Afternoon Delight (10 page)

“No, but we can sneak away. Wait one minute then follow me to the back of the building.”

Rei watched the next brave soul get up on stage and try to belt out “Old Time Rock and Roll” while easing her way back through the crowd. Walking out of the bar area, she saw Chris waiting by the offices. But instead of ushering her inside, he guided her further along the hallway and into the storage room.

“The first place anyone might look for me is my office.” He closed the door behind them before flipping the light switch.

“And this is so much more romantic, making out next to the work table covered in copy paper and advertising brochures.”

“Romance is wherever you make it.” He pulled her into his arms and lifted her to the table’s edge.

“I thought—” She gasped as he leaned over to nuzzle the side of her neck. Damp heat pooled between her thighs and both nipples beaded in response to his touch. “I thought you had to keep your clients entertained.”

“I’ve found a better way to be entertained.”

He reached behind her to unzip her dress. Sliding it from her shoulders and down to her waist, his right hand cupped her left breast and began drawing an intriguing pattern around her nipple. Then he bent down to lick her sensitive flesh, gently nipping the engorged bud with the edge of his teeth.

She groaned and threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him against her. Chris’s mouth moved along the erogenous zones on her upper body back to her lips and she met his kiss with equal passion. She teased him, darting her tongue in and out of his mouth in imitation of the way she wanted him to make love to her.

Without breaking contact, he lifted her up just enough to tug her panties down her legs until they hung precariously from one ankle. His questing fingers slid along her skin until he reached the apex of her thighs and his hand stilled.

Rei grinned. “Surprise.”

“I love surprises.” Chris captured her mouth again in an ardent kiss as his fingers explored every centimeter of her now smooth, hairless labia.

After undoing his belt and pulling down his zipper, she reached inside his pants. Wrapping her hand around his long, hard shaft, she began stroking him at the same pace his fingers were pleasuring her. Her body wept with need as his fingers delved deeper into her sodden heat.

“I want you, Chris. Now, please, right now.”

“Anything, everything, the lady wants.”

He shoved his pants and briefs down and reached for her. Bracing her hands behind her on the table, she crossed her ankles behind his back while he gripped her hips and drove himself into her. At first he set a slow, deliberate pace and she reveled in the exquisite pleasure of having him inside of her.

When she moaned against his lips at the feel of him sliding in and out, he drew her knees up and began to rock faster, harder and deeper. She felt the gathering tension in her womb and heard his rapidly louder groans. The rolling contractions of her orgasm had her crying out his name and a moment later, he came as well.

Chris held her against his shoulder while they both caught their breath. A few moments later, he kissed her gently and moved aside to let her get down from the table and fix her clothes while he pulled up his pants. After zipping her dress, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

“It was nice mixing and mingling with you.”

“Yeah, I’m really glad I came tonight.” Rei laughed and kissed him deeply.

When they broke apart several breathless minutes later, Chris returned to the party while Rei took a compact from her purse and attempted to fix her makeup. She smiled to herself as she reapplied her lipstick. Making love in the middle of a party hadn’t even been on her List.

Neither had been falling in love.

Chris was so much more than a great lover. He was charming and sweet and patient, more patient than she deserved maybe. Despite the short time she’d known him, she cherished his insight and laughter and tenderness, his charm and friendship and spontaneity.

A little place in her heart expanded with a feeling she shouldn’t allow. Chris had unlocked the door. Now she had to choose whether or not to walk through it. The other side was fraught with uncertainty and the chance of being badly hurt. But she finally had to admit that it might just be worth the risk.

S
ATURDAY WAS
a beautiful warm day but—typically for San Francisco—kind of windy, especially standing on Webster Bridge, the pedestrian walkway over Geary Street. Chris smiled down at Rei, noticing how the sun lit her dark hair and cast a golden glow over her skin. She looked happy and he hoped that being with him was part of the reason.

“Considering how strictly you’ve been adhering to the ground rules, I was surprised that you asked me out on a non-sex, non-lunch date.”

