A Silken Thread (6 page)

Chapter Five

A
pril glanced around the restaurant where she was meeting her agent, Neil Burton. She had flown into New York a few hours ago, barely having time to check into her hotel room and freshen up.

She had spent the last couple of weeks in Hattersville with Nana and would only be in New York for the weekend before flying to Paris for a magazine shoot. She’d stopped here purposely just to meet with Neil. They had important business to discuss about her future.

Neil had been her agent since he’d discovered her one summer on the sandy beach in Corpus Christi, where she’d gone her first year out of college to decide what she really wanted to do with her life and her new degree. She had been ready for the business world but it seemed the business world wasn’t ready for her. Job interviews had become synonymous with the word
rejection
and she had begun to feel she had gone to college for nothing.

When he’d first approached her she’d thought he was trying to hit on her. She’d soon discovered his sexual preference would not have made that possible. He had convinced her that her beauty—which she hadn’t truly known she had—should grace the cover of every magazine and that he was just the man to make that happen.

Distrusting her own instincts she had taken him home to Nana. He survived her grandmother’s interrogation and had won Nana’s trust and respect when he’d promised to look after her as if she was his own child. Much to April’s chagrin, he’d done just that. He thought Mark was too immature for marriage, had strong misgivings about Campbell, since Neil believed a gay person should never be in the closet anyway, and he outright detested Green. He’d warned her that the rocker was bad news from the start but she hadn’t listened. She had promised Neil the next time she married it would be for love—which meant she would never marry, since unfortunately the man who had her heart would never know it.

Thinking of Griffin she couldn’t help recall that night they had run into each other while out walking their pets. It had been nice sharing that stretch of concrete with him, walking beside him and indulging in lighthearted conversation. When they’d reached Nana’s house he had said good-night, wished her well and continued on to his parents’ home.

That night she had lain in bed, remembering the encounter, replaying every aspect of it over and over in her mind. Loving Griffin was something she had accepted as a part of her and over the years had schooled herself not to think about it. There was no point in doing so anyway, since their worlds were light-years apart. But on the very rare occasions when they had run into each other she savored the moments and thought of them often. She had remained in Hattersville for another two weeks but she hadn’t seen him again. She had deliberately taken Fluffy out for a late-evening stroll a few times but hadn’t run into Griffin and Pebbles.

“Sorry I’m late but traffic on the George Washington Bridge was a bitch.”

The apologetic male voice pulled her out of her reverie. “No problem, Neil. I was just sitting here and enjoying the view.”

In a way she had been. It was a beautiful day and the late-afternoon sun shining through the window was warm. She loved New York, and unfortunately didn’t get here often enough. Most of her time was spent out of the country and when she did return back to the States it was to the West Coast. But she fondly remembered the three years she had lived in Manhattan during the early days of her modeling career. Those had been fun times, wild times, especially when Erica would visit her. But then it had also been the time she’d needed before finally settling down to become the responsible woman she was now. A woman who knew what she wanted to do with her life and was about to go after all her dreams and desires.

Except for one.

She dismissed thoughts of Griffin from her mind and gave her attention to Neil. With his blond hair, blue eyes and a too-handsome face, Neil was one gorgeous hunk. An older one—in his late forties—but gorgeous nonetheless. But women would be sorely disappointed to discover they wouldn’t be his cup of tea. He and his partner, a lovable guy by the name of Aaron Crews, considered themselves married, although the laws of the land did not.

The waitress came to take their order and then April and Neil spent time chitchatting about Nana. It was only after the waitress delivered their food that Neil got down to business. “Now, what’s this nonsense about you not wanting to expand your career into film?”

She smiled over at him. “No nonsense, Neil. I tried film once. It was nice but I can’t see myself doing something like that on a permanent basis.”

They both knew that at twenty-seven her career as a model was coming to an end. Although she kept her body in shape and in most cases was still sought after for modeling gigs, younger women were coming on board and being discovered—some right out of high school—and were dominating the scene. It was time for her to prepare for life after modeling. Neil had agreed with her on that part; however, he was determined that she become Hollywood’s next leading lady.

“You’re the face of Maybelline now and that’s a lot of exposure, April.”

She knew that was true. The cosmetic giant took out ads in most major magazines and it seemed her face was plastered in all of them.

“James Cameron called me just last week asking about you.”

She could tell by the excitement in Neil’s voice that he was hoping the inquiry was going someplace. Deep down she was hoping that it didn’t. “I don’t mind doing films on occasion, Neil, but my primary focus is elsewhere. I want to open a modeling school here in New York. I need to find a vacant building or warehouse and transform the space.”

“If you want to open a school, then do it later when you’re my age. But you’re still young, April. Too young not to continue to take advantage of your beauty.”

She took a sip of her wine. “I don’t see things that way, Neil and—”

“Excuse me. Hello, April.”

