A Case For Love (Royals Series Book 3)

by Nicole Taylor

  She smiled as he walked over to the large stainless steel fridge and took out a container of ice cream. This was her opportunity to look around the kitchen. It was huge. There was a breakfast nook with a wooden table to seat four which complemented the stained wooden, shaker-style cabinetry and gray marble counter tops.

  “This kitchen is great…so big. That stove is humongous. And the views are fantastic I could spend all day in a kitchen like this.”

  David returned her smile as he scooped ice cream into two bowls.

  “Now, that’s what I like to hear. I’ve always wanted a woman who knows her place is in the kitchen.”

  “You are a sick man,” Ronnie said taking her ice cream from him.

  He laughed and took a seat next to her.

  “Seriously…this kitchen is huge…umm…this is delicious. How’d you guess caramel was my favorite?”

  “I didn’t. It just happens to be mine.”

  She grinned at him. He grinned at her.

  “As I was saying, I love your kitchen.”

  “You said that several times.”

  “Just three.”

  “Would you like to see the rest of the house when we’re done?”

  “I’d love to. Would you like to taste my ice cream,” she asked playfully, holding out her spoon.

  He leaned down and took the spoon into his mouth.

  “Umm, delicious. And would you like to taste mine?”

  She nodded and took a spoonful of his. They finished their desert like that, eating from each other’s spoons.

  After David had placed the bowls in the sink, he turned to her and said, “Well, you’ve seen the kitchen, living room, dining room, and terrace. Next up is the study.”

  On the way there she asked, “Why’d you buy such a big house?”

  The question seemed to take him by surprise.

  “I don’t know. I grew up in a pretty big house, so it never occurred to me to get anything smaller. Plus, I figured I’d someday have a family. You must have grown up in a big house too.”

  “Depends on which age you mean. I spent the first several years of my life in a tiny apartment in Flatbush. It was only when Dana made it as a supermodel when I was about ten that she bought mom the house in Long Island. It wasn’t anything like this, though. Mom didn’t want anything too big. It was just a really comfortable three-bedroom house.”

  He tenderly stroked her cheek with the back of his thumb.

  “You are so unassuming. You are an amazing woman. You don’t act as though money means a lot to you.”

  “It’s just how I was raised, I guess. My mother never made it a god. Even when Dana became rich, our lifestyle didn’t change substantially.”

  “This is the study.”

  Ronnie looked around at the room with its books upon books.

  “Do you read all those?”

  “Can’t say that I do, but researching case law, I sometimes need to leaf through them.”

  “How often does that happen?”

  “Well, seeing I have a legal assistant, not very often,” he admitted with a smirk.

  She spotted the photos on his wall. One of them was a picture of a couple. She knew the man was his father. She nodded at the photo.

  “Your mom?”

  “Yes,” he said softly. “Yes.”

  Ronnie could see who David took after. Sadie Jones had the same light brown skin and thick, wavy hair. The whiskey-colored eyes seemed to be hers too.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, she was, inside and out. She always wanted to see me with the right woman. I know she would have loved you.”

  She found his hand and laced her fingers through them. He smiled sadly.

  “Where were we? Oh, the bedrooms.”

  He showed her three ensuite bedrooms on the property, all large and spacious and tastefully decorated.

  “Did you decorate these rooms yourself?” she asked.

  He gave an incredulous laugh.

  “Of course not. I don’t have time for stuff like that. I hired an interior decorator. However, she did run most things by me. I was very clear – no pastels, no flowered prints, no lace or frills.”

  Then he took her to another room.

  “Saving the best for last,” he said with a nervous chuckle.

  She preceded him into the room, which was probably a bad idea. Her heartbeat raced as she stared at the king-size bed with its luxurious-looking chocolate-colored coverings.

  Nervously rubbing her throat, Ronnie took a step backward and ran into David.

  She turned to face him.

  “This is my bedroom,” he said softly.

  “I gathered that. Very nice,” she whispered, “and very masculine.”

  It even smelled of him, of the cologne he was wearing now.

  David’s hands covered her bare arms, gently caressing.

  “Oh God, help me please,” she prayed as she felt her defenses slipping.

  They stared at each other for several seconds then his lips lowered to capture hers. Ronnie felt as though a tiny explosion had gone off and reverberated through her whole body. She threw her arms around David’s neck and clung to him as he devoured her mouth.

  After several minutes, his mouth moved down to attack her throat, and Ronnie arched back in excitement. She wanted to tell him to stop, but she seemed incapable of rational thought.

  Then his hands were traveling down her arms and around her waist, and she was moving her arms from his shoulders down to play with the buttons on his shirt. He was moving his hand to the zipper on her dress and just when she felt she would drown with passion, she felt the Holy Spirit telling her to stop. With effort, she pushed against David. He stopped instantly and watched her, his eyes hazy with passion.

  “We have to stop,” she said in a strangled breath.

  After several seconds, his vision seemed to clear.

  “Of course,” he said huskily. “I’m sorry Ronnie. What was I thinking? Maybe I should take you home now.”

