In Forbidden Territory (11 page)

“Please, stop right there.” Mac held up his hand. “She's already made me aware of that reality—emphatically and more than once, I might add.”

Ty cocked his head and shot a questioning look at his partner. “And?”

Mac glanced at the floor again, as if trying to compose the right words before speaking. “And after she went to bed I spent most of the rest of the night thinking about what she had said.”

Mac looked up and caught a moment of eye contact with Ty. “She really got me with that comment she made at your house about thinking back to when I was twenty-four and whether I was able to make intelligent decisions on my own. I decided she was right. To the rest of the world she may have become an adult, but in my mind she had remained that little girl I needed to protect and take care of.”

“To get everything out in the open and up-front, I want you to know that I have every intention of continuing to date Angie. I don't know where it's going, or if it's even going anywhere at all, but in the meantime we enjoy each other's company and have a good time. So, where does this leave you and me?”

A hint of concern darted across Mac's face. “For starters, I don't want to know what
having a good time
means. I'm willing to accept her adult status, but that doesn't mean I want to know everything.” His expression turned serious. “Bottom line—it was wrong of me to keep her categorized in that neatly boxed-in place even though I wasn't aware I was doing it. The two of you dating is your business and not something for me to judge.”

“I'm glad you and Angie worked things out, but I still don't know where it leaves us.” Ty leveled a steady gaze at Mac, one that belied the trepidation pushing at his insides. “Does everything go back to the way it was with the past few days being just an unfortunate little incident that can be forgotten, or is this tension going to continue with us being outwardly polite while sticking solely to business?”

Mac took a deep breath. He sat in the other large chair on the same side of his desk as Ty. “You ask tough questions and put me in an uncomfortable position. Angie is my sister, my kid sister, regardless of how much of an adult she is now. She grew up without a father and being the oldest brother I partially assumed that position in her life. It's a difficult role to relinquish, especially after all these years.”

Anxiety rose inside Ty. Mac was not the only one finding himself in an uncomfortable position. He knew he needed to give Mac some sort of reassurance about his intentions toward Angie, but exactly what were those intentions? He still didn't know beyond the fact that he wanted her to be part of his life.

Ty rose from his chair. “I can only say that I care about Angie very much and would never do anything to hurt her. Beyond that…well, I guess she and I will
have to find out for ourselves what type of a relationship we have.”

Mac stood up and extended his hand toward Ty. “Fair enough.”

The two men shook hands, at first tentatively and then with the warmth resulting from years of friendship. A sense of relief washed through Ty. He still didn't know where his relationship with Angie was headed, but at least it would no longer exert a negative impact on his association with Mac. They could now give their attention and work energy to things that mattered to the future of the company.

Ty returned to his office to handle some reports he had shuffled aside while pursuing the incredibly desirable Angelina Coleman. But first, he placed a call to Angie. He wanted to share the news with her about he and Mac patching things up between them. He paused for a moment before dialing the last number. His first thought had been to share with Angie, to make her part of everything that was happening in his life. A warm flush of contentment quickly combined with a cold dash of uncertainty. He was in way over his head and didn't know what to do. He dialed the last number and listened as the phone rang.

“Did I wake you?” The moment he heard her voice the warm flush of contentment won out.

“No, I've been up for over an hour.”

“I just wanted to let you know that Mac and I talked this morning and we have everything settled between us. How did you fare last night?”

“Mac and I talked half the night. We made a lot of progress in forging a new relationship between us—an adult relationship. It was the best talk we've ever had and it really felt good.”

“I'm glad. Listen, Angie… I just checked my calendar and I have a lunch meeting today that I had forgotten about so I'll be busy well into the afternoon. But, I'm free tonight.” He dropped his voice to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper with just a hint of lusty desire attached to it. “Would you like to take another try at the hot tub?” He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed the memory of the bubbling water dancing over her bare breasts to play across the screen of his mind. His breathing quickened, forcing him to open his eyes and break the all too tempting image.

“Mmm…that sounds like a great idea.”

“Good. I'll give you a call as I leave the office. Oh, I forgot to mention…this is swimsuit optional night.”

