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Authors: Lisa Ballenger

Do Not Disturb (10 page)

BOOK: Do Not Disturb
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"Allison." Brett said, his voice rough.
This was the first time he’d ever greeted her without a smile. She didn’t want
to care...but it left her heart sad.

She waved him in, fighting to keep her feelings
controlled.

He followed her into the family room. She sat in
the chair and waited for him to make the first move.

First he balanced on the edge of the sofa cushion.
Then he stood. Next he paced away. Finally he turned toward her, his hands on
his hips.

"I'm not sure where to start, so first I'll
apologize again.”

She didn’t react, keeping her hands clasped
together in her lap, her mouth a thin line.

"You're not going to make this easy for me
are you?"

"Should I?" she asked coldly.

He tried sitting again. "No." He spread
his legs and rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.

“Oh god, Allison, I can’t believe I accused you of
researching my background. I had no idea my old company was the bank’s new
auditors.” He looked up. “Why didn’t you tell me you saw my picture?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you worked there?” She
glared into his eyes, never wavering.

"Would it have mattered to you?" His
eyes narrowed, a questioning look.

This seemed critical to him.

Her shoulders stooped as she exhaled. "What
do you mean, would it have mattered?"

"Was it so important to you that I’d been
successful? That I had a big career at a big company?" His voice held a
steely edge that Allison didn't recognize. Where was the laid back man she’d
been around so much recently?

"No. It didn't matter to me. But I did
feel...I don't know," she shrugged, "left out, I guess, when I found
out that Susan and Bob knew more about you than I did. I thought we were
getting close and -"

He bolted off the sofa. "You know a lot about
me, Allison. I told you my feelings. We shared intimate moments. Things I've
never shared with..." He waved his hands," Susan or Bob or anyone
else I've met here. I've told you the important things in my life. The fact
that I had a good job in Virginia isn’t important to me."

What in the world was this about? Did something
bad happen at his job?

"But, Brett. That’s part of you. Part of your
past." She stood and looked into his stormy gray eyes. "You once told
me you wanted to know all about me, the good and the bad. Don’t I deserve the
same opportunity?"

He walked to the sliding glass door overlooking
her back deck, dropping his head against the glass. "It does matter what
I've done, doesn't it?” He spoke slowly, deliberately. “How would you feel if
I’d been a plumber instead of some MBA toting financial advisor?"

"I don't know where this anger is coming
from, Brett. But I don't think it has anything to do with me." She walked
over to where he stood and touched his arm. "I'll admit that I've always
thought if I became involved with someone, he would have to have goals and
aspirations similar to mine. Be driven to succeed and not content to just be
average."

He flinched under her fingers.

"And I still think it's important to me to be
with someone who has a plan for his life.” She moved around to his front,
nudging him away from the door. “But, there’s something you should remember. I
didn't know what you did in the past and I still got involved with you. So who
you are as a man is more important to me than what you’ve done.” She tried to
read his wooden expression. “But I was hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to
tell me, but felt you could tell Bob and Susan."

"I'm sorry I didn’t confide in you,
Allison." His eyes filled with pain as he let down the mask. “But I didn’t
tell them either. He found out from a friend that worked at my firm. I didn’t
want anyone to know.”

Her eyes welled up with tears again. Why couldn’t
she stop crying? Surely she had no more in her.

“Don’t cry, darling.” He touched her cheek. “I was
wrong.”

"Oh, Brett. I've been sick about this."

He wiped away a tear with his thumb. "You do
look kind of rough around the edges."

She grabbed his hand and gulped put a laugh.
"I look god awful, don’t I?"

"I've seen you look better. Even the dead
woman run over by a truck might have looked better." Brett placed his
large hand on the side of her face and stroked her cheek.

"You didn’t look like you were suffering last
night at the carnival," she mumbled.

"Maybe I should take up acting." He ran
his hand to her shoulder and down her arm. "I may not have been crying,
but I haven't slept."

