Page 17 (1/2)

Taryn usually enjoyed seeing her aunt But tonight’s visit she could have done without Not because Vi had done anything disagreeable They hadn’t had an arguh school when Taryn had decided she had s to do than keep her rooular ho and invited herself over for dinner, Taryn wanted to postpone She wouldn’t ood co in her iven Cole for his recent behavior

Her stronger self wanted to tell him to take a hike Who needed to feel like a convenience? She also wanted to give Cole the benefit of the doubt Maybe when this particularly tough time in his life was over, he would , at times sensitive man she’d discovered on that island

Passion Desire A constant need to be close Until now she’d never been able to coht up in those kinds of emotions that she could act in ways that would normally make her retch She understood better now It was as if she were infected by him Her blood, her heart, her mind

When she’d confronted him yesterday, she’d held out hope that he would at least make a small effort and drop by her office today He hadn’t And tomorrow? Hell, he had to talk to her soether, for Pete’s sake

As Taryn sat with her aunt in her living rooeous the new kittens were, she realized her aunt had asked a question Realigning her thoughts, Taryn smiled over

"Sorry What was that?"

"I was asking if thatyou knohether your shoill go ahead"

"He made his decision yesterday We start production next week"

Vi ju

"I’m so proud of you Not that I ever had a doubt That other lot was o But, see, it’s all worked out for the best You’re with a co down, Vi preened Muffin’s head where theopen box by their feet "I et around to ot back from that survey Was he very difficult while you were away? You’d told me he was a bit of a tyrant at the office"

"Weca and tilted her head "An understanding, darling?"

"Or I thought we had"

"I’m not sure I understand"

"I’m not sure I understand, either"

Vi’s voice and shoulders dropped "He took advantage of you, didn’t he?"

As that sick ache spread in her chest, Taryn shut her eyes She could say that she had no idea what her aunt was talking about She could tell Vi that she wasn’t in high school anymore She didn’t have to clean her room if she didn’t want to, and she could sleep with aher Her aunt loved her, had always taken care of her and never failed to give the best advice

"He didn’t take advantage of me," Taryn finally said "I wanted it to happen He’s an extremely charismatic ured that out

"Fro between us You know A connection"

"An attraction"

"It would have happened eventually whether ent away together or not"

"So you don’t regret it?"

"I didn’t think I would"

Taryn explained about the attempt on Guthrie Hunter’s life She told Vi how much Cole seemed to have appreciated her support when they’d called into the Hunter hoht She also told her about all the trouble at Hunters in LA and of Cole’s concerns regarding that big sporting contract

While she talked on, Vi listened, nodding at certain points, scowling when it was appropriate Taryn ended by saying that over the past week, Cole’s affections and attention toward her had cooled Actually, other than that token brush of his lips over her cheek yesterday before leaving her alone in that eed on chilly

"But when he explained as behind his being so distant, I understood Or I tried to" When her aunt remained quiet, Taryn asked, "Don’t you have any advice?"

"I’esting I should lower nments till the last minute, I can’t remember a time I didn’t take your advice"

Vi’s attention dropped again to Muffin and her week-old litter of three

"You’d spoken about this cat for months," she said "How you’d call to her, lay food trails for her, how you’d even tried to pounce on her a couple of tiot her inside, she’d want to stay"

Taryn wasn’t certain where this was headed "She looks happy enough now she’s here"

"Do you think she would have been if you’d caught her and locked her up in this house?"

Taryn blinked "I was trying to help"

"You wanted to give her a home here with you But if you’d forced her, chances are she’d only want to escape"

"You’re saying I should let Cole do what he wants - let hio - and maybe, one day, he’ll come back to me" Taryn shrank back "I can’t do that"

"You can’t force someone to act a certain way, either"

"Like be halfway decent?"

Why should Cole have it all his way? By nature, she was a reserved person who tolerated ranted - and Vi’s advice seemed to insinuate that she do and accept just that

Vi stood "I’ll get dinner on I brought blueberry pastries for a treat afterward"

Vi was heading toward the kitchen when Taryn said, "I re, you dated a man He was nice froreeain"

Vi nodded as if she reo"

"I’d hoped that you tould get married," Taryn confessed

"I’d hoped for that, too Marty was a wonderful e"

"What rong, Vi? What was the argument about?"

"Marty was a fa more than to have made his family with us"

"And he loved you"

"I believe he did I most certainly loved hi stomach "It wasn’t because of hed and crossed back over "You were an angel Still are Marty said often what a good girl you were That you and I were lucky to have each other It tore him up that he could only see his own children every other weekend"

"So his wife hadn’t passed away"