by Judy Angelo
Her mother had taught her well. Not until marriage, she’d told her, or else as soon as they get what they want they move on to someone prettier or better. Don’t let them use you for practice. She’d never forgotten those words and she’d held fast to that principle in her one and only relationship with Giles.
But now with Pierce it was different. What she felt for Pierce went far beyond what she’d ever felt for Giles. With Pierce she would have thrown her mother’s advice out the window without another thought…if only he could love her.
Pierce stared at her in silence and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Celine. I didn’t mean to come on so strong but I had no idea…” His voice trailed away and he seemed to be searching for words. “I know you told me about waiting for marriage but I thought…since you and Giles broke up and you came to America, I just assumed you had a relationship here.”
She looked at him askance.
“I’m sorry, that’s not quite what I meant,” he said back-pedaling. “I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?” He broke off and stood up then raked his hand through his hair in an obvious sign of frustration. “Listen, forget what I said. I’m just …sorry.”
Oh, Pierce, you just don’t get it. I love you but how can I make you love me too? She thought it but she didn’t dare say the words out loud.
Instead, she simply straightened her blouse and in a voice that was surprisingly calm she said, “That’s okay, no apology necessary.” She lowered her legs to the floor. “I think I’d better go now.” She got up and took the few steps toward the door then she stopped. She turned back to look at Pierce. “Please think about what will make Kylie happy.” Then she turned and walked out the door.
***
Pierce stared at Celine’s retreating back then with a soft curse under his breath he walked over to the couch. Instead of sitting in it he leaned against the back of the big chair and crossed his arms. He was pissed but it was at himself that he directed his anger. After Celine had confided in him, told him about her decision regarding her sexuality, he’d still gone ahead and made the wrong assumption.
Now she probably thought he was a jerk and with good reason. He couldn’t blame her if she decided to stay a million miles away from his reach. But he wished she wouldn’t. He wanted this woman in his life. He’d be the first to admit that sex had something to do with it. There was no denying his attraction to her. But it was more than that. There was some sort of spiritual connection he could not explain. With each passing day she seemed to be growing on him and in him, becoming part of his soul. It was almost as if he couldn’t imagine waking up and not seeing her in their home. His and Celine’s and Kylie’s. This was how he’d begun to think of home.
And then there was her connection with Kylie. From day one he’d observed her interaction with the little girl, how she’d pulled her out of her shell to bloom like a tiny little flower in the sun. How could he separate Kylie from that?
He shook his head. He didn’t know what he’d do in the fall when it was time for Celine to return to the university. Kylie would be devastated. And he? He didn’t even want to go there.
Celine had asked about his options and pleaded with him to do what was best for Kylie. There was one option he’d not mentioned, one that would be ideal, at least for him and for Kylie. But for Celine? He didn’t know.
There were so many things he didn’t know. Like Celine… she was such an enigma. Did she have feelings for him? Did she crave him as much as he craved her?
He knew he wanted Celine to a degree he’d never felt for any woman. She was different from anyone he’d ever known. But he, confirmed bachelor, was he ready to give up his fast paced life to become a father and husband in one jump? More importantly, if he asked her to marry him, would she say yes?
His lips tightened and he stared with blind eyes at the space in front of him. Somehow, after the way he had behaved tonight, he doubted it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
That weekend Pierce took Kylie and Celine to the zoo where, for the first time, the little girl saw real live elephants, lions, tigers and zebras. As the adults expected, her favorites were the monkeys who entertained them with their antics. One of them punched his brother then took off, running smack into the patriarch of the clan who gave him a whack for his troubles. They all laughed out loud at that.
Next they went to the small amusement park where they went on all the rides - the merry-go-round, the haunted train, the bumper cars and the kiddies’ roller coaster.
Last and scariest of all was the Ferris wheel. All three of them sat in the chair and when they went up, up into the air, so high they could see the tops of trees and buildings, Celine was the only one who screamed to get down. Even after they got home Kylie would not let her forget it. Both she and Pierce teased her relentlessly that night until she feigned a pout and marched off to bed.
Next day, Sunday, was another day of wonderful weather. And again, Celine decided that she and Kylie would spend most of the afternoon outdoors. To Celine’s shock and near horror Pierce had decided to try his hand in the kitchen. She decided she’d made the right decision in taking Kylie outside just in case he blew up the house experimenting with the stove.
They had been playing tag on the lawn for a while when Celine put a hand on Kylie’s shoulder and stopped her. She’d heard a sound coming from the copse of trees that lined the garden path. She stood still listening. There it was again, the soft cry of what sounded like a cat.
“Kylie, wait over by that rock,” she said. “I just want to check on something.”
Walking stealthily across the grass she ducked under a branch then pushed through some bushes until she entered the cool shadows of the alcove created by the trees.
“Celine, where’re you going?” Kylie’s call was plaintive.
Celine realized that she’d probably become scared when she disappeared but, not wanting to scare the animal, she remained silent. She had a soft spot for cats. They were her favorite animals and she’d had several as pets when she was growing up.
