Yesterday's Tomorrows (25 page)

L
ife
in the office remained calm and quiet after that upstart Misty tried to start her drama. I hadn’t seen her around since then. I knew Maddy was a bit nervous about how everyone would treat her now that they knew her background, but most had liked her before and didn’t let the new knowledge change their opinion. Others remained politely distant. As long as they didn’t hurt her feelings, it was fine.

Maddy was every bit as good as my assistant as I knew she’d be. She didn’t know legal terminology, but she was learning fast and caught on quickly to what I needed for her to do. She was an efficient note-taker, could lay her hands on any paperwork I needed, and turned out to be a remarkable researcher. I could see how she’d been a good student.

There hadn’t been any more communications from Charly, and we hadn’t noticed any further ‘stalkings.’ But I didn’t for a minute believe she was out of danger. My investigator, Dave, checked in daily, but we hadn’t learned anything of further help to track down who or why they were interested in Maddy.

Living with Maddy was the other bright spot in my life. I loved waking up with her every morning and a routine fell into place easily for us, as if we’d been doing it for years. I even found myself picking up on a few of her expressions which made her giggle hysterically when I botched them. In the evenings, we’d fallen into an easy pattern of either eating out or fixing dinner together, which she preferred and I was totally on board for.

Then we’d clean up and sometimes start to watch a television show, but I don’t think we’d caught the end of a show yet; we always ended up making love somewhere – on the couch, in the kitchen, on the living room floor. We’d even managed to make it into the bedroom a couple of times before we practically jumped each other. Maddy’s passion closely equaled my own and her shyness had given way to growing boldness.

With Sara’s help, she’d put together what she called a more professional wardrobe to go with her new job. It made me happy to see her finally making some real friends. She and Ashley took their breaks together, and one night she and Sara had come over and they’d had a ‘girls’ night,’ whatever the hell that meant. Cal and I had hidden in my study to get away from all cackles and laughter. I wished we’d been able to go out, but even though I felt like my apartment was safe I was not taking any chances and leaving her side. When it was over and everyone had gone home, her eyes were alight with happiness. She flung herself into my arms and kissed me with enthusiasm and then skirted around chattering about ‘Sara this’ and ‘Ashley that’ while she tidied up. I had to admit it gave me a lot of pleasure to see Maddy blossom and act like a young woman her age should.

“It’s good to see that they put such a smile on your beautiful face,” I told her.

She smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s boring for you to hear about it over and over. I just never had girlfriends to do silly things with, like trying out makeup or sharing the latest gossip or…” she paused. “Oops. Sorry. I’m doing it again.”

“If it puts more smiles on your face like that, I’ll gossip with you. In fact, I heard just today that Dan Sullivan was looking for a good mechanic and Mallory Kirkland mentioned she was going to…wait for it…go
grocery shopping
after work! I mean, can you believe that?”

She slapped me playfully on the chest. “Oh, stop. But if you have any makeup tips, I’d be interested in hearing them,” she giggled.

“Here’s one. You don’t need it to be beautiful.”

“Aw, you flatterer,” she said and stood on her toes to kiss me. Her arms stayed wrapped around my neck and I brought mine to rest on her hips. “Those girls do put a smile on my face. But you,” she tapped on my chest, “you put one in my heart.”

I used the rest of the evening to show her just how many ways I knew to put a smile on her face as well.

Thinking back to that night and how we’d fallen asleep with our bodies sweaty and exhausted, I struggled to keep my mind on my work. I’d always thought she was a natural beauty, but recently she was drop dead gorgeous. Some of it was wearing some minimal makeup and better fitting clothes, but most of it was just the way she smiled more and carried herself with more confidence.

I studied her over my reading glasses. She was focused on typing up some notes. She was wearing a white silky blouse that was fitted at the waist so that it showed off her curves, and some kind of black skirt that was shorter on one side than the other. At that moment she yawned and stretched, and I could see the curves of her breasts strain against the material. Yeah, I might have kept her awake a little too late into the early morning hours last night.

