by Donna Hill
“I’m sure Simone understands.”
She angled her head and looked at him. “You two were pretty close before you went away from what I can remember.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly.
“How come you two…never…got together?”
She saw his jaw clench and recalled his look that followed Simone when she left her house earlier. Her stomach did a slow dip.
“It…wasn’t that kind of relationship,” he finally answered, partly in truth.
“Did you want it to be?” she pressed.
“That was four years ago, Sam. I wasn’t sure what I wanted back then.” Again a partial truth, he thought.
“What about now?”
He turned when they came to a stop at a red light and looked directly into her eyes. “I’m doing what I want…right here, right now,” he said softly and in even tones. “I hope that answers any and all questions about my motives or intentions.” His gaze gently held her and the rolling in her stomach eased.
She pressed her lips together and nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said on a whisper.
“You want to grab something to eat or head straight home?”
She grinned. “I feel like hanging out for a while. You up for it?”
“I think we deserve it. Blue Light?”
“I’m with the driver.”
Simone sipped on her mango Margarita, tapping her foot to the beat of the live band. She and Adam had been at the club for nearly a half hour and he hadn’t mentioned another word about his proclamation earlier in the day. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed. She dipped a celery stalk into the blue cheese dressing and took a crunchy bite.
Adam chuckled and Simone looked at him, mildly curious.
“You even chew celery sticks with class.”
“I’m going to have to take that one as a compliment.”
“Everything you do has your personal stamp on it, Simone.”
She glanced away, uncharacteristically embarrassed.
“I’m not making you blush am I?” He smiled at her.
The temperature beneath her skin rose another notch. “Not in this dim light,” she tossed back.
She put the half-eaten celery on her plate, wiped her mouth with the paper napkin and leaned closer on her forearms. “Adam, why did you say what you did in my office earlier today?”
“Because it’s how I feel. Nothing’s guaranteed in this life. Especially time. I don’t want to waste any more of it playing a waiting game.”
“Waiting game?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled lightly. “Waiting to see if you would ever notice that I cared for you more than just as an employer and friend.”
The heat went up again, but she didn’t back away this time.
“I’d like us to see each other—outside of the office—outside of D.C. Maybe take a weekend at Virginia Beach, really get to know each other outside of work, issues and pressure.”
“Mmm. Suppose you find out that’s all I am, work issues and pressure?” Her right brow rose.
“Even on a bad day you can do better than that.”
She looked away, reached for her drink to give her hands something to do, then stopped.
“It’s been a long time for me…since I’ve seriously been involved with anyone. And to be truthful—before you ask—I can’t count Chad as an ‘anyone.’ We never got that far.” She took her plastic straw and absently stirred her drink.
“Then maybe you’re long overdue. I know I am.”
“I can’t guarantee anything, Adam.”
“Not looking for guarantees, Simone. Just the opportunity. What would be so bad about that?”
She looked at him for a long moment, studied the gentle slope of his brows, the generous curve of his mouth, the way the brown of his eyes deepened to the color of mink when he was making a point, the smoothness of his copper-toned skin with just a shadow of a beard that gave him that extra-rugged appeal that she liked. He was bright, ambitious, and they had plenty in common. She tugged in a deciding breath. What would be so bad? she asked herself. She couldn’t think of one reason, and then Chad walked in with Samantha.
Chapter 22
They caught each other’s eye almost simultaneously, their reaction nearly identical: a flash of excitement, quickly replaced with the realization of their respective circumstances.
Drawing on all her home training, Simone waved merrily and put on her best smile, even as Samantha glided across the room linked to Chad’s arm, as if there were no other place she should be.
Adam looked over his shoulder to see who’d attracted Simone’s attention and effectively cut off the response he’d waited far too long to hear. There was no missing the look that passed between them. It was only an instant, but it said so much. And he wondered if Samantha realized that the man she was falling for was in love with her sister.
“Hey, folks,” Simone greeted when the striking couple stopped at the table.
“Great minds think alike,” Samantha joked.
Adam stood and shook Chad’s hand. “Join us, man, might be a while for a table. The place is pretty packed tonight.”
Chad looked to his date, brows raised in question.
“Sure,” she shrugged nonchalantly, even though she would have preferred to have Chad to herself for a couple of hours. Besides, the owed Simone a big apology for hanging up on her earlier. Turning down Adam’s invitation would seem like another slap in the face.
After seating Samantha, Chad confiscated a lone chair from the next table and took his place next to her, directly opposite Simone.
“You guys order yet?” Chad asked, scanning the dimness for a waitress. He could use a drink.
“Just appetizers and something to take the edge off,” Simone answered, holding up her half-finished drink for confirmation.
“Then we have some catching up to do,” Chad said, signaling for the waitress heading in their direction.
“What can I get everyone?” a twenty-something supermodel type asked.
“This round is on me,” Chad offered magnanimously. “Refills for whatever they’re having.” He looked to Simone. “Margarita, right?”
