Chapter Fourteen

Nine o’clock the following evening, the lights in the radio station flickered on and off as the evening shift came to an end. Everyone packed their belongings and made a mad dash to the elevator. Growling loud like a baby lion with water leaking from the corners of her bleary eyes, Isabelle was sleepy. Lincoln took note of her peculiar yawning, making a face.  “Damn! What kinda noise was that?” he teased.

“I’m exhausted,” Isabelle dryly replied, unamused by his comment. 

“Maybe I should go home with you and perk you up,” he kept teasing. 

Isabelle lazily chuckled. “Buddy, not this time.”

The elevator stopped, and everyone except Lincoln and Isabelle piled inside. He waved them on. “We’ll wait for the next one.”

Pat looked at them sideways. “Don’t get into trouble, you two,” she smirked as the elevator doors slammed in her face. Lincoln and Isabelle looked at each other and laughed. He pointed to the exit. 

“Let’s take the stairs,” he suggested.

“Good idea,” Isabelle agreed. They ran down six flights of stairs. Their footsteps echoed against the paved surface as they raced to the ground floor. Lincoln opened a gray steel door, and they stumbled into a bright empty room with walls made of concrete slabs. Lincoln let the door slam, and it clapped like a bolt of thunder. 

“Damn!” Lincoln cursed as he fiddled with the locked door handle. 

Isabelle’s heart pounded in her chest, scared. “We’re stuck, aren’t we?” she dared to ask, biting her bottom lip.

“I’m afraid so,” he mumbled as he hurled his muscular frame against the steel door.

“What are we going to do?” 

He stopped for a moment and searched the room. He looked up and pointed at a corner near the ceiling. “There’s a camera up there.”

Isabelle’s eyes followed the direction of his long finger. “Oh, I see it. Someone will rescue us soon!” she excitedly said repeatedly hopping on one foot. Isabelle was hoping for a miracle. Her blouse, soaked with sweat, clung to her body like a cold, wet bathing suit. Sweat beaded on her forehead and blood rushed into her cheeks. Burning up because there was no air conditioning, Isabelle swooned, getting dizzy. She felt like roadkill, and Lincoln took notice.

“Are you all right?”

“I think so,” Isabelle whispered steadying herself. She wiped her face on her blouse sleeve and burst out in anger, “Get me out of here right now!”

“Whoa…calm down,” Lincoln said with his eyebrows touching. “Don’t get so hyped up. Everything will work out.”

Livid he was so calm, Isabelle glared at him and snarled, “You think you’re so damn cool, don’t you?”

“What’s with the attitude?” he scowled. “We’re both in the same boat. There’s no need to get your panties in a knot.”

Isabelle folded her arms over her chest and glared at him. He reached for her, and she jerked away. “Hugging won’t help,” she hissed.

He made another attempt, and she recoiled. “Stay away from me,” she pouted. 

Lincoln curled his lips and demanded, “Woman, come here.”

He came at her, and this time he was successful. 

“Leave me alone!” Isabelle half-heartedly pleaded as she tried to wiggle out of his strong embrace. His hot, sweaty body melted into hers and she surrendered. His warm lips grazed her forehead, and her heart fluttered when he kissed the tip of her nose. His velvety lips brushed against hers, and she clasped her hands on each side of his smooth dark face. Isabelle took him in, and his lips tasted like mint candy. Lincoln’s sizzling kiss was open-mouthed, sweet, hot, dry, and then wet. His breathing quickened, and he licked her neck with delicate kisses, so faint they felt like little whispers. 

She broke away, spoiling the romantic mood. “Don’t you dare give me a hickey!” 

“I wasn’t trying to,” he grinned. 

Isabelle knew he was lying. “Yeah, you were. I felt those little bites.”

He lurched forward reaching for her again. “Let’s finish what we started.”

Isabelle backed away. “No way. We need to get the hell out of here.”

“Come on, just another little kiss,” he seductively begged her. He grabbed her hand. A bolt of electricity shot up her inner arm when his hand wrapped around hers. A tiny pulsating twinge stirred in her fiery loins as he pulled her to him.

Suddenly the lock clicked, and the door flew opened. A security guard, medium in stature, stood in the doorway with a hilarious baffled look on his face, his chestnut eyes crinkled at the corners

Isabelle shouted with glee, “We’ve been rescued!” as she broke from Lincoln’s strong embrace.

“Great,” Lincoln mumbled sounding less enthused.

The security guard snickered. “How did you two get down here?”

“The elevator took too long, so we decided to take the stairs and ended up here,” Lincoln explained. “How did you know we were here?”

“I saw you two kissing on the camera,” the guard snickered again. 

“An eye full, I bet,” Lincoln joked.

“Borderline X-rated,” the security guard joked back.

Isabelle felt her face getting warm. “Not funny!” Embarrassed, she stepped to the door. “How do we get out of here? I want to go home.”

“You’re in the basement. The lobby is on the first floor,” the guard said. 

“Can we go?” Isabelle groaned.

“Sure.” The security guard stepped aside, and Isabelle ran past him. She couldn’t wait to get out of there. Lincoln followed her, and they both booked it up the stairs. “Remember the lobby is on the first floor,” the guard hollered after them.

Isabelle slapped Lincoln hard on the shoulder once they were in the lobby. He grabbed his shoulder and moaned. “Ouch, woman, what’s your problem?”

“Every time I hang with you, I get into trouble,” she complained. “I’m not going to hang out with you anymore.”

His face lit up, and he fell into a donkey-like braying laugh. His massive arms encircled Isabelle’s waist, and he pulled her to him. “You don’t mean it,” he growled.

“Yes, I do!”

