The Proposition (A Geek, An Angel)

by J. A. JACKSON

  He checked the clock by the side of his bed. It was nine o’clock in the morning. California has a two hour time difference. His mother would be out making her rounds by now. He wanted to call her and tell her what he had learned. He could do it later.

  He reached for the phone beside his bed and dialed room service and ordered coffee. He hung up and headed for the shower. He was sure he could shower and change before room service made it there.

  A half hour later, he watched the waiter finish putting the touches on the table. The white linen table cloth and fine bone china reminded him of the decadent high teas at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, but with a Southern touch he found charming. He noted the waiter left an extra setting, but didn’t question it.

  The waiter strolled over signaling he was done. Walker tipped him. From the look on the man’s face the tip had been a generous one.

  He caught a whiff of the freshly brewed coffee, walked over and poured himself a cup.

  The coffee felt good going down.

  The telephone beside his bed rang abruptly.

  “Hello, Mother?” he asked assuming it was her.

  “No Walker it’s me Larissa London,” her nasal California drawl sounded loud and clear.

  “Oh, hi Larissa. I’d recognize your voice anywhere. I thought I caught a glimpse of you last night,” he said.

  “Yep, you did.”

  Walker sipped his coffee and listened.

  “Look, your mother didn’t want her only son getting lost in some swamp. She just asked me to come down and make sure you were okay. I was kind of like acting like your backup,” her words tumbled out. “But I knew you could handle yourself out there in the swamp, Walker.”

  “Sure you did, Larissa. But I bet the real reason you didn’t go back into the swamp was that you weren’t interested in riding the whole way on horseback?”

  Larissa’s voice chuckled low into the phone. “Yeah, I always knew you were clever. So how are you this morning?”

  “Surprisingly I feel pretty good after some sleep,” he said. “Thanks for asking.”

  “Walker, I have a little problem. I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Sure, what is it?” he asked finishing his cup of coffee in one gulp, while holding the receiver in his other hand.

  “I had intended to stay a few days longer,” she hesitated. “But at the last minute something came up,” she said anxiously. “Anyway, last night Janeshia flew in to meet me and she thinks I’m staying in your suite.”

  “My suite?”

  “Not like your suite, like in our being together or something. Walker you nerd, this is Larissa you are talking too,” she jokingly laughed softly. “Anyway what I meant to say was I gave her the wrong suite number when she arrived last night.”

  “Oh?”

  “Look Walker, Janeshia’s supposed to drop by this morning so that the two of us can have breakfast and spend the day together.”

  His caring voice sounded through the phone. “No problem, just give me your correct room number and I’ll tell her.”

  “Walker I can’t do that. That’s why I’m calling you. I had to leave urgently. In fact I flew out very early this morning, before the crack of dawn. Can you please tell Janeshia that for me?”

  “Sure,” he tried to hide the smile in his voice. “That’s not a problem.”

  “Walker,” she hesitated. “Oh and please be nice to her, you see there’s another reason I called. Something happened to Janeshia a few days ago. She’s been under a lot of stress. She just needs to relax.” Quickly she gave him a few of the details on what happen to Janeshia. She made sure not to tell him about the incident with Adam St. Charles. She didn’t want Walker upset.

  “Walker? Walker did you hear me?” Larissa asked.

  “Sure, I will just tell her you had to leave,” he said softly.

  Walker was glad Larissa was on the other end of the phone and couldn’t see how wide he was grinning. His thoughts raced, thinking of Janesha James. He focused his mind and saw her strikingly beautiful face, her deep green eyes, her smile full of white teeth and her superb figure. He could just feel his fingers running through her long sable hair. His smile widened, thinking of her big heart with love and kindness for everybody, including him. He smiled warmly remembering her.

  “Walker, Walker did you hear me?” Larissa blurted.

  “Sure,” he collected his thoughts. “I can tell her that,” he said warmly.

