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Shauna rambled about the party decorations but Winston’s mind remained on the sexy black woman at the center table who outshined every other beauty in the room.
“I’m not that impressed.” Shauna bit into a cracker with vegetable spread on top of it. “The decorations look kind of childish.”
Winston stared at Dee as Jonathan whispered something in her ear.
“Winston?” Shauna snapped her fingers, breaking his trance. “I’m not used to being ignored.”
“She looks amazing.” Tiny drops of sweat formed on the back of his neck.
Shauna turned in Dee’s direction. “She has on a white dress with a bow in her head. So?”
“She’s the most beautiful woman in here.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Shauna chewed. “Well, you’re here and I made it happen.” She touched his cheek. “I hope you’ll remember that.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the table, causing her to stumble.
“Hey, I have on heels.” Shauna struggled as they stopped in front of Jonathan and Dee.
“Hey, Dee.” Winston licked his lips. “You look great.”
“Why are you here?”
“Deidra.” Jonathan chuckled. “Don’t be rude to our guests.”
“I wasn’t aware that my presence would upset you.” Winston stared at her diamond necklace, wishing his hand could replace it. “Shauna invited me.”
“And, you jumped to come, right?” Dee asked. “Why would you want to be here? You don’t even know Rena.”
“Deidra, retract the claws,” Shauna said. “You’re with Jonathan now, right? So why should you care if Winston is here?” She put her arm around his waist. “Does it bother you he’s here with me?”
“I couldn’t care less.” Dee stood, grabbing her dress as she moved from the table. “I’m going to the garden. I need a breather.”
Winston jumped in front of her. “I’d love a tour of the garden.”
“Sounds good.” Jonathan smirked. “Deidra, be a good hostess and show Winston the garden.”
She gritted her teeth. “Jonathan, what are you up to?”
“Nothing.” He clapped and a waiter came by with champagne. “I welcomed Winston and Shauna and we need to be hospitable.”
Dee marched to his side of the table and whispered in his ear, “Don’t do this. You’re trying to rub it in.”
“Nothing wrong with me wanting him to see what he’s missing.” He tried to kiss her, and she moved away, huffing.
Winston took Dee’s hand. “After you.”
“I’ve lived here for three months...” She snatched away from him. “I know the way.”
He held out his hand in front of her. “Yes, ma’am.”
****
Dee showed Winston around the outrageous garden without an ounce of enthusiasm. It bothered him how distant she’d become toward him but he’d endure anything for the chance to be near her again.
They walked through the trails that led to different areas of the garden until they came to the five-foot waterfall made of stone rocks.
“And, this is the waterfall.” Dee tossed her hand in a lackadaisical fashion. “You won’t believe what Jonathan spent on it.” She paused when she found his gaze. “Would you stop staring at me?”
He moved closer, sniffing her peach scent. “You used to like it when I stared at you.”
“That was the past.”
He took her hand, his body trembling with the shock of touching her again. “It wasn’t all that long ago.”
“Did you tell Lydia I want her to come to the compound?”
“Hm-mm.”
“Well, is she coming?”
“Not as long as I’m breathing she’s not.”
“Since when do you decide what my sister does or doesn’t do? I miss her.”
“Then leave with me.” He touched her hair. “I’m not bringing her here so Jonathan can do the same thing to her he’s done to you.”
“Either you behave and I’ll show you around or we can go inside.” She pushed him away. “Which would you rather do?”
“This.” He encased her face in his palms and kissed her, a crushing tide of emotion overtaking him.
“No,” she mumbled against his lips, pushing him away. “I don’t get why men think they can just grab me and do what the hell they want.”
His hands remained in the air as if he were still touching her. “You talking about Jonathan? Did he do something to you?”
“Never mind.” She turned away.
“What is it?” He rushed in front of her. “Did he hurt you?”
“Leave it alone, Winston. In fact, leave me alone.”
“Like I keep saying, I can’t do that.” He drew in a deep breath. “Every day we’re apart it’s crushing my soul.”
Maybe it was wishful thinking but concern seemed to replace the frustration in her face.
“Guess what?” He chuckled, smashing his palms together. “I’ve started drawing again.”
