Defying Desire (3 page)

“Sure. Why not? I have nothing else to do,” she said dismally then mustered up a smile when Camille gave her another sympathetic look.

Before Camille could say another word Tia bent down, scooped up her purse and headed for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Tia was out the door and on the elevator before she released the breath she held. Slipups like that would only make things worse. She wasn’t depressed and she didn’t need anybody’s pity, despite what her mother thought. She was coping with her loss in her own way and it was working just fine.

“What is up with her?” Dana asked when Tia had closed the door behind her.

Camille continued to stare at the spot where Tia St. Claire had stood. She was a beautiful woman, tall, thin and oozing sex appeal. All attributes most women would die for, yet she wore them more like a burden then a badge.

Tia was a fantastic model, whether runway or in print. She enhanced CK Davis Design’s couture line and added a simple flair to the casual, ready-to-wear line. She was easy to work with and a pleasure to be around. But, Camille thought with a pang in her chest, Tia was the saddest person she’d ever met.

“I don’t know. But I’ve got a feeling it’s only a matter of time before it comes out.”

“You think she’s hiding something?”

“I know she is.”

Dana sat back in her chair and finally turned to Camille.

“Do you think it’s something that will hurt the company? Because if so we should probably cut our losses now.”

Leave it to Dana to be concerned with business first.
That’s why they were partners, Dana dealt with all the unsavory stuff while Camille worked her personable magic as frequently as possible.

Where Tia was concerned, Camille was almost positive Dana’s way of thinking wasn’t necessary.

She shook her head negatively. “Whatever it is, it’s hurting her more than it could possibly hurt anyone else. Just leave her to me. I’ll take care of it.”

“Suit yourself,” Dana quipped. “But if it starts to go bad, I’m axing her. We’ve worked too hard to have a model’s baggage bring us down.”

“Tia will be fine. I’ve got a sinking feeling we’re going to end up helping her much more than she’s helping us.”

Chapter 3

T
rent couldn’t believe it. After three months away and being with other women, Tia still had his blood pumping when she entered a room.

Sipping on a rum and coke, he watched Tia St. Claire walk into Adam and Camille’s home like a lion eyeing his prey. Earlier today he’d had a fleeting thought that she might show up tonight. CK Davis Designs new store would definitely open more doors for her as their top model, so of course she would come.

For him, it was once again about family. He was as proud of Camille and her company as if she were his blood sister. And he knew what it meant for Adam to see his fiancée finally happy with herself and her accomplishments. So he was here to show his support.

But with every step Tia took, every time her long honey-toned leg slipped through that sinful split up the left side of her dress, his hunger for Tia St. Claire grew.

Her hair was braided this time. It had been loose and curled when he’d last seen her. But the array of tiny braids in a mixture of gold and brownish tint pulled up into a neat bun showcasing her long, sensuous neckline was just as alluring. Somebody spoke to her and she smiled. Trent’s chest constricted.

Her eyes, the color of warm honey, cased the room as she moved slowly, tentatively through the crowd. Her dress, the wicked creation he knew had to be one of Camille’s designs, was black and held up by two tiny straps at the cap of her shoulders. Her breasts were high and looked full enough to fit his hands just perfectly. The seductive way she was walking had to be a crime in at least ten states. He was getting hard just looking at her move.

Usually his attraction to a woman was a slow simmer, edging him along until he was finally in her bed. But each time he saw Tia, his need for her burned instantly, intensely.

Camille entered and moved quickly to Tia. Tia turned giving Trent a full view of the back of the deadly dress, or should he say the lack of dress. In about two seconds he took in the fact that those small straps at her shoulders draped down the sides of her back, leaving what looked like miles and miles of titillating bronze skin open for all to see. The black material met again in a gentle gathering at the base of her back.

Trent almost groaned out loud. Instead, he emptied his glass and was turning to head straight to the bar for a refill when he bumped into Adam.

“She looks great, doesn’t she?” his younger brother said with a grin on his face as broad as a Cheshire cat’s.

