Deceptive Nights (23 page)

At night after she had put the twins to bed,
all she could do was think about him, wonder where he was and hoped
she had not destroyed her last opportunity of happiness. On top of
this, knowing his insatiable nature, she was deeply envious of the
woman who could be satisfying his needs now and Phoebe wished
desperately it were she getting his attention at that moment in
time.

At the beginning of the third week, a package
came to the office for Phoebe. The new office manager, Amy Tarre,
had brought the package in Phoebe’s new office, which was Jacoby’s
old office space. Amy looked very excited and it made her oriental
eyes close even more. She was a real nice girl, thirty years old,
and very able to take over the position at the office.

“
Hurry up and open it,” Amy
said.

Phoebe pulled out two envelopes of varying
sizes. She opened the skinny one first. It was a letter from Jacoby
addressed to her in a professional manner along with some other
documents.

Ms. Green,

Welcome to your new position as office
manager for Knight Marketing. In this envelope you have just
opened, I have enclosed everything you need in order to get you
started as a new employee. Although, I will be away from the office
most of the time, we will always be able to keep in touch. My
previous office manager, Cathy Reese, in Lansing, will also assist
you in setting up all that you need in order to get things under
way in Detroit. Please fill out these forms enclosed and send them
to back to Cathy in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

The other envelope contains the necessary
items you will need in order to run the office in Detroit and to
stay in contact with me. Cathy will explain to you all the
priorities and what I will expect from you, but please don’t worry,
I know you will do well in the position as my eyes and ears when I
am not around.

Cathy’s number is enclosed in the other
envelope. She will be expecting your call in the next few days.
Please don’t disappoint her.

I’ll be speaking with you when I come back in
town late Monday afternoon. Good luck, Phoebe.

Jacoby Knight

‘
Why had she expected him
to say more?’ she asked herself. He had thrown the ball in her
court and all she had to do was hit it back, but it was so hard to
put herself out like that. Phoebe felt he was rushing things. Even
though she had forgotten about Daniel and couldn’t get Jacoby out
her mind, she still felt it was much too soon to proclaim her heart
to Jacoby.

Even though this letter wasn’t personal, she
found herself reading it over and over as if there was some hidden
clue inside the letter to make it personal. When she laid it down
on her desk, she wanted to scream more at herself than anyone
else.

Amy picked up the letter and read it over.
“He sounds like a nice boss.”

“
He seems like he’s going
to be, but wish me luck,” Phoebe said, trying to hide the hurt in
her voice that seemed to be seeping out of her heart like a slow
leak.

****

“
The heart wants, what the
heart wants,” her mother said quietly late Friday night after she
had gotten off the phone with Lawrence. He had wanted to see her
tonight, but she told him she was busy and rescheduled a date with
him for Saturday morning.

Phoebe had been moping at the table, staring
down at the food she was never going to eat. Patricia was looking
highly disappointed in Phoebe. Phoebe had to blink several times to
come from her daydreaming to understand what her mother said. “Why
are you saying that to me?”

“
Because you reminded me of
that night when you first started seeing Jacoby and couldn’t
understand why you continued to see him. Don’t you listen to
yourself, Phoebe?” Patricia chuckled at her daughter’s baffled
expression. “Your heart choose him a long time ago, Phoebe, it’s
your mind keeping you from him. The more you try to deny it, the
more terrible you’ll feel.”

“
I’m not feeling terrible,
Mother,” she lied.

“
If your lips goes any
lower it will be dragging on the floor, girl. I’m your mother; you
can’t lie to me. If you’re that worried about it all, just ask him.
Whatever his answer is will help you get on with your life and
you’ll stop all this moping around the house.”

Phoebe knew her mother was right and seeing
him this Monday would conclude everything. He’d be all business,
she was sure of it.

Lawrence came over Saturday and along with
the twins, they went out to a nice family restaurant giving her
mother a break. The twins were always well behaved in public.
Lawrence complimented her on her parenting skills. “Most single
working women don’t find the time to mother their children like you
have, Phoebe, and still have a bond with their children even though
their not babies anymore.”

Phoebe flushed under his praise. “I do my
best, but I must admit, my mother has been a wonderful help. I just
wished my father could be here as well to see them.”

Lawrence had a sympathetic ear for her and
they talked all afternoon. When they returned home, Patricia
invited him in for coffee. Phoebe gave her mother a warning look as
Patricia tried several time to encourage Lawrence to stay close
with Phoebe.

Patricia took the twins on up to bed giving
Lawrence and Phoebe a little privacy. They decided to watch a movie
together and she ushered him over to the couch and sat by him. When
she sat down, he moved over until he was sitting right beside her
with his thigh touching hers. His arm moved around to rest on the
back of the couch behind her head while his other hand moved on top
of her hands that were resting on her lap.

“
So how’s it going over at
the office?” he inquired to make general “safe”
conversation.

“
I’ve been working at both
offices to make sure one is working well when I leave and the other
is working well for when I come. It’s been a lot of hard work, but
I know it will pay off in the end.”

“
I can see the enjoyment in
your face.” Lawrence tried to hide his disappointment.

“
The more I think about it,
the more I would like to really thank Jacoby for the opportunity he
has given me,” Phoebe admitted sincerely.

He looked at her suspiciously. “How do you
want to thank him?”

She blushed thinking clearly about how Jacoby
and she had been together the last time. “Lawrence, maybe there is
something more you need to know about Jacoby and I.”

“
Whatever it is, I know
that it is in the past and it doesn’t matter, Phoebe.”

“
It’s not that far in the
past.”

He looked a bit confused, but Phoebe thought
this was as good as any time to let him know the real deal between
Jacoby and herself.

