“It wasn’t your fault,” I said.
“Actually, the dog was new. Dad also hated dogs so I thought if I bought him one for his birthday, he wouldn’t have any choice but let me keep one.”
“And that was Brutus?”
“That was Brutus.”
“I figured I’d screwed up so badly with that party, I could only go up from there.”
“Well, you didn’t screw up tonight,” I said, feeling warm and fuzzy all over.
“I’m glad you think so, Abby.”
“I...I do.”
My face felt pleasantly hot and I wouldn’t have balked if he leaned over and kissed me right then. I was feeling pleasantly toasty. Perhaps too toasty, because all I could think about was kissing those luscious lips in front of me. Chase was a fabulous kisser. He had the most delectable mouth. When he slid a finger across his bottom lip, I almost jumped into his lap. Almost.
Warning, warning, warning. No more booze for you, sister.
“Funny how things change,” I said.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Now you don’t have to impress anyone.”
“Not even you?” He ran the back of his hand down my cheek, looking so handsome and loving I wondered for the umpteenth time why I’d give up such a man.
“I...I have a better one,” I said, turning. “I dropped a cake on my grandmother’s head once.”
“Oh wow.”
“While I was smoking a cigar. I was twenty-one and thought I was hot shit because I’d just become legal. My biggest mistake was laughing so hard I peed my pants. Granny didn’t have much of a sense of humor.”
“Did your grandmother forgive you?”
“She cut me from her will and threw me out.”
“Oh yes. You lived with her as a teenager. I remember.”
“Yup. That’s how I ended up here.”
“You never told me that story.”
“You never asked.” I cocked my head, trying to recall how everything dissolved between us. Tonight everything came so easily. So right.
He kissed my hand and chuckled. “I would have liked to be there to see you smoking a cigar.”
“You may not believe this but, I was a bit of a bad girl once.”
“Oh I believe it all right. It’s one of your many wonderful traits.” He stared at me for a long time. I was the first to look away.
I scanned the room and saw we were alone. After the cake, a lot of people just skedaddled. Pretty quickly too. Like they wanted to give us this time with each other. Was that my imagination or were they just getting home to get a jump on their weekend?
“I’m glad you came tonight,” Chase said in a voice like smooth whiskey.
“Me too.”
He was still holding my hand, but now his thumb was rubbing the top of it. It was as if I’d never told him about Steve. Even so, it felt right being here with him and when he pulled me into his lap, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
We sat like that for several minutes, simply looking into each other’s eyes. Each of us searching for an answer to our dilemma. I was seeing someone else and he was...
Who knows what was on Mr. Remington’s mind.
Did he want to keep me on the side maybe for quickies? Nooners they called them. Chase was CEO. He could do whatever he wanted. We could have sex now and again when each of us had a break.
The music changed, and Chase held his hand out to me and I took it. He twirled me around the dance floor to the tune of Black Magic Woman and I laughed when we both pretended to know the words. “I bet your voice is lovely when you’re not half smashed,” I said. “And, you really should learn some of the lyrics.”
He gave me a panty melting smile. “Yeah. I’ll make a note of that.”
By this time we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. When the music turned to a waltz he held me so tight, I felt the erection in his pants.
Oh no, you don’t. You are not sleeping with two men in the same week.
I pulled out of his arms. “I...I...should probably go,” I stuttered.
“Go? Are you sure you want to?”
When I took too long to answer, he pulled me into his arms, showing me why I wanted to stay—with him—covering me in kisses. “Stay with me the night,” he whispered in my ear. “I know you’re with someone, but he doesn’t have to know. No one, has to know.”
“I...I don’t know,” I said, stumbling over my tongue but enjoying the flutter of his heart against my cheek.
“You shouldn’t be alone on your birthday, especially if you get sick. Let me take care of you.”
“But what if...?”
“You mean, him? Seems to me he’s not much of a boyfriend, if he didn’t call you on your birthday.”
I could not admit that I’d never told Steve it was my birthday.
“You can stay in the guest room if...if you want. And I’ll be right down the hall if you need me. Anyway, it’s your call. We both know you can’t drive.”
“Can’t drive,” I muttered, feeling my eyes close slowly. His heart was like a drum beat.
“I suppose I could have someone drive you but...Abby? Abby, you awake?”
“Yup.” I felt if he let me go, I’d defiantly fall over. Realizing this fact, he scooped me up in his arms.
“Then it’s settled. Time for sleep Cinder...”
That was all I heard until the next morning.
Chapter Thirteen
Abby
I sank down into the gloriousness that was my steamy, hot bath water, and thought about the last few dates I’d had with Steve. They had been nothing like with Chase, except that once. The first time I’d felt the dominating side of Steve. The side that wanted to control me. To bend me to his will, to make me grovel and beg, make me his. I wanted that and more. I wanted to feel the burn when he slapped my breasts. I wanted him to jerk my knees apart, to rip off my clothes with his teeth. To fuck me until I was sore. I wanted the never-ending assault on my nerve endings. The next three times we’d been together had been different. Gentle and light. Not exactly what I’d call flames bursting in mid air.
