Authors: Marilyn Lee
“I'll tell you what I wasn't doing and that's having unprotected sex with her.”
Damien's gaze narrowed. “You had sex with her while Darbi --”
“No, I didn't have sex with her! You know damned well I don't sleep with more than one woman at a time. She needed to talk. We talked.”
“What about?”
“What is your interest in what we discussed, Damien? Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No.”
“Fine.” He finished his drink and rose. “Thanks for the lift. I'll see you in two weeks.”
Damien shrugged.
Clay turned at the lounge door. Still seated, Damien gave him a cool look. He walked back to the table. “What's wrong?”
Damien shook his head. “Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired.”
“See me to my gate.”
“You're a big boy, I'm sure you can find your gate without me holding your hand.”
“Fine, Damien. Hold down the fort.”
“Don't I always?”
He turned and strolled from the lounge. He'd considered himself extremely lucky when Damien had given up a job with a big IT corporation to assume the job as his vice chairman of the board. For the first time in two years, he wasn't so sure he was leaving Fra-Tech in good hands.
Lately Damien had been moody and short-tempered. If he didn't know better, he'd suspect Damien was suffering from unrequited love. But as far as he knew, Damien wasn't seeing anyone in particular.
At his gate, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned. Damien stood behind him, a grimace on his face.
He smiled and palmed the back of Damien's neck. “If you need to talk ...”
“I know. Maybe when you get back. I'll keep at least two steps ahead of Calder Tech until then.”
He nodded. “Thanks. And keep a close eye on Amber. She's been so nasty lately I'm really starting to worry about her.”
“Me too. Have a safe flight, Clay.”
“Thanks.”
* * *
Three mornings later, while Darbi was in the middle of a meeting with Sharde, the buzzer on Sharde's desk sounded and Sharde's secretary announced there was an Amber Frazier Matlin in the reception area who wanted to see Darbi.
The moment Darbi saw Amber had been crying she was glad she hadn't sent her away. “What's the matter, Amber?”
“I can't keep it in anymore. I have to talk to someone.”
“Damien --”
“I can't tell him. He's worse than Clay!”
She sighed. At the moment, she had issues of her own, but if Amber needed to talk, she'd have to provide an ear. “Okay.” She glanced at her watch. “Let's go have coffee.”
“Can we make it lunch? I'm hungry.”
She nodded. They left the office and Darbi drove to a coffee shop where she and Clay often met for coffee when they wanted to see each other during the day, but were pressed for time.
She ordered a vegetable salad, toast, and a cola. Amber ordered two cheeseburgers, a large order of fries, and a strawberry milkshake.
Sipping her drink, Darbi watched Amber devour both cheeseburgers and fries in less than fifteen minutes. The milkshake quickly followed. When she sat back against her seat, Amber gave her a wary look. “So? What's going on with you and Clay?” She pointed to Darbi's left wrist. “Did Clay give you that?”
“Yes.”
“May I?”
Darbi extended her wrist across the table.
Amber studied the bracelet for several moments. “This must have set him back a few grand. He must really like you.”
“I like him too.”
“If he's going to give you gifts like that, I'll bet you do. I suppose you know he's filthy rich and a good catch. If you land him, you won't ever have to work again. Did you know he owns houses in Jamaica and England and he has sizable stock holdings in --”
“Amber, how I feel about him has nothing to do with this bracelet or how many houses or shares of stock he might own!”
“Really?”
“Yes, Amber, really!”
She struggled. “I'm just feeling a little bitchy. So how are things for you two?”
“I think they're going fairly well. When he returns, it will be three months since we started dating and I'm planning a special weekend.”
“Are you having a party for him?”
“No. I'm missing him and I just want to spend a lot of time with him when he returns.”
Amber leered. “In bed letting him bang your chocolate pussy? Are you one of those sistas who prefer rich, handsome white men? Me? I'll take a well-hung , poor brotha every day of the week over a rich, white guy with a flat behind.” She grinned. “Not that Clay’s behind is flat, but he is rich and white.”
Darbi tightened her lips. She was not in the mood for any of Amber's nonsense. “You know, you probably could have benefited from having your skinny little ass spanked more when you were a younger brat than you are now.”
