Sin (13 page)

The latest text from Joshua informed me to be ready in an hour. I’m all nerves—not just because we’re having dinner with Julia and Bishop, but because I have this weird feeling that I’m in for some big surprises tonight. Joshua has been dropping hints about his feelings. And though I haven’t been forthcoming so far, if we continue getting along so well and he keeps making love to me the way he does, I’m probably going to gush. And cry. Because I’m slowly waking up inside. The doorbell rings and I take a last look in the mirror.

I’m wearing one of the cocktail dresses I bought in Paris. A patterned perfection black-and-white sweetheart strapless dress that fits like a second skin. Six-inch gold-tipped stilettos and smoky eye makeup should make me irresistible. Not that I’m trying to prove anything while keeping company with Julia tonight. The bell rings again and I grab my red leather clutch off the bed and rush downstairs.

A driver?
I look past him. There’s a Mercedes limo in my driveway.

“Ms. Taylor?” the chauffeur asks.

“Yes.”

He smiles and hands me a card. I open it.

Macey,

I know it’s not a white stallion, baby, but it’s the best I can do. Look forward to seeing your beautiful face tonight.

J.

Instant perma-grin. I lock the front door and follow the driver to the car. He opens the door and I slide inside to four dozen red roses and a big box with a red bow.

“Know anything about this?” I ask.

“Open it,” he suggests, still standing outside the open passenger door.

It’s not a regular box; I just pull the top off. There’s a kennel…I squeal with pleasure. AKC registration forms are attached to the top of the cage. He’s a platinum miniature schnauzer. I open the kennel, desperate to feel fur and breathe in that puppy smell I love.
Oh. My. God.
He’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen. He nuzzles in my hair, licking my ear. So tiny. The driver nods his approval and shuts the door. We drive the few blocks to Joshua’s parking lot. He’s waiting for me outside.

When he opens the door, I jump out, still holding my new baby. “Thank you!” I throw my free arm around his neck. We kiss. “A puppy?” I never thought I’d be so excited, but I am. I had a cat growing up. But this is my first dog.

“Did you read his tag?” Joshua asks.

“No.” I didn’t even notice he had a collar on.

“Wait until we get inside.” He takes my hand and leads me into the lobby.

A few minutes later, after the driver delivers the kennel and flowers, we’re alone again. I peek at the red heart-shaped tag and find
Simon
inscribed on it. “You named him?”

He grins ear to ear. “Seems to fit the little guy.”

I couldn’t agree more. I just can’t believe I’m responsible for another life. I cuddle Simon, gently flipping him onto his back. His pink tongue is so cute and those little ears…I’m in love. “Thank you,” I say again. “And for the beautiful flowers.” His living room smells like a rose garden now.

“Come with me.”

I follow Joshua halfway down the hallway to the guest bathroom. He opens the door. I cover my mouth—how thoughtful! There’s a doggy bed, a combination food and water bowl, pee pads, and a handful of very sturdy toys on the floor. “Transformed it into a proper puppy nursery.”

My heart flip-flops. “Can we cancel dinner and just stay here?”

He chuckles, practically wrenching my baby from my arms. “We can check on him anytime you want.” He scratches Simon behind the ears and gently places him in the bed. “Ready?” he asks, gesturing for me to leave the bathroom. “He’s going to cry a little—don’t get upset.”

As soon as the door closes, I can hear his tiny nails on the tile. Then he lets out the saddest little howl I’ve ever heard. I try to bypass Joshua, but he shakes his head. “Nope. Let him get accustomed to his surroundings.”

I don’t want to leave that precious little thing alone. “Please?” I beg.

“Do I need to lock you in there with him?”

I did tell him I wasn’t housebroken before. “No.”

Then he pulls me into the living room again. “Spin,” he commands.

I do.

He’s soaking up my dress. I don’t know if he likes it or not. “You’re incredible, Macey.” Heat rises in my cheeks. “And entirely too sexy to share with anyone else.” Then he wraps his arms around me, tugging me close. “I want to make love to you.”

He jams his erection into my stomach. I moan, closing my eyes. “Now?”

“After dinner.” He pulls back, panting. “Ready?”

I nod. He grabs a bottle of wine off the table and we head next door.

