After Hours (12 page)

“Even if he lied to me?” she inquired.

“Hey, I don’t need to know that whole story because it’s not any of my business. All I’m saying is that man who just left looked like a man ready to spend the rest of his life with you,” Kay said before walking away.

“I just don’t know,” Jametria muttered, gathering up her stuff off the table. “A part of me wants to forgive Forbes, but the other part of me wants to cut and run.” As she left the signing area and headed toward the back of the building, Jametria wondered what happened to Africa.

****

“How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?” Africa tried, brushing past the man in front of her, but he wasn’t moving. “I think what you and Forbes did to Jametria was horrible.”

“We were only doing our jobs,” Zane stated.

“So, the assignment was to break my best friend’s heart by rushing into her house and then arresting her uncle? Couldn’t it all have been handled in differently?”

“Forbes told us to wait until we saw Jametria leave before we raided her house. He hoped everything would be over before she got back home, but it wasn’t.”

“Are you saying that makes it okay?” Africa demanded.

“I’m saying Jametria shouldn’t hate Forbes because he tried his best to protect her from the truth.”

Africa couldn’t believe the nerve of Zane. He was trying to act like Jametria should forgive Forbes for deceiving her for weeks. Why didn’t men understand that women hated when a relationship started off with a lie?

“You’re unbelievable,” she complained, stepping back. “Jametria isn’t the wrong party here. Forbes needs to leave her alone. I don’t think she’s ever going to forgive him.”

Zane chuckled at her. “Forbes is just as strong willed as Jametria and he’s in love with her. I have known him for over ten years. When he gets his mind set on something, he’s not going to give up. In all of the years he has worked for the Bureau, Forbes never challenged my authority until this case.”

“You really think I believe that? Forbes doesn’t love Jametria.”

Africa gasped when Zane wrapped his hands around her arms and jerked her into his muscular frame. “You’re out of your mind. Forbes loves Jametria and Ms. Abbott, I don’t appreciate you calling me a liar.”

“Let go of my arm,” Africa hissed as her heart sped up at Zane’s closeness.

It was wrong for a man to have eyes as green as his.

“Why? Is it bothering you that I’m this close?” he taunted, pulling her even closer. “I know that you’re attracted to me.”

Fire shot from Africa’s black eyes as she glared at Zane. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I can’t stand you. You’re a hundred times worse than Forbes.”

“Prove it,” he challenged as his eyes dropped down to her mouth then back up to her eyes.

“Prove what?” she asked.

“That you aren’t attracted to me.”

“I don’t have to do anything of the sort. I told you to let go of me.” Africa twisted her body, but it only pressed her more into the hardness of Zane’s chest. “Why can’t you take no for an answer?”

“When I see something that I like I take a page out of Forbes’ book and I keep going after until I win.”

“I’m not a prize to be won,” she snapped, still trying to fight off her attraction to the man holding her.

“Maybe I think you are,” Zane whispered before he kissed her.

The kiss only lasted a second or two but it shook Africa; making her want more, but Zane moved away before she got what she wanted.

Licking his lips, he stared down at her. “I think someone is in deep denial.” Taking a card out of his pocket, he slipped it into her cleavage. “Call me when you’re ready to act of those feelings.” Zane gave her another quick kiss then strolled away.

“I’m never going to call you,” Africa yelled at Zane. She just hoped she would be able to keep her word.

Chapter Nineteen

“How’s the book coming along? Are you almost finished with your latest romance?” a voice interrupted, making her lose her train of thought.

Jametria glanced over at the person standing next to her. She sighed, wondering why she couldn't get a break. She had decided to come to the park today, so she could work without getting bothered and yet here someone was in her personal space.

“Agent Rogets, how may I help you?” she asked, wondering why he was bothering her. The last time the two of them spoke was the day her uncle got arrested at her house.

“May I have a seat?” he asked pointing to the empty park beach.

“If I was to say no would you leave?”

“No, I won’t,” Zane replied.

