Chapter Nine.

Sunlight filtered through the window and hit Erica right in the face. She slowly opened her eyes and shifted in bed to snuggle closer to Brian, only to find the spot empty.

She drew in a deep breath and sat up in the huge bed. Her luggage was still where it had been left last night. They had barely made it inside the house before they'd begun tearing at each other's clothes. As far as they were concerned, two weeks was a long time not to be together.

It seemed that the closer they got to their wedding, the stronger their need and desire for each other was getting. She smiled thinking that last night it might have even gotten a little out of hand. She'd practically been on her back since she'd arrived, but had no complaints about it. Making love with Brian was the best, and more than once she'd pinched herself to make sure everything that was happening to her was truly real.

She frowned when she heard voices. At first she thought the sounds were being carried from downstairs, but then she realized they were coming in from the window.

Grabbing Brian's shirt she moved to the window. He was down below standing in the front yard. Since he had the newspaper in his hand she could only a.s.sume he'd gone out to get it. But Brian holding a newspaper wasn't what grabbed her attention. It was the jogger he was conversing with. A woman who looked liked she had walked off the cover of Cosmopolitan. Cosmopolitan. She was gorgeous, although Erica doubted all that hair flowing over her shoulders had actually grown on her head. She was gorgeous, although Erica doubted all that hair flowing over her shoulders had actually grown on her head.

Her jogging shorts should be outlawed, and who in the h.e.l.l wore makeup to exercise? Only a woman after a man, Only a woman after a man, a voice in the back of her head said loud and clear. And it wasn't her own voice; it was April's. If anyone should know it was April. a voice in the back of her head said loud and clear. And it wasn't her own voice; it was April's. If anyone should know it was April.

Erica frowned. She'd never been the jealous type and trusted Brian explicitly, but there was something about this barely dressed woman practically leaning all over him, almost in his face, that had the hairs standing up on her neck.

Evidently she was someone who lived in this neighborhood, but with the hours she knew he spent at work, when did he have time to socialize with neighbors? And what in the heck were they laughing and chatting about?

Okay, okay, maybe Erica was getting carried away with her thoughts and the woman was the mother of five and her husband was a clone of Idris Elba. Umm, for some reason Erica didn't think so, which meant she needed to protect what was hers. With the shortage of brothers a sistah had to be on her p p's and q q's for man s.n.a.t.c.hers, especially men already taken. There was no shame in some women's game.

Hopefully she wasn't blowing anything out of proportion, but she wouldn't take any chances. She backed away from the window and moved toward her luggage. There was a reason she'd come to Dallas early. And a reason Brian had taken a couple of days off work to spend with her while she was here. They were to celebrate and she was ready to let the party began.

"Good morning."

Brian turned away from the sink and smiled at the same time he felt heat rush through his groin. There stood the love of his life, looking s.e.xier than any woman he knew. Some women liked flaunting their beauty. Erica didn't need to do so, since she exuded hers naturally.

The sundress she was wearing made her appear even more feminine and showcased her gorgeous legs. He could vividly remember those same legs wrapped around his waist last night, holding on tight while they made love. He inhaled sharply at the memory.

He threw the dish towel on the counter and moved toward her, feeling desire escalate through his body with every step he took. When he was in reaching distance of her, he pulled her to him and captured her mouth, hungrily, as a surge of longing poured all through him. When a man loved a woman this much, and when she loved him back, that was definitely a blessing from the man upstairs.

When he released her mouth she tilted her head and met his gaze. "And good morning to you, sweetheart," he said, leaning down and placing another kiss on her lips. He couldn't resist such a move.

"I woke up and you weren't there," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He smiled. It felt good knowing he was missed. "I got up early. You were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you. I wanted to grab the paper and drink a cup of coffee be fore preparing breakfast."

"I figured as much. I heard voices outside the window and glanced out and saw you."

"Did you?"

"Yes. I also saw your neighbor. She's pretty."

He chuckled. "Is she? I hadn't noticed."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. She got close enough for her scent to be practically all over you. She was wearing Allure."

He lifted his arm and took a sniff and smiled. "Umm, not bad."

