When I Saw You

by Laura Branchflower

  “She’s better. But you’re going to have to carry her, because she’s not supposed to go up and down stairs.”

  “Okay.” He continued to stare at her, making no move to get Taylor. “Do you have a date with him tonight?”

  “A date with who?”

  “You know who I’m talking about.” He took a couple of steps towards her. “Washington’s most eligible bachelor.”

  “You mean Joseph.” She smiled. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  “Did he give you that necklace?” His eyes were on the two-carat diamond lying just above her breasts.

  “That’s actually none of your business.”

  “You better be careful, Lia,” Ned said as he leaned towards her, their faces just inches apart. “He’s apparently quite the stud.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.” She made no move to step back from him as she met his eyes. “I’m the one dating him, remember?”

  Ned’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You and a dozen other women, probably. He can have any woman he wants. He dated Kathy Paige. Have you looked at her lately?” He blew out a stream of air. “I’d give my left nut to spend a night with her.”

  Lia could feel her heart begin to pump faster. “How nice for Candice.”

  “You’re out of your league. There is no way you’re going to be able to keep Joseph Craig’s interest.”

  “And you care because?”

  “Because I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

  “That’s a joke. You’re jealous because I’m dating someone who’s a thousand times more successful than you’ll ever be.”

  “Why would I be jealous of you?” His eyes slowly traveled over her. “You’re my leftovers, remember?”

  She wanted to hit him, to smack him right across the mouth, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how affected she was by his words. “And now you know what a mistake that was.”

  His eyes traveled over her for the third time that evening. “The truth is, you couldn’t satisfy me anymore.”

  A knock at the door startled them both and before Lia had time to react, there was a second knock. She opened the door and forced herself to smile at Joseph, who was dressed in a black tuxedo, holding a single red rose in one hand and a porcelain doll in the other.

  “You look stunning.” He met her lips for a lingering kiss, and then he was stepping back and holding out the rose. “This is for you.”

  “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

  “And this is for Taylor.” He held up the doll.

  “She’s in the family room.”

  “And this is for you.” He rounded on Ned, his eyes intense and the side of his jaw clenching and unclenching. “A piece of advice.” He pointed his finger in Ned’s face. “Never. Ever. Speak to her like that again.”

  “Whoa.” Ned stepped back and held up his hands. “We were having a conversation.”

  “Don’t mess with me.” Joseph continued his forward movement until Ned was backed up against the metal closet door and their faces were only inches apart. “I will destroy you.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Ned swallowed, clearly intimidated by Joseph, who was several inches taller and at least fifty pounds heavier.

  “Oh, yes.” Joseph placed his hand flat against the door beside Ned’s head. “I’m threatening you. I’m definitely threatening you.”

  “You don’t scare me.” Ned met his eyes.

  Joseph’s lips turned up slightly. “I should.” He continued to meet Ned’s eyes. “The only reason you’re not on the floor right now is because there’s a lady present.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “You’re done,” Joseph whispered. “Done.” He stepped back, his eyes remaining on Ned for several more seconds, and then he was turning to Lia, who was watching from a position next to the door. “I’m going to give this to Taylor.” He again held up the doll.

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  He lowered his head and met her lips for another lingering kiss. “I’ll be right back.”

  “He’s crazy,” Ned said as soon as Joseph was out of earshot. “He’s a fuckin’ nut.”

  “And you’re done.” Lia smiled, taking a sick sort of pleasure in the fear she saw in his eyes.

  Joseph apologized to Lia as soon as she closed the door on a departing Ned and Taylor. “I don’t usually lose my cool like that.”

  “That’s alright.” She ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. “He deserved it.”

  He gripped her hips, pulling her against him. “I’m not playing around with you.”

  “I know.” She met his eyes and could see the sincerity in the brown ones looking back at her. “I trust you.” And she did. It had taken months, and she was still afraid she’d end up hurt, but she trusted him. He was nothing like Ned or Eric. And she’d fallen for him, hard. “How long were you outside the door?”

  “Long enough. I was about to knock when I heard him start talking about me.”

  She dropped her forehead into his chest. “You heard everything? Even the stud comment?”

  “Even that. I thought you handled him well, but when he started getting crude I couldn’t listen anymore.”

  “He was awful.”

  “I’m not one to condone physical violence, but I really wanted to hit him today.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.” She touched the side of his face. “He would have sued you.”

  “It might be worth it.”

  “No. He isn’t worth it.”

  “The jury’s still out on that one.” He kissed her lightly on the lips.

  They were in his Mercedes, on I-66 east, headed downtown to a reception, when Lia decided to broach a subject she’d been wondering about from the first day of their relationship. “Why did you stop dating Kathy Paige?”

  It took Joseph a moment to respond. “I told you before—I met you.”

  “And that was the only reason?”

  “Yes. I planned to ask her to marry me over the holidays. I had bought the ring. And then you came into my office.”

  Lia was stunned. “Really?”

  He glanced away from the road momentarily, his eyes meeting hers. “Yes.”

