Grant saw the moment Zack turned to realize Diamond, whom he expected to be following him was not there. Now, if Grant were an insecure man, he would take this moment to get the hell out of dodge, but he chose to stay to see who would emerge from this battle alive. So he remained standing.
The look on Zack’s face was monstrous when he reached the table. “Apparently I did not make myself clear. I want a moment of your time—now!”
Diamond sat there staring up at him wondering if she should just get up or give him a piece of her mind. Who does he think he is talking to like he was somebody’s boss. Oh wait, he is her boss. Damn. Well maybe it was time for her to do something about that, too. “Mr. Davenport, have you met Grant Hutchison?”
If looks could kill, Grant would have been massacred where he stood. “Not officially,” Grant extended his hand.
Public arena, Zack said to himself. Otherwise he would have knocked that smug look off of Hutchison’s face. He reluctantly took the man’s hand. “Hutchison.”
“It’s a pleasure.” Grant said knowing he was just pissing Zack off more.
Trying not to be rude, Zack nodded, then turned to Diamond and raised an eyebrow.
The nerve of him, acting like a Neanderthal. The atmosphere around the table snapped with tension.
Zack bent down to the table and whispered, “Don’t test me.”
Diamond exhaled and stood. “Grant, would you excuse me for a moment. While I’m gone would you order another bottle of that wine.” She smiled then deliberately walked around Zack.
Zack took a moment to control his emotions as he watched her hips sway seductively as she walked away. He turned to find Grant watching as well. “You don’t ogle another man’s property.”
“Property? Hmm, I was watching a woman.” Grant said as he retook his seat. He grinned at Zack. “You better catch her before she gets away.”
Diamond stomped back to the table. “Are you coming?” Diamond gritted through her teeth, then walked off again.
Grant wanted to laugh, but instead he shook his head. “Damn, I like sassy women.”
Zack didn’t know which way to turn. He wanted to knock the hell out of Hutchison, but he also wanted to know why in the hell was Diamond there with him in the first place. “Do you value your life?” He walked off following Diamond.
“This is going to be interesting,” Grant grinned.
Walking to the back of the restaurant, Diamond saw Roz. “Roz, excuse me. Do you have a private room I could use for less than five minutes?”
It was clear to Roz that Diamond was a little heated. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Zackary Davenport strutting toward them fuming. “Yes, of course.” She pointed to a door near the restrooms. “You are welcome to use my office.” Zack had just reached them. “Hello Mr. Davenport.”
“Hello,” he growled.
With a roll of her eyes, Diamond opened the door and stormed in. As soon as the door closed Roz heard the raised voices. She turned towards the kitchen and called, “Cynthia.”
Diamond turned angrily on Zack. “I can’t believe you would behave like that in public. What is wrong with you?”
“What in the hell are you doing here with him?”
“What did it look like? We were talking and having dinner. Like normal people do. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Like hell it’s not my business! Anything and everything you do is my business!”
“What?” A confused Diamond exclaimed as he towered furiously over her. She told him before, neither his size nor his anger fazed her; she yelled back just as furiously. “How in the hell is what I do any of your business? You made it very clear that you did not want me as a part of your life. Fine! Your wish is granted. You have no rights in my life.”
“Like hell. The moment you propositioned me gave me all the rights I need. And you damn well better understand that.” His nostrils flared as he stared down at her. How could she be here with another man? He just decided to allow her into his life. How dare she? “And here’s something else you better know.” He snarled. “I don’t share.”
“Oh, that’s rich. Like you haven’t made that abundantly clear over the last week. You don’t share your life! You don’t share your love! And you damn sure don’t share your heart! As a matter of fact, YOU, Zackary Davenport are a selfish, cantankerous, belligerent, ass!”
“Don’t tempt me Diamond Renee Lassiter. You know I don’t back down when pushed into a corner.” He stepped closer pinning her in the corner. “Or do you need a reminder of what happened the last time you tempted me?”
Diamond’s mouth gaped open. “You wouldn’t dare. We are in a public place.” She hesitated for a millisecond then took a step bringing them only a breath away. “You know, if I didn’t know better, you are behaving like you’re jealous or something.”
“You are damn right I’m jealous. You belong to me, Damnit!” He grabbed her by the shoulders then crushed his lips to hers greedily taking the sweetness of her mouth and drinking as if it was the last thing he would ever taste.
Stunned, then captured in his madness, Diamond had no choice but to surrender to his demanding kiss. The fact that they were in a public place escaped her mind. The only thing functioning was her tongue with his, her arms as they slid around his neck, her legs, spreading as the moisture from her inner body saturated her panties. Her brain didn’t kick in until the realization that her body was being lifted against the wall, but even that deserted her when she felt his hardness between her legs. Lord help her she wanted him then and there.
Zack had no idea what in the hell was happening to him and he didn’t give a damn. The only thing that mattered was touching her. At that moment his very life depended on it. If he didn’t get inside of her his body was going to explode. He unzipped his pants, moved her panties aside and plunged deep inside of her. Lord she was so wet. She was so hot. She was so his. The realization struck him to the core. The past was done, this woman whose inner core surrounded him so sweetly was his future.
