The Kept Woman (18 page)

The group was celebrating the first day of Christmas vacation with a visit to one of their old neighborhood's favorite restaurants, and Dakota was clearly the only one thrilled with the mariachi band now serenading their table. But that was part of the ambience of El Sol Restaurant—good food cheap, and bad music for free. The toddler bounced around in his chair and clapped his hands with abandon as the three-piece ensemble broke into their rendition of "La Cucaracha."

"I'm telling you, I think your fiancee has a real crush on you," Monte said, leaning in to whisper over the music. "You'd better be careful around him. I don't think you're in any shape to be fighting off advances from a man like that."

Sam nearly choked on her iced tea. "What's that supposed to mean?" She checked to make sure Greg, Lily, and Simon weren't paying any attention, then whispered, "Are you implying that I don't have the willpower to resist Jack Tolliver?"

Monte leaned back into her cheerfully painted wooden chair and blinked, saying nothing with her lips and everything with her eyes.

"Really, Monte. Is that what you're saying?"

"Damn straight that's what I'm saying. Watch yourself."

Sam took another long gulp of iced tea, stalling for time. She'd never kept a secret from her best friend in all the years she'd known her. Monte knew everything about her life, even the snooze-a-thon one-night stand with Bill the architect. It pained Sam to not be able to tell Monte what kind of rush she was experiencing with Jack, that courtesy of her new boss she'd had the first spectacular kiss and the first cataclysmic sex of her life—all at the ripe old age of thirty-six! But she and Jack had discussed at length how to handle this, and they'd agreed to keep their tryst to themselves. That way, they could just enjoy each other and see what developed, without worrying about who knew what, who said what in front of whom, and who approved or disapproved. Besides, she didn't want the kids thinking something real and possibly permanent might be developing between her and Jack. The last thing they needed was further disappointment.

So Sam and Jack had agreed to let the world at large think their love was true, let their inner circle think it was a ruse, and enjoy the adult playground that lay somewhere in between.

"I can handle Jack Tolliver," Sam said, trying to smile with confidence over her outrageous fib. Monte was right, of course—Sam was in no shape to resist the likes of that man, and frankly, she hadn't even bothered to try.

He was funny, charming, sexy, and interested. He was
there
and came with a six-month written guarantee that he'd stay put. That was an offer any lonely woman would jump at.

"I just don't want you to get hurt is all, Sammy, and that man has 'heartbreaker' written all over him in permanent marker."

"Thank you."

Monte changed the subject, apparently satisfied she'd saved Sam from doom. "So what's the plan for when the dragon lady arrives? You all going to stay put in the house?"

Greg and Simon laughed, and Sam realized the kids had just tuned into the adult conversation. Sam gave the guitar player a crisp five-dollar bill and wished the band a merry Christmas, hoping they'd take the hint.

"Did you just call Jack's mother a dragon lady?" Lily asked, looking impressed.

"Seems to me she and Jack aren't all that close," Monte said.

"I don't think he even likes her," Simon said. "And I can't see how a man can hate his mama, even if she drives him crazy."

"I've raised you right," Monte said.

After lunch, everyone piled in the van and Sam drove to a Christmas tree lot near the Lafayette Square shopping mall. They picked out a seven-foot-tall blue spruce, had it bundled up with twine and lashed to the luggage rack. When they returned to Sunset Lane, they found that Jack had left a tree stand in the great room, just as promised. It took everyone working together to get the thing secured and straight, and while no one had been paying any attention to Dakota he opened each box of holiday decorations and removed the wire hanger from every ornament he found. "I'm helping, Mommy! See?" he said proudly.

They spent the afternoon swimming, listening to Christmas music, wrapping gifts in secret, and setting them under the tree. Monte made her famous chicken and dumplings and a chocolate cake for dessert, and they lit a fire in the huge great room fireplace afterward. The day had filled Sam with a deep sense of peace and security, and she looked at the faces of the kids in festive light, Dale twitching with a doggie dream as he lay in front of the fire, and she wanted to paint what she saw.

"I'm going to start painting again after the holidays," she said out loud. "As soon as I find a place to set up."

Monte sipped her decaf and smiled. "I was wondering when you'd get back to that."

"And that means you have to start singing again," Sam teased.

