The drinks arrived quickly.
Janeshia breathed out as she sipped the warm tea. She looked around herself and loved the warm romantic feel of the place. The setting was warm and inviting as she slowly sipped her tea and became relaxed and comfortable.
The whole event was not lending itself to be a business dinner.
Walker slowly sipped his wine and smiled softly watching her. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.
Janeshia watched him lick his lips as he took the first sip of his wine. The movement was so sensual and powerful that her heart skipped a beat. For some reason her eyes seemed to linger too long watching Walker sip his wine. She loved the way his lips moved.
He smiled softly looking at her. “You seem to be enjoying your tea. You know, watching you sip it is making me jealous.”
Janeshia cleared her throat. She felt it was her duty to keep the business dinner on track. All at once she blurted. “Did you bring the reports with you? The ones you wanted me to review?”
Walker rubbed his brow. “Oh, the reports, I have them. But I believe I left them in their folder in the car. I’ll give them to you when we finish dinner.
Janeshia raised an eyebrow. It was just as she thought. Walker didn’t have any reports with him. She quickly shook out her thoughts and brought her mind out of the fog she’d been under.
Just then dinner arrived. Janeshia stared at the plate of food placed before her. The aroma was exquisite…the smell reminded her of summers when she’d go back home, and her family ate together at New Orleans’ famous Acme Oyster House. Janeshia closed her eyes to reminisce. The whole experience was taking her back. She was happy and deep into her thoughts when she heard Walker say.
“I see you’re enjoying your food. I hope everything is to your liking?”
Janeshia took another bite. The taste was exquisite. Her eye lashes fluttered, and her eyes danced enjoying the burst of flavors on her tongue.
Slowly she cleared her throat. “The food is great. I’m impressed.”
“You’re shocked that I choose such a place?”
Janeshia’s eyes glittered back at him. “Amazed!” She paused pushing her hair out of her face. “I didn’t know you like Creole and Cajun food.”
“We have a lot in common,” he assured her.
“How would you know what I have in common with you Walker?” You don’t know anything about me.”
Walker cleared his throat, “Your family is Creole. So… I have been told.”
“Been told?” She gulped and pulled back. His comment irritated her. She could feel her temper rising. She kept her eyes steady as she looked back at him. “We don’t have any friends or associates that I am aware of. And I hope you haven’t been asking my employees, about me.”
“Look that’s not the case.” He glanced at her. The moment wasn’t going like he’d planned. He cleared his throat. “You know, you and I both work a great amount of time. Neither of us make time to have much of a social life. I was just remarking that we seemed to be having a good time and that’s a good thing. Don’t you think?”
Janeshia grew quiet and just kept eating. She didn’t want to admit that he was right.
He could tell her mood had changed swiftly. All that he’d ever hoped for was to not have just a working relationship with her. Things had been going really well. “I hope you don’t sit there in silence all night. I didn’t mean to upset you.
She continued to ignore him. She took another bite of her food and stared around the room.
Walker inclined his head and smiled back at her. “Let’s start over. I didn’t bring you here to match egos.”
“I beg your pardon,” she said with a mouth full of food.
“Ok maybe that didn’t come out right. But you shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.” He smiled amused.
“You’re not the boss of me at dinner Walker.” She opened her mouth wide and chewed then smirked with a glance. She knew she was being rude but just couldn’t seem to help herself.
All at once a woman’s sexy throaty seductive voice sliced the air. “Why hello Walker Perrault. My you look handsome tonight.”
Janeshia and Walker choked on their food in unison.
“Walker it’s so good to see you.” Elizabeth’s voice oozed out with sexual tension. She flashed him a dangerous smile that would have melted any man.
Janeshia stole a glance at Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s gaze was fixed on Walker’s face.
“Elizabeth, what a surprise to see you!” Walker exclaimed with a hint of desperation. He sighed heavily, “Funny meeting you here. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Janeshia looked on curiously.
