by Shelly Ellis
Lauren shoved off Dawn’s hand and continued her angry strides. This time, her sister didn’t follow.
“Lauren, wait up!” she heard Cris shout from behind her.
She picked up the pace, almost stumbling over the hem of her dress.
People turned to stare at her as she crossed the room, alarmed by her rudeness, but she ignored them all. She walked through the French doors and ran down the flight of steps to the gardens below. When she reached the lower level, she gripped the railing, and closed her eyes. The tears still fell but not as heavily now. She opened her reddened eyes and gazed into the dark garden in front of her. The smell of gardenias filled the warm September night air. She could still hear the orchestra music playing upstairs.
“Pull yourself together, chérie,” she could hear Phillip urging her.
She was a big weepy mess and all because the people in town didn’t like her? No, that wasn’t the reason. She was falling apart because of Cris.
Lauren couldn’t stand it, knowing that Cris was with someone else. She had stubbornly pushed him away and into the arms of his ex and now she would have to live with her decision. She hadn’t cared about what people thought when she was with him. But having Cris in this town and seeing him with his girlfriend at parties and on Main Street and at the farmer’s market and everywhere she turned would be unbearable. It felt like thousands of eyes were on her, waiting for her reaction. And what would they see on her face? Longing? Disappointment? Heartbreak?
“I can’t do it,” she murmured sadly. “I just can’t do it.”
“Can’t do what?”
Lauren instantly dropped her palms from her face and turned to find James standing a few feet behind her, halfway underneath the shadowy overhang of the terrace.
“Can’t do what, beautiful?” Laughter tinged his voice as he circled her and drew near to the banister.
Lauren sniffed and took a hesitant step back. “How . . . how long have you been standing there?”
“Oh,” he uttered slowly, tilting his head and reaching out to run his finger along her jawline. She flinched at his touch. “Long enough.” He chuckled before extending a white handkerchief to her. “Are those tears over Mr. Wonderful upstairs? Did he finally toss you aside?” He smirked.
Lauren ignored the handkerchief James offered her. “Cynthia’s probably starting her speech soon. I should get back—”
“You know, you owe me a thank-you,” James began casually. “One of the women you had that little fight with a few weeks ago wanted to file charges against you and your sister. The sheriff let me know about it and I had a little talk with her husband. He’s not a bad guy. He’s an old golfing buddy of mine with a bit of a gambling habit. He owes me a great deal of money. I reminded him about that and voilà, she decides she doesn’t want to press charges anymore. Isn’t that a fortunate coincidence?”
Lauren had wondered why the fight hadn’t come back to haunt her. She should have known that James had pulled some strings behind the scenes.
“Thank you,” she said tightly, feeling the words corrode on her tongue.
“See what I can do for you, Lauren? With a snap of my fingers, I can make all your problems go away. All you need to show is . . .” He trailed his fingertip along her collarbone before letting it dip between her breasts. When she shrank back, he smiled. “. . . a little appreciation.”
Lauren tried to walk around James to head back toward the stairwell. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Lauren’s eyes instantly leaped to his face. She didn’t like what she saw in those green eyes.
“What are you trying to do? Run back to him? I told you he doesn’t want you. Not anymore. Did you honestly think a man like that would take a woman like you seriously? He knows your type, Lauren.”
Lauren narrowed her eyes. This is how it always was with James. He could go from syrupy sweet to a poisonous bite in less than a minute. His fangs were definitely out now.
“Just get away from me!” She attempted to walk around him again. This time he grabbed her arm and tugged her against him. Lauren winced.
“When you were with me, you were exactly what you should have been. You didn’t have to pretend with me, because I know what you are. You know what they would have called you in the olden days, Lauren? A concubine. You’d live in your master’s house, eat his food, have his children, and in exchange, he’d expect you to shut up and keep him happy. But they don’t have fancy words like that anymore. You know what they’d call you now? A hooker on retainer.” He grinned despite the strain of keeping ahold of her as she twisted and turned in his arms. “How do you like that? Our line of work isn’t that different. We both work for an hourly rate and we state our fees up front. All we need to do is keep the client happy.”
