Fire Goddess

by Crystal Inman

  Kelly stood and smiled. “He’s beautiful.” She motioned around. “I thought you moved away.”

  “I did.” Trish cocked her head to the side. “But there was something calling me back.” She laughed. “Or someone.”

  Kelly’s eyes grew large. She noted the diamond ring on Trish’s hand.

  Trish nodded. “I married Bart Bly two years ago.”

  “Congratulations!” Kelly hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks.” Trish looked from Kelly to Sloan. “And what brings you back?”

  “Work.” Kelly rolled her eyes.

  Trish looked at Sloan. “What kind of work would that be?”

  “Set design.” Kelly shook her head with a grin. “You are bad.”

  “Maybe,” she admitted. “Listen. I’ve got to run. But it was good to see you. Heath has a doctor’s appointment. Your mom has my address. Drop me a line anytime.” Trish waved as she strolled back down the sidewalk.

  “She’s an actress?” Sloan watched as the woman walked down the street.

  Kelly snickered. “She’s married, bud. And yes. Trish is an actress. But I guess she decided to go the ‘Mommy route.’”

  “Mommy route?” Sloan echoed.

  “Sure.” Kelly shrugged. “You know. Marriage. Babies. All that.” She turned to walk away when Sloan’s hand stilled her. He looked deeply into her eyes. “Women can have it all, Kelly. A career. Marriage. Babies.”

  She shook her head. “Maybe.” Kelly turned back around, and Sloan followed her.

  Her nonchalance irritated him for some reason. Why had she marked herself off the “Mommy route” as she had put it? He puzzled over it while they were walking.

  Kelly ducked into a boutique and waited for Sloan to follow her in. She immediately walked over to the portraits and began thumbing through them. A sign that said Local Artists was taped on the front.

  A petite, older woman with gray hair stepped out of the back. She walked over to Kelly and offered her assistance. Sloan watched as Kelly and the woman had a discussion about the portraits and prices.

  Sloan liked art. But he didn’t find it as stimulating as Kelly obviously did. He watched the discussion grow more animated. And then someone else walked in.

  As soon as Kelly turned toward the door, Sloan saw her face go completely blank and then regroup as Felicia. It was disturbing. The mouth and eyes hardened perceptibly. Her stature went from relaxed to stiff in a heartbeat.

  The man was perhaps six foot tall with thin, brown hair and a slightly stocky build. And his dark brown eyes were cold. They fixed on Kelly, and an even colder smile spread across his face.

  “Kelly Marshall. What a surprise.”

  “Jack Burke.” She inclined her head.

  The man’s eyes flitted to Sloan and took his measure. They became even harder, if possible. The man jerked his head toward Sloan. “Friend of yours?”

  “Yes.”

  The shopkeeper looked from one to the other and stepped back. “I’ll be in the back if you need any help.” She scurried away.

  Jack stepped closer to Kelly as if to touch her, but her voice stopped him. “Don’t.”

  “Not even a hug for an old friend?” His voice was low and insinuating. He began to move closer, when Sloan stepped between them.

  “Apparently not.”

  Jack sneered. “That’s sweet.” His stare never left Kelly. “This your new lapdog?”

  “Go away, Jack.” Her voice was forceful and brooked no argument.

  “Sandy never told me you were in town.”

  Kelly clenched her jaw.

  “Wonder why that is?”

  She glanced down at his left hand. “You two are married?”

  “Yes.” The word was short and bitter.

  And then Kelly could see what he wasn’t saying. And why he was so resentful.

  “All those lies come back to bite you on the ass, Jack?”

  His next words came out as a snarl. “No lies, Kelly. I had you on your back. Remember that?”

  Sloan moved right up into the man’s face. “You leave. Or I’ll make sure you find your way out. Understand?”

  “You might want to rethink giving this bitch anything. She’ll destroy you.” Jack glared once more at Kelly and then left.

  Sloan turned around and watched as Kelly fixed her composure. But he could see she was struggling to do it.

  “Is there something in the water here?”

  “Pardon me?” Her blank eyes turned toward him.

