Provocative Attraction

Again, Viva snorted. “If you count small talk promising.”

“Ah, honey.” Sophia moved close to drop an arm around Viva’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m sorry.”

“No need. It’s for the best.”

“I don’t think you believe that.” Sophia used her height advantage to drop a kiss to the top of her sister’s head. “Are you saying you hold absolutely no hope that you guys could have what you once did?”

“It’s been a long time.”

“And? A lot of time passed between me and Tigo too.”

Viva conceded with a smile. “Fair enough, but it still wouldn’t be a good idea, Soapy.”

“Not a good idea?” Sophia challenged once she’d chuckled over the name Viva had given her before she could correctly pronounce her little sister’s name. “You did just see the man, right? I’m surprised he walked out of here alone with all the...attention I saw him getting before I had to hustle out of here earlier.”

Viva moved to the terrace railing and looked out into the night as though she were seeing Rook there. “There’re things I don’t want him to know. Ever. Things that might hurt him and that’ll make me feel like more of an ass for leaving than I already do.”

Intrigued, Sophia’s gray eyes narrowed, all teasing elements leaving her face. “Any details you can share?” She joined Viva at the railing. “Is this about Murray?”

“This all happened near the beginning of my career.” She slid her sister a sly smile. “I promise there aren’t any moves I wish I didn’t make. At least none of the truly graphic variety. There are choices I made, though, and later wished I hadn’t. Choices I may not have made if working for Jazzy B’s hadn’t made me immune to certain signs.”

“And that’s Mom and Dad talking now.”

“Maybe,” Viva bumped her side to Sophia’s. “Parents can make a lot of sense sometimes.”

Sophia folded her arms over her chest and turned to lean back against the rail. “So are you going to let these old choices keep you from going back to the man you love?”

“Soap, it’s been six—”

“Back to the man who still loves you?” Sophia interrupted. “V, these things you mentioned... Murray was with you at the beginning. Are you sure that doesn’t have anything to do with this present mess?”

Viva was shaking her head. “This particular choice doesn’t have much to do with Murray but some of my other choices... If I hadn’t made them, you probably wouldn’t have what you need to put your case to bed.”

“Hold it, V.” Sophia took her sister’s shoulders and gave her a slight shake. “I can damn well put my case to bed without drawing you into it.”

“Maybe I want to be drawn in.” Unshakeable determination sharpened Viva’s star-quality features. “I only knew Murray a little through Rook before we started working together at my first production company. It didn’t take long for me to see that he could be a shark, but that’s a commodity in my world and I didn’t shy away from him because I wanted my career and I correctly guessed that he could give me one.”

“Hey.” Sophia gave Viva another tug. “You’re the only one responsible for your career.”

“Thanks, Soap, but Murray really is very good at what he does. He made a very successful move from security to talent representation. Over the years, I’ve come to consider him as a very good friend as well as my agent.”

“And that may make it harder for you to believe he could be involved in all the rest,” Sophia warned.

“Why’d he do it, Sophia?” Viva tugged her fingers through the light brown coils framing her face. “Why’d he risk doing something that could take away his freedom?”

“Some folks can’t resist the sparkle, no matter how much they have. A little more is always a good thing.”

“Yeah.” Viva thought of how that point had pertained to her when she’d started getting noticed—when the sparkle of real celebrity began to twinkle her way. It should’ve been enough, but Sophia was right. More always seemed better. She supposed it was the same for Murray. Too bad his quest for more sparkle had turned him into a criminal.

“I have to be part of this, Sophia.”

“All right.” Sophia nodded. “But if that’s the case, I’m going to need you to agree to any and all requests I make pertaining to your own well-being.”

Viva bit her lip before acquiescing with a hesitant nod.

“I mean it, V. Take it or leave it.”

“Okay...but only on the condition that you don’t let any of this newfound power over me go to your head.”

“I’ll try.” To Viva’s ears the words held little promise. “But give me any of that A-list actress diva attitude and I’ll put you on house arrest.”

“Such a hard-ass,” Viva accused.

“I’m worse.” Sophia waved off the insult. “I’m a bride. I’m about to start getting very anal about things being perfect. Keeping my maid of honor alive goes at the top of that list.”

