The Blacker the Berry Read Free Page A

damned good out of it as well. Hmm…what she wouldn’t give to get him in her viewfinder. He had black hair, tapered at the nape, and a sexy goatee. His green eyes seemed to delve into her soul when his gaze was on her. She wondered for a moment how she could have forgotten their depth or intensity.
    Several times during the drive, she found herself wondering, Did God really make men that pretty ? No matter how long she looked at him, be it side-eyed or full-on, she couldn’t get over how attractive Russell was. No, attractive was almost too tame a word to describe the man. He was fine , heavy on the ine .
    “By the way, thank you for allowing me to tag along with you. I really appreciate it.”
    “My pleasure.” He said pleasure like some women said chocolate.
    She was still focused on his sensual voice when she became aware the car had come to a stop. Looking around, she realized they were at the ranch. Wow, where did the time go? “So, we’re here.”
    “Yes, we are. Ready to get out and straighten your legs?”
    Not really, but she wasn’t going to admit that. “Of course.”
    “Great. Hold on.” He hopped from the car and hustled around to open her door. She couldn’t help but appreciate his gentlemanly habits that seemed to have died out in the city. Maybe it was a cowboy thing.
    “Thanks,” she said as she rose from the car. When she had to look up to meet his gaze, she was once more struck dumb. The man was something to behold. Muscular without being bulky, Russell appeared leaner, like a basketball player, not scary like a football player. He also towered over her, which, since she was five-eight, wasn’t an easy thing to do. Good Lord, she was going to have to get a hold of herself, or run off and become acquainted with Charlotte’s handheld shower nozzle.
    “Once again,” he said with a wink. “It’s my pleasure. Let me get your ba—”
    “Oh my God!”
    Tamara looked passed Russell and over to the front door to Charlotte, who was standing on the white porch in the entranceway with one hand over her mouth and the other resting on her enormous belly. Her big brown eyes were wide as she stared at Tamara. Tamara looked her fill as well.
    It had been a little over a month since she’d seen the other woman, and other than her tummy pushing her floral smocked tank shirt out to kingdom come, Charlotte still looked the same. As stereotypical as it sounded, her mocha-tinged skin seemed to glow. Even though her sable hair was cut short in a boy-like style, it seemed healthier than it ever had before. Pregnancy, like marriage, appeared to suit her.
    “You don’t have to worship me,” Tamara teased, moving past Russell toward the porch. “Just sacrifice a few calves in my honor, and we’ll call it good.”
    Charlotte dropped her hand from her mouth and took a step forward. “What are you doing here?”
    “I came to see you.” Tamara climbed the steps until she was standing in front of the pregnant woman. “But if that’s the kind of welcome I’m going to get, I’m going home.”
    “You better not.” Charlotte reached out and pulled Tamara into her arms. Or tried to. Her belly, for once bigger than Tamara’s, prevented the two women from getting too close. “I’m so happy to see you.”
    “I missed you too, shrimp.” Her words were like a crack in the dam, causing Charlotte’s tears to burst forth. “I’m sorry,” Tamara instantly said, unsure why her nickname for her friend would cause this reaction. Charlotte had never protested in the past about the term of endearment.
    “She’s constantly doing that these days,” said a deep voice from behind Charlotte. Still locked in the crying woman’s embrace, Tamara could only look up in confusion at Charlotte’s husband, Ty, who was lounging in the entryway. The handsome man was grinning from ear to ear as he stared down at the two of them. “Don’t take it personal.”
    “Oh shut up, you,” Charlotte said, pulling away from