  He snapped his fingers in front of her face. “I would like to talk to Kelly. Quit shutting me out.”

  She turned her back to him. “I need to purchase a few portraits. I’ll be right back.”

  Sloan watched her walk stiffly into the back. The whole encounter left a bad taste in his mouth. That man had been with Kelly? He noticed she didn’t deny it, and that didn’t sit well with him. Then he mentally shook himself. None of my business. But that really didn’t sit well with him.

  * * * *

  They finished in town and drove back to the farm. It was almost four when they pulled into the driveway. Kelly had not spoken a word to Sloan besides to tell him where they were going. She absolutely refused to make conversation at all.

  Sloan’s frustration level was high as he stepped out of the truck. Rufus came up to be petted, but Kelly brushed him aside and walked inside. Sloan hurried to catch up with her, but was waylaid in the hallway by George.

  “Let her go, son.” His gruff voice was sad.

  “Why?” Sloan watched her disappear.

  “Because she’s dealing with it.” George shook his head. “I don’t know what happened in town, and I don’t want to. But Kelly is dealing with it.” He patted Sloan on the back. “Come into the kitchen. Christine is baking pies.”

  Sloan gave one last glance toward the stairs and then followed George into the kitchen.

  One glance at Sloan’s face and Christine immediately sat him down and gave him a job to do. She looked at her husband, but he simply shook his head.

  Half an hour later, Kelly came back downstairs and joined them. She refused to make eye contact with Sloan.

  “Do you need any help, Mama?”

  “No, honey. Why don’t you sit down and tell us about the paintings you bought?”

  Kelly smiled for the first time since coming home. “I found a beautiful garden scene with butterflies. A man in the next county painted it. It will look great in my hallway. And a watercolor from a woman in town. That one is going in my bedroom.” She took a sip of soda.

  “And I bought several bottles of homemade bath salts to take back. My assistant will absolutely love them.”

  “You have an assistant?” Christine’s voice was teasing.

  Kelly chuckled. “Mama. She’s just a coordinator of sorts. And she’s great. Her name is Wilda. Her hair is red like mine. And we’re getting along well.”

  “Good.”

  They talked for another twenty minutes or so while Christine prepared dinner. And then Sloan brought up something that was on his mind.

  “I still need a few more sketches. Are you free tomorrow?”

  Kelly let herself look at him. “That’s fine.” She nodded briefly.

  Sloan opened his mouth again, but Christine tapped him on the shoulder. “If you’re hoping to have a pie with dinner, you best get over here and help.”

  He pushed his chair back and walked over to Christine. He rubbed his hands together. “What do you need?”

  * * * *

  They ate pork chops, beans, and cornbread. Sloan helped make two apple pies, and everybody had a slice. When dinner was done, Kelly stood and smiled wearily.

  “I’m going to bed. Good night.”

  She left the room before anybody could say anything.

  George sighed. “Rough day?”

  Sloan nodded. “Yes. We ran into an insulting individual in town.”

  “And you took care of it?” George’s blue
stare bored into Sloan’s eyes.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good.” George stood also and kissed Christine. “Good night, love. I’m going to bed, too.”

  Christine watched her husband leave and sighed.

  Sloan stood up and motioned for Christine to sit down. “I’ll do the dishes.” He began rolling up his sleeves. Christine put her hand on his arm.

  “Tell me.”

  He paused for a second and then told her of the meeting in town.

  Christine’s voice was hard. “Jack Burke is a liar. Kelly wouldn’t stoop to spit on him.”

  Sloan shook his head. “Kelly gave him hell.” But she didn’t deny anything. The thought was giving him a headache. He began washing dishes.

  “Kelly has always had big dreams.” Christine’s voice was soft with remembrance. “She walked around here with stars in her eyes. A lot of her classmates thought she was strange. And more thought she was snobbish.” Christine shook her head.

  “Which is almost funny considering we were barely making it here on the farm. But she’s always been a beautiful girl. And that made a lot of the other girls jealous. No one at her school understood her. And that’s hard for any teenager to deal with.”

