Love and Other Wicked Games (A Wicked Game Novel)

by Olivia Fuller

  Talk about irony.

  Talk about his life…

  And where did all of this leave them?

  He knew the simplest solution, the right solution: when they left this room that would be the end. They would continue on life as if none of this had ever happened. They would forget each other and move on. But deep inside Cal knew that was no longer an option. They were connected to each other now, in some way he could not yet explain. He had to make this work. He had to. Whatever this was.

  “What if I told you there is something you can do?” he said before he allowed himself to think and change his mind. “Something that we can do?”

  Ellie tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

  “About the mills. And the workers.”

  “What is it?” Her eyes began to sparkle again in a way they hadn’t done since he’d first taken hold of her hand and carried her away. “Tell me. Please.”

  “Well, I’m not sure what we will actually be able to do…”

  “That’s fine.”

  “And there is the possibility that it may be a bit dangerous as well…”

  Ellie squared her shoulders. “That’s fine as well. Remember what I said about fear?”

  “I do remember.”

  “Then yes. Please tell me what I can do. I want to help. However I can.”

  “Well, alright then.” Cal looked down and took a deep breath.

  He didn’t like the idea of potentially putting her in danger, certainly not if his only motivation was seeing her one more time. But that was not the case, he decided, as he thought it all over again. Her caring presence and an extra set of eyes and ears were bound to be beneficial. There was real potential that she would be able to help him make a difference.

  And he didn’t know if he actually was in danger. He didn’t think he was anyway now that he had a better idea of who was following him and why. It was an inconvenience more than anything and while he would remain exceedingly cautious, he would continue to treat the situation as nothing more than an inconvenience until he was given a reason to the contrary.

  Besides, Ellie was not some shrinking flower. That was one thing he knew for sure. Dangerous or not this seemed just the sort of thing she would have undertaken on her own had she known what to do with the information she collected.

  Cal looked back to her and grinned and she returned one in kind. Her smile was so sweet that it made his mouth water.

  “How would you like to go to a rally?”

  Chapter 7

  This day was continuing to surprise her and Ellie was over the moon.

  A rally. A rally she could go to. A rally where she might even be able to help.

  Her. Ellie. Making a difference.

  Had she ever heard of anything so wonderful?

  Joyous energy overtook her body. She wanted to laugh and scream and dance all at once. Throw her hands above her head and run even, but she decided it was best not to call that much attention to herself until she was safely out of this part of the city.

  Cal had left her a few streets back, reluctantly, to continue alone on her journey home.

  She’d hugged him and then smiled as she walked away waving.

  “I’ll be just fine,” she’d called to him when she saw he wasn’t walking away too. “Now go! Before I change my mind!”

  “Would that be so awful?” he’d called in response as he took a few steps backwards and then turned away with a wickedly enticing smirk.

  And for just a moment she almost had changed her mind. She’d almost run back to him as fast as she possibly could. If he’d looked at her for one second longer or said one more word then she would have, without a second thought.

  His arms just felt right around her and she felt right in them. Peaceful and comfortable and safe. It was like being wrapped up in a sheet fresh off the line that had baked in the summer sun. This definitely wasn’t something she’d expected when she first met him, to feel this way, but then again she hadn’t expected any of this. Certainly not these feelings. And as shocked as she was to realize it, out of everything that had happened since yesterday she was most surprised by the way she felt when she was around him.

  It was new and it made her tingle in a way that was entirely inappropriate, even to think about. Yet, she was thinking about it now as she walked home. And she remembered how she’d thought about it at the inn too.

  The first time the feeling struck her she was sitting next to him after he told her all about the rally. She was wishing he would hold her again as he’d done before, wondering if he knew what she was thinking and wondering if he was thinking about it as well. It was almost too much to stand, this ache she felt inside, but it was a good ache. Like the feelings that ran all through her body after a brisk walk.

  She thought about telling him. Just saying it and seeing what happened even though she had nearly no idea what that might be. She only knew it would be wicked, and that in this moment she was perfectly alright with that.

  But just as she worked up the courage to raise her head and part her lips, he looked down at her and said, “It’s time.”

  “What?” she asked dreamily.

  “It’s time for us to go.” Cal pulled a rather shiny watch from his pocket and looked inside. “As I thought. We’ve been here nearly three hours.”

  Ellie shot straight up. “Three hours! Oh, Lord. My mother’s probably sent out a search party by now.” She uncurled her legs out from under her and stretched. Then she leaned over and slipped her shoes back on her feet.

  “Oh my. Then let’s not keep them waiting any longer. That’s the last thing I need…” Cal stood up and stretched too before reaching out his hand to Ellie and helping her up. She tangled her fingers in his. She didn’t want to let go.

  “Well, I’m sure she hasn’t actually sent anyone. Not really, anyway. But I’m sure she’s worried sick.” Ellie said, her hand lingering in his for just a moment longer than necessary. “And I’m bound to get an earful from Mandy by the time I get back to the shop. She’s like a second mother to me now and she sure doesn’t put up with foolishness anymore…”

  Cal put his hands on his lower back, stretching again, and then looked around the room. “I’ll miss this place.”

