Deceptive Nights

by Sylvia Hubbard

  Phoebe sighed. “My mother said the same thing, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

  “How so?”

  “He’s my boss.”

  Amy chortled. “You’re in love with your boss.”

  “I never said it was love,” Phoebe protested weakly mad at herself at admitting this out loud.

  “You didn’t have to. Just your tone of voice and the intensity you’ve expressed yourself easily tells me that you love this man, but your boss Phoebe? You know dating office personnel is never a good practice unless it’s your husband. Now that wouldn’t be so bad, but Jacoby Knight is not a man who intends to marry too soon.”

  “That’s what makes it so bad. On top of that I never can find a good time, since everything we do is all business. What am I suppose to say? If that’s all the notes you want me to take we can adjourn to the couch and bump uglies.”

  Amy laughed so hard, it became contagious and Phoebe couldn’t help herself at her own silliness. “Now that’s a good one,” Amy said through her howl of laughter. When they were able to calm down again, Amy asked, “How did he get to you if I may be so bold to ask?” Phoebe giggled more to herself blushing from head to toe. Amy must have sensed this embarrassment and asked, “Not all the juicy details, but what was it about him that made you so attracted to him.”

  Phoebe didn’t have to think hard about that. “It’s the way he made me feel like a queen in his arms and when we are together, I’m so happy that I want to scream which I think I’ve done quite a few times.”

  Amy snickered. “Do you think he feels as intensely as you do about him?”

  “I think he did until I hurt him. Now all I get is business talk. How am I supposed to even try to get close to him again when he doesn’t mix business with pleasure, Amy?”

  “Sometimes you have to make him break the rules, Phoebe. Seduce him. If you do to him, what he does to you, any small seduction will work.”

  “Amy, you’re confusing me.”

  Amy described in detail what Phoebe should do and although it had Phoebe’s cheek blazing, Amy had a pretty good idea on how to drive a man crazy.

  Chapter 27

  Desmond only raised a brow at the outburst that shot out of Jacoby’s mouth. It was so unexpected that he couldn’t believe Jacoby had said it and the look on his face told Jacoby clearly Desmond thought he had just past through the Twilight Zone. “Come again, brother? Stick my opinion where?”

  Jacoby sat back in the chair and huffed. “Just forget it.”

  “Do you know for the past three weeks, you’ve been sounding like a sailor?” Desmond pointed out.

  “If you don’t like it, then quit talking to me,” Jacoby snapped.

  “That’s another thing. You’re so damn snappy.”

  “I’m not snappy!” Jacoby snapped.

  Desmond chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you weren’t getting your daily rations of sex.”

  Jacoby didn’t say anything and if a feather had touched Desmond, he would have fallen over as if a Mack truck had hit him.

  “You’re pulling my leg, Jake.”

  Jacoby closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “If I were, I’d have enough strength to yank it off about now. I feel like I’m wearing my pants to damn tight, but if I go back to that damn tailor anymore the man’s just going to adjust my pants to the next size.”

  “Are you trying to say you haven’t had sex in a while?” Desmond asked.

  “A while?!” Jacoby snapped. “Dammit, I haven’t had sex in over a month.” He looked at his watch. “If you want me to be fucking exact I’m at one month, five days, eight hours and fifty four fucking minutes as of three seconds ago.”

  Desmond burst out laughing so hard tears streamed down his face. Jacoby found nothing funny and sat there glaring at him with no expression on his face. This made Desmond laugh even harder.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me, Jake,” Desmond said when he could be understood. “Is this over Phoebe?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think you’re wasting your time on her, which is the same thing I said to Lawrence who’s lost his marbles.”

  “I haven’t lost any damn marbles.”

  “You have if you’re saving yourself for her. Like I told him and you, she doesn’t care what the two of you feel.”

  “That’s not true, Desmond.”

