Breaking All My Rules (11 page)

Chapter 11

E
rica sat back in her chair, trying to clear her mind. She knew that she couldn't let her curiosity about Jerome, or his possible thoughts about her, disrupt her concentration. She needed to once again remain focused on the task at hand, which at the moment was the testimony being given by a new witness the prosecution had just called to the stand. But just as she was about to dive back into the details of the case, she noticed something that struck her as very odd. Jerome wasn't taking any notes.

She looked at his writing pad and saw that it was empty, void of a single word, even a scribble. Although she had allowed her mind to wander momentarily, she had been paying enough attention to record pertinent information. But in the nearly two hours that they had been sitting in the jury box, he hadn't captured a thing, at least not on paper. She knew that everyone around them had been taking notes, because she could see the busy hands of her fellow jurors at work, writing feverishly, and she could hear the scratchy sound of pencils gliding across paper made by those behind her.

Just as she was about to look into Jerome's face to try to figure out what he must be thinking, the judge announced that the court was going to take its first break of the day.

Erica and her fellow jurors rose to be dismissed and filed out of the courtroom in the same neat, orderly fashion in which they had entered. Once they were in the back hallway, they dispersed to different areas for their brief reprieve. Erica knew she had to put Jerome out of her mind, because the man had consumed her thoughts all morning. She reminded herself that she had a business to run, deadlines to meet, personnel to hire, and problems to solve, so she quickly hurried back to the jury room so she could check her e-mail and phone messages.

Time was of the essence if she had any hopes of having a new design to showcase her exclusive new body butter, so she prayed that the graphic artist she'd always used in the past would come through on such short notice. Erica took a deep breath as she powered on her phone and vowed she would never again take the risk of hiring someone who had no proven track record.

To her disappointment, Erica hadn't received the message she'd been looking for. She didn't want to, but at this point she had to face the possibility that she'd have to go with the regular Opulence design, which appeared on all the other products. No matter how much she wanted to make a splashy show, nothing was worth missing out on the Fashion Week opportunity.

She quickly sent a few e-mails, cleared out some spam messages, and scrolled through the
Huffington Post'
s latest headlines. She was about to read an article when she noticed Jerome at the edge of the table, quietly staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. For a moment she sat frozen, in awe of how sexy he was.
This man is fine as hell!
she thought. His dark chocolate skin looked rich enough to taste, and his smooth bald head gleamed with a high shine, which made her want to run her fingers over its surface. And those lips! He had the kind that she imagined felt good on any part of her body.

Erica was traveling in thought when the court clerk startled her with the announcement. Just as quickly as their break had come, it had ended, and before she knew it, she was standing in the same line, in the same order, ready to go back into the courtroom. This time as they waited in the hallway, she could feel Jerome standing at a slightly farther distance behind her. She wondered if it was intentional, and she felt unsettled by the fact that she wanted him closer, much closer.

Erica looked at her watch. It wasn't even 11:00 a.m., but she was already feeling tired. Dealing with business pressure had become second nature for her, and over the years she had learned how to handle it with a fair amount of efficiency. But feeling so conflicted about a man she desired, but didn't even know, wasn't as easy, and it was draining her faster than her worries about Opulence.

After another two hours of intense testimony from witnesses, and of sitting beside Jerome, who seemed to be preoccupied with things other than the trial—evidenced by his blank writing pad—Erica gladly jumped from her seat when the judge recessed the court for lunch.

As they walked back to the jury room, she had to admit that she was beginning to feel sorry for the defendant. Each person who had been called to testify against the frightened-looking woman seemed to have it in for the accomplished sister, who reminded Erica a lot of herself. They were both in their mid-thirties, single, educated, having earned master's degrees, well spoken, hardworking, and ambitious.

Erica knew there was still a week's worth of testimony to go and documented evidence that had yet to be presented, but at this point she was leaning toward the defendant's innocence.

She knew how dishonest and greedy some employees could be. She had had to fire a few who stole money from the register at Opulence and even tried to sneak products home in their handbags. But she'd also worked in corporate America, and she knew how easy it was to set someone up for a fall. More than once the jealous, mean girls at the magazine she'd worked for had intentionally sabotaged her work, and in one case, they'd falsified documents to make her look bad. But thankfully, she'd been smart enough to record in detail everything she did, creating an airtight paper trail, which made them back off.

Erica knew that she needed to be impartial and that she shouldn't exercise bias, but looking at the defendant, who could have easily been a girlfriend, cousin, or sister, Erica hoped the bespectacled woman hadn't really done what she was being accused of.

