Forces of Nature (5 page)

Crystal snatched away from him and stared at him incredulously. “Did you just ask me out to dinner? Have you lost what's left of your mind? I wouldn't eat with you if my life depended on it.” Shivering with anger and disgust, Crystal raised her hand to slap Douglas, but he gently took her small hand in his bigger one and brought it to his lips, softly kissing it.

Electricity surged through her body as his lips touched her skin. Crystal wanted to pull away . . . she knew that she should pull away . . . but she didn't.

“Good day, Ms. Hughes. By the way, how do you plan to make it back to Hughes Farm? I'd be happy to give you a ride home,” he said after dropping her hand.

Stepping back and nearly stumbling over a pine tree root, she shook her head. “I don't think so. I'd rather walk than ride with you.”

Douglas raised his eyebrow as the other protesters were released. “But what about them? Let me help you all get back home. I even brought my limo so that I can take all of you back safely.”

Crystal rolled her eyes and was about to call him a pretentious bastard trying to woo people with his wealth, but she didn't want the girls to have to walk three miles back to the van at Welco. “Is this supposed to impress me?” she snapped.

“No, it's supposed to get you and those young ladies back to your van.”

She sighed and gritted her teeth. He did have a point. Crystal reluctantly agreed to allow Douglas to give them a ride. He led Crystal and the seven girls to his limousine. Excitement rippled through the girls. MJ looked at Crystal as if to ask her if it was all right to get in. She nodded and MJ slid inside. Douglas stood behind Crystal as she got into the limo. His scent of patchouli and natural masculinity frazzled her senses, causing the hairs on her neck to stand on end. But when he placed his hand on the small of her back in an effort to help her in the car, she lost it on the inside at least. The simple touch made heat radiate throughout her body, transporting her to a dark bedroom with candles burning and smooth jazz playing in the distance. His body was entwined with hers and . . .

“Ms. Hughes, is there a problem?” Douglas asked.

Quickly, Crystal climbed into the car. “You're my problem,” she muttered.

Smiling knowingly, Douglas sat across from her. “Ladies, I'm sorry about all of this, so why don't I treat you all to lunch?”

The girls smiled and giggled, but Crystal folded her arms across her chest. “Are you sure you want to feed a bunch of delinquents?” she stated as a not so subtle reminder to him and the girls of why they were protesting in the first place.

Douglas ran his hand across his smooth head. “That was an unfortunate statement and I'm sorry.”

“Are you sorry enough to not tear our home down?” MJ asked.

Douglas looked out the window and sighed. Crystal enjoyed watching him twist uncomfortably in his seat.

“Aren't you going to answer her?” Crystal asked acidly. Bonnie, a Starlight House employee, watched the banter between Crystal and Douglas as if she were watching the Williams sisters play tennis.

“This isn't an appropriate conversation to have here. Let's just go have lunch and save this conversation for another time and place.”

“Oh, we
will
have this conversation,” Crystal said.

Douglas knocked on the window separating the driver and the passengers. “Raul, take us to B & D's Diner.” He turned to Crystal. “Thanks to Welco, that diner has become a staple in this community.”

Rolling her eyes, Crystal crossed her legs. “Do you think that one diner is going to change the fact that your company is buying land in this town like you're playing Monopoly? Why don't we just call this place Welcoville?”

Laughing, Douglas pulled a piece of lint from his pin-striped trousers. “You're funny, Ms. Hughes. But what you fail to realize is that Welco Industries is Duval County's largest employer. And even if you don't want to admit it, you benefit from my company.”

Is there no end to his arrogance?
she wondered as she stared into his eyes, his beautiful eyes. Glancing down at his hands, she remembered the jolt she got when he touched her earlier. Inwardly, she quaked with desire, and if they were alone in the limo, surely she'd be in his arms, kissing him, tasting him, making love to him, this monster who wanted her property.

“Stop this car,” she said. “Let me out.”

Bonnie and the seven girls looked at Crystal. “What's wrong?” MJ asked.