Viva gave herself over to laughter. The gesture was soon being echoed by Sophia and the sisters tucked into another hug.

* * *

Rook gave a quick prayer of thanks when he pulled the Suburban into the parking spot outside his condo. The need for sleep had latched on harder and heavier the second his butt had hit the driver’s seat.

It was a blessing that he hadn’t hit anything or been pulled over for a suspected DUI considering how wiped he was. He’d been looking forward to an exceptional night of sleep, but he now feared that would be a fruitless endeavor. Finding Viva Hail on that terrace had hit him like a brick to his gut.

He’d known she was in town. He’d run into her while his team had supplied security for her sister. Not until that night had the true force of her being back really hit him. She’d always been able to read him so well and he wondered if she could see how out of it he was earlier.

Resting back on the seat, Rook reminisced on how her perception intrigued as well as annoyed him. He wasn’t a man who enjoyed having others get inside his head.

Viva Hail wasn’t just any other. No, she wasn’t just any other and how had he honored that so long ago? By giving her an ultimatum. No...it hadn’t been a blatant “take it or leave it” ultimatum, but he’d damn well known what he was doing when he gave her that bull about the decision being made for them and that her actions would put them on the path his had already set.

He’d let her think the rest was all her decision and whatever the final outcome, it was on her. The simple truth was he just didn’t want to see her reaction when he owned up to her dead-on perception that he really was set on them being done if she left. How was he supposed to tell her a thing like that?

Furthermore, how were they supposed to make a relationship work if she’d gone along? Every day she’d regret the choice—the sacrifice—she’d made for their relationship.

Groaning, Rook left the SUV and faintly celebrated the fact that his eyes were still weighted by sleep. He made it to the quiet, understated elegance of the lobby. His condominium complex was an impressive layout of four separate skyscrapers interconnected by a series of moving walkways all joining at the lobby. The walkways were basically for aesthetic purposes—the lobby also housed an elevator bay to accommodate those who opted out of taking the scenic route to their respective towers.

Rook selected an elevator, smiling as the warmth and familiarity of home settled into his bones. Work kept him from arriving during the evening rush; his day job wasn’t a normal nine to five after all. He didn’t mind as the schedule usually allowed him to arrive once things had settled down.

The place had a way of enveloping him in a solitude he’d felt in few other places that he’d lived. Perhaps that was because it was the place he and Viva had settled in when they’d moved in together all those years ago.

Plush, yet functional carpeting offset by the warm, golden lighting, glowed from mahogany-based sconces against mocha-painted walls. The allure of the place had been Viva’s doing. Her presence had lent it the truest sense of warmth and home. Only to himself could he admit he’d do anything to feel that again. His current residence, void of her, was a poor substitute, but better than nothing.

The elevator dinged and sent him on a nonstop ascent to his floor which held only one additional unit aside from his own. He and Viva had happily worked like dogs to maintain the utilities and other incidental expenses associated with such a place. As they’d both come from affluent families, snagging digs at one of the most enviable addresses in the city had raised few brows.

Rook’s parents, Kendall and Elise Lourdess, had handled payments on the property. They had fallen as in love with Viva as her parents, Gerald and Veronica Hail, had fallen for Rook.

There was little comment made about them living together unmarried. Assumptions ran high on both sides that nuptials would be forthcoming. Then Viva went to waitress for Jazzy B’s Gentlemen’s Club and had caught the eye of several men. One introduced her to the camera. Offers for commercials began to flood and their relationship, as Rook saw it, began a slow and terrible transformation that had signaled its end.

Chapter 2

“Guess I work better on low fuel.”

Burt Larkin chuckled over his boss’s insight. “I’ll take that to mean the call went well.”

“Guess so.” Rook held the phone away as he yawned. “We spent the last twenty minutes of the call discussing my trip over there.”

“Have I told you how lucky you are?”

Rook laughed. “Only about a million times.”

“So will you grace us with your presence today? It’s not every day me and the guys see someone as lucky as you.”

“How long am I gonna have to put up with these jokes?” Rook said following another few moments of robust laughter.

