Page 4 of Forbidden Bliss
His black button-down shirt and dark jeans cling to his muscular frame, accentuating the same strength and confidence I saw earlier in town.
The sleek black sports car behind him only adds to his alluring aura, making him stand out like a gem in the rough. No wonder he’s the talk of the town.
Butterflies roll through my stomach as his name emanates from my lips in a breathless exhalation. “Tristan.”
As he steps closer, heat radiates from his body while his powerful hand brushes against my cheek, igniting a tingling sensation that penetrates my entire being.
His deep amber eyes lock on to mine. “Willow.”
A faint scent of cologne and woodsy aftershave wafts from him, mixing with the crisp evening air that seeps in through the open door. The scent is comforting, like a warm embrace.
I step out onto the porch and ease the screen shut behind me. “Why are you here?”
His broad shoulders fall slightly as he exhales. “Come on, Willow. Do you have to ask?”
A powerful chemical attraction roams between us and it’s as if the past had never left. It’s far too strong. I bite my lower lip. “I do. Especially when I don’t recall having shared my address with you.”
His vision drops to the floor before he purses his lips. “The paintings. They’re yours.”
While my heartbeat kicks up a notch, I cross my arms over my chest. Everything in me wants to tell him the truth—that I’d sent the paintings down to Vegas hoping he would remember me, but he doesn’t need to know that right now. Nodding, I confirm it. “Yes. They’re mine.”
His eyes blaze with pain. “Why did you run away from me and then torture me with your art?”
Heat courses through my torso, making me want to close the distance between us. My eyes dart away, unable to bear the intensity of our connection for another minute.
I lift my fingertips to my temples and massage the tension. When I’d heard of a wealthy buyer in Vegas willing to pay top dollar for my pieces, I knew it could only be him. In fact, I had known all along that he would find my work. But apparently, he never fully figured out it was me. Until now.
My mouth tightens as my mind races to figure out how to defend my behavior, but I come up empty. “I only wanted to sell the artwork in the city. How was I to know you’d buy them?”
He steps closer, arching a single brow. “Your art is twisted and beautiful. Just like you.”
Breaking eye contact, I gather courage to apologize for the way our relationship ended. Finally, I face him. “You deserved so much better than how I handled things. Leaving like that, with no explanation...” My voice trails off.
His nostrils flare before he stiffens and turns away. “Do you know what it was like?” His words are bitter, each syllable sharp. “Waking up one morning to an empty bed? No note, nothing. You just disappeared.”
I draw in a shallow breath. “I thought a clean break would be easier, but I could have been wrong.”
He makes a slight growl in his throat. “Did you leave me because ofhim?”
My brain races to think of who he could mean. I haven’t glanced at another man since him. My face crumples. “Who are we talking about?”
His jaw ticks. “Earlier today, you were with a man.”
A thrill runs through me at his possessive tendencies. He’s always been the jealous type, and that turns me on, unfortunately.
A slight smile curves the edge of my lips. “That’s Hunter.”
“Is he …” His voice becomes thick with emotion. “Is he the …”
“Tristan.” A small laugh bubbles up as I clamp my lips together and relish his jealous reaction. Finally, I lay it on him. “Hunter is my brother.”
His shoulders relax before he closes his eyelids and resets himself. “Okay then.” His jaw sets. “Your daughter. How old is she?”
Sweat pricks under my arms, my eyes darting from him to a window view of the inside of the house. I half-smile to ease my nerves. “What is this, a game of twenty questions?”
He doesn’t smile along with me. He only leans forward, pursing his male lips together. “How old is she, dammit?”
My pulse slams against my wrist. I won’t keep running from this. I swallow and answer the question. “She’ll be four years old this December.”