PREVIOUSLY

She had always had strong sexual needs, and two years of celibate marriage to Todd had taken a toll on her. One night of guilt-ridden sex with Andrew Carpenter was not enough to satisfy Téa Delgado. Todd appeared to be ready to start a new relationship, so why shouldn’t she? With grim determination, Téa pulled the door open and slowly walked into the shop.

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Todd looked around warily as he arrived at La Petite Chaumière with Heidi. The restaurant was in an attractive remodeled Victorian house in an older part of Llanview, and the dining room was decorated tastefully with antique furniture of the period. Surprisingly, he found himself approving of his date’s choice for their evening out. It was small, quiet and out of the way. Surely they could enjoy a meal here without the threat of interruption which was a constant problem when dining at some of Llanview’s more popular eateries like the Palace.

As the maître d' led them to a quiet corner table, Todd realized he was actually looking forward to the evening ahead. Things were going well for him. His reunion with Starr had been all that he had hoped, and Blair had been impressed with his new home and the preparations he had made for their daughter. She seemed amenable to the idea of changing the current custody agreement to allow Starr to stay with him a few nights a week. He had enjoyed his morning exercise session with his former guard, Doyle, especially since he had easily out-distanced him in a head to head race. They had made plans to meet again, and no one was more surprised than Todd to find himself welcoming the company of a cop. But Todd’s good mood was mostly the result of finally finding himself in possession of some information that could bring John Sykes to his knees. His contact in Washington had dug up all kinds of shady dealings with various government officials. Of course, there was very little actual proof, but there was enough for a scathing exposé on the detective to appear in the first issue of his new magazine. With any luck, it would make things hot enough to send old Syko slinking into hiding. At the very least, Téa would find out what a truly twisted man Sykes was.

Todd glanced surreptitiously at his date as they looked over the menus. Heidi looked striking in a bright red evening dress with a matching stole. She was a very beautiful woman. As she met his gaze, for a moment he found himself wishing she had deep brown eyes instead of blue, and that she was a petite brunette instead of a tall blonde. He looked away with a little sigh. If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with. Thinking of the old song lyric, he had to admit it made sense on a certain level. Some part of him felt that it might be easier to end his long stretch of celibacy with a stranger—someone who meant nothing to him. And though Heidi was as different from his ex-wife as it was possible for two women to be, there was no denying he was attracted. As his eyes dropped again to the menu, he felt a strange shiver of anticipation. This night could turn out to be very interesting. The waiter arrived to take their drink order.

As she entered the restaurant with Sykes, Téa couldn’t help but be impressed. As usual, John had planned every detail of the evening down to complete perfection. He proudly escorted her to the best table in the small dining room, an intimate table for two already laid out with iced caviar and toast points. A bottle of champagne rested in an ice bucket nearby. The tall detective was dressed impeccably in a well-cut blue suit, and as the maître d' took her wrap, Téa noticed her date looking at her new dress appreciatively. He reached across the table and took her hand and she suddenly felt that she could float away in the pale blue depths of his eyes.

“You look stunning tonight, Téa,” he purred. “Absolutely stunning.”

To her consternation, Téa felt herself blushing like a sixteen-year-old at her first prom. “Thank you, John,” she said, looking up at him through lowered eyelashes. “Everything is lovely. Caviar…champagne…you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble, Counselor,” he said, staring at her cleavage. “I’ve been looking forward to having you all to myself for a long, long time.” Glancing over his shoulder, Téa noticed another couple at a corner table. The menu obscured the man’s face, but the back of the woman’s head looked somehow familiar. She didn’t think too much of it as the waiter poured the champagne. Her attention returned to her date as John raised his champagne flute high and proposed a toast. “Here’s to a night to remember,” he said in a suggestive growl. Smiling seductively, Téa clinked glasses with him and brought the flute to her lips. As they drank, she again glanced at the table in the corner, and suddenly she was choking on the wine and sputtering uncontrollably.

