Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit)

by Lauren H. Kelley

  The wide-eyed girl gawked at him. She placed the flash drive into a plastic pouch. “Here.” She shoved a form across the counter. “Fill this out. Your job should be done by tomorrow morning.”

  Sebastian frowned. “I need the copies this afternoon. I have to mail them tonight. Can I pay for rush service and get the copies by five?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Probably not.”

  He pointed overhead. “Your sign says you offer same-day service at an additional cost.”

  She smacked her lips. “Sir, we don’t make guarantees on same-day rush jobs.” Miss Null and Void stared blankly. Her lackluster personality nudged him to the edge.

  Sebastian glanced at her badge. “Lisa,” he said, placing both hands on the counter. “Let me tell you how this is going to work.” His glare locked on her like a missile. “I pay you money. You do the work. No questions asked.” Sebastian retrieved a pen from the counter and scribbled on the form. “Otherwise, I’ll have to speak with your boss and tell him or her about your horrible attitude and general lack of interest in making a sale.” His irritated voice raised. The girl flinched.

  A hand with long purple fingernails snatched the completed form from Sebastian’s fingers. “I can have your copies ready at six o’clock,” the snarky voice said.

  He eased back. Pocketed his hands. “Six o’clock will be fine. What’s the total?”

  She typed a series of keystrokes into a computer. “One hundred and eighty dollars plus tax. Will you need them bound? Binding costs extra.”

  “That’s fine. The extra cost is not a problem. I’ll be back at seven.”

  Sebastian bolted for the exit. The vibration in his right pocket slowed his steps to a crawl. He pulled out his cell phone and glanced at the caller’s number. “Stephen,” he muttered under his breath. He punched the talk button. “What can I do for you, Stephen?” He didn’t hide his annoyance.

  “I’m checking on your progress. The meeting is at seven on Monday morning. Is your proposal ready?”

  Sebastian lowered his voice as a man and woman passed him on the sidewalk. “Yes. I’m having copies made now. They’ll ship tonight, in plenty of time for the meeting.”

  Stephen didn’t say a word. “Hello. Stephen?” Sebastian asked.

  Breaking the silence, “Uh, yeah. That’s great news, Stone. Why are you shipping the presentations? You do know there’s a hurricane headed straight for the Keys, don’t you? Shouldn’t you get an earlier flight out?”

  Sebastian unlocked the door and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Yes. Of course, I know about the storm, but I’m not changing my plans. I’m leaving Saturday morning as planned.”

  “Stone, that’s cutting it awfully close. You should try to get an earlier flight out. There must be flights leaving tomorrow. I’ll have Judith change your arrangements.”

  Sebastian inhaled a deep breath. He couldn’t wait to see Ashley on Friday. The mere thought of her aroused him. “Stephen, that won’t be necessary. I’m leaving Saturday morning. The presentations will ship tomorrow. I’ll have them sent to Judith.”

  Stephen huffed. “If you screw this up, I can’t protect you.”

  A knot formed in Sebastian’s stomach. “I never asked for your protection. I’ll see you bright and early on Monday.”

  “Seven o’clock, Monday. Later, Stone.”

  “Good-bye, Stephen.”

  The call disconnected. Sebastian’s hands came down hard on the leather steering wheel. He gripped the wheel tightly. Another vibration. He glanced at the incoming call. A smile washed away his angry scowl.

  “Hey, man! What’s going on?” Weeks had passed since Sebastian last talked to his best buddy Daniel.

  “I thought I’d better check on you. I figured you must be getting so much action that you forgot my number,” Daniel joked.

  Sebastian chuckled. “No action yet, but not for lack of trying.”

  “I’m surprised. You’ve been there for more than a week. Nothing?”

  He huffed. “Daniel, man. There’s this woman, Ashley. I met her a few months ago in Atlanta under interesting circumstances. Ran into her again at the airport. We happened to be on the same flight to Key West. I’ve taken her out a few times. I like her.”

  “You like her, but… I sense your hesitation.”

  “But, she’s different. Different than my usual type.”

  “Different can be good.”

  “Different is definitely good. She’s got edge, which I like.”

