by Carmen Green
“Nice to meet you,” Chris said and shook her hand.
“Daddy, tell him where you want the chairs,” Karen said and looped her arm through Renee’s.
When Chris and Aunt Gert walked over to talk to Mr. Smithstone, Karen whispered, “He’s handsome. Terrell said he was pretty nice. Is he?”
“One of the nicest men I know,” Renee said.
“You’ll have to fill me in later. I know we won’t get to talk much today. I promise we will soon.”
Renee hugged her again. “I missed you.” Now that Karen was back, she realized how much she’d come to rely on her bubbly but down-to-earth view of the world.
“Is there something wrong?” her friend asked.
She longed to tell her everything, but she couldn’t. Instead she shook her head. “No. I’m just glad you’re back.”
Friends and neighbors began arriving with more food and greetings. Within minutes, the patio was abuzz with activity and Karen was the queen bee. Renee saw Chris talking with Terrell and a group of neighbors. Seeing him stand there somehow looked right. It was as if this was where he was supposed to be. She pushed the thought aside. Chris turned, met her gaze. She was beginning to get used to the way he made her heart jump. She watched as he stepped away from the group of men and walked to her. He looked at her like she was the only person he wanted to be with.
“Some party,” he said when he reached her.
“Yes. It is. Are you having fun?”
“I am. Let’s grab those chairs.” He pointed to two empty seats in the midst of a group of friends talking. Soon, they were enveloped in three separate conversations. As time passed, Renee realized that this was the kind of life she wanted. Surrounded by friends, family and acceptance. When she looked at Chris her heart melted and she thought of the possibility of having this life.
* * *
From the kitchen window, Karen and Miss Gert watched Renee and Chris.
“What do you make of him?” the older woman asked.
Karen studied Chris for a few seconds then looked at Renee’s relaxed smile. “I think he makes her happy.”
Miss Gert nodded. Whatever it was that had worried Renee for the last few weeks seemed to be gone. “Yes. I believe you’re right.”
“She’s worried about something. I could see it in her face earlier.”
“I know. She won’t tell me about it.”
“Is it Marc?” Karen asked.
“I don’t believe it is. I know she cared for Marc, but she didn’t love him. There’s a certain air around a couple in love and they didn’t have it.” She studied the couple outside. They didn’t have the air of love around them either, but there was something. “We’ll have to keep an eye on them.”
Karen agreed.
* * *
Hours later, Renee sipped on a can of ginger ale as she sat listening to Chris and Karen debate the merits of Kenyan coffee, Karen’s favorite, versus Chris’s favorite, Columbian coffee.
“Renee.”
She sat up straight at the sound of her mother’s voice. She turned around to see her parents standing a few yards away from her. Unlike the rest of the people at the party, who wore shorts and casual clothing, her parents were dressed as if they were headed to Sunday morning church service.
“Hi. I didn’t know you were in town,” she said, shocked to see them, then felt her stomach burn at the annoyed and disapproving look on both of their faces.
“We called when we got to the airport, but you obviously weren’t answering either of your phones. Why have two phones if you’re not going to answer either of them? That is irresponsible, Renee,” her father said stiffly.
Embarrassed, she said, “I’m sorry.”
Chris looked at Renee’s parents. She had her father’s features and he wondered why they were so angry with her for missing their call.
“You could have called her sooner. Given her some advanced notice that you were coming to town.” Miss Gert’s tone was calm, but he could hear the anger beneath it.
“We gave her plenty of notice this afternoon,” her mother said.
Chris heard Karen mutter a cuss.
“Renee is here to celebrate my return home. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us and enjoy Renee’s company here?” Karen said.
Her father stiffened as if she’d insulted him. “We can’t possibly stay. We have a two-hour layover until we fly to Chicago. Renee, we need to discuss an opportunity for you.”
He’d had enough of these people. “I’m sorry. We haven’t met. I’m Chris Foster, Marc’s younger brother.” He held out his hand and stepped between Renee and her parents.
Her father shook his hand reluctantly. “James and Lorna Mitchell. I’m sorry, but we really need to speak with our daughter.”
“You should have thought of that before showing up on her doorstep unannounced. She’d made plans that didn’t include you. Next time, have the common decency to respect her and her time.”
“Chris,” Renee said. “It’s okay. I…”
He looked at her. Her face was flushed with embarrassment. “No. It’s not okay. They are treating you with disrespect and I won’t have that.”
“You can’t tell us how to treat our own daughter,” her mother said sharply.
“I just did,” he said softly.
Her mother looked at Renee. “Why are you treating us like this? We love you.”
Miss Gert rose out of her chair. “Lorna. You stop badgering her and either get a plate or hit the road.”
She glared at the older woman then turned to Renee. “When you’ve come to your senses, give us a call.” She turned, took her husband’s arm and they walked away.
“Wait,” Renee called after them.
Chris put his hand on her shoulder. “Let them go. They were wrong to treat you that way.”
“But…”
“He’s right,” Karen said. “They’ve been emotionally abusive to you for a long time. What they are doing to you isn’t out of love.”
