She found it odd that his legs were crossed at the ankles and off to the left. He must’ve caught her staring, because he smiled over at her and explained.
“I cross my legs to keep them out of the way,” Darius explained. “But don’t worry, I have full control of the car.”
Though she felt embarrassed that she’d been caught staring, his explanation did reduce a bit of her anxiety.
“I used to come to this theater all the time before they remodeled it. Now it’s the only place I like to see a movie besides my den. All the seats are reserved. I already purchased our tickets online. You’re going to love it.”
He seemed so happy to be out on a date with her. Special still wasn’t sure how far she wanted this thing with Darius to go. If she was being honest with herself, she was only on this date because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. So far, Darius hadn’t made a move toward anything physical and that was just fine with her.
“Have you seen any of Kevin Hart’s other movies?” Darius asked.
“Every single one of them,” Special said, breaking into a smile. “But I like his TV show, The Real Husbands of Hollywood, the most. That boy is a stone fool.”
Maybe it was all in her head, but their small talk felt stilted. Special was so uncomfortable, in fact, that she wanted to jump out of the car while it was still rolling down the street.
Darius turned off Lincoln Boulevard onto Maxella and pulled into the underground parking structure of the Marina Marketplace. It was usually hard to find parking in this complex on a Saturday night, but in no time Darius spotted a handicapped stall and eased his car into it. At least being with Darius meant access to prime parking.
She reached over to unhook her seatbelt when Darius placed his hand on her arm.
“I need you to relax. I promise you’re going to have a good time tonight.”
Before she could lie and say she was relaxed, he leaned over, lifted her chin and kissed her. When his tongue slipped between her lips, she felt her body quiver. He took his time, savoring her, then pressed his forehead to hers and held it there for several seconds.
Wowza!
That was the most sensual first kiss she’d ever experienced. The boy had skills in the lip-locking department. He pulled away sooner than she actually wanted him too.
Special flung the car door open and hopped out. As Darius prepared to extract himself from the car, Special remained standing near the passenger door pretending to look through her purse. She half watched as he reached into the backseat and pulled the base of his folded wheelchair between the seats.
After unfolding it and setting it just outside the open car door, he reached into the backseat again for one wheel and snapped it onto the chair. Then repeated the move with the other wheel. After adding a seat cushion and locking the wheels in place, he hoisted his body from the car to the chair.
He released the brakes, rolled backward and closed the car door. “Ready?” he asked, whirling around to face her.
Special walked next to him, careful to make sure she wasn’t moving too fast or too slow. She’d dated a couple of men who were shorter than her, but this felt like walking alongside a child. Next time, she would wear flats.
They headed up a ramp that took them to the top level of the complex. Walking past a couple of restaurants, they reached the theater in seconds. Special had planned to open the door for him, but Darius got there first.
“After you, beautiful lady.”
To Special’s surprise, the lobby looked more like a nightclub than a movie theater. It had a full bar, as well as lounge chairs and cocktail tables. Special prayed Darius didn’t want to hang out in the bar. She scanned the area hoping she didn’t spot anyone she knew. It would be just her luck to run into one of her nosy ass co-workers. She could imagine Reetha or Kiana running back to the office and blabbing that Special was so hard up she was dating a man in a wheelchair.
Luckily, Darius never even glanced in the direction of the bar. After the attendant scanned their tickets on his phone, they headed straight for the theater. Once again, he opened the door for her before she could open it for him. She was surprised at how nimble he was in his wheelchair.
“Our seats are on the back row,” he said.
Special sank into one of the big red leather chairs that reclined like her daddy’s favorite resting spot. Darius pulled his wheelchair into an open space next to her that was reserved for handicapped seating. The theater had a massive screen so every seat in the house was a good one.
“These chairs are fabulous,” she said, propping up her feet on the footrest.
“I knew you’d like it. They have waiters who come around to serve you and you can even order drinks.”
It wasn’t long before a team of waiters dressed in black poured into the theater. Special ordered the carne asada tacos and a glass of white wine. Darius had the fish and chips and a rum and Coke. Special wanted to order a Long Island Iced Tea, but after the kiss that brother had laid on her, she needed to have all of her senses intact. Just fantasizing about the next kiss made her moist.
Without warning, Darius leaned over and kissed her again.
“I don’t remember giving you permission to kiss me again,” she teased.
“Yes, you did.”
“And when did I do that?”
“The way you kissed me in the car, I could tell you wanted me to do it again.”
“You sure have a lot of confidence.”
“Always have, always will.”
This brother was everything he had professed to be in his MyHarmony.com profile, except that...
Stop it!
Focusing on his disability had to stop. Darius had one con and a ton of pros. It made sense to at least enjoy all the good things about him.
