by Dara Girard
“Tanna, I’ve been looking for you,” Mrs. Hayfield said. “You were taken away and I wanted to finish our conversation.”
Tanna spun around, holding her train as if she didn’t want to let it drag on the ground. “Hi,” she said, hoping she wouldn’t lose her grip on the mouse.
“I wanted to ask where you planned to go on your honeymoon. I know a wonderful little spot in Venice that will be perfect for you and I know the owner.”
“Um…we haven’t thought that far.” She saw Doran passing down the hallway and knew he was her only hope. “Darling?” she called out to him.
He stopped, his brows raising a fraction. “Yes?”
“Could I see you for a moment?” When Mrs. Hayfield turned to look at him, Tanna mouthed ‘Help me!’
He walked over to her, his expression not revealing whether he’d seen her request or not. “What is it?”
“Mrs. Hayfield was telling me about a place in Venice for our honeymoon.”
“You know I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” he said then kissed her on the cheek like an affectionate fiancé before lifting his lips to her ear and whispering, “What’s wrong?”
“Thank you, darling,” Tanna said. She smiled at Mrs. Hayfield. “He spoils me. Sometimes I feel like his favorite toy. A stuffed bunny he had as a boy. You remember that, don’t you?”
He looked at her for a long moment. “My stuffed bunny?”
“Yes.” She glanced down at her hand, which held her train. “Your little white bunny.”
Understanding lit his eyes. “Yes, I loved that toy.” He made a show of wrapping his arm around her waist while he covered her hand with his, Tanna loosened her grip. He grabbed the mouse then slipped it into his jacket pocket.
“We must have you both over for dinner,” Mrs. Hayfield said.
“That would be wonderful,” Tanna replied.
“Speaking of dinner,” Vanessa’s clear voice cut in. She took Mrs. Hayfield’s arm and led her away. “Have you ever been to...”
Dillon came running up to them, breathless. “Any luck?”
Doran patted his pocket.
Dillon sighed in relief. “That was a close call.”
“You have no idea how close,” Tanna said.
Dillon smiled at her. “You saved the day. Again.”
Doran frowned. “Again?”
“Yes, she’s convinced the Hayfield’s to invest.”
“But your mother will take all the credit,” Tanna said. “Not that I mind.”
“You should mind.” Dillon rested a hand on her shoulder, his voice as warm as his gaze. “You’re a gem.”
Doran handed the mouse over to his brother. “Give this to Raymond.”
“I’ll have to make a sturdier cage,” he said, tucking the mouse away inside his jacket. “I should have kept it at home, but Raymond would have missed her.” He headed for the stairs.
Tanna made a move to follow him. “At least we found him.”
Doran grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Yes, I think it’s time we return to the party.”
Tanna looked at him surprised. “I just wanted to say a quick word to Raymond.”
“You can talk to him later.” He sent his brother a look. “Isn’t that right?”
Dillon shook his head. “I’m not sure he’ll still be up by the time the party ends.”
Doran narrowed his eyes. “Then she can talk to him tomorrow.”
“I’m sure you can spare her for a few minutes.”
“I’ve spared her long enough.”
Tanna waved her hand to get their attention. “I’m standing right here.”
They both ignored her.
“We saw you with Megan,” Dillon said. “How did it go?”
Doran gestured towards the second level. “Your son is waiting.”
Dillon met his gaze in challenge, then a slow, knowing grin spread on his face. “I know,” he said before heading up the stairs.
Chapter 25
“What do you mean he wouldn’t listen to you?” Vanessa demanded when Megan approached her towards the end of the party. They stood alone at the lake’s edge.
“He’s…” Megan paused then started again. “He doesn’t want to be with me.”
“Of course he does. You saw how he responded to you the other day. He’s just pretending can’t you see that?”
“He wasn’t pretending. He’s over me.”
“He’s pouting. You have to be patient. Your part in our plan is clear.”
Megan glanced towards the house. “It won’t work.”
“It has to work.”
Megan pressed her hands together. “You don’t understand—”
“I understand that we made an agreement.”
“Is there another way I can—”
Vanessa blinked. “Do I look like I’m in the mood to renegotiate?”
“I know what we said, but—”
“I don’t know what happened between you two, but it can be fixed. You are meant to be with my son. It was clear two years ago and it’s clear now.”
“Not if he’s in love with another woman. I saw how he looked at Tanna.”
Vanessa’s lips thinned with irritation. “He’s not in love with anyone. Especially that woman.” She took control of her temper, let her mouth soften into a smile and touched Megan’s cheek. “My dear, you must be strong. I told you that he would try to fight this. My son and I like our little battles, but I always win.” She turned and walked away before Megan could argue.
She didn’t want to fight with her, although she was beginning to make her angry. Something had shaken the young woman’s confidence. Megan never used to look so defeated before. How could she wither under the weight of such a flimsy opponent? What had Doran said to her? Was Tanna truly a threat?
