Unexpected Interruptions Read Free Page B

handsome, and really nice. Now, he’s a little on the shy side and doesn’t talk a whole lot, but he’s very sweet. And oh yeah, he’s a consultant. I know you two will hit it off!”
    Debbie and her husband Rob had met Vincent a few weeks ago at the gym, and she thought he’d be perfect for Victoria. Debbie Long was a professor in the art department at Emory University, and one of Victoria’s closest and dearest friends. They’d been roommates in graduate school, helping each other labor through insanely demanding course work. But after a semester of Probability and Statistics, Debbie decided that business school wasn’t for her. She changed her major, breezed through the History of Art curriculum, then accepted a faculty position at Emory. When Victoria had moved back to the area, Debbie was thrilled that they were in the same city once again.
    Victoria was both nervous and excited as she turned her silver Audi into the restaurant’s parking lot. This was truly out of character for her. She’d never been on a blind date, let alone agreed to go out with someone she’d never even spoken to over the phone. Debbie had set up everything because she was afraid that if left to Victoria, the date would never happen. She knew her college buddy would just find another excuse for not getting back into the dating scene, and Debbie thought it was high time her friend jumped back in with both feet.
    Boy, this is a nasty day. But at least it’s Friday, and who knows . . . this lunch date might be the beginning of a good weekend. Just think positive , Victoria encouraged herself, walking into the restaurant with a spring in her step. She shook out her umbrella, ran her fingers through her long, silky mane, and looked around for Vincent. Debbie told her that he’d meet her at the hostess stand, so Victoria knew that the first tall, handsome, black man she saw standing up front would be him. She saw a man coming toward her.
    â€œWhassup baby, you must be Victoria. Damn, a sistah’s fine!”
    Oh my God. How does this man know my name? Victoria wondered.
    â€œI’m Vincent Frank,” the man said, extending his hand. “I been waitin’ about ten minutes, but now I see it was well worth it,” he grinned, looking Victoria up and down like she was an item on the menu. “C’mon baby, let’s get our eat on.” He motioned for Victoria to walk in front of him as they followed the hostess back to their table.
    Victoria was in shock and had to remind herself to breathe. The hostess seated them and gave Victoria a look that said “you poor thing” before walking away.
    â€œWell, well, well, I hit the jackpot witchu’, baby. Debbie said you was beautiful and all, but you know how some white folks be thinkin’ that just ’cause you a sistah, that you all exotic and shit. So they think you look good, know what I’m sayin’? But baby she was right about you . . . you a stone cold killa!”
    Victoria bristled at his words, feeling as though the air had been sucked out of the room. Breathe, breathe , she told herself. Vincent was talking, his lips were moving, but she couldn’t hear a word he was saying. She was too busy trying to process the visual before her eyes. He was wearing two-tone alligator shoes and a green suede pantsuit. A playboy bunny medallion dangled from a thick gold rope chain around his neck, so big she could have snatched it off and started a game of Double Dutch. His gold tooth was centered in the front of his mouth, and each time he smiled it gleamed against the flickering light of the votive candle on the table. When he lifted his hand to stroke his goatee, Victoria nearly choked at the sight of his large, diamond encrusted gold watch, accented by a gold nugget ring on his pinky finger. The crowning touch were his two-carat diamond studs, blinging loud in each ear. Victoria stared at him, feeling