Tangled Web
by Sarah & Lanie
Chapter 4
July 4, 1999
Island of Tanquir
David paced the floor of the hotel room, checking his watch every thirty seconds. If Cindy didn't hurry up they would be late for the gathering at Mr. Cabalas' home. She'd had herself ensconced in the bathroom for over an hour and refused to let him in to see what she was doing. When he'd finally asked what was taking so long, she'd cheekily replied that he'd find out when she was done.
David glanced at his watch again and then leveled a measuring glance at the bathroom door, mentally calculating how much his shoulder would hurt if he tried to ram it open, and how much the resort would charge him for the damage. He was about to test his theorized calculations when the door swung open. The vision in the doorway suspended all his thoughts of impatience. He simply stared, awestruck.
Cindy was dressed in a floor-length sheath of deep burgundy silk. The fabric swayed seductively against her every curve from her ankles up to the scooped bodice of the sleeveless gown. A black chiffon shawl shot with glittering silver thread was hooked in her bent elbows and hung gracefully across the small of her back. David had certainly seen her more seductively attired, as this relatively simple gown covered more skin than most of her outfits did. But there was something about the way she stood there… a confidence he'd never seen in her posture when she wore her more flamboyant clothes. As David raised his eyes to hers, Cindy smiled slowly and his pulse accelerated in response. He swallowed hard to try to calm his rioting senses. He couldn't afford to let her see what an effect her appearance had on him.
Despite her confident exterior, Cindy was a raging mass of conflicting emotions on the inside. She had spent a long time trying to transform herself into the perfect escort for David. Unlike her time with Grant, when she'd dressed outrageously on purpose to get his attention or incite his wrath, she truly wished to please David. It amazed her how much she'd come to rely on him in so short a time; he mattered to her more than she cared to think about. Cindy rarely let anyone close enough to her that she would go out of her way to earn that person's good opinion. In her experience, letting people in made you vulnerable. Being vulnerable inevitably led to pain. But David had slipped past her defenses before she'd realized it. Now it was too late. She was half in love with him already. The only recourse she saw was to do whatever it took to stay near him. And if she could obtain even a small part of him for herself, the eventual heartbreak might even be worth it.
David had still not said anything and Cindy was starting to wonder if she'd made the right choice with this dress. She felt a bit like an impostor in the elegant gown, but once she'd put it on, she had decided that the refined style was just right. David's silence was beginning to make her doubt that decision. Putting on false bravado to cover her nerves, Cindy asked, "So boss, am I worth the wait?"
"Infinitely." The ardent reply had left David's lips before he could prevent it from slipping out. Her words had conjured thoughts of waiting for something other than her exit from the bathroom. But seeing the dazzling smile spread across Cindy's face made it impossible for David to regret his unchecked reaction. The sooner he could get her to believe in herself the better. He still steadfastly refused to take advantage of her vulnerability. But once he was sure that she was free to want him without needing him, David intended to make sure Cindy became an integral part of his life.
Cindy felt like she was glowing. David's sincere praise was like a balm for her insecurities. She sauntered past him into the room while keeping him in her peripheral vision. Her smile widened as she saw his eyes follow her progress past him. She turned quickly and had to swallow a laugh as his eyes snapped up to hers with slightly embarrassed guilt for his blatant stare. She even thought there was a faint blush on his cheeks. Cindy found David's disconcertion incredibly flattering and charming. Who knew there were still men in this world who could blush? Cindy's eyebrow arched upward. "I guess that means you approve of my dress?"
David cleared his throat and said, "Absolutely. You look… perfect."
Cindy licked her lips thoughtfully, not noticing that David's eyes focused intently on her mouth when she did so. "'Perfect', huh? I've had a variety of adjectives used to describe me in the past but I think 'perfect' is a first. Thank you."
David smiled as he forcefully turned his mind back to the evening's planned event. He motioned toward the door and said, "Are we ready to go?"
Cindy narrowed her eyes slightly as she walked over to him. "Not quite yet" she said as she stopped directly in front of him. David looked at her quizzically as she scrutinized him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and smoothed the fabric of the custom made tuxedo across them. David tried to ignore the racing of the blood in his veins as her hands ran down the sleeves to his wrists. His heart jumped when her hands returned to rest against his chest as she smoothed the jacket's lapels. He stared intently at her averted eyes as she reached out to straighten his bow tie. Cindy seemed unaffected by his proximity, completely focused on the task at hand. She finally looked up at him with a smile. "There. Now we're both perfect."