  “Oh and Walker, I had intended to spend a few more days in Alexandria with Janeshia, we were supposed to do some sightseeing to give her a chance to relax.”

  “Relax?” He asked.

  Caringly she continued, “Yeah, relax. Remember what we were talking about. Look she’s been under a lot of stress lately. I knew you weren’t listening to a word I said. Anyway well….A little relaxation would do her some good. I’m not telling you what to do, but take her sightseeing or to a spa or something. And you know a little relaxation would do you some good too.”

  “Okay Larissa, I guess I could do that.”

  “Thanks Walker and don’t forget to tell her I promise I’ll make it up to her.”

  “Sure,” he said wondering in his thoughts.

  There was a click at the other end of the line. He realized she’d hung up the phone.

  Walker replaced the receiver. He thought about the past two years. Since he learned Janeshia was working for the foundation. He’d made it a point to be with her daily. He had positioned himself in her life for no other reason than to just be able to see her.

  Walker knew Janeshia had no way of knowing his mother had conveniently vacated the position of director once she learned Janeshia had applied. He also now understood the special bond his mother had with Janeshia. He’d never understood it until now. It also explained why he knew her as a boy. Janeshia was the little girl at the Foundation’s after school programs many years ago. Walker smiled with his memories. Now he could see why his mother had single-handedly made sure Janeshia had been hired for the position of director. It was the perfect place for her to protectively watch over her, just as the after school program had done when she was a child.

  He shrugged as his thoughts raced. It also explained why his mother told him to let Janeshia have her space after she caught them having sex that night at the house. He had been torn about giving her some space. Staying away from Janeshia had been hard for him. He gave her space, hoping it would help her see him clearly as the man who truly loved her and hoped to win her heart.

  A few minutes later there was an urgent knock at the door.

  “Larissa open up the door. It’s me Janeshia.”

  Walker opened the door and smiled. “Hi Janeshia.”

  “Walker, what are you doing here?”

  “Won’t you please come in and have a cup of coffee with me?” he said with a gentle authority, leading the way across the room to the fully laden table set up by room service earlier.

  Reluctantly she entered and gazed at him uncomprehendingly. As she sat down at the table, she noted how Walker, who was tall and handsome, seemed to electrify the room.

  The two of them sat there without speaking for what seemed like minutes.

  Finally Janeshia broke the ice. “Okay, what are you doing here, in Alexandria Louisiana I mean?”

  Walker looked at her with a deep intensity. “I’m a native of this place. Besides, I found I needed to go back into the swamp to, shall we say, meet my spiritual guide and renew my spirit,” he said quietly.

  Curse the man she thought. He still had the power to rile her emotions. “Okay that answers that question so what are you doing in Larissa’s room?”

  “What?”

  Slowly Janeshia looked around the room. Hysteria welled up inside of her like the swelling wave on the ocean. Outrage slid bitterly off her tongue. Her chin shot up in the air. “Walker tell me now, are you and Larissa having an affair? This is her suite. You’re a pig if you’re sleeping with my best friend.”


  Walker roared out with laughter. “Let me try to explain,” he softly laughed in disbelief. He touched her shaking hand gently. “I’ve been calling you leaving messages on your phone just pouring my heart out and you think that.” He took a gulp of his coffee and ginned.” Anyway Larissa just called me a few minutes ago and said to give you the message that she had to leave. And she told me to tell you she gave you the wrong room number last night. You can check with the hotel manager to verify it or call Larissa if you like.”

  The touch of his hand almost undid her, nervously she reached for her coffee. “I’m acting stupidly aren’t I?” Her body relaxed. “I’ve got no right to act like this. It’s just that Larissa told me you weren’t seeing Phoebe Wright anymore. But she was so secretive and wouldn’t tell me who you were seeing,” her words tumbled out.

  “You asked about my seeing Phoebe?” he questioned.

  “Well yes, I did,” she sighed heavily, as her words tumbled out uncontrollably. “You see, when I saw you and Phoebe together that time. I thought things were serious. I thought you to were the real thing, in love I mean.”