“I can’t decide between the duck or the rabbit,” said Heidi, engrossed in the menu. “What looks good to you, Todd?” There was no answer. “Todd?” repeated Heidi, finally looking up at her date. She found him looking over her shoulder with a look of profound shock on his face. He was mesmerized, and Heidi realized with a bolt of anger that he didn’t even seem aware of her. “What is it?” she asked in annoyance, looking behind her. She drew a breath in sharply as she saw her date’s ex-wife staring at them with a deer in the headlights look in her eyes. “Shit,” said Heidi in a low hiss.

“Téa, are you all right?” said Sykes with concern as she set her flute down abruptly and coughed into her napkin. “Téa?” he repeated as she stared over his shoulder. Realizing that her attention was focused behind him, he turned around. He exploded in fury, jumping to his feet and flinging his napkin angrily into his vacated seat. Téa didn’t even move. It was as though her eyes were locked to her ex-husband’s as they stared at each other across the room in shock and recognition. With his pale eyes bugging out in rage, Sykes walked to the corner table with long strides.

“You sick son of a bitch,” he shouted, loud enough to turn every head in the restaurant. “Stalking your ex-wife? That’s against the law, Manning.”

Finally disengaging his gaze from Téa’s, Todd glared up at the interloper, as the maître d', backed by several waiters, headed toward the table. “Detective,” said Todd, spitting the word out as though it left a bad taste in his mouth. “We were here first. That makes you the stalker, Sicko.” Sykes’ eyes narrowed. He glanced with disdain toward Heidi.

“I’m giving you one chance, Manning. Get this…this…cheap bimbo and get out of here now, or I’ll have you arrested and think up the charges later.” Heidi’s mouth dropped open in appalled anger as the maître d' cleared his throat loudly.

“I’m sorry, Sir, but I have to ask you to return to your table immediately. I can’t have you bothering the other diners.” Sykes turned to him angrily.

“This is a convicted felon,” he said through clenched teeth. Heidi’s eyes widened a bit and she stared at Todd, calculating. The maître d' closed his mouth abruptly, looking confused. Todd didn’t move, continuing to stare at Sykes with hatred.

“I’ve done my time, Sykes, and you don’t get to tell me where I can go and who I can see anymore. Now get lost.” The detective took a step toward him, reaching out his hands, but the maître d' finally got over his inertia and stepped in front of him. To his chagrin, the warring patrons appeared to be a cop and an ex-con, but there was no question as to which was the aggressor in the current confrontation.

“I’m afraid I must insist, Sir,” he said to Sykes. “If you don’t return to your table, I’ll have to ask you to leave.” For a moment, it looked as though the cop might turn his wrath on the well-meaning man. But after a moment’s hesitation, he took a deep breath and turned on his heel. He slipped quietly into his seat, grabbed his champagne glass, and drained it in one gulp. He looked across the table at Téa, who was still staring in shock at the corner table.

“Are you all right, Téa?” he asked. “We can go somewhere else. Let me get the check.” He looked around for the waiter, but Téa stopped him by putting her hand on his arm.

“I’m fine, John,” she said forcefully, although he could see that she looked pale. “I was just taken completely by surprise. But I can’t let Todd Manning continue to ruin my life. Just give me a minute to compose myself, OK?” He nodded, rising with her as she grabbed for her handbag. Sykes sat down and poured himself more champagne as Téa asked a waiter for directions to the lady’s room. She headed for a hallway at the side of the dining room.

“Look, just bring me a steak and some potatoes,” said Todd to the waiter taking his order.

“But Sir, we are known for our fine French cuisine,” protested the server.

“Fine. Bring me a steak from a French cow. Now get out of here.” The haughty man sniffed loudly as he walked away, muttering under his breath in French. Heidi watched her date closely as she reached for her wineglass. She took a dainty sip and waited patiently. Although Todd studiously avoided looking across the room, she could tell he was distracted by the presence of his ex-wife. She wasn’t used to playing second fiddle to another woman, and it pissed her off.

“So…are you going to tell me why you were in prison?” she asked in a confrontational tone. Todd’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Don’t go there, Babe,” he warned.

“I’m out alone with you. I think I have a right to…” she cut off with a little squeal of fright as he jumped to his feet menacingly. For a moment she shrank back into her seat.

