Payne, Lillith - His Unconventional Woman (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lillith Payne

  “Good, I can practice my pitch on you.” He wandered through each of the downstairs rooms with her, only half listening to the plan she had for each. It didn’t matter to her, she was beside him, touching him, and she didn’t want anything to spoil their moment. Dana decided she was a complicated woman. Would he ever be able to figure her out? Or was her ambivalence what he liked about her? She always kept him guessing, but she knew deep down it was because she was insecure about her own needs. “Clay?”

  “I’m sorry, I was off somewhere.”

  “We can finish the tour another time.” Pulling her arm from his, she moved away, putting several feet of distance between them.

  “Dana.” She froze where she was. “I was thinking how ashamed of myself I am.”

  “What do you have to be ashamed about? I’m the one who led you on at the old house. Then you pulled away from me.”

  Closing the distance between them, he pulled her back against his chest, his arms wrapping around her, resting against her waist. Lowering his mouth to her ear, he whispered, “Dana, I was thinking about the windows I broke as a kid, especially the one next to the fireplace.”

  “Oh,” was all she could muster. Holding her against him, she was hesitant to break the contact. His hand lay lightly at her waist and she wanted to stay there forever.

  “You were here with Jeff and me that day. Do you remember? Your father was in town, and he let us walk over. We were driving him crazy. He told us to get lost for a while.”

  “I remember. That was the day you and Jeff locked me in the attic!”

  “Yes, well, I’m not proud of that either.” His breath was warm against her cheek. His hands clasped around her waist gave her an inner glow. A feeling she was beginning to enjoy when she was close to him, a feeling that seemed real and genuine.

  “Clay?”

  “Hum?”

  “If I tell you something, promise not to use it against me later on?” He started to turn her around to face him, but she resisted. Instead, she held his hands in place, keeping her back.

  “What is it, Dana?”

  “I wanted to thank you.” She felt him tense behind her. “Clay, let me talk.”

  “All right, kid, talk.” He felt her take a few deep breaths before beginning.

  “I wanted to thank you…and Jeff, for that day, the day you two locked me in the attic here.”

  This time he did turn her around. His questioning look brought a smile to her face.

  “Speechless for a change? Good. Listen to me.” She took his hand, drawing him down the hall, through the butler’s pantry and into the old kitchen, which was in relatively good condition for its age and lack of care. The wide window over the sink let in a flood of light. Dana pushed herself up onto the long wooden trestle table that ran the center of the room. It was then she kicked off her shoes. She watched Clay laugh at her as he picked them up, putting them beside her on the table.

  “Talk to me, kid.”

  “Okay, but you need to know this is very hard for me to admit.” His whole body tensed as if he was afraid of what she would say. “That day, I couldn’t have been more than seven. My mother had died the year before.”

  “I remember. We were pretty rotten to you then.”

  “That’s right. You both were. I was the third wheel. You and Jeff were already driving and dating, and here I was, the baby sister who you had to drag along.” She looked at his profile, still as strong and sharp as it was back then. “Anyway, when Dad told you two to take care of me, you thought you had. You and Jeff baited me up to the fourth-floor attic then locked me in. I remember you guys laughing on the other side of the door and making stomping noises as you walked away.”

  “God, Dana. We were horrible to you. We figured we’d give you a scare and then you’d leave us alone. I guess we kind of forgot about you up there.” He looked upward.

  “You didn’t, you know, you didn’t let it scare you or…you never cried or screamed. Quite disappointing, as I remember,” he teased.

  “Clay, that day, I wasn’t afraid. I knew you would come back for me. Deep inside I knew you would.”

  “Is that why you didn’t cry?”

  “Partly. After I realized you meant to leave me there for a while I started looking around. Have you ever been up there?”

  “Years ago. It’s just old furniture and junk, as I remember.”

  “Yes, that, too. But that hot summer day, I found something else up there. Something I’ve never told you or Jeff.” Now she had his attention. Standing in front of her, his hands on either side of her legs, he propped his weight on the tabletop, his face close to hers.

  He’s too close. I can’t breathe. Fighting for control, she continued. “That day, I found my future, here in this old house.”

  “I’m confused. Just what did you find in that old attic?” His face was less than ten or twelve inches from hers, his brown eyes blazing with confusion. Slowly, she let her arms wind around his neck, although she didn’t pull him closer.

  “I found the history of this house. I found great-grandfather’s journals.”

  “You found his journals?” Clay took a step back, Dana’s arms falling to her sides.

  “I was looking around and found an old trunk up there. I knew I was going to be there for a while, so I started to wander. Under some old clothes, I found his journals. They were wonderful, Clay. He described every step of how the house was built, why he did certain things the way he did, who worked on it, and how much each item cost. It was a treasure of information.”

  “You never told me. Did you tell Jeff?”

  “No, of course not. You two had just locked me away. I wasn’t about to share my secret treasure with either of you!” She paused and enjoyed her memory. “For years, I’d slip away and come here. That’s when I actually started to read them. It was like my own private treasure.”

  Clay wandered around the old kitchen, opening the cabinet doors, running his hand along the wooden counters. His back was to her when she spoke again.

