Keep My Baby Safe

by Bella Grant

  She sat up and looked at him, smiling down at his handsome, dazed face. “I haven’t felt this good in five or six years.”

  “Not since the last time we fucked,” Travis agreed. A slow smile crossed his face as he shifted, his cock hardening again inside her. “And I haven’t been able to finish and revitalize this quickly since you, either.”

  “Are you saying it’s already time for round two?” she asked, smirking as she clenched her muscles around his cock and felt it harden more.

  “If you do that again, I’ll come before we can do anything other than sit here,” Travis warned, eliciting a giggle from Diana.

  She climbed off him and held out a hand. “Take me to your bedroom.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, rising and taking her hand to lead her upstairs.

  Chapter 11

  The next two weeks were perfect for Diana. She and Travis saw each other regularly, almost every day, and when they were together, they inevitably fell into each other’s arms. Sometimes they made love, sometimes they had sex, but more often than not, they fucked like horny newlyweds. Only once had they discussed protection, and she assured him she was practically psychotic about her birth control regimen. Both were clean as far as any STDs, and the subject of condoms was dropped.

  Cameron had noticed a change in Diana the Monday after their first night and had teased her mercilessly about it since. He had wrangled a promise out of her to meet him and Ronnie for drinks soon, and she was actually looking forward to Travis meeting the couple. They were hilariously inappropriate, which Travis would love, and he’d fall right in with them and be best buds before an hour had passed.

  Alyssa, on the other hand, hadn’t spoken with her much since she and Travis had decided to continue dating. When Diana called her, she wouldn’t answer, and texting with her elicited short, usually monosyllabic replies. After the second refusal of happy hour drinks, Diana had thrown a fit over voicemail, and Alyssa had sent her a text saying they could meet that afternoon, assuming Diana didn’t have “other plans.” Diana’s lips thinned at her spitefulness and decided they were having a coming-to-Jesus discussion at happy hour.

  “What is that face?” Cameron asked as he stepped up to her desk, holding a host of folders that looked like a new case. Diana smoothed the scowl off her face and smiled, which must have looked more like a grimace. “That’s worse. Frown at me again.”

  Diana chuckled, shaking her head. “Shut up. Alyssa is being weird, and I assume it’s because I’m dating Travis again.”

  “Don’t let that bitch make you feel guilty for being happy,” Cameron ordered, his sudden seriousness surprising her. He pointed at her. “This is the happiest I’ve seen you since you started working for me.”

  With a sigh, Diana had to agree. “I know, you’re right. I just wish she and Travis would get along. They hated each other when we were together before.”

  “Yes, you’ve told me, and I think he’s right,” Cameron said. He propped a hip on her desk and asked, “May I be perfectly candid with you?”

  “Always,” Diana answered, though his serious tone and expression concerned her.

  “Alyssa is toxic.” He stated his opinion boldly and without excuse, as any lawyer would.

  “I think toxic is a little harsh, don’t you?”

  “Not at all. Let me explain,” Cameron said, rising to stand in his lawyer pose. “She makes snide comments to you and about you, which drives Ronnie and me crazy. And worse, she abrasively rude to people.”

  Diana frowned, automatic denial and defense of her friend leaping to her tongue, but Cameron held up a finger. “Today while you’re at happy hour with her, pay attention to the way she speaks to you and to others.”

  “I’ll pay attention, but I don’t think she’s that bad,” Diana murmured, though her mind was sifting through their last few talks. Not one positive sentence had left Alyssa’s mouth.

  “I’m obviously not telling you to dump your friend. I would never presume,” Cameron said, putting his hand on his chest. “I just want you to be happy. Alyssa doesn’t make you happy. Travis does.”

  A smile flitted across her face, then broadened as she let Alyssa slip away and Travis take her place. “I love spending time with him. I wish we had been smart enough to fix our marriage instead of end it.”

  “Ah, well, that’s the way of the world these days. Divorce is easier than trying counselling and whatnot,” Cameron replied sagely. He smiled down at her. “If Travis is who you’re supposed to be with, you’ll know it.”

  Diana clenched her teeth and made what she called an oh-crap face. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him again.”

  Cameron laughed. “I’m pretty sure you never stopped loving him. You just had to discover it again.”

  “It’s like we never parted,” she confided, putting her chin in her hands like a lovesick girl.

  After patting her on the head, he said, “Okay, sweetie, time to get your head out of the clouds. We’ve got work to do.”

  Diana sat up, ready for the challenge of a new case. “Awesome! I’ve been getting bored filing and getting coffee.”

  “You’ve been doing more than that,” Cameron said with a huff.

  Diana waved dismissively and reached for the files. “So, what kind of case is it?”

  “Sexual harassment in the workplace.”

  “Oh.” Diana’s voice revealed her displeasure with the idea of handling a case of that nature. “I didn’t know you took cases like this.”

  “I usually don’t, but the woman being accused is a friend of mine from law school,” Cameron told her as he carefully handed her the files.

  “A woman is being accused?” she asked, shock in the high pitch of her voice.

  “Yep. And this goes a little deeper into the controversial,” Cameron commented. “Our client is gay, though she’s been hiding it. I had no idea!”

