He reluctantly lifted his mouth sometime later, only after he was thoroughly satisfied that he had given her something to think about for the next few days when he would be so busy with the magazine.
“That special edition comes out tomorrow,” he said hoarsely, placing small kisses around her lips. “I need to be in place.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
“I’m going to be busy over the next couple of days. I probably won’t get a chance to see you until Friday night.”
She slid her hand up his shirt, straightened his bow tie and whispered, “I understand.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
She smiled up at him. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
Taking advantage of her parted lips, he slipped his tongue back inside her mouth for one last, sweet, mind-stirring taste. Moments later, with a low groan, he pulled back, stood and placed her back in bed. “If I don’t leave now, I won’t.”
“I know that as well.”
He held her gaze for a moment, and then took his cell phone out of the pocket of his pants. Somehow in the midst of his whirling senses he was able to press a few buttons, and when the dispatcher came on the line, he said tensely, “Delay that pickup in Morningside Heights for another couple of hours.” He clicked off the phone and placed it aside, then began removing his clothes.
Unrestrained. Uncontrolled. He was a man very much in love and once again he wanted the woman, the object of his desire, the person who held his heart. He wanted to make love to her with the knowledge that love was guiding his thoughts, his actions and his words.
When he was completely naked, he joined Renee in bed, knowing that at that moment, this was where he wanted to be.
Ten
W hen Renee walked through the doors of Manhattan University Hospital that morning she had the eerie feeling of being watched. It seemed that everyone’s eyes were on her, and a number of speculative faces turned to stare at her when she made her usual trek across the lobby before stepping into the elevator.
Hoping that that she was imagining things, she walked out onto her floor moments later only to see Vicki look up from her desk and stare at her as well. “Okay, I give up,” Renee said, after hanging up her coat and walking over to Vicki’s desk. “What’s going on?”
“I take it you haven’t seen this morning’s paper,” her secretary said, easing the tabloid across the desk to her.
Renee lifted a brow before glancing down at the paper. Her heart nearly stopped. There, plastered on the front page, were pictures from the ball, and dead center were two pictures of her and Tag. The first was a photograph of them getting out of the limo together, making all of New York aware of the fact that she had been his date. The other photo was taken when he had leaned down to kiss her—the moment right before they had left the ball. Beneath the pictures the caption asked, Has the Elusive Teagan Elliott Finally Been Caught?
Renee swallowed. She hadn’t wanted her relationship with Tag exposed to the world this way, especially while it wasn’t yet on solid ground. “With all the other stuff going on in this country, I wouldn’t think the ball warranted front page,” she said, not knowing at the moment what else to say.
Vicki shrugged. “Yes, you would think not.” She then added, “I might as well warn you that Diane Carter has called three times this morning. I told her you were coming in late and I didn’t expect you before ten. Brace yourself. I have a feeling she’ll be calling back, or better yet, she’ll be coming up here the first chance she gets.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Renee was about to go into her office when Vicki asked, “Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
Renee met the woman’s gaze. She saw genuine concern and interest in the eyes staring back at her. Nothing judgmental and no censorship. “Yes, I had a wonderful time.”
Vicki smiled. “I’m glad. You’re a beautiful woman, Renee, and a nice person. You should get out more and enjoy yourself.”
Renee lifted a brow. “And Teagan Elliott?”
Vicki shrugged. “I don’t know him personally, but he seems like a nice young man.” She glanced back down at the newspaper that was still spread open on her desk. “And no matter how anyone else might feel, I personally think the two of you look wonderful together.”
Renee smiled, not realizing she’d been holding her breath. One thing she knew about Vicki was that she was sincere and forthright. “Thanks, Vicki.” She then walked into her office and closed the door.
It was sometime after the lunch hour when Diane burst into Renee’s office. “Vicki wasn’t out front so I just came on in. This is the first chance I’ve had to sneak away since seeing today’s paper. What on earth were you thinking about by going out with Teagan Elliott? That was definitely not a smart move, Renee.”
Renee leaned back in her chair, deciding to give Diane credit. The woman definitely didn’t have a problem expressing the way she felt. “And why would you think that?”
Diane frowned. “Surely you’re joking. Come on, Renee, walk back into the real world. People like the Elliotts don’t become involved with people like us. We’re not on their social level and with you it’s even more serious. There’s the issue of—”
“Race?” She preempted Diane’s comment.
“Yes, that’s it.” Diane smiled apologetically. “Face it. You’re probably a novelty to him, something new and different. I hope you aren’t taking things seriously because if you are you’re setting yourself up to get hurt.”
“Thanks for the warning, Diane, but I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.” She reached for a file on her desk, hoping Diane would take the hint.
Diane’s smile slipped. “I hope so because you’ll need to be strong when he loses interest and drops you like a hot potato. If I were you that would be something I’d definitely be thinking about.”
Without saying anything else, Diane turned and walked out of Renee’s office.
Renee stood at the window and looked down at the busy streets below. The lunch hour had ended a while ago but the sidewalks were still crowded.
Preferring to have lunch alone in her office, Renee had eaten a sandwich her secretary had brought up from the cafeteria.
