A Silken Thread (13 page)

“I remember.”

She was surprised that he did. “You do?”

“Yes. You made the team in your freshman year. I was a senior.”

Oh, yes, she remembered those days when he would walk the halls of the high school and all the girls’ panties would get wet. He was hot then and he was still hot now.

“So are you going to tell me how you found out about this place?” Despite the good food, she figured this was not the type of establishment a Hayes would frequent. But she could tell from the way he was familiar with the owner and servers that he’d been here often.

He leaned back in his chair and she watched the movement of his shoulders beneath his jacket when he did so. She was suddenly entrenched in memories of the time she and Erica had come upon him jogging shirtless in the park a few years back when she’d come home for a visit. He had stood there and held a conversation with them for a good twenty minutes, and it had taken all her willpower not to stare at his muscular shoulders and the way his chest hair tapered off toward the waistband of his running shorts.

“Sure, I’ll tell you,” he said, smiling. “I attended college with Jabar DeLonn, who is Gramma DeLonn’s grandson. In fact we were roommates all four years and remain the best of friends today.”

“You attended Ohio State, right?”

“Of course.”

She rolled her eyes. “That means you’re a true-blue Buck-eye.”

“Is there any other kind? Unlike you, I was loyal to my state. I bet you couldn’t wait to get to California.”

If you only knew,
April thought.

“I couldn’t wait to see the Pacific Ocean.” She smiled, knowing that hadn’t been the only reason.

“You stayed away four years and then some.”

She wondered how he knew just how long she’d stayed away. He must have seen the questioning look in her gaze and said, “I returned to Hattersville after college to find it was almost like a ghost town. Everyone I’d grown up with or knew had either left town for good or was doing their own thing. Now I’m glad a number of them got tired of the big city life and are moving back. I talked to Stacie Childress recently. She plans to move back.”

She’d heard that. Although Stacie’s ancestors hadn’t been among the town’s founding fathers, because her parents were loaded she had been included in the high-society niche. The one thing April remembered was that Stacie had the hots for Griffin.

April understood that Stacie was a divorcée. She couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps Stacie had heard about Erica’s marriage plans and figured that meant Griffin was finally free. Was Stacie moving back to Hattersville to try her luck once again? If that was the reason, her timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As mayor he would need a wife or fiancée who would be refined and sophisticated.

“I think it’s wonderful that Stacie is moving back,” she said.

“Do you?”

“Yes. Don’t you?”

He shrugged those massive shoulders again. “No reason not to be. At least I figure I’ll have her vote.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment and then decided to ask, “You didn’t go to Erica’s engagement party. Do you plan to attend the wedding?”

He took a sip of his coffee, then smiled at her. “I haven’t decided yet. Erica is a good friend and I think she would expect me to be there. But then I don’t want my mother or hers sitting on the edge of their seats thinking I’m going to do something ridiculous like stop the wedding. Knowing them, they’d really expect me to.”

Yes, she could imagine that they would. “Did it ever bother you that they tried putting you and Erica together at every twist and turn?”

“Of course it did, but luckily Erica and I formed an alliance to beat them at their own game. Once we knew we could only be friends, we just gave up trying to convince them of that and decided to let them figure it out for themselves.”

April shook her head. “I doubt they’ve figured it out, even now with Erica getting married in a few months. I don’t know about your mom, but I think Mrs. Sanders is obsessed with the idea.”

“And you know why, don’t you?”

“No. Is there a reason?”

Griffin smiled. “She thinks there is. Ever since Hattersville was founded, a Delbert has tried marrying a Hayes and something always happens before the wedding takes place. Some family members say there was a curse placed to keep the families apart.”

“A curse?”

“From what I gather, a Hayes was engaged to marry some girl in Canada, and he hauled ass one night a few weeks before the wedding, followed his friends to America and later settled in Ohio where they founded Hattersville. A month later Hayes became engaged to marry someone else, one of the Delbert sisters, and he sent for her to join him and her brother in Ohio. The father of the jilted bride heard about it and considered such an act total disrespect and deliberate humiliation toward his daughter. Some claim he placed a curse that there would never, ever be a Hayes–Delbert union, and so far there hasn’t been. Something has happened every time a wedding was to take place.”

