Date With Destiny Read online

  “I’ve already talked to them,” Jackie said. “Harry called and lit a fire under them, pardon the pun. They’ve offered to come in tomorrow and make the repairs for free.”

  “When did she do that?”

  “While you were on your way here. She asked me not to say anything, but I thought it deserved a mention.”

  I guess she meant it when she said she had my back.

  “Ladies, it sounds like you’ve got everything under control,” Bert said. “As soon as we’re done, I’ll take my men and get out of your hair.”

  After the fire department personnel vacated the scene, the members of the cleaning crew took their places. Karl Gibson, the owner of Top Flite Cleaning Services, walked through the lobby before inspecting the upper and lower floors. When he returned to the lobby, he ran a finger through the oily film coating the walls and wiped the thick sludge on his worn jeans.

  “Getting rid of this is going to take some elbow grease. I can scrub the walls, floors, and counters tonight. I can also put down some deodorizer to soak up some of the smell in the carpets, but this place isn’t going to smell minty fresh until you get rid of that oil.”

  “How long do you think it will take?”

  Karl took another look around. “Five, six hours tonight. Another seven or eight after the oil’s gone.”

  Rashida thought for a moment. “It’s almost one thirty. I want you and your team to grab a late lunch and meet me back here in an hour. I’ll stay with you while you do the first round of cleaning. If you finish by nine, I can mention your efforts during tonight’s update call. Someone will be here tomorrow to repair the elevator and remove and replace the oil in the motor. I have no idea how long that will take, so let’s plan on having your team come in on Saturday to do the deep cleaning on the furniture and carpets. I’ll drop by on Sunday to see if there’s anything we need to follow up on in order to be ready to open for business on Monday.”

  “I can do a walk-through before church or after.”

  “Let’s wait until after. If there’s anything that needs to be done, I’ll want you to get on it right away.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m going to wrap my mitts around a burger and some fries. I’ll see you in an hour.”

  Outside, Rashida removed her mask and took a deep breath of fresh air. Her head was already beginning to hurt from the fumes. By tonight, she’d probably have a full-blown migraine. She rubbed her temples to ease the pain.

  “Are you okay?” Destiny asked with a frown.

  Rashida patted her arm when all she wanted to do was give her a hug. “I should be asking you that question.”

  “It takes more than a little bit of smoke to bring me down.”

  Despite her strong stance, Destiny seemed ready to fall apart. Her stormy eyes betrayed her swirling emotions. Rashida felt handcuffed. She couldn’t comfort Destiny the way she wanted without causing undue suspicion, but she couldn’t bear to see her in so much turmoil.

  This work day couldn’t end fast enough. She couldn’t wait until she and Destiny were alone and could stop pretending they were nothing more than co-workers. Today she had come close to losing someone for whom she had begun to care deeply. The thought frightened her more than the fear of discovery.

  “Who are you going to get to sit with the maintenance crew tomorrow?” Jackie asked. “I have to march in the parade, most of the branch employees are scheduled to be off, and you’re supposed to shadow the new teller in the Springfield branch to make sure she doesn’t feel overwhelmed on her first day in the field.”

  “Harry said she might be able to. If she backs out, hopefully, someone else will step up during the conference call tonight to take her place. If not, I’ll have the head teller play mother hen instead of me and I’ll stay with the maintenance guys.”

  “Do you want me to arrange security for tonight?”

  “I’ll stay with her,” Destiny said.

  “You should go home,” Rashida said. “You’ve had a trying day.”

  “So have you. I don’t see you going anywhere.”

  Destiny’s voice was filled with challenge, but her eyes radiated only concern. Rashida backed down. Besides, Destiny’s plan worked to her benefit as well. She didn’t plan on letting her out of her sight any time soon.

  “Then it’s settled. Destiny and I will take first shift. I’ll come back on Saturday and Sunday and I’ll ask for volunteers for Friday during tonight’s update call. Not that I expect to have any takers,” she added under her breath.

  “Maybe someone will surprise you,” Destiny said.

