Chapter 3

I opened my eyes seeing Howie, my head on his chest as he
held me in his slumber. I grinned, kissed his lips softly as
he awoke, kissing me back.

"Nice sleep?" He asked as I grinned.

"Of course, best, you?"

"Of course, best!" He said as I smiled widely.

"I hate to say this, but I have to go to work," I said as he
shrugged. "I have to tell the press what happened today."

"Without me? WHAT?" I panicked.

"I thought it was a thing I did myself," he said puzzled.

"Howie believe me, I need to be there," I said with a laugh.
"You have no idea what I do for you do you?"

"No clue," he said as we laughed.

~*~*~*~

We both got dressed and ate breakfast, and as I opened the door,
I saw press scattered across my lawn as well as horny little girls.

"Oh shit," I said shutting it and locking it.

"What's wrong?"

"Press!" I said in a panic.

"Where are we going to get out?"

"I don't know…let me think…they're going to see you anyways we
might as well go out the front door," I said with a shrug.

"Hey V?" He asked as I turned to face him. He kissed me softly,
cupping my face in his hands. "We can do this."

"I hope so," I said with a sigh. I opened the door as the press
came running to us.

"Howie are you having a fling with Ms. Keelson?" One asked.

"Victoria is Howie your boyfriend?" I ignored the questions as
Howie and I walked to the car.

"Any statements on the rape charge Howie?" One yelled as Howie turned to
face them. I knew he wanted to say something, so I took his hand and
dragged him to the car.

"What was that for?" Howie asked frustrated.

"Say nothing or you get in even more trouble than you're in," I said pulling
out of the driveway. I knew then that this was going to be hard…
maybe too hard.

~*~*~*~

"Ladies and gentlemen can I have your attention please?" I asked clearing
my throat. Howie sat down next to the podium as I sighed. I hadn't talked to
him since we left, I was kinda ignoring him. But I didn't know what to do about
him and I, it was all so complicated.

"Please people let's get this started!" I yelled as everyone went silent.
"Thanks, took long enough," I said as they laughed. "My name is Veronica
Keelson and I am Mr. Dorough's attorney, I will be handling all your questions
and will answer must but none too obscene please."

I looked around and sighed, "Well start!" I said with
a smile.

"Ms. Keelson we heard that you and Mr. Dorough are in a
relationship, is that why you took this case?" The gentlemen asked.

"No sir I did not, we are not in a relationship nor are we planning
to be in one, next?" I asked looking over at Howie's saddened face.

"Ms. Keelson how did this start with Mr. Dorough and the girl?" A woman asked.

As I answered each and every rational question and
walked with Howie in the back.

"Can I talk to you?" Howie asked. I took a sip of my water and
looked at his saddened eyes, wanting me to kiss him softly and
apologize for anything I might have said.

"Maybe later?" I asked. He nodded as I walked away. I felt so bad
and I wanted to hold him and say it would be okay, but I couldn't.
It was either him or my job.

~*~*~*~

I ignored Howie the rest of the day, finishing my work in the office
alone by myself when Kasey went home. I took down my hair and put
my hair band in my mouth, pulling my hair up in a ponytail as I heard the
elevator door open. I took the band out of my mouth and got up nervously.

"Hello?" I asked, "Is anyone there?"

I saw the doorknob twist as I nervously bit my nail, as I saw him…Howie.

"Hi," he said with a sad grin.

"Howie what are you doing here I have a lot of paperwork to do
for your case, it starts in a week," I said sitting back down in my chair.

"You won't talk to me when I ask, so I came here because I knew
you'd be alone," he said kneeling down aside me to my level.

"I need to call Jackie Non to be in the jury…" I said talking to myself.

"You don't feel the same way that I feel about you?" He asked as
I took the pen out of my mouth and looked at him.

"I do so much it hurts," I said with a sigh.

"Then why are you doing this?" He asked as I took off my reading glasses.

"I can't be with you right now…please understand," I said in tears.

"Because your business is at stake?" He asked angrily.

"Please don't do this, please," I said shaking my
head. "I want to be with you, but not right now."