  Christine’s words settled deeply into Sloan, and he tried to reconcile the in-control woman with the unsure teenager. Kelly could turn any attitude and demeanor on and off. It was disconcerting to say the least. Was there a real person in there somewhere? Or was she always on stage?

  Sloan wiped his hands off and turned to Christine. “I like your daughter, Mrs. Marshall.”

  “I know, hon. And that’s why I’m having this conversation. Get to know her before you accept everybody else’s opinions.” She stepped on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Good night.”

  He watched her leave the kitchen and followed slowly behind. He turned off the kitchen light and started for the stairs. When he reached the landing, he could see that Kelly’s light was off.

  Sloan opened his own door and stepped inside. The tension from the day was wearing on him. He undressed and slid under the covers. Propping his hands behind his head, he thought of Kelly in the next room.

  His attraction to her was growing by the day. But what if I am being played? How can I know what she’s really like? Doubts surfaced readily, and he sighed. The man in the shop and his insinuations burrowed deeply into Sloan’s mind.

  How well do I know Kelly? Really know her? Sloan reached back and felt the horseshoe shaped scar on the back of his shoulder. It was a big gamble to trust someone. And what if Kelly was just another shoe-thrower?

  Chapter 13

  Sloan woke Thursday with a pounding head and gritty eyes. His dreams had been filled with Kelly wrapped around several men. Her co-star had been first. And then the man in the shop. And then finally, the man who had been in his bed with his girlfriend of the time. He rubbed his eyes wearily and sat up in bed. He felt as if he hadn’t slept at all.

  Stumbling out of bed, he grabbed his sketchbook and put it on the nightstand. Sloan pulled on a black T-shirt and jeans. He washed his face and took a couple of ibuprofen. Maybe the pounding in his head would at least dull a little.

  He opened his door and met Kelly in the hallway. Sloan held up the sketchbook and smiled. “Last day, I promise.”

  “Okay.”

  Sloan looked closely at Kelly and could see that she hadn’t slept well, either. Her face was pale, and there were bags under her eyes. She had actually put a little bit of make-up on to try and hide it.

  They walked down into the kitchen and joined Christine and George for breakfast. When they finished eating, Kelly turned toward Sloan.

  “Do you ride?”

  The question took him off-guard. “A little. We are talking horses, right?”

  Kelly burst out laughing. “Yes. Horses.”

  “Sure.”

  She turned toward her dad. “Daddy. Can we take a couple out and ride?”

  “Anytime, Kel.” George nodded.

  “C’mon.” Kelly stood and motioned to Sloan. “Bring that sketchpad. We’re going to go for a ride.”

  “Am I dressed right?”

  She looked him up and down. Her mouth twitched slightly. “We have boots in the barn that should fit you. You’ll be fine.”

  He followed her out to the barn, watching the sway of her hips in her blue jeans. Sloan’s hands itched to touch her backside, and he stuffed his free one into his pocket and told himself to look somewhere else. But his gaze kept straying back.

  They reached the doors, and Kelly glanced back. Sloan looked up guiltily.

  “If you don’t want to ride, we don’t have to.”

  “Not at all.” He tried to smile, even though he was starting to sweat. “I’ll be fine.”

  “We’ll pick out a couple of gentle ones.”

  “Good.”

  Kelly saddled two mares and led them out. She handed one set of reins to Sloan and grinned. “Cowboy up.”

  She swung herself into the saddle, and he followed suit. Kelly clicked her tongue and started down a trail. Sloan followed for a couple of minutes and then trotted up to ride beside her.

  “Where are we going?”

  “There’s an outcropping of rocks.” Kelly pointed to the north. “I thought we would stop there for awhile.”

  They rode in silence for twenty minutes before Kelly pulled to the right and onto another trail. Five minutes later, they were there.

  Sloan’s jaw dropped. It looked like one of the portraits in Kelly’s home. Miles and miles of farmland and trees stretched out before them. The wildflowers were beginning to bloom, and he could smell their fragrance. Horses and cattle grazed on hay while others drank from several ponds that sprinkled the landslide.

  “Isn’t that…” Sloan started.

