Dangerous Temptations

by Brooke Cumberland

  I’ve been looking forward to this event for months. It was a benefit for the Coalition for the Homeless—something so near and dear to my heart; I get emotional just thinking about it. William knew I was passionate about this charity, he knew my mother and I struggled financially, but he didn’t know the extent of it. He knew we lived in shelters for a time, but not the extent of it, either. I never told him the things we had to do in order to survive. It wasn’t something I was particularly proud of and knew most people wouldn’t understand.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t trust William. He was very understanding and very supportive of my desire to get involved, but I didn’t like talking or thinking about it. It hurt and made me bitter. I hated the way it made me feel, so I tried to push that part of my life out as much as possible.

  I’ll be giving a speech tonight about the effects of homelessness in New York. I’ll discuss the facts and how, if we worked together, we could put a stop to so many children living in shelters. I knew firsthand what it felt like, the things they see and do. It’s especially terrible when you only have one parent and that one parent doesn’t try to make an effort to do better. She needed help and any time it was offered, she’d take the medication just long to get her shit together. She’d manage to find work but then stop taking her pills, and either would be fired or would just stopped showing up. I never understood her reasoning for not wanting to have a better life or at least wanting a better one for me.

  Once I was cleaned up, I dressed comfortably until I had to start getting ready. Since William was gone, it was the perfect time to clear things up with Alex one last time.

  “Good morning,” I said as I walked into the kitchen. He was wearing those gray low-cut sweats again, sitting at the breakfast bar with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. I walked toward the coffee maker, grabbed a cup, and lifted the carafe before realizing it was empty. “You drank the entire pot?” I spun around and held it up.

  He didn’t even lift his head as he responded, “Yeah, I’ve been up a while.”

  I set it down and looked intently at him. He had bags under his eyes and he didn’t look so good. “Have you even been to bed?” I raised my brows at him, but he still wasn’t looking.

  “Nope.”

  This wasn’t the way I planned to have another talk with him, but it was looking like it was going to have to be the only way. “Where’d you go last night?” I set the carafe back in and started putting a new filter in to make another pot. “I didn’t hear you come back home.”

  “Why is that any of your business, Mackenzie?” I narrowed my brows at the way he said my name. He’s never called me that and he said it with such hurt and disgust.

  I swallowed and continued as if it hadn’t affected me. “Because I was worried.”

  I spun around just as he stood up and looked at me. “Well, don’t be.”

  He placed his cup in the sink and turned to walk out before I stopped him. “Alex, wait.” He froze in place but didn’t turn around. “We need to talk. Please.”

  “What’s the point?”

  I paused, hearing the coffee drip and steam as it poured into the carafe. “Because I don’t want it to be like this. We live in the same house. We have to see each other. We might as well figure out a way to be around each other.”

  He turned around and walked toward me, taking his spot back at the breakfast bar. “Okay, you tell me how I’m supposed to be around you then.”

  I hated that he was being so harsh, but I wasn’t about to push it. He was pissed and it was my fault.

  “Can’t we be friends? I mean, at least pretend we can stand being around each other when we have to be.”

  He pursed his lips in a tight line before saying, “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Sure. If that’s what you want.”

  I was taken aback by how easy he was taking this considering how upset he’d been last night. But then again, he’s probably been up all night thinking about it and hopefully, has realized we were never going to be anything.

  “Yes. It is.”

  “Great,” he spat out over-enthusiastically. “Friends it is.”

  “Great.”

  “Well, have a good day. I’m going to bed.” He jumped up and turned toward the hallway.

  “Alex…” I swallowed, pushing the emotions back. “Thank you.”

  He gave a curt nod and continued walking out.

  THAT WENT MUCH better than I expected—too well—but I didn’t have time to overanalyze it. I needed to go over my speech, get ready, and pray I didn’t faint before even getting there. This speech would be my first time sharing my past publicly, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to be received.

  At five p.m., William called to let me know he was running late. “I’ll come as soon as we land,” he promised.

  “All right. Please be safe.”

  “Of course, darling.” We hung up, and I put some music on as I started getting ready.

  After perfecting my hair and makeup, I slipped on my dress. I went with a black, sparkly dress and planned on matching it with my red heels. I pulled half my hair up and kept half down in loose waves.

  A soft knock on my bedroom door grabbed my attention away from the mirror. “Yes?”

  “Can I come in?” It was Alex.

  “Sure.”

  “The car is here…” he started but stopped once our eyes locked on each other. He was dressed up in a black tux with a red tie. He looked absolutely charming and ironically, our outfits were coordinating. I shot him a look, confused why he was dressed up like that. He shrugged. “I wasn’t going to let you go alone,” was all he said and I didn’t press for more. I wasn’t sure how he even knew, but the fact he dressed up for me made my heart pound.

  I swallowed and broke the contact. “Just about ready,” I said, grabbing the earrings off my dresser and quickly putting them on.

  “You look breathtaking…” He stepped closer, coming up right behind me. My body tensed as I felt his hand on my arm.

  I lowered my head but kept my eyes on him through the mirror in front of me. His hand moved down my dress and I stilled. “What are you doing?” I asked roughly, my glare warning him.

