Designed by Desire

by Pamela Yaye

  “Did you see that?” Her smile was so bright it could outshine the Rockefeller Christmas tree, and her enthusiasm was contagious. “Amazing, huh?”

  “Sorry, I missed it. What happened?”

  “How could you miss that? Khari Grant dunked over a seven-footer and made it look easy!”

  “I’m not surprised. The kid’s got mad skills, and he’s completely fearless out on the court.” Collin rested a hand on the small of her back. “Are you enjoying the game?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” Laughing, she sat back down and crossed her legs. “This is awesome. I’ve never been courtside before and this close to Spike Lee!”

  “Spike and his wife are the coolest people you’ll ever meet,” Collin said smoothly. “At half-time I’ll introduce you to them. I have a feeling you guys will have a lot in common.”

  “Did you come here to socialize or to cheer on the home team?” she asked, her tone filled with humor.

  “Neither.”

  “I thought you were a New York fan.”

  “No,” he corrected, concealing a smile. “I’m a Brianna Hamilton fan, and watching you is far more fascinating than watching any pre-season basketball game.”

  “Collin, quit teasing me. You’re making me blush.”

  Shrieks, laughter and applause swept through the arena like wildfire. Collin glanced up at the JumboTron to see what had incited the crowd and chuckled a hearty laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Brianna looked up, saw their image on the kissing cam and felt her body flush from head to toe. The crowd was chanting the word “kiss” and she could hear the businessmen sitting behind her hollering like drunken fools. Brianna couldn’t think of anything more embarrassing than being heckled by nineteen thousand people and fought the urge to bolt from her seat.

  “Let’s give the people what they want.” Leaning in, Collin kissed her ever so softly on her lips. The kiss lasted all of five seconds, but his mouth was so warm, and tasted so ridiculously sweet, Brianna wished they could kiss forever. Or at least long enough to quench her body’s fire. His touch caused shivers to warm every inch of her flesh. Holding her chin in his hand, he nuzzled his nose against her cheek and flashed a playful smile. “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  No, it was wonderful. You’re wonderful and I could never, ever get enough of you.

  “I’m sorry, please excuse me.”

  Brianna blinked and reluctantly tore her gaze away from Collin’s face.

  A heavyset woman, carrying a curly-haired toddler in one arm, apologized profusely as she ambled past their seat.

  “Cute kid. Makes you want to have a family of your own someday, huh?”

  Brianna froze. Every muscle in her body tensed, and her lips were so painfully dry she couldn’t pry them apart to speak. “No, not really. Kids aren’t really my thing.”

  The lie rolled so smoothly off her lips, and her tone was so strong and convincing, Brianna almost believed the words were true. They weren’t, of course, but she couldn’t tell Collin the truth. If she did, he’d bombard her with personal questions and Brianna didn’t want to talk about the bitter demise of her marriage or the night her life had changed forever. “I’m happily wedded to my career, and I don’t think that will ever change.”

  Brianna could see the unspoken question in his eyes, the lines of confusion wrinkling his brow, and knew if she didn’t change the subject quick he’d be all over her. “What about you? Are you ready to fill your bachelor pad with some cute little rug rats of your own?”

  “Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. “My condo has four huge bedrooms, and I’d love to fill them with kids one day.”

  Brianna knew she was gaping at him, but couldn’t help it. That was the last thing she expected Collin to say, but there was no doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. He wasn’t feeding her a line, wasn’t saying what he thought she wanted to hear. There was no faking that level of sincerity. “Most guys your age want to play the field, not change diapers and do late-night feedings.”

  “When I was growing up, my parents were never around. It was just me and my brother, stuck in a big fancy house with no one to keep us company but each other, and I always longed to have a loving family.”

  He spoke in a solemn tone, and the somber expression on his face wrung Brianna’s heart. Without thinking, she reached out and touched his hand.

  “I used to be envious of my best friend, Ricardo, because he had five sisters, and when his mother converted the den into a bedroom for me I was the happiest kid in New York.” Chuckling, he shook his head at the memory of his teenage years. “I was at his place so much everyone in his building knew me by name!”

  “Your best friend must have had very pretty sisters,” she teased, hoping to make him laugh again. Brianna loved how his face brightened when he cracked up. “I bet they all had a crush on you.”

  “None of them were as beautiful or as captivating as you.”

  “With smooth, oh-so-charming lines like that, I find it hard to believe women aren’t beating down your condo door.”

  “When it comes to dating, I have the worst luck. Most of the women I meet are more interested in my net worth than getting to know me as a person.”

  “You’re not the only one who’s had the misfortune of meeting gold diggers, Collin. Since my divorce, I’ve met my fair share of guys looking for a sugar momma, and I’m so tired of all the lies and games men play I’ve given up on the dating scene altogether.” Brianna sighed. “I had no idea dating could be so stressful. How do you know when you’ve met someone who’s real and trustworthy?”

  Collin stared deep into her eyes. “There’s no science to it, Brianna. You just know.”

  The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the first half. “What’s your relationship like with your ex-husband?”