Amber's green eyes widened, then she tossed toss her head, and laughed so hard tears streamed down her cheeks.
Darbi watched in silence as Amber took several minutes to regain her composure. She finally wiped at her cheeks. When their gazes met again, Darbi saw a grudging respect in Amber's gaze. “I guess that's telling me.” She sighed. “Okay. I'm sorry.”
“Fine, but that had better be the last time you make such a personal remark about me, girl. My preference in men is none of your business, but for your information, I do not prefer white men.”
“Then why are you allowing Clay to fuck you so often you're starting to walk bow-legged? If it's not his skin color that turns you on, it must be his money. And he has an awful lot of that, as you probably know. You should know that he won't marry you and even if you do manage to trap him into marriage, he'll make you sign a pre-nuptial agreement that limits what you can expect --”
Darbi sucked in an angry breath but exploded anyway. “You disrespectful little bitch!”
“Did you just call me a bitch?”
“Yes, I did. Who the hell do you think you're talking to?”
Amber rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“Whatever hell! I'm serious. Damien and Clay may take your shit, but I don't intend to. Is that clear?”
“My shit?”
“Your shit.”
“You wouldn't talk to me like this in front of Clay!”
“Have I made myself clear?”
Amber gave her a defiant stare.
Darbi stared back.
It took several minutes, but finally, Amber shrugged and averted her gaze. “Fine.”
“Good. Now, you want to tell me what's really bothering you before I decide to slap your skinny, half-white, flat ass into the middle of next week?”
“I’m black.”
“Whatever! What’s your damned problem?”
Amber shrugged. “I guess you know, huh?”
“That you're pregnant?” She nodded. “How far along are you?”
“About ... three months. Oh, Darbi. Clay is going to freak when he finds out! And Damien will be rolling up his sleeves wanting to ... he and Clay are so ... crazy when it comes to me. They think it's okay for them to whore around, with both of them fucking Cami until she can't walk, but I'm supposed to keep my knees pressed together until I've graduated from college and gotten married.”
Darbi blinked. “What? What did you say about Cami?”
“What do you mean? What did I say?”
“They both sleep with her?”
Amber's green eyes widened and she pressed a hand against her lips. “You didn't know? Oh, shit! Don't tell Clay I told you or he'll throw a fit. I thought you knew!”
She stared at Amber, wild thoughts chasing each other around in her head. Was that why he didn't believe in marriage because he and Damien shared their women? Is that why Damien had looked dismayed at the picnic when he learned Clay and Cami had gone off together? Had he feared they were having a quickie without him? Did this sharing explain Clay's initial willingness to believe she'd slept with Damien? Would he expect her to sleep with his brother? And did he plan to sleep with Damien's woman?
She closed her eyes briefly. Get a grip, girl. Get a grip. No matter what he and Damien used to do, you know he's not interested in sharing you with any other man. And he doesn’t want any other woman. So don't lose it.
She opened her eyes and looked at Amber, who was still staring wide-eyed at her. She spoke with far more confidence than she felt. “That's over now. He is no longer sleeping with Cami. Clay and I are in an exclusive relationship.”
“Oh? Oh, well. Good, but he and Damien are still unreasonable when it comes to my having a lover.”
“Their feelings might be annoying to you, but I'm an only child and I would have loved to have two older, adoring big brothers.”
“Adoring? They're not adoring. They're ... draconian.”
“What about the father?”
She lifted her chin. “What about him?”
“Does he know?”
She nodded.
“How does he feel about it?”
“He was surprised like me because I'm on the pill and he used a condom. How is that for luck? He says he'll do whatever I want.”
“What do you want?”
“To be able to have my baby ... by myself.”
“You don't want to marry him?”
“No. Marriage is not in my game plan.”
Didn't any of the Fraziers believe in marriage? “Then what's your problem?”
“My problem is going to be Clay and to a lesser extent Damien. It's going to be easier to tell my parents than them.”
“Why are you so afraid of telling Clay?”
“Because he's going to freak out like a nut. Trust me. I know him. And Damien will threaten to kick his ass.”
“Who's ass?”
“Paul's.”
