Authors: Cheryl Douglas
Avery shook her head in agreement. “I hate to say it, but Luc’s right. Besides, you’re being naïve if you don’t think the paparazzi are going to be all over her. If she has any skeletons in her closet, they’ll find them. That’s why we have to find them and expose them first, so we can be proactive… put our own spin on it.”
He hated knowing that he had put Sierra in a position to be picked apart by the vultures in the media. The only mistake she made was trusting him again. “Fine, do what you have to do, but I want a full report before you prepare any statements.”
“You got it, boss.”
***
Sierra stared at her cell phone, her finger poised over the ignore button until her conscience interceded. “Hey, sis, what’s up?”
“You’re asking me what’s up. What the hell?” Lexi asked.
Sierra settled onto the bed, preparing for a long lecture. Her sister had strong opinions about everything and Trey was no exception. “I guess you’ve heard?”
“Of course I’ve heard. I live in Little Rock, not under a rock.”
Sierra chuckled. At least her sister was able to maintain her sense of humour. She wished she could say the same. “I haven’t turned on the TV, radio, or computer since Eric called a few hours ago. To be honest, I don’t want to hear what people are saying about me, at least not yet.”
“Speaking of Eric, what did he have to say about all of this?”
Sierra settled her feet under the turned down duvet. In fact, she would like to bury herself under the covers and shut off the phone. “It’s over. The engagement is off.”
“At least something good has come of this.”
Sierra winced. Her sister was many things, but sensitive was not one of them. “Thanks for the support, Lexi.”
“Hey, you know how I feel about him. He’s arrogant, bossy, controlling, and manipulative. Need I go on?”
She snuggled under the covers, curling up in the fetal position. “No, I’ve heard it all before.”
“Good, then I won’t have to waste my breath. Now, about that ex of yours...”
“You love Trey.”
“You’re right, I do. But I don’t love the way he treated you toward the end; he was an insensitive jerk.”
“Do you think I tried hard enough to save my marriage, Lexi?” The pregnant pause spoke volumes. “You don’t think I should have divorced him, do you?”
Lexi sighed. “No, I don’t. Trey loved you, and I know you loved him. He may have had his faults, but don’t we all?”
Sierra thought about her own laundry list of faults, and Trey’s didn’t seem so inexcusable. “Why didn’t you say something at the time?”
“I was twenty-three years old when you and Trey started having problems. Who the hell was I to give you advice about relationships? I’m still no expert, but if Trey wanted me, I sure as hell wouldn’t be wasting my time with someone who’s old enough to be my father and can’t satisfy me...”
“Enough, Lexi.”
“Anyways, this is all a moot point if the redhead is having his kid, right?”
Sierra bolted up in bed, her heart thumping in her chest. “What did you say?”
Lexi groaned. “Are you telling me you didn’t know his girlfriend was pregnant?”
“His girlfriend; you mean Megan?”
“Yeah, says here her name is Megan Scott. She’s a model slash actress.” Lexi chuckled. “Aren’t they all?”
“I met her last night at Jared’s birthday party.”
Lexi laughed. “I saw the pictures; it looks like some party. I’m sorry I had to miss it.”
Sierra blushed. She could only imagine what those photos revealed, but that was suddenly the least of her worries. “I can’t believe she’s pregnant.” She thought of the woman flaunting her toned little body while tipping back expensive glasses of Bordeaux. “She sure as hell didn’t look or act pregnant last night.”
“Apparently, they’ve only been dating a few months. If she’s only a couple of months along, you wouldn’t have been able to tell, right?”
She couldn’t believe this was happening. She was finally in a place where she’d allowed herself to believe that she and Trey may have a future together only to find out he’d already committed to being some other woman’s sperm donor. “I can’t believe this, Lex. What am I going to do now?”
“I take it you’re still in Nashville?”
“Yeah, I promised Edna and Jimmy I’d help them out at the bar for a few weeks.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea, under the circumstances?”