Once they were back in the jury room, everyone gathered their things and began to leave so they could make the most of the fifty-seven minutes and counting they had left for lunch. Ms. Maude was meeting one of her friends at a restaurant down the street from the courthouse, and she invited Erica to join them.

“I have to respond to e-mails and make some phone calls. But thanks, anyway,” Erica said.

“Okay, but make sure you break away from that phone long enough to eat something. It's going to be a long afternoon,” Ms. Maude advised.

“You can say that again.”

As the room began to empty, Erica noticed that Jerome was still lingering at the end of the table. Finally, it was just the two of them.

“Erica, right?” he said as he walked toward her chair.

Erica sat her phone on the table and tapped a button on her iPad to clear the screen. She wanted to concentrate on what he was saying, so she removed any distractions. “Yes, and you're Jerome, right?”

“Yes.”

They both nodded and smiled.

“So, um, what're you doin' for lunch?” he asked, his voice sounding rich and deep.

“I'm afraid I'm doing it. I have a lot of work to do, and being out of pocket this morning has thrown me even further behind.”

“Too far behind to eat?”

She laughed and shook her head. “I know it sounds crazy, but if you knew what I was up against, you'd understand.... Lots of important deadlines.”

“Nothing's more important than taking care of yourself.”

Erica didn't know how to respond. His comment sounded so rational and, beyond that, so caring. It wasn't necessarily his words, but rather his tone and the look in his eyes that made her perceive what she thought was genuine concern on his part. “Yes, I suppose you're right.”

“Well, I won't interrupt your work. I hope you get it all done.”

“Thanks.”

Erica watched as Jerome strolled out of the room with the same quiet ease with which he'd entered earlier that morning. His words had been few, but their impact had shaken her.

It wasn't until he closed the door that Erica realized he'd wanted to have lunch with her. He had stayed in the room until everyone left, and then he'd asked what she was doing for lunch. “Damn. What's wrong with me?” Erica quietly admonished herself for her fumble. She hadn't had an offer to dine with a man in months, and now here it was, she'd had a fine man asking her to eat with him, and the only reaction she'd had was to return to her smartphone and iPad so she could check her messages.

“Ashley is right,” Erica whispered to herself. She was so focused on work that she let an opportunity to get to know Jerome slip through her fingers. She wanted to run out the door and go find him, but she knew he was probably long gone.

As Erica sat all by herself in the jury room, her mind took her back to what Ashley had told her yesterday—that at the end of the day she would find herself all alone, just as she was right now. And then she thought about the change she'd promised to make in her life.

Erica knew she couldn't undo what had already been done. Jerome was gone. But right then and there, sitting all by herself in the small, empty room, she made up her mind that the next time the opportunity came to do something with Jerome, she was going to grab it, ride it, and never look back.

Chapter 12

J
erome put on his jacket as he walked out of the courthouse and into the cool, sunny day outside. His mind was swimming so fast, he could barely keep up with all the ripples and waves surging through his head. He'd known from the moment he entered the jury room earlier that morning that the feeling he'd gotten last week about the woman in red had been right on target. And now, after having sat close beside her in the jury box for several hours, looking into her gorgeous brown eyes just moments ago, and listening to her gentle-sounding voice, it was official. She was the one. She was the woman he wanted.

He knew on the surface that it sounded ridiculous, bordered on crazy, that he would be experiencing these feelings for someone he'd just met. Before last week, if anyone had told him that he'd be this caught up in a woman whom he didn't even know, he would have laughed in their face. He wasn't the type of man who fell in love on a whim or acted impulsively. He was always calm and sometimes even reserved with his feelings. He didn't believe in bullshit like love at first sight, or falling head over heels after just one encounter. That kind of fantasy was for fools and daydreamers, and he was neither. In his experience, it took time to build a relationship, and even longer to fall in love.

But he had to change his thinking about that when it came to Erica. Never had he felt the kind of instant attraction and intense desire for a woman that welled up inside him when she was near. She had an alluring energy that drew him to her, wrapping him in a time that stood still. When his mind gave him free moments, she filled it with her vibrant smile and curvaceous body, and today was no different. She was the kind of woman who made him glad he was a man, in a very raw, animal sense.

He had been eager to get to court early this morning so he could see her. He'd already determined from her businesslike demeanor last week that she was the type of person who was punctual, so he'd planned to arrive with enough time to introduce himself and maybe even talk a little before the court opened session.

But he had gotten off to a late start. He was used to rising at the crack of dawn Monday through Friday because people's trash had to be picked up early. But after working from sunup to sundown every day last week, getting up early for the roof repair job Saturday morning, celebrating the festivities of Jamel's birthday party later that evening, and then spending all day with his son yesterday, Jerome was beat. When he hit the snooze button on his alarm clock at 6:00 a.m., he didn't realize that he'd actually hit the off button instead.

