After my tangle with Gilmore, I returned to my office, which was located in Decatur inside The Greater Atlanta People’s Bank, a twelve-story rectangular structure with an underground parking garage. The glass and steel building occupied two city blocks. Only a handful of small businesses took up space in the bank. One of those small businesses was Capricorn Hayes & Associates.
I waved my lanyard across the camera, and the gate swung open; I descended to the lowest level, which housed luxury cars as well as inconspicuous ones for jobs like mine. I stepped out of my vehicle. The stagnant air enhanced the smell of exhaust. Just as I turned to walk away, someone spun me around and pinned me to my RAV4’s back door.
“Don’t move,” warned a masculine voice.
I froze. The musk assaulting my nostrils told me the male was a runner—or had been running. Strong hands patted me down then massaged my shoulders before fondling my breasts. “You know, my boss may kill you for this,” I warned.
A deep voice asked, “Who’s he?”
“He’s a bad mutha—”
“Shut your mouth!” He turned me over, and I stared into familiar baby-seal eyes that hinted of danger and pleasure. His bald head bent down, and his tongue traced the corners of my lips before he patted my ass and said, “I received a call from our client who apparently received a call from our targeted gubernatorial candidate. You think you did something special today, Jinx?”
I reached up and caressed his goatee. “Sure did, boss.”
Capricorn Hayes scoffed. “Sho’ you right. But what have I told you about being aware of your surroundings at all times?”
I grabbed my boss’s arm. “But I’m in our secure building.”
He tilted his head and stabbed me with his gaze. He placed a finger to my lips. “At all times, be aware of your surroundings. I shouldn’t have been able to sneak up on you like that. Understand?”
I lowered my head and nodded. Cap and I used to kick it. I’d seduced him after two weeks on the job. Sometimes we couldn’t get enough of each other. But I was determined to make him take me seriously, so we had paused our sexual relations.
Capricorn’s eyebrows drew together. “One last thing. Why didn’t you go for my throat like I taught you?”
I raised my eyebrows then shoved him away. “You really wanted me to chop at your throat? I could’ve killed you.”
My boss shook his head and scoffed. “Hardly. I would’ve blocked you because I’d expect that. But a different perp might not. Understand?”
After glancing around uneasily, I wet my lips and nodded.
“Come on, Jinx. Let’s go upstairs.”
We rode the private elevator to the top floor, where Capricorn Hayes & Associates’ offices were located. Instead of hanging a left toward the office, we veered right toward his two-bedroom apartment. We stepped inside. Sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows kissed our skin. Cool temperatures from the air conditioning tingled my nipples.
He strode past his sleek caramel-colored living room furniture and headed for the bedroom. When he noticed I hadn’t followed, he stopped and beckoned me. I shook my head. “No way. This is business, Boss.”
His eyes squinted then twinkled with mischief. “I just think you should change your top.” He gestured at my tank top. “You’re overflowing.”
I glanced down. One of my spaghetti straps dangled. And my right boob jutted out. My mouth dropped. All those gawkersback there with Gilmore must’ve got a real sight. A flush crept across my cheeks. The strap must’ve torn in my struggle with Gilmore. I pulled up my top, trying to cover.
“Don’t bother. I’ve seen ’em all before. They’re still beautiful. You still have some . . . clothes here. Get a clean T-shirt or something before you head back out.”
I covered myself with my arms and did a slow burn then grimaced. What if I’d been met in the parking garage by one of my coworkers? Talk about mortified! I followed him into his bedroom; he headed for the shower. I pulled open one of the two drawers he’d assigned to me when we were still kicking it. I fished out a blood-red cutoff T-shirt, sat on the king-size platform bed, and made the exchange. Then I got on my cell phone and pulled up my email. Nothing pressing. I checked my voicemail messages. Same.
I heard the water shut off, and Capricorn called out, “You still there?”
“Yeah. Where else would I be?”
“So, you got the money shot. Our client said the senator begged her not to go public. So it must be quite the bombshell.”
I snorted and said, “Got that right.” I still couldn’t believe my luck. Catching the senator and his campaign manager nearly doing the nasty was pure luck on my part and dumb luck on theirs.
