"She just up and called?" Ethan asked suspiciously. "I haven't said anything to anyone except to James' new assistant."
"Monica was his previous one for a long time, Ethan and she only left when she married Lawton. I think she's still very concerned about James, if you ask me, and pretends to be my friend to see how she can get closer to him somehow."
"Monica doesn't seem to be deceitful, but it's her husband I worry about. So why is she coming over?"
Nicole explained, "She called this evening when she heard James was alive. I told her whom he brought home with him and the makeover I’d have plan for this girl. Monica insisted on helping me get everyone over here.” Nicole moved over to her husband and took the brandy to have a taste of the liquor. Giving the glass back to him, she said, “I can easily tell her not to come over. It wouldn’t be a problem.”
Ethan shook his head; “I have to see the extent of James’ memory loss before I make any decisions regarding anything I want to do. If he does remember the suspicions I had about Lawton, then James’ will fight for control all over again and maybe help Lawton cause to destroy the company. Lawton was my father’s lawyer and James’ might only remember that and want to keep Lawton around because of that. James was always fiercely loyal with my father’s priorities and he’s always felt I wasn’t."
"Are you sure about Lawton's deceit?" she asked.
"Positive. That's why I'm down here. He doesn't intend to bring me papers tomorrow to give James' rights to the company to me. He wants to convince me to let me become James' guardian so he can control more of the company. I knew he was going to try this, but I fear if he talks to James, he might really convince him to sign to him." There was worry all over Ethan's face.
"But can you really fire Lawton, Ethan? He's been with the company since it's inception."
"I spoke to Armando this evening after the phone call with Lawton and he's assured me if I have my brother's consent to run the company until he is medically sound, I can do whatever I damn well please, but I want to make sure nothing I do upsets James' even though I only have the company's best interest in mind."
“James might be too wrapped up in this girl to even care what’s going on in his company until he gets his memory back.”
“That’s another thing,” Ethan said more bothered, finishing off the Brandy. “James was a workaholic. When he wasn’t trying to steal someone’s wife, he was working. You’re right, it does seem like he wants to just devote himself to this girl. I find that odd. She's not even his type, Nicole."
"Because she's black?" Nicole asked amused.
"Oh hell no! James doesn't care about that and you know that. She's not his type because she's not married, unless he knows something about her we don't know."
"You could always ask-"
He uncomfortably cut his wife off. "I will not even dare ask Onyx Heart to help. She's a devil's advocate and she'll bring more trouble than help."
"I was going to ask for Lethal."
"He's much too busy dealing with his own shit right now according to Jaelen."
“It is good James is wrapped up in this girl for now. He needed the rest and maybe somehow with her help he can figure out who tried to kill him,” Nicole said going to the bar to partially fill the glass up again.
Jona saw Ethan about to say something to his wife, but he bit his lip.
Nicole didn't see this worry and said, “I’ll still call Monica in the morning and let her know it’s not good if she came over. I did hear rumors that James had tried to seduce her. And her concern about his welfare was almost too much. First, she couldn’t believe he was alive and then it seemed like she just had to see for herself. By the way, did you ever try to figure who this Chelsea was?”
Again he shook his head. “Sheriff thinks that Jona girl is full of shit, but why would she make this up?”
“And none of his assistances were named Chelsea?””
Ethan shrugged. “He had Monica for a long while before she married Lawton. I know he had nicknames for a lot of women he slept with to disguise who he was sleeping with, though.”
“Well, he had to do that in order to get away with his deceitfulness for so long if he didn’t want any crazed husbands coming after him? So this wife could be anyone since James seemed to want to conquer every married woman he slept with. What did Sheriff find out about the bank lead?"
"Tobias was looking into that, but according to the video, James went into the bank to make the withdrawal and the woman who accompanied him stayed out of the camera view shot."
Nicole frowned. "Was that because she was familiar with the bank and that was also motive?"
Ethan blew his wife a kiss. "You're a genius."
She pretended to catch his kiss on the wind. "No, I grew up in the hood, love. I've seen people who don't want to be on camera and usually people who stay outside or away from the cameras don't want to be seen and they have other motives. Yet, who would be so angry they wanted to kill him?”
“I’d certainly want to kill someone if they tried to sleep with you,” Ethan said, coming over to his wife and opening up the robe. Nicole’s back was to the doorway.
Jona should have moved away and went back upstairs, but couldn’t take her eyes off their intimate exchange as Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to his beckoning kisses he’d placed on her neck and cheek.
Ethan’s arms circled his wife’s waist and molded her body close to his and she leaned her back, deepening the kiss. He lifted her slightly and her legs wrapped around his waist. He only had to move to the side to rest her comfortably on a table, while she somehow inched down his pants. They were clearly wrapped up in their passion.
Feeling like a fly on the wall, Jona was engrossed as the couple made love with not just their bodies, but with their hands, whispers and lips. She couldn't believe how all her life, the act of joining herself to a man had always been a bad experience, but in twenty minutes she watched two people make magic and she found herself crying because she knew there was a man upstairs who might want to give her that.
