Losing Control Read Online Free PDF Page A

ruffled red blouse and a pair of
black denim shorts, her feet clad in bejeweled flip flops that she had
embellished that evening while waiting for Taury.
    “Come in, darling!” Tall, gray-headed
Frank De Paolo welcomed Fawn in a thick Louisiana drawl as he hugged her. “You look
lovely! And this must be Mr. Trahern! I’m glad to finally meet you.”
    Taury held out his hand, shook Frank’s. “I’m happy to meet you. Fawn told me you’re a set designer.
Maybe you can give me some ideas on renovating my house.”
    “I’d love to, boy, I’d love to! Been
dying to see into that old house since we moved here! Jimmy, where are you? Our
guests are waiting!”
    Jimmy De Paolo came running from the
back of the tiny frame cottage. He was a lot younger than Frank, probably
thirty or so, kind of short with a dark buzz cut and big, inquisitive blue
eyes.
    “Hello, Fawn! And Taury, is it? Welcome! I’ve got the deck all fancied up so we can eat outside and
watch the sunset. The chicken is at the perfect temperature but if you’d like a
cocktail first I can store it in the warming drawer.”
    “Of course they want a cocktail,
Jimmy!” Frank walked over to an old bookcase that had been refitted as a bar.
“What’ll you have?”
    “Oh, maybe a bit of wine, Frank …
nothing serious for me.”
    “Okay, darling. Mr. Trahern?”
    “Well, first, I wish you’d call me Taury.”
    “Will do! What’s your poison, son?”
    “I’m not much of a drinker. Wine,
too, for me, I guess.”
    “Coming up!”
    Frank handed Fawn her drink then gave
one to Taury. She took a moment to examine him while he wasn’t looking. He was
fresh and clean, dressed in a neat pair of dark blue pants and a crisp light
blue shirt. And he smelled like heaven; some kind of subtle musky scent that
wasn’t overpowering like most guys wore.
    When he had rung her front doorbell
he’d made her feel like a teen on her very first date. The anticipation of
seeing his face again, even though he’d only been gone less than half an hour,
was painful. She cursed herself for feeling so wrapped up in him; telling her
starved self esteem that it was only some kind of pity that kept him attentive.
    Dinner brought the kind of
stimulating conversation and atmosphere she always expected from Frank and
Jimmy. But underneath it all that urgent, undeniable need lingered, winding
itself into a minor frenzy with Taury’s every glance. Fawn tried to ignore it,
but he was watching her eat, and sip her wine; even seemed to be staring at her
chest as it rose and fell, her heart quaking inside it.
    She couldn’t handle it. All she
wanted once her divorce had become final was to settle into Connie’s house and
finally start being herself. A free spirit, accountable to no one; her days and
nights would be her own for the first time in her life. She would not let this
boy change that, especially since she was certain that if he did want her, it
was by some cruel quirk of nature. Nothing good could come from it. He’d use
her, and move on, and she’d be left to pick up the pieces, again.
    It was hard enough trying to get past
losing Richard, and she didn’t love him, not really, not in the way a man
should make you love him. He was her guardian, her overseer, her warden. But
her heart was convinced that if Taury got hold of it, there was no letting go.
She’d be trapped by loving him, and she couldn’t face that.
    A strange, unsettling quiver spread
over her from head to toe. Her heart began to boom in her ears. She knew what
was happening – a panic attack. She’d had them before, but this one was
earth-shaking. She had to get out of there, fast!
    Fawn stood; the three men looked at
her, puzzling.
    “What’s wrong, angel?” Frank questioned
as he gazed at her pallid face.
    “I’m feeling a bit ill. I think I
should go.”
    “Well, certainly. Do I need to call a
doctor?”
    “No, no, Frank. I’ll be fine, as soon
as I get home.”
    “I’ll take you,” Taury said,