Soul Mates Read online

  If she started seeing Trey again, what would happen when Sam returned?

  With Trey she had felt anxious and hungry for their lost relationship. Like Sam, he had fully satisfied her physical needs, but left her emotions in turmoil. It didn’t make sense to risk that again. Not when she had practically promised Sam she’d wait for him. Yes, he had told her not to make any promises. Further more, he’d made it clear he expected her to take a lover while they were separated. So why was choosing between them so difficult?

  Chapter Ten

  Ninety minutes later, Trey stood at her front door with a bouquet of lavender flowers. Her heart thudded and her throat tightened. Her motions riled. Should she give him a cool smile? Or should she fling herself into his arms and welcome him back with all the anguish of unrequited love?

  “Hi, honey.”

  She swallowed several times before she spoke. “Trey!”

  He extended his left hand. Responding with her heart, she walked into his embrace, pressing her face against his shoulder. He held her close, brushing his lips against her forehead. “I’ve missed you, honey.”

  “Have you?”

  “Yes.”

  She drew away from him. “Then why didn’t you call?”

  “You asked me not to.”

  “That response isn’t going to get you very far, Trey.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s not. If that’s your only answer, why did you call me?”

  He touched her cheek. “Did you really doubt that I would call?”

  “Not at first,” she admitted. “But after a few weeks, I did. So why now?”

  He looked into her eyes. “I went to see Dr. Cheyenne.”

  She swallowed quickly. “Why?”

  He brushed the back of his hand against her lips. “I remembered—kind of.”

  “What?”

  “The past.”

  “Which past?”

  “Our shared past.”

  Her heart raced. “Ours? Yours and mine?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  She clutched his hand. “How? Why?”

  “I had another nightmare. I’ve had them over the years, but I could never remember any details when I woke. Last week, I had one that I remembered when I woke up. I dreamed about the night we were separated. I woke feeling lost and alone but with the certainty that everything would fall into place once I saw the doctor.”

  “And did it?”

  “Yes. You were right to direct me to her. Who sent you to her?”

  “No one.”

  “How did you meet her?”

  “We were seated next to each other at the opera.”

  He gave her a wary look. “You like opera?”

  She smiled. “Not particularly. It was my first and last time. I was drawn there. We were both alone and started talking at intermission. I told her what I did, she told me what she did, and the next thing I knew I woke up one night from a dream knowing I had to talk to her. Once I had, everything made perfect sense. After our conversation, I knew I’d see you again. I just didn’t know when.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry I let you down, Carlee.”

  She had expected a sense of liberation and jubilation when he finally recalled what they had meant to each other. Instead she felt numb. He had remembered too late—after she’d slept with Sam.

  She stepped away from him. “Where are we meeting Erinae and Mick?”

  “We’re not. I want to have dinner alone with you.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “How can you say that after what we meant to each other?”

  “A lot has happened since we meant anything to each other.”

  “I know, but those different lives don’t matter.”

  “I meant a lot has happened since we saw each other last in this life.”

  “I don’t care what’s happened. I only care about now and in our future together.”

  She closed her eyes briefly, recalling all the times Sam had come inside her. Despite the birth control pills, she just had a feeling there would be consequences to their lovemaking. “I don’t know that we have a future together, Trey. Our time might be past.”

  “The hell it is!” He closed his fingers around her arm. “It’s taken me way too much time to remember. Now that I have, I’m not letting you slip through my fingers, Carlee.” He released her arm. “Put the flowers in water and let’s go.”

  “Trey—”

  He stroked her cheek. “No matter what you say, you’re going to be mine, again. We were meant to be together, Carlee. The sooner you accept that the sooner we can get started on our happy ever after. I know I let you down before, but I’m here now and I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”

  She shook her head. “Sometimes there’s no going back, Trey.”

  “Who’s going back? I’m—we’re going forward—together.”

  He only wanted to do that now because he’d finally remembered her and their past. That was the only reason he’d called her. That certainly hurt. She wasn’t ready to be alone with him.

  “Trey, we’re going to dinner with Erinae and Mick or not at all.”

  He considered her in silence for several moments. Finally, he shrugged. “Fine. We’ll have dinner with them tonight. The next time we’ll have dinner alone.”

  “Who said anything about a next time?”

  “I did.”

  She shrugged. “After dinner—”

  “We’ll—”

  “You’re going home afterwards.”

  “It’s a two hour drive, Carlee.”

  She nodded. “Yes, but you knew that when you insisted on dinner tonight.”

  He shook his head, his gaze narrowed. “You’re going to make this as difficult for me as possible, aren’t you?”

  “I’m not in love with you anymore.”

  “The hell you aren’t!”

  “You are too damn cocky!”

  “Oh yeah?” He nibbled at her ear. “It’s one of the things you love most about me.”

  She shivered but moved away from him. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

  “You know you want me.”

  “Dream on, Trey.”

  He laughed and slapped her ass.

  She gasped and turned to glare at him, her face burning. “Don’t do that again.”

