PJ Harlowe
PJ was livid. How dare that stupid, rude man talk to her about shoving his male appendage in her mouth to shut her up. She wanted to chop the thing off but held her composure. The last thing she wanted was to be seen as an angry black woman, even though she was at the moment. It was all she could do to keep her cool.
After leaving the store, she marched home in an enraged fit. She would never get that wine off her shoes, let alone her white jumpsuit. She was trying to make a good impression on Latti’s guests and now she was covered in red wine. You know, the kind that stains, but doesn’t come out. Damn that stupid man.
“What the hell, PJ? I send you to the store looking all crispy and you come back all mangled and stained. What the hell happened?”
“Some asshole named Sunshine! That’s what happened. The fool man dropped a bottle of red and ruined my shoes and my outfit. I am so angry right now.”
“Well, go upstairs and change really quick, and while you’re up there pull your good mood out of your suitcase. I can’t have you destroying your welcome home party.”
“Whatever, boy. I’ll be back in a few. Here’s your stupid wine. It better taste like angels squashed the grapes or I am going to kill you.”
PJ went to her room to quickly change. It had taken her hours figure out her last outfit. However, since she was the type to purchase an item of clothing that she loved in every color, she had several backups. Plucking the pink version of the same jumpsuit from her closet, she was able to figure out her new fit quickly. After grabbing the coordinating shelltoes from the shelf, she removed her stained shoes and clothing and headed to the in-suite bathroom to freshen up.
After touching up her makeup, PJ stepped into the new jumpsuit and laced up her sneakers. A quick look in the mirror and she was ready to return to the party. As she descended the stairs, she scanned the room looking for Latti. He was the only person she knew there, which made her nerves kick in. She was counting on him to introduce her to all his friends. When PJ spotted him near the bar, she let out a sigh of relief. That was until she recognized the man Latti was talking to. No fucking way!
The asshole from the wine store had the nerve to be standing in her living room chatting with her best friend. Latti made eye contact with PJ. He smiled and waved her over to them. PJ’s eyes traveled over to the man from the store who was now looking at her like she was a charcuterie board.
Stepping up to the bar area, PJ had a scowl on her face. Latti’s face showed concern as he placed his arm at the small of her back. He turned to look at Max and began the introduction.
“PJ, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Max Shine. He’s our resident weatherman. He’s quite famous. Max, this is the bestie I’ve been bragging about, PJ Harlowe.”
“Latti, do you know this guy?”
“Yeah, of course I do. How do you know him?”
“This is Sunshine!”
Latti frowned as if confused and then a look of recognition crossed his face. He leaned in and lowered his voice.
“Oh shit! This is the asshole from the wine store?”
“The very same one. I was hoping never to see his stupid face again, but here he is.”
PJ rolled her eyes to emphasize her point. She crossed her arms over her chest causing a large amount of cleavage to pop out of the V-neck of her jumpsuit. As men’s eyes tend to do when breasts are in plain view, Max’s eyes zoned in on her boobs, causing his mouth to fall open. PJ snapped her fingers in front of his face to grab his attention.
“Eyes up here! Were you born an asshole or was it learned behavior?”
“I’m afraid I was born this way.” Max smiled at her but was met with a scowl. He continued his attempt to appease her. “Listen, I have to apologize for the way I acted in the store. I was trying my best to make up for the clerk spilling the wine on you, but you were so angry. Your reaction fueled my anger, and I said some things I regret. Will you please forgive me?”
“Nope!”
PJ snagged the glass of whiskey that Latti had been holding and threw it back. She shoved the glass back into his hand and stomped off toward the pool, leaving Max and Latti in her wake as she mumbled about stupid celebrities.
As soon as she made it to the buffet table to snag some comfort food, she heard the DJ start to turn up. He was playing the latest hit by Cardi B that got everyone’s attention. People flooded the makeshift dance floor that Latti had installed for the party. PJ was still brooding when she saw a pretty blond woman saunter up to Max and offer her hand. She must have asked him to dance because he took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
A twinge of jealousy hit PJ as she watched the woman gyrate her hips and rub up against her newest nemesis. What was wrong with her? She hated him, didn’t she? Her stomach plummeted even more when people at the party surrounded the couple and started chanting his name.
“Go Max! Go Max!”
She had to admit, old Sunshine had the moves. The fact that he knew the latest dances intrigued her. The fact that he executed them with such accuracy and rhythm had her thinking of other things, like how he would fare in bed. She had a feeling he would be great.
She watched his leg muscles flex in his pant legs and imagined what it would be like to feel them against her. If she was being truthful with herself, she would have to admit how attractive Max was. His body was tight, and those gray eyes were mesmerizing. Not to mention those full kissable lips.
PJ must have been lost in her thoughts for quite some time because she didn’t see Max approaching her with two glasses of wine. He stopped in front of her and handed her one of the glasses of red.
“You look like you could use this,” he said with that charming smile of his.