“Damn it, let go of me!” she shouted, but the orchestra reached a crescendo and Lauren knew that none of the partygoers could hear her. Besides, some of them wouldn’t come to her rescue even if they had heard her. They would see what’s happening now as her just deserts. But where the hell were Dawn and Stephanie? Where were her sisters when she needed them?
“Look,” James said as he shoved her into the shadows beneath the terrace, “I’ve been very patient with you. I’ve let this drag for almost a year, but I am tired of playing games! You’ve had your fun. You’ve made your point, and now it’s time for you to come back home!”
“I am not going back! I’m not your damn concubine! I told you, it’s ov—”
He silenced her words by wrapping his hands around her neck. Lauren felt herself being lifted and savagely shoved back farther into the shadows and up against the moss-covered brick wall under the terrace. His grip tightened.
Oh, my God! He’s lost it. He’s finally lost it!
With her air supply cut off, she began to flail desperately. Lauren reached around in the darkness for anything possible she could use to defend herself, but grabbed only thin air and flecks of brick that crumbled from the wall as she scratched the damp, aged surface. She kicked, wriggled, and punched her balled fists against his neck and shoulders but to no avail. Just as she could feel herself blacking out, James finally released his hold from around her neck. Lauren took in quick gasps of air, preparing to scream again, but then she felt a hand clamp over her mouth as if he sensed what she planned to do next. With his other hand, he grabbed at the voluminous fabric of her skirt, shoving it upward. Lauren squealed in horror against the palm of his hand. She realized what he was about to do.
Oh, God, no! Don’t let this happen! Don’t let him rape me down here! Please don’t let him do it!
She screamed again as the hem of her skirt reached her waist.
“Lauren,” Cris suddenly called. “Lauren! Lauren, are you out here?” He turned and squinted against the darkness into the shadows where James and Lauren were tussling. “Lauren, are you in there?”
When Cris came into view, Lauren took her chance. She bit down hard on the fleshy part of James’s palm, making him yell and release his grip. When he did, she shoved as hard as she could, sending him off balance and falling back against the facing wall. She slid to the ground, gathered her skirts, and bolted to the garden railing where Cris was standing. She then fell into Cris’s arms, catching him by surprise.
“What the hell?” Cris exclaimed, frowning down at her. He scanned her red eyes and disheveled hair and gown. “What’s going on?”
Meanwhile, James was quickly recovering.
“You little bitch,” James muttered as he flexed his bitten hand. “I’m really going to beat the shit out of you for . . .”
His words drifted off when he stepped from under the terrace and realized Cris was holding her.
Lauren’s chest heaved up and down as she fought to catch her breath. She pointed at James.
“He . . .” She brought a hand to her chest, trying desperately to steady her breathing. “He . . . tried . . . to . . . rape me.”
James quickly pasted on a smile. “Nonsense!” He adjusted the
lapels of his tuxedo and his bow tie. He took a calming breath. “Don’t listen to her, Cris! We were just catching up and got a . . . a little carried away, if you know what I mean.” He laughed. “You came down here and caught us by surprise. She’s just a little embarrassed, that’s all.” He turned to Lauren. “Rape? Why would you say a thing like that, baby? Don’t lie to the man.”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like that! You tried to rape me!”
James’s smile tightened. “Lauren, honey, keep your voice down. Someone might hear you. What are people going to think?”
“I don’t care what they think! Let them hear me!”
“Would you listen to her? She’s hysterical. It doesn’t make any sense. Why would I try to do something like that here at a party with all these people? It doesn’t make any sense,” he repeated softly. “Come on, baby, you know we were only having some fun. Come back over here and—”
“Look at his hand, Cris!” She pointed at James again. Tears ran down her cheeks. “He’s bleeding. I had to bite him to get him off of me! I swear to you I’m not lying!”
