“Well?” Diamond asked.
“I’m not going to press charges. No jury is going to convict him after he tells that story. I’ve been trying to get the Porters in jail for the last two years, but that man’s being punished enough. He has no idea where his child is?”
“No. Samantha and her father covered their tracks,” Diamond explained.
“I’ll see what I can do in the morning,” David offered. He started to leave, but paused. “That was good work, Di. You ever want a job in my office, let me know.”
“Thanks, David.” Diamond went back into the room to give Dustin the good news.
It was another hour before Diamond made it back to her apartment. Exhausted, she went to the refrigerator to get a drink when a knock on her door startled her. She went to the door, looking out the peephole to see Knox on the other side.
“Go away, Knox.”
“Let me in, Diamond.”
Diamond’s head fell against the door. She knew what would happen if she let him in. It wouldn’t matter that she hadn’t seen or heard from him for the last two months. Where Knox was concerned, she knew her weakness.
“Diamond.” Knox’s cajoling voice almost had her weakening.
“Knox, if I let you in, we both know what will happen; that’s why you’re here.”
Silence from the other side of the door.
“I want you, Knox, so bad. You know I do.”
“Let me in then.” His voice turned seductive.
“I care about you, Knox, but us in my bed wouldn’t mean anything to you. The saddest part is, I don’t even care that you’ll leave here and be in someone else’s bed. I want you that bad. I’ll open the door if you can tell me you care about me. I have to know that much at least. That’s all I’m asking, Knox, please.”
Without even a pause to show he’d thought about it, Diamond heard the sound of his boots walking away then the loud sound of him riding out of the parking lot. She slid down the door until she sat on the floor, leaning against the door, crying.
She had taken a leap and had asked little in return. She hadn’t asked for commitment, love or even fidelity. The only thing she had wanted was to know that, when they were having sex, he cared about her. He hadn’t been able to give it to her. She didn’t know why her heart was breaking over a man like Knox, yet something inside her told her she was losing a prize worth fighting for.
*
Diamond closed the folder, stacking it with the others she had just updated.
“Ms. Richards?” Holly said, sticking her head in the doorway of her office.
“Yes, Holly.”
“There’s someone here to see you; they don’t have an appointment.”
“Who is it?” Diamond was about to leave for the day, but she didn’t have anyone to rush home to, so a few extra minutes at the office wasn’t really going to make a difference.
“Pastor Dean. His church is the one across the street.”
“Show him in, Holly.” Holly disappeared for a minute before her door reopened. Pastor Dean walked in, giving Holly a smile that had her blushing and smiling back.
“Ms. Richards, my name is Pastor Dean. I wanted to introduce myself and see what it would take for you to give my church a visit.”
Diamond smiled at his forthright approach. “I’m afraid you have an uphill battle there, Pastor. I’m not much for going to church.” Diamond rose from her desk to greet the Pastor, extending her hand to shake his. Diamond was surprised how rough and calloused his hand was, expecting a smooth one. This man was used to doing labor.
“I’m sorry to hear that. If not church service, then on Wednesday we have a potluck dinner that everyone in the community is invited to. It would give you an opportunity to become more familiar with the townspeople and build your client base.”
“Pastor Dean, you’re not trying to bribe me with potential clients to get me inside your church, are you?”
“All roads lead to God, Ms. Richards,” he said, not denying his attempt at coercion.
Diamond couldn’t help laugher laughter at that. It didn’t take him long before he’d turned the humor into finagling a clothing donation out of her, and changing her firm no at attending church services to a maybe.
“You’re a very convincing man, Pastor Dean. I’m willing to bet you give an excellent sermon.”
“I try.” He tried to appear humble, though somehow Diamond had a feeling this man had plenty of confidence.
Diamond motioned for him to have a seat on the chair by the window as she walked over to take the other one. Pastor Dean followed her to the seating area, pausing before he sat down to look out the window.
“You have quite a view of my church.”