  “I’ll do that and more, Carlee.”

  She swallowed, shaking her head. “I don’t do the quiet, little woman waiting at home act, Trey.”

  “No one asked you to, but you should know that I don’t do the let the woman jerk my chain act either.”

  She sucked in a breath. “So where does that leave us?”

  “On a collision course, where else?”

  “Doesn’t that worry you?”

  “Why should it?”

  “You seem to think you’re going to win.”

  He leaned forward, staring into her eyes. “I always get what I want, Carlee. Always. Resist if you like. It will make your conquest that much sweeter.”

  “So this is about a conquest for you?”

  He sighed. “That was a bad choice of words. You make me say and do things I shouldn’t.”

  “Then you’re not out to get me?”

  “Hell yeah!” He slapped her on the ass again. “So let’s go before I decide to blow dinner in favor of making love to you.”

  Heart thudding, she turned and walked towards the door. He followed her. The drive to the restaurant was made in near silence. Carlee was sipping a drink when Erinae and Mick arrived. Carlee looked at the two of them, laughing like old friends. She glanced at Trey. She and he had been working hard to make small talk since they arrived.

  Trey smiled at her. “I know this is awkward, but it will get better, sweet.”

  But she wasn’t so sure. During dinner, Erinae and Mick kept the conversation going while Carlee and Trey spent most of the meal staring silently at each other. Carlee readily agreed when Mick asked her to dance. />
  They slow danced in silence for several moments before he spoke. “You know there’s a reason he didn’t call before today.”

  She lifted her head and looked at him. “Because he wasn’t interested in seeing me?”

  “No. He probably hasn’t told you but the morning after we got back from vacation, he learned his family had been involved in a near fatal auto accident. His father broke an arm, but his mother and sister were critically injured. Both were in comas for weeks.”

  “Oh, no! Are they all right?”

  “Even when they came out of the coma, it was touch and go with them. It looks like they’ll both recover, but it’s going to be a long, tough road to full recovery. For the last two months, he’s had that burden on his shoulders. Don’t think he hasn’t thought of you, because he has.”

  “And you know that how?”

  “I know because we often talked about you.”

  “I know he lives two hours away and he had to be there for his family, but he could have called. I know why he didn’t.”

  Mick’s blue eyes flickered. “Do you?”

  “Yes. He was so confident of his hold over me he thought I’d just be sitting and waiting for him.”

  “And you haven’t?”

  She lifted her chin. “No, I haven’t.”

  “I see.” He paused. “Still, I think you should know that he cares about you.”

  “He’s a big boy. If there’s anything he wants me to know, let him tell me himself, Mick.”

  “Is that your way of telling me to mind my own business?”

  She laughed. “Maybe, but I do appreciate your telling me about the accident. I hope he knows what a loyal friend you are.”

  “He’s loyal too. He also needs you.”

  The music stopped and he released her. They walked back to the table where Trey and Erinae sat laughing. Trey rose and held her chair out for her. His fingers brushed against her bare arm as he seated her.

  She looked up at him. His blue eyes blazed down at her. She sucked in a breath. The desire in his gaze stroked a chord in her. Maybe she wasn’t in love with him anymore, but she damn sure still wanted a physical relationship with him.

  When he resumed his seat, he cupped a hand over hers. Their gazes met and locked. Her heart raced. She moistened her lips, recalling his sweet, addictive lovemaking. Other memories of how eagerly they had looked forward to being with each other so long ago invaded her senses. A flutter of longing for the days when she could openly admit how she felt about him assailed her.

  There would be ample time when she was alone to decide what she should do about Trey. Giving herself a mental shake, she made an effort to take part in the conversation.

  An hour later, they stood together outside her front door. She steeled herself to refuse him when he asked if he could spend the night with her. If there was going to be anything meaningful between them, he was going to have to prove to her he wanted something besides sex from her. After he had done that, he was going to have to work to get into her bed. Although she longed to spend the night in his arms, she wasn’t going to.

  “I’m going to spend the night at Mick’s place.”

  She blinked up at him. “You are?”

  Tiny fires flickered in his gaze. “Yes. I know you were hoping I’d beg to spend the night with you just so you could tell me to take a flying leap, but you’ll have to wait for another opportunity to slap me down a peg or two.”

  She laughed, hitting a closed fist against his shoulder. “You are too damn sure of yourself.”

  He took her fist in his hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “What I’m sure of is that we belong together, Carlee. I know you’re angry and hurt because it took me so much longer to remember on a conscious level. But on an unconscious level, I think I’ve always remembered.”

  He kissed her fist again. “Tomorrow is going to be a nice day. I’ll pick you and Danny up at eleven.”

  “For what?”

  “Mick tells me you have a number of large parks in the city where we can hike and then have a picnic.”

  “And what if I’ve made other plans, Trey?”

  He bent his head. “Then you’ll cancel them.” He spoke against her lips. “I know I have fences to mend and I’m willing to put in the work to do that, but don’t think I’ll allow you to jerk my chain, Carlee. I don’t care what else is going on or what you have to cancel or rearrange. When I’m in town, you’re going to make time to be with me. End of discussion.”