Karen put her arms around Renee’s shoulders and led her to the chair. Flanked by Karen and Miss Gert, he saw her wipe away tears. Anger flowed through him as he watched her. What kind of parents were those people?
Terrell caught his gaze and motioned him away from the women. They walked to the other side of the yard. Chris stood where he could keep an eye on Renee.
“What’s the story with her parents?” he asked.
Terrell looked at him. “Renee’s parents are the kind of people who should never have children. They treat her like crap and expect her to jump whenever they say jump.”
Terrell’s father joined them. “Thank you for telling them off. I’ve wanted to do it for years.”
“If they didn’t want Renee, why didn’t they let Miss Gert raise her?” Chris asked.
“That would be bad for their image and too much like right,” Mr. Smithstone said. “Miss Gert wanted to raise Renee, but those two enjoyed being the parents of a genius without doing the work of being parents. They say they love her, but they don’t know what love is. It takes a lot of real love and work to raise a genius.” He put his arm around his son. “Isn’t that right, boy genius?”
“What are you talking about? I was the perfect child,” Terrell said and put his arm around his father’s shoulder.
“In your dreams,” the older man said.
Chris watched as the women gathered around Renee to give her comfort. He now understood why she’d married Marc. Her relationship with her parents had given her a very skewed view of love. She was still trying to get her parents to learn to love her. She deserved more. She deserved more than he could give her.
“She deserves love.” Chris hadn’t meant to say the words aloud.
“Yes. She deserves it,” Terrell said. “She has our love and she always will.”
Chris watched her and wondered what he could do to ease her pain.
* * *
Later that evening, Chris walked home with Renee. Terrell
drove Miss Gert to her condo, which was not far from his town house. Renee had been more subdued since her parents departure.
“I like your friends,” he said when they entered the kitchen.
“You mean Karen’s friends,” she said, locking the door.
“No. I mean your friends, the Smithstones and your neighbors. They’re all your friends. I had a really good time with them.”
“Even when my parents came?” she asked with sadness in her brown eyes.
“Even then,” he said, and put his arms around her shoulders.
“I wish you hadn’t talked to them that way. I know you were trying to help. I try so hard to be the daughter they want me to be, but I keep messing up.”
He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen to the sofa in the den. He sat down beside her. “You are not your parents’ problem. They are the problem. You are a wonderful person, Renee.”
She tried to smile but her lips trembled. “Now you sound like Karen.”
“She’s a professional. You should listen to her.”
He watched, feeling helpless as tears rolled down her cheeks. “They don’t love me. They’ve never loved me,” she said softly and with dead certainty. She looked into his eyes. “What’s wrong with me?”
His heart felt as if it had been squeezed. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “There’s nothing wrong with you. Absolutely nothing.” He rocked her in his arms and stroked her hair as she cried.
Later, her tears spent, she tilted her head back and looked up at him. Brushing his thumb across her cheek, he thought she looked so beautiful. He lowered his lips to her forehead and kissed her softly, ignoring the slow curl of desire he felt. She needed tenderness, not lust, he told himself. He leaned back, studying her face, enjoying the sight of her.
She lifted her hand and with gentle fingers traced his top lip then his bottom. Desire made him tremble and he couldn’t get enough air. He parted his lips and she slipped the tip of her finger inside his mouth. Without thinking, he sucked.
Heat flashed into her eyes. She withdrew her finger, pressed forward and kissed him. Her tongue slipped between his lips, past his teeth. In and out, she thrust her tongue into his mouth in a familiar mating dance. He stroked her back, feeling a shudder run through her body. The feel of her soft breasts against his chest made his skin burn. Desire, which he’d tried to contain, burst free when she stroked his chest.
She freed her lips and kissed his chin, his jaw and his neck, sending his body into full-alert. He threaded his fingers through her hair. “Look at me,” he said, his voice raspy.
She looked at him; desire was there in her gaze, but there was also a hint of uncertainty and vulnerability. He knew she didn’t need his tenderness right now. She needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was wanted, needed and desired. He planned to show her in vivid detail that he wanted, needed and above all desired only her.
He lowered his head. Using both hands, he held her face and poured everything he had into his kiss. He used his tongue, teeth and lips. Licking, sucking, biting. Feasting on her mouth until her shoulders shook hard with passion.
He lifted his mouth and reveled in the sound of her harsh breathing. He positioned her until she was sitting with her shoulders against the back of sofa. Reaching out, he teased her nipple with the tip of his finger. Her back straightened and she leaned into his touch. Giving her one last featherlight stroke on her nipple, he peeled down the straps of her top and bra, revealing her lush, brown flesh. Fisting his hands, he fought the need to push her down on the couch and ravish her. Reaching behind her with shaking hands, he unfastened her clasp and helped free her arms from the straps of her clothes.
She took his hand and pressed it to her breast, her hard nipple pressed against his palm. Suddenly it wasn’t enough. He wanted his mouth on her, his hands touching her everywhere. He felt his control slipping. A heartbeat later, he was on his knees in front of her, pushing her legs apart to make room for him. Lowering his head, he kissed her breast then cupped it and licked her nipple as if it were a chocolate ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day. He heard her moans and felt the bite of her nails on his shoulder. Turning his head, he nuzzled her other breast and took her nipple into his mouth. He suckled, wrapped his arms around her waist and urged her closer to him. He released her from his lips, sat back on his haunches and let his gaze drink in the sight of her. She looked passionate, tempting and wantonly hot.
