Here we are, Chapter Three :)

Tempted

Chapter Three

After saying goodbye to Belle and the boys, Ariel headed home and found Eric waiting for her.

'I think Tristan has a crush on Belle,' she announced.

Her husband looked at her. 'Ariel, what are you up to?'

'I just think it could be good for her, you know?'

'You're going to play matchmaker,' he stated, shaking his head and smiling.

'I'm just going to put them together and see how they get along,' Ariel said: 'if there's no spark on Belle's side, I'll leave it alone, but if there is, Tristan could really boost her confidence.'

'Just be careful,' he warned.

She nodded. 'Oh, I know: I will. I don't want either of them hurt, and I know Belle's been through hell with Greg, but she deserves to be happy, and I think Tristan could make her happy.'

Eric smiled and kissed her.

She was as good as her word: over the next couple of months, she threw dinner parties and invited the boys and Belle along, and she'd invite Belle to go with her to Desperate Souls' gigs, or to places she knew Tristan was going to be, like music industry parties and other musicians' gigs. Then she'd watch their interactions for signs of their feelings.

Tristan was pretty easy to read. He was clearly fascinated by Belle: Ariel saw it every time he looked at her. When Belle was around, Tristan didn't see anyone else. Plenty of young women tried to get his attention, but he just didn't see them, much to their discomfiture. Tristan was most definitely besotted with Belle.

Belle, though Ariel had known her longer, was harder to read. Ariel knew that she was afraid of getting hurt again, so she was trying to keep her distance. There were moments, though, when she'd let her guard down and send him a smile or a look that told Ariel she wasn't uninterested in him.

Ariel knew it would be a slow process. If anyone could get Belle to lower her walls completely, it would be Tristan, with his openness and down-to-earth nature, but Ariel was hoping that he could be patient with her friend. Belle had been hurt so much: she needed to rebuild her confidence and self-esteem before she would be ready for any kind of romantic relationship.

0

Belle smiled at the little girl as she handed over the copy of Alice in Wonderland.

'There you go: enjoy.'

'What do you say, Susie?' the child's mother asked.

'Thank you, Miss Belle.'

'You are very welcome, Susie: thanks for stopping by.'

'We'll see you next week for story time, Belle,' the woman said.

'See you both then,' Belle returned with a nod and a smile.

Susie and her mother had just reached the door when it burst open and a tall man came storming in past them.

'What the hell is this?' he demanded, thrusting some documents at Belle.

Belle looked around and saw that a couple of the children and parents still browsing after story time were looking over, alarmed.

Belle turned and went into her office where they could talk without disturbing anyone. The man followed her in and she closed the door.

She took a breath and looked up into the eyes of her ex-husband.

'I'll thank you not to come barging into my library and frightening the patrons, Greg,' she said coldly.

'What is this?' he demanded, lowering his voice, but not concealing his anger.

'What does it look like?' she returned.

'I won't agree to this, Belle,' he told her: 'I keep telling you I don't want a divorce.'

'Well, then, I'll see you in court, won't I?' she retorted boldly, angry with him for being so stubborn.

'You are my wife,' he growled, 'and I will not let you go.'

'This is not a marriage,' she hissed, fuming now. 'Marriage should be based on respect and honesty and love and trust: we never had any of that. I thought we did, but I was wrong. You never loved me, Greg, ever: the least you can do for me now is let me go. The settlement is more than generous, especially after your infidelities, and you know I can provide proof of those if I have to: please just take what I'm offering and let me get on with my life.'

She saw the change in his demeanour and knew at once what he was going to do, but his charm wouldn't work on her, not any more.

'Maybe I didn't show it very well, but I do love you, Belle.'

Oh, he sounded so sincere, but Belle had learnt not to trust in the sound of his words but in the look in his eyes. There was no honesty in them, no truth. She'd gotten one good thing from her marriage and that was the development of a sense about people, which allowed her to see beyond the surface to the inner truth of a person. She saw Greg for what he was now, a manipulative liar with a rotten heart.