When he awoke to the sound of a loud scream, he looked at the clock and jumped out of bed in a rush. It was one of the few times that living in a noisy neighborhood had proven to be an advantage, because if it hadn't been for the young couple yelling back and forth in the middle of the street outside his window, he would have probably slept for another couple hours. He quickly showered, dressed, and sprinted to the metro station to catch the train.

Now, as Jerome crossed the street, headed to one of the eateries near the courthouse, all he could think about was how much he wanted her. “Erica Stanford,” he whispered to himself.

He walked inside the restaurant and thought about the fact that he was getting ready to go out on a limb, but he had to trust his instincts. His gut told him that getting her lunch was the right thing to do. At first, he was hesitant, because even though she hadn't been wearing a ring, that didn't mean she wasn't attached. But after observing and talking with her, he was 99 percent sure that she didn't have a boyfriend. And the way she responded when he asked her what she was doing for lunch convinced him even more. When she said she was going to spend her lunchtime working, there was a loneliness resting in her voice, which told him there was no one special in her life to help fill her time.

Jerome walked up to the counter and scanned the menu board. He'd never eaten at Au Bon Pain, but judging from the large crowd, he knew the food must be good. He found what he wanted; then he tried to figure out what Erica might like. He wanted to take care of her, and this was his first step and opportunity to show her that he could, regardless of his station in life. He knew that everyone shared the same basic needs, and food was one of them. Everybody had to eat.

I need to get her something that's healthy and tastes good,
Jerome thought. There were so many choices, and with what seemed like a hundred different bread selections, getting her a sandwich was going to be more complicated than he'd thought. After careful consideration, he settled on the same turkey sandwich and vegetable soup that he'd ordered for himself.

He knew she was up to her neck in work, so he wasn't going to take up her time, especially when there'd be other opportunities for that down the road. So for now, this was a way to break the ice and let her know that he was interested in her.

His legs couldn't carry him fast enough as he hurried across the street back to the courthouse. If it were not for the fact that he was ready for love, Jerome would have been scared shitless by the feelings that were commanding him at will. But that wasn't the case, because he was more than ready. He was complete. He was sure of who he was and what he wanted. And as he stood in the security line to reenter the building, he hoped that Erica was ready, too.

Five minutes later he was back in the jury room. He saw Erica with her phone pinned to her ear and her eyes glued to her iPad. Without saying a word, he removed her sandwich and soup, a napkin, and a bottle of water from the bag, sat them in front of her, and then turned to walk away.

“I'll call you back,” Erica quickly said to whomever she'd been talking to. “This is for me?” she asked with surprise.

Jerome stopped and turned to face her. “You have to eat, right? I hope what I got you is okay.”

Erica looked at the food before her. “You didn't have to do this.”

“I wanted to.”

He saw her smile turn into what looked like a soft blush, which made him smile in return.
Damn, this woman is sexy
.

“Why don't you join me?”

“That's okay. I know you have work to do. I just didn't want you to have to do it on an empty stomach.”

“Jerome,” she said softly as she smiled again, “maybe I wasn't clear. I would very much like for you to eat lunch with me.”

Her quiet, yet forceful invitation both startled and charged him. He hadn't anticipated her wanting him to eat with her, and from the beginning he hadn't wanted to disturb her work, but he wasn't going to turn down this opportunity, either. He smiled, walked over to the table, and took a seat beside her.

“This was really thoughtful of you,” Erica said, taking a bite of her turkey sandwich. “Au Bon Pain is one of my favorite places.”

“Good. I'm glad I made the right choice.”

She smiled. “Me too.”

They shared an easy laugh between them as they dug into their food. Jerome was glad that he'd trusted his instincts, and as he sat beside Erica, sharing what he knew was the first of many meals they'd enjoy together, a profound realization came to him. Finding Erica and knowing that she was the one wasn't a coincidence. It was fate.

He had initially deferred his jury duty summons a month ago because he'd been working to finish the kitchen remodeling job, which led to the job he'd done last weekend. He almost laughed to himself when he thought about the fact that his busy life had actually cleared a path for the woman in front of him.

“I needed this,” Erica said, breaking Jerome's thoughts. “If you hadn't been kind enough to get me lunch, I probably wouldn't have eaten anything until I finished with work later tonight.”

“You work a lot of long hours, huh?”

“You have no idea. I work harder now than I ever did when I worked for someone else.”

“So, what is it that you do?”

“Have you ever heard of Opulence?”

Jerome thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, can't say I have. But I like the name.”

