Walk a Straight Line (3 page)

“Super Sabbath? What's that?”

“It's a big to-do, where we invite family and friends to come out to church. It's the first weekend in October, and we're having a catered luncheon,” Colleen explained. Clad in her silk camisole, she propped her feet on the bed to paint her toes. Her neck cricked from holding the cordless phone between her shoulder and ear, but she wanted to be ready when Terence came in. She'd found a bright red shade that she wanted to test out.

“I'll try to make it, if I'm not going to see Payton,” Gina added.

Colleen rolled her eyes. “Gina, Payton did the crime. She needs to do the time. Why can't you accept that?” This was a sore topic between them. At first, Colleen supported Gina's dogged efforts, but it was time to let that go.

“I just know there's more to it than that, Collie. Her husband beat her, and no woman should endure that. She was battered, and kudos to her for taking a stand,” Gina interjected.

Colleen huffed. “Yes, but she killed him—she didn't tell anyone, she didn't fight back. She killed him.”

Gina sideswiped the issue. “I'll try to make it. I promise.”

“I know you're trying to change the subject, Gina, but I'm your friend. I just don't want you getting disappointed if things don't work out.”

“Why don't you pray for her, Colleen? Isn't that the Christian thing to do?”

Gina's mocking statement rankled her. She knew Gina wasn't preaching at her—the same Gina who refused week-by-week to come to church. The Holy Spirit held her tongue. “I'll pray for her. But, there is such a thing as praying amiss.”

“Take that off your toes this instant!”

Startled, Colleen almost dropped the tiny bottle of glitter red nail polish on the carpet. Her quick reflexes kicked in, and she saved the beige plush carpet from a nasty stain. She did, however, drop the phone.

“Is that Terence?” Gina's voice pealed through the line.

Ignoring Terence, Colleen grabbed the phone. Terence had shoved his hands in his grey sweat-suit pockets. He eyed her toes and demanded, “I said take that devilish color off your toes.”

Embarrassed, Colleen whispered into the handset, “Gina, let me call you back.”

“Colleen, what's going on? Colleen—”

She disconnected the line. Of course, Gina redialed. Colleen ignored the shrill ring to scuttle after Terence. He had some major explaining to do.

“Who were you talking to?” Terence inquired.

“Just Gina. I was inviting her to our Super Sabbath when you so rudely demanded I change my toes.”

Terence looked down at her toes with curled lips. He snarled, “That's right. I don't want you wearing that.” Just as abruptly, he changed the subject and shrugged out of his sweatpants. “I ran five miles today. You need to get on that treadmill as well.”

Was he calling her fat now? She was a size six and the five pounds she'd gained on her honeymoon hadn't done any damage. But, no, she wouldn't take the bait. She would be the better person. “Forgive me if I'm more concerned about Gina's soul than some measly pounds.”

Terence winced at the barb. “Just be patient, Colleen. God has a path mapped out, and Gina has to find God on her own and in her own time.”

Colleen steered into a safer topic. “Well, He used you to bring me into the light, or should I say, return to Him.”

Terence smiled. He looked really handsome, so handsome that she was eager to help him out of his shirt. She kissed his cheek and massaged his temples. The sandalwood scent of the cologne he'd applied earlier in the day still held the warm, masculine fragrance she'd come to appreciate on him. Her agile fingers worked their magic, and she felt his body tense. She lifted her eyes to his and read his unspoken request. Colleen pressed on his shoulders until he sat in the chair by her vanity and proceeded to give him a light massage.

“You know just what I need,” Terence moaned in between words.

Colleen smiled at the sheer pleasure on his face. She pressed harder, knowing that his muscles were taut with stress. Soon, she felt them loosen under her ministrations and stilled her hands. She stepped away, intending to undress and take it to another level.