Walker nervously cleared his throat. “I’m here with a date. Elizabeth this is Janeshia James. Isn’t she very beautiful? He didn’t wait for her to answer. “Janeshia James this is Elizabeth Desmond, a very good friend of my mother’s.”
“Janeshia and I met earlier,” Elizabeth replied coolly. Walker smiled uneasily and glanced between the two women.
Elizabeth Desmond swayed over and pulled up an empty chair and sat closer to Walker. She leaned her elbow on the table and leaned in real close. “Walker, from my understanding, Janeshia tells me the two of you are not here on a date,” she blurted out.
Walker breathed out, “Elizabeth don’t you have someone else to bother?”
Elizabeth Desmond leaned forward making sure Walker noticed her overflowing cleavage. “No not really Walker. You see you’re my favorite Geek,” she sensually cooed.
Janeshia averted her eyes from Walker’s and looked up at Elizabeth in surprise. Her throat felt dry. Now she knew what Elizabeth had meant. The woman was openly flirting with Walker in front of her.
The moment was awkward with silence.
Janeshia looked up at Walker. “Walker maybe you two would like to be left alone?”
“Christ no!” Walker exclaimed. “Janeshia, please don’t leave me alone with this woman. This isn’t what you think it is.”
A quick laugh broke from Elizabeth. She flashed a wide wicked white grin. “Well now, of course Walker and I would like to be left alone. How thoughtful of you Janeshia. See, I knew you were a very understanding person when I met you earlier.”
Walker didn’t want to be rude. “Listen Elizabeth, maybe you misunderstood. I’m having dinner with Janeshia. Haven’t you ever heard that two’s company and three...” His annoyance was evident. “Well let’s just say we don’t need you to tag alone.”
Janeshia was on the verge of saying something but closed her mouth watching Elizabeth openly ogle Walker.
Elizabeth provokingly fluttered her eyelashes. She leaned closer to Walker. Her gaze lingered on his lips. “Oh, Walker don’t you know I just love it when you get angry. It makes me hot all over,” she licked her lips.
Walker was openly annoyed and embarrassed.
Janeshia smirked out a laugh watching Walker squirm.
“So, Walker are you up for some instant action tonight?
This woman is available now or right after dinner if you like.”
“No Elizabeth that is out of the question.” He turned his eyes. “Can’t you see I’m having dinner with Janeshia? This is so disrespectful of you.”
“I don’t like the way that this is being handled but I really don’t care, Walker,” Janeshia said drumming her fingers on the table.
Elizabeth burst into a raucous chuckle. “You see, Janeshia understands and besides she doesn’t care. Come on now Walker, let’s just call her a cab and make sure she gets home safely?”
“Again, the answer is no Elizabeth!” Walker declared with a murderous intent in his eye.
“Oh, come on Walker please. I’ll make it worth your while,” Elizabeth pleaded.
The moment was tense.
“For Christ sake woman the man said no!” A man’s voice coldly sliced the air.
Elizabeth’s grin died quickly. Fear took its place.
Walker looked up quickly. A wid
e surprised smile spread across his face. “Pierce Abram! It’s so wonderful to see you again.”
Pierce Abram was a tall man, with a commanding presence and a pleasing face with soft blue eyes that crinkled in the corners as he closed the distance between them.
“Walker,” Pierce said as the corners of his mouth etched with deep laugh lines. “I thought I saw you coming in earlier. I knew it was you when Elizabeth never returned to finish that drink she was having with me. She never could resist you,” he said pulling Elizabeth to her feet.
Apprehensively Elizabeth said. “Pierce darling, I was just on my way back.”
“Yeah, I know darling. I know how hard it is for you to find your way back, so I figured I’d just come and get you,” Pierce shrugged. “By the way Walker, that’s a real beautiful lady you’re dining with tonight.”
Pierce Abram glanced over at Janeshia and smiled. “And she has class and manners. I love that in a woman.”
Elizabeth Desmond hung her head in silence.
“Pierce Abram this is Janeshia James,” Walker said making introductions.
The two men nodded agreement at each other.