She raised her glass and smiled in agreement.
The waitress quickly took the rest of the order and disappeared.
“How’d the rest of your day shape up, Simone?” Chad asked. “You said you had a lot of meetings.”
Adam glanced at her curiously, wondering when they’d spoken, when he’d seen her.
“Pretty grueling, but nothing less than what I expected. Everyone wants something—immediately. What about you two? Any new developments?”
“If you mean any more threats, not today. Hopefully they’ve filled their quota for the time being,” Samantha said.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do—about tomorrow?” Simone asked with caution, not wanting another outburst from her sister.
A look that Simone couldn’t quite pinpoint passed between Samantha and Chad.
Samantha took a breath. “I’ve been convinced by a very influential source to, at least, see her,” she confessed.
Simone instantly knew that it was nothing she’d said that changed Sam’s mind, and a twinge of jealousy settled in her stomach. Her mouth pinched as if she’d sucked a lemon. “Glad to hear it.” She raised the glass to her mouth and drained the rest of her drink. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
“What are we talking about, for those not in the know?” Adam quizzed, looking from one woman to the other.
Samantha explained, leaving out the ugly details.
“It might not be a bad idea for you to lay low for a while, Sam,” Adam said at the conclusion of her revelation.
“That’s not an option,” she stated clearly. “I’ll listen to what she has to say and then she can go back to Atlanta. We’re just about finished processing the names for the suit, and there’s no way I’m leaving in the middle of it.”
“What are the next steps
in the game plan?” Adam asked, speaking to Chad.
“I’m hoping by next week to get the preliminary paperwork done and begin interviewing the complainants. Justin is dealing with the filing.”
“Chad will be working out of my office, since all of the files are there,” Samantha added.
“Why not Dad’s office?” Simone wanted to know.
“Justin has too much going on over there with his regular clientele,” Chad said, although he would have preferred Justin’s office himself, especially since Justin was very clear about keeping his daughters as far removed from the process as possible. Unfortunately, his wants didn’t work with the need.
“Do you have enough hands to help?” Simone asked. “I may be able to squeeze in some time.”
“I’m sure we’ll be all right. But thanks for the offer, sis. Besides, you have enough to do with your campaign.”
The waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders for dinner. The band swung into their rendition of “Misty,” and everyone tapped their feet to the familiar classic rhythm.
“How is the campaign coming, Simone?” Chad asked, taking a sip of his Jack Daniels on the rocks.
“Our poll numbers are up by the latest count. But starting next week I’ll be back out on the trail, shaking hands and accepting wet kisses from babies,” Simone said drolly.
“She makes it sound like she hates it, but the truth is this lady shines under the glare of potential voter eyes,” Adam joked, lightly touching Simone’s arm, hoping to get her to tear her eyes away from Chad and Samantha.
“My sister and my mother are the consummate politicians. I only wish I had their tact and diplomacy,” Sam added.
“You do tend to say what’s on your mind,” Chad added, giving her a private look.
Simone loudly cleared her throat. “I’m starved. I hope this food arrives soon.” She took another long swallow of her drink and began to feel the buzz, the almost-there feeling that would take one more drink to reach. “So what made you two decide to come out tonight, especially since there’s so much to do?”
“It was your sister’s idea,” Chad offered.
“You didn’t seem to mind,” Simone returned, a decided edge to her voice. Another long swallow. Almost there.
“He’s been working real hard. I thought a night out would do us both some good.” Samantha looked at her sister, trying to gauge where the tension was coming from. Maybe it was the residual effects of their earlier conversation. But somehow she didn’t think so. It was almost as if Simone resented their presence.
“All work and no play…” Simone let the comment hang there. She signaled for the waitress. “Another margarita, please. This round’s on me,” she added.
“I’m fine,” Samantha said, barely having touched her wine spritzer.
“I’m cool,” came from Chad.
“Nothing else for me, thanks,” Adam said. “Maybe you should slow down, too,” he quietly mentioned to Simone.
“I don’t need you to tell me how much to drink,” she snapped from between her teeth. Almost there.
Samantha glanced at Chad, then at Adam, who both kept their gazes averted. “Would you all excuse me for a minute? I’m going to find the ladies’ room. Simone, come with me. You know how bad I am with directions,” she joked, making her voice light.
Simone pushed back in the chair and stood, grabbing her purse from the table in one swift motion.
The men watched them walk away, then returned to their drinking and feigning interest in the band. Silence hung between them until Chad spoke up.
“How many has she had?”
“One too many, obviously.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Maybe you should tell me,” Adam said, staring Chad in the eye.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Adam took a breath, weighing the right and wrong of what he was about to say. “She told me about the two of you.”
Chad’s brows raised in surprise, then lowered. “I see.” He stared into the amber of his drink, watching the ice melt.
“She’s not over you, and it’s hard for her to see you with Sam.”