“Really?” Erica smiled with what he could see was curiosity in her eyes. “Tell me what you like about the name.”

“It sounds . . . I don't know . . . rich, real classy.”

She nodded her head. “Opulence is a bath and body care boutique, and I own it.”

“Get outta here.”

“Yeah, I do. We specialize in high-end body products that make your skin feel and smell amazing.”

No wonder she smells so good.
Her smooth skin looked soft to the touch, and he couldn't wait to do just that.

Erica leaned over, reached into her large handbag, and handed him a postcard-size flyer. “This is my baby. She's five years old.”

Jerome looked at the sleek advertisement. To say that he was impressed was an understatement. He knew that Erica had to be an accomplished woman in whatever she did, but he had no idea she owned her own business. From what he could see from the four different snapshots featured on the flyer, her boutique was first class all the way. Being a craftsman, he recognized quality in design when he saw it. He studied the elegant exterior of her store, with its intricately carved mahogany and glass front door, and the expensively packaged products sitting on the custom-made shelves inside. She had a successful and thriving business.

“This is real nice.” Jerome said. “I'm very impressed.”

“Thank you. Some days it's a headache, but honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It's my dream, and I'm living it.”

She was doing exactly what he wanted to do: start his own business and live his dream, too. Jerome knew there was a reason he'd been attracted to Erica beyond her physical beauty and the light in her eyes. It was the passion inside her that he'd connected with. It was the same passion that rested inside him—the desire to achieve, be his own boss, live and pursue his ambition on his own terms.

As Jerome watched Erica eat, he had an incredible urge to remove her soupspoon from her mouth, lean into her, and kiss her berry-stained lips. He'd finally met someone who was exactly where he wanted to be, and the thought made him feel more confident than ever that this was fate.

“So, Jerome, tell me about yourself,” Erica said.

Jerome hesitated for a moment. He felt that neither his story nor his life was nearly as interesting as hers. And besides, he wanted to know everything about the woman who'd invaded his mind, and he wasn't going to let another minute go by without learning as much as he could about her. “Let's stick to you right now. I find you very interesting,” he said with honesty.

Erica blushed again. “Really? You think I'm interesting?”

“Yes, I do. And I want to know more about you.”

Jerome ate his food and listened as the most exciting, beautiful, and genuinely sweet woman he'd ever met revealed pieces of who she was. He asked questions, and she didn't seem to mind answering them.

The more he asked, the more she shared, and the more she shared, the more he fell into complete rapture over her wholesomeness and gentle strength. He thought everything about her was new and refreshing, from her approach in business to her approach in life. He was used to people with an edge—hard, tough, streetwise folks who had to be that way in order to survive. But Erica was none of that. Her view on life was optimistic and hopeful, and he admired that approach because it made him feel that anything was possible, including love.

He could also see that he'd been right about her romantic status. Except for when she talked about her family, each time she spoke of her personal life, it was with a singular focus. He wondered when her last serious relationship was, how long they'd stayed together, and if anyone was trying to date her now. He knew that a woman as fine as Erica wouldn't stay single for long.
She probably has her pick of men at the country club,
he thought, because he was fairly certain she belonged to one.

Her background was almost foreign to him. He knew that people like Erica, black folks in particular, existed. But until engaging in conversation with her, sharing a turkey sandwich and vegetable soup, he'd never met anyone who'd grown up in the type of affluence she had. Gated communities and private schools were make-believe worlds for rich white people he'd seen on TV when he was growing up. But for Erica, it was the way things were. No big deal.

Another thing he found nearly unbelievable was that she came from a two-parent home, and from what he could piece together, she and her brother had the same mother and father, who were still married to each other. Most people in his circle were lucky if they knew the identity of one parent, let alone two, and if they did know both their mother and father, it was almost guaranteed that only one parent resided in the home.

Jerome was both fascinated and slightly intimidated the more Erica spoke. It was clear to him that she was a woman of means, position, and growing power. Her expensive-looking clothes and the classy way she carried herself said it all. He knew that she easily made ten or more times the money he earned from his regular job and his side construction projects combined.

Even though the thought intimidated him, Jerome refused to let it scare him away. Running scared had cost him so much in his life. Part of the promise he'd made to himself several years ago was that he wouldn't let fear keep him from the things he wanted. He wanted Erica, and he was going to do what it took to be with her.

“Tell me what it's like to run your own business,” Jerome said.

Erica moved her empty container of soup to the side and tilted her head as she took a deep breath and smiled. “It's a combination of sun and clouds. Some days it's like heaven shining down on me, and some days it's completely chaotic with no rhyme or reason.”