Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (41 page)

Doug's gaze locked on me as he edged closer. After spending a week with him, I could read him pretty well and knew his focus centered on what happened earlier. I also had a sense his feelings had deepened beyond some obligation to honor his father. But mine had not and after my confession to Jan I realized things with Doug couldn't go farther.

Then he kissed me. A slow, soft kiss, that built with intensity and my body leaned into his curves, now etched in my memory, welcoming the feel of his fingers twisting into the hair at the nape of my neck, his hand spread wide at the base of my spine to ensure an intimate hold. The edges of my sanity started fraying when his cell receptor rang, startling me.

"Sorry!" I quickly examined his lip to see if I'd drawn blood. He seductively sucked my finger into his mouth and winked. My lust meter shifted into overdrive.

His arm slid around my waist, but immediately fell limp when he answered. He stepped back as if I'd turned radioactive. "Mr. Davis?"

Rick?
We agreed to check-in calls on Sunday nights. Today was Friday. My irritation instantly turned to worry, recalling the last time Dad called unexpectedly.

"I'm fine, thank you. No, no problem, we're on our way to my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration. Thank you. I'll convey your wishes. Yes, she's right here." Doug handed me the phone, the expression on his face difficult to read. He pushed my hair to the side and pressed his lips to my bare shoulder.

"Dad? Is everything all right?"

"I'm not sure. Are you where you can talk? It's important."

Hair follicles stretched on the neck Doug currently nibbled, anticipating bad news. I also heard the seriousness of Rick's tone. Doug wasn't thrilled at my suggestion he go downstairs where his family waited. I explained the urgency of my father's tone meant the call was important and I needed a moment of privacy, promising it wouldn't be long before I'd join the party. I lowered my voice just in case he eavesdropped after closing the bedroom door.

"Okay, I'm alone. What's going on? Is everything all right?"

"Well, I'm not sure. You see, this morning when I let Muffy out, I found a stray sleeping on our front porch. I need your opinion on whether we should keep him or not."

"Seriously? You've called me in
Italy
to discuss a lost mutt?"

"I know it sounds strange, but hear me out, please. I said it was important."

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Like I said, your input matters. Now, how to describe him? First, you should know Muffy's already likes him. In fact, he can hardly move about without her on his heels. Mars, he's got the saddest eyes—the kind that tug your heart. He's looking for someone to love him."

"You're such a sap, Dad. What breed is he? If he's going to grow close to Muffy's size, you should think twice. Remember I'll be away at college and two large dogs will tear your house apart."

Dad chuckled lightly in response. "I can tell he's been obedience trained. He only barks if he feels protective. He's a bit spooked by me, but I think with the right person, he'd probably share a few wet kisses."

Oddly, I found myself intrigued, wanting to know more. "What does he look like? Is he furry? Stocky or lean?" He laughed, my nerves calming with the lighthearted sound.

"Definitely lean—long legs for his breed. His
fur?
Thick, a little wavy, and sort of a caramel color. Shiny. He's been taken care of. I hope he's pretty much full grown because believe it or not, he's taller than Muffy. He stands way over six feet on his hind legs."

What?
All the giant breeds ran through my head: Great Pyrenees, Mastiff, Russian Terrier, possibly a Scottish Deerhound, although none of them had fur the color Rick described. Still, any dog, even a tiny Chihuahua loose in the house with Muffy spelled disaster. I was about to paint the destructive picture in Rick's mind, when he brought me up short and sent a shock wave rippling through my universe.

"Interesting thing is when I discovered him, he wore those fancy jeans you kids like so much. Apparently, he comes with a fine white Porsche, too."

Tears pooled along the edges of my eyes and dripped silently from the corners. "Jordan," I whispered.

"Yes, Pumpkin. Jordan. I found him asleep on the porch swing this morning. I think he's had a rough go of it and desperately needs to talk to someone, and it isn't me. What do you say?"

I looked around. The party had moved onto the lawn by the pool and Doug appeared engaged in an intense conversation with his grandfather.

"Yes! Please! Thank you Daddy!"

"I thought that would be your answer. You can't fool your old man...for very long, anyway."

I slipped into the shadows of the doorway where I could keep watch. My heart raced and my lungs felt like they'd burst any second.

"Marli?" Jordan's usual smooth, confident voice sounded small and pensive.

"Jordan!" I said in a rush. My voice cracked and tears strangled in my throat.

"Please don't cry. We don't have long and there's so much I need to say."

"You drove all the way to Ohio to call me?"

"You weren't exactly returning my calls and I knew you'd talk to your dad, so I took a chance. Besides, I needed to apologize to him, too. I know I made a mess of things, Marli, but I'm lost without you. Believe me, the last thing I want is to control your life. I just want to share it. Tell me I'm not too late? I don't want another assignee. I want you. I love you, Marli. Only you. Please give me another chance and let me back in your heart?"

I clenched my fist to my chest, unable to stop one tear chasing another. "You never left it." I swiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. "I thought I'd lost you," I quietly confessed. "Jordan, you're the only one I want to be with. I love you so much it hurts."

Jordan sniffed. "Damn, I can't believe I'm crying. You have absolute power over me."

"Then I command you to stay in my life."

"Yes, Master," he replied around a gentle laugh.

My voice steadied. "So what now? I'm in Italy and you're in Ohio. Neither of us is where we should be—together
.
"

"How is Italy?" he asked, the apprehension in his tone unmistakable.

"You were right. Italy is beautiful and don't worry…nothing's happened." I swore I
felt
the sigh on the other side of my ear. "I'm okay, especially now I have you back."

