He put his arms around her back and pulled her head to her chest. He rubbed her back, but she couldn’t stop the tears.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I had no idea.”
She stopped sobbing, realizing it wasn’t in her nature to cry, because her father would be furious.
She wiped her cheeks and backed away from him. “Don’t worry about it. Now, do you want to hit the ball?”
“Sure. That’s what I do when I’m stressed out.” He wiped her cheeks with his fingertips, capturing her gaze and her heart with his eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, sir,” she said with a grin, hoping she could cover her feelings. “Now, where’s your racquet? You can use the one I played with, because it must be defective or I would’ve won.”
He chuckled and kissed her cheek. “I love you so much,” he whispered. “You have no idea. You’re good for my soul.”
She could only offer him a grin. She knew her time in New York was limited and she couldn’t let herself fall victim to his advances. But being in love with him was something that could never be. Her home was in West Virginia and she didn’t belong in New York.
They went outside and hit the ball back and forth, talking the whole time.
“So, if you’d had a normal childhood, what would you have done differently?” he asked.
“I would’ve gone to college.”
“You didn’t?” He seemed surprised, but she didn’t know why.
“I wasn’t allowed to,” she said. “I really wanted to, but my father needed me.”
“Did your brother go?”
She nodded. “He went for two years, but dropped out. Well, it was more like he flunked out. He couldn’t keep it together long enough to go to classes. He was drunk most of the time.”
“What was his major?” John asked as he hit the ball to her.
“Business. He wanted to open a pet store and needed to know how to do it.”
“A pet store? Does he like animals?”
“No. He just wanted the money.”
He nodded in understanding. “Oh, one of those. Is he married?”
“Yes, he is. His wife went to school with me, but wasn’t my friend.”
“What are their names?” he asked, hitting the ball back to her.
“My brother is Jimmy and his wife is Belinda. They’re kind of disgusting people, don’t clean their house and don’t bathe. My brother is a garbage collector.”
“What does Belinda do?” he asked.
She didn’t want to tell him she worked with the witch. “Oh, this and that. So, you went to school to become a lawyer?”
He stopped the ball, even though he could’ve hit it. “You’re really good at changing the subject.”
“I didn’t notice.”
He chuckled. “Didn’t notice. Yeah, right. Are you ready for me to serve?”
“Sure. Hit me with your best shot.”
He smiled, threw the ball into the air, and hit it to the right of Melody. She swung, hit the ball with all her might and it sailed back, high over the net. He reached up and hit it back while she moved up a bit. She smashed the ball back to him, and he returned it with little effort. As she punched the ball with her racquet, she moved up to the net. He smiled and hit the ball with a backhand, but she stopped it at the net, tapping it ever so slightly so it would bounce right over the net. He raced for it, but it bounced twice.
“Not fair,” he said. “Girls are so underhanded in this game.”
“You’re a sore loser. What’s the score?”
He took a few steps, moving just inches away from her. “Oh, I think love-fifteen.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and outlined her lips with his finger. “The problem is, which one of us is love?”
“I think that would be you.”
He inched forward. “Ah, but you were at love before you cheated.”
“Cheated? I think not.”
“I let you win that, you know.”
“I know you did. If you were playing for real, you’d have hit it behind me. You had more than one opportunity for that, and I’d have taken it…if I were you.”
He ran his hand through her hair. “I had the perfect opening, too. You wouldn’t have even seen it.”
She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss, then looked back up at his eyes. He looked like he was in love, so she kissed him again. “Yep…you’re at love,” she said.
“No doubt about it.” He pulled her to him and she felt such desire for him in his kiss, she desperately wanted to take him to bed. The thought scared her, yet exhilarated her at the same time while she tingled everywhere. Butterflies filled her stomach, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had a sudden thought of wishing it were the two of them getting married the next night instead of Elise and Chuck.
What was she thinking? She backed off from him, more terrified than ever before. She couldn’t marry this man. He was the elite, with a job that required him to travel everywhere, probably every month of the year. She belonged at home and her job was to take care of her father.
“You look terrified,” he said, his eyes wide. “Did I scare you?”
“No, not you.” She backed off and began to pace, sighing frequently. “I have to go back home on Sunday. I have to work on Monday morning.” She stopped suddenly and faced him. “Right?”
“No, you don’t. You can call and quit your job today. I’ll have everything of yours brought up here.”
“I don’t really own anything but my car and my clothes.” She stopped talking. “What am I sayin’? I belong back at home. People depend on me. I can’t just take off and run away.”
“You mean like I almost did?”
It hit her hard. She felt her mouth fall, but couldn’t stop it. “Exactly like you almost did. You’re encouragin’ me to run away, just like you wanted to. Are you doin’ that because…why are you doin’ that?”
He smiled. “You’re fun to watch. You have your obligations, but I’m finally wearing you down.”
“So you’re laughin’ at me?” she asked.
