Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (38 page)

Midnight tolled on the antique clock downstairs, the deep chime echoing throughout the house. I lay awake, my mind unable to shut down from either the day's excitement, or the time difference. More likely though, because thoughts of Jordan haunted me.

The sultry night air whispered over my bare legs. Outside, a nighttime lullaby echoed as crickets sang to each other and frogs called from the pond at the end of the property. Slipping from bed, I walked onto the balcony. The full moon cloaked the grounds below in a silvery glow. The hem of Jordan's Cornell University T-shirt ruffled against my thighs and I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts scatter on the Tuscan night air. I nearly fainted when two arms circled my waist and a pair of lips nibbled my earlobe.

"Doug you scared me!" I hissed, glancing through the open door to make sure I hadn't awakened Marah. She flipped over, but settled deep into her pillow again.

"Sorry," he muttered, his lips softly caressing my neck. "I couldn't sleep, so I came to check on you. The sight of you silhouetted in the moonlight forced me to your side."

He turned me in his arms and a flicker of disappointment scrunched his mouth when he eyed the carnelian bear—Cornell's mascot, spread across my chest. As if suddenly remembering the thousands of miles of ocean keeping me from Jordan, Doug's expression changed and he pressed my mouth with an unabandoned kiss, pulling my body into his. Only a thin layer of cotton separated my skin from his hands, slowly gliding down my back and over the curve of my hips, bunching the fabric upward.

I pushed away his hands. "No." Even in the dark shadows, I could see the unapologetic grin. A nervous gulp barely cleared my throat. "You should go."

He brought my hands to his mouth. "You don't honestly think I could sleep,
now
." Fingers lightly stoked my arms. "Let's go down to the kitchen where no one will hear us."

Hear us do what?

He tugged me past his sleeping sister, out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Doug poured us cups of herbal tea, placing a plate of cheese and a loaf of bread on the wooden trestle table. Dark eyes evaluated me and I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I wore more than panties under the oversized shirt.

He settled on the bench across from me. "You're sexy even in Mason's T-shirt. I damn near swallowed my tongue when I saw you upstairs standing under the halo of the moon."

"Looking is one thing.
Touching
is another. Neither of us needs to jeopardize our status in The Program."

"You know, Marli, if we're officially committed, they really don't care how far we take things. The diamond in the bracelet remains intact once the diamond goes on the finger."

"Well I don't see myself wearing any diamonds in the near future. The one in my bracelet isn't falling out because of a reckless choice." I already suffered from one of those. Doug's expression showed I bruised him with my blunt statement. I quickly amended my harsh words, "Doug, trust me, you're not ready for a 'drama queen' like me."

My gentle tease brought an easy grin on his lips. "You underestimate what I can handle. I think it's
you
who's not ready, but I can be patient, knowing what the prize will be in the end." He reached across the table, taking my hand. His fingers lightly traced up the inside of my arm and under the edge of my sleeve. "
Very
patient."

His sensual tone sounded more like a warning and I mentally wrapped caution tape around my heart.

An older, more portly version of Tony Peterson with thick waves of silver hair, appeared from the dark hallway, startling us. Doug released my hand immediately.

"Gramps? Why are you up so late?" he choked.

Gramps
gave us a long appraising stare. It felt my T-shirt shrink under his scrutinizing eyes. I crossed my legs, pulled by bed-head locks over my shoulder to hide my chest, and hugged myself tight. My parental conscience, cursed to me whenever I left home, waved an "I told you so" finger for not wearing pajamas. I thought about wearing my silky polka-dot pajamas, but the air felt too hot, and…well, I just wanted to wear Jordan's shirt.

Doug surely also felt his grandfather's judgmental glower, wearing only loose gym shorts. I didn't even want to think what he wore…or
didn't
underneath.

"Needed some milk to settle my stomach. Too much garlic in the sauce tonight." He poured a glass and settled next to his grandson.

"So, tell me about yourself, young lady. All I know is you and Douglas are in some government program in the States, and that my grandson is quite smitten with you."

My cheeks blazed hot. "Um, I'm from Ohio…my parents are divorced and I live with my dad, and, uh, I'm also fond of your grandson."

He smiled, giving Doug's shoulder a squeeze. "I like her. You need someone to keep you reined in." He rubbed the milk moustache from his upper lip with a paper napkin. "I best be getting back upstairs before your grandmother misses me. You wouldn't want her to come looking for me and find the two of you 'undressed' like this." He ruffled Doug's hair and mumbled "goodnight."

Doug's brow arched, "So you're 'fond' of me? Hmm, can't get more platonic than
fond of.
"

I nibbled a chunk of cheese remembering that my association with Doug represented a business merger in his father's eyes. "I think friendship is a good place for us right now. I am curious why your sister and grandfather think you're 'smitten' with me? What exactly have you told people?"

Doug moved and straddled the bench next to me. I gulped my cheese chunk, feeling the warmth of his breath below my ear.

"That I can't stop thinking about you, worrying and wondering what you're doing every minute of every day."

"Shhh!" I interrupted, covering his mouth with my hand. Doug sat back, stunned. I lowered my voice. "Doug, we both know why I'm really here. Please don't make more out it." I took his hand loosely in mine, playing with his fingers. "I need you to understand I'm going to college and pursuing what
I
want before committing to anyone. In fact, I've already registered at Cornell University."

In a surprise move, Doug tugged at the fabric against my chest, his touch waking sleeping hormones I didn't want disturbed. "Figures," he snorted, slowly drawing a line between my breasts. "Next you're going to tell me enrolling at Cornell has nothing to do with Jordan Mason. After all, he'll only be graduating from there next year." I clamped his hand before it settled elsewhere and the corner of his mouth curled.