When she frowned, he chuckled and pulled out a chair from the table, sat down and tugged her into his lap. He'd been around enough women to know when the green-eyed jealousy monster had invaded their genes. He never cared before because he hadn't placed a ring on any woman's finger. Until now. This was Erica, the one woman that mattered. The one wearing his ring. And it was important to him that she knew she had his heart totally. When it came to her there was no compet.i.tion.

"Her name is Donna Hardy and she started working at the firm a few months ago."

Erica lifted a brow. "She works for you."

"Yes, and I guess you can say that now since I'm officially a partner. So far she's been holding her own and I think she's going to work out fine."

She nodded. "And what if I told you that I think she's trying to get next to you?"

Brian shook his head and laughed out loud. "You got that all wrong."

"No. I'm pretty sure I got it right. I'm a woman. My parents might think I was raised clueless about such things, but thanks to April I can pick up on stuff like that."

"Stuff like what?"

"A woman who is interested in a man."

He gave her a doubtful look. "And you figured all that by looking out the window and seeing us conversing?"

"Yes. The makeup, the hair and the way she got close, all in your face, gave her away."

"She was being friendly, Erica. Some people are just touchy-feely that way."

She rolled her eyes. "Men are so clueless." Then she said, "Trust me, I could tell, Brian."

He shook his head. "Then you have to trust me and believe that the only woman I want in my bed, my life and my heart is you."

He meant every word he'd just spoken and he intended to show her how true it was. She had never doubted his love before and he didn't intend for her to start doubting it now. And he knew she was wrong about Donna. The only reason she wanted to take up time with him was because she was trying to get acclimated to the office. But since he was now a partner, they would be spending less time together anyway, so Erica's concern was a moot point now.

He stood and began walking her up the stairs. "And just where are you taking me, Mr. Lawson?"

He smiled down at her. "Back to bed."

"But I thought we were meeting your mom later for lunch."

"We are, granted her plane didn't get delayed again. When I spoke with her yesterday she was hoping to get a flight out today."

He decided they had talked enough and before taking another step he leaned down and gave her the heated kiss they both needed and wanted.

"Here, drink this," Lori Spencer said, shoving the gla.s.s of vodka into Rita's hand. "You definitely seem to need it. And then as calmly as you can, please tell me what the h.e.l.l happened."

Rita took the gla.s.s and glanced up at the woman who was her dearest friend in the entire world. Always had been, even when the two of them were in grade school. They'd even attended the same college. The only time they'd really separated was when Lori had moved to Atlanta after college to attend law school.

Lori hadn't stayed away from Texas too long, returning to the city she loved and landing a job as part of the Dallas Cowboys legal counsel. The woman actually bled blue and silver, and during football season could get just as rowdy as any male. But there was no mistaking-Lori was all woman. She was a beauty who didn't look her age and had been a known cougar once or twice. In fact she was one now. Her current lover was eight years her junior.

Rita lifted the gla.s.s to her lips and then frowned. She glanced up at Lori. "It's straight."

Lori rolled her eyes as she took a chair at the table where Rita sat. "Is there a law against such a thing? Go ahead. It might grow some hair on your chest. But if you want to be a baby, just take a few sips."

In a way Rita wished she could go back to infancy, and then she wouldn't be in this mess. She took her first sip and the drink seemed to burn a hole in her lungs while going down.

"Now, tell me what happened that made you call asking that I pick you up from the airport instead of Brian, and then burst into tears as soon as you get into my car saying, 'I should not have done it.' What, pray tell, should you not have done?"

Rita swallowed, suddenly feeling as if her panties were too tight. h.e.l.l, that wasn't the crux of her problem. The problem had started last night when she'd taken them off...or had let someone else take them off.

"Well?"

She took a quick sip of her drink and met Lori's gaze. "I had an affair with a man."

Lori stared at her for a second and then a slow smile spread across her lips. "About time. Did he have to use pliers to snip away at the fasteners?"

"Lori!"

"Well, h.e.l.l, what do you want me to say? It had been how long? Fifteen years? Even Patrick would not have wanted you to go that long without getting laid. I never understood why you locked your stuff up and threw away the key. I would have gone pure crazy by now."