“No, wait, I have to talk to you.” Terence grasped her hand and gave her a light tug. Pliant, she fell into his arms and sat on his lap. Terence hugged her from behind. Colleen's body heated. Whirls of desire built within her. She wanted her husband and pressed her body closer to him. She reached behind her to rub his head.

“Remember what we tried the other day? I want to do that again,” she purred. She trailed her fingers down his body and in one brash move, flipped around to straddle him. Colleen bent and blew tender kisses on his ear and neck. Her hands developed a life of their own.

Terence, however, had another idea. He stilled her hands. “I have a great suggestion for Super Sabbath. I think that would be a good time for you to get rebaptized.”

“
Re
baptized?” Of all the things she'd thought he would say, that was the furthest from her mind. Her ardor cooled. Colleen pulled out of his arms and crisscrossed her arms in defiance. Terence ignored her and brought up an inconsequential matter. “I'm out of body wash.”

“There's a spare bottle under the bathroom sink.” Colleen flailed her arms. Terence tore his T-shirt over his head and went to get the wash. She intended to follow him but noticed the red nail polish on the bed and picked it up. She placed it on her night stand, then confronted him though he'd entered the shower.

“What do you mean, rebaptized? I already rededicated my life to the Lord, isn't that enough?”

Five minutes. She fumed in silence for five minutes while she waited for him to get out of the shower and walk into the closet.

“Yes, but your rebaptism would leave no doubt about your renewed commitment to God. Plus, it would put a stamp on my ministry, as I led you back to Christ, so to speak,” Terence addressed her, still inside the closet.

“Isn't it about my relationship with God? Isn't it about God getting the glory?”

Terence walked out, dressed in a crisp white undershirt and plaid pajama bottoms. He made Colleen feel naked in her silk camisole and underwear, so she reached for her robe and slid it on.

“I am not trying to steal God's thunder,” Terence replied. “I am trying to be seriously considered for ministry. I think you
should
do it.”

Something about his tone sent off a warning bell. Was he saying she
had
to do it? “Terence, I can't believe you feel I should do this. Well, I am not going to do it. I did the whole repentance thing already—you know, you were there.”

“Yes, but the others do not know. The single women need to see you do it openly as an example to them.”

Quizzical, Colleen held up her hands. “You are not making sense.”

Terrence's voice took on a different quality. “Are you calling me stupid?”

“No, but I think—”

“Seems to me you've done enough thinking.” Terence rested his hands on his waist. “I'm the head of this family and you will get rebaptized two weeks from now. I don't want to discuss it again.”

Colleen knew that for him the subject matter was closed. Her heart raced, and the hair on her neck raised. She couldn't believe he had just used the whole “head of the family” line. God made man the head, but she was not the tail. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself to keep from making a fuss.

“It'll solve two problems.” Terrence approached her and pulled her body toward him. “I'll get what I need for the ministry, and Gina will surely come for an event like that.”

His last statement gave Colleen pause, but she said, “That's true. I just don't think—”

“Don't think, baby. Just do. Do it for me.” Terence kissed her.

Colleen melted under his touch. She should be doing it for God, not for him. But her heart complied, because she loved her husband and wanted to please him. “Okay.” That one word fell off her lips like a thousand-pound boulder.

“You don't know how happy that makes me.” Relief peppered his words. “I can't wait to tell my mother.” He released her, climbed into bed, and pulled back the blankets.

Her hands flew to her hips. Had she just heard him right? “Your
mother?
”

“Yes, she suggested it.”

Colleen should have known. His mother was like a thorn in her side. When Terence purchased their home in Valley Stream, she'd been overjoyed . . . until she realized Francine lived seven minutes away. Francine was always showing up when she felt like it, to point out something she wasn't doing right.

Yup. Colleen punched her pillows to release some tension. She had no doubt that the entire rebaptism idea wasn't altruistic, but it was a jab at her. She knew it, but she couldn't prove it. She got into her bed with a heavy heart.

“What's the matter?” Terence asked.

You're a mama's boy, that's what's the matter,
she thought, but said, “Nothing.”
God, give me strength.

