Chemistry of Desire

by Melanie Schuster

  Emily hid her sly smile of triumph before turning away from the closet. “You bet. It’ll be really nice to see him again. Now, where are my beautiful nieces? When do Alex and Cameron get home from school?” She kept up a steady stream of chatter as she and Lucie went up to the girls’ bedroom to see if they were awake and ready to play. Her Blackberry rang while she was walking and when she saw Todd’s name on the caller ID, she smirked in triumph.

  “Hello?” She sounded airy and carefree, as if she was actually glad to hear his voice.

  “Hello, Emily. I told you I was going to call today. How are you doing?”

  She rolled her eyes at his lack of panache. “Just fine, thanks, and you?”

  They had a brief conversation and she was as pleasant as possible, even a bit flirtatious. She wanted him to be completely off his guard when she put her plan into action. There was no reason for him to suspect that she was going to bring him down and enjoy doing it. Step one of the plan was in motion; now she had to find something classy and sexy to wear for the evening.

  Todd was getting dressed to go to his brother’s house when he realized that he was nervous at the prospect of seeing Emily. It was taking him like five times longer to get ready than it normally did, for one thing. His usual routine was to take a quick shower and throw on whatever was clean. It should have taken him less time than that because he’d already had a shower that day. Feeling that he wanted to have a fresh start with Emily and make the best impression possible, he took the time to lay his clothes out on the bed before taking his second shower of the day. He’d put his foot in it a couple of times already. Last night had been the zenith of his stupid behavior, and he was determined to look and act his best tonight. This might be the last chance he had to get into her good graces, and he couldn’t blow it.

  When he arrived at Billie and Jason’s he was sartorially splendid in an expensive pair of wool slacks and a cashmere pullover that had been a gift from Billie the previous Christmas. Jason opened the door and gave him a diabolical grin as he looked him up and down.

  “Don’t you look cute in your nice coat,” he drawled. “And you brought wine, too. If I didn’t know you I’d think you were a perfect gentleman.”

  Todd was in no mood for his older brother’s jokes. “Screw you,” he muttered. “Where’s Billie?”

  He took off his overcoat and tossed it at Jason as he went in search of his gorgeous sister-in-law, finding her in the kitchen. Kissing her on the cheek, he asked what he could do to help her.

  “Not much, sweetie. You could toss the green salad if you want to. Everything else is done.” Her eyes widened as she looked at the two bottles of wine he’d selected. “Wow, this is really nice. Thanks, Todd.”

  “I thought you might like it,” he said with a smile. He washed his hands and went right to work on the salad. When Jason entered the room, he looked even more amused by his brother.

  “I’ve never seen you so domestic before,” he said. “You must be trying to impress somebody.”

  Jason’s in-laws joined in the conversation, which was a relief to Todd. Lee Phillips was a lovely, calm woman he admired. “You look very handsome, Todd, but you always do,” she said, tilting her face for his customary kiss on the cheek.

  Her husband, Boyd, was more inclined to razz Todd, just as Jason had. “Who could you be trying to impress? Since we’re all old married folks, it must be Ayanna’s little sister,” he said drolly. “You need some tips on how to impress a lady? Because Jason and I can probably help a brother out in that regard. All you have to do is ask.”

  “I’m good, Boyd. I think I can handle this,” Todd said with a smile.

  Billie handed the wine to Jason. “I’m going upstairs for a minute. Don’t pick on your brother. And Daddy, don’t you pick on Todd, either. In fact, why don’t you get the door. That’s probably Nick and Dakota.” She went upstairs, her father and mother went to the door and Jason continued his lighthearted harassment.

  “I know I’m getting all in your business but I can’t help it, man. You gave me a real hard time when I fell for Billie, as I recall, so I have to return the favor. It looks to me like you’re trying to get on Emily’s good side tonight, am I right?”

  “Yeah, so what if I am?” Todd looked up from the salad with a frown.