He nuzzled his head deep in the soft spot of her neck. His warm breath tickled her, causing her to erupt into hysterical high-pitched laughter. Isabelle wiggled from side to side. “Stop it!” she whined with sheer euphoria mixed with agony. He flipped her around and planted a warm kiss on her lips. Isabelle broke free and pushed him away. “I have to go. I can’t hang with you all night. It’s getting late.”

“I know,” he softly said as he edged closer to her. Isabelle turned away and took off strutting outside into the balmy night air. She stepped briskly to her car, but her quick steps were no match to his long panther-like stride. He threw his arm over her shoulders and yanked her close. Her eyes drifted up, and she gazed into his mocha eyes. His warm lips covered hers, taking her by surprise. The warmth of his hard, hungry kiss spread throughout her entire body, and it felt like she was floating on air. It was magic the way his lips connected with hers. 

Then it was over. Just like that. He rested his forehead against hers.  

“I’ll walk you to your car,” he whispered as he pecked her on the tip of her nose.

“Hmmm,” Isabelle moaned. They held hands strolling to the car with no words passing between them, savoring their special moment and falling deeper in love. On cloud nine, she decided to hold off ending their affair. She was caught up in the moment and she wasn’t ready to let go. Isabelle unlocked the car, and he opened the door. She slid into the driver’s seat, and he leaned in kissing her on the cheek. “See you tomorrow, handsome!” Isabelle softly crooned.

His eyes sparkled and his lips curved up into a smile. “Likewise, beautiful. Be careful driving home.” He slammed the door and backed away. Isabelle turned on the ignition and waved as she backed out, viewing him through the rearview mirror as he walked to his car.

By eleven thirty, she was home, two hours past her bedtime. She slid out of her clothes, dropping them on the floor. Too tired to shower, she fell into bed. Eight minutes later, Isabelle was fast asleep.

Early the next morning, Isabelle struggled out of bed. With only four hours of sleep, she was exhausted. She staggered to the shower and turned on the water. The warm water in her face woke her up. Revitalized, she finished her shower and dried herself off. After she dressed, made up her face, and ate a quick breakfast, she was out the door.

It was seventy-five degrees, unseasonally cooler for an August morning in Atlanta. Once she arrived at work, Isabelle stopped by the mail room to retrieve her messages. After she settled in her office, she made herself a pot of Starbucks coffee. Soon, the coffee’s citrus aroma consumed her office and she poured herself a cup. While enjoying her morning brew, the telephone screeched loud in its cradle. Startled, she almost dropped her cup as she answered the phone. 

“Good morning, this is Isabelle,” she said in a cheery voice.

“I see you made it in,” Lincoln said.

Isabelle’s face brightened. “Yes, I did. You’re working tonight, aren’t you?” she coolly asked, trying to temper her enthusiasm.

“I plan to,” he replied. 

“Good,” she said.

“So, will I see you later?” 

“Yes!”

“Bye.” He hung up, and Isabelle slurped down her coffee. Barely tasting its nutty flavor, the hot liquid burned the tip of her tongue and her entire palate stung. She waved her hand in front of her face, taking short breaths to cool off her mouth. Again, the telephone screeched in the cradle, scaring her. She answered on the second ring. 

It was Jinx. “Are you coming by this morning?” she inquired in a loud voice.

“Yeah girl, I got something funny to tell you,” Isabelle informed her.

“Hurry up and get down here,” she cursed, hanging up. The phone slamming in the cradle rang loud in her ear. She grabbed her coffee and hustled to Jinx’s office. Five minutes later, Isabelle pounded on the door. 

“Come in!” Jinx hollered. Isabelle plowed through the door and sat. She crossed her legs, sipping on her coffee, quiet. Jinx’s eyes were birdlike as she examined Isabelle’s face. “You’re up to something. What happen?”

Isabelle set her coffee on the end table and burst into a belly laugh. “Nothing bad.” 

“Tell me,” Jinx inquired as her hazel-green eyes flickered with excitement.

“Last night, Lincoln and I got locked in the basement at the radio station. At first, we couldn’t get out, then…”

Jinx reared back in her chair, and curse words fell from her lips. “Shit, girl, what the fuck did you say?”

Isabelle lost control as she burst into wild laughter. 

“Stop laughing,” Jinx scolded her, looking cross. “How did you two get locked in a basement?”

“We decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator, and we ended up locked down there.” 

Jinx stared at her with intrigue. “How in the hell did you two get out?”

“The security guard saw us kissing on the video camera, and he let us out.” 

It took a moment to sink in, and when it did, a toothy grin crossed Jinx’s face. Then she howled with uncontrollable laughter, doubling over and holding her stomach. Isabelle cackled hard. Their tummies ached from all the laughter. Finally, they manage to stop as they struggled to catch their breath. 

Jinx, still red in the face, spoke first. “Girl, you and Lincoln are fucking crazy.”

“We didn’t plan it,” Isabelle snickered. “It just happened.”

“Who in the hell gets locked in a basement?” Jinx said violently shaking her head.

Isabelle pleaded with her. “Don’t tell anybody please, not even Kandy.”

“I won’t,” Jinx chuckled, bucking her eyes. “So embarrassing. Who gets locked in a basement? Crazy!”

“Shit happens,” Isabelle shot back.

Jinx rolled her eyes. “Girl, please. I suppose you plan to see him again this evening with your crazy self.”

“I sure do,” Isabelle said as she sprung to her feet and dashed to the door. 

Jinx followed her and stood in the doorway. “Isabelle, keep your little ass out of the damn basement!” she yelled after her as Isabelle hurried down the hall. Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this chapter click on the link below and purchase your copy of Whiskey And Merlot A Love Story. Don’t Miss Out! Until next time.