by Charlie
“I’ve had several long stays in various places. I lived in England for quite some time and France.”
“It must be fascinating, travelling around the world.” Stephanie propped up her chin with her hand and her eyes took on a dreamy wistful look.
“It has its moments, but having someone you care about—setting down roots—that’s what’s really important.”
“And is that why you’re in Weston? To set down roots, or is it just a stopover?”
“I think that might depend on you.”
As his meaning sank in, she blushed. “Jake—“
“I know, I know. I’m going too fast for you, but when I see something I want I go for it.” Noticing that she was at a loss for words, he decided it was best to end the evening. “I’d better go. It’s getting late.”
She stood and walked him to the door. “Thanks again, for waiting dinner for me and staying when the police came. I really appreciated your support.”
“I was glad to do it.” He gazed down into her eyes. Right now they were more green than blue. They always changed colour when her emotions were up, he recalled. Leaning forward he lightly brushed her lips with his. Her response was immediate and yielding. She leaned into him, her arms creeping up around his neck. The sweet taste of her played over his tongue and it was only with great reluctance that he reached up and drew her arms from around him, gently breaking off the kiss and stepping out of her arms. Slowly her eyes drifted open and she stared up at him with a bemused look.
“Jake? “
“Shh.” He laid a finger over her lips. “That’s enough for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll pick you up from work. We’ll have a real dinner out and talk a little bit. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Goodnight Steph. Make sure you lock your doors and windows.” He went down the steps and paused at the bottom listening until he heard the deadbolt slide into place. With a nod, he headed to his car. Good, she’s all locked up safe and sound for the night. As he drove home, he speculated as to why things were progressing quicker than he had anticipated. The break-in and the near miss with the car were certainly factors. And, it had been so long since they were together. Perhaps, on some subconscious level, she missed him too. She was already falling for him; he’d had enough experience that he knew the signs. He wondered how she’d react, however, once she knew the truth.
Chapter 8
Stephanie locked the door and leaned against it for a moment wondering what was going on with her. All Jake had to do was touch her and she practically melted. That wasn’t like her at all. She was shy and cautious around men, awkward even. Just look at her record long list of first dates that never led to second dates. But with Jake… She had practically thrown herself into his arms on the street corner and she didn’t even know him!
Of course, the break-in was upsetting and almost being hit by a car was rather traumatic, but the kiss in her car, and here at the door… She usually only gave a little peck on the cheek. And she’d asked him in for coffee! Stephanie Fields was above all else cautious and wouldn’t let a man she’d just met into her house on the first date, even if he did have great references.
Wandering into the kitchen, she picked up the cups and washed them, turned off the coffee maker and headed down the hall to her bedroom, her mind full of Jake Sinclair. She couldn’t believe that someone like him would be interested in her. It wasn’t that she was unattractive, she was just… ordinary. There was nothing about her to catch someone’s eye. The idea that he’d seen her and gone into the store to asked Paula about her just seemed too unlikely to be true. Things like that happened in movies and books, not in real life and certainly not to people like her.
She flopped on her bed and contemplated the ceiling. Okay, supposing for some bizarre reason, he really was interested in her. Now what? He’d asked her out again, they’d talk—though for the life of her she couldn’t imagine about what. He’d travelled around the world for heaven’s sake! She’d spent almost all of her life in Weston except for a few brief stays in foster homes in the nearby city of St. George and a trip to Florida one winter. She didn’t do anything exciting like rock climbing or belly dancing. There’d be nothing to keep his interest. She wasn’t even sexy!
Sex was still a big question mark for her. Beyond Jake’s kisses, all of her previous experiences had left her unmoved. The attack was partly to blame, but she often wondered if that incident hadn’t happened, if it really would have made a difference. Maybe she just didn’t have what it takes. Intellectually the idea of sex interested her, but emotionally and physically, nothing seemed to happen—except in her dreams.
Was sex really the big deal that everybody made it out to be or was it just a lot of propaganda? Paula seemed to enjoy it, if her exploits were to be believed. The young divorcee had a heart of gold, but went through men like the flower shop went through flowers. There seemed to be a new man in her life every month and even when the relationship faltered she was only down for a day and then right back into the thick of things. Paula was one of those perfect, perky people. With her black hair, ready smile, and bubbly personality, she seemed capable of finding men everywhere, whenever she wanted one.
Sometimes Stephanie fantasized about finding a man who would see her as stunningly beautiful and fascinating. He’d touch her and awaken the woman sleeping inside… She snorted derisively. That sounded like something from one of her romance novels. Things like that didn’t happen and there was no use pining over it. She was who she was, and her life as it was now, was probably how it was going to be for a good long time. Jake would just be an interesting little interlude in her life. There was no point in building it up into something more. She’d enjoy his attention while it lasted and then have something to look back on when she was old and grey.
