by Pamela Yaye
“Niko, maybe I should—”
“Let someone take care of you? Yes, I agree.” His voice was firm and final, the statement delivered in a tone that brooked no argument, even from a nationally recognized defense attorney who’d once kicked his butt in a college debate.
They reached the car and rode the ten minutes from the school to Golden Gates in silence. Monique had passed on rolling low in the backseat, but once they’d reached the home, Niko pulled into the garage.
“I’m going to great lengths to ensure you’re not associated with me.”
Monique laughed and opened her door.
A slight frown marred Niko’s handsome countenance as he watched her. “Why do I get the feeling you’re enjoying a private joke.”
“I am.”
Her look was soft and playful, and Niko discovered he quite liked it. Usually, it was the cool, professional demeanor that was brought to the fore. They reached the door that led from the garage to the hallway beyond it. Niko opened the door. “Care to share?”
Monique stepped inside. “I can’t believe this is your home.” They continued walking down a hall with a laundry room on one side and a mudroom on the other before spilling into a larger area where the kitchen, dining room and great room were visible.
“Really, why?”
“Because shortly after moving here, Margo gave me a tour of the neighborhood. I said this was one of my favorite houses. Remembering back, she didn’t comment. That’s what I find humorous. Now I know why.”
“She didn’t want you to know that you were admiring the home of your stiffest competition?”
Monique had been thinking of her competition’s potential stiffness all night. Now that she was in the privacy of his residence, she’d have to work harder than ever—pun intended—to keep her thoughts PG.
“Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what Margo is thinking. She’s quite the character. But my comment stands. You have a very nice home.”
Built by Drake Realty a little over five years ago, Niko’s home was large yet tasteful, opulent but in an understated sort of way. Pristine landscaping included large trees and bushes and obscured much of the actual home from the street. Visitors were always surprised to come in and find it was so large. Monique was no exception.
“I never would have guessed you had so much room. Do you mind my asking the square footage?”
“Not at all. It’s three thousand square feet, not including the outdoor living space. More than enough for a home of one. Too much sometimes.” As she continued to look around with genuine interest, he added, “Would you like a tour?”
“If you don’t mind.”
After giving a quick description of why he’d chosen the muted colors and fabrics for the rooms visible from where they were standing, he led her to floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led to a flawlessly designed outdoor space that included a living area with couches, chairs and a fire pit, a full stainless-steel kitchen with colorful stone bar, a nice-size pool and similarly designed spa. The same colors that dominated inside—a mixture of tan, gray, cream and black—continued outside. Luscious plants and vibrant pillows warmed the scene, and the design of the privacy fence made it less offensive to the eye. All in all, Monique loved it and was surprised to note that had she designed it herself very little would change. She loved the clean lines and thoughtful layout, and Niko’s home office rivaled that which she had on L.A.’s Sunset Boulevard.
The upstairs tour was blessedly brief. She felt hot just stepping foot inside his spacious master suite. She looked at the custom-made bed, with its unique blend of ebony wood and stainless steel covered with a cozy-looking comforter Niko said was a blend of cotton and raw silk, and imagined him sprawled against it. Ignoring the smirk she saw upon her declining to check out the master bath and closet, they made quick work of the remaining upstairs rooms, which included a state-of-the-art gym, and returned to the kitchen.
Monique thanked him for the tour. She was impressed, first with the man and now with the understated and elegant home where he resided. It had given her a brief reprieve from worrying about Devante, a thought that returned full force as soon as she sat on one of the bar stools in front of the unique island made of bright recycled glass. Blue, orange and green slivers of glass provided a vibrant splash of color to an otherwise monotone room. She picked up her phone and, when she saw that no calls had been missed, tried reaching him again. There was still no answer and this time the call went straight to voice mail.
“If something has happened to him, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
“Come on, now. Don’t think like that. You’ve got to stay positive. Try to relax.”
She took a deep breath, leaned against the chair back and watched how comfortable Niko appeared in the kitchen. He’d put on water to boil, set a container of various teas in front of her and was now placing slices of lemon onto a plate. Their eyes met, and a familiar warmth traveled to its usual places. She was sure she was blushing and prayed the lighting kept this fact a secret. As for the desire that made her clutch her thighs together, she thanked the island for keeping hidden the lower half of her anatomy.
He turned from an open cabinet. “Sugar or honey for your sweetener?”
Neither, Monique was sorely tempted to say. The dark caramel making her heart patter and mouth water couldn’t be found in the pantry. To see it, Niko would have to look in a mirror.
Chapter 12
“Monique? Your choice of tea?”
She hadn’t realized she’d been daydreaming. About Niko. Again. She reached for the first bag in the container, an herbal blend infused with citrus and spice. “Sorry.”
“I know you want to hear from him.”
“Actually, what I want is right in front of me.” She handed Niko the tea bag. “This sounds good.”
