Mia's Heart (The Paradise Diaries) (29 page)

And
he was so, so obviously flirting with her mother.  But then again, 
her mother was eating it up so it was working out nicely for him.  She
shook her head. She shouldn’t have worried that her mother would notice her
lack of clothing. 

If
she was honest, she would have to admit that Jillian rarely noticed her at all,
except for times that she thought Sydney was doing something unseemly for a
girl in her position.  During those incidents, Jillian focused in on her
with razor-sharp precision and an even sharper tongue. Most of their
mother-daughter interactions were focused on ensuring that Sydney dressed
correctly, spoke correctly and behaved correctly.  At every minute of any
given day.  It was exhausting.

Sydney
stepped into the garage and stared down the line of cars.  Her father’s
black Cadillac was gone, so he was at the office.  No surprise
there.  He practically lived at his high-rise downtown Chicago
office.  She walked past his empty slot and her mother’s white Jag to
stand next to her own car- a gleaming silver graduation gift.  She had
gotten the little Mercedes convertible two weeks ago and she had finally
mastered the manual transmission, making her feel like an automotive queen.

Today
she felt like a
liberated
automotive queen as she idled at red lights
knowing full well that she was naked under her coat.  It was surprisingly
exhilarating and she slipped off her shoes so that she could drive barefoot.
Even better!  Enjoying the feel of her naked legs resting against the
butter-soft leather of her seat, she smiled broadly at the guy in the next car,
before gunning her engine when the light turned green. She smoothly cut him off
so that she could make her exit.

As
a result of her trademark aggressive driving, it only took her twenty minutes
today to weave through Highland Park, just as she had promised. The sleek
little car wound through the traffic effortlessly, purring like a jungle
cat.  Lucky for her, Christian lived in Highland Park as well. 
Chicago traffic was perpetually congested and would have taken much
longer. 

Christian
opened the front doors just as she pulled into his drive and stood waiting for
her on the top step.  Sydney studied his handsome features as she got out
and walked toward him, her heart thudding lightly with anticipation. As her
pulse quickened, she fervently hoped that she seemed calm and cool, but she
doubted that was the case.  

She
had a secret. 

Deep
down, no matter how perfectly her manicure and highlights were done or how well
she filled out an outfit, she always felt a little… insufficient.  She
could look in the mirror and see that she was pretty and many might even say
beautiful. But it was as though she couldn’t quite get her heart to understand
that she was good enough.  She didn’t know why and she would never be able
to explain it to anyone, so she didn’t try.  She could just hear the “poor
little rich girl” jokes that would result in that kind of conversation.

Christian,
on the other hand, certainly didn’t suffer from inadequacy issues.  With
his black slacks and slate gray v-neck, he was impeccably sleek and
sophisticated today, which was usually the case.  And he was always
unflustered. 

He
was outrageously handsome and outlandishly cocky, two things that she loved
about him.  His dark hair was carefully tousled just-so and the smile he
wore was perfect. His dark blue eyes were frozen on her, as if drawing her to
him.  When she got close enough, he reached for her, grabbing the end of
the belt to her coat. 

“Chris-
not on the porch!” she giggled and slapped his hand away. 

Undeterred,
he laughed carelessly and scooped her up in his strong arms, ignoring her
half-hearted protests.  As the half-back on their football team, he spent
quite a lot of time working out. The results were apparent.  He was built
like a lean brick house and would be playing ball for Princeton next year as a
Legacy student.           As he
effortlessly carried her up the grand staircase to his room, he purposely moved
one of his hands farther up on her leg and then farther still. She knew he was
checking for clothing.  She laughed and clutched his back, knowing what
was to come as his hand kept moving.  Her heart began thudding loudly
again and she closed her eyes as Christian kicked the bedroom door closed
behind them.

They
didn’t emerge for two hours, only coming out for food.  Bursting out of
the bedroom when the doorbell rang, they laughed and shoved each other
playfully, racing each other to get to the pizza first.  They had used an
abundance of calories and Sydney’s stomach was growling. 

