Читать книгу Indulge Me Tonight - AlTonya Washington - Страница 11

Chapter 3

Located just outside Vancouver, Turner Estates and Gardens was a remote spread of property that had once been a successful dairy farm until the farm’s owners decided to live out their days relaxing instead of working.

When Avery Turner and his wife, Danielle, proposed purchasing the farm from the elderly growers, there was, of course, great concern. The Turners, after all, were a young black couple, and such business arrangements, especially in those days, were rare. Still, the aged farmers obviously saw something they liked in the couple, for they ordered their sons to sell to Avery Turner and give him what he needed to succeed.

What Avery needed most was his best friend, Lucas Mayes. When Lucas arrived with his wife, Tina, in tow, the foursome ran the farm in a manner no one could fault. The couples eventually decided to sell off the cattle and make their profit opening the breathtaking and expansive gardens to tourists.

Vancouver and neighboring Victoria were often visited by artists, musicians and hosts of academics. Such venues as the Turner and Mayes Gardens were especially popular. In later years, wedding bells resounded between the Turners’ son, Aaron, and the Mayeses’ Vanessa. The older generation entrusted their life’s work to the new, and Turner Estates and Gardens was born.

When both Avery Turner and Lucas Mayes passed on, their wives embarked on a new venture—inviting small groups to meditate in the gardens for extended periods. During that time, Tina Mayes and Danielle Turner held time for fellowship and scripture reading. The women found they had a love for it upon witnessing the transformation it made among their guests.

When the family business fell to her to control, Tielle decided to move things to a larger scale. Turner Estates and Gardens became an exclusive retreat for families, executives, social groups...the list was long, diverse and distinguished. Tielle’s therapists were respected for their abilities as well as their discretion.

The business venture had been a smart and lucrative one. Tielle had never regretted continuing what her grandmothers had started. During the last year, however, the picture perfection of her business had shown signs of wear around the edges. Every room, every tree or garden path, it seemed, held a memory that reminded her of Graedon Clegg.

They’d been married there. Spent part of their honeymoon there. The place had always been a magical one for her. In spite of what had happened between her and Grae, it was still a magical place. Nevertheless, memories definitely took their toll.

How was she to function when the most potent aspect of those memories was there in the flesh? Faro could forget it, she decided. Tielle stared out from the corner of her office that looked toward the hill that led in from the dirt road and would transport guests on or off the property. The Clegg clan would be arriving at any time. What to do, what to do...

“Still time to make a run for it...” Laura must have been reading Tielle’s mind when she arrived in the office singing the possibility.

“Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me...” Tielle sang back, toying with the paisley-print tie of her wrap shirt.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, you know.”

Tielle puffed out a thoughtful breath. “I know that, too...”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning...” Tielle turned to sit on the windowsill. “I’m out of here the minute those people have visions of gumdrops dancing in their sleepy heads.”

Laura leaned against the doorjamb, folded her arms over her middle. “What about Grae?”

“Humph.” Tielle leaned back against the window. “I doubt he’ll miss me.”

Silently, she recalled what he’d said about her not being his business anymore. Looking out the window again, she noticed two SUVs coming down the hill and leaving clouds of dust in their wake.

She smiled. “And the drama begins.”

Laura joined Tielle at the window to observe the procession. “Why don’t you let me greet the gang? You can receive your guests in the sunroom.”

Tielle squeezed the hand Laura had clasped over her forearm. “Thanks, girl.”

A serious look stole across Laura’s honey-toned face. “You don’t owe these people anything.”

With that reminder, Laura left the office.

Alone, Tielle turned her gaze beyond the window, watching as the two SUVs drew closer to the main house. Several yards behind them were a trio of cars.

Yes, she thought, the gang was all here.

She was sure none of the gang would want to miss out on the chance to tell her what they thought of her. Not that they hadn’t made a career of doing so during her marriage to Grae. Tielle rolled her eyes as more vehicles traversed the dirt road leading in.

Resolute, she stood and walked across the office to give herself a once-over in the floor-length mirror on the door to her private bathroom. Satisfied, she set out.

* * *

Tielle was certain that Faro would want to make an entrance and bask in the accomplishment of bringing his family together under one roof for the purpose of healing. Instead, he walked in among the group laughing and talking as if his family’s close bonds had never been tested and that he hadn’t been the one who had tested them the most.

Laura must have told Faro where to find Tielle. He was first to arrive in the sunroom that faced the enormous and professionally manicured rear lawn.

