Chapter 2

She changed outfits three times before deciding on the right one. And she almost changed her mind about going. Last Sunday was still fresh on her mind, and the argument with her aunt had left her in a foul mood throughout the week.

She had been at the small cottage ten minutes before the woman had started on her. April had brought gifts for her daughter, and the little girl had been delighted to receive the Barbie doll and the dainty tea set she had found in a toy store a few miles out of town.

She had also brought the money to purchase groceries and some new outfits for Chloe.

She had sent the little girl to play at the next-door neighbor's house.

"She has been asking about her father." The woman told her grimly as she sorted through some things in the cupboard to prepare dinner.

"She does not have a father."

Her aunt had looked at her sharply. "Don't be ridiculous- "

"What do you want me to say? That the man who fathered her wanted nothing to do with her? That he would have preferred that I got rid of her in the first place?"

"Of course, you cannot tell her that."

"Then what, Aunt? Lie and tell her that he is dead?"

"You are going to have to tell her something."

"I will, but not now. I had a dad who cared only about his selfish pursuits and did not care about his family. I have no intention of allowing my daughter to go through what I went through. One day, when she is old enough, I will tell her the truth, not before."

Although her aunt had not pursued the argument further, the tension between them had been so evident that Chloe had noticed it as soon as she returned.

"Mommy, are you and Auntie fighting?" She had asked hesitantly.

"No, honey." April had pulled her in for a hug and diverted her by suggesting they play with the tea set. She had sat there staring at the beautiful little girl, her heart aching that the man who had helped in the creation did not care one hoot about her.

A week later, she resigned from the firm and returned to stay with her aunt after confessing what had happened. The woman had grudgingly accepted her and suggested she leave the baby with her.

April owed her that much.

Shaking off the terrible memories, she stepped back to stare at herself in the mirror. The dress was gossamer thin, the emerald green, a startling contrast to her caramel skin. It was shorter than her usual style, but she had seen it in an exclusive boutique a few blocks from work and decided it would do.

The saleswoman had gushed about how it was as if it had been made for her, and she had agreed. The neckline was scooped, the dress clinging to her slender curves lovingly.

Her thick natural curls were brushed, gelled, and combed back into an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck. Big gold hoops were at her lobes, and a slender gold necklace was around her neck.

Bangles jangled on her left arm, and her makeup was flawless. Picking up the demi lace mask, she slipped into strappy heels and exited. She would make an appearance and then leave. She had not wanted to go in the first place but had been reluctantly roped in when the partners insisted on her being there.

"It's a charitable event, my dear, and requires your presence."

April strongly doubted that, but she had committed to attend.

*****

He was decidedly bored. His brothers were still on their trip out of town, and he thought it would have been more fun if they had been around.

The event was being held at one of the hotels owned by their firm, and his parents were in their element, playing hosts. A smile curved his lips as he watched his mother chatting up a former Supreme Court judge and his plain-looking wife.

Several women had ventured over and tried to get him on the dance floor, and he had politely but firmly declined. He wanted to be alone.

The room was a strange mixture of lawyers, judges, politicians, and several actors. He was accustomed to being around this type of crowd. He had been brought up in the lap of luxury, and even before leaving law school, this was his usual scene.

But tonight, it was doing absolutely nothing for him. He was discontented and feeling guilty as hell that he was. He had everything one could ever wish for, but it was not enough. Not anymore. He was about to stride over to the bar when he noticed her.

He went still as he stared at the woman walking into the room. She had the kind of protracted and leggy sexy walk that drew attention to her curves and long, shapely legs. His blue eyes drifted upward to a face that had his heart slamming inside his chest.

She wore a mask covering her eyes, leaving the rest of her face bare. Her nose was small, her chin pointed and determined. But it was her skin that caught his attention and the dark brown of her eyes, which, even a few feet away, he could see their texture.

He did not recognize her and was sure that he would have if he had seen her before. Before he could even think about it, he was heading toward her, rudely cutting off a colleague who was heading in her direction.

"I don't think I have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance."

She stopped short, her tapered eyebrows winging up as she stared at him. April recognized him, of course; why wouldn't she? He and his entire family were practically royalty regarding the law. In the firm where she worked, their names were mentioned almost every day in some form of frustration or anger.

He was the youngest son; all three men were strikingly alike and incredibly handsome.

"I don't believe you have." She made to move past him when he stopped her by taking her arm.

"Why don't we do something about it?"

"I'll pass."

"A dance or a drink." His deep voice was persuasive. He was not wearing a mask, but she would have recognized him even if he was.

"I can get my own drink." She started to tug her arm away when his hold tightened.

"Are you going to be able to live with yourself if you embarrass me in front of all these people?" His voice was tinged with a hint of frustration that had her staying.

"Let me guess: a guy like you is not accustomed to being left in the middle of the room by anyone."

"You are completely correct. I am asking you to take pity on me."

