Rumor Has It

by Cheris Hodges

  “Not yet. I actually overslept. I had a lot on my mind.”

  “Really? Anything you want to talk about?”

  “Mmm, I’d rather show you all of the things that I’ve been thinking about. They all involve you.”

  “Interesting, because you were the first thing on my mind this morning when I woke up. But I still waited an hour or so before calling you.”

  “We should’ve just woke up together. I’m sorry I didn’t take you up on your offer last night.”

  “A mistake I’m sure you won’t make again.” She laughed and Jackson’s morning wood twitched with desire.

  “What are you doing right now?” he asked.

  “Waiting for my coffee to brew.”

  “How long would it take you to get here, with some of your delicious coffee?”

  Liza laughed. “All you want is my coffee?”

  “Not at all. I want every part of you. Especially the most intimate parts.”

  “I’ll see you in ten minutes,” she said, and then the line went dead. Jackson hopped out of bed and into the shower.

  Liza brushed her teeth and then tossed cold water on her face. She was glad that she’d taken her shower as soon as she woke up. It was a cold shower to cool her hormones after dreaming of Jackson all night. She missed waking up in his arms this morning and she tried to ignore what she was feeling. She knew this man had a busy day; she’d been on his campaign website and seen that his first event was at ten, and that’s why she decided to call him so early. She wanted him. Wanted to taste his lips and feel him deep inside her. Liza skipped putting on a bra or panties as she pulled her bandeau dress over her head. She pushed her hair back, then grabbed her purse and headed for her car. Part of her expected to find slashed tires or a broken windshield after her encounter with Robert, but her car was intact, so he hadn’t lost his mind. Driving to Jackson’s, she tried to forget what had happened with her and Robert. She wasn’t going to tell Jackson about it at all. All she wanted to tell him was how deep she needed him to go.

  It took her about fifteen minutes to arrive at Jackson’s house, and when he opened the door, she threw herself into his arms. They kissed long and deep. Jackson’s hands pushed up the bottom of her dress and stroked her naked bottom. Liza moaned as his fingers danced across her cheeks.

  Her body tingled at his touch, hummed when his index finger found her throbbing bud of desire. She bit down on his bottom lip as he drew circles on her clitoris. Her moans turned into screams of passion as he thrust his finger in and out of her hot and awaiting valley. Liza’s knees went weak as they broke their kiss and he thrust deeper into her with two fingers. Then Jackson dropped to his knees and brought his lips to the center of her desire. He sucked and licked her as she gripped his neck. Liza howled as she met a quick climax. Jackson continued to lick and suck the sweetness of her climax.

  “Oh, Jackson,” she moaned as he lashed her with his tongue. Liza stroked the back of his neck as if she was encouraging him to keep his mouth right where it was. It didn’t take much encouragement for Jackson to get his fill of Liza’s sweetness. The more he licked and sucked, the more he wanted her. And when her explosion dampened his face with her passion, he wanted nothing more than to bury his hardness deep inside her walls.

  After pulling his mouth away from her, Jackson rose to his feet and scooped Liza into his arms. He took her into his bedroom and laid her on the bed, where he’d dreamed of doing this all night. The gleam in her eyes as they looked at each other made his erection grow harder. He reached into his nightstand drawer and pulled out a condom. After sliding the sheath in place, he spread Liza’s thighs apart and entered her. She pierced the air with a guttural moan. Jackson thrust in and out of her while gripping her hips.

  Liza pressed forward, matching his intensity. Jackson buried his lips in her neck, licking and kissing her as she ground against him. “Yes, yes, yes,” she repeated like a mantra. Her moans encouraged him to dive deeper, finding all of her hot spots, every spot that made her moan, made her wetter, and brought her closer to climax.

  Liza tilted her head back and screamed his name. Her release poured down her thighs and Jackson reveled in the hot wetness falling on him; it felt like a summer rain. “That’s it, baby, come for me,” he whispered in her ear.

