Church

by Michelle Hughes

  “Okay. All I really want is a cheeseburger.” I thought about how easy she was to please. Most dates I’d had wanted the most expensive thing possible and would have stuck their nose up at the idea of fast food. She was a refreshing change of pace in many ways.

  “Deal.” My personal chef made a great burger but I hadn’t eaten anything out like that since college. Thomas was waiting outside the entrance, as always, with a smile. I wasn’t sure what the man had to smile about, since his job was digging around in the unscrupulous things people do.

  “You must be Ashley.” He holds out a hand and I’m amazed at the transformation the smile on her face brings when she takes it. “I’m Thomas Bentley, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He holds her hand a little longer than I feel is professionally necessary, but I’m not a jealous man.

  “Nice to meet you, too. Sebastian says you’re from Alabama.” Now, she was interested? Weren’t they just all chummy.

  “Yes, Ma’am. Finished college in Tuscaloosa.” His grin widened and Ashley’s face flushed with pleasure. Apparently, this was the kind of man she approved of.

  “Great. Now that you’ve met, let’s eat. I’m starved.” I wasn’t really, but the thought of the two of them becoming best friends was somewhat nauseating. Thomas was good at his job, but he was so nice it put me off. I didn’t understand his mentality.

  “Of course.” Still smiling, he held the door open for us and I could see the appreciation in Ashley’s eyes. I thought women were trying to prove they were empowered these days and didn’t appreciate that. Obviously, I was wrong when it came to her.

  We took our seats at the bar and I ordered a bottle of Domaine Roulot, Meursault 2012 the citrus flavor went well with Sushi, and we allowed the Chef to serve his choice. Ashley seemed thrilled with watching our food being cooked, and it was interesting seeing the experience through her eyes. In her favor, she wasn’t afraid to try the dishes as they were served.

  “This is really good.” Her eyes widened as she tried the cherry salmon, and even eating with fingers, since the chopsticks didn’t seem to like her, her words, never fazed her. I won but wasn’t going to rub that in. It was entertaining watching the expressions on her face trying each of the twenty pieces.

  “Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe we should go back to the car and discuss business.” Originally, I’d planned to talk as we ate but I lost myself in watching her. Thomas seemed to be having the same issue. For reasons I didn’t want to think about, it irked me that he was eyeing her. She was mine now, but if he wanted to date her later, I couldn’t be offended.

  “We probably need to discuss things in private. I’m going to need to spend some time with Ashley to figure out how best to get the information we need from Deshawn, too.” My first thought was he didn’t need to be alone with her to do that, but then I thought better of it. When this was over, I wanted her to be happy, so maybe I’d encourage them to become friends.

  I walked over to the limo and opened the door, taking a note from Thomas’s book, and they entered with me following. “So, what news do you have?” I held up my hand when he was about to answer to get my driver to circle the block. “Continue.”

  “As we thought earlier, there is no way Deshawn could be hacking your system alone. Whoever is doing this is taking out small increments at a time and sending them to a bank account we can’t decipher.” Thomas ran a hand over his jaw, seeming to contemplate. “If I had to take a guess, this operation is at least three people, and they are all ingrained heavily into your business.”

  I’d allowed him to send two undercover temporary workers that were IT guys looking for side jobs and they’d infiltrated my computer department for the last month. The program they claimed was being used was some serious hacking, but since that wasn’t my expertise I didn’t understand half of what they were telling me. I couldn’t question my employees because I needed to catch the thieves in the act.

  “Getting Deshawn to name them still seems like our best chance. These people obviously know how to game the system, and do it well because I’ve never had this much trouble pinpointing people before.” I’d hired him because he was recommended as the best. Thomas had served in the FBI’s criminal division before burning out on the job. You’d never know it by his demeanor but I have all my employees thoroughly screened, so knew everything about him.

  That’s what really bothered me. Someone had slipped through what I considered an iron-clad defense. “Then we need to get busy. Another hundred grand went missing last week, and I’m tired of playing games with these people.” Granted, I made that in hours, but it was the thought of someone taking advantage that pissed me off.

  “I think getting Ashley to wear a wire while asking questions that we’ll go over, is our best choice.” Thomas turned from me to her and his smile widened. “Do you think he’d suspect you of doing that?” His tone deepened and the damn man was flirting with her. I didn’t think he had it in him, and I was trying not to care.

  “I know he wouldn’t. Even after what he’s done, I know he’d never believe I’d betray him. I’ve never been that kind of person.” The fact that she looked upset about that, made me want to shake some sense into her.

  “He sold you off and you’re worried about his feelings?” Scoffing, I turned toward Thomas and made the plan. “We’ll return to my place and you can work all that out with her. I need to get back to the business. My driver will take you to your car when we’re done.”

  A strange look entered Thomas’s eyes and I didn’t care what it meant. I was getting angry thinking about these people stealing from me. I told the driver to take us home, not waiting for his agreement. He was my employee and I paid him to work on my time. I let my mind wander over all the insanity going on in my world while they talked. I didn’t want to deal with this anymore. I had million-dollar deals to make and was ready to fire every employee I had to start fresh if this wasn’t sorted out quickly.

