The Last Chance

by Darrien Lee

  “You heard me. What would you do if I kissed you?”

  Keilah picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. “Here?”

  “Yes, here,” he softly replied. We’ve been working apart so much lately, I miss you.”

  “I thought you wanted to keep our little arrangement just between us?”

  “I do, but right now, it would make my day if I could get a kiss.”

  Keilah smiled and folded her arms. “Have I spoiled you, Ramsey Stone?”

  He winked at her and said, “Of course you have. We’ve been going at it for about three months now. I’ve gotten used to you, Keilah, and now that we haven’t seen each other for over a week, I guess you can say I’ve gotten a little delirious.”

  Keilah looked around the room. “What if someone sees us?”

  “We’re partners. Remember?” he reminded her. “I have a right to show you some affection.”

  “So you’re talking about a little peck on the lips. Right?” she asked.

  He leaned forward and smiled. “No, I’m talking about a slow, wet, hot kiss.”

  Keilah closed her eyes briefly before responding. “You’re not serious. You have too many women circulating, and I don’t think you’d risk having one of them make a scene if they saw us. Besides, you were the one so adamant about keeping everything secret.”

  He put his hand up in defense. “I know what I said, Keilah. So are you going to kiss me or not?”

  Keilah studied Ramsey and then asked, “Right here? Right now?”

  He smiled. “Right here. Right now. And if you don’t hurry up, I’m the one who’s going to make a scene.”

  She blushed and lowered her head without responding.

  “Don’t make me get up, Keilah Chance,” he teased as he scooted back in his chair.

  Her flesh became hot at the thought of him pulling her out of her chair and kissing her in front of everyone.

  “OK ... OK ... just wait a second.”

  He laughed. “Wait a second for what? You have three seconds to kiss me, or I’m out of my chair.”

  In that instant, Keilah leaned across the table and kissed him. His kisses made her stomach quiver with excitement, and for a moment she forgot where she was until she heard the people at the next table applauding them.

  Ramsey pulled back slightly and whispered, “You taste so good.” Keilah blushed again before he kissed her once more. “I guess we’d better stop before they start hosing us down.”

  Keilah giggled. “I guess you’re right, but that was very nice.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  The waiter walked over to their table to see if either of them wanted to order dessert. Keilah waved him off while Ramsey ordered a slice of caramel pie. As soon as the waiter returned with the pie, Keilah slid her foot up Ramsey’s thigh. His kiss had ignited something, and now she was the one simmering inside. It had reminded her just how much she’d missed feeling his skin against hers over the past week.

  He froze and stared at her. “You’d better stop, Keilah, before you make me ravish you on top of this table. You’re playing with fire,” he warned her.

  Keilah giggled. “You’re the one who started the launch sequence with that kiss. Besides, I know you don’t want to risk wrinkling that thousand-dollar suit of yours, Stone.”

  Ramsey sat his fork down, and then looked at his watch before looking at Keilah. “Don’t underestimate me, Miss Chance.”

  She leaned forward and whispered, “Are you challenging me, Stone?”

  Ramsey cleared his throat and laughed. “What time do you have to be back to the office?”

  She pulled the cherry out of her drink and placed it seductively on her tongue. “Whenever I feel like it.”

  That was all Ramsey needed to hear. “Let’s go.”

  “Go where?” she asked curiously.

  Without responding to her, Ramsey motioned for the waiter to bring the check so they could leave. He hurriedly paid it and told the waiter to cancel his dessert order. He grabbed Keilah’s hand and nearly dragged her out of the restaurant and into the Remington Hotel across the street. It would be two hours before they would exit. The week apart had taken a toll on both of them, and neither could go another hour without quenching their desires for each other.

  Exhausted, but satisfied, the pair made their way back to their office to hopefully get some work done. Unfortunately, work was the last thing Ramsey could concentrate on once he returned to his office. He could still feel Keilah’s lips and hands on his body, and it gave his skin a tingling sensation.