Trent cleared his throat and took a step back. “Yeah. Camille’s as pretty as a picture. I’m proud of your good taste, little bro.”

He circled around Adam making a beeline for the bar. Unfortunately, Adam had decided to follow him.

“I wasn’t talking about Camille. But thanks anyway.”

Trent shook his head. He was not about to get into this with Adam. He knew exactly where his brother’s joking tone was leading. “The boutique’s going to be a big hit,” Trent said when they’d made it to the bar and he’d given his glass to the bartender with a nod for a refill.

“Yeah,” Adam agreed.

“Is that all you’re going to say tonight?” Trent asked with agitation.

Adam simply chuckled. “She’s doing one amazing number on you.”

“What? Who?” Even to Trent’s own ears the feigned innocence was unbelievable.

“You know who. Why don’t you just go and talk to her?”

Trent shook his head. “No. The last thing I want for Camille tonight is a shouting match between me and her top model.”

“Then don’t shout at her.”

“Me?” he asked touching a hand to his chest as if offended. “She’s the one that called, cursing me out.”

“You were being pushy and presumptuous with her. You should probably apologize.”

“‘Pushy and presumptuous’? If that doesn’t sound like some female crap. You’ve been talking to Camille way too much.”

“Nah,” Adam said taking a glass of champagne from the tray one of the hostesses was carrying around. “I just see what she was saying. You come on to women really strong, Trent. And Tia strikes me as being different from the females you usually try to push up on.”

“How? She’s attractive and available just like the others,” Trent quipped.

Adam chuckled. “For one, she’s not falling all over you. I know you, you’re used to women dying to meet the great Trent Donovan.”

“Man, you know I don’t even fall for that act. It’s not me they’re trying to meet, more like my wallet they’re trying to get hold of.”

“But you still like the attention. And she’s the first woman to put you in your place right off the bat. She’s got guts and intelligence. Not normally two traits you look for in a woman.”

Trent thought about rebutting that statement but could only ask, “Whose side are you on? I mean, I know you’re in love and about to get married and all that, but you were once where I am. When you saw something you wanted, you just went after it. We’re Donovans, that’s what we do.”

“Until the right woman comes along and makes you
rethink
what we do,” Adam said simply, his gaze crossing the room to where Camille stood.

Trent took a quick gulp of the drink the bartender had just given him. “See, I’m not even looking for that commitment you and Linc seem so happy to jump into these days. I was just trying for a good time with Tia. But if Miss Supermodel isn’t interested then so be it.”

Adam shook his head and began to walk away. Then he stopped and turned back to Trent. “I’ll bet you five dollars you can’t stay away from her all night.”

“I don’t gamble,” Trent said seriously.

“No. You don’t give up.” With that said Adam went to stand by Camille, kissing her on her cheek as he glanced back across the room issuing a silent challenge to Trent.

She’d seen him and her stomach had done an immediate somersault. Yet Tia had refused to cower. His eyes were on her, hot and persistent, searing into every exposed inch of her skin. But she held her smile in place, moving and talking with people as if he weren’t even in the room.

Which proved to be totally unsuccessful.

Even now Camille was saying something, the ever handsome and charming Adam right by her side, and Tia had no idea what she was talking about. Her back was to Trent but he was still watching her. She could feel it in every pore of her body.

“That choker is exquisite with the dress, Tia. Now, since this is just the preamble to the big launch party I’ve only invited a few top reporters. There’s maybe one or two photographers moving about. So if you could make the rounds I’m sure they’ll see you.”

Tia’s hand shook as she reached for a glass of champagne. She prayed nobody saw it; however, the hostess, who was about two inches shorter than her, smiled knowingly. Suddenly very thirsty, Tia lifted the glass to her lips and emptied the contents, the champagne leaving a tingling trail of chilliness down her throat.

“Hey? You okay?” Camille asked touching a hand to her wrist as she brought the empty glass away from her lips.

“I’m fine,” Tia said trying to clear her head. If she thought of tonight as work she could probably make it through. If she didn’t let herself remember that in just a couple of hours the anniversary date and time of the worst moment of her life would be upon her, she would be all right.

