(And Lead Him Not Into) Temptation

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO-
 Attorney Zoey Easter sat at the tony bar in town having a cocktail...several cocktails..

She had just finished a rough day in court...She was so thankful to Olivia and Beverly for

helping her with trial experience... Her stock at her law firm was rising thanks to them.....

She smelled a familiar fragrance behind her....She turned to see Olivia's ex-husband and her former lover, Elwood Barnes...

''Well Hello Zoey...How are you?"he said.

She hadn't seen him since the summer....He had finally gotten the message that they were over and stopped stalking her....He never did find out where she was living...

''Elwood...How are you?" she said..

 ''I'm well...Just getting out of court..." he said.

''Me too!"she said.

 "I just discovered this bar....a former colleauge of mine, Calvin Hunt , told me about this place...I like the atmosphere.."he said..

"I've met Calvin.....He's friends with Olivia and Beverly..."said Zoey...

''And how is my famous ex-wife and your BFF?" he asked half jokingly...  He actually wanted to know..He hadn't seen Olivia and Beverly since they represented him in a paternity suit last year...

"Oh they're doing wonderful...Beverly is engaged.....They're planning her wedding, which is in about three weeks."said Zoey...

''Calvin Hunt told me Beverly was engaged..To that Attorney I saw with them...Nelson ...Nelson East...He did some consultation work with one of my attorneys...Ronnie Shay...I've met him once or twice..

I like him...He makes Beverly human, bearable...She's not such a smart ass anymore..Damn good Attorney too that Nelson..."said Elwood..

"Think you two might ever be friends?"asked Zoey, smiling..

"That's pushing it.." he said and they both laughed.....

Zoey knew how much Beverly despised him for cheating on her aunt when they were married and causing both of her Aunt's miscarriages.. and she knew how jealous Elwood was of the close bond ,Beverly and Olivia had....

but Zoey detected that in some strange way, he was actually happy that Beverly was getting married...

"Their little law firm is doing quite well....I see they both got elected Super Lawyers last year...Beverly's husband to be too...Is he going to be working for Liv now too?" he asked.

"No..He still works for Robert Foxworth and associates...but he has already moved in with Bev...I suppose they'll still be hiring him on a consulting basis....They've both done work for Robert Foxworth on a consulting basis..."said Zoey...

"My...you know everything Olivia and Beverly...." he said..

"I live four blocks from them....We talk...We go shoe shopping some Saturdays..."said Zoey...Her guard was down..She had never revealed where she lived before...but now, she didn't care...

''So what's new with you? You make partner yet?"he asked..

"I'm close...Very close...I was Junior Partner before I took that job in New York..it's been a long climb back...but I'm on the right track." she said..

"You'll make it...You're a damn good Attorney yourself! You uh still seeing what's his name? Lemon?" he asked sarcastically...

"You mean Lem! Yes...as a matter of fact I am...More than that.." she said and showed him her left hand, third finger...

"Lem and I are engaged!  We are getting married in the spring!" she said..

That hit Elwood like a ton of bricks!!

Married?? He knew that she was dating Lem and that he himself lived with somebody....but he had never forgotten how Zoey had rocked his world in the bed that one weekend nearly a year ago..Deep down inside ,he always hoped for another chance to sleep with her ,if nothing more...

"MARRIED?"  "THIS SPRING?" he said.

''Yes..there is a lot of marriages huh? First Beverly and Nelson and then Me and Lem..."she said ,smiling...

Elwood's mood got considerably dark....Olivia had told her about him when he got this way, brooding,unapproachable..

He threw a few dollars on the counter....Enough to pay for his and Zoey's drinks...He stood up

abruptly....

"How Nice...Uh...I've got to be going...Congratulations on the engagement!" he said and walked out as fast as he could...

Zoey shook her head and laughed...and ordered another drink.

II-

THIS AFTERNOON-

A nice warm Saturday afternoon...My Wife Olivia was downstairs in Nelson and Beverly's place, doing her friend, Zoey Easter's hair...

Zoey had just told them about the last time she saw Elwood Barnes, Olivia's ex-husband, and Zoey's ex-lover in a bar...