Their breathing stopped! The air around them crackled. Neither moved, as he held her against the wall. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, her arms clinging around his neck. He broke the kiss, willing himself not to move within her. “Diamond,” he murmured against her cheek, “We have to stop.”
“No,” she almost cried out as she tightened her legs around him and squeezed her inner muscles.
He groaned. It felt like heaven. She kissed his throat and suckled there furiously. With his hands cupped around her waist, he lifted her slightly and eased her body down around him. They both groaned at the feel of her velvety inner core and his smooth as steel life line tenderly merging. She cupped the back of his head, holding his forehead to hers. “Do it again,” she breathlessly whispered.
He could feel himself growing inside of her at the request. “Diamond,” he moaned.
“Diamond,” someone called from the hallway. “Are you okay in there?”
Neither of them heard as the door cracked opened.
“Oh.” Cynthia looked on. “Wave your hand if you are where you want to be.”
Embarrassed at being caught with her legs wrapped around a man, but unable to care at the moment, Diamond slightly flipped her hand. “All righty then. Carry on.” Cynthia replied and closed the door.
Zack knew he had to get them under control. He slowly withdrew from her with a moan. He pulled her legs from around his waist and sat her feet on the floor. After smoothing her dress down, he then pushed himself back into his pants. It wasn’t until he attempted to zip them did he feel where the zipper had nicked him. He placed his forehead against hers. “I swear I don’t know what you do to me,” he shook his head back and forth. “But I’m tired of fighting.”
“You’re driving me crazy Zack. One minute you’re making love to me and the next you’re angry with me. What do you want from me Zack?” She pulled her arms away from his neck and walked around him.
“Come home wit
h me.” She turned to him.
“Is that what this is about--me being here with Grant?”
“No Diamond, it’s about you being with any man.”
Exasperated, she just shook her head, “You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either. I have to freshen up and get back to Grant.”
Zack glared at her as if she had lost her mind. “You are not leaving here with him.”
She wasn’t sure if she was angry at him or angrier with herself for wanting to finish what they started. But one thing was certain; she wasn’t playing games with him any longer. “What do you want Zack?”
The look of determination in his eyes caused her heart to race more as he approached her. Standing over her, he looked into those deep brown eyes and said what she had been longing to hear. “I want you Diamond.” He stroked her cheek with his hand. “I want you.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled, “I’m not leaving with Grant because I didn’t come with him. This was a business meeting. Not a date.”
It took all the control he had not to laugh at that ridiculous statement. Of course it was a date. He saw the way Hutchison was looking at her. “Come home with me.”
Stepping away, she shook her head, “I have to finish this meeting.” She walked towards the door. “Pearl’s out of town. You can come by later.” Still not liking the idea of her being with Hutchison, he frowned. She almost laughed at his expression. Then a thought occurred to her. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” he sighed. But then he remembered he was there with Celeste. Damn, the last thing he needed was for Diamond to see that. “How long are you going to be?”
“It’s only going to take me a few minutes to wash up.”
“Not that. How long are you going to be here with him?”
Zackary Davenport was pouting. She smiled as she wondered if he even knew why he was so angry. But she knew. “Oh, I don’t know. We have another bottle of wine to finish.” She opened the door and walked out. Let him ponder on that for a while.
Zackary waited a few minutes to allow himself time to literally go down. When he walked out of the office Cynthia Lassiter was waiting in the hallway for him.
“Zackary,” she coolly spoke.
“Cynthia.” He testily replied.
“It’s not my business…”
“No, it’s not.” He turned to walk away.
“It is Samuel’s business.” She walked towards him. “So I hope for your sake this is something more than a quickie.”
He turned back to her and smirked, “I don’t do quickies,” then walked off.
By the time he returned to the table, Celeste and Chanté had finished eating and were laughing. “We need to leave.” He said, praying he didn’t sound anxious.
“Is something wrong?” Celeste mockingly asked.
“Life is wonderful,” he sarcastically replied as he looked over his shoulder. As his luck would have it, Diamond had just returned back to the table and was staring right at him. He could see the look of hurt as their eyes held. He wanted to go to her and explain about Celeste, but Chanté called him.
“Did I say something to upset you, Mr. Davenport?”
He turned to the child who had a serious look of concern on her face. “No,” he replied. “I just need to get back to the office. What hotel are you staying at?” he looked at Celeste.
Her hesitation irritated him. He was in a rush to get to Diamond before she thought any worse of him. At dinner with one woman and in an office making love to another, hell he would be pissed. “Celeste, what hotel?”
“We can walk from here.”
“Was everything all right with your meal?” Cynthia asked as she walked over to the table. The look she gave Zack was evil.
“Dinner was fine,” he replied.
Cynthia extended her hand to Celeste, “I’m Cynthia Lassiter and you are?”
Celeste hesitated as she looked from Cynthia to Zack. “Celeste Blanchard.”
Cynthia smiled, then turned to the child. “And who are you?”
Chanté curtsied, “Chanté LaSha Blanchard.”
“Such poise and grace. You must be a dancer.”
“I’m a ballerina.” Chanté smiled brightly.
