Read Online Dark Desire (Touched By You 1) by Emily Jane Trent - Free Book Online
Authors: Emily Jane Trent
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I was comfortable with. I rejected him. And now what will I do? He's become an obsession. He's all I want but I'm not right for him."
"Well, now I wouldn't jump to that conclusion," Cheryl reassured her. Natalie was a lovely woman. It made sense that Tanner would be attracted to her. He’s known for being a ladies’ man, Cheryl smiled to herself.
"I'm not used to the big city. I'm out of my league here. But I can't go home. Fashion design is my career. I refuse to pass up the only opportunity I may have for design school. But if I stay, I'll run into Tanner again. Someone that prominent in the industry would be hard to avoid." Natalie dabbed her eyes, hoping the mascara wasn't smearing onto her dress.
"It's just all new to me, all of it. And he's so strong, so commanding. I never had a brother. I've never even had a father. How am I supposed to know how to deal with a domineering man? And that's what he is - domineering."
Cheryl laughed softly. "Yes, he is that. But that doesn't have to be the end. You just got off to a bad start. It's obvious you like him."
"Who wouldn't?" Natalie asked not expecting any challenge to such an obvious truth. "He's perfect. I'll never want another man. And now I've ruined everything," she continued, revealing more than she'd intended. Cheryl knew her friend was in deep.
Natalie was unable to relax. The idea of sleep was remote. Later in the evening, she called Jazzy, who was expecting to hear all about the fashion show. Natalie did her best to convey the excitement but didn't have the heart to tell her about the incident with Tanner. It would only make Jazzy worry, unnecessarily.
18 - Confession
Natalie washed off her make-up and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. It was still early but she didn't feel like doing anything, except moping. Her heart was crushed. After all this time, she finally met Tanner again and everything blew up.
The truth was his strength was reassuring to her. All her life, she'd had to be the strong one, taking care of her mother and her younger sister. There was no man around to count on, so she'd learned to rely on herself. A strong personality like Tanner's had never been a part of her life. She tended to reject what she wasn't familiar with. Yet, at the same time Tanner's strength excited her.
The buzzer rang, indicating a visitor. Cheryl went, somewhat begrudgingly, to get Natalie. It was for her. Puzzled, Natalie went to the door and pressed the intercom. Cheryl didn't say who was downstairs but she had a dark feeling that she knew. "Yes. Who is it?"
The baritone voice boomed through the speaker. "It's me, Tanner." Natalie fumed at his tone, although her heart raced at just hearing his voice. However, she was still angry at his earlier insult.
"What do you want?" she barked, not feeling nearly as angry as she tried to sound.
"Come downstairs now," he ordered. Natalie expelled a frustrated sigh. If his idea of an apology was to order her about, he was misguided. She'd go down there and have this out with him.
Natalie grabbed her jacket and yelled a goodbye to Cheryl, "I'll be back later."
Catching sight of Tanner standing alone in the lobby, wrenched her heart. There was something about this man that mesmerized her. She was drawn to him, clearly under his spell. There he was, dressed in casual pants and a light-blue cashmere sweater. She felt slightly weak at the sight. He looked so debonair.
Without a word, he wrapped his arm around her and guided her out the door and into the back of his black limo. They were transported to a lovely hotel and he took her up a private elevator to the top of the building. She stepped through a door and onto the roof of the hotel, leaving the men who seemed to shadow Tanner everywhere, standing in the elevator lobby.
The rooftop patio was decorated with outdoor furniture meant for entertaining. There was an iron railing around the edge of the roof and several sets of tables and chairs. The view was spectacular.
"I'm
"Well, now I wouldn't jump to that conclusion," Cheryl reassured her. Natalie was a lovely woman. It made sense that Tanner would be attracted to her. He’s known for being a ladies’ man, Cheryl smiled to herself.
"I'm not used to the big city. I'm out of my league here. But I can't go home. Fashion design is my career. I refuse to pass up the only opportunity I may have for design school. But if I stay, I'll run into Tanner again. Someone that prominent in the industry would be hard to avoid." Natalie dabbed her eyes, hoping the mascara wasn't smearing onto her dress.
"It's just all new to me, all of it. And he's so strong, so commanding. I never had a brother. I've never even had a father. How am I supposed to know how to deal with a domineering man? And that's what he is - domineering."
Cheryl laughed softly. "Yes, he is that. But that doesn't have to be the end. You just got off to a bad start. It's obvious you like him."
"Who wouldn't?" Natalie asked not expecting any challenge to such an obvious truth. "He's perfect. I'll never want another man. And now I've ruined everything," she continued, revealing more than she'd intended. Cheryl knew her friend was in deep.
Natalie was unable to relax. The idea of sleep was remote. Later in the evening, she called Jazzy, who was expecting to hear all about the fashion show. Natalie did her best to convey the excitement but didn't have the heart to tell her about the incident with Tanner. It would only make Jazzy worry, unnecessarily.
18 - Confession
Natalie washed off her make-up and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. It was still early but she didn't feel like doing anything, except moping. Her heart was crushed. After all this time, she finally met Tanner again and everything blew up.
The truth was his strength was reassuring to her. All her life, she'd had to be the strong one, taking care of her mother and her younger sister. There was no man around to count on, so she'd learned to rely on herself. A strong personality like Tanner's had never been a part of her life. She tended to reject what she wasn't familiar with. Yet, at the same time Tanner's strength excited her.
The buzzer rang, indicating a visitor. Cheryl went, somewhat begrudgingly, to get Natalie. It was for her. Puzzled, Natalie went to the door and pressed the intercom. Cheryl didn't say who was downstairs but she had a dark feeling that she knew. "Yes. Who is it?"
The baritone voice boomed through the speaker. "It's me, Tanner." Natalie fumed at his tone, although her heart raced at just hearing his voice. However, she was still angry at his earlier insult.
"What do you want?" she barked, not feeling nearly as angry as she tried to sound.
"Come downstairs now," he ordered. Natalie expelled a frustrated sigh. If his idea of an apology was to order her about, he was misguided. She'd go down there and have this out with him.
Natalie grabbed her jacket and yelled a goodbye to Cheryl, "I'll be back later."
Catching sight of Tanner standing alone in the lobby, wrenched her heart. There was something about this man that mesmerized her. She was drawn to him, clearly under his spell. There he was, dressed in casual pants and a light-blue cashmere sweater. She felt slightly weak at the sight. He looked so debonair.
Without a word, he wrapped his arm around her and guided her out the door and into the back of his black limo. They were transported to a lovely hotel and he took her up a private elevator to the top of the building. She stepped through a door and onto the roof of the hotel, leaving the men who seemed to shadow Tanner everywhere, standing in the elevator lobby.
The rooftop patio was decorated with outdoor furniture meant for entertaining. There was an iron railing around the edge of the roof and several sets of tables and chairs. The view was spectacular.
"I'm
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