Creed: Eyewitness, page 3
Damn, his voice is sexy.
"Baby, this is Taylor Montgomery. We were on the department together. Taylor, my husband, Jack, and I trust you know our esteemed governor."
"We've met."
The sexy bass in the governor's voice sent chills down Taylor's spine. She smiled at him, praying that her smile would prompt him to speak again. Jack spoke instead. "Once my wife left the police department, I foolishly thought that they were fresh out of beautiful women. I was terribly wrong."
Jack then gently grabbed Taylor’s hand and placed it to his lips.
"You’re just gonna stand there and watch your husband flirt shamelessly with that beautiful woman?" Victor scolded.
"Leave him be, Governor. He's just having a little fun," Victoria teased.
"Fun my ass," he responded before pulling Taylor’s hand from Jack's face.
Victoria giggled at Jack's mischievous smirk, but his smirk immediately disappeared when Brent joined them.
"Mr. Storm, I-" Brent began to say before Jack cut him off.
"There's no story here, Trainer. Get lost."
"Sir, I know that you didn't like the way I reported on your cousin's story, but I was just doing my job."
"Is that so? I guess when a woman is sexually harassed in the workplace, it's your job to attack the character of the victim. Oh, yeah, and I guess you didn't write your story in favor of the police department in order to stay in the good graces of Media Affairs. Trainer, you're an overly ambitious little toad. Go away."
"Actually, Mr. Storm, I'm here to retrieve my lovely date," Brent responded smugly.
Everyone looked at Taylor, causing her to be a bit self-conscious.
"Trust me, Gorgeous, you can do better," Jack declared, before walking away.
Hell, Taylor already knew that, and she was thoroughly embarrassed. She'd read the article that Jack had referred to, but had no idea that Brent had written it. It had infuriated her. She knew Natasha Walker from the police academy. She was really shy, and she kept to herself, but the department had tried to destroy her credibility by attacking her character. It was a disgusting turn of events, but that article that described Natasha as a whore was the most disgusting of it all.
"I'm gonna go catch up with Jack," Victoria said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'll catch you later."
"Okay, later," Taylor mumbled.
She turned and nodded toward the governor and walked away, without a word to Brent. But somehow, she knew that he was on her tail.
****
For most of the evening, Taylor had managed to avoid conversing with Brent. She thought it best not to embarrass Nicole and her fiancé by telling Brent just how much of an asshole he was. Ultimately, avoiding a conversation with him was easy, because more than anything, he loved to hear his own voice. So, Taylor happily sat back and let him talk Jeffrey's ear off. As a matter of fact, it was Brent's overblown pride in his accomplishments that had allowed her to sneak away from the table again. After a visit to the ladies’ room, Taylor found herself roaming the halls, looking at paintings that she was sure were much older than she was. One caught her eye. It was of a lone, nude woman sitting in a dark forest. It was painted in black and white, with the exception of a throw that was spread over a rock where the woman sat. The throw was painted in a vivid red. Taylor cautiously looked around before lightly touching the canvas.
"It was painted in the late eighteen hundreds by an artistically talented lumberjack that came across a beautiful woman alone in the forest."
The voice caused Taylor to startle. She jumped, removing her hand from the painting.
Damn, it was Brent. Twenty minutes later, he'd finally noticed her absence.
"I finally got you alone."
Taylor looked around the quiet hall. "I guess you do."
He all but groaned. "Whatever will I do with you?"
"Nothing. Look, Brent, I'm really not interested in getting involved right now. I didn't know that my sister was going to try and set me up."
"Not interested, huh?" he asked as she stalked toward her. "You seemed very interested when you were creaming your panties for the governor and that asshole, Jack Storm."
"Excuse me?"
Taylor was losing her patience, but he was close enough for her to smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Okay, you're drunk. Let's get you out of here," she said, placing her hand on his arm.
"Are you fucking serious?" he hissed, pulling away. "No, I want you to throw yourself at me, just like you did with those motherfuckers."
With that, he Kung-Fu gripped her ass and pushed his groin against her stomach. Before she knew it, Taylor had performed an armbar that resulted in Brent ending up face down on the floor.
She stepped back, smoothing out the fabric of her dress.
"That's not how you treat a lady." The governor's deep baritone voice rang out in the quiet hall. "I would kick your ass, but it looks like the lady beat me to it. Get up and get your slimy ass out of my house."
Brent pulled himself off the floor and fixed his clothes. Just as instructed, he slinked down the hall. Taylor looked over at the governor. He was leaning against a wall with his muscular arms crossed over his chest. His stance was tall and powerful. And when he flashed her a beautiful smile, for the first time, she noticed his dimples.
How can a man that exudes boatloads of power have dimples?
"Governor Creed..."
"Victor."
"Um, okay. Well, Victor, I had it under control."
"I could see that. Truthfully, I could have stood here and watched you kick his ass all night, but I wanted to be alone with you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Taylor Montgomery. I've been waiting for the chance all night."
"And now that we're alone?”
Victor flashed a lopsided grin, showing off one adorable dimple. His eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I'd like to invite you to dinner."
