Evidence of Desire Read online

  “Is there a special man in your life anxiously waiting for you to return home?”

  Azure was caught off guard by the question, but she didn’t show it. “No, just my cats.”

  “Your cats?”

  “Yup, Darius and Lovehall.”

  Harper thought for a moment, then released a deep, hearty chuckle. “You named your cats after the male character in Love Jones?”

  “I sure did.”

  “You must really like the movie.”

  “Who doesn’t? It’s one of the greatest romantic movies of all time!”

  “The movie came out when I was in high school, and my female classmates went wild for Larenz Tate. The editor of the school newspaper even devoted an issue to the movie.”

  Azure couldn’t believe it. Harper remembered the column she’d done for the school newspaper? Who would have thought? He didn’t recognize her, but he remembered her article, and that made her feel proud. Although they’d never had any classes together or traveled in the same social circles, Harper had always greeted her when they’d passed each other in the halls. And once, when she’d been caught in a rainstorm, he’d been kind enough to share his umbrella with her.

  Azure remembered that afternoon as if it were yesterday.

  Outwardly, she’d remained calm as they’d stridden toward the tree-lined campus side by side, but inside Azure had been a maelstrom of emotion. Fear, excitement and sheer, unadulterated joy. They’d walked and talked, and although her legs had been shaking under her painfully tight school uniform, she’d held up her end of the conversation. After that, Harper Hamilton—the upperclassman voted most likely to one day be president—starred in all her teenage fantasies. Once he graduated and went off to law school, Azure never saw him again, but every time it rained, she wondered what had happened to the kind, great-looking guy who’d shared his umbrella with her.

  Memories flooded her mind, and when Azure thought about the day she arrived at Bryn Mawr College, a smile warmed her face. Studying at the highly acclaimed women’s college was the best thing to ever happen to her. During her sophomore year, she’d shed some weight, traded her hideous, Coke-bottle-thick glasses for contacts and found her confidence, her voice. Azure made friends with her über-rich classmates and soon discovered that brains always trumped breeding. In the space of a year, she went from being a novice reporter to an editor of the school newspaper and ultimately editor in chief. After graduation, and a series of starts and stumbles, Eminence magazine hired her, and once she changed her first name to Azure her career took off like a meteorite.

  Pride filled her. Life was good. Better than she could ever have imagined. She was sitting across from Harper Hamilton in the most exclusive restaurant in Philly, and he was flirting with her! Azure wanted to pinch herself. The attorney had it. Charisma, charm, that indescribable quality that drove women wild. He had it in spades, and there was something so powerful between them, something so crushing, her head was spinning.

  “I hope what I’m about to say doesn’t offend you, Azure, but you look amazing in that dress. It’s sexy but tasteful and the emerald-green color is perfect for the season.”

  Azure raised her eyebrows in a questioning slant. “Don’t tell me you’re a male fashionista,” she teased, unable to resist poking fun at him. “You’re a great dresser, but I pegged you more as a sports guy than a shop-till-you-drop one.”

  “You’re right, I am, but my mom is a fashion designer and I’ve learned a thing or two from her over the years. We all have. My brothers, my cousins, even my dad, and he used to live in cheap, tacky polyester!”

  Harper stood, slid up behind her and when he rested a hand on her lower back, her knees went weak—again. Damn it, why does that keep happening?

  “Let me walk you to your car.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, taking the hand he offered and easing carefully off her stool. I’m also dying to know if you’re a good kisser, but for now, the walk will do.

  Chapter 3

  Rittenhouse Square, a popular neighborhood named after the large, lush, tree-filled park in the center of the community, was overrun with residents taking advantage of the unusually warm October day. From his fourth-floor office window, Harper had a clear, unrestricted view of the park and marveled at how crowded it was. Joggers ran along the winding, leaf-covered path, kids darted around the jungle gym and pet owners played catch with their dogs.

