Seducing the Wolf (42 page)

“You mean like the woman you had dinner with while I was on tour last year?” Taylor inquired evenly.

Aidan froze midstep. The color leached out of his face as he turned slowly to stare at her. “Gabby told you about her?”

“Obviously.”

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “She was an old colleague. Nothing happened between us.”

“That’s what you told Gabby.”

“Because it’s the truth!”

Taylor’s skeptical expression made it clear she didn’t believe him.

Twin flags of color rose to his cheeks, and his lips pressed into a thin line. “It didn’t mean anything,” he mumbled.

Taylor’s breath caught. “So you did sleep with her.”

He hesitated. “Not that time.”

“When?”

“What difference does it—”

“
When, Aidan?
”

He glared mutinously at her. “It was that weekend in April when I came here on business. I ran into her—”

“You ran into her?” Taylor challenged. “Or you called to tell her you were in town?”

Aidan clenched his jaw. “I don’t remember. Anyway, we got together for dinner and drinks. One thing led to another and…You get the gist.”

“Yes,” Taylor whispered. “I do.”

“Like I said, it didn’t mean anything. We’d always been attracted to each other, but that was the extent of it. You have no idea how lonely I get when you’re traveling all the damn time. I’m human. I have needs just like anyone else!”

“Were you with her when I talked to you on Tuesday and you told me you were shopping for shoes?”

“Of course not,” Aidan said vehemently. “And I wasn’t really shopping for shoes. I was buying your engagement ring—the ring you just threw back in my face!”

Taylor ignored a pang of guilt. “Have you seen her since you’ve been back in town?”

Aidan glowered at her another moment, then removed a white handkerchief from his pocket, snatched his glasses off his face and vigorously began polishing the lenses.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

“So you slept with your mistress the same week you planned to propose to me. Do I have that right?”

He scowled, shoving his glasses back into place. “You’ve got some damn nerve sitting there and interrogating me after you spent the week fucking your childhood sweetheart!”

“You’re right,” Taylor said quietly. “Neither one of us can claim the moral high ground. We’ve both hurt and betrayed each other, and there’s no excuse for that.”

Aidan regarded her broodingly. “So now what? We just throw in the towel and walk away from each other after three years?”

Taylor sighed. “This isn’t about throwing in the towel, Aidan. We’re not walking away from something that can be salvaged. We’re walking away to give each other an opportunity to find happiness elsewhere...even if that means with other people.”

“ ‘Other people,’ ” Aidan mocked scornfully. “Don’t you mean Manning Wolf?”

Taylor didn’t respond.

He sneered at her. “Your father told me the whole story about you and Romeo. He filled in the missing blanks
you
were obviously too humiliated to share. I know Manning ignored all the long, angsty letters you wrote him. I know how heartbroken you were, how you pined after him for years. I also know what a notorious player he’s become. If you seriously think he won’t hurt you again, you’re in for a rude awakening. You’re a beautiful woman, Taylor, but do you honestly expect a lothario like Manning Wolf to keep his dick in his pants while you’re on the road nine months out of the year?” Aidan snorted. “You’re not
that
special.”

“Apparently I wasn’t,” Taylor said sadly. “Not to you anyway.”

“You won’t be to
him
either, stupid bitch.”

Taylor gave him a disappointed look. “Don’t do that, Aidan. You don’t have to hurl ugly insults. It’s pointless. And it’s beneath you.”

His face reddened with shame before his eyes retreated from hers.

Calmly uncrossing her legs, Taylor rose from the bench and brushed past him, heading back toward her mother’s house.

“I’m leaving,” Aidan said petulantly.

She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him.

He looked miserable, his narrow shoulders slumped in defeat. “I can’t go back to the party and face all those people after the way you humiliated me.”

“I understand,” Taylor said softly. “I’ll let my mother know.”

He waved dismissively. “Whatever.”

