Texas Heat — Chapter 10
A thin line runs between betrayal and sacrifice. Figuring out the difference could cost a man his heart.
Tiffany expelled a long sigh and glared at her son. “Joey, what is wrong with you? Can we not have dinner without you jumping up to peer out the window every two minutes? Who are you expecting that you haven’t told me about?”
“Well…ah…”
The heavy thud of the doorknocker startled Tiffany. Before she could react, her son was halfway through the dining room entryway. She was going to have a serious talk with him tomorrow. This habit he had of inviting friends to stay overnight without permission needed to stop. Since she didn’t employ evening household help, she usually prepared supper for herself and Joey. In tonight’s case, she had only fixed enough for two. Now she would have to find something to feed his unexpected guest as well.
“Mom, can my friend stay for supper?”
Tiffany forced a hospitable smile and rose from her chair.
“No need to get up, Mrs. Covington.”
She whirled at the familiar sound of Corey Donovan’s voice.
“May I join you? You don’t have to feed me, but I wouldn’t turn down a cold glass of tea.”
His roving eyes left her speechless. They touched every part of her, twice over, as if he was seeing her for the first time and committing every detail to memory. A thin sheen of perspiration joined the blush she knew heightened the color in her cheeks. Her heart slowed and then lurched into overdrive.
“Mom, you going to give him some tea?”
Tiffany grabbed at the lifeline her son unknowingly offered. “Yes. Absolutely. Sit down, Corey.” She took a step toward the kitchen, then paused. Looking back she asked, “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat,” he said as he winked at his son.
The new crop of goosebumps on her arms grew larger. “Joey, bring the plates into the kitchen, we will finish supper in there. Corey, I only have spaghetti for two, but there is leftover ham in the refrigerator, I could make you a sandwich.”
Got any eggs?”
“You want eggs instead?”
“Sounds good. You can put some of that ham you offered on the side if you don’t mind?”
Tiffany opened the refrigerator and removed the necessary ingredients. The large kitchen gave her the breathing space she needed. As long as Corey stayed with Joey at the table, she would be able to get through this domestic nightmare. The two of them had their heads together like old friends. Something was going on here and she didn’t like being in the dark. She would feed them, and then they would have some explaining to do.
“Mom, I’m kind of tired. Can I have a piece of cake to take up to my room? I’m going to watch some TV for a while.”
Tiffany panicked. “Don’t you want to stay and talk to Corey? I’m sure he came over here to visit with you.”
“Joey and I spent the afternoon together working on his balance. He trained hard. He’ll probably be asleep before he finishes that cake.”
Tiffany saw the hand Corey rested on Joey’s shoulder. It was a gesture of pride and possession. And he had called his son by his name. The sound of it on his lips made her heart swell, but it also made her uneasy.
“Okay, take a glass of milk with it.”
Joey left the kitchen with cake and milk in hand. Suddenly, what had been a large space shrank. She turned to face the cabinets and placed two pieces of bread in the toaster. At least she could stay busy for a few minutes while she thought of something to say.
“I’ve never seen you in the kitchen before.”
Tiffany squealed. He had moved silently to stand behind her, close enough for his breath to caress the side of her face.
“Yes…ah, well, I’ve changed a lot since I was eighteen.”
Two strong hands spanned her waist, their heat penetrating through the silk of her blouse to warm her skin. “This feels exactly the same. My hands still almost circle you. You always were so tiny, delicate, and beautiful.”
The toaster popped up perfectly browned bread. With his hand moving around to lie across her flat stomach, she couldn’t move a muscle to butter them before they cooled.
“This is just the same too. I can still feel those butterflies fluttering — the ones you said only appeared for me.”
When his hands moved upward, Tiffany grasped them, stopping them from reaching her throbbing breasts. “Corey,” she said, her breath coming in small rasps. “Please, Corey, I don’t know what to do, what you want.”
He turned her to face him and lifted her chin. “You accepted my offer. I’m just letting you know how it’s going to be between us from now on.”
Tiffany’s heart sank and she stiffened. She hadn’t expected much, but a little discussion or some consideration for her feelings would have helped.
“Are you regretting your decision? If you are, just say so.”
His tone was not angry, but more like someone expecting to be let down. A man ready to defend himself before he got hurt. She wanted this man more than she wanted her pride or dignity. She had always been willing to sacrifice whatever part of her he wanted. Twelve years had changed nothing.
“I’m not rejecting you. I just won’t be with you in the same house as our son. He’ll find out one day, but maybe he’ll be older and better able to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That his mother is a hypocrite because I won’t have lived up to the code of morality that I’ve always taught him.”
Corey kissed her then, no preliminaries, no gentle persuasion, just hard, driving passion that she had no will to fight. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on; giving him what had always been his.
To be continued…