“Something tells me that Ethan will become the last man in your life.”
Simone’s sultry voice pulled Faith from her mental examination. “That’s because you’re probably tired of hearing me complain about the men I’ve dated.”
Simone tapped her horn lightly as she maneuvered around a slow-moving sedan driven by an elderly man. “The guys you’ve gone out with once, I don’t consider dates.”
She stared at her cousin’s delicate profile. “What are they?”
“Horrific encounters of the most awful kind.”
Faith laughed. “Even though we may not see eye to eye on a lot of things, this is one time I have to agree with you, Simone.”
“Our not seeing eye to eye started when I announced my engagement to Tony, and it was obvious you saw things in him I refused to accept.”
“I must admit that Tony fooled me, too, when you first started seeing him. At least then he held down a job.”
Simone emitted an unladylike snort. “That was the first and the last time he had a steady nine-to-five of any duration. Even though I loved him, I got tired of his excuses, praying that if he loved me enough he would change.”
“You shouldn’t want him to change, Simi, no more than you should change to please him. In any relationship we should be willing to accept what’s presented or walk away. I don’t want to change Ethan, but I also don’t want him to try to change me. I’ve accepted who I am, and it’s up to him to take me as I am. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been called a ‘stuck-up bitch,’ but I’d rather be that than become a doormat for a man.”
“I wish I could be more like you and Tessa,” Simone said wistfully. “Tessa said she’d never go out with a man twice if he didn’t open the door for her, or walked three or four steps ahead of her. I used to tell her that she was too picky, but she’d get on me saying that why should she accept anything less than what Daddy did for Mama.”
“She’s right. Our fathers treat our mothers like queens, and as daughters of queens shouldn’t Whitfield princesses be afforded the same respect?”
“Hell, yeah!” Simone said loudly, smiling. Signaling, she turned down the block leading to Faith’s apartment building. Putting the vehicle into Park, she leaned to her right and hugged her cousin. “Love you, Faith.”
Faith hugged and kissed Simone’s soft cheek. “Love you back.”
“The next meeting will be at my place.”
Pulling back, Faith stared at the luminous hazel eyes staring back at her. “I’ll come early and help you cook.”
Simone’s smile was dazzling. “Thanks.”
“Drive carefully, Simi.” She’d warned her because there was a time when Simone, unbeknownst to her family, would drag race with the boys in their neighborhood.
“I will.” She waited for Faith to get out and unlock the front door to her apartment building before executing a perfect three-quarter turn on the narrow street and took off with a burst of speed that left other drivers and pedestrians staring slack-jawed at her.
CHAPTER 15
Ethan stood in the middle of an open space in the first-floor apartment of a brownstone building along a street in East Harlem with a contractor who’d gone over the architect’s plans for the three-story structure. He’d sold all of the properties he’d inherited from his aunt and uncle, but had elected to keep one as collateral. And because the building had been abandoned for years, it would have to undergo a complete renovation.
The contractor pointed to the plans spread out on a board supported by two sawhorses. “Are you certain you want this floor completely open?”
Ethan nodded. “I’m quite certain. Back here,” he said, pointing to an area labeled with CL and BR, “I want a wall of closets, two full bathrooms and one half bath. And, speaking of walls—they all should be made of brick.”
The stocky, ruddy-faced man with a shock of iron-gray hair nodded as he jotted down the specifications for what his client wanted for the grand century-old residence. It wasn’t often that he worked for someone who was as hands-on as Ethan McMillan. He respected the man because he knew exactly what he wanted and was willing to pay for his expertise. Ethan had hired him to put in an industrial kitchen that included walk-in refrigerator and freezer, industrial dishwashers, granite workstations and counters, ceramic floors, a dozen wall ovens, stove-top ranges, hoods and grills all bearing the top-of-line Viking label.
Ethan checked his watch. He’d told Faith he would pick her up at her place at seven, and it was now six-thirty. Extending his hand, he smiled at the contractor. “Thank you, Mr. Janus, for rearranging your schedule to meet with me.”
Christos Janus’s large hand closed on Ethan’s in a viselike grip. “No problem, Mr. McMillan. I will order the materials, and as soon as my men finish up on the job they’re working on, we’ll start here.”
Ethan waited until the contractor locked and secured the building, then made his way to the garage where he’d parked his car. He hadn’t spoken to Faith since dropping her off early Monday morning at the patisserie. Tuesday he’d copiloted the Gulfstream V SP to London for a group of European-based musicians and piloted the return flight earlier that morning. It wasn’t until he sat in the cockpit awaiting the signal to take off that he realized how much he missed flying. Soaring thousands of feet above the ground in the business jet with its EVS and all the comforts of a living room had become a heady experience. The “Enhanced Vision System,” an infrared camera that showed an image of the view in front of the camera on a display, was a sophisticated feature that permitted the aircraft to land in lower visibility conditions than a non-EVS-equipped aircraft. Lloyd Seymour, his Air Force Academy roommate, had brought the G550 in for a smooth landing on a private airstrip despite the thick fog blanketing the London countryside.