  Desmond sighed. “Is this why you’ve been hiding in my office all week instead of going to Detroit? You’re the one who offered her the position. If she’s not working out then fire her and get another person.”

  “But that’s the problem, Desmond, she’s working out great, but I think if I go around her I might attack her.”

  “You can’t hide from her, Jacoby. That’s not normal.”

  “I’m just trying to stay away from her enough for her to come to her senses.”

  “What senses?”

  “To realize she loves me,” Jacoby said simply.

  “Now I think you’ve lost your marbles for real. She’s deceiving the both of you.”

  “How so? Just the other day you told me she admitted to Lawrence she still has some feelings for me she just couldn’t explain it. Trust me Desmond, she’s coming around.”

  “But at this rate you’re going to wither and die if it isn’t soon.”

  Jacoby huffed knowing Desmond was right. “I just need something to make her see Lawrence is a bad choice.”

  “I take it she doesn’t know the truth about Lawrence.”

  Jacoby smiled wickedly. “I think you’ve given me the answer to my problem, Desmond.”

  “You wouldn’t!” Desmond gasped.

  Jacoby flipped through Desmond’s address book to find the number to Lawrence’s previous address. “All’s fair in love and war, Desmond.”

  “So you love her?”

  “Damn Skippy, but I’m not admitting it to her until she admits it to me.”

  Desmond sighed exasperated. “This is ridiculous. If you know she feels the same as you do, why don’t you just tell her.”

  “Because I’m too damn stubborn and I’ve waited so damn long that I think I deserve a damn good I love you from her before I allow myself to give in.” Jacoby smiled brightly as he picked the card out the Rolodex he was looking for.

  Desmond blocked Jacoby from picking up the receiver to the phone. “What about Lawrence? Why don’t you just go beat the shit out of him instead of ruining his life?”

  “Beating him within an inch of his life has crossed my mind a lot, Desmond, but I figure now that you’ve given me this idea, beating him won’t be as cruel as sending out the hounds to him.” His laughter was nefarious as he knocked Desmond’s hand away and picked up the receiver.

  “This is not going to accomplish anything,” Desmond grumbled.

  “It damn well better or I’m going to kill someone with this damn hard on.”

  ****

  Saturday felt so weird. It was the first time in so many years that she had the weekend off and even though she was on call, there was no one pestering her about problems. Jacoby had emailed her and let her know she would only be called if she was really needed, but he was pretty set for anything that he had planned and that he would see her Tuesday at the employee meeting. She knew at that time they still would not have a moment of privacy together because the rest of his team would be there.

  Today was such a nice day for the weekend before Christmas that she took the twins with her on errands leaving the company car Jacoby had provided for her at the house, while they took her old Chevy out and about. Stephanie and Stephen were so excited about being out with their mother; they were on their best behavior.

  Phoebe’s cell phone rung and it was from one of the assistant’s asking if she could go to the office and send a fax to California that had been left on the desk. Phoebe told her she didn’t mind doing this and headed downtown. She had finished the errands and had been heading home so it was no problem. Plus the day was
still early being a little after one in the afternoon and parking was easy since it was on the weekend.

  She helped the twins out the car and took them up to the office telling them to stay put in the lobby area until she finished what she had to do.

  “I’m hungry, Momma,” Stephen complained. It was more like a whine in his most babyish voice.

  “We’ll stop wherever you want after this,” she promised.

  The twins looked a bit tired and disappointed that they were going somewhere boring, yet they didn’t protest.

  Chapter 28

  Jacoby didn’t know why he had come down to Detroit, but he decided if he was going to be there and keep to himself, he would get some work done, but after an hour of staring at the walls and doing absolutely nothing he decided to go into Phoebe’s office and sit at her desk. He could smell her scent throughout the office. She had left a scarf hanging on the back of the door and he held it up to his nose.

