Betrayed by Love (4 page)

She wore loose–fitting, knee–length shorts and a faded white cotton blouse and flip–flops. “And you expect me to wear a dress that shows my cleavage and thighs?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes. Tonight is going to be about you looking sexy enough to turn him on and get him real hot for me.”

I stared at her. Couldn’t he get hot for her without help? If he couldn’t, just how perfect was their marriage, and how long would it be before it fell apart and Jen was left broken hearted again?

“Oh, don’t look so worried, Lin. It’s just a game that we both enjoy playing. You don’t need to get worked up about this. It’s not as if we’re real swingers who go around sleeping with anyone else.”

I think that’s when I began to view Jen in a totally different light. She seemed determined to use my attraction to her man to her own advantage—without a moment’s concern for how I felt. That knowledge saddened and angered me a little. “And who’s to say you two won’t graduate to that point?”

“I do, because we both take our vows very seriously.”

I nodded. “Okay. Great.”

“Good.” She placed the dress on the bed and put the heels on the floor. “When you’re ready, we’ll be waiting for you in the dining room with the lights low.”

“With the lights low? Why?”

“So you can make your grand, sexy entrance.” She blew me a kiss. “Don’t keep us waiting too long, Lin.”

When Grant West returned home from a business trip, his sense of tired satisfaction gave way to wariness when he listened to the message from Jen. “Grant? It’s Jen. Call me when you can.”

Lately Jen had been making rather a nuisance of herself insisting she had a friend he should meet. Although his busy work schedule sometimes made forming meaningful relationships difficult, he hadn’t yet reached the point where he needed or wanted help getting a date.

But he supposed he should call her and get it over with. He took a quick shower and then sat with a cold beer in his hand as he called.

“Grant! How did your trip go?”

He smiled. She might be a matchmaker, but she was a considerate one. “It went well. How are you, Jarrod, and the kids?”

“We’re all fine.”

“Great. What can I do for you, Jen?”

“She’s here, Grant, but I’m not sure for how long so it would be great if you could get a flight as soon as possible and fly out here.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a great visit with her, Jen, but my schedule won’t allow me to visit.”

“Grant—”

“Listen. I have to run. Tell Jarrod I’ll call him soon.”

He hung up before she could protest. Even as he sat finishing his beer he knew he hadn’t heard the last from her. Jen was nothing if not persistent. But it would be a cold day in hell before he allowed her to set him up on a blind date.

After Jen left, I stared down at the outfit, then sank onto the side of the bed to decide what to do. I found it difficult to accept the fact that she wanted and expected me to not only flirt with Jarrod, but to actually try to arouse him. But she had clearly been serious. Or she wouldn’t have bothered to pick out my outfit.

So what was I supposed to do? Realizing I’d lost track of time, I decided it was time to get dressed or I’d be making a late, grand, sexy entrance. Sighing, I rose and picked the dress up and moved over to the vanity mirror. Held in front of my body, it looked good. How would Jarrod react when he saw me in this?

Turning away from the mirror, I decided there was only one way to find out. Forty minutes later, I left the guest bedroom. Standing at the top of the stairs and looking down into the dimly lit foyer, I heard the faint strains of smooth jazz drifting from the living room.

I hesitated and then made my way down the stairs. Outside the open living room door, I paused to take a deep breath and glance down at myself. Here goes nothing.

I walked into the dimly lit living room. Jen, seated on the loveseat sipping a drink, stared at me in surprise.

Jarrod, dressed in a pair of dark dress pants with a short–sleeved shirt, stood at the window. He turned. He cast a quick look over my outfit before he raised his lids.

Our gazes met and locked.

I saw relief in his eyes.

Some of my tension melted away. My shoulders relaxed. Although I knew Jen was disappointed, I knew I’d done the right thing. Clearly Jarrod had not been looking forward to my slinking into the room trying to arouse him. As for Jen, she’d probably thank me later—as Jarrod had already done with his eyes.

Jarrod smiled. “There you are, Lin. Would you like a drink?”

I cast a quick look at Jen who was staring at me as if she felt betrayed. Imagine that. A woman who felt betrayed because her friend didn’t come on to her man. I nodded. “I’d like bottled water if you have it.”

He nodded and moved over to the bar along one wall of the living room.

I moved into the room and sat beside Jen.

She stared at the comfortable silk sweat suit I wore. “What happened to the dress I picked out for you?”

I spoke in a low voice. “I’m not going to try to arouse your husband, Jen.”

“Why not? You think you can take him from me?”

I blinked at the anger I heard in her voice. She spoke almost as if I had a habit of taking or trying to take her men from her. As if I would—even if I’d been able to. Recalling her many past hurts, I schooled myself to speak in a calm voice that concealed by growing resentment. “No, I don’t think I can take him from you.”

“Good. Because you can’t. I hope you know that.”

We stared at each other in a stilted silence. I think I was a breath away from asking her if she were doing crack when she abruptly shook her head and sucked in a quick breath. “I’m sorry, Lin! I had no reason to talk to you like that.”

“No you didn’t,” I told her coldly.

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

I didn’t respond. For some things a simple I’m sorry just didn’t get the job done.

She reached over to give me a quick hug.

I relented and we embraced, releasing each other as Jarrod crossed the room with my drink.

