When Opal came into the office the next morning, she saw the handwritten note on her desk. It was from D’marcus, advising her that he had to fly to San Francisco. His aunt had rushed his uncle to the emergency room last night.
Opal’s breath caught. She could just imagine how D’marcus felt. His aunt and uncle were the only family he had and he was incredibly close to them. She bowed her head and said a prayer that his uncle Charles would be okay. She could imagine how upset his aunt was right now.
It was late afternoon before she heard from D’marcus. She could hear the strain in his voice. “How is your uncle?” she asked him.
“He’s doing fine, but it was a rough night, especially for Aunt Marie. Uncle Charles had never been sick a day in his life. He was having chest pains and she thought it was a heart attack. Luckily it wasn’t anything but a bad case of indigestion.”
Opal nodded. “And how is Marie?”
“She’s doing better now that she knows Uncle Charles is all right.”
“I’m glad.” She then assured him that everything was under control at the office and that she’d gotten that report they had been working on off to Mr. Phelps and his group.
“I’m not worried about anything, Opal. I know you have everything under control.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, and then he said, “I’ll let you get back to things now. Since Uncle Charles is okay, I’ll be returning in a few days.”
“All right. I’ll see you then. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Opal.”
D’marcus hung up the phone feeling frustrated and angry with himself. A part of him had wanted to tell Opal that he missed her and wished she was there with him, but he had stopped himself from doing so. He wondered if she could hear the longing in his voice. The desire. Even now, when he knew ending things between them had been for the best, he still wanted her. He still needed her.
Today, he had witnessed the love his aunt and uncle shared. Their love was a strong love. The kind meant to endure a lifetime. That was what true love was about, and for the first time in six years he actually felt a tug of regret in his heart at what he had decided never to have and share with a woman.
Two days later Opal’s breath caught when she walked into the office to find that D’marcus had returned. “Welcome back, D’marcus.”
He glanced up and smiled. “Thanks. How are you doing?”
She knew why he was asking. “I’m fine.”
“And how is your family?”
“Everyone is fine. I’d better get to work.” She quickly left his office.
When she sat down at her desk she glanced at the calendar. She had only one week left to work for D’marcus. Tomorrow she would start training her replacement. That would keep her busy, and she wouldn’t have time to think about him. And more than anything that was what she needed, something else to occupy her time so she wouldn’t think about her boss so much.
Her strength was wearing thin and whenever she looked at D’marcus, she remembered happier times, especially the times he had given her so much pleasure. Just thinking about it made warm sensations fill her.
She tilted her head back and inhaled deeply. She would get through this period of her life. She had to.
A few nights later, D’marcus finished the soup he’d heated for dinner and placed his bowl in the sink. He turned and look at his kitchen table, remembering the last time he had sat at it to eat a meal. It had been over two weeks ago, the night Opal had been there and had stripped off her clothes right there in the middle of his kitchen.
A smile touched his lips when he thought about all the other times they had spent together, both in California and here. They had been special times for him and his memory was full of them
And then he thought about the last time they had made love—right in his office. He had lost control big-time and had taken her with an obsession he hadn’t known he was capable of. As a result, now she could be having his baby.
His baby.
The thought of a little boy or girl with Opal’s smile and features didn’t bother him now as it had that day, mainly because he’d had time to think over the past two weeks and put a few things in perspective. Deep down, a part of him actually liked the possibility.
He felt bad because she’d actually thought he had insinuated that she get an abortion. That had not been what he’d meant, although he could see why she would think such a thing when he replayed that scene in his mind.
D’marcus thought about how his life had been for the past two weeks. He had tried to hold himself together and not think about Opal, but he’d found himself thinking about her, anyway. Seeing her around the office hadn’t helped.
Today some of the workers on the floor had given her a party during lunch to celebrate her promotion. Knowing it would be for the best if he weren’t there, he’d left the office early. With nothing to do, he’d decided to come home.
He left the kitchen now and walked into the living room. But, glancing around, he realized that there were memories of her here, as well. They had made love on the carpeted floor in front of the fireplace twice and, even now, he could vividly remember every detail of those nights.
Once he had let his guard down and allowed her into his life, it hadn’t taken long to discover that Opal Lockhart was quite a woman and he liked everything about her. He liked her boldness, her courage, the way she wouldn’t hesitate to speak her mind and the way she took pride in both herself and her work.