The tiny cry came again then Celine saw it, a black and white kitten curled up in the root of a tree. “Hi, baby,” she crooned, “What are you doing here? Are you all alone?” She looked around but the kitty’s mommy was nowhere in sight.
She went closer, slowly, fearing that the little cat would flee in fright. To Celine’s surprise it did the exact opposite. When its big green eyes came to rest on her it got up from its cradle at the foot of the tree and walked over to her. The cat looked like it was about three or four months old, still quite young but old enough to survive and thrive without its mother. Not shy at all, it yawned and stretched its neck up as if to invite Celine to scratch its head.
“Aw, you’re so cute.” She took the invitation and tickled the little head. Then she straightened. So. What was she going to do now? She couldn’t leave the cat in the woods to starve. On the other hand, this was not her home. If she’d been in France the cat would be installed at her house, no question about it. But here? She didn’t have that right. The only option, it seemed, was to take the cat and ask Pierce to take it to the shelter.
She stretched out her hand and the cat immediately came to her. It must have strayed from someone’s house, it was so tame. Then, cradling it to her chest, she headed back to the lawn.
“Celine,” Kylie cried her voice full of relief. “Where were you? Why did you go into the woods?”
“Look what I found,” Celine said with a laugh. She shifted her little bundle so that Kylie could see.
“A kitty,” she exclaimed in wonder. “You found a kitty.”
“Yes, and I’m going to give her some milk and find a nice box to make a bed for her.”
“And then we get to keep her?” The child’s eyes were wide and full of hope.
“I don’t know, cherie.” Celine shook her head. “That all depends on what Pierce says. I was thinking of taking her to the shelter.”
“The shelter? Oh, no. I want to keep her.
I want her for my friend.” Kylie almost looked like she was going to cry.
Celine’s heart went out to her. A pet was just what she needed, something to hug, to love, to call her friend. She could suggest it to Pierce. They could take the cat to the vet, have her checked and vaccinated, and then Kylie could have a pet of her own. At the end of the day, though, it would be Pierce’s decision.
“Can I touch her?” Kylie stretched out a hand but Celine turned, keeping the cat out of reach.
“No, not yet. I have to make sure she’s safe before I let you play with her.” She saw Kylie’s face fall. “There’s something you can do to help me, though. Why don’t you help me make a carrier box for her so we can take her safely to the vet? You can help me make air holes in the box.”
That seemed to cheer her up. Her face brightened and she skipped ahead of Celine up the path toward the house.
“Uncle Pierce, guess what? We have a surprise,” she yelled as they entered the kitchen.
He turned toward them, a head of lettuce in his hand. “What kind of surprise?” He said with a smile that matched hers. “Is it something delicious?”
“No, you can’t eat it,” she said with a laugh. “You can hug it and kiss it.”
Pierce frowned as if in deep concentration. “Is it a baby? Maybe a dolly baby?”
“No,” Kylie crowed and shook her head.
Celine laughed and still cradling the very comfortable cat, she turned to Pierce so that he could see.
He looked at the bundle in her arms and blinked. Then his face turned ashen.
Pierce let the lettuce fall to the ground and began to back away, his eyes trained on the cat in Celine’s arms. Then to her horror he began to sweat and shake then he was hyperventilating. He backed away into a corner of the room and slid his back down the wall to crouch on the floor. Wrapping his hands around his knees, he began shaking uncontrollably.
What in the world…it had something to do with the cat. Pierce had taken one look and had simply fallen apart.
Celine rushed back outside and deposited the cat on the grass. Then she dashed back inside where Kylie stood staring at Pierce, her eyes wide with distress. He still crouched on the floor, his body shaking.
Celine ran over to kneel beside him. “Pierce,” she cried out, touching his back. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t respond and curled even tighter as if to get away from her hands.
Celine hopped up and reached for the phone. She needed help. She began to dial 911.
It didn’t take much for Celine to realize that Pierce had a severe phobia to cats. With the help of a paramedic on the phone she was able to calm him so the violent shudders ceased and his gasping breath grew deep and steady again. She’d grabbed the kitchen towel and with it she dabbed at the perspiration that had settled on his brow then she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
It was only when Pierce was back to normal that Celine removed her arm. He lifted his head and looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment. Then he asked for Kylie but Celine had whisked her away to the den and switched on the Disney channel, effectively removing her from the scene of Pierce’s distress.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice hoarse and strained.
Celine shook her head, still reeling from what had just happened. “No, Pierce. Don’t thank me. I almost killed you by bringing that cat into the house.” She felt so full of guilt her heart hurt.
He shook his head and gave her a reassuring smile. “No, you didn’t. And anyway, how could you have known?”
They were silent for a while. Then she asked the question uppermost in her mind. “Why are you so afraid of cats?”