“Does that apply to both of us?”

He heard the laughter in her voice and pictured her beautiful smile. It warmed his heart just to be talking to her. “Absolutely.” He concluded the conversation, then turned his attention to work.

Ty couldn't stop his mind from wandering to the delights the evening had in store. His day seemed to drag by. He finally gave up trying to finish the reports and had to fight to keep his attention focused on his lunch meeting. The way she so totally occupied his thoughts when awake and his dreams when asleep left him perplexed at best. And at the worst, it left him scared out of his socks.

It also left him steeped in the type of turmoil that had never been a part of his life. It had always been so simple and straightforward. If a situation with a woman seemed to be cooling off, there were always several others available to heat things up again.

But this was so totally different. He didn't want to be with anyone else. He found himself trying to picture
what it would be like twenty years from now when the hot passions had mellowed. He still couldn't imagine himself with anyone other than Angie.

He forced his attention back to work while keeping one eye on the clock. Closing time finally arrived. He called Angie to tell her he was on his way, then headed for his car. His heart sang and his spirits soared as he drove toward Mac's house. It was no use denying it. She had become the single most important person in his life. When they were apart it felt as if a piece of his life was missing.

But what to do about it? He tried to convince himself that he didn't need to do anything. What they had was perfect…well,
almost
perfect. It would be better when she wasn't staying with Mac. Once she moved out of Mac's house, they wouldn't need to be concerned about Mac's reaction if she stayed out all night.

Then his mind started to drift into very dangerous territory. He toyed with the idea of Angie moving in with him. But what kind of a message would that send to her? Would it signal his commitment to a relationship? Would it say even more than that? Was he ready to make that type of a statement? Again, the inner turmoil started to churn in the pit of his stomach telling him how uncomfortable he was with the subject.

As soon as Angie opened the door he pulled her into his arms. It all felt so good, so right—so perfect. His turmoil stopped and in its place was the contentment and happiness he had come to associate with her, feelings he had never experienced with any other person.

Then his mouth was on hers. She circled her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened, sending yet another wave of desire crashing through his body. Did he dare acknowledge that he just might be falling in
love with her? And if he were to consciously and openly deal with that reality, what would it mean for the future?

He banished the worrisome thoughts from his mind. Things between them were perfect just the way they were. They didn't need meaningless words to define what they had. They were good together and they belonged together. That was all that mattered.

He broke off the kiss, but continued to hold her in his arms. His whispered words held a breathless quality. “Have I ever told you how exquisitely marvelous you are?”

“No…at least not in those words.”

“Then I've been neglectful in my duties.” He captured her mouth with a tender kiss that spoke volumes in its emotion.

A few minutes later they were in his car driving toward his house. Champagne and the hot tub…even if they didn't make love, the evening would be ideal because he was spending it with Angie.

He pulled into the garage and they entered the house. Ty turned off the outside lights and disabled the motion lights on the deck so that everything was dark. The only illumination was the soft light filtering through from inside the house. He turned up the heat on the hot tub to raise the temperature to the proper level.

He retreated to his bedroom and emerged a few minutes later wearing a bathrobe. Angie waited in the den where she, too, was dressed in a bathrobe.

He held out his hand to her and gestured toward the deck. “Shall we?”

She took his hand. The loving squeeze he returned said as much as words. They went to the deck, dropped their robes and entered the bubbling water. She settled
on the bench seat with Ty next to her. The water caressed her bare skin, stimulating her senses and warming her insides. She had never been nude in a hot tub before, just as she had never made love during the day or on a sailboat. The sensation of the swirling water against her completely naked body had an almost scandalous feel to it, one that heated her desires. Her life had been filled with several firsts since she had arrived from Portland.

Ty wrapped her in his arms and held her body tightly against his. He didn't seem to be able to keep his hands off her—the creamy smoothness of her skin, the scent of her perfume, delightful curves that would excite any man with a breath of life in him. He captured her mouth with a passion he couldn't keep hidden even if he wanted to. It was a mouth he couldn't get enough of, an addictive taste that always left him wanting more.

