All Drew had to comfort him were the pictures on his phone and a framed copy of the one of him dipping Meilin at the wedding. Him with the damned garter on his arm, her holding the flower, the two of them looking into each other’s eyes. It was the most painfully romantic photo he’d ever seen.
He wanted to call, but held himself to one text a day. A simple message of, I Miss You. For three days she’d answered with, Miss You Too. Then nothing for eight excruciating days.
Here it was, Friday night and no word if she’d show for tutoring. Or to see him. Or anything. Didn’t stop him from keeping an eye out for her.
Dinner was nearly done when she appeared in the doorway. He was so glad to see her he nearly jumped from his seat and captured her in his arms. A very public display they’d agreed couldn’t happen. He was past caring. The need to hold her, to kiss her silly, was almost too strong to rein in.
The hesitant look on her face stopped him from following his impulse. Barely.
Instead of running to catch her up in a hug, he stood and held out a chair for her. The small, tentative steps she took toward him were worrisome. The tired expression on her face also had him concerned. Her eyes looked pained, her lips pinched, and weariness seemed to bow her shoulders. She’d lost both weight and the lustrous shine from her skin.
One glance confirmed the absence of the ring on her finger. The desire to catch her up in his arms intensified. Questions poured into his brain. Did it mean what he hoped? Then why did she appear so stressed? Was her father’s health so precarious? Had a business deal gone bad? Was Lin harassing her for wanting to break the engagement?
But when her gaze met his, she gave him a brief, tiny, tremulous smile.
It lifted his heart so high he could barely breathe. Just seeing her eyes light up dissipated his cloud of worry and brightened his world. Once more he believed he could conquer anything, even learning Mandarin. All he needed was her by his side.
As she approached the table, she quietly greeted each of the students by name, asked simple questions in Mandarin and smiled at their responses. No, no one had the accents close to perfect, but even he could tell the difference just five weeks into the program. Maybe there was hope for them all.
Meilin swept her skirt under her bottom and gracefully settled into the chair he pushed in for her, never giving away her feelings, until he sat, and then she slid her foot up against his.
With a small sigh, her shoulders relaxed and her posture straightened.
She needed contact with him as much as he needed the contact with her.
The last of his doubts lifted away like a puff of smoke.
He didn’t care what it took, this woman was his. The other half of his soul. With her at his side, he’d conquer new worlds, travel many mountains, explore valleys deep and mysterious, and cross all the oceans of the planet. One day they might add a child or two to their adventures, but for now, just the two of them would be perfect. And the minute he got her alone, he’d tell her so.
Holding back and following the motions of studying, working through pronunciations, he stumbled through the evening hours until Professor Chung called a stop at half past nine.
“It’s Friday,” the teacher said. “Tomorrow we’ll start at ten. More fun vocabulary followed by a few videos in the afternoon. Tomorrow night you get a break. Those who want to go into the city for some authentic Chinese food, in a restaurant where the menus are in Chinese, let me know in the morning. We’ll make a night of it. Perhaps even hit a night club to blow off some steam. We’re at the halfway point and you’re all making great progress. We’re ready for the next step, five weeks in China. Longer for some of you.”
Everyone smiled except Cindy who frowned unhappily. “I can go for dinner, but night clubbing…” She shrugged.
“Right,” Drew said. “I don’t think we have time to get you a fake ID.”
Cindy’s eyes flew open in shock while everyone but Chung snorted with laughter.
“Invite your parents,” Chung offered.
She nodded with resignation. “I suppose. Or I can go over my final packing.”
Meilin shot her a sympathetic smile.
“Count me in,” Drew said as he stretched. “Who’s driving? I think my sister will claim the car again.” Damned nuisance now that they had different schedules.
“I can take three in my car,” Bob volunteered.
“I call shot gun,” Drew jumped at the offer.
“Professor, let me know the final plans, and I might be able to meet up with you,” Meilin said, gathering her purse and briefcase. “I have a client meeting in the afternoon, but don’t have solid plans later.”
Drew stole a glance at her and bit his tongue to keep from cheering.
“Let me walk you out,” he said, standing and taking the briefcase from her hand. So what if he’d just announced their connection to the small class? He didn’t care. He wanted the world to know. And he wanted the details on the missing ring.
As soon as they stepped from the building into the warm night filled with the song of frogs and cicadas, he swept her up into his arms and hugged her tight. The kiss followed naturally and he thrilled to her immediate response.
“Meilin, Meilin, how I’ve missed you. Worried about you. I’ve been slowly going mad day by day.”
She clung to him, arms tight about his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. “I’ve missed you so much.”
The words sounded on the edge of a sob.
“Hey, we’re here now. Together. Let’s take a little walk and talk.”
Her quiet agreement nearly broke his heart it was so faint.
They dropped her briefcase and purse in her car, locked it up, then hand in hand strolled down a path to a private bench. Their private bench. The dark summer air enveloped them, protected them from prying eyes, the way lit by lamps bright enough to illuminate the path, but not so bright as to simulate the harsh sun.
Once they reached their spot, under the sheltering branches of a tree that provided more shadow, and settled close beside one another, the question burst from him.
