry. She hadn’t talked to him in a while and really didn’t want to talk to him now, but she answered it.

“Baby, I…” Terry said in the phone.

“Hold up, I know your dumb ass ain’t trying to sweet talk me after all that you have pulled.” Janet said.

“Yeah, I deserve that, but I need you baby.”

Janet started laughing.

“What, so you laughing at me? So you trying to still get with that white boy that is sleeping around on you?”

“Yeah, I want him, that white boy is more of a man than you will ever be.” Janet said.

Terry angrily said, “You trippin, one you go black, you ain’t going back, I know he ain’t packin like I’m packin baby girl.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t be talking about packin. It ain’t like you packin all that much fool.”

“What the…How you…You gonna…” Terry said trying to put together a sentence.

Janet laughed. “Why I wanted you, I’ll never know. You know what, Bye Terry, and don’t call back.”

“Hold on, you ain’t gonna…”

“Bye Terry.” Janet said while hanging up.

Janet then opened the door of her car and began walking towards Steve’s front door.