Fire & Desire (Hero Series) (11 page)

He ran an index finger down the side of her face, looked into her
eyes with sincerity. “I meant what I said last night, Tiffany. I want this
marriage to be real.”

Trevor watched as Tiffany cast her eyes downward, shielding them
from his view. Her body was relaxed in his arms, and he couldn’t determine what
was going on inside of her, or how she would respond.

Tiffany clutched the sheet to her breasts as she sat up with her
knees drawn to her chest.

“I can’t deny what I feel for you, Trevor. But I’m going to need
some time. I’m not sure if I’m ready to announce our marriage to the world.”

Sitting up behind her, he pulled her into the circle of his arms
until she relaxed and leaned back against him. “Tiffany, we’re going to do this
one small step at a time. Let’s decide to spend some time together and get to
know one another better, then when the moment is right, we can make the choice
on how to present it. So take all the time you need. Just try not to make it
too long.”

Turning her medium brown eyes toward him, she said, “I’ll try not
to. I do care for you also, Trevor. As hard as I tried to fight it…I couldn’t.
But I had a lot of decisions to make—even before last night happened.”

“Believe it or not, I do understand. My life is not as
uncomplicated as it may seem.”

Trevor saw the glimmer of curiosity flicker in Tiffany’s eyes, but
before she could begin to question him, he said, “Well, beautiful, I need to
go. I have a million and one things to handle today.”

He placed a kiss on her temple, got up from the bed and pulled on
his clothes.

“You wouldn’t happen to have an extra toothbrush would you?”
Trevor asked her after pulling his shirt over his head.

~ML~

At the front door, Tiffany initiated their parting kiss, and then
watched Trevor walk across the street to his car. She laughed at the evidence
of how troubled her mind must have been last night that she didn’t notice
Trevor’s car parked across the street.

Waving good-bye as he drove away, Tiffany made a mental note to
call her doctor today for a prescription for birth control pills. If she and
Trevor were going to be in a physical relationship, she had to protect herself.
The fewer complications in this relationship, the better.

While she strolled onto the front lawn to retrieve the morning
paper, she gave Trevor a final wave as he pulled away.

“Good morning, Miss Selina.”

Startled, Tiffany turned to see a man coming around the side of
the house. He was dressed casually in navy blue slacks and a light blue,
short-sleeved crew neck shirt. He could have been any executive with the
exception of the gun holstered to his side held up by the black leather straps
around his shoulders.

With her father being in politics for most of her life, Tiffany
often saw bodyguards and state troopers around her house. However, this morning
she felt apprehensive.

“Sorry to have startled you, Miss Selina. I’m here with Todd, the
state trooper. I’m Dan.”

She clutched the paper to her chest. “Why the extra help? Am I
unaware of something that happened?” For a brief moment, Tiffany wondered if
one of her neighbors might have witnessed Trevor climbing into her bedroom
window and reported the incident to the police.

The guard gave her a strange look. Before he could answer, Todd
came around the other side of the house.

“Miss Selina, I see you’ve met Dan.” Todd stopped in front of her
and gave Tiffany a warm smile. “There are also six other guards showing up in
an hour or so. Only two of the guys are new. I’ll bring them up to the house
for introductions. The rest of them you’ll remember from other functions.”

Functions?

Before her mind could fully process what Todd said, Dan jumped in.
“Yeah, I was just telling Miss Selina that we were here to check out things
before the governor’s annual barbeque.”

Oh my, God. I forgot about my father coming today. Not to include
the house full of guests. That would‘ve been the last thing I needed.

Hurriedly, Tiffany said, “Well, as always, Todd, I’m sure you have
everything under control.” Smiling at both of the men, Tiffany pivoted back to
the house, but she didn’t miss the slight gleam in the new guy’s eyes as she
turned around.

For a brief moment, her mind questioned whether he had seen Trevor
leaving or not. She didn’t have time to ponder that. She had to shower and
change before her father arrived in an hour.

Eleven

Tiffany stood in the kitchen, gazing out of the window. She could
see the guests milling around outside in the backyard, enjoying her father’s
annual barbecue, but her mind wasn’t on them. She couldn’t help reminiscing
about last night with Trevor. Her body still tingled, and every muscle screamed
from exertion. She remembered the way he’d touched her and how he’d made her
feel.

She knew it wasn’t just about the sex. It was more than that…much
more. She had begun to feel things for him even though she’d tried to fight it.
He made her laugh and smile. Pushed her to live her own life. Trevor made her
want to be Tiffany, just Tiffany. Without all of her father’s political image.
She didn’t know exactly when it had happened and wasn’t concerned about
processing it at this moment. She just knew she was overdue for a little
enjoyment in her life.

“That glorious smile on your face must be for me.”

Tiffany whipped around and saw Christopher leaning against the
doorjamb. Unwilling to rehash the fact that she wasn’t interested in more than
friendship with him, she took the cautious route and ignored his comment.
“Christopher, I was lost in thought. I didn’t hear you come in.”