She glanced at him and then away, bright color suddenly warming her cheeks. “I haven’t come to this festival in years and I just thought you’d like to see it.”

Chris merely smiled, but inside he was pleased that she hadn’t denied their change of status. He didn’t know when it had happened and often, like when she fell into a melancholy silence and held him at a distance, he didn’t know why, but he had fallen for this complex and fascinating woman.

Her sensuality heated his dreams while her compassion toward the kids she worked with touched his heart. He hated the way she still kept a part of herself hidden, admired her willingness to try new things and loved her ability to surprise him. Basically, he was crazy about her.

But he didn’t know if Rei returned his feelings and he wasn’t going to ask. The least invested person in any relationship had control of the relationship. If he tried too hard to hold her, he’d lose her for sure. It might be better to let her go now, before he got in any deeper. Before she walked out and took his heart with her.

They stood side by side, waiting for the parade to begin. Hundreds of people lined Post Street, the older sitting on folding chairs, the younger standing on the curb, and the youngest bouncing around complaining, ‘When is it going to start? Has it started yet? Well, when?’

“So tell me what’s going on? Even though I moved here as a kid, I’ve never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival before.”

She raised her voice to be heard over a man on a PA system saying something in Japanese. “The
sakura matsuri
is a celebration of seasonal rebirth. The delicate pink and white flowers only last for a week or two before they fall from the trees. They symbolize the brevity of human life and therefore remind us to rejoice and reflect.”

An elderly but spry-looking Japanese man sitting in front of them turned his head to speak to Rei. When she leaned down to reply, he said something else and she laughed. The man patted her arm and winked at Chris before shifting his attention to the first parade vehicles and marching bands coming around the corner.

Chris leaned close to murmur in her ear, “What was so funny?”

“This gentleman overheard what I told you. He said the secret to appreciating life is to stay young. When I asked how to do that, he said you must walk every day, laugh every day and make love every day.”

Chris drew his fingers over a sensitive spot on the side of her neck and smiled down at her in a way that made her blush. “I could live by that advice.”

“Yes, I somehow guessed that about you.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, stroking his back beneath his lightweight jacket. Rising up on her toes, she pursed her lips for a kiss. Happy to
oblige, he leaned down to meet her and covered her mouth with his own. It was a different kind of kiss, more warm than hot and more statement than question. He liked it.

He turned her around, holding her sexy little body against his larger one to block the wind. The street was jam-packed with people, mostly families and friends by the look of them, cheering at dancers in traditional kimono and brightly colored floats as they passed by.

“I used to come every year, especially after my mom died. My
obasaan,
my grandmother, would make shrimp-flavored rice cakes for us to eat while we waited for the parade to start. Afterwards,
Ojiisan,
my grandfather, used to buy me a bonsai tree to remember the day.”

Chris wrapped his arms a little tighter around her shoulders in a hug and kissed the top of her hair.

The air filled with the sound of cheering and the deep thundering boom of
taiko
drummers as the Cherry Blossom Queen and her court waved from atop their flower-draped float. As they passed, Rei pointed out the
mikoshi,
or portable shrines, and the
buyo
classical and
minyo
folk dancers.

The parade finally ended with the Taru Mikoshi, a huge barrel-shaped shrine carried by almost a hundred people. Chris followed Rei as she wove through the crowd and walked over to the Japan Center, a five-acre complex at Post and Fillmore streets.

In the Peace Plaza, located between two halves of the Japan Center, Rei pointed out a three-story white
pagoda; a wooden drum tower that spanned the entrance to the mall and the copper-roofed Peace Walkway between the Tasamak and Kintetsu buildings.

The sound of drumming and Asian music echoed off the buildings. Lining the large slate tiles were outdoor stages showcasing martial arts demonstrations and traditional dancing and awning-covered kiosks offering Japanese foods and crafts. The scent of stir-fried vegetables in soy sauce and grilled fish filled the cool air.

“Are you hungry, Chris?”

