Simone watched the door for a few more seconds, before regaining her sanity. She picked up her phone and made a call.
“Dr. Richards office,” the secretary answered.
“Hi, this is Simone Jenkins. I don’t have an appointment to see Dr. Richards until next month but I was wondering if he had anything open within the next week?”
“Hold on Ms. Jenkins, let me check,”
“Thank you,”
Simone pulled up her calendar while she waited.
“Simone?”
She blinked several times. “Dr. Richards?”
“Yes, what’s wrong?”
“She didn’t have to get you. It’s not an emergency. I just wanted to see you again this week.”
“What’s happened?” he questioned.
Simone sighed. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out, before I revert back to my old ways.”
“Okay, just tell what’s going on,” he said calmly.
“I met a man that kicks in windows and rescues kids from burning houses…and every time he speaks about doing something dangerous, I’m completely turned on,” Simone explained. “I almost completely undressed him in my office.”
“Who is this man?” the doctor asked.
“He’s worked with Ray in the past and he knows my friends, Kent and Lotus.” Simone told him. “In fact, Lotus recommended him to me, for my gun training program here at the Center.”
“So you find yourself attracted to him?”
Simone turned to the window. “That’s just it. I don’t understand this attraction. I mean sure, I want to lick his neck and everywhere else, but he also intrigues me…that’s never happened before,”
“Have you flirted with him?”
She smiled. “Consciously and subconsciously…”
“And his reaction?”
Shrugging, she stared outside. “He hasn’t jumped on them, but he also hasn’t rebuffed them.”
“Give yourself time Simone,” Dr. Richards cautioned.
She closed her eyes. “I know, that’s what I’m telling myself. I wondered if the celibacy is just starting to get to me.”
“Are you feeling this way about other men?”
Simone shook her head. “No, I’ve never felt this way. It’s like his danger pulls at some kind of hidden string deep inside of me.”
“When are you seeing him again?”
Opening her eyes, Simone turned to her calendar. “I wasn’t going to see him again, until I had a chance to talk to you. I feel so off kilter…”
“Do you feel afraid of him?” the doctor asked cautiously.
“Just the opposite,” Simone admitted. “And I checked him out with Ray.”
“Good,” Dr. Richards complimented. “Do you want to see him again?”
“Dr. Richards, I was ready to run out the door and chase the man down,” Simone confided, remembering when she’d slid her hands across his firm chest.
“Well, don’t do that.”
Simone chuckled. “No, I showed some restraint. I’ve grown a lot in these last two years.”
“Trust yourself, Simone.” Dr. Richards counseled. “Darryl made you question your judgement in men, but every man isn’t him, and you need to have confidence in your own perceptions.”
“You’re sending me out of the nest?” she asked.
“I have no doubt of your flying ability. It may be wobbly at first, but I know that you will soar eventually,” he told her.
She let out a breath. “Thank you Dr. Richards. I’ll see you next month. Hopefully, I won’t be banging on your office door before then.”
“I’m here if you need me,”
Simone ended the call and took a few deep breaths before dialing the phone again.
“Hey Simone!”
Her eyes narrowed. “What the hell have you done to me?”
Lotus frowned. “What?”
“Nick Webster, that’s what?”
Smiling, Lotus asked, “What happened?”
“Let’s see, you sent Black Panther to rescue me, and he saved three children and an old lady from a house on fire,” Simone told her.
“Damn…” Lotus said in awe.
“And now I’m horny as hell because that shit was so damn sexy, just like the rest of him.”
“I knew you’d like that,” Lotus said confidently.
Simone groaned. “Why didn’t you warn me Lotus?”
“I told you he was fine,”
“Fine! Yes, he’s fine, he’s sexy, he dangerous and he’s got me all messed up in one damn day!” Simone complained.
“That honey pot is buzzing, huh?”
She looked at the phone. “What?”
“You need your honey pot stirred and you want Nick to do it.”
