Sitting at her desk in her Peachtree Street office two weeks later, Davia gave a wistful sigh as she thought about Justin Miles. CeCe was probably right. She had scared the man away, but that was for the best. She had no social skills in male/female relationships. Every man who showed any interest in her over the years had been soundly rejected. Why should this one be any different? So what if he was charming and appeared to be warm and sincere? Appearances deceived. Trusting a man only meant heartache, and she had experienced more than enough heartache in her life.
* * *
Justin sat in his office at Complete Computers, concentrating more on Davia Maxwell than on the papers before him. It seemed that she was all he could think about. Their unexpected meeting couldn’t have gone better if it had been planned. She was everything he’d thought she would be and more. He couldn’t remember when he had enjoyed being with a woman more. She seemed to like him. Maybe he had a chance.
Crossing his large office, he walked to the bar located in front of one of the three floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Grabbing an apple juice from the small refrigerator behind the bar, he twisted the top off and in one motion drained half the bottle. Dropping onto the sofa opposite his desk, he stretched his long legs out in front of him, leaned his head back against the sofa and stared across the room at the Atlanta skyline outside the window.
Davia. He liked her name. It was as beautiful as she was. To say he was smitten was putting it mildly, and he had only seen the woman four times in his life. He knew so little about her, and there was so much he wanted to know. She had told him that she held a business degree from Clark Atlanta and an MBA from Emory. He also knew that she was very well read and extremely intelligent. Oh yes, he wanted to know her better. He had made no secret of that. Good Lord, when she stepped into that restaurant with those jeans riding those shapely hips…
Justin sat up suddenly, jolted by the tug in the front of his pants. He blew out a long-agonized breath and finished his juice. Discarding the bottle he walked back to his desk.
He had convinced himself that it was best to give Davia Maxwell some breathing room, since she had indicated that he had come on too strong. But two weeks had passed and he still hadn’t called her. The truth was that he didn’t want to face another rejection. She was the first woman who had ever rejected his attention, and it had been hard on his ego. There was no denying that, but something told him that this woman was well worth taking the chance on another ego bruising. He wanted her, and if she rejected him again he would survive.
Picking up the receiver, Justin began pushing buttons on the telephone. As he dialed, it didn’t dawn on him that he was dialing her home number from memory.
* * *
When the call came she didn’t know what to do or say. Davia had resigned herself to retreating into her self-contained world. It was comfortable and safe. If she allowed Justin Miles to penetrate her defenses, then he could turn her world upside down. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that, but she was willing to try. So, gathering all of the courage that she could muster, she accepted his invitation to dinner and prayed that she hadn’t made a mistake.
They agreed to meet at a restaurant. She had chosen not to have him pick her up at her house. She didn’t want Reba or Gabby to know that she had a date with him. Gabby had never seen her go out with a man before, and she wasn’t sure of her reaction. It could be confusing for her. As for Reba, she knew what was on her mind; when it came to Justin, Reba would tell CeCe, who would start making wedding plans. So tonight’s excursion had been explained as a business affair, and neither woman nor child questioned the explanation.
For the date, Davia slipped on a silk turquoise slip dress that stopped just above her knees and accentuated her womanly curves. She marveled at the rich color and how it complemented her dark complexion. CeCe had picked the dress out for her months ago and had oohed and aahed when Davia modeled it.
Fixing small diamond studs in her pierced ears and the matching thin necklace around her neck, she completed the trio of diamonds with a shimmering ankle bracelet. She stepped into turquoise file pumps that matched her dress, checked her hair and makeup, then nodded in approval. She was ready.
It wasn’t until she was heading for the bedroom door that her legs nearly buckled from under her. Catching herself just before she hit the floor, she struggled to a chaise lounge in a corner of the room and fell onto it heavily. Her chest heaved violently as she found it difficult to breathe. Taking gulps of air into her lungs, she leaned forward, resting her head on her knees and whispered a silent prayer. “Please God, let this fear go away. Let it become a thing of the past.”
CHAPTER 8
As soon as she walked into the restaurant, Justin knew that his player days were over. He was hooked. This woman had him under her spell and there was nothing he could do about it. There was no doubt about it. Davia Maxwell could be the one.
As he stood in the shadows of the lounge adjacent to the restaurant watching her, his heart was pounding loudly in his chest. The dress she was wearing, the glittering diamonds, her hair, her makeup, all perfect. Everything about her was right. If there were any doubts, the amount of male attention she was getting by simply standing in the entranceway confirmed it. Finishing the soda he had ordered, he placed the glass on the bar and with determination headed for Davia. Walking up behind her, he bent and whispered in her ear. “Hello.”
Davia jumped, startled by the unexpected greeting. Turning, she opened her mouth to reply but clamped it shut as her eyes traveled down the length of his body. He was dressed in an expensive gray suit, just a shade darker than the gray in his spectacular eyes. A white shirt with thin gray stripes and a gray, silk tie complemented the suit. A white handkerchief peeked at her from his jacket pocket. He looked so good. She felt her stomach flutter at his nearness. Self-consciously, she took a step backward, too nervous to speak.