He chuckled when he remembered how she had ignored his boorish behavior and brought him food from her family party, anyway, and how, when he’d wanted to play hooky from work one afternoon, she had stood up to him and turned him down flat. Yes, Opal Lockhart was quite a woman.
But what he’d always liked about her was her sensuality, even when it had been hidden. He could vividly recall each and every time they’d made love, even the first time when they had shared her first experience together. That night had been very special for him and she’d said that he had made it special to her, as well.
He walked into his study to open the desk drawer. That was where he had placed Tonya’s picture with the broken frame. He had intended to take it to a shop to get a new frame but hadn’t gotten around to doing so. In fact, Tonya hadn’t crossed his mind since the day the frame had broken. The only person who had constantly been on his mind was Opal.
On his mind and in his heart.
He slammed the desk drawer and drew a deep breath through clenched teeth. He closed his eyes in an attempt to fight what his mind was trying to tell him. Tonya was a loving memory he would cherish forever. Opal was the woman he now loved, although he’d subconsciously been trying like hell to fight it.
And he did love her. He loved everything about her—even the baby she might be carrying in her womb. His baby. Their baby.
For the first time in six years he’d come face to face with his inner feelings and he no longer felt weighed down by guilt. His aunt had been right. Whether he felt somewhat responsible for Tonya’s death or not, he needed to move on with his life. With Opal’s help and without actually realizing it, over the past several weeks, he had done just that.
Now here it was the last week in October and he was about to let the best thing ever to happen to him walk out of his life just because he hadn’t been strong enough to get his act together. He hadn’t been strong enough to refocus and move on. He hadn’t been strong enough to accept what his heart had already known.
Emotions clogged his throat when he thought about how he had hurt her. He knew he had to make it up to her and only hoped she would forgive him. He loved her and wanted her to know it. He wanted her to feel it. And he needed her to believe it.
He picked up the phone. Considering he was the last person Opal would want calling her, he placed the phone back down. He then walked back to his study and picked up a business card that he had placed on his desk weeks ago. It was the business card for Luther B
iggens’s auto dealership.
He had liked Luther from the first, and he knew Opal and her sisters considered him as a big brother. He was someone they trusted.
D’marcus had a plan and he hoped and prayed that, with Luther’s help, it would work.
Opal spoke to Luther on her cell phone. “Luther, are you sure I’m supposed to meet all of you at this supper club?” she asked, looking around the parking lot. It was a very nice establishment in an affluent area of town. She’d never known any of her sisters or cousins to ever patronize the place.
“Okay, okay, I’ll come on inside,” she replied when Luther confirmed the place. Then she clicked off the phone.
Earlier that day, she’d gotten a call from Luther, who’d said that he was throwing a party to celebrate his end-of-the-month sales and wanted everyone to be at this particular place at seven o’clock. He said he would contact all her other family members, as well.
“Are you with the Biggens party, ma’am?” a well-groomed waiter asked her when she entered.
“Yes.”
“This way, please.”
She followed the man while admiring just how classy the place was. She could tell whoever owned it had money, as did its clientele. She saw her sisters and cousins wave at her, and she quickly joined them at their table.
“Luther is definitely celebrating in a big way,” she said. “He must have had a banner month at the dealership.” She glanced around. “And where is Luther? I just got off my cell phone with him.” She automatically looked at Ruby.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” her oldest sister said. “I got the same phone call you got earlier today to be here at seven. We all did.”
“Well, at least he didn’t invite Reverend Kendrick,” Pearl said, smiling.
“Uh, I think you spoke too soon, sis,” Amber said, laughing. “Look who just walked in.”
Pearl glanced across the room and let out a disappointed groan. It seemed Reverend Kendrick had been invited, after all. “I wonder what the church members would think if they knew our esteemed pastor went clubbing?” she said with a sneer in her voice.
“This isn’t really a club,” Amber said. “Trust me. I, of all people, should know. It’s too upscale for that. Basically, it’s a restaurant with live music. I wonder how Luther found out about this place.”
At that moment, Luther stepped up to the table. After greeting everyone, he said, “Dinner will be served later. First, I have a special surprise for everyone in the way of entertainment.”
“What?” they asked simultaneously.
