Foreign Affair

by Shelli Stevens

  “I’m really glad that you’re sorry, baby. But I’m in Europe at the moment and not in the mood to talk about your inability to keep you dick in your pants.” Lena took a slow, steadying breath. “I am on my vacation, and you are not going to ruin it any more than you already have.”

  “Hang on.” His voice rose, displaying his displeasure at the unraveling conversation. “You never said who Tyler is. Tell me you’re not sleeping with him.”

  “Actually, I am. And he’s great in bed.” She smiled, enjoying this a little more than she ought to. “And his dick is huge.”

  The line went quiet, and she frowned. Had he hung up on her? She started to disconnect the call when he spoke again.

  “I need you to come home, Lena.” He gentled his voice, as if he were talking to a young child. “You’re not thinking rationally right now. You’re obviously too upset to be on your own.”

  Her chest expanded with the breath she drew in to control her temper. “What?”

  “You should buy a ticket for the next flight home—go ahead and put it on the card. Yes. Do that. I want you home as soon as possible.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you want. I’m doing what I want.” It was amazing how controlled she kept her tone. “When—I should say if—I come home, we can talk then. Don’t call me again, Keith.”

  She hung up, her body trembling. She glared at the phone, and then cursed as it rang again.

  She turned off the phone completely, so he’d just get her voicemail.

  Taking a deep breath, she went back into the bathroom and sat down on the toilet lid.

  What an asshole. He’d just sent her back to that emotional mess stage, and this time for a whole different reason. What the hell was she supposed to do about Keith? With the wedding already set, and they owned a house together… Jeez, they’d been together for almost ten years.

  And then there was Tyler. Her heart twisted a bit, a slight smile curving her lips.

  Were her feelings for Tyler real or were they just an illusion? An illusion created by the romantic setting of being in Paris and having a sexy man treat her like a goddess. Maybe it was all an illusion. One that would disappear the moment they stepped back into America. Hell, they didn’t live anywhere near each other. They were on opposite sides of the country.

  “Damn.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what the hell to think anymore.”

  The thought of facing Tyler like this, emotionally confused, made her sick. She turned and ran into the bedroom, pulling on her jeans and a sweater.

  Grabbing her wallet, she headed for the door. She had her hand on the handle when she paused and looked back. You have to at least leave him a note.

  She turned back toward the kitchen to find a piece of paper.

  “Hey, sweetheart, I’ve brought you food.” Tyler let the door shut behind him.

  Silence met him.

  “Lena?” He searched the apartment and came up empty. His gut twisted, the fear almost paralyzed him. Then he saw the note taped to the television. He set down the bag of food and went to get it.

  I have to get out. I’ll be back in a couple hours. ~Lena

  Crumpling the note in his hand, he sighed. “I must have scared the crap out of her with that little talk.”

  Walking over to the window, he cursed himself for being so confrontational with her tonight. She obviously hadn’t been ready to hear that kind of declaration. And after the incident at the club, she could still be in shock.

  He reviewed in his head everything they’d said earlier. What if she was wandering around the streets alone again? Hadn’t she realized how unsafe it was outside? Jesus, he needed to find her.

  He turned to grab his jacket and noticed her phone on the counter. It was turned off. Almost like she was avoiding all contact.

  He narrowed his eyes. Maybe it wasn’t her conversation with him that had made her run, but with someone else.

  Removing his jacket again, he swallowed his fear and sat down on the couch. You have to trust her.

  Lena stared out the window of the cab. Her head pounded, and all she wanted was to be stretched out in bed. In bed with Tyler’s arms around you. Lena shoved the voice aside, willing herself to be logical right now.

  The driver of the taxi glanced back at her on occasion, waiting for further instructions from his passenger other than to just drive around the city.

  Coffee. Coffee would be good at this point. It would wake her up and clear her head a bit.