  “Maybe,” Jackie said, “but I’m not holding my breath. I’m late for a meeting. Do you want me to pick you up something to eat before I go?”

  “Olin from IT will be here any second. By the time he makes sure the network is secure, Karl and his team should be back. I’ll eat later.”

  “That’s what you always say. Take care of her, Destiny. I can’t trust her to do the job herself.”

  “You can count on me, Mrs. Williams.”

  “How are you?” Rashida asked after Jackie left.

  Destiny looked exhausted. Her face was filled with strain. Her usually pristine uniform was covered in soot and reeked of burned oil.

  “Are you okay? Be honest. Do you need to go to the hospital to get checked out?”

  “No, I’m fine. Worry about the ones who need your concern more than I do.” Destiny must have heard the edge that crept into her voice because she turned immediately apologetic. “I’m sorry,” she said with a heavy sigh. “This is new for me.”

  Rashida smiled at the realization she wasn’t the only one who was having to make adjustments in order to be in this relationship.

  “I’m not used to having people care about me.”

  Rashida drew her into her arms and kissed her cheek, not caring who might be watching. “Get used to it.”

  Karl and his team returned promptly at two thirty. They worked nonstop until a quarter to nine, when they finally put away their brushes, mops, and assorted cleaning supplies. Though the smell in the basement floor had returned to normal, the odor in the lobby and upper floor had only marginally improved. The acrid scent of burned oil overrode that of artificial lemon. The combination made Rashida’s headache worse.

  “Ready to go?” Destiny kept a wary eye on the front door. The vault was secure, but the perimeter alarm had not yet been set. If someone forced his way inside, the alarm company wouldn’t be alerted unless Destiny or Rashida manually depressed one of the many silent alarm buttons located in the teller windows and under the branch manager’s and the accounts representatives’ desks.

  “I’ll dial into the conference call on my way home and switch to a land line when I get there.”

  “I’ll pick up dinner. What would you like?”

  “Something I can eat while I’m sitting in a bubble bath with you.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  The husky tone of Destiny’s voice made Rashida forget all about her headache.

  She set the alarm and headed to her car. She waited for everyone to get dialed in, then began the conference call by asking Seaton to provide an update on Megan’s condition.

  “I’m happy to report she finally began responding to medication around six. Ian took her home. When I talked to him a few minutes ago, he said she had a big dinner and is resting comfortably. She’s going to be okay.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  Rashida didn’t want to risk losing her cell phone signal in the elevator so she sat in her car outside her apartment building for the duration of the call. She updated everyone on the state of the branch and was pleasantly surprised to hear Harry follow through on her offer to sit with the maintenance crew while they repaired the elevator on Friday.

  “If they get started by seven, I should be free to leave by early afternoon. I’ll miss part of the parade, but I’ll have plenty of time to partake in the rest of the weekend’s festivities. Besides, it’s
my father’s company. I feel partially responsible. The least I can do is make sure his screw-up gets fixed.”

  “Thanks for your determination to see this through,” Rashida said. “Good job, everyone. I’ll send an e-mail to each member of the recovery team summarizing what we discussed tonight. I’ll send a separate one to all employees letting them know we’re still on track to reopen on Monday.”

  “I think I speak for everyone when I say you’ve done enough for one day,” Dan said. “I’ll handle the communications. Why don’t you call it a night?”

  “With pleasure.”

  Rashida ended the call and wearily crossed the parking lot. Destiny was waiting for her outside her door, a box of pizza and a six-pack of beer in her hands.

  “Hungry?”

  “Starving. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  She unlocked the door and turned on the lights. Destiny followed her inside.

  Destiny placed the pizza and beer on the coffee table. “How did the update call go?”

  “Better than expected. Megan’s doctors say she’s going to be fine and Harry offered to supervise the repair team, which frees me up to tackle the regularly-scheduled items on my agenda.”

