“I concur with that,” Camille said. “I always thought your father’s alcoholism might have stemmed from the pressure of being put in a job where he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. I think deep down, he knew that he would never measure up to it.”
Desiree agreed with her friend’s psychological assessment of Richard Sharpe, Jr. “I think it’s important to learn the best of both business worlds. I have always admired my grandmother and the role she played in helping to build and sustain the Sharpe’s dynasty. However, I also want to learn the corporation’s core business strategies. And I don’t know of a better person to teach me than Granddad.”
“How are things between you and Cobra Masters after your blow-up earlier this week?”
Desiree shifted on her back to stare up at the ceiling. Her mouth was still tingling from the kisses they’d shared. “Would you believe that he showed up at the office tonight. Unannounced.”
“Why?”
“To take me home.” She then told Camille everything.
“Sounds like Cobra Masters is onehot tamale, as Melia would say.”
Emelia Sellers had moved into their apartment building when she’d been attending an art school in Paris. She, Camille, and Desiree had instantly hit it off and become good friends. Desiree had often heard Melia use that term to describe any handsome, hot-blooded man who captured her attention. Melia was from the Mississippi Delta, where the ‘hot tamale’ description was commonly used, though it usually referred to spicy food rather than the opposite sex.
“He is definitely that. At least I don’t have to worry about him wanting to go beyond kisses.”
“Why not?”
Desiree told Camille what she had heard in the ladies’ room earlier in the week.
“Wow, Rae. Can you imagine how that woman could have destroyed Cobra Masters’ life and career? I’m glad he managed to catch her in the act. It must have been quite a night!”
“I’m glad he caught her, too. Although I don’t like Cobra, I wouldn’t wish such a thing on my worst enemy.”
“Hmmm… You still want to claim that you don’t like him…even after you let him kiss you?”
“I don’t see why that’s so strange. He deliberately kissed me until I got all hot and bothered, all the time knowing that he wouldn’t do anything about it. That shows just what a manipulator he is.”
“Would you have let him do something about it?”
“No, and you know why.” Her best friend knew her history with men.
“Yes, I do, so what’s the problem? Is it that you feel he should have confided in you about his celibacy? If so, why? It’s a private matter, and most men wouldn’t want such a thing exposed. Especially to a woman he might be attracted to.”
“If our roles were reversed, I would have no problem letting him know my situation,” Desiree said.
“Would you? Need I remind you that youarein that situation, Rae? Not for the same reason, since your decision to abstain from sex is self-imposed, thanks to that asshole Aimery. Still, women in general have no problem establishing boundaries while they’re building an emotional connection with a man. But men don’t think the same way. They tend to think with the wrong head, and it gets them into all kinds of trouble. I’m not excusing them—trust me—but that’s the way it is for them.”
Desiree knew she should listen to Camille’s advice. She hadn’t graduated at the top of her psychology studies for nothing. But still… “Then Cobra shouldn’t kiss me into making me want more, Cam. Especially when he has no intention of delivering. If a woman did such a thing, she’d be accused of being a tease.” She sighed, then added wistfully, “His kisses wereso hot, they reminded me of how long it’s been since I slept with a man.”
Camille didn’t say anything for a minute, then finally added in a soft voice, “But think what those same hot kisses were doing to him, Rae. He’s not immune. After what that woman tried to do to him, I can understand why he’d put sex on the back burner for a while, just like I understood your reasons for doing the same thing after Aimery. Still, I’m sure it has to be hard for a man like Cobra, whose sexual escapades are the stuff of legends.”
“Well, I’m not letting him use me to appease his sexual hunger,” Desiree declared vehemently.
“Hmmm, did you ever think that maybe he just likes kissing you? And I think you enjoyed kissing him, too. Sounds like temptation is getting the best of you, and you’re rethinking your own decision not to get involved with anyone, Rae.”
“Even if I were rethinking my decision, Cobra is in no position to do anything about it.”
Camille didn’t say anything for a moment and then said, “Although you know about his vow of celibacy, he knows nothing about your situation, right? What are the odds that you two are in the exact same predicament?”
“Well, just to be on the safe side, I’ve decided to stay out of his way and start avoiding him as much as I can. When he comes over on Thursday nights to play chess with Granddad, I’ll make sure that I’m not here.”
“Do whatever you think you have to. But for now, go to sleep, Rae. You have to get up early in the morning.”
“I will. But I just want to say one more thing. I noticed you didn’t mention anything about Léandre.”
“There’s nothing to tell. Although he hasn’t said anything to me about it, Kassie mentioned tonight that, now that the production has ended, Léandre is thinking about taking a fewweeks off to work on a new script. He’s going to be spending that time in a place in the Swiss Alps.”
