Southern Seduction ; Pleasure in His Arms

by Carolyn Hector

  Demi felt like crying; not because her Mom had called her foolish, but because she knew in her heart that everything Althea had said about the Crawford family was true. Demi had been in this predicament before, had been betrayed and humiliated by someone she’d loved deeply. She knew what she had to do the next time she saw Chase. This time, she’d put herself first, would protect her heart, no matter the cost, and even though Demi knew it was the right thing to do, tears spilled down her cheeks and splashed onto her dress.

  Chapter 19

  Chase sprinted on the treadmill in his home gym on Saturday evening, trying not to think the worst, even though his mind was filled with dark thoughts. He stared at the cup holder, willing his cell phone to ring. Where is she? Why hasn’t Demi returned my calls or texts? he wondered, slapping the stop button on the treadmill with the palm of his hand.

  Ending his workout, he wiped his forehead with a Yankees-themed face towel then tossed it on the weight bench. There had to be a logical explanation for why Demi wasn’t answering her cell phone. He’d called her that afternoon and they’d talked and laughed like they always did. He’d wished her luck at the Hamptons Women’s Annual Tea, promised to treat her to a celebratory dinner at her favorite restaurant lounge that evening, and reminded her to pack an overnight bag for the weekend. Six hours later, Demi was nowhere to be found. Her silence was unsettling and very out of character for her. Demi loved her iPhone, was always tweeting and posting and searching for things online. She usually answered his texts within seconds. But not tonight.

  A troubling thought came to mind. Was Demi purposely avoiding him? Had he unknowingly done something to upset her? The longer he considered it, the stronger his suspicions were. Demi had been nervous about meeting his mom, but he’d assured her Estelle was harmless and encouraged her to introduce herself to his family members at the tea.

  Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. A headache was forming in his temple, but he didn’t feel like doing deep-breathing exercises. Thanks to Demi and her natural remedies, his symptoms had decreased and these days he rarely took his pain medication. His business trip had been a huge success, but he’d missed Demi terribly and was eager to see her.

  A memory burned bright in his mind. Two days before he’d left for London, while he was driving Estelle home from her group therapy session, she’d asked him point-blank who Demi Harris was and he’d told her the truth. That he’d met the YouTube sensation in Ibiza and had fallen hard for her. To his surprise and relief, his mom had said she was happy for him and had kissed his cheek. At the time he’d been shocked by her reaction, but now wondered if she’d pulled the wool over his eyes. Had Estelle confronted Demi? Was Demi mad at him for not warning her about his mom? There’s only one way to find out.

  Chase marched out of the gym, through the main floor and into the darkened foyer. He swiped his keys off the raised table, activated the alarm and then yanked open the door. The cold wind sliced through his ribbed, black shirt, chilling him to the bone. He considered returning inside to grab a hoodie, but there was no time. The sooner he found Demi, the better, and as he locked the front door, he made a mental note to call Geneviève from his Maserati. If anyone would know where Demi was, it was her sister.

  The floodlights came on, brightening the porch. Chase stopped midstride and peered out into the darkness. He noticed a figure on the wrought-iron bench with its head down and moved closer. It was Demi. He’d recognize her sweet, floral perfume anywhere. Relief flowed through his body. All was right with the world again.

  Or is it? questioned his inner voice. If things are good, why is she sitting in the dark?

  Confused, he stared at her for a moment. She looked stunning in her short, fitted dress, but her slumped shoulders and woeful disposition pierced his heart. He sat beside her and took her hand. It was cold and clammy, but he tightened his hold. “Demi, baby, what’s wrong? Why are you sitting out here in the dark instead of inside with me?”

  He tenderly stroked her skin, but she didn’t respond or acknowledge his presence.

  Chase tried again. “It’s freezing out here. Let’s go inside.”

  More silence. Her shoulders dipped lower, seemed to cave in, and her lips trembled.

  “I’ll turn on the fireplace and you can tell me all about the Women’s Tea while I make that hot Kahlúa drink you love so much. How does that sound—?”