  “Do you have to be quite so dedicated?” Destiny held Rashida’s face in her hands, finally breaking the grip that work had held on her for most of the day. “Why don’t you sleep late tomorrow? Or, better yet, why don’t you take the day off? You deserve it after all the hours you put in today.”

  “You won’t get an argument from me.”

  “So you’ll do it?”

  Rashida rested her hands on Destiny’s wrists. “I wish I could, but I have to go in. We’re stretched too thin. No one else is available.”

  Destiny ducked her head to force Rashida to look her in the eye. “I have several more hours to convince you to change your mind.”

  Rashida smiled wearily. “I can’t wait for you to try.”

  Desperately needing to decompress, she left her bags in the foyer, tossed her keys on the counter, and headed to the bathroom.

  A fabric shower curtain covered with screen-printed cherry blossoms circled the old-fashioned clawfoot bathtub. Rashida drew the curtain aside, turned on the water, and spun the taps. Hot water rushed out of the faucet. She poured in a capful of coconut-scented bubble bath and waited for the tub to fill.

  She began to undress. Her clothes smelled like burned oil. She was tempted to toss the outfit into the trash instead of the dry-cleaning pile. She weighed the price of a cleaning bill against the cost of a new suit and opted to go with the lower amount.

  Destiny joined her in the bathroom and handed her a beer. “You look like you needed a drink.”

  “What I need is to get you naked.”

  Destiny’s tie was loosely knotted around her neck. Rashida pulled it off and unbuttoned her shirt. Then she unbuckled her belt.

  “Are you trying to take advantage of me, Miss Ivey?” Destiny asked when her pants hit the floor.

  “In every possible way.”

  Rashida cupped Destiny’s ass in her hands and drew her closer. Their breasts met and compressed. Rashida felt a rush of warmth on her thighs. If she had her way, the river would soon turn into a raging tide. Destiny, however, had other ideas.

  “Eat this.” Destiny shoved a slice of pizza in her mouth. “Jackie asked me to take care of you, remember?”

  Rashida swallowed a bite of pepperoni pizza and held up the remaining slice. “I didn’t think this is what you had in mind when you agreed to do so.”

  “It isn’t. That comes later. Here’s a preview.”

  Destiny kissed her long and hard.

  “If that’s a preview, I can’t wait to see the entire show.”

  Destiny climbed into the tub first. Rashida climbed in second and nestled between Destiny’s spread legs. Destiny’s breasts pressed against her back. Her stomach nestled against the curve of her ass.

  Destiny set her bottle of beer next to the pizza box on the floor. She slid her hands down Rashida’s body. Over her shoulders. Down her sides. Her arms circled Rashida’s waist. She kissed the nape of her neck, her teeth nipping at the soft skin.

  “I love you,” she whispered as Rashida’s head lolled on her shoulder. Her palms slid down Rashida’s slick skin. Her fingers grazed the neatly trimmed triangle of hair at the apex of Rashida’s thighs. Then they found the pool of wetness that had gathered between her legs.

  Rashida’s body tensed, anticipating the first touch. Destiny obliged her, one hand sliding over her turgid clit, the other teasing a firm nipple. Rashida moved against Destiny’s hands as her fingers gripped the tops of Destiny’s thighs. She arched her back, lost in sensation.

  Destiny reached lower. Slipped one finger inside. Rashida groaned in approval. Destiny spread her legs, bracing for the impact of the coming storm. She held Rashida as she rose higher and higher. Whispering her name, Rashida crested. The muscles lining her smooth walls gripped Destiny’s fingers, drawing them deeper inside. But she wasn’t done. She came again and again until she finally—eventually—stilled Destiny’s hand.

  “Your turn,” she whispered hoarsely.

  She grabbed a bar of lemongrass soap and lathered a washcloth. She twirled a finger in the air, signaling for Destiny to turn and face the wall. She slowly rubbed the washcloth over Destiny’s skin. She started just under her hairline, moved down her neck, then across her shoulders. Destiny shuddered when Rashida squeezed the washcloth, sending a stream of soapy water trickling down her back.

