All I Want Is Forever Page 5

  “Lighten up. I’m tired and stretched thin is all.” Talia glanced away from his perceptive gaze.

  “Look, I left Texas for a lot of reasons. Mostly to get away from a control freak drunken father who beat the stuffing out of me every chance he got.”

  So that was it. Adults who were knocked around as kids seemed able to recognize each other. Rich or poor, black, white, or purple, it didn’t matter. Talia had met enough kids from deep-pocket families to know hellish childhoods were equal opportunity. Or as Mama Rose would say, “The devil is always busy, child.” Still she couldn’t share her Louisiana past with anyone, not even Bill and Jasmine.

  “Every once in a while he still tries to mess with my head. Old bastard is pushing seventy years old and just as crazy-mean. I know all about trying to escape.” Bill sat back. “You’ve been jittery since this guy Guillory showed up.”

  “Don’t worry about me, I’m cool. I mean it, Bill.” Talia looked at him steadily.

  Bill rubbed his jaw for a long minute, then nodded. “Okay. Remember you can call on me.”

  Derrick appeared in the open door of her office as though conjured up by a voodoo spell. A chill spread up her spine at the look in his dark eyes. The lightweight gray suit seemed tailor-made to fit his large frame. He wore a white shirt that made a striking contrast to his creamy brown skin.

  “Sorry to interrupt. I met your colleague Jasmine, and she said I could come back.” Derrick nodded toward the front of the office suite.

  Bill stood. “No problem. I’m on my way out. Bill Elliot.”

  “Derrick Guillory. Nice to meet you,” Derrick said. The men shook hands.

  “First time in D.C?” Bill wore an easy smile.

  “No, I was here a couple of years ago on business.” Derrick’s gaze flickered to Talia for only a second before he looked at Bill again.

  She worked on keeping a bland expression. So he’d been in town before without calling her. Well, she had it coming. Not that she wanted to see him, right? A worrisome tickle of anger lodged in her chest all the same.

  “Then welcome back.” Bill gave Talia a meaningful glance that said he sensed the undercurrent. “Good meeting you. Talia, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He closed the door on his way out.

  “Bye, Bill.” Talia lifted her chin and smiled at Derrick. “So what brings you this way?”

  “Larry called your boss, and they agreed to meet. Since I hadn’t seen your office, I came along.” Derrick scanned the layout as though he were conducting an investigation. “Nice.”

  “Thanks. Sit down.” Talia suddenly felt exposed. Of course he was conducting an investigation, of her.

  “I’ve really enjoyed these last few days.” Derrick folded his tall frame into the chair Bill had only minutes before vacated. He continued to examine the decor.

  “Learning a lot down at the Justice Department I guess.” Talia maintained a cool tone.

  He turned his unsettling topaz gaze on her. “I meant being with you.”

  Talia felt a spike of pleasure at the deep, sultry timbre of his voice. The sound flowed over her like hot sauce, setting her body on fire. Her mind told her body not to be affected. Derrick’s gaze drifted down to her chest. In the silence she could hear him breathing. Talia fought against the tide pulling her back to an old attraction. She cleared her mind of what they’d had. After all, that was years ago, right? Switching to the business at hand might help.

  “So you guys must be wrapping up all your meetings,” Talia said.

  “I leave tomorrow.” Derrick answered the question she didn’t ask.

  “Listen, about the sentencing laws. I’ve given Pete a complete rundown on how we should approach it. I can give you a copy.” Talia swung her chair around and tapped the keyboard of her Dell computer.

  “My boss gave me one, but thanks,” Derrick said.

  “Oh. Well, we can go over a few things Pete is probably discussing with him right now. For instance we’ve identified at least six congressmen who are on the fence.” Talia switched to a screen that listed members of key congressional committees.

  “Interesting. You’ve got a dossier on each congressman.” Derrick rose and walked over to stand next to her.

