She stirred. He drew back. But she belonged to someone else. That was a boundary that he had never crossed.
Darnell opened her eyes to find herself staring into Thad’s eyes.
He greeted her softly. “Hello, sleepyhead. You’re home.”
She sat up groggily and surveyed the familiar surroundings. She felt a sense of loss at having left the beauty of Big Sur behind.
Thad escorted her to the front door. They stood in the doorway face to face.
“Today was great, Thad. Thank you so much. I haven’t had so much fun in years.”
“You mean you and your boyfriend don’t do things like this?” He was fishing.
“Oh, there have been good times.” She measured her words carefully. She wasn’t about to let him know that she had never done anything remotely like this with Lance, but Thad was quick. His grin told her that he had guessed the truth.
“I’m determined that the good times will keep rolling. You’re too young to be so serious. You need to lighten up. So if you think today was fun, wait until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Darnell was receptive.
Thad grinned. “Yep, I promise you surprises galore.”
With a wink, he left Darnell standing at her front door wondering what could possibly be next, and looking forward to it.
CHAPTER 9
Thad kept his promise, and for the rest of the week Darnell’s world was filled with a whirlwind named Thad Stewart. They took a tour of the Hearst Castle, where some overzealous fans recognized them and put an early end to that excursion. He took her on a ride through the redwood forest on the Big Trees Railroad, an old steam train that carried its riders to Roaring Camp, an 1880s logging town. There were picnics nestled in hidden coves along the coast, a bike ride on the Monterey Pier, and a trip to the fabulous Monterey Aquarium. On each excursion, they engaged in discussions, from philosophy to celebrity, and they seemed to agree on nothing. At times, their raucous debates sounded more like battles between warring nations.
In Darnell’s opinion, Thad was badly misinformed about nearly everything. He was stubborn and not easily swayed, but she had to admit that he was also quite intelligent. He proved to be a formidable debater, using his silver tongue well. His counterarguments on the topics discussed were insightful and well thought out. He was never reluctant to challenge her position on issues and rarely backed down. It was stimulating.
From kindergarten to college, Darnell had always been the special one, the gifted one. All of her life, she had worn those titles with an air of arrogance. Most people seemed intimidated by her intellect, but not Thad. He enjoyed it. She liked that about him. As a matter of fact, with each passing day she liked him more and more.
Thoughts of the adventurous week they had spent together were on Darnell’s mind as she sat across from him eating dinner. At the end of their latest excursion, they had discovered a Jamaican restaurant in which they now dined. It was nestled on a nondescript side street in Monterey, not far from the Wharf. Over plates of jerk chicken and fried plantains, they talked. Thad’s sense of humor was razor sharp, and he kept Darnell laughing. At his best, the man could charm the devil out of hell.
“You know, Thad, I realize that I sound like a broken record, but I’ve got to tell you again, I haven’t had so much fun in my life.”
Looking up from his plate in time to catch the dazzling smile that Darnell bestowed on him, Thad’s pulse raced into overdrive. He was amazed at her girlish pleasure over simple things. Today, they had gone hiking in the mountains, and she had been like a kid in a candy store. He had been delighted at the pleasure it gave her.
“I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed yourself these past few days, Doe Eyes, I’m here to please.” Thad returned to his meal, unaware that he had uttered the nickname that he had secretly bestowed on her.
Darnell blinked in surprise. Doe Eyes? Where had that come from? It was the first time he had called her that. Yet where she once would have challenged him for calling her something other than her name, she let it pass. What a difference a week had made. With a satisfied sigh, Darnell finished her meal.
Thad caught her sigh of satisfaction. She was happy and so was he. How he had kept his hands off her so far he would never know. But if he spent one more day, hour or minute with her he wasn’t sure his chivalry would last. Darnell had cast her sensuous spell on him.
Sensuous. Yes, she was that. Ray had nailed it.
Last night, he had found himself lying in his hotel suite unable to sleep. Thoughts of Darnell consumed him—the way she looked, the way she smiled, everything she said and did. Darnell was unique, a rare gem, so different from the other women he knew. She was passionate about her beliefs, yet willing to listen to opposite opinions. She seemed to have no pretenses, and she was fearless—willing to try almost anything he suggested. And was she smart! Darnell was one of the most intelligent people he had ever met. She was not only articulate and well read, but she spoke three languages fluently. She took pride in her intellect. He really liked that.
Despite his media persona as a partying playboy, he was no dummy himself. Few people knew that he spoke two foreign languages, played the piano flawlessly, and had graduated from college magna cum laude. Information like that didn’t fit the image. Until now, he had never met a woman who had kept him studying day and night to keep up with a mind so sharp, and he loved every minute of it. No, Darnell was nothing like the empty-headed Hollywood bimbos who constantly threw themselves at him. No, not Darnell.
Oh, she still knew how to irritate the hell out of him when she really wanted to, but she also knew how to excite him. As she sat across the table from him babbling about some political theory that she had formulated, he smiled at the friend he had come to cherish—the woman he had come to love.
Thad jumped, startled at this last thought. His action stopped Darnell in mid-sentence.
