Her eyes closed for a moment. When she opened them again her steel stare was replaced with soft moist emotion. Trish wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head closer to hers. He claimed her mouth, kissing her like a starving man.
Her mouth opened, and the tip of her tongue pressed against his lips. The heat from her tongue sent him into overdrive. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up and away from the desk. She tightened her arms around him. Her feet were a few inches off the floor. Their breathing grew deep and wanting.
Trish tore her mouth away and leaned her cheek against his. David kissed around her ear. He started sucking her earlobe.
“Go,” she whispered. “Go.”
“No,” he said in a husky tone. “I don’t care about anything outside of this office. I’m not leaving you.”
“You must. Deal with whatever this is. Then, you can move on,” she reasoned between heavy breaths. She patted him on his upper back as a signal to put her down and leave.
He understood and reluctantly placed her feet on the floor. David cupped her left cheek. She placed her hand over the one he had on her face. “Go,” she repeated
“I’ll be back. We’ll talk. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. If you come back, and even if you do, I won’t be around. The kiss goodbye really is goodbye, she thought.
He turned away from her and walked to the door. He swung the office door open. Teddy and Mrs. Hinkle were rushing away from the doorway. David stopped for a moment to look at them, and then walked through the reception area.
Chapter 19
David paced like a lion in a cage in The Wingate Hotel elevator. No, way. No, way, it is her. She was married, and attending high society parties in New York. He willed it not to be her.
The elevator door opened, and David stepped off it with purpose in his stride. The desk clerk refused to give David the name of the guest in suite 720, but was proud to say that it was a deluxe room and that there were only three rooms on that luxury floor. The desk clerk also called the room to let the guest know that company was coming.
David reached the suite’s double doors. He knocked, hoping it was someone other than who he thought it was. The door slowly opened to reveal the blonde bombshell he met several years ago. The color went out of his face at the sight of her.
“My God, darlin’, you look like someone died. Please come in,” she said and stepped aside.
He felt like he had died from shock. He walked passed her, yet kept looking at her.
She closed the door. “Come in. Sit.” She gestured towards the lavish living room.
David just stared at her.
The woman walked passed him. He followed.
“Sit down, sugar, before you pass out. You act as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
David finally plopped down on the ivory couch.
She walked to a credenza bar and picked up a bottle of Johnnie Walker scotch. She held it up to show him the label. “I remembered,” she said with a smile and opened it. She poured a generous amount of the brown liquid into two tumblers.
“What are you doing here?” he finally asked.
She walked over to him with the scotch and handed him one glass. He quietly took it from her. His favorite brand when he lived in New York. After he left the law firm, he couldn’t afford it anymore. He settled for a cheaper brand for two years.
“Nice room, isn’t it? It’s a lot nicer than I thought it would be considering Clary is such a small city.
“What are you doing here?
“What do you think?” she teased and sat down next to him. She sipped the scotch she poured for herself.
“This is not the time for games, Heather,” he said solemnly and took a big swallow of his drink.
She smiled. “I’ve missed you, sugar.”
David’s jaw clenched. “Your husband doesn’t keep you company?”
Heather looked down in her drink. “He died - six months ago.”
David’s mouth dropped open. “Died? Are you serious?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t joke about something like that,” she said and kept staring in her drink.
David shook his head. “Of course not. How stupid of me. I’m sorry for your loss.” He sat up straight and looked at her. “How did it happen?”
“Heart attack.”
David furrowed his brow. “George was only fifty.”
“Fifty-three actually. I tried to tell him about eating all that fatty and greasy food,” she moaned.
“You came here to tell me that your husband died?”
“Partly, but it wasn’t working anyway. I mean we got along, and he was really sweet to me, but he wasn’t you.”
“Heather-.”
“Please, let me finish. It took me months to build up the courage to come here. To face you. To say what I need to say. You never gave me a chance two years ago. You left New York so fast-.”
“All right, what is it that you have to say to me.”
She looked into his eyes. “Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry for what happened two years ago. I never meant for you to find out about George like that.”
“So, you were going to leave me for him anyway.”
“Yes. I was going to break off our engagement to marry him. He proposed to me two days before you came back from your trip.”
“Came back early, you mean,” David bit out.
“Yes. I accepted George’s proposal and told him that I would break it off with you.”
David exhaled and slumped back on the couch. “If you didn’t love me- you led me on,” he said with incredulousness in his voice.
“No, I loved you. I still love you.”
David couldn’t believe what he heard. “If you loved me, how could you leave me for him? Cheat on me with him!”
Heather jumped up from the sofa. “You know how poor I was growing up in Georgia. I worked like a dog to put myself through community college. I worked even harder to save money to move to New York. I didn’t want to be poor white trash for another twenty-two years.”
“You wouldn’t have been if you married me. You weren’t in the first place. I had a career at Lakedale. I was one of their best lawyers. And you- you were the executive assistant to a partner.”
