“Well? You’re not surprised?”
“Not really.”
“Ooo-kay.”
“Mar, are you daft? Didn’t you realize that one painting in the gallery called Black-Eyed Girl was you?”
Marion was too startled by the statement to object. She remembered the painting. It was the one Jon tried so valiantly to sell her. The one that was so different from the others. Marion would have thought Delilah was kidding, except there wasn’t even the hint of a smile on her face. A cold shiver crept up her spine.
“Seriously?” Her voice nearly came out a squeak.
Delilah rolled her eyes. “You didn’t notice?”
“No…”
“Oh, girl. How could you not? It was so obvious to me that was you.”
“How would he…I mean, the man at the gallery said it was one of his earlier works.”
They stared at each other in silence, each processing the information. If Graeme had painted that a year or two ago, then—
“Oh, my God!” Delilah said, her voice nearly a shout. “He’s in love with you!” She clapped as if cheering for the big L-word.
“No way!” Marion immediately dismissed the thought, shaking her head. “There’s no way in hell, Delilah. I was engaged to his best friend.”
“And it makes perfect sense, too, now that I think about it. You three were inseparable. You, Ethan, Graeme. You’d tell me how the three of you went to the movies or dinner or whatever. And that Graeme would visit you two a lot. Yeah?”
“Well…yeah.”
Marion had never thought much of it, Graeme hanging around. She thought he and Ethan were the two that were inseparable. He was going to be the best man in their wedding.
“Don’t you see? He painted you from his memory. I think that’s incredibly romantic.” Now Delilah sighed wistfully. Which was really not like her. She wasn’t a romantic.
“What’s wrong with you?” Marion asked.
“Nothing. I think it’s sweet.” When she continued to stare at Delilah she said, “What? I believe in love. I just haven’t found it yet.”
“And he painted me naked. How did he…?” Marion’s heart tripped in her chest as she propped her elbows on the table and put her head in her hands.
“Well, you weren’t completely naked,” Delilah pointed out. “Before yesterday had he ever seen you—”
“God, no!” Marion’s head snapped up, staring at her friend. “Never. Only Ethan.”
“Hm. Then I guess he has a vivid imagination. So, what are you going to do?”
She knew the answer before Delilah even asked. “You and I are going to that gallery tomorrow and buying that painting. That’s what.”
Chapter Fourteen
Marion made plans to meet Delilah early the next morning to drive to the gallery and purchase Black-Eyed Girl. She hoped it was still there. In fact, she knew she would worry about it until she stepped foot in that gallery and had it safely purchased, wrapped and brought back home. Then she planned to shove it in the back of her closet, never to see the light of day again.
She and Graeme were history anyway. He hadn’t tried to call or come by and she wondered what the hell he was up to. Where did he go after the donut shop incident?
Trying not to dwell on it, she decided a hot shower would be good to wash away the day’s events. She needed to relax.
Just as she was about to turn on the water, the doorbell rang. Her heart leapt. She hoped when she flung open the door, Graeme would be standing on the other side.
Checking her hair quickly in the mirror, she headed for the entry. However, the person standing on the other side…was Ethan. Holding a large bouquet of pink roses.
“What are you doing here?” And, more importantly, why was he there with roses?
“I came to apologize. Can I come in?”
“How did you know where I lived?” she demanded.
“I have my ways.” He flashed a grin. “Please, Marion. I really did come to apologize.”
Her first instinct was to say no. But he still looked like hell from being on the other end of Graeme’s fists. And he no longer had that lost puppy dog look. She really wasn’t in the mood to be bitchy, so she took pity on him and stepped aside.
“Nice place,” he said as he came in and surveyed her small house. “You’ve done well, Marion.”
“Thanks.” She shut the door.
“For you.” He extended the roses. “Two dozen, pink. Your favorite.”
He remembered. Even though they ended on a bad note, things were not always unhappy between them. They had actually been in love once. Or so she liked to think.
“I’ll just…find something to put these in.” As she took them from him, he brushed his hand against hers. She knew he did it on purpose and she ignored it. Despite all his attempts, she was still not interested in him.
Ethan followed her into the kitchen. She pulled over a dining chair and stood on it to rummage through the cabinet over the refrigerator.
“So what are you apologizing about?” She opened the door, looking for a vase.
“The spectacle we made of ourselves earlier. You know we were fighting over you, right?”
Marion was glad she wasn’t face to face with him. Her first reaction was to laugh out loud. She bit her lip. “Me? Yeah, right.”
“He knows I want you back. Don’t you know that?”
She did, but she didn’t want to think about that.
Finally, she found a vase but it was way in the back. As she stood on tiptoe to reach it, the chair wobbled, her balance crumbling. She gasped as the chair tipped backward and she started to fall.
“Marion!”
The chair smacked the tile floor and somehow she ended up in Ethan’s arms. He had caught her mid-fall. Their eyes locked, his a deep dark brown she remembered so clearly. His mouth quirked in a grin. She tried hard to not gag.
