Breaking All My Rules (21 page)

Chapter 29

V
ery few things took Jerome by surprise, but when he looked into the eyes of the desperate housewife who'd tried to proposition him last weekend, he was caught completely off guard.

“So glad you could make it,” Ashley greeted as her future in-laws walked up.

Jerome could see the uneasy strain on Ashley's face as he watched her force a light smile with considerable discomfort while she gave a half hug to the woman whom he now knew was Jason's mother, and a genuine embrace to Jason's father.

“Jerome, what a surprise to see you here,” Mr. Butterfield said, extending his hand for a firm shake. “It's a small world.”

Jerome could see the shock and questions on both Erica's and Ashley's faces, but the desperate housewife's expression was the most telling of all. It was obvious that she was fighting a losing battle to remain calm. Instead, she looked like she'd just seen a ghost. Her boldness from last weekend had been replaced with the worry and fear of being exposed.

“You've already met?” Ashley asked.

“Yes,” Jerome answered with a smile as he looked from Mr. Butterfield to the man's nervous wife. “I did some work for these fine people.”

“And excellent work, indeed,” Mr. Butterfield pronounced. “As a matter of fact, my wife told me just the other day that she'd like you to do some more work for us. Didn't you, honey?” he said, looking toward Mrs. Butterfield.

Jerome watched as the woman nodded slightly, looking as though she was in pain. “Ashley, where are your parents?” Mrs. Butterfield interjected, obviously wanting to change the subject. “I've been looking forward to seeing them.”

“You have?” Ashley answered, jerking her neck to the side.

Her response was so matter of fact that Jerome wanted to laugh. He liked Ashley.

“Why, yes, of course,” Mrs. Butterfield replied. “We're going to be family, after all.”

Everyone, including Mr. Butterfield, looked at the stylishly dressed socialite as if she'd lost her mind.

“They're at home with the flu, but I'll relay your message.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Mr. Butterfield said. “Yes, please give them our best.”

They all stood in awkward silence for a moment, until Mr. Butterfield revived the conversation. “So, Jerome, how do you know Ashley?”

“Through Erica.” He smiled and placed his arm around Erica's waist to show they were a couple.

Mr. Butterfield nodded. “You have an exceptional eye for quality and beauty in both your craft and in women,” he complimented. “Erica is a fine young woman.”

“Thank you, Mr. Butterfield.” Erica nodded graciously. “Such kind words.”

“True and well deserved.”

Jerome was going to chime in when he noticed that the desperate housewife looked as though she'd just inhaled a bad odor. She glared at Erica, surveying her up and down with disdain, as if she was jealous.

“It was lovely seeing you all, but I'm afraid we must be going,” Mrs. Butterfield announced, not looking at anyone except her husband.

It was obvious she no longer cared to stand around and endure discomfort. After the couple said their good-byes and then scurried away, the chatter began.

“What the hell was that all about? And give it to me straight,” Ashley said, looking at Jerome.

Jerome knew he had to tread lightly with how much information he divulged. On one hand, he wanted nothing more than to call out the desperate housewife for the conniving cougar she was, especially after the nasty look she'd given Erica. On the other, he didn't want to cause waves with Mr. Butterfield, who could lead him to more business. Accusing a man's wife of propositioning you was a serious charge in any situation, so he proceeded with caution.

“Like I said, I did a repair job for them. They paid me, and that's that.”

Ashley shook her head. “Uh-uh. There's more to it than that. Mrs. Butterfield looked like she saw someone rise up from the dead when she looked at you. It was clear she was uncomfortable. She even asked about my parents, who she doesn't give a damn about. And then the funky look she gave Erica. Somethin' ain't right.”

Jerome knew the desperate housewife's nervous behavior had been obvious, and especially to a lawyer like Ashley. He could also see that Erica was looking at him for answers, too.

“I'm with Ashley,” Erica chimed in. “What's the backstory that we're missing?”

Just then, Nelson appeared, giving Erica a big bear hug. “Thanks for coming out, little sis. I'm glad you made it.”

Erica admired her handsome brother, all decked out in Armani, looking like two million bucks. She quickly forgot about the strange incident between Jerome and the Butterfields, because she knew by the look on Nelson's face that her parents had already spoken to him about Jerome. She could see his charismatic and observant eyes zero in on her man.

“Good to meet you. I'm Nelson,” he said, giving Jerome a strong handshake. “Thanks for coming out.”

