All I Want Is You (Kimani Romance) (14 page)

F
ew things surprised Nikki Dupree. As an interior designer, she’d once worked for a professional, artsy couple who wanted to design everything around the color of their shih tzu and another client who didn’t want anything with a square shape. But that evening when she opened her front door and saw her sister standing on the doorstep, she was gripped in shock.

“Nikki, I need to talk to you.”

Nikki still didn’t move. It had been nearly two years since she’d seen or heard from her sister. She had always regretted how she’d let Delong put a strain in their relationship. He’d wanted it that way. He liked to keep Monica for himself, but he was gone now and they had a second chance.

“Nikki?” Monica said, giving her a little shake.

Nikki shook her head and opened the door wider. “Sorry. Come in. I’m just so— Where have you been?”

“A lot of places, but I can’t tell you about it right now. I need your help.”

“My help?” Nikki said, once again stunned. Her sister rarely needed anything and especially not from her. Monica’s life had been full of ease and privilege, but she’d never given her sister a reason to envy her. It was just how night followed day. Her sister was always generous and kind and gave to the family, but their lives were vastly different. Nikki had worked her way up to the position of international interior designer after starting out as a clerk in an exclusive furniture store several years earlier, but the challenge had been worth it.

She led Monica into the kitchen, noticing how uneasy she seemed. She quickly poured her some grape juice and led her to a seat. “I’m happy you came to see me.”

Monica began to relax and took the glass from her. “I didn’t mean to stay away.”

Nikki sat down in front of her. “Then why did you?”

“It’s a long story.”

Nikki shrugged and tucked one leg under her, getting comfortable. “I’ve got all night.”

Monica hesitated. “You may not believe me.”

“I’ll always believe you. Besides, this is a night of surprises. So go ahead and tell me.”

Monica told her sister about her dinner with Anton, how she’d ended up on his compound and how she had escaped. She shared how she’d changed her identity and lived as Monica Dulane for over a year. She was careful not to mention anything about JD. Nikki stared at her, dumbfounded.

“You do believe me, don’t you? I know it sounds crazy, but—”

“Of course I believe you. I just don’t know what to say.” She tapped the table. “I do know one thing. Anton needs to be taken out.” She bit her lip. “I think I could find someone who would—”

Monica waved her hands. “No, I don’t need you to find a hit man for me.”

“It won’t be any trouble and it won’t cost that much.”

“Nikki, that’s too much of a risk.”

“There are subtle ways to do it. I had a client whose ex-husband was making her life miserable. Her brother took care of it and he never bothered her again.” She tapped her chin, pensive. “What was his name again?”

“I have my own plans for Anton.”

“Plans? How can you have any plans? The guy is a lunatic. Anything you think you can do will be risky. Are you sure it was him who found you again?”

“Yes. He sent someone to Georgia to find me. I even met him.”

Nikki’s mouth fell open. “You talked to him?”

“Yes, I wanted him to know that I was on to them. I had to redirect their attention from the town to keep certain people who are important to me safe. That’s why I’m here.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Anton’s coming to New York because I sent him a message through the guy he had trail me that I’ll be here. He won’t be able to resist the challenge, but I can’t meet him alone. I need to be seen so that people will start talking about Venus’s return and draw him out. I
need to know of any high-profile or high-society charity events or parties I can attend.”

“There’s a small, intimate gathering this weekend for the visiting Nigerian ambassador, the current recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He’s being honored for his unfailing dedication to making the voice of the poor worldwide heard. I think he’s some kind of literary genius.”

Monica shook her head. “Too humanitarian. Anton wouldn’t show up.”

Nikki told her of five other events, and Monica chose two of them.

“Do you think you can get me in?”

“Have you forgotten that you’re Venus? It won’t be a problem. I know the organizers for both events and I’ll have no problem getting you invited as a VIP. All I have to do is say Venus is in town. What else do you need?”

“I need you to come with me to my house. I have some clothes there and need to set up some things, but I don’t want to be alone.”

