Page 32 of A Trial of the Heart
“You like the flowers, Ms. Monroe?” Rashad’s sultry voice was music to my ears, causing the tiny hairs to stick up and my heart rate to increase.
“Ma’am, where would you like these?” the delivery driver asked, seemingly over his job as beads of sweat rested on his forehead. I was sure he didn’t bother confirming the flowerswere for me since he heard me answer the phone stating my name.
I was stunned per usual with Rashad, but I gathered myself quickly.
“Umm, you can put them there,” I instructed the delivery guy, pointing to the round table off to the side in my office. After placing the bouquet down, the delivery guy bid a weak farewell and was out the door.
“You there?” I heard in my ear.
I let out a low sigh. “Why are you contacting me? I made it clear last night that I didn’t want anything to do with you outside of the courtroom.”
Rashad chuckled, which irritated me.
“That right?” It was comical and all a game to him.
Pressing my lips together tightly, I spoke through clenched teeth. “If you can’t respect what I’m asking, I’ll press charges for harassment. We both know that’s not something you want given your current situation.”
His laughter never slowed “That a threat?”
“I don’t make those.”
“Say, you want me to leave you alone?” he asked a question I had already made my answer clear on, so I didn’t respond. “Let me take you to dinner. Once that’s done, you’re free to do whatever you want in regard to this case.”
It was my turn to laugh. There was no way he’d said what he had and expected me to go along with it.
“Absolutely not. That’s prosecutorial misconduct. Not only that, I’m uninterested.” I added the last part for my own pleasure.
“Not interested, huh?” I guess I wasn’t as believable as I wanted to be. “You want the calls to stop? Even the flowers or anything else I may have to offer?”
Rashad was so calm, almost too calm it was scary yet had me intrigued.
“I want things to be how they were prior to us realizing we would be in court on opposite sides of the law until you’re found guilty.”
“Guilty, huh?” This time, he didn’t chuckle, but his voice was laced with a tone I couldn’t explain. “Dinner with me, and I’ll leave you be. If not, I’ll keep sending shit to ya job and calling when I want. Hell, I might just drop by the office. I’m sure your colleagues will eventually have questions, and it won’t be a good look for you.”
I felt like I was stuck between a rock and hard place; I hated the feeling, yet at the same time, a piece of me wanted that dinner with Rashad. I had so many questions that needed answering, and I wanted one more time to look into his eyes to see how I missed every sign of him being a bad boy.
“Are you threatening me?”
Rashad chuckled. “Nothing I say is ever to threaten or intimidate anyone, Shiloh. I am asking for dinner. If you decide not to, I will continue pursuing until you agree.” He sounded like we were in a business negotiation.
“So, stalking me?” I muttered. I liked Rashad despite it all but liking him wasn’t enough for all the things in between us.
Rashad chuckled again, but this time, he didn’t speak right away. Instead, only the sound of his even breathing filled the line.
“What do you say, Ms. Monroe? Dinner tonight?”
Pressing my eyelids together, I slowly opened them as if the gesture would cause everything happening or had happened to change. It was all still a mess.
“Lunch, and I pick the place.”
“Early dinner, and youcanpick the place and the day.”
I wasn’t much into negotiations, but I learned enough about Rashad that he’d have it his way no matter what. I wasn’t up for the back and forth.
“I’ll be in touch.”
“Have a great da?—”
