Reflected Pleasures (11 page)

Ty just plain oozed masculine sexuality. In his navy long-sleeved designer shirt and fresh new jeans, he looked good enough to gobble whole. Mmm.

“You've certainly made a world of difference in
the way my nephew looks…and acts,” Jewel said when she saw where Merri's gaze had gone. “I hope my instincts are right about you—that you're really serious about him and not just playacting to get a better job.”

The question nearly doubled Merri over with panic, but she managed to tell Jewel a partial truth. “What I feel for Ty is very serious.”
In fact, I love him more with every breath I take.
“And I don't want or need a better job. I like the one I have.”

“I'm glad,” Jewel said. “I love Tyson and I know he can be too intense sometimes. But since you've been here, those rough edges have smoothed over some. And…”

Jewel hesitated and Merri could see that she was considering how much to say. “Well, for the first time in my memory, the raw look that's always been there in his eyes is gone. That's your doing, honey. And I can't thank you enough for it.”

The pain? Yes, Merri remembered that there was a kind of hidden pain in his eyes when they'd first met.

“If you don't mind answering a too-personal question, what caused that raw look?” she questioned Jewel. “He's told me of the awful breakup with his fiancée in college. But there's something more, isn't there?”

The other woman crossed her arms under her breasts and her expression turned sober. “He's never been willing to talk about it. But I've always guessed it comes from when his parents were killed in that accident when he was five.

“Tyson had never spent any time away from his mother before then. When my sister left him with me,
he cried and cried. She promised him she would be back before dark…”

“But she never made it?” Merri guessed.

Jewel sniffed. “That night and the months that followed were probably the worst of my lifetime, and I know they must've changed Tyson forever. All he kept screaming was, ‘But Mommy promised me. And she
never
tells lies.'”

Jewel's voice hitched but she continued. “From then on, I don't recall ever knowing him to believe someone at face value. Not even that Diane person who hurt him so badly in college. If he'd really thought she was being truthful with him back then, he never would've snuck in and caught her with another man.”

Merri swiped at her face, holding back the unshed tears welling in her eyes. She ached for the little boy—physically hurt—knowing the pain that the man she loved must have endured.

She turned her face, trying to locate him again over Jewel's shoulder. The connection between them had obviously grown magnetic because at that very moment he looked up to find her, too. Their gazes met across the expanse of barnyard, locked together and held steady.

I will never be able to live with myself if I hurt you like that, my love.
Merri decided then that she had to tell him—and soon. She'd been entirely too selfish, letting him believe in her lies.

She vowed to tell him—tell him everything—before they made love again. As hard as it might be for her, it was time to back away before her lies destroyed him. And left
her
with no reason to live.

 

Ty felt Merri's gaze and knew even from this distance what she needed. He wanted her, too. But the
way
he wanted her would have to wait until they could be alone.

Still, the blunt power between them drew him in and made his body throb with arousal. He was sure that in an entire lifetime he would never be able to get enough of her.

“Steele? Where'd you go, bud?” Frank shook his shoulder but donned an easy smile as he said, “As if I couldn't guess.” They were standing near the barn, waiting for other guests to join them.

Ty turned away from the distant sight of the woman he loved long enough to finish the conversation he'd begun with his attorney. “Isn't she something?” But he couldn't quite get his mind off Merri yet. “Just look at how fantastic she looks in that new denim skirt and top. Man…”

“Right,” Frank said with a grin. “Uh. We were discussing the progress, or lack thereof, to our investigation into your magic gypsy in New Orleans.”

Ty tried to focus. “Yeah. I don't understand why you can't get a line on her. Both my cousin Nick and I saw her on the same corner and I described her in great detail. She has to be working at tarot reading or something similar, and I'd bet her place of business would be near that corner.”

Frank sighed. “The P.I. firm I hired has questioned every tarot reader and gypsy they could find in the entire Quarter. Giving them the name ‘Chagari' helped. One of the tarot readers once knew of a woman known
as Passionata Chagari. But nobody had seen her around town in years.”

“Where did she last work? Someone must know where she's working now.”

That brought a smile to Frank's lips. “Gypsies are…well…gypsies. They don't exactly leave forwarding addresses, you know.”

