He shrugged. “I’m a Montgomery now. In my mind, I’ve always been a Montgomery. My life began the day my mother married Adam.”
She smiled. “I wish I’d known Adam. He sounds like such a remarkable man.”
“He was.”
“What was Joshua like?”
This time, Terrel’s expression did change. Hard lines crossed his face, his brown eyes turned dark. Obviously, this topic wasn’t welcome. She squirmed in her chair, awaiting his response.
“Joshua and Adam were exactly opposite. Even now, I wondered if Joshua had been a legitimate son. I was more like Adam than Joshua.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He flipped his hand through the air and relaxed in his chair. “But it doesn’t matter now. Joshua’s death was a relief to both my mother and me. We didn’t know what would have happened to Montgomery’s Aisle if Joshua had taken over.”
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what was wrong with Joshua?”
“He was crazy. Loony. Not to mention a very wicked man. In fact, I think it was Joshua who’d given Adam the heart-attack that finally killed him.”
She gasped. “Why, what happened?”
“Adam found out about Joshua’s gambling habits. That wasn’t too bad, but the next day Adam discovered another one of Joshua’s bad vices.” He paused, but only for a moment. “Joshua was heavily into cocaine, and he was depleting his inheritance.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very. Mother knew about it, but she kept it from Adam in fear of what the news would do to his bad heart. Adam confronted Joshua, and Joshua laughingly admitted to his drug problem. Right then, Adam had an attack. The next day, he died.”
A sob tore loose from her throat, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
He scrubbed his hand around his neck. “You didn’t know. Right after the funeral, Joshua’s habit got out of control and so mother had him put in a drug rehabilitation clinic. Joshua escaped and came home. While we were at work, Joshua had a little party in the kitchen and overdosed.”
She reached across the table and touched Terrel’s hand. “I’m sorry to make you talk about it. I’ll never bring it up again.”
He turned his hand over and clasped her fingers. “You didn’t know, but the memories are so painful I’d rather forget.”
She nodded. Now she couldn’t wait to get home and kick that lying so-called future-man out of her house.
* * * *
Kendra stepped into her apartment and slammed the door. All the curtains had been pulled closed on the windows, only a few lights were on in the front room.
She stood in the hallway, listening for Eli’s movement. A heavenly aroma wafted from the kitchen and pots clanked together. After throwing her keys and purse on the small table, she marched into the kitchen…and stopped dead in her tracks. Eli stood by the stove, stirring a wooden spoon around inside a pan. She sucked in a quick breath. My kitchen is dirty! But when she studied him more, that thought vanished.
From his appearance, he looked as if he’d just taken a shower. His wet hair swept away from his face and hung down his neck. Although he wore a new pair of jeans and a shirt (that actually matched), his feet were bare, once again. He looked so cozy standing in her kitchen...so cozy she wanted to cuddle him next to her. Yeah, cuddle him right out of the apartment, her mind argued.
He turned his head toward her and her gaze dropped. His opened shirt showed the ripples of muscles on his hard chest and stomach. His skin looked naturally golden; touched by the sun, and not a hair was visible.
Her mouth turned cotton dry and she wished he didn’t look so incredible right now. She forced her gaze to meet his eyes, reminding herself how angry she’d been. He smiled, and her traitorous heart started to melt. No. I can’t let that happen!
“Hi,” he said. “I hope you like Fettuccine Alfredo and chicken.”
Her heart slipped another notch. He cooks, too!
She shook her head, trying to focus on her anger, but he dipped the spoon in the saucepan and brought it to her. Up this close, his spicy cologne nearly made her knees buckle.
“Here, taste this and tell me what you think.”
Hypnotized, she kept her eyes on his and obediently opened her mouth. When he slipped the warm spoon inside and the cream coated her lips and tongue, her heart took on a different rhythm. The thermostat in her body grew steadily. Taking it slow, he pulled the spoon out, and with his finger wiped away a spot on her lips where the sauce had remained, then licked it off his own finger.
“Well? What do you think?” His voice was lower than it had been a moment ago.
Her mind went blank from everything else but him. Things she shouldn’t be thinking about clouded her mind. She breathed in his musky scent and wanted to close her eyes and float away on a dream cloud.
“I...I...” She mumbled like a fool, but was unable to correct the mistake.
He grinned. Setting the spoon down on the stove counter, he moved toward her. Her wobbly legs retreated, but they only succeeded in backing her up against a wall. Now he had her pinned. I’m in big trouble.
He pressed against her. It was all she could do not to sigh aloud. When he brushed his fingers so very gently up her neck and face and threaded them through her hair, she closed her eyes, unable to watch his heated green eyes any longer.
“Kendra,” he whispered huskily. “Heaven help me, but I want to kiss you when you look at me like that.”
Stay angry! She brought up her shaky hands and pushed on his chest, intending to stop him. But once his muscles flexed, all thoughts of stopping him fled.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since last night.” He bent his head and placed his mouth to the curve of her neck. A sigh broke from her throat.
“You smell wonderful,” he muttered.
So do you.