Arriving at the garage, he handed his ticket to the parking attendant, paid the fee, then took another glance at his watch. Reaching into the breast pocket of his jacket, he retrieved his cell phone and punched in Faith’s number. The seconds ticked off. New York City was undergoing a thaw, and the streets were teeming with people taking advantage of the summer-like temperatures before winter returned with a vengeance to remind everyone that spring was officially six weeks away.
“Hey, sweetness,” he crooned when he heard her dulcet greeting. “I’m running a little late.”
“So am I. I just walked through the door, and I still have to shower and change my clothes.”
“If you want, we don’t have to go out tonight. I could pick up something and we can eat in.”
“Will you please, Ethan.”
He went completely still. “Are you all right, Faith?”
“I’m okay. I’m just a little tired.”
A frown formed between his eyes. “Tired or exhausted?”
“Just a little tired.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Surprise me, darling.”
Ethan felt his pulse quicken with Faith’s endearment. He loved her, loved her more than he’d loved any woman, and they’d shared that love in the most intimate way possible. She’d willingly come to his bed, yet that wasn’t enough. He wanted her in his life—forever.
“How about Thai?”
“It sounds good.”
“I’ll see you in about an hour.” He smiled when her tinkling laughter came through the earpiece.
“I’ll be here.”
Ethan ended the call at the same time the parking attendant maneuvered down the ramp with his car. He gave the man a tip, slipped behind the wheel and headed downtown.
* * *
Faith heard the deep baritone through the speaker on the intercom and pressed the button to release the lock on the downstairs outer door. She unlocked and opened the door to her apartment and waited for Ethan, her heart beating a runaway rhythm when she saw him coming up the staircase with a shopping bag and leather carry-on bag in each hand.
An inviting smile parted her lips when their gazes met. She openin
g the door wider. “Hi.”
Lowering his head, Ethan pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. She smelled wonderful. His gaze swept over her damp, curly hair, bare face and down to a white body-hugging tank top, black leggings and matching ballet-type shoes.
“Hi.” He walked into her apartment to find it dark. The only illumination was dozens of votive candles on every flat surface, creating an atmosphere that was enchanting and mysterious.
Taking the shopping bag from his loose grip, Faith placed it on the floor next to the countertop. “I thought because the weather is so nice that we’d dine under the stars.”
“I thought we were eating in.” Ethan slipped out of his jacket and hung it on the coat tree.
“We are. Look out the window.”
He crossed the space and peered out the tall, narrow windows that were usually concealed behind wooden shutters. A smile crinkled the lines around his eyes. Faith had covered the fire escape with a blanket and large throw pillows, while three candles flickered behind glass chimneys.
“I think I’m going to enjoy sleepovers at your place.”
Faith glanced at Ethan over her shoulder. “I suppose you’ll be all right until you start feeling claustrophobic.” Her apartment would fit inside his house at least three times.
“I happen to like your apartment, Faith.” He walked over to her. “Do you need me to help you with anything?”
“I believe I have everything under control.” She took out a large plastic container filled with prawn soup, then another with shrimp and a green leafy vegetable and third one with rice vermicelli and chives. She smiled. He’d bought a six-pack of a popular Asian beer.
Ethan kissed the nape of her neck. “I’m going to wash up.”
While Ethan retreated to the bathroom, Faith filled bowls with the spicy South Asian dishes. He returned in time to help her carry the food outside where they sat cross-legged on the pillows, eating, drinking and listening to music coming out of the open windows of a neighboring apartment.
Ethan placed his chopsticks across the edge of a bowl and lay down, cradling his head on folded arms. Millions of stars dotted the clear winter sky. “What do you say we spend the night out here?”
Faith rolled her eyes at him. “I say no.”
“Haven’t you ever slept under the stars?”
“No.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Extending his hand, he beckoned her. “Come lie down next to me, darling.”
Moving closer, Faith lay down next to Ethan and rested her head on his shoulder. His aftershave was a tropical combination of lime, lemon and mandarin with a blend of coriander, nutmeg and clove. “That’s all right. I won’t miss what I’ve never had.”
Ethan looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “What are you thinking about?” he asked after a long, comfortable silence.
She shifted, pressing her face against the softness of his sweater. “I can’t believe we’ve known each other a month.”
“Why can’t you believe it?”
“It seems so much longer.”
Ethan closed his eyes. “Yes, it does.” He felt closer to her than he had in the eight months he was married to Justine.
“Please don’t change on me.” Faith’s entreaty came out as a soulful plea.
He opened his eyes and peered down at her. “What are you talking about?”
Faith told Ethan everything about the two men who’d impacted her life to make her wary of entering into a relationship with a man. “It was only after I’d broken off with Joel that I realized that becoming involved with a man with whom you share a career wasn’t in either of our best interests. At the time I was modeling. The call for black male models wasn’t as great as it was for females, and whenever he wasn’t picked for a show or layout his dark moods escalated until I was afraid to be around him. I always felt as if I had to walk on eggshells around him. It all ended when I left modeling to enroll in culinary school.
