Chapter 15
The weeks leading up to the holidays was a frenzy. Not only was there the planning of the wedding which had taken on a life of its own, but there was also the redecorating going on as well. Rodney was going all out and had even decided on a tree house for David that wasn't anything simple.
He had also brought in some people to put in a basketball court, despite her protest that it was too much.
"He loves the game and so do I," he told her, dismissing the argument entirely. "I want him to be comfortable."
"And spoiled."
"I have a feeling that's not at all possible."
But she could not deny her son of any of it.
David had gone through life never complaining about anything, taking everything in stride.
Now he had someone looking out for him, she was very grateful and worried that Rodney was thinking that she and her son were into him for his money and had said that much to him.
"Are you into me for my money?" he asked her quietly.
"Of course not!"
"Then I have nothing to worry about."
But he still had not touched her. She was feeling so much better now and had started showing just a little bit.
She had put some weight back on even though the doctors said she was still too thin.
And was well enough to accompany Rodney to several functions.
She was also wearing his ring, an exquisite square cut diamond that shone from a mile away according to her best friend.
"Girl, you've hit the jackpot."
"I have you to thank for running interference."
"That's what friends are for." Carrie admired the soft cashmere sweater and elegantly cut tangerine pants her friend was wearing.
"And you're eating." She gestured to the bowl of clam chowder that was almost finished.
They were having lunch at one of Kelly Takahashi's restaurant and the woman herself had come over to say hi.
"He hasn't touched me." She shrugged slightly, toying with the spoon. "It's been almost two months and nothing. I keep looking at myself in the mirror and wondering if I've lost the appeal."
"Honey, I've seen the way that man looks at you." She had been prepared to continue disliking him, but after observing his behavior towards her best friend and David, she had changed her mind. "He loves you."
Melanie shrugged again, appetite disappearing.
"He's going away for a week and hasn't invited me to travel with him."
"That might be because you're still recovering.
" Carrie gestured with her spoon. "You said the doctors don't want you travelling long distance right now.
You also said he has been putting off his trips because he wants to stick close in case you need him.
And where is the old Melanie who would usually take matters into her own hands? "
"Lost." She laughed shakily. "The pregnancy, hormones and the changes in my life is doing something to me. I'm engaged to Rodney Lancashire. I get photographed whenever we go to a restaurant, the theater. He's a very important man and it's overwhelming."
"Several talk show hosts want me to come on their shows to tell 'my story'.
I'm a real live Cinderella who rose from poverty, not to mention having a son and is now pregnant with Rodney's baby.
Somehow the story of how we originally met has been leaked.
It's a story worth telling. It's too much.
I just want the man, not the notoriety. I'm not used to it and it's wearing me down. "
"The price you have to pay." Carrie shook her head. "Look, this is happening. The bottom line is what started out as bad has turned into something good. You have stability for yourself and your son and no doubt that worthless piece of garbage has contacted you."
"He has." She admitted with a laugh. "Claims he wants to be part of David's life."
"The nerve!" Carrie hissed. "I hope you tell him to go to the deepest part of hell."
"I did more than that. I told him to get in touch with my lawyer. Or rather, Rodney's lawyers. He has a fleet of them and Derek had given up all rights to David. He doesn't have a leg to stand on."
"Good. Has he been coming around?"
"No. He knows better."
"He has come upon a very formidable opponent. Rodney Lancashire is not a man to trifle with." Leaning over, she touched Melanie's hand briefly. "You know what to do about that man of yours honey. I'm betting you have some of those sexy lingerie he brought you in Paris. Use them."
*****
She planned it carefully. David would be spending the night at Gloria, who had expressed her delight in having him over.
"I want to bond with him, he's officially going to be my grandchild, and we have things to sort out."
Melanie was grateful for the sentiment but would rather hear from Rodney that he wanted to officially adopt David. He treated him like a son; there was no doubt about that.
