Page 5 of Tangled in Temptation

“An accessory?”

“When I was younger, she always made me wear designer dresses. I had a huge closet of designer stuff that I hated. She always trotted me out at the holidays or whatever. I’m an accessory. At least I used to be. But now that I’m too old to be cute, I’m a pain in her butt.”

“That’s a tough place to be in,” I admitted.

In that moment, I felt a surge of compassion for this teenager who was struggling with her identity and independence. “You’re not an accessory, Paisley. You’re a person with your own thoughts, feelings, and ambitions.”

“I know that. But sometimes it’s just hard. I don’t want to go to that boarding school. They don’t care that I like painting. They are all about manners and studying.”

I took a deep breath. I absolutely felt bad for her. I hated that she was being used as a pawn. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Maybe you can write a list of reasons why you shouldn’t go. You’re fifteen, and it’s such an awkward time. You’re not an adult, but you’re almost there. You know what you want to do, and your mom knows what she wants you to do. When I was your age, my dad was adamant I didn’t go into woodworking. He wanted me to go to college and have some kind of nine to five banker job.”

“Really?”

I smiled. “Yes. I hate to say it, but you are in one of the toughest stages of your life. All I can tell you is it does get better. All of this stuff you’re dealing with sucks. I get it, but I think if you can keep your eyes on the prize, you’ll get through.”

“I don’t know if I can get through,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m going to wither away.”

“I know.” I nodded.

She started to ramble on about every one of Regina’s transgressions. A lot of it was the typical teenager stuff. Everyone went through it, whether you were rich or poor with a single parent or two parents.

I listened half-heartedly. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel bad for her, because I did. It was just I resented her for pulling me back into her family. If I could have a relationship with Paisley, I would, but I knew it was impossible given the current situation. And of course, Regina. Regina would never allow her daughter to have any kind of friendship with the woman she thought she obeyed all of her orders.

I could only imagine how she treated her daughter if she treated perfect strangers the way she did. I had only spent three minutes with the woman, and I couldn’t handle her. Paisley was a rebellious child as it was. It wasn’t a big surprise she was clashing with her mother.

Chapter Three

Timothy

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IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT and the rain just kept coming down. I pulled into Catherine’s driveway. The sight of her new house stirred a complex mix of emotions within me. Anger, disappointment, and an unspoken longing for the way things used to be. Glancing at her old truck in the driveway, I cursed under my breath. I wanted her truck in my driveway.

I climbed out of my car and rushed to the door with the rain pouring down on me. I rang the bell, brushing the rain off my hair as I waited for her to answer. I hoped Paisley was still there. It had taken longer than I expected to get back to Sleepy Hollow. If Catherine had taken Regina’s daughter home, I could only imagine the fireworks that had erupted. I wasn’t sure I would have a house to go home to.

Catherine answered the door, barely meeting my eyes. She stepped out of the way to allow me inside. In the dim light, I noticed Paisley fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. Catherine wordlessly handed me Paisley’s clothes, her gaze piercing through me.

“I’ll load up her bike in my truck and bring it over tomorrow,” she said, her tone curt and businesslike. “She can keep the pajamas.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “Thanks.”

The tension hung in the air. This might be my only chance to talk to her since she wasn’t taking my calls. I felt I was losing my chance. “Can we talk for a moment?” I asked.

Catherine hesitated, her eyes reflecting a pain I hadn’t seen before. “I spoke to my dad,” she said with no emotion in her voice. “He’s taking over any new projects at Gloriana Manor. I won’t be involved anymore.”

“This isn’t about the house,” I said.

A pang of guilt stabbed at me looking into her eyes. I could feel her hurt, her disappointment, and I knew that the damage was deeper than anything an apology could fix.

“I don’t care about anything else,” she said.

“I would just like a minute to explain.”

“I don’t need you to explain anything,” she said irritably. “My work with you is done. We’re done.”

It was brutal. I knew I had to get out the words before she pushed me out of the house and there was a good chance I would never see her again.

“Regina came to the States without me knowing she was going to,” I said. “I called her to talk about Paisley.”