“I swear, this is why people question your sanity…”
Lotus laughed. “Doesn’t matter, my honey pot stirrer is on his job, 24/7.”
“Lotus, I undressed the man in my office,”
“Wow, how did that happen?”
Simone shook her head. “I didn’t want him to intimidate the ladies here, looking like a hired gun, so my intention was just to ask him to remove his jacket and tie…but then I decided to do it for him.”
“Girl…”
“I know, that was so unprofessional,”
“What did he do?”
“He let me,” Simone answered. “Then he told me that the next time I undressed him, to expect the same.”
Lotus’ eyes widened. “The gods!”
“I had to call the doctor to ask him was this natural?” Simone said, shaking her head.
“Is it natural to want a fine ass man to stir your honey pot?”
Simone closed her eyes. “Don’t say that again. You’re a grown woman with almost two kids.”
Lotus chuckled. “Okay, is what natural?”
“This…this…desire, that goes beyond just sex.”
“What is it, then?”
“That’s why I called the doctor,” Simone told her. “I don’t just want to have sex with Nick. I want to climb and cuddle in his arms, while he tells about all the people he’s killed or wants to...”
“And people say, I’m crazy…” Lotus said confused.
“Girl, stop…and listen.” Simone argued. “I need help, here.”
“Okay, Simone, I’m not a therapist, but I can tell you this. The reason why I wanted you to meet Nick, is because… he’s like the Earth’s mantle-” she began.
Simone rolled her eyes. “Lotus…”
“No, let me finish,” Lotus interrupted. “The mantle is the earth’s solid foundation, filled with scorching heat. It’s where gem stones and diamonds are formed.”
Taking a breath, Simone asked, “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that Nick is the solid foundation with the heat that you need, to make you into his Diamond.” Lotus explained simply.
******
Nick walked out of the Women’s Center and entered his black SUV. Close to an hour later and his chest still tingled from Simone Jenkins’ hands on him. To say that he’d been shocked was an understatement, and very little shocked Nicholas Webster. He’d seen and done it all…
When Nick had entered the burning home last night, the last thing he’d expected was for Simone to dive in the window behind him. She had a strength that she seemed somewhat unsure of, and that intrigued him.
Nick understood that some man had done something to hurt her and today that man was no longer living, which would have been the case anyway, after he’d found out. He rubbed his temple, thinking about how she’d slowly removed his tie and he could definitely see her doing that again, right before he fastened it around her wrists.
Those sexy dark eyes, had held his for more than a minute before he’d memorized her high cheekbones and pouty lips. Her long dark hair, flowed around her shoulders and framed her light complexion. Her makeup had been professional, yet provocative and everything about Simone Jenkins oozed fervent heat.
A woman like Simone was not for a man that was faint of heart, which did not describe Nick Webster in the least. He started his truck and began driving to his next destination. Navigating the streets, he thought about the incident last night and decided to check in with his contacts at the station to see what information they had obtained.
His mind strayed back to Simone, who was still at the forefront. He recalled the view, watching her walk in front of him, as she gave him a tour of her facility. His thoughts quickly shifted to another woman, who’d sought refuge at a similar facility, only to lose her life at the hands of a man who claimed to love her.
Nick’s eyes narrowed at the memory and he gripped the steering wheel tighter to absorb the pain that would always lay dormant in his heart. His phone vibrating, brought him back to reality and he fished it out of his jacket pocket.
Parking the car, he glanced down at the screen.
Hi. It’s Simone. Are you free tomorrow?
Nick replied:
All day
He wasn’t, but he would be now.
Simone wrote back:
I’ll be there around 10 am
He confirmed.
I will be there.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, he exited the car and walked into the police station. Nick was greeted by a few officers, before his contact arrived.
“Nick,” the man stuck out his hand. “Still looking like a killer,” he joked.
“Not just looking,” Nick told him, shaking his hand.
The detective led him to a small office and Nick took a seat.
“I’m assuming you’re here about last night. The house fire?”
Nick nodded. “What else do you have?”