Pierce Abram smiled again and with his free arm gave Walker a soft mocking punch. “Whew! I might sound ridiculous for saying it again, but your date is really something special. She’s beautiful.”
“Well thank you,” Walker smiled and grinned back at Janeshia. “I really think she is special too,” he said, as he reached across the table and took her hand.
Walker’s remarks caught her off guard. But his touch made her feel something deep inside stir. Her thoughts raced. She smiled back at him.
“I can see you two would like to be alone Walker. Elizabeth and I will get back to that drink we were having. Won’t we Elizabeth darling?” Pierce held Elizabeth’s hand firmly and pulled her along beside him.
Elizabeth turned around slowly and looked over her shoulder. Her hips swayed seductively as she walked away.
Women like Elizabeth Desmond made her sick.
Janeshia stared back at Walker.
They were both silent.
Walker winked at her. “Thank goodness she’s gone.”
Janeshia managed a smile and shook her head. “Walker I never knew you were such a magnet for the ladies.”
“That makes two of us.” Walker said chuckling lightly.
“Well, I hope you don’t mind it if I don’t like her?” Janeshia said.
“Nope darling, I wouldn’t mind at all. In fact, let’s drink a toast to not liking Elizabeth Desmond,” he said raising his wine glass in a mock toast.
“She kind of ruined the evening,” Janeshia said cautiously.
Walker sipped his wine slowly. The lines on his forehead sat into a sad line. “Yes, she did,” he shook his head sadly. “I had plans to wine, dine and woo you with my charming delightful personality and then Elizabeth Desmond shows up and ruins the whole spirit of the evening.
Janeshia opened her mouth to say something then abruptly closed it. For some reason it bothered her to see him so down. She thought back remembering something her father said to her when she’d been disappointed on her first date. We have to accept things we can’t change. Sometimes it is not wise to fight with fate.
“Don’t you think life has a pattern?” She hesitated. “I mean I heard that things happen that we have no control over and that we just have to accept that it was fate.”
Walker turned and gazed at her. He reached out and touched her hand.
Her fingers tensed from his touch.
“I’m sorry tonight’s evening didn’t go as you planned,” he said. “Come on Janeshia, I’ll take you home. You and I both have had a great shock this evening. Dealing with Elizabeth Desmond has been known to put a few people in the hospital. Thank God Pierce Abram’s saved us when he did.”
Chapter 11
Romance underfoot…
That Sunday morning time seemed to move slowly as Janeshia stood staring out of her large balcony patio window. Her brow lifted in interest as a warm breeze blew back the curtain. She reached out her arm and pulled the patio door closed.
She occupied the tenth floor of a spacious North San Jose high rise. It afforded her some of the best views of the mountain range of Mount Hamilton.
Janeshia turned around and surveyed the room. She stood with her head bent to the side admiring her home. The large luxurious condo reflected her likes. The room was beautiful. Rich warm tans, ivory and creams were graceful and charming to lookup on.
“Larissa did you know this rug is called romance underfoot?”
Larissa shrugged not paying her any attention. “Yes, you’ve told me that a hundred times, if not more,” she said flipping through a magazine.
Janeshia smiled softly as she looked down at the extra-large wool rug. The floral scrolls in warm soft gold, ivory and tan looked like something romantic. The rug set the flow of the room. It lay beneath a Black lacquer, hand carved Chinois figure coffee table. The table was framed between a large ivory overstuffed and cushioned sofa that was flanked by two Ascot chairs in a soft pearl gold color with black throw pillows. Her formal dining stood directly at the far end of the room. An extra-long black lacquer and glass dining hutch divided the room. An ivory gold and metal crashing wave sculpture hung in six divided pieces above the hutch.
The room felt exquisitely serene, sophisticated, glamorous and romantic, she thought.
Larissa closed the magazine. “Well, how did your date go with Walker?” What did he want?”
“I couldn’t say for sure, but I think he wanted some woman named Elizabeth Desmond or rather Elizabeth wanted Walker.”
