“Still searching the stars, I see.”
She jumped, feeling as though her heart had dropped to her knees. She looked up to see Rush walking along the roof. He motioned. “Do you mind if I join you?” She was so startled to see him that she was at a loss for words. Numbly, she shook her head. She wasn’t prepared for the tremor of excitement that ran over her as they sat there, looking at the stars. The silence grew large between them, and she became keenly aware of his nearness. Her heart sped up as she stole a glance at him. The moonlight shone against his chiseled profile. Gosh! He was handsome! More handsome than any guy had a right to be.
Finally, she could bear the silence no longer. “How did you know I was up here?”
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to remember our spot.”
“Our spot?” She looked at him and saw the implication in his eyes. “The two of us have been out here before?” She felt hot despite the cold.
A slow smile stole across his features. “Yeah.”
“Did we used to come out here and talk?”
“Yeah, we talked … ” His eyes moved to her lips. “Among other things.”
“Oh.” She looked away. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she felt like she would have an out-of-body experience.
He let out a low chuckle that sent shivers trickling down her spine. “I know it’s dark out here, but if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re blushing.”
“I am not,” she countered.
“You are.”
He sounded amused … pleased. She smirked. “Don’t flatter yourself.” She used the same phrase that he’d used on her earlier in the day.
He laughed. “Fair enough.” He shifted around until he got comfortable. “What’re you looking for tonight?”
“What?”
He pointed. “The stars.”
She looked at him in amazement. “How did you know?”
His expression became serious. “Because I know you, Elle.”
The sincerity of his words cut through her defenses and encircled her heart. Why was it that things always heated up between them so quickly? He was so close, and they were alone. She glanced at his wavy hair and how it curled on his neck. Her fingers itched to touch it. Things could get out of control fast. She scrambled for something to say—something that would quell this all-consuming attraction that she felt whenever he was near. She cleared her throat. “Do you know anything about the Big Dipper?”
“A little.” He gave her a quirky smile. “The Big Dipper is a part of a larger constellation known as Ursa Major.”
“The Great Bear,” she inserted.
He nodded. “Exactly.” Then he went on as if she hadn’t spoken. “The body and tail of the bear make up The Big Dipper. According to Greek Mythology, the mighty Zeus became enamored with Callisto, a nymph known for her remarkable beauty … not unlike someone else I know.” His eyes lingered on hers, and she felt the familiar heat fan her cheeks. Handsome and charming! A dangerous combination. “Anyway, as I was saying, Zeus and Callisto had a child named Arcas. When Zeus’s wife, Hera, learned of his infidelity, she became insanely jealous of Callisto and turned her into a bear.”
“Ooh, how dreadful,” she cooed.
He ignored her sarcasm and continued with the story. “Arcas grew up to be a mighty hunter. While hunting in the forest one day, he came across Callisto who heard her son’s voice and rushed out to greet him. Arcas, not realizing that his mother was the bear, almost killed her. To protect Callisto, Zeus intervened, turning them both into bears and flinging them into the sky. Callisto is The Great Bear known as Ursa Major, and Arcas is The Lesser Bear known as Ursa Minor.”
“Wow! Impressive.” She smiled. “You really know your Greek Mythology.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? My mother’s an English teacher.”
She made a face. “Really?”
“Yep! You should hear me quoting Shakespeare.” He made an exaggerated motion of clearing his throat and lifted his face to the sky, his arms outstretched.
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.”
“From Romeo and Juliet,” he said giving her a slight flourish with his hand.
She began clapping. “Bravo!” Underneath the tough-guy facade was a much more complicated and refined individual than she’d realized. It lay on her tongue to ask him why everyone kept calling him a druggie, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice the words. “Remind me to ask you for help the next time I have to write a paper.”
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair.
She swallowed hard, not sure how to broach the next topic. “Tell me about us,” she blurted before she could talk herself out of it.
He looked surprised. “You and me?”
She nodded.
He took a deep breath. “We met in the summer when I first moved to Tower Heights.”
“So you’ve only been here for a few months?”
“Yeah, things weren’t so good for my mom and me before, so we decided to move here to start fresh.” His voice trailed off, and he seemed to get lost in thought.
So, he had a past—a past he didn’t feel comfortable talking about. Even though she was itching to know the details, she didn’t press him. He seemed to sense that she was giving him his space and started again.
“The first day we met … well, let’s just say that things hadn’t gone too well. I was on the team and—”
“Team? What team?”
“The football team.”
“You play football?”
“Played football,” he corrected, “not anymore.”
“But what happened?”
His jaw tightened, and she could tell he was trying to decide if he wanted to tell her.
“What happened?” she prodded.
“I misjudged the character of one of the players.”
She tried to make sense of what he was saying. “Which player? How?”
He hugged his arms. “People aren’t always what they seem. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Anyway, I was accused of something I didn’t do, so I quit the team.”
“What were you accused of?” She kept her tone conversational in the hopes that it would prompt him to talk. All the while she was wondering if this is where the drugs came into play. Had he been doing drugs? Was this explanation his way of covering it up? She pushed aside the incriminating thoughts. He deserved a chance to be heard.