“So the husband doesn’t own a vehicle like the one, the woman described.”
“Miss Jenkins,”
The detective looked up from his notes to Nick’s dark presence. “Huh?”
“The woman’s name is Miss Jenkins.”
“Oh, yeah, okay…Miss Jenkins.”
“Go ahead,” Nick prompted.
Clearing his throat, he continued. “We still haven’t located him to question him about the fire or the incident at the Women’s Center.”
“Do you have extra patrols around the Center?”
“We did last night,”
Nick lifted a brow. “And today?”
“Budget…”
“You know I don’t give a damn about your budgets. A male suspect has threatened to shoot up a women’s center and your budget can’t handle a few extra patrols in the area?” Nick asked.
The detective sat up. “Look, Nick…”
“You want me to find him?” Nick asked, looking at his watch. “Because I can have this shit done in an hour.”
“We don’t need a homicide, an arson and a threat to a Women’s Center, all on the same case,”
Nick stood. “Then get some damn patrols over there.”
“Fine, just let us do our job.”
“I’ll be in touch,” Nick said, heading to the door. “If he shows up again at that center, I guarantee…you will have that homicide.”
The detective watched him walk out and got on his phone, to get more cars in that area.
Nick drove back to the house that he’d followed Simone to last night. Parking, he stepped out of the truck and walked toward the house. He was greeted by a few guys on the sidewalk.
“May I help you?’ he asked.
They nodded towards his vehicle. “That your truck?”
Nick looked back at the SUV. “Didn’t you just see me get out of it?”
“What you doing over here? You Feds or what?”
“No, I’m not Feds. Did you know the woman that lived in this house?” Nick asked them.
One laughed. “You got questions?”
“Do you have answers?” He brushed his jacket back to reveal the weapon on his hip. “Or are we taking this somewhere else?”
Another guy shook his head. “Look, we not into all that,” he told Nick, who replaced his suit jacket.
“That’s not what I came for,” Nick explained. “I just want to know about the woman that lived in this house.”
“Man, this place is a trap…”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “What are you taking about? A trap house?”
The guys nodded.
“Who was selling out of here?”
They all looked at one another.
“I’m not the police,” Nick assured them. “Three kids could’ve died last night.”
“JP,” one whispered.
Nick watched the guys. “Who is JP?”
“Look, we said too much already,” one said, “Our house might be next.”
The others agreed and Nick nodded. “Thanks,” he told them, before they slowly walked away.
******
The next day, Nick stood in the parking lot watching as Simone pulled into his shooting range. Walking to her car, he opened the door and helped her out.
“Hi,” she smiled up at him.
“Hello, Simone. Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
He extended a muscled arm and she wrapped a soft hand around the bicep. “Let me escort you inside.”
Simone scanned the area as they walked, taking in the surroundings. “This is nice.”
“Thank you,” Nick said opening the door for her. “I thought we’d shoot some targets.”
She agreed. “Okay, you want to see my skills?”
“Yes, and I want to show you mine,” he said smoothly.
Simone gave him a once over in jeans and a black T-shirt stretched across his broad chest. She admired his six-four height, along with the well packaged body that went along with it. That over active imagination of hers went into overdrive as she studied him.
“But you seem to be examining it already,” Nick told her, amused.
Simone laughed softly. “It’s worth examining thoroughly.”
Nick placed his hand over hers, on his arm. “Would you like to examine it over lunch as well?” he asked.
“I’d love to have lunch with you,”
He nodded. “We can practice, have lunch, then talk about your Center?” he suggested.
“That sounds like a plan,” Simone agreed.
Nick continued to guide her around before finally making their way to the target practice. Inside a stall, he handed her a pair of goggles and she put them on before looking at the pistols in front of her.
“I didn’t know if you were bringing your own, so I picked out a couple that I thought you’d like.”
Simone agreed. “I do have my own, but I think I’d like to try that one.” She pointed excitedly at one of the shiny weapons.