“Well, I am pleading for the pillows,” Terence joked.

Colleen didn't laugh. From her side of the bed, a tear fell. She discreetly wiped it. She wasn't even sure why she felt the need to cry, but she knew a voice inside her was asking, “Who's going to plead for me?”

Had he heard right?

Gina Price? Keith straightened. He sat around the burgundy oblong table with the other partners in the firm, where they gathered to discuss pressing cases. He raised his finger and piped up, “I'll take it.”

“Huh?”

Keith knew he'd taken Carolyn Usher by surprise. “The Marshall case—I said I'll take it.”

“But, there is nothing substantial here. All we have is a recalcitrant witness and the character recommendation of a schoolteacher. In fact, I was going to suggest that we drop this pro-bono case and research another that we have a newsworthy chance of winning.”

He was a senior partner and didn't have to explain himself. “I said I'll take it.” Keith extended his hand, arched an eyebrow, and pierced her with an imperial stare.

Displeased, she handed him the manila folder. Keith perused the contents and held back a grimace. He didn't stand a chance of winning this one. Maybe he'd spoken up too soon. Keith flipped through the paltry contents and read Gina's letter.

Her earnestness tugged at him. Without making his excuses, Keith abruptly left the semiannual pro-bono case meeting. He had a phone call to make.

He called Gina and asked her to meet him. Of course, she wanted to know why. “I'd rather discuss it with you in person. I'll be there at one. Don't be late.” He covered his demand with a light chuckle.

From inside his BMW, Keith watched her approach. Gina looked like a little doll with dangerous curves in her floral dress and wedges. A slight wind ruffled the ends of her dress, and he caught a glimpse of her legs. He released an involuntary, guttural groan. The wind swayed the dress, giving him a brief outline of her body.
Michael has found himself a diamond,
Keith thought. No doubt about it.

Gina bent over through the window, unknowingly giving him a generous view of her chest had she leaned over. Just a little more to the left, he thought. Keith crooked his finger and directed, with a friendly and neutral tone, “Get in.”

When Gina opened the door and slid into the seat, her dress pulled up and gave him another view of her legs. He watched as she adjusted herself. It was a good thing that he was taller than she was, or she would have thought he was a creep for ogling his brother's woman.
This is not going to be easy.
He'd better watch himself, or he'd be in big trouble.

Keith pulled his mind back from precarious waters and pulled the vehicle away from the curb. He kept her engaged in small talk for the short ride while he navigated the busy Queens Boulevard. He honked his horn to another driver and slid into a parking space.

He touched the small of her back as he led her into the Mesa Grille. Within minutes, they were seated for lunch.

The waitress commented on how well he and Gina looked together and what a beautiful couple they made. Keith waved her off, realizing that she was fishing for a confirmation while shamelessly flirting. He thought that was tacky, but he was used to it.

Gina opened her mouth, but before she could correct the misperception, Keith piped up, “Thank you so much for the compliment.”

Gina said nothing, but once she left, he saw the question in her eyes.

“I didn't want her to think I was available. Women are always flirting with me,” Keith stated.

She laughed, revealing beautiful teeth. “So you used me to fool an innocent woman and possibly broke her heart.”

“Yeah,” he said, without any remorse. Y
eah, right. Admit it to yourself, at least. You like that people think you two are an item.

The waitress arrived quickly with their order, and the two settled down to eat.

“So,” Gina began while taking a bite of her salad, “what's up?”

“I saw your letter.”

Gina wrinkled her nose and tilted her head. “What letter?”

“I'm a senior partner at Bohlander & Associates.” Keith waited.

Gina's eyes widened and a broad smile stretched across her face. “You're the attorney on Payton's case?” Her face brightened the room like the sun after a rainstorm.

