Addicted to an Addict Page 14

  “What the hell does that have to do with anything? You need to start making sense to me right now, J!”

  “I don’t know what happened! Hell, I’m just as confused as you are! I dropped Gypsie a note telling her we needed to talk, and the next thing I knew she had resigned. I’m guessing that her secret feelings for you got the best of her, and she bailed out. I can’t say I blame her, JoJo. The girl has a right to protect her heart.”

  “I never touched Gypsie, and I had no intention to. Have I thought about it? Hell yeah! I would love to tap that ass. I’m a man. But I fight the temptation every time I look at her because I’m married, and I still love my wife.”

  “So you’ve never even come close to going for it?”

  Josiah hesitated. He did not want to have this conversation with Jeremiah. And he would bet his annual salary that Nelson was listening. He sat up and pushed the button to raise the privacy window in the back of the limo.

  “I’ll admit that I’ve come pretty damn close a few times.”

  “I knew it!”

  Jeremiah’s rumbling laughter filled Josiah’s ear, and it pissed him off. “Go to hell, J.”

  “Don’t get mad with me because you have a wife and a fantasy boo.” He cracked up all over again.

  “That’s not what I see when I look at Gypsie at all,” Josiah told his brother with all sincerity. “She’s a very smart, ambitious, gorgeous young woman who has a promising future ahead of her in politics. Her sense of humor is quirky, but I get it, and it makes me laugh—hard. I enjoy her cooking, and she fixes my coffee perfectly every time.” Josiah felt his heartbeat accelerate. His palms became sweaty out of the blue. “One day she’s going to be a wonderful mother, J. I can tell that by the way she takes care of my little princesses. I just hope that the man who’ll father Gypsie’s children will be worthy of her. She deserves a devoted husband who will love and cherish her for life.”

  “Whoever wins her heart will be one lucky man. Ain’t no doubt about it.”

  “Do you know her address, J?”

  “No. Why do you need it?”

  “I want to talk to Gypsie face-to-face. She can be replaced at city hall, but I don’t want anyone but her living in my house, taking care of Gem and Treasure. They need stability, and that’s what Gypsie has given them.”

  “Okay. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll text you her address.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “I may just come home for a visit and surprise my mom and dad. It would be nice to see both of my grandmas too. You, Fatimah, my cousins, and I could hang out at the clubs and the casinos. Oooh! I think I’ll look for flights in the morning, TiTi. Don’t tell anyone, though. I want to roll into town like a tidal wave. They won’t know what hit them.”

  “Don’t play with me, Blackbird.”

  “Who’s playing? I’m seriously thinking about coming home for a couple of weeks since I’m an unemployed, good-for-nothing bum now,” Gypsie giggled.

  “I can’t wait to see you. It seems like you’ve been gone forever.”

  “I know. I’ve been so busy with—”

  The sound of the doorbell interrupted Gypsie and threw her off of her game. She looked at her watch. It was almost ten o’clock. She didn’t have any friends in Atlanta because she worked all of the damn time, and she never went out.

  “Was that your doorbell, Blackbird?”

  “Yeah.” Gypsie bit down on her bottom lip.

  “Girl, is there something you forgot to tell me?”

  “Of course not. You know me better than that.”

  The bell rang again, and Gypsie just stared at the door.

  “Well, go see who it is. I’ll stay on the phone just in case it’s a crazy stalker.”

  Gypsie walked to the door and looked through the peephole. She nearly choked on air when she saw Josiah standing there looking like a tall glass of rich, double chocolate milk. Her mind went completely blank for a few seconds until she heard Tianji screaming in her ear.

  “Blackbird! Who’s at the damn door, girl?”

  “It’s the mayor,” Gypsie whispered in total shock. “Should I let him in?”

  “Hell yeah! I’m about to hang up. Call me in the morning if you can.” Tianji went into a fit of laughter before she ended the call.

  Gypsie pulled her oversized T-shirt over her leggings and took a deep, calming breath before she released the chain and unlocked the door. Josiah smiled at her the moment the door swung open, and she felt the earth tilt on its axis.

