Seduction by Design

“When do you have to get back?”

“I don’t know,” he said distractedly, still absorbed in his project to display her breasts to their best advantage. He looked at her then and grinned. “But if we stay much longer, I’m going to have to go out and buy more vitamins. A man my age can’t keep up this sexual marathon without reinforcements.”

“Yes,” she sighed theatrically. “You’re really quite old. Gray hair,” she said, threading her fingers through the silver at his temples, “waning strength, no stamina.”

He took her hand and squeezed it tight “Hailey, there’s something I should have told you before.”

His tone was so clipped and his face so serious that her heart lurched with dread. He had four illegitimate children? He wasn’t as rich as he pretended? He owed the Mafia money? What? Whatever it was, she’d stand by him. She could face anything with him. Only, please God, don’t let it be his health. Anything but that. Please. Her fingers were still lovingly sifting through his hair “What, Tyler?” she asked solicitously.

“You have a hell of a cute fanny.”

She shoved him backward as she shot off his lap. Pulling one of the pillows from under the spread, she pounded him with it while he covered his head with protective arms. “I really had you going there, didn’t I, Red? But I only told you the truth.”

“Well I can’t wait to show it off to all the boys in the neighborhood,” she said as she dropped the pillow on his head and spun on her heels.

“Where are you going?”

“To fetch your daughter,” she called over her shoulder, swaying the object of his admiration saucily in her tight jeans. “And we may never come back.”

“Yes, you will. You crave my body too much,” he shouted after her.

She was still laughing when she slammed the front door behind her. The whole world was suddenly right. Her footsteps were light as she walked up the gravel lane toward the Harpers’ house, which she and Tyler had located last night after leaving the restaurant. Strange that last night she had dreaded what the Harpers would think of her when Faith told them that she wasn’t Mrs. Scott. Now she didn’t care at all.

What she had given to Tyler had been given out of love. No one could take the splendor away from her. She wasn’t naive enough to think that it would last forever. She hadn’t been the first woman in Tyler’s life and she wouldn’t be the last. But while she was with him, she was going to squeeze the last ounce of pleasure from it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime affair. He was the only man she would ever love. Of that she was certain.

She had walked the half-mile or so to the Harpers’ house in no time. Mrs. Harper greeted her warmly rather than with the righteous indignation Hailey had expected.

“Faith is an absolute delight. She and Kim exchanged addresses, so each would know when the other was going to be here. We live in Asheville but we come up here often on the weekends. I hope they can get together again.”

“I hope so, too. Thank you for inviting her.”

Kim and Faith said an emotional good-bye with promises to write. Faith’s depression was soon forgotten as they walked back toward the house. She was bubbling over with things to tell Hailey.

“Her mom was s-o-o-o-o nice. She gave Kim a bunch of makeup she didn’t use anymore and we tried it all! Only we had to promise to wash it off before we went to bed. And we played Atari, but not too long. Mostly we listened to records and talked. It was s-o-o-o-o neat.”

“But did you have a good time?” Hailey asked ironically. It took Faith a moment to catch the teasing in Hailey’s voice, but then they hugged each other and laughed.

“Yes, but I missed you and Daddy.”

Hailey was struck by how easily the words went together. You and Daddy. A unit. “Did you?” she asked. Emotion made the words sound gravelly.

“Yes. Kim’s mom and dad were nice, but they’re not as neat as you and Daddy are. Her mom’s not near as pretty as you.”

“Thank you, but you really shouldn’t judge someone by how he looks, you know.”

“I know, but I couldn’t help noticing.”

Hailey was tempted to ask what Faith had said about her—if the Harpers knew she and Tyler weren’t married—but she couldn’t quite bring herself to.

“I wonder who that is,” Faith said, bringing Hailey’s attention to the car parked in the circle driveway in front of the house.

Hailey faltered and her heart sank with disappointment. Ellen. How had she located them? What could she possibly want?

“It’s my sister’s car.” She released Faith’s hand and opened the front door. Faith went in first, but just inside the door she stopped abruptly. A fraction of a second later, Hailey, too, was struck motionless.

Ellen and Tyler were standing in front of the fireplace, which was cold and gray now with ash. Ellen’s arms were locked behind his head. The heels of his hands were at her ribs. Their bodies were plastered together from chest to knee as they kissed.

Having