Читать книгу These Arms of Mine - Judy Lynn Hubbard - Страница 12

Chapter 2

He was unblinking and serious as he continued staring into her huge, horrified eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he laughed out loud at her apparent shock. He knew his declaration was the last thing she had expected to hear—it was honestly the last thing he had expected to utter.

She didn’t make a move as his brief laughter reverberated in the quiet office before silence returned. He said nothing further and she was unable to respond. Instead, she stared at him unblinkingly, a hand slowly going to her suddenly constricted throat while her heart thudded loudly.

When she finally found her voice it was hushed and strained. “You can’t be serious!”

“Can’t I?”

She searched his face for signs that he was being facetious, yet found none. Still, he had to be joking. Her other hand moved to her throbbing temple and she tried to laugh dismissively—she couldn’t have heard him correctly.

“I must have misunderstood you.”

“Did you?” His piercing eyes studied her face carefully.

“Did you say that you want…me?” She forced herself to repeat his ridiculous statement.

“You understand me correctly.”

“What do you mean by want?” As she articulated the question, she was petrified of his response.

“Want. A transitive verb meaning to desire, to have need for, to crave.”

Every word he used to describe his meaning brought vivid pictures to her mind. She swallowed hard to dispel the lump that had rapidly risen in her throat, but to no avail. She stared at the man in front of her, amusement still twinkling in his eyes. Yet, underneath the levity lurked something else—a seriousness that terrified her.

“Are you saying you expect me to…you expect us to…that you want…”

She couldn’t force herself to finish that sentence.

“I want you to marry me.”

“Marry you?” She sank into the chair she had vacated earlier.

“What did you think I meant?” He studied her distraught face carefully. “Alesha, you didn’t think I wanted us to live together in sin, did you?”

“Why do you want to marry me?” She needed a cold compress for her head.

“Because I need a wife.” He reclined against his desk.

“You need a wife?” She paused before continuing. “Why?”

“According to my campaign manager, it would be good for me to be seen as a family man, and having a wife would equip me with a full-time hostess and date.”

He took no pleasure in reiterating Cam’s earlier words. Although seeing the woman who had single-handedly ruined his life two years ago in acute distress was very gratifying, indeed.

“How romantic.”

Her dry tones made his eyebrow rise slightly—he had no clue how she managed to be sarcastic at a time like this.

“You once made it clear that you didn’t want romance from me. Has that changed?”

“Do you always do what others tell you?” She deliberately sidestepped his previous question.

“Never.” He firmly shook his head.

“Then why start now?”

She couldn’t marry him—or anyone else—under these circumstances. The very idea was absurd!

“I’ve already answered that question.” His face was unreadable.

“Have you?”

Of course, he didn’t tell her that until she had walked through his office door, he had no intention of agreeing to Cam’s suggestion. Even having put the proposal on the table, he couldn’t believe he had done so. Yet, there had always been something about her—something that sparked a chord inside him. He was dismayed to learn his reaction to her hadn’t dissipated with the time they had spent apart—time she had forced them to spend apart, he angrily went over in his mind. Despite his better judgment, he still wanted her, and this time he was determined to have her—all of her.

“You don’t even like me.”

She waited for him to respond but he remained silent. Slowly, he smiled without humor and neither denied nor confirmed her observation. Lord, she wished she had never come here today! She had thought, prayed, that time would have healed old wounds. However, it was painfully apparent it had not. He obviously wanted nothing to do with her, but if that was true, why was he suggesting that they get married?

“‘Like’ is irrelevant, Alesha.”

“How can you say that? How can you suggest that we get married?”

“I told you why already.”

He sighed, his tone implying he had no desire to explain his reasons to her again or to justify them to himself.

She lowered her aching head into her hands and willed herself to wake up from this nightmare. However, when she raised her head again, the man in front of her had not vanished, as she had hoped. Rather, his presence was undeniable as he watched her closely.

“You’re serious.”

“I am.” He nodded affirmatively.

