Taming Clint Westmoreland - Brenda Jackson [39]
“Remember our agreement,” she said in a quiet voice.
“I remember it,” he said, still holding her close. “Do you?”
She tilted her head up and looked at him. “Yes, I do.”
“You’re the one who initiated this, Alyssa, and you’re the only one who can finish it. I will adhere to our agreement as long as you want me to,” he said.
“B-but what about all these insinuations you’re making?” she whispered accusingly.
He smiled, thinking about all he had said. “What about them?”
She studied his features and then evidently decided he wasn’t serious. “You’re teasing me,” she said.
“No,” he said. “I’m not teasing. I’m dead serious.”
As if tired of what she perceived as his game-playing, she lifted her chin and said, “You can’t have it both ways, Clint.”
He laughed although his features were without humor. “Sweetheart, when I finally have you, I plan on having it in ways I’ve only recently dreamed of.” And as if to prove his point, his thighs moved at the same time he pressed gently in the curve of her back to bring her closer to him.
He then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips and felt himself harden even more. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
“I’m skipping dinner tonight,” Alyssa replied.
“Not because of me, I hope,” he said in a low tone.
“No,” she said tightly. “Because of me.”
Alyssa stretched out on the bed. It was nearly midnight. She had taken a shower and changed into one of many oversize T-shirts she enjoyed sleeping in.
Good to her word, she had skipped dinner because she needed to be away from Clint. She had called her aunt earlier and they had chatted awhile. Luckily, Aunt Claudine hadn’t asked her anything about Clint and Alyssa had had no reason to bring him up.
Chester had knocked on her door earlier to make sure she really didn’t want anything to eat and had even offered to serve dinner to her in her room if she preferred. She had assured him she was fine and she wasn’t hungry. She figured Chester thought the reason she was missing dinner was because of a tiff she’d had with Clint, which wasn’t the truth. She just needed distance from him right now. He had the tendency to prevent her from thinking straight. He would say things with such conceit that he rattled her confidence. He seemed so sure of her when she wasn’t sure of herself, she thought.
Her cell phone rang and she frowned wondering who would be calling her at this hour. Aunt Claudine was usually in bed by nine. She sat up and reached for the phone. Her frown deepened when she saw the caller indicated Kim was on the line. She wondered how Kim had gotten her number. There was no way Aunt Claudine would have given it to her.
“Yes?” She decided it was time to stop avoiding her cousin.
“Well, well, for a moment I thought you had dropped off the face of the earth,” Kim said.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “What do you want, Kim?”
“Where are you?”
“It doesn’t matter to you. What do you want?”
“Everyone is wondering where you are. You just took off without telling anyone,” Kim said smartly.
“I did tell someone,” Alyssa replied.
“Yeah, we figured Aunt Claudine knew where you are but she isn’t talking. All she’s saying is that you left town to go visit a client.”
“Whatever,” Alyssa said, sidestepping Kim’s attempts to get more information.
“Really, Alyssa, don’t you think it’s time for me and you to sit down and have a little chat? I’m sick and tired of you blaming me because you can’t keep a man. It’s not my fault that they end up finding you inadequate and prefer me to you,” Kim said.
“Look, Kim, I have to go.”
“And you’re not going to tell me where you are?”
“No.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I will. Goodbye and please don’t call back.” Alyssa then hung up the phone.
Inhaling deeply, she swung her legs off the bed as she fought back the anger she felt. Overconfident people were wearing on her nerves, although she had to admit that Kim was very different from Clint. She couldn