Free Deceptive Nights by Sylvia Hubbard Page B

to
him.”
    “ So you won’t be dating or
seeing anyone.”
    “ I’ll find a man I’m
physically attracted to only. I don’t want the emotional luggage I
get. No man’s going to break my heart again,” she said
determinedly.
    “ When do you think you’ll
ever get over Daniel?” Simon asked seriously.
    “ When I feel like I don’t
have to worry about the man I’m with breaking my heart and when I
know he’ll be a good father to the kids. He’ll love them like they
are his own.”
    Simon sighed wishfully. “You deserve
happiness, Phoebe. Not the crap you’re getting now.”
    “ I know, but good things
come to those who wait.” She left out the office and went to
work.
    Later on that day she got an email from
Madeline to make sure the office was in tip top shape by Friday
because she would be having a poker party with some friends and
clients. Phoebe ordered the catering and made sure the room would
be extra clean for the party. Madeline also mentioned in her email
a technician would be working at the apartment today that Madeline
was planning to use on the weekends in the city.
    Phoebe wondered would her lover follow her
down on some weekends? Would he come to the office and would she
have to pretend she wasn’t interested in Jacoby when he was around
with Madeline? It would be difficult, but Phoebe could do it. Maybe
the more she did see Jacoby with Madeline, maybe she would be able
to put her feelings to rest about him.
    As she was preparing to leave, she caught a
figure at her doorway and at first thought it was Jacoby, but as
she faced the large frame she smile at Lawrence in greeting. “Is
there something wrong with the computers that I don’t know about?”
she asked.
    “ No actually.” He leaned
against the doorframe of her office, crossing his arms across his
chest. In a tailor-made suit for him, he was a very handsome man.
His build was similar to Jacoby’s, except he was much more
brawnier. “I was in town doing some things to Madeline’s apartment
and I realized I hadn’t had breakfast or lunch.”
    “ You were working that
hard?” she asked.
    “ I almost
sweated.”
    She laughed at his teasing.
    This seemed to encourage him more and he came
into the office. “Since I’m in town for the night and I’m famished
as hell, but I hate to eat alone, I was wondering would you be free
for dinner.”
    The smile she adorned quickly faded and she
broke eye contact packing up her things quickly and putting on her
coat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Lawrence considering
yesterday’s events.”
    “ Well, I figured you needed
a load taken off and I figured I need the company of a nice young
woman of just dinner. That’s all I would like and it’s my
treat.”
    Phoebe found him to be quite charming and
indeed handsome, but she wasn’t emotionally attractive to him, but
would it seem she was going out with Lawrence to try to get closer
to Jacoby. That wasn’t true at all. She did need to get her mind
off of Jacoby and Lawrence would be a wonderful distraction. Plus
she didn’t have to worry about being emotionally involved with him.
He would be a perfect distraction.
    Meeting his deep brown chocolate eyes, she
smiled warmly. “Let me finish straightening up and make a phone
call to my mother about my children, then I’ll let meet you in the
lobby.”
    He looked happy and relieve in the same
instant. “Thank you.”
    When he was gone she called Patricia’s cell
phone to let her mother know she was going to be late tonight.
    “ Is this the same one?”
Patricia inquired, without even knowing why Phoebe would be
late.
    Phoebe evaded the answer. “Mother,
please.”
    “ I’m not mad. I love it.
This time, though, make sure you call so I won’t worry.”
    “ Yes Mother. Do I have a
curfew too?” she teased.
    “ Shut up girl.” They both
laughed.
    She hung up and joined Lawrence in the lobby.
“Before we go any further, I need to know some things.”
    “ Ask me anything,”