“Is this about revenge?” She articulated the only possibility that made any sense to her.

“It’s about fate, Alesha.”

“Fate?”

Her disdainful, soft echoing of his single prophetic word caused a slight clinching of his jaw—or did she imagine that?

“Yes.”

There was uncomfortable silence as each tried to guess what the other was thinking. Each one of them would have been surprised to realize their feelings were more in sync than not. Since parting, they had been destined to come to this point and now they were here. Where their lives ended up from here was a mystery to them both.

“If I agree to your proposal, what do you expect?”

She couldn’t believe she was actually contemplating his unorthodox proposition. However, she didn’t have a viable alternative—not if she wanted to save her brother.

“Model behavior, public affection. There’ll be a great deal of publicity and we will have to appear happily married and very much in love.”

Intense dread spread throughout her entire soul as he rattled off his requirements for a wife as if he were reading from a shopping list. He seemed so hard—had she done that to him? Somehow she knew she had and that hurt more than anything.

“And privately?” She stared into those cool gray eyes of his.

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

His mocking smile showed that he knew exactly what she referred to. He was getting immense pleasure in needling her.

Taking a deep breath and releasing it on a sigh she elaborated, “This will be a marriage in name only?”

“No, it will not.”

She stood up at that, her chest heaving rapidly. “You can’t expect me to…for us to…” Her voice trailed off, unable to finish that sentence.

“I can, and I do.” His eyes swept appreciatively over her slender, shapely body.

“This is ridiculous, and I’m a fool for even considering your absurd proposition!” She turned and walked rapidly toward the door.

She had a right to be angry at his suggestion. He would have been disappointed if she weren’t. He could have picked up the phone and had ten women in his office within a matter of minutes, willing to do whatever he wanted. But he didn’t want any other woman. He wanted Alesha. Damn her, he always had. He didn’t want to desire her, but he couldn’t help it any more than he could help breathing. She intrigued him and he wanted the chance she had denied them both two years ago—to get to know each other better, intellectually and intimately. And, God help him, he didn’t care that he was literally blackmailing her to get that opportunity.

He knew he was treading on dangerous ground—he also knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop himself. He craved Alesha, and this time he was going to do whatever it took to get her and to make her admit that she wanted him, as well. He wouldn’t allow himself to dwell on why her desiring him was of the utmost importance to him.

“You’re a smart woman, Alesha.” His words halted her progress toward the door. “I think you know this is the only way to save your brother from a sure conviction and a lengthy prison term.”

She slowly retraced her steps to stand several feet away from him and tried one last time to reason with him. “Mr. Chandler…”

“Derrick.”

“Mr. Chandler.” At her refusal to use his first name, she received another one of his mocking smiles, which she had quickly grown to hate. “We’re virtually strangers. How can you expect me to marry you and become your wife in every sense of the word?”

“First of all, we are hardly strangers, Alesha. Secondly, when you grow a little older and a little wiser, you’ll realize a lot of people do things that they don’t want to do every day because their survival or the survival of those closest to them requires it.”

“Is that supposed to make your ridiculous offer easier to accept?”

“You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy being married to me.” He silently promised himself that would be the case.

She glared at him. “Never!”

“Never say never, Alesha.”

He pushed away from the desk and walked over to stand inches from her. Reaching out his hand, he trailed a finger lightly down her soft cheek, and he nearly groaned at the contact he had longed for since she had first entered his office.

She shuddered at his touch. He merely smiled before his finger moved to trace the outline of her lower lip, causing her flesh to tingle uncontrollably—and not from revulsion. His intense gaze mesmerized her and she was unable to step away, even when he removed his finger from her face. Ravenous eyes slowly, carefully studied every inch of her from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.

It was difficult to take in enough air to properly expand her lungs. Where his fingers had lightly touched, she burned and yearned for something forbidden. The spicy scent of his aftershave wafted up to her nostrils, causing her mouth to water. Despite her qualms, she wanted to be pressed close to his hard body and feel his strong arms around her.

