Indiscretions

by Donna Hill

  “Why? How on earth could your parents not believe in you?”

  “They thought I should be a schoolteacher or a nurse. My choice of careers was always the topic of heated discussions at the dinner table.” She gave a wry smile at the recollection. “They just felt that it was a male profession and I had no business sticking my nose in it.”

  “Well, I’m glad you did.” Then he added gently, placing his hand on hers. “Otherwise, I may have never met you.” His voice and eyes held her captive for just a heartbeat before she broke the tenuous connection.

  “As for old boyfriends—” a tight knot formed in stomach—“they were few and far between. And on that note, I’d say, let’s get the check. It’s getting late.”

  Sean raised his hand to catch the waitress’ attention, but his eyes never left Khendra’s face. There was a haunted, lonely look hovering in her eyes. A pain that was just beginning to heal. What had happened to her to suppress the vibrancy he knew she had within? What had made her so cautious and leery? Hurt was an emotion he was familiar with, and he had learned how to tackle it and become the victor. If she’d only give him a chance, he could teach her to forget.

  “Ready?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  “I’m with the driver,” he answered with a smile. When they returned to the garage, the rain had slackened somewhat, but rolls of thunder still punctuated the heavens. The air remained heavy with moisture and foreboding. Khendra pulled her car up next to Sean’s.

  “I guess this is my stop,” Sean said halfheartedly. He turned to her. She froze, gripping the steering wheel with all of her strength. She wouldn’t look at him. The safe ambiguity and momentary fantasy of the restaurant was gone. She no longer had the security of a public place. Now was she and him—alone. Suddenly, she wished that he would leave—now. The evening was over, wasn’t it?

  “Was our dinner as bad as you thought it would be?” he asked gently.

  She suddenly felt overheated. “Bad? No…it was really nice. I had a great time.” Oh, please get out. Her stomach lurched and twisted into a tiny ball.

  “Maybe we could do it again…like Friday night.” He turned toward her, but she stared straight ahead.

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” She scrambled for a reason. “I…I don’t make a habit of going out with members of the firm,” she added quickly.

  “I think it would be a great idea,” he said, his smooth voice working its way through her nervous system. “Every rule has an exception, Khendra, even your rules.”

  She whipped her head toward him, ready to snap out a hasty reply, but was stopped cold by the depth of intensity that burned in his ebony eyes. She couldn’t breathe.

  “Good night,” he said softly. He leaned forward and gently brushed a kiss across her forehead.

  The slight tickle of his mustache sent shivers down her spine. But before she could take her next breath, he was out of her car and moving behind the wheel of his own. She heard the rev of the engine and saw the headlights blaze the concrete. Not once did she move. Never once did he look back. The spot he had kissed still burned like fire even as she turned to watch the taillights of his car disappear down the tunnel.

  As she looked out onto the city from her terrace, humid air blew caressingly through Khendra’s thin, pink nightgown. A single drop of perspiration threaded way down between her breasts, a poignant reminder of how lonely she was and how much she’d truly loved the feel of a caring hand to wipe that drop away.

  With that thought, a vision of Sean bloomed before her eyes, and she felt a slow, steady warming start in the pit of her stomach and radiate downward to her center. She tried to imagine the feel of his powerful hands stroking hidden places, the feel of his lips against her own. She breathed in deeply the fragrant, rain-washed air and shook her head to clear the vision.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  For the next three days, Khendra made it a point to stay far away from Sean Michaels as she could. Her workload made it easy. Every working hour was spent in the courtroom. The only time she saw him since their evening together was at the daily morning briefings or when they passed in the corridors. He was pleasant, but cool, almost as if nothing had transpired between them. It was fine with her, she convinced herself. He had almost entered that hidden place she had closed off, and she couldn’t let that happen—even though his dreamy voice and carefree laughter floated to her ears and rushed through her veins when she least expected it. But she would put Sean Michaels out of her mind, if it was the last thing she did. Early Friday morning, as she hovered over her desk preparing her closing argument, she received an unannounced visit. The light knock on her office door broke into her concentration.

