Sensual Chocolate (8 page)

Easing her body away from his, he gave her one of his half smiles, the false smile he used to keep women at a distance. “Alright then, crumpet. It was a lovely evening, but all good things must come to an end.”

He stepped back, seeing the wounded look in her eyes a second before she exhaled a breath and flashed him a bright smile. “Well, drive safe. I’m going to finish my shower before my assistant gets here.”

There wasn’t much else for him to say. He couldn’t make promises to her. Hell he
hadn’t
made promises to her. The best thing for them both was for him to do what he should’ve done when he awakened, leave.

“I’ll see you around.”

“Probably not, but that’s how it’s supposed to be, right?” She turned away and grabbed the purple puff from the shower rack.

“Right.” He couldn’t deny it. Opening the shower door, he exited. Closing it behind him, sealing her in, he grabbed a towel from the rack and walked away.

****

“Okay, Jolie, we have the Rayners who should be checking in this morning. The McCalls who will come sometime before three and…” Tasha stood at the bottom of the stairs and continued to rattle off the list of clients expected in that day.

It was the last weekend of March and every bungalow was reserved. Business had been booming for the last six and a half weeks. Three different honeymooners had paid extra to stay five days instead of the normal three full days. Word of mouth must have gotten around because when she didn’t have clients in residence she had been doing multiple back-to-back tours. She hardly had a moment to catch her breath. She had to admit to herself she was glad for the diversion, it kept her mind off Trenton during the day. The nights were another matter all together. She frequently caught herself staring at her phone as if she expected it to ring. But he wasn’t going to call. She was sure it wasn’t his M.O.

In a month, she would be looking towards hiring a second assistant, especially before summer arrived.

This morning she had called Tasha and asked her to come in earlier, her body needed sleep. Over the last two weeks she had felt exhausted to the point of sickness each morning.

Jolie descended the last few remaining steps. “Thanks for coming in and getting everything moving this morning.”

Smiling, Tasha waved her hand away. “I didn’t mind I was already up.”

“Have the Middleton’s checked out yet?” She led the way into the office, she wanted to get something to eat this morning but her stomach was doing the weird flip again. She quickly made it to the chair behind the desk and sat.

“Yes, their keys were in the front box when I got here.” Tasha had her head tilted to the side and was staring at her.

“Great. I’ll go investigate the bungalow. Once I’ve checked that everything is in order I’ll give Dusting Diva’s a call to come out to clean and flip it.” Her assistant was still giving her a strange look. “What? Have I grown a second head?”

“No. You just look as if you’ve eaten a slug.”

Just the thought of a slimy bug in her mouth made her ill, causing her stomach to churn even more. “I think I’m coming down with a late winter virus. Weather changing too fast. I just need some fresh air.”

“Okay. I’ll make you some tea. See if that helps.”

“Thanks.” Opening the drawer she pulled out a box and removed the master key ring. She stood, gripping the corner of the desk for a moment until she was steady. “I’m headed to bungalow three. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.”

“Okay. I’ll get started on cataloging the storage room so you can do the ordering later.”

“Perfect.” Jolie hustled out the back door as quick as she could. Outside she stood on the back porch and inhaled the fresh, crisp air. Once she felt more balanced and at ease she continued on her way.

Entering the house, the cloying, saccharin scent of chocolate hit her in the face like the stench from a dump truck. The vegetable soup she’d had late last night began to make a return visit. She rushed back out the door, perplexed at how the heavy aroma of chocolate that in the past was like a pleasant and warm blanket now turned her inside out. Not in a good way.

Stumbling and weaving she hurried to her house. She didn’t want to get sick by the pool and risk one of the guests still occupying two of the bungalows to see her.

Bursting into the house she ran toward the stairs and froze.

“Hello, Jolie, it’s good to see you again. This is my wife, Celeste.” Stiles Rayner stood before her with a woman who was blonde and as pretty as a doll. Together they looked like Ken and Barbie.

“I’ve heard great things about this place. Nice to meet you.” Celeste stepped forward to shake her hand.