  “I’m just giving you a hard time, bro. Much like you did when I was making a fool out of myself over Billie,” he reminded him. “You look good, almost as good as me. So why don’t you leave that to me and go handle coats or something. Emily and the rest of them should be here any minute. Relax, man, this is going to be a good night.”

  Todd was willing to concede that Jason had been right; it was a great evening. The food, the music, the conversation and the atmosphere were all perfect, but Todd barely noticed. He was too taken with Emily to pay much attention to anything else that was going on. She seemed warm and friendly, instead of being aloof and cold, which was what he deserved and expected from her. He managed to sit across from her at dinner and even though the food was delicious, he would have had a hard time describing the meal to anyone. She looked absolutely beautiful, every part of her. It was the first time that he’d looked at her objectively since she’d cut her hair. He’d been so full of himself last night that all he’d registered about her appearance was the fact that she didn’t look the way he remembered her. The unadorned face and the comfortable clothes had been replaced, along with her natural hair, but what had replaced those things was just as wonderful, now that he took the time to really look.

  Her hair was smooth, but it didn’t look artificial and overdone. She was wearing makeup, but not very much. Even he could see that it was just enough to bring out her features instead of covering her like a mask. Her clothes were certainly different from the things she’d worn on Hilton Head, but they were tasteful and fit her well. He could finally see that she was the same woman, just gently enhanced. This was the same Emily he’d fallen for. And he’d messed that budding relationship up totally. But he was going to put it back together if it was the last thing he ever did.

  The custom was for the men to do the cleaning up, since the women usually did most of the cooking, and tonight was no exception. The ladies were relaxing in the great room, laughing and talking over the dessert the men had served, while the men put away leftovers and loaded the dishwasher. Todd was doing his part to assist, although it was plain from his expression that his mind wasn’t on his task. He was totally concentrated on getting back to Emily’s good side. When she came into the kitchen with a stack of dessert plates and a handful of forks, her arrival made Todd’s face light up.

  “Hi, guys! I thought I’d be useful and save you a trip,” she said cheerfully. Todd took the things from her hands at once, chiding her gently.

  “You should have just left these for us. This is just how we do things here. We wait on you,” he reminded her.

  Jason stepped in and surprised Todd to no end by being helpful for once. “Todd, why don’t you take Emily out and show her the Christmas lights,” he suggested. “Take her down Lakeshore Drive and show her the sights.”

  Todd could only hope that his overwhelming gratitude didn’t make him look like a total fool. Trying for casually debonair, he turned to Emily and asked if she’d like to go.

  “Absolutely,” she said with a big smile. “Let me tell Ayanna and Mom that I’m leaving and I’ll get my coat.”

  “No, I’ll get your coat,” Todd said, following her as she left the room.

  Chapter 14

  It seemed like a corny idea, to go riding around to look at Christmas lights, but it was the perfect opening Emily had been waiting for. She was a bit relieved to leave the house, truth be told. She felt just a little out of place among all the happy, gorgeous married people. Ayanna and Johnny, Billie and Johnny, Nick and Dakota, plus their gorgeous children; it was just a bit much for her. She didn’t have anything in her life to match their domestic bliss; all she had was an abnormal bunch of diplomas and
awards and certifications, most of which weren’t even framed. In addition, she also felt the beginnings of a giant crisis of conscience.

  These were truly decent people who’d managed to find love and were lucky enough to start beautiful families. And here she was, skulking around trying to start some mess. The twinkle of the beautiful Christmas lights down Lakeshore Drive felt like little pricks in her heart or something. Guilt began to nibble at her toes and work its way up her body. But Todd’s cell phone rang, and it wasn’t the same ringtone she remembered from yesterday. It was a musical version of the universally recognized tune from many, many porn movies, the “boom-chicka-wow-wow” sound. And he answered it quickly, instead of ignoring it.

