Rival's Desire. AlTonya Washington
pulled off the stylish beige loafers and socks he wore and rolled up his shirtsleeves and pant legs. He walked down the three steps leading to the sunken bathroom. “You know, finding it might be easier if we shut the water off.”
Viv ground her teeth as she watched Caesar push the water knob in. “Thank you,” she whispered, continuing her search for the bottle. When her fingers brushed the plastic container, located at the bottom of the deep tub, she uttered a victorious sigh.
“You better get dressed if you plan to be on time for dinner.”
Viv stood and shook the water from her hands. “I’ll probably be late anyway. I really need to take a shower after spending the afternoon in the studio.” She headed through the opposite door that connected to her bedroom and used the phone on the nightstand to call housekeeping. After the call, she set the phone back on the receiver, and found Caesar lying on her bed. “Get out,” she ordered.
“Where will you take your shower?” he asked. His head was cradled in his hands as he stared at the robe clinging to her damp body.
“Don’t worry about it,” she sweetly replied. Vivien then headed to her wardrobe and disappeared behind the tall glass doors.
Caesar’s long brown lashes closed over his eyes. “I don’t have a choice. The grannies want us to come to dinner together.”
“What? Why?” Viv asked as she tied a belt around the waist of the short pink robe and stepped from the huge closet. When Caesar shrugged, she tapped a nail against her cheek. “I wonder what they’re up to?”
“I guess they want to make sure the company’s in the best hands.”
“Humph. Yeah, emphasis on hands,” Viv noted, coming to stand in the middle of the room. “I just don’t get why they want both of us to run the place.”
“I guess they didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
A small furrow formed between Viv’s arched brows. “Excuse me? How would they be hurting my feelings?”
Caesar snuggled his mammoth-size frame deeper into the bed and smiled. “Plum, it’s obvious I’m better qualified for the job. Granny and Miss Carly know it, they just didn’t want to upset you.”
“You know, Caesar, you’re just dense enough to think something crazy like that.”
Caesar opened one eye to see Viv towering over the bed, a murderous expression on her face. “Did you forget my major was business?”
Viv gave him a tired look. “No, I didn’t forget. Business was my major, too, plus I had a minor in public relations.”
Caesar let out a deep breath. “Please! If anyone knows about PR, it’s me.”
Viv rolled her eyes and walked away from the bed. “I deal with fans, executives, cosmetics people, magazines—”
“So do I,” Caesar replied in a haughty tone.
“Forget it,” Viv said, raising her hands above her head as she walked out of the room.
“So, do you want to use my shower or not?”
Viv returned to the bedroom, suspicion clearly etched in her dark almond-shaped eyes. “You’d actually let me do that?”
Caesar propped himself up on his elbows. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it, Plum.”
Viv watched him for a few minutes before her gaze faltered. “No, thanks.”
“You scared?”
The taunt stopped her in her tracks. “Scared of what?”
One sinewy shoulder rose just slightly. “Of what might happen.” He taunted her so covertly it might have been imagined.
Vivian’s full laughter burst forth. “Only in your wildest dreams, sweet stuff.”
Caesar decided not to respond. Silently and arrogantly, he assured himself that if he decided to have her, she wouldn’t think of refusing.
Viv could see the doubt on his handsome face and decided to prove him wrong. “Give me a few minutes to get my stuff together,” she finally told him as she waited for him to leave the room.
Her housekeeper had already arrived by the time Viv got dressed and packed her outfit for dinner. As she headed downstairs, she could hear the woman’s laughter. Vivian shook her head. Obviously, Caesar was turning on the charm.
Indeed he was. Shelly was seated close to Caesar on the sofa. Whatever he had said was causing the girl to laugh uncontrollably. Vivian ran her fingers through her silky curls and watched them for a moment. She cleared her throat to bring an end to the amusing conversation. Unfortunately, she wasn’t noticed. A few more minutes passed before Viv bustled into the living room and cleared her throat, much louder that time.
Shelly’s brown eyes widened when she saw Viv. “Oh! Hello, Ms. Desmond.”
“Hey, Shelly,” Viv replied, shooting Caesar a sour look. “Did they tell you what happened?”
Shelly nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll have it taken care of in a minute.”
Viv raised her hands. “I think it might take more than a minute, Shelly. You may even need some help. I made a pretty big mess in there.”
“Humph, I’ll say,” Caesar noted as he lounged on the sofa and toyed with his hair.
“Anyway,” Viv sighed, “you don’t have to rush. I don’t need the bathroom right now.”
Shelly nodded toward Viv. She sent Caesar an adoring smile before leaving the room.
“I hope you’re not too upset,” Caesar told Viv, noticing the stern look on her face.
“Upset about what?” She pushed her hands into the back pockets of her snug-fitting jeans.
Caesar propped his feet on the oak-trimmed edge of the glass coffee table and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I was havin’ a few laughs with Shelly.”
“So?”
“I know you tend to get upset when you see me with other women.”
Viv’s mouth fell open and she stared at him like he had two heads. “What the hell are you talking about? I never get upset over you and other women.”
Caesar propped one index finger along his temple. His gorgeous brown eyes twinkled mischievously. “Maybe a better word would be jealous.”
“Jealous!” Vivian cried. “You know, Caesar, you’ve always been arrogant. But, after all these years, even you should know how much I hate your guts.”
Caesar pushed himself off the sofa and retrieved Viv’s duffel and garment bag. “I understand why you keep saying that. You’re trying to convince yourself.”
“Convince myself of what?” Viv asked. She frowned as she looked up into his handsome face.
Instead of replying, Caesar grinned and patted her bottom.
By the time Caesar parked in front of the condo he owned in Manhattan, Viv was a bundle of nerves. She had always counted on him enjoying their sniping and arguing. The constant quipping was the only thing that kept her from thinking about how attracted she was to him. If he tried to change tactics now, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.
“I just won’t let that happen,” she softly promised herself.
“You say somethin’, Plum?”
Viv saw the expectant look on Caesar’s face and realized she’d spoken out loud. Quickly, she shook her head.
Caesar stepped out of the black Expedition and handed his keys to the valet. Viv took a few minutes to get a handle on her emotions and accepted Caesar’s help when he opened the passenger door.