I yanked off my glasses and dropped them on my desk. “Miss Stone,” I called and bit back a smile as she jerked forward from stretching. “May I see you in here for a moment, please?”

She scurried to her feet and came in.

“Shut the door, please,” I commanded.

She looked puzzled, but did as requested and moved to stand in front of my desk.

“Madelyn, I’m starting to think this arrangement isn’t going to work.”

She looked stunned and hurt. “What? Why? I thought you were happy with my work.”

I walked around my desk and stood before her. I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Because I keep envisioning calling you into my office so I can bend you over my desk and fuck you.”

“Holt!” she gasped and her mouth parted. I pinned her with my gaze, letting her know I wasn’t kidding. Her eyes dilated, and her breathing grew shallower while she pulled in her lower lip and bit it. Her eyes darted to the closed door and a little grin crept up the corners of her mouth.

Fuck me, she was considering it!
My dick grew even harder. I placed a palm on her stomach where her blouse tucked into her skirt. I deliberately let my body brush along hers as I moved around to her back, while I hooked my thumb over her waistband and let my fingers spread so that the tips rested over her pelvic bone. I brushed her hair off her shoulders and skimmed my nose along the curve of her neck.

“I sit here all day and think of all the ways I want to have you, Maddy,” I whispered. Her breath hitched and her head fell to the side to allow me more access. It seemed she liked a little dirty talk! I pulled her flush against my erection. “Feel that Maddy? That’s what you’ve done to me sitting at your desk out there.”

I slid my free hand to capture one of her breasts and pinched the nipple through the material covering it. She moaned in response.

“Would you like that, Maddy? So far we’ve done mostly slow and sweet, but there’s so much more we could do.” I continued to squeeze and pinch her breast while my other hand slid over her skirt so I could rub between her legs. “Would you like it if I hiked up your skirt and laid you down on my desk and took you hard and fast?”

“Yesss,” she hissed. She pressed her sweet ass harder against me and gyrated her hips. She was giving as good as she got.

I pressed her forward so that her torso rested on top of my desk. Kneeling behind her, I slowly slid my hands from her hips down the outside of her legs until I reached the end of her skirt then began the slow journey back up, this time taking the material with them.

“Holt,” she groaned as I left kisses on the inside of her thighs until I reached her panties. I didn’t have to ask her to spread her legs now that her skirt was bunched around her waist; she did that all on her own.

Slow time was over. I jerked her panties down and helped her step out of them, keeping her shoes on. I rested my hand over her wet pussy and not wasting any time, slid one finger inside her tight sex. She arched her back as if seeking more, so I added another finger. She rocked against them, making little whimpering noises. Damn, she was so responsive. I loved that she trusted me to teach her all the pleasure we could share.

I could tell she was close, so I stood quickly, grabbed the condom I had put in my wallet, and unbuttoned my pants. I bent over on top of her. “Hard and fast, sweetheart. You ready?”

She licked her lips and glanced at me through hooded eyes. “Do it, Holt. I want you.”

I stood. Her new heels put her at just the right height. I gripped her hips and lined myself up. I couldn’t wait ‘til her new birth control pills kicked in. I surged forward, burying my cock all the way inside her.

“Ohmigod,” she groaned. I pumped several more times, easily sliding in and out of her wetness. I reached in front and rubbed her clit with my finger. I felt her legs begin to tremble and she started clenching around my cock. Her noises grew louder, causing me to lean forward enough I could slap a hand over her mouth as she came. It only took a couple more thrusts before I joined her, grunting her name as I did.

I held myself off her with one arm holding the desk, the other rubbing her hip as our breathing slowed. This girl was it for me. I knew it as surely as I knew my own name.

Maddy’s breathing finally slowed and she cracked open an eye. She breathed a satisfied sigh. “You know, I think this job comes with some remarkable benefits.”

I stood straight and helped her to stand. Her skirt fell back in place, a little worse for wear, while I redressed. As she faced me, I couldn’t help but smirk as I plucked a sticky note from her cheek. “I think
you’re
what’s remarkable.”

