Love, Lies & The D.A. (29 page)

“You
certainly found a way to make it a birthday I’ll never forget.”

“I’m
glad you enjoyed it as much as I did,” I reply as the waiter places our food
before us then leaves.

“Are
you seeing anyone else?” Jonathan asks.

I am
flabbergasted. I’m not sure what reaction I should have to that question.
Should I be offended? Should I be angry? Should I just answer his question?

“Why
would you ask me a question like that?” I eventually respond.

“I don’t
think that you are, but I wasn’t sure.”

“Since
we started spending time together, have you been screwing Sophie, or anyone
else for that matter?”

I
realize I’m upset. At this point, in this exquisite setting, I’m hurt by his
question.

“Jada,
I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it like that.”

“How
exactly did you mean it?” I mutter under my breath.

“I
have these growing feelings for you. I know you’re not ready for another
relationship, but… I just want to be sure that I’m not getting too deeply
involved with a woman who’s ultimately not available.”

“You
should know the answer to that question. You should never have to ask me that.
And the fact that you have means you don’t know me as well as I thought you
did.”

“I
didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to know where I stood with you.”

“Why
couldn’t you just ask me?”

“The
truth of the matter is, we’ve only known each other for a few months, and we’ve
only really been in each other’s lives in the last few weeks. We’re still
getting to know each other.”

In
some ways, it feels like we have been seeing each other for months. I suppose,
in the last few weeks, we’ve been through some heavy issues together, making
things seem a lot longer than it’s actually been. I understand where he’s
coming from, but his question hurts a little.

“No,”
I answer quietly. “I’m not seeing anyone else. Are you?”

“I’m
not.”

At
this point, the conversation is over, but the mood has changed between us. For
the rest of dinner, we eat in complete silence. While Jonathan pays the bill, I
step outside and sit by the pool for some fresh air. Darkness has fallen upon us.
It’s a pity that such a great day has ended this way. I hope that by the time
we get back home, I’ll get over whatever silly feelings of hurt I might have.

I
sense his presence behind me, and I’m about to turn when I feel his hands on my
bare shoulders.

“I’m
sorry,” he says.

“I’m
sorry too. You ready to go?”

“Actually,
no. I’m not. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“There’s
no need for you to explain,” I respond. “Your question just hurt a bit. I
thought you knew me better. I confide in you more than I have in anyone else in
the last few weeks. I didn’t think you’d ever need to ask me that question. I’d
never do that to you. I know what that feels like.”

Perhaps
that’s why this bothered me so much, because on some level, what he was asking
would have equated with what Richard had done to me. Under the circumstances,
maybe I overreacted.

“Jonathan,
I’m sorry. This wasn’t your fault. I guess I’m being overly sensitive. Let’s go
home.”

“Are
you sure we’re okay?”

“Yes.
I just want to go home.”

We
drive in silence with the exception of the light jazz that plays on the radio.
When we arrive at the house, Jonathan decides to turn in early. I need to clear
my mind. The dogs keep watch as I slip into my swimsuit and do a few laps in
the pool. I wish the day had not ended this way. I feel guilty for spoiling
what would have otherwise been a perfect day—Jonathan’s birthday.

Apart
from our squabbles when we first met, we’ve never had any sort of fight or
misunderstanding. This is our first, and it leaves me worrying about our
future. Will he retrieve? Has this ruined what we have? Then I realize I’m
afraid that I’ve scared him away, and it leaves my stomach feeling twisted.

I
didn’t show it at the dinner table, but I was so relieved when he told me he
hadn’t been seeing anyone else. The truth is, if he had, it would have hurt me,
even though I know we’re
technically
not in a relationship.

I
guess I’m being selfish, but the truth is, I want to have my cake and eat it
too. I don’t want him seeing anyone else, but I’m still not ready to commit to
him.

I now
know with absolute surety, I don’t want to lose him. I want him to be a part of
my life… I hope it isn’t too late.

I
continue swimming. At some point, I look up and he’s standing at the end of the
pool watching me, clad only in pajama bottoms.

“Isn’t
that water cold?” he asks.

“No.
The pool is heated. You should come in; it feels great.”

He
pulls off his pajamas and dives in. He’s wearing those sexy trunks again. He
corners me at the end of the pool, looking into my eyes.

“You
realize you’ve been out here for two hours?” he asks.

“No, I
didn’t… I needed some time to think.”

“About
what?”

“You…
me… us…”

“Care
to share?”

“I’m
sorry I screwed up your birthday.”

“You
didn’t. It’s been the best birthday I ever had. I wouldn’t let a mix-up wreck
it.”

“I was
afraid that I scared you away.”

“It
would take a hell of a lot more than that to send me away,” he says, slipping
one arm around me and drawing my body closer to his. I cross my arms around his
neck.

“I
want you in my life. I don’t want to lose you,” I whisper, leaning my head
against his.

“I’m
not going anywhere,” he responds, leaving soft impressions on my cheek. “Trust
me.”

I turn
my head to his and he finds my lips. He pins my body against the wall of the
pool with his. I wrap my legs around him, enabling me to reach his lips.
Cupping my face in his hands, his passion is unleashed and he burns my lips
with his. His kisses are deep and sweet, and it wakes a desire that’s been
asleep inside me. His hands roam over my body, from neck to my breasts and down
to my ass, where he lovingly caresses me.

I
can’t hold back further. I allow my hands to wander over his body. Holding him
by his ass, I pull him closer into me. I can feel
him
hard
against my stomach. He wraps his arms tightly around me. With my legs still
folded around his body, he carries me out of the pool to the nearby chaise.