"He was a stone trip...Soon as he saw the ring, soon as he realized Lem and I were getting married, his whole mood changed...Where he had been warm and complimentary before...He was distant and cold..He plunked the money down on the counter and got up and left...just barely mumbled congratulations..."said Zoey...

"That's him....Girlllll did you not learn enough about him when you handled his and my divorce...?" laughed Olivia...

"You would think....I guess I was just stupid...Stuck on stupid.."said Zoey...

"Well at least Bum Ass paid for your drinks...There was a time when he would have paid for his and left.."said Beverly...

''Stopppppppppp!" laughed Josie..

''Auntay, am I lying?" said Beverly..

Olivia laughed...

"HA!  No, she's telling the truth..."laughed Olivia...

"Livy, Thank you for letting me crash with you for this week....

I know you guys got a case and all..." said Zoey.

''Hey girl we don't mind and besides, Beverly always has all of the company....We never do..And we've kept the noise down haven't we?" said Olivia.

"HA!" laughed Beverly...

"Oh you hush up.."laughed Olivia..

''Livy girl, you two must be celibate...I don't hear a thing once I close my door...You know...We are all adults..I know Donnie Ray likes his time with you...You all don't have to stop on my account...I bought ear plugs..."said Zoey

winking at Beverly and Josie, who smiled..

"You don't need em...Donnie Ray hasn't stopped anything...

The man has a one track mind...He comes home after one of his gigs or from investigating something pretaining to this case and he wants two things...Food and me...I'm glad Beverly bought us those quiet beds.."said Olivia..

"We have one too...Nelson is the same way when he comes home from work...he doesn't even want to eat..

He wants me first....Sometimes that's all he needs."laughed Beverly...

"Awww your husbands love you...That's sweet..." said Zoey...

Josie was working with us on a big case and she was staying with Bev and Nelson...

Beverly was in heaven...I never realized how much she didn't like being alone...She loved being married to Nelson and waking up next to him everyday and she loved having both Josie and Zoey staying with us..

Josie with her and Nelson in the spare bedroom

And Zoey with Olivia and I in our spare bedroom...It was a week before she and Lem were getting married and per Philadelphia tradition...The Bride and Groom couldn't see each other the week before the wedding..

Nelson and I both hated it...and were glad we didn't have to endure it any longer..

"How is Lem doing without you for the week?" asked Olivia..

''He's going stir crazy...he's texted me like four times today and it's only been a day...." said Zoey...

''Awww..you can text him back..."said Beverly..."Nelson called me the day before our wedding and we talked for two hours....You can't see the bride..Nothing says you can't talk or text.."said Beverly..

''My niece is such a lawyer.."laughed Olivia..

"It's a Saturday Night...I hope he goes out and has a good time...Maybe it'll take his mind off me...He doesn't have all of you good people around him to keep him content,like I do.." said Zoey...

 Nelson and I arrived with food...

'Heyy Ladies...Here we are with the best from the Orient..."said Nelson...

"You mean Chinese Bob's." laughed Beverly...

Who was met with a soft kiss....

"The man kisses me regardless of what I say.." laughed Beverly...

As I arranged the hot steamy food on the table...I said to Zoey..

"Hey Zo..I saw your hubby to be tonight....He said he was going to Mulberry Street, to catch Downtown Rob Brown and his quintet...They're playing tonight...I would have gone with him, but I'm dog tired..."I said..

"Good , He needs to have a good time.."said Zoey...

''Don't just sit there...Dig in ladies .." said Nelson...

"Let me get some Ice tea out the fridge.."said Beverly...

"Ouuu Moo goo gai pan.." said Josie..

''What is that?"asked Olivia..

"It's good...Try some.."

I said as we all chowed down...

Unknown to any of us...Elwood Barnes was standing outside of our duplex...

"I can't believe it...She's getting married in a week...I don't know why...but I can't get her out of my mind...I'm crazy about her still...I thought I was over her...." he said to himself while he swigged a European Beer...

III-

The Rooftop Bar and Jazz Club known as Mulberry Street.....

Fellow trumpeter ,Downtown Rob Brown was playing tonight....He was joined on the stage by singer Ingrid Rhodes...who was also in town ...


