Her Unexpected Affair (The Robinsons) (24 page)

His phone dinged with a response:
Be right down
.

He couldn’t think of a better start to a perfect day.

Meilin directed him to a parking spot a few blocks from the wharf, at a house belonging to a friend who said they could park there for the day.

The sun was bright, the breeze just enough to keep it from being too hot, the crowds thick all around. To him it felt like one big carnival with the street vendors hawking their wares, performance artists seemingly on every corner, and the general bustle around them. Alcatraz was creepy, but interesting, the boat ride there and back spectacular with the sail boats racing across the water. He loved it all and took every opportunity to take selfies of the two of them.

His favorite pictures were the ones of Meilin when she wasn’t aware of him shooting them. Especially one with her face turned up to the sun, San Francisco rising behind her, the sun glinting off her glossy hair, a sublime smile on her face. He’d have that one blown up and printed for framing.

Better than the pictures were the times she snuggled against him, arm about his waist. She fit perfectly against him, and he didn’t want her ever to be any place else.

They were strolling away from Pier 39 where he’d bought her a silk scarf painted in shades of red, black, and gold when she looked up at him. “You got quiet. What are you thinking?”

Hugging her closer to wind their way past a knot of people, he sniffed the air. “Thinking about dinner.”

“What’s for dinner?”

“Anything on the menu at Alioto’s. We have about thirty minutes before our reservation.”

“Mmm. Sounds wonderful. Can’t remember the last time I ate there.”

“Figured Sunday evening would be good as far as fewer tourists and maybe more locals.”

“Possibly. Can’t go wrong there.”

Drew couldn’t help but wonder if she was concerned about running into someone she knew there. Hadn’t been the case during the day, but what about dinner out?

As they followed the maitre d’, his hand lightly touching the small of her back, he wondered some more. Although she was subtle, she looked around, noting faces, but apparently not recognizing anyone. They were seated at a window looking over a marina full of small boats.

“Is this good?” he asked when they were left with menus.

She smiled. “It’s perfect,” she said, and waved toward the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance beyond the small forest of masts. “Sometime you’ll have to have dinner at the Claremont in Berkeley. They also have a fabulous view of the bridge.”

“Maybe we can do that next time.”

When she smiled, his heart lifted. For someone who lived for the fun in life, he was finding there was nothing simple about this date. Whether she worried about being seen or not, he did.

“Would you rather not stay here for dinner?” he asked, wanting nothing more than to reach across the table and hold her hand.

“Only if you’re uncomfortable?” The delicate brow she raised indicated she seemed to be reading his mind.

“I don’t want to put you in a bad position if someone you know sees us together.”

She sent him a sweet smile. “I’m not worried.”

“All right then.” He opened his menu, taking her at her word. If she wasn’t worried, he’d not waste more time thinking about it. “What looks good to you?”

Orders placed, wine delivered, and a basket of fresh, warm sourdough bread between them, he began his gentle interrogation.

“Tell me about your family.”

“What do you want to know?”

“The complete story. Mother, father, siblings, the family business, how many cousins do you really have…the usual.”

“Not asking for much I see.” She laughed. “Okay, the basics. Father and mother. Father, until recently, held the reins of the family business, which is a few restaurants and a restaurant supply. One brother who worked both sides of the business, is now taking over. My father has two brothers who now work for my brother. Their sons run the day to day restaurant business. More cousins work the various parts including cooking, serving, cleaning, deliveries, marketing, and purchasing. I can’t give you a total count as the number grows with each marriage and birth. Many babies.” She grinned. “Which is why I’ve never felt a need to add to the numbers. A few of us have escaped, such as Jack who is part of another branch from my father’s grandfather’s line. As you know, he chose law. Arnie, that would be An Cheng Chung to you, whose great grandfather was a brother to my great grandfather, chose to teach. There are a few academics down his branch. A few doctors and scientists as well.”

“Sounds vast and complicated.”

“Yes, very hard to track exactly how each one is related. My father can tell you, but I’ve chosen not to study the genealogy in depth.”

