Dawn laughed. “All right, you don’t look anything like him.”
Randy glanced at her.
“But you do.”
Randy shook his head, and downed a swallow of beer. “What kind of men do you like, besides uh...” He motioned to the television.
“You mean looks, or what’s inside?”
“Both.”
Dawn thought for a few seconds. “I like big men.” When Randy raised an eyebrow, she smacked him. “Not that! I mean tall, muscular. And I like mustaches.” She turned her attention to Magnum. “I love hairy chests, and lots of hair on a man’s arms. Like yours,” she said, spreading her hand over his forearm. “And men with blue eyes like yours.” She smiled. “And I like a man who’s macho enough to cry at sad movies, and who likes little puppies. And red and black bikini underwear.”
Randy laughed, kissed her, and then put his arm around her. He hesitated then, not wanting to mess with the mood, that could have even been his opportunity to lead her down the hall. But he wanted to keep her talking. “What about the last man you were with?”
“You mean with, with?” Dawn looked into his eyes.
Randy nodded. “Yes. What was he like?”
“Do you really care about this, Randy?”
He nodded, and sat back, waiting.
Dawn sighed. “Well...” She shrugged, not knowing quite what to say. “He was tall, better-looking than me. And in the long run I guess, he expected too much.”
“Like what?”
“Like everything. Marriage. Commitment.”
“You weren’t ready for marriage?” Randy said, his tone contrary to the anger building inside.
Dawn shook her head. “I didn’t love him. I wasn’t even sure that I liked him after a while.”
Randy swallowed. “Then why in the hell were you seeing him?”
Dawn glanced at him and paused. I think we ought to drop this?” She could see one of these mood swings of his coming on. “Let’s just...”
Randy shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I want to hear this.”
Dawn got up and walked across the room, and sat down in a chair across from him. “It was shortly after my parents died.” She stared down at her hands. “I guess I was just lonely.”
“And are you just lonely now, Dawn?” Randy asked, his face getting hotter and hotter.
Dawn looked up, smiling faintly. “No, not a bit. I’ve come a long way since then. Ben and Tom have helped me a lot there.” She lowered her eyes to her hands again. “I’ve been able to work a lot of things out in my head.”
“Like what?” Randy asked, taken aback and yet driven by the sudden sadness on her face. “What things?”
Dawn shook her head and glanced at him. “I thought we were talking about Dave. Let’s not get into anything heavier, okay?”
“Dave...?” He motioned for her to continue.
Dawn sighed, staring off a second and resigning herself. “Okay, here goes. And then I want to drop it. I don’t plan on throwing years of therapy out the window in one evening.” She forced a smile, making it hard to tell if she was kidding or not. “When my parents died, there were just too many pressures. I couldn’t get away from it. No one would let me.” She stood up and walked over to the window, and looked out. “I hate to say it, but I guess I was just using Dave. So, I finally told him I didn’t want to marry him and that was that.”
Randy cleared his throat. “What did this Dave do for a living?”
Dawn turned and smiled; the strangest things interested him. “He was a stockbroker.”
Randy nodded, swallowing hard. “Did you ever write about a stockbroker? Investing and all that?”
Dawn smiled again, then laughed. “As a matter of fact, I did. But I don’t think it was one of my best works. Not enough research I guess. I learned a bitter lesson there.”
Randy stared. He needn’t probe further. When Dawn asked to use the phone to call Linda, he went for another beer. Bits and pieces of her conversation invaded his thoughts. “I broke the pact. Stop laughing, I’m serious. I couldn’t help it.”
Randy watched her as if he were in a trance, wondering how she could be laughing so easily, when just minutes ago, she looked as though she were going to cry. He wanted to hold her, but he also wanted to turn his back on her. Convinced he was just being used, played with, he would jump at any explanation to sway him otherwise, and was trapped.
Dawn hung up the phone, still laughing. “She doesn’t believe me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “She thinks I’m trying to trick her.”