Nick glanced to where she’d pointed. “You like that one?”
She nodded and he picked up the gun and handed it to her. “Do your thing.”
Putting on his glasses and headphones, while Simone added her own headphones, Nick stepped back and watched her ready herself. Studying her form, he watched her focus on the target.
Several shots later, Simone sat the gun down and Nick pressed the button to bring the target in. Joining her, by her side, he studied the target filled with expertly delivered holes as they removed their headphones.
“You’re an incredible shot,” Nick complimented. “I expected no less from a Diamond.”
Simone studied her target. “That wasn’t really my specialty. I think this weapon made the shots better. It felt good in my hands.”
Nick picked up the gun and looked it over. “You like this?”
She laughed. “Look at my target.”
He nodded. “It’s yours, then.” Nick handed it to her.
“What?” Simone asked confused. “I can’t take your weapon.”
“It’s my gift to you,” Nick told her. “And if it makes you accurate like that,” he pointed at the target. “I want you to have it, to protect yourself.”
She took the gun. “Thank you. I’m stunned.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let me see what you’ve got,” Simone said, nodding toward the target.
He agreed and picked up one of the guns. After covering their ears again, Simone moved to the side and watched the master in action. Nick proved why he owned gun shops and a range. When the target came in, there was one single hole after several shots.
Simone looked at him and removed her earphones. “You’re a show off.”
“I want to impress you.” He uncovered his ears.
“I think showing up out of the blue, jumping through a window, and running out of a burning house with three kids, did that already,” she told him.
“I’m glad that they’re safe, and you.” Nick said softly.
“I hope their mother makes a good decision.” Simone said, shaking her head.
“I want to talk to you about that,” Nick relayed.
Simone looked interested. “Okay,”
“Let’s get some lunch?” He offered.
She agreed and Nick led her outside to his car. “I hope you don’t mind riding with me. The restaurant isn’t too far from here.”
Simone smiled. “No, I don’t mind riding with you.”
After Nick helped her into the vehicle, he sat in the driver’s seat. Taking a minute to look her over, he said quietly, “You look very beautiful today.”
Simone glanced down at her shirt, khaki colored skinny jeans and heels. “Thank you for noticing,” she said, returning her gaze to his.
Nick slid his glasses on his face. “I notice everything.”
Starting the car, he took off and drove the short distance to the outdoor restaurant. When they arrived, Simone added her own sunglasses, as they exited the vehicle. The couple was greeted by a hostess inside the door, and Nick followed behind Simone to a table, then held out a chair for her.
“Thank you,” Simone said, as she was seated.
“You’re welcome,”
Nick took the seat across from her and they looked at one another. “This is a nice place. I’ve never been out here before,” Simone said, taking in the beautiful landscape.
“I hope you enjoy the food,”
She turned back to him. “I’m sure I will.”
“How is the Center?”
“Everything’s back to normal.” Simone told him.
He sat back. “How’s the grandmother?”
“The family is still at the Center. Mrs. Polk has four more days before I have to move her and her family. We have a five-day limit, to make sure that we have rooms available for new clients,” Simone explained.
“I found out some information on your Mrs. Polk.” Nick told her.
She listened intently.
“I went back to the grandmother’s home yesterday and I found out that someone that goes by JP was selling drugs out of that home,” he informed her.
Simone frowned. “Her husband Ja’Traveon?”
“They wouldn’t confirm it for me,” Nick relayed.
“So maybe he didn’t do the firebombing?”
Nick shrugged. “Not ruling him out yet.”
Simone shook her head. “I need to speak with Mrs. Polk and find out what the hell is going on with her family.”
“I’d like to assist you on this,” Nick offered. “My gut is telling me that there’s a joker in the deck.”
She agreed. “This situation is more than I expected.”
“I know you’re a Diamond and you can handle this on your own, but I don’t mind being your second.”
Simone smiled. “I’ve never had a second.”
Nick removed his glasses and stared across the table at her. “Then I would love to be your first.”