"Darling." Her voice was husky and cultured. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I, we arrived last night." He rose and took her hands, drawing her in for a warm embrace. "You're still as beautiful as ever."
"And you're still a charmer. You said we." Long golden eyes swiveled to take in the woman seated there.
"This is Melanie Foster, my, er, we're involved. Melanie." Reaching out, he took her hand and drew her up. "This is a very good friend, Hailey Snyder. She's married to a friend of mine and a member of my club, David Snyder."
The woman sized her up quickly and offered a polite smile. "It's very nice to meet you." Turning back to Rodney, she touched his cheek lightly. "And perfect timing. We're having a party to celebrate Jackson's new gallery." She looked at Melanie. "You're both invited and I refuse to take no for an answer."
Chapter 10
Melanie stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with the diamond around her throat. She felt like Cinderella all decked up for the ball and wondered if the poor girl had felt like a fraud as well. The outfit she had finally decided on was a stunning electric blue romper with a cinched in waist and a hammered gold belt wrapped twice around the waistband. The style was chic and made to appear deceptively casual.
The top was wide, made to fit closely on her arms, leaving her shoulders completely bare and impossible for her to wear a bra. The pants flared at the ankles showing off cream colored pointed toe boots.
Diamonds glittered around her neck, lobes and left wrist, only a few of the stones he had gifted her with. Her hair was styled by a pumped up Frenchman with a distressing habit of rubbing his hands up and down her arms, every few minutes. The man was a pain in the ass, but a genius. He had oohed and aahed about the thickness of her hair and how healthy it was.
"You must visit the salon twice a week, Mon amour."
She had laughed at that but refused to give a response.
"She does not like me." She murmured now, staring at the transformation in the mirror.
"Pardon?" Rodney slid the cuff links through the shirt and lifted his head to look at her. He felt pleasure blooming inside his chest as he took her in.
"Hailey Snyder. I looked her up. She was a college professor before she fell in love and married David, who is completely hot, by the way." She stifled a smile at the aggrieved look on his face.
"You think he's hot?"
"Of course he is. He was a certified playboy before he met his wife. They are in love even after several years of marriage and three children."
He crossed the room and turned her to face him.
"How hot do you think he is? And should I be jealous?"
Her lips curved slightly as she lifted her hand to straighten his tie. It felt natural, them dressing together, being with each other like this. So natural, that she could almost pretend that it was real. Her hands shook slightly as the thought crossed her mind that this was only temporary. Soon, she was going home to her real life.
"Melanie?" He had noticed the change in her expression and wondered what caused it.
"Nothing." Going on her toes, she brushed her lips against his. "I'm with you, which means that men like David don't stand a chance."
Catching her around the waist, he held her close, inhaling her scent.
"Which is a good thing. David happens to be a friend, and I would hate to have to rearrange his face." Stepping back, he went to the closet and came out with a stunning cream colored cashmere jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
"Where did this come from?" She snuggled into the warmth of the jacket, marveling at how soft it was.
"Had it sent over with several other things. You were fast asleep."
"When are you going to stop?" She felt the guilt spiking again and with it the awful foreboding.
"Never. Ready?"
"Just let me get my purse." Turning away, she used the time to compose herself. Snapping open the tiny clasp of the ridiculously tiny reticule, she checked to see if she had put the lipstick inside.
"I love your hair like this." He had come up behind her, fingers sliding through the thick strands. "Is it permed?"
"No. Just the wonder of a straightening iron." She leaned against him for a moment.