Cris tightened his protective hold around her shoulders. He gazed down at her. “I know you’re not. I wouldn’t doubt you, Lauren.”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought if you take her word over mine! You know what she is! Half the men in town have—”
“Maybe you should just shut the hell up while you’re still ahead!” Cris shouted. “Part of me wants to call the police and tell them what you did to her, but the rest of me just wants to beat the shit out of you right here and now!”
Lauren’s pulse raced with newfound alarm. She quickly shook her head as the orchestra started another overture, drowning them out again. “No. No, don’t do that, Cris.”
James grinned. “You’d be smart to listen to her. I’ve got friends in high places around here. No one’s going to arrest me, certainly not based on the word of a town whore,” he said, casually pointing to Lauren. “You’re new to Chesterton and don’t know any better. I understand. But I’d hate to see you run out of town so soon. So . . .” he said as he took several steps forward. He buttoned his dinner jacket and pointed toward the stairwell. “Why don’t you just run back upstairs and let me handle my—”
James didn’t get the chance to finish before Cris punched him, knocking the older man back several feet. It had happened so fast that Lauren barely noticed when Cris removed his arms from around her, stepped forward, and took the swing.
“I’ve got friends in high places, too, you piece of shit,” Cris said, glaring down at James, who was still on the ground, wiping the corner of his bloody mouth with the back of his hand. “And I’ve got just as much cash to throw around. You may scare most of the people in this goddamned town with your big money and big talk, but I’m not afraid of you! You hear me?”
James started to rise to his feet, but before he did, Lauren also had something to say.
“And if you do come after him or me or my family again,” she warned quietly, taking a step forward, “I won’t keep silent this time. I’m going to the police. I’m going to file charges. Even if not a single person in Chesterton believes me, I’m still going to do it.” She leaned over her ex, no longer intimidated by his menacing gaze. “And you’ll have to explain to all your clients—especially the ones who don’t live around here—why you were charged with assault and attempted rape. Even if I don’t get you thrown in jail, I’ll make sure I embarrass the hell out of you. I’ll make sure people always wonder if you did it. I’ll make sure your name and mine are linked together forever in their minds.”
She could see the rage again in his eyes and the hate, but a dawning of awareness was also there. He wanted to shout at her. He wanted to punch her. But for once, he held himself back. Finally, he realized that he had something to lose and that he was equally matched. They had gotten through to him.
James rose to his feet, brushing the dirt and mossy grime off the seat of his pants. He adjusted his dinner jacket and cleared his throat. The orchestra music had finally died down and Lauren could hear Cynthia’s voice over the loudspeaker followed by polite applause.
“So that’s how it’s going to be?” James asked, the anger thinly veiled in his voice. “After all we had, Lauren? After all I’ve done for—”
“Again,” Cris murmured, “quit while you’re ahead.” He waved toward the stairs. “Just get the hell out of here.”
James flinched. He wasn’t used to being talked to that way. But he kept silent and slowly trudged to the garden’s stairs, eyeing them as he did.
Lauren watched as he climbed each step, until he reached the top and she saw his back disappear past the arch leading into the front hall.
He’d have a hard time explaining the busted lip and bloody hand to the other partygoers, but it could be a lot worse. It’d be harder to explain being escorted out in handcuffs.
“Are you all right?” Cris asked from over her shoulder, snatching her from her thoughts.
Lauren turned, gave a pained smile, and slowly nodded. “I’m fine. A little roughed up.” She reached for her slightly bruised neck. “But I’ve . . . I’ve had a lot worse.”
“You shouldn’t have used calling the cops on him as a bargaining chip,” Cris said. “That bastard deserves to go to jail for what he did to you tonight and what he did to you before that, regardless if he called the cops on me or made my life a living hell.”
