Seducing the Wolf (43 page)

“That’s what I told her,” Tru drawled from the doorway.

Simona looked up at him and smiled demurely. “Good morning.”

“It certainly is.” Tru slowly looked her up and down, then bit his bottom lip. He clearly liked what he saw. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Simona gracefully climbed the steps. “I came to bring you that book we were discussing last night. The one by the Caribbean writer.”

“Well, that was very thoughtful of you.” Tru accepted the book from Simona, staring into her eyes as he let his hand linger on hers. When Simona shivered slightly, Taylor half expected to see little orange flames shooting off their fingers.

Holy hell, but their chemistry was insane.

“I also came to see if you’d like to accompany me to church,” Simona continued.

Tru’s eyes glinted with challenge. “You trying to save my soul, angel?”

Her lips curved. “Does it need saving?”

“Doesn’t everyone’s?”

She gave a low, throaty laugh.

“Tell you what,” Tru drawled, leaning against the doorjamb. “If you come inside and let me cook you breakfast, I’ll let you try to talk me into going to church.”

“Breakfast, huh?” Simona smiled, biting her lip. “I suppose I can attend a later service.”

“That’s the spirit.” Tru grinned, opening the door wider.

Simona paused to peel off her fitted jacket, revealing lush cleavage exposed by a black silk camisole. “It’s a bit too warm already,” she murmured.

“And it’s only gonna get hotter.” At her arched brow, Tru smiled innocently. “It’s July.”

“Uh-huh.”

He ushered Simona inside, his big hand at the small of her back. He winked at Taylor and Hayden. “Have fun at breakfast.”

Hayden smirked. “It won’t be as much fun as
you’re
obviously gonna have.”

But Tru had already shut the door.

As Taylor and Hayden walked to the Porsche and climbed inside, Hayden said sourly, “I think we can safely assume
those
two won’t be stepping foot inside any sanctuaries today.”

Taylor laughed. “As long as they’re done by the time I get back. I’m still blushing from all that foreplay we just witnessed.”

Hayden snorted. “No kidding. Another minute and they would have been fucking right there on the doorstep.”

“
Nooo
,” Taylor groaned, covering her eyes. “Please don’t give me any visuals. I’ve been traumatized enough.”

Hayden laughed. “Sorry, Taylor, but your brother’s hot as hell. When he answered the door, I almost swallowed my damn tongue. That sexy overnight shadow, those ripped biceps, the way his butt looked in those pants—so round and yummy.
Jesus
,” she breathed, fanning herself. “I totally wouldn’t blame Simona for skipping church and letting Tru lay hands on her instead. And I’d be lying my ass off if I said I’m not green with envy right now.”

Taylor eyed her sympathetically. “I didn’t realize how serious things were until I saw you interacting with him.”

Hayden made a pained face. “Was it that bad?”

“Afraid so. You were approaching major Ditzville territory.”

Hayden groaned, slapping her forehead. “I knew I was making a complete fool of myself. But I just couldn’t shut up. The more disinterested he seemed, the more I heard myself rambling.”

“It’s okay,” Taylor consoled, patting her shoulder. “Tru knows you’re not an airhead…for the most part. Just kidding,” she added laughingly when Hayden groaned again.

Shaking her head, Hayden started the car, but didn’t move from the curb. “I wonder if your mother knows about them.”

Taylor grinned wryly. “If she saw them at the party last night, I’m sure she put two and two together.”

“Do you think she’d mind her son dating her senior legislative assistant?”

“Why would she mind? Tru and Simona are both grown. Not only that, but Mom thinks the world of Simona. She has a law degree, she’s multilingual, she owns a home. She’s intelligent, driven, well traveled and—”

“—has a nice ass.”

Taylor laughed. “Well, yeah, she does. But I don’t think my mother cares too much about
that
.”

“Tru does. He’s totally an ass man.” Hayden sighed forlornly. “You know, I’ve been thinking about getting those silicone butt injections.”

“
What?
” Taylor exclaimed in surprise. “Are you
serious
?”

“I am.”

“Do you know how risky those procedures are?”

Hayden shrugged. “A friend of mine got them, and now she can’t beat black guys off with a stick.”

“Oh, dear,” Taylor lamented, shaking her head. “There are so many things wrong with that statement. First of all, any woman who goes to such lengths for male attention needs to have her head examined. Seriously. Second, everyone knows that white girls don’t need a ‘fat ass’ to attract certain black men—the color of your skin is enough to bring them running. Third, you’re a smart, beautiful, accomplished woman who has her own hit show. There’s no reason on earth you should ever feel compelled to pump your rump full of silicone just to get a man.”

“Easy for
you
to say,” Hayden grumbled, pulling away from the curb. “You
have
a fat ass.”

Taylor snorted. “Even if I didn’t, there’s no way in hell I would endanger my health by getting butt injections. Any black guy—hell,
any
guy—who measures a woman’s worth by the size of her ass isn’t worth the shit that
comes
out of her ass.”

Hayden choked out a laugh. “
Taylor!
”

“Just sayin’.” She paused a moment, her tone gentling. “As for you trying to enhance your shape to get my brother’s attention, I think you’d be setting yourself up for disappointment. Tru isn’t one of those shallow guys who’s hung up on appearances. Yes, he appreciates a nice body, but not having one isn’t a deal breaker for him. If he’s interested in you, he’s going to pursue you—small ass or not. Yes, Simona happens to have an amazing figure, but she has way more to offer than that. It’s obvious that she and Tru have connected on a level that goes much deeper than physical attraction.” Taylor paused, lips twitching. “Although they’re
definitely
hot for each other.”

Hayden scowled. “Is this your idea of a pep talk?”