“I love you,” she murmured softly, nuzzling into my chest while her slim arms wrapped around me.

I froze. She said it so quietly I thought maybe my ears had played tricks on me. My heart began to pound hard with hope - hope in us and hope in our future.

She lifted her head. Her eyes were glazed with fear. “I…”

“Did you mean it?” I asked hoarsely. “Do you love me?”

Returning my gaze without flinching, she answered, “I do, Holt. I didn’t mean for it to slip out that way, but yes, I do. I have for awhile. I know you love Claire, but I can accept that, if maybe there’s just a little room for me in your heart.”

I don’t think I’d ever been so floored by a comment. She thought she was second best and was still willing to settle for it. I clasped her face in my hands.

“Madelyn, I love you. With every bit of my heart, I love you. Yes, I loved Claire. What I had with her was special. But that doesn’t take anything away from what I feel for you, just as you don’t take anything away from what I had with her. But you’re my present. You’re my future. I love you with my whole heart, not just a piece of it.”

Tears had begun to roll down her face at my initial words, but her eyes lit up while she sagged against me as if she’d been relieved of a huge weight. “Really? You really love me?”

“More than my own life,” I pledged and bent my head to taste her sweet lips.

I grabbed my stuff and scooped her panties off the floor and stuffed them in my pocket. I pulled her toward the door. “Come on, let’s go.”

She tugged on my arm. “Wait! What are we doing?”

“We have some research to do?”

She stumbled against me. “Research? What, now? Where?”

“Research. At home. Need to find out how many more times I can make the woman I love come.”

She practically pushed me out the door.

I
t was
our third day in court. I was growing more comfortable in anticipating what papers Holt might need as well as in taking notes of names of witnesses and facts presented by the opposing council. I had been worried I’d find it boring, listening to a bunch of facts and arguments, but instead, I was fascinated by the intricate dance both legal teams engaged in, knowing when to move forward or back, when to change steps, and each working to take the lead.

This morning I struggled not to squirm in my seat; I kept getting that eerie sense of someone watching me. I’d grown used to the idea that there were spectators to the case who always had their eyes at the front of the room where we sat, but I was never the center of attention. This felt different.

Hoping it was just my imagination, I kept my eyes glued to the table where I sat, going about what was needed from me until the judge called for an hour-long recess.

Holt leaned toward me. “I need to go over a few things with Mr. Pandero, if you want to get up and stretch your legs or get some coffee or something.”

“That sounds good. Can I get you anything?”

“What I want from you will have to wait until we get home,” he answered huskily.

My face flushed, and just the thought of what I could look forward to back at home made my panties grow damp. His eyes glanced toward my lap where my legs clenched together beneath my skirt, and a knowing smile gathered on his face. I decided to try to beat him at his own game.

“Then I’ll just have to hope court adjourns early, because thanks to you, I have to go remove my panties,” I whispered back and winked.

He stared at me, shocked by my unusual forwardness. Then he got a wicked grin on his face. “Meet me outside the courtroom in twenty minutes, and don’t even think about taking them off yourself. That will be my pleasure, and shortly afterward, it will be yours.”

He straightened up. “Enjoy your break, Ms. Stone. I look forward to getting those
briefs
from you shortly.” He turned back to his client, the discreet adjustment of his pants the only clue he was as affected by our banter as I was.

Oh, I shouldn’t have messed with the master. Flushed and speechless, I got up and walked out of the courtroom. I went to the bathroom and splashed some water on my still warm face. Deciding that maybe I needed something cold instead of hot coffee, I stopped at a vendor in the lobby and got a bottle of water. Holt had made me promise I would stay at the courthouse any time he wasn’t by my side, but the steps directly outside the main door weren't technically leaving.

The cool, fall air felt good on my hot body. From the top of the stairs, I sat and leaned against one of the columns and looked around at the people coming and going, knowing both sides of the law and grateful to be on this side. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the bright sun was suddenly shaded from my body. I looked up, and my heart started beating wildly when I saw two men standing almost on top of me. Each grabbed one of my arms and pulled me up. I immediately struggled, but one twisted my arm painfully behind my back while the other stood so that he hid his partner’s movements.