Crystal looked at Douglas. “I can't stand to breathe the same air as this jerk. But you guys have a good lunch and I'll see you back at the farm.”

Douglas shook his head. “Ms. Hughes, it would be irresponsible of me to put you out in the middle of nowhere. When we get to the diner, I'll be happy to call you a cab.”

Crossing her arms across her breasts, she sighed and sank back in the plush leather seat, forcing herself to look out the dark window and not at Douglas Wellington.

As Douglas ushered Bonnie and the girls into the restaurant, he turned and looked at Crystal, who was standing near the pay phone. Her quiet beauty struck him—doe-like eyes, pouty lips, and a button nose he wanted to kiss desperately. And that hair—if he could only run his fingers through it and feel the silkiness of it against his skin. His body responded to the fantasy of having Crystal wrapped around him. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, hoping to hide his erection, he turned away from her.

“Ms. Crystal,” MJ called out. “Are you coming in?”

“No,” she replied. “I don't have an appetite. You go ahead with Bonnie.”

MJ nodded and followed the others inside. Douglas, however, lingered outside, stealing glances at Crystal. She was the closest thing to a goddess walking the planet. He mustered up the courage to approach her.

“Ms. Hughes, this doesn't have to be ugly,” he said, fighting the urge to touch her.

“Not as long as you get what you want, right? This may impress teenagers, but I'm a grown woman and it will take more than lunch to buy me off.”

“Can you be reasonable? Think of the jobs this business park will create. The unemployment rate here is twenty-two percent; I'm trying to do something about that. Just the construction of the business park will cut that in half.”

“And what do you think will happen to those girls? No one wanted them before and nothing has changed. As long as Starlight House needs a place to stand, I'm going to make sure it happens and I will fight you with everything I've got.”

Smirking, Douglas said, “You'll lose. I have endless resources and all you have is righteous indignation.”

“You son of a . . .” Exhaling loudly, Crystal covered her face with her hands. “I hope you're prepared to fight, Mr. Wellington.”

“Call me Douglas.”

“There are several things that I would like to call you.”

He flashed a camera-ready smile. “Really?”

Crystal narrowed her eyes at him. “You jerk. I hate you and what you're doing to me and those girls.”

“Look, Ms. Hughes, you will have enough money to start over. Reeseville is full of empty land. You can build another farm; we've made a generous offer to you.”

She lunged at him, grabbing the lapels of his jacket. “Why can't you find another place? Why does it have to be your way or no way?”

Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, he pulled her closer to him. “How long have you wanted to touch me like this?”

Crystal let him go and pushed away from him. “Roguish behavior doesn't become you.”

Cocking his head to one side, Douglas smiled again. “You grabbed me, Crystal. And to answer your question, Hughes Farm is the perfect location for this business park. It's accessible to public transportation, and many of the people who need work live right in that area. Why don't you stop being selfish?”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “Me, selfish? I'm not the one trying to take over the world. You're greedy and selfish and a jackass.”

“So eloquent,” he ribbed. “The offer stands, and it's a very generous offer. Take it now and end this madness in the press.”

Stomping her foot on the cement, Crystal glared at him with anger flickering in her eyes. “This is about you playing the hero. I guess the story is going to get leaked that you liberated the protesters who picketed your business. So transparent.”

Unable to fight the feeling any longer, Douglas wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck, pulled her close to him, and kissed her deeply. To his surprise, she didn't fight him as his tongue explored the sweetness of her mouth. She didn't push him away as his hands roamed her back, cupped her heart-shaped behind to pull her even closer.

Douglas's body felt as if a volcano had erupted inside him as Crystal clutched his back. Her touch excited him, made him want more than just this kiss. The engorged flesh between his legs nearly burst from his trousers. Abruptly, Crystal stepped back from him and dashed down the street as if she was fleeing a ghost. Just as Douglas decided to take off after her, his cell phone rang.

“What?”

“Is that anyway to greet your godfather?” Waylon asked.