  “I wanted you to know, to understand this house had been on my mind ever since.” This time he turned to look. Keeping his gaze, she continued. “In the back of my mind, I always knew one day I’d come back, give the old place a new life. It was my safety net, I guess. Whenever I wondered what would become of me, I could always retreat to this house. It would always accept me, no matter what.”

  “Dana, all these years you’ve been thinking about this house. Why not fix it up and live in it?” She only shook her head.

  “It’s not for me to live in. I don’t know where I belong yet, but I’ll know it when it’s right. This place, well, it deserves better. One person living in all this space would be a sin.”

  “Why one person? Someday you’ll marry and start your own family.”

  “I don’t think so, Clay. It’s a reality I’ve come to accept. Wherever I find my home, this mansion deserves to be used and appreciated. It’s one of the few remaining historical homes in the county, let alone in the center of town. I want to bring it back, Clay, breathe new life into it.”

  “That’s why you want to have the museum and gift shop, the meeting rooms and party rooms.”

  “Yes. After the first few years, barring any major catastrophes, it should become self-sufficient.”

  “You amaze me, kid. Been planning this all these years?”

  “Sort of. I used to talk to Dad about it. He liked the idea, and he thought granddad would have appreciated it. It’s got too much history to let her go to ruin.”

  Clay was before her, standing so close his thighs brushed against her knees. “You knew then, the time you waited out the storm at my house, you knew you’d come home and fix up this old place for the town, didn’t you, Dana?”

  All I would have to do is spread my legs a little, and he’d be so close, as close as I need him to be. She felt the flush of heated embarrassment rise in her cheeks. Watching him, she knew he saw it. Turning her head to the side, she starte
d to ramble on about the changes to the room they now occupied. He was too close. She knew he wasn’t listening.

  When she stopped talking, his hands reached for her face, pulling her closer to the edge of the table. Dana knew he was going to kiss her. There was no way around it. Whatever she was saying was falling on his deaf ears. Inhaling deeply, his lips were on hers, shutting off her words. She didn’t stiffen at his touch. Instead, she wound her arms around his neck and let her fingers sift through the back of his hair, holding him.

  His arms came around her waist, pulling her closer. In the recesses of her mind she wanted him to take her there on the old kitchen table, but knew he wouldn’t for her sake. When she was ready, she’d let him know in some major way that was unmistakable. Pulling back, he buried his face in her neck. She held him tight, lightly stroking his shoulder with one hand, his back with the other. With his face buried against her, she finally spoke.

  “Clay, I’m…” He started to pull back. Her arms tightened to hold him in place. “I’m going away.”

  This time he did pull back. He searched her face, looking for answers.

  “It’s only for a week or so, one of those jobs I just couldn’t turn down.”

  “Why, Dana? Are you leaving because of me?”

  “No, Clay. I’m leaving because this project is at a standstill until the permits are issued. This job will be easy, a week on the beach in Florida. Besides, the money I earn will go a long way in paint and lumber.”

  “I thought you decided not to model anymore?”

  “Basically, I did. But this offer, well, the money’s good, and since I’m not involved with this yet, I figured it would eat up some time.”

  “Is that the only reason, Dana?” With decisive motions, she went about putting on her shoes before she jumped down from the table.

  “Yes, Clay. I’m not running away. I’m going to make some money. The next board meeting is a few weeks away. I can’t do anything until then. The timing’s good for me.”

  “I’ll miss you.” Taking her hand, he walked with her to the front hall. “When do you leave?”

  “First thing day after tomorrow.”

  “Have supper with me tonight?” She stopped mid motion in picking up her jacket.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “I don’t care. Have supper with me tonight, Dana.”

  “Clay, I’ve got so much to do to get ready to leave.”

  “Dana?”

  “Clay, when we’re together alone, I can’t seem to stay away from you. I want to touch you, I want you to touch me.” He started to interrupt her, but she put her finger to his lips to quiet him. “I know you don’t understand, sometimes I can’t understand it. All I know is I can’t give you a normal, conservative relationship. If we’re together you’ll learn things about me, things you won’t like long term. I’m not sure if I ever can really just be an average woman. You have to come to terms with that, Clay.”

  “Do I?” He left her alone in the hallway, walking quickly toward his car. There he waited until she locked the front door, slowly walking toward him. “Dana, be ready by six o’clock, casual. I’ll pick you up.”

  “Clay, please, no.”

  “Yes, Dana, just two old friends sharing a meal. Besides, I owe it to you for locking you away all those years ago.” His smile broke the tension.

  “If that’s the case, then I’m paying. You and Jeff gave me a dream to hold onto that day, Clay. When everything around me was in turmoil, you gave me something tangible to hold and to touch.”

  “In that case, we’ll charge it to Jeff. It was his idea to leave you for so long.”

  “Just two old friends, right?”

  “Be ready, I’ll pick you up later.” Sliding smoothly behind the wheel of his car, he waited only until hers was started before he pulled away.

  Neither of them saw Linda’s car parked off to the side. They weren’t expecting for her to be there, so they never thought to look. Frustrated, she slammed her fists against the steering wheel. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, only the garbled voices that had drifted past her with the breeze. The way Clay looked at Dana when they were close, the laughter Dana let out as she threw her head back, smiling at whatever Clay had said. Waiting, she watched them both get into separate cars and pull away.