Moments later, Capricorn emerged from the bathroom, his buff body glistening and smelling of the most masculine shower gel scent. Even soft, his penis was long and wide. My lips parted half-expectantly. As if he’d affected the reaction he wanted from me, he smiled and finally tied a white bath towel around his tapered waist. I eyed him up and down then shrugged. “Why bother? I’ve seen it all before.”
“Woman, don’t start nothin’ you can’t finish. I’m already ready to blow your back out right now.”
I shook my head and turned my body away from him. I had to get serious for what I was going to propose. Going to bed with Capricorn now would only elicit a negative reaction from him later. Plus, I was not ready for him to break my heart. “I refuse to be part of your three-woman rotation. Either I come first, or I don’t come at all.”
He wiggled his eyebrows and chuckled. “At least you’d cum.” Capricorn quickly crossed over to me and pulled me into an embrace. “Anyway, who says you don’t come first?” I felt his penis stiffen then throb against my belly. My own hands moistened. We stared at each other. Although I trembled with desire for him, I pulled away, but he held me firm.
He froze me with his firm gaze. “Defense technique one-on-one, Jinx. How’re you gonna get out of this hold?” I smiled and brought my knee up, but he sidestepped it. “Uh-uh. Uh. That’s the first thing a man expects.” He flattened one of his hands and gently placed it against my throat. “Always go for the throat. Be quick about it. And don’t stop until he’s immobilized.” Then Capricorn lightly gripped both sides of my neck. “If it’s a woman, or a small man, do this as hard as you can. I won’t do it to you because it’ll put you to sleep. Got it?”
I nodded, trying to shake off the intoxicating effects of his shower gel and his touch. It didn’t work. Warmth still flowed through me. I felt the hair on the nape of my neck and on my arms rise. And I shivered with desire for him. I wanted him bad. Moisture was forming in my panties, and I bit my lip. Suddenly, he released me, and I scampered to the living room. A few minutes later, he joined me. He was wearing khakis, a fitted black T-shirt, and matching Jordan’s.
He stopped in front of the sofa. “Remember what to do if you ever suspect someone is following you?”
I nodded because he’d drilled that tactic into my head first. “Use four rights or four lefts. People may share the same patterns. But they don’t often make the same turns as you do if they’re not following you. But a stalker will pursue you with that pattern.”
Capricorn nodded. “Good.” He slid on the sofa next to me. “Show me what you got.”
While he viewed the photos, I watched his face. At first it was impassive. Then he turned to me. “So, he bats for the other team? Our client will probably be devastated. What woman wouldn’t? But I don’t think he’ll contest the divorce.”
“So, I did good?”
He scoffed. “You did fantastic. Great job. The bonus I promised will be in your account by the end of the day.”
I exhaled and closed my eyes. Now I can pay off the most important bill that’s been looming. Already, it was a day late. I was surprised I hadn’t heard from the creditor. “Cap, I’m glad you think I did good. Now . . .”
He rolled his eyes and threw his head back. “Oh, here we go. I guess you’re gonna ask for a raise now?”
I sighed. “Yes and no. I want an 8 percent raise.”
“Done.”
“And I want better cases. Specifically, I want to investigate—not spy on cheating husbands and wives all the time.”
Capricorn crossed his arms over his chest and moved away from me. “A lot of those cases are dangerous, Jinx. I give those to the men.”
I crossed my own arms and stared him down.
He shifted but held his ground. “You know nothing about detective work, Jinx. Look, I hired you strictly for matrimonial work. Now you tell me you hate it?”
I lifted my chin and curled my lip. “Not saying I hate it. I just want more challenging work. Cross train me. Even policewomen have to be trained in investigations.”
He shook his head and pulled on his goatee. “Too much money’s involved. If you make a mistake, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line. Besides, you still haven’t finished your weekly boxing lessons I signed you up for.” He shook his head. “Nah. Too much money’s involved. You’re not ready.”
“So . . .” I moved closer to him and caressed his inner thigh. “Teach me. Or I’ll teach you.”
His mouth went slack, and his eyes widened. “You’re blackmailing me?” His neck bent forward then suddenly stiffened back up. He scratched his jaw. “I’m betting you’re gonna scream sexual harassment.”
My hand traced the inside of his inner thigh. His breath caught, and his hand clenched the sofa cushion. I leaned into him and whispered, “Baby, I only scream in bed.”
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