  Liza’s walls gripped his heated erection as she had another orgasm. And this time, Jackson came with her. Sated and sweaty, they collapsed in each other’s arms. Silence enveloped them as Liza snuggled against Jackson’s chest, inhaling his clean scent. Though she could’ve stayed wrapped in his arms all day, they had work to do.

  “Liza,” Jackson said.

  “Mmm?”

  “What happened to my coffee?”

  She snatched the pillow from underneath his head and playfully hit him across the chest.

  “Ouch, woman,” he quipped, then rolled her over on her back. Pinning her arms down, he captured her lips in an ardent kiss that lit her body on fire. She wrapped her legs around his waist as their tongues tangoed. She parted her thighs and Jackson swam in her hot wetness. Liza had never felt such intense pleasure, felt so desired and wanted.

  “Kiss me,” Jackson ordered. Liza complied, adding a few nibbles to his bottom lip. Jackson growled as he exploded. Holding Liza tightly, he released a satisfied sigh. “Whew, I think if I had that coffee now, I’d have a heart attack.”

  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Besides, this is a better way to wake up.”

  “You won’t get an argument from me,” he said, then glanced over at the clock on his nightstand. “Damn.”

  “I guess we have to get out of bed now,” she said, taking note of the time.

  “Unfortunately, but tonight, I won’t make the mistake of sleeping alone. Will you stay with me tonight?”

  “Yes, because I really missed you last night.”

  “Not nearly as much as I missed you. I know things are getting hectic right now and when I pick up that cell phone real life is going to creep in and steal more time out of my day.”

  “But this is what you have to do so that you can be that voice in the Senate for the wounded warriors, for the poor families in this state living paycheck to paycheck, and the seniors who depend on Medicare.”

  “Somebody has been on my website,” he said with a grin.

  “You’d better live up to those campaign promises or I might have to tweet about you.”

  “And that really does scare me. What is it about people and Twitter? Just because they read it in a tweet it’s true? And then you with that blog. People love it. I’m kind of hoping that I never make you want to post about me on it.”

  “You mean I can’t sing the praises of my war hero?” she joked. When Liza saw the frown on his face, she was a bit confused. “I was just joking.”

  “It’s not that,” he said with a sigh. “I hate being called a hero. I’d rather be on the battlefield than running for political office. When I was over there, I did what I was trained to do. I tell you what, when I went through those skin grafts and surgeries to remove the shrapnel from my leg, I didn’t feel anything but pain. But when the doctor said I’d never see combat again, I felt like my life was over. I loved being a soldier. When I couldn’t do it anymore, I felt useless.”

  “Jackson, I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head, then kissed her on the cheek. “It’s not your fault. We all have our demons and mine is being called a hero. It just makes me remember that I can’t do what I feel like I should be doing.”

  “And here I am pulling the scab off a wound. I’m sorry.”

  Jackson sat up and then eased out of the bed. “Come on, let’s take a shower.”

  “I thought you had someplace to be, because you know if we get in that shower together, there won’t be much cleaning going on.”

  Winking, he said, “I’m willing to take that chance. Besides, we have time.”

  Chapter 26

  It was about eight-thirty when Jackson and Liza emerged from h
is house. She gave him a quick kiss, then turned on the ringer on her cell phone as she headed to the car. She wasn’t surprised at the number of missed calls and text messages she had on her phone. Some from reporters, three from Chante, and, surprisingly, a text from Robert.

  “Oh, he has a damned nerve,” she muttered as she read his threat.

  You’d better not try to use what happened last night against me. That was my last-ditch effort to save your ass. The gloves are off, Liza. If you cost me this election, I will make you suffer.

  Common sense told her to ignore his text. But Liza was pissed. First, he’d followed her home, and now he was sending threats—and in the form of a text! Either he was never as smart as she thought he was or he was desperate.

  It didn’t matter as she dialed his number. She just planned to give him a huge piece of her mind.

