A WOMAN APART: Chapter 1 - SHE'S CAPTIVATING

by tarskeewee08

John drank his beer trying to concentrate on what Antonio was telling him. Loosing focus again he looked around Capricorn and watched patrons eat and mingle. All he could do was think of her. She'd come to him for help on her case and now he was tangled in her web. He couldn't stop thinking of her. She was captivating.

Mary's basement. The memory rushed back to him like a tidal wave of yearning. They were trapped, the wine, the tension, her fragrance all had him spellbound. Before he realized her hold over him he had her pushed up against the sink and worked feverishly to remove what was left of her clothing.

Their lovemaking was so intense that the thought of it even now made him aroused. Since their entanglement she has declined his dinner invitations and won't return any of his calls. What would it take to get next to her again? Whatever it was he had to explore it. He had to have her.

"Did you hear me?"
John blinked and looked at Antonio "Yeah you said the sting was a bust you have nothing on these girls trafficking for the Barkers"
"That's not what I said. I said that the wiretaps are dead in the water"
"How so?"
"Nora wasn't able to get the ones for the bar. That's where it all goes down. I need that warrant."

John took another swig of his beer. He could care less. He was tired of the dead ends on this case. Besides Nora would no more listen to him than Antonio "What do you want me to do?"
"Talk to her man, hell talk to Bo. Just get me the warrant for the bar."
"Fine" he said looking toward the door just in time to see her enter.

She walked in as the wind behind her blew her long silky man wildly about her shoulders and in her face. Closing the door she moved her hair from her face and slowly scanned the room. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

She wore a tailored gray suit. The skirt and jacket clung sexily to her curves. The silk white blouse fell tastefully open and draped around her collar. It was opened enough to reveal what he had hoped to be the swell of her breast, but his viewpoint didn't provide that detail. She looked at him and held his gaze. The honey color of her skin and mocha gloss on her lips beckoned him. He couldn't break her stare. She smiled slightly, knowingly, and he realized in that moment that his first analogy was right. He was caught in her web and reveled in the thought. Whatever devilish thoughts she had of him in this moment he wanted to share with her. The intensity of her stare and the way her lips parted made his heart pound, but just as quickly as the moment had come it passed. She turned and headed to the bar and he watched in disappointment.

Antonio looked at his boy and the goofy look on his face. Turning he saw who had him mesmerized and then looked back at him amused "Man, don't go there she will eat you for breakfast!"

"What?" John said looking back at him confused.
"Evangeline"
"What about her?"
"She's not one to mess with. Trust me, I tried and hit a wall. She chooses you, not the other way around"
John drank the last of his beer and laughed to himself. Antonio had no idea that he'd tasted that honey already and was hooked like a junkie to his smack.

"I barely know her" he said dismissively
"Didn't you help her with that Arthur Lumas case?"
"Yea her client Mary Barnes was a witness. We got her some protection"
"That's right I remember…well there was your opening bro"
"I don't need an opening!"
"Like hell you don't, especially with her." Antonio turned and saw her talking to RJ "Besides I heard they're a couple."

John looked at them and frowned. They didn't look like a couple to him. Besides he was up for the challenge. He would find a way to know her. She occupied his thoughts constantly and that was from a tryst over a month ago. Someway he'd get to know Ms. Evangeline Williams esq.

Evangeline saw John and Antonio at the table when she first entered and took her time acknowledging it. When she did look at McBain his need for her across the room made her heart skip a beat. What was it about him that stirred her inner passion that she kept quieted? She was the one that controlled the emotions she emitted to men….not the other way around. Breaking the exchange she turned from his stare and went to RJ. He was someone she could handle.

"RJ" she said smiling at him
"Van" he said dryly. He'd keep his cool and not let her know how much seeing her again affected him. RJ slid the drink over dismissing the waitress standing nearby. She picked up her tray and looked at Evangeline rolling her eyes and walking away. Evangeline was used to the women at Capricorn that worked for RJ acting cold to her. He was a great catch for them. To her he was just an intimate friend to quench her desires at her whim. Nothing further required.

"I have a meeting with Nora have you seen her?" she said looking back across the restaurant.

RJ inhaled her scent and stared into her deep set brown doe like eyes when she turned around smiling at him. "Ummm, no can't say that I have." He said reaching for a martini glass. "Can I get you a drink?"

Evangeline looked at her watch. "I better not; I've got meetings later today."

Evangeline noticed the longing look he gave her. "Look RJ I'm sorry for not returning your calls I've been really busy" she said hoping it would appease him; she really wanted to remain friends.

RJ smiled "Well it would be nice to have a friendly conversation, I thought we were friends" he said with disappointment in his voice.

Evangeline cocked her head and stared at him. "Yes we're friends, I'll be more considerate in the future" she said smiling.

RJ laughed "How about you have dinner with me?" he asked seizing the moment.

Evangeline's smile faded somewhat "That's not a good idea" she said dryly

RJ frowned "Why not?"

Evangeline rolled her eyes "I told you that I sensed you wanted more from us. Something that I am unprepared to give. I think a solid clean break is a good way to end things before someone gets hurt"

"You mean before I get hurt, since you are too cold to ever invest in someone other than the work you carry in that briefcase and sleep with every night"

Evangeline laughed "I've been called a lot of things but I don't ever remember you thinking of me as cold" she said narrowing her eyes on him.