Jona slowly moved away and went back upstairs to look down at James sleeping. Getting to her coat right now wouldn't be possible. Most likely, every entrance in the house was rigged.
Her thoughts drifted to the lovemaking of Ethan and Nicole.
To know she could have the same thing terrified her.
Would she be safe then? Or have to fear getting hurt?
Lying down in his arms feeling him draw her body to his and hold her tight, she wanted to believe that her life could be different, yet fear prevailed until she finally returned to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day. Tomorrow she would think more of her urge to stay and have a whole new life, or return to her previous life.
The real worry was that she knew the more she stayed here the more she would miss here.
* * *
When James awoke that next morning, he acutely remembered her slipping out of bed, but he had been so tired he wasn't sure how long she had been gone. The pleasure of a bed was just glorious all over on his body and awaking next to her made the pleasure he felt inwardly increase. She was sound asleep, just like the first time he had seen her and he found himself enamored all over again.
With the confidence his attraction for her would never change, James took a moment to relish every square inch of her soft brown skin, full lips, slim nose and heart shaped face. Though he didn't know what was under her scarf, he could just imagine he would not be disappointed. Her inner strength was what really attracted him about her.
Getting out of bed slowly, he went over to a desk and wrote her a note. He would be busy most of the day, but he figured Nicole would keep her highly entertained until James returned.
After a shower and dressing in clothes Mitch must have brought at sunrise, he returned to the bed to see she was still asleep.
Her dark caramel eyes fluttered open as if she sensed he was watching her. At first she looked alarmed and then completel
y apprehensive as if she had done something wrong. Moving back on the bed next to her, he kissed her cheek to greet her good morning.
"Was this your first time sleeping on a custom feathered bed?" he inquired quietly.
She narrowed her eyes sharply. "If it's custom, then how could I have slept on one before?"
He chuckled at her wit. "You sure can wake up that brain pretty fast, Hope."
Proudly, she retorted, "When you're living on the street, you have to, James."
"Can I kiss you?"
Her eyes rolled around in exasperation. "No. Shouldn't you be leaving?"
"I should be, but I couldn't resist the urge to stay when I saw you opening up your eyes."
"I can pretend to go back to sleep if it means you'll leave me alone?"
He chuckled again loving how she really could careless about how she looked. Usually other women didn't want to be bothered so early in the morning or couldn't think straight, when morning was his best time. "You could try." He put a hand on her stomach loving how her muscles tensed from his touch. "But I think I have ways of making you stay awake even if I can't kiss those delicious lips of yours."
"Stop that! No compliments, James. I don't like those silly games."
"Stop being honest? Is that what you're asking me."
"You have to go!" she insisted.
"Fine, you win this round Hope, but don't expect me to be denied the next time."
She rolled to her side with her beautiful backside on display for him. "I'll be sure to never brush my teeth again."
He couldn't help throwing his head back and laughing. The wit this chick had on her was just amazing. Knowing she would never do that when she spoke so highly of dental care the other night, he bantered with her, "I'll have to fall in love with you so much, your gingivitis won't matter."
She deigned not to answer him by snoring quietly.
"I'm leaving Hope, but I've left you a note and there's some spending money for you to have. And it won't come out of your reward." He got out of the bed before he had the urge to touch her more. "I'll tell Nicole not to bother you for another hour."
She still continued to snore. Matter of fact, she snored louder.
It took great control to cover up her delectable backside from his view and walk out of the room. He listened at the door for a minute until he heard her stop snoring and get out of the bed.
Nicole greeted him at the bottom of steps holding a one-year-old child identical to her mother.
"Uncle James!" the child screamed and wiggled out her mother's arms until Nicole put her down. "Uncle James! Uncle James!"
James felt a horrible conflict inside himself as he fought not to recognize the child as his niece Camille.
"Uncle James. Uncle James!" she cried holding her arms up for him to pick her up. "Fairy, Uncle James. Make me a fairy. Please!"
Nicole was watching him remorsefully and mouthed the word sorry.
"Uncle James isn't feeling well, Cami. Go find Daddy to let him know Uncle James is up and dressed."
Camille looked thoroughly disappointed and looked at her mother. "What's wrong with Uncle James? I wanna fly like princess fairy."
James was so tempted to reveal the truth, pick the child up and spin her around, but instead he turned around slightly to hide the guilt overwhelming him.
In her best motherly voice, Nicole said, "Just get your father, Camille, and Uncle James might be fine next time."
Reluctantly Camille obeyed and left them alone.
"I'm sorry," she said apologetically to James. "We didn't tell her when she arrived this morning. She was at a friend's house and Ethan missed her too much to wait to see her."
"It's fine," he said facing her. "I'm okay with that."
"Do you remember her?"
He only frowned too emotional to answer. Nicole took his silence, as saying he didn't and he didn't correct her.
"That's fine if you don't. The doctor said your memory would come back eventually," she said. "How's your head? You took off your bandage," she noticed.
He had done that in the bathroom after before his shower. "The stitches were nice enough and they didn't have to cut my hair that much. Plus I refuse to walk around with that bandage on my head. There's hardly any pain."
She smiled at ease. "And your guest?"
