Scandalous

by Donna Hill

  “You’re right, Crystal. I want this chance more than anything,” she said, her voice lifting in strength. “There may never be another time. My father has controlled me for far too long. If this relationship between Justin and me falls apart tomorrow, I need to know that at least I tried.”

  Crystal squeezed Vaughn’s shoulder. “And believe me, girl, if it doesn’t work out, send him this way!”

  Vaughn and Crystal burst into laughter, the doubt and tension vanishing into the air.

  “Forget it, Crystal,” Vaughn sputtered, catching her breath. “If it doesn’t work, this sister is going to try again until she gets it right!”

  A flurry of activity outside Vaughn’s office effectively shortcircuited the momentary frivolity. The sound of raised voices penetrated the closed door. A worried look flashed between them as they hurried toward it. Vaughn reached it first, but she took a retreating step back as the door swung inward.

  Justin stalked in, his full-length coat billowing around him with the force of his entry. Momentarily Vaughn had the notion of imagining Justin as the avenging superhero ready to pummel the enemy. Her.

  “Justin,” Vaughn said on a long breath, halting her retreat so that Justin was only a heartbeat away. Their eyes locked and held, communicating more than any words could convey.

  Crystal looked from one to the other and visualized them as the perfect models for the cover of one of those steamy romance novels she loved. The electricity that snapped and sparked between them was enough to light up all of Richmond. If Vaughn let this hunk of a man go, she was definitely going to have to seek professional help for her friend.

  Two steps behind Justin was Tess. “Ms. Hamilton, I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “He just pushed his way past me. I tried to…”

  “Don’t worry about it, Tess,” Vaughn responded absently, her eyes never leaving Justin’s. The flicker of a smile teased her lips. “Mr. Montgomery has a tendency to come on like gangbusters every now and then.”

  When Vaughn’s gaze slid past Justin’s face, she saw Crystal nudging Tess out the door. The soft click let them know that they were totally alone.

  “I’m glad you came, Justin,” Vaughn began, quickly cutting him off before he could get started. “If you hadn’t shown up here, I was coming to you.”

  Justin had been all geared up for a battle of wills. This spontaneous shift momentarily caught him off guard. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  Vaughn turned away from him and walked toward the couch, where she sat down. She crossed her long legs, giving him a teasing view of her firm thighs. She stretched her arm across the back of the couch. Her eyes invited him to join her. Justin suddenly felt as if he’d been tossed into a seductive scene in a movie. Well, if this was to be his debut appearance, he was going to give an Academy Award performance.

  With long, purposeful strides he came close, looking down at her intensely. Vaughn extended her hand and he took it, pulling her from her seated position right up against the hard lines of his body. Without words, without preamble, his mouth covered hers. As he crushed her in his embrace, his tongue forced her lips apart and plunged into the recesses of her warmth. A shudder rippled through her, sending sweet spirals of ecstasy singing through her veins. This was so right, she realized, sinking helplessly into the rapture of his kiss, giving back as much as she was getting. This was what she’d been searching for. At last she’d found it. She’d never let anything come between them again.

  “Vaughn,” he moaned against her mouth. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the natural sweetness. “I thought…”

  “Sssh,” she whispered. “There’s so much I need to tell you. So much I need to explain.”

  Reluctantly, Justin angled his head back slightly, looking questioningly down into her smoky eyes. His arm held her firmly around the waist. His finger traced the soft line of her jaw. Her eyes briefly fluttered closed as she fought down the tremor of his touch.

  “Why don’t we get out of here?” she asked huskily. “I don’t want to be interrupted…by business.”

  “Get your things,” he said in a rugged whisper.

  “Hello, Ms. Rivers?”

  “Yes,” Simone answered, the smooth voice causing a flutter in her stomach.

  “This is Chad Rushmore, of Montgomery, Phillips and Michaels.”

  Simone sat up straighter in bed, tossing her textbooks aside. “Hello, Mr. Rushmore.”

  “Ms. Crenshaw suggested that I call and advise you that we received your information. It’s being passed along to Mr. Montgomery.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I must say, after looking over your credentials, I think you’d make an excellent intern.”

  Simone grinned with pleasure. “I’m glad you think so. I hope Mr. Montgomery feels the same way.”

  “Well, if my recommendation means anything, I’m sure you won’t have a problem. If you do get the internship, we’ll be working closely together.”

  Simone’s heart thudded. “I hope everything will work out.”

  “So do I,” Chad said sincerely. “I’m looking forward to meeting you.” Chad took a deep breath then continued, “I’m sure someone will contact you shortly, Ms. Rivers,” he added, regaining his composure.

  “Thank you for calling,” Simone said softly, wishing she could keep this silky-voiced man on the phone a little while longer.

  “If you have any questions in the meantime,” he added, wanting to delay their parting, “feel free to give me a call. I started out as an intern three years ago, and I’d be happy to fill you in on any of the details.” He chuckled heartily. “From the ground floor up!”

  “Really?” His laugh was deep and inviting, she thought wistfully. “How is it working for Mr. Montgomery?” Simone settled back against her stack of pillows.

  “He’s an okay guy. He expects your absolute best and he gives it back. If you prove yourself, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to help further your career. He’s the reason I was able to continue law school.”

  “Then he really is the way he comes across? It’s not just a front?”

  “Absolutely not. They don’t come any better than Justin Montgomery.”

  “That’s good to know. Now I’m sure I made the right choice in selecting his firm.”

  Simone heard a faint ringing in the background.

  “That’s my other line, Ms. Rivers; I’ve got to go. But good luck, and if you have any questions, just call me.”

  “Thank you, again, Mr. Rushmore.”

  “Sure. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye,” she replied softly. She placed the receiver on the cradle and briefly wondered if Chad Rushmore looked as delectable as he sounded.

  While Chad jotted down the details of the phone call that had pulled him away from Simone, he wondered if the young Ms. Rivers looked as wonderful as she sounded. It’d be great to have someone to work with who was not only good to look at, but who understood the intensity of the legal profession. It had been a long time between relationships for him. He either didn’t have the time, or the few women he met were only interested in how fat his wallet was. For some reason, he felt Simone would be different. What was he doing, fabricating a relationship with someone he’d never met? Now he was really losing it. It was definitely time to go home.

  He concluded his conversation, made some final notations on the court transcripts, and checked his calendar for the following day. He really needed to get home and do some studying. The bar exam was in three months and he wanted to pass the first time out. But for reasons that he couldn’t explain, he couldn’t make out one word in his textbook that night. All he could see were different versions of Simone Rivers: tall, medium height; light, dark; short hair, long…

  Finally he just gave up, fixed a sandwich, and overdosed on television.

  “Why don’t we leave your car in the garage and take mine?” Justin suggested. “We can come back and get your car later.”

  She slipped her hand into his. “That
sounds fine,” she nodded.

  “Those reservations for the Strawberry Café are still good. It’s an excellent place to talk,” Justin suggested, as they approached his car.

  Vaughn looked up into his questioning eyes. “To tell you the truth, Justin, as good as the café sounds, I really don’t want to be around other people tonight.”

  His voice lowered. “You have a better suggestion?”

  She smiled at him. “If you like crabmeat and shrimp casserole, tossed salad, and wild rice, I know just the place.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Would that happen to be on Lakewood Avenue, in a two-story townhouse owned by the renowned public servant Vaughn Hamilton?” he queried playfully.

  “Good work, Sherlock,” she teased. “I like a man with razor-sharp intelligence.” She nudged him in the ribs.

  “I hope you’ll like more than my intelligence,” he mimicked in a Dracula voice.

  “Hmmm, and talented, too,” she laughed.

  Justin turned her into his embrace. His eyes swept over her upturned face. His fingers gently caressed her cheek. “There’s so much more that I want to offer you, Vaughn,” he said passionately. “I want you to believe that—always.”