  “Ramsey, can I get your signature on this form?”

  He was so deep in his thoughts he didn’t hear or see Keilah come in. She closed the door and walked over to his desk and handed him the form. He looked up at her and smiled as he picked up the form and read over it. Keilah walked around behind his desk and looked out the window. “Ramsey Stone, I think you have a better view than I do.”

  He twirled around in his chair and scanned her body up and down. Ramsey’s eyes took note of her fabulous legs and firm, curvy backside. “I disagree with you.”

  She turned around and found him undressing her with his eyes. She pointed her finger at him and said, “Behave, Stone. After what we just did, you should be content.”

  He set the form down, leaned forward, and caressed her thigh as he slowly eased his hands under her skirt. Keilah giggled and pushed his hands away. “What is going on with you, Ramsey? You act like you want us to get caught.”

  He stood up and walked over to his door and locked it. He walked toward her and whispered, “Maybe I do.”

  Seconds later he had her in his arms. His kisses seared her lips. Keilah breathlessly panted, “Ramsey,” as his large hand disappeared under her skirt and slipped down inside her lace undergarments. He looked into her eyes and noticed their glazed appearance. He smiled, and just as he started to unbutton her blouse, Sherrie buzzed through on his telephone.

  “Ramsey, I have Miss Rockwell here to see you.”

  “Damn!” he cursed before reaching over to pick up the telephone. “I’m in a meeting with Keilah right now, Sherrie. Take her into the break room. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Will do,” Sherrie replied.

  When Ramsey turned back around, Keilah was buttoning her blouse and straightening her skirt. He sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Keilah.”

  “You have no reason to apologize to me, Ramsey. Just bring that form back to my office once you look it over and sign it.”

  As she walked past him, he took her hand into his and said, “I’ll catch up with you later. OK?”

  “No rush,” she replied casually, as if nothing just happened between them. She unlocked the door and exited his office. Ramsey let out a loud breath and gathered himself before heading out to the break room to see what drama brought Andria into his office unannounced.

  Keilah walked past the break room on her way back to her office. Andria spotted her and called out to her. “Keilah, how are you?”

  Keilah rolled her eyes before turning around to face Andria. “I’m fine, Andria. How are you?”

  Andria put her hands on her hips and whispered, “I would be doing better if Ramsey wasn’t working so much, if you know what I mean.”

  Keilah folded her arms and said, “I’m sure you can find something to keep you occupied until he has more time for you. We are trying to run a business.”

  “I know you are, but I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying that all work and no play makes Ramsey a dull boy.”

  “I’ve heard something like that,” Keilah responded. “Look, it was nice seeing you again, Andria, but I have work to do. I’m sure Ramsey will be here shortly. Have a nice rest of the day.”

  “Don’t worry. If I have anything to do with it, I will,” she replied mischievously.

  About that time, Ramsey approached the two women in the hallway. Keilah turned on her heels and said, “Good-bye, Andria.”

  Ramsey watched
Keilah as she disappeared into her office. Andria turned up her nose and said, “No wonder she don’t have a man. She’s cold as hell.”

  Ramsey thought to himself... if you only knew. In fact, Keilah was about as hot as they came. He frowned. “You need to mind your business, Andria. You don’t know anything about Keilah.”

  She hugged his neck and said, “Don’t get upset with me, baby. I call it as I see it. If she had a man, she wouldn’t be so uptight all the time.”

  Ramsey removed her arms from around his neck, hustled her into the break room, and closed the door. “Maybe she’s only like that with you. What are you doing here anyway, Andria?”

  She rubbed her arm and said, “I didn’t come here to get manhandled, for sure.”

  “Look, I’m sorry. You interrupted a meeting I was in, and I thought I asked you not to just drop by my office without calling first.”

  “What are you trying to hide, Ramsey? Are you seeing someone else?”

