Page 10 of Tangled in Temptation

Catherine

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THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND myself at Amber’s office. I needed to talk to someone about the situation. Last night, I had tossed and turned in bed, thinking about Timothy and what he was going through. I wanted to help him. I truly did, but there was no way I could talk to him without my own feelings for him being in play. I wasn’t a robot. I wasn’t a professional therapist. I couldn’t turn off my feelings and give him an unbiased opinion. I wanted to tell him not to go back to her because not only was she a world-class bitch, but that meant I could never see him again.

The very thought killed me. Yes, I was supposed to be staying away from him and not letting myself think about him, but that was stupid. Of course, I was always going to want the man. I couldn’t just dismiss that night, no matter how hard I tried.

I walked into her small office with various pictures of her work on the walls. Huge books of sample paint colors along with fabric swatches and wallpaper samples were lined up on one table. Amber, immersed in a pile of paperwork, looked up as I entered. “Hey! I didn’t know you were coming by. Are you ready to let me help you design your gorgeous new house?”

I laughed. “Not yet. I still need to get the placed cleaned up and figure out my plan of action.”

“I cannot wait to see what you do with it. It’s going to be so pretty.”

“Thanks,” I said and sank into the chair opposite her desk.

“What’s wrong?” she asked with concern. “Does this have something to do with some rich dude living high up on the hill?”

“It has everything to do with him,” I sighed. “I’m so screwed. I don’t even know what I’m doing.”

“What happened?”

“Paisley ran away from her mom and ended up at my place the other night. I had to call Timothy and let him know she was safe. Regina is making Paisley go back to the boarding school she hates. Timothy has been trying to get Regina to release her claws, but she won’t do it. I feel so bad for the guy. Now he’s basically being given an ultimatum. Paisley can stay here with him, but she comes as a package deal.”

“What does that mean?”

“I guess Regina wants him to take her back. That’s the only way she’s going to let Paisley stay. And the poor kid is just a wreck. I don’t even know her all that well and I can see the pain she’s in. He’s considering it, according to Bennet. Bennet wants me to talk to Timothy and try to convince him not to do it.”

Amber raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “Don’t tell me you’re getting involved in that drama.”

I sighed. “I’m worried about Timothy. He’s not himself.”

Amber leaned back, crossing her arms. “You need to be careful, Catherine. Regina left a bad taste in my mouth, and you don’t want to get caught up in that mess. She doesn’t strike me as a woman that would appreciate anyone getting in her way. You do not want to be collateral damage.”

I nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. “I just want to help Timothy and Paisley.”

Amber sighed, her eyes softening. “Catherine, you’re crazy for falling for this guy. He’s not really single. He’s got an ex-wife living in his house. That’s not what you want to mess with. Let the rich people handle their business.”

“He’s not a bad guy,” I protested. “I think he’s a good man that married the wrong woman.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the facts. You’re better off without all this drama.”

I bristled at her words. She sounded just like my dad. They didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why they thought he was so bad. He had done nothing to anyone. He was just trying to help out a teenage girl. “Amber, you can’t always control who you fall for. Timothy is a good man, deep down.”

She shook her head, her disapproval evident. “Just be careful. That man comes with a lot of baggage. I don’t want to see you get on Regina’s hit list. That woman is a monster. I only had to spend an hour with her to realize it. I know you had to see it.”

“I’m not interested in Regina,” I retorted.

“Package deal,” she reminded me. “What do you think is going to happen if you start seeing Timothy? Do you think Regina is going to let the kid stay there? Not a chance in hell and you know it. Then what? You’re happy, and the kid is miserable. I’m not saying it’s fair, I’m just saying I don’t think you want to get yourself in the middle of something like that.”

“It’s a mess,” I admitted. “I hate it.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “I know you do, and you have a big heart. I know you want to help them. I’m just not sure it’s possible.”

“I know,” I sighed. “I’m going to go. I need to get some material for the house. I’ll talk to you later.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know how much you want to help.”

“Thanks,” I said and left her store feeling like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders.