by A. C. Arthur
“No, ma’am. Not at all.”
“You can rejoin Ike downstairs if you’d like. He’s either in his office or the library. At the bottom of the stairs, make a left and head down that center hall.”
“I’ll find it.”
He reached out and gave London’s arm a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be okay, London.”
Jennifer crossed over to a love seat, sat and patted the space beside her. “Come sit down, honey.”
“Mom, I really don’t want to do this.”
“I know you don’t. My heart is breaking that you even have to, because it means that something tragic happened to my darling baby girl on my watch and I didn’t even know.”
London walked over and sat next to her mother. She took Jennifer’s hands. “Don’t blame yourself, Mommy. It wasn’t on your watch. By the time I saw you, I’d already buried the pain. There’s no way you could have known.”
“Please, sweetheart. Tell me what happened. Who did this to you? When?”
London slowly rose and began pacing the room. When she spoke, her back was to Jennifer as she gazed out the window.
“It was in New Orleans. During the time all of us kids would be down at Grandpa Walter’s farm. One day I was wandering around the property and heard a sound in the barn, like a baby crying. I was curious and went inside. It was dark and I’d just come out of bright sunlight, so I couldn’t really see. Once my eyes adjusted I saw one of the farmhands, Mr. Williams, standing over by a stall. I was frightened, didn’t know anyone was in there. But he smiled and beckoned me over. Said a horse had just had her foal and asked if I wanted to see it.”
She turned then, leaned against the window ledge and stared into her history. “You know me, I was never much of a farm girl. Had never seen a baby horse. But I liked Mr. Williams, so strong and handsome. He was always so polite to Grandpa and nice to me. I didn’t hesitate. I went over, saw this beautiful little replica of the horse beside it. He told me to touch it, but I was scared. He said, ‘Rub her coat, just like this.’ And he rubbed a finger up and down my arm. It made me feel funny, uncomfortable. A tingling in places I’d never before experienced. I backed away, told him I didn’t want to touch the horse. That I wanted to go back outside. He told me I couldn’t. Not until I...did certain things.”
“Did he rape you, honey?”
London looked at her mother. Watched tears, one after the other, run down her face and off her chin.
She shook her head. “Not...exactly. He touched me and made me touch him. He warned me to not tell anyone. Said that no one would believe me, a kid, that I’d get in a whole lot of trouble. That I’d shame Grandpa Walter, Grandma Claire and the family. Then he used those words as blackmail to get me back in the barn almost every day for a week, until vacation was over and we finally came back home.”
“Clarisse, baby, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said? I couldn’t!” London returned to the love seat. The two women faced each other. “Drake pride has been instilled in me from the time I was born. All of my brothers and Teresa, they lived up to the high expectations. I was trying to do the same and knew it couldn’t happen if my secret was exposed. I couldn’t bear shaming my family. I knew you’d be so disappointed and ashamed.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that now. I didn’t at twelve years old.”
Jennifer pondered all that had been said, her eyes narrowing as she too stared into the past. “Now it all makes sense. That’s around the time you started acting out, so much so that...”
“You sent me off to boarding school.”
“You did that on purpose.”
“It wasn’t planned. But after it happened, I felt the one good thing to come out of it was no more summers in New Orleans. No more chance of seeing Mr. Williams.”
Jennifer gathered London into her arms. Began to slowly rock them. “Clarisse Alana, my dear, feisty, beautiful darling. I’m sorry. So, so sorry that you’ve carried this burden alone for all of these years.”
They held each other for a long, tender moment. When she pulled back, London’s eyes glistened with tears. “Don’t tell anybody, okay, Mom? I don’t want anyone else to know.”
“I don’t think that’s a promise I can make, Clarisse. I’m not sure it would be in your best interest even if I could.”
“Why not? Why does anyone else have to know?”
Jennifer sighed. “Your father and I have no secrets between us. I need to know whether or not this Williams guy is still at the farm. If so, he will be dealt with immediately. But even more than that, sweetheart, it’s my desire to see you totally free. As long as you feel shame for something that was not your fault, you will be in an emotional prison. It’s why assaults like this continue, because victims are too ashamed and embarrassed to speak up.”
A pause and then she continued, “There are others in this family who’ve experienced your same fate.”
“Who?”
“I’ll leave them to share their stories. Right now my focus is you. And I want you to know that in this moment I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you are, that you are my daughter and that you bear the Drake name.”
The conversation ended shortly after that. Jennifer agreed to give London a few days before sharing the news she’d just learned with the family. Back downstairs London and Ace passed on the invite to join the family at the club. Instead, he accepted their offer to spend the night in one of several guesthouses they owned around town and meet Jennifer for lunch the following day to discuss the charity show.
London rode with Ace and directed him to his temporary abode. They pulled into the driveway of a two-story beach-style house with flowering shrubbery and a well-manicured yard. “This is it?”
“Yep.”
He shut off the engine. “Y’all call this a guesthouse? You guys sure know how to treat your guests.”
“Makes it easier when you own a realty company with architecture and construction arms. Come on. Let’s go inside.”
Ace continued to be impressed. London gave a five-minute tour that ended in the kitchen. After pouring drinks, they settled into the living room.
“Still mad at me?”
London shook her head. “It’s crazy. All these years I’ve held on to that secret, feeling horrible about what happened and scared someone would find out. But Mom was amazing. She made me feel...” Tears formed in her eyes. “Her words were like healing waters. They made me feel clean again.”
“Oh, baby.” Ace put down his drink and pulled London into his arms. He pulled away far enough to brush tendrils of hair away from her face. “You are amazing. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“Oh, yeah? I thought I was a spoiled, pampered brat.”
“A little of that, too. But mostly amazing.” A companionable silence filled the room. London relaxed into the embrace, still bewildered that he was in her town and she was in his arms.
“The team’s been worried about you. When you didn’t fly back with us, there was all sorts of speculation. I wasn’t in the mood to answer their questions.”
“Your personal life is none of their business.”
“True, but their main focus was OTB Her and whether you’re still going to represent it.”
“Do you still want me to?”
“Yes. You’re the perfect person for the line.”
“Then there’s something you need to know. Pics were taken of Max and me when we were in Paris. The buzz is that we’re dating again.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Mira saw the pictures and mentioned it today in the fashion week recap. It’s not true, right?”
“Well...”
She felt him stiffen. He sat up and placed her away from him. “Are you ba
ck with him, London?”
“We didn’t sleep together but he’s wanted me back this whole time, and after our fight I told him I’d think about it.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“Where’s my... What?”
“Your cell phone. Where is it?”
“In my purse. Why?”
“Because he needs to know that there’s been a change in plans. If he wants you, he’ll have to come through me. And I’m not moving.”
Chapter 26
The next day, London and Ace joined her parents, Ike Jr. and Quinn, Niko and Terrell for lunch at the Paradise Cove Country Club. They were in one of the private rooms, being catered to by a personal chef.
“So, Mr. Montgomery...” Terrell’s voice was cordial, his smile pleasant. “Tell us a little something about yourself.”
“Don’t let the smile fool you,” London warned. “That question lands you squarely in the Drake hot seat.”
“I like heat,” Ace calmly replied. “Niko, right? Pass me those rolls, brother.”
“Confident.” Jennifer beamed. “I like that.”
“Confident or cocky?” Ike Jr. asked, brow raised.
“Your choice,” Ace said.
Terrell laughed. “My man. I like you!”
London’s phone vibrated. Again.
“Turn that thing off,” Niko suggested. “When your man is present, he should have your full attention.”
This elicited the responses Niko expected. Indignation from the women. Laughs and agreement from the men.
“On that note—” London pushed back from the table “—I’ll excuse myself for just a minute. I really need to take the call.”
She left the room and walked down the hallway. Max had been calling since shortly after Ace arrived yesterday. She’d lost count of how many times. Since he was going to be upset whenever it happened, she decided to take the call, end the affair that hadn’t even happened and move on with Ace and their happy life.
“Hey, Max.”
“Finally. I was beginning to think I’d have to come down there.”
Oh, no. Not you, too. Just the thought of Ace and Max colliding in Paradise Cove made London almost pass out.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. There’s a lot going on.”
“I told you not to worry about packing anything. Just move back up here. I’ll buy whatever you need.”
“I’m not coming, Max.”
“What do you mean? Are you coming next week, next month, when?”
“There’s no easy way to say this, Max. I made a mistake in Paris. We’re not getting back together.”
“Has Ace gotten to you? What did he say? Does it have something to do with your modeling contract? Look, I know some of the best lawyers in the world. We’ll get you out of it. Pay them off. Whatever we have to do.”
“It’s not about the contract, Max.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m in love with Ace.”
She hadn’t meant to tell her ex before she told her lover. It just worked out that way.
“I don’t believe it. Look, come up. Just for the weekend. If you feel the same way after, I’ll leave you alone.”
“I’m sorry, Max. There’s no changing my mind. Please don’t call again.”
“Okay, London, please. I’m sorry. Let’s not end angrily. You just shocked me, that’s all. Your happiness. That’s always been what’s most important to me. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy for you.”
“You mean that?”
“Of course I do. Am I hurting? Sure. You’re one helluva woman. That’s why I’d never want to be totally disconnected from you. We’re both in entertainment. Never know when our paths could cross. So can we at least be friends?”
“I don’t know, Max.”
“Please?”
“Okay, fine. Friends.”
