Drawn To You: A Psychological thriller

by Ren Montgomery

  She could hear the dog scratching on the glass door as he walked towards her. She smiled, and before she could even set down the wine bottle, he had his arms around her.

  She sighed with pleasure as she drank in the feel and the scent of him, and she hardly minded that the wine was caught between their bodies and jabbing her in the stomach.

  He turned her face up and kissed her.

  This was a good kiss with no slurp in sight. The man was a quick study. The kiss moved quickly from greeting to passion, and she forgot about the wine and put her arms around his neck. The bottle fell to the hardwood floor with a thud, cushioned by a thick rag rug underfoot, and Sean kicked it away as they concentrated on each other.

  Finally, he tore his lips away and put his hands on her shoulders and his forehead against hers. “Wow,” he murmured.

  “Wow indeed.” He was breathing hard and so was she, and she was far too excited to even think about stopping now.

  She slid her backpack off, took his hands from her shoulders and placed them on her hips as she nudged his head to the side and began kissing and nuzzling the place where his chin met his ear. He shivered and she put her hands underneath his shirt and ran them up his back slowly. She could feel his excitement.

  “Oh Ruby,” he whispered, and she felt his hands move from her hips and roam under her shirt until he found her bra strap. He fiddled with it and began pulling on it urgently. “How does this thing work?”

  She smiled. “It opens in the front,” she whispered.

  He ran his hands around her sides to her stomach and her skin broke out in goosebumps.

  “Where’s your room?” she croaked, not really wanting to do it right there on the kitchen floor in his parent’s house.

  She’d hoped he’d just swing her up in his arms and whisk her up the steps, but he didn’t. They left the lights off, and he took her by the hand and led her up the dark staircase slowly as they shed their clothing and felt their way around. By the time they reached his room they were bare, and she was past caring about taking pictures or videotaping anything. She’d never felt this way before, and she’d just known it would be like this with him.

  What a man.

  ▬▬▬

  Ruby lay with Sean in his double bed, with her head on his sweaty chest and her leg over one of his. Hers. He was hers. He was stroking her hair with one hand, and she had her eyes closed, savoring his gentle touch.

  “Well, that was fun,” she said, meaning it. Not as good as Simon, yet, but Simon had to have been some sort of prodigy. Sean was coming along nicely though. Up from a six to an eight in two days. She couldn’t wait to experience his ten.

  “Yeah, it was,” he said. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the nose. “But I’m hungry and my brother will be home soon, and I don’t want him to see our trail of clothes strewn throughout the house.”

  He lived with his parents and his brother? “You live with your brother?”

  “Nah. Nick’s just staying here for a few weeks. He actually lives in Oakland, but he comes up to visit the folks a few times a year so he can get his redwood fix.” He sat up and pushed the covers off his legs. He turned on the light, and she squinted at the sudden brightness.

  “Your parents live near here, then?” she asked, glad for the opening. Now she’d find out what was going on. She moved closer to him and ran her hand absently along his thigh, unable to keep her hands off him.

  “Not near here—they live here.” He gestured around his room.

  “Here? In your house?”

  He put his hand over her roving one and squeezed it gently, to stop her. “Actually, this is their house. I’m staying with them while I pay off some of the bills my wife and I accrued during our marriage. With my salary, I just don’t make enough to pay child support, alimony, credit cards, and rent. So, my parents are temporarily helping me out.”

  He stood up and stretched, and she gazed at him, amazed both at how comfortable he was in his own skin and by how unembarrassed he was to admit to being a broke substitute teacher living with his parents. Didn’t he care about trying to impress her at all?

  She cleared her throat. “So where are they now? Are they going to be home soon too?”

  “No. Remember? They’re in Florida until Monday. We’re safe for now. Too bad Nick’s leaving on Sunday, but he’s already extended his trip by almost a week.” He rolled his eyes. “Because he met some girl.”

