It's Only Make Believe (3 page)

“But you knew each other from way back. Don’t you remember how you used to tag along after him?  You followed him around like a little puppy dog?”

Michele smiled at the memory. Oh yeah she had followed Brad, even had that horrible crush on him, but he hadn’t even given her the time of day. Michele shook her head. She couldn’t marry a man she knew nothing about?

Her grandfather didn’t quit – he had an answer for every argument. Eventually she ran out of reasons. She couldn’t refuse him, she loved him too much and this seemed so important to him. Arguing was senseless Never being one for confrontation, she finally she gave in, as usual, and did what they expected. After all Brad had said only for a year. She supposed she could handle a year with him. Besides, he traveled a lot for business, chances were they wouldn’t have to spend all that much time together.

“Okay, I agree to your proposition but on one condition,” she had told Brad later, “that you promised to remain faithful.”

“I will if you will.”  Brad shook her hand and just like that they became engaged. A handshake, no kiss, no romantic gestures – what a deal. He pulled a ring out of his pocket. The size of it almost knocked her socks off. A one carat emerald cut solitaire. The sparkle almost blinded her.

How did he know she’d agree to this charade? She almost changed her mind and gave it back, but something stopped her.

“I know this looks presumptuous of me,” he said as if he read her mind. “But honest it wasn’t my idea. My parents insisted I buy it. Somehow they knew you wouldn’t refuse. If you don’t like it we can exchange it for something more to your liking.”

She stared at the ring on her hand. Like it, she’d have to be a fool not to. The very simplicity of it appealed to her. And the size, well that could have been smaller. She’d never been one for expensive jewelry.  Michele looked at the ring. Next to it was a plain gold wedding band. Anything more would have taken away from the beauty of the diamond. She closed her eyes.

CHAPTER FOUR

Movement in bed brought Michele back to reality. She crawled out of bed, careful not to wake Brad, and went to take a shower. How she’d get through this next week was beyond her, let alone a whole year. She wanted to get back to her business, “The Designer’s Edge”. She stood in the shower letting the water rush over her body when noise came from the other room. She turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around her. Brad knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response. He greeted her with an enticing grin.

“Morning, Star-shine, sleep well?” He reached out and rubbed her wet head.

Michele tried to side-step him. She moved away, dodged his hand. The attraction between them exploded inside her. Her stomach muscles tightened, causing a fluttering and rising tension. She tried to move past him, but he pulled her close. His lips hovered over hers, smoky eyes filled with desire. She turned away before his lips met hers, and they landed on her cheek. He held her in his arms while his lips moved from her cheek to nuzzle her neck. Flickers of electricity jolted her body. Her heart throbbed so loud he had to hear it. Moving his lips to her mouth, they captured and held, starting out fierce, demanding, and then easing into tenderness.

She kissed him back, her mouth and body betraying her, giving in to their desires. The towel fell away. His hands caressed her bare skin creating waves of fiery passion in her. Her naked body thrust itself against him, as if it belonged there. Moans escaped from deep within her throat.

Something in the back of her mind told her to stop, but she ignored it, wanting only to be loved by this man. This man she grew up with, yet knew nothing about. His hands moved freely over her body, exploring. Strange sensations that she never experienced before trembled through her. She wrapped her arms around him tighter, pulling him closer, wanting to become part of him. He backed her into the bedroom, holding her close, kissing her, driving her wild with desire. They reached the bed. He eased her down and took her, mumbling words she couldn’t quite hear.

Afterwards, he moved to her side, still holding her close. An overwhelming feeling of comfort, security, and satisfaction filled her before the realization of what just happened hit her. Afraid to open her eyes, she lay still as his hand caressed and soothed her.

*** 

Brad relished the way her skin felt. Appreciated the way she reacted to his touch. Even now she shivered, her body trembled. The softness of her skin was like fine silk under his hand. Her body molded into him. He couldn’t remember desiring a woman this much.

Suddenly she stiffened. Tension replaced her relaxed body as she lay next to him. Why the sudden change?

“Michele?” His soft seductive voice questioned, while his lips feathered across her cheek.

“Michele.” Brad leaned over her, resting his head on his hand. “Open your eyes. Look at me.” He needed to know what caused the sudden change. Color slipped into her face. She’s embarrassed. His stubborn, temperamental wife was embarrassed. He almost laughed. Instead he lay back and closed his eyes, giving her a minute to compose herself. Never in his life had he met anyone like her. Obviously under that confident exterior was an unexpectedly shy woman when it came to the bedroom. Or was it just with him?

***

Michele shook her head, her face flamed, her body stiffened. What had just happened here, how could she have allowed herself to give in so easily?

“Michele.” He leaned up on his elbow and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

Her eyes squeezed tighter. She couldn’t bear to look at him. Embarrassment flooded through her, the heat on her face almost as hot as Brad’s lips had been.

“Michele, look at me.” His stern voice demanded.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, then focused on a lamp in the corner of the room.

He leaned down, brushed his lips across hers, igniting sparks. “A year’s a long time. I promised to be faithful, but for God’s sakes I’m not a saint, and I won’t remain celibate.” He took her chin in his hand and turned her head so her eyes gazed into his. “We are married, it’s legal.”

The sound of Ruby’s voice rang through her mind. The picture of their heads locked together eased its way into her thoughts. Would he be faithful? Not if she acted like a frigid prude. He desired her, they just made incredible love, why not relax and enjoy it? He said he wouldn’t remain celibate. Not that she blamed him and damn if she’d send him into Ruby’s arms.

“Brad, I...” his lips lowered on hers, quieting any protest. Desire flooded through her again as his hands wandered over her body. Giving in to the physical need, something inside told her she could learn to love this man.