His deep, masculine voice washed over her like a warm bath.
"Like a date? You can do that?" she asked with a quiver in her voice.
"I’m a man. I like women. Why wouldn't I be able to go on a date?"
"Well, dating a high profile man could be a bit of a challenge. Let me think about it."
He shook his head. "No, I'm not giving you a chance to talk yourself out of spending time with me. What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I'm going fishing."
The governor narrowed his eyes and studied Taylor as if to see if she wasn’t being truthful. "Fishing? You fish?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Where do you fish in Chicago?"
"I don't," Taylor chuckled. "I fish at Fox Lake."
"I see. So, when are you free?"
"Governor, let me check my work schedule. I'll get back to you. I mean... you're the governor, it's not like I don't know where to find you."
The governor seemed to silently contemplate her request. "Ok, get back to me," he relented. He then offered his hand. "Come. I'll escort you back to the party."
Taylor placed her hand in his. An instant electric, sexual current flowed between them as he led her back to the ballroom.
CHAPTER 4
Taylor
Taylor hopped up from her portable lawn chair and snatched her pole off of the makeshift stand that she'd created from tree limbs. She'd watched the bobble dip into the water, but waited for a good tug on the line.
She had hooked a fish.
She gave the line a good yank, in order to snag the fish, and slowly began to reel it in.
"Yank it again, Small Fry," her dad yelled. "It ain't hooked."
"It's hooked, Daddy. I know what I'm doing."
"You'd better do what your daddy said and yank it again. It'll secure your hold as you reel him in."
Shocked by the voice, Taylor almost dropped her fishing pole. But her dad grabbed her line and gave it a good yank, making it easier for her to reel it in. Taylor was excited about the size of the Rainbow Trout that she'd caught as it broke through the surface. She grabbed the line and held up the big fish with pride as her dad, along with Governor Creed, clapped for her achievement.
"What are you doing here?" she asked Victor when the clapping ended.
"I came to fish. I like fishing," he responded with an innocent shrug.
Taylor shook her head and kneeled to remove her catch from the hook.
"Daddy, this is-"
"Small Fry, do you think that I'm so ignorant that I wouldn't recognize the governor of Illinois?"
"Daddy, I was just trying to be polite," Taylor giggled.
"Governor Creed, this is my dad, James Montgomery."
The governor, with his eyes narrowed at Taylor for not referring to him as Victor, extended his hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Montgomery. Please call me Victor."
Her dad shook his outstretched hand and responded. "Only if you call me James."
"Yes, sir."
"So, I'm assuming you're here because you're sniffing around my little girl."
Victor’s eyes widened. Visibly thrown off by James’ assumption, he cleared his throat and responded.
"Um... yes. Yes, sir, I guess I am."
"All right. Well, I'll be back. I gotta go see a man about a dog."
Taylor gawked at both her dad and the governor. They were both blowing her mind; the governor for ambushing her fishing trip, and her dad for bailing out so easily.
When her dad walked away, she stared pointedly at the governor.
"Governor Creed, I'm really confused as to why you're here right now. Did you really come here to fish with me?"
"Yes, and I'm really confused as to why you refuse to call me Victor."
"Because you're the governor."
"And you're a police officer. Do you prefer to be called Officer Montgomery when you're not on duty?"
"No, but, it's a little different for me."
"Please, call me Victor."
"Okay, Victor," Taylor acquiesced with a smile. She was more comfortable being on a first-name basis with him than she thought she'd be.
"Thank you, Taylor. Now, may I fish with you guys? I don't get to do this much."
Taylor perused his attire. He was wearing a gray t-shirt, Timberland boots, and holding a fishing pole. He came prepared to fish, and had it not been for the huge security detail standing in the trees, he almost seemed like a normal guy.
Taylor opened a small Styrofoam cooler. "Pick your bait.”
Creed
Although he hadn't expected to meet her father, fishing with the two of them reminded Victor of the fun that he used to have before he began a life of politics. He admired, almost envied, the easy way that Taylor and James interacted. His relationship with his father was far more formal. Victor and his father had been fishing, golfing, and other things, but their activities were always tied to some sort of business deal or political move. But as he observed father and daughter, it was clear that they simply enjoyed spending time together. They were fun and playful, sincerely enjoying each other's company. They had something that was special and just for the two of them.
If Victor was intruding on their bonding time, they hadn't made him feel like it. Not one time did they make him feel unwanted. In fact, they had embarked on a friendly competition, in which James was winning by a landslide. He'd caught four, Taylor two, but James was on his seventh catch.
Tearing his eyes away from Taylor was another challenge in itself. She was beautiful without effort. Even with no makeup and her hair in a wild bushy ponytail, she so easily put so many women to shame. Her skin was flawless. Her lips were full and luscious. Her exotic eyes had the ability to hypnotize any man that dared to look too long. And her body... so voluptuous that the dirty white t-shirt and ragged jeans were sexier than any piece of lingerie. Taylor was surely a tomboy, and Victor had never been attracted to that type. But she'd definitely changed his perspective. He wanted her; bad. Yet, the more time he spent with her, he wondered exactly what it was that he wanted from her.
