It had been weeks since people got to know about Vivian and Scott, and Vivian was starting to get used to the looks and whispers from people about it. Thankfully, just like all gossip, it was getting old and people weren't talking about it as much. So she was having an affair with her boss, she wasn't the first person and she certainly wouldn't be the last. Scott on the other hand didn't seem to care at all about it. But why should he? He was rich, powerful, and he was the boss. No one could say anything to his face if they wanted to keep their job, and honestly, as Vivian continued to spend time with him, she realized that he wasn't the kind of person who cared what people thought about him so it didn't even matter. At times she wished she could be that way. It would make things easier for her. Especially now, as she joined Betty, Linda, George and Michael at the cafeteria. "Hello," she greeted them. "Hello" they all greeted back. "Hi Vivian," Betty said cheerfully as Vivian too
"I wouldn't say 'happy'," Scott replied, "But I'm a bit relieved that no one is giving you reasons to leave me. It would suck if you did" He flashed a smile at her, and when she still said nothing, he moved closer to her. "You seemed upset when I saw you get out of the elevator. What's wrong?" Vivian shook her head, "Nothing" she lied, but he could not be fooled. He crossed the room and went behind her desk so he could pull her off her chair. He sat on it and she let him pull her down so she was sitting on his lap. "Someone will come in, Scott" she said, although she made no effort to stand. "And then I'll have to deal with even more gossip" "Ah" he said, "So that's what your foul mood is about. Gossip…" "You make it sound so casual and it's not. You have no idea how I feel when I hear these things people say about me." "Why do you care?" he asked. "What?" "Why do you care?" he asked again, "Do you regret it? Do you not enjoy the moments we spend together?" Vivian nodded. "Of
“Will you—” She broke off. God, she was pushing her luck. From his explanation, she sensed he didn’t share this part of himself with many people. It didn’t line up with the image of ruthless business tycoon. But in this moment, she wanted to see his clever, talented fingers fly over those strings. To witness him coax beautiful music from that instrument. To watch him lower that damnable shield and let her in. “Will you play for me?” He stared at her, and her heart thudded against her rib cage. Finally, finally, he dipped his chin and reached for the acoustic guitar on the far end. He almost reverently lifted it off the stand and carried it to the loe seat. She trailed behind him, not saying anything. Afraid if she uttered a word, he might change his mind. Once he perched on one end of the small love seat, she sank to the other.Propping the instrument on his thighs, he plucked a few strings, turned the knobs at the top. Once he seemed satisfied, he cupped the neck, fingers at the re
Scott woke up. Remembering that he had Vivian in his arms when he slept off, he grinned and reached out for her. He frowned when he realized that her side of the bed was empty and sat up. Then he heard it…The sound of the television downstairs. Putting on his boxers, he headed downstairs. Halfway down the stairs, he could hear her laughing. Not too loudly but a bit carefree. She sounded so happy, and he grinned. What the hell was going on with her, he wondered. When he got to the living room and sat saw the almost empty box of brownies, he knew what was going on with her and he had to fight the urge to burst into laughter. "Vivian…" he said softly as he approached her. Careful not to scare her. She lifted her eyes to his and smiled at him. She looked so happy to see him and Scott couldn't help but smile right back at her. "What are you doing?" he asked her. "Watching TV" she whispered back, "I'm sorry that I woke you up, but that scene was just too damn funny." "What scene?" Sco
"No, I don’t. I have no earthly desire to find out when you went out with Johnny, or Dickie, or Harry—or whoever else might be clogging up the romantic files in your memory. Why should I?" Why, indeed? His voice sounded cold, clipped—she hadn’t heard it sound like that in all the time she had been going out with him.But something made her probe away—with the poorly applied knowledge of someone who continued to pick a spot: that it always left a scar."It’s called wanting to get to know someone better, Scott" His eyes gleamed out an unspoken warning. "Or intrusion, perhaps?" he questioned easily, getting up from his chair and going to stand behind her, his fingers beginning to rhythmically massage her shoulders."I know everything I want to know about you, Miss Sanchez" She closed her eyes as she felt her body respond to his touch. Instantly turned on by him and furious with herself for being so. She tipped her head back, so that she caught the upside-down version of his face, and
"But why hasn't he reached out either?" Vivian asked, dropping the knife and turning to face Megan, "He just hung up and never reached out again. He didn't even try to hold on or fight for me. He left like he'd been wanting a reason to leave and I handed it to him." The tears were flowing again, and now she was sobbing. "Oh, I hate him so much, Megan. I miss him so much and I love him. I love him, Megan and I hate that I do" Megan wrapped her hands around her, letting her sob on her shoulder until she was gasping softly. "You could call him…." Megan suggested softly as she rubbed her back but Vivian shook her head. "No" she said, "I have to let him go. With or without the other lady in the picture, it would never work between us. He doesn't want a real relationship and I want more. I want a commitment and he's not willing to give me that. I will have to get over him one way or another. Might as well be now. I just don't understand why it has to be so hard."________Scott entered