  She leaned forward and cleared her throat. Too tired to make the effort, she didn’t even attempt to speak French. “Do you know of any cafés around here that would still be open? If possible ones that have computers? Internet?”

  “Yes, of course.” Fortunately, he spoke English. “You would like for me to take you there?”

  “Please.”

  A few minutes later he pulled up outside a café, the inside lit up, showing her it was still open.

  Lena handed him the fare and fled the cab, eager to jump behind a computer and send an email to Stephanie.

  Five minutes later, she’d secured a computer and ordered a latté. She settled herself into the small, wooden chair and logged onto her email account.

  Lord, she had a lot of email. She deleted the ones that promised to increase her breast size or give her a three-day erection.

  After she’d cleared out the junk, she opened a blank email and addressed it to Stephanie. She typed in everything that had happened in the past few days, pouring out her heart and holding nothing back. A half hour and another latté later, she hit send.

  She rubbed her stomach, debating whether to just get up and head back to the apartment or to stay and fool around online some more.

  Flipping back to her inbox, she started to read the emails. Some were from her parents—they of course went on and on about all the traveling they’d been doing, and where the best cities to party were.

  She smiled and shook her head, closing out of one email and opening another from her co-worker Lakisha.

  How’s Europe? I’ll bet you’re eating pastries and drinking wine like a bum. You even going to read this, or am I going to have to chew your ass out when you get home? Thanks for leaving me to plan that honeymoon for that bitch Carolyn Monroe. She had all the papers signed, everything planned, and then comes in the next day saying her fiancé was being difficult.

  Apparently, he took off for Amsterdam on work and told her not to book anything. Hey, maybe you might even run into him over there. If you do, run like hell if he’s anything like Miss Stick-up-her-ass. Anyways, I gotta try and get her deposit back. Hit me back if you get the chance.

  Lakisha

  “Amsterdam?” Lena’s brows drew together.

  Something Carolyn had said floated back through her head. My fiancé is an architect in New York.

  Tyler was an architect in New York. She shook her head. Could it even be possible?

  “That would be way too much of a coincidence.” Lena stood up, printed out the email, and slipped it into her purse.

  After she paid her bill, and then went back outside to hail another cab.

  Tyler heard the door creak through the light sleep he’d fallen into. He blinked his eyes open and sat up on the couch. Lena tiptoed toward the bedroom, as if trying not to wake him.

  “What’s up?”

  She gasped and turned his way. “I thought you were asleep.”

  “I was.” Tell me where you were. What’s going on, sweetheart?

  Her smile seemed hesitant, and she cleared her throat. “I had to get out. I’m sorry. I hope you weren’t too worried.”

  “Actually, I was.” It seemed she wouldn’t tell him without some encouragement. “You want to tell me what happened?”

  She gnawed on her lip. “I’m just so tired right now.”

  Tyler’s stomach clenched, and he looked away. “I may have been a little heavy with the earlier conversation. If that’s what upset you, than I’m sorry.”

/>   “No, it’s not that,” she rushed to say, and her tone made him believe her. “I just need to figure out a few things. I need time to think.”

  “Okay. I can live with that.”

  “Thank you, Tyler.” She yawned. “I think I’ll just go to bed for now. This day has been…a little crazy.”

  “I know.” Guilt stabbed at him. “Go get some sleep. I’ll come to bed in a bit.”

  “All right.” She turned to head for the bedroom. “Thanks again. For everything.”

  Lena woke up just in time to see Tyler get out of bed and go into the bathroom.

  She sighed and leaned back against the pillows, tucking the sheets around her body. Lord, it had been a crazy day yesterday.

  She glanced at her purse and thought about the printed email. She had to be crazy to think it, but what if Tyler was Carolyn’s fiancé? The idea of Tyler being engaged to such a…raging bitch, really…kind of made her doubt the possibility.

  She traced her fingers over Tyler’s side of the bed, feeling the warmth from where his body had just rested. Sighing, she rolled over onto her stomach and squeezed her eyes shut.

