by Nancy Hopper
"Tim! I can't have heard you correctly." Dana objected tightly. "Tell me again."
"You heard me right, honey. Rick Snyder is out of my life. Change the locks on my house, and at my office. Make sure everybody knows that he is to have absolutely no access to ministry money, or any information about me, beginning right now. I don't think he will return the keys willingly, even though I've asked him to. And I can't afford to take any chances with this. Do you understand?"
Dana was in tears. "Tim, you can't mean it! Rick is your best friend." She objected.
"Yes, he was one of them. Dana, I know you don't understand. Please, just do as I ask. I'll explain it all to you when I get home. All right?" he pleaded gently.
"What in the world did he do?" Dana asked miserably. "Please just tell me that much."
Tim sighed. "Dana, it's complicated. Suffice it to say, he's been hitting on my woman. I caught him forcing himself on her, and begging her to dump me; and marry him."
There was absolute silence on the other end of the line. "Tim, that is simply impossible." Dana denied incredulously. "You say that you saw this for yourself?"
"Uh, huh." Tim assured her. "I walked in and saw the whole thing. He was kissing her, mauling her, and begging her to run away and marry him. I can’t believe that I sent him to guard Tasha! He's the one I knew I could trust! It is absolutely imperative that he not be allowed to terrorize Tasha, anymore. Dana, please do this for me. Don't ask questions; I'll explain everything later."
Dana began to weep.
Tim felt a lead weight settle in his heart. "Dana, what's the matter?" he asked worriedly. "Tell me what's going on."
"Oh, Tim." She sobbed miserably. "He lied to me! He lied to me! He told me he wanted to marry me!"
Tim closed his eyes. "Dana, you're not serious."
"I am very serious! Tim, he asked me to marry him! I was so sure of him! How could he lie to me this way? How could he?"
"Dana, how far has this gone? Are you in trouble?" Tim demanded in a low voice.
"I thought it wouldn't matter, Tim. I couldn't see why we should wait, when he'd already asked me to marry him. He promised me that it would be all right! He said that in God’s eyes, we’re already married, anyway. He said that the piece of paper didn’t mean a thing!" she wailed.
"Dana!" he swore softly. "Honey, didn't you know any better than that?"
She laughed bitterly. "I guess I do, now."
"Are you pregnant?" he asked her, gently.
"I don't know. I don't think so." Dana answered tearfully. “It … it was just one time. That’s all. Just one time.”
Tasha stopped short, and looked at Tim in shock. Who could he possibly be asking these intimate questions of?
"All right. Honey, you stay put; ask Reuben to take care of the locks, the banking and getting the word out. I'll send Mom over to get you. I don't want you to be alone. If I can't reach Mom, I'll call you right back."
"Tim, she'll kill me." Dana objected in horror.
"No, she won't. I'll pave the way. Honey, I am so sorry." Tim sighed.
"Yeah. Me, too. Thanks, Tim." She sniffed.
"All right. Call me back if you can't reach Reuben, will you?"
"Sure. Bye, Tim."
"Bye." He said sadly.
Tasha put a hand on his shoulder, and leaned over to place her lips against his ear. "Don't tell me that you have skeletons popping out of your closet too, Mr. Rain. I don't think that there's going to be room for yours and mine."
Tim shook his head. He was too upset to even absorb what she was saying. He had no idea what she was thinking; and he had no idea how much it was costing her to reach out to him, instead of running out the door and never coming back.
"I'll explain everything after I make this call, Tasha. It's very important." He silenced her. He dialed the phone, and Tasha sat down, staring at him in disbelief.
"Mom? It's me,” he said tiredly. “I'm in L.A. I don't know when I'll be home, for sure. I know I'm supposed to be in Venezuela. Mom, listen. This is very important … Mom, please listen to me! I will answer all your questions, later. I need you to drive to my office, and get Dana. Take her home with you, and keep her there ... Mom, please stop, and listen to me. This is vitally important! I can't tell you everything yet, please just do this."
He sighed harshly, and ran a hand through his hair. "Mom, nothing has happened to her physically. She's fine. She's just had a serious shock. I need your help in this … I can't tell you that."