“All pure Chinese descent?”

“No, not at all, although the direct line to me is. What about your family? All English gentry?”

Drew laughed. “They’d like to think so, but down the line we had a Viking who contributed the blond hair. I’m pretty sure we have a Highlander back a few centuries ago, and one great-grandmother was French. Basically Northern European to the bone.”

“I think I can see the Viking raider.” Meilin winked as she teased.

“If the stories are true, he was quite the character. He probably provided the travel gene that sent other ancestors across the sea to make their fortune. And spun off one rogue who came to a bad end as a highwayman.”

Meilin chuckled. “I think I can see that too.”

Throughout an excellent meal, they traded stories and rumors of less than arrow straight ancestors, each tale more outrageous than the last. He’d even ventured into a few stories about working his way up inside the family business, especially a few of his bolder moves in the legal department that had set his course on law school. By the time coffee and dessert came around, his stomach ached from laughing. He couldn’t remember a more fun dinner, or a more gorgeous sunset with an even prettier companion.

He saw the waiter coming and pulled out his credit card before handing it over without even looking at the bill. “Where would you like to go next?”

“I believe you mentioned something about a walk.”

“Care to do it on the beach?”

Meilin laughed. “You’re such a tourist. You have no idea that the beach is probably fog covered, or the wind is blowing like a gale and colder than winter.”

“Maybe.” Of course he hadn’t had time to do much beach walking since he’d arrived in California the previous September. Hadn’t even spent any of the longer breaks here but back home in Sussex. “Why don’t you prove it to me?”

Meilin nervously took one last look around her apartment. Shan already had her overnight bag over his shoulder as he waited for her to lock up. She finally pulled the door closed and used the key to set the deadbolt.

This weekend, twice postponed, was something of a chance to make up and get refocused, according to Shan. His business had kept him out of town a full week, and he’d spent most of it simmering because she hadn’t called him back the night he flew out. Being with Drew had completely sidetracked her from her promise to let Shan know she’d made it home safe that night, and he’d had something to say about it. She just felt lucky he hadn’t called while she’d been out on the town with Drew. And if anyone had seen her with him, no one had said a word to Shan. Another stroke of luck.

Shan took her hand and led her to the stairs. His excitement was palpable. Hers, not so much. Nervous energy apparently convinced Shan she was as excited as he.

“It’s a perfect day for a drive. I have reservations at a place in Calistoga. There’s a spa attached, so let me know if you want to indulge later this afternoon,” he said.

“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt your plans,” she protested.

“Not an interruption.” He winked at her as he pulled open the door to the sidewalk. “Indulging you, pampering you, is my focus this weekend.”

Almost what she was afraid of.

Tonight was the big event.

It.

Doing it.

Shan had made it clear this weekend was about tonight and finally making love.

She wasn’t ready. Especially after last night. After another tutoring session with Arnie’s students, she and Drew had taken another walk. Something that felt more and more comfortable each time they did so. It had been midnight before she made her way back home.

It had been three o’clock before she’d finally fallen asleep. Shan’s call at eight had woken her from a dream of making love to Drew. It didn’t take a shrink to tell her she had conflicted feelings.

Shan handed her into the car, then opened the trunk and set her bag inside before sliding behind the steering wheel. The excitement poured off him. “The weather is expected to be clear all weekend.”

“Wonderful,” she murmured.

Shan started the car, adjusted the volume on the radio to something low enough for conversation. He smiled at her. “This is going to be great. We’re headed for Sonoma first. There’s a winery I want to check out. But once we get over to Napa, just sing out if there’s someplace in particular you want to visit. I’d like to stop at Mumm, but any place else is your call.”

“Mumm is good.” The smile she gave him in return felt weak.

Oh God. How was she going to get through this weekend? In fact, why was she even engaged to this man? She definitely wasn’t ready for a weekend away, much less a lifetime, with this man. But could she really break it off? She’d been raised that once a promise had been given, it couldn’t be broken. Just how heavy would the fallout be if she even brought up the subject?