She sighed deeply. She hadn’t wanted to fall in love with Tag for several reasons, and this was one of them. She hated being the center of attention, detested her name being linked to office gossip. It brought back so many painful memories of when Dionne had humiliated her in the worst possible way.
She tried convincing herself that the talk about her and Tag wasn’t the same, but in her mind, talk was talk, and she’d rather not have her name linked to any of it.
She tensed when she heard the phone ring and hoped it wasn’t Tag. She hadn’t heard from him all day and wondered if he had seen the pictures.
She crossed the room and picked up the phone. “Yes, Vicki?”
“Ms. Elliott is on the line for you.”
Renee raised a brow. “Ms. Elliott?”
“Yes, Ms. Bridget Elliott.”
Renee swallowed. Tag’s siblings had been friendly to her last night but she couldn’t help wondering if they saw the photographs in today’s paper as damaging to their family name. “Please put her through, Vicki.”
For the next minute Renee exchanged pleasantries with Tag’s sister. Then Bridget surprised her by asking, “I was wondering if we could have lunch tomorrow?”
“Lunch?”
“Yes, tomorrow. We could meet somewhere near the hospital. How about Carmine’s, that Italian restaurant on Broadway? Say noon?”
Renee took a step around her desk to quickly check her calendar. Finding the time open, she said, “Noon will be fine.”
Once Renee ended the call she slumped down in her chair. Was Bridget inviting her to lunch to tell her that she thought Renee seeing Tag was a bad idea? The last thing she needed was another person criticizing her relationship with Tag.
Tag gazed at the special edition of
Pulse. On the front cover was the silhouette of Senator Denton highlighted by the words—emblazoned in bold, black letters—“Silence is Not Always Golden”.
Tag rubbed his hand down his face. Pulse had obtained undisputed proof that one of the military guards at Abu Ghraib Prison had written the Senator and had sent photographs about the abuse going on, but Senator Denton had failed to do anything about it, and had gone so far as to stage a cover-up by having the informer transferred to a military outfit in the heart of the Iraqi fighting. That same individual had gotten killed within days of being put on the front line.
Although the incident at Abu Ghraib had eventually been brought to light, Senator Denton’s actions had not. The plan had been for him to quietly resign from office before anyone could discover the truth. Luckily, his niece had overheard him giving orders to one of his staffers to destroy the letters and photographs, and before anyone could do so, she’d read them. Horrified, she’d decided to expose her uncle for the dishonest person that he was. The loss of that young marine’s life couldn’t be forgiven.
Tag glanced down at his watch. It was close to 10 p.m. He’d been in the office since nine that morning, after finally forcing himself from Renee’s bed and going home to shower and change.
Leaning back in his chair, he threw down the magazine and picked up that day’s newspaper, a copy of which Gannon had placed on his desk first thing that morning. Tag had smiled when he’d seen the pictures of him and Renee, thinking how good they looked together. He had reached for the phone several times to call her to make sure she’d known about the photographs, but each time he’d gotten interrupted.
It was probably too late to call her now but he’d speak to her tomorrow. In the midst of everything that was going on, he needed to hear her voice and to know that the pictures hadn’t bothered her.
He gazed at the photographs and could distinctly remember when they had gotten out of the limo together, as well as the exact moment he had placed a kiss on her lips at the ball. He hadn’t been aware that the latter was being captured on film but a part of him didn’t care. There was nothing wrong with a man displaying affection for the woman he loved.
The woman he loved.
Thinking it, realizing it and accepting it was easier than he’d ever imagined. He loved her and more than anything he wanted to find a way to make her love him as well, and believe that things between them would work out.
“I can’t believe she actually thinks Teagan Elliott is remotely interested in her.”
“Hey, isn’t that hilarious? I heard that Diane Carter tried to warn her but she refused to listen. She’s going to wish she had when she gets dumped. It won’t be anyone’s fault but her own.”
Renee kept walking, refusing to look over her shoulder to see who was speaking. A part of her wanted to turn around and tell whoever they were just where they could go, but she was too professional. Besides, it would be a waste of time since the remarks were bits and pieces of what she’d heard all day, thanks to Diane’s handiwork. She sighed, thinking that the one thing she had hoped would never happen to her again was happening. Once again, she was the topic of everyone’s conversations.
She stepped into the elevator, glad she was leaving the building even if it was only for a little while. She hoped she didn’t later regret agreeing to meet Tag’s sister for lunch. Although Tag had told her that he’d be too tied up at the office to call, a part of her wished he had so she’d know what he thought of the pictures.
She’d contemplated calling him but knew how busy he was. She, like everyone else, had seen the special edition of Pulse, and had been shocked to read the article about Senator Denton. It had been the hot topic on the subway that morning.
Her thoughts shifted to her conversation with Diane yesterday. Last night, while lying in bed, she’d been forced to acknowledge that Diane was probably right. Eventually, Tag would lose interest and Renee couldn’t help wondering where that would leave her heart. Probably somewhere shattered into a million pieces. Could she handle such heartbreak?
