Indiscretions

by Donna Hill

  “I won’t press the issue,” he said gently, easing into her thoughts. “If you ever want to talk, just remember I’m here.” He took her soft hand, turned it over and placed tender kisses on her palm, privately wishing it was her full lips instead. “Let’s order,” he said in a thick voice.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Sean stepped out into the glaring sunshine in quick, purposeful strides as he exited the courthouse. The wind blew open his beige overcoat, exposing the charcoal suit beneath. His face was a mask of concentration, his dark profile cutting a stunning cameo against the mass of bodies that surrounded him. To the casual onlooker, he would appear to be a man with the world at his feet—tall, handsome, sexy, secure. But Sean’s mind was anxious.

  He gripped the rolled newspaper in his hand, tapping it against his hard thigh as he walked. His heart pounded with every step. It had been fate that had drawn him to the arts and entertainment section of the newspaper. And right there in the centerfold was a big spread about the grand opening of an exclusive boutique owned by Charisse Carter.

  He had almost stopped breathing when he saw the name. He was sure that was the name of Khendra’s best friend. The article went on to state that it was her second shop and gave the locations of both. His hands visibly shook as he looked at the smiling, confident face staring back at him, and continued to read the detailed account of the one person who knew where he could find Khendra. He had silently cursed the fact that he would be tied up in court all day. The hours had seemed to drag, and he had to struggle to concentrate.

  He checked his watch as he slipped behind the wheel of his BMW. The opening had begun hours earlier, but he still had time. He would make her tell where Khendra was. Of that he was sure. He no longer cared what it took to find out.

  The large, mirrored shop was filled to capacity with curious lookers and serious shoppers. A large tray of hors d’oeuvres was set up in one corner, while models displayed the latest fashion creations on the other side of the tastefully decorated shop.

  Charisse was more pleased than she had imagined she could be. Her only regret was that her dearest friend wasn’t there to share it with her. The mayor had offered her a position on his legal staff, but Khendra had declined the offer. She believed that the only way she could begin the healing process was to leave Atlanta—and Sean—behind. Charisse took a deep breath and tried to shake off the sad feeling of loss, forcing herself back into a cheerful state of mind.

  She smiled and mingled with her guests, moving confidently through the crowd, when suddenly she looked at the open doorway and her heart almost stood still. The man standing there was easily the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen in her life. He stood head and shoulders above the crowd as he moved into the shop with a self-determination that was magnificent to watch. His ebony features and onyx eyes were a lethal combination. And the thin, silky moustache that outlined his full lips made her hunger for the taste of them. She felt weak in the knees, and a surge of heat rushed to her head as those eyes settled on her, and he steadily moved in her direction. Her heart pounded uncontrollably as he approached, her guests totally forgotten as a result of his presence.

  “Are you Charisse Carter?” His voice stroked her like an ardent lover and entwined itself in her veins.

  She raised her chin and looked him straight in those magnificent eyes. “Yes, I am. And you are…” She gave him her most alluring smile.

  “I’m looking for Khendra. And you’re going to tell me where she is.”

  So this was Sean. Charisse felt her whole body stiffen with anger and a fear she couldn’t pinpoint. She had the unshakeable feeling this man would do anything to get what he wanted. And he wanted Khendra. It was evident in the dangerous glint that lit his eyes. But Khendra was more important to her than risking her own safety

  “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” she drawled through clenched teeth, turning away from him defiantly.

  He gripped her arm and spun her around to face him. He bent his head to within inches of her face, the manly scent of him causing her head to spin.

  “Where is she?” he ground out. The force of his words tipped through her.

  “Take your hands off me,” she whispered, looking around nervously, “before I call security.”

  “Call whoever you want, but I’m not leaving until you tell me where she is.”

  “What makes you think I can tell you anything?”

  He loosened his grip on her arm, and the softness that filled his eyes went straight to her heart.

