Authors: Dorothy Phaire
“So he’s the oldest?”
“Only by a few years. He’s a lieutenant for the D. C. Fire Department. He’s attending an intensive seven-month training program in Georgia in fire investigation and defusing bombs. He’s still got another three months left to go in the program. When he gets back to Washington, he and Sasha are to be married and I’m to be the Best Man. I really miss him.”
“Your brother sounds like a great guy, Deek.”
“Luke’s amazing. I’ve always looked up to him. If everything goes as planned, early next year he and I will be working together with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies on an anti-terrorism task force. Luke will have the bomb skills and I have investigative experience. This SOS task force mission I’m working on now is like a trial run for me.”
“Well, I hope you get your man, Detective.”
“I always do, Doc. It’s my women I seem to be having trouble with.” Deek smiled lightheartedly and Renee returned his playful glance.
Deek and Renee continued talking about nothing in particular as they walked through the green room on their way back to the dining area. Upon passing a French silk screen that concealed an obscure hideaway, they heard the unmistakable sounds of moaning. Deek pressed a finger to his lips to signal silence. They stepped behind the screen and flashed a brief, mortified look at each other. Propriety dictated that they exit the room quietly but they were mesmerized and could not move.
Amidst the muted shades of olive green walls trimmed in gold leaf, on a tufted back sofa, a man and woman groped each other feverishly. Plush, velvet pillows lay strewn on the floor, along with a black lace slip dress. A late Victorian wall fixture emitted a thin beam of light to the otherwise pitch-black room. It spotlighted the couple like a camera recording a soft-porn movie.
The young woman, clad only in her black, satin, corset bustier, satin thongs, garter-belt and ultra-sheer black stockings, lay underneath the man. One stiletto-heeled foot was draped across the plunging back of the velvet-covered sofa. His still fully dressed body straddled hers. From the look on her face and the continuous moans of pleasure, she appeared to wallow in a state of ecstasy. His fingers explored her breasts and his tongue reached for deep-throated kisses.
She began to slowly unbutton his silk shirt. He slipped his arms out of the tuxedo jacket. It landed on the floor, crumpled up next to her evening gown. With eyes closed and mouth parted in bliss, his hands brushed up and down her thigh. He lowered his head to kiss the inside of her smooth, tan-tinted thighs. After bringing her to another heightened level of pleasure, he raised himself up to meet her eyes and smiled.
“You’ve made this easy for me, baby,” he said and reached down to unfasten his trousers, “No panty hose to struggle with.”
“I hate ‘em too, baby,” she agreed, “Just like chastity belts. Impossible to get in and out of.”
“My kinda woman,” the man whispered and kissed her neck.
It was Deek who interrupted them. “Hey, man. You and the lady need to take this home. This is not the time or the place.” The couple stopped kissing and looked up. At that moment Renee recognized them. She knew the young lady well and had just met the man earlier that day. The woman was her stylist at Good Looks Beauty Salon, Cha-Cha or Charis Taylor as her new boyfriend preferred. She also recognized the man as the same one who had come into the shop earlier that afternoon for a haircut—James Ian Mathias. Who could forget that name with Cha-Cha reverently repeating it all afternoon?
Ian leaped from the sofa and adjusted his trousers. Cha-Cha frantically slipped back into her gown and smoothed down her hair while Ian stood before them fully composed in his Giorgio Armani one-button tuxedo. Deek and Ian glared at each other. Cha-Cha’s once perfectly made up face turned crimson red from embarrassment. Her glossy red lipstick and smoky-lidded eyes were smudged. She whipped out a mirror from her tiny bag and repaired the damage with a spit-wet finger.
“Mathias, I’m not surprised that you’d put the young lady in this compromising situation just to satisfy your own selfish desires,” said Deek.
“Why am I not surprised to find you here, sniffing around?” said Ian Mathias, “You need to be out solving real crimes, Detective, instead of spying on innocent people just out for a little fun.”
“Innocent, huh? We both know despite that clean-cut, baby face of yours, Mathias, you’re nothing but a criminal in a three-piece suit.”
“Why don't you get a life Detective? You’re just envious because I’ve got it all and you ain’t got jack. You and your clumsy Fed buddies need to back the fuck off. You ain’t got shit on me.”