  Rashida soaped the cloth again, then reached around to rub it over Destiny’s breasts, covering one then the other with warm, silky lather. Destiny gasped when the rough cotton cloth brushed against her sensitive nipples. Rashida squeezed the excess water from the cloth and set it aside. Rubbing the soap between her palms, she lathered her hands. Then she slowly massaged Destiny’s shoulders, arms, and back. Destiny’s tense muscles immediately turned to jelly.

  “Turn around,” Rashida said. “I want to watch you come.”

  Destiny faced her.

  Rashida slowly slid her hand down Destiny’s leg and pulled it toward her, hooking the back of Destiny’s knee around her waist. She slipped her hand between their bodies. Her fingers moved across Destiny’s clit as soft as a whisper. As gentle as a stolen kiss. She slowly increased the pressure until Destiny bit her shoulder to keep from crying out.

  “Tell me what you want and it’s yours,” Rashida said.

  “All I want is you. Nothing else. You’re all I need.”

  Rashida’s fingers continued to dance against Destiny’s clit. Up the hood, down to the bundle of nerves at the tip.

  “Tell me when.”

  “Now. Now, baby, now.”

  Rashida thrust three fingers inside.

  Destiny threw her head back, howling in release. The sound echoed off the porcelain-tiled walls.

  Home, Rashida thought as she and Destiny sat wordlessly holding each other in the roiling water. Being with her is like coming home.

  When she had invited Destiny into her bed, she hadn’t expected to invite her into her heart as well. But there was no denying Destiny had set up residence there. Her feet were on the coffee table, her clothes were in the closet, her favorite food in the refrigerator. Destiny’s heart was her home.

  Chapter Twelve

  Friday, March 17

  7:15 a.m.

  Savannah, Georgia

  Rashida tucked her polo shirt into her jeans. She felt Destiny’s eyes on her even before she turned and saw Destiny watching her dress. Destiny lay on her back, the rumpled sheets bunched around her hips. The bright morning sun streaming through the window made the contrast between the blanched cotton and Destiny’s brown skin more pronounced. Destiny’s eyes were heavy-lidded with sleep. A lazy smile lit up her face.

  Rashida turned back to the mirror and slid the posts of her earrings through the holes in her lobes. “What are you staring at?” she asked with a smile of her
own.

  “You.”

  Rashida squealed when Destiny grabbed her belt loop, pulled her onto the bed, and covered her face with kisses. “Stop,” she said, laughing as she endured the ferocious onslaught. “I’m going to be late for work.”

  “Are you sure you can’t play hooky just this once? You don’t need to shadow the new hire. Let the head teller do it. I’ve got the day off. Let’s spend it together. We can watch the parade and have some green beer in a crowded bar. Or, if you want, we don’t even have to leave this bed.”

  Thursday was the first time they had spent the entire night together. Today was the first time Rashida had greeted the sunrise with Destiny’s arms wrapped around her. She was reluctant to leave the comfort of their embrace.

  “Like I said last night, I wish I could, but I can’t.”

  She hadn’t had St. Patrick’s Day off in years, always conscripted to cover the fort while everyone else went out to play. She longed to watch the parade through Destiny’s eyes. To walk the crowded streets with her and take in the nonstop action. But she couldn’t. Someone had to keep the bank running. Unfortunately, the task fell to her. She extricated herself from Destiny’s grasp and continued to prepare for work.

  “Do you mind if I hang out here until the parade starts?” Destiny asked.

  “Make yourself at home. I’ll show you where I keep the spare key in case you want to let yourself in before I get back.”

  Rashida liked the idea of having Destiny to come home to. To wake up with. She hoped the phenomena would become common occurrences.

  Destiny yawned, stretched, and tossed the covers aside. “Is there coffee?”

  “There’s a K cup in the Keurig with your name on it.”

  Destiny pulled on a T-shirt and padded to the kitchen. Rashida joined her there a few minutes later.

  “What are you going to do today? Besides watch the parade and drink green beer?”