“I was an over-glorified secretary. And yes, you were the best at the firm. Everyone respected you. I was proud to be your fiancé. But, it would have taken you years to make partner. Look at the time you had already put in.”
“You make it sound like I was destitute. I damn near made a six-figure salary at Lakedale. I had a great apartment. One that you liked, as I remember.”
“Yes, you had money, but not the type of money that George had. Not the large condo and the house in the Hamptons. You didn’t have that. It would have taken years for you to get it. When George took an interest in me I went for it.”
“No, you made a calculated decision to choose money over me,” David spat out and took another gulp of scotch.
“Yes. And I’ve regretted that decision for two years. Like I said, George was good to me, but he wasn’t you,” she said and sat her drink on the coffee table. “He…he couldn’t make love to me the way you could,” Heather said as she sat down next to him again, but this time closer. Her leg grazed against his.
She leaned in close. “I’ve never been with a man who was so giving and attentive as you- in bed and out. Of course, I love you, but you were so angry with me. My plan was to tell you everything and work out a compromise.”
David’s eyebrow shot up. “You mean your plan was to marry George and make me your lover on the side?”’
She shook her head.
“You know me. You knew I wouldn’t share you with another man. Much less be your lover on the side,” he said with disgust.
“I convinced myself that I could make you see the bigger picture. We both would have benefited from the marriage. I was going to explain that to you after you caught George and me together, but…you quit your job and moved aw
ay so fast. I called and called you until one day the phone was disconnected. I could have gotten you a bigger salary, a bigger office-.”
“All I wanted was you. As long as I had you…,” he trailed off and shook his head. It didn’t matter now. It was too late for them.
They were face to face – eye to eye.
“I’m so sorry, sugar. Please forgive me. We can start over. I received a lot of money from George’s estate. We can go back to New York, and you can start a law firm there. We’ll buy a home or a condo. Get married like we planned to before,” she said with a hint of desperation. Heather started rubbing the center of his chest.
David recoiled. He jumped up and walked to the middle of the floor. “Two years is a long time, Heather. Things change. Feelings change.”
“Mine haven’t. As angry as you were at me, I believe you thought of me while we were apart.”
David looked down at his feet and back up at her. Heather’s eyes were watery. “I admit, I have thought of you during the past few years. You know what I felt?”
“What?”
“Hurt, anger, disappointment, and foolish,” he said.
“Love, what about love? Admit that you still care for me, at least,” she urged.
David glared at her. At one time, he didn’t think it was possible to stop loving her. That’s why he stayed away from other women for two years. He didn’t want anyone, but her- until now. “I have realized that I’ve been living the last two years in mourning over losing you. Not from love, but from anger and hurt. What you did changed me, but not for the better. I lived my life like a caveman because of you. But, I digress, you want an answer to your question.”
She sat in silence.
“No, I don’t love you anymore. Go back to New York, Heather. Move on with your life because that is what I intend to do.” He sat his drink down on the coffee table and turned to leave.
“It’s her, isn’t it?”
He turned back around to look at her. “Her?”
Heather leaned back on the sofa. “Don’t play coy, sugar. The one you decided to move on with your life for. Your secretary. The woman I met this morning.”
“She’s not my secretary. She’s a temp.”
“Pretty temp, Patricia is. You talk of not being someone’s lover on the side, but you’re willing to be hers.”
What was Heather going on about? There wasn’t another man in Trish’s life- as far as he knew. Is that why Trish was resisting him? “What are you talking about?”
“She’s married. I mentioned how well her husband takes care of her. She didn’t deny it.”
David’s muscles relaxed. “She’s getting a divorce.”
“Is that what she told you?”
“She is. I’m her attorney.”
Heather was astonished. “Let me get this straight. She works in your office, but you’re her attorney for her divorce. Why does she work for you? It’s obvious she doesn’t need the money judging from the clothes and shoes she had on.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I see. So, her future ex-husband is rich. I’m sure you’ll get her a good settlement.”
David’s senses went up. He didn’t want to give Heather any personal information about Trish. “I’m doing my best.”
“No matter how good of a settlement she receives, Patricia won’t be as rich as I am now. Bigger picture, sugar.”
“I don’t want her because of money.”
“So, she has captured your eye.”
Damnit, he didn’t mean to reveal that to her.
“I don’t blame you. She has a very sexy shape and the face of an angel.” Heather’s eyes narrowed. “Have you had her, yet?”
“That,” he said loudly and then concentrated on lowering his voice, “is none of your business.”
Heather examined him for a moment. “I take that as a no. You would be a little more confident in speaking about her if you had. Hmm, I thought the girl was smart, but she can’t be if she turns down your…well-endowed talents.”
“That’s enough.”
“Are you sure she isn’t still in love with her husband?”
“None of this is your business, Heather.”
“Oh, but it is,” Heather said and stood up. She took a few steps towards him. “I love you. Can you say the same of your Patricia? Do you love her, and does she love you?”