  “But there must have been more. I mean—”

  “I met you,” he interrupted. “I asked you to lunch—do you think that’s how I normally talk to a client?”

  “I don’t know.” She tried to get her head around what he was saying.

  “Well, it’s not. And after our meeting I realized I wasn’t in love with her, not enough to make her my wife, anyway. She wasn’t the one.”

  “But you thought she was for a while.”

  “Because I had no clue what it was going to actually feel like when I met the one.”

  Her heart jumped at his words, and she turned her gaze to the side of the road, watching the blur of trees. “Joseph—”

  “I’m in love with you, Lia. You have to know that.”

  She swung her gaze back to his.

  “I’ve loved you,” he said, “from the moment I saw you standing with Taylor in the lobby.”

  She could feel tears coming to her eyes. This beautiful, warm, incredible sexy man was telling her he loved her.

  “Hey.” He took her hand, linking his fingers with hers as he brought them to rest on his upper thigh. “That’s not supposed to make you cry.”

  Lia smiled and wiped at a stray tear rolling down her cheek. “I love you too,” she whispered. “I’ve wanted to tell you for a while, but I was afraid to say anything that would change the relationship. You make me so happy.”

  Joseph maneuvered the car to the shoulder of the busy road and put it into park. “This is dangerous as hell, but I have to kiss you.” He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth over hers, kissing her until she felt almost faint with desire.

  14

  Lia turned off the light in the family room as a light knock sounded on the front door just after 11:00 p.m. the follow
ing Thursday. “What are you doing here?” she asked moments later as Joseph stepped into the foyer.

  “I was in the neighborhood.”

  “You were in the neighborhood?” She laid her hands on his chest as he pushed her back against the wall.

  “I had dinner with a client.” He slipped his hand under her nightshirt and cupped her breast as his mouth dropped to her neck. “I’ve missed the hell out of you this week.”

  “I’m coming out tomorrow.” It was Ned’s weekend with Taylor, and Lia was in the habit of spending those weekends at Joseph’s condo.

  “I know, but I wanted to see you tonight.” His mouth moved over her neck, his body pressing hers back against the wall. “You’re not going to send me away, are you?”

  “What about Taylor? She could wake up and come in.”

  “We’ll lock the door. And I’ll leave before she has to get up for school.”

  “Are you sure?” Her voice was breathless. She couldn’t think clearly while he rolled her nipple between his thumb and index finger.

  “Yes.” And then he surprised her by lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

  “You’re crazy.” She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “For you.” He covered her mouth with his as he walked back towards her bedroom.

  “Mommy…Mommy?” Taylor whispered, tugging on Lia’s arm the next morning.

  “Hmm? Yes? What time is it?” She opened her eyes, squinting at her bedside alarm clock. “Taylor, it’s not even five. Go back to bed.”

  “You’re naked. How come you’re naked?”

  Lia pulled the sheet up to her neck as her gaze swung to Joseph’s sleeping body. “Taylor, go turn on the television. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “But—.”

  “Taylor, Arthur’s on,” she lied, knowing the mention of her daughter’s favorite television show would get her out of the room. “And close the door behind you.”

  As soon as the door was closed, she reached over and pushed Joseph’s bare shoulder. “Wake up. You overslept,” she whispered. “Joseph, wake up.”

  “What?” He sat up and glanced around, the blanket falling down around his waist.

  “You overslept, and you forgot to lock the door last night.” She slipped out of bed and locked the bedroom door. “Taylor was in here.”

  “Did she see me?” He fell back against the pillows.

  “I don’t think so.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure.” She lifted her nightshirt from the floor and slipped it over her head. “You’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Hey.” He reached for her hand. “Come here for a second.”

  “Joseph, there’s no time. You’ve got to get dressed and out of here.”

  “Come on, just say good morning to me.”

  “Lower you voice,” Lia whispered, her eyes moving to the door. “She’ll hear you.”

  “She knows I’m your boyfriend.”

  “Mommy?” Taylor banged on the door. “Mommy, why is the door locked? Arthur isn’t on.”

  Lia glared at Joseph and motioned with her hand for him to lie down before opening the door and going out into the hall. “Taylor, it’s still early. I’m going to take you back to bed.”

  “What are you doing?” Lia sputtered a few minutes later after pulling back the shower curtain.

  “I think it’s called showering.” Joseph raised his eyebrows.

  “But you’re supposed to be gone.”

  “You need to relax.” He put his hand up in the stream of the water, causing it to spray out and get her wet.

  “Joseph!” She jumped back.

  “Lia!” He mimicked the sound of her voice. “You’re acting like you’re married and your husband’s in the next room.”

  “Have you forgotten I’m in the middle of a custody suit?” She moved her hands to her hips. “If Ned knew you spent the night, he could—”

  “Did you lock the bedroom door?”

  “Yes. Why?” Lia’s eyes swung towards the bedroom.

  “Because you need me to make love to you again.” He reached out of the shower and clasped her hand.