  “I see you’re busy, as usual.” Her head snapped up at the interruption to see Alex framed in the doorway. She had wrestled with the offer he’d made for the past three days, and after much cajoling from Charisse, she’d made her decision.

  “Please come in, Mr. Counts,” she said smoothly. “I was completing my closing statement for this afternoon.” He strolled into the office and stubbed out a cigarette in the never-used ashtray sitting on her credenza. Khendra instinctively turned up her nose.

  “Have you come to a decision?” he asked, cutting through any small talk.

  “Yes, I have.” She slipped off her glasses and placed them and her gold pen down on the cluttered desk. “I’ve decided to accept—if the offer is still open.”

  A pleased smile spread across Alex’s face. “A very wise decision. You won’t regret it. I hope,” he added, his look cutting right through her, “I won’t regret it either. I’m putting a lot on the line for you.” His voice dropped an octave. “I’m sure you’ll show your appreciation.”

  A wave of apprehension flooded through her.

  She rose from her seat and looked at him without flinching a muscle, her voice firm and decisive. “I’m an attorney, first and foremost, Mr. Counts. You hired me to do a job, and I intend to do it. I hope that answers any questions you may have.”

  A chuckle rose from his throat. “But you’re also a woman, Khendra. A very ambitious, intelligent and beautiful woman. Don’t forget that when you’re winding your way to the top.” With that, he turned and walked out of the office.

  Khendra braced her palms against the desk and lowered her head. The only sound in the office was her rapid breathing. She slammed the desk drawer shut and paced the room. This time the insinuation was clear. He expected more from her than just a hard day’s work in payment for getting her a partnership with the firm. She had hoped she was wrong, but it was obvious now she wasn’t.

  She rubbed her forehead as if to erase the troubled thoughts that tramped through her brain. She had to find a way to combat him without losing her very precarious position. She needed time to think, but now wasn’t the time, with less than two hours left to complete her statement before the afternoon session began. A man’s future rested in her hands. Her strategy for handling Alex Counts would have to wait.

  “…ladies and gentlemen, you’ve heard the district attorney accuse my client, Earl Holmes—” she turned to him for emphasis—“of a most heinous crime. Even I was sickened by the depravity of the act.” Khendra’s voice rose to a thundering pitch as she paced in front of the jury. “However, not once—I repeat, not once—has the state been able to prove that Earl Holmes father, husband, laborer committed this act of violence. All of the state’s evidence has been superficial at best. There is no physical evidence whatsoever linking my client to this crime.” She slapped her hand down on the railing to hammer home her point.

  The few nods from the jury gave Khendra the encouraging spark she needed. She lowered her voice to a thread-bare whisper, forcing the jurors to strain to catch her every word.

  “Yes, something terrible happened on the night of November third. A store owner was brutally, thoughtlessly murdered. His wife is a widow and his children are fatherless. The community is outraged. Someone must pay.” She faced the j
ury, her eyes burning through each and every one of them. “But that someone is not in this room, and to me, that is more frightening, because the real murderer is out there among us…”

  Sean sat in the back of the courtroom mesmerized by the power, authority and magic Khendra wielded upon jurors. The passion with which she spoke brought a dignity to the profession. She seemed to grab those jurors by the gut, refusing to let go until they had absorbed her words, felt them, believed them.

  Seeing her in the arena in which she was certainly a master, he discovered a new respect for her. He wondered as he made a silent exit from the courtroom if she would ever allow him to incite that kind of passion in her. He knew deep down in his bones that given half a chance together they could reach heights that neither had dreamed possible.

  Not even the pressures of a new career seemed as challenging as the elusive Khendra Phillips. But he’d never backed off from a challenge. Yes, he would go after her with the same vigor he went after everything he wanted in life. She seemed to have awakened something dark and sensual in his soul, a feeling long forgotten. There could be no casual liaison with Khendra. No, she was a woman who would demand and deserve more. Was he up to the challenge? At the moment, with a promising future stretched out before him, he was certain he could handle anything. Even Khendra.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Khendra half-walked, half-dragged herself to her front door. It had been an unbelievable week, the likes of which she couldn’t recall experiencing before. Her one comfort was that the jury had voted unanimously to acquit her client of all charges.

