Betrayed by Love (8 page)

After a nightcap, I left them alone, cuddling on the loveseat and went up to the guestroom. I slept well that night and when I woke the next morning, Jarrod had gone to work and Jen and I made breakfast.

I smiled, looking forward to a day of girl talk.

We had a lazy afternoon swimming and talking about old boyfriends as we lay by the pool.

“Do you remember Tommy Conners?”she asked.

A picture of a skinny, shy blond with warm brown eyes danced into my head. I nodded. “Yes. We shared an English class together.”

“You know he had a thing for you, Lin.”

“You think? He never asked me out.”

“I think he was too shy and you were going out with Mark Howard.”

I shrugged. “Well, you snooze, you lose.”

“Would you have gone out with him if he had asked you?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. In high school I’d been more open to dating across racial lines than I later became.

“If you met each other again and he asked you out, would you go?”

What would he look like now? He’d almost certainly be bulkier and would probably be on the hunky side. “What brings on these questions about Tommy?” I sat up, frowning. “Have you seen him?”

“No. I was just wondering if you’d go out with him if he asked.”

I lay back down, closing my eyes. “Probably not,” I said.

“Why not?”

“No offense, Jen, but I’m happy dating black men.”

“So was I—until I met and fell for Jarrod.”

But despite my lust for Jarrod, I still preferred black men. “I say to each his own. Love whoever your heart falls for, but I can’t see settling down with anyone but a tall, dark, well–hung, handsome black man.”

“What if you meet one who is tall, well–hung, handsome, but not so black?”

I opened my eyes and turned to look at her. “As in Caucasian?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s not going to happen, Jen.” I closed my eyes, willing her to drop the subject.

She did, surprising me.

We dozed for awhile, then I started dinner while she spent half an hour on the phone talking to the twins.

When Jarrod came home, we had dinner and drinks on the patio.

The drinks mellowed me. I watched Jen and Jarrod slow dance twice before he asked me to dance to a faster tune.

I agreed. Of course he couldn’t really dance, but no one was perfect.

I had another drink and then went to bed. Thankfully I slept soundly all night.

Chapter Four

By dinner on Wednesday night, I was at the point of reconsidering my decision to return to L.A. early when I came down to dinner and found a fourth place set. An exquisite lace cloth graced the table, along with beautiful candles and sparkling crystal.

Jen, dressed in a simple, but chic, low–cut black dress, looked stunning. She looked up from lighting candles to smile at me. “Lin, you look great.”

I glanced down at the mauve colored, two–piece silk dress I wore. The bodice cupped my breasts while the loose skirt twirled around my calves as I moved in my three–inch black heels. The dress had what I considered a slimming effect. I pivoted. “You like?”

“Yes.” She nodded toward the door where I still stood. “Jarrod has a drink waiting for you in the living room.”

I glanced at the fourth place setting. Recalling our conversation about Tommy Conner, I hesitated. It might be interesting to see what kind of man he’d become. “Who’s joining us?”

“Grant.”

I frowned; almost disappointed it wasn’t Tommy Conner. “Grant? Grant who?”

“Jarrod’s cousin. The one you have to meet.”

The one I had no desire to meet. Great. “I’m not interested in a blind date, Jen. You know that.”

“It’s not a date, blind or otherwise.”

“Isn’t it?” I challenged. I’ve never had a problem landing my own dates and got annoyed when people felt the need to play matchmaker on my behalf.

“He’s here for dinner—period.” She finished lighting the candles before she crossed the room to link an arm through mine. “He’s just here because he loves Jarrod’s cooking.”

I squinted at her. “Really?”

“Okay, that’s not the only reason he’s here, but this is not a date—unless, of course, you want it to be.”

“I don’t.”

“Don’t you? Aren’t you even a little tired of that ‘friends with benefits’ nonsense?”

“No, or I’d do something about it.”

“Oh, come on, Lin. There comes a time in every woman’s life when she wants to know a man wants a serious relationship with her that goes beyond sex.”

“When I reach that point, I’ll do something about it,” I told her again. “I don’t need help landing a man.”

“I know that. Stop overreacting.” She squeezed my arm. “Let’s go meet Grant.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” She laughed and tugged at my arm. “I promise you’ll like him.”

I gave her a cool look. This stunt would seal things for me. I was definitely going to be on that plane on Friday night flying back to L.A. But for now, I’d have to meet this Grant.

