Deception (Tamia Luke) (12 page)

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Authors: Naomi Chase

BOOK: Deception (Tamia Luke)
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Cutting her eyes away from Fiona, Leah scowled at Dre. “You and your business partners really need to be more selective in your hiring decisions.”
“I know. I’m working on it.” Shooting one last glare at Fiona, Dre hustled Leah out the doors.
Seething with fury and resentment, Fiona finished straightening her area, then closed up the shop and bounced.
Dre’s parting comment had her feeling some type of way.
I’m working on it
, he’d said, implying that he was still trying to get Fiona fired.
“Motherfucker!”
she screeched, banging her fist on the steering wheel of her candy-apple red Nissan Murano.
Although Brandon and Beau stood behind their decision to give her a job, Fiona knew their feelings could change at any time. If Dre kept complaining about her and hounding them to get rid of her, the two brothers might eventually decide that Fiona wasn’t worth the aggravation.
Then all of her carefully laid plans would be ruined.
She couldn’t allow that to happen.
She wouldn’t.
One way or another, Dre was going to back the hell off.
She’d make damn sure of it.
Chapter 12
Tamia
When Tamia sat down at her laptop to check her bank balance late Friday morning, she was surprised to discover that her final payment to Chernoff, Dewitt & Strathmore still hadn’t been deducted from her account.
Puzzled, she picked up her cell phone and called Brandon, secretly welcoming an excuse to contact him. Because she hadn’t spoken to him since Sunday, she’d spent the entire week worrying that Shanell’s ploy to make him jealous had backfired. If Brandon wound up proposing to Cynthia because he mistakenly believed that Tamia had moved on, she’d never forgive Shanell.
After letting the phone ring five times, Tamia was about to hang up and try again later when Brandon answered. “Hello?”
“Hey,” Tamia greeted him warmly.
“Tamia?”
“Yeah. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what I sound like.”
Brandon chuckled softly. “Of course not. I didn’t recognize the number.”
“Oh, that’s right. I meant to tell you that I got my number changed this week.”
“Everything okay?”
“Not really. I got a few calls from reporters who wanted to interview me about the trial, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer. I also got a crank call on Saturday night, and it creeped me out a little.”
“What’d the caller say?”
“Nothing. All I heard was breathing, then the person hung up.”
Brandon was silent, contemplating her words.
“It was probably just a wrong number,” Tamia added, though she wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Probably,” Brandon agreed. “But if you get another call like that, let me know. All right?”
“All right.” Tamia smiled, enjoying his overprotectiveness. “Anyway, the reason I was calling—”
“Hold on, Tamia.” His voice grew muffled as he spoke to someone in the background.
Tamia waited, glancing around the spacious study that was as tastefully furnished as the rest of the apartment. She still couldn’t believe that this was her new home. She kept waiting for someone to knock on the front door and tell her this had all been a huge mistake. When she passed the front desk attendant on her way back from running errands every day, she half-expected to be stopped and escorted off the premises.
After a few minutes, Brandon came back on the line. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. I know how busy you are, so I won’t hold you up. I just wanted to call and find out why my final payment hasn’t gone through yet.” She grinned. “If y’all wait too long, I’ma mess around and spend that money.”
Brandon laughed. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.” “About what? My retainer?”
“Yeah. Have you had lunch?”
“Me?”
“No. Your doorman.” He chuckled. “Of course I meant you. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you, so I thought we could meet for lunch. That is, if you’re free.”
“I’m free,” she said quickly, not caring how eager she sounded. She wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to spend time with Brandon.
“Good. Where would you like to go?”
“I don’t know.” Struck by a sudden inspiration, Tamia casually suggested, “Actually, would you mind coming over here for lunch? I went grocery shopping, so I can whip up something for us to eat.” When Brandon hesitated, she hastened to add, “I’ve been eating out at restaurants all week, so I kinda need a break.”
“I know the feeling,” Brandon said ruefully. “I take clients to lunch so often that I practically live in restaurants. But I don’t want you to go to the trouble of making lunch, so I’ll pick up something on my way there. Got any requests?”