Tim stood up, and closed his eyes. "Mom, it's Dana's private business. She's really hurting. Please just be there for her and don't ask any questions. She'll tell you all about it when she's ready." Tim sighed in frustration.
"Mom; all right! I’ll tell you if you must know, but it’s imperative that you please, listen. Listen to me carefully. Dana has been misled. She has been in a relationship and she has been betrayed ... no. No, mom. Listen. She is really in a bad way. You can't be ... I don't know. Maybe. She doesn't think so...”
"All right, Mom. All right. She has been involved with Rick Snyder. Now he’s here in L.A. trying to do the same thing to my girlfriend, Tasha. He's deranged.”
“Now, please. I want you to go get Dana, and take her home. And don't let Snyder anywhere near her. Mom, she's very upset. I told her about Rick propositioning Tasha without knowing she was involved with him, herself. It was very bad news for her. Please, detach yourself, and try to just be there for Dana. What's done is done, Mom. She can't take it back. She just fell in love, and trusted the wrong guy. That's all. She just let him talk her into it, with promises of a wedding.”
"I know that. It was stupid, Mom, but it's done and I won't have you beating up on her about it. She can’t take it, right now. All right. You promise? Thanks ... What do you mean? She’s the woman I’m going to marry, just as soon as I can convince her that’s what she ought to do. Mom, listen. I need to go. I’ll explain everything when I see you. I promise. Please, be careful of Snyder. Tell Dad he’s not to be trusted. Don't let him have access to my ministry account or office, or my house. Yes, I know. It is crazy. I love you, too. I'll call you as soon as I can. Bye."
He hung up the phone, and closed his eyes. "Lord, I hate this. I really, really hate this." He sighed.
Tasha went over and put her arms around him, effectively snuggling his face against her tummy. "Who is Dana? Tim, what in the world is going on?" she asked gently.
"My secretary. She also happens to be my little sister. It seems Snyder has been very busy behind my back for some time." He growled. "If she turns up pregnant, I'm going to tear him apart." He swore, deadly calm. “Knowing how he's hurt her is bad enough.”
"Timothy." She soothed. She stroked his hair, and kissed his forehead. Slowly, he put his arms around her, and let her comfort him. Love began enveloping him with sweet warmth, soothing his raging heart, and restoring his temper. He received it, and willingly soaked it in, with a sigh of gratitude. He needed Tasha now – desperately. He thanked God that she was comforting him, and questioned it no further.
"Perhaps we should just order Room Service tonight." She suggested gently.
He shook his head. "I don't know. I don't remember ever being this far out of sorts. I'm sorry, Tasha. I'll go along with whatever you want to do."
He looked up at her and took in the softly made up face, her hair cascading over her soft shoulders -- and then he noticed the red dress. He looked back up at her face, and then got up off the bed. He firmly put her away from him, and walked across the room, a hand on his neck as the shock sunk in. Finally, he turned around and looked at her, long and hard.
"What in the name of sadistic temptation is that, and where did it come from?" he choked out.
Tasha, already disturbed by the way he'd rocketed out of her arms and put the room between them, didn't know what to answer. She just stared at him, stricken. She felt all color drain from her face.
"I'm … sorry. It's just a dress, Tim. I thought I should loo
k nicer if we were going out to dinner. I didn't think it was anything so bad, I mean ... it's really not revealing, or anything." She objected.
Tim laughed mirthlessly. "No, I'd have to agree that it isn't."
"Then, what's wrong?" she ventured.
Tim looked at her again, and shook his head. "It's just -- wow! That's the sexiest thing I've ever seen. On you, it's ... dear God!" He objected with a sardonic laugh.
Tasha laughed uncertainly. "Are you pleased, or not?"
Tim ran a hand over his eyes, and gave her a look of mute appeal. "Baby, come on. Every man's got his buttons. You just found about a hundred of mine and pushed them all, real hard. You look incredibly ravishing, but would you mind awfully keeping that safely tucked in your closet until our wedding night?" he begged, his agony apparent.
Tasha laughed incredulously. "You're serious." She exclaimed.
"About nine hundred and fifty percent." He assured her in a husky voice.
"You seem awfully certain that we are going to have a wedding night." She commented teasingly.
"Uh, huh." He agreed calmly. "If you don't take that dress off, it might come sooner than you think."