She had to stop him. She had to stop herself, yet her voice wouldn’t work and her body ignored her. Once he gathered her in his arms, she was lost for sure. He kissed her neck, sending tingles everywhere. Her body melted against his, and she was totally in his control. She clung to the edge of his shirt for support.
“Kendra, you take my breath away.”
She knew exactly what he meant, because for some inane reason, she found it hard to breathe. She tried to moisten her throat to talk, but it was utterly impossible. “Eli—”
The shrilling ring from the phone in the kitchen erased from her mind what she’d been wanting. When the second ring sounded, it had pulled her completely out of her hypnotized state. Disappointment flooded through her, creating loneliness. She quickly moved to answer the phone.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded much too deep to be normal.
“Kendra?”
Inwardly she groaned. “Yes, Dad, it’s me.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Eli turned off the stove and left the kitchen. She released a ragged sigh. Thank goodness she’d gotten out of that scrape, but what would happen if he convinced her to continue this later? Would she want to experience the spinning in her head and fluttering in her chest that he gave her earlier?
She leaned her forehead against the wall for support, but her legs still quivered. She wobbled to the kitchen chair and sat.
“How did Lisa’s party go last night? Anything exciting happen?” her dad asked.
That’s an understatement. “No, in fact, I couldn’t wait to get home. You know how fake people can be.”
“Yes, dear, I do know. But your dress must have been a hit. Your mother talked to a few ladies who’d attended the party and they all said you looked beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thanks Dad. You know, this morning when I arrived to work, George told me that we’d sold five more dresses.”
He laughed. “That’s my girl. You’ve certainly made me proud.”
“Dad?” she asked, quickly changing the subject. Suddenly, Eli’s remark about her father’s connections disturbed her. “Can I
ask you a serious question?”
“Sure, honey.”
“Do you like Terrel?”
He laughed. “Of course I like Terrel. He’s a very successful man that will provide a good life for my daughter. What’s not to like?”
“Do you think he’s marrying me because of...well...because of the ties our family has with New York City?”
Her father paused, and the lengthy silence bothered her. After a few awkward moments, he spoke. “I was never totally satisfied with any of your boyfriends, mainly because I wondered if they just wanted you because of our family name. When I first met Terrel, I wondered the same thing, but he seems like a man who’s got his head on straight. He treats you well, gives you anything you want, and he hasn’t once asked me for money or my influence.”
“Do you think he will?”
“Kendra, honey, why do you ask? Are you having second thoughts about marrying him?”
She let out a deep sigh. “Sometimes I think I am, but then it’s just because I’m getting nervous. I think Terrel is a great guy, and on a few occasions I find myself questioning my love for him, but all in all, I think he loves me, and he wants to provide for me.”
“I think so, too. But honey, does he love you the way you want to be loved?”
She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her forehead. This was something she didn’t want to answer. Terrel wasn’t exactly gifted in the lovey-dovey side of their romance. He’d not once made her heart flip like a fish out of water, or turn her mind to mush. Not like Eli.
She cursed under her breath. She should not have thought of him!
“Dad, I really appreciate your help.”
“Well, I love you, Kendra, and if you don’t feel right about marrying Terrel, your mother and I will understand. I’d hate to see you make the biggest mistake of your life by marrying the wrong man.”
“Thanks, Dad. I needed to hear that.”
When she hung up the phone, peacefulness settled in her heart. She still didn’t know exactly how to handle the situation with Eli, but at least she wasn’t as angry as she’d been when she first entered her apartment.
Chapter Four
Eli paced the floor in his room, cursing the untimely phone call. He hadn’t planned on liking Kendra so much—or thinking about kissing her all the time—when he first set out on his mission. He’d seen her before at a distance and thought she was a very beautiful woman, but she belonged to Terrel. Yet now...now he didn’t want her to belong to Terrel. That evil man—who had the audacity to call himself a Montgomery—didn’t deserve a precious, delicate flower like Kendra. A flower full of spunk, too. And passion... Too passionate!
He stopped at the window and parted the blinds a little, overlooking the street that crossed in front of the apartment building. Taking deep breaths, he calmed himself. So far, so good. Yet time was running out, and he couldn’t get distracted from his goal. The week would soon be at an end, and before next Saturday, he had to stop Kendra from marrying Terrel. At the same time, he had to encourage her to find a way to release the rightful President of Montgomery Aisle from the mental hospital.
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. Could he possibly get everything accomplished in such a short time? He had to. His life—his very existence—depended on it. And he couldn’t get caught. He had the distinct feeling someone had followed him. If they found him, they’d take him back. That couldn’t happen until after he brought Terrel down.
From out in the other room, Kendra’s voice echoed in the kitchen as she said goodbye to her father. Eli hesitated in going out to talk to her. She’d be upset from what had just transpired between them. He couldn’t let her hate him. His whole plan would be ruined.
“Eli?” she called.
With a heavy sigh, he walked into the front room where she waited for him, arms folded across her chest and her lips tight.
“Yes?” He took hesitant steps toward her.
“We need to have a little talk.”
“Okay.” He sat on the sofa.
She remained where she was by the small bookcase in the corner of the room. “I talked with Terrel today.”