At the end of the evening, when the fish were sleeping, and the mosquitoes were feasting on their flesh, Victor helped James and Taylor load their equipment into the back of James' pickup. Victor wasn't ready for his time with Taylor to end, so he walked over to her dad and asked, "James, sir, is it okay if I see Taylor home?"
"Well, young man, that's entirely up to Taylor."
"Yes, Victor," Taylor intervened. "That would've been my decision to make."
Victor walked around the bed of the truck and leaned into her.
"I was simply trying to be respectful. I didn't mean to be presumptuous. I planned to ask you as well."
"I know and thank you, but it's quite a drive back. I don't want my dad to have to make that drive alone."
"Nonsense, Small Fry. I can make that drive with my eyes closed."
"Sir, I wouldn't recommend that," Victor chuckled.
"Gone on, y'all," James said with a wave of his hand. "Drive safe."
With that, he climbed into his pickup and started the engine. Taylor jogged to the driver's side, leaned in the window, and kissed her dad's cheek.
"Call me when you get home,” she told him.
"Will do."
"Okay, Daddy. Love you."
"Me too."
With that said, he shifted into drive and took off down the road. Taylor watched for a few seconds and then turned to Victor. "Well, I'm all yours."
"Not yet, but you will be," he responded with a devilishly sexy smirk.
Taylor smiled, and if she was the least bit offended by his comment, she hadn't shown it. Victor had plans to taste every part of her body, and maybe she was coming to terms with that.
Taylor
Taylor sat next to Victor in the back of the SUV and watched him as he attempted to field, what seemed like, hundreds of calls while attempting to have a conversation with her.
Damn, it’s Sunday. His life is truly hectic.
Taylor wondered how he managed to sit on a bank with her and her father for so long without his phone ringing even once. When he ended his last call, he turned to Taylor and smiled sympathetically, before dialing another number. After a few seconds, he spoke into the phone, "Kena, handle my calls. I'll call you when I'm back in rotation."
He ended the call and turned to face her. The intensity in his stare caused Taylor to feel a tiny bit self-conscious.
"What?" she asked, forcing herself to maintain eye contact.
"You're absolutely beautiful, Taylor; so completely and naturally beautiful."
"Thank you, Victor," she responded, exhaling a breath that she didn't know that she was holding. The truth was, when he looked at her with such intensity, it took her to another place.
"I gotta tell you, Victor, this is really weird," she admitted.
Victor placed his hand over hers. "I know, but I'd really like to see you again." His response was filled with sincerity. "May I have your phone number so that I can call you?"
He grabbed something from the door of the SUV. Taylor realized that he was handing her a business card.
"This is my personal cellular number and my office number. Call me anytime."
Taylor took a quick peek at the card and stuffed it into her back pocket. "You can put my number in your phone."
After storing her number in his phone, Victor tossed it on the seat. Taylor glanced down at his hand that covered hers. The sparks between them were so powerful that she looked to see if the current would actually be visible to the naked eye. With his other hand, he gently ran his thumb across her cheek.
"Have dinner with me tomorrow," he said in a voice that was demanding, but oh so sensual. "I won't take no for an answer."
"You'll have to because I have to work tomorrow night," she said with more regret than she expected.
"What time do you get off?"
"Midnight."
''Damn. So when are you off?"
"Thursday."
"I suppose I can wait ‘til Thursday."
"Now, how do you know that I didn't already have plans?"
"Young lady, I'm the governor. Don't make me throw my weight around."
"Okay," she chuckled. "Thursday it is."
"Good. I'll call you to finalize."
Taylor nodded her response without looking away from his beautiful olive eyes. For the first time, she noticed light specs of hazel.
"We're here."
She was so mesmerized that she hadn't even noticed that they had pulled into her driveway. He gave her hand a light squeeze, saying, "Come. Let me walk you to the door."
"Okay," she mumbled as she gathered her things.
Admittedly, she was disappointed that their time together was over.
When the door was opened, Victor stepped out and extended his hand to her. She placed her hand in his, and their electrical spark was reignited. He helped her from the vehicle and closed the door. He placed his hand in the small of her back and led her up the walkway. Halfway to the front door, he turned to tell one of his shadows to fall back. He held her hand as they walked up the steps of her porch.
"Nice house. It's pretty big, though. You live here alone?"
"Yep. It's just me," she responded while digging her keys out of her purse.
She unlocked the door and turned to say goodnight. But, before she could speak, he placed his hands on both sides of her face and guided her face to his. When his lips connected with hers, Taylor literally went weak in the knees. She grasped his upper arms in order to stay on her feet. She wrapped her fingers around his muscular biceps as he made love to her mouth. As his tongue caressed hers, her body melded to his. He was literally sucking her in, and Taylor knew that she would never forget the kiss that she shared with the governor of Illinois.
CHAPTER 5
Taylor
Three days later, Taylor was still fantasizing about the kiss that she shared with Victor. As she lay in bed the night before, she could still feel his lips on hers, his tongue teasing hers. She could practically feel the vibrations as he moaned softly into her mouth. Victor had invaded her thoughts for the last three days.