Shan steered onto Park Presidio heading north toward the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway 101. Well, he was right about one thing—it was a pretty day with clear blue sky and ocean fresh air. Once on the bridge the view toward the bay was spectacular with a veritable forest of white sails on the water. A perfect day for sailing. Which brought back memories of their day on his boat. Memory of his one captain of the boat and family speech was enough to further dampen whatever enthusiasm she had for the day. At least one good thing had come of their adventure, the owner of the fishing float had contacted her and she had an appointment to meet with him and his wife later in the week.

They both opened their windows to let the fresh air blow through and Shan chatted as he drove, talking about his favorite wines, or some little shop he thought she might like. Meilin let him talk, occasionally offering a small comment. Enough to let him think she was listening.

All the while she worried.

Shan wasn’t being unreasonable expecting her to have sex with him. They’d been engaged a month now. Nor was he unreasonable for expecting her to fully, and enthusiastically, participate. The trouble was, she wanted to, but not with him. Yeah, that was the kicker. She wanted Drew to be in the driver’s seat. She wouldn’t have cared where they went as long as it was with him.

With Shan, she didn’t care where they went, as long as she didn’t have to have sex with him.

So, while they threaded their way north, she worried about what she was going to do. Did she go ahead and have sex with Shan? They were engaged after all. But then she’d feel like she was cheating on Drew, which was stupid, because even if she weren’t engaged to Shan, a relationship with Drew presented enough problems on its own. And while she hadn’t actually had sex with him, they’d come close enough she felt a little dirty, as if she’d cheated on Shan. Okay, so she had cheated in a way. But damn. It was hard to feel too terribly guilty about it.

Staring out the window of the car, she rested her elbow on the sill and twisted a lock of hair around her finger, a nervous habit she’d worked very hard to eliminate. One that had driven her mother crazy and had earned her hand slaps aplenty.

“Meilin? You still with me?” Shan’s voice had a teasing quality to it, but when she turned to look at him, there was a hard glint in his eyes as he glanced at her.

“Oh, sorry. Was thinking about how to incorporate the beautiful trees around us into a design. You’re right; today is the perfect day for a drive.”

It was possible he believed her, but she guessed he didn’t. He reached for her hand and she accepted his touch.

“Don’t be nervous about tonight. We’ll take it slow and easy. You’re in charge as much as you want to be.” Was he always so astute?

A slight chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning slipped down her spine. “What if”—she swallowed deeply and asked the question that had been bugging her for weeks—“we aren’t compatible physically?”

Shan glanced at her sharply. “Is that what’s making you so nervous?”

So he had noticed. Not much of an actress, was she?

“Yes. I’m…concerned about not, well, being right for you.” Mentally she rolled her eyes. Could she sound any more lame?

“I don’t think that’s an issue.” The smile he sent her came close to a leer. “I’ve felt you respond to me when we kiss, Meilin. I think I’ve made it clear I’m hot for you, and I think it’s just a matter of us being alone to show you just how responsive to me you are.”

“But what if I can’t, well, respond the way you want? What if it just doesn’t work?”

With a slight frown on his face, Shan shrugged. “It’s only one aspect of marriage. I don’t see it being a problem, but if it is, we’ll work through it and create our heirs. If it truly is an issue, something I honestly don’t anticipate, then we’ll deal with it the way our ancestors did—conduct discreet affairs as needed. Not my ideal marriage, but I don’t see it as a deal breaker. We can still have a good relationship and raise children who have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes.”

The temperature of Shan’s hand didn’t change, but hers grew icy. “So, we’d keep love nests to hide our extra-marital activities. Condoned cheating.” It was not the way she’d been raised. Although her parents disdained public shows of affection, the signs were there. She also knew her mother would have committed murder had she ever found herself the cheated upon wife. Her father, as well, in the reverse.

Was this evil Shan described a part of his life? Had his parents conducted themselves that way? She could recall nothing that indicated affairs of any kind.