Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford) (48 page)

He shrugged. “Mother is melodramatic.”

“
And you’re shallow and callous.”

He waved her away as the waiter brought their salads and bread. She busied herself with eating.

“
So, are you going to tell me where you’ve been off to?” she asked between bites.

“
Oh, I went here and there,” he replied. “I spent a little time in Florida, then on to Mexico. I just got back from a Caribbean cruise,” he said, hoping to impress her. “I came home because I was lonely and I missed you. How would you like to go to Spain with me? Or England, yes, we could go to England. You tell me where you want to go.”

She sighed in exasperation. “As tempting as a trip around the world sounds, you know I can’t do that.”

“
Not can’t, won’t. You won’t do it. Admit it. You want to.”

“
Well, of course, I want to. Who wouldn’t want to? But I really can’t. I’m getting married, and the last I knew, taking a trip around the world with your brother-in-law is not listed as an acceptable practice in the etiquette for dummies book.”

“
Who cares? Those are all just foolish rules. I hate rules.”

She glanced up from her food and eyed him intently. “That’s the problem, Jeffrey. You don’t have any respect for rules, or people. You’re only interested in Jeffrey.”

“
Well, someone has to be interested in Jeffrey. Jeffrey’s been shunned his whole life. This is all I have. Don’t take it away from me.”

She stared, incredulously. Finally, she shook her head. “Poor Jeffrey, you’re incorrigible. You don’t even know what you have.” She eyed him with pity. “If you don’t wake up, you’re going to lose it all.”

He looked down at his plate, which stood untouched. After several moments, he looked up. “I’m not the one who lies to you.”

“
What are talking about?”

“
Brandon. I’m talking about Brandon. Did he ever mention to you that he was married before?”

“
You’re making that up,” she said, “in a pathetic attempt to make him look small. It won’t work, Jeffrey.” She stood to leave and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down.

“
Please, sit and listen.”

When she didn’t attempt to leave again, he continued. “Her name was Christina, but we all called her Tina. She was beautiful, and headstrong, and loved life. She hated New York, so she spent most of her time in California. All she wanted to do was travel the world. This was rough on Brandon since he had the ranch to run. They were always arguing about it. Brandon blames me for her death.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Why would Brandon blame you?”

“
He left me to look after her; he thinks I failed.”

“
I would hardly think it was your responsibility to look after your brother’s wife.”

“
Try telling Brandon that. I told you, Tina was stubborn. Brandon left for a business trip once, and as I said, he asked me to look after Tina. It had been raining for days and Tina was feeling…well, to use her own words ‘like a caged pet’.” She wanted to go on a trail ride. I begged her not to go, I knew the trails would be slick with mud, but she wouldn’t listen to me. I even tried to tell the groom not to let her take her horse out, but she managed anyway.”

Jessica watched as he wiped tears from his eyes. Had he loved her, too? Pity hung in her heart like a weight. This rivalry between the two brothers hadn’t started with her, but with another woman in Brandon’s life. Admittedly, he had her hooked. She had to know the details.

“
What happened?” she asked. “What happened to Tina?” she whispered. She touched his arm lightly, but withdrew her hand when he looked down at it.

“
It’s still a big mystery. Her horse came home without her. She was out there for two days before I finally managed to find her. By the time I found her, she was dead. The medical examiner said she bled to death. Her horse must have thrown her, and she suffered some tremendous impact. I couldn’t get ahold of Brandon for several days, as he was out roping cattle with a potential new client. He was bitterly angry and hasn’t spoken to me since—except when he has to.”

“
What a tragic story, but why wouldn’t Brandon want me to know he was married before? I certainly wouldn’t have any prejudice against it.”

“
Some people think it was rather convenient that Tina died when and how she did.”

“
What are you implying?”

“
It appeared that her reins either had been cut, or frayed to extreme wear. The police weren’t sure. Brandon was furious and fired the groom for not taking proper care of the equipment. I personally, along with many other people, think someone cut the reins. It was rumored that Tina was going to ask Brandon for a divorce.”

“
A divorce! Whatever for?” she gasped.

“
Probably for the same reason you will. She was lonely and bored and Brandon didn’t seem to care.”

She was furious then, furious at Brandon for withholding this from her, furious at Jeffrey for telling her.

“
You shouldn’t have told me,” she spat at him. “It’s none of your business.”

“
How can you say that? I have your best interest at heart. No one knows for sure whether Brandon cut those reins.”

“
That a ridiculous notion. I’m sure Brandon has a perfectly good reason for not telling me about Tina,” she snapped. But sudden images of Brandon’s dark, jealous fury came to mind. She pushed them aside. “I want to go home now.” As she rose to leave, she swayed with dizziness.

He threw a handful of bills on the table and stood with her. “Let me drive you home.”

“
No. I’ll take the train.”

“
It’s pouring rain and you’re distraught. You shouldn’t go alone.”

“
Then I’ll call a cab.”

“
Don’t be ridiculous. Why wait for a cab when I’m right here.”

She had walked over from the office, but it hadn’t been raining at the time. Now she looked out the window and could see that it was, in fact, pouring rain. She honestly didn’t feel like taking the train, or waiting for a cab, so she relented.

By the time they arrived at her apartment, she felt considerably better. Nonetheless, Jeffrey insisted on seeing her up.

She gratefully handed him the keys when they got to the door. He took her coat from her and hung both their coats on the coat rack that stood beside the door.

She threw herself on the sofa, while Jeffrey started a fire. “How about a cup of hot tea?” he asked.