“Starving, actually.” He pulled her to his side and leaned in for a quick kiss. “I always seem to be hungry around you.”

“Mmm, that can be dessert. For now I’ll take you to one of my favorite restaurants. It’s on the second floor of Kintetsu Mall.”

Miyaki looked like the kind of Japanese house he’d seen in the movies. The tiny restaurant’s décor consisted of mat-covered floors, low tables and rice-paper screen walls. However it wasn’t as crowded as he’d expected. Most people were probably still out in the Plaza, so they were quickly shown to their seats.

Chris had just adjusted his seat cushion, folding his long legs more comfortably under the short tabletop when his cell phone rang. “Excuse me a second, Rei. It’s my sister. Hello?”

“I need you. Can you come over?” Diana’s voice sounded thick, like she’d been crying.

He glanced at Rei. “Um, now? Because I’m with—”

“Yes, now, Chris. Mom, Drea and Dad are all on their way.” Her voice broke on a fresh sob. “Gabriel is in trouble. Michael and I don’t know what to do. Please. You’re the only one he ever listens to.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, Di.” He hung up and looked at Rei’s curious expression. “I’m really sorry about this, but I’ve got to go.”

TO: RLD49

FROM: [email protected] (via text pager)

RE: QUICK EXIT

I’m sorry I had to leave so abruptly this afternoon. It looks like my sister and her husband may be headed for a nasty divorce and my nephew is caught in the middle.

He’s been getting into trouble at school and Diana caught him smoking. My nephew got suspended from school and refuses to talk to his parents about what happened. I’ll be here at my sister’s pretty much the rest of the evening.

Otherwise I would have taken you up on that bubble bath. I’d have offered to scrub your back. And your front. Top to bottom. I really like your bottom.

Chris

RAINCHECK

Sometimes, especially in a divorce situation, kids need to have an adult they can trust. I’m sure he’ll tell you what’s going on and you can help his parents figure out what to do.

I’m home if you want to talk later. Or come share some bubbles.

Rei

Monday, April 21st

R
EI PARKED
her car in the garage, gathered her briefcase of files and walked toward the courthouse lobby. She made a mental note to try to reach Chris this morning. He’d called last night to let her know that his nephew was sleeping over at his place, but then she hadn’t heard anything more.

As she approached the door, her court services clerk rushed forward with a look of relief and grabbed her by the elbow.

“Mary Alice? What—?”

“You don’t want to go in there, Commissioner.” Mary Alice was twice her age and half her weight, but still managed to strong-arm Rei away from the entrance and toward the opposite side of the garage. “There are reporters crawling through all of the corridors, and Judge Orr wants to see you right away.”

“Why? What’s happened? Thank you.” One of the maintenance staff held the service elevator door until they got in, then pushed the button for their floor. Rei turned to Mary Alice. “What in the world is going on?”

Her clerk patted her arm, but her expression was
inscrutable. “The Youth Guidance Center is on level three lockdown. There was a riot among the general population, apparently gang related. Bruce Grayson was involved.”

She felt her heartrate increase, certain she didn’t want to hear any more. “How?”

“Apparently, he instigated a fight, provoking rivals of his brother’s gang. It got…out of hand.”

Rei took a deep breath then slowly exhaled. “Tell me.”

“Fourteen boys in the medical facility. One guard was taken to the hospital in critical condition after Bruce Grayson stabbed him. They don’t think the guard is going to make it.”

D
ESPITE THE ATTEMPT
at deception, Rei still had to run the media gauntlet. Television and newspaper reporters crowded the hallway, and it didn’t take them long to spot her coming down the service corridor. She longed to jump back into the elevator and make her escape, but she had to face them in order to get to the supervising judge’s chambers.

“Commissioner Davis, over here!”

“Do you regret your decision?”

“Care to make a statement, Commissioner Davis?”

“Commissioner, do you feel responsible?”