Christopher needed no encouragement. He pushed away from the door
and sauntered into the room. “That’s because you work too hard. I told you once
you agree to marry me, you’ll never have to work again.”

I wonder what he would say if he knew I was already married.
“I love working too much
to give it up.”

“Humph.” He chuckled as his eyes made a quick roll toward the
ceiling.

Christopher never understood why women chose to work if there was a
man willing to take care of them. He wasn’t old-fashioned. He was archaic.

She turned away, ignored the sound effects coming from Christopher
and walked to the refrigerator to get herself something to drink. Hoping he
would once again get the message that she had no intentions to debate this
issue with him.

“Tiffy, when are you going to stop fighting it and come to terms
with the fact it’s best for both of us if we marry?”

Taking her time, Tiffany got herself a bottle of apple juice,
closed the refrigerator door and turned around to face Christopher. He now
stood five feet away from her. She could smell his cologne, some expensive
brand that didn’t affect her senses at all. No goose-bumps. No shivers of heat.
Nothing.

“How do you figure that, Christopher?” Tiffany bit on the inside
of her lip, working hard at keeping her face void of expression.

“We have the same political views…” He leaned his backside against
the island in the middle of the kitchen, crossing one foot over the other,
hands crossed over his chest.

Tiffany rotated her free hand at the wrist, giving him the gesture
to continue.

“We know each other very well.”

Tiffany lifted an eyebrow.

“Our parents know each other and get along famously.” One of his
cheeks raised in a side smile.

Tiffany nodded slightly in agreement. Senator Manning and her
father had been friends for years, and the voters loved it.

 “The public would eat it up.” Christopher righted his body,
standing away from the counter.

Ahh-haa, there was the plug I was waiting for.
She leaned her back
against the refrigerator and waited for him to finish his pitch.

“To top it off, we would be great together.”

She watched Christopher advance and stop in front of her—too close
for comfort.

She clutched the bottle of juice to her chest as a protection from
him, a pseudo shield, prohibiting Christopher from moving any closer to her.

It amazed Tiffany that Trevor could say similar words and send
chills of multiple possibilities down her spine. Yet whenever Christopher
uttered words of commitment, all she could think about was running from the
room.

Christopher must have noticed the hold she kept on the bottle. He
reached out and wrestled with her slightly until she released the bottle from
her clutches, then he placed it on the countertop.

“Christopher—” she began, prepared to break away from the little
isolated area.

“Tiffy…” he cut her off, saying her name in a slow seductive
manner that probably made other woman melt. Christopher placed both of his
hands against the refrigerator—boxing her in.

“You know you want me.”

She felt uncomfortable with him being this close. When they were
dating for a short while, he’d attempted to cross her moral and personal
boundary lines several times. They would be married soon, always his excuse.
Since she’d ended the relationship, he’d always respected her space. Even
though at times he bordered on the edge of her patience.

“Christopher, I feel fondness for you in a brotherly fashion. Over
the years, I’ve tried to explain that to you.”

Christopher leaned down, until he was an even eye level with her.
“Tiffy, I have sisters, and I can guarantee my feelings for you are quite
different. Let me prove it to you…”

His pitch dropped an octave as he slowly leaned in. Anticipating
his course of action, she turned her head.

His kiss missed its intended mark, her mouth, and landed below her
ear.

Not one to be detoured from his objective, Christopher began to
kiss and lick her neck.

Her stomach turned, flip-flopped and lurched. She wanted to throw
up. She’d reached her limit, and her last nerve snapped. She was done. No more
pandering to him. “Listen, Christopher.” She placed her hands flatly against
his chest and shoved him.

Christopher, caught off guard by her action, stumbled backward a
few steps before stopping.

He started to advance toward her again.

With perfect timing, Josephine opened the kitchen door saying,
“Hey, Tiff, your father is looking for you, and Senator Hutchinson is here. She
has some questions about a fundraiser gala her staff is currently organizing.
She asked to meet with both of us.”

The atmosphere in the room was tainted. It was evident Josephine
felt it in the obvious tilt of her head and significant lift of her eyebrow.

She almost felt guilty herself, as if
she
had been caught
doing something wrong.

“Thanks, Jo, I’ll be right out.”

Josephine nodded and left, eyebrow still raised.

“You know, Christopher, I don’t know why you can’t seem to
understand that I have no feelings at all for you, except of friendship, which
at this point is waning. For some reason, you seem to believe it would be best
if we marry, but we are truly not alike. I beg you to understand this. You want
a wife that is at your disposal and lives to be by your side, forsaking her own
thoughts or dreams. That’s—not—me.”

For the first time in a long while, Christopher really looked at
her. Tiffany saw the comprehension slowly dawning on him. The sparkle of
interest in his eyes began to dull.

“Well, Tiffany, I guess you’re not the person I thought you were.
I don’t see why I’m so surprised, with the company you’ve been keeping lately.”