The deep sexy voice compelled April to look up. At that moment her eyes connected with Griffin’s. The moment they did, sensations she could only feel when she was around him flooded her insides.

“Griffin,” she said with the surprise in her voice that she couldn’t hide. She hadn’t seen the man for years and now she’d seen him twice in a four-week period. How uncanny was that? “What are you doing in New York?”

“I thought this would be the perfect weekend to get away and I picked New York because I have friends here.”

That was when April finally noticed the woman plastered to his side, who was giving her a cool look. April ignored the woman, since Griffin hadn’t bothered to introduce her, but then she realized she hadn’t bothered to introduce Neil, either. “This is Neil. A friend,” she said simply, deciding not to reveal that Neil was her agent, as well.

Neil stood and the two men shook hands.

“And this is Paulina. Paulina, April is a friend from Hattersville.”

A friend?
For some reason April had merely considered Griffin and herself as acquaintances rather than friends, April thought, extending her hand out to the woman. The woman barely touched it before leaning even closer to Griffin and whispering loud enough for all to hear, “I think we should find our table. I’m famished, sweetheart, and it’s all your fault.”

Something flickered inside of April. In an underhanded, strictly bitchy sort of way, Paulina had deliberately given April the impression the reason for her hunger was because she had spent long hours in bed with Griffin and was now in desperate need of something to eat. April was tempted to tell the woman to pull in her claws, since she was out of Griffin’s league. Always had been and always would be.

“I’m surprised you’re not in Hattersville this weekend,” Griffin said, reclaiming her attention.

April figured since Erica was her best friend he’d assumed she would be at Erica and Brian’s engagement party. “I figured that I would play the good girl and not give Mrs. Sanders another gray hair,” she said honestly, knowing he would get her drift.

The twinkle in his eyes indicated that he did. “And I figured I wouldn’t attend just to make sure my presence didn’t give her the wrong impression.”

Paulina eyed her, evidently annoyed at the fact she had no idea what they were discussing.

“They won’t hold our table much longer, Griff,” the woman said in an annoyed voice.

Griff?
April lifted a brow. She recalled Griffin never liked that nickname back in the day and from the look in his eyes she could tell he still didn’t. This woman might be his flavor for the hour—or the past hours—but little did she know she was skating on thin ice by using that nickname.

“I’ll let you two get back to your meal and we can grab our table,” Griffin said tightly. With a brief nod to Neil, he said, “Nice meeting you.” And then to April he said, “Good seeing you again.”

Unable to resist, she said, “Same here,
Griff.
”

He cut her a look that said he would get her for that the next time they ran into each other.

He gave her a smile before he and his bed partner turned and walked away.

“They’re sleeping together, you know.”

April turned to Neil and frowned. “And your point in telling me that?”

Neil chuckled. “Not the same point she wanted to make in dropping her hint, evidently. But there was something I detected, something in your reaction to seeing him with her, that gave me notice. Makes me think there’s something there.”

She picked up her wineglass to take a sip and laughed some what nervously. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.” Her response had been quick. It had sounded confident. But she knew that she hadn’t fooled Neil.

She couldn’t help glancing over to the table where Griffin and the woman were now sitting. Her gaze met Griffin’s and she wasn’t sure if she was imagining things or not, but she could swear there was an intense look in the dark depths of his eyes that she’d never seen before.

Chapter Six

“D
o you have any idea how disastrous last weekend was?” Karen asked her daughter as she stared at her from across the kitchen table.

Erica looked up from the table, where she had several sheets of paper spread out in front of her, deciding not to be bothered by her mother’s negative attitude and constant complaints. “No, I thought everything went fine. In fact, Brian and I are pleased with how things turned out,” she said in a pleasant tone.

Karen rolled her eyes. “It’s quite obvious the two families won’t mesh.”

Erica chuckled. “Mom, it doesn’t matter if the two families mesh. Brian and I mesh and that’s what counts. Now, are you going to help with this list or not? I don’t want to offend anyone by not inviting them to the bridal shower April is giving me in a few weeks.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t come to your engagement party. She was invited.”

“April had business to take care of in New York.”

Karen gave a dignified snort. “Considering she is supposed to be your best friend, I would think your engagement party would have taken precedence over any business matters.”

Erica leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mother was always trying to chomp away at her and April’s friendship. “April didn’t have to be here for me to know I have her support. Besides, I’m sure she figured she would make things easier on you by not showing up.”

Other than rolling her eyes Karen didn’t make a comment. Erica knew there was nothing her mother could truly say. At fifty-seven her mother would never change her way of thinking. It was an ingrained part of her. Erica’s position was and would always be that her mother’s opinion wasn’t her own. Ninety-nine percent of the time it wasn’t.