  He pressed a hot, hard kiss against her lips, urged her inside her open front door, and pulled the door closed.

  Carlee leaned against the locked door, a slow smile spreading over her face. Despite her independence, Trey’s I-take-what-I-want-and-I-want-you attitude left her breathless and tingling with anticipation.

  * * * * *

  Accompanied by Danny, Carlee and Trey spent several hours the next day walking along hiking trails in the Mill Creek section of Fairmount Park.

  Carlee allowed her thoughts to dwell on Trey. He was forceful, considerate, and yet enigmatic. She knew he wanted to resume a sexual relationship with her. Nevertheless, he made no effort to touch her while they were alone.

  As they walked along the trails, she turned to him. “Thank you.”

  He glanced at her. “For what?”

  “The contract to design the models for one of your upcoming projects.”

  “Oh.” A brief smile touched his lips. “Thanks aren’t necessary. I inherited Mathis Builders from my maternal grandmother a few years ago. As you know, I’m a financial analyst. I don’t know anything about building. Mark Jackson does an excellent job of running it. I did ask him to look at your portfolio, along with two others, with the clear understanding that the final decision was his alone. If he hadn’t liked what he saw, believe me, you wouldn’t have been offered the contract.”

  “Maybe not, but you gave us the opportunity to present our work.”

  “So you’re grateful, huh?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “How grateful?” He grinned. “Grateful enough to give me a quickie?”

  She hit a clenched fist against his shoulder. “In your dreams!”

  He laughed and they resumed walking in silence.

  It was an uncomfortable silence for Carlee. Although Trey smiled frequently, his eyes remained cool and inscrutable, giving her no hint as to his feelings or thoughts.

  When he took her home, he refused her offer to go into the living room and remained in the foyer by the closed door.

  She felt awkward and yet needy. She wanted him to stay but couldn’t find the words to admit it. Just under his obvious desire for her she sensed a brewing anger that kept her silent.

  He bent down to rub Danny’s head before looking at her, his eyes cool. “Well, good night.”

  “Trey—”

  He bent his head. His swift kiss left her barely enough time to part her lips before he lifted his head and moved away from her. “I’m spending the night at Mick’s place.”

  “Oh.” She moistened her lips. “You are?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh. Well.”

  “Well what?”

  Don’t go. Please stay. She lifted her chin. “I hope you have a safe journey there.”

  “Is that all you have to say to me, Carlee?”

  She nodded, compressing her lips so she wouldn’t blurt out something she shouldn’t.

  “Liar.” He stroked her cheek. “I’ll call you.”

  “When? In about six weeks? I’m not going to sit and wait for you, Trey.”

  His eyes glittered. “The hell you won’t!” His fingers closed in her hair. “Do not make the mistake of thinking I’ll forgive another transgression on your part!”

  She lifted her chin. “What transgression?”

  “Your sleeping with another man!”

  Her face burned. “Where do you get off—”

  “I’ll tell you where I get off!” His voice deepe
ned into a hoarse whisper. “I know you slept with him!”

  Her heart raced. “How?”

  “I don’t know how I know. I just know.”

  She heard the pain in his voice. She swallowed the apology trembling on her lips. “Well, if you’re waiting for me to make an excuse, forget it. You left while I was asleep and you never called once in weeks! I didn’t owe you anything!”

  “I didn’t say you did, but after waiting so long, would it have killed you to wait a few lousy weeks more?”

  “Maybe I would have waited if you had bothered to call!” She hit a fist against his shoulder. “I didn’t sleep with him until I thought it was over between us!”

  “How the hell can you say use that excuse? It’ll never be over between us! Never! Even death hasn’t been enough to separate us permanently. You should have waited for me, Carlee!”

  “Yeah. I’m so sure you waited for me!”

  “If you think for one second I’ve been with anyone else while we’re been apart, you are wrong!”

  She saw the truth of his words in the angry, hurt eyes staring down into hers. She bit her lip. “I thought it was over.”

  “How could you think that?”

  “How could I think anything else? You knew how fragile our relationship was. Why didn’t you call? If you had called and told me you still wanted me, I would have waited another lifetime for you, Trey!”

  “So it’s my fault you hopped into bed with the first man who winked at you?”

  Rage and pain warred with each other. Rage won. She slapped him. “Bastard! Don’t you dare talk to me that way!”

  He stepped away from her, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t ever do that again.”

  She despised women who thought they had a right to slap a man with impunity, but at least now she understood how one could be goaded into it. She swallowed the apology trembling on her lips and glared at him. “Or what? You’ll hit me back?”

  “No matter what the provocation, I’d never strike you.”

  “Then what?”

  “You think it’s fair to slap me? Did you enjoy it? Want to do it again, maybe with a closed fist this time?”

  She averted her gaze, tears of shame and regret filling her eyes. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Trey. I shouldn’t have hit you.” She gulped back a sob.