  In a matter of days, radical changes had taken place in her life. Her usual orderly world was still vibrating from the aftermath. Not only had her career taken on new dimensions, so had her private life. Her dinner with Sean had somehow given her a different perspective about him and forced her to take a hard look at her life.

  In the days since that evening, she had tried unsuccessfully to exorcise him from her mind. All the reasons she used to justify disliking him fell short. He wasn’t the person she thought he would be. He was gentle, warm, sensual and considerate. He seemed interested in her as a person, not a thing to flaunt or try to use to get ahead, as she had suspected. She also realized she was disappointed he hadn’t mentioned again his offer of another dinner date. Then again, she thought as she shifted her bag of groceries to her hip and dug in her purse for her keys, she hadn’t given him any reason to think he had a chance with her. She pushed the door open, went straight to the kitchen, and deposited the heavy load on the counter. She walked to the living room with an ice-cold can of Coke in her hand, kicked off her shoes and tossed her jacket on the sofa. Flopping down on the sofa, she popped the top and took a cooling swallow of the Coke, as she reached over to the end table and pressed the button on her answering machine. After a series of beeps, the last voice she expected to hear floated to her ears.

  “Hi, it’s Sean. I guess you didn’t expect to hear from since you didn’t give me your number. I checked with Phyllis in personnel and charmed it out of her. I hope you’re not angry. I just wanted to tell you I had a wonderful time the other night, and I didn’t forget about dinner. I figured you’d say no. I don’t handle rejection very well. It took me all this time to get my courage up. Anyway, I want to see you tomorrow, if you’re free. I’m going to the racquetball court in the back of the health club. Peachtree Street.

  “I’ll be there from about two o’clock until closing. If you decide you want to see me as much as I’d like to see you, stop by. Hopefully, we can make an evening of it.”

  She replayed the tape, letting Sean’s satiny voice glide through her head. Following Sean’s message, there was one from Charisse about a party, but Khendra couldn’t concentrate. Hugging herself in delight, she leaned back on the sofa and shut off the machine, never even listening to Charisse’s bubbly voice. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.

  The evening did mean something to him, she thought, elated. He still wanted to see her. Then her moment of joy was quashed when clouds of doubt filtered to the forefront. If she went to the club, he would probably feel real smug and pleased with himself, and she’d feel like a fool. If she didn’t go, she might blow a great chance with the first man she’d been attracted to since Tony. She couldn’t think straight. Maybe a hot shower and a good night’s sleep would clear her mind. But first she would give Charisse a call and get her opinion. She quickly dialed her number. Charisse answered on the first ring.

  “…so are you going to meet him or not?”

  “I don’t think I should. He’ll just think I’m running after him.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. This is the nineties. If he went to the trouble of convincing hard-ass Phyllis to give him your number, it’s not because he wants you to chase after him. Wake up, girl!”

  “Maybe you’re right.” Khendra smiled, her spirits lifting. “But I’m just so afraid, Cee Cee. What if I get involved? What if I fall in love? What if he hurts me?”

  “Whoa! What’s with all the what-ifs? Why can’t you just take it for what it’s worth, just one day at a time? Trust your instincts, Khen. Besides, you play a mean game of racquetball. You’ll probably whip his tail, anyway. That ought to be some consolation. Matter of fact, I’m not doin’ a thing tomorrow. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll tag along.”

  “Would you?” Khendra’s voice filled with relief.

  “Of course, ya big baby. What kinda friend do you think I am?”

  “You’re a doll, Charisse.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  The next morning, Khendra was up with the sun.

  The combination of excitement and jangling nerves had her adrenaline pumping. She had to burn off some of the excess energy. She scrubbed her face, brushed her teeth and pulled on a pair of neon yellow shorts and a matching tee shirt. She hunted through her closet and found her running sneakers and went jogging for an hour.