She walked across the room and ran a finger down his jaw; and then, on down his throat teasingly. "Tell you what; if you ask me very nicely and give me one kiss, I'll take it off." She agreed.
Tim swallowed hard. He knew she hadn't meant that the way it sounded, but it wasn't helping him any. The suggestion was tempting beyond reason. "Honey, if you don't move right this minute, I may take it off for you." He advised, raw desire burning in his eyes.
"That isn't what I meant." She objected softly. She slipped her arms around his neck, and put her lips to his throat. "You haven't kissed me since you left me in the airport in New York. I want you to kiss me, right now. I love you, Timothy. And I need you. What’s worse, I want you. I’m sorry for being such a fool all this time. I adore you. Now, kiss me."
Tim felt his will snap. His eyes were burning with fire. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed her long, hard, and with enough passion to power a locomotive. Tasha's feet left the floor. Her body was pressed against Tim's; and his hands on her back – his mouth on hers, absolutely set her on fire. She was weak, and trembling so hard she could barely stand, when he put her down. His lips on her neck caused her to groan with pleasure.
"Is that what you wanted, baby?" he asked against her neck. "Now will you please exchange that sadistic temptation for something very un-sexy, if you please."
There was a lot of heat and excitement for Tasha to deal with before she could answer. She was aching, throbbing and tingling in places she'd almost forgotten existed. If Tim had pressed his advantage just then, there would have been absolutely no resistance. She was completely undone.
"Can you have any doubt, my love, that we are going to have a wedding night?" he asked, again kissing her throat. She could feel the trembling in the muscles of his arms, as he tried to maintain control.
"No." She whispered, her breathing ragged.
His penetrating blue eyes locked onto hers with a wild, predatory sweetness. "Then marry me, Tasha. Please." He begged quietly. "You are driving me insane. Say you will."
She smiled, and felt tears spring to her eyes. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes! I love you, Tim."
He closed his eyes, and held her tight. "You won't ever be sorry." He promised. "I love you madly, woman. I can't wait until you put me out of my misery. In the meantime -- save the dress." He instructed savagely.
"All right." She agreed meekly. She smiled at him before she locked the bathroom door tightly behind her. She put on a jumpsuit that Tim found infinitely more suitable. When she came out of the bath he was sitting on the bed, head in his hands.
"Worried about Dana?" she asked gently.
Tears filled his eyes, and he nodded miserably. "I can't believe he was doing this, and I never had a clue! It’s so hard to absorb the information, and come to grips with it. To go from pictures in my head of … like, me and Rick, on the beach at Acapulco, laughing and having a good time, close as brothers, to … to what I saw in him today. Even worse, I sent him to take care of you! The idea scares me to death! What if I hadn't come to the studio today?"
"I'd have had him thrown out, told you all about it and the rest would be just the same." She soothed.
Tim sighed. "I suppose so. But I'm not sure, anymore. I think he's dangerous. I don't know, Tasha. Can you believe he was seducing my little sister; and trying to get to you, too? My best friend!"
Tim snorted derisively, and shook his head. "Oh, well. I guess I'd better try to get myself a room, before it's too late."
There was a knock on the door. Tasha opened it to admit Elaine, who stormed through like a freight train, without speaking, or looking at anybody. She slammed straight through the suite, flung the French doors open with a yank, and began yelling like a fishwife.
Tim and Tasha followed her to the doorway, and were just in time to see a camera-toting man take a shaky leap from their balcony onto the one adjacent. After clambering over the rail, he gave them a wide-eyed, ashen look, and fled through the suite.
"And don't you dare show your face again!" Elaine hurled after him. "I have had it with you people! Enough is enough!”
"Ooh!" she steamed, turning to face Tim and Tasha. "I am so sorry, please forgive me! But, when I saw that snake climbing across to this balcony on my way in, I had no doubt what he was up to. I didn't intend to come barging in, though. My dear Tasha, please forgive me." She begged breathlessly, staring up at Tim with complete mortification.
Tim chuckled heartily and shook his head. "You could only be Elaine." He accused warmly. His eyes showed that he already heartily approved of this five-foot-nine spitfire. She was a class act in her white suit and her French Roll.