Taylor contemplated him another moment, but there was nothing left to say. “Take care of yourself, Aidan.”

With that, she turned and set off across the park.

As she neared her mother’s brownstone, she saw Tru waiting at the top of the brick steps. He came down to meet her, gathering her close as fresh tears filled her eyes. She nestled her face against his broad chest, drawing comfort and strength from his protective embrace.

“You did the right thing,” he murmured reassuringly.

“I know,” she whispered. “I just wish it could have ended differently. I didn’t want to hurt him. And I hate that our breakup played out so publicly.”

“I know.” Tru expelled a deep breath that lifted her cheek on his chest. “What can I say, kiddo? Life’s messy.”

She sighed miserably. “Tell me about it.”

Tru kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.

After a while, Taylor pulled away and gave him a wobbly grin. “How long have you been standing out here?”

“Long enough to make sure he didn’t try anything stupid.” The lethal promise in Tru’s dark eyes made it clear what he would have done if Aidan had become violent with her. A former sniper whose skill at taking out enemy targets had earned him a Medal of Honor, everyone knew that Truman Chastain was not to be fucked with. Ever.

“You don’t have to go back inside if you don’t feel up to it,” he said gently. “We can blow off the rest of the party and go grab dinner somewhere.”

Taylor sighed. “As incredibly tempting as that sounds, I’d better stick around and face the music. I know Mom and Dad aren’t too happy with me right now.”

“No, they’re not,” Tru admitted with a grimace. “But they’ll get over it.”

“Not anytime soon.”

“Probably not.” Tru draped an arm around her shoulders as they started up the steps. “Tell you what. If you don’t feel like dealing with the old folks after the party, you can crash at my place tonight, and I’ll drop you off at the airport tomorrow.”

Taylor smiled gratefully. “That sounds like a plan. Thanks, Tru.”

He tweaked her nose. “What are big brothers for?”

29

“
T
hat rat bastard!” Gabby exploded through the phone. “He lied to me!”

“Well, technically, he didn’t,” Taylor countered wryly, her cell phone cradled between her shoulder and ear as she slid her feet into a pair of red flats. “He didn’t sleep with the woman the night you saw him at the restaurant. It was months later.”

“
Merde!
And you believed that story?” Gabby let loose a string of French expletives that had Taylor’s cheeks burning. “He probably slept with her that night and then tried to cover his tracks by coming to see me the next morning. And I’m sure that bitch wasn’t the first one he screwed while you two were dating!”

Taylor heaved a sigh. “It doesn’t really matter. I cheated on him with Manning, so I’m not exactly entitled to feelings of betrayal and outrage.”

Gabby muttered more curses under her breath.

Taylor had called her that morning to tell her about Aidan’s surprise proposal and the ugly confrontation that had followed. Gabby hadn’t taken the news well—which was putting it mildly.

“You don’t understand, Taylor,” she vented. “I feel responsible for getting you involved with that loser since
I’m
the one who introduced you to him. And all because he saw you in my
pâtisserie
one day and begged me to hook him up. I still remember how smitten he was. How persistent. I figured there was no harm in bringing him to your concert to see if any sparks flew. Now I feel like I let you down.”

“You didn’t let me down. I liked Aidan. We hit it off. There wasn’t much you could do about that.”

“But I’m your best friend. I should have known he wasn’t right for you.” Gabby snorted. “Even his last name should have been a dead giveaway. Loring rhymes with
boring
, which is exactly what he turned out to be. A total bore. And what’s worse than a bore? A bore who can’t keep his dick in his pants.
Merde
. If he ever steps foot in my
pâtisserie
again—”

Taylor laughed. “You can’t throw him in the oven, Gabby. People will get suspicious if the new ambassador to France goes missing after stopping by your bakery for croissants. Besides,” she added dryly, “I’m sure Aidan knows he’s the last person you want to see.”

“He’d better know.
Enfoiré
,” Gabby grumbled, calling him a motherfucker.

