“I was kind of finding it kind of kinky,” she teased.
He chuckled sensuously. “Well, I brought a bottle of whip cream too. Would you like have desert first?”
She smiled wickedly and nodded.
Chapter 16
Patricia was standing at the door when Phoebe arrived home in a limousine driven car that evening about eight o’clock. The disapproval in her mother’s face was quite evident, but Phoebe waved this away and kissed her mother on the cheek as she came in the door.
“He didn’t bother to ride home with you?” Patricia asked.
“No, Mother.” Exhausted she sat down in the nearest chair and stretched. “He was in bed when I left if you must know.”
“Are you hungry?”
Phoebe giggled more to herself. “Oh no, we ate when we had time.”
Patricia looked with even more disapproval.
“Oh Mother, the man is insatiable if you must know. It’s like the more he gets the more he wants and in between he made me feel the same way.”
“So you like him a lot.”
Phoebe shrugged. “I don’t know what I feel if you must know.”
“I don’t like him, Phoebe.”
“You don’t know him enough to not like him.”
Patricia huffed and left the room not wanting to discuss the subject any further. Phoebe relaxed and stared at the wall thoughtfully. After they had eaten finally, he had called up for her to have a massage and then they played checkers in just towels on the floor of the front room. It had been an even more interesting experience.
By that time, she had grown accustom to being undressed in his presence and near the end of the night, there was no place on her body he did not know. The same had went for him and she delighted in finding new places on his body to touch to excite him.
Just as he had asked her, as soon as the sun had started going down, he had called the hotel desk to bring the hotel’s limousine around to take her home. All his promises that he had made this day, he had kept and she had really felt like a queen as she rode home. Thoroughly loved through and through.
Phoebe decided she had enough energy to spend some quality time with the twins and afterwards gave them a bath. When she tucked them into bed that night, her son gave her an extra special kiss.
As usual Patricia had set out some warm milk on the table for the both of them when Phoebe joined her mother in the kitchen after leaving the twin’s room.
“What are you doing for the weekend?” Phoebe asked.
“Nothing,” she said waving her hand away as if there were a pesky fly around. “I did want to take the twins out somewhere. They have been pretty patient for the past couple of weeks lockdown in this house.”
“I wanted to take them on a boat treat, then go to a birthday party. Lawrence invited.”
Patricia brightened up. “Will you have to do any more meetings with this other man? Or can you now concentrate on Lawrence?”
“Who I chose to spend time with and how I spend time with are my business and my prerogative, Mother.”
“I know and in no way would I dictate how you chose to spend your time, but I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“I know you care, Mother and it’s very much appreciated.” She touched her mother’s hands and smiled warmly. “You are very much appreciated.”
“Thank you, Phoebe,” she said very glad to hear her daughter say that to her. “Sometimes mothers need to hear that they are appreciated in some kind of way.”
****
Just as Jacoby arrived back in Lansing, Lawrence called him from Detroit on his cell phone.
“I called your house and office all yesterday and you didn’t answer. Desmond said he hadn’t seen you either. Where’d you run off to?”
“I was out of town.”
Lawrence chuckled. “You came down to christen Madeline’s new apartment with her? She had mentioned she might invite you down.”
“No, I wasn’t with Madeline.” Jacoby made no attempt to go into detail on his whereabouts. Jacoby thought Lawrence was being too nosey, but Jacoby was being very evasive. He didn’t think he should let Lawrence know he had seen Phoebe again considering how Lawrence had acted the first time he had told him about Phoebe and him being together.
“I just wanted to speak with you about Phoebe,” Lawrence said casually.
Defensively, he asked, “What about Phoebe?”
“I just wanted to let you know there are no hard feelings between us. You got to her first and maybe it was fate talking to me telling me that I had better start listening when fate starts talking. Phoebe’s a good woman and I missed that opportunity, but I’m not missing any more opportunities like that again.”
Jacoby assumed Lawrence meant he would be jumping a lot more bones when he felt the need to instead of waiting around. This wasn’t unusual for Lawrence. He loved sleeping around with women and keeping the notches on his bed quite full.
“I didn’t feel any hard feelings or guilt about what I had done, Lawrence. I was just worried you thought I had moved in on a staked claim when there was nothing to say you had laid claim to her. I would never move in on someone I knew you had an interest in.”
“And do you still have an interest in her?”
Jacoby pretended innocence not wanting Lawrence to know just how much he felt about Phoebe when he wasn’t sure about his own feelings. “There’s a considerable interest, but I don’t want to press anything. Maybe when I’m in town I’ll look her up.”
“But didn’t she say she wanted nothing to do with you?” Lawrence reminded him.
“True, but that never stopped me before. I’m sure I could change her mind.”
“So it could be just a one night thing then.”
“For now. Maybe more if she wants more to do with me.”
“And if she doesn’t, you’ll be moving on?”
Again Jacoby had that weird feeling Lawrence was up to something. “Of course. I wouldn’t force the issue. I don’t have to force myself on any woman, never have and never will.”