But then she heard his voice.

“She certainly is fine.”

Oh God. Who am I fooling? I’m not going to make it.
Trent Donovan was not going to let her get through this
night unscathed. She could hear it in his voice even before she turned to look at him.

“Trent, I’m sure you remember my top model, Tia St. Claire,” Camille said in a tight voice that dared Trent to misbehave.

That left Tia to wonder if she had recently been the topic of conversation in the Donovan household.

“How could I ever forget her?” He reached for her then, surprising her when he only took the empty glass out of her hand.

To her dismay, another hostess miraculously appeared and he disposed of the glass. Turning back to her, Trent took her hand in his. It was a move that looked practiced and smooth as hell all at the same time. Damn, she hated this man.

“How have you been, Tia?”

Okay, first he needed to stop touching her. Even the gentle feel of her hand in his and the thumb he caressed over her long, tapering fingers, was too much for her already quivering insides to take.

“I’ve been just fine. And you?” Her voice was steady even if the rest of her wasn’t. And she didn’t yank her hand out of his no matter how much she wanted to.

As Camille had said, reporters and photographers were here. She couldn’t make a scene. The way Trent was looking at her said he’d figured that out before approaching her.

“I’ve been better.”

I’ll just bet you have.
“That’s nice. Now if you will all excuse me, I think I’ll make my rounds now.”

“That’s a good idea,” Camille chimed in. “Isn’t it, Adam?”

Adam cleared his throat after Camille elbowed him in the ribs. “Ah, yeah. Good idea. How about I escort you out
onto the terrace? I think Nigella from the
Chronicle
is out there soaking up the breeze.”

Tia gladly accepted Adam’s invitation but didn’t miss the heated glare that passed between the two brothers as she did so. Refusing to even look back at Trent she made a hasty, but classy, retreat.

“Whatever you’re thinking I want you to get it out of your mind right this minute,” Camille said to Trent when they were alone.

“Why does everybody insist on treating me like I’m the bad guy?”

“Um, because you’re military trained to take no prisoners.”

Trent had to smile at that one. “She’s a grown woman, Camille. You don’t have to protect her. Especially not from me.”

“I
especially
need to protect her from you.”

Two hours and about six glasses of champagne later Tia was draped over a lounge chair in one of the back rooms of Camille’s house. She’d made her rounds speaking to reporters and buyers making sure they all knew that she was wearing a CK Davis exclusive, taken pictures, smiled non-stop and modeled back and forth through the large living and dining rooms.

Her head pounded and her feet hurt. She was exhausted and she was afraid. About a half hour ago she’d stopped looking at the clock. She knew the time was ticking down. That’s why she’d searched out a place to be alone. If she were going to have a breakdown she didn’t need any of the press seeing it. Hell, she didn’t need any of the Donovans seeing it.

So for the past fifteen minutes she’d been sitting here in the dark, trying to get her brain out of its champagne-
induced haze so she could drive herself back to her apartment. There she could fall flat on her face and let the grief claim her the way it begged to.

She was almost ready to get up when a stream of light invaded her sacred darkness. With an inhale of an intoxicatingly masculine cologne she knew her night had just taken another turn for the worse.

“Hiding out?” Trent asked as he closed the door and switched on a lamp.

Tia pressed her palms into her eyes, praying that when she moved them the pinpricks against her lids would cease. “I’m trying to be alone, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m looking for some company,” he said slowly. “If you don’t mind.”

Furious at his audacity Tia pulled her hands away from her face and gasped when she realized he was standing directly over her. “Yes. I mind. I’m sure you can find someone to keep you company out there. Lord knows there are plenty of women dying to catch your attention.”

“Jealous?” he asked in that cool yet firm voice of his.

“Hell, no! If they want to make fools of themselves for you, they are more than welcome.”

Even though she expected him to, Trent didn’t respond. He only watched her as if he were seeing something nobody else did. She turned away from him, only to have him grab her chin and turn her back to face him.