“If it keeps a choke collar on him, that’s all that matters to me,” she said softly, lowering her eyes. “I didn’t want him to go after you, too.” She paused. “I’m . . . I’m sorry I dragged you into this, Cris. It’s not what I wanted.”
“You didn’t drag me into this. I came after you because I wanted to, and thank God I did or things could have gotten a lot worse for you down here.” He tilted his head and looked at her searchingly. “I’ve been chasing you around all night, Lauren. Didn’t you realize that?”
“Yes, but . . . I don’t know why. I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me.”
“Why would you think that? Because you kicked me out of your apartment?”
“Well, yeah, and . . .” She let her gaze drift to the garden behind him, unable to meet his eyes. “I came to your house and your girlfriend said—”
“My girlfriend? Alex told you she was my girlfriend?”
Lauren hesitated, then nodded.
Cris gave a lofty roll of the eyes. “Yeah, well, that lying, scheming bitch hasn’t been my girlfriend in months. The last time we were a couple was back in Texas. I just dumbly allowed her to stay at my house for a few days while she was in town. That’s all. I kicked her out a couple of days ago.”
“Kicked her out?”
“Yeah—her and her thirteen suitcases.”
Lauren fought back a smile. “So you two didn’t get back together? You’re not a couple?”
“No, we’re not a couple.”
Lauren let those words settle into her. She had resolved that she would have to move on because Cris had moved on to someone else. But that obviously hadn’t been the case. The possibilities for them were endless again.
“Cris, I—”
He held up a finger, silencing her. “Wait. I see something.”
Lauren watched as Cris walked past her into the shadows of the terrace where she had been fighting for her life minutes earlier. He emerged seconds later, holding her diamond pendant necklace in his hand.
Lauren’s fingers instantly leaped to her throat again. She had been so shaken up that she hadn’t realized her necklace was gone.
He smiled as he gave it a quick wipe on the front of his jacket. “I believe this is yours.”
She reached for the necklace, but he shook his head and motioned for her to turn around. As he placed the jewelry around her neck, she breathed in one unsteady breath, feeling his warm fingers linger on her back and then her shoulder blades. When she turned back around, he raised a hand to her cheek, then let it fall t
o his side.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to call it a night.”
She chuckled. “I was ready to leave an hour ago.”
“If you feel too shaky to drive, I can take you to your place. It wouldn’t be a problem.”
She gazed into his eyes. “I’d much rather go home with you.”
And she meant it. She wanted to go back to his house and share his bed. She wanted to share the next few hours until morning with him and many hours after that until they all added up to a lifetime.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her toward the stairs. They left the party together and that night made love until the wee hours of morning before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter 34
“How’re the strawberries?” Cris asked as he leaned back against the plaid wool blanket on one elbow. He peered at Lauren over the wicker picnic basket nestled between them.
He had asked her the question while she was midbite. Lauren giggled as juice from the luscious strawberry trickled from the side of her mouth to her chin. She wiped at the drops with the back of her hand. “Delicious,” she mumbled between chews.
“Damn, you’ve got it all over your mouth. Let me take care of that for you.” He then leaned toward her and licked the juice off the corner of her lip. They tumbled back onto the blanket and she laughed and shrieked as he continued to lick and nibble at her before finally rewarding her with a soul-stirring kiss.
It was a cool fall October afternoon—so cool, in fact, that Lauren had thrown another wool blanket over her jeans-clad legs to ward off the chill. From this vantage point—a hilltop just on the outskirts of Chesterton—they could see the fall foliage, the lush hues of red, orange, yellow, and green.
Of course, this view didn’t compare to the one they had enjoyed earlier. They had finally taken the long-delayed hot-air balloon ride and Lauren had gazed in awe at the blue, cloudless skyline and the countryside. She and Cris stood silently with their arms wrapped around each other as they floated over Chesterton, appreciating the scenery around them. She was grateful for the moment, for being with him. She had lots of things to be grateful for now.