  Talia knew it was her imagination that she could feel the heat from his skin. Derrick put one hand on the back of her leather chair and the other on the desk. The spicy scent of his cologne snaked around her delicately. His muscular thigh moved close in a tantalizing way. She battled an urge to wrap both arms around it. Talia leaned to the left, away from him.

  “We do keep a file on their views and track their votes.” Talia turned her head in an effort to keep it clear.

  “What’s this?” He touched her arm, then pointed to an icon on the monitor.

  “That switches to another report. I have the committees listed with the issues before them.”

  “I understand you helped customize this application.” Derrick’s voice deepened.

  “I modified the database with the help of the group that designed it when we got it about a year ago. Keeping track of the major players on key issues is critical for us and our clients.” Talia could hardly breathe with him so close. As if to intensify his assault, he moved closer.

  Derrick smiled at her. “Long way from down the bayou, baby girl. You’ve got folks impressed in this town, and that ain’t easy.”

  Talia rose and walked to the table in a seating area near the window. She poured herself a glass of water from an insulated carafe. To buy time to recover, she took her time taking a drink. In the interim her brain kicked back in. He seemed to know quite a lot about her.

  “Sounds like you’ve put together a dossier on me.”

  “Not really. But you can’t blame me for being curious. After all we’ve—”

  “Right,” she broke in. “I’m going to be working late.”

  “I see.”

  They stared at each other in silence. The only sounds were the hum from her computer and the muted horns from traffic below. Talia tried not to think of him as a tall serving of mocha latte. She didn’t want to imagine his hips pressed against hers as they rocked together. Before she knew it he was across the room. When the phone on her desk rang, he paused, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Talia, line four,” the receptionist said through the speaker.

  She hit the button, happy to have a reason to stop whatever was about to happen. “This is Talia Marchand.”

  “Hey, you. I hope your day has been easier than mine. But it’ll end right if you meet me at our usual place.” Jarrod laughed. “I’ve got one heck of a story to tell you about your favorite senator.”

  Talia blinked hard at Derrick, who retreated to the other side of the room. “Uh, let me get back to you. I’m really tied up.”

  “I know your old friend from Louisiana is still in town.” There was a pause. When Jarrod spoke again the amusement was gone from his voice. “You want to tell me about it?”

  She picked up the receiver. “I’m in back-to-back meetings. I don’t have to tell you what that’s like.” Talia turned her chair around as she spoke lower. “I’ll give you a call. No, Jarrod, that’s not some kind of code. Let’s talk about this later, okay? Good-bye.”

  “Look, if I’m causing a problem, I’ll back off.” Derrick avoided her gaze by looking out of the window.

  “Jarrod and I have been dating, we’re not engaged.” Talia immediately wondered why she’d said that.

  “Then let’s go out tonight.” Derrick’s poised exterior cracked. He swallowed hard before he spoke again. “There’s so much we haven’t said, and I’ll be gone soon.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think we should, Derrick. That’s not true. I know we shouldn’t.”

  “I’m not asking for much,” he said quietly. “One evening.”

  He towered over her, but not in an overbearing way meant to impose his will. The raw emotion in his eyes and voice tore at her. She ached to move closer to him. Instead, she
put more space between them.

  Talia faced the facts. She wanted him, yearned for the mind-bending sexual healing every nerve in her body sensed he could give. Yet even more dangerous was the emotional hunger he fed. He only wanted one night, but he’d leave her yearning for forever. She crossed her arms and turned her back to him.

  “Why start something we can’t finish?” she said.

  “It’s better than nothing.”

  “I’m not so sure,” Talia said.

  Derrick put his hands on her shoulders. His lips were close to her ear. “My flight leaves at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon. I won’t call you or try to see you again.”

  “Derrick, I—”

  “Please,” he murmured, and tightened his grip.

  Talia swayed against him. His need to be with her answered her own. “I’ll be through by six-thirty.”

  He stepped back when male voices approached.

  “Her office is right down here, Mr. Perrilloux,” Pete said. “She’s the lady who really knows this issue from the Louisiana angle. I’m just the cheering section on this one.”