  The bed dipped again, signaling Tyler’s return. He sat beside her, closing strong hands over her shoulder blades and then began a slow knead of the tight muscles in her body.

  “Mmm. That feels really nice.” She shut her eyes and allowed him to massage her thoughts into oblivion.

  He stopped twenty minutes later, and she rolled over, giving him an appreciative smile. It faded when she saw the quiet intensity in his gaze.

  He lowered his mouth to hers in an unexpectedly tender kiss. “What are you feeling for me right now?”

  She shook her head, running her tongue across her mouth. “I don’t know.”

  “Of course you do.” His mouth brushed over hers again.

  “I don’t,” she denied, a little breathless. “It’s never been like this before for me. Never.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Her stomach flipped. “That’s all I can say for now. Please don’t ask me to. I can only say that…it’s never been this way before.”

  He stayed silent for a moment. “Then that’s all I need. I won’t rush you. Why don’t you get ready?” He kissed her forehead. “We’ve got big plans today. I was thinking the Eiffel Tower and some other sites. And we can’t forget dinner with Claire.”

  “Thank you.” Lena hopped off the bed and hurried to the bathroom. “I’ll be out soon.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “How fantastic is this view?” Lena cried and slapped the edge of elevator.

  “It’s great,” Tyler responded, pushing aside the nausea. They’d stood in line for less than fifteen minutes at the Eiffel Tower before taking the elevator to the second level. Now on the second elevator, they started to ascend to the top of the tower.

  He kept his gaze directly out over the city, not looking down. How had he gotten through this the last time? Heights had never been his thing.

  “Just fantastic.”

  Lena gave him a sharp glance, her smile fading. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to get sick.”

  “I’m not going to get sick,” he denied, but sucked in his breath when someone bumped into him. His hands clenched at his sides.

  “Tyler?” Lena’s voice softened. “Are you afraid of heights?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Not at all.”

  “Really?” Lena crowded past another person in the elevator so she could grab his hand. “Because you seem kind of nervous.”

  Tyler flushed as several pairs of eyes in the elevator honed in on him.

  “Really, I’ll be okay.”

  “I could understand if you were. It’s a little freaky being on this elevator, rising slowly above the city.” She leaned forward to glance out. “Has anybody ever gotten killed up here?”

  Tyler gave her a swift warning glance, and she gave him a devilish smile.

  “I mean, wow, it’s a long ways down.” She whistled and peered down at the ground, which was some two-hundred-fifty feet down.

  Tyler closed his eyes to allow the nausea to pass, and when he opened them, the elevator doors were sliding open. He was the first one out.

  “Better now?” she teased, but there was an apology in her eyes.

  Tyler, still a little shaken from the elevator ride, gave her a sidelong glance and shook his head. “You’re one sadistic witch.”

  “I can be at times.” She gave him a sardonic smile and moved toward the deck so they could look out over the city. “You don’t have to come to the railing if it bothers you. I don’t mind going alone.”

  “I can handle it. Wouldn’t miss this view for the world.”

  They moved as close against the railing as all the modern securities allowed. Her long, dreamy sigh eased his nerves a bit.

  Still, he stayed behind her, content to just wrap his arms around her waist and gaze at the view from over her shoulders.

  “I love Paris. It’s so romantic,” she murmured.

  “I am feeling a bit romantic with you right now.” He nuzzled her shoulder and looked out at the river. “Though my friends would give me hell if they knew I’d just admitted that.”

  “Romance can be manly.” Lena elbowed him in the ribs lightly. “Hey, did you pack us a lunch?”

  “I brought some snacks. A baguette and sausage. I have a full water bottle in my backpack. Are you hungry?”

  “Not yet. But I thought we should have a picnic on that grassy area down there.” She pointed. “That spot where a few people are. Are you up for it?”

  “Baby, I’m up for anything.”

