Wait for Me (9 page)

“This is the worst day of my life,” she cried.

She ran into their bathroom and slammed the door, locking it to keep him out. She let down her hair and appraised herself in the ornate mirror. Her milky white skin was unblemished.

Unlike that freckled bitch
.

She sniffled loudly when she heard Andy’ heavy breathing on the other side of the thin door.

“Baby, I’m sorry. That dress was so…vibrant. I kept imagining you in it.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure everyone noticed,” she sobbed. “I’ll be the laughingstock of the town!” she wailed.

Quietly, she opened the drawer and removed a small container of Vicks. She dabbed a little on her pinkie and rubbed it on each eye. The mild sting made her eyes water and she let the tears flow down her cheek. Black streaks of mascara stained her cheeks.

You look pathetic
.

“I’m sure no one noticed.”

He sound unconvinced. She grinned at her reflection.

Drama club is finally paying off.

She covered her face and sobbed loudly against the door.

Now to set the bait.

“Your best man has ruined my wedding day,” she wailed. “He brought that…harlot to my wedding.” Her voice had the perfect amount of strain and despair designed to make Andy wince.

“You’re right, Baby. It’s all his fault. He should never have brought that temptress to our wedding. He’s been against this marriage from the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his plan all along, to create discord between us.”

She bit her hand to keep from snickering.

Hooked. And now for the grand finale.

She opened the door so he could see her tear streaked face.

“Well, there’s nothing you can do about it now,” she said weakly, lowering her eyes and sagging her shoulders in defeat.

Andy gazed at her face.

“Yes there is. I’m terminating our business relationship,” Andy announced.

The joy she felt was genuine and her face glowed.

“But I thought he was your best friend.”

“I won’t work with a man who tried to destroy my marriage,” he vowed.

She allowed Andy to pull her into his arms. She settled her face against his chest so he couldn’t see the devious look in her eyes.

If Tommy wants to buy his shop, he’ll have no choice but to come crawling back to me.

Chapter Ten

Tom turned in his sleep, his arm falling across a warm body snoring softly beside him. The mild scent of gardenias filtered into his dreams. A loud snort penetrated his sleepy haze and his eyes fluttered open.

Anjali
.

His lips curved into a satisfied smile as he snuggled closer. His cock stirred.

Will she be as uninhibited today as she was last night?

A sharp annoying buzz rang through the air, disrupting the peaceful morning. He slammed his hand on top of his alarm clock, muttering under his breath.

Anjali stirred.

“Go back to sleep, Honey,” he said softly.

He was tempted to curl up next to her but then remembered his fridge was empty. Deciding to make a quick trip to get breakfast, he reached for a pair of jeans.

Usually when I’m getting dressed the morning after, I’m sneaking out of a woman’s house, not going to get her breakfast.

He pulled his jeans on slowly.

Why am I
not
panicking that a sexy, half-naked woman is in
my
bed?

He found a shirt and put it on, buttoning it slowly.

Because she wasn’t possessed by the marriage demon last night.

His eyes caressed her sleeping form.

So long as she keeps that demon at bay, this could actually work.

He left the room quietly and let himself out. When he returned with breakfast, Anjali was already awake and in his kitchen.

Fresh brewed coffee permeated the air. She was standing in his kitchen, wearing one of his old buttoned-down shirts. It fell to her knees.

Is she wearing any panties?

Suddenly he was determined to find out. He held up the bag.

“Breakfast,” he announced, setting it on the table.

“Thanks. Would you like some coffee?”

He nodded and she poured some coffee in an old mug and handed it to him. He added sugar and French Vanilla creamer.

“I figured you’d take yours black.”

“Wrong again,” he replied nonchalantly.

He took a sip then set down his mug.

“Why did you think that?”

She shrugged.

“I guess all the men I know take theirs black.”

“I’m not like other men,
Honey
,” he replied, his voice as smooth as silk.

Her eyes dilated and she blushed. He was sure she was thinking about last night. She gripped the counter as he advanced.

He placed his hands strategically on either side of her.

“So when is our next shopping trip?”

She shook her head.

He leaned in and whispered, “Don’t you want to model something sexy for me?”

“
Tommy
!” she chastised.

“Do a little striptease?”

“Striptease?”

She’s never stripped? That is about to change.

“Sure, Honey. Just unbutton one button at a time. Like this,” he said as he unbuttoned the top button.

She held her breath.

He unbuttoned another one and leaned in close, as if he were going to kiss her. At the last moment, he pulled away.

“Tease,” he said, his voice husky.

He bent his knees a little so his hands could caress her thighs. He straightened slowly, his hands moving up her thighs, pushing his shirt out of the way, revealing her panties.

“I was sure you weren’t wearing any,” he admitted.

Taking advantage of his position, he kissed her.

Coffee mixed with Anjali’s unique taste.

Heat pooled in his groin and he felt his cock stirring.

“Breakfast first,” he said, pulling away.

He opened a cabinet.

“Oh? What’s second?” she teased.

“That depends on how adventurous you’re feeling.”

He set two plates on the table and she brought their coffee mugs. She sat down.

“What do you mean by ‘adventurous’?”

He tapped the dining room table and winked. Her brow rose when she understood his meaning. She glanced at the thin curtains that covered his front windows.

She shook her head.

“Someone will see.”

“Only if they’re looking in.”

She reached for the bag and he realized he enjoyed making her blush.

Once breakfast was over, she carried their plates to the sink. He set his coffee mug down on the counter and pressed up against her.

He nibbled on her neck. Sighing, she rubbed her bottom slowly against his groin, teasing out an erection.

The harsh ring of his telephone echoed in the kitchen.

“The machine will get it,” he said between nibbles.

