Decadent Delights

by DeYoung, Gail

  “I told you this wasn’t a good idea. Dana, I think you need to reconsider this situation. Let me pose for you in both positions. Tell Trace he’s not needed anymore.”

  She put her hand on his cheek. “I know this is hard for you to understand, but it’s easier for me if I don’t have to imagine a portion of the design. I’m just as anxious to have him leave as you. But I need Trace just a little bit longer, one more sitting. I promise as soon as I don’t definitely need him, I’ll tell him we’re finished.”

  His hopeful expression faded. “I thought I could be enough for you. Apparently, I was wrong.” He shook his head as he turned and walked back to the “X” on the floor.

  “Trevor, please don’t be that way.” Dana stretched out her arm to plead with him, but he ignored her. It pained her to realize that she had hurt his feelings.

  “There’s nothing more to say. Have it your way.” He stood quietly in his appointed spot and turned away, effectively shutting her out of his vision.

  Dana shook her head. Why is it always so difficult to deal with men?

  When Trace returned, the air was thick with tension. Dana nodded to him as he passed her and walked back to his spot. Without a word, he dropped the robe and assumed his pose next to his brother.

  Dana took a deep breath and resumed sculpting. The brothers did not look as relaxed as before. In fact, they appeared downright miserable. How could she possibly do her best work when her subjects would not cooperate? She tried to ignore the scowls on their faces, but after another twenty minutes, decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

  “All right, we’re done for the day.”

  Both men glared at each other as they stepped out of their poses. While they dressed in silence, Dana cleaned her work area and turned off the music.

  Trevor approached as she washed her hands in the basin. His arms wrapped around her waist while he nuzzled her neck.

  “I’m sorry for coming on so strong. I just don’t trust my brother. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. When do you want to do this again?” His breath was warm against her ear.

  Dana worried her bottom lip. Though she would like to continue sculpting every day until the statute was done, she realized they all might need a few days to cool off. She turned to face him.

  “Let’s resume in two days. I’m going to be busy tomorrow. What time does your store close on Sunday?”

  “We stay open until six. Do you mind telling me what you’re doing tomorrow night that’s more important than this?”

  A big smile crossed her lips. “I thought you were taking me to the movies. Have you forgotten? You mentioned it last night after we made love.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her quickly on the lips. “Nope. I didn’t forget. I was just checking to make sure you hadn’t made other plans.”

  Dana shook her head. “Nothing is more important than spending time with you.”

  “Ah, that’s what I like to hear.” This time, when Trevor leaned down to kiss her, the tension was gone. This full-bodied kiss reminded her of the first night when they made love. His lips were warm and insistent upon hers, so full of tenderness and passion that it brought tears to her eyes. Her head swam.

  She heard Trace clear his throat. When Dana turned to him, the look of annoyance was evident on his face. Or was that jealousy?

  “I hate to interrupt you two lovebirds, but we need to leave. Trev promised to meet with an acquaintance of mine after we posed for you.”

  Trevor looked at the clock. “It’s a little early for that, isn’t it?”

  “No, I’m going to call him and ask him to meet us there in fifteen minutes.”

  “All right, we’ll go now.” Trevor kissed Dana’s hand.

  “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night around seven. Is that a good time?”

  “Perfect!”

  She watched the two brothers leave and turned to her sculpture. There were a few more details she could work on without them around. It would give her something to do since she had planned on an additional hour during this session. Perhaps she could shorten the amount of time they needed to sit for her if she just took the time now to do the preliminary work. She switched on the music and sat before her statue. Dana smiled. Already the preliminary form had been established. This really could be a masterpiece. After all, her subjects were the most gorgeous men she had ever laid her eyes upon. That was half the fun.

  Chapter Nine

  “What were you and Dana talking about while I was away?”

  Trace snickered. “Wouldn’t you like to know? It’s none of your business.”

  Trevor grasped his brother’s shoulder and swung him around to look at him. “Well, I’m making it my business.”

  Trace shrugged his hand off. “It was nothing important. The weather.”

  “You never were a good liar. You want to try that again?”

  Trace smiled. “Nope.”

  “Okay, have it your way. But you’re not needed anymore. We can finish the sculpture without you.” That wasn’t what he’d agreed to with Dana, but he hoped he could bluff his brother.

  Trace put his hands on his hips. “Oh really? Well, I guess I’d like to hear that from the person who’s doing the sculpture. Not you.”

  “Stay away from Dana. If you want my cooperation, you won’t go there again.”

  The smirk on Trace’s face was all too familiar. But he was no fool. Trevor knew he just hit the mark with that comment and he figured his brother would back down.

  “All right. I will, as long as you keep your end of the bargain.”

  Trevor sighed heavily. Why was it always a battle with his brother? He got into his car and pulled next to his brother’s car, lowering the window to speak to him.

  “This better be worth my time,” he snapped.

  “Yeah, just follow me.” Trace flashed him a brilliant smile. He revved his motor and took off down the street, checking the rearview mirror to make sure his brother was keeping up. The local bar was just down the street.

