Chapter TEN

"Ms. Carter, my goodness, you look absolutely wonderful!"

"What an amazing dress! Splendid!"

If she had to smile at one more person her lips were going to fall off. Kimberly nodded as she shifted through the thick crowd. Faces upon familiar faces kept appearing, all wearing the same fake smiles and laughing their little fake laughs and it took all she had to not vomit the contents of her stomach onto their overly priced shoes. She spotted Melody across the room laughing at something one of their merchandising partners were saying and smiled.

"Now that one I know is real."

Kimberly turned towards Darius and found him holding two champagne glasses. "Whatever do you mean Mr. Green?" She chuckled as she took one of them from him. "They're all real."

He smirked as he sipped his drink. "I'm afraid I'll have to argue that. Donald Myers' young wife is one such example."

"Darius!" She covered her mouth with her hand, unable to not look towards the woman in question who was wearing a daring black mini, long sleeves on the dress attempting to make up for such little cloth on the bottom. The enormous sleeves were doing nothing however to hide her artificial bust line. "You're terrible."

"I'll risk it if it means you'll keep laughing."

She rolled her eyes and looked around, sipping casually at her champagne. "Lively bunch isn't it?"

"I hadn't really noticed."

She paused when she saw he was looking at her and she rolled her eyes again much to his amusement. "Liar."

Darius shrugged. "I know you've heard it a thousand times already by now but you look absolutely beautiful in that dress."

"I must look absolutely horrid without it."

"Definitely not. In fact…" He glanced around before he leaned in. "I remember you looking indescribable without a stitch of clothing on."

"Darius!" She laughed and swatted him playfully on the arm. "Indescribable?" She covered her mouth and giggled. "That's either the most charming or rudest thing I've ever heard!"

"I guarantee it wasn't mean to be the latter."

"Listen to you." She smiled. "Someone's been studying up for another Scrabble game."

"Guilty as charged."

"Well, thank you… I think." She teased with another smile. "You look very handsome in your tux even if you do look uncomfortable."

He tugged at his bowtie and cleared his throat. "I hate these things. It's like being suffocated to death stylishly."

Kimberly reached out to adjust his tie. "Stop it. You look great."

"You still have a spot reserved for me on your dance card right?"

"What dance card?" She joked.

"Very funny." Darius finished his champagne and she followed suit, both of them placing their empty glasses on a passing tray. "You would think they'd serve harder liquor at these things so people could make it through the entire evening."

She threaded her arm through his and they began walking. "I imagine that's why they don't." She nodded at someone that greeted her as they passed. "Can't have Mr. Elite passing out face down in his potato soup."

Darius chuckled. "Of course not. It wouldn't look good for the city."

"Yes, the city." She made a sound in the back of her throat. "I'm sure that's the intention behind everyone's presence tonight."

"Despite whatever their real intention is Kimberly you did a great job. Everything is amazing from the decorations to the music, really."

"Thank you." She patted his arm. "I enjoyed putting it together."

"Now who's the liar?"

She gasped dramatically, smiling. "I am not!"

"So the numerous times I caught you cussing and tearing papers had nothing to do with stress from tackling this by yourself?"

"Those were momentarily setbacks." She quipped dryly. "Followed by manic episodes of insanity."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Oh is that all? Good to know." They ventured close to where the small orchestra was playing. "You have to decide now, dance or not to dance?"

"Is not really a question, it's a fragment."

"Kim."

She chuckled but shook her head. "Later, please. I just want to stay out of the way for now."

"Then perhaps you should have picked a different dress." Darius leaned close to whisper in her ear. "I'm pretty certain that I'm the most hated man in the room right now."

"Oh stop it."

He smiled and she found herself smiling back, previous tension rolling off her shoulders. Darius was always that one stable figure she could depend on to make her relax. Since the first day they had met, no matter what decisions were made, he truly did only want what was best for her.

"Speaking of staying out of the way, there's a lonely bottle of Scotch in my office."

"As tempting as that sounds, it's an idea that is going to have to be put on hold." He cleared his throat and the urge to ask why was destroyed by the sight of Anthony Vasser making his way towards them.

He barely glanced at Darius before he bent his head in greeting to her. "Evening."