“No. I was in the same boat about two days ago. I battled myself, knowing my obligations to the game, but also wanting to get out of those obligations and start all over again with new problems and obligations. I didn’t know where I was headed, but it had to be better than here. The funny thing is, this would be better for you, staying here, but it wasn’t for me. I guess it’s all how you perceive happiness and what’s better.”
“You got that right,” she murmured. “So, the score was fifteen-love, and in case you didn’t remember, love means nothin’. So you’re at nothin’—zero, zilch, nada.”
“Oh, rub it in,” he said. “Just remember I didn’t cheat.”
She chuckled at him. “And neither did I. Now, it’s your serve, right?”
He took a ball from his pocket and walked to the back line, dribbling it with his racquet as he went. “What would happen to your father if you just picked up and left?”
“He’d be homeless. He doesn’t make enough disability welfare to keep the house goin’.”
John stared at her, stopping the ball bouncing off his racquet. “Is he disabled?”
“Not really. He’s making the state think he has a bad back so he can stay at home. Why do you care?”
“Because I care about you.” He threw the ball up and served to her, but it went right past her.
Her face was confused, ignoring everything else but the conversation. “Why do ya care about me?”
“The score’s tied now. Fifteen all.”
“I don’t care. Answer my question. Why do ya care? Is it my looks? Looks fade, so I hope not.”
“No, it’s the way you think. It’s your sense of right and wrong and the way you can take care of any situation. You’d never be helpless. Even when you were being stalked by reporters, you didn’t fall apart.”
“No, but I didn’t do anything, which is worse.”
“You don’t kn
ow how to handle them. They’re very pushy, so you have to be pushy right back.”
“I was taught not to do that to strangers,” she answered.
“I know. I’m going to teach you how to do that. It’s the way things work in New York.”
New York wasn’t her home, and she had to remind him again. “But I’m leaving New York on Sunday morning.”
“We’ll see.” He grabbed another tennis ball and served it to her. She hit it, but her mind was racing. What was he thinking and why did he feel it was necessary to keep her around?
After she’d missed a few more easy hits, he stopped playing. “You’re not here, are you?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I can’t figure you out. You say all these things because I’m a novelty to you and a way for you to get out of your current situation, even if it’s just mentally. But once that novelty wears off, what are you gonna think of me then? Will I just be this southern hick in your mind?”
“Never.” He shook his head and smiled. “You’re overanalyzing this. First, I’m a simple creature. I play tennis, eat, and sleep. That’s about it. Anything else is a treat for me. You’re a treat for me.”
“But you’ll get bored, right?”
“Never. I see things in you I wish I could keep with me forever. You love life and never let it get you down, even with a life full of lemons. Trust me, Melody, I’d never get bored with you. There’s so much I want to show you that only a small percentage of people in the world get to see.”
“What’s it like, the rest of the world?”
“I have no idea. I go into a city, go to the hotel, play a few games, then leave. I don’t have time to sightsee, but I want to do it with you. I’ve never had that desire before, but you’ve changed all that for me. I want to slow down my schedule and only play the games that really matter, not every game that comes along.”
“So you’re burned out?”
He snorted in laughter. “More than burned out. I’m down to ashes, but you’ve given me hope and now I’m going to be like a phoenix.”
“Beautiful imagery.” She glanced over at him as they walked to the chairs on the sidelines and sat down. “Do you have a logo?”
“A what?” He sat beside her.
“A logo. I’d think athletes would have them, so everyone would recognize them. For example, expensive shoes have them, car companies have them, why not athletes?”
“I never heard of that, but I’m game. What would my logo be?”
“I have to think about it, but I’m sure it would be great. You’re more than what people think about you.”
He checked his watch. “Want some dessert?”
“Not really. I’m tired for some reason.”
“Considering you had a huge trip yesterday and got up early this morning, I’m not surprised.”
“Where am I sleepin’? I can go to another hotel.”
“No way. I have to protect you. I have guest bedrooms. I don’t want to put you in the guesthouse because it’s too far away from me. It just takes one reporter looking in a window.” He turned toward her. “I’d rather you sleep with me.”
She backed away slightly, just staring at him. “Sleep—with you? I think not! I know my daddy wouldn’t approve of that.”
“Oh, just sleep. I’m tired too. But I’d worry about you in a different room.”
“I think I’ll take my chances in a different room. Just being here is one thing, but sleeping in a bed with you?” She shook her head to get her point across. “No, I couldn’t face myself in the mornin’.”
“I understand.” He helped her to her feet and walked inside with her.
The chef ran out to the living room. “You’re in so early. Are you ready for dessert?”
“Oh, none tonight,” John said.
“But I made you a chocolate cake with chocolate icing.”
“My favorite,” John said. “Maybe just a little bit.” He glanced at Melody. “Would you like some?”
“No, I’m fine.” She bit her lip, still worried about the sleeping situation, then looked around the living room. “Can I just sleep on the couch?”