I pulled my arm from hers. “I don’t like this,” I told her.

“Lin—”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing else to say.”

She sighed and turned away.

I followed her into the living room, seething.

Jarrod and the other man occupying the room rose when we entered.

I cast a quick look at Grant then did a double take. The resemblance between the two men was superficial. Grant was a few inches taller. His hair was a much lighter brown and his eyes were an intense and almost startling blue. I guessed he was about ten years younger than Jarrod. He looked as if he’d be at home on the cover of an upscale men’s magazine. Whereas Jarrod was “interesting,” Grant was handsome with an unmistakable hard–body, but strangely enough, I was hard pressed to keep my gaze from lingering on Jarrod’s face as he introduced Grant.

“Lin, this is my cousin, Grant West. Grant, this is Linea Hills, Jen’s best friend.”

Grant flashed a dazzling white smile my way as his hand closed around mine. “I’m delighted to meet you, Linea. Or may I call you Lin?”

I noted a rather enchanting dimple in his left cheek. He held my hand longer than politeness dictated and he looked directly into my eyes as he spoke.

I swallowed hard, feeling almost as if he were looking directly into my soul and seeing my lustful thoughts. That’s a feeling I didn’t like one bit. “Sure. Everyone calls me Lin.” I flashed him a quick smile and withdrew my hand from his.

“Do they?” Like, Jarrod, he had a warm, deep baritone. “Then maybe I’ll call you Linea.”

“Why?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’ve never liked being lost in a crowd with other men.”

I blinked at him. “Were we talking about men?”

He arched a brow. “Isn’t that what you meant?”

“No. It wasn’t.”

“I stand corrected. May I call you Linea?”

He possessed the air of a man used to getting everything he wanted from a woman. What had possessed Jen to think I’d be interested in a man who probably viewed himself as God’s gift? I flashed him a cool smile. “Sure…fine. Call me Linea if you like.”

“I do.”

I looked away from his intense gaze and the undeniable intimacy he managed to project into the two words. “Great.” I moved across the room to sit on the loveseat, my heart racing and my cheeks hot. Okay, Lin. Get a grip. You are not going to let some smooth talking ladies’ man get under your skin.

“What would you like to drink, Lin?” Jarrod asked me.

“A Martini,” I said. I glanced at Grant and found his blue gaze locked on me. I forced myself not to look away. If he wanted to stare, let him.

Jarrod nodded and turned to look at Jen. “The usual, hon?”

She nodded and slipped her arm through Grant’s.

He smiled and bent to kiss her cheek before they crossed the room toward the sofa and love seat.

Jen sat on the sofa. “Make yourself comfortable, Grant.”

“Thanks, Jen.”

I stiffened as I watched Grant move past the sofa. He paused by the loveseat.

I moistened my lips and glanced up.

He smiled down at me. “Do you mind, Linea?”

He was handsome and probably very charming. He radiated sex appeal. There were probably few women who would object to sharing a loveseat with him. What did that say about me or how Jarrod had affected me that I felt as if I were one of them?

I smiled again and nodded slowly. “Well, actually, I do—”

“Thanks.” He cut me off and sank down beside me on the loveseat.

He was a big man and I wasn’t a skinny Minnie. I could feel his thigh pressed against mine.

I glanced sideways to find him looking at me.

He smiled at me and deliberately placed his arm along the back of the seat.

Damn him. Although his fingers didn’t touch my bare shoulders, they were only inches away and seemed to radiate heat.

Why was he smiling? What the hell made him think I wanted to share a loveseat with him and have his hard thigh pressed against mine? Okay, Lin. Settle down. How’s he supposed to know you’re lusting after his cousin who just happens to be married to one of your oldest and best friends?

“Here you are, Lin.”

I tore my gaze away from Grant’s as Jarrod crossed the room and handed me my drink. “Thanks.” I accepted it and took several sips.

“Jen tells me you’re visiting from L.A,” Grant said.

What was wrong with me? Why did such a simple statement sound like a proposition? I nodded without looking at Grant. “Yes, but I won’t be here for much longer.” Thank God.

“Oh? When are you leaving?”

I sipped my drink, keeping my gaze on Jarrod and Jen who shared the sofa. “Excuse me?”

“Tell me, Linea, do I offend you in some way?”

I felt like a grouchy teenager as I took another quick sip of my drink. I knew my juvenile behavior had triggered the question. I smiled and turned to face him. “Of course not.”