  “Decent, I guess. He’s an attorney, so we move in the same social circles, but we don’t talk regularly.” Brianna raised her soda can and sipped through her straw. “What about you? Do you and your ex-wife speak?”

  “Not if I can help it. We had a bitter divorce that dragged on in court for months, and she gave so many damning interviews about me I grew to hate her.”

  Taken aback by the harshness of Collin’s tone and the deadly fire blazing in the depths of his brown eyes, Brianna swallowed hard. His demeanor changed from playful to furious right before her eyes. “I know firsthand how stressful and painful divorce can be, but hate is a strong word, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, it is, but I can’t change the way I feel.”

  “How can you hate someone you used to love? What did she do that was so bad?”

  “You mean besides scaring me half to death?” His pupils dilated, and his lips thinned into a scowl. “I returned home from a business trip and she was gone. I tried her cell phone for hours and even reached out to her family and friends, but no one knew where she was. Just when I was about to file a missing-person report with the local police, Althea called from a suite at the St. Regis.”

  Collin paused, and Brianna didn’t know if it was because the crowd was doing “the wave” during the half-time show, or because he needed a moment to gather his thoughts. He looked broken, like a man who’d lost everything. Squeezing his hand, she hoped the simple gesture communicated how much she cared.

  “I couldn’t believe she could do something so cruel.” His voice cracked with emotion.

  To hear Collin above the raucous music of the dancers, Brianna leaned in close, close enough to see the pain in his eyes. “What did your ex-wife say when she called?”

  “That she wanted a divorce and what was rightfully hers.”

  “Had you guys been having problems prior to the night she left?”

  “Althea comes from a wealthy, well-known family and wanted us to be the most pow
erful ‘it’ couple in New York. I didn’t. It was a bone of contention between us, and she resented me for not wanting to skyrocket up the popularity ladder.”

  Puzzled, Brianna shook her head, trying to make sense of what he’d just said. “I don’t understand. You obviously enjoy the nightlife, so why did you have a problem accompanying your ex-wife to various high-profile functions.”

  “What makes you think I enjoy the nightlife?”

  Brianna frowned. “Don’t you?”

  “I’m not a recluse by any means, but if I had to choose between going to a movie premiere and staying in, I’d definitely kick it at home.”

  “That surprises me. You’re so outgoing and charming and full of energy.”

  “I have to be. I’m part owner of a multimillion dollar international corporation, and networking is a huge part of my job.”

  Nodding in understanding, Brianna thought about all the times she’d been forced to attend one function or the other just to please her parents. It’s not all bad, she decided, hiding a smile. If my mom hadn’t forced me to attend Fashion Week, I never would have met Collin.

  “I value my privacy and wanted to live a quiet, drama-free life, but Althea wasn’t happy unless her name and picture were splashed across the society pages.”

  “Is that why she left? Because you guys were incompatible?”

  “No, Althea left because she was tired of me pressuring her to start a family.” Collin added, “Her words, not mine.”

  “She didn’t want kids?”

  “Althea said starting a family would interfere with her busy social calendar.” Eyes narrowed, he released a dry, mirthless laugh. “This is the craziest part, though—within weeks of leaving me, she took up with a wealthy oil tycoon and got knocked up.”

  “That must have hurt,” Brianna said.

  “Like a bitch,” he rasped. “She gave birth to twin boys this past summer, and to stick it to me, she put the birth announcement in the Post and the Daily News.”

  Leaning forward in his chair, he rested his forearms on his lap and heaved a deep sigh. “For a long time I was angry and wanted revenge, but these days I’m too busy to give her much thought.”

  “How’s your brother?” Brianna asked, curious about the state of their relationship. In Paris, Collin had expressed his frustration with his older brother and Brianna wondered if they’d worked their differences out. “Have you spoken to him recently?”

  “No, he’s dealing with some pretty heavy stuff right now, and I don’t want to add to his stress.” Hearing his cell phone buzz, he took it out of his pocket, hoping that his newest text message was from Cameron. It wasn’t. It was from Evangeline, and when Collin read her message his cell phone slipped from his grasp and dropped in his lap.

  Scooping up his cell phone, he read the message again.

  I’m staying at the Plaza. Be at my suite in an hour or I’m canceling the Friday photo shoot.

  Annoyed and confused, Collin swallowed a groan. Why is Evangeline in New York three days early? And why the hell does she want me to come to her hotel suite?

  A thought popped into his head, but he banished it to the furthest corner of his mind. He wasn’t going to Evangeline’s suite. To keep the peace, and their business deal intact, he’d meet her at the hotel bar for drinks. He had no choice. It was too late in the game to replace her, and with Cameron missing in action, it was up to him to save the photo shoot. And that sucks, he thought miserably. I had big plans for Brianna and me after the game.

  “Is everything okay? You look like your dog just died.”

  Collin wore an apologetic smile. “Can I get a rain check on that nightcap? Something just came up that I have to attend to immediately.”

  “Most definitely. Go attend to your business. I’ll just take a cab home after the game.”

  “No way. I brought you here and I’m taking you home.”

  “But you have to leave, and I want to watch the fourth quarter.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do,” he said smoothly. “Work can wait.”