“I think it had to do with an incident when I was an infant. My mother told me she had a pet cat before I was born and when she gave birth and took me home the cat seemed to go crazy.” He chuckled. “It must have pissed her off that she wasn’t the center of attention any more. Mom said she used to hiss at me all the time as I lay in my crib and once she even took a swipe at me. Scratched me on the arm.”
“What?” Celine said, indignant. “Didn’t your parents get rid of her?”
“Eventually they did but not before she did lasting damage. Since then I haven’t been able to look a cat in the eye without seizing up.”
“Oh, Pierce. I can’t imagine what that must be like.”
“Hey, it’s not that bad,” he said with a shrug. “I just stay away from them and all is well with the world.”
“Until today,” she said.
“Until today.” But he was smiling at her now, back to his old self, the confident green-eyed Pierce that she loved.
And after what had happened today she felt she loved him even more. She’d always seen him as so bold, powerful and invincible - the billionaire businessman, always in control. Now she’d seen another side to him, a side that was vulnerable, a side that needed her. She’d been able to take him in her arms and comfort him and her strength had been his. For once she’d felt that she’d been the one giving, not receiving.
A half hour later the three of them sat down to Pierce’s meal of macaroni and cheese from the box, fried chicken made by his own hands and a salad. He couldn’t take credit for the salad since Celine had been the one to rescue the lettuce, wash it and prepare it. After his ordeal Pierce had not been up to any more challenges in the kitchen.
After a surprisingly delicious meal considering that it had been made by a near novice, Celine found the kitten and boxed her up while still outdoors then she drove to the shelter where she handed her over to the care of the staff there.
That night after putting Kylie to bed Celine went back downstairs to check on Pierce. She was being something of a mother hen but she couldn’t help it. Today the protective instinct in her had been triggered and now it was working overtime.
She found him in his usual place of refuge, the den. “All is well?” she asked peeping in.
He was leaning back in the sofa, feet up on the ottoman and when he saw her he smiled. “All is well. Well in my world, at least.” When she hesitated in the doorway he waved her over. “Come. Sit.”
Celine smiled to herself. Giving orders, as usual.
Last time she’d been in this room alone with Pierce she’d sat on the seat farthest away from him. Tonight she went and sat on the sofa. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He simply scooted over to give her more room.
She relaxed in the couch and looked at him. He was dressed casually in gray sweatpants and a light cotton shirt. When decked out in his suits Pierce was immaculate but at home he was totally relaxed and casual. She liked that.
“Pierce, do you mind if I ask you something?” she asked.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Earlier today you mentioned your mother. Why doesn’t she come over to visit?”
“I wish she could,” Pierce said. “My parents decided to retire in Hawaii. I talk to them every few days but as you can imagine visits take some advance planning, particularly with my busy schedule.
“And your brothers and sisters. What about them?”
“No brothers, one sister. Happily married, living in San Diego with her husband and two kids.” He gave her a smile of amusement. “Anything else you want to know?”
She groaned inwardly. She’d been Miss Nosy Parker again.
“Don’t worry, I’m not offended. Flattered, actually. What makes you want to know about my family?”
She glanced at him then looked away again, a sudden shyness seizing her. “I just want to know more about you.”
He seemed pleased at that and her heart soared. She really did want to get to know Pierce and she had so little time. The end of the summer was fast approaching. When she left his home she wanted to take all these memories of him with her. “What were you like as a boy?”
He chuckled. “Very much a geek. I was the kid with the glasses who was always hanging around the computer lab begging to be allowed to create new programs.”
; “Aw, that’s so sweet,” she said, laughing.
“No, it wasn’t.” He shook his head. “I can laugh about it now and I can be grateful for all those hours in the lab. I started my software company back in high school.”
“You did?” Celine could have guessed he was the genius type but he’d far exceeded her expectations.
“Your parents must have been so proud.”
“They were, but at the time I almost wished I could have been a normal kid. It wasn’t easy being the school geek.” He shrugged but there was a pain in his eyes that he could not hide.
“You were bullied?”
“Yeah,” he said casually. “Like most nerdy kids I was the brunt of jokes. Got beat up a fair number of times.”
“Oh, no,” she whispered. Her heart went out to the kid he’d been. He must have suffered so much.
“But, hey,” he continued, “it all worked out great. It was all those hours spent hiding in the computer lab that made me the man I am today.”
And what a man that was. He was as far from geek as could be. He had a sophistication about him, an aura of self-assurance that made him compelling. And it didn’t hurt that he was extraordinarily handsome. No wonder she found him irresistible.
As if thinking similar thoughts Celine and Pierce turned to each other at the same time. When their eyes met she knew he was thinking exactly what she was thinking. She wanted him so much her mouth went dry.
There was nothing she wanted more right now than to have his arms around her, his lips on hers. But as she gazed back at him she knew he would not make that move.
So she did.
With newfound boldness Celine slid across the sofa, closing the few inches that separated their bodies. Then before she could change her mind she reached her hand up to touch his cheek.
He stared down at her, his green eyes sparkling with emotion, but still he made no move. He was waiting for her to take the lead.