  “Last year, I fell hard for a successful budget analyst,” she said quietly, gazing out at the sky. “Everything was going great until I met his friends and family at a charity ball...”

  Her words were a fist to the gut. Chase knew she’d had a life before him, but he couldn’t stomach the thought of Demi being with anyone else and hated hearing details about her ex. It took supreme effort, but he wiped the scowl from his face and listened to her story.

  “His mother insulted my gown, his friends Googled me and made fun of my lifestyle blog, and his sister said their family wouldn’t accept me until I got a ‘real job,’ but you know what the most painful thing was? He never stood up for me. Not once.”

  His cell phone rang inside his pocket, but he decided to let the call go to voice mail.

  Chase studied her profile. She had sad eyes, damp cheeks and hunched shoulders. This wasn’t Demi. Upbeat and optimistic, she was full of energy and humor, and always made him laugh. He wanted to return the favor, to do something to pull her out of her funk, and tried to remember one of the jokes she’d told him days earlier during their late-night video chat.

  “He dumped me while I was on tour with Gigi in Europe, but dating him taught me a very important lesson.” Her voice broke and seconds passed before she spoke again. “I learned not to waste my time and energy trying to please people who don’t accept me. Not everyone is going to like me, and that’s okay.”

  “Demi, I’d never do the things your ex did to you. I’m not that kind of person.”

  “I know, but your mom is. And I won’t let Estelle insult me or my family again.”

  The silence was so loud it pierced his eardrums.

  Sweat drenched his skin and his heart beat out of control. Chase wanted to know what his mom had done, but Demi wouldn’t give him any details. He felt helpless, as if he’d been convicted of a crime he hadn’t committed, and feared he was going to lose the best girlfriend he’d ever had.

  He chased the thought away, refused to imagine his life without her in it. Her beauty was more than skin deep. In Demi he’d not only found a friend, he’d found his soulmate and confidante, and he adored everything about her. It didn’t matter how many times they made love, he was always awed by her passion. But what he appreciated most about Demi was her kind, thoughtful nature. She made everyone in her life feel special and she’d do anything to make her friends and family happy.

  “Chase, I love you, but I can’t date you.”

  He straightened in his seat. “You love me?”

  “Ch-Chase, I’m sorry,” she stammered. “But it’s over. I can’t see you anymore.”

  “You love me?” he repeated, cupping her chin in his hand. “Say it again.”

  Their eyes met. He wanted to kiss the tears coursing down her cheeks, but wiped them away with his thumb instead. Desperate for her, he inhaled her scent and brushed his mouth against her lips. Happiness surged through his body, but it was short-lived.

  “I can’t do this. I have to go.”

  Demi stood but Chase grabbed her arm and pulled her down into his lap. She struggled against him but he locked his hands around her waist and held her tight. “You’re not going anywhere. I have a lot to say and you’re going to sit and listen.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss. We can’t be together.”

  “Let me get this straight. You’re dumping me because my mom doesn’t like you?” he asked, unable to hide his frustration. “Don’t you think that’s juvenile and unfair?”

  �
�Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  Demi opened her mouth then closed it.

  “Did you ever stop to think about how I’d feel? Or about what I want?”

  “I don’t want you to have to choose between us,” she said, wringing her hands in her lap.

  “I won’t have to. Estelle’s my mom and you’re my girlfriend. You have different roles in my life, and I’d never pit you against each other.” Chase caressed her cheek with his fingertips. Now that he had Demi, he had everything he’d ever wanted in life, and he refused to live without her. “I love you, Demi, and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Her face lit up and she touched her chest with her right hand. “You love me?”

  “With all my heart. Way more than I love Jonas.”

  Demi burst out laughing and the sound warmed him all over.

  “I love your smile, the way your eyes sparkle and twinkle when you’re amused, your outrageous sense of humor, and how you always know just what to say to cheer me up.” Chase brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “We’re a team, and as long as we’re honest about what we need, and support each other wholeheartedly, we can overcome every hurdle.”

