The Guilt Trip Final excerpt before June 2012 release

Chapter 2

           “I spooked him.” Talise swallowed as she hid herself from Ace’s view near her apartment window. His normal goodbye kiss lacked luster she had come to expect.

Her heart sank as Ace sped off from the curb without blowing her his customary kiss. His hasty exit scared her.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Talise second guessed her timing. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned her suspicions. If only she had listened to her older sister. Sinclaire’s advice was to wait until she was one-hundred percent sure to say anything.   

A week earlier, she had experienced mild cramping and light spotting. Talise didn’t give it a second thought until the nausea hit. Then she endured bouts for the past few days. Finally, she took a home pregnancy test.

If Talise read it right, she wasn’t. But her suspicions lingered. The thought of becoming another statistic as an unwed mother made Talise bawl like a two-year-old in the middle of a tantrum.

During a Skype call less than twenty-four hours earlier, Sinclaire had tried to console her, “From everything you’ve raved about Aaron,” her sister refused to refer to Ace by his nickname.

Sinclaire once said it sounded too gangster. “I’m sure he’ll do the right thing. We can always repent, and God will forgive us as long as we don’t continue in our sins. If God spares you from this situation, then you’ve got to turn your life over to him.”

A tear slid down her cheek as Talise recalled their conversation. Stepping away from the window, she rubbed her arms and then massaged her flat tummy.

Turning around, she scanned the apartment she shared with Lois. Her roommate was one of a handful of people she could call friend since her move from Virginia to Boston.

After responding to a “roommate needed” ad, Talise met with Lois, studied the South End neighborhood and quizzed Lois about her lifestyle. Seemingly satisfied, Talise signed the lease. That had been six months ago. 

“A good friend of mine—and Cameron Jamieson is fine—has a cousin named Aaron or Ace who is equally as fine and unattached,” Lois had said when trying to set up Talise on a double date. “Tall, muscular and has a rugged pretty boy face and a good job.”

At first, Talise was reluctant. “What’s wrong with him? Is he a homosexual?”

Lois had laughed and snorted. “Far from it. He’s a good-looking brother who enjoys having a good time—nothing more.” She paused. “Just go out one time,” she had pleaded. “If he’s a jerk, then dump him.”

Talise wasn’t buying what sounded like “too good to be true” set up. “If both of these brothers are so fine, then why haven’t you dated either one of them?” She crossed her arms.

Lois could go toe-to-toe with any woman in the good looks department. She had a touch of Puerto Rican in her blood and a whole lot of African-American. The woman turned heads as a browner version of Keysha Cole.

“I learned not to date friends or friends’ relatives. My relationship with Cameron is for networking purposes only. I keep my friend pool separate from my potential boyfriend pool. Separate and not equal.” Lois’s voice had been serious.

April excerpt The Guilt Trip part 2 of Chapter 1

The best thing about it—it was all her hair. She was born with it. Ace had nothing against hair extensions except when they looked like hair extensions.
Her brown-sugar skin was always flawless, even without makeup, and her dark lashes, silky brows and big brown doe-shaped eyes were just some of her points of perfection and
his weakness. Yeah, he liked how her features accented her brown skin.
“Hey, baby,” Ace cooed as he stepped closer to her.
Talise’s response was leaping into his arms with the force of a hurricane. Her strength
would have rocked a man who was unsteady on his feet. Not Ace, who stood at six-three
and tipped the scales at 220 pounds.
His buffed body was able to absorb the impact as their embrace lingered, and then she weakened him with her kisses. Ace didn’t know who started the seduction, but he was not
pleased when she regained composure and left him begging for more. He stared at his woman through hooded lashes and watched the longing flash across her face. To his chagrin, a smile chased the passionate moment away.
“Keep that up, woman, and we may not hit the streets and go dancing or whatever you
have planned for tonight.”
“What I planned, or hoped, was we could relax here. Lois and some friends are heading
to New York for the weekend. I’ve prepared a candlelight dinner…”
“Then what are we waiting for.” With naughty scenarios running through his mind, Ace
scooped her up in his arms and climbed the stairs two at a time. When they made
it to the third floor landing, he slowly released her. Jokingly, Ace exaggerated his breathing as if he was gasping for air.
She laughed. “And what was your hurry, Mr. Jamieson?”
“Let’s just say I’m famished.” He patted his six-pack. Reaching for his hand, Talise led him
into the apartment she shared with his cousin’s friend Lois—the one who set them up on a blind date. The aromas wafting through the apartment teased Ace. Glancing around, he snickered at
the dimmed lighting and burning incense. His eyes then settled on the kitchenette
counter/table set.

It was set for two with crystal goblets and china place settings.
Absentmindedly, Ace kicked the door closed. As though in a trance, he followed Talise.
Grabbing a serving dish, she turned around and practically bumped into him. “Here, put that on the table, Ace.”
“I’d rather nibble on you.” He encircled his arms around her and began to make good
on his statement. Usually, Talise had a witty comeback, but she didn’t take his bait. Instead, she busied herself by placing more serving pans on the table. When she seemed pleased with
her handiwork, she lit the two candles between their plates. At the kitchen sink, they played in the water as they washed their hands together. Finished with the task, Ace escorted her around the other side of the open kitchen. He pulled out Talise’s stool, and then took the seat across from her.
Ace had a hard time taking his eyes off her until she insisted. Then they held hands. They
bowed their heads as Talise said grace.
“Jesus,” she said with a pause, as if she was gathering her thoughts.
Opening one eye, Ace squinted. This was not the time for a moment of reflection. Just say grace, so we could eat. “Baby?”
he said softly, studying Talise’s troubled face.
She cleared her throat, but never opened her eyes. “Jesus, please bless this meal.”
Pausing again before mumbling a few more words, Talise finished with “…in
Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
“I’m glad we got through that before our food turned cold,” he joked. Lifting his
glass, he sipped some water. When she didn’t laugh, he proceeded to devour his
steak and sautéed vegetables.
Ace shoved a mouthful of twice-baked potatoes, lathered with sour cream, in his mouth and
swallowed. “Baby, this is good.” He winked. “And just think, I’ll have you all to myself tonight to show you my appreciation.”
Talise mustered a faint smile as she picked with her food. Usually, they exchanged
seductive glances, naughty words and sassy flirts over a meal, but not tonight.
Maybe, Ace was reading too much into it because he was about to lay his heart on the table, or maybe she was going through her monthly hormonal thing. He hoped not.
After digesting a second helping of potatoes, he dabbed at his mouth with the napkin.
“Baby, I want to talk to you—”
“I have something to say to you also,” she interrupted.
Ace snickered and then folded his arms. “Go ahead. What’s in that beautiful head of
yours? ”
Resting her fork on her placemat, Talise pinched at the fabric a few times, but she wouldn’t
look at him. What’s going on? His lady was usually confident and talkative, not sober as her expression indicated. Once he professed his growing feeling, he knew that would put a smile on her face.
“Tay?”
She bowed her head as if she was ashamed of something. “I may be pregnant.”
His eyes bucked as her rushed words finally registered. “What?” he asked to test his hearing.
Lifting her head, she stared into his eyes. “Ace, I may be pregnant.”
Nooooooooo. Not his Tay. She wouldn’t do this to him, would she? Ace was a gambler.
He could count on one hand the number of times he lost. Ace would never have betted that Talise
would have set him up like this. She didn’t blink, while she waited for him to say something.
Act normal, be professional and tactful. You aren’t going down like this, man, he coaxed himself.