  “You didn’t know?”

  “Not an inkling. She wanted a partnership with a specific law firm in Dallas, but the partners were conservative. So she hid her sexuality,” Cameron said with a shrug.

  “Doesn’t seem worth it to me,” Diana noted, lifting the top file cover to glance at the picture of the accused. “Karen Prosper. She’s pretty.” She glanced up at Cameron and asked, “So what’s the accusation?”

  “One of the lawyers, a man, claims she promotes attractive women over men even if they aren’t doing equal work.”

  “That sounds a little hard to prove,” Diana observed.

  “Not really, but I have to prove it hasn’t been happening.”

  “That doesn’t really sound like sexual harassment, though.” The question was obvious in her tone.

  “This man also claims he walked in on Karen with one of the women who was promoted above him in a compromising position,” Cameron continued. “If that’s true, and his lawyer can get the woman to testify, Karen’s screwed.”

  “What does Karen say?”

  “She says there isn’t a scrap of truth to any of it,” Cameron said, staring out the window.

  Diana narrowed her eyes. “You don’t believe her?”

  “Well, I have some digging to do, but we were pals in law school,” he stated, returning his gaze to Diana’s. “Studied together, hung out together, and celebrated graduating together. Then she went to Dallas and I came here. I haven’t seen her in months.”

  “I hear a but,” Diana prompted.

  “Yeah, a big but,” he replied, and they chuckled at the pun. “I think she’s lying about something.”

  “Well, that’s not good. You can’t help her if she’s lying.”

  “As a lawyer, she knows that, so you and I will have some serious research to do.” He winked at her. “But don’t worry, I won’t interrupt your Travis time.”

  Diana laughed as she grabbed her work iPad to start a list of the people they would need to research and talk to as well as any questions she had over the files. Cameron, she knew, had done his read-throug
h the night before, and once she finished, they would compare notes so he could begin preparing his case.

  “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let you,” she told him. “I’ll get started on this now and work through lunch.”

  “I’ll have something delivered,” he told her as he headed back to his office. He stopped in the doorway and looked back at her. “I know I don’t have to say this, but I have to say this. No discussing the case outside of this office.”

  “No problem,” Diana called, giving him the thumbs up. When she’d first started working for him, his repeating that statement had irritated her. However, she learned through the firing of another assistant who had gabbed to a friend who happened to be a reporter that the statement was a CYA for Cameron. The woman the assistant had worked for had also gotten in trouble for not warning her, even though a clause in their contracts stated it plainly.

  After a quick text to Travis to let him know she’d be busy through the day and wouldn’t be able to chat much, she got started, flipping through what sounded like the most interesting case they’d had in a while.

  TRAVIS: So now you’re the workaholic?

  He added a winky face after his comment, and she smiled.

  DIANA: Only from nine to five, so shut it!

  TRAVIS: Dinner tonight?

  DIANA: I actually made plans with Alyssa. Tomorrow?

  TRAVIS: I will wile away the hours in mourning until I see your face again.

  DIANA: Drama queen.

  TRAVIS: We’ll chat this evening.

  He added two heart emojis, so she sent him three, put her phone in her bag so she wouldn’t be tempted, and opened the top file again.

  Travis frowned when he found himself with nothing to do that evening. He had planned on takeout, a movie, and some fun in the tub. He’d even bought a bunch of candles and a bath bomb that smelled like lavender he thought she’d like. Sighing, he glanced at his calendar and remembered he and Michael had a meeting with Doctors Smith and Cartwright at the building. Since he was alone for the evening, he might as well go over the last-minute items he usually saved for the two hours before the meeting.

  So far, the renovations of the building were going as planned, and the construction would actually begin on Wednesday, which was why they were meeting the next day. He took another glance at the blueprints, the inspections, and all the paperwork. The meeting would be incredibly boring, but once the actual renovations started, he could begin his favorite part of this job: staffing and supplying.

  He’d begun the supplying when the doctors had signed the contracts, though he had made a more comprehensive list since and still had plenty of items to purchase. Staffing, though, was his forte. He could find the perfect mix of people to keep an office running like a well-oiled machine. He understood an office needed many personality types. He always began with the office manager, who would run the day-to-day business for the doctors. And that person had to get along with both doctors, who were the heart of the office. This was usually a difficult find, but in the four years since he and Michael had started the business, he’d made one mistake with the office manager and had rectified it as soon as he realized the problem.

  The man he’d hired for a doctor’s office in a tiny town north of New Orleans had been a respected member of that community, according to every reference he had called. But soon after the office opened, a nurse quit and filed a complaint about his behavior. One complaint hadn’t been a red flag, but within six months two office people quit and another nurse in a loud, very public scene in the waiting room. Travis had done some investigating and discovered the man had used fake references and was a high school drop-out with a history of run-ins with the cops.

  After that colossal mistake, Travis and Michael had agreed to buy a program that allowed them to complete basic background checks on all their employees. They also made frequent visits to the newly opened offices for the first six months, ensuring the employees were comfortable enough with them to speak their minds if any problems arose.