Although she smiled at him, Justin could tell that she was anxious. He was touched that someone who appeared to be so confident would be unnerved by a date with him. The two of them stood looking at each other until the maitre’d salvaged the awkward moment by showing them to their table.
As they followed him, Davia noted the quiet elegance of the exclusive restaurant that Justin had chosen for their evening together. Candles adorned each linen-covered table, lighting the darkened room like fireflies. A pianist, discreetly sequestered in one corner of the room, played softly, adding just the right touch of ambiance to their surroundings. Once they were seated, the wine steward came to their table inquiring about their selection. Both declined.
“I’m not much of a drinker,” Davia confessed, feeling less than sophisticated as a result of the admission.
Justin nodded. “I understand. I don’t drink at all. I don’t like the taste. That makes it difficult at times, especially since I attend so many social engagements due to my business.” He noticed that she sat a little straighter at the mention of his business.
“If you don’t mind my asking, what services does your company provide?”
That was all it took for him to start talking. Complete Computers was his baby, and he relished any opportunity to talk about his company.
Davia watched the animated expression on Justin’s handsome face as he talked about his pride and joy. He had mentioned his company only briefly during their conversation at Chuck E. Cheese, and she had avoided discussing Small Sensations. She listened with great interest while he told her how, after coming from three generations of physicians on both sides of his family, he broke tradition to become a computer entrepreneur. Now, a decade later, Complete Computers employed hundreds, boasted an international clientele and offered a range of computer services.
“And the best part of all is that I did it on my own,” he concluded, “with no help from my family. After Morehouse I never took another penny from my folks, although few people outside of my family believe it.”
Davia pondered his words for a moment, looking at him
thoughtfully. “You know something, Justin, I’m going to be honest with you. When we first met I thought you were just a rich, idle playboy, but I’m reconsidering that assessment.”
Justin smiled, pleased at her candor. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really. After being with you and talking with you a little more, I sense a substance in your character that’s hard to overlook.” She paused, looked at him and smiled. “I know what it takes to pursue a dream, and for you to go after yours and reject your family’s help while doing it took a lot.”
Justin savored Davia’s words. He sensed that the admission of having prejudged him hadn’t come easily for her.
They dined on a meal of succulent roast duck, snow peas and au gratin potatoes while engaging in conversation. Justin avoided getting too personal as they talked, hoping that by respecting her privacy the nervousness that she had displayed earlier would wane. He wondered if she was aware of how nervous he was being here with her. If she thought that he was in control of this present situation she was wrong. He could only hope that things would go well and that she would want to see him again, because he was certain that he wanted to see more of Davia Maxwell.
Justin blinked rapidly, startled out of his contemplation by the sound of Davia calling his name. He looked into her questioning eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid that my mind was somewhere else. What did you say?”
“I asked why you don’t go by your first name, Frederick.”
Her question took him by surprise. Had she been interested enough in him to ask others about him? Again, he hoped. “How do you know my name is Frederick?”
“That night at the Black Chamber of Commerce dinner, CeCe did some detective work and found out that you go by your middle name.”
She took a spoonful of the strawberry shortcake they had ordered for dessert, licking at a dab of stray whip cream at the corner of her mouth with a swipe of her tongue. Justin’s eyes followed the gesture as, instantly, his body reacted. Shifting in his seat, he took a sip of water and then cleared his throat.
“Actually, my name is Frederick Justin—two names that came from my mother’s side of the family. My second middle name is Zachary, after my dad. Now, I know that Frederick Justin Zachary is a mouthful, but if you want to call me that, I don’t mind.” He winked. “As long as you call me.”
Davia chuckled. “There you go coming on strong again.”
Justin looked chastised. “Oops, sorry.”
Having finished her dessert Davia sat back in her chair and eyed him speculatively. She liked Justin Miles. It wasn’t just the fact that he stirred her senses and upset her entire equilibrium. She liked his easygoing manner. The fears she had harbored about this date now seemed silly. This was the second time she had spent a long period of time with him and nothing drastic had happened. She relaxed a bit more.
Justin noticed the change in her body language. “So am I forgiven for that momentary slip of decorum? Do you still like me?”
“I didn’t say I liked you in the first place,” Davia retorted, pleased with her ability to be playful with him. “If you want me to say it, I will. I like you.”
She was shocked by her own admission and quickly drank from her water glass to cover her embarrassment. Justin was pleased by her comment but recognized some reservation in her response.
“Well, I like it that you like me, Ms. Maxwell, yet I hear a but in that forced confession.”
Davia looked at him solemnly. “You’re very perceptive. The but is that we come from two different worlds.”
“Oh, do we? So you’re the human being and I’m the alien? Is that it?” He grinned, but she remained somber. He got the message.
Folding his hands on the table, he leaned forward and looked her in the eyes. “You haven’t told me much about your world, Davia, but I think that any difference we might have makes us more interesting. Yet, you’re right. I do come from another world. I’ve been taught since childhood that I’m a member of what my mother calls the black elite.”