Vanessa stopped when she saw Tanna and Doran talking to another couple, Doran’s arm casually around Tanna’s waist. Had she underestimated her? She looked innocent enough, but perhaps that was how she’d been able to capture her son. Vanessa looked at Tanna closer. She’d been too subtle, she had to change tactics.
An hour later, Vanessa found Tanna standing alone on the patio watching the staff dismantle the canopy. The party had been a success, but she needed one last victory. “How much?” she said.
Tanna turned to her surprised. “I’m sorry?”
“It’s not a difficult question. How much will it take to persuade you to leave my son alone?”
Tanna leaned against the railing and stared out at the lake. “Two hundred thousand should do it.”
Vanessa paused, startled. Was she really that greedy? Would it all be this simple? Her heart lifted with hope. “You sound certain.”
Tanna nodded, her gaze still looking out at the water. “I am. I’d been wondering how long it would take you to figure out that I’m only in it for the money.” She turned to her. “I want a man I can be proud of, not some owner of men’s hair salons.”
Vanessa smiled at the disdain in Tanna’s voice. Yes, her son’s business would be an embarrassment. At least she now knew what kind of woman she was dealing with. “My son usually has better tastes.”
“I picked him up when he was broken hearted. It was easy.”
“I could tell him about you and not pay you a cent.”
“And do you really think he’d believe you over me?” Tanna said with a laugh. “But it would be fun to see you try.”
“I’ll pay you in installments. I would hate to have you change your mind.”
“This is non-negotiable. Everything now.” A cruel smile spread on Tanna’s face. “Or I become the next Mrs. Gibson.”
Chapter 26
Tanna ran into her bedroom, slammed the door closed then rested against it, her heart racing. “I can’t believe I just did that,” she said breathless.
Doran stared at her from across the room, where he’d been looking for something in the closet. “Did what?”
“I should ask for a bonus, but I won’t.”<
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He slowly closed the closet door, his tone suspicious. “Tanna, what did you do?”
“I made your mother hate me more than you could imagine.”
“How?”
“She asked me how much money I would take to leave you alone and I told her two hundred thousand. And not just that,” Tanna said with a flourish. “I told her how I’d never respect a man who made his money from male hair salons, I used her terms to sound more genuine, and I made sure to sound really disgusted with the idea. I also told her that I was only after you for your money.” She pushed herself from the door, sat on the bed and bounced on it. “Isn’t that great?”
Doran ran a tired hand down his face. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”
“Why not?” Tanna asked, not understanding his subdued response. She thought he’d be thrilled. “It’s perfect. Now when you dump me she’s going to be so happy. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to take the money. Why are you looking at me like that? I’d thought you’d be happy. Now you can be with whomever you want.” She lay back on the bed.
“And what if I want to keep seeing you?”
Tanna sat up and stared at him. “What?”
“I want to keep seeing you,” he said in a deep tone.
Tanna waved her hands not daring to believe what she’d just heard. “What are you talking about? Your plan worked. We can say goodbye after this.”
His dark gaze heated with longing, holding her still. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”
Tanna’s mind raced, her body responding to the desire in his eyes. “But…but…I thought you wanted to be with Megan.”
“Why would you think that?”
She rose to her feet. “B-b-because…weren’t you with her last night?”
“No.”
“Then where were you? Was it really work?”
Doran bit his lip. “I just…couldn’t sleep.”
“Were you obsessing about The Quality Gentleman? Was that it? I told you all your suggestions are great. Is the Longwood Mills location bothering you so much that you couldn’t sleep?”
“No, it wasn’t that.”
“Then what was it?”
His eyes caught and held hers, his heated gaze getting hotter. “I wanted to sleep with you last night.”
Tanna gaped at him, dazed. Was this really happening, was he really saying these words or was she dreaming? “You’re not making any sense.”
“I think I just made myself very clear,” Doran said, closing the distance between them. “I like you.” His heated gaze skimmed over her body with slow, seductive appreciation before his arms encircled her. “I want you and I want to keep seeing you.”
Tanna gazed up at him, her heart singing. He wanted her. Hadn’t she imagined—dreamed of him looking at her like this? Feeling his hard, hot body close to hers? He felt the same wild emotions she did and…and she’d just told his mother she’d dump him for two hundred thousand dollars! She broke free from him and stepped away, breathless with confusion and outrage. “You’re telling me this now?” She pointed to the door. “I just made a complete fool of myself in front of your mother and you still want to see me?”
Doran shook his head in regret. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
“You think?”
He stepped towards her. “Tanna—”
She held up her hand, desperate to keep him away. If he touched her, she would crumble. “It’s too late for us now. I can’t fix what I’ve just done.”
“I’ll tell her the truth.”
“That you paid me five thousand dollars to pretend to be in love with you and drive her up the wall?” she said in a flat tone.
“No, we’ll…I’ll come up with something.”
Tanna sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head. “There’s no way I can end up looking good after this.”
Doran stood in front of her. “Yes, you can and you will. Tomorrow you’ll tell her you were lying. That she made you angry and you wanted to hurt her. It’s simple.”
“Is it? You think it’s better for me to admit that I lied to spite her? You think that will make her like me?”