  Lowering his face to hers, a boyish grin on his face, he drew a finger slowly down her cheek. Having Collin that close made her head spin. And when Collin kissed her, she sank against his chest and coiled her arms around his neck. It was a bold move, one Brianna knew would garner headlines, but she didn’t care because Collin Childs was the sexiest, most romantic man she’d ever met and there was nowhere else she’d rather be than in his arms.

  And she didn’t care who knew it.

  Chapter 15

  Long stretches of powder-soft sand and turquoise-blue water surrounded the tiny island of St. Thomas, but it was the stunning harbor that stole Brianna’s breath. The sky was a striking blend of rich, pastel colors, and cruise ships anchored at the dock looked stately, majestic. Leafy palm trees and exotic flowers dotted the landscape and their sweet, heady fragrance carried a powerful scent.

  Leaning back in the passenger seat of the shiny, red, convertible Maserati, Brianna admired the natural beauty of an island known for its picturesque beaches. Traveling was one of the things Brianna loved most about being a fashion designer, but this was the first time she’d ever been to the Caribbean, and she was curious to see what the island had to offer and anxious to spend some quality time with Bailey.

  “St. Thomas is one of my favorite places to visit,” Collin said, gripping the clutch and smoothly shifting gears. “You’re going to love it here. I guarantee it.”

  Brianna glanced at Collin, and for the second time in minutes, marveled at how gorgeous he looked in his short-sleeve black dress shirt, khaki shorts and designer sunglasses. But the most attractive thing about Collin Childs wasn’t his good looks, it was his heart. He was generous, compassionate and incredibly thoughtful and always found a way to make her smile and laugh. What woman wouldn’t love that?

  Brianna’s thoughts returned to two days earlier at Madison Square Garden—where they had shared that scorching-hot kiss. The one that make her body quiver and tingle. When Collin drew her into his arms, time stopped. Something stirred deep inside her, and even though Brianna knew the paparazzi were furiously snapping pictures of them, she didn’t stop kissing Collin. Letting go had been empowering, freeing, the most liberating thing she had ever done, and long after the kiss ended her body was still shaking and throbbing with need.

  “Isn’t the view of the harbor spectacular?”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Just like you, she thought, gazing at his handsome profile. Brianna couldn’t tear her eyes away from Collin’s face. He looked happier than a kid on Santa’s lap and Brianna didn’t know if he was excited because they were spending the weekend in the Caribbean or because he was driving a ridiculously expensive sports car. At the airport, when Collin first suggested renting the luxury vehicle, Brianna teased him for wanting to cruise around St. Thomas in a car known for being a chick magnet, but as they drove through the streets of Charlotte Amalie, Brianna noticed everyone was staring at them—not just women. The Maserati drove like a dream, and she couldn’t deny how great it felt to have the sun on her face and the breeze in her hair. The narrow, congested streets were overrun with locals, tourists and impassioned street vendors hawking everything from souvenirs to food to cruise tickets.

  I still can’t believe I’m in St. Thomas with Collin, Brianna thought, sighing dreamily.

  The morning had been a blur, a mad dash to get everything done before their 7:00 a.m. flight, but the moment Brianna stepped onto the plane emblazoned with the Childs International logo and saw Collin in the chic, all-white cabin, her stress evaporated. During the six-hour flight they didn’t watch movies or listen to music. They talked. No subject was off limits, and by the time the jet had landed, Brianna felt closer to Collin than ever before.

  “Are you excited about seeing your sister?”

&
nbsp; “You have no idea. I can hardly wait.” Her heart drummed with anticipation, and just the thought of seeing her sister, finally, after all these weeks, was enough to make Brianna cry tears of joy. “I just hope Bailey doesn’t faint when she sees me!”

  “I’m glad she’s staying at one of my resorts.”

  Brianna nodded. “Talk about a stroke of good luck. I knew Bailey was staying at a luxury hotel, but I had no idea she was at your resort until I spoke to my dad last night.”

  “Having you across the hall from my suite will make things so much easier,” he said with a wink. “I can sneak into your room without being grilled by hotel security!”

  Disappointment overwhelmed Brianna but she wasn’t brave enough to ask Collin why they were staying in separate rooms. Telling herself the sleeping arrangements didn’t matter—and that the purpose of the trip was to see Bailey, not to get her freak on—helped turn her mood around.

  “That’s just one of the many perks of owning the place, huh?” Brianna teased, poking him playfully in the shoulder. “If the guys in hotel security ever write a tell-all book about you, the tabloids will have a field day!”

  His smile faded. “I’ve never brought anyone with me to St. Thomas. Not even my ex.”

  “Why not? It’s so tranquil and peaceful here.”

  “Althea said St. Thomas wasn’t glamorous or glitzy enough to visit.”

  “She missed out, then, because the landscape is beautiful.”

  “And I think you’re beautiful.”

  Brianna’s heart danced, and her temperature soared higher than the birds in the sky.

  “I have an amazing weekend planned for us,” Collin said smoothly. “Tonight, I’m taking you and your sister on a dinner cruise, and tomorrow we’re going to check out the Coral World Ocean Park and the Butterfly Garden”