He chuckled. “No, you get to sleep in a bed upstairs.” He pointed toward the staircase. “Go up those stairs, turn left, and the first door on the left is yours. There’s a bathroom inside the room, and your suitcase is in there, too.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be up in a minute.” He kissed her cheek and she trudged up the stairs. She wasn’t used to so much physical activity in one day, and running around the tennis court was a lot of work.
At the top of the staircase, she turned left and walked into the first room. It was gorgeous, decorated in dark green and tan, containing a four-poster bed with white pillows on top. At least they’d used some color other than brown.
She pulled her suitcase up to the bed, and for some reason, the stillness and quiet of the home scared her. She was used to someone else always being close by, yelling or making some type of noise.
What was she doing here again? She had to keep reminding herself of her situation, as weird as it was, knowing she was going back home in two days. In one way, she felt like her glass slipper had finally fit and her prince had found her, but on the other hand, she felt like this was a dream, and in time—on Sunday, actually—she’d wake up and have to go back to being a slave. She hated the thought.
She went into the bathroom and got dressed for bed. Staring into the mirror, she tried to see what John saw in her. It didn’t make sense. She was just a normal girl with red hair and green eyes. Nothing out of the ordinary. She looked a lot like Elise, but her hair was slightly darker, before Elise had dyed hers to a dark reddish-brown.
She brushed her teeth and slipped into the big bed. Before she could turn out the light, John walked into the room, knocking on the open door. “Tired?”
“Sure. How was the cake?”
“Really good. Want some?”
She yawned. “No. What do you have to do tomorrow?”
“I have to practice in the morning, then we have a date in East Hampton.”
A date? It kind of surprised her. “We do?”
He lay down beside her. “My mother wants to meet you.”
She sat up. “Your mother? Why?”
“It seems Dad had a little chat with her, and she wants to meet with you at a country club.”
“You’re kiddin’ me. I can’t go meet your mother. I don’t have the clothes for somethin’ like that.”
He pulled her back to the bed. “Would you rather she come here to meet you?”
“Why does she have to meet me?”
He stroked her hair and touched his chocolate-tasting lips to hers. “She wants to see what all the fuss on the news is about. According to her, if she’s going to be asked questions, she wants to know the person she’s being asked about.”
“She’s bein’ asked questions about me? What for?”
“She will be. I just talked to them. Dad said some reporters came to the door tonight and wanted to know when I was getting married.”
She sat up and stared at him. “Married? Is there somethin’ in the water up here or somethin’? You’re all insane! It takes time to get to the marriage stage. Don’t y’all know that up here in the north?”
He chuckled, pulling her back to the bed. “Why are you fighting this?”
“Fightin’ what?”
“The fact that I love you. I would even venture a guess that you love me too, but are denying it deep down. Why?”
“I’m not livin’ in a fantasy world like you are. I have to go back to the real world on Sunday mornin’, and none of this is real. So, you see, I can’t love you or marry you. And as for meeting your mother, that’s out of the question.”
He seemed to be ignoring her last statement, while he smiled, leaned up and kissed her forehead. “I know you say you can’t love me, but if you search deep down, isn’t it
true that you already love me?”
She bit her lips. She couldn’t tell him anything.
“I thought so.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Get some great sleep tonight. I promise you’ll be safe. If you need anything, I’m in the room at the end of the hall on the right.”
“Thank you for everything,” she said, feeling almost sad at the thought of him leaving her. “If I were allowed to love someone, it would be someone just like you.”
“Allowed. Very odd.” He offered her a half-smile. “But thank you. That’s all I can ask for.” He got off the bed, blew her a kiss and closed the door on the way out.
She turned out the light and lay in bed just thinking about everything. It was almost funny. Before she even got on the train, she thought the best part of the trip would be to see New York, but she’d barely seen any of it. She wanted to see the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Broadway, but instead, she saw the inside of hotel rooms and John’s house. She wondered if it was the same for him when he went to travel to different tournaments and matches. No wonder he felt alone and like nothing mattered any more.
~~~~~
Chapter 5
Something wasn’t right. She was in bed, but felt a presence next to her. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck. She reached over as fast as she could and turned on the light.
There, lying next to her, was John, fast asleep.
“What are you doin’ in here?” she asked as she sat up and shook him.
He opened one eye and stared at her. “Don’t you remember?”
She pulled the covers up to her neck. “Remember what? That you came into the room and fell asleep beside me?”
“No. Probably about an hour ago, you were screaming in your sleep. I came in here and you woke up, telling me your father was being himself again. I told you it was a dream and you went back to sleep.”
“I did no such thing!” she exclaimed. “You’re makin’ that up!”
“Dennis heard it, too, and ran in here with me. Want me to go wake him up at the other end of the hall to ask him?”
“Dennis stays here?”
“I asked him to, tonight. I’m very worried about you.”
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