“No. You have no rights when it comes to me. You work for me; we’re here for a meal and maybe to have a few laughs. That’s it. No prying into my dirty past. Now I need some fresh air. While I’m outside, you decide whether you want to stay on those terms, or not. I don’t give a damn.” He turned and headed for the open French doors that led to a deck where other patrons were dining. Glaring at his back, Heidi fumbled shakily for her wineglass.

Todd stalked across the deck and down the stairs, ignoring the curious whispers that followed him. There was a pleasant garden behind the stately old Victorian. Small white twinkling lights covered the shrubs and latticework of an intricate gazebo. A broad lawn swept down to an enchanting little pond where a tiny waterfall poured into the water. A few large goldfish swam lazily back and forth. Todd followed the paved path down to the pond. He stopped, staring at the waterfall and breathing deeply to calm himself.

Why of all nights, did Téa have to be there? And with Sykes of all people! He closed his eyes, picturing the alabaster sweep of her shoulders and the way a few tendrils of hair escaped enticingly from her upswept hairdo. That black dress she had on should be illegal. He had seen the way she was looking at Sykes just before she had noticed him. Obviously, she was planning on seducing him. Todd groaned inwardly, realizing that the sight of his ex-wife had driven the thought of sleeping with Heidi clean out of his mind. It made him physically sick to think of Téa and Sykes together. He shook slightly, feeling his spirit plunge into the depths of despair. There was no way he was ever going to get over Téa and move on with Heidi or anyone else. Somehow, she held him prisoner more securely than any chains or jail cell had ever done. “Damn you, Delgado,” he growled into the night.

He heard a sharp, indrawn breath at his words, and he quickly looked up. Téa was on the other side of the pool, hugging herself for warmth and gazing at him with a look of abject sorrow on her face. The twinkling lights reflected in her eyes, and he realized they were filled with tears. Their eyes locked and once again they were connected, somehow feeling the other’s pain without exchanging a word.

Téa trembled as she realized that she was sharing her place of refuge with the man she had planned to celebrate her freedom from tonight. His hurtful words cut her to the quick, and bitter tears slipped down her face. He wore a light-colored Italian cut suit with a silk T-shirt underneath. The decorative lights glinted off his chestnut hair and Téa was filled with an overwhelming longing to run the silky lengths between her fingers. Why did Todd have to be here tonight? And with that cheap Blair wannabe gold-digger! As she gazed at her ex, Téa realized that she was fooling herself if she believed she could move on with John or anyone else. As long as Todd Manning was alive, he would hold her—with his pain, with his need, with his…love.

Love? Yes, love. She would never be loved by anyone in quite the same way that Todd loved her, and it had spoiled her for anything else. Todd had hurt her deeply, in so many ways. But there was no denying anymore that he truly loved her. He had returned to stand trial, facing a possible life sentence for kidnapping instead of boarding a bus for San Diego—because he loved her. He had voluntarily undergone wrenching, painful psychotherapy, dredging up horrible memories of torture and abuse—because he loved her. He had pleaded guilty to perjury and served long months in prison with the hope that she could find a way to forgive him—because he loved her. And as Téa stared across the pool at the sweet, but damaged man, she admitted to herself that she loved him back: the vulnerable child within him who was forever seeking the affection he had been denied when small; the brave young man who risked his life to retrieve a cherished memento; and yes, even the angry monster who lashed out at those around him because he had no idea what to do with his rage. She felt a perceptible lightening in her spirit, as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her soul. Yes, she loved Todd with everything she had, and she would never stop loving him as long as she lived.

With a soft groan, Téa took a step toward Todd, yearning to fly across the pond into his arms and never let him go. But she hesitated, fearing the humiliation of rejection that had been so much a part of their marriage. As she watched, Todd took a step toward her, and then another. He was close enough now that she could see the desire in his eyes, and her soul leapt up from the depths of misery into the light of hope. Slowly, she reached a hand toward him. He took another step….

“Todd!” called a shrill voice from behind them, breaking the spell. Heidi ran down the path, her heels clicking loudly on the paving stones. She slid deftly into Todd’s arms, glancing triumphantly at Téa across the water. Todd immediately pulled away, but Heidi reached out and began pulling him by the hand back toward the restaurant. “Our salads are here,” she purred. “You don’t want it to get soggy, do you?” she said with a suggestive glance downward. Téa watched Todd retreating with a helpless look on his face. Resigned, she clutched her handbag tightly and followed slowly along behind them, brushing frantically at the tears coursing down her cheeks.

