Secret Indiscretions (11 page)

“I'll admit that I do find him attractive. But being interested in someone and being attracted to them is two different things.”

“Well, at least you admitted that you're attracted to him. That's a start. And there ain't nothing wrong with that, honey.”

“Exactly. It's not like I crossed any lines.”

“Yet!” Donetta said with a giggle.

“Didn't I tell you to stop.”

“Why? This is fun. And it's time you had some fun in your life. That bastard you're married to has practically sucked all the joy out of you. I'm just glad to see you excited about something.”

“Yes, I'm excited, and helping the kids is going to help me. It's something I've wanted to do for years and now I finally can.”

“What are you wearing?” Donetta asked.

“A sundress and sandals.”

“Which one?” Donetta was a fashionista and had borrowed so many of Geneva's blouses that she knew the contents of Geneva's closet as if it were her own. “My yellow one,” Geneva replied.

“Huuunnnneeeee,”
Donetta squealed. “That dress is fierce. It's the right combination of modern class and sexy sass, and it looks gorgeous on you! You gonna have that principal reciting his ABCs and counting to a hundred!”

Geneva laughed. “I can't fool with you today!”

“I'm just sayin', I ain't mad atcha'. Work it out and do your thang.”

“I told you, it's not even like that,” Geneva said. “I'm going to meet with the home room teacher I'm assigned to, read to the kids, and then go home and enjoy the rest of my day. If I happen to see Mr. Owens, that'll be great, but if I don't . . .”

“Oh, but you will,” Donetta said with a chuckle. “And when you do, don't hold back.”

Geneva shook her head. “I just pulled into the school parking lot, I've got to go.”

“Have fun and do everything I would do . . . and then some.”

All Geneva could do was smile as she hung up the phone. She put her car in park, turned off the engine, and drank the last of her Frappuccino. “I needed that boost,” she said, placing the empty cup in her console. She ran her hand across the soft fabric of her dress and once again admired its vibrant color. “What am I doing?” She looked at the large brick building in front of her and inhaled a deep, cleansing breath as she thought about the children inside and the real reason she'd decided to wear the beautiful sundress she saved for special occasions. The truth was that she wanted to look good for Dr. Samuel Owens. She wanted to impress him. And deep down, she was scared of what that meant.

As Geneva thought about Samuel Owens, she suddenly began to have second thoughts about Sandhill. “This is how trouble gets started. I can't do this.” She turned the key in the ignition and started the engine. “I'll have to find another school where I can volunteer.” Just as she was about to drive away, she saw Samuel walk outside the building. He stood in front of the entrance talking to a well-dressed man. She watched him closely, noticing his friendly smile and the self-assured body language that had drawn her to him last week. Before she knew it, she was smiling, as if it was she with whom he was having a conversation. She continued to watch him as he and the man shook hands before Samuel turned and walked back into the building.

“I don't know if what I'm about to do is right, but I know what I feel is real, and I can't deny it,” she whispered. Geneva turned off the engine again, opened her door, put one foot in front of the other, and walked toward new possibilities.

J
ohnny sat motionless on the edge of his bed trying to figure out what the hell was going on with his wife. He knew that Geneva was upset with him, and that she was still carrying a salty attitude from last week when he'd stayed out all night. But he thought the way she'd treated him this morning was uncaring, uncalled for, and completely out of character from the woman whom he knew his wife to be.

Johnny rubbed his chin and fell back onto the soft comforter on the bed. He looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and then let out a deep breath filled with frustration. “Here I am trying to do the right thing by coming home, and she's still giving me attitude,” he said as he thought about Geneva. “I can't win with that woman.”

Over the weekend Geneva had avoided him, keeping her distance wide and her words short. She normally bugged him about attending Emmanuel AME Church with her every Sunday, but yesterday she'd dressed and was out the door without saying one word to him. He didn't mind her silent treatment at first because it had been better than hearing her nag and complain, as she usually did. But when the afternoon rolled around and there was no home-cooked after-church meal on the table, Johnny's jaws became tight and his stomach longed to be fed. Geneva had been so mad a few nights ago that she'd thrown away the leftovers from the dinner she'd made for him, and she hadn't cooked a thing since.

Johnny knew he needed to do something to get Geneva back in line before things got out of hand, so last night he cut his date short with Vivana so he could get home at a decent hour. In addition to trying to work his way back into Geneva's good graces, he knew that spending less time with Vivana would help him gradually end their affair without drama.

