Chapter 13 #3
“But that gives me the upper hand doesn’t it?
” Her face lit up again with the familiar glint and the seductive giggle emerged from her triumphantly.
He could do no more than stare at her, at a complete loss what to think anymore.
She was playing with him good; faking left, then right, up and down like a yo-yo and he was letting her get right by him.
He said the only thing that came to his mind in that moment of complete and utter frustration.
“You make no fucking sense to me.”
Her eyes were bright with challenge as he closed in on her.
What would he do now? The expected thing?
He knew she expected him to throw her on the bed and make wild love to her.
She wouldn’t stop him. As he thought about it, his body responded, telling him it wasn’t a bad idea.
But looking into her eyes and pasting on his game face—he stepped back. Both mentally and physically.
“Okay. You win. Game’s over.” His jaw clenched as he said the words.
The very act of conceding the victory lessened the pain, though he knew she would feel no better.
If the best he could do was give her a hollow victory, then that’s what he would do.
Nothing like cutting off your nose to spite your face, he derided himself as he swept past her.
She looked very unsure, even vulnerable.
He paused in the door and turned to look at her again to make sure.
Maybe she wasn’t the woman he thought he was playing games with.
But when he glanced back at her she stood casually putting her shoes back on.
A cryptic, almost puzzled look on her face as if to say “where did I go wrong?” But surely not vulnerable?
“Later.” She nodded to him with the lilt of promise in that tantalizing voice of hers.
He quirked a smile at her then left the room, bolting down the stairs with the distinct sensation of having made a narrow escape. Escape from what he wondered? But then he decided not to wonder and joined the crowd at the bar.
Roxanne stared at the doorway of her bedroom.
Her hands shook as she put her heels back on.
She glanced back at her empty bed. This game wasn’t so much fun anymore.
Something changed. Was it she or Brian? She didn’t like the empty feeling she had right now one bit. It struck her with sudden intensity.
She didn’t know what Brian Dennis thought of her any more.
Or how she felt about him. Roxanne swirled into one of the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace and swiped the tear from her face.
Then why was she bothering with him? Why was she taking such a chance playing games with him?
This was ridiculous. “What am I doing?” she said out loud.
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Bonnie entered the room and when she got closer, Roxanne tried to avoid the woman’s eyes.
“Honey, what is it? What did that man do? What did he say?”
“Nothing.” Roxanne looked up, not bothering to wipe the latest tears away. She smiled, then laughed because she knew it sounded silly. It was silly.
“Roxy? I’ve never seen you this upset over a man.”
“It’s not him.” She waved her hand, cutting Bonnie off before she could say anything more ridiculous.
“It’s everything—all this business about money and Don’s death, and Penelope’s threats.
” Roxanne felt much better now and she looked at Bonnie, letting anger take hold.
“You know that Penelope’s talked all our major donors out of giving us the seed money we need to launch the special campaign?
But she won’t stop me.” Roxanne stood. She felt much better. She’d think about Brian later.
“I’ll have to work extra hard, line up some new candidates—but I’ll get the money. Now that we have Brian as spokesperson, I’m sure it will get off the ground.”
“Of course it will. You should know better than to worry about that. You have a house full of people downstairs that are right behind you.”
“Yeah, we better get down there now before anyone decides to leave.” She smiled at Bonnie and gave her a hug as they left the room.
***
The party was louder than when she had left it only thirty minutes earlier. Roxanne got to the middle of the room, but before she had a chance to approach anyone, Paul Paris took her elbow and leaned toward her ear, almost falling on top of her in the process.
“Hey, Rox. Where ya been? I’ve been looking all over for you. Saving this dance for you. What do ya say?” He recovered his balance admirably and she laughed.
“Are you sure you can dance, Paul? You can hardly stand. You’ve been hanging out at the bar haven’t you?”
“Only all night. Want to take me outside for a walk? I do feel a little dizzy. Maybe we can look at the stars or something.” He looked her with an almost childlike expression.
“Okay. Stargazing it is. But only for a few minutes. It’s very cold out,” she said as she led him through the dining room and kitchen to the back deck.
She figured Paul could use a dose of brisk air.
