by Laura Ann
Both of them stared at each other as they each processed what the other one had said. Then, as one, smiles crept across their faces. Forgetting the clay, Finley put his hands on either side of Goldie’s face and pulled her to him. He stopped just millimeters from her mouth. “There’s no going back, Goldie. Are you sure you want this?”
Goldie huffed slightly then reached up, grabbed the back of Finley’s head and pulled him in the rest of the way.
If Finley wasn’t already in love with the spitfire in his arms, her eagerness would have sealed the deal. He chuckled deep in his throat when she grabbed him and then got down to serious business. Slipping his hands into her luscious curls, he shifted her head so he could deepen the kiss.
He couldn’t get enough of her. Couldn’t get close enough to her. His hands ran down her back and pulled her in tight. He stroked the silky skin on her neck and toyed with her ear.
Goldie must have felt the same way because her hands were just as frantic. Rubbing and grabbing his shirt she ran her fingers over every firm muscle all the way to the tips of his hair.
As the passionate haze began to lift, Finley pulled back just enough to suck in a much needed lungful of air. He felt as if he had a run a marathon, his heart was beating so hard. His eyes were still closed as he panted and leaned his forehead against hers.
What the-? Her skin felt lumpy and like it had a crust on it. Pulling back he frowned.
Goldie’s cheeks were a mottled red and her chest heaved as she tried to regain her equilibrium. Her swollen lips were a testament to Finley’s attention and he couldn’t help but feel a little burst of pride that she was his. But when he looked at the rest of her, he nearly lost it.
“Goldie, hon?” Finley said through his chuckles.
Goldie’s eyes fluttered open and she blinked quickly as she regained her bearings. “Yes?”
“Grey really isn’t your color, my love.” Finley’s chuckling continued as he nuzzled her nose and kissed her cheek.
Goldie frowned. “What are you-? Oh!” Goldie jerked back and studied Finley. She put her hands to her mouth and gave a loud, snorting laugh. “Oh, Fin. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think-” She shook her head as laughter spilled from her lips.
Finley put a hand up to his own face, then his hair and discovered the same clumps of crusty clay and water that were all over Goldie. He sighed and looked down at his shirt. Streaks and wrinkled fabric from where she had gripped his shirt met his gaze.
He looked up at Goldie and laughed. “I think maybe we need to continue the lesson another day.”
Goldie’s smile was wide. “I think maybe we need to try another medium.”
“What?” Finley leaned back and frowned. “Not a chance. I’m not sure I’ll ever look at pottery the same way again.”
Goldie burst out laughing, then stood from his lap. “There’s a side door you can go through so you don’t have to go through the house.” Goldie grinned. “It would probably be best not to let my brothers see us.” She looked around at her arms and shirt. “I think the whole make-out session is written in clay.” She turned to walk back to the house.
Finley grinned and had an idea. Reaching out, he rubbed his hand one more time over on the clay mound then followed her. Keeping the wet hand behind his back he caught up with her just as she reached for the doorknob. Finley put his free hand on the doorframe to stop her for a moment.
Without touching her, he leaned into her ear. “You’re not running away are you?”
Goldie shivered, but spun and put her hands on her hips. “I hardly think trying to keep my brothers from killing you is running away.” She pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side.
“Good,” Finley said right before grabbing one last kiss. “Because you’re mine now and I don’t let go of what is mine.”
Goldie put her hands on his chest and gave him one more quick kiss. “Thank heavens. Sharing as has never been my strong suit.”
Turning, she grabbed the knob and began to open the door.
“Now, go clean up woman.” Finley reached out and slapped his wet hand on her backside.
Goldie stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. Slowly, with wide eyes, she began to shake her head. “Oh, no you didn’t.” She twisted her body and tried to see the seat of her jeans. “Finley, tell me you didn’t.”
Finley laughed and began backing away, his hands in the air. Her brothers aren’t going to kill me, but she might.