Instant panic caused her heart to slam against her ribs, wondering
if he knew about Trevor leaving the house less than a few hours ago. Tiffany
licked her lips and cleared her throat.

“What company would that be?”

“Trevor Wayne.”

No!
Tiffany screamed inside. “What about him?” she inquired, taking a
deep breath in an attempt to keep her nervousness in check. “I hardly know
him.”

“That’s what I thought. But apparently he knows you well enough to
have the gumption to walk up and ask you to dance at the B.C. affair.”

Phew. He doesn’t know.
“He’s an acquaintance.”

Christopher placed his hands on his hips, and dropped his head,
casting his gaze toward the floor. “Where would one meet someone who doesn’t
even move in our circle…let alone our class?” he asked, voice dripping with
sarcasm.

Tiffany never heard him speak with such narrow-minded views. Her
brows pinched together in consternation as she began to see a glimmer of
Christopher’s true character.
And he calls himself a Democrat, yeah right.
“Well,
evidently he does, Christopher. For your information, I know him from a
previous function I attended with my father. Besides, it was an innocent
dance.”

His head jerked up and his eyes nailed her. “If that dance was
innocent, then I’m running for the position of Pope.”

She walked over to the counter and retrieved her apple juice,
refusing to feel guilty.

Josephine had told her the same thing. After last night with
Trevor, she knew what Christopher said was true. She stopped trying to fool
herself about the chemistry between herself and Trevor.

For a long time, it had been igniting when they were within mere
feet of each other. Until this moment, she could no longer deceive herself into
thinking it was not apparent to everyone who looked, not just her best friend.

Christopher spoke to her back. “You know, Tiffany, the girl I grew
up with cared about not only how she represented herself in public, but more
importantly, how that image would reflect and impact her father’s career—”

Tiffany swung away from the counter and faced him. “Christopher,
how can you begin to try and tell me how I should act—”

He continued, as if her objection had not interrupted him. “But
apparently, your feelings have changed dramatically. So it will be my pleasure
to grant your request and give you your space.”

She stopped. The words she was about to speak sat thick in her
throat, rendering her speechless for a moment. Amazed. The disappointed look in
his eyes stabbed at her as he turned and began to head toward the door. Her
chest squeezed tight and her heart felt heavy, then released as she exhaled.
She would not allow herself to feel guilty about the situation. It was becoming
evident to her that Christopher never truly wanted or cared about her
friendship. She was just a pawn in his political climbing game, and she wasn’t
having it. Their “friendship” would most likely end for good, but maybe it was
long overdue. She stuck firm to her resolve.

Tiffany paused. She was shocked, but relieved. Nothing more needed
to be said. “Thank you, Christopher.”

He stopped in his tracks as if her words arrested him in
mid-stride. In slow motion, he turned back around to face her.

There was a sadistic smile on his face as his empty laugh echoed
across the room. “Don’t thank me, Tiff
any,
because you’re going to
regret this in the end.”

Stunned. Tiffany’s heart vaulted from her chest to the base of her
throat. “Are you,
serious
?”

“As a sinner with a heart attack making a death bed confession.”
His face shifted into a relaxed smile. His politician smile. Saying nothing
else, Christopher exited the kitchen.

Tiffany was paralyzed. She couldn’t believe her ex-boyfriend and
childhood friend had turned on her right in front of her eyes. She’d never
wanted to make an enemy of Christopher.

But if she had the last twenty minutes to do over again, she
wouldn’t change anything.

Nothing. Besides, there weren’t any circumstances in which she
would have agreed to marry him. Her feelings toward him would never change. Not
to mention, she was already legally married. Now in every sense of the word.

In a million years, she would’ve never thought she’d not only lose
Christopher’s friendship but incur his wrath as well. Tiffany dropped her face
into her hands, battling between wanting to scream and cry at the same time.
She refused to do either. If he was going to be petty and try to demand all or
nothing from her, that’s just what she would give him. Nothing.

She wouldn’t allow this to overshadow the blissful night she’d had
with Trevor. She was determined to bask in that glow for as long as possible.
Tiffany took a deep, cleansing breath to relax and walked out of the kitchen in
search of Senator Hutchinson.

Work is just what I need to keep my mind occupied.

~ML~

“Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Trevor leaned down and gave Leslie a hug. “Would you believe me if
I said I had a taste for your peach cobbler?”

His aunt wore a pair of three-inch heels, allowing her to stand at
an even five-five. She kept her hair designed in a long, jet-black, straight
hip length style. She was petite with almond shaped eyes, skin the color of
molasses and a smile just as sweet. “You know I don’t bake.”

“Oh, well, must be my other aunt.” Trevor gave her a brazen smile.

Leslie led the way into her living room. “Then you better zip on
out of here because I’m expecting my favorite nephew.”

“I’m the one and only.” He waited until his aunt was seated on the
couch, then he choose a chair across from her.

“Tell me, dear boy, what’s wrong and don’t give me any fluff.”