  She smiled, but as soon as he turned away, she narrowed her eyes. It had to be his ex-wife who’d run up their credit cards in the first place, so why was he the one stuck paying them off? And that bitch was a nurse! She probably made a lot more money than him. Why wasn’t she the one paying child support? And what was up with the alimony? Damn. He must be some poor innocent when it came to money.

  She clenched her jaw. Well, he had her now, and by the sound of things, he was pretty lucky he did. She’d stop that bitch from taking him to the cleaners. There was a new girl in town, so Millicent would have to step off the gravy train. Why was she thinking in clichés all the sudden? Well, no matter. Sean might be an innocent in the ways of the world, but she was not.

  “But isn’t your ex-wife a nurse? Shouldn’t she be paying you child support?” she blurted out.

  He looked at her thoughtfully. “How’d you know Millie’s a nurse?”

  Crap. How did she know? Oh yeah. She’d seen Millicent dressed in her uniform when she’d staked out the house. But had Sean ever mentioned it to her? She didn’t think so.

  She chuckled. “You told me of course. That day at the coffee shop when you were talking about Danny, you mentioned it.”

  “Oh.” He reached out his hand for hers, and she allowed the covers to fall away as he pulled her to her feet.

  His face changed to concern. “Where’d you get those bruises?” he asked, running his hand lightly across her left breast, before touching her thigh.

  “What?” Ruby looked down, shocked to see a large purple bruise billowing across her breast. Her thighs had two perfectly round bruises, one each, near her hips. “What the hell? I have no idea.” She pressed each bruise in turn. “They’re not real tender. They must be new—”

  “My brother Alex was in an accident once, and he had a bruise just like that.” He pointed to her chest. “From the seatbelt.”

  She remembered her airbag deploying. She remembered punching her thighs over and over again.

  She forced a smile. “Nah, I’m just clumsy and anemic. I must have banged into something and I bruise super easy. Get dressed. I’m starved.”

  She led him from the room in search of their clothes.

  CHAPTER 26

  After a late dinner, Ruby and Sean sat side by side on the couch with their feet up. She scooched under his shoulder, and he obligingly freed his arm and put it around her. They snuggled together in companionable silence.

  She couldn’t quite believe that she was here, in this tacky plaid and flowered living room, cuddling with the object of her affection after so many years of crushing disappointment.

  Dreams really did come true.

  “Do you still want me to talk to Jeremy for you?” Sean asked.

  Ruby sat up and faced him on the couch. He’d remembered! “Yes! That is, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

  “No, I don’t mind. Though I don’t know how much good it’ll do. Do you know his phone number?”

  Ruby realized that she didn’t. Jeremy must have tried to give it to her a hundred times, but it wasn’t something she cared about. “You know, I don’t. But he’s probably in the phone book. He’s Jeremy Van der Wyden.”

  “I’m not sure we even have a phone book anymore,” Sean said. “Maybe in the kitchen?” He left the room and she heard drawers opening and shutting. “Has he done anything I should know about today?” he called.

  Ruby clapped her hands together. “Yes, and you won’t believe it. He stole my trash!”

  “What?” Sean said from the doorway, phone
book in his hand. “He did what?”

  “I had two bags of trash in the backyard, which have disappeared, so I think he took them.”

  Sean raised an eyebrow at her. “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know!” Ruby snapped, resenting even the hint that he didn’t believe her. “Because he’s obsessed with me? Because he’s crazy? I have no idea what motivates him.”

  Sean put his hand on her arm. “Calm down. I believe you.” He flipped through the phone book. “And unfortunately, he’s not in here. All we have are the Yellow Pages.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I might be able to find him online though,” Sean said. “My sister Imogen can find anyone, and she’s taught me a few things.”

  In less than ten minutes he had the phone number.

  Ruby kissed his cheek and nuzzled him. “Honestly, thank you so much for doing this.”

  “No problem.” He kissed her back, once, quickly, before crossing the room to grab the cordless phone. “Probably not a good idea to call from my cell,” he murmured. He paused before dialing and said, “What, exactly, do you want me to say?”

  She shrugged. “Just warn him off. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

  Sean looked uncomfortable but game. “Well, here goes!” He paused before he finished dialing and said, “Do you want me to put him on speaker phone?”