  “Josiah, what are you doing here?”

  “May I come in?”

  Gypsie nodded and stepped aside to allow him into the apartment. “Can I offer you something to drink?”

  “No, thank you. I’m fine for now. Let’s sit down and talk, Gypsie.”

  “Okay.”

  Gypsie took a seat on the sofa, and Josiah sat so close to her that she felt his body heat. His firm thigh pressed against hers made it hard to take in air. No man had the right to be this damn fine and dripping with pure swag.

  “Why did you resign from city hall and your position as caretaker for Gem and Treasure?”

  “I had allowed myself to become too emotionally invested in your life. It was a big mistake that I’d never intended to happen, but it did. So I had to make the best decision for me. That’s why I chose to remove myself from the situation entirely. I hope you understand.”

  “Yes, I do understand. We have romantic feelings for each other. It wasn’t planned on my part or yours. It just happened. We spend a lot of time together on the job, and you basically live in my home. It’s easy to understand how we connected.”

  “I’m so ashamed of myself. You’re married. I had no business going there.”

  “What about me? I’m the guy wearing the ring, yet I was so close to crossing the line.”

  Gypsie was stunned by Josiah’s blatant honesty, but she didn’t show it. “But you didn’t cross the line. We didn’t. And now that your wife is back home, we never will.”

  “Mink isn’t home, Gypsie.”

  “But I saw her with you last night in the den.” Damn it! Why did I say that?

  “You saw Mink at the house last night? I thought you were upstairs the entire time she was there.”

  “I was. Then I came downstairs to the den to look for the girls and—”

  “And you saw us arguing. Were we that loud?”

  Gypsie looked at Josiah as if his head were spinning on his neck like the girl in the Exorcist movie. “No, you weren’t loud at all, and you two definitely were not arguing.”

  “Oh, Gypsie, I’m so sorry that you saw that, but it wasn’t what you think.”

  “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize to me for kissing your wife. I’m just your former AA and ex-nanny. You owe me no explanation or apology for anything.”

  “Yes, I do,” Josiah insisted, placing his hand on top of Gypsie’s. “The moment I realized you had feelings for me, I should’ve addressed it, but the timing was always off.”

  “And what would that conversation have sounded like, Josiah?”

  “Gypsie, I want you just as much as you want me, but because I have such great respect for you, I’m not going to act on those feelings. I care too much about you to reduce you to a side piece or a mistress. You’re too special for that. The only way I would ever get involved with you is if I were free to have you and only you in my life. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Josiah, I understand.”

  “I’m glad you do.”

  “Jeremiah said you flew to Montana last night.”

  “Yeah, I took Mink to another rehab center in the mountains near White Sulphur Springs. She’ll be there for six months.”

  “I’ll pray that she’ll make a full recovery.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, Gypsie.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You know what would make you even sweeter?”

  “What?”

  “If you would rescind
your resignation at city hall and come back and help me with my girls, I’d crown you the sugar queen.” He gave Gypsie a sexy half grin.

  “I don’t know about that, Josiah.”

  “Please come back, Gypsie. I need you, and the girls do too. They’ve grown accustomed to you. And God knows you’re the best AA on the planet. Are you really going to make me look for a replacement in the middle of my reelection campaign? That’s just cruel.”

  “Okay. I’ll come back.”

  “Thank you so much.” He kissed Gypsie on the cheek.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Josiah stood. “I’m one tired man. The turnaround trip wore me out. I’ve got to get home so I can rest. Come walk me to the door, please.”

  Gypsie followed Josiah to her front door. He unlocked it and opened it wide. He turned to face her, and her heart made an energetic hip-hop move, but she maintained her composure.

  “Please go over your notes for the Lovely Ladies of Atlanta luncheon tomorrow. NeNe Leakes and Dr. Bernice King will be there. Your opponent is expected to show his face as well.”

  “I’ll have a cram session in the morning. I’ve got to shut my eyes tonight. Will you quiz me?”