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Tanna, you can’t expect her to like you.”
She nodded. “I know. That’s why you wanted me.”
He knelt down and stared up at her. “Yes,” he admitted. “But now I want you for different reasons,” he said in a velvet tone, his burning gaze making his intention clear. “Reasons that have nothing to do with her or Megan or anyone. I just want to be with you.” With slow deliberation he let his hands slide up her dress.
She stopped him by placing her hands over his, although her body tingled from the contact. His hands were hot against her skin. “You’re on the rebound,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “I told you—”
“I had rebound sex two years ago.” He moved his hands from her grip and shifted them to the back of her legs. “And pity sex too.” He inched his hands higher, lifting her dress. “I found a woman who pitied me and pitied me and pitied me until she couldn’t pity me anymore.” He pushed her dress up to her thighs.
“And she made you feel better?” Tanna said, knowing she should pull away from his gentle assault, but making no move to.
“Much better.” He nudged her legs apart. “Now I’m ready to finish what we started two years ago.”
“What we started?”
He looked at her, holding her gaze in a gentle challenge. “That kiss in the cottage outside your bedroom.”
Tanna licked her lips, her face burning, her heart beating wildly. “You remember that?”
“Tanna,” he said, his deep voice caressing her name. “I kissed you that night because I wanted to.”
“I thought you were drunk.”
He smiled at her innocence. “I wasn’t that drunk. If your aunt hadn’t arrived, I’d planned on extending our evening.”
“You never mentioned it before.”
He placed a kiss on her inner thigh. “I’m mentioning it now.”
She swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t say you could kiss me there.”
“I know,” he said kissing her other inner thigh.” He lifted his gaze and held hers in a seductive challenge. “Will I get into trouble?”
Tanna could only nod, not trusting herself to speak.
He pulled down her panties. “Good because I plan to be a very bad boy,” he said then disappeared underneath her dress, touching her center with his tongue.
She nearly leapt off the bed.
He came out from under her dress and stared at her, amused. “Is this your first time?”
Doing that? Yes! “No, you…just surprised me.”
A rakish grin spread on his face. “Then let me surprise you some more.” He eased her down on the bed, her body trembling not from fear but anticipation, his hungry dark gaze scanning her body like a burning caress. Her dress fell away and soon she lay naked in his arms. Arms that held her with a possessive fervor that aroused all her senses. With him she didn’t feel ‘too’ anything--too fat or too smart or too dark or too foreign—she felt perfect, sublime. Wonderfully, beautifully made. She learned that she hadn’t been single because there was something wrong with her, it was because she hadn’t found the right man.
And the man she’d met two years ago, outside a castle one spring night, returned to her with passionate ardor, arousing an ecstasy that seemed unimaginable, but was undeniable. This time, this evening there was no plan, no pretense, no artifice. Every touch, every kiss, every gesture was real. Achingly, tenderly real.
Tanna’s mind fought to question the veracity of his feelings. Was this just a moment of lust? Was he truly over Megan? But her body wouldn’t let her question her own deep feelings for him. It responded to him like a boat seeking the beacon of a lighthouse. His silent, consistent demands called her to him with a power she could not refuse. Because she knew as he explored every part of her that she wasn’t surrendering
to him because he was handsome or rich or smart. She was surrendering to the man she’d been searching for. And when he entered her and their bodies became one in one perfect rhythmic motion she felt as if she’d shatter into a million pieces.
She expected to wake up from a dream. To feel the whack of her Aunt Violet’s hand against the back of her head. It never came. Instead, Tanna lay in the shelter of Doran’s sleeping embrace, in a daze. It had all happened so fast. Only yesterday, no only a few hours ago, it had all been make believe and now…now their relationship was real. Was this real? Would she wake up from this dream? Or was it really a nightmare? She loved him. She’d made that mistake already. She’d fallen for him even though she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stay. She couldn’t hold onto him. What they had couldn’t last. They’d both been driven by a primal need, but she had to be rational.
Tanna let her gaze look around the room. They hadn’t even turned the lights off. She wouldn’t have to grope around in the dark as she gathered her things. Now all she needed to do was slip out of bed unnoticed. She shifted to the side.
Doran tightened his hold around her waist, and pulled her closer. “Where are you going?” he mumbled.
“To the bathroom.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“After the bathroom I was going to slip away and disappear,” she confessed.
“I know where you live,” he said with a chuckle.
“That’s true but at least I’d be in my territory.”
He loosened his hold. “You really want to leave me?”
“No,” Tanna said, turning to face him, joy and misery shining in her eyes. “I want to stay with you, but if I stay I’m going to get hurt. Now your mother’s opinion will matter. Before I could laugh away her cruel words, now…” She shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
“I do understand,” he said with feeling. “I know how much her words hurt. I’ve pretended my whole life that I didn’t care, but every time she gets me, just a little, even though I’ve learned never to let it show.”
“I’m not as strong as you.”
He tenderly cupped her cheek, his voice low, insistent. “I’ll protect you.”