“Sorry, it's been one of those days.”

“I know, I've been watching the news and reading the paper. Doug, are you sure that you're doing the right thing?”

“The board isn't backing down on this project, so it has to be the right thing.”

“I didn't realize that you were trying to buy out Hughes Farm. That land is damn near sacred.”

“Why?” Douglas asked. “It's just an old farm.”

Waylon sighed. “Son, do some research. Hughes Farm was the first piece of property that was owned by African Americans in this county.”

“Why are you people so stuck in the past? Welco is African-American owned, so what is the big deal?”

“If you do some research, you will understand, and when you do, make the board understand that this is not the place to build this office park.”

“I don't need this right now. I got to go.” Douglas hung up the phone and walked inside the restaurant to dine with the girls, although his mind was on the feel of Crystal's petal soft lips.

 

 

I'm such a fool,
Crystal thought as she stopped to massage her aching feet. She'd walked two miles to the farm, her body covered in sweat, but not from the humid air—from the heat she and Douglas created when they kissed. Kissing Douglas was impulsive and reckless. This man was the same person who wanted to take her land. And her heart? She wanted to write the kiss off as a ploy to get what he wanted. But why did she kiss him back? Why did her legs quiver as he traced her mouth with his succulent tongue and why did she enjoy it so much?

“Crystal,” Brooke called out as she rushed toward her. “What happened today? I was watching the news and I saw you and the girls getting arrested.”

“Everything is fine. Wellington actually took the girls to lunch. Bonnie is with them and . . .”

Brooke's blue eyes stretched to the size of quarters. “He did what?”

Waving her hands in the air, Crystal said, “It's all to counteract what he did. I hate him! He thinks his money and his charm are going to make me cave, but I won't.”

Looking confused, Brooke shrugged her shoulders. “But he didn't press charges, right?”

“No, he didn't. And thank goodness, because a few of the girls would have been in big trouble.”

“If I'm overstepping, let me know, but I think you acted recklessly today,” she stated, crossing her arms over her breasts. “Sometimes, your causes threaten us more than Welco Industries can. I can't believe Bonnie went along with this nonsense.”

Crystal exhaled loudly. “Brooke, I don't see how teaching these girls, who have been stepped on their entire lives, to stand up for themselves is a threat.”

“It is when they get arrested and end up on the evening news. These girls aren't at Starlight because they're model citizens. They have minor records, but one infraction could make them major. Now, I appreciate you granting us this space, but you have to stop putting my girls in the middle of your battles.”

“I'm fighting for all of us. What do you think is going to happen if Welco gets its hands on this property? Do you think anyone in Duval County is going to welcome a new Starlight House?”

Anger flickered in Brooke's eyes before she replied, “I'd take these girls into my home before I let you risk their freedom for your issue of the moment.”

Sighing, Crystal rolled her eyes and started to walk away. Brooke reached out and grabbed her arm. “I'm not finished. This buyout from Welco affects all of us, so why don't you have a meeting with the company instead of picketing them? Come at them in a professional manner and maybe you can stop them from forcing us to move.”

Snatching away from Brooke and trying to keep her temper in check, Crystal said, “I appreciate your concern and I will contact a lawyer and try to get a meeting with Mr. Wellington.”

“I appreciate that. Any idea when the girls will be back?”

Crystal's breath caught in her chest—that man was going to come on her property. “Uh, why don't I just go get them?”

But before she could leave, a black limo turned up the winding dirt road leading to the Starlight House. Brooke rushed over to the limo and helped the girls out of the car, while Crystal watched, hoping for a glimpse of Douglas.

 

 

Through the tinted windows of the limo, he watched her standing at the edge of the road. Closing his eyes, Douglas relived their kiss. Crystal tasted like sweet manna and felt like a soft cloud. He must have her in his life and in his bed. But how could that happen when she hated him for trying to take her land?
If she really hated me, she wouldn't have kissed me,
he thought.