"Mmm, well, I don't know how much demand there is for lead singers with carpal tunnel syndrome and the beginning of varicose veins."

They both laughed, knowing too well what thirteen years behind a styling chair could do to a person.

"Just be glad you can take a break from the shop for a while, Sammy."

"Oh, I am glad." Sam looked at Monte with concern and love and then smiled. "I can't wait for you to open your gift tomorrow night."

Jack's deep voice penetrated the stillness of the room. "Oh yeah? Did you get me something good?"

Sam's pulse immediately spiked and her whole body went on alert.

"Mr. Jack!" Dakota jumped up and ran toward Jack. Before Sam could stop him, he jumped into Jack's arms, assuming he'd be caught. Jack did catch him, gave him a quick hug, and promptly sat him back down. "Hey, Ben. What's happening?"

Monte frowned at her and Sam shrugged. It was funny that Jack was determined to prove that Dakota's name was linked to his refusal to use the potty. But the child didn't seem to mind being called Benjamin, so where was the harm?

Dale began barking at the new arrival and Sam leaped from the sofa to return the dog to the Florida room, his official prison. As she ran by Jack, he winked at her. "Hi, sweetness," he whispered.

Jack stayed for most of the evening, playing Trivial Pursuit with the older kids. He mentioned to Sam that he'd be working on a project much of the next day, in the upstairs of the south wing. Sam assumed it had something to do with Marguerite's arrival.

"You sure your mother won't mind us celebrating here tomorrow night?"

Jack shook his head and smiled at Sam. "She'll probably just make a brief appearance, put her two cents in, and then leave. She usually goes to services at First Presbyterian on Christmas Eve, then heads to the mayor's house for a little holiday cheer."

"I just don't want to intrude."

"This place is yours to enjoy until May. Nothing has changed, Sam."

A half hour later, Sam saw Monte and Simon to the door, put Dakota to bed, and sent Lily and Greg upstairs for the night. When she returned to the great room, she found Jack munching on a piece of chocolate cake. "You can bake, too? My God, will you marry me?"

Sam smiled, plopping down right next to him on the sofa. "Monte made the cake. And I'll pass your offer on to her."

"I've missed you," Jack said simply. He placed the dessert plate on the glass coffee table. "I haven't felt right without you these last few days."

Sam knew what he meant. She'd felt the same way, and she nodded her understanding.

"I would really like to date you tonight," Jack said, grinning. "I've been thinking all day about how I need to date the hell out of you."

Sam laughed and reached out to stroke his forearm. He was wearing jeans with a black cashmere crewneck over a white tee. He looked comfortable and irresistible.

"You have no idea how bad I need to be dated tonight," she whispered, keeping her eyes away from his face. "I can't stop thinking about the last date I had with you."

She was suddenly being pulled up and into his lap, and before Sam could figure out what was coming, he'd leaned her back into the crook of his arm and kissed her. Pleasure and heat coursed through her, and an overwhelming sense of being possessed settled deep into her being. Sam relaxed into his embrace, slid her arms around his neck, and kissed him back.

Jack's hands were in her hair and stroking her hip and running up her belly and to the buttons of her little blue cardigan. "I have a present I'd like you to open tonight if you don't mind."

Sam pulled back enough to look into his face. She blinked in surprise. It hadn't even occurred to her that Jack might get her something for Christmas. "But I didn't get—"

His mouth was back on hers, and when he'd settled her, he dragged his lips down her throat and bit softly into her shoulder. "This gift is really more for me than you."

With that, he reached behind one of the sofa pillows and pulled out a box elegantly wrapped in gold and silver filigree paper, tied up with a wide silver ribbon.

"Now?"

"If you don't mind. I was kind of hoping you'd wear it for that date we're about to have."

Sam put the box into her lap for a moment and studied him. She didn't know if it was wishful thinking or even downright delusion, but she couldn't see how anyone could think Jack was a jerk. He was sweet and generous with her. The way he looked at her right then did not convey that he saw her as simply a distraction. The way his head cocked a bit to the side, the way his lips curled into the barest hint of a smile, the way his gaze softened—it almost seemed like he was falling in love with her.

"Are you all right, Sam?"

"Huh? Oh, sure. I'll open this now."