"You've always had me, babe.—'butterflies,' remember? You hooked me the moment you fell into my life and our first kiss cinched it."

More people moved out onto the lawn and Doug glanced at his watch. "Jordan, I don't have much time. Doug will come looking for me soon."

His breath blew heavy against the receiver. "Damn. Sorry. I promised myself I wouldn't make the same mistakes, but this is hard. Just promise you'll come home to me."

"I want to come home right now. I don't want to stay another week."

"We both know it's not that easy and I can't risk jeopardizing the ninety-day hold, making you….
his.
"

Doug waved to me from the yard and started for the house. I had to calm down or he'd get suspicious if he saw me upset. "Shoot! He's coming. I better say goodbye and pull myself together."

"Call me the minute you leave Italy and I'll meet you in New York. We'll shop for whatever you need before heading for the island."

"There's a suitcase already packed upstairs in my closet. A part of me hoped things would work out and I could still come."

"And the other part?"

"Very warm and tingly at the moment."

Jordan laughed—a sound I wished I could record and play back every private second between now and next weekend.

Doug's footsteps echoed on the wood planked hallway. I dropped my voice to a whisper. "I'll see you in a week. Meanwhile, take care of my heart. Love you."

Most of the candles had burnt out inside the lanterns. Music played softly from the patio speakers. Cloaked in darkness, Doug and I swayed to the melody in our bare feet on the lawn.

"Marli? Where have you gone?" Doug quietly asked. "You've become distant. Did I do something?"

I pulled my head from where it lay on his chest and stared into his worried eyes, "No. You've been the perfect gentleman."

"I don't want to be the
perfect gentleman
in your life, Marli. I want to be more."

We stood completely still in the damp grass next to the black water of the pool. The echo of dishes clinking caught my attention. Jan paused on the patio, holding a stack of plates, peering into the darkness as if she could see my eyes. What she said earlier struck a chord inside me, loud enough it finally got my attention. Time for the truth.

Taking his hand, I led him to a stone bench beside the pool.

"Oh this can't be good," he half-laughed.

I kept his hand tucked tightly in mine, taking one of many big breaths before meeting his anxious eyes. "Doug, this afternoon I wanted you with every beat of my heart, but for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to punish Jordan and surrendering my virginity to you, not him, seemed the cruelest way
.
"

I couldn't have been colder.

"It always comes back to Jordan, doesn't it? Was it really him on
my
cell receptor tonight? Not your dad? Please, don't stop with the brutal honesty now, Marli."

"Okay, I deserved that. But you need to know something. When I came to Italy, I was only with you, no one else. I've been committed to you this whole time."

"Because you had no choice."

"That's not true! Jordan and I
did
break up. Tonight's call surprised me. I had no idea he was at my house. And honestly, if my dad had told me, I'd probably have hung up, which is why he concocted some story."

"I think you know how I feel about you, Marli, and this afternoon in your arms, I thought you felt the same way."

Pangs of guilt needled. "I'm really sorry. Don't hate me," I begged quietly.

"I could never hate you. You're being honest—something I haven't been."

A shiver of anxiousness crept up my spine. "What do you mean?"

"Marli…" he hesitated, "I pushed things today for a reason. I hoped we'd have sex and you'd stay with me, even if only to keep what we did secret. I thought, in time, you'd forget Mason. I realize now, that's never happening."

"Wow. Talk about manipulation." I decided I had to ask about the pictures, even if it exposed my eavesdropping escapade.

"Doug, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Did your dad have someone take pictures of me and Jordan's brother?" Doug's brow twisted tight and he pulled his hand away. "I overheard part of your conversation this afternoon. When I came downstairs, I heard yelling and went searching for you."

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know you're under a lot of pressure…and your dad wants me as your assignee."

Doug stared out at the pool stretched into a black ribbon across the grass. No one lingered on the patio, the speakers off, leaving us in a sudden, screaming silence. After a couple of audible gulps offering stiff competition with the frogs, he spoke, his voice soft, but the tone edged in steel.

"I didn't know about the pictures until this afternoon. I hate that my father's obsession caused you heartache. In fact, I'm disgusted with myself for hoping it worked—you and Mason finally over, and you free…for me."

"The pictures aren't what broke Jordan and me apart. It was his need to control me, which is exactly what you and your father are trying to do. I know when I made the decision to stay in The Program I'd surrender some freedom, but I won't tolerate deception. Trust is too important to me, and I can't be with someone who isn't honest.

"I don't understand or want to know why your father is involved in my personal life, but you need to give him a message for me.
Love
can't be controlled. Regardless of who becomes my life partner, Jordan will own my heart. I'm always going to love him."

Doug turned his palm up on his knee and after a second of hesitation, I laid mine over the top, braiding my fingers into his. A deep sigh eased out and he covered our folded hands with his other one in a protective cocoon.

"I told you in Alaska I wanted to claim you, but after spending this week with you, I could never force you into a loveless relationship. I respect you too much." Doug lifted my chin, "I feel sorry for Mason's brother. He'll live every day knowing you're with Jordan in every way he can't be. I can't imagine
that
kind of pain."

Doug pulled me to my feet. He asked if I wanted to stay and I confessed I wanted to go home. I knew I'd only be thinking about Jordan and that wasn't fair to him. He agreed to take me to Florence in the morning so I could catch a flight to Rome. To avoid any embarrassing moments with his family, we made a plan to sneak away under the pretext of going somewhere to watch the sunrise. He made some major points on the chivalry scale because I knew the fallout he'd face alone would be gruesome. What I didn't notice, however, was how he'd moved me slightly until I teetered at the edge of the pool.