  “She a blond?”

  “Nope. Darker.”

  “Oh yeah, dude. Blondes are fun, but brunettes are wild. I’m jealous.”

  “No, she’s not brunette. She’s black.”

  The phone went silent. “You mean she’s black as in Goth or she’s black as in soul sista?”

  Sebastian hadn’t ever considered how to describe Ashley. Being interested in a black woman had only ever been a notion, not that he had ever given the idea serious consideration. He started the engine and put the vehicle into reverse. “I mean she’s black as in African American.” He swiveled around to glance at his rear left and then right. The Jeep reversed out of the parking space.

  “Wow! I didn’t think they liked us.”

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. “They? Who in the hell is they?”

  “Man, you know exactly what I mean, black women.

  He shook his head. “They,” he said making air quotes, “don’t like you.”

  “I’m not trying to be insensitive or insulting. I’ve seen many attractive black women who I haven’t had the courage to ask out. I wish I had your balls.”

  Sebastian pulled out onto Duval Street. “I know you wish you had my balls.” He chuckled. “Ashley is an intelligent, beautiful woman. I didn’t have to think twice about asking her out. We had an instant attraction… chemistry.”

  “You know I’m not a racist jerk, but I must admit, this news is shocking. I never knew you were interested in exotic women.”

  Sebastian glanced at the clock on the dashboard. He still had time to run one more errand. “I never knew I’d be interested in any woman. I wish the circumstances were different. I would have liked to get to know her better.”

  “Why don’t you continue to see her? She lives in Atlanta, right?”

  “She does, but I… I don’t know.” Sebastian paused. “I haven’t had this much fun in years. I’ll see her Friday night. Maybe I’ll throw it out there. Maybe.”

  “Sebastian, this is good. Hearing you talk about a woman is very good. If you do the deed, you have to let me know what that’s like.” He heard Daniel’s smile.

  Sebastian pulled into the parking lot. The Flower Pot had the best selection of flowers in the Keys. “I plan to do the deed, and I absolutely will not share those details with you when it happens.”

  “You really like this woman, huh?”

  “I think I do. I like her. She’s interesting and she doesn’t hold back.” Sebastian slammed the door. “By the way, I need a favor. I need your help to find something. I’ll e-mail you details later. Can you help?”

  “Sure, man. Whatever you need. I’ll look for your e-mail.”

  “Awesome. I’ve got to run. The big date is Friday.”

  Sebastian leaned against the front of the Jeep. One foot settled on the bumper. Busy fingers scrolled the address book. His chest tightened. His nerves hadn’t bothered him until now. The phone rang.

  “Hello,” Ashley said, slightly hesitant. Normally she didn’t answer calls from unknown numbers. Seeing the Atlanta area code gave her chills.

  His velvety smooth voice satisfied her secret desire. “Hello, beautiful,” Sebastian said. His husky voice quaked through her core.

  Ashley’s pulse raced. She guided the rickety shopping cart down an empty aisle. Good thing no one could witness her gushing like a silly pubescent teen. “Hi, Sebastian,” she managed calmly. The cart rattled loudly as she strolled down the aisle.

  “I’ve missed seeing you, ta
lking to you. What are you doing?”

  Her fingers curled around the basket’s handle until her hands ached. Would she have the nerve to go through with her plan once he had her?

  “I’ve been thinking,” she said, her voice softening to a whisper. Ashley leaned down on the shopping cart handle. “Let’s leave things between us as they are. Besides, a storm is coming. Kerri thinks we should leave early.”

  As though he found his courage in her weakness, “That’s not good enough for me,” he said, his tone marked with renewed confidence. “I want to see you again. I don’t care that a hurricane is coming. Let her leave. You can stay with me.”

  She wanted to see him again, too. She stood up straight, put the cart in motion again. “Okay. Friday?”

  “Yes, Friday. I want you all day.” His voice lowered to a seductive growl. “And all night.”

  Ashley swallowed hard, fell silent. She should have been angry. To him, she had been a two-week booty call. Damn her for finding his desire for her sexy. With her plan, she could get what she wanted. She found her nerve and voice again. “What time?”