Taylor chuckled ruefully. “All I’m saying is that Tru doesn’t play games, and he’s never been shy about going after what he wants. After you told me how you felt about him, I considered mentioning your name to him. You know, to test the waters. But after seeing him and Simona together this morning…”

“I know,” Hayden mumbled despondently. “It’s not looking too good for me. I’ve known you and Tru for over fourteen years. If he were into me, he would have made his move by now.”

Taylor grimaced. “More than likely.”

Hayden heaved a deep, wistful sigh. Slowing to a red light, she pursed her lips and drummed her manicured nails against the steering wheel. “So no go on the butt injections?”

Taylor sputtered in exasperation. “Hayden Mallory Vaughn, if I turn on the TV one day and see you with some freakishly ginormous donkey booty, I’m hopping on the first plane to come—”

Hayden grinned. “Kick my ass?”

“
Yes!
”

The two women looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

30

W
hen Taylor reached the airport that evening, Manning was waiting for her in the bustling arrivals hall. The moment their eyes locked, her heart surged into her throat and her stomach fluttered with excitement.

As he began striding toward her, she quickened her steps, hurrying to meet him. When they reached each other, his arms went around her with stunning force, enveloping her in a fierce embrace that brought tears to her eyes.

“You came back,” he whispered against her temple.

The words, spoken with such relief and gratitude, betrayed a vulnerability that melted Taylor’s heart. She smiled softly, her cheek pressed against his broad chest as she whispered, “I came back.”

He hugged her tighter as other travelers walked past staring at them.

“Isn’t that one of the Wolf boys?” one woman speculated excitedly. “Manning, right?”

“It sure is,” her male companion confirmed. “I knew he was tall—they all are—but, damn, he looks like a freakin’ NBA player.”

“A smokin’ hot one. What a lucky girl, whoever she is.”

Seemingly oblivious to the strangers’ comments, Manning drew back and cradled Taylor’s face in his hand, his eyes probing hers intently.

She knew what he was silently asking her. “It’s over,” she said softly. “I ended the relationship.”

He gazed down at her, his thumb stroking the curve of her cheek. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “It had to be done.”

Manning regarded her a moment longer, then leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. They smiled at each other, then he grabbed the handle of her carry-on suitcase and wrapped his other arm around her waist. “Let’s get outta here.”

Once they were on the road, he captured her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “So how did the conversation go?” he asked, deceptively casual.

Taylor grimaced. “Not well,” she admitted.

“What happened?”

She hesitated for a long moment. “He proposed.”

Manning sent her a sharp look. “He asked you to marry him?”

She nodded slowly. “At the dinner party. I was shocked.”

Manning frowned. “Why were you shocked? You dated him for three years. Why wouldn’t he want to marry you?”

“We’d never discussed marriage before. He knew I wasn’t ready.” Her mouth curved into a cynical smile. “Neither was he, apparently.”

“What do you mean?”

Taylor sighed, shaking her head. She was more than ready to put Aidan in her rearview mirror. “I found out he was cheating on me.”

Manning’s hand tightened on the steering wheel. “That son of a bitch.”

“He is,” Taylor agreed ruefully. “But I came to Atlanta secretly hoping to find my long-lost love. A long-lost love Aidan knew nothing about. So when it comes to what went wrong in our relationship, there’s plenty of blame to go around.”

Manning gave her a long look, his jaw clenched tight. “He never deserved you,” he said darkly.

Taylor didn’t argue.

Manning lived just north of Atlanta in Sandy Springs, an affluent city that boasted miles of scenic shoreline along the Chattahoochee River.

Taylor stared out the window as they headed down a densely forested road, passing several mansions before Manning turned onto a private lane that led to an imposing automated gate partially obscured by tall shade trees. He touched a button on the steering wheel to open the gate, and then they were heading down another long drive that gradually inclined uphill.

As the road meandered through several lushly wooded acres, Taylor sang softly, “
Over the river and through the woods
…”

Manning chuckled. “You got jokes?”

She giggled. “I’m only teasing you. It’s gorgeous out here, Manning. Very picturesque.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Oh, I do. Most defin—” She broke off with an audible intake of breath as his house suddenly came into view.

If houses could be works of art, this one would be a Michelangelo—in a class by itself. It was stunning, an architectural masterpiece made almost entirely of glass that looked translucent from the outside. It had three and a half levels with a porte-cochère that connected the large home to a detached garage.

“Wow,” Taylor marveled, leaning forward in her seat. “You live in a glass house.”

Manning chuckled softly. “Not quite.”

“Close enough.”

The house’s design was sleek and ultramodern. It wasn’t some boxy monstrosity that would be featured on a television show about extreme homes. It wasn’t hard angles and sharp edges, and it didn’t seem remotely out of place nestled among the natural woodsy surroundings.

As they drew closer to the house, Taylor touched Manning’s arm. “Wait. I want to look at it a little longer before you pull into the garage.”

He chuckled again. “I’ll just park in the driveway so we can go through the front door.”

Taylor nodded, admiring the house’s sumptuous architecture. “This is absolutely breathtaking.”

Manning smiled. “Audra would be pleased to hear that.”

“Audra?”

“My architect.”

“Ah.” Taylor nodded sagely. “So your house was designed by a woman. No wonder.”

“No wonder what?”

“Well, other glass houses I’ve seen have either been very odd shaped, or shaped like shoe boxes. And they often look cold and monochromatic, flat and one-dimensional. But your house manages to be both cutting edge and welcoming. It was designed with subtle, softer curves that a female architect would instinctively understand the need for.”

Manning nodded slowly as he appraised the house. “That’s an interesting observation. I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” Taylor grinned at him. “So tell me a little more about your talented architect. I love hearing about kickass women in male-dominated professions.”