Tim and Laura were in the kitchen, and when Roxanne glanced over her shoulder to say she’d be back in a few minutes, she held her tongue.
They were locked in an embrace and engaged in a steamy kiss that caused her to smile inside.
She silently pulled the French doors closed behind her, and joined Paul at the railing of the deck.
The cold air made her shiver but it didn’t seem to bother him as they both gazed out at the ocean.
“You’ve got a million dollar view here, you know.
” He turned to look at her. He sounded much more sober now than she originally thought him to be.
The tingling of the hairs on her arms must have been from the icy air.
But maybe not. She didn’t enjoy being out on her deck the way she used to—since Don’s death.
And this man made her uncomfortable. Roxanne finally admitted that fact to herself.
She wasn’t at all pleased by his attention to her and she didn’t know why.
Normally she appreciated men who appreciated her. But not now. Not Paul Paris.
“It’s colder out here than I thought. I’m going back inside.” Roxanne hugged herself. Not waiting for his response, she brushed past him and reached for the door.
Paul stopped her. Grabbing onto her elbow, he swung her around and into his arms. He held her tight, pushing her back against the deck railing. “I can keep you warm. In fact, I’d love to keep you warm all night.” He kissed her with open hunger.
Roxanne felt the cold rail against her back.
A tingle of panic ran through her body, racing toward her mind.
She imagined Don falling over this railing and crashing onto the rocks below.
The scene came to life so vividly in her mind, even though she hadn’t been there, that fear welled up and the thrust of her shove against Paul was powerful enough to knock him back a step.
She stifled a scream and stared at him, at first surprised not to see Don in front of her.
What was wrong with her? Of course it wasn’t Don.
Don was dead and she would never have to push him away again.
She had rejected him one too many times.
And in a flash came the stinging realization that she couldn’t be guiltier of his death had she actually been here that night and shoved him over the side.
She bowed her head and buried her face in her hands, digging down deep for the presence not to let the tears escape.
“Are you all right? I’m sorry…I thought…” Paul took a step toward her again.
She evaded him and went to the door to step back inside.
When she entered the kitchen she came face to face with Brian Dennis.
There was ice in the blue of his eyes. Seeing him was like receiving a calming slap in her face.
All hints of her hysteria were gone and her balance returned as if he stopped her world from shaking.
Paul came in the door behind her and began to put an arm around her. Roxanne pushed him away more sharply than she should have. So much for her poise.
“I’ll get you some coffee, Paul.” She stepped away from him and closer to Brian. She smiled at Brian in an attempt to erase that too-cool look from his face, which she realized was mostly being leveled at Paul Paris. She darted a glance back at Paul to see that his return stare was equally cold.
“Don’t bother with coffee for me. I’m not ready to call it a night yet. I think I’ll have another drink.” Paul spoke to her, but looked at Brian. Then he turned and moved in her direction with a suggestive smile. “Roxy, why don’t you come and join me? We didn’t have our dance yet.”
Roxanne felt Brian stiffen. She saw Brian’s jaw clench. He put an arm around her and attempted a relaxed pose before he spoke, staring unerringly into Paul’s eyes. She recognized his game face.
“Maybe you didn’t realize. Roxanne is my date tonight.” Brian smiled through clenched teeth, only succeeding in making himself look like a growling animal.
“That’s true. Brian and I haven’t even had a chance to dance yet,” Roxanne said. She was not enjoying this and hoped to ease the tension.
“One dance won’t matter.” Paul challenged Brian.
“Yes, it will.” He drew her closer. “You heard her. Find someone else. You seem to be making it a habit of going after what’s mine,” Brian said.
Now the issue was out in the open. Brian gripped her shoulder more tightly.
“That’s what you’d like to think. But your ex-wife was sorry she ever met you. And Lindy, well, she’s never been yours, has she?”
Brian refused to speak. The man had to be drunk. He clenched one fist and held onto Roxanne harder. But Paul continued his taunting.
“You’re not even claiming your own daughter now. If it wasn’t for me—and Roxanne—Lindy would be all alone.”
“That’s enough, Paul,” Roxanne said, her voice hard.