  “I’ll pick you up at two o’clock. I have a special day planned for us. We’ll spend the evening at my place.” She heard the smile in Sebastian’s voice.

  Her hand slipped. Bottles of lubricant slid off the top shelf and crashed to the floor. “All right. I’ll see you at two on Friday.”

  “Ashley, are you okay? Don’t you dare hurt that ankle again before I get my hands on you.”

  Desire tempered her fury. Bitterness would fuel her revenge later. Right now, Ashley focused on cleaning up the mess she had made. “Uh, everything is fine. I’ve got to finish my shopping.”

  “See you Friday,” he said.

  Ashley shoved the phone into her handbag. She squatted. There must have been a thousand bottles of lube on that shelf, now scattered across the entire floor. She stood, drove the cart to the end of the aisle in search of someone who worked at the small grocery store for help.

  She wheeled the cart to the right. “Oh, crap! I’m sorry,” she squealed, almost making a handsome young clerk aisle kill. “There’s a huge mess on aisle sex.” Ashley cringed. A wave of heat rolled through her belly. “I mean aisle six.”

  The clerk frowned and then headed in the direction of her destruction. Ashley followed and stood next to the endcap where gallons of water were on sale. He hopscotched down the aisle, carefully stepping from foot to foot to avoid the plastic bottles. A small gathering of shoppers and other store employees assembled at both ends of the aisle. He glanced back at Ashley, his face turning red. “Did you get enough K-Y Jelly or need anything else?” he asked, barely containing his laughter. Snickers came from the onlookers.

  Ashley wished shrink-ray technology existed. She could shrink herself to two inches in height and duck for cover under a shelving unit. What the hell, she thought. “Yep.” She held up one of the tiny bottles. “I’m going to get everything I need Friday night. Thanks for the help.”

  An odd sound came from her handbag. Ashley peered inside her purse. Light illuminated the leather cave. She reached in and lifted the cell phone to her ear. Piercing laughter assaulted her eardrums.

  “Sebastian?” she asked. Her heart hammered through her chest wall.

  “Yes, baby. You will get what you need Friday night,” he choked out through his laughter.

  Ashley let out a loud sigh and hit the end button, disconnecting the call. She tossed the phone back into her handbag.

  “Give me that,” she said, snatching another bottle of lubricant from the grocery store clerk. Fuck it! “Where are your handcuffs, whips and chains?” She asked, without cracking a smile. The young man turned a shade of red that she had never seen on a human being. Crayola could call the color nuclear red.

  Sebastian Stone had better be worth her embarrassment.

  A beach towel tumbled aimlessly like a weed. He watched the rag float down the shoreline until it vanished from his sight. The cool early morning breeze invigorated him after his jog. Sebastian shuffled sand under his feet and stared out at the open sea. His thoughts wafted from the Monday morning board meeting to his date planned with Ashley. For the first time in years, he looked forward to something and life seemed less mundane. Maybe Daniel had been right. Seeing Ashley in Atlanta might be good for him.

  Sebastian whipped out his phone and sent a text message.

  Today is the big date. I plan to ask her to continue seeing me back in Atlanta.

  He sent the message. Waited. Paced. Without fail, his friend replied.

  Good move. Finally using those huge balls of yours? Seriously, have fun.

  Sebastian respected his friend’s advice and opinion. Daniel had been married and divorced twice and recently started dating again. Sebastian, on the other hand, had dated Ellie since high school. He thought they would grow old together. Finding himself again, without her, had been the most difficult period in his thirty-five years.

  Another text from Daniel came in.

  I know you. Stop feeling guilty. Do what you must. Be happy. Live.

  Sebastian smiled and then rolled his eyes. He fired back a response.

  Don’t know if you’re the devil or an angel on my shoulder. In either case, get the fuck off.

  A reply from Daniel took seconds.

  I’m both, fucker. Leave me alone and go get laid.

  He smiled and headed back to his room, excitement and energy flowed through him.

  Sebastian prepared everything for their date. The special gift he ordered would arrive for Ashley this morning. Tonight no one would interrupt them. He wouldn’t let her make excuses. He wouldn’t make any excuses himself. She would be all his.

