by Marie Force
“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Clare joked when she snuggled up to him after they ate.
Aidan laughed. “See what happens when I’m away from you for just a few hours?”
“What will you be like after one of those twelve-hour days?”
“You can only hope I’ll be tired.”
Clare was relieved to see the light back in his eyes. He’d been withdrawn after the trip to the cemetery, and she’d worried about him. He seemed much better after a few hours alone, but it didn’t feel like the right time to get into the emotional discussion she needed to have with him. Since she’d made up her mind to tell him the truth, she figured it could wait another day or two until the time was right.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked with a mysterious smile.
“I don’t know. What am I doing?”
“Going out with me.”
“Are you finally going to buy me dinner?”
He laughed. “Yes, I am.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
“You have a very sassy mouth, you know that?”
“You love my sassy mouth.”
He kissed her. “Yes, I do. So I want you downstairs at seven o’clock in that sexy black dress I saw you sneak into the truck this morning, you got me?”
“I’ll see what I can do. Can I ride into town with you in the morning? I need to get my car and a few other things at Tony’s house. I’ve got a hot date to get ready for.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that.” He pulled her closer to him by hooking a strong leg around her as his finger traced its way up her spine.
When she realized he was aroused again, she let out a wail. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I’m an old lady. I can’t keep up with you.”
He rolled on top of her. “Sure you can.”
Clare couldn’t breathe as she ran through the empty house. Her heels made a frenetic staccato on the hardwood floors. From one room to the next, the monster followed her. His eyes, once friendly, were now evil. He was going to hurt her if she let him catch her. She ran but couldn’t find the door.
He chased her into a corner. The face that had seemed handsome was now twisted with ugly rage. Her clothes were torn and hanging from her. He lashed out at her, knocking her to the ground where he was heavy on top of her. She gasped for air.
“No,” she moaned. “No. Please.”
Someone called to her.
The monster shoved his way inside her. She screamed.
“Clare! Wake up!”
She came to, awash with sweat and tears, knowing right away that she’d had the same dream she’d had for months after the rape—the dream that led her to remember everything after she awakened from the coma.
Aidan held her as she sobbed. “I’m here, honey. I’m right here. You’re safe.”
That face—Sam Turner’s face—had haunted her for months after he attacked her. His threats against her girls had tormented her days while the nightmare plagued her nights. Jack never knew about the nightmare because she was so terrified that she never made a sound, even in her sleep.
“Want to tell me about it?” Aidan asked. He stroked her hair and held her close to him.
She shook her head. Her heart hammered, and she struggled to take a deep breath. “I need to get some water,” she was finally able to say.
He stopped her when she would have gotten up. “I’ll get it. Will you be all right for a minute?”
She nodded. After he left the room, Clare lay back against the pillows, willing the trembling to stop. She was so tired of being afraid. With a few deep breaths, she managed to slow her heart to a steadier beat.
Aidan came back with the water.
Clare took a drink and handed the glass to him. “Thanks.”
He got back in bed and gathered her close to him.
“I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I’m sorry you were scared. Will you be okay?”
Would she ever really be okay again? “Yeah.”
Clare appreciated that he didn’t push her to talk about it. After a while, the steady sound of his breathing told her he’d fallen back to sleep. She lay awake for a long time wondering what it meant that she’d had the dream again now.
Chapter 33
On the way into town with Aidan the next morning, she knew he wanted to talk about her dream but was again grateful that he didn’t push her.
At Tony’s house, she went upstairs to pack up a few things to take to Aidan’s. When she heard the floor sander go on downstairs, she picked up the phone to call Dr. Baker, her psychiatrist in Newport. He was with a patient, so she left a message with her cell phone number.
She carried a small bag downstairs.
Aidan turned off the sander and raised his goggles. A white mask dangled around his neck. “Come on outside.” He led her to the porch. “I don’t want you breathing this crap.”
“Should you be breathing it?”
“I didn’t just have pneumonia.” He tilted her chin to bring her eyes up to meet his. “Are you okay, hon?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Do you feel up to going out tonight? We can do it another time if you want.”
“I want to go.”
He kissed her. “I’ll miss you today.”
She smiled. “Not as much as yesterday, I hope.”
“Maybe more,” he said with a sexy grin that stopped her heart.
“I’ve got to get a body double.” She walked down the front stairs to the sound of his laughter.
The town bustled with preparations for the annual Winter Festival, which started on Friday. After quick visits with Diana and Bea, Clare decided to treat herself to a haircut and manicure. By the time she emerged from the salon an hour later, she felt better. It wasn’t every day a girl had a first date with the guy she loved, so Clare made an effort to get into the right mood for what would no doubt be a special evening for them. Not that every night with Aidan wasn’t special.
Her cell phone rang, and she saw it was Dr. Baker returning her call.
