A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [96]
She moved toward her desk and pulled off the card and silently read it:
Rita, you have become the sunshine of my life. If I could bottle it and present it to you, then I would. I hope you accept these instead. Flowers of the rainbow. They represent the love I know in my heart. I will love you forever.
—W.S.
Rita stood there and reread the card over and over again while tears filled her eyes. During every conversation she had with Wilson she would tell him to just forget about her. And during each of these talks he would tell her that he could not and would not. They had agreed to keep their distance until his divorce was final, but she knew that he’d made plans to move out of his house by the time Karen returned.
She held the card tight to her chest. She didn’t like the thought of being a home wrecker, the other woman, but she did love him so much. Moving around her desk, she slipped the card into her purse. She would have it close to read it when she felt so alone and was missing him like crazy. At night was the hardest, when she would remember their stolen hours together. At least that was something Karen could never take away from them.
She had sat down in her chair when her phone rang. She quickly reached out and picked it up. “Rita Lawson.”
“How would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight?”
She smiled upon hearing Brian’s voice. “I’d love to.”
Donna Hardy looked up when the mailroom guy dropped an envelope addressed to her on her desk. She unfolded the crisp white letter and gasped after reading the typewritten note.
I know about your scandalous affair with Judge Meadows. If you don’t want this information sent to your boss, then meet me tonight at Stella’s Bar and Grill, six o’clock sharp.
—A friend
Fuming, Donna stood and walked over to the window. Who knew about her relationship with Judge Meadows? She always made sure she was discreet when visiting his office. A friend wouldn’t do this her, so who had sent her the letter? Who would want to ruin her?
She had a good mind to call the authorities but knew she couldn’t do so. News of her affair with Judge Meadows could destroy her career. Fine, she would meet with this person tonight to see what he or she wanted with her and why she was being targeted.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Donna decided to arrive at Stella’s early and sit in the back to check out the place and see if she recognized anyone who entered.
She glanced at her watch before looking around the establishment once again. Two women sat at the bar, several couples at tables, and a man at a corner table was pecking away on his laptop. She recognized none of them.
She got the waitress’s attention for a refill on her drink and continued to wait. She had cancelled her sex session with Judge Meadows and he hadn’t been at all pleased about it. He was beginning to get on her last nerve with his horny self.
“May I join you?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin. She had been so busy staring at the entrance that she hadn’t noticed that the man with the laptop had gotten up. At that moment a knot tightened in her stomach.
She swallowed thickly. “Why would you want to join me?” she asked coolly, not liking the vibes she was getting from him.
The smile he then gave her nearly made her flesh crawl. “We have a meeting planned. Let me introduce myself. I’m your friend.”
Jaye pulled out a chair and sat down. He thought Donna Hardy was even prettier up close, but there was no doubt in his mind that this was one lady he had to watch. Lethal. At no time could he ever let her assume she had the upper hand. Any man who did so was a fool. He would tell her what he wanted and give her no choice in the matter.
“Who are you?”
He smiled over at her and the dark angry eyes staring back didn’t bother him one bit. She was at his mercy and not the opposite. “I told you. I’m your friend.”
“What is this about?”
“It’s about you and Brian Lawson.”
He saw surprise flicker in her eyes. “Brian Lawson? You must have me