by Dara Girard
* * *
You’re not my type. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never been so tactless with a woman before. Especially a beautiful one. Amal jogged around the gym track, the conversation he’d had with Hannah repeating in his mind. He wanted to forget his words, but even more he wanted to forget his actions and his response to her. He never would have imagined she would have tasted so good, her mouth as soft as warm butter melting on freshly baked bread. He got hard just thinking about her. That wasn’t like him. No, she wasn’t his type and she couldn’t be. He wouldn’t let her, although part of him wanted to take the risk. He’d liked that he’d been able to make her smile, that she’d known nothing about him in the park and had liked his company anyway. He hadn’t felt so relaxed and carefree in years. But that didn’t matter. Now he needed her solely for business.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Hector said, jogging up beside him.
Amal didn’t reply. He came to the gym to think, not to talk.
“So...you two don’t have anything going on between you, right?”
“Right.”
“Good.”
“Why do you say good like that?”
“I like her.”
“Who?”
“Hannah.”
“Hmm.”
“And I want to ask her out.”
Amal halted. “What?”
Hector kept jogging. “I want to ask her out.”
Amal caught up to him, his voice firm. “You’re not dating my lawyer.”
“Why not? She’s free. While you were talking to her, I learned from her assistant that she’s not seeing anyone.”
“She’s not free to see you or anybody.”
“You can’t stop her from dating.”
“She’ll be busy enough with me. I want her focused on my case and nothing else.”
“And no one else,” Hector added.
Amal shook his head. “I’m not interested in her that way. This is purely business.”
“She’s an attractive woman.”
Amal remained silent.
“And I saw the way you were looking at her,” Hector pressed.
“It’s not what you think.”
“I don’t need your permission on whom I date.”
“No, but if you still want to have a place to work you’ll reconsider. Take her off the menu.”
“I’ll give you my two weeks’ notice.”
“Your resignation is rejected.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“It’s not like you to keep secrets from me. This woman is important and I want to know why.”
Amal released a fierce sigh. “Hell, even I don’t know why, all right? I met her in the park. She was going through a rough time and I bought her some ice cream, that’s all. I like my life simple. I’m not going to get involved with her and neither are you, because I don’t want the possibility of relationship drama. Do I make myself clear?”
Hector kept jogging but didn’t reply.
Chapter 5
Hector knew he was taking a gamble, but he was up for it. He wanted to see Hannah again and find out more about her. He was certain he didn’t have a chance, but something about her made her seem approachable. He wanted to know what Amal’s interest was, too. He knew there was more going on between them, and he didn’t like being kept in the dark. But he had to play it cool and not appear overly eager.
He pushed back his hair and adjusted his tie and then walked into the office, trying to mimic the swagger women found so attractive in Amal. He stopped at the reception desk, where Hannah’s assistant sat. He opened his mouth, but she gave him one quick look and then shook her head. “Sorry, but you won’t do.”
“What?”
“You don’t have an appointment, do you?” she asked, sounding as if she already knew the answer.
“No, but—”
“You just dropped by to say hello?”
“Yes,” he stammered. “Something like that.”
She shook her head, giving him a pitying glance. “I don’t blame you for being interested in her, but you’re all wrong.”
Hector felt himself getting angry. What right did she have to judge him? He was reasonably good-looking with a great job, and he knew how to treat a woman right.
She began to grin. “I hit a nerve, didn’t I?”
“Is Hannah in or not?”
“No,” Bonnie said. “There are three reasons you’re wrong for her. You’re too kind. She has a sister who would eat you up for a snack. Secondly, she needs someone to stand up for her even though she doesn’t know it, and lastly—” She stopped and softly swore, staring at something behind him. Hector turned and saw a man enter the office.
“Can I speak to Hannah?” the man asked.
“She’s not in.”
“Do you know when she will be?”
“No.”
“I can’t reach her on her cell.”
Bonnie just shrugged.
“Is it true she’s going to take on the Walkers?”
“You’ll have to wait and hear that from her.”
“Fine. Tell her—”
“That you stopped by,” Bonnie finished as if she’d done so many times. “I will, Jacob. Like always.”
He left.
“That guy won’t get the hint,” Bonnie said under her breath.
“Who is he?”
“Your competition.”
“I thought she wasn’t seeing anybody.”
“She isn’t, but everyone expects her to eventually marry him. They dated. He’s got everything going for him and it would take a lot of gumption to convince her family you’re a more suitable choice.”
“I just wanted a date, not to marry her.”
“Look, Hannah needs a man who will stand by her. She briefly dated one guy other than Jacob but the stress of her life was too much for him and he went running. She doesn’t need another heartbreak like that. This is a difficult time in her life. You’re not the man for her. But you’re in luck.”
“Luck?”
“Yes.” She winked. “Fortunately, you’re just the guy for me.”
He blinked.