She shook her head now, curbing the urge to laugh and roll her eyes.

'You don't love me, Greg,' she said knowingly: 'you love what marriage to me gave you. You love the money and the lifestyle, and maybe it even extended to having me on your arm to show off: a little wife who would do anything for you, but I'm not that naïve girl any more, and whatever love I felt for you is long gone. So, this is where we are: our marriage is over and nothing you say or do will make me change my mind. Let me go, please.'

His expression went from an attempt at soft and charming to hard and aggressive in a second. There was an arrogance and a petulance about his look now that made her wonder how she'd ever found him handsome.

'This isn't over,' he told her, turning on his heel and stalking out of the library.

'Are you alright, Belle?'

She looked up as Roland's father Robin came to her, looking at her with concern.

She smiled. 'I'm fine, Robin: thank you.' Surprisingly, she was fine. She seemed to get stronger every time she had to deal with Greg, and her anger about him coming in here and disturbing the tranquil peace of her library was keeping her from deflating now that he was gone. It used to be much harder to deal with him, but now it didn't faze her at all. She supposed that was because she realised more every day how much happier she was without him: there was no way she would ever give that up by going back to him.

'You're sure?' Robin asked, 'because I can go and punch him if you like?'

She smiled. Like Ariel and Eric, Robin was another friend who'd been very supportive over the whole Greg thing.

'Thanks, but I can handle him.'

He smiled. 'I believe you can,' he said.

'So, did Roland find a book he liked?' she asked.

'Several, I think,' he said: 'he can't choose.'

She smiled. 'Well, why don't we take a look?'

And everything went back to normal. The library's patrons forgot the intrusion as the gentle, smiling librarian helped the children choose a new story to fall in love with.

0

The library closed at one on Saturdays and Belle usually had lunch and ran errands before heading home. Today, she had no errands, but she didn't feel like going home after lunch.

She took a walk, feeling like she needed to burn off some energy, or maybe some anger. She was absolutely furious at Greg. How dare he come into her library, frighten its patrons, and threaten her? God, she wanted to slap him! He wouldn't let her go, would he not? Well, she'd just see about that! Who the hell did he think he was, trying to keep her trapped in their sham of a marriage despite her repeatedly telling him she wanted out? Ugh…

Her blood was boiling as she walked. She'd never felt quite like this before. This feeling could lead to anything, she realised. There was a rebellious, reckless spirit inside her just itching to be released and she wondered what she had to lose by setting it free.

There was a party for Tristan's band tonight. Apparently, the record company had high hopes for Desperate Souls and was pushing the boat out to promote the band and the upcoming album. Well, they were very talented: even Belle could see that. Ariel had asked her to come to the party, and she found that she really wanted to. Who knew what it could lead to? She was tired of holding back: it was time to do the brave thing, put the past in the past, and look to the future.

She passed a boutique with a display of dresses in the window. She couldn't remember the last time she'd bought a sexy dress, if she'd ever bought one. Well, she still had a pretty good figure, so why the hell shouldn't she show it off?

Decision made, she pushed open the door and walked into the boutique with a sense of purpose.

0

Gold was finding it a bit strange being the centre of attention. Everyone wanted to meet them and he, as usual, ended up doing most of the talking, Victor was preoccupied with Ruby, while Jefferson just looked above it all, as usual, so Gold ended up being spokesman, and he was rather enjoying the attention, despite the strangeness of it.

The person he was most anxious to see, though, was Belle, but there was no sign of her. Ariel had invited her, but there was no guarantee she'd come. Suddenly, the attention they were getting didn't matter so much.

'I could really use a drink,' Gold said, turning towards the bar.

'Ho-ly shit!' Jeff breathed, sounding like he was having a heart attack.

Gold turned. 'What is it?'

'Look over there,' Jeff directed, nodding his head.

