Authors: Elizabeth Moynihan
“Oh, chill out, Sergei. No one in their right mind is going to believe that’s the two of you.” Dani offered with an amused shake of her head.
Sergei closed his eyes, counted to ten and tried to stay calm. “What makes you so sure of that?” he finally managed to mumble, pulling Chloe even closer.
“Because I’ve seen Chloe naked, and you so nearly naked in your little Speedos you might as well be, and let me tell you, that ain’t the two of you! But I really am curious how, whoever this is, got their legs in that position!” Without another word, Dani turned, envelop in hand, and bounced through the open door, headed toward the kitchen, and she hoped, her parents.
Sergei and Chloe remained stock-still, completely baffled by Dani’s unusual take on the whole matter. They only hoped she was right and that ‘no one in their right minds would believe that was the two of them,’ because if it came down to it, proving it wasn’t them could wind up being extremely embarrassing!
And when it came right down to it, if he was going to be accused to doing such things to Chloe, it would be a much easier pill to swallow if he’d actually had the pleasure of doing them.
Still, Dani was right about one thing, he too wondered how two people managed to do anything even remotely pleasurable with their legs in that position!
Another call to their attorney was made and, within moments Marcus Carlton’s calming voice was asking questions, listening to Aleksei’s answers, and suggesting a course of action. The conversation lasted several minutes before Marcus finally stated, “It’s obvious the Manning’s are looking to play hard ball and head games with you all. Despite my personal desires to see Manning Senior disbarred, or better still jailed, it would satisfy me to, at least temporarily, put a leash on him. Hunter James should be arriving by early tomorrow afternoon. He’s up to speed on the case, is privy to the various
questionable
actions Manning Senior has been involved in and somehow managed to escape unscathed. In all honesty, the man is making me crazy because he hasn’t had any cases lately that have allowed him to draw blood, so to speak.”
“Sounds like a fine choice to take on the Manning’s,” Aleksei agreed.
“He’s one of my best. In fact, if he wasn’t so damn young, I’d seriously consider making him a partner,” Marcus allowed.
“Exactly how young is he?”
“Twenty-five, but don’t let his age fool you. He’s an old soul in a young, too handsome body, a kid from the streets. His driver’s license may say he’s twenty-five, but he’s lived through things I wouldn’t wish on anyone and come out on his feet. He’s tough, but fair, calls things as he sees them and doesn’t believe in sugar coating anything. So be warned, when he asks questions, he wants answers– straight, concise, no frills answers.” Marcus stated.
“I’ll remember that, and Marcus, thanks, for everything,” Aleksei offered deeply.
“Thank me when it’s over. In the meantime, remain calm, keep the faith and lock up the women. You remember how the girls used to flock around Hunter years ago? Well, it’s gotten worse!” Marcus concluded, his deep voice filled with laughter.
“Terrific!” Aleksei mumbled sarcastically. “Thank God Dani has no interest in boys yet. As for the other two ladies in my life–there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”
“Then everything should be fine. I’ll talk to you soon.” Marcus agreed and with a final good bye, hung up the phone.
Aleksei dropped the phone to the counter and with a look that encompassed all the faces that watched him expectantly, quietly stated; “Marcus says everything’s going to be fine; Hunter James is on the way.”
“Hunter James? What kind of name is Hunter James? Who gives their kid two first names?” Dani questioned with a frown and a look of disgust. “Uncle Marcus couldn’t do any better than send us someone with two first names?”
“I don’t care if his name is Ichabod Crane, as long as he can handle the Manning’s,” Aleksei stated firmly.
“Very funny, Dad. Ha, ha, ha,” Dani countered, scrunching her nose at him and casting him a heated look.
“Your father’s right; names don’t matter. And I agree with Marcus, considering everything I’ve read about Hunter’s prowess in the courtroom, I think he’ll do a fine job of chewing the Manning’s into bite-size pieces,” Jordan added. “And on that note, if Hunter’s arriving tomorrow, I’d better make sure another guest room is ready for occupancy.”