“Is it over?”
Meilin folded her hands in her lap and dropped her head. “No.”
“What? You’re not wearing his ring.” He grabbed her hand and turned to face her. “Tell me.”
Meilin took a deep breath before raising her face to him. “The first move has been made. I told my parents. It didn’t go well. My father grew very angry with me, and my mother became very angry with him. I was about to follow up that meeting up with a call to the family lawyer. Instead, my brother called. Told me that Papa had collapsed soon after I left their house. A heart attack.”
Drew squeezed her hand.
“I went to the hospital where my mother all but accused me of causing the heart attack by being selfish.” Tears welled in her eyes, but she drew in a deep breath and blinked them back. “These last eight or nine days, I’ve lost track, have been horrible.” It took some time, but eventually the whole story came out. Halting nearly every sentence, she told him every bit.
It took all he had to let her get to the end without interrupting other than to squeeze her hand or gently prompt her to continue.
When she stopped completely, Drew spoke. “So, it is, or was, your plan to go through with the marriage to care for your parents, even though your family knows you don’t want to marry him. And that doesn’t matter one bit to them? That you don’t love him? You have no hope of ever loving him?”
Eyes downcast, Meilin nodded. “He’s caught whispers of my plan to end the engagement but is still convinced he can woo me into loving him. By taking care of my parents, I’m supposed to see how kind he is. He doesn’t know Edna told me differently.”
“How is Edna?” Drew smiled. He hadn’t yet met Meilin’s neighbor, but she’d told him stories. He had a feeling he’d love the lady on sight.
“Still feisty. Mom’s right about one thing; I love
Edna as much as my own grandmother. She comforted me last night when I was barely clinging to the last knot on my rope. It’s because of her support I’m here tonight. She insisted I needed to tell you what’s been happening.”
“I want to buy her some flowers. Wise woman.”
Meilin nodded. “She is.”
“What did Edna tell you about Lin?”
Meilin’s mouth flatlined. “One evening when he came to pick me up, he passed her on the stairs. Didn’t acknowledge her or offer to help carry her groceries. Nothing. Passed her like she was a bag lady on the street.” Temper sparked in her eyes. “He’s kind and concerned only when there’s an audience.”
“Selfish bloody wankstain.”
Meilin gasped. “What?”
“Wankstain. A waste of…” Damn he was blushing now, Meilin never swore, and he’d made a point to be polite around her. “…well, just a waste,” he muttered. “Someone should have cockblocked his father way back when.”
Meilin covered her mouth and…giggled. Not a sound he’d ever heard from her.
“Sorry. I don’t usually resort to crude language, I notice you don’t either, but, well, sometimes there are no other words.” He rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to dissipate the heat gathering there.
Meilin laughed outright. “You’re right. I don’t care much for crude language, but as you said, sometimes it’s the only option. Especially with a British accent.”
A sigh of relief escaped. “So. What other wise words did Edna share with you?”
Meilin bit her lower lip and looked away. “Um, she mentioned an option that might work out better than selling myself to Shan Lin.”
“Yes? If she said you should marry me, then I’ll send her flowers every day for the rest of her life. And then weekly to her grave site.”
Meilin shook her head, then looked down at the ground. “Remember you once said I could easily fill a position at Lynford? Art and furnishing acquisitions and interpreter for you? What would the compensation package be like for such a position?”
Drew stilled, a small part of him shocked. She wanted a job? Well, yes, it would be a tailor-made fit, and yes, he’d suggested it. It would also allow them the time to get to know each other better. Give her a chance to be sure of his love for her and to know in her heart she loved him too. They wouldn’t need to marry immediately, possibly putting her under undue pressure, but rather, allow her to grow into the idea. Okay then.
“What sort of compensation package would you like? I’m pretty sure we could come up with something to fit you like a glove.” Reaching into his pocket, he was prepared to call his dad and get the process started. Meilin’s hand on his stopped him from dialing.
“I’m aware there are some companies with insurance benefits that cover nursing home care for parents of employees. Does Lynford believe in such programs?”
“If it isn’t one of our benefits, it should be. I could see it being a huge perk. Let me call my dad and find out.”
Meilin’s hand still prevented him from making the call. “And if it isn’t a current benefit, I’m guessing, hoping, salaries are generous enough it won’t matter.” Her eyes were wide as they searched his.
“I’m positive we can find a way to make it work out. And if you choose you want to marry me, I’ll make sure your parents are cared for. I’ll even put it in a pre-nup, if you want one written.”
Meilin’s eyes widened more as she shook her head. “I don’t expect you to take on my problems by way of marriage.”
“I care about you and your worries. By loving you, and hopefully marrying you, helping you becomes my privilege. Not an obligation, not a contractual line item, but merely by extension of what you love, I love. If your parents need help, we help them. Likewise, should my parents ever need help, we help them. It’s what love does.”
At that Meilin’s face crumpled and she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close. “Oh, Drew. You said it perfectly. You wouldn’t hold my parents’ needs over my head to force me to marry you. That’s love.”
