Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 12

  Norris laughed. “You must’ve stayed awake all night thinking up that one. My question is, do you believe it?”

  Dahlia stuck out her chin and crossed her arms, looking a lot more confident and determined than Norris believed she felt. “It’s the truth,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I believe it?”

  “Why? I’ll show you why.”

  Norris pulled her close and claimed her lips in an intoxicating kiss. He expected to find resistance, but she offered none. Dahlia melted in his arms. The soft curves of her body molded against his. Desire stirred in his loins. It never took much effort for her to get him in the mood, and now was no exception.

  Dahlia’s hands slid over his back, moving to his backside. A moan rumbled in his throat as her lips left his and moved to his neck. She nipped at his earlobe before bringing it between her warm lips and suckling softly. His moans grew louder and his knees weaker. He closed his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Letting her feel what she stirred in him.

  “I miss being with you, Norris, and I know you miss me,” she murmured against his ear. “Admit you were caught up in the thrill of the moment and let’s get back to the way things were.”

  As if shut down by a power failure, Norris’s “On” button flipped off. As much as he wanted Dahlia, and he wanted her, he wouldn’t deny his love for her to make it happen. He stepped back and sat on the edge of his desk, arms folded across his chest. “I’m sorry, Dahlia. I don’t want things to be the way they were. I want more than that.”

  She closed her eyes, groaning. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Why are you? Why are you so insistent I don’t feel what I feel? What I know you feel?”

  “It’s attraction, Norris. It’s what it’s always been.”

  “Argh!” Norris scratched his fingers through his hair and stomped back to his chair. “You are the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met in my life. Norris doesn’t like aggravation. And if I didn’t love you so much, I would not put myself through this. But I do love you. I love you, Dahlia. I love you! I’m not going to stop saying that. One day, when you’re not afraid to own up to it, you’re going to say those words back to me.”

  “It’s not going to happen.”

  “I beg to differ. And until you’re ready, I’m going to be right here, thinking of new ways to show you every day how much I do love you. You’ll just have to deal with it.”

  Dahlia sighed. Her dark eyes smoldered with anger and frustration, two feelings Norris had in surplus.

  “You know, I think it’s best we limit our contact to my audit,” she said.

  “Can’t do it. You’re going to be my daughter’s guardian.”

  “Reese is sixteen and has a cell phone. We won’t need to see each other for you to see your daughter. I really believe as little contact as necessary is for the best.”

  “Of course you do. You’re running away. You can run, but I have lots of sneakers and plenty of money to buy more. I’m going to catch you, Dahlia. And I don’t mind spending the rest of my life and all my money doing it. Norris always gets what he wants, and this will be no exception.”

  Chapter 12

  Dahlia glared at Norris, both flattered and infuriated by his arrogance. She used to get a kick out of his ego and the way he referred to himself in the third person. She knew he believed it, but before it hadn’t come off as conceited more than it had funny. Now, it wasn’t funny, it was scary, because she knew he was serious. He was not going to give up on having her, and the more she resisted, the harder he would fight.

  “Why are you doing this, Norris?”

  “Why do you keep asking that? You know why. I’ve said it over and over again. If you think this is fun for me, you’d better think again. I don’t think it’s fun handing my heart to you and you smashing it with a mallet and handing it back to me. ‘No, thanks, Norris. This isn’t the part of your body I want.’”

  “You think I’m a tramp?”

  “Far from it, Dahlia. In fact, I’m willing to bet you’ve only been with two men your entire life, and I’m lucky number two. Am I right?”

  She stuck out her chin, saying nothing.

  “Question answered.” Norris clasped his hands and stared at her, smiling. “I think you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and definitely the most beautiful. It would take such a woman to steal the heart of Norris Converse.” He flashed his biggest smile. “Gosh darn it, you’re special.”

  The laugh escaped before Dahlia could stop it. Norris did that. He made her laugh. He made her care. He made her feel. Damn! He made her sick because he could do these things. She didn’t want to love him. Why did he keep making it impossible not to? She frowned. “Stop it, Norris!”

