Chap. 3
"Fox! What the hell are you doing in here?" Theresa was so shocked that her brain didn't register that fact that she was standing in the poolroom shower with Fox's arms around her.
"Easy, there Resa. I didn't mean to startle you." Fox smiled at the crazed look on Theresa's face. "You told me I should take a shower, so here I am."
"What? I told you that I was going to take a shower." Theresa pushed herself away from Fox and glared at him, furious at his attempt to get under her skin.
" True. But then you said that I should do the same. I thought a nice hot shower sounded like a great idea and you know how father despises wasting money, so I thought that I'd help conserve some water by sharing a shower with you, Theresa." Fox smirked and reached behind Theresa to turn the hot water up. "Besides, we are family."
At least I didn't take off my swimming…
Theresa looked at Fox. "Oh my GOD!" Theresa had been so upset that she hadn't realized that Fox wasn't wearing any clothes.
"What is it?" Fox followed Resa's gaze smiled. "What? I find it hard to believe that you've never seen the male body before. I mean… I know Father can't be much to look at anymore. He isn't a spring pig anymore."
Theresa blushed and turned away. He was naked!
I can't believe he's naked! I'm standing here with my step-son in the shower and he's NAKED! What do I do?
"Fox…you should go." Theresa thought fast and grabbed her towel. "Here! Wrap up in this and go take a shower in your bathroom!" She threw the towel at him and turned her back on him once again, determined not to look at him.
Fox caught the towel and flung it over his tanned shoulder. "You're blushing step-mommy. Could it be that you're embarrassed by the sight of the male body nude?" Fox smiled and raked his fingers through his blonde hair.
"I'm not embarrassed by a naked body!" Theresa felt her face growing hotter. Why did he taunt her so?
"Prove it. Turn around and look me in the eyes."
"I don't need to prove myself to anyone, especially to you." Theresa sneered.
"Well if you're too chicken to do a simple little thing like looking me in the eyes…" Fox mocked as he turned to go leave.
"Chicken? I'm not a chicken! I can do anything I put my mind to. It's YOU who wouldn't be able to look me in the eyes!" Theresa's anger had gotten the better of her as she swung around to face Fox. She was going to prove him wrong. She was going to prove herself wrong. She could do this.
Fox stopped and turned to face Resa with a cynical look on his face. "Oh really? You don't think that I could look you in the eyes? Just because I happen to be indisposed?"
"No. I don't think you can. I'm sure that if I looked you in the eyes long enough, you would have to look away." Even Theresa didn't believe that last statement.
How am I going to pull this off? I can't look at him for more than a second without glancing away. How am I going to look him in the eyes? My face is red, I can feel it! He'll get the best of me! I can't do this! No! I have to! I can't let him prove me wrong. I have to do this. I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.
Fox smirked. "Your face is turning a pleasing shade of red, step-mommy. But if you think you can handle looking me in the eye…I'm ready when you are." Fox squared his shoulders and looked Theresa straight in the eyes, determined to unnerve her.
"I'm ready…" Theresa's eyes slowly traveled up Fox's smooth toned body until they reached his beautiful ocean-blue eyes.
He really does have the most amazing eyes. So tranquil and smoldering. Almost…hypnotizing.
The longer Theresa looked into Fox's eyes, the easier it seemed to become to keep her own eyes fixed on their target. His gaze shot through her like jolt, reaching through to her very soul. She found herself mesmerized by the fierce storms that seemed to be raging behind his eyes. She could almost see the anguish of a young man, torn between hate for a family that barely acknowledged his existence let alone showed any interest in his life, and the love and acceptance he so desperately sought in the eyes of his mother and father. It was almost too much to bare, but Theresa couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from the pain and the hurt driving the young man standing before her.
Fox stiffened. He had seen a change in Resa's eyes. She no longer looked embarrassed or fearful. A soft, longing concern seemed to be overtaking the dark pools of light shining in her eyes.