" 'Fraid so." She admitted with a bashful smile. "And you are Tim Rain."
He grinned at her. "Guilty." He said lightly. "I understand that you have been taking care of my lady. I'm deeply indebted to you." He said softly.
"I wanted to be sure that she was all right. I mean tonight ...” she gasped, as he kissed her hand. “Tim, I thought I'd just call from the front desk to make sure there was nothing I could do for her. Then I saw that man climbing over the balcony railing, and lost my head. I am so sorry to intrude this way."
Tim grinned. "Not at all." He assured her. "We were just about ready to order room service. Why don't you stay, and join us?"
"Oh, no. Thank you, anyway." Elaine protested. "You two should be alone. After all, Tim, you've been abroad, and I know it's been a very traumatic time. You really should have some time to yourselves, now."
"Actually, it would be much better if we didn't." Tim assured her dryly. "I'd be grateful if you'd stay." He contradicted Elaine, in a tone that made Tasha blush.
"If you'll stay, Elaine, Tim might stay, too. Otherwise, he's got to leave." Tasha tried to explain. "I mean, he doesn't have to leave, but he feels like he does. I mean, he doesn't feel like we ought to be alone right now. You know … the way things have been."
Elaine looked from one to the other. "Why ever not? You aren't going to let those goons chase you apart now, are you? That's nuts." she snorted.
Tim looked at his toes and then leveled a teasing look at Elaine. "Although they get totally excited when they think Tasha and I have been alone in a hotel room for five minutes, this has nothing to do with the press, actually." He admitted, grinning like a kid.
Tasha rolled her eyes and turned a deeper shade of red. "Timothy Rain." She rebuked him soundly.
Tim shrugged helplessly at Elaine, and cracked up laughing as he saw the look of horror on Tasha's face. "Well, you tell her what's wrong, then." He dared.
"Timothy!" Tasha objected hotly.
"Oh, man." He winced. "I haven't been here but a few hours and already, I'm in trouble."
"Just what is the problem? Mr. Rain, spit it out and get it over with." Elaine suggested matter of factly.
T
im looked at his shoes again and then looked up at Elaine from under his eyelashes. "Well, it has to do with a sadistic red dress." He admitted shyly, showing his dimples.
Elaine paled. "My red dress? What's wrong with it?"
Tim chuckled and put his hands in his pockets. "Absolutely nothing." He assured her dryly. "Tasha just thought she'd wear it tonight."
Elaine looked from Tim's smoky eyes to Tasha's mortified blush, and closed her eyes. A knowing laugh floated out of her throat. "I see." She said. It was clear that she did. "Yes, I see. It’s quite lovely, no? It was simply made for Tasha."
"Quite lovely. Indecently so." Tim agreed in a husky voice. "So, how about dinner?"
Elaine smiled sweetly. "Love to."
"Just don't be offended, please, if I fall asleep as soon as I change gears." Tim warned. "It's a long run from Venezuela, and that little nap hasn’t taken care of it."
"I understand." Elaine assured him.
"Tim, honey, why don't you go ahead and go back to sleep? We can wake you when the food comes." Tasha suggested. "In the meantime, Elaine and I can catch up."
Tim raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I trust the two of you together, enough to go to sleep. Seems like a lot of mischief to have in one place at the same time." He teased.
Tasha and Elaine looked at one another with wide-eyed innocence.
"You know, I hadn't thought about it, but I haven't done anything mean to a man in years." Elaine drawled.
"That's bologna. I just got the red dress treatment." Tim countered under his breath.
"I wonder what he'd do if he woke up with toothpaste in his ears?" Tasha giggled.
"Better put it between his toes." Elaine decided excitedly.
"Anybody who designed that red dress is capable of a lot more than toothpaste tricks." Tim growled. "I warn you both -- mess with me and I will fix you, big time."
Tasha and Elaine looked at him simultaneously with unconvincing innocence. He rolled his eyes, groaned, and walked toward the bed with a resigned sigh.
"We won't do a thing, darling." Tasha promised sweetly.
"Wouldn't think of it." Elaine purred.
“I'm a very light sleeper." He warned, kicking off his boots. He gave them a cheeky grin, flopped onto his face, and went immediately to sleep.
