Seducing the Wolf (32 page)

“Mom,” Caitlyn groaned.

“—but we figured you’d come to your senses eventually.” Sheridan patted Manning’s cheek. “We’re still hoping you will.”

He frowned. “Mrs. Spencer—”

“How
is
your father, by the way?”

Manning felt off kilter. “He’s, um, doing well.”

“That’s good.” Sheridan’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “All the wives in the neighborhood used to ogle him in his firefighter’s uniform. I’m not ashamed to admit I was one of them. Your daddy was a handsome devil. Does he still work for the fire department?”

“He does,” Manning murmured. “He’s the chief.”

“Oh, good for him! So he’s the head nigga in charge, huh?”

“
Mom!
” Caitlyn hissed.

Manning didn’t know whether to be amused or disgusted. Between Caitlyn and her uncensored mother, he honestly couldn’t decide who was more outrageous. “Um, yeah, Dad’s in charge now. Mom’s doing well too.”
Not that you asked.
“They celebrate their forty-first anniversary in August.”

“Really? Well…congratulations to them.”

“Thanks. And speaking of Corsica, they visited the island a few years ago—”

“Oh?”

“—and said pretty much the same things you did. They had a great time.”

Sheridan smiled thinly. “How nice for them. And who says black love is dead?” She paused a moment. “Of course, your parents are from a different generation, so—”

“Dr. Wolf! Dr. Wolf! Look what I can do!”

All three adults turned to watch as Ally executed a series of somersaults across the lawn. They applauded enthusiastically and complimented her, making her preen harder than a beauty pageant winner.

Sheridan sighed with satisfaction. “I think she’s going to be just fine here,” she remarked to Caitlyn. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I have
everything
to worry about,” Caitlyn countered in a tight voice. “Were you not listening when I told you that Chandler is threatening to sue for custody of Ally?”

“Of course I was listening.” Sheridan
tsk-tsked
, wagging her head. “I hate to say it, darling, but this is what happens when you don’t heed your mother’s advice. After you and Josh went through that nasty divorce, I told you to find yourself a rich black man who would worship you the way your father worships me. But what did you do? You went and married another blond, blue-eyed WASP with an entitlement complex and a wandering dick.”

“Mom, please,” Caitlyn said, driven to exasperation. “Any man I married could have taken me to court over our child.”

“Not true. Black men don’t fight for custody of their kids.”

Manning took umbrage. “
Excuse me
? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sheridan’s face reddened, as if she’d temporarily forgotten that she was in the presence of a black man. “I just, uh, meant that, uh—”

“Mom,” Caitlyn quickly intervened, “why don’t you take Ally back inside to finish exploring the house?”

“Good idea.” Sheridan scuttled away to retrieve her somersaulting granddaughter. “Come on, dear. Let’s go back inside.”

Ally frowned, glancing back toward Manning. “But Mommy told me to come outside when he—”

Sheridan clapped a hand over the little girl’s mouth, ushering her away before she could reveal any more of her mother’s tactics.

Manning shook his head at Caitlyn. “What’re you doing? Huh? What the fuck are you doing?”

She grimaced. “You’ll have to excuse my mother. She’s never been known for political correctness—”

“I’m not talking about your crazy ass mother,” Manning snapped. “I’m talking about you and the shady games you’re playing.”

She blinked. “What games?”

“You know damn well what games! Luring me over here to meet your daughter, telling her all that bullshit, renting out this house—”

“What’s wrong with me renting this house?” Caitlyn shot back. “Last I checked it’s a free country. Your family may be loved in this town, but they don’t own it. If I want to make Atlanta my new home, that’s my prerogative. You know everything I’ve been through. If you care about me, you won’t begrudge me the right to come here and get a fresh start—”

“This isn’t about you getting a fresh start,” Manning snarled. “This is about you inserting yourself into my life under the delusion that we’ll start going out on dates and playing house together. This is about you assuming that if you hang around long enough, I’ll look into your eyes one day, have an epiphany and propose to you. But it ain’t gonna happen, sweetheart, so you might as well take your scheming ass back to Connecticut.”

“Why?” Caitlyn jeered. “So you and Taylor can have your little storybook reunion? Tell me something,
sweetheart
. Did she buy a one-way ticket to Atlanta? Has she given you any reason to believe she intends to stay here beyond July sixteenth?”

“None of your damn business,” Manning growled, working to control his temper.

Caitlyn smirked, her eyes sharpening with malicious satisfaction. “I’ve done my research on her, read interviews and watched clips of her performances. She’s talented, I’ll give her that. But she’s been nominated for three Grammy awards and has only won once. So I’m sure that eats at her. As accomplished as she is, I’m sure she still feels like she has something to prove.”

Manning raked Caitlyn with a scornful look. “You’re pathetic.”

“No,
you
are if you think Taylor’s ready to be domesticated. She’s at the top of her game, Manning. Do you really think she’s interested in settling down and putting her career on the backburner? Do you honestly believe she’s ready to bow out of the spotlight to become a housewife? To start popping out babies for you?” Caitlyn snorted derisively. “Get real, Manning. Taylor knows that having children will interfere with her career, and that’s why she hasn’t done it yet.”

Manning narrowed his eyes, his chest tightening as Taylor’s heartbreaking confession echoed through his mind:
I don’t want children…Wherever I go, I see Micah in the face of every child I meet. There’s no way I can ever become a mother….

“You have no fucking clue what you’re talking about,” he snarled at Caitlyn.

“Maybe I don’t.” She shrugged. “Maybe the reason she hasn’t had any kids is that she’s barren. Whatever the reason, her obvious lack of interest in becoming a mother should raise all kinds of red flags for you. Didn’t you tell me that you want children? Well,
I’m
the one who has proven that I’m willing to make sacrifices to start a family.
I’m
the one who was on the fast track to making partner but didn’t let that stop me from having a baby.
I’m
the one who desperately wants to give you a son. Not your precious Taylor.
Me!
So you’d better think about that before you send me packing.”