“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, I was in the garage, taking out my frustrations on a punching bag.” He gave her a crooked smile that sent her heart to flipping. “And there you were, leaning against the garage door in a sundress and red heels.”
Her eyes widened. Had she really been bold enough to show up at some stranger’s garage door? That didn’t sound like her, although she’d seen those red heels in her closet, along with a red sundress that had splotches of blue flowers on it.
“You brought me up here to your spot. We started talking about the stars … the meaning of the universe … life in general …” He flashed a teasing smile. “That’s where it all began.”
Began … what began? She had to know. “When did we start …” Her heart pounded. “I mean when did we?” The words came out in a jumble. Blast it! She couldn’t get the words to come out right. Then she saw the flicker of amusement in his eyes. She reached out and shoved him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
He turned toward her, closing the distance between them. His eyes looked midnight blue in the near darkness, but she saw in them that same fierce determination that she’d sensed around him earlier. That unconquerable confidence that willed her to acknowledge him. There was a thin layer of stubble running along his jaw. Her eyes went to his lips, and she remembered how it had felt when he kissed her on the field. He caressed the curve of her cheek with his finger. Her breath caught. “Is there something going on between us?” he asked, his voice goi
ng husky. The question hung in the balance, and she didn’t know how to answer it, but resisting him was becoming harder and harder. It was like she was teetering on the edge of a black hole, and despite her better judgment, he was sucking her in—heart, body, and soul. He touched a strand of her hair. Every inch of her yearned to kiss him. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, waiting for his lips to take hers, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes, confused. Had she misread the signals? He was still a breath away, watching her intently. There was a trace of amusement on his face. Humiliation burned through her veins. He was toying with her. She tried to back away, but he caught her by the wrist. “Is there something between us? I want to hear you say it.” His voice was urgent, demanding.
“Let go of me!” she uttered through gritted teeth.
He held on tighter. “I won’t be Edward’s stand-in!” His voice grew hard. “If there’s something between us then I want it out in the open—for everyone to see. I won’t keep slinking around on rooftops, Elle.”
“Is that what you think this is?” A hot anger coursed through her veins. “I didn’t ask you to come out here tonight! I didn’t ask you to escort me out on the field, and I sure as heck didn’t ask you to kiss me!”
He let go of her arm. “No, of course you didn’t,” he said bitterly. “You never do.”
They sat there glaring at each other until he backed up like he was going to leave. A clutch of fear tugged at her, and she realized something in that moment that startled her. She didn’t want him to leave, not like this. “Look, I don’t know what happened between us before the accident. I don’t know what I did to you, but whatever it was, I can’t remember.” Her voice broke. “I don’t remember anything.” She hated the way her eyes were filling with tears. She blinked to keep them at bay. “To hear people tell it, I did a lot of horrible things before the accident, so whatever I did to you … I’m sorry.”
He raked his hands through his hair, and she could tell he was trying to decide whether to stay or go. Finally, he let out a groan. “You’ve got to be the most infuriating woman on the planet!” He cocked his head. “How did a nice guy like me get tangled up with a girl like you?”
She started to spout off a retort until she saw the smile playing on his lips. She gave him a reluctant smile and arched her eyebrow. “A nice guy like you, huh? That remains to be seen.”
He laughed. They sat silently for a few minutes, looking at the stars. He nudged her. “So, where do we go from here?”
She let out a breath. “I don’t know, but I’m willing to take things one step at a time and see where it goes …” she stole a glance at him “ … if you are.”
He turned to look at her. “You know, I think that’s the most honest thing I’ve heard you say.”
She chuckled and held out her hand. “Friends?”
When he reached for her hand, a whisper went through her—a whisper of something old and lasting, something that had been there before, something that couldn’t be erased by time or space. He seemed to feel it too. He gave her a quizzical look. “I don’t know what we are, but friends doesn’t quite fit the bill.”
He leaned in, and she half expected him to kiss her this time. Instead, his mouth lingered near her ear. His warm breath sent a tantalizing tingle over her. “Sleep well,” he whispered.
He stood, and all the while his eyes never left hers. A part of her wanted to grab hold of his shirt and put her lips to his so she could satisfy this incredible longing that was building inside of her. Instead, she reached for the box of chocolate and stood. If she couldn’t have Rush, she’d settle for a piece of chocolate. She reached for a white chocolate truffle and handed it to him. “Here, we’ll seal the deal with this.”
He looked down. “What’s that?”
“Chocolate.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Well, life with you is never boring, I’ll give you that, Elle.” He took the truffle. “Okay, we’ll start fresh beginning now. Let this white piece of chocolate … this sugary concoction … this …” he floundered, searching for the right word.
“Truffle,” she supplied.
“Truffle be a symbol of our new …” he winked “… friendship.” He plopped it in his mouth. “Um, that’s good.” He motioned. “Now you.”
She took one and put it in her mouth. “Yes,” she agreed, “very good. Well, it’s getting late. I need to go.”