She rested her chin in her hand and fluttered her eyelashes. “Feel free to ask me out anytime.”
He hesitated. It wasn’t what he’d expected, but he knew a choice opportunity when he saw one. “There’s a café you may like. Would you—”
“I’d love to.” She grinned and Hector soon felt himself grinning back.
* * *
Amal pounded his pillow with his fist and then used it to cover his face. He couldn’t sleep. He never had a problem sleeping. Usually the moment he turned off the lights and his head hit the pillow he was out for the night. But not this time. This time he was wide-awake, and it was all because of her. Hannah. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. It didn’t make any sense. What made her so special? Okay, so their first meeting had been nice, but he’d met plenty of women and none had affected him the way she did. What was wrong with him?
He couldn’t stop remembering kissing her, the feel of her hair against his face. He recalled their first meeting and the way he’d been able to make her face light up with a smile. He’d had the same pride and excitement as a virginal teen on his first date. But she wasn’t the first. Not by a long shot. But his brief time with her lingered in his mind like the sweet taste of honeysuckle, a pleasure that was too short. She’d looked at him as just an ordinary man. His money, his wealth, his background didn’t matter. She’d liked him without knowing his name or what he did or what he could do for her.
Amal tossed the pillow aside and sighed. That was over. Now his reputation was all she saw an
d all she cared about. Perhaps it was for the best, because he couldn’t be interested in her. He didn’t like what he felt. It was too real, too deep, and it could be addictive—that sweetness, that feeling of rightness. But he wasn’t right for anyone. Jade had taught him that. He wouldn’t get tied down again. He wouldn’t try to be what someone else needed him to be. He’d just have fun. He liked being a free man and would remain free no matter what.
* * *
Martha Walker looked at her assistant with a steady gaze. She could maintain such a gaze with the calm patience of a cheetah stalking its prey. A woman of sixty-three, she looked a decade younger, with short dyed black hair and light brown eyes. She was a heavyset woman but moved as though she were fifty pounds lighter, and dressed with excellent care. She sat in her living room, having finished her afternoon snack. “What did you just say?”
“He found someone,” her assistant, Peter Lawford, said with a note of boredom. He did boredom well. He was an attractive man with a muscular build and short brown hair, but Martha still didn’t particularly like him. However, he was good at his job and uncomplicated. He didn’t have a social life—taking no obvious interest in either men or women—so he was always available to her.
Martha paused. “Are you sure?”
Peter sighed as if he were about to yawn, but just glanced out the window. “My sources don’t lie.”
“Who?”
He shifted his gaze to her. “Some woman with a foreign name. No one remarkable.”
Martha sniffed. Figures Amal would get a woman. No man would be foolish enough to take his case. “Find out everything you can about her.”
“I’m already on it. From what we know she hasn’t been out of law school for too long.”
“A recent graduate? Then she’ll be more easily persuaded to quit this silly game.”
Peter lifted an eyebrow, expressing curiosity. “If she’s under Amal’s spell it may be harder than you think.”
Martha shook her head. “No, I’m able to break his spell. Just give me the information I want and leave the rest to me.”
* * *
“Yes, the situation is being taken care of,” Hannah said to her sister on her cell phone as she walked to her apartment complex. “I just spoke with the mortgage company and the bank. You’re not going to be homeless.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Does it matter as long as it works? What could go wrong?” She abruptly stopped when a man stepped in her path. No, more than a man—a vision. He was beautifully made with dark ebony skin, light brown hair and a fit physique. He looked like the kind of man who didn’t need to expend much energy to get what he wanted. She took a step back and made a move to the right. He moved with her.
“Hannah Olaniyi?” he said in a bored tone, as if he were asking her the recent price of bread.
She paused, surprised that he knew her full name and that he could say her surname with ease. “Yes?”
“Get in the car.”
Hannah looked at the black limo he gestured to. “Abigail, I’ll call you back.”
“What’s going on?” her sister demanded.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I knew something bad would happen. I think—”
Hannah disconnected and put her cell phone away. “You forgot to say please.”
“Please get in the car.”
“And why would I do that?”
“To make our lives easier,” the gorgeous man said with a tired sigh. He lowered his voice and opened the door. “Trust me, you don’t want to fight me on this. Just get in.”
Hannah measured his size. “I was a runner in college,” she said.
“I was state champion.”
“Karate?”
“Wrestling champ, too,” he said, sounding amused.
“Hmm.” Hannah knew she wouldn’t be able to topple or outrun him, so her options were few. She playfully patted him on the cheek, wanting to shock him and succeeding when his eyes widened a fraction. “Since you asked so nicely.” She ducked inside the limo and sat, only to find herself in front of an elegant older woman with a steely gaze of disapproval. Hannah found her lovely features vaguely familiar. She wondered if the woman expected her to curtsy or bow, but she didn’t wonder for long since she didn’t intend to do either.
“Hello,” Hannah said, holding out her hand.
