by U
He called her work number and was told that she was still in court. Sitting alone
on her bed, he revisited their times together. The casual tone he heard in her ‘I do love you’ was unconvincing. There was no mistaking the heat of their passions, but the warmth that had grown between them, the sweetness he carried in his heart, had to be more than just great sex. He decided to go down to the courthouse, wait until she was free and tell her how he felt. If her feelings mirrored his, he would go out and buy the largest diamond he could find.
* * * *
Each time there was a break in the action, Chelsea thought of Isaac’s silence, and wondered about the cause. She had tried, over morning coffee, to make him loosen up, but her probing seem to irritate him even more. During the drive to work, she had struggled to put their relationship in perspective. When her head began to ache, she had decided there was no time to become engulfed in personal problems with the biggest case of her career hanging on a thread.
She went straight to court and sat listening to the defense present a strong case of how a wonderful young man was being railroaded by a woman whose mere reputation was shameful beyond belief.
Each time Quincy spoke, his eyes invariably ended up on Chelsea’s face. Even more
unnerving was Curtis Hamilton’s family, huddled together and looking the way she knew any family would under similar circumstances.
She was successful in her attempt to focus on the issues at hand. At no time during the hearing did she think of the man who left her bed looking as though he had lost his best friend.
When court recessed for lunch, David ushered her through the side door. Quincy was waiting.
“Well, Counselor, are you thoroughly satisfied that my client could not be the monster in that little picture you painted?”
He moved closer and held out a stack of papers. “Could you give us a minute, please?”
She looked at David’s frown. “I’m not leaving the building, David. Thanks.”
David nodded and moved away. She took the papers from Quincy’s hand and realized
they were blank.
“What is this?”
“I thought you might want to pretend we’re discussing business.”
She was only partially listening. Her feelings for him had been decided earlier in the day.
As soon as court adjourned, her heart and mind had backtracked to Isaac’s anguished face. She had to think ahead. To be prepared if Isaac was trying to find a way to end their relationship.
When she finally looked at Quincy, she realized she was not even slightly interested in him and wouldn’t be, even if Isaac were no longer in her life. There was no attraction and very little admiration.
“And aren’t we discussing business? Your opening statement was grand, by the way, but your client is not innocent and we both know it. I am a little curious about your defense. How will you repute an eyewitness’s account of your client’s merciless and sadistic behavior?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got it all laid out.” His half-closed eyelids opened slightly. “Speaking of laid out, when are you going to let me wipe away every memory you have of old what’s-his-name? I’m ready to take you into my world and make—”
“Don’t start that again.” She turned to walk away.
“Ms. Constantine, I don’t believe you’ve answered my question regarding tomorrow’s witness. You do realize you have to disclose this information.”
She realized several colleagues had turned to stare and she swung around to try and hide her anger. Quincy was at her side, still holding out blank paper while his body made contact with hers.
“If you have business to discuss with me, make an appointment. I don’t recall this corridor being designated for negotiations.”
He leaned over her. “Why are you so angry, and why do you keep pushing me away?
We’re going to be together, so you might as well accept it. Have dinner with me tonight. Just dinner, unless of course, you feel the need—”
“The only thing I feel the need to do right now is slap that smug grin off your face, and I will if you keep pushing. Maybe I wasn’t clear, so I’ll try and spell it out for you. I’m in a relationship. I’m in love with Isaac Charbonnette.” After saying the words, she realized just how true they were.
In what she promised herself would be her last effort at civility, she stood tall and spoke forcefully. “You know my life was threatened, yet you stand here, keeping a city employee waiting, while you make ridiculous proposals. I don’t know what you’re trying to do. If you want to anger me enough to throw me off my game, you’re way out of your league. If you’re really interested in a personal relationship, I’m not available or interested. You have already crossed the line from pushy into harassment. One more move and I’ll report you.”
“Baby, I’m not the big bad wolf and you’re not Little Red Riding Hood. In all of your rebuffs, you’ve never said you didn’t want to be with me. You never said I don’t turn you on, because you and I both know I do.”
“Come out of your bubble. I just said I’m not interested. You don’t turn me on, Quincy.
In fact, I find you…” Knowing they still had to face each other during the trial and probably in future litigation as well, she held back her true disdain. “Let’s just say I’m in love with someone else, which means I couldn’t possible be interested in you.”
“Isaac Charbonnette is too coarse for you, and I’m sure you know it. I hear he has a way with women, but once he’s past the fine art of seduction, I know you’ll never be satisfied. I doubt that he can make you happy in bed, at least not the way I can. He’s not the best mate for a woman of your career standings and potential. That’s yours truly, baby. The most devoted lover you’ll ever find, and a man headed for greater success.”