Manning glared at her, his jaw clenched so tight it was a wonder he didn’t break his damn teeth.

Caitlyn heaved a sigh. “Look, I get the appeal. Those big doe eyes, the pouty pucker, the come-hither smile. And I know how you brothas love your ghetto booties—”

Manning scowled in disbelief. “You think this is about me wanting a big butt and a smile?”

Caitlyn smirked. “I’m just acknowledging that you
seem
to get the best of both worlds with Taylor. She’s a French-speaking, classically trained violinist with the body of a video vixen. She looks good on your arm, she’s accomplished, she’s well traveled and she’s articulate enough to hold intelligent conversations with your fellow scientists at dinner parties. Believe me,” Caitlyn added bitterly, “I know you and Taylor would be a match made in power-couple heaven. But you know what? So would you and I.
I’m
a successful career woman,
I’m
well educated,
I’m
gorgeous. As an added bonus,
I
can almost pass for wh—”

“Stop. Just stop.” Manning shook his head in angry disgust. “You sound thirsty as hell, you know that? Do you honestly think I give a fuck about those things you just mentioned? I’ve loved Taylor since I was fourteen.
Fourteen
, Caitlyn. You were there, remember? I loved her when she wore thick horn-rimmed glasses, when she mixed plaids and stripes and committed every other fashion crime you enjoyed ridiculing her for. I loved her long before she got that ‘ghetto booty’ you’re so damn jealous of, and I’d still love her if she were working at a drugstore or waiting tables at my cousin’s restaurant. You know why? Because she’s Taylor, and that’s
all
she’s ever needed to be.”

By the time he finished speaking, Caitlyn’s face was beet red and her nostrils were flaring. Rapidly blinking back tears, she thrust her chin upward in wounded challenge. “You know what, Manning? You’re not the only Wolf in town. You don’t want me? Fine. I’m sure any of your brothers or cousins would
kill
to have an amazing woman like me.”

Manning snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“Wait!” she cried, grabbing his arm before he could walk off. “Come on, baby, I wasn’t serious! You know you’re the only man I’ve ever wanted. Please tell me what I have to do to make you see that we belong together.”

“There’s nothing you
can
do, Caitlyn!” Manning glared at her, thrumming with anger and impatience. He didn’t want to be a coldblooded bastard, but she’d given him no other choice. “I don’t know how to make this any plainer for you. If I wanted you to be mine, I would have wifed you up a long time ago. If I wanted to be with you, I would have chosen you back in the day when you were the baddest chick on the yard. But I didn’t choose you then, and I’m sure as hell not choosing you now.”

Caitlyn’s face fell, and fresh tears welled in her eyes.

“But you’re right about one thing,” Manning continued ruthlessly. “It
is
your prerogative to move to Atlanta. But I don’t recommend it. See, for reasons beyond my control, the local media likes to report on my comings and goings—mine and my family’s. If I’m ever lucky enough to convince Taylor to marry me, how are you going to feel when you read about our pending nuptials in the papers? How will you handle seeing pictures from our engagement party? From our beautiful wedding? What about the day we bring home our precious newborn from the hospital? If you live here, will you be emotionally strong enough to deal with all that press coverage?” He touched a tear rolling down her cheek. “I don’t think you are, Caitlyn. I really don’t.”

“Fuck you, Manning!” she shrieked. “
FUCK YOU!
”

He shook his head slowly. “Never again.”

Her face twisted with the venomous fury of a woman scorned, a look that made her appear downright ugly and shrewish.

“You know what?” she spat viciously. “I think your precious Taylor and I are long overdue for a woman-to-woman talk. I know where she’s staying. Maybe I’ll pay that little bitch a visit and tell her—”

“You go anywhere near Taylor,” Manning growled savagely, “and I will unleash the fucking gates of hell on you. Do you understand me? Your exes will look like patron saints by the time I’m done with you. Don’t fuck with me.”

With that, he pivoted and stalked to his car.

Pausing at the open door, he looked back at Caitlyn. She was staring at him, nostrils flaring, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Ally’s a sweet kid, Caitlyn. Don’t fuck her up, you hear me? Don’t fuck her up.”

Shoving on his sunglasses, Manning slid behind the wheel of his car, slammed the door and roared off without a backward glance.

23

T
aylor stood in front of a full-length mirror studying her reflection as Vivaldi’s Trio Sonata in G Minor played softly in the background.

After agonizing over what to wear tonight, she’d finally settled on a dress that she’d bought from a boutique in Paris. It was white with a fitted bodice trimmed with black lace and a skirt that flared out above the knees. The ultra feminine outfit was paired with black Louis Vuitton peep-toe pumps that had small white bows attached to the backs of the heels.

She left her hair down, spritzing her curls with coconut oil to add moisture and shine. Her makeup was understated, a hint of mascara and blush accented with a nude lip.

She did a slow turn, smoothing her hands over her hips as she inspected her reflection from every possible angle. It was ridiculous how nervous she was. She felt as anxious as if she were meeting Manning’s family for the very first time.

Taking several deep breaths, she stepped away from the mirror and walked across the room to turn off the music, which had done little to calm her nerves.

In the ensuing silence, she picked up her cell phone and stared at the display screen. It still showed two missed calls from Aidan. The first time he’d called was last night while she and Manning were curled up in bed, quietly talking and laughing as they’d fed dinner to each other. She hadn’t heard the phone ring, nor had she heard it this morning while she and Manning were enjoying their steamy shower.

The erotic memory brought a hot flush to her skin, pleasure warring with guilt.