I’m going to be sick.
“I’m sorry, but I need to—”

She’d have to pay Tasha a big bonus next Christmas for fast thinking. In a second, her assistant had the trashcan from the office within reach. It was too late to get away, Jolie realized. Snatching the bin she turned and dropped to her knees, emptying her stomach of its contents onto crumpled pink message sheets and order forms.

Someone was rubbing her back. When Jolie finally came up for air, Stiles was stooped down beside her with a handkerchief held out to her.

“It’s okay. We all have to toss our cookies every now and then.” Stiles gave her a gentle smile.

Taking the thin white material she wiped her mouth and chin, then she started to cry. She wasn’t sure where the emotions came from. Maybe it was because she really wasn’t feeling well. Or the fact that Stiles, Trenton’s brother, was beside her rubbing her back, while Trenton was not. She couldn’t be mad or upset at his disappearing act, she knew what to expect but her heart still missed him and her body wanted him.

Tasha claimed the can as Stiles helped her rise.

Embarrassed, Jolie said, “Please forgive me, I can understand if you and your wife don’t wish to stay.”

“Nonsense,” Stiles declared.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Celeste chimed in.

“I’m going to get Jolie settled upstairs and I’ll be back to get you all to your bungalow.” Tasha took a firm hold of Jolie’s arm and led her up the steps as if she expected her to fall or get sick again.

Two hours later, Jolie was awakened by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“How are you feeling?” Tasha asked.

Pushing herself to a seated position, Jolie gave her friend a weak smile. “Better. I think I have to concede I have the flu or something. I’m going to make an appointment to see my doctor.”

Tasha stood over her. “I think that would be wise.” Shifting from one foot to the other, Tasha assessed her.

“What, Tasha?”

Her assistant shook her head. “This may not be any of my business, but I’ve had three boys…”

“And?” Jolie folded her hands beneath her breast.

“You’re tired all the time. Getting sick. Aversion to smells and food.” Inhaling, Tasha blurted out, “Are you pregnant?”

“What?” That was absurd. “How can I be pregnant? You’ve seen my dating schedule. In the last two years I’ve only been with one—”

As if everything came pouring back into her memory like a bucket of ice water dumped on her head, Jolie knew there was a big possibility. Not because of the multiple times she and Trenton had sex on Valentine’s night, but the one time they hadn’t used a condom. She also realized that in the last six weeks her “Aunt Flow” hadn’t made an appearance.

Glancing over at her nightstand, she saw the wilted, dried and blackened single rose Trenton had given her. A brittle symbol of love from a man who didn’t believe in it.

It was clear that her life was about to change in a major way.

****

He’d dreamed of her for days that turned into weeks. Most nights he found himself awakening in the middle of the night sweating and hard, wanting a taste of her. Needing to feel her by his side and in his arms. Dreaming of reasons he could call her on the phone and just listen to her talk or laugh. He’d give his right kidney to see her smile one more time.

However, it wasn’t in the cards for him. He was a loner who didn’t even want to be one anymore. He just didn’t know how to go about changing his life. It didn’t help that his brother had come to see him last week after his stay at Sensual Chocolate and told him that Jolie was sick. He wanted to go to her and lend her the same comfort she had given to him when he talked about his father.

Sighing, he stared down at the folder before him, comparing three possible contacts with a client’s requirements and wish list. He heard the elevator ding in the distance but he ignored it. It was thirty minutes until the end of the work day on a Friday most people where leaving to start their weekend.

The unexpected tap on the door grabbed his attention. Glancing up, he couldn’t believe who stood there clothed in another sweater dress. This one striped with a wide belt and a different pair of sexy-as-hell boots.

“Jolie.” He stood. She looked like an angel who’d walked out of his dreams.

“Hi, Trenton. I hope I’m not disturbing you.” Her hand fiddled with the edge of the clutch purse under her arm.

Crossing the room he went to her. He wanted to pull her in his arms, but restrained himself. “No. Come in. Have a seat.”

Once she’d moved out of the door and headed to one of the chairs across from his desk, he closed the door. Few people were still here, but he was a private man.