“What’s wrong?” Her brow furrowed. “Did something scare you?”
“No, nothing,” he stammered unconvincingly. “Nothing’s wrong.”
Avoiding her gaze, his eyes fell back on his plate. He didn’t want her to see the desire that was becoming more and more difficult to conceal. When the small band that had been setting up when they first arrived began to play, he reached across the table and took Darnell’s hand.
“Come on, let’s dance.”
It didn’t take long for Thad to realize that the invitation was a major mistake. The song that the band played was a love song with a reggae beat, and he was quickly reminded of the sensual skill with which Darnell danced. Every movement of her limber body was calling him like a moth to a burning flame. The closer Thad got, the hotter the fire.
Darnell could also feel the heat. Consumed by the tantalizing beat of the music, she was lost in the joy of dancing until she opened her eyes. The look in Thad’s eyes nearly singed her; it clearly said that he wanted her. Testing the waters, he moved a little bit closer, held her a little bit tighter. She didn’t retreat.
Their bodies flush, the couple moved fluidly, rhythmically, in perfect synchronization. It was as if they were born to dance—together. The music soothed them…moved them…enticed them. And then the music stopped.
Darnell looked around the room to find that she and Thad had become the center of attention.
Someone whispered, “That’s her, that’s Darnell Cameron.”
The ripple of a murmur followed. Someone else added, “And that looks like Thad Stewart.” With those words, they both knew that their day was over.
Reining in his hormones, Thad tossed a wad of bills on the table, took Darnell by the hand, and led her through the restaurant and out the door. They walked to the car in silence, more aware of each other than ever.
With a racing heart and trembling hands, Darnell fumbled for the handle on the car door. Impatiently, she yanked, desperate to escape into the car’s interior.
“Let me in!” she implored, not daring to look at Thad, who stood gazing down at her.
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“That’s what I’m asking you to do.” Thad’s voice was low, calm, in stark contrast to the storm racing through his body. Reaching across her he opened the door for her easily and watched as she slid into the passenger seat. Closing the door after her, he stood for a moment attempting to gather his senses. He had thrown the gauntlet down with his words and actions. What happened after this point was up to her. All he knew was that Darnell Cameron was an aphrodisiac, and he was becoming addicted.
The silence between them continued as they drove to her house, fully aware of the sexual tension between them. At her front door Thad uttered a polite goodbye and quickly left. Darnell gave an audible sigh of relief before going inside.
Safe in her room, she lay across her bed berating herself for allowing Thad Stewart to get close to her. What in the world was her problem? She didn’t have the time or the inclination to become Thad Stewart’s latest conquest. Thank goodness he would be picking up his car tomorrow and driving back to Tiburon. Meanwhile, she had things to do.
Spotting the Sensuous script lying on the nightstand, she picked it up. She hadn’t even had time to sit and read it. Yes, indeed, she had plenty of things to do, and Thad had become a distraction. The man had taken up too much of her time. She had to focus. The spell he had cast over her was temporary. Once he left town, things would get back to normal. That was how she liked things in her life, nice and normal.
CHAPTER 10
“What do you mean that you didn’t get a chance to ask her? You were in Carmel for a week!” On the other end of the telephone line, Ray sounded incredulous. “What in the hell were you doing?” He paused. “On second thought, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
Thad sighed. “It wasn’t like that, man.” And it wasn’t, but he had no way of explaining to Ray how it was.
Less than twenty-four hours earlier, he had picked up his sports car from Mr. Hazelwood and driven out of the Monterey Peninsula like a bat out of hell. He had been running scared. Darnell Cameron was evoking emotions in him that he had difficulty comprehending. Lust he could rationalize, but this tug at his heart whenever he was near her was different from anything he had felt for a woman before. Nevertheless, he tried to provide Ray with an explanation.
“I’ve been trying to soften her up a bit, get her to like me. You know we haven’t been getting along…”
“That’s no revelation,” Ray said with a sigh of disgust. “But how long does it take to ask one simple question? Man, if you ask me…”
“Which I didn’t.”
“Yeah, but I’m going to tell you anyway. I think you’re just using the movie as an excuse to get in the woman’s panties.”
Thad grew defensive. “I’m just trying to get the job done, Ray. That’s all.”
“Uh huh,” Ray sneered. “And when do you plan on getting this job done?”
“Well, uh…”
“It’s not that hard, Thad. Just ask the woman to read the script and consider doing the movie. All she can say is yes or no. We’d like to start production in this century.”
Ray hung up, frustrated and skeptical. Thad knew that he had the right to be. Time was money, and he was wasting time. It was all too unsettling. He had taken the coward’s way out—escape. He was more of a man than that. He had to face Darnell. As far as he was concerned, the script had become secondary. At this point, Darnell Cameron and what he was feeling for her had become the primary concern in his life. He had to see her again.
* * *
It was done. The missing product had been traced to its source, an associate of his contact in Columbia who had objected to the liaison that had been brokered by Moody. Unfortunately for the fellow, his solution had been to try and steal product to set up his own personal deal. The result had been the loss of his life as well as those of his entire family. The Columbian cartel had mercy on no one and left no loose ends.