  He leaned in with a keen determination. “Phoebe and I were never a serious item,” his voice reassured her. “In fact she was a bad dating suggestion made by Adam.”

  “Never? Ever?” she questioned reaching out to touch his hand.

  “Never,” he tenderly smiled.

  She looked back into his eyes with a powerful intensity capable of reversing the spinning earth. “So you’re not seeing anyone?”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  Janeshia had a deep yearning to kiss him right now.

  She willed herself and pulled away. “God I must look terribly foolish and stupid right now. It’s just that there's so much I want to talk to you about.”

  “I like how you’re acting right now. I like it a lot.”

  “No in fact you look like a goddess.” His eyes lovingly studied hers. “A very beautiful goddess. You’re my idea of the real thing and someone I would very much like to have breakfast with right now.”

  Nervously Janeshia smiled and sipped her coffee. “Walker, I don’t know what’s come over me. But I have to be honest with you,” her smile faded. “These last couple of months since that time at your parent’s house have been really stressful for me.”

  His eyes shown with deep adoration. “That was the night when we made love,” he said grinning. “And we fell asleep together under the moonlight.”

  Janeshia breathed out slowly. “Yes, that time. When your mother caught us having sex, I was just so embarrassed and afraid,” she lifted her gaze and met his. “Well, I guess I sort of got scared of the thought of being with you because of our working relationship, and well, I just up and started dating the first guy that asked me, and well, anyway things didn’t work out between us, the guy I mean” her words tumbled out. “Anyway he and a few other things are the reasons why I’ve been having a real stressful time lately.”

  Walker squeezed her hand. “Yes, I know about that.”

  “You knew about Ramsey….I mean the guy and me, how?”

  “Adam St. Charles told me.”

  “What?”

  A shadow fell across his face. He looked up and caught her staring. For a split second she saw the pain he felt for her.

  A few months ago, she hadn’t even known Ramsey Montgomery existed. She didn’t know why she had pursued him. Her voice shook as she tried to explain. “I thought I liked Ramsey. But I guess I didn’t.”

  He smiled softly, concealing his hurt as best he could. “I don’t care about Ramsey, you’re my dearest friend. The only person I would love to have a relationship with. I guess I’m just destined to be the guy that wants a girl name Janeshia to love him.”

  Her eyes met his. She could no longer put off what she must say. She hoped she would find the right words. “But…What if there’s something….I mean something I need to explain?” she asked.

  “I trust you.”

  Her hand relaxed at the sound of his words. She reached over and traced her hand over his. Her heart went out to him. A weariness that was bone deep engulfed her.

  They looked at each other for a split second before he hesitantly reached out to her. He lightly touched her face, and then threaded his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck.

  “Janeshia I’ve never felt this way before for anyone,” he said rising and pulling her with him.

  A whimper of surprise escaped her lips. “Walker I want you.”

  With a groan he swept her up into his arms and carried her toward the bed. He lowered her slowly. The two of them quickly fought breathlessly with zippers and buttons, until their clothes were scattered around them.

  He lowered her beneath him. His lips possessively took her mouth. His hand traced her firm breast. His thumb flicked over her nipple

  She moaned with urgency. In one moment, she pushed him away, sat up and swung astride him. The heated core of her body touched his belly. “Walker, I want to ride you,” she commanded bending her knees, taking his penis and guiding him in to her.

  Walker felt his body jerk against the onslaught.

  “Don’t stop….Please don’t stop,” he said unable to take his eyes off of her.

  “Never my love,” she breathed out hoarsely.

  Hands, mouths and bodies rubbed together in urgent need until their bodies surged up in surrender.

  Chapter 37

  Old friendships

  After spending two days relaxing and renewing her love and friendship with Walker Perrault in Alexandria Louisiana, Janeshia returned home determined to face an old nightmare head on.