  A skeptical expression crossed her face. “Even your mother?”

  “Absolutely,” he said in a confident voice, hoping to put her doubts to rest. “Leave everything to me. I’ll deal with Estelle.”

  “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll relocate.” Demi snapped her fingers. “I know. Let’s move to beautiful, tropical Papua, New Guinea! It’s on the other side of the world and she’d never think to look for us there. Brilliant, huh?”

  Chase rocked with laughter. “And you accuse me of being trouble?”

  “You are,” she said, draping her arms around his neck. “I knew you were trouble the moment I rescued you from those bickering blondes, and you’ve been a handful ever since.”

  “And now you have the distinct honor of being my one and only.” He kissed the tip of her nose then her cheeks. “Baby, let’s go inside. I have something to show you.”

  Her gaze dropped to his lap and a smirk curled her lips. “I know. I can feel it!”

  Chuckling, Chase scooped her up in his arms and set off for the house, marveling at the woman who’d captured his heart in Ibiza with just one kiss.

  Chapter 20

  “I’m late... I can’t believe it...what am I going to do?” Geneviève burst into Demi’s home office on Thursday afternoon with tears in her eyes, speaking in a loud, feverish voice. “This couldn’t have happened at a worst time...my wedding is only a few months away, and I’ve already bought my dress”

  Frowning, Demi spun around on her chair and stared at her sister. Her lightweight maxi dress was wrinkled, her nose was running, and she was talking so fast, Demi couldn’t understand a word she was saying. “Gigi, I’m recording,” she mouthed, gesturing to Esmerelda, who was standing in the corner of the room, pointing her iPhone at them. “Let’s go talk in my bedroom.”

  “You don’t understand. This is serious. I need your help.”

  Her confusion grew. Geneviève either didn’t understand her or didn’t care because she continued venting, seemingly oblivious to Esmerelda, who was still recording them.

  “Gigi, slow down. You’re not making any sense.”

  Demi gestured for Esmerelda to put her cell phone away, but she shook her head. She’d come over an hour earlier to help Demi brainstorm new ideas for her YouTube channel and now they were live streaming about makeup trends.

  “Demi, I’ve been on the pill for years and I’ve never ever been late. Not once.”

  Standing, Demi shielded Geneviève with her body and cast a glance over her shoulder. Esmerelda, turn off the camera, she mouthed. I don’t want this shared online.

  “Too late. I was already streaming when Gigi came in and it’s too late to stop.” Esmerelda looked at her with wide-eyed innocence then shrugged a shoulder. “Demi, this is real life, and these honest, frank conversations are what your followers are dying to see.”

  “Turn it off now,” Demi said through clenched teeth. “I’m serious.”

  “No way! This is better than the season finale of Grey’s and I have a front row seat!”

  Annoyed, Demi turned her attention back to her sister, who was pacing the length of the room, mumbling to herself about late-night cravings and heartburn. Demi grabbed Genevieve’s hand, dragged her into her bedroom and slammed the door in Esmerelda’s face. Alone now, Demi spoke to her sister, her tone sympathetic. “Gigi, relax. There could be a half dozen reasons for why your period’s late.”

  “Really?” she asked, a hopeful expression on her face. “Like what?”

  Demi thought for a moment, remembered an article she’d read about the topic months earlier, and shared what she’d learned. “Stress, weight gain or loss, inflammation and even thyroid issues can throw off your hormones and affect your cycle at any given time.”

  Biting down on her bottom lip, Geneviève wrung her hands and shifted her feet.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so upset. You love Roderick and all you ever talk about is marrying him and having his babies.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to be a pregnant bride,” she confessed, raking a hand through her wild, tangled tresses. “I know I’m being vain, and I’m usually not that girl, but I want to look fit and fabulous on my wedding day, not like a beached whale with swollen hands and feet.”

  “You’re overwhelmed with wedding planning. That’s why you’re late. Don’t sweat it.”