Griffin took another sip of his coffee and continued. “The last time was over twenty-something years ago when Mrs. Sanders’s sister was engaged to marry my uncle Simon. She lost control of the car she was driving a week before the wedding, went into a coma and died.”

April nodded. She recalled Erica telling her about the aunt she never got to know.

“Before that, a Delbert was to marry a Hayes and a few weeks before the wedding she ran off with another man and hasn’t been heard from since.”

“So if you and Erica marry that will supposedly break the curse.”

“Yes, but breaking the curse is just one thing. In reversing the curse, untold riches are supposed to be showered upon both families.”

She took a sip of her drink. She knew that for Karen Sanders it must have something to do with increasing her wealth. April shook her head. This was the first she’d ever heard about the curse. And it was hard to believe some people actually believed in such stuff. “Does Erica know about this supposed curse?”

“I’m sure she does, but like me she doesn’t give a flip. If one of my offspring wants to marry one of Erica’s one day, that’s fine, but you better believe that it won’t be due to any coercion on our parts. She and I have let it be known that if there is a curse it won’t be ending in this generation.”

He glanced around and saw the busboys breaking down the tables—they were the last couple in the restaurant. “It’s time for us to go. Where are you staying tonight?”

“At the Hilton downtown.”

He stood and picked up the bill the server had placed on the table earlier. “Come on. Let me make sure you get back to your hotel.”

Chapter Fourteen

G
riffin had all good intentions of delivering April to her hotel, only sticking around long enough to make sure she got into her room safely. But he hadn’t counted on a few things. Like just how aroused he’d gotten sitting across from her and watching her eat. Each and every time she took a sip of her drink or licked her lips he could imagine his tongue easing right into her mouth.

And when they were about to leave the restaurant and he’d pulled the chair out for her, she’d swung her legs around to stand up. He’d gotten flashed by the most gorgeous thighs and wondered just how it would feel to slide right between them.

The cab ride was even worse. He inhaled her scent, that luscious fragrance that he loved so much. Now as he walked beside her into the lobby of her hotel, lust was ripping through him, attacking every cell in his body. He wanted her with a hunger he hadn’t ever experienced before.

But then, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he would admit that he’d always wanted April and had deliberately come to Chicago to get her. Oh, he had convinced himself on the flight from Ohio that he was merely here to give a hometown girl support. But he knew that was a lie.

It had nothing to do with support and everything to do with wanting her…as he always had. As he still did. That was the reason he’d come and the reason he’d made a bid for the jewelry she’d worn.

He reached in his pant pocket and pulled out the box she’d given him earlier that night. “I almost forgot to give this back to you.”

They’d stopped walking and stood in the lobby. She looked down at the box. “No, it’s yours. You paid for it and—”

“I bought it to give to you,” he said softly.

Their gazes connected and she looked surprised at such a notion. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, why should I kid about something like that?”

She stared at him, speechless.

“When I read in the paper that you were participating in a charity function here tonight, I decided to come.”

“You flew from Ohio to Chicago?”

He chuckled. “You’re talking like that’s a million miles. Yes, I flew here from Ohio.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes, because of you.” He held her gaze. “You’re a beautiful and desirable woman, April. Is there a reason you don’t believe me?”

April felt she could give him a number of reasons, but the one that headed the list was that he was a Hayes. To him that might not mean anything significant, but the importance of such a thing had been drilled into her head so many times she had the puncture wounds to prove it. Besides that, he’d never shown interest in her before, so why now?

She lifted her chin. “Yes, there is a reason.”

“And what reason is that?”

“I’ve done a number of charity gigs and you’ve never felt the need to attend any before.”

He lifted a brow. “How do you know that I haven’t?”

She opened her mouth and then firmly shut it. She didn’t know, but why would he have?

Instead of allowing her to rethink what he’d said and attempt another response, he took hold of her arm. “Come on, let me walk you to your room. By the way, you will keep the jewelry, April.”