“Hi, Clare. I was just thinking about you the other day. How are you doing?”
“Much better. The time in Vermont has been just what I needed.”
“I’m glad to hear that. What can I do for you?”
“Well, I’ve met someone. A man.”
“Really? Is it serious?”
“It is. He’s wonderful.”
“Are you ready for something serious?”
“I think so. I met the right guy.”
“I’m happy for you, Clare.”
“Thank you. It’s just that, well, I had the dream last night. I think it’s because I’ve been putting off telling Aidan, the man I’m seeing, about everything that happened.”
“Do you think he wouldn’t understand?”
“I think he’d understand better than most people. He’s been through some heavy stuff himself.”
“So then why the hesitation?”
“I don’t know. I was all set to tell him last night, but it wasn’t the right time. And then I had the dream, which has me afraid again. For the first time in months, I’m afraid.”
“Clare, the man who attacked you is in prison. You have nothing to be afraid of.”
“Intellectually, I get that. But the dream, it was so real, like it was happening all over again.”
“Maybe the dream is telling you it’s time to level with Aidan so you can stop thinking about it once and for all.”
“I start to tell him, and nothing comes out. I freeze.”
“When the time is right, you’ll know, but do it sooner rather than later. Your subconscious is telling you something in the form of the dream. You need to listen to it. Will you be coming back to Rhode Island soon?”
“Probably in the next month or so.” She didn’t like to think about what that would mean for her and Aidan.
“Come see me, okay?”
“I will.”
“Give yourself permission to be hap
py, Clare. You’ve certainly earned it.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Aidan looked for something to smash. Surely if he could break something it would relieve some of the impotent rage he’d felt since Clare’s nightmare. He let her believe he’d gone back to sleep, but he was awake next to her for hours. He knew she’d dreamed about the rape, and the fact that he couldn’t talk to her about it had him searching for something to throw against a wall.
He was running out of patience. She needed to trust him with the truth soon. Otherwise, he couldn’t see how they could have the future he wanted so desperately with her.
Clare spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for her date. She took a long bath in the Jacuzzi, spent extra time on her makeup, and giggled to herself when she imagined Aidan discovering the scandalous black underwear she’d bought earlier in the day. She rolled on sheer thigh-high black hose before she slipped into the skimpy black dress he’d requested.
When she checked the complete ensemble in the full-length mirror, she was pleased with what she saw. “Not bad for an old girl,” she said, spinning on one of her three-inch heels.
On the way downstairs to wait for him, she was surprised by a flutter of nerves. This definitely felt like a first date, even though they’d been together for weeks. He came in a short time later and ran for the shower, calling out that he’d be quick.
While she waited, she walked over to the window. Aidan’s house was built on one of the hills that formed the base of Mount Mansfield. The rising moon cast a silvery glow upon the village of Stowe below. She must have been daydreaming, because he was back before she knew it.
“Hey,” he said from behind her. “Are you ready?”
She turned to him, and all the blood rushed from her head when she saw him in a dark suit over a light blue shirt and tie. “Oh, boy, look at you.” She closed the distance between them, and slid her hands inside his suit coat.
“Look at you. I love your hair.” He kissed her, and the fire between them ignited.
After several minutes spent wondering why they were bothering to go anywhere in the first place, Clare came up for air. “We’d better go before we forget we’re going somewhere.”
“I’ve already forgotten.”
“You’re not getting out of this, O’Malley.”
He groaned. “You’ve got me all worked up.”
“I’m starting to wonder if you’re ever not worked up.”
“Not when you’re around,” he whispered in her ear.
She pulled away from him. “I’m putting my foot down. This time you’re buying me dinner first.”
He laughed. “All right, if you’re going to be that way about it. Let’s go.”
“Where’re we going?”
He held her coat for her. “You’ll have to wait and see. Let’s take your car. The truck is dirty.”
Clare handed him the keys, and he opened the car door for her. She liked how he did that even when they weren’t on an official date.
He drove them to the base of the mountain, where the parking lot was full of cars belonging to nighttime skiers.
She glanced at him with a quizzical expression.
He took her hand to lead her inside. “Don’t give me that look.”
“I’ve never skied in heels before.”
“There’s that smart mouth again.”
They walked up the stairs to the gondola station.
“Evening, Mr. O’Malley.”
“Hi, John. Thanks for staying late.”
John opened the door to a large gondola for them. “No problem.”
Aidan helped her into the heated car and sat close to her as John sent them on their way. The moment they left the station, Aidan pulled her close enough to kiss.
“Where are we going?”
“Up,” he said, running a hand up her leg. He sucked in a sharp breath when he encountered the lacy top of hose that ended abruptly at mid-thigh. “Oh, Jesus, I’ll be thinking about that all night.”
Clare giggled. “Have some self-control, will you?”