The looks that passed from person to person as they watched Jordan make her way toward the stairs were filled with humor and when Aleksei looked at his watch, counted off the seconds and quietly stated “Now.” no one was surprised when the low hum of a vacuum cleaner started.
Whittaker, who had sat silently eating a plateful of chocolate chip cookies, merely shook his head in amusement and managed to mumble around a mouthful of cookie, “You guys could give the Adam’s Family a run for their money in the weird department!”
Without missing a beat, Sergei and Dani both sang out, “Da-dada-dum!” and snapped their fingers twice.
Laughter erupted, back-dropped by the subtle hum of a vacuum cleaner.
As Marcus had promised, Hunter James pulled up in front of the Rocmanov’s brick home, at precisely nine o’clock the next morning. The deep, low rumble of a powerful motor as it idled before the engine was shut down vibrated in the early morning air and drew Dani’s attention as she’d been making her way through the house on her way to the ice rink. With a quick peek through the sheer window curtains, her eyebrows lifted slightly, a cynical expression lighting her green eyes, as she spotted the shining black Mercedes and in a bored tone, stated, “The barracuda’s arrived.”
Jordan, having been expecting Hunter’s arrival, had heard the low rumble and found her daughter peeking out the window. Looking over her daughter’s shoulder, her own eyes widened in surprise at the beautiful vehicle. “I’d say he’s doing okay for himself in the courtroom if he can afford a beauty like that,” Jordan stated in approval.
“Mom, please. It’s just a stupid car. Nothing more than a substitute for a lack in his manhood, I’m sure!” Dani answered flatly, casting a final look out the window.
“Where do you come up with such things?” Jordan asked laughingly.
“I read.”
“Maybe I should be censoring what you ‘read’ these days,” Jordan suggested, opening her arms to her daughter for a hug.
“It was your magazine,” Dani stated with a smile, returning her mother’s hug and placing a quick kiss on her cheek. “I’m already late for the ice; Whittaker’s probably thinking up ways to torture me as we speak. I’ll see you at lunch.” With a final kiss, she dashed back through the kitchen and out the back door, headed toward the ice rink.
The sound of the doorbell ringing had Jordan’s attention returning to the matter at hand and quickly opening the door. Before her stood Hunter James, attired in a dark Armani suit, sparkling white shirt and tasteful silk tie. Despite the fashionable clothes that designated him successful, the wide shoulders and broad chest signified he was no couch potato. With looks that could easily have had him gracing the cover of
GQ
, Jordan couldn’t help but enjoy looking at the handsome man with eyes the color of warm cognac. Stylishly short hair that fell in haphazard waves in varying shades of tawny blew lightly in the gentle morning breeze, high cheekbones that any woman would have envied and dimples on either side of a gorgeous mouth that looked positively edible had often caused him grief over his ‘pretty looks’. His muscular physique had taken care of those who had labeled him a sissy. With a smile of pleasure, Jordan looked up into his eyes, saw the twinkle of mischief that still lingered there and invited him through the door. “I always knew you’d clean up nicely,” she offered with a smile and pulled him into her arms for a welcoming hug.
Aleksei walked in to find his wife hugging the tall handsome man in their foyer and was dumbfound for just a split-second before he recognized the man in his wife’s arms. It had been seven years since he’d last seen Hunter and he was no longer the gangly young man he’d remembered. The man who now stood before him matched him inch for inch, and Aleksei acknowledged the fact that Hunter hadn’t spent his time strictly behind a desk. “Exactly what time did Marcus have you on the road this morning for you to be arriving at this time of the day?” Aleksei asked, extending his hand and shaking his hand vigorously, silently noticing the firmness of Hunter’s handshake, the eye-to-eye contact he met and maintained and the warmth of his smile.
“Too damn early, sir,” Hunter replied, his voice a deep and warm, just the hint of a New England accent tingeing the edges.
“Marcus believes in starting the day before anyone else does,” Aleksei agreed.
“Yes sir, that he does.”
“Please, don’t ‘sir’ me, that only makes me feel older and I’m feeling plenty old these days as it is!” Aleksei stated with a grim smile.