“I don’t know...” A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “There’s someone at the door. I’ve gotta go.”
“Wait, make sure it’s not a reporter. You know they’re going to be hounding you for the next little while.”
She pulled her hand through her hair, massaging her scalp. “God, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Maybe you should just go home and lay low for a while, huh? Or better yet, why don’t you come here and spend a couple of weeks with me?”
The knocking persisted, distracting her from her thoughts. “Yeah, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll call you back and let you know what I decide.”
“If you need me, I can be there before you know it.”
Sierra smiled in spite of her heartache. “Thanks, honey. I love you.”
“What are sisters for? Talk to you later.”
Sierra tightened the sash on her short, black bathrobe, wishing she had time to put clothes on before answering the door. She stood on her tippy-toes to look through the peephole.
Trey.
She considered telling him to go away, but she knew she had to see him eventually. Might as well get it over with.
She opened the door and stood just behind it so hotel guests wouldn’t have to witness her state of undress. “Come in,” she said, quietly.
His eyes travelled the length of her body before finally settling on her eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“Eric told me about the pictures. Lexi told me about the pregnancy. Anything else you’d like to share?” She didn’t know if she could stand to hear anymore.
He walked over to the bank of windows stretching across one end of the small room. He pulled the heavy brocade curtains closed, making sure they were secure. “The paparazzi have been doggin’ me all day. They’re outside the building now. Hotel security can try to keep them off the premises, but they’ll still be waitin’ outside when I go down.”
“Where’s your security team?”
“They’re monitoring the halls, securing the elevators and stairwells.”
She pulled the sash around her robe tighter, conscious of the gaping neckline. She felt ridiculous being self-conscious in front of a man who had seen her naked more times than she could count, but things were different now. “How did you find out which room I was in? I didn’t think hotel staff was allowed to divulge that information.”
He laughed. “Honey, celebrities can buy just about anything in this town. It may not be right, but that’s the way it is. Are you upset that I came?”
She looked up at him, noticing the faint circles under his eyes. She wondered if he’d had a drink today, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. “No, we need to talk.”
He dropped onto the bed, propping his elbows on his knees as he lowered his head. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess, Sierra.”
She felt his pain, but she was too busy feeling sorry for their loss to pity him. She had finally been ready to trust him with her heart, and instead, he’d broken it all over again. “I guess this is good-bye, Trey.”
He looked up at her, appearing stunned. “What are you talkin’ about? You’re leavin’?”
She lowered herself to the bed beside him, careful to keep a respectable distance between them.
“You need to be a father to your child.”
He reached for her hand, but she pulled back, just out of reach. “If this baby is mine, I will be in their life, but that doesn’t mean you and I can’t...”
She held up her hand to halt his words. “Yes, it does. I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”
“Why the hell not? I know you still love me, Sierra. Why won’t you give us another chance?”
Her love and hatred for this man continued to rage an all-consuming war inside her. Couldn’t he see what he was doing to her? Was he selfish enough to ask her to play step-mommy to a child that would be a constant reminder of everything she’d had and lost?
“I couldn’t watch you raise a child with another woman. That may be wrong. It may be selfish of me, but that’s how I feel. I would end up resenting you and I don’t want things to end that way.”
He fixated on the floor. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to let you go again.”
She shifted closer, resting her hand on his back. “I’m glad I came back. Glad we had this time to sort things out, get some closure so we can both move on with our lives.”
He looked up, his eyes locking on hers. “You had a nice life going until I came along and turned it upside down. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head sadly. “No, I was just trying to convince myself I was happy. I wasn’t.”
He shifted closer. “What do you mean?”
“I was going through the motions, engaged to a man I didn’t love, living in an apartment that didn’t feel like home.” She looked away, ashamed to admit her failures to a man who had succeeded at almost everything he had ever attempted. He would never be able to understand her shortcomings. “The only thing I am sure about is my career. I’ve poured my heart into the foundation and it’s helped to fill a void in my life. I feel like I’m making a difference, helping those people in some small way.”