"Anthony."

"I must say, I was a little hesitant to believe you could pull something such as this off but you've done an admirable job." Anthony slid his hands into his jacket pockets. "My father sends his regards. He's in Italy."

"Cleaning up more of your messes I assume?"

Darius covered his laugh with a cough and his hand from beside her.

Anthony quirked an eyebrow at her, a corner of his mouth twitching. "We have an estate there. He wasn't feeling too well so he canceled the private jet back. I know your friend here can't relate." He eyed Darius. "But you understand, yes?"

"Actually I don't." She smiled thinly at him. "I prefer business class."

"Oh that's right. It was your father I am referring to of course." He nodded and swiped a wine glass from a passing tray. "Nonetheless, I will tell Father of what an entertaining way to pass the time this has been."

Kimberly tightened her grip on Darius's arm when she noticed him straighten his spine. "Please do."

Seeing he wasn't going to get a reaction out of her, he snorted softly. "Tell me something, the papers were a bit elusive and somewhat all over the place, you know how word of mouth can be…" He chuckled. "You're not still downgrading yourself by dating that criminal are you?"

"I think you've said enough." Darius stepped forward.

"I agree." She cleared her throat. "Please excuse us." She pulled on Darius's arm. "Darius, please."

He kept his eyes on Anthony's until she tugged harder a second time. "Enjoy your evening Mr. Vasser. I'd be careful how much wine you consume; there are all sorts of policemen out on the streets tonight." He spat, turning to grab her elbow and steer her away.

Darius led her through the crowd, directing them to a part connecting to the hallway bathrooms that was scarcely crowded. She stumbled once or twice but righted herself and as soon as the solid wall of the building met her back, she pulled away from him to cover her face.

"Kimberly, Kimberly look at me."

"Please just… just give me a minute." She exhaled and dropped her hands. "What an insufferable little toad!"

"All you have to do is nod and I'll find some reason to arrest him."

"Darius, no." She shook her head. "He wants more of a reaction from me and he's not going to get it." She chose to remain leaning against the wall as she crossed her arms. "I just need a minute to compose myself, that's all."

Light eyes studying her, he finally nodded and took a step back. "Is there anything I can do? Do you need some water?"

Kimberly shook her head again then chewing on her bottom lip again she raised her eyes to his. "You wouldn't happen to have your cigarettes on you by any chance?"

"Perhaps." He eyed her. "You gave up smoking your last year of college Kim."

"Well thank you for the news flash Dan Rather but do you or do you not have cigarettes?"

He pulled free a pack from his left pocket. "They're going to frown on you smoking in here being that it's illegal now."

She nodded in agreement. "Is it illegal if I own the building and I smoke in my private office?"

"Excellent point."

1010101010101010

It took an entire cigarette before she stopped coughing but by the second one she was relaxed and enjoying the long missed taste of nicotine as it flooded her system. Darius stood near the window, staring down at the city as he smoked. Slow tendrils of smoke swirled above him and for a minute she watched it, smiling as she saw a smoke ring appear.

"Show off."

He chuckled and glanced at her, smoking curling slowly from his barely parted lips. "I prefer man of many talents."

Kimberly took another hit off her half-smoked cigarette and slid off the edge of her desk. "I can't argue with you there." She ventured towards the window, exhaling the smoke. "Melody's going to kill me." She chuckled. "I told her I wouldn't hide in my office the entire night."

"Is that what you're doing? Hiding?"

"Before, maybe but now…" She glanced over at him as she took another pull on her cigarette. "Now I'm enjoying the company of a dear friend." She let the smoke finally flow from her lips and Darius watched it swirl between them.

"Nicely put." He looked away back at the city and hit on his own cigarette again. "I should go."

"What? Why?"

"Despite the fact we will always be friends over anything else, I'm putting both of us into a very awkward situation."

Kimberly snuffed out her cigarette into the ashtray she had previously placed on the windowsill for him. "I don't understand Darius."

He finished off his cigarette, the smoke drifting easily to which he inhaled through his nose before blowing it again out of his mouth. He rubbed the cigarette into the tray. "You love another man and that's the only reason I don't kiss you right now."