Cindy accepted David's offered arm and he escorted her to the car. She sat in the passenger seat and tried to calm her racing pulse. It had taken every ounce of control that she had not to throw herself at him. She'd known that she was tempting fate by touching him, but she'd been unable to resist the lure. There hadn't really been a thing wrong with how David had looked. On the contrary, she'd found herself nearly overwhelmed by how devastatingly gorgeous he was in that tuxedo. But she'd use anything as an excuse to touch him; any possible means to take a few moments to imagine what it would be like to have him touch her back. David only wanted her friendship so she'd hidden her reaction to prevent him from pushing her away. The only problem was, she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to hide her true feelings from him. It got harder by the minute. But somehow, she'd find a way. She wasn't about to risk losing what they had by asking for something he couldn't give.
David climbed in behind the wheel and shut the car door. As he started the engine, he asked, "Are you ready?"
You have no idea how ready I am, Cindy mused to herself. Answering his true question, she said, "You betcha' boss man. Let's go party."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Enrique Cabalas circulated amongst his guests, making sure all the principal players had met each other and were enjoying themselves. He subtly glanced across the room at David Halliday and his "business associate". She was listening raptly to something that Jeremy Martin was saying, then laughed charmingly when he finished speaking. Turning his eyes back to Halliday, Enrique watched him watching his companion. There was admiration in Halliday's eyes as he gazed at the woman… along with a touch of something more.
Having seen enough for the moment, Enrique gradually made his way through the throng of people. Once out of the crowd, he made a beeline for his study. When he entered the dimly lit room, he saw Grant Harrison staring at a television monitor which displayed a view of the party in progress. Harrison absently swirled brandy in a snifter and occasionally drew in a puff of an expensive Cuban cigar. Enrique stood beside him and said, "I really don't think you have anything to be worried about where they're concerned. Halliday's motives for hiring your ex-wife may not be all business, but I don't think they have anything to do with you either."
Grant looked at him briefly out of the corner of his eye before refocusing on the image of Cynthia and Halliday on the screen. "What do you mean?"
"I got the distinct impression that Halliday is interested in a personal relationship with her. He can't seem to take his eyes off of her."
Grant stared at his ex-wife's image in the screen and smirked. "Believe me, that's not something he'd need to hire her to obtain. Cynthia isn't exactly the shy, retiring type. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't sleeping with her already. They are sharing a hotel suite after all."
Enrique looked at Grant's unperturbed expression with interest. "Well it is a two bedroom suite, and according to my sources at the hotel, both beds are slept in each night. What reason would they have to hide it if they were sharing a bed?" Grant's lack of reaction further intrigued Enrique. "You don't seem to care one way or the other whether Halliday is bedding your wife."
Grant turned his head to look Enrique full in the eyes. "Ex-wife, if you please. And no, I couldn't care less about Cynthia's extracurricular activities with her boss. My only interest in either of them is whether their presence here, or that 'bet' Halliday mentioned, has something to do with me."
"You actually think their bet is that you're alive and here on Tanquir? That seems a bit far fetched."
Instead of being angered by the comment, Grant was amused. His lips turned up at the corners in a wry smile. "I can see why you'd think so, given my past descriptions of Cynthia and her convincing portrayal here as the consummate business escort. Rest assured my friend, I have learned through vast experience that it is beyond foolish to underestimate Cynthia. It can be downright fatal. I'm not taking any chances. My plans are too important to allow that pit viper to ruin them all."
Grant turned his eyes back to the monitor. Seeing Halliday standing alone, he searched the crowd. His eyes widened and he growled, "Where is she? Where the hell did she go?"
Enrique joined him in scanning the monitor for a sign of the woman. "I don't see her either. She must have left the ballroom."
Grant fiercely grasped Enrique's jacket lapels and shook him with frustration. "Find her! Get her back into that room before she sees me!"
Enrique hurried out of the study to go in search of the woman. Although he hadn't dared question Harrison to his face, he wondered why the man was so panicked. She'd probably just gone to the bathroom to freshen up.
It turned out that Enrique's assessment had been correct. Cindy had been in the powder room touching up her lipstick. She was walking back down the hall toward the ballroom when she saw Mr. Cabalas come racing out of a room and hurrying off in the opposite direction from where she was standing. Something about his demeanor sparked suspicion in the back of Cindy's mind. He seemed to be on the up and up, but what if he wasn't? Cindy wasn't about to let David be set up or taken advantage of by anyone. At that moment, she noticed that the door Cabalas had come racing out of was slightly ajar. Cindy decided to find out what, or who, had lit such a fire under him.
