Read Tiger Lily: Part Three for Free Online Page B

inquisitively, as I realized too late that I had stopped walking.
    “I love this CD. Thank you again for it.” I recovered.
    “It’s one of my favorites, too,” he said. I took steps and he continued his path back to the kitchen, where the table was already set and included our food, protected under metal place covers. I took the seat I’d taken earlier and removed the lid to find pasta salad with some sort of cream sauce and artichokes. Jonas poured me a glass of wine and himself a scotch before joining me at the table.
    I ate a quick forkful of pasta. Delicious. We ate in silence, until I asked, “Have you seen my clothes? I didn’t have much at the hotel and I wonder if David could drive me over…”
    “They should be delivered tomorrow, and then Lin will put them away for you. You have a counseling session on Wednesday. Samuel has arranged for an appointment at Barney’s on Thursday. While you were napping, it became clear I will have to go to Miami. So, we’ll be flying to Miami for the day on Friday. I was to do a game on Saturday with Paul, but that depends on the weather. You can go to that, too. On Sunday…”
    “Slow down.” I said. We smiled at each other. “If I get new clothes now, I probably won’t fit in them in a couple of weeks.”
    “Then you’ll get more. But all that depends on how you’re feeling,” he said.
    I sipped my wine and glanced over at him. “So, where is this psychiatric session on Wednesday?” I asked.
    “Upper West Side. You nervous?” he asked, then took another bite from his plate.
    “Yes,” I admitted.
    “You can call me after the session, and I’ll be here over lunch. I could get Dani to go with you,” he offered.
    I shook my head. “I’ll be fine. I think I’m more worried about talking about everything.”
    “Isla is the best and comes highly recommended,” he said.
    “Have you ever been to a psychiatrist?” I asked.
    He didn’t answer immediately, and I thought he wasn’t going to. But then he said, “Well, I was seeing Melissa at the end of our marriage. But that stopped once the situation changed.”
    I pursed my mouth. “She’s not supposed to date her clients. That’s completely unethical.”
    “Well, I wasn’t her client for long. She was really more a friendly ear.” He sipped his scotch.
    “Yes, and then you became more than friends.” I spit out the words.
    “I was having problems adjusting to Alan with Dani and Paul. My brother Vincent was causing me grief when I decided to base myself in Texas. Melissa provided perspective, though now I know she wanted more from our arrangement.” Seeing my face, he redirected. “And that’s enough on her, Lily. I’m sorry about what occurred between you two, but don’t be jealous.”
    I furrowed my brow. “Why not? You were jealous of Ian. I can be jealous of Melissa.” I ate another bite of pasta.
    “Yes, I was…am,” he admitted.
    I sighed. “You already know I don’t want Ian, but you don’t want me around him. I want the same for Melissa. I trust you, but…I don’t trust her. And I would just feel better if you stayed away from her, like you want me to do with Ian.”
    “They are both friends that I know well. These situations are completely different. Melissa is going through a difficult time. I can’t just disappear,” he sighed in exasperation.
    My face fell. “They’re different because Ian doesn’t love me, but Melissa loves you.” He didn’t respond, so I continued. “So, you plan to see her again?”
    Jonas put his fork down. His eyes flashed at me. “Come over here, Lily.”
    I tilted my head down and stared at my plate. “I don’t want to fight about your friends, but you still don’t accept what we both witnessed today. She’ll say and do whatever it takes to have you.”
    “Come over here, Lily,” he repeated, this time enunciating every word.
    I glared at him, though a thrill went through me. He appeared calm, but his eyes were stormy. He had moved