Page 9 of Tangled in Temptation

I opened my mouth to try and explain that I knew I had hurt her, and that was the last thing I wanted. But there were truths she didn’t know, realities she hadn’t lived. She was young and didn’t understand that no amount of love could solve certain issues.

As I sat there in the quiet garden with a gentle breeze washing over me, a deep sadness washed over me. I felt guilty, regretful, and achingly alone. I’d thought I could love Timothy. I had certainly fallen for him, but I had also respected him enough to walk away when staying meant causing him pain and complicating his life further. He had enough drama in his life. I didn’t want to get sucked into it. I liked my life without complications.

I looked up at the house I had loved for as long as I could remember. What the hell had it done to me? To Timothy and Paisley? It was cursed.

“Are you cursed?” I asked the house. “Do you make people go insane?”

“If you get an answer, I think that means we’re all insane.”

I jumped and turned to see Bennet walk into the area from one of the paths. “Bennet!”

“Sorry,” he chuckled. “I hope I didn’t eavesdrop on your conversation with the house.”

I smiled and sat back down on the bench. “You’re right. If the house answered, I would have a lot more problems.”

He sat down on the bench beside me. “How are you holding up?” he asked.

I sighed and shook my head. “I’m fine. I just feel bad for Paisley.”

Bennet nodded. “Regina left for New York City this morning. She essentially told Paisley she has until the end of the week to pack up and be ready to leave.”

“Tell me more about Regina. What’s her story? I mean, why is she so dead set on making Paisley miserable? The girl is destroyed over this boarding school stuff. I don’t understand why she won’t just let her stay here with Timothy and go to school. It just seems like it could save everyone a lot of pain and suffering.”

Bennet shook his head. “Regina didn’t want to get divorced when Timothy caught her cheating. She’s held it over his head ever since. She’s spiteful, dangling Paisley, who Timothy loves like his own, as a means to get into his head. She thought she could make a fool out of him and sleep with anyone she chose while allowing Timothy to support her lavish lifestyle. She had a strong social presence in New York City. Her connections are considered valuable to some, but Timothy couldn’t overlook it. He’s not the type of man to be married for money. He wanted love and a real marriage. He had hoped to have children with her, but she didn’t want any of that. Timothy was a power move. It had nothing to do with love.”

I frowned. “Does she want to get back with Timothy?”

“I think that’s her end game.”

My heart dropped. “But she’s remarried.”

He scoffed. “That’s not going to get in her way. She knows what she wants, and she’ll do anything to get it.”

I sat and tried to digest the information. Bennet’s words hung in the air like a thick fog, clouding my thoughts and stirring up a storm of emotions. I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. I didn’t know why I felt like I was losing a man I never had. Maybe that’s why he had stayed away. He knew that he would be going back to Regina. I was exactly what I’d thought—a distraction.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Do you think Timothy will eventually give in and do what Regina wants?”

Bennet sighed, a look of concern on his face. “I’m worried he might. She’s got a way of getting under his skin. He’s a good man, but sometimes that’s his downfall. He loves Paisley, and he would do anything for her. Even if it means sacrificing himself.”

I glanced away, processing the gravity of the situation. I didn’t know what to say. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. He wasn’t mine to lose, but that’s what it felt like. I felt like I was losing the man or missing out on what could have been. We did have a connection. We both felt it.

Bennet’s eyes met mine. “Talk to him. He trusts you. Maybe you can help him see reason.”

I hesitated, my own reservations about approaching Timothy bubbling to the surface. “Bennet, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I had a feeling Bennet was unaware of what had happened between me and Timothy. He didn’t understand that I had some real feelings on the matter. I couldn’t be impartial. I had my own reasons to ask Timothy not to go back to his ex.

Bennet was persistent. “Sometimes talking can make a difference. Give it a try. Timothy has a lot of respect for you. I’ve never seen him really talk to anyone else besides me. I think you can help him see reason. I’m afraid he’s going to commit himself to a life of misery if you or I can’t talk him out of this. It will kill him to be with that woman. You met her. She sucks the life out of everyone around her.”

I looked at Bennet, noting his concern, and felt my resolve waver. “I’ll think about it,” I said. “It’s complicated, and honestly, I think I just might make the situation worse. I feel horrible for Paisley, and you’re right, I think Timothy is the kind of man that would step up and sacrifice himself for her happiness. But I worry that if I convince him not to do it and Paisley ends up rebelling or doing something drastic, Timothy will blame himself and ultimately me. I’m just not sure I’m the person for the job.”

“Please,” Bennet said. “Think about it. At least talk to him. If he’s made up his mind, there’s nothing you or I can do to change it, but he needs to talk to someone.”

“I’ll think about it,” I murmured. “I have to go. I’ll see you later.”

I practically ran out of the garden, feeling very much like Paisley in one of her many escapes.

Chapter Five