Bound by Love (6 page)

              Natalie found that lunch with Cheryl had rejuvenated her. It also seemed that love was all around her, continually reminding her of her situation with Tanner. Would he ever profess love to her?
Could he?

             
Dinner at Arabelle’s had been planned for a while. Tanner had his staff arrange everything. Natalie had looked forward to seeing her family and close friends. Tanner had invited Emma, Jazzy and Ellis. Cheryl and Dani were there, so everyone met Dani for the first time. He was charming, and not at all arrogant, despite his wealth. Natalie could listen to him talk all day, with his deep-throated Russian accent.

             
Tanner secured the private dining room for them. From the moment they sat down, Natalie knew something was up. She looked over at Ellis, who seemed to be smiling more than he usually did. He kept whispering to Jazzy. That wouldn’t have been unusual, considering their romantic involvement. But, there was something else, something in their attitude.

             
Drinks and appetizers were served, and Ellis took the first opportunity to stand up and make an announcement. Jazzy blushed before he even started to speak, and Natalie realized, then, what all the excitement was about. Jazzy and Ellis were radiant. Of course, what else could it be?

             
Natalie glanced around the room and her heart warmed with love. Her dear mother, Emma, sat next to her. She was dressed in a simple, blue cocktail dress, and looked healthier than she had, in longer than Natalie could remember. Natalie gave her an impulsive hug.

             
Cheryl wore a fuchsia, silk cocktail dress. It highlighted her soft curves, and shone in the muted lighting of the room. Her diamond necklace sparkled, and her long dark hair flowed in soft curls around her face. Dani was all-eyes for her, his adoration clear. He had his arm around her, and looked very debonair in his tailored suit.

             
Tanner was beyond description. No matter how many times Natalie looked at him, she was always amazed at how his smooth skin seemed to glow, his thick, dark hair begged for her to touch it, and his auburn highlights gleamed. She looked away when she realized her clit was hard. Just looking at his lean, muscled physique, outlined under the light-weight suit, had her aroused.

             
Ellis stood up. He was over six feet tall, with soft brown hair and pale blue eyes, giving him a loveable look. He was a very attractive man. This had not escaped Natalie’s notice before, but love suited him. He was a kind person and a good friend. His blue eyes were alive with emotion.

He looked over at Jazzy
, and held her hand in his. She wore a cream-colored cocktail dress with a string of pearls. The copper tint in her brown eyes contrasted with her rosy skin, giving her a sweet, endearing quality.

             
“I’m so pleased to be here with all of you,” Ellis said, and looked around the room, including all in his kind words. “I want to thank Tanner for setting all this up. This is a special evening. I wanted you all to attend this dinner, so I could make an announcement.”

             
Jazzy looked at him with blinding love – that was the only way Natalie could describe it. With his confidence boosted, he continued, “I’d like to announce that….Jazzy and I, love each other very much, and we are engaged to be married.” At that moment, Ellis released her left hand from his grasp, and she held it up, showing a pear-shaped diamond, set in white gold.

             
Suddenly, everyone was hugging and congratulating Jazzy and Ellis. Out of the corner of her eye, Natalie caught Tanner looking at her. She leaned over to him, “You knew, didn’t you?”              

“You can’t say I’m not able to keep a secret,” he said. “I swore to Ellis I wouldn’t tell.”

              For a moment, Tanner looked like a teenager on his first date, almost shy. Was he embarrassed by the declaration of affection between Ellis and Jazzy? Or, was it something else? Natalie couldn’t look away. She was determined to understand.

             
“Later,” he said, sternly.

             
Natalie knew he meant it, so she rose and went over to Jazzy and Ellis, to join into the celebration. Emma was already standing, proudly, next to Jazzy, getting a closer look at the engagement ring. Cheryl was hugging Jazzy, and Dani was shaking hands with Ellis.

Tanner stood away from the fray, letting the initial surprise of the announcement wear off. And, he kept his eyes on Natalie – she looked like a goddess in her
black, sequined tulle cocktail dress with her thick, dark hair in an elaborate twist at the nape of her neck.

The sequins on the classy, Carolina Herrera design shimmered, and the hem was just above the knee, with the sheer, tulle hanging a couple inches further, creating a seductive touch without revealing anything. Her black, Louis
Vuitton mosaic pumps looked made for the dress. And, Tanner felt joy, noting that Natalie had chosen to wear the diamond and black onyx, butterfly necklace he’d given her as a gift.

Natalie was oblivious to Tanner’
s stare, lost in a discussion with her sister about all the wedding details. Jazzy pleaded with her to design her wedding dress, and Natalie easily agreed, excited to create a design for her sister.

They chat
ted, talking about the wedding, and agreed to set a date to go shopping, so Natalie could help Jazzy with her travel wardrobe. Ellis and Jazzy hadn’t decided where they would go for their honeymoon, but it would be some place warm.

Natalie
was so happy for her sister. It was a tale of true love, so pure and innocent. If only she could say the same for her love life. Yet, she was happier than she’d ever been, and couldn’t envision life without Tanner.

             
Dinner was electrified with all the excitement. The meal came and went, without comment, as the focus was on the newly engaged couple and their wedding details. Natalie honestly didn’t notice the handsome young waiter who took every opportunity to refill her glass, or ask if she needed anything. He was unabashedly smitten with her beauty. All of this did not go unnoticed by Tanner, who’d yet to subdue his jealous nature.

             
The blond waiter blushed crimson, when at one brush past Natalie, lingering a bit too long, Tanner gave him a burning glare that nearly melted the champagne bottle he was holding. The message was clear, and put fear into the admirer’s heart. Thus, he became occupied with service at the other side of the table, making sure to avoid looking at Natalie.