"Why me?"

"You happen to be the most beautiful woman in the room."

Her eyebrows lifted again, this time in skepticism.

"I did a survey," he added, a smile tugging at his sensuous lips.

"When?"

"Just now."

"And you came up with that result."

"Absolutely. How about that dance?"

With a shrug, she capitulated and allowed herself to guide him onto the dancefloor. The song playing was soft and romantic, allowing him to bring her up against him, one hand holding hers while the other going around her narrow waist.

"Who are you?" He asked quietly after they started dancing.

Lifting her head, she looked at him, her body jolting at the warmth in his blue eyes.

"It's not important."

"I am afraid it is. I would like to know the name of the woman I will be taking to bed."

Even though she felt the heat curling inside her at his words, she gave him a coolly detached smile. "Does that line usually work?"

"What if I told you that was the first time I ever used it?" He swung her around gracefully, his body fluidly matching her moves.

"Then I would have to say that you either think I am na?ve or a complete idiot."

"Neither." His fingers were splayed over her lower back, and he could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin material.

April felt the heat increase as he boldly stared at her lips before lifting his head to look into her eyes.

"Would you think I am forward if I ask if you would go off someplace where we can be alone?"

"I would think that."

"What can I say to change your mind?"

"Let me get this straight. You just met me; you don't even know my name, and you want to go somewhere so that you can have sex with me."

"Something like that." He grinned at her, and April was subjected to the full force of his exceedingly good looks. The man was lethal! "Is it working?"

"No."

"What can I do?"

"Nothing. I am sure that there are several hundred women in this room, married and unmarried, who would be delighted to take you up on your very generous offer."

"All the others do not matter to me."

"Too bad. Still, no." His hand tightened around her waist, forcing her into closer contact with him. His eyes had darkened as they stared at her lips, and she could feel her nipples hardening.

"We do not have to engage in any physical activity. A walk in the park- "

"Why?"

"We could find an unoccupied bench where we can neck." He said roguishly.

A reluctant smile touched her lips as she stared at him. "We are not teenagers."

"I think necking is ageless. What do you say?"

"Okay. A walk in the park then."

"Excellent."

He left her only long enough to tell his parents he was going and chafed impatiently when several people stopped him on his way back to her.

They made their way out of the hotel and turned left to where the vast park was. Their law firm had given it a much-needed facelift and now sported several trails made for walking.

It was practically deserted at this time of night, with a few dedicated joggers taking advantage of the balmy weather. In the middle was a fountain shaped like a whale, with water sprouting from its mouth. She had removed her mask, giving him access to her exquisite face.

"Are you going to tell me your name finally?" He asked as they sat on the bench facing the pond.

"I don't know if I should."

Turning sideways, he allowed his eyes to roam over her face, feeling the jolt as he stared at her beauty.

"My name is Antwan."

"Antwan Collins, yes, I know."

"Now you."

"April Johnson."

"Are you a lawyer?"

"No. Why?"

"It's just that I have never seen you before."

"I don't usually attend functions like that." Leaning back, she stretched her legs out and sighed. "Summer happens to be my favorite time of year."

"I would have thought it would be spring."

Turning around, she caught the amused look on his handsome face.

"Because of my name."

He nodded.

"You guessed it. I was born in April, and my mother decided to name me after the month."

"It suits you." He told her quietly.

"Why?" She mocked. "Because I am bubbling over with life?"

"Because you are like a breath of fresh air."

The sincerity and huskiness caught her in his deep voice, but she had been fooled by a handsome lawyer before and had learned her lesson.

"If I am not careful, I will start believing you." She told him lightly.

"You should."

"Why? Because you are a lawyer?"

The slight edge to her tone made him realize he should back off a little.

"What do you do, April?" He asked instead.

"I work at a law firm."

"As?"

"A COO."

His brows lifted. "Chief operating officer. I am impressed. What's the name of this firm?"

"Balder, Krane, and Fulton."

"I see."

"I am sure you do. You and your family have been up against them for several years."

"Yes, we have."

Tilting her head, she looked at him curiously. "You are not going to comment on the fact that you have managed to kick their collective asses each time you go up against them in court?"

"I prefer to spend this lovely evening concentrating on the beautiful woman I am with. I want to know all there is to know about April Johnson."

"Such as?"

"Are you single, and will you go out with me?"

A smile crossed her lips, and she had to admit that flirting with this gorgeous man felt wonderful. She knew it would not go anywhere, but for now, she could shake off everything and just go with it.

"Single, yes, but as far as going out with you, that's a no."

"May I ask why not?"

"You may."

Antwan had the distinct feeling that she was laughing at him.

"And?"

"And nothing. I am not going out with you."

"Let me guess, you are intimidated by my perfect looks and wealth."

"Yep."

This time, he was sure she was laughing and could see the twinkle in her dark brown eyes. Eyes that he could drown himself in.