Erica gathered the papers together in front of her, slid them into her purse and stood up. “Since you don’t seem to have anything nice to say today, Mom, I’d rather be somewhere else. Your negativity is draining and I’m still tired from this weekend.”

“Before you go there is something we need to discuss.”

“What?”

“Brian’s mother and that outfit she wore. Makes me cringe to think what she might wear to the wedding.”

Erica turned to leave thinking that holding a conversation with her mother was becoming excruciatingly difficult. For once she would like to visit without feeling resentful and wondering just how her father managed to put up with it.

Undaunted, her mother continued. “Do you think it would be out of line if I were to suggest that Harriet give her a call?”

Erica swung back around, her eyes full of anger. “Don’t you dare, Mom.” Harriet was her mother’s personal clothes designer and for some reason her mother thought if Harriet hadn’t made it then it shouldn’t be worn.

Erica pulled in a deep breath thinking she’d had enough. She had tried being patient with her mother, even a little under standing. Now here it was just three months before her wedding to a wonderful man and her mother still hadn’t accepted how things were going to be.

“Several people happened to like Ms. Lawson’s outfit and thought it was very flattering. I was one of those people.” And without giving her mother a chance to say anything, Erica opened the back door and walked out.

When she got to her car she just sat there for a moment as she gazed up at the house she had lived in most of her life. The Sanders Estate was a huge three-story mansion with dormer windows housed under a gambrel roof. She’d always been told that her great-great-grandfather had befriended a Dutchman who had built the house in 1915, which was the reason for its Dutch colonial design.

She had always loved everything about the house, especially the fireplaces in all the bedrooms. As a child she would lie on the shiny hardwood floors in front of her bedroom fireplace with a pillow and blanket while she read her favorite book.

The huge, welcoming structure had been her safe haven, and her secret “away place” beneath the stairs had been her private sanctuary. Even after returning home from college she hadn’t thought of living anyplace else but here, especially since she’d had the entire third floor practically all to herself.

But things changed after that summer she’d met Brian. Once her mother began badgering her to break things off with him and focus on winning Griffin’s heart, she’d made the decision to move out. It hadn’t taken her long to turn her condo into a home and, when Brian had flown in one weekend to spend time with her, he had helped her christen the place in the most romantic and intimate way. Just thinking about that particular weekend always made her smile.

She had been upfront with Brian from the start, figuring it was best to level with him regarding her mother’s attitude. He had accepted it all in stride and assured her he was the sort of guy who eventually grew on people.

So far he hadn’t grown on her mother…and probably never would.

“Thanks for letting me sit in on your court case today, Brian.”

Sitting across the table in the now empty conference room, Brian glanced up and smiled at one of the firm’s new attorneys, Donna Hardy. “No problem. I hope you were able to learn something.”

“I did. Never go into a courtroom to face Judge Meadows unprepared.”

Brian laughed as he stood. “You figured that one out quickly, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I admired the way you handled him.”

“Or the way he handled me,” he responded with a smooth grin. “I’ve been in his courtroom enough, and besides, my father was there before me. All the rumors you’ve probably heard about Judge Meadows are probably true, and to be downright frank, it’s long past time he retired.”

“I agree but I have a feeling he’ll be around awhile.” They began walking out of the conference room together when Donna asked, “So, your father was also an attorney?”

“Yes, and one of the best until an aneurysm cut his life short when I was fifteen.”

“Did your mother remarry?”

He glanced over at her, wondering why she’d asked. “No.”

She nodded. “My dad died when I was twelve and Mom remarried within a year to a man who also had a daughter my age. I was lucky to acquire a sister and a best friend in one.”

Yes, he thought she was lucky in that aspect. When he was younger he’d thought about his mother remarrying and having another child, but after a while he got used to it being just the two of them. He’d wondered how his mother would adjust once he left home for college and she’d made the transition just fine. It wasn’t uncommon to get a call from her from just about anywhere in the world.

“I understand you live in the Vanity Oaks subdivision.”

He nodded, wondering who’d told her that.

“I’m buying a home there, too. On Pecan Park Road.”

He chuckled. “Hey, that’s right around the corner from me. That means we’ll be neighbors…at least for a while. My fiancée and I plan to live there for a couple of years before building elsewhere.”

She lifted a brow, surprised. “You’re engaged?”

A huge smile spread across his lips. “Yes, and I’m counting the days.”

She tilted her head to stare at him fully. “It’s nice to hear a man say that. Most are brought to the altar kicking and screaming.”

Brian chuckled. “Not me. I’ve been single long enough,” he said, remembering the time he’d thought women and their mutual attraction were all that mattered in his life. He would leave home Friday night and make his rounds and not return back to his bed until Monday morning. At the time he’d thought life was good.

But that was before Erica.

He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting with Mr. Hughes at one, so I’d better grab something to eat first.”

“Sure. And thanks again for letting me join you in court.”