  “Stop what?” he said, leaving his desk and making his way over. “Breathing? That’s what I’d have to do to stop loving you. And you don’t want me to stop breathing, do you?” He grinned.

  She glowered at him. “Don’t tempt me.”

  “Ouch.” Norris laughed. “I’ll let that slide, because I know you don’t really mean it.”

  He walked behind her and trailed his finger along her cheek. Her body trembled and a soft gasp fell from her lips. Norris pressed his nose to her hair, breathing deeply. As usual, she’d become putty in his hands. She missed his touch. She missed his company. She missed him.

  “Just say it, Dahlia,” he said. “I’m not Jonah. I won’t betray your love.”

  She turned to face him. “How can you say that when you’ve betrayed our arrangement? We said no strings. Love is strings, Norris. I didn’t want that. I don’t want that.”

  “But it’s what we have.”

  “No, what we have is a great understanding. We like being together and we have fun. I miss that, Norris. I miss you. But if you insist on bringing love into it . . .”

  “I didn’t bring it, it showed up. It developed, it grew, it did whatever love does. I’m happy about this, and Gail thinks Reese will be happy about it, too.”

  “Gail? You told her?”

  “She figured it out when you two had lunch.”

  Dahlia groaned. She should have known. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. There’s no us, Norris, and I don’t want Reese to know about this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Our relationship is sex.”

  “That’s what it was.”

  “Was is correct, because now it’s over. There’s nothing for you to tell Reese, and I don’t want her to know about that.”

  “I don’t want her to know about that either. The arrangement you keep alluding to is not what I want my daughter to celebrate with us. I don’t regret our beginning, it led to our love—”

  Dahlia rolled her eyes. Was every other word out of his mouth going to be love?

  Norris closed his hands around her face, his smoky eyes serious, intense, and filled with the love he had no problem expressing. Dahlia wanted to look away, to avert her gaze, but she was drawn to the look in his eyes. “Our beginning led to our love, but I won’t tell her about us until I can mention my love for you to you without an eye roll and groaning,” he said. “Dahlia, you can say whatever you want with your words, but until I look into those beautiful brown eyes, beyond the exasperation and frustration, and not see the love I feel staring back at me, I’m not giving up. Reese is going to know about us, but it will be when it’s time. When you can say you love me and not feel like your world will fall apart.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m expecting Reese at any moment. We’re having dinner over at Ryan and Lara’s. You are welcome to come.”

  Dahlia shook her head as she willed her heart to stop racing from the memory of his innocent but powerful kiss. “That’s definitely not a good idea.”

  “Fine, I won’t push.” He held up his finger and returned to his desk. “I would like your opinion on something, though. I had a designer come over yesterday to work on a room for Reese. I don’t know what teenage girls like, but Ms. Stone came highly recommended.” He s
lipped on the reading glasses that made him look too sexy for words, and extended several sheets with photos and fabric swatches. “What do you think Reese would like? I want her to be comfortable if she ever decides to sleep over.”

  Dahlia pulled her eyes from his bespectacled face and looked through the samples. “These are very nice,” she said.

  “They are,” he said, moving next to her. “I especially like this one.”

  “That’s the one I like, too. I’m sure Reese will love it.”

  Their fingers brushed when Dahlia handed over the samples. She looked up, seeing the same longing in Norris’s eyes that his nearness stirred in her. She trailed her tongue against her lips, leaning forward as Norris did the same.

  Buzz! Buzz!

  They both jumped at the sound of his phone buzzing.

  “Excuse me,” Norris said, picking up the handset. “Yes, Agnes. She is?” He removed his glasses. “Please, send her in.” He hung up the phone and smiled. “It’s Reese.”

  Norris held up his hand as Dahlia started to talk. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I won’t say anything to her. You should know Agnes figured it out, but she won’t say anything, either. So, you can relax.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. ”

  Agnes and Reese entered the office sharing an easy laugh.

