Following Love (13 page)

“My suggestion, lobster salad, it's to die for,” Jessica said, adding another large spoonful to her plate.

When Jessica walked away Dena added a small scoop of salad and other edible creations to her plate. She followed Jessica and Wanda down the rest of the buffet line and then back to the far side of the conference room and sat down.

A few minutes later Julian and Jordan walked in. They went directly to Willamina then made a point of stopping to talk with everyone there. Dena laughed and joked with Jordan as Julian listened to Jessica talk about her recent vacation to Jamaica. Darius entered a few minutes later carrying a large box and placed it on the gift table then began his greetings.

Julian took the opportunity to glance over to Dena. She looked up in time to see his smile. In veiled silence they connected and the memory of moments earlier swept through them. The innocent interaction, unnoticed by the rousing gaiety around them, brought a lifted brow to Jordan.

After another twenty minutes of socializing with employees, Kenneth entered the room and caught Julian's eye, he motioned his attention. They left the room, Darius and Jordan followed just as attention was turned to Willamina as she began opening her gifts.

One of the women nearest her wrote down what everyone said for a party game later and another wrote down the gifts and givers. Just when Willamina picked up another gift the door opened and a woman entered. All eyes turned. A hushed silence settled then just as suddenly everything went back to normal as Willamina opened a gift bag and held up a yellow-and-green-knit baby jumper with attached hood and booties.

Although the room returned to its former joviality, eyes still glanced at the woman standing by the door looking around.

Glamorous and refined, she looked like she'd just stepped off a Parisian runway. Obviously not an employee or client; several people began whispering among themselves, including those sitting with Dena.

“Wow, who is that?” Jessica whispered into the general group of women around her.

“Oh, my goodness, I can't believe she has the nerve to show her face after what she did,” Wanda hissed.

“You know her?” Jessica asked quickly. “Who is she? What did she do?”

Her name is Stephanie. She's the former Mrs. Julian Hamilton,” Wanda answered.

“Get out,” Jessica said.

Wanda nodded. “It's true.”

Dena was suddenly very interested as a large gulp of air caught in her throat making breathing difficult. To cover her surprise she took a large swallow of punch and let it slowly drift down her throat. Thankfully it eased and she didn't choke out loud, drawing interest. She turned her attention back to the mutterings around her.

“I didn't know Julian was married,” Jessica said.

Dena, for once, was pleased that Jessica was so boldly open and didn't mind saying exactly what she thought and asking questions.

“That was years ago, many, many years ago,” Wanda continued. “I guess it's been about five years now, just after James Hamilton died and about a month after I got here.”

“Who's James Hamilton?” Jessica asked. “Another brother? I never heard of him.”

“No,” Wanda said. “You know who James Hamilton is, he's their father.”

“Oh, that's right. I completely forgot, my bad.”

“So is she back now?” Dena said, trying to get the conversation back on track to the woman still standing at the door.

“Um-hum, apparently, and heaven help us.” Wanda groaned, still staring across the room at Stephanie who had begun speaking to a few people closest to her.

“Probably wants something. She looks like the type that always wants something.” Other women began talking, whispering openly beside Wanda.

“I remember when she came around a few years back. The place was in a ruckus for two weeks. She's a piece of work. She's trouble, you can bet on that.” Wanda continued watching her walk around the room obviously looking for someone.

“She has a way of…” another woman began then stopped as she walked by. The sudden silence had to be telling yet the woman angled her firm chin upward and kept going.

“She ain't all that,” Jessica quickly surmised after seeing her up close.

“I don't know what he saw in her,” Wanda said.

“Sex,” Jessica answered. “What do they all see in her? Look at these men in here, their tongues are hanging out and their eyes are bulging out along with their…”

“Ooh, stop it, girl, but you ain't lying,” Wanda said, laughing along with several other women as the conversation quickly changed to the battle of the sexes.

Dena smiled cordially at Jessica's remark but afterward sat silent just as she always did at the Graham Manor when there was an interesting buzz. The woman, still strolling around the crowded room, reminded her too much of a younger version of Adel, and that gave her a sudden chill. Adel always got exactly what she wanted, no matter what it was. And if Stephanie wanted Julian back, chances were she'd have him.