She walked slowly down the hall, trying to look casual but feeling like she appeared suspicious. With each step, her feelings of foreboding grew. It was as if some innate sense was telling her that going into that room was extremely dangerous. But she kept moving forward. When she finally reached the doorway, she gave it a wide berth then backtracked while pressing close against the wall. She eased her way over and peeked through the small wedge of space between the door and the jamb.
Cindy saw a figure in the dimly lit room. It was a man dressed in formal attire. He was facing away from her, standing in front of a floor to ceiling window that looked out over the beach. The lighting in the room was too faint for her to be able to distinguish much about him, not even his hair color. Yet, Cindy felt a chilling sense of recognition as she stared intensely at the man. Something about the way he was swirling the liquor in his brandy snifter tugged at her unconscious mind. The familiarity of the gesture made her blood run cold. Cindy saw the man tense, as if he sensed that someone was watching him.
Cindy quickly backed away from the door before he could turn and see her. She walked swiftly back around the corner of the hall that would take her to the ballroom. On her way through the large double doors, she nearly collided with Mr. Cabalas. He looked oddly relieved to see her before his expression switched back to the visage of a charming host. "Ah, I've found you at last. Where did you take yourself off to, may I ask?"
Cindy forced a bright smile and replied, "Just needed to powder my nose. You have a lovely bathroom by the way. Is that floor made of Carrera marble?"
Enrique nodded. "Yes it is. The reason I was looking for you is Mr. Martin has insisted on hearing the rest of some anecdote you were relating to him. He is anxiously awaiting your return."
"Well it wouldn't do to keep him waiting now would it? I'll be sure to relieve his suspense for him."
Enrique smiled charmingly. "Excellent!" He stared at her for a few moments as she wended her way through the crowd. When he saw her safely back in conversation with Halliday and Martin, he rushed back to the study. Enrique closed the door behind himself and said, "I located your ex-wife and returned her to the safety of the ballroom."
Grant strode over to the monitor to confirm that for himself. Not taking his eyes off the screen, he said, "Where was she?"
"As I suspected, she'd gone to freshen up. No harm done."
Grant stared with narrowed eyes at the woman on the screen. "Are you certain? Did she act… unusual at all?"
Enrique's brow furrowed. "Not that I noticed. She asked me about the marble floor in the bathroom and went back to the party. Why?"
Grant shook his head. "It's nothing. I just had the strange sensation that someone was watching me a few minutes ago. It must have been my imagination." He was silent for a minute before saying, "Still, we need to be more cautious in the future. Even if Cynthia suspects I'm here, she has no proof. Without proof she doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting anyone to believe her. We need to make sure that she never gets any proof." Grant turned blazing eyes on his co-conspirator. "Is that clear?"
Enrique nodded. "Crystal clear, sir. And now I had better get back to my party before everyone wonders where their host has gone. Please excuse me."
Grant didn't even acknowledge the man's departure. He was focused on watching Cynthia playing her part for the throng of businessmen gathered around her. He chuckled to himself. "Oh Cynthia, you always did have the ability to charm with the best of them. It was your other qualities that made you such a nuisance. I wonder how long it will take Halliday to tire of your games. He seems quite entranced for now, but I'm sure it won't last. Then again, it may be a moot point. Because if either of you get in my way…" Grant forcefully crushed the remains of his cigar into the glass ashtray on the desk and chuckled low in his throat as a feral smile took possession of his mouth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
David unlocked the door to the suite and watched as Cindy crossed the room in front of him. She'd seemed distracted during the last hour of the party, though she'd continued to charm everyone they'd spoken to. He was certain no one else had noticed a change in her demeanor, but David had sensed immediately that something was bothering her. When he'd suggested leaving, Cindy had eagerly accepted the suggestion… too eagerly. David wasn't sure what had happened but he was hoping that she would tell him now that they were alone. Knowing she wouldn't say anything unless he broached the subject, David gently asked, "Are you feeling homesick?"
"Hmm?" Cindy said as she turned to face him. "Homesick? Why would you think that?"
"Just guessing. This is a big holiday back in the States. I thought you might have been missing the cookouts and fireworks that seem to go hand in hand with the Fourth of July."