She remembered how those lips had felt against hers and longed to see if her memories were accurate. She swayed toward him slightly, and he smiled even more, yet he made no further attempt to touch her, much to her dismay.

His inaction and her bizarre reaction to him cautioned her to get as far away from him as possible, but her limbs refused to obey the silent command. What was the matter with her? Was he hypnotizing her? Why didn’t she turn and run away?

As his eyes admired her beauty, he knew exactly how she felt—he felt the same way, too. It didn’t make any sense. This strong attraction between them was the last thing he needed, yet here it was, and he was absolutely helpless to do anything about it, except try to assuage it in hopes of finally purging it forever.

He continued his perusal, eyes moving to the soft curls of her hair, which was pulled away from her face by a clasp. He longed to free the soft tresses he knew would be smooth and silky. Her face showed the barest traces of makeup, yet her type of beauty didn’t require any artificial enhancements. Her brown eyes were distraught, her smooth brown skin begged to be touched, her lightly tinted full lips were made for kissing—an invitation he had accepted often in the past and almost consented to now. The bulky sweater she wore hid her attributes from his piercing gaze, yet he knew from experience that beneath it was a curvaceous, beautiful body that he was certain would give him the most intense pleasure.

She could barely breathe. His eyes thoroughly destroyed her equilibrium as they sensuously appraised her. She didn’t allow herself to speculate on his thoughts—knowing instinctively that they would disturb her more than his blatant perusal did. She felt hot, uncomfortable and something else she refused to put a name to.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Alesha, but then you’ve always known that, haven’t you?” His voice hardened perceptibly as his hand moved up to cup the side of her face, his lips mere inches from hers.

“How dare you!”

His condescending tone propelled her into action. She pushed his hand away from her face and moved several steps back, placing much-needed distance between them. She silently willed her wayward pulse to return to normal—impossible until she was no longer in his presence.

“You’ll find that I dare quite a lot.”

Silently, he promised himself he would taste those lips again soon enough. For, try as she might to find another way, his was the only course of action she could take to save her brother. He knew that and so did she. He was certain she would agree to his terms.

“What makes you so sure I will be around you long enough to realize anything about you?”

“Because your brother’s life is in your hands. I think you’ll do anything to save him—even marry me.”

She was tempted to tell him to go to hell and take his demented proposal with him. Unfortunately, she knew it wasn’t a question of whether she could live with his unreasonable proposal, but rather whether she could live with herself if she didn’t even try. This was the only way to save the two people she loved most in this world.

He walked back behind his desk and sat down in his chair. He knew she loved her brother and would do anything to get him out of this horrible situation—her presence here was evidence of that. However, maybe this was too high a price for her to pay. But could she live with herself if she didn’t try to help him? Could she live with herself if she did?

“If I agree to marry you, why can’t it be a marriage in name only?” To her horror, Alesha blurted out a question that made it obvious she was considering his offer.

All she had to do was take one look at him to answer her own question. Derrick Chandler was a handsome, virile man. He wouldn’t go without a woman for days, let alone months—he would never have to. Besides, their past relationship wouldn’t allow him to marry her only for show. He wanted what she had denied him—of that, she was certain.

“Alesha, I expect our marriage to be real, because that’s the way it has to be.”

“Why?” She grudgingly admitted, “You’re a handsome man. You can have any woman you want. Why me?”

“Thank you for the compliment.” He smiled. “I’m running for public office. I can’t be married to you and then be seen around town with other women.” He felt compelled to add, “And I have no intention of living the life of a monk.”

“But why me?”

“I think you already know the answer to that question.” He reclined in his chair, studying her distraught countenance.

“But…”

“I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

His statement was true. However, more to the point, he needed to get her out of his sight so that his pulse could return to normal. This reunion was more upsetting than he had anticipated. Why, after the hell she had put him through, did she make him feel like a damn schoolboy asking a girl out for a first date?

“I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide. If I haven’t heard from you by this time tomorrow, I’ll take that as a no and contact the police.”