Everything about her had his sex drive running at full speed, but it wasn't the only thing about Angelina Coleman that he couldn't leave alone. There was the intelligent, compassionate, giving woman with the delicious sense of humor and the adventurous spirit who willingly embraced life, new experiences and the excitement life offered. He had never met anyone like her and knew he never would. She was unique and very special to him.

They stayed in the hot tub for a little over half an hour, then hand in hand retreated to his bedroom. Neither had said anything, yet they both knew what the culmination of the evening would be.

Ty allowed a quick thought about his life and future being solely in Angie's hands. His unspoken goal was to make her happy. But exactly what was it that would
make her the happiest? What was the thing she wanted above all others? She had never mentioned it, but was commitment on that list? Would he ever be able to give her that one thing that she might want the most?

T
y entered the lobby at a little before eleven o'clock the next day. “Good morning, Ellen. Any phone messages for me?”

The receptionist handed him a stack of messages. “It seems that everyone's been looking for you this morning and almost all of them complained that you had your cell phone turned off.”

He flashed a smile, one that said he was in an exceptionally good mood. “You can't make a multimillion-dollar presentation if your cell phone keeps interrupting.”

“I take that to mean your presentation went well?”

“Very well.”

Ty started across the lobby toward the hallway that led to the executive offices, then paused as he continued to shuffle through the numerous phone messages.
He stared at the written messages, but the words refused to register with him. His thoughts had deserted the business at hand and drifted to the previous night and Angie. As much as the idea frightened him, the word
love
continued to loom larger and larger in his consciousness.

The sound of someone entering the lobby drew his attention away from his thoughts. He turned to see a neatly dressed man of about thirty walk up to the reception desk.

Ty looked him over. The visitor seemed to be too stiff, had too much of an all-business attitude. He was too serious for Ty's liking. The aura of self-importance surrounding him grated against Ty's sensibilities.

“I want to see McConnor Coleman.”

A jab of irritation poked at Ty. He hadn't asked to see Mac, he had demanded. Even the man's tone of voice sounded pompous. Something about this stranger's arrogant manner really rubbed him the wrong way. Hopefully the man wasn't a potential client. Anyone that uptight surely wouldn't be interested in owning a custom-designed sailboat. He decided to hang around the lobby long enough to find out who this man was and what brought him to their offices.

Ellen checked the appointment book, then looked up at the visitor. She gave him a questioning look cloaked in caution. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Coleman?”

“No. This is a personal matter, not business. My name is Caufield Woodrow III.”

A cold chill surged through Ty's body.
Caufield Woodrow III
…he had heard the name before. Mac had said it when he mentioned Angie's recently broken engagement. He looked the stranger over a little more
carefully, almost in the same manner as the leader of the pack would size up the rival who was trying to usurp his position.

Every thought, every feeling, every spark of intuition racing around inside him told Ty this could not be good. Why would Angie's ex-fiancé need to be contacting Mac on a personal matter? And why would it require him to travel from Portland to Seattle to do it in person? Ty pretended to be shuffling through his phone messages, but his total attention became glued to the interaction between Ellen and this unwanted intruder.

“Mr. Coleman is in the lab right now. Would you care to wait? He should be back in his office shortly.”

“I want you to page him now to let him know I'm here and want to see him immediately.”

Ty clenched his jaw into a hard line. He noticed the way Ellen bristled at the man's attitude. He also noted her hesitation as she glanced in his direction as if asking what she should do. Ty stepped in to alleviate her concern and take control of the situation.

“I'm headed that way, Ellen. I'll let Mac know someone is here to see him.” He made a subtle nod in her direction in response to her grateful smile. It was a short-lived moment, broken by the intruder's abrupt manner and take-charge attitude.

“I'm going with you.”

Ty leveled a stern look at Caufield Woodrow III. His tone of voice was very no-nonsense, the words spoken in a matter-of-fact manner. “No, you aren't. We don't allow sightseers into the lab.”

Caufield pulled himself up to his full height, about an inch shorter than Ty's six-foot frame. “I am a per
sonal acquaintance of one of the owners and as such I—”

“And
I
am the other owner.” There was nothing gracious in Ty's manner. “I believe that supersedes your position. So, you can either sit and wait until Mac is free or you can make an appointment and come back at another time.” Ty flashed his most polished smile, the one he reserved for dealing with unpleasant people. “Whichever is more convenient for you.” He saw the tension grip the visitor as his body stiffened.