  “Because I know that you love her too and that you want to see her happy. Her happiness is with me, Charisse. I need to tell her that, and you’ve got to help me.” His eyes begged her to understand, but his meaning was clear.

  Seconds of painful silence passed.

  “Come into my office,” she said finally.

  Sean breathed a sigh of relief and followed Charisse into her office. “I can’t explain everything to you, Charisse,” he said when they were seated, “but you’ve got to trust me. I love Khendra, and I want her back in my life. I couldn’t tell her what was going on for her own good. And for the same reasons, I can’t tell you.”

  “You have no idea how you’ve hurt her, Sean,” she said, accusing him with a look from her dark eyes. She saw him stiffen at her words, but gained no satisfaction from hurting him.

  “That’s why I need to see her, to talk with her. I deserve that much—a chance to make things right between us. Then if she won’t listen, I’ll stay out of her life forever. I promise you that.” His voice implored her, his gaze holding her transfixed.

  Her conscience raged a silent battle. She didn’t know what was right or wrong any longer when she looked at him. But the one thing she was sure of was that this man loved Khendra with all his heart. And Khendra loved him too.

  She took a deep breath before she spoke. “She’s in New York. That’s all I’m gonna tell you. The rest is up to you.”

  “Thank you,” he sighed, relief flooding his voice. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You won’t regret this.”

  “I’d better not,” she said to his retreating back as he quickly exited the office. And heaven help me, I hope I did the right thing.

  “That’s right, Phil. I want you to locate a Khendra Phillips. She’s been in New York for about a month. More than likely she’s working for a small legal firm.”

  “Have you forgotten how big this city is?” Phil asked in astonishment.

  Sean leaped up from his seat. “I wouldn’t give a damn if it was as big as the continent of Africa!” His voice thundered through the phone, his eyes blazing. He felt himself rapidly losing control, and he gripped the phone with all his strength to steady his raging emotions. “I want her found,” he said with as much calm as he could summon.

  He and Phil Banks had been buddies since childhood. They had covered each other’s backs on more occasions than Sean could remember. Phil was the kind of guy you didn’t want as your enemy, but he could also be the best friend anyone could ever have. The only thing that separated Phil and Sean was how they chose to attack the system. Phil chose to stay in the streets, while Sean chose law. Yet at times like this, Sean had more respect and regard for Phil than some high-priced lawyer, or anyone else for that matter because he knew Phil wouldn’t care what it took to help him.

  “Listen, man,” Sean said tightly. “I’m sorry.”

  He exhaled deeply and leaned against the wall, briefly shutting his eyes.

  “She means a lot to you, doesn’t she?” Phil asked in soft-spoken understanding.

  “More than a lot. Everything. You’ve got to find her.”

  “I will, buddy. I will. I’m on it as we speak. I’ll get back to you in a few days. I still have great connections. It should be no problem.” Yeah, right. I might just luck out and find her.

  “Thanks, Phil,” he said, his tense shoulders dropping.

  “Yeah,” he replied, his well-worn tan face carrying
a maze of old scars collected during the years he had spent on the streets. This must be some broad. “By the way, how’s that project coming that you’ve been working on?”

  “I almost have him nailed. Just a few more pieces to the puzzle and I can put the screws to him.”

  “Great. Just hang in there, buddy. Everything’s gonna work out. Talk to you in a few days.”

  “So when am I going to see you, Alex?”

  Alex leaned back in his leather chair and looked at the clock on the wall. Coco was becoming a nuisance. The initial thrill of being with her again had faded like an old washed-out sheet. She was becoming tiresome. “I really, don’t know. I have plans,” he said evenly.

  “Plans? What kind of plans?” Her voice rose to a nagging grate.

  “It doesn’t concern you, Coco.”

  “But we had a deal. You take care of me, I take care of you. You promised.”

  “Well, my dear, promises are made to be broken,” he said off-handedly, studying his newly manicured nails under the desk lamp.