He was proud his voice remained steady, when he felt anything but. He lowered his head and began to study the papers on his desk once again, totally ignoring her.

She opened her mouth to try to convince him to give up this ridiculous idea, but closed it again, realizing the futility of that gambit. He had set his terms and the next move was up to her. Without another word, she turned and left, slamming the door forcefully behind her.

He leaned back in his chair and let out his breath on a loud sigh. Tense fingers loosened his tie a bit. She hadn’t left a moment too soon. Why had seeing her again affected him so profoundly? It was because he hadn’t been with a woman in a while—that was it. That had to be it.

He shook his head in satisfaction and returned his eyes to the manila folder on his desk. After a few seconds, he gave up trying to concentrate on anything other than anxiously awaiting Alesha’s return tomorrow, even though he already knew what her answer would be.

Alesha entered her mother’s home and forced herself to appear happy and carefree, even though her heart was heavy, laden with the ultimatum Derrick Chandler had just issued to her a few hours earlier. Despite the dark cloud of gloom that hung over her, she could not risk letting her mother know she was upset—her mom had already had one heart attack a year and a half ago. Alesha would make sure she didn’t find out about the events currently transpiring in her children’s lives.

“Mom?” She searched for her mother as she walked through the house, throwing her coat onto a chair in the hallway.

“I’m in here, darling.”

Following her mother’s voice, Alesha made her way toward the bedroom. Once there, she was extremely glad to see that, for once, her mother was taking her doctor’s advice, reclining in bed, though she was fully dressed.

Alesha walked over and kissed her mother’s cheek warmly before perching lightly on the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, darling.” Barbara Robinson smiled as her daughter eyed her carefully.

Alesha marveled at what a beautiful lady her mother was. At age fifty-six, her black hair was sprinkled with gray and was cut short, attractively framing her oval face. Alesha smiled lovingly at her and silently vowed she would do everything in her power to make sure her mother stayed healthy and happy.

“What have you been up to today, dear?”

“Just the usual.” She smiled. “Have you been following doctors’ orders?”

“Yes, dear. I’ve been behaving.” Barbara rolled her brown eyes heavenward. “Honestly, I don’t know how much more rest and relaxation I can stand.”

“Mother…”

“I know. I know.” Barbara sighed heavily and then smiled slightly.

“You just continue to be a good girl, and Bobby and I will be around to make sure that you do.” Alesha grasped her hand and surreptitiously took her pulse.

Before her mother could respond, the front door opened and closed and Robert’s voice called out, “Mom? Alesha?”

“We’re in here, Bobby.” Alesha walked over to the bedroom door.

Seconds later her brother found them. He was about two inches taller than Alesha, though they both possessed the same café-au-lait coloring. Entering the bedroom, he bent down and placed an affectionate kiss on his mother’s forehead, brought out a beautiful bouquet of colorful flowers from behind his back and handed them to her. Alesha noted and engraved in her memory the happy look on her mother’s face. She would do anything to keep her that way forever.

“For the most beautiful lady in the world.” He smiled as he straightened to stand beside the bed.

“They’re lovely. Thank you.” Barbara brought the bouquet to her nose and sniffed appreciatively.

“Let me get you a vase for them.” Alesha took the flowers from her mother’s hands and glanced pointedly at Robert, silently communicating that he should follow her.

“Is there anything sinful to eat in the kitchen?” Robert’s brown eyes twinkled mischievously.

“Well, you know I’m not allowed,” Barbara complained, “but, there is some chocolate cake.”

“Perfect!” Robert smacked his lips in anticipation.

“Mother, what are you doing with a cholesterol-filled chocolate cake?” Alesha quickly returned from the doorway to glance at her mother disapprovingly.

“Relax, darling. I didn’t eat any. Antonia came by today and left it. I couldn’t turn her down, now, could I?”

“I suppose not.” Alesha sighed before adding, “I’ll be sure to take it with me when I leave—just to remove the temptation.”