“I’ve made some not-so-good decisions in my life, but moving in with Lars tops the list. As my teacher he was perfect, but after I graduated we started seeing each other. I suppose I had stars in my eyes because he is an award-winning chef and teacher and the fact that he was older and worldlier than I made me heady.”
“How much older was he than you?” Ethan asked.
“Fifteen years. He asked me to live with him after we dated for six months, and I agreed. As a couple we presented the perfect host and hostess when entertaining. And because Lars was much more experienced than I when it came to sex, he again became my teacher. What I didn’t understand was that he refused to allow me to initiate sex. Night after night I had to suppress my urges because I didn’t want him to think of me as an oversexed nymph.”
Ethan’s fingers tightened on the tender flesh of her upper arm. “Did he call you that?”
Faith nodded. “Yes. He became more contentious, accusing me of having affairs with other men. The final straw was when he began stalking me in the hope that he’d catch me with another man. One day I’d had enough and contacted a real estate agent to find me an apartment. She showed me this one, and I gave her a check on the spot. I waited for Lars to go to Malatya, Turkey, for the international arts and apricot festival and I moved out.”
“Did you ever see him again?”
“I saw him about a year later at a dinner party for a Danish diplomat. He was there with a much younger woman. When he stared at me I thought I saw fear in his eyes, fear that I would tell his date about his bizarre behavior. It never came to that because he left before dinner was served.”
“So, you think because you had two bad experiences that I—”
“Bad experiences with men that I’d slept with,” Faith said, interrupting Ethan.
Ethan sat up, bringing Faith up with him. “You believe because you slept with two idiots that any man you sleep with will turn into a maniac?”
She nodded again. “I can only go on past experience, Ethan.”
“Your model boyfriend was nothing more than an insecure playboy, while your sugar daddy was a jealous control freak.”
Faith’s eyes narrowed. “Lars wasn’t my sugar daddy.”
“I’m not going to debate adjectives and nouns, but the problem was that he was much too old for you, Faith. To him you would always be the student and he the mentor, believing he knew what was best for you.” Ethan cradled her face between his hands. “I won’t try to change you, because I don’t want you to change. I love you just the way you are.”
Shifting, Faith straddled his lap, her arms going around his neck. She felt the steady, strong beats of Ethan’s heart against her breasts. “And I love you just the way you are,” she whispered in his ear. “I didn’t want to love you. In fact, I didn’t even want to like you.”
Ethan savored the shared moment of knowing Faith loved him as he loved her, and for the first time in a very long time he felt an overwhelming feeling of peace—that all was right in his world. “Let me make you happy, darling.”
She snuggled closer. “I am happy, Ethan.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Easing back, Faith tried to make out his expression in the shadowy darkness. “What aren’t you saying?”
The seconds ticked by as Ethan formed his words carefully. He didn’t want to frighten Faith, but he also didn’t want to lose her if he put too much pressure on her—only because she’d openly admitted that she didn’t do commitment well. He’d tired of the dating scene, sleeping with women whose names and faces he forgot once he left their beds and he was lonely.
“I want us to see each other exclusively.”
Faith stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Isn’t that what we’re doing? Perhaps I shouldn’t ask that, because I don’t know if you’re seeing another woman.”
“I’m not seeing anyone else.”
“And neither am I.” There was a tone of annoyance in her voice.
Ethan nodded, smiling
. “Good.”
“Is that it?”
His smile faded. “Should there be something else?”
“No,” Faith said much too quickly. As long as he didn’t ask her to live with him, then she was amenable to their current relationship. She’d sworn a solemn oath that she would never live with another man unless they were married. Moving off his lap, she stood up. “I’m going inside to clean up.”
Ethan rose in one fluid motion. “Don’t bother. I’ll clean up.”
Reaching for his hand, she threaded her fingers through his. “We’ll do it together now that we’re officially a couple.”
The deep chuckle starting in his chest bubbled over into full laughter. “Whether you realized it or not, we became a couple on our first date.”
“Oh, no. You didn’t go there, Ethan James McMillan. You were that certain that I would go out with you again?”
“No.”
“Then why are you talking trash?”
He gave her a wide smile, dimples winking attractively. “I just wanted to know how much I could get away with.”
She returned his smile. “Not much, mister.”
“Damn, sweetness, can’t you cut me some slack?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too long,” Ethan said to Faith’s back as she leaned over to pick up the pillows.
He gathered the bowls, took them into the apartment, then returned to the fire escape to extinguish the candles and pick up the blanket. Meanwhile, Faith had turned on the floor lamp and loaded the dishwasher.
“What else do you need me to do?”
Straightening, she glanced around. “Please close and lock the windows. One time I left them open and I had a stray cat for company until the landlord sent someone over to trap it.”
Ethan closed and locked the windows before drawing the shutters for complete privacy. “What do you do in the summer when it gets too hot in here?”
“I have a window unit I put in every summer.”
“Where is it?”
The Sweetest Temptation Page 19
