by Katie Dowe
“Is that how you see us?” he asked through his teeth.
“Isn’t it the way you see us?” she countered coolly.
“I would like to think we have more than that.” He looked down into her beautiful hazel eyes searchingly. Surely she could not be so cynical? Surely she felt something other than sex for him?
“We don’t,” she pushed him away from her. “Stop trying to spoil it.” She wandered over to the vanity mirror and sat down. “So what do you want? Mexican?”
He stared at her wordlessly for a moment and then started putting on his clothes. “I am not hungry!” he told her coldly as he finished dressing. He marched to the door and then turned back to look at her but she continued brushing out her hair not even looking at him. She turned around when she heard the door slammed shut and buried her face into her hands. She wanted to run after him and beg him to stay!
*****
Jeffry stared at the couple and fixed a smile on his face. Leesa had just gotten back from the hospital and had insisted that as the godfather for their youngest son he had to make an appearance at home for Andrew Jeffry to become familiar with him. It was the end of January and she had given birth to the beautiful dark brown hair tinged with liberal amount of blonde and dark brown eyes like his mother. He could see the way Brad looked at her as if she was the most beautiful creature in the world and he wondered what that felt like?
He had no idea that Leesa was watching him until she turned to her husband. “Darling could you take Andrew back to the nursery and let me talk to Jeffry for a moment? I am sure both your parents and mine would like to hold him for a little bit.”
Brad took the baby from her and kissed her lingeringly on the lips. Jeffry averted his eyes as her hand touched his cheek gently. “Don’t tire her out,” Brad told him darkly as he left and closed the door behind him.
“Sit darling,” she patted the space beside her on the bed and he took a seat. “You have been looking like you are on the last and I want to know what’s going on with you.”
“You have your hands full with three children and a husband and you want to know what’s going on with me?” Jeffry asked her in amusement, taking one of her hands and lifting it to his lips. “Brad is a very lucky man and he is fortunate that I did not scoop you up first.”
“You would not have stood a chance darling,” she lifted a hand and patted his jaw. “Now stop changing the subject and tell me what’s going on.”
“I am seeing someone,” he got off the bed and moved away.
“I see.” She looked at him quizzically as he paced. “You are planning on how to break up with her?”
Jeffry stopped and looked at her in surprise and then he laughed. “Far from it. I am wondering how to make her see that I want more than sex!”
Chapter 7
The restaurant opening was a crush! Diana had almost declined to go but she had been specially invited by the up and coming artiste ‘Total Legend’ so she had made the effort. She had been by to see Leesa and the newborn a few days ago and marveled that the woman could be so energized after three children. She had dressed especially carefully in black dress pants and black silk blouse, the stark color relieved by a multicolored scarf around her neck. She had not heard from Jeffry in a week and she had not called him. She had seen him briefly at a party last week with a blonde hanging onto his arm and had left early making sure he had not seen her.
She spoke to the artiste and several others and wandered around the large and elegantly fitted restaurant taking a seat at the long oblong bar.
“Fancy seeing you here,” she closed her eyes briefly at his deep voice. She steeled herself to appear casual as she turned to look at him. Oh how she missed him! she thought as she took in his semi formal attire of faded denims and light blue shirt and dark blue jacket. He looked rakishly handsome as if he broke a lot of hearts. She had no intention of letting him break hers.
“Hey,” she greeted him casually. “I didn’t know you were interested in places like these?”
“Friend of mine,” he nodded to the bartender who hurried off to fix his drink. “What’s your excuse?”
“Same.” She said with a laugh. “So what do you think?”
“I think there are too many restaurants in this city already,” he said with a shrug. The music started suddenly, a slow jam and he put his drink down and took her hand. “Dance with me.”
“I don’t think-“she began.
“This does not constitute a date Diana,” he told her dryly.
With a shrug she acquiesced and allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor. She placed her hand on his chest to keep him at arm’s length but he was having none of that as he pulled her into his arms and held her closely, his eyes meeting hers, his expression intent.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, feeling the thudding of his heart against her.
“I missed you,” he whispered back his breath on her face causing her to shiver.
“You could not have missed me that much, I saw you with one of your kind at a party last week.” She told him coolly.
“Jealous?” he asked her silkily.
“Not one bit.” She told him smiling sweetly up at him as she slid her hands around his neck. “It just proved my point that we should just enjoy what we have and you go on with life as usual.’
He looked down at her intently for a moment and then up and around the room. “You are okay with that?” he asked her looking back at her.
“Of course,” she told him carelessly.
With a grim smile he lowered his head. He had seen the photographers and knew that the paparazzi were out in their numbers to cover the event. He tilted her chin and without warning he took her lips with his. Diana stiffened for a moment and then with a moan she surrendered breathing in him and forgetting where they were as he deepened the kiss!