No, he wasn’t Bruce—could never deliberately deceive and devastate someone, then walk away from a child he’d created—but he’d also blackmailed, hurt, used Jennifer, then turned his back on Vivian… the woman he loved.God. He loved her.The force of the revelation struck him with the blow of a mallet to the chest. He sank to his chair, staring blindly ahead.He loved Vivian .Somehow, despite every wall, every barrier and shield he’d thrown up, she’d wedged herself into his heart, his soul. No wonder he’d felt so empty these past days. The one who’d given him life again was gone. Because, yes, she’d resuscitated him, jolting his heart so it beat. She’d given him more than work to be excited about—she’d given him her quiet humor, her defiance, her wit, her loyalty, her body…her love. And what had he done? Thrown it back at her like it meant nothing."I realize now that you don't even respect me enough to give me answers to questions like this… because I'm nothing but a hook up to you"
Vivian gave a ghostly smile. "When can I see him?" "I’ll take you to him now." It was like some surreal nightmare as she followed the nurse through the spotless, soundless and gleaming unit until they finally stopped outside a cubicle.Through the glass, Vivian could see Scott lying as still as death on the bed and she jammed her fis into her mouth and gave a soundless little cry. Her Scott— her strong, powerful Scott—with all that vitality just zapped away."What can I do?" she whispered. "To help him?" "Talk to him. Stroke his hand. Remind him of things you’ve done together. Try to bring him back." Remind him of things you’ve done together. The words haunted her as she fearfully made her way towards the bed, towards that still and silent figure.What shared memories did they have which might stir his sleeping mind? But the only ones she could think of were not the deep and meaningful memories which would arouse a man from a coma. Great sex and glitzy restaurants were not the kin
He nodded,"I was so determined to ruin Bruce using his sister Jennifer too, but then I met you, and without even trying, you touched something inside of me. You made me care. Stopped me from becoming a monster, and made me start to care about more important things than revenge. Hell, I even became friends with Jennifer. She had been trying to reach out to me after the accident, but my mother and sister just weren't ready to have her around at such a time. ""Oh Scott" "When I had that accident, I was on my way to you. I wanted to tell you that I missed you. I was still running away from the way I felt about you, and I wasn't ready to admit my feelings to myself, but I missed you… badly. And I was coming to you… to tell you…. And that's when I…. I…. What I'm trying to say, Vivian, is that you're an amazing woman, and I… I…"Enough was enough. She had heard his declaration, seen the evidence of it in his eyes. Now she wanted him close—as close as a man and woman could be. "I understand
"You’re looking good. I mean, you’re looking well—fully recovered." said Vivian. "I feel it." He raised a dark eyebrow. "Aren’t you going to invite me inside?" "Of course!" She opened the door wide and as he walked into the hall she thought that the fact he had had to ask spoke volumes about the distance which had grown between them. As did the fact that he hadn’t touched her—and the coolly remote look on his dark face which showed no inclination to do so. She faced him awkwardly. "Where shall we go?" He wondered how she would react if he suggested the bedroom, but, while that wasn’t quite the last thing on his mind, that wasn’t the reason he had come here today. "Is it warm enough to sit outside?" "I think so. Shall I make us some coffee and bring it onto the balcony?" But he didn’t want a social ritual. He didn’t even particularly want coffee. He shook his head. "Not unless you really want some. I’m fine.""So am I."He hadn't forgotten just how beautiful it felt to be around
Vivian could do nothing but nod. She couldn't tell Scott's mother about their troubles, so she simply gave her a hug and wished her well. "Please tell Sara that I'm very sorry I couldn't see her before leaving." she said, and with that she went out of the house. It was only when she got into her car and drove off that she let the tears flow. ________Vivian spent the evening wandering around her house like a lost soul, unable to settle to anything, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when her phone began to ring.She snatched it up when she saw the caller. "Hello?". "Vivian""Oh, Scott!" She breathed a low sigh of relief, appalled to realize that she had half expected never to hear from him again. But that would have implied a lack of courage on his part, and he was certainly not lacking in courage. "Are you okay?" she asked. Okay? Scott looked around him, at the luxurious house which was his home. It didn’t feel like home any more. It felt like some gloriously appointed bu