“Sorry, Mom, but you know how she is.” Robert smiled sympathetically.

“I do, indeed.”

“Don’t you two start ganging up on me.” She wagged her finger at them good-naturedly. “Come on and get your cake.” Alesha pushed her brother ahead of her out of the room.

Robert’s eyes focused on the cake sitting on the counter. “Mmm, this looks great!”

When the door was safely shut behind them, Alesha spoke slowly and calmly, “I went to see Derrick Chandler today.”

“What?” He whirled to face her.

“Shh! I don’t want Mom to hear you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but firm.

“Why did you go see him? I thought you were going to stay out of this.” He’d lowered his voice, yet his tone remained angry.

“You decided that, not me.” She filled a vase with water. “I had to see if I could make him listen to reason.”

“Did you?” He knew the answer before she replied.

Turning her back on him to cut a slice of cake, she replied cryptically, “In a way.”

Robert walked around to stand in front of her, placing a finger under her chin and lifting her eyes level with his own. “What exactly does that mean?”

“He agreed not to press charges against you.” She hoped he would leave it at that for now.

“If…” He knew there had to be an if.

She gave him his cake, took a deep breath and released it slowly before replying, “If I agree to marry him.”

Robert nearly dropped the plate onto the countertop. He stared at his sister, horrified.

When he spoke, his voice was barely controlled. “Please, tell me you’re joking.”

She walked away from him to stare out the kitchen window. “I wish I was, but you know I wouldn’t joke about this.”

“Damn him!”

Alesha quickly walked to his side and placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Be quiet! Remember, Mom is just down the hall. We can’t let her know what’s going on.”

When he spoke next, his tone was lower, but just as enraged. “I hope you told him what he could do with his idiotic proposal!”

She remained silent, lowering her gaze from his. Robert’s heart skipped a beat at her demeanor.

“Alesha, you didn’t agree to this insanity, did you?” He watched her closely.

She raised her eyes and responded truthfully, “He’s given me until tomorrow to decide.”

“There’s nothing to decide. There’s no way I’m going to allow you to sell yourself to him to save me! I knew what I was doing when I took that money. I’ll suffer the consequences for it.”

“Bobby, even though you were wrong to embezzle from him, I won’t let you go to jail if there’s anything I can do to stop it.”

“I won’t let you do this.” He was equally unyielding.

“You can’t stop me.” She shook her head. “If Mother finds out what you did and you’re sent to prison, the shock would kill her—you know that.”

“But, Alesha…”

“No buts.” She placed silencing fingers on his lips. “I can’t risk losing either of you. If that means I have to marry Derrick Chandler, then I’ll marry him.” She wished she felt as calm as she sounded.

“You’re a wonderful sister, but I will not allow you to marry someone you don’t love to save me.”

He turned and left the kitchen. She ran after him, but reached the front door only in time to see his car pulling away.

She closed the door and sighed. Her decision was already made—it had been the very second Derrick had made her the offer. She would do whatever it took to save her loved ones, even if it meant sacrificing herself in the process.

Cam’s mouth was wide open in shock. “What did you say?”

Derrick laughed heartily before reiterating, “I’m getting married.”

“To whom? When? How?” Cam shook his head vigorously as he fought to comprehend his friend’s unexpected announcement.

“To Alesha Robinson and very soon.” He chuckled at Cam’s understandable confusion.

“Who?” He frowned as he racked his brain to put a face to the name he instinctively knew he should recognize.

“Robert Robinson’s sister.” Derrick played with the slender stem of his wineglass.

“Robert Robinson?” Then leaning closer to Derrick and lowering his voice so as not to be overheard, he asked, “The dude who embezzled from your campaign?”

“The one and only.” Derrick nodded before bringing the glass of wine to his lips.

“Have you lost your mind?”

Cam’s question was relayed so earnestly that Derrick couldn’t refrain from laughing out loud again. He had laughed more today than he had in a very long time.

“You’re the one who said I needed a wife.” His gray eyes twinkled with merriment.