  By noon, she had vacuumed her entire apartment, washed two loads of laundry, changed the linen on her bed, cleaned the oven, and watered all the plants on the terrace. Room by room, she took inventory of her uniquely designed apartment. Her large bedroom, which opened onto a balcony, was immaculate. The white freshly hung curtains and matching bedspread contrasted nicely with the lavender walls and carpet. Crossing the foyer, she entered the living room. The smoked-glass wall unit sparkled. She turned on the cabinet lights to showcase the various African sculptures that were strategically displayed on the shelves. The glass coffee table and end tables didn’t have a smudge on them. And her newly purchased crystal vase held freshly cut flowers, their scent filling the room.

  Khendra placed her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. There was nothing left to do but take a shower, get dressed and wait. She crossed the short distance from her living room to the kitchen and searched the well-stocked refrigerator for something cool to drink. She pulled out a large bottle of cranberry juice and took a glass from the overhead cabinet.

  Sitting at her round butcher block table sipping her glass of juice, Khendra wondered what her afternoon with Sean would be like. She was glad Charisse was going with her. At least she wouldn’t feel so awkward. Then her heart skipped a beat when she visualized Sean’s face and how he would look in a pair of shorts. A quiver of excitement ran up her spine at the vision, and she quickly shook it away. She was getting way ahead of herself. She was just going to play an innocent game of racquetball.

  As she sat there convincing herself that meeting Sean was perfectly aboveboard, she was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Khendra. I’m glad I caught you at home. This is Alex Counts.”

  Khendra’s brows knitted into a frown. “Yes, Mr. Counts. Is something wrong?” She tried to keep the uneasy feeling out of her voice,

  “No, nothing at all. Actually, I was calling to see if you’re free this afternoon. I was going to send a car around to pick you up and bring you out to my boat. I’m
having a few close friends over for drinks.”

  Oh, no. Just what I don’t need. “Well, actually, Mr. Counts, I do have plans,” she answered as calmly as she could. “And I don’t drink,” she added, hoping to lend strength to her response.

  She heard him clear his throat, and several seconds passed before he spoke. “I see. This was rather short notice. Next time I’ll be sure to give you plenty of advance notice.”

  Next time! “I usually try to keep myself pretty busy on the weekends,” she lied.

  “I’m sure that even with your busy schedule, you take time out for dinner.” The statement hung suggestively in the air.

  “Of course, but—”

  “Then we’ll have dinner. One night soon. Have a lovely day, Khendra. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  Before she had a chance to respond, he hung up the phone.

  “Damn!” She slammed the phone down on the cradle and threaded her free hand through her hair. She was going to have to find a way to put a stop to this, and soon. She began pacing the floor, sucking on her thumbnail as she walked. She had heard the rumors about Alex Counts, but never in her wildest dreams would she have thought he’d be interested in her. Maybe it was a mistake to take his offer, especially with the subtle innuendoes attached. No! She deserved the partnership, and she would get it without jumping into bed with Alex Counts.

  Taking a final swallow from her glass of juice, she walked over to the phone and turned off the answering machine. If he decided to call again, he would get no response. She then began stripping her clothes off, ridding herself of the ugly feeling Alex had stirred up in her, and headed for the shower.

  Freshly showered and clad only in a bath towel, she searched through the chest at the foot of her bed for the perfect outfit. Suddenly, her feminine instincts had rushed to the forefront, and it became significantly important what Sean saw and felt when he looked at her. Finally, she decided on hot pink terry shorts and a pink cotton top with white ribbing down the sides. She sat on the bed and pulled on pink sweat socks, then put on her pair of white sneakers. Fully clothed, she stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Taking a hard bristle brush, she vigorously ran it through her thick hair until it shone. Then she took an ivory barrette and pulled the mass of hair into a ponytail. Smiling with satisfaction, she gave her hair a final pat then brushed her lips with a hint of mahogany-colored lip gloss.