             
Tanner saw Natalie glance at the waiter when he brushed by, and Tanner’s glare caught her eye. But, she was used to his jealousy, and didn’t interrupt her conversation to pay it undue attention. That would be her mistake.

             
The fairytale love story and romantic engagement had Natalie in a dreamy state, which crashed apart, abruptly, the instant she was alone in the back of the limo with Tanner.

“I saw you flirting with the waiter, and he couldn’t take his eyes off you. You weren’t looking a
t me, but you sure noticed him,” Tanner accused.

Natalie sagged. It seemed for every step forward, they took one back. Was she making any progress? Tanner was more fiercely possessive than ever, and for no reason. Didn’t he know how she felt about him?

“I’m sorry you felt that way,” Natalie said. “I wasn’t flirting. Don’t you know what’s happening between us?”

Tanner just look
ed at her.

“Your behavior at dinner,” she started. “I know what’s wrong with you. I know you well enough now to understand your reactions, at least partly.”

Tanner stiffened.

“I asked you what was wrong, and you said, later,” she went on. “Well, it’s later. And you don’t have to say it. Attending an engagement party is unnerving for you. You think I’m blind. Ellis has professed his love to my dear sister, Jazzy.

Doesn’t that make you nervous? Are you worried I’ll demand more from you? Of course. But you can relax. You’ve made it clear that I can expect sexual pleasures. And, you do pleasure me, Tanner. You do.

But I won’t force you into a commitment that you are uncomfortable with. I don’t want intimacy on those terms. If it ever happens, it will be because you want it, truly want it. Not because I demanded it.

So don’t throw me off the track by accusing me of flirting. I don’t have any interest in any other man. You’ve ruined me for that. And you should know that by now,” Natalie fumed.

Tanner knew when to be quiet, and this was one of those times. He’d walked into deeper water than he’d intended. Natalie’s words stung. He did care about her. He was obsessed with her
.

And, yes, the engagement party was uncomfortable. He wasn’t exactly sure why. But, he didn’t want to d
well on it. He reached over, put his arm around Natalie and pulled her to him, not wanting to fight. She hesitated a moment before putting her head on his shoulder. They rode home in silence, lost in their own private thoughts.

             
Natalie and Jazzy squeezed in a couple of days of shopping, even taking Emma on one outing, and meeting Cheryl for lunch. Natalie promised to start work on the wedding dress design, and to meet with Jazzy and Cheryl for more wedding plans. The wedding was in the spring, so there would be time.

             
Tanner had business in London, and within days of the engagement dinner, Natalie was flying into Heathrow airport with him. His limo service took them to the Athenaeum, a smaller hotel. Tanner preferred the intimacy; it was more like home. Their room overlooked London with a view of Green Park which was one of the four Royal parks, and Buckingham Palace. It was a short walk to the shops and West End theaters.

             
One of the first things, Tanner did, was take Natalie for a stroll through Green Park, with his hired bodyguards at an unobtrusive distance behind. For Natalie, they tended to blend into the background. She’d gotten used to them.

Green Park’s
thick-trunked, mature trees towered over the walking paths. It was between Piccadilly and Buckingham Palace, and was tranquil and calming. The natural, undulating landscape seemed to go on and on, and the tall grass blew, gently in the breeze. Natalie shrieked, like an excited child, when she spotted a group of redwings, foraging in the grass, migrant birds that are only in the park in the colder weather.

             
The weather was too cold and drizzly for a picnic. The Ledbury, a Notting Hill restaurant, serving modern European food, was much more inviting. The white linen table cloths and heavy, floor-to-ceiling drapes gave it an elegant atmosphere.

             
Tanner ordered the 1971 Cuvee Dom Perignon, which Natalie learned was a champagne blend. The bubbly drink was a light golden color. The aroma wafted up as Natalie took a sip, reminding her of butterscotch or caramel toffee.

             
“I’d hoped to find a Meonhill or Ridgeview on the menu. We are in England, after all. I’ll be visiting both vineyards while I’m here. British sparkling wine has had a lot of good press, recently. I intend to incorporate the best vintages into my fine wines division,” Tanner explained. He held his glass up to the light to get a closer look at the golden color.

             
An exotic appetizer of flame-grilled mackerel with pickled vegetables was served to accompany the sparkling wine. Tanner informed the waiter that they’d have Roast Scottish Scallops for the main course, and nodded at Natalie as an acknowledgement that she preferred seafood. Considerate, as always, he’d chosen something she’d enjoy.

             
“The hotel is perfect, but I’m surprised you don’t own a home here. You do everywhere else, it seems,” Natalie commented.

             
“My father owned a cottage in the country, which I’ve inherited. He’d stay there on longer visits. I always enjoyed it. It’s quirky cottage, but it has character. I prefer it to the grand hotels, but on business trips when I’m working out of my London office, it makes more sense to stay in town.

             
Now that you’ve brought it up…I’d like to buy a place here in London, with you,” Tanner said, revealing nothing. “I’ve never purchased a home, just inherited them.”

The idea of home made him think of his mother. He’d buried the pain of being unable to protect her, deep inside. His childhood had been laced with violence and sadness. He’d loved his mother. She was a kind, loving person with an inner strength that kind of reminded him of – well, reminded him of Natalie.

He’d been safe all these years, and had never been close to any woman, after his mother passed away. He’d enjoyed the company of women, but intimate involvement, or love, as Natalie would call it, wasn’t part of the picture. Now, he’d asked her to buy a home with him. It both scared and excited him. He wasn’t sure what was happening. He just knew he wanted to be closer to Natalie, more than anything.

             
Natalie’s eyes widened.