“Please,” Burt sighed. “We haven’t even started yet.”

Rook countered with a playful groan. “Well, I’ll be in as soon as I leave the cop shop,” he told his second in command.

Burt reciprocated the groan. “Should we have bail money handy just in case?”

“Hmph, not this time. I’m only goin’ in for a quick talk with the new chief of Ds.”

“Ah...this about what went down last night?”

“Not sure. Sophia was kind of vague when she asked for the meeting, but that’s probably because Viva was standing right there.”

“Well, well.” Surprise registered in Burt’s twangy voice. “What was that like?”

“I’ll give you a hint—it’s why I didn’t sleep worth a damn last night.”

“Right.” Burt let the conversation end there, no doubt knowing how touchy the subject was for his boss. “So...at this point, our report is complete and we’ll await your input.”

“I think from here on out the chief’s got her security well in hand. I’ll review and sign the report when I get there.”

Lourdess Securities, known as L Sec by the clients it handled in the private, public and entertainment sectors, had been hired to provide its coveted brand of protection to Sophia Hail following her recent promotion. The detective’s investigation into an ever-increasingly sensational money-laundering scheme had taken root. Threats had also taken root to encourage the insightful detective to back off her inquiries. As a result, Philadelphia DA Paula Starker had sought out Rook and his team to shadow her colleague and friend.

“The rest of the team is in agreement that Chief Hail’s normal security detail will be enough, but we’re good with maintaining our posts until a certain person of interest is apprehended.”

Rook knew what Burt was saying. The team had been on hand the previous evening when several arrests were made in the case. The team knew that Sophia’s investigation had led her to Murray Dean.

“According to what I heard last night, our old friend Dean has a role to play in all this.” Burt told him.

“Yeah...” Rook’s tone was light, but his agreement on Murray’s involvement was firm.

“Will this be a new problem for you and Viva, man?”

Rook laughed. “We’ve had no problems for at least six years, B,” he reminded his friend and business associate.

“True, and it’d be a shame to have new upsets weighing in when you’re about to pull up stakes for Italy.”

“Yeah...” Rook voiced his light agreement once more, but offered no further opinion.

“So I’ll see you later?” Burt seemed to take the cue that his boss was all chatted out.

“Yeah, B, thanks.” Rook added a goodbye and ended the call.

Setting aside his mobile, he rubbed tired eyes and yawned for what had to be the fiftieth time since he’d awakened that morning. Smirking, he turned the word over in his head... Awakened. More like arisen from a troubled bout with his bedsheets.

Dreams had been shoved aside for a night of tossing, turning and images of Viva Hail attacking his subconscious. The sleep he’d hoped to indulge in had flitted away without so much as a toodle-loo when he’d strolled through the quiet, broad space of the condo to the bedroom.

The bed conjured the first of many images—Viva sprawled out on her stomach and sleeping him off after an enthusiastic session of sex, covers twisted with erotic intricacy about her shapely calves and lush thighs. Sleep for him then had become a wish with no possibility of materializing.

Her face and body were irrevocably stamped on his brain. They would never be removed and he wouldn’t want them to be. Such a thing was assured when he’d seen her a few weeks earlier rushing into her sister’s place. She’d been staying with Sophia while visiting Philadelphia. The image of her had then been reasserted last night. He recalled seeing her on the terrace, knowing how close he was to reaching out to take her to him before they were interrupted.

The body, still curvy and lush, was even more alluring. The added muscle tone was attributed to her active career and the physical demands of the roles she secured. The face was a work of natural glamour enhanced by coils of light brown curls surrounding a honey-toned face.

It was a face that needed no man-made accents. The mouth was a study in erotic art as were the high cheekbones and small nose that upturned just a fraction at the tip. Big brown eyes were offset by ebony flecks that sparkled amid upset or...arousal.

No, getting to sleep last night was an idiot’s assumption. And what of Italy? Another assumption? The trip was about more than adding a boost to his business. L Sec was a bona fide success. The investment his parents had made in the dream of their only child had been a smart move. The elder Lourdesses had earned back their seed money many times over.