"Darius, I…"

"It's pointless to argue with me Kimberly. The attraction between us, it's always been there and I don't know if it'll every go away, at least for me but what I do know is that I respect you too much to cross a line clearly drawn in the sand." He reached out to cup the side of her face with his hand. "You're not mine Kimberly. Your heart, it doesn't belong to me and I can't cross that line until I know it is."

She leaned into his touch and blinked as he pulled away. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"I am." She ran her hands down the bodice of her dress. "I'm sorry I never truly gave us the opportunity we deserved. Who knows what we truly could have meant to each other."

Darius reached out to cup both sides of her face this time. "We mean exactly what we're supposed to mean Kimberly. We're friends." He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "That's something that will never change."

Blinking away fresh tears, finally ones not born from sorrow or frustration, she nodded. "Thank you."

He nodded back. "I'm going to go back down and see how things are going. I expect you to dance with me when you join the party again."

"Of course."

"Don't take too long powdering your nose." He teased. "I will carry you back downstairs forcefully just to get that dance."

Kimberly smiled, nodding again. "I won't be long." She turned back to the window and with a short sigh, she slipped another cigarette free from the pack left behind on the window sill. The lighter usually reserved for lighting office candles flickered to life and she again enjoyed the rush of nicotine that hit her immediately. Tomorrow she would quit again. Maybe.

She finished the cigarette and emptied the ash tray. She slid both the tray and the cigarette pack into the bottom drawer of her desk before shifting to place her used glass on the desk once again. After a slight hesitation, she pulled the bottle of Scotch from the floor cabinet behind her seat and turned back to the glass.

A figure filling the doorway startled her and she lost her grip on the bottle, fumbling momentarily before managing to lower it safely onto the desk beside her glass.

"My god, you startled me." She cleared her throat and made her way around the desk. "I'm sorry; are you lost, this is for-"

"I'm not lost."

His voice made her legs go weak and Kimberly stumbled. She fell forward but suddenly Bobby was there, his hands grabbing her arms and pulling her towards him.

"Watch where you're going Princess."

Wide eyed, she stared at him until finally her brain began to work again. She pulled back and turned to flip on the office lights to see if her eyes were deceiving her. Had she gone mad? Was it really- She inhaled sharply at the sight of Bobby standing inches from her, real as the clothes on her back, the shoes on her feet. He was dressed in a tux, his hair slicked back and his face cleanly shaved.

"Say something."

Her mouth moved but no sound came out. He took a step forward and she took one back, heart beating wildly in her chest.

"Fine. I'll start." He slid his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket and continued to approach her, Kimberly backpedaling until she collided with her desk. "I'm sorry that it took so long for me to come back but I'm here now, standing in front of you dressed like some fucking hotel waiter, and I'm asking you to tell me to my face you don't want to see me anymore."

Kimberly clutched at the edge of the desk but said nothing.

"Can you do that?" His unwavering eyes stared at her. "Can you honestly look at me and tell me you never want to see my face again? Say something." He took another step forward until he was mere inches from her, his hands still in his pockets. "Fucking Christ, say something Kimmy."

"I can't." She had to force the words from her throat. She watched his eyes darken. "I can't say it."

"I came home to an empty house. All your things were gone but you were still there." He raised a hand to run it through his hair. "I heard your laughter and I… It hit me, what a fucking idiot I was." He dropped his hand back down to his side. "I was an idiot for taking you for granted like I did, for taking your feelings for granted. I never stopped to think that maybe…"

"Maybe what Bobby?"

"That maybe you loved me as much as I love you."

She slid forward and he was there again, hands pulling her forward until she was pressed against him.

"I love you Kimberly. You drive me fucking crazy and you're the most stubborn woman I've ever met but I love that about you. I love everything about you." He sighed. "I love you."

"But Anita…"

"I love you." He squeezed her arms. "Anita is nothing compared to you; the way I felt for her is nothing compared to what I feel you for you Kimberly. There's no other woman, there's you. It's always been you."

"God help me Bobby Mercer, if you memorized that from the back of some damn Hallmark card, I'll kill you."