Randy pulled her closer. “Do you trick her often?”
“No, that’s just it. I never do anything wrong.”
Randy smiled, just holding her, loving her in his arms, in his life. “How about we go take a shower. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do it alone again.”
Randy lay awake for hours afterward, while Dawn slept soundly beside him. She had been so different this time. Not the fragile woman he’d made love to on her quilted bed. So free, so giving. He looked over at her, sleeping so innocently next to him, when just hours before, she’d fulfilled every one of his fantasies about her. He sighed, wondering if she’d ever been that giving, that demanding with another man. He could almost handle her being with another man, but he wanted to be her first at that.
He dozed for a few minutes, then woke again, haunting himself with thoughts of his own stupidity. How could he have fallen in love with a woman who was using him? He stared up at the ceiling, wondering which chapter of her book he was in.
Dawn snuggled closer and rested her head on his chest. “Why are you awake?”
“I just woke up,” he lied.
She mumbled something then, something he couldn’t quite make out.
“What?” he whispered. “What did you say?”
“I said, I love you.”
He fell asleep shortly after that.
Gloria arrived at the track around ten, with the scent of lilac hovering around her like an invisible halo. She and Charlie had so much in common. He loved flowers, and so did she. He loved to eat, she loved to cook. He liked to pamper her, she liked to be spoiled. She loved to smell his pipe tobacco, and so did he. He was lonely without her, and she was lonely without him. But together, they were happy. In fact they’d spent every evening together since the night Ben introduced them.
“Yoo hoo!” she sang.
Dawn answered from Cajun’s stall. “I’m down here, Gloria.” She stuck her head out.
“Hi, sweetie. Is Ben around?”
“I think he’s up at the kitchen.”
Gloria nodded. “And how’s Mommy’s little Cajun?” she asked, kissing him on the nose. He twitched, and she kissed him again. “I’m going to go track him down, but I wanted to talk to you too, dear. I’d like you to come to my house for dinner tonight. I plan on inviting Ben and Tom, and of course Charlie will be there. And do bring your young man, he is so handsome.”
Dawn smiled, just listening as Gloria went on. “It’s for a very special occasion. Please say you’ll come.”
“I’d love to,” Dawn said. “But I’ll have to let you know about Randy.”
“Oh, don’t worry about getting back to me, just bring him. I always make enough. We’re going to have roast chicken, wild rice stuffing, creamed peas, and bread pudding. They’re all Charlie’s favorites.”
“I wouldn’t miss it. It sounds delicious. May I bring something?”
“No, sweetie,” she said, already starting down the shedrow. “Just you and your date. And make sure you help me talk Ben into it. You know how funny he can be about...” Her voice trailed off as she rounded the corner. She waved to Randy in passing, coming from the other direction.
He walked along and found Dawn, and sat down in the stall opening, stretching his legs out in the shedrow as she told him about the invitation.
“I’m on call,” he said. “Raffin covered for me twice this week already.”
&nbs
p; Dawn nodded, and wasn’t sure if she should push it. He could be so moody at times.
“What’s the occasion anyway?”
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling it’s important,” she said, pleased that at least he was giving it some thought.
“Is she rich?”
Dawn frowned. “Comfortable I suppose. But what does that have to do with it?”
“Nothing I guess. I was just wondering,” Randy said, thinking, chapter seven...the owners.
Dawn shook her head. “You’re complex, Randy. You know that?”
“Me...?” Randy laughed.
“Come on.” Dawn crawled over next to him and nibbled on his ear. “She’s having roast chicken, wild rice stuffing, creamed peas, and bread pudding.”
Randy smiled. “Creamed peas?”
Dawn nodded.
“Okay, you talked me into it. But if I get paged, I’ll have to leave.”
“Good enough.” Dawn kissed him and started to edge away, but Randy wouldn’t let her.
“Last night, you told me you loved me.”
“I did?” Dawn smiled.
“Yes. So do you?”
