No More Playas

by Brenda Jackson

  The day her brothers and their private investigator had found her, it had been hard to believe that the three men were telling the truth and that they weren’t men Simon had sent to find her. And then to be told that she had a family living in Illinois, including a man who was more than willing to claim her as his long-lost daughter even if there was a possibility she’d been fathered by someone else—it was just too much. They told her their mother had run off with another man when Carrie was a few months old; she was their baby sister.

  For reasons she never understood, Logan, Lyle, Lance, and the man she now considered her pop, Jeremiah Montgomery, had taken her off the streets, put a roof over her head and given her plenty of food to eat, and they claimed her as their own, showering her with more love than she could ever imagine, giving her a sense of self-respect, educational opportunities, and a future she never dreamed of having.

  Now she was twenty-four, with a college degree, and working as a social worker in Tampa. She was the proud owner of a condo. She owed her family— her real family—everything.

  Logan, who was a medical doctor with a specialty in plastic surgery, lived within a few miles. Pop was still in Gary; Lyle, a renowned heart surgeon, was living in Texas; and Lance, a doctor of psychology, was living close to Pop in Chicago.

  She checked her watch. She wasn’t due at work until ten today and would make it a point to stop by and see Logan before she went in.

  Especially today.

  “Dr. Montgomery, your sister is out front.”

  At the sound of his secretary’s voice, Logan glanced up from the patient’s chart he’d been reading. A smile touched his lips. “Send her in. And Janice, please hold all my calls. We’re not to be disturbed unless there is an extreme emergency.”

  He placed the chart aside as he stood. He had expected Carrie’s visit today.

  He imagined that there were things she had endured in the time before they found her that she wouldn’t discuss with him, his brothers, or their father. They had promised not to push and had had to believe that one day she would find the strength to tell them about it and let them help her get through it. Maybe today was that day.

  “Logan?”

  He pulled himself out of his reverie and glanced toward the door when Carrie stuck her head in. “I’m here, Carrie.”

  Relief lit her face. He was letting her know that he was more than just here in his office—he was here for her, as a part of her life, and always would be. She walked into the room, closed the door behind her, and then walked right into his outstretched arms for his ready hug.

  Although Carrie had arrived there late, good news had been awaiting her at the office. She had worked her butt off last year to finalize Jason Belmont’s adoption with the Hendersons. Tom and Edith Henderson were good people and just what ten-year- old Jason needed in his young life.

  Everybody wanted babies, but it was hard to find homes for preteens, especially children with both parents serving time. People tended to believe the saying “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  But the Hendersons thought differently, and after having Jason as a foster child for a year, they waited patiently for his parents to agree to give up their own custody rights so an adoption could take place. They had all met with the judge yesterday, and a final decision had been made today.

  “Sorry to disturb you, Miss Montgomery, but this package just arrived for you.”

  Carrie glanced up from the case file she’d been reading. “Thanks, Helen.”

  The envelope Helen handed to her felt light, and the first thing Carrie noticed was that it didn’t have a return address.

  Once Helen left, Carrie pushed away from her desk and slit the seal on the envelope with her letter opener. The contents fell out on her desk.

  She gasped at the five-by-seven photographs that stared up at her. The top photo was of a little girl, not much older than ten, clearly being sexually abused by a man.

  She breathed deeply, recognizing the child in the photo. The man in the photo with her was Simon. Those nights he had visited her bedroom, had the monster actually been taping her, too? These looked like snapshots from video—kiddie porn. Panic consumed her. Who had possession of these photos? Of the video? Who had sent them to her? Had Simon made good on his threat and finally found her after all these years?

  She looked at the other three photos and felt sick to her stomach. Hands trembling, she picked up the typewritten note that had accompanied them.

  I thought you’d like to see this before the original footage goes up on the Internet. There are more where these came from. This could be embarrassing for your brothers if word got out. So, if you want to keep what’s in the past in the past, then be willing to pay whatever amount I want.

  I’ll be in touch.

  An Old Friend

  5

  Lance and Asia

  Lance’s limousine moved through the streets of Manhattan toward its destination: the New York Times Recognition Dinner. He had been invited to this annual event numerous times, but this was the first year he’d considered attending.

  And only because he knew Asia would be there.

  His guts clenched in anticipation. He also knew that Sean Crews would not attend. According to a very reliable source, Crews was out of the country, and Lance wished to God he remained just where he was. But regardless, he would not let the man interfere with his plans.

  “We will be arriving in less than two minutes, Dr. Montgomery. “

  Lance nodded at the chauffeur and hoped like hell he arrived in one piece. The man who had introduced himself as A1 when he’d been picked up at the Waldorf Astoria was quite a driver. With a physique more suited for a wrestler than a chauffeur, he seemed to think the streets of New York were his for the taking, and twice Lance had held his breath when they’d almost collided with yellow cabs.

  “Here we are, sir,” A1 said, bringing the vehicle to a surprisingly smooth stop in front of Rockefeller Center.