He smiled and when he dipped his head, she pushed herself up to meet his lips. The kiss was deep upon impact and it sent shocks shooting down her spine before rocketing back up quickly to her brain. Her hands found his hair, pulling on the soft strands and Bobby groaned as she captured his bottom lip between her teeth.

"Say it." He captured her face with his hands. "Fucking say it."

"I love you." She sighed, closing her eyes as he dipped his head again. "I love you Bobby."

With a growl, he possessed her mouth and when the need for air overcame his need to kiss her, he pulled away. "Let's go home."

Her eyes studied his and she found herself nodding. He thread his fingers through hers and pulled her away from the desk. "But all my things…"

"We'll get them when you're ready. Right now, I just want you to myself."

Bobby pulled her anxiously down the hall and heart still racing, she ran to keep up with his quick pace. Impatiently he hit the button for the elevator, jerking her into the car as soon as the doors opened and her back met one side, his mouth covering hers as they closed. He pressed her against the metal wall, his left hand grabbing the back of her neck as he controlled the kiss, his right slowly sliding up her torso and resting comfortably under the slope of her right breast. She shuddered against him, gulping air greedily into her lungs when he broke away to kiss her neck.

"Bobby!" She clutched at his back, fingers clawing at the smooth material of his tux jacket. "We have to... Oh God." His hand pushed back the fabric covering her skin and she inhaled deeply as his large hand covered her breast. "Bobby!"

He captured her mouth with his again, tongue sliding, teeth pulling. "I fucking missed you."

The elevator dinged to signal its arrival to the bottom floor. Bobby broke their kiss to help her straighten her dress. His hand found hers again as the doors opened, he pulled her forward again.

Several heads turned but she ignored their gazes, perfectly aware they were a mixture of curiosity and distaste. Whispers followed as he pulled her through the crowd but she clung to his hand and the smile that stayed on her face was genuine as were the giggles that occasionally found their way free of her throat.

Melody strode towards them, her eyes darting between them but her smile was real as well as she finally stopped in front of them. "This is an unexpected surprise."

"Yeah, well, I was in the area and I thought why not fucking crash the party." He grinned at her, pulling Kimberly close to him. "By the looks I'm getting I'd say mission accomplished so I'll be kidnapping Kimberly and going now."

Kimberly almost burst out laughing at the look of panic that crossed Melody's face, her eyes growing wide. "But… but you can't go; there's the auction to handle and the guests and…"

"Melody, honey…" She reached out to squeeze her secretary's shoulder. "If there's one person in this room that knows this event forwards and backwards and not to mention better than I do, it's you."

"But-"

"I have to go Melody. Please. I have to go."

Melody swallowed but nodded. She waved her hands at them. "Fine, leave but if the place burns down while you're gone, I was never here!"

"Thank you. I meant what I said earlier about that raise!"

"You bet your ass you did. Love birds I swear." She rolled her eyes, smiling as she watched Bobby's eyes linger on Kimberly at the words. "Just leave already, you're making me nauseous."

Kimberly smiled as Bobby didn't hesitate, squeezing her hand before pulling her further into the crowd. They made their way towards the door and she wasn't surprised that there were no more greetings of hello or nods of acknowledgement, whispers continuing to mix with the orchestra as it played softly.

Their pace slowed and the urge to ask was halted as her eyes spotted Darius. He was talking and laughing with Trevor Hamilton (Jack's wife's father), champagne classes in both of their hands, but as soon as his eyes landed on the two of them, the smile on his face faded. True to himself, he stayed where he was even as Bobby approached them and pulled her along.

The volume seemed to lower as Bobby stopped directly in front of Darius, completely ignoring Trevor Hamilton without even so much as a second glance towards him. "Well if it isn't Detective Darius Green."

"Hello Bobby." His eyes shifted to Kimberly.

"Don't look at her, she's not the one talking to you."

"Bobby, don't…"

He ignored her pulling on his hand and smiled thinly. "How have you been Green? I didn't figure you for the type to kiss ass." His eyes flicked to Trevor Hamilton. "I definitely thought you'd be a better judge of character, being a cop and all."

"I'm sorry young man, do I know you?" Trevor glanced away from him. "It's a pleasure to see you again Kimberly."