  ‘This was crazy,’ he told himself as he closed his eyes, relishing in her scent. ‘Damn her!’ He cursed in his head over and over again. Opening his eyes, he looked at the desk to the picture of the twins. Beautiful children that looked just like their mother. Picking up the picture, he stared into eyes so dark and brown he could just drown in them and wondered how did it feel to have double the unconditional love.

  The time he had spent with his mother made him realize his true feelings for Phoebe. He knew without a doubt how he felt and what he wanted. His mother had begged for his forgiveness for their stupidity.

  “You will never know the feeling of having a child wrap their arms around your neck and knowing you are their security, their world, the love of their life. I’m sorry I took that away from you, Jacoby. I’m so sorry.”

  He told her he had forgiven her, but she still said it, even in her worse pain, she screamed it until the doctors had to give her something to calm her. Jacoby stayed by her side the whole time as she held his hand in his.

  Putting down the picture, he had to blink twice as the same adorable faces in the picture now stared at him on the other side of the desk. Jacoby had not heard anyone come in the office, but he had been in his own thoughts for so long, he couldn’t have heard much.

  “Why are you in my momma’s office?” the little girl spoke bravely and quite articulate for what she looked to be about three years old or a little older.

  “And who is your mother?” he inquired.

  “Phoebe Green. Who are you?”

  “I’m Jacoby Knight. I’m your mother’s boss.”

  The little boy scooted behind his sister shyly and whispered something in the girl’s ear.

  “My brother said you’re too big.”

  Jacoby frowned. “He did, did he? Is he scared?”

  The little boy whispered something else in his sister’s ear and she relayed this information to Jacoby. “Stephen says he’s not scared of nobody. Why are you sitting in my momma’s chair?”

  “Where is your mother?”

  “She said she had to fax something and we are supposed to be sitting down in the lobby because she said we aren’t supposed to be here.”

  “But you aren’t where your mother told you to be,” he pointed out not believing he was having this conversation with a three year old.

  Stephen whispered in his sister’s ear again and she relayed the message. “Stephen says Momma keeps snacks in her draw.”

  Jacoby opened the bottom drawer on Phoebe’s desk and saw a box of oatmeal cookies. “These?” he asked showing them to the children. Their eyes lit up like Christmas lights.

  “Stephen! Stephanie!” Phoebe’s voice called frantically as she appeared at the doorway of her office then gasped seeing Jacoby sitting there. Jacoby hurriedly tossed the scarf in her drawer not wanting to be caught with it.

  “Jacoby?! What are you doing here?” She rushed over and took the twins hands. Before he had a chance to answer she turned to them, “I told the two of you to stay put.”

  “We were hungry,” the girl protested. “Stephen knows you had food in your desk like the last office.”

  “I told you we would eat when I got done.”

  “It’s alright,” Jacoby said standing up.

  Phoebe looked at him sharply. “It’s not alright, Jacoby. They disobeyed me and they know they aren’t suppose to.”

  “Please don’t be so hard on them. They’re just hungry.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him not use to anyone telling her how to be a parent except her mother. “I’m more upset at myself. I shouldn’t have brought them here, but Yvette asked if I would fax something to California for her that was left in the office.”

  He nodded. “Ned called and asked if she could bother you today. I told him you probably wouldn’t mind, but if you were busy then he would have understood.”

  “Not busy. I was done with all my errands for the day. I just have my hands a little full,” she said referring to the children.

  “Why don’t I take you out to lunch for your extra effort? Are you guys hungry?” he asked the twins.

  They nodded eagerly, but then looked up at their mother for approval. Jacoby almost envied her at so much respect pouring on her from those beautiful brown eyes so like their mother’s.

  “I thought you would be in Canada this weekend entertaining,” she said, trying to think of a good excuse that wouldn’t make him think she didn’t want to be alone, with him. Although technically going out with the children wasn’t being alone since they couldn’t talk about what she wanted to discuss with him.