“Tom? I need to speak with you. It’s urgent. If you’re there—”

He ran into the living room and grabbed the phone off the coffee table.

“Andy? I thought you were flying to Hawaii for your Honeymoon.”

“Tom, I changed my mind about investing in your business.”

His heart seemed as though it had stopped beating and time slowed down. His head felt thick, his thoughts stuck in molasses.

“I’m withdrawing my financial investment. You’ll have to get your thirty grand from someone else. Maybe your
girlfriend
can help you out,” Andy sneered before hanging up.

His hand dropped to his side. The dial tone beeped loudly in the room. Anjali grabbed the phone and shut it off.

“Tommy? Tommy, what’s wrong?”

“Andy…withdrew his financing.”

He dropped to his couch and buried his face in hands.

She touched his arm.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Last night was a mistake.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Anjali replied quietly, turning away from him.

He grabbed her hand.

“No, no, Honey, not—that’s not what I meant.”

He pulled her on his lap and held her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“I don’t regret having sex with you.”

Her eyes shifted, a subtle change. Her expression became more guarded. She was withdrawing from him.

Did she regret last night?

“I only meant that I shouldn’t have taken you to the wedding. It pissed off Janice.”

He studied her profile, hoping for a response.

“Somehow she got him to back out of our deal. That conniving bitch. I should have just slept with her—”

“You would have slept with her?”

Anjali stood quickly, as if the couch were on fire.

“If I had known she was going to pull my funds, hell, yes, I would have!”

“I can’t believe you—”

“What’s the big deal? It’s only sex.”

“Only sex?” Her voice rose. “No big deal, you mean like last night?” she demanded.

“Anjali, that’s not the same thing,” he said, rising.

“Isn’t it?”

“No.”

“How was last night different?”

“Well…I mean…you know….” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“That’s what I thought,” she replied.

She tucked her purse under one arm and held her shoes in her hand.

“Anjali—”

Barefoot, she stormed out of his house.

What the fuck is she so upset about? I didn’t have sex with Janice.

He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down.

Maybe she just needs some space. Probably a good idea for both of us to take a step back from this.

An unfamiliar knot formed in the pit of his stomach.

Fuck you, Janice. You’re not going to keep me from getting what I want.

***

That rotten…stinking…jerk.

Ignoring the hot tears sliding down her face, she fumbled with the lock.

That’s what you get for hoping this time will be different.

She shut the front door and leaned against it.

When will you learn to put away your childish dreams and start acting like a grown woman?

She wiped away her tears and marched up to her bathroom. She plugged the drain of her claw footed tub and turned on the hot water.

A nice soak to scrub away his scent and get my head together. You have a plan. Time to put it in action.

She soaked in her bathtub until her fingers were wrinkly. Feeling refreshed, she dressed and returned to her office. She opened the thick Family Tree file folder and flipped through it.

Today I’m going to pick out a donor and get the paperwork started.

By late afternoon, she had narrowed her choices to five applicants.

Ding-Dong.

She opened the door to find Tom on her front porch, holding a wooden cradle.

He cleared his throat.

“I was cleaning out the attic and I came across my old cradle. I want you to have it.”

“Tom—I—it’s beautiful. But a hand carved cradle is something you should keep in your family.”

“It’s not like Jack and Mikey are ever going to need it,” he said.

She smiled.

“What about you? One day, when you meet the right person, you might want to have—”

“I want you…to have this,” he insisted.

His eyes were stormy, unreadable.

“Okay, but if you ever want it back—”

“I won’t. I can carry it up to your spare bedroom. It’s heavy.”

She led him up to the spare bedroom and he set the cradle down next to the wall.

Curiosity got the better of her and she asked, “Why?”

“Why what?”

“The cradle. Why now?”

“I’m selling my house.”

“Selling…your house?”

She laughed, a nervous twitter.

“Are you that anxious to put some distance between us?”

A tempest swirled in his eyes. Anger mixed with…pain?

“I’m not the one who ran away this morning.”

Unwilling to admit her feelings, she said “It seems that my presence in your life is causing you undue strife. I was simply—”

“—Running away from me.”

“And you’re not?”

“No. I’m selling my house because it’s the only way I can get enough money to buy Everett’s Auto Body shop.”

“Oh. But it’s your
home
. How can you—”

He shook his head.

“It’s just four walls and a roof.”

“You need somewhere to call home. How soon are you moving?”

“I’m hoping to move out by tomorrow. I’m going to stay with Mikey and Jack for a little while, so I’ll have adequate supervision.”

He winked and she chuckled. His lighthearted mood was comforting and she realized how much she would miss having him around.

He crossed the room in large strides and gripped her chin.

“You aren’t the cause of my problems,” he insisted. “I screwed up my life all by myself. Now it’s up to me to change things.”

His thumb brushed over her bottom lip.

“Don’t run away from me again, Honey.”

Why it was important to him, she couldn’t fathom. Wanting to ease his distress, she nodded and was rewarded when his lips pressed against hers. Gentle and tender quickly morphed into demanding and brutal. Her womb clenched, desire spreading like wildfire through her body and she moaned into his mouth. The need to have him inside her overwhelmed her. He released her long enough to pull off his shirt and toss it on a nearby chair.

I’ll never get tired of seeing that chest.

Her eyes drifted lower.

Or that rock hard—

HONK! HONK!

Pulling aside her curtains, he peered out the window.

“What shi-uh bad timing.”

He dropped the curtain.

“It’s the realtor.”

She picked up his shirt and handed it to him.

“Go.”

He remained standing by the window, conflicted.

“Tommy, it’s fine. Really. I’ll still be here,” she promised.

“Honey, I—”

His kiss made her toes curl and she nearly changed her mind.

“—I’ll make it up to you.”