Rook knew the truth and he suspected most of his executive team knew it, as well. He was running. Two of his best friends had found women with whom they wanted to spend the rest of their lives. It had become too much to remain in the place where he’d lost the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his. The memories that had sustained him for the last six years had at last become a series of ropes knotted into a noose of increasing tightness.

Yes, he was running. Italy was far enough to ease the memories, even if the distance wouldn’t totally remove them. Italy, for him, signified freedom. Freedom from a past he was desperate to exorcise.

Of course, all that was before he’d seen Viva again. Rook glimpsed his hand and realized he’d clenched a fist without feeling the move take hold. His temper was elevating to boiling point. It was another of those ropes that were starting to develop choking intensity.

He was considering some time in the gym to trample the blackness clouding his mind, when his phone chimed, reminding him of the meeting with Sophia.

Once more Rook studied his hand. Flexing it slightly, he cast a lingering look toward the door at the end of the hall that led to his home gym. Pivoting then, Rook headed away from the door as though he were being hunted.

* * *

“Are you sure I can’t bring you anything, Mr. Lourdess? We’ve got soft drinks and an array of bottled waters if you prefer that to the chief’s coffee.”

“I’m good, but thank you.” Rook’s smile exhibited genuine appreciation when he addressed the attractive brunette from his seat before the wide walnut desk.

“Well, you be sure to let me know if you change your mind.”

When the woman left, Rook graced the chief with a look of earnest ease that lent credence to the fact that he had no interest in the magnitude of his appeal.

Sophia’s grin was equally earnest as she observed him. “I should apologize for my assistant. She’s not always so obvious in her appraisal of my guests.”

Rook tossed up a hand, another clear indicator that he thought nothing of the assistant’s overt flirting. “It’s good to have a talent for making the guests feel special.”

“Mmm...” Sophia sipped at her coffee, nodding. “To be on the safe side, I think I’ll tell her your heart belongs to my sister.”

“Sophia,” Rook groaned, leaning back his head a fraction. “Tell me this isn’t why you wanted to see me.”

“No, not exactly.” Sophia studied the steaming liquid in her ceramic mug. “But anyone who saw you guys last night would know there’s still love there.”

“Does it matter?” Rook asked after a moment’s consideration.

Sophia reared back in the scooping burgundy suede chair set behind a desk of impressive breadth befitting the new chief of detectives. “The way you feel about my sister could matter quite a bit in light of what I’m about to ask you.”

“Which is?” Shifting a bit in the boxy chair, same color and finish as the one Sophia occupied, Rook felt equal parts expectant and hesitant.

Sophia left her chair to round the desk and ease her hip down to one corner. “V didn’t come to town just visiting. She wants to make a statement and testify if need be against Murray Dean.”

“What the hell, Sophia?” Rook’s voice was a ragged whisper. His arresting gaze was hard and fixed on Sophia then.

“While she’s worked with Murray, she’s witnessed some things. Things that could tie him up nice and snug to some of Philadelphia’s finest who’re tangled in this laundering case.”

Rook left his chair. Working his square jaw beneath his fingers, he looked as though he were suspended in a state of disbelief. “Is she involved?”

“Viva?” Sophia almost laughed over the absurdity of the question. “No, Rook, that’s not it. She’s seen him with certain people he’d have a challenging time explaining his connection to.”

Rook curbed his desire to question further. He knew there was only so much the detective could share. “Why’d you want to see me today?” he asked instead.

Sophia tugged at a lone curl that dangled from her updo and debated before answering. “I want to secure V someplace impenetrable until we can convene a grand jury. We don’t know if we can indict Dean on what we have now, but we’re determined to pull in as much ammunition as we can.”

“And you’re okay with that? Letting Viva put her ass on the line like this?”

“I don’t need my sister to wrap this, Rook.” Sophia’s voice held the slightest edge. “Viva came to me with this. What she’s got to share could tip the scales a lot more in our favor.”

“What’d you mean about putting her someplace impenetrable?”

Sophia’s shrug momentarily wrinkled her tailored short-waist black blazer. “I’m sure someone in your...line of work would know of such places. You or your men,” she quickly qualified. “I’m not trying to put you on the spot here, Rook. You could pass this on to one of your guys. Everyone around here will attest to the great work you guys do. I’m at the head of that line. I need to know my sister’s someplace safe if she plans on being involved with this thing.”

