When she came out, he noticed she had completely changed her clothes to a white shirt and long black dress. Even though the style was plain, she looked vibrant and peaceful.
She walked with her head up and her arms by her side and even leaned over more to him as she sat in the car.
“You look different,” he said once she had clasped the seat belt on. That wasn’t what he wanted to say. He wanted to say, ‘You’re moving different.’
Charisse looked forward with her hands in her lap, but not tightly clasped about her waist.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean you’re nice looking,” he quickly stated because the truth would mean he was staring at her and he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Commenting about her beauty twice in a row would clue her in that he was checking her out.
'And you're not supposed to be doing that anyways!' he scolded himself, yet for the life of him he couldn't stop it. From the dreams to what he was feeling to the need that was unshakable, he found himself very much unable to stop looking at her.
She glared at him for a moment, but then she softened a little bit to explain, “It’s the white. It’s throwing you off.” Her fist tightened. “Can we please go?”
Parker drove toward the restaurant, gaining the fortitude to address his present dilemma. “I know I said you didn’t have to rush on your decision that I asked in the letter, but certain events have happened that change a lot of circumstances around the baby.”
She shifted uncomfortably, but he noticed her arms didn’t go back around her waist. There was really something different about her and it wasn’t just the clothes, although the shirt accentuated the swan like neck and larger chest. Whatever was different about her was annoying the hell out of him because he wanted to know what it was and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“I’m still deciding,” she said quietly.
“And I really don’t want to rush you, but– “
“Parker,” she cut him off. “Quit being so damn nice. If you need a decision sooner than say so. I’m not fragile. I won’t break.”
“I need it by the end of the night.”
Charisse hadn’t expected him to spit that out. “One month,” she pushed.
“Tomorrow night,” he renegotiated.
Countering quickly, Charisse said, “One week.”
It took a moment before he answered, “Fine.”
Relaxing, knowing she had the old Parker back and that he didn’t remember a thing of either encounter, she smirked.
Parker suddenly jumped a lane of traffic and slammed on the brake. “What the fuck was that?!”
Charisse didn’t know what the hell was wrong with him or what she had done to prompt him to act insane like this.
***
“Have you lost your mind, Parker?”
“And you’d know crazy wouldn’t you, Charisse? No, I’m not crazy, but I’m not blind either!”
Perplexed, she asked, “What are you talking about?”
“You just smiled.”
“I did not!” she exasperated.
“I know what I saw. I’m not blind. Are you high?”
She really should take offense that he thought she had taken something to hurt herself and the baby, but after how much she deceived him, she really couldn’t get upset with him. Along with the fact that being in his company really did make her happy and she really had smirked, but not smiled yet that was different coming from her.
‘Tell him!’ Kimberly’s voice pressed in her head.
Calmly, she said, “Parker, we’re going to be late.”
“I could give a rat’s ass about Cheyenne! I care about you and the baby right now and I want to know have you been taking something?”
“No!”
He composed himself, but he was still baffled. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re still a horrible liar.”
She made that adorable moot to show she was amused thinking he didn’t know what it meant.
He gripped the steering wheel and tried to just concentrate on what she was saying before he lost control to what his body wanted to do to her.
She sighed wistfully, “I know, Parker, but let me get through this night before I try to figure anything out.”
Her arms moved around her waist and he realized he had the old Charisse back. ‘Good!’ Because the other one was looking too damn desirable and he might be inclined to touch her.
Taking off toward the restaurant, they both determined that talking to each other made them uncomfortable.
Charisse used that time to give a lot of thought to meeting with her sister. Most likely it would be an attempt to get in her head again. Cheyenne was assuming Charisse was still the same scared little girl holding that gun.
‘You’re going to have to still pretend you have your phobia. At least until you assess what she’s up to.’
Charisse knew answers that not even Chyna knew. Her daddy had made sure of that and Cheyenne needed those secrets to stay where they were. Locked in Charisse’s head.
Those secrets needed to stay hidden especially if Cheyenne had designs of getting Parker. It didn’t matter that Cheyenne wouldn’t pay for her crimes since there was no real proof, but Chyna was right – Cheyenne didn’t deserve Parker.
‘Because you want him for your-‘ He interrupted her thoughts.
“Charisse,” Parker’s soft voice filled with concern. “We’re here.”
Unclasping her arms from around her waist, she still wanted to reach over and touch him, but knew it would probably affect him as much as the smile had. Maybe more.
“Was that a heat of the moment statement about Cheyenne, just now?” she inquired.
“That goes for anything that has to do with Cheyenne,” he said emphatically.
“So there aren’t any feelings toward her?”
“There never was, Charisse.”
Her curiosity toward his feelings didn’t mean much to him. Most likely, she was just asking for the baby’s sake. “Matter of fact, that’s why I really wanted to come here with you. To make sure she understood there was no chance of her and I ever being together.”
“So it’s not just to steal one last moment with her?”
He snorted. “No, Charisse. I explained to you before about my feelings toward your older sister. I feel nothing to her.”
