Reasonable Doubts (13 page)
Authors: Evie Adams
CHAPTER 2 - MARCUS
“You get these bad habits from Dad,” Michael lectured me. “You've been visiting him too long, it makes you forget how to act in the real world.”
“This is the real world? And his is the fake one? Are you so sure about that brother?” He looked at me, disappointed again, and not wanting to get into another argument. I was tired of the arguments too, but since I had resurfaced a month ago for Michaels’s wedding, he had been trying to civilize me, domesticate me, introduce me to some vapid, air-headed, rich young lady. Just because he wanted that didn't mean we all wanted that. But he was a good brother. I was older by two years, and protected him from bullies all my life, now he wanted to protect me from myself, admirable in its way, if misguided.
“I know it comes from a good place brother, but for all of his faults, father's way of taking what he wants has a certain brutish charm, an honest cruelty to it. It worked on Mom after all.”
“Only until she could get away from him. And you are not him. But maybe that woman, Anna from last night? She asked me about you, after the event. Or actually, she told me you were an asshole, and I of course agreed with her. You must have insulted her, like you always do. I can see it now, she threw you off balance somehow, you’re all of balance even now, talking about her. But she's not the sort you carry off with you.”
A low blow there. Anna had an interesting sort of charm, not the vapid air-headed beauty I had become bored with over the last month or so. Getting a rise out of any of them, or an opinion on anything was more of a challenge than getting them to my hotel room, so I took to insulting them out of boredom. But she ignored me, she ended our conversation and then ignored me. She was polite and cool, and said all the right things, but underneath she told me to go fuck myself. It was fantastic to get that rise out of her. She must have heard some rumors about me, but did not fear me, did not seem swayed by my money or power or reputation. That was something I hadn't felt for a long time - excitement.
After I left, I knew that I would need to see her again, it was unfortunate she seemed to hate me and that she had a boyfriend, but when I watched her that night with Tom or Tommy whatever he was, I saw a girl and her brother, someone who was sweet and kind to her, but didn't interest her or excite her. She was a lioness and lions do not care for antelope. Natural instincts take over at some point.
“What would you suggest then brother?” I asked him, genuinely.
“My older brother wants some advice about women? Well, this is a special day. But why wouldn't you ask me? Happily married, devilishly handsome, amazingly successful Senator, deliriously happy. You want some of this don't you?” He teased.
“
State
senator,” I corrected him. I could stand up and put him in a headlock like usual, but I graciously decided to let him have his moment. “Yes, I'd like your great wisdom and advice, but without being an ass about it, if you can.”
“No deal.” He snapped. “I don't get many chances to be condescending to my older brother so I'm going to take advantage of it. You see, dear brother, women are not a different species, they are remarkably like us underneath it all. I know you're scared, but . . . ”
I jumped up and wrestled him to the ground. There was only so much I could take. He was a lot stronger than he was a few years ago, the last time we wrestled, but I managed to pin him to the ground, his hands wrapped under him and I kissed him on the lips.
I let him up, having won. “Okay,” he panted. “First, that's not the way to romance anyone, not your brother and not her.” He wiped his lips off with his cuff. “But I know where she'll be tonight, come along with me and Sara again and
pretend
you're not an asshole. Talk to her as if you cared what she thinks, pretend you want to fuck her, which unless that kiss was for real, you of course do, though I was more sure a minute ago. Be a human being for a night and see what happens. I bet you'll enjoy it.”
I could try it for a night I guess, but I didn't have to like it. And if she was really the woman for me, she wouldn't like it all that much either. If nice worked, that would at least get her off of my mind, after I fucked her.
CHAPTER 3 - ANNA
Today my bath would not be interrupted. There was another fundraising event tonight, but this time Tommy had to organize it, so I would only need to be there and help out. I had the next week or so off completely after tonight, and I expected to do absolutely nothing the entire time. I had worked enough the last two months, one day off and 12 hour days the whole way. I deserved a rest.
I didn't sleep well last night. Part of it was Tommy talking about this event, and how if it went well, he might get a promotion or a job offer from the National party, potentially somewhere across the country, which meant we would have to have 'the talk'. Whether we move together and see what happens or just end it. Having 'the talk' meant I would have to figure out what the hell I wanted. The only thing I knew is I wanted adventure and excitement, and Tommy, for all of his wonderful qualities, was not adventure or excitement. He was safe, dependable, rigid maybe.
But even worse than all of that anxiety, was the fact I couldn't stop thinking about those eyes. The dark eyes, like midnight, blue and black at the same time, mesmerizing. Staring at me insolently from the handsome face. Marcus Morgan or Marletti was about a foot taller than me, imposing with a muscular, lean frame, and the dark, swarthy skin made him stick out in a crowd of rich, pasty-white, political fundraiser event guests.
