His Sugar Baby(37)

So that’s what was behind her frantic passion. His back still burned where her nails had broken the skin. Michael felt a sudden fierce satisfaction. She was more strongly invested in the continuance of their relationship. There would be no more attempts to break it off. She needed him for sexual release. He had taught her what he could do for her. From now on, she would willingly reach out for him and draw him down into her arms. He had finally seduced her. She was finally his.

“All right, Winter. If that’s what you want.”





Chapter Twelve



Cathy’s original intention had been to keep Winter’s life totally separate from her own. There was the separate bank account that held Winter’s wages. There was the cell phone that only one person would call. Her dresser and her closet were divided, one side holding her own clothing and on the opposite side what she thought of as Winter’s clothing and accessories. It was schizophrenic, but it worked for her.

However, by degrees, there was an inevitable intermingling. When she didn’t get all of her laundry done, she grabbed a bra from the stash that belonged to her Winter-persona. A necklace and the matching chandelier earrings looked good with one of her suits. A purse, a bangle, a change of eye or lip color. The physical boundaries between her life and Winter’s were gradually beginning to blur. And though she did notice, with some irritation, that her wardrobe was absorbing some of Winter’s stuff, it did not occur to her that there was also a slow merging of her real self with the woman that had been created by a personal ad.

On the day that her sister was due to fly in, she pulled on a pair of Winter’s tight black jeans and topped it with her own heather-green sleeveless knit top. The chandelier earrings went into her ears and a pair of stylish heeled sandals on her feet. Then she ran out to her car, her leather purse swinging jauntily from her shoulder.

At the airport terminal, Cathy grabbed her sister in a tight hug. Her throat constricted with emotion. “Pam! Oh, it’s so good to see you!”

Her sister’s arms around her were equally as tight. “You, too, Cathy.” She stepped back, and her blue eyes intently searched Cathy’s face. “How is Chloe?”


Cathy shook her head, the earrings swinging back and forth. She made herself smile. “She’s holding her own for now.”

Her sister’s eyes briefly squeezed shut. “I’m sorry, Cathy.”

“Yes.” There wasn’t any need for long explanations. Pam knew her too well. She would read between the lines.

“You look fantastic, by the way.”

Cathy was surprised by the compliment. She hadn’t put much thought into her appearance for years. At least, she amended privately, she hadn’t until she had started going out with Michael. It was kind of nice that someone else had noticed. “Thanks. I’ve been making more of an effort recently.”

They retrieved the luggage and walked out of the terminal to the parking lot, catching a shuttle to where Cathy had parked her car. When they emerged from the shuttle, a wall of summer heat hit them. Sweat beaded between Cathy’s breasts. “I’m parked over here.”

Cathy unlocked the trunk of her faded old car. She tried not to notice that Pam was eyeing the car. “We can put your luggage here in the back.” They stowed away the luggage, and Cathy unlocked the car. The inside of the car was like an oven. After she started the ignition, she flipped the air-conditioning on high. The system whined loudly as she drove away from the airport. She was acutely aware that her sister was watching where they were going. She braced herself for the inevitable questions when she finally turned onto her street. However, Pam didn’t say a word. She just looked intently through the window as they drove through the rundown area.

When they got to the apartment, they carried the two cases inside and dropped the luggage on the threadbare living room carpet. In the months that she had lived in the apartment, Cathy had stopped seeing it. Now, looking at her surroundings through fresh eyes, at what her sister must be seeing, Cathy saw the sagging sofa, the cheap chipped table and lamp, the tired-looking armchair. She waited while her sister took slow stock. The dreary apartment was quite a comedown from the beautiful home she had once owned.

Pam took a deep breath before she turned. Her eyes were troubled. “Cathy, what is going on? You told me you had to sell the house. But I didn’t expect that clunker you’re driving and—and this.” She swept a hand in a comprehensive wave.

Cathy sighed tiredly. She had known that her sister would not be able to keep from commenting. Actually, she was surprised that Pam had kept silent so long. “No, I don’t suppose you did. It wasn’t just the house and the sedan, Pam. I had to sell…everything.” Better than anyone else, Pam would have a fair idea of what she was talking about. Her sister had been with her on many occasions when she had bought at auction come of the antiques she loved.

As comprehension swept over Pam’s face, her expression registered shock. “Cathy, you should have said something!”

“I didn’t want you to worry too much.” Cathy tried for a smile, but she saw that her faltering attempt was not doing much to ease her sister’s distress.

Pam’s eyes flashed, her voice rose. “We could have helped you!”

Cathy pushed back her tumbled hair with a shaking hand. “You did help me, more than once. I couldn’t keep going to you and John!”