"You too Mr. Hamilton. I'm glad you and your wife could make it."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. My wife looks forward to this event every year. In fact," He lifted his hand and motioned nonchalantly with two fingers. "Here she is now. Veronica, dear, you remember Kimberly Carter; Nestor and Caroline's daughter."

The blonde, plastic looking Amazon of a woman nodded as she came up beside her husband. "Of course, I…" Her heavily lined eyes narrowed on the sight of Bobby before dropping to the sight of Kimberly's hand in his. "Oh, this is humorous."

"Dear?"

She chuckled as she lifted her champagne glass to her red lips. "This is Bobby Mercer darling; you know, one of Evelyn Mercer's adopted sons."

"I'd say it's a pleasure to see you again," Bobby grunted, "but I have this thing against lying…"

Trevor frowned, his attention going back to Kimberly. "Your father…"

"My father is dead and despite his best intentions, he wasn't always aware of what was best for me." She glanced between them. "Parents aren't always the all knowing beings they believe they are simply because they're older. I hear your daughter Natalie is expecting her third child. You must be ecstatic."

Veronica snorted and finished the contents of her glass. "We don't have a daughter named Natalie."

As soon as the words were spoken, Trevor looked uncomfortable. He said nothing and Bobby made a sound in the back of his throat before he took a step forward. Kimberly yanked hard on his hand, seeing Darius move too from the corner of her eye as if to intend to wedge himself between Bobby and the older woman.

As if oblivious to everything, Veronica plopped her empty glass on a passing tray so abruptly the waitress fumbled before regaining her balance. The young redhead threw Veronica a dirty look before continuing but of course the older woman failed to even see it.

"Our daughter Amelia is turning to be more than we expected though; she just graduated with a degree in Advertising, simply amazing." She crossed her arms over the fabric of her too tight black dress. "There just might be hope for her after all."

Bobby's grip tightened on her hand and Kimberly moved closer to him, the fingers of her free hand grabbing onto his arm. "Let's go Bobby."

His eyes stayed locked on Veronica's face. "I'd tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself but when you don't have a fucking soul in the first place it's a waste of breath." He looked at Trevor. "Your daughter, your own fucking flesh and blood, is a successful doctor with kids and a husband that loves her. They may not have all the money in the fucking world like you do but they'll always have something you don't."

Veronica smirked. "Bills?"

Darius moved between them, hand pushing back Bobby before he took another step towards the woman. "Let's just calm down and remember we're all adults for one second."

"Yes, please." Kimberly moved to stand in the middle as well. A quick glance over Bobby's shoulder alerted her to everyone paying attention now solely to their little group. "This is a charity event and it would be a shame to distract from the real meaning for the evening."

"There wouldn't be a distraction if you didn't invite those that don't belong Kimberly." Veronica snapped. "It's beyond me why someone of your caliber is wasting her time with trash. Your parents would be disappointed to see you squandering your potential away like this." She looked at Kimberly with eyes full of disdain. "No wonder the two of you are such a hot little topic for the papers," She chuckled, "A billionaire beauty and her inner-city beast."

"Okay, that's seriously enough." Darius's eyes flashed to Trevor. "I suggest you and your wife mingle elsewhere before I charge her with disorderly conduct and public intoxication."

"I am not intoxicated!"

Trevor looked away from Darius and grabbed his wife's arm. "Shut up Veronica, let's go."

Kimberly felt the tension that had gathered in her spine start to disperse but the feeling was short lived as she shifted her attention to see Bobby now focused solely on Darius. "Bobby, can we please go now?"

The soft plea in her voice had his shoulders lowering but he kept his eyes on Darius even as he nodded. "You and I need to talk."

"Of course Bobby." Darius casually adjusted the sleeves of his jacket. "You know where to find me."

"You're right; I do."

Kimberly dropped Bobby's hand and stretched to rest her lips next to his ear. "I'm ready to go home and if you are too busy to take me, I'll find someone else who will be more than happy to do it for you."

His response was to immediately grab her hand again and without another word, he headed for the front doors of the building with her in tow. The whispers had turned into a dull roar by this point but she shut them out and as the doors revolved shut behind them, she lost herself in the feeling of her hand in his.