Chapter 8
8
T illy’s knee jumped wildly under the table. Not even Rex’s steady hand could calm her nerves.
“That last putt of yours was amazing,” James, her mother’s new boyfriend, said.
“He was always quite the golfer,” her mother said with a smile. For a woman who hadn’t liked Rex that much, she certainly had a thing for him now. She’d being hanging on him like he was the best thing since sliced bread the entire round. It was almost disgusting to watch. “I’m so sad your father and his new bride couldn’t join us.”
Rex loosened the tie around his neck before taking another large sip of wine. He’d never been one to enjoy wearing what he called a noose. He hated the damn things. He didn’t mind golf clothes, but suits made the man practically break out in hives. “My mother wasn’t feeling too well, so they decided it was best to stay home.”
“I’m so sorry,” her mother said, shaking her head. “Your mother’s a good woman and I wish this wasn’t happening. She’s been through so much. First her son not speaking to?—”
“Mom,” Tilly interrupted. “Can we please not go there. Rex is here now.”
“Yes. He is, and that says something.” Her mother let out a long breath. “So, tell me, Rex, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?”
“Mom, really, I’m not twelve.”
“It’s all right. I suspect if I had a child, I’d be the same way.” Rex set his glass down. “It’s been a long time and a lot of feelings have been hurt. Right now, it’s all about reconnecting. I never stopped caring for your daughter and my mother’s illness has reminded me how short life is.”
Tilly coughed. The man could act. It was an Oscar worthy performance. She wished she had the ability to do it as well as he did. But her emotions were raw. They swirled around in her gut, smacking her heart, reminding her that when all this was over, Rex would be gone.
Sure, he wouldn’t be out of their lives. Not this time. He’d be coming around to see his father. His brother and his family. His sister.
But outside of that, the pretending would end and she would go back to her life without him being a staple in it.
“That’s all well and good, but you made my little girl cry and I’d hate to go through that again.”
“Oh my God, Mother. This has to stop. Can we just have a nice dinner and not rehash the past?”
“But if you two are getting back together?—”
“Mrs. Bettencourt.” Rex put his hand over her mother’s. “I have no intention of making Tilly cry. That’s the last thing I want. Right now, we’re simply dating, getting to know one another again. I don’t know where it will lead. I just know I want the opportunity to explore the possibilities and Tilly seems to want the same thing.” He turned and caught her gaze. “Right? That is what you want.”
Nothing like putting her on the spot with a big old hot truth, but told in the form of a lie, because Rex was just putting on a good show.
“Yes. That’s what I want.” She did her best to smile, but she wondered if her face contorted like she’d just ate a lemon.
“Here comes the waiter with our appetizers,” James said, resting his arm around the back of her mother’s chair. “Sweetheart, I think you’ve put enough pressure on these kids. You heard them, now it’s time to leave them alone and let them figure things out.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “I only want to see my little girl happy again and all she’s done for the last twelve years?—”
“Darling, not the time or place,” James said.
Thank God for James.
Her mother jerked her head. “Why not? I know I promised I’d be on my best behavior and I have been. I’ve bit my tongue and only glossed over the past.” She turned her gaze toward Rex. “I’m not sure you understand the mess you left behind.”
“That’s enough, Mother,” Tilly said under her breath.
“It’s okay, Tilly.” Rex took her hand. “I’m well aware of what I did. To my family and to Tilly and I’m sorry. I know those are only words. It’s my actions that need to speak.”
Her mother nodded. “I don’t mean to be so hard on you. But I know your mother. Pretty well. We’ve been through being friends. Being mortal enemies.” Her mother lowered her chin. “To coming together again, creating peace for the sake of all our children. That included you. So, excuse me for trying to poke holes in this newfound relationship.”
“What are you implying, Mother?” Tilly should have known. Her mother sometimes could be the most untrusting human being on the planet. Life had given her some hard knocks and for a few years after the divorce, she didn’t trust a single soul. Not even her own kids. When Tilly moved in with her dad and Louisa, her mom accused her of being a rat leaving a sinking ship.
That wasn’t the case. But she understood why her mom would feel that way.
“I know you still care about Rex. I get that. I want to know that he’s not playing some silly game to make his mother happy. There. I said it. Sorry. But Louisa has always wanted the two of you back together.” Her mother lifted her wineglass and took a long sip.
“So have you,” James said. “And don’t you dare go lying about it, because I’ll call you on it.” He arched a brow.
“We’re not talking about me right now, are we?” She took another gulp.
Rex squeezed Tilly’s hand. “I can assure you this isn’t a game and I’m not playing at anything. I love my mother and I’d do almost anything for her, but I care about Tilly. That’s a fact. I honestly want to get to know her again and am grateful she’s giving me the chance.” He reached across the table and filled his plate with a couple of shrimp.
This was such a bad idea. Everyone was going to get hurt in the end.
Especially her.
Tilly tossed her purse on the dresser, then fell backward onto the soft, plush bed, exhausted after the evening with her wacko mother.