Tamia grinned. “Now that I’ve satisfied my seafood craving, can you guess what else I’ve been feenin’ for?”
Brandon chuckled. “I think I’ve got a pretty good idea. See you soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Tamia disconnected the call, then let out a squeal of excitement. Unable to contain herself, she sent off a quick text message to Shanell:
My boo’s coming over for lunch!
By the time she got up and rushed to her bedroom to get dressed, Shanell had called.
“See?” her friend gloated. “And you were worried that you’d pushed Brandon away by going out with another guy. I
told
you that brotha was jealous!”
Tamia grinned, shimmying out of the spandex halter and shorts she’d donned that morning to head downstairs to the fitness center—a trip she’d never made. “He said he wants to discuss something with me.”
“Really? What?”
“I’m not sure. Something about my retainer.”
“Your retainer?” Shanell sounded puzzled.
“That’s what he said. I guess I’ll find out when he gets here. Anyway,” Tamia said, hurrying over to her walk-in closet, “I was so excited that I just had to let you know.”
“Are you gonna fix him lunch?”
“No, he offered to pick up something.”
“Then I guess you can provide dessert.” Shanell chuckled lasciviously. “Nothing like some love in the afternoon.”
Tamia laughed. “Only if I’m lucky. Holla at ya later, girl.”
“You’d better. I’m gonna want details.”
Grinning, Tamia snapped her phone shut and set it down on a silk footstool. After surveying the rows of clothes that lined the large closet, she grabbed a fitted pink T-shirt and a dark pair of True Religion skinny jeans that molded her voluptuous curves. She’d been dressed similarly the first time she and Brandon met, and he hadn’t been able to resist her. With any luck, she’d get the same results today.
By the time she’d put on some makeup, flat-ironed her hair, and lightly spritzed herself with Jo Malone’s pomegranate noir, the doorbell rang.
Anticipation quickened her pulse.
It was all she could do to walk, not run, to the front door.
The sight of Brandon’s sexy chocolateness had her pussy throbbing instantly. She watched as he slowly looked her up and down, his dark eyes glittering with blatant appreciation.
“Hey,” he murmured.
Tamia smiled. “Hey, yourself.” She leaned up and hugged him, enticing him with the scent of her sweet perfume and the lushness of her breasts. She pulled away in time to see him inhale a shaky breath and close his eyes for a moment, as if he were fighting for self-control.
She felt a thrill of satisfaction. She wanted nothing more than to take him by the hand and lead him to her bedroom, where she’d spend the rest of the day and night showing him just how much she’d missed him.
Patience, girlfriend. Don’t rush this, or you’ll scare him off.
When Tamia glanced down and saw that Brandon was holding a carryout bag from their favorite barbecue joint, she exclaimed delightedly, “You remembered!”
He smiled lazily. “Why are you surprised? Haven’t we already established that I remember everything?”
Tamia laughed, taking the bag from his hand and closing the door as he entered the apartment. She led him down the long entryway to the living room, saying over her shoulder, “Welcome to my not-so-humble abode.”
Brandon glanced around, nodding approvingly. “Very nice.”
“That has to be the understatement of the year,” Tamia teased.
He chuckled, following her into the kitchen. “I’m glad you’re still enjoying the place.”
“What’s not to enjoy? The gourmet grocery store? The swimming pool with a waterfall? The concierge and valet services?”
Brandon grinned, removing his suit jacket and rolling up his sleeves. “Point taken.”
Tamia retrieved two plates from the cabinet and began opening the carryout containers. “Mmm,” she breathed, savoring the mouth-watering aroma of barbecue ribs, brisket, pinto beans, and creamed corn. “You knew
exactly
what I wanted.”
“Of course.” Brandon met her gaze across the breakfast counter. “That hasn’t changed.”
Tamia smiled at him. “I hope it never does.”