The box weighed nothing, and she already had a fairly good idea what might be inside. She removed the wrapping paper, slid off the lid, and pulled open the tissue, revealing a burst of red satin and lace. She brushed her fingertips over each of the two wisps of fabric, discovering immediately that this was French stuff, expensive, and skimpy.

Jack's hand joined hers inside the box. "This will feel as good as it will look. See? There are no seams inside to irritate your skin." Sam watched, mesmerized, as Jack caressed the inside of the brassiere. "I wanted you to feel as beautiful as you are."

A small water spot suddenly appeared on the pantie, and Sam realized she was crying. No man had ever bought her lingerie before. Certainly no man had ever worried if the inside seams of her bra might be scratchy. This man was truly either God's gift to women or one sly operator. And who could she turn to for help deciding which it was? She should never have kept this from Monte, but it was too late now.

"You're a Ferrari that's been running on two cylinders, sweetheart." Jack's fingers wiped away her tears and he lifted her chin. "I can't wait to feel you cut loose on the curves for me. Please put these on."

Sam nodded. She got up and went to the powder room off the foyer, where she slipped off her jeans and sweater and plain underwear and put on Jack's selection. Once again, she had to hand it to him. The demi bra and thong fit perfectly, considering what they were designed to do, and her breasts were lifted high, nipples spilling over the top edge. The pantie triangle barely stretched over her mound, pulling high up on her hips. She turned around to look at herself in the mirror and saw nothing but a thin slice of red satin disappearing up the middle of her bottom.

With a satisfied sigh, Sam tousled her hair and walked back to the great room, smiling because she knew she was beautiful. She was a sexual goddess. The bomb. Or at least Jack Tolliver's temporary bomb-ass babe, and that was all she was going to worry about.

Sam sauntered her way back into the great room, and continued to slink toward him, her eyes locked on his as she moved close. Jack licked his lips in anticipation. When she arrived at the sofa, she straddled his lap and eased down on top of his thighs, raking her fingers through his shorter hair. She wiggled on him. She watched his head fall back against the pillows as his breath came in shallow puffs.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered.

"Thank you. I'm glad you like your gift."

Jack's gaze felt hot on her skin as he looked up and down the front of her body. When he raised a hand to squeeze a handful of breast and nipple, a streak of pleasure shot through Sam. She threw her head back and moaned.

"I must have been a very, very good boy this year," he said.

A loud thud caused them to whip their heads around in surprise. It took Sam exactly one second to jump off Jack's lap, dive behind the huge Christmas tree, and come to grips with the fact that she'd just shared the sexiest moment of her life with Jack's mother.

Fuck, fuck, fuck
.

This could not have happened. Jack squeezed his eyes tight and opened them again, and there was MDT, absolutely real, mink-covered shoulders straight, face blank, mouth tight. Two large Louis Vuitton bags lay where they had been dropped, at her driver's feet.

Jack worried about Sam. He could see one bare foot and ankle through the branches of the lush Christmas tree, but the rest of her was hidden. Maybe Marguerite would think she'd been seeing things.

"Excuse me for interrupting."

"You were supposed to arrive tomorrow morning."

"I got an earlier flight."

He saw Sam's foot tap nervously and he realized she was probably cold and most definitely mortified. He stood up. "I'll see you to your room."

"That won't be necessary." Marguerite gestured for her driver to follow her upstairs. Jack watched her walk away like nothing had happened. Just once in his life he'd like to see her veneer crack. He'd like to see her break down and yell and cuss and call him every name she could think of. Never—not even when the twins died—had she ever cut loose. He'd never been privy to her fury. Or grief. Certainly not her love. All he'd ever known was this calm superiority, this bitter judgment. And he
hated
it.

"Tell Ms. Monroe I look forward to a more formal introduction in the morning," she said.

Sam successfully avoided Marguerite for all of Christmas Eve day. She got the kids up early and took them out to breakfast at City Market. Then they went to the mall and Lily and Greg did some last-minute shopping while Sam spent an eternity in the Santa Claus line with Dakota. Next she took everyone to the movies—Lily and Greg taking in an action flick while she and Dakota watched a Disney cartoon feature. Then she took them bowling and out to dinner.