“Good...I mean, fine. I was just wondering.” He changed the subject about something else, yet Jacoby felt uncomfortable the whole time he was speaking with Lawrence, because now he was sure Lawrence was up to something and he felt he should speak with Phoebe directly about his concerns. “I’ll be seeing you Monday,” Lawrence assured after some more small talk.
“No doubt,” Jacoby assured him very eager to return to Detroit again.
“Desmond told me of your move planned for this weekend. I’d help you, but I’ll be seeing some clients over the weekend in the thumb.”
“Don’t worry. Even without an office assistant I have it all organized and Madeline has graciously allowed me to use the back offices at her place, while I’m waiting for my own offices to be finished. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“Won’t that be uncomfortable for you and Phoebe?”
“I have worked with other women I’ve slept with, why would it be uncomfortable?”
“I just figured there’s probably more to what you’re feeling. I mean no woman’s ever just outright rejected you before. I figured getting back in her pants was just an attempt to bandage up your wounded pride.”
“My pride is not wounded in the least.” His sourness penetrated through. True, Phoebe’s rejection had kicked him pretty hard in the pride department, but last night had certainly assured him she did want him.
“You sure about that man?”
Jacoby most definitely didn’t like the way Lawrence was acting so he decided to talk junk to throw Lawrence off. “Yeah man, if she doesn’t want what I have to offer, that’s her lost. I’m not holding my breath for any woman. She’s not the only fish in the sea. There are plenty of them out there for me. Let’s just hope Phoebe will be adult enough to not try to crowd me.”
Lawrence chuckled in what sounded like almost relief.
****
Arriving at work a little past eight, she immediately took car
e of all email and voicemail problems. Afterwards, she had Simon finish shipping off the rest of the documents to their appropriate locations. They were given noticed by Latrice that Madeline would be arriving in Detroit about ten. That gave her and Simon enough time to do any last minute straightening up and preparations for the small office gathering Madeline had planned.
Soon as Madeline arrived she called Phoebe into her office. Business was discussed first, but Madeline’s mind seemed a thousand miles away when she wasn’t talking.
“Is everything alright, Madeline?” Phoebe asked reluctantly already getting a gist of what was preoccupying Madeline’s mind.
“A little,” Madeline said kind of sorrowful. “I kind of gave up my night thing, or he gave up me.”
“Do you miss him?” she asked.
“Very much. I was kind of liking him,” she said longingly. “I thought maybe we could keep it going, but I should have known it wouldn’t go much farther. I’m old enough to know that a man’s heart can never be captured. You remember that. Men say they love you, but they only love something about you and when it wears off, that’s the end of their love, Phoebe.”
“Did he say he loved you?” Phoebe felt that nausea starting to build up.
“No. Not once, but I thought if we continued, eventually he would and we could make it a more permanent thing. Although he was younger than I, but I figured age was nothing but a number.”
“Did he know how you felt? Had you ever told him or even hinted to him?”
“No. We never discuss the arrangement. I guess that was the thrill about the whole thing. I felt we didn’t need words to show what we felt. I just assumed he knew.”
“How Madeline? How was he to know? Maybe you should have told him, so this would have never happened. He wouldn’t have cut it off so abruptly.”
“Oh yes,” Madeline said sourly. “And have me hanging on, so he won’t hurt my feelings? I don’t think so, Phoebe. I refuse to be a man’s crutch when he actually decides to get serious about another woman.”
“What do you mean by serious about another woman?” Phoebe asked. “Did he say it was serious with another woman?”
Madeline shook her head. “He didn’t have to. You could clearly see it on his face. Whatever this woman did to him, he was clearly enthralled by it and enjoying it. I don’t hate him for what he did, but I sure as hell envy that woman who opened his nose.”
Phoebe blushed furiously. Madeline noticed this and frowned. “You would certainly do well to find a man like him, Phoebe, so you can stop all that shyness when it comes to being with a man. Although Simon has mentioned to Latrice you’ve been quite happy these days and I must admit there is a certain glow about you. Has Daniel up and died mysteriously?”
Whatever glow was on her face instantly disappeared at the mention of her ex-husband’s name. “Unfortunately he hasn’t. He’s become an even bigger problem in this past week alone.”
“Then what has you so full of life? Is it a man?” Madeline saw the blush return on Phoebe’s face. “Oh my, it is. Who is he and when can I meet him?”
“It was only a couple of dates thing. Nothing serious. I probably won’t be seeing him again.”
“Don’t lay your cards out too soon. By the look of you, I’d say you really do want to see him again. He must have been a wonderful one night stand.”
Phoebe shook her head, but it felt as if she were trying to convince herself of not wanting to see him more than Madeline. “I’m quite sure of not wanting to see him again.”
A call came in and Phoebe was very grateful to get out of Madeline’s presence and gather her wits about her. She couldn’t believe how calm and collected she seemed as Madeline discussed being without Jacoby.
She couldn’t possibly work here another week. Madeline would surely find out the truth eventually, because Phoebe doubted Simon could keep his mouth closed another week.
Chapter 17
At three, Madeline called in her office and let her know she would need Phoebe to come over to her apartment Monday to assist with the testing of the office’s wireless software Lawrence’s technician would be installing.
