Invitation to Love (18 page)

“Despite
what I say, you’re going to do the contrary, aren’t you?”

“Michael,
I didn’t seek him out, I ran into him. What would you have me do? Ignore him
completely? He’d know something was wrong if I did.”

“You
may not have sought him out, but he sure came looking for you. You encourage
him to do it.”

She
dropped the spoon on the counter and put her hands to her hips. “I can’t
believe you just accused me of toying with David. You only see what you want.”

“I
know infatuation when I see it.”

“Infatuation,”
she threw the word back at him and circled around with every intention of that
being the last word from her. But, the need to defend herself was too strong.
She put the spoon back down and faced him again. “You’re just jealous because
David likes my company and goes out of his way to be nice to me. You on the
other hand, can’t seem to wait to get to the office every morning where you spend
all day, and practically the entire night.”

“I’m
only doing what you want, Taryn. Keeping my distance so you won’t feel
pressured into something you’re not ready for. Yes, I work extra hours. When I
come home, you make sure the girls are between us. Then I go to bed where it
starts all over again the next day. Everything neat and safe, the way you like
it.”

Wounded
tears stung her lids at the frigid description of her. The black-widow  who
dangles him on a web for her own personal benefit. “You know, you’re something
else. You have this false idea that David has the hots for me. You don’t want
me, but, you don’t want anyone else to have me, either.”

He
was taken aback for a moment. The tightness in his features almost disappeared as
he walked over to her. “Do you really believe that?” His eyes scaled down to
her mouth and locked with unwavering passion, his jawline clenched.

Oh,
she knew all it would take was a nod, the slightest inkling that she was
willing, and he’d take her in his arms and show her how wrong she is. “I’m
fully aware that physically you want me upstairs in bed with you every night.
You’d have no trouble interacting with me in that area—like all men. But apart
from that, I’m just someone whose help you needed to keep your prized clients.”

“Please,
save me from your sordid views of the male gender.”

“Fine.
Because, I’m done with this conversation.” With that, she turned away and
switched off the unit under the pot, then waited for him to leave so she could
prepare the rest of the dish.

“Then
you’ll listen to what I have to say,” he stepped closer to her ear, his tone
low and threatening. “If you want David to remain in good health, then I
suggest you stay away from him. Yes, our marriage is the result of a deal. But,
that doesn’t cancel out the vows you and I made to one another. You’re still my
wife. And, I expect you to be faithful to the end. All of this may be just a
deal to you, but, I’m dead serious about it working.”

The
power of those words pulled her around to face the anger and determination
standing before her. Did he really mean those last words? Should she express
the same resolve?

“End
of matter,” he added when the doorbell rang.

She
watched him march away, now annoyed by his territorial attitude. It’s not like
he has any real feelings for her. Is he afraid the press will find out the
truth, and scandalize it in bold headlines? Only this time, they’d target him
about his unfaithful wife. Can that be the reason he’s dead serious about it
working? She closed her eyes and exhaled all the negative emotions. If only he
knew there was no need to worry about any disloyalty on her part. That her
heart is as faithful as her love for him is strong. She also realizes that her
friendship with David isn’t worth the strain that threatens to ruin it all, so,
she will honor his wish and stay away from him.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Sunlight
glittered off the crystal blue water of the pool in the back yard. Remi and
Rachel paddled around on their floating toys; Taryn sat at the edge and swirled
the water back and forth with her legs. She tilted her head back to glance up
at the midday sun. It’s almost lunchtime, and the girls will be ready to eat
soon.

“Come
on, you two. It’s time to go inside.”

“Can’t
we stay a little while longer?” Remi asked from her perch on her inflated
dragon.

“Yeah,”
Rachel agreed from her floating duck.

“It’s
almost time to eat lunch. Aren’t you hungry? You’ve been in the pool all day.
You look like a couple of wrinkled prunes. Come on.”

“Okay,”
Remi grumbled and paddled her way to the side.

“Mummie,
look,” Rachel pointed toward the side of the house. “It’s Michael. And, there’s
some people with him.”

Taryn
watched as a huge delivery truck backed its way into the yard with Michael,
having discarded his suit coat, walking beside it. The girls slid off their
floats and waded out of the pool to go meet him. Three men jumped out and began
unloading a huge crate from the back. Taryn raised herself to the pool’s edge.
Michael glanced up from talking to the girls to look her way. It was then she
was glad she picked her bright-red bathing suit with the low back-line and
geometrical circles in all the right places. She picked up her towel and
deposited herself on one of the lounge chairs. Normally, she would have excused
herself inside out of the workers’ way, but she needs them.

For two days now, Michael’s
practically blackballed her, and he deserves to have his patience tried.
Besides, she isn’t finished with her mission of cracking that stone barrier,
yet.

“Momma,”
Remi and Rachel ran to her. “It’s our new swing-set. Can we play on it when
they’re through?”

“Yes,
but first go inside and change. I’ll be in shortly to fix your lunch.”

The
two bolted away. Taryn glanced back at Michael as he stood talking to the crew.
Two of them, much younger than the third who was obviously in charge, kept
casting admiring looks at her while attempting to grasp the instructions being
given. (Perfect) She reached down and picked up her bottle of sunscreen and
began applying it—First, to one extended leg, then to the other. (She didn’t
need any, but it was generating the desired effects) She put the bottle away,
and picked up her sunglasses. Before perching them on her nose, she glanced at
the workmen again. Not only did she have their full attention, but Michael’s as
well—and he was definitely not amused. She nestled into the lounge and closed
her eyes. A few seconds later, a shadow fell over her, causing them to open to
him standing over her.