  Ruby nodded eagerly. “You’re so sweet to do this,” she whispered.

  “It’s nothing.” He pressed the speaker button, and she heard Jeremy’s phone ringing, and then his answering machine picked up. “You’ve reached the home of Jeremy Van der Wyden. Ha-ha, tricked ya! I’ve moved. Call my cell at 555-0207 or wait for the beep.”

  Wait a second… “555-0207 is the creepy unknown caller that’s been calling and hanging up on my answering machine for weeks now!” she said. “I recognize—”

  “Do you want me to leave a message?” he whispered to her as they both heard the beep.

  She shook her head and Sean hung up. “Just try his cell,” she said.

  “Remember to document that bit about him calling and hanging up on you. Every little bit helps you build a case against him.”

  “I will.” She thought of something. “You know, those calls from that number stopped after I gave Jeremy my home number last Tuesday.” She scowled. “Gee, I wonder why.”

  Sean patted her leg as he dialed the new number. Jeremy answered immediately. “Hello?” Sean waved his arm frantically to let her know to hush, even though she was being quiet and she could hear that Jeremy had answered as well as Sean could.

  “Jeremy?”

  “Yes?” Jeremy said. “Who is this?”

  Sean smiled, and Ruby realized that for the moment, he’d forgotten why he’d called, and he was just happy to talk to an old acquaintance. “Hi! It’s Sean. Sean Chaplin from Kamata High. How are you?” Sean stood up, phone to his ear, walked over to the window, and looked out.

  There was a long pause before Jeremy’s voice came back filled with wonder. “Sean, hi! Wow! It’s been a long time! I haven’t talked to you in, in years! What’s up? How you been? It’s really great to hear from you!”

  His voice was squeaky from excitement, but Ruby was past caring if he got his wittle feelers hurt. She hoped Sean would be cruel. Jeremy deserved it.

  “I’ve been great—”

  “I’ve lost almost a hundred pounds since the last time I saw you at that chicken place!” Jeremy said, unabashed pride in his voice.

  What an odd thing for one man to say to another. Sean half-turned and raised his eyebrows at her, and she shrugged. “Really?” Sean finally said. “That’s great man.” Sean turned back towards the window, and Ruby walked over and hugged him from behind. Sean set the phone down on a bookshelf, turned, and hugged her back. She closed her eyes and sighed. She could stay here all day.

  “…Sean?”

  “Sorry. I bet you’re married now with lots of little rug rats running around?”

  Ruby pulled his head down and began to suck on Sean’s earlobe. She heard his sharp intake of breath. He cupped her butt in his hands and squeezed, bringing her up onto her toes. Both of them began to breathe faster.

  “Nah, I’m not married yet. No kids. What about you?”

  “Actually, I’m divorced, and I’ve got a wonderful three-year-old son.” Ruby hooked the waistband of his 501s and began to unbutton them slowly. At the same time, Sean went to work on her bra.

  Jeremy said, “Oh too bad. Not about your son but about your divorce.” When Sean didn’t answer, he said, “What do you do? I always figured you’d become an astronaut or a neurosurgeon or something.”

  “I’m a sub—” Sean chuckled for a second, remembered himself and said huskily, “I’m a substitute teacher. What do you do?” He cupped Ruby’s face and kissed her hard as she finally got his jeans unbuttoned, and her hands disappeared inside them.

  “I’m an architect. Why’d you call me out of the blue after all these years?” he said, cutting to the chase. “…Sean? Sean? Hello?” He sounded irritated.

  “I, uh, I just wanted to, uh, what?” Sean coughed. “…See how you’ve been and, uh…ask you ifyou’reseeinganyone?” his voice squeaked on the last word.

  “Actually, I have a girlfriend, well, she’s really more like my fiancée to be,” Jeremy said, and Ruby wondered if he could possibly be so deluded as to be talking about her. She stopped what she was doing for a moment to listen, and Sean took her hands and put them back where they’d been. She obligingly resumed. “That’s…great!” he gasped, “What’s her name?”