Why is she looking at me that way? She looks so concerned? But why? Why do I feel so…strange. I feel like I'm being pulled down…Her eyes are so dark… One could lose themselves in those dark pools if they weren't careful enough. I feel like she's looking inside me instead of at me. Like she can see my thoughts….my every desire…
No! Fox shook his head, trying to clear his mind. She couldn't see inside his mind. That would be impossible. But despite his logic, Fox found himself backing away from Theresa.
"I'm growing bored with this game, step-mommy. I've got things to attend to. Enjoy the rest of your shower." Fox tuned and fled from the poolroom shower, taking his thoughts with him.
Theresa stood looking after Fox, wondering why he had departed so suddenly, his pain and anger still fresh in her mind. Cold water sweeping over her body, her soul silently wept for another soul lost.
****
"How much is this costing me, Theresa?!?" Julian sneered as he looked around the ball room of the Crane Mansion. He gingerly fingered a small crape paper decoration sitting on a side table. "How drab."
Theresa finished hanging a loop of strung lights near the entranceway before answering her husband. "It's not going to drain your bank account to throw a New Year's Eve party, Julian."
Theresa stepped back to admire her work. "You know...Your New Year's resolution should be to lighten up and to be a little more giving this year, Julian. There a lot of great charities out there that could use your money."
"Charities? I think you're a big enough charity case, what with you and your estranged family living here under my roof. If I give away any more of my money, I'll be a charity case." Julian finished the brandy in is hand and left Theresa to her work.
Theresa looked around. "Almost done. Only thing left to do is hang the centerpiece." Theresa walked to the side table and picked up a large silver and gold starlight ball. It shimmered and sent rainbows of color dancing around the room as she turned it in her hands.
"This is going to be perfect hanging in the middle of the room." Theresa sat the ball back on the table and pulled the step stool over to the center of the room. Theresa had had one of the staff hang a small wired hook from the ceiling earlier that day. She picked up the sparkling sphere and stepped onto the stool. Reaching up she tried to loop the wire through the small opening on the ball.
"I can't seem to reach it." Theresa tried again to latch the ball to the hanging wire, but her arms were getting tired. "Hum…" She thought for a minute and remembered the larger step ladder in the closet in the hall. She hopped down and went and retrieved the ladder. Once she had it in the right spot, Theresa climbed to the top of the step ladder and hooked the ball onto the end of the wire.
"There!" Theresa leaned back and spun the sphere around, sending colored light dancing over the walls of the room. As she watched to lights spinning along, the ladder lurched and gave way sending Theresa and the ladder tumbling towards the floor.
"Resa!" Fox ran forward and caught Theresa just before she hit the floor. Wrapping his arms around her, he shielded her as the ladder came down on top of them, sending them both crashing to the floor.
"Ouch! Oh my GOD!" Theresa lay under Fox, her head spinning.
Fox stiffened and pushed the ladder off his back. "Are you alright, Resa?" He looked down at her with concern in his eyes.
"Yeah…I think so. Fox! You're bleeding!" Theresa sat up and touched a finger to Fox's head. A small trickle of blood formed just above his left eye.
"I'll be fine, Theresa. It's just a scratch." Fox sat up and looked around the room. "Who's having a party?"
"I am. Tonight is New Year's Eve, remember?" Theresa watched Fox as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"Yeah. That's right. I forgot what day it was." Fox reached out and pulled Theresa to her feet.
"You'll come, right?" Resa dusted herself off and smiled.
"I can't. I've got a date." Fox walked over to the ladder and sat it upright.
"A date?" Theresa tried to hide the disappointment from her voice, but she knew Fox had caught it. "With who?"
"Jaden Coldwell."
"Jaden Coldwell? Isn't she a bit…"
"What wrong, step-mommy? Didn't think your step-son was charming enough to catch the eye of a debutant?" Fox slapped a mock hurt expression on his face.
"No. I just don't think she's your type, that's all." Theresa turned and pretended to fix a crape paper star hanging on the wall.