  She stiffened. What had he said wrong?

  “I’d prefer it if you didn’t call me that.”

  “Call you what? Baby?”

  “I’ve never liked that endearment.” Her tone had grown tight. “You just always said sweetheart before, and it’s just more…sweet.”

  “Sure.” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and wondered if there was some kind of story behind the baby aversion. “Let’s catch the elevator back down now. You mentioned food, and now I’m getting hungry.”

  A short while later they sat on small blanket, enjoying a surprisingly clear winter day.

  Tyler pulled out the food and then handed her the water bottle. Lena took a sip, letting the cool water slip down her throat and then handed it back to him. They sat and ate in silence.

  She sat back on the grass, supporting her body with her elbows and staring at the magnificent tower before her.

  This was the life. Her gaze moved to a family that lounged a few feet away from them. The parents were cuddled close, watching their two toddlers run around in the grass. The kids’ laughter was loud and sharp in the mild air.

  Lena turned to look at Tyler who also watched the kids. He’d be a great father someday. She smiled. And if he could hear your thoughts, he’d no doubt hightail it out of the country and as far away from you as possible.

  Don’t mention marriage or kids to a man who’s not ready. Up until recently, Keith had been a prime example of that.

  “They’re cute, huh?” He gestured to the kids.

  Lena nodded. “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. That and how lucky we are to be here right now.”

  “Together.” His gaze locked on hers.

  “Together,” she agreed. Had she ever been happier? “I’m in Paris, sitting under the Eiffel Towel, with a hot guy named Tyler Bentz who makes passionate love to me at night.”

  “It seems unfair. You do realize I don’t even know your last name.”

  “Richards. My name is Lena Cosmo Richards.”

  “Cosmo?”

  “Hey, I explained that my parents are pretty much ex-hippies. So don’t give me crap about my middle name.”

  “Eh, Cosmo isn’t so bad. You could’ve done worse.” He winced. “The last woman I dated was a woman named Carolyn Monroe. Now that’s bad.”

  The world tilted, and t
he breath locked in her chest.

  “Now that’s a crazy look.” Tyler gave her a quizzical glance. “I said Carolyn Monroe, not Marilyn Monroe.”

  “Ugh, yeah. Got that.” She blinked rapidly and pressed a palm against her head.

  “Lena? Are you okay?” He scooted over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  She flinched. “What? I’m sorry. I don’t feel very well all of a sudden. I’m just going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  Tyler opened his mouth to say something, but she pushed herself off the ground.

  She hurried to the bathroom and, once inside, splashed some water on her face. She let her wrists sit under the slew of cold water.

  Tyler was Carolyn’s fiancé? You saw the email last night. You knew it was possible. She swallowed hard and shook her head. What were the chances of this happening? Could Tyler know who I am?

  No. Carolyn hadn’t even remembered Lena’s name. She wouldn’t have told Tyler about the silly little travel agent who’d given her information for their honeymoon.

  So what did this all mean? Technically, she was sleeping with her client’s fiancé—or ex-fiancé. Which was it? Either Carolyn or Tyler was lying.

  You trust Tyler. She took a deep breath and left the bathroom. Tyler stood waiting for her outside the door.

  “You okay?”

  “I am. Sorry, just got a bit of nausea.” She gave him what she hoped to be a confident smile and slipped her arm through his. “Where else did you want to go before we head out to Claire’s? We have a few hours.”

  “Hmm?” He seemed preoccupied. “I suppose we could walk along the river and check out some of the bridges.”

  “That sounds good to me.”

  She’d bring everything up tonight after Claire’s. Keith. Carolyn. All fiancés, ex or not, must come out of the closet.

  Lena knocked on the door of what looked to be an upscale townhouse. Her nerves had remained rattled the entire taxi ride over, she squeezed Tyler’s hand.

  Tyler smiled down at her and winked. “Nervous?

  “A little.”