He took her hand in his. “I’m so proud of you.”
She wanted to tell him that his praise still meant everything to her. “Thanks.”
He rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand. “You mentioned Eric...”
She watched his thumb move up her arm, tracing lazy circles over her pulse point. “I ended things with him.”
His hand stilled. “Why?”
“He found out what happened last night.” She sighed. “Obviously, he was furious. He said some hurtful things that made me realize he wasn’t the man I thought he was.”
He looked her in the eyes, his gaze falling to her lips. “Is that the only reason?”
“No.”
She allowed her focus to shift to his lips for a nanosecond, but that’s all the invitation he needed. He leaned in closer, close enough to entice her with his familiar scent, and she was lost. Lost in the memories of the life they once shared, lost in the memory of the pleasure only he could promise. She knew it was wrong. They could never be together; he needed to be a father to his child and she needed to move on, learn how to give her heart and body to another man, but she decided to ignore the practical and focus on the possible. It had been so long, too long, since she had felt the exquisite pleasure of being joined with another person, feeling his hands all over her body, focused only on bringing her pleasure.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer, parting her lips in invitation.
He groaned, his hands spanning her waist as his mouth settled on hers. It was tentative at first, as he let her set the pace.
She was beyond the point of no return, beyond the point where logic dictated her actions. She was too deep in the sensations, his hands slipping inside her robe, searing her skin. His hot, slick tongue probed her mouth, demanding more.
“Trey,” she whispered, bracing her hands on his shoulders so she could climb onto his lap. She felt the rough brush of denim against her sensitive, swollen flesh and she ached with the desire to give in to the climax that was building deep inside. “I need you.”
He slid the robe off her shoulders, kissing and licking the exposed skin. “I need you too, baby.” He fisted his hands in her hair, pulling her head back so he had access to the sweet spot at the base of her throat. He licked and sucked the sensitive skin, swirling his tongue over her skin until she was grinding into him, begging for release.
He flipped her over, pinning her on the bed beneath him. “No, we’re gonna take this nice and slow. I’ve been waiting five long years for this, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna rush it.” He leaned up, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it to the floor.
She wrapped her legs around him while reaching for his belt buckle.
“Let me,” he said, standing.
She watched him make quick work of undressing and marveled at how little his body had changed in the last five years. Same powerful thighs, wide chest with a dusting of dark hair, broad shoulders, honed biceps, and washboard stomach. Her mouth watered just looking at him.
She began to panic. How would she ever be able to give herself to another man? This image of Trey would be burned in her memory every time she tried to be intimate with another lover.
She forced herself to take a deep breath; she wasn’t going to ruin this by dwelling on tomorrow. She would find a way to forget, to move on, but today, she was going to enjoy living in the moment.
“Dammit,” he whispered, climbing on top of her. “I don’t have protection.” He stared hungrily at her naked breasts. “I didn’t expect this to happen.”
Now would be the time to tell him the truth. The odds of her having any more children were slim to none. She’d found out shortly after Callie died, but he was gone and she knew their marriage was coming to an end, so she didn’t feel the need to tell him about her diagnosis. “It’s okay,” she whispered.
He stroked her breast, drawing her taut nipple between his fingertips. “You’re on the pill?”
She closed her eyes, partially because she was enjoying the sensation and partially because she couldn’t look him in the eye and lie to him. This was a one-time deal; he would never have to know the truth. “It’s not the right time.”
“Open your eyes and look at me, Sierra.” He waited until she acquiesced. “I have been with other women, but I swear to you I’ve been careful. I don’t know how this thing with Megan happened, I...”
She placed her fingertips over his mouth. “Sssh.” She didn’t want to be reminded about the woman who was carrying the baby she would never be able to give him. “It’s okay. I trust you, Trey.” She realized it was true. She did trust him, in spite of everything that had happened.
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. He kissed her gently. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”