“
Jacoby and I have made
love more than one time, Lawrence. I’m not going to lie to you, but
I loved being with him.” She stopped to hear his reaction to this
admission.

Lawrence frowned. “Well I have heard of his
sexual appeal and I clearly understand your attraction to him, but
I must admit, it takes more than sex to make a relationship. A true
match is one where you can be friends and lovers, Phoebe. I am that
man for you.”

She shook her head. “Lawrence, maybe you
don’t understand me all the way. Not only do I enjoy being with
sexually, but also I enjoy his company. I can’t explain it, but I
think I know now from these past weeks of not seeing him. I do love
him.” She stopped as Lawrence stood up to get away from her. His
back was to her, but the tension was evident. “Please understand
that this happened all too quickly and I have tried to deny what he
does to me. I ended up hurting him as a result of my
stubbornness.”

He turned around steeling himself. “You think
Jacoby is actually hurt by you not wanting him when he’s a sex
addict? If you’ve rejected him, there’s no doubt that he’s found
someone else. Has he even tried to tell you he’s hurt? Has he even
made an effort to call you or anything?”

She shook her head. “I just assumed it was
because he had tried to convince me so many times that he was
different than others.”

“
Different?” Lawrence
questioned incredulously. “Jacoby Knight is no different. He’s
probably even worse. He throws his money around and expect people
to bow down to him. You really want to be with a person like that.
A person who thinks he can buy whatever he wants? I’ve told you in
the past he doesn’t deserve a woman like you. Jacoby only cares
about himself.”

Phoebe was very confused. From what she knew
about Jacoby personally what Lawrence was saying didn’t sound like
the Jacoby she knew. Could Lawrence be that jealous of Jacoby to
the point that he would say or do anything to get Jacoby out the
picture with Phoebe? “Lawrence, Jacoby really has nothing to do
with our friendship.”

“
He has everything to do
with our friendship, Phoebe. Can’t you see? If you’re going to
always think he could possibly have feelings for you, how can we be
together?”

“
That’s the point Lawrence,
I couldn’t be with you even if I had not been with Jacoby. I am not
romantically attracted to you.”

He pulled her in his arms as if the more they
touched she might think differently. “Things change, Phoebe. People
change. Tomorrow could be different.”

She shook her head. “It won’t, Lawrence. I
know time won’t change how I feel for you.”

“
You don’t know,” he said
disappointedly releasing her and giving her his back.

“
I don’t mean to hurt you,
Lawrence.”

“
I know.” His voice belied
his feelings though, but it still could not make her change her
mind.

To make him feel better, she said, “I do
appreciate all you’ve done. Your friendship has made it easier for
me understand how I feel about Daniel. I think you are a great guy,
Lawrence, and you’ll make some woman very happy.”

He turned around and in disappointment said,
“I was hoping that it would be you.”

She pulled him back down to the couch. “Well
as friends, let’s finish watching the movie together.”

He sat back down and she allowed him to pull
her to him as they finished watching the movie together.

Chapter 25

Jacoby watched as Lawrence left out the
house. She came out on the porch with him and gave him a hug.
Jacoby gripped the steering wheel so tight the leather squealed in
protest. Once Lawrence had pulled off, he got out the car and came
up to the door. She had gone inside and lights were being turned
off down the stairs.

He was so angry at himself for wasting his
time speeding all the way from Metro Airport in order to see her
thinking maybe if she saw him, she would see what a foolish mistake
she had made.

He was the fool to think she could actually
appreciate the attempt he had made. Getting back in the car, he
slammed his fist down on the steering wheel and then drove off
cursing himself.

****

Phoebe thought she had heard someone on the
front porch, but knowing Lawrence was gone, she quickly went
upstairs to her room and looked out the window to see a car pulling
away across the street. Daniel was probably still after her.

Moving away from the curtains she sighed with
relief that she had gotten everything out to Lawrence. She had a
feeling he would still continue to try to pursue her and she didn’t
feel she could continue to keep Lawrence as “a friend” for much
longer. He seemed too adamant in them becoming closer.

About an hour later as she was getting out
the shower, Daniel called her. Phoebe was in full capacity of her
senses and angrily answered the call once she knew that it was
him.

“
I wanted to know if I can
see the children,” he said.

“
I’m going to press charges
against you, Daniel,” she announced not even bothering to respond
to his statement.

He became exasperated. “I sent you
flowers!”

“
Which I probably paid for
with my money.”

“
Why Phoebe?”

“
Did you forget that you
stole from me?” she asked. “Once the prosecution finishes gathering
all the evidence against you, including the camera at the ATM that
shows you stealing the money there, will be a warrant for your
arrest.”

“
Dammit Phoebe, I’m coming
back so we can be a family again. They’re my kids too,” he sneered.
“I’m their Daddy, Phoebe.”

“
You may have fathered
them, Daniel, but you are not their Daddy. Daddies provide for
them, hold them when they’re scared, wipe the tears from their
eyes, tuck them in at night, encourage them, and would never leave
them. Any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a
Daddy.” She slammed the receiver down hard and then dropped on the
bed trying to calm herself down.

The phone rang again and angrily she
answered, “Daniel, quit calling me. I don’t ever want to speak or
see you again.”

“
I’m not Daniel. Do you
want to speak with me?” Jacoby asked calmly.

Phoebe gasped. “What’s wrong?” she asked
highly concerned very off centered.

He seemed mildly amused. “Shouldn’t I be
asking you that?”

The frustration in Phoebe’s heart washed away
as she relaxed a little. “He was being a pest if you must
know.”

“
I don’t care to know,
unless you wanted me to know, Phoebe.”

Phoebe was quiet for a moment wondering if he
was trying to say something else. In his background, she heard some
weird voices. “How’s your mother?”