Rook stalked the spacious office, having resumed his jaw massage. He drew to a complete halt at Sophia’s next words.

“Tigo said something about you going to Italy.”

It seemed that only Rook’s facial muscles were capable of movement then. He used them to fix Sophia with a stunned look.

* * *

“This all seems so unreal,” Veronica Hail cooed while holding her eldest child in a rocking embrace.

Viva enjoyed the feel of being secure in her mother’s arms while her father’s arms enfolded them both.

“I know this was sudden,” Viva said when her parents allowed her to move out of the embrace just a fraction. “Me just showing up out of the blue, but when I heard about Sophia—”

In unison, the Hails were shushing their daughter.

“It’s forgotten, baby.” Gerald Hail dropped a kiss to the top of Viva’s head. “You never have to apologize for coming home.”

“You never had to apologize.”

Viva heard the stress her mother inserted. “Thank you both.” She hugged them again. “You guys were right, you know?” She drew back to fix them with solemn looks. “You warned me against jumping for the first brass ring tossed my way. Hmph. I not only jumped, I threw away my future while I did it.” Viva saw the look her parents exchanged and read it well.

“I’ve seen Rook,” she told them.

Gerald Hail looked pleased. Veronica Hail looked elated.

“Stop.” Viva raised her hands to ward off their glee. “There’s no reason to get all crazy happy here. We didn’t rush into each other’s arms either time.”

“Tell us about these ‘either times,’” Gerald urged.

The Hails listened intently as Viva recounted the meeting at Sophia’s condo days earlier and the party in Sophia’s honor the night before.

“Are you sure it means nothing, honey?” Veronica asked.

“I’m sure and it wouldn’t matter either way since he’s about to head off to Italy.” Viva quickly shared the details of Rook’s travel plans.

“And how do you feel about this trip?”

Viva shrugged, hesitating to answer her mother’s question. “I’m in no position to complain. I’ve been out of his life for six years.”

“I don’t know, Roni, I’m not so sure she answered your question,” Gerald Hail teased.

Viva smiled, fought back the urge to laugh. “Hearing him discuss travel plans was like an arrow through my heart. Am I terrible for saying that? Dramatic and terrible?”

“Oh well.” Gerald squeezed his daughter close and put a kiss to her temple “I’d say yes to the dramatic. You’re an actress, after all.” He sent her a sly wink. “I don’t think we could convict you of being terrible, though.”

“Last night, I wished his business deal would fall through so he wouldn’t have to go. Sounds pretty terrible to me.”

Gerald caught his wife’s eye, smiling when she nodded. “I’m gonna go get our coffee, sugar pea. Smells like it’s done,” he said to Viva after inhaling the air that held the aroma of rich cinnamon.

“Honey, you know you’re entitled to have those feelings about the man you love,” Veronica was saying once her husband had left the den.

Viva’s expression was then playfully stunned. “How do you and Sophia do that? Just assume love is still involved?”

Veronica pulled Viva with her to a time-worn love seat positioned near the fireplace. “I remember that a wedding seemed to be the way things were heading before all those ships started rolling in for you.” She put a hand on Viva’s knee and squeezed. “You left to follow opportunity, baby, not because you’d fallen out of love with Rook.”

“And that has so much to do with it right there. I chucked it all for fame. How shallow could I get?” Viva leaned forward to scrub her face against her palms. “Rook would be an idiot to forget all that and just take me back on faith.”

“But would you want him to?”

“He wouldn’t, Mama. I’m sure the man certainly has no shortage of women who’d be willing to stay put for anything he’d ask of them.” Viva flopped back against the love seat, a dreamy tint softening her eyes. “You should see him, Mama.”

“Oh, I have.” Veronica gave a coy smile. “So have several of my friends.”

The suggestion roused laughter from both women.

“Listen, sugar pea,” Veronica said as she slapped Viva’s knee then. “There’s only one thing wrong with all these women in Rook’s perfect life.” She tapped her daughter’s nose. “He doesn’t love any of them, because they aren’t you.”