  “I had it commissioned. This is one of my favorite places on the property. I could sit here for hours.” She looked to him. And the vulnerability in her eyes called out to him. He felt as if he were drowning.

  Sloan cleared his throat and dismounted quickly. He watched Kelly do the same and walk over to the biggest rock. He clutched the sketchpad tightly in his hand as if it would save his life.

  “How many more do you need?” Kelly’s voice was soft.

  “Just a few,” he promised. Sloan sat down across from her on a smaller rock and opened up the sketchpad. He took a deep breath.

  “Kelly…” he began.

  “Don’t.” She shook her head back and forth, causing her red hair to brush against her face. “Just don’t.” Kelly sighed. “There’s people we can’t change. Good or bad. I believe that.”

  Sloan’s eyes narrowed. Was she referring to herself or that man in town? He opened his mouth again, but she held up her hand.

  “Just sketch, Sloan. Okay?” Her emerald eyes pleaded with him.

  He nodded slowly. “Fine.” Sinking down slowly onto the rock, he heard her sigh. “Tell me more about your castle.”

  Kelly turned her head and looked down into the valley where the animals grazed and the wildflowers bloomed. Her voice took on a dreamy quality as she brought back her childhood dreams and hopes for the future.

  Sloan watched her and felt his body tighten as the breeze played with her hair and caressed her face. He couldn’t stop himself as he put the pad down slowly and walked toward her.

  She glanced up in surprise, and Sloan bent down and took her mouth against his. Kelly’s soft sigh of surrender made his pulse jump. Her arms wound around his neck, and he pulled her closer so their bodies touched at every angle.

  He struggled for control as their tongues met and dueled, and Kelly’s hands clutched him tighter. The mere taste of her was enough to have all the alarms in his head going off, but he ignored them all. Sloan needed Kelly as much as the air he breathed.

  Kelly brought her hands up and wound them through Sloan’s dark hair. His hands moved down her body and brought her hips flush against his. When he picked her up from the rock and cradled h
er close, she thought she would die from the pleasure.

  Sloan’s hands plucked at the buttons on her shirt, and she moved back a bit to give him access. His fingers were sure and quickly pulled the shirt off her shoulders and dropped it to the ground. He moved back slightly and then brought his mouth down her body and to her breast.

  Her body jerked in response at the feel of Sloan’s mouth against her hard nipple. His lips closed over it through her bra, and she struggled to breathe. Desire spun through her, and she moaned his name.

  He reached behind her and undid the clasp of her bra. As soon as her breasts were free, his tongue traced her nipple and brought it deeply into his mouth.

  Kelly cried out and arched her back as every nerve in her body centered on what Sloan was doing to her. She pulled his head closer at the sensation.

  Sloan lowered her body to the grass, and Kelly jerked in surprise. The rough blades against her back startled her, and she pulled her neck to the side.

  “What are you doing?” Her eyes were wild as she looked down at the top of his head.

  He raised his head up slowly, desire blurring his vision. “What?” he mumbled.

  Kelly scrambled backwards and stood up awkwardly. She crossed her arms over her chest and bent to retrieve her shirt and bra. “I’m sorry.” Her breath hitched in her throat. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  Sloan watched in disbelief as she struggled to put her shirt back on. “I don’t understand.” His voice was tense.

  “This isn’t exactly a good place to be having sex.” Kelly refused to look him in the eye. “Look. I’m going for a ride. You know the way back.” She mounted her horse and took off at a trot.

  He threw himself back on the grass and cursed roundly. His body still wanted her so badly, he ached. Sloan stood up slowly and brushed his clothes off. He grabbed the sketchpad and shook his head. His irritation was overwhelming, and he mounted his horse. Maybe he would just concentrate on work. Sloan took off down the trail at a trot.

  * * * *

  When he arrived back at the house, it was deserted. Sloan walked slowly up the stairs to his room and tried to figure out what was wrong with Kelly. On one hand, she acted like she was attracted to him. And on the other, she seemed scared to death. Maybe the key word was “act.” Sloan scowled and opened his bedroom door.