Last night was the first time he'd seen Vivana since they'd overslept at the hotel last week. She'd been texting and emailing like a mad woman, bugging the shit out of him with demands about when they were going to hook up again. She'd gotten on his nerves worse than his wife, but he knew he had to play it cool with her. He'd come to see a new side of Vivana that she'd never shown him, and he didn't like it. He couldn't risk her hijacking his marriage, as Bernard had said she might.

Last night he'd agreed to meet Vivana at a luxury hotel in downtown Birmingham, just a fifteen-minute drive away. Johnny was glad the days were getting shorter, and that nighttime was coming faster, which would give him an excuse to leave early. On his drive to meet her, Johnny had already started developing his exit strategy. They would order room service, watch an in-room movie, and by that time Bernard would call, a little after nine p.m., as Johnny had asked him to do. He planned to tell Vivana that the call was about an emergency at one of the properties he managed, and that would be his ticket out.

Things would have worked out perfectly had Bernard remembered to call him. His friend had been too wrapped up in a romantic dinner with Candace, leaving Johnny to make up a flimsy excuse on his own. After fussing with Vivana for two solid hours, he'd finally left the hotel at eleven thirty p.m., which was just enough time to make it back home before midnight.

“If I'd known Geneva was gonna act like this I would've gotten laid last night instead of rushing back here for some bullshit,” Johnny said in a huff. Slowly, he rose from the bed and walked to his closet. He carefully selected a tan linen suit, crisp white shirt, and a money-green tie. After he finished dressing, he looked at himself in the full-length mirror and smiled, knowing he looked good. Then he thought about Geneva again. She'd stood in front of the same mirror less than ten minutes ago, and he had to admit that she looked good, too. Damn good, in fact. Her yellow dress complemented her curves and made her brown skin glow.

There had been a time when Geneva used to turn him on at the mere thought of her. But those days were well behind them. She'd transformed overnight from the hot girlfriend that he couldn't keep his hands off of into a mundane housewife who no longer excited him. Their sex life had become as routine as paying bills, and because Geneva wanted children right now instead of waiting a few years like he wanted to, sex with her had become pressure, not pleasure.

Johnny longed for the thrill of the chase. That was why he didn't feel as guilty about the adulterated lust and hot sex he found in other women whose standards in bed were more relaxed than his wife's. That was one of the reasons Vivana had been able to ensnare him in her web. But that relationship had run its course and now he was ready to move on to other things.

Now, as Johnny slipped on his dress shoes to head out the door, he put his wife and his mistress out of his mind so he could begin his day.

An hour later, Johnny found himself sitting in the Whole Bean Café, waiting to have a late morning meeting with a new client, who had been referred to him by Mark and Marjorie Thomas, whom he'd helped find their ultimate dream house. They'd been so pleased with his top-shelf service that they'd sent him a bottle of champagne as a thank-you, and had been referring as many friends his way as they could.

Johnny looked at his watch and sighed. “I can't stand it when people waste my time. This woman was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago,” he grumbled. Had it not been for the fact that the woman was loaded with money and connections, and came highly referred, Johnny would have left the café by now. He was a stickler for time because every second equaled dollars, and the potential to make more money. Johnny looked at his watch and sighed again. “I don't care if she's the Queen of England, she has five more minutes and then I'm outa here,” he said as he scrolled through the calendar on his phone.

“Hello, you must be Johnny Mayfield.”

Johnny looked up when he heard his name and felt a surge of energy. The voice, which carried a distinctly northern accent, belonged to none other than Councilwoman Charlene Harris. Johnny took notice that she was much more attractive in person, than in the photos he'd seen in the local paper from time to time. She was a stylishly well-dressed woman, well built, who smelled of expensive perfume. She wore success and confidence as comfortably as she did the designer shoes on her feet. He was instantly attracted to her.

Councilwoman Harris extended her hand. “Mr. Mayfield, please forgive me for being late. My office assistant didn't synchronize my calendar.”

Right now, Johnny wouldn't have cared if she'd been an hour late. The pleasure that she was giving his eyes made up for her tardiness. He rose from his seat and took her hand in his, giving her a gentle shake. Another surge of energy ran through him when she returned his gentle shake with a firm grip. “That's no problem, Councilwoman Harris,” he said with a smile.