  “I’m at work, Andria. What about that can’t you understand? Damn!”

  She grabbed her purse and said, “You’re hiding something. You never have time for me anymore, and I want to know what’s going on.”

  Ramsey walked over to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. He turned to her and said, “The world doesn’t revolve around you, Andria, and just for the record, I belong to no woman. If you can’t handle that, or respect my job or my schedule, I’m sorry. Maybe you should just move on.”

  She swung her purse on her shoulder and said, “Maybe I should.”

  Ramsey took a sip of coffee and casually replied, “That’s on you.”

  She angrily walked out of the room without responding. Ramsey finished off his coffee and headed back to his office to finish his day’s work.

  Later that night, Keilah was awakened by a strange noise radiating from downstairs. She sat up in bed and listened as she heard even more unidentifiable noises. She climbed out of bed, dressed only in boy shorts and a cami, and grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand. Easing over to her walk-in closet, she slid into a pair of sweatpants and tucked her cell phone inside her pocket before picking up her shotgun. Trying not to make any sound, she slowly cocked the gun before making her way out into her hallway. Once again, she heard a noise that sounded like breaking glass. It was obvious to Keilah that someone was in her house, but what troubled her was how they got past her alarm system. Once in the hallway, she made her way to the spare bedroom next door to hers and quietly stepped inside. She wasn’t about to go downstairs and walk into the middle of an ambush. Instead, she decided to let whoever it was come to her.

  As she stood just inside the door of the bedroom with the door barely cracked, she noticed two dark figures slowly climbing the stairs. When they reached the landing, she could see there was something in their hands. She could also hear them whispering to each other as they entered her room. Keilah carefully maneuvered back down the hallway to her bedroom. When she stepped inside the door, she aimed the shotgun at the two figures, who were going through her nightstand and dresser. She turned on the light and found two men wearing ski masks standing in her bedroom.

  “Don’t you move an inch,” she instructed them.

  One of the men turned to Keilah, raised his handgun and fired at her. Keilah ducked with the bullet barely missing her head, and then she returned. The force of the shot knocked the main assailant against the wall, leaving him sprawled on the floor, lifeless. The second man raised his gun as well and attempted to shoot at Keilah; however, she shot first. The man lay on the floor, screaming, “You bitch!”

  With her shotgun still aimed at him, she walked closer and kicked the gun away from his hand. “This bitch just shot your ass too, huh?” she said.

  The man continued to curse Keilah as he writhed in agony. With her shotgun still aimed at them, she pulled out her cell phone and called the police.

  Officer Jackson was dispatched as soon as the call came in. He turned on his siren and became extremely nervous when he realized whose address he was responding to. Approximately five minutes later, he entered the foyer and found Keilah being interviewed by detectives. When Keilah saw him, she stood and gave him a hug. “Hey, Jackson.”

  “What happened, Keilah?” Jackson asked.

  “Some guys broke into my house and I shot them.”

  The detective interviewing Keilah asked, “You two know each other?”

  Jackson replied, “Keilah and I have been friends for a couple of years. So who were the perps?”

  The detective looked at his notepad and said, “Malik Rivers has been transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries, but Darrius O’Neal was DOA.”

  Keilah lowered her head in disbelief. Jackson looked at her and said, “I can’t believe that kid came after you.”

  “I can,” Keilah replied. “Jackson, can you call Ramsey for me?”

  “Sure,” he answered as he stood and walked outside to call Ramsey.

  The detective asked Keilah to explain the circumstances around her first altercation with Malik. Once she finished, the detective asked Keilah if she had somewhere else to stay for the night since her house was now a crime scene. She nodded, and the detective motioned for an officer to accompany her upstairs to gather her belongings.

  By the time she packed a week’s worth of items and made her way back downstairs, Ramsey was waiting for her in the foyer. Jackson had already filled him in on the shooting, and when Keilah’s eyes met Ramsey’s, his heart skipped a beat. As traumatic as the shooting was, Keilah didn’t seem to be shaken one bit. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Ramsey took her garment bag and suitcase out of her hand and asked, “Are you OK?”