“Don’t scream, or we’ll hurt you,” one of them grunted.

Six years ago I made decisions based on pure instinct. This time, I forced myself to focus through my panic. I tried to notice anything I could about either of them, such as one had a blue button-down shirt while the other had a white one, as if they had been trying to blend in with most of the other professionally dressed people coming in and out of the courthouse. I also knew it was better to fight and make a commotion than it was to go with them. Even if they killed me, at least there would be witnesses, and I could only hope they’d be brought to justice.

I attempted to jerk my arms from them, but their grasp was too strong. “Let me go,” I yelled, only to have my voice muffled as a loud truck rambled down the street.

“Quiet or someone’s going to get hurt. Start walking,” White Shirt said.

I opened my mouth to scream, but one of them elbowed me so hard in the chest I dropped to my knees, unable to draw a breath. They caught me and half dragged, half carried me down the first couple of stairs.

“Hey lady, are you alright?” a man passing by asked, eyeing the men at my side with concern.

“She’s been violently ill, probably food poisoning. We’re on our way to the hospital now. I’d suggest you don’t eat the tuna salad,” one of my captors answered quickly. He even laughed a little.

I felt ill, struggling to suck any amount of oxygen into me. I couldn’t fight them as they ‘escorted’ me further down the steps.

“Madelyn!” I heard Holt’s voice yell frantically from the top of the stairs.

“Shit!” muttered White Shirt.

“Tell me where the bank account is and how to access it, and we’ll let you go,” Blue Shirt said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I gasped.

“Man, let’s just get out of here,” the other man said. “Someone will have called the cops by now.”

Sure enough, sirens wailed in the distance.

“No!” Blue Shirt responded. I could hear how panicked he sounded. “Remember what the boss man did to Marino when he screwed up the fire? We’ll be next, dude.”

Meanwhile, Holt was bolting down the steps, only to stop when Blue Shirt swung us around and held his pistol to my temple. I heard the shrieks of women and the shouts of men as the steps became abandoned, leaving only Holt on the stairs in front of me.

“Not another step,” Blue Shirt warned, “or your girlfriend bites it.”

Holt held his hand out. His eyes never wavered from the man holding the gun on me. “Okay, let’s just calm down. Let her go.”

“Not until she gives me the information we want.”

“And what would that be? Maybe I can help you. I have lots of contacts throughout the city.”

“I need to know what she and her sister did with all the money.”

“What money?” I cried. “I don’t have any.”

“The money you and Regis stole from my boss.”

“I didn’t steal anything!” I cried. Tears of helplessness started to fill my eyes. I had zero ideas what he was talking about.

“Shut up,” Blue Shirt said. The sirens were growing closer, and I could feel the tension in the man holding me.

“They’re getting closer,” White Shirt said, panicking. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Too late.” Blue Shirt shook his head. “Maybe she’ll talk better if she sees how serious we are.” He raised his gun and pointed it at Holt.

I wondered why Holt hadn’t pulled his own gun until I remembered the metal detectors inside the courthouse. Holt had to put his pistol in a locker, and he probably didn’t think he needed to grab it when he came outside.

“Nooooo!” I screamed, my voice echoing on the surrounding concrete steps and marble columns as the man pulled the trigger.

Holt jerked backward as blood began to flow from the upper left side of his chest. Amazingly, he remained standing. “Let her go,” he shouted.

“Tell me what we want to know or the next bullet will be two inches lower.”

I was shaking and would have fallen to my knees if the man wasn’t holding me so tightly. I began crying in earnest. “No, please don’t hurt him. I’ll go with you. I’ll try to figure out whatever you’re talking about.”

“No, Maddy. Don’t go with them,” Holt called frantically.

“Shut up,” Blue Shirt yelled at him. He raised his pistol at Holt again. Holt stared me in the eyes, love pouring forth as I cried his name.

“Noooooo!” I yelled again, struggling against my bonds. But it wasn’t enough. The roar of gunfire filled my ears.