They did not stay long after that but he followed her back to her apartment. The night was freezing cold and the stars were many in the sky but neither of them noticed that as they hurried inside the apartment. He backed her up against the door as he claimed her lips with his hungrily, his touch demanding and desperate. Diana pulled at his jacket and in her haste to get to his skin she tore his buttons and pushed off his shirt. She moaned in frustration as she encountered his thin white undershirt. He eased back and pulled it over his head allowing her access to his skin. She ran her hands over his chest and almost whimpered in delight at the warmth and muscles she felt there. He reclaimed her lips feverishly one hand going for her breast feeling the large nipple there.
“I want you naked,” he rasped lifting his head and looking down at her. He quickly undressed her and bent before her. Diana trembled badly as he started tonguing her! “Jeffry!” she moaned twisting her head from side to side. “Please.” Oh God she needed this, needed him! His tongue entered her and she lost it! Crying out and clutching at his dark hair tightly.
He let go before she could come and came up in front. He stood there looking down at her for a minute before taking her lips with his again his hands clasping the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss and held her close.
They did not make it to the bedroom but made love right there on the soft throw rug in the living room!
*****
Diana stared at the paper in dismay! She had been so caught up with the fire and passion of him kissing her that she had not thought about where they were and the photographers milling around and looking for interesting pictures to sell their papers. They had certainly gotten more than they bargained for! She thought grimly as she studied the picture thoroughly. His lips were buried on hers and she was clinging to him like some Victorian era woman who would be lost without her man at her side! She flung the paper away in disgust. She had told him that she would not go out with him in public and now the whole world was going to know that they were seeing each other. She was going to be one of his many women as of now. The captain had read: ‘Plus sized model Diana Walker and playboy billionaire
Jeffry Rowland swapping spit! She is not his usual type. Could this be love?’
She groaned as she realized that her mother and her brother were going to be asking her a lot of questions for which she had no answers to!
*****
“Jeffry darling?” Leesa asked her, lifting her well shaped eye brows as Diana sat beside her on the sofa. She had avoided a call from her brother and had called her mother to let her know that she would explain things later. She had escaped to Leesa’s where she had an appointment with her to plan some charity function for spring. “I had no idea you were seeing each other.”
“We are not,” Diana said almost impatiently. She had forgotten that Jeffry was a friend of theirs and there were bound to be questions. “It’s just sex.”
Leesa looked at the girl in surprise. Her husband had shown her the papers and asked her if she had known all of that was going on. “Sex?”
“It’s no big deal Leesa. We are good together so we have entered into a physical relationship. Jeez you would think people have better things to do than to be pondering about something like that.” She said in exasperation.
“Darling you are both visible people and people tend to want to live vicariously through the lives of celebrities.” Leesa reminded her. It was mid afternoon and the children were down for their naps. Brad had gone on site to the apartment buildings he had taken on. “So does Jeffry feel the same way?”
“Of course he does. You know him better than I do Leesa and know he is a player. So we have an arrangement and it’s working.”
“You never strike me as the kind of girl who would settle for something like that.” Leesa said thoughtfully.
“The sex is wonderful,” Diana said with a shrug. “And I know better than to expect more from a man like Jeffry.”
“I see,” Leesa said quietly. She was remembering what Jeffry had told her when he had stopped by to visit his godson and realized he was talking about Diana. Oh dear! She thought with a mental shake of her head. This is going to be very interesting.!
*****
“Diana this is your brother again. Call me back dammit or I am going to come over to your place and we are going to talk.” Michael disconnected the call impatiently. He had not seen the papers until a brother had brought it to his attention.
“Your sister is batting in the big leagues bro,” Gary had said to him as soon as he had finished dealing with a client. He had not been sleeping well lately and it was getting to be very difficult concentrating on dealing with his clients.
“What do you mean?”
Gary had handed him the paper. He had stared at the picture of his sister and billionaire Jeffry Rowland in disbelief. His sister could not be so stupid! He had thought angrily. Not only was the guy white and rolling in dough but he was one of the biggest players there was!
He had tried calling her and several times but she had not answered him and he knew she suspected that he had seen the papers. Christ they were a couple of idiots! Getting involved with rich white people who were not suitable for them. If he hurt her, rich or not he was going to have to answer to him!
*****
Emma felt the fury rising inside her as she stared at them. No wonder he had broken it off with her, the bastard! How could he leave her who had so much for a woman who was almost twice her size and a black woman at that! What was wrong with him? She tore the paper in two viciously and almost stamped on it but stopped herself just in time. She had seen several of her co-workers looking at her strangely and when she had returned their stares they had avoided her eyes. They were feeling sorry for her! She was at the top of her career, wealthy in her own rights and was referred to as ‘the beautiful sharp tongued lawyer’ and they were pitying her! You bastard! She raged silently. You are going to regret this.
