by Bekki Lynn
“Elan is thirty-one, past time to settle down.” He told her, “What’s done is done.”
He turned away from the stove and set the plates on the table, leaving her to wonder what he meant. Nevertheless, before she could ask, the phone rang and she froze.
“Who would be calling this early?” he asked.
Every fiber in her being told her it was Elan. Her body leaped and dampness filled the crotch of her sweats. Damn him! “You get it while I finish the toast.”
She buttered the toast when it popped and set it on the table, taking her seat. Nibbling on a slice of bacon, she tried to ignore her pounding heart and the way her body reacted at the thought, he may have called. Her body needed time to get over the effects of the eroticism it had been through—that’s all it was, a night of sex. Her grandfather returned and sat down. He didn’t say a word until he’d finished half his breakfast.
“Elan wanted to know if you made it home all right. Said he’d be in touch about the photos.”
Heat flared through her body and she knew her face was beet red, but she told him, “Randy kind of cornered me into modeling Elan’s peridot set for his August ad. I couldn’t very well say no.” His eyes narrowed as he looked down at his plate avoiding her. Oh, god! She’d been set up. He had asked Randy to help him set up the two of them.
“You don’t need to explain. Just passing on the message. Invite him to dinner.”
“No. Not happening.” She stirred the eggs around. The all-but-nude photos she’d allowed taken destroyed her appetite. How could she have done something so not her?
“You’re not eating.”
Cassandra got up and scraped the food into the garbage disposal, telling him, “I can’t believe you put me in this position. How is this different than what Rick did?”
“He wasn’t the one you were meant to be with.”
She rinsed the plate and set it in the dishwasher as she told him, “He showed up at the jewelry store and wanted to have dinner last night.”
“You hook up with the gigolo again and I’ll take you over my knee.”
She grinned at the childhood threat. “Ha ha, it didn’t work when I was a kid.”
“It put a smile on your face. Go on and get ready for work, I’ll clean up.”
Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she told him, “I know you mean well, and I love you for it, but promise you’ll let me handle the personal part of my life.”
He patted her arm. “I’m an old man. I want to see you settled.”
She gave an exasperated sigh and walked toward the door. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
* * * *
“It’s a torrential downpour out there,” Cassandra said when she walked into the pawnshop and set her umbrella on the mat in the corner.
“You’re early,” her grandfather commented.
“My accounting class was canceled. There’s a flash flood warning and I was thinking you might want to close up and go on home before it gets worse.”
“Elan called and asked how late the store is open.”
Her heartbeat accelerated. She trembled when desire scrambled through her. It’d been nineteen days since she left his bed and things hadn’t calmed down. At night, her dreams were consumed with the replay of what they’d done. During the day, she craved and suffered through the fiery need. She couldn’t stop it. Her body had a mind of its own.
It all was different from the visions where she’d wake spent and used. She swallowed the thickness Elan caused whenever he crossed her mind. “Grandpa, we discussed this thing you concocted with his grandfather. Don’t push us together,” she said as she unbuttoned her coat.
“I didn’t have anything to do with it. He asked and I answered.”
She shook her coat over the entry mat before walking behind the counter and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I forgot to take meat from the freezer, so I’ll stop by the store on my way home,” she said as she pulled receipts from the cigar box near the register.
“Fine, why don’t we invite Elan to dinner?”
“Grandpa.” She shook her head. “Go on home. I’m sure he’s not going to come all the way downtown in this weather.”
“He mentioned something about having business downtown and he’d stop by afterwards.”
“Whatever it is he wanted to stop for, I’m betting it can wait until the weather improves.” She walked on back to the office and hung her coat on the hook inside the door.
He’d followed her back and took his coat from the rack. “What sounds good? I can shop.”
“I want you to go straight home, drive slow and be careful. I won’t be long.” Cassandra took the dust cover off the computer she’d had installed a month ago and turned it on.
“The stores on the way—”
“Please, don’t make me worry about you.” She looked over at him, watching his nimble fingers button the coat. He looked up at her and smiled. “Drive in the inside lane to avoid the water pooling around the drains.”
He gave her a peck on the head. “I’ll see you at home.”
While she waited for the system to come up, she poured spring water in a cup, set it in the microwave to heat, and looked through the receipts. One of them, she couldn’t quite make out. She went down the hall to the front of the store. “Grandpa, I need you to clarify this…receipt.” Elan stood inside the door shaking her grandfather’s hand. They both turned to look at her. Rain dripped from his hair, reminding her of the shower they’d shared. She wanted to run to him, but the uninviting expression on his face kept her planted.
“I came by to drop off a photograph for your grandfather.”
Her heart fell with a thud. All he’d wanted to do was avoid seeing her and must have figured she didn’t come in to do the paperwork until they closed. She walked over and handed the receipt to her grandfather. “I can’t make out the numbers.”
He took it and tilted it toward the light. “One fifty-seven even.”
“Thanks.” She turned to go back to the office.
“Don’t you want to see the photo?”