Christian
beat her, of course. He made it down the long stairway in three seconds flat.
He threw the front door open, paid for the pizza and they collapsed on the
floor in the foyer with the pizza box, not even bothering to get plates from
the kitchen. 

Sydney
grinned over a slice of pizza, catching the dripping cheese with her
tongue. 

“You’re
right.  We could never do this at my house. My mom would have a stroke.”

Holding
a finger up in the air, she appeared to get into character for a
performance.  Christian watched in amusement as she stuck her nose into
the air, pushed her eyebrows into her hairline and mimicked her mother’s
haughty voice.

“Sydney,
it is not appropriate for Randall Ross’ daughter to eat pizza on the floor.”

She
rolled her eyes as she returned to her pizza, sucking the hot cheese into her
mouth.  If she had a dollar for every time she was referred to as “Randall
Ross’ daughter,” she would be a millionaire in her own right.

Christian
laughed. 

“We
couldn’t have done a lot of things at your house today, Syd.  This is only
the least of it.  But since
my
parents are out of town…”  His
voice trailed off huskily as he reached over and slid his hand up the shirt she
was wearing.  It was his and hung on her like a baggy knee-length dress,
giving him ample room to maneuver underneath it.  

She
pushed his hand away. 

“Again? 
I think not.  I have to replenish my energy.  Just because you’re tireless,
doesn’t mean everyone in this room is.” 

She
batted her eyes playfully at him as she inhaled her second slice of pizza,
enjoying the forbidden grease and cheese combination.  The carb count
alone would be enough to give her mother a heart attack.  But Sydney
couldn’t help but love it.  No one in their right mind could ever say that
Chicago had bad pizza.

“You
know,” Christian said thoughtfully as he watched her eat, “I think you’re the
first girl I’ve ever dated that actually eats in front of me.  And you eat
a lot.  I don’t know how you stay so skinny!”  He leaned toward
her.  “Except for here.  And here.”  He brushed against her
curves with his hand. 

“Christian! 
Is that all you ever think about?” she demanded in mock exasperation, knocking
his hand away. 

He
just laughed. They both knew full well that she was far from aggravated; that
it was only a matter of time before her appetite was sated and she responded to
him again.

“Why,
yes.  Yes, it is.  But at least I’m honest.” Christian’s face was
impish as his cobalt eyes twinkled at her.  Those were eyes that a girl
could get lost in.  She sighed.

“Yes,
at least you’re honest.  Now calm yourself down and let me eat!  Take
a cold shower or something.”

They
were both laughing until a third, unexpected voice startled them both.

“Mr.
Price?!” 

The
Price’s housekeeper was frozen in the arched doorway with a look of utter shock
on her creased face.  Sydney couldn’t help but giggle.  And then she
was promptly embarrassed as she remembered that she was only wearing
Christian’s shirt.  She immediately looked down to make sure that her rump
was covered, tugging on the hem a little bit just to be on the safe side. 
This was one situation in which her long legs were not a blessing.

“Hi,
Fran.  Miss Ross here couldn’t wait to get to the table, so we decided to
eat right here. She’s got a very voracious appetite.” 

He
waggled his eyebrows at his double meaning and Sydney’s cheeks burned. 
Christian’s humor was apparent and Sydney just hoped that Fran hadn’t caught
the entendre.

“Don’t
stare, Fran.  You don’t want to make her uncomfortable.” 

He
winked at the maid, who was still staring at them in cliché-like astonishment.
Her mouth was even hanging open a little bit. Sydney hid another giggle. 
She couldn’t help it. She laughed when she was nervous. It had gotten her into
trouble more than a few times in her life.

“And
I don’t think my father needs to hear about this, don’t you agree?  In
fact, why don’t you take the rest of the evening off?  You deserve it. You
work too hard. And have I mentioned that you look beautiful today?” 