  “Montgomery for Senate, this is Robert speaking.”

  “Robert, I had no idea you were an idiot.”

  “Liza Palmer? Why are you calling me?”

  She could smell the setup. Either she was on speaker or he was recording the conversation to try to discredit her. Did he forget that she knew how he played his games? Hell, she’d given him the playbook.

  “I was simply responding to your text message, Robert. It’s illegal to text and drive so I thought I’d call you.”

  “I asked you not to contact me anymore.”

  “Then why did you text me? Should I do a screen shot and put it on Twitter so that the voters can catch you in yet another lie?”

  The line went dead. Check and mate, she thought as she headed back to her house to change into something more appropriate for the office and possible media appearances. When she got home, she dressed in a pair of tailored black slacks and a ruffled pink tunic, then called Chante.

  “Where have you been all morning?” Chante asked. “I’ve said ‘no comment’ so many times that my throat is dry.”

  “I’m sorry, I really meant to get a statement together for you this morning, but I got sidetracked. And you know that fool Robert had the nerve to show up at my place last night.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Other than the fact that he’s a lunatic, I guess he figured out who found Dayshea.”

  “I haven’t heard from him at all,” Chante huffed. “And I don’t even understand why I’m pissed about it.”

  “Neither do I,” Liza replied. “What do you expect him to do? Apologize?”

  “I guess I want to know if he used me or if he ever cared. Stupid, I know.”

  “It’s not stupid. It just shows you have a heart. But I don’t think you’re ever going to get those answers.”

  “I kind of figured that out. How did I miss what was really going on? This had nothing to do with love. It was all about politics. We looked good on paper. But when we were alone, the passion fizzled.”

  Liza felt guilty because she’d introduced them. Felt as if she had some responsibility for Chante’s heartache. Then again, she did try to warn her friend and it took her a month to listen. Now is not the time for “I told you so,” Liza thought. “I thought you two were . . .”

  “I know, we’re lawyers and being a successful lawyer means you’re a skilled and crafty liar. Enough about that. I need you to get over here and help me respond to these reporters before I file an injunction.”

  “I’m on my way,” Liza said, then made an illegal U-turn.

  When she arrived at Chante’s office, she walked in on a shouting match between Chante and Taiwon, the asshole partner Liza wanted to choke the other day.

  “Don’t you think a little warning about your fiancé’s affection for whores would’ve been nice? Now this firm is—”

  “I told you not to have that fund-raiser for him. But, like you always do, you ignored what I had to say. So, don’t sit up here and tell me that I’m responsible for your fucking poor judgment!”

  Liza wanted to applaud her friend, but she was in such a state of shock that she simply stood there with her mouth open.

  “Well, you can kiss your partnership chances good-bye. The last thing we need here is to be associated with such filth!” Taiwon glanced at Liza. “See, this is just what I’m talking about.”

  “Get the hell out of my office!” Chante snapped. Liza could feel the anger and heat radiating from her friend. She crossed over to her as Taiwon left the office.

  “I never knew you had that in you,” Liza said. “I’d be proud, but with what he just said about your partnership . . .”

  “A self-destruct button. That’s what I have.” Chante shook her head. “I can’t believe I just stood here and cursed out one of my senior partners.” She leaned back on the desk. “I’ve lost my mind.”

  “Or maybe you found it. There’s only so much a person can take before he or she snaps. I’m pretty sure you’ve taken a lot from that jerkface over the years. Add to that the fact that men always want to blame a woman for a man’s inability to keep his pants zipped.”

  “He can’t say he wasn’t warned. I wonder if they still gave him the donation.”

  “He just has fucking poor judgment,” Liza parroted her friend. The women broke into laughter.

  “You know if our big sisters heard us now, they’d probably want to take their pink and green back.”

  Liza fanned her hand. “As hard as we worked for those colors, they’d have a fight on their hands. Now, let’s get out of here and return these phone calls and e-mails with a well-written and brilliant statement.”

