Bloodlust 00 The Talisman Read online

  But that was over and she needed to move on. And Frank could help her do that. Back at their table, he touched her knee before sliding his hand up her leg to her thigh. “I think it's time I took you home.”

  Her heart thudded. She knew what he was asking. She knew what Derri would say she should do. Maybe Derri was right. Maybe she should sleep with him. But how could she when every part of her body and heart ached for Chandler?

  “That sounds very tempting, Frank.”

  His palm on her thigh stilled. “But?”

  “But I'm a long way from being ready to sleep with another man.”

  “Damn!” He withdrew his hand and sat back in his chair. “I was afraid you'd say that. Okay. But I'll keep trying. Okay?”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  At her apartment door, he pressed a long, passionate kiss against her mouth. Despite her feelings for Chandler, she felt a rush of heat. The man knew how to kiss a woman. She felt warm and tingly when he lifted his head.

  “I thought we were going to take it easy and slow...friendly like.”

  He widened his eyes. “That's what we're doing. That was a friendly kiss.”

  “Oh. And the hand on my leg at the club?”

  “More signs of friendship.”

  “Oh.”

  He grinned and kissed her cheek. “I'll call you.”

  She nodded. “Oh, and thanks for the flowers.”

  He smiled at her. “I'm glad you like them, but you've already thanked me earlier.”

  “No. I mean for the ones you sent this morning. Having flowers delivered before work, was a great way to start the morning.”

  His smiled vanished. “It sounds like it. Wish I'd thought of it.”

  “You mean you didn't send them?”

  “No.”

  “Oh. Well.” She smiled. “Thanks for the roses.” She stretched up to kiss his cheek. “Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  Without stopping to turn on the living room lights, she headed straight for her bedroom. With heart thumping, she eagerly plucked the small white envelope from the midst of the flowers and opened it. She swore slowly under her breath. The card was blank.

  Who would send her flowers anonymously? For a moment, she toyed with the idea that they might be from Chandler. But that was crazy. He hadn't spoken to her in weeks. And after their last meeting, he wasn't likely to be sending her flowers.

  The next morning another, more elaborate bouquet of flowers arrived. The accompanying card was blank. Annoyed, she tossed both bouquets into the trash on her way to shower, only to rescue them as she emerged from the bathroom.

  The next morning a huge box of expensive chocolates and red balloons arrived with another blank card.

  “Wow! Who's in love with you?” Derri asked, that night as they tried the chocolates after dinner.

  “I wish I knew,” she said.

  “Hey these are exquisite.” Derri closed her eyes and savored the small morsel. “And you know they cost a small fortune. Flowers. More flowers. Candy and balloons? You're doing something for some guy's libido.”

  “Well, I wish he's either stop sending this junk or sign the darn card already.”

  Derri titled her head to the side and stared at her. “What gives?”

  “Nothing. It's just a little...weird to get stuff anonymously.”

  A shadow passed over Derri's face. About to question her, Cassy decided against it. Derri would tell her when the time was right. “Some women might fine anonymity…romantic.”

  “Yeah? Well, this one doesn't.”

  Derri shrugged and seemed to shake off whatever was bothering her, at least momentarily. She grinned, the dark eyes sparking in her pretty face. “I'll bet you would if you thought they were from your esteemed boss.”

  She started to shake her head. But what the hell. It was true. “Well, you might as well know...I have a thing for him.”

  “No kidding?” Derri rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the newsflash. I mean I'd never have known if you hadn't told me.”

  She laughed. “Okay, I guess it's pretty obvious.”

  “Yepper. So what are you going to do about it?”

  “What can I do about it?”

  “You can make him change his mind. You did it once you can do it again.”

  “That was before we slept together.”

  “Even better. Now he knows what he's missing.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “Besides, I'm not so sure I did do it. I mean how do I know it was ever just me and not the damned talisman?”

  Derri gave her an unblinking stare.

  “Okay, I know you think I'm a little nuts.”

  Derri grinned and held her thumb and forefinger half an inch a part. “Maybe just a little. Let's face it, girl, that talisman of yours hasn't moved a muscle and I've looked in the dang blasted box at least ten times.”

  She nodded. “I know. I don't understand it. But I swear, Derri, they used to screw all the time.”

  “In the behind?”

  “Yes. Sometimes he'd be going at her so hot and heavy, their moans would wake me up out of a sound sleep. A couple of times when I touched his butt, his cock came out of her and he came on my fingers.”