The second they’d walked in the door, Rex had been called to see his mother. She’d had a rough day, pain-wise, but also, the day nurse said Louisa had taken a turn for the worse. Tilly feared the end was sooner than everyone thought.
Louisa put on a brave face every day and was a true fighter. One of the strongest women Tilly had ever known.
A couple of light knocks came from the bathroom. She rolled her head and there stood Rex in the same light-blue button-down shirt and pair of dark slacks. The only thing missing was his tie.
“Is your mom okay?”
“She’s resting a little more comfortably right now. The doctor will be over in the morning, but he thinks we should take her to the hospital. He doesn’t believe she has much time left. Days maybe.”
“She wants to stay home and die here.”
“I know. I told her I wouldn’t make her go.” He leaned against the doorjamb. “Is that the right decision?”
“I think so.” Tilly scooted up to the head of the bed. “All they will do in the hospital is manage her pain, which we are doing here, but she won’t have the comforts of home.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at her intently.
“Something wrong?”
He sauntered across the room, kicked off his shoes, and stood at the end of the bed. Curling his fingers around her ankles, he yanked her toward him. Her dress slid up her thighs and over her butt, exposing her tiny thong. Her breathing became erratic as her chest heaved. She opened her mouth, but no words came out, only a lust-filled groan.
He dropped to his knees, leaned forward, and kissed her passionately through her cotton panties. There was no foreplay. No teasing. He went right for the prize.
She should stop him. He didn’t want her; he wanted to bury his pain inside someone. Anyone would probably do. She understood the pain of losing a parent. When her father died, all she wanted was for someone to hold her. Love her.
She’d wanted Rex and wished he’d come for her.
But he didn’t.
Not even when she wrote him and begged.
He pushed the fabric to the side and slipped in two fingers. Her body was already wet with anticipation. She clung to the bedsheets, digging her heels into the mattress. Whatever he needed, she’d give it to him if it eased a tiny bit of his suffering.
As he pulled her panties off, a ripple of heartache washed over her. She’d let him take her because she was selfish. She wanted to have him as many times as she could, no matter the cost to her heart. She tried to tell herself she was doing this for him. Helping him ease his grief of reconnecting with his mother, only to lose her in death days later.
She understood guilt and grief and the turmoil that it could create in a person’s soul.
He nestled himself between her legs, kissing and sucking. Her hips rolled involuntarily with the gentle gliding of his fingers. He kissed her passionately as if he were kissing her mouth. His hands massaged her thighs. His normal earnestness was replaced with tenderness. There was no desperation in his touch. No raw animal desire.
Just sweet love.
She gasped, resisting the urge to clutch his head and grind herself against him.
His tongue floated across her like a feather drifting in the air. The room spun as an orgasm erupted inside her like a volcano. Her body trembled, and she struggled to catch her breath. He kissed her stomach, pushing himself off the bed.
She watched him undress in silence as she removed her dress, tossing it haphazardly to the floor, their normal banter replaced with unspoken words. His gaze roamed her body like a knife gliding through a decadent piece of chocolate cake.
For the first time with him, she had no idea what to do, so she lay there, waiting, letting him take his fill of her body.
Her pulse beat out of control, and she began to wonder if he was even going to climb back on the bed and make love to her.
Make love.
The concept tore through her mind. Their sex had always been playful. It wasn’t that they hadn’t once loved each other, but sex wasn’t necessarily how they conveyed the strong emotion with one another. It was an act of pleasure.
He finally made his way back to the bed, climbing between her legs, the length of him throbbing against her thighs. He planted his elbows next to her ears, his hands cupping her face as he stared into her eyes. Saying nothing, he slowly shifted, sinking himself into her.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders, holding on for dear life. Blinking, she managed to keep the tears stinging her eyes from breaking free.
She loved him.
Never stopped.
Never would.
But she’d never have him. Once his mother passed, he’d go back to Florida. He wouldn’t ask her to go with him. She knew that for a fact. And she couldn’t beg him to stay.
They were right back where they had left off twelve years ago, and there would be no happy ending.
His lips brushed gently over hers as his hips rose up and down in a soft rolling motion like waves crashing at the shoreline.
Her back involuntarily arched into him, her soft moans gaining in strength. She felt every inch of him swell deep inside. Her eyes remained locked with his mesmerizing stare. Biting down on her lip, a second climax shook her and with it he tenderly kissed her lips. His breath labored as his movements increased in both speed and intensity. His eyes widened as a deep guttural groan vibrated from his chest.
His body tightened as he thrust once, his release spilling out inside her.
No condom .
What a horrible thought to have right at this moment. She quickly pushed it aside, rubbing her hands up and down his back, rocking her hips slightly, enjoying the way his pupils dilated, then contracted as he orgasmed.
He kissed her nose and then collapsed on top of her. She gladly accepted his weight, gently stroking his shoulders.
She held him like that for another ten minutes before he rolled to his side, tucking himself up behind her, holding her in his arms. In minutes, he was fast asleep.
Closing her eyes, she let out a long breath.
“I love you,” she whispered so quietly that she barely heard the words herself.
He certainly hadn’t, because if he had, he would have leaped from the bed and run for cover.