“One of my favorites.” Niko opened the cellophane packet and placed the tea bag in an oversize mug bearing the Drake Realty logo. He opened another packet and placed it in the same type of mug before turning off the now whistling teapot and covering the bags with boiling water. Then he reached for cup covers to let the tea steep, before taking a seat across from her. Seeing the frown on her face, he softly said, “Tell me about Devante.”
“He’s basically a good person, though no stranger to the system, mostly in for petty theft. One involved a gun. That upped the charge to armed robbery, a felony. They wanted to try him as an adult. I researched his backstory and was quite moved. He was your stereotypical inner-city child statistic. Father in prison whom he’d never met, mother on drugs, eldest child strapped with the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. That’s why he stole. It was either that or starve. I successfully argued that his case be kept in juvenile court and from that point on took him under my wing as a mentee.”
“Becoming so involved with a client? That’s risky business.”
If you only knew, Monique thought before quickly shoving the unfortunate memory to the back of her mind. Way back. “I’ve no regrets,” she finally replied. “Unless I hear that he didn’t survive the fire.”
Again, Niko felt the almost overwhelming desire to take care of Monique, to protect her and erase the worry lines from her face. He’d spent most of his life surrounded by beautiful, strong women and wondered at this pull that she had on his heartstrings. He reasoned that maybe it was because as an attorney himself, he knew how hard it could be for a woman in this field. She couldn’t have survived without a knock or two. Or maybe it was the fact that as strong and powerful as she appeared, there was a vulnerability and sensitivity about her that shone in her eyes. When she heard about the fire or talked about Devante, for instance. And speaking of fire, she’d tried to hide it, but he’d detected the flame of desire in her eyes when she looked at him. She’d said it was only natural that two healthy adults such as themselves b
e attracted to each other. Would she be willing to have said it was natural for two healthy adults to act on such attraction?
He looked over to see that she’d averted her face. Is she crying? Instinctively, he walked over to where she sat and placed his arms around her. “It’s going to be all right, Monique.”
He felt her shoulders heave and thought she’d pull away. Like all the other times. But she didn’t. She leaned into him and placed her arms around his waist. He pulled her closer to him and began rubbing his hand across her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You can let go. We’re all very concerned. Everything is going to be all right.” He brushed his lips across her temple and kissed her there.
She stilled. Her arms around him loosened slightly. Niko silently chided himself. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. It was a reflex, pure and simple. She pulled back. He lifted his head, ready to apologize. Until he saw the look in her eyes and how they quickly shifted from looking into his eyes to looking at his lips. Just before she leaned in and joined hers to them. She did this, but moved no further. So Niko took over. He slowly moved his head, rubbing his lips across hers, creating a delicious friction that immediately increased the heat. Her mouth opened and it took all of his restraint not to plunder her sweetness like a love-starved youth. But she didn’t need that type of treatment right now. She needed gentleness and kindness and understanding. He was there to give it all.
Using his tongue, he outlined her lips, still not delving inside. Instead he kissed her closed eyelids, kissed each cheek before finding her mouth once again. This time, when she opened it, he slowly, gently, slid his tongue inside, flicking it against hers even as he repositioned his head to kiss her more fully. He continued—deeper yet tenderly—lightly massaging her back as their tongues introduced themselves and got to know each other, as one hand lowered to her hips while the other found the nape of her neck to take the kiss deeper still. As he stroked her mouth with his tongue he felt her hands tighten, felt her fingernails scrape across his shirt’s cotton fabric. The act was filled with both wanting and restraint. She shivered, and he felt her nipples harden even as his shaft followed suit. His hand moved from her hip around to that pebbled hardness, giving the nipple a light squeeze before continuing to run his finger lightly across it. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind came the thought that he should end this tantalizing kiss; that now was not the time or place for seduction.
After another moment of some of the sweetest sugar he’d ever tasted, he reluctantly pulled away. Without conscience she leaned forward, trying to reconnect with her current single source of joy.
“Monique.”
She opened her eyes and it was as though she were awakening from a dream. He noticed the second she came to herself and realized what had just occurred. She dropped her head and straightened her blouse.
“I’m sorry,” he said, immediately putting the blame on himself. “I got carried away.”
“It’s what I wanted,” Monique replied. She took a deep breath, looked him square in the eyes. “It’s what I want now.”
“I know. I want to kiss you in ways you’ve never imagined and love away every ounce of anxiety you’re feeling right now. But I won’t do that. Not tonight, when you’re worried and vulnerable, seeking relief from those feelings.” He placed a gentle hand under her chin. “When we make love, it will be because you want me to give you something to remember, not because of problems that you’re trying to forget.”
Monique stood. “Now it’s my turn to apologize. Kissing you—no matter how good it felt—was inappropriate. Worrying about Devante has obviously got me acting out of character. Especially since...”
“Since what?”
“Never mind.” She stood. “This wasn’t a good idea. I should go home, try to get some sleep if I can.”