  I dropped them off and told Ashley not to expect me until late. Playing with her could wait that long and hopefully she’d make some headway with Thomas. Trisha was a great partner, but I didn’t plan to leave everything to her. We’d worked our asses off to make this company a billion-dollar powerhouse and I had no intention of letting this slow us down.

  Trisha had more experience in the business world than I did when I’d started my company. She was the best hire I’d ever made and we’d been a team that couldn’t be beat for twelve years now. We understood each other and came from the same background. Both of us were overachievers that demanded excellence in all things.

  At forty, she was five years my senior and there was little doubt that if I ever left she’d step in and rule this business as well as I would. Not that I had any plans of leaving. We were thriving and making more money than either of us had dreamed possible. Ironically, we met at church and both of us were disillusioned at the way things were handled there and hit it off.

  If she weren’t a lesbian people would think we had a thing. We’d both been fucked over by lovers that left us pissed off at the world, and somehow that combination worked into one hell of a business arrangement and friendship. I blamed God for killing my mother, since some madman took her life in the house he supposedly ran, and Trisha had been turned away because of her sexual preference.

  Before my mother’s murder, I’d been a different man, and a stout believer. When a deacon pulls a gun, ending the life of the person you love most, it really fucks up your head. The prick was serving a life sentence now, but he deserved a bullet to the brain for ending that beautiful woman’s life. She’d been a devout Christian and all it got her was grave.

  Falling

  Ashley

  Being left with a man I’d just met probably wasn’t safe, but with Thomas being from Alabama, I felt a little less threatened. He seemed very polite, and it was much better than dealing with Sebastian. I didn’t know the house that well, but he seemed to.

  “Have you been here many times?” I smile
d as he walked to the living room and I followed behind. I was always nervous around strangers but usually covered that with acting overly happy.

  “Yes, more than I care to admit. I’ve worked on and off for Sebastian as a liaison for the last four years. Usually handling background checks on all new employees, easy stuff.” The housekeeper asked if we wanted drinks and since Thomas asked for a glass of water, I did, too.

  “What made you go into the private eye business?” He didn’t seem like the type, but the only ones I knew were on television. Thomas was a very handsome man, maybe six feet tall, with kind brown eyes. His attitude was also very laid-back from what I’d seen so far.

  “I was a federal agent until I handled a case that made me change my perspective. I discovered I didn’t like dealing with the horror stories that humanity offers, and needed to use my criminal justice background for another use.” He sat down in an oversized chair, and studied me. “What about you, how did you and Sebastian meet?”

  “Wow. That must have been a hard job. I couldn’t imagine dealing with criminals all the time.” That thought brought Deshawn to mind, because that’s what he was now. It broke my heart to think of how much he’d changed.

  “It was. I felt like I was on the verge of a heart attack at twenty-eight, definitely not worth it.” He paused as our water was brought in and I thanked the woman even though it seemed a little extravagant to give us bottled water, glasses full of ice and little lemon wedges. “So, you and Sebastian?”

  I wanted to avoid the question, but knew it would come out if we were working together. “Deshawn basically sold me to Sebastian to not go to jail.” My face flushed bright red admitting that. It sounded as bad as it was, so I didn’t know how to defend what he’d done.

  “Wait a minute. Sold you how? Is Sebastian keeping you here against your will?” I’d thought he was just a happy go lucky man, but the rage that filled his face made me change my mind quickly. I didn’t want to answer that question, so I shrugged. “Ashley it’s illegal to blackmail a person into having relations, you understand that, right?”

  He was probably a good agent since he deciphered exactly what my relationship was with Sebastian with that information. “I didn’t have to agree.” But didn’t I? It was either that or let Deshawn spend the rest of his life in jail and I couldn’t do that to him, no matter what he’d done to me.

  “I’m not working this case if he’s abusing his power that way. Do you want to file charges? You seem like a nice woman, I’d like to help if you’d let me.” Thomas was a true gentleman and I knew in that moment if I’d told him I needed help, he would have offered.

  “Please don’t quit. I know this seems wrong, but Deshawn was really good to me before I moved to New York, and I want to help him.” I met his eyes, ashamed of what I’d done but not willing to back down. “I want to find these other men then go back to my old life. If you really want to help me, then let’s figure out how to do that together.”

  “I’m not sure how I can with a good conscious knowing your being forced to do things not of your free will.” Thomas grasped my hand in his, patting it softly. “You don’t deserve to be treated this way.” Tears filled my eyes at the compassion he was giving me. Without Deshawn, I didn’t have anyone that cared about me, and it made me emotional.

  “We’re leaving here. I’ll pay for your flight home if that’s what you want. Have you got somewhere to stay there?” This man. Why couldn’t I have met him years ago? He was the type of guy I could fall for easily. Even so, I wasn’t leaving until I cleared Deshawn and pocketed the money Sebastian was giving me. I knew it was wrong and made me little more than whore, but I’d never have to worry again.

  “Thomas, you may be the sweetest man I’ve ever met, but I’m not leaving yet. Sebastian is paying me to help him and I can save my best friend at the same time. What Deshawn did was wrong, but I know there’s more to this than what we know. He was a good friend to me for many years.”