“What is this crap?” growled Todd as they slid back into their seats.

“It’s the house salad, Sir,” said the waiter as Heidi picked up her fork to dig in. “Cracked pepper?” he asked, waving around a ridiculously over-sized grinder.

“This is a plate full of weeds!” shouted Todd angrily. “Get this crud out of here and bring me a real salad—with ranch dressing.”

The waiter looked affronted. “Sir, I can’t possibly…”

“Look, Frenchy,” said Todd in a menacing tone. “I’m paying top dollar for the slop this place has to offer. Now get me some plain old grocery store lettuce with ranch dressing, or you’ll be reading a not so flattering review of this place in the Sun. Ever hear of the three barf-bag award?” The waiter retreated haughtily, and Heidi glared at her date.

“That was rude,” she snarled.

“Yeah? Well I’m a rude kind of guy. Shut up.”

Across the room, Téa slid into her seat, trying to hide her uncontrollable shaking from John Sykes. “Finally,” he said graciously. “I hope you don’t mind. You were gone so long, I took the liberty of ordering for you. I know you love halibut.”

“John, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this!” blurted Téa, choking on a sob. He was immediately concerned.

“Are you ill? I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t realize….”

“I’m not sick. At least, not physically. I wish it were just that.” He looked at her curiously, fighting down a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. “I’m sorry, but I have to leave. You’ve been a good friend to me, John, when I needed a friend desperately. I’ll never forget your kindness, and I hope we can remain cordial to one another. But there can never be anything more between us. I know that now.” She watched as his eyes lit up with blue fury.

He glanced quickly over his right shoulder. “What are you saying?” he asked. “Surely you can’t still be in love with THAT!” Téa’s eyes narrowed in anger.

“Whether I am or not is no longer your concern,” she spat. “Thank you for the dinner.” She rose quickly to her feet, but Sykes reached out and grasped her wrist.

“Trust me, Counselor,” he grunted. “You are making the worst mistake of your life.” Téa wrenched away violently, then glanced to the corner table.

“You may be right, John, but it’s my life and my mistake to make.” She turned away abruptly, then looked back at him over her shoulder. “Take care,” she whispered, then fled out the door and into the night.

“Damn!” shouted Sykes, drawing the attention of nearby diners. He gestured wildly for the waiter. Todd watched the entire scene playing out in fascination. Suddenly, Sykes lurched to his feet and turned to glare at Manning, openly showing his hatred. Todd tensed as the detective reached into his jacket as though to draw his weapon, but his hand emerged with nothing but his wallet, and he removed several bills and threw them on the table impatiently before whipping around and stomping angrily through the door. Feeling his heart fluttering wildly, Todd stared at the empty table.

“Here you are, Sir,” said the waiter in a voice dripping with icicles as he served Todd the salad he had requested. Todd gazed at the plate, looking completely confused as the server retreated with a contemptuous glare.

“What’s the matter? That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” asked Heidi, rolling her eyes. “Hurry up. I don’t want them holding up my duck because you’re dawdling over your salad.” Todd stared at her a moment, then stood up abruptly. Heidi choked on the arugula as she saw the hostility in his eyes. He pulled out a wad of cash and tossed several hundred-dollar bills at her.

“I’m out of here,” he said with contempt. He started to brush past her. “Have fun with Daffy, or Bugs, or whoever you decided to eat tonight. Just rest assured, it ain’t gonna be me, Babe.” Heidi’s eyes bugged out. He was leaving her! She was being stood up in front of all these people! “Keep the change or get yourself a cab. I don’t care. Just don’t be late for work tomorrow.” He sauntered to the door, amused as she sputtered and choked in chagrin.

“You bastard!” he heard her call loudly as he jogged down the steps of the front porch. A slight breeze had come up and he stood for a minute on the sidewalk, letting it cool him as he allowed his pulse to return to normal. He turned to the left, heading for the place he had agreed to meet his driver. He took a deep breath.

“If you only knew, Babe. If you only knew.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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