Bishop opens the door. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

I smell steak. There’s shrimp cocktail, lobster, cheese, and crackers on the table already. And a very expensive floral centerpiece of calla lilies. Bishop’s condo is as luxurious as Joshua’s. Only they have extremely different taste. Everything screams Mission style in here, from the living room furniture to the kitchen cabinets.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Julia offers, practically drooling over how hot Joshua looks in his one-button Emporio Armani suit.

She gets three strikes tonight. That’s one. I roll my eyes and trek into the kitchen. “Need any help?” Obviously not. There’s prime rib and creamy sweet potatoes and spinach salad with pecans and apple slices. “It smells wonderful.”

“Thank you. The table is set. Would you help me with the service platters?” she requests, picking up the silver tray containing the meat.

I nod, grabbing the salad bowl first.

Bishop lights the candles arranged around the flowers and then clicks a button on his remote. “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye pops on. Julia dims the lights. I hold back my laughter, hoping it’s a coincidence and our hosts aren’t trying to send us subliminal messages. After the way Julia ogled Joshua, I know she still wants him. But I’ll play along.

Bishop fills our wineglasses, then offers a strange toast. “ ‘When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew…’ ”

I’ve never heard it before, but it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Joshua squeezes my hand under the table, then whispers. “Shakespeare.”

Now I feel anxious
and
stupid. We clink our glasses and drink.

A half-hour later, I’m stuffed. Julia didn’t lie—she’s a fabulous cook. “So tell me,” I address her. “Are you staying in Texas?”

“Sure am,” she croons. “I was offered a position with a very prestigious counseling center this week. Doesn’t have the same incentives as my current firm in New York, but it just feels so right being home now.” She faces Bishop and smiles.

And to my surprise, he grins back. “They couldn’t resist that sterling personal reference, could they, baby?”

“No.” She blushes. “Or me.”

Did I just see genuine adoration between them? “That’s wonderful news,” I say.

“What about you?” Julia inquires. “Thinking about a career change anywhere in the near future now that you and Joshua are fully committed?” She rolls the remaining wine in her glass around before she takes a last drink.

“Macey has an extensive investment portfolio and can afford to do whatever she wants,” Joshua injects. “I’m perfectly comfortable with her choices.”

Julia rests her hand over her heart. “I hope I didn’t offend you, Macey. I just assumed once a woman landed a man like Joshua, she wouldn’t want to continue working somewhere like the Devil’s Den.”

“I’ve considered going to school.”

“Really?” Julia sounds surprised. “What program?”

“GED.”

She snaps her mouth shut.

Joshua rushes to my defense again. “Macey lost her father at a very young age and was forced to quit school and go to work to support herself.”

That’s not entirely true, but I love him for trying.

“Very admirable,” Bishop chimes in. “College after?”

I nod. “Interior design.”

“Now I know who to hire after I work up the courage to upgrade this place.” Bishop scans the room. “Shall we sit on the balcony?”

We move outside, where the cool breeze feels so good. And the sound of waves crashing against the seawall sounds better than the music playing inside. I lean against the railing, staring across the bay. Joshua positions himself behind me, resting his palms on the banister. I can feel his hard length against my back. I close my eyes, transported to that dreamy place I like to go when I’m alone—memories of the first time we made love.

“Happy?” he whispers.

“Very.”

He kisses the back of my head, his big hands sliding up my sides. If he’s trying to seduce me, it’s working. “Want me to check on Simon?”

I spin around. “Please.”

“Be right back.”

Julia follows him inside, leaving Bishop alone with me. I keep my place at the railing, hoping he’ll just let me continue enjoying the view.

“If I didn’t tell you how beautiful you look tonight, I’d be an utter fool.”

I exhale, ready to reject his compliments. “Is this all staged, Bishop?”

“What?”

I don’t turn around; I just keep questioning him. “This new relationship with Julia. One minute the two of you look so cozy, the next, you’re hitting on me.”

“Can’t blame a man for trying.”

“I can and will.” Now I face him. “I want you to stop complimenting me.”

“That’s never going to happen. I’ll meet you halfway, Taylor,” he offers. “I’ll reluctantly stop asking you to dinner. But expecting a man like me not to admire a beautiful woman is like me asking you to stop enjoying the view of the ocean.”

For some reason my heart beats wildly in my chest. Is Joshua nearby? “I understand what makes a man tick, Bishop, remember? I entertain them for a living.” My voice is steady.

“How could I forget?” He rubs his hands together. “Julia is a lovely woman—but she’s not you.”