David shook his head. “I’m not getting into this with you. No matter what happens between me and Trish it is too late for us. Go back to New York, Heather. I wish you luck,” David said and strode to the door. He didn’t hesitate to open the door and walk out of the hotel room.
Chapter 20
It was seven o’clock by the time Trish walked through the front door of the Jacobs home. She took her coat off and dropped it on the sofa. Then she pulled her shoes off and leaned back on the sofa.
Darlene came from the kitchen. “There you are. We were starting to get worried.”
Trish turned her head towards Darlene who stood a few feet from the doorway holding a dish towel. “Worried? Why?”
“David has called here four times looking for you. He said when he got back to the office this afternoon you were gone. Mrs. Hinkle said you wanted to leave, so she finished out the day. What happened? Where have you been? Why didn’t you finish your last day?
“Geez, so many questions at one time,” Trish complained and turned back around. “I see you two finally got the tree decorated. Looks good.”
Darlene walked around the sofa and sat down a few inches away from Trish. “Where have you been? Mrs. Hinkle said you left the office hours ago.”
“I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. I bumped into some old friends I haven’t seen since high school- had an after dinner drink with them. Okay, two drinks. Then I drove around for twenty minutes and came home.”
“Uh huh. What happened with David today? Did you two talk?”
Trish groaned. “I actually had a better evening than I did morning and afternoon, so let’s not talk about it.”
Darlene pressed her lips together. “You know I’m not going to let this go.”
“Oh, all right. This morning a blonde bombshell pranced into the office claiming to know David from way back and left the name of her hotel and room number for me to give him when he got back from court”
“What!” Darlene exclaimed. “Who was she?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t give me her name, but she was wearing a wedding ring. She had the nerve to size me up like competition, so it was obvious she didn’t want to discuss legal matters with David.”
“I don’t believe it. You think David is messing around with a married woman? No way. You must have misunderstood.”
Trish looked at Darlene and shook her head. “You should have seen his face when I gave him the message. He turned white as a ghost. Whoever she is, David is very familiar with her. But, I think she’s separated from her husband and decided to look up an old flame.”
“Yeah, that’s it. She’s some old floozy he probably dated in college and she needs an attorney. That’s it. Give him a chance to explain. He’s called here four times asking us to tell you to call him when you got in.”
“What is there to explain? He held me in his arms and told me he had to go to another woman’s hotel room. He made his choice.”
“There’s got to be more to it. Whoever she is she can’t hold a candle to you.”
“Thanks for the boost, but you didn’t see her. She had long blonde hair, tall, full lips, and sparkling blue eyes. And she wore a white fur coat. And her skirt….if you guys think my skirts are short, you should have seen the one she had on.”
“Mmmm. She sounds like a tall glass of water,” Mr. Jacobs said as he tried to hide around the doorway.
“Daddy! What have I told you about eavesdropping? And you shouldn’t be commenting on a woman like that.”
“I’m old, not dead,” Mr. Jacobs said as he entered the room.
“Dad
dy, you go back in the kitchen and finish the dishes so Trish and I can finish talking.”
“They’re finished,” he said and walked around the sofa to face them. He stood a few inches away from them.
Darlene let out an aggravated breath.
“Oh, let him stay. I’m sure he got the gist of what’s going on now- with the eavesdropping and all.”
“Eavesdropping? This is my house,” Mr. Jacobs said.
“Yes, sir,” Trish said.
“Now,” Mr. Jacobs said and folded his arms in front of him. “This is how I am interpreting this situation. David is attracted to you, and you are attracted to him. But, you are desperately trying to keep your distance because you’re not sure if you’re ready for a relationship. Am I right so far?”
“Yes, sir,” Trish mumbled.
“My daughter, in her wisdom, advises you to talk to him about your futures until this what did you call her? Blonde bombshell? Walked into the office before you two had a chance to talk.”
“Yes, sir,” Trish mumbled.
“So, he comes back into the office. You give him the message. David acts like he’s about to have a stroke. He tells you that he wants to talk to the woman and catch up with you later. Right?”
“Right,” Trish said.
“Trish, you don’t know what this is about. Maybe he had some unfinished business with this woman and wanted it finished before he moved on with you,” Mr. Jacobs stated.
Trish grunted.
“You won’t know if you don’t talk to the boy,” Mr. Jacobs said.
“Talk to him for what? For him to tell me that he made a mistake, or he changed his mind. He wants to be with this other woman. He really wants to be with her, but couldn’t have her before. No thank you. That’s a conversation I don’t need to have. And it’s not like we were dating or anything. What’re a few kisses here and there? It’s not like he was proposing marriage.”
Darlene just sat in silence.
“All right. It’s your life. We’ll support whatever you decide. Right, Darlene?”
Darlene was silent.
“Darlene?” Trish inquired.
The Lawyer Page 10