Cindy smiled slightly and shook her head. "You know what? I'd forgotten all about it. Besides, I haven't been to a traditional Fourth of July celebration like you described in ages. I was always at some stuffy community gathering listening to Grant spout off about patriotism and a bunch of other garbage he didn't give a damn about…" Cindy's voice trailed off as it suddenly hit her who the man in the shadows of Enrique Cabalas' study reminded her of. That motion he'd made with the snifter was one she would always associate with…"Grant" she said aloud in a tremulous whisper.
David looked at Cindy's stricken expression with growing concern. Her face had gone pale at the mention of her ex-husband's name. David presumed she was thinking about when the police had arrested her for killing Grant Harrison. She'd eventually been proven innocent but the incident had obviously scarred her. David couldn't stand to see the fear in her eyes and not do anything to comfort her. He quickly walked over to where she stood and rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a calming gesture. When her eyes raised to meet his, he said, "You're ok now. He can't hurt you anymore."
Cindy couldn't help herself. Her entire body started trembling in remembered pain and fear. The strange power Grant had held over her, and the way he had used that power to destroy her over and over again, all came rushing back. She felt David's fingers slide down her arms to gently clasp both of her hands. She heard the concern in his voice as he said, "Your hands are cold as ice. Cindy, what happened at that party to get you so upset? Did someone say something to you about Grant?"
Cindy stood silent, trying to figure out what to say to him. It wasn't as if the truth was an option: Actually David, I think I saw my very dead ex-husband at the party. Communing with spirits always makes me edgy. He'd think she was ready for another nice long stay at the cracker factory. She took the excuse he provided instead. "Yeah. I ran into one of Grant's old cronies from his time in the Senate. Let's just say the conversation didn't bring back the best of memories."
David glared at the thought of what the man must have said to Cindy to get her so rattled. She had returned to their group and held up like a trooper; not even suggesting they leave until he asked first. No matter what she thought of herself, in David's opinion Cindy was one of the most extraordinary women he'd ever met. David took both of her hands in one of his and raised the other to gently cup her cheek. "You're really shaken up, aren't you? Your hands are still freezing and you look like you're about to pass out. Come over here and sit with me for a minute."
David led her over to the sofa and they both sank down onto its cushioned surface. Cindy kicked off her shoes and hitched up the hem of her gown so she could sit on the sofa with her legs bent underneath her. While she settled herself, David loosened the knot in his tie and undid the buttons on his tuxedo jacket. David placed Cindy's hands together and cradled them inside his own in an attempt to warm them. His voice was unassuming and kind as he asked, "Do you want to tell me about it?"
Cindy raised her bright eyes to meet his soft gaze. The fact that he wasn't pushing her for answers made it easier to explain. "I don't know why I'm so freaked out. I'm usually fine but tonight… I don't know. For some reason the past just came out of nowhere and blind-sided me. I started thinking about all the horrible things I did for Grant, or because of him… I'm terrified of being that person again! I don't want to be like that, but I'm scared… I was that person for so long that I'm not sure I know how to be any other way!"
David's heart ached seeing the fear and pain in her beautiful eyes. He hadn't realized before now how much Harrison had damaged her. The level of rage he felt towards this man he'd never met surprised him. He could only imagine a level of cruelty that would leave such a brave woman so fearful and broken.
David pushed aside his anger to focus on Cindy. "I want you to listen to me. I have watched you make some incredible strides over these past few weeks. Admittedly, I wasn't there to see how you were with your ex, but I have seen who you are now, who you're becoming. And I can tell you for an absolute certainty that my friend Cindy is worth more than a thousand 'Mrs. Grant Harrison's. If anyone tries to tell you differently just point them in my direction and I'll straighten them out, alright?"
Tears rolled down Cindy's cheeks as she stared spellbound at the man in front of her. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. The fact that a man as incredible as David Halliday had confidence in her made her feel capable of reinventing herself the way he claimed she was already doing. She saw David's forehead wrinkle with remorse. "I said something stupid, didn't I?" he asked as he gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I'm sorry, the last thing I wanted to do was to make you cry. I seem to have an uncanny knack for sticking my foot in my mouth lately."
Cindy shook her head and laughed a little as she said, "No, that's not it… I'm crying because… hell I don't know why I'm crying! But don't apologize to me. I can't think of the last time that I felt this good about myself. And that's all because of you." She gently pulled one of her hands out of his grasp and laid it against his cheek. Cindy looked him directly in the eyes and said, "You know what? I am officially declaring this as my own personal 'Independence Day'. I'm going to let go of who I was and everything I did and just look to the future." Her smile faded to a soft line as she whispered, "Who needs cookouts and fireworks when I've got you, David Halliday?"