Chad rocked his jaw back and forth before speaking. “Whatever is happening or not happening between me and Simone is her call. This is the way she wanted things.”
“You really believe that?”
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I, brother?”
“We all have choices.”
Chad was quiet for a moment. “And where do you fit into all this?”
“I care about Simone—a great deal.”
“I see,” Chad said, nodding slowly. “And…?”
“And I want to see her happy.”
“So do I.”
“Let me put it to you this way, brother. I want to give Simone and me a shot, and I don’t want any surprises.”
“Like what?”
“Like you deciding halfway through the game that you want to play on the other team.” He took a sip of his drink and angled his body toward the stage, ending any further conversation, but his point had been made.
“What’s up with you?” Samantha asked as she watched Simone apply a coat of berry lipstick.
“What do you mean?” She peered closer into the mirror, studying her reflection as if for the first time.
“What’s with the subtle nasty comments?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She dug in her purse for her compact.
“Is this about this morning? Because if it is, I’m sorry, Monie. Sorry about what I said. I shouldn’t have taken my mess out on you. And I definitely shouldn’t have hung up on you.”
“Apology accepted,” she said unenthusiastically.
“Simone. Look at me.”
Simone spun around, her eyes hard. “What? I said I accepted your apology.”
“It’s more than that.” She paused a beat. “What’s going on with you and Chad?”
Chapter 23
Vaughn feigned sleep when she heard Justin gingerly open and close the bedroom door. She had no intention of continuing their conversation.
Justin slipped between the cool sheets and lay on his back listening to Vaughn’s breathing. They’d never gone to bed angry, and he wasn’t thinking of starting now. He turned on his side, pressing his front to her back.
“Babe, I know you’re upset. You have every right to be, but what’s done is done.” He slid his hands across her nylon-covered hip. The alluring, soft scent of her floated around them, drawing him to her like a magnet.
She shifted her body and eased away. “Vaughn, I’m sorry. What more can I say? How long are you not going to talk to me? That’s not who we are.”
Suddenly, she flipped onto her back, then turned to him in the dark. He could feel the burn of her gaze.
“We’re supposed to be a couple. A couple who talks and makes decisions together. But that’s not what happened here, Justin. And that’s your doing, not mine.” She turned onto her side, her back to him.
“Vaughn, just listen to me for a minute. Maybe I acted too hastily. I should have told you what I wanted to do…I should have talked with you about what I wanted to do,” he quickly amended. “But I didn’t. And for that I’m sorry. And that thing about Sam being my daughter…you’ve got to know I didn’t mean it to come across the way it sounded.”
“But it did. And you did,” she said.
He ran his hand higher up her hip, along the tender slope of her waist. “And I’m sorry. I swear I am. How long are you going to make me pay?” he asked in a pleading, little-boy voice.
Vaughn fought to keep from smiling. She couldn’t let him off that easy. “Don’t try sweet-talking me, Justin Montgomery. It’s not going to work this time.”
“So what am I going to have to do to make all this up to you?” he whispered, leaning down into her ear. He ran his tongue tauntingly along her lobe.
Her voice shivered ever so slightly. “More than that.�
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“Oh, yeah. Well, why don’t you tell me what I need to do for my penance.”
Slowly she turned over and looked up at the outline of his face in the darkness, the only illumination the sliver of moonlight that peeked in from between the curtains.
“Before you even think about ‘getting on your knees,’” she taunted, “I want it made clear that I’m going with you to the airport in the morning.”
“Fine. I want you there. What else?”
“And no more decisions without us talking about it first.”
“Agreed.” His fingers eased up beneath the swell of her breasts. He heard her quick intake of breath.
“You’re making…these…negotiations…very difficult to concentrate on,” she said on a rush of air when his palm captured and gently cupped one breast, teasing the nipple to erect firmness between his fingertips.
“Nothing worth having comes easy,” he whispered against her mouth, brushing his lips teasingly across hers. “Some things are very hard…indeed.”
“I do believe…I’d have to agree with you…on that one,” she said in a strained whisper as she took him in her hand and massaged the heated flesh.
The last hour of dinner was spent in an awkward silence, the obvious gaps in conversation filled with insignificant trivia.
Simone had walked out of the restroom, leaving Samantha and her question hanging in the perfumed air. Chad and Adam remained at a stalemate; whatever move made by the other would determine who ultimately went home with the spoils.
Mercifully, the meal, all half-eaten but earnestly studied by the four diners, was finally over. Goodbyes and wishes for safe trips home were halfheartedly given as they made their way out and to their cars.
“What is going on with you tonight, Simone?” Adam asked the instant Chad and Samantha were out of earshot.
“What makes everyone think something’s wrong with Simone? Little ol’ Simone who always has it together,” she mumbled, her words blurring together.
“You’re going to have one helluva headache in the morning. And you’re not driving. I’m taking you home.”