  Lance took a moment to glance out of the tinted glass. Numerous people were still arriving. Some he recognized, and some he did not. He couldn’t help wondering if Asia was inside already. Just the thought of seeing her again, and within arms’ reach, was causing his heart to thud in his chest. This time last year, he was a man who thought he was an expert when it came to noncommitted relationships. Now more than anything, he was a man who just wanted to be an authority on one particular woman. Tonight he intended to tell Asia that he still wanted her and, more important, that he loved her. He planned to say to her what he had not been able to say three weeks ago at the Pattersons’ party, the same night her engagement to Crews had been announced.

  A1 opened the door for him. “Enjoy your evening, Dr. Montgomery.”

  Glad he had arrived in one piece, Lance said. “Thanks, and I fully intend to.”

  Claire touched Asia’s arm and whispered, “Wow, this is some affair.”

  They neared a staircase in the middle of the huge ballroom. It had been lavishly decorated, and as Asia glanced around, she saw so had the patrons. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?”

  Everyone who was considered someone in the publishing industry, in addition to many well-known celebrities, were present.

  “And your gown is exquisite, I might add,” Claire added.

  “And so is yours.” Asia returned the compliment when they found themselves in front of a huge table laden with all sorts of mouthwatering foods. The decorations were a combination of the holiday theme as well as the theme of the party, Let Reading Take You Away. Various fountains spouted sparkling champagne, just in case you weren’t quick enough to nab one of the waiters who were circulating among the guests.

  “Umm, this is delicious,” Claire said, popping one of the many hors d’oeuvres into her mouth. “I don’t want to think of how many calories I’m consuming.”

  Asia grinned at her sister. “Then don’t think about it. Besides, it’s against the law to watch your weight during the holidays.” This
, she immediately thought, is what she missed with Claire living so far away. They had always had a close relationship and always enjoyed spending time together. The only time their close ties had gotten severed had been during Asia’s affair with David.

  “I wonder what’s going on over there?” Claire said, noting the small commotion going on at the entrance. It seemed the news media had moved in place, and cameras were flashing.

  Asia shrugged. “It’s probably some eccentric author who seldom attends, but decided to do so this year. Or it could be the Ernest Hemingway look-alike who showed up last year trying to convince everyone he was truly the man reincarnated.”

  Claire, whom Asia knew enjoyed reading Hemingway’s work, lit up in amusement. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  “Then this I’ve got to see,” Claire said, straining her neck to look over the crowd. Lucky for her, the mass of people parted within moments. Claire recognized the person who had caused such an uproar at the same exact moment that her sister did. Both women gasped.

  Claire, who had never seen Lance Montgomery in the flesh, was awestruck at the man who strolled forward through the explosion of flashbulbs and the throng of reporters. Tall, dashingly handsome, and dressed in a black tux, he stood out, the epitome of everything male and then some. If there was a chance this man had piqued Asia’s interest, then Claire could definitely see why. He was a man who caused a stir. She glanced over at Asia and saw that her sister hadn’t taken her eyes off of Dr. Montgomery.

  “He’s gorgeous, isn’t he, Asia?”

  Asia snapped out of her trance, angry for having given Lance’s entrance so much of her attentions. “The man is an ass.”

  Claire smiled. “Umm, that’s the same thing I always thought about David.”

  Asia couldn’t help but note that Lance’s name was already being whispered around the room, no surprise since he’d never attended this affair before. But it was also being whispered for an entirely different reason. Women might find his work disgusting, offensive, and downright odious. But what they thought of the man himself was an entirely different matter. Evidently some of them were certain they could be the one to teach him a thing or two about women, if given the time alone with him.

  “I’ll put such a whammy on him that it will make him see stars,” she heard one woman whisper to another. “I’ll have him begging for it in the end,” the woman then added.

  Asia was tempted to tell her that it would be the other way around, and even worse. Lance would put something on her that would not only have her seeing stars but would give her the equivalent of an earthquake and hurricane rolled into one. Not only that, in the end he wouldn’t be the one begging. If he used his mouth on her, he would have her pleading in languages she’d never have guessed she knew.

  “Well, what do you think?”

  Asia lifted a brow at her sister’s question. “I’ve told you what I think,” she snapped.

  Claire chuckled. “Not about Dr. Montgomery. We’d moved from that topic of conversation. Don’t you remember I made a comment about what a beautiful gown that Senator Hillary Clinton is wearing.”

  Asia sighed. She didn’t remembering them changing the subject. “Well, it doesn’t matter.”

  “What doesn’t matter?” Claire asked, sipping from a glass of champagne.

  “The fact that Lance Montgomery is here.”

  Claire didn’t want to say so, but she had a feeling it did matter. Something was going on with Asia and Lance ... or maybe something had been going on at one time. Asia usually hid her emotions well, but even from across the room, Lance Montgomery was obviously getting under her sister’s skin.

  She just had to keep her sister from making another mistake with another Crews. There was no way Asia could convince her that she loved Sean, and without love, the two of them didn’t stand a chance with David around.

  “Do you want to leave now?” Asia asked.

  “No, the party is just beginning. Besides, rumor has it that Denzel will be here tonight, and I don’t want to miss that for anything. I wish I’d brought his book with me. ...”