Rei lifted a hand in front of her face to keep the camera lights from blinding her. Mary Alice and Bill Travis, one of the security guards, were doing their best to shield her, but she felt every shouted question like a physical blow. By the time she’d pushed her way through the mob to the presiding judge’s office, she felt battered as well as heart sore.

This was her fault. Fifteen people had been adversely affected by her decision; fifteen people had been hurt by her choice. Maybe sixteen. Because,
while she took responsibility for her actions, she also felt like a victim. Had Bruce Grayson completely suckered her?

Bill and Mary Alice waited outside, leaving Rei to enter Judge Orr’s chambers alone. He sat at his desk, scratching notes on a legal pad, but looked up as she came in. His craggy face appeared more stern than usual and Rei took it as a bad sign when she wasn’t invited to sit.

“I assume you know about the situation at the YGC.” It was a statement, rather than a question. “Your decision in the case will be reviewed, of course.”

Rei’s stomach clenched. In the wake of another judge’s personal misconduct, she had no doubts as to the scrutiny she was about to come under. It was bad enough she was questioning herself. Now each and every decision would be open to criticism.

“As for your other cases, I’d suggest a zero-tolerance policy—hold firm and if need be fix it later. For now, I think it would be better to err on the cautious side. All right, Commissioner Davis, that’s all. Except to remind you that your only comment to the press should be ‘no comment.’”

Rei nodded stiffly. “Yes, sir.”

She turned and walked out, keeping her head down and her mouth shut as she fought her way to her own chambers. She thanked Bill, who promised to get some backup to keep order outside her courtroom, then turned to Mary Alice.

“I want the transcript of the Grayson proceedings.”

“I’m sure Judge Orr has already ordered it, Commissioner, but I’ll make sure you get a copy.”

Rei dumped her purse and briefcase on the small couch and began to pace. “I want mine as soon as possible. I need to see—I have to be sure—”

Mary Alice stepped in front of her to get her full attention. “I’ve been in the system for a long time and worked for a lot of judges. You’re never sure. You just trust your instincts and the law and make the best decision you can.”

“Did I make the best decision? I can think of two dozen people, those boys and their families, who could argue otherwise.”

“Everybody makes mistakes, Commissioner. But don’t forget the good we do here as well, okay? Now, I’ll let you have a few minutes to get yourself together, but after that you’ve got to take the bench. We’re already behind schedule.”

Mary Alice closed the door behind her, but Rei could still hear the chaos out in the halls. She walked over to the window and stared out; however, all she could see was Bruce Grayson. The way he’d hung his head, the tears that clouded his dark eyes, the terror she thought she’d seen in his twelve-year-old face.

Do you regret your decision, Commissioner?

Commissioner, do you feel responsible?

Hell, yes, she felt responsible. Didn’t she always?

T
HE SAND
she was usually able to shovel against the tide threatened to swamp her today.

The morning sped by, due in part to several requests for postponement. Rei recognized the tactic as a way for lawyers to have their cases reassigned to other courtrooms. She also recognized her own inability to concentrate. She considered herself a good judge of character, but today she had to question every innocent expression and statement of regret.

When Mary Alice called the last case before lunch, Rei was more than ready for a break. She wasn’t going to get one. Acid churned in her gut as she watched Assistant State’s Attorney Frank Dowd step up to the prosecutor’s table. Something flickered in his gaze, impertinence perhaps? Derision and disappointment, certainly. Rei looked away.

Instead she picked up the file and flipped through it unnecessarily. “Okay, next we have the case of Gabriel Russo with the charge of threatening. I see Mr. Dowd for the State. And the defense would be?”

“Lukas Simon, Your Honor.” A short, curly haired man stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. “We’re looking to have the matter dropped. The whole thing’s been blown out of proportion.”

Maybe it had; maybe it hadn’t. But the school and local authorities took any threat of violence very seriously in light of the incidents at Columbine and in Redlake, Minnesota.

“You know I can’t do that, Mr. Simon.” Rei ignored Dowd’s smug look. “I see here in the file that the State’s charges are based on a Web site—”

“Actually, posts to a Web log called
Out The Airlock
,” Frank Dowd corrected.