  She lowered her head and said, “I took someone’s life, Ramsey.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “I know, but from what Jackson told me it was you or them.”

  She nodded and then turned to Jackson. “Can you make sure my house is secured when everyone finishes the investigation?”

  Jackson gave Keilah a hug and said, “I’ll take care of it. I’ll give you a call when you can get back in.”

  “Thanks, Jackson.”

  Ramsey shook Jackson’s hand before leading Keilah out the door to his car.

  Keilah ended up staying with him for a week. During that time, Ramsey arranged for Keilah’s house to be cleaned before she moved back in. She was also notified that her shooting was classified as justifiable homicide and that she had acted in self-defense.

  Over the course of the next few days, Quentin repeatedly tried to contact Keilah, but Ramsey intercepted the calls, reminding Quentin that they weren’t allowed to talk to him about the case and that all calls would have to go through their lawyers. Quentin assured Ramsey that he was only calling to offer her his apology on behalf of his son and to make sure she was OK. Ramsey told Quentin that he would pass on the message to Keilah, but wouldn’t be able to talk to him about the case. Quentin agreed and apologized once more before hanging up the telephone.

  In the days following the incident, work went on as usual at the Stone Chance Protection Agency over the next two weeks. Keilah seemed to have shaken off the incident and continued to conduct business around the office as usual. She and Ramsey continued to train their new hires and adjusted their work schedules to accommodate even more new clients. With the overload of work, the couple found time to get together when they could, and when they did, it was just as explosive as it had been even before the shooting. Most people would have a hard time readjusting to life after such a traumatic event, but Keilah never seemed to let it affect her. In any case, the situation didn’t rattle her, and life went on as usual.

  Ramsey seemed to be content with life himself and being with Keilah. He hadn’t heard from Andria since their altercation, and he wasn’t losing any sleep over it either. She was one less irritation he had to worry about.

  On this day, Keilah stuck her head in Ramsey’s office before leaving for the day. “Hey, Stone. S
omebody has a birthday tomorrow, huh?”

  He looked up at her and frowned. “Keilah, I’m warning you now. Don’t do anything crazy.”

  She waved him off and said, “Stop whining. It’s your birthday and you can’t tell me what not to do. Besides, I’m not the one you should be worried about. I’m sure Andria has something planned for you. I only stopped by to let you know I was headed out for the day.”

  He yawned and said, “I haven’t heard from Andria and I doubt I will.”

  “Don’t underestimate her, Ramsey. You know she’s notorious for showing up when you least expect her to.”

  “You’re right about that. Now enough about my birthday and Andria. Tonight’s the big night with Teresa Randolph at the Breast Cancer Awareness dinner, huh?”

  She walked farther into his office and said, “I guess. What are you going to do tonight? Big date, or are you and Bradford going to hang out?”

  Bradford was a dear friend of Ramsey’s who had served with him in the military as a military policeman. He was now working at the Pentagon, and like Ramsey he was still single but dating heavily.

  “No, I’m going home. I’m tired from working these twelve-hour days for the past few weeks,” he admitted.

  “You got that right,” she replied as she turned to walk out of his office. “If it wasn’t for this dinner, I would be crashing with you.”

  Ramsey stood up and came around to the front of his desk and leaned against it. “Keilah, come in here for a second.”

  She walked into the office and closed the door behind her. “What’s up?”

  “I’ve been told to pass on a message to you, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to.”

  Keilah looked at him curiously and asked, “From who?”

  “Ron Davenport.”

  “Ron Davenport? What kind of message?” she asked as she studied Ramsey’s facial expression.

  “He wants to ask you out.”

  She walked closer to Ramsey and giggled. “Well, I hope you told him I don’t date clients.”