“The Talent Tenth was what W.E.B. DuBois called it.”
“Ah, the lady knows her history.”
“Quite well.”
Her sharp tone caused Justin to pause. Their eyes held each other steadily. It was obvious that she was hostile to the concept and he prayed that his background wouldn’t put a wedge between the possibilities he saw for them. He continued. “Then as you probably suspect, as a member of this so-called black elite, my parents tried to structure my life so that I came in contact only with people like myself—those who were wealthy and privileged. I was expected to engage in activities with the children of others just like me. I had to belong to the right clubs, the right fraternity. My sister and I weren’t allowed to mingle with anyone else.”
“That must have been boring.”
Justin laughed. She was astute.
“You’re right, it was. That’s why I rebelled.”
Davia raised an eyebrow. “For some reason I’m not surprised. What did you do?” Justin had her full attention.
“I didn’t like the kids in those clubs and organizations, so I refused to put up with them. Instead, I ran with my best friend, Clark.”
“I remember your mentioning him when we were talking at Chuck E. Cheese. Wasn’t he a rich kid, too?”
“No, not with money, but rich with love and family. His parents work for my folks. His father’s the chauffeur and his mother is the housekeeper. We’re only a few months apart in age and we were inseparable. We got in a couple of scrapes we shouldn’t have, but nothing criminal. Finally my parents got tired of it all and decided to quell my rebellion. My mother talked my father into sending me to a boarding school. They said that it would expand my horizons.”
“Did it?”
“Oh, I got a few friends from the experience, but mostly it sucked.”
It was Davia’s opportunity to laugh. Justin seemed to take life’s experiences with a grain of salt. Of course he could afford to do that. Life had not afforded her the same privilege. She would not be telling him her story with the same casual abandon. Not that she was going to tell him her story at all. That was in the past. Of course it would be nice if he was the type of man that she could trust with her past. Was it possible? She doubted it. Life had taught her not to trust any man.
Justin noted the myriad of emotions crossing Davia’s face, the last one being a shadow. Concerned, he reached across the table to take the hands she had folded carefully on the table. At his touch she snatched her hands away quickly and jumped back in her chair. Her eyes were wide with fear. Justin was baffled by her reaction.
Davia’s face heated in embarrassment as she looked into Justin’s questioning eyes. “I…I…I’m sorry.
I…I don’t know why I did that. I…” Noting that her actions had attracted the attention of fellow patrons, her humiliation became more acute. Horrified, she whispered, “I’ve got to go home.” Grabbing her purse off the table, she rose from her seat and rushed out of the restaurant, leaving Justin behind.
At a loss as to what had just happened and why, Justin paid the bill and hurried after her. What had spooked her? What had he done? He made it to the parking lot just as Davia was entering her car.
Slowing his pace, afraid that he might spook her again, he spoke quietly as he drew near. “So I’m such a bad date that you’re running away without saying good night?”
With her hand on the open car door, Davia froze at the sound of his voice. Emitting a shuddering sigh, she shut her eyes and wished that this whole night would go away. She had made a fool of herself in front of him and ruined what was turning out to be a pleasant evening. How could she face him again? She was a novice when it came to dating, and she should have foreseen the potential for disaster. She wanted to disappear.
Justin watched the look of distress on her face. It was so acute that he wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her. Instead, he jammed his hands into his trouser pockets. If only he could get her to tell him wh
at was wrong, because something was definitely wrong.
“I hope you’ll accept my apology before we part for the evening.” The weight in his heart lightened as her long lashes lifted and her dark eyes settled on his face. He could see the silent review of the evening in her head as she considered his statement.
She frowned. “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything.”
He stepped a bit closer and reached for straws. “I touched you, without your permission. You didn’t like it.”
Davia gave a sardonic chuckle. “Yes, I would say that was quite obvious to you and everyone else, but you didn’t do anything out of place. It’s just…”
“It’s just what, Davia?” he whispered, daring to step closer. They stood only inches apart, only the open car door standing between them.
The sound of her name on his lips was like liquid fire—soft, sensuous. Justin placed his hands on the top of the car door next to her hand. She could feel his heat.
“Tell me, Davia. Tell me what’s wrong.” He looked into her pain-filled eyes, wanting to eliminate that pain. He wanted to increase the joy in her life. He wanted her to see the desire for her in his eyes.
Davia did see the desire and it was disconcerting. She had been duped before by silver-tongued words from someone she thought would be kind to her. She had been tricked. She would never let that happen again.
She had been young then and starved for affection. She was a grown woman now and her senses were much more acute. Yet the ability to trust still eluded her. Could it be possible that Justin Miles could be trusted? Could he stand up to scrutiny? She searched those gray-green eyes carefully. Could she trust Justin Miles with her present? Could she trust him with her past? The burden of not trusting anyone was getting heavy, but she wasn’t yet ready to give it up.
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