“Mr. Wellington, thank you for lunch,” MJ said as she climbed out of the car. “Does this mean you aren't going to take our home away now?”

Inwardly, he shuddered, but he flashed a plastic smile. “You have a good day, young lady.”

MJ stomped away and Douglas returned to watching Crystal as the driver turned back to the road.

Before they made it back to town, Douglas's cell phone rang again. “Yeah?”

“Douglas, it's Fred. What's going on with you and those protesters? It was all over the news.”

“I've taken care of it. Don't worry, this will be over soon,” Douglas said confidently.

“It better be. I don't know how much longer I can protect you from Clive. He wants your head on a platter, and some of the other board members are starting to agree with him.”

Dropping his head, Douglas squeezed his nose. “Can I help it that Hughes Farm means so much to people in the community? Let me handle this so that we can begin construction this winter.”

“But how do we know this Hughes woman isn't just holding out for more money?”

“She's not like that,” he said defensively.

Fred groaned knowingly. “Is there something going on with you and this woman that we need to know about?”

“I have another call coming in, I have to go.” Douglas clicked his phone off and tossed it in the empty seat in front of him.

“Back to the office, sir?” the driver asked.

“No, take me downtown to the Arctic,” he said, referring to a popular bar.

When the limo arrived at the speakeasy, Douglas hopped out before his driver opened the door. Quickly, he shot inside, took a seat at the end of the bar, and ordered a vodka martini with extra olives. The bartender handed him the drink and Douglas downed it in a few gulps, hoping the alcohol would take his yearning for Crystal's kiss away. It didn't. The warm burning sensation heightened his senses and he wanted more of her lips. Tapping the bar, he ordered another drink. This time, he sipped it slowly with his eyes closed.

“Doug?” Waylon asked. “What are you doing here?”

Opening his eyes, Douglas faced his godfather. “Needed to get away.”

“The board?”

Douglas wanted to say yes, but the truth was he could handle the board; it was his feelings for Crystal that were causing his problems.

“Doug?”

“It's that woman, Crystal Hughes.”

Lifting his eyebrows, Waylon smiled. “I saw her picture on the news. She is a fox.”

“And she has the softest lips.” Douglas stopped speaking, fearing that the alcohol had loosened his lips a little too much.

“Don't tell me that you have gotten personally involved with this woman. That is the last thing you need to do. Trust me.”

Douglas stared blankly at Waylon. What could he say? Of course he wasn't personally involved with her, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face. When he tried to sleep last night, she invaded his dreams, pressing her body against his.

“You are, aren't you?” Waylon questioned.

“No, though I'd like to be. She's an amazing woman and so damned sexy.”

Waylon slapped him on the shoulder. “Are you insane? I know your father and I told you not to mix business with pleasure. And need I remind you how unethical this relationship will be?” What Waylon didn't tell his godson was a relationship with Crystal Hughes would be like turning back the hands of time and he was sure the result would be the same as it had been years ago. More bitterness, more pain. He couldn't stop his friend all those years ago, but he'd do everything to keep Douglas from making the same mistake.

“Don't worry, we're nowhere near starting a relationship. She thinks I'm evil for wanting her land.”

Waylon sighed, waved for the bartender, and ordered a double bourbon. “I think she's right. Did you do what I asked? Have you looked into the history of Hughes Farm?”

Douglas gripped his glass like a vice. Waylon was supposed to be on his side, his ally. “No, I haven't, and it doesn't matter what the history is. At this late stage, finding another location would set back construction and push us over budget. Besides, this was important to my father. I'd think you'd be behind me on this. This was the last project he'd been working on before his death. And if finding a new place for those girls to live is the only holdup, then I'd be happy to help, but . . .”

“This has nothing to do with what's on that farm now. Hughes Farm is the first piece of land owned by an African American in Reeseville. When the textile industry went belly up in the county, Hughes Farm still made millions because that family had the insight to cash in on the ‘organic' craze. Hughes Farm is a source of pride and it should be a historic landmark. You really need to leave this alone.”