Attorney Lemeul Anderson sat by himself and sipped a drink..

He tapped his feet to the cool sounds...

A strikingly beautiful woman walked by his table..

'Drinking alone tonight?" she asked.. Then did a double take.. "Lem ??Lemeul Anderson??" she exclaimed..

"Judge Reynolds!!" he exclaimed..

"Attorney Reynolds...I haven't been a judge for awhile...I'm in Private Practice now...I heard you were out in San-Francisco for awhile.." she said..

"I was...working with the Innocence Project...I'm back in Philly now...I work for a small firm...I'm doing pretty well for myself..." said Lem.."Sit down, sit down...What are you drinking Patricia..??" he asked.

''A Citris Martini"she said..

Lem ordered one also....

"Seems like all of the womenI know like that....

Olivia and Beverly,My fiance.." he said..

"Olivia Bennett-Alexander?? , Beverly West?? 

I know them...I know them quite well..They tried a case in my husband's courtroom a few months back..." said Patricia Reynolds..

"I worked a case with them about a year ago....That's how I met my fiance through them...She was a friend of theirs..." said Lem..

"Fiance...So you're getting married huh?  She an Attorney too?" asked Patricia Reynolds..

"She is...she worked on the same case with us.."said Lem..

"I understand, Beverly, Olivia's niece got married recently to an attorney that works for an old friend of mine, Robert Foxworth..." said Patricia... Now that was a man , she thought, remembering an afternoon tryst she had with Robert Foxworth years ago...

When she was a judge, in her chambers...after a case..

"Yeah, Nelson East...

He and I are childhood friends...He worked that case too..."said Lem..

"Hmmmph must have been some case...Olivia, Beverly ,Nelson and your fiance...

I hope you won it?" she said,laughing...

''Sure did..It was a murder case, we got an acquittal" laughed Lem......

"So where is your lady tonight? Ohhhhh that's right...That tired old Philadlephia tradition...You can't see her for a week up to the wedding can you?"laughed Patricia..

''Rightttttt..She's staying with Olivia, Donnie Ray, Beverly and Nelson and I'm staying in our Apartment, which is four blocks away..."said Lem..

"Poor Baby! I hate that tradition..." said Patricia seductively.....

"So do I! This is only the second day....I was home last night by myself...I uh ordered some take out...Today, I uh went out for awhile...and uh tonight I'm out..." he said...

Downtown Rob Brown was finishing his set...He had played for an hour and a half...Lem and Patricia had enjoyed the set and quiet conversation....Mostly talking about their recent cases....Patricia begrudgingly talked about her recent controversy with Assistant States Attorney Eric Beckett..

"That was a big mistake...I should have never of done that....Butttt he was an attractive and seductive man...I was a little tipsy...Very tipsy, my husband was out of town.....and ...and we both just uh went for it....He was a target....Assistant State's Attorney up for a Judgeship...Already the source of a scandal ,involving him and a porn star, back when he was married....I should of known people would be looking at him for any little thing..." said Patricia..

"Wow....I read about that in the papers...I felt so bad for you and Judge Reynolds...By the way..Where is he tonight? Doesn't he enjoy good music??" asked Lem..

"He's down in D.C. for a legal conference..." said Patricia..

"Didn't he just get back from San-Francisco?"asked Lem...

"He did...He wanted me to go...but I hate those conferences...They're boring.."said Patricia.

The place was packed....A nice breeze blew by....

Lem and Patricia ordered two more drinks...

"Mmmmmm this is soooooo good..." said Patricia Reynolds....

"It is...."Lem agreed!

"Sooooooo Lem.....Uh let me get a little personal...when was uh the last time you and your uh fiance had sex?" she asked...

"Wowwwwwwwwww..."laughed Lem..."You go for the jugular don't you? I imagine you're cut throat in court..." he laughed..

"I have been known for that....You didn't answer my question...When was it?" she asked ,staring him in the eyes...

"Wednesday Night...and uh a quickie...Thursday morning...She left yesterday...Friday..." he said, a little embarrassed to be talking to Patricia about his sex life...