Chase had indeed been a better lover. Having money and good looks definitely did something to a man’s ego. A man knew when he had the upper hand and he used it to his advantage. Not just in business, but also in the bedroom.
After mulling this over for much longer then necessary and then finishing with a waterproof vibrator, I exited the tub, feeling refreshed from a long week at work, but only slightly satisfied.
Wrapping myself in a thick, fluffy pink robe, I tied it with the belt, and threw open the door.
“Oh! You scared me. Why didn’t you knock?” I asked Charlotte.
“Hey, you told me to come over at seven. It’s seven.”
“Oh. So it is. You bring the movie?”
She lifted Fried Green Tomatoes for me to see.
“Good. Just let me get dressed and I’ll be right down.”
“Okay. I’ll get the popcorn going and....” Her eyes settled on the vibrator on the floor. “I thought you were still seeing Steve. Something wrong in paradise?”
“No.”
“Because me thinks Cinderella has a prince to take care of the princess’s ...ahem...needs.”
“I’m not talking about it.”
“Yes, you are,” Charlotte said with a nudge.
“That’s what you think.”
“We’ll just see about that.”
To Charlotte’s credit, she waited until the end of the movie, two bowls of popcorn, and a bottle of Cabernet sauvignon before she started pestering me for details of my sex life.
“So what do you want to do?”
“WHAT CAN I DO? HE’S sweet and kind. I still don’t know his name and I should by now. Right?”
“Right.”
“Maybe I should break up with him.”
“Huh. You really want to do that?”
I laughed. “Not really. The sex will fix itself, right?”
“U
h-huh. You know what to do. Just do it and tell him what you want. No demand what you want, girl.”
“Yeah.” I took another drink of my wine and settled my arms over the back of the couch. “I think I’m in love with him, Charlotte.”
Her cheeks dimpled and the corner of her eyes shot up. “For real?”
“Uh-huh.” I slammed my feet back down on the carpet, leaning forward on my knees. “How is that possible, Char? I mean, really. How is that even fucking possible? I’m still not over Chase! I couldn’t possibly love another man this fast and this soon. Can I?”
The smile widened.
“Why are you so happy about this? You don’t even know the guy. No, wait. You do. You’re the one who bailed on me for the party and set me up with him. Who is he, Charlotte? No, wait! I want him to tell me. Not you.”
“All right.” The smug look on her face was nothing short of a maniac who just got away with the perfect crime.
“Why did you do that, anyway? I thought you liked Chase. When I told you I was filing for divorce you practically begged me to reconsider.”
“I do. I did, but that doesn’t mean...”
“That you’ve changed your mind?”
“Now, I did not say that.”
But you set me up with someone else.”
“So.”
“So why would you do that if you were hell bent on seeing me back with my Ex?”
She was shaking her head. “Because you’re stubborn! Okay? You’re the most stubborn woman on the face of the planet and I couldn’t take it anymore. You needed help and to figure out what you wanted.”
I scoffed. “All this did was make me more confused, Charlotte.”
“And for that I am sorry. Truly I am, Abby.”
“You know what’s really messed up? When I’m on a date with Steve, I’m thinking of Chase and when I’m with Chase, I’m thinking of Steve.”
“That’s...odd.”
“Odd? I’ll say. Why are you looking at me like that?”
Her eyes grew big and then she dropped her gaze. “Like what?”
“Doesn’t matter. I think I’m in love with both of them, but that’s not possible, is it? Don’t answer that.”
I picked up the bottle, stared into the empty hole and tipped it upside down. Two red drops fell onto the glass tabletop.“We need more wine,” I said.
“Um, no. You’ve had enough. Time to put you to bed, Cinderella.”
“How did you...? Oh, God, my head.”
Chapter Fourteen
Chase
Tonight was the night I would kill off Steve.
It had taken everything in me not to reveal my true self to Abby at the party, even more not to climb in bed with her when she was only two doors down.
Now, all bets were off and I was ready to show her the real me. I’d held back because...well, I don’t even know why I’d held back. Fear, I suppose, and listening to a certain idiot I called my wing-man. Oh, and there was that tiny problem of we were actually divorced and might just hate me after I’d taken advantage of her in drunken state
What I didn’t understand is why she’d been so patient with the mystery man. Abby wasn’t a shy, virgin flower and she craved that dominance. I’d learned something too though. She also craved romance. She wanted to feel like she came first in my life. I got that now. First in the bedroom but more importantly, first in life. Before my business. Before my needs. Before everything.
I’d strung lights around the room, placed mistletoe where mistletoe belonged, and the rest had been magic. The thing about extravagant rooms were there was little to be done. A few candles. Some low lighting and poof. Romance galore.
I reached into my black velvet bag, took out a few blindfolds, nipple clamps, leather straps, ropes, and anything else to roughen up our love play. Would she go for this and not see through my little disguise? I hoped so. Up until now, I seemed to have done a good job of keeping myself hidden. All of me. I’d changed how I’d kissed her, covered my voice, tried to talk about different things, but this... This was all Chase Remington. And more.
I hoped it would work. I prayed it would work.