  On Thursday afternoons, Harper liked to go outside to the square. For an hour, he’d sit back and relax. He wouldn’t think about work and the long list of things he had to accomplish before quitting time, either. He’d eat his lunch, then do the New York Times crossword puzzle. But not today. Harper had a deposition to review, phone calls to make and more paper crowding his desk than a UPS office.

  Harper tossed a handful of cashews into his mouth. Five more minutes, and then I’ll get back to work, he told himself, soaking up the sunshine pouring through the window in front of his L-shaped executive desk. Most of the offices at Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark were furnished traditionally, with mahogany furniture and Oriental rugs, but Harper had bucked the trend and hired an interior decorator to create his dream space. Leather couches sat along one wall, shelves displaying his certificates and awards were above the tropical-fish aquarium, and his favorite electronic gadgets were just an arm’s length away on the decorative glass stand.

  Crossing his legs at his ankles, he rested back comfortably in his seat. He spotted a group of teenagers reading magazines under one of the leafy maple trees dotting the park, and immediately thought of Azure. The writer had been on his mind all day. Actually, ever since the photo shoot at his uncle’s estate. He was looking forward to seeing her tonight, and as soon as he finished drafting the settlement letter, he was heading home. He needed to shower and change before their date, and he wanted to buy Azure flowers from his favorite gift shop. Not that he went there often. Harper hadn’t been back to Gifts & Things since…

  Scraping the thought and all images of his ex-girlfriend from his mind, he turned away from the window and picked up the manila file folder he’d abandoned ten minutes earlier.

  “I thought you’d left for the day.”

  Harper regarded his father, Frank, with a smile. His dad was fifty-eight years old and still going strong. He not only looked years younger, but he played the part, too. His dad was a jovial, well-dressed ball of energy who was always in a terrific mood. In court, he rarely sat down, and when he did it was only because his back was acting up. “I have a few more things to do before I head home,” Harper explained, gesturing to the document in his hands, “and since I’m in court tomorrow, I figured now was as good a time as any to get them done.”

  “I was surprised when I pulled into the parking lot this morning and saw your car. What time did you get in?”

  “Five-thirty. I would have been here earlier but decided to go to the gym first.”

  “Some people shouldn’t be allowed to drink coffee,” Frank joked, pointing at his son’s oversize Philadelphia Sixers-themed mug. “You’d be one of them!”

  Father and son chuckled.

  “What are you working on?” Frank asked, closing the door behind him.

  “Just reviewing the sworn testimony of the victims in the fraud case. The trial is fast approaching, and I want to be fully prepared.”

  “Good, good, son. That’s what I like to hear.” Frank picked up the golf club that Harper kept in his office for his executive putter set, pointed it at the cup and bent his knees. “I wish I had one of these in my office, but if I did I’d probably never get any work done!”

  Harper watched as his father practiced his swing. Over and over, he took shots at the hole. Harper didn’t know if his dad came by to see him or to play a round of golf, but he didn’t mind the interruption. He welcomed it. Maybe shooting the breeze
with his dad would help him refocus, because he was so amped up about seeing Azure again he couldn’t concentrate.

  “Son, when are you heading home?”

  “I’m not sure, why?”

  “Preseason basketball kicks off tonight,” Frank said, glancing up from the golf set. “The Lakers are playing in Miami tonight, and there’s been so much trash talking between the two teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a brawl in the first quarter!”

  “I thought Mom banned you from watching basketball.”

  “The Lakers got swept in the second round of the playoffs! Swept!” he repeated, throwing a hand up in the air. “It’s not my fault I got so angry I bumped into the coffee table and knocked over that frilly candy dish. It’s been six months and I still haven’t got over it.”

  Harper chuckled.

  “Besides, what your mother doesn’t know can’t hurt her,” Frank said, shooting his son a wink. “She’s in New York on business, so I have the house all to myself this week.”