Hurrying through the workspace, he burst out the side door and jogged to his car, not caring about the overly large, goofy smile on his face. She’s mine. She’s really mine.
“GRUFFMAN!” Bellowed from the house.
“Oops. Gotta run!” Finley dove into his sports car and tore out of the driveway, laughing all the way home.
CHAPTER 11
Goldie spent the next week floating on cloud nine. After their confessions to each other in the art room, she and Finley had settled into a wonderful, real relationship. Even if my brothers still say they are going to maim him. Goldie giggled at the thought. I thought they were going to blow a gasket when they saw his handprint on my tush.
Goldie shook her head at the memory. I should pay him back for putting me through the triplet’s interrogation. She grinned. But I have to admit it was pretty funny.
Her cell phone rang, startling her out of her daydreams. She glanced at the screen.
Steve Miller.
“Oh, yeah. The building owner.” She swiped to answer the call. “Hey Steve, how are you?”
“Hello, Ms. Lockwood.” He cleared his throat. “I, um, well, I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Goldie sobered and sat up straight at her desk. “What’s the matter? Did the money not come through? Did something happen during the renovations?”
“Um... no. Nothing like that. I... well... I’m not quite sure how to say this, but I’m afraid I can’t allow you to use the building anymore.”
Goldie felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. Her vision began to turn dark at the edges and she had to forced herself to suck in oxygen. After a couple of excruciating breathes, she spoke. “Excuse me. I can’t have heard you correctly. Could you say that again?”
“The building is no longer available for your use. The contract has been terminated,” Steven said clearly.
“How? I mean, what the- How can this be happening? I have an exhibit in one week, Mr. Miller. One week!” Goldie’s voice rose in panic and she stood from her desk. “My students have been working all year for this opportunity. For some of them, it is the chance to get noticed and set aside money to go to college. You can’t take that away from them! Your building was perfect. How in the world am I supposed to find a new place and have it ready to go in SEVEN DAYS?” Goldie was screeching by the end but she didn’t care. Who does something like this to a bunch of kids?
“I’m sorry, Ms. Lockwood, but it’s out of my hands. I understand your frustration-”
“Oh, no you don’t. You get to walk away from this scot-free.” Goldie plopped back down and rubbed a hand over her forehead. “You don’t understand anything. How in the world can you do this? Do you realize how badly this is going to hurt some of those kids?”
“Really, Ms. Lockwood, I get it. I didn’t want to have to call you, but if you’ll just let me finish?” His tone had gone from calm to exasperated.
Goldie rolled her eyes and grit her teeth, waiting out his explanation.
“Thank you,” he said when she didn’t speak. “The building has been sold, effective immediately. An offer came in that was well above the worth of the building and since one of my other properties is struggling, I had to jump on it. I presented the new owner with your contract, but they refuse to honor it. Under the new ownership, they are terminating the rental.”
Tears stung Goldie’s eyes. “How can they do that? Don’t I have any rights at all?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Lockwood. But there is nothing I can do to help you. If I ha
d known of their intentions, I could have at least waited until after the exhibit to sign the contract, but the new owner was in a major hurry.” He paused, then mumbled under his breath. “Almost as if they wanted to make sure it was done before you could use it.”
Goldie shot up in her seat. “Who bought the building, Mr. Miller?”
Silence rang through the line.
“Please, Steve. Who bought the building?” Goldie begged.
“I don’t have an actual name, just a company name,” he began.
“I need to know, please.”
Mr. Miller sighed. “The sale contract was under Gruff Inc.”
Goldie froze. No. It couldn’t be. Finley wouldn’t do that to me. He said our relationship was real.
“Ms. Lockwood, are you there? Goldie, can you hear me?” Steve’s voice echoed through the tinny speaker as Goldie’s phone sat in her lap.
On autopilot she raised the phone back up to her ear. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll have to call you back.” Numbly, she pressed the end button and dropped the phone on the desk. Her heart felt like it was being carved out of her chest with a dull spoon.