  A smirk played on his lips before his fingers gripped the zipper and his eyes met mine again. “Was your plan to moon the entire audience?” His hand moved over my ass and up my back, zipping my dress together. The zipper lay all the way down my lower back, but I hadn’t even noticed. My mind was a mess. The past few weeks had flipped my life upside down, making me feel like I had lost all control.

  I cleared my throat and stood up straighter. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He slid both hands slowly up my arms and paused on my shoulders, gripping them between his fingers. He stood like that for a moment, his hands on me, my eyes on him, before he continued. “Ready?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I just need to put my shoes on.”

  He released his hold on me and backed up. My shoes were on the floor next to the full-length mirror. I slipped one foot in and went to step into the other one when I lost my balance. “Shit,” I cursed just before Alex grabbed my arm and steadied me.

  “You all right?” he asked genuinely, but I could tell he was trying to hold in a laugh.

  I used his hand as support and slipped my foot in the other shoe. “Yes.” I breathed out. “God. Can you tell I’m nervous?” I smoothed my hands down my dress, giving myself a final look. “I’m not the best at public speeches,” I explained when he hadn’t responded.

  He flashed a small smile. “You have nothing to be nervous about. You’ll do great.” He looked down at his watch. “That is if we ever get there.” He winked. “We need to leave.”

  I grabbed my clutch off the bed and followed him out. The car was waiting for us in front as photographers flashed their cameras at us. They’ve known about this event for a while now and I knew they were going to be all over it.

  Not that I minded entirely. It was good publici
ty for the charity. If more newspapers wrote about them, people would have a higher awareness and how they could help. That’s why I got involved, besides the fact that it was a part of my childhood.

  I waved lightly and forced a smile as we pushed through. The driver was ready, leaving the door open for us and shutting it as soon as we were securely inside. I heard them rambling off questions outside, asking about the event and where William was. The press knew his son was back in town and they were looking to make an extra buck off it.

  “Is it always like that?” he asked as soon as the car drove off.

  I shook my head. “Not always.”

  “Do you ever get used to it? Are you used to it?”

  “Yes. And no.”

  “It was a nice break when I was Europe,” he began. “It was nice being able to walk around without anyone knowing who I was or where I came from. It was nice that no one had those preconceived notions about me. It was nice having that freedom.”

  “Is that why you left?” I asked, curiosity building up inside me. I had wondered why he chose to go across the globe to school, but I always figured it had something to do with William.

  He didn’t answer right away, but then he looked up and responded. “Yeah, that was part of it. It becomes a bit much. The invasion of your privacy. The lies they plaster. The way they make money on your heartbreak and pain.”

  It was obvious he experienced some bad shit with the media beforehand. I hadn’t paid attention to most of it before meeting William. I hadn’t even heard of him before we met, which just showed how invested I was in my career and getting my life together. I studied and worked, and it consumed my life until I was finally hired on. Then I worked even harder.

  Something told me though it was more than just the privacy issue that got to Alex. Something between him and William wasn’t right, but I could tell William was trying to make amends. He didn’t want to talk about it as if it never happened, but that was how he was. He just wanted to move forward without going backward. He didn’t waste time trying to fix things he couldn’t change, but rather he invested in the future.

  “Champagne?” I heard Alex ask as he grabbed the bottle and waved it at me. “Some liquid courage, perhaps?”

  He was grinning like a little kid who had just been told Christmas was coming early. He was distracting me, trying to settle my nerves. It was the side of Alex I really liked. It made all the tension I knew was there evaporate.

  I was hesitant at first but decided one beforehand wouldn’t hurt. “Okay, fine. Just one though.”

  He poured me a glass and handed it to me. He poured one for himself and then clinked our glasses together before taking a slow sip and keeping his eyes on me.

  “What?” I asked, taking a sip.

  “Nothing. You just look really pretty. But you’re a little tense.”

  “Well, I’ve been working on this event for months. I think I’m allowed to feel tense,” I mocked, taking another drink.

  “The second you walk in, everyone’s eyes will be on you. Stop worrying about what people think.”

  “Who says I’m worried about what people think?”

  He tilted his head and narrowed his brows at me. “Am I wrong?”

  “Don’t answer a question with another question.”

  “Why?” He smiled.

  “You’re making me more nervous,” I admitted.

  He moved closer to me, bringing his hand to my cheek and leaned in. “I mean it. Everyone’s eyes will be on you.” The car slowed to a stop and I knew we had arrived at the Langham Palace. “Including mine.”

  I swallowed. He was purposely close to me, not at all easing my nerves, but I didn’t have time to think about it. Cameras and crowds would swarm us in just a moment.

  “Ready?” he asked, taking my glass and setting it down with his. The driver opened the door and offered me his hand. I took it, carefully pulling my dress up as I took a step out.

  Flashes and people yelling for our attention immediately consumed me. I tried to stand and smile as I waited for Alex to stand next to me. It felt weird arriving without William, but the press knew who he was. He’d been the center of attention long before I arrived, and now the press was having a field day.