  The drive to her building was made in silence.

  “I hope you’re not mad at me,” she said when the building was in view.

  He shook his head.

  “No, I’m mad at myself. You tried to warn me that being alone like that wasn’t a good idea but I was overconfident. I didn’t acknowledge the temptation. I almost dishonored God in my conduct tonight. I have been praying during the drive, asking Him to help me do the right thing. I don’t want us to do anything outside of His will. We’ll need to keep from areas of temptation. I can control myself but you are such an appealing woman, and certain settings can make the temptation stronger.”

  He leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips.

  “Dave, my sister and her husband are renewing their vows in Barbados next weekend. I was thinking of sending my apologies.”

  He played with a strand of her hair.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ll be away from you for a whole weekend, unless, of course, you come too.”

  “You know I can’t come. Go to your sister’s celebration. These once in a lifetime occasions don’t come again. Besides, you’ve already missed Thanksgiving and Christmas with your family. They may send the Calvary to look for you if you don’t turn up to another special event.”

  Chapter 22

  Barbados

  “David,” Ronnie had just slipped out of her sister’s bedroom where she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup in preparation for the ceremony.

  “Hi, sweetie. How’s it going?”

  “Pretty well. How did the meeting go yesterday?”

  “It went fine.”

  “Who covered for me?”

  “Lei Randall.”

  Her breathing slowed.

  “Why her?”

  “Why not her?”

  “She has the hots for you for starters.”

  “I’m told most of the women at Jones Law do. Should I have carried out an elimination test first? I n
eeded someone, and she was readily available.”

  “I’ll bet she was.”

  There was silence for a while.

  “I should go. I’m finishing up the brief.”

  “You’re still in the office?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Who else?”

  Again a moment of silence.

  “Let’s talk about this tomorrow, Ronnie. I’m tired. Have a good night.”

  Then there was a dial tone. He had hung up on her.

  ~*~*~*~

  Ronnie sat on the dry sand; she placed her palms flat on the ground and stretched out her long legs as she stared out at the big silvery moon. The vast seas made her feel lonelier than ever. She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them. She wanted to call David, but their conversation earlier had not gone very well.

  Why had she acted like a jealous idiot? It was uncalled for. David had never been a womanizer. Just look at them. In all these months he had kept his distance from her because he hadn’t wanted to do something dishonorable. What would make her think he would go behind her back and carry on with Lei Randall, or anyone else for that matter?

  She acknowledged it for what it was – the enemy making her feel insecure. She felt tears burn her eyes. She leaned her forehead against her knees.

  “Lord, please forgive me for being so foolish and irrational. I need to trust you with my heart and trust David too. You have blessed me with discernment, and I know I have no reason to doubt him.”

  She was so deep into her prayer she startled when she felt a hand on her arm.

  “Hey, baby girl.”

  It was Dana. She looked so beautiful, in her white linen dress with her lustrous blonde hair gently flowing around her face.

  “Hey, yourself. This is quite a party you’ve got going here.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. I was just praying, but I’m good.”

  Dana turned to stare at the ocean.

  “Whoever he is, I hope he’s not breaking your heart.”

  Ronnie lowered her head. She wanted to confide in her sister so badly, but David had made her promise not to say anything to anyone just yet. She bit her lip.

  “Yeah. It’ll work out. He’s a good man.”

  Dana looked skeptical but didn’t comment.

  “I know that we don’t get to speak often these days, but I want you to know that I pray for you every day. Trust God. He will work things out for you. Whatever problems you have, take them to Him, and He will solve them.”

  Ronnie nodded. “Yes. I believe He will.”

  She gave her sister a side hug.

  “I love you so much. I don’t tell you enough, but I do. And I really admire you, my beautiful, talented big sister.”

  Ronnie was surprised to see tears reflected in her sister’s blue eyes. Dana was always so tough and fierce.

  “I admire you too. It took courage to leave New York and go off to Chicago to chart your own path. I also admire your photography. What you did with Dad’s photos was so awesome. I’m sorry I couldn’t have been there. But you know I supported you in spirit. You’re awesome, baby girl. Don’t forget that…now come back inside with me. You’re missing the party.”

  ~*~*~*~

  David rubbed his eyes with the back of his thumbs and leaned back in his office chair. He had done something he hadn’t done since he and Ronnie had started seeing each other. He had come to work that weekend. He knew her concern about wrapping up the M&A, so he had enlisted the help of Lei Randall. He had thought he had been doing the right thing but when Ronnie had lit into him just now it had just deflated him.

  It had really hurt that she would accuse him of being interested in Lei Randall. Frankly, he didn’t even think of Lei that way. She was a bit of a nuisance with her tight clothes and her flirtatious behavior, but she was very competent, task-oriented, and driven. He knew that if he entrusted tasks to her, she would do a good job. Beyond that, who could compare with Ronnie? No other woman in the world.

  He prayed, “Lord why is she behaving this way?”