“
Wonderful,” she said. She started to rise, but he insisted she lie back down. “I can get it,” he assured her. “I may be a spoiled rich boy, but I think I can make a cup of tea.”

As she waited for the tea, she could hear Jeffrey singing in the kitchen. He sang off key. She couldn’t help but smile. Within moments, the teapot whistled and she could hear spoons clinking against cups. He stuck his head out the kitchen door.

“
What will you have in it?”

“
Just honey.”

Within seconds, he was back in the room, carrying a tray laden with tea and cookies.

“
We missed dessert, so I found these.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You’re risking your life with those. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how long they’ve been in there.”

He chuckled and set the tray down on the table.

“
Well, I’ve got to have something sweet this afternoon, and since you’re so stubborn—”

“
Eat up,” she said, interrupting his sentence. She cast an amused but warning glance in his direction and pointed to the cookies.

“
I’m sorry if I upset you tonight,” he said. “I just felt you should know about Brandon. If you’re going to marry him you should know everything about him.”

She stroked the bottom of her cup, her finger tracing the outline. She looked thoughtful.

“
That should be between Brandon and me.” She watched him for a moment, sipping her tea as she did. “Can I ask you something personal?”

“
Sure, ask whatever you like. I have nothing to hide.”

“
Why do you want to spend your entire life on the move, trying to take away from your brother, instead of settling down and becoming responsible for yourself?”

He thought about this for a moment before continuing. “I love the feel of freedom. I don’t enjoy being tied down to a routine. I love the thrills and excitement of meeting different people and experiencing different cultures. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to do this. I’m a little surprised that you should have to ask that question. You’re a photographer. Surely, you have visited exotic places, experienced different customs and cultures. Didn’t you feel the rush?”

She laughed as she thought of the places she had been. “Well, sure, to some degree,” she finally replied. “But I’m a fashion photographer. I haven’t exactly been to exotic places. I have traveled to some countries to capture the beauty of the costumes, but there wasn’t a whole lot of excitement in that. Most of my work has been done right here in the United States.”

His face brightened. “Then you should allow me to show you what you’re missing. I could be your guide. Think of the fun we could have traveling the continents together.”

“
I appreciate the offer, but I’m really a homebody at heart. I enjoy my work, and I love to travel, but I’m always happy to come home.”

As she sipped her tea, Jeffrey sat and stared at her. He had a triumphant look in his eyes. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

“
What are you cooking up now?” she asked, just as her head began to spin.

“
What’s wrong?” he asked, feigning concern.

She tried to answer but her tongue felt heavy. She began to sweat. Jeffrey came to her side, soothing her hair.

“
Don’t worry, love.” His voice sounded far away. “I just gave you a little something to help you relax. Don’t fight it, just sit back and let it take hold. You’ll feel much better in a little while.”

Within minutes, she couldn’t even move. Her limbs seemed so heavy. Any attempt to raise them was pointless. She wondered what he had given her, but she was unable to ask. She wavered in and out of consciousness. He was sitting right next to her, yet he seemed so distant.

He opened her blouse and unhooked her bra. He began to roam his hands over her breast. His lips came down on hers, traveling down her throat, placing kisses all the way down to her breast. She couldn’t pull back. She felt him lift her from the sofa and carry her to the bedroom. She wanted to scream, “No,” but her lips wouldn’t move—wanted to fight, but couldn’t.

As he lay her down on the bed, she was vaguely aware of him undressing. He stripped off her clothes, gazed down admiringly at her, his lust apparent. She wanted to cry out for him to stop, but her tongue was heavy with the drug. She felt him spread her legs, felt his weight come down on top of her, felt the hard thrust of anger as he entered her, and then she blacked out. Her last thoughts were of Brandon as she succumbed to the darkness that her drugged stupor took her.

She woke the next morning feeling hung over and humiliated. Jeffrey was gone, leaving no evidence he had ever been there, except the vile betrayal he had left between her legs. She rolled over, moaned and dragged herself to the shower. She stood in the shower on wobbly legs, the water streaming down upon her. When she thought she was clean, she dried off. In a state of shock, she collapsed on the bed, her body racking with hysterical sobs.

She had been such a fool. She had trusted him, despite Brandon’s warnings, despite her own inner voice that nagged at her. He had flattered her, entertained her with his tales, and used her in a sick game against his brother. Now he had won. She wouldn’t give him what he wanted, so he just took it. She felt disgraced, used, and hurt.

She ran to the bathroom, vomited, and stumbled into the shower again. She couldn’t seem to get clean. After scrubbing her body until it was raw, she turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around herself and lay back down on the bed. She needed to call someone. She rolled over and picked up the phone.

She let it ring eight times and was just about to hang up when Amy, breathless, picked-up the other end.

“
Hello.”

“
Amy?”

“
Jess! It’s great to hear from you. We were just on our way back from the beach when I heard the phone ringing. I ran all the way to catch...” she rattled on and then suddenly stopped as she heard her friend cry. “Jess, are you all right?”

Jessica sobbed into the phone. “Oh, Amy, I’ve been raped.”

“
Oh my God! Have you called the police?”

“
I can’t.”

“
You have to.”

“
I can’t. It was Jeffrey, and Brandon can never know.”

**********

CHAPTER 30

It was a beautiful day for a wedding, but Jessica’s spirits were low as she looked down from the window onto the growing crowd in the church courtyard. She didn’t know most of the guests who had been invited to the wedding, and that made her mood all the darker. She searched the crowd in vain, looking for a familiar face.

She had waited a long time for this day to arrive. Now that it was here, all she wanted to do was go home, crawl into her bed, and pull the blankets over her head.