Cindy didn't think about the "just friends" policy as she leaned over and pressed her lips against his. It wasn't meant to be a kiss of passion, more of a "thank you" in the only way she could think of to express it. It was a brief kiss not intended to incite anything at all. But sometimes, even the best of intentions go awry.
When Cindy's lips unexpectedly brushed against his, David's thought processes immediately scrambled under the crushing weight of his passion for her. He absently wondered if she'd felt the spark that had flown through him from that brief contact. His silent question was answered when he saw Cindy's hand leave his cheek to touch her own lips, an expression of wonder emerging on her face. The sight of her pulling her bottom lip into her mouth to quickly wet it with her tongue was his undoing. With a faint groan of surrender, he reached for her in the same instant that she threw herself toward his arms.
Their mouths met open with the heat and longing they had both tried to suppress. David cupped her head in his hands and kissed her like he'd die if she pulled away from him. Cindy had no thoughts of pulling away. She pressed her lips hard against his, aching inside to feel every part of him. Sitting beside him didn't allow her to get as close as she wanted. She rose up on her knees while holding his head in her hands. Subconsciously, she feared that if she let his lips leave hers that he'd remember that they weren't going to do this. Conscious thought wasn't possible in her passion-drugged state. With her mouth still open over his, Cindy swung her knee across both his thighs so she ended up straddling David's lap. Their mouths separated as Cindy arched her neck to take a long shuddering breath.
Cindy's fear that having their mouths apart would bring David to his senses was unfounded. Having her pressed against him caused any remaining restraint fly out the window. Seeing the arched column of her throat in front of him, David leaned forward to place his open mouth against the exposed skin. Cindy gasped at the feeling of his hot breath and lips on her neck. She had to choke back a cry of pure pleasure when his tongue shot out to caress the tender skin at the base of her throat. Unable to withstand the waiting any longer, she brought her head back down to capture his lips, nipping at his mouth with her own. Soon the quick teasing kisses were not enough. David lost patience first and grasped her head in his hands to fully capture her mouth once more.
Cindy felt the fire building deep inside her and ached for David to release it. As their lips and tongues continued dancing, she reached down to push aside the fabric of his jacket. She impatiently yanked on his bow tie, undoing it with a single pull. With that disposed of, she fervently worked at the fastenings of his dress shirt until it was open to the waist. Her hands plunged past the gaping fabric to touch the flesh of his chest. A thrill of satisfaction raced through her as her red tipped fingers raked lightly up his chest and over his shoulders.
David felt his heart jump as Cindy's nails trailed teasing paths across his chest and shoulders. The bolt of pure fire that rocketed through him had the effect of making him realize what he was doing. That thought was completely unwelcome as it recalled to him the vow he'd made regarding not taking advantage of the passionate woman in his arms. He wanted her so badly that he almost told his scruples to go take a nap until he was ready to deal with the resulting guilt. But as much as he wanted to ignore the prickling of his conscience, he knew it would be destructive to do so. If he didn't care about Cindy as much as he did it wouldn't matter. But he did care, and that was why he had to stop before they went too far.
David consciously slowed the kisses rather than pulling away abruptly. He knew that Cindy's ego was fragile and he didn't want to hurt her. The best way was to break away slowly - it was also the hardest way when every nerve in his body was screaming out for more. Cindy wasn't making it easy either by trying to add fuel to a fire that he was already having trouble controlling.
David eventually, reluctantly, pulled his lips away and waited for her to look at him. Cindy's lids raised slowly and she looked down into his upturned face with eyes that silently begged him not to stop. Seeing her look at him that way nearly broke David's will but he held himself in check. Now came the tricky part: how to keep from hurting Cindy while doing what he thought was best for her. He carefully chose his tone before he spoke. "Well… that was… unexpected." David gave himself a mental kick. Real smooth Halliday. That was precisely the wrong thing to say.
Cindy nearly panicked. Good Lord, look what you've done now. The poor guy doesn't know what to say. Realizing that this wasn't a conversation they should have while she was straddling his lap, Cindy quickly scrambled off him and returned to her previous position on the cushion next to him. "Um-hmm, unexpected, it certainly was that… Not that it wasn't… nice."
