by Tesa Devlyn
She picked up her phone. Eight o’clock and no word from Michael. Well, if he couldn’t understand she had to value every client, she didn’t know what to say.
So what if he was the sexiest man she’d ever met? She’d be damned if she’d live with someone who didn’t understand her needs. The gin and tonic tasted far too good and went down far too fast. She mixed another and settled into the club chair, her feet on the ottoman. She clicked through the cable channels, her mind only half on what she saw.
Cable was a luxury she’d denied Brittany. Homework took enough time without the temptation of one hundred and fifty stations.
She signed and glanced around the room. The past few months had been crazy with business and the remodel. Here she could soak up some peacefulness. Liana leaned back and closed her eyes. Tonight she’d indulge in a couple cocktails; dinner downstairs.
Michael’s face flashed through her mind. Dinner with him would have been marvelous. No kids, the anonymity of the hotel. Wow, what a fantasy. If only he understood her position, how she was a single mom with huge obligations.
She opened her eyes and gazed at the music video channel she’d selected. Damn, why had she lost it with him? Why so self-defensive? A nice explanation about the importance of each closing would have sufficed.
Oh well. Michael would finish her house, move onto the next project and her head would clear. She’d focus on Brittany and their new life in Montana. She’d focus on decorating her house for Thanksgiving so when her family arrived, they’d stop believing she lived in some cabin in the woods with no plumbing.
She giggled at the image of her mother’s expression if Liana told her the bathroom was out back.
A firm rap on the door startled her.
The drink sloshed over the side of the glass and trickled down the back of her hand. She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her hand and her sleeve. Great, she’d reek of alcohol. Pushing out of the chair, she wobbled on her feet.
“Whoa.” Two cocktails on an empty stomach hit her with both barrels.
A louder, more insistent tap irritated her. “I’m coming!” She aimed for to the door, using the furniture and the wall for stability. A glance through the peephole ignited a familiar wave of heat. “Michael.”
“Can I come in?”
She unlocked the door and inched it open. “Hi.”
He blocked the opening with his foot. “Before you close the door in my face, I’m sorry I came down on you this afternoon. I don’t have a right to dictate your time.”
“No, you don’t and I accept your apology.” She smiled, floating on the gin. He’d showered and shaved and dressed in form fitting jeans and a crisp white cotton shirt.
She moved out of the way. “Come in.”
He slipped between her and the closet door. His familiar musky-spicy cologne made her body tingle. He stopped at the foot of the king-sized bed before he turned to face her. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me after the way we left things this evening.”
“I wasn’t sure either.” Liana gripped the wall and wove her way toward him. “We have some differences we can’t seem to get past.”
“Can’t isn’t in my vocabulary. I’m not ready to give up.”
He looked so damned good, so heartbreakingly handsome, Liana’s resolve to keep things simple and uncomplicated, slipped. “Normally it’s not in mine either, but there are issues we have to settle.”
Snap up, Liana, she schooled herself. Don’t go soft just because the man looks hotter than the pavement on the Forth of July.
The sight of him affected her more than the alcohol.
He shoved his fingers into the front pockets of his form fitting jeans. “So, are we still on for tonight?”
“Are you hungry?” She giggled and held her hand over her mouth. Where had that come from?
One corner of Michael’s mouth kicked up in the sexy grin she loved so much. “Looks like I missed happy hour, but to answer your question, yeah, I’m very hungry.” He swept an intense gaze up and down her body.
Liana instantly went hot. What happened to her? A minute ago she’d made it clear they had problems they couldn’t get past. Making love would complicate things to the max. She tamped down her libido and lifted her chin. “We could check out the hotel restaurant. I’ve heard it’s good.”
“Then let’s do it—have dinner.”
The room rippled before her eyes, Michael wavered with it.
“You haven’t eaten today, have you?” He stepped toward her and gripped her shoulders. “Ms. Campbell, you’re sloshed.”