“Ti!” The short, dark man greeted his ex-sister-in-law with open arms. “Thanks for agreeing to this,” he said while squeezing her in his welcome embrace.

“Faro, I—”

“Well, well, isn’t this a familiar sight? The two best buds cozied up.”

The unmistakable female voice reached Tielle’s ears before she could complete her response to Faro. She looked around the man’s slender frame to see his cousins Ranata and Asia. It was Asia who had spoken. The statuesque lovely sauntered into the sunroom. Her stiletto boots intermittently clicked and quieted as they moved from the hardwood flooring to the plush, ornately designed throws in the expansive room. She took inventory of the breathtaking spot as though there was little truly impressive about the area.

Late-afternoon sunlight was beginning to cascade into the room, sending spectrums of color through the cut-glass lamp bottoms and bathing the healthy potted plants and deep, cushioned furnishings in liquid gold.

“Another expensive retreat on the books, Ti-Ti?” Asia’s voice was husky yet with a distinctly nasal element. “Aren’t you already getting enough of Grae’s money in the settlement?”

“Nice to see you, Asia,” Tielle somehow managed.

Asia’s glossy, full lips twisted into a nasty smile. “No need to lie.”

“All right, then.” Tielle tried not to appear too gleeful when Asia’s smile froze.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Laura arrived then with two of the retreat’s baggage attendants in tow. “We’re about to take a look at the sleeping quarters, if you all would be so kind as to join us?”

Asia had recovered somewhat from her embarrassment. “Come on, Ranata,” she ordered the silent, petite woman at her side.

Faro looked apologetic and rubbed Tielle’s shoulder when the women had gone. “I know this won’t be easy,” he said.

“Smart man.”

Faro grinned. “I am thankful that you agreed to all this.”

Tielle folded her arms. “Looks like Grae didn’t accept your invite. Maybe you won’t need me here for this after all.”

“Mr. Clegg?” Laura called to Faro before he could respond to Tielle. “Would you mind joining the others for a moment?”

Tielle caught Laura’s eye with a glance of gratitude when Faro obliged without comment. Alone in the dazzling room, Tielle hid her face behind her palms and groaned. Once her emotions began to settle, she went back to the windows to take stock of the cars lining the yard and prepared herself for the next round of guests.

* * *

Tielle had thrown herself into taking care of busywork for most of the afternoon. Following the warm reunion with Asia and Ranata, Tielle was better prepared for the rest of her ex’s chilly female cousins. She received even less warmth from the older Clegg women and had taken to checking her watch often in hopes of finding that dinner was served or that the much anticipated bedtime had arrived.

She’d stopped off to check on things in the kitchen—a place that usually soothed frazzled nerves. Especially true now, because she saw works of edible art being created when she arrived. That evening, the cook staff was in their element and ready to boast about their efforts. They offered Tielle samples of what they had planned for the evening’s meal.

The plate of spinach and cream cheese pinwheels, bourbon and scallion chicken strips and vegetable sautéed rice put a small but welcomed coating on Tielle’s stomach. The treat gave her the strength—she hoped—to handle the remainder of her hellacious evening.

“That was fantastic, guys! Can’t wait for dinner!” Tielle was in high spirits as she took the kitchen exit. In the corridor, she ran into an unexpected guest.

Laughing as much from relief as happiness, Tielle fell into the open arms of yet another Clegg family member. She greeted Desree Clegg, the eldest of the Clegg family and Ken Clegg’s sister.

“What are you doing here in all this madness?” Happier than she’d been in a long time, Tielle pressed a kiss to the woman’s cheek.

Desree Clegg’s plump caramel-toned face was even lovelier than usual thanks to the brightness of her smile. “I could ask the same of you, miss,” she scolded.

“Faro asked me to stay.”

The explanation dimmed Des’s smile a little. “What’s that boy up to?”

Tielle laughed. “You sound just like Grae.” Instantly, she regretted the slip when a knowing light crept into Desree’s dark eyes.

“Is that a...recent insight?”

“Des...I’ve only seen him once and that was only so he could ask me to go along with Faro having the retreat here.”

Desree snorted. “Now what’s that boy up to?”

Tielle linked an arm through the crook of Desree’s. “Maybe they’re finally trying to come together.”

Rich laughter tumbled from a still shapely mouth when Des threw back her head. “The only thing those two have ever come together over is nothing.”