I was sick of playing this twisted game of ours, but in the off chance she never wanted to speak to me again, I wanted her to know what she would be missing. Sexually. And sex was pretty damn important to Abby. Or at least it had been when we were together.
I didn’t plan on revealing my true identity until I’d had her thoroughly fucked. Not just fucked, but covered in hot, dirty sweat. Seduced. Cherished. And then exhausted as a dishrag. Then I’d rub warm oils all over her used spent body. I wanted her screaming my name. Okay, maybe not my name. I wanted to torture her sweet, clit. Give her an amazing orgasm, and, if we were both lucky as hell, she’d forget her own damn name.
I’d almost shaved my beard off by mistake. I’d started growing it the day after Abby’s birthday party because I remembered how she loved it when we’d first met. It might be a little thing, but I was showing her I was listening. How could she believe I was having an affair? Besides, Cynthia moved to Greece, having met an older wealthy client of mine, but Abby still wouldn’t talk to me. That’s how I knew it wasn’t the real reason for our divorce. Why hadn’t I acted on that?
From now on, I was pulling out the big guns for this woman.
All of them.
It was Christmas Eve. How could anything bad go wrong on Christmas Eve, right?
I pushed the buttons on my cell, disguising my voice with this contraption I found on the internet. When she answered the phone, I swallowed hard, almost losing my nerve. “Um, Abby?”
“Steve?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my God. You’re talking to me. What’s wrong with your voice though?”
“I am. I hope you don’t mind.”
“To tell you the truth. It was getting kind of old.”
“My um...” I gave a fake cough. “Sore throat is getting better although I don’t know how long this is going to last.”
“I’m so happy to hear your voice...Steve.”
She sounded strange, like she wasn’t really surprised.
“I’m excited about our date. You said eleven, right? And you’re still going to take off the mask at midnight. Is that correct? Please tell me you didn’t change your mind or anything.”
“I didn’t change my mind.”
“Okay, good. You didn’t tell me where to meet you.”
“Right. That’s why I’m calling. Ever heard of the Vogt Mansion?”
“Seriously? You rented that? On Christmas Eve? Just for the two of us.”
“Um, yeah.”
“That must cost a fortune! I guess I don’t know a lot about you after all.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No. I guess not.” She didn’t sound sincere, and I wondered why the hell it would be a problem that I had money. It never hindered our relationship when we were together.
“You still there?” I asked.
“Yeah. Just thinking about something.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“Not right now, if that’s okay.”
“Sure.
“I’ll have a car pick you up and one more thing,” I said.
“I know. I know. Wear something sexy.”
“You read my mind, Cinderella.”
Chapter Fifteen
Abby
I GOT OFF THE PHONE with Steve, stared into the mirror of my vanity for several minutes, and tried to decide if I was crazy or just plain dumb.
Something was off about this date. For one, why was he suddenly speaking, and why had he chosen to do it over the phone? Also, I knew Steve had money but I didn’t know Steve had money! Only one man I knew could afford to rent the entire Vogt mansion. And on Christmas Eve! Only one man came to mind, but as soon as I had that thought, I dismissed it as ridiculous. Why in the world would a man like Chase Remington want to pretend he was someone else?
I settled on the, my bei
ng crazy idea, and started rustling through my closet for something to wear. Maybe I was over-thinking. This was exactly what I wanted, right? What woman wouldn’t want an evening alone with a sexy mystery man in the most beautiful home in the city? Besides, tonight was exactly what I’d been hoping for. Tonight was Steve’s unveiling.
I had been anticipating his call all day. I usually left my phone on the base when I was home, but not today. I’d had it with me everywhere, even in the bathroom, because I knew Steve would be calling with the details of our final mystery date. I couldn’t wait to see what he looked like.
Steve told me he’d take off his mask right at midnight. Well, I had my own game plan as well. I was going to knock him dead.
“Yup. You’ll do,” I said, choosing the only thing appropriate for the wildest date of my life. Steve did not know what he was in for, and if he thought I was still meek little Cinderella, he had better think again.
The doorbell rang one-and-a-half hour later. I peered out the window of my bedroom on the second floor. It was the chauffeur from the Christmas party, or so I assumed from this height, driving a long white limousine to take me to the mansion.
After donning my floor length, velvet cape, I grabbed my Gucci clutch and headed out the door. To my surprise, the limo was empty, save for the driver who sat in the front seat. Where the hell was Steve?
“Maam,” said the driver, opening the door.
“Oh well,” I said and stepped inside.
A half hour later, we pulled up to the curb outside the Queen Anne styled mansion with its hipped, slated roof, gabled with round dormer and latticework pavilion. I’d always loved this house. In fact, if Chase and I hadn’t eloped so quickly, I would have loved to have our wedding here, but like everything else in our marriage, it was always stolen moments and settling for the next best thing. Things just never seemed to line up quite right. Money certainly came with enough padlocks.
When the doorman opened the door to the mansion and I peered inside, I almost raced back to the car. “Definitely underdressed,” I murmured, thinking no one, least of all a doorman, had heard me.
The Christmas Secret Page 7