  When the media and photographers retreated to the background, Lance didn’t waste any time scanning the crowd for the one woman he was here to see. Seconds later, he saw her.

  She was standing across the room, talking to another woman, and the sight of her made him forget to breathe. She was wearing a stunning lavender slinky strapless gown with a fitted bodice that flattered her curves. He thought she looked gorgeous, and fully understood why he had always found her so mesmerizing, and why he had fallen so deeply in love with her.

  He loved her with every part of his body, his mind, his soul, and he knew there was no way in hell he would allow Crews or any other man to have her. No matter what it took, he intended to sweep away all the vestiges of bitterness, anger, and misunderstanding between them. And one way to do that was to make her remember a very special time they had shared.

  He quickly stopped a passing waiter. “Excuse me. I wonder if you could deliver this to the woman standing over there in the lavender gown?” Lance asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a lone diamond stud earring.

  The man looked at the earring. “Is there a message that goes along with this, sir?”

  Lance shook his head. “No.” He was certain Asia would remember where she’d left it.

  Once the commotion settled, there was no way Asia would allow herself to glance over at Lance. She hoped that with so many people in attendance, he wouldn’t see her the entire night.

  She had decided to tell Claire that Denzel or no Denzel, she was ready to leave. A waiter carrying a tray appeared before her. “Excuse me, ma’am, but that gentleman over there asked that I deliver this to you.”

  Asia met Lance’s eyes. With a will of its own, her heart slipped into overdrive. She felt her palms get warm, and the area between her legs became unbearably hot. A part of her wondered why Sean didn’t make her feel this way, and why Lance—and Lance, alone, even after all that he’d done—could make her body a mass of hot shameful desire. Even David had hadn’t made her feel this degree of wanting. It fascinated her how some men could turn women on, and others could not. Lance definitely had the knack—but dammit, she was happily engaged to marry Sean, she insisted.

  Sean.

  When she thought of Sean she tried to banish those illicit sensations flowing through her. He had called earlier today, when she and Claire had been out shopping. His message on her answering machine told her how much he loved her and how he missed her and that he was counting the days until they were together.

  “Ma’am?”

  Asia acknowledged the waiter and opened the palm of her hand, ignoring her sister’s curious expression. The man placed a diamond earring in it. “Thank you.”

  The man nodded and walked off.

  Asia looked down at the earring, wishing she could forget everything about that one night with Lance. She had wanted a climax, needed one, and her traitorous body had practically begged for one. In Lance Montgomery style, he had delivered. He had given her pleasure in a way no man had ever done before and still let her leave without crossing the line—going all the way.

  “How did Dr. Montgomery get your earring, Asia?”

  Now was the perfect time to lie and say she didn’t know, but her sister would see through it. “We had a date one night, and I guess I left it.”

  “A date? At the restaurant?”

  “No, at his apartment—and that’s all I’m saying, Claire.”

  Claire nodded. As far as she was concerned, that was enough. Asia had dinner with the good doctor at his apartment? Things were getting more interesting by the minute.

  Claire turned when commotion erupted. Flashbulbs were going off everywhere. “Well, it seems that Denzel has finally arrived.”

  Lance crossed the room when he saw Asia and the woman she was with heading toward the door. He made it to them before they got there. “Good evening, ladies.”


  If looks could kill, he’d be a goner. Asia was giving him an angry glare. Standing in front of her was almost too overwhelming, and he was tempted to say the hell with propriety, pull her into his arms, and kiss her right then and there.

  “Hello, I’m Claire Fowler, and I don’t think we’ve met.”

  The woman standing beside Asia appeared to be only a couple of years older than she, and Lance quickly realized that they were sisters. She was an extremely beautiful woman. “No, I don’t believe we have,” he said, and accepted the hand she offered. “I’m Lance Montgomery.”

  She smiled and Lance thought yes, this was definitely Asia’s sister. They had that same intriguing smile. “It’s nice meeting you, Lance.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, as well.”

  “I occasionally read your work when I’m looking for amusement,” she said with a teasing glint in her eyes.

  Her statement could have been taken as an insult, but for some reason he didn’t see it that way, and he laughed softly. “Thanks. I’m glad I’ve been the source of your entertainment.”

  “I hate to interrupt this little chitchat, but Claire and I were about to leave.”

  He met Asia’s eyes. “I was hoping that you would dance with me before leaving, Asia.”

  She took a step back. “Sorry to disappoint you, but you were hoping wrong because I—”

  “I think the two of you should dance together.”

  Asia turned and narrowed her gaze at her sister, who merely dismissed the look with chuckle. “If the two of you haven’t noticed, you’re about to cause a scene. It’s not often you can get two well-known adversaries in the same place. I’d say in a few minutes, the two of you will start getting hounded by reporters, who’ll start asking questions—and they might be questions neither of you want to answer right now. So maybe it’s not such a bad idea to get lost in the mist of the other couples on the dance floor for a while. Besides, I see someone I know over there, a guy who went to college with me at Georgetown, and I want to scoot over and say hello to him, so don’t think you’ll be deserting me, Asia.” Claire walked off, leaving her sister alone with Lance Montgomery.