“I will also need you to get the back two offices on the other side cleaned out, so if you could stop by the cleaning department on your way out today, I would sure appreciate it. Lawrence just called and reminded me about you leaving early to help him out this weekend.”
Phoebe wondered why Madeline needed the offices cleaned out, but she decided not to ask because she would eventually find out about it.
Her mother had also taken off early to help get the kids packed and a limousine pulled up on time. Of course Patricia was just too thrilled with the elaborate manners of Lawrence as he presented a dozen lilacs for her and a dozen roses for Phoebe. He even gave the twins Tootsie rolls lollipops after he graciously ask Phoebe if it was all right if they had sweets.
When her mother and the twins were inside the limousine, Phoebe turned to Lawrence and whispered, “You keep this up and she might start calling you son.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked with a playful wink.
Phoebe felt a little uneasy wondering if he was serious. On their way to the boat, Lawrence was just too funny for the twins who were squealing in laughter at his playfulness. He didn’t mind the noise they made. Patricia of course questioned him to death and Phoebe couldn’t be more embarrassed, yet Lawrence answered all her questions humorously not at all minding her mother’s nosiness.
Once they reached the boat, Phoebe knew it wasn’t a boat at all. It was a beautiful yacht with two bedrooms and a dining room. There was a light brunch awaiting them and there was a private crew on board to serve it. Patricia was enjoying herself and didn’t mind taking the twins off Phoebe’s hands to give Lawrence and her daughter a little privacy up on deck.
“Impressed?” Lawrence asked, sitting very close beside her.
“Very, but not with all of this. Just at you.”
“Why me?”
“Because you don’t seem like the kind of guy who would care what other people think.”
“That was the old Lawrence. I’ve turned over a new leaf.”
She laughed, but his look read very serious. The smile on her face quickly faded. “Since when?”
“Since really getting to know you the other night. There was just something about you that I found myself thinking about you all the time, Phoebe. You’re a woman that deserves the best in life.”
“And are you saying you are the best?”
“I don’t mind at all tooting my own horn.”
Not at all liking how he decided to express himself, Phoebe became immediately defensive. “And me sleeping with Jacoby doesn’t make a difference to you?”
“Should it? That was in the past, just like my own indiscretions. Are you going to hold them against me?”
“I probably don’t know any of the women you slept with.”
He chuckled. “It won’t bother me, Phoebe. I swear.”
“Won’t Jacoby think differently?”
“Jacoby told me himself just last night that it meant absolutely nothing.”
She tried her best not to let it show this affected her. “Well, why should it? He was only looking for a good time.”
He studied her features carefully. Phoebe was excellent at hiding her true emotions. “He also said he didn't care that you rejected him. He said he could find a lot of other women who wouldn’t mind what he had to offer.”
“Good, because a man like that with an ego that arrogant needs to suckle on something or he might run back to his mamma, if she even wants him around,” she snipped.
Lawrence chuckled. “Enough about him, let’s talk about us.”
“Us, Lawrence? When did I agree to an us? I thought we were only friends.”
“Of course. Only friends,” he confirmed.
Yet Phoebe had a feeling Lawrence wanted a lot more and she didn’t think after spending yesterday with Jacoby she could give it to
him. A promise is a promise and she did promise to help Lawrence this weekend. The kids and her mother were having a good time and that made it all worthwhile, so she couldn’t complain. Their happiness made her feel a sense of peace.
Once they arrived at the home of Zane Quinn, a man, who reminded Phoebe of The Colonel without a cane and the bow tie, eagerly greeted them when they arrived. His grandson named after him, was there also and welcomed the twins with open arms. None of the other children were due until tomorrow, but the large eighteen-bedroom mansion was alive with excitement for the upcoming party.
Phoebe was shown to her room, which was connected, with her mother’s and a nursery attached to the room, which had more square footage than her whole house. Patricia was given a private tour by the butler, while Phoebe put the twins to sleep after they had dinner. Lawrence joined her and even sung a bedtime lullaby for the twins.
“Do you have any children, Lawrence?”
Thoughtfully, as if longingly, he said, “Actually no, but I always told myself once I get settle in my business, I would find that right girl and have a family right away.” That wicked sparkle gleamed in his nice brown cinnamon eyes. “You wouldn’t happen to know any nice girls?” he winked teasingly.
She flushed at his teasing and guided him out the nursery into her own room. “I wouldn’t dare introduce them to a charmer like you.”
He pulled her into his arms molding her body against his frame. Phoebe was very aware that he was slightly aroused by their close contact and seeing the place they were at that moment, giving in to what he had in mind would be so easy if she wasn’t thinking about Jacoby and then on top of that wishing he was here.
So when his thin dark pink lips swept down to take hers, as good as he kissed, she couldn’t enjoy it because she knew she wouldn’t enjoy another’s lips again. Damn Jacoby, because even when she tried to concentrate on Lawrence’s kiss, it didn’t feel the same. No heat surrounded her, no difficulty breathing, no shuddering or shivering, nothing and Lawrence was a pretty good kisser.
When she pushed away, he was the one who was breathing hard and looking as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Deceptive Nights Page 10