Gasping, she put her hand to her chest and doubled over. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she manually forced air in and out of her lungs. He knows how much this means to me. How could he do this? Was it all a joke? He promised the media was wrong about him. That he isn’t heartless like they all say.
The only reason she knew her heart was still working was because it was trying to pound right out of her chest. Her breathing became faster and more shallow. Oh my gosh, I’m hyperventilating. I’m going to have a heart attack. Big, gulping sobs tore from her chest and she was powerless to stop them.
A squeak came from the doorway. “Ms. Lockwood! What on earth?” Shuffling could be heard as Mrs. Merryweather wound her way through the student desks to Goldie’s side. Once there, the older woman wrapped her arms around Goldie and murmured soothing words.
“He-he... how could he?” Goldie stammered. “I thought we had something special. How could he ruin my project?” She shook her head. “He knew how much this means to me. He knew!”
“There, sweetie, take a deep breath. I’m sure not everything is how it seems.” Mrs. Merryweather ran a hand down Goldie’s curls before pulling back and grabbing a tissue. Gently she began wiping the tears from the art teacher’s cheeks. “Surely, this is all just some big misunderstanding.”
Goldie shook her head. “No. I just got off the phone. It was him.”
Mrs. Merryweather tisked her tongue. “And just where did you get your information from?”
“The owner.” Goldie slumped back in her chair, massaging the skin above her aching heart.
“Well, it seems to me that unless you hear it from the person themselves, there is always room for interpretation. After all, I once thought Flora was a natural redhead!” Mrs. Merryweather smiled gently.
“Umm... thanks, Mrs. Merryweather. But I think-”
“Now, you just get on up and go ask him yourself.” Mrs. Merryweather pulled Goldie out of her seat and brushed off her clothes.
“What?” Goldie squeaked. “I don’t want to talk to him! I don’t want anything to do with him!”
“Which is exactly why you should.” the older woman nodded emphatically. “Get to the root of the problem and find out the truth.” Mrs. Merryweather grabbed Goldie by the shoulders and stared intensely at her. “Put your big girl panties on, Goldie. You deserve to know what’s going on.”
Goldie digested those words for a few moments before straightening up and tossing her curls out of her face. “I do, don’t I? That man owes me an explanation. He can’t treat people like this.” Her temper started to flare, pushing out the hurt feelings for the moment. You can cry later. Right now, it’s time to give him what-for. “I’ll just march over there and demand an answer.”
“That’s my girl. Now scoot, before I change my mind.” Mrs. Merryweather used her hand to shoo Goldie toward the door.
“I think you mean... nevermind,” Goldie sighed. Grabbing her school bag, she picked up her pace and drove straight to Finley’s home.
“Good afternoon, Miss Lockwood,” Herald greeted her at the gate. “Visiting Mr. Gruffman, again?”
“Yep. Do you know if he’s home?” Goldie did her best to smile and look normal, but her swollen, red-rimmed eyes were impossible to hide.
“Uh, I just got on duty, so I actually don’t know.” He paused, studying Goldie’s obviously emotional state. “Would you like me to call ahead?”
“No, thank you,” Goldie smiled. “I’d rather just surprise him if he’s home.”
“Okay, well,” Herald scratched his chin. “He did add your name to the list of approved guests, so I suppose that’s all right then.” He turned around and pushed a button. “Good luck.”
Goldie nodded and pulled through the open gate. Her jaw was clenched and it took everything in her to keep going toward the man who had shattered her heart. When she pulled into his driveway, the tears she had been holding back once again coursed down her cheeks.
In... out... in... out... She forced air into her nose and out through her mouth. Her muscles screamed when she stood from the car. She felt achy and weak, as if she had had the flu for the past week. I just want to go home and curl up with my misery. How can loving someone hurt so much?
Goldie rested her head against the window of her door for a moment to catch her breath. “No one should get away with treating another human being like this,” she muttered. “Come on, Lockwood. Be strong. You can break down later, but right now, he owes you an explanation to your face.”