Tielle laughed again, feeling ever more peaceful in the presence of her favorite Clegg.

“You know you don’t need to be here.” Desree’s reminder held a warning.

“I’m jumping ship as soon as everyone’s safely tucked away in their beds.”

“And what will you do if Grae personally asks you to stay?”

“Is he coming?” Tielle felt as though lead was weighing her down and keeping her pinned to her spot.

“It makes sense, doesn’t it?” Desree’s dark eyes sparkled as vibrantly as the small row of sequins lining the pocket of her lavender smock blouse. “I mean, he did make a point of asking you to help this event happen.”

“I can’t see him again.” Tielle refused to give in to the shiver creeping up her back.

“Lord, child, was it that awful?”

“No, Des...that’s the problem.” Tielle pulled her arm free of Des’s. “I should’ve turned him down flat when he asked me to do this but as usual, Grae snaps his fingers and I fall in line whenever he wants me. The man doesn’t know what it sounds like to hear me say no.”

“So teach him then, child.” Desree bumped the younger woman’s shoulder with her own.

Tielle’s smile lost its glee to recapture despair. “The last time I tried that, he divorced me.”

* * *

Tielle waited until after midnight to make good on her plans for escape. The word coward resounded in her head like a chime, but she didn’t begrudge it. One day she was running her business, trying and failing to forget Graedon Clegg had ever been part of her life. The next day he was there talking to her as though the past year had never happened. Not to mention the fact that she was once again, and all too soon, surrounded by almost the entire Clegg clan. What was she supposed to do with all that? What could anyone do with all that?

Silently, she raged while making her way out by one of the many secluded staircases that wound through the big house. While she assumed most of her guests were asleep, or well on their way, she decided there was no sense using the most highly traveled areas to make a run for it.

None of this was necessary, Tielle knew that. She’d handled much tougher crews than the Clegg family while manning her business, yet the memories those people instilled only dredged up deeper ones of herself and Grae—memories she’d forced herself to shut away when what they’d had fell apart.

Tielle gave a quiet, triumphant sigh when she worked her way through the large, industrial-equipped kitchen. The staff garage was attached just off the area. She efficiently secured the door leading into the garage and headed through it to where she’d left her car parked outside earlier that day. Tossing her purse on the passenger seat of the Audi, she prepared to plant herself behind the wheel.

“Jeez, all this cloak-and-dagger stuff just to get out of spending a few days with my family, Tel?”

The wind had picked up, masking her gasp when Grae’s rich octave cut through the air. She helped herself to a few deep breaths before closing the car door and turning to face the man, who was slyly grinning down at her from beneath a toboggan as dark as the whiskers shading his face.

“Don’t try telling me you were doing anything other than making a run for it.”

“Can you blame me?” Tielle shrugged, swatting at a lock of hair that slapped her cheek.

“It’s that hard for you to be around them. Around me,” he asked in that question-non-questioning way of his.

“What are you up to, Grae? Why would I want to be around any Clegg at all? Especially you?” She didn’t raise her voice, yet the temper that had become increasingly difficult to manage over the past year came through as though amplified. “We’re divorced, in case you forgot,” she tacked on.

Aside from the erratic dance of a jaw muscle, he was utterly still. “Yeah, Ti, I forget that all the time.”

“Well, it may be something you’ll want to remember the next time you end a marriage.” Her temper was on a slow simmer then.

Grae’s own temper skipped simmer and dashed straight to boil, something it had done excessively during the past twelve months.

“Dammit, Tel.” He invaded her space with an impressive swiftness for someone his size. “You weren’t supposed to leave me.” His voice was a gravel rumble that effectively unsettled most.

“I left you?” Her laughter was short, ill-humored. “That’s good, Grae. Do you happen to recall that ultimatum of yours? ‘Stop trying to fix things in my family, Tel. I’m the only one you should concern yourself with satisfying. Forget that one more time and consider us finished.’” The wind whistled as she recited the speech verbatim and then raised her hands defensively. “What was I supposed to do with that, Grae?”

Her words—his words—eased the rigid set to his shoulders. “You weren’t supposed to let me get away with that ultimatum, dammit.” His voice held its steely resilience. “You were supposed to tell me to go screw myself. You were supposed to lock me out of the bedroom, give me the silent treatment and then—”

“Do what you wanted me to anyway?” The anger left her voice to be replaced by a weak bewilderment.

“Don’t leave, Tel.” He crowded in a bit more.