"That's like telling me to put my heart on hold," he said standing
up. "I thought you were falling in love with me, was that just bullshit to sleep with me?"

"No!" I said standing up to face him, "I can't handle
this case if you're in my life that's all!"

"Then maybe I shouldn't even let you handle my case, or me," he said
slamming my door. I sat down on my couch and cried, hoping he'd come back
to apologize so I could hold him in my arms and tell him how
much I truly wanted to be with him.

~*~*~*~

After a rather long night in the office and red-rimmed eyes, I drove
home. I pulled into my garage and opened my door, seeing Whiskers on
my bed. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes, the smell of Howie
engulfing my body as I grinned. I visioned his kisses entrancing my
body, making sure he didn't miss a spot as I giggled at the ticklish spots.

As I opened my eyes my tears came down my face. I changed into a
nightgown and got into the covers on the side Howie slept in. I closed my
eyes as I felt hands wrapping around my body, kissing me slowly as I
relived the night before. I could feel his lips pressing against mine as I
smiled, I wanted his arms back around me so bad.

I heard noises all around my house, scarring me deeply as I
turned my light back on. The noise would go away, as I heard banging
all around my house.

"Is Howie there?" I asked calling up his house.

"Hello?" Howie asked in a sad voice.

"Hey," I said rubbing my neck.

"Need to ask a question about the case?" He asked with a sigh.

"I need your arms around me," I said wiping a tear from my eye.
"I need you, I'm scared."

"What's wrong is someone there?" He asked concerned.

"I don't know but I'm scared," I said nervously.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," he said hanging up as I threw the
covers around me, hoping the noise would go away. I looked at Whiskers as
he stared out the window.

"Do you see anything Whiskers?" I asked as the cat meowed and
jumped on the bed. I pet him as the noises got louder. About 10 minutes later
I heard a knock on the door, scaring me as I ran up to the door, looking
through the peephole seeing Howie on the other side.

I opened the door shutting it as he came inside, he held me as
my heart stopped pounding fast, I felt so safe in his arms.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I think someone's outside," I said as he let me
go. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm going to go look," he said opening the door. He shut it as I ran
to my bed, hoping in and closing my eyes, praying nothing happened
while Howie was gone. About 2 minutes later I opened my
eyes to see Howie sitting aside me as I jumped.

"Some reporter guy trying to take pictures of you," Howie said
as I hugged him, my head on his chest as I sighed.

"Thank you," I said as he brushed my hair.

"Anything for you," he said kissing my forehead. "I have to go, I have
a photo shoot tomorrow," he said getting up. I watched him walk out
my bedroom as I walked after him.

"Howie please don't leave me," I said as he stopped. He turned around
and a tear fell down my face, "I don't want you to go, I'm so scared
someone's going to come back or something else is going to…"

"Shh," he said holding me, "It's okay, I can stay here with
you," he said wiping my eyes. "I'm here for you."

We walked into the bedroom as I got into the covers,
he sat down on the chair aside my bed as I grinned.

"You can sleep in this bed with me, you have before," I said patting
next to me. He pulled the covers over himself, taking his shirt
off, and putting his shirt on the chair. I turned the light off and
closed my eyes, his scent causing me to smile. I turned to face his
beautiful face as he looked at me.

"Thank you so much," I said with a grin. I kissed him softly as our
tongues slowly pushed into each other's mouths. I kissed his cheek as
he grinned slightly. I turned back around as he wrapped his arms
around my waist. I kissed his hands and closed my eyes being so
happy to be in his arms.

"What does this mean?" Howie whispered questioningly.

"I want you to sleep with me," I said turning to face him,
"I feel so safe in your arms, I need you here."

"So I'm your sleeping partner for right now?" He asked as I sighed.

"That sounds so bad," I said as he kissed my forehead.

"Anything with you is heaven for me," he said as I grinned.
I kissed him passionately, then brushed his cheek.

"You mean so much to me," I said as he took my hand from his face and kissed it softly.

"One day I hope I know how much."

Index

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