David nodded emphatically. "Yep, nice… it certainly was nice." Someone please shoot me now. I have turned into a babbling idiot… Why am I getting an eerie feeling of déjà vu from that phrase? David cleared his throat and said, "Look, I think the best thing to do right now is for us to go to bed…" God, please strike me mute before I say anything else. "To sleep on things… I mean, I…"
Cindy smiled and held up a hand to halt his disjointed thoughts. "I know what you meant, David. It's ok, you know. I realize this was some strange fluke. There's probably a full moon tonight or something. You and I both know this will probably never happen again. Let's just leave it at that and move on, ok?" David stared in stunned silence as Cindy stood up and grabbed her shoes. "Goodnight David, I'll see you in the morning." Cindy was walking into her room when David finally had the presence of mind to reply, "Goodnight, Cindy. Sweet dreams." He saw her smile as the door closed behind her. He stood up and stared at her door as he walked toward his own room. "Sweet dreams" he muttered as he entered his room and closed the door behind him.
David rapidly shed his tuxedo, carelessly dropping clothing as he aimlessly wandered to the bed. He climbed under the covers and propped himself up against the pillows. Despite his inept handling of the situation, Cindy hadn't seemed like she felt rejected. He'd almost think she didn't want him at all except for the faint red marks she'd left on his chest with her nails. That type of fire wasn't inspired by gratitude. His body tautened at the memory of her pressed tightly against him. David was still puzzled by her reaction to him pulling away. Was it possible he'd made a mistake? Maybe she was more certain of herself than he'd realized.
David shook his head at the self-serving thought. She'd been truly shaken by what had happened at the party. If he'd let things go any farther than they had, he would have been taking advantage of her. The more likely explanation for her actions was a desire to make him think she was ok so he wouldn't beat himself up. David wished he could know what she was thinking right then. What he did know was that he couldn't allow what had happened between them tonight to be repeated. Not for a very long time.
Cindy couldn't seem to keep the faint smile off her lips as she pulled her negligée over her head and climbed into bed. Not that she really wanted to; she hadn't had something to smile about for ages so she wanted to enjoy the sensation.
At first when he'd pulled away, she'd felt hurt and rejected. She had thought for a moment that he didn't really want her, that he was only trying to make her feel better. But the way he'd looked at her, and the awkward way he'd desperately tried to spare her feelings, had convinced her otherwise. She'd been dealing with Grant and his twisted way of expressing love for so long that it was hard for her to grasp the reasoning of a decent man. Cindy was startled when she ultimately realized that David had thought he was doing what was best for her. Though Cindy couldn't agree with his logic, she understood it and appreciated his careful treatment of her. And to think, all this time she'd been sure that he didn't want her. What had happened a few minutes ago proved that he did; now she needed to figure out what to do about it.
Cindy tossed back the blankets, got out of the bed, and began pacing the length of the room. She always thought better when she was moving and she needed to plan her next move very carefully.
Despite what she'd said to David, Cindy fully intended to make sure what had happened between them earlier was repeated as soon as possible. Once she had realized that David was keeping his distance out of some misguided sense of chivalry, Cindy knew that she had to play along with him. Using her wiles blatantly would get her nowhere fast. She needed to be more… "Subtle" she said aloud, rolling her eyes.
Cindy lightly bit down on her thumbnail as she paced. "Subtle isn't exactly my strong suit" she muttered disgustedly. Then a determined light entered her eyes. "But I'll figure it out as I go. I've always been good at improvising." Cindy stopped pacing and ran her thumb along her kiss-swollen lips. Her eyes drifted shut as she relived those moments on the sofa with David. When her eyes opened again, she glanced over at the closed door and said, "Who needs fireworks when I've got you, David Halliday."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
July 6, 1999
Cory Publishing
Tess gathered up her day-planner and walked out of her office. As she strode down the short hallway that led to Matt Cory's office, she told herself how the meeting would go. She would conduct herself in a completely professional manner. She would be polite and gracious. She would not blow her cover by landing a roundhouse kick directly in her new boss's solar plexus. The image made her smile to herself.
That smile was still quirking up the sides of her lips when she walked into Matt's office. He stood up, smiling himself but surprised that she was. He'd had the distinct impression after the way she'd reacted at the party that his accidental dunking of her would not soon be forgiven, probably never forgotten. Maybe he'd misjudged her.
Matt walked over toward Tess and gestured toward a pair of large leather armchairs. "Please, have a seat."
Tess sat down in the nearest chair and Matt took the seat across from her. Matt opened by saying, "I never got the chance to properly apologize for the accident at the party. I didn't pay attention to where I was and… anyway, I hope we can put the whole incident behind us."
At the first mention of the party, Tess' smile had dissolved. Her face glazed over with icy anger at the vividly remembered humiliation. She wasn't used to being surprised by anything and the lack of control she'd felt still stung her agent's pride. Her voice was harsh as she stiffly replied, "We're not here to talk about social activities. I think it's best if we stick strictly to business."
