With an impatient movement, she stood and made her way back into the house. She kept busy taking a long bath, washing her hair and trying to read. Anything was better than going to bed with all the wild thoughts going round and round in her head. She would never rest until she heard the sound of his footsteps in the hallway.
When the book in her hand no longer held her interest, she pulled down the duvet, thumped the pillows savagely and climbed into bed. After tossing and turning for several minutes, she realized Horace wasn’t in his usual spot. Glad to have a reason to get up, she made her way downstairs.
When she arrived in the living room, the sight of the full moon hanging in the sky like a glowing pendant drew Aubrey to the windows at the far side. She was joined there by none other than Horace, making his presence known by rubbing his head against her legs.
“Did you forget me, too? Come on, let’s go to bed.”
A slight sound sent a shaft of fear through her body. It had come from the part of the room in shadow. Someone was in the house! Aubrey grabbed Horace and bolted toward the door, thinking only of escape. In her haste, she didn’t see the duffle bag resting next to the couch. Tripping over it, she fell heavily, her cry of pain sounding loud in the silence of the room. A shadow moved toward her, and she nearly screamed again.
“Aubrey, for heaven’s sake, are you trying to kill yourself?” Corbin asked in exasperation.
“You! Why didn’t you say something? I thought someone had broken into the house,” she answered indignantly.
He helped her up, hearing her gasp of pain when she tried to walk. “I didn’t think I needed to say anything. I live here, remember. Are you hurt?”
“It’s my ankle.”
His sigh was heartfelt. “What is it with your feet? I’ve never known someone who has so much trouble walking.” Corbin steered her to the couch and turned on the lamp. “You look very cozy.”
Aubrey glanced down at her flannel pajamas. “I was cold.”
“If I were to be asked my preference, the purple outfit with all the lace comes to mind.”
“I would never have walked around like that if I’d known you were home.”
“Obviously. It was your loss and my gain.”
Corbin bent down in front of her, taking her injured foot in his hands. “Just like the rest of you, ridiculously tiny.” He poked and prodded a few minutes in silence. “I think you’ve once again escaped serious injury. Let’s get you to bed.” Straightening up, he swung her effortlessly into his arms. “I feel like the Big Bad Wolf carrying off Little Red Riding Hood.”
Aubrey smiled feebly, aware only of being held close to him. She had a fleeting wish to stay there forever. Once in her room, he set her on the bed, a faint smile pulling at his lips.
“What’s so funny?” she asked suspiciously.
“I was just thinking of how uneventful my life was until you came along. Hardly a day goes by that I’m not called into action for something.”
“That’s an exaggeration; and anyway, in this case, it was your bag I tripped over.”
“I take full responsibility for tonight’s injury. I made the noise you heard. I’d been in the living room for some time before you came in.”
“Why were you sitting in the dark?”
“I’ll answer that if you tell me what you meant when you asked Horace if he’d forgotten you, too.”
Aubrey plucked nervously at the sheets on the bed. “I don’t remember saying that.”
Sitting down beside her, Corbin clasped her restless fingers. “Don’t you?” he asked softly.
Her eyes flew to his face and what she saw there made her breath catch in her throat. Then Corbin leaned closer and kissed her cheek.
“Sweet dreams, Aubrey. I know mine will be.”
* * * *
When she woke the next morning, the events of the previous evening seemed like the dream Corbin had wished for her. She gingerly set her foot on the ground and was about to try walking on it when there was a knock on her door. At her, “come in,” he entered the room with his usual quiet step.
“How’s the ankle?”
“I was just going to find out.”
“Let’s find out together.” He pulled her gently to her feet, his fingers engulfing her small hands easily. “Okay, put your weight on it and don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”
Aubrey was relieved to find that other than a little stiffness, everything felt normal. She wished her other problems could be solved so easily. “Maybe you should have been a doctor; all this talent seems wasted.”
“It’s not wasted. Look how many times I’ve had to help you. By the way, in all the excitement last night, I forget to tell you that we’re going to have a guest for dinner tonight. Mandy will be joining us.”
“Joining us? As in me and you?”
He nodded. “I’ll grill steaks, and you can show off your culinary talents by coming up with something to go with them.”
Corbin was almost to the door when Aubrey shocked both him and herself. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to join you.”
He turned around. “Why? Do you have something else on?”
Aubrey had never been a good liar. Thinking frantically, she said the first thing she could think of. “I have a date.”
“You don’t sound too sure about it. I wonder who it is this time.”
With a mocking smile, he didn’t wait for her answer, which was just as well. Aubrey absently made the bed; that lie convinced no one, but what else could she have done? She had no intention of spending the evening watching Mandy work her magic on Corbin. She just needed to make her disappearing act look genuine.
By lunchtime, she still hadn’t finalized her plans. She also began to feel that the blame for her predicament sat squarely on Corbin. Her mood wasn’t improved when she entered Corbin’s office and heard ominous sounds coming from the printer. As she bent over the machine in question trying to figure out the problem, he entered the room.