*****
“I had no idea you were seeing our model,” Jack commented as he stepped into his son’s office. Jack had stared at the paper in surprise and had contemplated whether or not he should mention it to him. He had tried to get him to come over for dinner several times since the year started and he had refused. Things were better between him and Abigail and he was trying to keep it that way.
“I guess that’s one way to put it.” Jeffry told him briefly as he quickly sent off the email to the sales office. He had been pleased when he looked at the picture in the papers and knew that Diana could not refuse to go out with him anymore, their ‘secret’ was already out.
“What does that mean?”
“It means it’s none of your business dad.” He said mildly.
“It is not like you to get involved with someone who works for us son,” Jack said stiffly resenting his tone and his words.
“Technically she does not work for us and I happen to like her.”
“Just like?”
“Dad I hate to tell you this but my relationship is no one’s business. Diana and I have something going on and we are seeing where it goes. Why don’t you concentrate on your wife and let me deal with my affair?”
“I am still your father Jeffry so a little respect is required.” Jack got to his feet and looked down on his son. “I hope you know what you are doing.”
Jeffry watched him leave and close the door behind him, his expression thoughtful. He had not bothered to call Diana in case she was furious with what had been printed but he was planning on calling her later. There was a function that he had to attend on Thursday and he was going to ask her to go as his date. Surely she could not say no this time!
*****
Michael was waiting for her when she got to the apartment and Diana stifled a groan as she saw him marking time in front of her door. “What brings you by?” she asked him as she inserted the key into the lock.
He looked at her coolly as he came in behind her. He took off his jacket and hung it onto the peg.
“What are you doing?” he asked her without preamble.
“I am just now going to make a cup of herbal tea for myself. Want some?” she asked him deliberately misunderstanding him.
“You know damn well what I mean Di!” he said tightly as he followed her into the kitchen. “You are having sex with that guy?”
“That’s none of your business,” she told him mildly putting on the kettle and getting out two cups.
“You are my sister so that makes it my business.” He corrected her as he sat on the stool and faced her.
“I am an adult and can very well be with whomever I please. Stay out of my business Michael.”
“He is going to hurt you Di,” he told her grimly. “You are not his type, he is just using you.”
The words felt like sharp spikes driving through her heart and it took a supreme effort for her to school her expression to appear neutral. “Maybe I am the one using him.”
“You don’t fool me you are not like that.”
“You don’t know me.” She turned around and took the kettle off the stove, switching it off and giving herself time to recover her composure. “It’s just physical between us and that’s fine with me.”
He stared at her moodily for a moment and then took the cup of tea from her. “I am just looking out for you.”
“You don’t need to do that. I am a big girl, literally.” She said with a humorless smile.
“You are beautiful and deserve someone who will love you unconditionally,” he said gruffly.
“So do you.” She looked at him challengingly. They were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. She hurried off to answer it but her heart sank as she saw who it was standing outside her door. She had left her phone in her pocketbook and had not remembered about it because of the argument with her brother. She would have told him not to come over. She closed her eyes and opened the door and blocked his path. “This is not a good time.” She said quietly hoping that he would leave and her brother would not notice.
“I want to know if you are upset about the picture in the papers,” he stared at her wanting to take her into his arms. He had tried calli
ng her several times but had not gotten her and decided to take the chance and come straight over.
“I am not upset but you have to go,” she insisted.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
Before she could respond she heard her brother behind her.
“Di, I think- “he stopped as he stared at the man framed inside the doorway. “What the hell are you doing here man?”
“I came to see your sister what else?” Jeffry came into the room and Diana moved back in resignation.
“You need to leave,” Michael’s fists clenched at his sides and Diana could feel her heart hammering inside her breasts.
“As far as I know this is your sister’s apartment and I am not leaving because you say so.” Jeffry told him coldly meeting his look squarely.
“You think I am going to stand around and let you use my sister and cast her aside the way you do the women in your life?” Michael approached him threateningly.
“You don’t know anything about me!” Jeffry stood his ground.
“I suggest you take your white ass out of here before I wipe the floor with you man,” Michael told him harshly.
“Enough!” Diana shouted causing both men to stare at her. “Michael you need to go on home I am quite capable of taking care of myself.” She turned to Jeffry. “And you! I need you to leave right now-“he made as if to approach her and she stopped him. “Now please.”
He stood there looking at her for a moment and then giving Michael a measured look he turned on his heels and left. Diana waited until she was sure he had driven off before she turned to her brother. “I am not a little girl anymore and I am asking you kindly to remember that. Now please leave.”
“Sis- “he began but the fulminating stare she gave him stopped him.
She closed the door behind him wearily and leaned her head against it feeling drained. She felt as if she had just gone ten rounds with a professional boxer!