  And the Spirit revealed to him that she was not feeling safe and secure. It was his fault. He had created this situation by forcing her to keep their relationship secret. No wonder she had her doubts about his feelings for her. What proof did she have beyond mere words that she was now his woman, his one and only, the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his natural life with? And then it hit him. He needed to make a commitment to this woman. Show her he was serious.

  He whipped out his phone and perused his meetings for the next few weeks. He had a meeting due in a couple of weeks with a client in Paris. He had originally planned to take two of the senior partners with him, but it wasn’t a necessity. He could easily meet with the client himself, and Ronnie would be there to assist him. At least that was how he would present the proposal to her.

  ~*~*~*~

  He didn’t meet the flight. But he timed her arrival, and the moment she got home to her building he was there with flowers.

  He had them delivered and waited in the lobby until the delivery man came back down empty-handed. She had taken them. Good sign. Although, she could have taken them and then dumped them in the bin. He sighed. Just have to bite the bullet. See what the reception was.

  He whipped out his phone to send a text.

  “Welcome back.”

  “How did you know I was back?”

  “Timed your flight.”

  Smiley face. “Just got your flowers. Thank you. They’re gorgeous.’

  “You’re welcome. Can I come up?”

  “You’re here?!”

  “In the lobby.”

  “Yes. Please. I’ll call and let them send you up.”

  In short order, he was standing at Ronnie’s apartment door. She flung it open and before he could utter one syllable she was in his arms.

  He pushed her gently into the apartment. Kicked the door closed with his foot and covered her mouth with his. They kissed for a long time.

  When they finally came up for air, she said breathlessly, “I’m sorry for yesterday, for what I said. I didn’t mean any of it. I know I can trust you.”

  He nodded. “I missed you. I’m not letting you travel anywhere without me again.”

  She giggled and drew back.

  “Hey you have a tan,” he exclaimed.

  “Barely. I spent every day on the beach but two days is not enough time to get a proper tan.”

  She looked brown and healthy and glowing. And he knew he should leave right away before his mind and his other body parts wanted to go where they shouldn’t.

  “I’m going to leave. I just wanted to see you in the flesh. To assure you of my love and to tell you I missed you. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

  She bit her bottom lip and tugged on his shirt.

  “You have to leave right now?”

  “Ronnie Dickson, don’t tempt me,” he growled. “I’m only a man.”

  She playfully pushed him away.

  “Go then. Before I show you I’m only a woman.”

  He didn’t pause. He popped a quick kiss on her cheek and then literally fled temptation.

  ~*~*~*~

  David felt like he just wanted to crawl back into bed, wake up again and do a redo. To say his day had not gone as planned was an understatement.

  It had begun with an eight o’clock meeting with Mike Orbitz. His email to Orbitz advising against the proposed layoffs had resulted in a scathing response in which the man had accused him of having a conflict of interest given his position as a congressman. To mend fences, David had requested a meeting with Orbitz over breakfast.

  Immediately after the waitress left them with their orders, Mike had gotten straight to the point. “David, I see that this M&A represents a conflict of interest for you. I have no problem with Jones Law representing United Airlines, but you need to recuse yourself from this case.”

  “Recuse myself? I am the CEO of this company, Mike. That makes no se
nse.”

  “Well, I’ll have to change lawyers then.”

  “That makes less sense. Do you know how negatively that’s going to impact this deal? You’ll have to start over from scratch.”

  “Not if you hand over your work to the new firm.”

  David tilted his head to the side and gazed at the man in wonder.

  “And why would I want to do that?”

  “Well, you claim to be principled.”

  David gave an incredulous bark of laughter.

  “So now I’m principled. If I’m so principled why don’t you take me at my word that my advice is not self-serving? I’m already state representative. I have nothing to lose.”

  “Yeah, well, two years will go by pretty fast. Then you’ll be up for re-election. Those people who voted for you might not be so forgiving if your firm handled the M&A of the company that put them out of work.”

  “Look, Mike, I understand your suspicions, but if you followed my campaign, you would know that I didn’t win because I promised people the moon and the stars. I won because the majority of people in this district are tired of lies and want someone who will not only be straight with them but who’ll also do what’s in their best interest whether they like it or not. It’s precisely because I’m not a self-serving politician that I’m telling you that axing two-hundred people instead of the twenty you’d initially agreed on will have a profound impact, not only on your business but also the economy of the very state you do business with. I wear many hats. And that’s to your advantage. I’m a statesman, sure, but I’m also an academic and a business man. Here’s what will happen when you ax these people.”

  David took a sip of his Brazilian nut-flavored java and then ticked off a finger.

  “First, there are the direct costs of layoffs like outplacement services and severance pay,”

  “We factored that in,” Mike said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  “Yeah, but did you also factor in the indirect costs like losing experienced personnel some of whom have strong relationships with clients, training new personnel, and the length of time it takes to get them to the level you need them to be. Those costs will wipe out the direct savings of the layoffs and paralyze your company’s long-term revenue generating streams.”