“Michael,”
she hailed, refusing to be intimidated by the tension cut across his face.
“What a pleasant surprise to see you home—and so early.”

“If
you remember, I told you the men would be here to erect the swing-set today.”

“Yes,
I remember. But, I didn’t know you were going to grace us with your presence,
also. Would you care for lunch? Or won’t you be here that long?”

“What
I would like is for you to go inside the house.”

Her
rebelliousness was strengthened by the shield of those sunglasses. Not only can
she mask her delight at trying his patience, but the strength of his words was
less menacing.

“Whatever
for?”

“So,
the men can get to work.”

“They
won’t bother me. Let them go ahead,” she indicated with a royal sweep of her
hand.

“But,
you’re bothering them. With all you flaunting and stretching they can’t
concentrate on their job.”

“I
wasn’t flaunting,” there was an extra spark to her laughter. “Really, Michael,
you
do
exaggerate.”

“I’m
not kidding, Taryn. I’m asking you to go inside.”

She
snatched off her glasses and challenged his forbidding stare with a defiant one
of her own. “Asking or telling? Either way, the answer is no, Michael, I
won’t.”

He
blew sharply and flung his jacket to the other lounge. “Either you go inside,
or I carry you.”

By
the dark expression on his face, she knew he meant it, too. The idea of being
hauled over his shoulders and carried away like venison restored her common
sense. (But, just because she’s complying, doesn’t mean he’s won)

“Fine,”
she threw her legs over the side of the lounge and stood desirably straight,
her one last naughty act. “I have to go and fix lunch for the girls, anyway.”

“I’ll
get it,” he insisted when she attempted to bend over and retrieve her towel from
the stoned patio.

She
brandished a triumphant smile as she headed for the patio doors, ensuring that
the workmen wouldn’t forget her departure. Michael swooped up the towel and
followed. When he caught up to her, he blanketed it around her and bundled her
off in hurried steps.

“What
the hell are you trying to prove?” he demanded after pulling the door shut behind
them.

She
yanked the towel from around her and crossed her arms. “I don’t know what you
mean.”

“Were
you, or were you not, putting on a show for those men?”

“No,
I wasn’t,” she shifted seductively from one foot to the other. It snared his
attention just as she wanted.

It
took him a full minute to tear his eyes from her hips, her legs. “Are you
saying all that was for my sake, then?”

“You
wish,” she shot back.

He
snapped and reached out for her. She tried to sidestep his grasp, but he seized
her arms and pulled her roughly against him.

“Don’t
play games with me, Taryn,” he stressed. “Not unless you’re willing to play all
the way. And from the way you’ve been acting lately, you’re trying to prove
some point I’m obviously missing.”

He
kept her fastened to him, waiting for her to make the next move. Yes, she wants
him. Like she’s never wanted anything or anyone in her life. But, he’s
surrounded himself with a stone wall where no one can touch the heart Karen
left in pieces; The part of him he’ll never trust to another woman.

“Let
go of me, Michael,” she struggled to pull away.

“What’s
the matter?” he pinned her back against him. “Don’t you find your little game
amusing anymore?”

“What
do you think?”

He
swore before capturing her mouth in an aggressive yet pleasurable kiss, forcing
her lips to part under his will. After a few paralyzing seconds, Taryn was
finally able to wrench away. Their eyes locked, their chests rising and
falling; His edginess now replaced by intense emotion, exciting her.

“Taryn,”
he whispered before embracing her lips more tenderly. His arms slid around her
and pressed her to hm. Her hands felt the rapid beats of his heart as his
tongue coaxed and stimulated. When he swelled against her, strong desire
trembled through her, filling her with an intoxicating need for him to make
love to her. She wound her arms around his neck and arched to him where they
continued to drown in one another.  He drew back just enough to speak. “Taryn,”
he urged breathlessly. “Say that you want me. I’m not asking you to love me;
Just that you want me.”

Of
course she wants him; Her body is aching to make love to him, now. But, in
every way. And yet, he’s only willing to connect physically. She’s just not
ready to settle for that—not yet.

“Taryn,”
he begged, his hands caressing over the soft skin of her bare back as he leaned
in again.

“Momma,”
Remi shrieked from somewhere upstairs. “Momma, make Rachel stop.”

There
was a splintering crash followed by a thud.

Michael’s
entire face clenched before he released her and walked away to the patio doors.
He stood quiet, his hands shoved deep in his pants pocket.

“I’d
better go see what they’ve done,” she managed to say before hurrying away.

The
opportunity to escape couldn’t have come at a more perfect moment. Another
second longer, and she would have showered him with a thousand pleases and yes’.
What a mistake that would have been. She’s not ready to exist as a trade-off
for another woman—deal or no deal. He’s going to have to stretch his patience a
little longer.

After
settling the girls down, she went into her room and sat on her bed to completely
recover. She should feel so victorious right now. After all, she achieved what
she set out to: That of breaking through his cool restraint, and having him at
her mercy. But, all she feels is guilt, and the only thing she proved was how
much she wants to be his wife in every way. Better to end what she now realizes
is a dangerous game with serious consequences.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

“Now,
remember what I told you,” Taryn said to Remi and Rachel early on a Monday
morning as their flight had just been called at the LAX airport.

“I
remember, Momma,” Remi exclaimed proudly.

“So,
do I,” Rachel fiddled with the huge name tag hanging around her neck.

“Your
Aunt Nora will be waiting for you when you get off the plane. Stay put until
she finds you.”