“It sure feels nice to hold you again.”
That snapped her back to reality. She shoved him away and regained her footing. “Thanks for that.”
Turning away from him, she picked up the chair stood on it again.
“You’re trying that again?”
“I can reach it,” she said, her stubborn streak surfacing. She snagged the vase and stepped back down, this time without falling. “See? All is well.”
Turning to the sink, Marion unwrapped the roses and put them in the vase. As she turned on the water to fill it, Ethan slipped his arms around her waist.
“Ethan…” She put her hand on his arm, tried to push him away.
He nuzzled her neck. “I’ve missed you. And I’ve behaved badly these last few days.”
“Yes, you have,” she agreed. “And more like two years, not days.”
“I’ve never stopped thinking about you.” His lips brushed her neck. “I thought showing up with that girl would make you want me again. Make you jealous.” His breath whispered over her skin. “Instead, seeing you with Graeme made me the jealous one.”
“Then why did you leave me?” This time she managed to push out of his arms and turn to face him.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he turned away. He wouldn’t look at her. “I was scared.” He glanced at her over his shoulder, giving her a sheepish grin. “Life with you was so perfect. Marrying you would have been perfect. We’d have the perfect life, the perfect house.”
“Would that have been so bad?” Tears clotted in her throat. Finally, after all this time, he was telling her the truth.
“No, I suppose not.” he shrugged. “It was as though I saw my entire life flash before my eyes that morning in the church. A life that was already set in stone by saying ‘I do.’”
“You make marriage sound like some sort of prison.” She finally saw him for what he truly was. “You walked out on me. You humiliated me and you didn’t even have the courage to break it off yourself.”
“I know. But all I could think was my life was ending. I guess that’s why I did what I did. Leaving
you, I mean.”
“And cheating on me was another side affect of being scared?” she asked, glaring at him.
At least he had the good sense to look embarrassed. “About that…”
“Save it. I don’t want to hear your excuses or lies.”
“It was a stupid mistake, Marion. You’re the only one I want. That other girl was…” He paused, searching for the words. Or an excuse.
“She was what?” she demanded. “And what about that other broad I saw you with on the street? Your behavior then was no better.”
“She meant nothing.”
“I don’t know why men say that and think it’s okay.” Marion huffed out an exasperated breath and shook her head. “And she was the only one?”
“I swear,” he said, nodding. “She was. Besides, no one compares to you. Starr and I broke up.” He gripped her hands in his then, holding them tight. “Would you…I mean, I wondered…could we try again?”
“Ethan…” But the words died in her throat. She pulled her hands away and turned toward the sink.
She knew, deep down, Ethan didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting her back. She knew that. Despite his sincere words and his apologies and him telling her the truth finally. Despite all that, she knew she couldn’t—and wouldn’t—trust him again. He had hurt her too bad before and now he was asking for forgiveness and a second chance?
And what about Graeme? What if what Delilah said was true? What if he really did love her? She had experienced so much with him in so little time. She needed to know for sure how he felt about her.
As she contemplated, she could see being a couple once again. It would be so easy. They would fall back into those same familiar patterns. They would probably get married, have kids, a house. All she had to do was say the word.
The difference this time around, though, would be no Graeme. Because he would certainly never speak to her again if she got back with Ethan. And that hurt her more than anything. How could she stand never seeing him again?
Her mind shouted no to Ethan and a very resounding yes to Graeme.
“I know it’ll take time for you to trust me,” he said. His hands landed on her shoulders. “But I’m asking you for another chance. I still love you.”
A pang of longing went through her, hearing those long forgotten words. A few months ago, she would have done anything to hear him say that.
“How do I know you won’t hurt me again?” she asked.
He moved closer, pressed into her. “How does anyone know it’ll work out? Or that they won’t get hurt?” He spun her to face him. “There are no guarantees, Marion. Not in anything and especially not in life or love.”
But one thing she could guarantee was that she was completely at ease with Graeme. And never so with Ethan. She pushed him away.
“Let me take you to breakfast tomorrow at Bonjour Café,” he said. “Like old times. We can talk and get to know each other again.”
His offer was more tempting than she wanted to admit. She was tired of being alone. It would be nice to share some time with someone. But she would rather have breakfast with the devil than Ethan.
“Sorry, can’t. I have other plans with Delilah.”
“Some other time then. In the meantime, why don’t you think about us?” he suggested. “Let me know in a day or two. Okay?”
“I’ll think about,” she conceded. “But I’m not making any promises.”
“Fair enough.”
He took her chin in his hand then. She knew what he was going to do and she was going to let him. He leaned in, tipping his head to the side. Their lips brushed in a soft, gentle kiss. Just like she remembered. Just like before. It was the kiss that could always bring her to her knees. Except this time…well, she wasn’t sure she felt much of anything. She would have thought that after all this time he could still kiss her and make her want him.
Instead, the only man she truly wanted wasn’t speaking to her.
Damn him.