She was so taken back by the firmness of his tone that she wasn’t aware he’d taken her arm until they were stepping onto the elevator. She glanced up at him while confused emotions ran through her. Had he attended other functions she’d participated in without her knowing about it? If he had, then it didn’t make any sense.

“What floor?”

She blinked, realizing he was talking to her. “The twelfth floor.”

She felt the elevator beginning to move and glanced up to find him staring at her. “It’s not all that complicated, you know,” he said softly.

She frowned. “Well, it is to me.”

“I don’t see why. I’m a man and you’re a woman. I’m attracted to you and have been for a while.”

She knew for certain
that
was a crock. There was no way he’d been attracted to her. Oh, he might have the hots for her tonight. After all, like he’d said, he was a man and she was a woman and there was definite sexual chemistry boiling over between them. You would have to be dead not to notice it. But to say he’d been attracted to her for a while was spreading a lie a little too thick for her taste.

She decided not to say anything as they continued their ride up to her floor. Of course the unspoken question looming between them was what would happen once they get there. Would he expect her to invite him in? Should she? Her nerves were getting frayed and she needed to do something to get them smoothed over.

She released a deep sigh and looked down at the floor. And he really thought it wasn’t complicated? If he only knew.

Griffin doubted she realized it but her sigh just now had been long and deep. She was finding what was between them complicated and he didn’t understand why. She was a single woman and he was a single man and they clicked. Hell, they did more than just click. If given the chance they would burn up the sheets. She was fire and he was kerosene. Together they would be explosive.

The elevator door swooshed open and he stood back to let her precede him. Together they began walking down the long hall. She’d already taken her passkey out of her purse and held it in her hand along with the gift-wrapped box. He’d meant what he told her. The necklace was hers to keep.

She stopped in front of her door and released another sigh, something she’d done quite often tonight. “Well, this is my room.”

He glanced at the room door and smiled. “Funny, it’s also my address.”

She lifted a brow. “Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “Room 1234 and I live at 1234 Morgantown Place. Now, isn’t that a coincidence?”

“Yes, rather interesting.” She paused for a moment and then said, “I really appreciate you walking me to my room, and about this necklace…”

“What about it?”

“It’s something we need to talk more about.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “All right, when do you want to discuss it? I have time now if you do.”

She eyed him warily while nervously running her tongue across her bottom lip—a gesture that was stirring up heat in his groin. He couldn’t help the slow smile that touched the corners of his lips. He’d never considered April to be the nervous kind. She’d always come off as outspoken. He’d heard how she’d given several guys around town a blistering earful when they’d figured that, since she’d lived on what some considered the less desirable side of Hattersville, she would be one of those girls to put out without batting an eye. She’d proven them wrong.

As if she’d made up her mind about something, she straightened and said, “Now is fine. And I have a bottle of wine in my room, compliments of Oprah, if you’d like some.”

He gave her another small smile.
Some
was what he wanted and
some
was what he planned on getting. “That sounds great. Thanks.”

He stood back to give her room to open the door and seconds later he glanced at her room number as he followed her inside. He didn’t believe in curses, so he definitely wasn’t a superstitious person, either; but he had a feeling once he walked over the threshold he would get to experience something mind-blowing.

Rita placed the novel on her nightstand, feeling drowsy, and hoped she’d finally be able to get some sleep. She had ended up taking the rest of the week off work. To satisfy Brian she had gone to see her doctor, although she hadn’t needed to do so to know what was wrong with her.

She was having withdrawals just like Lori had warned. Withdrawals, right along with the guilt she was carrying around on her shoulders, and that meant a lot of sleepless nights since returning from Sweden.

There wasn’t a night that went by that she didn’t think about Wilson and what they’d done. The guilt was there, but so were remnants of pleasure. The kind of pleasure her body wanted to experience again.

And that was the root of her problem. She had gone to bed for an entire week dreaming, fantasizing and craving another woman’s husband, and as unbelievable as it seemed, she could not help herself.