  He sat at a desk in his room. The presentation that he spent hours to create and practiced at least one hundred times stared back at him on the laptop. He had crafted a winning proposal, and the Board would be crazy if they didn’t approve his plan. An opportunity to buy six foreclosed properties and turned them into revenue engines would get their attention and secure his future. He leaned back, rested his hands behind his head. Fire that flowed through his veins hadn’t been there in five years. He smiled, exhaled a breath. Sebastian found his way back, on all fronts.

  Chapter Ten

  The doorbell rang, the chime echoing throughout the house. Kerrigan hurried to the foyer. She peeled back a sheer curtain, peeking through the narrow sidelight window. A refugee from an eighties punk-rock band sporting a spiky Mohawk held a large white box in his arms.

  “I have a package for Ashley Turner,” the delivery man droned, his voice barely penetrating the wooden door.

  Kerrigan turned and smiled at Ashley. “Ash, I bet that’s a gift from Sebastian.” The giddiness in her voice made Ashley’s eyes roll like marbles.

  Ashley opened the door and pried the box from the man’s tattooed arms. “Here you are,” she said, handing him a ten-dollar tip. “Thank you.”

  Ashley scuffled with the box, setting the large square object on the breakfast table in the kitchen.

  “Use this.” Kerrigan held out a box cutter to slice through the meticulously sealed package.

  Ashley eased into a chair. She took the blade and set it aside. With bare hands, she ripped off the tape.

  “Or, maybe not.” Kerrigan laughed. “Should I worry about Sebastian tonight?” she teased.

  “Definitely,” Ashley quipped back, lips twisted into a sly grin.

  Impatient hands peeled away the last remnants of the stubborn tape. Ashley lifted the lid slowly. Carefully. She folded back layers of tissue paper to reveal the treasure.

  Her mouth dropped open. “Oh, wow!” She lifted the dress from the box, held the garment up high. “This is gorgeous. Sebastian must have spent a small fortune.”

  Kerrigan’s eyes caressed the sleek, backless gown. “That satin will hug your curves like a glove. Sebastian has good taste.”

  Ashley’s heart leaped into her throat. Kerrigan’s eager hands riffled throug
h the box while Ashley’s nerves paralyzed her motionless and speechless.

  Pinched fingers held up what appeared to be a torture device used for asphyxiation. “I need to wash my hands,” Kerrigan joked, her eyes stretching wide. “With bleach,” she added, tossing the scanty lingerie made more of string than fabric, and crotchless thongs, onto the table.

  Ashley swallowed hard. “Damn,” she blurted out. “I think we might kill each other tonight.” She leaned over and raised the straps of a small overnight bag. Handing the bag to Kerrigan, “Take a look,” Ashley said, her sultry expression marked by a wink.

  Kerrigan unzipped the bag and stuck her hand inside. “What in the hell?” Metal handcuffs dangled from her fingertips before she placed them on the table next to the fetish threads. “What else is in that bag, or dare I ask?”

  “A few toys, condoms, lube.” She laughed, remembering the incident at the grocery store and the nuclear-red store clerk. “The usual stuff.”

  Kerrigan blushed. “The usual stuff for you, not for me.”

  Ashley stood, wagged her index finger at Kerrigan. “Your husband needs to be kept satisfied. I could teach you a thing or two.”

  “What you teach me might land me in prison or worse.”

  “But you’d thank me,” Ashley warbled, the cadence of her words rising in sing-song fashion.

  A wedge of paper caught Ashley’s eye. She pulled a note from the box. “What’s this?” She unfolded the small piece of paper. Her eyes scanned the letter word for word, line by line.

  Ashley,

  I’ve never felt physical desire like I have for you. I want you to enjoy the special evening I have planned for us. This gift is one that I hope will always remind you of our special night and the memories we created. I can’t wait to see you. I can’t wait to touch you. Years from now, no matter where you are and no matter where I am, we’ll always have Key West. Two strangers, two lovers for just one night.

  Sebastian

  Silenced again, Ashley blinked several times and then dashed down the hallway.