Keith looked at her sparkling eyes and felt a stirring within him. Her joy washed over him, chipping at the shell around his heart. His heart flip-flopped. “I just took over the case today.” Gina moved to bombard him with questions. He raised his hand and chuckled at her enthusiasm. “I'll need to review her case so I'll know how to proceed.” Keith's voice dropped. “So, you and I may need to confer in case you have to testify on the stand. But I'm hoping it won't come to that. This case is difficult, but that's my specialty.”

Gina nodded and bounced in her chair. “Oh, gladly, whenever you're ready. I'm just happy to help in any way I can.”

Ready
—apt word. Keith cleared his throat and maintained his cool. “I'll let you know.”

Gina shook her head. “Wow. What are the odds that you would be the one on Payton's case? Small world.” She bent her head to take another bite of her meal. Her hair swept across her face, and Keith yearned to reach over and touch it. Her skin looked smooth and soft. What would it feel like against his hand?

Keith dropped his fork on the table. “Gina.” He said her name lightly, like a whisper.

Gina's fork stilled in midair, and she leaned forward at the mention of her name. Slowly, she put the utensil down on the table and gave him her full attention.

Awareness built and the atmosphere tightened. Keith savored the way her name rolled off his tongue, so he said it again.

“Whatever it is, Keith, just go ahead and say it. Because you're making me nervous.” She waved a hand. “All sorts of things are running through my mind right now.”

Keith hesitated. This was difficult for him to say, but he knew it was now or never. He took a deep breath. “When I finally met you the other night, I must confess, I was ready to meet yet another floozy that Michael had found somewhere. I wasn't prepared to encounter such a beautiful and poised woman. I was especially
not
prepared to react the way I did once I saw you.”

Gina crooked her head, but said nothing. Keith took a sip of water before he elaborated. “In other words, I didn't know that once I saw you, the only thought that would enter my head was that I wished that I had met you first.”
There, he'd said it.

Gina blinked several times and her mouth opened and closed like a fish. Then her eyes widened. “But . . .”

Keith strove to put her mind at ease after his bold admission. “Don't worry,” he injected to lighten the air between them. “I have no intentions of following up on this emotion—”

Gina interrupted, having finally found her voice. “So that's why you brought me here? I mean, how am I supposed to respond to this?”

“I just wanted you to know so that you won't get the wrong impression when we see each other again, because I intend to keep my distance. I know that these feelings will sort themselves out in time.”

Speechless, Gina couldn't provide a more coherent, articulate reply than, “I see.” But, he deduced that she really didn't get it. She didn't understand that she'd literally taken his breath away. “Relax,” Keith advised. He laughed and gave Gina a small pat on the shoulder to reassure her. “Everything will be all right. You'll see.” His grin depicted a confidence he didn't feel.

She nodded. “I hope so, because I don't want, or need, any drama,” Gina declared.

“I am drama free.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Somehow, I don't,” he countered.

Gina looked at him.

Keith looked at her.

Neither spoke.

Both recognized drama, with a capital “D.”

 

 

“If that man is drama free, then I'm Hillary Clinton!”

After her “meeting” with Keith, Gina had entered her house, closed the door, and now leaned against it to compose herself. Keith's declaration had taken her completely by surprise. At lunch, she'd had to grip the chair or she'd have fallen flat on the floor. She wasn't even sure how she'd remained composed the whole time. She'd had to force herself to remember the rudimentary steps to eating.

Honestly, a part of her felt flattered that she had attracted the attention of two gorgeous, dynamic men, but they were brothers, and she was a one-man-kind-ofa-woman.

Gina breathed in deeply several times to settle her nerves. She kicked off her sandals and walked to the sofa. Caught up in her thoughts, she slanted her body in the comfy couch and slung her legs on the end table. Keith had created an awkward position with his confession. She was dating his brother, and Keith was about to be a father. But still he dropped this bombshell. What did that say about his character?

Gina dragged her hands through her hair while she contemplated. His declaration had seemed out of character. Keith hadn't struck her as the kind of man to make a move on his brother's girl—at least, not the Keith that Michael boasted about.