  Talia brushed back her hair, hoping it didn’t look as tangled as she felt emotionally. She assumed a businesslike pose only seconds before Pete entered with Derrick’s boss. Larry Perrilloux looked to be in his early fifties. A few strands of silver sprinkled his black hair. He couldn’t have been more than five feet eleven inches tall. Still, he had an air of quiet authority about him. His dark eyes were bright with intelligence. He gave Derrick a quick nod.

  “Hello, Ms. Marchand. Glad to have your insightful report.” He shook her hand. There was a trace of Cajun lilt to his voice.

  “Thank you. I was just telling Derrick that change goes slowly, but there’s movement.” Talia moved farther away from Derrick as she spoke in a crisp no-nonsense tone.

  “We talked to Representative Tauzin, and he told us making an appearance might help,” Derrick said. His serious expression showed no trace of the fire that had been in his eyes moments before.

  “I wouldn’t have wasted money or time coming here otherwise. Crime doesn’t take a holiday. Not even in a rural area,” Perrilloux said solemnly.

  “We’re not saying it’s going to be easy. You know the political fallout for those who look soft on crime.” Pete crossed his arms.

  “Which is why I like your approach, Pete. Hammer home the point about maximizing our resources to go after the real bad guys.” Perrilloux slapped a fist into the palm of his other hand to make his point.

  “I’m putting together dollar figures on the cost of incarceration versus treatment. I’m also getting data on the effect of removing violent big-time dealers off the street,” Talia said.

  “Decrease in crime rates, less costly overtime paid to police officers, more uniforms free to patrol,” Pete put in. “That sort of thing.”

  “Excellent, just what we need. I look forward to hearing from you. Good-bye, Ms. Marchand.” Perrilloux walked toward the door with Pete.

  “Good-bye,” Talia said. She smiled at him, then glanced at Derrick. “Good-bye.”

  “I’ll see you later, Talia,” Derrick said.

  Perrilloux stopped and looked back at them. “That’s right, you two know each other. Nice to renew acquaintances with hometown folks.” His wide smile transformed the serious “tough on crime” man into an affable Cajun gentleman.

  One of Pete’s eyebrows went up. Two sets of keen eyes gazed at them for several seconds. Both men seemed to expect an explanation.

  “Sure is,” Derrick said with a placid air. He walked toward the two men.

  Talia let out a long slow breath once the door closed and the three men were gone. She sagged against her desk. “One more night. I can take it.”

  The pleasant buzz all over her body generated by the anticipation of his strong arms and full, sweet lips implied otherwise.

  Derrick stole sideways glances at her as they strolled along the riverfront of Washington Harbor. The warm, humid night air reminded him of Louisiana. Twinkling lights reflected in the dark water. They’d talked through a dinner at Joe’s Seafood on K Street. The spectacular view of the river seemed to ease the tension between them. For a crazy moment he imagined they were just two people attracted to each other out on a date. Then Talia began to talk about her mother in a quiet voice. He just listened. Pain, disappointment, and suppressed bitterness tinged each word. She’d been terse and unwavering. Monette was out of her life. Rather than upset the fragile control he sensed could shatter at any minute, Derrick changed the subject. Now they walked along with no particular destination in mind. They sat down on a bench when two couples, double-daters, got up. Talia stared off across the river.

  “I’m never going back, not to stay,” she said.

  “I know.” He wanted to put his arms around her but didn’t. “I’m part of the reason.”

  Talia sighed, but waited before speaking. “Yes.”

  Derrick flinched at the hard truth. “I’m not going to lie either. I’d do the same thing all over again.”

  She turned to him. “I can understand the first time, Derrick. But you let Monette use you.”

  “Monette needed help, and if she’d been arrested—”

  “She was arrested anyway later on,” Talia broke in heatedly. “You could have gone to prison.”

  “But I didn’t.”

  “No thanks to her! I have to hand it to her though. Monette is a genius at getting men to dance to her tune.” Talia tensed, took a deep breath, then let it out. “All except one. Earl,” she whispered.