  Ellie reeled a little, not immediately understanding his meaning. “Which part? The smell or the décor? Because I’m having a hard time deciding which is more memorable. And don’t forget the patrons downstairs or in the next room! They were quite the colorful bunch as well.”

  “That they were… But I was referring to the present company.”

  “Oh, yes. That.” Ellie smiled and then blushed, for the thousandth time, but when she tried to hide it he stopped her.

  “Don’t,” he said placing one tender finger below her chin and tilting her face up. A few stray hairs fell in front of her eyes and he brushed them away, gently rubbing the pad of his thumb on her cheek. “It suits you.”

  She smiled again and so did he. It was a warm smile, a comforting one, but she could see a hungrier and wilder emotion peering through. A devious glisten shone from his now slit eyes and it made her heart jump up into her throat. His smile became languid and then he bit the right side of his bottom lip, tilting his head, as if he was trying to make a very important—and scandalous—decision.

  Kiss me! she shouted. But not out loud. Wrap me in your arms and kiss me now!

  And he did. He took her face in his hands, drew her to him casting their bodies together, and kissed her square on the top of her head. She shivered. She felt his lips smile against her crown.

  I should have been more specific, but I’ll take that. Her legs wobbled as he released her and she held her hands out to steady her balance.

  “Shall we?” he held out his arm to help her, the satisfied grin now wide across his face.

  She took his arm, knowing full well she wouldn’t want to release it and knowing that he knew this too. But she’d deal with that when she had to, which was definitely not right no
w. Right now she would just enjoy the feel of him. Right now she would just enjoy the moment.

  And she did. So much in fact that she didn’t even realize they left their sanctuary, or that they were downstairs, or that they were nearly out the door until she heard Cal yell “Shut up!” to the downstairs patrons when they made snide remarks about how long the two of them had been upstairs.

  Ellie decided she could now add blushing to the list of her normal personality characteristics since she seemed to spend all of her time lately doing it. But this time she just let it happen.

  Then sometime, though not too much later, they were forced to part ways. Her parents’ dress shop was on the south end of the city while wherever Cal was headed was on the north end. Neither of them wanted to part and they stood there at the cross roads looking at each other in silence; her arms swinging to and fro, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his heels.

  That was when she decided to hug him.

  “I’ll see you shortly,” Cal whispered, his voice ticking her ear and her senses.

  She couldn’t wait. And from the sounds of it, neither could he.

  But they would have to wait because the rally wasn’t until tomorrow night. And Ellie honestly wasn’t sure which she was more excited about.

  “What’s a rally?” she’d asked, scooting just a bit closer to him on the bed. As she slipped back into the memory she realized her voice sounded a bit on edge. Probably because at this moment, all she could think about was how desperately she wanted to see him again after their adventure was over.

  “Oh, yes. I suppose I probably should explain what I’m talking about instead of just inviting you along, shouldn’t I?”

  “That would be helpful, since a rally doesn’t sound like the conventional sort of manner in which a gentleman calls on a lady.” Did I really just said that? She looked at his face. Yes, it appeared she did.

  “No, it definitely is not.” He paused and twisted his lips. “Is that something you would like? For me to call on you?”

  “Is that an option?” Ellie looked down at the floor. What was she doing?

  “That’s not what I asked,” Cal responded as he continued to smile roguishly. “And who said anything about me being a gentleman, or behaving like a gentleman? Where’s the fun in that?”

  “I—well—” Ellie cleared her throat.

  “We certainly wouldn’t be here if I was.”

  “I suppose not.”

  “And you still haven’t answered my question.”

  Ellie cleared her throat and crossed her arms. She was afraid to answer. It was obvious that he enjoyed her company, at least here within the refuge of this room. But this room was not the real world and she had no idea what might possibly happen once they walked out that door. Maybe their connection would be more powerful than ever, or maybe they would never feel connected again. That was a terribly sad thought.

  “Perhaps we should get through this rally—whatever it is—first.”

  Cal smirked. “Fair enough.”

  “So, what is it then? This rally you speak of. Judging from the sort of activities you’ve included me in thus far I’m assuming it will be ever so exciting and scandalous.”

  “Oh yes. Ever so much.”

  “I hope you’re right, because you’ve set my expectations of you incredibly high. And I must say that should this friendship continue you’ll have quite a job in keeping me satisfied.”

  Cal chuckled softly and made a quiet hmm in his throat. “I imagine I will. But I don’t foresee that being an issue.”

  “Is something funny about that?”

  “Not at all.”

  “I’m very particular.”

  “I know. Most women are.” Cal crossed his arms with another smirk. “And you, even more so. I can tell… and I like it.”

  “What does this have to do with a rally?”

  “Absolutely nothing at all.”

  “Then what are you talking—” Ellie was struck with the realization that he had been teasing her again. She desperately wanted him to explain himself but she was afraid of what she might do if she knew the answer. And she was more afraid that she would enjoy every moment of it. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to move on before the fire inside of her burned out of control. “I’d like my question answered. What’s a rally?”