The house was just as she’d remembered. A looming, palatial mansion with numerous windows accented with gargoyles, like a gothic castle. It had been one of Delong’s favorite locations when he was in the U.S. Monica passed by the front gate with ease, the guard staring at her as if she were a ghost. Her housekeeper fared no better. When Monica opened the front door, her housekeeper, Deidra LaSalle, screamed so loud that Monica feared the glass mirror in the hall would shatter.

“It’s all right, Deidra, it’s only me,” Monica said while Nikki covered her ears.

“You’re back!”

“Yes.”

She gripped Monica in a fierce hug. Although Deidra was a small, stocky woman, she had the strength of two men.

“Deidra, I can’t breathe,” Monica said, imagining her ribs breaking from the smaller woman’s exuberance.

Deidra released her and patted her face. She was a recent immigrant from Haiti and had been in the U.S. for only a short period, but she’d created a special bond with Monica the moment she met her.

“We didn’t think you’d come back. But I know how much you loved your husband and you needed the time and space to grieve, so—”

“Yes,” Monica interrupted, not wanting to talk about Delong. “I can’t take time right now to explain. I just stopped by to get a few things.”

“Everything is as you left it.” Yes, she knew that Delong had everything set up so that things would run just as before after his death. She was well provided for.

“Thank you,” Monica said as she headed to the stairs. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

“I’ll let the chef know that you’re here, and should I get Howard?”

He was the chauffer. “No, thank you, but dinner would be nice. Say around eight?”

“Yes, Mrs. Price,” Deidra said then rushed away.

Nikki looked around at the arch stairway and extravagant drapery. “This must be an expensive place to keep up.”

“I can afford it.”

“You don’t have to keep it as a monument to him.”

Monica walked into her master bedroom. “I don’t plan to.”

“Then what will you do?” Nikki asked as she stepped into Monica’s grand bedroom with its white plush carpeting and a sculpture of a goddess in the corner. “You’ll have to change everything,” Nikki said, looking around the room with a slight frown. “You can’t live here again, Monica. It’s a museum. However, if you let me—”

Monica opened the doorway of her walk-in closet. “Not now, Nikki.”

Her sister sighed and let the subject drop. “What was living in that farmhouse like?”

“Wonderful,” Monica said with a smile of remembrance.

“How did you spend all those months alone there?”

I wasn’t alone,
Monica wanted to say, but she couldn’t think of JD right now. “I kept busy working on jewelry designs.” She stepped farther inside and pushed a button which rotated her clothing and brought specific items to the forefront.

Nikki followed with awe, staring at the rows of shoes, accessories and designer clothing. “I could fit my apartment in your closet.”

“Just help me choose something,” Monica said. She had to focus. She was in no mood to humor her sister.

“What do you want to wear?”

“Something striking.”

After nearly an hour they finally selected the perfect outfit for the late-summer weather then went down
stairs and enjoyed vegetable marsala and roasted potatoes out on the patio.

Nikki set down her glass of wine. “Tell me what you’re going to do.”

“The less you know the better.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me, too.”

Nikki raised her glass. “To taking risks.”

Monica raised hers as well. “To love.”

Nikki began to smile. “I wondered about that. There’s something different about you. Are you in love?”

“Yes.”

“And you can’t go to him?”

“No.” Monica sighed. “At least not yet.”

“I hope he’s worth your secrecy.”

“He is.”

The next three nights were a whirlwind of activities. The cameras couldn’t get enough of Venus. She decided to attend three parties in two nights and let them flash away. When a reporter asked her about her long absence, Monica told them a convincing story about grieving over her husband’s death and left it at that. But Monica knew one party where she had to make an impression: Lavinia Walker’s candlelight soiree. She knew that Anton was an acquaintance of hers and she wanted to make an entrance, so she and her sister dressed to impress.

Nikki wore a glittering-silver floor-length dress with a thigh-high slit while Monica selected a sweeping gown made out of embroidered damask, with flow
ing sleeves and built-in strapless push-up bra, which afforded a clear view of her cleavage. Both women sported elegantly designed twenty-four karat gold jewelry. While Nikki selected a pair of transparent three-inch-high heels, Monica decided on a pair of two-inch strapless black patent leather heels and a pair of off-black patterned silk stockings.