The phone rang, interrupting the taste of his delicious lips as his teeth nibbled her lower lip.

“Damn.” He started to edge away to answer it.

“Ignore it,” she mumbled, her husky voice sounded strange even to her. She pulled him to her, returning the fiery kisses, exploring his body, finding the need to touch him as strong as the need to be touched.

The phone continued to ring and then the alarm clock sounded.

“Damn.” He sat up, moved away, hit the alarm to silence it, and answered the phone.

She sat up next to him. His muscles tensed as he spoke. “Let Jackson handle it.”  He paused while the person on the other end answered. A woman’s voice. Ruby’s voice. She eased herself out of bed and once again went to take a shower. Hot water washed over her. But she couldn’t wash the feel of Brad’s hands from her body.

*** 

Brad sat on the bed, phone in hand when she returned. He hung up, looked at her fully dressed, a flicker of disappointment flowed through his body.

“Looks like you’re ready for the day.”

“We have a plane to catch, remember?”

He looked at the bedside clock. “Guess I better get a move on then.” He stood up not bothering to cover his nakedness, wishing they could just stay here. He wanted to take her to bed again. The call from Ruby had been about routine business. She could have handled it herself. Something told him they were going to be disturbed a lot this week. Edgehurst, one of the firms most important and demanding, clients wanted his ad campaign done last week, even though the proposal wouldn’t be presented to him until Brad got back from his honeymoon. He went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for their flight.

*** 

Michele averted her eyes, once again embarrassment washed over her. Not usually a prude, but Brad had a strange
effect on her than the men she normally dated. She wanted to please him, yet felt shy and unconfident in her skills as a lover. He’d been around. She’d heard stories of his numerous love affairs. Women found him attractive and threw themselves at him, and he took advantage of it. His reputation of a different woman every week was the topic of conversation at the beauty shop. Michele remembered seeing him at the club on several occasions, always with a different woman on his arm.

Except Ruby. They had a longer relationship. Many of her friends had speculated Brad and Ruby would be married by Christmas. But his parents didn’t approve. Ruby came from different stock and didn’t fit in with their social caliber. A shiver of dismay ran through her, as Ruby’s words came back to haunt her. Had Brad broken up with Ruby? She recalled hearing of their break up months before she and Brad started seeing each other. He’d been at the club with other women since then, but she wondered. Was it just a ruse to pacify his parents?

“Ready?” His voice broke through her thoughts. She packed the remaining items she needed and went out to the waiting limousine. They rode in a comfortable silence to the airport. What thoughts ran through Brad’s head? Sneaking a look at him through the corner of her eye, she caught his faraway look. Would he rather be with Ruby instead of her?

CHAPTER FIVE

Warm temperatures, gentle breezes, and azure water greeted them at the resort. Michele couldn’t deny Cancun sure was beautiful. The manager of the resort met them, “Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, what a pleasure to serve you.”

“This is Alfonse.” A young man in a tuxedo stood next to him. “He’ll be your personal butler during your stay with us.” He motioned toward the young man. “Your suite is ready. I hope you find everything satisfactory.”

Michele stood in the center of their suite while Alfonse brought in their luggage. What was she doing here? Though elegantly decorated with neutral colors and rich mahogany furniture, this wasn’t her idea of her dream honeymoon. She set her purse on the glass top of the enormous dining room table, walked to the patio doors, and looked out. The air smelled of salt and soft waves rippled in the gulf. Definitely a paradise, she had to admit. The door closed and a wisp of breath blew on her neck. She turned and Brad’s lips came down and met her mouth.

“You are beautiful.”

She turned in his arms, moved her mouth away. Desire flared through her. “I’m hungry.” She tried to pull away, but his arms locked around her. “Brad, please...”

His lips claimed hers, silencing her protests. Waves of desire overwhelmed her as she gave into his demanding kiss. His cell phone rang, interrupting the long ravenous kiss.

“Damn it!” His mouth still on hers whispered. He moved away and disappointment seeped through her.

A woman’s voice came through the phone, so she left the room. Damn Ruby.

Brad found her moments later hanging clothes in the closet. “Let’s get something to eat.” He sounded annoyed.

“Problems?” She longed to go to him, to soothe him. She wanted to know him better, to help ease the tension that lined his face, his eyes. But, fear that Ruby caused the tension prevented her.

“Just work, come on.” He took her hand and led her to one of the many restaurants.

She tried to still the trembling inside her. “It seems strange, doesn’t it?” She tried to make conversation through the meal. “I mean us, married. I remember having a terrible crush on you when I was twelve.”

Brad looked surprised. “A crush? On me? You acted like you didn’t know I was alive.”

“I acted...?” Now it was her turn to sound surprised. “You hardly looked at me, talked to me. I was just the dumb kid who tagged along after you.”

Brad laughed. He covered her hand with his own. “Dumb kid, no way I was crazy about you.”

“Yeah right, you were in high school, I was only twelve. You had your own friends and even then the girls chased you.” She relaxed at the ease of their conversation. Even the past six months they spent together hadn’t been this comfortable. They spent the rest of the meal in easy conversation, reminiscing about their childhood.

Three days passed, they shopped and acted like tourists during the day and filled the romantic nights dancing and making love into the wee hours of the morning. If there was a magical fairyland, Michele was in it. The only drawback were the many phone calls from the office, three sometimes four a day. If only there was some way to help. Still, something nagged at her. With each phone call, Brad became distant. Was he missing Ruby? He slipped into a tense, almost angry silence when he hung up and refused to talk about it. She was falling in love with him. He was an attentive husband and passionate lover. They even discovered they had a lot in common.