  “Joseph, don’t you dare pull me in there.” She was under the spray of the shower before she completed the sentence. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

  “Yes.” He began to remove her wet T-shirt while she attempted unsuccessfully to flee. “I’ve completely lost my mind over you.” He tossed the wet T-shirt in the back of the stall.

  “This isn’t funny.” She pushed against his wet chest. “I don’t want to lose her.”

  “You’re not going to lose her.” He moved his hands to the sides of her face. “I would never do something to jeopardize your case.”

  “But it’s not setting a good example for her. I don’t want her to think it’s okay for men I’m not married to, to spend the night.”

  “Is that a proposal?”

  “What?” She blinked her eyes as the water splashed against her face.

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” He moved his hands to her hips.

  “No.” She shook her head, her heart suddenly pounding.

  “Because I think I’d say yes.” He covered her mouth with his and kissed her until she was clinging to his shoulders. And then he was pushing her back into the tiled wall, and moving his hand to the juncture between her legs. “Your body wants me to stay.”

  Lia was lost, unable to think past the “because I think I’d say yes” comment, as her body responded to his.

  Thirty minutes later, she was still reeling from his words as she lay curled against him in her bed. “So, were you asking me to marry you?” Joseph asked, as if hearing her thoughts.

  “You know I wasn’t.” She kissed him lightly on his chest.

  “Because my answer is yes.”

  She closed her eyes, her heart rate again accelerating. “Don’t tease me.”

  “Lia?”

  “Yes?”

  “Look at me. Look at me,” he repeated, when she didn’t respond.

  She pushed herself up so she could see his face. “Joseph—”

  “Do you really think I would tease you about something so serious?” He covered her lips with his fingers before she could say anything. “I’ll be right back.” He was off the bed and crossing to his suit jacket.

  Moments later, he was on one knee beside the bed. “Give me your hand.”

  “Joseph?” She let him take her hand.

  “You’re shaking,” he said.

  “Are you being serious?”

  “I’ve never been more serious. Lia, will you do me the great honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”

  Lia stared into his eyes. He was serious. And then she felt the ring. “Oh my God.” She looked down at her hand. There on her finger was the most beautiful diamond she had ever seen. It was spectacular—a cushioned cut diamond of at least five carats set in a platinum setting, and it was on her finger. “Joseph?” she raised her eyes to his.

  “You haven’t answered me, Lia.”

  “Of course I’ll marry you.” She came off the bed and launched herself into his arms, raining kisses over his face as he fell back onto the carpet. “There is no one on this earth more perfect than you,” she said, framing his face between her hands as she met his eyes. “I’m the luckiest woman alive.” She lowered her mouth onto his, trying to show him with one kiss how much he meant to her.

  “Mommy?” There was a click of the knob, followed by a knock on the door. “Mommy, why’s the door locked?”

  “I’ll be right out, sweetie.” Lia didn’t take her eyes from Joseph’s. “I love you,” she whispered. “And now you really do have to leave.”

  “Is Joseph awake yet?” Taylor’s voice came through the door. “Cause I poured him a bowl of cereal.”

  Lia dropped her forehead onto his chest. “Yes, he’s awake.” She lifted her eyes to Joseph’s, attempting to frown at him, but she couldn’t. Instead she was smiling. She and Joseph were g
etting married. She was going to be his wife.

  “We’ll be some role models when we tell our grandchildren you proposed to me while we were both naked,” she finally whispered, happy tears in her eyes.

  “I think you were right about her ex-husband,” John Bianchi told Joseph several hours later as they shared lunch at Kinkead’s Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue.

  “The pay stubs were bogus, weren’t they?” Joseph sat up straighter in his chair.

  “No. He’s actually a clever guy. In fact, if the accountants hadn’t screwed up what they sent us, I don’t think we could have figured it out.”

  “Figured what out? What did you figure out?” Joseph leaned back in his chair as the waiter delivered his scotch.

  “Are you ready to order?”

  “Fish. Broiled. Whatever looks good.” Joseph didn’t take his eyes from John as he ordered.

  “You get a salad and two sides with—”

  “Any vinaigrette on the side, and two vegetables.”

  He tapped his hand impatiently on the table as he waited for John, who took considerably more time, to place his order. “What? What did you figure out?” he asked as soon as the waiter was gone.

  “Up until the time he left his ex-wife, he was billing approximately sixty-five hours a week. Once he’s out of the house, his billable hours go down to twenty and this continues until a month before the divorce is final, at which time it goes back to sixty-five.”

  Joseph frowned. “Then the time records are bogus, because there’s no way—”

  “Let me finish.”

  “Sorry.” He reached for his drink.

  “Like I was saying, for a sixteen-month period, he bills approximately eighty hours a month. Except”—he paused as he picked up the top sheet from the documents set out in front of him—“in June of last year, his monthly total is five hundred and twenty-five hours.” He held out the sheet to Joseph.

  “Five hundred and twenty-five?” Joseph frowned as his eyes scanned the sheet, which listed consolidated totals for each month. “Is this what they sent you?”

  “No. One of my associates put that together. What they sent me was daily breakdowns of his time.”