“Now this is a view any man would love to come home to.” His deep voice was laced with laughter.
“Instead of standing there spouting off stupid comments, why not help me?”
“I was going to help. What’s wrong with you? Are you nervous about tonight?”
“Nothing’s wrong; I’m fine.” Aubrey sat down at her desk, childishly hoping Corbin would be unable to fix the problem. It was a wish not to be granted. In only a few minutes, the printer was fully operational and her tormentor was standing in front of her, his continued silence beginning to be oppressive.
“I have some news that should cheer you up,” he said softly.
“I doubt it.” Aubrey didn’t bother to look up from her work.
Eyes gleaming now, he said, “I happened to run into Richard at the bank.”
Aubrey stifled the urge to scream. Leave it to Corbin to find out the truth.
“Want to know what we talked about?” the hateful voice went on.
“Not really,” she mumbled.
“Richard had no idea he was taking you out tonight.”
“I never said it was Richard.” She might as well have said nothing.
“I couldn’t figure out why you would lie about it until I realized you’re probably uncomfortable dining with Mandy and me because of our past relationship. I took care of that problem by inviting Richard to come, too.”
She glared at him, her gray eyes darkening with annoyance. “Richard and I don’t require your help in planning our evening.”
“Why all the fuss? He had no objection to coming.”
“Don’t you want to be alone? You must have things to talk about that would more easily be said without an audience.”
“There’s safety in numbers. Mandy is a beautiful woman, and I’ve already proven susceptible.”
“I don’t understand you at all,” she replied in exasperation. “You act like you’re afraid of her.”
Corbin flicked her cheek. “Don’t tell anyone else that. By the
way, I picked up the steaks and vegetables on the way home. Do we have something that could pass for dessert?”
Aubrey gave up; short of leaving Richard hanging, she could think of no way to get out of an evening that would provide little enjoyment and an abundance of heartache. “I’ll come up with something.”
“They’ll be here around seven.”
Aubrey watched him leave the room, wondering how he could be so relaxed about an evening fraught with problems. She flew through the rest of her work, her mind pondering all the tasks awaiting her.
Shutting off her computer, she went into the kitchen and surveyed Corbin’s purchases. Making a salad took no time at all. She found a loaf of French bread which would only need to be heated. For dessert, she decided to make a homemade chocolate cake.
Aubrey enjoyed baking more than what she called regular cooking. This particular recipe was one of her favorites. The fact that Corbin happened to love chocolate also factored into her decision. She was arranging chocolate curls on top of her three-layer confection when he came strolling into the kitchen.
“Wow! Is that for tonight?”
Aubrey nodded. “I call it ‘Death by Chocolate’.”
“I can’t wait to try it.” He glanced at his watch. “Shouldn’t you be upstairs preparing to impress your date?”
“Mandy will be impressive enough for everyone.”
“Richard won’t thank you for that. He’s coming to see you.”
“He must take me as I am.”
“Has he ever seen you like this?” he asked on a laugh.
As was usual for him, Corbin exited the room before Aubrey could think of something to say in reply.
* * * *
Everyone gathered on the deck while Corbin displayed his expertise at the grill. Mandy, looking exceptionally attractive in tight-fitting jeans and a clingy sweater, made it clear she wanted Corbin to herself and had no intention of wasting time on anyone else. After getting several absent answers to her politely asked questions, Aubrey escaped into the house. Richard wasn’t long in joining her.
“What made you accept this last minute invitation?” she asked as she filled glasses with ice.
“Being with you is one step closer to being with Phoebe.”
She made a face at him. “I thought you liked me for myself.”
Richard laughed. “You’ll always have a special place as the only girl who rejected me. Anyway, I assume from what Corbin said that you tried to use me as an excuse or something.”
“I told Corbin I had a date. I should have known he’d find out the truth.”
“Well, since I’m here, let’s give Corbin some things to think about.”
“I’m no good at acting, Richard. Let’s make the best of the situation. It’s only a couple of hours.”
Corbin nodded his head at suitable intervals, not really paying attention to Mandy’s flow of small talk. His attention was on the couple standing close together in the kitchen. He wished he understood the nature of the relationship between them.
His knowledge of Richard made it difficult to accept the idea of them just being friends, yet he had no evidence of them being anything else. In spite of his angry reaction to finding Aubrey at Richard’s house, he’d known she was telling the truth when he looked into her eyes. So why was Richard content with something so innocent? And why did Aubrey continue to let him hang around if she wasn’t interested in him? None of it made any sense.
The conversation at dinner seemed to naturally revolve around Mandy, and she had no problem being the center of attention. Aubrey might not want to be there, but she was curious about the woman Corbin loved. What qualities did she have that drew him to her? Was she more than just a beautiful face? And would she be willing to give up her famous lifestyle and live a less exciting existence?
When she heard her own name, she realized she’d completely lost track of what the other three were talking about.
Mandy was looking at her. “You wouldn’t want to consider it, would you? I can double whatever Corbin is paying you.”