  “Then you wouldn’t mind if I told good old Ellen about your promises, or better yet—Daddy?”

  Alex sat up straight in his chair, tension hardening his spine. “You wouldn’t dare!” he hissed.

  “Why wouldn’t I? I have nothing to lose. You promised to take care of me. And I need something. I need it now!”

  Alex ground his teeth as he tried to think of a way out of the mess he had gotten himself into. He could not let her tell Ellen anything. Ellen had always been aware of his indiscretions, but she never knew the women involved. As much as he sometimes loathed his wife, he never humiliated her that way. What’s more, he could not take the risk of this little spoiled brat telling her father. Although her father had retired, his power was far-reaching. He could crush Alex with a mere phone call.

  “All right. I’ll see you later this evening,” he agreed.

  “Now that’s more like it, lover. See you when you get here.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Sean sped across town, heading for Carol’s apartment. He had tried to reach her by phone, but there was no answer. If she wasn’t home when he arrived, he would just shove the envelope under her door.

  As he drove past the run-down buildings, the neighborhoods slowly began to change. The streets were no longer littered with trash, but lined with trees. The apartment buildings turned to single-family homes and elaborate condos.

  Sean’s brow creased into a frown. How could Carol afford to live in this section of the city? He knew she wasn’t working, and he hadn’t given her enough money to afford all this. It didn’t make any sense. Unless someone was taking care of her. He gritted his teeth and turned onto the last exit.

  Sean pulled up in front of the address Carol had given him and looked up at the building. He got out of his car, walked to the front door, and dialed the number to her apartment. She answered right away and buzzed him through the glass doors. He ignored the elevators. She lived on the second floor, so he took the stairs two at a time, wanting to get in and out as quickly as possible. All wanted to do was give Carol the money so he could get home.

  He let out a breath and pressed the door chime. Carol opened the door dressed in a pink teddy that revealed her well-curved body. Sean deliberately ignored her tempting pose and brushed past her, stepping into the finely furnished apartment. He turned to face her.

  “Well, this certainly is a pleasant surprise, Mickey. Care for a drink?” she asked in her silvery voice.

  “I have no intention of staying, Carol.” He tossed the envelope on the coffee table, where it landed next to a line of coke. “That’s what you wanted,” he said, looking at the table in disgust.

  He turned glaring black eyes on her. “You’re still at it, I see.” Contempt dripped from his voice.

  Carol shrugged her slender shoulders, ignoring his comment, and locked the door. She looked at him, her gray-green eyes sparkling with desire. “It’s been a long time for us, Mickey,” she whispered, taking slow, provocative steps in his direction. “It used to be good between us. It can be again,” she added, stepping right up to him and running one hand down his hip, the other stroking his strong chin with a long coral-lacquered nail.

  For an instant, he felt arousal overtake him as she pressed her body against his. She reached up on tiptoe and stroked her tongue along his lips. He felt himself yielding, his lips parting to accept her eager tongue. Then visions of Khendra danced before his eyes. He pushed her forcefully away from him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  Carol staggered back from the force of his shove, banging against a porcelain planter, which crashed to the floor, scattering her hidden stash of drugs. Her eyes lit up as if ignited by an inner flame. She lunged at him, screaming obscenities and clawing the side of his face before he had a chance to retreat.

  He grabbed her wrists in a vise-like grip, while she kicked and tried to free herself. But he showed no signs of relenting, his own anger quickly becoming a scalding inferno. “I’m warning you, Carol,” he said in a deadly whisper.

  “Let me go, you bastard,” she spat. She tried to bite his hands, and he twisted his palm out of reach, pushing her toward her bedroom. “I’m not gonna let you forget how you treated me, Sean,” she yelled. “You can’t do this to me!”