“I’m sorry to show up unannounced.”

He sat on the corner of his desk. “It’s fine.” God he missed her. He wondered if she had been feeling out of sorts as he had since their night together. “You are looking well.”

“Thanks, I think.”

He noted the frown on her face. “Stiles told me he saw you and that you were under the weather.”

The small lines between her brows deepened. “I made a fool of myself in front of him and Celeste.”

Stiles hadn’t given him details. He wondered if there was something more. “Well, it appears you’ve bounced back.”

“Sometimes it just takes the right vitamins to get a girl on her feet again.” She licked her lips, a sign of nerves, then glanced out of his window and sat silent for a moment.

He waited as he wondered what could be so arduous to get out.

Jolie lowered her gaze to her hands folded on her purse, then her topaz eyes rested on him. “I’m pregnant.”

If someone had walked in the door and struck him over the head with a croquet mallet he couldn’t have been more stunned.

“Are you sure?”

“I confirmed it with my doctor yesterday.”

If it had been any other woman he would have asked if it was supposed to be his, but not with Jolie. However, even with it being this woman who he’d thought about for weeks he still couldn’t help feeling the manacles of fear surrounding his heart.

“I don’t understand how it happened.”

She tilted her head. “I never figured I’d have to give you the birds and bees speech.”

He lifted an eyebrow at her. “That’s not what I meant. We were careful.”

“Not every time.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to contradict her and then he recalled the morning he couldn’t force himself to leave. The shower. Shit, he should have left. “Aren’t you on a pill, ring, IUD or something as a back up against slip-ups?”

She made a disgusted sound. “If I had been having any kind of normal sex life before…” Her hand waved back and forth between them. “I would’ve been. You’re Mr. Sexually Sophisticate, I would’ve thought suiting up was second nature to you.”

It always had been until her. However he didn’t say that. Rising he moved to the window beside his desk and stared out at the skyline. The bands around him tightened even more and he fought against them, lashing out at Jolie. “So, what is it that you expect from me?” Allowing his accent to drip heavily from every word, he continued, “Happily ever after and the white picket fence? Is not that the American dream? Trust me; other women have tried to get me to offer the same thing without the baby.”

He knew he was being a complete git but he couldn’t stop himself.

Her gasp drew his gaze back to her. Pushing herself up to her feet, Jolie stood before the chair one hand holding her purse and the other clenched at her side.

Despite her apparent anger her voice was low. “Let’s make one thing clear,
Mr. Rayner
. I can take care of myself and
any
child. I don’t
need
you for anything.” She closed her eyes and inhaled, then exhaled loudly. When she opened them they were filled with pain and sadness. “I just thought that for once in your life you wanted to put aside your hurt and anger and
really
live.”

Trenton didn’t know what to say as he stood there taking the set down she was giving him. He knew what she wanted from him, but he wasn’t sure if it was even in him to give.

Shoving his hands deep in his pocket he watched her reach inside her purse.

“Whenever you decide you’re ready to be a father. Whether that means once a month or never—” she tossed a small card on top of the paperwork he had been reviewing on his desk, “—
ring
me
. The ball is in your court.”

Pivoting in her sexy boots, she strutted to his door and walked out.

She’d pulled one of his tricks on him. One of many things he did to keep a woman off balance and make her come to him, a way of showing her that he was confident enough to wait her out. It was what he had done to Jolie even, played her like any common bird. However he’d been the one flummoxed when it was over.

Stepping to his desk, he picked up the brown card with gold script embossed on it.

He was the one who had pined for her like a love-sick
bloke
, no matter how he tried to deny it. At this moment, he was allowing her to leave his life, carrying his child. All because of the choices his father had made to ruin his own marriage. Now, he was going to sit back and let Atherton Rayner ruin his life even more.

Trenton thought about his child in some activity, staring into the crowd, searching for a father who would never come.

The dinging of the elevator was like a wakeup call. Pulling himself together, he dashed out of his office and down the hall. A few people milled around chatting, but Trenton didn’t care. His only focus was the woman who was about to get inside the elevator and leave him for good.