  “He came on your fingers? Ah huh.”

  She cast her eyes skyward. “Okay. I know you don't believe me and I don't blame you. I know it sounds wacky.“

  “Oh, big time wacky.”

  She sighed. “What do you think I should do about Chandler?”

  “That's easy. Ask the knucklehead out and seduce him.”

  “He's not interested.”

  “Ask him out and make him tell you that.”

  “And when he does?”

  “If he does, you'll know it's time to move on. New day, new job, new man.”

  “That won't be so easy.”

  “It's plenty easy, Cass. Repeat after me: new day, new job, new man.”

  “New day, new job, new man.”

  Derri squeezed her hand. “And I'll be here every step of the way.”

  She nodded. “I'm going to need you. But I wish you'd let me be there for you.”

  “I will, Cass. I just need time to straighten it out in my mind. Bare with me.”

  * * * * *

  “How dare you try to come between me and my son?”

  Chandler stood in his office, his back to the window, his hands clenched into fists at his side. It really wouldn't do to give into the urge to tell Ellen to shut the hell up and get out of his office and his face. Not if he wanted to continue to see Julie.

  “He needed a place to stay.” He kept his voice level as he spoke. “Do you know he's not in school?”

  Ellen looked shaken. “Not in school? What do you mean? Of course he's in school.”

  “No, Ellen, he is not. Instead of going back last month when the semester started he continued to work full time with plans to go back part time in January.”

  “And I suppose you're going to tell me that's my fault.”

  “Jace did leave sufficient money for his education and last time I looked, it wasn't tied to who he chose to date either. If I hadn't offered him a place to stay, he might never have gone back to school. And he would still be with her.”

  “He was bluffing. He wasn't going to continue to work full time just so he could fuck her when he wants.”

  The urge to shout grew stronger. He swallowed it and sank into his chair. “Ellen, whether you like it or not, he's in love with her.”

  “It's not love, it's lust! And it'll run its course once he sees how hard it is on his own. Or at least he would have if you hadn't interfered.”

  “Whatever you chose to call it, he thinks it's love and he's willing to make sacrifices to keep her. Your insistence is only going to drive him away. He is not going to leave her.”

  “Why not? I hear you left yours after you'd had your fill of her. What's the matter, Chandler? The grass not so greener after all?”

  “For your infor
mation, Ellen, I haven't had nearly enough of her. And the grass is very green indeed.”

  He watched the surprise register on her face. “Are you saying you're still seeing her?”

  “I'm saying it's none of your damned business who I chose to see. If I want to date a black woman, that's exactly what the hell I'll do. I don't need your approval or your permission to date who the hell I like. And what's more, neither does Steve. And I'm not going to listen to any more of your ignorant remarks about Tia or anyone I chose to date.”

  “So. The gloves are off. You're going to openly see a black woman?”

  “I'm going to openly see who the hell I like. What part of that didn't you understand? If you don't like that, well, that's called too damned bad. Do I make myself clear, Ellen?”

  “Crystal.” She got up and moved across the room. At the door, she turned to face him. “Just don't count on seeing much of Julie.”

  He felt a knot of frustration in his gut. “If that's the way you want it, Ellen. So be it.”

  The color left her cheeks. “You mean you'll give up seeing her just so you can fuc—sleep with some black woman?”

  “That's not my choice, Ellen. That's yours.”

  “She loves you!”

  “I love her, but I am not going to let you use my feelings for her to dictate who I see.”

  “What is so all mighty wonderful about these women that neither of you will give them up?!”

  “I told you: whether you like it or not, Steve is in love.”

  “And you? Are you in love too?”

  He wasn't sure he could call what he felt for Cassy love. He just knew he couldn't forget her; didn't want to forget her; had to have her. “She's a very special woman. I've never met anyone who made me feel like she does.”

  Her face crumpled in disgust. “That's sex, not love, Chandler. There's a difference.”

  “Ellen, you know, I don't care what you or anyone else call it. It doesn't matter. This is my life and I'm going to live it the way I want. Now if you're finished insulting me, get the hell out of my office and my life.”

  To his surprise, tears filled her eyes. “How can you do this Chandler, when you know how much I depend on your help with Steve and Julie?”

  The tears softened his response. “Ellen, I love them and I'll always be there for them. And for you too. But on my terms. Who I see has nothing to do with you. Accept that and nothing needs to change between us.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No. No, you don’t.”

  Chapter Nine

  “You look like you're in a good mood.”