Gold turned again and saw a woman in a dark red, lacy dress going up to Ariel. She had her dark hair piled on top of her head and the dress showed off her gorgeous figure to perfection. Her shoulders and the top of her back were bare and her skin glowed. Looking down, he groaned at the sight of her long, slim legs in high heels, and her gorgeous arse hugged by the cut of the dress.

'I do believe I've died and gone to heaven,' Jeff said, awed.

'You and me both,' Gold agreed, nodding.

The woman turned then and he nearly swallowed his tongue.

'Well, fuck me,' he gasped.

So, Belle had come after all, and, God, was he glad she had. She looked sexy as all hell in that outfit.

He'd seen her a few times since their lunch the day they finished the album. She'd been at Ariel's the times the singer had invited he and the boys to dinner, and she'd come to a couple of parties and gigs too. They'd chatted a bit, but she was a difficult woman to try to read, he'd realised. One minute, she'd smile and lose a little of the reserve, and the next, the walls would be back up and he'd be back to square one.

He didn't know exactly what was going on with her, but he still remembered the pained look on her face that day at the diner and he guessed that whatever was going on with her was difficult to deal with. That had made him want to be her friend if nothing else, but the sight of her in that dress was making it very difficult for him not to want more than friendship.

'Ah, shit,' Jeff grumbled beside him, shooting him a dark look.

Gold knew what that was about. Jefferson had figured out his interest in Belle, and, as much as he pissed him off on occasion, he had his back and would never go after a woman he was interested in.

'I appreciate it, brother,' he said, understanding that Jefferson was closing down the fantasy of him and the brunette now that they knew who she was.

The other man sighed. 'Yeah, well, I know you like her: just don't wait too long to do something about it, ok?'

'Yeah, provided she doesn't shoot me down.'

Jefferson grinned. 'Yeah, there is that,' he said, suddenly looking hopeful.

''Fuck it, I need that drink,' Gold said, but Ariel was leading Belle towards them now, so he stayed put, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

'Hey, Belle,' he greeted: 'thanks for coming. You look, ah…you look beautiful.'

'Thank you,' she murmured. She smiled. 'This is quite a party.' She looked around.

'Yeah, it's…something, alright,' he agreed, staring at her.

Jefferson gave him a dig in the ribs with his elbow and he promptly closed his mouth.

'Hey, guys,' Eric greeted. 'Wow, you look fantastic, Belle,' he said, smiling.

'Hey, Eric: thanks.' She smiled as he kissed her cheek and Gold wished he knew her well enough to do that. Well, he really wanted to do more than that…

'Tristan, Jeff, Richard Midas would like a word,' Eric said.

'Oh, right, yeah,' Gold said, snapping out of his Belle-induced trance: 'we'd better go.' It wouldn't do to keep the boss of the record company waiting.

'We'll see you in a bit,' Ariel said, and she and Belle watched Tristan and Jefferson go, and then Ariel turned to Belle.

'Ok, start talking,' she demanded: 'where did you get that dress and where have you been hiding that figure?' She looked her friend over, awed.

Belle chuckled. 'I bought the dress today after work. Does it really look alright?'

Ariel stared at her. 'Did you look in the mirror? Belle, you look hot. You have a better figure than most of the women in this room, but what happened that you decided to show it off?'

Belle rolled her eyes. ''Greg.'

Ariel groaned. 'What now?'

'He stormed into the library with the divorce papers and went on about how I was his wife and he wouldn't let me go.'

'He what?' Ariel screeched, drawing attention from the people around them.

Belle took her hand and led her out to the terrace so they could talk privately.

'Sorry, honey,' Ariel said. She knew Belle liked to keep her personal affairs to herself and she'd blown that.

Belle shook her head, though. 'No, it's ok,' she said. 'I don't really care who knows how much of a bastard he is.'

'You're angry,' Ariel realised, and it was good to see, because now she knew Belle would fight him. She hadn't been sure she would before: she'd always been a little worried that she'd give in and take him back, but now she knew she wouldn't.