She sat on the decorative fence in front of the waterfall. “You have?”
“Does that make you happy?” He sat beside her. “Drawing is the only thing that’s comforting me while you’re gone. Without having that to harvest my feelings, I couldn’t have made it a day.”
“What have you been drawing?”
“You.” He took out his phone, searched his latest photos and handed it to her.
She smiled, looking at the charcoal drawing of her on the screen. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’ve missed that gleam in your eye, Dee.” He touched her cheek. “I haven’t seen it since you been here.”
She clamped her lips together and gave him the phone. “I’m in love with Jonathan.”
He put the phone in his pocket, struggling to keep his temper. “I’m in love with someone else too.”
She crossed her legs, gaping. “After all this about you claiming to love me?”
“Yeah, she’s strong and confident.” He enjoyed seeing her pretty face fighting to not show emotion. “She’s beautiful, smile can light up a room. She’s tough and don’t take shit from anyone. Wanna know who she is?”
“No.” She rose, fixing the back of her dress. “I’m going back inside—”
“It’s you, Dee.” He took her hand, pulling her to him. “It’s you and it’ll only be you but not this you. The real you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Let me go.”
“It’s enchanting out here, huh?” He looked toward the moonlight. “Out here by the waterfall, alone. Us, touching each other and holding each other—”
“Winston.” She pushed on his chest but not with much strength. “Let me go.”
“You want to kiss me, Dee?” He inched his mouth to hers, her eyes narrowing. “Your body’s jumping underneath my touch.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Yeah.” He grinned, locking his arms tighter around her. “You wanna kiss me and do a lot more, don’t you?”
She squirmed then stopped when she stared into his eyes. “We can’t do this out here.”
“Out here?” His attention remained on her seductive lips. “Where can we do this then?”
“That...” She shut her eyes. “Isn’t what I meant.”
“It’s what I meant.” He pushed her toward him, catching her lips in his. “Mm.”
Her body relaxed as if his kiss removed any apprehension or at least gave her permission to enjoy the moment.
“You feel so good, Dee.” He gave her mouth a short lick between another tongue kiss. “This is where you belong.” He caressed her full backside.
She perched her hands on his shoulders. “This isn’t right.”
“I’m the man you love, Dee, not Jonathan.” His lips quivered, desperate for another taste of her. “Whatever he’s done to you, you gotta fight it.”
“He’s not done anything but make me happy.”
“Happier than I did?” He rubbed his nose against hers, and she parted her mouth, displaying a grin. “Yeah, you want this.” He kissed her, her image fading as he closed his eyes, taking as much of her within his soul as he could.
She tore her lips away. “We can’t.” She shook her head as if trying to convince herself. “I’m a part of The Circle now. Jonathan’s the only man I want.”
He moved his hands up her back, forcing his tongue further inside her sweet mouth. “You shake every time I kiss you.” He breathed in between the mild laugh. “Yet, you love Jonathan?” He tried to kiss her again.
“No.” She wriggled out his hold. “I won’t betray him.”
“Dee—”
“You’ll do and say anything to get me back.”
“You’re damn right I will.” He grabbed her. “I love you. I’m not handing you over to Jonathan and walking away. You know something’s off with this whole thing, don’t you?”
She shifted her gaze away. “If you really loved me, then let me be happy and trust me to find my own way.”
He stared her dead in the eyes. “Have I ever lied to you?”
She glanced at the waterfall. “No.”
“Then why would I lie now?”
“To get me back.”
He shook his head, cupping her face in his palms. “I’m the only person here you can trust.”
“I can’t take this anymore. Please leave.”
“Fine.” He got out the prepaid cell phone. “I brought this for you.”
“What?”
“Take it.” He forced it into her hand. “You might not believe me about Jonathan but you will. Hide this and if you ever need me...” He kissed her. “Call me and I’ll be here before you hang up the phone.” He raised his chin. “I’ll never let you go.”
She wrapped her fingers around the small phone.
“Jonathan Wild is a very dangerous man, Dee.” He passed her, heading toward the trail. “I hope you realize that before it’s too late.”