Passion Play

“He’s very handsome.” Maxine gave Rose an appreciative smile. Her ebony eyes twinkled with mischief. “Much more handsome than Ben.” She handed the phone to Claudia, who sat across the table from her.

It was the third Friday of July. The former law school classmates had gotten together at their regular restaurant for their monthly dinner. They’d finished their meals and paid their bills. Now they were enjoying a final drink before saying goodbye. The restaurant was still packed. The murmur of conversations from other tables flowed around them. The scents of exotic spices and savory stews filled the air.

Rose had asked Iris to take the photo of her with Donovan so that she could show it to her Constant Classmates. She hoped the other women would accept the photo as proof that her “boyfriend” was real.

“Ooh, he is handsome.” Claudia Brentwood-Washington pressed a well-manicured hand to the scooped neckline of her cream blouse. “He could be a model.”

“So this is your mystery boyfriend.” Tasha Smalls took the phone from Claudia and stared at the image on the device’s display screen. Despite her sour tone, T

asha’s expression held grudging admiration. “He’s attractive, if you like that type.”

“Give us a break, Tasha.” Maxine sipped her ice water. The deep gold of her linen dress complemented her cocoa skin. “You know you like his type.”

“What type is that?” Rose felt defensive.

“Handsome.” Maxine wiggled her arched brows. Her close-cropped natural emphasized her large, dark eyes.

“He could be an underwear model.” Claudia’s boney chestnut features glowed with interest.

Rose frowned at the married mother of one. Don’t drool on my cell. “I’ll take that back.” She reclaimed the phone from Tasha.

Tasha gave her a startled look and gestured toward the phone. “What’s his name again?”

“Van Carroll.” Rose tossed Tasha a look. She hadn’t given her classmates a name last month. She hadn’t had one to share. Tasha still wasn’t buying her boyfriend story. Was the other woman going to pose a problem?

Claudia extended her hand, palm up. “Can I take another look?”

Rose returned her phone to her purse. “No, you cannot.”

Claudia lowered her hand. Her disappointment was palpable.

“What did you say Van does for a living?” Tasha’s question reclaimed Rose’s attention. Suspicion was stamped all over the other woman’s round, brown face.

“I hadn’t told you what he did, but I’ll tell you now. He’s the vice president of sales for Anderson Adventures.”

Maxine stared at her. “The computer gaming company?”

Rose turned to the woman seated beside her. “That’s right. They’re very successful with computer games.”

“I know.” Maxine was almost shaking with excitement. “I own several of their games. I preordered their newest release, Osiris’ Journey, last month. I can’t wait.”

Tasha leaned back on the booth seating, crossing her arms over her navy blouse. “You’re a grown, educated woman. Why are you playing little-boy computer games?”

Maxine shrugged. “They’re fun and interesting. And Anderson Adventures’ games also are educational.”

Tasha shook her head, tossing her thin braids around her shoulders. “That’s probably the reason you’re not married.”

Rose scowled. “There’s no need for that, Tasha.”

“Don’t worry about it, Rose.” Maxine squeezed Rose’s forearm where it lay on the table. “I don’t take Tasha seriously.”

Tasha gasped. “Why not?”

“Tasha, I love you, but you’re jealous of everyone.” Maxine’s kind smile softened the chastisement. “Look at the way you’re interrogating Rose. She doesn’t have to tell us every personal detail of her life. She’s not a public figure. She’s entitled to her privacy.”

Tasha leaned into the table, splitting her attention between Rose and Maxine. “You have a man who’s successful and makes Ben Shippley look like SpongeBob. You should be bragging about him. Instead you’re keeping your relationship a secret. Why?”

“After Ben, you can understand my need to be cautious with my relationships, can’t you?” Rose wasn’t lying. She wasn’t answering the question, either.