Page 58 of Tristan’s Temptation

“You can’t leave Trillo–Maris!” Was that panic warbling in his voice? Good. She didn’t care.

“I’m leaving Trillo–Maris,” she hissed. “And I am leaving you.”

To say their drive home was uncomfortable was an understatement. Tristan had never realized the trip from San Pedro to Tarzana could take so long. Shannon hadn’t spoken to him after their fight on the pier. He’d tried several times to engage her in conversation, to talk it over, but she froze him out every time. She was much more determined than he was, especially when it came to being stubborn.

She’d slept on the little sofa in their cabin all night long and when he’d offered to give her the bed, she’d just glared at him. She’d been sick again in the morning. She seemed fine now. But he knew better than to ask.

He shot a glance at her profile. Something deep in his gut clenched. She was so damn lovely. He didn’t like having her angry with him. But still…

He bit back a smile as he drove. This was their first fight and as fights went, it’d been pretty spectacular. He was looking forward to the make-up sex. He only regretted he hadn’t been able to charm her out of her pique on the ship. They’d missed out on almost all the adventures he’d had planned with strawberries and whipped cream, the champagne foot bath and an illicit massage on the deck.

Hopefully it wouldn’t take her long to simmer down so they could work things out. She wasn’t leaving Trillo–Maris and she sure as hell wasn’t leaving him. No way.

The thought sent his blood pressure rising. He’d realized on the cruise—when she was sick, when he held her in his arms and, more to the point, when he couldn’t—he wanted more from her than some tawdry affair. He wanted much more.

He didn’t want to think about life without her and, whatever it took, he’d do it to keep her.

And damn it all, she was right. It was time to quit hiding their relationship. It was time to take the next step. The big step. The very serious step that made his knees weak and his belly quake.

He was going to have to tell Adam.

Chapter Thirteen

It was late. Probably too late for visiting but Shannon couldn’t wait. She needed to talk with someone—a friend—and she needed to talk now. She felt like her brain was going to explode with all the thoughts and emotions swirling around. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

It took a few minutes but Kat finally answered. Thank God she was still dressed.

“Shannon.” Kat gaped at the sight of her then recovered herself and opened the door. “Come in.”

“I hope it’s not too late?”

“No. Never. Shannon…what’s wrong?”

Shannon gushed an inappropriate laugh. “Do I look that bad?”

“No. Of course not. Come in.”

What a relief. What a blessed relief to find a warm welcome on a night like this. She didn’t mean to fall into Kat’s arms in her foyer and she certainly didn’t mean to start crying immediately. But sometimes these things couldn’t be helped.

Kat, being as wonderful as she was, just held her and patted her back and murmured nice things like, “It’ll be ok,” until the worst of it was over.

“I am so sorry.” Shannon mopped at her cheeks with the tissue Kat handed her. And then she mopped rather ineffectually at the stain she’d made on Kat’s shoulder.

“It’s all right.”

“No it’s not. It’s s-s-silk.” She was burbling and she knew it.

“Shan. Don’t worry about it. Come in and sit down.” Kat led her to the sofa. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Hey, Kat?” a deep male voice called from the bedroom. “Who’s at the door?”

Shannon froze. “Adam’s here?” The horror.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell him to butt out.”

But Adam was already there, padding into the room in a pair of flannel pajama pants with red chili peppers all over them. And nothing else. His features were so much like Tristan’s it hurt to look at him.

“Hey, Shannon.” He stopped. Stared. “Are you all right?”