Sultry Pleasure

by Lindsay Evans

  “The newspaper!” her mother said shrilly, her voice rising through the phone. She lived all the way in Hialeah, but the way her tone cut, she might as well have been standing in Diana’s kitchen. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.”

  She heaved a sigh, even after all this time not fully able to deal with her mother’s dramatics. Jason got a B in Chemistry—complain to the principal! Her sister, Luna, was five minutes late from school—call the police! Diana looked around her brightly lit kitchen, the pristine cream countertops, the curtains open to let in the brilliant sunshine. She silently fought against the infection of her mother’s mania.

  “My paper just came, but I haven’t read it,” she said.

  “Get the paper,” her mother commanded. “Open it to the society page.”

  Society page? Her mother only bought the Sunday Herald for the mountains of coupons she could get her hands on. Remarried to a man who happily supported her, she didn’t need to clip coupons. But it gave her something to do with her days aside from gardening and talking on the phone to each of her three children at least once a week. Children she only saw every six months or so by mutual agreement.

  Diana opened the paper. As she turned to the page, her mother practically shouted into her ear.

  “Do you see it? Do you?”

  The paper had photos from the previous night’s party. The headline read Prism Luminaries Shine at Annual Miami Philanthropists’ Gala.

  The headline said just about the same thing every year. The photos and article about the gala took up all the first page of the society section. It had pictures of the women’s dresses, their jewelry, a rundown of who was who, which man was single and which couples looked radiant that night. Diana skimmed over the words to the photos. And froze.

  Someone had taken a photo of her and Marcus. To be fair, it wasn’t just of them, there were four other couples, too, because the paper seemed to be especially focused on speculating about the marriage situation of each pair pictured. The camera had caught her after the party, of course. She was in front of the hotel and in midstep, Marcus’s hand on the small of her back as he guided her into his gleaming silver car.

  It was a lucky shot. The photographer had caught her looking up at Marcus, a half smile on her lips while his face was seriousness itself, filled with a suave confidence that she’d fought against nearly the entire night. Nothing was scandalous about their pose, although it was obvious they were leaving the gala and heading somewhere together. Under their photo, a suggestive caption showed the newspaper had done its research: Miami billionaire playboy and business mogul Marcus Stanfield escorts Diana Hobbes, assistant executive director of local nonprofit Building Bridges, from the gala and off to a night on the town.

  Diana touched the grainy surface of the paper that memorialized what had happened between her and Marcus last night. She didn’t see what was wrong with the photograph. It wasn’t as if the papers had speculated that she and Marcus were dashing off from the party to have a wild night of sex.

  “Mother—” She made her voice placating.

  “You don’t know who he is, do you?”

  “He’s just Marcus, Mama. I met him last night.” Diana was getting irritated at her mother’s suggestion that she had done something wrong, that she should already know what that thing was and be groveling on her knees because of it.

  “Turn the page,” her mother snapped.

  On the next page, the reporters were done with the frivolous details of the Prism Gala and now talked about the powerful people there, their money and their business deals. There was another photo of Marcus, this time taken with another man. The two men had been caught side by side, in mid-conversation at what could have been a cocktail party. Marcus had a glass of dark liquor in his hand while the other man was caught in midgesture, his empty hands chopping the air. The other man was older, a couple of inches shorter than Marcus and wore power like his own skin. He was handsome but coldly so—his harder face was all too familiar to Diana. Her eyes dipped lower on the page to read the caption under the photograph: Power runs in the family. Multibillionaire businessman Quentin Stanfield and his son, Marcus.

  She sagged against the counter. Marcus was Quentin Stanfield’s son? Diana made a strangled noise. “But—but…”

  “But nothing!” her mother shouted. “That man who had his hands all over you last night is his son. That bastard who ruined your father and drove him to shove that gun in his mouth.”

  Diana shook her head in denial. No, he couldn’t be. Their night had been too perfect. He had been perfect.

  “You can’t see him again,” her mother said.

  Something caught in Diana’s throat. “No, I…I won’t.” She swallowed. “Listen, Mama. I have to go now. I have something I need to do.”

  Her mother’s tone instantly changed. “Are you all right?” She abruptly swung from manic to reasonable in a head-spinning moment, something else Diana had never gotten used to.

  “It’s not because of what I said, is it?” Her voice was muffled, as if she was pressing her mouth too close to the phone. “If that’s what it is, you only met him last night. It should be easy to toss this one back.” Her mother paused. “He’s a bad seed, baby. Just like Quentin Stanfield. You don’t have to end up like your father because of him.”

  Diana wanted to tell her mother how ridiculous and unlikely it was for her to end up like her father. Suicide at the age of forty-two had left behind three children and a mentally precarious wife. No one could do that to her, but because of what his father had done, she couldn’t see Marcus again. She just couldn’t.

  Her fingers curled into the edge of the kitchen counter. “I’m fine, Mama. I just woke up too soon, that’s all. I’m going to get off the phone now. I’ll talk with you later, okay?”

  “Okay. But call me. Otherwise I’m coming over.”