“I think you should just tell them both. Being pregnant isn't the end of the world.”
Amber tossed her head angrily. “And what do you know about being pregnant?”
Darbi moistened her lips and met Amber's gaze. “You might be surprised.”
Amber's gaze widened and she leaned forward. “You mean --”
Darbi shook her head. “Let's talk about something else.”
“Like that?”
“Like the special meal I'm going to make Clay on Saturday night.”
“He's coming on Friday night.”
“I know, but his plane isn't due into Philly International until nine 'o'clock. By the time he gets home it will be well after ten. He'll be tired. I'm going to drive him home and let him sleep. On Saturday I'm going to make him a special dinner.”
“Then you'll tell him?”
She shrugged. “Let's concentrate on your problem, Amber.”
* * *
Clay grinned when he spotted Darbi on deplaning. He rushed forward to draw her into his arms. “Hi, sweetheart!”
She returned his embrace before pulling away to smile at him. “Hi, honey. Let's pick up your bags.” She turned away.
He caught her hand.
She turned to face him. “What's wrong?”
“Honey? You called me honey.”
“I did?” She frowned. “I ... I didn't realize it. You don't like being called honey?”
He drew her back in his arms and gave her a bear hug. “I love it.”
“Oh. Then it's okay?”
“It's more than okay, but it’s the first time you’ve ever called me anything but Clay ... or cocky and arrogant bastard.”
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Let's get your bags and get out of here.”
He nodded.
“Do you want to drive?” she asked as the valet parked her car in front of them.
“No.” He accepted the keys from the valet and tipped them. He handed her the keys. “It's been a long day and I'm tired. You don't mind driving back?”
“No.”
Inside the car, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’ve missed you and I’m so glad you’re back, Clay.”
“I missed you too.”
“Close your eyes and sleep if you like.”
He smothered a yawn. “You're sure you won't mind?”
“No. You can make it up to me tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” He closed his eyes and settled against the passenger seat.
When Darbi woke him, they were parked in his courtyard. Getting out of the car, he saw his bags in the foyer through the open front door.
He frowned. “You should have awakened me.”
She placed her hands against his chest. “You were tired and I'm not some delicate ninety pounder unable to lift a few bags. Look, you're dead on your feet. I'm going home and I'll call you tomorrow.”
He caught her hand. “Is Amber here?”
“No. She's staying with Sharde and Jeff because Damien has a date and she didn't want to be alone.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“Because you need to rest and I need to do a little work.”
“Can't you do it here?”
“No.” She stood gazing up at him, a troubled look in her eyes. “We need to talk, Clay.”
“So talk to me.”
She shook her head. “It can wait until tomorrow.”
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He walked her back to her car, kissed her, and stood watching until the automatic gate closed after she drove through. He reentered the house, went to his bedroom, undressed, and was asleep soon after he slipped into bed.
The ringing phone woke him the next morning. He groaned and rolled onto his side. He picked up the cordless phone on his nightstand. “Hello?”
“Clay?”
He sat up. “Cami? What's wrong?”
“Clay, are you alone?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I really need to talk to you.”
“Go ahead. I'm listening.”
“No, I mean I need to see you.”
He glanced at his bedside clock. 11:16. Damn. He'd wanted to have a late breakfast with Darbi. He sat up. “Cami, I just woke up. What's wrong?”
“I know you have other interests now, Clay, but I really need someone to talk to. Can you come over?”
“When?”
“Now?”
He shook his head. Damn. He wanted to see Darbi, but Cami had always been there for him. Through the years when relationships had ended badly and he wanted or needed a soft, willing woman, Cami had always been there. She had never once turned him away. If she needed to talk, he could wait a few hours longer to see Darbi.
“Ahh. Sure. I just woke up. Let me get a shower, have a cup of coffee, and I'll see you in about an hour.”
“Thanks, Clay.”
He ended the call and then dialed Darbi's number. He got her voice mail. “Listen honey, I have to go out for a few hours. I'll call you when I get back.”
He was halfway to Cami's place before he realized he'd left his cell phone home. He swore softly, but since he didn't expect to be with Cami for more than an hour or so, he decided not to go back for it.