  “Of course, I will. Don’t I always?”

  “Yeah, you always have my back.”

  “Your mother expects you to pick her up at eleven o’clock. She’s your date for the luncheon.”

  “I’ll have the hottest date there. Thanks for the reminder.” Josiah reached out and pulled Gypsie in for a warm embrace.

  Loving the feel of being in his arms, she rested her head on his chest. Mink was one damn lucky woman. She didn’t deserve Josiah, but she had him hooked and on lockdown. Who couldn’t respect a man for loving his wife and standing by her side through hard times?

  “Good night, Josiah.” Gypsie found her voice. She lifted her head from his chest and looked into his eyes.

  Josiah released her. “Good night.” He kissed her forehead before he turned and walked away.

  * * *

  “Mayor Bishop! Mayor Bishop, how are you, sir?” Charmaine Lomax greeted Josiah, approaching him with her hand extended.

  “I’m well, Mrs. Lomax. How are you?” Josiah shook her offered hand.

  “I’m fine. I was hoping that your lovely wife would be with you this afternoon. I haven’t seen her since the Unity Gala.”

  “Mink isn’t feeling well today, so I brought this beautiful lady with me as my date.” Josiah wrapped his arm lovingly around his mother’s shoulders. “This is my mother, Myrlie Bishop. Mama, meet Charmaine Lomax. She’s the wife of Dendrick Lomax, my opponent.”

  “Hello.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bishop.”

  “The pleasure is mine, dear.”

  The two women smiled at each other and shook hands.

  Mrs. Lomax returned her attention to Josiah. “Will your wife and daughters attend the children’s tea and art show next weekend?”

  “Um . . . yes . . . Yes, they’ll be there.”

  “Great. I look forward to seeing her and the girls. Please say hello to her for me and tell her to get well soon.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Charmaine walked away.

  “She seems nice, but she’s a little too nosy for my taste. Why is she so interested in Mink?”

  “I don’t know, Mama.”

  “And why did tell her that lie, JoJo? You know Mink will not attend that event next weekend.”

  Josiah shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. She caught me off guard.”

  “Well, get ready to tell another lie next weekend when Miss Nosy asks about Mink again.” Mrs. Bishop’s jaw dropped suddenly. “Oh my goodness! There’s NeNe Leakes! I’m going to say hello.”

  * * *

  “Frances, there’s something fishy going on with the mayor and his wife,” Charmaine told her assistant.

  “What do you mean, ma’am?”

  “She seldom makes public appearances with him. The last time I saw them together was at the Unity Gala a couple of months ago. She’s the first lady of Atlanta. She should be more visible, especially with the election right around the corner. It’s just weird.” Charmaine watched Josiah and his mother pose for a picture with NeNe Leakes. “I want you to do some snooping around. Ask Leon to help you. Find out what’s up with Mink Bishop. I want to know why she’s hiding out from the campaign trail.”

  “I’ll get on the case right away, Mrs. Lomax.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Gypsie rushed into the house behind Gem and Treasure carrying two grocery bags. She headed straight to the kitchen, dropped the bags on the center island, and grabbed the phone from its cradle.

  “This is the Bishop residence.”

  “You sound like you’ve been running.”

  Gypsie smiled at the sound of Josiah’s voice. “I was racing like Allyson Felix to catch the phone.”

  “Since I was in meetings all day long outside of the office, I only got to see you once in passing. Sooo . . . I decided to call and check up on you. How was your day?”

  “It was long and stressful, but I won’t complain. I’m about to check Gem’s homework and quiz Treasure on her new sight words. After that, I’ll prepare dinner.”

  “Don’t bother to cook, Gypsie. Go ahead and study with the girls, and then I want the three of you to meet J and me for dinner. We have three hours before I’ll have to make an appearance at a mixer at the Depot. I’m starving right now, so let’s meet at Houston’s on Peachtree in an hour. That’s one of the girls’ favorite restaurants.”