"What if I told you I am a bit insecure?"

"Go on."

"Rejection makes me lose my self-confidence and render me unable to perform my duties."

She pretended to consider. "I would say you are full of crap."

His thick eyebrows winged up in surprise, and he found himself laughing. He had not had so much fun in – he could not recall when he had enjoyed himself this much. He adored his niece and nephews and loved his brothers to the point where he would do anything for them.

His parents were great, and he considered himself very fortunate to be born into such a family, but lately, something had been missing.

"You don't believe me."

"What gave it away?"

"What can I do to convince you?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"You are breaking my heart, April." The sound of his deep voice saying her name was doing crazy things to her insides.

"And if I believed that, I would be an even greater fool." She jolted slightly when he took her hand, turning it over to look at the palm.

"I haven't told you that I can read palms."

"Another hidden talent." Her skin tingled at his touch, and she had to consciously not show how much his simple touch affected her.

She gasped when he trailed a finger along the intersecting lines in the soft skin. "It says here that you have met the man who will take you to bed."

"I see. Does it also say that same man is full of crap?"

His lips quirked in a smile that had her heart quickening.

"It says nothing of the kind." A frown crossed his brow as he stared at her palm. "It also says that this man is such an amazing lover that he will make quite an impression on you. And you will not be able to get him out of your head."

"All that?"

"And more."

She started to pull her hand away when his hold tightened. Her head lifted, and she went still at the smoldering look on his handsome face.

"No." She whispered.

"Yes." His sensuous lips formed the single word and had her going weak.

"Look- " She tried to make one last effort to break the spell, but he used that moment to draw her toward him. April wedged her hands on his chest and felt a tremor going through her at the unsteady beating of his heart.

His head descended, and she was helpless to stop what was happening. Her breath escaped in a whoosh as he brushed his lips against hers. With a soft moan, she opened her mouth beneath his, her hands moving up his chest to the muscled broadness of his shoulders to wrap around his neck.

Instead of plunging his tongue into her mouth as she expected, he was tracing her full bottom lip and sending heat racing through her body. Her fingers flexed and unflexed, her body arching towards his as if begging him to increase the pressure of his mouth.

Antwan knew what she was asking for, but he was not ready to give it to her yet. He pleasured himself by tasting and savoring the softness of her bottom lip, his body burgeoning with a burst of incredible desire he could scarcely believe.

One hand lifted to cup the back of her neck, his fingers massaging her skin. Her lips parted as she leaned in, fingers brushing at the nape of his neck. Only then did he deepen the kiss, his tongue driving into her mouth with a sudden ferocity that had her arching against him, fingers digging into his flesh?

She was inexperienced; he thought in wonder as he slowed the kiss down, his mouth moving on hers with quickening urgency. He wanted her, he realized with something akin to panic because he had never felt such an intense pull.

Dragging his lips from hers, he stared down at her, his eyes darkened with passion, his heart racing inside his chest.

"My place or yours?" He asked thickly.

She was about to tell him to go to hell, but she needed this. She had no idea if it was the fact that she had not been with anyone for a long time, but her body was alive and vibrating with need. It was going to happen between them. She decided in that split second.

She was no longer the stupid young woman who had fallen for a pretty face and a mouth full of lies. She was much older now, and what had happened to her before would never happen again.

"Mine."

He shuddered out a breath he had known he had been holding because he expected her to say no.

"Shall we?"

With a nod, she rose, not protesting when he took her hand.

*****

She almost changed her mind about the half-hour journey to her place. They had not returned to the hotel because she was unwilling to start gossip from the people at her firm. She was sure they had seen her leave with him. She could make up some excuse about walking out with him and going home afterward.

It was just sex, she reminded herself. Nothing more. And she was sure he felt the same way. They were two adults giving into their basic needs. This was the twenty-first century, and people – men and women who just met each other had sex every single day. They had a chemistry, and nothing was wrong with exploring it.

After tonight, they would go their separate ways. It was that simple, or at least, she would ensure it was.

Pulling into the small space, she climbed out and waited for him to park beside her.

"It's isolated." He murmured as he came alongside her. For the entire time he was driving behind her, he fully expected her to stop the car and tell him that she had changed her mind and found himself on tenterhooks waiting for her. Now that they were at her place, he felt the relief flooding his body.

"Just the way I like it." Moving ahead of him, she uncoded the alarm so they could enter the foyer before closing and locking the door.

"Would you like a drink? I think I have some brandy in the kitchen."

He wanted to rush her into the bedroom but did not want to appear to be too eager, even though he was.

"Brandy sounds fine."

He watched in amusement as she kicked off her heels and padded bare feet along the small passageway into the kitchen. Without her heels, he was surprised to notice how petite she was—plucking the bottle from the cupboard behind her.

Taking out two glasses, she poured the amber liquid in and handed him a glass. "So, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer, what now?"