Suddenly thoughts of earlier in his office sent a quick burn through her body. It was obvious his celibacy was waning and the attraction she felt for him was mutual. But competing for Julian was out of the question. She'd done that before. Using every trick she knew and then some, she'd still lost Forester in the end.

But this wasn't about love or marriage or trust. This was about a physical action that they both wanted. So why was she hesitating?

 

Stephanie Hall Hamilton Gray was no fool. She knew she needed to do a damn good job to convince Julian that she'd changed and that she wanted him back. The truth was she did want him back, or rather, she needed him back. Her life was falling apart and the man she'd thought would be there with her forever had just walked out.

He'd turned his back on her and their child and refused to pay child support just because of one tiny indiscretion. So the only thing left to do was to come here to Julian. He'd loved her at one time and there was no reason why he couldn't love her again. They'd had problems but nothing they couldn't work out. She was even willing to live here.

Luckily for her she'd kept an eye on his life. He'd given up his position as a doctor to go into business with his brothers and in the process he'd made at least triple the money and gained ten times the recognition. The Hamilton Development Corporation was huge and it was everywhere. Being his wife again would be well worth it. All she had to do was to convince him that she'd made a terrible mistake and that she still loved him.

That's why she needed to do as she did. He needed to see her. A phone conversation just wouldn't work. She'd purchased a special outfit for the occasion. It was his favorite color on her, tight but not too tight, short, but stylish, accented with the perfect accessories: diamonds.

Instead of calling, she'd walked into the office and found herself in the middle of an office party, a baby shower. Dressed in a stylish wrap dress that accentuated her slim form and her well-endowed bosom, she drew every eye in the room as soon as she arrived. The men stared, of course, she had it going on, and the women, mostly homely and plain, were green with envy. If this was her competition she'd have no problem. Smiling happily, she could already feel herself back in Julian's life.

“Excuse me,” she said to a man who'd been mentally wrapping his tongue around her body. “I'm looking for Julian Hamilton.”

“He's not here,” he said.

“Yes, I realize that,” she said, then mentally called him a moron and an idiot.

“Uh-huh.” He paused, looked down at her cleavage.

“Do you know where he is?”

“Uh, no,” he said.

“Do you know where I can find his office?”

“Uh, no,” he repeated, then looked around the room spotting several people staring at him. He smiled proudly, having been chosen. “But I'm here, maybe we can…”

“Thanks. Down, boy. I'll find him myself,” Stephanie said, her smile restraining the impulse to rattle his brains or lack thereof. She walked away knowing of course that he'd be eyeing her tight ass. Not particularly impressed by the employee's social skills, she decided to step outside and call Julian on the cell phone. He answered on the third ring. “Hi, Julian, I'm here.” Hearing his hesitation, she frowned. “Is there a problem?”

“I'll meet you out front.”

“Actually, I'm in the building. I'm at the office party.”

“I'll be right there.”

A few minutes later Julian arrived. Stephanie watched him as he walked toward her. He was even more attractive than she remembered. As he approached, she raised her arms to caress him, he backed away. “This way,” he said, turning.

They walked to his office. Stephanie smiled. This was perfect. His office was just the place to seduce him into taking her back.

Inside Stephanie was stunned to see Kenneth waiting for them. “Hello, Mrs. Gray,” Kenneth said, holding a folder of papers and smiling.

“Nice to see you again, Mr. Fields,” she said, then turned to Julian. “An attorney is not necessary. What we have to talk about is between us.”

“On the contrary,” Kenneth said as Julian walked over and sat at his desk. “I've informed your attorney of your arrival.”

“Good afternoon, Stephanie,” the bodiless voice announced into the room. Stephanie looked around then glared at Julian as he motioned to the speakerphone on his desk.

“This doesn't concern you,” she said simply to the room, directing her eyes toward the machine.

“Actually it does,” Kenneth said, unfolding and holding up the papers for her to see.

“What's this?” she asked.

“It's a copy of the signed divorce decree with the approved amendment and attachment forbidding any additional contact or encroachment from either party,” her attorney said through the speaker.

“I believe when you arranged this meeting, Mr. Hamilton asked you to wait outside off the property,” Kenneth added.

“Yes, so what?”

“It is in the divorce decree, you can't have anything to do with Mr. Hamilton, Hamilton Development Corporation or any person so stated. In other words, Stephanie, your being here on the property is in violation of the decree.”

