Page 7 of Friends with Benefits (Club Risqué)

She also became close to both of his parents, visiting them even without Christian being there, and providing as much support as she could to both Krista and Ian.

She gave them what little respite she could, by insisting on taking Christian's mother out of the house at least once a week, while the cancer nurse was with Ian. Even if it was just for a coffee or a walk by the river—just to try to give the poor woman something else to concentrate on than her dying husband, whose side she rarely left.

It was never said, but Taryn got the distinct impression that, despite the closeness of their undoubtedly devoted relationship, Ian needed a break from the intensity of Krista's distress just as much as she did.

"You're a good girl, Taryn," Ian would say as he patted her hand. "You'll make Christian a fine wife one day."

She'd nearly choked, the first time she heard it, hurrying to set the record straight. "Oh, my goodness, no! There is absolutely nothing at all like that going on between Christian and me. I just act as an escort for him with the business functions, to help him out, since he's far too busy for anything else."

She knew it had come out a little breathlessly, and her face burned bright red even while her heart soared at the knowledge that Christian's parents would clearly welcome her into the family. Krista had sat and nodded her head in agreement, a contented smile on her face, and Ian had winked.

"Well, that'll come, sweetheart. My son is a shrewd fellow. He's far too sensible to let a good thing go when he sees it."

In retrospect, maybe Taryn had let his parents' absolute belief lull her into a false sense of security.

A few months later,Ian had finally lost his fight and Taryn grieved just as hard as Christian and his mother. Ian had become like a surrogate father to her while she'd been away from home, despite the severity of his illness, and Taryn felt the loss just as fiercely as if he really had been family.

And with his passing, Krista all but broke down completely. She became clingy and over reliant on Christian, and Taryn knew that he was feeling overwhelmed by it all, along with his own grief.

Taryn did what she could to be there for them both, to the extent that it even began to interfere with her college work. But then she, too, was dealing with her own grief and, at the end of the day, some things were more important than others.

The people she loved were one of them.

If she had to re-sit a year just to help them get through this terrible time in their lives, then she would gladly make that sacrifice.

With everythingthat had been going on, Taryn almost forgot her birthday was coming up. It was only when she received a parcel from her family that it even came to mind.

It was her nineteenth birthday and since she was so far away from home, she wouldn't get to spend it with her family because she'd already missed too many classes and was struggling to catch up.

It was the very first birthday she’d spent away from home, and with Ian's death, the knowledge hit her unusually hard.

She rarely held any kind of pity party for herself, since she had a habit of putting everyone else first, so the feelings had snuck up and taken her unawares.

Realising, Christian promised to take her out to dinner and, for once, Krista had wholeheartedly agreed and loosened her normally unyielding grip on his free time.

This was different from the times they usually spent together. Normally, they only attended functions that were a requisite part of the corporate image his family's company was trying to project, and when she spent time with his family, it was usually because Christian wasn't available himself.

This was very much more personal. Today, she was spending time with him as a friend, but also as a woman, and she couldn't work out what the heck she was supposed to wear to compete with the wardrobe that had been purchased on her behalf, a closet full of beautiful gowns.

She could have chosen one of those, of course. But today, Taryn desperately wanted to accompany him as herself and not Tara, her alter ego, the name by which Christian introduced her at the functions they attended together.

She wasn't sure if that made any kind of sense, but in her head, it felt like an important distinction.

In the end, she settled for a cream, lace dress with long sleeves and a full skirt that hit just above her knee. She wore it with ballet flats, since they were so much more comfortable than heels, and decided that if she wasn't able to wow Christian when she was glammed up to the nines with the fancy hair dos and dazzling gowns, then she might as well settle for being comfortable instead, on this occasion.

And, for a change, this evening was all about her. It was almost kind of startling to be doing something just for herself.

ChapterSix

“Damn, Tara, you look absolutely adorable," Christian complimented when he arrived to pick her up.

Taryn frowned; she wasn't sure adorable was what she’d been aiming for; that sounded far too childlike.

"I'm Taryn when we're not at a function," she reminded him, wondering if she shouldn't have glammed up after all. She was trying to get him to realise how much she'd grown up, not flirt with regression. Oh well, too late now!

"Sorry, I forget. I probably call you Tara more than anything else," Christian apologised as he pulled away from the curb in his sleek, silver sports car.

Taryn pursed her lips. The nickname—if that's what it was—had come about because Christian had decided that the mutilated version of her name was far more elegant, sophisticated, and in keeping with the events that they frequented. At the time, Taryn had been happy to go along with anything he said.

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