They were done eating by the time the movie trailers were over. With her belly full and the light buzz from the wine, Special hoped she’d be able to stay awake for the movie. Darius took her hand, which felt good in his. By the time the movie was over, she couldn’t remember the last time, she’d laughed so hard.
“Kevin Hart is crazy,” Special said, still cracking up.
“And crazy is making him some big time bucks.”
Special was on her feet when she realized that Darius hadn’t moved. As she quickly sat back down, she realized that he was waiting for the crowd to dissipate, which would make it easier to exit the theater in his wheelchair. If she was going to make this work, she had to start thinking more about him. She fished around in her purse, found her lipstick and started touching up her lips.
Darius gave her an odd look, as if she was doing something wrong.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I don’t know why you’re putting that lipstick on. I’m just going to kiss it off.”
Special blushed like a schoolgirl. I hope you do.
CHAPTER 19
Fletcher McClain learned a long time ago that smart businessmen cut their losses early and move on. That was the only reason he was sitting at a table at Fig & Olive on Melrose, waiting for Bliss Fenton to arrive.
When his assistant Gabriella contacted Bliss to extend the lunch invitation, Fletcher had listened in on the call. Bliss had, of course, been curious about the reason for the invitation, but Fletcher never doubted that she would accept.
The sole purpose of this meeting was to do what Vernetta had failed to do: negotiate a reasonable child support arrangement with Bliss to keep the legal system out of his financial affairs. If the kid turned out to be his and the matter got before a judge, he would most certainly get screwed.
What Fletcher planned to propose was more than generous, double what Vernetta had offered her.
He had a document setting forth the terms drafted by a lawyer he played golf with who’d been sworn to secrecy.
Although he’d been lost
in the anxiety of his own thoughts, Fletcher sensed the precise moment that Bliss entered the restaurant even before spotting her. He saw several men shift their gaze in her direction as if controlled by a switch. Bliss had that kind of effect.
The woman was still a beauty. He liked the way her sexiness pushed the envelope, but didn’t quite open it. She was dressed today in a simple white dress with bold black lines that outlined her slender body. No excessive cleavage, just enough to spark the imagination. No skirt hiked up to crotch-level. Bliss had a flirtatious air about her that she’d probably been born with.
Despite her stunning looks, Fletcher had never considered her anything more than a good time. A woman would need to be much more than a great lay for him to consider her marriage material. Aside from her natural beauty and her superb skills in the bedroom, Bliss didn’t have much else going for her. Mia might never surpass Bliss’ skills in the bedroom, but on the intellectual front, it was like comparing a first grader to a Ph.D.
Fletcher stood and pulled out her chair. “How are you, Bliss?”
“A little curious.”
She sat down across from him and placed her small clutch on the table.
“Your assistant was pretty tight-lipped about why you wanted to have lunch with me.”
“That’s my Bliss. Always one to get right to the point.”
“Wow. My Bliss. I like the sound of that. But I suspect Mia might not.”
It was not going to be easy for Fletcher to keep his cool, but there was no question that he must. He’d negotiated marathon deals with some of the biggest a-holes on the planet. If he could survive that without putting his fist through a wall, he could manage the next hour with this female psychopath. He’d begin by taking the highroad.
“I’m sorry we’re in this situation. I—”
“Situation? Is that what you call bringing a child into the world? A situation?”
Fletcher refused to take the bait.
“I invited you to lunch because I’d like to put an end to this. Let’s consider this a private mediation. Forget what my attorney offered you. I have a much better deal.”
“Sounds like I should have brought my attorney with me.”
“Not necessary. I think you’re smart enough to make decisions for yourself.”
“Apparently not as smart as the brilliant Mia Richardson. Is that why you chose her over me? Her amazing intellect? It couldn’t have been her skills beneath the sheets. On that front, I’m pretty sure I
was the best you’ve ever had.”
Fletcher tried not to let his expression convey that she was right. The subtle rumbling in his groin only seconded her statement.
He looked around for the waiter. “Maybe we should order lunch first. They have an excellent dirty martini.”
Bliss giggled. “Oh, so you plan to get me drunk before you screw me.”
Fletcher’s lips flattened into a tight, thin line. “Look, Bliss, I’m sorry about the way it went down between us. Sometimes things happen that are just out of our control.”
“That is so true. It was certainly like that every time I gave you head. When I was on my knees taking every inch of you down my throat, everything was completely within my control, not yours.”
He was getting aroused and it pissed him off.
“Are you hard yet?” Bliss eyed him over the rim of the glass. “It never took you long. If you are, we could have your driver disappear for a bit and have a quickie in the backseat. You always enjoyed it when I blew you in the car.”
Fletcher averted his eyes, but what he wanted to do was slam his fist on the table. “Why don’t I tell you what I’m proposing?”
He pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket.
“I don’t think the kid is mine, but to buy myself some peace, I’m going to make you the following offer.” He opened the envelope, took out a cashier’s check and set it on the table.