She dropped her chin to her chest. “I know. I’m embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. You work too hard and let down your defenses too seldom. When you’re with me, you’re safe.”
A warmth that had nothing to do with alcohol or passionate thoughts, stole over her. He was so much more than a handsome man. Michael was a solid, dependable man who knew how to treat a lady.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Moisture gathered in her eyes. “I do feel safe with you.”
Dinner was magic. Michael lavished her with attention from seating her, to focusing on every word she said. Candles cast a golden glow over the table and deepened the bronze richness of Michael’s skin.
He ordered a bottle of wine, but wouldn’t pour her a glass until she’d eaten her salad and a piece of bread.
“Okay, I have to try that vintage. I’m better. I promise.”
Michael smiled his special smile and poured her wine. “All right, but take it easy. I won’t be accused of taking advantage of you.”
Liana eyed him over the rim of her wine glass. Wow, what a lead in. With a simple response, she’d ensure a passion-filled night. “If something of that nature happens between us, Mr. Saxon, you might be the one who’s taken advantage of.”
Michael smirked. “You’re a naughty woman, Ms. Campbell. Which reminds me—I’m curious—what made you keep your maiden name when you married?” He picked up another piece of bread and slathered it with whipped herb butter.
Liana took a sip of wine and set her glass on the white linen tablecloth. “I wasn’t in love with Frank, so I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.”
Michael’s elbow connected with his bread plate and his knife skittered across the table. “You married a man you didn’t love? Why?”
“Brittany doesn’t know any of this, so if I tell you, you have to promise never to tell her or anyone.”
Michael leaned his forearms on the table and squinted one eye at her. “Liana, you should know me better than that. I’d never tell Brittany anything of such a personal nature. Anything about your past life is your business.”
Liana took a deep breath. If any hope of a relationship with him existed, she had to feed Michael the truth of her past. He deserved to know what he might be getting into. “Frank isn’t Brittany’s biological dad.” She paused, and searched his amber eyes for disgust or disbelief. He didn’t blink.
“Go on.”
“I was in love with Frank’s brother, Jack Nash.”
Michael’s dark brows shot up. “That explains it.”
“What?”
“When I decided to take Oscar home, I looked for the cat carrier in Brittany’s room. I accidentally bumped her photo album and knocked out some pictures. One of them was of a man I thought had to be Frank, until I turned it over and read, Uncle Jack.”
“Brittany looks so much like Jack. It ate at Frank. He never mentioned it, but I’m sure he hoped the baby would look like me, so he wouldn’t have to be constantly reminded she wasn’t really his.”
His mouth set in a firm line. Liana realized what he must think. “Oh, I wasn’t married to Frank when I got pregnant. I was engaged to Jack.”
“Go on.”
She leaned toward him. “I found out I was pregnant not long before Jack shipped out to the Persian Gulf. I decided to wait to tell him about the baby and accept his proposal. I waited too long. His plane malfunctioned during a tr
aining mission and he was killed.”
Michael reached across the table and grasped her forearm. “I’m so sorry.”
The pesky tears she’d become an expert at shedding didn’t appear. For the first time, discussing Jack’s accident was more bittersweet than sad. Did Michael have something to do with the change?
“My father’s a career Navy man. He’s retired now, but when my brothers and I were growing up, he was gone all the time. My parents divorced.” She smiled at Michael. “Are you on overload yet?”
“Not at all.” His voice was deep and soft. “I want to learn all the deep things about Liana Campbell.”
“You’re amazing.” She grasped his hand. “Most men would have excused themselves by now, and I’d never see them again.”
“Has that happened to you?”
“Truthfully, I haven’t been this close to anyone.” She cleared her throat. “Back to why I didn’t tell Jack. I found out my father had an affair, and that’s what ended my parent’s marriage. I didn’t want to marry a military man. I didn’t want to stay home and raise my children alone, worry about him dying, or cheating on me. Both scenarios frightened me enough to refuse Jack every time he discussed marriage. Believe me, when I got the news, I regretted my hesitancy.”