She grasped his hand and pulled him to the couch.
"There's still something you're not telling me isn't there? Some reason
you didn't tell me about your previous job."

He sat, his head down, while Allison moved to the
floor in front of him, sitting cross-legged. She picked up his hands and held
them to her lips. "Please talk to me."

"I should’ve shared more about my past with
you."

She kissed the tops of his fingers. "So why
didn't you?"

"At first I didn't think about it. You were
so intense about your job, I knew you didn't want to hear the opinions of
someone who had burned out on that type of life and left it behind. Just
because I didn't want it anymore is no reason for you not to."

He still wouldn't look at her face. This wasn't
the real reason he’d kept his past a secret.

"But mainly...it was because my being
successful was the most important thing to my ex-wife," he blurted out all
at once. "She only wanted to be married to someone who was scaling the
corporate ladder at a record pace and who only had plans to make more and more
money along the way."

She squeezed his fingers. "Is that why you
divorced?"

"Not specifically." He looked up.
"We were never suited for each other. It was a mistake from the start. But
what we each wanted out of life did have a lot to do with why we weren't a good
match. To her life is about money, power, success. Her husband's that is,” he
added with sarcasm. “She, of course, only wants to spend the money and be the
corporate wife."

"Wow." She gasped softly. "I'm
having enough trouble seeing you as the hard-driving corporate climber as it
is. It's really difficult to imagine you with that type of wife."

Finally he laughed. "I still do have a few
suits that I'll drag out and wear for you one day. But you're right. It really
isn't my personality. And she certainly wasn't the right wife for me."

He rubbed the muscles in his neck. "In fact,
as soon as I mentioned that I planned to leave the firm one day and start my
own business, she was ready to start the divorce proceedings. You know the guy
I said she married?"

Allison nodded.

"He was one of my co-workers. But he’s a lifer,
destined for the boardroom. He’s never home. Doesn't enjoy one bit of his
money. But that's his goal...climb as high as he can."

"They sound perfect for each other," she
said smugly.

"They are." He framed her face with his
hands. "I’m so sorry. For not telling you all this. But I wanted a
relationship that was free of my past."

"You know we can't escape what we've done.
Where we've been. And I hope you don't think that I'm that shallow of a person
to only want a man to take care of me."

"No. I knew that.” He drew her into his lap.
“I have enough trouble getting you to ask for any kind of help." Holding
her close against his chest, he rubbed her hair hanging down her back from the
rubber band that tethered it. "I guess we both have some baggage we're
dragging along, huh?"

She nodded, then edged back. "So what do you
do on the computer all day?"

"I still do investing. Just my own money now.
And I've been helping a few small companies with their retirement plans. People
I can work one on one with. It's been fun."

She smiled at his enthusiasm.

"I love the stock market and creating ways to
make money. Always have.” He raked his fingers through her hair. “I guess I
just took the wrong path to using what I know. Got drafted by the big firm out
of graduate school and couldn't turn it down. Always thought that's what I
should do."

He nuzzled the side of her face. "I should’ve
listened to Rob when we graduated. He came back here and was very successful.
But, I'm on my way now to having the kind of life I want."

They sat silently, letting the tensions of the
last twenty-four hours evaporate.

"Allison?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thanks for forgiving me."

"You’re welcome."

Snuggling in his arms, she couldn't remember when
she’d felt so content.

"I guess I'd better go. Caro’s waiting."

"I need to pick up Kelly soon, too."

They didn't move. He hugged her tighter. She
wanted to melt into his arms, stay all night.

"I know Kelly will be happy we've made up. I
was a bear all morning. I lied about my puffy eyes, but I think she knew."

He chuckled. "I can't imagine. You a bear? My
sweet, mellow Allison?"

My Allison. Hearing him refer to her that way made
her shiver.

"You really are amazing, darling. To put up
with me," he said.

"I think it goes both ways. I guess I
should’ve told you as soon as I saw your picture."

He kissed her forehead. "We'll both try
harder to communicate better."