RJ tensed and broke the gaze. She had a way of taking over a situation without warning. Making a man weak and devouring his pride before he knew it was gone. "Van, its just dinner"

Evangeline smiled again "Let me think about it" she said looking back down at her watch. Nora was setting her behind schedule. She looked back around the bar and then at John McBain who she noticed was watching her again. He dropped his gaze when he saw her staring. She smiled at his awkwardness, he wasn't her type. Too strong and commanding, not easily manipulated. That intrigued her. She turned back to RJ.

"Do me a favor, if Nora shows tell her to call me." She said walking away before RJ could respond.

Holding tightly to her briefcase she proceeded in his direction. The butterflies in her stomach were a new experience for her. Being the control freak that she was she would face this head on and extinguish whatever fire he caused in her. She had no room for this in her life. Besides, LOVE was not an option; she'd lost that battle years ago.

"Gentlemen" Evangeline said smiling down at them
Antonio turned and looked up at her half smiling "Ms. Williamson, how are you today?"

John said nothing just looked her up and down and hoped she'd move in closer so he could catch her fragrance again.
"Great, am I interrupting?"
Antonio looked back at John staring a hole in her and took that as his cue "Actually I was just leaving. John will you check on that warrant?"
John dropped his stare and looked at Antonio "Yeah I got it covered."
Antonio rose from the chair and pulled it out for Evangeline. He looked back at John and smiled before he left. His boy had it bad.

"Care to join me?" John asked looking back at Evangeline

Evangeline looked at her watch. She'd been stood up and had a million things she could do to fill this time, but despite herself she couldn't resist the offer. "Sure" she said sitting down.

She looked at his sea blue eyes. Those eyes burned through her that night they shared. She could get lost in them. She couldn't close her eyes during their passion that night because he had her hypnotized by them. Their encounter was simply passion because she didn't believe in making love. She didn't believe in love. The incident had shaken her so
bad she went straight to RJ and ended their friendship. She called it a friendship because she didn't believe in relationships. Any man she was intimate with had to be categorized under that title.

The way he touched her, the things he said and did to her in that brief encounter still made the butterflies in her stomach flutter. She hadn't felt this way around a man since… She forced the thought from her mind.

The waitress walked up and dropped a napkin in front of her "Whatcha having?"
"Dirty Martini three olives" she said still staring at John
"Dirty hunh?" John said smiling
"What's wrong with dirty?"
"Nothing, except I find it interesting that would be your drink of choice. Makes me want to know more about you"

Evangeline stiffened. This wasn't going right. She usually was the one that controlled the conversations. Instead she found herself letting go and flowing with it. She liked him more than she even realized until this moment, and that disturbed her greatly.

John caught the shift in her attitude and found it strange "Is something wrong?"

Evangeline looked back at him. Her chestnut brown eyes darken. She stared at him guarded "No of course not, but I do have a question for you detective" she said putting more distance between them.

John looked at her. She was captivating. He'd never met a woman so controlled. He was surprised that night she allowed his advances. Their lovemaking was the most passionate thing he had experienced in years. He wasn't easily swayed by a beautiful woman but the intimacy he shared to her was as close to lovemaking than anything he could compare it too.

"Sure ask away"

"I have a client that feels that his place is being wiretapped illegally, he's afraid his civil liberties are being infringed upon. How would I go about obtaining the warrant used for this" she asked staring at him coldly

John blinked in surprise. The entire question through him for a loop. Her stare and the intensity in it had something menacing behind it. It was as if she was angry with him. "Well, you'd have to go through the DA of course….but I am sure you already knew that"

Evangeline smiled and accepted the drink placed in front of her by the waitress. "Yea I did, just curious if you detectives knew it too"

John raised his eyebrow "Are you implying that a wiretap form my department has been done without involving the DA's office" he said a little angry

Evangeline smiled sweetly at him "It was just a question detective loosen up"

John stared at her. She was as complicated as she was beautiful "I have a question" he asked

Evangeline nodded "Shoot"
"Will you have dinner with me?" he asked

She looked at him surprised but before she could respond RJ stepped to the table.

"You two finding everything okay?" he asked politely
John looked at him and smiled "Were fine"

"How about you Van, you said you had meetings today aren't you running late"

Evangeline looked up and smiled "I can handle my own schedule, besides a little drink every now and then never hurt" she said coldly

RJ stared at her still smiling "Let me know if I can do anything for you" he said then looked back at John with anger in his eyes "You to detective" he said walking off.

John looked at Evangeline and smiled "Looks like your boyfriend is jealous"

She drank her martini and stared at him.

"Can I get an answer to my question" he asked trying again.

Evangeline lowered her glass. "Normally I would decline, but you have me curious. Let me think on it and get back to you" she said picking up her briefcase and rising.

"Leaving so soon?" John asked disappointed.

Evangeline smiled at him "Duty calls. But I have a feeling our paths will cross again soon." She said winking at him and then walking away.

John watched her exit and it was just as enticing as when she entered. Her scent still lingered at the table and he had to resist the urge to go after her. She was playing him and he knew it. But he couldn't help but enjoy it. Evangeline Williamson we will meet again and soon, he thought to himself.