  “Demi, can you go to the store and buy me a pregnancy test?” she asked, twisting her engagement ring. “I was going to get one, but I was scared someone would recognize me. Then the story will be all over the internet and that’s the last thing I want.”

  “Geneviève, it’s obvious you need a break, so sit down and I’ll go make you a cup of chai tea.”

  “No,” she insisted, raising her voice. “Go to the pharmacy and buy me every pregnancy test they have.”

  “Sweetie, there’s no need. I have tons of tests here. Digital Pregnancy is one of my official sponsors and every few months they send me their newest products.” Demi opened the closet, retrieved a purple container from the bottom shelf and opened it. She grabbed a test and handed it to her sister. “Here you go, Gigi. Knock yourself out.”

  Genevieve didn’t move. “I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be.” Standing, Demi rubbed her shoulders. “You have an amazing fiancé who thinks the world of you, and regardless of what the test says, that will never change. Roderick loves you and he’ll be over the moon if you’re preggo, so try not to stress about it.”

  “If you say so, but if I’m pregnant, Mom will kill me.”

  “She sure will! Althea doesn’t play!” she teased, trying to make her laugh.

  It didn’t work. Genevieve’s face was long and her disposition reeked of despair.

  Rap music filled the air, drawing Demi’s gaze to her desk. She knew from the Cardi B ringtone that it was Chase on the line. She made a mental note to call him back and hoped he wouldn’t be in a meeting when she did.

  It had been two weeks since the Hamptons Women’s Society’s Annual Tea, but it felt like months had passed since her showdown with Mrs. Crawford at the Maidstone Club. These days, she practically lived at Chase’s estate and loved discovering new things about her boyfriend. Confiding in him about the pain of her past relationship had brought them even closer together. And every time he kissed her, they ended up making love—on the couch, in the shower, on his office desk. Demi couldn’t get enough of him, and just thinking about his gentle caress aroused her.

  “I—I—I changed my mind,” Geneviève stammered. “I can’t do this.”

  “You can and you will.” Demi bent down, grabbed another test out of the container and tapped it against
the box Geneviève was holding in her hands. “Come on. We’ll do it together.”

  Fine lines creased her sister’s forehead. “Why? Are you late, too?”

  “Girl, please, I’m always late,” she said with a laugh. “My hormones have been out of whack for years, but that’s another story.”

  “Really? Why didn’t you say anything? I could have referred you to my doctor. She’s—”

  “Quit stalling. I want to know if I’ll be an auntie later this year, so go take the test.”

  Geneviève opened the bedroom door and Esmerelda fell inside. Scrambling to her feet, she followed Geneviève down the hallway, talking a mile a minute. Demi went into her master en suite, took the test and stuck the applicator in the back pocket of her blue skinny jeans.

  Returning to the office seconds later, she swiped her cell off the desk and typed in her password. Glad she was alone, she listened to Chase’s voice-mail message and laughed out loud. Yesterday she’d taken homemade cookies to the Mobile Entertainment office and twenty-four hours later he was still raving about them. He wanted them to have lunch at his office, but Demi read between the lines. Food wasn’t on his mind, but Demi loved the idea of seeing Chase in the middle of the workday and decided to accept his invitation.

  Someone shrieked and Demi raced out of the office. She found Geneviève and Esmeralda in the hallway, hugging and laughing. She smiled. Esmerelda was holding her beloved iPhone, pointing it at Geneviève’s face, and Demi suspected her girlfriend was still live streaming.

  “I really wanted to be an aunt,” Demi teased. “But something tells me you’re not pregnant.”

  “No, thank God!” Geneviève wiped imaginary sweat from her brow. “What a relief.”

  Demi kissed her cheek. “See? You were worried for nothing.”

  Esmerelda plucked the test applicator out of Demi’s back pocket and raised it in the air. “But you should be. Chiquita, you’re pregnant!”

  “Yeah, right,” Demi scoffed, sticking out her tongue. “And Rihanna’s my first cousin.”