“Then by all means, have a seat and ruin the rest of my day,” Jametria muttered, waving to the empty spot beside her.

“Thank you.”

“So, to what do I owe this pleasure? Are you coming to arrest one of my friends now and you need my help?” she asked, sarcastically.

“With that sharp tongue of yours, I don’t know why Forbes loves you,” Zane said. “I told him not to get in too deep when it came to you. I knew you would be trouble.”

Jametria wasn’t about to get into an argument with Agent Rogets about Forbes. If he came here for that reason then he was in for a huge surprise. “Why are you here?”

“Why do you think I’m here?” he countered.

“I think Forbes sent you here. He wants me to forgive him and he’s pulling out all the stops. What can you tell me that I haven’t already heard?” she asked. “I’m through with Agent Huntington and it’s best you tell him that.”

“I don’t believe you.” His green eyes stared straight into hers like he was daring her to argue with him.

“Why not?” Jametria questioned.

“Because if you hated him, you would never have let me sit down,” Zane replied. “Ms. Collins, you need to listen to me very closely. Forbes loves you. In all of the years I’ve known him, you are the only woman he told his real name to while working undercover. He’s about to go on another assignment. I think you should talk to him before he leaves because if he’s off his game, it could get him killed.”

Jametria shoved her computer back into the bag and stood up. “I’m sorry Agent Rogets, but I can’t help you. Agent Huntington isn’t a part of my life anymore. I know what my Uncle Wayne did was wrong, but Forbes didn’t have to use me as bait to get him. I can’t get over that.”

Zane got up from the bench and slid his hands into the front pockets of his suit. “You need to forgive him or you’re going to miss out having an amazing man in your life.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, it isn’t going to happen.”

“Ms. Collins, I really wish there was something I could say that would make you change your mind. Haven’t you ever done anything before that you regretted later?”

“Yes, I allowed myself to fall in love with Forbes Huntington before I knew what kind of man that he really was,” she snapped. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find a new place to work. It’s gotten a little crowded here.”

Jametria walked away from Zane trying her best not to ask about Forbes and where he would be going on his next assignment. She didn’t want to care about him, but she couldn’t fight her emotions. As much as she wanted to deny it, Forbes meant a lot more to her than she wanted to admit to anyone.

I have to clear my head. I can’t stay here with everyone talking about Forbes at every turn.
She didn’t know where she was going to go, just that she had to get away from here for a week or two and figure out how to move on without Forbes.

****

“You can’t run away from your problems,” Africa complained, watching Jametria as she packed her bags for her trip. “Didn’t Forbes tell you that he was leaving soon, so why do you need to leave too?”

“There are too many distractions here for me,” Jametria said, shoving clothes inside her suitcase. “I want some peace and quiet. Why aren’t you on my side?”

“I am on your side. Aren’t I allowing you to use my penthouse to stay in while you think things through?”

“You’re letting me use your penthouse because you abandoned me at the book signing for Zane. I still can’t believe you let him kiss you. God, that guy is such an asshole.”

“I don’t think Zane is all that bad,” Africa disagreed, handing Jametria a make-up bag. “He was only trying to help get you and Forbes back together.”

Pressing the make-up bag against her chest, she stared at her friend. Africa hadn’t been the same since Forbes and Zane came into their lives. Was Africa hiding something from her? Did her friend have feelings for Zane?

“You like him, don’t you?” she asked, waiting for a reaction.

Africa brushed an imaginary piece of lint off her sleeve. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Agent Rogets and I don’t have anything going on. I’ve spoken with him a couple of times and that’s it.”

“Deny it all you want to Africa, but I know you and you feel something for Zane,” Jametria laughed, tossing her case into the suitcase. “I can’t believe it. I’m having problems with Forbes and you’re falling for his boss. Can my life get any worse?”

“Come on, are you still really mad at Forbes for arresting Wayne, or are you upset by the fact your uncle was a criminal and you never knew it?” Africa demanded “It has to be one or the other and I’m leaning more towards the latter.”