Those words ring in my head.
She’s not you.
And I’m not her. Funny, even after everything she’s done to piss me off, I still think she’s beautiful. “She’s wife material.”

“And you’re not?”

“No,” I admit.

“I think Joshua would disagree.”

“With what?” Joshua pops back in.

“That the Dallas Cowboys are going to have a questionable defense next season,” Bishop smoothly covers up for me.

Joshua chuckles. “Don’t get her started on football.”

I smile up at him, truly amazed that I have him. “How’s the puppy?”

“Puppy?” Julia returns.

“Yes.” I beam. “Joshua gave me a miniature schnauzer for Valentine’s Day.”

“How special.” She claps her hands together, but I hear the strain in her voice.

“I have to run to the club,” Joshua announces.

“Tonight?” I sigh.

“Can’t someone else take care of it?” Julia asks.

Joshua shakes his head, looking so upset. “A couple of people are being wheeled away on gurneys,” he says. “A big fight and the police are there. I need to help security sort out the details. I won’t be more than an hour. Want to wait next door?”

I’m tempted to do just that. Especially after the conversation Bishop and I just had.

“Please don’t go,” Julia says. “There’s cheesecake for dessert and I rented a movie.
The Notebook
.”

Joshua cringes at that. “Be back ASAP.” He dips me, planting a hard, hot kiss on my lips.

I watch him go.

“Well,” Julia says. “I’ll refill our glasses and serve the cheesecake. Meet me on the couch in five.”

“Determined,” Bishop observes as she disappears inside again.

“To what?”

“Land a husband.”

“Are you interested?”

He simpers. “If the right woman comes along.”

“Shit,” I say, shaking my head. “You’re hopeless.” This whole arrangement is laughable. Maybe if I just keep looking at it that way, knowing neither one of them has a chance, I’ll be able to manage all my negative feelings better.

We take our respective seats on the couch, waiting for Julia to serve us. She rushes in, presenting what promises to be a sinful dessert. The cheesecake is drizzled with caramel and pecans. I dig in. “Oh. My. God.” I take another bite. “This is amazing.”

She plops down on my left, her own plate in one hand, an open bottle of wine in the other. She fills our glasses. “Drink up.” I do.

Twenty minutes into the movie I yawn. “I can’t believe I’m tired already,” I say. I check my watch. “It’s only eleven.”

“Me too.” Bishop stretches his arms above his head. “All the food.”

“Lightweights,”
Julia teases. Then she reaches for her purse on the coffee table. “Look what I brought.” She digs around and pulls out a joint. “Want some?”

I giggle, never suspecting she’d smoke pot. “I’m good.” I reach for the wine bottle. “You guys have fun.”

Julia drags Bishop to the balcony and I settle in, wishing Joshua were here.

Twelve thirty. I can’t believe how long it took for the police to fill out their reports. As soon as I exit the club, my cell vibrates. It’s Julia.

“Everything okay?”

“No.” She sounds desperate. “You have to stop them.”

I freeze. “Where are you, Julia?”

“In the parking lot outside your building.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

She’s silent.

“Julia!” I scream into the microphone. “What’s going on?”

“I ran to the convenience store to get some Coke,” she starts.

“And?”

“I can’t say.”

“Tell me.” I run to my car and get in. “Goddamnit, Julia. Don’t play games with me.”

“I caught them on the couch together.”

What the fuck is she saying? “Be specific.” I rev the engine, then screech out of the parking lot. “Answer me.”

“Half-naked, making out.” She’s crying now.

“Macey and Bishop?”

“Don’t be stupid, Joshua,” she yells. “Of course. Your girlfriend and my boyfriend. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the sexual tension between them all this time. You’d have to be pretty blind not to see it.”

“Goddamnit. Motherfucker.” I’m doing a hundred. “Don’t leave, Julia. I’ll be there in five minutes.” I disconnect.

I’ll kill him. I punch the dash, pressing down on the gas pedal. Rage builds inside me. I don’t want to believe it. I can’t. Not until I see it with my own eyes. Bishop and Macey. I warned her not to trust him. She’s mine. And he’ll pay. Dearly. When I pull into the parking lot, Julia’s car is gone.
Coward.
She was always a runner—never learned to face her problems. I punch the code into the security system in the lobby. As soon as the door opens, I run for the stairs, taking three at a time. I stumble out of the stairwell, sweating and breathing hard.