  The woman on the other end was speaking loud enough to wake the dead, so Emily could hear every word. She wanted Todd to come to her place for a late dinner or early breakfast or Roman orgy or something. Emily stared fixedly out the window and deliberately ignored the conversation. The guilt vanished, leaving steely resolve in its place. Any man who had a separate “hot hoochie” ringtone for his adoring fans and who juggled women with no shame was ripe to get taken down. She was actually grateful the call had come in. While she waited for him to get off the phone, she looked around the SUV.

  The interior of Todd’s vehicle was like an intimate cocoon just for the two of them. His iPod provided low, sexy music, and the climate control made it warm and comfortable. Outside, the sparkling lights really were enchanting to observe. Emily willed herself to be relaxed. Although she was pretty angry, she wasn’t practiced in deceit. She wanted to start a casual conversation that sounded genuine, but she didn’t trust herself to do it well. Todd, however, showed no reticence at all. As soon as the call was over, he opened right up.

  “This was the best idea Jason’s ever had, other than marrying Billie. I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he said charmingly. “All night long I’ve been trying to think of a way to get you alone, and this was the perfect opportunity.” He reached over to take her hand, and she was so startled she had to fight the urge to jump.

  “This is nice,” she agreed. “But why did you need to get me alone? That sounds kind of ominous.”

  “On the contrary, I owe you an apology. Many, many apologies, as a matter of fact. And I’ve missed you, Emily. I had one of the best times of my life with you and I screwed it up with my big mouth.”

  She stared at him, glad that the interior darkness made it impossible for him to see the look of disdain on her face. How the hell did men do that? Todd sounded so damned sincere, as if he meant every word he was saying. The guy was good, she’d give him that. “So you missed me and you owe me an apology,” she murmured. “Is that your story?”

  “That would be the condensed version of my story. The long version is that I’ve said things I didn’t mean and I handled things badly and I find you irresistible and I want to get to know you all over again.” He clasped her hand, giving it a firm, gentle pressure.

  Emily hesitated only a second before putting her free hand on top of his and stroking it, using the sensitive tips of her fingers to trace gentle patterns on his warm skin.

  “That sounds like an interesting basis for discussion, at the very least. When do you suggest we get started?” she asked in a voice that she hoped was just low and sexy enough to entice him without sounding ridiculous.

  The sound of his voice when he replied “How about right now” let her know that she had succeeded. So let the game begin.

  “Todd, this place is gorgeous. Did you decorate this yourself?” Emily was looking around his spacious loft with great interest and admiration. After Todd made his “getting to know you better” play, it had taken them a surprisingly short time to get to his building. He put away their coats and turned on the music before going to the kitchen area to pour something to drink while Emily explored the place. She was completely sincere in her compliment; the place was a triumph of modern design.

  It had high ceilings, heated hardwood floors, exterior walls that were the original brick and oxidized copper tiles on the interior walls. Huge windows gave him a great view of the city, and there were even more features and amenities that she’d never seen before.

  “I didn’t do anything but write checks,” Todd admitted. “My sister-in-law, Billie, did all of this. She used to be a model, but now she renovates houses. And I mean she does the contracting work, not just design. Look at these glass tiles in the kitchen. She put them up herself,” he said proudly.

  Emily walked over to take a look. The kitchen was stupendous, and the green glass subway tiles were beautiful. There was a glass counter at the bar that was about an inch thick and travertine marble on the floor. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Emily murmured. “I can tell you from experience that tile is pretty tricky to put up correctly, especially glass tile. I am really impressed. Can I see the rest of it?”

  Todd took her hand and led her around through the rest of the place, consisting of a huge bedroom area, an office space and the bathroom, which looked like a photo in an upscale design magazine. The dwelling was open and airy, yet designed for privacy with opaque glass pocket doors to separate the bed and bath from visitors. Todd seemed pleased with her enjoyment of his home as he led her back to the living room. He seated her on one of his long leather sofas and picked up a remote control.