'I am,' Belle agreed, 'so angry I could scream. How dare he treat me like I'm some bloody possession? I gave him a chance, offered him a generous settlement, and he still wouldn't do the decent thing and just let me go. He wants to make me miserable and I hate him for that. That's why I bought the dress: I just wanted to prove that I can do whatever the hell I want.'

She started to pace back and forth and Ariel just watched, pleased to see her friend's anger. She'd always known there was more to Belle than the woman she'd been while married to Greg. Sometimes she saw flashes of the vibrant, passionate woman she could see in front of her now, but Belle seemed to always hide that part of herself away when it tried to emerge. It always pained Ariel to see her do that, so she was pleased to see Belle let it out now.

'Can you believe he even had the nerve to tell me he really does love me?' Belle asked, glaring, though not at Ariel. 'He must really think I'm an idiot. God, he's such an arrogant, petulant, selfish bastard! I cannot believe I actually fell for him! What the hell was I thinking?'

'What are you going to do about it, honey?' Ariel asked, smiling.

'I'm going to get what I want, whether he likes it or not,' Belle stated vehemently. 'I won't let him ruin my life any longer.'

Ariel clapped and Belle smiled.

'Everything ok out here?' Eric asked, sticking his head around the door.

'Yeah, we're good,' Ariel said: 'Belle was just complaining about her bastard ex-husband.'

'What'd he do now?' Eric asked, eyes narrowing.

'Same as always,' Belle said: 'won't agree to the divorce. I'm just blowing off steam. Sorry, I'm keeping you from the party.'

'You're more important than some party,' Ariel told her, and Eric nodded.

She smiled. 'Thanks, but I think I'm done for now. I could really use a drink.'

0

'Merlot, please.'

Gold turned at the sound of Belle's voice.

'Hey,' he greeted, telling himself not to stare at her.

'Hey. Where are Jefferson and Victor?'

'Victor's off somewhere with Ruby and Jeff's somewhere about, probably chatting someone up.'

'Thank you,' she said to the bartender, taking her drink from him. 'What about you, Tristan: no date this evening?'

He laughed. 'Eh, no.' He scratched the back of his neck. 'You?'

She laughed too. 'No. I don't really date. Well, I haven't dated in a long while.'

'Married?' She wasn't wearing a ring, but some people didn't, and she'd never answered him when he'd asked if it was Mrs French or Miss. He didn't know if she'd answer now, but she seemed willing to talk to him, so he figured he'd try.

'Separated,' she told him, taking a sip of her wine. The look on her face suggested that it wasn't a pleasant subject. 'Soon to be divorced, actually,' she said, with some determination.

'Right,' he said. 'I was almost married.'

'You were?'

He nodded. 'Discovered the day before the wedding that she was having an affair.'

Her eyes widened. 'I'm sorry,' she murmured.

He smiled, seeing she meant that. 'It was probably a good thing in the end, though it hurt at the time. We were young and I'm not the same person I was then. Besides, if I'd married her, I wouldn't be here, wouldn't have the band or the album.' Or have met you, though he dared not say that aloud.

She nodded. 'At least you found out what she was doing before you made that commitment,' she pointed out: 'I wasn't so lucky.'

'I'm sorry.'

She smiled sadly. 'I was young, naïve.' She shook her head. 'Some things you can't get back,' she murmured.

'Maybe not,' he agreed, 'and maybe you can. And maybe what you can have now is better than what you lost anyway.'

She looked up at him, surprised. She stared at him for a long beat and he looked right back at her.

Yeah, he wanted to tell her that, yes, he would be better, and he very nearly did, but then she looked away, and he felt her walls come back up. Fuck it, he growled to himself: good fucking job, Gold.

But Belle reached out and put her hand on his arm. She didn't look at him, and then she walked away.

Gold debated what to do. He wanted to go after her, wanted to catch her by the hand, pull her close, and kiss her. He wanted to take her home and worship her the way a woman like that ought to be worshipped, but he didn't do any of those things. What he did do was order another Scotch, go out onto the terrace, and light a cigarette.