  As he sorted the files into the order he wished to read through them, his phone buzzed like an angry bee. He glanced down, saw his mother’s name, and pressed his lips together. He had told her he was seeing someone but not that the person was Diana. She always said as long as he was happy she would be happy with whomever he chose, but she resented Diana for the breakup of their marriage, even though she knew he had a part in it. He’d been avoiding lengthy calls with her lately, which made him feel guilty.

  “Hey, Mom,” he answered, projecting happiness into his voice.

  “Hi, baby. Why do you sound weird?” Ayana asked immediately, and he should have known better than to try to fool her.

  “I’m working. What are you doing?”

  “Working? You said you weren’t going to put in late nights anymore,” Ayana admonished quietly.

  “First one in two weeks, Mom. And it’s only a little after five. Besides, I try not to, but every now and then it can’t be helped,” Travis told her. “Promise, I’m not slipping back into my old ways.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear. I hope a certain young woman has to do with that?” she asked, hinting that she wanted some details.

  “Yeah, a little,” he allowed, sitting back in his chair and grinning, deciding he’d let her squirm before he told her. He just hoped she didn’t become hostile. Ayana had loved Diana when they were together, and had the marriage not ended so badly, they probably would have remained friends.

  “Oooh,” she squealed, and he could picture her sitting up. “What’s her name? When do I get to meet her? What does she do?”

  Travis laughed loudly as his mother’s questions continued. “Calm down, Mom. I can’t answer even one question because there were so many I can’t remember what you asked.”

  “You’re being cagey,” she said after a moment of silence. “Do I know this girl?”

  Travis cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. “You do.”

  “Uh huh, I heard that change in tone.” She was silent again, and then he heard her fingers snap. “You’re seeing Diana!”

  “How do you know that?”

  “You told me at the Tatas dinner you ran into her, and now you’re dating her!” Ayana exclaimed.

  Well, shit, he thought. He’d completely forgotten he’d mentioned Diana to his mother. Nothing to do but admit it. “Okay, you got me. I’m seeing Diana again.”

  Ayana hummed, her excitement dimmed once her conclusion was confirmed. “Oh, Travis. Is that such a good idea? I mean, she broke your heart.”

  “And I broke hers.”

  “Yes, you did,” Ayana agreed thoughtfully. “But seriously, is this a good idea?”

  “Mom, Diana and I were so young when we married,” Travis justified. “We had some growing up to do, and we’ve done it. We’re very different now that we’re approaching thirty.”

  “You are thirty,” his mother replied tonelessly.

  “You know what I mean!” he exclaimed, shaking his head and chuckling. “It feels good being with her, Mom.”

  “Well, baby, you know my feelings. If you’re happy, I’m happy,” Ayana said. “But if she hurts you again, I know exactly how my ancestors used to dispose of their enemies. Remember that.”

  “And this is exactly why I won’t be bringing her by to see you anytime soon,” Travis said monotonously. “Didn’t you threaten her when we first started dating?”

  “It wasn’t a threat, baby,” Ayana told him, her voice sugary sweet. “I was explaining the history of death in my culture. The Native Americans were incredibly violent people, especially my tribe.”

  “Yeah, okay. And I reiterate, Diana and I won’t be coming by any time soon.”

  Ayana hummed, and he wondered what his mother was up to. “That’s just fine,” she said happily. “When are you seeing her again?”

  “Tomorrow, probably. She is having drinks with her friend tonight,” Travis told her offhandedly, then told himself the relaxing night at home would ha
ve to happen at Diana’s apartment in case his mother decided she’d pop over unannounced.

  “I promise to behave if you’ll bring her over. Soon,” she added as a warning him. “And you know your father would love to see her. They were such good friends.”

  Travis laughed as he nodded. “They always partnered when we played games. How that pair beat our exceptional brains more often than not still surprises the hell out of me.”

  “And I even tried to cheat,” Ayana mused.

  “Not very well.”

  “They didn’t know.”

  “Yes, they did, and they always blocked. That’s why you and I won’t be partners ever again.”

  “I guess we won’t play games then, because I’ll kill your father if we’re partners,” Ayana announced.

  “And he’d kill you. Gosh, I hope when I get married again, my wife and I love each other as much as you and Dad do,” Travis joked.

  “If you don’t threaten to kill your spouse occasionally, you don’t really love each other,” Ayana told him seriously.

  “That’s rational, Mom. I gotta go.”

  “All right, baby. I love you. And seriously, bring her around again. I was mad at her, but if you’ve forgiven her, I will.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Love you, too.”

  Travis hung up and felt a little better about Diana seeing his mother again. However, he had decided to treat their relationship like a brand-new one, and he would never introduce a woman to his parents after only two weeks of dating. His mother would have to wait a while longer, though Travis was certain Diana and he would make it this time. They were older, smarter, and over their problems. Yes, he worked late at least once a week or so, but when they’d been together, he was out four or five nights a week. Much improvement. And as far as he knew, Diana was completely over her addiction.

  So they were different, more mature, and smarter about their habits. They would make it. He believed it with all his heart, and he planned to convince her. And what he was even more sure of was that he wouldn’t have to do much convincing.