capable of sifting through them and flagging the most promising ones for your attention. We hired her to help secure new contracts and lighten your burden. Let her do her job.”
In the three years that Darbi had worked for the company, she had become invaluable to Sharde, not only assisting in the everyday running of the company, but doing most of the travel, freeing both Sharde and Jefferson to concentrate on overseeing design and development of new technologies.
She nodded. “I guess you’re right. Hiring her was one of our best personnel moves in years. She doesn’t mind all the traveling, she’s a hard worker, and she gets the job done right the first time.”
“So let her do it.”
She sat back in her seat. “And she’s stunningly beautiful. Don’t you think so?”
He shrugged. “Yes. So how about you allow the stunningly beautiful Darbi to do what she was hired to do? Take the pressure off you, which will leave you free to come with me. Suddenly the thought of being there alone doesn’t appeal.”
So he had noticed how beautiful Darbi was! Just how much else had he noticed? “Would you like to ask her to accompany you?”
He arched a brow. “What? Why the hell would I want her to come with me?”
“You just said she’s beautiful.”
“So? She’s not my type.”
“Maybe if you got to know her, you’d find she is.”
He leaned across her desk and stared into her eyes. “Let me make myself crystal clear, Sharde, I have absolutely no personal interest in Darbi. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Why not? Is it because she’s bl–”
“It’s because she doesn’t interest me–period!” His eyes narrowed. “Her skin color is not a factor. Contrary to what you might think you know about men, not every man is a sucker for a beautiful woman.”
“So if she were a white blonde–”
“What is it with you and this harping on race?”
“I’m not harping on it. I’m just curious.”
“Really? Well, although I admit to having a special fondness for blondes, I have dated women who were neither blonde nor white. If a woman interests me, the color of her skin or hair is not a major issue for me. So don’t go there, Sharde.”
Feeling an invisible weight lift off her shoulders, she sat back in her seat, a small smile curving her lips. So her half-formed fear that he was not attracted to black women need no longer concern her. She frowned. But then he had said it was not a major issue. Did that mean it was an issue for him–even if only a minor one?
“Sharde?”
She flashed a quick smile at him. “So when do you want to head out for the cabin?”
“Did you really think color is an issue with me, Sharde?”
She saw the concern in his eyes and shook her head. “Not in a bad way, Jeff.” She shrugged. “But it would be normal for you to prefer white women.”
“Would it? Have you always dated black men?”
“Mostly, yes. Although in high school, I had this monumental crush on Ricardo Montalban.” She gave a gusty sigh. “The fantasies I created around him would probably have made him blush.”
He smiled. “Since we’re sharing secrets, I used to lie awake at night suffering big time lust for Eartha Kitt. I can’t tell you how many cold showers I took on her behalf. I always wanted to play Batman to her Catwoman.”
She leaned forward, put her face close to his and purred.
He smiled, then sighed. “You know, no matter how bad things are you have a way of making them seen better for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you at my side these last few years.”
The words, spoken in a low, sincere voice held little comfort. She was long past the point where she wanted to be his rock. Being the woman he turned to when he wanted to get physical was more important to her these days. She suppressed a sigh and pasted a tight smile onto her face. “You’d have been fine. Ben would have seen to that.”
“Benton is the best friend a man could have.” He
In the three years that Darbi had worked for the company, she had become invaluable to Sharde, not only assisting in the everyday running of the company, but doing most of the travel, freeing both Sharde and Jefferson to concentrate on overseeing design and development of new technologies.
She nodded. “I guess you’re right. Hiring her was one of our best personnel moves in years. She doesn’t mind all the traveling, she’s a hard worker, and she gets the job done right the first time.”
“So let her do it.”
She sat back in her seat. “And she’s stunningly beautiful. Don’t you think so?”
He shrugged. “Yes. So how about you allow the stunningly beautiful Darbi to do what she was hired to do? Take the pressure off you, which will leave you free to come with me. Suddenly the thought of being there alone doesn’t appeal.”
So he had noticed how beautiful Darbi was! Just how much else had he noticed? “Would you like to ask her to accompany you?”
He arched a brow. “What? Why the hell would I want her to come with me?”
“You just said she’s beautiful.”
“So? She’s not my type.”
“Maybe if you got to know her, you’d find she is.”
He leaned across her desk and stared into her eyes. “Let me make myself crystal clear, Sharde, I have absolutely no personal interest in Darbi. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Why not? Is it because she’s bl–”
“It’s because she doesn’t interest me–period!” His eyes narrowed. “Her skin color is not a factor. Contrary to what you might think you know about men, not every man is a sucker for a beautiful woman.”
“So if she were a white blonde–”
“What is it with you and this harping on race?”
“I’m not harping on it. I’m just curious.”
“Really? Well, although I admit to having a special fondness for blondes, I have dated women who were neither blonde nor white. If a woman interests me, the color of her skin or hair is not a major issue for me. So don’t go there, Sharde.”
Feeling an invisible weight lift off her shoulders, she sat back in her seat, a small smile curving her lips. So her half-formed fear that he was not attracted to black women need no longer concern her. She frowned. But then he had said it was not a major issue. Did that mean it was an issue for him–even if only a minor one?
“Sharde?”
She flashed a quick smile at him. “So when do you want to head out for the cabin?”
“Did you really think color is an issue with me, Sharde?”
She saw the concern in his eyes and shook her head. “Not in a bad way, Jeff.” She shrugged. “But it would be normal for you to prefer white women.”
“Would it? Have you always dated black men?”
“Mostly, yes. Although in high school, I had this monumental crush on Ricardo Montalban.” She gave a gusty sigh. “The fantasies I created around him would probably have made him blush.”
He smiled. “Since we’re sharing secrets, I used to lie awake at night suffering big time lust for Eartha Kitt. I can’t tell you how many cold showers I took on her behalf. I always wanted to play Batman to her Catwoman.”
She leaned forward, put her face close to his and purred.
He smiled, then sighed. “You know, no matter how bad things are you have a way of making them seen better for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you at my side these last few years.”
The words, spoken in a low, sincere voice held little comfort. She was long past the point where she wanted to be his rock. Being the woman he turned to when he wanted to get physical was more important to her these days. She suppressed a sigh and pasted a tight smile onto her face. “You’d have been fine. Ben would have seen to that.”
“Benton is the best friend a man could have.” He
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