  For a long time, Linda sat in her car wondering how to handle this. She had decided to use the house as an excuse once she saw Clay’s Corvette parked behind Dana’s BMW. It would be reasonable to want a quick tour before making any further recommendations to the board about the project. Just when she was ready to join them, they appeared on the front steps. Her brain had all but boiled with hatred as she watched them together, laughing and smiling beside their vehicles. It was time for something drastic.

  Linda had thought a slow introduction into Clay’s everyday life would be best. Dana Britton returning to town hadn’t been part of her plan. She would have to rethink the slow, easy approach. Starting her car, the sweat pouring down her face and neck didn’t deter her thinking. As the air-conditioning tried to combat the heat that had built inside the vehicle, she thought of several ways to insinuate herself into Clay’s arms.

  That was it. She knew the minute the idea crossed her mind. She would have to arrange to have Dana find her and Clay together. After that, Dana would fade into the background. She’d never stand for being second. It was the first time Linda had smiled in several days. It felt good. Anyone who saw her at that moment would have considered it a menacing smile, that of a dangerous woman on the loose.

  He saw her from the distance, her arms wrapped around the horse’s neck. She was beautiful. Her jeans and light sweater set off her dark hair and tan. He felt himself harden at the mere sight of her, and then cursed himself for having no control.

  “Ready to go?” he smiled up.

  “Yes, I think so. Where are we going?”

  “Get in, kid. Trust me?” Her grin gave him a chill that ran down his spine directly to his cock. Instead of opening the car door, she slid over the side, folding her long legs into the passenger seat. “Still not using doors, I see,” he teased as he pushed the car into second as he rounded the circle of the driveway.

  “Only when I’m wearing a dress! You taught me that years ago.” With the top down, Dana let the wind whip around her. To Clay she looked free and happy. Once they crossed the county line, Dana asked again where they were going.

  “You’ll see. Relax and enjoy the ride,” he told her, turning up the radio. An hour later, he pulled into the old hamburger joint. Inside, the soda fountain still looked the same.

  “Clay, it’s wonderful. I haven’t been here in years.” Seated in a windowed booth, they ate greasy hamburgers and chili fries, layered with melted cheese. When she had eaten her fill, she pushed her plate to the side. The frosty root beer was the perfect accompaniment to their meal. Clay was relaxed, enjoying their time together, keeping to safe topics.

  It was good to see Dana laugh again, really laugh. He had hoped she would enjoy a trip down memory lane, glad he had chosen it instead of some stuffy restaurant. “What else would you like?” he teased. “An ice cream sundae?”

  “God, Clay. Please, just the thought is enough to push me over the edge. No more food, thank you.”

  “Ready to go then?”

  “Where to?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Pulling away from the hamburger joint after eight, the last remnants of sun began to fade into darkness. Dana was amazed how much the area had changed since she had been away. Clay filled her in on some of the gossip he had heard through the years.

  “The old filling station is a bank now, and remember the pasture where you always made us stop so you could pet the horses? It’s a housing development now.”

  “Oh, no, Clay. Not the pasture.”

  “Want to drive by?” He glanced, checking her profile for signs of distress. More than anything else, he wanted her to have a good time tonight
. He wanted her to forget about everything.

  “No. I think I’d rather remember it with the horses coming to the fence to be petted.”

  “Okay, keep your memory.” He downshifted at the approaching light, and Dana looked around.

  “It all seems different, doesn’t it? When I was away, sometimes at night, I’d wonder what it would be like to come home, how much it would have changed.”

  “Some things always stay the same.”

  “Some, not all.” Dana realized he was pulling into a parking lot, then saw where they were. Slipping out of her seat belt, she sat up on the back of the seat, taking in the small, wooden stadium in front of them. “This hasn’t changed,” she joked. Directly ahead of them was a ball field. To their right, an old miniature golf course.

  “You game?”

  “Of course. If I remember, this was one of the few things I used to be better at than you or Jeff.” Swinging her legs over the side of the car, she jumped down, waiting for him.

  Club in hand, Clay stood behind Dana, watching her line up a shot as the windmill rotated over the opening. God, she has such a great ass! With that, he took one small step forward, palming her butt cheek with his hand. His touch made her stiffen, and her club hit the ball with a twist. As the ball hit the windmill dead on, it flew back toward them. Spinning around to shield her, he had her against him, his lips pressed to her forehead.

  “I’ve missed you, Dana.” He released her when he noticed the young couple waiting for their turn. Picking up her ball, he took her arm, heading toward the next hole. For the rest of the evening, they laughed like old friends. She didn’t ask why he grabbed her, she didn’t mention it.

  Linda sat in her car once again, parked across the darkened lot. It had been curiosity at first. She had been heading to Clay’s house when she saw him heading out. She turned and followed him at a distance, the candy-apple red Corvette hard to miss. Her stomach had churned when he pulled into the Britton Estate driveway. She had all but decided to leave when he came from the other side, Dana seated beside him.