He lifted his brow. Why wasn’t she going to yell at him for kissing her? “And what did he say?”
“You mean you don’t know?”
He shrugged. “Apparently not. I don’t know what lies he’s been telling lately.”
“Well, let’s just say he painted a different picture of Joshua Montgomery than you did.”
He creased his forehead. “Of course he did. Terrel has never liked Joshua because of the closeness Joshua and his father shared.”
She shook her head. “See, there again, Terrel tells a different story.”
He relaxed back in the cushions, crossing one leg over the other and stretching his arm over the back of the couch. “Oh, really? What exactly did he say?”
“Only the truth.”
“Maybe Terrel’s truth.”
“The truth is the truth.”
“And I guess you’re going to believe him over me?”
“Of course. Terrel is my fiancé and you’re still a stranger to me.” She tucked a lock of her brown hair behind her ear.
He stared at her while he wracked his brain with ways to convince her. But she wasn’t going to believe a stranger. This was only a temporary snag in his plan, but one he’d figure a way out of soon.
He scrubbed his hand over his goatee. “Okay, let me think of someone you can talk to who knew Joshua when Adam was alive. Maybe a servant?”
She shook her head. “I’ve already tried that. Apparently, Lisa dismissed Adam’s servants right after his death.”
“I’m sure they’re around New York somewhere.”
She huffed. “You’re bound and determined to make a liar out of my fiancé, aren’t you?”
He jumped up. Taking three long strides, he stood in front of her. Color disappeared from her face, her eyes widening. Crap! He didn’t want to frighten her. Just the opposite.
He inhaled slowly, cooling his fury. “Kendra.” He caressed her cheek, loving the softness of her smooth skin. “I’m sorry you think the worst in me, but I must admit, I am trying to prove your fiancé is a liar. I hate to point out the fact that I know him better than you, but I do. Terrel isn’t going to show you his bad side because he needs you, or more specifically, he needs your family’s influence.”
Her chest rose and fell with her quick breaths. Did it stem from her fright or his closeness?
“Give me one more day, please?” He ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ll locate one of Joshua’s servants and you can ask them.”
She licked her lips. “Eli, I don’t know anymore.”
“Just one more day, please?” He leaned forward and kissed her neck, just under her ear. Her erratic pulse quickened, as did his heartbeat. This was too exciting, but he didn’t want to push her. Now was not the time to continue this.
“One more day and that’s all,” she said in a shaky voice.
Although he wanted to take her in his arms and smother her with kisses, he regained control over his impulses and pulled back. Her eyes had been closed and her lips slightly parted. And, when her lids fluttered open, her eyes were dark with passion.
He stayed close, not really wanting to break the heat sparking between them right now. The longer he watched her face, the more he wanted to kiss her, especially when her attention dropped to his lips. How could he stop himself now? Not when the curious look of interest was evident in her eyes.
He stroked the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip again. “Kendra, do you know how irresistible you are?”
He pressed his lips to hers, and she let out a soft sigh. Her hands moved up his chest and linked around his neck. Her body relaxed fully against him. He groaned. This was easier than he’d thought.
He cradled her perfect body in his arms as his mouth slid across her, nipping and pecking gently. She kissed as good as she looked—wonderful and hea
venly.
Quickly, she broke away. “We can’t do this.” She bumped him aside and walked to the kitchen.
He followed, hoping to do a little more convincing. She stood by the stove dishing up the dinner he’d cooked. Anger lines weren’t marking her face as they were earlier. Instead, doubt lingered in her eyes that tried to avoid him. He could tell. And he wouldn’t give up.
* * * *
Kendra stared at her plate of food, moving around the noodles with her fork. She had eaten a few bites, but her nervous stomach wouldn’t allow much more, especially when she thought about what she and Eli could have done.
Was she stupid? Why was she so eager to let a total stranger kiss her? She couldn’t be that lonely…could she? Thanks to Terrel’s unwillingness to show her some romantic attention, she already knew the answer. Yet, she couldn’t let that rule her thoughts. Lately, the more she considered marrying him, the more frightened she became, and that was before Eli had entered her life.
It didn’t matter. Eli was unfamiliar to her, and she continued to suspect he was a few cans short of a six-pack. Something about him didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t identify what it was. Besides, he was all wrong for her...the exact opposite of what she wanted in a man.
The awkward silence at the table kept her from raising her gaze to look at him. She didn’t want his hypnotic green eyes to spin her out of control again. She didn’t want to get to the point where she couldn’t control her urges.
Across the table, Eli shifted his chair, but she kept her attention focused on her plate. Even when he cleared his throat, she wouldn’t look at him.
“Kendra? Earlier, we got side tracked from our conversation, and I’d like to talk about it.”
Her heart dropped. Did he want to discuss what had almost happened between them?
“Will you please tell me what Terrel had to say about his stepbrother Joshua?”
She released a sigh, then glanced up at him. Big mistake. She quickly dropped her attention to her plate. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? Why were his eyes so incredibly dreamy, his lips pouty, begging to be kissed? And why was she forgetting that he was so opposite of what she liked in a man?
Crazy For You Page 4