“Thank you, London. Be safe.”
“You, too, Max. Take care of yourself.”
London returned to the table, where everyone was being entertained by her brother Terrell. She was grateful the attention was diverted from her. Saved her from having to answer the question that for sure was on at least one person’s mind.
Until later.
“Who was it?”
Minutes after they’d left the group and were heading back to the guesthouse, the question spilled from Ace’s mouth as if of its own volition.
“Who was who?” As if she didn’t know.
“Never mind. Not my business.”
“If you knew that, why’d you ask?”
He looked at her a long moment and said, “Because I wanted to know.”
London bit back a retort. She didn’t want to fight with Ace. Didn’t want to change the positive vibe that had come from his surprise visit. Didn’t want to close herself off from someone who’d unknowingly opened a wound and begun a healing process.
“It was Max.”
“I thought so. What did he want?”
London hesitated, then told him the truth. “He wanted me to come back to Los Angeles, to move back in with him.”
A long pause and then he asked, “What did you say?”
“I told him no. Want to know why?”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
“I told him I couldn’t move back in him with him because I’m in love with you.”
Ace said nothing. London didn’t know how to interpret his silence, so she became quiet, too. They reached the house. She pulled into the drive but kept the car running.
He turned to her. “You coming in?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you get so quiet?”
He placed his hand over the one she rested on the steering wheel and gave it a squeeze.
“Sometimes you leave me at a loss for words. Turn the car off. Come inside. I want to make love to you.”
Now it was London without a comeback.
None was needed. As soon as she closed the front door, Ace scooped her up and headed for the stairs. He entered the master suite, laid her on the bed and stepped back.
His eyes swept her body. The desire she saw made her weak and shy. He removed her sandals, one at a time, and massaged her feet. His touch was light, gentle. He reached for the waistband of her wide-legged pants from the OTB fall collection, similar to the pair she tried on during that first fitting in San Francisco. They locked eyes. She lifted herself off the bed enough for him to ease the silky material over her hips and down her legs, dropping them beside him. He unbuckled, unzipped, his desire evident, outlined against the fabric. Jeans joined silky pants on the floor. Ace placed a knee on the bed. Spread her legs. Pulled aside satin and lace. Kissed her there. His tongue swirled and jabbed, teased and taunted, a heat-seeking missile aimed to please. Leisurely, lavishly he loved her. London quivered at his tender touch, writhing this way and that under his unrelenting lovemaking until pure ecstasy burst from her core, shattered her senses, left her sated and dazed.
There was no time to recover. In an instant Ace had removed his shirt and covered her. He positioned himself at the entry to paradise, eased inside her with a sigh. Setting up a slow and steady rhythm that could go the distance, he tapped her core with a measured intensity. Whispered sensuous intentions into her ear. Sealed his name on her soul. Changed positions and continued. London grasped the headboard to brace herself. Ace gripped her hips and moved faster, thrust deeper, sent them both tumbling into another climax before collapsing on the bed and pulling London into his arms. She cuddled against him, body still quivering, and wondered how she’d ever considered going back to Maxwell Tata. In this moment it was cr
ystal clear that here with Ace was where she belonged.
Chapter 27
Over the next few weeks, their love declared, Ace and London juggled busy schedules to deepen their long-distance relationship. Finally it was the Memorial Day weekend. Ace had taken off work, driven down to Paradise Cove and looked forward to life with London for five straight days. He pulled into the guesthouse driveway, found the key London had left beneath a planter and went inside. A few minutes later, he heard the door open.
“Ace! Where are you?”
“Up here, baby.” London bounded up the steps and into Ace’s arms.
“Wow, that’s some greeting. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just happy to see you.”
He pulled away to look into her eyes. “I could get used to having that kind of greeting every day.”
“Hmm.” London leaned in for a kiss, ending further conversation for the next several minutes.
London wore a cute minidress that gathered at the bodice and flared from the waist. Ace reached for the hem, pulled it up and palmed her satin-covered cheeks. A few seconds more and his happiness began to grow. He swirled his hips, pushed the bulge against London’s waist.
“Come on. We’re both wearing too many clothes.”
London pulled away. “I want you so badly. But not right now. Everybody’s over at Warren’s house. They’re waiting for us. Come on.”
“Warren? Which brother is this?”
“The rancher.” London laughed at Ace’s frustrated expression. “You’ll have fun. He and his wife, Charli, have horses, lots of land. You and my brothers can finally settle the score on who has the better B-ball skills.”
“If you think playing basketball with your brothers tops what I want to do with you right now, then, baby, you don’t know me as well as I thought.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t. At least I’d hope so.” She reached for his hand and pulled him toward the stairs. “It’s just that the sooner we get over there, the sooner we can say our goodbyes and come back here.”