"Don't be embarrassed..." she said seductively...."The last time I had sex was last week....My husband was naturally a little cross with me ,when he found out about my uh indiscretion...but he finally gave in and uh broke me off a little last Friday night....and then , he just went to sleep Sunday through yesterday when he left for D.C." she said..

''A beautiful woman like you  and , and he uh can hold off like that? Wow!!!" said Lem..

"I know right?  I have to fight a lot of these men off... I wouldn't have to fight you off would I Lem or beg you either, whether you were mad at me or not?" she said in a seductive whisper...

Lem was blushing now and smiling...

"Welllllll uh, uh...uh...no....No, Not at all!" he said nervously...He didn't like the way this conversation was going...

"Lem.......Lem....I'm as horny as a cat right now...My panties are drenched...." she said matter of factly...

Lem's mouth hung wide open..

"Whoaaa" he said...

"You miss your girl? You can't see her or have her for a whole week...You're going to be up the wall in a few days....Why don't you and I go somewhere quiet and cheap tonight...and let me take care of that??.." she said..

''Are you serious?" asked Lem...She was a beautiful woman and despite him trying mightily, he was aroused..extremely aroused...He wanted Zoey so bad...he was going crazy...He felt like a Heroin addict going through withdrawal....

Patricia moved closer to him...She unzippered his trousers...This place was packed...Nobody noticed them at their table on the side...She reached into his pants and began to fondle his engorged penis...

"Verrrrrrrrry serious...Oh My godddddddddddd...wouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..Lem....you are blessed....You're like a race horse.."she said, marveling his length and girth..."Woooooooooooooooooooou.." she exclaimed...
''Your fiance is a lucky woman....I know she appreciates you...Myyyyyyyyyyyyyyy goodness.." she said as she softly fondled him....

''Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..ummmmmmmmmmmmm.."Lem moaned....'Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww lawwwwwwwwwwwwd!" he moaned again..."Patricia...Patricia stop this please....ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."he moaned..

He was close to exploding.....

"You don't want me to stop...You want to do me...You want to take my clothes off and ravish me..and I want you to do it...I want to make you happy, to give you a nice pre-wedding gift...It'll help you sleep, help you deal with not being able to screw your fiance...ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ,ouuuuuuuu look at this horse you have in your pants....I want you inside of me tonight...Come on...I'll pay the check..let's get out of here.." she said in a whispery, seductive voice..

"Patricia, you're married!!!...You were just involved in a scandal, Your husband just forgave you...You're playing with fire..."said Lem, who removed her hands and zipped his trousers back up...He was sweating
profusely...

"I'm Horny....I'm as horny as a cat and my panties have been drenched since I sat down here with you...I need you inside of me...and I knowwwwwwwww you want to do it...I know you do..." she said seductively....

Lem thought hard....He saw Zoey's face...

He imagined how disappointed she'd be if he cheated on her like Elwood had when she was ready to give her heart to him...She had told him all about what she called her lost weekend in Ocean City last year...

This would be worse...She and Elwood weren't engaged to be married...No ,he couldn't...His erection shrunk and he stood up..

"No!!!...As tempted and flattered as I am...I can't..I just can't...I'm sorry Patricia.." he said and plopped a few dollars on the table..Enough to cover both of their drink tabs...

"You sure? You may never get another offer from me Lem...Think about it.." she said..

"Go Home Patricia...Don't do this.." he said and he hurried for the door and the elevator....

 Patricia put her head on the table and cried profusely!!!! She was both ashamed of herself and still incredibly horny!

He was relieved that he hadn't given in to temptation...She was a beautiful woman, a sexy woman...Another few minutes and she would've been in his car ,headed to some cheap motel...He was sooo glad he had resisted her advances...

He had practiced in her court when she had been a judge a few years back and he had seen her as an Attorney..She was the epitome of professionalism and a no nonsense judge...

Who would guess that she was a freak beneath that vaneer???

Lem got in his car

and drove as fast as he could to the apartment

he would be sharing with Zoey when they got married...

He turned on the shower...Cold water....He wondered if what they said about cold showers was true...

It was true....The cold water shocked your senses...Sex was the last thing you thought about..

(CONCLUSION NEXT)