The pressure of tears emerged. “We aren’t going to fix things, Grae. Not here of all places, you know that.”

“And you know I can’t do this without you.”

Curiosity added more sparkle to her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I need you, Tel. I’m not—” He wasn’t quite ready to admit that he wasn’t strong enough. “I’m sorry for making you a part of the very thing I once ordered you to stay out of. As much as I don’t want to do this with you, I can’t do it without you.”

Tielle considered him a moment and then shook her head. “I’m sorry, Grae. I’m not doing anything except getting the hell out of here unless you tell me what it is you can’t do without me.” Determinedly, she folded her arms across the teal sweatshirt she wore. “I want to know all of it, and I’ll know if you’re holding anything back.”

Amen to that, Grae acknowledged and then went to lean against the side of Tielle’s car.

“I don’t have many details—”

“Grae...”

“I swear it.” He spread his hands. “But Faro is up to something and—”

“This again...” Tielle muttered along with a curse. She reached for the driver’s-side door handle, but Grae slid over before the door, effectively blocking the handle and absorbing her slight frame when she bumped into him.

Grae had unintentionally crushed Tielle against him, and she couldn’t resist taking an unnecessarily deep breath. She thought of her nipples grazing his pecs and drew virtual pleasure from the memory. Tielle both celebrated and mourned the position. While it supported her—a thing her legs were incapable of just then—it sparked a potent tingle throughout her body, targeting her every nerve ending.

He proceeded to tell her what he knew, but Tielle could hear only the blood rushing through her ears. Her pounding heart provided accompaniment.

She sent a message to her brain. In it, she begged her eyes not to shut, thus clueing him in to how much his nearness affected her.

Cautiously, she curved her fingertips into the fabric of his shirt. The layers of clothing did relatively little to mask the unyielding plane of muscle that was his chest.

“I’m sorry, what?” she blurted when he called her name to recapture her attention. As she’d demanded, he’d given an explanation and was awaiting her response.

“When I figure all this out, I know I won’t be able to confront my brother without you there with me.”

Tielle hated herself for laughing, but her ex-husband’s thought process prompted the action. “Have you thought about how well that’d go over? Your family doesn’t need another reason to hate me, Grae.”

“They don’t hate you.” His hands flexed on her arms at the notion.

“The women in your family would rather kick me than kiss me.”

“None of the men feel that way.” He sounded hopeful.

When she laughed and bowed her head, Grae dropped his easy expression to replace it with a tortured, needy one. Deeply, he inhaled the soft, floral scent of her hair. He could smell it through the fuzzy cap she wore. Taking further advantage of her closeness, he applied a subtle massage to her hips, cupping them faintly and then closing his eyes as though ordering himself not to do more.

“Can’t you be wrong?” Her eyes were fixed on a fine strand loosed at the tip of his shirt’s collar.

“I hope to heaven that I am wrong.” He shrugged when her eyes flew to his face. “I want to feel what you do about Faro. I always have.”

“Maybe if you told Faro—” She cut herself off when he shook his head.

“You know I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I can only even consider that when you’re around me. Later, I won’t even remember I said it.”

Tielle shook her head. “Being around me didn’t help much before, did it?”

He gathered her closer; the temperature had dipped several notches during their time outdoors. “When a man loses a lot, he starts to see things differently.”

Grae trailed his fingers down her neck, across her collarbone. The tingles already affecting Tielle began to heat. Her lips parted, and she felt ready to offer him her tongue when the first sprinkle of snow landed on the tip of her nose.

“Damn you, Shanti Dillon.”

Grae frowned playfully. “Who’s that?”

“The weather lady.”

“This may not be the best weather to drive in.” He laughed.

Tielle gave the falling sprinkles a tired look. “I can still make it.”

“Not if I take you inside first.”

Her eyes narrowed as she read his thoughts. “Don’t you dare. We’ll wake the whole house.”

“Not if you don’t laugh the way you always do. It’s a blow to my ego when you do that, you know?”

“Then don’t—Grae!” Tielle shrieked when he bent and pulled her over his shoulder.

“My bag!” she screamed when he made a start for the garage door.

Grae carried her back to the car, setting her down so she could reach inside the car to grab the bag. He hooked a finger through a belt loop on her jeans to keep his possession secure. When Tielle grabbed her bag and tried to make a run for it, Grae slung her across his shoulder and carried his laughing ex-wife inside the house.