He nodded. “Me too.” Then he flashed a cryptic smile and began reciting.
“Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
She shook her head. “Too charming and way too handsome,” she muttered under her breath, watching him saunter away. He had her in the palm of his hand, and he knew it. At the moment, being in the palms of his capable hands didn’t seem like such a bad thing.
Chapter Ten
White Chocolate Truffles
Elle tossed and turned, her thoughts going back to Rush more often than they should, until she drifted off into an uneasy sleep. The perfect sweetness of the truffle she’d eaten earlier wafted over her senses, and before she knew it, she was lifting higher and higher until she was floating. She was twisting and turning in the empty space, across jagged mountains and blue lakes, without a care in the world, but then a familiar curve in the landscape captured her attention. She paused to get a closer look, going down, down, down. It’s a dream, her mind whispered, but somehow she remembered having been here before. There was a dot in the distance, but as she neared it, it grew large before her—a house. A very large house that was big enough to be a hotel. She recognized the gray stone, the massive wooden door, the windows that were crisscrossed with thin strips of metal, creating infinite diamond shapes. There was a slight opening in one of the windows. A tiny crack that was as welcoming as a summer’s breeze. It beckoned to her, and she floated closer through the open space and into the house …
She might’ve heard the faint sound of pinging glass the first time, had Cinderella not been so focused on mending the torn frock. She’d caught the hem on a post the day before as she was feeding the chickens. If only she could tuck away enough farthings to buy cloth for a new frock then perhaps Rushton’s mom would think her a good candidate for a Lady in Waiting. She sighed, knowing that there would be no new frock and most likely no opportunity of ever going to the castle. It was Rushton who had planted the idea in her head. He kept insisting that he could persuade his mother to put in a good word for her. She’s on a first-name basis with the King, he assured her. “If she recommends you then you’ll certainly get selected.”
What Rushton hadn’t figured on, however, was his mother’s vehement dislike for Cinderella. And as far as Cinderella could tell, it was all on account of the fact that Cinderella was a poor servant girl in her stepmother’s home. It didn’t matter that her father was once a duke. He died impoverished with a tarnished reputation, and that made Cinderella tarnished too. Wisteria Avalonia Porter of Florin, Rushton’s mother, was a famed singer who entertained the King’s Court. Rushton was certain that he could change his mother’s mind about her, but Cinderella wasn’t so sure. Still, she hated to dash his hopes, and in her heart of hearts, a part of her wanted to believe him. Somehow, in the midst of all of Rushton’s persuading, his hopes had become her own. The ping sounded more loudly, followed by a succession of other pings. She put down the frock and went to the window. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Rushton on the ground, throwing pebbles up at the window. She opened it and called down to him. “Hello!”
He motioned. “Come down, we need to talk.” He flashed her a smile so brilliant that it would’ve made the sun envious.
She glanced over her shoulder, afraid that Josselyn or Seraphina would see her talking to him. “I have to finish my chores,” she called back, knowing full well that by the time she finished the long list of tasks that Seraphina required her to do, the sunset bell would’ve already sounded, and it would be time for supper.
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nbsp; He waved the comment away. “Come down,” he urged, his expression impatient and pleading at the same time. “Please.” He pressed the flats of his palms together and lifted the tips of his fingers to his lips.
She let out a breath, knowing that it was useless to protest. Rushton could talk her into doing almost anything. “I’ll be right there.”
* * *
“Again,” Rushton said, eyeing her critically, “but this time, do it with confidence. Thou art a Lady in Waiting—bred from a life of culture and dignity.”
Culture and dignity? Two things she knew little about thanks to her difficult upbringing. Rushton was sitting on the ground, his back resting against a bale of hay. He was the picture of elegance in his rich green tunic that was emblazoned with the King’s coat of arms and his velvet cap, befitting the noble squire he was. What did he know of hardship or depravity? She put her hands on her hips. “Yes, let me see, yesterday, when I was milking the cow, we were discussing the importance of setting a proper table, and then when I was feeding the hogs, I gave them the proper curtsy …” she lifted the hem of her frock and gave him an exaggerated dip … “like so.”
He made a tsking sound with his tongue. “Watch that temper, it’ll get the better of thee every time.”
“Whatever dost thou mean?” She batted her eyes.
He chuckled. “Keep wearing your expressions on your sleeve, and you’ll be the target of every other Lady in Waiting from Aandover Peaks to the next kingdom.” He lifted his chin in mock solemnity and looked at her as if she were the lowliest of peons. “Thou must be the picture of dignity.” His voice took on the tone of an entitled royal, reminding her of the puffed-up peacock of a man she’d seen in the marketplace, some duke with a title long enough to be a book, from some place she’d never heard of. Rushton brought his hand to his chin, cupping it in a dignified manner. “Thou must exude grace …” he made a flourish with his hand “… and control.”
She chuckled despite herself. “I never knew thou were so royal,” she teased, her eyes twinkling.
Banished: Book 1 of The Grimm Laws Page 10