“So how did Frank come into this?”
Liana went on to tell him about Frank’s crush on her and his jealousy toward Jack. How Frank comforted her at the funeral, and how she let down her guard and told him about the baby. His solution to marry seemed like the right thing. She wouldn’t be a single mother, and Brittany would legally have Jack’s name. Without Jack, she’d never love again anyway. She might as well be content.
“Were you content?” He fingered the inside of her hand, his gaze warm and intense in the candlelight.
“Rarely. I made a big mistake marrying someone I wasn’t head over heels in love with. Marriage is too intimate of a relationship for lukewarm feelings.”
Their dinner arrived. Michael thanked the server and poured more wine.
“So, I get more?” Liana smiled, her heart lighter than it’d been for a long time. Telling Michael about her life with Frank had a cathartic effect.
“I think you can handle more.” He winked at her. “Besides, I don’t want you to get too serious. This is a date, after all.”
“It is, isn’t it?” She took a bite of sautéed scallops and moaned. “Oh, my gosh, this is so good.” She lifted her wine glass and clinked it with his. “The wine is great and the company exceptional.”
“To this evening.” He took a sip, his eyes smoldering. After a long moment, he set his glass on the table and picked up his fork. “Do you plan to tell Brittany the truth?”
“I’ve wanted to so many times. For all his foibles, Brittany loves her dad. I’m petrified over how she might react. Will she side with Frank and want to live with him?”
“Why would she blame you for the divorce?”
Liana could swear the blood left her head. This was where she should tell him about Ryan, but how could she in public? She grappled to cover her panic. “Because I didn’t love him, Frank blames me for the divorce.”
“Sounds to me like you’re transferring your parent’s marital problems to your life and how it worked out. You blame your dad for their divorce. Have you seen much of him since?”
Pain pierced Liana’s heart. “No. I haven’t. Oh, my gosh, hearing it put like that does make the two situations seem closer.”
“We’re all shaped by the events in our lives, Liana. It’s how we learn.” He patted his mouth with the linen napkin. “You can’t help but judge one outcome by the other. Is your dad coming up for Thanksgiving?”
Liana sighed. “Brittany asked me the same thing. Come to think of it, so did Shari. I honestly don’t know. I don’t have his phone number, and Mom hasn’t mentioned him.”
“Making peace with your dad could help you and Brittany make peace with the decision you made sixteen years ago. Think about it.”
Liana slowly ate the rest of her dinner. Michael was not only handsome and sexy, he was very intelligent. No one had ever “gotten” her like he did.
They opted to pass on dessert and took coffee to Liana’s room.
The moment Michael closed the door, the intimacy of the bedroom wrapped around them. Without a word they set their coffee mugs on the small table in front of the window and faced each other. Liana pressed her lips to his. Her need bordered the edge of desperation.
She raked her fingers through his hair and down his neck to bracket his shoulders. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy some kisses and caresses.
Michael’s testosterone went into over drive. He deepened the kiss and cupped her bottom, lifted her against him. Liana’s legs came around his hips and set him on fire. He carried her to the bed, and gently lowered her to the comforter, following until her breasts pressed against his chest, her curves dipped and raised in just the right places.
Slow it down, Saxon. You didn’t want to go too far, too fast.
Damn, he’d been on his own for three years and was on the verge of combustion. They were both consenting adults. He didn’t plan to walk away tomorrow. He cared far more than that.
So why did he start cooling down?
He tore his mouth from hers. “Liana.”
“Hmm?” She rocked against him.
“I want you, baby, but I need to be sure you’re ready for a deeper commitment. The sex will be damn good, but it won’t resolve anything else.”
Liana opened her eyes, her mossy green irises dreamy. “Why do you have to be so wise?”
She released a huge sigh, pulled away and lay on her back. She flopped her arm over her eyes. “Damn, damn, damn. Why do we have to think about tomorrow?”