Caufield clipped his words with his harsh reply. “I'll wait.” He made his way across the lobby to a couch and sat down.

Ty allowed an inner smile of satisfaction at having put this overbearing man in his place by making him back down.
I'm not about to allow you to bully your way into the inner workings of our company…and it would be the same even if you hadn't once been engaged to Angie.

With that, Ty left the lobby and proceeded toward the lab. The anxiety pounded into him like nothing ever had before. What could Angie's ex-fiancé be doing there? Exactly which one of them was responsible for breaking off the engagement? Was Angie the one who made that decision or had the arrogant jerk he'd just encountered in the lobby been the one who hurt Angie by dumping her? A shiver of apprehension made its way through his body. Did she still have feelings for her ex-fiancé? Another twinge poked at Ty. If so, were they strong feelings?

Then he was forced to acknowledge the most painful thought of all. Would Caufield Woodrow III try to win Angie back? He shook his head. He had to get his rampaging thoughts under control. Perhaps Caufield's
personal matter
with Mac didn't have anything to do with Angie. Perhaps it was a business matter of some sort. A little tremor of anxiety told him that was only wishful thinking.

Ty quickly located Mac in the lab. “Sorry to interrupt your tests, but I thought you should know there's someone in the lobby to see you who is very impatient and unhappy about being kept waiting.” He tried to project a nonchalant attitude, but knew he hadn't been very successful. “All in all a rather unpleasant man.”

A slight frown crossed Mac's forehead, a frown that managed to convey both confusion and irritation at the interruption. “What are you talking about? I'm really busy here and don't have time to play guessing games.”

“Caufield Woodrow III is what I'm talking about.” He noted the look of surprise that darted across Mac's face. “He just marched in the front door and demanded to see you immediately on what he referred to as a
personal matter.
”

Mac straightened up and placed the file folder on the table next to the design model he'd been working on. “Caufield is here?”

“Yep…right out there in the lobby. Is he always that arrogant?”

“I…uh…really couldn't say. I've only been around him a couple of times. The first was at a party at his country club when he and Angie announced their engagement and the other occasion was a Christmas gathering at his family's house.” A slight chuckle escaped his throat, one that did not really contain any humor. “House…we're talking a very large mansion with a full household staff. It's big bucks from old family money.”

“And…uh…” Ty wasn't sure how to say what was on his mind or whether he should say it at all. “And it was Angie who broke off the engagement with him?”

“Hmm, I'm not sure how all of that happened or why. All I know is that she said the engagement was off.”

Mac's answer did nothing to alleviate Ty's rapidly expanding anxiety. He still didn't know what happened between Angie and Caufield that resulted in breaking off the engagement. And he was afraid to ask her, afraid of what the answer might be—afraid it might have been Caufield who dumped Angie, leaving her carrying a torch for a lost love. All he knew was a man from Angie's past was in the lobby and he didn't like it. He also didn't like the strange feelings it produced—feelings that were foreign to him. He thoroughly resented this interloper.

An errant thought floated into his mind. Could the strange feeling be jealousy? He had no experience with jealousy in connection with any woman he had ever dated. Everything was always no-strings-attached. There was always another beautiful and willing companion waiting in the wings. But this was an entirely different sensation…foreign…uncomfortable. He didn't like these feelings and especially didn't like what they were trying to tell him—that Angie was far more important to him than he had been willing to admit. That maybe the word
love
was more appropriate than he wanted it to be. He tried to shove the worries from his mind as he turned his attention to Mac.

“Well? Are you going to leave him sitting there?”

Mac sighed. “I suppose I should go and see what he wants, but he sure showed up at an inconvenient
time for me. I'm just too busy to become involved in whatever is on his mind.”