"How do you know that?" I wanted to keep the subject on Jordan and off whatever thoughts played in Doug's head.

"I did my homework. I wasn't going to let him have the upper hand again."

"I'm not a contest prize and I wish everyone would stop treating me like one."

When Doug took our empty mugs to the sink, I swear I heard "that's what you think," muttered under his breath.

"Jordan isn't an issue." The pit of my stomach lurched with the declaration. "He isn't speaking to me at the moment."

Doug returned next to me. "Why not? Did something happen at the concert?" Doug's brow creased. "Did his brother do something?"

"No, and the subject is closed." I leaned over and took the liberty of planting a kiss on lips parted in surprise at my news. "I agreed to this arrangement so I could get to know you better, but I want to take things slow, please?"

"Sounds good to me," he whispered before kissing me back. His hand crawled up my thigh and I brushed it away.

"Much slower." I pinched off a chunk of bread from the loaf and stood. "We better get back to our rooms. I'm sure Gramps is listening to make sure
two
doors shut."

After five days of eating the most wonderful Italian food, I worried my dress wouldn't fit for tonight's party. Doug's grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary had been touted around town as
the
event to attend.

I slipped a sundress over my swimsuit and bounced downstairs, humming a favorite tune. We'd walked all over the open market this morning, so when the invitation for a cool splash in the pool with a handsome young man presented, I didn't hesitate.

Doogie came barreling into the kitchen from the yard, his wet feet smacking loudly against the bright blue tile floor. He ran into my legs, squealing for help when "Uncle Doug" chased in after him. I scooped the wet toddler up, twirling him back and forth. He wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

"I wike you Marwi."

Doug placed a modest kiss on my mouth in front of the kitchen full of witnesses. "I wike you too,
Marwi.
"

I flashed my eyes at Doogie. "Yum! Uncle Doug tastes like chocolate chip cookies. I wonder if Doogie tastes like cookies, too?" I nuzzled his chubby cheeks and his playful giggles turned to squeals, getting us ejected from the kitchen.

The doorbell chimed and Doogie squirmed out of my arms, running for the door. Doug followed to greet the visitor whose shape appeared distorted through the faceted glass.

"Jan!" Doug pulled his sister into a big hug. Doogie jumped up and down, clapping his hands until she gathered him in her arms.

Jan rivaled any fashion model. Tall and willowy, with long wavy tresses the same rich dark brown color as Doug's. When she saw me, eyes the color of strong coffee leveled a cold stare. I smiled, waiting for one in return, but her expression remained reserved.

"So, you must be Marli. I've heard all about you."

Her icy tone unsettled me and my voice cracked with nervousness. "Doug? Why don't you introduce us?"

"Oh! I forget you two haven't met. Sis, this is Marli Davis, and Marli, this is Jan—the sister I told you attends Princeton."

I held my hand out. "It's nice to finally meet you." She kept her hands around Doogie's legs and nodded, giving me a stiff smile. She brushed past me, cooing to Doogie as she walked into the kitchen. The room erupted in jubilation at her arrival and I was left standing alone in the entry trying to figure out what just happened. For the first time since my arrival, I felt like an outsider.

Andrea's husband, Brandt, a stout, bearded gent whose smile reminded me of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, wielded a humorless laugh from the landing above. "Let me guess.
The Ice Queen cometh.
I can see by the look on your face she treated you as warmly as she does me."

"It's that obvious?" I could feel the chagrin inside, but thought I hid it on the outside.

He lowered onto a stair. "Sit with me, Marli. We outcasts should stick together." I dropped next to him, listening to the boisterous voices drifting out the kitchen doors. His fingers twisted my pink band. "She's jealous of you."

"Of
me?
Why?"

Brandt's clipped response surprised me. "The Program rejected Jan's application for some minor genetic abnormality. Mr. P. considered the refusal a personal insult. Now she works part-time in a satellite office for The Program, but it's not as prestigious as being a candidate."

He gave my band another spin. "Be careful, Marli. Much is expected of Doug and consequently,
you,
if your relationship becomes serious
.
" He paused, as if he debating his next comment. "Tony Peterson is a powerful man
.
If he wants something, he'll stop at nothing to get it."

A chill scraped over me, but before I could ask more, Doogie came searching for his dad and the two disappeared through the kitchen. I continued up the stairs, my head swirling with cautionary thoughts. Brandt's warning rang true with the uneasy feelings I experienced in Alaska. Something dark and forbidden exuded from beneath Tony Peterson's charming exterior.

A peaceful solace filled me when I closed the bedroom door. I went straightaway to the dresser and pulled my secret cell from its hiding place. I wished,
hoped
for a missed call—
anything
giving me a hint Jordan still cared. Nothing!

Frustration swirled with anger. I hated Jordan for hurting me—for coming into my life and turning it upside down, then taking his arrogant, gorgeous self away from me. I shut the phone off and shoved it back in its hiding place. Damn me for caring. Damn him for
not.

I decided to stop checking for calls and, in fact, to quit giving Jordan any thought whatsoever. Tonight was the party. I'd brought my strapless blue prom gown and resolved to be nothing short of damn sexy for Douglas Peterson. Business arrangement or not, I needed to feel like someone cared. If he wanted to take things to the next level
,
so be it. I wandered onto the private veranda, watching the Peterson clan. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of this? Surely over time, I'd come to love Doug. Forget Jordan.

Familiar arms wrapped around me and the spicy cologne I'd become addicted to over the past week surrounded me.

"Hey beautiful. I wondered where you'd disappeared. It's a good thing my sidekick saw you come upstairs."

I turned in Doug's arms, kissing his lips with a sudden, fervent passion. "You were busy," I answered in a lustful rasp.