His Desire (18 page)

“Say what?” Lois asked with a little disapproving sniff.

“Say what’s on your mind. You’ve been practically fuming since she called.

So, lets hear it.”

“All right. I think you’re asking for trouble going out with ‘that one.’” Had he not been considering how she knew he was going out with ‘that one’ and coming to one possible conclusion, he probably would have found the whole conversation amusing. As it was, it was just down right bizarre. Not that he was feeling guilty or anything.

“Lois, ‘that one’ as you call her is just a friend. In fact, she’s not even that.

She and Kylie used to be roommates. She’s in town and she wanted to have dinner. Nothing wrong with that is there?”

“Well now, that depends. Would you tell your girlfriend about her?”

“Lois, there’s nothing going on between Mariah and me. And I don’t have to tell Kylie about everything that I do.”

“Uh-huh. You just remember that I told you so when that little lack of information blows up in your face,” Lois assured him and Aaron had to wonder: if he wasn’t concerned about what Kylie might say then why wouldn’t he tell her about it?

Aaron sat outside Sooners for ten minutes considering how angry Mariah would be if he simply stood her up before finally going inside.

He found Mariah waiting for him sipping what looked like her third frozen margarita.

“Hi, sorry I’m late. Work.” He left it at that one word explanation, not really caring if she bought it or not.

Mariah wasn’t happy to be kept waiting but she was going to play nice for the moment. She was still trying to seduce him, he realized with a sinking feeling as she set down next to him in the booth abandoning her seat opposite his.

“Oh, that’s okay doll. You can make it up to me.”

Aaron tried to control his frustration. He inched away from her closeness.

Her perfume was making his eyes water. The waiter came and took his drink order. Aaron considered ducking out on dinner altogether but decided she had him pretty much pinned to his seat at least until she made her first of many powder room breaks.

“I’ll just have water. I still have some work waiting for me,” he said with a watery smile at the waiter who looked slightly offended.

“Not even one drink with me. For old times sake?” She pouted. She looked older. Like someone trying to pretend to be young.

“Sorry, I have an early morning. And I still have work waiting on me.”

After his water arrived and their food orders were taken, Aaron found himself at a loss of what to say to her.

“So, what brings you to Oklahoma City of all places?” he asked when she scooted a little closer. “Don’t tell me you have a modeling job here?”

“Of course not, silly. I came to see you.”

He tried not to show his disappointment. “Oh, I see. Um, is something wrong?”

“Of course not.” She smiled ever so demurely and touched his hand. “It’s just that you and I have unfinished business.”

“Mariah,” Aaron began but was interrupted by the arrival of their food.

“So, what say we forget about dinner and go someplace quieter to talk?”

“Mariah, there’s something you should know.” He stopped and considered what he was giving away that Kylie clearly hadn’t wanted Mariah to know.

“Have you talked to Kylie at all lately?”

“Um, not since I moved out of our apartment. Why?” Mariah suspected something. She dropped her fork and picked up the half-emptied margarita.

“The thing is, we’re sort of together now. Kylie and I are living together.”

Aaron never would have believed it possible to shock Mariah St. Clair, but clearly that little piece of information had. So what exactly had Kylie told her about them? Not the truth. That much was obvious.

Mariah all but chocked on her margarita before setting it down. “What? What did you just say?”

“Mariah, I’m sorry. I just assumed you knew. Kylie and I have been seeing each other for a while now. Since you and I split up.”

“But…” Mariah was at a loss for words.

“Look, I’m sure this is coming as a surprise. But I’m crazy about her.”

“That doesn’t have to matter,” Mariah added demurely.

How many men would jump at the chance to sleep with Mariah? Just about everyone that he knew. Including the ones that were married. She was attractive, sexy and willing; all the things that he’d been drawn to in the past. Now, he found her lacking and superficial. She wasn’t Kylie.

“I’m in love with Kylie, Mariah.” Hearing himself actually say those words out loud made them seem real for the first time. He did love her. He’d been trying for too long to suppress that love. Now, he wanted everyone to know.