When I closed my eyes, when I tried to empty my mind, those eyes came back, rising up. I told myself to let it go, that he insulted me, and I shouldn't waste another second thinking of him. I rationalized that it was my anxiety about Tommy and life in general that had me looking for a way out. That Marcus, or the illusion or promise of him was this way out, nothing more. The real him would be disappointing. I knew nothing of him, so this fixation would be a fantasy and the real him would be a disappointment. I knew it was the truth of it, but those eyes kept rising out of the steam or out of the darkness when I shut my eyes.
Tommy was busy introducing guests to each other, talking about the event, I forgot whose benefit it was for, for a minute, so it was nice he reminded me, but I felt sort of like an ornament to him. I knew I was more than that, I was moral support. I know how tiring it is to work a room like that, and how important it is to have a friendly face to go to and find in the crowd and bitch and moan about how tired you are of smiling, and all of that. When he left me, I made sure to stay close enough so he could catch my eye if he needed a few moments for that, to compose himself before going back in.
We were about twenty feet away, I was composing myself, in a corner, thinking about food, when Sara Morgan cornered me. She was married to Michael Morgan, the State Senator and soon-to-be Lieutenant Governor, and of course, sister-in-law to the unusual eyes of Marcus Morgan. Just the person I wanted to avoid.
“Two evenings in a row, I can barely stand it and I'm just a guest, nothing to do but be entertained, how tired you must be.” She spoke warmly, her face lit up; it would be easy to hate her if she wasn't so nice and genuine.
“Tonight is Tom's night, not mine. I'm here to be entertained just like you.” I told her.
She didn't buy it. “Nice deflection, but I see you worrying, being ‘on’. If you want to be entertained, I should introduce you to my brother-in-law, Marcus. Where is he?” She turned to scan the room, I felt a flush right away, knowing he was here brought the blood to my skin.
“We've already,” I tried to interrupt her, but it was too late. He stood in front of me again, and his eyes held me before they looked away and down. I was surprised he looked away first, his demeanor and how he carried himself last night was gone today it seemed, his tie seemed too tight, his suit didn't seem to fit him as well, though his muscular frame still stretched it. Those eyes looking down at the ground instead of piercing my soul was totally out of character, he seemed almost meek compared to last night.
“Sara, we met last night, and I'm afraid I was rather rude to her, my apologies,” he said softly. He held out his hand and I was afraid to touch it at first, fearing sparks or something from him, but it too was disappointingly limp.
“If Marcus is going to apologize, then that should be super entertaining for you Anna, it happens so rarely. I'll get us some drinks,” and she left us alone, with the promise to come back.
The silence hung between us when she left. We were in a corner of the room, hidden from most of the rest of the party, I felt uneasy being almost alone with him, Tommy nowhere in sight. Sometimes I babble when I'm nervous, I blurted, “I found your check last night, MMM, Inc., your brother said it was yours. The amount was too much, it could have got the fundraiser in trouble.”
He looked up, and the look on his face was confusion, but only for a second. “You seem like the type who can handle a little trouble.”
He was teasing me or seducing me, or both, I couldn't read him at all, and the uncomfortableness made me angry, “Well, are you going to apologize?” I demanded.
His eyes were the clear color of midnight again, as a smile broke his lips, “I just did as much apologizing as I'm ever going to do. I insulted you last night because I'm so bored with these things and these people, but you interest me. I've been wringing my hands all day trying to decide if I wanted to buy you flowers or a puppy or a house. Meek and afraid and indecisive does not suit me. But it's interesting you could have this effect on me, after just one night. I would beg you to marry me, to see me tomorrow, to let me follow you around like a dog, but neither of us want that do we? It's not in our natures.”
He closed the distance between us in a flash, and wrapped me in his arms, my breasts pushing against his broad chest, and a deep, penetrating kiss coming from him. I struggled, but he squeezed harder and crushed the breath out of me. The more I struggled, the more he held and the deeper he kissed. I felt like I might faint, so I went limp, and he began to release me. I kissed back, slightly, and his grip softened, I did the only thing I could think of, I struck at his weakest spot. My knee came up to meet his crotch and got a piece of him because he winced in pain and released me, I walked past him and found Tommy. No one had seen.
I stayed by Tommy the rest of the night, not daring to look around the room for Marcus, not sure what I would do if I saw him, or if he came up to me.
When we had a moment alone, Tommy brought up the talk we would need to have. “If we raise enough money tonight, there's talk of moving me out to the race in Nevada as early as next week. I know you're on vacation, so why not come with me? Not permanent, but potentially permanent if you want. But if nothing else for a few weeks or a month? A short drive to Vegas out there.”
That was the perfect escape from thinking of Marcus. “Vegas?”
If
it happens, it may not even happen, I reminded myself. “Yes, Vegas.” I agreed immediately.
If.
A few moments later, the aide came up to the both of us, “We just received a check for $50,000. We don't even have to serve dinner now.”
“From who?” I managed to ask.
“Marcus Morgan.” She answered as my stomach hit the floor.