  He was going to make one more attempt at convincing his brother to join him before launching Plan B. The lovely Dana was going to be a challenge, but now that he had planted a seed of doubt, he sensed it would be a matter of time before he whisked her away from his brother. Though time was of the essence, he knew he had to handle this situation with kid gloves. Dana was no pushover. He’d have to seem very sincere to steal her away.

  The key to winning his brother’s compliance was the man he’d invited to meet with them. He’d agreed on eight o’clock, but they left Dana’s early. Trace called him on his cell phone as he drove to the bar.

  “Hey. Sorry to make a change in plans, but we finished earlier than I thought. Can you meet us there at seven instead?”

  “Yeah. I might be a little late, though. Keep your brother entertained until then.”

  Trace pulled into the parking lot and Trevor took the spot next to him. As they walked into the bar, Trevor shook his head at the girls dancing on the bar.

  “The things they do to get people into the bars these days,” he grumbled.

  They walked up the stairs to a quiet room. Most of the activity centered around the bar and the girls downstairs. The upper room seemed to be reserved for those who wanted to drink in peace. Trace found a booth and pointed to the seat across from him for Trevor. Within a minute, a waitress appeared to take their drink order.

  “I’ll have beer. Trev, what are you having?”

  “The same.”

  “Any particular brand?”

  “Surprise us,” Trace said and flashed her a fake smile.

  The girl smiled at them and left to get their order.

  “So, where’s this other party you want me to meet?” Trevor asked. He shifted in his seat and scowled at his brother.

  “He’ll be here soon.”

  Trace looked around. He had no idea how much longer he’d have to wait and he hoped Trevor’s patience wouldn’t wear thin.

  The waitress d
elivered their beers.

  “A toast to us,” Trace said, clicking his bottle against his brother’s.

  “Still waiting, Trace.” The annoyance was evident in his voice.

  “Look, I appreciate your coming here with me tonight.”

  Trevor let out a big sigh. “I told you the other night that you should sober up and then we’d talk. I’m fulfilling my promise.”

  Trace smiled. “That’s what I like about you. Even when you’re pissed at me, you let me tell my side of the story. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but we’ve always been able to talk. If you and I hadn’t been identical twins, we might not understand each other the way we do.”

  Trevor rolled his eyes. Trace recognized the gesture. It meant “get on with it and quit stalling”.

  “I’ve invited Sidney Goldberg to meet with us. He flew in from New York. He’s our agent’s new assistant at the agency. I wanted him to tell you about the offer that we are being presented. I’d appreciate your keeping an open mind. That’s all.”

  “I’ve already told you no, yet you have a hard time accepting that answer.” Trevor shook his head and sighed. “All right, since you brought me here, I’ll listen to Mr. Goldberg. But understand the chances of my agreeing to this are slim and none.”

  “I like those odds. Accepted.”

  Mr. Goldberg’s gray hair stood out against the young crowd. Trace noticed him walking toward the bar downstairs. He waved and called his name. “Up here!” The stout man saw him and waved back. He headed for the stairs.

  “He’s coming now.”

  Goldberg extended his hand to Trevor before taking a seat next to Trace. “Nice to meet you, Trevor. Trace has told me a lot about you.”

  Trace caught the warning glance intended only for him. He raised his eyebrows and smiled at his brother.

  “All right. Do your best pitch. Understand that I don’t need to work for you anymore. I have my own candy business and am doing quite well.”

  Goldberg cleared his throat and pulled papers out of his satchel. “Understood. However, before you make your decision, there is something that you need to know.” He pushed the papers in front of Trevor.

  “At the present time, our lawyers are preparing a letter to inform you that the agency plans to sue you for breach of contract. It’s been three years, but we are still within our right to do so. However, if you come back and fulfill the balance of the contract, which is one more year, we would drop all litigation.”

  Trevor’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Goldberg?”

  “Call it what you wish, sir. We have a legal right to collect damages from you.”

  “You knew about this, Trace?” His stare bored into his brother’s.

  Trace swallowed hard. “This is just as much a surprise to me as you. They only told me about the job they want us to do. I swear.” His voice cracked.

  Trevor leaned across the table and grabbed the paperwork out of Goldberg’s hand. He read over the contract, which had a signature line for him.

  “This is blackmail, you know.” His eyes narrowed on Goldberg.

  “No sir, actually, this is business. You’ll receive the same compensation you were entitled to, with a significant bonus for accepting this overseas assignment. We have every right to expect your full compliance. However, I do understand your desire to put this behind you. There is a clause in the contract, which may give you some relief.” Goldberg pointed to the fourth paragraph on the first page. “Read this.”

  Trevor took a few minutes to review the section carefully. “I’m not good at legalese, but it appears that I don’t have to fulfill the entire year, and if I give proper notice, I can get out of the balance of the contract.”

  Goldberg smiled. “That’s correct. The only job that you are required to do is this one for Chavez. But note, this one job covers five cities in Europe. You’ll be able to cancel your contract after about two months, if all goes well.”

  “And if it doesn’t?” Trevor’s voice was so low that the music from downstairs nearly drowned his comment.