"She's still asleep, but please don't bother her for another hour. Have Mitch take breakfast up in that time and thank you for the clothes."
"It's no problem, James. Did you have a chance to speak to her about the baby?"
"Yes," he gritted out. "And I understand what happened, but I don't think it's my business to tell you."
"And your sleeping arrangements?"
"If you're trying to get me to tell you if I had sex with her at all, Nicole, the answer is no."
Nicole blushed. "Yes, that is what I wanted to know."
"Did I ever hurt you?" he questioned coolly.
She looked taken aback by this question. Nervously, she said, "No, not me, but you ... well, there was my mother and your brother. I don't think what you did directly affected me... much."
"Has Ethan ever forgiven me?"
"No, but he loves you. You're his brother and his loves you."
There was a knock after the doorbell rung and Nicole answered the door. Monica Chandler Berg entered gracefully giving Nicole a hug as if she had not seen her in years. She was dressed to kill in grey Jimmy Choo and a DKNY business suit. With large Cartier glasses covering her eyes, James couldn't be sure if she was looking at him while she hugged Nicole, but he kept his expression innocent as he could, pretending he could not remember much about their relationship.
Nicole seemed a little disturbed by Monica's presence. "I thought I called you last night to let you know we wouldn't need your assistance, Monica. I appreciate your help, but I don't think she'll be comfortable with two women present."
Monica whipped her platinum shoulder length hair around and took off her thick glasses to bat her deep blue eyes at James giving him a very exaggerated wink. "But I know you'll have your hands full with her and I wanted to make sure everything was okay. I just couldn't leave you-"
Nicole cut her off. "I can take care of myself, Monica. And I'm sure James wouldn't leave me with someone who could harm me."
"Speaking of James," Monica said moving around Nicole and coming up to James. "Oh my Lord, he's lost so much weight." She gasped and James saw a deep look of sympathy in her eyes from looking at the wound critically. "It still doesn't matter, James. You still are one handsome man."
He had flashes of Monica's naked body writhing under him at various times and he stepped away feeling very uncomfortable.
"What's wrong with you, James?" Monica asked confused. "Why are you acting like you don't know me?"
"His memory is gone," Nicole explained, moving beside James. "He can't remember anything."
Monica looked at him suspiciously. "Nothing?"
Before anyone answered her, Ethan entered the hallway where they stood and looked apprehensively from his wife to his brother.
Nicole went to greet her husband with a kiss, which Ethan gently offered.
"Camille," Ethan said to her. "Has decided to have Mitch's blueberry pancakes until she bursts. I think you better do something because I couldn't convince her otherwise. She's on her third one and I swear she's turning red."
Nicole chuckled. "It was nice to see you again, Monica, but really I can handle our guest by myself."
"Please," Monica insisted. "I really would like to help. I've worked for James for so long, he's like family and anyone he cares about, whether he remembers me or not, would mean a lot."
"It's fine, darling," Ethan said still looking at James who looked at Nicole's uneasy expression.
"Alright. Monica help me with Camille in the kitchen, please."
Monica looked back longingly at James and smiled her perfect veneers. "You really do mean a lot to me, James, even if you don't remember me." She followed Nicole i
nto the kitchen leaving the brothers alone.
"Stay away from my wife, James."
"Is that how I hurt you? I did something to your wife?" James asked.
"My first wife."
"Did I apologize?"
"Several times."
"Did you ever forgive me?"
"Never."
"If I apologized now, would you forgive me?" he questioned with hope.
"Why? When it wouldn't matter? You aren't yourself. You don't remember what you did."
James knew this was a horrible way to get his brother to forgive. "But you're my brother. I hurt you and for that I'm deeply sorry for what I did."
Ethan took a deep breath and walked up to his brother. "It's fine, James. It really is." Placing a firm hand on James' shoulder, he said, "I should have forgiven you a long time ago."
It was a sick feeling all over again and James steeled his stomach. Shame was a son of a bitch and James was definitely feeling this deep in his soul. Hopefully in the end, they would all understand his deceit. "Are you ready to go?" he asked Ethan.
Ethan nodded and they went to the car awaiting them outside.
Chapter 16
When he was gone, Jona turned on her back and lay there staring up at the ceiling giving herself a chance to luxuriate in the softness of the covers surrounding her. The scent of clean was everywhere; something she had not smelled in a long time. Pulling the covers over her face as if to hide the smile from the rest of the world and even herself, Jona took just a couple of seconds to let herself stay there before pushing the covers off and sitting up on the side of the bed.
After taking her socks off, she put her feet on the floor and looked at them in disgust. Her nails desperately needed cutting and she was shocked she hadn't cut up James. Giggling to herself, she wiggled her toes in the thick carpet and stood up slowly to feel everything around her.
Clean never felt so good.
Unable to sleep another second she stood up just watching her toes move between the fibers of the carpet. She hadn't walked barefoot around anywhere in so long the feeling was almost foreign to her. Watching her toes touch the soft carpet below she closed her eyes briefly to glorify in the sinfully good feeling of having the rich comforts of home.
Hope Is Love Page 13