Charisse dug her fingernails in her palm to keep from expressing how glad she was for this revelation.
His phone alerted for a text message. After reading it, he said, “They just arrived. I had asked the court liaison to notify me when they arrived. Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be to deal with her.” She touched her locket for strength, with a hint of sparkle and mischief in her eyes.
Parker knew at that moment if Charisse had been his woman, he’d have pulled her in his arms and kissed her deeply – for comfort, for confidence and for promises for more later. That new Charisse came to the surface and damn his manhood wanted some action every time he saw it.
Getting out the car, he was very delighted she waited until he came around and opened the door for her.
“Do you have an extra pair of cotton gloves, Parker?” she asked, standing out of the car in front of him.
He didn’t ask why, but went to the rear of the car to pop the trunk. Charisse bit the inside of her lip to hold back her appreciation at his attentiveness.
She followed him to the back of the car and looked into the trunk, gasping. The long black coat was lying in there along with the clothes he had worn that night and she noticed immediately there was a dark stain on the inside of the coat.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Quickly tearing her eyes from the coat, she asked, “Have you been living in your car?”
“Pretty much and at the office.” He flushed. “I know I could have come home or gone to a hotel, but I–“
Cutting him off, she said, “You
don’t have to explain anything to me, Parker. I know you’re going through some things.”
He gave her a look that pretty much said, ‘You have no idea.’ “We really do have a lot to talk about after this dinner is over with,” he said.
“I’d rather talk to you than her any day, Parker,” she allowed to fall out of her mouth.
Their eyes met and she could see he had that look in his eyes from the doctor’s office, but was fighting not to touch her.
Oddly, she succumbed to the feeling of wanting his touch and reached up to grip the lapel on his jacket. This was safe.
He let the breath out he was holding slowly finding some comfort feeling the pressure of her hands on his chest. “I’m here for you and not just because you’re the mother of my child, Charisse. I care more about you than what you know.” He wanted to say he cared more about her than what he should, but he knew this would be revealing too much of his lust he was barely holding back.
The moment was too serious and she knew if she didn’t break the mood they’d end up doing something in that parking lot they shouldn’t. “Should we make a secret signal now to indicate when I’m ready to leave?”
Her levity was refreshing and he chuckled. “Severe pulling of the earlobe is a usual one.”
“What if I smacked her one good time?”
“That is a definite queue that you’re ready to leave.” Finding an extra pair of white cotton gloves he knew he had from the when he purchased a pack of them, he handed them to her and questioned, “Can I ask what you’re really going to do?”
“Cheyenne needs to understand that I want nothing to do with her and I think the only way for her to understand it is to let her not get her way.” She only put one glove on and took a deep breath. “This might involve a little touching,” she explained as a cool confidence vibrated over her and her lips made that funny no smirk twitch.
He walked with her in the restaurant, very curious to know how Charisse was going to convince the strong willed, selfish and spoiled Cheyenne, she couldn’t get her way.
‘She couldn’t be serious about slapping her. She was just teasing.’
Whatever happened, he had a gut feeling that it was going to be an interesting night.
***
Cheyenne was dressed down. Her dark forest green dress almost replicated the plain dress Charisse had worn before changing. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail; she wore an oversize black sweater, low brown heels and no make up. She had even gone so far as to clean the nail polish off her fingernails.
Bursting into tears as soon as she noticed Charisse walking in, he was sure the older sister had not caught sight of him yet. If he didn’t think Cheyenne was fake before, he had to be an idiot to not know she was acting phony now.
Cheyenne started to reach out and embrace Charisse, but Charisse put her hand up to stop her sister, yet this action didn’t halt, Cheyenne and Parker immediately stepped in front of Charisse letting Cheyenne bump into him.
So intent at going for her sister, she looked up to spit something vicious out at him because she had not even seen him, but once she saw who it was, she immediately became unsettled.
Charisse saw her sister fighting to act docile and strong at the same time.
“P-Parker, what are you doing here?” Cheyenne asked discombobulated.
“Having dinner with you,” he answered obviously.
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and then widened as she realized how he had tricked her, but she couldn’t show her fury and it was amusing to watch her battle within herself. Obviously fooling Charisse was more important right now with this docile act than trying to reason with Parker.
“And my sister?” she said coolly.
“But not Chyna.”
The brittle smile spread across her lips like hard cold peanut butter and without make up she gave him a chill of evilness. He felt dirty for doing what he had done to her and knew he would never want to do anything with this woman ever again.
Charisse cleared her throat to draw attention back to herself. “Parker, I can handle her as long as my sister keeps her distance.”
He moved out the way to allow the sisters direct eye contact with each other. The woman from the courts was dressed indiscriminately and directed Parker to have a seat at a table beside where Cheyenne and Charisse were to sit.
Cheyenne said with faux concern, “I thought your therapy from this last visit would have worked on you getting over your phobia by now and I missed you so much.”