With a deep breath, she stood straight and turned toward the front door. Her movements were stiff, but she stomped up the front porch. Knowing she would lose her nerve if she waited for him to answer a knock, Goldie turned the knob and slammed the door open.
“Hey!” A deep voice growled from another room. Finley came running out from his office with a scowl on his face, only to screech to a halt when he saw Goldie in the front entrance. “Goldie!”
A smile lit his face and Goldie thought she might die on the spot. How can he smile knowing what he has done?
Folding his arms across his chest, Finley leaned against the door frame. “If this is how you entered the other morning, I’m shocked I slept through it. To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?”
“I should think you would know the answer to that,” Goldie said through clenched teeth.
Finley’s arms dropped at her tone. “What do you mean?” He narrowed his eyes and peered closer. “Have you been crying?” Finley’s eyes widened and he pushed himself off the wall. “Sweetheart, what’s the matter?” He walked toward her with his arms outstretched.
When he was close enough, Goldie slapped his hands away. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” She glared up at him. “Maybe you planned to tell me and gloat about it yourself later? What was even the point? Was it all just some grand joke to you?”
Finley’s jaw dropped as he listened to Goldie shout at him. His eyes perused her body, taking in her trembling, disheveled appearance, along with her tear-stained face. “I... I don’t know what is going on, but why don’t you come inside and we’ll figure it out?”
“Fine.” Goldie stomped the rest of the way in, slamming the door behind her. She ignored Finley’s wince as the few pictures on his walls rattled.
Goldie threw herself down on the couch and folded her arms with a scowl as she sunk into the cushions.
Finley approached her cautiously as if she were a skittish colt. Slowly, he sat on the hard chair. “I can see that you’re upset-”
“Ha!” Goldie blurted out. She pointed a finger at him “You don’t know the meaning of the word ‘upset’.” Her lower lip trembled as she fought to keep control of her voice. “How could you do it, Fin? I haven’t put any stock into what the media says about you, but...” She threw her arms in the air, tears trickling down her cheeks.
&nb
sp; Finley’s eyes widened for a moment before he narrowed them and sprang from his seat. “But what? What were you going to say? That I’m heartless? Just like all those women keep claiming?” He folded his arms and loomed over her. “Just what has your imagination come up with now? What exactly do you think I’ve done?”
Goldie’s anger burst back to life at his condescending tone. Leaping out of her spot on the couch she stood toe to toe with him, poking him in the chest as she spoke. “My imagination? That’s rich, coming from the guy who leaves women in his dust like garbage.” Her nostrils flared as she took a couple of breaths before continuing. “And for your information, I’m not imagining anything. I heard it straight from the building owner, Mr. Miller. But what I want to know is why.” She practically growled the last words.
The two of them stared each other down, their bodies coiled and tight, neither making a move.
Goldie felt her left eye begin to twitch. I can’t do this anymore. Seeing Finley had only made it harder. She just wanted to go home and crumble like a dry Christmas cookie.
She slowly shook her head. “You know what? I don’t want to know.” She sidestepped and starting moving around the couch. “I don’t care. You won. You know full well I don’t have the resources to fight you.” She paused with her hand on the doorknob. “Don’t worry. I won’t run to the press with my sob story, but I doubt you can avoid the fallout there will be when the media catches wind of the cancelled exhibit. I had already invited the newspaper and the local news stations were aware of it as well.”
“What are you? Ahhh!” Finley gripped his hair with both hands! “Woman, you are crazy! You drive me crazy!” Swiftly, he stalked to the door.
Goldie glanced over her shoulder and nearly screamed when she saw him heading straight for her like a lion stalking its prey. Before she could move, he bent down and threw her over his shoulder then stormed down the hall.
“FINLEY GRUFFMAN! What the heck are you doing? Put me down right now!” Goldie pounded on his back but he didn’t even flinch. Ugh! Being small stinks so bad sometimes.