  “I do, Justin,” Vaughn whispered urgently. She placed a feather-light kiss on his palm. “I do.”

  The cozy townhouse was filled with the tangy aroma of simmering seafood. The sensuous sounds of Sarah Vaughn mingled with the tantalizing scent.

  “If this tastes half as good as it smells,” Justin said, adding a cup of diced mushrooms to the wild rice, “you’ll have my vote for life.”

  “Well, if that’s all it takes to get elected, I’d better get busy whipping up a batch for the voters.”

  Justin stroked her back as she sliced the tomatoes, and cucumbers, then sprinkled chopped sweet peppers as garnish. “We can eat in about ten minutes.”

  “Great. I don’t think I can take the anticipation a moment longer. My stomach is calling out to me,” he chuckled. “Loudly.”

  Vaughn smiled sympathetically. “Why don’t you go in the living room and relax a minute? I have everything under control in here.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  “Take advantage of being a guest. This is your last time. From here on out, it’s equal work for equal food,” she teased. Vaughn smiled, her eyes reflecting her hopes for their future.

  “I like the sound of that.” Justin pecked her playfully behind her ear and headed for the living room.

  From his position on the couch, Justin could see Vaughn’s movements in the kitchen. It gave him a warm feeling of security inside. It had been so long since he’d had a real home-cooked meal, and even longer since he’d shared it with someone who mattered to him. He’d enjoyed being married, although it had been short-lived. He liked the whole notion of having someone to share your life, your dreams, your emotions with. He wanted it again. He wanted the chance to start over, to make a new life and have a family. He wanted that chance with Vaughn. And if by some miracle he ever found his daughter, he couldn’t think of any other woman he’d want to share that joy with.

  “Dinner is served,” Vaughn announced in an exaggerated accent.

  “Hey, that’s a pretty good imitation of the staid English butler,” Justin chuckled, pushing himself up off the couch.

  “I try. But I think you have me beaten with Dracula.”

  Justin smiled and took his place at the table. Vaughn had, at some point, lit a scented centerpiece which gave the room the soft scent of jasmine.

  “Let’s forget formalities,” Vaughn said suddenly, the shimmer of mischief dancing around her lips. “Just dig in. Last one to empty his plate gets to do the dishes!”

  “You’re on,” Justin challenged, and commenced to filling his plate with wild rice and topping it with a huge portion of the delectable casserole, drowning it in sauce. He added a heaping bowl of garden salad and snatched three slices of bread before Vaughn could wink.

  She laughed out loud and shook her head in amazement as she watched Justin plow through his plate of food.

  He looked up innocently, the fork suspended between his mouth and the plate. “I never back down from a challenge,” he stated simply, and proceeded to finish off his plate of food.

  The scrumptious meal was interrupted periodically only by brief comments on the state of the world, the weather, the concert they were missing, and their mutual interest in sports. Justin was careful to steer clear of anything too personal, or the reason why she’d wanted to speak with him. He felt confident that she would reveal what was troubling her as soon as she was ready. If there was one thing he’d learned about her, it was that Vaughn couldn’t be pushed into anything.

  Finally, Justin took a defeated breath and pushed back from the table. “I give up,” he said. “I can’t eat another thing. You win.”

  Vaughn leaned back, smugly satisfied. “The trick,” she advised, “is to take small bites. It digests quicker—hence, more room for more food!” She smiled triumphantly.

  “I’ll try to remember that,” he replied drolly. He stood up and stretched. “Well, point me in the direction of the dishwasher.”

  Vaughn tossed her head back and laughed. “No such luck, buddy. My mama didn’t raise me to wash dishes in the dishwasher. Try good ole’ Playtex gloves, hot water, and dishwashing liquid.” Vaughn covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle when she saw the look of total distress on Justin’s face.

  “You’re kidding, of course.”