They stared at each other until Brandon’s cell phone suddenly rang. Tamia watched as he pulled it from his pants pocket and glanced down at the caller ID. Although his expression didn’t change, Tamia instinctively knew the call was from Cynthia.
“Do you want some privacy?”
“Nah,” he murmured, turning off the phone before tucking it away. “I’m good.”
Shanell’s words ran through Tamia’s mind.
Men don’t like desperate, clingy women—which Cynthia’s about to learn the hard way.
She hoped Shanell was right.
As Tamia piled food onto two plates, Brandon poured them each a glass of the restaurant’s sweet tea.
“It’s a beautiful day,” Tamia said. “Mind if we eat outside?”
“Not at all,” Brandon agreed.
They carried their meals to the small table on the balcony, where they could enjoy the gorgeous view while they ate.
“So,” Brandon began almost as soon as they were seated, “are you dating that dude now? What was his name again?”
“Gavin?”
“Yeah. Him.”
Tamia smiled, biting into a juicy rib and chewing slowly.
Brandon watched her, waiting. “Well?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say we’re dating,” Tamia answered vaguely.
“You’ve gone out with him twice.”
“With Shanell and Mark.”
“He hasn’t asked you out alone yet?”
Tamia polished off her rib. “He has.”
When she offered no more, Brandon raised a brow at her. “And?” he prompted.
Tamia hesitated, then decided to opt for the truth. “And I told him that I’d rather just be friends for now. He’s a really nice guy, but I’m not ready for another relationship.” She paused. “Honestly, I’m not over you yet, Brandon. And I don’t know when, or
if
, I ever will be. So while it may have been easy for you to move on,
I
need more time.”
Brandon was silent for several moments, pondering her heartfelt words.
As she stared at her plate of food, he said quietly, “It
wasn’t
easy.”
Tamia glanced up, meeting his solemn gaze. “What?”
“It wasn’t easy getting over you. Moving on.”
“But you did,” she countered, unable to keep the hurt and accusation from her voice. “I know I made a terrible mistake, and I betrayed your trust. But I never expected you to fall in love with another woman so quickly. I guess you must have loved her all along.”
Brandon said nothing, neither confirming nor denying what she’d said.
Tamia gave him a small, mirthless smile. “I applaud Cynthia for patiently biding her time, waiting for the right opportunity to make her move. I can’t really say I blame her, because if
I’d
been secretly in love with you for two years, I might have been just as sneaky and manipulative. As they say, all’s fair in love and war.”
Brandon frowned. “Tamia—”
She held up a hand. “It’s okay. I’m not trying to start an argument with you by rehashing the past. In fact, that’s the
last
thing I want to do.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, either,” Brandon murmured.
“So let’s not. Let’s enjoy this delicious barbecue, the beautiful view, and the pleasure of each other’s company. Agreed?”
He smiled faintly. “Agreed.”
“Good.”
A few minutes after they’d resumed eating, Brandon asked conversationally, “How’s the job search going?”
Tamia grimaced. “Not well,” she admitted. “I’ve been looking all week, and it’s slim pickings. I’ve only found a few openings for advertising jobs.”
“Did you submit your résumé?”
“Yeah, but I’m not very optimistic. Image is everything in the world of advertising, and my image isn’t exactly unblemished. Even the headhunter I consulted had some serious concerns about my employability.”
Brandon looked sympathetic. “Don’t get too discouraged. It’s only been a week.”
“I know. That’s what I keep telling myself.” Tamia sighed heavily. “If all else fails, I suppose I could always go work for Lou.”
Brandon frowned, eyes narrowing. “At the escort agency?”
“Yeah. He offered me a job.”
“Doing what?”
Tamia laughed at Brandon’s suspicious tone. “It’s not what you think. He wants me to run the agency and manage his escorts. He said I’d be well compensated.”
“And what’d you tell him?”
“I told him thanks, but no thanks. I’m not interested in working as a madam.”
Brandon nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
Tamia grinned ironically. “Of course, if I get desperate enough, I might change my mind.”
“No, you won’t,” Brandon said with such conviction that Tamia arched a brow at him.

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