Matt was taken aback by her swift change in expression and the poorly disguised fury in her voice. He almost apologized again but then thought better of it. The less he reminded her of what had happened the sooner they could get past it. "You're absolutely right. We should discuss business. As you know, Cory is looking to find profitable expansion opportunities in our European markets." Matt picked up a stack of bound folders and handed them to Tess. "These are some of the deals we're considering. I want you to read them over and give me your input on what you think the best prospects are."
When Matt said nothing else, Tess couldn't hide her incredulity. "That's all the instruction you're going to give me? I thought you'd want me to familiarize myself with how Cory currently does business before I make any recommendations."
Matt shook his head. "That's exactly what I don't want. There are a lot of benefits to having a family run business. One of the drawbacks is that people tend to get hung up on tradition. I want to take advantage of the fact that you haven't worked here for fifteen years. I'd like to see how a fresh pair of eyes sees the future of this company." Matt stood up and a wry smile turned his lips. "Another challenge facing a family owned company is that most people are too reserved about expressing their true opinion to someone who carries the family name. Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem for you."
Tess couldn't help admiring Matt's open acknowledgment of her hostility toward him. It showed he wasn't afraid of a confrontation. She fully intended to pick up the gauntlet he'd thrown down. Tess gathered the folders and stood up, meeting Matt's eyes with direct challenge. "No problem at all, Mr. Cory."
"We're pretty informal around here. I hope you'll be comfortable calling me Matt. Most of us are on a first name basis at Cory."
Tess cocked up an auburn brow and smiled thinly. "I understand completely. I will finish my analysis by next week… Mr. Cory."
Matt didn't know whether to laugh at Tess' impertinence or be insulted by it. As Tess walked out of his office, Amanda walked in. Tess called out a cheerful, "Hello, Amanda" as she strode past, giving Matt his answer.
Amanda closed Matt's office door and turned to face him with a bright smile. "Well your meeting must have gone better than you thought it would. Tess was practically glowing when she left here."
Matt shook his head and chuckled. "Don't jump to any conclusions. The reason she was so happy was because you gave her the perfect opportunity to score a direct hit on me." At Amanda's questioning glance, Matt said, "Never mind. All I'm going to say is that Tess Richardson has no intention of forgetting what happened at the house any time soon."
"I'm really sorry, Matt. Maybe I shouldn't have hired her without you here."
Matt held up a hand and said, "No. I agree with you that she's the perfect person for the job. She'll be a real shot in the arm for Cory." Matt stared at the door Tess had exited moments ago. "She's exactly what we need."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amanda was packing her briefcase when there was a light rapping on the door. She was about to say come in when the door opened. Amanda smiled widely as Cameron walked in saying, "I heard there's an executive somewhere in this building who's in need of a ride home. Can you point me in the right direction?"
Amanda walked over to him with a grin on her face. "Ah, you must be the driver I called for. Where's your chauffeur's license?"
Cameron cocked up an eyebrow at her teasing. "Are you asking to see my credentials?"
"A girl can't be too careful these days. I'm assuming you'll provide a full service experience."
Cameron's voice was husky as he leaned in to whisper next to her ear, "What exactly did you have in mind, ma'am?"
Amanda smiled and sighed contentedly as her husband began kissing her neck. "You're certainly off to a good start with what you're doing right now." Cameron brought his lips to hers and for several minutes, they exchanged hot, fervent kisses. When they broke away, Amanda took a deep breath and her eyes flared. "Now that's what I call full service."
Cameron took her briefcase and slid his arm around her waist. As he led her out of the office he said, "You ain't seen nothin' yet." As they walked out of the building, Cameron gestured toward the road and said, "Your carriage awaits, my lady."
Amanda looked over to see a horse drawn carriage waiting at the edge of the sidewalk. Cameron led her toward it and said, "I thought we could take a quick ride through the park before heading home. What do you say?"
Amanda was rendered speechless for a moment as her eyes opened wide in amazement. She gave Cameron a sidelong glance as she smiled slowly. It was only as Cameron helped her into the carriage that she was able to speak. "I say that I have the world's most romantic husband and I dare anyone to try and prove otherwise."