  “Hi, Reese,” Dahlia said.

  “Dahlia.” Reese smiled. “What are you doing here?”

  “Norris is helping me with my audit,” she answered.

  “Do you know?” Reese asked, motioning to Norris.

  “Yeah. Your mother mentioned it when we had lunch.”

  Norris cleared his throat. “Since it appears you already know Ms. Sinclair, I want to formally introduce you to someone else,” he said, walking behind Agnes and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Reese, this is Agnes Ross, the best assistant and surrogate mother a guy could ask for.”

  “Surrogate mother, huh? I guess that makes you my surrogate grandmother.” Reese extended her hand. “It’s nice to formally meet you, Mrs. Ross.”

  Agnes closed Reese’s hand between hers. “Please, everyone calls me Agnes, and it’s my pleasure. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”

  Reese smiled. “Me, too.”

  “Agnes, you can take off now,” Norris said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Getting off a whole ten minutes early. Whatever will I do with all that time?” Agnes quipped. “Is there any wonder I enjoy working with him so much?” She patted Norris’s cheek.

  “Good-bye, Agnes.” Norris ushered her to the door. “Bye-bye, Reese, Ms. Sinclair.”

  “Good-bye, Agnes,” Dahlia and Reese replied.

  Norris closed the door behind Agnes and turned to Reese and Dahlia with a smile. “She’s fun, isn’t she?” he said.

  “She is,” Reese answered. “I think she’s cool.”

  “Cool? I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear that.”

  “So, what’s this about an audit?”

  Dahlia readily spoke up. “The I.R.S. wants to keep me on my toes,” she said. “Norris is taking care of it for me.”

  “I guess it’s good you two know each other already.”

  “You think so?” Norris said.

  “Yeah. I mean, I’m going to be living with Dahlia, so it would be helpful for you two to be acquainted.”

  Norris nodded and smiled at Dahlia, leaving her squirming in discomfort.

  “Are you okay with my decision, Norris?” Reese asked.

  “Absolutely,” Norris said. “You’ll still have a room at my place, but if Dahlia’s is where you want to stay, that’s fine.”

  “You really are accommodating.”

  “This is true, Reese. I’ve learned you can’t force things, and you have to give in a little. Being accommodating goes a long way in helping one achieve desired goals. I want us to be close, and I’m willing to do what I must to make that happen. You understand that, don’t you, Dahlia?”

  Dahlia nodded, all too aware his words were as much for her as they were for Reese. This would be the hardest six months of her life. “Yes, Norris, I understand perfectly.”

  * * *

  The following days brought little improvement to the relationships Norris wanted with the two most important women in his life. Women generally bent to his will, but not Dahlia and Reese. They were the exception to the rule.

  School, extra-curricular activities, and friends kept Reese busy. He did talk to her on the phone and had a couple of meals with her, and in a significant move, his name had finally been added to Reese’s birth certificate, but things were nowhere close to what he wanted.

  Dahlia had all but made herself incommunicado to him. He’d call, but she’d be too busy to talk. He’d go to her place, and she’d always be about to head out. An easy go of this was the last thing he’d expected, but he hadn’t thought it would be this hard. She didn’t even mention her gifts or the catered lunches he’d provided her and her staff over the past week and a half, or the huge donation to the community center where she provided free appointments to low-income women.

  On one of the few occasions he’d managed to reach Dahlia, he invited her to ride with him to Gail and Ben’s wedding. She turned him down, but since she’d be there, he vowed not to let this opportunity to be in the same place with her slip away.

  The intimate wedding ceremony went off without a hitch. Norris mingled with the Monroes during the reception at the Denburg Inn ballroom, but Dahlia had all his attention. In a soft yellow cocktail dress that showcased her lovely shoulders and gorgeous legs, Dahlia looked absolutely stunning.