"My type? And what, dearest step-mommy, would you say, is my type?" Fox strode over to Resa's side and looked down at her.
"I don't know. But Jaden…she's so..snooty. She never has a nice thing to say about anyone and she seems kind of controlling." Theresa turned to face Fox, aware that her face was growing hot.
"I love a woman who's in control. And who cares if she's snooty? The girl's got balls. I like that." Fox reached out and smoothed away a small strand of hair that had fallen from Theresa's hair bun.
"I just think you're too good for her, that's all." Theresa went back to "fixing" the paper star.
"Why do you care so much who I date, Resa?" Fox smiled playfully, knowing he was getting to her.
Why do I care who he dates? It'll keep him out of my hair if he's out gallivanting around with some rich snob bent on giving her ego a boost. Roping a Crane boy has to be high on every money grubbing rich girl's list, and surely dating a Crane would give Jaden something to brag about to her friends.
"I don't care who you date. I'm just wondering what your father would say if he knew you were dating a Coldwell." Theresa could tell she was starting to lose control. She fought to stay focused on the crape star.
"Since when do you care what Julian thinks? And besides. Father's the one who set me up with Jaden. He seems to think the Coldwells might be good business allies. Jaden's father runs half of the Main Side Shipping Industries." Fox played with a piece of colored foil shaped like a wine bottle hanging from the wall.
"I should've known. Julian is always looking to make business deals, even if it means using his own son to seal it." Theresa walked over to the side table and picked up another star.
"Yes. Daddy will do anything to make a deal. Even sell his soul to the devil himself. But I don't mind being used. Jaden's got her mother's looks, and Father assures me that she's a tiger in bed." Fox laughed and Theresa nearly dropped the star she was adjusting on the far wall.
"Looks aren't everything, Fox. Does Jaden have a brain? Can she carry on a conversation without using only one syllable words? Or aren't those qualities you look for in a bed partner?" Theresa smiled bitterly at Fox.
"Ouch! Touché! But the only qualification I have for my bed partners is the ability to scream my name at the appropriate time." Fox grinned seductively as Theresa stared stunned at his last statement.
"How appropriate that your partner should remember your name when you would be hard pressed to even ask for her last name before taking her to your bed." Theresa slammed the crape star down on a side table before turning to face Fox.
"Why such an interest in my love life, Resa?" Fox slowly made his way over to his step-mother. " One might begin to believe you're just a little bit jealous." Fox reached out and stroked one finger tip down Theresa's cheek.
"I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous? Of Jaden Coldwell? I'm already a Crane. I don't have to worry about snagging a piece of the Crane pie. I live in the Crane mansion. I work at Crane Industries. If anything, Jaden should be jealous of me!" Theresa turned her face away from Fox's touch.
"Maybe you're jealous of the fact that Jaden might just become my bed partner." Fox traced the line of Theresa's arm up to her shoulder.
A part of Fox wanted Theresa to be jealous. He knew he wanted her, but he was unwilling to let her know that, just yet, anyways.
Her skin is so soft. Like finely crushed velvet. And her smell is intoxicating. I'll bet her skin would feel like silk against mine. I'll have to find out sometime…
"And why would I be jealous of her for becoming your love slave?" Theresa was on the verge of slapping Fox. How dare he accuse her of being jealous of Jaden Coldwell.
"Because my father isn't living up to his obligations as your husband. I assure you, I take my obligations as a Crane very seriously." Fox searched Theresa's eyes for some kind of hint as to what she was thinking.
"I wouldn't let Julian fulfill his "obligations" even if he wanted to." Theresa turned away.
"Come, now, Resa. Don't get upset. I'll bring Jaden to your little party tonight. Then you can see for yourself if you think she's good enough for me. Maybe you and she will hit it off." Fox smiled and turned to leave the room.
"Fox."
"Yes?" Fox turned back to Resa.
"Thank you for catching me when I feel off the ladder. I'm sorry you hit your head."
"Anytime. And not to worry. My head will be fine. See you later, step-mommy." Fox turned and left the room.