“In fact, I want to marry her.”

“You what? You want to get married?” Mariah looked dumbfounded. He couldn’t blame her. He was still a little unsettled himself.

He all but shoved Mariah out of her seat before sliding across the bench to stand. “I have to go. I’m sorry that this has been a waste of your time. But thank you.”

“You’re thanking me?” She stared up at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“Yes, I’m thanking you,” he said, grinning as he tossed too much money on the table to cover their tab.

“For what?”

Aaron started toward the door, Mariah followed. She was still hoping to change his mind.

“For helping me see the truth. I’ve been afraid to admit how I felt about Kylie for so long. But I do love her. And I do want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

“Aaron, wait.”

He stopped and turned to face her.

“You can’t just tell her that you love her.”

“What do you mean?” he asked suspiciously.

“Kylie is different. I think you need to wait, let me talk to her.”

He didn’t trust Mariah’s motives. “Thanks, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Aaron, Kylie is my friend as well. I know her pretty well.”

“She still thinks there was something between us, Mariah. Kylie thinks we’ve slept together.”

“Yeah, well no such luck there. And by the way, why didn’t we? I mean I all but threw myself at you.”

“Mariah, do you really want to have this conversation right now?”

“Yes, I do. In fact, I’ve wanted to know the answer to that question for a while.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right. Maybe you and I need to have a heart to heart but that’s it. Nothing else and frankly I don’t understand why you’re here, when you’re living with—what’s his name?”

“Jean Claude.” She didn’t answer his question.

He’d made so many mistakes trying to get close to Kylie. Maybe Mariah was right. Maybe it was time to clear the air once and for all, starting with his reasons for dating Mariah in the first place. “Where are you parked? There’s a coffee shop around the corner. We could grab some coffee and talk?”

One double espresso latte later, Aaron discovered there was a lot about Mariah he’d never got before. The sex kitten attitude she all but oozed most of the time was just an act. Mariah was just as scared about screwing up in love as the rest of the world.

“I’m sorry that I used you like that. I know it was a terrible thing to do. But it sounds like it worked out best for you in the long run. I mean, you’ve met Jean Claude. Are you in love with him?” It had been hard to admit that he’d just been using Mariah. Somehow, that only added to his insecurities with Kylie. How would she feel knowing that he was capable of such a thing?

“I don’t know? How do you know you’re in love?” she asked him and he actually believed she wanted to know. “I mean how do you know it’s not just the sex talking.”

“I don’t know. But maybe if you have to ask that question then you aren’t in love?”

“Maybe you’re right. So what are you going to do about Kylie?”

“I don’t know. What do you suggest? I won’t just walk away from her but she’s just so damned closed up about her feelings. In some weird way, I think she still sees us as friends.” He stopped when he heard Mariah’s amusement. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing. I just think you two are the cutest things. Okay, I’m going to help you out here. I’m going to tell you a little secret but you have to promise not to tell her you heard this from me?”

“I’m not promising anything,” Aaron told her calmly.

“Okay, fine. Kylie’s had a crush on you forever, Aaron. I can’t believe you’ve never noticed it. She doesn’t think of you as a friend. I’d say Kylie’s been in love with you since the first day she met you.”

“You think Kylie’s in love with me?” Aaron forced down the small amount of hope that came from those words.

“I know she is.”

“Then why doesn’t she tell me how she feels?”

“Have you ever told her how you feel?”

“Well, no, but that’s different. She’s been the one insisting that we’re just friends.” But as he thought back over all the times they’d been together, the truth was they spent most of their time in bed. No wonder she wasn’t sharing her feelings with him. She probably thought he only wanted a sexual relationship with her.

“Oh, God. I don’t know what to do. What should I do?”

“Go slow.”

* * * *

Two weeks before Christmas, every single time Kylie talked to Aaron he seemed even more distant than the time before.

He hadn’t been home since Thanksgiving. He’d canceled out on their only weekend because of work. This wasn’t good. This was a sign as far as Kylie was concerned. It was the beginning of the end. And to top it off, Mariah had called, asking some very strange questions, which ended in her telling Kylie that she had ‘met up’ with Aaron the week before.