To Gina, it felt like a soap opera—but his confession flattered her ego.

Gina heard a vibration. She went to peek at her cell phone. Michael had texted. Thinking about you.

Guilt surfaced, and her stomach knotted. Michael had been thinking about her while she had been out with his brother. She shouldn't have gone anywhere with Keith, but her curiosity had prevailed against her good sense. Besides, she had no way of knowing that Keith would've made such a startling confession. Gina pondered. Should she tell Michael where she'd been?

That would be a
no!
If there was one thing she had learned in her relatively short existence, it was that you never volunteered any information. What Michael didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

The next evening, Michael requested Gina accompany him for dinner at Keith's. Keith had invited them both. Michael informed her that Eve would be there as well. Gina looked forward to it. She was curious to finally meet Eve and to see Keith's house.

They entered a private driveway that led up to a huge house. It looked more like a minimansion than a regular house. Keith was obviously doing well financially. Michael led her up a flight of stairs until they were at Keith's front door.

The door was unlocked.

She saw Michael turn the lock, enter, then sniffed in delight. “Something smells good,” he bellowed.

“I'm back here.” Keith hollered from somewhere in the back. Michael headed toward the voice, so she followed.

Gina felt her insides flutter. She wondered if her nervousness showed on her face. She felt guilty, like she had betrayed Michael. Again, she debated whether she should have told him about having lunch with Keith. She tried hard to act normal, but her paranoia increased.

“So, what're you cooking?” Michael asked, peering into the pots. He was completely unaware of the turmoil rumbling through her system.

Keith took the spatula and slapped Michael's hands away. “Get out of my pots. You know better,” he warned, but his tender smile belied the reprimand. It was obvious to Gina how much the brothers loved and respected each other.

“I'm making pot roast with carrots and potatoes,” Keith replied. “It will be ready in about five minutes.”

Michael wandered off with something that suspiciously looked like a piece of meat. He carried his stolen goods on a paper towel in his hands, leaving Keith alone with Gina for a moment.

Gina smiled with Keith at Michael's ploy.

“Welcome to my home, Gina,” Keith greeted.

I guess he's not having any problems.
Gina felt disappointed. Keith's face and mannerisms had not given anything away. He appeared cool, calm, and collected.

“Hi.” That was her eloquent comeback. She averted her eyes and looked around the room. Gina tapped her feet nervously. Awkwardly, she tried to think of something—anything—to say. “I love your home,” she stuttered in an attempt to ease the tension in the air.

“Thanks,” Keith replied, then gave her a smile. She saw him raise his eyebrows as if to demand that she lighten up.

Play it cool.
Gina expelled a breath. Suddenly feeling warm, she removed her light blazer showing off her backless cocktail dress. She needed to find Michael. That's who she was here with. She saw that he'd gone to stand by the patio windows to devour his steal. She was much safer over there with him. That
other
one rattled her nerves.

Gina's breath caught at the view. Her eyes roamed the meticulous lawn and artfully placed rainbow assortment of flowers. The sweet fragrances permeated the air and teased her senses.

She felt Michael reach for her hand before drawing her to him.
Please don't kiss me. Not here, not now.

Michael kissed her with passion. Figures, now he decides to be more aggressive. Gina felt funny kissing him with Keith in view, but she still enjoyed it. Michael felt her acquiescence because he quickly deepened the kiss.

However, Gina pulled away. She rested her hand on his chest and crooked her head in Keith's direction. “Your brother is in the next room,” she whispered.

Michael only laughed. “Trust me, if it was him, he'd be doing the same thing.”

 

 

He looked.

He didn't. He watched the whole thing.

Finally,
they broke apart. That was some kiss Michael and Gina had shared.

Keith was angry with himself. He could not believe that he had actually stood there spying on his brother and his girlfriend's tender moment. He was a pervert, an ogre, for ogling his brother's woman.