  She struggled violently against him, ripping the strap of her teddy and, in the process, exposing a round, firm breast. Momentarily they froze, their breathing coming rapid, panting rhythms, the raw tension between them mounting. Sean’s eyes seared across her breast and briefly riveted on the golden orb. Carol saw him weaken and she slipped the other strap off her shoulder, letting the pink top slither down to her tiny waist. She lifted her chin defiantly, the look of anger in his eyes arousing her.

  Sean’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “Not this time, Carol. Never again. Got that?” He pushed her onto her bed and stormed toward the door, wiping away the blood that trickled down his cheek with the back of his hand.

  Just as he reached the door, a pair of scissors whizzed past his ear and lodged in the wooden door. He whirled around to face her as she once again lunged at him, long nails aiming for his face. He easily sidestepped her this time, but she lost her balance and went headlong into a closed door, knocking over a brass coat rack as she tripped. She wasn’t quick enough to dodge the tumbling rack. Sean made a vain attempt to grab it and missed, and the brass rack landed solidly on her head.

  Sean immediately fell to her side, as blood slowly oozed from her scalp. His heart pounded. He shook her. She didn’t move, but she was still breathing. He looked frantically around the room, then went to the bathroom in search of a cloth to place on the wound. He returned and carried her to the sofa, pressing the cold, wet washcloth against her head. The bleeding slowed, and he applied more pressure until it stopped.

  “Why, Carol? Why does it always have to be this way between us?” The question stabbed at his knotted stomach. Then a dark, fleeting thought crept through his brain. He looked at her. His heart pounded. She stirred, moaning softly. He saw that his one chance would quickly end. No, man. Enough is enough.

  The figure behind the tinted window of the parked car watched as Sean exited the building and rushed toward his car. His jaw clenched in recognition. When the car sped off, he got out and stormed into the building, his own anger boiling to the surface. He would put an end to this once and for all. But what he found when he put his key in the door and opened it made his job that much easier.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sean sat on the edge of his bed, his large hands hanging over his thighs, head bent. He looked at the phone, reached for it, then stopped midway. Guilt assailed him. He should have made sure everything was fine before he left. But all he could think about at the time was getting out of there as quickly as possible before—

  Damn! He slammed a fist down on his night table. He shouldn’t have let her get to him like that. He covered his face with his hands, trying to wipe away the visio
n of her lying so still.

  But he couldn’t…wouldn’t let the incident interfere with him getting to Khendra. Why hadn’t Phil called? Rising from the bed, he went to the bathroom and gathered toiletries, which he threw into an overnight bag, then grabbed shirts and slacks from the closet. I have to be ready. Satisfied he had what he needed, he reached for the phone and dialed the airport.

  Alex gripped the steering wheel of his Cadillac so hard his knuckles began to hurt. Pulling into driveway of his house, he mentally prepared himself for his wife’s accusing looks and silent knowledge. But he would deal with her as he always did.

  He checked his watch. They were already an hour late for a benefit dinner engagement. So if she started in on him—well, he would just leave her home.

  He chuckled. Now everything was back in order. He took a deep breath and walked into his foyer. “Ellen!” he called up the winding stairway as he leaned against the heavy cherry wood banister. “I’m home. I hope you remembered to get my suit from the tailor.”

  Sean had spent a fitful night. Over and over, he had seen the coat rack slowly fall toward Carol, and he was never able to get to her in time. And then—No! He wouldn’t think about it. It was over.

  No longer able to stay in bed, he got up and took a long, steamy shower, as if trying to wash away the vision. Draped in a towel, he padded into his bedroom and reached for the phone, just as it rang. He snatched the receiver off the cradle, his anxious voice leaping across the wires. “Yes,” he barked tersely.

  “It’s me, buddy. Looks like lady luck is on your side. I’ve been on this from the moment we hung up and—”

  Sean’s pulse pounded in his ears. “Cut the crap, Phil,” he growled, his adrenaline pumping.

  “Keep your shirt on,” Phil retorted, stifling a chuckle at his friend’s blatant eagerness. “She’s with a guy called Clifford Samuels. He’s got an office at—”