Erica was thrilled when she saw that Nelson and Jerome clicked right away. Even though Nelson was periodically interrupted by people vying for his time, he managed to engage Jerome in a lively conversation about sports, which eventually led to topics like the economy and black male mentoring. She also noticed something strangely peculiar happening in front of her. Not only was Nelson giving Jerome his attention, but he was taking in the sight of Ashley, as well.

Erica watched as her brother's eyes roamed over, around, and up and down her childhood friend. She knew Nelson well, and she could see that he was inspecting Ashley like a man who was interested in getting more than just her vote. Erica had to admit that her friend looked hot in her body-hugging orange wrap dress and sexy suede stilettos. She knew her brother's taste, and Ashley was right up his alley. He'd always joked that he was an Ivy League–educated, “baby got back” type of brothah.

Erica was even more surprised when she saw Ashley smile, put her hand on Nelson's shoulder, and return each one of his suggestive looks.
What the hell?

Ashley had always been like a second sister to Nelson. They had grown up together, had been in Jack and Jill together, and had teased each other like any siblings would, so Erica didn't understand what had brought about their more-than-friendly behavior. And given the fact that Ashley was getting married in a few months, and Nelson was running for a highly publicized political office and didn't need the scandal of breaking up an engagement, it was especially baffling that the two were flirting and smiling at each other with innuendo.

Given her parents' uncharacteristically strange behavior, and now her best friend and her brother acting as if they needed to get a room upstairs, Erica wondered what bizarre occurrence was going to happen next.

Unfortunately, her question was quickly answered when she felt a light tap on her shoulder, turned around, and stared dead into Claude's eyes.

Chapter 30

I
t was one of the very few times that Erica had been so caught off guard, she couldn't find words to speak. All evening she'd been introducing Jerome to everyone who came up to greet them, but standing there, looking at her ex-fiancé, who'd been at the center of her and Jerome's first argument, Erica couldn't find her voice to say a single syllable.

She knew that Jerome had figured out exactly who Claude was, if by nothing else than the look of sheer discomfort on her face. They stood in silence—Ashley and Nelson, she and Jerome . . . and Claude. Erica knew she should probably make the introduction, but she didn't feel that Claude warranted the energy and certainly not the courtesy. She was pissed that he'd even shown up at the event. And the fact that he'd approached her, especially when it was obvious that she was there with someone, made her question his motives even more than she already had.

As if reading her mind, Claude focused solely on her, completely ignoring Jerome. His face brightened into a warm smile. “Erica,” he said, “it's great to see you again, and so soon.”

Erica gave him a tentative half nod and an even smaller whisper of a smile. If Claude was disappointed in her less-than-enthused reception, neither his eyes nor his demeanor gave any hints. He proceeded to greet Ashley and then Nelson, chatting it up as though he was part of their group. The entire time he spoke, he never acknowledged Jerome's presence. Erica could feel the tension slowly building as Jerome's eyes volleyed back and forth between her and her ex.

“Nelson, my man,” Claude said, showing off his Hollywood smile. “I'm going to get in touch with your people next week to coordinate a fund-raiser on behalf of my firm, as well as a private event that I'll personally host at my home. I'm going to bundle quite a bit for you.”

Claude's boastfulness made Erica want to roll her eyes. His “bundle” comment was meant to reference the fact that because he was so well connected, he had the clout to gather large contributions from individuals and organizations on Nelson's behalf and then present what would no doubt be a hefty sum for Nelson's war chest. Erica didn't want the taint of Claude's paws anywhere near her brother's campaign, but she understood that Nelson needed every penny he could raise in order to wage an effective fight against the incumbent he was trying to unseat.

Nelson smiled and looked Claude directly in his eyes as he responded. “Thank you for your offer, but we've got a number of people working on various fund-raising strategies for the campaign. If we need your help, which, again, I appreciate you offering, we'll be in touch.” He nodded. “If you'll excuse me, I have to say good-bye to a few guests.”

And just like that, Nelson shut Claude down. Ashley smiled so hard, her eyes turned into slits. Erica hoped her brother's rebuff would send Claude back to the cave where he belonged, but instead, he directed his attention to Jerome.

“I don't believe we've met,” Claude said, his smile fading to an acerbic stare.

At that moment, Erica wished she could bore a hole into the floor and jump into it. She knew that Claude was a high-minded asshole, but she also knew that Jerome came from the streets, and street folks and high-minded assholes weren't a good mix. She took a deep breath and prayed that hotel security wouldn't have to be called in.