Taylor chuckled. “Stop being such a potty mouth. It’s Sunday.”

“Are you going to church?”

“No.”

“Then don’t lecture me about what day it is.”

“Touché.”

Gabby chuckled darkly. “You know what? As disgusted as I am with Aidan’s behavior, I’m glad he showed his true colors. Otherwise you might have felt guilty about moving on with Manning—which I’m so glad you are.”

Taylor smiled softly. “It’s scary,” she admitted, wandering across the bedroom to glance out the window just as Hayden pulled up to Tru’s townhouse in her black Porsche.

“Why is it scary?” Gabby asked. “You love him. You always have.”

“That’s true. It’s just that…well, I don’t know what the future holds for us.”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Gabby said sagely.

“I know.” Taylor watched in amusement as Hayden climbed out of the low-slung car, then retrieved a compact mirror from her designer handbag to check her teeth and makeup. She quickly combed her fingers through her long red hair, then drew a deep breath and strode up the walk toward the front door.

Moments after the doorbell rang, Tru called from downstairs, “Kiwi, Hayden’s here!”

“Coming!” Taylor called back, slicking some gloss over her lips and fluffing her curls.

“Where are you going?” Gabby asked curiously.

“I’m having breakfast with my stepsister. I’ll call you back tomorrow.
D’accord?
”

“
D’accord.
Have a safe trip back to your man,” Gabby singsonged.

Taylor grinned. “Thanks, Gabs.
Au revoir
.” She hung up, then grabbed her purse and headed from the room.

As she descended the curved staircase, she could see Tru and Hayden standing in the foyer by the front door. Hayden was babbling nervously about her recent interview with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Tru listened impassively as he sipped from a cup of coffee. Dark stubble covered his jaw, and he wore black pajama bottoms with a white tank that displayed his muscular, tattooed biceps.

Hayden still hadn’t paused for breath by the time Taylor reached the foyer. She arched a brow at her stepsister, surprised by her demeanor. This was a woman who grilled political heavyweights on a nightly basis—with millions of viewers watching—without ever breaking a sweat. Yet here she was talking to Tru and looking totally flustered, red face and all.

Damn. Did she have it
that
bad for him?

“So what did you think of the interview?” Hayden asked at the end of her breathless monologue.

“Hmm?” Tru murmured distractedly, cup halfway to his mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch it.”

“Oh.” Hayden looked deflated.

“But I’m sure it was riveting.” Tru glanced around at Taylor and smiled. “Morning, baby girl. Did you sleep okay?”

“I did, actually.” She smiled gratefully. “Thanks for letting me crash here last night. And thanks for lending me your shoulder to cry on.”

“No problem.” Tru winked at her. “I’ll just add it to your tab.”

Laughing, Taylor leaned up on tiptoe and gave him a playfully smacking kiss on the cheek, then made a show of rubbing off her lip gloss while he pretended to grimace.

Taylor grinned at Hayden. “Ready to go?”

“Sure.” She glanced hopefully at Tru. “Care to join us?”

“Nah. I’ll let you girls have your bonding time.”

“We’re family,” Hayden said brightly. “We can
all
bond.”

Tru chuckled. “I’m good.”

“Are you—”

“Girl, let’s go.” Taylor blew her brother a kiss, then nudged Hayden toward the door.

They stepped outside to find Simona strutting up the walk, her hips swaying like a sultry island breeze. She wore a pair of Jimmy Choo peep-toe pumps with a killer white skirt suit that hugged her amazing curves.

Taylor smiled, coming down the steps to greet her. “Hey, Simona.”

“Hey, Taylor.” Simona smiled warmly, her teeth white and pretty against her gorgeous brown skin. She hugged Taylor, then drew back and searched her eyes. “You okay?”

Taylor nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“Of course you will.” Simona cupped her cheek. “And don’t worry about your mother. She’ll come around.”