After I’d taken a few sips of my bottled water, we moved to the dining room. The large room was lit by candlelight as well. Despite the hug Jen and I had exchanged, dinner was an uncomfortable meal. Jen was a great cook, but I was a little too pissed at what I viewed as her attempt to use me. She seemed resentful, which left Jarrod practically talking to himself.

During the long meal, I frequently looked up to find both Jen and Jarrod looking at me. Then I’d realize one of them had spoken to me and I hadn’t responded. But how the hell was I supposed to concentrate after the shock Jen had given me? And how did I know how Jarrod really felt? What if he too wanted and expected me to provide the evening’s entertainment? Did he always stand around cooking breakfast bare–chested? Or had that been for my benefit?

Jen frowned. “Lin? Are you all right?”

I blinked and forced a smile to my face. “I’m sorry. My mind wandered. What did you say?”

“I asked if you’d stay long enough to meet Grant.”

“Grant? Who’s Grant?”

“Jarrod’s cousin.”

I glanced at Jarrod in time to see him lower his eyelids to conceal his expression.

I shook my head. What the hell was going on with these two? Whatever it was, I decided I didn’t want to be involved. And I had zero interest in meeting Jarrod’s cousin or any other man Jen might want to introduce me to.

“Lin?”

I shrugged. “Let’s take it one day at a time.”

“Ok.” She smiled. “Would you like another drink?”

“No. Thanks.” I took a sip of water and pushed my food around the plate with my fork. “What’s on tap for tomorrow, Jen?”

 “I have a job interview in the morning so you and Jarrod can spend the day getting to know each other.”

Yeah—as soon as hell froze over. I smiled and picked up my fork, my decision made.

When Jen suggested we go sit on the patio for after dinner drinks, I rubbed my temples. “I have the headache from hell. I need an early night.” I stood up. “Good night.”

Jarrod rose. “Good night.”

Jen gave me a pleading look, which I ignored, and quickly left the room.

In the guestroom, I packed my suitcase, undressed, and got into bed. I couldn’t sleep. I felt like such a fool. For the first time I realized that I didn’t know Jen anymore. Had I ever really known her? How could I not have known she was so kinky?

In the past when she’d lost a lover to another woman she’d considered a friend, I’d always taken her side and assumed the other women were shameless hussies who got off on stealing other women’s men. But how many times had Jen played the game with the women in question she’d tried to play with me? Was that the secret of her bad luck in love? Did she throw her men at her friends and then cry when they caught them?

After lying sleepless for what felt like hours, I looked at the clock radio on the night table. 12:40 and I was still wide awake. Rising, I put on my bathing suit and then pulled the sweats back on over it. Quietly leaving the guestroom, I crept down the hallway and stairs to the side door. I opened it quietly and slipped outside.

Noting the swing on the side porch, I realized I should have left the house by the backdoor. About to turn and go back inside, I saw the porch swing move.

Oh no.

Jarrod, dressed in a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, rose.

My first instinct was to rush back into the house before I found myself fantasizing about him fucking me on the swing or out by the pool. I half turned.

“Wait a minute, Lin.”

I turned back to face him, but shook my head. “I didn’t know you were out here.”

“I know that. I like to come out here to sit on the swing when I need to think.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it because it’s not a good idea for us to be out here alone like this.” I pointed over my shoulder. “I should go back inside and—”

“In a moment.”

“I don’t think—”

“Clearly, we need to talk.”

“I don’t really think we have anything to say to each other.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Have I done something to offend you?”

“Well, of course…” I paused. Had he actually offended me? I shook my head. “No, but I just don’t think we should be alone.”

He sighed. “Let me make something perfectly clear to you before you go back inside.”

Uncertain if he were about to come on to me, I started to back away. “What’s that?”

“Not only do I love Jen, but I’m also in love with her.”

Then why the dangerous games? “Really?”

He nodded. “Absolutely, and at the risk of sounding crude and offending you, I think you should know that I have zero sexual interest in you.”

I stopped and stared at him. Hell. He sounded as if he meant every word of that. But if that were true… “What?”

“If you’re worried that I have seduction on my mind, you’re worrying needlessly. I’m not interested in flirting with or bedding you, Lin.”

I frowned. Okay, I was relieved to hear that, but did he have to sound as if I must be delusional to even think he could possibly find me attractive? He sure knew how to wound a woman’s ego. “You were in the kitchen bare–chested this morning,” I pointed out, pissed because he’d made me feel unattractive. “And—”

He shrugged. “I expected you to sleep late. I was going to take Jen her breakfast in bed and leave yours on the warmer. Trust me. I wasn’t trying to entice or seduce you.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him. After all, hadn’t Jen said he liked to ogle other women? “What about the little game you and Jen play? You were going to flirt—had I cooperated.”

He nodded. “Yes, I was, but not because I have any sexual interest in you.”

Wasn’t he the gallant one? “Then why would you have flirted with me?”

He sighed. “To please Jen.”

“And what if I’d taken you seriously and expected you to do more than flirt?”

“Jen assured me you wouldn’t want or expect anymore than that. That’s the only reason I reluctantly agreed.” He shook his head. “She likes me to pretend I’m sexually aroused by other women.”

“Why? That’s not normal. Why would she want you to be attracted to other women?”

“She doesn’t want me to really be attracted to them. She just wants me to pretend I am.”