Satisfied that she’d come to a bit of a decision about Jake’s place in her life, she double checked the locks on the doors and windows then got ready for bed. The air conditioner was, of course, still broken—unfixable if the repairman was to be believed—and the house was hot and stuffy. Cracking open the bedroom window, she strategically placed a fan on the table so it would bring in some of the cooler night air. For a moment she stood looking out. The stars were bright against the black velvet sky and moonbeams seemed to dance through the trees, creating interesting patterns on the lawn. It looked so peaceful.
Coco wandered in and twined herself around Stephanie’s ankles. She scooped the cat up into her arms. “Hello Sweetie. You were really feeling friendly tonight, weren’t you? Did you like Jake? “The cat patted her face. “I’ll take that as a yes. You know what? I like him too.” Coco shifted in her arms and looked out the window. Her body stiffened and she struggled to get out of Stephanie’s arms. Setting the cat down, Steph wondered what had caught the feline’s fancy. Her tail was swishing back and forth and she was pacing in front of the screened opening. “Is there another cat outside? One of your friends from your alley cat days?”
She peered out the window trying to locate the other animal. As she looked, a feeling of unease came over her again. It was the ‘someone’s watching me’ feeling. There was no one in sight, but she shivered despite the heat. Rubbing her hands over her arms to smooth out the goose bumps that had suddenly appeared, she decided that maybe it would be better to sleep with the window closed tonight and just suffer through the heat. After all, there had been that break-in just down the street… Nervously backing away from the window, she slid the glass panes shut and pulled the blinds down, so that the view was obscured. Coco jumped down from the ledge and onto the bed, kneading the surface until she felt it was properly prepared and then laying down for a bath.
“That was weird, wasn’t it Coco. Did you feel it too? Sort of cold, like something evil was out there?” The cat washed unconcernedly, paying no mind to her mistress’s comments. “I guess it was just a side effect of those allergy pills again.” Steph said it more to convince herself than to inform the cat. “Maybe I’ll ask the pharmacist about it tomorro
w, if I have some spare time. There’s always a long list of possible reactions people can have to medication. Possibly paranoia is one of them.”
Adding a stop at the drugstore to her mental list of things to do, she climbed into bed and turned off the lights. The fan hummed quietly in the background and sent a gentle breeze whispering over her skin. Stephanie’s eyes drifted shut and she imagined what it would be like to have Jake’s hands skimming over her heated flesh…
*****
He stood outside her house, in the shadow of the trees watching as the lights were turned off. The night was warm, too warm for his liking. A breeze drifted over his sweat soaked shirt, helping to cool his body down, but it did little to soothe the fire that burned steadily hotter inside of him. She was in there, probably lying on the bed dreaming about her handsome suitor. Women were such idiots, always looking for love and undying devotion from a man, never realizing he was just looking for an easy screw.
Slowly he approached the house surveying the windows and back door. Everything was locked; he’d seen her checking. Not that it mattered. If he wanted to, he could be in the house in under a minute. And he did want to be in that house, but not just yet. There were still a few more things to wrap up first, a job here and there. But then, once they were taken care of, there’d be time to deal with her.
Standing outside her bedroom window, he could see his reflection in the glass. His blue eyes stared back at him and his dark hair ruffled faintly in the breeze. Turning his head slightly to the side, he checked out his profile. Straight nose, strong chin—the doctor had done a good job. He’d wondered if Stephanie would recognize him that first time he’d been in the store, but she hadn’t. It was funny how a near fatal traffic accident could turn into a lucky break. With a new appearance and some fake ID, he’d been able to start his life all over.
Luck had been on his side again, when he’d found Stephanie after all this time. Who would have believed that she’d still be here in this stupid town after all these years? He’d left long ago, determined to never set foot in Weston again, but after travelling all over, some whim had had him returning. Now that he was here, he was making his stay purposeful. He’d make some money, look up old friends, and settle a few scores. Yep, it was finally time. Time for Stephanie Fields to get what she deserved, the stupid bitch.
Chapter 9
First thing in the morning, Stephanie called Paula to tell her about the robbery. In response, Paula gave an outraged squeal that had Stephanie holding the receiver away from her ear. Even at a distance, she could hear her friend’s anxious inquiries. “What? A robbery? Oh Steph, I’m so sorry! Are you okay? Did he damage the store? This is all my fault. If I’d been there, you wouldn’t have had to stay late by yourself—“
“Paula, calm down. I’m okay. The break-in would still have happened even if you’d been there and anyway, you needed to take care of Chelsea. Remember, family comes first. Now, how’s my god-daughter doing today, anyway?”
Paula could be heard taking a deep calming breath before responding. “Better. She threw up half the night, but seems fine now. Kids are so resilient. My mom’s agreed to watch her so I can go in to work today.”
“Only if you’re sure. I can manage on my own, otherwise.”
“Nope, I’ll be there. Besides I want to find out all the details of your date with Mr. Hot Stuff.” Paula then hung up before her boss could reply. Stephanie loved her friend dearly, but she did seem to have a one track mind when it came to men.
