Free I Heard A Rumor by Cheris Hodges Page A

rule: I didn’t sleep with married men or men who had someone at home. I was a different person back then. But I’ve changed, and maybe Robert has too.”
    â€œTurn it off,” Nic bellowed. “Just what we need, an endorsement from a hooker.”
    â€œWhat about all the people who were standing by me last year?” Robert asked, now on his feet and pacing back and forth.
    â€œI’ve made calls,” Nic said.
    â€œDo more!”
    The staff members in the room headed for the door. Robert turned to Gabrielle. “Wait,” he said. “You’re the head of my social media campaign. How many likes do we have on our Facebook page?”
    She looked down at her iPad Mini. “One hundred and three.”
    â€œThat isn’t enough,” Robert exclaimed.
    Nic tented his hands underneath his chin. “Maybe this Chante angle isn’t working, No one has seen you two together, and she’s suspended from her law firm.”
    â€œBut,” Robert interjected, “if she doesn’t forgive me, how can I expect voters to do so?”
    â€œThen we have to find her and get you two on camera.”
    â€œI need to talk to Gabby, alone,” Robert said, basically dismissing Nic.
    When he was alone with the young woman, he pulled her into his arms. “You are so sexy,” he breathed against her ear.
    â€œWhat about Chante?”
    Robert slipped his hands between Gabby’s thighs and stroked her womanly core. “Chante who?”
    Gabby moaned, and Robert believed that free sex was the best sex ever.
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    Back in Charleston, Chante looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn’t worn a bikini since she and Liza went to Cancun on spring break. Looking at her image in the mirror, she smiled. All the running and working out she’d done since her suspension had done her body good. She was impressed with the reflection she saw in the mirror and knew Zach would be as well.
    â€œWhat am I doing?” she mused aloud. Chante knew her grandmother would get a kick out of this ruse. But Chante wasn’t so sure that going to her parents’ house with Zach on her arm, acting as if they were getting married, was a good idea. Lying to her overbearing mother was one thing, but her Dad didn’t deserve this. Then again, he’d probably laugh too. Don’t overthink it. You’re here to have a good time, and Zach is just a distraction. Satisfied with her reflection, Chante tied a yellow sarong around her waist and headed for the lobby to meet Zach.
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    Zach was glancing at a brochure about Folly Beach as he heard the ding of the elevator. When he saw those legs, those thighs, and those pretty toes, he wanted to take Chante back upstairs and suck the polish off her toenails. If Zach had any weaknesses, Chante highlighted each and every one of them in that yellow bikini. “Well, I think I’ve found the highlight of my trip. Wow,” he said, then took off his Brooklyn Nets hat and bowed.
    Chante smacked him on his shoulder. “You’re too much,” she said.
    â€œYou look too damned good,” he said as he gave her a slow once-over. “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind.”
    â€œChange your mind?”
    He nodded. “Change my mind and take you into the Jacuzzi, then put up an out-of-order sign.”
    Shaking her head, she headed for the door with Zach in tow. “Slow down,” he said as he tugged at her sarong. When Chante took a step forward, the sarong came off in Zach’s hand. Taking a look at her barely covered behind, he knew that God was a mighty, mighty good God.
    â€œZach!” Chante called out as she placed her hands behind her back. “I can’t . . .”
    â€œI was trying to slow you down,” he replied as he twirled her sarong. “Ended up slowing myself down.”
    She walked up to him and reached for her sarong. Zach held it above his head.