She glanced down at his ring finger, saw that it was bare, and smiled back seductively. “Please, call me Charlene.”

He returned her smile. “Only if you call me Johnny.” Five minutes into their conversation Johnny knew he could have Charlene Harris if he wanted her, and he wanted her in the worst kind of way. With a troubled marriage at home and an overbearing mistress whom he was trying to distance himself from, the esteemed councilwoman was exactly what he needed right now.

“Okay, Johnny,” Charlene said with a flirtatious smile on her face and in her voice. “I'll get right down to business.”

“Please do.”

She smiled even wider as she uncrossed her legs. “I'm only interested in high-end properties. Money isn't a concern because I have plenty of it, but I'm price-conscious just the same, and I want to stretch my money as far as it will go. I've gone over some of the comps in the area I'm looking in, and it appears that inventory is high, which will work to my advantage.”

Johnny nodded. “A smart approach. Beauty and brains look good on you, Charlene,” he said slyly. “And I'd expect nothing less from a woman of your obvious success.” He could tell that she was flattered because she actually blushed.

She took a small sip of her coffee and cleared her throat. “My children are all grown, living in different states, and since it's just going to be me at home I'd like to downsize.”

Johnny thought Charlene was married, but apparently not, given what she'd just said. This information made him even more interested in her.

“I want the same craftsmanship and details that I enjoy in my current home,” Charlene continued, “but on a smaller and more manageable scale. I'm a busy woman on a tight schedule, and I'm not a fan of wasting time, which equals money, so I'd like to find something within the next thirty days.”

“That's doable. Now that I know what you're looking for I'll run my comps and I'll have a few properties that we can take a look at as early as tomorrow if your schedule will allow.”

She nodded. “Sounds good. Mark and Marjorie told me that you did a fantastic job helping them find their dream home, and I'm sure you'll deliver great results for me as well. With any luck I'll be closing on my new home next month.”

Johnny leaned forward and lowered his voice to a sexy whisper. “I like your approach, and I can definitely make that happen . . . along with anything else you might desire.”

When he saw a faint smile slide across her perfectly lined lips, he knew he'd read her like a book, and he was a hundred percent sure that he could get her in bed before the sun went down today. He couldn't believe his great luck! This was perfect, because he knew that if they started seeing each other he wouldn't have to deal with the problems from her that he was experiencing with Vivana. Charlene was older, mature, and direct. She was no nonsense, no muss, no fuss, and she wouldn't demand his time because she was busy handling her business. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was a woman on a mission, and if there was one thing that Johnny loved, it was the challenge and the thrill of conquering a new conquest.

Johnny enjoyed the way Charlene not so accidentally allowed her leg to touch his under the table, and when she drank the froth from her cappuccino, she licked her lips with her tongue in a motion that let him know she was ready and willing to lick other things, too. But for the sake of business he went through the motions. He talked with her long enough to assess her needs in terms of square footage and amenities, and to have her sign a contract retaining his services.

A half hour later, Johnny was breathing heavily on top of his new client as he thrust in and out of her, enjoying himself more than he'd imagined he would. For a woman her age, Charlene's body was still in excellent shape, and she knew exactly what to do with it to make him feel good. The queen-size bed they were lying on, in one of the vacant units of a small condo building he managed for one of his wealthy clients, had served Johnny well over the years for his midday escapades.

He didn't know if it was Charlene's age and life experience that made her so good, or if it was the fact that she was one of the most stylish, sophisticated, and accomplished women he'd ever been with, but what he did know was that this wouldn't be their last rendezvous. Johnny felt like he'd hit the jackpot. Not only was Councilwoman Harris someone he could do business with, she was someone who could give him immense physical pleasure. He was attracted to her even more because she'd made it clear that she wasn't looking for anything outside of finding a house and an occasional fuck when she needed it. She'd even come prepared with her own condoms. “I'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them,” she'd said when she removed them from her handbag.

Johnny wanted to take a quick nap to recharge his battery, but he needed to get back to the office to go over paperwork for two closings that would take place tomorrow. As they slipped their clothes back on, smiling at each other from the pleasure they'd both received, Johnny made up his mind that he was going to continue to hook up with Charlene every opportunity he could. She was coming at the perfect time to fill the void once he got rid of Vivana.