Aubrey was saved the embarrassment of having to confess that she hadn’t been paying attention by Corbin.
“Are you trying to steal my employee?”
Mandy sent him a flirtatious look. “I sure am. My other assistant left me to get married. She didn’t want to do all the traveling anymore.”
“Aubrey and I might have had a rough start, but I couldn’t do without her now.”
“Me, either,” Richard chimed in softly, his eyes resting on Aubrey with a tender look not lost on the others. “Though not for the same reasons, obviously. There’s so much more to her than meets the eye. I feel I’ve just begun to scratch the surface.”
Mandy’s glance was amused. “You appear to be everything to everybody. You must tell me your secret.”
Richard reached over and covered Aubrey’s hand with his. “It’s not something that can be put into words. All I can say is I haven’t been the same since I met her.”
Corbin noticed Aubrey’s heightened color and knew she was annoyed. “I think we’ve discussed Aubrey enough.”
“In that case, let’s go walk off that delicious dinner,” Mandy suggested.
“You two go ahead,” Richard said. “I’ll help Aubrey clean up.”
Aubrey wanted everyone gone, but since that was impossible, she settled for getting rid of Corbin and Mandy. “That’s a great idea. By the time you get back, we’ll be ready for dessert.”
* * * *
Once they were some distance from the house, Mandy turned to Corbin. “I get the feeling you don’t like the idea of Aubrey and Richard being involved.”
“It appears to be too late for that.”
“Are you afraid she’ll leave you to get married?”
Corbin laughed shortly. “There’s no chance of that.”
Mandy glanced at him in surprise. “How can you say so?”
“I’m a realist, not a romantic.”
“Are you saying that I’m a romantic?”
“Most women are. They can’t help themselves.”
She laughed. “Well, we have other attractions that outweigh any flaws.”
He looked down into her lovely face moodily. “You more so than others.”
Her lips curved into a dazzling smile. “I think that’s the first compliment you’ve given me.”
“One can’t deny the obvious. I suppose we better turn around.”
“There’s no hurry, is there? Richard won’t want us coming back too soon.”
Corbin smiled faintly. “Probably not, but if he wants to be alone with Aubrey, he can take her somewhere else.”
Looking at his handsome profile, Mandy felt a familiar pull of attraction. He’d always had this effect on her, and time hadn’t lessened his appeal. Not a believer in love in its usual sense, she’d reached a point in her life where marriage was again desirable, and Corbin was the man she wanted. She’d been a fool to walk out on him before.
* * * *
Back at the beach house, Aubrey threw Richard an annoyed glance as they cleared the table. “Why did you do it, Richard?”
“Do what?” he asked guilelessly.
“Don’t bother to deny it. I should refuse to ever speak to you again.” She passed through the door he held and set everything on the counter.
“Aren’t you overreacting? What did I do that was so bad?”
“Bad doesn’t begin to describe it. I’m surprised you didn’t get down on one knee and propose.”
“I wasn’t prepared to go that far.”
“You went far enough and for what?”
Richard grinned unrepentantly. “I thought it was very inspired of me. Did you see the look Corbin gave me? He was furious.”
“You’ve put me in an awkward position.”
He took the towel she handed him and began drying the silverware. “I’ve given Corbin something to think about.”
“Quit trying to help me, and concentrate on your own
affairs.”
“I used to have affairs, but thanks to meeting your sister, I’m trying to have a relationship.”
“Don’t make light of it, Richard. I don’t want Phoebe hurt.”
“I won’t hurt her, Aubrey. I know it’s difficult to believe based on what happened between us, but I have changed. Something happened to me after I left you that day– it was as if I saw myself through someone else’s eyes. I didn’t like the man I’d become.”
* * * *
By the time Mandy and Corbin returned, Aubrey and Richard had finished in the kitchen and were sitting on the deck.
“Ready for dessert?” Aubrey asked with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Only a small piece for me,” Mandy replied. “I have another photo shoot next week.”
“Well, I don’t,” joked Richard. “Make mine a big one.”
When Aubrey reached the door, Corbin was holding it open for her. “You take care of the cake; I’ll get the coffee.” They worked in silence until she happened to glance his way and met his eyes.
“What is this effect you have on people? Paul thinks you’re wonderful, Phillip liked you so much he took pictures of you, and now Richard is claiming you’re the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“Why worry about it?” she asked as she arranged slices of cake on plates. “I obviously haven’t affected you.”
He laughed softly. “How can you say for sure? Maybe I’m not ready to admit it.”
Aubrey glanced away from his vivid eyes. “We better go; they’ll be wondering what’s keeping us.”
“Waiting won’t do either of them any harm.”
“That’s a strange thing to say.”
“I’m in a strange mood tonight,” he admitted as he took the tray and headed toward the door.
Aubrey followed him more slowly; she knew who was responsible for Corbin’s strange mood.
Once dessert had been consumed, Richard announced his departure. Aubrey accompanied him to the front door. “Thanks for keeping me company tonight. Now go home and call Phoebe.”
Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance Page 14