She hated when Africa pushed her into a corner like this. Damn it! She wasn’t ready to figure out which situation distressed her more. “I don’t know. That’s another reason why I have to leave for a while. I need to sort things out.”

“Are you going to see Forbes before you go?”

Slamming her suitcase shut, Jametria dragged it off the bed and set it by her bedroom door. A part of her did want to sneak away without laying eyes on Forbes, while another part of her wanted to see him before she left town.

“I’m torn,” she muttered, falling down into a chair. “I have
so
much going on in my head right now. I don’t have a single space for anything else.”

“Listen, go on this trip and figure out what you need to do. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Let me deal with work,” Africa told her.

“Are you sure?” Jametria asked, then stood up and looked around the room, making sure that she had everything she needed for her trip.

“I’m positive. Now grab that suitcase and get out of here. I’ll lock the place up and check on it while you’re gone.”

“Are you sure that I can trust you?” she asked, going over to her suitcase by the door. Picking it up, she looked back over at Africa. “Don’t throw any wild parties while I’m gone or have sex in my bed.”

“I promise that I won’t have sex in your bed.” Africa grinned.

“What about the other one?”

“I don’t know…I love a
good
party.”

“Stop joking around and walk me to my front door.” Jametria sighed, leaving her bedroom.

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll walk your crazy ass to your car,” Africa laughed, following her out the door.

Outside in her driveway Jametria paused in front of her car and against her will, thoughts of Forbes entered her mind but she pushed them away. Getting in, she slammed the door closed.

Leaning out the window, Jametria looked at Africa. “Thanks again for letting me use your place. I think this is just what I need to get back on track.”

“I know you needed this. I’m hoping when you come back that your mind should be much clearer.”

“I hope you’re right,” Jametria said, and started up the car. “I’ll call you when I get to the penthouse, and stay out of trouble.”

Ebony eyes grew wide as a smile tipped the corners of Africa’s pouty lips. “I promise that I won’t do anything that will make you ashamed of me.”

“Lord…I’m scared to even know what your mind is thinking,” Jametria muttered as she pulled out of her driveway and headed for the airport.

****

“Ma’am, I’m sorry about the delay, but I can’t do anything about it. There are two other planes experiencing the same thing. You’ll just have to wait until the plane is ready to take off,” the woman told her behind the counter.

“Do you know how long the wait will be?” Jametria inquired. This is why she hated flying.

“No, I don’t but I’m sure you won’t be here that long.” The words were said with a practiced smile.

“Thank you.” Moving away from the counter Jametria walked around the airport until she found a seat over near a corner where she could be alone. She didn’t feel like making chit chat with the other stranded passengers.

Settling into her seat, she dropped her head into her hands and slowly counted to ten, praying she wouldn’t have to be here for long. Why didn’t she just make a road trip out of it and drive instead? There was no way this day could get any worse for her.

“Hello, Jametria,” a rich voice whispered in front of her, sending her body on full alert.

No, it couldn’t be.

Lifting her head, Jametria locked eyes with the gray-eyed devil that she was trying
so
hard to forget. What in the world was he doing here? Had Africa sent him after her? Why was she so excited to see him?

No…she wasn’t supposed to be feeling like this. Forbes had hurt her… God, why did he smell so good? Was it because she hadn’t seen him in almost two weeks?

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question,” he tossed back, falling into the seat next to her.

“Did Africa send you here after me? I told her to stay out of my personal life.”

Jametria leaned back in her seat and stared at Forbes. He honestly was one of the best looking men she had ever laid eyes on. Today he was wearing a black dress shirt opened at the throat with matching slacks and his hair was brushed back off his forehead. The five o’clock shadow she loved so much was still there, teasing her to touch it.

“I haven’t spoken to Africa in a while,” Forbes replied, staring back at her.

“Okay…you aren’t answering my questions.” She sighed, frustrated. “Anyway, I don’t why I’m wasting my time talking to you.” She jumped up from her seat only to have Forbes pull her right back down.