Christian
winked again and Fran shook her head, finally smiling at him, even though
having a half-dressed girl in the house was clearly against the rules. 
Even if the girl was Sydney Ross.  Actually, probably especially then. His
parents wouldn’t want him involved in any kind of political scandal.

“Mr.
Price, your shenanigans are going to get me fired yet!”

The
disgruntled housekeeper turned on her heel and left the room, her gray curls
still shaking and muttering under her breath, but leaving them alone. 
Christian turned to Sydney with a perfectly straight face.

“Is
shenanigans a word?” he asked her and then grinned.

Sydney
shook her head, even though she couldn’t help but smile at the same time.
Christian’s humor was infectious. 

“You
know, this does put her in a tough spot.  You really could get her fired
one of these days and I’m sure she needs her job.  I should go.”  She
started to get up.

He
grabbed her arm.  “No, don’t.  You know she’s been with us
forever.  My parents would never fire her and she won’t bother us again
tonight.  Please?  Stay a while longer?”

His
eyes were beseeching and Sydney felt herself relent.  Once again. 
She couldn’t seem to help herself.  She wasn’t good at telling him
no.  She let herself sink back onto the floor.

“How
do you know that she won’t bother us again tonight?  How many other girls
have you had here like this?” 

Sydney
was only half-joking.  Christian definitely had a reputation for being a
playboy.  That was something she had been quite aware of when she started
dating him. For some reason, it had been part of the allure… to see if she
could get him and keep him.  It hadn’t taken her long, which surprised
her.  And they had been together for five months now, a record for both of
them.

“What?”
His voice was full of exaggerated innocence.  “Me?  You’ve got to be
kidding.  Sydney, you’re my first.” 

The
over-emphasized expression of outrage on his face cracked her up and she
reached over to trail her fingers through his dark hair, which he interpreted
as an open invitation and moved closer to her. She promptly shrugged out of his
reach.

“Um,
right.  Seriously.  How many other girls has Fran seen you
with?” 

“Well,
that’s a difficult question, really.  She’s getting older and her eyesight
is getting bad…” He stopped talking as he pushed her over and gently pinned her
down, nuzzling the side of her neck.  “Besides, that doesn’t matter
anymore.  I’m with you now. And you smell really good…what is that? 
Chanel no. 5?” His voice trailed off as he kissed further down on her neck.

“Close. 
It’s Chanel Mademoiselle and it matters to me, Christian.  You were my
first.  Girls always remember that.  It’s special.  I want you
to remember me, too.  I don’t want to be just another girl that Fran
walked in on.” She sighed as he nuzzled even further down on her neck toward
her breasts.   “I can’t focus if you keep doing that.”

He
chuckled and mumbled, “That’s sort of the point, Syd.” 

She
closed her eyes as his hands slid over her hips.  She’d worry about it
later.  The stone tiles of the foyer were rough against her back, but she
was oblivious to it.  All she concentrated on was the warm, delicious
weight of Christian’s body as he moved against her. 

*  *  *

Sunshine
flooded her bedroom, filling every possible crevice with light, just like it
did every other afternoon.  It was cheerful, optimistic and really, really
bright.

Sydney
squinted as sat up in her bed and then promptly clutched her stomach.  It
rolled harshly as her mother continued opening the blinds.  She was sure
that if she looked into a mirror, her skin would appear gray.  In fact,
she felt like the epitome of the word ‘ashen,’ as nausea and dizziness
overwhelmed her and she groaned.        

“Sydney? 
You cannot lie around in bed all day.  We’ve got a photo-shoot for your
father’s new campaign mailing in an hour. You’ve got to move.”  Jillian’s
eyes did a quick once-over of her daughter and she paused mid-step.

“Are
you ill? You’ve got dark circles.” 

It
was clear that she was more appalled than concerned.  If Sydney was sick,
she wouldn’t photograph well. They needed to portray the perfect all-American
family for the photos, just like always.