A Taste of Temptation (Love Spectrum Romance) (24 page)

“I had no idea all of this was going on with him. Pays to read the mail, doesn’t it?”

“I doubt he had time to write about us. We spent every waking second together, outside his work and my classes. At first, he would hardly talk about you. I had to drag it out of him.”

“When something bothered him, he always kept it to himself.”

The doorbell rang and Brandi jumped up. “That’s got to be my Aunt Theresa. She has this giant crush on Tim, so I know she’ll go hog-wild over you.”

“Why is that?”

She kept talking as she ran to the door: “Because you two are just about the spitting image of each other.”

Brandi returned with her arm around the shoulder of a woman as pretty as she, but older. “This is my Aunt Theresa; she just got back from some conference in Boston. Theresa, this is…”

“Brandi, I already know Timothy. Who could forget him?”

Greg stood and kissed her hand. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not Tim. I’m his brother, Greg.”

Theresa’s mouth flew open. “Oh, God!” She turned to Brandi. “Two of them? How delicious!” She immediately took his hand and walked into the living room with him, still speaking to Brandi. “You have one, and I have one. A cool deal, don’t you think?”

Brandi saw the interested look in Greg’s eyes and decided to let them get acquainted.

* * *

When Brandi walked into Tim’s room the next morning, he and Greg were talking. That’s when she knew for sure finding Greg was no mistake; the look on Tim’s face confirmed it. She walked to the bed and kissed his waiting lips. He tried to put his arms around her, but the pain in his ribs wouldn’t permit it.

His looked into her eyes. “You see who’s here, don’t you? Was this your doing?”

“Absolutely. I made the contact, but it was solely up to him to follow through. Glad he did.”

“I’ve missed him, probably more than I could miss anyone other than you.”

“I see my brother hasn’t missed fighting, though.” Greg pointed as if scolding him. “Very unattractive, Tim.”

“He’s slowly getting out of that. I’ve finally gotten him to accept the fact that it’s okay to walk away. Right, Tim?”

“Umm, I’m working on it, honey. I just need someone young and beautiful to keep me in line.”

“Is that invitation still open to me?”

“It was never closed; just put on hold.”

She wanted to kiss him for that, but didn’t want to embarrass his brother. “I should leave before we get into real trouble in front of Greg. I don’t think he is the type who can deal with mushy stuff. You two need more time together, anyway, and I need to get a bite to eat.”

Greg reached into his pocket and fished out a $10. “Can you take Destiny? She likes cheeseburgers, but no fries for her. She’s getting too fat.”

“No fries with a burger? Sacrilege, man!”

Once she was out of the room, Greg said, “That’s some lady you have there.”

“A dream come true. I never thought in a million years I would land someone as incredible as Brandi.”

“Don’t you think it’s about time? From what I heard, your marriage to Charlotte was a disaster.” He looked down. “I am sorry about the baby, though. I really am. I could have been an uncle.”

“And you will be. The baby was the only tragic part of the marriage. Getting away from Charlotte was actually a relief. But the baby, well, that floored me; it still does. She would be ten years old this coming July twenty-third.” He saw the sadness in Greg’s eyes. “Hey, I didn’t mean to go off on that tangent.”

“It’s all right. She was your baby and you’ll never forget her.”

“I would rather talk about you, about something more positive. What happened with you and Destiny’s mother?”

“Carmen? There’s nothing positive about that. She and I did eventually get married, but a year later she left me with a two-year-old baby to raise on my own. Good choice, wasn’t she?”

“From what I remember, she wasn’t exactly the picture of mental health.”

“She wrote the book on what not to be in life. But I got Destiny out of it, and that makes everything Carmen put me through well worth it. She’s beautiful, Tim, and she’s ‘growing’ things, know what I mean?”

“That’s the age, man.” Tim thought about his own child. “Had she lived, she would be about the age to be ‘growing’ things, too.” He lay back remembering the one time he saw Destiny. “I would love to see her. I think she was only a few months old, last I saw her.”

“That you will. She’s been pestering the hell out of me since we’ve been here. Brandi showed her your picture, and she’s been carrying it around everywhere.”

“Why? I look just like you.”

“Not the same, man.” Then he thought about it. “Hey, are you and that pretty thing going to have kids of your own one day?”

“Only if she wants to; I’d rather her graduate college first. She’s got plenty of time, though it will be a lot of fun trying.”

Greg thought back on her in his arms and how intoxicating she was. “Yeah, I’ll bet!”

A week later, after Mr. Moore finished his speech congratulating the award recipients, he brought on a guest speaker. No one knew who it was. Brandi assumed it would be someone from Niagara University or from the Academy of American Authors. When Tim walked onto the stage, she stood with the others to applaud him; tears moistened her spring green suit. Tim had worked hard to make sure everything went exactly right, but it hadn’t in the end, thanks to Monica’s shenanigans. Tim looked good despite everything. In his navy double-breasted suit, he looked sexier than ever, not at all like a man who was recovering from a concussion. The surprise for her was not knowing he had been released from the hospital. She waved at him from the front row.

Tim announced Tiffany Jackson as the Madison student to receive the Norton Scholarship. Tiffany ran on stage, crying. She hugged him and then gave her acceptance speech, which Brandi had helped her draft. Tim’s eyes met Brandi’s, who seemed not at all upset about not winning; she looked happy. He was glad for her, for he selfishly had not wanted Brandi going even a mile away from him.