He smiled. “You’ll see.”
As if on cue, the lights in the entire room dimmed.
Everyone at the other tables got on their feet when a lone figure emerged from behind the stage. Opal blinked, sure she was seeing things. But she wasn’t. The man who stepped on stage with a saxophone in his hand was D’marcus.
“Hey, isn’t that your tyrant?” Ruby asked.
Opal frowned. “He’s not my anything and I have no idea what he’s doing here.”
Colleen smiled. “I have a feeling that we’re about to find out.”
Everyone got quiet when D’marcus went up to the microphone. “Good evening. It’s been a long time since I’ve paid you all a visit and I always appreciate my good friend and the owner of this esteemed establishment, Todd Roberts, inviting me back. I’m here tonight for a very special occasion. And that is to win back the heart of the woman I love. I’ve been a very foolish man in thinking I didn’t need anyone, but now I realize just how much I need her and how much I love her. She’s here tonight in the audience and I’m hoping this special number will let her know how I feel. It’s a Stevie Wonder classic titled “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” and I want her to know that she’s both the sunshine and the love of my life and I pray she will forgive me for being such a fool.” He sat down on the stool and began playing and all the while his gaze held steadfast to Opal.
Tears filled her eyes at D’marcus’s public announcement proclaiming his love. She could tell he was putting his heart and soul into his performance and she was touched by it. She could actually feel the love flowing from him to her. Her heart rate increased and so did her love for him.
“Boy, he can sure play that instrument,” she heard someone say.
“He certainly has talent,” someone else added.
“This is so romantic,” a third person threw in.
She agreed with everything being said, but her focus was on the man sitting on stage playing his heart and soul out for her. When the number was over, he stood and looked out in the audience. “If you forgive me, Opal, and are willing to give me another chance, please nod your head.”
Opal quickly nodded her head and a huge smile touched D’marcus’s lips. The entire room came to their feet clapping, but D’marcus was too busy making his way across the room to the woman he loved. When he reached the table, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the love in his heart. And she kissed him with all the love in hers.
He released her mouth and took her hand and hurriedly led her to a room backstage, away from prying eyes.
Opal knew they had a lot to talk about, a lot to straighten out, but in her heart, she knew everything was going to be all right.
“You’re wonderful,” she whispered to him.
“No, you’re the one who’s wonderful and I thank God for bringing you into my life and for giving me a reason to love and to live again. I love you and, if you are having my baby I want it as much as I want you.”
He framed her face in his hands and kissed her again. He knew in his heart that this was the only woman he would ever need, want and love, and the kiss they were sharing promised a lifetime of love and happiness.
Later that night Opal was in bed with her boss. A huge smile touched her lips when D’marcus gathered her into his arms after they had made love. Before doing so, they’d had a long talk and decided to bring their relationship fully out in the open and begin dating like a normal couple. They wanted to spend time together with the full intent of taking their relationship to the next level when the two of them felt they were ready. They had admitted to loving each other, and that was a very good beginning. And they’d decided that, if she was pregnant, they would be extremely happy about it. And, if she wasn’t, there would always be a next time because they wanted a baby. Tears had filled her eyes when D’marcus had said that, more than anything, he wanted her to be the mother of his child.
Since she had a few days left before starting her new position, he had asked if she would fly to San Franciso with him this weekend, and she’d agreed to do so, looking forward to walks on the beach with him. He was the man she loved and the man who loved her. A man she could count on to fulfill her every desire and need.
“What are you thinking about, sweetheart?” he asked, pulling her closer.
She glanced at his eyes, smiling. “I was thinking about what a wonderful night this has been and how very happy you’ve made me.”
His face broke into a broad smile. “And you’ve made me happy, as well. After I lost Tonya, I didn’t think I could ever love again. I didn’t want to. But I can’t think of sharing anything with you other than love. I love you, Opal—very much. And I will always love you.”
Opal blinked back her tears, never imagining such happiness could come into her life. “And I love you, D’marcus.”
Joy touched her heart, which overflowed with love. Tonight, D’marcus had shown her just how much she meant to him, and she intended to spend the rest of her life showing her love to him, as well.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-0427-4
IN BED WITH HER BOSS
Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Books S. A.
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In Bed With Her Boss (Kimani Romance) Page 16