“I can see it when I get home,” she called over her shoulder, ignoring the rip of paper.
“My beautiful princess,” she heard him say. When had he given Elan a photo of Aunt Maureen? Curious to see which one he had chosen, she returned to look over his shoulder. The photo wasn’t of her aunt, but herself in the garden scene. With respect, she told him, “Grandpa, this isn’t Aunt Maureen.” She’d been the only one he ever referred to as princess. Her grandparents lost her before she reached twenty.
Her grandfather looked at her with bright, watery eyes. “You look like a princess.”
She looked at Elan, wondering what he’d done with the other photos. But she couldn’t ask in front of her grandfather. “This was a thoughtful thing to do,” she said instead.
His scent was all too reminding of their night together and she didn’t need it. Her body wanted his touch, ached for him to haul her against him, firing up the smoldering flames making her nights miserable, making her days miserable, too. It was her problem to handle now. Cassandra kissed her grandfather on the cheek. “I need to get back to work. I’ll see you at home.” She headed back to the office again.
“Come for dinner, Elan,” her grandfather said, causing her to stop in the doorway behind the counter. She turned and met Elan’s dark gaze. He looked at her, but she couldn’t tell if he wanted her help to get him out of it or if he wanted her permission to accept. All she could do was shrug. It was up to him. They were all adults and were under no spell. Cassandra tried to convince herself of it every morning, afternoon and evening. Maybe one day, her body will adhere.
He could walk away right now and never see them again. He should. It’d be easier on her.
“Thank you for the invite, but I need to take care of some matters concerning an upcoming function.” He turned and opened the door without another glance at her. The wind and rain blew in, so her grandfather hurriedly said, “
I’ll see you in bit.” Then he went out the door after Elan.
She stood there rubbing her chilled arms. Her grandfather locked the door and headed down the sidewalk to his car. She turned the light out, but left the security light on when she noticed the open-closed sign hadn’t been changed. Sighing, she crossed to the front window and flipped it around as she glanced up at the darkened sky. Lightning flashed and she saw Elan watching her from his car. Why was he still sitting there? The annoying little voice of her conscience urged her to motion him back inside, but she couldn’t. Could she? If he came, she could ask about the photos.
She raised her hand and another bolt of lightning lit up the area. He wasn’t watching her. He was talking on his cell phone. Tears sprang in her eyes and she backed away, humiliated at her own stupidity. He’d told her he wanted no one in his life and it was a good policy. It was the sex, the lack of maybe, which had the running need, the fantasy of more keeping her libido heightened.
Sitting down at the desk, she pulled a tissue from the box and dabbed at her eyes. She was being stupid about the whole thing, but her heart didn’t care to agree with her common sense. The nights were hell and if he could once more make her feel like she’d left this world in a haze of bliss, she’d take it and deal with tomorrow then. However, it wasn’t going to happen. He obtained the freedom he wanted. She’d allowed him to use her to get what he wanted.
Cassandra wiped her fingers over her eyes and exhaled. She needed to get this work done and get out of here. Something about being alone here messed with her head ever since the night of the gems.
With a couple clicks of the mouse, she opened the inventory spreadsheet and pulled over the file with the weeks receipts in it and sorted them out by day before she marked things sold and entered the sale. Her way of doing things may not be how the accountant had done it, but she found it worked for her. She also loved how the program did the totaling for her after she learned the formulas to put in the spreadsheet.
When she finished, she looked at her watch. It’d taken her over two hours. Her grandfather had a busy week, but it hadn’t felt like she’d been there very long. Surprised he hadn’t called to check on her, she picked up the phone and called him. On the fifth ring, he picked up. “Hey, grandpa. I’m leaving the shop now. How does fish sound for dinner?” It wouldn’t lay heavy on the night.
“Sounds fine.”
“All right. See you in about forty-five minutes.” The computer shut down and she covered it before heading out.
The rain had lightened and there wasn’t much traffic as she made her way across town to Schnucks, the grocery store near their home. She ran in and chose some meaty catfish filets then thought to grab a bag of steamer vegetables on her way to the checkout.
After checking out, she made her way to the shopping center somewhat catty-cornered from grocery store to hit Frye Tuck before she went home. She wanted a nice bottle of Chardonnay the grocery store didn’t sell. It might help her relax enough to get a decent night’s sleep for once.
She entered the liquor store, headed toward the isle of white wines, and found red wines there instead. They’d rearranged again. Backtracking back toward the door, she saw she’d passed the isles of white wine.
When she found the chardonnays, she walked along the basket bins looking for her wine when a bottle blocked her vision.
“If I recall, you liked this one.”
She recognized the label of her favorite red wine, and the voice of her boss. Seeing the bin with the wine she was looking for, she grabbed a bottle and started to walk away without acknowledging him.
He grabbed her arm, turning her around. “Why don’t we get two bottles and get a room with a Jacuzzi?”
She pulled her arm free. “Listen, Rick, this is the last time I’m going to say this. Leave me alone or I’m telling your father the truth about what happened.” She started to walk away again and he stepped in front of her. “You think no one will come if I yell?” After a brief stare down, he moved and she headed to the checkout.