In the back row, Theresa nudged Greg. “Isn’t he supposed to be in the hospital?”

“Destiny and I picked him up last night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He put his arm around her shoulder. “So you could blab it to the rest of the world? Tim wanted it to be a surprise. He, Dr. Moore and Columbia’s dean of students arranged it so he could deliver the awards.”

“You two did a good thing; look how excited she is. I’ve never seen my niece so happy, other than at her Barbie party I gave her when she was seven, but I digress.” She looked down at Destiny, who was oblivious to their conversation. Her eyes were on her new-found uncle. “She is so happy he is in her life.”

Tim left the podium, and went directly to Brandi and kissed her. “I’m glad you’re not upset about losing.”

“My best friend won; that’s just as good. She worked so hard for it, harder than I did. Besides, I wouldn’t want to leave you.”

“Good, because I’m not worth a damn without you. Come on, let’s join the others.”

They slowly made their way to her parents. Tim kissed Mrs. Miles’s hand. “It’s very nice to see you again.” He looked at Mr. Miles and added, “And you, too, sir.” He still wasn’t wild over the past bad blood between them, but he had made amends for Brandi’s sake.

Mrs. Miles jumped in. “You’re going to make a great son-in-law, Tim.” She nudged her husband. “Right, Jeff?”

He looked Tim squarely in the face, his expression cold and still, then he smiled. “I’ve been wrong about a lot of things, and it took me almost losing my daughter to wake up.”

“You were being a father. Who’s to say I wouldn’t have done the same thing. I know you love her; so do I. I promise to take good care of her.”

Mrs. Miles eyes turned her attention to Theresa and Greg as they approached. “Now we have to get those two married.”

Theresa spoke up, “Give me a break! I just met the guy.”

Tim politely cut in. “If you’ll excuse us, Brandi and I have loose ends to take care of. We won’t be long.”

Brandi winked. “Yes we will, so don’t hold your breath!”

The minute his classroom door closed, he and Brandi were locked in an embrace. “I love you, Brandi, and nothing will ever change that. That’s why I have to give this back to you.” He took the ring box from his pocket. “You remember this silver box, don’t you?” He slipped the ring back on her finger.

She gazed at it in the light. “How could I? It’s perfect; so are you.”

“Then please say yes to me again. Don’t even think, just say yes, and we’ll be on our way to heaven.”

“Yes. I’m already in heaven, and I have a husband to take with me.” She kissed his lips then asked, “When?”

“You really mean it?”

“I would be a fool to let you get away.” She stared at her ring again. “When can we do this? I can barely wait.”

“Anytime you want to—today, tomorrow, this very minute. I don’t care when, so long as you’re mine.”

Her arms tightened around him, her voice mellowed, “Oh, I’m yours all right, Dr. Timothy Edward Polaris, now and forever.”

EPILOGUE

Brandi could see miles and miles of water from their oceanfront window. She and her new husband frolicked on the small strip of beach below well into the early morning hours. She looked at the large diamond on her finger, then at Tim asleep on the bed. He still looked awesome to her, as much as he did the first time they met. Was he real or a figment of imagination? He yawned, and it was like music to her ears. Yes, he was real, very real. The mere sound of his voice still sent delicious chills through her body; his voice, his laugh, everything about him rocked her world. She let her sheer robe fall to the floor as returned to bed.

Brandi’s gentle movements woke Tim. Smiling and dreamy-eyed, he welcomed his bride back with open arms. “Umm, have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“Only a few hundred times, but say it again.”

“Showing is better than telling.”

“As if you hadn’t shown me last night, and again early this morning.” She settled deeper into him. “I can’t believe I’m here with you. I never knew Madrid was so romantic. How did you ever come up with it?”

“I simply thought of the most romantic place to bring the most romantic woman. I only hope you have no regrets about marrying a crazy, wacked-out man like me.”

“Regrets? No way! I won, don’t you see? I won over all those women mooing over you, especially the conniving Miss Monica Shang. She almost won, too. She came awfully close to breaking us up. But I have got the ring; I have you. I feel very blessed.”

“So do I. I hope Greg and Theresa will be as happy as we are.”

“My aunt deserves a good man. I think Greg may be it. Despite his rough edges, he’s a good guy. Someone managed to get some good instincts into you two.” Her smile brightened. “It was wonderful seeing you with your mother. How long has it been, fourteen years?”

“At least. The years have taken their toll on her. I think I was sixteen the last time I saw her. I talked to her a few times after my divorce and other failed relationships, but that was about the extent of our togetherness.”

“She cried so hard when she saw you. It was sad watching her cling to you as if one hug could make up for all that time lost. Do you think you two will ever get close?”

“Maybe. It’ll take some time though; a lot has happened.”

Brandi studied his expression with an empathetic heart. His mother was still a painful subject, so she changed course, playfully poking his ribs. “Right now, I need you more than anyone does, including your mother. So, if you don’t mind, Dr. Polaris.…” She pushed the sheets aside and straddled him. Her lips gently met his. “I’m never letting you go no matter what you say or do. You’re mine for eternity.”

“Eternity is a beautiful place to be with you, Mrs. Polaris!”

About the Author

Renee Alexis
is the author of several erotic and traditional romances. She loves writing romantic fiction, teaching elementary school, and making gemstone jewelry. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she enjoys the arts and excitement of a large city.

Renee loves hearing from fans. You may reach her at: www. reneealexis.net.