Frustrated, Ty's mind and gaze went back to something much more pleasant. “Can you do me another favor?”

“Sure. Name it.”

“I wanna promote Merri to be Chairman of the Foundation. I think she'd make a terrific public spokesman for the kids, don't you?”

“No question. She's really blossomed since she's been here. And she sure loves those kids. What can I do?”

“Call our publicist in Dallas,” Ty directed. “Get her to send down those reporters she's always bugging me to be nice to. I want to surprise Merri with an announcement right after the mother-daughter modeling show tomorrow.

“She'll be all rigged out then, substituting as a mother for some of the Nuevo Dias Ranch girls,” Ty continued with a grin. “Those news guys should be able to get great shots of her with the kids. It'll make a terrific PR story for the Foundation. Merri will be so pleased.”

“Yeah…once she gets over the shock. I don't believe women like surprises.”

“Just do it. Let
me
worry about Merri's reaction.”

P
romises should never be broken. Especially promises that you've made to yourself, Merri decided.

But here she was two days after she had vowed to tell Ty the truth immediately, and she still couldn't find the way to say what she needed to say.

Every time she came close to telling him the truth, he would kiss her or take her in his arms and make her pulse jump. It was no good. When he was that close she couldn't think, let alone say the words that would send him away.

Sighing, Merri quickly finished dressing for the modeling show, which was to take place in a couple of hours. She slipped on the stiletto heels that were required for the first of her mother-daughter assignments.

She and little Rachel Garza would be dressed in
bright red party frocks as they walked down the runway this afternoon. The rest of her eight outfits would be waiting for her in the ladies dressing room at the garden club's luncheon.

The Nuevo Dias girls were so excited. It would be Merri's pleasure to let them show off in pretty dresses for the first time in their lives. Still, she was beginning to worry about dressing up and walking down the runway in a public place.

Merri checked her image in the full-length mirror and didn't like what she saw. She looked way too much like the Merrill Davis-Ross from her previous life. The life she wished she could banish entirely from her reality.

“You decent in there, darlin'?” Ty's voice coming from her front room surprised her.

“Yes, come in.”

“Too bad. I was hoping you wouldn't be decent just yet.” He opened the bedroom door and slipped inside. “I was wishing for a chance to make you late. You…” As he first spotted her, he paused with his mouth hanging open.

She turned in a tight circle so he could approve the dress. “Is it okay? Don't you like the color on me?”

“I…” He swallowed hard. “Give me a minute to get my heart started again. That may just be the sexiest dress I've ever seen. You sure you wanna wear that out in public?”

A girlish giggle popped out of her mouth and caused her to frown at her own stupidity. This was too complicated. She wanted him to like the way she looked, wanted him to want her. But she didn't want him to like the “old” look of Merrill Davis-Ross at all.

Damned confusing lies.

He cleared his throat and the sound made her lift her chin to check if he was all right. When she really focused on the man for the first time today, her own heart skipped a few beats.

The light gray Armani suit with the white silk shirt and maroon tie simply took her breath away. He was absolutely the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. This business-shark look was even sexier than the fancy tux from the governor's ball had been.
Whoa,
as Ty would say.

“Merri…sweetheart,” Ty murmured as he took a few steps in her direction. “I have a couple of surprises planned for you today. All good—I hope. But now…”

“I'm not much for surprises. What…?”

He gently took her hand and the sensitive expression in his eyes surprised her into speechless wonder. “I was going to save this one for later when we could be alone, but seeing you in that dress made it seem a lot more urgent all of sudden. I feel like I've known you forever, somehow, and I want to nail this down before the show.”

He sounded so ominous she panicked. “Uh…”

“You and I have a special bond, Merri Davis,” he began, oblivious to her tension. “I've never felt this close or trusted anyone as much in my life. We think alike, you and I. You want to do everything for yourself just like I do. You value trust as much as I do. We'll be perfect together.

“Marry me,” he urged. “Be my partner and my wife…the mother of my children.”

She gasped and tried to drag her hand from his, but
couldn't manage to say a word. This was the dream that she was not allowed to have.