She shoved away thoughts of Graeme and focused on the kiss with Ethan. Familiar, comfortable, sweet. Certainly not earth-shattering like with Graeme. Nothing like Graeme.
Ethan’s hand trailed up her arm to her elbow and she had a sudden fear he was going to try and embrace her. She quickly pushed him away, stepping backward.
“I think you should go now,” she said.
Nodding, Ethan turned toward the front door. “The decision is yours. I’ll accept whatever you decide.”
He opened her front door and was gone.
* * * * *
The following morning, Marion met up with Delilah to drive to the gallery in Dallas. After a quick stop for coffee, they were on their way. Marion let Delilah drive and as she sat in the passenger seat, watching the world pass by, she wondered if she should tell her friend about Ethan. She dragged her bottom lip through her teeth.
“I know that look,” Delilah said, breaking into her thoughts. “What gives?”
“Oh…nothing. Just thinking.”
“About…?”
Taking a sip of coffee, Marion knew there would be no peace if she didn’t tell her. “Ethan came to see me last night.”
“Whoa! What?”
“He brought roses.”
“Seriously?” Delilah gave her a quick glance of surprise before she turned her eyes back on the road. “I hope you tossed him and his damn roses out of the house.”
“Actually…” Marion’s words trailed off.
“Girl, no!” Delilah said. “What happened?”
“He said he wanted to apologize, that he behaved badly. He finally told me the truth about why he left me that day.” She paused. She didn’t want to go on, but she knew she had to now. Delilah would demand the entire story.
“Okay, and? I hope he had a serious excuse. Like death or something.”
“He said he got scared.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ! Mar, a man doesn’t ditch a woman on their wedding day because he ‘got scared.’ That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
“I don’t know. He said it was as though his entire future flashed before his eyes. That’s why he couldn’t go through with it.”
“What a bunch of bullshit. I hope you didn’t fall for it.”
She was silent. Deep down, she knew she shouldn’t. She knew she should forget Ethan and move on with her life. But something kept nagging at her. Like there was something left for her to do. Like she still needed some sort of closure.
“Marion, no. Tell me you’re not considering it.”
“Well…” Considering, yes. But it wasn’t for the reason Delilah thought.
“Oh, girl!”
“He said he wanted to try again. He wanted a second chance and that he still loved me,” she said.
“I think you’d be an idiot if you went back to him. Especially after what he did to you,” Delilah said.
She made a lot of sense. Marion couldn’t deny that. Still, she had tossed and turned most of the night thinking about what he said. Marion wasn’t stupid. She knew she wouldn’t get her happy ending with Ethan. She knew it. That was why she had to go to him and tell him once and for all it was over and done. And then she would figure out a way to get Graeme back.
“He nearly destroyed you. I can’t stand by and allow him to do it again.”
It was true. Every word Delilah said. Marion knew it as well as her friend. And that was exactly why she had to meet him one last time. It hurt her to keep it from Delilah, but if she knew her plan, she would try to talk her out of it. Either that or show up for ring-side seats. “I think maybe I should give it a try.”
It was probably the first time in their entire friendship Delilah didn’t have some snappy comeback. Or at least something to say. Her reply was silence.
“And who knows? Maybe it’ll work out. Maybe we’ll make it, after all.” Marion gave a half-hearted chuckle.
Still there was silence.
“Delilah, don’t be mad at me. I can’t help it. I
have to do this. It’s important to me.”
“Mar, may I remind you Ethan is a spoiled, rich kid from Westover Hills with nothing better to do than spend Daddy’s money?”
Marion was well aware of his roots in the very affluent area with their multi-million dollar houses and country club. Ethan and his family came from old Fort Worth money.
“But I think he’s changed.”
“I think you’re insane,” Delilah said. “And if that’s true, then why are we driving to Dallas to buy a painting by a man who seems to be madly in love with you?”
“Um…because I don’t want my face or my body hanging on anyone else’s wall.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.”
Her look of distaste made Marion wince. “Please don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry. I’m disappointed,” Delilah said. “Here you have this incredibly handsome painter and you’re throwing it all away. And on what? A man who broke your heart six months ago. A man who can’t keep promises or his dick in his pants. A man who is so slick at what he does that he’s managed to reel you back in a second time.”
“It’s not like that at all,” Marion said, wincing yet determined to keep her plan to herself. “Ethan didn’t ‘reel’ me into anything. He loves me.” It was all she could do to keep her coffee down on that last lie.
“Oh, please. Ethan loves himself and no one else.”
“If you think that, then why were going to be my maid of honor at the wedding? Why didn’t you say something then?”
“Because I didn’t want to rain on the perfect bride’s parade,” she snapped. “I was trying to be supportive of your decision.”
“Wait a minute,” Marion began. “Are you telling me you never liked Ethan?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. You’re too good for him and you can do much better than him.” Delilah kept her gaze on the road ahead, not making eye contact with her or even glancing her way.
“And I suppose you think I should pick Graeme.” She folded her arms across her chest.
Take Me I'm Yours (Coffee House Chronicles) Page 14