*****
Despite the previous night’s robbery, Stephanie felt like she was floating around the shop the whole day. Her sleep had been punctuated with the same steamy dreams that had plagued her of late, but now the man had a face and it was Jake. She was eager to see him again after work, but hoped she wouldn’t blush—some of the images in her dream had been quite… vivid. In preparation for her date, she’d dressed in her favourite coral blouse and off white pants, recalling that he’d liked the colour of her tank top the night before. Throwing her apron overtop, she hoped she could avoid staining the outfit while she worked.
For once, everything seemed to be going perfectly. The flowers for the Johnston wedding were on their way, Paula was back to help and the traffic flow through the shop was steady, but not overwhelming. The only down turn was that she couldn’t find her name tag. She was sure that it had been on the apron when she’d taken it off the night before. After finishing the wedding bouquets, she remembered removing the apron and draping it over her desk chair in the back room, but now the tag was no longer pinned to the material, nor had it fallen onto the desktop.
“Maybe it got knocked on the floor when the police were here last night.” Paula suggested. The two women crawled on the floor, looking under counters and behind the filing cabinet, but beyond dust bunnies and an old pen, they had no luck.
“Oh well, it was just a name tag.” Stephanie said as she slowly surveyed the room.
“Yes, but it was your name tag and I remember how proud you were when you could finally put the word ‘owner’ on it.”
“It was the first time that I finally felt like I had something of my own and that I was going somewhere with my life.” Steph recalled that day fondly, a smile playing over her lips.
“Hey, if it doesn’t turn up, I’ll get you a new one.”
“You don’t have to do that, but thanks for the offer.” She gave her friend a hug. Just then the phone rang and the front bell jingled. “Back to work. I’ll get the phone.”
“And I’ll get the customer. Maybe it’ll be someone like your Jake—tall dark and scrumptious… ” Laughing Paula swished through the curtained doorway into the front showroom.
Eight hours later the day finally came to an end. Stephanie had just finished handing her assistant the night deposit when Jake tapped on the door. Paula let him in on her way out. “See you on Monday, Steph. You two have a fun weekend. Remember to NOT behave.” She’d smiled gleefully at Steph’s appalled face. Jake just grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
“I like your friend,” Jake said leaning on the counter, watching her finish her work.
“Sometimes I wonder if she is a friend or not.” Stephanie was still feeling a bit embarrassed about Paula’s suggestive comment.
“She just wants you to be happy and enjoy life a little.”
“I know. I just wish she’d be a bit subtler about it.” She grabbed an envelope to put Monday’s orders in. “Ouch!” Shaking her finger, she popped it into her mouth.
“What?” Jake stood up, a look of concern on his face.
“Paper cut,” she mumbled from around her finger.
“Let me see.” He withdrew the digit from her mouth and looked at it carefully running his thumb over the surface, then slowly bringing it to his mouth and kissing it. “There, it’s all better now.”
“Thanks, but that only works when you’re three years old.” Stephanie retrieved her finger and studied it critically. “Huh… That’s strange. I could have sworn I cut it.” She peered at her finger more closely, squeezing the end and examining it for blood or evidence of a break-in the skin. Looking up at Jake she frowned. “You saw it, didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “Not really. But then again, I was more interested in the opportunity to kiss you, though your finger isn’t as satisfying as your lips.” With that he leaned forward and brushed his mouth over hers.
Stephanie was sure there must be electrical sparks in the air every time he did that. She leaned over the counter, trying to get closer, to deepen the kiss. The counter top dug into her stomach and she had to pull away. “Ugh!” Rubbing her ribs, she looked at him ruefully. “That counter is not conducive to kissing.”
“Not when we’re on opposite sides,” he agreed. “I’ll pull the blinds for you while you finish up here. Anything else need doing?”
“No. Paula and I had things pretty well wrapped up. I’ll just grab my purse and turn out the lights.”
*****
He t
ook her to a quiet restaurant on the edge of town that served a variety of entrées. It was a small establishment, with stucco walls and small intimate tables separated by strategically placed plants and bits of lattice.
“I hope this is all right.” He was looking a bit anxious as they sat down.
“It’s perfect. I’ve been here a few times and the food is good.” She fixed her napkin in her lap. “Actually I was a bit afraid you’d take me to one of those really fancy places up town and I’d be too nervous to enjoy myself.”
“I’m saving that for date number four.”
“Number four? You’re so sure there will be a next one?”
“Optimism and a firm belief in destiny are the guiding forces in my life.” He winked at her while taking a sip of water. Using his fingers he began to enumerate. “Date number one, a simple exchange of names over coffee. Date number two – a burger and fries. That lets you know that I’m just an ordinary guy, nothing alarming about me. Number three though, requires a bit of a change in strategy. I take you someplace like this. I carefully observe your choices tonight and then, on date number four, we go to some posh restaurant that specializes in what you like, thus overwhelming you with my astute understanding and intuition.”