He held on to her hand and narrowed his eyes. “I don't like that look in your eyes, darlin'. And I really need to hear what you have to say. Tell me what you're thinking.”

Oh, no. She couldn't stand seeing the hurt expression in his eyes when he discovered she had been lying all this time. And on top of that, she desperately wanted her one last opportunity to help the Nuevo Dias kids at the show this afternoon. Why did he have to ask now?

“Uh, Ty. We've only known each other for a few weeks. This is too soon.”

He dragged her into his arms and kissed her furiously. It was beyond flash and heat. Beyond frantic and passionate. Ty was telling her through their bodies what was in his heart.

At last, he broke the kiss, took her by the shoulders, leaned back and let his needs shine through his eyes. “Tell me
that
is too soon,” he demanded in a hoarse voice. “Tell me you don't feel the connection.”

Her throat was closing. Tears threatened. And she could only manage to shake her head.

“You love me, I know you do,” Ty gasped.

Through watery eyes she saw the tears welling in those deep blues of his too. “I…”

“Say it,” he pleaded. “Say that you love me.”

Past all the lies. Past every vow she had ever made and broken. Merri found that this one time, she could not bear to lie to him again.

“I love you,” she mumbled miserably. “But…”

He crushed his mouth down on hers and moaned
deep within his chest. “That's all we need, sweetheart,” he told her when he finally lifted his head. “You and I are a team. Love will take care of the rest.”

“No.” She pushed out of his arms and took a step back on shaky legs. “You need to know something about me. I have to tell…”

“Hush, darlin'. Whatever it is, it's from your past, and I don't care. All I care about is what's between us now. Nothing else matters.”

He reached out and ran his thumb lightly under her eye to catch a wayward tear. “We can have a serious talk later, if it's so important to you. After the modeling show tonight. Okay?

“Right now, let's just get used to the fact that we love each other.” He took her hand again. “And I do love you, Merri. You've crept into my soul. I want to share my bed and my life with you. I want to wake up every morning and see your familiar face.”

Thank heaven. Damn it. Her relief at the idea of being able to put off the truth made her furious with herself.

Merri had become her mother, after all. No matter that she had fought to escape her fate. Or that she'd tried boldly to change her whole life. She had turned into Arlene Davis-Ross, a spoiled and selfish rich-witch who was greedily grabbing at a few more hours of being someone else. How could she have let this happen?

But it had, and she sighed, nodding her head. “All right. We'll put off our talk until after the show. But then…”

“Ah,” Ty began with a smile. “Then—we'll spend the night in each other's arms, telling every secret in
our hearts. It will be the first night of the rest of our lives.”

The idea was so tempting…so compelling and wonderful that Merri almost lost her cool again. Almost let herself fall under the spell of his love.

What wouldn't she give to have a magic wand right now? If she had a magic wand, she would wave it over herself and become the person he thought she was. Erase the reality of her life and turn into the person that was worthy of his love. The person he saw through the eyes of love.

She sniffed and let him wrap her up in his embrace one last time. Too bad there was no real magic in the world.

 

Passionata Chagari swiped at her cheeks and cursed softly over her crystal ball. Was her father's gift to be wasted after all?

Was this brash young man going to rush headlong into a version of the truth and never discover the real magic? Would he throw away his once-in-a-lifetime chance for happiness?

Her crystal fogged over and the gypsy looked toward the heavens, trying to explain to her ancestor's spirit. “I cannot make him see the light, father. The time and distance is too far for me to interfere this time. I have tried to honor your legacy. I, too, owe a debt to Lucille Steele, and this young Steele
is
worthy of the gift.

“He is so close to his heart's desire. So close…and yet he continues to shun the magic. I can do no more than watch and hope. If he never looks in the mirror to see the truth of his own selfishness, all will be lost.

“If the problem is due to my bungling of the gift-giving, then I am truly sorry Forgive me…”

 

Standing outside the 4-H arena where the luncheon was to be held, Merri felt a stirring of cold wind against her skin and it gave her the chills. But when she looked up, the winds were calm and the heat of the afternoon sun bore down on all the females who were awaiting their turn to walk down the runway. Sweat was beginning to show across several feminine foreheads.

A sudden panic jolted across Merri's skin, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Something was not right.