Fortunately, it was a small, private affair with only fifty guests, so Monica didn’t have to deal with the media and lots of absurd questions. She knew most of the guests and they were cordial. Their curiosity was evident, but they were too well mannered to pressure her to explain more than she offered.

No one wanted to upset her and they kept their distance.

“Do you see him?” Nikki asked, searching the crowd.

“No, but he’ll show up. Eventually.”

This was how she’d first met Anton years ago. Delong had been hosting a party after a successful gallery opening and Anton had attended. She remembered that his handshake was a bit too soft, his eyes too hard. She knew she would be able to sense he was in the room, just like any prey who understood the nature of a predator.

“There you are, Venus,” Lavinia said, coming up to the two women. “I still can’t believe my eyes. I’m so glad you’re here.”

Monica stifled a groan. Lavinia had told her that twenty times before. “I was so worried that this evening wouldn’t be a success. I know that my parties are always a success, but you can still worry, you know,
because anything can go wrong and I would hate for anything to go wrong even though I’ve given everyone strict instructions. But the fact that you’re here, here in my house—I’m sure that if the rug caught fire no one would notice.”

“Thank you for the invitation. I’m glad to be here. I thought it was time to see my old friends again.”

“Of course! Think of us like family. I’m too young to be your mother, of course, but think of me like an aunt. I’m here for you.” She looked at Nikki. “And you, too. The work you did on the Hampshire estate was divine. Absolutely divine. I want to talk to you about having my guest room redesigned.”

Nikki opened her mouth to reply but Lavinia continued. “Speaking of guests, you’re not the only surprise I was to have. My husband got one of his friends to come, and although I’ve invited him for years, he’s only shown up now. And he’s especially interested in meeting you.” She motioned to someone to come over.

Monica resisted rolling her eyes. Someone was always interested in meeting her. “Really?” she said with forced interest. “Who?”

“JD Rozan.”

Monica stiffened in shock. “He’s here?”

“Funny, he had the same stunned expression when I told him about you.” She clapped her hands together in delight. “Ah, there he is. Oh drats, my husband wants to talk to me. Excuse me.” She hurried away, showing her obvious irritation at her husband’s poor timing.

JD approached just as Lavinia was making her exit, giving Monica no means of escape.
Oh, God, he was here. What was he doing here?
She never thought he’d
attend parties like this, but then again, she didn’t know what his other life was like away from her. She didn’t know who his friends were. What he did in his spare time. She didn’t even know where he worked. Had he brought a date with him just for the sake of appearance?

He smiled and stretched out his hand. “Hello, I’m JD Rozan.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Monica replied, struggling to keep her voice neutral. It was the first time she’d seen him without the shield of her tinted lens. She didn’t know his brown eyes were so clear, his skin like burnished velvet. As he cast his eye over her with masculine appreciation, a part of her was thrilled and another part shriveled up. Would he recognize anything about her?

“This is my sister, Nikki.”

JD redirected his attention to her. “Nikki Dupree, right?”

“Yes,” her sister said, surprised that he’d recognized her.

“Lavinia was telling me about the work you’ve done on the Hampshire estate and I’d really like to talk to you about a job. I have a farmhouse in Georgia I’d like to make some minor changes to.”

“A farmhouse?” Nikki said, sending Monica a curious look.

“Yes, I—”

“Lavinia said you wanted to see me,” Monica cut in.

“Yes, sorry,” JD said with a sheepish grin. “I don’t want to take up your time.” He released a long breath. “Wow. You’re more beautiful in person than I imagined.”

Monica held back a sigh. She’d hoped he would have been more creative than that. “Thank you.” Soon he’d be complimenting her on her eyes and hair.

“But something’s missing.”

She blinked. “What?”

He pulled out a velvet attaché and held up a necklace. “I think this would be perfect.”

Nikki gasped. “That looks just like—”

“It’s lovely,” Monica interrupted. She knew her sister recognized the pattern Monica had mimicked from their great-great-grandmother.