  “That sounds like a plan. We’ll see you in a little while.”

  “Cool.”

  Gypsie replaced the phone in its cradle and went to find the girls. More than likely, they were upstairs in their bedroom changing from their school uniforms into the casual outfits she had placed on their beds this morning.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Gypsie announced with a big smile on her face as she entered the bedroom. “Your daddy and Uncle J want us to meet them at a restaurant for dinner.”

  “Are we going to McDonald’s?”

  “No, Treasure, we’re not going to McDonald’s, darling.”

  “I know! We’re going to eat pizza.”

  “No, we’re not going to a pizzeria either. Your dad thought that you two wouldn’t mind eating at Houston’s this evening.”

  “Yesss! We love Houston’s! Don’t we, Treasure?”

  “Yeah!”

  “Okay, let’s go over your homework and sight words before we leave. Come on, little divas.”

  * * *

  “Where’s Uncle J, Daddy? I thought he was coming to eat dinner with us.”

  “He got stuck in traffic coming from Papa and Nana’s house. He went to visit them after work, and now, he’s having a hard time getting here.”

  Gem poked out her bottom lip and folded her arms across her chest, pouting.

  “Don’t be mad, darling,” Gypsie whispered in her ear.

  “We can call him before you go to bed tonight.” “Okay.”

  “There’s a new girl in my class,” Treasure announced. “Her name is Tamalia, and she wants to be my BFF, but Zion and Karrington said no. They don’t want any new friends. But Leilani likes her, and I do too. We want to be her friend.”

  “Then you should be her friend, sweetie. The more friends you have, the happier you’ll be.”

  “Okay, Daddy. Tamalia is my new BFF, and when she grows up, she wants to be like Michelle Obama and Beyoncé, just like me. She’s going to be like Oprah and Simone Biles too because they rock!”

  Josiah and Gypsie laughed at Treasure’s excitement.

  “When I grow up, I’m going to be like you, Miss Gypsie. You’re smart and beautiful. And you wear pretty clothes too,” Gem smiled.

  “Aw, thanks, darling. I appreciate your kind words.”

  Josiah, Gypsie, Gem, and Treasure continue talking and laughing as they enjoyed their meals unt
il it was time for them to part ways.

  “Well, ladies, it’s time for me to go. I have to attend an event in thirty minutes. Let me settle the check, and I’ll walk you to the car.”

  After the server returned to the table with Josiah’s debit card and receipt, he left the young woman a hefty tip. Then he guided Gypsie and his daughters toward the restaurant’s exit. A cool stream of air wrapped around Gypsie out of the blue, and she shivered. She looked around at the many patrons scattered about. For some strange reason, she felt like she was being watched.

  * * *

  Frances ducked behind her upheld menu just when the mayor’s young date scanned the area where she’d been seated comfortably watching them during their entire meal. His daughters seemed very fond of the cute little tenderoni. Was she a relative? And where was their mother? Mrs. Bishop was always missing in action. Mrs. Lomax was dead-on the money. Something was fishy between the mayor and his wife.

  Frances couldn’t believe her luck. She was just about to leave the restaurant after enjoying an appetizer platter and a strawberry daiquiri, when, lo and behold, Mayor Bishop entered the establishment to much fanfare. When she realized the hostess had seated him at a table for six, Frances waited to leave, expecting him to be joined by his family. She was shocked when she saw the very attractive and much-younger woman approach the table with his daughters. If one didn’t know better, one would’ve thought they were a family. They seemed quite familiar with one another.

  Now, Frances was on a mission to identify the mystery woman, and then she needed to find out where Atlanta’s first lady was hiding out, and why. She scanned the few pictures she’d snapped of the happy group with her cell phone. They’d been none the wiser as she snapped several shots of them while they laughed and chatted over their meals. The pictures would be a central part of the investigation, but she needed Leon to do the legwork for her. But first, Frances had to make her first official report to Mrs. Lomax and send her the secret pictures. She smirked as she sent the brief text message with the pictures attached before she dialed the number.