“Do you really think that’s possible? Sleep, that is?”
“I don’t know, but I need to be where I can think.”
“And that can’t happen around me?”
She eyed him closely and noted his question was genuine; no superciliousness or sarcasm anywhere.
“No, quite frankly. You’re right. I’m vulnerable and in this state capable of making mistakes based on bad judgment.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”
“Yes.”
“Want to talk about it? We can move to the living room or dining room. I’ll sit on my side and promise to behave.”
She sat back at the island. He reheated the water. His ordinary actions soothed her. She was still worried, but more relaxed. After fixing their cups of tea, the two moved to the living room. Silence descended as each sipped tea and scanned thoughts. The quiet could have been awkward, but it wasn’t. For Monique it was comforting. She was glad she’d stayed when moments ago she’d wanted to run, not only away from Niko, but from uncomfortable memories.
This situation with Devante brought back an unfortunate incident that she’d managed to put behind her. Images flashed and feelings resurfaced. Another time when she’d tried to help a client and things hadn’t gone so well. She’d lost control and made an unfortunate decision. Right intention. Wrong execution. Could what she tried to do with Devante prove another bad move?
“Have you ever dated a client?” She looked up, surprised that the words she’d been thinking had actually been spoken aloud. She hadn’t meant for them to be; only a handful of people knew why she’d ask.
“Interesting question. I did, once. Have you?”
She looked at him. “I did, once.”
Maybe it was the cushy chair, maybe the tea; maybe it was her worry about Devante, the fire and all that had happened tonight. Then again, maybe it was the kiss, and the innate knowledge that what had gotten started tonight would one day be finished. But Monique found herself opening up to the man who was her adversary and sharing something that she swore would never be told again.
Chapter 13
“I was fresh out of law school,” Monique began, tracing the rim of the teacup with her thumb, “working in my first firm. He was our client, facing ten years for money laundering. It was the first time I’d been around...someone like him. I thought I’d be repulsed, thought I’d have to work to find compassion for a man I’d assumed was just a no-good lowlife out for who he could con. I was wrong. He was intelligent and funny with tons of charm. He loved reading and current events. He told me that he was innocent. I believed him. We’d talk about what was going on in the world, about his dreams and aspirations, which I was surprised to even find out he had. One thing led to another and...”
His eyes widened.
“No. It didn’t go that far. We didn’t have sex. But during this revealing conversation there was inappropriate touching.” She shrugged her shoulders and looked in Niko’s eyes for signs of judgment. She saw none.
“He was convicted and is doing five to ten years in prison. As his attorney, I could speak with him privately. During one of these visits is when things got carried away. Hugging mostly, and we kissed. It shouldn’t have happened.
“My boss found out. Because of this inappropriate conduct, I lost my job. Of course that was the right consequence, though it’s still painful to recall those dark, early days of my career. My godfather advised me to end all contact. So I wrote him a letter. Short, to the point, about my being fired and therefore being unable to continue to represent him. I’m sure he was devastated to read its contents. After what he’d endured, he believed I was the one person who would never leave him. But I knew it was best to end all contact and walk out of his life.”
“That had to be tough, and even more difficult to find another employer.”
“Thankfully one of my former teachers had an influential friend in the legal field. The firm he recommended knew my story, but gave me a chance based on my teacher’s recommendation. I’ve worked hard every day to make sure they
never regret taking a chance on me.”
Niko was silent, watching her, taking it all in. “From what I’ve read, their gamble paid off.”
“So it seems.”
“What did your parents say? With their high expectations, they had to be devastated.”
“They were disappointed, which increased my shame.”
“Do you still love him?”
Now it was Monique’s turn to be surprised. Her head shot up, and she stared at Niko to gauge if he was kidding. He was not. “I never said I loved him.”
Niko was equally resolute. “Your actions did.”
“I wanted so badly for him to succeed. There’d been bad choices but he was a good man. I feel the same way about Devante. He just needs a chance.” She drained the rest of her tea and once again reached for her phone to call him. “It’s still going to voice mail.” Niko nodded but remained silent. “So what about you? How many hearts have you broken?”
He shrugged. “I hope none, but maybe a few.”
“Was one of them the woman at the fire?”
“What woman?”
“The woman responsible for us leaving so quickly. I saw her making a beeline to you just before you rushed us away.”
“Oh, you saw that, huh?”
“Keen observation is partly what makes me a good attorney. And why they pay me the big bucks.”
“That was Joy’s daughter, Ashley, the one I told you about the other night.” What he didn’t share was Ashley’s negative impression of Monique or the fact that since seeing them together at the scene of the fire she’d called and texted several times.
“Pretty girl.”
“Very, and sometimes full of drama. There’s more to making a relationship work than having good looks. Besides, this conversation started with your talking about a client you dated. How did it turn into one about my love life?”
“Turnabout is fair play.”