“I'll be happy to handle it for you.” Ty attempted to control the gleeful rush at the prospect of being able to put a quick stop to whatever Caufield had come to do and get him headed back toward Portland before Angie even knew he was in town. His upbeat moment disappeared as quickly as it had materialized. What would Angie's reaction be if she found out he had sent her ex-fiancé packing without even telling her Caufield had come to see her brother? He shook his head in resignation. He couldn't do that. He didn't have the right to make that decision for her or interfere in her life in that manner.

“No, I'll handle it. I'll be there in a couple of minutes, as soon as I get this model put away.” Mac returned his attention to what he had been doing before Ty interrupted him.

Ty went to his office, making sure his door was wide open so he would know when Mac and Caufield went to Mac's office. It's not that he planned to eavesdrop on them, but if their conversation just happened to filter into his office…

The sound of Mac's voice moving down the hallway toward the office interrupted his thoughts.

“I must say, Caufield, this is a surprise. I wish you would have called so I could have rearranged my schedule.”

“This was the only available time I had.”

Ty heard it in Caufield's voice, the attitude that said his was the only valuable time, not anyone else's—everyone had to accommodate his schedule.

Mac's words were clipped, his attitude brusque. “That's too bad because right now I only have a few
minutes to give you. Whatever it is that's so important you felt the need to demand to speak to me immediately…well, I suggest you start talking and make it quick.”

Ty moved away from his office door as the two men drew closer, but he stayed within hearing range. It was obvious that Mac did not particularly care for Caufield, but Ty didn't know why. He did know that it gave him a surge of satisfaction, vindication for his own feelings toward someone he really didn't know. As soon as Mac and Caufield entered Mac's office, Ty stationed himself next to the office door and continued to listen while ignoring his feelings of guilt.

“All right, Caufield. What's up?”

“I'm told Angelina is here, that she's staying with you.”

“Yes, she's staying with me. Now, is that all you wanted? To verify her whereabouts?”

“Not at all. I'm here to take her back to Portland with me. I've allowed her this bit of time to get over her pre-wedding jitters, but now she needs to return so we can complete our wedding plans.”

“That's odd. Angie didn't say anything to me about returning to Portland. I'm under the impression that she intends to stay in Seattle, get a job and find her own place to live.”

“Not at all. I'll admit that we had a little tiff, but nothing serious. She'll be returning to Portland with me. Now, I need your address so that I can collect her. I'll send for her belongings and car when we get back to Portland.”

The words rang in Ty's ears.
Complete our wedding plans…she'll be returning to Portland with me.
It felt as if someone had landed a solid punch to his solar
plexus. A sudden rush of fear burned in his throat. He strained to listen, but didn't hear anything. They had stopped talking, but what could they be doing? Was Mac writing down his address to give it to Caufield? Why didn't Mac just tell the arrogant jerk to take a hike? If Angie wanted to return to Portland she would do it on her own. She didn't need someone to
collect
her.

If Angie wanted to return…suddenly all the wind went out of his sails, his indignation and determination faltered.
If
…only two letters, but such a powerful word.

Ty didn't know what to think or what to do. He took a calming breath hoping it would help, but it didn't. A sick feeling welled inside him. The possibilities forced their way into his thoughts, possibilities that he didn't want to think about.

Mac's voice broke into Ty's mounting panic as the conversation from the next office resumed.

“Here's my address.”

“I want you to call Angelina and let her know I'm on my way so she can be ready to go when I arrive.”

“Sorry, Caufield. I've just given you all the time I can spare. As I said, you should have called and made an appointment.”

A moment later Ty saw Mac usher Caufield toward the lobby, then Mac returned to the lab. Mac's actions sent a little ripple of satisfaction pushing its way through Ty's body. There was no doubt in his mind that Mac did not like Caufield Woodrow III.

He hurried to the lab, catching up with Mac at the door. “So, what was that all about?”

“That was Angie's ex-fiancé. He says he came here to escort her back to Portland so they can get married.”

The trepidation filled Ty's voice attesting to his less-than-calm state of mind. “And you're just going to let him do it?”

Mac leveled a steady look at Ty. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't I been told in no uncertain terms by both you and Angie that she is an adult and can speak for herself and make her own mature decisions? This is between Caufield and Angie. It's not for me to decide what's best for her. It's her decision.”