  “Her name’s Ruby…why?”

  “Not Ruby Deardon?”

  There was a long pause. Finally, Jeremy said, “How could you possibly know that?”

  “She’s actually the reason I called.”

  “Oh?” Jeremy’s voice lost all animation.

  “Ruby’s a friend of—” At that, she frowned and squeezed. She believed this qualified her as a bit more than just a friend of his. He yelped, looked at her face, swallowed, and said carefully, “…We’re actually more than friends. We’re sort of dating and—”

  They were sort of dating!

  “What do you mean, you’re dating? How do you two even know each other? Are you telling me she’s your girlfriend?”

  “Yes, and she told me how you’ve been harassing her—”

  “I haven’t been harassing her! What is this? You call me after years, years of silence to tell me you’re cheating with my girlfriend? How could you do this to me?”

  “That’s not what she told me,” Sean said. “She said she’s asked you over and over to leave her alone and you won’t and—um…Sorry. Lost my train of thought…”

  “That bitch!”

  Sean frowned, reached down, and stilled Ruby’s hands. “She’s not a bitch, and you need to stop bothering her.” Ruby resumed, and Sean didn’t stop her again. “She asked me to talk to you because she knew we used to be friendly in high school. If you refuse to listen, she’ll have to go to the police again.”

  “My yearbook!” Jeremy said. At that, Ruby’s eyes opened wide, and she disengaged completely and stepped away. Sean threw her a stricken look.

  She waggled her finger at him and mouthed, “Concentrate!”

  He pushed his lip out in a pout. She snatched the phone off the bookcase, turned off the speaker and put it to her ear just as Jeremy said, “She set me up from the beginning, pumping me for information about you in the most natural way—”

  “I’m with Sean now,” she said. “Leave me out of your sick fantasies. Leave me alone period, or I’ll sic the police on you again. Are we clear? Good-bye.”

  She was about to hang up on his sputtering when she remembered her stolen garbage. “And I know you stole my trash, you sick-o!” She turned the phone off, turned off the ringer, and felt Sean cup her breasts from behind. He shuffled them backwards, pants around his ankles, until they reached the couch. He fell backwards and she tumbled on t
op of him.

  She stripped, watched Sean put a condom on, and climbed aboard. “Maybe now he’ll stop harassing me.”

  “I doubt it.” He kissed her and she cupped his face and kissed him back as they found their rhythm. When they came up for air, he said, “For obvious reasons, that call didn’t go very well.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Barely a minute after they were dressed again, they heard a key in the lock. “Nicky?” Sean said.

  “Who else would it be?” A man’s voice called from the entryway.

  Ruby felt a thrill go through her at the close call. She’d completely forgotten his brother was due any minute.

  She straightened her blouse and then Nick Chaplin filled the doorway. Her jaw dropped. He carried the mangled bouquet of pink roses she’d thrown off the porch earlier.

  “Nice flowers,” Sean said. Nick took the chair across from the couch and dropped the stems and the decapitated blooms on the coffee table between them. Ruby watched Sean uneasily. “I thought you went over to Scott’s tonight. What, is Scott dumpster diving for flowers now?” Sean let out a full-throated laugh.”

  “Ha-ha.” Nick’s face grew serious. “Actually man, I found these in the bushes beside the porch, and the card’s addressed to you.”

  She’d forgotten about the card!

  Sean’s jovial mood disappeared. “Are they from that crazy Ashley chick again?”

  “I don’t know,” Nick said, handing Sean a tiny, crumpled card. “This isn’t signed, but that’s what I assume.”

  While Sean read the card silently—Ruby read along in her mind. “Sean, I hope these brighten your day a bit!” She hadn’t signed it only because she hadn’t been able to decide how to sign it. Love Ruby? Sincerely yours? Friends forever? Thank goodness she’d been undecided.

  Nick looked over at her as if noticing her for the first time. “Oh, hello. Don’t mind my little brother, he’s always been rude. I’m Nick Chaplin. And you are…?”