“As you wish, Aleksei, and if all goes as Marcus and I expect it to, things should be back to normal very soon.”
“Well now, wouldn’t that be something new? We’ve never tried ‘normal’ before. I think that might be fun to see what ‘normal’ is all about!” Jordan teased, and then directed them through the hallway and into the huge kitchen that seemed to be the place all major decisions were made.
In a neat stack on the table rested a small pile of documents: doctors reports, police reports, the infamous pictures. Hunter took a seat and proceeded to look through the reports. When he looked through the pictures, other than a nearly imperceptible lift of his tawny eyebrows, he showed no reaction to the vulgar pictures, although, like Dani, he found himself turning one of the pictures upside down as he tried to figure it out.
“Suppose we start from the beginning?” Hunter stated and with those few words, Jordan and Aleksei filled him in on everything that had occurred since Sergei had found Chloe unconscious on the ice. Hunter asked questions, Jordan and Aleksei answered them as best as possible and two hours and three pots of coffee later, Hunter held up the envelope containing the pictures.
“You’re sure these pictures are not of Chloe and Sergei?” Hunter asked, thumbing through the offending photographs yet again.
“Very sure. Even Dani said it couldn’t possibly be of the two of them.” Jordan answered softly, smiling at her husband’s nod of agreement.
“What makes Danielle so certain it isn’t them?” Hunter asked quietly. Looking from Jordan to Aleksei, he caught the silent communication that passed between the two of them. The gentle smile spoke volumes, and he frowned slightly at the unexpected thought that popped into his mind that had him wishing he too had someone to share that same type of silent communication with. A quick shake of his head dispelled the unasked for thought; long ago he’d decided it was best to go it alone. It was safer that way; better to keep everyone at arm’s length. That way, you never got hurt! Aleksei’s deep voice called him back to the present.
“Dani could explain it best. You’d probably be better off speaking to her about it. She was the one who saw the pictures first.” Jordan said.
Hunter’s eyes of dark cognac eyes widened in surprise and he choked mid-swallow on a gulp of coffee. “Danielle saw these pictures and wasn’t upset by them?” He finally gasped.
“Don’t get us wrong, the pictures did upset her in that they were supposed pictures of her brother and her best friend. But she took one look at them, stated there was absolutely no way this could be Sergei and Chloe and then did the same thing you did, turned that one picture upside down and tried to figure it out,” Aleksei explained.
“The fact they were pornographic pictures didn’t bother her?” Hunter asked in bewilderment.
“She’s seen nude bodies before and with everything that’s put out on movie screens in the name of ‘art’ nothing much shocks her. You have to understand, Hunter, we come from a little different background than you do. In our business, there are times when, during a show for instance, costume changes may need to be made in a matter of seconds and that doesn’t leave time for running to a dressing room because you’re afraid someone might see you semi-clothed. The human body is a beautiful creation, comes in all sizes and shapes and is nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve tried to instill that belief in our children and so far have avoided eating disorders, steroid use and body image problems. Call it a liberal attitude if you like, but it’s worked for us!” Jordan explained.
Hunter shook his head back and forth, a bit baffled by the casualness with which they spoke about nudity. All through his childhood he’d been ashamed of his body; had always seen himself as nothing more than huge elbows, knees and teeth and had made sure no one ever saw him partially dressed. Even on the rare occasions he’d gone swimming, he’d always worn a shirt on the premise that he
didn’t want to get sunburned
. Of course he’d borne the brunt of numerous hurtful remarks, but then again, he could count the number of times he’d actually had to use that explanation on one hand; there hadn’t been many trips to go swimming. With a small shake of his head, he shook off the haunting thought and returned his mind to the present. “Well, then, I should speak to Danielle and hear her opinion on why she believes these pictures aren’t of her brother and Chloe. After that, and depending on what I hear, we’ll proceed to prove these pictures are doctored photos of unknown individuals bearing the heads of Sergei and Chloe.”
“Sounds like a place to start,” Aleksei stated and Jordan’s nod of agreement silently showed she agreed.