MaleAndroidCompanion (19 page)

Gia’s intrusion on nature as she walked
through its folds had several birds skittering from their nests. A squirrel
scampered up the rough bark of a tall Noble Fir. The branches swayed beneath
his weight each time he pounced from limb to limb. A rabbit twitched its nose
as it watched her from some underbrush.

In the distance, the rush of water caressed
her ears. The creek that ran through the property had been her favorite spot
when she lived here. Approaching the rippling stream, she dragged in a weighted
breath. Life here had been simple as a young child. Why did growing up have to
be so complex? Beneath her leaden footsteps, twigs snapped and dried leaves
crackled. As she sat down upon the cushy ground of pine needles and mulch, she
pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them.

Only a week ago it had felt as if she was
on the right track heading for happiness. Now she felt overwrought, out of
sync. It didn’t help that she was amongst her family, who had found their other
halves to make them whole.

Would she ever find someone like Marc, who
could rock her world behind bedroom doors and provide her with love beyond
them? Someone who could make her remember the simple things in life? Family.
Love. Children. And what about her career? If she did find the paragon of her
dreams, would he insist she give up acting?

Resting her chin on her knees, Gia watched
the water cascade over the rocks and fallen branches. “Marc,” she whispered his
name. What was she going to do about him when they returned to California?

The 49ers won by a field goal. Marc kept
his gloating to a minimum and basked in the success he had achieved winning
Gina’s brothers’ acceptance. Her father, although hospitable, had not yet let
him penetrate the barricade around him, but Marc would. If he could gain
acceptance from her family, maybe when this all blew up in his face he would
have their support.

As the group filed outside in one big
boisterous crowd, Marc glanced around. He located Elaine and Becka rounding up
the children, but Gina wasn’t with them.

“She’s hiding.” It was Parker’s lovely
blonde wife who appeared from somewhere behind him. She gazed across the
ribbons of yellow, orange and red streaking the sky. “When it gets too much for
Gina, she disappears into the woods.”

Too much? Had something happened?

“Does she hide often?”

Faith shrugged, but the truth was in her
eyes. She cared for Gina. “It will be dark soon. Maybe you should find her.
Look down by the creek.” Then she gave him a tender smile and directions before
she walked away.

The second the trees swallowed him up, the
daylight dimmed in the cooling evening. The height of the trees and the thick
vegetation gave the place an almost melancholy air. Twigs and brittle leaves
snapped beneath his feet as he moved deeper into the forest. When the tickling
sounds of flowing water touched his ears, he headed in that direction.

A sparkling stream rushed over rocks and
fallen tree trunks covered in green moss. Something jumped, making a splash and
drawing his attention down the way. A fish. Near where the water rippled in
circles, Gina sat quietly on the bank. Her beauty pulled him to a halt.

His heart fluttered.

If she only knew that with just a word she
could wrap him around her little finger. For all his adult life he had wondered
what it would feel like to want a woman so badly he would do anything to keep
her. Had he found that woman in Gina?

When he took a step, something crunched
beneath his foot. Her head rose and she glanced his way as he approached.

Getting to her feet, she wiped leaves and
pine needles off her backside. “Game over?”

Damn. The woman had a gorgeous ass. “Yes.”

“I’m afraid to ask who won.” She paused and
then shook her head. “You don’t need to say anything. Your shit-eating grin is
answer enough.” Her gaze swept over him as he stopped before her. “Well, at
least they didn’t kill you. That means either the margin wasn’t significant or
you kept your mouth shut.”

“Three points.” He pulled her into his
arms. “A field goal.” Marc’s groin tightened with her soft, musky scent.

Their eyes met, locked. For a moment time
stood still.

Then she pulled out of his embrace. “We
should probably get back.”

“What’s wrong?” The air thickened around
her, putting invisible distance between them he didn’t understand.

Holding up her arms, she spread them wide.
“This. Us.”

“Did I do something wrong?” The events of
the day since they had arrived ran through Marc’s head, but he could think of
nothing amiss.

“No.” The terse chuckle that left her mouth
sent a chill up his spine. “You’ve done everything right. You’re perfect.” Her
arms drifted to her side. “That’s the problem.” She turned from him and started
to walk away.

“I don’t understand.”

Gina pivoted. “You make me want what I
can’t have.” She clutched her hands to her chest as if she was begging him to
understand.

Frustration rose swiftly. “What do you
want, Gina?” Marc closed the distance between them but didn’t reach for her.
“I’ll give you anything within my power.”

“You.” She swallowed, her eyes misting. “I
want you,” her voice faltered, dropping an octave, “to be real.”

Marc’s heart slammed against his chest. His
mouth went dry. The buzzing in his ears made it difficult to believe what he’d
just heard. “Gina—” Before he could spill his guts and tell her the whole
sordid story, heavy footsteps stopped him.

“There you guys are.” Parker trudged
through the forest toward them. “Mom wants everyone back at the house to get
ready for dinner in an hour.” He looked from his sister to Marc and frowned.
“Something up?”

Gina blinked and when her eyes opened her
game face slid into place. She smiled as if she were looking into a camera and
batted her wet eyelashes. “I’m just so happy to be home.” Marc could almost
believe the joy in her voice. Linking her arm through Marc’s, she pulled him
toward her brother. Then she wove her free arm through Parker’s. “And I’m
hungry.”

On the way back to the house, Gina and
Parker chatted about his job. Her tone was light, happy. Yet her arm was rigid
through Marc’s. Did her brother recognize her tension?

As Marc recalled Gina’s words, apprehension
slithered across his arms. Gina wanted him. He should never have lied to her.
It was time to tell her the truth. He hesitated, stumbling. She glanced at him,
her forehead furrowing.