  “Come on,” he whispered in my ear as he placed a hand on my lower back. He guided me to the entrance, nodding at the two men who were guarding it. They opened it for us and made sure none of the paparazzi followed in. His hand remained on my back and although it was inappropriate, given our relationship, it made me feel safe. I was nervous about my speech, about the whole event, but he had somehow calmed my nerves just by standing next to me. “Ready to go in?” he asked again, still quiet.

  “Yeah…I’m ready.”

  We walked through the lobby and to the stairs that would take us in. I gripped my dress with one hand and clung on to my clutch with the other hand. I was nervous yet anxious. I’d been working with this charity for the last year, and I just wanted this event to go perfectly for them.

  “Don’t be nervous,” he said smoothly, just above my ear. Just as we were about to walk in, I heard William’s voice behind me, breaking the nerves that were just settling.

  “Darling!” I quickly spun around, breaking Alex’s hold on me. Relief washed over me as I saw his urgent smile, running up to greet me. “I’m so sorry I’m late!” He engulfed me, wrapping his arms around my waist just where Alex’s were. I felt a strange twinge of guilt, knowing I was just about to walk in escorted by another man instead of William.

  “It’s all right, dear. We were just about to walk in.” I smiled, holding back my disappointment that he wasn’t able to ride here with me. It always stirred up the media when we were photographed separately. All of a sudden, our relationship was in jeopardy because we hadn’t been ‘seen’ together in over a week when in reality, William was on a business trip, and I had made plans to have lunch with some friends. Apparently, that was too much time apart.

  “Thanks for taking my place, son,” William said genuinely to Alex, patting his shoulder. His eyes flashed to mine for a split second and then his mouth turned into a firm line before he responded, “Anytime, Dad.” I heard the condescending tone in his voice, but William ignored it.

  “Shall we?” William asked just before guiding me through the door.

  I turned around and saw Alex standing frozen. His eyes locked on mine as his lips stayed in a tight line. I flashed a small smile, silently apologizing for William’s inconvenient interjection.

  Alex had helped calm me—which William should’ve been doing all along—but he hadn’t, and now I was walking in without Alex. A part of me felt guilty, when I should’ve felt ecstatic William made it, but the other part wished he hadn’t.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The room was filled with Manhattan’s finest. Women and men overdressed in designer clothes, a private auction was taking place on one end, and a full bar was set up on the other. Just to attend, it was almost a thousand dollars per table. But it was the way these events worked. I’ve learned quickly it was about the rich looking for a tax deduction and a way for them to network with other rich people.

  It was the ugly truth, but it wasn’t the reason I got involved in the first place. William knew that, but the press didn’t. Tonight, they’d all find that out though. I didn’t plan to hold anything back.

  We took our seats just as a well-dressed server walked by and offered us glasses of champagne. William took two and handed me one, kissing me gently on the cheek. He knew I was nervous, but he wouldn’t bring it up. He was used to these events and public speaking, but he was an icon. People looked up to him and when he spoke, power and confidence radiated off him. I wish I were like that, but when it came to something so personal, self-doubt was the only thing that overcame me.

  “I’ll be right back, darling,” William said, quickly pecking me on the cheek before walking away. He knew almost everyone at these events and was always sidetracked as work conversations came up
.

  “Sure thing.” I flashed a small smile at him as he backed his chair up and excused himself. I sat at the table alone, waiting for more people to arrive. The charity spokesperson would be tonight’s MC. I knew, as soon as she stepped on stage, I’d be up there with her shortly.

  I continued drinking my champagne, hoping the alcohol would calm any nerves I had left. My body shivered as a hand brush against my shoulders, and I saw Alex sit next to me out of the corner of my eye.

  “Ten minutes in and you’re left sitting alone.” His voice was deep, irritation laced in his tone.

  “It’s fine,” I insisted. “He knows a lot of people.” I shrugged, taking another sip of my champagne but soon realized it was empty.

  Alex waved another server over and grabbed two more glasses. “Here. You’re fidgety as hell.” I gladly accepted it, bringing the glass to my lips as soon as he handed it to me.

  “Thank you,” I finally said, looking down and circling my finger over the glass rim.

  “You want to go over your speech?” he leaned in and asked. “Get another practice round in?”

  I shook my head, not wanting to over-think any of it. “No, thanks. If I practice it too much, I’ll become too emotional,” I explained. “So I’d just rather talk about something else if that’s okay?”

  “Sure, I understand.” I watched as he took a sip of his champagne. He was back to nice Alex again, and I wondered how long it’d last. After a moment of silence, he leaned in and whispered, “If I were here with you, I’d never leave your side. I’d make sure everyone in this room knew you were mine.”

  Apparently, it wasn’t going to last long at all.

  “Alex…” I began, but he cut me off.

  “I wouldn’t be able to take my eyes off of you long enough to even look at another woman, Mac. I’d remind you how beautiful you look, how you take my breath away, and how lucky I am to be here with you. The last thing I’d do is leave you alone.” I kept my head down but could see him out of the corner of my eyes. His stare was intense, his eyes burning into me as he spoke the very words that could tear my heart in two.