“No, we haven't,” Jerome said. His voice was deep, cool, and confident.

Neither man took his eyes off the other, and it was almost as if they were staring each other down for a duel.

“Claude Daniel Richardson, the
fourth
,” Claude said, never extending his hand or giving a nod or a smile.

No, he didn't just throw out “the fourth”!
Erica silently fumed. Claude reserved that suffix for occasions when he wanted to impress, letting people know that he was one of the four generations of prestigious Richardson men, well known among the East Coast Talented Tenth community for their small fortune made as African American industrialists. Erica used to cringe when he did that while they dated, and now, looking at him, she thought he seemed utterly ridiculous in his need to show off his standing.

“Jerome Kimbrough,” Jerome said, his reply void of customary pleasantries. “I'm Erica's boyfriend.”

Erica nearly swallowed her tongue. She looked at Jerome with a startled expression. She knew they'd talked about building a future, and that they wanted something serious. But hearing him claim her in that way was both surprising and exhilarating, and it lodged a feeling deep in her throat and made her stomach tingle with butterflies.

Claude wrinkled his forehead. “Funny, Erica never mentioned you when we spoke the other night.”

“You disrespectful bastard!” Ashley hissed. “Why're you tryin' to start shit?”

Jerome calmly smiled and held a hand up in Ashley's direction. “Don't worry. I got this.” He paused, then glared coolly at Claude as he spoke. “This is a nice event celebrating a great moment for Erica's brother and their family, so let's not turn it into anything other than that. I know what's up, so don't try to play me, and don't let my woman's name come out your mouth in front of me again.”

Claude balked. “Is that a threat?”

“Yes, it is.”

Jerome's simple three-word answer made Erica's heart jump with fear. Even Ashley looked as though she was a bit apprehensive about what might go down. Erica felt she should say something. After all, she'd been standing there silently, not saying a word, since Claude had first appeared. But her voice had gone missing, and she couldn't find it under the building tension.

“Sorry about the interruption,” Nelson said, smiling cheerfully as he rejoined the group. “It's the price you pay when you're the host of the party.”

Erica could see that her brother had quickly surmised that something unpleasant had happened in the few moments he'd been gone. Nelson was a calm, levelheaded fellow, but when it came to his family, he was more than capable of ripping someone's heart out to protect the people he loved. He'd learned that lesson from his father the night their home was invaded.

“Is there a problem?” Nelson asked calmly, but with serious intent, as he looked from Claude to Jerome and then to Erica.

“Everything's cool,” Jerome offered. “Claude was just wishing us good night before he leaves.”

Claude looked at Jerome as if he could spit in his face, but instead, he extended his hand toward Nelson, bid him a good night, and walked out the ballroom door.

 

 

Jerome and Erica's ride back to her house was just as silent and sterile as their drive two hours earlier had been. At that time it was Erica who hadn't had the need for conversation, but now it was Jerome who preferred silence.

Erica wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling about all that had transpired tonight, especially his interaction with Claude. But she knew it was probably best to let him sort out what was on his mind and then discuss it once they got back to her house.

When they turned onto her block, Erica reached into her small rhinestone-studded clutch for her garage opener, which she'd grabbed before dashing out the door. But when Jerome parked on the street, she paused.

“You're not going around back to the garage?”

“No, I'm parking here so I can walk you to your door and get my overnight bag that I left in your living room.”

The streetlights above cast a halo-like glow into the truck, allowing Erica to see the tense expression on Jerome's face. “So you're not spending the night?”

“No.”

Without warning or further words, Jerome opened his door and quickly walked around to Erica's side to let her out. He held her hand, making sure her strappy high heels didn't betray her as her feet hit the uneven pavement. Then they walked to her door in silence.

Once they were inside, Erica immediately started talking. “Why don't you want to spend the night?”

“Because I'm upset, and I need to be alone.”

“Please don't leave like this. Let's talk about why you're upset.”

Jerome walked over to the edge of her staircase and reached for his bag. “You know why I'm upset.”

“Okay, well, let's talk about it.”

“I'm not in a talking mood, so I'm gonna leave while I still have my temper intact.”

Erica trailed behind him as he turned and walked back toward the door. He was about to put his hand on the doorknob when she stepped in front of him, bringing his movements to a stop. “Don't go. We need to talk about this.”