Dawn gazed into his eyes. “Yes, I think I do.”
“You think?” Randy swallowed. “Last night you sounded sure.”
Tom started down the shedrow right at that moment, shouting, “Hey you two!” He stopped in front of the stall and squatted down next to Randy, unaware of his poor timing. “Did you hear about Ginney?”
Randy shook his head, still looking at Dawn with an incredibly hurt expression on his face.
“She ain’t pregnant anymore. Probably had an abortion.”
Randy turned. “No kidding?”
“It’s true. It’s all over the track. And frankly, I’m glad. I thought all of us guys would have to go to the claim booth and shake for it before it was all over.”
He laughed, and though it struck Randy as funny as well when put that way, he made certain not to even crack a smile, not with Dawn watching his reaction. And here came Ben, who with one look, started mumbling about no one ever working when he left the barn.
“No one.” He sat down at his desk in the tack room, winded, and took off his hat to wipe his brow. He’d just made arrangements to have Beau shipped out and All Together shipped in a week from today. He wanted to give Beau a few days of ponying to try and bring him down slowly, while gradually cutting him back on his feed. If he shipped him home now as high as he was, he’d only end up hurting himself.
After catching his breath, he looked down the shedrow and smiled at Randy and Dawn, in the midst of what he would call courting games. He remembered his own courting days, and especially another day, after years of marriage, when he finally talked Meg into a playful romp in the hay with him. How long ago that seemed now. And yet so vivid.
Dinner at Gloria’s was a feast, with everyone virtually stuffing themselves. Gloria suggested they retire to the living room for dessert, and Randy put his arm around Dawn.
“Do you know how to cook?” he asked.
Dawn frowned. “No, do you?”
“Not really.” He shook his head.
The bread pudding dessert was warm and served with cinnamon ice cream and glazed pecans.
“I have died and gone to heaven,” Tom said, and everyone laughed as he helped himself to seconds.
Then came the announcement. “Charlie and I are going to be married,” Gloria said. Charlie just beamed. “The date is set for five weeks from today.”
As everyone congratulated them, with hugs and kisses and handshakes, Randy, the relative newcomer to the group, watched Dawn in awe. She was so sophisticated, so intent and gracious as she listened to their plans.
“We want you all to be there. We will of course, be married in the parlor. I’m wearing lavender, and do so hope we can find lilac somewhere in season. It’s Charlie’s favorite flower, mine also. Did you know that?”
Dawn smiled, glancing at Ben and Tom.
“Charlie of course will wear white. It is his first marriage, so I think it’s appropriate. Don’t you agree, dear?”
Dawn nodded, smiling again.
“My lady friends are wearing lavender too, and will be carrying nosegays. I know they’re terribly old-fashioned, but so are Charlie and me.” She took hold of his hand. “The reception will be immediately after the ceremony, and of course, it will be in the garden. Oh, it will be so lovely.”
Charlie patted her hand, then looked over at Ben. “I’d like you to be my best man, Ben, if you would?”
Ben nodded He’d be proud to.
“Wonderful,” Gloria said, and rattled on.
During the drive home, Dawn hummed along with the radio. Randy on the other hand, had gone full circle with his mood again, and had become sullen. He had wanted to go to his apartment, suggesting that to Dawn. But she wanted to go home. She was tired. And she needed a good night’s rest. Agreeing without uttering a word, he made a U-turn in the street, and headed in the opposite direction of his apartment.
Dawn moved over closer to him so she could rest her head on his shoulder, and soon dozed, which only added to his mood. At her apartment and just about to get off the elevator, he looked at her.
“Are you going to let me read this racetrack book?”
“Sure. It seems only fair, since you’re one of the main characters.”
She was teasing, but he had no way of knowing that, and took her much too seriously. “First,” he said. “I want to read it first.”
Dawn agreed, searching his eyes, and was about to add something else, when his pager went off. He asked to use her phone.