'Fuck it,' he growled after taking a couple of drags on the cigarette.

'Something wrong, Tristan?'

He turned quickly and saw Ariel sitting on a bench.

'Ariel: sorry, I…'

'Wanna talk about it?' she asked, smiling.

'I'm not sure you'll like it,' he admitted.

'You're not sure I'll like that you have feelings for Belle?'

He stared at her. 'How did you know that?'

'I see how you look at her,' she said, 'and I think it's good that you like her.'

He frowned. 'You do?'

'Mhm.'

'Even though I'm a lot younger than her?'

Ariel smiled at the way he'd phrased that: he'd phrased it like it was his youth that was an issue, rather than Belle's maturity, and now she definitely didn't have a problem with the age difference.

'Age is just a number,' she said: 'it says nothing about someone's mentality, really.'

He smiled. 'Can I join you?'

'Please,' she invited.

He dropped the spent cigarette butt and crushed it under his boot. Then he went and sat on the bench beside Ariel.

'I think I said something that upset her,' he admitted.

'What was that?'

'She said she married young: said she was naïve, and that you can't get some things back. I said that maybe what you can have now is better.'

Ariel smiled. 'Meaning you?'

He sighed, giving up wondering at her perception.

'I guess I did, yeah.'

'And you think that upset her?'

'It brought her walls back up and she walked away.'

Ariel nodded. 'Belle's been hurt a lot, Tristan: if you care about her, you're going to have to give her time to accept that your feelings are real. If you can be patient, if you can try to be her friend first… Please, don't give up: I think she needs someone like you.'

His heart thumped hard. 'I think I need someone like her,' he confessed.

Ariel smiled. 'Then you'll keep trying?'

He nodded. 'Yeah. I just want to be close to her.'

She smiled. 'That's good.'

Ariel's phone pinged and she pulled it from her purse.

'It's a text from Belle,' she said, frowning. She opened it and read it. She sighed and nodded. 'I thought so.'

'What?'

'She left, but she asked me to say good night to you for her.'

'Me specifically?'

She nodded. '"Can you tell Tristan good night from me?" Those are her words.' She smiled. 'She just needs some time.'

He nodded. 'I'm not going anywhere.'

She smiled again. 'Good.'

0

Belle let herself into the house, leaned against the door, and closed her eyes.

She kept asking herself what he meant by what she could have now. She half wondered if he was talking about himself, but he couldn't have been: why would he mean himself? Still, the thought had come, and it wasn't so easy to dismiss.

She'd touched him. She couldn't stop herself: she'd just…had to, because, in spite of the fact that she was terrified at the thought of letting him close enough to risk her heart again, she also wanted him. He was nearly twenty years younger than her, had more attractive options in his own age group, and, whatever she imagined, would never think of her like that, but she could admit to herself now that she wanted him. It was crazy, and rash, and reckless, but she didn't care.

She'd never wanted Greg like this, with this burning need. Early on in their marriage, she'd actually thought there was something wrong with her, because when they did go to bed together, she just didn't feel excited sexually. After a while, and a little experimentation by herself, she figured out what she liked, and tried to get Greg on board, but he wasn't at all responsive to her suggestions. His idea of lovemaking was always cold, perfunctory, and, eventually, she just went through the motions, until her libido dried up entirely. By then he was seeing other women, so he didn't bother with her.

She supposed she could have found someone else too, but she wasn't the type to throw away her vows and, despite his behaviour, it took her a long time to fall out of love with her husband, so she just wasn't interested in being with anyone else.

It had been years since she'd felt any kind of sexual desire, and she'd never expected to feel it for a man nearly half her age, but there it was.

Somehow, after all this time, her body still remembered what brought her pleasure, and all she had to do was close her eyes and picture his face to find enough to arouse her. So, if she went to her room and undressed, reacquainting herself with her sexual side to thoughts of him, he would never have to know.

Thanks for reading :) – chapter four coming soon :)