Hot tears watered his neck, but he didn’t care. He pulled her closer until she cuddled on his lap. “It will all work out. We’ll make sure of it. You and me. On our schedule. No one else’s. I love you and want to be with you, however you’ll let me be with you. The minute you say you’re ready to marry me I’ll have you before an Elvis impersonator in Vegas just to seal the deal. Then we’ll follow up with church ceremonies here and England. Just to make sure everyone knows we mean it.”
Meilin’s laugh was watery against his neck. “Oh, Drew. I do love you. So, so, much.”
After long minutes of kissing, touching, stroking, Drew pulled away to catch his breath. “I’m calling my sister and telling her to find another place to sleep. She can take my room at the dorm. Tonight, the apartment is ours.”
Chapter 31
Unaccountably nervous, Meilin smoothed the red silk dress embroidered with a gold dragon from shoulder to knee over her thighs. After spending the night in Palo Alto, she and Drew had driven into the City together for dinner with the class.
She badly needed this night out. While Drew had been in lessons, she’d called Jack’s Uncle Za for his advice. Turned out he hadn’t much liked Shan Lin before she told him about the engagement agreement. Afterward, he wanted to tear Shan apart in court. Publically. He wasn’t exactly thrilled with her parents, either, but for her he’d treat them with respect when quizzing them in further detail about the written, and unwritten, items in the contract. Since she had brought her copy in her briefcase, Za sent a courier to pick it up that afternoon and promised to get a hold of her early the following week. It was a relief to have something moving forward the way she wanted.
Dinner had been fun and full of laughter as the students learned the characters for delicacies such as squid and octopus, then ate the results of their orders. Most had been surprised to find they liked the unusual dishes. Unsurprisingly, Drew had dived in with great enjoyment and no sign of trepidation like a few of the others. He even handled his chopsticks like a pro.
Now they stood at the entrance of the night club where she’d first met him so many weeks ago, nervously wondering who she knew who might be at the club that night. More importantly, who there might know Shan Lin and report to him she was with Drew.
“There’s a table opening,” Drew nearly shouted in her ear to be heard over the music.
It was a miracle they found enough seats for everyone, and Junlei was there to take their orders. Meilin sent her a grateful smile, which was returned with a wink.
“As soon as you get the first round, set up the second,” Meilin told her. “First one is on me.”
“Sure thing!”
Fortunately it was busy enough, and loud enough, Junlei didn’t have time to verbalize the questions in her eyes. Obviously she recognized Drew, and the absence of an engagement ring on Meilin’s finger. No, Meilin didn’t want to go into it tonight. Instead she shrugged and turned her attention to the dance floor. Hopefully no one she knew would be here. Wasn’t Jack still out of town?
Arnie, still oblivious to the attraction between her and Drew, held out his hand. “I get first dance,” he yelled.
Happy for the distraction, she accepted. It felt good to shimmy and sway to the hip-hop beat. Like a physical touch, Drew’s gaze followed her from where he sat guarding the drinks and purses left behind, a secret smile on his face. Every dance move she made was for him, and his eyes ate her up. The slim silk dress fit her like a second skin and she let her hands trail down her sides, watching his eyes follow them before his gaze captured hers again. It was a tease and a torment for them both. A building of anticipation.
For a full hour she danced. Switching partners with each song. Arnie didn’t last long and traded places with Drew. While presumably their group danced together, she and Drew knew they danced with each other. They found plenty of opportunities for small touches, each one adding to the
heat in Drew’s eyes. Adding to the heat that pooled low in her belly. Finally, a slow song entered the mix and Drew reached for her. In his arms, she flew back to the night they’d met, only now the electricity between them flared twice as strong.
He bent, placing his mouth close to her ear. “I want to kiss you.”
A gasp of desire escaped and she pushed him back an inch. “Not here. Not now. There’s only so far I can go.”
“I know,” he said as he spun her, drawing her closer for a moment. “I know what’s at stake. I won’t compromise you that much in front of the class, but it’s killing me.” He smiled and spun her out, then pulled her back.
She laughed with pure joy. No one danced like Drew. No one made her laugh, or float on candy clouds, like he did.
The music faded out for a second, and Drew took her hand and tugged her back to the table. “Don’t know about you, but I need something to drink.”
“Me too.” Meilin fanned her face.
Junlei had just reached their table with a tray of fresh drinks as Meilin dropped into her chair, reaching for a napkin to blot her damp face.
“Perfect timing,” she shouted at the waitress.
“I live to serve.” Junlei laughed. “You look thirsty.”
“I so am.” She used the napkin like a fan.
“Meilin! There you are.”
Both women startled as a man shouted from behind them. Junlei dropped Drew’s beer on the table, and it would have spilled but for his quick reflexes.
Ice formed and dribbled down Meilin’s spine. A tremor of fright coursed through her even as she turned to see Shan behind her in a wheelchair pushed by his health aide. “Shan? What are you doing here?” Who had called him? How had he known? As far as she knew, he never came to places like this.
Anger turned his handsome face into something ugly and frightening. “Looking for my fiancée who hasn’t been answering my calls for the last two days.”
Her Unexpected Affair (The Robinsons) Page 26