  “Okay, this is like one of my favorite parts of the place. Watch this,” he said. He pointed the remote at a slate table with a large aquarium on it. It was half-filled with glass pebbles and there was no water and no fish. Suddenly a fire began to flicker, to her surprise. He pointed it at a copper wall sculpture and water began trickling down.

  “Now that’s just brilliant,” Emily said. “Billie can build a house for me any time.”

  Todd was next to her on the sofa by then, using the handy remote to lower all the other lights in the room. “She’s a great contractor and designer and mom. She’s just a fantastic woman, period. She and Jason are so happy together it’s ridiculous. I’ve never known Jason to be so content in his whole life. My brother is an extremely fortunate man to be married to her.”

  Emily didn’t doubt his sincerity, but his words annoyed her for some reason. How hypocritical of Todd to be praising his brother’s marriage when she knew what a whore he was. She sipped her drink moodily and was jarred back to the moment by his hand on hers. She turned to face him with a carefully concealed smile. He was looking at her so intently that she had to break the silence. If he wanted to say something, she’d help him out. She found it difficult to look into his eyes, for some reason, so she fixed her gaze on his lower lip.

  “This is really good, Todd. What is it?”

  “Some organic nonalcoholic spumante I got. Passion fruit and raspberry.”

  “Nonalcoholic? Really?”

  “I can’t be drinking if I’m going to drive you home.” He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. “I couldn’t let anything happen to you.”

  It would have been music to her ears if it had been anybody but Todd speaking the words. It was annoyingly sweet to hear him say them because they meant nothing but they sounded so true. She put her almost-empty glass on the console table behind the sofa and turned to face him. He kept talking to her in that damnably sexy voice.

  “I told you that I owe you some major apologies. First of all, last night’s performance was just ridiculous. I had no business going off on you like that. It was pure jealousy, that’s what it was.”

  Emily looked bemused. “Jealous of Jared? Seriously jealous, Todd? I find that hard to believe.”

  He gave a harsh laugh. “Believe it, baby. I was ready to snap him in half like a twig. I’m not proud of it, but I own it,” he said candidly.

  “That’s just one of my transgressions, as you well know. Last night, I was very negligent in not telling you how gorgeous you are. I was so surprised when I saw you that my common sense took a vacation and instead of complimenting you, I acted like an idiot.” He shook
his head and looked genuinely regretful. “You have to know that I truly thought you were perfect when we were together on Hilton Head. I really did. I meant everything I said to you. You were and are a beautiful, beautiful woman. It just never occurred to me that you could improve on perfection.” He put his hand into her soft hair and stroked it gently.

  Staring at his mouth wasn’t a good idea after all. He had a slightly pouty lower lip that she knew for a fact could work magic, so she tried actually looking into his eyes. Mistake number two. His eyes were filled with what appeared to be honest admiration and real feeling. She’d never really appreciated his eyes, but they were one of his best features. They were large and expressive and fringed with long eyelashes that a lot of women would have killed for, or at the very least, they’d pay a lot of money to attain them. He sounded as if he meant every word he was saying and he looked both sexy and romantic, but she had to ignore that if she wanted to keep the upper hand. She pounced on the last thing he’d said, something about her improving on perfection.

  “If that’s the case, why didn’t you say so? Why did you act like I’d turned into a cheap hoochie?” she asked tartly.

  “Because I’m not that bright,” he admitted. “I don’t blame you for not letting me off the hook. I deserve it. Go ahead and let me have it. Yell at me, talk about me and call me names, whatever you want to do. And when the dust settles, I’ll still be here because I really do want to make a new start with you.”

  She had tried to look away again, but his eyes were so intense she couldn’t do it. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything, Emmie. Words aren’t the only way to show someone what’s on your mind. We already know I don’t do too well with words. I want to show you how I feel about you, because it’s very important to me that you know.”