  “Then you renegotiate for better terms. Either way, you’re off the hook sooner than one year.”

  “I need time to think about this. I want my attorney to look this over.”

  Goldberg closed his briefcase. “Of course. Take your time, but understand there is an expiration date on our offer. You have two weeks before we process the paperwork through the courts. I’m staying at the Hilton. If you have any questions, you can call me there. I’m going back to New York in two days. Good evening.”

  He left them sitting in stunned silence. Trace shook his head as he watched the older man depart the bar.

  “I swear I had no idea, bro.” The stony, blank look on Trevor’s face and the silent treatment he gave Trace sent a chill down his spine. “Say something, bro.”

  Trevor stood and tossed a ten-dollar bill on the table.

  “Here’s money for the beer. I’m not in the mood to talk right now. I have to go.”

  As he left, Trevor’s shoulders drooped. Trace watched his brother walk down the stairs and out the door. This had to be one of the low points in his brother’s life. He could barely suppress his elation knowing that Trevor would realize there was no way out. He’d have to join him. Trace smiled. Once he got him away from Florida, it would be a matter of time before he got Trevor back into the business where they could be making serious money.

  Trevor drove for an hour up and down the Gulf Coast. The water had a calming effect on his nerves. He needed time and space away from everyone and everything to analyze his options. One thing he knew for sure—he needed to contact his attorney first thing in the morning to see if there was anything that could be done. Somehow, that was little consolation as he had a sinking feeling there was no choice but to fulfill the contract.

  Why did this have to happen now? It wouldn’t have been so hard to leave if he hadn’t met Dana. But meeting her had changed everything. Though he only knew her for almost a week, she filled his every thought. She was his aphrodisiac. He couldn’t close his eyes without seeing her big blue eyes staring back at him. How he loved the sound of her voice.

  God! It was torture to think about being away from her for two months or longer. He would miss her soft, smooth skin, her lush lips, her silky hair and those gorgeous breasts. The timing couldn’t have been worse. He wished he had known her much longer. Then he could have told her how very special she was to him. But they hardly had time to develop a relationship. Now he had to leave. How would she react to the news?

  He wanted to curse at Trace, at the unfairness of the situation, at God, but down deep, he knew it was his own fault. Reflecting on what happened three years ago, he realized he hadn’t acted with a clear head. At the time, all he wanted to do was to get as far away from his brother as he could. He should have known there would be repercussions.

  Trevor shook his head and turned his car toward home. He wasn’t going to make any rash decisions tonight before he considered every angle, and Dana would be a pivotal part of his final decision, though he wouldn’t let her know it.

  * * * * *

  The knock on the door came early. Dana finished applying her lipstick, checked the mirror quickly to ensure she looked her best and rushed to greet her date. As the door swung open, she immediately noticed a change in Trevor. He was dressed casually in shorts, a tank top and sneakers. His hair was brushed neatly in place and his face was smooth-shaven. For a moment, she wondered whether or not Trace was playing a trick on her. But when Trevor offered her one dark rose from behind his back, she smiled. It was definitely Trevor.

  “Since I recall your comment about my sending you black roses, I just thought you should have one so you can appreciate its beauty. As you can see, it’s really not black, just a deep, dark burgundy.”

  She lifted the rose and inhaled deeply. The flower’s delicate aroma teased her nostrils.

  “Thank you. It’s lovely. Come in for a moment and I
’ll put it in a vase.”

  Dana left the door open while she went to the kitchen to take care of the flower. Upon her return, she found Trevor in the living room, studying the pictures above the couch.

  “Those are my parents.” She smiled and lovingly stroked the picture of the two gray-haired people standing in front of a stucco building.

  “You must love them very much.”

  Dana sighed and shook her head. “I do. That’s why it pains me to see them this way. Most of the time, they don’t know who I am. I often wish I had come here years ago so we could have spent more quality time together. I miss our family.”

  Trevor wrapped his arm around her. “I know how difficult it is. We lost our parents in an auto accident. Trace and I were teenagers at the time and our uncle raised us after that. I took it hard, but Trace took their loss harder. He often me asked why we didn’t have more time with our parents. I didn’t know how to answer that question.”

  Dana nodded. She stood silently next to Trevor and looked at the picture.

  “Shall we go?” He held out his arm for her and she accepted it.

  “I checked out the times for the movies,” she said, retrieving a piece of paper from her purse. “I called the theater and wrote down a few since I don’t know what you’d like to see.”

  He sighed. “I know I suggested a movie, but I was hoping we could do something else. Would you mind going to the beach instead?”

  A vision of them snuggling on a blanket under a star-filled sky came to mind. Dana wanted to spend more alone time with him again and this was the perfect opportunity. Kissing him was high on her priority list and the beach was definitely a much more romantic place than the theater.

  “I’d love to. Give me a minute to change into my swimwear.” She dashed off to her room and came back to display that she was now wearing a bikini under shorts and a midriff-baring shirt. “Ready!”

  A slow grin spread across his face. “Great! I brought a beach blanket and a couple of towels in the car. Let’s go.”