She stood up to stretch, feeling the tenderness in her breasts and remembering when Wilson’s mouth had tasted her there, how his tongue had latched onto her nipples, drawing them into his mouth and sucking in a way that made her pelvic muscles contract. But his mouth hadn’t stopped there. He had tasted her all over and when he slid his tongue inside of her, right between her legs…

Gracious!

She eased back in bed and turned off the light knowing the dreams would come again tonight. In them Wilson would be free to give her all the loving she wanted, all she needed, over and over again.

Although the sex between them had been good, there had also been his charisma, his charm, the way he could have a woman eating out of his hands with his appeal. There was such an allure about him that she’d been fascinated, captivated to know it was truly real and not a put-on. If he’d been single he would definitely be a man she would want to get to know…and share a bed with again.

The ringing of her phone almost made her jump and she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was late but not too late to get a call from Brian and, assuming it was him, she reached out and picked up the phone.

“Brian, I thought you were going to play cards well into the night with Beau and Charles.”

“Hello, Rita. This isn’t Brian. It’s Wilson.”

She drew a deep surprised breath. “Wilson?”

“Yes.”

She swallowed deeply. This was the first time they’d ever spoken on the phone and she found his voice to be far sexier than she should have. Her heart began beating fast in her chest and the mere fact he was on the phone had heat stirring a place between her legs he had touched, tasted and taken. “Wilson, how did you get my number and why are you calling me?”

“I got your number from Erica, although I had to make up a lie to get it. I told her I wanted to pass it on to my secretary, since someone I knew might be interested in the services your company provides.”

He paused a second and then said, “And as to the reason why I’m calling, I think you know the answer to that, Rita. When I woke up that morning you were gone. Why didn’t you wake me to at least say good-bye?”

She lowered her head and closed her eyes. She had wanted to do that and to thank him for a night she’d known she would remember forever. But she hadn’t been able to make herself do it. What they’d done was wrong and there was no need to compound that wrong or try finding an excuse.

She opened her eyes and stared into the darkness of her room. “I think we both know the answer to that. What we did was wrong.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment and then spoke. “I wish I could have regrets, Rita, but I don’t. God knows I’ve tried. If only you knew what you gave me that night, and no, it wasn’t just sex. You actually made me feel like a man again. A man who now knows he has emotions, that he has a sex drive he thought had long ago been destroyed.”

She shook her head, not understanding what he was saying but determined not to accept excuses for what they’d done.

“I’ve been thinking of you,” he said huskily. “Maybe I shouldn’t, but I have. I need to see you again.”

“No, what we did is wrong. The next time you see me will be when my son and your daughter get married. I hope you’ll be able to forgive yourself the way I’m trying to forgive myself. Think of how we’ve betrayed Karen.”

“My relationship with Karen is not that way and hasn’t been for over twenty years. It was her choice and not mine. Lately, I’ve been thinking of asking for a divorce.”

“No!” she blurted out and felt her heart beating fast. “No, please don’t do that because of what we did. I would hate myself more than I do now.”

“You shouldn’t hate yourself. If only you knew the hell of a marriage I’ve endured you wouldn’t feel guilty.”

“No, I don’t want to hear it. You are a married man and you should make the most of it. Please leave me out of it.”

“That’s just it. I can’t leave you out of it. Heaven help me but I go to bed every night thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting you. I want to make love to you again so much that I ache. Hell, I’m fifty-nine, Rita. I shouldn’t be having
those
kinds of aches.”

Tell me about it,
she all but whispered and was glad she hadn’t done so. She knew just what kind of aches he was talking about because she was having some of the same kind herself. She couldn’t stop her lips from twitching in a smile. Just to think she was the one responsible for his problem made her feel like a woman in a way she hadn’t felt in a long while. Not since Patrick died.

And had Wilson truly insinuated that he hadn’t been sexually active in over twenty years? How was that possible when he was a married man? Surely his wife had been seeing to his needs.

“I’m coming to Dallas. I want to see you.”

His words snapped her out of her reverie. “You can’t come here.”

“Yes, I can. I think we need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Yes, we do. There is no reason for you to feel guilty about anything. Once I tell you everything, then—”