  “Alright then. As you wish.” Cal rubbed his hands together vigorously. “I’m sure you already know from the protests you’ve witnessed that the mill workers themselves are tired of the way they are forced to work and live. Until recently though, none of them ever thought there was anything they could do about. That was just the order of things and the way the world worked. And if there was ever going to be any change it would not come at their hands but at the hands of someone else, someone ‘more important’—say a mill owner—”

  “Well, that isn’t bloody going to happen…”

  “Of course,” Cal qualified with a clear of the throat. Ellie thought she heard his voice catch but he carried on before she could even wonder what it was about. “But as you’ve seen with all these protests lately, people are beginning to see things differently. They’re no longer willing to wait around for someone else to save them. They’re ready to save themselves.”

  Ellie tilted her head. “Huh. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

  “But that’s a mighty big job for one person, is it not?”

  “I’d say so.” Ellie felt a sudden rush of excitement as the pieces began to come together in her head. “So the workers are starting to come together.”

  “Exactly. There’s strength in numbers, in more ways than one. Together they can find support and help one another in their fight, but together they can also find common goals. They can develop a plan to address their shared grievances and what they want—” Cal shook his head. “No, not what they want: what they need—both from their job and their employers.”

  “What they deserve. As human beings,” Ellie added.

  “Exactly,” Cal said again, reaching out to give Ellie’s hand a squeeze.

  “So, this rally then, it’s one of their gatherings?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s not a protest is it?”

  “No, no. Nothing like that. This one isn’t for the general public. This is just for the workers and their allies. An informal gathering for support and planning.”

  “And I’m sure they can use all the support they can get.” Ellie clasped his hand now too. “Alright. Yes. This sounds wonderful. More than wonderful even. I’d love to go.”

  “Brilliant.” He grinned at her in a way that told Ellie he was relieved, as if he had been holding his breath waiting for her answer and hoping he would see her again after all this was over.

  The thought filled her with happiness and excitement, but she couldn’t ignore that something about this situation was beginning to nag at her.

  “However…” Ellie sighed and carefully placed her hands on her lap trying to figure out exactly what it was she wanted to know.

  “What is it?”

  “How is it… how is it that you know about this informal workers’ rally? And what exactly is the purpose of us going anyway? I mean I’m sure they will be grateful for our support and it’s bound to be informative and interesting and—and—”

  “Oh. That.” Cal inhaled and exhaled slowly, as if he was trying to buy time. He was looking slightly sick again. “I suppose I have to tell you then, don’t I?”

  “Tell me what? Are you finally going to tell me what all this is about?”

  Cal continued to breathe deeply.

  “What is it?”

  “I—well, I—I am—” Cal cleared his throat.

  “Goodness. You’ve turned as white as a bed sheet.” Ellie reached out and touched his forehead. He flinched a little, which surprised her. Ellie got the feeling that he hadn’t thought this all the way through and now he was scrambling to come up with an answer to give her. “Well, not these s
heets but you know what I mean—and you’re all clammy. Are you—”

  “I… know some people. Some influential people.” Cal said forcefully, almost too forcefully. He took a few more slow deep breaths until the color returned to his face and he no longer looked like he was going to pass out.

  “Well, that wasn’t so difficult now was it?” Ellie pondered him a moment. He appeared to actually be telling her the truth. How much of the truth though, well, that was an entirely different matter. “Which influential people?”

  “Just some people.” He paused. “Some people who have the ability to help change the lives of these workers.”

  Now Ellie felt slightly sick. “Mill owners?”

  Cal didn’t answer.

  “Which mill owners?”

  He still didn’t answer.

  “You sure like your secrets, don’t you?”

  “Not at all actually. But I like you enough to keep them.”

  His smile was earnest again and his hand covered hers with a protective warmth. She wanted to feel this way forever.

  “So,” he prompted after a while.

  “So… you know these people, people who can possibly help the workers.” Ellie bit her lip, trying to process everything, but this whole situation, combined with the growing emotions in the center of her chest, was making rational thought nearly impossible. “I’m sorry but I don’t quite understand what that has to do with you or me or going to this rally.”

  “Oh, it has everything to do with us and this rally.”

  “How so?”

  “It will be a fountain of information for one thing.”

  “About what?”

  “Well, the workers and their plights to begin with: what they want, what they need, their grievances.”

  “And how does that help? I was under the impression that the mill owners don’t care one way of the other as long as they make their money. So, how is gathering this information about the workers going to make any bit of difference?”

  “You’re correct.” Cal’s eyes glistened once more. “The mill owners don’t care about the workers. To them and their investors and shareholders, mills have one purpose and one purpose only: to make them money …and lots of it. So the plight of the workers, their complaints, their desires… all completely irrelevant. But that doesn’t mean that change is impossible. We just need to speak in the right language. As you said, the mill owners don’t care one way or another as long as they make their—”