When she stormed out to her car, she fumbled with the key as she tried to unlock the door. A hand yanked her arm, whirling her around. Her body slammed against the car and his mouth crushed hers as she pushed at him. She tried to bring her knee up, but he pinned her. She tried to bite him, but he nipped her bottom lip as he yanked on her hair. Her hand managed to grab the neck of the bottle and she connected with the side of his head.
Chapter 11
“You fuckin’ bitch.” Rick raised his hand to hit her. A hand grabbed his arm, stopping him. Cassandra looked from Rick to Elan, relief and humiliation filling her.
“You don’t hit a woman!”
The start and stop of a siren had their heads turning toward the cruiser easing up on them where it stopped. Two officers climbed from the car and approached them with hands on their holsters.
The driver asked, “What’s going on?”
“I stopped this man from assaulting Miss Jones,” Elan spoke up.
“We were having a lover’s tiff,” Rick said.
The officer looked at her, she opened her mouth, and nothing came out. He nodded to his partner who then asked Rick to step over to the car with him.
“Can I see your driver’s licenses?”
Elan pulled his wallet out and handed the officer his license, but Cassandra didn’t move, she couldn’t stop shaking.
He shined the flashlight on her. “Ma’am?”
She nodded, hesitated then used both hands to set the bottle down on the roof of the car and fumbled with her purse. Elan came closer and took it from her, found her wallet and handed her license over.
“What happened?” the officer asked.
Cassandra told him what went down as best she could, hating the sinking feeling when she realized how close she’d come to being raped by a man she once thought loved her. And to make matters worse, it had to be Elan who’d come to her rescue. His appearance both made her feel small, ashamed, yet added fuel to the stewing embers like a desperate and immature girl.
“Is there someone who can come and get you,” he asked her, again, she supposed by his harsh tone.
She shook her head, guessing she’d answered all of his questions. “I live down the street. I’ll be all right.”
“I’ll see she gets home all right,” Elan assured him.
“Does that work for you?” She nodded. “All right, you’ll need to come down to the station tomorrow and sign some papers if you want to press charges.”
“I will. Thank you.” She looked around for her keys and found them near the back tire. Elan took them from her when she couldn’t find the right key to unlock her door and pulled her against him. She sank into him despite the wet raincoat he wore and watched while they cuffed Rick, read him his rights and put him in the backseat of the cruiser. Elan’s strong hand ran over her back. The calmness of his heartbeat soothed her, easing the shakes.
Better, she pulled away. “Thank you. I’ll be all right now.” He unlocked her car and handed her the keys.
“I’ll follow you.”
He handed her the wine when she got in and she set it on the passenger seat. Breathing deep, she started the car and waited until his headlights came on before crossing the parking lot and pulling into the north bound lane of University Avenue.
A couple minutes later, she pulled into the driveway, wishing she could slip up the back stairs to her apartment. She couldn’t, not until dinner was over. Grabbing the wine and bag of groceries, she opened the car door to get out when Elan appeared, causing her to jump. “You really need to wear a bell or something.” He reached for the bag, but she didn’t relinquish it. “I can manage. I don’t want my grandfather to know what happened.”
“You might want to freshen up and take a few minutes to relax before you see him then. I’ll keep him occupied.”
“Thanks, but no. By now he’ll be wrapped up in his favorite television show and won’t give me a second look until dinner’s ready.”
“All right.”
She watched him head back to his car then went up the walkway and unlocked the front door. Damn it! I should have asked about the photos. He was already gone when she looked back. She yanked the key from the door and shut it, hoping he hadn’t sent them out to the magazine he’d mentioned or sell them to some sex site on the net. What a stupid thought, but considering her luck with Rick, trusting Elan could be a mistake, too. She hung her coat on the coat rack inside the door. Tomorrow, she’d go demand the photos and the negatives as well as any copies he may have made.
“Sandra,” her grandfather called to her.
Cassandra grabbed the bags. “Dinner’ll be ready in about twenty-five minutes,” she said as she walked into the living room. He sat hunched over an old book of some kind, studying something with his magnifying glass.
“It can wait a minute. I want you to see something.”
“Let me put these in the kitchen.” She walked off toward the kitchen and turned on the light as she entered. Setting the groceries on the counter, she pulled the wine from its bag and put it in the freezer for a quick chill, then turned on the oven to pre-heat.
To calm her nerves, she filled a glass of water and drank it. Her grandfather may be up there in years, but he was perceptive. She took a deep breath, set the glass on the counter, and walked back into the living room. “What have you got there, Grandpa?” she asked, forcing herself to sound normal.
“The photo of you reminded me of something. I pulled this album from grandma’s trunk.”
“I didn’t know you had a trunk of grandma’s things.” She sat beside him and he slid the album over to her and handed her the magnifying glass. He pointed at the photo he wanted her to see. Through the magnification of the glass, she could the see necklace around the woman’s neck. Impossible! “Who is she?”