“Because that’s who we are.” Michael took her arm off her face and gazed into her eyes. “We’re not kids anymore and we’re not irresponsible. Isn’t that why we’re no longer with our exes?”
Liana chuckled. “Good point.” She sighed again. “So where do we go from here?”
Michael rolled to his back and laced his fingers over his chest. “Believe me, I have to use every bit of self control not to finish what we started. We’ve been through relationships that started for the wrong reasons. We need to be sure this is what we really want and not just good sex.”
Liana rolled to her side and propped her head with one hand. “You’re a strong man. Good sex sounds like just what I need right now.” Tears spilled from her eyes and her shoulders shook with a sob.
“Whoa now, what brought this on? Come here.” He gathered her into his arms and stroked her hair. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry, but it feels so good to lean on you, Michael. Frank doesn’t let up. He’s called either me or Brittany every day since I moved. He lays a guilt trip on Brittany and threatens me. On top of that, my house is torn apart, my entire family is coming for Thanksgiving, and I can’t let down or I won’t have the money to finish the repairs and remodel.”
“Your house will be ready for Thanksgiving.”
Liana buried her face in his crisp, white shirtfront. “I trust you, Michael.” She gazed at him and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “You have such deep qualities. I see it in how you interact with the kids. Being with you would be far more than sex with a handsome hunk.”
Michael pushed a lock of blonde hair off her forehead. “So, I’m a handsome hunk?” He couldn’t stop a grin, or the warmth stealing into his heart.
“It can’t be a revelation.” Liana stared at him long and hard. “I’m sure you’ve heard it countless times, but you’re more than handsome. You’re solid and caring and good. That’s why I’m so attracted to you.”
“I’m very attracted to you. I want to spend time with you, and not just once every couple of weeks. I won’t accept a casual relationship. Not for me and not for our children.” He brushed a kiss across her brow. “Our work schedules have to mesh.”
“Michael, I want to slow down. I want to pu
rsue my design career. But I can’t right now.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Part of the reason I work so much—is because of the alimony I pay Frank.”
“Alimony?” He jerked up on his elbow. “You’ve got to be kidding. I thought he had some big shot software career and paid a healthy child support for Brittany.”
“He made good money until the dot com crash. After he lost his job, I supported us until he found another position. I stayed until we were financially back on our feet. I might have stayed longer, but…well, he’s never paid child support.”
“How did you end up paying alimony?”
She pursed her lips. “He claimed the divorce was my fault. He refused to give me a dime, even for Brittany’s care. Instead he sends her money directly along with gift cards for department stores because he doesn’t want me to benefit.” She rolled on her back and waved her arms in the air. “I gave up a successful design career to move north with him. Ironic how I pay him support.”
“I don’t get it. How did the court rule you at fault? Wasn’t the divorce on the grounds of incompatibility?”
She covered her face with both hands. “Can we not discuss this anymore tonight?”
He pulled one hand from her face and kissed the corner of her mouth. “If that’s what you want.” She held something back, he could sense it, but he didn’t have a right to push—not yet. He rolled to the other edge of the bed and stood to tuck his shirttails back into his jeans. “Liana, I want to spend more time with you. I won’t lie about where my head’s been lately.” He glanced at the rumpled bed and back. “I want our relationship to move to an intimate level. If there’s something I should know before that happens...I hope you share it.”
Liana scrambled off the bed, and stared at him over the expanse of the white comforter. “I want to spend more time with you too, but I’m not ready to open up completely. I hope you understand.”
Michael smiled and backed to the door. “I’m not giving up. Sweet dreams.”
Chapter Eight
Courtney Cummings called Liana shortly after seven the next morning and jarred her from a crazy jumble of dreams involving Jack, Frank and Michael. She and Courtney made plans to meet for breakfast to go over the offers the Cummings had been forced to increase. Their urgency coupled with a sleepless night, made Liana stress out.