“Julian…”

“Please direct all comments to me,” Kenneth said as Julian looked on silently.

“So this is how it is? You gonna do me like this?”

“This is a court order requesting that you, Mrs. Stephanie Gray, refrain from contacting my client in person or through any electronic device or written media.” Kenneth held another copy of the papers out to her. “Your attorney also has a copy.”

“What about…?”

“I contacted a firm in Boston, it appears that a legal injunction was filed after Jamison Gray filed divorce proceedings. He, according to documentation you supplied, is the legal biological father of your child, which has subsequently been confirmed by DNA testing. He is solely responsible now for the welfare of your child. I suggest you contact his attorneys.”

“Julian…”

“Please direct all comments to me,” Kenneth repeated.

She ignored him and rushed over to the desk, leaning down, tipping her chest forward. “Julian, I flew all the way here to tell you that I still love you, that nothing will change that. We can be together again like it was before. We don't need these suits to come between us.”

“Please direct all comments to me,” Kenneth said again.

“Julian…” Stephanie said, then smiled, seeing a reaction in his eyes.

Julian stood and walked around to shake Kenneth's hand. They nodded and he walked out, leaving Stephanie with the lawyers.

Stephanie shook her head, astonished. She obviously needed a new plan.

 

Dena watched as Julian led the woman down the hall to his office. The sight was hurtful. It reminded her of the day Forester died and the way he'd paraded his mistress in front of her. Granted the situation was different, but the hurt was the same.

Gloria was her name and she was four months' pregnant when they'd met. At the time Dena'd had no idea that she was pregnant or that they each carried the same man's child. Adel told her. That's when she'd run out. Approved by his mother, fidelity had become a passing consideration as far as Forester was concerned. The insult was too deep. Forester followed, they'd argued as he got into the driver's seat and they sped away. Adel sent her husband and son to bring Forester back. No one returned that night or any other night. Dena walked away. Enough was enough.

T
he evening was quiet.

“Dena, is that you?” Ellen called.

“Yes, it's me. Hi, Aunt Ellen. The baby shower was wonderful. Willamina received great gifts and the food was incredible,” she said just as Dillon rammed into her legs at full speed, excited about something. He talked a mile a minute, which made it almost impossible to understand a word he was saying. She picked him up and hugged him desperately. There was something about holding him that always made everything seem all right.

Still carrying him, she rounded the kitchen and continued onto the back porch, seeing her aunt sitting talking with an old friend. Dena smiled warmly and slid Dillon down to his feet. “Hi, Mamma Lou,” she said, hugging and kissing the matriarch. “It's been forever.”

“Hello, Dena, how are you?” Louise asked.

“I'm fine. You look great.”

“Aren't you sweet,” Louise said. “And you're right, it has been a long time. When are you going to come visit me?”

“I'd love to. Crescent Island is one of my favorite places to go. Maybe I can steal some time and get up there before the end of summer.”

“I'm going to hold you to that.”

“Can I go, can I go, can I go, please, please, please?” Dillon asked earnestly, hopping up and down, drawing the last word out like gooey-stringy-cheesy mozzarella pizza.

“Go where?” Dena asked.

“To the fair,” Dillon said.

Dena looked at her aunt questioningly. “What fair?”

“The county fair,” Ellen said. “Louise and I are heading over this evening and we'd love for Dillon to join us.”

Dena smiled. “That's awfully nice but Dillon…”

“…will be a well-behaved darling, just as he always is when we go out,” Ellen said, already knowing the objection before Dena even finished speaking.

“I'll be good, I promise,” Dillon added, standing perfectly still, smiling up at her.

“Don't you ladies want to stroll around and check out the plants and flowers?”

“We'll do that and we'll also stop and see the animals and eat some county fair food and maybe even go on a few rides,” Ellen said.

“I'm sure there's going to be pony rides available,” Louise added, winking at Dillon, whose eyes lit up like rockets though he didn't move or offer a single peep.

“I hear there'll be fireworks later,” Ellen added.

Dena looked down at Dillon; he was obviously ready to burst with joy. The anticipation of her next words had him teetering on the brink of a major explosion. She took a deep breath and sighed, completely outnumbered.