"Brett?"

"Yes?"

"I want to make love to you. Soon."

The muscles in his arms tensed around her. "I
want to make love to you, too, baby,” he whispered hoarsely.

"Now we just have to find a time." She eased
back again to look into his eyes. "Let's don’t wait too long, okay?"

He launched his mouth at hers, overpowering her as
he shoved her into the couch. With the same urgency, she returned the fervent
kiss.

"God how I wish we had the rest of the day to
be together. I need you so badly, Allison."

"I know. When? When can we..." He
stopped her words with his mouth, this kiss soft and sweet.

"I'll think of something and call you
tonight." He leapt up and dragged her with him. "I’d better get going
so I can start planning."

 

#

 

The clock on her bedside table said ten-thirty.
Only fifteen minutes had passed since Allison last looked. She’d been watching
it since Kelly had gone to bed over an hour ago. The novel on her lap couldn’t
compete with her overactive mind and out of control libido.

When had she ever waited so impatiently for a
phone call? Especially from a man. She fluffed the pillows behind her back. It
was probably high school. And then James. Funny, even then it didn't seem to
matter as much as it did now.

“Hurry up, Brett.” 

She tried to delay rushing when it finally rang,
but grabbed it on the second ring.

"Hello."

"Hope it's not too late. I wanted to wait
until the girls were asleep."

"No.” She tossed the book on the floor and
slid under the covers. “At least we’re finally alone, even if it's only over
the phone."

"I missed you after I left."

"Me too." She sighed as her heart
flipped over at his words. "I wanted you to stay."

"I know." His voice was low and husky.
"What are you wearing?"

"What?" She raised up slightly.

"You are in bed, aren't you?"

"Yes." She smiled at the thought of
Brett lying in his bed. "Are you?"

"Yeah. So what are you wearing? Describe it
to me."

She frowned at her plain cotton nightshirt. Maybe
she should lie. "I'm afraid it's not very exciting."

"Tell me anyway."

"It's a pale pink, cotton t-shirt. With short
sleeves. See, not very sexy." She definitely would be shopping soon.

"Where does it end? On your thighs?"

"Yes. I have my legs bent up at an angle
and..." She stopped when she thought of the picture she painted in his
mind.

"Go on."

"And the end has fallen to the edge of my
panties."

"Ohhh."

She blushed at her boldness. She’d never talked
like this over the phone. It was arousing. But then, just saying Brett’s name
recently got her excited.

"Describe your panties."

Yes, shopping would be a priority.

"They're cotton, too. High cut up on the
sides of my legs. White."

"I can see them."

"So..." She hesitated, her mind racing
with sensual thoughts. "What are you wearing?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?” She shot straight up in bed. “Do
you sleep that way?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you ever worried about Caroline
needing something in the middle of the night and you being..."

"She knows to knock. And I have some gym
shorts by the bed if I need to get up."

The image of him naked drove her wild. A heaviness
spread through her lower body.

"Will you sleep naked with me, Allison?"

"Oh my. I never..." She threw off the
covers, sweating.

"You've never slept naked?"

"No. I...No."

"You'll love it. Trust me."

"Brett?"

"Yes, baby?"

"What have you thought of for us to be
alone?"

"Glad to hear you're as anxious as I
am." He chuckled. "What about next Saturday night? We'll get a sitter
and go out to dinner. The girls can stay at one house and we'll go to the other
for a while."

"What about Friday?"

"Friday it is. In fact I can make it Thursday
if you want."

Allison grinned. "No. That's a school night
and I want us to have more time. Friday's fine."

"Well, I'd better let you get some sleep. You
think of me and have sweet dreams."

"Good night, Brett."

"Good night."

Allison slowly hung up the phone, not wanting to
break the connection to Brett. She turned out the light and sunk down. Hugging
herself tightly, she tried to squeeze away the desire that began building when
she was with Brett and had intensified to a feverish level while talking to
him.

BOOK: Do Not Disturb
9.3Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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