When she told Sarah this, her friend was quick to point out another factor. “I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but we have a meeting on Monday morning with the Brady people.

“Oh no.” Kylie sank down into the sofa and covered her eyes. “I completely forgot about that.”

“Clearly. So what are you going to tell them?”

“I have no idea. I don’t know what to tell them.”

“Well, you’d better think of something and fast. You have two days to decide our future.”

No pressure there. Just her and Sarah’s entire future was riding on this one decision.

Which was probably why she couldn’t sit still when she got home. Kylie wandered around the empty house until she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. Then she decided to take a walk. A long walk. By the time she arrived back at the house it was after midnight.

She unlocked the door, wondering if she’d actually left every light in the place on. From the living room, Kylie heard voices. She didn’t remember the TV being on when she left the place.

She walked into the living room and saw Aaron. Then Mariah. Her footsteps froze. She couldn’t move.

“Oh, there you are. I was starting to get worried.”

Aaron took a step closer, but Kylie backed away. “What are you doing here?

And Mariah?” Her eyes met his, full of questions she couldn’t ask.

“Kylie…” He took another step closer then stopped.

“I should go,” Mariah told him before giving him a kiss on the cheek. She stopped next to Kylie and smiled. “You are one lucky lady. Tell him the truth, Kylie. Tell him you love him.”

Without another word, Mariah left. And then they were alone. Kylie started for her bedroom. She couldn’t do this now. Not after what Mariah had just done.

Aaron stopped her. “Where are you going?” he asked, reaching for her arm.

“I haven’t seen you in weeks and you’re walking away.”

“You’re seeing her again?” Kylie couldn’t look at him. She wanted to cry.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, Aaron. You didn’t even bother to tell me that you’d spent the evening with her. Mariah told me everything.”

“Kylie, Mariah and I had dinner together and nothing more. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d react like you’re reacting now.”

“I’m leaving. I’ve heard enough.”

Kylie pulled away from him and started for the door. “Is it true?” Was it possible that Aaron’s voice sounded almost desperate? She couldn’t bring herself to look.

“I can’t talk about this now.” She reached for her keys and moved toward the front door.

“Where are you going?” he asked again. This time there was no denying the desperation there.

Kylie closed the door without answering.

* * * *

Aaron couldn’t move. He couldn’t bring himself to take a single step from where he stood when she walked out on him. He didn’t know what to do. He heard the sound of her car disappearing in the city traffic and still didn’t move. Where would she be going? Why was she willing to believe the worst of him? Was Mariah right after all? He was betting everything, all of his hopes, that she was.

So the only thing left to do was wait. And hope that she would come back.

She didn’t. By two, he was desperate enough to call Sarah and wake her.

“Have you heard from Kylie tonight?”

“Who is this? Aaron? What do you mean? What time is it? What happened?”

“She walked out hours ago. I can’t reach her on the phone. I thought maybe she might be with you.”

“No, I haven’t seen her. Why, what happened?”

“She came home and found Mariah here and jumped to all sorts of wrong conclusions.” Aaron hated admitting that to Sarah.

“Not good.”

“I realize that, Sarah,” he snapped then added, “but she didn’t even wait to hear why Mariah was there. She just assumed that Mariah and I were up to no good.”

“Doesn’t surprise me. Mariah is kind of a sore spot with Kylie.”

“It’s my fault really. I’ve let her believe there was more between Mariah and myself than there was. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”

“Did you try the store?”

“No.”

“You’ll need a key. Chances are if she’s that mad at you she won’t open the door for you. She keeps a spare in the desk in her room. Don’t you tell her I told you so though.”

“Your secret’s safe. Wish me luck.”

“Luck? You’re going to need more than luck, Aaron Winters. You’d better be as good as she says if you plan on fixing this one.”

The shop appeared dark when Aaron parked the Rover in front. Kylie’s small car was parked to the side. He could just make out a faint light coming from the kitchen area through the closed door. He unlocked the door and went inside.