Feeling her face burning, she looked around and planned her escape. “I’m not going to discuss any facet of my personal life with you. I will caution you to stop harassing me, or I’ll report you.” Turning quickly before he could reply, she joined several friends who were headed to the deli across from the courthouse, and flipped her cell open.
He hasn’t called. She flipped the phone closed, wondering what had happened to make Isaac so aloof and turned off. He had never turned his back on her in bed. On the few nights and mornings they did not make love, he had been attentive to her presence. She started to call him but decided she had to eat and get back to the courtroom. A stab of loathing clogged her throat when she saw Quincy walk in the door of Morison’s Deli. Quickly grabbing a wrapped salad, she took a seat with her colleagues and pretended to listen to their conversation. There were too many loose ends in her life. Chelsea loathed loose ends.
She returned to court and sat through a grueling afternoon of watching Quincy paint a portrait of the most amazing young man in America. When court recessed for the evening, Chelsea tried to make a hasty retreat, but Quincy called after her just as she left the courtroom.
“Ms. Constantine! Do you have a second? My client is ready to deal. He’s asked me to offer you a proposition.”
“As I told you before, call my office and make an appointment.” She walked faster but he ran over and blocked her exit.
“This will only take a second, Ms. Constantine. I just conferred with my client and following that amazing display of innocence in there, he and I would like to offer you a proposition. We’re prepared to walk away from this whole thing if the DA’s office is ready to drop the charges. I’m sure we could find a few causes for legal action against your office, but we’ll agree to go quietly. We don’t want to drag that poor girl’s name through the mud unless we have to so—”
“Mr. Beckham, for two cents I’d tell you where to shove your proposition. You know something, counselor, the stench coming from you and your client is so fetid, I can’t tell which of you is the bigger slime ball. Earlier today I asked you to stop harassing me, but I guess I’ll have to take my request to a higher authority. Now if you’ll
excuse me, I have to leave.”
“Right. The backwoods brawler is waiting over there. I wouldn’t want you to miss
another exciting evening. Maybe he’ll take you mud wrestling or some other entertaining sporting event.”
She whirled around. “Isaac? Where?”
“He was standing over near the directory holding an armload of roses, but I don’t see him now. He probably saw how good the two of us looked together and headed back to Hicksville.”
Chelsea had already walked away, afraid to trust her anger. Finding David waiting by the door, she asked if he had seen Isaac.
“Yeah. He left a minute or two earlier. Seemed mad as hell. Thinking something may have happened regarding your safety, I went after him, but he wouldn’t stop. Just said ‘she’s all yours, man,’ whatever that means.”
After placing Isaac’s number on redial, Chelsea drove frantically to her loft. She did notice how neatly his belongings were arranged in the closet but they were still there, which gave her a shred of hope. She called and left messages on his machine, with his mother, and with his teammate and best friend, Diego Cunningham. When Skip arrived, she poured her heart out.
“I knew that guy was trouble when I saw the way he looked at you. I don’t care about the politics of your office. I’m having a talk with that asshole.”
“No, but I will. He saw Isaac and purposely made it appear the two of us were having an intimate discussion. My back was against a column. Isaac couldn’t see my face, just Quincy’s, and he was all over me. If I didn’t have to see him at work, I would ask you to find the bastard and bust his pretty face. Right now, it’s Isaac I’m concerned about. You know, Skip, I didn’t want to admit this before, but I don’t want to lose Isaac.” She blushed at the thoughts in her mind. “We’re good together. He brings out the best in me.”
“Are you speaking sexually or—”
“No. As I told Dee, I’ve been having serious thoughts about our relationship for
sometime, but since we agreed to keep it light, I was afraid showing a serious side would scare him off. I’ve really given the matter a lot of thought this weekend because Isaac seemed different.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know…protective, close. He also…shit! I’m going to kill Quincy Beckham.
Isaac asked about my feeling for him. He was hinting at something. Maybe he’s having the same feeling, but afraid to say anything, just like I’ve been.”
“I’ve also been feeling like maybe marriage is in the near future. After this past weekend with Dee, I think I’m getting much closer.”
“That’s great. You just took a load of worry off my mind. I was afraid of another
situation like the one with Diane. If you’ve noticed, I’ve not gotten close to any of your female friends since then. I really liked her, but when she and I found you with that ugly fish-mouth girl, she swore I was in on it.”
“Her name was Glory and I wish you wouldn’t keep calling her fish-mouth.” Skip
snickered. “Come to think of it, she did sort of resemble a perch.”
They laughed and he offered a last bit of advice. “If Isaac means anything to you, I suggest you find a way to let him know.”
* * * *
Isaac gunned his car out of the parking lot, started to Chelsea’s place to pack, but changed his mind. Everything he needed was in his car. He made two phone calls and drove back to see Frankie.
