looking at you, a strong defense
may be needed. How do you plan to play this?” Skip asked.
“Cautiously. Out of court conversations with the defense attorney would not help
me in the courtroom. I don’t really know him, so—”
Her words hung in midair when he headed towards them.
“Hello, Ms. Constantine. What a pleasant surprise to see you here. I thought
you’d be cramming for our courtroom confrontation.”
“That’s hardly necessary.” She tilted her head sideways. “Maybe you could use
some prep work, Mr. Beckham, but my case is solid.”
Dee groaned.
“Quincy Beckham, this is Skip and Demetria.” She gave Dee a knowing frown.
He smiled and spoke, turned on his heel and held out his hand. “Ms. Constantine, I would like a word with you, if your friends don’t mind.” He smiled broadly at Skip. “I won’t keep her long.”
Surprised to see him there and amazed when he took her hand, she turned to face Skip and Dee. “Excuse us, guys.”
He guided her straight to the dance floor. Another surprise.
“Who are your companions?” he asked.
“My brother and my best friend.”
“Well, since you’re here with family and friends, I was wondering if we—you and I—
could find entertainment elsewhere. If not tonight, then some other time.”
“I’m . . .there’s . . .” Her tongue stuck to her teeth and the words would not come out.
“We don’t have to discuss the case, and if you’re going to tell me about Isaac
Charbonnette, don’t bother. Anyone living in this city knows about the two of you. I just don’t see longevity in your relationship.” He held her at arm’s length. A frown covered his face. “Do you?”
“I…that’s hard to say. We’ve been dating for—”
“Are you engaged?”
“We’re not engaged, but we do have an exclusive relationship.”
“Then think about allowing me to show you how a real man operates. If you like it, dump the big goon, if not . . .there’s no use going there. I know you’ll like it.” His head tilted and his eyes half closed. “Don’t answer right away. Let’s just think about it, Picture it. The two of us together. On the town. Enjoying the grand things in life.” His eyelids lowered as he leaned close to her ear. “In bed. That last part is where I excel. I can even picture your reaction. I can see you writhing in ecstasy, your head thrown back, your eyes closed, screaming my name as I take you places you’ve never imagined.”
Too startled to think straight, she moved away before answering. “You just went from date to finding a mattress. Am I hearing that correctly?”
“Of course not. For now, I just want to start heading in that direction. I can love you like you’ve ever been loved before.” He winked. “That’s not conceit, just facts, and if you give me half a chance, I’ll prove it. I’ll give you a demo first, or we can go for the full Monty.”
“How could you possibly know how well I’ve been loved? You don’t know me.”
“I know you better than you think. I know your kind. Beautiful, cultured,
intelligent. You’re charming and persuasive enough to turn a bland case into true courtroom drama.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying these things. You know who I am. You know what I want, and you know you can give it to me better than anyone else. Don’t you think that’s just a tad bit conceited on your part?”
“Not at all. Part of my charm is that I know how to treat a woman—a lady. I want to wine and dine you, take you to my favorite restaurants and to the theatre. New York of course. When you’re ready, and only when you’re ready, I’ll love you better than Isaac or anyone else. That’s a guarantee.”
Stunned, she stepped back and stared at his incredibly handsome face. “Are you
really that sure of yourself?”
“I am sure of myself, but not because I think I’m a super stud, which I am. Your
football player is the one with the brawn,
may be needed. How do you plan to play this?” Skip asked.
“Cautiously. Out of court conversations with the defense attorney would not help
me in the courtroom. I don’t really know him, so—”
Her words hung in midair when he headed towards them.
“Hello, Ms. Constantine. What a pleasant surprise to see you here. I thought
you’d be cramming for our courtroom confrontation.”
“That’s hardly necessary.” She tilted her head sideways. “Maybe you could use
some prep work, Mr. Beckham, but my case is solid.”
Dee groaned.
“Quincy Beckham, this is Skip and Demetria.” She gave Dee a knowing frown.
He smiled and spoke, turned on his heel and held out his hand. “Ms. Constantine, I would like a word with you, if your friends don’t mind.” He smiled broadly at Skip. “I won’t keep her long.”
Surprised to see him there and amazed when he took her hand, she turned to face Skip and Dee. “Excuse us, guys.”
He guided her straight to the dance floor. Another surprise.
“Who are your companions?” he asked.
“My brother and my best friend.”
“Well, since you’re here with family and friends, I was wondering if we—you and I—
could find entertainment elsewhere. If not tonight, then some other time.”
“I’m . . .there’s . . .” Her tongue stuck to her teeth and the words would not come out.
“We don’t have to discuss the case, and if you’re going to tell me about Isaac
Charbonnette, don’t bother. Anyone living in this city knows about the two of you. I just don’t see longevity in your relationship.” He held her at arm’s length. A frown covered his face. “Do you?”
“I…that’s hard to say. We’ve been dating for—”
“Are you engaged?”
“We’re not engaged, but we do have an exclusive relationship.”
“Then think about allowing me to show you how a real man operates. If you like it, dump the big goon, if not . . .there’s no use going there. I know you’ll like it.” His head tilted and his eyes half closed. “Don’t answer right away. Let’s just think about it, Picture it. The two of us together. On the town. Enjoying the grand things in life.” His eyelids lowered as he leaned close to her ear. “In bed. That last part is where I excel. I can even picture your reaction. I can see you writhing in ecstasy, your head thrown back, your eyes closed, screaming my name as I take you places you’ve never imagined.”
Too startled to think straight, she moved away before answering. “You just went from date to finding a mattress. Am I hearing that correctly?”
“Of course not. For now, I just want to start heading in that direction. I can love you like you’ve ever been loved before.” He winked. “That’s not conceit, just facts, and if you give me half a chance, I’ll prove it. I’ll give you a demo first, or we can go for the full Monty.”
“How could you possibly know how well I’ve been loved? You don’t know me.”
“I know you better than you think. I know your kind. Beautiful, cultured,
intelligent. You’re charming and persuasive enough to turn a bland case into true courtroom drama.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying these things. You know who I am. You know what I want, and you know you can give it to me better than anyone else. Don’t you think that’s just a tad bit conceited on your part?”
“Not at all. Part of my charm is that I know how to treat a woman—a lady. I want to wine and dine you, take you to my favorite restaurants and to the theatre. New York of course. When you’re ready, and only when you’re ready, I’ll love you better than Isaac or anyone else. That’s a guarantee.”
Stunned, she stepped back and stared at his incredibly handsome face. “Are you
really that sure of yourself?”
“I am sure of myself, but not because I think I’m a super stud, which I am. Your
football player is the one with the brawn,
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