But when she gazed down into the smiling, happy faces of the girls from the ranch, she struggled to ignore the deepening sense of foreboding. Merri had made sure no photographers were on the guest lists, so it couldn't be the fear of being discovered that worried her.

Perhaps what she was experiencing was guilt about not telling Ty the truth. Her desperation to make time stand still so that tonight would never arrive must be making her paranoid.

“Ms. Davis, you sure look beautiful without your glasses,” little Rachel told her as they waited in line for their turn. “You should be a real model. I bet you could be a big star in Paris or New York.”

Her glasses?
Oh, my gosh. It had been days since she'd even thought about putting on those fake rims.

She'd gotten too comfortable here. The place felt too much like the home she'd never known and always wished for. She had become careless.

Taking a deep breath, she thanked Rachel for the compliment and felt her heart sink. The truth was, she'd simply fallen head-over-heels stupid in love with the place…with the people…with the man who ruled her soul.

Biting back the tears, Merri plastered a smile across her lips as they entered the darkened backstage area. Just a few more hours. She would make the kids happy, raise as much as possible for them this afternoon, and then it would be all over. She would tell Ty the truth and take the consequences.

She would once again be on her own. Alone with her guilt and her unfulfilled love—and more miserable than ever.

 

“You did what?” Frank asked him incredulously.

They were standing out in front of the 4-H arena, getting ready to go back inside and take their seats for the end of the show. They'd been hanging around outside for a few minutes, making sure the reporters had arrived and that everything was ready for the big announcement.

“I asked her to marry me,” Ty answered and felt the goofy grin break across his face.

“But why?”

Ty's lips narrowed into a scowl. “Because we love each other. Why else?”

“You two hardly know each other. What do you really know about Merri's background? You should've let me check her out more thoroughly first. She's worked out fine at the Foundation, but as a wife?”

“Don't push it, pal. I don't care about her background.”

“What if she's really another gold-digger—just better at it than all the rest?”

“Keep that kind of talk to yourself, Frank. I know who she is inside. She can't be like that.”

“All right, fine. But at least let me draw up a prenup agreement for her to sign. Be a little practical here.”

The fury blinded Ty and he nearly grabbed Frank by the throat. “Never say anything like that again,” he growled. “I don't want you to slip and mention such a thing when she's around. She loves me and I trust her. Don't ruin it by making it seem that we need a written contract to be able to trust each other with our future.”

Frank shrugged but knew enough to keep his mouth shut. He had said too much already. Taking his leave from Ty, he hurried over to talk to one of the reporters who had gathered up in front of the main door.

Ty leaned back against the wall and let the sunshine wash over him, soothing his anger and calming him back down. He closed his eyes and took a breath. It wasn't Frank's fault. Not really.

No one knew Merri like Ty did. He had seen into her soul and found the other half of himself.

The acid smell of cigarette smoke disturbed his reverie. He opened his eyes and saw a couple of the professional photographers standing apart from the others and within a few feet of him. They weren't paying a bit of attention to who was nearby and suffering from their smoke.

Too bad he needed them for the publicity photos or else he might just be tempted to tell them what they thought about rude strangers in this part of Texas. Ty clamped his mouth shut.

“You have got to be kidding,” one of the reporters said to the other. “What the crap would someone like her be doing in such a hellhole as this? It's barely civilized here. There isn't even a damned Starbucks in this whole section of Texas.”

“Dude, I've spent hundreds of hours studying her pictures and a thousand more trying to get a lead on where in the world she'd disappeared to,” the other guy argued. “It's her. I'd stake my next big shot on it.”

“Well…well.” The first man took a last drag and pitched the cigarette a few feet away. “I'll be damned. Looks like this gig isn't going to be as boring as I first thought.”

“Yeah. Hell. The sleaze rags will pay in the six figures for a decent shot of her. Maybe we can even get her to give us an interview. Shit. That'd be worth millions.”

“Shut up about it,” the other man said in a stage whisper. “Don't let the other guys figure it out. We have to get to her first.”

Ty was suddenly beyond curious. Who were they discussing? He'd grown up with every single person in this part of Texas. There couldn't be anyone famous here that he didn't know about.