“Don’t mention it.” Then he walked off.

Donna continued to watch him until he turned the corner toward the elevator. She wondered how it would be for a man to love her as much as Brian Lawson evidently loved the woman he planned to marry. She had been in and out of too many affairs that went nowhere. It was rather sad, actually. Good-looking brothers who had a decent job and weren’t gay or on the down-low were hard to come by.

Here she was, thirty-three with no prospects in sight. All men wanted these days was a quick and easy lay on whatever day of the week that suited them. She drew in a deep breath and headed toward her office. She couldn’t help remembering Brian’s performance in the courtroom. He had been awesome. No wonder the other attorneys were whispering that they wouldn’t be surprised if he were to make partner in the firm soon. To get your foot in the door at Brown and Samuels was a coup for any attorney. But to make partner was simply fantastic.

When she got to her office she closed and locked the door and leaned against it. Brian Lawson had a deep, sexy voice and a body that was a total turn-on. She could feel the tips of her breasts hardening and the heat between her thighs stirring just thinking how he’d looked standing in the courtroom addressing the people on the jury.

Moving across the room to the windows she pulled the blinds and darkened the room before removing her jacket and sliding her skirt up her hips. She needed help from Freddy today.

Going to her desk she used the key to open the bottom drawer and smiled when she pulled out her new toy. Well, it wasn’t so new, since she’d been giving it one hell of a work-out since buying it a few weeks ago. She kept Sam at home. Roger went on the road with her. And Freddy would stay at the office.

Sam. Roger. Freddy. Each toy named after a man who’d helped her move her career forward, in the direction she wanted it to go. Professor Sam Dinkins was the old fart who had helped her get her law degree. He’d made sure she’d got ten passing grades when she should have failed half the courses.

Then there was Roger Lewis, a colleague of the professor’s who’d demanded daily blow jobs, among other things, when he’d learned the truth after snooping around Professor Dinkins’s office one day and discovering all the exams she’d flunked. Although he’d been good in bed, she’d never appreciated the way she’d been at his beck and call. She hadn’t felt an ounce of sympathy when she’d read in the paper a few years ago that he had gotten killed in a car accident. She had returned to Trenton, New Jersey, not to pay her last respects, but to verify for herself that the bastard was truly dead.

And lastly, there had been Fred Almay, the one man she’d enjoyed the most. He had hired her to work at his law firm right out of college, and she had slept with him of her own free will. They had spent two years together as lovers and he had taught her a lot. She would even admit to falling in love with him. He’d been a master at manipulation and had taught her all the key components of the game. But no matter how much she’d tried to please him, he had refused to leave his wife for her.

In the end Donna had decided it was in her best interest to move on when Mrs. Almay became suspicious of her role in Fred’s life and her work at the firm. The one thing Fred had given her was the glowing recommendation that had helped her to land her job at Brown and Samuels.

She smiled as she curled into her chair. Her toys were okay when she needed a quick fix, but of course she much preferred the real thing. She licked her lips when she thought of Brian Lawson. He was an extremely good-looking man, well spoken and highly intelligent, and she knew he was going places.

He had charisma and charm and he radiated the confidence that only a natural-born leader could display. He was well liked by everyone at the firm and highly respected. And his knowledge of corporate law truly amazed her. She knew she could learn a lot from him, both in and out of the bedroom.

It meant nothing to her that he was engaged to be married. There was no such thing as a true-blue committed fiancé and she wondered how long it would take to tempt him mercilessly and get what she wanted.

There was only one way to find out.

The secretary smiled over at Brian. “Mr. Brown and Mr. Samuels would like to see you now, Mr. Lawson.”

Brian returned her smile as he stood to his feet. He figured the two men had asked to meet with him because of his successful handling of the charity drive for children with leukemia. Every year one of the attorneys working for the firm would chair the event. This had been his year and he had helped raise over five hundred thousand dollars on the firm’s behalf.

“Come on in, Brian,” Talbert Brown called out to him the moment he opened the door. “Please come join me and Minor in a toast.” It was then that he saw the bottle of champagne on ice and the glasses already filled with the bubbly drink.

Brian nodded and then accepted the glass of champagne that Mr. Brown handed to him. He figured the partners were going all out just for a good showing in the charity drive.

“Do you know why we invited you here today, Brian?”

He met Talbert Brown’s deep blue eyes. “I assume it’s to celebrate the money we raised for the Leukemia Foundation drive.”

Minor Samuels chuckled. “There is a reason to celebrate that, too, but that’s not why you’re here.”

Brian lifted a brow. “It’s not?”

Talbert leaned against his desk. “Your father worked hard for this firm and it saddened us to remove his name as partner when he passed away.”

Brian remembered his father working for the firm. According to his mother he’d become employed with them right after college. He’d been partner for five years when he died.