  But they both knew how idle that threat was. Her mother had created a stable life with her second husband and rarely left her house.

  Diana could only nod as she clutched the phone to her ear. She stared down at the newspaper with the photo of Marcus and his father. The two men looked nothing alike. Nothing. But that didn’t prevent the truth from being what it was. Quentin Stanfield had killed her father as surely as if he had put the gun in Washington Hobbes’s mouth and pulled the trigger himself.

  She slowly put the phone down, seeing in her mind’s eye her clinically depressed and suicidal father walk out of their house for the last time. Cheated out of his pension and unable to work, Washington Hobbes had only seen one route to escape his troubles. And it was a route Quentin Stanfield had shown him.

  Because of this, Diana couldn’t have anything to do with his son.

  Chapter 4

  Marcus woke late for his own party. By the time he roused himself from his bed, practiced his tai chi and made it outside for the brunch festivities, it was well past two in the afternoon. But his efficient staff had worked their usual miracle, creating a shaded oasis on the grass with tables, tents to shade his fifty plus guests from the sun and more food and drinks than they could reasonably consume while a DJ played smooth R&B from the raised stage. Maxwell, fresh from his recent European tour, stood by the side of the pool, shades over his face, while a few groupies and members of his entourage gathered around him. He was set to perform after brunch.

  Biscayne Bay glimmered in the afternoon brightness, its waters splashing with a soft and soothing sound against his tethered yacht and the dock. A small boat floated past the house in the water, its sails a sharp whiteness against the Miami cityscape.

  Marcus was chill—mellow and relaxed from his night with Diana. And although his body had been primed to have sex with her, in the light of morning, he still felt satisfied. Refreshed. Her effect on him was damn near miraculous.

  But he knew he should leave her alone. She was nothing like the cotton-candy women who floated in and out of his bed, glad for a taste of the luxurious life before they went on to somethi
ng else. Diana was serious and passionate, and eventually she would want something from him. Something he couldn’t give.

  For now, though, he ached to get his hands on her again.

  Standing on the pool deck, Marcus stretched under the bright sun, felt the thick muscles in his back flex and release under his shirt and his abs tighten, pecs leaping and settling with his movements. He released a long breath. It was already a good day.

  “Are you showing off that sexy manliness just for us?” A vaguely familiar voice broke into his thoughts. He turned from his view of the bay to see a woman he’d once spent a long weekend with. Cassandra something. Or was it Christina?

  She was a pretty girl with long, loose black hair, wearing a red bikini top and tiny shorts. She had a friend with her—a blonde with a short, asymmetrical haircut but otherwise similar to his former playmate. Her white bikini showed off well-augmented breasts and a flat stomach decorated with a diamond belly ring.

  Marcus knew he once thought Cassandra/Christina was gorgeous, definitely sexy enough to invite into his bed, but compared to Diana’s understated elegance, both women looked like they were trying too hard.

  “Not this time,” he said in response to the question.

  “Why, honey? We’d love to see what you’ve got to show.” She approached him with a bold look on her face, wetting her lips.

  Her friend was a little more cautious, but he could see from the way they were looking at him what was on their mind. Not long ago he would have taken them up on their offer, but he wasn’t interested. Marcus stepped back and jerked his head toward Maxwell, who was laughing with a couple of guys from the band.

  “I’m not feeling that today,” Marcus said. “But maybe the star could use some love.”

  The friend shook her head, bangs fluttering down over one eye. “We already tried. We’d have to get in line.” The woman’s eyes drifted over Marcus’s body, then settled for a long moment at his crotch before meeting his eyes. “The line is shorter over here.”

  Marcus was instantly repelled. “Sounds like a nice offer,” he said sardonically. “But I’m not taking any applications today. It’s all about the party and Maxwell.”

  She bit her lip, still looking him over. “That’s too bad.”

  Cassandra/Christina pressed her luck, too. “Come on, Marcus.” She stepped close to him, slid a hand under his shirt and touched his bare stomach. “We can spend some time in the pool house, all three of us. Then maybe go shopping in the morning.” The muscles of his belly clenched at her touch, and he just barely stopped himself from shoving her hand away.

  “Like I said before, no, thanks.” Then he removed her hand from under his shirt and walked away.

  *

  By six he was ready for everyone to leave. But, of course, they were just getting started. Women were already swimming naked in the pool while half the party danced on the long patio to the DJ’s sounds. All Marcus wanted to do was talk to Diana.

  When he finally got a free moment, he took his phone from his pocket, walked away from the sounds of the party and dialed Diana’s number. But Marcus got her voice mail. He called her three more times throughout the evening but never reached her.

  By the time the party ended at nearly six in the morning, he was half wondering if she’d given him the right number. But it was her voice that greeted him each time.

  Bleary from alcohol and not enough sleep, he called the private detective he kept on retainer and asked for everything about Diana. Her address, all her phone numbers, where she worked, even her parents’ information. Tomorrow, he would find her.