  A sly grin exploded onto his dad’s smooth, slim face, but Harper heard the loneliness in his voice and saw the flicker of sadness in his eyes. Harper considered canceling his date with Azure. He was anxious to pick up where they’d left off last night, but he didn’t want to leave his old man hanging.

  “Your brothers are coming by, and some of your cousins, too.”

  “Will Jake be there?”

  Frank shrugged. “I invited him, but I don’t know if he’ll show. He has a meeting tonight with Santiago Medina.”

  In his haste to speak, Harper tripped over his tongue. “The resort heir?”

  “The one and only. Apparently, Mr. Medina is looking for a new, American-based lawyer, and after speaking to Jake on the phone last week, he decided to fly in on his family’s private jet for a face-to-face meeting.”

  Harper’s heart sank to the bottom of his leather Kenneth Cole shoes. Jake had scored another big-name client? And not just anyone. One of the richest businessmen in all of Mexico. Harper was pissed, but he didn’t show it. He couldn’t let his dad, or anyone else, know that he was jealous. Harper loved Jake, and would never do him any harm, but he was tired of playing second string to his flashy, cocky cousin. “Why would Santiago Medina sign with Jake? He’s arrogant, obnoxious and—”

  “One hell of a closer,” Frank added, picking up the golf club and lining up his feet on the putter. “You’re an incredible attorney, son, the best in the firm as far as I’m concerned, but you need to toughen up. You lack that killer instinct that all great attorneys have, and without it, you can only go so far in this business. It doesn’t matter if you’re closing a deal, or trying to get a babe into bed, when you see an opening, you have to go in for the kill.”

  Harper wanted to plug his ears. He didn’t want to hear what was coming next. His dad—like most of the Hamilton men—loved women, and back in the day had had a reputation with the ladies. Always on the move, he laughed, joked and flirted with the opposite sex as if it was his favorite pastime. And Harper suspected it was.

  “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you could learn a thing or two from Jake.”

  “On what? How to seduce and bed my paralegal?”

  “No, on how to get more bang for your buck! Jake’s parlayed his engagement into a huge news story and is attracting wealthy clients left and right.”

  Harper’s shoulders slumped, caved in under the weight of his disappointment. Feelings of resentment and despair filled him. He couldn’t believe it. Now his father, the person who’d always been his biggest supporter, had jumped on the I-love-Jake bandwagon, too. And the president thinks he’s got it bad, Harper thought sourly, stewing in his leather executive chair.

  “I better get going,” Frank said, glancing at the wall clock. He returned the golf club to its rightful place, then checked himself out in the mirror hanging beside the wardrobe. “My next client is due to arrive at any moment, and I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

  Long after his father left, Harper sat at his desk, thinking. He wondered what it would take to upstage his cousin Jake, because he was sick of being the number two guy at Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark. It was time for him to shine, time for him to represent the firm’s big-dollar clients. Harper was nothing if not focused, and tonight, after his date with Azure, he was going to sit down and prepare a plan of action. He had to do something to steal the spotlight away from Jake, something that would garner national headlines. The only question now was what?

  * * *

  “Is this seat taken?”

  Harper glanced up from his cell phone. A redhead with fake eyelashes and glossy lips was standing beside his booth, smiling so brightly Harper wished he was wearing sunglasses.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact it is.”

  “Then I’ll be brief.” The redhead slid in beside him, got so close he could feel her double Ds pressed against his forearm. “I saw you interviewed outside the courthouse last night on the evening news, and I just had to come over and say hello. I’m, like, your biggest fan!”

  Harper wanted to send the buxom redhead on her way, but he nodded and produced a winning smile. Had to keep the public happy. Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark had been founded in 1960 by his grandfather, Jacob Hamilton Sr., and his business associate, Albert Clark, but these days the firm was more popular than ever. Harper enjoyed all the perks that came with being a Hamilton, but he could do without the aggressive gold diggers and so-called fans. This was the third woman who’d approached him since he arrived at the Clearwater Grill and she was by far the pushiest. The small, cozy restaurant was overrun with love-struck couples, but there were plenty of scantily clad women out on the prowl.

