Page 28 of A Trial of the Heart
My mouth fell open slightly, but I kept my composure.
“What’s wrong, beautiful? Cat got ya tongue?”
Quickly closing my mouth, I shifted my weight from one heel to the other.
“Whether real or not, what we had or didn’t, or even what your real name is or isn’t no longer matters. You neglected to tell me you had an open case against you… one I’m working on.” I spoke the last part loudly before clearing my throat. “None of that matters. You’re a defendant inmycase, so you and I cannot and will not speak from here on out.”
Before learning it was Rashad’s case, I wanted to keep in contact, but now knowing the connection, I knew we could never speak again.
“I’m not guilty.”
I chortled. “That’s what every guilty criminal says. Charges like you have don’t come just because…” My words trailed off while my eyes dropped.“Whatever was between us is done. From here on out, you’re the defender, and I am the prosecutor,” I declared.
The elevator dinged before the doors opened. I hadn’t even looked at what floor it had stopped on, but I clutched my bag, hurrying out. Rashad grasped my arm, stopping me.
“I’on care what them documents show. You saw who I was on the cruise. I am innocent, and no matter how you and ya folks try to spin it, that won’t change.”
I heard the charges, saw all the evidence, even knew the case was a solid win for us, but as Rashad spoke and from the look in his eyes, I believed his words.
“We’re done here.”
Rashad stepped toward me, prompting me to take a step back into the elevator wall while I gripped my bag tighter.
With his eyes focused on mine, Rashad lifted his finger, trailing the frame of my face lightly. His touch felt like the softest feather ever. Instinctively, I leaned my face toward him with my eyes closed. Rashad was like a bad drug with a good high. I knew he wasn’t good for me, guilty or not, but I wanted that high. Hearing the elevator ding, my eyes instantly opened, and my body tensed. I wasn’t even sure if this was my floor, but I didn’t care. I needed to get out of Rashad’s presence before the strength I had diminished.
I stepped around Rashad. “We’re done here,” I repeated before walking off the elevator, my heels tapping lightly.
“Shiloh?”
I heard Rashad’s voice, causing me to stop in my tracks and turn slowly to face him. Rashad didn’t speak. He smirked a bit.As the doors to the elevator closed slowly, he winked and licked his lips sexily.
“Oh my gosh,” I muttered, pressing my thighs together, thinking of the many times that very tongue of his brought me to toe curling, mind-blowing orgasms.
Rashad was smooth as warm butter without even trying.
I would have to find some strength from deep within each time I was near him. Because folding like a load of laundry like on the cruise ship wouldn’t work.
After hurrying into the house,I quickly closed my door and rested my back against it with my eyes closed then exhaled a deep breath of relief. I had rushed off earlier like Rashad had followed me. Turns out when I stepped off the elevator earlier it wasn’t my floor, so I took the stairs and stood in the stairwell a good minute before I exited. I had to ensure Rashad was gone. I knew I would have to see him every day in court, but I would be prepared then. My phone rang and vibrated in my designer bag, so I retrieved it. It was LeeAnn calling, which she did daily around the same time.
“Hey, girl!” LeeAnn spoke in an upbeat tone the second our call connected, not allowing me to speak first.
“Hey.” My tone was nowhere near hers as I finally pushed from the wall, stepping from my heels and setting my things down.
“Ew! Why you sound all depressed and shit?”
Since I could remember, LeeAnn always said what was on her mind and didn’t sugarcoat it no matter who she was talking to. She was the same way in the office as she was in the beauty shop. What you saw was what you got. It wasn’t a need to codeswitch with her because she played no games, and no one dared to play with her. I loved that about her.
I sighed, heading for my room as I undid my blouse. “I had court today, and let’s just say I’m not happy about who I’m going against.”
LeeAnn sucked her teeth. “Girl, happy or not, you know you’re going to win that shit, so I don’t even know why you’re allowing it to get to you.”
Another thing about LeeAnn was, next to my father when he was alive, she was always my biggest cheerleader. So many times, I wanted to throw in the towel, and she was right by my side, not allowing me to give up. She was one of the reasons I’d come as far as I had.
“Don’t stress yourself. You’re a bea?—”
“It’s Rashad—Well, hell, Kyan or whatever his name is.” I cut her off. I didn’t know what to call him because I knew him as Rashad.
LeeAnn was either drinking or eating something, or it could have just been her spit. Either way, she choked and slightly gasped for air after I mentioned Rashad.