“We were just leaving.” Zackary said attempting to get Cynthia on her way.
She ignored him. “You know, my brother was younger than you when he embraced his talents. I certainly hope you are doing the same.”
“Is he a dancer too?”
“No, he’s an actor.”
“Really. I may get to act some when I reach New York.”
“Well, you let me know when you do. I’ll be sure to tell him to be on the lookout for a beautiful ballerina.”
“What’s your brother’s name? Is he someone I would know? Like has he been in movies and everything?”
Cynthia acted as if she had to think hard about it. “I think he’s been in one or two small movies. His name is Blake, Blake Thornton.”
“Blake Thornton, the movie star, Blake Thornton?” Celeste questioned.
“Yes,” Cynthia replied not feeling the woman at all. She turned back to the child. “Well, Ms. Chanté LaSha Blanchard, I’ll be sure and tell him about you.”
“Is he here?”
“No, he is actually in New York making a movie right now.”
Zack watched as Diamond and Grant were walking out of the restaurant. Grant looked at him and he could feel the man shaking his head at him. He could almost read his mind as Grant opened the door and hesitated before he stepped out. The gesture wasn’t lost on Zack. He had left the door open for Hutchison to step in on Diamond.
“We need to leave--now,” Zack said to Cynthia.
“You’re leaving before dessert?”
He wanted to kill her where she stood. She was deliberately delaying them. “Yes,” he snapped.
Chapter 24
It was after four in the morning by the time Zackary arrived home. He was tired and furious. After leaving the restaurant, he found out Celeste and Chanté were staying at a rundown motel in the wrong part of town. Without asking any questions, he picked up their bags and registered them in a suite at the Marriott located on West Broad Street. He had a few questions for Celeste, but she was secondary. Only one person consumed his mind at the time—Diamond.
She never came home. He sat outside her place for hours waiting for her and she never showed. Hell, he even rang the bell at her neighbor’s apartment until they opened the door. He told them he was concerned something may have happened to her. It wasn’t a total lie, he was concerned Hutchison may be with her. The thought of going to Hutchison’s place crossed his mind, but she might appear while he was gone and he did not want to take that chance. So he sat there in his truck waiting for her to come home—for hours.
Frustrated with himself for letting things go this far, he parked in the driveway and let himself in the back door of the house. Turning off the alarm, he threw his keys on the kitchen counter and walked down the hallway to his office. Not bothering to turn on the lights, he slumped heavily into his chair behind his desk. Laying his head back he closed his eyes. He checked everywhere he could think of for her and couldn’t find Diamond anywhere. “Where is she?”
“If the she you are speaking of is Diamond, she’s gone.”
Zack sat up to the sound of his brother’s voice. He reached over and turned on the lamp sitting on his desk. X-man was sitting on the sofa near the fireplace. A weary Zack sighed. “What are you doing here X-man?”
“Waiting for you.”
The coolness to his voice was not missed, but whatever had X-man pissed would have to wait. “We can talk in the morning when my mind is clearer.” Then it dawned on him what X-man said. He looked up. “Did you say Diamond was gone?”
Xavier glared at him. “That’s exactly what I said Zack,” he replied in a cool controlled voice.
Panic struck him. “What do you mean she’s gone?”
/> “Gone Zack,” some of the control lost as he spoke. “As in Mommy’s gone, Daddy’s gone—GONE!”
The anger was evident, although to him, X-man still appeared to be his calm reserved brother. “Gone where?”
“She wouldn’t say.” He replied.
“What the hell do you mean she wouldn’t say X-man?” he exploded as he stood up behind his desk. “I’ve been looking for her for hours. Did you talk to her? What did she say?”
Xavier could see the concern in his brother’s eyes. But at the moment he was so pissed at Zack he just didn’t give a damn about his concerns. “What happened tonight?”
Frustrated, Zack yelled, “It’s not your business. Now where in the hell is she?”
“You see Zack that’s where you are wrong.” Xavier stood and stormed over to his brother’s desk. “This is my business on so many levels. Whatever happened between you and Diamond tonight is going to affect our bottom line at the company.”
“I don’t give a damn about the company right now. I need to know, where Diamond is.”
“Really, well I don’t know where she is, but I do know where she will not be tomorrow. She won’t be at the office because as of eleven-forty-five last night she turned in her resignation.” He threw the paper on the desk in front of Zack.
Zack picked up the paper and read the one line. “She quit.”
“That’s right Zack, she did. So do you want to explain to me why Davenport Industries has lost an employee that has brought in over 10 million dollars in sales in six months and I’ve lost a friend?”
Zack just stared at the signature on the paper. Then he looked up at Xavier. “This doesn’t say where she is.”
For the first time in his life Xavier heard fear in his brother’s voice. It cooled his temper a little. “What happened, Zack?”
Zack sat back in the chair still holding the paper. “I hurt her.” He replied as he looked back at the paper in his hand.
“You’ve been doing that for the last few months. What happened last night to cause her to quit?”
Zack closed his eyes as he remembered the look on Diamond’s face when she saw him with Celeste. “Celeste.”
Teach Me (The Gems & Gents Series) Page 20