  “You’re comfortable with that? Being paid to be his companion?” Those brown eyes of his looked like a puppy dog, and I didn’t want to admit that I was.

  “Sometimes you do things for the right reasons even if they’re wrong. I hope you can understand.” I didn’t want this man to think I was a horrible person.

  “I think you’re a very brave woman put in a very bad position. I’ll work the case, but you must promise me if you ever want to leave him, you’ll tell me immediately. He doesn’t deserve someone like you.” The grim look on his handsome face didn’t belong there.

  “You have my word.” He gave me a sad smile while still holding my hand. Being with him felt comfortable now, even though only minutes ago I’d been worried to be alone together.

  “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you do decide to walk away, I’d love to take you out one night. I don’t meet many beautiful southern women anymore.” He winked, making me blush and the awkwardness of our conversation seemed over as soon as it began.

  “If that happens, I think I’d like that.” I didn’t want to lead him on with false promises, but I wouldn’t mind dating him if circumstances were different.

  “I guess we need to get this case solved quickly then.” He squeezed my hand, then let it go and I missed the warmth. Why couldn’t Sebastian be more like him?

  We went over details for the next hour, and I was sure my brain was going to explode from everything he was trying to get me to memorize. I considered myself intelligent, but this was some undercover cop stuff, and that wasn’t my skill set.

  Thomas showed me the little recording device that I’d be wearing, which was nothing like the wiretapping you saw on television. The thing was the size of button and could easily be hidden in a pocket or a purse without even looking conspicuous. “That’s very James’s Bond.”

  “Technology has come a long way since the old movies.” We both had a good laugh about that, and then decided tomorrow I would face Deshawn and let him know I forgave him. I didn’t, but eventually when this was all over I would. I’d never trust him again, but I could forgive.

  “I guess that’s it then. Would it be horrible for me to say I wish I didn’t have to leave you alone here? Sebastian is not known for being gentle. He has a reputation with the ladies.” That he was worried for me made me smile.

  “I’ll be fine. Promise.” He gave a brief nod, not looking like he believed me and pulled out a card.

  “You call me anytime, day or night, and I’ll take you away from this.” He pulled me into his arms and hugged me, and instinctively, I hugged him back. Of course, Sebastian chose that moment to come back home and walk in on us.

  “Should I come back later?” That smirk on his face told me he didn’t really care that we’d been hugging. I don’t know why that bothered me, but it did.

  “I’ll talk to you soon, Ashley. Remember, I’m here if you want out of this arrangement.” He gave me a smile, then glared at Sebastian as he walked out the door.

  “I take it you told him of our agreement. I’m a little surprised by that.” The expression on his face was neutral, so I could only guess it didn’t bother him.

  “Unlike some people, I don’t need to lie.” I’d wanted to hide the truth from Thomas, but it wasn’t that easy with us working together.

  “I’m not in the mood to argue with you. I could use a little stress release, though.” The look in his eyes told me just what he considered release, and I rolled my eyes.

  “You know having sex doesn’t fix everything?” So, why was I turned on at the thought of being with him again?

  “It’s a good start. Let’s go shower and see what you think after.” Part of me wanted to tell him to go jump off a cliff, the other was excited at the idea of having those hands and lips all over me again.

  “Whatever.” I turned to walk up the stairs, not sure why I’m not telling him I’m not interested. Besides the obvious, my body wants him, even if my mind thinks he’s a complete jerk. I went to his room, walked in
to the bathroom, and even turned on the water.

  “Somebody’s anxious.” That devilish smirk that I was begging to like more than hate, made me flush.

  “Or wanting to get this over with. I remember our agreement. Whenever or however you want.” Let’s stick with that because to admit I was already damp between my legs at the thought of being with him again? I wasn’t ready to go there.

  “Undress and climb in, I’ll even be generous since you’re so obliging.” He began undressing and I tried not to look at his tall, lean, athletic body that made me tremble when I know I should be repulsed. I quickly removed my clothes, and stepped in hoping the steam would give a little coverage. When he joined me, I jumped, startled.

  “So tense. We’ll have to work on that.” He grabbed a bar of soap to later his large hands. My gaze moved south, taking in that large appendage pressing almost against his washboard abdominal muscles. He was very aroused, there was no denying that fact.

  Those hands massaged my shoulders, and I wanted to melt into the tenderness. When they moved down my arms I ached for him to touch me in other ways. “You’re all dirty.” Lathering his hands, they moved over my stomach then back, ignoring all the places that craved his fingers.

  “Sebastian, please.” Already I was aroused.

  “Close your eyes.” I obeyed without question and then felt his fingers working my hair into a lather. Why was he doing this? He didn’t believe in tenderness, he’d told me that. It felt incredible to be pampered this way but it wasn’t what I wanted. When he carefully inched me under the water to rinse I was ready to scream in frustration.

  “You want my hands somewhere else? You’ll have to tell me where.” He turned me and knelt as he lathered up my legs with infuriating patience. Moving to the other one, he gave it the same gentle attention. Then he stood and I knew he was playing with me, but two could do that.