  “I thought so too until my client’s son came down with a case of chickenpox,” he explained quickly. A bit too quickly in Phoebe’s mind as if he had hurried up and come up with the excuse, but this meeting couldn’t have been planned by him, because why would he go through all the trouble of canceling a meeting, getting down to Detroit, and break his neck to be here at the office when she got here and act as if it were absolutely nothing when the children were here.

  “I have the whole day free if you must know, so if you want we can shoot down to-” He had to quickly think of a restaurant where children could go downtown and not a bar. “Sweet Georgia Brown over in Greektown.”

  She looked wary, but then nodded. “They are hungry,” she justified.

  “And of course you are doing this for them?” he asked.

  Phoebe met his cinnamon brown eyes knowing that remark was purely sarcastic, but she decided she would not try to argue with him, not with the twins present. “What are you doing in my office?”

  “I thought maybe there might be some messages you forgot to give to me,” he lied quickly.

  She looked insulted. “I never forget.”

  “I can tell.” He moved around the desk until they were arms length apart. “Are you ready?”

  Phoebe knew she had to keep her thoughts to herself, especially with the children present. The children were always quick to see when she was bothered, especially Stephen who was attuned to everything around him even though he didn’t speak much.

  “Were we taking the People Mover?” she questioned. The People Mover was a transportation device built on a high rail system above the street to make it easier for people to get around in Downtown Detroit.

  He was caught off guard as Stephanie came up beside him and put her hand in his. “Yes,” he said a bit flustered. “That would be perfect since we’re right by it.”

  Phoebe tried to take Stephanie’s hand, but the child seemed adamant on holding Jacoby’s hands. “I’m sorry,” Phoebe apologized. “They really never take to strangers, especially male strangers, so openly.”

  “It’s alright. Maybe I just have that affect on people.” He was looking at Phoebe when he said it and the intensity in his eyes made her shudder. Phoebe quickly looked away leading Stephen out the office. She wasn’t going to respond to that quip either.

  He followed with Stephanie grasping his hand in a death grip. “So she isn’t so responsive to Lawrence’s atten
tion, either.”

  “She’s like me, Jacoby. She knows something doesn’t smell right in the Garden of Eden. Stephen always goes with the flow unless he knows I’m really upset. I think he’s only intuitive of mine and his sister’s emotions. Sometimes my mother, too.”

  He snorted. “And you think Lawrence is up to something?”

  “I don’t know, but he doesn’t seem like the type that likes friend’s leftovers.”

  He opened the door for her. Stephen skipped a little ahead and pushed the button to the elevator to go down. Obediently, he returned and took his mother’s hand.

  Stephanie didn’t let go of Jacoby’s hand for one second.

  When the doors to the elevators were closed on them inside the elevator, Jacoby said, “You were not leftovers.”

  She only shrugged.

  Just as the doors opened again at the floor they were to get off at, he said, stepping out, “I’m not done with you yet.”

  Phoebe was almost stunned, but the doors closing and Stephen tugging on her hand knocked her out of her shocked state. “What is that supposed to mean?” He only gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. “Are you using the children to avoid talking?”

  He smirked to himself as they waited on the dock of the platform for the train with this weird smile on his face. “I don’t know what you mean, Phoebe.”

  “I mean you are deliberately trying not speak of what we need to speak about.”

  “Would I do something like that?”

  Phoebe couldn’t believe he was actually trying to be funny and she couldn’t yell at him because it would upset the children. In a forced calm voice, she said, “I can’t believe you are not taking this serious.”

  He continued to keep the levity in his voice. “If I didn’t keep a sense of humor about this entire thing, Phoebe, I would have beat the sh-” He stopped himself remembering the kids were present and rephrased his words, “crap out of Lawrence a long time ago, but I’ve come to the conclusion that Lawrence is a pathetic welsh that tries to destroy what he envies.” His look was filled with confidence as he said, “I’m hoping he doesn’t win, but whether he does or not, I will still pity him because no matter what he does, he can never get away from his past mistakes.”