But time enough for that. She would not worry about it now. All she was concentrating on was seducing the man she loved. And show him that she was well enough to be treated like a normal person instead of a delicate China ware.
She was not a piece of art to be taken out and paraded around, she wanted to be dealt with as a woman. She wanted sex, hot vibrant lovemaking with enough heat to burn the skin off her bones. She was planning on getting an entire night of it.
He had taken his trip and was back. He had called her from the office and said he was running late. That was fine. It would give her enough time to execute the plan. Humming cheerfully, she set about preparing her bath.
*****
Rodney rubbed a hand at the back of his neck, a sign of how tired he was.
The trip could have taken longer, but he had crammed in several meetings in order to get home tonight.
He had already spent a week away from his family.
He paused, stunned at the realization that he had started to think of them as just that.
Not just her, the woman who had the unique ability to drive him crazy one minute and weak with longing the next. But her son as well. He loved the boy.
So, he had hurried the meetings, practically bullied his associates to come to a decision, all the while heading for the door and calling his pilot.
He had snarled at his assistant for the further delay but acknowledged that she had been right.
He had needed to drop in after being away for a week to tie up some important matters.
Now he was on his way home and eager to be with them.
In two weeks, he was going to be married.
Putting aside his briefcase, he turned his head to stare out the window.
Signs of Christmas was in the air. Hell, it was even evident at his own house.
A grin touched his face when he recalled David's huge eyes when the towering Daniel spruce had been delivered.
And his disappointment when he realized that a tree like that and the decorations he had in mind required experts. The only pall on his eagerness to be with them was the fact that he was starved for Melanie's delectable body. He would have the doctor clear her again in a week, seven days.
Christ, it sounded like seven months, years. He had no idea how much longer he was going to endure the bitter sweetness of lying next to her and not touching her. It was getting to him and making him a nightmare to work with.
Sighing softly, he snapped the case shut, just as the driver swept into the long winding driveway.
Lights streamed out from the living room, giving him a rush of warmth.
"I won't be needing you for the weekend." He told his driver when the man opened the door.
"Have a good weekend sir."
Bounding up the steps, he uncoded the alarm and let himself in.
The scent of baking had him sniffing the air.
He could persuade David to let them go and raid the kitchen.
Smiling at the thought of seeing the boy, he took the stairs two at a time and wound his way towards the suite of rooms that had been assigned to him.
He was not in the sitting room/play room. And since it was as neat as a pin, it meant he was not around. A glance at his watch showed that it was only half of eight on a Friday. Besides, he was on winter break.
Making his way down the hall, he pushed the doors of his suite open, the delicate scent of jasmine and vanilla surrounding him.
"Hey. I went looking for David and he's not here." Dumping his cases on the hardwood floor, he turned around and started to take off his jacket when she came out of the bedroom. He froze instantly and the lust, painful and powerful, swept over him like a tidal wave.
She was standing just inside the doorway of the bathroom, so that the light from the double sinks highlighted her entire body.
The nightgown was skimpy and made of lace in rich midnight blue and was so transparent, it really did not leave anything to the imagination.
She had braided her hair and the thick taupe strands drifted over her left shoulder.
She had also started to put some weight on and was beginning to show.
"Hi. You were saying?" A satisfied smile touched her lips as she took in his reaction.
"What?"
"You were saying something about David."
"Oh." He slowly took off his jacket, as if it was the most fundamental thing he had to do, his eyes on her face. "I don't remember. What's this?"
"I'm welcoming you home." She walked towards him as he was rooted to the spot.
"Have you eaten?" Her scent surrounded him, enveloped him until he felt as if he was drowning. Not only had she used the special body wash that had cost a small fortune, but she had dabbed 'Sultry', a new scent from Romano's at her pulse points.
"Yes." She slid her hands up over his chest, her eyes on his face. "Let me do that for you. You look tired."
He cleared his throat. "I am. We should..."
"Get comfortable." She dragged the sweater over his head and tossed it behind her.
"What's gotten into you?"