“Thank you, blog entries as well as a handwritten list of fellow students.”

“Yes, Your Honor. The State intends to prove that Gabriel Russo published threats against the people on his hit list—”

“Objection!” Lukas Simon then stood and addressed the prosecutor. “A hit list? Come on, Frank. For all the State knows, those are the people invited to Gabriel’s next birthday party.”

“I’d hate to find out what kind of party favors they’ll be getting,” Dowd retorted.

Rei glanced at the fourteen-year-old boy in question. He wore his jacket and tie uncomfortably and his dark-blond hair looked shaggy despite an attempt to tame it. He sat up straight with his hands folded before him on the table. The pallor of his face suggested nervousness, but she thought she saw anger in his deep brown eyes.

“This kid is a walking time bomb, Your Honor,” Dowd continued. “When you combine the list with the threatening posts on the blog—”

“A combination the State never could have made if the principal hadn’t broken into Gabe’s locker!”

“
New Jersey v. T.L.O., Luke.
The Supreme Court held that a locker is school property and school officials can conduct a search based on reasonable suspicion.”

“I’m still trying to figure out the reasonable suspicion part, since Gabe isn’t the only student who
vents on that site. If it were a crime to mouth off about school bullies and social cliques, every kid between eleven and seventeen would be in a courtroom,” the defense lawyer countered.

Rei lightly tapped her gavel. “Let’s calm down, people.”

Frank Dowd stared at her, his gaze intent. “The State feels that the statements along with the list were sufficient to bring the charge. We have evidence of Gabriel Russo’s anti-social behavior and plan to call witnesses who will attest to his volatile nature.”

Rei looked over at the boy again and thought about Judge Orr’s zero-tolerance directive. This case would be tough, one she might have relished any other time. But not today, not after the mistake she made with Bruce Grayson.

“All right, gentlemen, given the gravity of the accusation, I’ll hear witness testimony Wednesday morning. We’re adjourned.”

“C
HRIS
,
COME HERE
for a second.”

Lara waved him over to the bar, her attention on the TV set mounted on the wall. When he was close enough for her to lower her voice, she nodded her head at the screen. “Hang on. This commercial is almost over.”

He looked up to see the return of a midday news program—and Rei’s pale, angry face pictured in a small window behind the anchorman’s head.

“Isn’t that one of our clients?” Lara asked.

“Yeah, it is. Turn it up, will you?” Chris listened to the newscaster recap the feature story. Apparently Rei’s decision not to try this Grayson kid as an adult was being blamed for the uprising at the juvenile detention center.

His heart went out to her as he watched the footage of her fighting her way through a crowd of reporters. Despite the throng of people around her, she looked isolated. Her pale face was set in a calm mask, but, behind her glasses, her eyes shone with tears. He heard her voice crack as she murmured “no comment” for the fifth time.

“Lara, can you reschedule my appointments? I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

She agreed and Chris thanked her, walking out of the bar past several clients, including Grant Bronson. Digging his cell phone out of his pocket, Chris dialed Rei’s number as he continued out of the building.

“Yes?”

“You sound awful, sweetheart.”

That got a watery laugh from her. “Thanks, Chris, that’s just what I needed to hear.”

“Where are you now?”

She sighed heavily into the phone. “The courthouse is a circus, so at the supervising judge’s strong recommendation, I’ve cleared my docket for the rest of the day.”

He reached for the keys to his pickup truck. “Okay, give me your address and I’ll be at your place in an hour or so.”

She gave him the address. “But you don’t have to do that, Chris—”

“I’m doing it anyway. See you soon.”

When Rei opened the door forty-five minutes later, she was wearing a silk blouse and tweed skirt but no shoes. He shifted the large shopping bag and bent down to give her a strong embrace and a kiss of reassurance. Then he moved around her to the living room. He heard her close the door and follow him as he set down the bag and took off his jacket.