  Cassy nodded at Deb and smiled as she checked the board for her assignments. Yet another lovely arrangements of flowers had arrived that morning—roses this time. And although the accompanying card was blank, she was beginning to find the thought of a secret admirer kind of romantic.

  Trying to figure out who was admiring her from afar took a lot of her spare time. That was a good thing because it decreased the time she had to think about Chandler.

  “I am in a very good mood.”

  “Good because Jennifer Johnson just called and you're wanted in the executive office pronto.”

  Her first irrational thought was one of delight; he finally wanted to see her again. Then reality set in. Whatever he wanted, it wasn't that.

  She shrugged. “Okay. See you later.”

  Jennifer Johnson smiled when she presented herself. “He's expecting you. Go right in.”

  “Ah, thanks.” She bit her lip. “You wouldn't happen to know what he wants with me, would you?”

  Her smile was kind, but she shook her head firmly. “Go through and ask him.”

  “No one's complained about my work. Have they?”

  “Not that I know of. I really don't think you have anything to worry about.”

  She nodded, squared her shoulders, and went in.

  He stood at the window. He turned and looked at her. Their eyes met and she remembered the first time she'd seen him; how breathless looking into his eyes had left her. It had that effect now.

  She swallowed several times. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

  He smiled suddenly. “Yes. Yes, I did...I do...want to see you.”

  She leaned against the closed door. “What about?”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “About seeing you.”

  “About what?”

  He blew out a breath. “Seeing you. Cassy, I'm sorry. I was such a fool. And I treated you badly. Can you forgive me?”

  “Forgive you?” She shrugged. “Yes. I suppose I can.”

  “You can? You can?! You forgive me?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  He leaned his head back against the window, his eyes closing. “Oh, thank God! I wasn't sure you'd be willing to give me another chance after all this time.”

  A stab of excitement danced through her. “You mean...are you saying you want to see me again?”

  “Yes!” He looked at her, an anxious look in his eyes. “Didn't I make that clear? But not like before. This time it'll be different. I'm not talking just sex. I'm talking a real relationship with romance.”

  “Romance?”

  “Yes. You know with flowers and candy and dinner out...boring trips to the theater and whatever else you want. Whatever it takes. I'm sorry I didn't behave better before.”

  “Flowers and candy?”

  “Yes. You do like them, don't you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” He looked relieved. “I was hoping you did.”

  “You were? Oh, my God! It was you! You're the one who's been sending the flowers and candy and balloons and perfume!”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Why didn't you sign your name?”

  “I wasn't sure how you felt. I thought if...I thought they might help soften you up. Did they?”

  She thought of the long lonely weeks spent wanting him. Although he must have known how she felt, he'd done nothing to relieve her pain. Now he wanted to be relieved of his? As if he hadn't crushed her and tossed her away? Just as Philippe had crushed and deserted Marie.

  “You know what, Chandler? You can take your flowers, your candy, and your romance and go to hell! I wouldn't see you if you were the last man in the world!”

  She had the satisfaction of seeing the dismay on his face before she stalked out of his office. She made it as far as the front exit before the reality of what she'd just done set in. After months of waiting for him to realize that they could be good together, she'd just tossed his overture back in his face. And told him to go to hell to boot.

  It was a long frustrating day for Cassy. Every job took twice as long and at the end of the day, she had two calls pending. She and Derri met for a drink at their favorite café after work.

  After playing with her drink for a few minutes, she told Derri about her conversation with Chandler that morning.

  “You beat him down and kicked his sorry butt to the curb! You go, girl!”

  She frowned. “Derri! How can you say that after telling me to win him back?”

  “I only said that when I thought you couldn't get over him. Now that you have, you can move on.”

  She sipped her drink. “What if I don't want to move on?”

  Derri leaned forward to clutch her free hand resting on the small round table, her lips parting. “Say what?”

  She took a deep breath. “What if I want a real relationship with him? What if I want to have him romance me? Why would that be so bad?”

  Derri gave her hand a squeeze. “Okay, girl. You've lost it. It's gone, girl. You want him? Why did you tell him to go to hell?”

  She bit her lip, then giggled. “Oh, I don't know. It felt good at the time. For about five minutes. You should have seen the look on his face. He expected me to just welcome him back with open arms and forget all the grief he gave me. To hell with that plan.”

  “Okay. You've lost me. So what's the problem?”

  “I wis
h I hadn't done it. What do I do now?”