She thought that he spoke it like a word he was unfamiliar with. "Yes, us." He smiled, but Vivian thought that it was a cool smile, even though he touched the tip of her nose with his lips."I know that we’ve been having a relationship and that it’s a very agreeable relationship." Very agreeable? He made it sound like a piece of classical music playing on the radio!"I see." Vivian said. He wondered if she did, but in the sweet afterhaze of making love his mind had been busy. "Shall we get dressed and go and find ourselves a drink?" If it had been anyone else, she might have thought he was searching for Dutch courage, but Scott was not the kind of man who needed alcohol to spur him on to say something, no matter how unpalatable.She sensed that the end was coming, and that, if it was, she would face it calmly and with dignity. "I’d love a drink," she said lightly.He might not need courage, but she certainly did. They dressed in silence, bending to pick up discarded pieces of clot
He had changed. The dark eyes were no longer so restless. The glittering, predatory eyes of the shark had gone.But a jolt to his memory might bring them back, surely? And the coldly ambitious Scott McCall might reemerge from the chrysalis of his coma."Ready?" she asked.He drifted his hand over her hair and followed it with the butterfly touch of his lips on the back of her neck. "Maybe we should go back to bed for a while?" he murmured.Vivian closed her eyes, tempted. If there was one thing that Scott had recovered quickly, it was his prowess as a lover. "But we’ve only just got up!" she objected."The doctor said that I was to rest as much as possible." "I think that your idea of rest and the doctor’s are not quite the same thing." Vivian replied. Reluctantly, she pulled her neck away. "Shall we drive or shall we walk for a while? We can order a cab later to my place or call your driver." "Walk," said Scott. "You won’t get too tired?" "Vivian," he sighed. "I’m fine. You know,
He sucked in a low breath of appreciation as she stood before him wearing nothing but flimsy underwear of soft green lace, her skin gleaming like silk. Her breasts spilled over the low-cut bra and the matching knickers made her legs seem to go on and on forever.He must have seen her like this before and yet it seemed as though he had never really looked at her. Never appreciated the satin fall of the dark hair which tumbled all over her shoulders."Dear God," he murmured. "You are unbelievable. Unbelievable." "No, I’m real." She began to unbutton his shirt."You’re wearing all this, while I’m not wearing nearly enough," she complained.He gave a low laugh, sucking in his breath as her palms skated light, sensuous circles over his nipples. "You’re wearing too much, oh, Vivian—" This as she unzipped his trousers and teased her fingertips over his straining hardness. He slid his hand between her thighs and her eyes widened in helpless pleasure as he began to move his fingertips agains
With Scott it had never been more than what they had today. And while that made her appreciate what she had got, it also made her long for what she had not. Commitment—and that was one thing she would never get from him."I’ll sleep next door for the time being. I think you need a little space," she said lightly.And so did she.He pulled a face of objection, but he was too tired to object too much. He lay down on the bed and it felt like heaven."Okay," he yawned. "If you say so." But within a couple of weeks he began to show very definite signs of improvement—physically, at least. The sleep showed in the renewed brightening of his eyes and the familiar healthy glow of his skin. Often they took him outside, to sit in the restorative sunshine and to sit quietly in the haven which Felicia's garden provided. He was eating proper meals, too—the freshest, most delicious food that Felicia and sometimes Vivian could conjure up.She put two plates of salmon down on the table one evening and
Scott drank his tea. It was very comfortable here by the fire—warm and welcoming. If only his head didn’t feel as though someone had jammed it in between a giant nutcracker, and in the process managed to take away some of the thoughts and associations and familiarity which made him what he normally was. But how did he know what he normally was? He didn't know what to believe. He still had childhood memories. He knew his family and his job, but most memories of the past months were missing so he was confused. He put the cup down and looked at Vivian, which was halfway to a cure in itself. She was wearing a soft wool dress, the color of blueberries, and her hair was loose—like the moon against the backdrop of a nearly dark sky. Her legs were spread in front of her and she had kicked her shoes off. He might be only two days out of a coma, but that didn’t mean that all his senses were dead. He might have a little difficulty wanting food as he usually did, but the stirring leap of awarene
"I can get myself dressed!" he protested. "Not yet, you can’t," the nurse fussed. "You’re as weak as a kitten, although I must say that you don’t particularly look as weak as a kitten!" "Why can’t Vivian help me?" he demanded, his heart sinking as he saw the nurse begin to roll her sleeves up over her rather hefty forearms. He’d much rather that dark-haired angel be at hand.The nurse coughed. "Well, she was a little taken-aback when you didn’t recognise her, of course—but, as I told her, that’s perfectly normal in these circumstances." "You mean I know her?" The nurse helped him with his jeans and began to get rather pink around the neck."Yes, Scott" said Vivian, in an odd, strained kind of voice as she walked into the room. "You do know me—you just can’t remember." Scott was still feeling groggy, but not too groggy to wonder how well he had known her."Here." Vivian began to slide a sweater over his head, her fingers automatically colliding with the silken flesh, and she saw h