Chap.6

Foxhunt

"Well this is a nice surprise."

Theresa jumped back and nearly fell over.  Fox reached out and grabbed her arm before she lost her balance.  Turning quickly, Fox caught the menacing glare of Jade Coldwell from the doorway of the mansion's patio doors.

"Jaden!  What are you doing here at this hour?"  Fox tried to recover quickly, but the shock of being jolted out of a nearly intimate moment with his step-mother was clouding his mind.  Fox still couldn't believe what was about to happen before he and Theresa were interrupted.

"What am I doing?  I think the better question here is what are you doing out here with her?"  Jaden stepped outside the double doors leading through the ball room and crossed her arms.

"That is none of your business, Miss Coldwell.  This is my home and I'm the one who will ask the questions here."  Theresa was trying hard to restore her composure, but her heart was not willing to return to it's normal pace.

"Jaden, I thought you had gone home?"  Fox shifted his weight from one foot to the other and placed his hands in his pockets, trying to hide the fact that his hands were shaking like leaves.

"I did go home, but then I remembered that I had left my purse.  So I came back to get it, but no one answered the door."  Jaden glared at Theresa.  "And now I know why.  The two of you were too busy playing house to hear me knocking."

"We were not playing house, not that it's any of your business.  And who are you to just let yourself in to my house without being invited?" Resa stepped up to face Jaden.

"Well, then, what were you doing?  You sure looked cozy to me.  If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two were kissing."  Jaden sneered.  The thought of Fox kissing his step-mother, a maid's daughter, none the less, was enough to make Jaden want to hurl.

"We weren't kissing.  Resa was just saying she was getting a little chilly and I was trying to warm her up.  There was nothing going on, Jaden, so just let it go, alright?"  Fox looked Jaden in the eyes.  Was she going to buy it?

"Whatever you say, Nicky.  Anyways, I just wanted to thank you for bringing me to the party.  I had fun.  We'll have to do it again sometime.  Sometime very soon." Jaden stepped forward and placed her hand on Fox's chest.

Fox forced a smile.  "Yeah, it was fun." Who was she fooling?  She didn't have fun.  She walked out on me, not that I blame her after I put her in her place.  What is she up to?

Resa's body stiffened when Jaden placed her hand on Fox's chest.  What should I care what she does with Fox?  There's nothing between us, anyways.  If she hadn't have showed up, nothing still would've happened.  I was going to pull away before he kissed me anyways.  Theresa tried to convince herself that she felt nothing for Fox, yet down in her heart, she was starting to wonder if maybe there might be something there.  Whatever it was that she might feel,  she was never going to act on it.  She knew Fox way too well to know that he was a major player and that every woman that caught Fox's eye was hooked, reeled in and then tossed to the side to make way for the next woman on his list. No, she wasn't going to let herself be snagged by his charming act.  Resa knew better.

"Well, it's late and I'm really sleepy.  I think I'm going to hit the sack.  Goodnight, Fox.  Miss Coldwell." Theresa nodded abruptly in Jaden's direction before turning to leave.

"Theresa…" Fox called softly.

Turing to face him, Resa caught the look in Fox's eye and it made her heart jump.  A longing desire seemed to linger in his eyes.  "Yes, Fox?"

"Give me a second to make walk Jaden out and then I'll walk you to your room."  It came out more like a pleading request rather than a statement.  Fox tried to remain cool.

Jaden wrapped her arm around Fox's waist and frowned.  "I'm not ready to leave yet, Nicky.  I thought you'd like to take a walk with me, maybe have a night cap?"  Jaden pouted and batted her eyes.  "Theresa is a big girl, she can walk herself to her room, you don't need to go with her."

"I know that, but I'm kind of tired myself and I don't really feel like going for a walk right now."  Fox removed Jaden's arm from his, trying to make her see the picture.

"Then just talk with me.  Just for a little while, Nicky, please?  I really want to talk to you."  Jaden wined.

"Really, it's O.K., Fox.  Go ahead and talk to Jaden for a while.  Have a goodnight, you two.  I'll see you in the morning, Fox."  Resa turned and walked back into the mansion, leaving Fox to fend off Jaden on his own.

"Theresa…"  Fox called after her.

"Listen to your step-mother, Nicky.  Come and have a drink with me and then I'll go, I promise."  Jaden tugged Fox's hand and pleaded with him to follow her.