  He could no longer resist touching her. She only held back for an instant when he pulled her against his chest. His heart beat faster when she relaxed.

  “I know,” he murmured.

  Talia looked into his eyes. “I hate going home. Everywhere I look reminds me of something bad. If Mama Rose wasn’t there, I’d never go back.”

  Derrick wanted to smooth away the frightened expression. He tried to think of something he could say to reassure her. Instead, he settled for holding her tight and gently rocking her. Jazz from a nearby bistro flowed around them. They were silent for a good twenty minutes before he spoke.

  “I can’t be sure the press won’t track you down, Talia. I’ll do what I can to keep you out of it. Monette feels the same way. You’re not part of the story. I might even convince them not to mention you.” Derrick stroked her arm with one hand as he spoke.

  “Thanks for coming to warn me. Sorry I acted like a bitch at first,” Talia said softly.

  “I wanted to tell you in person,” he replied, and rested his chin on the soft cushion of dark hair.

  “Why didn’t you call me when you were in town before?” She went very still in his arms.

  “Like you said, why stir up something we’d have to let go?”

  Derrick ached down deep in his soul at the awful reality. He would forever be associated with violence and fear. Somehow he’d hoped that he could love the horror away. Then Talia fled, leaving him behind in stunned misery. Not that he blamed her. Such a wound could never completely heal.

  “I don’t know what to say.” Talia sighed and moved away.

  “You don’t have to explain.”

  “No, I want to tell you.” Talia turned to him. “Leaving Rougon wasn’t easy. Once I got used to being in a whole new place things got easier. I was accepted for being me. I made real friends for the first time in my life. I learned new things about myself.”

  “I always knew you were smart and talented,” he said quietly.

  “But I didn’t believe it until then. I was amazed at getting offered six college scholarships!” Talia tapped a finger on her chest. “Me, the girl with raggedy clothes and a crazy mama. But none of that mattered.”

  “I’m happy you were able to follow your dreams.” Derrick managed to smile at her through the sadness that clutched at his heart.

  They held hands in silence for a long time, just watching people pass by. A breeze from
the Potomac blew a thick lock of hair across her face. Derrick smoothed it back before Talia reached up. She looked at him, her eyes shiny. A tear slid down one cheek. He pressed his lips to it and tasted the sweet saltiness of her skin. They embraced. He felt the farewell in her touch. Not rejection, but a silent message that they could never be.

  “Don’t you dare come here again and not call me,” she whispered. Talia pulled away and gazed into his eyes. “I mean it.”

  He could only nod. The lump in his throat kept him from speaking. She let go of him. Derrick let out a long cleansing breath. In spite of the yearning still inside, he didn’t feel grief. Talia had fashioned her own life free of the chaos and danger of her childhood.

  “You’re successful. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

  “And you?” Talia studied him.

  “I’m good.” Derrick said. “I only work part-time for the DA’s Office. I’ve got my own investigative firm on the side.”

  “Terrible D working with the authorities. Wouldn’t Mrs. Haywood be stunned?”

  He smiled at the mention of their old principal in grade school. Mrs. Haywood had issued him dark warnings at least three times a week.

  “I can hear her now. ‘Son, there’s worse places than a classroom!’” Derrick shook his head. “She helped me get my first honest job.”

  “Get out of here!” Talia’s mouth dropped open.

  “We’re pretty close now.” Derrick laughed again at the look of astonishment on Talia’s lovely face.

  “I thought you’d hate each other until the end of time!” Talia threw her head back and laughed hard. “Now I really do believe in miracles.”

  Derrick relished the melodious sound of her contralto voice. “I guess we both survived pretty damn well, considering.”

  She stopped laughing and smiled at him in an easy, natural way. Once again Derrick felt blown away at the beautiful, accomplished woman she’d become. Leaving her would be painful, but at least he knew she still had a good life.

  “We sure did. Okay, we’ve covered the heavy stuff.” Talia stood and held out her hand. “Come on. I’m going to take you to some of the funkiest music places in town.”