The carriage pulled away and headed for the park entrance. Amanda curled up against Cameron's side as they rode under the branches of the oak trees that hung across the path. Cameron had his arm around Amanda's shoulders and his hand lightly caressed her arm. Things seemed so peaceful with nothing but the beautiful scenery surrounding them. Cameron could almost forget that there was a dark cloud hovering over their lives. Almost. Pushing it away was easy, but he would never be able to forget. Never.
When their turn around the park was over, Cameron paid the driver and led Amanda to his car. As they drove home, Amanda started talking about Matt's difficulties with the new Cory employee, Tess Richardson. Cameron chuckled and said, "I feel for Matt. That Tess is a real spitfire."
Cameron cringed inwardly as soon as the words left his lips. Amanda looked at him quizzically and asked, "What makes you say that?"
Cameron tried to shrug it off. "I don't know. That's just the impression I got."
Amanda smiled and said, "You always have been good at reading people. I'm hoping that Matt and Tess can work through their differences. I think she could be really good for him if she'd give him a chance."
Cameron tensed slightly. He didn't like the tone of Amanda's voice when she made that comment. "What do you mean, she could be good for him?"
Amanda laughed a little. "Isn't it obvious? Matt has been in a funk ever since Lila left him to be with Cass. Tess presents the kind of challenge he needs right now."
Cameron's tone became cautionary. "Amanda, you aren't thinking of playing matchmaker for those two, are you?"
"Why not? She's available, beautiful, smart."
"And openly hostile to your brother." Cameron offered. "Don't try to start anything between those two Amanda. It's a bad idea."
Amanda's brow wrinkled with confusion at her husband's obvious opposition to her trying to set up her brother with Tess. "Would you care to explain yourself? Why shouldn't Matt be with Tess?"
Cameron thought quickly and replied, "It's not specifically Tess that's the problem. Like you said, Lila's leaving really hurt Matt. The last thing he needs right now is a rebound relationship. One or both of them will end up hurt."
Amanda defiantly crossed her arms over her chest. "I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this subject."
Realizing that making an issue of this wasn't going to help matters, Cameron simply grinned and said, "Isn't the first time, probably won't be the last."
When they walked in the front door of the house, Amanda called out for Alli. Instead, she found Claudia, who informed her that Alli had gone to Carlino's to have ice cream with Sean McKinnon. Claudia also said that Rachel and Carl had taken the twins on an outing and weren't expected back for several hours. Amanda thanked her and turned to face her husband. "Looks like we're on our own for dinner. What do you want?"
Cameron looped his arms around her waist and said, "That's an excellent question. What do you want?"
Amanda flared her eyes at him and replied, "You know, I had a late lunch and I'm not really hungry yet." She lifted her lips to his and whispered against his mouth, "You want to help me work up an appetite?"
Cameron teased her lips with his, then said, "I suppose we could run. That would probably kick start some hunger pangs."
Amanda smiled seductively and said, "I'm getting a sudden craving as we speak."
Cameron grinned back at her. "Glad to hear it." He abruptly pulled back and ran for the stairs. "Race you!" he called out as he mounted the steps two at a time.
Amanda bolted after him and laughingly yelled, "Cheater! I'm going to make you pay for that one!" As she sped through the open bedroom door, Amanda felt Cameron's arms encircle her waist and she squealed with surprised laughter. Her laughter dissolved as his voice whispered in her ear, "Promise?"
Amanda turned in his arms and said "Promise" before pressing her mouth to his. Cameron kicked the door shut and they crossed toward the bed while shedding clothing and exchanging kisses. As they sank down onto the soft mattress, the love and passion they felt for each other overshadowed promises of retribution. For that period of time, there was nothing in the world but the feelings between them that grew stronger every day. Cameron and Amanda took their time expressing those feelings fully, never realizing that fate was about to test their love yet again.
Cameron stroked Amanda's hair as he watched her sleep. This was as close to heaven as anyone could be. He snuggled closer to her, never able to get her close enough. He sighed as he pressed a kiss on the top of her head. Cameron stared out at the darkening sky. He could not help drawing a parallel between the setting sun and the current state of affairs in his life. The hues of red and pink in the sunset represented Amanda, his relationship with Gary and the Corys, and everything beautiful in his life. The darkness looming and diminishing the beauty of the sunset represented those things threatening to steal his happiness. Cameron closed his eyes in a childish gesture, thinking that shutting out the scene before him would make it go away. When he opened his eyes, the darkness remained.
Cameron lifted his eyes toward the ceiling and whispered out loud, "I need your help. Tell me what to do."
When there was no immediate answer, Cameron sighed heavily. He looked down at Amanda once more before he closed his eyes and drifted into a restless sleep.