Rita drew in a deep breath. "You haven't heard everything, Lori."

Lori raised a brow when she heard the tremble in Rita's voice. "h.e.l.l, what did he do? Handcuff you to the bed? Blind fold you? Share you with a friend? What? What could have been so bad to put a downer on your face instead of a smile after fifteen years?"

"He's married." She hadn't meant to blurt it out like that but once she had, she couldn't take it back.

"Oh." The surprised look on Lori's face would have been priceless if the situation wasn't so awful. Tears she couldn't hold back sprang into her eyes.

Lori was out of her chair in a second and leaned over and hugged her tight. "Hey, it's not so bad. Don't cry."

Rita pulled away. "You haven't heard the worst of it."

Lori reached out and grabbed hold of her hand. "Okay, so you slept with a married man. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d probably didn't tell you the truth and you found out and-"

"No, no," Rita interrupted, shaking her head while trying to wipe her eyes. "That's what's so awful. I knew all along he was married, but I slept with him anyway."

Lori lifted a brow. "Were you drunk?"

"I don't think so. I'd had more wine than I needed to have, I will admit that, but I won't lie and say I was drunk. I was attracted to him and my hormones got the best of me."

"Well, was the toss between the sheets worth all this misery you're going through?"

Rita thought of everything she'd done with Wilson last night, every single thing. Even now she could feel his hands on her, touching her all over. And his mouth performing oral s.e.x on her that had her practically blushing. But nothing could compare to the way he'd made love to her. It had been a long time for her, but he'd been gentle, sensual and thorough. She hadn't thought making love to a man could leave a woman breathless, panting for more and wishing the night would never end.

"Well? Was it good?"

Rita drew in a deep breath and said as if still in awe, "Yes, it was good. Very good. I felt things I'd never felt before. It was totally awesome."

Lori smiled and threw up her hands and looked heaven-ward. "Thank you, Jesus." She then returned her gaze to Rita. "Now you see what you've been missing. Forget about the fact he was a married man."

"I wish I could."

"I don't see why you can't, Rita. Chances are you'll never see him again and he'll never tell his wife what-"

"You don't understand, Lori. I know the guy."

Lori looked stunned. "You know him?"

"Yes."

Rita knew how Lori's mind worked and knew her best friend was trying to grasp all she was saying; trying to put it together, shove it all into that brilliant brain of hers. "And you also know his wife?"

"Yes."

Lori grabbed her head and pretended to pull out her hair. "Please. Please tell me it wasn't Fred."

Rita fought to keep from laughing. Fred McConnell and his wife were Lori's neighbors and he tried hitting on them behind his wife's back every chance he got. "No, it wasn't Fred."

"Thank G.o.d." She paused a moment and then asked, "So who is he? What's the name of this married man that you know?"

Rita met Lori's gaze and fought back more tears from her eyes when she thought of what she'd done and the ramifications of the mess she'd gotten herself into. She drew in a deep breath. "Wilson. Wilson Sanders."

Rita knew when Lori remembered where she'd heard the name before. A stunned look appeared on her face. "Wilson Sanders? Hey, isn't that...?"

Lori's words trailed off and she figured her best friend was probably too shocked to finish what she was about to say, so Rita finished for her. "Yes, Wilson Sanders is Erica's father."

Rita glanced down at her hands as she rubbed them nervously together. Her body began trembling in despair and gloom. "I slept with the man who in a few months will become my son's father-in-law."

Chapter Ten.

"Is everything all right, Brian?" Erica asked, watching him hang up the phone with a concerned look on his face.

He glanced over at her and shrugged. "That was Mom. She can't meet us for lunch and doubts she can reschedule for dinner. She sounded pretty awful."

"Really, what's wrong?"

"I guess she's just tired from the delay in Sweden. She'll probably sleep the rest of the day. Get over all that jet lag."

"I talked to my mom a while ago and she said Dad's flight got delayed somewhere in Europe as well, all because of that volcanic ash in the air. I have to agree with the airlines in delaying flights instead of trying to fly through it."