The crisis was over, and Moody was glad. It would take a little while longer to clean things up here on the East Coast before he could get back to the Monterey Peninsula and continue executing his plans. Soon—very soon—he would be near her again. This time, nothing and no one would stand in his way.
* * *
Thad was gone. Darnell had expected to hear from him the day that he picked up his car, but she didn’t. He had left Carmel without a word.
She had been annoyed at herself for feeling disappointed. After all, much to her surprise, they had become friends, and that was darn near a miracle considering where they had started. She had never expected it to happen.
She had been in her room berating herself for missing him when the buzzer at the front gate rang. It turned out to be a delivery person holding the largest box of flowers that she had ever seen. As she lifted the box lid, she gasped at the two dozen yellow roses laying in an array of colorful tissue paper. Written across the gold-trimmed card were two words—For You. There was no signature, but Darnell wasn’t surprised. That was Thad—unpredictable.
A few hours later, another box of yellow roses arrived. There were three dozen this time, again with no signature. There were three words scribbled on the card this time—For You, Again.
As Darnell retired that evening, she glanced at the flowers displayed on the fireplace mantel and smiled. Thad Stewart had turned out to be a much different man than she had thought. His thoughtfulness in sending the roses had touched her, and a few days later when she went to the beach for her morning run, there he was, sitting on the water’s edge waiting for her.
It was hard to ignore the skip of her heartbeat as she watched Thad slowly stand to his full height and flash that dimpled smile. He looked almost boyish as he spread his arms and yelled, “Surprise!” It was indeed.
“What are you doing here?”
Thad took a step closer. Could it be possible? Was she glad to see him? He knew that he was glad to see her. His heart had been racing all the way to Carmel. He kept his hands jammed in his sweatshirt pockets so that she wouldn’t see them shaking.
“I’m here to go jogging,” he answered evenly. He wanted to tell her how hard it had been to stay away.
Darnell cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, I see. You couldn’t go jogging in Tiburon?”
Thad shook his head. “I don’t have a jogging partner in Tiburon.”
For some reason, the seriousness with which he answered her question struck Darnell as funny. She laughed. “You can’t get enough, can you?”
Thad watched the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, the way she threw her head back, hunched her shoulders and put her entire body into the joy of the moment. How he had missed her.
“No.” His voice was husky. “I can’t.”
His words stopped her laughter. Her heart began to thump against her chest, and her mouth felt dry. But she kept her calm façade. “And you think you can keep up with me?”
Thad nodded, unable to trust his own voice. With a shrug, Darnell began to stretch. Thad joined her, and then further surprised her when they started jogging and he kept up during the entire distance. Although winded at the end, he didn’t seem any worse for his efforts, and his grin was as wide as the ocean when Darnell complimented him on his improvement.
At the house, Mrs. Sharon welcomed Thad happily. They teased each other as he settled his frame at the table in the kitchen while Darnell went upstairs to take a shower.
“Are you going to join us?” asked Mrs. Sharon as she moved about the kitchen fixing breakfast.
Thad shrugged. “Thanks, I’d like to, but I’m all sweaty from the jog. I’ll tell you what, I’ve got some sweats outside in the car, and I’ll go get them and freshen up, if you don’t mind. Then I can really chow down.”
When he returned to the kitchen with his overnight bag, Mrs. Sharon led him to a bedroom suite located near Darnell’s office. “You can clean up in here,” she said, directing him inside. “This is Mr. Austin’s room. There should be some toiletries in here.”
Mrs. Sharon was out the door before
it registered with Thad what she had said. Mr. Austin’s room? He was so shocked by the revelation that for a moment he stood speechless. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. Repeating her words in his head, he turned them over carefully and examined them. Lance slept in a separate bedroom from Darnell and on a different floor. What was that about?
He wanted to go to Mrs. Sharon and ask so badly that he had to force himself to stay in the room. As he stood under the shower, a million questions raced through his head. Was there trouble in paradise? He could only hope.
He knew that the resentment he felt against Lance Austin was irrational, but he didn’t care. Lance had Darnell’s heart, and he envied that. He wanted to respect their relationship, but he was finding that increasingly difficult to do.
Despite his reputation with the ladies, he had never made a move on another man’s woman. He’d known as he was headed to Carmel that morning that his attraction to Darnell had spiraled out of control, but his need to see her again was so strong that reason hadn’t been a consideration. He wasn’t sure what to expect and had been thrilled by the positive reception. Never had he expected to hear anything like the statement made by Mrs. Sharon about Lance. He had the distinct feeling that what she divulged hadn’t been accidental. It looked as though this trip would reap more benefits than he had imagined.
After his shower, he hurried to get dressed and rejoin Mrs. Sharon. Maybe she had some additional information she might like to share.
When Darnell returned to the kitchen, she found her housekeeper fussing over a refreshed and invigorated Thad. He was helping Mrs. Sharon make pancakes, and she was grinning from ear to ear. It was obvious that he had lost none of his appeal with the ladies.
Singing a Song... Page 7