“So Janeshia are you telling me Walker is a babe magnet?” Larissa sat her coffee cup down on the Chinois figure coffee table. “Hmmmm from the look of that frown on your face, he must have wanted this Elizabeth woman bad.”
Janeshia sat on the floor in her favorite spot by the Chinois figure coffee table. “Ah…No well what I didn’t tell you was that before we left my condo. Walker sort of made a pass at me.”
Larissa mischievously smiled. “What, did the Geek King squeeze your hand or did he try to kiss you?”
Janeshia stiffened as her friend gazed back at her. “It was more than that; we both had been drinking some of that port my dad left here. Maybe I had too much. I sort of kissed him,” she said as her eyes glazed over. “But none of that matters. Like I said at the restaurant that woman named Elizabeth practically threw herself at him. And she was just so rude and forceful about it.”
Larissa looked up and studied her friend. “If you sort of kissed him it sounds like you’ve got some hot-to-trot, well, hidden feelings for Walker. That needs to be scratched. If you know what I mean,” she paused. “You know you’ve always been such a romantic, believing in all that fairy tale jazz. All it took to show you that you really like Walker was to see Elizabeth trying to take your man.”
“Oh, come off of it Larissa. That is not what I said. I knew you would put your own spin on things. You always take things out of context.”
“Hmmmm, I don’t have to take anything out of context. Just watching you sitting on the floor rubbing your hands ever so gently across a rug called romance and smiling gave you away.”
“Who told you this rug was called romance?”
Larissa shook her head. “You forget Janeshia I was with you when you bought it,” she took a sip of her coffee. “You know what I’ve been thinking?”
“No, what?” Janeshia asked
“Oh, that maybe you should have had yourself one hot and spicy dinner entrée,” Larissa emphasized. “Spicy hot in fact.”
Puzzled, Janesha gazed back at her friend.
“I’m not talking about spicy food. I’m talking about you’re going to bed with Walker,” she shook her head. “The next time you go out with him and if he really doesn’t mean anything to you; then just sleep with him and get him out of your system. But if you do sleep with him and you can’t get him out
of your system, try marrying the guy. It would stop him from ever coming down to your job and brothering you again!”
Frustrated Janeshia gritted her teeth and stared back at her friend. “Larissa, how did we get from talking about how weird my dinner date was with Walker to you’re talking about Walker and me getting married?” She rubbed her brow. “Anyway, Walker is a dead issue. I don’t date my employer.”
Larissa chose her words carefully. “So, then who are you going to date? You don’t have any other prospects. You haven’t heard from Ramsey, have you?”
Janeshia looked up at her friend in surprise. “Well, not yet anyway. “But I should have a date with Ramsey soon.”
“Really? Did he call you?” Larissa walked over and sat on the floor by her friend.
“He called. He left a message with Tamara, telling her to let me know that he called.”
Larissa curiously looked on. “So, did he leave his number?”
No…No he didn’t leave his number. He told Tamara to tell me he would call again soon.”
Larissa laughed shaking her head. “Get real Janeshia! He didn’t leave a number you won’t be having a date!”
Larissa laughed again.
Chapter 12
Spoiling Lunch…
That Monday at a half past noon, Adam St. Charles nervously walked past the restaurant and peeked in. His eyes eagerly scanned the window. Finally, his eyes found the object it searched for. Janeshia sat slowly eating her meal. He smiled thinking how beautiful she looked. He noticed she was reading. Quietly and cautiously he walked in and approached her table.
“Do you mind if I join you for lunch? I’m buying of course,” he murmured.
Janeshia glanced up. Adam’s new suit caught her eye. He smiled softly back at her. Today his mood didn’t seem hostile. Maybe he was just there to have lunch. “Oh, hi Adam, sure you can join me. But you don’t have to buy lunch.”
Adam sat down quickly and looked over the menu.
Their waiter quickly came over.
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Adam said. “But substitute the chicken for salmon, please.”
The Proposition Page 7