One drink won't hurt me.  Maybe then she'll go home.  My mind is so tired.  I need time to think and regroup.  I can't think straight.  Fox let Jaden lead him inside as he thought of a way to get ride of her for the night.

*****

Theresa pulled her night gown on over her head and sighed. "What was I thinking?  Letting Fox get to me like that.  If Jaden hadn't interrupted…NO!  Nothing would have happened.  I wouldn't have let it.  He's my step-son."  Theresa tried to reason with herself.

Slipping onto her seat in front of her vanity, Resa stared at her reflection.  Was she really attracted to Fox?  She couldn't be.  She could barely recognized the woman she had become.  When she looked in the mirror, she no longer saw the young, naïve girl she once was.  Now, staring back at her was a grown woman, well, nearly grown.  She had been through so much in the last few years.  Life altering changes had shaped her future into what was now fast becoming her reality. 

Theresa picked up her brush and began drawing it through her black hair as she thought about all she had accomplished in the last year.  She was now the wife of a Crane, not that was high on her list of accomplishments, but it had lead to a very promising career at Crane Industries.  Now she had money, power and a high ranked position.  Things were going well for Theresa.  There was only one thing missing.  Love.

"I know there's someone out there for me.  Someone who will make my heart skip when he touches me.  Someone I can really connect with.  Someone that can make my knees weak when he looks into my eyes and knows what I'm thinking before I do.  A love that can only leave me breathless…" Resa stopped brushing and stood up.  Giving herself one last look in the mirror, she walked to the bed and slid beneath the silk sheets.  Love would have to wait.  Right now she needed to sleep.

*****

Fox swallowed the last of his scotch and sat his glass on the end table.  "Why did you really want me to stay with you, Jaden.  You and I both know you're not too happy with the way I acted this evening, so cut the crap."  Fox was in no mood for chit-chat.

"True, you were very curt to me earlier, but I forgive you."  Smiling, Jaden ran her fingers down Fox's arm.

"You forgive me?"  Fox's mind was hazy.  No more drinks.

"Of course I do.  I'm not heartless, you know.  I said some bad things about your step-mother and you had every right to defend her.  I shouldn't have said those things about Theresa.  It's not for me to say who she can and can't marry.  I'm sure she had her reasons for marrying Julian, but I don't really care.  It's not her I'm interested in, you know."  Smiling like school girl, Jaden ran her fingers though Fox's hair.

"Right…"  Fox could feel the drink working on him.  He needed to get rid of Jaden fast.

"It's you I'm interested in, Nicky."  Leaning in, Jaden kissed Fox's nose. 

"What are you doing?"  Fox recoiled and tried to stand up but Jaden pulled him back down to the couch.

"You're not going anywhere, Nicky."  You're not going back to Theresa!  I won't let her manipulate you this way.  It's me you really want to be with and I'm going to prove it to you tonight.

"Jaden…"  Fox slurred her name slightly.

"You're sleepy.  Let go."  Jaden got to her feet and pulled Fox to his.

"Where are we going?"  Fox couldn't concentrate well enough to walk straight.  Leaning on Jaden for support, he tried to put one foot in front of the other, but the process was overloading his brain.

"I'm going to tuck you in."  She answered smiling slyly.  And then I'm going to tuck myself in next to you.

As they reached the stairs, Fox tripped and fell face first onto the steps.  "Oh!"

"Careful, Nicky!"  Jaden fell on top of Fox and giggled.  "Oh dear.  Maybe we'll just have to stay here for the night."

"Can't.  I have to go talk to Theresa."  Fox's speech was slurred and slow as the scotch took it's toll on him.  "I have to make her understand…"

"Understand what?"  Jaden climbed to her feet and glared down at the young man laying sprawled on the stairs.  "What is it you need her to understand?  Why can't you just forget about her for one second and concentrate on me!?"

"I'm not sure.  I can't think straight right now.  My mind is hazy and clouded.  She has that effect on me…"  Fox smiled lazily as his mind went back to the garden where he and Resa had been earlier.  His memory was slipping away with the night and he couldn't remember what had happened.