“I have none. Zero. Zippo.”
“Look at the view.” Clare directed his face to the skiers on the well-lit trails below.
Aidan returned his attention to her neck. “I’ve seen it before.”
The gondola moved slowly up the mountain and delivered them to the top after a brief ride through the darkness. The operator at the top of the mountain also knew Aidan. They walked across the wood deck into a restaurant, where again he was greeted like an old friend.
“How do you know all these people?”
“I renovated the home of the owner, and we got to be friends.”
They walked into the quiet dining room. “Where is everyone?”
He gestured to a sign that read “Closed for Private Party.”
Clare gaped at him. “You reserved the whole place?”
He leaned down to kiss her. “I didn’t want to share you with anyone.”
A tuxedoed maître d’ came out to meet them. “Good evening, Mr. O’Malley. Right this way.” He seated them at a candlelit table for two next to a window overlooking the mountain. “Your waiter will be right with you.”
“I cannot believe you did this.”
Aidan moved his chair closer to hers. “Since you were only expecting pizza and beer, the bar was set awfully low.”
“You continue to surprise me, O’Malley.”
“My goal in life.” He grinned as their waiter poured champagne and left the bottle in an ice bucket next to the table.
Aidan lifted his glass and looked into her eyes. “Here’s to you and me and the last first date of our lives.”
Clare touched her glass to his. The implication of his toast hung in the air between them as they were served an elaborate meal that Aidan admitted wasn’t on the restaurant’s regular menu.
“You must’ve done a hell of a job on his house,” Clare said as she finished her filet mignon.
He gave her his now-familiar offended look. “Of course I did. You can ask him yourself. Here he comes.”
Aidan introduced her to Michael Donnolly, the restaurant’s owner and head chef. Clare could tell by the banter between the two men that they were good friends. Michael confirmed that Aidan had, in fact, done a spectacular job on his house.
“See, I told you,” Aidan said to Clare.
“Was everything all right with your dinner?” Michael asked.
“It was excellent, thanks, Mike,” Aidan said.
“Nice to meet you, Clare,” Michael said and left them alone.
They were served a sinful chocolate dessert, and Clare fed Aidan the first bite.
“I need to check something,” he said with a serious expression.
“What?”
Under the table, he ran a hand up to where lace met leg. “Yep, still there,” he said with a deep sigh of frustration.
She pushed his hand away. “You’re like a twelve-year-old boy. When are you going to be forty anyway?”
“Two weeks.” He put his hand back on her leg and nuzzled her neck.
Laughing at his antics, Clare tilted her head to give him better access to what he wanted. “Maybe you’ll act more like a grown-up then.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. Can we go home now? Please?”
“I’m not ready for our first date to be over, especially since you went to all this trouble.”
“Our first date is not over, don’t worry.”
“There’s more?”
“Haven’t you learned not to underestimate me?”
“Apparently not,” Clare said, dying to know what else he had up his sleeve.
On the gondola ride down the mountain, Aidan made good use of the time alone to further explore the silk and lace that had preoccupied him all evening. By the time they reached the bottom of the mountain, Clare was breathless with wanting him.
“I’ll bet you have other surprises for me under there, don’t you?” he asked, pretend
ing to peek under her skirt.
She slapped his hand away. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“Oh, that mouth of yours. It’s going to get you in so much trouble one of these days.”
“I can’t wait.”
He gave her a look that was full of promises and helped her off the gondola. They walked downstairs to the parking lot, where a horse-drawn sleigh awaited them.
“Your chariot, madame,” he said with a dramatic sweep of his hand.
Speechless, Clare stared at the sleigh and then at Aidan.
He took her hand to help her into the sleigh and bundled heavy blankets around them before he signaled to the driver they were ready to go.
“I’ll never underestimate you again,” Clare said softly.
He put his arm around her. “You’ll ruin all my fun.”
She kissed him and rested her head on his shoulder. “This is the best first date I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad,” he whispered. “Are you warm enough?”
She nodded and looked up at the dazzling array of stars in the moonlit sky. The horse’s hooves beat in time with the bells around its neck as the sleigh glided over the snow, and Clare knew if she lived to be a hundred years old, she would never forget this.
The sleigh delivered them to Aidan’s house, and Clare was surprised to see her car already there.
“How did my car get here?”
“My buddy John, the gondola operator, did me a favor.”
“Did you think of everything?” Clare asked with amazement as he held the door and followed her into the house.
He took her coat and went to hang it up. When he returned to her, he had shed his suit coat.
Clare put her arms around him and snuggled into his chest. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry it took me so long to buy you dinner.”
Clare laughed. “It was well worth the wait. I love you, Aidan O’Malley.”
“I love you, too.”
“Will you do something for me?”
“Name it.”
“Will you sing for me?”
Startled, he said, “How do you know I can?”