“Okay,” she began as an uproar of three laughed and giggled happily. “But you, young man, must be on your best behavior and listen to Aunt Ellen and Mamma Lou.”

“I promise, I promise,” he said, then flung himself at Ellen then Mamma Lou for a big hug and kiss. “I'll go pack.” He dashed off at light speed.

“Pack?” Dena asked.

“The fair is in Henderson County so we thought we'd stay overnight in a hotel nearby. It's only a fifty-mile drive but after the fireworks, the lateness of the hour and all that walking, we'll probably be too exhausted to want to drive home. I hope that's okay?”

“I'll be happy to be the designated driver,” Dena offered, realizing that Louise was eighty years old and her great-aunt was near seventy. Although Ellen was still an excellent driver the roads at night were often completely dark and deserted.

“No, that's okay,” Ellen said.

“Don't trouble yourself,” Louise said just after.

“We'll be fine, it'll be an adventure for all of us. Tomorrow we plan to get up early and really do the fair properly, see everything, do everything, probably not get home until late afternoon.”

Dena paused. The reasoning sounded plausible enough but her gut was telling her that there was something else going on. “Okay, if you're sure.” They both nodded agreeably. “Then I'd better go see what Dillon intends to pack. Knowing him, you'll wind up bringing home a naked three-year-old with only a red cape and construction hat on.”

As soon as Dena went upstairs Ellen and Louise smiled. That was almost too easy. Ellen grabbed the cordless phone from off the small table beside her and dialed a number.

An hour later the three excited travelers were buckled in and driving off. Dena stood in the driveway waving until they were well out of sight. It wasn't until she climbed the front steps and went back inside that she realized just how alone she was. She went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea then stared out the window, remembering.

Julian came to mind. This was where she'd first laid eyes on him. Her body still reacted. “If only…” she considered out loud.

Then an imaginative thought occurred to her. She looked at the clock. It was already after seven. She had just enough time. “No, I couldn't,” she said. “Could I?” Five minutes later she was in the shower. Suddenly finding herself alone and free for the evening, Dena followed her heart.

 

Julian was in his garage, as usual. It was Friday night and while his brothers had done everything in their power to try to talk him into coming with them to the beach house, he'd chosen instead to work on his car. The phone had rung several times but he'd ignored it. He figured that it was Stephanie and the last thing he wanted was another face-to-face with her.

Tonight all he wanted to do was to chill out and relax. The toil of the day and the aggravation of his ex-wife's arrival had him totally stressed.

Tonight's assignment was to figure out what was going on with the manual transmission. He'd already installed a new clutch but for some reason the car's gears were still off. Having raised the car up in the specialized jack, he slid underneath and began his evening's undertaking.

 

It was a booty call and the thrill of actually doing what she was doing, going where she was going, to a man's house this late at night, excited her. The last time she did something this bold and audacious, her parents grounded her for a month. At sixteen she'd snuck out of the house to go to a party with friends, then had to call her parents from a police station to pick her up. They were furious and grounded her. It was a punishment that never happened; they were killed on the way to the station.

The bold, brazen behavior ended with that incident. Ever since then she'd played it safe at all times, taking the tried-and-true path without causing waves. That behavior continued even into her marriage.

When Forester stayed out late or went on clandestine business trips, she said nothing. When it was no longer doubtful that he was playing around, she looked the other direction. It wasn't until the day he died that she reached her limit.

“Okay, Lynn, here's to your advice,” Dena muttered.

Her heart pounded as she stood at the front door, ringing the bell several times. There was no answer. A few seconds later she pressed the button again. Eventually she climbed down the steps to return to her car, then heard music being played. Curious, she followed the sound around to the side of the house.

Now off the brick-covered path she walked awkwardly on the stone gravel then onto the newly trimmed grass. Her ankle-strapped, spiked-heel sandals seeped deep as she continued on tiptoe. Peering around the corner, the music grew louder. She stopped, seeing an open garage door a few feet behind, detached from the house.

The gaping hole of light brightened like a sunrise against the dimness of surrounding trees. She moved toward the light, still hearing music playing. At the large open doors, she peered inside. No one was there.

“Hello?” she called after knocking gently on the wooden doors.

Julian, too annoyed for words, dropped his head back onto the cushioned rolling platform. This had long since gotten ridiculous. The calls, the showing up in person and now, stalking. How far was his ex-wife going to take this? He heard the female voice call out again.