“I know, but…”

“Cam, this is perfect.” His countenance was that of a kid set loose and given free rein in a candy shop. “It’s a business arrangement, no emotional entanglements—just a plain, simple agreement that I will end once it’s served its purpose.”

It was also an opportunity he had waited two years for, a chance to exorcise the demons Alesha’s abrupt departure had left in her wake. He was certain once he had some answers, and maybe even a measure of retribution, he would be able to permanently purge the tenacious memories of their past association from his mind and heart once and for all.

“Which is what?”

“To help me get elected, of course.” Derrick sighed loudly. Boy, was Cam being dense tonight!

Cam’s eyes took on a seriousness that was relayed by his next words. “Sometimes when we think we have something figured out, it takes on a life of its own and goes in directions we never expected.”

“What am I going to do with you?” Derrick raised his eyes heavenward in exasperation at his friend’s prophetic statement. “If I don’t do what you suggest, I never hear the end of it, and if I take your advice, I get prophecies of doom and gloom.”

“When I suggested marriage, I wasn’t referring to the farce you’re contemplating.” Cam took a much-needed gulp of his wine.

“Never again.” Derrick adamantly shook his head.

“Derrick, you’re my best friend. I’d like to see you happy.” He lowered his glass to the table.

“I appreciate that, buddy, and I am happy. I’m also going to marry Alesha—on my terms.”

“She’s agreed to this?”

“Not yet, but she will tomorrow.” His voice was confident as he fingered the slender stem of his wineglass.

“How can you be so sure?” He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to his friend’s inane proposal than met the eye.

“She doesn’t have a choice. It’s the only way to save her brother.”

“She might surprise you. Maybe she’ll decide the price is too high to pay.” Cam played devil’s advocate.

“She won’t.” His short response was delivered confidently.

“Why won’t she?”

“As I said before, she doesn’t have a choice.” Derrick hadn’t noticed his tone turn somewhat cold.

“I get the feeling you know this lady—very well. Have you met her before?”

“Two years ago.” Derrick silently cursed himself for slipping up in front of Cam, of all people.

“Wait a minute.” His eyes reflected understanding. “Is this the same Alesha you dated briefly?”

“She is.” He didn’t see any reason in denying it.

“The one you abruptly stopped seeing, which sent you into one of the longest and foulest depressed moods of your life?”

“You’re exaggerating.” Derrick took a suddenly much-needed swig of his drink. Cam wasn’t exaggerating. If anything, he was being kind.

“No, I’m not.” Intense eyes bore into his. “You wouldn’t talk about her—not even to me.”

“There was nothing to say.”

“Really? I didn’t believe you then and I don’t now.”

“Cam, we dated once or twice, it didn’t work out and we ended it.” He silently cursed the nerve in his jaw that was pulsing erratically.

“We both know there’s more to it than that.” He refused to be silenced. “I was there, remember? I know what happened to you shortly after the breakup.” At Derrick’s continued silence, Cam asked, “Are you out for revenge?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Cam’s astute observations and Derrick’s own contradictory feelings as far as Alesha was concerned made him uneasy, although his words appeared confident.

“I think you should reconsider this.”

“There’s nothing to reconsider. I’m going to marry Alesha and that’s that.” Derrick’s tone was firm and final.

“Derrick, are you sure…”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“How do you plan to pull this off?” He knew when it was useless to try to reason with his friend, and this, unfortunately, was one of those times. “Alesha will be in the limelight all the time. I assume you realize the public must perceive your marriage as real.”

“Of course.” Derrick shook his head in agreement. “In public, we’ll appear as a couple very much in love. You, Alesha, Robert and I are the only ones who will know about our arrangement.”

“And what about privately?” Cam leaned forward, studying his friend closely. “What do you expect, and—more importantly—want from Alesha privately?”

“Mr. Chandler, it’s time for you to take your place onstage.” Both men turned in the direction of the man who interrupted them.

“Certainly.”

Derrick smiled and stood, grateful to escape his friend’s last probing question.