As she stepped outside onto the sidewalk she tightened her coat around her. No, she wasn’t a glutton for pain, and if she didn’t make decisions about their relationship before Tag eventually did, pain would be just what she got.
When Renee walked into Carmine’s, she was surprised to not only see Bridget but Tag’s identical twin cousins, Summer and Scarlet, as well. She had met the two women at the Valentine’s Day ball. She nervously gripped the straps of her purse as the host led her across the room to join them.
“Thanks for inviting me to lunch,” Renee said with the first real smile she’d managed in a couple of days, after being greeted with genuine friendliness by the three women.
Bridget grinned. “It was supposed to be the two of us, but then I ran into Summer and Scarlet at the office and invited them along. I hope you don’t mind, but Summer has a good reason for us to celebrate,” Bridget said, picking up her wineglass.
Renee glanced over at Summer and quickly saw the reason. A beautiful engagement ring adorned the fourth finger of her left hand. “Congratulations! It’s a beautiful ring.”
Summer returned Renee’s smile. “Thanks. John proposed to me on Valentine’s Day. We only made a brief appearance at the ball since he’d made dinner reservations elsewhere. That’s when he popped the question.”
“Have you set a date?” Renee asked, lifting her own glass of wine after the waiter came and filled it.
She wondered then if she was the only one who noted how Summer’s shoulders had tensed at that question.
“No, a date hasn’t been set yet,” the bride-to-be replied.
Renee nodded and took a sip of wine, thinking Summer didn’t appear to be as pleased with her engagement as a future bride should be. She set down her wineglass, deciding to leave Summer’s issue alone since Renee had a huge one of her own. Tag. She wondered how long it would take before Bridget brought him up.
An hour later they had eaten their meal, and still Tag’s sister hadn’t mentioned him. Instead, she talked about how improved her mother’s condition was and had asked questions as to what to expect during Karen’s chemotherapy treatment. Tag’s name never came up. Instead, Renee spent an enjoyable lunch getting to know his sister and cousins.
It was only when they were leaving the restaurant that Bridget leaned over, smiled and whispered to Renee, “Oh, and by the way, I thought you and Tag looked great together at the ball as well as in yesterday’s paper.”
Eleven
T he following day Renee walked into her apartment not in the best of moods. The stares and negative comments at work had been worse than ever today and she wasn’t sure tonight would be a good time to go out with Tag. She had spoken to him briefly that day before he’d gotten interrupted by someone coming into his office.
On the subway ride home she had replayed everything she’d had to endure for the past two days. She had been so concerned about what everyone was saying and thinking that she hadn’t been able to function at work. That kind of worry and aggravation would definitely put a strain on an already difficult relationship and she was beginning to feel it.
More than ever she was convinced that their differences would always be an issue with them.
She glanced at her watch. Tag was to pick her up at seven, and knowing him, he would be punctual. If she was going to cancel their date, now was the time to do so. She picked up the phone, deciding to call him at the office in case he was still there. The familiar voice of his secretary answered after the first couple of rings. “Teagan Elliott’s office.”
“Yes, may I speak with Mr. Elliott?”
“He’s in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?”
“Yes. Please let him know that Renee Williams called and—”
“Hold on, Ms. Williams. I was given explicit instructions to put you through to Mr. Elliott if you were to call. Just a moment, please.”
Renee leaned back against the kitchen counter,
waiting to be connected to Tag. A few seconds later, he was on the line. “Renee?”
She sucked in a sharp breath. Just hearing him say her name did things to her. She could vividly remember how he’d woken her a couple of mornings ago, kissing her and whispering her name over and over. Before she’d even opened her eyes, he’d drawn her into his warm embrace, waking her senses up to him and the strong evidence of his desire for her.
Could Diane be right? Was she just a novelty to him? Something different? Someone he would eventually lose interest in when the novelty wore off? And what if she did mean something to him? Would he go against his family’s wishes if they decided they didn’t want her to be a part of it? Could there ever be a chance of a happy ending for them?
“Renee?”
She breathed in deeply. “Yes, it’s me. I called to let you know I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go out tonight. And maybe it’s a good idea if we cool things between us.”
“What are you talking about, Renee? What happened?”
“Nothing happened, Tag. I—I just can’t handle the talk, the negativity. Look, I know you’re busy so I’ll let you go. Goodbye.”
She hung up the phone and wrapped her arms around her stomach, swallowing her tears, telling herself that she wouldn’t fall apart. But when the tears continued coming nonstop, she knew she was doing that exact thing.
Tag held the phone in his hand as he hung his head, frowning. What the hell had happened? He breathed in deeply, knowing whatever it was had to be connected to the pictures that had appeared in the newspaper a few days ago.
“Is everything all right, Tag?”
He glanced up and met Gannon’s concerned gaze. Only then did he hang up the phone. Already, he was moving toward the coatrack for his jacket. “No, everything isn’t all right. It’s Renee and she’s having second thoughts about us again.” Last night while the two of them were stuck late at the office, Tag had had a heart-to-heart talk to Gannon about Renee, and had even admitted to his brother that he loved her.
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