“How long have you been a fireman?” Marc
kick-started the conversation to distract Gina.

Parker answered his question and then
continued to ramble on, while Marc heard only half of what the man said.

Did Gina really know what she wanted? Or
did she only want what she thought was unattainable?

Would she truly want him once she learned
the truth?

Marc had betrayed her. Lied. It didn’t take
a scientist to know she would be angry. But maybe, just maybe, she’d experience
happiness and relief, willing to give him a second chance.

Okay. Maybe he was kidding himself, but
what else was there?

Noting two security guards in the shadows
of the tree line, Marc nodded and they began to follow. There was no doubt in
his mind the men knew where Gina was at all times. They were well trained,
which is why he’d made sure they had accompanied them.

Faith was waiting at the French doors when
they arrived at the house. Parker released Gina and took his wife into his
arms, giving her a playful kiss. Her brother’s eyes met Faith’s and both of
them smiled.

The tender interplay between the couple
made Marc’s chest tighten. Would he ever have that kind of love? He glanced
toward Gina and the softness on her face gave him the feeling she was wondering
the same thing.

“We better get going.” Faith eased out of
Parker’s embrace. “Your mother said we have to dress for supper.”

“Arghhh…” Parker moaned. “Really?”

“Really,” Faith confirmed.

Gina headed for the stairs. “Guess we’ll
see you in the dining pavilion.”

As she moved onto the escalator, Marc followed
behind her. He needed to tell her the truth, but not here—not now, amongst her
family and their celebration. Perhaps on the helio-sphere on their return to
California. At least if they were fifteen thousand feet in the sky, she
couldn’t run away from him.

Once inside the spacious bedroom, she
disappeared into the bathroom. He heard the shower flowing. For a second he
thought of joining her, until the door between them closed with a click.
Knowing the feeling well, he couldn’t blame her for wanting some space. He’d
use the spare bathroom down the hall to get ready.

A heavy sigh pushed from between his lips
as he walked toward the window and peered at the dying sun slipping beyond the
treetops. He couldn’t help but ponder how a person’s life could change in a
heartbeat, because if he didn’t know better, he’d have to say somewhere between
the time she stepped into his showroom and now, he had fallen in love with
Gina.

Marc turned away from the window, gathered
the items he would need and walked out of the bedroom.

Dressed for dinner, Marc stepped outside
the main house.

Lights glistened like sparkling diamonds in
the nearby trees while larger bulbs lined the edges of the biggest white tent,
illuminating the exquisite event. Beneath the canopy, each table seated ten and
was adorned with white and black linen, fine china and crystal, and
centerpieces with a spray of baby’s breath and red roses. Center stage of the
marquee was a makeshift dance floor that several couples were already making
use of, drifting in each other’s arms to the music of a band in the back of the
room. Marc barely heard the gentle melody over the blend of voices and
laughter. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Gina’s parents had gone all-out. At least
six androids mingled throughout the crowd, carrying trays laden with drinks and
hors d’oeuvres.

Marc couldn’t help wondering if her family
celebrated birthdays and holidays the same way. With just him and his brothers,
most events were more subdued, held for the immediate family. Family gatherings
had livened up since their marriages and his nephews entered the picture.

A gentle breeze enhanced the scent of pine
wafting in the air as a female robot dressed in a long black gown approached.
“Good evening, sir. Your name?”

The smiling blonde was beautiful but her
blue eyes were lifeless. Nothing like his M.A.C. models, who could register any
emotion. For a moment, he thought about asking who her creator was, but thought
differently.

“Marc Charleston,” he offered.

“This way please.” The sway of her hips
lacked the fluidity, the sex appeal, of a real woman—a woman like Gina.

The thought of her sitting before her
makeup table while the designer ran her fingers through gorgeous hair had him
scouring the crowd. She had recommended he join the party while she finished
dressing.

It wasn’t unexpected when the android
hostess escorted him to the family table. Gina’s mother and sister had yet to
arrive, but her father along with her two brothers stood nearby chatting with
drinks in their hands. Each wore a black tux that rivaled the one he wore.

As he neared the group, Marc saw their
gazes sweep past him and a hush fell over the room. He couldn’t resist glancing
over a shoulder to see what had grabbed everyone’s attention.

The vision before him stole his breath.
Marc pivoted slowly.

Standing in the entrance, Gina was
bewitching. Head held high, she shone brightly like the starlet she was. Her
hair was swept up in a cascade of auburn ringlets. A wave of pride rose and
crested, holding him in its warm embrace. The emerald-green strapless gown she
wore hugged every curve, caressing her hips and stroking her legs as she walked
toward him. But what made his heart beat faster, his groin tighten, was the
split in the gown that displayed one shapely, elegant leg. A leg he intended to
have wrapped around his waist tonight.

Damn.
She
was breathtaking.

Familiar heat simmered in her eyes as she
glided in his direction. His heart fluttered at the coy arc of her full lips.
The magnetic field that surrounded him each time she was near drew him forward.
Each delicate step she took toward him made his body react, tighten. The tie
around his neck felt too taut, as did his pants. In the space of a second, no
one existed but her and him, that is until Sylvia and Shelley rushed past him,
and their connection was broken when Gina looked down to greet them.

“Aunt G, you’re so pretty.” Staring up at
Gina, Sylvia’s girlish voice was filled with awe.

Shelley rubbed her hands up and down the
silky material of Gina’s gown. “So soft.”

“Thank you.” Gina hugged her nieces one at
a time. “And look at you two. Why, you look like little princesses.”

Both girls wore identical sleeveless
dresses with matching colored sashes. The only difference was that Sylvia wore
blue and Shelley’s dress was a light pink.