Coldly, Charisse said, “Humor has never been your best trait, Cheyenne. Cut the crap and have a seat so we can get this over with.”
Cheyenne bristled at Charisse’s bluntness as she sat, but then she looked over her shoulder at Parker, who intently watched them.
Charisse stiffly sat across from her sister disgusted at the great lengths Cheyenne had gone through to make it look as she and Charisse had something in common. Her dress and docility were ridiculous, but if she had been the old Charisse, she would have succumbed to the connection. Charisse even bet Cheyenne had dug down in her memory for something her father would have said to create a greater bond with her.
‘How long are you going to let her play her game?’
“Charisse, sweetie, your abruptness is a surprise. It’s unusual.”
“You were expecting something else?”
“I was expecting my sweet innocent Charisse. Papa’s little angel.”
‘You knew this bitch was going to pull your father’s nicknames for you out her bag. How dare she even go there?!’ Her gloved hand was twitching to connect it across her sister’s face and she bawled it tighter in her lap. “Your expectations will be disappointed, Lucifer’s daughter.”
Cheyenne bristled again and looked again back at Parker with a cruel glint in her eyes before turning back to Charisse. “What has he told you about me?”
Charisse almost laughed out loud at Cheyenne’s absurd conclusions. “He didn’t have to tell me anything about you Cheyenne. Didn’t you think I’d find out on my own how you slept with Chyna’s husband? Although I expected nothing less from you, but that isn’t why I’m being as you say abrupt, with you.”
Her eye twitched, but she decided to switch the subject unexpectedly. “You still have those daymares, Charisse?”
Holding her locket for strength, she responded, “No, because I understand what’s real and what’s not. And you couldn’t be real even if you tried. You’re all about manipulation, Cheyenne.”
Cheyenne instantly transformed to this hesitant shy woman and Charisse was positive she was looking at a reflection of her old self. “Momma manipulated you, not I!” Cheyenne defended innocently.
Charisse leaned close to her sister. “Why do you need to see me, Cheyenne? Spit it out.”
“To make sure Chyna’s not dragging my name through the mud. We’re sisters and we need to stick together to help one another. All the bad things in the past were clearly Chyna’s idea and her greed. She’s the one that convinced you to go in there with Daddy, didn’t she?”
Charisse didn’t answer. As much as she hated this sister, Cheyenne was right a little. Chyna had come to her and even though Chyna had given Charisse her reasons behind doing what she did, there were still two sides to every story.
Cheyenne continued, “I just went along with it because I was scared of Momma. We all were.” She reached over on the table to touch Charisse’s hand, but stopped herself and just laid it near there. “Charisse, you have to understand that I wouldn’t hurt you.”
‘Either way it goes, you know she’s lying and trying to manipulate, but you can’t let her get in. You can’t. Find something else to look at. Just sit there and let her think you’re playing her game.’
Charisse looked over her sister’s shoulder and saw Parker looking at her. No, he wasn’t looking, he was admiring her and she could feel that visual caress starting from her face and moving down to her chest where it lingered longingly to continue down. Her
body heat rose and her breathing became shallow. Standing up without warning, she startled everyone. Cheyenne instantly stopped talking not understanding why Charisse had stood up.
Parker stood out of habit in concern and her sister still looked very baffled.
“I-I need to go to the bathroom,” Charisse announced. “Is it all right?” she asked Parker shyly.
“You don’t need to ask me for permission, Charisse,” he said formally, but that heated look was still there.
‘He was definitely thinking about that dream.’
“You are my guardian,” she countered.
“But I have no control over your bladder and I wouldn’t want you to feel that it’s necessary to ask my consent.”
It was like nothing else existed, except having this conversation with him. “I wouldn’t want to do anything to upset you.”
“You couldn’t do that, Charisse,” he quickly said with a grin.
“You’d be surprised.”
Cheyenne broke their eye contact by standing up and coming into Charisse’s line of sight. “I’ll go with you.”
Charisse snapped, “I’m not a child.” Without further conversation, she rushed to the bathroom to take a breather.
Getting in there, she saw an employee on the phone and approached her. “Would I be crazy to ask can I make a phone call please? I have no money or any way to reimburse you.”
The woman who was about her age looked at her as if she couldn’t believe who she was looking at. “Charisse Sheridan? Char Char? You don’t recognize me?”
***
He really hadn’t meant to start thinking about that vivid dream he’d had while he was drunk, but he was bored to tears and hearing Cheyenne begging and whining was really irking the crap out of him. So he let his mind drift and found himself thinking about that dream and his eyes went over to Charisse and that damn white shirt that had somehow worked the first button loose just showing off the definition of her collarbone. He could remember in his dream how he’d trace the tip of his tongue over the bone and then move down to ravish–
That’s when she stood up abruptly and her caramel flawless skin had a flush to it as if she knew what he was dreaming about. But she couldn’t have. He knew that, yet that look she’d had that day in the doctor’s office was in her eyes and he had a feeling she’d become aroused.
His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book Two Page 4