“If nothing else, you can both catch a charge for indecent exposure,” Deek threatened calmly.
“Criminal? Not me, Detective. I’m a businessman. A real estate investor to be exact.”
Mathias reached in his jacket and Deek instinctively positioned his hand on the gun tucked under his waistband.
“Chill Brother. It’s just a couple of C-notes,” said Mathias, holding out a handful of one hundred-dollar bills, “Why don’t you go buy your lady something nice on me.”
Deek pushed away Mathias’s outstretched hand, “You disgust me. If it’s the last thing I do I’m gonna be sitting in that courtroom when the DA puts you away for life. I should write you up for trying to bribe an officer even if it means I’ll be at the precinct all night filling out paperwork.”
Renee pulled his arm and shook her head, “No, Deek. Let’s go. Please.”
“Consider yourself lucky that I don’t feel like doing the paperwork on you Mathias. Get the hell outta here.”
“C’mon baby, let’s roll,” Ian said to Cha-Cha, holding his shoulders back and signaling for her to follow. Mathias, then offered his arm to Cha-Cha and as they walked away he turned around to face Deek.
“Maybe I can’t grease your palms with my loot Detective but everybody has their weak spot. Even a straight up cop like you. Give me some time and I’ll figure out what your angle is.”
He gave Renee a sly grin and stared at her for a few menacing seconds then left. She placed her hand on Deek’s chest to hold him back and could feel his anger swell from his heartbeat. Deek hugged her waist protectively as he walked alongside her. Watching Cha-Cha and Ian in the throngs of passionate lovemaking reminded Renee how much she missed being with Deek. She couldn’t repeat that torrid summer romance with him under the same terms—married to Bill and sneaking around laden with guilt afterwards. She had hoped that her birthday would end in a romantic evening with Bill but she knew that was out of the question now. She would spend her birthday night at home like every other night, frustrated and lonely.
When Deek and Renee returned to his table, they walked up on animated voices and laughter. Deek introduced her to Special Agent Ana Santos and Luke’s fiancée, Sasha Rojas. Both young women were striking in their own way. Agent Santos had the lean and buff physique of someone who worked out in the gym regularly. Her outfit was definitely not FBI issued, Renee noted. Agent Santos wore iridescent topaz earrings and matching necklace that set off her red form-fitting dress with spaghetti straps. Her warm brown hair fell in casual waves around her shoulders. She had pulled out her chair and sat casually with her crossed legs in ankle-strapped heels and ultra sheer stockings. A gold mesh shawl had been draped across the back of her chair. After having met Agent Santos, Renee’s comfort level about Deek’s new partner on the special task force, quickly plummeted. “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Hayes,” said Agent Santos with a slight Spanish accent and a sincere smile. Agent Santos reached out her honey-colored hand for Renee to shake.
Renee’s eyes then drifted to the other Latin beauty, Sasha Rojas who was equally lovely, but in a more innocent and girlish way. Sasha wore a pink satin gown that showed off her tiny waist. She had a heart-shaped face with a small button nose and large expression brown eyes. Her thin pink-tinted lips formed a pleasant smile as she greeted Renee. Sasha was going to be a beautiful bride, thought Renee. Both of Deek’s companions for the evening made her feel welcome, along with everyone else at his table whose names she did not remember as soon as they had been introduced. Renee sat down sandwiched between Deek and Sasha while Agent Santos sat next to Deek. Renee enjoyed the jokes and upbeat camaraderie at Deek’s table. On a few occasions she felt uneasy when Agent Santos and Sasha leaned past her and spoke to each other in Spanish. While Deek did not actively join in their conversation, he clearly understood the language. This made her feel isolated. He must have been able to sense her discomfort because when he said something to them in rapid Spanish, both women nodded and resumed speaking only in English. Other than this one unpleasant episode Renee enjoyed being around these friendly fun-loving people. That is, until she looked across the room and spotted Bill coming in their direction. He hadn’t seen her yet and she didn’t want him to find her with Deek.
“If you folks will excuse me,” said Renee suddenly getting up to leave, “It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you but I must get back to my own table.”
Deek rose as well and kissed her on the cheek as she stood up to leave. At first, she headed in the direction of her table then detoured towards the ladies room. As she ascended the long, winding staircase, she felt someone’s close presence. She thought it might be Bill sneaking up behind her. At the top of the stairs she turned to look and collided into Clifton Corbin Shaw. She caught him stretching his neck to admire her rear end, then he shook his head.