Chris reached out and rubbed his hand along her inner thigh. Slipping his hand inside the hem of her loose shorts, he pushed the fabric higher and higher until he could feel her damp heat through her thin panties. She moved her hips against his fingers and he moaned. Slowly he withdrew and moved to the waistband of her shorts. Rising to his knees, his hands trembled as he pulled the snap then pulled down the zipper. Sliding his fingers over her top and inside the waistband of her shorts and panties, he sat on his haunches and slowly pulled. She gripped his shoulders and lifted her hips and he slid her clothes off her hips, exposing the black triangle of curls between her legs. Moving back, he pulled her clothes down her legs and over her sandals.
Groaning, he moved between her legs, spreading them wide. Sliding his hands up her thighs, he leaned down and kissed the side of her knee. He traveled up, kissing the warm skin of her inner thigh, higher and higher, breathing deep to smell her sweet perfume. He gently bit her inner thigh. Her legs clenched and her hips arched forward. His heart hammered against the walls of his chest. He slid his finger inside her hot, slick core and moved. In and out. He put another finger inside her, loving the wild groans coming from her lips. When he couldn’t hold out any longer, he removed his fingers from inside her, spread her, then kissed and licked her womanly core. He devoured her until she screamed his name.
* * *
Later that night, Renee awakened alone in her bed. She shivered as she remembered the things Chris had done to her on the sofa and later here in her bed. He’d given her pleasure like she’d never known and her body was still humming. Glancing at her nightstand, she noted the time. It was nearly two o’clock in the morning. Through the open doors, she saw a faint light coming from downstairs.
What was he doing up so late?
She walked naked to her bathroom and grabbed her robe. She followed the light downstairs to the office.
Chris sat at the desk with his laptop opened in front of him. Shirtless, he looked deliciously naked. Everything that made her a woman responded to his masculine grace and power. The love she felt for him filled her heart and overflowed. It scared her at times, but right now, it comforted her. She walked inside and he smiled at her.
“What are you doing?” She stopped beside the desk, a little disappointed to see that he wore white boxers. Another day, maybe she could talk him into working naked.
“I’m trying to get into Marc’s hard drive without destroying all the data,” he said.
It was then that she noticed the small, silver hard drive beside his laptop.
“This isn’t the hard drive that I gave him. Are you sure this belongs to Marc?”
He rubbed the back of neck. “It was found in Marc’s plane.”
She stepped away from the desk. Shocked, angry and hurt by his omission. “What? Why didn’t you tell me? What else are you keeping from me?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Keeping from you?”
Folding her arms across her chest, she frowned at him. “I had the right to know about it. It might have the location of Aunt Gert’s necklace.”
“Or it could have information on Alex or Danielle that has nothing to do with you. I don’t share personal information about you to them or vice versa,” he said in a low, cool tone.
“Wait a minute. This isn’t about personal information. This is about the truth. You haven’t told any of the wives about it, have you?”
“No, and until I know what’s on the hard drive, I hope you won’t tell Alex or Danielle about it.”
She s
tared at him. “Do you have any idea how arrogant and deceitful that statement is?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “No. Why don’t you explain it to me, Renee.”
She clenched her jaw, so angry with him she could spit. “All right. I will. Marc has either flat-out lied or lied by omission on so many things that I, no, all three wives are trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not.” She put her hands on her hips and continued. “Then here you come, Mr. FBI-Y chromosome, making executive decisions about who should know what and when. Let me just tell you something. You don’t have the right to keep information from us. We have been through heck because of him. And I don’t give a skinny rat’s patootie if there’s not a thing on that drive that pertains to me, but I still have the right to know it exists. Is that clear enough for ya?”
He said nothing for a few seconds then said, “I understand.”
“Good. And another thing. If you’d said something sooner, I could have…” She stopped then turned away. What was she doing? “Never mind.”
“You could have what?”
She bit her lip. She’d said too much. Now, she would have to tell him. With resignation, she realized she would have had to tell a portion of the story anyway. When she looked up, she met his dark, probing gaze and wondered just how much to tell him.
“If you’d told me about the hard drive sooner, I could have given you everything on it.”
He unfolded his arms, leaned forward. His pale brown eyes focused solely on her. “How?”
Renee decided to tell him the whole truth. “You know Calvin Gaines.”
“Yeah. He owns the biggest computer security company in the world. His company does a lot of work for the government. Do you know him?”
She nodded.
“Will you ask him to get into Marc’s hard drive?”
“I don’t have to. I can do it,” she said softly.
“You can do it,” he repeated. “How do you know Calvin Gaines?”
“We attended Duke University and we took a few computer science classes together. In one of the classes, we had a group project to study the strengths and weaknesses of network security in big companies or organizations. Well, the thing is—” She stopped to gather her nerve. “We got into the network of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.”
