Tony leaned closer. Avoiding his stare, she looked down at her trembling hands. Had her speech caused her hands to shake, or was it him? His fight for control evaporated into a need to reassure. From the very beginning of his acquisition, hadn’t he asked for honesty? Though her words were painful to hear, they were her version of the truth and she’d delivered. When her green eyes finally peered at him from below veiled lids, he watched the tension fade.
Tony gently reached for her hand and spoke softly, “I am deeply sorry for one and four.” He rubbed her hand with his thumb. “I did provide you with an alternative destination for number four.”
Claire exhaled audibly.
“I’m not proud of two, but three would never have happened without it.” His tone deepened and slowed. “I am not, and never will be, sorry for three, and for the record, I never lied about loving you, or pretended to love you. I didn’t realize it at first, but I have loved you since before you knew my name.” He bowed his head, kissed the soft skin atop of her hand, and continued, “And you forgot our divorce. I’m sincerely sorry for that. Had I known you would be released so soon… we could still be married.” Placing her hand once again on her knee, he touched the fourth finger of her left hand. “You could still officially be mine.”
Her wedding rings came to mind. This wasn’t the time to bring up that she’d sold them. While he waited for her to respond, his gaze went to the table. Laying on the shiny surface were two phones. Before Tony could comment, Claire reached for the smaller phone and slid it into her camisole between her breasts. He closed his eyes and gently shook his head. “If I didn’t want to see that phone before, I sure as hell do now.”
“It’s my work phone,” she answered too quickly.
“Oh, I was unaware of your employment.”
“Really? I guess I forgot to inform you or your spies.”
“Claire, I want to show you that I can change. Have as many damn phones as you want. Two seem excessive, but go for it.”
“Thank you for your permission. I don’t need it. I can have fifty phones if I want.”
Tony nodded. Her spunk seemed to be without bounds. Why had he not allowed it to shine before?
Claire continued, “It’s documented, when people are forbidden something, once it’s made available, they tend to overindulge.”
His tone turned sultry. “Before it is made available, a person may dream of it, long for it, and fantasize about it. Especially if he once had it and knows how amazing it is.”
“I don’t recall availability being an issue for you.”
His pulse quickened. If she only knew how close he was to being that person again. Not because he desired to harm her. On the contrary, his desires were totally and completely centered on pleasure—his and more importantly hers. Tony warned, “Be careful, Claire. That could be interpreted as an invitation.”
She stood. “Then once again, you would be misinterpreting.”
He stood and stepped toward her, yet she didn’t move. Was it self-control or unabashed determination? Whatever she possessed flooded his system like no chemical aphrodisiac ever could. Though their bodies didn’t touch, electricity sparked between them. The inches of separation were but a conductor for the energy that couldn’t be contained. If he moved nearer, would they be burnt? His words came from somewhere deep in his throat. “I believe you want what I want, as much as I do.”
“If you’re suggesting I want you to leave, you’re absolutely correct. If you’re suggesting anything else, it couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
His head bowed slightly. Her words said one thing, but every ounce of her being said something else. Perhaps it was a subtle scent, the way her cheeks reddened, or the hardening of her nipples under the light shirt. He wasn’t exactly sure, but Tony knew his desires were shared.
He wanted to kiss her and take her newfound boldness to the next level. How would it translate to their bed? Then he reminded himself that they no longer shared a bed or a life. As she lifted her chin and her lips neared his, Tony summoned all of his restraint to not bend and taste what was right in front of him. Instead of a kiss, he reached for her chin and bathed her cheeks in his warm, sensual breath. “You, my dear, have never been a good liar.”
If he leaned forward, he’d be able to feel her hard nipples against his chest. Before he could move, she stepped back, sat, and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re right. Your deceitfulness far exceeds my modest attempts at dishonesty. I bow down to your superior duplicity.”
It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Tony worked unsuccessfully to hide his grin. She’d just confirmed she still had feelings. Exhaling, he retook his seat. Refusing to relinquish contact, he allowed their knees to touch.
“I know you have no reason to believe me, but I thought you should know why I came to California.”
Her gaze was too innocent as she asked, “Why?”
He couldn’t lie. “To take you back to Iowa.”
Claire stared. Finally, a smile briefly fluttered across her lips. He wondered what it meant. She replied, “Well, since this time I have a choice, I’m going to say no.”
Tony tried another route. “Catherine misses you.”
“I miss her, too.” With a hint of hesitation, Claire asked, “Does she believe that I tried to kill you?”
God, he hated this. It was just one of the many things he’d done to her, one of the many things he couldn’t take back. The anguish in Claire’s voice tugged at his heart. He couldn’t tell her the truth, not now. If he told her that Catherine not only knew, she was also involved, it could alienate Claire forever. Trying to focus his thoughts, Tony carefully worded his response. It wasn’t lying; it was more a minimization of facts. “I’m not sure. We’ve never discussed it. I know at first she was worried about me. Then once I was well, she was upset, but I don’t know for sure if it was at you or at me. The subject’s never come up.”
“Then how do you know she misses me?”
“I just do. When word came of your pardon—”
Claire interrupted, “You were angry.”
Red knocked at his thoughts—memories of his rage when Preston called, the impotency of not knowing her location. This time it was Tony who stood and paced, avoiding her gaze. Stopping at the large windows, the beautiful view was lost behind the impending veil of red. She was pushing him, testing him. He couldn’t lose his temper; he wouldn’t. He knew what he’d done to Claire—and so did she. If she were ever to trust him again, he needed to be honest. Perhaps someday the whole truth could be revealed, but Claire wasn’t ready for everything, not yet.
Forcing restraint, he weighed his words and began. “I was. I admit, I was… stunned. Governor Preston informed me of your release two weeks after it occurred. I was angry at everyone: at you for being pardoned, at Jane Allyson for presenting the petition, at Governor Bosley for signing it. Hell, I was even mad at the clerk who filed it.” He turned toward her, continuing to maintain control. She didn’t turn away. The intensity of her stare frightened him as much as it exhilarated him. No one else in Tony’s life had ever glared at him, not like Claire. He went on, “I finally figured out that the person I was the most upset with was me. For the first time in years—yes, more than three, you know that now—I’d lost track of you.” His volume increased. “My God, you were gone!”