He
lies above me, his awesome body placed between my expanded legs. He continues
to pleasure my lips. His hands massage my breasts, and I know I don’t want to
hold back further. If I were sure the outdoor cameras weren’t angled at us, I’d
rip my swimsuit off right there, but I’m not about to entertain the FBI with
what will be the most intimate moment I’ve ever shared with Jonathan.

“Stop,”
I whisper. “Let’s go inside. There are hidden cameras out here.”

He
immediately rises to his feet and leads the way to the bedroom, being sure to
switch the electronic draperies closed. I await him, sitting at the edge of the
four-poster bed. He stands between my legs. While he gently explores my mouth,
he fiddles with the straps of my swimsuit top, trying to release the ties. He
soon grows impatient and lifts it over my head.

He
gently pushes me up the bed. I’m lying on my back. He circles my breasts, one
each in his hands, and teases my hard nipples with his tongue. I find his lips
once more, and he frames my body, his arms on either side of my head.

“God,
you’re amazing,” he murmurs, planting soft kisses against my neck. “Tell me
what you want.”

“Everything,”
I reply.

He
slides his mostly naked body against me; his erection massages between my
thighs. My hands rove over his ass, and I am about to peel his trunks away when
the dogs blowup into loud, aggressive barking and growls. Jonathan immediately
stops and stands.

“Put
on some clothes,” he says while quickly slipping into his old worn jeans that
are draped over the chair.

“You
think something is wrong?” I ask, throwing a T-shirt over my head.

“Yes.
They never behave that way unless something isn’t right.” He fishes through his
bag for something. I suspect his gun.

Within
seconds, the landline rings.

 “Hello,”
Jonathan answers. “Yeah, we’re inside. The dogs went crazy…” He pulls the gun
out of the bag and loads it. “Yes, I have it… She’s fine. I’m looking at her
now. What! Fine… Please, as soon as you know something. I won’t be responsible
for what I do if they come near this house.” He returns the phone to the cradle.

“What’s
wrong?”

“Something
triggered the perimeter the FBI set around the house. Four agents are checking
it out now. They think they see a heat signature of what looks like two people.
They want us to stay inside and to switch on all the outdoor lights.”

“Do
you think they’re coming after me?”

“I don’t
know, Babe, but I’m here. Don’t worry. The signal came from an area closer to
the side road.”

“But
if the dogs are barking, they must have heard something. They must be close
by.”

“They’re
on it… and I’m here. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you,” he says, folding me
in his arms tightly.

We go
into the living room and shut all the draperies and blinds with the flick of a
switch. I switch on all the lights, including the ones that illuminate the
pathway down to the beach.

I am
on edge, and I can barely keep still, and the dogs won’t stop barking. I’m not
sure if it’s because of my energy or because something is wrong outside.

“It’s
going to be okay, Sweetheart.” Jonathan pulls me into his arms. We cuddle on
the couch. My heart is racing, my palms are sweaty, and I’m tense.

Jonathan
tells the dogs to be quiet, and they do for the most part, but they won’t stop
growling, patrolling the glass bifold doors and sniffing.

We sit
together, but I sense Jonathan too is uneasy. His firearm is mere inches away. He
constantly glances at his watch, and every few minutes, he gets up and pokes
outside through the small gaps between the draperies.

Forty-five
minutes later, we hear a single gunshot, and the dogs explode once more.

He
holds my hand and leads me to the bedroom. I climb into bed, and he picks up
the phone and calls Phillip.

“What
did you find? We heard that gunshot a few minutes ago
…
The
dogs still sense them… Okay. Keep them away from this property. Thanks.”

He
ends the call.

“They’re
in pursuit of two men now.”

“What!”

I chew
my thumbnail. Since Richard was killed, I’ve experienced many different forms
of intense fear, but this has to be the worse. The possibility of someone
trying to hurt me or trying to take my life away seems like it’s more and more
becoming a reality. The phone rings again, and after a short conversation,
Jonathan ends the call.

“Two
men have been arrested, but they may be innocent in this. They’re being
questioned right now.”

“What
made them think they might be innocent?”

“They
were in hunting gear. They don’t know for sure yet. Phillip will let us know in
the morning.”

“What
if they were trying to hunt me down?”

“Don’t
worry. Try to get some rest. If that’s what they were trying to do, they’re in
custody right now, so you’re safe. Come on, Babe. Let’s try to get some sleep.
They’ll call me if it’s important. Otherwise, they’ll text.”

I’m
apprehensive, but he dims the lights and pulls me in his arms.

Jonathan’s
ringing phone
startles us awake the next morning.

“Hey,
Pierce. No. I’m out of town. What’s up? Today? What could be so urgent? Okay. I’ll
be there as soon as I can.”

“What’s
going on?” I ask after he ends the call.

“I don’t
know,” he replies, looking at his phone. “Something’s wrong with my mom.”

“I’m
sorry. Is she going to be okay?”

“I don’t
know. Pierce told me she was at the hospital for a short while last night, and
she asked to see all of us today. I’m sorry, Babe, but I’m going to have to
head home early.”

“Is
there anything I can do?”

“No.
Be alert when you’re outside. Douglas confirmed these men were hunters last
night. They were still arrested because they were doing it illegally.”

“Oh my
God.”

“He
says the wildlife people say no one should be hunting in this area at this time
of year.”

“I
hope you’re right; that was a nerve racking experience.”