“This check is made out to you for two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars.” He then pulled out a document. “If you sign this settlement and confidentiality agreement right now, that check is yours. We both go our separate ways. That means no more surprise visits at parties you’re not invited to and no contact whatsoever with either me or Mia. Now, if by some miracle, it turns out that the kid is mine, that agreement says I’ll pay you fifteen grand a month until the kid is eighteen. Of course, I’ll also cover private school and college tuition, and you can keep the two-fifty.”
Bliss showed no reaction.
“But you’ll have to sign the agreement right now, right here, or the deal’s off.”
He took out a silver pen and held it out to her, but she didn’t reach for it, forcing him to set it on the table.
“This makes everything fast and convenient. Neither one of us will have to hire an attorney and go through a long court fight. It’s a win-win for both of us.”
Bliss took a slow sip of water.
“The fact that you doubled the offer your attorney made tells me you’re running scared.” There was no emotion in her voice. “But I’m really disappointed that your offer doesn’t mention anything about visitation rights. You want to be part of your daughter’s life, don’t you? Your mother would love to have a granddaughter.”
Fletcher sucked in a breath and scratched his jaw. “Let’s handle that after the test results are in.”
Even if she was his, he wasn’t sure he wanted anything to do with the child. Raising Bliss’ kid would certainly be an issue for Mia.
“Would you like to see a picture of your daughter?” Bliss took a photograph from her purse and set it on the table in front of him. “Everybody always says Jonas is the spitting image of me. Well, I think Harmony looks exactly like you.”
He didn’t want to look at it, but the photograph seemed to draw his eyes in. The child was as beautiful as her mother. He studied her for signs of himself. She had Bliss’ blue eyes and golden hair. Contrary to what Bliss had just said, he saw nothing that branded her as a McClain.
“She’s a cute kid.”
Bliss batted her lashes. “I’m just glad she has your nose and not mine.”
Fletcher picked up the photograph and placed it back on her side of the table.
Bliss set it back in front of him. “You should have at least one picture of your daughter.”
He pointed at the envelope. “That document lays out everything I just proposed. It’s only four pages. I made sure my attorney didn’t include a lot of confusing legal jargon. He wrote it in clear, plain language.”
A flash of anger streaked across Bliss’ face. “Don’t insult me. I may not be a law school graduate like your little chocolate mocha, but I don’t need plain language.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I only wanted—”
“What you want is for me to act like the bimbo that you think I am. Two-fifty? Fifteen grand a month? You must be kidding.”
Fletcher wiped his palm down his face. Brokering this deal was turning out to be harder than any contract he’d negotiated all year.
“I’m curious, Bliss.” He propped his elbow on the back of his chair. “Just how much child support would be enough for you?”
“My daughter is entitled to a lifestyle consistent with the income of both of her parents. And lucky for Harmony, her father happens to be filthy rich.”
“Go on.”
“I’m very much interested in negotiating an agreement with you, but let’s make it a lump-sum payment. I don’t want to have to wait for your check to arrive in the mail every month.”
He liked the idea of paying Bliss off and never having to think about her again.
“And just how much of a lump sum are we talking about?”
“After reading that Forbes article, my attorney says you probably make at least ten-million dollars a year, and I’m entitled to ten perc
ent to care for your daughter. That would be approximately eighty-three grand a month. But if you’re willing to give me a lump sum payment, I’ll give you a big discount and accept forty thousand dollars a month. I already did the math. Over eighteen years, that would be eight-point-six million and change. That’s what I want. Eight-point-six million dollars.”
Fletcher felt a rush of heat inflame his chest. He’d been proud of that Forbes article and the fact that it let the world know just how much of a baller he was. Now, he viewed it as a curse.
“Pay me a measly eight-point-six million,” Bliss repeated, “and your daughter and I will be out of your life for good.”
Fletcher had a habit of smiling when he was actually seething inside. It worked great during deals and it benefited him now in this crowded restaurant.
“I need you to hear me and hear me clearly.”
Fletcher placed both forearms flat on the table and leaned forward until the tip of his nose almost touched hers.
“If that kid is mine, I’m going to accept my legal obligations and do right by both of you. But if you insist on being a greedy cunt about this, your precious little daughter could very well end up motherless.”
Bliss’ smile was twice as big as his. “So you’re threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat at all.” He could feel her warm breath on his face. “It’s a promise.”
CHAPTER 20
When I see Girlie Cortez’s name appear on the display of my desk phone, I know it’s going to be a bad day. I wait until after the third ring before picking up.
“Hello, this is—”
She doesn’t allow me to get my greeting out.
“I don’t know what kind of game you and your rich client are playing, but I’m not having it.” Her tone is all attitude.
I massage my eyes with my thumb and forefinger. “Good morning to you too. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
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