  Chante sighed. “How could he do this to me, though? I’m more embarrassed than hurt right now. But when he was buying sex from Dayshea, I was planning a wedding. Thought I had a future with this wonderful man who fell head over heels in love with me and didn’t mind that I was just as ambitious as any man in this field. He thought it was amazing that I was so driven. Do you know how many men are just intimidated by that?”

  Liza nodded. “Preaching to the choir.”

  “That’s why I thought Robert was perfect and wanted to believe that he was telling me the truth about you.”

  For a moment she bristled, but she could understand where Chante was coming from. It didn’t mean she had to like it.

  “I’m sorry,” Chante continued. “Sorry that I became one of those dizzy broads who put a man before someone who has had her back for years.”

  “We’ve all done it,” Liza said, though she couldn’t remember a time when she made such an error.

  “You’re trying to make me feel better and you really don’t want to tell me what a bitch I was.”

  Liza shrugged. “Well, you said it, I didn’t.”

  “I knew you were thinking it. It’s all right, because it will never happen again.”

  “How can you be sure?” Liza quipped.

  Chante snorted. “Because I’m done with men and through with love. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be the one to lead the sweetheart song at your reception.”

  “Now, you’re getting ahead of yourself, don’t you think?”

  “Nope. I think you have finally found the real thing in Mr. Jackson Franklin. Don’t mess it up and don’t let this election come between you two. And please don’t elope. That would be so Liza, eloping and tweeting a wedding picture.”

  Liza wondered, Are we really a two? Is there more between us than hot sex and desire?

  “Come on, girl, let’s go before we start crying,” Chante said. She grabbed her laptop and stuffed it in her purse. “Just in case Taiwon does lock me out of my office.”

  Liza shook her head. “I’m sure he won’t do that.”‘

  “You don’t know how big of an asshole he is.”

  They headed to their favorite place, Amelie’s, and hunkered down in a corner, where Liza hammered out a statement for Chante to e-mail the reporters who’d contacted her.

  “Jackson, Jackson, Jackson!” the crowd yelled. He stood on the stage at the voter’s rally and smiled at the crowd. Teresa had estimated that only
a few hundred people were supposed to show up. But over three thousand people showed up. Maybe they’d come out to see if there was going to be some drama after the debate or if Jackson was going to bad-mouth Montgomery, but what they got was the full view of Jackson’s platform, some real-life answers to questions that they had about Medicare, the Affordable Health Care Act, and coal ash.

  By the time he finished talking to them, Robert was nearly forgotten. “They love you,” Teresa said as he walked off the stage. “I feel like we won their hearts and votes today.”

  “We will see for sure in the next few days, when it counts. You think voter turnout is going to be as low as the experts are predicting?” he asked, trying to sidestep what he knew was coming when he saw a horde of reporters heading their way. Teresa glanced over her shoulder and shook her head.

  “Jackson, I’ve held the press off as long as I can about Montgomery,” she said. “We have to issue a statement or the questions are going to keep coming.”

  “I’m not going to comment further on what he’s done. Let the media keep milling for drama somewhere else.”

  Teresa shook her head. “Is that what Liza told you to do?”

  Jackson narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you have against her?”

  “Nothing. I’m sure she is an amazing woman. But she’s too much of a distraction. There is just too much history between her and Montgomery for me to believe that they’re just not friends anymore.”

  “It’s not for you to believe or disbelieve,” Jackson said firmly.

  “I know one thing, I’m sick and tired of arguing with you about Liza Palmer. If you can’t see that she’s trouble—”

  “How is she trouble? Because of these rumors and lies being spread about her? Just how is she responsible for that?”

  “It’s not about the truth. All it takes is a couple of misplaced howls and you could find yourself going from front-runner to joke. Just ask Howard Dean.”

  “I think it’s more than that. We’re at a point now where this is our election to win. You keep trying to find problems where there aren’t any.”