  “The cameras don’t do you justice, Harper. You’re even sexier in person.”

  “Ah, thanks.”

  “On the news, they said your client was awarded a half-million-dollar settlement. I bet that’s chump change to you, I mean, you are a Hamilton....”

  Harper didn’t want to talk about the sexual harassment case he’d won last week, or his family’s staggering net worth, either. All he wanted to do was sip his cappuccino in peace while he waited for his date to arrive. The last thing Harper wanted was for Azure to walk in and spot him talking to this Pamela Anderson look-alike, so he slid to the edge of the booth.

  Harper glanced over at the waiting area and strangled a groan. Too late. Azure was standing at the entrance of the lounge, and she was staring right at him. “It was nice meeting you, miss. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Grabbing his cell phone, he leaped to his feet as if the booth were on fire and took off before the redhead could give chase.

  As he approached Azure, he fought the overwhelming urge to kiss her, to caress her flawless brown skin. She looked sensational from head to foot, and her lush, scarlet-red lips were tempting. So tempting, in fact, kissing her was all he could think about. For the past six months, his life had been an endless stream of business meetings, and the thought of spending the rest of the night with Azure Ellison excited him.

  Instead of succumbing to his needs and planting one on her, Harper settled for a peck on the cheek. She smelled delicious, heavenly, as intoxicating as a bottle of Herbal Essences shampoo, and thinking about those infamous shower-scene commercials made Harper wonder what Azure was like in bed. He’d bet that she was vocal, confident, a woman who didn’t hold back, who gave as good as she got.

  A grin claimed his lips. Maybe if he played his cards right tonight he’d find out. The thought stunned him. Harper hadn’t had sex in months, hadn’t wanted to—until now. The pain of being betrayed by his ex—a woman he’d been prepared to spend the rest of his life with—ran deep, and until five minutes ago, he hadn’t given anyone a second glance. But there was something about Azure Ellison, something about her that appealed to him on a physical and intellectual level. And it didn’t hurt t
hat her figure was a thing of beauty. Everything about the magazine reporter was sexy. Her lush hair, her lean arms and hips, the graceful way she moved through space. Harper was burning up, so blinded by his attraction to her he narrowly missed crashing into the lanky busboy cleaning tables. An ice pack in his boxer briefs wouldn’t cool him down, and when Azure smiled at him, his blood pressure spiked and his skin felt hotter than the flames crackling in the stone fireplace.

  * * *

  Azure looked Harper over. Not once, not twice, but three shameless times. His argyle sweater fit his very sexy, very gorgeous body perfectly, and his dark slacks accentuated his long, lean legs. Looking casual but polished was an art, and Harper Hamilton was the master. His smile, his energy and those warm brown eyes got her every time. And obviously she wasn’t the only one. The redhead sitting in the lounge was staring longingly at him, like a woman desperately and hopelessly in love.

  “Harper, my man, great to see you!”

  Nodding at Louis, the affable restaurant owner with the moustache and slicked-down black hair, he said, “Likewise, sir. How are things?”

  “Great, great, can’t complain. What have you been up to? It’s been months since you paid us a visit,” he complained, wearing a forlorn face.

  “Work’s been keeping me busy.”

  Louis grinned like a leprechaun with a pot of gold. “Work? Or this gorgeous woman standing beside you?”

  “Azure is stunning, isn’t she?”

  “You can say that again.”

  Harper slid his arm around her waist, held on tight. A thousand volts of electricity rushed through Azure’s body. Why did that keep happening? she wondered, trying to ignore the fluttering sensation in the pit of her stomach. Azure didn’t know what was wrong with her. She was a bold, confident, take-charge kind of sister, but around Harper she became a different person. Shy, skittish, as nervous as an Amish girl on her first date. And the more Harper flirted with her, the more her hands and legs shook.