  Vaughn pressed her lips together and slowly shook her head.

  “You’re a wicked, wicked woman, Vaughn Hamilton,” Justin said with mock solemnity.

  “I work at it,” she teased. She took his hand in hers. “The dishes can wait. We need to talk,” she said seriously. Justin nodded and followed her to the loveseat.

  “What would you like to talk about?”

  Vaughn took a deep breath. “This seems silly considering my profession and all it entails,” she said, as if speaking to herself, “but I really enjoy your company and I want to continue our relationship.” She took Justin’s hand in hers. “I’m in this relationship against my father’s wishes.”

  “What do you mean? You’re not a teenager,” Justin commented.

  “I know. I’m a woman who will soon wield incredible political power. Unfortunately, my power isn’t effective over my father.”

  Slowly, painfully, Vaughn spoke of her life, her childhood, the invisible hold that her father had had over her, her insecurities, and finally, her father’s recent ultimatum. She left nothing out except the painful year…after Brian.

  Justin was stunned. For several long moments he said absolutely nothing, trying to absorb all he’d been told.

  Suddenly, Vaughn felt as if she’d made the biggest mistake in her life by revealing such intimate details and most of all, her fears. She was certain that now that Justin saw how weak she was, he wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her.

  Justin’s shock quickly turned to anger. To think that a father who supposedly loved his child unconditionally would use the love he received as a weapon! What kind of man was Elliott Hamilton? If he had the chance, he knew he would do everything in his power to show his daughter how much she was loved. He also knew there was more to this revelation than Vaughn was telling. For whatever her reasons, she still didn’t trust him quite enough to confide in him. But that was all right. In time he knew she would. He turned to Vaughn, his eyes blazing. Vaughn held her breath, certain that Justin was a hot minute away from walking out the door.

  “Vaughn, sweetheart.” Relief washed over her in waves at the sound of the endearment. “I’m so sorry—for everything—everything you’ve been through. But most of all I feel outrage at your father for twisting your life into knots.” He reached out and stroked her face. His jaw clenched. “I won’t let him do that to you again, Vaughn. I swear to you I won’t,” he added fervently. “Your father is so sure that this relationship is de
stined for failure. He has you convinced that I’d be no different than any of the other career-grabbing, money-hungry predators who have crossed your path.” His full lips lifted in a grin. “I told you,” he said deeply, “I never back down from a challenge.”

  His fingers gripped her shoulders. “We can work through this, Vaughn. But only if you’re willing to try. Are you?” he asked softly.

  Vaughn swallowed back the knot of doubt and blinked away the water that floated in her eyes. Slowly, she nodded in agreement. “Yes. Yes, Justin, I am.”

  His eyes burned across her face. Gently, he pulled her into his arms. “That’s all I need to know,” he breathed against her neck. “We’ll take it slowly. Get to know each other.” He leaned back and looked into her glistening eyes. “There’s so much that I dream for us, Vaughn.” He kissed the tip of her nose. He desperately wanted to tell her of his plans, of his search. But it could wait. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before in my life. And I believe, deep down in my soul, that we can make this thing, this magic, between us work.”

  “Can we, Justin? Can we really?” she asked urgently, needing more than ever to know. “Politics can be an all-consuming way of life. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  Justin breathed deeply. “I have to be honest with you, Vaughn. I’m not happy with the possibility that you’ll have to devote so much of your time and energy to so many other people. I worry that there won’t be any time left for us.” He glanced away, then looked back into her questioning eyes. “But I’m willing to work through it.”

  Vaughn reached up and stroked his cheek, wishing she could wipe away the lines of worry. “If there was any way I could promise you it would be otherwise, I would. But you know I can’t.” She lowered her gaze. “All I can do is try.” She smiled. “But we may be discussing something that’s not even going to happen. I haven’t won yet, you know.”

  Justin kissed her gently on the lips. “You will. I don’t doubt that for a minute. Richmond has had its fill of Lucus Stone.”