“Julian, hello?”

“We had this conversation already. There's nothing between us and nothing you have to say that I want to hear,” Julian said from beneath the car. “I suggest you follow your attorney's advice and go home.”

“Oh, I didn't mean—I mean, excuse me, I apparently misunderstood,” Dena said, obviously flustered.

Julian was surprised, the immediate confession and withdrawal was too good to be true. He kicked his foot and quickly slid from beneath the car. He looked up, expecting Stephanie but instead saw Dena standing over him, her expression was of shock. His breath caught. “Dena.” He said, “Wait. No, no, not you.”

“I'm sorry I thought…” she said. “Obviously this wasn't such a good idea, I just—” She turned quickly then continued talking and walking. “Sorry, my mistake.”

“No, wait, don't go,” Julian said, scrambling to stand and catch up with her before she left. “I thought you were someone else.”

“I am—” she turned, half smiling “—someone else.”

He stood in front of her, holding his hand up to stop her from walking away. “Wait, I thought you were my ex-wife.”

“The woman at the baby shower?” she asked.

He nodded then grabbed an already soiled cloth and began wiping his hands. He shook his head. “That's a long story and apparently getting longer.”

“Most of them are,” she agreed.

He smiled, helplessly staring into her glistening eyes, then traveling slowly down her body. “You look like a breath of fresh air.”

Having changed her clothes several times and finally deciding to wear a wispy, silk V-neck summer wrap dress, she nodded at the compliment. “Thanks,” she said appreciatively, knowing that the dress she'd chosen was pure seduction. She glanced down at his rough tattered attire. “You look pretty rugged-grungy, but I like it,” she joked of his oil-stained T-shirt, soiled blue jeans and scuffed work boots. He grabbed a cleaner work cloth and wiped his dirty hands again.

“Thanks,” he said, adding to the lightness of the mood. “So, Ms. Graham, how did you know where I live?” he asked.

“I'm the operational administrative assistant at Hamilton Development Corporation. I have a number of departmental records at my disposal. I looked you up.”

“Is that procedure?”

“Probably not,” she admitted, “but, since I changed my mind about dinner this evening…”

“I'm glad you came.”

“Are you?” she said. He nodded. They stared at each other smiling shyly like two teenagers on the first date.

He looked down and around her. “Where's Dillon?”

“He's away until tomorrow,” she said, smiling. “Looks like I'm interrupting. What are you doing out here?” she asked, peering over his shoulder into the garage.

He turned to follow her line of vision. “Working on my car.”

“May I see?” she asked before walking over to get a better look at the open car.

“Sure.” He stepped aside to allow her to pass. The near-flimsy white floral dress breezed past him, leaving a heavenly scent in its wake. Julian swallowed hard. This was going to be a very interesting evening.

Dena walked over, touched the smooth body and looked at her skewed face in the shiny chrome. She smiled, recognizing the car immediately. Looking inside she noted the leather bucket seats and the plush interior. It was in perfect condition. “A 1969 Ford Mustang?”

“Close, very close. It's a 1968. How did you know?”

“It was lucky guess,” she said jokingly.

Julian looked at her slyly. There was obviously something she wasn't telling him. “Somehow I doubt that.”

“I thought you didn't know anything about cars.”

“I don't, not really. I have schematics,” he said, pointing across the room to several thick open books on the worktable and a detailed illustration pinned to the wall.

She nodded and continued to walk around the exterior of the car. “You did a very impressive job.”

“Thank you. I was just finishing up for the night, so how about staying for a late dinner with me?”

“I'd like that.”

An hour and a half later, showered, cleaned up and dressed in clean jeans and a pullover shirt, Julian sat barefoot with Dena out on the deck having just eaten grilled steaks, baked potatoes and a green salad. For lack of celebratory champagne they sipped ginger ale and laughed and talked mainly about his brothers and his extended family.

“Question. Why law, of all possible occupations?”

She smiled, having asked herself that question a hundred times since she'd married into the Graham family of attorneys. “I get the feeling you're not particularly fond of members of my chosen profession.”

“I've had my run-ins with members of your profession. Each time I barely escaped sane. For the most part they seem to represent blood-sucking parasites looking for a free payday at someone else's expense. No offense.”