  Apparently one of the male wedding guests thought so, too, as he made it his business to stay in Dahlia’s orbit as if she were the president and he was Secret Service. The two spun around the dance floor like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, laughing and chatting like old pals.

  Jealousy boiled in Norris’s belly as he watched the scene unfold. When an attractive Asian woman, who introduced herself as Mai Lee, asked him to dance, Norris agreed without hesitation. Dancing with beautiful women wasn’t foreign to him, but this dancing felt strange, because spite fueled it, and not some preamble to seduction as it used to be. Love. The things it led him to do.

  An hour or so later, after the customary reception rituals, more dances with Mai, and a gentle rebuff of her invitation to go out for a drink, Norris rejoined the Monroes at their table. He watched intently as Dahlia engaged in animated conversation with Reese and Diana at a corner table. Dahlia’s dance partner, as well as the other two dozen guests, left soon after Gail and Ben addressed the assembled friends and relatives and thanked them for sharing in their special day. Now Norris wanted to address Dahlia and ask what the heck was going on between her and Mr. Twinkle Toes.

  “This was a lovely day, wasn’t it? Norris?”

  A hand on his shoulder shook Norris from his trance. “I’m sorry, Celeste, were you saying something?” he asked.

  “I was commenting on how lovely the wedding was. Much like your daughter. I see Reese has all of your attention.”

  “My attention?”

  “Yes. That table has you rapt.”

  “I guess I am a little sidetracked.”

  “Reese is a delightful girl.” Celeste chuckled. “She definitely doesn’t lack self-esteem.”

  Norris smiled. “She is something else, isn’t she? When I look at her and realize she’s mine, it’s overwhelming.”

  “Go over and talk to her,” Dan said. “You didn’t have a chance earlier with the picture-taking and reception line keeping her occupied. Go on and catch up. The reception is over, and I’m sure Dahlia and Diana won’t mind.”

  Maybe Diana wouldn’t mind, but he had a feeling Dahlia would. But she wouldn’t make a scene, not here. “I think I’ll do that, Dan. You guys excuse me.”

  The chatter at the table stopped when Norris arrived. Diana smiled. “Hi, Mr. Converse,” she said.

  “Hello. If I haven’t said so al
ready, you three ladies are looking quite fetching today.”

  “Fetching?” said Reese. “What is that, one of those eighties terms? You have got to get with the program, Norris. ‘Fetching’ sounds like what you do for bonding time with you obedient dog.” They all laughed. “Did you need something?”

  “No, I just came over to talk.” He grabbed a chair from the next table and sat beside Dahlia. “You all seemed to be having a very enjoyable conversation before. What’s the topic?”

  “Guys,” Diana answered without hesitation. “The good and the bad of them.”

  “I see.” He smiled at Dahlia before turning to the girls. “As the lone representative of my species at this table, I hope the good has been outweighing the bad.”

  “Mostly, I guess,” Reese answered. “We’re waiting to see what Dahlia thinks.”

  “Hmm.” Norris turned his chair toward Dahlia and folded his arms. He’d arrived just in time. “So, what do you think?”

  Reese stood and pointed before Dahlia could answer. “There’s Mom and Ben,” she said. “Come on, Diana. They’ll be leaving soon.” The girls left the table to greet the newlyweds, who had changed into their ‘getaway’ clothes.

  Norris returned his attention to Dahlia. “Aren’t you going to answer the question?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Okay. Answer mine. Who was that guy you were so caught up with during the reception?”

  “None of your business.” She crossed her arms. A shadow of annoyance darkened her pretty face. “I find it amazing you could notice my goings-on with your hands full of Ms. Mai.”

  Norris smiled. The animosity in her voice like music to his ears. “You do care,” he said. “I always knew it.” Dahlia scoffed. “I have a question for you, Norris.

  What are you doing?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What do I mean? The donation to the community center, the extravagant catered lunches for everyone in my salon for a week, the roses on Wednesday, candy on Thursday, and the sapphire earrings on Friday. That’s what.”