“Come on,” she said, and slipped her hand in his. “You can use the one in my library. I want you to see it anyway.” She led him down the hall to a spot near her bedroom, where she opened what he’d thought was a closet door.
She stepped back, he entered, looked around, and couldn’t imagine it any other way. It was small, probably ten by ten, he estimated, with floor-to-ceiling oak book shelves covering three of the walls. The open wall was papered with burlap, where framed were Beau Born’s win pictures. There was a large desk, probably mahogany he decided at a glance, a braided rag rug, and two brown leather winged-back chairs.
“I like it,” he said. “It’s perfect.”
She motioned to the phone, and started out. “Do you want a beer?”
When he nodded, she left. He phoned his service then, jotted down the message, and hung up as he gazed about. On the desk, at his fingertips, lay the manuscript. He picked it up and leafed through it, but laid it down when he heard Dawn coming back.
“Was it an emergency?” she asked, handing him his beer.
“No, not really. A horse I gave a vitamin injection to is having a reaction. I’ll have to swing by there on the way home.” He looked around the room again. “This is really nice. I thought you were kidding.”
Dawn shook her head, and that’s when Linda came bounding down the hallway and in to greet them. Randy smiled. She was so unlike Dawn. They were both attractive, but the similarity stopped there. Linda wore a lot of makeup, Dawn wore hardly any. Linda was medium height, Dawn extremely tall. Linda wore her hair short, Dawn wore hers long and braided. Linda was amply built, with larger than average breasts, while Dawn was thin, with small, but what he thought were absolutely beautiful breasts. His mind wandered back to the night before, in his shower, lathering Dawn’s hair and sifting it through his fingers, his hands all over her...
“Randy, would you like to join us?”
He smiled, wondering how long he’d been daydreaming, and glanced at Linda as they continued their conversation.
“So what’s new with you and Harland?”
“Not much, we had dinner. He just dropped me off.”
Dawn chuckled. “Does his cousin still think I’m a devil worshiper?”
“A what?” Randy said.
Linda laughed, told him the story, and even Randy laughed, surprising himself. But all
too quickly, his preoccupation with the manuscript returned.
Linda noticed him glancing at it. “Did Dawn tell you you’re in it?”
He looked at Dawn. “Yeah, she told me.”
“It’s great,” Linda said. “Whenever I want to find out anything about you two, I just thumb through the pages, and it’s all there. Speaking of which...” She turned to Dawn. “I still don’t believe any of that crap about you breaking the pact. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’m not buying it.”
Dawn laughed.
“But just in case. What color are Dawn’s sheets?” she asked Randy.
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“See? I knew it. Not only did it never happen, it’s not in the book,” Linda said, laughing. And out she went.
Dawn shook her head. “She’s kidding, Randy. Honest.”
Randy hesitated, then reached for her and pulled her close. It’s Dawn he didn’t believe. “I still want to read it.”
Dawn put her arms around his neck and kissed him, then kissed him again, and promptly yawned.
Randy chuckled, and gazed into her tired eyes. “What chapter am I in?”
Dawn yawned again. “Ten or eleven. But really, I’m serious...it’s not you.”
Randy nodded. “How many chapters do you anticipate before it’s done?”
“Twenty or so.”
Randy smiled. At least he had some time left. “How explicit do you get with the sex scenes?” he asked, sliding his hands down over her hips and pulling her closer.
Dawn shook her head. “It’s a book about the racetrack. Graphic sex has nothing to do with it.”
“Does that mean I can get as raunchy as I want, and not have to worry about it being in print?”
Dawn smiled. She could feel him hardening against her. “Yes. I mean no,” she said, and reminded him it was time to go. “Now...” she teased, “so I can write all this down.”
Dawn had been asleep for hours when the phone rang and answered it only after eight or nine rings, and in a complete fog. “Hello?”
“Dawn, this is Randy. I’m sorry to wake you.”
Even half asleep, his voice sounded strange to her. “What’s happened? What time is it?”
Winning Odds Trilogy Page 21