“Two visits in one day? I know that look. What’s wrong?”
He told his story while she mixed drinks. “So I haven’t been completely honest about my feelings for Chelsea, not even with myself until this weekend. Actually, it started when I was away. I missed her more than I had before. I couldn’t wait to get back here.”
“But you were still afraid of being turned down?”
“Of course. I don’t know what would have happened if I said something sooner, but I think she’s hooked on that slick bastard with the crocodile shoes. I’m sure her folks would rather have him in her life.”
“I thought you got along well with her folks.”
“I get along with all of them, but I don’t think her mother likes me. Skip is cool. Her grandmother, Mama Rose likes me.” He smiled shyly. “She calls me Sweet Thang.”
The both laughed.
“That wise old grandma knows what she’s talking about. You are sweet, and you’re lucky to have a family like hers instead of some of the ones I hear about. Richard told stories of some clients who were athletes. The women in their lives came with a bunch of leaches.”
“I know all about that kind. That’s all I hear about from the guys on the team. Some of them are taking care of whole families. Women look at us with dollar signs in their eyes. I’ve always been lucky in that respect.”
He looked at her, trying to wish the years away. “There’s one other thing I want you to know. I cried when you married Richard because I was so in love with you I couldn’t see straight. I came to your graduation to ask you to marry me, but before I could, you told me you were engaged. That broke my heart. You’re the reason I’ve never been able to have a serious relationship. I didn’t want the same pain.”
“Oh, Isaac.” She took a long drink from her glass as he did the same. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. We both made assumptions without giving our relationship a chance.”
She frowned. “What about the women you talked about back then? All the other
relationships you had? Did you make that stuff up?”
“Oh no.” He grinned. “I did some serious damage out there. Most of those relationships were meaningless to me. Mildly stimulating at best. If I detected a hint of seriousness, I ran like a greyhound. Of course, I felt rotten when they were over. I wanted to feel something real, and finally realized I did—for you. I saved every penny I could scrape together for that night.
Wanted it to be special.”
She ran to the back of the chair and draped her arms around his shoulders. “I wish I had known.”
Enveloped in the scent that had always turned him on, he knew Frankie would have a special place in his heart forever. “If you had known, would you still have married Richard?”
“I can’t say for sure. I remember wanting to show you off to my friends at college and thinking you only wanted to be with me in the dark.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “No. If I had known how you felt, I wouldn’t have married Richard. I was afraid to allow myself to have the feeling I wanted to have for you, not just because of the age thing, but because I wasn’t sure how much you respected me.”
“I respected and loved you. You became my yardstick for measuring women, and not just in bed. I always thought you were the strongest woman in the world, and the brightest.” He took her arm, guided her around to a sitting position on his knee. “That opinion has not changed.”
She smothered him with kisses while using the heel of her hand to smooth away the
tightness in his massive shoulders. Her hand roamed down to his waist and lingered before reaching for the button on his slacks. Isaac stiffened.
“What’s wrong? Can’t we have one for old time’s sake, no expectations?”
“That wouldn’t be fair to you.” He held her face in his palms. “I will always love you, but right now—”
“I know,” she interrupted. “Right now, you’re in love with Chelsea. I understand. I’m not expecting to pick up where we left off.” This time she seized his zipper firmly. “If I needed money, you’d never refuse me. I need this, Isaac. Not for old time’s sake, but because I’ve never felt so low in my life. Make love to me and tell me how wonderful it feels. Lie if you have to.”
Agony and confusion buzzed together in his head. Breaking his promise to Chelsea
would compromise the one thing he wanted most. He remembered the look on Quincy’s face, the way he hovered over her, and the fact that she did not pull away. There’s no relationship to co
mpromise.
Using the strength of his arms, he lifted Frankie from the floor. Having her body pressed against his was the sweetest memory he had left. It was still maddening. He held her close and forged his lips with hers. Her response was something he would never forget. She clung to him as if she was afraid to let go. As if she was seeking the will to breathe. As if he was her lifeline.
He needed to be needed. Loved.
He stroked her hair and buried his face in the contours of her neck, holding her close to him and waiting for her to let go. When she did, he eased her down on the bed and lay by her side. In one swift motion, she tore away her clothing and mounted his body in a wild and desperate act of need. There was no time for second thoughts.
“Make me feel wanted, Isaac. Make me believe I’m still a woman, a desirable woman.
Tell me my life isn’t over.”
He spoke softly as she had taught him, almost in a whisper. “You’re beautiful, inside and out. Any man in his right mind would be foolish to leave this behind.” His words were not empty assurances. He felt them deeply. His hands covered her breasts as she took him inside of her.