  *

  Marcus pulled up to the large, white, two-story Craftsman house that looked newly built, a graceful building that stood out like a swan among the older, weathered ugly-duckling houses on the street. The house’s only resemblance to its neighbors was the presence of black “burglar” bars over every one of its wide windows. A sign nearly as tall as the house itself with the words Building Bridges stenciled across it in dark blue stood proudly in the front yard.

  The neighborhood held the quiet of late morning. It was too early for the kids to be out of school, too early even for the lunch crowd that would walk the streets to the nearby corner store. Not far from the building, a group of boys leaned against a front gate. Their pants sagged and hair was knotted up in dreadlocks, and most of them wore the uniform of backward baseball cap, white undershirt and oversize shorts.

  Marcus gave them a nod as he strode toward Building Bridges, pocketing the keys to his car. Three empty rocking chairs waited to be filled on the front porch of the immaculate house. The wooden floors of the porch gleamed with polish, and a bronze mailbox sat just above the doorbell. Marcus rang the bell and waited. A young woman appeared in the doorway.

  She was slender and short with skin the soft brown of the outside of a coconut. The girl had her hair pulled back in a ponytail that emphasized her doe eyes and rounded cheeks. Wearing a white blouse, black skirt and sensible shoes, she looked like she belonged in a Catholic high school. Or maybe middle school.

  “Good morning.” She greeted him with a smile, pushing wide the screen door. Marcus caught the edge of the door and held it open.

  “Good morning.” He smiled back at her. “Is Diana Hobbes working today?”

  “Of course!” The girl looked even more pleased, as if she was glad he had asked for Diana in particular. “She’s always working.” She shoved the screen door wider for him to step through. “Come in.”

  She introduced herself as Carla as he followed her inside. He gave her his name in return.

  Marcus stepped into an open hallway with stairs on the right leading to the second level of the building. Whereas the exterior of the building was a crisp white, the interior was an explosion of color. Each wall was painted a different shade, and the tile floors gleamed black.

  The house buzzed with activity and conversation, excited and urgent. A pair of women rushed past him and up the stairs as they volleyed words. Their heels clacked against the stairs. From behind the pastel-green wall, he heard the whispering of printers and fingers tapping against keyboards. Very faintly, a radio or stereo played smooth jazz.

  “Sorry!” Carla said as she sat behind the reception desk in the wide hallway. She scooted her chair closer to the desk. “It’s been a little crazy since Prism this weekend. We didn’t expect to win at all, and now we barely know what to do with ourselves.” She grinned.

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He knew that a Prism award also came with ten thousand dollars donated toward the winning foundation’s operating costs.

  “We’re very excited!” Carla clapped her hands. “Are you here to take Diana out to celebrate?”

  “That wasn’t the plan, but I’m open to that.” He returned the young woman’s grin. “The company of a beautiful woman like Diana would make my day even better.”

  “It would!” The young woman leaned toward him and filled their shared space with the scent of bubble gum and hot chocolate. “She is such an amazing person,” Carla said. “Always working long hours, even after everyone else is gone. She’s tireless. If you ask me, I think she’s the person bringing in most of our donations.” She said all these things as if confessing a secret. “And she deserves a nice lunch.”

  Just then, he caught a glimpse of Diana upstairs. A flash of her long legs in pale green high heels, the swish of a black skirt. A ruffled blouse the same color as her shoes. Her high heels tapped against the tiled floor as she walked across the wide space and disappeared into an office. She looked busy and professional. Like temptation itself. He wanted to pull her into his arms to kiss her breathless.

  “There she is,” he said, inclining his head in Diana’s direction.

  “Just give me a few minutes while I call her down. I’m sure she’d love to talk with you.”

  He abruptly made a decision. “No, no. Don’t disturb her. It was a personal matter. I can reach her at home where she’ll have a little more t
ime.” Diana, unlike other women he was used to dealing with, had important things to do, a job she loved. He didn’t want to be selfish and pull her away from that, even for a moment. His pursuit could wait until the evening. “You don’t have to tell her that I stopped by.”

  “Are you sure?” Carla asked. “I’m sure she could use a break. She’s been here since seven this morning.”

  “No, it’s fine.” Decision made, Marcus reached out to shake the young woman’s hand. “Thank you for your time, Carla. I appreciate you taking a few moments out of your day to talk with me.”

  “You’re welcome.” Her smile was just about blinding.

  He felt her eyes on his back as he let himself out. Marcus turned to look back at the building’s plain facade that was not at all indicative of its interior, not unlike Diana. Then he turned to walk back to his car. As he closed the gate behind him, one of the young men gathered a couple of houses away called out to him.

  “Nice car, man.”

  “Thanks.” Marcus tipped his head in the young man’s direction, then after looking again at Diana’s building, got in the Mercedes and drove away.

  Chapter 5

  Diana unlocked her front door and walked inside, briefcase and mail in hand. She was emotionally exhausted. The day at work had been long—not because of the actual work but because the entire time she had fielded speculating looks and questions about Marcus Stanfield. It seemed as if the entire office knew she had left the Prism party with him. Or maybe they read the society pages, like her mother.

  But no matter how much she’d told her boss, her secretary, even Trish, that the night with Marcus would lead to nothing, they didn’t seem to believe her.