"It's not her that has this effect on you, Nicky.  It's the SCOTCH!  And in case you've forgotten with your cloudy memory, she's your step-mother.  She's off limits, Fox!  She's married to your FATHER!  I'm the one you really want, Nicky, why can't you see that?"  Jaden was losing her sanity.  Why can't I  make him forget about Theresa for just one night?  Why is her name always on his mind and on his lips? I can make him forget..

"What is going on down here?"  Theresa glared down at Fox still sprawled on the stairs.  "Some of us are trying to sleep."

"Sorry…"  Fox grinned.  "I was just on my way to talk to you."

"What are you talking about, Fox?  Why would you need to talk to me at 3:30 in the morning?  Can't it wait until morning?"  Resa was getting impatient.

"He doesn't now what he's saying.  He's had a bit to drink, as you can tell.  I'm just going to take him upstairs and tuck him in."  Jaden pulled Fox to his feet and began leading him up the steps.

"I think you've done enough for one night, Jaden.  I will see to it that Fox makes it to his room safely.  I don't want to keep you any longer.  I'm sure your father will be wondering where you are by now.  Why don't you run along and head home before it gets too much later."  Theresa wanted her out of her house now.  She couldn't stand the idea of her worming her way into Fox's room.  Who knew what else Jaden would do once she was alone with Fox in his bedroom.

"My father doesn't care how late I'm out and I want to help Nicky to his bed.  I don't mind."  Jaden smiled coolly at Theresa.

"Well, I care.  It's late and you need to go.  Fox will be fine, just leave him to me."  Resa moved down the stairs and took Fox's other arm in her hands.  "Fox, lets get you to your room.  You need to sleep it off for a while."

Fox smiled at Resa and put his arms around her waist.  "Anything you say, step-mommy."

"Don't forget which Crane you're married to, Theresa.  Nicky is mine, and you best remember that."  Jaden's words were cold and full of spite as she turned on her heels and walked out the door slamming it behind her.

"What's her problem?"  Fox looked stunned.  "I guess she needs a nap.  I know I could use one.  How about you, Theresa?  Care to join me?"  Smiling like a fool, Fox let Theresa lead him up the stairs and into his room.

"Here, let me get your shirt off."  Resa unbuttoned Fox's shirt and slipped it down his arms.  I forgot how tan he is.  He really does look great without his shirt on.  NO!  Resa shook her head, dismissing the thoughts.

"What are you staring at?"  Fox looked into Theresa's eyes.  I wonder what might have happened if Jaden hadn't interrupted us.  I was so close to tasting those luscious lips.

"Nothing.  Just thinking."  Resa finished helping Fox into bed.

"Where you thinking the same thing I was thinking?"  His words were more of a plea than a question.

"I doubt it.  Sleep well, Fox."  Theresa let her fingers trail down his face and over his chest.  His sharp intake of breath told her that even under the influence of drink her touch held it's effect on him.

"Theresa…" Fox reached up and touched her face.  "About what happened before Jaden…"  What he wouldn't give to pull her down on top of him right now.  He could show her a world she had never known.  Somewhere in the depth of his heart, he knew he wanted it, but his mind kept telling him to wait.  He had to wait for the right time.  Timing was everything.  If he let himself get carried away, he would blow the whole thing.  No, he had to wait until just the right moment.  She will have her moment…Her time is coming.  She won't be on top of the world forever.  Some day soon she'll fall and she'll need someone to catch her.  Who better than me.

"Fox, you need to rest.  You don't know what you're saying."  Theresa needed to leave.  If she stayed much longer, she might regret it in the morning.

"I do know what I'm saying.  But I understand why you don't want to hear it."  Fox's voice trailed off.  What was he saying? He needed to shut up and go to sleep.  "Never mind, Resa.  It's late, and I'm tired.  We'll talk in the morning."  Fox wasn't tired any more, but he knew Resa had to go or he would be sucked in once again and he could risk it, not twice in one night.  He was getting in too deep and he had to back out while he still could.

"Goodnight, Fox."  Theresa leaned down and kissed his cheek.

Her lips are so soft.  I love the way she smells.  GOD take me now, before I can't control myself anymore.

"Goodnight, Theresa.  Sleep well."  Fox watched as Resa stood and walked from the room, leaving him to his thoughts as his brain replayed the events of the night over and over again.

He would have Theresa for his own.  Very soon she would fall victim to his good looks and overpowering charm.  Very soon….that is…if he didn't fall victim himself.