  With high anticipation she drove her slick black Cadillac STS through the traffic in downtown San Jose, California. The traffic on East Santa Clara Street moved smoothly as she made her way to San Pedro Street.

  San Pedro Street was known locally as San Pedro Square. Restaurants located here were known to be some of the best in the city.

  She pulled into the parking lot and found a space. She took a quick look at herself in the rearview mirror. The eyes that stared back at her were sad and fearful. Even after all of this time she was still amazed at how Alice could make her feel like she was still that little kid confronting a bully.

  She got out of the car and walked down the sidewalk. The building she was heading for was located in the middle of the block of San Pedro Square. She walked through the wrought iron gate that led down the small alley to the front entrance of the restaurant.

  The young hostess that greeted her had kind blue eyes that twinkled. She gave her name and she took her to her seat.

  Alice Couvertier-Trudeau’s limp brown eyes flashed with flecks of amber as she stared back at Janeshia. Her lips curved up into a smile.

  “Hi Janeshia,” she nervously breathed out. “I was beginning to think you were going to stand me up.”

  “Sorry I’m late Alice,” she said taking a seat.

  Alice nervously laughed. She was so grateful she hadn’t stood her up. “Don’t worry about that.”

  The moment was tense between them.

  Alice took a sip of her water. “I see you still like coming to this restaurant.”

  “Yes, it’s still my favorite,” Janeshia slowly breathed out. She stared back at Alice.

  Alice could see that their having a conversation wasn’t going to be easy. She would have to work at making Janeshia continue to talk to her.

  Alice shrugged. “Oh look, the waiter’s here.

  The waiter took their orders.

  A short time later, Janeshia enjoyed another bite of her Lasagna Vegetariano. She took another sip of her wine.

  The two chatted little during their meal.

  Alice glanced at her and smiled. “So I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you why I wanted to have lunch and talk.”

  “I’m listening,” Janeshia said.

  “So how are things these days at the foundation?”
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br />   “Great,” Janeshia said with an annoyed expression.

  Alice took one look at Janeshia’s annoyed face and knew she was about to tune her out. “Well that’s good. I always knew you’d grow up and be a success. You were and still are a strong woman.”

  Janeshia looked back at Alice with an unreadable sigh. “What is it that you want from me, Alice?”

  “Well nothing. Except …….” She hesitated and then took a big sip of her wine. “You see Janeshia, what I want from you most in the world is for you to forgive me,” Alice’s voice shook as she bowed her head. “I’m not proud of the things I’ve done to you. I want us to be friends again, like we were as kids, before I did all that stupid foolish stuff. I’m really sorry for any hurt I caused you.”

  Janeshia shook her head unsympathetically. She felt the pulse in her forehead pound with the force of her emotions. “That stupid stuff was your daily humiliations. Not to mention the time you punched me in the stomach and left me lying on a flooding basement floor. You hurt me bad Alice. Worst yet, I could have drowned.”

  Alice’s voice cracked. “I know…I know,” she murmured. “I hurt you and I’m so sorry. If it makes you feel better, my grandmother gave me the worst whooping in my life. I’ll never forget it. I swear my butt still hurts until this day.”

  Janeshia smirked out a laugh. Her thoughts raced. She remembered hearing about the butt whooping Alice had gotten for what she had done to her. Still she was not ready to let Alice off of the hook so easily.

  “Alice I was just a kid, a little kid for Christ sake and you were nothing but a bully to me. And for your information, I’ve always had a mother and a father. I was never illegitimate,” she rubbed her forehead. “I’ve always known my mother wasn’t my birth mother. I’ve never been ashamed at how I got into this world.”

  Alice’s face reddened. “I was just jealous of you that’s all. I’m very sorry about all that,” she said sadly.

  “Jealous? Why?”

  “Because….. I mean is it okay if I talk to you about her? Your mother I mean?”

  “Who? My mom, Aurore Allen-James?” Janeshia asked. Recognition dawned. “Oh, you mean my birth mother Sheba?”