“Damn, baby. All that backyard and ain’t nobody playing in it,” he said as if talking to himself, “My boy Bill must be a damn fool to ignore a woman as fine as you.”
Renee bristled at his comment and cut a stern look his way. When she tried to pass by he touched her arm and gently pulled her back.
“If you let me, I know how to treat a woman right. I can tell you’re not having much fun tonight, are you Sweetie?”
“It’s Dr. Hayes,” she said coldly.
His actions and words just confirmed her suspicions that he was a sleazy creep. Here he was trying to hit on her, his new business partner’s wife. Shaw stood too close and for an uncomfortably long time. Renee winced at the strong scent of his heavy-handed cologne and alcohol-laden breath.
“By the way,
Dr. Hayes
, have you seen LaToya?” he asked, “She left with you to go to the little girls room over an hour ago.”
“It’s not my turn to watch her. Though she does look like she could use a babysitter.”
“Touché, Dr. Hayes. You might not believe it but I like older, intelligent women like yourself. LaToya can get on my damn nerves after awhile. Are you by any chance free for lunch tomorrow or dinner if you prefer?”
Renee wiggled past him without touching his body and without dignifying that stupid question with an answer. She thought her open disdain would be enough for him to get the message, but obviously not because he blocked her pathway once more. It was not in Renee’s nature to say what she really wanted to tell him, but the words played out silently in her head as he stood leering at her. ‘
I don’t like you Shaw and I didn’t like you the moment I first saw you at the Capital Tennis Challenge. If it’s the last thing I do, I will get my husband to come to his senses. Then you’ll have to find yourself another flunky to use.’
Instead, she simply said, “Excuse me.” Then, she took a detour in another direction.
Renee could feel him staring at her backside as she disappeared down the hall. Why was it that every man in this place was coming on to her tonight except her own husband? Was she wearing a sign with the words, 'Desperate and Lonely' on the back of her jacket? When Renee walked through the door of the ladies room, she spotted Cha-Cha in front of the mirror with a damp hand cloth pressed to her face. When Cha-Cha removed the cloth she noticed Renee’s reflection in the mirror.
“I’m sorry about what happened in the VIP room back there, Dr. Renee. How long were you and that good-looking detective watching us?”
“Too long, I’m afraid.”
“Just for the record. That’s the first time something like that ever happened to me. I guess Ian and I got carried away.”
“I’m in no position to judge you, Cha-Cha. You’re a grown woman of legal age. Just be careful.”
“Yeah, I know but … I bet you’d never be caught doing something like that in a fancy place like this.”
“Who knows, Cha-Cha. Maybe I should,” Renee sighed and studied herself in the mirror as if the years were ticking by too rapidly. “It looked like you two were having a good time before Detective Hamilton and I interrupted. Perhaps, I’m the one who should be apologizing to you.”
“No, Dr. Renee. Ian and I can always finish up where we left off later tonight at my place or his.”
“Well, I envy you then. Today is my 45th birthday and it hasn’t turned out at all the way I expected.”
“Something tells me that handsome Detective is not your husband.”
“No, my husband’s been schmoozing all evening with his new business partner, a real sleaze. Judging by the way Bill’s been acting this evening, I don’t even think he remembered it was my birthday today.”
“I’m sorry, Dr. Renee. That must feel awful. Well, I sure as hell know what I’d do. I’d leave right now with Mr. GQ and not tell what’s his face a damn thing. I’d let him wonder where the hell I was all night long. And if he didn’t bring me one of those little blue, velvet boxes and a dozen roses to apologize, I’d kick his sorry ass right out.”
“That’s just it, Cha-Cha,” said Renee, “I’m not you. You have the nerve to pull that off and get away with it.”
“Look girl, I know we’re not girlfriends but I’m gonna give it to you straight. Honey, you’d better get some nerve and go take what you want in this short life. Before you know it, you’ll look up and another year will have flown by and you’ll still be stuck in the same place. Me, I’m gonna live ‘til I die.”
“Be careful, Cha-Cha. Make sure you find out more about your new boyfriend before you get in too deep. I’m worried about you, Dear.”