Jerome stepped back and looked at her. “Listen, I really think it's best that I leave. That way I won't say anything that I'll regret later.”

“I want you to say what's on your mind now. Let me know what you're thinking, what you're feeling.”

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I'm thinking this is bullshit, and I'm feeling like I've been played. You couldn't even introduce me, Erica.”

Erica's forehead wrinkled. She knew she should have found her voice to say something to Claude, instead of standing there with no words. But she hadn't wanted to give Claude the satisfaction of an acknowledgment, and then she'd been struck silent by Jerome's public declaration that she was his girlfriend, which had caused feelings she was still processing. “I think you're blowing this way out of proportion. I don't want Claude. I want you.”

“Then why didn't you open your mouth and say something? Your brother shut that fool down and wouldn't even accept his damn money. Even your girl Ashley spoke up and had my back and was about to cuss that clown out. But you, you just stood there like a spectator.”

Erica folded her arms. “So what was I supposed to do? Get loud and act out?”

“No, you were supposed to acknowledge me. It's about respect and looking out for each other's emotions. I've made myself vulnerable with you because I felt I could trust you. I'm sayin' and doin' sappy shit that would get my ass beat down in the streets. But I allowed myself to go there with you because for the first time in my life . . .” Jerome paused. “You know what? This shit is for the birds. I'm out.”

Erica pressed her back against the door, looking at Jerome with pleading eyes. “You're not leaving until we resolve this.”

“Erica, please move so I can go home.”

“No. I'm not moving until we fix this.”

“You're acting like a spoiled-ass little rich girl who's gonna pout till she gets her way. You conned me once today, but that shit ain't gonna happen again.”

His harsh words stung Erica's ears, but she wasn't going to let them dissuade her. She loved Jerome, and the thought of him walking out made her heart ache. “I'm not conning you. This is for real. I told you this morning, you're who I want.”

Jerome hoisted his overnight bag onto his shoulder. “After what I saw tonight, I don't know what to believe. Now, please move out of my way.”

“We have to trust each other, Jerome.”

“Trust?” he smirked, his voice rising. “When I told you that I got you, I was telling you that I was ready to go the distance. I poured my heart out to you about my past because I wanted to start things off right between you and me. I've lied and schemed and hustled and whored around in the past, but I don't want that shit anymore. I thought this was gonna be different.”

“This
is
different, and I've poured my heart out to you, too. You act like you're the only person in this relationship who's vulnerable and taking chances.”

“Maybe it's not worth the risk.”

Erica's heart pounded. “Don't say that, and don't let my behavior tonight ruin what we're building. I should've spoken up, and I regret that I didn't. But I've been honest from the start about how I feel about you and what I want, and I'm being honest now.”

Jerome looked up at the ceiling in frustration. “I've played this game before. I just got soft and didn't see it coming.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm talkin' about the game you're playin',” he said, glaring. “With your fancy degrees, bougie family, and expensive lifestyle. You wanted to take a walk on the wild side and try something new. You let me fuck your brains out like those punk-ass dudes you deal with never could, and now that you got your rocks off and you got what you wanted from me, you ready to go back to your neat, clean life, gettin' fuckin' flowers from old boyfriends and shit.”

Erica's eyes grew large with outrage. “I can't believe you!”

“Oh, believe it!” Jerome said, his voice rising. “It's all good when we're tucked away in a sandwich shop or in the jury room, and especially in your bedroom. But when it's time to bring me into your world, that's when the shit goes south.”

“That's ridiculous, and you know it!” Erica hissed. “If that was the case, I wouldn't have asked you to come with me in the first place.”

“You asked me this morning, at the last minute, claiming you forgot until Ashley texted you. How you gonna forget an important event like that?”

“Because like I told you, I programmed it in on the wrong date in my calendar, and with everything I had going on last week, I barely kept up with my own schedule, let alone anyone else's.”

“Please get out the way so I can leave,” he huffed in an angry tone.

Jerome was breathing so hard, Erica could feel the heat on her skin. The intensity in his eyes wasn't rage, it was hurt, and it was at her hands. She'd brought emotional harm to the one man who'd made her feel safe and loved. The thought made her own baby browns fill with a swell of unexpected tears. She didn't want to cry, and she tried her hardest to hold her tears back, but a stream sliding down her face betrayed her wishes. She wiped her cheeks with the heels of her hands, but her tears continued to flow, despite her efforts to stop them.