“What’s all this?”

“A little afternoon delight.” He began to spread out a floral tablecloth on the carpet.

She groaned. “That old song? My clerk listens to the oldies station and they play it all the time.”

“It’s not the lyrics so much as the sentiment.” He handed her the bouquet of a dozen peach roses from the bag. “If you’ll put these in water and get us some plates, I’ve brought a bottle of the Chardonnay you liked, take-out from the chef at Lunch Meetings and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Everything I could think of to make you forget about your morning.”

Rei hugged the roses to her with one arm and reached to cup his cheek with the other hand. She pulled him down for a tender kiss that nevertheless made him hot for her. She just seemed to affect him that way, equal parts lust and…

Love? Was that what he felt? A ribbon of anxiety skittered through his chest. It couldn’t be, but then how would he know? Sure, he liked Rei a lot and
enjoyed being with her. And he experienced an unusual sense of fulfillment when she was around. But love was something he created for others; he made it happen. It didn’t happen to him. Chris deepened the kiss, concentrating on the lust part.

When Rei came up for air, he was glad to see a little smile on her face. “Careful, mister. I could get used to this.”

“I could get used to doing it.”

He hadn’t realized how much until this moment. When he’d seen the news, all he could think about was getting to her, being there for her. Considering her aversion to commitment, he sure wasn’t going to mention it to her yet. He’d just leave it alone and let things progress naturally.

Rei came back from the kitchen balancing plates and cutlery, two wine glasses and a corkscrew. “I didn’t say it before, but thank you. This is a lovely surprise.”

Chris waited until she sat down and he’d poured her wine. “Unlike the surprise this morning. Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“I apparently screwed up, that’s what happened.” Her mouth twisted into a scowl.

“Are you sure? Maybe you just missed something.” He spooned cold prawns, steamed asparagus and portobello mushrooms next to the marinated bowtie pasta.

Rei made a face as she accepted the plate. “That makes me feel a lot better, knowing a twelve-year-
old kid tugged on my heartstrings and played me like a concerto.”

He swallowed a sip of the wine. “Sorry.”

“Let’s talk about something else, anything else.” She took a bite of her pasta. “Like how good this food is.”

“Okay, keep in mind that the public has an incredibly short attention span, and by tomorrow, this will fade from the media and some other story will have taken its place.”

“Here’s hoping.” She raised her glass and took a sip. “So tell me about your day.”

Chris helped himself to more of the shrimp. “Well, I might be getting a little ahead of myself, but I went looking at some commercial properties today. I think I found a place in Oakland that would be a great location.”

“Oh, did you get the venture capital approved already?”

He shook his head. “Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time, don’t you think?”

Rei gave him an odd look and set her plate aside. “Why ask me? I have no influence over your funding.”

“Why not you? You’ve seen firsthand how well Lunch Meetings is doing.” Chris put his plate on top of hers and moved them both off the blanket. “In fact, I’d say you’ve gotten the best service I have to offer.”

“Yes, I have, haven’t I?”

“Are you doubting me?” There was a hint of reservation in her voice, so he leaned over to kiss her,
nibbling her lips until they parted for him. “If you’re unsatisfied, ma’am, I’d be happy to give you some extra special attention to make up for it.”

She kissed him back and he felt her relax against him. “I’m definitely not satisfied. What are you going to do about it?”

Chris scooped his hand under her sweet little bottom and lifted her onto his lap. “There’s only one thing to do in a situation like this…make love to you until you’re persuaded of how good I am.”

Her hands settled on his shoulders, then wrapped behind his neck. The heat of her skin burned through the thin material of his shirt. He stiffened when he felt the hot slide of her tongue along his earlobe. “Convince me.”

Chris reached up to take off the barrette she wore and release the thick fall of her hair. As it tumbled down her back, he cupped the nape of her neck and sought her mouth again. With the tips of his tongue, he traced the contours of her lips and then coaxed them open. He kissed her more slowly, more tenderly, but with no less passion.