The woman just looked at it as if she’d offered her a dirty dishrag. She returned her gaze to Hannah’s face, as if studying a specimen under a microscope. “You’re young. Just what I thought.”
Hannah let her hand fall. Obviously the woman wasn’t in the mood to be courteous—or rather didn’t know how to be. Obviously she didn’t plan to introduce herself, so Hannah would just have to wait and see what would happen. She clasped her hands together and glanced at her expensive surroundings.
“If you’re thirsty, you can help yourself.”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“You know why I want to speak to you, but I hope you’ll be patient with me.”
“Of course,” Hannah said, trying not to sound as confused as she felt. Who was she? Why did it matter? What did she want? The woman thought she knew her or should know her. Why? Then it clicked as the pieces fell into place. The woman now became familiar to her. She was Jade Walker’s mother. She had shied away from photos recently—but the reason for it wasn’t clear to Hannah. Yes, the woman had aged, but she was still very attractive. Mrs. Walker had already started her tactical strategy against Amal. Hannah kept her features controlled so as not to appear amused.
“I think it’s essential that a lawyer know all they should about their clients. It gives them the necessary information to defend them correctly.”
The woman was arrogant and condescending. Hannah maintained her bright-eyed look of innocence. “Mrs. Walker—”
“You may call me Martha,” she said, as if trying to make the meeting more informal. But it just put Hannah on guard.
“Martha, why would you want to help me?”
“Because you’re young and inexperienced with a good future ahead of you, and I’d hate to see you fail.”
“Thank you for your concern,” Hannah said, trying not to choke on her words. “But I don’t think we should be having this conversation, especially here.”
A faint, humorless smile touched Martha’s lips, and Hannah felt goose bumps race up her arms. “It’s in your best interest that we do. Just listen and then you can leave. Are you sure you wouldn’t want something to drink?”
“Yes,” Hannah said, half expecting the woman to present her with a shiny red poisonous apple.
Martha tilted her head to the side, studying Hannah. “I know men so I think I know how Amal was able to manipulate you—”
“I wasn’t manipulated.”
“Convince you, then,” Martha smoothly corrected, “to take his case.” She shook her head before Hannah could contradict her. “As I’ve said, I know men. I know how their minds work. I’ve had four husbands, and I know how they operate. They can appear charming and fun, but mostly they are selfish creatures. My daughter discovered that with Amal, and you will, too. The only thing he is loyal to is his money and his mother. Have you met his mother yet? No? Then you will eventually. She’s a ridiculous woman and a burden he should have disposed of long ago, but she keeps her claim on him and no woman can get past her. She’s made sure of that, and he’s weak enough to let her. He uses women for his own gains, but makes you feel as if you’re the one who’s failed him. And—”
Hannah held up her hand, her patience almost gone. She had to leave before her polite mask fell. “I truly appreciate you telling me this, but your bias against Amal is evident and—”
“My dear,” Martha said with another one of her cold smiles, “
I have no bias. Only facts. You don’t want to fight this battle for him. When he was dating my daughter I saw all that you see now—the charm, the sex appeal, the brilliance. I treated him like a son and welcomed him into my family as one of us. I am not one to do that easily. My Jade was precious to me, and I thought she was with a man who would take care of her, but he destroyed her instead. He made her dependent on those pills due to his coldness, and there’s a devious cruelty beneath that smile that I’ve seen. I hope you never do.
“I’m in a generous mood so I’ll offer you two warnings. One, don’t get involved with Amal Harper personally. You won’t know the true pain of heartbreak until he’s finished with you. And trust me, he will lose interest. He always does.”
“And number two?” Hannah pressed when Martha paused.
“Drop his case. He will take you down with him, and I can assure you that I plan to take him down.” She leaned forward, her tone filled with acid. “You don’t want to be the one to stand in my way, because I will slaughter you—”
“I’m not easy to kill.”
Martha chuckled. “Your naïveté is adorable.”
“Thank you,” Hannah said, taking it as a compliment although she knew it wasn’t one.
“I’m giving you this opportunity to weigh your options. I know of an established firm that is looking for someone just like you. You’ll rise faster than you could ever imagine. I have the connections to make that happen. I also know that your parents are facing some financial issues. I can make those problems disappear in the blink of an eye. All you have to do is walk away from this case.” Martha shook her head. “No, don’t say anything now. Think it over carefully. Decide whether you want to tie your life to a star or a rock. Whatever choice you make, you can be assured your life will never be the same.”
* * *
Martha Walker’s words echoed in Hannah’s head as she dined in the cocktail lounge of a downtown hotel with her friends Natasha and Dana. They both thought she was taking a scary, unnecessary risk by taking Amal on as a client, but they wanted to celebrate anyway. It was a small crowd and the wine and food flowed, but Hannah barely noticed.
“Oh, my God, look at that woman,” Natasha said, staring at someone near the far end of the room.
